JWN: Your Money Story

What is your money story?

Since I was young, I have been sensitive to money and personal finance. It may stem from my childhood when my oldest brother Jack would scam me by trading me pennies for dimes saying, “This one is bigger.” Now he asks me for advice on his 401k.

How did it start?

One of the first books that really inspired my thought process towards business and finance was Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. It opened my mind up to what it means to be financially free. In essence, it boils down to this simple equation:

Investment Income / Total Expenses = Your Money Story

When the equation equals more than one, you are financially free. That is the situation you should strive to be in. At this point in time you have the opportunity to quit your day job, if you will.

What constitutes investment income?

1) Real estate income

2) Fixed income investments (bonds, etc.)

3) Dividends

4) Capital gains

What about those expenses?

1) Your rent

2) Food

3) Cable bill

4) Gas & Electric bill

5) Many, many more

I’ve taken a few steps to get my financial life under control starting with tracking my expenditures. When you do that you know where the money goes. That’s an important thing to know.

After tracking the money flow for a little while, you realize exactly how much you spend at the local McDonalds. What if you invested some of that money for a reasonable rate of return? Over 30 years, that’s a comfortable retirement versus a struggling one.

At the start you need to decide, what do you want your money story to be?

NOTABLE: Check out Pamela York Klainer’s book, How Much Is Enough? Harness the Power of Your Money Story. Pam is a friend and mentor of The VIP Guys. She is a great supporter of SUNY Geneseo; most notably by founding the Pamela York Klainer Center for Women in Business.

Once you make your goals and decide what it is in life that you NEED, you can start to make your money story come true. Do you want to just get by? Live comfortably? Or be wealthy?

I’m the latter. I have very high monetary goals for a variety of reasons. What’s important for me though may not be important to you. That’s the beauty of the money story. It is as individual as each of us.

Here are some key things for you to know for your money story:

1) Understand debt (credit cards, loans, etc.) Know what you’re paying in interest and please, always pay more then your minimum payment.

2) Rule of 72. Einstein’s most important find. Divide the number 72 by the interest rate you are earning on investments or paying on debt and you will have the time (in years) it will take that investment or debt to double.

3) You will work 80,000 hours in your life. Do what you enjoy. My father always says, “Do what you enjoy because you will get good at it. That will get recognized and you will get paid for it.”

4) Use a budget. Know what your obligations are and plan for them. Also, have a “savings” budget. Don’t just budget to get by.

5) Opportunity cost. Each expenditure you make is an investment in something. Are you investing in your belly? Or, your wallet?

Think about some of these concepts and set some goals for yourself. Money is arguably one of the most crucial aspects of our lives, so why not try to understand it? Robert Kiyosaki says, “There are only two money problems; too much money or too little. Which problem do you want?”

What’s your money story? ~JWN

Joseph W. Norman, Co-Founder and Editor in Chief of Notable and Newsworthy can be reached at Norms1523@gmail.com or 607.743.8569. He offers speaking engagements and personal coaching and is always up for a "business lunch." To receive the weekly eZine, The VIP Profiles, email viprofile@gmail.com or visit http://notableandnewsworthy.blogspot.com/

Nam Ngo

Nam is a great friend and business associate of The VIP Guys. He is the man behind the business cards and the famous VIP Stickers; a true VIP Enthusiast. His is a story of great trials, good fortune, and hard work. After a candid conversation with Nam, it is my pleasure to feature his story to you. ~JWN

JWN: When did you start GraphiXpress?

NN: 1987. It’s been over twenty years now.

JWN: What inspired that? I know you worked for the Democrat & Chronicle for a period of time right?

NN: I wanted to start to make some money for myself. I wanted more freedom and more control of my destiny.

JWN: What got you into the print business?

NN: I liked to work with my hands. I got exposure when I was in high school in a graphic art class. Back then it was more of a craft. Now it is more automated. A machine does all of the work for you. It is totally different. I like the technology part of it but the craftsmanship is gone. It makes life easier but we had to change drastically about five years ago because the whole industry changed.

