Categories
Ideas out of Adversity

Fighting the storm to achieve making a difference with marketing.

Confronting an actual storm led to exploring a metaphorical one.

A record storm happened here in New York City day before yesterday that resulted in streets flooding, 15 or more mice at one time trying to swim to safety and having to wade through sometimes chest high water levels in the subway station near us.

Facing the storm.

My wife and our daughter when returning home got caught in the thick of it. Thankfully, they made it home safely, no worse for wear. They succeeded in facing the storm, but what about the metaphorical storm that you might be facing with your business when doing marketing?

Obstacles that seem to come out from thin air.

Storms can sometimes start building against you without you even knowing about it. Challenges you face sometimes are generated by you trying to do the right thing, yet you find yourself chastised. Because regardless of how good your intentions are, others for whatever reason may view it in a negative manner.

Categories
Community Marketing Magic

USA Make a Difference & Magically Pull eCommerce Out of Your Hat

Make a Difference and Grow Your Business

Those of us from “USA Make a Difference” have magically reappeared. Much planning and more has been going on offstage. We evaluated and decided to change our workflow a bit. The reason for this is that we are currently engaged in a plan to reach more people than we currently do so that we can bring as many folks as possible into the mission to make a difference as you grow your business.

Working in Private for the Moment

Unfortunately, we are unable to disclose much at this time to give this phase of change a chance to do what it needs to do, without being seen. Like the studies of documentary filmmakers and how when filming wildlife, they essentially impact and change the behavior of the animals based on being there with their cameras. I guess we are the “wildlife” and need to graze and plan without the lens pointed to us.

The Learning Process

With careers as a magician, filmmaker, and marketer in the rearview mirror but still accessible, this is the period in which we usher in being educators. Ultimately why we are doing this is to bring education into the fold. This has been the long-term plan of course, getting a SUNY undergraduate and CUNY graduate degrees here in NYC in my ‘50’s (an age range I am still participating in) was done with the intention to have a base for being able to navigate throughout the learning process.

eCommerce as a Safety Income Stream

Some businesses, due to the pandemic, have been looking into eCommerce as a possible expansion of what they are doing, or in some cases trying to set up an additional income stream to add a layer of protection in case anything like Covid happened again. Of course, not all business models allow for being able to have an eCommerce store, but for those businesses for which eCommerce has potential, 3 blogs from the Blog Coalition have each provided their take on selling things online. And the cool thing is that they are all magicians who, like other magicians in this era of the pandemic, are considering eCommerce and other digital strategies as extra income streams. On each blog you will gain insight in the eCommerce process if that holds any interest for you.

The Latest 3 Blogs Looked at from the Blog Coalition

The most recent 3 websites are all helmed by magicians with an interest in tech as an entrepreneurial pathway. The prestidigitator blogs can be reached by clicking on the one of the websites below that is of interest to you. Enjoy the eCommerce magic shows.

Manhattan Magician
Marketer Magician
USA Magicians

Categories
Free is Time

How to Decide if You Want to Start a Free Blog

Will Running a Free Blog Take Up Too Much of Your Time?

We live in a time during which running a business while making a difference is quite possible. One key method that people and organizations have access to is to create a blog. As you likely know, in this age of technology you can create a blog totally free. So do not let the worry of expense to take a toll on you. Free is free. Though, the question here that should be examined in the onset is the question “Do you really want to take on the time that a free blog requires?”

If You Decide to Launch You Free Blog, What Would Its Purpose Be?

For business owners and those who have business ideas, it is sometimes difficult to figure out where to start when you are putting together your online tools. One question you could be asking yourself is “Should I even start a blog?”

Your Free Blog Can Be Your Business Anchor

A blog, if done and promoted strategically, can be the anchor for your business or even if you are just sharing an idea for a business you might start.

Giving Tips in Your Free Blog Can Help You Get More Customers

For owners of already existing businesses, your blog is a place for your customers and future ones, to have a window into your evolving and updated story, as well as maybe getting useful tips, in conjunction with the problems that your business solves.

What Expectations Do You Have for Your Blog?

