Differentiation

Writen by Shawn Jooste

"Some contend that differentiation is nuts – bad for moral" – Jack Welch

We get taught from a very young age that differentiation is bad, and that people's feelings can get hurt, and people will be upset. But this leaves us in an emotional rollercoaster.

Business is not about emotion, it's about money and making it. It's about being the best, beating your competitors, and succeeding. Yes, it doesn't mean we should be cold hearted, but we need to be driven by the goal, making money, not by emotion.

If we work on an emotional level, we should join some non profit organization, that allows us to work on emotion, and caring for others.

I see two places for differentiation. The first is inside our business. We cannot treat all our employees the same, because they do not all perform the same. Some employees perform much better than others, and should be rewarded for that.

You see, as owners of a small business we have very little resources to throw around. We need to make every cent count. So employing someone who does not perform is a complete waste, and we should rid our businesses of them as soon as possible.

However, when we have an employee that does perform they should be rewarded. Rewarding those that do perform and removing those that don't is a great way for us to build a winning team. Obviously those that do not perform, when they are not rewarded will feel hurt and upset, but that's just tough luck, they should have tried harder.

The second place where we would be wise to implement differentiation is with our customers. We are all kept busy all day long, providing a service for our customers. We try to deliver faster, be better and offer cheaper prices. This is all good, and it's what we should be doing.

We all have customers that end up being a complete waste of time. You know what I'm talking about. That customer, who asks for 10 quotes, spends 2 hours on the phone to you discussing every little detail, and then pushes you for the best price. So you end up spending an entire day on one client and make barely make enough money to buy a double cheeseburger.

We need to begin to differentiate between our clients. The best way to do the obviously is to keep a good record of our dealings with each client. Then we need to make some time to look at the results and decide who is our 'worst' client. Which client, takes the most time and makes the least money. Then we also need to assess which client is our most profitable client, and reward them. Buy them a bottle of wine, or a bunch of flowers, give them some discount off the next invoice, take them to dinner, but do something to show them how special they are, and that you appreciate their business.

As for the client at the bottom of the list that doesn't make you money, inform them politely, that you are unable to provide them services, tell them why you have made the decision, and tell them that you simply just cannot accommodate them anymore.

Now this will leave you in a very interesting position. Your client will either go away, yes the will probably be a little upset, who the hell are you to tell them to get lost! Or your client will come back to you and be prepared to pay more for the service you deliver. If they go away they have created a new gap in your business for you to accommodate a new customer, who from the beginning will pay a better price, and you can lay down the rules.

Buy working on this theory, you will eventually over time create a business filled with good customers, that pay well, and don't waster your time.

Shawn Jooste is a business owner who has interest in many on and offline businesses. One of his sites www.smallbusinessideas.co.za is a collection of ideas, articles and resources for small businesses.

Business Strategies Straight From The Horses Mouth

Writen by Ann Kerr Romberg

When I became a coach six years ago, I had a dream that took me a while to admit to—even to myself. What I really wanted to do was to combine the two great passions of my life—coaching and working with horses—but I had no idea what that might look like. As I bravely shared my fledgling dream with others, people began to point me to other people who had the same dream. I started exploring and discovered that the field of Equine Guided Education is a lively and growing one, where there's plenty of space for the coaching process to be incorporated.

You might be surprised to learn that coaching with horses provides a depth and immediacy that brings new information, even about business development. Synchronicity happens in the domain of energy—energy from our thoughts, our emotions, our body, our spirit. Horses, unencumbered by language, read and reflect this energy, providing unbiased feedback. How does coaching with horses work, you ask? To give you an example of how this process works, I want to share my experience of doing my coaching process with horses around my own business questions.

Here's what happened…

Background: I am deeply committed to bringing Equine Guided Coaching and Education to the world, but unsure of how, exactly, to grow my business. So the question now is "What's next?"

Equine Guided Coaching Process: One warm, sunny October day when I had a few extra minutes at the barn, I went out into the pasture where the six horses I work with were grazing. As I stood in the middle of the pasture, I posed the question—to myself and so to the horses—"What is next for my business, for this business with horses?"

Very quickly a horse named Digby came up to me. Digby is a thoroughbred horse who takes his rider over those 4- and 5-foot jumps you see in the Olympics. His athleticism and performance are not small potatoes. I said, "Hi Digby, why are YOU here?" As I looked at him, the thought occurred to me (openness to the synchronicity of thoughts is key to this work with horses) that he is large, the second largest horse in the pasture. I said, "Well, you are big. Am I supposed to play BIG with this business?" Just as I finished that thought, Colin came up. Colin is a Clydesdale-quarter horse cross and is the biggest horse in the pasture, with big feet, bones and a tall, strong stature. As I looked at Colin and petted his nose, it came to me that I'm supposed to play REALLY big. Gulp! I immediately noticed the fear that came up for me around this. Then I thought: "What does 'playing big' mean for me? How would it look in my business?" As I accepted that this was the message they came to tell me, both horses turned and went back to grazing, leaving me alone to let this idea settle in, confirming that I'd understood what they'd had to say.

Now these messages from the horses come quickly, and the full implication doesn't always sink in immediately. What happened in the hour after my time with Digby and Colin started to clarify what "playing big" actually meant. My business partner and I had invited our insurance representative to the pasture to experience a sample equine-guided coaching session since she had expressed interest in what we were doing. As is typical, she experienced deep and profound shifts in her thinking about the actions she could take in her life. She became aware of important new options that had simply never occurred to her before. For example, normally a type A personality, she had never thought of the possibility of a more relaxed lifestyle. She saw that she could use space and openness to see what is next for her rather than more busy-ness. As we talked about it over lunch afterwards, our agent expressed such enthusiasm about our work and strongly urged us to incorporate our business to fully professionalize our work. And she asked if she could invite people she knows in the horse world to a workshop so that they could also experience the power of this process!

Synchronously, once I offered my question about how to direct my business to the process of equine-guided coaching, I not only received an inner direction to consider building my business to be really big, but also began to discover what that might entail, actually taking a first step to begin to grow it. Coaching with horses this way grounds the process so that we step out of our minds and invite all of ourselves—body, mind, and spirit—to engage with our intentions and clarified direction. The response is almost always startling and exciting, filled with the lively energy of newness. In these few months since Digby and Colin made the message known to me, we have conducted a workshop with eight influential friends of our insurance representative, incorporated a new business called Wisdom Horse Coaching, which will serve as an umbrella for all of our work with horses, and have presented a demonstration of our work at the first annual Equine-Guided Education Association conference held in California to 70 people from all over the USA and seven other countries in the world who are doing this work with horses.

For more equine coaching information go to www.WisdomHorseCoaching.com.

About The Author ©2005 Wisdom Horse Coaching Ann Kerr Romberg, MS, CPCC Ann Romberg is an internationally recognized Equine Guided Coach and Educator. Ann's gift is creating a space for people to discover their unique gifts, their dreams and the actions that manifest those dreams. She is a master at working with horses as guides to help people make these connections quickly and authentically. People leave her sessions with deep insights and the ability to take action not previously possible. Ann's personal life transition experiences provide a strong base for her work. Her business experience includes over 20 years working within Fortune 500 companies in IT leadership positions and consulting with privately held business. Wisdom Horse Coaching (co-owned with Lynn Baskfield) offers a variety of experiential, equine guided, personal and professional development services: • Individual coaching programs • Powerful Equine-Guided workshops • Custom Training for organizations and groups • Apprenticeships - customized programs for individuals who want to become equine-guided practitioners • Partnerships with other professionals who want to offer Equine-Guided Education to their clients but don't have the horse experience to do so. Guided by their horse partners, Ann & Lynn give you that competitive edge you've been searching for; new ideas, wisdom and action not previously accessible. Ann has a Master's Degree and is a certified Co-Active Coach through Coaches Training Institute and a certified Equine Guided Educator. She and Lynn Baskfield have presented at both the EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) and EGEA (Equine Guided Education Association) annual conferences on Equine Assisted Learning. Her personal business can be found at www.carrotcoach.com.

The Best Work Based From Home Job For You

Writen by C Murdock

What is the best work based from home job for you is entirely a personal and professional decision. The best work based from home job for one person could be a nightmare for another. Multiple factors need to be taken into consideration when determining what the best work based from home job is for you.

Outdoors Versus Indoors Type of Person

One factor to consider when choosing the best work based from home job for you is whether you consider yourself to be an indoors person or an outdoors person. If you prefer the outdoors, you might be better suited to a window washing business, a landscaping business, or a car wash business. If you are an indoors person, on the other hand, the best work based from home job for you might be freelance writing, translation or data entry. Or, perhaps you could be a freelance graphic artist or have a home-based answering service.

If you like a bit of the outdoors and the indoors, the best work based from home job might be something such as candle making. With candle making, you get to stay indoors while making the candle and while performing online transactions, but you can go outdoors when it comes time to sell the candles at fairs and craft shows.

Creative versus Concrete

Another area of consideration when trying to determine the best work based from home job for you is whether you are a "creative" person or a more business-minded person. If you are a creative person, then you might want to start a work based from home business that allows you to indulge in that need to be creative. Perhaps you can craft wooden furniture or make yard decorations and rotate your stock based on the seasons and the holidays. You might even want to start your own interior design business.

