We are proud to launch the San Diego French-American Chamber of Commerce’s brand new blog – France in San Diego!

This blog is the result of the engagement of our members, since all the articles are and will be written by them. From business-related subjects to articles about culture and leisure, our members express themselves on topics they are familiar with, linked to their field, profession or hobby.

Along with our different social networks, this blog is in line with our desire to see our members involved in the chamber’s life, to share their knowledge and to interact with each other.

Whether you are a member of the chamber or not, we hope you will be interested in the different topics treated here and that you will actively participate to the blog by posting comments and launching conversations.

Happy blogging to you!

Hana Mataillet, Marketing Coordinator, San Diego French-American Chamber of Commerce

hana.mataillet@france-sandiego.org
www.france-sandiego.org

• Total value of the Maritime Industry output equals to € 51 billion, bigger by value of production than the aeronautical industry (€ 36 bn in 2009).
• 300,000 direct supported jobs.

• Maritime industry production closer to 2.5% of GDP.

• Merchant fleet: More than 300 million tones of goods and 12 million of passengers carried per year.

• Harbors: 41% of total external trade (by volume).

• Yachting industry: 9 million pleasure crafts registered.

• Shipbuilding and marine equipment suppliers: positioning on high value-added vessels (cruise ships, stealth vessels, etc.)

• Offshore service and supplies: Oil and gas extraction in depth up to 2,000 m.

• Fishing and seafood products: 7,389 boats and 664,740 tones of products sold.
• France’s “sea territory” is the 2^nd largest worldwidein terms of surface: Sea transport is a major tool for it s external trade.
  • • France has 5,500 km of coastline.
    • Overseas Territories included its exclusive economic zone extends to 11 million square kilometers, 400,000 square kilometers of which is continental shelf.
• Share of goods transported by weight by the sea with third countries(2007)
  • Import :  89%
  •  Export:  75%
• The French Maritime Cluster, created in 2006, is a tool to promote the French Merchant Marine sector.
  Three axes are highlighted: communication, lobbying and search for synergies.
• The French maritime industries rank first on the Europeanpodium with:
  • Defense vessel construction
  • Government action at sea
  • Scientific research
  • Construction of sailing boats and inflatables
  • Seismic surveys

Source: http://www.cluster-maritime.fr/

Source : Cluster Maritime Francais, 2006

http://www.cluster-maritime.fr/

Filed under: Business ]]> http://franceinsandiego.wordpress.com/2011/10/27/the-maritime-industry-in-france-and-the-european-network-of-maritime-clusters/feed/ 0 sdfacc Clusters Maritime Europe http://franceinsandiego.wordpress.com/2011/05/13/think-latin-america/ http://franceinsandiego.wordpress.com/2011/05/13/think-latin-america/#comments Fri, 13 May 2011 19:45:25 +0000 sdfacc http://franceinsandiego.wordpress.com/?p=433 ]]> By Larisa Casillas

A diverse array of localization industry professionals from all over the world were brought together last Friday at The Mountain Winery in Silicon Valley. And for what purpose?… to spotlight Latin America and discuss the region’s booming market, business opportunities and uniqueness for the second edition of the “Think Latin America” conference, organized by the “Women in Localization” group , IMTT and Ccaps. BeatBabel drove all the way up with 4 team members and the event was well worth the drive!

 Latin America, the region of the world spanning from the northernmost tip of Mexico to the southernmost tip of Chile and Argentina, comprised of 21 countries with 2 dominant languages, has experienced an economic boom; “Could it be because of the more stable economic policies, or the technology transformation that is underway there? Or is it because of the vibrant emerging middle class that is boosting the demand for goods?” asked Think Latin America’s website, and on Friday afternoon, through knowledgeable guest speakers and a panel discussion of seasoned professionals, these questions were answered with an affirmative yes.

