Tidal Celebration in Brooklyn

Jay Z Announces Tidal Celebration in Brooklyn - XXL - http://bit.ly/1iimhWB

Untitled

007 Is Back! Daniel Craig Arrives in Style at Glam Spectre Premiere as James Bond Mania Kicks Into High Gear - http://bit.ly/1PUDbIy

Strange Pizza-Eating Habits

Jay Z Makes Fun of Beyoncé's Strange Pizza-Eating Habits: 'She's from Houston ... They Don't Have Pizza There' - http://bit.ly/1iilnt7

Untitled

Rotimi: Hustler, Actor, Musician, Jay Z Favorite - http://www.ozy.com/rising-stars/rotimi-hustler-actor-musician-jay-z-favorite/62527

Entertainment

Jay Z wins copyright infringement case over Big Pimpin' Egyptian song sample - http://bit.ly/1iilk0p

Words from the wise

"I hope the millions of people I've touched have the optimism and desire to share their goals and hard work and persevere with a positive attitude." - Michael Jordan https://www.facebook.com/AlexFiglioliajr1/

Untitled

On Her Majesty's Red Carpet! Kate, William and Harry Dazzle at Bond Premiere in London - http://bit.ly/1PUD7sl

Beyoncé Pays Tribute to Nicki Minaj With an Amazing Prince Cover

Beyoncé Pays Tribute to Nicki Minaj With an Amazing Prince Cover - http://bit.ly/1O7Rg69

Beyoncé and Channing Tatum to Compete

Beyoncé and Channing Tatum to Compete in Most Important - http://bit.ly/1O7ReLA

Which Princestagram Sums Up Your Mood?

Which Princestagram Sums Up Your Mood? - http://bit.ly/1iikzo5

Earl Sweatshirt Says Drake is 'a Bit of a Vulture

Earl Sweatshirt Says Drake is 'a Bit of a Vulture' - http://bit.ly/1PUCQWu

Taylor Swift's '1989' One-Year Anniversary: What Should Be Next Single From Blockbuster Album?

Taylor Swift's '1989' One-Year Anniversary: What Should Be Next Single From Blockbuster Album? - http://bit.ly/1KFScXE

Justin Bieber Releases Acoustic 'Sorry' Video With Skrillex: Watch

Justin Bieber Releases Acoustic 'Sorry' Video With Skrillex: Watch - http://bit.ly/1PUCS0v

What are you giving back?

"Talent is what God gives us, skill is what we give back to him." - Eliel Pierre

Listen to a Preview of Pharrell & Missy Elliott's New Collaboration 'WTF'

Listen to a Preview of Pharrell & Missy Elliott's New Collaboration 'WTF' - http://bit.ly/1KFS4HO

Tough Times Are the Right Time to Increase Marketing By Giving More to Your Employees

An unstable Chinese economy and questions about where the US economy is going as we get ready for the 2016 Presidential election wreaked havoc in the stock market during the early weeks in January. This caused many small business owners to trim fat from their budgets in preparation for rainy days. Some businesses are putting expansions on hold, others are consolidating locations and liquidating equipment. For the mom and pop shop that might have limited fat in their operating budget, the first place they look to cut is staff perks which in my opinion is a big mistake.

A happy staff is the best asset any company can have. Not only do they keep the shop running, they also are the best marketers for your company if you treat them right. So the best thing to do during tough times is to invest in your employees’ happiness.

If you are at a loss for what that means you can get inspiration from some of our government agencies and corporations. For instance, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority provides continuous training for their employees. They also provide health and wellness reimbursements and a host of other packages.

While few small businesses have cash flow enough to offer their employees perks equal to those offered by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, they may be able to offer their employees a scaled down version of what the Metropolitan Transportation Authority offers. 

For instance, if your business is Father and Son Plumbers, Brooklyn, New York, you could purchase Metro Cards in bulk from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to help defray the cost for your employees to travel to work.

If your company is Father and Son Plumbers, Brooklyn, Iowa, you could give your employees a $25 gift card from True Value on Front Street to replace worn tools.

If your business is Mother and Daughter Hair Salon in Brooklyn, Minnesota, you could give your hair dressers a month of free karate lessons for themselves or their children at USA Karate.

The point is, it doesn’t really matter if you are Father and Son Plumbers, Mother and Daughter Hair Salon; if your business is located in Brooklyn, New York, Iowa or Minnesota; if you have a multi-million dollar company like the Metropolitan Transportation Authority or if you own a small company that can only afford to market itself in the White Pages – when times get tough you can stretch your operating budget by making your employees happy. Providing a small perk to your employees to express your appreciation to them will encourage them to speak well about your business among their friends, family and social media. It will also help them to feel more secure in their job – something that is hugely important in an unstable economy. 

A happy staff is a more productive staff and a more productive staff means more money in your pocket. In the long run a small investment will pay enormous dividends.