If the thought of picking up a paint brush or getting dirty turns you off, then you might want to consider an Internet-based retail business. In fact, the best work based from home job for you might be a home typing business, a notary service, or even working as a nutritionist.

A People Person versus Loner

Some people are what we call a "people person," while others prefer not to interact with people much at all. When determining the best work based from home job for you, you need to be honest with yourself where this is concerned. If you are not a people person, you probably do not want to select a home-based business that will involve "beating the street prospecting" to drum up business and clients as is required in multi-level marketing. Instead, you might want to select a business that allows you to sit behind your computer all day and not have to interact much with people at all.

If you are a people person, on the other hand, the lack of human contact afforded by "behind the desk" home business opportunities can cause you to feel disconnected and lonely. Be sure to seriously assess which type of person you are before settling on what you think is the best work based from home job for you.

Craig Murdock is a work from home expert. Craig's views and ideas are published regularly on http://www.employment911.com

Have Your Own Business As Pet Sitters

Writen by Susan Wong

Pet sitting can be a rewarding job but can also be tiring. If you are interested in making your own business as a pet sitter, here are answers to most frequently Asked Questions about this career.

1. What does a pet sitter do? What he/she is responsible for?

Pet sitters care for your pet just as a baby sitter cares for your children. While most pets do not demand the same amount of supervision and care that a child does every pet has a certain amount of physical requirements as well as social needs. What is necessary for your pet will depend on the personality as well as species you are looking to have cared for.

In addition, pet sitters perform a variety of tasks. They may simply check the food and water supply of your animal. Dogs may require a walk while cats and caged animals may need their litter boxes cleaned or the papers changed. If you have an exotic animal or bird you should look for specialized services that can adequately meet the needs of your pet.

With pet sitters, your pet will be allowed to stay in its own environment without the stress of travel or new accommodations. Pet sitters will follow the schedule your animal is use to and the diet it is accustomed to. Pet sitters also provide the one-on-one attention your pet will be missing when you're away.

2. What does a pet sitter cost?

You can expect to pay at least $15-25 for a daily visit of 30 minutes - possibly more if you require the sitter to walk your dog. Usually the cost for multiple animals is only a few dollars more per animal. If you need the sitter to stay overnight you will probably pay $50 or more. Holiday visits (during the day or overnight) will have an increased rate.

Please note that rates will vary according to region and specialty. Some pet sitters will visit twice a day or include other tasks, such as collecting the mail, with their pet sitting services.

3. How do I find a pet sitter?

You may find a pet sitter listing in your phone book or online. You can also ask friends, groomers and veterinarians for referrals.

It is wise to only hire pet sitters who are bonded and insured since they will not only be responsible for caring for your pet but must be trusted in your home and with your belongings. Even when trust is not an issue the sitter will be responsible for being respectful of your home and properly securing your home when leaving.

4. What do I have to do to become a pet sitter?

It depends on where you live you may have to have a business license to operate a pet sitting business. It is also important to acquire bonding and insurance, not only for the possibility of negligence but to assure customers of your professionalism.

While you do not need experience to start your own business you will need to research businesses in the area and talk to groomers, vets and others about the market. It is important to be organized and take your business seriously - others are depending on you. Use contracts to establish the tasks and costs agreed to and keep paperwork and schedules organized.

About The Author Susan Wong maintains many interesting contractor websites, including http://www.roofingcontractorsecrets.info , and http://www.eczemasolutions.info. Please visit her websites and read more useful articles.

Worker Pay Central To Wage Debates In Chicago And Washington

Writen by Mark Harbeke

The winds of change are blowing in the Windy City. The approval by Chicago's city council in July of an ordinance that would affect retailers earning $1 billion or more in annual sales – dubbed "big box" – is dividing the city's aldermen and members of its central government, including Mayor Richard Daley. At issue is whether big retailers like Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot and others within city limits should raise their minimum pay for workers to $13 per hour by 2010. Mayor Daley has until September 13 to sign or veto the measure.

Under the ordinance, $10 of the wages would be salary and $3 would constitute health benefits – something aldermen who support the measure say is sorely lacking for workers at many large retailers. For its part, Wal-Mart appears to be moving to stave off criticism of low worker pay and insufficient benefits, as well as beating Chicago's city council to the punch: Last month the retailer announced that it would raise wages at a third of its 4,000 U.S. stores. Representatives for the company say this move is partly intended to meet a need for workers as it continues to expand.

Nationally, workers' needs are being addressed by Congress, albeit sluggishly and with much debate. While the House of Representatives approved a combined minimum wage and inheritance tax package at the end of July, the Senate failed to vote on the measure before adjourning for the summer. The bill, which would raise the current federal minimum wage of $5.15 an hour (a rate that has not changed since 1997) to $7.25 an hour, has been criticized by congressional Republicans and business special interest groups, who argue that the market should dictate worker pay, not the government.

Yet, whether locally, statewide or nationally – through the private or public sector – something must be done to show workers in organizations of all sizes that they're valued. The current federal minimum wage does not achieve this goal. According to former Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Alan Binder, the minimum wage is at its lowest level in 50 years when adjusted for inflation. Binder supports raising the minimum wage because it would result in cost savings from reduced job turnover, increased productivity as a result of better worker morale and the ability to recruit more talented employees through higher wages.

And Binder is not alone in this assessment. Washington's Economic Policy Institute has said that boosting the minimum wage would benefit roughly 15 million people. The raise's effect of pulling workers above the poverty line would produce an additional benefit: fewer Americans being reliant on public aid. For Chicago taxpayers, this would translate to a savings of $40 million annually according to a recent University of Illinois at Chicago study.

One criticism that has resonated with opponents of both the Chicago and federal wage-increasing measures is that such an increase would curtail future business growth and, thus, result in higher unemployment and fewer jobs. Yet, cities like Santa Fe, New Mexico, and San Francisco have passed "living wage" laws and seen job growth remain steady. The Christian Science Monitor even reported recently that in Santa Fe, whose mandated wage increase will bring the lowest wages to $10.50 an hour by 2008, a new Lowe's Home Improvement store has been built since the law took effect a year ago. In addition, Wal-Mart – the chief retailer covered in the Chicago big box battle – is set to build its third Santa Fe store. Evidence such as this suggests that Wal-Mart isn't going anywhere, despite its threats to cease building new stores in Chicago if the big box ordinance is passed.

One thing to keep in mind is that, especially in larger organizations, direct labor is a relatively small cost. At Fel-Pro, the auto parts manufacturer my family formerly co-owned, which employed about 3,000 people, materials made up the biggest cost, followed by general and administrative costs. It made good business sense for us to keep our workers' wages competitive in order to see the long-term benefits of decreased turnover and increased morale and productivity.

Employers owe it to their workforces to show their commitment to them by paying them a sufficient living wage. Many workers, especially low-income workers, are only one paycheck, one health care episode or one bad experience away from losing everything. If one of those situations occurred, who could blame a worker for not having his or her mind be totally on the work? The result would be a loss of productivity for the enterprise.

Therefore, paying workers a decent wage is not a zero-sum game. Instead, it's a win-win scenario that improves employees' peace of mind and, consequently, the bottom line of organizations. Here's to hoping that the city of Chicago and, on a broader scale, Congress make this connection – and soon.

______________________________________________ Winning Workplaces' goal is to provide small and midsize employers with proven, practical, and affordable people practices. Too often, the information and resources needed to create a high-performance workplace are out of reach for all but the largest organizations. Winning Workplaces is changing that by offering employers affordable consulting, training and information. We help employers assess needs and develop strategies to improve their workplace practices. For more information, please contact us at: http://www.winningworkplaces.org

Airbus Embellishes Jet Orders Every Year To Keep Up With The Boeing Company

Writen by Lance Winslow

Although lately Airbus has chilled out a little on the embellishment of the orders given to it by both Corporate and Government Airlines or Government Agencies it seems the practice of counting your chicken before they hatch with bird flu is alive and well in the European Union with Airbus Company.

You know I have a problem with Airbus and their claim of orders taken for new jet airlines. It claimed in Farnborough World 2000 Airshow, that it had sold 12 A330s (about 33 Billion Dollars if it were real) and none of them ever were built and no substantial deposits were taken, is this a kind of Proforma type hype to move the markets. What is the difference, it is still a lie. Why is this bad?

Well, it hurts Boeing's stock, who has to tell the truth and yet our government does not go after Airbus as they lie like a rug? What a complete double standard we have, but if Boeing did that they would be on them in 2 seconds like flys on mad cow dung. (This is an excellent analogy considering those agencies).

We saw the EU block the Honeywell GE deal, yet we do not attack foreign competitors who sell in our market. They attacked Microsoft and Wal-Mart. Why do you think so many companies are Canadian Based now? We are driving away the best companies in the world and then we never call a spade a spade when it comes to foreign competitors playing games and lying. Then as we attack our companies the EU goes and does the same thing pretending they are some how justified, after all if our regulatory bodies went after them it must be okay right? Well now, take a look at Daewoo, I can name at least 15 major Worldwide companies based elsewhere and what did we do to them, when these companies sell major numbers of units and derive much of their profits here.