 “Think Latin America” provided insightful knowledge into the cultural particularities of the region and its changing social and economic landscape, and was all about highlighting the region as the perfect place for investment and outsourcing. Both foreign and native Latin American speakers from global brands and companies such as comScore, Apple, Coca-Cola, Xerox and Buck Consultants led discussions on the state of the internet in Latin America, targeting your messages to Latin American audiences, successful business sustainability pilots implemented in Latin America and insider perspectives on the economy and business practices in Latin American countries. Renato Beninatto closed the program with some insights and some laughs as he swore that the 3rd iPad to be sold, was sold to a Brazilian!

 A wealth of information was revealed; for instance, did you know that dominant Latin America values when conducting business are personalism and particularism and that communication is more personal? That online usage in Latin America is driven by a young demographic and has registered a 15% growth with social networks reaching 88% of Latin American users? Or that Latin America is the top sales region for the Coca-Cola Company and that Brazil is a model recycling nation where also, in the past 5 years, 37 million people have come out of poverty? The provided data and statistics such as these along with the insider perspectives helped illustrate Latin America as the powerhouse it is becoming in the global economy.

 To complement the program afterwards was the networking dinner at the perfect venue; The Mountain Winery, with beautiful mountaintop views of Saratoga and Silicon Valley, perhaps even rivaling last year’s “Think Latin America” location in Búzios, Brazil. And wherever the next conference will be held, here’s to hoping it will be full of people who are very proud of their respective Latin American countries’ emerging success and people eager to learn about them and welcome the “new” Latin America. And no matter where, BeatBabel will be there!

 “People in Latin America are used to struggle, we are all wired as fighters and we never give up” said Liliana Rojas of Apple during the panel discussion, essentially providing the perfect conclusion to Think Latin America’s program. See you next year!

Larisa Casillas – BeatBabel

http://www.beatbabel.com
964 5^th Avenue, Ste 514
San Diego, CA 92101
Tel: 619-564-4068
Twitter: @beatbabel

 Depending on the family of origin and even the culture where people grow up, people learn the different ways they respond to conflict. Some have learned to look at conflicts with fear and avoid them, others have learned to freeze, and some engage in conflicts without any thought of how to handle them in a way that will produce positive outcomes and protects their relationships.

 The consequences are that very little to no positive outcomes result from the way they engage or refuse to engage others when they disagree.

 Even though you may find yourself in a conflict that either you created or in one that is beyond your control, there can be a positive outcome. There is always opportunity hidden behind the conflict. Minimally, it can reveal to you your own limits, the weaknesses in your character and give you the opportunity to refine your character. For example, empathy and understanding can develop in the character of individuals when they embrace a conflict and genuinely listen to the other one without trying to defend himself/herself.

 Your character can be sharpened. Through responding differently to an argument, you can take a situation that would have turned out negatively in the past and resulted in a further separation of the relationship to one that, through this  unexpected course of action,  creates a breakthrough in the relationship resulting in the deepest levels of communication and intimacy possible in the marriage or relationship.

 It is critical to define some rules to engage in conflict if you do not want to damage your relationships either temporarily or even permanently.

 -       Do not attack the other one or defend yourself

-       Even when attacked keep a calm and respectful tone

-       Focus to achieving the best possible outcome for both parties

-       Do not focus on being right

-       Focus on protecting your relationships

-       Do not violate the vulnerable confidence of others and use them to hurt him/her

-       Do not speak when angry. Defer the conversation

-       Do not use harsh words. It will escalate the conflict

-       Never extend an argument

-       Do not follow your impulse. Stop and think

-       Learn to forgive quickly

Before engaging in a conflict, evaluate the possible consequences of the conflict and ask yourself if you are willing to lose the relationship, the trust of this person, or the intimacy you have with this person.

 Seek counsel when you do not know how to engage fairly in a conflict or if you have not been able to resolve conflicts constructively. A qualified professional is not involved emotionally and will be more objective than any person involved in the conflict.

