The American Small Business Chamber of Commerce was founded to restore the vibrancy, innovation, profitability and community strength of America’s small businesses. Main Street America is desperately in need of business leaders who care about our families and our communities, and who will grow businesses in our neighborhoods restoring economic vibrancy and community vitality.

Small business owners care about their workers and their communities. We know how families are impacted by jobs sent overseas, and feel the frustration every day as consumer demand stagnates, unemployment grows, and capital readily available for business lending is held aside exclusively for our big-business competitors, the American Small Business Chamber of Commerce says on its website: http://www.americansbcc.org/get-started.aspx.

“With the growing epidemic of counterfeit components flooding the market, we have created more jobs building a climate of employment for citizens in our community and state,” said Joseph Federico from NJ MET’s headquarters in Clifton, New Jersey.

In addition Joseph Federico added that he participated in the 8th annual National Small Business Federal Contracting Week in Washington DC. on March 26, 2012 to explore services and opportunities in the electronics industry.

For more information about the American Small Business Chamber of Commerce, please visit their website at: http://www.americansbcc.org

NJ MET is an independent electronics laboratory providing, electronic testing, upscreening and counterfeit detection for electronic components. To learn more about NJ MET, please call Joseph Federico at their Clifton, New Jersey headquarters at (973) 546-5393 or visit the NJ MET website:http://www.njmetmtl.com

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“As someone who has played organized sports and have children who have played organized sports, I know first-hand that it’s hard to keep players motivated through a long season and then a post-season tournament,” says Ted Struhl, CEO of Successories. “The best basketball coaches are master motivators, and there’s much business managers can learn from them and apply to workforces to keep employees motivated year-round.”

Struhl pointed to these top 10 tips we can learn from basketball coaches to improved employee motivation:

1. Recognize the importance of individual motivation. As Vince Lombardi said, “Coaches who can outline plays on a blackboard are a dime a dozen. The ones who win get inside their players and motivate.”
2. Be a teacher. The best coaches know that instead of focusing on winning and losing (the bottom line), helping a player learn what to do reaps the greatest motivation and growth.
3. Explain the reason why. If your team doesn’t understand why it must perform certain drills – or in this case, repeated work tasks – they will quickly lose motivation. Explaining a reason why is a proven psychological trigger that causes people to take a desired action.
4. Celebrate small successes – both team and individual. It’s a long season (or fiscal year). Show your team that you are committed to seeing them improve by celebrating specific goals and achievements so they can experience success in the short term.
5. Relentlessly reward hard work. Coaches get what they reward. Publicly praise a player each practice for finishing first in a sprint or drill, and watch the other players vie for that attention.
6. Measure performance. There are a multiple of stats that can be measured on a basketball team, from points, rebounds and assists per game to shooting percentage to minutes on the floor. It’s the same in the business world. It can be number of calls made to number of items shipped to number of articles written. Measurement can help keep personal, internal motivation stoked.
7. Show you care and improve relationships. Watch any player interview during the tournament and you’ll notice they ALL say that their relationship with their coach is special. This is true of ex-players, YEARS after leaving school. Just imagine if you had that type of relationship with your employees.
8. Inspire your players. Phil Jackson is famous for quoting Zen philosophy to his players. Morgan Wooten was famous for reciting motivational poems. However you choose, addressing your team in an inspiring manner yields motivation.
9. Find out what motivates each player. Bobby Knight can still be heard on the radio exhorting the fact that not all players should be treated the same. Some need to be propped up, some need a kick in the pants (though I am not sure that’s the phrase Coach Knight would use). The same is true of your employees on an individual level – what works as motivation for one may not work for another.
10. Take a break. Coach Jim McGannon thinks one of the most important ways to keep players motivated is to encourage them to get AWAY from the game several times a year. Recently, at Successories, we held our own “March Madness,” where employees competed in a 2-person basketball shot-making tournament. The championship was played to a packed house and was followed by an awards ceremony and gourmet pizza luncheon. While it may have been 2-3 hours of employees not working, it gave everyone a much-deserved break and let them just enjoy each other’s company.

