For the Smart Money Cookie

Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) was founded in the mid seventies and back then their focus was in ‘bootstrap’ buyouts. Recently they have assembled an exceptional green enterprise which concentrates not solely on maximized profit margins, but additionally on the ecological impact of the companies they control. When Henry Kravis from KKR and the New York based Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) merged last year green issues in the business community became a hot topic. Their company mission is to encourage their affiliated firms to fight against environmental menaces like water pollution as well as high consumption of water resources. To accomplish this, they utilize a method labeled eco-efficiency which involves concepts such as fuel economy, reducing the dispersion of toxic chemicals, and using clean energy. Simple and effective, but the management didn’t realize the range of the project’s advantages until the head of the project and global public affairs, Ken Mehlman, studied the program subsequent to its first year in operation. Factually eclipsing all expectations, Ken found that this program not only decreased the overall impact on the environment, but was increasing the profits from all their companies besides. Nearly all of the companies affiliated to Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co and Ken Mehlman at present apply eco-efficiency. If you think about the fact that the total portfolio is worth 86 billion USD, you can see what a feat this really was.

Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co with the EDF along with Ken Mehlman are further developing the original project. To illustrate, Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co got together with the Environmental Defense Fund’s Climate Corps Program a venture which teaches MBA students how to introduce cost-effective, environmentally friendly techniques.

What is more, Ken Mehlman has been collaborating closely with KKR to develop metrics that firms can use to quantify and oversee resources. With this information available, any business may without much effort assess their day-to-day activities and ascertain where they can solve any problems while at the same time tracking their progress. Today’s business world has been transformed forever by the ecologically centered efforts of Henry Kravis, the KKC, and the Environmental Defense Fund. Their developments have made cutting back their ecological impact simpler for firms in any industry and established that making profits need not entail the hefty price of negatively impacting our planet.

Had you encountered a company called Trilegiant? When you look at its specialty, the administration of customer loyalty and club initiatives, the company is among the biggest in the U.S.A.. The business and its President Nathaniel Lipman join with many names chosen from the major shopping, dental, entertainment, and similar services to benefit the purchasing experience.

You’d have to admit that Trilegiant has experience to spare. Originating in the town of Norwalk in Connecticut, Trilegiant started out in the early seventies and now covers influence in a full six states, 8 sites, and just over 3.000 experienced staff members. Over twenty five million members across the U.S.A. employ the business’ programs at present date.

The reputation of Lipman’s company derives from risk free packages, making it possible for customers to save money and get hold of high value services. To give an example, the Buyers Advantage service offers a way to obtain inexpensive protection on extended warranties, guaranteed returns, and the cost of repairs, effectively guaranteeing their peace of mind with regard to their acquisition. Other projects like HealthSaver provide quality healthcare on a decent budget, and these are just a couple of the excellent services that the company provides.

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It’s when the company’s attention turns to the neighborhood that Trilegiant has its time to shine. Individual events organized inside the firm even by smaller factions of the workforce can generate charitable donations of thirty thousand dollars in just 5 days - without doubt a result worth taking note of. They also try to help through research. As you may know, every year public firms in association with the government of the U.S.A. acquire an astonishing profusion of statistical data. Trilegiant combs these statistics with diligence to isolate the essentials and then debates ways of improving them. As an example, the number of car collisions in the USA in any given year is several million. Nobody intends for their own truck to factor in these statistics, particularly among the numbers for physical injury, and over the past two years subscribers to the Autovantage car club have received the business’s yearly road rage data. Within these can be found summaries of eye opening information to raise public awareness. So there it is; Trilegiant, a wonderful example of a company who appreciates how crucial the spirit of its clients and community actually is. They mix a dedication to important goals and their efforts to inform the public with their schemes to benefit consumers’ purchasing experiences. They’re exactly what you’d desire from a community-oriented company.

A volunteers’ brotherhood can unite their community, and naturally it will fulfill the volunteers’ goal of aiding their local needy. But scheduling this kind of event is not always as quick as you’d hope, and arranging what you want to do will eat up free time better used to do some good. It hardly requires mention, when you volunteer as part of a team effort with friends from work, it will be far more fun.

