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

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

3 “MUST” Networking Tips for Women Business Owners

I was recently asked if I had ever felt funny networking at a mixed gender event. Well, first of all, life is a mixed gender event. Second, I never have felt “funny” but I’ve always been a straight forward person who has worked among more men than women. That’s when it occurred to me that new business owners, who happen to be female, may need some tips on networking.
So, I went back and checked-in with the woman who asked me this question. I wanted to know what her experience was that she would ask me such a question. It turns out, she felt that men may have mistaken her business advances as an excuse to flirt. She was concerned about lines being perceived wrong at mixed gender events.

As a result of her question, I’ve put together 3 tips to help females new to business ownership proudly boast their companies, and build professional relationships, without feeling “funny.”
1. Practice your elevator pitch in the car and into a recording device. There are many apps that can record your thoughts while driving. Download one on your smart phone. Practice several elevator pitches in the car on the way into work. 8 hours (or more) later when driving home, listen to them. You will know what sounds great, what makes you cringe, and what to polish.
2. Be a giver. Don’t go into any event seeking a business deal or referral source. Instead, offer to do something for everyone you meet. This way, no single person feels you’re offering an “extra special” incentive because you’re interested in him or her. For example, if you own a bakery- have special business cards printed up with an offer for a free brownie every time the person visits your shop in-person.
3. Don’t drink more than one glass of wine and no hard liquor. This goes for any event at any point during your career as a business owner. No one likes a sloppy drunk and no one will take someone who can’t be responsible with their liquor intake at a corporate event seriously- especially when it comes to signing a contract or referring business to that same person.
Have more questions? Let’s connect on Twitter.

Twyla Garrett

Preparing for Any Disaster

I received a request to deal with home and family issues when it comes to a disaster, not just employment or major issues of national security. I love getting these requests and spent some time this morning putting together the best tips possible to help prepare your family, and your home, for a disaster of any type.

First, know that you need to have 5 master plans. You need a plan for yourself and the adults in the home, a plan for seniors in the home, a plan for children in the home, a plan for pets in the home, and a plan for anyone with disabilities within the home. No, a blanket "one-size fits all" strategy will not work. You do need individual plans.

Each plan needs to have four core elements. These elements include an emergency medical kit. The kit is going to be very different for pets vs. seniors vs. someone with Multiple Sclerosis, etc. Make sure back up medications, general triage items, and written down phone numbers of doctors and allergies are included in each kit.

The next element is being CPR trained. Yes, you and everyone in your home should know how to provide CPR to humans and pets. Your third element is community resources. Do you know what they are in case of a disaster? If not, call your local Red cross and sign up for an emergency maintenance class. The fourth, and final element, is practicing. Don't tell your children or spouse when you are going to practice a disaster alarm. Instead, surprise him or her (or them) really early in the morning when people's defenses are down and they are groggy. This will give you a great indication of what has to be worked on.

I hope this information provides the basics, but please feel free to ask me more questions on Twitter!

Twyla N. Garrett

When and why to approach the media.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, businesses within this country that deserve the attention. However, not all of them will achieve coverage. Why is this? Well, I am going to use tonight's blog to provide some pointers on achieving media coverage using the right approach.

The first step you want to take it familiarizing yourself with the standards implemented and utilized today via the Associated Press. The Associated Press, otherwise known as AP, offer several interactive online tools that can help you write in the style preferred by many reporters and journalists. Learning how to format your approach will help you remain competitive when seeking media coverage.

The second step is to understand how relevant your company is in direct relation to media value. I suggest visiting Google News and type in a keyword directly related to your industry. The first page of Google News will reflect what is trending irrelevant within your industry and help you decide what slant to use when approaching media or writing a press release.