JWN: How do you feel you have adapted to the change?

NN: Quite well. We go to a lot of trade shows and working at the Democrat & Chronicle helped too.

JWN: How long did you work at the D & C?

NN: I worked there about 18 or 19 years. I just finished there about 3 months ago. They eliminated the imaging department, so they cut everything they could. The newspaper industry is in rough shape. It’s not like it used to. I thought I might have had a job there for life.

JWN: So, you were in imaging there?

NN: We would take the pictures from the photographers and then manipulate them, tone them, and enhance them to make them look better. If you just take the raw image, it would look very muddy because the paper is not high quality like photo paper. So, that was our job basically. We would do imaging and also make the plate for the press.

JWN: I’m curious about your childhood. Where did you grow up?

NN: My childhood. I was born in South Vietnam in the city of Saigon. Now it is called Ho Chi Min City. I was there until I was 10 when the Vietnam War was going on. My mom and I escaped from the war just one day before they took over. We got out just in time. We escaped to the Philipines when the Viet Kong took over the city. We were very lucky.

As a refugee we stayed in the Phillipines for a couple days and then got transported to Guam. We stayed there probably about a week and then got moved again to Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. We waited there a few months and then got a person to sponsor us. Our sponsor was from Alabama. We were there for about a year. He taught me English every night. I didn’t know any English when I came over, so that was a big help. I started school in sixth grade and made a lot of American friends. They taught me English, so I picked it up pretty quick. You’ve got to adapt quick. A lot of people helped me.

So, I had sixth grade in Louisiana. Then my mother found a job in North Carolina so we moved there.

JWN: What does she do there?

NN: She works in a furniture factory. We stayed there until I graduated from high school. We lived in a trailer park that we shared with two other people. It was a small trailer. I worked at a restaurant on the weekends. I’ve been working all my life.

JWN: How did you end up in Rochester?

NN: The reason I moved up here was because of RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology). I applied to the School of Printing. I got accepted and have been here ever since I graduated.

JWN: How was that program?

NN: I learned a lot there; much theory and some hands on things. It has helped a lot. But, since I’ve graduated technology has changed so much. It gave me the foundation. You learn the most when you are working though.

JWN: I’m curious more about the experience of being a refugee. Can you elaborate more on the emotions involved?

NN: It is emotional when you leave your home country. Because I was so young I don’t really know that much, but leaving your relatives and family is tough. I just followed my mom. It was difficult at first. We wrote to them every chance we got but after that my mother sponsored my sisters and brother. I’m the youngest. She sponsored one after the other, not all at the same time.

As a refugee I adapted pretty quick. I had a lot of friends that were helpful along the way. The Americans treated me well. We were well fed and had a decent dorm; military dorms.

JWN: So the Americans helped you evacuate?

NN: We were much better off than the boat people. They were drifting in the ocean. I was lucky because I flew on a cargo plane. So, the hardship wasn’t bad. We were very lucky.

JWN: How has your experience in America been? Have you been back to Vietnam?

NN: I went back two years ago. The only relative I have left is my nephew. The country has changed a lot since when I was young. There is a lot of traffic. It is growing fast.

JWN: Do you think you would move back there?

NN: I will stay here. I may visit occasionally though. I consider this my country as I’ve been here most of my life. I’m 44 so I’ve been here for 34 years.

JWN: I know you work very hard. Here during the day and the Democrat & Chronicle at night. What inspires that?

NN: I think it is my family. I want to do the best I can to support them so they don’t have to struggle. I am the provider for them. To have everything that you want, you have to work for it. There is no free lunch. The work ethic I learned from my parents. You’ve got to work hard.

JWN: What did your father do?

NN: He was a business man in Vietnam. He got drafted into the Army so he had to stay when we fled. When I was really small he would bring work back to the house. We would help him assemble mechanical stuff together.

JWN: I’d like to hear a little bit more about your family.

