Brainstorm

Author :

<b>Brainstorm</b><br><p> by: <b>Dr. Alvin Chan</b><p><p><p><p>Ever lost for ideas while working in a group? One of the most often-used technique for generating many ideas is Brainstorming. Alex Osborn, a partner in an advertising agency, developed brainstorming techniques years ago in 1941 to help his employees to come up with many, many ideas for their advertising business. <p><p>To enable Brainstorming to be effective, there are certain rules to follow. One of the most important is that no one should make any judgment about anyones ideas. There should be a FREE-FLOW of ideas (thats why Brainstorm is put under the WATER Element category!) and everyones ideas are to be respected and taken into account.<p><p>Lets go through the steps of setting up an effective Brainstorming session:<p><p>1. Get into small groups of less than six (it was found to be more effective) and select a leader and a recorder (they may be the same person). <p><p>2. The leader must explain the focus topic and goals of the Brainstorming session. In short, he/she must make sure that everyone is clear on the topic being explored.<p><p>3. The leader should spell out the rules of an effective Brainstorming session. These will include: <p><ul><p> <li>There are no WRONG ideas!<p> <li>Everyone plays a part to contribute. <p> <li>No laughing and poking fun at peoples ideas. No CRITICISM!<p> <li>Do not discuss or argue about the ideas given. <p> <li>The person in charge must record all ideas without any biasness.<p></ul><p><p>4. It is also important to set a realistic time limit. This is to prevent wastage of precious time and the group members tend to be more motivated to give their best, without delays.<p><p>5. Start the brainstorming. <p><p>6. Usually, anyone can contribute their ideas at any time, without any restrictions. But, there are groups that use a small game to enhance the effectiveness of their Brainstorming sessions. This includes getting the leader to start the Brainstorming session by throwing a tennis ball to another member for his turn to give an idea. And in turn, he/she will pass the ball to another member for his turn to give another idea. <p><p>Whatever it is, there are no real hard and fast rules about this. As long as ideas are continuously flowing from each member, the objective is met.<p><p>7. The recorder should write down all responses and enable the other members to see them. This help a lot in the brainstorming as sometimes, ideas of others can help spark more original ideas form the rest of the group.<p><p>8. Usually after the Brainstorming session, the group will need to go through the results and begin to evaluate the ideas given. <p><p>Certain questions to ponder upon include:<p><ul><p> <li>Are there ideas that are similar?<p> <li>Can some of the ideas and concepts be grouped together for clarity?<p> <li>Are there ideas that are really impossible to use at this point of time (maybe due to lack of resources or other reasons)?<p></ul><p><p>Putting Your Elements to Work:<p><p>Here are some Brainstorming exercises for you and your group to practice:<p><p>1. Ideas to start a business with less than $100 in the bank.<p><p>2. Generate ideas to make an effective advertisement for a business.<p><p>3. To improve sales of a new product.<p><p>4. Generate ideas to get people to buy what I am selling (for example, Health Products) instead of flowers for Valentines Day.<p><p>5. To find ways to get rid of excess products (for example, food, flowers and others) that will be rotting in a weeks time.<p><p>Just a note for Solo Warriors: <p><p>Brainstorming is usually done in a group for obvious reasons. In any case, if you are ever caught alone with an IDEA FLOW blockage, you can still brainstorm alone by jotting down ideas on paper or laptop. The same rules apply and that is to jot ideas as they flow without considering whether they are good or bad. The evaluation of your responses can be done later after you feel that the flow of ideas is subsiding.<p><p>The Stone Soup Legend <p><p>There exists a tale, handed down from times long ago, of two travelers on a pilgrimage. Hungry and tired from a long days journey, they come to a small, impoverished, medieval village, where they decide to rest by the side of the road. One of the travelers builds a small fire, upon which he places a large pot, while the other, having drawn water from the town well, fills the pot and places into the vessel a simple stone. As the two men sit by the fire, bringing their "stone soup" to a boil, the local villagers become inquisitive of the curious antics of these strangers. Eventually, several townsfolk decide to investigate the matter and approach the two travelers to engage them in conversation.<p><p>Shortly thereafter, there is heard the sound of merriment, as the visitors, who turn out to be quite friendly, share their tales of the lands and people they have met throughout their journey and pilgrimage with the local villagers.<p><p>Finally, a young boy asks the travelers "But why, pray thee, are you boiling a stone?"<p><p>One of the pilgrims replies, "So we may eat stone soup."<p><p>"It must be terribly bland!" says an old woman. "But I have a cabbage, which will add some flavor!"<p><p>"And I, some carrots, which will add color!" says another villager.<p><p>"Some potatoes!", offers another, until, shortly, by the contribution of a little by many, a hearty stew was made, upon which the entire village and the weary pilgrims dined... and while doing so, shared their tales, talents, and camaraderie throughout the night.<p><p>The very next day, the travelers (who by now could be called "strangers" no more), continued their journey, leaving the little town, and its people, behind. But the villagers never forgot them, and the lesson they had learned. In fact, during the hardest of times, in such a time as this tale, that little village thrived, because the townsfolk never forgot how to make "stone soup".<p><p><p><p><p><table width=100% cellpadding=8 cellspacing=0 border=0 bgcolor=#dddddd><p><tr><td><p><p><b>About The Author</b><br><p><p><p>Dr. Alvin Chan is a Senior Research Consultant at First Quatermain. Please contact him at <a href="mailto:bizguru88@hotmail.com">bizguru88@hotmail.com</a> if you are reprinting his article online or in print.<p><br><a href="mailto:heartware2002@yahoo.com">heartware2002@yahoo.com</a><p><p><p><p><p></td></tr><p></table>