The obvious step is for other companies to follow the lead of far-sighted firms like Adaptive Marketing LLC. As well as programs including Credit Diagnosis created to benefit consumers, Adaptive Marketing handles the organizational duties to give its employees the time to reach out to the local community.

Luckily, company sponsored volunteer activity has developed beyond blood drives and once-a-year charitable giving. Tennis shoe recycling programs and more energetic campaigns like tree-planting weekends — these and other activities have been arranged by Adaptive Marketing for its workforce. With all relevant information — time, date, location, details of event, etc — announced it is a simple matter for staff members to decide the precise amount of time they’d be giving and how they’d be using it. Of course, it’s important to let volunteers support projects according to their own interests. At Adaptive Marketing, the company bringing you Credit Diagnosis, staff are given the chance to choose from a diverse list of activities in their local area. You’ll soon see your volunteers promoting environmental initiatives and more. This provides Adaptive Marketing volunteers with the chance to use their time in meaningful, important ways and relish getting involved.

If businesses ask their workforce to consider volunteering at a nearby homeless shelter, it tends to be during a single event or a regular, perhaps weekly or monthly project. Staffers may well say — and quite honestly be convinced– that they have no time to give, though it would be rather surprising if they seriously can’t find the hours to lend a hand with some smaller one-day event.

Providing a helping hand is a long-standing tradition at many commercial enterprises. Community goodwill builds from the projects undertaken by Adaptive Marketing’s employees over the course of these company-supported projects. Volunteering to help others can make you feel much better about yourself — just the sort of feeling to leave staff members motivated both in their regular work and their volunteer activities.

Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) was launched in the mid 70’s and in the beginning their focus was in leveraged buyouts. Recently they have put together a groundbreaking green enterprise that concentrates not just on maximized profit margins, but also on how environmentally aware each of their companies are. When Henry Kravis from KKR and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) got together in 2008 green matters went mainstream. Their goals include encouraging their affiliated businesses in avoiding practices which may destroy the environment like hazardous waste and any high water consumption. In order to accomplish this, they employ a methodology known as eco-efficiency; this involves concepts such as recycling programs, waste reduction, and maximum use of renewable resources. Efficient though it was the firms involved did not even understand the scope of the project’s advantages until Ken Mehlman, the head of the Green Portfolio Project and global public affairs, evaluated the project when it had been up and running for its first year.

Much to everyone’s surprise, Ken saw that this program not only served in preserving the environment, but was increasing the profits from all their business organizations besides. Almost all of the business concerns affiliated to Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co and Ken Mehlman now are actively taking part in eco-efficiency principles. If you consider that the group has a value of virtually $100,000,000,000 dollars, you can be certain this wasn’t a simple accomplishment.

KKR and the EDF along with Ken Mehlman are further developing the initial project. For instance, Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co joined the EDF’s Climate Corps Program that instructs MBA interns how to design and introduce cost-effective, planet friendly principles.

KKR and Ken Mehlman have taken the time to formulate a variety of systems which manage various resources. These metrics can measure a company’s ecological impact and identify any practices which might need work.

Henry Kravis, the KKC, and the Environmental Defense Fund have made going green easier for companies in every industry. In conclusion, the work of these organizations has made green business practice not only viable, but commercially desirable, and their radical ideas are setting a new standard in today’s business community.

Here in brief, is Stephen A. Schwarzman’s story. Recently Steve was number fifty three on the list of America’s most wealthy, but it isn’t only money that makes this story so intriguing but Steve’s unbelievable achievements in the business industry and his generosity to education and the liberal arts. His success story has been inspirational to numerous individuals worldwide and in addition it serves as a reminder that everyone can become financially successful through hard work and dedication.

In the 1980’s Stephen co-founded the Blackstone Group with his partner Peter Peterson; initially as a private equity management and financial advisory business. Of course, the Blackstone Group is now one of America’s largest M & A companies.

Living for most of childhood and adolescence in Pennsylvania, Steve commenced his schooling in suburban Philadelphia. He graduated from Abington Senior High School; his next step was to get his degree from Yale University in 1969. He set about taking a program of post graduate study at the legendary Harvard Business school in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After Yale he would join the corporate team at Lehman Brothers investment bank. He was appointed to the boards at the unusually precocious age of thirty one.

