Johnny is a creative story-writer, but he can't write an essay to save his life. Does this ring true for your child or student?
Johnny has had some good writing instruction. He can recite the steps of The Writing Process from the posters he has seen in every classroom throughout his elementary school years. He knows all about Writers Workshop. He would know what to expect if the teacher had written "Writers Conferences" or "Response Groups" on the white board as parts of her daily lesson plans. Johnny's writing portfolio is chalk full of fanciful stories and writing pieces in the sensory/descriptive or imaginative/narrative writing domains. He has been encouraged to unleash his creative mind-although that story that he wrote last year about the student boycott of the cafeteria may have been a bit too creative for the principal's tastes.
However, if you give Johnny a writing prompt, asking him to "Compare and contrast the cultural roles of women in Athens and Sparta," sixth grade writing paralysis would surely set in. Or worse yet, Johnny might begin his essay with "Once upon a time in a far-away land called Greece, two young women from Athens and Sparta…" His difficulties would, no doubt, increase if this were a timed assessment.
Unfortunately, most of the writing that Johnny will need to complete throughout his academic and work careers will not take advantage of his story-writing experience. Instead, most of what Johnny will be required to compose will be some form of writing that informs or convinces his reader. Additionally, most of his writing will be subject to some kind of time constraint. Johnny has just not had the instruction and practice in this kind of writing. His college professors probably will not hand him a "blue book," tell him to write a story of his own choice, and then turn it in after multiple revisions when his final draft has been published and properly illustrated.
Students need to learn how to write structured essays designed to inform and convince their teachers and professors. But how do you transform a creative, non-linear thinker like Johnny into an organized and persuasive writer? Take the mystery out of essays by replacing the confusing terminology of thesis statements, topic sentences, concrete details, and commentary with simple numerical values that reflect the hierarchy of effective essay structure.
For example, assign a "1" to introductory strategies, a "2" to the thesis statement, a "3" to the topic sentence, a "4" to the concrete detail, a "5" to the commentary, and a "6" to the conclusion strategies. Telling a student that a "5" is needed to support a "4," which supports a "3" is much more intuitive-and students get it!
Teach structural variety by having students write 3-4-5-4-5 paragraphs and revise with 3-4-5-5-4-5-5 paragraphs. Have students analyze text structure by numerically coding their science book or a newspaper editorial. Use this approach to develop sequenced writing skills, incorporating different grammatical structures and sentence structure. Teaching Essay Strategies ©2002 Pennington Publishing provides a systematic program of essay skills instruction.
Archives
-
▼
2010
(78)
-
►
October
(7)
- How Effective Branding Can Bring Success To Your C...
- Five Questions And Answers About Permanent Hair Re...
- More Tips For Fitting In At The Workplace
- Fast and Easy Money Making Fundraiser for your Chi...
- How Commercial Loans Help Expand your Investment P...
- How to Make It After You've Lost Your Job
- The Best Tips for Small Business Bookkeeping
-
►
October
(7)
Categories
- Accountancy (1)
- Accounting (5)
- Acne (1)
- Advertising (3)
- Alternative-medicine (1)
- Article Marketing (1)
- Ask-an-expert (1)
- Auditing (1)
- Banking (1)
- Beauty (6)
- Bookkeeping (1)
- Budgeting (1)
- Business (32)
- Business-Opportunities (1)
- Cancer (1)
- Child's Youth (1)
- Communication (1)
- Computer (4)
- Corporate (1)
- Credit (3)
- Currency Trading (1)
- Customer Service (1)
- Depression (1)
- Diabetes (1)
- Diseases-and-conditions (8)
- E-commerce (1)
- Entrepreneurship (2)
- Ethics (1)
- Fashion (4)
- Finance (18)
- Financial-planning (1)
- Financing (1)
- Hair Loss (3)
- Health (16)
- Herbal (1)
- Home Improvement (3)
- Home-business (3)
- Human Resource (1)
- Import-Export (1)
- Innovation (2)
- Insurance (2)
- Internet (2)
- Investing (6)
- Ireland (1)
- Irish Bailout (1)
- Jewelry (1)
- Leadership (1)
- Leasing (1)
- Management (1)
- Marketing (1)
- Marriage (1)
- Medicine (3)
- Medium-sized (1)
- Mortgage (1)
- Network (2)
- Network Marketing (2)
- Online Shopping (1)
- Personal Finance (4)
- Plastic Surgery (1)
- Project Management (1)
- Public-company (1)
- Publishing (1)
- Real Estate (1)
- Receivables (1)
- Sales (1)
- Security (1)
- ShopWiki (1)
- Small Business (1)
- Software (1)
- Stock Market Investing (1)
- Strategic-planning (1)
- Structured-settlements (1)
- Success (1)
- Supplements (2)
- Taxes (1)
- Telecommuting (1)
- Tips n Tricks (6)
- Tools and Resources (1)
- Wealth-building (1)
- Weight Loss (2)
- Wheelchairs (1)
- Women's Issue (1)
- Work-Life-Balance (1)
- bank of ireland (1)
- shopwiki.com (1)
Related Websites
Why Johnny Can't Write
at 07:23 0 comments
Labels: Education and Reference
The Ultimate Guide to Sports Betting Only in SportsBettingSpot.com
If you are someone who likes sports betting but never do it online, I want to share a site that will help you to be
able to do it the easy way. Sportsbettingspot.com is one of more website about Sports betting online around the world. And i recommended it for you to try.
You can get the ultimate guide to sports betting, tips and tricks about football betting, baseball betting, basketball betting, hockey betting, soccer betting, boxing betting and more. In this site you can also get the latest sports betting news, team stats, betting odds, best bonuses, win predictions, tips and tricks and learn how to bet on sports smart. And not only that, you also will find information about their rating about top 10 online sports betting books. so, immediately get everything about sports betting just in Sportsbettingspot.com.
at 14:20 0 comments
Labels: Sports Betting
Politicians, advisers mourn Elizabeth Edwards
The Associated Press
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Reaction to the death of Elizabeth Edwards, who died Tuesday at age 61:
- President Barack Obama:
"Michelle and I were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Elizabeth Edwards. This afternoon I spoke to Cate Edwards and John Edwards, and offered our family's condolences. I came to know and admire Elizabeth over the course of the presidential campaign. She was a tenacious advocate for fixing our health care system and fighting poverty, and our country has benefited from the voice she gave to the cause of building a society that lifts up all those left behind. In her life, Elizabeth Edwards knew tragedy and pain. Many others would have turned inward; many others in the face of such adversity would have given up. But through all that she endured, Elizabeth revealed a kind of fortitude and grace that will long remain a source of inspiration. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends."
- Vice President Joe Biden:
"Elizabeth Edwards fought a brave battle against a terrible, ravaging disease that takes too many lives every day. She was an inspiration to all who knew her, and to those who felt they knew her."
- Gov. Beverly Perdue:
"I was saddened to learn of the death of Elizabeth Edwards. North Carolina has lost one of our smartest and most resilient women. My heart goes out to her family."
- U.S. Sen. Richard Burr:
"She was a passionate advocate for issues she believed in and a caring and loving mother. Her legacy should serve as an inspiration to all of us. Her life was not without tragedy and adversity, yet through it all she fought for her family and faced every challenge with courage, poise, and grace."
- U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan:
"She was a dedicated mother and a passionate advocate for cancer research and health care causes. During her remarkable life, Elizabeth always carried herself with dignity. She used her battle with breast cancer to raise cancer awareness and create change. She faced her battle in the public eye, and I very much admired her strength and courage."
- Former President Bill Clinton:
"With the passing of Elizabeth Edwards, America has lost a symbol of strength, hope, and humanity, a tireless advocate for health care for all Americans, and determined crusader for cancer cures. Her children have lost a loving mother, her friends a wise counselor."
- Dr. Otis W. Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society:
"We can be grateful to Mrs. Edwards. Her decisions and open discussion of them bring an awareness that is good for all of us. Her presence will be missed, but her impact will live on forever."
- Democratic campaign strategist Joe Trippi:
"She was out to live every single day. She was going to live every single one of them with all the energy and grit that she could. That's a big lesson that her life could teach all of us."
- Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine:
"Elizabeth was a woman of firm convictions and strong principles, and she was an inspiration not only to members of the Democratic Party but to countless Americans of all backgrounds."
On December 6, 2010, Edwards' family announced that she would stop cancer treatment after her doctors advised her that further treatment would be unproductive, the cancer having metastasized to her liver. She had been advised she had several weeks to live. Her family members, including her estranged husband John, were with her. She posted her last message on Facebook:
“ You all know that I have been sustained throughout my life by three saving graces – my family, my friends, and a faith in the power of resilience and hope. These graces have carried me through difficult times and they have brought more joy to the good times than I ever could have imagined. The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And, yes, there are certainly times when we aren't able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It's called being human.
But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful. It isn't possible to put into words the love and gratitude I feel to everyone who has and continues to support and inspire me every day. To you I simply say: you know. ”
—Elizabeth Edwards
Edwards died of metastatic breast cancer on Tuesday, December 7, 2010, at home in Chapel Hill, surrounded by friends and family.
Read more about metastatic breast cancer
at 17:37 0 comments
Labels: Politics
Irish Bailout Backed By Finance Minister
Ireland's finance minister said Sunday that he would back a move to ask the international community for tens of billions of euros in loans and guarantees to keep his country's crisis-hit finances afloat.
Brian Lenihan said that the country was running a deficit of 19 billion euros which it could not afford to finance at current market rates and was going to the European Union and International Monetary Fund to ask for help.
Lenihan also confirmed that officials were seeking a mammoth contingency fund to provide "firepower" to back the country's debt-ridden banks. In an interview with RTE radio, he refused to be drawn on the size of the fund, although he said the figure would not reach100 billion euros.
Lenihan's statement came as the government gathered to finish a four-year plan for slashing euro15 billion ($20.5 billion) from its annual deficits, an unprecedented austerity push designed to keep the country from bankruptcy.
The office of Prime Minister Brian Cowen said the 15-member Cabinet would put the finishing touches on the austerity plan. It has been in the works since September, runs to 160 pages and is expected to be publicly unveiled Tuesday.
The government says the still-confidential plan has been endorsed by dozens of experts from the International Monetary Fund, European Commission and European Central Bank, who descended Thursday on Dublin to begin poring over the accounts of the government, treasury and banks.
Speaking before Sunday's meeting, Cowen stressed that Ireland would not raise its 12.5 percent rate of tax on business profits, its most powerful lure for attracting and keeping 600 U.S. companies based here. France, Germany and other eurozone members have repeatedly criticized the rate as unfair and say it should be raised now given the depth of Ireland's red ink.
Cowen said he wouldn't be budged by such arguments, calling the 12.5 percent rate — less than half the eurozone average — "a cornerstone of our industrial strategy."
Eurozone governments launched the IMF-EU mission after the European Central Bank — the ultimate arbiter of the 16-nation euro currency area — expressed private misgivings about the flight of corporate deposits from Ireland's banks since the summer.
In recent weeks Dublin banks have reported losing 10 percent to 17 percent of their deposits, and the Frankfurt-based ECB had to fill the gap with its own loans totaling a reported euro130 billion, one quarter of the central bank's entire loan book.
at 07:13 0 comments
Labels: bank of ireland, Finance, Ireland, Irish Bailout
Shopping on shopwiki.com, Easy and Complete Information
Because of the growing development of information technology, so that more people who can access the Internet easily and cheaply. They can use the Internet for their daily life with ease. With so many online activities they do, one of convenience that can be done online is shopping. Shopping online is easy. We can find a product that we will buy as well as find information about these products along with product pictures online via search engines. Of the many places to shop online at trusted internet is shopwiki.com.
When heard ShopWiki word, i think about wikipedia, and online ensiclopedia, that show you almost everything in the world. And do you know if you add information to it if you want? So i think this shopping guide is almost same with wikipedia, but more specific all about shopping. There are many reasons that can be given why should choose shopwiki.com. The availability of products, products that are sold there is very complete. We can find the product on search tool. This all can be done for free, without any charge, retailer can sell their product with lower price.
As an example, we will look for a games, we can use two different way to search this product with help by shopwiki. We can directly put games in search box or we can use product directory list. Another example, we tried to find information about toys, we can use two or more words like Educational Toys, Outdoor Toys or Creative Toys then the result is we will get more detailed information about the products we're looking for. You could say the warehouse shopwiki.com all your shopping needs. All you need is in one place. Make your decision now, and hunt all you needs only in ShopWiki.com.
at 09:03 0 comments
Labels: Online Shopping, ShopWiki, shopwiki.com
How Effective Branding Can Bring Success To Your Campaigns
If you want to create a big impact, your brand can help you do it. Effective branding indeed can help you establish loyalty among your clients. With effective branding, you’ll be able to influence the buying decisions of your clients and prospects. Consumers basically rely on the experience and stability of a brand image in any business. Often they are convinced to consider a brand based on what they have seen and known for many years. Coupled with a similar belief and attitude, a brand can be an effective medium to advertise your business. This is the reason why most business owners, whether small or big, depend on their brand to provide them the success they’re looking for. In fact, most business owners today are so attentive to the kind of brand they develop for their business that they invest so much of their resources just to come up with a great one. There’s really a big effort nowadays for marketers and advertisers to create the most suitable brand for their business. So whether you come up with your own or hire a brand developer to create one for you, here are a few tips for you to consider when launching your brand in your print ads such as your marketing newsletters: 1 – Don’t overcrowd your brand with too many elements. Often, we would want to infuse our brand with so many details and elements that we forget the main purpose of our branding – to make sure that your target readers understand what you do exactly and what you have to offer. If you don’t leave enough room for your elements to breathe, chances are your target clients would also have a hard time ingesting what you want to say. Leave white spaces so you can lead your target audience to the most important element in your ad, which is your message. 2 – Know your target market and learn how they actually read. By doing so, you’ll be able to place your elements in your ad in such a way that nothing is left unread. 3 – Consider using effective fonts and typefaces in your ad. The way you write your ads affect the way your target clients accept your message. Use lower cases in your copy because people are basically more familiar with them. All capital letters just provoke hostility and antagonism which you don’t really need when you’re reaching out to your target clients. 4 – Consistency is the key. Be consistent from the design to the layout, to even the message you convey in every page of your For more information, you can visit this page on newsletter printing ad for example. And lastly, provide an ad that communicates one idea only. And not just one idea, mind you. It should be a great idea so you would be able to keep your audience interested in your ad.
at 05:43 0 comments
Labels: Advertising, Business
Five Questions And Answers About Permanent Hair Replacement (Hair Transplant Surgery)
This article answers the following questions: What is hair replacement surgery? Does it work for everybody? Does it hurt or cause scarring? Do hair transplants produce natural-looking hair? How to find a qualified doctor.
1. Q. What is hair replacement surgery, and are the results really permanent?
A. Yes, happily, they really are. Hair transplant procedures rely on the genetics of hair growth. For the vast majority of people who lose their hair, a sizable portion of hair never falls out. This hair, usually above the ears and around the back of the head, is genetically encoded to grow throughout life. It is this permanently growing hair that serves as the "donor" region for hair follicles (roots) that are removed and transplanted to a thinning or bald area.
Results vary, but in most cases it is possible to get complete coverage in one or two surgical sittings of three to five hours each. Typically, the hair continues to grow independently the rest of the person's life.
2. Q. Does hair replacement surgery work for everybody or does your age or how much hair you have make a difference?
A. Contrary to popular opinion, hair loss can be a problem for both sexes and for people of almost any age. Hair transplants have been performed on men and women from 17 to 90 years old. For the procedure to be performed, some remaining hair is necessary, but that's rarely a problem, as very few people are completely bald.
All types of hair loss except one (alopecia areata) respond well to transplant surgery. People with that disorder (an autoimmune disease) can find help through cortisone injections.
3. Q. Does hair replacement surgery hurt or cause scarring?
A. There is no pain during surgery and no scarring on the top of the scalp afterwards when the operation is performed by a qualified, experienced physician. A patient has little to no down time and can return to work the following day.
One's choice of physician is very important here. If a surgeon is poorly trained or uses outdated procedures, it can cause pain, scarring, "doll's head hair" (where hair grows out of little holes in clusters) and other unfortunate consequences.
