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Watch Butterflies in Your Spring Garden

One of my favorite gardening perks is the lovely butterflies that invariably visit the landscape on a sunny day. They look like winged confetti when they flit by and seem to be announcing a party in the garden. The good news is that it’s easy to join their celebration.

Thanks to the new book, the Bird Watcher’s Digest Butterflies: Backyard Guide by Erin Gettler, it’s now easier than ever to identify, watch, attract, nurture and even save these winged beauties, which include some 700-plus species throughout North America.

Gettler encourages the reader to do some butterfly watching, including tips for doing so and pages dedicated to some of the most popular butterflies. Each of the 55 butterfly pages includes a photo, section on how to identify them, where to find them, including habitat and geographic region, information on their lifecycle and what you can do to attract them to your garden.

(Sari O’Neal) You’ll discover, for instance, that female black swallowtails have two “messy rows of red spots” separated by a blue field on the underside of their hindwing and males have a “yellow band crossing their wings, mirrored by a line of yellow dots.” And you’ll learn that painted ladies are found on every continent but Australia and Antarctica. Now is the time to do some butterfly watching, says Gettler, who notes that they’re in plentiful supply in June and July when there are plenty of blooming flowers in the garden. She suggests the following tips for making your butterfly gazing adventure as enjoyable as possible.

(Henrik Larsson) Use binoculars. Follow the butterfly with your eyes and then use the binoculars once she perches. This will give you a chance to check out her wings so you can identify her. Go out in the afternoon when butterflies are most active. They require heat and sunlight to fly. Learn about butterfly groups before pinpointing individual species. For instance, there are skippers and fritillaries and swallowtails.

Note the butterfly’s overall shape first before moving in to identify finer details. Notice what’s in your peripheral vision. If you see what looks like confetti floating on the wind when you’re out in the garden, it’s probably a butterfly. Protect the butterfly lifecycle. Butterfly eggs often look like tiny “crystalline sculptures,” says Gettler. If you see a butterfly hovering around foliage and momentarily perching, she most likely deposited egg(s). Some species lay only one egg at a time, while others deposit clusters.

(Ron Rowan Photography)

(Erin Gettler) In addition to the eggs, it’s important to protect the caterpillars. Yes, they will eat foliage of plants, which they require to grow and then become butterflies. So you’ll want to be okay with some chew marks. When you come across caterpillars in the garden, admire them, but don’t disturb them. Let them chow down so that you can enjoy their metamorphosis and resulting garden dance.

(TYLER Fox) Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of 10 books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com

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Should You Offer Your Employees Paid Time Off Instead of Overtime Pay?

The Working Families Flexibility Act allows employees to exchange overtime pay for paid leave. If it becomes a law, comp time as we know it may change. MAY 30, 2017 As a business owner, you probably want to offer your employees as many options as possible for striking a healthy work-life balance. In an attempt to make it easier to juggle work and home life, the House of Representatives recently passed the Working Families Flexibility Act of 2017, also known as H.R. 1180, which allows employees to carve out more time for themselves using overtime pay. If the bill becomes law, private-sector employees will be allowed to exchange overtime pay for compensatory (comp) time off for the first time. In lieu of monetary overtime compensation, employees may receive time off at a rate of not less than 1.5 hours for each hour of overtime employment. Currently, this is an option offered only to federal employees.

Potential Benefits of the Working Families Flexibility Act…

If the act becomes law, private-sector hourly workers will be able to choose between getting time-and-half pay when they clock out, or opting instead for an hour-and-a-half of comp time for each hour of overtime worked. Essentially, employees can decide if they prefer cash soon after working overtime hours if they want to wait and bank the hours for future use. Employees are allowed to accrue up to 160 hours of comp time each year, but may decide to cash that time in whenever they wish for overtime pay. If employees with accrued time are terminated, it’s paid as overtime pay. “The flexibility to have overtime work possibly turned into paid time off, versus an outlay of cash, can be a good thing for employers and employees,” says David Lewis, CEO of Operations Inc., a human resource consultancy.

For workplaces where the amount of time off awarded is not adequate to meet the needs of the employees, this gives them an option to essentially earn more time off.

—David Lewis, CEO, Operations Inc.

Proponents of H.R. 1180 say that the act enables workers to choose between time and money, depending on their life circumstances. They say the bill could also end unfair discrimination against private-sector employees who are currently unable to make this choice (unlike federal employees). For employers the reduction in cash outlay could be an advantage, while the possibility of more time off may be a good thing for employees, believes Lewis. “For workplaces where the amount of time off awarded is not adequate to meet the needs of the employees, this gives them an option to essentially earn more time off,” he says. “That could lend itself to a population of employees who through such an option can achieve betterwork-life balance.” In certain situations, trading overtime pay for time off can be a win-win for everyone, believes Ted Mayeda, co-owner of the Orange, California-based gardening center Fairy Garden Expert. “Employers are glad to help improve the lives of employees by providing more time off, and the arrangement also helps employers manage overtime pay costs,” he says.

… and Potential Drawbacks of the H.R. 1180

Some business owners have concerns regarding the Working Families Flexibility Act and its effect on employers and employees. “Employers could fail to put the appropriate valuation on the lost productivity and presence of some employees who earn paid time off, versus pay, causing issues with productivity,” says Lewis. “That can easily spill over to create a morale issue with others who then have to pick up the slack of what could be a disproportionately high amount of absences.” There are also potential issues for employees, believes Lewis. “There is the prospect that this paid time off never really gets taken,” he says. “In many states, employers are allowed to have a ‘use it or lose it’ policy on other types of paid time off. While the days you earn under this new law likely will not be allowed to ‘expire,’ other paid time off days will. This could lead to an employee working overtime and not receiving compensation for it.” David Waring, co-founder of FitSmallBusiness.com, is also concerned about the impact of the act. “I don’t believe the government should interfere and force private employers to pay anything more than what they feel they need to pay to attract and retain talent,” Waring says. “While it may seem counterintuitive,” he continues, “the best thing that the government can do to help the average worker is to focus on helping companies be as successful as possible.” Read more articles on hiring & HR.

Photo: Getty Images

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Date: MAY 30, 2017

The New Business Plan: More Data, Less Detail

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OCTOBER 25, 2013 Having a business plan that charts your intended course and helps you plan for the unexpected can keep you on track with your company goals. While there are many aspects to a business plan, one ingredient is an industry analysis.

Recently, OPEN Forum community member Angela Dougall asked, “Why is an industry analysis so important when putting a business plan together?”

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]As it turns out, there are several good reasons to include an industry analysis in your business plan.

Important First Step

An industry analysis is a critical, and necessary, first step before you define your plan, says Erik Otto, president and co-founder of InSpark Technologies

, a small business that develops blood glucose pattern recognition software for the diabetes market. “You need to understand new competitive products, pricing changes, supply chain issues, customer dynamics and technology trends before you can figure out how to address them.”

Otto, who formerly worked in business development and strategic planning for Johnson & Johnson, uses the supply chain as an example. “What if one of your suppliers is going bankrupt? What if there is a new prohibition on the use of certain materials in your product? Without considering these facts before writing your plan, you could quickly be on back-order and losing substantial market share.”

Determine Placement And Fit

“When a business is just starting, developing a strategic plan that helps define who you are and what you do, as well as who your customers and competitors are, is essential,” says business coach Judy Sylvia, CEO of The Growth Coach

Annice Johnson, an OPEN Forum community member and owner of style-consulting service Compliments, agrees that “understanding the industry’s movements—trends, competitors, products, technologies—is key to understanding where you fit.” She notes that longevity of product, product cycle and a host of such guiding information helps ensure that you’re going in the right direction.

Decide On Financial Goals

An industry analysis is a critical ingredient of your financial plans for your business as well. “Too often, companies define financial targets before doing an industry analysis and then realize too late that there is no way to reach their targets,” Otto says.

Sylvia concurs. “When I insist we make a revenue goal, many small-business owners make it 10 times more than what their revenues were for the previous year—completely unrealistic with no thought as to whether it’s feasible,” she says. A thorough industry analysis will tell you if hitting your mark is doable.

The Business Plan Evolution

When it comes to today’s business plans, less is often more. “I’ve seen an evolution toward more sophisticated planning that arrives at simpler plans,” Otto says. “The process is a lot more data intensive, analytical and full of customer insights, yet drives just a few robust strategies. There is less focus on defining detailed tactics, especially in the later time-frame of your plan, because there is a recognition that the business environment is changing so rapidly.”

Sylvia has found that many small-business owners do an extensive initial plan, but it just collects dust. “If financing or investors aren’t a component of a business plan, I work with business owners to put together a simple action plan for the year,” she says. “I want this simple action plan to be marked up with notes and obviously worn from frequent use.”

To be as prepared as possible for the competitive landscape, your business plan should include the following data and analysis:

Sales trends of all products
Recent market research results
Competitor share changes
Competitor product launches (known and suspected)
Industry pressures
Opportunities in pricing
New technology
Suppliers
Threats of potential substitute products
Marketing tactics that have worked

Resources For Industry Analysis

While many public and private sources of information exist that will benefit your business plan, such as industry statistics and data from services including Hoover’s First Research or IBISWorld, “real-life” action plans and experiences with your business are the best, Sylvia says.

Otto suggests looking to your customers for relevant industry analysis data. “The best insights come from your customers,” he says. “Try to understand how their purchasing habits are changing and look at any complaints you’ve received. These insights are sometimes the easiest to obtain, and an in-depth understanding of the customer should be the primary focus of any business.”

A freelancer since 1985, Julie Bawden-Davis has written for many publications, including Entrepreneur, Better Homes & Gardens and Family Circle.

Read more articles on business growth.

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The 5-Step Elevator Pitch That Turns Strangers Into Clients

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SEPTEMBER 23, 2013Whether it’s a chance to attract a new client or gain interest from a potential investor, all small-business owners must be able to effectively explain their products or services in a few short sentences. The more quickly and eloquently you can get across what you do, the more likely you’ll find yourself with a new customer. “If you can’t say who you are and what you do in a few sentences, you don’t know who you are and what you do and neither will anyone else,” says Roxana Bahar Hewertson

, CEO of Highland Consulting Group, and an executive success coach. “Most people don’t have the patience or interest to listen long. You either get their attention quickly or you lose them.”

