Among the Reasons I Like Fox business

I have been a faithful viewer of Fox News for years and I was giddy as a young teenager at a Hanna Montana concert as I waited for the launch of Fox Business last October. I have not been disappointed. Fox Business has made extraordinary strides in bridging the divide between Wall Street and Main Street, it has developed a personality driven network (versus purely an issue focus) that is necessary in producing quality programming, and it has more resources available on finance and business than any other network (aided recently with its purchase of the Wall Street Journal.

Fox Business is also very entrepreneurial. In spite of the vast resources of its parent company, News Corp, the network has used some good old fashioned guerilla marketing to get the word out on the network. Recently, I wrote a post about Neil Cavuto's absence at Fox Business due to his battle with MS (fortunately he is back). Within a day of that post I received a call from Fox Business thanking me for the article and to see if I would be interested in having Cavuto and other personalities on my show. My decision required very little deliberation.

Before I received that call I had already enjoyed visits with Jonathan Hoenig of Capitalist Pig (a regular on Fox's popular Cashin' In) and Charles Payne of Wall Street Strategies (and a regular on Money for Breakfast). Everyone associated with the network is eager to get the word out to others. Since the network has contacted me I have had great interviews with Alexis Glick (Vice President of Business News and an anchor of Money for Breakfast) and David Asman (Forbes on Fox and America's Nightly Scoreboard). In the next few weeks I am scheduled to interview Neil Cavuto (Managing Editor of Fox Business and anchor), someone whom I have long been interested in having on the show.

Besides being an innovative approach to marketing, the contacting of Fox Business to our media only reinforces its commitment to Main Street business, because that is what my show is largely about. Just one more reason Fox Business is one of my favorite networks.

Kevin Price's articles are found daily in national publications such as USA Today, Chicago Sun Times, and Reuters. Subscribe to his newsletter here.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review.

Houston Area Job Board

Recently dBusinessNews released the following announcement:

Kevin Price, Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) announced the addition of a new jobs board on HoustonBusinessShow.com. "The job board is new to the Houston Business Show, but is powered by one of the most powerful companies on the Internet when it comes to finding jobs and employees." From day one individuals will find 1.5 million jobs online.

In addition to over a million jobs in thousands of areas, the site offers numerous additional tools including:

* How to Make Your Resume Stand Out

* Find Out What Your Background Shows

* How to Get your Resumes in Front of Hiring Managers

* How to Get More Exposure to Employers

* And Get a Free Salary Report (learn what others in your field are making.

Many of the resources on this site are free and tools are available for both those looking for a job and looking to hire.

Visit the Houston Business Show Jobs site today to post a job, post a resume, and explore the many great resources for employers and potential employees. Email us at Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com if you have any questions.

I am, of course, delighted by this addition and wanted to share it with my readers. The great thing about it is that you can post to find a job or an employee anywhere.

Listen to a helpful audio program on dealing with job loss by clicking here. It is an interview with Kathie Bowersox of Quantum Leap Success Coach.

David and Goliath on the Credit Front

I just received word that the Bank of America had a devastating quarter with a 77 percent drop in profits. It, of course, reminded me of Calvin Brown's recent interview on the Houston Business Show on the subject of the worst companies with whom to have open accounts. Here's a quick list of those banks:

* Bank of America

* Capital One

* Discover Financial

* Verizon Wireless

* WFNNB

* Washington Mutual/Providian

* Americredit

* Diamond Shamrock

* Best Buy

* Citibank

You can read the list with details here.

It appears to be a "David and Goliath" story, with Calvin taking focus on the banking giant. It may be mere coincidence, but we can't help but think people are getting the Credit Restore message.

Above is a recent video interview of Calvin Brown on the credit situation in the United States. Click the video and click "Movers and Shakers" to view this program.

For a copy of the free report, "Why Your Marketing Isn't Working," email Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing" in the subject line.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Is There a "Best Time" to Run a Craigslist Want Ad?

In spite of what we have been told by the media, unemployment is incredibly low and I have found it difficult to find quality people for my business. I have used several avenues including radio, classified ads, and (of course) Craigslist. Craigslist has an amazing reach and the success stories surrounding it are numerous. I, on the other hand, have had very little success with it. Until recently.