NN: I have two sons; 10 and 16. I met my wife about twenty years ago. My mother is still alive but my father passed away. My sister lives about forty minutes away from Rochester. She owns a nail salon. My brother does nails as well. He has moved around a lot; North Carolina for a while and now he is in California.

JWN: What are some of your goals?

NN: For the business, right now it is pretty small. I would like to move it forward by adapting some internet practices. I don’t exactly want to be like Vista printing, but I would like to target toward smaller companies because we feel we can better support their needs. We want to keep it personal, while providing more opportunity for clients.

The internet thing is difficult to get right. The logistics are different. There is a lot to learn. We are looking to start off small and then move it forward.

Personally, I have some goals as well. I just became a Christian. I would like to finish the New Testament in 2008 and learn how to be a better salesman. Ben (DeGeorge) has been helpful with teaching sales.

JWN: Who are a few leaders that have inspired you or you would like to meet?

NN: I would like to meet John F. Kennedy. He inspired a lot of people with his speeches. I would like to learn from him to be a more motivational speaker. Another person would be Jesus. Those are two of the main ones.

Nam Ngo

GraphiXpress

JWN: Personal Development

Personal Development

By: Joseph W. Norman

Pat Summitt, coach for the Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team, once said, “To improve, you must make your weaknesses your strengths.”

What is the value of personal development? In my experience, I’ve found that many people don’t seem to understand the importance of this concept. You get caught up in your job, the subject of your pursuits, and the idea that you need a particular set of knowledge to succeed. All of these things are important, but there is one more question to consider.

Who is carrying out these pursuits? You!

You can never think too much about developing you and the people around you. More importantly, you can never act on it enough.

What do you need to know?

1) What are your weaknesses? I.e. public speaking, sales, confidence, appearance, small talk, etcetera.

2) What are your strengths? Know them and continue to improve them.

3) What can you do to make your weaknesses your strengths and your strengths stronger? These are the action items which will help you develop.

People tend to get overwhelmed by their current stations in life. They have countless hours of material to read and sift through to improve their business or do what they do better. In fact, there is always more reading you can do for school or work. So much that it is easy to forget about you.

ACTION ITEM: Take fifteen minutes every morning and read from a “self help,” personal, or professional development book. This will start your day off with the right attitude and mind set.

That is a tip I picked up from Jeffrey Gitomer’s Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude. In fact, it is a great book to start your more disciplined morning routine. I call this my daily attitude reading.

Trust me. Fifteen minutes is all you need to get yourself ready to take on the day. Also, this will get your mind thinking about how you can improve your world. Who is in charge of your world anyway? You are.

ACTION ITEM: Attend a conference on a subject you’re passionate about. Know who is presenting, do your homework, and connect with them.

Just attending the conference is great, but connecting with the person that motivated you is even better. It could create a mutually beneficial relationship for you, your organization, the presenter, and the presenter’s organization. That’s a powerful thing.

ACTION ITEM: Take a “Quote of the Day” from your attitude reading. Keep it as a mantra for when you face the challenges that invariably preside in your daily pursuits.

During the various jobs I’ve held in my life, I’ve always enjoyed sending out a quote of the day sporadically to my co-workers. They ranged from purely motivational to completely ridiculous. No matter the subject, they directly influenced the attitude in the work place. It was always a positive effect.

NOTABLE: Keep it clean. This should be a given, but it deserves to be said. Check out my article “The Power of Our Words” for my reason why. Build people up, don’t tear them down.

Here are a few quotes for you to start with:

“If you wish to achieve worthwhile things in your personal and career life, you must become a worthwhile person in your own self-development.” – Brian Tracy

And, if money is one of your motivations:

“Income seldom exceeds personal development.” – Jim Rohn

If you focus a little bit more on developing yourself on a daily basis, your career and personal life will no doubt improve. Focus on this discipline every day. Do it for yourself.