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]A pithy elevator pitch at the tip of your tongue is incredibly important, says John Scherer, CEO of Canless Air System

. “You never know when you’ll run into someone whose time you could never get before, but now, because of a certain circumstance, you have the opportunity.” Try the following steps to develop a succinct elevator pitch that leaves a lasting, positive impression. 1. Introduce yourself. Start the elevator pitch with a brief, easy-to-absorb sentence that includes your name, your company name and the service you provide. For instance, “I’m Mary Smith; my company is Executive Express, and we offer courier service.” 2. Identify the problem your company solves. “What is the pain the potential client may have that your service can solve?” Bahar Hewertson asks. “What’s in it for the listener has to resonate. Why should the person care what you do? Focus on the listener and the value of your proposition for him or her.” Mike Muhney, CEO of mobile relationship management purveyor vipOrbit

and co-creator of ACT! Software, adds, “Rather than focusing on what you have or do, relate your services and what you offer to the person with whom you’re speaking.” 3. Announce your promise. What product or service will you provide the client? “Be clear on the results the person can expect, but avoid selling,” Bahar Hewertson says. “Engage your listener by letting your passion for your work and your vision shine through. It’s important to be authentic and honest and have a higher purpose than just selling your stuff.” Bahar Hewertson gives an example from her own business. “I’m a for-profit consultant, and I asked local foundations to donate funds so our community nonprofit leaders could attend a six-day leadership course I teach,” she says. “The pitch that showed my passion resulted in 26 local nonprofit leaders attending.” Bahar Hewertson’s pitch included this statement: “I have a clear vision for our community of nonprofit leaders—that they become highly effective in their agencies and that they create a leadership learning community and network to support one another. That can happen when they learn how to lead well through this powerful shared experience.” 4. Offer proof and a plan. How have you delivered on your promises prior to this? What have you accomplished, and what have people said about your work? “Offer proof with one or two killer facts—and they must be facts—and an anecdote that crystallizes everything you just said as real,” Scherer says. Finish your pitch by offering a plan of action for delivering on your promise. Make it as personal as possible to fit whomever you’re talking to and his or her business. 5. Know when to stop and listen. If at any point in your pitch you find that the listener is tuning out, stop talking, Bahar Hewertson says: “Don’t ignore body language. Stop immediately if you know the person isn’t engaged, and change the subject to him or her.” The fact that you had the sensitivity and tact to stop and listen will leave a good impression about you and your business. Read more articles on leadership. A freelancer since 1985, Julie Bawden-Davis has written for many publications, including Entrepreneur, Better Homes & Gardens and Family Circle. Photo: Thinkstock[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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The Danger Of Attracting Investors

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NOVEMBER 20, 2013Many entrepreneurs have an abundance of ideas and moxie, but capital is often in short supply. While wooing and obtaining an investor for your business venture may seem like the ideal solution to your lack of funding, it’s not always the answer

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]”One of the least expected disadvantages to obtaining funding is discovering that the day you take on an investor is the day you might be committing to selling your business,” Richter-Sand says. “Many entrepreneurs don’t realize that generally the only way an investor can get liquidity from your business is to sell it, and their interest in growing the company quickly to sell may not align with your goals.” When you take on investors, it’s not a passive relationship, Richter-Sand cautions. “Angel investors, for instance, typically become very involved in the business. It’s essentially like taking on a business partner, which means that someone else also has a voice in the future direction of your company.” Giving up control is necessary and not always welcome, agrees Dave Mathews, founder and CEO of NewAer

, who initially bootstrapped his current company and eventually accepted strategic funding after a prototype application he launched won an award. “If you are an entrepreneur, chances are that you don’t want a boss, but as soon as you get funding, you have many bosses,” Mathews says. “They are your board of directors.”

A Shift In The Plan

Obtaining investors is a full-time job. “Landing an investor is a lot harder than you may realize,” Richter-Sand says. “Less than 3 percent of companies are funded by venture capitalists. Finding and then courting investors is a six- to nine-month proposition that will take most of your time, which means not focusing on building your business.” Richter-Sand also feels that funding can sometimes stifle the hunger to succeed. “When your back is against the wall financially, you’re forced to develop a business model that really works, whereas there’s a different dynamic when you have $2 million in the bank and you aren’t worried about paying your bills at the end of the week,” he says. Whether you need an investor for your company is closely tied in with your vision for your business. “It’s often asked, do you want to be rich or do you want to be king?” Richter-Sand explains. “Do you want to run a $100 million dollar business, or do you want to be in complete control of three stores in town that enable you to pull in $5 million a year and make a great life for yourself and your family?”

When An Investor Makes Sense

If you choose the avenue of quickly making as much money as possible, an investor may be your best option. “Especially in the later stages of your startup, a venture capitalist can help you accelerate much faster than you could on your own, which in some instances can be critical to your company’s success,” Richter-Sand notes. “Imagine Facebook or Groupon without significant capital. They wouldn’t have been able to expand and scale up quickly enough.” “Almost every company requires capital at some point to be successful. The question is when you take it,” says Dale Fox, CEO of Tribogenics

. He has started five companies and launched two dozen products, including going through multiple funding rounds that total about $9 million. Fox’s current company is working on commercializing breakthrough technology that will make affordable battery-powered x-ray machines available to people who wouldn’t have access otherwise. Because of the potential for profit and the high cost of launching the product, obtaining funding proved the best route. “In some circumstances, you could bootstrap for years and never get anything done,” Fox says. “The venture capital is the gas that fuels the fire. Without it, the idea would be tiny embers that never even become a fire.” When you bring in investors, you also invite in their connections and years of expertise. “Bringing in people who are motivated for your success will make you more successful,” Fox adds. “Our investors have introduced us to companies with whom we’ve partnered and brought in experts to solve technical challenges.” Mathews agrees. “With strategic investors, we were able to gain two things that are difficult for startups: credibility and access to their partners. This is huge, as the investors introduced us to their Fortune 100 companies as a ‘rising star,’ and as a result, the larger companies have paid much greater attention to us.” Angel investors in particular can be especially helpful in uncharted territory, Richter-Sand adds. “If you’re going into an industry where you have little experience, an angel investor’s connections and years of expertise are just as valuable as the person’s checkbook,” he says. “The investor’s network and wisdom will help you avoid having to learn the hard way.” A freelancer since 1985, Julie Bawden-Davis has written for many publications, including Entrepreneur, Better Homes & Gardens and Family Circle. Read more articles on funding. Photo: iStockphoto[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Grow Impatiens in Your Spring Garden

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

One of the most popular bedding plants of all time, impatiens (I. wallerana) makes a cheery addition to the shade garden. These colorful flowers light up dark corners and readily grow in garden beds, hanging baskets and containers.

Find impatiens in single and double-flower forms. The single flowers lay flat and resemble pinwheels, while the double flowers look just like miniature roses. Whatever type you plant, they produce a mass of vibrant color.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Impatiens come in pink, white, red, orange, lavender and coral. There are even variegated bicolor varieties. The plant tends to be low-growing, generally not reaching higher than 8 inches. To have luck growing impatiens in your spring shade garden, keep the following cultivation tips in mind.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Grow in shade or part shade. Impatiens aren’t meant to grow out in the blazing sun. It’s generally best to grow them in a shade or part shade location. Good places to plant these flowers include under trees, house overhangs or deck covers where they receive dappled sunlight or in areas that get bright, indirect light. They can also tolerate some morning sun. If you live in a coastal area, they can be grown anywhere in the yard. Plant in the ground or containers. For in-ground planting, place the plants in rich, well-draining soil. If the soil is clay, amend with compost by 40 to 50 percent before planting. For containerized impatiens use a well-draining, organic potting soil that retains moisture.

Keep well watered. Impatiens grow poorly if allowed to dry out. Water when the top inch of soil has dried out. The soil should remain moist, but not soggy. Fertilize regularly. Apply an organic fertilizer designed for flowering plants every two to four weeks. Check for pests. Impatiens may get attacked by the tarnished plant bug, which will lead to small and deformed flowers. Treat with neem oil.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Pinch regularly. Impatiens tend to get leggy, so keep them in check by pruningback regularly. This will cause the plants to become bushier and flower more. Cut impatiens back. If you live in a climate that doesn’t freeze, cut impatiens back to 2 inches in December. They will come back full and bloom well come spring. Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of 10 books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com

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Date: MAY 27, 2017

Grow Impatiens in Your Spring Garden

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Impatiens come in pink, white, red, orange, lavender and coral. There are even variegated bicolor varieties. The plant tends to be low-growing, generally not reaching higher than 8 inches.

To have luck growing impatiens in your spring shade garden, keep the following cultivation tips in mind.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Keep well watered. Impatiens grow poorly if allowed to dry out. Water when the top inch of soil has dried out. The soil should remain moist, but not soggy.

Fertilize regularly. Apply an organic fertilizer designed for flowering plants every two to four weeks. Check for pests. Impatiens may get attacked by the tarnished plant bug, which will lead to small and deformed flowers. Treat with neem oil.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Pinch regularly. Impatiens tend to get leggy, so keep them in check by pruning back regularly. This will cause the plants to become bushier and flower more. Cut impatiens back. If you live in a climate that doesn’t freeze, cut impatiens back to 2 inches in December. They will come back full and bloom well come spring. Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of 10 books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com

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Operating Cash Flow: The Number That Can Determine Your Success

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SEPTEMBER 26, 2013If there’s only one financial figure you keep on top of when it comes to your business, let it be operating cash flow. Operating cash flow offers a bird’s eye view of the economic state of your business and can potentially predict the future success or failure of your company. Your cash flow figures will reveal if your business is healthy and can generate sufficient money to pay your bills, remain functional and grow, or if it’s in trouble and requires external financing to stay afloat. To avoid the risk of bankruptcy, your business’s operating cash inflow must exceed your cash outflow.

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How To Calculate It

So how do you figure out your operating cash flow? Subtract your operating expenses from the money generated by your company’s normal business activities. The calculation starts with adding depreciation to your net income, then making adjustments for working capital like accounts receivable and inventory. Think of it as the cash portion of your net income. The operating cash flow number is recorded on your quarterly and annual cash flow statements.

Operating Cash Flow Vs. Net Income

Investors and lenders prefer analyzing your operating cash flow as opposed to your net income, because it’s adjusted for depreciation, receivables and liabilities. Companies can potentially show positive net earnings yet be cash poor, unable to pay expenses and debt. For instance, a sales number can become inflated when inventory is sold but no cash comes in at that time. And if there were to be returns on the merchandise, no cash would ever come in for that inventory. The net income would show the inflated sales figure during that period, making the company look more profitable perhaps than it really is, while the operating cash flow figure would reveal the true picture.

Comparing operating cash flow to net income also gives investors and lenders an idea if accounting techniques are manipulative. For instance, if a company reports high earnings, yet is low on cash, the accounting methods might be called into question, especially if this occurs over several quarters. No matter how the numbers are adjusted on the net income report, a company will eventually require sufficient cash in order to pay creditors, so such questionable practices will eventually emerge. On the other end of the spectrum, if your operating cash flow is higher than your net income, that may mean your company has more cash than is reflected on the net income statement and is healthier than it looks on paper.

The Benefits of Positive Operating Cash Flow

There are several advantages to a positive operating cash flow. Perhaps most important is your ability to pay your bills so you can continue to operate. A positive cash flow also enables you to withstand delays in payment from customers and weather setbacks like a client going out of business. A healthy operating cash flow also gives you the flexibility, and ability, to expand your business when you choose to do so. For instance, you can offer cash for a new piece of equipment and pay less than if you were to finance it. It also means you have a good chance of obtaining financing. When reviewing your application for credit, underwriters will take a close look at your company’s financial statements. A consistently positive operating cash flow will show them you’re a good candidate for credit, because you have the cash on hand to repay your debt. A freelancer since 1985, Julie Bawden-Davis has written for many publications, including Entrepreneur, Better Homes & Gardens and Family Circle. Read more articles and see exclusive videos in OPEN Forum’s special section on Managing Your Money. Read more articles on cash flow. Photos: Thinkstock, Getty Images [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Online Etiquette: 6 Rules For Making A Great Virtual Impression

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AUGUST 13, 2013With much business done online today, your online “handshake”—the way you answer an email or what you say on social media—directly affects people’s perceptions of you as a small-business owner. “Some of today’s business relationships exist entirely online, with the service provider and client never even meeting in person or talking on the phone. But those involved still form as strong an impression of one another as if they met face-to-face,” says Rachel French, owner of Protea Coaching

, a certified professional coaching company that specializes in helping entrepreneurs and other professionals build successful businesses and careers.