4. Q. Do hair transplants produce natural-looking hair?
A. The answer is a resounding "yes" with one caveat: the physician must be knowledgeable. A skilled doctor can design a new hairline, fill bald or thinning spots, and provide very good coverage in a minimum of sittings (usually one or two).
Using the latest breakthrough procedures, surgeons implant one to three hair follicles per insertion, creating natural-looking hair and avoiding the weird "doll's head hair" that was typical of hair plugs and transplants in years past. Unfortunately, some doctors today still create doll's head hair, and it's difficult to tell the good physicians from the poor ones merely by asking questions. Both good and bad "talk the talk" with impressive terminology. Only the good "walk the walk."
5. Q. How do I find a doctor I can trust to do the procedure?
A. First, avoid hair transplant companies (chain franchises that specialize in sales and hire doctors from outside to come in and do their surgeries). Such clinics provide disappointing experiences and even horror stories.
The only way to really tell if your doctor knows his business is to talk to many satisfied customers and to observe a transplant surgery for yourself. Does the doctor do hair transplants every day? If not, find a different doctor. Physicians who do three or four hair replacements a month are not qualified experts and should never be trusted to do a good job.
Any doctor who pushes gimmicks and gadgets along with or instead of a hair transplant procedure also should not be trusted.
at 23:13 0 comments
Labels: Diseases-and-conditions, Hair Loss, Health
More Tips For Fitting In At The Workplace
A lot of times, the amount of satisfaction that one receives in a job is in direct relation to the way they interact with their co-workers. There are McDonald's employees that are happier then rocket scientists due to their attitude and demeanor while in the workplace. To that end, we've assembled some more tips on how to be happy on the job.
- When you first start a job, it can be hard to make the first new connections and friends. A great thing to do that many people tend to avoid is to take the opportunity to chat it up with some of your co-workers over lunch. While you may feel that you'd be less stressed out eating alone or with a friend from outside of work, it can really pay off to get to know your coworkers outside of the job. A lot of times you'll find out some unique aspects of the person that you wouldn't have normally seen!
- Keep your complaints about the job to a minimum. While it's OK to joke about some sort of minor annoyance that occurs on the job, be sure to not have a negative attitude when it comes to the task that you were hired in to do. Coworkers may feel that you are taking your position for granted as well as undermining their happiness in the job, and that's never a good thing. Keep your workplace criticisms to yourself when you're getting to know everyone.
- When you get an opportunity to volunteer for some sort of additional task, do your best to take the opportunity. You don't need to sign up for every task imaginable; co-workers may see you as being a goody two-shoes, but it's definitely important to show a zest for your job.
- Be sure to keep a positive attitude while at work. Things may happen - not every workplace is jerk-free and you're bound to make a few mistakes while you're getting started. Keep your sense of humor about you and realize that the transition to a new job is tough.
Keeping the right mindset and being sure to interact with coworkers can be two great steps when it comes to workplace satisfaction. Let your bosses see that you're a worker, a team player, and enthusiastic when it comes to taking on responsibilities. You may find yourself fitting in sooner than you think!
at 21:48 0 comments
Labels: Business, Work-Life-Balance
Fast and Easy Money Making Fundraiser for your Child's Youth Activities
If you are looking for a quick and easy way to raise money for your child's youth activity, this is one of the best I have ever used and it is incredibly simple. In addition to being easy, both the kids and the parents had a great time. It also provides great visibility for you group in your community and leaves people with a positive view towards your group.
By using this method we were able to raise just under $900 in just two four hour weekends to supplement our child's travel hockey team.
Ok, ready? No, it's not a car wash. Although these are popular they require quite a bit of work to setup and organize. You must find a good location with traffic; have access to water, buy plenty of supplies, dry towels, signs etc. Plus you are always subject to weather conditions.
What we did instead was simply find a grocery store that would allow us to sack groceries for their customers and offer help to carry groceries to their cars for them. We simply put large jars on the cash register counter with our organization name with a sign on it asking for donation to support or fundraising cause. In our case we were raising money so our team could travel to Canada and play in a tournament. The kids wore their jerseys and sacked groceries on three or four of the grocery lines. We had two to three kids sacking per register.
There are several key points to consider to ensure this activity is a positive experience for all. The program can fall apart in a hurry if the store manager detects customers are becoming agitated or are not enjoying the experience.
First, children should understand the basics of grocery sacking (not too many heavy items in one bag, bread and eggs on top, etc.). Also at least one parent should be monitoring each line from a distance but be ready to lend additional assistance immediately if necessary.
Children assisting customers with groceries to their cars should be watched closely at all times.
Special attention should be paid to elderly shoppers. Some elderly people are easily agitated and don't like kids sacking their groceries, so you should be willing to step in and take over if necessary.
Also you should agree up front with the manager how long you will stay and don't stay any longer. Also don't use too many kids at one time or things could get too wild. We had 17 kids and did two 2 hour shifts which put about 3 kids per register on three different registers.
Also remember that grocery lines ebb and flow and if the lines start getting long a parent should step in and help the kids' sack. No one likes waiting in long lines, especially if they think the kids are slowing things down (i.e. you don't get donations from them).
The biggest obstacle you're likely to encounter is finding a grocery that will allow you to sack for them, but even that should take no more than 3 to 5 phone calls. We were able to get a major grocery chain to allow us two separate fundraisers at two different locations in Dallas, Texas with minimal effort. Most savvy grocery store managers will see it as a way to positively promote their store in the local community.
So there you have. If you are willing to spend $10 to $15 for some large plastic jars, some construction paper and some markers, and are willing to make a few phone calls, you can raise some quick and easy money for your organization and have a blast doing it. Its easy money and its fun for everyone.
at 21:28 0 comments
Labels: Business, Child's Youth
How Commercial Loans Help Expand your Investment Portfolio
A commercial loan allows you to expand your investment portfolio. With property rentals, you can have your funds work for you and not just leave it as it is.
To start with, target an apartment in your neighborhood that is for sale and have it leased. Your familiarity with the neighborhood makes it easy for you to monitor occupants and manage the property yourself.
Once you have gathered the experience of managing your own property and have faced and settled issues along the way, you have earned the business acumen to invest in properties outside the vicinity, perhaps in another neighborhood, another state, or another country.
How to Apply for a Business Loan
Since the prices of real estate properties are decreasing, it is best for most people to invest in these today. But banks are getting more careful with a slew of stringent requirements.
The entire loan process begins when a broker provides you with estimate of the value of the asset have mortgaged in a commercial loan.
More requisites are asked from applicants of business loans. Particular details of the investment property are required by most banks.
Banks would ask where the property is located, how it made profit in the past two years and whether or not taxes have been paid for such property. On the other hand, the bank would like to know how the establishment will be utilized and what the projected cash flow from the property is.
The chance of a commercial loan approval highly depends upon the kind of information given to the bank. It would also be a good idea if you will ask for professional assistance on this issue.
Pointers in Getting an Investment Loan
If you are contemplating of getting into the investment game in the future, these tips can start your commercial portfolio:
* Have a clean credit record.
* Have up-to-date records of your assets.
* Always be updated with the trends in the investment market.
* Compare lending rates.
* Learn the art of negotiation.
* Do a background check on the property.
* Always have a business plan prepared.
Although the present time isn’t a sellers' market, buyers have the advantage of acquiring properties at very low prices. There may be an extravagance of investment properties following the mortgage mess. However, before lining up at the auction block, know if the property is structurally sound before putting down your deposit.
If you have already decided to get into investments, it’lll be a wise move for you to acquire properties today. The National Association of Realtors, represented by Lawrence Yun, feels that inflation rates may further go up because of federal cuts. A full copy of this report, written by Peter Coy, can be read in BusinessWeek. With all these pieces of information, it’s indeed wise for you to invest in any asset now if you’re thinking of expanding your portfolio.
at 20:42 0 comments
How to Make It After You've Lost Your Job
There are ways to minimize certain realities on your new resume, and make it an effective tool to get you past the door and to the interview. Losing your job can be a blessing in disguise and these tips will help you land that dream job. Use these pointers for creating a resume that gets results.
