IME Named Official Partner of UNICOM Government, A Division of UNICOM Global.

UNICOM Global has accepted IME of Washington, D.C. as an official partner. The company, IME, has been listed within UNICOM’s U.S. Community Pool.

For Immediate Release:

National. - Investment Management Enterprise (IME), Inc. is a management-consulting firm that specializes in Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness, Management Consulting Services, Life Cycle Acquisition Support, Information Technology (IT) Support Services, Cyber Security & Computer Forensics, and Construction Program Management. The company was recently named an official partner through UNICOM Global for UNICOM U.S.’ Community Pool, which provides turnkey information, products, and services to public agencies.

“I’m excited to have IME named as an official partner. We’ve been moving the company forward in many ways and continue to provide our clients with amazing resources and a caring touch,” said Twyla Garrett, President of IME. “We’re looking to open up shares of IME shortly to a private sector of investors. This partnerships solidifies the growth efforts we’ve been working on.”

IME was officially awarded residence within UNICOM’s U.S. Community Pool in April of 2015. Through the U.S. Communities contract, UNICOM Government (formerly GTSI) is responding to the business challenges of state and local government agencies with solutions that provide a wide breadth of technology products and professional services.

“IME has shown significant growth within the IT services market, as well as Homeland Security, over the past three years. IME operates within a forward-thinking, cost-saving mindset, which has only been possible thanks to Ms. Garrett’s background and dedication to driving her company’s solution towards the right opportunities,” said Helene Vece, Media Manager for IME.

Members of the press are invited to speak with Twyla Garrett about IME’s official partnership with UNICOM Global.

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About IME: Since 2000, IME has worked with government agencies, commercial businesses and private sector organizations nationwide. The company is an award-winning leader that is passionate about delivering its core capabilities to clients and individual communities. IME is a woman- and minority- owned firm that specializes in Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness, Management Consulting Services, Life Cycle Acquisition Support, Information Technology (IT) Support Services, Cyber Security & Computer Forensics, and Construction Program Management.

About Twyla Garrett: Ms. Twyla Garrett is a three-time author, public speaker, serial entrepreneur, award-winning community leader, philanthropist, and – most recently- a featured executive profile for Forbes Business. She has experience speaking alongside performers like Mary J. Blige and Magic Johnson, as well as at White House events and The United Nations. Prior to opening IME, Twyla started off working for the Defense Finance and Accounting Service in downtown Cleveland. Twyla later moved to San Diego, California and held positions of deputy controller NADEP and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Manager for Space and Naval Warfare System Command (SPAWAR).

About UNICOM U.S. Community Pool: U.S. Communities was founded in 1996 as a partnership between the Association of School Business Officials, the National Association of Counties, the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, the National League of Cities and the United States Conference of Mayors.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Helene Vece, Media Manager for IME
702-409-1282- Media Calls Only
Office@HeleneVece.com
HireIme.com

Creating Great Customer Service

I talk a lot about customer engagement on this blog. I was asked a great question recently. "How do you keep customers coming back?" It's a good questions because once you offer a product or service, how will you engage that customer to buy more? Well, here is what works for me.

1. Get personal. Stage 5 clinger personal. Follow your customers online. Interact with them. Make follow up phone calls. Always be in a state of reminding them you're around and that you care.

2. Be consistent. Don't do right by your clients some of the time. People love paying $5.00 for a cup of coffee at Starbucks not because it is the best coffee in the world (in fact, it's been proven otherwise), but because the staff makes it their business to be personal and to be consistent.

3. Reward people. Who doesn't love getting rewards. Again, think Starbucks. They have a Gold card system that is awesome. Buy 12 drinks and get anything on the menu for free. There is no minimum, either.

If you buy twelve cups of regular coffee, your free drink can still be a Venti Frap or you can get a chicken salad sandwich- whatever you want. So, think of a way to reward your customers that actually presents value and not percentage discounts.

Until tomorrow,
Twyla Garrett

Care About Your Business....

Someone recently asked me if I had a valuable life lesson that translated to business growth. I do! I wanted to share it on the blog today to help many people understand why I brand my company, IME, as "the company that cares."

My mantra and life lesson is to take everything personally. I hate when people say, "it's not personal, it's business." You are your business as an entrepreneur, therefore everything is personal. If you don't treat everything you do in life and business with a personal investment, what good is it? It you are personally invested in something, you tend to take it more serious. Business means money. Business means your reputation. So, why wouldn't you take it serious?

