NC State Surplus Offers Online Bidding

Any bidder who registered with the system could submit an offer on the likes of a car, a laboratory pump, a sink, a lathe, or on any of 150,000 other items that passed through the online marketplace. Right now you can't see the dollar amounts of competing bids.

www.ncstatesurplus.com Big-ticket or high-end items such as an airplane, for instance, might be auctioned on eBay. Low price items, those worth less than $150 such as school desks, refrigerators and the like are sold in outlets located on the campuses of a half-dozen state university campuses. It's the items between that range - 65 percent of them being cars, vans and the like - that are now sold online in two weekly auctions.

You must register, but the biddding is open to the public. (Lee Weisbecker, TRIANGLE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 12/04/09).

Self-Managing Outside My Door

While attending the Living Arts College at the School of Communication Arts I developed a habit of carrying a unruled, pocket reporter moleskine for ideas, sketches, notes and receipts. Mostly I work remotely, but I have an office about a half hour away where I meet new clients and hold small meetings. Mom visits every couple of weeks or so to give us both a break from our normal routines. We have so much fun together!

Today, she saw the pile of receipts I’d collected and she instinctively started going through them. Mom blurts, “Girl! You go all these places when I’m not here!” I shot back, “I go all those places when I’m not HERE!” If I am at home working (or playing) I can’t go “all those places” and spend money, so I try to go out only when it is absolutely necessary. When I do go out, the moleskine or my blackberry holds my plan of attack for making the most of the time by getting errands and on-site customer deliverables done. I have been known to stay home 7-10 days and hardly even go out to the mailbox.

In a Harvard Business Review article by Peter Drucker called “Managing Oneself.” It discusses the challenges and importance of self-management. Ultimately, it is my responsibility to know myself; my strengths, weaknesses and values so that I can “place myself” where I can be most efficient and effective.

Self-discovery is probably one of the toughest things I’ve had to do. It takes careful feedback and trial-and-error precision, but it is well worth it. When I make impulse buying decisions or forget to write down business or personal expenses, it is nobody’s fault but mine. Likewise, it is only “my doing” that affords me to live my whole life without finding my passions and my destined place of effectiveness in the world outside my door.

How A Stupid Facebook Game Makes Zynga Millions

"How is it possible that Facebook gamesmaker Zynga will turn in 2009 revenues approaching a reported $250 million -- making 90% of its money selling gamers nothing but virtual goods? The object of FishVille is to build a magnificent virtual aquarium, full of spectacular fish and designer decorations. The way you do it is spending fake money to buy small fish for one price, and then, after tending to them for a few hours or days, selling them for more fake money then you paid. Then you use that money to buy more fish. If you want to speed your progress, you buy fake money with real money. We'd explain more, but it's really just easier to show you how it works..." Read more...

US DOL $55 million in Green Jobs Training Grants

US Department of Labor Announces Nearly $55 million in Green Jobs Training Grants through Recovery Act. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced nearly $55 million in green jobs grants, as authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The grants will support job training and labor market information programs to help workers, many in underserved communities, find jobs in expanding green industries and related occupations. To view the press release, click here

LorrindaSM About Shoes & Actionable Intelligence

I've just returned from getting new shoes on my buggy. It wasn’t all a waste of time though. I met Liz; a big brown-eyed, Cajun (Louisiana born) white woman that is a 2nd degree black belt, an ex-cop and knows more about cars that I could ever hope to… plus she’s a Granny, web designer & PC mechanic. I told her if she’d change “her parts” I’d marry her. We both had a knee slappin’ laugh on that one. I saw this and thought of you… sounds like good grant lingo for some IT solution of other… “organizations must have dynamic, actionable intelligence based on one version of truth.” Don’t you just love that? I do. What good is data if an organization cannot mine it to help make good business decisions?

Ladies shouldn’t have to traipse about at night looking for buggy shoes… or pump gas… or wash cars, but that’s my Daddy’s fault for making me believe that, “real men drive trucks;” and various other tales. Thanks for offering your services for the future. I would totally give you props for being the hero in my distressed damsel scenario. It was very kind and very real-man'ish of you to offer.