1. Use the resume format work that works for you, downplaying the loss of a job.Instead of using a reverse chronological format that accentuates employment dates, use a functional format that showcases what you know rather than where you attained that expertise. For an accountant that would mean highlighting skills in reconciling accounts, generating tax returns, implementing internal controls, etc. The fact that these skills were attained at XYZ Company is minimized as employer names are not mentioned until the very end of the resume.
2. Never explain on a resume that you were let go. As much as hiring managers want to be fair and open-minded, they are only human and will tend to dismiss any candidate who admits to being fired. No matter how you try to explain your dismissal (i.e. "It was office politics." "My manager didn't like me; I have no idea why." "It's because I'm old; they wanted someone younger." "They didn't want to pay me a living wage so they hired someone less expensive."), the explanation will still sound negative.
3. Use dates of employment to your advantage.If you were fired from a job of short duration that fell within the same year as your last position, it can be completely excluded. For example - you worked at ABC Company from March to September of 2007. Before that, you worked at DEF Company from July of 2002 to February of 2007. Simply list the second company (DEF) with the years of employment (2002-2007). This will show an unbroken employment record.
4. Don't confuse being laid off or let go due to downsizing as being fired. If your company was bought out by another firm and you were let go, that's not the same as being fired. If your position has been eliminated (for whatever reason), you weren't technically fired. Hiring managers tend to look at "being fired" as a negative that was caused by the employee (eg: they stole company funds, they were always late to work, they didn't fulfill their daily duties, etc.) It's important to note the distinction and to list those jobs on your resume when economic conditions, beyond your control, were a factor.
5. When there's no way to avoid the fact that you've been fired. If the industry you're working in is a small one and everyone knows about your job loss, then it's essential to showcase the positive (what you achieved at the job or what you learned), and to minimize the negative (confrontations with management or co-workers). A job search is not the time to prove that you were treated unfairly at the last company - rather, it's the time to prove to the new company that you can excel because of your unique set of skills and qualifications.
These tips will ensure that you make it through the initial screening by a hiring manager. Once you do, its up to you to focus on your strengths and what you can bring your new company.
at 20:21 0 comments
Labels: Ask-an-expert, Business
The Best Tips for Small Business Bookkeeping
Over 40% of America’s largest businesses improve their profitability using outside service providers for their bookkeeping and financial functions. Due to technological advances, this same alternative is now available to small businesses. Firms using the Analytix solution are discovering that moving part or all of their bookkeeping and accounting functions to professional outside providers saves costs while freeing up valuable management time.
Starting or buying a new business is a challenging proposition. Our professionals can help guide you through the myriad of issues that arise during this complex process from helping you structure the company to suit your financial goals as well as helping you through the registration of your business with the appropriate local, state and federal authorities.
Business owners need to maintain accurate financial records to properly manage their business, while also conforming to government regulations requiring mandated filings, such as federal income and state sales taxes. In general, businesses need three types of services during the year which our professionals provide:
Bookkeeping Services:
Bookkeeping is the recording of a business’s financial transactions. It is the first step of the accounting process, which also includes classifying, reporting and analyzing financial data.
Accounting Services:
Financial statements provide owners with crucial information such as the business’s liabilities, assets, equity and profitability over a given period.
Tax Planning and Financial Analysis:
Though U.S. tax laws are complex and changing, there are tax planning strategies that can ensure that business owners don’t pay more than is required or alternatively underpay and risk being audited. Our tax professionals can advise you on the best structure for a new business, sale of a business or ongoing operations so that you minimize your annual tax obligations.
Business tax planning requires knowledge not only of federal and state income tax, but also employment tax, sales and use tax, real estate tax, and franchise tax for some businesses. Our professional will work with you to ensure that no details are missed in tax deductions or credits. This is especially crucial for small business owners, who usually lack in-house financial experts. Some of the issues addressed by our professionals in tax planning include:
All businesses are required by law to file with both state and federal government. These mandated filings range from tax estimates, individual and business tax returns, to quarterly or monthly state sales tax filings. Further, government regulations require that copies be kept of all financial records needed in the filing for up to seven years. Without good record-maintaining, businesses can leave themselves exposed to fines and penalties during an audit by the appropriate state or federal authorities.
Analytix is a premium provider of accounting, bookkeeping and tax preparation services for small, medium sized and fast growing companies. Our clients are served by a professional accounting staff that has a level of expertise not normally found in small businesses.
at 06:03 0 comments
Labels: Accounting, Bookkeeping
Top 7 Tips To Treat And Prevent Diabetes
Diabetes becomes more prevalent with age. About half of all the cases are diagnosed over age 60. There are two types of diabetes that can affect seniors. Type I diabetes occurs when the body’s immune system, for some yet undiscovered reason, mistakenly attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that are responsible for making insulin. However, 90 percent of the time when an older person gets the disease, it is diabetes II. If you have Type II, your pancreas is still doing its job. The catch is that it either isn’t producing enough insulin or it is making plenty of insulin but your body has developed what is known as insulin resistance. Although diabetes is a chronic disease that has no cure, here are a few suggestions that can help you.
1. Pay Attention To Your Feet
Inspect your feet and between your toes every day. Diabetes can damage nerve endings in your feet and toes, making it difficult for you to feel sores, blisters, and other injuries. Look for cuts, breaks in the skin, or swollen, red areas. Keep your feet clean and dry. Bathe your feet with warm water and mild soap every day. Dry them carefully, especially between the toes. Apply a thin coat of moisturizing lotion if the skin on your feet feels unusually dry. Wear clean socks and comfortable, well-fitting shoes. Never go barefoot. You are more likely to get injured if you do.
2. Avoid Large Meals
Spread your calories, especially those that come from carbohydrates, throughout the day in order to keep your blood sugar levels at optimal levels. So instead of two large meals, you may want to eat five or six smaller meals like half a sandwich and an orange.
3. Step Lively
Regular exercise is a vital part of any diabetes management plan. Just taking a 15-minute walk every day can help lower blood sugar and can help your body use insulin more efficiently. Some activities such as weight-lifting may not be safe for you, particularly if you have high blood pressure or diabetic eye disease.
4. Consume Fiber
Food high in water-soluble fiber like beans, oat bran, fruits, and nuts can help people with diabetes control their blood sugar. Soluble fiber slows the absorption of carbohydrates, so your blood sugar level may not rise as quickly. Try eating at least 20 grams of fiber a day. You will be well on your way to reaching your goal.
5. Follow The Pyramid
Even if you have a dietary plan specifically designed to control your diabetes, certain basics apply to everyone. It is recommended to take reference to the U.S Department of Agriculture’s Food Guide Pyramid for people who are 50-plus as an excellent starting point for any senior who has diabetes. These guidelines give you a general eating program that balances your consumption of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in a way that should provide good nutrition.
6. Treat Yourself
In the past, people with diabetes were told that they could not eat certain foods, namely refined carbohydrates like sugar, cookies, or sweets. However, all carbohydrates have similar effects on blood sugar. That means a cookie elevates blood sugar about as much as a slice of bread or piece of fruit. Moderation is the key. Try to keep your simple-sugar intake down to 10 percent of your total calories each day.
7. Know Your Enemy
Learn as much as you can about diabetes. The better you understand the disease, the more likely you are to be able to control it. Ninety-nine percent of the care and management of diabetes is in the patient’s hands. You have to prepare your meals, and monitor your blood sugars. You have to know what to do and when to do it. And you can do it if you don’t have the knowledge and skills.
at 23:09 0 comments
Labels: Diabetes, Diseases-and-conditions, Health
The Success of the Used Heavy Equipment Online Auctions
Not all business owners or dealers can afford purchasing new equipments, this is a known fact. When talking about heavy equipment, the investments can be quite considerable. And this is the main fact why the used heavy equipment market is permanently developing and extending. Furthermore, the online market that deals with used construction equipment, such as used trucks or used cranes is gaining more and more popularity, based on the fact that buyers, sellers, manufacturers and dealers can find what they need faster and more efficiently on the specialized online marketplace. Basically, this market interests a wide range of construction business owners, as well as individuals or companies interested in buying used equipment that is destined to construction activities.
