by Matt Layton
The Kick-off to the Pre-Paid Legal North American Bailout tours begins this weekend, February 7, 2009. Through the marketing of our membership, we are making available our own version of an economic stimulus package to anyone interested and willing to work for it.
But what is most interesting about our kick-off event is that the Obama administration has requested volunteers to hold house meetings all across North America on the very same day. The goal being to raise awareness and push for passage of the US Government’s bailout plan.
While the similarities of the meetings themselves are strikingly similar, the anticipated results for the individuals participating are that much more contradictory.
In essence, the Obama administration is employing the Private Business Reception marketing technique to achieve their desired result. This is perfect timing, the government is asking citizens to host meetings to increase awareness of the government bailout plan. While Pre-Paid Legal Services is having its own meeting offering those same citizens its own bailout plan.
We must understand the importance of the confluence of these two events and draw comparisons between our meeting this weekend in Dallas with the corresponding meetings asked to be held all around North America at the behest of the President.
At least two similarities come to mind that should be exploited for our benefit.
We should be validated in the fact that the administration of the President of the United States is employing the same marketing techniques that we have, for years, proven to be effective, the Private Business Reception.
And the most obvious comparison, on the same weekend that we are rolling out our bail-out program to the people, the US government is lobbying for passage of its own bail-out. The main difference being is that our bail-out has passed the congress so to speak, it is in practice, it is available now! While the government bailout is struggling to gain the needed support to even begin to be implemented.
Which bail-out program would you rather bet your mortgage on? Ours or theirs?
Monday, February 9, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
What Are We Waiting For?
Hawaii statewide unemployment jumped to 5.5 percent in December — the highest in a decade — as an economic downturn took its toll on jobs.
December's 5.5 percent is the highest since June 1999, when unemployment hit 5.8 percent.
Still, Hawaii was doing better than most of the nation. The national unemployment rate last month was 7.2 percent, up from 6.8 percent in November.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported the rise of Hawaii's seasonally adjusted unemployment from November to December was ninth highest in the country.
It said the number of jobs here also shrunk compared to a month earlier.
Hawaii unemployment has been rising as the state's economy sinks into a recession, though its rate remains lower than the national average of 7.2 percent. The seasonally adjusted U.S. unemployment December rate rose from 6.8 percent in November.
Hawaii had the 14th lowest rate in the country. Wyoming was lowest at 3.4 percent. The highest was in Michigan at 10.6 percent.
December's 5.5 percent is the highest since June 1999, when unemployment hit 5.8 percent.
Still, Hawaii was doing better than most of the nation. The national unemployment rate last month was 7.2 percent, up from 6.8 percent in November.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported the rise of Hawaii's seasonally adjusted unemployment from November to December was ninth highest in the country.
It said the number of jobs here also shrunk compared to a month earlier.
Hawaii unemployment has been rising as the state's economy sinks into a recession, though its rate remains lower than the national average of 7.2 percent. The seasonally adjusted U.S. unemployment December rate rose from 6.8 percent in November.
Hawaii had the 14th lowest rate in the country. Wyoming was lowest at 3.4 percent. The highest was in Michigan at 10.6 percent.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
7 Steps to Discovering Your Passion
By Julie Jordan Scott
Even before the first tip, you simply must get out a notebook, journal, piece of paper, napkin...SOMETHING to write on to save your discoveries! These tips will only help if you pursue them, so please either take a moment to find writing tools NOW or print this out and promise yourself to complete this exercise later. It may take you some thinking time to get it done......and now....here are your tips.....
1. Find Your Joy Factor Look at the whole of your life history. When did you experience the most sustained period of Joy? What were you doing then? Where were you? Who were you with? How did it feel?
2. What Are Your 3 Most Favorite things to do? If you had a free day with NO commitments, where would you be found? What would you be doing with whom?
3. In what area do you excel? (NO MODESTY ALLOWED HERE!)Truly, what are you complimented on a lot? This could be ANYTHING.
4. What do you most want to be remembered for? If you were designing your epitaph, what would you want it to say? (NOT what your Mom wants, or your SPOUSE wants or your third cousin twice removed, but what do YOU want your headstone to say?)
5. If you had a magic wand, what would you change about your life TODAY? How would it look compared to how it looks now? Which aspects of your life ARE changeable, both short term and long term?
6. How does your Joy factor overlap with your favorite things and the areas in which you excel? Do the areas in which you excel bring YOU joy, or are they really for someone else.....do you see which are obvious matches, and which do not fit? Those that overlap, that bring YOU the most Joy, are most likely the things that would bring you into Passionate Living.
