bizMe Summer Challenge 2010 from Amanda Guralski on Vimeo.

bizMe Summer Challenge, send your goal to amanda@bizme.biz.

Last week I had the honor of being invited to Rotary, now I am sure many of you might be part of Rotary or maybe you’re familiar with it because your dad is a member. This was my first Rotary experience so I didn’t really know what to expect. All I knew was that there was a speaker coming to talk about the Health Plan Reform and free food. To my surprise, as I walked into the conference room, I was definitely one of the youngest people attending and probably 1 of 4 females in the crowd. After we had some lunch and chit chatted with the people joining us at our table, the President announced the speaker. As the speaker launched into the Health Care Reform, I took a look around the room and noticed that not one person was twittering, facebooking, emailing or texting. I didn’t even see anyone with their phone on the table ready to react when they see that little flash of red light. It was killing me to not even glance at my phone to see if I had missed a call or email but it occurred to me that if this same room was filled with Gen Yers, everyone would be on the phone doing some sort of social media! My point to this situation is, know your audience. Rotary is an organization whose members are very successful business people in the baby boomer generation and it would have been completely disrespectful to them and my client if I had whipped out my phone and started to twitter about the event. So the next time you are at an event, take a look around you and make sure that your environment is accepting of you paying more attention to your phone than to what is going on around you.

Happy texting, twittering, facebooking and emailing at your next event!!

xoxo

xoxo

For the first time in a really long time, I am one of those people that’s thinking, WOW, what an amazing year I had in 2009, so instead of keeping it all to myself, I wanted to share my year in review!








☆bizMe had its first video and radio interview
☆bizMe published monthly
☆I went to Naples, FL twice with 8 of my girl friends
☆I attended 8 weddings this year and 6 bachelorette parties
☆I went to my first Green Bay Packer game in Tampa, FL
☆I ran my first half marathon in Disney
☆My boyfriend gave me a trip to Mexico for my birthday
☆bizMe went through a redesign which has increased our views 100%
☆I did my first paid speaking event
☆I spoke at Ernst & Young
☆bizMe got our first paid advertiser
☆I met with an investor

2009 was a fabulous year and I cannot even tell you how excited I am for 2010! The big time is right around the corner for bizMe!

xoxo

This week has almost certainly been one of the best weeks I have had in a long time.

bizMe is hosting our first bizstyle runway show this coming April so I began setting up appointments to determine the level of interest with boutiques in Milwaukee. I met with Ron and Kotti who own Fred and Luscious Boutiques and they are super excited about the show and verbally confirmed that they will participate.

Then I had a meeting with 4pm, Milwaukee’s new urban, chic fashion magazine and they are interested in participating as our media sponsor.

I feel like shouting from the rooftops because I am just that excited. It is amazing to me how nervous I was before each of these meetings. I have absolutely no problem selling anything except my own product. I know we are taught that no’s are not to be taken personally but it is hard when someone rejects you, especially when it involves the idea or product that you’ve created! Thank goodness that hasn’t happened yet.

And, we’ve created our great new logo!

bizMe readers, stay tuned for more details on the fashion show . . . I will let you in on one secret. . . . . . . it is going to be awesome!!

xoxo

I’ve compiled my quick top ten of things I’ve learned during October—I’m sure there’s a lot more, but right now, this is what the brain waves are signaling as

Great conversation starters:
one. Never phone or text Amanda during gossip girl! xoxo
two. Ryan Braun (Milwaukee Brewer’s slugger) has a way cool clothing line, Remetee.
three. Restricted Soldier boots sell out fast online, especially in the popular sizes.
four. Sewing a pirate costume can be a very piratey experience – aaargh!
5. A large maple tree falling on your house during a 60 mph wind gust does make a thud that everyone hears!
six. Linda Marcus has an amazing selection of super-sized purses, gloves and belts. Asea Couture offers great tees designed by fashion students–proceeds go to charity.
7. Pumpkins make me smile. Pumpkin bagels at Einstein’s are perfect. Pumpkin spice latte’s at Starbucks are smooth and scrumptious. Nana’s pumpkin pie . . . priceless!
eight. Lots of great new fragrances are hitting the counters at all your favorite stores.
nine. A deer looking in your window is kind of . . . well, random!
10. High school Homecoming Week is still a ton of fun – just as you remember it!

