by: Brian Noer
Commerce Department report states that construction spending was at an all time high in September, and that consumer spending is still strong.
POINT ROBERTS, WA. � November 3, 2005 - www.HomebuilderStocks.com, (HBS) a global investment news and research portal for the homebuilder sector, reports that the month of September saw the homebuilding sector hit another milestone. According to a Commerce Department report, construction spending in September reached an all time high of $1.12 trillion as homebuilders took advantage of low interest rates. While September�s interest rates were still low, analysts predict that the Federal Reserve will be hiking rates up to combat inflation concerns as energy prices rise. Even though rates look set to rise, the homebuilding sector is well positioned as many parts of the country need to be rebuilt following recent hurricane activity.
September�s record breaking construction spending followed gains of .6% in both July and August. In recent weeks homebuilder stocks took a hit due to an uncertain outlook on consumer spending, but the Commerce Department report also stated that consumer spending was still strong, which sent sector stocks on a rally. Also on Monday, Centex Corp. announced a share repurchase plan to buy back up to 5 million shares of its common stock. At market close Centex shares traded at $64.34, down 1% from Friday. The nation�s biggest homebuilder D.R. Horton (NYSE: DHI) announced earlier in October that orders for new homes rose nearly 26% in the last quarter.
HBS does not make stock recommendations but offers a unique free information portal for investors to explore news, articles, and recent research. The site is currently compensated by featured companies International Barrier Technology Inc. (IBTGF: OTCBB; IBH: TSXV) and Cyberlux Corporation (OTCBB: CYBL).
Our current list of public companies in the sector includes: Toll Brothers, Beazer Homes USA, Inc., Ryland Group, Brookfield Homes, Centex, Inc., Home Depot, Homestore, Inc., KB Home, Lennar Corporation, Lowe�s, Monterey Homes, Orleans Homebuilders, Inc., Pulte Homes and numerous others.
For the complete list, click here: http://www.homebuilderstocks.com/Companies/HomebuilderStocks/HomebuilderStockList.asp
Featured Companies:
International Barrier Technology Inc. (IBTGF: OTCBB; IBH: TSXV) develops, manufactures, and markets proprietary fire resistant building materials branded as Blazeguard�. Barrier�s award-winning Blazeguard� wood panels use a patented, non-toxic, non-combustible coating with an extraordinary capability: it releases water in the heat of fire. The panels exceed �model� building code requirements in every targeted fire test and application, and are unique in combining properties that increase panel strength and minimize environmental and human impact. Blazeguard� provides Barrier�s customers a premium material choice meeting an increasingly challenging combination of requirements in residential and commercial building construction. Blazeguard� customers include four of the five top homebuilders! www.intlbarrier.com - http://www.homebuilderstocks.com/Companies/IntlBarrier/Default.asp
Cyberlux Corporation (OTCBB: CYBL) has created breakthrough lighting technology that provides the most energy efficient and cost effective lighting solutions available today. Several products are designed to address emergencies such as power outages or critical security lighting needs and others which bring newly developed heatless light into the home for use in closets, cabinet interiors and under cabinet lighting for kitchen counters. Cyberlux uses solid-state semiconductors, trademarked as its diodal(tm) lighting elements, which consume 92 percent less energy than incandescent elements and perform for over 20 years in contrast to 750 hours for traditional bulbs. http://www.cyberlux.com/ - http://www.homebuilderstocks.com/CO/CYBL/Default.asp
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ECON is a privately owned corporate communications company specializing in: media relations, investor relations, and research on public companies and industry sectors, for the investment community. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any specific products or securities. All investments involve risk. Past performance does not guarantee future results, therefore investigate before you invest! Although we attempt to research thoroughly, we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of any information presented. We encourage all investors to use our sites only as a resource to further their own research. The site is compensated by its "Featured Companies,� as outlined in our on-line disclaimer at www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp. HomebuilderStocks.com/ECON is compensated by Featured Companies: IBH and CYBL. IBH pays ECON a fee of Eight thousand seven hundred dollars per month, plus 100,000 stock options. Cyberlux Corporation - Four thousand dollars per month. Featured Company on HomelandDefenseStocks.com and HomebuilderStocks.com
SOURCE: www.HomebuilderStocks.com.
For more information contact:
Dawn Van Zant / Brian Noer
Toll free: 800-665-0411
Email: dvanzant@investorideas.com or bnoer@investorideas.com
Web Site: http://www.InvestorIdeas.com
About the author:
HBS does not make stock recommendations but offers a unique free information portal for investors to explore news, articles, and recent research. The site is currently compensated by featured companies International Barrier Technology Inc. (IBTGF: OTCBB; IBH: TSXV) and Cyberlux Corporation (OTCBB: CYBL).
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Doing the Right Thing--Even When Her Job Was At Stake
by: Joe DiSabatino
Here�s a true story I�d like to share about doing the right thing�even when her job was at stake.
Her name is M. and she is an attorney who manages the legal department of an insurance company. As my coaching client I supported her through a really challenging ethical dilemma with her boss. She had finished giving her annual performance evaluations to her small team, two of whom received the highest marks. Their annual salary increments were based on these ratings.
M�s boss meanwhile was on a new track regarding performance evaluations. He felt that the trend in recent years was to for managers to be too generous. He wanted stricter accountability in certain areas and this meant lower ratings in general.
So he called her into his office one day and told her that he disagreed with one of the two highest ratings she had given. He wanted her to lower her evaluation for this individual.
M. genuinely respected her boss but felt that he was mistaken in this case. She really believed that the person to whom she had given the excellent rating deserved it. She thought it would be unfair and potentially very damaging to his morale and commitment to the job if his evaluation was lowered. So what to do?
M. had impressed me from the beginning of our coaching engagement with her deep connection to her spiritual values and how she tried to use them as guides in her work. She was nearing retirement age and was working on a Master�s degree in pastoral counseling, something she looked forward to doing at her church when her lawyer-ing days were over.
So after informing her boss that she didn�t want to change the evaluation rating of her direct report and why, he continued to pressure her to do just that. They had several conversations that didn�t create a win-win resolution.
We discussed her feelings, thoughts and options in a couple of coaching sessions. M. felt very strongly about her position and even concluded that, if push came to shove, she was willing to risk her job rather than back down on the issue. In fact, during one of our sessions, she was convinced her boss would fire her.
Fortunately for her, she was in a financial position where she could take an early retirement.
Would she have taken the same strong position on her value of fairness and honesty if she was at an earlier stage of her career? What if she had a young family to support�how would that have affected her willingness to compromise with her boss? Let�s face it, circumstances do play a role in how far we are willing to go to do the right thing. I guess everyone�s conscience operates differently, so there really isn�t any one �right� moral course of action in so many of the situations we face. We take everything into account�our values, our feelings, our needs, the needs of others who rely on us �and then we make the best ethical or moral decision we can. And that�s not always easy!
In a coaching session, we worked through the steps listed in the �Tips� section below. M. decided to stick to her guns and to let the chips fall where they may. Doing so had an interesting effect on her boss. He stopped trying to persuade her to lower the evaluation. Instead, he took full responsibility for his decision by lowering the evaluation himself and telling the employee that it was his decision. He prepared M. for what he was going to do and she had time to think it over before the three of them met together. She decided that, even though she disagreed with what he was doing, she could live with it as long as the employee knew where she stood.
During the meeting her boss took the high road and made it completely clear that the lowering of the evaluation was totally his choice and he gave M. the opportunity to state her position. The consequence of this was that her relationship with the employee remained solid and M. felt good about herself for taking a stand on one of her core values. Her respect for her boss increased because of the way he handled the situation in the end. The employee wasn�t happy, but his feelings were balanced out some by the show of integrity from both superiors, she found out later.
Notice how M.�s taking the moral high road influenced both her boss and her direct report to do the same. Instead of initiating a nasty grievance process or resigning, her employee dealt with his setback in-house rather than going outside for help or leaving.
This story strongly illustrates the ripple effect of putting trust and integrity principles into practice at a high level. When one person does this, it seems to turn on a light for others, and that�s really beautiful to behold. It�s so easy to take our cues from others, after all we�re social animals. But then someone comes along who takes their cues from somewhere else, from a place deep inside and we call that special place by so many different names. So when a courageous person does this, then we are all reminded that we have that place inside too, and we start to dare to live from there once again. I want to encourage you to be that courageous person.
If you are struggling with an ethical dilemma at work, and aren�t sure how to move forward, email or call me, and I�ll be glad to discuss the situation with you.
Tips for Doing the Right Thing When Facing a Tough Ethical Choice:
* Take your time. Before making a tough ethical decision at work, take the time to identify the core value you feel is in danger of being compromised in the situation.
* What are your needs? Once you identify your core value at play, clarify your needs in the situation. For instance, M. needed to act with fairness and honesty, to maintain her direct report�s high morale and commitment, and to continue her good working relationship with him.
* Look for the third alternative. What are your options for getting these needs met? This can be tricky, because if strong emotions come into play, which they often do, it�s human nature to narrow down our options to one or two courses of action, usually the ones at either extreme such as giving in or getting out. There may be a third alternative you just can�t see yet for meeting your integrity needs. In M�s case, the third alternative presented itself after she drew her line in the sand. I�ve seen that happen a lot. When you take a strong stand, the other person stops trying to change your thinking and changes their own instead.
* Wait and see. Sometimes, if possible, doing nothing is the best response to pressure to do something that feels unethical or against your conscience. The person applying the pressure just stops after a while, often because they regained their emotional balance.
About the author:
Joe DiSabatino helps leaders and organizations reach their goals by creating high-trust work environments. For more support and information about the importance of trust and integrity in business, visit: www.phoenixleadership.com
Here�s a true story I�d like to share about doing the right thing�even when her job was at stake.
Her name is M. and she is an attorney who manages the legal department of an insurance company. As my coaching client I supported her through a really challenging ethical dilemma with her boss. She had finished giving her annual performance evaluations to her small team, two of whom received the highest marks. Their annual salary increments were based on these ratings.
M�s boss meanwhile was on a new track regarding performance evaluations. He felt that the trend in recent years was to for managers to be too generous. He wanted stricter accountability in certain areas and this meant lower ratings in general.
So he called her into his office one day and told her that he disagreed with one of the two highest ratings she had given. He wanted her to lower her evaluation for this individual.
M. genuinely respected her boss but felt that he was mistaken in this case. She really believed that the person to whom she had given the excellent rating deserved it. She thought it would be unfair and potentially very damaging to his morale and commitment to the job if his evaluation was lowered. So what to do?
M. had impressed me from the beginning of our coaching engagement with her deep connection to her spiritual values and how she tried to use them as guides in her work. She was nearing retirement age and was working on a Master�s degree in pastoral counseling, something she looked forward to doing at her church when her lawyer-ing days were over.
So after informing her boss that she didn�t want to change the evaluation rating of her direct report and why, he continued to pressure her to do just that. They had several conversations that didn�t create a win-win resolution.
We discussed her feelings, thoughts and options in a couple of coaching sessions. M. felt very strongly about her position and even concluded that, if push came to shove, she was willing to risk her job rather than back down on the issue. In fact, during one of our sessions, she was convinced her boss would fire her.
Fortunately for her, she was in a financial position where she could take an early retirement.
Would she have taken the same strong position on her value of fairness and honesty if she was at an earlier stage of her career? What if she had a young family to support�how would that have affected her willingness to compromise with her boss? Let�s face it, circumstances do play a role in how far we are willing to go to do the right thing. I guess everyone�s conscience operates differently, so there really isn�t any one �right� moral course of action in so many of the situations we face. We take everything into account�our values, our feelings, our needs, the needs of others who rely on us �and then we make the best ethical or moral decision we can. And that�s not always easy!
In a coaching session, we worked through the steps listed in the �Tips� section below. M. decided to stick to her guns and to let the chips fall where they may. Doing so had an interesting effect on her boss. He stopped trying to persuade her to lower the evaluation. Instead, he took full responsibility for his decision by lowering the evaluation himself and telling the employee that it was his decision. He prepared M. for what he was going to do and she had time to think it over before the three of them met together. She decided that, even though she disagreed with what he was doing, she could live with it as long as the employee knew where she stood.
During the meeting her boss took the high road and made it completely clear that the lowering of the evaluation was totally his choice and he gave M. the opportunity to state her position. The consequence of this was that her relationship with the employee remained solid and M. felt good about herself for taking a stand on one of her core values. Her respect for her boss increased because of the way he handled the situation in the end. The employee wasn�t happy, but his feelings were balanced out some by the show of integrity from both superiors, she found out later.
Notice how M.�s taking the moral high road influenced both her boss and her direct report to do the same. Instead of initiating a nasty grievance process or resigning, her employee dealt with his setback in-house rather than going outside for help or leaving.
This story strongly illustrates the ripple effect of putting trust and integrity principles into practice at a high level. When one person does this, it seems to turn on a light for others, and that�s really beautiful to behold. It�s so easy to take our cues from others, after all we�re social animals. But then someone comes along who takes their cues from somewhere else, from a place deep inside and we call that special place by so many different names. So when a courageous person does this, then we are all reminded that we have that place inside too, and we start to dare to live from there once again. I want to encourage you to be that courageous person.
If you are struggling with an ethical dilemma at work, and aren�t sure how to move forward, email or call me, and I�ll be glad to discuss the situation with you.
Tips for Doing the Right Thing When Facing a Tough Ethical Choice:
* Take your time. Before making a tough ethical decision at work, take the time to identify the core value you feel is in danger of being compromised in the situation.
* What are your needs? Once you identify your core value at play, clarify your needs in the situation. For instance, M. needed to act with fairness and honesty, to maintain her direct report�s high morale and commitment, and to continue her good working relationship with him.
* Look for the third alternative. What are your options for getting these needs met? This can be tricky, because if strong emotions come into play, which they often do, it�s human nature to narrow down our options to one or two courses of action, usually the ones at either extreme such as giving in or getting out. There may be a third alternative you just can�t see yet for meeting your integrity needs. In M�s case, the third alternative presented itself after she drew her line in the sand. I�ve seen that happen a lot. When you take a strong stand, the other person stops trying to change your thinking and changes their own instead.
* Wait and see. Sometimes, if possible, doing nothing is the best response to pressure to do something that feels unethical or against your conscience. The person applying the pressure just stops after a while, often because they regained their emotional balance.
About the author:
Joe DiSabatino helps leaders and organizations reach their goals by creating high-trust work environments. For more support and information about the importance of trust and integrity in business, visit: www.phoenixleadership.com
Friday, September 23, 2011
�LOS FONDOS MUTUOS ENGANAN AL PUBLICO CON UNA TRAMPA DE IMPUESTOS OCULTOS!
by: Dr. Scott Brown, Ph.D.
Una de las muchas formas de perder dinero en fondos mutuos no basados en �ndices es la trampa de los impuestos. �Podr�a tener que pagar impuestos hasta cuando su fondo mutuo pierde dinero! Para muchas personas esto se convierte en algo dolorosamente inesperado. As� es como sucede este comportamiento contra-intuitivo.
Si el administrador del fondo vende una acci�n por m�s de lo que le cost� comprarla, se genera una ganancia. A esta ganancia se le llama ganancia de capital y es tributable a impuestos. Las ganancias de capital son grabadas con una tasa de impuestos com�n, que est� entre el 28% y el 38.6% para la mayor�a de los inversionistas si el fondo mantuvo la acci�n por menos de un a�o. Si la acci�n se mantuvo por m�s de un a�o, en otras palabras a largo plazo, el impuesto es del 20%. Aunque por ley, los fondos mutuos no pagan impuestos, estos cargos se los pasan a usted, el accionista del fondo mutuo.
Hay un par de razones por la que los fondos mutuos pagan impuestos. Si el fondo tiene un bajo rendimiento los inversionistas se marchar�n. Los fondos mutuos tienen que vender acciones para pagar a los inversionistas que se marchan. Aunque usted no sea uno de los inversionistas que salta del barco, de todas formas tendr� que pagar su porci�n de los impuestos de las ganancias capitales.
Los dividendos son otra raz�n por la que hay impuestos. Los dividendos son grabados en la distribuci�n de ganancia por acci�n que las compa��as obtienen de sus ganancias trimestrales. Muchos inversionistas les piden a sus fondos mutuos que autom�ticamente reinviertan sus dividendos. Esto quiere decir que el fondo utiliza el dinero para comprar m�s acciones en su nombre. Aunque reinvierta y nunca vea ni un centavo de sus dividendos, estos est�n sujetos a impuestos, de acuerdo con Hacienda (el IRS).
Otra raz�n por la que quiz�s le llegue un recibo de impuestos se debe a una alta tasa de rotaci�n. La rotaci�n mide la frecuencia con la que un administrador compra y vende acciones, algunas veces en la b�squeda de la pr�xima acci�n de alto vuelo o acciones de bajo monto al borde de despegar. De acuerdo con Lipper (analistas de fondos mutuos), el fondo promedio en el 2000 mostr� una tasa de rotaci�n del 122%. Esto significa que la cartera entera cambi� entre enero y diciembre, y 22% de las acciones de reemplazo cambiaron tambi�n.