Over the last several months, at the end of a long business day, I would sit at my computer and put up a Craigslist ad while watching TV. Most of the time I received little to no response. Today, I ran an ad just before my radio show began and before an hour was over I had several responses directly related to the advertisement.

So what made the difference? Unemployment is almost identical to what it was a couple of weeks ago when I ran an a very similar advertisement to what I submitted today. I thought about it and I think the major difference is timing. My earlier ads often began to run at around 9 PM, when the last thing people want to think about is their employment situation. By the time morning came and people began to look, my advertisement was buried under others who chose to do their ads through out the evening. Today, this ad came out right in the middle of the business day when people are most hungry for new opportunities. It is simple common sense and something to think about the next time you put an ad in one of the country's best sources for making connections.

For a copy of the free report, "Why Your Marketing Isn't Working," email Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing" in the subject line.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

On the Show: Charles Payne Tackles Poverty

Charles Payne of Wall Street Strategies (and of Fox News and Fox Business) was recently on the Houston Business Show discussing the problem of poverty facing many minorities today. Charles brings a unique perspective on the subject since he has faced both poverty as a young boy raised by a single parent and wealth because of his entrepreneurial success as an adult. As a result of his up bringing, Charles takes a some what contrarian view of poverty.

Conventional wisdom is that poor people should be given hand outs and that the poor should be treated as victims rather than as people merely seeking opportunity. Conventional wisdom fails to understand that the more you subsidize something, the more you get of it. Subsidizing poverty generates more of it.

Payne says that a big part of the poverty problem as that the focus is on the wrong thing. We don't need a "Poverty Czar" as advocated by many liberal leaders, but a "Wealth Czar" who points people away from poverty. We need to tackle the real causes of poverty in this country -- excessive taxation on wealth creation that prevents many businesses and opportunities to be created, excessive regulation that deters business growth, and licensure laws that inhibit people from entering the market place.

I love Charles' insights and he is one of my favorite contributors to the Houston Business Show. Listen to this informative two part interview here and here to understand America's poverty problems from someone who has experienced them.

For a copy of the free report, "Why Your Marketing Isn't Working," email Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing" in the subject line.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Where are You Spending Your Time?

I am reading a very interesting and useful book to entrepreneurs and business leaders called Always On, about how consumers are taking control of media, marketing, and advertising. The book, by Chrisopher Vollmer with Geoffrey Precourt, boldly asserts that the "thought leaders of Booz Allen Hamilton and strategy + business magazine have collaborated to create an up to minute exploration of this turbulent yet promising new digital era and its implications for corporate executives and marketing and advertising professionals." Its a funny statement coming from a book that praises the far reaching power of the Internet, which is about the only place that is close to "up to the minute" in its ability to keep us informed. Books, including this one, typically have portions that are obsolete before the ink drys. In spite the boldness and the potential inaccuracy, this book is fantastic and I highly recommend it.

The "Media Migration" section of the book shows the shift in where people spend time being entertained or getting information between 2001 and 2006. Here is a breakdown of some of the most interesting numbers:

* There has been an 18 percent decrease in the amount of time people spend listening to music. This is one of the many problems facing the music industry.

* There has been a thirteen percent decrease in the amount of time spent watching broadcast television.

* An 11 percent decrease of time reading a newspaper. This was a surprise to me, I expected it to be a much bigger number.

* A 5 percent decrease of time reading magazines. This is surprising, considering the huge increase in business magazines.

* A 2 percent decrease in time on the radio. Although I know from (HoustonBusinessShow.com), many are going online to hear radio programs.

Where have people moved their attention?

* There has been a 3 percent increase in book readership. This is one of the more startling statistics.

* There has been a 15 percent increase in video game playing.

* There has been a 28 percent increase in cable and satellite viewing.

* There has been a 31 percent increase in home video (much of which shows up online).

* There has been a 41 percent increase in Internet usage. This is no surprise at all.

* There has been a 1,264 percent increase in mobile usage. This was the most startling increase of all. I have a Blackberry and spend a huge amount of time on it now, I must admit. I am not only looking at my email, but surfing for information online, but this is still an amazing number to me. It is a little distorted, since people largely only used their phone for conversation five years ago, but these numbers are significant.