“Good luck to the four teams left in the tournament. I know that each team’s coach is pulling out all the stops in trying to find the best ways to keep their players motivated for just two more games. It may just be motivation and will that determines the ultimate champion,” Struhl concluded.

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About Successories

Successories offers exclusive, high-quality products and programs for your motivational, recognition and promotional needs. Having motivated more than 1 million customers, Successories is the authority on motivation and presents in-depth information on how to motivate yourself and your employees on a daily basis. Successories allows you to personalize any motivational or recognition product – or even design one yourself – with its innovative, unique “Create Your Own” online tool. Successories also features iQuote, the largest curated collection of motivational quotes, diligently maintained by in-house Quoteologists. For more, please visit www.Successories.com.

“Over the years, our laboratory and engineering staff has taken tremendous pride in the practice of the proper ESD procedures per DOD-STD-1686, DOD-HDBK-263 and ESD 20.20 when handling packages and component at ESD stations throughout our work environment,” said Joseph Federico.  Mr. Federico also serves as Director of Operations at NJ MET, supervising the engineers and engineering assistants at NJMET’s Clifton New Jersey laboratory.

“From the moment components arrive at our site to the moment they leave our lab, components are handled strictly according to ESD procedures,” Joseph Federico added.
NJ MET provides professional electronic component testing to the Commercial, Military, Aerospace, Industrial and Automotive fields worldwide. Its state of the art Mission Imposter® Counterfeit Components Detection Process identifies counterfeit or cloned products.  NJ MET also provides consulting and testing services to the pharmaceutical, medical device and general commercial industries.  You can visit the NJ MET web site at http://www.njmetmtl.com for a full list of their testing services.  NJ MET’s main lab and corporate headquarters is located in Clifton, New Jersey, with sales offices in Denver and London and a lab in Hong Kong.

Founded in 1982, the ESD Association is a professional voluntary association dedicated to advancing the theory and practice of electrostatic discharge (ESD) avoidance.  From fewer than 100 members, the Association has grown to more than 2,000 members throughout the world.  The association is chartered to expand ESD awareness through standards development, educational programs, local chapters, publications, tutorials, certification, and symposia.

Although founded and headquartered in the United States, the ESD Association has a strong international flavor. Its members come from more than 30 countries worldwide.  They serve on Association Standards Committees, present technical papers at the annual EOS/ESD Symposium, and provide the communication links with similar organizations in other countries.

The Association has established both formal and informal relationships with similar organizations in various countries.  The formal relationships include the Reliability Center of Japan, Productivity Standards Board (PSB) in Singapore, Electronic Industry Association of Japan (EIAJ), ESD Forum of Germany, ESREF in Europe, and ABRICEM in Brazil.

For more information on the laboratories’ ESD handling practices, please call Joseph Federico at NJ MET, Clifton, New Jersey (973) 546-5393.

For more about Joseph Federico’s role managing engineers and NJMET’s engineering practices, please see http://www.josephfedericoengineer.com

For more information about the Electro Static Discharge Association, visit their website at http://www.esda.org

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“There’s a great quote by Coleman Cox: ‘I am a great believer in luck; the harder I work, the more of it I seem to have’,” says Ted Struhl, CEO of Successories. “Luck is really the result of hard work, which leads to success.”

Struhl recommends these six tips to help increase your “luck.”

1. Create a deadline and then beat it. Having a chance to review your “final” work is when you’ll find that extra something to put the idea or product over the top.
2. Push yourself into uncomfortable positions. We are all creatures of habit and tend to stick to what we know and what works for us. By pushing our limits, we can discover new opportunities and gain new skills and insights we didn’t have.
3. Aim higher. Never be afraid to push yourself to reach new heights – amazing results can happen when you set that bar beyond where you think you can go.
4. Be prepared. If you’re pushing yourself to new limits and raising expectations, you better be prepared by doing extra work and by being ready to jump at new opportunities.
5. Do more. Even if it’s just one more thing each day than you are used to doing. Over the course of a year, you’ll end up doing hundreds of things that you wouldn’t have done ordinarily.
6. Stay positive. This is probably the hardest tip of all. But a happy, positive attitude makes you more productive, more focused and more ready to tackle the work you’re given. Motivation isn’t easy, but it’s an integral part of success.

