Do you have a future on YouTube?
January 8, 2020
By Jerry Bellune What can you learn from an 8-year-old entrepreneur? How to sell lemonade? It’s far simpler than that. What has made Ryan Kaji highly successful is that…
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3 Steps to Improve your Public Engagement In 2020
January 6, 2020
By Jesica Johnson Mackey NP Strategy 2020 is here, and if you haven’t already, now is the time to identify some New Year’s resolutions for your company or organization.…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move
Foreign spies use your chat app
January 2, 2020
By Katie Ritchie Many of us are wary of the way companies and apps use and misuse our private information. Facebook and Twitter are common offenders. Last week the…
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Develop your own millionaire habits
January 2, 2020
By Jerry Bellune Thomas C. Corley spent 5 years studying wealthy people. He found that they practice many of the same daily habits, such as reading, exercising, sleeping at…
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Giving becomes enlightened self-interest
December 26, 2019
By Jerry Bellune Last week, 15 local authors and 5 of us from our publishing company gathered at the library to autograph books. These books make unique gifts because…
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How to beat the Grinch in 2020
December 26, 2019
By Jerry Bellune How do you get the Grinch to go away? Think about where you want to go, what you want to do and write it down, advises…
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Shopping for CBD? Let Quality and Verifiability be Your Guide
December 18, 2019
By W. Louis Miles Founder, Clarity Nutraceuticals Like many native South Carolinians I applauded when state legislators allowed industrial hemp to be legally grown here. Putting family farms back in…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc Category: advice, health-care, on-the-move
FTC settlements protect consumers
December 17, 2019
By Katie Ritchie Every month it seems like news breaks of another big scam or data breach. This week I wanted to focus on some positive news. First is…
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5 Tips to Plan your 2020 Social Media Strategy
December 16, 2019
By Sarah Robinson NP Strategy This year has flown by, and as the New Year approaches, so do the deadlines for 2020 planning. If you’re getting started with…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move
Google gathering your health data
December 13, 2019
By Katie Ritchie Have you heard about “Project Nightingale?” It’s not a covert military operation. It’s the name of the partnership between tech giant Google and Ascension. one of…
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Want to be the low price leader?
December 11, 2019
By Jerry Bellune No, you don’t. Leave that to Walmart. Our friend Ruth King tells the story about Chuck the auto mechanic and Charles the Master Jaguar Craftsman. Chuck’s…
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Holidays not the time for less vigilance
December 9, 2019
By Sheriff Leon Lott We are in the midst of the holiday season when most of us more-deeply embrace that which we all want: “Peace on earth; good will toward…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, life, on-the-move
How to earn your prospects’ trust
December 4, 2019
By Katie Ritchie Occasionally you may have to cold call. It’s no fun, but there are ways to get in the door. Here are 2 suggested by so-called experts…
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Beware dangerous phone chargers
December 3, 2019
By Katie Ritchie It has happened to all of us. You’re out and about and realize your phone is running low. It’s especially common when you’re traveling. Airport waiting…
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How to create effective marketing? It’s simple use your magic!
December 2, 2019
By Ken Gasque Magic is the most powerful tool you have. Use it! And the most powerful tool for creating magic is a pencil. It is a magic wand…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: advice, marketing-and-communications
Business Communications in an Era of Fake News
December 2, 2019
By Alfred Leach NP Strategy No one knows what to believe anymore. Misinformation, disinformation and propaganda are being shared from an ever-increasing breadth of “fake news” sources (from social media…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move
Have you planned your exit strategy?
December 2, 2019
By Jerry Bellune This time of year many of us have much to be thankful for. And those of us who have been at it many years are starting…
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Do Not Call Registry data book released
November 25, 2019
By Katie Ritchie Over the last year, robocalls have been a popular Tech Talk topic. One of the resources I mentioned for stopping telemarketers was the Do Not Call…
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4 magic words to deal with fear
November 25, 2019
By Jerry Bellune Physicist Albert Einstein said that to solve problems we’ve never dealt with before we must develop a new way of thinking about the problems and our…
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State Treasurer’s Office Works to ‘Serve Those Who Serve’
November 20, 2019
By South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis Our nation’s military members know what it means to serve. They are selfless individuals who have committed themselves to safeguarding our country, its…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, government, on-the-move
Simplify cooking and grocery shopping
November 19, 2019
By Katie Ritchie Have you planned your Thanksgiving menu? How about your holiday meal grocery shopping list? If you still need to work on it, there are free apps…
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Making Your Event Stand Out Through Sponsorships
November 18, 2019
By Emily Eckert NP Strategy Think back to an event that stuck out in your mind. The one you attended where your mouth dropped open when you walked in,…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move
The 20% rule of costs and returns
November 13, 2019
By Jerry Bellune A friend called the other day to pick our brains. He wants to start a small weekly newspaper in his community and wanted to know what…
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Just hang up on a robot
November 13, 2019
By Katie Ritchie If you’ve been bombarded by more robocalls than usual in the last 2 months, you aren’t alone. A reader emailed to report he has gotten calls…
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End of the Year Finances…4 Reasons Why They Are So Important
November 10, 2019
Caffeinated Conversations: Tuesday, November 12th at 7:45 am at the United Way of the Midlands Expect the Unexpected Mike Tyson, former heavyweight champion of the world, once made…
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SC vulnerable to ID theft, fraud
November 6, 2019
By Katie Ritchie Identity theft and fraud are serious issues. From January 1, 2005, to August 31, 2019, there have been 10,818 breaches. That comes out to 1.6 billion…
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Your 3 best connecting strategies
November 6, 2019
By Jerry Bellune MaryEllen Tribby believes “connecting” is a better word than “networking.” Her 3 best connecting strategies are: 1. Cultivate relationships. Project an image of warmth, approachability, understanding,…
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Bipartisanship: in Business and in Politics
November 4, 2019
By Sam Johnson NP Strategy Senator John McCain notably stated that “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the capacity to act despite our fears.” He understood that…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, non-profit
Never forget the Scouts’ motto
October 30, 2019
By Jerry Bellune Were you a Scout as a kid? If so, you will remember that famous motto – “Be prepared.” It’s not just for when you were young.…
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Five things your graphic designer wants to tell you
October 28, 2019
By Stephanie Heikkila Holman NP Strategy Working with a designer to bring your business or organization’s vision to life should be an exciting and creatively fulfilling experience. Based…
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Can your business pass this financial test?