The last figure explains why we are increasingly told on TV, in magazines, and on the radio to not only get additional information on the Internet, but on mobile devices. Smart businesses are certainly focusing their energies on the Internet to attract customers. The smartest ones are figuring out how to reach them via mobile.

This book is a relatively easy read and the information is crucial for those in business who want to compete in our competitive environment today. Order that important book here.

For a copy of the free report, "Why Your Marketing Isn't Working," email Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing" in the subject line.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

On the Show: Craig Smith Speaks His Mind

Craig Smith of Swiss America is a well known financial advisor that is a frequent guest on MSNBC, Fox Business, and CNBC. He is one of the leading advocates for investing in gold and a strong proponent of a free market economy.

On a recent Houston Business Show, Smith took the government to task over its recent actions to bail out financial institutions and its plans for seriously revamping the regulation of such firms. In typical government fashion, Smith warns, the "cure" is going to likely be worse than the illness.

My view is that the government should do little or nothing at this time, mainly because we are not even sure how bad the damage will be. Wouldn't it make sense to "fix" our problems once we understand what those problems are? Especially since it is an election year and decision making is often driven by polls rather than common sense. I'm glad, however, that there are some with a more reasoned approach to such problems. Check out my interview with Craig Smith here and here.

For a copy of the free report, "Why Your Marketing Isn't Working," email Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing" in the subject line.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

On the Show: Raising Entrepreneurs

On a recent Houston Business Show I interviewed Troy Dunn, author of the best selling book, Young Bucks. This book is excellent and a must read for parents every where. Furthermore, Troy was an engaging guest. There are numerous reasons why I love the book. It is an easy read and are easily equally easy to apply. Here are a few excellent pointers.

Three Myths About Kids and Money

* A college education is key to success. I'm a big fan of formal education and credit being the first in my family to graduate as a great accomplishment. However, it isn't a guarantee for business accomplishment and often inhibits success by distorting a person's view of failure. Failure isn't disaster (like a "F" in school), but an indication that one should do things differently.

* A job with a good corporation will secure your financial future. This is one of the biggest myths of all. The more you make in such corporations, the more limited your expertise tends to be, and the more vulnerable you are to being displaced. Owning one's financial future is the best plan by working towards owning a business or becoming investors.

* Children should not have to "worry" about when they are young. There is plenty of time to worry about finances when they are adults. This may be the single most important issue that must be addressed. Demystifying money early and empowering your children to take hold of their financial future early are crucial in raising successful adults.

There is much more information, including a list of more than 50 businesses that a young person can start and strategies on getting them going, that makes this book a must read. The book is empowering and the difference it will make in a child's life and the life of the parents is huge. If you order the book through my bookstore, you will get it for less than $15. It may be the best money you spend on your children.

Hear the entirety of that interview here:

Part I: Troy Dunn, best selling author of Young Bucks

Part II: More with Troy Dunn, best selling author of Young Bucks

Part III: Host Kevin Price and Troy Dunn

Troy is a great interview and guest and his book is must reading.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Declaring a Recession to End a Recession

It appears that virtually every major player in politics and government are now declaring a recession. Republicans and Democrats, Members of Congress and senior Executive Branch officials, and now, senior leaders of the Federal Reserve. They are all declaring a recession.

The academic definition of a recession is economic decline over two quarters -- that's six months for those of us who don't like calendars -- of economic decline. We barely have had two months, but virtually everyone is surrendering to the "R" word.

So the question is why? Why are we so anxious to enter a recession? Charles Payne of Wall Street Strategies and a regular feature on Fox Business and Fox News as well as the Houston Business Show, has said that although it may be too soon to declare a weaker economy, there are specific strategies we can take in event of such. It seems to me that we are pursuing such policies (e.g., pumping money into the economy to encourage growth) and it actually seems to be making matters worse. Payne agrees as do most sensible economic analysts. If we keep these inflationary policies up, we will be looking at the bad old 1970s again.

There seems to be a consensus that, if we declare a recession, that we can move on to greater economic heights. So far it isn't working and, if anything, it is actually making matters worse. We will have to wait and see whether the negative rhetoric produces economic growth.

