Transcript Slide 1

THE STATUS
A quarterly business newsletter from Status Group
Volume 2, Issue 1
First Quarter 2009
From the desk of Allan Goldner, Chairman & Founder
“In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given.
It must be earned. … It has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things…who have
carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.”
-President Barack Obama Inauguration speech
These fine words from our new President speak about all of us entrepreneurs. It’s
our daily struggle, in these most difficult of times that define who we are and what
we’re made of. We continue to fight it out each day, refusing to buckle under or give
in to failure. Each day of stress, each night of sleeplessness, every phone call to and
from creditors, banks and other lenders, friends and family, all to try and hold off the
wolves for just another few weeks. Hoping against hope, determined and resolved,
we get into it every day and do battle. I’m proud that our new President recognizes
the contribution that small businesses and the people who drive them, continue to
benefit our country.
Having said that, I don’t have a magic bullet to help in the struggle, but here’s some
practical advice for desperate times.
Special Points of
Interest:
Words from the
Chair.
Inside The Status:
Status Council
Spotlight
2
Motivational Points 3
NCET: Dave Archer
4
An Expo Event 5
Featured
6
Service Providers
Upcoming Meetings
6
•Don’t hide. Talk to your creditors. They are keenly aware of the situation on an
unprecedented level. The fact that you can be found and willing to discuss the
situation goes a long way. If there is some small payment that you can make, tell
them and be sure you deliver. If you can’t, say so and tell them that you accept
responsibility for the debt and will make every effort to honor it. Be honest and live up
to any commitment you make, but be reasonable when you make them. Everyone
will work with you these days. Don’t be bullied. Debt collectors only get paid when
they can collect a debt. They are only effective when they can threaten and unnerve
you. Just because you owe Home Depot $300, does not mean you’re going to
debtors’ prison. When dealing with a collections company, whenever possible, make
your payment to the vendor directly. Collection companies are brutal and rude and
only care to intimidate you.
•Any loan or lease is negotiable. More likely than not, your landlord will happily
accept half rent over no rent. Sometimes, you just have to ask. It’s better to do this
before you get behind, but often they won’t talk to you unless you’re already in
trouble. So be it. Find out what other properties around you are being offered for
lease and use that as a starting point in your negotiations with your landlord.
•Look hard at what your staff is doing. By picking up a few small tasks, you might
save a salary.
•If you are out of options, don’t fret when considering a bankruptcy. If
you’re able to pay your current bills and are getting murdered by old debt,
Chapter 11 allows for just this situation. If you can’t go on at all, Chapter 7
makes it all go away. (Except monies owed to State and Federal entities).
A few years from now, when all the smoke clears, there will have been so
many bankruptcies, that it will hardly be a black mark on your credit.
•-More-
Allan Goldner
Page 2
First Quarter 2009
From the desk of Allan Goldner, Chairman & Founder
(continued…)
BTW, when you’re trying to survive, don’t worry about your credit and don’t feel bad about
credit card companies. The more trouble you’re in, the higher the rates they’re charging.
They are not your friends and they probably have made their money back from you
already.
Don’t give up and certainly don’t give up easily. Sayings like, “it’s always darkest before
the dawn” are cliché but true. I personally have experienced the truth of that statement
and lived to fight another day.
And if you are in debt up to your neck, what‘s a few more inches. Keep fighting.
While we will all be busy surviving this terrible downturn, be sure to make some time to
plan the rest of what might just be a good year.
Status Council Spotlight
Introducing ….Guest Speaker Mary Drury
Mary Drury is a Shareholder and Chair of the Transactional Department at Marquis &
Aurbach in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her practice focuses on transactions and business,
with an emphasis in real estate. She documents and oversees entity formation, land
and business acquisition, construction agreements, loans (construction and
permanent), general operational and contract needs, and the ultimate sale of land or
improved properties and businesses. She previously served as Associate General
Counsel of Station Casinos, Inc. Ms. Drury is the only Nevada attorney serving on
both the State Bar of Nevada's Executive Committee of the Business Law Section
and Executive Committee of the Real Estate Section. These sections, among other
things, draft statutes for consideration and adoption by the legislature of the State of
Nevada. Ms. Drury frequently lectures in continuing education programs on the
subjects of business and real estate, including but not limited to, purchases and
sales, finance, title issues and leasing. After graduating from the University of
Southern California, she obtained her Juris Doctor from the University of California,
Hastings College of the Law.
