Don't go BROKE trying to PROMOTE! 

Most small businesses owners don't understand the difference between, advertising, branding, marketing, and promotions. While all are needed in order for a business to have long lasting success, making sure you understand the difference will keep you from falling for the money traps of those who are out there targeting your dollars to do each of these. 

Here are three key points I want to give to you. 

1. Deliver the BEST possible product and/or service you possibly can. If you are in both the physical delivery of products make sure you have the best possible product available and that you are able to deliver top of the line service. Even if you are not able to get or produce the BEST product, by delivering the best service, you will both market and brand yourself through your top of the line service you offer to the public. People don't mind paying for the BEST! 

2. Have a Marketing BUDGET weekly, monthly and yearly that you invest in one or more of advertising, marketing, branding, and/or promotions. Most individual and small businesses don't have a budget for this. In order to grow, you must have a budget, even if it is only $50 a month, get one and make sure it is....

3. BE CONSISTENT. Whatever you do when it comes to marketing, branding, advertising, and promotions, BE CONSISTENT! Often times, small business owners marketing materials, promotions, advertising and even their product(s) and delivery of services are CONSISTENTLY INCONSISTENT. I know this to be true because as a small business owners mine have been consistently inconsistent as well. 

Promotions are usually what many small business owners do more of as opposed to branding, advertising and marketing. PROMOTIONS usually costs the business more money than what they bring in during the term of the business. Why? Well, promotional products and/or services are usually free or so far discounted that the customers who try the product/service buy at a certain price point and usually end up not VALUING what you're selling. 

The money used for most promotions would be better used on developing better processes, products, and people to help you deliver a better product/service. 

As mentioned in one of my other posts, "PEOPLE WHO PAY, PAY ATTENTION!" Go back through the other small business advice of the day posts and you'll understand more about why it's important to have proper fees.

Until next time....

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Armani Valentino is available for small business consultations from start-ups to full up and running operations. To schedule appointment or receive a call for more information, use the contact tab. Someone will call you within 24 hours.  

Just to hear the words, "I AGREE!" does something to the hearts
and minds of men, women, and children. However, most of the
time, in our personal relationships hearing these two words, let
alone an actual agreement taking place, is a rarity.

The miracle you're looking for in your relationship is in the #POWEROFAGREEMENT. The ability to get to an agreement can
make all the difference in the relationship.

Stop being disagreeable for disagreeable's sake. That's
immature and only makes your relationship less than what God
may have intended it to be.

Communicate with your partner as often as possible with no
preconceived ideas. Let the communication be open & honest.

Always focus on what you agree on, as opposed to the few
things you don't. It will help tremendously.

Remember, LOOK FOR THE AGREEMENT.

###

Armani Valentino is available for books, consultations, speaking
engagements, relationship & communication coaching, and
more! Please visit www.ArmaniValentino.com for more info. You may also call the office directly at 972-383-9234

Inspired by the Seattle Seahawks WIN today: DON'T QUIT! Some people can never win at relationships or at ANYTHING because WE QUIT as soon as things look bleak. Hopefully, this win by the Seattle Seahawks was a lesson for relationships and life! Think about it...Four interceptions, no points on the board at half-time, and crazy enough to believe you'd still win! 

One thing about them tables, if you don't quit, THEY ALWAYS TURN. These are the kind of people you need in your life to truly make your mark, people who won't give up on you. Ladies, you need a man who has a winners mentality that can still see the light during the darkest hour. Men, these are the same qualities you need from the woman you're with to be truly successful. Otherwise, she'll quit on you and you won't WIN!  You won't go to the BIG DANCE! #imthankful #imthankful #imthankful Congratulations! 

#Seahawks are Going to the Big Dance again! www.armanivalentino.com

"You've been praying about it long enough! It's time to DO something!" -ArmaniValentino

When prayer becomes your sole method of accomplishment, you're mocking God. And according to the Bible, God is not mocked. For whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap.

Is there power in prayer? Absolutely! However, Prayer is a precursor for action. It is not supposed to replace THE WORKS. It is not even supposed to replace FAITH. Without FAITH it is impossible to please GOD. And since FAITH without WORKS is DEAD, PRAYER without FAITH & WORKS is as well.

The top hip-hop rapper when it comes to #1 singles is Drake. In one of his songs, he says, "I'm the type to say a prayer and then go get what I just prayed for!"

In conclusion, NEVER LET PRAYER replace your ability to use the God force known as action to create the life you want!

