This weekend was an amazing Holiday for me and after

working 14, 18 and even a stretch of 20 hour days the last couple of

weeks on a lot of hot new projects that I’ll be introducing to you

soon, I really needed a “Break”!

As you know we celebrated Labor Day here in the U.S. and Canada

(Thanks Alex for enlightening me), so this weekend was the perfect

opportunity for my family and I to get out and “Party”.

We ended up going to one of the best resorts out in North Carolina

and spent the weekend horse back riding, trail walking, Kayaking and

PARTYING!!!! Thats RIGHT, as we where leaving for the resort

my mother-in-law called and wanted to go with us, which was great

with me because it allowed my wife and I some personal

1 on 1 party time later that night, while grandma watched the kids

If you are ever in the Raleigh, North Carolina area and enjoy

having a safe, relaxing environment to party in I highly suggest

going to Club Zydeco in downtown Raleigh. The drinks are great, the

music is good (especially if you like live Jazz!) and the food is

amazing. If you decided to go let me know and I’ll meet you!

To make a long story short, we ended up getting back to the resort,

in the very early morning hours but had one of the best times ever!

I tell you this as a reminder that YES work is very important, but so

is enjoying life and more importantly being ABLE to enjoy life and

by that I mean being financially free as well as free to make the

decisions that you WANT to make not only those that you HAVE to make.

To often we get caught up on what we *Have* to do because we

have bills to pay, rent or a mortgage that is due or other expenses

and we forget about “US” Never forget about you always, remember

to enjoy life because it can be taken in a moment and never given

back.

Take the time out to enjoy things, appreciate people and live life to

the fullest. Make it a habit to tell those that you love and

appreciate them and do it often, you never know when they can

be taken away. Tell your wife, your girlfriend, mom, dad, kids your

label mates… And mean it!

And with that said, I want to let you know that I appreciate you

being on my list, being a reader of my newsletter, blog and/or community

site and want to thank you by giving you two amazing gifts.

Both of these “Gifts” will help you to challenge yourself and help

you to reach the goals that you have of being successful with your music.

I always talk about Taking Action and YOU having the power to do

whatever it is that you see yourself as doing in the future.

Your potential starts within your creative mind, so always see

yourself being, doing and already enjoying the goals that you

are out to reach.

See yourself as a significant contributor to the music industry

and it will be, make it up in your mind that you are going to be

the best in this industry, at what it is that you love doing.

Don’t let anything stop you from reaching your goals, you deserve it

and both of these gifts will help you to do just that, REACH YOUR GOALS!

Take a look;

http://musicbizcenter.com/Holiday_Gifts/

As always, Take Action & Stay Focused!

Ty Cohen

Your Music Business Coach

http://musicbizcenter.com/Holiday_Gifts/

P.S. You DESERVE success, don’t let things such as

negative self talk, the seemingly lack of finances and other things

rob you of that success.

Use this opportunity to “make it”;

Go Here Now => http://musicbizcenter.com/Holiday_Gifts/

P.P.S. By the way, as you may or may not know I have a coaching

program called “The Music Marketing Extreme” program that cost

$5,500.00 which we literally sold out of earlier this year.

It’s a pretty extensive program that helps you to get global

exposure and music sales and well worth it, but I have decided not

to accept any more new clients until after the first of the year,

so you’ve missed out on that chance, but if you want the greatest

and next best thing, this is it!

Pick up the complete package here:

http://musicbizcenter.com/Holiday_Gifts/

It’s valued at a couple of hundred dollars so of course I have to limit

it to the first 50 people only (or else I’d lose my shirt!

Be sure to leave a comment, telling us what YOU did, how di you enjoy yourself on the holidays?

Contingency planning (“always have a Plan B”) is likely to help small business owners avoid complex problems. But when it comes to commercial loans and commercial mortgages, working capital strategies often fail to include adequate attention to contingency plans and what can go wrong.