The most valuable life lesson I have that can translate to business is not taking one specific business deal personally. I had viewed a deal as not "good enough" for my standards. It was just business, not an opportunity. So, I didn't take it personally. I missed out on a great opportunity because I treated the pitch as business. Had I treated it like a personal investment, I probably would have gave it more consideration and would be reaping those rewards today.

My point here is to take everything personally and act from the heart- even in business!

Until next time,

Twyla N. Garrett

Why You Shouldn't Send THAT Email....

In the security business we take failure seriously. Lives are at stake and sometimes emotions can get the best of us when beta-testing processes, etc. The key to a great working relationship, in any field of government, is to ensure that we practice candor and not let our emotions get the best of us. This said, I'm providing 3 tips to avoid breaking up a business relationship when things go wrong. You can use these tips in almost any situation so be sure to share them.

1. Write the email you want to send but leave the “to” section blank. After you write it, don’t edit it. Save it to drafts and revisit the issue after a three hour cooling offer period. You will be less emotional and more point orientated after three hours and then you can edit your email properly.

2. When you do go to edit the email, figure out a way to end it on a positive note. Offer some suggestions to correct the problem or talk about how you value the other person and want to address the issue but move forward as friends or professionals. Don’t be outright nasty with no room for positive resolution.

3. Get a second opinion before you hit send. Your head is in the game and directly related to the issue at hand. However, you can be sued if you are an employer and send the wrong type of an email. Plus, it is good to have someone from the outside read the email and give it a level-headed once over.

Finally, if you don’t receive a response within 24 hours of sending the email- call the person or invite him or her to talk it over while having coffee. You don’t want to look like a jerk- even if you are right- by sending an angry email with no opportunity for recovering or without extending the olive branch.

Until next time,

Twyla N. Garrett

Break the Ice without Ruining Your Rep!

If you haven’t been to a networking event, are new to the work place, or you’re re-entering the workforce – keep reading. I was recently asked about how to break the ice at networking events or within new environments when you’re the odd person out / new kid on the block. Well, there isn’t a simple or easy answer. However, I have come up with some pointers to make “fitting in” easier.

Here we go;

First, don’t immediately vouch for someone you barely know and don’t claim to know something/ /someone you don’t know. These occasions are traps. If you meet someone during the first five minutes of an event and then he or she hustles over to use you as a reference- there’s a problem. Claiming you know someone or something that you don’t will also catch up to you and ruin your rep. So, stay clear of these situations heading into any social event.

Next, remain positive. Don’t talk about your personal life, your religious life, or your political views on the first ten meetings. Yes, ten meetings. People are always on their best behavior when your first meet them (typically speaking), so they could discredit you or refuse to work with you (without saying so) based on your lifestyle, religion, or political views. While it isn’t right, it happens- so keep with pleasant conversation that doesn’t reflect any of these controversial topics.

Finally, don’t force yourself to be part of a group. Inner-circles are going to happen. Don’t be offended if a group doesn’t want to welcome you into it right away. In fact, move on. Don’t force yourself to be where you are not wanted. If a group at work, or at a networking event, is giving you the cold shoulder, politely acknowledge it with only a smile and walk away. Don’t fall down either. Instead, move on to another group and try again.

Until next time,

Twyla N. Garrett

Saying ‘No’ to Clients

There is a time and a place to put customer service on the back burner and say ‘no’ to a client. For many business owners, this is a hard thing to do. It means turning down money, which we never want to do. However, sometimes you have to look the other way and ignore the cash.

If a client is taking advantage of your good nature, and asking for extra services / products- it is time to lay down the law. ‘No’ can be an empowering word and you don’t have to be mean when you say it. There are polite ways to decline a request, such as stating “I am going to have to politely decline this time.”

The reason I bring this up is because most business owners are people pleasers. We tend to take on a lot and figure out a way to work out the overload at a later date… or worse- put ourselves at the point of financial harm.

My advice for you this Friday is to know when to say ‘no’ and then to be strong when saying it. If a client cuts off your services because you aren’t willing to 1) work for free 2) be overloaded or 3) can’t break an ethical position – that client isn’t worth having.

Until Monday,

Twyla N. Garrett

Marketing – Revisit Your Department

Are you in the middle of a marketing slump? Summer tends to be a slow time for marketing and public relations efforts. This is why I tell all my business owner friends to re-evaluate marketing strategies during the summer. It is a slow time and there is plenty of space to review, plan and strategize.