The Weeknd Tops Hot 100; Adele No. 1 Next Week?

The Weeknd Tops Hot 100; Adele No. 1 Next Week? - http://bit.ly/1PUCKxT

Halle Berry Is Single Again

Halle Berry Is Single Again - http://bit.ly/1GxhTic

What Do You Do When You Underestimate An Estimate

What do you do when you underestimate a project, and you’re running out of money and you may not have enough money to finish it? My best advise to you is to try and renegotiate a deal with the owner, either to get out of the contract or to get more money from them.  This may not work with a lot of people, but it does work. I have seen this take place many times in my 25 years of working in the plumbing and construction business.

I’ve seen contractors go to owners and project managers with proper paperwork and estimations and get the more funding they need to complete the project. If you underestimated a project, and you’re starting to run out of money, or finding yourself having to dig into your savings to complete the job, you are going to have to get a little creative.  You’re going to have to start thinking outside the box. How can you change things, what can you do to get out of this mess, can you do more work and start bidding on other projects – these are questions you should ask yourself.

Something else you can do is stall the project. I don’t recommend that, but sometimes, desperate times call for desperate measures, and if you’re in a really bad place, you may have no other choice.  Sometimes by slowing the project down may persuade the project manager or property owner to change their mind, and give you the money that you need to finish the job.  At the least, this will allow you the time to take other jobs.  This is not a great thing, but certainly something that everyone in the construction industry has struggled with at least once in their day.

You have to learn from your experience and figure out how to ensure that mistake never happens again.

Find out more here: http://alexfiglioliajr1.blogspot.com/

Harrison Ford Won't Be Replaced in Indiana Jones

Harrison Ford Won't Be Replaced in Indiana Jones, But... - http://bit.ly/1iik3qj

Tig Notaro Got Married

Tig Notaro Got Married - http://r29.co/1GJD40o

There's a Han Solo Spinoff Movie Coming in 2018

There's a Han Solo Spin off Movie Coming in 2018 - http://bit.ly/1iijXin

Leonardo DiCaprio has a Swedish lookalike

Leonardo DiCaprio has a Swedish lookalike - http://bit.ly/1iijM6B

Perfect your skill

"Nobody's a natural. You work hard to get good and then work to get better. It's hard to stay on top." - Paul Coffey

Christina Milian on Lil Wayne

Christina Milian on Lil Wayne: - http://bit.ly/1GxhM6t

Caitlyn Jenner Celebrates 66th Birthday Early With Kylie, Kim and Kourtney

Caitlyn Jenner Celebrates 66th Birthday Early With Kylie, Kim and Kourtney - http://bit.ly/1iijHjp

Mariah Carey Joins Boyfriend James Packer at Opening of His $3.2 Billion Dollar Resort

Mariah Carey Joins Boyfriend James Packer at Opening of His $3.2 Billion Dollar Resort - http://www.people.com/article/mariah-carey-james-packer-studio-city-grand-opening?xid=socialflow_twitter_peoplemag

VIDEO: Mockingjay – Part 2 – Watch the New TV Trailer!

VIDEO: Mockingjay – Part 2 – Watch the New TV Trailer! - http://bit.ly/1O7QxBQ

Colbert Challenges Hillary Clinton on Being a Young Republican and Wanting the Banks to Fail

Colbert Challenges Hillary Clinton on Being a Young Republican and Wanting the Banks to Fail - http://thebea.st/1iijsVs

Jeffpardy!' Is the 'Jeopardy!' Parody the Internet Has Been Waiting For

Jeffpardy!' Is the 'Jeopardy!' Parody the Internet Has Been Waiting For - http://bit.ly/1PUBLO8

Jurassic World' on Pace to Be Year's Best-Selling Home Entertainment Release

'Jurassic World' on Pace to Be Year's Best-Selling Home Entertainment Release - http://bit.ly/1PUBJG0

Hard work

"The hardest reward for man's toil is not what he gets for it but what he becomes by it." - John Ruskin

Taylor Swift Joined By Miami's Finest

Taylor Swift Joined By Miami's Finest ... What, No Gloria? - http://bit.ly/1PUBH0Y

Luke Bryan to Perform at Halftime of Thanksgiving Cowboys vs. Panthers Game

Luke Bryan to Perform at Halftime of Thanksgiving Cowboys vs. Panthers Game - http://bit.ly/1iij8WK

The Tenors Become Vampires for 'Who Wants To Live Forever' Video With Lindsey Stirling

The Tenors Become Vampires for 'Who Wants To Live Forever' Video With Lindsey Stirling: Exclusive - http://bit.ly/1PUBECg

Selena Gomez to Be Honored as Chart Topper at Billboard's Women in Music 2015

Selena Gomez to Be Honored as Chart Topper at Billboard's Women in Music 2015 - http://bit.ly/1O7QlTm