One of the most entertaining and effective depictions of contingency planning is a movie called “Rare Birds”. This movie stars William Hurt and includes variations of the line, “Always have a Plan B”. For any business owner who doubts the importance of contingency plans, the movie will provide an enlightening perspective.

The usefulness of a Plan B mentality is likely to be beneficial to many aspects of running a successful business. Contingency plans appears to be under-utilized when business owners seek new working capital funds via strategies such as commercial mortgages and business cash advances.

A major reason for this oversight is that many commercial borrowers probably assume that there are not effective alternatives to the business financing they are seeking. With this thinking, business owners might believe that it would not make sense to devote time to exploring a contingency finance plan. After watching the movie mentioned above, it will become much easier to understand at times like this that it is not a waste of time for businesses to “Always have a Plan B”.

In this regard, Plan B contingency commercial financing should be viewed as insurance to protect a business owner in the event that something goes wrong with their working capital management. A few examples are provided below.

First, a surprising number of local and regional banks have recently decided to pull the plug on future business financing in their lending portfolio. When they do so, very little advance notice has been provided in most instances. If a business has commercial loans or commercial mortgages with a regional or local lender, a Plan B should be developed for the contingency that alternative business loan arrangements could be needed in the near future.

Second, many small businesses have commercial loans that contain recall provisions that permit the lender to review the loan each year (or every two to three years). Even though in this instance the commercial lender might continue a financing role for some businesses, they will in fact selectively eliminate what they consider to be marginal loans by use of the recall loan terms. If they do, the borrower will need to pay off the entire loan or refinance within a limited period of time. The loss of control by the borrower even though they might have been making timely payments is perhaps the most disturbing aspect of recall features. The best solution for avoiding this possibility is to review current business loans and explore Plan B refinancing options if recall terms are included.

Third, numerous prominent providers for business cash advances routinely make unrealistic promises about what they can do and how long it will take. Business owners should have thorough discussions with a potential business financing advisor to adequately prepare for this possibility. In this case the Plan B approach occurs prior to finance arrangements being finalized (unlike the first two examples in which financing was already in place).

Fourth, many lenders for SBA loans, business opportunity financing and commercial mortgage loans are frequently guilty of under-delivering and over-promising. Local and regional lenders seem to produce a disproportionate number of problems like this. Similar to the recommended approach for business cash advances, commercial borrowers should pursue Plan B contingency financing. The ideal timing to discuss alternative commercial financing options is before committing to a specific lender.

Finally, for the four examples noted above as well as the numerous other possibilities where contingency planning is appropriate for commercial loans and working capital loans, we do have a closing thought. “Always have a Plan B”.

FIVE STAR (http://www.fivestarspeakers.com/) Speaker Spotlight Newsletter – Issue 12, December 2008

I think we would all agree that we are clearly experiencing some “interesting times” in our economy and in our nation. We have seen a big shift in the marketplace over the past three months. Our clients are now focusing primarily on the things that create direct success for their businesses. The focus has been on customer events, sales training and more than our share of economists who can tell us how we got here, and what’s coming next. FIVE STAR is excited to continue to bring these resources to our clients in this, our 20th year. We know that the organizations that focus on business growth issues will look back at the end of 2009 knowing they made the right choices. We have the new and cutting-edge ideas ready to share with you. (See also http://www.fivestarspeakers.com/international-speakers-trainers-bureau/speakers-trainers-news.aspx)

Steve Gardner, Partner

Paul Schmidt, Partner

Five Star Speakers About Us: http://www.fivestarspeakers.com/international-speakers-trainers-bureau/about-us/about-us.aspx

Hot Speaker

Todd Buchholz – Trend Forecaster, Investor, Author & Political and Global Economy Expert