Facebook and social media marketing efforts during this time are easy to A/B split test. You can review what times of day and what types of posts actually work and don’t work. You can also see what posts work on certain social media mediums vs. what doesn’t work.

Reviewing customer research is important during this time, too. When you launch your company, reviewing and studying your customers seems to be pretty important. Once customers start to roll in, revisiting your customer demographic, their buying trends, etc. seems to fall by the wayside. Don’t let this happen!

If there are two things to take away this weekend, understanding your social media efforts and who your customers are is essential and should be the main thing to revisit when it comes to marketing.

Until Monday,

Twyla N. Garrett

Your Body Is A Champion – At Least It Should Communicate This!

There is a lot to be said for body language. We are constantly judging people by their appearances and how they act. Don’t be fooled into thinking this doesn’t occur, it does! Now is a great time to decide how your body behaves on purpose to communicate the message of a champion to others.

Start by evaluating if you act confident or defensive in any and all situations. It seems simple but we often fail to check this within ourselves. If you are speaking at a coffee shop, giving an order or talking with passers by, chances are you aren’t standing with your arms crossed. Chances are you are also not standing in an engaging position. Change this about yourself.

Each day you should make a conscious decision to act confident, even in casual situations. Stand with your arms to your side , excellent posture and smile when you speak. Don’t say ‘hi’ to strangers, engage them. Reach out your hand, shake theirs, introduce yourself by name and ask for theirs. Be bold. Even if you are not that confident, these tricks will work.

Communication is everything. Remember this on your road to success.

Twyla N. Garrett

Is Your Boss Terrible?

I own a business. I am a boss. So why am I writing about terrible bosses? Well, we all have room to grow but being many of my readers are soon-to-be entrepreneurs, many of you are still working for someone right now! Thus, this post if for you!

If your boss is a micromanager, I’m sorry. Your boss’ company will not grow unless he or she lets go of the harness. If you are in this situation, try sending your boss an action plan once a task is assigned to you. Note “check in” dates of when you will provide updates on certain milestones. If you take the initiative first, chances are your boss will not micromanage so much down the road.

If your boss changes direction often, I’m sorry. I understand going where the money is but sometimes boss’ are spread too thin and then start to panic. Try to offer data as to why you and your boss should stay the course. Chances are your thinking will be more level-headed than that of a business owner who has money on the line. You can be the voice of reason in this scenario.

Most of the time the boss doesn’t intend on being a terrible leader. It happens for a variety of reasons. Key employees gently point this out and help better the company. You can be this person.

Until Monday,

Twyla N. Garrett

Homeland Security Expert Available to Talk Missing Boeing 777 Plane and Russia / Ukraine Crisis.

Homeland Security expert and author, Twyla Garrett, is well-versed in the areas of national security and international safety. Ms. Garrett is available to speak with all media outlets on the subjects of the Missing 777 Plane and/or the Russia / Ukraine crisis and what it means for the USA.

Twyla N. Garrett is the author of ‘Homeland Security ; A Comprehensive Guide for All’ and owns IME, a homeland securities firm. Ms. Garrett is reaching out to the national media as a valuable resource on the topics of homeland security, the missing Boeing 777 (Flight 370) plane and the stolen passports, as well as the Russia / Ukraine crisis and how it can impact USA relations with both countries and the world.

“There are some real concerns directly related to flight 370. If terrorism is suspected, and we have grounds to believe it is, then the flight being held at another location isn’t likely. Whomever took the plan, if this is what happened, didn’t care about their fingerprints being scanned. What is even more concerning is the process of the fingerprints being scanned but the rest of the security technologies not being up to par,” said Ms. Garrett.

Ms. Garrett has been interviewed by several media resources in the past and was featured by Dell for the securities and technological work being accomplished by IME using the Dell product. Additionally, Ms. Garrett pens a daily blog on the topic of business with Homeland Security being the featured topic each and every Wednesday. “I think I can offer a different perspective to the media when it comes to these topics because I am not an elected official. I don’t have to protect my job come next election. What I say and how I say is informative, honest and not influenced by special interests or an intent to run, or rerun, for office,” finished Garrett.