Contact Mary Drury at 702-382-0711 or [email protected]
Join us…
Tuesday, March 10th
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Stirling Club
Topic: Protecting your Start Up
Presented by:
Mary J Drury, Esq.. of Marquis & Aurbach
Shareholder and Chair, Transactional Department
Focus on transactions and business, with an emphasis in real estate.
Volume 2, Issue 1
Page 3
The Status Columnist: Allan Goldner, Status Group Chairman
Motivation For A New Year -2009!
Ever find yourself looking around the office trying to figure out where you left your
motivation? It’s got to be around here somewhere. You know you had it when you first
began your new business. You’ve run across it from time to time as your business
developed. It’s got to be here! Did you look under the complacency? It might be over
by the procrastination. Sometimes it can fall behind the frustration and get stuck by the
stress or even end up in the rut. Well, at least you know it’s missing. Some folks go on
with their daily activities without even realizing it’s gone.
Entrepreneurs by their very nature are highly motivated people. It’s that quality which
drives one person to go out on his own rather than simply going through the motions at
the old 9-5. I learned a long time ago, that no one can motivate someone else. You’ve
seen it yourself. You’ve probably wondered why your key employee has every tool at
his disposal, every opportunity to make more money, and a great chance for promotion,
and yet doesn’t seem to be able to get going. The fact is that people can only motivate
themselves. What might motivate one doesn’t do it for someone else. And, as there are
many different types of entrepreneurs, there are as many different ways for one to stay
motivated.
Some like to pipe in the canned motivation speak with the celebrity expert using the
IPod during the workout or the car stereo on the way to work. If that lights your candle,
listen away. Some entrepreneurs read trade magazines to get moving, they should read
on. Others attend conventions to find like minded entrepreneurs and get collectively
jazzed up; schmooze away.
Now that I’ve covered all of the above, prepare yourself for the unexpected: an offering
of advice from the columnist. Go to your quiet place and think about all the different
reasons you decided to do what you do. Try to relive the time when, what you are doing
now was merely a dream of yours. Why did you want this? What did you hope to gain
from doing this? Are you closer to. your goals than when you first considered going into
business? Is this better than what you were doing before? You might be starting to feel
a little better. After all, even if you’re not doing very well financially, at least you know it
and won’t get a surprise pink slip. You might reflect that at least you have a friendly
boss now. Yeah, you’re the boss. And, perhaps feeling a little more motivated is all you
need to clear the next hurdle. You’re doing what you do because you took charge of
your destiny. You didn’t wait for it to find you. Win or lose, you’re the one calling the
shots.
Wait a minute, what’s that underneath your vision, next to your determination and sitting
right on top of your courage, it’s your motivation.
THE STATUS
A quarterly business newsletter from Status Group
Volume 2, Issue 1
Page 4
Inside The Status
Status Group News
Dave Archer
Spotlight Clients
Status Group
Update
Status Blog
Events & Notes
NCET, Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology, helps
Nevadans start and grow businesses and connects them to the resources they
need to succeed.
NCET’s programs include the NCET Entrepreneur Expos, the Silver & Gold
Venture Capital Conference, the Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup
Collegiate Business Plan Competition, the NCET Technology Awards and
eWeek Nevada.
NCET is an independent award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
funded by public contributions, sponsorships, program revenues and limited
grants. While NCET receives no state funding, it works closely with the
Nevada Commission on Economic Development.
Dave Archer
is Chief Executive Officer of Nevada’s Center for
Entrepreneurship and Technology (NCET).
Dave has over 30 years of experience in all facets of technology, media and
service industry management and business development. Dave spent 17
years at Viacom, initially at Viacom Cable, where he introduced numerous
new products and services including Pay-Per-View, home-shopping and
commercial telecommunication services. Dave created and managed Viacom
World Wide, providing strategic planning and business development services
to major international media clients around the world. At Viacom, Inc., he
created “Showtime Arabia,” an international joint venture that delivers a multilingual satellite programming service to the Middle East.
