Michael S. Robinson's Blog, page 6

Earn Your Money. Spend Your Money. Make Your Money Grow.

People with more money can spend more money — it’s simple economics. People who appreciate democracy don’t appreciate being told how to spend their earnings — it’s human nature.  If your customers have more money to spend on goods and you have more money to invest in a company, you can hire more people, develop better products, provide superior service and ultimately, help stimulate the economy — it’s good business sense.

What’s not to like about tax cuts?

Here are 3 good reasons (3 bad ones) to love tax breaks.

GOOD: You could use that $86 a month that Obama took in his income taxes increase to beef up your emergency fund.

–

BAD: You could fund an all expense paid trip for you and your friends to see Seattle’s Gum Wall…

–

GOOD: You could employ your tax cuts to develop thriving enterprises.

–

BAD: You could buy stocks on clearance or as their prices are plummeting,  but first, do yourself a favor and consult an expert.

–

GOOD: Hell, it’d be your money. Why not give some of it to the charity of your choice?

–

BAD: You could hoard your money in a mattress or at your local bank, which would stop your cash from growing and working for you.

[images, in order of appearance via]:  1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Filed under: News & Articles

Fear… less.

“Be bold and ask big questions without fear of intimidation.” – Michael S. Robinson,  One Hundred Pennies

They say a messy desk is a busy desk. But is it really? At what point do our desks, our minds and our lives become so cluttered that we are unable to move forward because we’ve misplaced something or have acquired so much stuff that we lose sight of the things that should matter to us the most? For many of us, a highly disorganized and filthy work or home environment is enough to induce a full blown panic attack. Think about it. Have you ever allowed your bedroom or office to get only so messy before it’s teetered beyond what was acceptable, and you became paralyzed to do anything else until you cleaned it up? If so, you’re not alone. (If not, you’re a slob and should probably reconsider the importance you place on personal hygiene. But that’s neither here nor there.)

Our minds and our lives function much like a messy desk. A compliment is that 30-page document you printed out a month ago while researching an assignment. It sits soiled beneath that coffee mug of criticism you acquired this morning. Your job stressors are your computer, keyboard, stapler, phone and iPad complete with accessories. Your family concerns are that pile of files that you really should have put away the minute you were finished with them, but got too lazy to do so. Piece by piece, we acquire knick after knack until we are stuck sitting in chaos without a way forward or back.

We must clean up.

Fear works much like our cluttered desks. We learn the feeling of fear early in life from our family, our friends, our teachers. They teach us to be fearful of certain things as a means of protecting us from harm. However, soon we stop needing any help to collect fears of our own– many of which have no salubrious value to us.

We fear what might happen if we cut our hair a certain way. We worry what people will think of our relationships. We allow the chatterbox in our minds to convince us that that we are not smart enough, educated enough, rich enough or charismatic enough to start our own businesses or be authors of our own destinies.

We must clean up.

We must address the Chatty Charlie or Cathy who only seems to say, “I can’t… because…” We must utilize our spiritual, physical and intellectual tools to quiet our self-doubt and conquer our fears. We must stop using the failures of others as an excuse for why we cannot succeed ourselves. We must let go of our past mistakes and stand back from the crutch of fear in order to walk confidently into our desired futures.

To clean is to organize.

We need organize our minds, realign our energies and sharpen our focus so that we can attack our daily challenges head on. We need to call Charlie out as the reason we have not been able to move forward, and to retrain him to say, “I can.” We need to reinvent the way we approach fear and to start to see it as an opportunity to straighten up.

We need to tune in to One Hundred Pennies with Michael S. Robinson this Sunday at noon on AM970 The Answer for tips on building our metaphorical fear tool sheds. On the show, I’ll be chatting with The Fearless Factor author and motivational speaker, Jacqueline Wales and White House appointed Champion of Change, Thabiti Boone about the importance of overcoming fear and methods that you can use to do so.

(For more information follow me on Twitter @msrobinsonny and Facebook. Send me your messages, leave your comments about fear here, and call me at 866-970-9622 with your questions during Sunday’s show.)

Take Our Poll

Filed under: Misc., News & Articles

Lessons Learned From Galactus, Jared & Gatsby

Here’s a riddle for you. Aside from becoming very wealthy, very famous American figures, what do Shaquille O’Neal, Jared Fogle (of Subway fame) and Jay Gatsby all have in common? C’mon you know.

