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Charlesmore Partners International is a rapidly growing management consulting firm.

We help CEOs and their top management teams develop the organizational strategy to convert strategic intent into sustainable and high performance business results.

We are skilled at devising organizational and talent management strategies that reduce systemic costs, drive performance and build value.

Charlesmore Partners International

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This week's news features a look at a public education story about how ambulance diversion to specialty centers works.  We also look at a story about a New Mexico group of high school EMTs, and a sad story about a possible Cleveland, Ohio cheating scandal involving new paramedics there.

Check out the MedicCast Podcast as well each weekend with more news, commentary, plus extra tips and tricks of the trade.  Go to MedicCast.com for more information on the show. 

Thanks to Blockbuster Total Access for sponsoring the show.  Visit MyMovieSavings.com to learn how to save 50% ($10) off your first month and get DVDs sent to your home with no trip to the store! 

This week, the June home sales figures were released showing even a worse month than had been anticipated.  Home sales and home prices both showed significant declines with no end in sight.  Congress' homeowner and mortgage company bailout may be too little too late and even a hike in the minimum wage is being considered a joke.  It's time for the roundup! 

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Today is the second part of the interview with Sherri Thomas who is an international speaker and career coach, she has just written a book called Career Smart : 5 Steps to Powerful Personal Brands. If you haven't heard the first part of how to build a personal brand then here is the link. Also the first person who sends me a link to how they are building a powerful personal brand on line will win a copy of the book! 

In this second part we talk about

• Thoughts on the pitfalls of judging yourself against the strengths of other business people
• What are your signature strengths and how to use them in coaching?
• What is a personal brand dashboard?
• How to gain a promotion
• How to fill in the gaps to gain the career promotion you want.
• Is there a danger of looking too much into the future and not enjoying who you are now and your career now
• Are you working in the right kind of culture?
• The importance of not fearing your gaps in experience instead to enjoy the challenge of closing the gaps

And don't forget to subscribe to the show!

If you have feedback for me on the show or topics that you would like me to cover then e-mail me at anna@theengagingbran d.com or hop over to Facebook group for The Engaging Brand. or the new room set up on Friendfe ed

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 21 July 2008. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

1. Germany | Pilot walkouts ground nearly 1,000 Lufthansa flights

   Meanwhile the German division of British no-frills airline easyJet said it hoped to cash in if Lufthansa is hit by lengthy strikes. "A strike at Lufthansa would of course be just fine by us,"...

2. Lanzarote, Turkey - close enough?

   The family had booked an all-inclusive holiday in a five-star hotel in the Canary Islands and were supposed to be flying into Arrecife, Lanzarote. But instead they found themselves in Bodrum airport, Turkey where they then had to pay a £10 visa charge...

3. World's most expensive tourist attractions

   A family of four would have to pay 549.30 pounds if they wanted to take part in all 10 activities in London, compared with 386 pounds in Paris, 376pounds in New York and 216 pounds in Rome.

4. Airlines deliberately ignoring safety regulations and getting away with it

   ...the majority of European pilots do not always report defects as and when they occur. They are delayed until it is more convenient for the airlines to carry out repairs.

5. International travel booming despite oil prices

   A report commissioned by Amadeus also showed that growing global migration would fuel thirst for international travel. Many migrants remain strongly connected to their country of origin with many reasons to return, such as visiting family and friends...

The Steel Yard

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FMA

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Omegasonics

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• Is personal branding about skills and knowledge or behaviours?
• Are personal brands more successful when they are the true you?
• A discussion around how celebrities manufacture their personal brands
• Why do people say they are different at work than at home?
• How do you build a personal brand and career whilst still staying likable!
• What is the first step to building a personal brand?
• Is personal branding about building on strengths or eliminating areas of development?

If you have feedback for me on the show or topics that you would like me to cover then e-mail me at anna@theengagingbran d.com or hop over to Facebook group for The Engaging Brand. or the new room set up on Friendfe ed

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This week's look at the midweek medical news starts off with a look at a new home health chip that has been approved for home monitoring by the FDA.  This Intel chip may offer a way for patients to be monitored remotely without needing a trip to the hospital.  Also, we look at two stories on harrassment in the EMS workplace.  One on hazing of paramedic students in New Jersey and another on female ambulance harrassment in Australia.  Finally, we wrap up with a look at how having an EMS certification may help you land a job in other areas of the medical job market.

Don't forget to check out the MedicCast main program each week at MedicCast.com. 