Get a little bit better everyday, ~JWN

Joseph W. Norman, Co-Founder and Editor in Chief of Notable and Newsworthy can be reached at Norms1523@gmail.com or 607.743.8569. He offers speaking engagements and personal coaching and is always up for a "business lunch." To receive the weekly eZine, The VIP Profiles, email viprofile@gmail.com or visit http://notableandnewsworthy.blogspot.com/

JWN: Learning from the New York Giants

I had some other articles almost ready to go tonight. But, I’m a New York Football Giants fan and I’ve got to give you something from the heart. Tonight was historic. The game was played between the best team in the NFL and the hottest team.

Champions are seasonal. Upsets are eternal. That’s what they said on ESPN tonight. Is it true? What does it mean?

“All we need is a chance,” Tom Brady said in a heartfelt interview with Terry Bradshaw earlier in the week. That line applies to each and every one of us, every day in our lives.

Sometimes you need to create that chance though. I often say the line, “Make it happen.” I’ve even delivered a speech on it. Why does that message ring true? I’ll tell you why. Nothing in this life is promised and you can’t wait for opportunities to knock on your door.

“When you really want something, you don’t wait to be invited.” - Ann Lewis

The Giants did that tonight with one of the most incredible late season runs I have ever seen. I know I’m young. (I’ll be 22 this Thursday, February 7. Packages are welcome). But, witnessing something like that has to inspire you.

"We made it happen tonight." - Eli Manning

I’ve been a fan of the New York Giants since I was a little boy. In fact, I remember rolling around on the floor with my brother Jack and his good friend Mike when the Giants won Super Bowl XXV against the Buffalo Bills. That’s seventeen years ago. Intense how moments like that stick with you.

Few people thought the Giants could be Super Bowl Champions against the previously perfect New England Patriots. In fact, it makes me laugh because some unassuming better this evening probably made a boat load of money on this game. I mean really. A two touchdown spread? (For the record, I won $4 on the game. Big win. I know.)

What it took was belief. Unshakable confidence. If you believe it, you can achieve it.

The Giants set an NFL record tonight by winning their eleventh straight road game. They achieved their dreams the way they seem to always be achieved; out of their comfort zone. Not in their back yard. Not on their home court but on somebody else’s. Eleven times in a row.

I’m inspired right now. I can’t even think right. My mind is racing in all directions because I’m elated at the victory. But more importantly, I’m motivated by the thought that this underdog team from New York took all the punches and still mustered up the KO punch.

If we could take one ounce of that resiliency and apply it to our own lives, where would we be? It’s probably not where we are right now. And, now the question that really matters comes out. Why?

Why are we not the person we dream to be? It’s probably complacency or self-consciousness. Maybe we let others’ words get to us and bring us down. I reflected on this in a previous work, “What’s Your Self Image?”

There will always be odds against you. Someone will always doubt your pursuits. The path to success isn’t littered with blue ribbons and championship trophies. It’s fraught with losses of all kinds; family members, elections, jobs, etcetera. All these occurrences are devastating in their own way, but not insurmountable. The New York Giants proved that tonight.

Know who you want to be and don’t let anybody else make you think otherwise. No matter how much you respect their opinion. Then, go out and make it happen.

I’ve got work to do. You’ve got work to do. Keep pushing the limit. Let’s go get our championship.

You may or may not be a religious person. But, I must quote this powerful line from the Bible because it speaks beyond any religious belief.

“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” – Jesus (Matthew 17: 20)

Best to you, ~JWN

Joseph W. Norman, Co-Founder and Editor in Chief of Notable and Newsworthy can be reached at Norms1523@gmail.com or 607.743.8569. He offers Leadership Consulting and Personal Coaching Services and is always up for a "business lunch." To receive the weekly eZine, The VIP Profiles, email viprofile@gmail.com or visit http://notableandnewsworthy.blogspot.com/

JWN: The Power of Our Words

The Power of Our Words

“Our words will always do one of two things; build people up or tear them down.”