Twyla Garrett is an extraordinary entrepreneur, corporate speaker, and compelling author who has been personally invited to speak at The Whitehouse on the issues of creating jobs, economic growth and the controversial fiscal cliff of 2012. Garrett is known for her notable (sometimes 100% self-funded) business deals as much as she is known for providing excellent opportunities to individuals facing immense challenges. Twyla’s memoir will be published in 2013 and it will be followed by a series of “how-to” business books, starting with one based on Homeland Security. Currently, Twyla’s business blog and social media accounts furnish motivational quotes and an over-the-shoulder view of her unique perspective on profiting in business while helping others.

https://twitter.com/TwylaGarrett

The #1 Thing Business Owners Will Not Share About Entrepreneurship!

Business owners share a lot of advice. What they don’t tell you is between the networking events, overseeing employees and interacting with clients- there is a real sense of isolation. Yes, entrepreneurs are often lonely people.

Business owners tend not to share this “dirty little secret” because there is a sense of shame often associated with the lone wolf type of personality. I’m not even sure most business owners like to be alone at the end of the day, but it happens more often than not. Why? We’re busy and we are constantly working. That is just the fact of who we are and what we do. We are our companies.

Relationships fail because we are tied to work. Family commitments get put to the back burner more often than they should because we are closing deals or traveling often. We, as entrepreneurs, learn to embrace this job factor and fill the time reading, being quite or (dare I say it)- eating a meal not at our desk!

I think we should , as entrepreneurs, address this fact with aspiring business owners. We owe it to them to be honest. You are investing in yourself, which means you are truly submersing yourself , and 95% of your time, in your business. You will be busy. You can feel lonely. It is a job hazard , but when the company takes off and you can build a legacy for your family- or family to be- the sense of accomplishment often outweighs the years of loneliness.

Until tomorrow,

Twyla Garrett

Are You Attractive?

OK, the title of tonight’s post may seem silly but there is a lot to be said for making your brand as attractive as you!

Your brand is representative your voice. Your business has to reflect what you stand for, what is sells, and the relationships it has with vendors and clients all through social media and traditional design and content marketing. Easier said than done? Yes! But that doesn’t mean it is an impossible task.

In easy terms, consider how you dress. Do you always wear black? Do you wear color? Are you defined by a signature hair style? If you have little things about your appearance that define you to your friends and family then you already know how to brand yourself. You just need to take this concept and apply it to your brand.

The next step is to remain consistent. If you are always evolving your appearance as a business people may assume that you have a brand identity issue happening- or worse, you don’t know who your customers are.

Being attractive to your demographic is a major part of branding and what makes and breaks certain companies.

Try writing down five consistent things about your personal appearance and your company’s brand right now. Then run a survey and ask your customers the same question about your brand. See if they can come up with the same answers as you. If not, you need to adjust your attractiveness to customers.

Until next time,

Twyla

3 Ways to Get Rich Quick, Yes... Really!

There is a story trending on the internet today regarding getting rick quick. This story notes nine fail-safe ways to boom your business. I read the tips. While I wish I could endorse them, I simply can't. There is no way to beat hard work and years of failures and successes to develop wealth, unless you win the lotto!

However, if you want to become rich, consider some of the following traits;

1. Did you have it tough as a child? Yes, adversity can create wealth. People who have had to survive and thrive in unlivable environment tend to make the most money in this world. If this is you, don't think of yourself as defeated. Think of your background as a competitive edge. It has provided you with the stamina to see things through, especially though situation!

2. Do what you love. People who invest in business they're not invested in usually limit how much money they can make. If you do something you love, the chances of success greatly improve.

3. Live poor. Two thirds of America's millionaires are self-employed. They didn't have anything handed to them. They continue to grow their business because they live below their means and invest their profits back into their passion. In other words, they're not making it rain every Friday night at the club. Be discreet with the money you do have and live as if you're broke!

While I hate to say there is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, it's true. However, you can grow your own rainbow and fill up your own pot with gold, it just takes work.

Twyla

Start-Up Marketing; How to be Your Own Salesperson

Most companies would love to start-up with an amazing sales team in place. This isn't always the case. In fact, most start-up companies hit the streets with one sales person- the owner. If you have a small sales team (or none), don't panic. I've put together my top five sales / marketing tips to help you not only survive during this time, but thrive!

1. You're likely going to compete against established companies. Focus on how you're different, not how old the company is.

2. Pay for referrals. That's right, reward your early customers with deep discounts for referrals they send over- even if the referrals don't by. This will put a customer, who is already in love with your products or services, in the sales position for you- and for free!