And for those of you who are in the business development phase, a blog can assist you in finding out if your idea is going to roll based on the response you get online. So, whether you are a business owner or someone deciding if they will launch, it is important to know what your expectations are.

Have You Made a Search Typing Keywords such as “Free Blog Platform?”

A good place to start when developing a free blog is to make the vital decision which is to decide on what free platform you want to use for your blog.

Are You Overwhelmed with Having to Decide on Your Free Blog Platform?

Yes, with so many good and free choices out there, making this decision can sometimes be a bit over whelming. What makes this even more difficult is the fact that technology is rapidly evolving., so what might make sense now could later turn out to be not the best choice since the platform you originally signed up for could no longer be useful to you. Here is a way to calm down. Think in terms of what you really need your free blog to help you achieve?

In Conclusion

Is running a free blog going to help you both with the development of you organization as well as will it serve a purpose in you making a difference?

P.S.

The USA Make a Difference Team is hard at work with the goal to make a difference in the lives of online creators or those who own a business or are currently developing a business idea. It is an extremely ambitious and time consuming project that includes a comprehensive program mapping out weekly and daily procedures. These procedures collectively are a way to make a difference while making a living. The team is still not committed to the project in the sense that they reserve the right to opt out of the process at any moment. Stay tuned, because if we do not pull out this week, next week could potentially include more information about this potential endeavor.

Categories
Boredom to Passion

I Feel Like a Bored Dog Who Dislikes Magicians and is Not Interested in Making a Difference

Less Canine and More Passion

Reality check. Are you not interested in making a difference but would like to be more interested in making a difference? Taking a look at the words and phrases of the heading above could be helpful in terms of what you might, or might not, relate to. Chances are you are not a dog. Dogs can not read. Though, you might be bored with your life in general and would like to be more passionate about something. Anything. A search for meaning? Oh, and the disliking magicians thing? That is going to make more sense as we dig deeper into this post.

Why do You Want to Turn Boredom to Passion?

You can not make a difference if you are bored and have no passion for what you do. If you want to turn your boredom into passion by disliking magicians, you have come to the right place. The website that you are on right now, “USA Make a Difference,” will at the end of this post link you to 3 websites, all of which are proud members of the Blog coalition and will give you their take on beating boredom and finding passion. The first of these websites is “Harry Potter Fan Club NYC” that looks at fan passion, “Become a Mentalist” is next and views the importance of having passion if you want to make mentalism your career, and finally “Houdini Day” that examines how having passion drove to success one of the, if not the, most famous magician of all time.

How to Stop Being So Frigging Bored and Turn Your Frigging Boredom into Frigging Passion

For those of you who are looking for something to be passionate about, you might be bored right now reading this blog, asking yourself if you want to give it any further of your time and interest to turn your boredom into passion? After all, you may think, that if you are bored right now reading this, what possible hope for you is there in in that taking in this ream of information? Will it get you any closer to stop being so frigging bored? The answer is that “N” followed by “O” spell NO. If you are asking this you are not ready to turn boredom to passion, let alone turning your boredom into “sort of being interested but not really.” So please stop reading this right now and go back to being frigging bored because becoming frigging passionate is not in the cards for you today.

Goodluck Goodbye to Some and Hello and Welcome to Others

Good. They left. It is time to take in a breath and let out a big sigh of relief. Let us start with looking at your boredom. You could be bored with sites like this one, “USA Make a Difference,” and feeling as if the pressure is on you to make a difference. You are bored with that. Bored with your job or bored without having one. Bored with your friends. Bored with romance. Bored with what is on your steaming movies website. Let us face it, you are bored with your life.

Luck is Here for Those of You Who are Frigging Bored with Being Frigging Bored

Well, you are in luck because, boredom can be solved as easy as a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. In fact, just as the title claims we will show you how to turn boredom into passion by hating magicians.

Please Read this Before Skipping Ahead, especially if You See Yourself as Being a Part of the Magician and Mentalist Community.

