Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

How To Choose An Equipment Leasing Company

Each year, thousands of U.S. companies face the challenge of finding attractive financing to acquire business equipment. Equipment leasing has become a preferred form of financing, accounting for more than 30% of business equipment acquisitions. Many companies approach the lease sourcing process seeking the lowest lease rate. While securing a low rate is a worthwhile goal in choosing a leasing . . .

The Truth Behind Linear Selling: Why It Can Make Prospect...

Sean works for a major telecom company. During one of our coaching sessions, he told me, "I've been diligent about following the sales process that my company believes is required to make a sale -- but, for some strange reason, my prospects don't want to fit into that process. What am I doing wrong?" Sean's comment struck me because it spoke to years of traditional selling programs that promote. . .

Which IRA Is Best For You?

An Ira is one of the greatest ways to save on taxes currently and accumulate money for the future.For individuals three types of IRA's will normally come under consideration. The Traditional or Regular IRA The Education IRA The Roth IRAEducation IRA is now called the Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA).Education IRAs allow you to save for qualified higher educational expenses for a benefi. . .

Create a Business You Love

So you have entrepreneurial aspirations, but you’re stuck in a job working for someone else. You wake up, commute to work, work hard, pay your bills and then come home exhausted. You repeat the pattern for another four days, becoming increasingly tired as the week progresses. By the time Friday night comes around you are absolutely shattered requiring every second of your weekend just to recove. . .

A Great Answer To “What Is Your Biggest Weakness?”

A true story . . . A flight attendant candidate applied for a job at one of the world’s leading airlines. Her interview consisted of a panel of interviewers sitting across from a row of candidates.The interviewers went down the line and asked each applicant the stereotypical question, “What is your biggest weakness?”The flight attendant in question had a smooth, professional response prepared:. . .

Conquering Confidence Killers for Small Business Success

"The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear". -- William Jennings Bryan Whether you're generally a self-confident person, or someone continually plagued by self- doubt, you'll recognize some of these confidence killers if you: Are overly dependent on the thoughts or opinions of others; Avoid meeting new people because you're afraid you won't fit in, be liked, or be accepte. . .

Beating Business Burnout

5 Remedies for relief when the pressure's onVictoria Nuttall is a graphic-arts consultant with skills that should have been appreciated. "I was working 50 to 55 hours a week, feeling like a real hero to the company because I was putting out work no one else could do at that time," she says. "They had me train people and expand the department, but never consulted me on new equipment purchases an. . .

Could a Roth IRA be Better Than a 401(k)?

Very few people whom I know are familiar with the benefits of the Roth IRA. It was named for the late Senator William Roth of Rhode Island, who proposed it. It is similar to a traditional IRA except contributions are never tax-deductible. Contributions to traditional IRAs are sometimes deductible or partially deductible, depending on your income and whether or not you have a retirement plan lik. . .

Tax Reform, My Way

We need real tax reform and we need it now. Previous attempts have been made at tax reform, but they have only provided band-aid solutions that have still left us with too many quirks, complication, and read tape. There are several things Congress could do to simply the tax system and benefit the taxpayers and federal budget at the same time.First, I would institute a simple two-tiered tax on e. . .

How important is content to a successful website

Content is the most important part of any website. The Internet was created in the first place as an information source. If the content on your site does not provide the information needed by its users it will provide little in the way of value to your visitors who surf for information on many subjects. They require answers or solutions to their problems, needs, desires and wants. Provide the a. . .

Branding and Internal Communication

In the I-HR newsletter, moderator Beth N. Carvin asked if the idea of branding could be used, effectively, to improve productivity and retention. This is an expanded version of my response to her question: Yes, I think you can use the idea of branding as a tool for improving employee productivity and retention. Let's approach it from the perspective of a manager communicating with his or her su. . .

How To Tell if a Property is Overvalued

In the wake of the incredible house price boom witnessed in most of the developed world over the past decade, a lot of ideas have sprung up as to how to value a house 'fairly'. The reason for this is that traditional methods, such as working out house prices as a multiple of salaries, or perhaps mortgage affordability as a percentage of income, seem to have 'stopped working' recently.There can . . .

Management Wants Faster Implementation Of New Organizatio...

Is anyone "not affected" by a reorganization? In the last couple of weeks, I have discussed reorganization and how you can manage employees who are affected positively or negatively. What about employees "not affected" by a reorganization? Even those "not affected" on your Org Chart will be affected psychologically.Yes, they will have the same manager and the same agreements. But, most of the t. . .