In the recent years, more and more business owners have become interested in purchasing used heavy equipment from online auctions. As a matter of fact, the demands seem to intensify every day, especially since these types of used equipments that are sold online are investigated and certified by the reputable AED and Trade Yard, Inc. But what makes these used machinery auctions that appealing and popular? The advantageous price of the used equipment, the possibility of purchasing the desired item fast and efficiently, the wide range of specialized machineries are just some of the most important aspects that need to be mentioned.
What buyers find great when using these online auctions to purchase used machineries is the fact that they can find a wide range of equipments, from basic ones to specialized ones that perform very specific tasks. Moreover, these used construction equipment auctions present both light and heavy equipment, so that all buyers can find the desired machinery. Usually, the most desirable and popular items include used cranes and trucks, bulldozers and rollers. Furthermore, these machineries come from a wide selection of manufacturers, so one can say that anything can be found at such auctions, since the items are varied and specialized.
Another aspect that should not be neglected when talking about used construction equipment auctions is the fact that the websites that host such auctions present the potential buyers all the information they need in order to participate and to make the best choice. Basically, the websites inform regarding the date of the auctions, the schedule and transaction possibilities, the price ranges for each item and a complete and detailed description on every machinery that enters than auctions. In this way, the participants at the auction can find what they need in a matter on minutes, with a little research and browsing through the provided equipments. In this way, the buyers save extra time, efforts and money.
Buyers are always interested in making the best and most profitable investments. When purchasing used equipments for constructions from online websites, the costs are much lower than when dealing with a single dealer. Basically, some machinery might come at bargain prices or some might be as good and as perfect as new, yet with much more affordable prices. Given all these facts, the used construction equipment online auctions are considered an efficient and successful way of purchasing light and heavy machineries.
at 21:46 0 comments
Labels: Business, Tools and Resources
What Most Successful Network Marketers Will Not Tell You
You know have you ever been in network marketing before? Many of you have no doubt. Well, perhaps you will relate to my story.
Before I tell my story my name is Jonathon I am a business marketing consultant. I have been associated with network marketing for 7 years now. I have seen many companies come & go.
Many had many different marketing plans some of which were great as well as some that were not quite as good.
There is a lot of confusion out there as to how to be successful at network marketing. Some of it works & some of it does not.
When I first started in my business do you relate to this?
Go to meetings, recruit, recruit, recruit, harass your family, friends, and anyone who breathes on two legs is a prospect, if you’re not talking you’re not selling, put on meetings in your home. Do any of these things sound familiar to you?....
I did many of these things that were mentioned. We got a few people signed up; however, we could have done better. How about you? Did these ways of doing your business work for you?
The problem with this old business model is it just doesn’t work anymore. It is outdated & is totally ineffective.
The other problem is when new people get started in this industry many of them do not have what it takes; they do not have the intentions of becoming the professional they need to be.
They also are not aware what it takes to succeed in the business world and are not prepared for that kind of information.
What other problem is there in this industry? The other problem is the focus is in the wrong place. Many network marketing companies seem to be focused on the product or the compensation plan.
Is this really going to prove to be an effective way to bring new people in the business as a whole? The is no’.
People don’t care about that. Great products are dime a dozen and so are business opportunities. It is great salesmanship and great marketing, that is lacking.
Nothing Else In Business Matters If Good Sales & Marketing Are Not Being Used
When I shifted my focus from product to sales & marketing everything changed. Things will really start to really click and shift your business into overdrive.
The wealthiest people in the network marketing field have all got this one thing in common.
They know how to sell. Themselves. Their product…Their ideas….their services.
There is a problem that can’t be ignored…
I have discovered there are great deal of lies and falsehoods, myths, misconceptions out there that are about as useful as a screen door on a submarine.
As I mentioned at the beginning. Selling has become a dirty word in network marketing . This is because it has as many misconceptions as how network marketing is done. This is why it is also usually ineffective.
What do you think good selling is? Selling is the exchange of goods or services where money exchanges hands. What is wrong with the old model? Well, often times it is too confrontational.
The other reason for this is it oftentimes ignores the prospect true wants or needs. What other problems do you think it creates?
The next problem is you are forcing a product on the prospect whether they like it or not, and this inevitably is going to result in resistance every step of the process. Then some may also approach it like an argument.
Who usually wins an argument? No one! This is not good sales!
Some network marketers believe that rejection is normal & should be accepted. Here are some questions for you to think about….Do you really believe this to be true?
What if rejection wasn’t even a factor? What about marketing? What if marketing is combined with sales? What is marketing anyway?...There is a lot of confusion about what it is and how it is to be done.
I’m sure you have heard the saying before “no one likes to be sold but everyone loves to buy” I am sure like most people you have never been given a logical meaning of what that really meant.
Well the difference lies in whose decision it is…
When You Are Trying To Sell Something To Someone It Is Your Decision Forced On Them. When Someone Wants To Buy Something IT Is Their Decision.
So if everyone loves to buy, which the key to making your job easier (and more profitable), doesn’t it make sense to focus on helping people buy what they want then trying to sell them stuff that they don’t?
This is exactly what marketing is. I like to think of marketing as creating a situation where they can buy on their own. Good marketing is about tapping into needs that already exist.
If you’re not doing that nothing else matters…
So that may prompt you to ask another question…So the next question is..what is an effective way to market a business?
Your own marketing system. Your marketing system can plant seeds (your prospects) for you. Then what’s next? Then you use one- to-one sales to close them.
That way you get more done in less time with less effort. To piece it all together to complete the puzzle. The objective of your marketing is to bring in qualified prospects.
The main goal of the sales process is to close the deal & build a relationship with the best ones.
After all that is the master plan that every network marketer should have whether they realize it or not.
at 21:25 0 comments
Labels: Business, Network Marketing
Do It Right - International Business Ethics
Business ethics is not a novel idea. Its just that its one of those things that we conveniently forget when faced with tough choices. But since the Enron and WorldCom scandals of 2002, more and more people in the business world are paying attention to this oft-neglected aspect of business. Especially now with the global marketplace in full swing.
Competition is cutthroat, but this does not mean that we should forget about what we have learned in international business ethics. To address this, many changes were subsequently legislated regarding corporate governance, disclosure and accounting procedures. But more than mere compliance with law, international business ethics requires a major shift in corporate culture.
Today, international business ethics means conducting all aspects of business and dealing with all the stakeholders in an ethical manner. The stakeholders include employees, partners, clients, shareholders, suppliers, the communities, and natural environments in which businesses operate. Thus, the term embraces the concepts of corporate social responsibility (CSR), corporate sustainability, and corporate citizenship.
Below are some links to sites that contain general information on international business ethics and some significant free content that may be of interest to students, researchers, practitioners, and the general public.
Business Ethics
Access: Web-Miner.com/BusEthics.htm
Although not recently updated, this site is the perfect starting point for those seeking information on international business ethics. The site was created by Librarian Sharon Stoerger and contains useful annotated links to international business ethics resources organized by type. Some of the resources you will find include articles and publications, case studies, corporate codes of ethics, professional organizations and associations, centers, and other resources.
The Canadian Resource for Business Ethics
Access: BusinessEthics.ca
If you are looking for links to sites of Canadian and business ethics organizations, then BusinessEthics.ca is the place to go. The site is administered by a philosophy professor at Saint Marys University in Canada, Chris MacDonald. As part of the larger EthicsWeb.ca site, BusinessEthics.ca contains case studies, articles, and consultants on international business ethics.
CSR Directory
Access: CSRWire.com/Directory/
This is a directory that contains contact information and links to more than 1,000 organizations concerned with CSR and international ethics. It can be found though the CSRWire website and is searchable by organization name, type, contact name, and location. In addition to the directory, the CSRWire website also offers corporate CSR reports, news releases, job opportunities, and events.
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
Access: Business-HumanRights.org/Home
A partner of the Amnesty International and several academic institutions, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is an independent, international, nonprofit organization that works to promote greater awareness of issues relating to business and human rights. Here, you can find information on thousands of companies, more than 160 countries, and 150 issues including international business ethics.
at 20:38 0 comments
Mistakes to Avoid in Your Advertising Campaign
Here are surefire ways to blow your marketing campaign:
1. Create your advertising campaign yourself.
Sure, you can do it. Who needs a professional anyway? You are just going to pay for it immensely and would only be left with unsatisfactory results just because your color printing company was not able to provide you with your expectations. Or that your graphic designer did not do a good job the last time you hired one.
