Manfre and Associates Consulting Services

03/01/2025

I watched this movie on Netflix and truly feel inspired to share with others to also watch.

Review: The Forge

The Forge is a powerful film that bridges generations, offering valuable lessons for young adults and adults alike. It’s a moving exploration of resilience, transformation, and the strength that faith and prayer can bring in overcoming life’s challenges.

Why Watch The Forge:

✅ Build Resilience: Shows how life’s trials can refine character and lead to personal growth.

✅ Foster Connection: Inspires viewers to lean on their community, friends, and family during tough times.

✅ Encourage Reflection: Highlights the transformative power of self-awareness and the importance of reevaluating priorities.

✅ Strengthen Faith: Illustrates how faith and prayer can provide clarity and strength in moments of uncertainty.

Benefits for Young Adults & Adults Together:

Shared Lessons: Encourages dialogue between generations about overcoming challenges with courage and grace.

Faith as a Unifier: Demonstrates the role of prayer as a grounding practice that transcends age.

Perspective Building: Helps younger audiences learn from older generations’ experiences while offering fresh viewpoints.

This is more than just a movie; it’s a conversation starter about hope, perseverance, and the role of spirituality in navigating life’s storms.

Please Share with others who can benefit from this movie...

03/01/2025

Welcome to your 2025 roadmap for leveraging LinkedIn to drive brand awareness, promote your offers and services, and build a strong, engaged community of clients. LinkedIn has evolved to become one of the most valuable platforms for professionals, businesses, and brands aiming to reach highly target...

03/01/2025

L.O.O.T represents a strategic mindset for maximizing resources, seizing opportunities, and making the most out of the time you have. It applies to all aspects of life, whether in personal growth, business, or creative endeavors.

01/01/2025

The Power of You and Permission

30/12/2024

The School System Fails To Focus on many areas.

So This is Why Business Advisors Step Up To Help You Succeed Faster.

Welcome To Www.manfreandassociates.com

29/12/2024

We Talk About Life Strategies To Build Cashflow

29/12/2024

25/12/2024

The people around you are secretly shaping your future.
And most of us don't even notice until it's too late.

Think about who's in your inner circle right now:

➟ Do they believe in your dreams or dismiss them?
➟ Fill you with energy or leave you drained?
➟ Push you forward or hold you back?

Here's what most people miss:

Your potential expands or shrinks based on who you
surround yourself with.

Like gravity, this force works whether you notice it or not.

The right people will:
Challenge you to level up
Stand by you in tough times
Tell you hard truths with care
Celebrate your wins like their own
Respect your boundaries while pushing your limits

But the wrong ones?

They'll:
Make your dreams feel "unrealistic"
Subtly lower your confidence
Pull you back to average
Keep you comfortable
Drain your energy

You're already becoming the 5 people you
spend the most time with.

The only question is:
Are they pulling you toward your dreams
or away from them?

Choose carefully.

Your future self is shaped by who
you let into your life today.

♻️ Agree? Repost to share with your network.

24/12/2024

At some point we lost the humanity in hiring.

7 rules to bring it back:

1) Ghosting is not okay - give every applicant a response

2) Communicate clearly - set expectations about the process and timelines

3) Communicate warmly - don't outsource candidate engagement to AI ... you're recruiting people

4) Respect their time - don't interview someone you know you won't choose

5) Respect their time v2 - don't put someone through countless rounds even if you might choose them

6) Take a chance - jobs can be taught, and we all start with 0 experience and get a break at some point

7) Learn the real story - people are more than a piece of paper, so get beyond the resume

Behind every application is a real person.

They're putting themselves out there,

And going through the stressful and difficult process of job searching.

We've all been there, and we all could be back there.

Treat people as you would want to be treated -

As humans.

Agree?

---

Quote inspiration: Tim Denning

♻️ Repost to share this with employers in your network.

And follow me Rene' Manfre for more content like this.

19/12/2024

In 1974, McDonald's Ray Kroc the founder of McDonald's asked some MBA students:

"What business do you think I'm in?"

Their answer: "The hamburger business."

but Kroc said: "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm not in the hamburger business. I'm in the real estate business."

But it didn't start as such...

This story will teach you how dynamic Business is!!
McDonald's is THE most successful fast-food chain in the world.

But this company is NOT a burger company

Their real business lies elsewhere - Real Estate

Here's what's behind its $200B+ empire:

Let's rewind to 1954.

Ray Kroc was a struggling 52-year-old milkshake mixer salesman.

An unusual order got him intrigued.

A small restaurant in San Bernardino wanted 8 mixers.

He had to meet the McDonald brothers.