A former director of economic policy at the White House, a managing director of the $15 billion Tiger hedge fund, and an award-winning economics teacher at Harvard, Todd Buchholz targets his entertaining remarks to the cutting edge of economics, finance, and business strategy. Todd Buchholz “lights up economics with a wickedly sparkling wit,” says the Associated Press. Todd recently jousted with James Carville and Ben Stein, and Successful Meetings Magazine named him one of the “21 Top Speakers for the Twentieth Century.” His editorials in the Wall Street Journal correctly forecast the 2001 slowdown in the U.S., and the New York Times has turned to him to decipher terrorist threats and the job market. “Witty, iconoclastic, and engaging” says the Wall Street Journal of Buchholz, while BusinessWeek raved about his book Market Shock, which warned of quicksand facing the stock market. He entertains audiences, showing them how to thrive in a chaotic economy, while gearing up for prosperity….more on Economic, Financial and Political Speaker, Todd Buchholz

Fee Range: $15,000 +;

Travels From: California, USA United States of America

Ask An Expert

Top Economic Speakers

Jordan Goodman – America’s ‘Money Answers Man’ & Practical Financial Advisor

Fee Range: $7,000 +;

Travels From: New York, New York, USA United States of America

Barry Asmus - A dynamic, world-class economist who communicates his insights in a captivating and entertaining manner.

Fee Range: $15,000 +;

Travels From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA United States of America

Ed Barlow – Futurist; “The Art of Looking Backwards From Tomorrow”

Fee Range: $8,000 +;

Travels From: St.Josephs, Michigan, USA United States of America

David Zach – Dave is one of the few people on this planet with a degree in Studies of the Future.

Fee Range: $10,000 +;

Travels From: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA United States of America

Gary Hoover - Founder of Bookstop (later became the cornerstone of Barnes & Noble) and Hoovers.com.

Fee Range: $10,000 +;

Travels From: Dallas, Texas, USA United States of America



Jeff Thredgold - The only economist in the world to have earned the CSP honor.

Fee Range: $12,500 +;

Travels From: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA United States of America

Musical Entertainment

Mike Rayburn – The World’s Funniest Guitar Virtuoso

Mike Rayburn is an award-winning speaker and entertainer with a truly unique presentation. Known as the Worlds’ Funniest Guitar Virtuoso, Mike uses his astounding guitar creations, uproarious songs and presentation skills to encourage, challenge and inspire his audiences to step beyond their perceived limitations. Mike draws from a wealth of life experiences as an adventurer, comedian, published songwriter, author, philanthropist, and father, to deliver a keynote presentation which is completely energizing and entertaining….more on Corporate Entertainer & Musician Mike Rayburn

Fee Range: $8,500 +;

Travels From: Aldie, Virginia, USA United States of America

Featured Business and Leadership Speaker’s Book Review

David Houle – A futurist and strategist who has been involved in launching such brands as MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1 and CNN. Author of The Shift Age

The Shift Age is about humanity’s new era. As the Information Age gives way to the Shift Age, we are entering a time of transformation and change that offers both great risk and incredible opportunity. Why do things happen so fast? Why do we feel unsettled, even out of control? David Houle identifies and explains the dynamics and forces that already have reshaped and will continue to reshape our world for the next 20 years. He comments from the front lines of the Shift Age on issues and topics that affect our lives. We have entered the final, global stage of humanity’s cultural, social, and economic evolutionary journey: the Shift Age…more on Futurist Speaker and Economic Author David Houle

Fee Range: $7,500 +;

Travels From: Chicago, Illinois, USA United States of America

Sports Celebrity

Jim “The Rookie” Morris – Subject of the award-winning Disney hit film “The Rookie,” starring Dennis Quaid

The Cinderella story of Jim “The Rookie” Morris is testimony to the power of dreams and their ability to inspire and transform human life. His story is the subject of the blockbuster film from Walt Disney, “The Rookie,” starring Dennis Quaid which won the ESPY for “Sports Film of the Year.”….more on Motivational Speaker, Business Speaker, Leadership Speaker Jim “The Rookie” Morris

Fee Range: $10,000 +;

Travels From: Dallas, Texas, USA United States of America

BELIEVE:

Joan Brock – Inspirational Speaker speaking on overcoming great obstacles [with her blindness as the perfect example]