Yes, in case we do have some mentalists or magicians reading this, you just might have arrived here, as several have, by searching some variation of keyword clusters that involved the word “Magician. “Do not worry my fellow conjurers, we are prestidigitator friendly here. In fact, something I had intended to do at the start of all this was to exhibit especially important disclaimer below:

No Magicians Were Harmed in the Making of This Information Compilation

Though, if you are reading this because you are bored with magic or mentalism, I hate to say it, but in truth you may not be the right fit in the first place calling yourself a magic and mentalist practitioner. Why? Because as we will soon explore 99.9 percent of magicians and mentalists love the magic and mentalism arts. For many, and this has been true throughout the ages, want nothing more to talk about and perform magic and mentalism

A Profession that Those Doing it are Passionate About

Observing these types of people become our window into what being passionate about. I can vouch for this love of my chosen art firsthand. I was most engrossed as a performer from ages 8 to 18. I made money doing it from ages 12 to 16. As far as having a part time job as a magician, as a kid doing it I did well. I did mostly birthday parties. But I also did what I did in conjunction with filling seats in theaters, as well as being the entertainment for employee dinner celebrations, high school fundraisers and so on and so forth. By this time, you have probably guessed what my part time job was. Yes, I was a basketball star. Just kidding. I was a kid magician.

Magic as I Have Experienced it Firsthand

And after many years away from it, I have put one foot back into the world of magic here in New York City by becoming a member of one of the most prestigious clubs for magicians in the world. And after a couple of years being among many magicians, I can attest to the fact the magic passion exists even in older age brackets such as those in their60s, 70s, 80s and yes even beyond that. I know and understand the passion magicians have because I have that passion now, or at least are bringing it back up to the surface. Case in point, I wrote all this and most of it uses the concept of magic and magicians for you to go to your next level of turning boredom into passion. You see, magicians are deeply passionate about magic.

Why are Magicians so Passionate About Magic?

Why are magicians passionate about what they do? Some do it because they like being on stage. Others as means of connecting with people. I know magicians who seem to do magic because they like the challenge and feeling of accomplishment that comes with practicing sleight of hand. Some even see the magic of magic and enjoy very much the wonder in kids’ eyes, astounding the grownups too, and in general making people laugh and be amazed. It can be a very upbeat profession. A profession that those in it are passionate about doing so.

How Do Notes on the Observation of Magicians Help You?

Okay but the question is how does me talking about magicians help you to become passionate about something? In fact, some people really hate magicians, find them to be annoying because all they do is say “Pick a card” and are clearly attention seekers because they are pathetic losers in life. If you feel strongly that you are anti magic, congratulations. You have something to be passionate about which is to hate magicians. In fact, you could even create a club for it.

A Club for Hating Magicians?

Think about it. Imagine a club to take down those despicable magician low lifers who are so very annoying with their sponge balls and coins? Hmm. Yes. Think about it. If you start that club, you could automatically make yourself the president of it. You could also have a blog that you use to express your magician rage each week, or if you are really steaming about the topic, you could even do it daily or maybe just do a bonus post every so often. Being the president of an organization would make you an expert of “Magician Hate” and might even get booked on talk shows. How cool would it be to have a means of venting about how your blood really boils when you think about the audacity of an individual who a magic set as a kid and then turn it into something they do for a living, in this case, annoying people with their prestidigitation.

Give a Heave-Ho to Others of Their Kind

But why stop with just giving the world the gift of zero magicians? What about getting rid of all those annoying people who hang out with magicians? This could include ventriloquists, jugglers, balloon twisters, clowns, and even worse than clowns, mimes. Except for maybe keep face painters because sometimes you enjoy looking like a cat.

Domain Name?

You could then launch a revolution or at least a trend about how hating magicians changed your life and could change the lives of others too. To be truly transformational, you would need your blog to have a name that expresses your anger of your hate of magicians and that of others. Something personal. Something is simple also so people could easily remember it. One domain name you might consider is ihatemagicians.com.

The Magic Trick You Want to Do

You are in luck. Because if you want to register the domain name ihatemagicians.com, we just checked out a domain registrar on your behalf and are happy to say that as of the date of writing this, ihatemagicians.com is available. This means that if you purchase this domain first no one else will be able to use it and you can now create a ihatemagicians.com website with which you can share your hate with others who, like you, hate those darn magic types who need to (pardon the pun) vanish. That is a magic trick you would want to do.