“Success isn’t easy,” concluded Struhl. “We could all benefit from a little luck – and a lot of hard work.”

# # #

About Successories

Successories offers exclusive, high-quality products and programs for your motivational, recognition and promotional needs. Having motivated more than 1 million customers, Successories is the authority on motivation and presents in-depth information on how to motivate yourself and your employees on a daily basis. Successories allows you to personalize any motivational or recognition product – or even design one yourself – with its innovative, unique “Create Your Own” online tool. Successories also features iQuote, the largest curated collection of motivational quotes, diligently maintained by in-house Quoteologists. For more, please visit www.Successories.com.

“On Sunday April 29th, 2012 team NJ MET will assemble at Lincoln Center in Manhattan at 10:00 am for the walk,” said team leader Joseph Federico (http://josephfedericoengineer.com ), of NJ MET headquartered in Clifton, New Jersey.

Babies need our help. Over the past seven decades millions of babies have been saved from death or disability thanks to advances made by March of Dimes-funded scientists, including 13 Nobel Prize winners, but babies are still in danger.

Every year:

•  500,000 are born prematurely
•  120,000 are born with birth defects

If anyone is interested in participating on NJMET’s 2012 March of Dimes Walkathon team, please call Joseph Federico at NJMET’s headquarters in Clifton, New Jersey at (973) 546-5393.

NJ MET is an independent electronics laboratory providing, electronic testing, upscreening and counterfeit detection for electronic components.To learn more about NJMET, please visit the NJMET website: http://www.njmetmtl.com

NJMET is committed to supporting charities both in the Clifton, NJ area, near NJMET’s main offices and labs, and word-wide, according to Joseph Federico. For more information about NJMET’s charitable efforts, see http://josephfederico.biz/charity/charity.htm

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“On Sunday April 15, 2012, Team NJ MET will assemble at the Liberty State Park- CRRNJ Train Terminal at 8:00 am for the 9 mile walk,” said team leader Joseph Federico, of NJ MET headquartered in Clifton, New Jersey.

“Walk MS is a rallying point, a time and a place for us to stand together – to help raise critical funds that support cutting edge research, drive change through advocacy, facilitate professional education and provide programs and services to help people with MS move their lives forward,” Federico said.

If anyone is interested in participating on NJMET’s 2012 National Multiple Sclerosis Society Walkathon team, please call Joseph Federico at NJMET’s headquarters in Clifton, New Jersey at (973) 546-5393. Please visit NJMET at http://www.njmetmtl.com

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“Lifescapes is just the latest motivational poster collection to feature new options, following quickly on the heels of our recently introduced Infinity Edge Wall Décor Collection™,” explained Ted Struhl, CEO of Successories. “Our most popular Lifescapes motivational images have been transformed into an expansive 24”x30” framed print. With the quality and care you expect from Successories, the full-bleed image and motivational message is printed edge-to-edge and framed using the finest materials and tempered glass.”

The Lifescapes motivational posters collection link the power of nature with the passion for success. Lifescapes motivational posters beautify and infuse a workplace with guiding principles of achievement. Each breathtaking image is balanced with an inspiring quote of individual and corporate motivation for a meaningful experience. The Lifescapes collection features 21 unique images and these motivational posters come in a variety of sizes, matting choices, and framing options.

“These stunning additions to our exclusive Lifescapes Collection make a big motivational and artistic impact in any space,” Struhl concluded.

Successories is also the home of the innovative and unique Create Your Own (CYO) platform, which allows any company or organization to fully personalize their motivational framed prints, desktop marquis, laminated plaques and greeting cards. The CYO platform allows complete control of every step of the process, from size and style, to uploading a company’s unique image to personalizing it with their own slogan or inspirational quote.

For more, visit http://www.successories.com.