For a copy of the free report, "Why Your Marketing Isn't Working," email Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing" in the subject line.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Sneak Peek of This Week's Show

I'm not much for brash commercialism in this blog, but there are several guests coming up this week on the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) that you might want to be aware of.




On Tuesday, Floyd Brown, who is a nationally known economist and Washington, DC political consultant will discuss why McCain will likely be our next President. Sound improbable? The current Democrat opponents are actually perfect competition for the Arizona Senator, according to Brown.


Also on Tuesday, Troy Dunn, author of Young Bucks (a phenomenal book on raising successful kids), will be on to discuss his unique philosophy on building future business leaders. I receive many more books than I could ever read from potential guests, but Troy's book is must reading and you can order it here. You can either raise financially successful adults or perennially dependent adult children. This book can help you in pointing your child in the right direction.


Jonathan Hoenig of Capitalist Pig and Charles Payne of Wall Street Strategies, two regulars from Fox Business and Fox News, will both be on Wednesday to discuss what is going on in the volatile stock market. They always provide great answers to the complex business environment of today. Hear recent interviews by Jonathan and Charles from the Houston Business Show archive.


Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

On the Show: Kent Batman of Hardin Fuels

With the stock market often looking like a bad roller coaster ride, people are looking for a sound alternative. No, people shouldn't get out of the market entirely. In fact, this is bargain basement time for stock buyers. On the other hand, it also makes sense to make sure you don't have all your eggs in one basket.

One investment area that is exploding is alternative fuels and an area that is leading the pack in Texas is biodiesel. The climate in Texas is excellent for numerous agriculture products and there is a growing interest among companies with a fleet of trucks in having their own resource to keep their vehicles rolling.

Kent Batman, President of Hardin Fuels and a frequent contributor to the Houston Business Show was recently on my show discussing how companies with a demand for diesel, or an interest in an attractive investment, or want to see their investments fight the war on terror (since every aspect of biodiesel is made by and benefits the USA). It was an interesting interview that you might like to hear. Also, click the image above to see a Movers and Shakers video featuring Batman and Robert Martin. The possibilities for such a business seem unlimited.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Bush Begins Celebrating Early

President Bush has begun celebrating early. Why? Because his days are numbered as President of the United States and he's beginning to think that someone in his party might continue at his job after he leaves in less than 12 months. Every President wants to leave a legacy. One of the most important parts of a legacy a President wants to leave is a member of his party staying in office.

Why the new sense of confidence? The people of Ohio and Texas gave Hillary Clinton a new lease on life instead of a knock out blow. If she had crashed and burned earlier this week, Democrats would be sending their money to one candidate instead of two and all of that money would be pointed to their collective enemy and not one another.

Simply put, this Democratic contest could easily go to August and the next Democrat nominee be chosen in a smoke filled room. The candidate will come out significant weakened after being pounded by a fellow Democrat and by a Republican who is running now unchallenged in his party (although he certainly has some fence mending with the rank and file).

Floyd Brown, who is a political expert I've known for over 20 years and an old friend of mine will soon be on the Houston Business Show. He argues in a recent post in his blog that he shares with his wife (Mary Beth Brown) that neither Obama or Clinton look very strong against McCain and he provides persuasive arguments that the Arizona Senator might very well be the strongest candidate the Democrats can face.

Floyd will be on my show in the next week (for more information visit the Houston Business Show site ) and I will discuss his unique views then. Regardless of how one thinks, we must be more impressed with Republican chances in 2008 than we were just a few months ago.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

On the Show: Stephen Moore of the Wall Street Journal

Stephen Moore of the Wall Street Journal is an old friend of mine whom I have known for 20 years. When I first met him, he was with the Heritage Foundation and I was working with the National Center for Public Policy Research.

Over the years he wrote a book for an organization I was the President of, led the charge in getting a book I wrote (Empowerment to the People) excellent attention on the political landscape, and we have worked together on many endeavors. Stephen got Congressman Dick Armey (than House Republican Leader) to write an endorsement of my book and got a copy of it with Armey's recommendation, in the hands of every Republican Member of Congress.