Step 1 - Pray
Step 2 - Believe You've already received.
Step 3 - Line up with your desire
Step 4 - Take Consistent Unwavering Action
Step 5 - Give daily Thanks & Appreciation

Until next time....





- ArmaniValentino.com
#claimtheincrease #businessadvice #grind #wealth #health #healthyliving #feelgood #livewell #lifecoach #relationshipadviceoftheday #relationshipadvice #money #getmoney #cleaneating #love #loa #forgive #fitness #fitlife #opportunity #success #successful #hustle #iwasntready #getready #rehabtime #respect #reflect #weight #winning #Wisdom #advice #businessadvice #entrepreneurship #knowledge #understanding #iembracetheunknown #iallowmygood

"Your Health is YOUR wealth!"

In a society that promotes the GRIND and HARD work, in your quest for riches and new business, be sure to take care of your health. An abundant amount of stress will cause DIS-ease! Both the mind and the body require a certain amount of time to recalibrate in order to operate at full capacity. Sleep, proper diet and adequate exercise are the best medicines to a healthy lifestyle. Also, having time to mediate and enjoy the fruits of your labor make THE GRIND worth it. Without any of these things your health will deteriorate faster than you realize, all in your quest for riches. Then, if you do achieve the riches, like many, much of your money may be used to fix your health issues.

Search for balance! Maintain homeostasis.

Until next time...
#claimtheincrease

"Ask for What you Want. Do not assume the other person
knows what YOU want. They usually don't." Armani Valentino

Most couples seem to have an issue with their communication of their wants and desires. For some
reason, one or both individuals will read into what is either being said or not being said, versus just openly asking for a better understanding.

I was always told, "A Closed Mouth Doesn't Get Fed." If
you are going to have a better relationship in 2015; that
includes what you desire as well as what the other person desires, the both of you are going to have to communicate these desires more effectively. After communicating these desires, give it time to manifest.

Not all desires will happen immediately. Therefore, you're
going to have to be a little more patient. We'll talk about that in another post.

Until next time, Claim the INCREASE, but also INCREASE the Climb ~ I'll SEE YOU at the TOP!
~Armani Valentino~

Visit www.armanivalentino.com for more information, to
order books, and/or Relationship Coaching Sessions and
More!

RELATIONSHIP ADVICE OF THE DAY: Single Sisters, I promise I love y'all. Y'all make my days so interesting.

My thoughts and words from a RECENT CONVO with a female friend(s) seeking advice:

The men y'all pass over repeatedly, the good ones you had but treated like ish, but swear up and down "Ain't no good men," and you still waiting on "The One." Lol lol lol lol... Smh... But believe GOD is supposed to just keep blessing you so you can keep killing a man's dreams & spirit, and take him from his purpose.

Do YOU KNOW YOUR PURPOSE in a MAN'S Life? Do you know what you're supposed to bring to a MAN? You sure you serving GOD or just going to church/mosque/temple, etc.? Are you really listening to the sermons? Are You really reading the scriptures, for real? Not having sex don't make you saved!!! What does your heart look like?

Some of y'all will leave a sermon, cry, fall out, then go cuss out your man, children, momma, friends, etc. But....You're saved? Saved from what? Seems like the folks around you need to be saved from you and all that evil spirited emotion you constantly spew. Some of y'all just walk around looking mad and sad, ALL THE TIME! Like ALL THE TIME! Just done made up your own Gospel on how to treat people!!! Lol... Ok.....smh.... NEVER TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for HOW BADLY YOU treated or treat somebody. NEVER!!!! It's ALWAYS somebody else's fault. But of course that's unpopular to say.

Remember in the Color Purple when Sealy said, "Until you do right by me, everything you THINK of is gonna FAIL." Truth is, Some of you will NEVER be happy in ANY relationship because there are some FOLKS you did terribly wrong and to this DAY you STILL have not done as the BIBLE & all religious scriptures says to do, and CONFESSED YOUR FAULTS, ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS and even made an effort to RECONCILE YOUR WRONGS! WHY? Too much E.G.O. (Edging God Out)!!! Well he's the man or what about what he did to me. What about it? Man or woman, if you did wrong and you know you did, YOU go APOLOGIZE. YOU MAKE THE EFFORT!  Some of you have totally messed up your future, your children's future, your long term happiness, and MISSED "The ONE" on so many occasions that ain't no more 1's left for you! You gotta deal with 2's, 3's, 4's and 5's and whatever is left over because your heart ain't right and God refuses to give you another good man just so you can keep destroying lives like the Proverbs 7 woman. But swear up and down you're a Proverbs 31 Woman. Ok... I hear you. Then have the nerve to say, "I need somebody who can deal with me." Really? You can't even deal with yourself!!! How is somebody supposed to deal with you when you haven't TRULY DEALT with YOU? Huh....????