Foreclosure Scams To Be Aware Of

Homeowners facing foreclosure should be aware of unscrupulous lenders and scammers. Don’t get me wrong, most lenders and agencies are reputable and legit. However some lenders, commonly second mortgage issuers will use unethical practices that increase the risk of nonpayment by the borrower. These tactics may include lending a large amount in hopes that the borrower will not be able to keep up . . .

Investing Online Has Its Rewards: Find Out How To Take Ad...

Computerized investing. Online investing. Have you taken the next step yet? These days among savvy investors, online investment resources are synonymous with opportunity.The capabilities that we currently have at our fingertips were unavailable just ten years ago. The speed at which you can invest with an online broker, along with ease of use (you can trade in your underwear), makes traditional. . .

Retirement Is A Scary Proposition If You're Without A Pla...

Of the 75 million baby boomers nearing retirement today, many are: Debt Ridden Severely unprepared for retirement Under Funded Without a StrategyThis is a very serious problem in a country that we can all remember used to assure most people of a retirement where you are taken care of financially.We all know that social security alone is not the answer to this problem. Many baby boomers are on t. . .

Networking Scares Me!

When I started my business, if I knew then what I know now I either would not have started it or I would have become profitable much faster! Everyone who has their own business needs to learn an incredible amount. Perhaps the most important business tenet is so simple – you make money when you sell stuff. To sell stuff, you market. To market effectively, it’s important to specify a segment . . .

Dealing With Clients Not Paying Your Invoice

Providing a translation is providing a service. Imagine you having provided the appropriate service, delivered it on time, invoiced the client accordingly (indicating a payment date not so far into the future) and the suggested payment date comes and goes without any money pouring in on your needy bank account – what do you do, how do you react? Needless to say that we are not considering the f. . .

Relocating for Retirement? Which Realtor Can Help You?

I am a native of Tidewater Virginia, which encompasses counties and towns in the Chesapeake Bay area from Virginia Beach, to Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg and New Kent County. Even before I entered the real estate profession I watched the real estate market change and evolve over many decades. The Tidewater area, which includes Greater Williamsburg, is a pleasant location for retirement m. . .

Turbocharged Financial Planning

Financial planning is an ongoing process individuals and businesses should implement by organizing all aspects of their finances. This will assist in identifying financial goals, providing a comprehensive written Financial Plan, and implementing the plan in accordance with the objectives that are most important to you.Comprehensive financial planning should involve these areas and these specifi. . .

Why Lotto Wheeling Works

You may occassionally come across websites or individuals who claim that lottery 'wheeling' doesn't work (wheeling is multiple entries using combinations of a set of numbers). The usual justification for this is that they say you are entering the same number multiple times in order to create your wheel, and thus spending money needlessly. They are correct in one sense - after all, you could cov. . .

Las Vegas Sands Corp. is IPO of the year

Sheldon Adelson, founder and owner of Las Vegas Sands (LVS), won $690 million on December 15 2004, in the most profitable initial public offering (IPO) in the American gaming industry.Las Vegas Sands is the company that owns the Venetian Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip and Sands Resort in Macau, a former Portuguese colony, nowadays reinstated to China.The company sold nearly 24 million sh. . .

Job Search Lessons from The Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is a game but, like sports in general, it offers useful life lessons that we can take with us . . . if we only look below the surface. As I watched the game, I saw a number of things. How many did you see?1. Winning is a team effort. The teams that make it to the game don’t get there by accident. There are teams of planners and leaders who are constantly evaluating player perform. . .

7 Obscene Tricks Perpetrated On You By Your Credit Card C...

Obscene is usually associated with pornography while credit cards enjoy a more discreet association. At least that is the perception. This article will change your perception.It is my belief, and may become yours after you read the 7 tricks, credit card issuers should be classified with pornographers. They have, I believe, only one purpose and that purpose is to screw every consumer using their. . .

7 Steps To Hire The Best

You can use this step-by-step method to hire applicants who are likely to be “superstar” employees: highly productive low-turnoverImportant: Focus on hiring applicants you rate positively on all seven prediction methods.1st Prediction Method = Brief Initial Screening InterviewIf an applicant’s application looks suitable, then conduct BISI, a customized 15-30 minute over-phone or in-person inte. . .

When Cover Letters Get Personal

“It is with great interest and enthusiasm that I submit my resume for your review.” Most cover letters are written in this humdrum tone. Cover letters do not need to be so dull, nor so uninteresting. This style of cover letter writing has been around for years; and it’s a trend that has overstayed its welcome. It’s perfectly acceptable to add pizzazz to cover letters in an effort to engage the . . .