What he found changed fast food forever.

The McDonald brothers had an efficient "Speedee Service System."

• Lines wrapped around the block.
• Food delivered in seconds, not minutes.
• Everything standardized and systematized.

Kroc saw gold.

He made the brothers an offer:

Let him franchise McDonald's across America.

The brothers agreed, but with strict conditions:
• No compromise on quality
• Their system had to be followed exactly
• Every location had to be identical

But Kroc had bigger plans.

In 1961, he bought the entire company from the brothers for $2.7M.

The price seemed high then.

Today, McDonald's is worth over $200B.

Because Kroc's real estate vision took shape...

The numbers are staggering.

They own $42B in real estate.

That makes them one of the largest holders globally.

Here's where it gets interesting:

While Burger King and others make most of their money from food sales, McDonald's has a different recipe for success.

According to their last financial statement, 60% of their revenue comes from rent.

Not burgers. Not fries.

They created the perfect formula for this.

Their real estate strategy is precise:

• Land area: 44,000 +/– square feet
• Building area: 4,500 square feet
• Corner or corner wrap with signage on two major streets
• Signalized intersection
• On-site parking

Their art of picking winning locations.

When someone wants to open a McDonald's, they don't buy a franchise.

They become McDonald's tenants.

The cost:
• $1.4-2.5M upfront
• $45,000 franchise fee
• Monthly rent higher than average (6-10% vs 8.5-15%)
• 20-year location-specific contract

Why tenants agree to this?

The average McDonald's location:
• Makes $3.5M in annual sales
• Earns $150K in profit for the franchisee

And for corporate:
• Provides steady rental income
• Appreciates in real estate value over time

Win-win solution

The numbers don't lie:

• McDonald's stock reached all-time highs in 2024
• They operate over 40,000 locations globally
• Brand value of $200B+

But what about performance on market downturns?

It still performs during catastrophic events like the pandemic:

• Franchisees must pay minimum rent regardless of sales
• Property values generally recover
• They can buy more prime real estate at discount
• The model keeps corporate risk low

Some investors suggested splitting the real estate into a separate company in 2015.

McDonald's refused.

They believe their secret sauce is the combination of real estate AND restaurants.

Why change a winning formula?

Next time you see those golden arches, remember:

You're not looking at a fast-food restaurant.
You're looking at one of the most brilliant real estate plays in business history



Tech Stories
Ifeanyi Christopher ✍️

16/12/2024

WYP Episode with Dr. Michael Brantmeir

15/12/2024

In the 1950s, a man had an idea that would forever revolutionize transportation, international trade, and the global economy: Malcom McLean, the inventor of the shipping container.

Born in the United States in 1913, McLean started working at a gas station and saved enough money to buy a second-hand truck in 1934, beginning his journey in the transportation business.

As his company grew, McLean's fleet expanded to over 1,700 trucks with 32 branches, making it the second-largest trucking company in the U.S. by 1955 and even listed on Wall Street.

However, McLean was acutely aware of the inefficiencies of maritime shipping. At the time, goods were transported loosely in cargo ships, requiring manual and time-consuming loading and unloading processes at ports. These delays often extended to weeks, drastically increasing shipping costs.

One day, while observing this process at the Port of New Jersey, McLean had a revolutionary thought: "What if my truck could be loaded onto the ship all at once, cargo and all?"

This idea would change the course of history. He envisioned removing the truck cargo box and loading it directly onto ships. To make this concept a reality, he designed metal containers with dimensions matching his trailers. Thus, the shipping container was born.

Initially, no one wanted to transport these large boxes. Shipping companies dismissed the idea as impractical. Undeterred, McLean bought the Pan-Atlantic Steamship Company, later renamed SeaLand, to implement his vision.

In April 1956, McLean conducted the first shipment: 58 containers transported from Newark to Houston aboard an old World War II oil tanker refitted to carry containers.

The results were astounding. McLean not only shortened shipping times but also transformed the logistics of goods movement from "port-to-port" to "door-to-door." This innovation reduced labor, port stays, and shipping costs.

In 1967, McLean secured a contract to transport military supplies to Vietnam. He realized that instead of returning with empty containers, the ships could stop in Japan and bring goods back to the U.S., opening new trade routes with Asia.

Despite his invention profound impact on the world, McLean contribution has never been fully recognized. He passed away in 2001 and remains relatively unknown to the general public.

In December 1999, Maersk acquired SeaLand international container business. By 2000, Maersk Line adopted the global trade name Maersk SeaLand, cementing McLean's legacy in the shipping industry.

Credits: Chismeate

14/12/2024

Coach up, don’t beat up.