I think I’m writing you right now because I’m thinking about you and all you mean and will mean to my world. Thank you for letting me play in yours. …getting back to work now since I just spent 3 non-productive hours (except for getting the needed tires and meeting Liz, of course) at the shoe store.

sign: Lorrinda (while having a LorrindaSM)

My Picture Costing Me Business Opportunities

I got an interesting email about whether my picture (a black woman) was costing me business opportunities.

**************MY REPLY TO ELAINE ********************

Hi Elaine!

My first rule of engagement in life and business is authenticity. If my picture causes someone angst or initiates their reluctance to do business with me, then that's their problem. I shy from types of "political correctness" that would cause me to skirt around the truth.

I usually only want to do business with friendly people, otherwise the relationship may be strained and stressful and I avoid stress whenever possible! Money can really be the root of many evils if it leads or is the only factor in the decision-making process.

My picture is posted because it speaks the truth about who I am; a friendly, sincere, woman of color... and it allows me to define myself vs someone that does not know how wonderful I am doing it for me. [smile] BUT -- my transparency may just be an innate, naturally occurring phenomenon... see lorrinda.com

I like being able to say that my customers and my friends are from many different races and socio-economic backgrounds. For example, I am in the member of Jr. League, BDPA & PMI, and volunteer at a mostly Hispanic Girls & Boys club. I learn so much from each of these groups... and I have so much fun! --if I'm not having fun, I don't want to play. Life is too short for that.

My advice to you is to post your logo or photo from a place of good intend... and all should be well (with your soul and as an added value, your business!). Wishing you every success... and that your valleys be lifted and your mountains moved. I hope this was helpful.

Lorrinda

**************EMAIL FROM ELAINE ********************
Lorinda I am reaching out for some assistance.

I am a woman of color and am seeing help on some issues related to African Americans posting their photo on the web and if this causes any reduction in the leads of contacts received that are actually willing to do business with us - to trust that we know what we are saying and doing.

I had no photo initially -- the discussion on project management certification (my field of knowledge) was rich and involved. I posted my photo and all comments were not responded to, no questions answered, no dialogue except from prior customers. I removed the photo and the dialogue is now back up and highly engaging.

Your comments on this as a person of color would be much appreciated.

My business is coaching individuals to pass the PMP Certification Exam. The need to connect with a face is desirable but I do not do this at all. I have posted this similar question to this group with my photo and no one answered. UM I may post it as a question that a marketing firm is asking to see if people don't mind helping a marketing group as a way of helping themselves.

Thanks for your help - I notice you have your photo posted. Do you have your own business? Do you market only to people of color? The situation / question I pose is most critical for black business owners I use my logo as a photo.

Elaine in Massachusetts

Useless Design

I collect pens like they were artifacts. There's just something about having such a useful tool handy that really peeks my "happy place." Today I picked up a pen to write and it wouldn't. After the usual shaking, starring at the barrel and knocking the point against the desk, it still would not write. Maybe the burning of the tip with some fire would have done the trick, but it was stored upright so it should have just worked... so I through it away.

All of that led me to think about myself and "my design" and I invite you to think about yours. If you were designed to be... let's say a fireman, but you're currently not a fireman, does that mean your "design" was useless? In one sense perhaps, but I like to think of it as "delayed implementation" of a design. We know what makes us happy. If we don't then that is a whole other set of issues, but generally we fully understand the things that bring us joy.

So if you get a moment today, think about what you must have been designed to do in this life. Are you doing it? Do you know what it is but don't know how to get it going? What's in the way? Is it you? ..or was there a "design flaw?" I have to believe that your design (and mine) is perfect in every way and it is our life's work to to fully implement and live our intended purpose.

Being in sync with your purpose is where you and I will be most happy and full of joy. Don't let anyone throw your design away (like I did the pen) just because it isn't perfectly in place. Keep working at it and keep believing in it... it will come. After all, that is what you're designed to do so it must be within the realm of possibility and reality.

I wish you peace and every good thing that is designed just for you! Lorrinda