BUILDING BRIDGES
Supporting businesses by lending good money to good businesses.
June 2010 - Vol 3, Issue 6 |
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| Greetings! | |
 Happy June! I hope this newsletter finds each of you looking forward to all the fun activities of summer.
We are excited to introduce a new member of our staff, Sherolyn Shores. She will be working with our clients as an account manager.
Going into the new month, we have added a nice variety of new of clients (i.e. jewelry manufacturing/sales, advertising, delivery services, natural gas equipment repair) partaking of Mazon's factoring services. Mazon's staff strives to provide everyone with accurate and prompt service each day. Please contact us if we can assist you with your accounts and customers.
All the best,
Lisa Mazon
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$$$ Refer & Earn $$$ |
 Business contacts, friends, family and acquaintances -- you just never know when someone you know might need Mazon's accounts receivable services. See our referral program at the end of this newsletter. |
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| Entrepreneur of the Month: Gary Sasser |
 Undoubtedly, when you have traveled any of the nation's in-city or open highways, you have seen one or more red-cab Averitt semi-trucks making the drive right along with you. Thurman Averitt founded Livingston Merchant's Co-op in 1958, a small trucking company that hauled dry goods mostly between Nashville and Livingston, Tennessee. In 1969, Thurman incorporated his small company, which he named Averitt Express, for the purpose of expanding his trucking business to include all of Tennessee. While making regular deliveries in Nashville, Thurman became acquainted with a young dockworker by the name of Gary Sasser who helped him unload his trailer. He found out that Gary had previously served in the United States Marines Corps reserves, and was currently attending the University of Tennessee while working part-time in the transportation business. One day Gary happened to ask Thurman if he would be interested in selling his company. After some thought, Thurman said yes. In October of 1971, Thurman Averitt completed the sale of Averitt Express to Gary Sasser (age 21), which at the time consisted of two associates, three tractors and five trailers.
 Headquartered in Cookeville, Tennessee, Averitt Express, Inc. provides less-than-truckload (LTL) freight transportation service (LTL carriers combine freight from multiple shippers into a single trailer). Today, 39 years after Gary Sasser purchased Averitt Express, it is one of the country's leading privately-owned freight transportation and supply chain management providers, operating more than 100 service centers and serving more than 50,000 points throughout the Southern United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Averitt Express currently has more than 8,208 associates, approximately 4,000 tractors and 11,250 trailers. Since 2000, Averitt has provided ocean and international airfreight transportation services to 100 different countries and more than 300 international destinations. Averitt earned its first $1 million in 1978 and topped the $500 million mark in 1998. Revenue in 2008 was reported at $966.9 million. Gary Sasser's commitment to serving and developing people extends beyond the company of Averitt Express. He is well known personally for his community-minded philanthropic efforts and serves on the boards of several local, state, and national charitable organizations. His vision for Averitt Express has always been to maintain a strong focus on people, demonstrated by providing the best service to its customers and developing the full potential of its associates.
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| Where do my customers send Mazon-factored invoice payments? |
 As a Mazon client, when you present a new customer's invoice for factoring, we will notify your customer of Mazon's mailing address of P.O. Box 166858, Irving, TX 75016-6858 for remitting payments. They may also send payments by FedEx, UPS or courier to our physical address of 600 W. Airport Fwy., Irving, TX 75062. If your customer mails an invoice payment directly to your business address, please do not endorse or deposit any mis-directed payments but submit these payments to Mazon either by personal delivery to us or mail, FedEx, UPS or courier. Payments not received by Mazon will remain outstanding and not be applied to your account, and may result in a charge back to your account.
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Numbers in the News |
 Dr. Donella (Dana) Meadows was a pioneering American environmental scientist, an advocate for the environment, a teacher and writer. She was born on March 13, 1941 in Elgin, Illinois. In 1990, she published "100 People: A World Portrait" to bring to the world's attention the "state of the world" in statistical form, based on the world census at that time. When asked if we have enough time to prevent a catastrophe, she would always say that we have exactly enough time - starting now. Dr. Meadows passed away on February 20, 2001 (age 59) in Hartland Four Corners, New Hampshire from bacterial meningitis. However, her 100-People project continues on at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay. The following most recent world statistics were published in 2006, and are calculated based on Year 2000 estimates of world population (nearly 7 billion) and projections. The report data will again be refined after the Year 2010 Census is completed.
