The BOSS Network Blog

Where did the time go? In less than a month, the enrollment period for 2016 will start.  Are you ready? Or are you the one reading this that is still in shock from the 2015  enrollment period? How do you get ready? Take a deep breath and prepare to be  empowered. Below you will discover five steps to help you get ready for the enrollment  period.  First:  Review your current health insurance plan. Look at your monthly premium,  deductible and what y our co-pays are. Have you been notified by your insurance  company that your rates are increasing or staying the same? If your rates are increasing, what is different in the new plan from the existing plan? Ask the questions. Second: What has changed with your health? Do you take more medications? Do you  take less? Are you eating better and drinking more water or are you going along with the  status quota when it comes to your health? How you take care of yourself from day to day...

Karen Maria Alston , A leader in the marketing industry, Karen Maria Alston has proven to be one of many top innovative and visionary thinkers in the business. Karen began her career at Fortune 100 companies such as JP Morgan Chase, MBNA America Bank and America Online. In 2002, Karen left her career in corporate America & founded Alston Marketing Group  www.alstonmarketing.com Her extensive client list features government & non profit entities in the Mid Atlantic region. Karen has been features in numerous publications  including Black MBA, Essence, DC Modern Luxury, Black Enterprise and many others. TheBOSSNetwork: What were some obstacles that you faced in the beginning process of  starting your business or career? Karen Alston :  I was so green. I knew I was well trained from school but unprepared for corporate America. I am so thankful for learning my craft at the hands of some of the best  marketers on Wall Street a...

Makeba Green , started her nonprofit OMG Enterprise at the age of 13. Makeba is currently an author, photographer, educator,  media mogul, community activist, she has had the chance to impact the world because of her obstacles she has faced. TheBOSSNetwork: What were some obstacles that you faced in the beginning process of  starting your business or career? Makeba Green: Some obstacles that I faced at the age of 13 years old when I started my business are the same obstacles that I face now that I’m 21. People judge me and treat me with less respect because of my age, the color of my skin & because I’m a woman. Unfortunately, many people let that be a determining factor of if they would work with or take me seriously with my nonprofit & my entrepreneurial goals and aspirations. Even with me being a student. I had to constantly prove that I was actually worthy enough for people to even refer to me as an entrepreneur, or student, instead I was always hearing “Oh ...

Nia Perry,  Is undeniably blessed. With a diverse career in marketing, sales, public relations, event management, digital media, and advertising, she’s worked in myriad vertical markets such as fashion, retail, hospitality and education. By God’s grace, her greatest accomplishments have been marrying her supportive husband and having two amazing children. TheBOSSNetwork: What were some obstacles that you faced in the beginning process of starting your business or career?  Nia Perry : Starting my career, I was so focused on what I thought wanted to do, which at that time was event planning and design. I studied it, receiving an Event Management Certification from George Washington University, and even picked up floral design. However, I learned and continue to learn to this day, that if my heart is not fully engaged in a project, and if I do not properly plan my business goals, than all of my hard work will be in vain. BN: What inspired you to break into your particular...

Have you ever thought about writing down all the things you do and get done in a day?! As a single parent, I tried making a list and I overwhelmed myself. Nothing but the grace of God could enable to do all that I do. Now, I am not tooting my own horn, it’s just that as I embark on this entrepreneur journey, I have been doing some soul searching and quizzing of myself to make sure I can handle the marathon. I have taken the “see if you have what it takes to be an Entrepreneur” test, I have networked with some small business owners, read books and prayed. As I reflect on where I have come from and consider the next chapter in my life, I’m excited to find that I really do have what it takes to bring my idea to fruition! Do you have an idea, product or service that you have had in the back of your mind but haven’t given much thought to pursuing because for whatever the reason you just haven’t, maybe you should. As I usually focus on opportunities and life balance for single pare...

Maybe you’ve been in line at a store and witnessed a difficult customer; maybe  you yourself have been the difficult customer; maybe you have experienced the difficult customer at your business/place of employment, and things didn’t end well. In any instance, you may have wished for the experience to be over quickly. Did you ever stop to think that an interaction with a difficult or unsatisfied customer is a “good thing”? Yes, it absolutely is. In the moment, you may not feel this way, but handling the difficult customer will help to ensure growth in your business, and will guide future interactions with ALL of your customers. 1. If you made an error, be sure to admit fault and offer a sincere apologize. There may be a situation that you could very well be wrong; but we are all human, and as humans, we will make mistakes. Sometimes your instant acknowledgment of the error, and your sincere apology, will often diffuse the situation. What You’ve Learned: To pay closer attentio...

Dr. Taffy Wagner is a Personal Finances Educator and President of Own Your Health Care, LLC. She educates people online and offline about health insurance, alternatives to health insurance, money and marriage and personal finances. You can visit her website at www.ownyourhealthcare.com . It never stops. No matter the day or time I talk to uninsured callers, I consistently discover they are unaware of the exemptions and waivers for not having health insurance. When I start educating them about the process, they often say “Doc, I didn't know that!” Whose responsibility is it to tell them this critical information? The tax preparer, the accountant, or the government who instituted these exemptions and waivers in the first place? Whether or not you can answer that question, I decided to share the answers in this post. Why? Even with the enrollment period for 2015 being over, there are some of you reading this that will be affected because you didn’t purchase health insurance. Ba...