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About Successories

Successories offers exclusive, high-quality products and programs for your motivational, recognition and promotional needs. Having motivated more than 1 million customers, Successories is the authority on motivation and presents in-depth information on how to motivate yourself and your employees on a daily basis. Successories allows you to personalize any motivational or recognition product – or even design one yourself – with its innovative, unique “Create Your Own” online tool. Successories also features iQuote, the largest curated collection of motivational quotes, diligently maintained by in-house Quoteologists. For more, please visit www.Successories.com.

NJ MET updated this electronics component test to incorporate a process practice portion from MIL-STD-750 and MIL-STD-883. This update is designed to aid in determining the electronic components marking permanency. It is part of NJMET’s continuing efforts to update its counterfeit electronic component detection program.

“The engineering sophistication of the counterfeiters continues to grow.  The engineering staff at NJMET works to update our testing and devise new ways to spot the counterfeit electronic components,” said Joseph Federico.  As director of operations at NJMET, Joseph Federico (http://josephfedericocliftonnj.net) supervises the engineer staff in the Clifton, NJ laboratory.  Federico spearheaded the creation of NJMET’s Mission Imposter® Counterfeit Electronic Detection program.

The objective of the Dynasolve 711/750 chemical test is to determine the electronic component’s Marking Permanency  by suspending the electronic component half way into the Dynasolve solution while heated at 105ºC.  A sample of at least three devices must be tested.   After being immersed in the Dynasolve solution for 45 minutes, the components should be removed from the solution.  It is recommended to then wipe off the top coating with a brush. MIL-STD requirements for the brush are that it has a handle made of a nonreactive material and have three long rows of hard bristles.  The free ends of the brush shall lie substantially in the same plane.  The brush must be used exclusively with a single solvent and when there is any evidence of softening, bending wear, or loss of bristles, it shall be discarded.

It is required to dip the brush into the solution immediately following immersion of the parts.  The specimen shall be brushed with normal hand pressure (approximately 2 to 3 ounces) for ten strokes on the portion of the specimen where marking has been applied.

Once the test is completed, all three devices and the brush will be observed under the microscopic camera illustrating the resistance to solvent criteria to determine the permanency of the top coating.  Photos will be provided in conjunction with all final disposition of acceptance or rejection.  A final report is then generated.

If you have any questions about this new marking permanency test, the Mission Imposter Counterfeit Electronic Component Detection Program or any of the test services provided by NJ MET (http://njmetmtl.com), please contact Joseph Federico at (973) 546-5393 at their Clifton, New Jersey headquarters.

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NJMET provides professional electronic component testing to the Commercial, Military, Aerospace, Industrial and Automotive fields worldwide. Its state of the art Mission Imposter® Counterfeit Detection Process identifies counterfeit or cloned products.

“If you’re really serious about increasing your team’s efficiency and performance, then these ten tips are a ‘must-do’ for improving teamwork in the workplace and increasing employee motivation,” says Warren Struhl, Chief Inspiration Officer of Successories.

The following tips and activities will not only bring your team together, but also keep them together during the year. Plus they will be focused on company goals at every step during the year, prevent the many performance problems a lack of teamwork cause, and increase employee motivation.

Struhl emphasizes these ten for improving teamwork in the workplace:

1.  Conduct an annual meeting that connects the team with the company’s vision and mission. Provide a context for all of the company’s goals and allows workers to understand where the goals come from.
2.  Create a year-long plan that provides structure and clarity. Help employees understand what goals need to be met during the year and how they can be met.
3.  Break down the year-long plan into shorter-term goals.  Help your team understand the prioritization of goals and increase focus on short-term goals, and provides yardsticks for accountability.
4.   Conduct team meetings at the end of those terms.  A perfect time to re-assess what goals have been met, what priorities need to change, and to see if implemented strategies need adjustment.
5.   Conduct weekly team meetings.  These (short!) meetings can be used by managers to rally the troops, publicly recognize milestones recently met, and keep everyone informed.
6.    Develop a buddy system within each department. Assign each person a partner they can turn to when they need a “second opinion,” technical assistance, or backup on a particularly busy day. This team-within-a-team approach helps everyone achieve their individual goals while creating a “we’re all in this together” environment.
7.  Take time to build one-on-one relationships.  While team meetings are important, it’s just as important to have a handle on each individual’s challenges and concerns at work. A quick check-in can reveal pitfalls that otherwise might not be apparent, especially interpersonal relationships at work that affect teamwork and employee motivation.
8.   Praise whenever possible. Make everyone feel important. Learn to pay effective compliments and compliment everyone with something they do well, even if just subtly. This not only increases employee motivation, but also leads to a better sense of being part of the team.
9.   Build skills and knowledge. Schedule training times for employees to provide greater efficiency and ultimately happier employees. Untrained employees can be divisive and counter to improving teamwork in the workplace.
10.  Celebrate goals that are met publicly and prominently.  Involve your employees in a recognition program that will motivate them as a team and help them learn to work together.