�Esta es la forma m�s com�n de timar a la gente! Simplemente tiene que entender que cuando invierte en un fondo est� comprando un impuesto a las ganancias. La mejor manera de evitar algunos de estos impuestos es restringir sus compras de fondos mutuos a su plan de jubilaci�n 401 (k) y tratar de comprar solo fondos mutuos basados en �ndices como lo es Vanguard 500 (VFINX).
About the author:
SOBRE EL AUTOR: El Dr. Brown puede ense�arle c�mo invertir por medio de su compa��a El Instituto de Riqueza Delano Max (The Delano Max Wealth Institute http://www.caminoalaabundancia.com). Suscr�base gratis a nuestra revista electr�nica de consejos financieros en http://www.abundanciafinanciera.com
Una de las muchas formas de perder dinero en fondos mutuos no basados en �ndices es la trampa de los impuestos. �Podr�a tener que pagar impuestos hasta cuando su fondo mutuo pierde dinero! Para muchas personas esto se convierte en algo dolorosamente inesperado. As� es como sucede este comportamiento contra-intuitivo.
Si el administrador del fondo vende una acci�n por m�s de lo que le cost� comprarla, se genera una ganancia. A esta ganancia se le llama ganancia de capital y es tributable a impuestos. Las ganancias de capital son grabadas con una tasa de impuestos com�n, que est� entre el 28% y el 38.6% para la mayor�a de los inversionistas si el fondo mantuvo la acci�n por menos de un a�o. Si la acci�n se mantuvo por m�s de un a�o, en otras palabras a largo plazo, el impuesto es del 20%. Aunque por ley, los fondos mutuos no pagan impuestos, estos cargos se los pasan a usted, el accionista del fondo mutuo.
Hay un par de razones por la que los fondos mutuos pagan impuestos. Si el fondo tiene un bajo rendimiento los inversionistas se marchar�n. Los fondos mutuos tienen que vender acciones para pagar a los inversionistas que se marchan. Aunque usted no sea uno de los inversionistas que salta del barco, de todas formas tendr� que pagar su porci�n de los impuestos de las ganancias capitales.
Los dividendos son otra raz�n por la que hay impuestos. Los dividendos son grabados en la distribuci�n de ganancia por acci�n que las compa��as obtienen de sus ganancias trimestrales. Muchos inversionistas les piden a sus fondos mutuos que autom�ticamente reinviertan sus dividendos. Esto quiere decir que el fondo utiliza el dinero para comprar m�s acciones en su nombre. Aunque reinvierta y nunca vea ni un centavo de sus dividendos, estos est�n sujetos a impuestos, de acuerdo con Hacienda (el IRS).
Otra raz�n por la que quiz�s le llegue un recibo de impuestos se debe a una alta tasa de rotaci�n. La rotaci�n mide la frecuencia con la que un administrador compra y vende acciones, algunas veces en la b�squeda de la pr�xima acci�n de alto vuelo o acciones de bajo monto al borde de despegar. De acuerdo con Lipper (analistas de fondos mutuos), el fondo promedio en el 2000 mostr� una tasa de rotaci�n del 122%. Esto significa que la cartera entera cambi� entre enero y diciembre, y 22% de las acciones de reemplazo cambiaron tambi�n.
�Esta es la forma m�s com�n de timar a la gente! Simplemente tiene que entender que cuando invierte en un fondo est� comprando un impuesto a las ganancias. La mejor manera de evitar algunos de estos impuestos es restringir sus compras de fondos mutuos a su plan de jubilaci�n 401 (k) y tratar de comprar solo fondos mutuos basados en �ndices como lo es Vanguard 500 (VFINX).
About the author:
SOBRE EL AUTOR: El Dr. Brown puede ense�arle c�mo invertir por medio de su compa��a El Instituto de Riqueza Delano Max (The Delano Max Wealth Institute http://www.caminoalaabundancia.com). Suscr�base gratis a nuestra revista electr�nica de consejos financieros en http://www.abundanciafinanciera.com
Google What I Have Learnt As A Beginner To Internet Online Business
by: Sung-Liang Woon
Like tens of thousands of people who often venture online exploring ways to make a little extra money, I have been looking for ways that would allow me to eventually live a life with residual income and financial freedom.
Obviously, I did not know how except for the fact that many are making millions of dollars every year from Internet.
But I learnt fast, after having paid a lot of money to the so-called Internet gurus. I realised that there were a lot of scams, hyped-up promises, and just plain sure-way-to-loose-your-hard-earned-money programs. Very quickly, it became obvious to me that the promises of make-tons-of-money-with-no-effort-all-for-free had to be challenged because this is not true at all! What you get for nothing would be nothing. I learnt now how I should look every time before I leapt.
Building a business online is just like building a brick-and-mortar business offline. So you need both a good plan and a marketable product. Some friends advised that I should build a website around my personal interest or hobbies because it�d be fun doing so. That way, when the going gets tough, the motivation to persevere would be more likely to prevail. However I found that my own interest and hobbies were not necessarily what the market was looking for. In fact, I realized that I should look at other people�s interest instead.
The easiest way to get into business online is through affiliate programs which allow you to sign up as an affiliate member. You earn a referral commission from selling the program owners� products.
These products are usually information products such as electronic books (eBook) and software that can be delivered as a file that is then downloaded directly to your customers' computers. They could be repeatedly reproduced and downloaded and sold at no cost. There�s no packing, shipping and delivery cost. Owing to this, affiliate program owners usually pay their affiliates high commissions (50% or more).
I learnt that it is best for beginners to start by joining a few affiliate programs, followed by announcing this to as many friends as possible to prompt them to visit my websites.
At the same time I was strongly advised against the use of �Spam�. Suddenly I found my list of friends to be pathetically short! Hardly 100 names!
I was feeling really inadequate after finding that many Internet entrepreneurs actually had a mailing lists of well over 5000, 10,000, 100,000��.
To start off, I needed a website, although people do make money without a website. By joining an affiliate program I did not have to worry about creating a website of my own because many affiliate programs do offer websites for free.
However I was advised to learn how to modify the website to differentiate it from many others having the same program so that I would have some advantages over others.
As I said, I had a miserable mailing list hence I needed to build one for visitors by their subscribing to my online newsletters. Oh yes, I have heard it a thousand times in my short stay in this business � �The money is in the list...that all important list which begins the flow of "traffic" �No list...No traffic...No traffic...No sales..�
I send these people my regular newsletter via �autoresponder� provided by the program and over time, I hope to develop a relationship with many of the visitors.
A newsletter allows me to share information and resources with my subscribers resulting in a positive rapport, friendship and eventually trust.
There�s a 30-day guide which is really cool. It takes me step by step each day to improve my business incrementally. The tips and tricks given are especially for professional business working from home. It exposes me to many possibilities, among other things, of how to drive traffic to my site. And I find joy in doing so especially in my pyjamas!
The program allows me to join a discussion forum. It is like walking into a big library, the only difference is that this is better because all the members have similar interest i.e. Internet business. This is where I find answers and solutions to my questions and problems. I find active and successful members discussing their latest findings, for instance, the best websites and software to use to improve our businesses. Another advantage in taking part in the discussion is that other members or visitors get to know my website located in my �signature file�.
Yes, I also learnt how to place my adverts. Here are some of the things that I�ve looked into:
1) The various locations where I can place an ad such as newsgroups, forums, ezines, and web sites.
2) How to post information to a mailing list or newsgroup for free but using a signature file to promote my websites.
3) How the program helps me to set up autoresponders to take away the chore of responding to visitors manually.
4) How to write articles and submit them to article directories to get free advertisement for life.
5) I�ve created a Blog of my own. It is an excellent way to provide visitors and customers with information at their fingertips, just a click away. I keep it fresh and alive by posting interesting articles on Internet business on a regular basis. The articles in the Blog also offer me free advertisement because each article carries a link to my websites.
In conclusion, if you want to make money on the Internet, it is a real possibility. But please do not expect something for nothing. You need to invest in your effort, time, commitment and at least some financial input. Once you�ve decided, go for it and. �..DON'T EVER GIVE UP!
About the author:
Woon Sung-Liang(John Woon) is a Rubber and Latex Consultant with about 25 years of experience. Check this fantastic website to find out how he started his online Internet business: http://www.PlugInProfitSite.com/main-9747Visit his website http://www.johnwoon.comGet to know him better at his Blog: http://www.blogwithjohnwoon.blogspot.com
Like tens of thousands of people who often venture online exploring ways to make a little extra money, I have been looking for ways that would allow me to eventually live a life with residual income and financial freedom.
Obviously, I did not know how except for the fact that many are making millions of dollars every year from Internet.
But I learnt fast, after having paid a lot of money to the so-called Internet gurus. I realised that there were a lot of scams, hyped-up promises, and just plain sure-way-to-loose-your-hard-earned-money programs. Very quickly, it became obvious to me that the promises of make-tons-of-money-with-no-effort-all-for-free had to be challenged because this is not true at all! What you get for nothing would be nothing. I learnt now how I should look every time before I leapt.
Building a business online is just like building a brick-and-mortar business offline. So you need both a good plan and a marketable product. Some friends advised that I should build a website around my personal interest or hobbies because it�d be fun doing so. That way, when the going gets tough, the motivation to persevere would be more likely to prevail. However I found that my own interest and hobbies were not necessarily what the market was looking for. In fact, I realized that I should look at other people�s interest instead.
The easiest way to get into business online is through affiliate programs which allow you to sign up as an affiliate member. You earn a referral commission from selling the program owners� products.
These products are usually information products such as electronic books (eBook) and software that can be delivered as a file that is then downloaded directly to your customers' computers. They could be repeatedly reproduced and downloaded and sold at no cost. There�s no packing, shipping and delivery cost. Owing to this, affiliate program owners usually pay their affiliates high commissions (50% or more).
I learnt that it is best for beginners to start by joining a few affiliate programs, followed by announcing this to as many friends as possible to prompt them to visit my websites.
At the same time I was strongly advised against the use of �Spam�. Suddenly I found my list of friends to be pathetically short! Hardly 100 names!
I was feeling really inadequate after finding that many Internet entrepreneurs actually had a mailing lists of well over 5000, 10,000, 100,000��.
To start off, I needed a website, although people do make money without a website. By joining an affiliate program I did not have to worry about creating a website of my own because many affiliate programs do offer websites for free.
However I was advised to learn how to modify the website to differentiate it from many others having the same program so that I would have some advantages over others.
As I said, I had a miserable mailing list hence I needed to build one for visitors by their subscribing to my online newsletters. Oh yes, I have heard it a thousand times in my short stay in this business � �The money is in the list...that all important list which begins the flow of "traffic" �No list...No traffic...No traffic...No sales..�
I send these people my regular newsletter via �autoresponder� provided by the program and over time, I hope to develop a relationship with many of the visitors.
A newsletter allows me to share information and resources with my subscribers resulting in a positive rapport, friendship and eventually trust.
There�s a 30-day guide which is really cool. It takes me step by step each day to improve my business incrementally. The tips and tricks given are especially for professional business working from home. It exposes me to many possibilities, among other things, of how to drive traffic to my site. And I find joy in doing so especially in my pyjamas!
The program allows me to join a discussion forum. It is like walking into a big library, the only difference is that this is better because all the members have similar interest i.e. Internet business. This is where I find answers and solutions to my questions and problems. I find active and successful members discussing their latest findings, for instance, the best websites and software to use to improve our businesses. Another advantage in taking part in the discussion is that other members or visitors get to know my website located in my �signature file�.
Yes, I also learnt how to place my adverts. Here are some of the things that I�ve looked into:
1) The various locations where I can place an ad such as newsgroups, forums, ezines, and web sites.
2) How to post information to a mailing list or newsgroup for free but using a signature file to promote my websites.
3) How the program helps me to set up autoresponders to take away the chore of responding to visitors manually.
4) How to write articles and submit them to article directories to get free advertisement for life.
5) I�ve created a Blog of my own. It is an excellent way to provide visitors and customers with information at their fingertips, just a click away. I keep it fresh and alive by posting interesting articles on Internet business on a regular basis. The articles in the Blog also offer me free advertisement because each article carries a link to my websites.
In conclusion, if you want to make money on the Internet, it is a real possibility. But please do not expect something for nothing. You need to invest in your effort, time, commitment and at least some financial input. Once you�ve decided, go for it and. �..DON'T EVER GIVE UP!
About the author:
Woon Sung-Liang(John Woon) is a Rubber and Latex Consultant with about 25 years of experience. Check this fantastic website to find out how he started his online Internet business: http://www.PlugInProfitSite.com/main-9747Visit his website http://www.johnwoon.comGet to know him better at his Blog: http://www.blogwithjohnwoon.blogspot.com
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Boosting Employee Morale With Employee Surveys
by: Bill Roche
Copyright 2005 Bill Roche
Do you know exactly how your employees feel when Monday morning approaches?
Are they eager to get back to a satisfying workplace and to perform important tasks?
Or, do they sit home Sunday night dreading another week of unimportant work performed for an ogre of a boss?
The truth is probably somewhere in between; but without actual knowledge of the facts, it�s hard to improve anything.
The ideal workplace provides employees with empowerment and direction when needed, but shies away from unnecessary micro-management. Employees feel they are contributing to meaningful goals in a significant way. The ideal workplace offers compensation and benefits that meet the needs of employees and cause them to remain loyal to an organization for the long term.
If you don't know where your employees� morale level stands, you can't make life better or productivity higher. Better morale means greater productivity which translates into an improved bottom line. Unhappy employees miss more work and produce inferior work.
By measuring your employee morale level through an Employee Satisfaction Survey, you can learn how your employees feel � provided your employees believe that their honest input will result in appropriate change where needed. The danger of conducting Employee Satisfaction Surveys, of course, is that if you do not allow change where change is needed, you may well cause employee morale to drop even lower.
Suppose, for instance, that one result of a survey is that your employees feel your management style inhibits effective production of quality work. Would you be willing to alter your management style and more proactively empower employees?
If you�re not willing to change, you will likely be wasting time and money by performing surveys. If you�re willing to keep an open mind, surveys can lead your organization to greater heights and result in decisive morale increases.
Some questions that can reveal a great deal about employee satisfaction include:
(1) Do you feel that management listens to your ideas on how to best accomplish tasks?
(2) Is there a recognizable tie between how well you perform your job and your monetary compensation?
(3) Do you often feel you could do a better job if management would only get out of the way?
(4) Do you feel, once assigned a task, that you are empowered to perform that task?
(5) Do you feel that innovative thinking or "outside the box" thinking is encouraged and rewarded?
(6) Are there enough recognition programs for recognizing outstanding accomplishments on the part of employees?
An effective Employee Satisfaction Survey should not be too lengthy; 20 to 40 questions ought to reveal what you need to know about your employees. Whether you select yes/no questions or choose a 1 to 5 scale (where 5 means complete agreement and 1 means complete disagreement with a survey statement), you should, upon survey completion, compile the results using a database that will let you to analyze the results and convert them into bar charts or other graphics which make them easier to understand.
Once you�ve analyzed the survey results, feedback to the employees is crucial. Otherwise, they will likely conclude that what they have to say doesn't matter, resulting in an additional hit to morale.
Hopefully, some of your survey results will indicate areas of high employee morale. Those areas are not likely to need significant attention. The areas where employee morale gets low scores offer the greatest potential for improvement. Develop an action plan and implement that plan with full knowledge of employees. Better yet, involve employees directly. Employee involvement in the development of the action plan and its implementation can lead to positive outcomes and creative solutions to identified challenges.
Most importantly, be aware that you can only fix what you know is broken. Once you�ve identified areas of low employee morale, you can zero in on those weak spots and achieve measurable increases in employee morale, productivity, attendance and loyalty on the part of your employees.
About the author:
Bill Roche is the publisher of "Boosting Employee Morale," a free ezine that provides readers with tips on how to improve employee morale. For regular tips to move you toward a more positive and productive work environment, sign up for your own subscription at: http://www.TopResults.com
Copyright 2005 Bill Roche
Do you know exactly how your employees feel when Monday morning approaches?
Are they eager to get back to a satisfying workplace and to perform important tasks?
Or, do they sit home Sunday night dreading another week of unimportant work performed for an ogre of a boss?
The truth is probably somewhere in between; but without actual knowledge of the facts, it�s hard to improve anything.
The ideal workplace provides employees with empowerment and direction when needed, but shies away from unnecessary micro-management. Employees feel they are contributing to meaningful goals in a significant way. The ideal workplace offers compensation and benefits that meet the needs of employees and cause them to remain loyal to an organization for the long term.
If you don't know where your employees� morale level stands, you can't make life better or productivity higher. Better morale means greater productivity which translates into an improved bottom line. Unhappy employees miss more work and produce inferior work.
By measuring your employee morale level through an Employee Satisfaction Survey, you can learn how your employees feel � provided your employees believe that their honest input will result in appropriate change where needed. The danger of conducting Employee Satisfaction Surveys, of course, is that if you do not allow change where change is needed, you may well cause employee morale to drop even lower.
