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01.27.12 Coy Wire – Ninja Prankster, with a Purpose
Posted under: Feature Post 2, Lifestyle Posted by:

In the latest issue of Ne[x]t Magazine, we sat down with Coy Wire. The former Stanford Cardinal and NFL pro talks about his football career, being a leader and overcoming obstacles.

 

i[x]: In high school, you were an excellent student and a great two sport athlete playing both football and wrestling and ended up going to college at Stanford, one of the top academic institutions in the country.  Can you tell us how you were able to balance time between participating in sports in high school and college while also maintaining good grades? 
CW: The immature mind hops from one thing to another. The ability to be completely focused on the task at hand has been one of my greatest traits. When I do something, “all or nothing” is usually my method. Focus is key, Daniel-San *Mr. Miyagi voice*

 

i[x]: Can you tell us what lead you to your decision to move all the way across the country from PA to Cal to play college football at Stanford?
CW: Education. My main aim was to play pro football, but I knew that I was only one injury away from having that dream shattered. I knew that whenever my playing days were over, more than the trophies, championships and accolades, the diploma that I would hold in my hand would be my most prized possession. I’m a nerdy jock.

 

i[x]: While at Stanford, you started off as a running back then ended up your career as linebacker. Can you tell us what it was like to be the starting running back one year and the next year you’re asked to move to an entirely different position? Was it difficult to transition and how did you feel about being asked to switch positions?
CW: The only constant in life is change, so we need to be like a chameleon and adapt to any circumstance. Through every transitional period in my life, I’ve tried to maintain an open mind and go with the flow. To resist change is destructive.

 

i[x]: After your senior year at Stanford, you were drafted in the 3rd round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. Tell us what the feeling was like when you heard your name get called out at the draft.
CW: It was literally a dream come true…a dream I had been dreaming since I was 7 years old.  Surreal…One of my most precious memories is running through the tunnel on opening day my rookie year. I had never been to an NFL game, so the first one I saw in person was one in which I was playing!

 

i[x]: Before joining the Falcons in 2008, you had to overcome a career-threatening neck injury you suffered with the Bills. Can you talk a little about overcoming that adversity and going on to continue your NFL career?
CW: That injury not only gave me a titanium plate and four screws in my neck, it gave me a valuable life lesson:  We are all more powerful than we know. If you face adversity with the right state of mind, you will become a victor through that situation and not a victim. They say that the strongest steel is burned in the hottest coals. We will all be put through the fire, and at some point, we will all get burned. It may burn badly too! But like that steel, we will be refined, strengthened, and hardened because of the experience. We need to be thankful for our struggles because they make us unique…there’s no one in the world like you.

 

i[x]: As a member of the Falcons, you were named special teams captain in 2008. Tell us what it was like being a leader on an NFL team and any advice you may have about being a leader.
CW: I wasn’t a leader in the NFL for 9 years because I was the biggest, fastest, strongest or the superstar player. I did so by being a superstar teammate, friend and example. There are three musts for one to be a RESPECTED leader: 1. Be the hardest worker you know 2. Have integrity 3. Demonstrate good morals.  If you have these traits, people will respect and follow you whether you think you’re a leader or not.

 

i[x]: On your website, coywire.com, you are proclaimed as a “Ninja Prankster” and have videos of you pranking teammates. Tell us a little about “Pranks with a Purpose” and why you enjoy pranks.
CW: I’ve always been a bit of a “Ninja Prankster.” I love to smile and laugh with people, so naturally I have a plethora of masks with which to scare my friends and family.  I started capturing my pranks on video so that I could enjoy them later in life, but then I realized that everyone could enjoy them now.  So, I decided to gather sponsors who would donate to the charity of my “victims’” choice every time the prank was viewed on YouTube. “Pranks with a Purpose” was born.  What’s that behind you?

 

i[x]: What is your best prank story?
CW: Ha ha! The best one has always been the last one! You can see some of the videos on my website, so you tell me which one is best!

 

i[x]: Now that you aren’t playing football, what fills up your time?
CW: I decided to write a book. Then, I wrote the book.  It’s called “Change Your Mind: 10 Methods to Achieve Your Wildest Dreams.” Along with writing, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed doing inspirational speaking and doing 1-on-1 sessions with my MindTraining clients…Think: Jedi mind training with a twist. 

 

i[x]: i[x] is a program designed to teach Gen Y about being financially responsible. Why do you feel it’s important for our readers to make smart financial decisions? Any advice or financial habits you’d like to share?
CW: One thing that’s always stuck with me when it comes to money: I’m not concerned about the return ON my money, I’m concerned about the return OF my money.