Are You a Trendsetter or Someone Who Will be Left Behind?

Recently, I had a conversation with a friend in the San Francisco Bay Area who has owned her business for nearly 30 years. After catching up on the family and all our pets, we ended up talking about business. Makes sense since years ago we collaborated on many successful major entertainment events in the Bay Area. Our conversation was about everyday trends that are changing the face of business. . .

The Ideal Length of Your Business Plan

How long should a business plan be? A business plan needs to be whatever length is required to excite the investor, prove that management truly understands the market, and detail the execution strategy. From surveys of investor needs, Growthink has found that 15 to 25 pages of text is the optimum length in which to accomplish this. Any more and the time-constrained investor will be forced to sk. . .

Implementation Procedures for Building Effective Manageme...

Part One of Series: http://www.bizmanualz.com/articles/01-13-05_Systems_Discovery.html?src=ART42Part Two: http://www.bizmanualz.com/articles/01-18-05_Systems_Planning.html?src=ART43Part Three: http://www.bizmanualz.com/articles/01-27-05_Systems_Development.html?src=ART44Next Week: Re-DiscoveryBefore we discuss Implementation, let’s do a quick recap: In Phase I, we learned how your organization . . .

How You Can Make $1000 A Week Part Time

About 6 years ago I started to notice that certain friends of mine had quit their jobs but continued to live very luxurious lifestyles - seemingly without doing very much. I thought they must just be using up their savings until I discovered they were all making a fantastic living by spending just a few hours a week doing something I had never heard of before - 'financial spread betting'. More . . .

Proof Positive: Why Proofreading Is Important For Your Bu...

Last week I was having a quick browse on eBay when something caught my eye. “Black patient shoes!” screamed the headline. “Must see!” “Wow!” I thought. “Patient shoes! What are they when they’re at home?” I clicked on the link. The shoes appeared. Black they certainly were. But ‘patient’? No. Or not as far as I could see, anyway. These, you see, were patent shoes – as in ‘patent leather’. And v. . .

How Much Risk is Necessary to Grow Your Business?

A business owner is thoroughly responsible for their own financial survival and possibly the financial survival of their employees. Business owners, for the most part, seem to be "risk takers", who really don't easily "go with the flow". They are inventive and somewhat confident, as just having their own business does mandate that they possess these qualities.However, the ability to live with r. . .

Giving Yourself An Edge During The Interview Process

There’s more to successful interviewing than writing a resume and showing up, but most people either don’t know or can’t be bothered to do those extras that may set you apart from the hundreds of applicants competing for your dream job.One of the first things you should do is to make sure your resume is clear, concise and easy to read. As a hiring manager, I preferred to look at resumes that . . .

7 Tips for Growing Your Business You Do Not Want to Ignor...

Growing companies must always be ready for the next challenge. If you fail in meeting critical business challenges you will not grow. Challenges often require some type of breakthrough. But do not be misled. A business breakthrough does not have to be something no one has thought of – it just needs to be a solution to your problem that you can act on now. Breakthroughs may involve simply findin. . .

OPM - The Art Of Leveraging

Equity lender, hard money lender, private investor or what ever term one uses can be a great source of funds to do real estate transactions and the question of how to find them comes up often!There are numerous ways to do this, and no two investors are exactly alike, so it's important to be innovative and customize your proposal to the specific "hot buttons" for each funding source.One of the g. . .

Resume Outline - Add Structure & Flow to Your Resume

Building your resume, based on a resume outline will give it structure and flow... it provides an outline of all the things you should include in your resume. A resume is one of the most important documents you will ever createFirst you have to decide on a particular format for your resume. The two main formats in use today are chronological and functional format. Which one is best to use will . . .

How Beneficial is a Sample Cover Letter ?

You can benefit from sample cover letters as they can help you learn about the constructs of a high quality cover letter. However, there are some dangers in doing this ...If you have been sending out tons of resumes and cover letters and are not getting interviews you are probably wondering why. After all, you have the requisite education and work experience required in the job posting.You are . . .

Resume Objectives ... The Hidden Pitfalls

Why Use Resume ObjectivesBefore we can discuss the pitfalls you first need to understand the reasons for including your resume objectives and how they relate to your resume and interview selection process. Including an objectives section at the beginning of your resume provides a brief introduction to the purpose of the resume, highlighting your career objectives and the type of job you are see. . .