 San Diego Family Therapy

Dr.Baya Mebarek, Psy.D.,LMFT

Baya.M@sandiegofamilytherapy.net

11772 Sorrento Valley Road, Suite 157
Tel: (858) 337-9884, Fax: (858) 755-3042
www.sandiegofamilytherapy.net

Nous avons le plaisir de vous adresser le numéro 20 de la Lettre de la direction des Politiques Territoriales « Echos des CCI développement territorial »

Au sommaire de ce numéro, retrouvez  l’actualité des politiques territoriales et notamment des informations sur les Agendas 21, la réforme de l’urbanisme commercial, la politique de la ville, les investissements d’avenir, le programme Europ’act, les bonnes pratiques du réseau..

L’éditorial revient sur l’objectif de la nouvelle mandature qui vise à rendre les CCI incontournables auprès des entreprises et des collectivités locales.

Pour y accéder, cliquer ici

Nous vous en souhaitons bonne lecture et restons à votre écoute.

Bien cordialement

Juliana Castellani

Direction des Politiques Territoriales

ACFCI 46 av. de la Grande Armée

CS 50071 – 75858 PARIS CEDEX 17

Tél. : 01 40 69 37 96

Average houses prices, San Diego

Nicolas Jonville, Jonville Team
The Jonville Team is a real estate company with Keller Williams Realty, offering services in the residential field throughout San Diego County, South Orange County & South Riverside County.  We specialize in traditional and investment sales of single family residences, condos or 2-4 unit dwellings, as well as short sale transactions and Real Estate Owned (REO) properties. We also assist clients with their local, national or international relocation.

Jonville Team – Keller Williams Realty
Nicolas  Jonville
Tel: 760-471-5098, Fax  888-361-5318
Nicolas@JonvilleTeam.com
www.JonvilleTeam.com

I like eagles. They face storms with courage and boldness. When a storm is coming every other bird runs away from the storm. The eagle flies into the storm. We, like birds, can run way, be paralyzed when we think that our circumstances are more than we can handle or succeed and grow tremendously in overwhelming circumstances.

What makes a person brave enough to embrace obstacles and challenges with confidence and grow stronger in spite of their circumstances?

They practice! They prepare their minds for action; they focus on what they need to do rather than fearfully ruminating on their inability. They train themselves by embracing every new challenge and develop the skills and strength required for it. Each time they are more confident that this is a springboard as they have brought solutions to precedent challenges. It should encourage each one of us as in the present time it seems that most of us are having more opportunities to embrace challenges and develop more problem solving mindsets and skills. Each one if us can learn from someone else to develop problem solving skills.

Because you don’t know how to do something does not mean that it is impossible. You just need to learn it from someone else. Luckily, right now, our society offers us more options and opportunity to share our thoughts, feelings and experiences with others – particularly through therapy. That’s why I love my profession. I have the privilege to be invited to listen and connect to others and their challenging experiences as well as help them identify the strength within to take on the battles they face. I love to watch eagles grow!

I was told few years ago a story from an unknown author that shows that so often, just a change of perspective on one circumstances can transform the way one lives life! How we see and interpret the struggle can make all the difference in how well we weather the storm.

“ A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further. So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.

The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand, was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening, was nature’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If we were allowed to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly!” Embrace the wind and strengthen your wings!

San Diego Family Therapy, Dr. Baya Mebarek, Psy.D, LMFT

Dr. Baya Mebarek is a doctor in Psychology and licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California. She specialize in couples therapy, pre-marital counseling, and in the treatment of children, adolescents, adults, couples and families—specifically, those dealing with depression and anxiety. She is trained in clinical hypnosis, with an emphasis in treating depression

Just over a month ago, everyone was busy preparing for their New Year’s Eve bash. Now, for many of us, the champagne popping and New Year’s Eve countdown seem like a distant memory. But if you happen to be in China, the New Year celebration is in full swing.

The Chinese New Year is the most important holiday for the Chinese. The Associated Press reported that an estimated 230 million Chinese were expected to travel to and throughout China for the holiday, in what they called “the world’s biggest annual human migration.” BeatBabel is lucky enough to currently have team member Sabrina in Beijing for the holiday, and she is filling us in on all the action. She says that the best part of the New Year for her is to be able to be with her family.

