Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Moving Average Convergence Divergence ( MACD ) Charts

The Moving Average Convergence Divergence charts, or MACD charts for short, are a technical indicator that is derived from the more simple moving average. The MACD charts are oscillating indicators, meaning that they move above and below a centerline or zero point. As with other oscillating and momentum indicators, a very high value indicates that the stock is overbought and will likely drop so. . .

Revealed The Myths Of Making Money Through Affiliate Mark...

Many people enter into the affiliate marketing arena with the hopes of making some quick money whilst doing the bare minimum amount work and preparation. They expect to be making the type of money super affiliates make within five minutes of joining an affiliate program without doing anything other than send out a few ezine ads. How do I know?Because I was there, I did exactly the same thing, i. . .

Does The Lion Test?

Are you afraid of change? Are you afraid of trying new ideas to help grow your internet home business? A lot of people who start out in online business make the mistake of putting up a website and expect to make lots of sales without any revisions or alterations to the various component parts of their websites. Either they are ignorant of the fact that they should be making and testing differen. . .

Five Reasons the Economy Will Crash and Will Stay Crashed

If the U.S. economy had to be summed up in one word, the word would be unsustainable. From entitlement programs to trade deficits, the U.S. economy cannot continue indefinitely on its current course. Sadly, changing course is difficult and political impossibilities are quickly giving way to mathematical impossibilities. The economy will soon come face to face with problems that cannot be sol. . .

Who Loves Networking????

Many professionals who don’t enjoy networking equate it with selling. I have heard many say, I’m a professional. I didn’t go to school to learn to sell and they didn’t teach it. It is a common belief that in order to get new clients professionals need to make cold calls and do other activities they find distasteful and uncomfortable. It would be helpful and probably a relief to understand that . . .

Are You on Overload? Delegation is One Key

You probably know that delegating work to others is a great and appropriate way to save time, prioritize your own agenda and to focus on what you "should" be doing. However, knowing when and how to delegate well is the key to being successful at it. First, what does it mean to delegate?Del-e-gate: to assign responsibility or authority (from http://www.m-w.com)Next, are you successful at delegat. . .

A Happy Professional Chooses Clients

Many professionals do not refuse clients out of fear of losing money. However, there is another side to the coin -- the high price of the negative effect of accepting everyone who walks in the door. One happy professional I know, a lawyer, always has a clear view of both his service and his ideal client. Contrary to the conventional notion never to turn away a client, his laser beam approach a. . .

Free Roulette System That Wins

Many roulette systems have been tried out over the years, most failing miserably - a classic example would be the 'Martingale' system, which expects you to continue 'doubling up' on losing bets with the only certainty being that at some point it will clean you out.The 'Supabets' (TM) method though, relies on 2 things for its success. First, the existance of online casinos, where there are no pi. . .

Investing: The Art Of Making Your Money Work For You

There is a lot to know about investing. It all depends on what type of investing you are interested in as well. There are many different types of investment options out there. So what is investing, specifically? When you invest, you are paying in a certain amount of money that you expect to grow with time. Most investments are considered long term investments meaning you will not get your money. . .

Debt Facts

In 2003, almost one and a third percent of US househoulds (about 1,650,000) filed for bankruptcy, indicating that bankruptcy may not have quite the stigma attached to it as in other parts of the world.Somehow, the USA, with a population of about 294 million, managed to have over a billion credit cards in issue. That's over 4 cards for every man women and child. About 20,000 different cards are . . .

How Venture Leasing Added Millions To A Startup's Equity ...

Craig Berman beamed noticeably after completing his board presentation. Berman, CEO of a startup that develops nanotechnology applications for the defense industry, had just closed a $ 20 million equity round. Berman finalized the round at an equity valuation that made the whole board blush. Only six months earlier, Berman’s team faced a daunting technical delay that set the company back three . . .

Excel Works, But When Is Industry Specific Better?

There are many businesses in the sign & graphics industry currently using Microsoft Excel for quoting and tracking jobs. In fact you could be one of them. Under certain circumstances using Excel to manage these tasks could be an adequate way to handle shop management. But how do you know when it is time to look for pricing, job tracking and a better software solution? What should you look for w. . .

Staying Cool When the Job Heats Up

Jobs are heating up. We're all feeling the pinch of hiring freezes and information overload. Workplace stress is increasing right along with the workload. Headaches are turning into migraines; back pains are driving us to the chiropractor, and minor irritations are causing tempers to flair. In addition to our personal reaction to stress, it is taking its toll on the bottom line. Stress is drivi. . .

A Different Light Shed on the Insurance Industry

There’s a relatively unknown market in the insurance industry that consumers need to know about. This is a market where a single agent can offer you multiple choices from multiple companies. This is the independent insurance agency market.When you have an independent agent (IA) who you know and trust, you shouldn’t have to find a new agent again. As an IA you have the ability to “shop” a cus. . .

