...hey barista!...hold the bugs....

This is not a joke: there are ground up red beetles being used right now as a food coloring ingredient in yogurt, ice cream, special coffees, juice drinks and many other grocery products. The ingredient is called "carmine."

Carmine is literally made from dried, ground-up red beetles, and its coloring (bright red) is used in yogurt, juice drinks, candies, and a long list of other products, including many "natural" products.

It's not that these red beetles are dangerous. Except for a few individuals who suffer severe allergic reactions to the beetles, most people do just fine eating carmine. Beetles are probably good for you, just like ants. High in protein, low in fat... you get the picture.

But shouldn't someone have told you?

There's a grossness factor that probably explains why products using this ingredient list "carmine" instead of "powdered red beetles" on the label. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has even petitioned the FDA to ban carmine, or, at the very least, require its clear labeling.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will have you seeing red this year, but this time it's a good thing.

Since Jan. 5, the FDA has required food manufactures to disclose whether red cochineal beetles are among their products' ingredients. These beetles are farmed, harvested, dried and crushed to produce a red dye called carmine that, until this year, had been disguised in the ingredient list as "artificial color," "color added" or the all-encompassing "natural and artificial coloring."

Because of lax labeling laws, the extent of carmine in foods and drinks is not known.

Most carmine used in the United States is imported from Peru and the Canary Islands. The insects are carefully brushed from the cacti... and placed into bags. The bags are taken to the production plant and there, the insects are then killed by immersion in hot water or by exposure to sunlight, steam or the heat of an oven. It is to be noted that the variance in appearance of commercial cochineal is caused by the different methods used during this process. It takes about 70,000 insects to make one pound of cochineal.

The part of the insect that contains the most carmine is the abdomen that houses the fertilized eggs of the cochineal. Once dried, a process begins whereby the abdomens and fertilized eggs are separated from the rest of the anatomical parts. These are then ground into a powder and cooked at temperatures in excess of 212 degrees to extract the maximum amount of color. This cooked solution is filtered and through special processes that cause all carmine particles to precipitate to the bottom of the cooking container. The liquid is removed and the bottom of the container is left with pure carmine."

Yum….yum …. Yum! Not exactly what you had in mind when you were eating yogurt, was it? The most appetizing part of this description has to be, "...the abdomens and fertilized eggs are separated from the rest of the anatomical parts..."

...."hey Portland meter maid!"..."kiss my ass!"

The City of Portland meter maids have no brains...they just walk up and down the street all day looking to make quota.

How low have we actually gone with the "invention" of airlines charging for pillows....and now Portland "splitting-hairs" on the ordinance regarding license plates?

I received a very large fine for not having my front plate "adhered" to the bumper while in a public parking space.....she actually "lifted" my wiper blade to place the ticket...over my plate on in the dashboard...in plain sight. For those of you who are not familiar with Portland meter maids, please allow me to introduce you to the "ill-speaking" Russian that provided my ticket. This is the second time I have had the honor to scrape her dog shit from the bottom of my boot.....thank you ma'am. You are an idiot.

See, in the state of Oregon, there are a few basic laws regarding the display of license plates that new or current residents should know. All license plate renewal fees are covered when registering a vehicle. Additional fees are added to the registration fee of any vehicle that opts to display "special group" or "personalized" plates. Oregon laws stipulate that any personalized plate can be made up of any combination of six letters or numbers with one space (or hyphen) than can be used anywhere within the display characters. The only exception is that a personalized plate cannot have three letters followed by three numbers or three numbers followed by three letters, since those are reserved for standard issue plates.

One-plate Display--If only one plate is issued, it must be attached to the rear of the vehicle. This applies to mopeds, motorcycles, trailers, campers and special-interest vehicles.

Two-plate Display--If two plates are issued, one of the plates must be attached to the front of the vehicle in a clear area (obviously seeing it on the dashboard through clear glass does not count). The front plate may not be displayed on the dashboard within the vehicle. It must be affixed to the framework on the outside of the vehicle. The second plate must be affixed to the framework at the rear of the vehicle. Both plates must be clearly visible.

Tag Display--The month tag (numbered one through 12) is your permanent "anniversary" registration tag and must be displayed in the lower left portion of the license plate. The year tag must be displayed in the lower right hand portion of the license plate. These tags must be affixed to the license plate itself: Tagging on any type of plate cover or license frame is prohibited.