Are we allowing the EU companies to cheat while we play by the rules and get hammered from both sides of the Pond? Well, may I ask how well that speaks of our own intelligence and integrity and the lack there of over there? Go ahead and consider all this in 2006, as I already have completely studied it.

Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Be A Rich Jerk

Writen by Margaret MacGillivray

You want to meet the Rich Jerk!

Ha – don't make me laugh. What do you think the chances are of ever getting to meet this 26-year old brat who has more money than you've had hot dinners?

Oh, you want to BE a Rich Jerk?

Well, that's a completely different story! I'm going to tell you why.

A few days ago, I heard about this fellow who had sold a web site and business on eBay for a fabulous sum of money. More than that, he is still running extremely successful online businesses, which are adding to his considerable wealth, every minute of the day. Now, if like me, you've built the web sites, made sure that the search engines find them – and then still only make a modest living online, there's surely something to learn from this guy's approach. So, I bought the eBook that he wrote and, although it's only a small book, it has some great advice.

The topics covered in the eBook include

· Which are the best affiliate companies to join
· Tips on writing a sales letter for your product or website
· Pay-per-click search engine strategies
· How to improve your search engine results
· Selling on eBay – some really interesting stuff here

I have to be honest here – there's quite a bit of this information available in forums and discussion groups online. What isn't there, though, is how this guy applies the information to his own online businesses to make a great living. I would also say that he's got a chapter in the book about some investment strategies; that's one area that I am going to steer well clear of, because I don't know enough about investments to make a good judgment on the advice.

Will these strategies make me money?

Well, since I bought the eBook, I have already put a couple of strategies in place and can confirm that I have already got a return in my investment. The next trick is to reinvest the profits and build up some capital. Then, with some good working capital behind me, applying more of the tricks and tips to my online business will start to pay good dividends. If you want to check out the eBook for yourself, you can buy it online at Meet the Rich Jerk - there is a 45 day money-back guarantee.

Margaret MacGillivray is a self-confessed domain-aholic! – She has bought and sold domains and web sites and software for several years now. Find out more at Sell My Domain - where listing your domain for sale is free, with a modest commission paid only if it is sold. Margaret and her husband, Sandy, run a gift shop in Helensburgh - visit their Scottish Gifts Shop at MacGillivray's.

Enron Commodity Trading Was Not Original

Writen by Lance Winslow

If one were to go an annual report for El Paso Energy from 2000; they would find on page 11 of the shareholders report a picture of their 80,000 square foot trading floor, with 700 merchant staff. Enron many thought had in fact originated this; once upon a time claiming to be the largest in the world energy trading floor. So it was not new for Enron have come up with the concept, yes as far as trading floors for energy were concerned they did build a bigger one. It was not totally innovative for them to have more traders at that point, not even very innovative to trade other things like; lumber futures to Del Webb or Pulte Homes or US Homes, or bandwidth or water rights on top of their oil and gas trading and pipeline over capacity.

Trading the raw energy itself had been done before and so had the trading of environmental credits and contracts. That is an obvious and viable way to reduce pollution through free enterprise proven efficiencies. The El Paso –Merchant Energy Group's 2000 earnings before taxes was 960 million, 1999 it was 329 million and in 1998 it exceeded 293 million. That group traded LNG, Power generation, financial services, coal and oil and gas and power assets. They also had global networks division, which was in the telecommunications business. Of course a simple look at El Paso Energy shows although they profited most from trading they were grounded by owning and acquiring pipelines, refining, drilling, oil field services, storage of product, and other real life services. On page 48, 49, 50, 51 and 52 of the 2000 annual report you will see about 15 partnerships and limited partnerships being used for all kinds of stuff. The whole report contains not less than 90 subsidiaries and limited partnerships with all kinds of sweet heart deals of stock swaps and stock options and voting rights.

So Enron took normal industry type methods and really worked the system. Taking what was working well to the benefit of the user and industry and increasing it ten folf. Of course if you look at any railroad company they do the same thing it has been going on since Rockefeller days. I am not sure the Enron thing did not go further because it was bigger. If it was making money it would not have mattered and it would have been business as usual, yet with the market driving it down in its final days and the stock plummeting and the serious junk credit rating down grade, of course now then it was all illegal. Perhaps the biggest issue was the hiding of transparency along with creative book keeping with their friends at A. Anderson and the façade which followed.

When El Paso merged with Coastal everything was forgotten and the company moved on. What if Dynenergy merged with Enron and then all the old data of Enron was gone? And the Global Crossing Quest Deal had been a go, then what? What if GE had merged with Honeywell, maybe they would not be in dire straights. It seems the idea here is to run up the stock and look good on paper even though you are running on fumes and barrowed to the hilt and then sell at the top and forget about it. Well this time the greatest escape plan fell short and this time it was serious. In the case of the pre-merger audit with El Paso Energy and the Coastal Corporation, then changed to El Paso CGP Corporation for the merger the audits were done by separate companies. PriceWaterHouseCooper did el Paso Energy and Deloitte & Touche LLP did The Coastal Corporation.

Yet whatever the overlap it is simply historical data, and who is to say if either company was as financially stable as it was prior to the whole? Think if Enron and Dynenergy would have merged and all those little partnerships had been able to cash in at Dynenergy. WOW, talk about a run on the bank that would have been. I wonder how many LLCs of Enron contained board members of Dynenergy, that would sure add fire to the flame. Maybe none, but what if? What if the merger took place and know one knew? What would our country look like today? We would not have had Sarbaines Oxley, we would have less regulation, less attacks from attorneys generals on business and industry. We would have less off shoring of corporations, less outsourcing of jobs and we would have never lost 7 trillion in our stock market. Privatizing one-third social security would not be an issue, everyone would want in. We would have more confidence in our markets and less worry of being passed by China as the leader of the free world. Think about it?

Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

An Introduction To Supply Chain Management

Writen by Jim Staller

The mere mention of supply chain management, outside of business circles, tends to set eyes rolling. While it may not be of interest to the average lay-person, it is an item of great interest to those in the business community. Supply chain management is a crucial element of good overall business management. Long term viability and corporate profitability are critically dependent upon it. Let's spend a few minutes exploring the basics of supply chain management.

Supply chain management refers to the process by which raw materials are acquired and used in the manufacturing of a product. It also takes into consideration the delivery of finished goods, and the ability to process returned goods. Ideally, these processes should function as an organic whole. The entire point and purpose of supply chain management is to ensure that products can be produced and delivered in an efficient and profitable manner.

Supply chain management is comprised of five primary elements; plan, source, make, deliver, and return. Each of these topics represents five distinct elements of the production process. The planning stage is the stage in which strategic plans for production are made. This stage is critically important, as it allows a company to develop a strategy for managing their production process flow. Metrics are also established at this time, to ensure that elements of production can be monitored.

The next stage is equally important, as it is an extension of the planning phase. The source phase refers to the early implementation of the strategic plans decided in the previous planning phase. It is during this phase that suppliers of raw materials and components are decided upon. Pricing, delivery, and payment terms are all considered at this time.

Next, we consider the production phase. This is also known as the start of the manufacturing process. Production related activities must all be accounted for at this time. Production, quality control, packaging, and shipping all come into play at this important stage. This stage is also the most intensive, regarding metrics. Production output, worker productivity, and overall product quality must be tracked and monitored closely.

Delivery is the next phase to consider. This area is generally referred to as logistics or shipping. At this stage, systems must be in place to coordinate orders. Orders must be processed, tracked, and delivered. It is also important to establish a payment system at this stage. Other considerations include warehousing, trucking contracts, and customs-related procedures.

One of the most oft overlooked elements of supply chain management is the returns process. Naturally, we would like to believe that the products we produce and ship are flawless. As you know, that is not always the case. Customers are not always satisfied, and systems must be in place to reintegrate returned goods into the production flow. Returned goods should always remain segregated until they can be reviewed and assessed. By adhering to the principles noted above, you can ensure that your company is sustainable and profitable for years to come.

Jim Staller is a firm believer in responsible business management. When he is not busy consulting for some of the most successful companies in America, he writes for industrial101.com – an indispensable guide to industrial manufacturing and materials, with information about enterprise resource planning, industrial equipment, spill containment and more.

Managing An Elevator Cash Flow

Writen by Catherine Franz

Jannice K., a past Virginia resident, now California resident, worked in Burger King for ten years. Back when I was a junk food addict, she passed me the bag and drink through the drive through window. Occasionally, I would go inside to eat. We became friends and soon had regular times together early afternoons during her break. It wasn't long before I discovered Jannice's real buried passion was grooming dogs. She sparkled whenever the topic came up.

Later Jannice and I worked together to write articles and other materials on her passion. Now, Jannice lives in California, owns three grooming parlors, and is quite, quite well off. During a recent phone conversation she shared how no matter how far she's come in just the few years, she says she's never gotten used to living with a fluctuating cash flow.

This is an experience shared by many self-employed individuals.