They’re all masters of self-reinvention.

As far as hoop stars go, no one needs to watch the highlight reels to understand why Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Shaquille O’Neal is one of the greats. However, in the twenty plus years since he came on the scene, O’Neil has successfully added venture capitalist, actor, musician and even doctor of education to his increasingly impressive Curriculum Vitae. Jared Fogle transformed himself quite literally from a publicly unknown, 425-pound college student to a health hero for many and pop culture icon when he decided that he was finished with always “planning ahead to avoid embarrassing situations.” And in case you skipped your high school reading and are awaiting for the May 2013 feature film release date to uncover the wonder of The Great Gatsby, let’s just say Jay “came up” big time.

So, why have you wasted five minutes reading about three men, who probably mean nothing to you?

Because this week, and for the rest of your life, you must challenge yourself to emulate them… In a sense.

Long gone are the days when minimal education, hard work and dedication could buy you a house in the suburbs and send all of your children to college. With even some of the most stable jobs in danger of becoming obsolete, Americans at all stages of their careers are learning that they will not be able to go on much longer living with the status quo.

Luckily, there is help.

This Sunday, Deborah Shanley, dean of the School of Education at Brooklyn College and Dr. Carole Berotte Joseph, president of Bronx Community College guest star on One Hundred Pennies on AM970 The Answer. Tune into the show for a lively discussion about self-reinvention and for tips that people in all career stages can employ to fortify their experiences to remain relevant in this progressively more competitive economy and jobs market.

Answer the poll below. Then, join the conversation by calling 866-970-9622 during the show, leaving your questions and comments here, tweeting to Michael Robinson @msrobinsonny or liking his Facebook page.

Take Our Poll

 

Special thanks to guest blogger, Kimberley Bainbridge.

Filed under: Follow up, Job Search, marketing, Michael S Robinson, Strategic Planning

AM970 One Hundred Pennies: Tech Takeover Recap

While technology has saved businesses money in a variety of ways and has provided efficiency to our lives, the cost of an eliminated, untrained workforce will only continue to make itself felt, and felt painfully.

– Michael Robinson, One Hundred Pennies

Today, we cannot watch television or read the papers without being reminded that technology is fast replacing us. This is not to say that we are headed toward some kind of robot-apocalypse-style takeover. However, you need only to skim the lede of the International Business Times article we featured last week to see that we are hemorrhaging millions of middle class jobs and killing off whole industries in our pursuit of technological advancement. In a recent poll here on mikesrobinson.com, nearly 20% of our readers said that they felt apathetic about this trend– that nothing could be done. So, we asked the experts (Alfred Edmond, Jr., Fred Savarese and Cal Hunter) to weigh in on One Hundred Pennies with Michael Robinson last Sunday. Here’s what they said:Click to view slideshow.

Ultimately, we will all have to reinvent ourselves at some point in our careers in order to remain relevant. So, tune in this Sunday at noon to One Hundred Pennies with Michael Robinson on AM970 The Answer as guest stars Dean Deborah Shanley of Brooklyn College and Dr. Carole Barotte Joseph of Bronx Community College provide the tips and tools you’ll need to compete in this competitive job market.

To leave a question for Robinson, Shanley and Berotte, tweet to @msrobinsonny, leave a comment here or call 866-970-9622 during the show.

 

Special thanks to guest blogger, Kimberley Bainbridge.

Filed under: News & Articles

Are Your Sentiments For Robots Rosy?

Rosie Robot of The Jestons was simply the best, wasn’t she? The animated superstar stole our hearts in the 1960s cooking, cleaning, mothering and dishing up heavy doses of sarcasm for George, Jane, Judy and Elroy. And let’s not forget George’s faithful office pal R.U.D.I. He was all a man could ever want in best friend. Rosie and R.U.D.I. could not be more different than the blood-thirsty bots of The Terminator and I, Robot. We trusted them in our homes, with our kids! But could it be possible that Hollywood’s contradictory depictions of our future robots highlight the two extremes of our very dissonant views on the impact of our increasingly intelligent technology today?