No matter. The reason why you are hiring a pro to do it is because they are experts in their field as you are with your business. If you want to have an ad that is oozing with professionalism and expertise, then better hire someone who knows what he or she¢s doing. Believe me. You will be able to save more money, than getting someone later to correct what you have totally botched up because you wanted to save on your costs.
2. Pay no attention to your target audience when you create your ad campaign.
You do not want your target clients involved then don¢t even think about starting your ad campaign. In the first place, the reason why you are doing this is because of your target market primarily. It would not work at all if you totally ignore them. Professional marketers and expert advertisers will tell you that in order for you to have a successful marketing campaign you have to identify first your prospects before you begin any kind of work in your campaign.
3. Do not plan; just take hold of the bull by the horns and go for it.
Just go ahead and start your advertising campaign. Everything will fall into place anyway. And do not even think about your budget or the right places where you can promote your stuff. You will just see where your campaign leads you.
Well, it will definitely lead you to failure. If you want to blow it big time, then the way to do it is to not plan your moves. This is the foremost idea in marketing: you need a well conceived plan if you want to be successful. And if you want to save what you have in your budget, then you better plan fast. You would not want to waste your limited resources and then later find out that you don¢t have any paying customers to show for your efforts.
4. Do it once and then forget about it.
You do not need to do it again. Your ad is so spectacular that everybody will be remembering it for many years to come.
Wrong! Frequency is the key to any successful marketing campaign. If you want to be recognized and remembered, be sure to run your color printing ad not just once but believe it or not, more than 6 times. Studies have shown that consumers remember better when they see the ad 6 times or more.
These are just some of the no-nos when you run your ad campaign. If you want your ad to fail, then use these strategies and see how your business crash down quickly.
at 20:17 0 comments
Labels: Advertising, Business
Mortgage Refinance Bad Credit Loan
In this article, you will be provided information to help you understand what options you've available to you when it comes to the matter of debt consolidation loan and mortgage refinance options.
The fact is millions of Americans with bad credit; refinance their home mortgage loans every year, using sub prime mortgage refinance loans. Virginia mortgage refinance loans can be used to pay off either the first or second Virginia mortgages. Finding a California sub prime mortgage refinance loan lender requires research.
By doing a price and cost comparison, by taking the time to shop around, you will be able to find a debt consolidation loan and mortgage refinance option that will actually meet your needs. You usually will not have to pay anything to the broker to aid you in finding a debt consolidation loan and mortgage refinance options that you can consider. You will want to make certain that you are dealing with a debt consolidation loan and mortgage refinance lender that is experienced, reputable and reliable.
These lenders have dedicated staffs, who work with consumers that have low credit scores, seeking mortgage refinance loans. The most popular options for bad credit home loans are cash out mortgage refinance and home equity loans. When it comes to debt consolidation loan and mortgage refinance options, you will want to keep in mind the very lender through which you have your current mortgage.
A bad credit mortgage refinance may be possible for you. Bad Credit Lenders provide poor credit mortgage refinance loans, bad credit home loans, and hard money loans. You can access these types of lenders that specialise in debt consolidation loan and mortgage refinance options both online and in the real world.
If you decide that mortgage refinancing is your best option, then pay careful attention to the mortgage refinance rate. The big question is 'can you get a mortgage refinance loan with a low credit score'. A Virginia mortgage refinance loan is a good solution for those individuals in Virginia who cannot meet their monthly mortgage loan payments.
Yes - it is a true that a person with a credit score above 670 will find it easier to get a mortgage refinance loan than a person with a low credit score - but this is doesn't mean that you cannot find a loan. As the value of your home increases and the balance on your home decreases, you may be eligible to remove your PMI with a mortgage refinance loan. When you get the bad credit mortgage refinance you are using your house as collateral.
You will be able to find the debt consolidation loan and mortgage refinance option that makes the most economic and financial sense for you, a loan package that will work for you today and down the road into the future as well. If you’d like access to more information and resource links pertaining Mortgage Refinancing, then check out my site at: Mortgage Refinancing
at 02:42 0 comments
How To Find Hope In Overcoming Infertility Depression
Infertility depression is a real issue for couples struggling to conceive and affects both men and women in different ways.
For women, being unable to conceive is depressing enough but this can be exacerbated even further during assisted reproduction programs. The stress associated with ongoing treatment can build to high levels and if the process ends in failure, infertility depression can then become a major problem.
Infertility and depression in men is also very real. Men will usually try to handle depression differently such as spending more time at work or getting involved in community related areas as a way of overcoming their feelings of inadequacy or guilt. Men will often have feelings of failure which is a common male response because of the fact they won't be able to continue on the family tree.
Emotional Effects Of Infertility Depression
Emotionally, infertility can be crippling. A combination of sadness, frustration and angry feelings from both partners will ultimately strain relationships if proper help is not sought. This is the tragic wash up in many infertility cases as one or both partners withdraws into a state of depression.
Seeking Help For Infertility Depression
Getting help for depression as a result of infertility may seem the obvious course of action however, feelings of self pity and consignment to the fact that conceiving a child will not be possible, often acts as a barrier between infertile couples seeking much needed support.
It's important for couples to realise that all is not lost. In the past, medical support was the common avenue to pursue but into the 21st century, and with the internet available to most people around the globe, support forums for infertile couples have provided a worthwhile option
to:
1. Discuss their infertility issues with like-minded people and
2. Possibly seek alternative forms of treatment when traditional methods have failed.
Support Forums For Infertility Depression
Online support forums are an excellent alternative to live support groups especially for those couples who want to remain anonymous. Most will have given up the possibility of conceiving a child at this point but there still maybe some hope left. You'll hear good news stories of couples in a similar position and what they did to get over "this bump in the road" and more importantly, receive emotional support from others who have a complete understanding of your situation.
Infertility depression doesn't have to dominate your life. While it's tough to deal with at the time, taking some positive steps to overcome it may be just a keyboard search away.
at 23:06 0 comments
Labels: Depression, Diseases-and-conditions, Health
How An Employee Can Benefit By Telecommuting
As an employee you know how much time is wasted each day. The wastefulness begins before you even set foot inside your office! You are stuck in traffic for hours on end, and instead of being on the telephone talking with customers and clients you are forced to inch at a snail's pace closer to the exit that will take you to yet another clogged highway.
It is therefore no surprise that so many employees clamor to get a chance at telecommuting. If you have what it takes to work diligently and without direct supervision of others, then this mode of work will most likely yield great benefits for your. Some of these benefits are of course quite obvious: the ability to spend time with your family is perhaps the one advantage most often mentioned by those who telecommute.
Yet the very fact that you will be able to take a greater sense of ownership from the job will spur you on to give it your all. You will most likely work even more closely with customers and clients to cultivate the important relationships that ensure future growth for the company and that will also help you to personally reap grater profits by establishing that one on one relationship so many consumers crave. Add to this the heightened productivity you will experience as a result of no longer being subject of the traffic congestion that is so frequently found everywhere, and you can see how your personal sales will begin to take off!
Some wagging tongues will attempt to belittle your efforts, and quite possibly even make you feel guilty for taking a coffee break, taking Rover for a quick walk, or simply for doing a load of laundry in between assignments. While in excess your critics would be right, in moderation these activities actually benefit the employer. Short breaks and a change of scenery are akin to the trip to the kitchen at work to refill your coffee. You get away from everything for a bit, exercise, and then return quite often with a fresh perspective and ready to give it even more of an effort.
Interestingly, one of the greatest benefits to telecommuting for the employee is rarely mentioned: the fact that disturbances by other employees are all but eliminated. You know how frustrating it can be when suddenly someone enters your office to chat, or to ask for your help with a task, or simply because they want to discuss an aspect of a project with you. While necessary activities, they can be greatly curtailed by telecommuting, thus allowing you to complete your assignments faster and with much greater efficiency. This in turn might allow you a bit of leisure time toward the end of the day that you would not have been able to realize otherwise.
at 21:44 0 comments
Labels: Business, Telecommuting
Cutting Out The Secrets About Paper Shredders
Paper shredders are machines that allow the shredding of any paper to tiny pieces or very fine strips. Paper shredders are commonly used by individuals or groups that need to destroy classified documents that may prove to be of danger to themselves or to their group. These documents are cut into tiny pieces so that no one attempting to read them will succeed in doing so. Experts in the field of privacy will often advise individuals to destroy some of their personal documents like account statements, bills or other important files that cannot be allowed to fall into the hands of anyone.