Enjoy!

Well last Friday 8/28, I was actually one of those people. My friend, who I had met at a networking event, had extra tickets to a meet-and-greet with the American Idols.

The first part of the evening began with an autograph session but the way that it was arranged made you feel like cattle (word choice?) shuffling from one Idol to the next. I wasn’t even able to touch my autograph picture until the last Idol had signed. Then my friend and I got a group picture with all of them, which was pretty cool.

The best part was after the group photo when the Idols came out for individual pictures and to hang out. I was excited to talk and get to know each Idol.  I was amazed that at the moment the Idols were free from the managers, their phones came out and the texting began. At one point I think three Idols were all in different corners with their fingers busy dancing over their keypads.  I understand that they may have been bored with these prearranged tour meet-and-greets and that taking pictures with the fans gets old and honestly, yes we all have been there, but this is their job, this is what they wanted when they signed up to be part of the American Idol Tour—to be friendly and to create a lasting first impression. I took the initiative to ask for photos and tried to engage each of the Idols I met in a conversation. Danny and Adam were very personable and were comfortable chatting with me. One of the Idols however, made no attempt to even get her picture taken with anyone—whoever was on the other end of her phone was apparently more important.

Ladies remember that you always want to make a lasting first impression regardless of the event you are attending or who you are with. You are in control of your own image. You never know who you are going to meet or what they will say about you especially considering how quickly conversations and photos travel on social media outlets. Please check out the American Idol pics on our facebook page! You’ll know why Kris and Adam and Danny were the top three!

xoxo

Remember that fabulous scene from The Titanic where Leo and Kate are dancing below deck to the rockin’ sounds of an Irish band? That band is Gaelic Storm and they cleverly work their Celtic magic on even the most uncoordinated! Celebrating their 10th year at Milwaukee’s Irish Fest, Gaelic Storm played to record crowds and swirled their audience into the rhythms of the songs they know by heart. Whenever Gaelic Storm takes the stage, it’s an event that’s wildly entertaining with incredible energy! Listen here!

The Scythian’s rock! Can’t get around it, this band commands the stage and gets the audience pumped for more. Intense enthusiasm best describes the Fedoryka brothers—both Alexander and Danylo are classically trained—as they rev up the audience with their Celtic Gypsy rock. Entrepreneurs Yes! Energy plus Yes! Absolutely must listen Yes!




Red Hot Chilli Pipers—whoa, what’s that? The Red Hot Chilli Pipers are reaching legendary status—bagpipers that’ll leave you breathless with their spunky rock attitude and Scottish drums. They’re crossing the Atlantic between the States and Scotland and they’re leaving a trail of devoted fans. Check it out here.

Remember the names, check your local city guides and the bands’ websites so you’ll be first in line when they come to a venue near you! You’ll thank me for sure!

Here’s to skin care, spas, salons and cosmetic counters everywhere!

I know the thought of working for someone else unpaid has many college kids running for the door but the best advice I can give for finding the perfect job that makes you happy is testing the water in different fields through internships. It allows you the experience to feel what it is like working in a corporate environment, small business, agency, hospital, non-profit, sports organization, so that once the internship is done, you walk away saying, I could see myself there, or there is no way I could work in an environment like that. Internships are a form of networking because the people that you meet working will help you find that open position later on.

If you are beginning your senior year of college and have not had an internship before, I highly suggest you start looking and get something lined up for fall. It is never too late to show motivation in creating a future for yourself.

xoxo