Don't make the same mistake I made. Please stay away from the extremely skinny, ill-mannered, missing-tooth Russian in downtown Portland.....and make sure you have both plates on your car....the mayor cannot find another way to gain additional revenue for his bike paths.....

a wedge or 9-iron?.....

Tiger Woods has cancelled plans to attend his own golf tournament in southern California because of injuries he suffered near his Florida home early Friday, the pro golfer said in a statement today.

"I am extremely disappointed that I will not be at my tournament this week," Woods said of the Chevron World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, California. "I am certain it will be an outstanding event and I'm very sorry that I can't be there." He also canceled a Tuesday news conference for the start of the tournament, which helps raise money for Tiger Woods Foundation programs.

As Tiger Wreck Watch 2009 lurches into its fourth day with little new information, fans and media are combing over every element of this case. There's brick wall after brick wall in this story, but one of the largest and most well-fortified is this: just who is Elin Nordegren Woods, anyway?

If you were to design the perfect wife for a privacy-hungry superstar like Tiger Woods, she'd look a whole lot like Elin -- low-key, accustomed to celebrity, and, from all appearances on the golf course, totally devoted to her husband's career. But does that change behind closed doors?

Which is what makes the current questions about her recent behavior -- why did she smash a window in Tiger's Escalade? Is she responsible for his injuries? Did she beat his ass with a wedge or 9-iron?

"The only person responsible for the accident is me," Woods said. "My wife, Elin, acted courageously when she saw I was hurt and in trouble. She was the first person to help me. Any other assertion is absolutely false." (As he flinched when she walked into the room).

Tiger Woods has shot down rumours his wife Elin was trying to attack him before the car crash outside their house, saying she "acted courageously" and "was the first person to help me". (OK Tiger...we get it, she was there first...but did she hit you?)

Who is Elin Nordegren Woods?  The facts about her: She grew up in Stockholm, and while she did some modeling in her teens, the idea that she was a "Swedish supermodel" is one of those urban legends. But she was around the world of golf long before she met Woods, serving as the nanny to golfer Jesper Parnevik. She met Tiger at the 2001 British Open, and it wasn't exactly a romantic introduction for the ages.

According to SI, Tiger was so nervous about asking her out that he had a friend do it for him. Initially, she declined. But Woods persisted, she relented, and they married in a lavish $1.5 million ceremony in Barbados. That wedding was the stuff of tabloid heaven, with Hootie and the Blowfish as the house band and Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley in attendance.

Being married to the world's richest athlete (now one billion dollars) apparently has done little to change Elin's public persona. We don't see her doing reality shows, we don't see her on the covers of magazines every month, and aside from releasing some photos, she doesn't parade around her children seeking publicity. It's refreshing, really, to see someone in the limelight apparently unconcerned with the fame-hungry world of modern celebrity.

What's certain is that the Woods camp would love a mulligan on many elements of this case, and the image that's been created -- or, more accurately, not created -- of Elin up until Nov. 27 may very well be at the top of that list.

Have we finally found someone that can beat Tiger?

"I hate to lose more than I love to win."

Face it!...I am a Denver Bronco fan....I cannot help myself. We just lost number four-in-a-row. "I hate to lose more than I love to win."

I've been having a raging internal debate (with myself) lately about what's more important for a Bronco fan -- the love/passion for winning or the "never say die" mentality of a comeback artist. I've asked some good friends who are true competitors which is more important to them, and the margin is definitely tilted towards the "hate to lose" end of the spectrum. And, for those that know me, I daresay I'd be considered one who hates to lose.

In the world of ‘The Broncos’ and our new coach, I think I've reduced it to this: if you're born with unbelievable talent and grace, you have the luxury of loving to win. Things kind of fall into place, you have a knack for being in the right place at the right time, and winning is expected. Don't misunderstand -- those that love to win work as hard as anyone, and make their luck. But there is a subtle distinction between expecting to win and refusing to lose. I'll get back to that in a second.

If you don't have the talent and grace of those chosen few, you must have a mentality of hating to lose in order to win. You have to overcome soooooo many obstacles, so many naysayers, so much negative and contradictory feedback, so many gatekeepers that keep you from decision-makers that it is only through sleepless nights, torn and crumpled piles of paper, 99 misses for every 100 swings, and screaming in the mirror that you will find the path. It requires undying passion and relentless head-against-the-wall sessions that only those that hate to lose more than anything can make it through.