THE STATUS
A quarterly business newsletter from Status Group
Volume 2, Issue 1
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Page 5
Speaker Sessions 8am - 5pm
Exhibit Floor Open - 11am - 7pm
FREE to Attend - Register ONLINE
If your customers include small businesses, start-ups or early stage
businesses, plan to exhibit at NCET’s Entrepreneur Expo
Whether someone is an entrepreneur, starting a new business or
wants to expand an existing business, the free Entrepreneur Expo
provides:
Access to organizations that can help jump-start a business
Expert advice on virtually every facet of starting and running
a business
Presentations and Panels Include:
Business Valuation
Compensation Structure
Corporate Structure
Creating a Business Plan
Do and Don’ts of Starting a Home-Based Business
Financing a Startup
Intellectual Property
Legal Issues
Loan Applications
Marketing and Promotion
Public Relations
Technology in Business
And, many more…
Reserve your 8’ x 10’ booth now
Businesses and other for-profit organizations - $250
Non-profits, educational institutions and governmental
agencies - $50
Reserve your booth now by contacting Emily Lowe Somerville at 775-8534226 or [email protected]
THE STATUS
A quarterly business newsletter from Status Group
Volume 2, Issue 1
Page 6
Providing Service….
Inside The Status
Status Group News
Spotlight Clients
Status Group
Update
Status Blog
Events & Notes
CertaPro Painters which was founded in 1992, provides interior, exterior ,
and special painting services to residential and commercial customers.
Christina Lerner and her husband Brian, together started their company here
in Las Vegas three years ago.
“We were willing to look at an industry that we had never thought of before
– we hadn’t known there were painting franchises and would not have
thought of it - so it opened up a whole different business arena for us,” said
Lerner.
Christina Lerner, who has previous experience as a faux and decorative
painter liked what she found within Certapro Painters franchise business
model. It was different – CertaPro Painters were looking for people who
knew how to run a business and who could provide good customer service,
not people who could paint. Coincidentally, Gina Goldner used CertaPro
Painters to paint her Pennsylvania home before moving to Las Vegas. When
she arrived here, in Las Vegas, Gina called CertaPro Painters to paint their
home. As it turns out, the Goldner’s were one of the first customers of
Christina Lerner! “Gina and I became very close friends”, says Lerner. “she
bought out my husband, who went on to work with her husband in another
industry. So my first customer became by business partner, and we have not
looked back since!”
Lerner handles the commercial/government side of CertaPro Painters of Las
Vegas which accounts for about half of its business, while Goldner oversees
the residential aspect.
As for the future of the company, “I see only great things,” Lerner said. “Our
goal was to be the premier painting company in Las Vegas and the standard
by which other painting companies are judged. Our goal was $10 million in
10 years, and we can do that with a combination of residential business and
commercial and government work, as well as adding new products along the
way to complement the painting industry.”
Contact CertaPro Painters at: 702-951-9827
THE STATUS
A quarterly business newsletter from Status Group
Volume 2, Issue 1
Page 7
Status Group Future Meetings
February & March
2009
********************************************************
Professional Business Networking
Thursday, February 12th
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Join us for an evening of networking and relationship building
Hosted by
Location:
3041 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, Ste. 130
Henderson, NV 89103
*******************************************************
Status Office Events
Thursday, February 19th
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Co-sponsored with
For an evening of networking and relationship building .
Location:
Status Group LLC
8920 W. Tropicana Ave, Suite 105
Las Vegas, Nevada 89147
RSVP
Paola Crow, Director of Client Services
702-252-7005
THE STATUS
A quarterly business newsletter from Status Group
Volume 2, Issue 1
Page 8
Status Group Invites….
Inside The Status
Private Event
Status Group News
Spotlight Clients
Status Group
Update
Status Blog
Events & Notes
Tuesday, March 3
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
By Invitation Only
Status Group and SNMIC's EHR Initiative
Welcomes the Las Vegas Medical Community
Speaker: Ernest Barela, CEO of Freemont Medical Center
Will Speak about:
"The Importance of Electronic Health Records"
Location:
The Stirling Club
*******************************************************
A Success Story….
Status Group is proud to announce that one of our clients is about to
close on a three million dollar startup loan from a traditional bank.
We were honored to have developed and produced the business plan
that definitely defied the odds! Our plans are serious business!
Call our office for details about our business products or visit our
website at www.statusgroupllc.com
702- 252-7005
8920 W. Tropicana Ave, Suite 105, Las Vegas, Nevada 89147