7. What is the first even teeny tiny step you can take to living out your Passion as you have defined in #6? Take some time to really think this one through... concentrate and focus, and then you will be able to start the next step...BUILDING YOUR ROADMAP.
Even before the first tip, you simply must get out a notebook, journal, piece of paper, napkin...SOMETHING to write on to save your discoveries! These tips will only help if you pursue them, so please either take a moment to find writing tools NOW or print this out and promise yourself to complete this exercise later. It may take you some thinking time to get it done......and now....here are your tips.....
1. Find Your Joy Factor Look at the whole of your life history. When did you experience the most sustained period of Joy? What were you doing then? Where were you? Who were you with? How did it feel?
2. What Are Your 3 Most Favorite things to do? If you had a free day with NO commitments, where would you be found? What would you be doing with whom?
3. In what area do you excel? (NO MODESTY ALLOWED HERE!)Truly, what are you complimented on a lot? This could be ANYTHING.
4. What do you most want to be remembered for? If you were designing your epitaph, what would you want it to say? (NOT what your Mom wants, or your SPOUSE wants or your third cousin twice removed, but what do YOU want your headstone to say?)
5. If you had a magic wand, what would you change about your life TODAY? How would it look compared to how it looks now? Which aspects of your life ARE changeable, both short term and long term?
6. How does your Joy factor overlap with your favorite things and the areas in which you excel? Do the areas in which you excel bring YOU joy, or are they really for someone else.....do you see which are obvious matches, and which do not fit? Those that overlap, that bring YOU the most Joy, are most likely the things that would bring you into Passionate Living.
7. What is the first even teeny tiny step you can take to living out your Passion as you have defined in #6? Take some time to really think this one through... concentrate and focus, and then you will be able to start the next step...BUILDING YOUR ROADMAP.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Job Losses Continue
January 21, 2009
By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer
Matson's 60 job cuts could include some Hawaii workers
Hawai'i's largest ocean transportation firm, Matson Navigation Co., yesterday said it plans to cut 10 percent of its nonunion workforce, or about 60 people, to align expenses with declining business.
The company, a unit of Honolulu-based Alexander & Baldwin Inc., employs about 845 people, though only about 600 are in nonunion positions affected by the reduction effort.
Matson's move comes after the company instituted hiring freezes over the past two years, and follows other large Hawai'i companies that began major layoffs last year as the local economy began to contract.
The job losses at Matson are the latest in a string of layoffs locally over the past year, including 1,900 people at Aloha Airlines; 274 at Maui Land & Pineapple; 169 at Hawaii Medical Center; 130 at DFS Group; 120 at Molokai Ranch; 118 at Servco Pacific; 91 at The Honolulu Advertiser; 85 at Weyerhaeuser Co.; 70 at Hawaiian Dredging; and 38 at Palama Meat Co.
W. Allen Doane, chairman and CEO of A&B, said in a statement that Matson's parent company plans to implement other cost-reduction measures that include eliminating salary increases and adjusting profit-sharing targets and incentive-award targets.
Besides Matson, A&B operates real estate division A&B Properties, which is largely engaged in development, and agricultural businesses Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. and Kaua'i Coffee Co. Another affiliate, Matson Integrated Logistics, which in part coordinates land-based cargo transportation, also is excluded from the 10 percent workforce reduction plan but may be affected by other cost-reduction efforts.
Doane said A&B expects to announce "good" profits on Feb. 4 for the fourth quarter of last year, but that proactive measures are necessary in view of the present economic climate.
"Measures involving employees are difficult; however, it is important that Matson realign its cost structure to current demand," Matthew Cox, Matson Navigation president, said in a statement.
In October, A&B reported a $36.8 million profit for the third quarter, a 25 percent decline from $49.1 million a year earlier in large part because of lower real estate sales and a drag on Matson's operating profit from higher expenses and a 5 percent decline in container volume.
Hawai'i container volume was down 7 percent, while Hawai'i automobile shipments were down 29 percent in the third quarter over a year earlier.
The 10 percent job cuts will be focused on Matson Navigation and affiliate Matson Terminals, which employ people in Hawai'i, Matson's Oakland, Calif., headquarters, Guam, Phoenix and some smaller West Coast offices.
Jeff Hull, Matson's spokesman, said it's not possible to estimate how many Hawai'i employees will be affected.
The Matson job cuts will be carried out in two phases, the first of which will be a voluntary severance option followed by layoffs if necessary.