Category : Hot Rods

Free Alcohol Rehab

Author : Kristy Annely
Drug And Alcohol Rehab Services offers centers and treatment programs throughout the country to help alcoholics and their families find effective ways to deal with alcohol and addiction.The Drug and Alcohol Rehab Services will work with you to find a center that can best serve your (or your loved one's) needs. There is no consultation fee for the services they provide.They offer a website that will direct you to centers throughout the United States that offer alcohol rehabilitation treatment problems at little or no cost. These centers provide a safe place for an alcoholic to receive treatment for chemical dependency. They will work with you to find out which program or center will best serve your needs.They maintain relationships with treatment programs and organizations throughout the country, and if money is an issue, they will find the best rehab and alcohol rehabilitation programs available that are free of charge. They will help a client find appropriate referrals to a number of community resources that are also free of charge, and they will provide a client with in-depth drug and alcohol education regarding their options for intervention, drug treatment and continuing care. There website is www.drugandalcoholrehab.net.Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women addicted to alcohol who share their experiences at meetings held throughout local communities. Although donations are accepted, the only requirement to join AA is the desire to stop drinking. There is an AA chapter available in the UK and there is also an online intergroup of AA online.Alcohol Rehab provides detailed information on Alcohol Rehab, Alcohol Rehab Centers, Alcohol Rehab Programs, Inpatient Alcohol Rehab and more. Alcohol Rehab is affiliated with Alcohol Detox Centers.
Category : Self-Improvement:Addictions

10th Annual Taste of the Back Bay Set for Thursday, March 31 at the Four Seasons Hotel

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ebruary 7th, 2005

Seven Tips to Keep Your Subscribers Subscribed to Your Opt-In List

Author : Gerrick W
The goal of every Internet business is to provide great service to their customers. A satisfied customer is a happy customer. A happy customer is a returning customer. A happy customer is a promoter of your products or services. This could potentially generate more revenue for your business.As more people visit your website, you should not let the opportunity of getting them to subscribe to your mailing list slip by. This list is also called an opt-in list whereby subscribers agreed to receive periodic mailings like newsletters to update them of your business or promotional offers of your products or services. This is important to the longevity of your Internet business.Relying solely on drop-in sales is not a good option. You need to build a loyal customer base from your opt-in list.With an opt-in list of subscribers, you can be sure that your mailings are received, opened and read. However, you should be fully aware that a subscriber could choose to opt out at anytime when they feel that they are not getting what they wanted or expected. The link to unsubscribe from your opt-in list is only a click away. You have to be on the alert to keep your subscribers happy and satisfied.Here are some helpful tips that can keep your subscribers subscribed to your opt-in list...1. Use creativity in your promotional materials. Build around your product or service. For example, if you are selling home furnishings, insert some pictures of what is new in the house furnishing industry in your promotional mailings.2. Keep one step ahead of your subscribers. Research what current new things people are looking for. This way, you stay one step ahead of your subscribers. They will look forward to receive your mailings as you always have fresh, new things and ideas to share with them.3. Write informational and easily digestible articles. Ok, you don't like writing. Don't fret. There are professional writers that will do the job for you for a minimal fee. The initial investment may be worthwhile. For it could lead to more sign-ups and potential sales.4. Write an ebook that is related to your niche and give it away free to your subscribers. Use your experience and expertise to help other people. Reports, how to do it manuals and guides are hot. Encourage your subscribers to give away your ebook as long as they don't change the original content and keep all links intact. This will attract more people to your website and possibly more sign-ups.Again, if you don't like to write, you can always hire someone to do the job of writing for you. Or you could buy ebooks with rebranding and reselling rights. With this arrangement, it gives you the rights to brand and sell the ebooks as your own without having to pay the author for every ebook sold. This initial investment of hiring someone to write your ebook or buying rebranding and reselling rights will go a long way to yield dividends.5. Offer special discounts for your product. Add e-coupons in your newsletters that entitle your subscribers to special discounts for your products. Insert a control number on every e-coupon so that it can only be used once. When your subscribers get special discounts that can be found in your newsletters, they will be eager to receive your mailing in anticipation of what you will be promoting next.6. Hold special contest and lucky dips. Reward winners with bonus gifts. Don't stinge. Give your subscribers incentive to stay on your mailing list.7. Offer freebies once in a while. Free is the buzzword. Offer freebies to your subscribers. However, don't overdo it. When people get used to receiving freebies too often, it would become difficult to get them to fork out money for your products or services.Many email marketers make the fatal mistake of flooding their mailing list with nothing of value but thinly disguised sales pitch. If your subscribers can get benefits from your newsletters, they will look forward to your mailings.You got to feed the goose that lays the golden eggs. Maintain your opt-in list, and you'll have a list of happy and eager subscribers. This translates to potential sales.So, keep your subscribers happy and eager.Gerrick W
mailto:gw@1stinternetmarketingsolution.com
Information and Software Tools You Need
to Effectively Promote Your Online Business.Visit: http://www.1stinternetmarketingsolution.com
Category : Business:List-Building