October 23, 2019
By Jerry Bellune Our friend Ruth King says financial statements are our scorecard. We need them on time to properly price our offers, make good decisions to earn a…
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Secure your accounts
October 22, 2019
By Katie Ritchie This week’s Cybersecurity Month topic is multi-factor authentication (MFA). It’s a mouthful to say, but a simple idea. Think of it as another level of security.…
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Avoid your biggest business nightmare
October 16, 2019
By Jerry Bellune Running out of cash can give you hyper-stress and sleepless nights. This happens when you don’t have enough revenue in slow times, haven’t saved enough to…
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Keep devices safe while traveling
October 15, 2019
By Katie Ritchie October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, so I’m sharing tips for traveling safely with your devices. Keep this list on hand when traveling during the holidays.…
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Improve decisions & your bottom line
October 9, 2019
By Jerry Bellune Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie’s top advisers are women – an exception in a male-dominated sport. Lurie says he didn’t set out to hire women but…
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Whistleblower Protections and Retaliation Risks
October 9, 2019
By David Dubberly Whistleblower issues are in the news, mainly because a U.S. intelligence officer recently filed a complaint against President Trump under the Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act (ICWPA). …
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, on-the-move
New phishing scams are here
October 8, 2019
By Katie Ritchie October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. For the rest of October I’ll be sharing information on cyberthreats and how you can avoid them. This week is…
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How to Pitch a Reporter and Be Heard
October 7, 2019
By Angela Rogers NP Strategy Today’s reporters – both print and broadcast – are always on the move. Pivoting from one story to another, preparing a “package” for the…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: advice, marketing-and-communications, on-the-move
3 steps to own your digital marketing power
October 4, 2019
By Jerry Bellune We see many large and small businesses make these 3 digital marketing mistakes: 1. They have a family member set up a clunky web site that…
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Make your iPhone battery last
October 4, 2019
By Katie Ritchie The last in this series of battery boosting tips is for the iPhone. I saved the iPhone for last because iOS 13 released an update September 24.…
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ABLE 529s: A Special Account for Special Needs
October 3, 2019
By Aaron E. Graham Abacus You may be familiar with 529 accounts. 529 Plans are so named from the originating IRS Code section and serve as tax-advantaged college savings…
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Tiny ads can pack a powerful punch
October 2, 2019By Jerry Bellune Imagine you are desperate for steady work to get your spouse off your back about feeding your family. Your kids are under-fed and always hungry. Then…
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You can boost battery life of Pixel 3
September 24, 2019
By Katie Ritchie Last week I shared ways to extend Note10 battery life. This week features tips to boost Pixel 3 battery life. Many of these tips also apply…
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Unconventional Excellence
September 20, 2019
By Heather Matthews NP Strategy A standing ovation, mixed with enthusiastic cheers and a chorus of “good mornings” welcomed me as I walked in to get my car oil…
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5 questions all business owners must ask
September 18, 2019
By Jerry Bellune How do you build a business that rocks? Our friend Ruth King told us that Jim Howard who published her book, The Courage to be Profitable,…
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Tips to boost Note10 battery
September 17, 2019
By Katie Ritchie Last week I shared ways to extend your Windows 10 laptop battery life. This week I’m sharing tips to boost your Samsung Galaxy Note10. Have a…
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Extend your laptop battery life
September 11, 2019
By Katie Ritchie Does your laptop battery last long enough? Most folks answer that with an enthusiastic “no,” regardless of what device they mean. In this series, I’ll share…
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Are starvation diets a dumb idea?
September 11, 2019
By Jerry Bellune Fellow Maverick Entrepreneur Suzanne Riley Whyte asks if you have ever been really hungry. Maybe you’ve gone on one of those diets where you eat almost…
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Foreign Manufacturer + Union Campaign = Netflix Documentary (and Lessons for Employers)
September 9, 2019
This week’s article provides insight from Nexsen Pruet attorney William Floyd. NP Strategy is part of the Nexsen Pruet family, working collaboratively alongside lawyers for the benefit of clients. …
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Please, make a profit!
September 9, 2019
By Ken Gasque Have you heard the news media reporting that Warren Buffett wants to pay more taxes? “Please, raise my taxes.” Legendary investor Warren Buffett said on Monday…
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