Wealthy Bag Lady Blog

Is Chris Brown Sorry for Beating Rihanna?

Chris Brown has pleaded guilty to one count of felony assault on pop star Rihanna.

There was a tremendous backlash against Chris Brown after the news about his domestic violence and photos of a beaten Rihanna came out.

Sponsors and radio stations dropped him, and the singer had to cancel several high-profile appearances, including a performance at the Grammys.

Chris Brown's Sentence

Judge Patricia Schnegg imposed a stay-away order that requires that Brown and Rihanna stay at least 50 yards from each, except at industry events when the distance is reduced to 10 yards.

Brown's lawyer, Mark Geragos, said the plea deal includes five years of supervised probation and six months of community labor.

Chris Brown will also be required to attend domestic violence classes.

Brown spoke softly throughout the hearing as he waived his rights and told the judge he understood the gravity of his plea.

"I think it's commendable you took responsibility for your conduct," Schnegg told Brown. She said she hoped "the terms and conditions of your probation will have some meaning."

Is Chris Brown Really Sorry?

But is Chris Brown really sorry or is he just putting on a show for the camera? Once you've crossed the line and beat a woman, can you control your violent impulses? Will he learn more appropriate ways to handle his anger?

I would love to know your thoughts. Please feel free to comment.

Miley Cyrus, Zac Efron, Daniel Radcliffe top the Forbes Celebrity 100

It is the year of the tween. Coming off a massive concert tour, a hit 3-D movie--and a risqué picture in Vanity Fair--pop star Miley Cyrus (aka Hannah Montana) leads a slew of young stars onto Forbes' annual Celebrity 100 ranking of the world's ultra-famous.

Also building buzz, and drawing dollars, from the under-18 crowd were Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, teen crooners the Jonas Brothers and High School Musical stars Zac Efron and Ashley Tisdale.

Apparently you're never too young or too old to be wildly successful as an entertainer or a business owner.

5 Summer Tips for Your Business

When people find out that I'm from California, they ask, "Where's your tan?"

I don't go to the beach, even though it's only a few miles away. If my pale skin is exposed to the sun, it burns. My skin turns bright red instead of a golden tan, hardly the look of a California girl.
 
I'm getting ready for summer by dusting off my patio furniture, taking out the barbeque grill and doing my workouts to get my body in shape.
 
Since summer may be a slower time for some businesses, I wanted to give you my top 5 summer tips.

1. Announce Holiday Themed Specials
   
   Independence is so precious to us as Americans that "Liberty" is written on all of our coins. Have a Fourth of July Special. Yeah, I know, we see Independence Day Sales all the time. It's because they work.
   
   You might want to go for the less-celebrated holidays to make your promotions stand out. Everyone knows about the 4th of July, but not everyone knows about Flag Day on June 14. For holiday calendars, go to www.holidays.net and www.chases.com. 
2. Do Birthday and Life Event Marketing
   
   Is your birthday coming up soon? Are your family members, friends or staff having a birthday? Then it's time to celebrate. The "It's my birthday, but you get the gifts" promotion always takes the cake (Sorry, I couldn't help myself).
   
   I recently saw a brilliant post card from a business owner who just had a baby. His special offer was in honor of his new son, who he was holding in the photo. Do you have a new baby, new pet, summer house guests, new marriages in the family, or kids who are graduating? Business is getting more personal, so announce these life-changing events to your customers and reap the rewards.
3. Hire Extra Help
   
   In summer, there are plenty of students and young people who want to learn business and would make great additions to your team. Tap into this great pool of talent.
4. Revolutionize Your Business Plan
   
   Chart the course of your business for the next half of the year. Analyze what has worked for you and what you need to change to pump up your business success.
5. Have a Party
   
   You can have a networking mixer or an educational seminar. Even though it's a business event, make it fun. Decorate the space, play games and give away prizes. Encourage people to network and learn more about your company.
   
   

Go with these proven strategies and add some fireworks to your business.