This past week, while there were rumors of troubles with mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve issued an extened line of credit to the two foundations of the U.S. mortgage system.  The federal government also issued announcements about proposed lending restrictions and rules to help curb future subprime lending practices.

Some experts also point to indicators that the U.S. government is not likely to make any more major bailouts of Wall Street financial companies.  I'd still like to see what is being done to bailout the thousands of U.S. borrowers who are facing the loss of their homes due to their own poor decisions.

Either way, this a good topic for this week's roundup! 

Thanks to GoToMeeting.com for sponsoring the show. Visit GoToMeeting.com/podcast for a free 45 day trial. 

Maplesoft

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The Center for Professional Innovation and Education

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The only center in the world helping CEOs accelerate results in strategy, leadership, sales, and cultural alignment with guaranteed SAGA-based programs:

* Based on scientific research from Harvard, MIT, Johns Hopkins, and other leading universities.

* Profiled by CNN, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the American Management Association, and hundreds of radio and television programs, as well as endorsed by top industry experts.

* Implemented via a community of independent affiliates including former CEOS, educators, scientists, therapists, and other professionals.

SAGA Institute

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Today I talk with Rohi t Bhargava who has written Personality Not Included. Rohit is one of the leading marketing bloggers - you can check out his Influential Marketing blog here and also check out the Personality Not Included website for loads of resources. I ask Rohit

• How do your reconcile a company of individual personalities with one corporate personality?
• Do corporate personalities mirror humans and have both good and bad aspects to them?
• Do you have to be attractive to show your personality or does your personality create the brand attraction?
• Do small businesses have an advantage?
• What are back stories and how can they help brand building?
• How you can make customers feel special by providing special insights
• In depth look at 3 different strategies - The UnWhatever Marketing strategy, The Fallibility Marketing concept and the Anti Marketer Marketing idea.
• Do corporate personalities change over time as with human beings?
• Was it an anti marketing technique to call the book Personality Not Included?

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If you have feedback for me on the show or topics that you would like me to cover then e-mail me at anna@theengagingbran d.com or hop over to Facebook group for The Engaging Brand. or the new room set up on Friendfe ed

Join us in our appreciation for these companies who have donated to Action-Works an educational 501(c)(3) non-profit who brings Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) to our youth:

SMGlobal 
Sum2 
Western Electronics 

The last victim of dual helicopter crash dies of his injuries renewing calls for a review of safety procedures for air ambulance services in the U.S.  Plus a look at a recent EMS accident between an ambulance and an SUV.

Also, a story from Australia on bullying accusations in the ambulance service in New South Wales and a Parlaimentary investigation into EMS workplace conditions.  Finally a look at an Oklahoma training program offering paramedic training with pay for a two year committment from the EMS students.

For more EMS news, commentary, and tips and tricks for EMTs paramedics, and NREMT students, check out the MedicCast.com site and the weekly MedicCast Podcast. 

With the great salmonella scare of 2008 entering week 3 and beyond with no answers in sight and nearly 1,000 people infected, the Headliner News Roundup team looks at the facts so far and also the hysteria surrounding the myths.   Also, follow this link for more information about the disease, salmonella, and how to protect yourself without the hysterics! 

Thanks to GoToMeeting.com for sponsoring the show. Visit GoToMeeting.com/podcast for a free 45 day trial. 

Dean, Manufacturing Technology at Moraine Park Technical College, West Bend, WI Moraine Park Technical College

Moraine Park Technical College

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1. Dublin Airport shut down after radar malfunction

   The decision forced dozens of flights to be grounded at airports across Europe or, if already in the air, to be diverted. The airlines hit most heavily by delays were the airport's two biggest users, Ryanair and Aer Lingus.

2. Brussels Approves CO2 Trading Plan for Airlines

   All flights starting and landing in Europe will be included in an EU Emissions Trade System from 2012, following a vote in the European Parliament. Airlines say it will drive up the cost of air travel.

3. U.S. Loses Grip on Foreign Tourists

   Nearly 26 million people traveled to the United States from overseas in 2000.... The number bottomed out in 2003 with 18 million overseas visitors, and with 24 million last year still had not returned to previous levels.

4. Emirates to launch first commercial A380 service to US

   ...Emirates Airline's state-of-the-art A380...on August 1 when the airline launches its first A380 commercial service from Dubai to New York JFK. The 14-hour non-stop flight will also be the first-ever commercial A380 service to the United States.

5. U.S. tourists' visits to Canada hit 36-year low

   Among the hardest-hit are communities and businesses that rely on short-term, drive-in tourists. In March, Americans made only 730,000 same-day car trips, down 2.5 percent from February and 68.3 percent from 2001.