 

i[x]: One pillar of the i[x] mission is to give back to the local community. Are there any charities or organizations you are involved with?
CW:  Aside from helping various charities through Pranks with a Purpose, I have always had an affinity for Make A Wish. 

 

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01.26.12 Having Street Cred with Credit Cards
Posted under: Feature Post 4, Money Management Posted by:

Are Credit Cards Good Or Bad?  Well, that all depends on how or why you use them. Credit cards can be good for building your credit score, but only if you use them wisely and pay them off on-time.  With a few rules and regulations, along with some self restraint and responsibility, you can make credit cards work for you. HOW YOU ASK? First decide if you are making a wise purchase, then decide which payment method makes the most sense for you: cash, credit, debit, check, etc. Avoid opening several credit cards at one time because this can cause your credit score to fall. Also make sure to review your statement every month to avoid fraudulent charges. By following a few simple guidelines outlined here, you can decide when and how to use a credit card. With a little finesse and careful attention you will be on your way to responsible credit card use.

  

Good Cred

  • Building your credit score
  • Online purchases
  • Purchases over the phone
  • To pay deposits 
  • Reserve hotel, rentals, etc.
  • Protection in case card is lost or stollen
  • Ease in returning items

 

Bad Cred

  • Impulse buys
  • Items you can’t afford
  • Allowing friends to use
  • When you have no income
  • On major purchases

 

 

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01.25.12 The Alternative Route to a Memorable Valentine’s
Posted under: Feature Post 3, Lifestyle Posted by:

Valentine’s can be one of the most expensive date nights of the year. It can also be one of the most unromantic times for daters who are hoping for a special evening but instead end up seated in a back corner of an overpacked restaurant next to a couple with a crying baby. Here are some tips to ease the planning stress and end up with a memorable evening that doesn’t have to break your wallet.

Dining for the ironic: WAFFLE HOUSE 
Yes, it’s hard to believe but it’s true – many Waffle House locations offer a Valentine’s Day program. Bring your camera so you can brag to all your friends. HA! Its a great place to sit and talk and laugh and enjoy an all American meal, scattered, smothered and covered. Don’t forget to get reservations though. They do fill up. At Select Locations: www.wafflehouse.com

Just do dessert at CAFE INTERMEZZO
The largest beverage menu you’ve probably ever seen with over 100 coffees, teas and more. They also have the most mouth watering delectable desserts you’ve tasted. Very romantic, candlelit, classical music, hip atmosphere. You will feel you’ve been transported to a quaint cafe in Europe. Locations In Brookwood, Dunwoody, & Downtown. Vist the site: www.cafeintermezzo.com

Be early: DINE A DAY BEFORE
You can expect better service and a quieter evening if you pick another night to dine out. You can tell your sweetheart you are so excited about Valentine’s that you want to celebrate early.  Also if you are a seasoned baby-sitter you know Valentine’s is a great time to make a little dough while helping out couples with kids.

Keep it simple: STAY HOME
Cook them their favorite meal or order in and light some candles. Or you could watch a romantic flick while eating chocolate fondue.

Plan ahead: TREASURE HUNT
Give your sweetheart a map with clues that only the two of you would get. The map can include some of your favorite locations or items that you can reminisce over. Hide clues along the way, limit clues to 4 or 5 making the hunt around 30 minutes. Make sure to hide a treasure ahead of time in a safe place. Treasure could be a box of chocolates and handmade card, or tickets to special event etc.

Enjoy nature: STARGAZING
This can be fun if you bundle up and drive a few miles out, away from the city lights. Don’t forget to bring a thermos of hot chocolate, flashlight, binoculars, constellation map/star chart and a blanket.

Bonus points: FLOWERS
Whole Foods and Harry’s have beautiful roses and other flowers that are very reasonably priced. Locations Around Atlanta: wholefoodsmarket.com/stores

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01.10.12 Bowl Pick’em Winners
Posted under: Contests Posted by:

We now have our winners in the i[x] Bowl Pick’em Contest as the college football season came to a close with Alabama dominating LSU in the BCS National Championship game, 21-0. Congratulations to our first place winner and champion Nathaniel Anthony! Nathaniel will receive a $50 gift card for winning. Our second place winner was Devon Peet, who will receive a $25 gift card and third place goes to Lisa Dingy who wins a $15 iTunes card. Congrats to Nathaniel, Devon and Lisa and thanks for everyone who participated! Stay tuned to i[x]ga for upcoming contests and happenings.