I put much value in the written and spoken word. Nothing impresses me more than a well written or spoken individual. You know exactly the type of person I’m talking about; they speak with ease and command respect with even their simplest notes.

Where does this eloquence come from?

It comes from a few things;

1) Reading. People with the greatest command of words are generally those that read the most. Expose yourself to more words. Also, use a dictionary! I always keep one near my desk (where I do the most writing).

2) Writing. Put the pen to the paper and give it a shot. Rewrite and revise. Get somebody to look your work over.

3) Thinking before you speak. The best speakers are usually the best listeners. They have well processed thoughts that are communicated with carefully chosen words.

How does this affect you?

1) Your words are your image. Know what you’re saying and how you’re saying it. That combination sets the tone for how people will view you.

2) Your words facilitate respect (or disrespect). Speak and write like a professional and you will be respected as a professional.

3) Your words affect others. This comes back to that first quote. Life is about the relationships you have. The words you use strengthen or weaken those bonds.

Mr. Gary Vail, a mentor to me and former Athletic Director at Windsor Central School District, always told me (and his other athletes), “Perfect practice makes perfect.” This applies to writing as well. Do it and do it well.

I’m a bit of a perfectionist at times (a strength and a weakness). In fact, I’m borderline OCD when it comes to writing; especially personal articles and of course, The VIP Profiles. I value myself at a high level, so I want my words to make people think of me at that level.

It comes back to a principle I discussed in my article “Commanding a Presence” (click here to read it). Just as you need to dress the part you want to play, you need to speak the part you want to play. If you want to be a great computer scientist, write and talk like one. If you want to be President of the United States, know how to inspire a nation.

When we think about Presidents, what is it we remember? Their speeches.

Those words are chosen very carefully. I recommend reading Abraham Lincoln’s speeches. He wrote all of his own stuff and put an incredible amount of thought time into his addresses.

There is a small memorial dedicated to those that lost their lives in the Civil War in Geneseo. It features a worn down tribute to those soldiers with the Gettysburg Address. I stopped to read that timeless speech on a run the other day. Absolutely brilliant!

Think about how often you verbally communicate during the day. What are your words saying about you?

Since I was young, my parent’s always urged me not to fall into the trap of writing with poor grammar in emails or on instant messaging services. That stuck with me and it should strike a chord in you.

Read that email over (at least once) before you send it out; especially if it’s going to your boss. In a world of ultra fast communication, many people just write and fire away.

That’s a mistake. It only takes another minute or two to edit that email before you hit send. All hastiness shows is a lack of respect.

KEY HINT: Start now with your written correspondences. Write complete sentences. Capitalize. Punctuate. Show off your diction. Make this process automatic.

“How do I know what I think until I see what I say?” – E. M. Forster

Pay attention to your words as they create the image you present to the world. Think before you speak and edit what you write.

Warmly yours, ~JWN

David Mammano

David Mammano

“I get paid for this?”

Dave and I met at his office (an everyday house gone media empire home base) in Victor, New York. I was first struck by the fun everyone seemed to be having there. They all seemed to enjoy what they were doing; jokes, laughter, and productivity pervaded the air. It was inspiring. Then I sat down with Dave, founder and CEO of Next Step Publishing, Inc. Here I found the culture source. A giddy, energetic, and motivated man with a passion for helping high school students wake up in five years saying, “I get paid for this?” A feeling he has been blessed with since the inception of Next Step Magazine 13 years ago. The publication has a readership of nearly 1,000,000 all over the United States. It is my pleasure to feature Dave’s insights on work, family, and life. ~JWN

VIP: What got you into the career plan that you have taken? In addition, I also noticed you had an incredible afro in high school…

David Mammano (DM): I see you’ve checked out the website. (www.nextSTEPmagazine.com) Yes, I had a very desirable afro. (Laughs). I went to college to be a dentist and then I changed my major to be a TV reporter. After that, I changed my idea to be in sales for advertising. I worked for the school newspaper at the University of Buffalo and loved it.