In China, the Chinese New Year is called “Chun Jie”, which is a literal translation of “Spring Festival.” Therefore, the New Year is about welcoming the spring season and starting afresh.  This year, the Chinese New Year fell on February 3^rd, and since the New Year in China follows the Chinese lunar calendar, each New Year can fall on a different date in the Gregorian calendar. Last year, the Chinese New Year fell on February 10^th and next year it will be on January 23^rd. The Chinese calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, and unlike the Gregorian calendar, it does not count the years in an infinite sequential fashion. It instead attributes and names the years after one of the 12 animals of the zodiac, with five 12 year phases comprising a complete cycle of 60 years. Easy to understand, no? So, for most of us this year may be known as 2011, but it happens to be the “Year of the Rabbit” in China, an animal of peace and harmony.

The Chinese New Year is a time of massive celebration and the celebrating is carried on into the 15^th day of the New Year. The festivities begin during the couple of days before New Year’s Eve. Houses are thoroughly cleaned, arranged with fresh flowers and then decorated in red and gold which symbolize happiness and wealth. The Chinese character 福 Fu, which means blessing or good luck, is a popular symbol that’s posted on doors and windows, and throughout the city there are lion and dragon dance parades along with New Year markets.

On New Year’s Eve, families get together to have an extensive dinner.  Interestingly, everyone watches the Spring Festival Gala aired on Central China Television (CCTV), the state television broadcaster for mainland China. The 5 hour long variety show features performances by many of China’s most popular entertainers. Just imagine a single television production being watched at the same time in a country of 1 billion people!  Firework shows are also enjoyed on New Year’s Eve, and it is traditional to eat dumplings after the countdown, since dumplings are in the shape of the old gold money. This is one of many examples where food is used symbolically to bring good luck for the upcoming year.

For the next fifteen days, the celebration continues, with different customs performed for each day.  The New Year observance culminates under the first full moon of the year, and it is celebrated with the Lantern Festival on the 15^th day. On this day, families will decorate and hang beautiful lamps in and outside of their houses, and people will walk with them out in the streets for lantern parades, fully lighting up the night.

Wishing you 福 for the New Year,

Larisa Casillas and the BeatBabel Team

BeatBabel – The Art of Localization
964 Fifth Avenue # 514
San Diego, CA 92101
Ph: (619) 501-6247
info@beatbabel.com
www.beatbabel.com

Beatbabel is a San Diego based translation and localization company. With team members from around the world Beat Babel offers a dynamic international team to suit the needs of their broad range of clients. To learn more about the company and their skilled workforce please visit their website .

Why is this Topic Important to Financial Professionals? Accounting is like a road map of the company’s financial operations.  It is essential to understand the accounting basics and how they relate to small businesses and insurance. 

Accrual or Cash Accounting Methods

Now that the business has been incorporated and is operating, what is required to keep the business accounted for?  The first determination a company must make is determining if the business will account using an accrual or cash system.  An accrual accounting method recognizes revenues and expenses in the period in which they occur whereas a cash accounting method recognizes transactions as they occur.

For example, an accrual taxpayer that performs services will account for income earned when the service is actually provided and not when the actual cash or payment is received.  A cash method of accounting is concerned only when cash is paid out and when paid in.  Expenses follow the same logic.  For example, if a service company that uses the accrual method incurs 500 dollars of phone expenses in December 2010 and the payment is not due until January 2011, the company will still account for the phone expense on its books in 2010 for December’s usage.

Accounting System

Once the business has determined its accounting method, it is ready to keep track of the transactions.  Every accounting system should provide a basic financial statement, income statement, cash flow statement, balance sheet, and statement of owner equity.  Each statement provides a view through a different window into the financial operation of the business.

The income statement is easy to understand.  The top item is revenues and beneath that line expense are deducted to determine the net income.

The cash flow statement is essentially a variation of the income statement.  However the cash flow statement will show the ability of the business to operate on a periodic basis given the ins and outs of cash payments.