This month, International Business Times reports that, “The United States has gained 387,000 managers but lost almost 2 million clerical jobs since 2007, as new technologies replace office workers and further squeeze the American middle class.” Video rental stores are shuttering their doors thanks to the advent of Netflix and TiVo. Travel agents are getting their pink slips from Expedia. Telephone operators are being asked to shove over by accent-less voices on button operated machines. The New York Times even featured an article about how the once financially unassailable radiologists are being displaced by “teleradiology.”

We are in the midst of a technological revolution. We will never get the jobs that we lost back. We live in a “self-serve world.”

So, where’s the silver lining?

If history repeats itself, we should see “more work and greater wealth” after the dust has settled. The Model T put horseshoe makers and carriage drivers out of business. However, it opened up career opportunities as people were needed to build paved roads, bridges and highways, to collect tolls and hand out speeding tickets.

Similarly, some experts predict that we will eventually see more and new jobs as the technology we create require new skills and trained workers. But what is your take on the issue? Answer the poll below, and then tune in to One Hundred Pennies this Sunday at 12p.m. ET on AM970 The Answer for the results.

Take Our Poll

Special thanks to guest blogger, Kimberley Bainbridge.

Filed under: Corporate Social Responsibility, Economy, Events, job creation, Job Market, Michael S Robinson, Misc., News, News & Articles, world news

Is the American Dream still alive?

It’s said that in America, anyone can do anything. Whether you want a house with a white picket fence, a billion dollars, or the Presidency, all you have to do is work hard and be a good person, and you’ll achieve it. It’s a good story.  It has inspired us for centuries. Our entire system of government is based on an experiment that, up until the 18th Century, had never been tried before. And like a great business, we’ve turned that innovation into an incredible success.

I personally came to this country, got an excellent education, and built a series of successful businesses from the ground up. But it’s much harder now than it was when I started 22 years ago. New entrepreneurs have to work twice as hard to get the same results. It’s more difficult than ever to get started, be different, and compete.

New obstacles are constantly falling in the businessperson’s path. Can I keep up with social media? Will I be undersold by someone who is outsourcing their labor? Can I afford all the bells and whistles the government says I must provide my employees?

I don’t believe the American Dream has died, or that it ever will. But achieving it is harder than ever… and if you’re like me, you want to do something about that.

I’ll be discussing this very topic on AM970 The Answer’s One Hundred Pennies with Michael Robinson at 12 p.m. ET this Sunday, April 14, 2013. My guests will be mayoral candidate John Catsimatidis and tax attorney Jack Trachtenberg. So, call in with your questions and comments at 866-970-9622 or reach out to to me on Twitter at @MSRobinsonNY.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Filed under: job creation, Michael S Robinson, New York State Economy, News & Articles

Key Takeaways From The NMBC’s Supply Chain Sustainability Forum

When someone asks you to consider sustainability, what exactly comes to mind? The latest organic foods fad? Thrifting? Recycling? If so, you are not alone. But it’s so much more. In fact, today’s business leaders are learning that going green to reduce their carbon footprints and diversifying their goods and services to accommodate sustainable consumer goods can actually increase profits.

According to Michael Jones-Bey, the director of ConEdison’s Supplier Diversity Progam, “It used to be that what was good for business was good for society. But now, we’re finding more and more that what is good for society is good for business.”

So, just in case you didn’t get enough green on St. Patrick’s Day two weeks ago, here are four ways that big businesses like CitiGroup, BNY Mellon, ConEd and GRI are capitalizing on green business models – and ways that you can too:

Archaeology. If you thought that only museums and history teachers had an interest in the study of human behavior think again. In fact, some businesses are hiring them to study the items we throw away in order to determine how they can make their packaging more environmentally friendly. Consider doing some research on affordable biodegradable packaging. If the popularity of stores like Trader Joes and Whole Foods are any indication, there is a huge market of people willing to pay more for the items that they feel are of benefit to the environment and themselves.
Making your RFP more attractive. Did you know that some banks and investment firms have entire departments dedicated to procuring sustainable and/or green businesses? If you are looking to offer your company up for bidding or are look for new investors, including your company’s low carbon footprint or techniques for reducing harmful waste could be the unique selling point you need.
Profits. As I mentioned before, people are willing to spend more money for items they feel will benefit their communities. Additionally, with the news of the adverse effects of global warming all around us, people are more likely want to do business with environmentally responsible companies than ever before.
Encourage sustainability from the top down. Companies with the best practices encourage sustainability at all levels. For them, investing in sustainability is more than just another way to increase sales. They incorporate sustainability into their daily routines by offering ways for their employees to recycle, sourcing their break room meals from responsible suppliers and encouraging staffers to cut down on their unnecessary paper usage.