Stephen A. Schwarzman gives financial support to a variety of liberal arts as well as serving as an ancillary professor at the prestigious Yale School of Management. He is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Manhattan. In addition, Steve recently gifted to the New York Public Library a hundred million dollars to fund their recent expansion plans. In fact, the New York Public Library called one of their recently constructed buildings the “Stephen A. Schwarzman Building” to commemorate his lavish donation. So you won’t be too surprised to learn, the elite of America look to Steve Schwarzman as a role model — As one of Times Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People alive today, Steve is nowadays widely followed by the newspapers and shaping people’s lives all over the globe. His rise in the financial sector has unquestionably been nothing short of miraculous, and coupled with his readiness to give back to his own community through his unstinting contributions to the arts and education stimulates people who are following his example. Considering his industry knowledge, experience, and dedication, it seems like there’s nothing he can’t do. So, to summarize, Stephen A. Schwarzman is an individual who has taken the best advantage of each opportunity offered to him, but in return he has in the same stride made the best use of his money and status to cultivate his community.

If you have a website about a topic you enjoy, you can make money from discussion forums. Talk, post links to your site, get traffic. Traffic means money, right? If not, try different affiliate programs or Google Adwords. The worst sites should get a couple cents per visitor. Now here’s how to talk and make money.

Search “forum” plus the topic of your site on Google or Alta Vista. For my first site, I searched “backpacking + forum” and in the pages of results I found several good forums. I also searched related topics like “hiking” too. You can also check about.com, and other sites that have forums on many topics.

Registration is usually giving your email address and choosing a password. Some forums allow guests to post without registering. Once registered, browse the forum topics, and post a response to anything, just to “learn the ropes”.

Income From Discussion Forums

The point of posting in forums is to get readers to come to your web site. Sure it’s fun to give advice and discuss things of interest to you, but that’s secondary. With that in mind, do the following:

1. Always link to your site. If they don’t allow any links, find another forum.

2. Don’t “spam.” Sales pitches will be removed. Offer honest advice, or express an opinion, then sign off with your name and the link to your site.

3. Ask for help from others. This is an effective and acceptable way to “advertise.” Enter a topic like “Can I get some advice?” and post something like, “I just started a meditation site. If some of you would visit and tell me what you think, I’d really appreciate it.” Have a link to the site. People love to help, and to give opinions, and they’ll click on those ads while they’re at your site.

4. Look at total “views.” Many forums show the total times each “thread” has been viewed. When you see some with many more than others, get in on those, or start a new thread on the same topic. Go where the traffic is, and get some of it.

I didn’t like the idea of forums until I made a few posts, and saw my traffic and revenue climb for days afterwards. That convinced me. Just be polite, offer some value to others, and always have a link to your site. Many other secrets of using forums are covered in my newsletter, but this should be get you started. Talk and make money today.

Steve Gillman writes on many money-related topics. To learn more, and to subscribe for FREE to “Web Site Optimization Secrets,” go to: http://www.TheMoneyMakerSite.com

The story of Stephen A. Schwarzman is one of altruism and hard work. A year ago Stephen A. Schwarzman placed number 53 on Forbes’ list of the most wealthy people in the US, even so it is his patronage of the arts and education and his outstanding accomplishments that make him such a intriguing individual. This Blackstone Group magnate is a phenomenal role model and his life illustrates that success in life may be attained through hard work and being truly focused your business.

Steve Schwarzman and his business partner Peter Peterson established the private-equity management and financial advisory company Blackstone Group in the 1980’s. Of course, the Blackstone Group grew from there to become the massive company it is today.

Steve grew up in the state of Pennslyvania. When he graduated from high school he went on to study further at the world renowned Yale University in Connecticut and was awarded his bachelor’s degree in 1969. He set about taking a master’s degree at the famed Harvard Business school near Boston, Massachusetts. Then he joined at Lehman Brothers investment bank, located in New York, New York. Steve was given the title of managing director at the age of only 31.

Steve Schwarzman donates to a range of liberal arts as well as teaching as an adjunct professor at the esteemed Yale School of Management. He is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. In addition, Steve recently donated to the New York Public Library a hundred million dollars to help fund their building plans. Steve is also one of the trustees of the library.