Spinning Gold from Straw: Low Cost Employee Retention and...

Employee retention and motivation…why should employers care? A storm is brewing. National productivity was up 3.9% in the second quarter and 1.9% in the third quarter of 2004. At the same time, the unemployment rate was up 5.5% in October 2004. “Productivity is up, but fewer people are doing more,” said Jennifer Loftus, SPHR, CCP, CBP, GRP, National Director, Astron Solutions. “In addition. . .

Debt Management

At times of severe financial crisis Debt Management Plan (DMP) helps you to manage your funds and also protects you from the humiliation of debt struck conditions. The famous American author Washington Irving in ‘Wolfert’s Roost’ addressed dollar as Almighty and described it as the great object of Universal devotion. A man who can manage his dollars well can manage his life as well. A Debt. . .

Home Based Business: Income Tax Information

Understanding your Tax obligations relative to your Home Based Business can be a confusing issue. The IRS has been more attentive to the claims made by Home Based Business operators; therefore it is imperative that we educate ourselves about our obligations and responsibilities.The IRS website provides information regarding Home Based Business tax obligations and requirements.http://www.irs.gov. . .

Staying Excited About Your Business

I had a blast at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta events. When I told some Albuquerque natives and semi-natives how excited I was about attending, I usually got the same response: “Oh, you won’t get that excited after you’ve been here awhile.”Who knows. Maybe that will be true. But, I hope not. I felt like a little kid. Watching several hundred balloons taking off during early morni. . .

Managing Your Business When One Client Takes Alot of Your...

How often has your schedule been thrown out of whack because of a client’s needs? I try to live by the 80/20 rule: working from my home office 80% of the time and working onsite with clients 20% of the time. But, the past week has been the exact opposite. I had a demanding onsite project. I had to drive halfway across town and give up my weekend to help my client meet their deadline. Yeah, I kn. . .

How to Fire an Employee

One of the most difficult tasks you will face as a business owner will be firing employees. Employees who consistently break the rules, do not perform the functions of their job, or cause difficulties for your business can be a strain on the work environment, your cash flow, and even disrupt your business from thriving and performing as expected. This tutorial will give you steps and hints abou. . .

Business Planning 101

SELLING YOU ON YOUR BUSINESS! You’ve probably heard it said that a business plan is a selling document. While it is very true that your business plan will be an invaluable aid to you in selling your business to others, you may not have considered that it can be a great way to sell or re-sell YOU on the business you have started. By examining how your ideas and products fit into the competitive . . .

The Safest Way to Start Your Own Business

Many people are frustrated by their current full-time jobs, but hesitate to take that first step toward independence out of fear. When you’re used to a steady paycheck from a regular job, and have family and other financial obligations, stepping out of your comfort zone just seems too risky – no matter how miserable you are with your current situation. Your employer, however, could be your ti. . .

Same Time Next Year: Using Editorial Calendars as Part of...

It's the time of year when calendars crowd out the books and magazines in bookstores and are even on sale at reduced prices. But there’s a special kind of calendar that all good public relations professionals use – the editorial calendar. According to Shannon Cherry, using editorial calendars is one of the most effective, yet most overlooked tool in a publicist’s toolkit. “Most people avoid usi. . .

14 Publicity Tips You Can't Live Without

How do you best promote yourself, your business or your cause using publicity? The list could easily be 100 items long. But 14 items stand out that can make yours a winning publicity campaign. If you follow these 14 tips, you tremendously increase your chances of getting publicity. Even better, all 14 tips are easy to put into action. Here are the Magic 14: Establish a Consistent Look - A grea. . .

New Year Resolutions to a Better Financial Future

There could not be a better time to mull over the changes needed in our life style than at the beginning of a New Year. This is also a good time to set yearly goals and make resolutions. Each year, according to statistics, almost a third of us make some kinds of New Year Resolutions. Interestingly, although financial future is our main cause of anxiety, our personal finance, according to . . .

Publicizing Your Company

Got a huge need for publicity and a tiny publicity budget? You don’t need to have a Madison Avenue-sized advertising budget to make your name known. Here are five ideas to help you promote your company:1. Write a column. Go to a local paper, no matter how small, and offer to write a column on your area of expertise or on business in general. Don’t ask to be paid for it, and promise not to promo. . .

The "Psyche" of The Seller and The Tenant Buyer

For those of you who were not psychology majors the "psyche" is someone's mind. What motivates them. What are they thinking. How can you better understand them. All of which is important to those of us in lease purchasing. In fact, it is important to any business person. The ability to know what motivates your customer, how your customer thinks, and tapping into their "psyche" is what makes so. . .

Preparing a Budget

Ok, you say, I know I need a budget, but how do I prepare one? The most common budget period is one year, but this can vary depending on whether or not your business has seasonal or cyclical fluctuations. For example if you run a Christmas decorations shop, or a costume shop your business is going to peak during certain times of the year. The budgeting process usually begins with the collection. . .