The balance sheet will tell the financial planner what the business is comprised of.  Most accountants refer to the balance sheet as a snapshot of the business at any particular moment of time.  From it we can see what assets the business holds and how much money it owes others.

Lastly, the statement of owner’s equity shows how the business is owned and financed.

Financial Statements and Insurance

Properly kept financial statement can help ensure easier access to capital as well as give a truer understanding of the business’ financial position.  The financial statements are commonly used in the risk management processes including when insurance is purchased on a key man.  Small businesses are especially sensitive to this risk and keeping accurate books can help insurance agents and underwriters determine among other factors the insurance needs of the operation.

Key man insurance and buy-sell agreements are generally based on some total dollar amount that represents the value of the business.  This figure is usually based on some number that is related to the financial statements and accounting of the business.  Whether it’s the total assets, a factor of revenue or income, or some other determination, the need for a basic knowledge of financial accounting for small business is essential.

For a detailed analysis on business valuation and how it relates to buy sell agreements see AUS Main Libraries, Section 11 F—Insurance Needs Revealed In Financial Statements.

William Byrnes is the Associate Dean of Graduate and Distance Programs at Thomas Jefferson School of Law. He heads the following graduate and executive short programs: International Tax & Financial Services, International Trade & Investment, and the American Legal System.

Today I’m going to take a quick look at something I get asked about frequently: “Real estate is an attractive hedge against inflation.” You hear it on television, you see it in the business news. After talking to people about the concept, I’ve come to realize that the statement can be lumped right in there with all the other “noise” we hear every day about investments. But does it have any true meaning to you?

What is inflation?

It means that even though you got a raise, it sure doesn’t feel like you’re making any more than you used to. You get to be in higher tax bracket, but what’s left over for you is worth less every day.

I’d like to suggest that inflation isn’t a mythical economic concept, it’s very real. It is controlled by the printing of more money, and it takes away your purchasing power. This explanation of inflation isn’t meant to be left, right, up or down, liberal or conservative, it just is. When the Federal Reserve prints more money, it’s a silent tax on all of us.

Take a moment and Google the phrase “Helicopter Ben.” That’s Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Federal Reserve. If he could, he would fly around in a helicopter and drop bags of cash among the citizens.

Imagine. We could just look up and grab some cash. At first blush, that sounds great. But printing money out of thin air is debauching the currency that’s already in circulation. If you have a $1 bill and the Federal Reserve prints money, your purchasing power is reduced. You don’t have a dollar anymore; you have 80 cents. You’ve been taxed; it’s just not called a tax.

What does the Federal Reserve do with all this new money its printing? They give a majority to commercial banks, and the money gets devalued even further through fractional reserve banking. This practice allows the bank to take money that’s been deposited and loan somebody else a big chunk of that, even though it’s supposed to be fully available to the original depositor. For instance, the Federal Reserve prints $1,000 and gives it to a commercial bank. Fractional Reserve Banking allows the bank to create a loan for $900; there is now, in essence, $1,900 in circulation – the original $1,000, and the newly created $900 loan!

The net effect is that the value of the old dollars already in circulation goes down. You get more credit, but lose in purchasing power. The expanded money supply has disrupted the equilibrium of the market. Our purchasing power goes down and prices go up. That’s inflation.

Fractional Reserve Banking, or creating money out of thin air, isn’t new. It started back in 1619 with the Banco del Guiro in Venice. Governments have allowed the debauching of currency for a very long time, and history has shown that it never works.

Protecting yourself against what happens when a government keeps printing more money is “hedging against inflation.” You buy a real, tangible asset with actual intrinsic value, like real estate or precious metals.

We’ve covered a lot here, and if you’re interested in learning more I can direct you to some well respected experts on the topic. In the meantime, if you want to protect yourself against inflation, look into investing right; real estate is one of the good ways to go. Give me a call, or call your own broker about how to insulate yourself.