Finally, you want to make sure you are reaching the right reporter for editor. For example, if you offer a product that is related to the technology industry – contacting the general editor of the New York Times is a mistake. It is a mistake because the general editor is not in charge of assigning technology and computer pieces to the covering reporters. You should spend time researching which reporters and editors write for your industry – related news before you approach any newspaper or news outlet. Until next time,

Twyla Garrett

The Making of a YouTube Video -101

This week I've been discussing marketing and how to help your start-up with a little (or none) marketing budget. Today, however, I want to talk about YouTube. Now, I will say that I'm not a big video fan. Having YouTube videos will not make or break my company, but I work in a specialized field. Most companies, on the other hand, do need a YouTube video - or some type of video introduction to their company- in order to stay competitive in today's social media market.

If you are pondering making your own YouTube video, you're at the right place. I decided to do some research and put together a mini-guide (below) on the proper way to create a YouTube video for your company and marketing purposes.

How to Create a YouTube video 101.

First, consider the proper timing when sketching out the frames and script for your video. A great YouTube video should be between one and three minutes. Being concise and to the point is just as important as being timely. Videos that are too short have proven themselves to be ineffective. Videos that are over three minuets statistically bore the customer and you lose business.

Make sure you explain what your company is, who you are, and what services you provide within the first thirty seconds. Yes, timing is everything. Be upfront about who you are and what you're all about. You don't want to bank on a busy professional sitting to the end of the video to grasp an understanding of what it is you do or sell.

Do you have room for a call to action? You should! A video shouldn't just be a video about your company's products or services. It should have a call to action in the video. Make sure you are clear when presenting the call to action and stay away from sales-like verbiage. Be clever with how you word your call to action.

Remain professional. I am not kidding when I say I have watched video after video where business owners are pitching products standing outside on a windy day. I can't hear what they are saying, so why did these people put their terribly produced videos online? Don't they know this hurts their companies? You don't have to have a budget to make a professional video- as long as you use common sense. Your video has to be clear and look professional as much as it needs to be entertaining.

Still have questions? Leave me a message below and I will be happy to personally respond to all of your YouTube and video questions.

In the meantime, check out the 5 most hated YouTube videos via this link: http://gizmodo.com/5866695/the-five-most-hated-youtube-videos-in-internet-history Happy marketing,

Twyla

Auto Payments & Your Business

I know of many people who start a "subscribe list" and then think they're going to be wealthy based on a subscription service. Well, that's easier said than done. Netflix is offering unlimited streaming of their movies plus four hard DVD rentals per month for eight dollars. And consider that Netflix offers and at the price. Now, what are you offering and at what price?

Advertising and giveaways kind of work, in the sense that ad money stimulates growth to your list, but are people buying? People in the subscription business have to justify their products / services value, especially in today's economy. Charging to a newsletter is not going to make you any type of a profit. I knew someone who started a subscription service to receive his "insight" newsletters on today's business world. The cost? $14.99 per month.

Well, no one was buying. He lowered the cost to $1.99 a month with the thought that once he showed value, he could raise prices in six months. And, hey, some money was better than no money. He thought five hundred subscribers at $1.99 a month was still a great profit. The problem was there were no subscribers.

His "insight" wasn't as valuable as he thought, especially since people can read business news online for free or subscribe to their favorite online publication through an assortment of other, cheaper resources.

My point is don't put all your eggs into the subscription business until you have a demand that is growing. If you have to prove your value to people, you don't have the demand.

Twyla Garrett

Become Wanted

The best asset you can create for yourself in business is to become wanted. Even if you are just starting out, creating a mystique for yourself as a "must have" product creator or service provide will sell itself. So, how do you become "wanted?"

Easy. Well, sort of. I've put together three tips to help you gain the mojo to drive clients and potential clients crazy and sales onward and upward.

1. Curiosity. I can say this enough. A curious quality if a profitable one. Be curios. Ask your clients questions. Have a desire to need more. Get people to talk to you about themselves. They will find you an endearing service provider or product manager and will be coming back more and more and more.....

2. Be positive. People don't want to be around other people who are negative or gossip. People want to be around people who lift them up with a positive attitude. Even if you feel terrible, slap a smile on your face and pretend all is ok.

3. Be kind. Offer to help. Offer to correct problems. Volunteer your time. Make a donation. Do whatever you can to be considered as helpful and/or kind.