Suppose, for instance, that one result of a survey is that your employees feel your management style inhibits effective production of quality work. Would you be willing to alter your management style and more proactively empower employees?
If you�re not willing to change, you will likely be wasting time and money by performing surveys. If you�re willing to keep an open mind, surveys can lead your organization to greater heights and result in decisive morale increases.
Some questions that can reveal a great deal about employee satisfaction include:
(1) Do you feel that management listens to your ideas on how to best accomplish tasks?
(2) Is there a recognizable tie between how well you perform your job and your monetary compensation?
(3) Do you often feel you could do a better job if management would only get out of the way?
(4) Do you feel, once assigned a task, that you are empowered to perform that task?
(5) Do you feel that innovative thinking or "outside the box" thinking is encouraged and rewarded?
(6) Are there enough recognition programs for recognizing outstanding accomplishments on the part of employees?
An effective Employee Satisfaction Survey should not be too lengthy; 20 to 40 questions ought to reveal what you need to know about your employees. Whether you select yes/no questions or choose a 1 to 5 scale (where 5 means complete agreement and 1 means complete disagreement with a survey statement), you should, upon survey completion, compile the results using a database that will let you to analyze the results and convert them into bar charts or other graphics which make them easier to understand.
Once you�ve analyzed the survey results, feedback to the employees is crucial. Otherwise, they will likely conclude that what they have to say doesn't matter, resulting in an additional hit to morale.
Hopefully, some of your survey results will indicate areas of high employee morale. Those areas are not likely to need significant attention. The areas where employee morale gets low scores offer the greatest potential for improvement. Develop an action plan and implement that plan with full knowledge of employees. Better yet, involve employees directly. Employee involvement in the development of the action plan and its implementation can lead to positive outcomes and creative solutions to identified challenges.
Most importantly, be aware that you can only fix what you know is broken. Once you�ve identified areas of low employee morale, you can zero in on those weak spots and achieve measurable increases in employee morale, productivity, attendance and loyalty on the part of your employees.
About the author:
Bill Roche is the publisher of "Boosting Employee Morale," a free ezine that provides readers with tips on how to improve employee morale. For regular tips to move you toward a more positive and productive work environment, sign up for your own subscription at: http://www.TopResults.com
Keys To Starting Your Own Clothing Company
by: Bradley Johnson
Ever wanted to start your own clothing company? Its not as difficult as you think. What do you absolutely need?
1. A decent logo
2. Creative concepts and graphics - Design Talent
3. A unique, blank apparel supplier
4. A decent screen printer
5. A Line Sheet to show potential buyers
6. Sales and promotional talent.
Which do you think is most important? Its obviously design talent you say? Are you Joking? You must be joking. Have you stepped out of the house recently? Have you seen Von Dutch clothing? Crayon weilding Chimpanzes produce better designs. Furthermore, I imagine the monkeys are more sanitary, but I digress.
#6 is clearly the most important element. You can create an entire line of fashion forward, beautiful clothing but if you can't pitch it - no one will ever see it (excluding your mom of course). So, unless you want a closet full of your fantastic designs, ask yourself the following two questions:
Can I sell?
In other words......can I hit the pavement with my line sheet and walk into every boutique clothing store I can find? Then will I harass the hell out of retail clothing store buyers so that they'll try to squeeze 5 minutes of time in for me at Magic 06' (Clothing Convention) ?
Will I be able to make a professional presentation to a Nordstroms buyer?
Can I promote?
Do I have and creative viral or gureilla marketing ideas to get this label kickstarted?
If the answer to both of these questions is No - you better get some help. Namely, find someone passionate for fashion who also happens to be ridiculously outgoing, great on the phone and aggressive as hell. Lastly, (and superficially) it would help if your sales rep is hot.
I know, how horrible.....so sorry, buy I didn't say anything about this being an equal opportunity business.
That being said, let me welcome you the shallow end of the pool..... i.e. the fashion world.
Good luck with your label!
About the author:
Bradley J, http://www.blankstyle.com
Fashionable Wholesale Clothing
Ever wanted to start your own clothing company? Its not as difficult as you think. What do you absolutely need?
1. A decent logo
2. Creative concepts and graphics - Design Talent
3. A unique, blank apparel supplier
4. A decent screen printer
5. A Line Sheet to show potential buyers
6. Sales and promotional talent.
Which do you think is most important? Its obviously design talent you say? Are you Joking? You must be joking. Have you stepped out of the house recently? Have you seen Von Dutch clothing? Crayon weilding Chimpanzes produce better designs. Furthermore, I imagine the monkeys are more sanitary, but I digress.
#6 is clearly the most important element. You can create an entire line of fashion forward, beautiful clothing but if you can't pitch it - no one will ever see it (excluding your mom of course). So, unless you want a closet full of your fantastic designs, ask yourself the following two questions:
Can I sell?
In other words......can I hit the pavement with my line sheet and walk into every boutique clothing store I can find? Then will I harass the hell out of retail clothing store buyers so that they'll try to squeeze 5 minutes of time in for me at Magic 06' (Clothing Convention) ?
Will I be able to make a professional presentation to a Nordstroms buyer?
Can I promote?
Do I have and creative viral or gureilla marketing ideas to get this label kickstarted?
If the answer to both of these questions is No - you better get some help. Namely, find someone passionate for fashion who also happens to be ridiculously outgoing, great on the phone and aggressive as hell. Lastly, (and superficially) it would help if your sales rep is hot.
I know, how horrible.....so sorry, buy I didn't say anything about this being an equal opportunity business.
That being said, let me welcome you the shallow end of the pool..... i.e. the fashion world.
Good luck with your label!
About the author:
Bradley J, http://www.blankstyle.com
Fashionable Wholesale Clothing
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Coaching Generation X
by: Terri Nagle
It has been said that Generation X is the most ignored, misunderstood, and disheartened generation our country has seen in a long time. No one can define who belongs to Generation X. While most agree that there is a generation after the Boomers, no one agrees on who it is. In a September 23, 1996, article in USA Today, six experts defined Generation X, each with a different answer. They ranged anywhere from those born between 1961 to 1981 (78 to 85 million) to those born between 1965 to 1976 (46 million). Although Generation X appears to be the accepted term, other labels have been applied. William Strauss and Neil Howe refer to them as the Thirteenth Generation (the thirteenth generation since the founding of our country). Baby Busters and Twenty-somethings have also been used.
One of the most fundamental requirements for effective coaching is the ability to understand others' motives, values, and goals, not enforcing one's own on others. A slight variation of the Golden Rule-instead of "treating others as you want to be treated," coaches should "treat others as they want to be treated." This means understanding, and accepting, that people are all different. It also means that there is no "script" for coaching-it is different for every person you coach.
The need to understand differences is especially apparent in the ongoing conflict between Baby Boomers and Generation X. These struggles are rooted in the desire (on both sides) to want everyone to be alike. This would certainly make our lives and relationships easier, but it is not based in reality. Of course, clashes between generations are not new. Remember the generation gap in the 1960s between the Boomers and the Silent Generation?
The fact remains that Generation X are the employees in the workforce today; they are the future. They aren't going away, nor are they likely to conform to the previous generation's definition of work. Boomer managers cannot continue to ignore Xers' differences and try to manage them according to their own mindset. This does not mean agreement with an Xer's attitude but, understanding them to make coaching easier. The better you know them, the more likely you are to have insight to their "hot buttons"-what motivates them. And, at the very best, understanding them may begin to remove the conflict and hostility that exists between the generations and will lead to positive actions and results that are mutually beneficial to the individual and the organization.
The problem with generalizations is that they only go so far and stereotyping runs the risk of alienation. There are always exceptions to the rule, those who will say "that's not me". I can sometimes identify with Boomers and sometimes with Xers (you guess my age!). It is impossible to suggest a prototype for how to coach 46-85 million people. As a start, the generalizations made here are based on a review of the relevant literature and personal observations/discussion with coaches-all with the hope of understanding this generation and offering suggestions on how to effectively coach them. To successfully coach and help Generation X, we must learn what they want, how they feel, and how they view their world.
WHAT WON'T MOTIVATE?
Generation X won't do things because they have a deep sense of mission, or loyalty to an organization. They have nothing but disdain for corporate politics and bureaucracy and don't trust any institution. They grew up watching their parents turn into workaholics, only to be downsized and restructured out of their chosen careers. They believe work is a thing you do to have a life (work doesn't define their life).
During the practice situations in our coaching workshops, the coach will often say-"Your behavior is affecting the company and if you don't change, we won't be in business in the long term." They raise the company flag and pull out the loyalty line. This means nothing to Xers-it will not capture their interest, raise their awareness, or stir them to new thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Xers have no expectation of job security, so they tend to see every job as temporary and every company as a stepping stone to something better, or at least to something else. They have been accused of not wanting to pay their dues. But, in today's changing workplace, anyone who is thinking about doing a job long enough to pay dues is out of touch!
Because they won't put in long hours at what they mostly term "dead end" jobs (Douglas Coupland coined the term "Mcjobs,") and they don't exhibit the same loyalty as Boomers do towards an organization, they have been called slackers. However, Xers will work very hard for a job that they believe in, for something that challenges them. In a l995 survey, Babson College Professor Paul Reynolds found that "10% of Americans between the ages of 25-34 are actively involved in creating a start-up company, a rate about three times as high as any other age group...it should help dispel once and for all the myth that today's youth are motivationally challenged." (U.S. News and World Report, September 23, 1996)
WHAT DOES MOTIVATE?
Value The Individual and Nurture Relationships
Although there doesn't seem to be one description of Generation X, most will agree that a defining characteristic is that they don't like to be characterized (as I'm doing in this article!). They don't want to be treated as a single entity, but want to be looked at as individuals. In addition, this is the first wave of latchkey kids to hit the work force. They are homesick for the home they never had (due to both parents working). Their focus on relationships over achievement is what leads Boomers to complain about their laziness. Isn't this strong sense of community and personal relationships in the workplace just what we need?
Challenging Work
This generation has sometimes been called the MTV Generation because of their short attention span. Xers want new challenges and the opportunity to build new skills. Training is one of the best motivators. They have a tremendous capacity to process lots of information and concentrate on multiple tasks.
They don't want to spend a lot of time talking about things or having meetings. They want to get in, do the work, and move on to the next thing. If you're looking for someone to deliver a report every week, you don't want an Xer. I recently brought up the subject of understanding twenty-somethings during a coaching workshop. Immediately a manager complained, with a lot of emotion, that kids today don't want to work and will only stay for a week or so and then leave. Well, the job was very repetitive and offered little challenge. No wonder!
Freedom to Manage Time and Work
Xers don't want over-your-shoulder, in-your-face managers who constantly check what they're doing. Perhaps as a result of their latchkey childhood, these young workers are not used to being closely supervised and are remarkably good at working on their own.
Feedback and Recognition
On the other hand, members of Generation X seem to crave time with their bosses and can never get enough feedback on their performance. They may be searching for what was missing when they were growing up. Because of their short attention span, recognition and rewards must arrive quickly. Employee of the month doesn't do anything for them.
CONCLUSION
The characteristics for which Generation X has received such bad press are the very qualities that make them valuable. We say we want an empowered work force...give Xers the ball and they will run with it...we want a self-directed work force...these workers have been self directed from a very young age...we want computer literacy...Generation X comes out on top...we want flexible, adaptable workers-right on again.
Xers will respond to Boomer managers if they put meaning, into the buzzwords they use so often-empowerment, teamwork, communication. Create an environment where they are challenged by and enjoy their work, where they're measured on performance rather than on which clothes they wear, where they are informed, included and recognized. Gee, maybe Xers aren't so different from anyone else!
About the author:
Please click here http://www.cmoe.com/coaching.htmto learn more about our Coaching services and the organizations we have served.
It has been said that Generation X is the most ignored, misunderstood, and disheartened generation our country has seen in a long time. No one can define who belongs to Generation X. While most agree that there is a generation after the Boomers, no one agrees on who it is. In a September 23, 1996, article in USA Today, six experts defined Generation X, each with a different answer. They ranged anywhere from those born between 1961 to 1981 (78 to 85 million) to those born between 1965 to 1976 (46 million). Although Generation X appears to be the accepted term, other labels have been applied. William Strauss and Neil Howe refer to them as the Thirteenth Generation (the thirteenth generation since the founding of our country). Baby Busters and Twenty-somethings have also been used.
One of the most fundamental requirements for effective coaching is the ability to understand others' motives, values, and goals, not enforcing one's own on others. A slight variation of the Golden Rule-instead of "treating others as you want to be treated," coaches should "treat others as they want to be treated." This means understanding, and accepting, that people are all different. It also means that there is no "script" for coaching-it is different for every person you coach.
The need to understand differences is especially apparent in the ongoing conflict between Baby Boomers and Generation X. These struggles are rooted in the desire (on both sides) to want everyone to be alike. This would certainly make our lives and relationships easier, but it is not based in reality. Of course, clashes between generations are not new. Remember the generation gap in the 1960s between the Boomers and the Silent Generation?
The fact remains that Generation X are the employees in the workforce today; they are the future. They aren't going away, nor are they likely to conform to the previous generation's definition of work. Boomer managers cannot continue to ignore Xers' differences and try to manage them according to their own mindset. This does not mean agreement with an Xer's attitude but, understanding them to make coaching easier. The better you know them, the more likely you are to have insight to their "hot buttons"-what motivates them. And, at the very best, understanding them may begin to remove the conflict and hostility that exists between the generations and will lead to positive actions and results that are mutually beneficial to the individual and the organization.
The problem with generalizations is that they only go so far and stereotyping runs the risk of alienation. There are always exceptions to the rule, those who will say "that's not me". I can sometimes identify with Boomers and sometimes with Xers (you guess my age!). It is impossible to suggest a prototype for how to coach 46-85 million people. As a start, the generalizations made here are based on a review of the relevant literature and personal observations/discussion with coaches-all with the hope of understanding this generation and offering suggestions on how to effectively coach them. To successfully coach and help Generation X, we must learn what they want, how they feel, and how they view their world.
WHAT WON'T MOTIVATE?
Generation X won't do things because they have a deep sense of mission, or loyalty to an organization. They have nothing but disdain for corporate politics and bureaucracy and don't trust any institution. They grew up watching their parents turn into workaholics, only to be downsized and restructured out of their chosen careers. They believe work is a thing you do to have a life (work doesn't define their life).
During the practice situations in our coaching workshops, the coach will often say-"Your behavior is affecting the company and if you don't change, we won't be in business in the long term." They raise the company flag and pull out the loyalty line. This means nothing to Xers-it will not capture their interest, raise their awareness, or stir them to new thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Xers have no expectation of job security, so they tend to see every job as temporary and every company as a stepping stone to something better, or at least to something else. They have been accused of not wanting to pay their dues. But, in today's changing workplace, anyone who is thinking about doing a job long enough to pay dues is out of touch!
Because they won't put in long hours at what they mostly term "dead end" jobs (Douglas Coupland coined the term "Mcjobs,") and they don't exhibit the same loyalty as Boomers do towards an organization, they have been called slackers. However, Xers will work very hard for a job that they believe in, for something that challenges them. In a l995 survey, Babson College Professor Paul Reynolds found that "10% of Americans between the ages of 25-34 are actively involved in creating a start-up company, a rate about three times as high as any other age group...it should help dispel once and for all the myth that today's youth are motivationally challenged." (U.S. News and World Report, September 23, 1996)
WHAT DOES MOTIVATE?
Value The Individual and Nurture Relationships
Although there doesn't seem to be one description of Generation X, most will agree that a defining characteristic is that they don't like to be characterized (as I'm doing in this article!). They don't want to be treated as a single entity, but want to be looked at as individuals. In addition, this is the first wave of latchkey kids to hit the work force. They are homesick for the home they never had (due to both parents working). Their focus on relationships over achievement is what leads Boomers to complain about their laziness. Isn't this strong sense of community and personal relationships in the workplace just what we need?
Challenging Work
This generation has sometimes been called the MTV Generation because of their short attention span. Xers want new challenges and the opportunity to build new skills. Training is one of the best motivators. They have a tremendous capacity to process lots of information and concentrate on multiple tasks.
They don't want to spend a lot of time talking about things or having meetings. They want to get in, do the work, and move on to the next thing. If you're looking for someone to deliver a report every week, you don't want an Xer. I recently brought up the subject of understanding twenty-somethings during a coaching workshop. Immediately a manager complained, with a lot of emotion, that kids today don't want to work and will only stay for a week or so and then leave. Well, the job was very repetitive and offered little challenge. No wonder!
Freedom to Manage Time and Work
Xers don't want over-your-shoulder, in-your-face managers who constantly check what they're doing. Perhaps as a result of their latchkey childhood, these young workers are not used to being closely supervised and are remarkably good at working on their own.
Feedback and Recognition
On the other hand, members of Generation X seem to crave time with their bosses and can never get enough feedback on their performance. They may be searching for what was missing when they were growing up. Because of their short attention span, recognition and rewards must arrive quickly. Employee of the month doesn't do anything for them.
