The T&T Project – Taylor & TaDarol Bates II and how you can help the children of Haiti

January 29th, 2010

 TandT

The T&T Project’s mission is to help ALL children who have been affected by tragedy and/or misfortune.

What is your 30-second business card? (Business name & brief description)

The name of our business is The T&T Project. Our website is kstbllc.com. The T&T Project was founded January 16, 2010 by Taylor Bates (15) and TaDarol Bates II (11). Our mission is to help all children (under 19) who have been affected by tragedy and /or misfortune.

What do you consider to be your strong points? 

Our strong points are we are very organized & have always worked with our mom to volunteer.  Our mom has a company that works directly with Non-profits and we have hands on experience volunteer with various non-profit organizations. .

What do you consider to be your weaknesses? 

Our weakness  is that we just started and the need is so great. We have made and donated backpacks to a family who had 7 children. All of their belongings were lost in a fire. We also donated to a teenager whose family needed help with money to bury her. We are still trying to get  our organization off the ground. Our Mom is completing our 501c3 application for us.

What inspired you to start your own business?

 
On the date of January 16, 2010 I was sitting in homeroom and we were watching CNN & the tragedy that struck Haiti. I looked a little closer and noticed little children wandering around. Instead of just sitting around and hoping that somebody else would do something, I called my brother into my room. We discussed what we could do to help the children and  we came up with the organization to help ALL children who have been affected by tragedy and/or misfortune.

Other than money, what were you looking to get out of your business?

 
Out of our organization, we just want to be able to help out all children who have been affected by tragedy and/or misfortune. We hope that by receiving a backpack full of goodies from us, it will brighten their spirits despite what they are going through.

Did you ever have a feeling of desperation or insecurity when launching your business? How did you overcome those feelings? 

We’re just launching our project. The very first day, TaDarol & I did have doubts. We didn’t know if people would be interested in an organization like ours. But, both children and adults have been very generous with their time, products, and monetary donations.

How do you use your business to share your faith?

We use our business to share our faith by simply helping out children who are going through a challenge. We are enjoying  giving back to children. It feels so good to know that we are helping them during their time of need.

OTHER:
The T&T Project will be packing shoe boxes for the children of Haiti this Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 3 p.m. We welcome all children (under 19), to come and help us pack. Each shoe box contains some of the following:
Note cards
Socks
Teen Magazines
Wash cloths
Deoderant
Uno cards
Old Maid cards
Underwear
sanitary and baby wipes
tampons/sanitary pads
soap
toothbrush
toothpaste
bottled water
small stuffed animal

The boxes will be delivered to: The Haitian Alliance, Inc. They will take them to Haiti and distribute them to children.

OFFICERS:
Taylor Bates, President (15)
TaDarol Bates II, Secretary (11)
Kimberly Sellars-Bates, Advisor

Kat Albrecht – Pet Detective

January 27th, 2010

Kathy Albrecht

Kat Albrecht

is a police detective-turned-pet detective and the founder of Missing Pet Partnership, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reuniting lost pets with their families. Missing Pet Partnership has formed the first-ever lost pet search-and-rescue team (in Seattle, WA) and hopes to develop similar teams nationwide.

Kat pioneered the cross application of law enforcement investigative techniques and technologies to solve lost pet investigations and is widely known as an authority on training search dogs to track lost pets. Since 1997, she has trained the majority of all operational pet detectives in the USA, Canada, and even Ireland.

Kat and her search dogs have appeared on Animal Planet programs and articles about her work have appeared in People, Reader’s Digest, and Parade. Kat is the author of two books: The Lost Pet Chronicles and Dog Detectives: Train Your Dog to Find Lost Pets. She is currently crafting Bloodhound Love, a romance/mystery novel for teens.

www.KatAlbrecht.com

 

 

Read Kat’s Profile on the next page …

Read the rest of this entry »

Need to save money? Make a plan!

January 24th, 2010

“For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.” – Ecclesiastes 7:12

It all starts with a plan. A savings plan

Begin with determining what is a NEED and a WANT.

Make a list of the things you would LIKE to have. Then ask yourself, will these things really satisfy me? Or, am I searching for something deeper? Are they obtainable?

Next, make a list of the things that you NEED. Break down the list into categories based on urgency, such as Immediate, Short-Term, Long-Term.

Immediate = with the next 6 months.
Short-Term = the next 12 months.
Long-Term = 18 months or longer.

Is everything on the NEED list a real need or should something be moved to the WANT list?
Have you considered everything that might come up in the future that would have an impact on your finances?

Okay, with this simple exercise you now have a basic savings plan. You know what you need and when you need it. Post this plan in places where you will see it, like the fridge or your bathroom mirror. Review it before and take it with you when you go shopping.

E-City Teen Entrepreneurs

January 23rd, 2010

Join me for a special interview with four teen entrepreneurs from Cleveland’s E-City program! Ariana, a Junior at Shaker Heights High School, Gilberto,a Senior at Max Hayes High School, Demetri, a Senior at SuccessTech Academy, Raquel, a Sophomore at SuccessTech Academy.

length: 60-minutes

Winners From ABC’s Shark Tank: Grill Charms CEO, Leslie Haywood and Pork Barrel BBQ Co-Owner, Heath Hall

January 22nd, 2010

Leslie Haywood

My guests and their innovative products have appeared on ABC’s knock-out show Shark Tank. 

 Leslie Haywood, is the inventor of Grill Charms™, the newest phenomenon in grilling products. Created by Charmed Life Products, a company formed by Haywood in 2006, Grill Charms™ are similar in concept to the wine charm. Once affixed to your chicken, fish, steak, pork or even vegetables, Grill Charms™ allow individuals to differentiate their item from others on the grill.

Pork Barrel BBQ was founded by Heath Hall, President and Brett Thompson, CEO in late 2008. Pork Barrel BBQ is a Washington, DC based gourmet Dry Rub and BBQ Sauce company. Their first product, the All American Spice Rub, was created in December 2008 and sold over 350 units in the first week. Made of all natural ingredients with no preservatives or MSG, the All American Spice Rub has a smoky and slightly spicy flavor created from a combination of spices, chilies and herbs.

Join us to hear about these fun new products, what’s next for their companies, and what it was like swimming with the sharks!

length: 45-minutes

What problem can you solve?

January 16th, 2010

Carefully consider the benefits your business (or business idea) offers to others.

Who needs your product and why?

What problem does your product or business solve for them?

Why should they buy your product from you and not someone else?

Always be motivated to serve others more than to bring glory or riches to yourself.

Treated like trash?

January 14th, 2010

Do not waste your time trying to please people that do not celebrate you for who you are. Learn to move on and disconnect from people and places that do not value your gift.

“If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.”  ~ Matthew 10:14