The Underground Millionaire

Atlanta EDI Development Leader

Sat, 5 Dec 2009 12:22:55 -0500

Since 1995, Gerard Spinks, under the moniker of both Spinks Engineering and Spinks Technologies, has provided top level EDI consulting services to Fortune 500 corporations in America. Mr. Spinks has been hired by America’s largest industry leaders including AT&T Mobility, Sun Microsystems, Transcore, Con Edison of New York, Lucas Arts and Entertainment, SEGA of America, Verizon Wireless and others.

Spinks Technologies and Gerard Spinks specializes in EDI and XML architecture as it pertains to the global supply chain and providing global visibility to a customers supply chain for internal and external customers. We have implemented Sterling GIS and Inovis TLE with Oracle Applications including Release 11i and SAP ERP applications. We are Middleware experts and Business Process Modeling experts.

Gerard Spinks has architected the Netfish/Iona Technologies B2B EDI service offering as well as architected middleware solutions for Able Laboratories, Logitech Corporation, and has specialized in HIPAA and healthcare EDI in the mid 1990’s. The company and Mr. Spinks looks at EDI from a business process automation and workflow standpoint. Understanding the technology is not enough. We understand the business process intimately and this allows us to continue to provide best in class technological services for our corporate clientele. We welcome you to contact us today to get started implementing EDI throughout your supply chain at 404-567-4507.

Is It Time To Ask For A Raise At Work?

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:50:15 -0500

This is a loaded question. The corporate survivors (ones left standing in the corporate world after downsizing and firings) have it tough too. They somehow survived steep cutbacks, downsizing, and outsourcing. But now, the job wants to take the work of the entire department and give it to one person when a team of 3 people handled it before. So, you’ve been coasting along doing the other 2 people’s workload plus yours all year and no one thought to give you at least a $1.00 per hour raise or increase?

How is this possible? If the company slashed those other two workers in 2008 and freed up over $100,000 in just those two salaries, why can’t they give you $40 bucks per week extra incentive to do the work? We’re talking $40 per week or $160 per month in a raise. After tax, you can barely even buy yourself Starbucks everyday like you used to. Do you demand a raise? Do you give your boss an ultimatum in this economy? Do you walk in there and quit?

This is a tough situation and my cousin inspired this post. I’m not sure what to say to this. It is heated. I will say this. Do not quit. If you quit your job, you put yourself in a serious perilous condition. If you quit, the company can deny unemployment benefits and you will be not only unemployed but you will be broke without the ability to pay bills. The quitting option has just been eliminated. Do you demand a raise? If you demand a raise, your boss can go hire his cousin to gladly do your job for the rate that you will NOT do your job. Demanding a raise has just been taken off the list of options.

Do you sit there and do your job? Most likely, yes. You have no choice. Do it or jump in the unemployment line. I say do other things to create joy and passion in your life and not think about the job like that. It will never bring us joy. So, find happiness and contentment outside of work and know that no one is going to bring you money like that once you’re on the job.

President Obama Welcomes Indian Prime Minister

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:38:17 -0500

President Obama hosts Indian Prime Minister Singh at the White House’s State Dinner, Oval Office Meeting, and joint news conference. President Obama feels as though India is a key component to America’s economic pulse.

How To Think Outside The Box

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500

Thinking outside of the box is an overused phrase. I wanted to put some framework around this phrase to make it more tangible and measurable. When the economy turned on its head, I hear many pundits using this term in academic circles, corporate circles, political circles, and athletic circles. Let’s quantify “thinking outside the box”. I’d like to first define this phrase. To think outside the box means to create new thinking, new ideas, and new action.

If 2008-2009 were tough for you and you were unemployed and/or underemployed, it’s time to think new thoughts and take new actions, thereby thinking outside the box. But it’s not just about thinking. It starts with thought which then must be translated into action. For example, if you were a real estate agent in ’08 and ’09 and it was nearly impossible to sell a home for one of your clients, it’s time to think of something new. But this has to be realistic and within the realm of your possibility. I wouldn’t suggest becoming a doctor or a nurse because that would take years. It’s achievable but it’s not going to be an overnight thing.

In that scenario, thinking outside of the box could include re-doing your entire website and turning it into a blog of helpful tips for homeowners or people wanting to decorate their home on a shoestring budget. Re-design your website to be a tips based site that provides weekly decorating tips. If you know a community that you wish to market to, create direct mail postcards for the condo tower that has over 100 residents and target those owners specifically with your postcard that has your new blogsite of home decorating tips on a budget.

This is just meant to show you where to start thinking outside the box and achieving results. If you keep doing the same thing over and over and it’s not working, don’t get mad, get started doing something realistic to change your situation. Think outside of the box.

How To Be A Black Entrepreneur

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:31:14 -0500

Step 1 is to determine what it is you’re selling to people and how. Are you going to manufacture your own products or sell something that someone else manufacturers. Do you have a website? This is a must. You must have a web presence and a telephone to list on the website. You must then decide what type of audience you wish to build online and offline. How will you reach this audience? Email? Direct mail? Facebook? Google Ads? You must reach potential buyers each day to be a success. Your buyers need to be qualified and closely match the type of buyers who are looking for what it is you’re selling.

Step 2 is to create a sales goal and/or goal of your website sales. This helps you know what you’re aiming for and how much you need to sell to breakeven and/or make a profit. Not everything can be sold over the Internet. So, some marketing may be done over the Internet in order to push customers to your actual location. You still need a website so that people can find you online which will then translate into offline.

Step 3 is to create a marketing plan and hopefully have a budget to reach potential new customers. Some businesses do not do well because they cannot reach customers. This must become of paramount importance to you and your business.

Step 4 is to convert all of the people you reach in your marketing into paying/buying customers. Businesses are NOT successful if they do not make money at some point. Sell your stuff. Bottomline. You must sell. You might give away some things but do not make a business out of providing free work for people. You will never make it and you should turn your business into a charity event if that’s what your real mission is.

Step 5 is to rinse and repeat and keep selling three times or more per week.