After living on predictable cash flow, having a variable cash flow can be nerve racking. Even over time, as you grow maturely philosophical about money, knowing that it can be here today and gone tomorrow requires being on your toes. And, in order to transition from toes to flat foot you must learn to integrate a prosperity consciousness in order to survive emotionally. A prosperity transfer means shifting from the perception of scarcity, to being in abundance.

The secret to handling this elevator ride is to get to the point of contentment with who you are and what you are doing, and not have an emotional response to money. This platform, of course, takes discipline and experience. Over time, as you learn and become comfortable with a new way of thinking, you also learn to stay focused, know what "really" matters, stop wasting time, and relax into a set of processes and systems that become the rhythm for your business. This calm approach always accelerates prosperity and, in turn, allows the cash flow elevator to slow down and stop on various floors.

During the fast elevator days, tips always help to remind us to punch the button in order to stop at the next floor. Here are a few tips to help you push the right buttons:

1. Where you focus is what you will attract. If you focus on your surplus, the surplus will grow. If you focus on lack, the lack will grow. Hence, it's common sense to focus on surplus, wouldn't you say. Learn to see abundance in all that you do, say, and feel. This doesn't mean giving away your services if you are business owner. It means in being in balance with it. Be abundant with your gestures, open the door for a person, it doesn't matter on gender.

When someone takes you to lunch, see that as surplus, the money didn't come out of your pocket. It's abundance from their life to yours. Yes, the good ole, attitude of gratitude, philosophy is what I'm talking about. It actually is a secret weapon of the wealthy. Again, of course, in balance. This same attitude is available to everyone, including you and I. If it takes fewer muscles to smile, then of course, it takes less energy to be nice.

2. Know what you're worth and be consistent about it. If you take a long lunchtime or spend time browsing the book aisles or Net, associate your hourly rate to this. When you associate time to money consistently in your thinking process, cash flow will follow. With a focus on what "really" matters and you follow that up with massive action, it all begins to sink in. This internal awareness will, of course, again, be attractive.

3. Some is better than none. Partial payments are better than no payments if you can't meet your obligations. Even the telephone and utility companies can cope with partial payments. Send what you can with an explanatory note.

We both know that bill collectors aren't the most compassionate souls. If you deal with them, try not to be defensive nor try to ignore them. Silence isn't golden in this instance. However, you can't let them intimate you or make you feel guilty either -- and they surely will try too. Bring no emotional attachment to their call, conversation, or even after you hang up. This will affect your energy and zap your progress.

Just imagine having one of these a day, and if you do, it's a-no-wonder why you're feeling drained, unattractive, and not making any money. This spiral emotional ride puts you on the fast elevator ride to the basement.

4. Maintain a list of emergency money generators. These are items that you can use that require little or no planning, either because you have it done or it just doesn't need it, that deliver short-term cash. This is an insurance cash flow list for your business. Everyone needs this whether running a business or not, even if it means unloading boxes at your brother-in-laws warehouse.

If you list a temporary agency, who are they, have you gone over there already and established a relationship. Set up the groundwork so that it's easy to jump into when "you" need it. Being mindful of all your options, and not mindless, adds to your confidence and ability to manage your cash flow during shortage.

5. Separate emotions from money and separate thoughts of debt that is an investment and debt that is due to irresponsibility. If you are going to operate a business, be accountable, especially if you have employees. People say to me that one of their number goals is to be debt free. If you have a habit of creating irresponsible debt then even when you become debt free it will not last because the mindset and habits didn't change.

Change your attitude and remove the emotions. Separate investment debt from the other. Why wait to be happy, live your life with a debt free mentality now. Most children grow up without understanding money and base their knowledge on emotional expressions they hear from others. Then as adults they are thrust into the world and told, "You're suppose to know better."

Take a class on money management, stop reading the books if they aren't helping. If you already taken a class, hire a money coach. Keep debt manageable and be an responsible adult and business owner. There aren't any excuses for poor money management.

6. Don't spend yourself poor with feast or famine. Don't be tempted to pay off all your old bills and leave yourself impoverished all over again. Your mental health will be stronger if you set aside some money and watch it accumulate. Just knowing you have even the smallest of funds stashed away will lighten your walk and smooth your sleep.

7. Get smart about your money. I mean, SMART. Get Specific, Measure it, be Accountable, make them achievable, Realistic and the Time is now. Our beliefs today have no resemblance to the beliefs of money our parents have, nor will the next generation have with yours. Challenge all the early assumptions you have about money. Challenge them every day until. Do it until you learn to manage it. Do it until it works for you.

Get off the elevator cash flow ride, have less paper, scotch tape, and paper clips around, and put some money away for that rainy day. I don't think either of our grandmothers where wrong on that philosophy.

Catherine Franz, a Professional Marketing & Writing Coach, specializes in product development, Internet writing and marketing, nonfiction, training. Newsletters and articles available at: http://www.abundancecenter.com blog: http://abundance.blogs.com

5 Tips To Establishing Your Brand Online

Writen by Wray Burgess

1.) First of all, probably the single most important aspect of establishing any brand is the use of a professional logo. Whether it is simply text, or a symbol, or both, this graphic needs to be the predominant focal point to your site. If you do not have a logo, have one made before proceeding. IT IS AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY.

2.) The second aspect of your brand development to consider is your company's tag line or slogan. This will serve as a compliment to your logo. Typically, this information serves to illustrate your company's purpose. For example: "Plants are always a growing concern at Bill's Nursery."

3.) Build a consistent look and feel to all the pages in your site. By this, I mean the layout and placement of navigational elements should be identical from page to page. This consistency should continue with regard to color and typefaces or fonts. Body text size and color should remain consistent, as well.

4.) Be certain to include an 'About Us' page in your site. This section will include vital information about your company and its product or service. A brief synopsis of your company's history is okay here, also.

5.) Finally, aside from a copyright statement at the bottom of each page within your site, be certain to provide a link for visitors to discover your contact information, if only used in the global navigation, it needs to be there. This is great for establishing credibility.

Wray Burgess is a web designer and developer. He owns and operates i site design Wray has more than 10 years experience in design for print, broadcast and the web. He and his family live in southwest Florida where they have lived for almost ten years.

Home Improvements

Writen by Tej Sharma

Home improvements are remodeling projects undertaken by homeowners to improve their home not only aesthetically or as living quarters but as an investment. They expect to get the returns on their invest ment when they sell their house. According to sources, home improvements, home improvements are a major investment exercise by American homeowners.

Home improvements projects are many. You can undertake the remodeling of any aspect of your house. Be it you kitchen, bathroom, or your whole house. Home improvements can be technically defined as changing the existing structure of a person's house either using the same footprint or by making additions. There are two ways in which you can do home improvements. Mostly a professional contractor is hired for these purposes, however, sometimes; smaller scale easy projects are attempted by the homeowners themselves.

In the professional method, you recruit a general contractor, who is responsible for the whole project involving home improvements. On the other hand if you attempt to do it yourself (DIY) you will need to deal directly with the contractor and the technicians.

There a lot of home improvements you could do. For the walls, they could be papered or papered or wood paneled. The flooring could be made new by installing linoleum, hard wood and tiling... the kitchen fixtures and hard ware such as sinks, cabinets, and pipes can be replaced. If you have some electrical systems and pipes that have become outdated, it's time to tick them off in your home improvements check list .you could work in a similar way with the other aspects of the home improvements such as the upgrading the air conditioning and heating systems.

TEJ A web designer

Top 5 Keys To Succeed In Online Business

Writen by Valerian Dinca

1. Publish your own newsletter.
Starting your own free newsletter is a great way to target the market, earn customers and stay in touch with them. At the same time by running an ezine you may build an image for you and for your business and to earn poeple's respect

2. Participate actively on Message boards and Discussion lists.
Before subscribing check if they have an item close related to your business. This way you may be sure you're in touch with people interested in what you sell. By actively participating on Messages boards and Discussion list you can earn an expert status. On the other hand, you will be allowed to post either a full SIG (your signature) file or, at a minimum, your name and URL (your website address)

3.Drive traffic to your website.
There are several ways to send visitors to your business site

• get listed in search engines and directories,
• request a link from sites complementary to yours,
• write articles that include your URL in the resource box,
• start an affiliate program,
• use paid and free online advertising,
• sign online guestbooks where appropriate.

4. Barter and Partner
You can gain some free publicity by trading your services or products in exchange for ad space. If you have started your own newsletter you can exchange ads with another editors. For partnering there are countless possibilities online. First of all take care to get in touch with someone who runs a site or an ezine on something of interest to your target market. Pay a special attention to those acting in a complementary field. (a site that sells airplane tickets might partner with a company offering vacations)

5. Communicate
Let your associates, customers, vendors, family know what is new in your business and in your mind. Your words must be covered by actions if you want to create trust.

6. Separate your life from your business.
Remember that your business is the way to achieving the goals in your life; but it is not your life.

Valerian Dinca is a freelance writer specialized in items like ways to make money in home business.