3. Don't be pushy. People don't like pushy. There is a reason used car salespeople have their reputation. Focus on being honest with your sales leads and help them figure out how your products and services solves their challenges.

4. Gather data and review it often. Ask yourself why people aren't buying. Then ask those who said "no" why they did. Knowing why you're not selling is far more valuable then understanding why you are selling.

5. Say no to negotiations. If a client starts bartering with your price point only because of how long your company has been opened, walk away. In the long run, it will cost you more to earn this client's business then it will generate profits and referrals. If a client isn't sold on you as a company or the products / services it provides, move on. There will be leads out there willing to listen, excited about a new brand and option on the market, and they will have cash readily available.

Starting up a company isn't easy, but it isn't impossible. Stick with me during my January marketing series and I promise your profit margins will improve.

Until next time,

Twyla

5 Habits Mentally Strong People Practice.

Are you mentally strong? Much like your body has to be worked out to become strong, the brain does too. Many of the most celebrated CEOs and business leaders around the world are know for being "tough as nails", but this didn't happen overnight. In fact, most CEOs have to practice being mentally strong. Here are the top five habits of mentally strong people.

#1. They don't attend pitty parties. That's right, the mentally strong don't feel sorry for themselves when things don't happen as planned. They don't blame others or dwell on things, either. So, if you want to be great, brush off something that didn't work out and move on without holding a grudge.

#2. They refuse to be complacent, even when the money is good. Yes, complacent only means you will one day be outdated. Embrace change and learn new things daily.

#3. They refuse to please others. Mentally strong people have a job to do. Worrying about pleasing others or how others will react is a distraction that will cut off money and success. Don't worry about people, worry about the task at hand.

#4. Don't give up after a venture fails. Most of the known CEOs have had failures. But they're out there, spinning a new business and looking at other opportunities. If you let failure stop you, then you really do fail!

5. Don't rely on the world for anything, including breaks. The world owes you nothing, regardless of how tough you had it as a kid or so on. If you know the world isn't going to give you a break, then you realize you have to try harder than everyone else to be successful.

This is my last blog until January 2, 2014. As I leave for the holiday break, I truly hope you learn from these five practices for mentally strong people.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year,

Twyla

Starting A Business in 2014? 3 MUST Tips for Success.

So, you're going to open a business in 2014. Congrats and welcome to the real world of entrepreneurship. You will NOT be rich over night and you're going to have to work more than you think. I'm going to share three MUST do secrets for success to help you during your first year of business.

1. Don't have offices if at all possible. I mean cubical farms or inner-offices where people can close doors on one another. You should promote and open work space where everyone can look at, talk to and see what others are doing. This promotes less slacking off for your employees and also generates better communication skills and sales results.

2. Don't buy t-shirts and other branded items for customers or employees to wear or use outside the office. This is a huge waste of money. Make sure you are spending as little money as needed on things that are not actually needed. In other words, don't buy into the hype of owning a business. Know what you can and can't spend.

3. Don't listen to your customers. If you know what you have will sell, and it isn't selling, change your marketing strategy- not the product / services based on the opinions of those who aren't buying. Change your marketing, change your market, but don't change your entire product or services. You will find your customers, you just have to stay consistent with your branding.

Running a business is going to be one of the hardest, yet most rewarding, things you can do. Make sure you stay focused, on budget and strong.

Until tomorrow,

Twyla Garrett

Do You Tattoo?

Here's a hot topic: tattoos. Today's work culture is becoming more laid back. More people work from home, don't wear full garb (jeans and t-shirts are becoming ok- even encouraged at companies like Zappos), and the strict dress codes of years past are almost obsolete. But, what about tattoos?

Well, allowing someone to work and show their tattoos is really left up to the individual employer. As an employee, you can be overlooked for a position because of a tattoo. There is no black and white answer right now. But, there seems to be a general rule about tattoos at work.... "If I see them, you're not hired- maybe in fired," said on HR Director.

The artwork associated with many tattoos is subjective, making the verbiage or image a liability for many companies. A customer can be offended by a tattoo and sue your company since your ambassador is wearing the artwork. In reality, not too many people would hire a woman with a tattoo around her chest to watch children, make coffee, or present at marketing meeting. The woman may be bright, kind, and far away from any stereo types that surround chest tattoos- but, she is still likely to not get a job because of the artwork.

If you have a tattoo- hide it. Unless a boss tells you otherwise, or indicates otherwise, showing your artwork at work is a bad idea.

Until next time,
Twyla