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01.05.12 Great News for Graduate Students
Posted under: Loans, School Posted by:

Hola guys and gals! I wanted to let you all know about some exciting news regarding student loans from Georgia’s Own. GOCU is pleased to announce it has extended it’s partnership with Credit Union Student Choice with the introduction of a Graduate Line of Credit. So if you are looking help for financing graduate school, look no further than Georgia’s Own! If you want to learn more about our Graduate Business Line of Credit, click here.

Don’t forget we also have options for undergraduate students!

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12.22.11 i[x] Happenings/Student Lending Changes
Posted under: Contests, Loans, School Posted by:

Hey guys! Hope everyone is enjoying Christmas break! I wanted to let you know about a few things going on right now with i[x] and Georgia’s Own…

-Join the i[x] College Bowl Pick’em Contest for a chance to win a $50 gift card! We are also giving away prizes for 2nd and 3rd places. So submit your picks by Dec. 25 to be entered!

-We are still accepting applications for the Georgia’s Own Credit Union Youth Advisory Board. Applications are being accepted until Dec. 31. This a great opportunity for you guys to make a difference in the lives of your peers around Georgia.

-Want to be in an upcoming Georgia’s Own commercial? Tell us what makes you one of Georgia’s Own and you could be featured. For more info and submit your story, visit iamgeorgiasown.com.

-Lastly, I ran across this article recently about changes in student lending and wanted to share it with everyone. Just a reminder, we offer a great alternative to other higher priced, private student loans with Credit Union Student Choice. To find out more info or apply, click here.

Have a Happy Holidays!

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11.18.11 Money 101: Balancing a Checkbook
Posted under: Checking, Money Management Posted by:

Balancing your checkbook sounds like an ancient term today. With the decreasing use of checks and the increase of home banking on the web, some may feel it’s not even necessary, but balancing your checkbook is one of the most basic habits for good money management. It’s important because it can verify that your records match your institution’s records.

Financial institutions make thousands of transactions daily and although most are accurate, some mistakes can be made. If you balance your checkbook regularly, you are more likely to catch any error that occurs. It also helps you avoid bouncing checks or over-drafting funds. If you’re just starting out on your own, or you have your first bank account, or you just never got in the habit of balancing your checkbook regularly, the following steps from studentfinancedomain.com can help you out. 

1. Divide your receipts & statements into deposit piles and withdrawal piles.

2. Write your bank balance on line 1. 

3. Compare all of your deposits against the bank statement. Record any deposits that are still in transit and have not yet been processed. Write this on line 2. 

4. Compare the total withdrawals against the bank statement. Record any “outstanding” unprocessed checks that are still in transit and have not yet cleared with the bank. Write this on line 3.

5. Add lines 1-3 to find out your total checking account balance. It may be different from the bank statement because the bank might not have processed all transactions. The final number will be your adjusted bank balance. Write this on line 4. 

6. Check to see if you were charged any bank fees, and subtract this from the bank balance. Add any incurred interest to the balance. Finally, check to see if all transfers that you made have been processed. Add or subtract this amount from the adjusted balance, and you will have your ending bank balance on line 5. 

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11.01.11 Youth Advisory Board Deadline Extended
Posted under: Community Involvement, Contests Posted by:

Hope you all had a happy and safe Halloween and didn’t get attacked by any zombies or vampires!
I wanted to let everyone know that we have extended the deadline to apply for the Georgia’s Own Youth Advisory Board to December 31, 2011 and the first meeting will be in Jan. 2012. This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to make a difference in the lives of Georgia’s Youth! Not to mention, it’s a great résumé booster! So be sure to get your applications in and pass along to your friends and family. Check out all the information and apply by clicking this link.

-Will

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10.18.11 Leaders of Tomorrow: Preparing the Next Generation
Posted under: Community Involvement, Feature Post 3 Posted by:

Here is an article from the latest Ne[x]t Magazine featuring Leaders of Tomorrow. Take a read…

i[x] – What is Leaders of Tomorrow?
LOT – A premiere youth development and leadership program that provides high school students with diverse opportunities to recognize their potential to become tomorrow’s leaders. LOT offers a comprehensive slate of programs and activities that prepare students to go from the classroom to the board room. Students benefit from educational curriculum and cultural experiences designed to help them develop into successful professionals and productive citizens.

i[x] – When was Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) founded?
LOT – In 2002, local National Black MBA (NBMBAA) chapters in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Houston and Dallas established the Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) Student Case Competition to increase student participation in LOT Program activities; improve the student’s analytical and presentation skills; and increase interaction with other students in LOT Programs across the country. The four chapters also wanted to provide an alternative resource for corporate sponsors and higher education institutions to recruit high school talent, while helping to support the goals of the LOT Program and the organization.