Gold Mining

Writen by Lance Winslow

Mining Gold is hard work you know? There are many people in the US to this day who still mine for gold. Did you know that in many countries people have protested mines, gold and silver are easy ones to protest because it is associated with greed as those minerals are also considered legal tender.

A great mine to visit is one of the first gold mines in the country, The Reed Gold mine in Charlotte. There were over 300 gold mines in North Carolina in the 1820's. This of course long before the 49'ers of CA. The Reed Mine was active until 1912. A total of 13 gold mines closed in the past two years in response to depressed gold prices or ore exhaustion in Canada. Collecting the Gold under the conditions required in most of North America is no longer feasible, unless it can be collected along with other precious metals and the remaining material can be further sifted for iron ore, copper or another metal.

There are several places on Earth where multiple metals appear within a very close proximity. Mining often, like many industrial endeavors can cause air pollution. When mining the excess which is not used is piled up and often causes leaching into the ground when it rains, those other minerals released are more concentrated than much of the normal downstream waters.

Have you thought about becoming a modern day prospector? If so there are all sorts of groups online with newsletters and potential sites to try. Gold; think about it.

Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Bindings For Printed Products

Writen by Daniel Ambort

How many different ways can you bind printed products? There are numerous ways you can bind manuals, books, calendars, guides, directories, catalogs, full color brochures and all other printed products. Here are a few very basic guidelines:

Looseleaf-Printed sheets are loose and have holes drilled in them to put in a binder.

Tape Binding-Usually done on demand copy type where it is actually done in line and comes out of the machine finished. This simulates perfect binding but has no grind on the spine and the tape shows.

Side Stistching-Staples go through the front of the paper to the back but are stapled on the side of the sheet.

Saddle Stitching-The pages are stitched by staples through the spine of the book. The pages have to be done in 4 pg increments and there is a limitation to how many pages can be stitched.

Perfect Binding-This is what you usually buy in a book store when you get a soft cover book. It gives you a square spine and the paper is actually ground on the spine and then glued to the cover. This can now be done both conventional and on demand. There are many cousins of perfect binding(layflat,PUR,OTA,smythe sewn, etc.)

Wiro Binding-A wire of loops is inserted through punched holes in the paper in loops. This binding will lay flat.

Spiral Binding-Metal as above but in circles going through punched holes.

Plasticoil Binding-Plastic loops are put through the punched holes.

Case Binding-These are hard bound books like bought in a book staore. These can be smythe sewn, side sewn or adhesive bound.

These are the basic bindings that most printed products will be bound by.

The Odee Company.com. PrintPromotionguide.com

How To Create A Mission Statement

Writen by Denise O'Berry

Creating a mission statement can help you focus your business effort and do a lot of good in bringing your workforce together behind a common theme. The key to success is not just creating a mission statement, it's living the mission statement.

A mission statement identifies the major purpose that you fulfill when providing products and services to customers. Your mission statement should:

• Include the reason for your business
• Identify your firm's unique 'value added'
• Reflect your firm's core business activity
• Provide a focus
• Identify the purpose you fulfill

Step One -- Develop your mission statement by identifying:

• Stakeholders - Those people who are directly affected by the company's successes and failures. Stakeholders could be employees, internal customers, organizational customers, external customers.
• Products and Services - Items that you produce for your customers. Products and services might include consulting, training, products or services for individual use, products or services for business use.
• Value Added - The key advantage you provide over the competition. Why would a customer come to your company for service? What makes your company special?

Step Two -- Construct A First Draft

The [your company name] meets the [your products and services] needs of [stakeholders] by [value added].

Step Three -- Refine the Mission Statement

Is it too wordy? Is it brief and to the point? Will employees remember it? Would it make sense to your stakeholders? Is it a true mission statement and not a goal? Does it inspire your organization? Does it describe your business focus and effort? Is it unique?

Step Four -- Make It Visible Post the mission statement for easy review by all employees and customers.

Step Five -- Live it! This step will be easy if you've involved your entire group in the process.

Denise O'Berry helps small business owners take action to grow their business. To find out more, visit http://www.deniseoberry.com

Go Get What You Want Results

Writen by Audrey Burton

I was taught repeatedly in my sales training that if you don't ask for the sale, you won't get it. I have turned this lesson into a life philosophy, and I get what I want most of the time.

You have a lot of personal power, whether you know it and exercise it or not. Let's look at an example.

Let's assume you have a business plan for 2006 and your marketing plan includes publishing an email newsletter, then putting the articles online at free article databases, networking at 3 groups regularly and advertising in 2 specific publications. You have a pretty good idea of how much these strategies will cost and what kind of return to expect.

You get a call from a really good web designer/developer asking to critique and revise your website. If you have the money, your site really needs it and you trust this person to do a great job, you might just say yes. However, if this is not in your budget, and your website is not a critical component of your marketing, what do you do? You don't want to offend, but you don't want to do it.

Here's your script: "Thank you so much for your offer, Susan, but it's just not in my plan for 2006. You may be right and I probably could use an upgrade, but it's not going to happen this year."

Being able to say no when you want gives you the power to say yes when you need to. If you're spending your time and money on projects that leave you broke and unfocused, your business could fail. Using a plan gives you the confidence and the power to get what you want.

Here's another example. You want to send out an email newsletter to your database, but you need a service to send it for you. You ask several people from whom you receive newsletters and do some internet research. You learn what is most important to you (Price? Customer service? Templates?), which gives you power.

When dealing with a supplier, use your power in negotiating. If you want a more expensive service, let them know you have done your homework and ask for a new customer discount. Ask for 25% or more. Know what you will be willing to accept, and be willing to walk if you don't get it. You have more power if you don't have to make a decision quickly. They may come back later with a better offer!

Use these same concepts in your personal life. Ask for what you want. Do your research. When you see a doctor, don't make any hasty decisions. Get a second opinion, read the insurance manual, research the medication on the internet, ask your friends and family - then ask for what you want until you get it.

Some basics required in getting what you want include knowing what you want, knowing where it is, knowing from whom to get it and asking at the right time. The most important part is knowing you have the power. It may take longer, so you will have to decide if you are willing to settle or wait it out until you get what you want.

Use your personal power to have the business - and life - you want. Go get it!

Copyright 2006 Audrey Burton

Audrey Burton is a practical Small Business Coach. She eliminates business/marketing overwhelm and gets you excited to work on your business again! To sign up for her free, monthly email newsletter, visit her site: http://www.TigressCoaching.com.

Facility Maintenance

Writen by Elizabeth Morgan

A facility is any publicly or privately owned building used for a certain purpose. To ensure that you get maximum services from it, you must take care of it through regular maintenance.

Facility Maintenance offers you several benefits. First and the foremost is longer facility life span. By maintaining your facility regularly, you can rectify problems early and keep it in working order for much longer time. This helps you immensely in saving money, since a Facility is usually expensive to build. The other accompanied benefits are low operating expenses and maximum space utilization.

In case you are already a part of any facility team or planning to build your own facility in the future, Facility Maintenance is very important. To prevent any major problems in the future, you can prepare a checklist of components that need to be checked regularly.

The most critical issue in Facility Maintenance is security, especially at times of emergency like fire or any other catastrophe. All security components, like alarm systems, water sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers and so forth, need to be checked every quarter to ensure they are in good working condition. One must also check that all exits are easily accessible without any major hindrance.

To ensure smooth passage in corridors and rooms, you can check the lighting system every month and replace fused bulbs and tube lights. Besides this, you can also ensure that all the cracks and joints in the floors are fixed with good quality fillers. One must also grease doors and dock levelers once a year, to make their rolling smooth.

Electric Systems is another area of concern. One must check electric systems annually for capacity and proper grounding, since these are difficult to change later. We also advise you to check exhausts, fans, motors and belts every six months, and lubricate them to ensure they are in good working condition.

A wise man once said "Small steps, though they look small, are the shortest route towards success." By taking these small precautions, you can prevent major damage to your facility.

Maintenance provides detailed information about maintenance, aircraft maintenance, car maintenance, equipment maintenance and more. Maintenance is the sister site of Pontoon Boat Lifts.

Powerful Principles For Effective Paper Management In Your Association

Writen by Barbara Hemphill

Today's high-tech society is taking in and putting out more information than ever imaginable. Looking for an e-mail or searching for an electronic document is as big a challenge as finding our paper files, and, in spite of all the promises of the paperless office, statistics show that exactly the opposite is happening. It is projected that by 2005 there will be 50% more paper than there was in 1995! How many lunches have you missed because you were searching through files – never finding what you needed?

Applying four basic principles of information management will make a big difference – whether it's for paper or electronic files.

1. What information does the association need to keep?

2. In what form do we need to keep it?

3. For how long?

4. How can we find it when we need it?

In doing so, you may need to address the following issues:

Develop Retention Guidelines for your association. Clutter is Postponed Decisions®. Paper will continue to pile up because someone needs to make a decision about retention. Association executives often ask me how long they should keep documents. I can't answer that for you, my advice – make a decision. Determine the answer by looking at your own past experience.