I found my calling through bouncing around a lot. A lot of students don’t. They go to college and they don’t know why they’re in college. A lot of students say, “I had to go to college. It was an expectation. I’m here and I’m majoring in this but I don’t know if I like it.” Then when they graduate they might realize that they’ve wasted four years of their life and a $100,000 plus.

That is exactly what the magazine is about. It is to help you while you are in high school with the information that you need so you can end up at college and say, “I picked this place because I like kids, I did an internship, and this is what I want to do.”

That’s what our magazine offers; a lot of articles that will enable you to hit the ground running with life after high school while you’re still in high school.

We’ll do a lot of college prep articles; how to choose a major, how to assess yourself, how to find out what your factory installed equipment is.

There is a theory and I happen to agree with it that when you’re born 65% of you is just who you are. You can’t change that. The rest is parents, environment, upbringing, and opportunities. For example, my sister and myself; same mother, same family, same house, same dad, same upbringing, same everything but we’re completely different. She’s not a bad person. I’m not a bad person. We’re just completely different people.

So, how do you explain that? It’s that 65% factory installed equipment. The rest is the other stuff; drive, environment, all that.

When you’re in high school it’s great to find out what that kind of equipment you have so you can
lean towards that direction for your career and major. We do stuff like that for the magazine and online. We’re actually adding the Holland Career Assessment tool to our site.

Students can find out a little bit about who they are and then learn about how to take that information and find the right colleges and choose the right major. We help them through the SAT process and the financial aid process. We help them explore different career ideas and we advise them on internship ideas.

We also help them a lot with life skills. College, career, and life are our three main categories. That can be public speaking, how to dress for success, how to write a resume, how to budget your time, items like that.

If someone is a true “Next Stepper;” they read the magazine, they’ve signed up on the website, and they get our e-newsletter “Next News.” Then they’ll really be able to do the research necessary to hit the ground running when they get out of school. Instead of most students who after college say, “Now what do I want to do?”

Dave's two wonderful children; Gianluca & Melania

The chat then moved to our mutual passion of leadership…

DM: I was just at an all day seminar yesterday with my leadership coach John Engels. I took an eight month course from him and I meet with him on a regular basis. He offers a retreat every year which reintroduces the principles and philosophies of his Advanced Leadership Course. Although I’ve learned them about a dozen times, it’s always good to go back, take a deep breath, and be there for the day in a different environment.

John Engels is great. He’s got some incredible ideas. His website is www.leadershipcoachinginc.com.

VIP: Who are three people that you would like to meet?

DM: I would like to meet Abraham Lincoln. He endured so much adversity in his life yet saved the country. Just the way he lived his life was very honorable. Team of Rivals is a great book about him.

Another person I’d like to meet is Benjamin Franklin. His ingenuity was incredible. He was a business man, philosopher, actor, scientist, diplomat, and ambassador. It would be fascinating to have some drinks with him.

Those two are dead. So, let’s try to find somebody alive that I would like to meet. I think it would be interesting to meet Nelson Mandela. I think he has a modern day Ghandi type of presence. He’s somebody who has lived through such turmoil in his country. He shows the ultimate of stoic patience. Character wise it appears that there aren’t many flaws.

If I could add a fourth it would be Selma Hayak because she’s just so darn hot. (Laughs).

VIP: What is your favorite candy bar?

DM: Snickers. If there are Snickers around I have a tough time staying away from them. However, if you were to ask my favorite snack it would be Nutella. Put that on some bread and you could gain ten pounds in a day.

In high school I ran track, cross country, and skied. If I didn’t exercise I would be fifty pounds heavier because I eat like a stallion. I don’t eat bad food. I eat good food, but my portions are astounding. I’m Italian and I married a Sicilian actually from Sicily. She and her mother are tremendous cooks. I’ve gained at least twenty pounds since I’ve been married. Plus I went to the University of Buffalo, so you add chicken wings, beer, and beef on wick, this is what you get (rubbing his stomach).