Decision Making

Author : Christopher J Thomas
Recent studies have shown that industrial supervisors are working at less than 60 % of their potential. Basic management skills training is guaranteed to change all this and at such little costIntroductionOne of the world’s most memorable quotes is from Shakespeare's Hamlet - to be or not to be is all about a decision. It is a dramatic example of someone dealing with a critical decision.
Freely making and executing a decision is at the very essence of human life.Only human beings have the developed capacity of assessing situations and making considered decisions, which includes evaluating the consequences of decisions before going ahead and executing them. It has been could be said that decision making is central to good management and is one of the key functions of all managers at all levels.The 3 basic approachesThere are three basic approaches for decision making, which are:1 DelayThis is the approach of inaction. It is amazing that many people will work so hard to avoid a decision. For example, you can keep keeping the decision under constant review, passing it back and fore to your boss or simply leave it until it becomes forgotten or results in a crisis.
Managers that use this approach often survive but they are never respected. This type of manager is a costly liability to the organization.2 Instant decisions This is the intuition or John Wayne / Sylvester Stallone style and it can be impressive and certainly gets results. Of course, there are times in emergencies that you need to make very fast decisions but they should never be instant. Instant decisions will:• Use best hunches instead of rational thought powers• Ignore potentially damaging side effects and consequences• Give the impression that all decisions have the same importance3 The professional approachThe professional This approach is based on sound decision making processes using logical steps and an effective thinking process.
You may need you to revaluate your current methods and to change your habits but it is the only way to consistently succeed in making valid decisions and performing as an effective manager.
Of course, this approach will not guarantee that you make the right decision every time but your success rate will go up dramatically.
So I hope that you agree that we should reject approaches 1 and 2 and commit ourselves to the professional approach, which is also known as the rational analysis decision method making.AttitudeTake a positive approach to decision making
Don’t scowl or look disinterested when you are asked for a decision as that will hardly inspire confidence.Don't avoid decisionsIf you demonstrate a negative approach to your team they may stop asking you for decisions and the results will be chaos. Always respond positively even if you are unable to give a final decision there and then.Make decisions!Your team has the right to expect you to make decisions or they may stop asking you for them and this will result in chaos.
Sometimes you have to make the decision not to make a decision. At least you have made a decision and people will respect you if you have valid reasons. So use this as an effective opportunity for involving people and getting their understanding. You need to explain " why " because the decision may affect him much more than it does you.Types of decisions There are three types of decisions that you will need to manage, which. These are:
• Autocratic - you make the decision alone and accept full responsibility• Consultative - you request help usually from your boss• Group - you allow your group to fully participate in the decisionThe majority of your decisions will be autocratic but on occasions you will have need to consult someone else.However, it is important to think about how to use the three types of decision. For example, if you consult too much your superiors will begin to wonder why they need you. On the other hand it would be foolish to make important decisions that are outside your level of expertise or have consequences that affect others outside your own group without some consultation.
Group decisions have more limited use but it can be useful to have the input of everyone sometimes. However, the final decision must be yours so be careful that you don’t overuse this type of decision as you must not delegate your authority to the group.Decision before the decision The first step is to understand what is involved in the decision and why it needs to be taken. This is often called the decision before the decision. For example, you may find that someone has over reacted and that a decision is not really necessary. So you decide not to make a decision. Sounds obvious but so many managers miss this first step and get themselves into all sorts of unnecessary messes.Chris Thomas is the author of the Managers Toolbox training material located at http://www.managers-toolbox.com and runs the very successful Basic Management Course for new leaders and supervisors.
Category : Breast Cancer