What other techniques have you used to encourage sustainability within your company? 

Filed under: News & Articles

A Note In Defense Of Mob Mentality

Crowdfunding is fast becoming one of today’s sexiest buzzwords. The term was coined back in 2006 by wired.com writer, Jeff Howe, to describe an emerging trend that seemed to be the antithesis to outsourcing. However, the idea behind the phrase is nothing new. Crowdfunding (or crowdsourcing) is simply the act of using two or more people or groups– that might not usually interact– to develop solutions to complex problems.

For many small businesses, crowdsourcing poses a unique opportunity to develop solutions to a myriad of questions with limited resources. What’s more, the widespread availability of the internet, advancement of communications technologies and recent evolution of social media makes using crowdfunding for your organization easier than ever.

Here are four ways to make crowdsourcing work for you:

FUNDRAISING. Have you ever visited a free, donation-based tourist site, like the Museum of Natural History in NYC? If so, you understand that these organizations rely on the generosity of the public they serve in order to keep their lights on and provide their services. Using the same principle, your company might want to host a donation only event in order to raise funds for a specific project. You might consider using the opportunity to tell guests at the event about the offerings your business provides.


RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT. Major companies like Procter & Gamble are cashing in on crowdfunding. They are doing so through sites like InnoCentive, which calls on the public to develop solutions for internal problems faced by major corporations. “Solvers” earn $10,000+ to resolve issues like, how “to inject fluoride powder into a toothpaste tube without it dispersing into the surrounding air.” The result is that these companies pay far less money to solve their specific problems than they would if they hired a scientist or engineer long term.


CREATIVE CONTENT PRODUCTION. Watch the Super Bowl? If so, then you’re probably familiar with the commercial contests run by large consumer brands each year (the ones in which viewers are asked to submit their own commercials for a chance to have them run during the game). Again, these contests are far cheaper than paying teams of individuals to conceptualize, script, cast, direct and produce television spots. Unknown artists receive a chance to showcase their work for millions, and small businesses are able to utilize the creative brainpower of their audiences without spending a fortune. Consider running a similar ad campaign or an essay contest that asks your consumers to develop a solution to a specific problem.


PUBLIC AWARENESS. First Lady Obama makes no secret of her mission to end our nation’s obesity epidemic. But she’s not the only one. Over the last few years, scores of students, teachers, politicians and even celebrities have organized flash mobs of dancers to raise awareness about the very serious public health issue. While, rounding up the masses for a synchronized two-step to City Hall might not speak to your needs, it could be worthwhile for you to partner with other groups and organizations in order to develop targeted and intriguing communications that you can then distribute to all of your clients.


Filed under: Budgeting, Economy, Events, Michael S Robinson, New York State, News & Articles, Outsourcing, research, research and development, small business, social media, Strategic Planning, target market, technology

Hear Ye! Hear Me On Curtis Sliwa’s Morning Show March 14th

I am thrilled with the positive reviews I’ve received from One Hundred Pennies readers. Already featured on ABC’s Here & Now, The Brooklyn Eagle and Marketwire, my new book has garnered so much attention that it’s landed me my very own radio show on AM970 The Answer.

The show will air on Sundays from 12pm to 1pm starting on April 7, 2013 and will afford me the opportunity to elaborate on some of the topics in my book with you – and my very special guests.

However, in order to give you a preview of the provocative conversations to come, I am appearing on AM970’s Curtis Sliwa Morning Show bright and early tomorrow morning. I’ll be discussing the subjects from One Hundred Pennies as well as some of the major economic and social issues facing our nation.

So, prep your coffee pots in advance and meet me with the dawn at my new radio home for an insightful morning.

And if you’re in the New York City area tomorrow night, come meet me for a book signing and networking event at the Barnes & Noble on Fifth Avenue. RSVP at lgrow@microbin.net.

Filed under: News & Articles

“One Hundred Pennies Quotes”

Filed under: News & Articles