6. RV Vacations Are Least Expensive, Study Shows

   Fuel prices would have to more than double for typical motorhome vacations to become more expensive than other forms of travel, according to PKF Consulting. The study also shows that fuel costs would have to more than triple for trips in lightweight...

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Today I talk with successful serial entrepreneur Gary Harpst whose earlier book Six Disciplines for Excellence I used as a framework for strategic planning. But today I talk to him about his new book The Execution Revolution. An easy to read book - check out the website Six Disciplines for more information. We cover

How to balance strategy and execution

Can you say sales = strategy and profit = execution?

Is there a problem with the executing the strategy process?

The importance of looking at the outside world in forming your business strategy

Strategy for a small business

Why do people find strategy so difficult?

The role of methodology in strategic planning and execution

How to unlock creativity within your leadership team

How to set deliverable goals

How to recognise when you need to change your plans

Is the technological revolution a help or a hinder to strategy?

If you have feedback for me on the show or topics that you would like me to cover then e-mail me at anna@theengagingbran d.com or hop over to Facebook group for The Engaging Brand. or the new room set up on Friendfe ed

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Smarter Solutions, Inc.

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Drawing on his years of working with hospitals, Mark Graban explains why and how lean can be used to improve safety, quality, and efficiency in a healthcare setting. Graban highlights the benefits of lean methods for patients, employees, physicians, and the hospital itself. The book explains how lean manufacturing staples such as Value Stream Mapping and process observation can help hospital personnel identify and eliminate waste from their own processes, effectively preventing delays for patients, reducing wasted motion for caregivers, and improving the quality of care. Graban also describes how Standardized Work and error-proofing can prevent common hospital errors. The book also describes root cause problem-solving and daily improvement processes that can engage everyone in systemic improvement. Intended as a guide for hospital administrators, the book elaborates the steps they can take to begin the process of lean implementation.

Lean Blog

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Zeus Inc

Polymathic Analytical Labs

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 Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 1 July 2008. This podcast is also available at Blubrry.com and Travelgeography.info.

1. Car rental companies issue profit warning

   "...As with the entire industry, we are confronting rising fuel costs, weaker-than-expected enplanements, lower commercial travel volumes and lower time and mileage rates per day," said [the Avis Budget Group Inc] Chairman

2. Yellowstone reports record June visitation

   Visitation to Yellowstone National Park hit a new record in June, and is on a near-record pace for the first six months of the year. Park officials say Yellowstone recorded more than 612,000 recreational visits last month.

3. Rental Upgrade to Gas Guzzler? No T'anks

   When I went to the counter, they had upgraded me from a compact to a big SUV at the same price [as my compact reservation]. After arguing with the counter person, the manager came out...He then explained that all they had left were the big SUV.

4. China doubles the price of its tourist visas ahead of Olympics

   Many hotels in Beijing are struggling to find guests, some large travel agencies have temporarily closed branches, and people scheduled to travel here for seminars and conferences are cancelling...

5. Business Travel Coalition warns congress about airline industry failure

   "Unless something is done to move toward some kind of fix, we're going to see every one of our major airlines in bankruptcy....Virtually all airlines will be out of cash by early in 2009 if oil stays in its current range."

6. Canada's tourism industry on verge of crisis

   Many things have been blamed for recent downturn of the Canadian tourism industry including gas prices, the high Canadian dollar, the downturn in the U.S. economy, 9-11 and the SARS crisis.

7. New [US] Airline Passengers Rights Bill A Victory

   ...These plans must detail how the air carrier will provide food, water, restroom facilities, ventilation, and necessary medical treatment for passengers on board an aircraft that is on the ground for an extended time period without terminal access.

8. Bhutan increases tourism tariff for foreign tourists

   The country will increase daily tariff for tourists entering the country by US$50...from $200 to $250 [to offset the deline in the US$ and increase in tour operating costs]. However, the revised tariff will be applicable only during the peak seasons.

9. Australia | Desperately seeking a tourist trap

   Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has pilloried the previous government's "so where the bloody hell are you" tourism campaign, calling it a "rolled-gold disaster". Tourism Australia is expected to announce the name of the advertising agency this week that will...

10. TripAdvisor acquires VirtualTourist and OneTime

    TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel community and an operating company of Expedia, announced it has acquired VirtualTourist.com, Inc., a leader in user-generated travel content since 1999, and OneTime.com, Inc., a leader in travel booking comparison.