"Well, I'm waiting on my Boaz!" My sister, "I love you, but truth is, YOU AIN'T no RUTH!"

Of course there was silence for a second, and all she could say was, "You're right! Mr. Valentino. You're right!" I smiled.

Until next time....
Armani Valentino

"A lot of people are addicted to the IDEA of a GREAT relationship, but don't want to do what it takes to have a great relationship!" Armani Valentino

In today's society of go go go and hurry hurry hurry, everyone wants whatever they right now! So, there's no wonder when a relationship is not going well or there's a total absence of a relationship that there's some anxiousness about leaving the relationship or getting a new one. While this sounds good on the surface, the heart knows much better and so does the mind. In order to have a GREAT relationship, you must honestly define what that looks like, and if you're already in a relationship you must make sure you're viewing your current relationship from the right perspective. Sometimes, we're too busy comparing our relationship or our mate to someone else. Doing this will always cause frustration and a sense of insecurity in yourself and your relationship. While they're are similarities from relationship to relationship, there are also some very distinct differences. The differences and challenges that you may be having in your relationship or future relationship don't mean it's not good. However, what it does mean is, there's some work to do and some adjustments to be made ---Starting with the man/woman in the mirror. You must begin to truly see yourself and your contribution to the difficulty in the relationship. Otherwise, you'll continue to be dissatisfied and ultimately your relationship won't be so great after all.

Until next time....
Armani Valentino

Relationship Advice of the Day: BE DEPENDABLE! Being able to be dependable is ONE of the most important character traits for me in any and all of my relationships. So, it's definitely important in dating. If you can't even depend on a person to do something as simple as call back...uh yeah... good luck! As Mr. Robert Williams used to tell us in the band, "That Dog Won't Hunt!" 

Life Advice of the Day: (my morning thoughts) Shout out to ANY woman who has ever GENUINELY, openly or secretly, admired me! I'm a special kind of guy. So, to like me you're obviously special, too! LOL Think about it, I ain't got muscles, nor am I superstar big ballin' (yet), don't have perfect teeth, and I have even struggled with eczema and trichotillomania off and on over the years. On top of this I can be a little loud and definitely speak my mind about what I think (religion, love, right/wrong, politics, race, etc.), which is not so popular at times. I express my feelings openly, not usually considered the manly thing to do. But......I'm so comfortable with myself that sometimes I become uncomfortable because I am such an empath that I feel my level of comfort can make others uncomfortable. However, I have almost always just done me! And when I don't guess what? I don't feel good. 


Having said that...do the best you can with what you have, accept yourself and what others think about you and your flaws won't matter. I promise you...women still liked me, I still got jobs, opportunities, traveled, performed with some of the biggest celebrities in the world, been on BET/MTV, radio, television, newspaper, etc. etc., and got favor wherever I went all because I accepted myself and my flaws. Therefore, people could not use my own flaws against me. I knew early in life that I WAS NOT MY ISSUE(S), and who I really was, was much bigger than any of my issues. While most of my flaws are visible, most peoples are not. And since I was a child I realized people's biggest/worst flaws and insecurities are usually masked behind the outer facade. 


I studied each of the issues I had with eczema years ago and found out that there were some internal things going on with me that the doctors wanted to treat externally. As a teenager that didn't make sense to me then, nor does it make sense now. And with many of us, there are internal things going on in our lives that the longer we continue to hide them and not deal with them, we'll be stuck -- trying to fix internal problems with outside "quick fixes." Kind of like a bad quick weave...you'll be thinking you're looking good, but people can see the glue on your forehead and the kitchen on the back of your neck. But, you'll be thinking your hair is fixed. Go let the professionals take you through the process and it'll be done right. Go through the process this year! Whatever process it is...Remember, it's a new year, but it's not a new season! Finish YOUR season! ‪

#‎acceptyourself‬ ‪#‎loveyourself‬‪#‎claimtheincrease‬ ‪#‎seeyouatthetop‬ ‪#‎youarenotyourissue‬  www.armanivalentino.com