Brand your own company by using digital stortytelling

This blog is intended to help people that are seeking information about small business, entrepreneurship, and building their brand. (Branding & Marketing)

How can you tell your STORY using social media as a platform?  First you need to find out WHAT is your story....

Below you will find a list of questions that should start to help you discover your goals.  You'll also see a short "hint" question to get your creative juices flowing.  Take the proper time to answer the questions and start building your brand.

1. What are your goals?
What should people think when your name comes up, when they talk about you, or what you do?

2. What should be accomplished by your online presence?
Attract more qualified clients, look as professional as big companies, establishing a reputation?

3. What should people know you for?
Expert of organic food, go-to guy or girl for technology, most fresh flowers in Los Angeles.

4. Start to GOOGLE search everything........ Maybe some of you like Bing?
Doing research is a huge part of any business.  Who is the person that has a high status in the field that you're in?  Google them, what comes up?  Take notes from the best.

5. Are you unique?  Do you add value? IDENTIFY how you do this.
This can be how you approach projects, your philosophy, experience.
   -What is your voice; what do you have to say to the world?
   -What could you teach others?
   -What do you want to influence and what can you already influence?

This is a VERY short list of questions and ideas that can help a new business person get started on building their brand and start marketing their idea.

Very Respectfully,

George Ohan
Entrepreneur

Photography by: George Ohan 

                                                Charco Azul, Vega Baja, Puerto Rico

How do you take a person to small claims court in California

CALIFORNIA - Small Claims - Basic Info

I am not an attorney, but I have provided some basic guidance of the law in California dealing with small claims court.  Most business people and entrepreneurs will have their day in court and this is just a quick reference guide to questions that you might be having.  Please consult an attorney licensed in the state of California for any legal matters that you may be experiencing and the most current laws.

The basics of suing someone in California small claims court are fairly simple.  Plantiff must be at least 18 years old or an emancipated child.  An individual or sole proprietor may file as many claims as they wish up to $2,500 per year.  However, they can only file two claims that exceed$2,500 per calendar year.

In general, a person cannot ask for more than $10,000 for a claim, and businesses cannot ask for more than $5,000.  You are allowed to speak with an attorney before you go to small claims, but cannot have an attorney represent you at court.  The typical types of claims that are filed include, but are not limited to: property damage from car accidents, homeowner association disputes, tenant security deposits, and damage to property by a neighbor.

Generally, the statue of limitations runs out at 2-4 years on most issues concerning small claims.  The filing fee is $100 for any claims that range from $5,000 - $10,000.  If you are suing someone you are required to attend court 20-70 days after you file your claim.  The only exemption to this is for people serving on active duty in the Armed Forces.  If you are the person that filed the claim you are not allowed to appeal a decision.  However, if someone else filed a claim against you and you lose, you can appeal.

Additional Note by Mr. Dale Nowicki:  It should be noted that with the decreased court budgets, all cases will likely be ordered to mediation. If you are a party to a case, it would be good to show the court that you've tried in good faith to resolve this both before and after the case is filed. Everyone wants to have their day in court and feel justice is done, but less than 2% of all cases actually go to trial, so don't have high expectations. Just be reasonable, but always protect and assert your rights.

I hope this helps clear up a few things.

Very Respectfully,

George Ohan
Entrepreneur

Thank you to Mr. Bob Woods in Hollywood, California for teaching me this stuff in 2013 while I was his student in Business Law class.

Photography by: George Ohan - Puerto Rico

Leadership for Entrepreneurs that love technology

I love to promote LEADERSHIP.  Disconnect from the technology and discover PEOPLE again for the first time.  Invest in people.  If you're reading this it's because you're now ready for this information.  The 12 lessons below should be read carefully.  The lessons should be investigated, questioned, tried, and put to the test.  The words that you will be reading were created by a true leader and champion, Mr. John Wooden.  I hope this short blog will help you grow in a positive manner with all aspects of your life.  (Professional, Personal, Spiritual, Financial)

12 Lessons in Leadership:

1. Good values attract good people
2. Love is the most powerful four-letter word
3. Call yourself a teacher
4. Emotion is your enemy
5. It takes 10 hands to make a basket
6. Little things make big things happen
7. Make each day your masterpiece
8. The carrot is mightier than the stick
9. Make greatness attainable by all
10. Seek significant change
11. Don't look at the scoreboard
12. Adversity is your asset

Take a moment to think about which one of those 12 things really hit home with you.  Take action!