These three tips are pretty basic, but they work wonders. Tomorrow is Friday. Get out there and try using each one of these tips at least once throughout the day. I promise you it will change how people view you.

Twyla Garrett

You Said What!

Customers are funny people. Many of them are loyal, even if they have a problem. But almost all of them hate the next two words I'm about to toss out.

"Sorry" and "But" are the two words.

Customers hate these two words because they both signal disappointment and lack of accountability. Saying "sorry" means something went wrong and you can't or are unwilling to fix the issue. Saying "but" usually is a way to sneak an alternative offer or change the subject. Customers hate these words.

"Sorry, we don't have any more ham sandwiches. Did you want a turkey sandwich?" -Um, most people ordering a ham sandwich don't want turkey. Sorry only means you're not willing to take responsibility for the issue- even if you're the waitress delivering the message. A better way to handle this situation is as follows;
"We are out of ham for the day. We have everything else noted on the menu. Did you want to review other choices and I can come back in a few minutes?" While you're still saying there is no ham, you're giving the customer power over the situation. He doesn't have to accept turkey and he can chose his second favorite item. You're also not apologizing for something out of your control and that you can't do anything about.

"It is going to cost you a thousand dollars to fix your breaks, but the resale value will improve." - The but in this sentence doesn't need to be added. The cost of the item is what it is. If you can't justify the use of breaks to a customer, he isn't worried about resale value!

So, most of the time customers aren't upset by mistakes or disappointments. They are, however, more agitated by the way things are presented to them. Leave out the words "sorry" and "but" and you will have happier customers.

Twyla Garrett

3 Ways You're Failing Customers

It happens. We get busy with how to run the business, growing a business, developing our brand, etc. that we forget why we are in business- our customers. I'm listing three ways to tell if you've lost sigh of your customers' needs. If so, ask yourself what you can do to correct the situation at hand.

1. You half-ass tasks. Sorry to be so blunt, but it is true. If you perform at your highest level upon first signing a client, but months or years later you could care less if the product/service is amazing or of quality then you've lost focused and are denying your customer what he or she is entitled to.

2. You believe the customer is always right. Um, no. The customer may think he or she is always right, but they're not. You wouldn't sell a standard kitchen oven to someone who wanted to open a bakery would you? No, of course not. If you see a client making a mistake and you don't step in- you're failing that customer.

3. You avoid the evil client. If you ditch a client because he or she is too demanding than you might not be up for the challenge of expansion. Try your best to handle evil clients and resolve inner-conflicts before giving this type of customer the boot.

Dealing with customers isn't always easy. You are not going to have easy clients in life. There will be difficult clients and situations. Remember these three tips and make sure the problem isn't you.

Twyla

Create More Sales!

Every business could always use more sales. So, how do you get them? Well, there are a few tricks you can do to increase sales.

Start with shopping your competition. You may be way over the average price for your sales or services. Find out what your competitors are charging and then invent an incentive-based promotion to either tie their price or beat it.

Revisit your current customers. They are already spending money and working with you. What services could you offer them to add to their current contracts? Find a way to add service or products that will compliment their current needs and add more sales to your bottom line.

Finally, build honest relationships with people. Don't send out Spam promotions or pretend to care about your customer. Instead, send out meaningful email blasts and perform follow up calls to your customers (current, past and potential) to show your loyalty and interest in earning their business.

Following these three steps will really help start a sales surge. Sure, there are other techniques out there- but these three are the basis for a happy profit line.

Until next time,
Twyla

How to Get a Business Loan.

Obtaining a business loan in today's economic culture is challenging. You might have perfect credit, but that doesn't mean you will get a great rate- if a loan at all. I've complied some tips to improve our chances for getting a business loan.

Start off by knowing your debt ratio. One of the most basic measures of a company’s creditworthiness is the Debt Service Coverage ratio, which shows a firm’s ongoing ability to keep in control both debt and interest. The Debt Service Coverage Ratio, defined as EBITDA divided by a firm’s current portion of long-term debt and interest expense, is an extremely important metric for predicting default.

