GoHuman Blog

Moneyball is the true story of Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane’s attempt to put together a successful and winning baseball team on a low budget. He and the rest of his management team had been taking the same approach for years – looking at the players’ strengths, their looks and their habits off the field. This conventional wisdom isn’t serving them, though, because the team is doing poorly. So Beane goes out on a limb and hires a recent college graduate, Peter Brand (a composite character based largely on Paul DePodesta), for his ability to think differently. Brand convinces him to stop looking at things like a player’s unsightly throwing style or ugly girlfriend — things that baseball managers had been using for years in making their player decisions. Instead, he only looks at one thing – who gets on base. Getting on base equals runs, and runs equal wins. Though ridiculed by their management team and the press, the A’s go on to win twenty consecutive games – an all-time record in baseball.

What does this have to do with yoga? I have seen a very similar thing happen in the yoga community—teachers fixated on a principle before looking at an individual student’s needs. It seems as though the longer one spends immersed in the yoga scene, the more emphatic and rigid their ideas become, especially about alignment. After a while, it seems like some teachers prioritize their ideas and philosophies over actually looking at their students and reading what’s going on in the moment.

I love how simply Brand looks at winning baseball: GET ON BASE. To draw an analogy with yoga, the ultimate “win” for a yoga student is to experience that undeniable feeling of connection in their body, mind and spirit.  Their ‘bases’ might be things such as: acquiring more flexibility, balancing in handstand, floating in arm balances, or building core strength. We might have to modify a pose or two to ultimately get our students on base, but if it gets them closer to their “win,” does it matter how they got there?  If teachers stay rigid about formulaic alignment, students might never get on base. Worse, they will get discouraged and give up.

In Moneyball, Peter Brand gets ridiculed for using a methodology that is different and new. And a good yoga teacher runs the same risk by refusing to buy in to the old belief that perfect alignment is the only important thing and should be achievable right off the bat. Certain popular teacher training courses use language like ‘the most difficult certification process’ in order to convince both students and teachers that their style is the best and safest. But these kind of grandiose statements have the unfortunate side effect of producing some strong-minded, ego-based teachers who put the copyrighted style before the student. It’s this sort of mindless rigidity that leads to injuries.

I think it’s wonderful (and imperative!) for yoga teachers to study human anatomy and physiology.  In my humble opinion, I feel we can never learn enough about the human body. But for a lot of us teachers, this means taking the initiative to seek education outside of our yoga training, or even outside of the world of yoga altogether. Since so many teacher trainings put the emphasis on alignment and tradition over individual bodies, it’s up to us to do the legwork to become better teachers.

As teachers, we are in the position of being of service to the student, and ever expanding our knowledge and awareness is one of the best ways of being in utmost service to our students. We have to think like Brand: for ourselves.

This unexpected expense hurts, but my wife and I are both employed and tax returns and a bonus are on their way, so this is really just a minor inconvenience.  For millions of Americans who have lost jobs or have otherwise been negatively impacted, however, unexpected expenses can have much more serious consequences.  GoHuman’s partnership with Belief for Relief allows us, and you, to help such people… like Dawn Lane, for example.

Dawn is a hard-working mother in Rocky Point, NY who is the sole provider in her household, holding two jobs in order to support her family. Dawn budgets carefully to meet monthly expenses, like many families in America who have no choice but to live paycheck to paycheck.  With monthly expenses rising and household income decreasing, her car broke down. Dawn can’t afford to fix it, so it simply sits in her driveway while she struggles to get to work in the middle of winter.  Belief For Relief Inc. has approved her request for $1,500 for car repairs, but Dawn is on a waiting list until more funds become available.

Dawn’s car is GoHuman.com’s third MicroCause.  You can contribute directly, or assist her by getting friends to sign up at GoHuman.com.  We’ll donate $1 to Dawn’s car repair for each new registrant who mentions Dawn or Belief for Relief. So what are you waiting for?! Let’s make a difference together.

Thanks for the pic Chris (click to read the story).

In this blog I want to share a potential mutual solution for both frustrated home seekers and fed-up landlords.  It’s called Rent-to-Own, and it’s a real estate investment model that has worked well for me and several of my friends over the years.

The benefits of Rent-to-Own for renters:

• They can become homeowners if they have income, but poor or no credit.
• If something changes and they need to move out, there are no penalties, and no effect on their credit rating.
• They can lock in a purchase price to protect themselves against rising housing prices.
• They can renegotiate the purchase price when the market goes down.
• It is great for small business owners as renting vs. paying down a mortgage is good for their debt-to-income ratio.