But in a pinch, I'd rather have those that hate to lose on my side. Watch any movie, any sporting event; read any book on the history of warfare; ask any CEO. Those that hate to lose have a grimace, a grunt, an expression on their face (with sweat flying no doubt) that says it all: "I'm not done yet! This isn't over!" Those that love to win are pleasant to be around; they're gracious, wonderful people. And I've never met anyone who loved to win who didn't work as hard as the other guy (or even harder).

But, when push comes to shove, I've ultimately concluded that those who love to win are not as hungry as those who hate to lose. And hunger, my friends, is what ‘being a Bronco fan’ is all about.

I am a Bronco fan: "I'm not done yet! This isn't over!"

Was I the odd man out?

Every business organization has a unique set of challenges and problems. The small family business is no different. Many of these problems exist in corporate business environments, but can be exaggerated in a family business. Family businesses go through various stages of growth and development over time. Many of these challenges will be found once the second and subsequent generations enter the business.

A famous saying about family owned business in Mexico is “Father, founder of the company, son rich, and grandson poor.” The founder works and builds a business, the son takes it over and is poorly prepared to manage and make it grow but enjoys the wealth, and the grandson inherits a dead business and empty bank account.

Here is why I hate the challenges of a tiny family business.......

Emotions. Family problems will affect the business. Divorce, separations, health or financial problems also create difficult political situations for the family members (money will be siphoned from the profits...any excuse will do). Informality. Absence of clear policies and business norms for family versus non-family members (they are NEVER the same for family members...they just want you to think so). Tunnel vision. Lack of outside opinions and diversity on how to operate the business cause a stale environment. Lack of written strategy. No documented plan or long-term planning (outside of selling the business to family members). Compensation problems for family members. Dividends, salaries, benefits and compensation for non-participating family members are not clearly defined and justified (like paying a 'part-time' family member a HUGE salary for a few days of work).

Role confusion. Roles and responsibilities must be clearly defined (family members get special treatment....be honest...you know they do). Lack of talent. Hiring family members who are not qualified or lack the skills and abilities for the organization and the inability to fire them when it is clear they are not working out. High turnover of non-family members. When employees feel that the family “mafia” will always advance over outsiders and when employees realize that management is incompetent and "paralyzed" to change it....Succession Planning. Most family organizations do not have a plan for handing the power to the next generation, leading to great political conflicts and divisions (and what about the non-family members who got you there?)

Retirement and estate planning. Long-term planning to cover the necessities and realities of older members when they leave the company (if the company stays in business that long). Training. There should be a specific training program when you integrate family members into the company. This should provide specific information that related to the goals, expectations and obligations of the position (why not? All non-family members do this…). Paternalistic. Control is centralized and influenced by tradition instead of good management practices (oh my...don't get me started). Overly Conservative. Older family members try to preserve the status quo and resist change. Especially resistance to ideas and change proposed by the younger generation.

Communication problems. Provoked by role confusion, emotions (envy, fear, anger), political divisions or other relationship problems. Systematic thinking. Decisions are made day-to-day in response to problems. No long-term planning or strategic planning (knee-jerk reactions….). Exit strategy. No clear plan on how to sell, close or walk away from the business (only tunnel-vision of making sure the family takes over the business). Business valuation. No knowledge of the worth of the business, and the factors that make (or MADE) it valuable or decrease its value (just that "this is my retirement plan....when I sell it to my children)

Growth. Problems due to lack of capital and new investment or resistance to re-investment in the business (because the “family members” need to be taken care of financially…new cars, weddings, college....right now!). Vision. Each family member has a different vision of the business and different goals (this is enough to drive ANY non-family member out-the-door. Control of operations. Difficult to control all members of the family from lack of participation in the day-to-day work and supervision required (but let’s face it….how hard can this possibly be?...if you can serve coffee….you can sell office furniture…right?)...

comments anyone?

It's over!! End of the road....

I don’t know about your experience, but I’m hearing so much economic doom and gloom that I think it must be time for me to give up and quit.

The newspapers and television networks have convinced me (and almost everyone else) that we’re in a hopeless situation. I really wanted my business to prosper and grow in 2009, but I must be an idiot for believing there is any chance for success. I guess it’s time to turn off the lights, lock the doors and wait patiently for the economy to improve.