11. New Zealand tourism revenue hits record

    International tourism contributed $6.7 billion to total New Zealand exports, and domestic tourism expenditure was $8.6 billion, the agency said. International visitors increased 2.8 percent to 2.5 million in the year to March 2007...

12. Unique bobsled tourist attraction opens in Jamaica

    The expansive multi-million-dollar tourism attraction features an exciting and unique Jamaican Bobsled ride through the lush tropical forest, a chairlift journey over the verdant countryside, a zip-line canopy adventure through the treetops, an island...

A landmark deal took place this week that is one of the largest government land buy-backs in history.  The state of Florida spent 1.7 billion dollars to buy out U.S. Sugar's corporate holdings on 300 square miles of land.  This land will be reclaimed as wetlands in an effort to stabilize the fragile everglades nearby.

This is a great topic for this week's roundup!

Thanks to GoToMeeting.com for sponsoring the show. Visit GoToMeeting.com/podcast for a free 45 day trial. 

Authenticity is a word that is used a lot in marketing these days, but what do we really mean by "being authentic". Today I talk with Chris Rosica who has interviewed many successful entrepreneurs on this area for his new book called The Authentic Brand. We discuss

In an age of celebrity and pop culture do consumers really want authenticity?

The importance of speaking to your customers as real people

How an authentic brand is not a set of values but a passion for a larger societal passion

The power in the naming of your company

How authenticity is developed through the values of the leaders rather than as a marketing concept

How companies can use geo-branding

The importance of the search for perfection for their brands

How strategising your life works hand in hand with strategising your business

How leadership styles are different across entrepreneurs

How the authentic entrepreneurs are consumers first and leaders second

Does an authentic brand match consumers values to the service rather than brand values to the consumers?

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FutureofMyBusiness. com

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Mcclarin Plastics

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I talk with Ed Lawler who is a Director of the Center for Effective Organisations at the University of California. Ed was named as one of the country's leading management experts by Business Week magazine and we discuss

• Human capital is not just a talent issue
• What is talent?
• How easy is it for a traditional company to start putting people at the core of their strategy?
• How IBM changed their human capital strategy
• Why does business put huge emphasis on design externally but not on designing their internal structure?
• Leadership is an organisational capability not about gifted individuals
• How to become a human capital centric organisation
• What is the Star Model for Human Capital organisations?
• The importance of identify
• Why financial budgets should not be emphasised, that they should be used to give feedback on core competencies rather than running the business?
• The importance of building the company on degrees of separation from the customer

If you have feedback for me on the show or topics that you would like me to cover then e-mail me at anna@theengagingbran d.com or hop over to Facebook group for The Engaging Brand. or the new room set up on Friendfe ed

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This week, a report was released stating that U.S. consumer confidence levels have reached a 16 year low.  This amidst turmoil in the finacial markets and congressional consumer lending bailouts and threatened presidential vetoes.

Will the recession level out and the economy begin to recover or are continued hard times on the way?  I think it's time for the round-up!

Thanks to GoToMeeting.com for sponsoring the show. Visit GoToMeeting.com/podcast for a free 45 day trial. 

Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 23 June 2008:

1. US and UK border agencies agree to expedite travel

   the Global Entry pilot program builds upon other trusted traveler programs, such as NEXUS (with Canada) and SENTRI (with Mexico), designed to facilitate and expedite the entry process for pre-registered low-risk international travelers into the US.

2. China to turn dangerous 'quake lakes' into tourist spots

   "The scientific development of the quake lakes will be an important part of the rebuilding plan of new Beichuan," Chen Xingchuan, head of the Communist Party's Beichuan Rebuilding Committee was quoted as saying.

3. Beijing tourists to France drop 70 percent, ambassador says

   According to a recent survey cited by the China Daily, many Chinese have developed negative feelings toward France after the Paris leg of the international Beijing Olympic torch relay was thrown into chaos by pro-Tibet protesters in April.

4. Hoteliers vote Japanese world's best tourists

   They rated the travellers on manners, willingness to learn the local language and sample the cuisine, tidiness, generosity and stylishness. The Japanese won top prize for being overall best tourists...American tourists came in at number 11 overall.

5. Lyndhurst [NJ] is suing travel websites for its local hotel tax

   ...the internet travel sites negotiate room prices with hotels at a wholesale rate, then charge travelers who book through their websites a higher retail rate. However, the companies remit taxes only on the lower wholesale rate, the lawsuit charged.