i[x] – What is the mission and goals of LOT?
LOT – The mission of LOT is to develop positive, socially aware, teenage professionals entering college and diverse career tracks. Our goal is to assist students in their path to success.  LOT helps students understand what it takes to get into college by helping to refine their skills to ensure they are more competitive by demonstrating excellence on standardized tests and academic performance. We also assist with bridging the resource gap by providing mentors and coaches, as well as college scholarships.

i[x] – What are the five key components in the LOT program?
LOT – Saturday Leadership Training Symposiums, National Leadership Conference, SAT/ACT Academy with Kaplan, Mentor-Mentee experiences, and Community Service projects

i[x] – Who is the target audience for the LOT program?
LOT – Any student residing in the metro Atlanta area and surrounding counties, between the ages of 14-18, committed to fully participate in the program.

i[x] – What are the qualifications for students interested in the LOT program?
LOT – Students residing in metro Atlanta and surrounding counties, age 14 to 18 with minimum GPA of 2.0. Students must submit completed LOT application before the deadline and adhere to LOT policy.

i[x] – What accomplishments has LOT had over the past year?
LOT – Increased LOT student membership 100% year over year; Established partnership with Kaplan to administer the ACT/SAT Prep Academy; Awarded more than $2500 in scholarships to LOT alumni; Provided opportunity for select LOT students to travel and participate in Case Competition, National Conference and College Tours; received more than $30,000 in corporate support.

i[x] – How much does the LOT program cost?
LOT – LOT program is FREE

i[x] – What are the demographics of the LOT students?
LOT – Currently 85 students are registered in LOT program representing 11 counties with 68% female/32% male and average GPA of 3.45 (23%-Freshmen, 22%-Sophomores, 18%-Juniors, and 18%- Seniors)

i[x] – When, where, and time of the LOT meetings?
LOT – LOT students meet the 3rd Saturday of each month from 10am to 2pm at Georgia-Pacific building, 133 Peachtree Street, NE, training center room #5, Atlanta, GA 30303. LOT schedule aligns with the school year, so no meeting in July and August.

i[x] – Is there a dress code for LOT meetings?
LOT – Yes, as future business leaders, entrepreneurs, business professionals; we encourage LOT students to dress business professional for monthly symposiums, no t-shirts or jeans are accepted unless notified in advance.

i[x] – How do I apply?
LOT – You may apply in 1 of 3 ways; 1) download the 2011-12 application from www.atlbmba.org/education/lot, and email to lot@atlbmba.org 2) mail completed application in to NBMBAA, Atlanta Chapter, ATTN LOT 2011-12, P.O. Box 54656, Atlanta, GA 30303, or 3) you may submit in person at our Kick Off Symposium, on Saturday, September 17, 2011 @ 9am.

i[x] – When is the deadline to apply for 2011-12 academic school year?
LOT  Online:  Send completed applications only to lot@atlbmba.org, or Mail: P.O. Box 54656, Atlanta GA 30308 or Onsite: Bring to Kick-Off Symposium, on Saturday, September 17th @ 9am.

i[x] – What if I want more information about LOT program?
LOT – Email lot@atlbmba.org

i[x] – Who is the LOT Leadership Team?
LOT – NBMBAA Atlanta Chapter President: Charmaine Ward
Leaders of Tomorrow Director: Taticasejuana N. Stevens
Leaders of Tomorrow Co-Chair: Diana Adoma
Scholarship Chair: BJ Webb
Case Competition Chair: Bridgette Drake
Membership Chair: Sonja Harrison
Social Chair: Tracy Moss

i[x] – How do I volunteer with LOT?  
LOT – We are always seeking subject matter experts and engaged business professionals to volunteer to share their insight and time, as well as serve as mentors and case competition coaches. Expect to invest about 4 hours a month and a background check is required. Send your volunteer request to lot@atlbmba.org

i[x] – How can I donate to LOT Atlanta Chapter?
LOT – Cash and In-Kind support is welcome for LOT monthly symposiums, the annual national conference, Leaders of Tomorrow National Business Case Competition, and Scholarships to LOT alumni.

 

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10.17.11 Pumpkin Carving Contest
Posted under: Contests Posted by:

To celebrate Halloween, we are having a Pumpkin Carving Contest on the ix Facebook Page. The winner will be chosen by most “Likes” on their pic and will get a $50 gift card! You have between now and Oct.31 to post your pics and get those “Likes”

How to enter:
1. Like i[x] on Facebook
2. Post a picture of your carved pumpkin to our wall
3. Have your friends and family “Like” your picture

So carve those pumpkins and post your pics!

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