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Your Online Image Speaks Volumes

Because we exchange so much information through our websites, emails, cellphones, videos and social media, the way we conduct ourselves online is as important as how we appear in person. “The world is shrinking, which means your potential sphere of influence is growing,” French says. “It’s important to create and maintain a very professional tone in your online correspondence, as recipients have the luxury of reading your words over and over again, as well as forwarding them to anyone they please. Whereas an offhand spoken comment may be easily dismissed, anything we say online can be analyzed, shared and obsessed over.” The slightest slip-up online has repercussions, agrees Candace Smith, founder and director of Etiquette for the Business of Life.

“When the invisible rules of civility are ignored, the cry will be ‘How rude!’ Business owners should always ask themselves exactly what they are communicating before they share.” Help guarantee your online business success by keeping the following etiquette rules in mind.

1. Stay neutral.

You can’t go wrong if you remain as unbiased as possible in your online communication. “When it comes to writing an email, strive for clear, matter-of-fact content,” French says. “Don’t be funny, sarcastic, passive aggressive or make innuendos. It’s probably best to avoid these tactics in oral exchanges in the business world as well, but at least in person we can rely on vocal inflections, body language, facial expressions and audience participation to ensure that we’re making our intended point. Online, these communication strategies are prone to misinterpretation or escalation.”

2. Follow grammar and punctuation rules.

In any virtual communication—be it emailing, texting, posting on Facebook or blogging—use real words and complete sentences, and skip the emoticons. “With very few exceptions, you should write the way you were taught in school,” French says. “Avoid all but the most common of internet abbreviations, and certainly skip the ones that are flippant or possibly inflammatory. And never curse.”

3. Know how to use online communication tools.

“There are protocols for the use of online community groups and messaging systems, such as Twitter and texting,” Smith says. “Analogous to how we use tableware—just as we don’t use a knife to pick up our bite of steak to eat, we don’t use the text message space to write an essay. Knowing how to use a fork correctly is really the same thing as knowing the protocols of virtual communications. Familiarize yourself with these operational rules as much as possible, and always exercise self-control.”

4. Consider your virtual recipients.

“As Ann Chandler, founder of The Chandler School of Etiquette

, likes to ask, ‘What is it like to be on the other side of me?’“ Smith says. “Remember that there is a real person on the other end of whatever you put out there. With this in mind, it’s important to show character and to be civil, and to always ask yourself if what you’re saying is true.”

5. Take care choosing your professional user name.

Put some thought into identifiers for yourself that others will see. Your best choice is to use your business name as your user name whenever possible and to never be cutesy. And if you own a business, French advises having an email address with your own domain name.

6. Pick up the phone when necessary.

When a conversation is getting long or involved, for clarity’s sake, move it to the phone, French advises. “Endless email strings or text messages are frustrating and eventually create too much opportunity for confusion.” When a long email is necessary, be respectful of your recipients by making it as easy to read as possible. Put the most important information at the top and organize with bullets and short paragraphs. Adhere to these rules of the Internet, and you’ll be sure to develop successful online business relationships.

Read more articles on leadership. A freelancer since 1985, Julie Bawden-Davis has written for many publications, including Entrepreneur, Better Homes & Gardens and Family Circle. Photo: Thinkstock

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How To Know When It’s Time To Grow Your Business

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NOVEMBER 22, 2013When Sue Marshall decided to significantly expand her fitness and casual wear business by launching a line of workout wear and adding a wholesale arm two years later, business jumped by 1,000 percent. Fortunately, Marshall and her sister and business partner, Simone Adler, were ready.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]“We had essentially been test-marketing our products on the retail end of things since 1994 when we opened our fitness wear boutique,” Marshall says, “so we knew it was time to grow our business.” Marshall and Adler are the co-owners of Wear Me Out

, a family-owned and operated business that designs and sells “throw and go” workout wear that easily transitions from the gym to the street.

Benefits Of Expanding

When the timing is right, expanding is the key to fruitful growth, says Sarah Shaw, CEO of Entreprenette Consulting

. Shaw has owned several businesses and now teaches small-business owners how to launch tangible products, most particularly in the clothing, accessories, baby and lifestyle industries.

“Expanding is the only way to grow your business exponentially,” Shaw says. “When you’re running a successful company, clients continually want something new from you. Expanding allows you to give them what they want. It also helps you avoid the ‘one hit wonder’ syndrome, which can mean the end to your business.” Expanding also offers a way for you to capitalize on economies of scale in terms of overhead and operating costs. As you expand, your per-unit manufacturing cost decreases, and you often qualify for bulk discounts. And as a growing business, lenders and financial institutions look at you more favorably.

The Time Is Right

But how do you know if it’s time to expand? Three indicators that your business is ready for growth include strong sales and a loyal customer base that’s asking for more. You might also want to think about expanding if your sales are languishing but you recognize untapped markets. 1. Strong sales. For Wear Me Out, large reorders of their product line after they launched it in 2008 gave Marshall and Adler a clear indication that expansion into wholesale would be a good idea. “When demand starts to outpace supply, expanding is a natural progression,” says Michelle Marshall, Sue’s daughter and the company’s director of sales and merchandising. “At that point, it’s important to bring in more products or find more places to put your products in order to serve more people.” 2. Little to no growth. On the other end of the spectrum, it may be time to expand if your business is stagnating, says Shaw. “If you’re not growing from year to year, it’s time to expand,” she advises. “Sometimes small-business owners get stuck in a rut selling the same thing because it sold well before, but it’s necessary to always be thinking of the future and introducing something new.” 3. Customer requests. Another indication that expansion would be a good idea is if your customers tell you so. “I routinely survey my clients to find out what else they want to learn,” Shaw says. “If you start hearing the same comments and requests, it’s time to listen and expand your offerings.”

Successful Expansion

In order to effectively grow your business, you must have a firm grasp of your market, says Sue Marshall. “An effective growth campaign requires that you find your niche and don’t deviate,” she says. Her daughter agrees. “It’s really important to find what makes your company different,” Michelle Marshall says. “What is it that stands out about your company? Why should people buy from you and not the competition? Once you know these answers, you can launch a successful expansion campaign that speaks directly to your market.” Thoroughly researching your new products or services before expanding is also critical, says Jill Turnbull, CEO of No Worries Cosmetics

. Turnbull ran a successful salon with the same name for many years before deciding to expand and launch her own makeup and hair care line.

Jill Turnbull, CEO of No Worries Cosmetics

“I started working on the product in 2000 and spent 11 years ensuring it met all of my requirements, such as containing the purest ingredients and featuring packaging that guarantees no product waste,” Turnbull says. Taking it slow paid off for her. Since launching her makeup line in 2011 and her hair care line in January 2013, Turnbull’s expansion has been quite a success. Positive cash flow is also a key element for a successful expansion. As Shaw notes, “Adequate cash flow is essential to growth. If at all possible, you want to avoid having to struggle to finance the growth by having a firm plan of how you’ll access the capital.”

Beware Of Runaway Growth

Although a booming business may sound ideal, there are hazards in growing your company too quickly. For example, in just one year, Shaw’s handbag and accessory’s company went from generating $120,000 to $500,000 in sales. “Cash flow became a problem and hindered my ability to finance the growth,” Shaw says, noting that it’s also important to be careful of excess growth in service industries. “If your services are in demand, you can become stretched too thin. Understand and respect your own bandwidth.” The Marshalls agree, and for that reason, they’re moving slowly when it comes to growing their business. “Avoid taking leaps before you can walk,” Sue Marshall advises. “If a product is selling well, try adding it in another color, and see how well it’s received before you launch an entire new line. For small-business owners, a slow and steady approach is most likely to result in successful expansion.” Freelance writer Julie Bawden-Davis has written for many publications, including Entrepreneur, Better Homes & Gardens and Family Circle. Read more articles and see exclusive videos in OPEN Forum’s special section on Managing Your Money. Read more articles on business growth. Photos: Getty Images, Wear Me Out, Courtesy Entreprenette Consulting, No Worries Cosmetics[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Leadership Styles: 5 Most Common Techniques Decoded

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SEPTEMBER 18, 2013Take a look at icons in the business world, and you’ll see a wide range ofleadership styles. How company leaders guide employees and motivate them to fulfill directives is as diverse as the leaders themselves.

5 Leadership Styles

While all small-business owners have their own particular method of inspiring employees, most use one or more of the following five leadership styles. Identifying how you lead can help you more effectively run your company. Which of the following leadership styles sounds most like you?

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1. Participative

Also known as democratic leadership, the participative leadership style focuses on culling opinions from all employees in order to make a decision that reflects the majority’s opinion and desires. While the leader offers guidance and support, the decisions are primarily consensual among all involved, and the leader makes final decisions based on the majority’s vote. The participative leadership style is particularly useful if the leader wishes to encourage participation and agreement among employees. This democratic method does not work well, however, if the leader must make a quick decision.

2. Authoritarian

Authoritative leaders inform employees of a common vision and goal for the company and detail employee responsibilities designed to make reaching that goal a reality. There is a clear division between employees and the employer, and the employees are clear on the desired result. They are often given guidelines but allowed to fulfill their obligations as they see fit. The authoritarian style is particularly useful for those leaders who tend to know more than their employees, and it works best when there is no time for group decision-making. If employees are particularly talented and experienced in their own right, this leadership style can be limiting and stifling for them.

3. Laissez-Faire

In French, the term laissez-faire means “let it be,” which best describes this leadership style. Such a method involves leaders delegating decision-making and tasks. They keep abreast of what is occurring in the company and are available when advice and input are needed, but take a hands-off approach and let the employees work on their own. This leadership style can work if the employees are self-motivated, and under the right circumstances this type of management breeds creativity and job satisfaction. Laissez-faire is also the best option when employees work remotely. The lack of direction this type of leadership offers does not work for every company or employee. It can lead to poor performance and lack of motivation.

4. Transformational

The transformational leadership style focuses on the leader that actively communicates with employees to motivate them to increase productivity and efficiency. The leader focuses on the big picture for the company, such as corporate goals—leaving the day-to-day details to management. Transformational leaders are inspiring, because they expect the best from their employees and themselves, which leads to productive and positive working environments. For this type of leadership to work, it’s critical that there are also detail-oriented individuals on the team who can see to the more practical aspects of running a business.

5. Servant

As the name implies, servant leaders tend to stay out of the limelight, often leading from behind and allowing the focus to be on the employees. Such leaders make service a top priority and often highly value integrity and generosity. Decision-making tends to be a group effort in such environments. The servant leadership model tends to work well for organizations such as nonprofits that are committed to a particular cause, because the mission becomes the center of attention. Such a leadership model does not work for all types of businesses—especially those with tight deadlines. Given the benefits of the various leadership styles, it makes sense for small-business owners to adopt traits from each style. The best leaders keep their eye on the corporate vision and shape their leadership styles to their corporate culture. Read more articles on leadership. A freelancer since 1985, Julie Bawden-Davis has written for many publications, including Entrepreneur, Better Homes & Gardens and Family Circle. Photo: Thinkstock[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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6 Tips For Running Your Business On A Budget

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NOVEMBER 07, 2013When they’re first starting out, small-business owners usually have plenty of ideas. What they often don’t have enough of is operating funds.

So what can you do if your ideas are bigger than your bank balance? How can you get your company up and running with limited funds?

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Dharmesh Patel, an OPEN Forum member, recently asked, “What is the most important piece of advice you can give for a new business that is very tight on the cash flow before starting out?”

Here are 6 smart ways to stretch your money and get the most bang for your buck:

Pinch Pennies

Though you most likely want to spend whatever is necessary to comfortably grow your new business, resist the urge to do so, advises OPEN Forum Community member Sean Dawes, co-founder of Rocket Dove Inc.

, a company that provides help with online marketing efforts.