If the World were 100 People: 50 would be female, 50 would be male. 20 would be children, there would be 80 adults, 14 of whom would be 65 and older. There would be 61 Asians, 12 Europeans, 13 Africans and 14 people from the Western Hemisphere. There would be 31 Christians, 21 Muslims, 14 Hindus, 6 Buddhists, 12 people who practice other religions and 16 people who would not be aligned with a religion. 17 would speak a Chinese dialect, 8 would speak Hindustani, 8 would speak English, 7 would speak Spanish, 4 would speak Arabic, 4 would speak Russian and 52 would speak other languages. 82 would be able to read and write, 18 would not. 1 would have a college education. 1 would own a computer. 75 people would have some supply of food and a place to shelter them from the wind and the rain, but 25 would not. 1 would be dying of starvation, 17 would be undernourished and 15 would be overweight. 83 would have access to safe drinking water and 17 would have no clean, safe water to drink.
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| Investment Scams |
 Have you ever been involved in or been tempted to become involved in an investment opportunity that seems too good to be true? Here are things that should alert you to a potential investment rip-off:
· Unsolicited communication such as faxes, emails, text messages, tweets (on Twitter), and strategically placed "opinions" in blogs and message boards.
· Seminars and webinars that use short-term incentives and bonuses.
· Price targets or predictions of swift and exponential growth.
· The use of facts from respected news sources to bolster claims of the size of the market for a new product or technology.
· Mention of associations with or actions by governments that bolster a company's product or service.
· References to actions by well-known companies used to justify growth of the company being touted.
· Claims that they're the next big thing (yes!).
· Products that are only in the development stage.
· Unverifiable claims of enormous energy efficiency.
· Pressure to invest immediately.
(Source: www.scambuster.org)
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| The Golden Butterfly |
 There is a theory that states that the world is so interconnected that a butterfly flapping its wings in San Francisco can create tiny changes in the atmosphere that grow and evolve to eventually create a tornado in China. The same idea applies to us as we go about our day-to-day activities. Consider these two scenarios:
Scenario #1: The Black Butterfly
Jason was feeling intimidated and out of his depth. He was about to go into a crucial client meeting and he was stressed. As he walked to the meeting room, he caught the eye of Laurie, his manager, who was sitting at her desk. Laurie's eyes instantly dropped down to her desk and Jason thought he saw her shake her head dismissively. His mood worsened. He grabbed a cup of coffee and gulped it down, feeling his heart rate increase as the caffeine surged through his body. As the meeting began, Jason was defensive and confrontational. The client became annoyed. Jason retaliated with criticism of the client's proposal. The client called the meeting to a close and consequently awarded his business to a competing firm. In the space of 30 minutes, Jason had lost the company a $2 million dollar contract. Three months later, Jason was looking for a new job.
Scenario #2: The Golden Butterfly
Jason was feeling intimidated and out of his depth. He was about to go into a crucial client meeting and he was stressed. As he walked to the meeting room, he caught the eye of Laurie, his manager, who was sitting at her desk. Laurie beamed a warm smile, gave him the thumbs up and a nod of confidence. Jason smiled in return and felt his nerves settle slightly. He grabbed a cup of water, closed his eyes and took a long cool drink. After several deep breaths, he entered the meeting room nervous but in control. Jason was professional and composed. The client was initially skeptical but as the presentation continued, he warmed to Jason's ideas. The following week, Laurie called Jason into her office and congratulated him on landing a $2 million dollar contract. Three months later, Jason received a promotion.
Just like the story of the butterfly in San Francisco, these examples illustrate that small actions often set into motion a complex chain of events that lead to consequences that we can never fully appreciate. As you go about your day-to-day activities, always remember that you have the ability to release both black and golden butterflies into the world. A warm smile or a well timed word of encouragement often have more impact than you will ever know.