VIP: Now, an important Buffalo question. Do you like Duff’s or the Anchor Bar’s wings better?

Dave: I was not a big fan of Duff’s. I like the Anchor Bar better because they have the more traditional wings. Duff’s wings had a little too much sauce for me.

Back to exercise…

DM: You see exercise is great for me because I’m such a hyper and manic person. It’s like a drug for me. It anchors me. I have a much longer fuse when I work out. If I don’t work out for a few days in a row I get tense a lot quicker and things will anger me quicker. When I work out, it mentally and physically puts me in another place.

VIP: What is your exercise routine like?

Dave: Actually, it’s funny. I do a fitness series called Beach Body workouts. There is cardio and weights. It is done by this guy who is supposedly a “Trainer to the Stars,” Tony Horton. It is a half an hour program you follow along to. Some of those programs get a little feminine, “Alright ladies…” This one has one woman in the background for the eye candy but Tony is a manly man so you don’t feel like an effeminate doing it.

VIP: What is your average day like?

Dave: I get up at 5 AM, read and exercise. Then I eat breakfast with my family. I have a son who is four and a daughter who is two. I’ll come to work by 8 AM. Then I will make phone calls, be in meetings, be on sales calls, and answer emails. I do get out of the office a lot. I have a lot of outside appointments. I’ll travel to New York, Chicago, etcetera. I try to be home by six for dinner with the family. Then I hang out with the kids and work on the “to-do” list from the wife. And, I try to be in bed by ten. That is my ideal day.

When I do that I feel great. When I am able to read and workout in the morning it sets the runner for a great day.

VIP: What do you usually read in the morning?

DM: I usually read books that are about my field, other business books, biographies, motivational stuff. I’m reading a book right now called Screw It, Let’s Do It by Richard Branson. My flaw with reading though is I start too many books at once.

Other good authors are Jeffrey Gitomer, Tony Robbins, Earl Nightengale, and Jim Rohn. Jim’s programs are incredible.

VIP: What are some of your goals with Next Step Magazine?

Dave: Our strategic plan is involving more and more teens into the Next Step Community; our print magazine, our website, and our social community on the website. We want to be the Facebook of college and career planning. If you want to come online and network with friends about social stuff, Facebook is perfect. But, if you want to have a focused community on helping you with your next step after high school, choosing your career, and your college, you come to us.

Let’s say you’re in high school and you’re interested in finance and you think you want to go to school in New York some place. Wouldn’t it be great if you could enter that in the website and have college students who can act as mentors for you? Or, if you want to get a job you can find mentors for that as well. So, continuing to create this focused community is the goal.

We are striving to do more and more of this stuff on whatever media it takes. Video, cell phones, etcetera. More and more in helping students find their right career. That is my hope with Next Step. I want to help high schoolers find their path.

If you like music, what if you got paid to lead a band or be a music teacher? The path you’re following, you’re going to wake up in about five years and pinch yourself saying, “I get paid to do this?” That is the goal.

Thirteen years I’ve been doing that. We just celebrated thirteen years with Next Step. That is the sweet spot of life right there. I don’t go to a factory and punch a clock. There are no calluses on my hands. I go to work, but it’s not really “work.”

That’s how I want to help students. I want to help them assess who they are and give them ideas about what direction to take that assessment in. Here are five great careers that really match who you are and then provide information about those careers, and colleges that go along with them.

We want to be THE resource for life after high school.

VIP: I’m curious about Brand University, your recent higher education marketing enterprise.

DM: I started that because a lot of my clients are colleges and I noticed they are admissions experts, not marketing experts. So, a lot of their ads, quite frankly, sucked. I created that for my college clients to teach them about effective branding, marketing, and advertising. So far, so good.

I turn that into a lot of my key note talks. It is a nice free resource for a lot of my clients. The best way to be seen as an expert is to get published right? I’m lucky because I’m a publisher.

David Mammano

CEO & Founder

Next Step Publishing Inc.

www.nextSTEPmagazine.com