CONCLUSION
The characteristics for which Generation X has received such bad press are the very qualities that make them valuable. We say we want an empowered work force...give Xers the ball and they will run with it...we want a self-directed work force...these workers have been self directed from a very young age...we want computer literacy...Generation X comes out on top...we want flexible, adaptable workers-right on again.
Xers will respond to Boomer managers if they put meaning, into the buzzwords they use so often-empowerment, teamwork, communication. Create an environment where they are challenged by and enjoy their work, where they're measured on performance rather than on which clothes they wear, where they are informed, included and recognized. Gee, maybe Xers aren't so different from anyone else!
About the author:
Please click here http://www.cmoe.com/coaching.htmto learn more about our Coaching services and the organizations we have served.
Monday, September 19, 2011
InvestorIdeas.com Announces Addition of Chinese Language Financial Research, Original Articles and Content In Response to Asian Market Growth
by: Fei Wang
Responding to the growth and increasing global influence of Asian markets and economy, www.InvestorIdeas.com now provides content and research resources in Chinese language.
POINT ROBERTS, Wash., November 11, 2005 - www.InvestorIdeas.com, a leading global investor and industry news and research resource portal announces that in response to the growing global influence of Asian financial markets, InvestorIdeas� research resources, original articles, and due diligence content will be available in Chinese language translations. The large scale growth of China�s economy is exerting a direct and increasing influence over global markets, and therefore is of great interest to both corporations and investors. In addition, China�s population constitutes one fifth of the world�s population � providing native language content to such a large demographic ensures a greater and more efficient distribution of critical market information.
InvestorIdeas.com continues to expand its content and services to meet the internet's "search� evolution of how investors and industry track information and trends. InvestorIdeas.com umbrella of industry specific portals includes Blogs, RSS news feeds, investor conferences and online forums, audio interviews and exclusive articles, in addition to well known freelance writers. Sectors covered include Homeland Security, Energy, Renewable Energy, Nanotechnology, Gaming, China, India and a diverse group of leading sectors relevant to today's trends, representing long term growth opportunities.
China-AsiaStocks.com is an investor and industry news portal for the China-Asia sector. The China-AsiaStocks.com website does not make recommendations, but offers a unique free information portal to research news, exclusive articles, interviews, investor conferences and a growing list of participating public companies in this sector.
Click here to read this release in Chinese: http://www.china-asiastocks.com/CAS/News/announce.asp
China-AsiaStocks.com Portal translated in Chinese: http://www.China-AsiaStocks.com/CAS/
About InvestorIdeas.com www.InvestorIdeas.com
InvestorIdeas.com does not make stock recommendations, but offers a unique suite of informational portals for investors and industry to research specific industry sectors including homeland security, renewable energy, nanotechnology, RFID, wireless and other industry sectors representing long term growth.
Featured companies gain investor and industry visibility through our diverse online media programs including audio interviews, online conferences, industry news releases, articles, RSS Feeds and Blogs. (InvestorIdeas is compensated by these companies. Please read our Disclaimer.)
Exclusive InvestorIdeas.com Content:
InvestorIdeas.com RSS Feeds and Blogs: http://InvestorIdeas.com/RSS/Default.asp
�The Defense Market Report,� a weekly feature by well-known defense sector correspondent James H. Smith. http://www.homelanddefensestocks.com/DMR/Default.asp
The Insiders Corner with Michael Brush
Read the exclusive InvestorIdeas.com Feature �The Insiders Corner,� a weekly feature by well-known financial writer and author Michael Brush. http://investorideas.com/insiderscorner/
Investor Incite Newsletter
InvestorIdeas.com free "Investor Incite" Newsletter consists of company and industry updates, investment research and developing trends in key areas such as Homeland Security, Renewable Energy, Nanotechnology and more.
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Investorideas.com Disclaimer: www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp. Our sites do not make recommendations, but offer information portals to research news, articles, stock lists and recent research. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information presented. All information relating to featured companies is sourced from public documents and/ or the company and is not the opinion of our web sites.
For more information contact:
Dawn Van Zant: 800-665-0411 - dvanzant@investorideas.com
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About the author:
China-AsiaStocks.com is an investor and industry news portal for the China-Asia sector. The China-AsiaStocks.com website does not make recommendations, but offers a unique free information portal to research news, exclusive articles, interviews, investor conferences and a growing list of participating public companies in this sector.
Don't Shoot the Sales Team
by: Steve Chriest
Revenue is down. Sales are slowing. The CEO looks up from the business plan and realizes that the company won�t meet analysts� expectations. Focusing on the organization�s sales leader, the stage is set for sacrificing a scapegoat.
Upon who else should the axe fall when the sales organization misses revenue targets? After all, aren�t sales and revenue the responsibility of the sales leader? The answer may be as easily forgotten as it is obvious.
To one degree or another everyone in an organization impacts the revenue generating process. The strategic plan of the board of directors and the CEO provides the overall strategy for revenue generation. The marketing department provides crucial demographic and psychographic customer or client information on which the sales department relies in formulating industry and account strategies. Manufacturing, finance, legal, customer service and all other departments facilitate or constrain the process of generating revenue, each in their own peculiar way.
The sales organization�s influence in enterprise revenue generation is con-centrated in the sales pipeline. Identifying bona fide sales opportunities, managing those opportunities through the sales pipeline until they produce revenue, and then managing customer or client relationships are the primary responsibilities of the sales and sales management teams. Rarely, if ever, does the sales organization control the resources of manufacturing, marketing, finance, legal and customer service.
The picture most companies present to the world show the sales organization �out there,� in front of customers and clients and in front of the rest of the company�s departments. Even marketing, the first cousin of sales, is more often than not as disconnected from sales as are the other departments. The sales group leads the company charge, and the other departments take up rear support positions, providing tangible and intangible support.
Revenue generation is a cross functional, company-wide process that involves every department and all employees in the organization. The CEO and the Board of Directors set corporate strategy and everyone else in the organization executes that strategy. We have never observed a situation where the sales organization is in disarray while all the other business segments are humming along with little or no friction. In those rare cases where the failure or underperformance of an enterprise�s revenue generation process lies within the sales organization, the appropriate sales executives, managers and sales professionals should be held accountable and should suffer the requisite consequences. Before CEO�s shoot their sales teams, however, they might want to take a critical look at the entire revenue generation process and how each business segment contributes to or detracts from the success of the process. Like America�s favorite psychologist, Dr. Phil, would advise: Every department in an organization either contributes to the company�s revenue generation process or contaminates it.
About the author:
About the Author:
Steve Chriest is the founder of Selling Up™, a sales consulting firm specializing in sales improvement for organizations of all types and sizes in a variety of industries. He is also the author of Executive Focus, a book that details a plan and methodology for engaging with senior executives.
Revenue is down. Sales are slowing. The CEO looks up from the business plan and realizes that the company won�t meet analysts� expectations. Focusing on the organization�s sales leader, the stage is set for sacrificing a scapegoat.
Upon who else should the axe fall when the sales organization misses revenue targets? After all, aren�t sales and revenue the responsibility of the sales leader? The answer may be as easily forgotten as it is obvious.
To one degree or another everyone in an organization impacts the revenue generating process. The strategic plan of the board of directors and the CEO provides the overall strategy for revenue generation. The marketing department provides crucial demographic and psychographic customer or client information on which the sales department relies in formulating industry and account strategies. Manufacturing, finance, legal, customer service and all other departments facilitate or constrain the process of generating revenue, each in their own peculiar way.
The sales organization�s influence in enterprise revenue generation is con-centrated in the sales pipeline. Identifying bona fide sales opportunities, managing those opportunities through the sales pipeline until they produce revenue, and then managing customer or client relationships are the primary responsibilities of the sales and sales management teams. Rarely, if ever, does the sales organization control the resources of manufacturing, marketing, finance, legal and customer service.
The picture most companies present to the world show the sales organization �out there,� in front of customers and clients and in front of the rest of the company�s departments. Even marketing, the first cousin of sales, is more often than not as disconnected from sales as are the other departments. The sales group leads the company charge, and the other departments take up rear support positions, providing tangible and intangible support.
Revenue generation is a cross functional, company-wide process that involves every department and all employees in the organization. The CEO and the Board of Directors set corporate strategy and everyone else in the organization executes that strategy. We have never observed a situation where the sales organization is in disarray while all the other business segments are humming along with little or no friction. In those rare cases where the failure or underperformance of an enterprise�s revenue generation process lies within the sales organization, the appropriate sales executives, managers and sales professionals should be held accountable and should suffer the requisite consequences. Before CEO�s shoot their sales teams, however, they might want to take a critical look at the entire revenue generation process and how each business segment contributes to or detracts from the success of the process. Like America�s favorite psychologist, Dr. Phil, would advise: Every department in an organization either contributes to the company�s revenue generation process or contaminates it.
About the author:
About the Author:
Steve Chriest is the founder of Selling Up™, a sales consulting firm specializing in sales improvement for organizations of all types and sizes in a variety of industries. He is also the author of Executive Focus, a book that details a plan and methodology for engaging with senior executives.
Friday, September 16, 2011
China: A Joint Venture Playground
by: Seb
China is an economic superpower. It is home to some of the world's most industrious manufacturers who are responsible for the production and export of many leading consumer brands familiar to people around the world. Currently, China's economy is growing at a phenomenal 9% per annum. If ever there was 'undiscovered territory' in the world of joint ventures, China would surely qualify!
Joint Ventures in China
China is a playground for joint ventures and strategic alliances. The economic set-up is perfect: China mass produces quality products at very low cost - America and Europe have consumers who'll pay top-dollar for those products. In the middle are companies who can generate a great deal of revenue from facilitating the export/import and product distribution, effectively connecting the sellers with the buyers.
Chinese manufacturers are only too happy to establish joint ventures with companies who have a market for their products. Given that production costs are low, joint venture companies find that they can distribute and sell products from China at a 70% or 80% profit margin, and still undercut the competition in their home country!
So, how do firms in the 'West' go about establishing joint ventures with Chinese firms? The answer is to register an interest with companies who specialize in matching joint venture applicants together. These firms include the likes of JV Base (http://www.jvbase.com) in the UK.
Manufacturers, master distributors and agents in China can be found via these 'matching' companies. It makes the process of establishing a joint venture relationship very easy indeed.
About the author:
Content is provided by Seb Jay on behalf of http://www.jvbase.com
China is an economic superpower. It is home to some of the world's most industrious manufacturers who are responsible for the production and export of many leading consumer brands familiar to people around the world. Currently, China's economy is growing at a phenomenal 9% per annum. If ever there was 'undiscovered territory' in the world of joint ventures, China would surely qualify!
Joint Ventures in China
China is a playground for joint ventures and strategic alliances. The economic set-up is perfect: China mass produces quality products at very low cost - America and Europe have consumers who'll pay top-dollar for those products. In the middle are companies who can generate a great deal of revenue from facilitating the export/import and product distribution, effectively connecting the sellers with the buyers.
Chinese manufacturers are only too happy to establish joint ventures with companies who have a market for their products. Given that production costs are low, joint venture companies find that they can distribute and sell products from China at a 70% or 80% profit margin, and still undercut the competition in their home country!
So, how do firms in the 'West' go about establishing joint ventures with Chinese firms? The answer is to register an interest with companies who specialize in matching joint venture applicants together. These firms include the likes of JV Base (http://www.jvbase.com) in the UK.
Manufacturers, master distributors and agents in China can be found via these 'matching' companies. It makes the process of establishing a joint venture relationship very easy indeed.
About the author:
Content is provided by Seb Jay on behalf of http://www.jvbase.com
Thursday, September 15, 2011
The 12 Reasons Why Most Ads Fall Flat On Their Face, Costing You A Fortune Instead of Making You The Money You Deserve!
by: Scott Wilson
1.You think you need ‘Image’ or ‘branding’ advertising because that’s all the so-called ‘top guns’ use in their advertising. You don’t use direct response advertising they don’t and you’d think they know best.
2.You never offer compelling benefits that cause your prospect to want to do business with you of your competitor.
3.You don’t use powerful, benefit driven headlines that literally stop your prospect in their tracks and draw them into the body of your ad.
4.You don’t tell your prospect what’s in your offer from them. But you do ramble on about your image, your business and what you are trying to sell him.
5.You don’t talk to your prospect like you know him. You don’t get specific and don’t motivate him.
6.You don’t address your prospect needs, wants and desires in your opening headlines. You’re to busying thinking about yourself or your company image! Remember, your prospect is thinking of one thing only WIIFM (What’s I It For Me?)
7.Your ads are boring and dull and look like all the other hundreds of ads. You don’t motivate your prospect to take ACTION. You don’t use energetic, exciting, action words! Your about as exciting as wet paint!
8.Because you copy what everyone else is doing, or do as the ad agency suggests, your ads are full of “white space” which leaves little room to add any benefits. (The only thing your prospect is looking for) You never have ads with a lot of copy. It’s the copy your prospects want. Information is King!
9.You don’t give specifics in your ads. Your prospects want exact numbers, percentages, results and testimonials. They want all the facts before they will make the decision to move towards a buying decision.
10.You don’t give your prospects any reason to act on your offer NOW. Tell them how to in a step by step process. Unless you tell them, them may not know what the next step is?
11.You don’t see your marketing, sales and advertising as a total system. It’s this total system that can either make or break you as a profitable business. They are not separate functions, with separate goals.
12.You focus on YOU, YOUR COMPANY, YOUR LOGO, YOUR CREDENTIALS, instead of focusing on what all of this can do for your prospect. What BENEFITS will them get if they buy with you?
Now you know the 12 reasons why maybe, some of the ads you are running are not pulling any responses at all! In fact they will be costing you and your company money EVERY TIME YOU RUN THEM!
About the author:
It doesn’t have to be this way, explode your businesses cash register today and check out www.SmarterBusinessLeads.comfor Low Cost Advertising & Marketing Ideas!
1.You think you need ‘Image’ or ‘branding’ advertising because that’s all the so-called ‘top guns’ use in their advertising. You don’t use direct response advertising they don’t and you’d think they know best.
2.You never offer compelling benefits that cause your prospect to want to do business with you of your competitor.
3.You don’t use powerful, benefit driven headlines that literally stop your prospect in their tracks and draw them into the body of your ad.
4.You don’t tell your prospect what’s in your offer from them. But you do ramble on about your image, your business and what you are trying to sell him.
5.You don’t talk to your prospect like you know him. You don’t get specific and don’t motivate him.
6.You don’t address your prospect needs, wants and desires in your opening headlines. You’re to busying thinking about yourself or your company image! Remember, your prospect is thinking of one thing only WIIFM (What’s I It For Me?)
7.Your ads are boring and dull and look like all the other hundreds of ads. You don’t motivate your prospect to take ACTION. You don’t use energetic, exciting, action words! Your about as exciting as wet paint!
8.Because you copy what everyone else is doing, or do as the ad agency suggests, your ads are full of “white space” which leaves little room to add any benefits. (The only thing your prospect is looking for) You never have ads with a lot of copy. It’s the copy your prospects want. Information is King!
9.You don’t give specifics in your ads. Your prospects want exact numbers, percentages, results and testimonials. They want all the facts before they will make the decision to move towards a buying decision.
10.You don’t give your prospects any reason to act on your offer NOW. Tell them how to in a step by step process. Unless you tell them, them may not know what the next step is?
11.You don’t see your marketing, sales and advertising as a total system. It’s this total system that can either make or break you as a profitable business. They are not separate functions, with separate goals.
12.You focus on YOU, YOUR COMPANY, YOUR LOGO, YOUR CREDENTIALS, instead of focusing on what all of this can do for your prospect. What BENEFITS will them get if they buy with you?
Now you know the 12 reasons why maybe, some of the ads you are running are not pulling any responses at all! In fact they will be costing you and your company money EVERY TIME YOU RUN THEM!
About the author:
It doesn’t have to be this way, explode your businesses cash register today and check out www.SmarterBusinessLeads.comfor Low Cost Advertising & Marketing Ideas!
7 No Cost Tips to Market Your Business
by: Kathleen Gage
7 No Cost and Low Cost Tips to Market Your Business
by Kathleen Gage
Marketing a business can be fun, exciting and creative. It can also be very frustrating and expensive if one doesn’t know what outcome they are looking for or how to evaluate cost effective methods of marketing.
Over the years people have come to know me for my unique ability to develop low cost and no cost strategies to market and promote a business, product or service. Strategies that have realized incredible returns.
Some of my successes have included:
- Before my last book was published I pre-sold over $8,000 in books
- Over 250 people registered for a recent seminar in less than 2 weeks and the cost to promote was under $25
- One company used my strategies for a career expo and made over $180,000 in consulting fees
- One speaker sold over $23,000 in product sales back of the room at a two hour seminar with strategies outlined in my program
I don’t share this to impress anyone, rather to impress upon you when using the right strategies for your market, you can realize some incredible results.
People have also come to know me as someone who is a stickler when it comes to putting systems in place. My marketing successes are a direct result of the systems I have implemented.