He has been a frequent guest on my show(s) over the years. Not because of his relationship, but because he has one of the finest minds in economics today. He's sharp. optimistic, and passionate. You can get an example of his brilliance in the excerpt from an interview with him here on a recent Houston Business Show. Also, you can hear him tomorrow at 11 AM on the Houston Business Show.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

On the Show: Neil Bush on His Unique Family and More

For a short time the Houston Business Show was at 7 AM and called "The Houston Business Hour." Fortunately for me, both the name and the time have changed. However, I did enjoy the opportunity to do a number of important and interesting interviews. One of my favorites was with Neil Bush, the younger brother of President George Bush and son of Bush 41.

What I enjoyed most about the interview is that Bush was an extremely "average" guy. He could be someone I would enjoy coffee with (and in fact have), go play golf, or simply hang out together. His up bringing and mine couldn't be more different. He came from a political dynasty that is one of the most famous in US history. Virtually everyone in his family went to and graduated from some of the nation's most prestigious universities and often got multiple degrees. I came from a very blue collar home with parents who simply hoped that each of their children would finish high school. I became the first in my family on either side to actually graduate from college. In my home, it was some what easy to be an over achiever and in his home, that was a virtual impossibility.

But again, he was a great guy and one of the most enjoyable interviews I have ever had. For those who missed it, I am displaying the first of the segments. Check them out and enjoy them. For those heard the show before, see the video. I hope you enjoy it as much I did. See all of my interviews with Neil Bush here. The program was produced and directed by Marketing Dynamics and Andy Valadez.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

On the Show: Jonathan Hoenig Challenges Conventional Wisdom

On of my favorite regular guests on my show is Jonathan Hoenig of Capitalist Pig, Fox Business, and Fox News. He is one of the few guests that actually tells it "like it is" and holds very little back. He's a libertarian in the Ayn Rand tradition and is unwavering in his convictions.

I don't agree with him on everything. The roots to his philosophy are clearly intellectual, mine are actually more religious buttressed with academia. In this interview we have an exchange regarding the "Christian Right" that sheds some light on both of our perspectives.

Still, Jonathan is a brilliant and fascinating guest, one that I always enjoy on the program. Furthermore, I am looking forward to having him on as a guest on this Thursday's (February 28th at 11 AM) Houston Business Show.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

On the Show: Cable Maven Challenges You to Think Big

Rarely do I have celebrities in their own right on the Houston Business Show, but that is exactly what I had with Sheldon I. Atfeld (AKA the Cable Maven). According to his site, Atfeld is "a twelve-time Emmy Award-nominee and four-time Emmy Award winner, Sheldon I. Altfeld has been an actor, writer, producer and director in Hollywood since 1950. His extensive credits have spanned every aspect of the entertainment industry, including radio, television, motion pictures, stage productions and recording. "

He is also a pioneer in the cable television industry and has actually developed a kit that teaches individuals on how to create a network. I love the idea. It is bold, it is crazy, and it really American. I'm not sure how practical it is, but it is certainly a lot of fun to think about and Sheldon is a great interview to discuss such a topic which we do here and here. I hope you enjoy it.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

On the Show: Eric Pratt Provides a Different View of Guns on Campus

Eric Pratt of Gun Owners of America was recently on the Houston Business Show following another tragedy on a college campus. This time it was Northern Illinois University and in spite of the quick action of campus law enforcement, the results were deadly.

Eric argues that the current approach of prohibiting guns on campus by anyone but law enjorcement is the equivalent of putting a sign outside of your house stating "we do not have guns in this house" and thinking that will make you safer.

This may not seem like business to you, but it is the business of all parents of making their kids safe. Check out the interview on a recent Houston Business Show.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

What About the Economy?

I was listening to the radio just before my show began today and noted that it was reported that consumer spending was up over the last month. This came as a surprise to the "sky is falling" crowd that dominates the media today.

According to CNNMoney:

Retail sales unexpectedly rose 0.3% last month after a dismal December, the Commerce

Department said Wednesday, easing concerns that the U.S. already has fallen into a recession.
Wall Street cheered the report. The Nasdaq rose 2.3% while the S&P 500 and Dow climbed 1.4%.

Analysts had expected a 0.3% fall following December's 0.4% drop.