Or is it? Maybe business development professionals everywhere need to answer these four questions (honestly) before tossing in the towel.

#1. How does this “recession” actually affect you? (No, really?)...How does this “recession” actually affect you? The National Bureau of Economic Research defines a recession as three quarters of falling real gross domestic product. This might be fascinating stuff to some people, but I can’t directly correlate “real gross domestic product” to my sales effectiveness. Can you? Even during a recession companies still have to buy goods and services. They may buy different, they may buy less, but they still have to buy. If you can’t convince prospects that what you’re offering is a solid investment with meaningful return, then maybe the problem lies closer to home.

#2. Do you really believe you’re on your customer’s speed dial? Are you 'the man?' (No, really?)...Do you think they do not buy from others? Customers are nervous just like everyone else; they’re reading the same headlines that you are. Sitting in the office waiting for them to call you isn’t going to help you meet your goals. Reach out and contact everyone you’ve ever done business with. Show up with valuable ideas, offer help, look for referrals and ask for their business. This isn’t open season to “call and check-in” but it’s a great time to re-connect and nourish all of your existing relationships. This may sound like a lot of work because it is.

Very few people ever drift into greatness; it requires action. What are you waiting for?

#3. Are you as good as you could be? (No, really?)...Are you the best?...not what you tell yourself "barista boy"...but are you the best?  Many sales people think that once they’ve taken a professional selling course or had a little success at sales, they’re essentially done with learning. That may be OK if someday your closing question becomes: "Will that be paper or plastic?" or "Would you like fries with that?" Success as a sales professional requires skill, knowledge, attitude and purpose. If you’re not consistently developing yourself in these areas then you’re going backwards. There is no status quo....and sometimes...'daddy can't find the sales for you!' Being the "low-bidder" on a bid is not the definition of sales....anyone can give the product away.

There are more development tools available for today’s sales professional than ever before. Books, podcasts, tele-seminars, live training programs, webinars, personal coaches, downloads, sales portals and much more. You can’t wait for your boss or organization to take responsibility for your success. It’s up to YOU! It takes courage to admit you can be better and confidence to believe you can change. It takes nothing at all to create excuses. "It's the economy...yea, that's it...that's why I totally suck!"..."When my boss was GIVING me leads...I could close them regularly...what happened?"

#4. How much energy are you wasting on things you can’t control? (No, really?)...Do you worry about others, the world, the auto industry....don't....WORRY about whether you are part of the problem...or part of the solution.  The world surrounds us with headlines about inflation, bailouts, credit crisis, mortgage fiasco, recession, debt, jobless claims and on and on. Are you concerned? I know that I am. But I don’t have much control over what is happening in the headlines, so why get tied up in knots? And running your sales business isn’t much different.

----Monday, I start as the new Business Development Director for the largest moving, storage, and office furniture company in the state. Everyone is looking for a "leader" to help them in this economy. I am that person. It started when I was a little boy...playing baseball. In one game, our team was losing and with 2 outs....in the last inning...and our batter had 2 strikes against him....I listened as my team member (who was on deck to bat next) said, "oh my, I hope he actually strikes-out....I am afraid to be the last out."

As fate would have it he received a base-on-balls...and my timid team member walked slowly to the batter’s box....only to be hit in the leg by the next pitch. With both teammates now on base....it was my turn to 'win or lose' the game....all eyes were on me....a total 'hush' of anticipation. Can I make a difference?

That is exactly what motivates me in the morning....

A good offense...wins!

What if you could change destiny? Would you really want to?

Along our journey we will be confronted with many situations, some will be filled with joy, and some will be filled with heartache. How we react to what we are faced will determine what kind of outcome the rest of our journey through life will be like.

When things don't always go your way, you have two choices in dealing with the situations. You can focus on the fact that things didn't go how you had hoped they would and let life pass you by or we can make the best of the situation and know that these are only temporary setbacks and "study" the lessons that are to be learned.

Time stops for no one, and if we allow ourselves to focus on the negative we might miss out on some really amazing things that life has to offer. You can't go back to the past, you can only take the lessons learned and the experiences gained from it and move on. It is because of the heartaches, as well as the hardships, that in the end help to make you a stronger person.