I work with so many people that if they were just given a chance it could make a huge impact.

I recently worked with an incredibly talented individual who made the tough decision to leave their company. Ironically, their manager assumed I had coached them out. The truth? They didn’t leave because of my coaching—they left because of their manager.

This was someone who owned their mistakes, took accountability, and was eager to grow. But instead of being supported, they were criticized and beaten down. Instead of feeling valued, they felt defeated.

They didn’t want miracles—they wanted a manager who believed in them, invested in them, and worked alongside them. Someone who saw their potential and coached them up, not tore them down.

Leaders, take a moment to reflect: Are you building your team up or wearing them down? Are you creating an environment where people can thrive—or one they can’t wait to leave?

Let’s start a conversation. Share your thoughts: What does it mean to truly coach and invest in your people?

11/12/2024

Never Eat Alone is a powerful guide on the importance of networking and building meaningful relationships for personal and professional success. Keith Ferrazzi shares insights and strategies to help readers cultivate connections that can lead to greater opportunities.

Lessons from the book:

1. The Importance of Relationships
Ferrazzi emphasizes that relationships are the cornerstone of success. Building a strong network is essential not just for career advancement but also for personal satisfaction. Investing time in relationships creates a support system that can enhance both professional and personal life.

2. Be Generous
The author advocates for a generous mindset when networking. Instead of focusing solely on what you can gain, consider how you can help others. Providing value without expecting immediate returns fosters authentic connections and builds trust.

3. Cultivate Authenticity
Authenticity is crucial in building relationships. Ferrazzi stresses the need to be genuine and true to yourself when connecting with others. People are drawn to authenticity, and being yourself fosters deeper, more meaningful interactions.

4. Leverage Your Network
The book highlights the importance of actively leveraging your network. Don’t just wait for opportunities to come to you; reach out to your connections for advice, support, and introductions. Proactively engaging with your network can open doors to new opportunities.

5. Follow Up and Stay Connected
Ferrazzi emphasizes the necessity of following up and maintaining connections over time. Regular check-ins, sharing relevant articles, or simply sending a note can keep relationships alive and demonstrate that you value the connection.

6. Create a Personal Brand
Developing a strong personal brand is essential for standing out in a crowded marketplace. Ferrazzi advises readers to identify their unique value and communicate it consistently, allowing others to recognize their strengths and expertise.

7. Be a Connector
Ferrazzi encourages readers to become connectors—people who link others together. By introducing individuals within your network, you create value for both parties and establish yourself as a central figure in your community.

Never Eat Alone offers valuable lessons on the power of networking and relationship-building. Keith Ferrazzi's insights provide practical strategies for cultivating meaningful connections that can lead to personal and professional success. By applying these lessons, individuals can enhance their networking skills, foster authentic relationships, and ultimately create a more fulfilling and successful life.

28/11/2024

🍁🦃 Happy Thanksgiving from the Manfre and Associates Family! 🦃🍁

This season, we are grateful for the trust and support of our clients, partners, and friends. May your day be filled with love, laughter, and the joy of togetherness.

From our family to yours, we wish you a Thanksgiving full of blessings, happiness, and cherished moments. ❤️✨

21/11/2024

Your words WILL make or break your team's culture.

After 15+ years leading teams and developing businesses.

I noticed one thing.

The words you use determine the leader you become.

Powerful leaders use these phrases to build trust in their team:

🗣️ Tell me more about that
↳ Show genuine interest and curiosity

🗣️ What can I do to help?
↳ Show you're there to support the team

🗣️ I believe in you
↳ Inspire their confidence and motivate

🗣️ Let's figure this out together
↳ Encourage their solutions and teamwork

🗣️ I hear what you're saying
↳ Show you are actively listening

🗣️ We need your voice
↳ Encourage their diverse perspectives and ideas

🗣️ What do you think we should do?
↳ Empower team members to contribute

🗣️ I appreciate this
↳ Acknowledge their hard work

🗣️ Your effort made this happen
↳ Recognize your team and give credit

🗣️ I trust your judgment
↳ Empower others to make decisions

🗣️ That was my mistake
↳ Take responsibility and avoid blaming your team

🗣️ What did we learn here?
↳ Focus on their growth without blame

🗣️ Show me how you would do it
↳ Show you respect them enough to listen

🗣️ What are your career goals?
↳ Show you care about their professional growth

🗣️ I am here for you
↳ Show your support and care about their wellbeing

____

P.S.

The best leaders don't just inspire with their voice.

They lead with their actions.

Which phrase would help elevate your leadership?
Tell me in the comments.

♻️ Repost to help your network elevate their performance!