By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer
Matson's 60 job cuts could include some Hawaii workers
Hawai'i's largest ocean transportation firm, Matson Navigation Co., yesterday said it plans to cut 10 percent of its nonunion workforce, or about 60 people, to align expenses with declining business.
The company, a unit of Honolulu-based Alexander & Baldwin Inc., employs about 845 people, though only about 600 are in nonunion positions affected by the reduction effort.
Matson's move comes after the company instituted hiring freezes over the past two years, and follows other large Hawai'i companies that began major layoffs last year as the local economy began to contract.
The job losses at Matson are the latest in a string of layoffs locally over the past year, including 1,900 people at Aloha Airlines; 274 at Maui Land & Pineapple; 169 at Hawaii Medical Center; 130 at DFS Group; 120 at Molokai Ranch; 118 at Servco Pacific; 91 at The Honolulu Advertiser; 85 at Weyerhaeuser Co.; 70 at Hawaiian Dredging; and 38 at Palama Meat Co.
W. Allen Doane, chairman and CEO of A&B, said in a statement that Matson's parent company plans to implement other cost-reduction measures that include eliminating salary increases and adjusting profit-sharing targets and incentive-award targets.
Besides Matson, A&B operates real estate division A&B Properties, which is largely engaged in development, and agricultural businesses Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. and Kaua'i Coffee Co. Another affiliate, Matson Integrated Logistics, which in part coordinates land-based cargo transportation, also is excluded from the 10 percent workforce reduction plan but may be affected by other cost-reduction efforts.
Doane said A&B expects to announce "good" profits on Feb. 4 for the fourth quarter of last year, but that proactive measures are necessary in view of the present economic climate.
"Measures involving employees are difficult; however, it is important that Matson realign its cost structure to current demand," Matthew Cox, Matson Navigation president, said in a statement.
In October, A&B reported a $36.8 million profit for the third quarter, a 25 percent decline from $49.1 million a year earlier in large part because of lower real estate sales and a drag on Matson's operating profit from higher expenses and a 5 percent decline in container volume.
Hawai'i container volume was down 7 percent, while Hawai'i automobile shipments were down 29 percent in the third quarter over a year earlier.
The 10 percent job cuts will be focused on Matson Navigation and affiliate Matson Terminals, which employ people in Hawai'i, Matson's Oakland, Calif., headquarters, Guam, Phoenix and some smaller West Coast offices.
Jeff Hull, Matson's spokesman, said it's not possible to estimate how many Hawai'i employees will be affected.
The Matson job cuts will be carried out in two phases, the first of which will be a voluntary severance option followed by layoffs if necessary.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
10 Reasons Why Pre-Paid Legal is a Necessity in Tough Times
For over 35 years, Pre-Paid Legal has proven to be a strong company with a valuable product. Today, it is a fact that as our economy falters and our nation experiences tough economic times, the need for, “Justice for All” is more prevalent now than ever before. Here are 10 reasons why Pre-Paid Legal is no luxury; it is a fundamental product that people need right now:
1. You may want to contact your Provider Attorney about severance packages, whether you've experienced a job loss or not. As layoffs abound and businesses are desperate to cut-back, ensure your rights are protected by consulting your PPL Provider Attorney about such issues.
2. In tough times, don’t be intimidated by scare tactics. Know your rights, if you are being harassed by debt collectors, or any other business or person. If you get a letter full of intimidating legal jargon, or someone threatens legal action, call your Provider Attorney.
3. Big deals may be big rip-offs in a tough economy. If you buy faulty merchandise you could be the victim of a scam. Do you know what your rights are if you get stuck with a lemon? Did you know there are lemon laws that vary from state to state? Your Provider Attorney can let you know what these laws are, and help you outline a course of action.
4. Many face foreclosure in tough times. Even people in dire financial straights can benefit from a Pre-Paid Legal Membership. When times get tough and people need to know what options are available, the Pre-Paid Legal Provider Attorney is there to carefully and considerately walk a member through all the options.
5. Speeding tickets surge in tough economic times. The weakening economy has affected not just individuals, but entire communities as well. In need of money, these places are cracking down on speeders in an effort to generate revenue. Pre-Paid Legal Members can call their Provider Attorney and get advice on any matter, including traffic-related issues.
6. The Pre-Paid Legal Membership is ideal for military families. In tough times more and more people are finding job stability in the military. With Provider Law firms covering all 48 states and Hawaii, as soldiers move from one place to another, the membership moves with them. When soldiers ship out overseas, they take with them the peace of mind in knowing their family is covered by the membership should any legal issues arise.
