By Jackie Camacho-Ruiz It was August 2006 when I decided to start my first business in communications as a young Latina that had only been in the United States for 8 years. A lot of people thought I was crazy to start a communications company in a different language that my native one. A big learning curve was ahead of me for sure, not only in the language, bur primarily in the process of running a business. No one […]
By Jackie Camacho-Ruiz After 11 years as head of JJR Marketing, a Chicagoland marketing firm serving start-ups to Fortune 500s, I still delight in helping companies find the “right recipe” for their marketing. Like a chef experienced with different ingredients, I’ve found that not all marketing is the same, or designed for the same results. For some businesses, preparation of their marketing is the challenge while for others, it’s how to serve it up, or even, how to invite […]
1. How to Win Friends & Influence People By Dale Carnegie You can go after the job you want—and get it! You can take the job you have—and improve it! You can take any situation—and make it work for you! Dale Carnegie’s rock-solid, time-tested advice has carried countless people up the ladder of success in their business and personal lives. One of the most groundbreaking and timeless bestsellers of all time, How to Win Friends & Influence People will teach […]
By Gabriela Rodil, Guest Bloger The good news is that everything is up for negotiation. The bad news is that everything is up for negotiation. Welcome to a world where some people “negotiate” even facts. So how do you deal with it? Your best friend in any negotiation is knowledge. Knowledge of data, requirements, conditions, factors, etc. It doesn’t matter if the negotiation is with a supplier, employee, partner or spouse. Here is what you need to know: Your […]
By Michele Kelly, Senior Content Specialist Hold on . . . I’ve . . . got to catch . . . breath. Sprinted . . . last mile . . . Lana Del Rey and Beyoncé . . . yeah, they with me . . . and all those ideas. The ideas are the reason I tie the pink laces on my black Nike shoes, luxuriate in music nirvana and run as far as possible without looking like I’m […]
By Jackie Camacho-Ruiz Every morning, I wake up hoping that I will help at least one person that day; that I may be of value to others. I head to work and spend most of my time interacting with people—family, new and current clients, team members, strategic partners and members of the media. Everybody is trying to get something done, and everyone believes that what they are doing is important. But how do we bring the very best of […]
By Jackie Camacho-Ruiz The only way to develop a successful legacy is to create a culture that can continue. Legacy is not about building a business like a machine and then being able to walk away and leave it chugging along. It is in the language and atmosphere that you build with your employees that allows your business to continue to grow and innovate in a changing world. There’s no doubt that innovation has lots of air to breathe […]
By: Jacqueline Camacho-Ruiz A touch point in your business interaction is defined as any point of contact between you and your customer/contact. In other words, anything that has your company logo on it is essentially a touch point. It could be an email, newsletter, billboard, phone call, brochure, etc. In business, every single one of your touch points should be cohesive, consistent and strategic, constantly elevating your business reputation. For a personal brand, every touch point becomes even more […]
From running my business, to addressing a national audience, to writing my next book, to helping my kids with homework, to piloting a flight cross country, I wake up every day with a goal to “make it happen” for my clients, friends, loved ones…and myself! I don’t know about you, but I get a tingly feeling of self-satisfaction when I check something off a list or achieve the day’s goal by 10 a.m. My business card states that I am […]
By Karen Dix, Senior Content Specialist If you asked a cowboy in the old west to show you his brand, he’d point to the seared flesh of one of his cows. “That’s my brand,” he’d say. “That cow is mine.” Nowadays, the word “brand” is used quite broadly and can mean many different things to today’s consumer and/or business owner. But it still has something in common with those metal irons—it marks what is someone else’s. What’s a Strong […]