“Look for ways to accomplish what you need to without paying for it,” Dawes says, “whether it is doing the work yourself, hiring interns, partnering with another company or exchanging services. And if you need to spend money, spend it as if it’s your last dollar. Look for good payment terms, price shop and background check any employees and consultants you’re looking to hire.”

Save Your Dollars

“Creating a separate business savings account is essential,” says Patrick Donovan Campbell, president and senior paralegal of Outsourced Paralegal Services LLC

“Putting every penny, nickel and dime into this savings account for your business-related purchases is essential in the growth of your company,” Campbell says. “It’s unnecessary to purchase every software program or app immediately. Many businesses have functioned and thrived without 100 different promotional and operational platforms at their fingertips. Save for the essential tools, and prioritize their necessity for your business in logical order.”

Partner For Charity

Leverage your talents and partner with other small businesses for charitable causes, suggests OPEN Forum community member Joshua Gauthier, quarry manager of CalPortland

, a building materials and construction solutions provider. “Do some charity work where you provide the labor and [your small-business partners] provide the goods (food, supplies, etc.). The charity gets you free marketing and a showcase for your talents.”

Such efforts at networking will expose you to established entrepreneurs who may offer guidance or even assistance, because they understand the difficulties of starting out on your own, Campbell adds: “Those you meet when networking may also view you as a service provider to keep in their back pocket.”

Seek Free Resources

Depending on your industry, you may be able to find free resources, Campbell says. “Though some items might be limited in their use, with optimized versions costing money, the basic general function of those items can still assist you through your tasks until you’re able to purchase the full program or document that provides unlimited use,” he says.

Campbell shares that when he started his paralegal service company, he had a full-time job but was laid off, making his only source of income unemployment.

“I could not afford the various petition preparing software programs and other day-to-day programs that are now a staple, so I began by preparing bankruptcy petitions using the free petitions provided by the bankruptcy courts and doing them by hand,” Campbell explains. “It was time consuming but necessary to get the job done. Eventually I saved enough money to purchase the appropriate program.”

Definitely check for free and discounted offers, agrees Gabriella Draney, co-founder and CEO of Tech Wildcatters,

a mentor-driven seed accelerator.

“The best way Tech Wildcatters’ graduates conserve cash is by taking advantage of free and discounted offers,” Draney says. “F6s.com offers the most free stuff. For instance, they currently list 465 deals worth $363,534. The items include everything from a year of free hosting on Softlayer, Amazon, Microsoft and others, to company legal formation for less than $1,000. These things really add up.”

Ask About Discounts And Deferrals

Draney also suggests asking for discounts and deferrals to save cash whenever possible. “Some service providers may even take equity in lieu of payment,” she says. “Never be afraid to ask. After all, what’s the worst thing someone can say to you? No?”

Stay Focused And Remain Positive

“Remind yourself that there have been others before you who started off with nothing and watched their companies grow to great heights,” Campbell says. “Opening a business is difficult, and you will question whether you did the right thing, but doubt and fear are all part of the process of embarking on any entrepreneurial venture and finding your company’s authentic voice and vision.”

A freelancer since 1985, Julie Bawden-Davis has written for many publications, including Entrepreneur, Better Homes & Gardens and Family Circle.

Read more articles on financial management.

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9 Signs Your Business Has Stopped Growing

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We all dread that moment when our business growth will level off and start a downward slide. Watch for these 9 indicators that trouble is on the way.

JANUARY 27, 2014Continued growth is the lifeblood of the small business. A slowdown—however slight—can signal the beginning of the end for even the most successful companies. Those small businesses that experience year-over-year growth embrace certain tactics and behaviors that help guarantee continued success. For the small-business owner, the pursuit of enduring growth is one of your most important tasks, says Vinay Tannan, Ph.D., a U.S. patent agent and founder of Taan Consulting

, an intellectual property strategy and business development agency. “Sitting back on your status quo can be disastrous,” he says. “As soon as you get complacent and take your foot off the gas pedal, something negative could happen, such as your flagship product becoming obsolete or a competitor stealing your market share.”

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Is Slowdown Inevitable?

There is a natural life cycle that even the most successful businesses come up against, says Ken Moll, founder of Blue Elevator

, a business consulting and advising firm. “Everything seems to reach a point of ‘diminishing returns.’ Whether it’s a fitness plan, a particular diet or the strategic plan of a business, there’s a general algorithm: Start up, growth, plateau; then decline. If you have not designed your strategic plan and your underlying processes to anticipate and usher in change, you are likely to eventually hit a plateau.”

Indicators Of A Slowdown

If your business is in one or more of these scenarios, you may be leveling off and in danger of a slippery slide down. 1. You don’t have concrete, measurable goals for changing, refining and improving your business. 2. There is no clear vision for the company that starts at the top and filters down throughout the organization. 3. You don’t regularly analyze your customers, competition and environment and then innovate and adjust your strategy in response. 4. You repeat the same procedures and actions at your place of business every day, week and year. 5. The last several months or year of P&L (Profit and Loss) statements are about the same. 6. You aren’t seeing a consistent flow of new customers. 7. You haven’t introduced any or many new products or services. 8. No significant changes have been made to your website recently. 9. You’ve made some recent key decisions based on emotions, rather than objectively.

Stop The Slide Before It Starts

The key to avoiding a slowdown is beginning a new period of growth before you reach that inevitable plateau, Moll says. “Your business won’t max out at a certain level if you build in the capability to reinvent and innovate,” he explains. “Most of the time, this will require a new strategic plan, a new process and often new, if not redirected, employees who stay observant regarding any changes. It may also mean getting a fresh, outside perspective.” The moment you begin to see incremental improvement taper, you can suspect leveling off. “A business must be vigilant to measure all of its KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to identify trends,” Moll says. “For example, if you see a decline in new customers for several months or a particular type of product sale diminishes over time, that’s an indication of a slowdown, and it should be investigated so you can reverse the trend.” The indication that growth is stagnating will be different for each company depending on its business objectives and KPIs, Tannan adds. “A company might be striving to maximize sales, increase its total customer base, improve customer retention or expand its product line. Whatever the case, having a growth and innovation strategy for your business isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity,” Tannan says. “When companies track this data over time, that helps ensure that their ongoing efforts are moving the needle in the direction of sustainable growth.” A freelancer since 1985, Julie Bawden-Davis has written for many publications, including MSN Money.com, Parade.com, Entrepreneur, Better Homes & Gardens and Family Circle. Read more articles on business growth. Photo: Thinkstock[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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6 Steps to Writing an Unforgettable Speech

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JULY 03, 2013The main element to writing a speech that gets you and your product or service noticed is creating a message your audience remembers long after the speech is over.

“An effective speech does more than share information,” says Kristi Marsh, author and founder of Choose Wiser

, who speaks to a wide variety of audiences. “A really powerful speech tells a story that leaves a lasting impression.”Encourage people to remember your business by using the following storytelling tactics when writing your next speech:

1. Be Personable

Every time Marsh writes a speech, she reminds herself that her main goal is to introduce herself. “It’s all about building a long-lasting relationship with the audience,” she says. “The point of my presentation is to reveal who I am and plant the seed of my message. Write an engaging speech that shares the genuine you, and those in the audience will want to support you regardless of what your product is.”

2. Educate

Concentrate your speech on educating the audience rather than selling, says Mark Robinson, owner of The Synergy Grid

and Handicapped Pets.com

.“We are so bombarded with advertisements that we’ve developed mental pop-up blockers,” he says. “If you try to sell the audience something, you become an infomercial they shut out, but if you educate them in a sincere and responsive way and trust them to know if they need your product or service, they will respond positively.”

3. Show Your Passion

“Audiences immediately spot passionate speakers who believe in what they are sharing,” Marsh says. “Always remember that you are taking them on a journey. The most mundane topic can be mesmerizing if it is delivered by a speaker who truly is enthralled and shares the topic like a story.” Showing your passion helps you follow Robinson’s cardinal rule in presenting: never be boring. “Speeches are a creative outlet of self-expression, like paintings and novels,” he says. “They allow you to be passionate about expressing a piece of yourself, as well as your perspective or vision, and that’s never boring.”

4. Play to Emotions

A great speech isn’t so much about what people remember, but how they feel, Marsh says. “Visualize how you want your audience to feel while experiencing your speech, and make everything in your speech support that point, including how you move, your gestures, how you dress, your expressions and inflection.” The audience may not recall your actual words, but they will recall their emotional reaction to the speech, Robinson adds. “Outstanding speakers craft their speeches based on how they want their audiences to feel at different points in their speeches.” When he speaks for his HandicappedPets.com business, which offers products and services for special needs and injured pets, Robinson likes to elicit what he calls “the Awwww factor.” This is the response people have when they see photos and videos during the speech that show happy, healthy dogs in wheelchairs. “Eliciting a verbal response from an audience like ‘Awwww,’ ‘Yum’ or ‘Gasp’ is powerful, and the audience remembers,” he says.

5. Stay on Task and Keep it Brief

Telling an effective story means staying your course and not telling too much. While a few segues off the beaten path can be enjoyable for your audience, for the most part you should keep moving toward your destination, which is to educate them about your product or service. Once you’ve said your piece, avoid padding your speech to hit a certain time range. Instead, fill in with a question and answer period.

6. Know Your Audience

Those who come to hear you speak will immediately forget your message or not even listen if it doesn’t apply to them. Make certain that you know your audience inside and out, advises Robinson, who along with Marsh belongs to Toastmasters

, an international membership organization that teaches public speaking skills.“We do not speak for ourselves, we speak for our audience,” Robinson says. “What we say is not because we want to say it, it is because we understand our audience and believe that they want or need to hear our message. If your speech is ideal for your audience, they will be compelled and remember your message.” Keep these storytelling tactics in mind when creating your next speech, and the audience is sure to remember what your business has to offer Read more articles on productivity. A freelancer since 1985, Julie Bawden-Davis has written for many publications, including Entrepreneur, Better Homes & Gardens and Family Circle. Photos: Thinkstock

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Talk of The Towne State of the City 2012

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This year’s State of the City luncheon promises to be bittersweet for Carolyn Cavecche when Orange’s mayor delivers her sixth and last State of the City address to 400 business owners, community group members and citizens. “I plan to review the many accomplishments we’ve achieved over the past 5½ years, while looking forward to the work that still need to be done in the coming months,” says Cavecche, who finishes her last term as mayor this year. One poplar subject Cavecche plans to cover in detail is the local economy. “During my years in office, despite the worst economic downturn in a generation, the city council successfully navigated many challenging circumstances,” she says. “Thanks to a variety of factors, including increasing sales tax revenue from an influx of new stores, particularly at the Outlets, the city’s future is looking bright. We’ve been able to balance the budget this year.” Cavecche also plans to address the implications of the recent dissolution of the city’s redevelopment agency and share a variety of accomplishments, including completed infrastructure improvements and the recent opening of the Santiago Creek Trail, which is something she pushed for since taking office. The Orange Chamber of Commerce also presents at the luncheon, and this year Laurie Weidner, Chairman of the Board for the Chamber, will touch on the strengthening local business economy and the organization’s various accomplishments, including the recent launch of a mentoring program. Other highly anticipated events at the luncheon include presentation of awards for “Citizen of the Year,” “Business of the Year” and “Legacy Business of the Year.” Past “Citizen of the Year” recipients include Mark Murphy, Shannon Tucker and the first woman to receive the award in 1979–Joanne Coontz. Businesses formerly honored include The Bookman, Watson Drugs and the Old California Lantern Company. The State of the City Luncheon takes place Thursday, March 22nd at the Doubletree Hotel in Orange from 11:30 – 1:30 pm. Individual tickets are $60. For reservations, contact the Orange Chamber of Commerce at (714) 538-3581 or visit OrangeChamber.com.