7. Tough economic times = scammers paradise. Advanced free loans, debt repair, counterfeit checks, mortgage foreclosure “rescue,” are some of the biggest scams going around. Have your Pre-Paid Legal Attorney review your contracts before you sign your name to them. Legal review is a good way to detect potential scams.
8. Tough economic times have seen a surge in legal issues. making it harder to get an attorney, and harder to afford one. There is no struggling to find an available attorney, or getting stuck with a huge bill. Your monthly fee covers all your listed benefits, and you get the 25% discount on anything not otherwise listed.
9. Can you afford the unexpected? With a Pre-Paid Legal Membership, you have a low monthly fee. When you face an emergency, your membership provides trial time, consultation, contract reviews, and more at no additional charge. If an emergency arises and you don’t have a membership, you might find yourself doing without due to the high costs of legal counsel.
10. Coverage includes you, your spouse, and your kids! Wherever you go, whatever issues you encounter in these tough times, you are covered. So is your spouse, and so are your dependent children. Knowing if your teenager gets a speeding ticket, you have a number to call, and with Legal Shield, if any member of your family is detained by police or involved in a traffic accident and need assistance. Your attorney is there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year!
1. You may want to contact your Provider Attorney about severance packages, whether you've experienced a job loss or not. As layoffs abound and businesses are desperate to cut-back, ensure your rights are protected by consulting your PPL Provider Attorney about such issues.
2. In tough times, don’t be intimidated by scare tactics. Know your rights, if you are being harassed by debt collectors, or any other business or person. If you get a letter full of intimidating legal jargon, or someone threatens legal action, call your Provider Attorney.
3. Big deals may be big rip-offs in a tough economy. If you buy faulty merchandise you could be the victim of a scam. Do you know what your rights are if you get stuck with a lemon? Did you know there are lemon laws that vary from state to state? Your Provider Attorney can let you know what these laws are, and help you outline a course of action.
4. Many face foreclosure in tough times. Even people in dire financial straights can benefit from a Pre-Paid Legal Membership. When times get tough and people need to know what options are available, the Pre-Paid Legal Provider Attorney is there to carefully and considerately walk a member through all the options.
5. Speeding tickets surge in tough economic times. The weakening economy has affected not just individuals, but entire communities as well. In need of money, these places are cracking down on speeders in an effort to generate revenue. Pre-Paid Legal Members can call their Provider Attorney and get advice on any matter, including traffic-related issues.
6. The Pre-Paid Legal Membership is ideal for military families. In tough times more and more people are finding job stability in the military. With Provider Law firms covering all 48 states and Hawaii, as soldiers move from one place to another, the membership moves with them. When soldiers ship out overseas, they take with them the peace of mind in knowing their family is covered by the membership should any legal issues arise.
7. Tough economic times = scammers paradise. Advanced free loans, debt repair, counterfeit checks, mortgage foreclosure “rescue,” are some of the biggest scams going around. Have your Pre-Paid Legal Attorney review your contracts before you sign your name to them. Legal review is a good way to detect potential scams.
8. Tough economic times have seen a surge in legal issues. making it harder to get an attorney, and harder to afford one. There is no struggling to find an available attorney, or getting stuck with a huge bill. Your monthly fee covers all your listed benefits, and you get the 25% discount on anything not otherwise listed.
9. Can you afford the unexpected? With a Pre-Paid Legal Membership, you have a low monthly fee. When you face an emergency, your membership provides trial time, consultation, contract reviews, and more at no additional charge. If an emergency arises and you don’t have a membership, you might find yourself doing without due to the high costs of legal counsel.
10. Coverage includes you, your spouse, and your kids! Wherever you go, whatever issues you encounter in these tough times, you are covered. So is your spouse, and so are your dependent children. Knowing if your teenager gets a speeding ticket, you have a number to call, and with Legal Shield, if any member of your family is detained by police or involved in a traffic accident and need assistance. Your attorney is there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
REMINDER FOR GROUP AND SMALL BUSINESS TRAINING
FINAL DAYS TO PRE-REGISTER
There's STILL TIME to get in for these special certification classes coming up quickly. Time is running out, so DO IT NOW! It’s an investment you won’t regret.
GROUP CERTIFICATION TRAINING:
Learn how to make an effective presentation and market our product to companies as an employee benefit! Taking this class affords you the special designation of “Group Benefits Specialist”.