(Reprinted with permission from Dr. Anthony Fernando www.anthonyfernando.com)
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| Notary Facts |
When notarizing a document, Notaries are encouraged to pay particular attention to dates - both the date on the document and the date on the notarial certificate. Notaries should never predate or postdate a notarial certificate - signers who have missed an important deadline will sometimes try to pressure the Notary to put a false date on the certificate to make it appear that the notarization occurred earlier than it actually did. The only lawful date on a notarial certificate is the date the signer actually appeared. If a document is undated, the date on the notarial certificate will become the document date for recording purposes. A document date should always precede or be the same as the date on the notarial certificate - the document date should never follow the notarization date as this would indicate the document had been notarized before it was signed and could cause rejection by a recorder. Notaries should never perform open-ended notarizations (leaving the notarial date blank until all signers have signed the document). If there are multiple signers to a document, each signer will have separate notarizations and separate journal entries.
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| Product Recalls |
 The following recent recalls were issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: SCAN Andersen 10 Wood Burning Stove (Imp: Jotul North America, Gorham, ME); Chain sets sold with Metalux light fixtures (Dist: Cooper Lighting, Peachtree City GA); Targus Universal Wall Power Adapters for Laptops (Mfg: Comarco Inc., Lake Forest, CA); Rechargeable Batteries sold with Portable DVD/CD/MP3 Players (Imp: Coby Electronics, Lake Success NY); Ameristep Plastic Strap-On Tree Step (Mfg: Primal Vantage, Randolph NJ); Lithium-Ion batteries used in Hewlett-Packard and Compaq notebook computers (Imp: Hewlett-Packard, Palo Alto, CA); General Electric-branded 12-cup digital coffee makers (Imp: Walmart Stores, Bentonville, AR); Woven Storage Trunks (Imp: Target Corp., Minneapolis, MN). More details on these and other products including product pictures can be found at www.cpsc.gov. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury call CPSC's hotline at 800-638-2772.
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| June 2010 Holidays, Observances, Celebrations and Events |
June 1: Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins; June 5: World Environment Day; June 6: D-Day, Child Health Day; June 8: Best Friend's Day; June 11: King Kamahameha Day (Hawaii); June 14: Flag Day; June 17: Bunker Hill Day; June 20: Father's Day; June 21: First Day of Summer; June 27: Helen Keller's Birthday; June 28: World War I Day, Paul Bunyan Day. National Flag Week: Week of June 14th; Honor America Days: June 14th thru July 4. June is also National Rose Month and National Dairy Month.
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| Bon Voyage! Tips for Healthy Travel |
Whether you plan to travel to the tropics or hit the slopes at a snowy resort, don't forget to plan for your health! While every destination is different, these tips can help you plan for a safe and healthy trip:
Learn about your destination. Visit the CDC travel health website at www.cdc.gov/travel to learn of any health risks or travel warnings in effect in the country you are planning to visit. It is also important to understand the laws and culture of the places you will be visiting using websites, guidebooks and other media. Think about your health status. No one wants to miss or postpone a trip, but there are times when staying home might be best for health reasons. Have you had any recent illnesses, injuries, or surgeries? Do you have any special health needs, due to disability, pregnancy or a compromised immune system? Take these questions into consideration before you leave home.  See your doctor. The best time to see your doctor is 4-6 weeks before traveling. If it is less than 4 weeks before you leave, you should still see your doctor. You might still benefit from shots or medications and information about how to protect yourself from illness and injury while traveling.
Pack smart. If you're traveling abroad, it is important to bring copies of your passport and travel documents. Place a copy of your passport and travel documents in each piece of luggage, in case you lose the original documents. Don't forget to leave a copy with a friend or relative at home. If you are traveling with prescription medications, bring a copy of your prescription. Pack a note on letterhead stationery from the prescribing physician if you are bringing controlled substances and injectable medications. Plan ahead for illness or injury. Check your health insurance plan to see if they will cover your health needs abroad. Think about purchasing additional health insurance for your trip if your health insurance does not cover you while you are traveling. Pay attention to your health during your trip, and see a doctor if you are injured or feel ill. (Source: www.cdc.gov)
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| Take Time for Father's Day, June 20th |
 Father's Day is officially celebrated in countries around the world - on every continent but Antarctica. There are more than 64 million fathers in America, and one special day of the year when we should say "thank you" to all dads. Perhaps the best way to celebrate is to simply spend time together. Too often, Father's Day is recognized with a greeting card or a less than flattering tie-neither of which has real meaning or adequately expresses the thanks dads deserve for all they do throughout the year. This year, take the initiative to make your Father's Day meaningful and memorable by spending time with your dad. Thank him for letting you be part of his life and giving you so much happiness by just being your dad.