1. Avoid Identity Theft
Another reason why important personal records and files must be destroyed is to avoid identity theft. Identity theft is simply when another person is assuming the persona of another person. Important records and files shredded through a paper shredder will be impossible to read - thus eliminating the possibility of identity theft.
Though paper shredders have given us the security of destroying files that we don't want anyone else to see, our carelessness can take away that security. In situations where a person merely leaves shredded paper from the paper shredder lying just about anywhere or at the garbage bin, the pieces can still be collected by nosy people or investigators, maybe even spies. To enable maximum security, when using a paper shredder make sure that documents are fed in a horizontal way and that they are perpendicular to the blades of the shredder.
2. Easy Cleanup
Many modern paper shredders come with their own waste bin, and those that do not have one are designed to enable them to fit over or next to another waste bin. Paper shredders are categorized depending on their size and shape of the shreds that they produce.
++ Strip Cut ++
A strip cut paper shredder uses knives that rotate that cut long narrow strips as long as the original size of the paper. The product of this paper shredder is the easiest to reconstruct for determined and patient investigators or spies. This is also the least secure type of paper shredder.
++ Cross Cut ++
This type of paper shredder uses drums that contra-rotate to cut the paper into parallelogram or rectangular shaped shreds.
3. Particle cut
The product of this paper shredder creates tiny square or circular shreds.
4. Granulators and disintegrators
These are paper shredders that randomly cut the paper repeatedly until they are no more than little particles that can fit through the mesh
5. Pulverizers or hammermills
Huge devices that simply make dust out of your paper
6. Alternatives
Some alternative paper shredders not just shred the paper but are also sometimes equipped with chemicals, burning materials or composting materials that completely destroy the document after shredding it. For paper shredders that do not protect up to maximum security, like the strip cut - it will still be possible to unshred the document by reconstructing and pasting the shredded pieces together. This was fist spurred with the Enron accountancy scandal, where documents containing altered information were fed through the paper shredder in the wrong way, enabling the investigator to reassemble the original document.
7. Reconstruction
As difficult as it is to understand, shredded paper is possible to reconstruct. Undisturbed shredded papers tend to stay in close proximity with each other unless acted upon by an outer force, especially if these shredded materials belong to the same document. Also, as with the Enron accountancy scandal, confidential documents were fed through the shredder in a wrong way. When paper is fed in such a way that its lines are not at right angles with the blades of the shredder, it creates shredded paper containing longer and readable texts.
Shredded paper can even be reconstructed without the use of any machines. In 1979, just after the Iranian revolution, the U.S government hired local Iranian carpet weavers who with patience reconstructed the documents found in the Tehran US embassy. Because of this, paper shredders made a step further in creating paper shredders that can pulverize, pulp and decompose the shredded.
at 21:23 0 comments
Labels: Business, Medium-sized
If You Can't See It, You Can't Do It!
You have to see the writing on the wall.
It is a must for Entrepreneurs to learn picturizaton if he/she is too achieve any kind of success. Goals must be seen in the mind's eye in order to stimulate progression. A person will not chase something he/she can't grasp or visualize. Most people don't believe in ghost and a goal without vision is just that. Goals without vision are only dreams, fantasies and illusions they're no more than wishful thinking. .
The belief system must have something to grasp and hold on to. It must see the goal in all its entirety and believe it can be accomplished. Visualization validates the possibility and turns it into a reality. If you can't see it, you can't do it. It's as simple as that. That's why so many people fail, their chasing an illusion that has not become a reality in their mind.
In order for the entrepreneur to do his/her best he/she must be able to look ahead and visualize the outcome. He/she must be able to project the outcome of their actions beforehand and act accordingly. To realize this, the entrepreneur must remember one all important thing and that is: the first business of any business, any organization, church, club, family, or individual is to not only survive, but to increase financially, mentally, spiritually, socially, and physically. Their goal must incorporate all the elements needed to bring it into focus and visualize it in the mind as completed. What a person can see ot he/she can achieve it.
Visualization also brings personalization to the goal or project. A person feels connected when he/she has painted a picture in the mind and is striving toward it. It's like seeing the light at the end of a tunnel. If you couldn't see the end, in only a short time you will give up. You will lose hope in the belief that the end is somewhere ahead. Without a clear picture of your goal, it is only a matter of time when the goal turns into desperation.
Entrepreneurs build a picture in their mind of their idea, turning it into an achievable reality. Their picture becomes a touchable thing that can be experienced. In their experience, they feel it, smell it, touch it and most of all, own it. It becomes theirs, as they embrace the reality of the visual influence.
Managers are the same in their responsibilities. They must also be able to visualize the outcome of a project before it begins. A good manager can convey or paint a picture to his/her team to motivate them into action. The team will only be motivated to the extent of the manager's ability to picturize their goal. If they can see the logic and realize the value in their project, then they will accomplish it.
The need for picturization applies to any profession or accomplishment. Goals need to be pictured as something real or they have no meaning to the mind. In today's world the saying is, “put your head around it”, which simply means, visualize it.
Because people are influenced by past events, the mind plays a huge part in future accomplishments. People look at anything they have no experience with as unobtainable. In order to break that notion they have to put up the argument of possibility in their mind. If they can see the possibility of success, they can move toward it. If they can't picturize success, they will abandon the idea altogether.
In sports, a football quarterback must bring a visualization of the play into the huddle in order for his teammates to be motivated into doing it. If they can see success they will fight to achieve it. The same goes for the man courting a woman. He sees her as his mate in a family setting, beside him for a lifetime. He can see the children, family outings and love she shares with him. He has a picture of peace and contentment in their marriage and he is motivated to see it through. It isn't the relationship, or possibilities, it's the picture he has in his head that drives him to make her his mate.
Picturization is not just a snap shot, but it is activating all the senses to form a complete experience of the coming event. You can feel it, smell it, taste it, see it and most of all bring it into an experience. Have you ever gone shopping for a new car? Oh the smell of that new interior, the feel of the new seats, the vibrations from the sound system, the sight of the shinny paint and chrome build a desire in the mind to own it. You can see yourself driving in the country or going to a friends house to show it off.
How about when you and your soul mate went looking for your first house. She loved the kitchen and the two of you talked about what you would change to make it yours. You could see the children running from room to room as you sat in the easy chair reading the evening paper. Smells drifting from the kitchen of that special dish you love. The wife is singing to herself and a peace falls over you that you embrace as real. It can't ever be real until you see it as real.
In conclusion:
Visualization turns goals into reality in the mind. See the world as a place of possibilities where you can see the future and have faith it can come true. At work, share your vision with coworkers. At home build shared visions of life and how you and your mate will spend it. Success comes to those who can and do visualize it.
at 20:36 0 comments
Labels: Business, Entrepreneurship
Before the Business Plan
Purveyors of conventional wisdom would have you believe that the very first thing you ought to do when setting up a new business is to create a business plan.
It doesn't matter whether you are selling odds and ends on eBay from your living room or something larger and more complex,
Business plans are excellent and necessary. Far too few of us self-employed and freelance people use them.
They force us to spell out our objectives. We have to assign numbers to our expectations and assign a time-line to our goals. They become our roadmap and keep us on track.
But I suggest that you can't make a business plan that is worth anything until you've done your homework.
And that means knowing what you want to do and how you want to do it. And determining that there is sufficient demand for your product to generate enough income to cover your costs and allow a profit.
In other words, before the business plan comes research.
If a body of knowledge already exists, it makes sense to tap into it and save you some work. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics and other such sources, for example, publish a great deal of demographic information. Some of it is very useful.
But it is also likely that as a creative sole-proprietor, meaningful statistics don't exist about your specialty.
Many micro-businesses target a very specialized niche. And many owned by creative types exist to sell a product or service that don't follow well-worn prototypes.
It is particularly difficult for such people to find meaningful published data.
If you fall into these categories, you'll have to generate your own information.