The benefits to investors:

• They will get renters with an owner mentality vs. a renter mentality.
• They can typically ask for full-market or slightly above market price, as there is not much competition for homes that can be rented with the option to purchase.
• When providing the rent-to-own option, homes typically move much faster than ordinary sales. My own experience (and that of some of my friends) is that homes that may normally stay on the market for 6 months can move in 1 to 2 months.
• The renter takes care of maintenance and repairs, minimizing the time and energy required to manage a property. (No phone calls Saturday night at 11 o’clock complaining about a clogged toilet).
• In some states like Tennessee, the income is considered passive and therefore not subject to corporate income tax, if you have an LLC that is owned by your family. (See your lawyer/accountant for details or your state’s appropriate tax form: TN Tax form FAE 183.)

If you like the sound of these benefits, stay tuned, as we’ll explore how this all works in more detail in future blogs. In the meantime, check out the Real Estate section on GoHuman.com (update to your zip code)!

We’ll start with a couple more relevant definitions. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process whereby a website or web page is made more visible via the organic (free) listing. Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is the process of promoting and marketing a website through paid listings (advertisements) on search engines. SEM can include elements of SEO, but not vice versa.

In the realm of search engine marketing (SEM/paid listings), a wealth of options exist and if you’re not careful, you can throw your hard-earned money away on a “little of this” and a “little of that” and not get a great return on your investment (ROI).

Ads on most search engines operate on a PPC (pay-per-click) model, meaning that you pay only when a user clicks your ad, and not for the ad impression (the instance in which the ad appears on the page in response to a query). Another common and useful pricing model in online advertising is cost-per-thousand impressions (CPM), in which you pay per impression, not for any clicks on your ad. How and when to use CPM will be covered in more detail in a future blog.

Let’s explore the top search engine options currently available to you. The three most notable paid advertising search engines are Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft/Bing. Google continues to dominate the scene with nearly 65% of the market share, while Yahoo and Microsoft/Bing are battling it out for second place, at 15.1% and 15% of the market share, respectively.

All three search engines utilize the “bidding” option, whereby you determine a monthly spend (this is your budget) and then figure out how much you are willing to pay for each click. You set your maximum bid (i.e. $0.45/click) and depending on a variety of factors such as the keyword competition, geography, and relevant content, your ad will appear.

Now let’s throw another tool into the mix: social media advertising. There’s been a lot of talk about social media and quite frankly, who isn’t familiar with Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube? But Facebook is more than just a way to reconnect with high school friends or to share pictures. Facebook, like LinkedIn and YouTube, now offers paid advertising. The difference between search engine marketing and social media marketing is that the former is primarily based on keyword queries and the latter on relevant content.

Getting the most out of SEM requires selecting the option that’s right for you. If you’re trying to appeal to a bigger audience and you want people who are searching for your product (whether it’s coffee or cameras), Google is probably your best choice. If you can afford it, also advertise on Yahoo and Microsoft/Bing. Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube are better suited for those trying to brand their product and not necessarily complete an action (ie. sale or sign-up). Social media marketing does not allow you to do a search for a product; rather, display ads will appear based on relevant content.

Rather than take a “one size fits all” approach to advertising, consider the following points in choosing the “right fit” for your small business:

• Compare the ad pricing of all three search engine options – can you afford to advertise on all three or should you choose the one that will give you the most bang for your buck?
• Consider your market – are you trying to achieve a measureable result (sale, sign up, newsletter, etc.) or are you trying to create a brand?
• Constantly re-evaluate your return on investment (ROI) goals
• Is social media relevant to your business or are you succumbing to the hype?

Don’t be pressured into parting with your hard earned money. Knowledge is your best tool when utilizing search engines or social media to market your business. And, of course, don’t forget another powerful advertising tool at your disposal, and a free one at that: posting your business on GoHuman!

 

I truly do love raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens and all the other wonderful, simple things that enrich our lives. As a new contributor here on the GoHuman Blog, I want to share simple things – tips, tools, techniques, resources – that can enrich you personally and professionally.

Let’s start with a simple thing you can do to create greater awareness for your business. If you haven’t listed your services on GoHuman, it’s easy to get started.

Then invite friends, neighbors, clients, and other local businesses to join. Spreading the word about GoHuman gives you a wonderful opportunity to talk about what you do and who you serve, which is the heart of marketing.

May this special time of year be filled with all the simple things that bring you peace, happiness and joy!

 

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things

 

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels

Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles

Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings

These are a few of my favorite things

 

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes

Silver white winters that melt into springs

These are a few of my favorite things

 

When the dog bites

When the bee stings

When I’m feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don’t feel so bad

U.S. founding fathers were familiar with a 4,000 year old economic system, which enabled capitalism while limiting capitalists’ ability to exploit the system and oppress its losers.  All families owned land, debts were forgiven every seven years, and land was leased, not sold, for a maximum 49 years.  It reverted to the tribal / family owners in a year of Jubilee.