With a bit of forethought, planning and desire, you can successfully market your business in a very effective manner. Below are seven proven strategies sure to increase visibility, leads and sales.
1. Business Cards
Business cards are often one of the most underutilized tools in one’s marketing.
Use the front and back of your business card to gain full benefit. Depending on your market you can put some very valuable information on the back such as a sports schedule, emergency numbers, or special dates people want to remember.
Keep some in your wallet, your automobile, on your desk, and some at home. Be sure to carry them with you wherever you go and be willing to hand them out as opportunity presents itself.
Creatively distribute your card. When you eat out you can leave one with the tip.
If you borrow a library book, use one as a book mark. Hand them to clerks in stores who may know other people who could use your product or service.
When someone gives you their business card be sure to enter their information in your database. Send them a short note or email within 48 hours of meeting them to keep your name fresh in their mind.
2. Send a picture
A great way to keep your name fresh in a customer’s mind is to send them a picture of when they purchased a product or service from you.
Put a picture of a buyer’s auto purchase in a beautiful calendar. Likely, the proud owner of the vehicle will display the calendar for the next 365 days.
For specialty gift shops, when a customer makes a substantial purchase, have a picture taken with the shop owner. Frame the picture and send it to the customer.
Chances are very good the picture will be displayed proudly for friends and family to see.
A dentist who specializes in smile makeovers can easily arrange to have a professional makeup artist and photographer capture the patient’s beautiful new smile. No doubt the patient will be more than happy to show others their new look.
3. Associations
Associations particular to your market are a great resource for marketing. There are associations specific to virtually any industry, job type or business. A quick web search will likely show you how much is available.
A major opportunity within many organizations is the chance to network. Additionally, to make presentations. Along with presentations come publications.
Often, when you do a presentation, you will get a mention in the association newsletter, their Ezine and/or on their website.
In many cases, when an organization has a newsletter or Ezine, they welcome the presenter writing a press announcement for them. It saves them time and often assures you have a better chance of the information making it into the publication.
They may also welcome you writing an article for their publication or website.
This lends itself to pre-presentation visibility. Additionally, you will position yourself as an expert and increase credibility.
Most organizations have the following opportunities that can help you to gain visibility and do some very effective marketing:
-Newsletters
-Internet listings
-Links to you website
-Discounted advertising rates
-Networking opportunities
-Business referral services
-Special recognition events
-Education seminars
-Business and membership directories
In many cases you will need to be a member of the association to take advantage of the multiple marketing opportunities. In other cases membership is not necessary.
4. Committee Involvement
Committee involvement is a great way to give back to the association or community while building visibility for you and your business. In some cases, you may even want to get involved in a committee where you have little experience or knowledge. This will give you an opportunity to stretch yourself and meet and network with individuals you may not have otherwise had the chance to meet.
5. Contests and drawings
Contests are a favorite for many businesses such as restaurants or those that have high foot traffic. Contests are a great way to build your database quickly.
You are generating very hot leads when you have a contest with people who have already frequented your place of business. The key though is to do back -end marketing. Far too many businesses hold contests, get lots of names and do nothing with them. In this case, it is a complete waste of time to hold a contest.
You can advertise a contest to gain new foot traffic in your place of business.
Trade show booths are a great place to hold a contest. Pre-show marketing helps to generate traffic at your booth. Invite people to stop by booth # _____ (whatever your booth is) to enter to win. Creative contests can also generate free publicity.
6. Cross-promoting
Join with other companies who have products or services that compliment yours and promote each other. Let’s say you have a massage business. You could partner with a candle company to sell their candles to your massage clients. They can give out coupons for your massage business. Or the candle company can partner with a gift basket company. Cross-promoting is only limited by your imagination.
This can considerably cut down the cost of business promotion and allow each business to use promotion techniques that might be too expensive to implement alone.
7. Bonuses
Secure special offers from various businesses who want to share a similar market as you. When a customer buys a minimum amount they receive a bonus packet with the various offers from the other vendors. This is a win/win all the way around. The other vendors gain visibility, you have something extra to offer you customers and the customers get incredible value for their purchase.
Be aware of who you cross-promote and joint venture with. You want someone who will be equally committed to a campaign.
About the author:
About the author
Kathleen Gage is a business advisor specializing in marketing and promotions for small and home based businesses. She is a keynote speaker and the author of -101 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Door - and - 101 No Cost and Low Cost Tips to Market and Promote a Product, Service or Business. To access her FREE report, Learn How One Salt Lake City Consultant made Over $100,000 from One Idea, visit www.streetsmartsmarketing.com
7 No Cost and Low Cost Tips to Market Your Business
by Kathleen Gage
Marketing a business can be fun, exciting and creative. It can also be very frustrating and expensive if one doesn’t know what outcome they are looking for or how to evaluate cost effective methods of marketing.
Over the years people have come to know me for my unique ability to develop low cost and no cost strategies to market and promote a business, product or service. Strategies that have realized incredible returns.
Some of my successes have included:
- Before my last book was published I pre-sold over $8,000 in books
- Over 250 people registered for a recent seminar in less than 2 weeks and the cost to promote was under $25
- One company used my strategies for a career expo and made over $180,000 in consulting fees
- One speaker sold over $23,000 in product sales back of the room at a two hour seminar with strategies outlined in my program
I don’t share this to impress anyone, rather to impress upon you when using the right strategies for your market, you can realize some incredible results.
People have also come to know me as someone who is a stickler when it comes to putting systems in place. My marketing successes are a direct result of the systems I have implemented.
With a bit of forethought, planning and desire, you can successfully market your business in a very effective manner. Below are seven proven strategies sure to increase visibility, leads and sales.
1. Business Cards
Business cards are often one of the most underutilized tools in one’s marketing.
Use the front and back of your business card to gain full benefit. Depending on your market you can put some very valuable information on the back such as a sports schedule, emergency numbers, or special dates people want to remember.
Keep some in your wallet, your automobile, on your desk, and some at home. Be sure to carry them with you wherever you go and be willing to hand them out as opportunity presents itself.
Creatively distribute your card. When you eat out you can leave one with the tip.
If you borrow a library book, use one as a book mark. Hand them to clerks in stores who may know other people who could use your product or service.
When someone gives you their business card be sure to enter their information in your database. Send them a short note or email within 48 hours of meeting them to keep your name fresh in their mind.
2. Send a picture
A great way to keep your name fresh in a customer’s mind is to send them a picture of when they purchased a product or service from you.
Put a picture of a buyer’s auto purchase in a beautiful calendar. Likely, the proud owner of the vehicle will display the calendar for the next 365 days.
For specialty gift shops, when a customer makes a substantial purchase, have a picture taken with the shop owner. Frame the picture and send it to the customer.
Chances are very good the picture will be displayed proudly for friends and family to see.
A dentist who specializes in smile makeovers can easily arrange to have a professional makeup artist and photographer capture the patient’s beautiful new smile. No doubt the patient will be more than happy to show others their new look.
3. Associations
Associations particular to your market are a great resource for marketing. There are associations specific to virtually any industry, job type or business. A quick web search will likely show you how much is available.
A major opportunity within many organizations is the chance to network. Additionally, to make presentations. Along with presentations come publications.
Often, when you do a presentation, you will get a mention in the association newsletter, their Ezine and/or on their website.
In many cases, when an organization has a newsletter or Ezine, they welcome the presenter writing a press announcement for them. It saves them time and often assures you have a better chance of the information making it into the publication.
They may also welcome you writing an article for their publication or website.
This lends itself to pre-presentation visibility. Additionally, you will position yourself as an expert and increase credibility.
Most organizations have the following opportunities that can help you to gain visibility and do some very effective marketing:
-Newsletters
-Internet listings
-Links to you website
-Discounted advertising rates
-Networking opportunities
-Business referral services
-Special recognition events
-Education seminars
-Business and membership directories
In many cases you will need to be a member of the association to take advantage of the multiple marketing opportunities. In other cases membership is not necessary.
4. Committee Involvement
Committee involvement is a great way to give back to the association or community while building visibility for you and your business. In some cases, you may even want to get involved in a committee where you have little experience or knowledge. This will give you an opportunity to stretch yourself and meet and network with individuals you may not have otherwise had the chance to meet.
5. Contests and drawings
Contests are a favorite for many businesses such as restaurants or those that have high foot traffic. Contests are a great way to build your database quickly.
You are generating very hot leads when you have a contest with people who have already frequented your place of business. The key though is to do back -end marketing. Far too many businesses hold contests, get lots of names and do nothing with them. In this case, it is a complete waste of time to hold a contest.
You can advertise a contest to gain new foot traffic in your place of business.
Trade show booths are a great place to hold a contest. Pre-show marketing helps to generate traffic at your booth. Invite people to stop by booth # _____ (whatever your booth is) to enter to win. Creative contests can also generate free publicity.
6. Cross-promoting
Join with other companies who have products or services that compliment yours and promote each other. Let’s say you have a massage business. You could partner with a candle company to sell their candles to your massage clients. They can give out coupons for your massage business. Or the candle company can partner with a gift basket company. Cross-promoting is only limited by your imagination.
This can considerably cut down the cost of business promotion and allow each business to use promotion techniques that might be too expensive to implement alone.
7. Bonuses
Secure special offers from various businesses who want to share a similar market as you. When a customer buys a minimum amount they receive a bonus packet with the various offers from the other vendors. This is a win/win all the way around. The other vendors gain visibility, you have something extra to offer you customers and the customers get incredible value for their purchase.
Be aware of who you cross-promote and joint venture with. You want someone who will be equally committed to a campaign.
About the author:
About the author
Kathleen Gage is a business advisor specializing in marketing and promotions for small and home based businesses. She is a keynote speaker and the author of -101 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Door - and - 101 No Cost and Low Cost Tips to Market and Promote a Product, Service or Business. To access her FREE report, Learn How One Salt Lake City Consultant made Over $100,000 from One Idea, visit www.streetsmartsmarketing.com
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Profit consistently at Online Poker
by: Kerry Mann
I have been playing poker professionally for nearly 5 years now. I have found a system that consistently profits. To find out more visit my website www.pokersuperjob.com
NOTES NOTES NOTES...The first and most important step is to take notes. Use a spreadsheet. Write down everything. Write down your time, bankroll and end result for each table played at. Why you won, or why you lost. Also note the casino site if you play at several. Never stop taking notes. I have notes going back for several years. I have found that playing at lower stakes tables is more profitable (which is obvious, as the players are usually less experienced. Less obvious information I found is that certain sites are more profitable for me. Some sites promote more and have new players, which is great for you. I talk about this more on my website. So always take notes and always learn from them
The second step to remaining profitable is to stay consistent. If you win a few big games and are up DO NOT jump to a higher stakes table and throw your entire bankroll into a larger game. I gradually step my game up to higher stakes tables over years. There is more money at these tables to make but the players are much better. You can use your notes to find the most profitable table for you. If you play at a higher stakes table you will make more money but it will take longer so you will make less over the long run. The key is to find the perfect table to suit you. As you become better and more experienced gradually move to higher tables and note the changes.
So be professional, keep notes and stay consistent. It will pay off in the long run.
About the author:
Kerry Mann is a professional online poker player. His website http://www.pokerliving.nettells more about him and how he makes a living at online poker, and his proven system.
I have been playing poker professionally for nearly 5 years now. I have found a system that consistently profits. To find out more visit my website www.pokersuperjob.com
NOTES NOTES NOTES...The first and most important step is to take notes. Use a spreadsheet. Write down everything. Write down your time, bankroll and end result for each table played at. Why you won, or why you lost. Also note the casino site if you play at several. Never stop taking notes. I have notes going back for several years. I have found that playing at lower stakes tables is more profitable (which is obvious, as the players are usually less experienced. Less obvious information I found is that certain sites are more profitable for me. Some sites promote more and have new players, which is great for you. I talk about this more on my website. So always take notes and always learn from them
The second step to remaining profitable is to stay consistent. If you win a few big games and are up DO NOT jump to a higher stakes table and throw your entire bankroll into a larger game. I gradually step my game up to higher stakes tables over years. There is more money at these tables to make but the players are much better. You can use your notes to find the most profitable table for you. If you play at a higher stakes table you will make more money but it will take longer so you will make less over the long run. The key is to find the perfect table to suit you. As you become better and more experienced gradually move to higher tables and note the changes.
So be professional, keep notes and stay consistent. It will pay off in the long run.
About the author:
Kerry Mann is a professional online poker player. His website http://www.pokerliving.nettells more about him and how he makes a living at online poker, and his proven system.
Have You Done Your Cultivating Today?
by: Charity Adams
I grew up on a farm, moved to the big city, if there is such a thing in Nebraska, only to come home and marry the farmer 13 miles up the road from where I grew up. I know a thing or to about cultivating. To the non-agriculture readers cultivate on the farm means to go out into the field and run a machine through it to remove all the weeds and debris from the corn rows. This allows the corn to get all the nutrients that it needs to grow, so that when harvest comes around we have the best yield we can get.
Today was a cultivating day. My office was so stacked with crap, I could barely find the keyboard. I finally had to sit down and clear it out so that I could focus on the work that needed to be done.
Then I proceeded to look out the office door only to realize that the rest of the house was nearly as bad. I needed a machete to cut through the clutter just to find the kids.
Once the house was clean I noticed my 3 kids needed some extra tending so I shut off the phone and heaven forbid hit the power button on the computer. We played some games and even watched a movie.
Then I laid down for a long over due nap.
Work at home moms and dads need to take some time to cultivate something other than their work if they plan to be productive. Going 9 - 0 on the business, the house and the kids all at the same time will eventually take over your productivity. Your focus will be come skewed and you will begin to work more with less output. I bet that the moms and dads that are reading this can relate to these words.
We need to be reminded to stand back and cultivate the important things in life every so often and you will see a greater yield. Do you need to cultivate today?
About the author:
Charity Adams, CEO Mom, is the mother of 3 children under the age of 8. She has been an online entreprenuer for 8 years. Visit Charity's latest site Mercury Messenger News an Article Submission Site
I grew up on a farm, moved to the big city, if there is such a thing in Nebraska, only to come home and marry the farmer 13 miles up the road from where I grew up. I know a thing or to about cultivating. To the non-agriculture readers cultivate on the farm means to go out into the field and run a machine through it to remove all the weeds and debris from the corn rows. This allows the corn to get all the nutrients that it needs to grow, so that when harvest comes around we have the best yield we can get.
Today was a cultivating day. My office was so stacked with crap, I could barely find the keyboard. I finally had to sit down and clear it out so that I could focus on the work that needed to be done.
Then I proceeded to look out the office door only to realize that the rest of the house was nearly as bad. I needed a machete to cut through the clutter just to find the kids.
Once the house was clean I noticed my 3 kids needed some extra tending so I shut off the phone and heaven forbid hit the power button on the computer. We played some games and even watched a movie.
Then I laid down for a long over due nap.
Work at home moms and dads need to take some time to cultivate something other than their work if they plan to be productive. Going 9 - 0 on the business, the house and the kids all at the same time will eventually take over your productivity. Your focus will be come skewed and you will begin to work more with less output. I bet that the moms and dads that are reading this can relate to these words.
We need to be reminded to stand back and cultivate the important things in life every so often and you will see a greater yield. Do you need to cultivate today?
About the author:
Charity Adams, CEO Mom, is the mother of 3 children under the age of 8. She has been an online entreprenuer for 8 years. Visit Charity's latest site Mercury Messenger News an Article Submission Site
Sunday, September 11, 2011
A Home Based Business That Works
by: Chris Rohrer
Everyone seems to be trying to work from home today. With the success most people are having from running a home base business everyone wants to get in on it. I myself have started up a home based business, but I keep my full time job. I have the time and freedom to do what I want to my business when I want.
Starting a home business is not that easy though. You have to be willing to work hard to get it up and running to the point where it almost makes you money with out you doing anything. Once you have reached that part of your business that is when most people will start another home business. That is how they make even more money by running more then just one home business. It took me a good two months before my home business got off the ground and into gear.
I have the found the perfect work from home business that anyone can do. With my hard work I put into my home business I started to see results a few months after I started. What is this business? It�s working with the e-currency exchange program. It is simple to start but hard at first because there is a learning curve. I bought a simple guide that showed me step by step how to start off in this amazing business. Once I was done I invested $400 and applied the steps that I learned, and watched my money grow to $4,000 in under Two months.
The more you put in the more you will make. My little brother (21 years old) didn�t think it worked but gave it a shot and only invested $100 into it. Before he knew it his money turned into $700 in under 32 days. You can see just that little more put in will make a big difference. The great thing about the e-currency exchange program is that your money grows everyday by 1.5% - 4.0%. There is nothing better then watching my money grow day after day. This is the easiest home business that I found that really does work.
About the author:
Learn how I invested $400 and made it $4,000 in under 2 months time. Please visite E-currency Online
for more information.
Everyone seems to be trying to work from home today. With the success most people are having from running a home base business everyone wants to get in on it. I myself have started up a home based business, but I keep my full time job. I have the time and freedom to do what I want to my business when I want.