Motivational speaker Joan Brock was forced to re-evaluate and transform her life when she lost her sight in just three weeks. At the time, ironically, Joan was a teacher of the blind and she was able to apply the skills she had been teaching to her own circumstances. Now, in her individually tailored presentations, Joan offers to organizations the benefit of her own experience. t transforming organizations by inspiring individuals to live their life at a higher level of performance. …more on Motivational Speaker and Author, Joan Brock

Fee Range: $10,000 +;

Travels From: Tucson, Arizona, USA United States of America

CONNECT:

Jim Carroll – A world-renowned futurist, trends & innovation expert – who will help you deal with the challenges of the economic correction through a focus on innovation.

Economic and Business Speaker, Jim Carroll is one of the world’s leading futuri
sts, trends & innovation experts. And it’s his inspirational, transformative thinking that will help you discover opportunity in an era of high-velocity change. And in his most recent keynotes and leadership sessions, he has been helping his clients meet the challenges of the economic contraction by focusing on innovation, and by aligning their strategy to fast-paced future trends….more on Economic and Business Speaker Speaker Jim Carroll

Fee Range: $12,500 +;

Travels From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

INSPIRE:

Andrew Razeghi – A writer, educator, and adviser to organizations on growth strategy, creativity, and innovation.

Andrew Razeghi is a best-selling author, educator, and adviser to organizations on growth strategy, creativity, and innovation. As founder of StrategyLab, Inc. and a popular lecturer on innovation at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, his work spans industries, from consumer packaged goods to healthcare, tourism to media, and non-profit organizations to professional sports teams. His most-recent book, THE RIDDLE: Where Ideas Come From and How to Have Better Ones (Jossey-Bass/Wiley), was chosen by FAST COMPANY magazine as one of its “Smart Books” of the year. Andrew has appeared in a number of media outlets including BusinessWeek, CBS Interactive, The Chicago Sun-Times, China Daily, El Norte (Mexico), FAST COMPANY, Investor’s Business Daily, NPR, and The San Jose Mercury News…more on Growth Strategy, Creativity and Innovation Speaker, Andrew Razeghi

Fee Range: $30,000 +;

Travels From: Chicago, Illinois, USA United States of America

GROW:

David L. Smith – Economic, Futurist & Market Strategist Speaker

Internationally known speaker and author of Cyclical Investing and The Cassandra Chronicles, David L. Smith offers penetrating insight, accurate forecasts and profitable advice regarding: – U.S. and World economies – Financial and Investment markets – International Trade Global Energy Markets – U.S. Monetary and Fiscal policy – Specific industries and companies David L. Smith explains what is going on in the global economy and financial markets – the good, the bad and the ugly – and how investors and businesses can avoid surprises and deploy resources so as to avoid losses and capture profits in volatile times. If you want “nothing but blue skies,” try a sunshine pundit. However if you want to know what is really going on and how to profit from it, listen to David L. Smith….more on Economic and Futurist Speaker, David L. Smith

Fee Range: $10,000 +;

Travels From: Houston, Texas, USA United States of America

CELEBRATE:

Lisa Earle McLeod – Wickedly funny entertainer, inspirational author, and expert

at surviving economic angst with your dignity – and profit margins – in tact.

With her trademark wit and humor, Lisa reframes the economic challenges to show people how to stay optimistic, and productive, in the face of adversity. A syndicated humor columnist who took her family owned-business from the brink of bankruptcy to profitability, Lisa is a favorite of entrepreneurs, franchisors, real estate professionals, teachers and healthcare workers…more on Corporate Entertainer and Inspirational Humorist, Lisa Earle McLeod

Fee Range: $7,500 +;

Travels From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA United States of America

Sarah Whitten, Marketing Director

Meet Sarah Whitten. Sarah is the Marketing Director at FIVE STAR and has been with organization since March 2006…more on FIVE STAR Speakers Marketing Director, Sarah Whitten.