But Solomon, a king of Israel and “the wisest man who ever lived”  wrote “The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.“  Why would the king of Israel, in which every family was supposed to own land and debts were forgiven, state such a thing?

Because the people abdicated ownership, on multiple levels. Within a very short period of time, freed slaves were again enslaved, first by their fears and desires, then by their kings, then by outside forces.  Human nature hasn’t changed much in 4,000 years.

American-style capitalism has addicted the planet to a mass-market consumer culture, fed by an insatiable desire for corporate funded entertainment.  We have allowed ourselves, and worse, our children, to become programmed consumers, with a black hole in our soul, into which we cram the things advertisers tell us we need.

I know I’m oversimplifying, but it’s still true.  If we want lasting change it must start with us. I salute the Occupy movement for focusing attention on Corporate oppressors. But realize that we create and empower these Frankenstein monsters.  As long as we’re willing to sell our future for temporary gratification, a cycle of debt and oppression will continue.

Only owners have a legal right to occupy. To claim a moral right we need to own the moral ground we stand on.  Every individual and family should strive for ownership, at all levels, to advance the occupation. GoHuman seeks to build ownership, at the local level.  We wish to empower small, local businesses and their customers to occupy and regain ownership of their own communities.  One backyard at a time!

When we eat, shop and work in establishments who don’t invest locally, it creates a downward spiral in local economies. We enable those large corporations to wring success and profit out of our communities until they become identical strip-malls of interchangeable shops and restaurants.

The problem of competing with the “big boys” is nothing new. Back in the Wild West (as opposed to the Wild Web), many felt powerless to stand up for themselves, which is why “The Great Equalizer,” aka the Colt 45 handgun, was so successful. To quote the manufacturer, Samuel Colt, “God made them all, Colt made them equal.”

Fast forward to today, where debates still rage on as to the handgun’s place in American society. Wisconsin governor Scott Walker recently signed into law the right of Wisconsin residents to carry concealed firearms, leaving Illinois as the only U.S. State which does not allow this. We are not extolling the virtues of violence; remember that the Colt .45 was also called “The Peacemaker.” In the right hands, it was a defense against violence, greed and murder.

What set this trusty six-shooter apart from other guns wasn’t actually the gun – it was the bullets. Or better said, cartridges. With a .45 in reach anyone could load and shoot quickly, in all kinds of weather. A man on his own could be armed and defending himself in seconds, giving rise to the slogan: “Fear no man regardless of his size . . . pull me, and I will equalize.”

So, what can be your Great Equalizer, helping you to compete against your big competitors with even bigger marketing budgets?

One answer is staring you in the face right now (hint, it’s not the gun).

David can have the edge on Goliath. The small local business can offer something people are hungering for – a reliable service, from someone they can trust, because other local customers recommend them and use them again and again. A service from someone who cares about reputation in the local community, and who doesn’t have to charge more just to throw untold amounts of money at huge advertising costs.

GoHuman provides you with a showcase to post the abilities of your business, and the recommendations of your customers. That lets you get on with doing what you do best. Looking after your business, looking after your customers, looking after your community.

Even just the free subscription level offered by GoHuman goes a long way towards levelling the playing field. You can post 5 free postings, each one targeted at a specific zip code, or perhaps focusing on a specific area of your offerings.

Which brings me to one more piece of trivia about the Colt 45. Most users never loaded it with its full complement of 6 bullets. Just 5, and for safety sake, one empty chamber to rest the hammer on. 5 shots.

Get your free 5 shots now – and get your friends and neighbours to recommend your services. Get the new Great Equalizer — and help GoHuman to build your local community, and your business.

Starting a business may be a necessary path for a lot more people going forward, as the economy is not consistently creating enough jobs to keep up with population growth. Those who have lost jobs in the recent economic turmoil may be faced with the cold, hard reality that when unemployment benefits run out they will have to take matters into their own hands.

This does not have to be a daunting task requiring herculean efforts. Simply put, a business satisfies a need for which a fellow human is willing to pay money. Look around. If you don’t see something in your community that people need done and are willing to pay good money for, you are not in touch with reality.

In my case, I started with the simple idea that people who start businesses will always need access to money. If I could find sources of money and connect those sources with the many business owners that needed capital, I would have a steady stream of business. Little did I know at the time that the whole banking system would seize up and make applying for a simple business loan a pain-staking process… one in which people would gladly pay a guide handsomely in order to get them to the other side. It’s been a 12 year journey, but today I have a thriving business that supports my family of six with one currently in college and two having completed college recently!

At GoHuman, we understand what it is like because we are in the trenches every day, fighting the fight of the entrepreneur. It’s our business to help you succeed. Here’s how we can help you on your path to success, at no cost to you. Start out by posting your business, for free, on GoHuman. Then build your reputation and online presence by directing friends, customers, or prospects to your online presence. And follow our blog to learning the basics of how to market your new business. These simple steps will continue to pay dividends long into the future.