"I have not known, heard of, or read about any individual anywhere who achieved real success without working extremely hard. In fact, the great successes we all know about are individuals who almost always have greatly outworked their competition."  - John Wooden

Suggested Reading: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections
www.CoachJohnWooden.com

Very Respectfully,

George Ohan
Entrepreneur

Carambola a.k.a. Star Fruit - Puerto Rico - Photography by: George Ohan

How to make money as a photographer

Photographers are real people too, ya know?  We have feelings, we have financial obligations, and some of us even have mothers.  OK?!   :-)

If your toilet was clogged, would you call the plumber and ask him to "hook you up on a free gig?"  The list goes on: mechanic, barber, chef, doctor, electrician, all of those people get paid for their services.... Right?

WHY should I pay a professional photographer?

1. His or Her TIME
2. Equipment - Digital camera & Lens package
3. Flash & Lighting
4. Memory cards or Film
5. Education, Training & Practice required to know this skill
6. Travel expenses
7. Time to process images in post-production
8. Promotional & website costs
9. Income tax for freelance
10. Phone
11. Food
12. Housing
13. Living expenses

.....but you can get good "Exposure" & "Experience" for your efforts.

MESSAGE FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS:
------------------------------------------------
GET PAID, OR STARVE ARTIST.  You have to start getting paid for your craft at some point.... That point is NOW.  Start charging people what you are worth.  You are adding value to their situation with your art and craft.  They must respect your art with their wallets.  I hope this motivates a new photographer to start earning income and building their future.  You can be happy by getting paid to do what you love to do.  What services do you provide?  How much does it cost?  Make a list.

 (Some situations a barter is acceptable)

Very Respectfully,

George Ohan
Photographer
Puerto Rico
7/21/15

Photography by: Madlen G Photography
Los Angeles, CA
https://plus.google.com/+MadlengPhotography/posts

------------------------
Post Inspired by:
"HIRING A PHOTOGRAPHER OR WANTING TO USE THEIR IMAGES"
Mr. Dean Kirkland
(949) 433-2831
www.kirklanddigital.com

How to start a simple blog for writers

If you’re a writer and you’d like to start posting your content online for the world to read, it is a good idea to start a simple blog and learn as you go.

I’ll keep this short and sweet because I know you creative types hate research and want to get back to creating.  I get it.  

Set up Gmail account

Set up BLOGGER a.k.a. (YourName/blogspot.com)

Click “New Blog” in the top left corner

Name your Blog -  sample - “Thoughts of an indie creative”

Watch some YouTube videos about how to configure your Blog

Click "New Post" in the top left corner

Write something short, sweet, and awesome! (Tag me, I want to read it!)

Always add proper labels (a.k.a. Tags) on your post
Share it on Google+

It’s not perfect, but you can start sharing your stories with the world and see who likes it.

There are many different blogs, but I like Blogger because Google owns it and it helps with Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) when people search for your content.

Thank you for taking a read!

Very Respectfully,

George Ohan

Producer

Puerto Rico

Defend La Playa - Art project - Toa Baja, Puerto Rico

RANDOM THOUGHTS BELOW:

"Defiende La Playa."  I saw several signs like that posted on 4^th of July in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico and I was inspired to see what they were about.  It turns out that a small group of people are trying to save their beach from plans of a boardwalk being built on it.  As an indie artist I took this opportunity to create an art project to help spread the word of what’s going on.  My good buddy Mr. Jax was on location making sure that everything was under control while I was working.