Consumer spending, which accounts for 70% of economic activity, is being eyed closely for signs the U.S. is sliding into a recession.

"As the consumer goes, so goes the economy," said Joel Naroff. chief economist at Naroff Economic Advisors. "The good news is that the consumer is not dramatically cutting back on spending, but the bad news is the consumer is not spending at any great pace."

The 1.4 percent increase in the Dow translated into 178.83 points. This is a significant increase for a single day.

The media is now trying to figure out what happened, considering the economy was suppose to be in a total melt down. I have been a contrarian for quite some time. The reality is, last month was the first one in which we actually showed the slightest sign of weakness outside of the subprime crisis. In spite of how great the passion to declare the end of the world, we might be seeing the end of a very short "recession." We will have to wait a while and see.

On a recent Movers and Shakers segment, I interviewed several Advisors from the Houston Business Show about the economy. I found the conversation most informative (click here and then click, Movers and Shakers).

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Welcome to Extreme Networking

No one doubts the value of networking and the radio show demonstrated how to take this concept to new heights. Earlier this week we did a remote at the 1308 Cantina in Houston, which brought over 100 guests to this exciting event.

Doing events such as this is fairly common. People standing around the media personality and doing a little meeting and greeting. For the price of some of the finest Mexican food in town, it is a great event in and of itself. This was so much more than that.

Andy Valadez of Marketing Dynamics and I have been working extensively on the importance of the convergence of media in building a business. That is why the Houston business Media Group includes a radio show (The Houston Business Show, M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650), an ezine (the Houston Business Review), television (Movers and Shakers on Phonoscope), and other media. We brought many of these elements to El Tiempo.

So the large crowd came for great food and exchange cards, but instead received so much more. Many did short interviews on the radio show where they gave their message to thousands online and on the radio. We are talking about twenty such guests. Others still were interviewed via video and will be promoted in my ezine and on the radio (like I did of the interview with Jessica Colon of Young Republicans and Fox News). Others are being promoted at the What's New Page at Houston Business Show What's New Page and the Houston Business Review. Many will put the audio and video on their website, creating a level of credibility that is hard to come by and long term exposure that is simply hard to come by. I don't know what you call this approach to business development, but I call it Extreme Networking.

The feedback about the event was overwhelmingly positive. People enjoyed great food and fun. More importantly, many of them were able to redefine networking by getting their message out directly to thousands and over a much longer of period of time. We are excited about making a difference in the way people network.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Wrapping Up 2007

On today's Houston Business Show I visited with Andy Valadez of Marketing Dynamics and Jim Driscoll of the Houston Business Media Group and GoalAchieversClub.com to discuss several things, including how to bring the year to a close with a bang.

Of particular interest was our focus on goals versus resolutions, which is always an interesting topic. At some point virtually all adults have made resolutions, which I define as often vague statements about the way people wish things were. As people age they typically no longer pursue such, not because they don't want the changes, but because resolutions don't work. Enter the need for goals.

The difference between goals and many resolutions is multi-fold:

* Goals are achievable. They are something that the person who makes such is capable of accomplishing. Such isn't always the case with resolutions. This is because resolutions often come with poor planning as they will try to "solve" all of their problems in one sweeping move.

* Goals are quantifiable. This means they are specific and can even include a minimum goal and a superior goal. Resolutions are often vague and lack a specific measure.

* Goals have a specific time frame. They state when the desired changed will be accomplished. Some times the goals are short term, mid term, or long term, but they are always dated. Goals without dates are really mere dreams. This is the most important attribute of goal setting, in my opinion.

* Goals are written. This helps memory and makes one accountable.

They are more attributes to goal setting that Jim Driscoll will be writing about in his blog at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Keep track of his content and other information at the What's New Page of that web site.

The bottom line is that the change you desire is worth pursuing. The best way of pursuing such is through very specific goals.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show on CNN 650 (M-F at 11 AM) and can be heard live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Keep up with all of our media activities by subscribing to the Houston Business Review. The above video is of Jim Driscoll, Calvin Brown, and Steve Chaloupka being interviewed by Kevin Price on the Movers and Shakers Segment of the HoustonManufacturers.com TV Show. Each are Business Show Advisors at HoustonBusinessShow.com.