# # #

About Successories

Successories offers exclusive, high-quality products and programs for your motivational, recognition and promotional needs. Having motivated more than 1 million customers, Successories is the authority on motivation and presents in-depth information on how to motivate yourself and your employees on a daily basis. Successories allows you to personalize any motivational or recognition product – or even design one yourself – with its innovative, unique “Create Your Own” online tool. Successories also features iQuote, the largest curated collection of motivational quotes, diligently maintained by in-house Quoteologists. For more, please visit www.Successories.com.

“What brings couples together? Well, I’m not sure we know that. But we do know motivation. So instead of waxing romantic on this holiday of love or pushing pink jester boxers, we suggest you pour your beloved a glass of bubbly, dim the lights, and have a heart-to-heart about Successories!” says Noah Davis, Director of Communications at Successories.

Davis points to the special Valentine’s Day collection the Successories Staff goes googly-eyed over; the products they love the most.

Pride Eagle Infinity Edge Wall Décor
“This image and it’s message motivates and inspires me every time I see it.” – George T.

Building Blocks Award
“It’s a truly unique (and cool-looking) award.” – Peter F.

You’re a Gem! Shining Example
“I love this item because it is a great way to let someone know how important they are! Cute box makes an amazing presentation, great price too!” – April G.

Infinity Edge Motivational Posters Collection
“My fav is the entire collection! All the photographs are beautiful and inspiring and always brings a smile to my face when I see the beauty and style!” Patricia L.

Service Hummingbird – 25 Pack Greeting Cards
“I love the hummingbird; it has a great message for your staff on the front cover and you can write your own message on the inside.” – Susan F.

Imagination Iceberg Infinity Edge
“I love the Imagination Iceberg Infinity Edge because it’s visually exciting with a powerful message.” – Eric H.

Teamwork Magnetic Sculpture
“Ask anyone who sits by me; I tend to fidget when I’m on the phone.  It used to be with pens or with a slinky.  My coworkers prefer this because when I fidget/build with this it’s quiet and doesn’t bother anybody.” – Matt R.

Courage Penguin Motivational Poster
“It’s a poster that tells the story of the little penguin that could. The image is of him at the moment when one decides to make the leap.” – Vinny N.

Interactive Gear Clock Personalized Desk Clock
“I love the sleek, unique design. It works well in the office or at home.” – Katie T.

 Accountability Windmill Infinity Edge Wall Décor

“It’s difficult to measure what I like most about the Accountability Infinity Edge; the image, the quote or the sleek design. Either way this is by far my favorite Successories product!” – Nicole T.

Teamwork Magnetic Sculpture
“Inexpensive and classy looking, I can play with these all day.” – Augusto F.

Diamond Synergy Award
“I love the weight and impressiveness of this elegant award. Combined with a powerful message, this is truly an inspirational award.” – Noah D.

# # #

About Successories

Successories offers exclusive, high-quality products and programs for your motivational, recognition and promotional needs. Having motivated more than 1 million customers, Successories is the authority on motivation and presents in-depth information on how to motivate yourself and your employees on a daily basis. Successories allows you to personalize any motivational or recognition product – or even design one yourself – with its innovative, unique “Create Your Own” online tool. Successories also features iQuote, the largest curated collection of motivational quotes, diligently maintained by in-house Quoteologists. For more, please visit www.Successories.com.