Review your net sales. If sales are low you have to consider one of two options. First, increasing profitable sales and lowering production costs – take time to identify and implement. "Lowering production costs often involves finding ways to get raw materials or key services more cheaply or to use less of them. Or it can mean identifying new, more efficient methods of producing a good or providing a service," according to Karen Berman and Joe Knight.

Finally, If you can show less debt and less spending, you have a better chance for getting a business loan versus a person with perfect credit but a high amount of debt.

Twyla

How to handle a natural disaster or act of violence at work.

I help businesses and government agencies prepare for and prevent disasters of all types. But, for those of you who can't hire IME's services, here are some basic steps to handling a disaster event at work.

Start with signing up for the American Red Cross' First Aid|CPR |AED classes. The website reads, "Would you know what to do in a cardiac, breathing or first aid emergency? The right answer could help you save a life. With an emphasis on hands-on learning, our First Aid/CPR/AED courses give you the skills to save a life. All course options align with OSHA’s Best Practices for Workplace First Aid Training Programs and are available in classroom and blended learning formats. Certification is issued upon successful completion. Free online refreshers are available with all course options."

2. After attending to any urgent medical needs, revert into your company's Emergency Protocol. If you haven't developed one yet- do so. Not only does this act help you save money on company insurance, it saves lives!

3. If the incident is a violent one, or a verbal bullying issues, report it to law enforcement. You may have survived the incident (or witnessing it), but the same person can commit the act again- or escalate it by returning with weapons hours later. Take notice and report all minor acts of violent of verbal abuse to law enforcement and have the employee removed from the building.

4. Know key state and national resource numbers. During a violent or natural disaster it is possible for communication lines to go down. Don't be lost without resources. Physically write down key numbers to employees and resources and keep them in your purse or wallet.

5. Have guiding principals in place to address disasters at work after the fact. These should include, but not be limited to;
- Treat all matters seriously.
- Don’t victimize anyone who was a witness to a violent act or the victim of a natural disaster by improperly question them.
- Act with impartiality towards all parties, avoiding any personal or professional bias.
- Consult with health and safety representatives.
- Document the process, recording all meetings and interviews with details of who was present and agreed outcomes.

Until next time,
Twyla

My Personal Website is Up!

I'm so pleased to announce that my personal website is up. You can find it at AuthorTwylaGarrett.com or HireACorporateSpeaker.com

This website is offering a free webinar for people who want my business advice. The webinar will take place in July and you can sign up now via the website. Also, if you're looking for more information about me, my companies, my speaking programs and/or personal coaching, the website offers a lot of information that can answer all of your questions!

I look forward to talking with all of you at the webinar.

Twyla

Save Your Business From Disaster!

Emergencies can happen in business. The best offense is a great defense. I've jotted down a few ways to prevent a disaster when it comes to running your business. If you have some tips- please share them with me. I love learning new things and I can share your suggestions with my Twitter followers, too.

First, never leave financial items to a single person. Always have a few people cross checking financial work. You should spot check accounts vs. work, too. And, have a Forensic Accountant review your financials every once in a while. Don't ignore or not spot check accounts because you don't understand one financial concept or another. If you don't understand your finances, or business finances, take a class and become involved. There are dishonest people out there. Knowing how to spot them is key.

Change your company passwords every sixty days. You also have to be careful as to who has passwords and to what account. More so, don't keep your personal and private business matter passwords running the same as employee access passwords. I knew a lady who ran a company and her password to everything was "5679". Employees who had access to Twitter used "5679" as the password per her direction. Well, she had to fire one employee. This employee hacked into her personal Facebook page, business voicemail, and banking accounts using the password "5679". Always change your passwords and never mix your personal passwords with employee access passwords.

Document everything. If your company doesn't have an HR department then documentation is going to be your friend. If you have to discipline an employee or notate a potential client issue then document everything as it is happening. Don't put documentation off to later. Details will be forgotten. Details that can save your company from being sued.

I'm getting ready to host a free seminar soon on the web. If you're interested, please email my marketing team at:

Helene@JumpStartInk.com

Until next time,
Twyla