Don't limit your research to purely business data. You are building a life as well as a business.
Are the demands and conditions of your proposed business compatible with the life you want to create?
For example, illustrators often work on short deadlines - meaning that sometimes they have to work far into the night to complete a project on deadline. Plus, some clients are demanding and some do not pay on a timely basis. After all of that, can you still "love it" enough?
Or, maybe your business is such that sales fluctuate during the year. How will you make it through the lean months? Can you handle the uncertainty of a fluctuating income?
So, how do you find information?
First, if other people provide services similar to yours, talk to them. You will gain a lot of information quickly. Their answers to your questions will save you a lot of legwork and open your eyes to factors you may not have considered.
Try to talk to at least five or six people so you can get a range of viewpoints.
You can find them through trade associations, schools, word-of-mouth. If the locals are reluctant to share information - perhaps because they see you as direct competition - look for similar people in a different locale.
Second, create the information you need.
Mimic and simplify what large businesses do. Reduce their methods down to a level that is practical and affordable.
For example, perhaps you want to survey potential clients and customers to get feedback.
If you are a creating a micro-business on a shoe-string, it may not be affordable nor practical to commission a focus group. But you may be able to speak to potential targets informally or use direct mail to send a simple survey.
Eventually you'll have to 'put your toe in the water.' Try it out in a small way - so you won't lose much if it doesn't work - and observe the results. Then experiment and modify as needed. Once it works to your liking you can plunge right in.
This approach, known by the technical term "trial and error," can be applied to any facet of your business.
After all, even the largest producers test market new products before rolling them out.
Put some parameters around your efforts. Decide, in advance, how much time you want to allow and how much you want to budget.
Then test, test, test.
Use trial and error for every aspect of your business. Experiment with different ways of packaging your services, different rates and prices, different types of marketing, etc.
You'll soon find that certain approaches work better than others. Eventually your experience and data will suggest viable strategies.
And then you'll be ready to create your business plan.
at 20:04 0 comments
Labels: Business
Give Your Pet The Best Care With A Pet Insurance Online
A person would like to enjoy his life to the fullest but somewhere in the corner of his heart there is a constant worry about the future. If given a choice we would all like to make sure that we have sufficient funds and means to take care of contingencies and any emergency situation that may occur. Insurance is one such sure shot method of preparing for unforeseen circumstances that may require a substantial amount of money at a short notice. We have insured our lives, our properties and every conceivable asset has some kind of insurance attached with it. When we are providing such security for our valuables maybe we should also give our pets the security of insurance. A pet insurance can make sure that your pet gets the best medical attention and health care at all times.
Many online websites are also venturing into the area of providing pet insurance online. The pet owner has the convenience of simply logging onto such a pet insurance online site and checking out all the plans available under insurance schemes for various pets. Irrespective of the age, breed and gender of your pet, you are sure to find a pet insurance online plan that suits your budget and fulfills all the health insurance requirements of your beloved pet. Even routine health check ups for the pet which include the regular vaccinations and minor medications are included under the health insurance plans. Pet care and a good vet can cost a good amount of money, so the insurance will insure that the owner can manage the finances easily.
Our pets can fall prey to a number of diseases and illnesses and at times even accidents that result in life threatening situations. However the advancement of technology has given a major boost to treatment procedures. Pet insurance online provides plans that take care of such expensive treatments without causing a financial burden for the owner. Regular installments paid in small amount for a pet insurance can go a long way in ensuring that the pet, be it a cat, dog or other animal, receives the attention that it deserves. Expensive treatment procedures like a kidney transplant or hip replacement for animals are being carried out successfully these days, provided you have the necessary finances to provide such treatment for your pet. Carefully go through all the plans and options available with a pet insurance company and then select one that best suits your needs.
Keeping a pet is not just about having a cute animal to entertain your family members and shower love on it as and when it suits you. A pet has many added responsibilities attached that include maintaining a regular hygiene program for the pet and ensuring proper diet and nutrition for your pet. Regular health check ups and visit to the vet should also be an essential part of your lives. Purchasing a pet insurance online for your beloved pet will ensure that you can continue to provide the loving care and support to the pet at all times and no pet has to have its life shortened due to lack of funds.
at 02:40 0 comments
What To Do - After The Business Start-Up
Small business owners have to think ahead.
Now that you are a small business owner – what next? Think of the long haul, remember all the planning and research that went into starting your small business. Hopefully your expectations are being met by all that effort you put into the planning stage of your new business. If so, it has paid off with positive results that are satisfying and uplifting at the very least. Now, you need to maintain that momentum in investment in research and analysis and sustain your short-term success as you anticipate the future.
Now we will show you how to develop a strategy for managing the long-term growth of your business.
First: Take Another Look At Your Business Plan
Don't set your business plan aside just because everything is looking good now that your start-up phase is over. Use your business plan as a point of reference that you refer to often to make accurate estimates that reflect present realities. Even small changes in the marketplace may require you to adjust your plan to include existing conditions. Like a football game, each new play is a consideration of the last play.
Second: Keep An Eye On Those Numbers
Keep a close eye on your financial statements because it provides you with insights into the health of your business. You can project future cash flow by several months based on current activity, expectations for sales and income, demand for your product and services, set overhead (e.g. loan payments utilities, and rent) and other factors. By comparing actual cash flow to projections, you can spot changes that will help improve performance.
Third: Reach Out And Develop Relationships
Even though you may be gaining a reputation for good service, it may be a little premature to consider bringing aboard additional resources. Broaden how much you can do by developing friendships with other businesses in your field. Assist your competition and in most cases they will return the favor by referring overflow work to you. Be honest and don't try to steal your competitor's customer when you are assisting them. If they trust you, they will call on you to back them up when they need help—perhaps at a time when you could use the work.
Fourth: Delegate Time-robbing Tasks
As your business grows it will place more demand on your time. It is important to identify trusted employees who are capable and can accept routine and managerial responsibilities. They’ll welcome the opportunity for personal and professional growth and it will free you up to focus on matters of more importance.
Fifth: Watch the Big Picture
What are the issues or trends which affect your business? No matter if your business is small or large you must be vigilant in all aspects that can change your business environment. Stay current with your community and conditions, study your sales records and talk to customers, suppliers and colleagues. Being aware of possibilities will make you less susceptible to surprises and better prepared to anticipate and capitalize on current conditions.
Sixth: Never Stop Learning
One of the biggest assets you have and what brands you as an authority is your knowledge. Make sure to acquire as much knowledge and instincts as possibly as your business experience grows. Even open minded, veteran entrepreneurs can benefit from the perspectives of others. That’s what makes experienced, retired veteran business people so valuable to the novice. Experienced volunteer counselors serve as idea evaluators for new ventures as well as provide advice on issues both routine and unexpected. There is a free service called SCORE that is made up of experienced retired business people who volunteer in assisting new business owners.
Seventh: Be Innovative
Be willing to investigate new ideas and concepts. Where does innovation come from? Listen to unsatisfied customers. Your customers are a sounding board for problems that may exist and new concepts for change.
Demographic changes in society. As the population gets older how is it going to effect your business? The new generation is more adapt to electronic games and devices, how will it effect your business?
Luck: Business is a collection of predetermined issues. Luck is not a factor because it is random in nature and therefore unpredictable.
Imagination: Every business owner must have some imagination to be able to see the big picture. Figures and facts are good but it take imagination to put it all together.
Vision: A person without vision will become stagnate and die. Having a vision for tomorrow produces dreams, desire and motivation. It is the visionaries who are the backbone of business and government.
Problem-solving: Business owners must become adapt to problem solving. Every day is made up of problems and solutions in which the business thrives. A good problem solver will drive the business forward without unresolved crises.
Remember:
Always be on the lookout for new innovations. There is always room for freshness.
Keep it simple, there's no need to be complicated, it only serves frustration.
Start small, take it one step at a time. Plan each step and execute with diligence.
Try, try, try again, never give up. If one thing doesn't work, adjust your tactic and try again.
Even though there are a lot of givens and trials when starting a new business; most problems can be overcome with a little thought. Make sure your business plan is solid and you have the desire to see it through by paying the price and being true to your convictions. We wish you success in your venture and future.
at 21:41 0 comments
Labels: Business, Strategic-planning