Published in the Mar/Apr 2012 edition of the Old Towne Orange Plaza Review

Written by Julie Bawden-Davis, Photograph by Donna Watson/Designer Mouse

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Sheryl Bourgeois

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In the early 1990s when Sheryl Bourgeois worked for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), Chapman’s Executive Vice President of Advancement collected coins from the headquarters of 7-11, hoisted them in her car, which dropped several inches from the weight, and carted them to the nonprofit’s office where she and volunteers rolled and counted the donations so she could deposit the money. “That was my first job in the fundraising field, and it was challenging to have that level of responsibility and accountability so soon out of college,” says Bourgeois, who was in charge of the local MDA district and responsible for raising $250,000 to $300,000 a year. “Without the money, the doors wouldn’t have stayed open. I did everything from visiting preschool hop-athons, to hosting black tie galas, to administrative work, including submitting my weekly numbers to the national office.” Bourgeois went on to work for the City of Hope Medical Center and UCI, landing at Chapman in 1998, initially as director of special events and today managing Chapman’s fundraising and marketing communications. She has overseen the most successful fundraising campaigns in Chapman’s history, resulting in several new buildings and a large increase in the university’s endowment. On average, she and her team raise $31 million annually to support university initiatives. The fiscal year ending in May 2012, Chapman reported the biggest year ever at close to $60 million in donations and pledges. Though the numbers are larger today, Bourgeois notes that her approach and philosophy remain the same. “I have a bigger team now, and I’m no longer collecting nickels, but every single gift is important and furthers the mission,” she says, noting that a genuine belief in what she represents is at the heart of successful fundraising. “People sometimes kid me that I hold the position of ’chief beggar,’ but the idea that fundraising is just about parting people from their money is a myth. I connect people to a great cause and provide them a role. Philanthropists wish to make an impact and embrace the opportunity to invest in student lives. Donors often tell me that their donations mean more to them than they do to me.” Joann Leatherby is a Chapman donor, member of the Board of Trustees and chair of the advancement committee that oversees fundraising operations. “Good fundraisers depend on building honest relationships, and Sheryl is a natural at doing so,” says Leatherby. “She possesses a kind and caring manner, which works well for her in dealing with donors and prospective donors. She’s also a strategic thinker and knows how to bring people together.” Chapman’s president, Jim Doti, agrees. “Sheryl is an unsung hero at Chapman. She’s focused and incredibly creative and at the nexus of all of the gifts received at Chapman. We are a private university, which means all the facilities being built are funded by very generous donors-not by public bond money. Sheryl and her team deserve credit for much of Chapman’s success in fundraising.” According to Bourgeois, she gets her can-do attitude from her upbringing. “I grew up in the San Fernando Valley in a ’Brady Bunch’ family-three girls and three boys,” says Bourgeois, who is married with two daughters and a son. “It was the 1970s when kids weren’t bubble-wrapped. We spent our days developing independence by exploring the outdoors. I was the youngest, so I watched my older siblings and taught myself how to do a wide variety of activities, including ride a bike and swim.” Her successful attempts to keep up with her siblings taught Bourgeois valuable lessons about tenacity. “I don’t subscribe to the belief that you can’t do something,” says Bourgeois, who holds a Bachelor’s in English from UCLA and will soon receive her doctorate in higher education from Claremont Graduate University. “There’s always a way to get something done, and I strive to do better than those who came before me.” Being in a large family also taught Bourgeois about the power of teamwork and she credits the university’s supporters, volunteers and employees with their fundraising success. Not surprisingly, the challenging economy has prompted Bourgeois and her team to regroup and refocus. “We’ve built relationships with new industries by determining what they need in terms of skills from students,” she says. “For instance, we’ve greatly strengthened our health sciences and formed alliances with local companies such as Allergan. We’re launching new academic programs in collaboration with these industries so that the courses are as relevant as possible and graduates can hit the ground running.” Hitting the ground running is a concept that Bourgeois knows quite well.

Fahmy Attallah Piazza

Located in the heart of Chapman University, the Attallah Piazza is a popular gathering spot conceived by President Doti during a tour of Italy. Chapman alumna Donna Ford Attallah donated $1.5 million to have the piazza named for her late husband, Fahmy, a clinical psychologist, poet and sportsman. The piazza features the Marion Halfacre Fountain and is surrounded by the Lee Ann, Chris and Christa Lee Canaday Amphitheater and the Wells Fargo Stage. The fountain was designed as a visual symbol of Chapman’s four pillars of education, which are intellectual, physical, social and spiritual. Each pillar contains passages from Fahmy Attallah’s book, Beauty of Being.

Published in the Sep/Oct 2012 edition of the Old Towne Orange Plaza Review

Written by Julie Bawden-Davis, Photograph by Scott Montgomery

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Susan Jester, LMFT

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When it comes to career choice, it’s not often that an unremarkable childhood can be considered a benefit, but for Susan Jester, it is. Chapman University’s Associate Director of the Frances L. Smith Community Clinic finds that her pleasant, yet uneventful early years laid a solid foundation for her work as a licensed marriage and family therapist. “As childhoods go, mine would be classified as typical,” says Jester, who grew up in the 1950s and 1960s in Buena Park playing outdoors in the orange groves and living with both parents and two younger brothers. “Now that I’m older and have practiced as a therapist, I realize how fortunate I was for my upbringing. I can also see how my perspective helps me help others.” In our technology-driven, real-time world with its propensity to fractured family relationships, just about everyone longs to cling to something stable. The way Jester sees it, therapists provide people with an emotional life raft that in some cases may be their only safe haven. “Life is difficult. We live in a busy world with unsettling societal problems like financial instability and substance abuse,” says Jester, who graduated from Chapman in 1991 and joined the clinic in 1992, also opening an Old Towne private practice in 1995. “Many clients lack extended family support, which is where a therapist comes in. We provide a nonjudgmental ear so they can sound things out and explore their options.” This quest to provide patients with a safe haven is at the core of the Frances L. Smith Community Clinic that Jester has helped direct over the last 20 years. The nonprofit facility, which opened in 1965 to assist those affected by the Vietnam War, administers mental health services to individuals in the community on a sliding scale basis. The center is a part of the University’s nationally-accredited Marriage and Family Therapy Program and provides a training and research environment for graduate students in the MFT master’s program. “The clinic is a win-win for the students and community,” says Jester of the program, which is one of the few of its kind in Southern California. “All students in the final year of their graduate program are required to have a one-year practicum,” she says. “The students get excellent training and the patients receive top-quality care.” As associate director of the center, Jester is responsible for the overall management of the graduate students and acts as a clinical supervisor and advisor to some of them. “It’s a privilege to have Susan as my advisor,” says MFT trainee Selma Longoria. “It’s really enhanced my experience to be under her supervision. She’s highly approachable and provides great mentoring and guidance. She truly enjoys helping students so they can help patients.” Once out in the workforce, Jester’s students see even more clearly the value of her influence. “Susan is always available to answer questions and gets to know your strengths and weaknesses, imparting her wisdom through gentle instruction,” says 2008 graduate Jackie Turner, a LMFT with her own practice in Old Towne. “Susan’s influence and the program helped prepare me for my first job. My boss was really impressed with my knowledge and experience.” The clinic’s director Dr. Naveen Jonathan, LMFT agrees that Jester’s presence in the center is invaluable. “Susan is compassionate and empathetic and deeply cares about educating qualified students. She offers advice when students are stuck on cases and walks them through crisis situations.” Janeen Hill, Senior Associate Dean of Schmid College of Science and Technology and Crean School of Health & Life Science adds, “Susan is extremely dedicated to the MFT students and their education as the next generation of marriage and family therapists and to the clinic’s mission of providing affordable therapy.” While keeping a private practice in addition to advising students takes a substantial amount of time, Jester enjoys the diversity and likes to keep her skills up in the area of individual and couples therapy. “I have a lot of respect for my patients, who are dealing with real life issues,” she says. “Some of my clients have seen me on and off for years, and I care about them. I also find it rewarding to work with those who experienced difficult childhoods, such as abuse. It’s satisfying to watch them break long negative family patterns with their own children.” Ever since Jester can remember, she has enjoyed watching the behavior of others and talking to them about their troubles. “I was fascinated by what my classmates would do, and I was also an avid reader, particularly enjoying autobiographies,” she says. Jester first became interested in psychology in college when she read Swiss psychologist Carl Jung’s partial autobiographical book Memories, Dreams, Reflections. It was several years before she pursued a career in mental health. After graduating from California State University Fullerton in 1978, Jester worked for a computer company during the 1980s. “It was a good learning experience that taught me a great deal about business, which has helped in the clinic,” she says. While she enjoyed the computer industry, Jester much prefers working with people. No doubt many students and patients are glad she made the career change.

Crean Hall

Located at 501 West Palm in Old Towne, Crean Hall houses Chapman University’s Psychology Department and School of Physical Therapy. Formerly known as the Western Cordage Building, the 1923 28,000-square-foot structure experienced years of decline until Chapman performed a $5 million total restoration and adaptive reuse, opening the building in 2007. The Frances L. Smith Community Clinic is located in Crean Hall and is open to the public. The center consists of eight counseling rooms and state-of-the-art equipment used for training purposes. Call (714) 997-6746 for more information.

Published in the Mar/Apr 2012 edition of the Old Towne Orange Plaza Review

Written by Julie Bawden-Davis, Photograph by Scott Montgomery

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Old Towne Talent Very Cool

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]To J.P. McDermott, it’s not so much a question of where he gets to play music or who he’s playing with, as long as he gets to play. The Washington D.C. transplant jams with a variety of musicians around Old Towne and Orange County, bringing the rockabilly sound to new and old fans alike. McDermott started singing at the age of 8 in response to some encouragement from his mother. “I was singing along to the radio in the family station wagon when she stopped me and said, ‘You can actually sing!’ I’ve been singing ever since.” Music became a big part of McDermott’s life growing up. He sang and played guitar in bands and performed in school musicals. After marrying and having children, he focused on his family and full-time job in risk management for a large bank. One night in 1999, however, he “got the bug” to start playing again and never looked back. After starting his band, J.P. McDermott and Western Bop, he found success playing 80 to 100 shows a year in various bars, festivals and venues around D.C. He also ventured to Lubbock, Texas, the hometown of music legend, Buddy Holly, to perform on what would have been Holly’s 75th birthday. At the event, McDermott met the actual Peggy Sue, who inspired the iconic song. In 2012, McDermott got an offer to change day jobs and relocate to Orange County. “Someone wants to pay me to move to California? I figured why not?” says McDermott. “We wanted to live someplace interesting and not too far from my office in Brea. All signs pointed to Orange.” On his first day in Orange, he read an article in the Plaza Review about Steve Soest, who owns Soest Guitar. Looking to meet fellow musicians, he contacted Soest on a whim. “He didn’t even know me, but left a guitar so I could show my son,” says Soest. “He was very cool right out of the gate, and I felt like I’d known him forever.” From there McDermott reached out and connected with other musicians in the area to play with J.P. McDermott and Western Bop. Rather than featuring a steady lineup, McDermott books shows he’d like to play and then finds good musicians to play alongside him. This finds him meeting and playing with a variety of musicians and friends. McDermott focuses primarily on rockabilly music and covering songs from Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Elvis, The Beatles and more. “When people hear rockabilly, their thinking is often limited to summer 1956, but my focus is more expansive,” says McDermott. “Those artists weren’t trying to fit into a genre; they were just trying for hit songs. During my shows, I play all kinds of different songs. When you think about it, if Roy Orbison had been alive in this era, he probably would have covered Radiohead’s ‘Creep.’” During his four years in Orange, McDermott has played in venues all over the county, including regular shows at The Streamliner Lounge in Orange and The Gypsy Den in Santa Ana. “Not many people do what J.P. does,” says Soest. “I’ve never met anyone who can sing the songs he sings. It’s in his blood.” While he mostly sings covers, McDermott has several original songs that he sings as well, and he has recorded two albums with another record single on the way. “I first heard J.P. perform at a Big Sandy & The Fly Rite Boys concert,” says Orange resident Abby Maharaj, who sings in her band, Abby Girl & The Real Deal. “Big Sandy pulled him onstage, and he did a couple of lively rockabilly tunes with some Buddy Holly moves. You could tell he was experienced because of how at ease he seemed. He’s great at picking the right songs to connect with the audience. I’ve heard both longtime fans and first time listeners say how much they like his voice.” While McDermott still occasionally plays on visits to D.C., he’s found a new home in the Orange County music scene. “It’s not hard to connect with this kind of music,” he says. “When we play in bars, instead of taking off when they hear the music, people get an extra beer and stay around for a while.” Find McDermott playing at venues locally, including the Streamliner Lounge in Orange on October 8th and The Gypsy Den in Santa every second and fourth Saturday of the month. Fans can find information, videos and music downloads on his website, www.westernbop.com, but McDermott suggests seeing a live show, because as he says, “There’s nothing like live music.”