Hold an Office File Clean-Out Day. Make the day fun! Wear comfortable clothes, order in lunch, give prizes - such as the "Most Progress" or "The Funniest Discovery". Provide staff with storage boxes for files that must be kept long term. Hanging files work best and use file tabs and color code files when you can. Materials used by all staff should be put in a central location. If you need additional help, consider hiring a Professional Organizer to arrange your filing day.

Choose the best tools for your situation. One of most valuable lessons I learned from my father was "Half of any job is having the right tool". While many associations are looking at scanning as a way of coping with information overload, make sure that you are really solving a problem, and not creating another. A better option may be to index your paper files with a program such as Taming the Paper Tiger (www.thepapertiger.com). This software allows you to cross-reference files, and find them quickly with its powerful search engine.

Train your staff to automatically use The FAT System™. There are only three decisions you can make about any piece of paper: File, Act, or Toss. Make decisions on paper as it comes in. Put papers that require action into "Action Files." Papers you may never need, but are afraid to throw away go into Reference Files. As Reference Files become old, they become Archive Files, or can be tossed.

Continually practice "The Art of Wastebasketry®. Research shows that 80% of what we keep, we never use. Don't make today's mail turn into tomorrow's pile! Ask yourself:

• Does this require action?
• Can I identify a specific use?
• Is it difficult to get again?
• Is it recent enough to be useful?
• Are there legal considerations?

If the answer to all these questions is "No," ask one final question: "What is the worst possible thing that would happen if I didn't have this piece of paper?" If you can live with your answer, toss - or recycle it!

Your office is a reflection of you and your association. Projecting an organized, uncluttered workspace will make you more productive and less stressed. You can stop losing time searching for files. In fact, you may even find time for lunch!

© Barbara Hemphill is the author of Kiplinger's Taming the Paper Tiger at Work and Taming the Paper Tiger at Home and co-author of Love It or Lose It: Living Clutter-Free Forever. The mission of Hemphill Productivity Institute is to help individuals and organizations create and sustain a productive environment so they can accomplish their work and enjoy their lives. We do this by organizing space, information, and time. We can be reached at 800-427-0237 or at www.ProductiveEnvironment.com

Whose Hand Is In Your Pocket

Writen by Dale Collie

How to Avoid Identity Theft and What to do If You're a Victim

It's time to stop talking about identity theft and do something to protect yourself.

My bank just sent a new set of Visa cards with the explanation that hackers had compromised a retailer where I had used the card, ergo - new cards.

Doesn't sound too bad, does it? What it means is that I now have to contact all of my "automatic" payment vendors and give them the new number. We were lucky that we didn't get any financial damage on the way through.

A close relative told me this week about her experience in trying to clean up behind an identity thief who tried to open several different cell phone accounts and some other monkey business.

A attorney friend tells me it took him almost eight years to clean up after someone stole his identity and wrecked his credit.

How does this ID theft work? Bad guys get your name, social security number, or credit card number and start charging purchases or opening lines of credit.

Some of these thieves get info from your mail box, but there are easier ways for the more sophisticated. Phishing is on the rise, and this isn't the kind of fishing where you use a rod and reel. Instead, these illigitimate Phishers lure unsuspecting email recipients into giving up their personal info by making them think you're working with a bona fide agent of a company with whom they normally do business.

"Pretexting" is just as phony as thieves pretend to conduct surveys or other seemingly official reasons to get information from you.

My e-mail brings me five or more phishing lures every day - eBay, CitiBank, utility companies, and so on. I also receive more than twenty emails every day telling me of some joker in Nigeria or Netherlands who has come into millions of dollars that they'll share with me if I send them my bank account information to help them smuggle this cash out of their country.

The sad part is that some people bite these lures and lose a lot. A young friend from Eastern Europe recently asked me if such an offer was for real!

Typically, the thieves collecting the information are not the ones who use it. Your personal information is often sold to others who are expert in hiding their trail after wrecking your finances. It's hard to tell whose hand is in your pocket and who's spending your money.

Here are some stats on this subject from CFO-IT magazine:

ID Theft by Fraud Type

32% - Credit-card Fraud 19% - Phone or utilities 17% - Bank 11% - Employment-related

8% - Gov'mt documents or benefits

5% - Loan 19% - Other

*** What are we going to do about all of this fraud?

We already have some stiff laws on the books, but only the biggest of criminals are going to be tracked down across international borders. About the only way the law can protect us is to establish secrecy requirements for retailers and others who use our credit card numbers.

Several agencies have discontinued using social security numbers as identifiers. Be sure to challenge the necessity of giving this information to anyone.

Some people espouse using cash only. They say to throw away those ATM cards and check books. Don't do business with anyone who won't take cash. The rub is that some companies don't even know how to deal with cash any longer. Have you tried to rent a car or check in a hotel with cash only?

One recent article told of German grocers installing equipment to read your finger prints to activate charge accounts. Don't leave home without your prints!

The FTC web site advises the following steps to avoid credit card identity theft:

1. Sign your cards as soon as they arrive. Others advise us to write "Picture ID Required" on the back of our cards instead of signing them to prevent a thief from knowing just how we sign our name.

2. Carry your cards separately from your wallet, in a zippered compartment, a business card holder, or another small pouch.

3. Keep a record of your account numbers, their expiration dates, and the phone number and address of each company in a secure place.

4. Keep an eye on your card during the transaction, and get it back as quickly as possible.

5. Void incorrect receipts.

6. Destroy carbons.

7. Save receipts to compare with billing statements.

8. Open bills promptly and reconcile accounts monthly, just as you would your checking account.

9. Report any questionable charges promptly and in writing to the card issuer.

10. Notify card companies in advance of a change in address.

*** How do we know that our identity has been compromised?

Check your credit report at least annually. Many people recommend checking quarterly. You can pay the credit reporting companies a fee and get your reports anytime you want.

However, the FTC advises us to "order a free annual report from one or all the national consumer reporting companies by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com.

Or you can call toll-free 877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

You can print the request form from www.ftc.gov/credit.

The credit reporting companies only send free reports requested through the Report Request Service.

The FTC gives a lot more information on their site. Go to http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/recovering_idt.html#9 to find out things such as:

What to do if someone steals your identity? How do you prove you're a victim of identity theft? When should I provide my social security number? Should I buy identity theft insurance? How do I get money back that was stolen through electronic transfers, e.g. debit cards, credit cards?

Answers to these questions and more than 50 others are given at the link above. You can get the forms you need to initiate your claim of identity theft at this site, and the FTC has more than 25 publications on this subject that are free for the asking.

Here's the bottom line. As always, people are trying to get your money. In the past, thieves had to corner you and get the money out of your pocket. Today, your pockets are much bigger, and it's much easier to reach in.

If you don't take action to prevent the theft, you're basically inviting the thieves to take as much as they want - of course, they want it all!

Find out more about identity theft and other stressors at WWW.CourageBuilders.com

Copyright 2005 - Dale Collie

Title: Whose Hand is in Your Pocket Length: 1153 Words Author: Dale Collie Email: MailTo:collie@couragebuilders.com Category: Business/Stress/Finance/personal Web Address: http://www.couragebuilders.com

You may publish this article electronically or in print free of charge. Edit article for space and audience if needed. Include full byline. Add a hyperlink for web postings. When you publish, please send a courtesy link or email to MailTo:Collie@CourageBuilders.com

Dale Collie speaker, author, and former US Army Ranger, corporate president, and professor at West Point. Selected by "Fast Company" as one of America's Fast 50 innovative leaders. Author of "Frontline Leadership: From War Room to Boardroom," and "Winning Under Fire: Turn Stress into Success the US Army Way" (McGraw-Hill) http://www.couragebuilders.com

Incorporating A New Business In Florida

Writen by Eddie Tobey

When you are starting a new business in Florida, you can set it up under sole proprietorship, a cooperative, or as a corporation. If you go with incorporating, it is the process of forming a new corporation, which can be set up as a business, a non-profit organization, or a new government of a new city or town.

Setting up your business as a corporation in Florida reaps several legal benefits.

A corporation is separate from your personal assets, meaning in the event of a lawsuit or filing for bankruptcy, creditors cannot go after you and claim your personal assets as compensation for the debt of your corporation. Your stockholders, directors, and officers are also protected from being held liable for the debts and obligations of the corporation. The maximum amount you or the other investors can lose is the amount you invested in the company and nothing more.

The corporation is also protected from the investor?s losses as well. In the event that a stockholder incurs debt or goes bankrupt, corporate properties cannot be seized as compensation. Only his shares can be used as compensation.

In a corporation, your shares of ownership can be transferred to others either as a whole or partially. It is also easier for you to set up a retirement fund under a corporation.

Under a corporation, your tax rate is lower than it would be for you as an individual, and you are legally allowed to own shares in other companies and receive corporate dividends of up to 80% tax-free.

If your corporation is in a financial bind, it is easier for you to raise funds if you sell stocks and open it to the market.

A corporation can last for a very long time. Even with the changing of stockholders, the corporation can continue to exist.

A corporation has its own credit line. Even if the stockholders? or personnel?s credit records are not so wonderful, the corporation can retain a clean slate.