Time to Perceive the Opposite of the Glass Half Empty

Of course, the thing about website domain names is that at any moment, someone from all over the world could possibly get that domain name before you do. But do not fret, if you check it out and discover that someone else already got the domain, you are faced with a way to make your disappointment go away and start to look at the glass as half full.

Open the Possibility

If you were to contact the person who got the ihatemagicians.com domain before you could, you may have found someone who you could partner with. Imagine that. Two are stronger than one, and if you had someone who you could stand side by side with, it opens the possibility that with your fellow hater you could create something especially important. Think about it. You as one of the key individuals to lead the “I Hate Magicians Revolution.” You heard right, “Revolution.” Come to think of it, the domain name ihatemagiciansrevolution.com could work also for your cause.

Time to Stop Using the Magician Analogy, or at Least Use it Less

If you have made it this far it is probably easy to figure out where we are going toward by creating a fictional idea that has to do with hating magicians. If you are bored out of you mind with your life, one of the best things you can do is to look at things you have a strong dislike of. Whatever your dislikes are, they represent a window you could look through that triggers an idea to pursue as a passion like hating magicians.

Some Clarity on the Topic

Though, we are not suggesting that you use the concept of “hate” as the gasoline for your car, but instead are saying that knowing your own dislikes, especially the strong ones, the more possibility opens for you to find the key to your vehicle in which you can drive your passion forward. Special note, I do not drive so I am not sure why I am using an automobile analogy. But ultimately the point I am trying to make here is that “our dislikes are the key to knowing what we like.”

Your Transformational Process

So, if you are frigging bored with your world, take a cold hard look at what you find to be quite unappealing and from this you might uncover a key to you being able to transform your passion from being “I hate magicians” to “I love magicians.”

All Right, Time to Get to Some Business by Revealing the Next 3 Informational Websites

If you have been following the blog posts on usamakeadifference.com, then you know that at least weekly and sometimes even more often than that, we link to 3 websites from the nearly 60 of them that are members of the Blog Coalition. We work toward connecting you to sites with related information to the topic we are covering at the time. For example, here on usamakeadifference.com we just went through the examination of how to turn boredom into passion by hating magicians.

What Comes Next?

Some areas we thought you might find interesting to continue our dialogue about magicians and passion is to look at some of the most passionate people around. It all starts out with that extremely popular and fictional magician character, Harry Potter with questions being asked such as “Why do fans start fan clubs?” For the answer to this an other questions we recommend going to “Harry Potter Fan Club NYC.” Or if you are interested in becoming a professional magician, or more specifically a certain kind of magician known as a mentalist, then we suggest you visit how to “Become a Mentalist.” Finally, do you know of a magician who died almost a hundred years ago yet is still a household word today? They are going to dig into why this individual is still a household name today as seen at “Houdini Day.”

Categories
Passion into Business?

Should You Search for Business Ideas in Your Passion Industry only?

Can You Make a Difference with a Passion Topic Business?

It is not an easy path making your passion into a business. A part of having a service or product that people will gladly pay for is uncovered by finding a need and problem that a niche group has, followed by then creating and selling a solution to those who have that problem. And if you decide to create an online business, it gives you a platform to let people know that we can all be a part of making a difference! More info about the process of creating a media business and related topics can be found in today’s 3 blogs which are “Documystery,” “Movie Process,” and “Thrillumentary.”

How Do You Leverage Your Passion Category?

How then do you find your business to be within your passion? Do you search your passion looking for a real need and problem, followed by monetizing it with by providing a solution to the problem?

Will You Find the Right Source?

Unfortunately, depending on the industry where your passion exists, it may not be “ready-made” in terms of being able to find the problem and solution by searching this passion. The fact is you have less flexibility if you only have your passion as the source of your business idea. Ideally, you as a watcher of human beings might stumble into a problem that needs solving, though might not be in your passion industry.