Published in the Sep/Oct 2016 edition of the Old Towne Orange Plaza Review

Written by Elana Katz, Photograph by Jeanine Hill

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Plant Petunias in Your Spring Garden

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

The pretty, perky petunia is without a doubt one of the most popular late spring and summer flowers. The belle of the garden ball, she always dazzles when she shows up with her brilliant blooms.

A South American native, the petunia produces trumpet-shaped flowers in a wide range of colors, including purple, pink, white, red and peach, as well as stunning variegated blooms. Petunias are actually perennials, but are usually grown as annuals throughout North America, where they thrive in warm weather and will bloom into fall.

(FreeImages.com/Jeremy Doorten)

The most popular type of petunia is the Grandiflora variety. These produce large, showy flowers that are usually three to four inches across and come in single and double blooms. Petunia does well in garden beds, as well as in window boxes, hanging baskets and containers.

(Julie Bawden-Davis )

To have the best luck growing petunias in your spring and summer garden, keep these cultivation tips in mind. Locate petunias in a sunny site. The plant requires six to eight hours of sunlight to flower well. If you grow in less than ideal lighting conditions, petunia will produce sparse blooms and will be susceptible to pests and diseases.

Cultivate the soil well. Petunias require a rich, well-draining soil. Amend with homemade or bagged compost or worm castings prior to planting.

(Julie Bawden-Davis )

Water regularly and mulch. Petunias like to be kept moist but not soggy during the growing season. Mulch with a one- to two-inch layer of ground bark to keep the soil moist and protected from the sun’s drying rays. Also mulch container plants and keep in mind that hanging baskets of petunias may need daily watering when the weather is hot. Fertilize monthly. Feed petunias with an organic fertilizer designed for blooming plants every month from spring through summer. This will give the plants the nutrients they need to produce vibrant blooms all season long.

(Julie Bawden-Davis )

Prune regularly. For the best blooming, petunias need regular deadheading. Pinch off spent flowers to make room for new blooms. When the petunia’s branches get long and rangy, shear the plant back by one-third. This will create stockier plants full of vibrant blooms. Possible pest. Petunias are in the tomato family and are susceptible to the budworm caterpillar, which is a small, green caterpillar that is often hard to detect but will cause damage by feeding on foliage and flowers. You’ll know you have the caterpillar when you see black droppings and small holes in the leaves and flower buds. The caterpillar usually disappears by summertime. Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of 10 books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com.

Project Link

Date: MAY 12, 2017

Plant Petunias in Your Spring Garden

The pretty, perky petunia is without a doubt one of the most popular late spring and summer flowers. The belle of the garden ball, she always dazzles when she shows up with her brilliant blooms.

(FreeImages.com/Jeremy Doorten)

(Julie Bawden-Davis )

Cultivate the soil well. Petunias require a rich, well-draining soil. Amend with homemade or bagged compost or worm castings prior to planting.

(Julie Bawden-Davis )

(Julie Bawden-Davis )

Project Link

Date: MAY 12, 2017

How Often Should You Give Employee Reviews?

During these fast-paced times, frequent employee reviews have become the norm. Here’s how you can make the most of regular reviews. MAY 12, 2017 Once upon a time, employers held employee reviews yearly. More recently, the trend is for employers to give employees more frequent performance reviews. The reasons for what some have called “the never-ending performance review” are tied into the rapidly changing work environment. “There’s no way around more frequent reviews,” says Manny Medina, CEO of Outreach, a sales acceleration platform. “The old model of doing employee reviews every quarter or six months is no longer sufficient to match the speed of business. “Teams and business models change quickly today and this necessitates direct, immediate feedback,” he continues. “Someone could perform well on one project and poorly on another, and if the next review cycle is three months away, it’s already water under the bridge by the time that arrives.” Steve Elliott, CEO of AgileCraft, which helps companies take advantage of scaled management programs, agrees about the antiquated status of yearly or semi-yearly employer reviews. “Providing feedback, good or bad, during a once-a-year review is too slow,” says Elliott. “We strive to give rapid feedback continuously and collaboratively. This avoids surprises on performance that can affect employee morale and ultimately business growth.”

The Benefits of Frequent Employee Reviews

In addition to allowing employers to quickly provide feedback, more frequent reviews can have a variety of other benefits. Prevents problematic behavior. “If a particular negative behavior affects other people and you don’t nip it in the bud, it’s hard to say how much collateral damage will be caused,” says Medina. “Bad behavior is a virus, and you need to get ahead of it quickly. The cascading effect can be terrible. In today’s business environment, collaboration is king. If that breaks down for any reason, you need to address the breakdown immediately.” Employees appreciate (and are guided by) feedback. “Knowing how they’re doing can help improve employee performance,” says Joanna Farwell, human resources manager at Tallwave, which helps companies build their brands, products and digital sales.

If they do their jobs well, employee reviews help your employees perform to the best of their abilities and that builds better business.

—Andrea J. Simon, founder, Simon Associates Management Consultants

Creates an environment of focus. “More frequent reviews can help employees, particularly new employees, to stay on track by giving them smaller time spans to focus on,” says Phil Shawe, co-CEO of transportation technology company TransPerfect. “For instance, discussing an area of improvement with an employee and then meeting again in a few months, rather than a year down the line, holds the person more accountable for making those positive changes.” Keeps employees apprised of their performances. “Regardless whether you’re performing reviews annually or more frequently, it’s of the utmost importance that employees know where they stand at all times,” says Bill Green, founder and CEO of private real estate investment lender LendingOne. “In the case of an employee with subpar performance that eventually leads to termination, it should never be a surprise.” Encourages employee engagement and development. “More frequent discussions allow managers and team leaders to address both the positive and negative aspects of performance as they are happening, so qualitative feedback can be given and enhancements and corrections can be made in a timely manner,” says Cornelia Gamlem, president of GEMS Group Ltd. and author of The Big Book of HR. “This is critical, especially in service-oriented organizations.”

Tips for Providing Effective Employee Reviews

Consider trying any of these tactics to help you and your employees get the most from employee reviews. Train management to have the “hard” conversations. “Our nature is conflict avoidance, so we require training to make the feedback about the issues, not the person,” says Medina. “In addition, create a culture where management and peers give feedback on the spot.” Ask employees about how well you’ve been performing too. “Get employees talking about how well they think they’ve been performing and then how well you as a manager [are] performing,” says Farwell. “Employees appreciate feedback from their managers. In return, employees owe it to their managers to provide feedback. Ask the employees if they need anything from you, and if they have the tools they need to perform their jobs.” Avoid automatically abandoning former review practices. “Consider your industry and the nature of the work your employees perform,” says Gamlem. “There are some types of jobs that may still align with the traditional annual or semi-annual employee reviews approach, such as jobs in manufacturing or in call centers when the work is of a repetitive nature and the tasks being performed are highly quantifiable.” Remember the purpose of the performance review. “If they do their jobs well, employee reviews help your employees perform to the best of their abilities and that builds better business,” says Andrea J. Simon, founder and president of Simon Associates Management Consultants. “Hopefully, the end result is a more productive company, satisfied bosses and goals realized and surpassed.” Read more articles on hiring & HR.

Photo: Getty Images

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Date: MAY 12, 2017

Is a Domain Name Change Ever a Good Idea?

Sometimes businesses evolve and need to change their URL. Here are signs that it might be a good idea to consider a domain name change. MAY 10, 2017 About.com disappeared this week and dotdash.com took its place. The owners of the general interest website that dates back to the early days of the internet decided that it was time for a domain name change. The market has become exponentially more crowded since About.com began in 1997. To differentiate itself, the company began breaking off into a variety of stand-alone topic sites a year ago. Now all of those sites point to dotdash.com. “In today’s world, the explosion of technology has reached every touch point of our lives, and it won’t slow down any time soon,” says Sasha Stack, partner and leader of Lippincott, a global creative consultancy that helps businesses build their brands. “New competitors are disrupting long-standing industries and creating entirely new ones, and brands are being created from scratch, with less investment than ever,” continues Stack. “We’re also seeing a cultural shift in consumers embracing, and even preferring, brands they don’t yet know. All of these factors could make a domain name change a good idea for your company.”

Reasons for a Domain Name Change

There are a couple of reasons to make a URL change, believes Stack. “The primary reason to change a domain name is if a better one becomes available,” she says. “For instance, if your company didn’t have the pure .com [the exact match for the name of your product, company or app] previously, but now you can. It’s also advisable to change the URL if the company itself has a name change and wants the domain to reflect that.”

Although a domain name change may seem like a good idea, unless you’re forced to change your name due to a merger or scandal, be wary of changing your domain name once you have built up brand equity.

—Gail Z. Martin, president, DreamSpinner Communications

Stack notes that changing a company name and URL is a complex, timely undertaking. “There’s preliminary legal screens to make sure a name has a fighting chance and comprehensive legal searches to ensure a name is securable in relevant trademark classes and jurisdictions,” she explains. “There’s also linguistic screens to ensure that a name doesn’t mean something inappropriate in another language or is too difficult to pronounce. And it’s necessary to secure digital assets that support the name, such as social media handles.”

Tips to Help You Change Your URL

It’s important to change your URL in a seamless way that doesn’t confuse or lose customers. The following tips can help you if you intend on making the transition.

Inform customers ahead of time. “Have clear and consistent messaging on email, social and web channels for at least several months prior to the change so that people don’t get confused,” says Aaron Price, CEO of innovation festival Propelify. “We changed our name from Propeller, and even though it’s only three letters different, some people were confused by our new name.”
Be as discreet as possible prior to launch. “Anyone can register a domain, so it’s important to not let the public know about the domain name change prior to the official launch,” says Stack. “If a company’s intended new name leaks and that company doesn’t yet own the complementary assets, including the domain name and social media handles, the domain acquisition can become a very expensive and time-consuming task.” Domain squatters can hold the domain name hostage until you pay their fees, and the process is time-consuming, because of the work involved in hunting down the squatters and negotiating with them.
Choose a name that represents your core culture and mission. “Be authentic to your company mission,” says Price. “Remember, you define the emotion associated with the brand.”
Avoid getting too clever. “Consumers have been trained to look for .com, so realize that other extensions will cause confusion, unless you own them and redirect to your homepage,” says Gail Z. Martin, author of The Essential Social Media Handbook and president of DreamSpinner Communications. “Your domain name is part of your branding. It should be obviously connected to your company or product, which will make it easy to remember.”
Realize you may not get the pure .com version. “Unless you have a five-, six- or seven-figure budget, it’s unlikely you’ll get a simple one-word domain,” says Price. “That’s okay. Adding other nouns and verbs can be an easy way to differentiate and maintain uniqueness. Sometimes those simple domains come with trademark headaches, anyway.”