Stephen A. Schwarzman is nowadays an inspiration to successful Americans - last year he was mentioned amongst Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World in recognition of his worldwide influence on finance. His mastery of the financial industry has certainly been nothing short of dramatic, not to mention the fact that his continuous support of music and the liberal arts has doubtlessly been an encouragement to the business community at large. Considering all his business knowledge and commitment, it appears as if there’s nothing he cannot attain. Stephen A. Schwarzman is undoubtedly a fascinating person whose influence can certainly be seen in the US and the business and financial community that serves it.

You are bound to have heard mention of Mr. Naveen Jain as being the CEO and co-founder of Intelius, Inc. the renowned company offering background checks, identity theft protection and public records services. On top of having made the Forbes 400 Richest in America list in 2000, this maverick business leader has collected an assortment of prestigious awards, most notably the WSA Industry Achievement Award, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and the Albert Einstein Technology Medal, to name but a few of them. However things definitely expand out from there. That’s because Naveen Jain and his family are by the same token as avid about philanthropy and will endeavor to help out as regularly as they are able to.

Today’s kids certainly constitute humanity’s most prized resource. They are moreover a central motivation for this entrepreneur, and he tries to take advantage of any opportunity he encounters to aid them. This, of course, is why he is untiringly taking advantage of every opening available to support needy young people whenever it seems at all feasible. In consequence, Naveen Jain, his family and his staff at Intelius devote their time and efforts to many different charities as, for example, Child Rights and You (CRY), United Way, and the University Preparatory Academy. Obviously they will provide ample financial assistance but more importantly, they commit their time and attention to the most disadvantaged and susceptible children. He also gives aid to the Children’s Hospital in an attempt to restore children’s health, too.

With Jain being a former student of XLRI Jamshedpur and the Indian Institute of Technology, it is hardly surprising that professional training is also a key focus in his benevolent activities. This includes campaigns and aid organizations that are local, state, and nationwide. Thus, Intelius and its CEO are actively sponsoring deserving causes and establishments such as the University of Washington, Hopelink and the Bellevue Boys and Girls Club. Feeding the planet’s destitute represents an additional significant test to Jain and his family and to him, it makes not one speck of difference. Although he is cognizant that the job of locating provisions for all the planet’s unnourished is an eminently phenomenal one, he also knows that the unachievable can factually come to be feasible if each and every one of us works in concert. If this CEO should actually have his way, there will be a certain cessation to destitution and hunger on this planet at some point.

Most if not all people may suspect that being the man in operative control of a very prosperous enterprise and a dedicated husband and father to boot would give him no free leeway for charity and aiding others. However, he sees to it that all of his altruistic enterprises will be given all the support he can conceivably donate. This untiringly idealistic businessman is most definitely more than merely any ordinary business leader. He is, beyond that, an absolutely extraordinary person and a veritable community advocate.

Most celebrated business people are zealously engaging themselves in philanthropy nowadays. Like most all people you will have seen Mr. Naveen Jain’s name as being the CEO as well as co-founder of Intelius, Inc. the leading information commerce company. On top of having made the Forbes 400 Richest in America list 2000, this maverick entrepreneur has received various choice awards, foremost the Albert Einstein Technology Medal, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and the WSA Industry Achievement Award. But that is certainly not the end of the story. Because Mr. Jain and his kin are every bit as passionate about their charitable acts and will attempt to help out wherever possible.

The young of today are genuinely humanity’s best source of optimism or the future. They are moreover a main inspiration for this entrepreneur and he makes the best of every chance available to support them. This, too, is why he is so thoroughly taking advantage of every opportunity he can to offer help if workable. Thus Naveen Jain, his kin and his staff at Intelius, Inc. give their their time to charitable institutions such as the Overlake Service League, TreeHouse, and the University of Washington. Of course they will give a great amount of material support, but most importantly they devote their time and attention to the most needy and vulnerable children. Beyond this, he helps sponsor the Children’s Hospital contributing to elevate children’s health. As Jain is a graduate of XLRI Jamshedpur and the Indian Institute of Technology, it is no surprise that teaching is an exceedingly high priority in his philanthropic endeavors. This also encompasses movements and voluntary organizations that range from the local to the international. In doing this, Intelius and its CEO are supporting voluntary organizations and charities like Hopelink, United Way and Child Rights and You (CRY).