A Good Product Concept Discovered, though Not in Your Passion Industry

But if you believe the need is there, go for it. If you are not just boxed in by your passion industry you open up the possibility of finding worthy ideas from hundreds even thousands of industries. If you are trying to do it while restricted by your passion, it may be tough to think of something that others not just need but REALLY need!

And for more information on media opportunities, please take a look at today’s three participating blogs of the Blog Coalition which are:

Documystery.com

Movieprocess.com

Thrillumentary.com

Categories
Directions for a New World

Humor and the Herd

The Little Things Matter

As you likely know by now, the “USA Make a Difference” proclamation is a call to action for all Americans to unite in a common mission to improve the lives of citizens of the United States! And acting on this mission can be as simple as wearing a mask when required, or even wearing one for times that are not mandatory. This, in conjunction with getting your vaccine shot(s), will help with the goal to achieve herd immunity.

Wearing a Mask for the Good of All!

Specifically, wear a mask? Because wearing a mask is not primarily something that you do to safeguard yourself, but rather is to protect others from potential airborne transmission from you. In turn, others who wear masks are helping you stay healthy. So, let us all wear our masks!

Blogs with Part-Time Mirth

But, putting the pandemic to the side, another way that you can easily help make a difference, can be as simple as telling a funny joke. Seriously! Levity can be a big healing agent. There are websites in the “Blog Coalition” family that occasionally put on a comedic. Sites with occasional funny bones are “Bigfoot Zombie” as well as “Entertainment entrepreneurship.”

Categories
Change

Yianni Stamas Talks About Change and Making a Difference Through Entrepreneurship

Guest Blogger

We are happy to bring you digital author and website manager Yianni Stamas. He is going to talk about change and making a difference through entrepreneurship. He will also introduce three blogs with related content.

Hard Work Pays Off

Hi everyone, Yianni here. As you know, this has been a week of justice served. Or at least for the moment. This has been a historic week, and one that I made certain that my 12-year-old daughter understood. I wanted her to realize that what happened this week was made possible in part due to the hard work of activists and advocates who had for many years pushed forward to make their voices and communities heard. It was great to see some of the people who I have admired for quite some time, being able to witness the unfolding of what they had strived toward for quite a long time. This case had a positive outcome, but the fight continues. Thanks to those who have made a difference.

Different Ways of Making a Difference

On a related note, others continue to make a difference in their own communities and in different ways. The causes may shift in terms of public focus, but the impact on society is felt nonetheless. Acknowledging the sometimes-unseen warriors is something we believe is important. It is inspiring to others that there are human beings out there who are trying to make a difference in this world. Not all attempts to make a difference pan out in the immediate sense, but little by little these seeds grow.

Small Things Can Help to Change the World

There are many ways to make a difference in everyday life. You can aspire to be a good role model for your child or challenged youths. You can take a job or start a business that not only provides you with an income, but at the same time you are helping those in need. You can volunteer for a nonprofit organization whose mission aligns with your own beliefs. You can volunteer to help a good cause such as working at a food pantry that serves the disenfranchised. And so on.

The Best of All Possible Worlds

Of the examples we gave in our listing of ways of making a difference, one of the most powerful (if it turns out right), can have a big impact on your community. We are speaking of the method of making a difference that can occur by starting a business that makes you a living while simultaneously enables you to help others.

The Evolution of Entrepreneurship

Word of mouth, media coverage, television shows like Shark “Tank” plus many other triggers, have all played a part in building awareness that entrepreneurship can be a viable choice when trying to figure out what you want to do with your life.

Change through Being an Entrepreneur

Three publications from the “Blog Coalition” look at different ways that all of us can help, if we are interested in doing so. We can take on helping with the move toward change by embarking on ventures as entrepreneurs. The three blogs that talk about these sorts of ideas in various incarnations are:

USA Create

DigiComArts

USA eLearning

These three sites are of course from the 60 or so that are participating in the “Blog Coalition.” Have a great weekend!