Choosing the Best Domain Name for Your Business

When choosing the ideal domain name for your business, Stack suggests making sure that the name is:

relevant to a brand’s time and place, but has the power to become iconic
unique in a brand’s context, without feeling contrived or unapproachable
able to signal to the target audience(s) that the brand is for them and speaks their language
an expansive home for a brand that will continue to grow and mature

While these tips may be helpful, you may still want to tread carefully when changing your domain name. “Although a domain name change may seem like a good idea, unless you’re forced to change your name due to a merger or scandal, be wary of changing your domain name once you have built up brand equity,” cautions Martin. “You’ll lose a lot of people who won’t hear about the change, and you’ll have to work to rebuild consumer awareness.” Read more articles on websites.

Photo: Getty Images

Project Link

Date: MAY 10, 2017

Talk of The Towne Summer Writing Project

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For the third summer in a row, 1888 and JukePop are teaming up to look for America’s next great author. The Summer Writing Project provides aspiring authors with an opportunity to write novellas (a distinctive, often overlooked literary form that offers the focus of a short story and the scope of a novel) and submit these stories one chapter at a time for immediate feedback from readers.

Both 1888 and JukePop advocate writing and support reading. 1888 was named for the year Orange was incorporated and is a local literary nonprofit that aims to build and strengthen community “one story at a time.” 1888 recently published a set of dime novels—short paperback books from the late 1800s and early 1900s—to help preserve their history and to continue to show off the strengths of the novella form. JukePop uses the power of the internet and the creativity of authors to publish stories one chapter at a time, shaped by the feedback authors receive from online readers.

“The great part of the Summer Writing Project was being able to workshop a project in a supportive environment of artists and consumers like JukePop, into a product that was attractive with a forward-thinking publisher like 1888,” says Shaunn Grulkowski, whose novella, Retcontinuum, was published in 2014. This summer, starting on June 1st and going through the end of August, The Summer Writing Project invites authors to share their stories online, where they will receive comments and suggestions from readers all over the world. Last year the project gathered a cyber-crowd of more than 350,000 authors and readers—more than three times as many as in 2014. This year, the community is expected to grow to more than half a million, bringing even more exposure to contributing writers. Dean Moses, one of the top three authors at the end of the 2015 Summer Writing Project, says, “When I entered, I was initially struck by the fact my work was getting read. Not only that, fellow authors offered fostering advice. I used what I learned from 1888 Center and fellow authors, and to my delight my novella, A Stalled Ox, was published.” Submissions for novella chapters will begin on June 1st and will continue through the end of the month. On July 5th, the top 25 authors and their novellas will be announced, and they will be featured on an episode of 1888’s literary podcast, “The How The Why.” Throughout the rest of July and August, there will be educational lectures and panels. Many of these will be held with participating bookstores, libraries and universities to bring more benefits to the local community. These will be aimed at supporting the top 25 authors with their manuscripts, as well as helping the entire SWP community and any other local writers and literature lovers. On August 1, the winner of the project will be announced, and their completed novella, with professional artwork and editing, will be published by the end of the summer. Allison Spector, who had her novella Let’s Stalk Rex Jupiter! published from the 2015 Summer Writing Project, says, “SWP was an awesome experience that gave me a much needed push to complete a full length work. It allowed me to craft a story with real time feedback and play off of my audience as the contest progressed.”

For more information on the Summer Writing Project, and to join in as a writer or reader in June, visit www.1888.center/swp.

Published in the May/Jun 2016 edition of the Old Towne Orange Plaza Review

Written by Brett Arnold, Photograph provided by Kevin Staniec

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A Guide to Houseplants Infographic-You Can Grow That!

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]For a quick look at the myriad ways that houseplants make our lives infinitely better, take a look at this comprehensive infographic created by Coral Windows.

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Sherman Library & Gardens 6th Annual Fuchsia Festival

(FreeImages.com/Tanya Hall)

Whenever I gaze at a fuchsia, I think of a woman’s formal dress, including a petticoat. The shape of this pendulous flower, combined with the vibrant colors, make for a dazzling display. The folks at Sherman Library & Gardens in Corona Del Mar, California realize the allure of the fuchsia, which is why they hold their Annual Fuchsia Festival every spring.

“Sherman Library & Gardens has such a wonderful fuchsia collection, and many parts of Southern California offer a perfect place to grow them,” says Erin Aguiar, manager of horticulture for the gardens.

(Sherman Library & Gardens)

“We started the annual festival, because we wanted to celebrate these beautiful flowers and share our love of fuchsias with the community. It has also become more difficult to find some of the older varieties. We wanted to not only preserve them, but make them more available to the public.” Fuchsias are native to the Americas, just like the flower’s garden counterpart, the hummingbird, says Aguiar. “Fuchsias offer a great way to attract hummingbirds to your garden, where you can easily watch them happily slurp up nectar.”

(Sherman Library & Gardens)

They are also one of the loveliest flowers you can add to your garden. “Fuchsias boast a dizzying array of variety, from the bold, long slender tubes of the Bolivian fuchsia to the dainty miniature blossoms of Fuchsia thymifolia,” says Aguiar. “The classic fuchsia hybrids impress with spectacular color combinations and flower styles.” Once you get past the short learning curve, you can easily grow these spectacular garden gems, encourages Aguiar, who notes that they require shady conditions if you live inland. They can grow in full sun on the coast. They also need to be kept well-watered.

(Sherman Library & Gardens)

If you live in Southern California, the Fuchsia Festival offers a lovely spring day in the garden with a little something for everyone. “We have the fuchsia plant sale and classes for the green thumbs. There are booths to learn about related gardening topics, as well as games and activities for kids.” The Fuchsia Festival is on Saturday, May 6th from 10:30 am to 4 pm. Visit www.slgardens.org for more information. Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of 10 books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com.

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Date: MAY 5, 2017

Sherman Library & Gardens 6th Annual Fuchsia Festival

(Sherman Library & Gardens)

(Sherman Library & Gardens)

(Sherman Library & Gardens)

The Fuchsia Festival is on Saturday, May 6th from 10:30 am to 4 pm. Visit www.slgardens.org for more information. Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of 10 books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com.

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Create Magical Paths in Your Garden

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Add a sense of intrigue and discovery to the garden by creating garden paths. While they are certainly functional and provide direction, well-placed paths also make traversing your landscape an adventure. Visitors to the garden can’t wait to see what’s around the bend or at the end of a pathway.

By transitioning from one area of the yard to another, well-placed garden paths also create a sense of definition and purpose that leads to a series of outdoor rooms. Even better, meandering pathways can make small yards seem much larger than they actually are. When you edge the path with tall plants, for instance, it prevents you from seeing other parts of the yard and gives the illusion of substantial space.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Planning Your Path In order to create a successful garden path, it helps to determine the purpose of the path and where you plan to lead people. Here are the three main pathway options:

Practical path. These paths are used for well-traveled routes to locations such as the grill, vegetable garden, shed, garage or firewood.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)
Strolling path. This type of path is used to give visitors and yourself a sense of discovery and exploration. For such a trail, you’ll want it to wind along, passing items like eye-catching plants and statuary. Such a path is most successful when it leads to a destination, like a shady nook with a table and chairs, hammock, hot tub, breathtaking view or a pond or waterfall. As a matter of fact, the sound of running water draws people and will keep them on a path until they reach the water feature.
Fork in the path. If you really want to increase the sense of mystery, create a fork in the path, which gives the garden visitor a choice as to which way to travel. Consider having one of the paths lead to a functional spot, like a potting bench, and the other end up at a secret garden hideaway.

(Lydia Plunk)

Intalling Your Path Three feet is a good width for most garden paths, unless you plan on pushing through items like lawn mowers, wheelbarrows or wheelchairs. In such cases, you’ll want 4 to 5 feet of clearance. Plant low-growing ground covers, such as various mosses, near the path edge and around stepping stones. Add progressively taller plants, placing the tallest plants the furthest away. If you are attempting to screen various areas of the yard and create an enclosed feeling, then the taller the last row of plants the better.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

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At curves in the path, place little surprises such as unusual statuary, accessories and signage. Make the journey a fragrant one by placing plants with scented foliage right on the edge of the pathway and between stepping stones. Good scented additions include herbs like mint, oregano, thyme, rosemary, sage, lavender and scented geranium. Space stepping stones to accommodate a natural stride, and prevent tripping by inserting them into the ground so they are flush with the top of the soil. Possible Pathway Materials Garden pathway materials are numerous. They include decomposed granite, gravel, bark chips, wood, rock, pavers and stepping stones. When choosing, consider how the materials will complement the style of your landscape and the architecture of your house. For instance, crushed shells look great at a beach house, whereas river rock or wood is likely to accent a forested pathway.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Decorative stepping stones come in a wide variety of designs. To create a visually appealing look that isn’t overwhelming, intersperse a few decorative stepping stones with plain pavers. Also keep in mind that the most durable and long lasting stepping stones are ones made of concrete. Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of seven books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com.

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5 Fun DIY Projects with Succulent Plants

When it comes to easy-to-grow, gorgeous plants, succulents top the list. While gardeners used to stick these fleshy plants in out-of-the-way areas of the garden, over the last decade they’ve come into their own and are now appreciated for the botanic beauties they are.

planting-designs-for-cactus-and-succulents-book

With so many leaf forms and plant shapes, there’s a succulent plant for every person’s taste, says Sharon Asakawa, co-author (with John Bagnasco, Shaun Buchanan, and Robyn Foreman) of Planting Designs for Cactus & Succulents. “No matter your garden style, you’ll find a succulent to fit your indoor or outdoor garden,” says the author, whose book includes dozens of fun projects for these water-wise plants.

Easy to grow

As a group, succulents are probably the easiest of plants to grow. “For the most part, succulents are slow growing, so you don’t even need to fertilize them, unless you want to get rapid growth,” says Asakawa, who also hosts the GardenLife radio show.

Succulents are as comfortable in the ground as they are in containers, providing they have excellent drainage, which you can get by planting them in cactus mix.

Proper watering is key. Keep plants on the dry side and avoid overwatering, which will quickly lead to fungal infections and resulting root rot. “For the most part, succulents go dormant in the winter, at which time you need to water even less,” says Asakawa.

Good indoor plants

Grow succulents indoors year-round or just during the winter months, moving them out when the weather is frost-free. In the home, be careful not to overwater, and make sure to provide bright light, such as from a southern or southwestern window.

Planting

When planting succulent transplants, make sure to place them at the same level they were at in their containers. To root cuttings from another plant, let the severed area callous over for about a week and then stick it in a propagation medium, such as sand or perlite. Water immediately and then don’t water again until the medium begins to dry. In about a month, the cutting will have rooted, and it can be transplanted.

Check out the gallery above for 5 fun projects with succulents!

Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of five books, including Fairy Gardening and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way and founder of HealthyHouseplants.com

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Inside Art With Milford Zornes

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1207″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When art meets reality on canvas, the viewer knows that something of historical significance has occurred. Such is the work of California Scene painter Milford Zornes (1908-2008), whose paintings are featured in an exhibit at the Hilbert Museum of California Art in Old Towne. Known for his representational art that depicts everyday life—in particular scenes of California from the early 1900s-1980s—Zornes was a prolific artist, whose career spanned 80 years. His paintings found in collections throughout the world depicting people going about their daily routines have become historical reference points. “Milford’s art portrayed the average American’s life in the early 20th century—from farmers to foundry workers to auto mechanics,” says writer, art curator and artist Gordon McClelland, who became good friends with Zornes when he interviewed the artist for his seminal book, The California Style: California Watercolor Artists 1925-1955. Later he wrote two books about Zornes, including Milford Zornes: An American Artist. Humble Beginnings Born in Oklahoma into a poor “Okie” family, Zornes also lived in Idaho and California. In the early 1930s, he studied at the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles under award-winning artist F. Tolles Chamberlin. He also learned from the founder of the California Scene painting movement, Millard Sheets, with whom he became good friends. Zornes enjoyed traveling, which led to hitchhiking across the U.S. and visiting Europe. At the time, which was early in his career, he painted regional scenes wherever he went. During the Great Depression in 1934, Zornes signed up to work as a painter for the P.W.A.P. art project, a part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s WPA (Works Project Admini-stration) program. He ended up doing more paintings than all of the other artists in the program combined. Roosevelt selected one of Zornes’ watercolors to hang in the White House. “The notoriety Milford earned from having his work displayed at the White House gave his career a big boost, and he became nationally recognized,” says McClelland. “The Canyon” During Zornes’ rise to fame, he painted the piece featured in this issue that depicts New York City’s Wall Street. Known as “The Canyon,” the term at the time for streets framed by skyscrapers, the painting is one of his most well-known. The Hilbert Museum recently acquired the piece, which is featured in the exhibit. The story behind “The Canyon” that Zornes shared with McClelland is an amusing one. When the artist married his first wife in 1935, they traveled to New York City on their honeymoon. He set up an easel on Wall Street in order to create his own rendition of the street’s hustle and bustle. Trouble soon arrived in the form of a police officer, who said that he needed a permit to sit on the sidewalk and paint. Zornes asked the officer to watch his painting supplies while he ran to city hall for a permit. The quest took longer than expected, so the policeman scolded Zornes when he finally returned. Despite the interruption, the artist completed three-quarters of the painting on site.

California Scene Painters “‘The Canyon’ fits perfectly into our collection of Milford Zornes’ work,” says Mary Platt, Director of the Hilbert Museum. “Though the painting doesn’t represent a California Scene, it is the work of a California Scene painter. Milford was one of many great artists who came to Los Angeles in the 1930s-1950s to work for Disney and Warner Brothers,” she says. “The artists spent their time off painting watercolors, which became the body of work known as California Scene paintings, many of which can be found at the Hilbert Museum.” “The Canyon” is a good example of Zornes’ brilliant work, says Platt. “Milford almost magically portrayed in his paintings qualities of light and air. There’s always a sense of action, such as people walking down Wall Street. He’s a master at incorporating beautiful swatches of color that seem to catch the sun, and his skies are always spectacular.” In 2016, Mark Hilbert co-founded the Hilbert Museum with his wife, Jan, after the couple collected California Scene paintings for more than two decades. He’d seen “The Canyon” featured at exhibits over the years and felt drawn to it, so when the opportunity came up recently to acquire the piece, he jumped at the chance. “The painting, done during the heart of the Great Depression, is probably one of the best renditions of Wall Street at that time,” says Hilbert. “The piece depicts people going about their business, and its view of the canyon gives you the language of what’s going on at the time, including the fashion. It’s the epitome of what the Hilbert Museum is all about–telling stories through snapshots of the 20th century. Like all of Zornes’ paintings, this one has a sense of movement and energy that anchors you in that time and place.” Storied Art Career Following the Depression, Zornes joined the military during World War II and recorded behind-the-scenes war efforts through charcoal drawings mixed with opaque watercolors. When the war ended, he returned to California and became almost exclusively a watercolor painter. “Milford painted with watercolors on location,” says McClelland. “His painting technique was a difficult one, because you only have one chance with watercolor, which can’t be changed like other mediums, such as oil. One of his techniques involved leaving white paper to show through.” Zornes, who also enjoyed teaching, including as an art instructor at Pomona College, traveled throughout the world to share about his art. “People were fascinated about how he manipulated the watercolor medium in unique ways,” says McClelland. “He produced art that communicated more what he felt than what he saw. He tried successfully to get viewers to have a visceral experience when they viewed his art.” For Zornes, painting was something he had to do, which explains his eight decades of work. “He painted pretty much every day,” says McClelland. “He said art was an addiction, and the only cure was to paint another painting. When he got halfway through a piece, he’d get an idea for the next one, which he always thought would be the best one ever.” When McClelland spoke to Zornes for the first book he wrote about the painter, he was impressed when the artist, 80 at the time, said that his parents had lived to be more than 100, and he intended to live that long and continue painting. “I told him that if he lived to 100, I’d throw him a party and he could paint, which he did for two hours in front of an audience at the Pasadena Museum of California Art in January 2008,” says McClelland. “That was incredible to watch.” To enjoy Zornes’ paintings, visit the Hilbert Museum in Old Towne at 167 N. Atchison St., (across from Ruby’s and the train station). Entrance and parking are free. More information: www.chapman.edu/arts/hilbert-museum.aspx.

Published in the Mar/Apr 2017 edition of the Old Towne Orange Plaza Review

Written by Julie Bawden-Davis, Photograph by Gordon McClelland

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Building Character Guy Hinrichs

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1201″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Even though it was a required activity at his elementary school, Guy Hinrichs remembers the satisfaction he experienced visiting a convalescent hospital as a third grader. “It made me feel good to smile at all of the very ill people in the hospital beds and have them smile back at me,” says Chapman University’s Director of Special Events. That experience and the fact that his parents and grandparents instilled in him from a young age the importance of giving back inspired him to join the Key Club in junior high school. A part of Kiwanis International, the student-led program teaches leadership through community service. “I found the Key Club with its various activities, such as holding car washes to help underprivileged children and singing to the elderly at Christmas time, to be very rewarding, and I also enjoyed working with other students as a team toward a common goal,” says Hinrichs. “You learn a great deal about yourself and broaden your horizons when you step out of your comfort zone and help others.” So when Hinrichs found himself at Chapman University in 2003 orchestrating the many events the school holds to raise funds for scholarships, he felt that in a sense, he’d come full circle. “At the time, the position was manager of special events, and I thought the job working on events for scholarship fundraising was just what I’d been working toward,” says Hinrichs, who left a position in guest relations at Disney where he’d worked for 12 years. “After the interview at Chapman, I was so excited I floated out the door.” Over the course of the next several years, Hinrich’s position took on more responsibility as the university experienced phenomenal growth. In 2009, he was promoted to director of special events, which meant expanded responsibilities and management. Today Hinrichs oversees the execution of a wide variety of large-scale university events, including the American Celebration, featuring one of the largest fundraising galas in Orange County in terms of money raised, the nationally recognized Economic Forecast and the Chapman 5K. With every event he coordinates, Hinrichs is aware that he represents the university and he takes that responsibility to heart. “The Key Club and working at Disney trained me well to represent the university and interface with many different people during the process,” he says. “Those experiences also taught me the importance of teamwork. I thrive in a group environment and appreciate the different perspectives and ideas that come from such an atmosphere.” Sandy Quinn is president of the Richard Nixon Foundation and has known Hinrichs for more than 20 years. “Events are a means to an end–to create a memorable guest experience–and Guy is good at it,” he says. “He has a knack for organization and operations and terrific people skills. Special events take extraordinary planning and attention to every detail, and Guy recruits and puts into play a big organization of Chapman folks to organize and execute the various university programs.” Chapman’s president James Doti also praises Hinrich’s ability to connect to the larger community with engaging events. “Event planning is very important, because it gives the university its public persona,” says Doti. “It takes a creative individual like Guy to juggle so many elements. For example, overseeing all the details of a 500-person outdoor event, including the people, food and entertainment, and then finding out that it’s going to be windy, would drive most people to become so stressed they’d become dysfunctional, but Guy deals with such situations with equanimity and a smile on his face.” “A case in point is the recent Winterfest, which involved a light show, fireworks and snow machines that mesmerized everyone and went off like clockwork. Guy makes things look so natural and perfect people leave feeling good about the event and Chapman, not realizing that a major production took place and it was all masterminded and overseen by Guy and his team.” Chapman’s Executive Vice President of Advancement Sheryl Bourgeois agrees. “Guy is a consummate professional – always calm under pressure, amenable and gracious, no matter how challenging the situation or problem. And he is Chapman’s version of Walt Disney. He is always coming up with new ways to wow us. You never know what he will do or how he will top the last production. Each and every event is better than the last.” Hinrichs grew up during the 1980s in Redlands, which like Orange had its start in the late 1800s. His childhood community has many older homes, which attracted him to Old Towne, where he has lived for 13 years. His most recent home is a 1915 transitional style house that he is restoring. In his free time, Hinrichs enjoys volunteering with the Old Towne Preservation Association (OTPA), where he serves on the board and is the communications chair. “I like working with the group,” he says. “And of course it’s great to give back to the community.”

Global Citizens Plaza

Honoring former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, the Ambassador George L. Argyros ’59 Global Citizens Plaza and Julianne Argyros Fountain were dedicated as part of the Global Citizen Gala in 2009. The plaza and fountain are surrounded by 64 international flags representing countries that Chapman’s students hail from or Chapman study abroad program destinations. Considered one of the most beautiful spots on campus, the Citizens Plaza will serve as an eastern gateway for the Marybelle and Sebastian P. Musco Center for the Arts, which is scheduled to open Spring 2015.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Archives: Portfolio

Potential Benefits of the Working Families Flexibility Act…

—David Lewis, CEO, Operations Inc.

… and Potential Drawbacks of the H.R. 1180

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Important First Step

Determine Placement And Fit

Decide On Financial Goals

The Business Plan Evolution

Resources For Industry Analysis

A Shift In The Plan

When An Investor Makes Sense

How To Calculate It

Operating Cash Flow Vs. Net Income

The Benefits of Positive Operating Cash Flow

Your Online Image Speaks Volumes

1. Stay neutral.

2. Follow grammar and punctuation rules.

3. Know how to use online communication tools.

4. Consider your virtual recipients.

5. Take care choosing your professional user name.

6. Pick up the phone when necessary.

Benefits Of Expanding

The Time Is Right

Successful Expansion

Beware Of Runaway Growth

5 Leadership Styles

1. Participative

2. Authoritarian

3. Laissez-Faire

4. Transformational

5. Servant

Pinch Pennies

Save Your Dollars

Partner For Charity

Seek Free Resources

Ask About Discounts And Deferrals

Stay Focused And Remain Positive

Is Slowdown Inevitable?

Indicators Of A Slowdown

Stop The Slide Before It Starts

1. Be Personable

2. Educate

3. Show Your Passion

4. Play to Emotions

5. Stay on Task and Keep it Brief

6. Know Your Audience

The Benefits of Frequent Employee Reviews

—Andrea J. Simon, founder, Simon Associates Management Consultants

Tips for Providing Effective Employee Reviews

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Reasons for a Domain Name Change

—Gail Z. Martin, president, DreamSpinner Communications

Tips to Help You Change Your URL

Choosing the Best Domain Name for Your Business

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