Incorporating in Florida provides detailed information on Incorporating in Florida, Incorporating a Business in Florida, Small Business Incorporating in Florida, Florida Department for Incorporating and more. Incorporating in Florida is affiliated with Incorporation Services.

Metrics Matter

Writen by Philippa Gamse

Your web traffic reports offer unparalleled opportunities to learn more about your site visitors and their behavior.  Are you taking advantage of these opportunities?Knowing the hot content areas on your site can give you great ideas for future product and program development.  Rita Risser (http://www.FairMeasures.com) developed a whole set of online checklists and policy guideline documents based around the subjects that her visitors were searching for.

Calls to Action

One of my favorite mantras is "Every Page of your Site Should Have a Strategy".  You should absolutely know which segment of your target audience each page is aimed at, what's in it for them and what you want as a result.  Provide clear (and clickable) calls to action at every point in your copy where the reader might be ready to make the next move - whether it's "Sign up for our newsletter", "Buy our product", or "Contact me to ask about our services".

Sometimes this means directing the visitor to the next page that you'd like them to see.  Dave Paradi told me:

"I realized that people were entering my site on one of two specific pages, which are a couple of my articles that now have great placement on Google.  I also noticed that almost all of these visitors entered and exited on that page, not visiting any other pages. 

"So how could I get them to see the rest of the site - particularly the products that I hoped they would buy?  I included a link to my products page at the bottom of each article.  And last month, the products page jumped to the second most visited page, and it appears that many visitors, based on the value of the articles, are checking out the products."

And he's taking this a step further:

"It hasn't yet resulted in increased orders, but I think the next area I need to address is writing more successful copy for the products page."

At the Risk of Repeating Myself . . .

I like to think of Web traffic analysis as "market research that cannot lie".  The reports show you what visitors do on your site of their own accord, without prompting or other influence.  Not to discount focus groups, surveys and asking your favorite clients for feedback - those are important tools as well, but not as powerful.

So, if you haven't clearly defined the strategies, target markets and outcomes for your site, and if you aren't looking at your metrics to evaluate the success of these, then you're shooting in the dark with your Web investment.  The examples in this article show you just a few of the many ways that you can use this information - I hope that you're now motivated to find out more about your own site.

(c) 2003, Philippa Gamse.  All rights reserved.

Philippa Gamse, CyberSpeaker, is a Web strategy consultant and professional speaker. Check out her free tipsheet for 23 ideas to promote your Website: http://www.CyberSpeaker.com/tipsheet.html Philippa can be reached at (831) 465-0317.

10 Psychological Triggers To Get Your Prospects To Click

Writen by Crispian Lye

Copyright 2004 Crispian Lye

Are banner ads dead?

Well, contrary to popular belief, banner ads are NOT dead, and can produce a significant amount of traffic, IF you know how to make them work.

The best sort of banner is a simple 'invisible' banner popularized by Scott Covert with a direct response type, benefit laden headline that blends in and looks like part of the webpage instead of a blatant banner that screams 'banner ad!'.

Note: Avoid flash, gaudy graphics and colors at all cost.

Now, check out my top 10 'Psychological Triggers' to get that elusive banner 'clickthrough'.

1. The words on your banner should 'hook' and lure the reader to take action. Adjectives are known to be very attractive,words like scorching, starving, sizzling, powerful, etc. The words you use should really accentuate the benefits in your offer.

2. Make a discount offer on your banner ad. People are always looking for good deals. You could offer a percentage discount, dollar discount, buy one get one free discount, etc. But do always remember to justify your discount with "reason why" and make sure to NEVER devalue your product.

3. Advertise a trial or sample offer. This will tell people there is no risk or obligation if they click on your banner ad and try out your product or service. A 'try before you buy' risk reversal approach has been proven to be extremely effective, as postulated by Claude Hopkins in the marketing classic, Scientific Advertising.

4. You could advertise a free offer on your banner ad. People love free stuff. The freebie should relate to your target audience. If the freebie is attractive to them they will click. FREE, is one of the most powerful words in advertising. Bait them.

5. Here's a sneaky trick. Use reverse psychology. Tell your audience not to click on your banner ad. Here's a good example - "Don't Click Here If You Are Comfortable With What You Are Currently Earning". This is also known as the 'takeaway', which is one of the most effective tactics in marketing.

6. Use a testimonial on your banner ad. This'll give people proof they aren't wasting their time clicking on your banner ad. The testimonial should include enough information so they understand the offer. It would be better if the testimonial implicitly answered an 'objection'.

7. You could have a famous and respectable person on your banner ad representing your product, web site or service. People will click because they'll trust them over you. It's the power of the 'celebrity' and 'law of association' at work.

8. Use a strong guarantee on your banner ad. You could include the guarantee as a headline for your offer. It could read double or triple your money back guarantee, lifetime your money back guarantee, etc.

9. Inform people about the major benefits of your product, website or service on your banner ad. It could be benefits like make money, lose weight, increase energy, save money, save time, etc. Remember, you don't buy a drill. You buy the hole that the drill can produce.

10. Tell people to click on your banner ad. Newbies to the internet may not even know they can click on banners. Just having the phrase "click here" on your banner will increase your clickthroughs. People need to be told WHAT to do. As you're reading this, you might think that this conflicts with tip #5, but both have been known to produce results. What you need to do, is to use a scientific approach and 'test' both approaches to see which one produces the highest click throughs in your campaign.

Apply these Psychological Triggers to your banner ad campaign today and get a hold of that extra edge over your competitors.

Crispian Lye woke up one morning and decided to quit his lucrative job as a creative head with a Multi National Corporation in search of freedom. He now makes a fortune from home working a couple of hours in his boxers and has helped many others make a graceful exit from the rat-race. Get your FREE exit strategy at: ==> http://www.OpportunityWatchdog.com

What Are Asset Labels Asset Tags Property Labels Identification Labels Amp What Are They Used For

Writen by Mark Stephens

This article is designed to help people understand asset marking. We will start by defining assets and divide them into two categories;

1) Non-fixed Assets
2) Fixed Assets

1) Non-fixed Assets would comprise any item that is not physically attached or part of a building. For example this would include assets such as furniture and equipment that you would find in office, school and home environments such as PC's, Laptops, IT Equipment, Cameras, Telephones, Printers, Desks, Oscilloscopes, etc.

2) Fixed Assets would comprise the opposite – meaning that we are talking about buildings, signs and machinery that is attached to buildings and any other items that might be classed under this heading. These fixed assets are also called "infrastructure items" as they are part of the infrastructure.

Asset Labels, Asset Tags, Property Labels or Identification Labels are used to uniquely visually identify these non-fixed and fixed assets by means of attaching a unique identifier to each "asset". This may be in the form of a label or etching.

Depending upon how permanent you wanted the marking to be, would help you decide the type of material that your asset label would need to be constructed from. The different materials of the labels would be suited to different surfaces. I will explain this in my next article.

This article was brought to you by Mark Stephens of HoloGuard Limited, based in the UK. His company provide Asset Labels | Asset Tags | Identification Labels at low-cost prices. To view HoloGuard's vast range of asset tracking labels and solutions to suit your application, please visit: http://www.hologuard.com

Lessons From Cusano Bringing Upward Mobility To Independent Cigar Makers

Writen by Tynan Szvetecz

Both cigar retailers and producers are basking in the warm sun of rising cigar sales. As stalwarts like Altadis, USA continue to report solid growth in their earnings, independent cigar makers like Cusano and Alec Bradley are having to hire more employees to meet demand. These independent producers are discovering they are part of a changing world in which the newest cigar smokers -- a growing population of twenty-something aficionados -- are looking at them not as fringe independents, but creators of some of the highest rated smokes around. After hundreds of years of dominance by entrenched name brands, the independent cigar makers have finally found a way to garner upward mobility.

The result of all this is not unlike what has happened to the wine world in the last thirty years. Just as wine drinkers are realizing you don't have to go to the entrenched omnipresent regions of France to find great wine, cigar smokers are discovering that the highest quality handmade cigars are not necessarily from Cuba. The Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua and other countries are doing for cigars what Napa Valley, Australia and Chile have done for wine. Leading the charge to pioneer distinctive cigar tastes and styles in these areas are the independent producers like Cusano, Alec Bradley and others.

Cusano, for example, smuggled tobacco out of Cuba and blended it with their own strains to create a remarkably distinct and full flavor for its Cusano Corojo 97'. The 97' along with the Cusano 18 both received a 91 rating from Cigar Aficionado, an accomplishment that puts them in the top 1% of all cigars rated. This comes from a company that had six employees a year ago (that number has now more than doubled).

Certainly there are a number of factors that converged to help these independents get their foot in the door. The 90's cigar boom saw such an explosive increase in sales that it was easy for start-ups to get investment capital and begin making some money. The natural result of this was that thousands of low-quality cigar makers materialized to cash in on the buying frenzy, nearly all of which are now defunct. But the few producers with vision were given the opportunity to get started and now that vision is paying off.