Getting food over to the impoverished of the planet is another fundamental goal to Jain and those around him and to him, it makes not one speck of difference. Although Naveen is aware that the job of obtaining food for all the world’s starving is a colossal one, he is also aware that the irresolvable can really be realized provided every person labors towards a unified end. If this entrepreneur really achieves his goals, the final curtain will certainly come down on famine and destitution on this planet at some point.

An observer would think that being the man in full control of a wildly successful market leading business and a dedicated husband and father to boot would provide him with no surplus time for volunteering and support. But in spite of that he takes care that all of his beneficent endeavors obtains all the aid he can feasibly muster. Indeed this philanthropic entrepreneur is most certainly more than merely an ordinary business leader. He is (even more importantly) an eminently humane individual and a veritable community patron.

How many times did you see me at a networking event in the past month? If it is a staple of your business it should have been more than once. How many people did you meet for the first time while networking? I am hoping that you can’t even think of the number. If you can count the number of new contacts that you made, I would ask “is your business growing?”

I am sure that I have talked to you in the past about comfort zones. This is the place where we know people and we feel comfortable. We get a few referrals now and then, and hey, “I don’t have to feel out of place”. Like the saying from the theme of the sitcom “Cheers” “I want to go where everybody knows my name”.

The problem with this is that in most cases we don’t have enough people who know our name to become extremely successful. How can we change this?

We have to reach beyond the comfort zone. We have to network outside of our own area or geographic vicinity.

Even then, we are working within a group of people who are networking regularly in their own areas. This creates a situation where our success is limited by meeting people who are currently networking to promote their business. What happens when no new business comes into our group? If we are not doing other things to prospect for business, we burn each other out.

Let me use the alligator for example. If you put a pair of alligators in a pond that has fish, sooner or later, the gators will eat all of the fish in the pond. If animals come to the pond to drink, the gators have a way to get more food. What do the gators do when the food runs out? They go looking for it. They often end up far from the pond in someones back yard looking lovingly at the family pet. The gator moves beyond the comfort zone or it starves to death.

As we continue to network in the same group, we find that if no new business comes into the group, or leads do not come through the members from outside the group, the group will literally starve to death or less dramatically, go out of business.

The best way for the group to flourish is to bring in fresh blood or new members. It is especially effective if the new members have never used business networking before to build their business. Suddenly new opportunities open up for a portion of the group that did not previously exist. The new member immediately has a group of new prospects to work with.

Most of us who network a lot also have business that is outside of networking. What would happen if we brought that business into the group? What if they in turn brought their clients into the group? Not only would networking organizations get larger, but the people currently in those organizations would prosper in a big way.

Have you ever considered asking clients or prospects if they have ever networked as a part of their business? If you were to ask them and they respond no, you have the opportunity to tell them the benefits of networking and invite them into the group. If they respond yes, they tried it a couple of times, but saw no results, simply explain to them that it takes at least 7 points of contact before most people will do business. Tell them that if they were to attend a group on a regular basis, then they would realize the results that comes from the relationship building process. Then take the opportunity to invite them to the next meeting.

Even though this sounds like a lot of work, it really is not. In the end, your group the entire networking community benefits, as well as the business that gets involved. Business networking keeps business local. It builds communities by building the relationships in the community. It is through these relationships that we can fulfill our needs for our business and ourselves.

Have you invited an outsider to a meeting lately? Next time you think about giving a client a gift, give the gift of networking.

Jeff Glaze is the Editor of http://www.AtlantaEvent.com, founder of http://www.privacy-first.com e-mail certification program and the author of several e-books. His company, Mostcool Media Inc.( Mostcoolmedia.com ), specializes in marketing planning, coaching, business networking training, web and media development. His e-book “The Six Xtremes Of Power Business Networking” is available here: http://www.atlantaevent.com/ebook.htm Jeff Glaze is available to speak to your group and can be contacted at 678.508.5975

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