Paul Robinson serves as President and Chief Investment Advisor for Gateway Assets in San Diego, conducting general investment analysis, political assessments, market surveys, financial due diligence and site feasibility studies related to company acquisitions.

Gateway Assets
858.348.4690
probinson@gatewayassets.com
www.gatewayassets.com

You’ve identified the commercial property you are interested in purchasing. Now, the question is, will it perform well financially under your management? The seller’s job is to convince you that it will. Your job is to find out whether or not that is really true.

Most of the time the seller will present you with a proforma, which is essentially an educated guess about how the property will perform for you. Since the seller wants to sell, the proforma will paint a rosy picture of the property’s financial potential.

But you want to see the real data, the actuals. Ask for the numbers for the 12 months or couple of years previous. Understand how the property performed month to month. Should you decide to move forward in earnest you’ll want to verify the actual numbers with all bank deposits, we can address this important point in a future post.

Build your own proforma using real data for items like vacancy rate, income from all the renters including those who are delinquent, utilities cost, property taxes, insurance payments, management fees, marketing, monthly repairs and capital improvements. When your proforma is complete you can make an educated, well-analyzed and realistic forecast of the property‘s profit potential.

By doing financial due diligence, you can avoid going into what looked like a perfect situation but turns out to be more of a drain than a profit-maker. To see a sample pro-forma or get some assistance developing one give me a call.

Paul Robinson serves as President and Chief Investment Advisor for Gateway Assets in San Diego, conducting general investment analysis, political assessments, market surveys, financial due diligence and site feasibility studies related to company acquisitions.

Gateway Assets
858.348.4690
probinson@gatewayassets.com
www.gatewayassets.com

Block Leaders:

Chef d’îlot 1 : M. Michel RIBET
1547 Caminito Solidago – La Jolla CA 92037
Tél. Fax/ dom. : 858 551 1837 – Cell : 858 353 6126
Email : horomiti@aol.com

Suppléant : M. Troy ALLPORT
254 Via del Norte – La Jolla CA 92037
Tél. dom : 858 459 5367 – Cell : 858 705 4905
Email : mango@san.rr.com

Chef d’îlot 2 : Mme Flore GEOFFROY-KEARLEY
9890 Aldergrove Lane – Spring Valley CA 91977
Tél. Dom : 619 469 4739 – Cell : 619 251 7530
Email: flogeff@cox.net

Suppléant : M. Gérald GAUCHER
4108 Hilldale Rd – San Diego CA 92116
Dom.: 619 282 3282 – Cell: 858 775 7699
Email: ggaucher@aol.com

More info on French Consulat – Los Angeles

Please click on the links and read carefully the documents:

checklist-Disater kit

FamilyDisasterPlan- San Diego

ESP- Family steps to survival

Triangle of Life – Controversy

Triangle of life – RejoinderToDougCopp

Once you decide to invest in commercial real estate in a particular market, your next job is to find the property you want to buy. As with residential real estate, commercial properties for sale are listed. But if you want to find the very best investment, it’s all about networking.

Here are some areas where you can network when you want to optimize your search:

1. Affinity associations – Attend relevant industry association functions. These might be the local apartment association, or real estate investment clubs. Another example would be the International Council of Shopping Centers if you have chosen retail as the asset type.
2. Commercial real estate brokers – Find CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member)-certified brokers. They specialize in commercial investment real estate, and can leverage their peer network to find you property.
3. Banks – Identify banks in the market area that have REO (Real Estate Owned) departments and look through their listings.
4. Receivers- If a property falls into a distressed situation, a bank will often bring in a company to stabilize the asset. Often times these companies can provide you with great leads. Here in San Diego a good place to locate receivers is the Trigild distressed lenders conference, we’ve built some quality relationships at their events.
5. Property service vendors – Companies who do services for commercial real estate can be excellent leads. These vendors provide services, such as renovations or soda machine installations. They might know property owners and they know whether a property owner pays in a timely manner. If you bring in new money and pay their over-due invoices, they will certainly be glad to chat with you about properties they are servicing.
6. Property management companies –   They can be an excellent source of information for finding properties.