Starting a home business is not that easy though. You have to be willing to work hard to get it up and running to the point where it almost makes you money with out you doing anything. Once you have reached that part of your business that is when most people will start another home business. That is how they make even more money by running more then just one home business. It took me a good two months before my home business got off the ground and into gear.
I have the found the perfect work from home business that anyone can do. With my hard work I put into my home business I started to see results a few months after I started. What is this business? It�s working with the e-currency exchange program. It is simple to start but hard at first because there is a learning curve. I bought a simple guide that showed me step by step how to start off in this amazing business. Once I was done I invested $400 and applied the steps that I learned, and watched my money grow to $4,000 in under Two months.
The more you put in the more you will make. My little brother (21 years old) didn�t think it worked but gave it a shot and only invested $100 into it. Before he knew it his money turned into $700 in under 32 days. You can see just that little more put in will make a big difference. The great thing about the e-currency exchange program is that your money grows everyday by 1.5% - 4.0%. There is nothing better then watching my money grow day after day. This is the easiest home business that I found that really does work.
About the author:
Learn how I invested $400 and made it $4,000 in under 2 months time. Please visite E-currency Online
for more information.
Employee Evaluations: Four Tips to Help Managers with Performance Review Conversations
by: Dick Grote
Managers talk with the people on their teams every day. Whatever the topic, most of these conversations happen with no stress, little anxiety, and minimal tension. But when the conversation is about an employee�s performance, anxieties often abound. Here are four ways to reduce the tension and defensiveness that too often surround performance evaluations.
1. Don�t wait for the meeting to deliver the performance appraisal form.
I worked for large corporations for fifteen years before beginning my consulting career. Every one of those companies � GE, United Airlines, PepsiCo � took performance appraisal very seriously. And my bosses at those companies also took their responsibilities for performance evaluation seriously as well. But all of my bosses kicked off the appraisal discussion in a way that was guaranteed to get it off to a bad start. How did they begin? They set up the time for the meeting and then waited until I was sitting across the desk to hand me their completed appraisal form.
At the start of the meeting my boss would give me his appraisal form and I would engage all of my speed-reading skills, whipping through the document as fast as I could to see what he had said about my performance. While I was reading the evaluation (and probably missing some key points in my haste to take everything in) my boss would be behind his desk, pretending to work, but in truth trying to gauge how I was reacting to the evaluation he had written.
What a terrible way to begin! Don�t wait until the meeting starts to give the employee your performance appraisal document. It�s far more effective to go up to the employee an hour or so in advance of the meeting, and say something like this: �Mary, you know we�re getting together at two o�clock to go over your performance appraisal. Here it is. Why don�t you take some time between now and then to review it? Read it carefully and jot down any questions that you�d like to ask.�
Giving the person the appraisal to review in advance of the meeting can lessen defensiveness. It allows her time to think about what you�ve written and prevents spur-of-the-moment reactions. You�ll usually find that giving the person a chance to read what you�ve written in advance produces much more effective business discussions.
2. Set a time frame (and give yourself an extra fifteen minutes).
Your discussion of a person�s performance evaluation may be one of the most important interactions you'll ever have with that individual; make sure you�ve allowed enough time. In most cases, an hour should be sufficient to review the appraisal document itself as well as discuss many of the other subjects that often pop up during performance reviews � development activities, career plans, and future goals and projects. Make certain that the very next activity you�ve scheduled after finishing the review isn't one that must begin at a set time. If you provide yourself with a little flexibility at the end, you can take the time to wrap up the discussion comfortably.
3. Don�t start by discussing the form itself.
Yes, the form is important, but the form simply serves as the formal record of your assessment of how well the individual has done over the past year. Rather than beginning with the first entry on the appraisal form and moving lockstep through the document item-by-item, it�s more effective to start by asking a general question that requires the employee�s thoughtful consideration: �Tim, you�ve had a chance to read the appraisal. Why don�t you start by telling me how you feel the past year has gone?� Then listen as the individual responds and continue the discussion from there.
4. Don�t fixate on getting the employee to agree with your performance appraisal.
One of the most common questions managers ask me during training sessions involves how they can gain an employee�s agreement with what they�ve written in the performance appraisal, particularly when what they�ve written isn't entirely favorable. �Don�t try!� is my advice to them.
What is a performance appraisal? It is a formal record of the supervisor�s opinion of the quality of the employee�s work. Pay attention to the key phrase, �. . . the supervisor�s opinion . . .�
Of course the employee is going to have a different opinion � all of us believe we�re above average. The goal in the performance review discussion is not to gain the employee�s agreement, although it is nice if that happens, the goal is to gain the employee�s understanding. As long as the employee understands how you came up with the evaluation, you�ve done your job. Of course, he may disagree (particularly if you�ve set the bar high and have tough, demanding standards). But don�t waste time trying to convince a person that you�re right and she�s wrong. The important thing is that she understands your expectations and how her performance was assessed.
There�s a lot more to conducting good appraisal discussions, of course. But these four tips should make a tough job just a little bit easier.
About the author:
Dick Grote is one of America�s best-known consultants on employee performance management. He is the Chairman/CEO of Grote Consulting Corporation and developer of the GroteApproach web-based performance management system at http://www.groteapproach.com
Managers talk with the people on their teams every day. Whatever the topic, most of these conversations happen with no stress, little anxiety, and minimal tension. But when the conversation is about an employee�s performance, anxieties often abound. Here are four ways to reduce the tension and defensiveness that too often surround performance evaluations.
1. Don�t wait for the meeting to deliver the performance appraisal form.
I worked for large corporations for fifteen years before beginning my consulting career. Every one of those companies � GE, United Airlines, PepsiCo � took performance appraisal very seriously. And my bosses at those companies also took their responsibilities for performance evaluation seriously as well. But all of my bosses kicked off the appraisal discussion in a way that was guaranteed to get it off to a bad start. How did they begin? They set up the time for the meeting and then waited until I was sitting across the desk to hand me their completed appraisal form.
At the start of the meeting my boss would give me his appraisal form and I would engage all of my speed-reading skills, whipping through the document as fast as I could to see what he had said about my performance. While I was reading the evaluation (and probably missing some key points in my haste to take everything in) my boss would be behind his desk, pretending to work, but in truth trying to gauge how I was reacting to the evaluation he had written.
What a terrible way to begin! Don�t wait until the meeting starts to give the employee your performance appraisal document. It�s far more effective to go up to the employee an hour or so in advance of the meeting, and say something like this: �Mary, you know we�re getting together at two o�clock to go over your performance appraisal. Here it is. Why don�t you take some time between now and then to review it? Read it carefully and jot down any questions that you�d like to ask.�
Giving the person the appraisal to review in advance of the meeting can lessen defensiveness. It allows her time to think about what you�ve written and prevents spur-of-the-moment reactions. You�ll usually find that giving the person a chance to read what you�ve written in advance produces much more effective business discussions.
2. Set a time frame (and give yourself an extra fifteen minutes).
Your discussion of a person�s performance evaluation may be one of the most important interactions you'll ever have with that individual; make sure you�ve allowed enough time. In most cases, an hour should be sufficient to review the appraisal document itself as well as discuss many of the other subjects that often pop up during performance reviews � development activities, career plans, and future goals and projects. Make certain that the very next activity you�ve scheduled after finishing the review isn't one that must begin at a set time. If you provide yourself with a little flexibility at the end, you can take the time to wrap up the discussion comfortably.
3. Don�t start by discussing the form itself.
Yes, the form is important, but the form simply serves as the formal record of your assessment of how well the individual has done over the past year. Rather than beginning with the first entry on the appraisal form and moving lockstep through the document item-by-item, it�s more effective to start by asking a general question that requires the employee�s thoughtful consideration: �Tim, you�ve had a chance to read the appraisal. Why don�t you start by telling me how you feel the past year has gone?� Then listen as the individual responds and continue the discussion from there.
4. Don�t fixate on getting the employee to agree with your performance appraisal.
One of the most common questions managers ask me during training sessions involves how they can gain an employee�s agreement with what they�ve written in the performance appraisal, particularly when what they�ve written isn't entirely favorable. �Don�t try!� is my advice to them.
What is a performance appraisal? It is a formal record of the supervisor�s opinion of the quality of the employee�s work. Pay attention to the key phrase, �. . . the supervisor�s opinion . . .�
Of course the employee is going to have a different opinion � all of us believe we�re above average. The goal in the performance review discussion is not to gain the employee�s agreement, although it is nice if that happens, the goal is to gain the employee�s understanding. As long as the employee understands how you came up with the evaluation, you�ve done your job. Of course, he may disagree (particularly if you�ve set the bar high and have tough, demanding standards). But don�t waste time trying to convince a person that you�re right and she�s wrong. The important thing is that she understands your expectations and how her performance was assessed.
There�s a lot more to conducting good appraisal discussions, of course. But these four tips should make a tough job just a little bit easier.
About the author:
Dick Grote is one of America�s best-known consultants on employee performance management. He is the Chairman/CEO of Grote Consulting Corporation and developer of the GroteApproach web-based performance management system at http://www.groteapproach.com
Friday, September 9, 2011
Trends and Profitable Trading In The Forex Markets.
by: Adrian Pablo
The basis behind using technical analysis is to find trends when looking at the forex charts and be aware of when they first develop so you can ride the trend until it ends. The foreign exchange market is a very strong trending market, lots of ups and downs in short periods of time, and is, therefore, a place where technical analysis can be very effective.
But even considering the great amount of indicators available, there are still many traders every week who still end up buying (being "long") while the currency pair is in a basic downtrend, or selling short when a market is in a uptrend. This is, they end doing things backwards.
If you want to become a profitable forex trader you will need to use as many technical indicators as you want, or create a personalized trading strategy based off a combination of indicators, to recognize the trend. In other words, professional Forex traders try to identify the major trend, the intermediate trend, and the short-term trend and then construct their trades in that direction, based on how long their rules allow them to hold a position.
If the action of the market shows your judgment to be correct, the successful trader 'stays with the market' and endeavors to make the maximum profit on each trade, according to his/her risk-to-reward / equity management rules. If and when the market goes against him/her, the smart trader will take profits and get out. In a narrow market, when prices are not going anywhere to speak of, but move within a narrow range, there is no sense in trying to anticipate when the next BIG movement is going to be - up or down.
In short, if you want to be in good profitable terms with the forex markets you must follow this words of wisdom: �Never argue with the market, or ask it for reasons or explanations�.
About the author:
Adrian Pablo;Forex trader and freelance writer.
>> http://www.1-forex.com
The basis behind using technical analysis is to find trends when looking at the forex charts and be aware of when they first develop so you can ride the trend until it ends. The foreign exchange market is a very strong trending market, lots of ups and downs in short periods of time, and is, therefore, a place where technical analysis can be very effective.
But even considering the great amount of indicators available, there are still many traders every week who still end up buying (being "long") while the currency pair is in a basic downtrend, or selling short when a market is in a uptrend. This is, they end doing things backwards.
If you want to become a profitable forex trader you will need to use as many technical indicators as you want, or create a personalized trading strategy based off a combination of indicators, to recognize the trend. In other words, professional Forex traders try to identify the major trend, the intermediate trend, and the short-term trend and then construct their trades in that direction, based on how long their rules allow them to hold a position.
If the action of the market shows your judgment to be correct, the successful trader 'stays with the market' and endeavors to make the maximum profit on each trade, according to his/her risk-to-reward / equity management rules. If and when the market goes against him/her, the smart trader will take profits and get out. In a narrow market, when prices are not going anywhere to speak of, but move within a narrow range, there is no sense in trying to anticipate when the next BIG movement is going to be - up or down.
In short, if you want to be in good profitable terms with the forex markets you must follow this words of wisdom: �Never argue with the market, or ask it for reasons or explanations�.
About the author:
Adrian Pablo;Forex trader and freelance writer.
>> http://www.1-forex.com
Monday, September 5, 2011
Car Insurance - How Can You Lower Your Premiums?
by: Michael Challiner
Many factors influence the premium for your Motor insurance policy. Your insurer will have asked you many questions whilst producing your quote - some of which will affect your premium and some will not. Below we discuss the key variables that are within the policyholder's control.
Consolidating policies
By insuring a number of vehicles with the same insurer, or by trying to take out home and life insurance through your car insurer, you may be able to secure a ‘bulk buy’ discount.
Location
A big influence on the cost of your car insurance is where you live. The chance of your car being broken into or stolen is a key concern for the insurer. More urban areas traditionally facing greater risk of theft and therefore tend to be more expensive than countryside locations.
Excess
By agreeing to pay a greater excess on each claim you can reduce your car insurance premiums. This is because you are reducing the liability of the insurer and therefore in return they are able to offer you a lower premium.
Your Vehicle
The cheaper and slower your vehicle the lower your premiums are likely to be. If you are looking to buy a new vehicle make sure you fully consider the cost of insurance – you may be able to buy the car but can you afford to run it?
Mileage
You can control your insurance premiums by restricting your annual mileage. However, be aware that if you exceed the restricted number of miles you'll then become uninsured!
Parking
Where you park your vehicle overnight is also very important to the insurers. If it is kept in a locked garage, you should be offered a lower premium than if you leave it unattended in the street.
Security
Security devices that prevent or hinder theft may also reduce your premium. Common examples include alarms and immobilisers, however, be aware that as we improve the quality of our security devices the thieves just become better at bypassing them.
No Claims Discount
Save up your no claims discount by avoiding making small claims upon your policy. After a set number of years, 4 or 5 typically, you'll often be offered the option to pay an additional small premium to protect your no claims bonus. This can prove very helpful if you subsequently end up having an accident.
Advanced driving skills
By taking an advanced driving course you may also be able to reduce your premiums. The Institute for Advanced Motorists and the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents each offer membership which provides you with discounts for both the cost of driving courses and your car insurance premiums. Two key variables NOT within the policyholder's control.
Your Sex.
Women are statistically less likely to have an accident and, if they do, it's less likely to be serious. Because of these statistics women benefit from lower premiums. It is also worth noting that if you represent one half of a couple you should consider having the female as the primary driver with the male as the second driver.
Your Age
The older you are, the less likely you are to make a claim. As a result insurance companies charge lower premiums for more mature drivers.
One final piece of advice.
A large percentage of car insurance is now sold on the Internet. That's because it's convenient and cheap. Many insurers now give a further 10%-15% discount if you buy online.
Many factors influence the premium for your Motor insurance policy. Your insurer will have asked you many questions whilst producing your quote - some of which will affect your premium and some will not. Below we discuss the key variables that are within the policyholder's control.
Consolidating policies
By insuring a number of vehicles with the same insurer, or by trying to take out home and life insurance through your car insurer, you may be able to secure a ‘bulk buy’ discount.
Location
A big influence on the cost of your car insurance is where you live. The chance of your car being broken into or stolen is a key concern for the insurer. More urban areas traditionally facing greater risk of theft and therefore tend to be more expensive than countryside locations.
Excess
By agreeing to pay a greater excess on each claim you can reduce your car insurance premiums. This is because you are reducing the liability of the insurer and therefore in return they are able to offer you a lower premium.
Your Vehicle
The cheaper and slower your vehicle the lower your premiums are likely to be. If you are looking to buy a new vehicle make sure you fully consider the cost of insurance – you may be able to buy the car but can you afford to run it?
Mileage
You can control your insurance premiums by restricting your annual mileage. However, be aware that if you exceed the restricted number of miles you'll then become uninsured!
Parking
Where you park your vehicle overnight is also very important to the insurers. If it is kept in a locked garage, you should be offered a lower premium than if you leave it unattended in the street.
Security
Security devices that prevent or hinder theft may also reduce your premium. Common examples include alarms and immobilisers, however, be aware that as we improve the quality of our security devices the thieves just become better at bypassing them.
No Claims Discount
Save up your no claims discount by avoiding making small claims upon your policy. After a set number of years, 4 or 5 typically, you'll often be offered the option to pay an additional small premium to protect your no claims bonus. This can prove very helpful if you subsequently end up having an accident.
Advanced driving skills
By taking an advanced driving course you may also be able to reduce your premiums. The Institute for Advanced Motorists and the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents each offer membership which provides you with discounts for both the cost of driving courses and your car insurance premiums. Two key variables NOT within the policyholder's control.
Your Sex.
Women are statistically less likely to have an accident and, if they do, it's less likely to be serious. Because of these statistics women benefit from lower premiums. It is also worth noting that if you represent one half of a couple you should consider having the female as the primary driver with the male as the second driver.
Your Age
The older you are, the less likely you are to make a claim. As a result insurance companies charge lower premiums for more mature drivers.
One final piece of advice.
A large percentage of car insurance is now sold on the Internet. That's because it's convenient and cheap. Many insurers now give a further 10%-15% discount if you buy online.
Stop your wasting time right now!
by: Ian Henman
Well not really, you have to know where you are and where you want to be in order to improve anything. So deciding that your time management skills are poor, and learning how to get better and where you want to be is time well spent. How ever in saying that if you've been searching for time management information for days now, and are still looking for a perfect solution there's a chance you�re procrastinating. Just one trait of someone with poor time management.