When: Fri & Sat, January 23 & 24 , 2009
Where: Denny’s Banquet Room, 98-151 Pali Momi, Aiea, HI 96701
Times: Friday 9:00AM-5:30PM and Saturday 9:00AM–NOON (Register 15 min before)
Park: FREE in Mall
Cost: $99 if pre-registered & pre-paid, otherwise $125 at the door. (Retakes $75) VISA, MC, DC, & AMEX accepted
Dress: Business Casual
Instructor: Eileen Hines, Sr. V.P., Group Marketing Hawaii
-----------------------------
BUSINESS CERTIFICATION TRAINING:
Learn how to expand your selling techniques to not only individuals, but to small business owners! Get the skills on selling all three of the Business Plans we offer.
AND… fatten your wallet at the same time since these plans pay the highest commissions in Pre-Paid Letal! And… taking this class affords you the special designation of “Small Business Specialist”.
When: Saturday, January 24, 2009
Where: Denny’s Banquet Room, 98-151 Pali Momi, Aiea, HI 96701
Time: 1:00PM - 5:30PM (Register 15 min before class)
Park: FREE in Mall
Cost: $99, Retakes $59 (VISA, MC, DC,AMEX)
Dress: Business Casual
Instructor: Eileen Hines, Sr. V.P., Group Marketing Hawaii
Register for EITHER or BOTH classes online at "Associates Only", left side under "Training" or call 580-421-6326 between 3AM - 3PM Hawaii Time and register with corporate.
For more information, you may call Eileen at 808 732-7000 for more information.
SIGN UP NOW AS THERE'S LIMITED SEATING...
And DON'T FORGET TO BRING A JACKET OR SWEATER, AS IT SOMETIMES GES COOL!
Aloha and see you there!
There's STILL TIME to get in for these special certification classes coming up quickly. Time is running out, so DO IT NOW! It’s an investment you won’t regret.
GROUP CERTIFICATION TRAINING:
Learn how to make an effective presentation and market our product to companies as an employee benefit! Taking this class affords you the special designation of “Group Benefits Specialist”.
When: Fri & Sat, January 23 & 24 , 2009
Where: Denny’s Banquet Room, 98-151 Pali Momi, Aiea, HI 96701
Times: Friday 9:00AM-5:30PM and Saturday 9:00AM–NOON (Register 15 min before)
Park: FREE in Mall
Cost: $99 if pre-registered & pre-paid, otherwise $125 at the door. (Retakes $75) VISA, MC, DC, & AMEX accepted
Dress: Business Casual
Instructor: Eileen Hines, Sr. V.P., Group Marketing Hawaii
-----------------------------
BUSINESS CERTIFICATION TRAINING:
Learn how to expand your selling techniques to not only individuals, but to small business owners! Get the skills on selling all three of the Business Plans we offer.
AND… fatten your wallet at the same time since these plans pay the highest commissions in Pre-Paid Letal! And… taking this class affords you the special designation of “Small Business Specialist”.
When: Saturday, January 24, 2009
Where: Denny’s Banquet Room, 98-151 Pali Momi, Aiea, HI 96701
Time: 1:00PM - 5:30PM (Register 15 min before class)
Park: FREE in Mall
Cost: $99, Retakes $59 (VISA, MC, DC,AMEX)
Dress: Business Casual
Instructor: Eileen Hines, Sr. V.P., Group Marketing Hawaii
Register for EITHER or BOTH classes online at "Associates Only", left side under "Training" or call 580-421-6326 between 3AM - 3PM Hawaii Time and register with corporate.
For more information, you may call Eileen at 808 732-7000 for more information.
SIGN UP NOW AS THERE'S LIMITED SEATING...
And DON'T FORGET TO BRING A JACKET OR SWEATER, AS IT SOMETIMES GES COOL!
Aloha and see you there!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
YOU DO NOT EXIST FOR YOURSELF
Your success depends on the support of other people.The only hurdle between you and what you want to be,is the support of others.
Put yourself in another's place,and you'll know why they think and do certain things.You can succeed fastest by helping others to succeed.
Always think in terms of what the other person wants.You'll get everything in life that you wantif you'll help enough other people get what they want.Doing things for others always pays dividends.
You're not an isolated island.You're a piece of the planet, a piece of the universe.Personal relationships are the fertile soil from which all advancement,all success, all achievement in real life grows.
When you help someone's boat across a river,you'll find your own boat has reached the shore too.
Put yourself in another's place,and you'll know why they think and do certain things.You can succeed fastest by helping others to succeed.
Always think in terms of what the other person wants.You'll get everything in life that you wantif you'll help enough other people get what they want.Doing things for others always pays dividends.
You're not an isolated island.You're a piece of the planet, a piece of the universe.Personal relationships are the fertile soil from which all advancement,all success, all achievement in real life grows.
When you help someone's boat across a river,you'll find your own boat has reached the shore too.
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