And, Father's Day reminds us about all the great things that come with being a dad every day. Certainly at the top of that list is spending time with your children. Carve time out of your schedule regularly for your children, to listen to them, play with them, and simply be with them. Be a positive and involved influence in their lives now and give them a good foundation for a promising future. You will have a great time along the way.
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| Thoughtful Thoughts |
To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.
Anatole France (1844-1924)
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| Supermarket Urban Myth |
 Walter watched as a woman at his supermarket shopped with a three-year-old girl riding in the child's seat. As they approached the candy section, the little girl asked for some gummie bears and her mother told her, "No." The little girl immediately began to whine and fuss. The mother said softly, "Now Cindy, our shopping is going well. Don't be upset, we'll soon be out of here."
Presently, they came to the ice cream aisle and the little girl began to ask for a popsicle. When told she couldn't have one she began to cry. The mother said gently, "There, there, Cindy, don't cry. Only two more aisles to go and then we'll be at the checkout."
When they got to the conveyer belt the little girl immediately began to demand candy next to the checkout. Finally she threw a tantrum when her mother would not let her have any candy. The mother calmed her saying, "Cindy, we'll be through the checkout in two minutes and then we can go home and have a glass of fruit juice and a nap."
Walter followed them out to the parking lot and stopped the woman to compliment her on her child management. "I couldn't help admiring how patient you were with little Cindy," Walter said.
The mother turned and replied, "Oh, no, I'm Cindy. My little girl's name is Dorothy." |
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Earn 10% Monthly Referral Fees! |
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No Expiration Date!
  Most of Mazon's clients have come to us through referrals of current and former clients. We rely heavily on word-of-mouth marketing to bring in new clients. Our monthly referral payment to you is 10% of our monthly factoring fee (determined at the time of client sign-up) and continues for as long as the business remains with Mazon Associates.
Potential clients include start-up businesses, high-growth businesses, undercapitalized businesses with historical operating losses, businesses with tax liens, turnaround situations. Other potential clients could be businesses who have been turned down for a bank loan and/or do not currently meet a bank's credit criteria; have delivered a service or product to other businesses and have invoices that can be independently verified; expresses cash flow problems and have a cash flow need; and/or companies expecting rapid growth. The potential client can be located in any of the 50 contiguous United States.
Prospects are usually businesses that are manufacturers, distributors and service companies. Traditionally, Mazon has had businesses in the following areas: advertising; apparel, courier/delivery services, environmental service companies; manufacturing; printing; start-up and early stage/growth companies; staffing companies; telecommunications; and transportation.
We do not accept businesses which have a majority of consumer receivables such as retail businesses, progress billings, third party pay medical receivables and certain construction-related businesses.
For more information on our referral program, please contact Lisa Mazon at 972-554-6967 ext. 238 or 1-800-442-2740, or by email lisa@mazon.com.
(You are not required to be a Mazon client to refer a business and receive a referral fee!) | |
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 If you liked this issue of Building Bridges, please forward it to a friend. We invite you to share your newsletter thoughts with us. If you would like to submit an idea, article or joke for consideration in a future issue of Building Bridges, or just want to tell us how we are doing, please email our creator and editor, Linda Burson, at MazonNewsletter@Mazon.com.
Building Bridges carries no paid advertising. All articles, images and links are for our readers' knowledge and enjoyment only.
Mazon Associates, Inc.
600 W. Airport Fwy., Irving, TX 75062
P.O. Box 166858, Irving, TX 75016
Telephone: 972-554-6967 Toll Free: 800-442-2740
Fax: 972-554-0951
Business Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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