Mountain Views News          Saturday, January 16, 2016

13

BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS

 Mountain Views News Saturday, January 16, 2016 


FAMILY MATTERS By Marc Garlett


THE BEST GIFT YOU CAN 
LEAVE TO YOUR LOVED 
ONES

 

A Wisconsin woman, whose story was widely 
reported in media nationwide, has died. Heather 
McManamy, who was diagnosed with cancer in 
2013, was told her condition was terminal in 2014.

She began reflecting on what the future lives of her 
friends and family would be like, after she passed 
away, and gained national popularity as the dying 
mother who had written cards for many of her 
daughter’s future milestones.

 She particularly wanted to communicate life 
lessons and advice to her daughter, Brianna, who 
was only a toddler. So McManamy decided to write 
greeting cards for big events in her daughter’s life, to 
be opened as each occasion took place.

 The Wisconsin mom left over 40 different cards 
for events in her daughter’s life, including formal 
events such as birthdays and her wedding, as well as 
informal ones, such as advice for bad days and her 
first breakup.

 McManamy also prepared a note for her husband 
to post on her Facebook page, which he did after her 
death in December. Her note showed her love of life 
and for her friends and family.

 McManamy’s announcement of her death, like 
her greeting card notes to her daughter, left wise 
advice for its readers:

 “From the bottom of my heart, I wish all my 
friends long, healthy lives and I hope you can 
experience the same appreciation for the gift of each 
day that I did. . . . Please do me a favor and take a 
few minutes each day to acknowledge the fragile 
adventure that is this crazy life. Don’t ever forget: 
every day matters.”

 McManamy’s memoirs will be published in book 
form in April 2016, “Cards for Brianna: A Lifetime 
of Lessons and Love from a Dying Mother to Her 
Daughter.”

 McManamy’s positive attitude and writings also 
serve as sage advice of something we too often 
forget. Preparing for and facing death openly and 
honestly is a gift to our loved ones because it allows 
us to leave behind what really matters, not just what 
we’ve accumulated financially, but our wisdom, our 
love and our leadership. 

 That’s why we build Family Legacy Interviews 
into our estate planning process, so we can help 
you leave behind what really matters. Give us a call 
today if you want to ensure you leave a legacy of love 
to the people you care about most. 

Dedicated to your family’s wealth, health, and 
happiness,

A local attorney and father, Marc Garlett is on a 
mission to help parents protect what they love most. 
His office is located at 49 S. Baldwin Ave., Ste. G, 
Sierra Madre, CA 91024. Schedule an appointment 
to sit down and talk about ensuring a legacy of love 
and financial security for your family by calling 
626.587.3058 or visit www.GarlettLaw.com for 
more information.

THE FIRST TWO WORDS COUNT

Composing a good subject line for your email 
campaign is important. According to a study 
done by Constant Contact, the first two words in 
an email’s subject line determine if the recipient 
will read the rest of the subject line. Here are a few 
ideas:

 Use humor and pronouns: Your dog stinks. We 
can help. 

 Use problem solving lingo: Your dog stinks. Our 
groomer can help.

 Use pronouns: we, you, your, our, you’re etc.

Ask a question: Did you know our shoes have 
wings?

 Try a single word: BOGO

 Be positive: Good News. Our slippers come in 
pink now!

 Be informative and straightforward: Update: 
The event has been cancelled

 Use numbers: 5 tips to help you win the power 
ball 

 Make it personal: You requested more 
information. Here it is.

 Be Inclusive: Your invitation to the VIP event.

Announce: Introducing our new groomer.

 

About MJ: MJ and her brother David own 
HUTdogs, a creative services and digital marketing 
business. “Like” them on Facebook for trending 
news in social media, internet marketing and 
other helpful tips, www.facebook.com/hutdogs.

Sign up for their upcoming workshops at: www.
hutdogs.com/workshops/schedule 

BUSINESS TODAY

The latest on Business News, Trends and Techniques


By La Quetta M. Shamblee, MBA

THE ART OF WAR: A Guidebook For Business Success

 Initial apologies are in order to those who take offense to the use of war as a teaching tool 
for entrepreneurs, but the lessons found in the study of military strategy are too numerous and 
too valuable to bypass. On a positive note we can glean important lessons to apply to business 
from any situation, including The Art of War, an ancient military treatise that has influenced war 
strategy for more than 2,000 years.

 Attributed to Sun Tzu (pronounced “Sun Wu” or “Sunzi”), a high-ranking general, strategist and 
tactician, The Art of War is composed of 13 chapters, each devoted to a specific aspect of warfare. 
Sun Tzu is thought to have lived at some time between 771-476 B.C., the time period recognized 
by some historians as China’s Spring and Autumn Period. Some historians have questioned Sun 
Tzu’s authenticity, wondering if he was a real person or simply a created legendary persona, but 
some facts are unquestionable.

 The year 1772 marked the beginning of the book’s 
importance on an international scale when it was translation 
into French. The first completed English version was 
published in 1905. Although intended as a guidebook for 
the most debased of mankind’s activities of destruction, 
The Art of War continues to have a profound impact on 
planning, strategy and tactics for military, business and legal 
applications. We can approach a study of this document with 
the goal of identifying the silver linings that can be applied 
for productive enterprise toward economic stimulus and job 
creation.

 The following list includes the area of focus detailed in 
each of the 13 chapters in The Art of War. The Chinese-to-English translation may have varying 
nuances regarding the meaning of specific words, but the principles are ready-made to apply to 
business. 

1. Assessment – take a look at everything and layout your plans
2. Economize – proceed in a manner that won’t exhaust all of your efforts and resources in one 
single engagement 
3. Maximize – work smarter, not harder by outsmarting and outwitting your opponent 
4. Formidability – establish yourself in the best position possible, then be flexible as to when 
you need to attack (proceed aggressively) and when you need to defend (protect your turf)
5. Intangibility – fight head-on when needed and indirectly when it is to your advantage
6. Imperceptibility – operate under the illusion of what you want your enemy (competitor) to 
know about you, while being tactical with the implementation of your real plan
7. Out-Maneuver – be clever and perhaps fire the first shot (be the first to do something new, 
but do it with excellence), even if silently; don’t put yourself into a position that will force you to be 
reactive
8. Strategy – use your knowledge of your opponents, allies and terrain to your advantage in 
every situation
9. Vigilance – keep moving and maneuvering your team toward your ultimate goal
10. Situational Positioning – pick the best strategy and use the tactics most appropriate to the 
terrain on which you operate
11. The Nine Terrains* – become a master at knowing the nine types of environments in 
which you will operate so that you will appropriately apply the principle above (*dispersive, facile, 
contentious, open, in midst of intersecting highways, serious, difficult, hemmed-in and desperate)
12. Use Fire – attack with fervor and passion; move fast like the wind, but apply the passion only 
to the areas that will result in strategic advantage
13. Intelligence – study your opponents and learn from their strengths and weaknesses


 The Art of War was written for one purpose – to serve as a training manual to win on the 
battlefields. Today, entrepreneurs can use it for a constructive purpose, developing strategies 
and tactics to start, operate and build successful, profitable businesses.

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A treatise is defined as 
a formal and systematic 
written discourse on a 
subject, generally longer and 
more indepth than an essay, 
with a focus on investigating 
or exposing the underlying 
principle that pertain to the 
subject.


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Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com