Ben Franklin Didn't Quite Get It Right

When Ben Franklin said "a penny saved is a penny earned", he didn't quite get it right. Actually, a penny saved is worth more than a penny earned. Do you find this statement shocking? I am about to prove to you that what I'm saying is true.Most people erroneously believe the best way to strengthen their financial health is to increase their income. On the contrary, saving money by cutting costs. . .

Avoid the Three Biggest Financial Pitfalls

For the average person and/or family, the three biggest financial pitfalls to avoid are new vehicles, credit car interest, and short-term loans. Any and all of these can drain a person's or family's coffers of much needed funds. At best, they create opportunity costs, i.e., money spent on them could be better spent on sound investments like a home or stocks (both of which appreciate in value ov. . .

Moving Into Your First Apartment-Know All The Costs

When you move in to a new apartment, the landlord may charge you more than the first month's rent. Before you sign the lease, make sure you understand exactly what you're going to be charged, and get it in writing.Security Deposit: This is mini-landlord insurance. The deposit is equivalent to about one to two month's rent and can cover anything from a broken window to stained carpet. At the end. . .

Management Wants Faster Implementation Of New Organizatio...

This week, I will continue the discussion from last week's PVT, where we discussed four steps to introduce a new strategy.(http://www.SeniorManagementServices.com/pvt-96-faster-org-strategy.html)To review last week, your organization works OK now. But, you've discovered that your whole operation is based on key irreplaceable people, tribal knowledge, and unconfirmed rumors. "Vanishing Technolog. . .

Your Website - Your Virtual Business Card

To make one thing clear way ahead, without a website you will not survive on this market. And while you are at it, make sure the website is user-friendly because you will need to make changes once in a while and if only to promote some new services. A website should list all the services you are about to offer as well as all your contact details. In the US pictures of yourself and your colleagu. . .

Powerful Words in Sales

I’d like to discuss the most powerful words you can use during the selling process.After all Rudyard Kipling said, “Words are the most powerful drug used by mankind.” Plainly, THE MOST POWERFUL WORD is YOU. You should be looking to use the word You in your sales meetings a lot more than you use the word I. As I’ve mentioned before the idea is to be focused on your client’s needs but I’m sure t. . .

Top Career Advice ... More Choices and A Better Way of Life

Why Career Advice Is So Important Choosing a career presents a nerve-racking decision, as it can have a life-long impact on you. Do not fret, as you can gain a clearer outlook into your future by thorough career planning. Having a clear vision of the future can guide you by helping you set career goals and helping you on your way towards attaining them. Whether you are starting out on a new car. . .

How To Get An Extension To File Your Business Tax Returns

Yes, the tax season is upon with the first filing date for some businesses being March 15, 2005. If you can’t imagine getting your tax returns together by that date, you need not worry. The IRS automatically gives you an extension if your file the appropriate form. As you might expect, there are different forms for different businesses. An Important Note It is vitally important that you underst. . .

What the Mail on Sunday Said

Anyone considering Bankruptcy may have experienced fear after reading an article written in The Mail on Sunday with the headline “Bankruptcy cheats face crackdown”. But, how much of what was written was in context of the reality of Bankruptcy as it is today?The article implied that since The Enterprise Act 2002 the rise in the number of people going bankrupt was due to them using the Bankruptc. . .

The Weaker Sex Can Pack a Mean Business Punch Too!

Judging from the title itself, you’re probably expecting a men-bashing article about the kind of injustice that men cause women and about how women should learn how to hold their can of pepper spray in hand (facing the right direction, of course, unless the women plan to blind themselves) the moment they catch a whiff of a MAN. Well….er, no. Not really. I am here to explain and give some good e. . .

You Can Make Financial Resolutions Anytime

The New Year often brings with it a desire to right the wrongs in your life. From this desire springs the tradition of New Year resolutions. You should take advantage of this to change your financial situation. There is a good chance by the time many of you read this, you will have already made and BROKEN your financial resolutions. Those of you who have not already done so, know they are hard . . .

Haggling: Give Yourself A Raise

Haggling was a way of life for Mr. B. I knew Mr. B because his son was one of my friends. His haggling greatly embarrassed my friend, but it didn't bother Mr. B. He was saving money. Mr. B was a wonder. His distaste for paying retail was so ingrained he would bargain at the local fast food restaurant. Not attached to this man by blood, I felt no embarrassment, so I would watch with interest as . . .