May 12-16

Tuesday, May 13

Barry Moltz

To purchase a copy of the book:
Bounce!

You Need to Be a Little Crazy

TIPS:
1. Find a Potential Business Partner. Find people who share your passion, drive and commitment for the product or service you're selling. This way, you'll be able to combine and share financial capital, resources and expenses. Also, you're building a strong personal and professional support structure as you will need it.

2. Show me the customers. Know your market, do some informal market research by canvassing people about your product or service, whether they'd make the purchase and for how much. It's the best way to gauge if there is a market for what you're offering and enable you to set an appropriate pricing structure.

3. Establish immediate cash flow where possible. Be mindful of cash flow, rather than profit when getting started. Ask customers to pay in advance, with cash, or leave a deposit. If you can get your customers to pay a deposit or pay you when you deliver your product, your company will be stronger.

4. Pick the Niche. In the beginning, focus on being the best at delivering one thing. Don't stretch yourself and resources too thin.

5. Give Outstanding Customer Service. Great customer service, unless you are a utility company, is the only sustainable competitive advantage. Do it!

6. Be Thrifty. It's your money. Spend no dollar before its time. Find resources that are both variable and available. Don't unnecessarily grow yourself broke by increasing your fixed overhead costs.

7. Don't Bet the Farm (or any other part of your property). Many times, businesses need to evolve and change. Don't bet all of your money on the initial vision of your company. Keep some of your money in reserve in case you need to alter your direction.

Stedman Graham

AthletesAgainstDrugs.com

AAD Celebrity Gala
The Hilton Lisle/Naperville
Regency Ballroom
3003 Corporate West Drive
Lisle
5:30 p.m.

AAD Celebrity Golf Challenge
White Eagle Golf Club
3400 Club Dr.
Naperville, IL
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

Arianna Huffington

To purchase a copy of the book:

Right Is Wrong: How the Lunatic Fringe Hijacked America, Shredded the Constitution, and Made Us All Less Safe

Event
7:00 p.m.
Borders
830 N Michigan Ave.

Chef Gale Gand

TRU
676 N Saint Clair St.
Chicago
www.trurestaurant.com

The recipes are posted at: www.wgntv.com/recipes

Wednesday, May 14

Fareed Zakaria
To purchase a copy of the book:
The Post-American World

Event:
Tuesday, May 13
Hilton Chicago
720 South Michigan Avenue, second floor
5:30 registration/reception
6 p.m. 1/2 hour presentation
Followed by 1/2 hour q & a
7:15 book signing

Julie Edelman
To purchase a copy of the book:
The Ultimate Accidental Housewife

Thursday, May 15

Botanic Backyard

A Bloomin' Sale
May 17-18
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
(847) 835-5440
www.chicagobotanic.org

QUESTION:
Can you recommend plants that deer won't eat? --Don from Willard, Wisconsin

TIPS:
Perennials: Yarrow, Lady's mantle, columbine
Shrubs: boxwood, spirea, smokebush, forsythia
Trees: ginkgos, birch, redbud, beech
Protect new growth with netting
Repellents are costly, smell and need to be re-applied

QUESTION:
What is an "invasive" plant? --Megan from Buffalo Grove

TIPS:
Buckthorn, garlic mustard extremely invasive
Invasives compete with natives for water and light; invasives always win
Replace according to landscape needs; use Serbian spruce, hemlock, and arborvitae
Shrubs: dogwoods, viburnums, hydrangea
Perennials: black-eyed Susan's, sedges, grasses, woodland Joe-Pye weed

Sara Moulton

The recipe is posted at: www.wgntv.com/recipes

Please note the Gourmet Wine Cellar event is sold out. Tickets are not available at the door.

Friday, May 16
Live Music - Paddy Casey
Appearing:
Tonight
Vic Theatre
3145 N Sheffield Avenue
www.paddycasey.com
To purchase a copy of the cd:

Addicted to Company

Meet Nick Chavez
Saturday, May 17
Ulta
456 E. Rand Road
Arlington Heights
www.qvc.com

Wolfgang Puck

The recipe is posted at: www.wgntv.com/recipes