So what can you do to start improving your time management right away?
Make lists and prioritize
Often it's not that people aren't effective with their time rather they just don't spend the time they have doing the right things. We're all guilty of this at one time or another, but some of us are habitual with it. The easiest way to determine if you do this is to make a list each morning, or the night before of the things you need/want to accomplish
the following or that day. Once you have your list prioritize the items from greatest to least importance. Now spend a day and perform the tasks in the order you prioritized them. This does two things.
a.) It shows you what you need to accomplish in a day so you now have some urgency because you know there are other tasks to get done not just the one your currently working on.
b.) It ensures that the most important items are being taken care of first.
There are times when we can't finish every item on our list but at least we took care of the most important issues first.
Learn to say no
You can't do everything for everyone. Following our list exercise above it's obvious that if you have a list of 20 things and only time for 10 of them in a day then it's hard to accept additional activities from others. Of course there are trade offs that a more important task could come along and you exchange it for another task you were going to do that day. This gets into another discussion on life priorities such as friends, family, career, remember balance is also important. But you can't do everything so if the boss wants you to work late that night, but your supposed to see your son�s hockey game
you have to be able to say no somewhere.
Don't book every moment of your day
Now while we've preached lists, daily organization, and learning to say no you do need to leave some room for flexibility. Booking up every moment of your day so that you're on a minute-by-minute schedule can be a big problem if a mini crisis occurs in the day that wasn't accounted for.
Use other tools
Using day planners, or PDA's to keep track of appointments and to do lists will save time and promote organization on all levels. Also keeping good contact information whether it be in a contact database on your computer or in an address book will save time when you need to contact people.
About the author:
Find more information and tips here on how to improve your time management skills
Well not really, you have to know where you are and where you want to be in order to improve anything. So deciding that your time management skills are poor, and learning how to get better and where you want to be is time well spent. How ever in saying that if you've been searching for time management information for days now, and are still looking for a perfect solution there's a chance you�re procrastinating. Just one trait of someone with poor time management.
So what can you do to start improving your time management right away?
Make lists and prioritize
Often it's not that people aren't effective with their time rather they just don't spend the time they have doing the right things. We're all guilty of this at one time or another, but some of us are habitual with it. The easiest way to determine if you do this is to make a list each morning, or the night before of the things you need/want to accomplish
the following or that day. Once you have your list prioritize the items from greatest to least importance. Now spend a day and perform the tasks in the order you prioritized them. This does two things.
a.) It shows you what you need to accomplish in a day so you now have some urgency because you know there are other tasks to get done not just the one your currently working on.
b.) It ensures that the most important items are being taken care of first.
There are times when we can't finish every item on our list but at least we took care of the most important issues first.
Learn to say no
You can't do everything for everyone. Following our list exercise above it's obvious that if you have a list of 20 things and only time for 10 of them in a day then it's hard to accept additional activities from others. Of course there are trade offs that a more important task could come along and you exchange it for another task you were going to do that day. This gets into another discussion on life priorities such as friends, family, career, remember balance is also important. But you can't do everything so if the boss wants you to work late that night, but your supposed to see your son�s hockey game
you have to be able to say no somewhere.
Don't book every moment of your day
Now while we've preached lists, daily organization, and learning to say no you do need to leave some room for flexibility. Booking up every moment of your day so that you're on a minute-by-minute schedule can be a big problem if a mini crisis occurs in the day that wasn't accounted for.
Use other tools
Using day planners, or PDA's to keep track of appointments and to do lists will save time and promote organization on all levels. Also keeping good contact information whether it be in a contact database on your computer or in an address book will save time when you need to contact people.
About the author:
Find more information and tips here on how to improve your time management skills
Improve Your eBay Auction Selling Technique
by: Jason James
There just is no doubt that auction selling is a great way to boost your income. The potential is certainly there for you to use Ebay auctions to save for retirement or even as your primary source of income. Like most things, however, there are some subtle techniques that can be used to transform an average Ebay auctioneer into a superstar that is courted by others to sell their wares as well.
Without question, the biggest challenge of auction selling is to get the people to come to your posting and make a bid. The traffic is definitely out there and people are scouring the Ebay business website every minute of the day looking for that next great deal. Here are a few ideas to keep in mind that will help you get the buyers to come to your postings time and time again.
Know Your Product
Any great salesperson is an absolute expert on the products or services that they are selling. They are never caught off guard by a question that they do not know the answer to and customers respect this. A solid auction selling reputation is built upon a sound knowledge of the products or services being sold. So before you post anything, do your homework!
Standard and Simple Sales Policy
People hate to feel stupid so don't have a confusing sales policy with awkward shipping requirements. You don't want someone to think something costs $20 and be surprised by an extra $8 in unnecessary shipping costs. Give the customer some options such as insurance and expedited shipping, but keep your standard shipping procedures as cheap as possible and easy to understand. Auction selling is a somewhat risky endeavor for buyers, so you may want to consider a refund policy to help build trust and confidence.
Customer Service Guru
If you want to be a serious player in the auction selling game, you are going to need repeat customers or at least a great reputation so that word of you and your great deals spreads throughout the Ebay business site. So, if you get a question via e-mail, immediately respond and try offering something a little extra like some history on the product or manufacturer(see, this is where knowing your product will really pay off!). Make people feel special and they cannot help but like you and they will come back time and time again.
Timing Critical to Ebay Auctions
Before you post any listing, do some research. Auction selling is far more profitable if you are not competing against 10 other people offering the same products or services. So, should you learn that the competition in your particular area is intense, wait a little while until they have sold their wares before listing yours. Just a few short days can add up to a lot more money so patience and doing your homework are rewarded on the Ebay business website.
Auction selling is really like any business in that you need to keep the customers coming in if you want to be successful and make any real money. The ideas listed above are certainly not earth shattering secrets nor will they guarantee your Ebay auctions to be a resounding success. But, if you don't take them to heart and apply them to your online auction business, then you will find it almost impossible to be the next great Ebay business success!
About the author:
Jason James is an eBay PowerSeller and his website "Auction Resource Network" reveals his inside secrets, tips, and sources that help him earn $10,000+ a month on eBay. Claim your FREE e-Course Here: http://www.auctionresourcenetwork.com
There just is no doubt that auction selling is a great way to boost your income. The potential is certainly there for you to use Ebay auctions to save for retirement or even as your primary source of income. Like most things, however, there are some subtle techniques that can be used to transform an average Ebay auctioneer into a superstar that is courted by others to sell their wares as well.
Without question, the biggest challenge of auction selling is to get the people to come to your posting and make a bid. The traffic is definitely out there and people are scouring the Ebay business website every minute of the day looking for that next great deal. Here are a few ideas to keep in mind that will help you get the buyers to come to your postings time and time again.
Know Your Product
Any great salesperson is an absolute expert on the products or services that they are selling. They are never caught off guard by a question that they do not know the answer to and customers respect this. A solid auction selling reputation is built upon a sound knowledge of the products or services being sold. So before you post anything, do your homework!
Standard and Simple Sales Policy
People hate to feel stupid so don't have a confusing sales policy with awkward shipping requirements. You don't want someone to think something costs $20 and be surprised by an extra $8 in unnecessary shipping costs. Give the customer some options such as insurance and expedited shipping, but keep your standard shipping procedures as cheap as possible and easy to understand. Auction selling is a somewhat risky endeavor for buyers, so you may want to consider a refund policy to help build trust and confidence.
Customer Service Guru
If you want to be a serious player in the auction selling game, you are going to need repeat customers or at least a great reputation so that word of you and your great deals spreads throughout the Ebay business site. So, if you get a question via e-mail, immediately respond and try offering something a little extra like some history on the product or manufacturer(see, this is where knowing your product will really pay off!). Make people feel special and they cannot help but like you and they will come back time and time again.
Timing Critical to Ebay Auctions
Before you post any listing, do some research. Auction selling is far more profitable if you are not competing against 10 other people offering the same products or services. So, should you learn that the competition in your particular area is intense, wait a little while until they have sold their wares before listing yours. Just a few short days can add up to a lot more money so patience and doing your homework are rewarded on the Ebay business website.
Auction selling is really like any business in that you need to keep the customers coming in if you want to be successful and make any real money. The ideas listed above are certainly not earth shattering secrets nor will they guarantee your Ebay auctions to be a resounding success. But, if you don't take them to heart and apply them to your online auction business, then you will find it almost impossible to be the next great Ebay business success!
About the author:
Jason James is an eBay PowerSeller and his website "Auction Resource Network" reveals his inside secrets, tips, and sources that help him earn $10,000+ a month on eBay. Claim your FREE e-Course Here: http://www.auctionresourcenetwork.com
What�s the .382 Fibonacci Ratio in Forex Trading?
by: Adrian Pablo
It was mentioned in a past article that Fibonacci forex trading is the basis of many forex trading systems used around the world by profitable forex traders. These systems are all based on the famous Fibonacci ratios (.236, .50, .382, .618, etc.) and each of them can specialize in a particular ratio along with other minor indicators in order to make the pinpointing of the entry and exit levels as accurate and profitable as possible.
One of the widely used Fibonacci ratios is the 0.382 ratio. As it can be easily seen on any forex chart, currency prices are continually changing and they follow an oscillatory pattern with peaks and valleys. The limit of the peak is usually called a resistance level while the valley is usually called a support.
In order to find the 0.382 ratio level what you do is, first; measure the size of the drop or rise over your time of interest. Once you have that value you multiply this by 0.382. Now depending on what you are looking at, a rise or a drop on the price of the particular �currency pair� you are trading, you will add the last value you calculated to the total drop or subtract the value from the total rise.
These operations will give you the 0.382 Fibonacci ratio level, either for a rise or a drop on the chart you are analyzing. Once you have the value you can then start planning the strategy you will follow in order to make a high probability profit from this valuable information. For the 0.382 ratio level calculated for a recent rise in the �currency pair� exchange price, your calculated level will be a highly probable support and for the case of a level calculated for a recent drop of the prices your level will be a highly probable resistance.
Knowing this ahead of the market and having the proper secondary indicators, will give you a huge advantage over most forex traders, and that�s something any trader would like they could count on. That�s why Fibonacci trading is so widely accepted over the world, and of course, why it�s so profitable and successful.
About the author:
Adrian Pablo; Forex trader and freelance writer.
http://www.1-forex.com
It was mentioned in a past article that Fibonacci forex trading is the basis of many forex trading systems used around the world by profitable forex traders. These systems are all based on the famous Fibonacci ratios (.236, .50, .382, .618, etc.) and each of them can specialize in a particular ratio along with other minor indicators in order to make the pinpointing of the entry and exit levels as accurate and profitable as possible.
One of the widely used Fibonacci ratios is the 0.382 ratio. As it can be easily seen on any forex chart, currency prices are continually changing and they follow an oscillatory pattern with peaks and valleys. The limit of the peak is usually called a resistance level while the valley is usually called a support.
In order to find the 0.382 ratio level what you do is, first; measure the size of the drop or rise over your time of interest. Once you have that value you multiply this by 0.382. Now depending on what you are looking at, a rise or a drop on the price of the particular �currency pair� you are trading, you will add the last value you calculated to the total drop or subtract the value from the total rise.
These operations will give you the 0.382 Fibonacci ratio level, either for a rise or a drop on the chart you are analyzing. Once you have the value you can then start planning the strategy you will follow in order to make a high probability profit from this valuable information. For the 0.382 ratio level calculated for a recent rise in the �currency pair� exchange price, your calculated level will be a highly probable support and for the case of a level calculated for a recent drop of the prices your level will be a highly probable resistance.
Knowing this ahead of the market and having the proper secondary indicators, will give you a huge advantage over most forex traders, and that�s something any trader would like they could count on. That�s why Fibonacci trading is so widely accepted over the world, and of course, why it�s so profitable and successful.
About the author:
Adrian Pablo; Forex trader and freelance writer.
http://www.1-forex.com
Are You Wealthy Yet?
by: Al Walker
Here's a real simple way to become wealthy.
Marty and his wife live at home with their 2 children. They own
a 3 bedroom house in a middle class neighborhood and try to live
within their means. Marty works full time in the Printing
Industry, while his wife is in charge of the home and looking
after the children.
They've accumulated some credit card debt and have 2 years left
on a car loan. They try to stay out of debt as much as possible
and together they've managed to contribute a total of $32,000 to
their own Retirement Fund. It is kept in term deposits receiving
5% interest annually.
Two years prior, the couple bought an older house that they
fixed-up and rent out for $850 a month. After paying the
mortgage and taxes $300 is left over each month. This goes into
their savings account each month.
At Christmas, the family bought themselves a new computer and
decided to start a home-based business. Things started out
fairly slowly but after 8 months they were receiving a steady
check of $400 a month which also goes into their savings
account. This part-time business will continue to grow with the
effort they dedicate to it.
This business also offers them some very lucrative tax savings.
By taking advantage of these Tax Strategies they are able to
save an additional $300 a month on tax that was normally
deducted from Marty's paycheck at work. This monthly income is
also added to the couple's savings.
Marty has just begun writing an E-book about his "production
expertise" at work. His plan is to market this book on the
internet for profit
Every Sunday the couple takes a drive to stay familiar with the
Real Estate market in their area. They're looking for another
property, a "handyman's special" to fix-up and rent out. They
have saved enough for a down payment and their credit with the
bank is well established.
The family's total monthly expenses are $2000. Now, here's the
question:
Does Marty's family have Wealth yet?
To answer this question properly you first have to understand
exactly what "wealth" means.You achieve wealth when: *Your
Passive Income is the same or greater than your Expenses.* So
what does this mean?
First, what is Passive Income?
Passive Income is money that you are paid over and over again
for work that you only do once. (This excludes using a gun or
finding cash on the street) Some examples of this would be
royalties for writing a book or a song, commissions that you
receive for sales that others make and interest from bank
savings or dividends on stocks/options that you own.
Second, what Expenses are we talking about? This one's a little
easier to understand. Expenses are the total amount it takes to
run your household and your life. This includes, rent, mortgage
payments, car insurance, food, credit card and loan payments,
etc���
Let's look at Marty's family a little closer����. Does Marty
have any Passive Income? Yes he does. Marty's salary is not
considered Passive Income. That's because he has to work 40
hours a week just to get the basic amount. If Marty doesn't go
to work then he doesn't get paid. His overtime also doesn't
count as Passive Income.
The interest from their Retirement Fund does though. It's paid
to him month after month as long as it's left in that account.
So, $32,000 at 5% is $1600 a year. Divided by 12 months equals
$133 a month in interest. Ok�..what else?
After the mortgage and expenses are paid with the rent money
they receive on their rental property they are left with $300
every month. This is Passive Income. Just as long as the tenant
stays and pays his monthly rent.
How bout that $400 from the home-based business and the Tax
savings. Is this Passive Income? Well, Marty's wife made sure
that she chose a company where she could sign new business
accounts and get paid commissions on those accounts over and
over again. They've made a 5 year commitment to build this
business part-time. So yes, both the $400 and the $300 in Tax
Savings would apply as Passive Income. Let's add up Marty's
total Passive Income.
Interest $166.00 Rental Income $300.00 Home Based
Business$400.00 Tax Savings $300.00 Total $1166.00
Not including Marty's salary from work, his family's Passive
Income is $1166.00. Not bad. Every month this amount flows into
the family's bank account, regardless of anything else they do.
We said that Marty's monthly expenses total $2000.00 a month.
And we also said���� You have Wealth when: *Your Passive Income
is the same or greater than your Expenses.*
$2000 Expenses subtract $1166 Passive Income = $834 monthly
balance needed to have Wealth.
Marty's Expenses are still more than their Passive Income so
they're not wealthy just yet. But they're well over half-way
there. With this kind of knowledge a family can know exactly
where to focus their financial attention.
Maybe when Marty writes that ebook he could get some sales and
royalties from it. Also the new Real Estate and more work on
their Home-based business would certainly help them to attain
more Passive Income. Once Marty's Passive Income is more than
the family's Expenses then Marty could start to have much more
freedom. He may even choose to quit his job and continue
developing his Passive Income streams.
Take a look at your own finances. What are your monthly
expenses? Do you have more Passive Income than your Expenses? If
you do Congratulations. You're Wealthy!!! If you don't. It's
time to get started and start adding Passive Income from other
areas as soon as possible.
When you truly understand this principle, you'll be well on your
way to becoming wealthy
About the author:
Al Walker, makes it easy to launch a successful online business and rapidly build your wealth to a six-figure income. Learn the 5 essential keys to online success. To receive your free 4-part mini-course visit: http://www.businessprogramreviews.com
Circulated by Article Emporium
Here's a real simple way to become wealthy.
Marty and his wife live at home with their 2 children. They own
a 3 bedroom house in a middle class neighborhood and try to live
within their means. Marty works full time in the Printing
Industry, while his wife is in charge of the home and looking
after the children.
They've accumulated some credit card debt and have 2 years left
on a car loan. They try to stay out of debt as much as possible
and together they've managed to contribute a total of $32,000 to
their own Retirement Fund. It is kept in term deposits receiving
5% interest annually.