The people that we meet on our journey, are people that we are destined to meet. Everybody comes into our lives for some reason or another and we don't always know their purpose, until sometimes, it is too late. They all play some kind of role. Some may stay for a lifetime; others may only stay for a short while. Several years ago, at an awards banquet an employee of mine was being honored in front of all 17 offices nationwide. My wife and I were absolutely 'stunned' when he accepted the award...and said without reservation..."I would like to thank Tracy Hall for hiring me."

As you can imagine I was shocked...but the words that came from my wife were true..."you never know how you will impact someone's life."

It is often the people who stay for only a short time that ends up making a lasting impression not only in our lives, but in our hearts as well. Although we may not realize it at the time, they will make a difference and change our lives in a way we never could imagine. To think that (any) one person can have such a profound effect on your life forever is truly a blessing. It is because of these encounters that we learn some of life's best lessons and sometimes we even learn a little bit about ourselves.

People will come and go into our lives quickly, but sometimes we are lucky to meet that one or two very special people that will stay in our hearts forever no matter what. The lessons that we have learned from them and the experiences that we have gained from meeting certain people, will stay with us forever.

It is often said that what doesn't kill you will make you stronger. It all depends on how one defines the word "strong." It can have different meanings to different people. In this sense, "stronger" means looking back at the person you were and comparing it to the person you have become today.

It also means looking deep into your soul and realizing that the person you are today couldn't exist if it weren't for the things that have happened in the past or for the people that you have met. Everything that happens in our life happens for a reason and sometimes that means we must face heartaches in order to experience joy.

It is “you” that decides if you are winning in life….or not. You decide if you want to make a difference in someone's life.

So, are you afraid of the dark?

Are you afraid of the dark? What about concern over your company's stability?

Most of those who have been in the workforce during the last two decades have firsthand experience of the peaks and valleys of the business climate. There is no longer any guarantee that companies will remain consistently secure and that layoffs and pay cuts won't occur. The last two years have seen what seems like a deluge of small, medium, and large corporations downsizing or closing. Certainly, you need to pay attention to your employer's economic performance and future. If the outlook is bleak, you may want to move into a more-stable industry or company before you are involuntarily pushed into a job search.

How do you really know whether you are just going through a rough patch that will improve over time or whether it's time to let go and move on? Most people understand the mechanics of finding a job, from how to write a good resume to how to negotiate salary and compensation, but who has the skills to leave a job at the right time and for the right reasons?

Some people find it harder to deal with change than others. For the faint of heart, the prospect of switching jobs creates a sense of unease so overwhelming that they will remain in an unhappy work situation rather than face the unknown.

At some point in a career, people may realize that they are no longer happy or challenged or could be ‘constantly’ reminded by their boss of ‘bad times.’ They further realize that another job of the same kind isn't going to solve the problem. Shifting the focus of what we really want to be "when we grow up" is an exciting, yet sometimes scary proposition. Yet, this is a pivotal point in life when finding a job that draws upon your strengths and interests can bring a new sense of personal and professional fulfillment.

Go for it!

It's Spring..."a time for change"

This has been a very, very long winter for me! I was snowed-in for almost a week...and after that...it seems to rain almost every day.

As soon as the sun peeks-out, everyone seems to run to the window like they have never seen sunlight before...pathetic. And besides that....the idiots that drive with studs on all 4 tires...in the rain....don't get me started.

Thank God it is spring! It's time for a new beginning...and time for me to find a new job. My 8 years are up!

Leaving a job isn't a crime. But many workers feel incredibly guilty about it and will even put off telling their boss, which actually makes it worse if it means your boss has less notice than he or she would otherwise have. The big thing to know is that you don't owe anyone an excuse or an apology for leaving. People leave jobs all the time -- it's normal. Any boss who isn't crazy knows its part of doing business. Simply be straightforward and professional about it, and you'll likely be surprised at how smoothly it will go....more to come.

WITH TODAY'S sluggish economy, most people who are employed can't help but breathe a little sigh of relief that they have a job--even if they don't really like it. Human nature is to retreat to the trenches in times of uncertainty, and those who would like to make a job change are left wondering whether it is safe to poke their heads out and take a look around.

The good news is that, despite the economic slowdown, it's still an "employees' market" in much of the U.S., with a significant labor shortage in many parts of the country. For example, a survey by the Connecticut Business and Industry Association and Andersen Consulting found that 75% of small and midsize businesses that responded are having trouble filling vacancies because of the shortage of qualified workers.

More to come....