6. State panel kills cruise safety bill that would have put peace officers aboard ships sailing from California ports

   It would have been the most stringent regulation in an industry that victim-rights advocates contend is governed by a vague web of federal and international rules that allows crime and crime reporting to fall through the cracks.

7. Bush-Wacked! President Causes 40K Delays

   Nearly 40,000 travelers will remember U.S. President George W. Bush's stopover in London. Their flights were canceled or delayed at Heathrow Airport to accommodate him, according to British Airways.

I am a member of the Society for Word of Mouth marketing social network and wanted to get Jackie Huba one of the founders onto the show to discuss how to engage with the citizen marketers. Jackie's magical blog Church of the Customer is one of the most respected marketing resources and well worth checking out. The interview covers

How Web 2.0 is an intersection of technology, pop culture and marketing

Do people engage with social media because they want a voice or because the technology is free and accessible?

Does social media reduce the risk of failure for business?

How to balance transparency with keeping the brand protected

Is citizen marketers a niche concept?

Is there a danger of listening to the 1% commenters and extrapolating that to change your business?

Are citizen marketers outsourcing the outsourcers?

What drives citizens marketers?

Why do people want to share and support online and yet it is difficult to get people to share inside a company?

Does the democratisation of the web threaten the fabric of our society?

How visibility is affecting public figures

How difficult is it for corporate brands to add community, word of mouth, engagement to an existing website?

Tips on how to engage customers in your community

If you have feedback for me on the show or topics that you would like me to cover then e-mail me at anna@theengagingbran d.com or hop over to Facebook group for The Engaging Brand. or the new room set up on Friendfe ed

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The Interface Financial Group

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Barrack Obama stunned some observers last week by refusing to use the public campaign funds set aside for the general election.  He had previously stated he would not do so.  Now, campaign finance experts say that this points to the underlying problem in the current campaign funding environment and why serious reform is needed to promote a fair general election.  McCain denounces move.

Today I am joined by Barry Moltz who talks to us about bouncing back from failure. Resilience at a leadership, business or even the brand level is so important and Barry manages to turn this negative into a huge positive. This interview is based on his book called Bounce - Failure, Resiliency, and Confidence to Achieve Your Next Great Success and cover

Is failure a good thing in business?

How we measure failure against archetypes

What is bounce?

Why do concentrate on our failures?

How failure is perceived differently across cultures

How Asia balance failure and risk

Why is humility important in leadership?

Can you fear success?

Why is choice a great antidote to fear?

How to decide when to give up

How to manage risk

Tips on how to comeback from failure

If you have feedback for me on the show or topics that you would like me to cover then e-mail me at anna@theengagingbran d.com or hop over to Facebook group for The Engaging Brand. or the new room set up on Friendfe ed

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Stories discussed in this podcast are from the Travelography Twitter Blog for the week of 16 June 2008:

1. Olympic Fever in Xinjiang

   With the Beijing Olympic torch expected in Xinjiang on its nationwide tour, authorities have also confiscated the passports of some Muslims, Uighurs told AFP. "They are afraid people might travel abroad and join some sort of plot against the Olympics," >>>

2. Murders prompt warning to Jamaica tourists

   After three people were murdered in Jamaica last weekend, travellers to the island were warned not to hire self-drive cars but instead to take organised tours and taxis.

3. Orbitz to automatically refund travelers when their airfares drop

   If that happens, Orbitz will issue a refund for the difference, between $5 and $250 per traveler. Orbitz will continue tracking until the day of the customer's flight. Each time the price drops and another customer books, the refund amount will increase.

4. Turkish private airline restarts regular flights to Nothern Iraq

   Although Arbil is a high-risk area in terms of security, charter companies have always been interested in flying to the region because of the high profitability.

5. The carry-on-baggage police will soon be out in force at US airports

   American and United will station airline employees or hired contract workers at entrances to security screening lanes to intercept customers exceeding the carry-on limit of one bag small enough to fit in an overhead bin and one personal item like a purse >>>

6. 60 percent of couples fight on holiday

   The reasons for holiday tiffs differ enormously throughout Europe. With their latin temperaments, the Spanish are especially prone to react aggressively to their partners’ flirting: 60 percent of them named jealousy as the reason for arguments.

7. Top 10 travel innovations of the past 10 years

   So many ideas came in that they put the 20 finalists to a vote at BudgetTravel.com - results: Online maps, Digital cameras, Online checkin, GPS, Worldwide ATMs, Cell phones, Global Internet access, TripAdvisor, Online booking, and Roller bags.