Get to know the market by networking with the right people and, like us, you can ferret out some excellent connections that will lead you to find the investment property you’re looking for.

Paul Robinson serves as President and Chief Investment Advisor for Gateway Assets in San Diego, conducting general investment analysis, political assessments, market surveys, financial due diligence and site feasibility studies related to company acquisitions.

Gateway Assets
858.348.4690
probinson@gatewayassets.com
www.gatewayassets.com

By Ben Mallinger

Money is a more sensitive and emotional topic than politics, religion, or sex.  The last few years have given many of us the opportunity to reflect on what is important in life, where our values truly are.  I have found that many people put primary value on their family, their health, and their God, and secondarily their money.

Human nature…Many times in the locker room at the gym or at the “water cooler” I hear people bragging or boasting about great decisions they have made; making money investing in stocks or real estate, or some other business venture.  But very rarely do I hear people speak openly and honestly about losing money.  Hmm…most of us avoid speaking about these painful memories. Every investor has lost money.  Warren E. Buffett’s firm, Berkshire Hathaway, recently lost 1.41 billion on derivative trading (August 6^th NY Times).

A very wealthy retired physician I know explained to me, at great length, his worst financial decision; buying a very fancy BMW on payments, shortly after graduating from medical school.  He was now a “success” and he felt like he needed a car to let himself and everyone else know of his new position in life. Years later he very much regretted the decision, he bought with his heart.

We all have to do something with our money; spend it, save it, or invest it.  Money and large financial transactions can be highly emotionally charged.  When in doubt, step away and think; do I fully understand how this will cost/benefit me?  What is the worst possible financial ramification of this decision?  Will I lose sleep over this decision?  Do not listen to the people at the “water cooler”; these are the same people who made tons of money on internet stocks in the late 1990’s.

Ben Mallinger is a registered representative with and offers securities through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC

Most employers are aware that diversity is an important value in the workplace. The integration of employees from different cultural backgrounds within a company has been shown to improve business performance and team dynamics. If you are not ready to take the leap, try the less commitment approach – hiring international students for internships. During the internship the student can:

• Increase the creativity of your team

Culture and experience plays a large role in how individuals react to change and solve problems. Having a diverse team of employees brings together many different perspectives and ideas that can be harnessed to achieve higher goals.

• Enhance how your organization relates to international markets

With the world growing smaller each day, cultural intelligence is key when launching a new product or market. International students possess a great wealth of insight and cultural awareness that can help you better target consumers and navigate the nuances of their area of the world.

• Save time and money

There are companies that can assist you in your recruitment process, so don’t hesitate to ask for some help – it is free of charge. They will provide you with top quality candidates matched to your qualifications in a matter of days. (Just keep in mind the timing for a visa – it takes approximately 6-8 weeks to complete the J-1 visa process.)

• Discover gems

Internships are a great pipeline to bring fresh talent into your organization. You may be so impressed with the quality and dedication of the student or graduate you may pick that you decide to extend his or her contract or hire them full-time. It also provides you with the opportunity to train and shape the future managers of tomorrow.

After spending the time to train and integrate your interns in the ways of your company and specific job-related functions, if you choose to make a larger commitment to the student, the transition will be seamless and the return on investment greater.

• Motivated and energetic employees

Students are young, dynamic and mobile with few family ties. Eager to learn and get their hands dirty with different projects, you can introduce them to numerous tasks and they can assist with various aspects of the business. The students are enthusiastic to implement their education and develop their skills in a real business context.

MyInternshipAbroad is a recruiting agency, specializing in placing French students into internships in the United States. MyInternshipAbroad can help companies meet their needs of top university talent, while at the same time helping students sharpen their language skills and experience American culture.

52 Avenue de la grande Begude
13770 Venelles – France
Yves Perret
Phone: +33 (0)4 88 14 80 36
yves.perret@myinternshipabroad.com
www.myinternshipabroad.com