Categories
Digital Highway

USA Make a Difference by Creating Digital Products

The Power of Digital

Make digital products to make a difference. What do we mean by that? Today we are going to explore 3 of the nearly 60 blogs that are proud members of the Blog Coalition. The sites that have been selected for today are “USA How To,” “NYC Create” and “NYC AIM.” They have been chosen because something they all have in common is that they support and recommend that you make, promote, and sell instantly downloadable digital products that are sold online. From the standpoint of “USA Make a Difference,” all 3 blogs believe that for any person who is looking to have a sustainable web business, digital products can, in their lives, truly “Make a Difference.”

Become Sought After

What is a digital product? First and foremost, it is a way that you can share information at a price, with the buyer being able to instantly download it. For example, let us say you are an expert of some kind whose expertise is of value to a certain group of consumers. When you make a digital product, you can establish your knowledge in your industry and become more sought after.

Provide a Solution to a Problem

But even if you have no expertise, you can still make a digital product featuring an expert you have brought into the project. Or, if you have a lot of passion for providing solutions to problems faced by a particular demographic, you can tap into your motivation and research the area to be converted into a digital product.

Promote Yourself

According to “USA How To,” “NYC Create” and “NYC AIM,” making, promoting, and selling digital products is one of the fastest and easiest ways to make an income online. If you are an expert in a particular industry, you can make digital products that promote yourself as an expert or publisher. Or you can feature an interview with expert, that can be implemented remotely with screen recording of video chat.

The links of Blog Coalition sites that were selected for this post can be found below:

USAhowto.com

NYCcreate.com

NYCaim.com

Categories
Education

Making a Difference for Businesses

The Challenge to Survive

If you want to make a difference in people’s lives, one of the ways you can do this is by providing them with education and strategies that they can utilize to make their small businesses (or any venture) stronger. This is especially important these days when, because of COVID-19, small business owners are having a hard time surviving and some have even lost their companies entirely.

What is Digital Transformation?

It is for this reason that this week we are bringing you information that we hope you will find helpful for applying to your own business or to pass on to someone you know. In this blog, we recently spoke of the importance of digital transformation so that your business can weather the storm, even when providing in-person services are not possible due to blockades such as the pandemic. So, what is Digital Transformation? It is having as many of your products and services as possible be able to be implemented digitally without having to depend on in-person activity.

Positive Digital Transformation Stories

We are fortunate to have had success with various digital businesses products and services. This includes Video Film Web, Art Gush and NYC Workshops. With VFW we were able to do things like creating websites regardless of them having proximity or not. Art Gush is now a consultancy firm able to help others via phone or video chat. And finally NYC Workshops now does on demand virtual education sessions.

Video Film Web

Video Film Web had success for 12 years despite existing in midtown, in one of the most competitive cities in the world, New York, NY. Although VFW did most of its client services in-person in our studio, education and other such products/services were done remotely, including the intern learning process.

Art Gush

In the past we have also had positive outcomes with digital education products in the form of eBooks and online courses via what is now called Art Gush.

NYC Workshops

And finally, NYC Workshops has remained relevant because it now offering customized on demand virtual education.

Categories
Education

Can You Make Money while You Make a Difference?

Knowledge is Power

One of the best ways that you can make a difference in the lives of other people, is by providing them with the knowledge they need to achieve a particular goal. This includes an overall problem that stands in the way of the solution they need to make more money.

Sad Closings

As we know, the pandemic has caused many businesses to have to close entirely. Many of these entrepreneurial ventures necessitated in-person contact with the customer, something that was no longer possible due to fear of catching COVID-19.

Digital Offers Hope

Although things are looking up a bit due to vaccines, as of this writing there are businesses that are hanging on by a thread. A solution that is possible for some of these organizations is to find ways for them to make money from their customers through new methods that are digital and do not require working with the client face to face.

Three Publications

Especially now, as the pandemic continues, it is recommended all businesses that have an in-person component, now undergo digital transformation of some kind. This subject matter is currently being explored by 3 blogs from the Blog Coalition which, as of this writing, has the participation of nearly 60 publications in all. The 3 websites are Media Administration, USA Go Digital and USA Online Business. Please click on the publication below that is of the most interest to you.

Media Administration

USA Go Digital

USA Online Business