Two years prior, the couple bought an older house that they
fixed-up and rent out for $850 a month. After paying the
mortgage and taxes $300 is left over each month. This goes into
their savings account each month.
At Christmas, the family bought themselves a new computer and
decided to start a home-based business. Things started out
fairly slowly but after 8 months they were receiving a steady
check of $400 a month which also goes into their savings
account. This part-time business will continue to grow with the
effort they dedicate to it.
This business also offers them some very lucrative tax savings.
By taking advantage of these Tax Strategies they are able to
save an additional $300 a month on tax that was normally
deducted from Marty's paycheck at work. This monthly income is
also added to the couple's savings.
Marty has just begun writing an E-book about his "production
expertise" at work. His plan is to market this book on the
internet for profit
Every Sunday the couple takes a drive to stay familiar with the
Real Estate market in their area. They're looking for another
property, a "handyman's special" to fix-up and rent out. They
have saved enough for a down payment and their credit with the
bank is well established.
The family's total monthly expenses are $2000. Now, here's the
question:
Does Marty's family have Wealth yet?
To answer this question properly you first have to understand
exactly what "wealth" means.You achieve wealth when: *Your
Passive Income is the same or greater than your Expenses.* So
what does this mean?
First, what is Passive Income?
Passive Income is money that you are paid over and over again
for work that you only do once. (This excludes using a gun or
finding cash on the street) Some examples of this would be
royalties for writing a book or a song, commissions that you
receive for sales that others make and interest from bank
savings or dividends on stocks/options that you own.
Second, what Expenses are we talking about? This one's a little
easier to understand. Expenses are the total amount it takes to
run your household and your life. This includes, rent, mortgage
payments, car insurance, food, credit card and loan payments,
etc���
Let's look at Marty's family a little closer����. Does Marty
have any Passive Income? Yes he does. Marty's salary is not
considered Passive Income. That's because he has to work 40
hours a week just to get the basic amount. If Marty doesn't go
to work then he doesn't get paid. His overtime also doesn't
count as Passive Income.
The interest from their Retirement Fund does though. It's paid
to him month after month as long as it's left in that account.
So, $32,000 at 5% is $1600 a year. Divided by 12 months equals
$133 a month in interest. Ok�..what else?
After the mortgage and expenses are paid with the rent money
they receive on their rental property they are left with $300
every month. This is Passive Income. Just as long as the tenant
stays and pays his monthly rent.
How bout that $400 from the home-based business and the Tax
savings. Is this Passive Income? Well, Marty's wife made sure
that she chose a company where she could sign new business
accounts and get paid commissions on those accounts over and
over again. They've made a 5 year commitment to build this
business part-time. So yes, both the $400 and the $300 in Tax
Savings would apply as Passive Income. Let's add up Marty's
total Passive Income.
Interest $166.00 Rental Income $300.00 Home Based
Business$400.00 Tax Savings $300.00 Total $1166.00
Not including Marty's salary from work, his family's Passive
Income is $1166.00. Not bad. Every month this amount flows into
the family's bank account, regardless of anything else they do.
We said that Marty's monthly expenses total $2000.00 a month.
And we also said���� You have Wealth when: *Your Passive Income
is the same or greater than your Expenses.*
$2000 Expenses subtract $1166 Passive Income = $834 monthly
balance needed to have Wealth.
Marty's Expenses are still more than their Passive Income so
they're not wealthy just yet. But they're well over half-way
there. With this kind of knowledge a family can know exactly
where to focus their financial attention.
Maybe when Marty writes that ebook he could get some sales and
royalties from it. Also the new Real Estate and more work on
their Home-based business would certainly help them to attain
more Passive Income. Once Marty's Passive Income is more than
the family's Expenses then Marty could start to have much more
freedom. He may even choose to quit his job and continue
developing his Passive Income streams.
Take a look at your own finances. What are your monthly
expenses? Do you have more Passive Income than your Expenses? If
you do Congratulations. You're Wealthy!!! If you don't. It's
time to get started and start adding Passive Income from other
areas as soon as possible.
When you truly understand this principle, you'll be well on your
way to becoming wealthy
About the author:
Al Walker, makes it easy to launch a successful online business and rapidly build your wealth to a six-figure income. Learn the 5 essential keys to online success. To receive your free 4-part mini-course visit: http://www.businessprogramreviews.com
Circulated by Article Emporium
Auto Insurance Rates
by: Sher Matsen
will vary depending on the insurance agency, your driving record, and the type of insurance you are looking to purchase. I you are looking for affordable car insurance or truck insurance then read on.
There are ways to reduce your premiums without giving up coverage. One of the easiest things to do is get auto insurance rate quotes online. This will allow you to comparative shop stress free.
Raising your deductibles is the easiest way to reduce your rates. The higher the deductible, the lower the premium will be. The deductible is the portion you will have to pay in the event of accident, before your insurance coverage steps in. It�s important not to carry a deductible that�s more than what you are able to pay. Your insurance company will not honor its portion of the claim until you�ve paid your deductible. However, the higher your deductible the lower your premium cost will be, so you need to find a
Always remember to ask your insurance broker for any available discounts. Quite often we forget to ask and they don�t seem to volunteer the information. A clean record on the current policy for a certain period of time, having your homeowner's coverage with the same insurer, taking a defensive driving course, having an accident free driving record, and having an approved anti-theft device will reduce your auto insurance rates.
The type of car you drive can also reduce your rates. Stay away from cars that have a high class rating. Rates vary among the different makes and models of vehicles. The different rates are based on the risk of accident, cost to repair, higher theft rates for a particular model and replacement costs such as with a new vehicle. So be sure your vehicle isn�t going to be in a category that increases your rates too much.
A safe driving record consisting of no accidents and no traffic violations will get you the most substantial discount. Most insurance companies are very good at recognizing good driving habits. These are the drivers they want to insure because their risk is much lower.
If the car is old and not very valuable, comprehensive insurance is probably not worth buying as it can quickly add up to more than you�d ever receive in the event of an accident. You can save up to 20% by eliminating collision insurance. You may want to opt not to carry collision insurance as well which can save you and additional 20%.
Check around to make sure you are getting the best auto rates you can. Online auto insurance shopping has taken the guess work out of buying insurance and you can very quickly see if you are being hosed. So if your insurance is coming due now is the time to start shopping!.
About the author:
Sher from The Auto Insurance Center has been serving customers for over 20 years. Please visit us at http://www.all-auto-insurance.com/
Circulated by Article Emporium
will vary depending on the insurance agency, your driving record, and the type of insurance you are looking to purchase. I you are looking for affordable car insurance or truck insurance then read on.
There are ways to reduce your premiums without giving up coverage. One of the easiest things to do is get auto insurance rate quotes online. This will allow you to comparative shop stress free.
Raising your deductibles is the easiest way to reduce your rates. The higher the deductible, the lower the premium will be. The deductible is the portion you will have to pay in the event of accident, before your insurance coverage steps in. It�s important not to carry a deductible that�s more than what you are able to pay. Your insurance company will not honor its portion of the claim until you�ve paid your deductible. However, the higher your deductible the lower your premium cost will be, so you need to find a
Always remember to ask your insurance broker for any available discounts. Quite often we forget to ask and they don�t seem to volunteer the information. A clean record on the current policy for a certain period of time, having your homeowner's coverage with the same insurer, taking a defensive driving course, having an accident free driving record, and having an approved anti-theft device will reduce your auto insurance rates.
The type of car you drive can also reduce your rates. Stay away from cars that have a high class rating. Rates vary among the different makes and models of vehicles. The different rates are based on the risk of accident, cost to repair, higher theft rates for a particular model and replacement costs such as with a new vehicle. So be sure your vehicle isn�t going to be in a category that increases your rates too much.
A safe driving record consisting of no accidents and no traffic violations will get you the most substantial discount. Most insurance companies are very good at recognizing good driving habits. These are the drivers they want to insure because their risk is much lower.
If the car is old and not very valuable, comprehensive insurance is probably not worth buying as it can quickly add up to more than you�d ever receive in the event of an accident. You can save up to 20% by eliminating collision insurance. You may want to opt not to carry collision insurance as well which can save you and additional 20%.
Check around to make sure you are getting the best auto rates you can. Online auto insurance shopping has taken the guess work out of buying insurance and you can very quickly see if you are being hosed. So if your insurance is coming due now is the time to start shopping!.
About the author:
Sher from The Auto Insurance Center has been serving customers for over 20 years. Please visit us at http://www.all-auto-insurance.com/
Circulated by Article Emporium
What is Lead Generation?
by: Jimmy Sturo
Lead Generation is vital to all businesses. All companies try to attract new customers, and this is a kind of lead generation.
Lead generation includes anything that a business does to gather a list of new or potential clients and involves a number of techniques used to create interest in potential customers. Some techniques commonly used for lead generation are direct mail, telemarketing, requests for proposals, requests for quotes, referrals, trade show demonstrations, seminars, and advertising. If done correctly, each of these methods will generate a list of interested potential clients for the business.
Advertising is perhaps the most obvious way to generate leads. People who respond to a company�s advertisements often become customers. Requests for proposals involve potential clients asking the business to come up with solutions and price ranges for particular problems or issues the customer may have. For example, if a city asks for a bid on a project from a construction contracting firm, then the contracting firm has generated a lead.
Requests for quotes are similar�for example, car insurance companies offer free rate quotes. When the potential client asks for the quote, they give the insurance company information about themselves that the company can then save for future use. Direct mail is when a business sends out fliers or brochures to a large number of people in the hope of attaining new customers. When a business has employees make cold calls to a list of people, they are telemarketing. The business hopes that some people will listen to the callers and become interested in the business. Trade show demonstrations and seminars are designed to appeal to people who are already interested in the business�s product.
The business always tries to present itself as better than its competitors. Referrals are common in many types of business. Some firms use personal information to make lists of potential customers to be sold to interested businesses.
Generating leads is a vital part of any sales related operation. Without knowing who may be interested in their products, companies would have no idea how to generate revenue and would have to rely solely on repeat business from existing customers.
About the author:
Lead Generation Info provides detailed information about sales, mortage, MLM, business-to-business, internet, and insurance lead generation, lead generation telemarketing, and more. Lead Generation Info is the sister site of MLM Leads Web.
Circulated by Article Emporium
Lead Generation is vital to all businesses. All companies try to attract new customers, and this is a kind of lead generation.
Lead generation includes anything that a business does to gather a list of new or potential clients and involves a number of techniques used to create interest in potential customers. Some techniques commonly used for lead generation are direct mail, telemarketing, requests for proposals, requests for quotes, referrals, trade show demonstrations, seminars, and advertising. If done correctly, each of these methods will generate a list of interested potential clients for the business.
Advertising is perhaps the most obvious way to generate leads. People who respond to a company�s advertisements often become customers. Requests for proposals involve potential clients asking the business to come up with solutions and price ranges for particular problems or issues the customer may have. For example, if a city asks for a bid on a project from a construction contracting firm, then the contracting firm has generated a lead.
Requests for quotes are similar�for example, car insurance companies offer free rate quotes. When the potential client asks for the quote, they give the insurance company information about themselves that the company can then save for future use. Direct mail is when a business sends out fliers or brochures to a large number of people in the hope of attaining new customers. When a business has employees make cold calls to a list of people, they are telemarketing. The business hopes that some people will listen to the callers and become interested in the business. Trade show demonstrations and seminars are designed to appeal to people who are already interested in the business�s product.
The business always tries to present itself as better than its competitors. Referrals are common in many types of business. Some firms use personal information to make lists of potential customers to be sold to interested businesses.
Generating leads is a vital part of any sales related operation. Without knowing who may be interested in their products, companies would have no idea how to generate revenue and would have to rely solely on repeat business from existing customers.
About the author:
Lead Generation Info provides detailed information about sales, mortage, MLM, business-to-business, internet, and insurance lead generation, lead generation telemarketing, and more. Lead Generation Info is the sister site of MLM Leads Web.
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Start A Hauling/Shopping/Taxi Business
by: Jenny Harker
Here is a simple business anyone with a van or SUV can perform: haul stuff for other people who don't have a way to do it themselves.
You could move lawn mowers, bags of garden soil, playground equipment, Christmas trees, musical instruments, furniture, big dogs from the groomers-you get the idea.
Starting this home business is easy. Make sure your vehicle is in good shape. Be sure your car insurance is up to date. You don't want any trouble if your vehicle should get into a fender-bender.
Now, print up flyers advertising your business. Place the flyers in furniture stores, garden centers, grocery stores, laundromats, and wherever else you can find a bulletin board. College bulletin boards are prime hunting grounds for business. Also, place ads in your local newspaper.
Once your business takes off your customers will soon be telling their friends, "Hey, I know a guy with a van who will haul it". Word of mouth is a priceless form of free advertising.
How much you should charge for your service depends on what you're hauling and how far you have to haul it. You want to keep the price reasonable, or word will spread of your high prices and your customers will go elsewhere. Reasonable prices and friendly reliable service will build your hauling service fast.
Here's another way to put your gas-guzzler to work: Start a grocery shopping service.
Your customers would call or fax their grocery order to the supermarket. Your customer gives you the money to pay for the groceries. You go to the store and pick up the order for your client.
The growing senior population would love this service. Make sure you place ads in the paper and flyers in supermarkets, laundromats, and senior citizen clubs.
Here's one more way you can put your vehicle to work! If you have a safe driving record you could provide a taxi service for senior citizens and any latchkey kids who need to get to an after school activity.
You could charge five or six dollars per trip. Give your frequent travelers a break by offering a free ride after a certain numbers of trips.
It would be wise to provide the parents of any kids you transport proof you can be trusted. If the parents say it isn't necessary then insist they check out your driving record, car insurance, and whether or not you have a criminal record. You are protecting yourself by doing this. Bad things happen. You don't want to get caught in the crossfire.
Make sure your vehicle is comfortable and clean for your travelers. Have a fully outfitted first aid kit, a primed fire hydrant, and a toolbox in your car. Accidents do happen, people, even to the safest of drivers. You need to consider the safety of your passengers so insist everyone buckle up.
Prove to be a reliable and trustworthy taxi service and many other parents will soon have you shipping their kids to and from soccer practice.
Hauling furniture, grocery shopping, and a taxi service. You use your vehicle to do these chores for yourself all the time. Start making money doing them for others!
About the author:
Jenny Harker is on the hunt for fun new work at home ideas. Visit: http://jennyharker.blogspot.comtoday to read her other free money making ideas.
Circulated by Article Emporium
Here is a simple business anyone with a van or SUV can perform: haul stuff for other people who don't have a way to do it themselves.
You could move lawn mowers, bags of garden soil, playground equipment, Christmas trees, musical instruments, furniture, big dogs from the groomers-you get the idea.
Starting this home business is easy. Make sure your vehicle is in good shape. Be sure your car insurance is up to date. You don't want any trouble if your vehicle should get into a fender-bender.
Now, print up flyers advertising your business. Place the flyers in furniture stores, garden centers, grocery stores, laundromats, and wherever else you can find a bulletin board. College bulletin boards are prime hunting grounds for business. Also, place ads in your local newspaper.
Once your business takes off your customers will soon be telling their friends, "Hey, I know a guy with a van who will haul it". Word of mouth is a priceless form of free advertising.
How much you should charge for your service depends on what you're hauling and how far you have to haul it. You want to keep the price reasonable, or word will spread of your high prices and your customers will go elsewhere. Reasonable prices and friendly reliable service will build your hauling service fast.
Here's another way to put your gas-guzzler to work: Start a grocery shopping service.
Your customers would call or fax their grocery order to the supermarket. Your customer gives you the money to pay for the groceries. You go to the store and pick up the order for your client.
The growing senior population would love this service. Make sure you place ads in the paper and flyers in supermarkets, laundromats, and senior citizen clubs.
Here's one more way you can put your vehicle to work! If you have a safe driving record you could provide a taxi service for senior citizens and any latchkey kids who need to get to an after school activity.
You could charge five or six dollars per trip. Give your frequent travelers a break by offering a free ride after a certain numbers of trips.
It would be wise to provide the parents of any kids you transport proof you can be trusted. If the parents say it isn't necessary then insist they check out your driving record, car insurance, and whether or not you have a criminal record. You are protecting yourself by doing this. Bad things happen. You don't want to get caught in the crossfire.
Make sure your vehicle is comfortable and clean for your travelers. Have a fully outfitted first aid kit, a primed fire hydrant, and a toolbox in your car. Accidents do happen, people, even to the safest of drivers. You need to consider the safety of your passengers so insist everyone buckle up.
Prove to be a reliable and trustworthy taxi service and many other parents will soon have you shipping their kids to and from soccer practice.
Hauling furniture, grocery shopping, and a taxi service. You use your vehicle to do these chores for yourself all the time. Start making money doing them for others!
About the author:
Jenny Harker is on the hunt for fun new work at home ideas. Visit: http://jennyharker.blogspot.comtoday to read her other free money making ideas.
Circulated by Article Emporium
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