Last year, I received a call from Adidas, who approached me to be their Global Yoga Ambassador.  A global yoga ambassador gets to travel around the world to different gyms, teaching and evangelizing the word of yoga. Basically, my second perfect job. (My first is starring in an action film. I’m a natural.) I was elated to hear I’d made the final cut. Adidas flew me to NYC to meet with their representative – let’s call her “Maria” – and to teach her yoga so that she could get a feel for my style. Maria said she loved the class and told me about the relief she felt with a sciatic issue that had been bothering her for years. We went to lunch after class to discuss possibilities.

At lunch, Maria talked about my strengths, Adidas-style: good teacher, knowledgeable, inspiring, with a global “look,” young without being too young. Toward the end of our conversation, she posed a fateful question: How can we market you?

Huh? I asked her what she meant. Maria explained that they needed to prove I was a good teacher with a bona fide paper trail. Which yoga-related websites or magazines had I been published in? Did I have certificates resembling diplomas that would make me more credible? You see, I would be following in the shelltoes of Elena Brower, a highly regarded Anusara teacher (with a dancer’s physique).

I returned to Los Angeles and crafted an impassioned letter, detailing my pedigree and beliefs about yoga. My Anusara Level 1 and Level 2 Teacher Trainings were with (among several talented others) Noah Maze, Tara Judelle, and Naime Jezzeny. I had taken over 200 hours of workshops with John Friend, Desiree Rumbaugh, Carlos Pomeda, Ross Rayburn, and Darren Rhodes – all household names in the Anusara community. My daily practice is with Annie Carpenter. My ongoing education is with Chloe Chung Misner of Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen’s Body-Mind Centering®. I taught at City Yoga, #1 on Huffington Post’s “Best Yoga Classes in Los Angeles.”

Then I worked the philosophical angle.

I explained that the yoga scene is filled with people preaching that to be a “real” yogi, you must be vegetarian, wear organic cotton, don mala beads and patchouli. You must have studied in India, resigned your material possessions, lived in an ashram, meditated in the Himalayas, and been hugged by Amma. I called bullshit on the idea that if you’re a size zero with a sick practice, you must be a great teacher. Or that having a celebrity following says something about you as a person.

“Screw it,” I wrote. That’s not the kind of yoga I know. It’s because of all of those preconceived notions that yoga remains inaccessible and inapproachable to many people. Yoga is a way of being that transcends schools of thought, and to borrow from Rumi, it lies “beyond the fields of right and wrong.”

And this is where I brought it all home: I reminded Adidas of their own ad campaign. I wrote, “Adidas asks, ‘Who are you as an individual?’” (Nice touch, right?) In my classes, I see a yogi population that wants to be recognized for its abilities and imperfections, a population who won’t be categorized into a stylized box and who may live an entire lifetime without living in an ashram, much less the desire to visit one, and yet they have the same chance of becoming enlightened as anyone.

Adidas, I said, It’s with this new wave of yoga that I identify. I eat meat, I adore animals. I love clothes and material possessions, and I don’t believe that living without anything will make me a better person. Evolving is a choice I make daily. I don’t believe in gurus. I think we all have the potential to be the best version of ourselves, and our greatest teacher is within. I believe that the most influential people of our time are cut from the same cloth. The Dalai Lama didn’t study to become inspirational; he simply speaks from his own experience.

I clicked SEND on my email and reflected. How’s that for a marketing campaign, Adidas?

A week later I received a response: “You’re too short.” Ouch.

In acting, it’s common to be turned away for not looking the part. Casting directors have a particular image in mind, and make no bones about it. You can say what you want about the entertainment industry’s superficiality, at least they’re up front about it. But because this was about yoga, I suppose I assumed that Adidas would consider passion, drive, knowledge, and originality more important than say, being 5’6” or taller. My bad.

At this early stage, determining your target market, finding the most economical solution for your particular niche, and getting a return on your investment (ROI) through branding or paid search marketing all are important issues that must be addressed. Learning the terminology and lingo surrounding those issues will enable you to make the best decisions for your business. 

rganic and paid listings appear in response to the same user query (in this case “organic coffee”), the results are independent of each other. This allows for websites that do not rank highly in the organic listing to rank at or near the top through paid searches. We’ll go into greater depth on this topic in future blog posts.

As a small business owner or entrepreneur, it pays to know what your choices are and if you’re reading this blog…CONGRATULATIONS! Because chances are, you’ve already taken advantage of GoHuman’s free search directory as a first step in marketing your business. And if you haven’t signed up yet, go to www.GoHuman.com and choose the level of service that you feel will benefit your business the most. We’re changing the way your world works!