It has also helped a great deal that the dawn of the information age coincided with the cigar boom. Buzz that was nearly impossible to create pre-internet seemed to propagate itself through cigar forums, blogs, websites and email. Independents no longer needed a mammoth marketing budget to launch new products and get them recognized. The internet, in turn, has helped bring distinctive, independently produced cigars to the attention of major publications like Cigar Aficionado and Robb Magazine. A single mention in a feature article means phones are ringing off the hook, and that means more money for independents to grow and continue to explore their vision.

Now add on to these factors that independent producers tend to be younger and more innovative, and thus eager to tap into new markets like flavored cigars and viral internet marketing. It begins to become clear that these are the businesses that will lead the cigar industry in coming years, rather than the behemoths that are content to do business the way it's been done for centuries.

As this new era of independent cigar production dawns, it's comforting to know that most of the producers are cigar hobbyists just like their customers -- that they understand cigars and will continue to bring their best to the table. Getting a top quality cigar for less than $5 a stick that happens to not be Cuban is certainly something every cigar smoker can appreciate, and getting more of them in the future is something we can all look forward to. When has there been a better time to be a cigar smoker?

Tynan Szvetecz is an editor for http://www.whatsknottolove.com, an online cigar boutique that is helping bring the feel of your local cigar shop to the internet. It features a unique cigar collection as well as cigar tips, cigar culture advice and cigar accessories.

Improve Your Life And Business With Web 20

Writen by Thiago Leite

The web is changing faster than ever, thanks to the Web 2.0 movement which includes Ruby on Rails, Ajax, sleek design and "hover links with colorful background". Are you up to the task of keeping up with it? In this article you will discover how to use those technologies to improve you life and business starting at no cost.

At the moment there are several excellent Web 2.0 applications loosed on the web, but usually they lack several features in order to compete with the big guys. Fortunately with the power of APIs, soon some of those applications will combine into a more robust solution.

+ Work Area

Protopage

---------

Bad: Not enough widget applications, no JS support.

Does your monitor look like a sunflower at a distance from all the yellow sticky notes? Why don't throw all that into the web? By doing so, you will be able to share it with co-workers and friends and access it form different locations. There're several solutions out there, but the one that excels in usability is ProtoPage. The edge from this London based company is the ability to drag your panels without being constrained into a grid and to resize it. Also, you are able to create several "desktops". One could be for your personal life, the other one for business, etc.

The service is great, but it lacks more widgets other than just the Weather.

Tip: Since you are not allowed to add a JS script, use the "Iframe tag" with the "src=page_with_your_js.html". This will pull anything you want into your Protopage panel.

+ Sending Invoice

BlinkSale

---------

Bad: The user cannot save the products and services to avoid typing again next time.

This is a software niche in which the creative and innovative power of the web did not touch for a long time. Consequently, small businesses were confined with proprietary software like QuickBooks, which is expensive and cluttered. BlinkSale is a very nice start to bring the financial industry into the Web 2.0 and hopefully shake things up a bit. The greatest thing about BlinkSale is to have your invoices in XML/RSS rather than a proprietary format. Although, at the moment, BlinkSale is not a replacement for QuickBooks yet due to lack of capabilities such having products and services list, reports and etc. BlinkSale is a basic invoicing solution for small companies, but this is just the beginning of a revolution in this area. Just wait until BlinkSale and Basecamp have their API out and well distributed. That would make several big corporations tremble, or to write fat checks to the owners.

+ Project Management

Basecamp

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Bad: You cannot set the time for your meetings in the milestone and some drag & drop capabilities would be great.

Online collaboration can give you the edge over your competitors by allowing your customers to log in and see how the project is going, add a file or a "to-do" item. Basecamp can be use for a wide range of situations. From a Web Design company to a wedding planning, this is the service to use. You can set up different users to access different projects and so on. This is a great out-of-the-box solution for any occasion, easy to use and open for collaboration.

+ Calendar

Planzo

------

Bad: Design is a little cluttered and RSS feeds are not well tagged.

One of the biggest headaches of the modern world is to sync your calendar. Most people have to struggle in organizing themselves among Outlook at work and sticky notes at home. Planzo delivers a nice start towards solving that problem by delivering reminders via email and SMS and connection with iCal.

But be careful, sometimes in the attempt of organizing yourself, you'll end up with 10 different accounts in several services and that may worsen the situation.

One possible solution is to combine all services through RSS into a "work area" like ProtoPage. Then you can have the invoice list, your calendar, etc., all delivered into one place.

About The Author Thiago Leite is a freelance Web designer / developer / thinker http://www.thiagoleite.com

Earnings Claims From Franchisors

Writen by Lance Winslow

There has been talk at the Federal Trade Commission of requiring Franchisor's to give earnings claims in their disclosure documents. The franchise rights groups want it and the consumers need it to help them make a decision. But unfortunately with all the litigation in our nation it is too risky for franchisors. The Federal Trade Commission put forth a report on franchising last summer and has been reviewing the franchise rule in our country. Chances are and most agree in the franchise industry that earnings claims should not be required but should be considered for those franchisors who wish to sell more franchises as it will improve their sales.

On page 26 of the Franchise Report; the Federal Trade Commission made reference to a potentially gray area of this rule and said they believed that a statement such as:

"You'll make so much money you can buy a Porsche!"

is an earnings claim and maybe it could be considered that. These types of things appear in advertising, brochures and in simple conversation. My question is; Yes, this is in a way an earnings claim, yet are we really interested in regulating normal human interaction? I mean we already have such a sterile world as it is. People are afraid what to say for fear they might get sued? This breaks down communication. Adding to this the FTC wishes to regulate such common conversation? And if a picture is worth a thousand words then what is an advertisement, which has a franchisee next to his house? Did he purchase that exact house through his franchised outlet or was it left to him from his folks or did he buy that house during his many years as an executive at IBM, Lockheed, 3M or Microsoft? You can't use those pictures either then. Are we sure we wish to get into all this, this is a slippery slope.

I agree with the commissions comments on the right of the franchisor to determine if they wish to give earnings claims, but also warn the commission that someone can claim that earnings claims were giving, and file a claim even if they were not, the franchisor would have to defend against the claim and also put that in the UFOC such bogus and frivolous litigation, not to mention the cost to defend from the attorneys and may I ask why the burden of proof is always on the franchisor? What happened to presumed innocence? The burden of proof should not be on the franchisor, but rather the accuser. Is Mary K Cosmetics guilty of rallying people in pep rallies that they will soon be able to get a 'Pink Cadellac'? Investment Advisers often have prospectuses and or brochure combination, they use from Mutual Fund Companies, which are approved by the SEC, which show kids going to college or holding a degree in a cap and gown? Obviously indicating that if you make such an investment you can send your kids to college, yet there is no way to know that in this age of economic uncertainty or in this age of over regulation and terrorism (sometimes the same thing) to guarantee that. Will this effect the trend to have some of the Social Security which may be invested in the private sector open for litigation from the companies who will be offering to invest those funds?

Show me one ad in Entrepreneur Magazine, which does not indicate some type of financial reward on it with pictures. Is the FTC going to stop all the 500,000 Biz Op Internet Sites from doing the same thing? Is the FTC going to not enforce this on BizOps where fraud is known to exist, yet enforce it on franchises where no fraud exists? It appears that normal human interaction will be muffled and motivational pep talks and coaching will be curtailed, this is horrible, not to mention the ugly ads if all these cool sports cars, yachts and custom homes are taken out. The Magazines will have to put the ads on the back sides of articles instead of the fore side pages and then they will sell less advertising and thus there will be communication loss that way as well, less consumer choice available and higher magazine costs as supply and demand will limit the number of publications (regulation always has a runaway effect).

So far in this Franchise Rule Making Report we see regulations causing friction in the franchise relationship at the most crucial time of courtship, how on Earth is it to have a long and fruitful marriage. It is difficult to annul a franchise once the business is set up, starting out on the wrong foot is likely to cause more franchise failures and more Britney Spears quickies. This is not good for franchising and the Federal Trade Commission needs to back off of such talk. I have for years told every franchise buyer that;

"This business is hard work and you can lose all your money,"

but if you limit the types of phrases one uses in normal conversation, then you are taking away from the "get to know you" phase of learning if the franchise is a good fit for the franchisee and franchisor. For instance do we like each other? Do we want to do business together? And as every other industry has get to "know your customer laws" we are making it difficult for franchisors to know their customers.

The Federal Trade Commission gives earnings claims, for instance when it filed against our company it promised those who complained that if they filed formal declarations and embellished the story that the Federal Trade Commission would get them all their investment back and a little more to boot. The Federal Trade Commission made that earnings claim then failed to deliver on that promise, perjured itself in the process and then took no responsibility for bad profiling and lying to the declarants or for the declarants lies and refused to prosecute them for lying, yet made sure there was a clause in our settlement that we could not sue them for lying, slander or perjury?

Wouldn't it be nice for an agency of the Federal Government to actually do what it is suppose to do, to actually get the job done on time and not botch it? That would be a good day for America, why not start right here at the Federal Trade Commission and reduce these regulations and allow for fluidity of business to accomplish the objectives designed into the system of Capitalism? Why not set an example to the rest of the government agencies, why not start a new trend in government to do something, anything and do it well? Well, why not? That would be a major statement and best for all concerned. Think on this.

Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/