Whoever posted those signs inspired me to have many thoughts and things to happen very quickly…..  The next morning after seeing those signs I went back to the beach and started this project.  I encourage anyone to take action on the things that you’re passionate about.  You never know who will be inspired by your passion and enthusiasm about something.  It took me 4 hours to gather: coconuts, bamboo, palm tree leaves, and other beach wood to use as the materials needed to create my art project.   Thank you for the exercise mystery sign poster!  Over 20 people stopped and asked me what I was doing, so I had a chance to explain to them about “Defiende La Playa.”  I also took this opportunity to ask them to join us at Team Red, White & Blue, Puerto Rico and help out with a trash pick-up day at the beach.   

*I taught my rescue dog Jax how to swim in the ocean for the 1^st time today. 

LIFE LESSON FROM NATURE:  Seeing new trees blooming from coconuts in the sand really got me to think about trusting the universe to do exactly what she does best.  Producing life and showing us how faithful she will always be.  Faith.  Those coconut shells are very hard, so the amount of work it would take for one to break through and become a tree is massively difficult….. but, there were 100’s of coconut trees thriving, just like every person should be doing.  THRIVING!  Trust in the universe.

I chose to create the project in Spanglish to show Americano support for the cause.   That’s why it says “Defend La Playa” instead of Defiende.  The best part was being able to photograph the creation after I finished.  I had one of those weird photographer moments when I realized that I forgot my wide lens at home, but I got over it and made it work with what I had.   Overall, I had a GREAT day!  I will say that this project was hard to do.  At the end of the day I was mentally and physically drained, but I feel very accomplished for completing something that I started. 

A guy named Kenneth told me that he was inspired to join a clean up day at the beach after he saw me building my project.  In exchange I let him know my goal was to have at least 1 person ask me about what I was doing out there.  It was cool to see “Art” working full circle.  I know that my project will be washed away by the ocean, but that was going to be my excuse for not building it.  I asked myself, will it make a difference while it exists?   Until it exists, we would never know.  So, I went to work with passion. Now the image of my piece will exist as a piece of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico history.

#DefiendeLaPlaya #DefendLaPlaya #ToaBaja #PuertoRico ToaBajaPR

We gotta start somewhere......

I wanted to quit and act like I never even started this project when I realized this was going to take commitment.  My integrity didn't allow me to do it.... AAAAND, Mr. Jax was watching me.

Ok Ok now we're getting somewhere!

Only the strong survive

The universe does it again.  :-)

Spelling with coconuts...

Mr Jax watching over the stash.

He was feeling himself!

His good side.

DEFEND La PLAYA

#Bamboyz 

Selfie - Artist - George Ohan

Defend La Playa

Traveling the Earth screening my films! GI Film Festival

The GI Film Festival was a great time this year!  I am proud to say that I knew a lot of the people on and off the big screen.  (VFT members - Veterans in Film & Television) The military veteran community and its supporters are a class act!  I can’t remember the last time when I met so many fascinating people in such a short amount of time. 

Many times as we are producing our films there is no telling what will come of the project, but the GI Film Festival gives veterans like myself a quality platform to screen our work and tell the stories that our community cares about.  I saw so many fantastic films in one week, but If I had to name two films that you MUST see….. KAJAKI & BATTLE SCARS.  You wont be disappointed.

I’d like to personally thank the Co-founders of the GI Film Festival, Mr. Brandon Millet & Mrs. Laura Law-Millet.  They are a great example of leadership in the veteran community.   The entire staff was a pleasure to work with especially Carizza Gutierrez and Miss Linda!  I am a huge supporter of veterans, their families, and civilians building partnerships in our communities.  The GI Film Festival helps to bridge a gap between civilians and veterans by using art and digital media as the common ground of understanding.

Very Respectfully,

George Ohan

Producer

(559) 451-1370

georgeohan@gmail.com

I had 2 films that were selected for GIFF 2015:
The Flag -
http://politichicks.com/2015/04/interview-with-john-duffy-director-of-short-film-the-flag/

Just Another Dance With My Father -
https://www.facebook.com/JustAnotherDanceWithMyFather

#GIFF15
http://giff15.com/