Procrastination Emancipation

It's early January as I sit down to research and write this newsletter. I launch my web browser, surf over to MSN.com, surprised to find the feature article displaying a picture of Santa Claus with the caption "It's not too late to have your presents arrive on time." Somebody's been procrastinating - either Bill Gates or me (maybe I didn't refresh my browser). Or maybe my computer is trying to . . .

New Years Resolutions And Branding

Happy NEW YEAR!!!!! I hope you rang in the New Year with your loved ones and I pray that you had a wonderful time doing it. As the New Year approaches, how do you plan to take your business to new heights? Will you cut out unproductive products, services, and marketing tactics? Will you finally have set hours? Will you advertise more and where? Will you hire extra help so you can concentrate on. . .

Why You Should Invest In Real Estate

Why real estate, or why property, some people ask when looking for an investment. Well, as far as I am concerned, real estate/property investment is, and always has been, the most powerful type of investment for building wealth. It has been said that over 90% of the world's millionaires got there by owning property. The reason property is such a powerful way to build wealth is due to one key co. . .

Science Shows How To Win The Lottery

How would you like to win the Lottery? Like, Doh! But strangely enough, according to a highly respected boffin, there may actually be a mathematically viable way to win the Lotto without breaking any of the rules of physics that normally render it a once-in-2-thousand-lifetime possibility (playing once a week, you'd be due a win sometime in the next quarter of a million years!!).Predicting the . . .

To Refinance... or Not, That Is The Question??

What does it mean to refinance? Why would someone want to refinance? There are many cases when a person would refinance. When we use the term refinance, we are typically referring to a loan such as a car or house loan. It may also be a business loan. For the purpose of this article, we are going to discuss the home loan but most of the same rules of refinancing apply to other types of loans as . . .

You Lost Your Debit Card -- How Much Do You Pay?

You stop at the grocery store for just a few items, but the next thing you know, you have a cart full of food and only a few bucks in you pocket. That when you notice that you left your checkbook at home, but it’s not a problem you have your debit card with you. You slide your card, punch in a few numbers and your on your way. A few days later you notice that you don’t have your debit card and . . .

Investors Lose Buying Market Leaders -- Stop Chasing Perf...

You read right. Millions of investors guarantee their failure by selecting mutual funds and stocks based on quarterly or annual performance records. Do you chase performance? You might be buying high and selling low! As the year draws to a close, millions of mutual fund investors begin an annual event to divine next year’s winners. Yet most of these individuals rely heavily on a time-honored – . . .

Can't Afford to Retire Until 7 Years After You're Dead? T...

Five Strategies for Having Enough Money for Your Dream Retirement (While You're Still Breathing)Most people think that's all retirement is about -- having enough money to sit on the deck, play golf, and visit the grandkids. But that's the old model -- not today's retirement. I believe you can revolutionize your retirement even if you can't count on 80% of your current revenue when you stop wo. . .

The Power of Partnering

“Get the sale at any cost.”“Make more calls.”“Tell them what they want to hear.”Sales professionals in virtually every industry are under tremendous pressure to close sales. It is not uncommon for them to hear comments similar to ones above from their sales manager, supervisor, or boss. But this approach does not create trust with customers and does not encourage repeat business or a lasting re. . .

What is Bridging Finance?

Once you understand what the term, “Bridging Finance” means, it’s easy to understand how it got its name. The purpose of a bridging or bridge loan is to provide short term cash for a real estate transaction until permanent financing is secured. Bridge loans are commonly used to “bridge the cash gap” when completing commercial real estate transactions.Everyone knows it’s difficult to time the . . .

US Commercial Mortgage Basics

Commercial mortgage loans are used when purchasing structures such as office buildings, apartment complexes, health care facilities and retail outlets. Whether it’s a hi-rise tower or a family-owned restaurant, buyers typically need additional funding to complete the transaction. Commercial mortgages are what they pursue.Similar in many ways to residential loans, commercial mortgages require f. . .

The Right Mutual Funds For Baby Boomers

The Right Mutual Funds For Baby Boomers By C.C. Collins, Wealth Strategist, http://wealthscientist.comIf you are a baby boomer, time is not on your side. Many baby boomers see retirement age fast approaching with little to nothing in the way of retirement assets that will allow them to actually retire and live a comfortable lifestyle.With the benefit of time in short supply, substantial investm. . .

How to play Pro Blackjack

If you don't have much Blackjack experience, it can be daunting stepping up to the tables for a game. You can, however, hide the fact of your inexperience very simply by remembering these straightforward rules. (Note - the rules of BlackJack will differ from area to area and from casino to casino, but the general principles are the same. When in doubt, ask!). A typical BlackJack table seats a d. . .

How to Construct A Powerful Profit Pulling Business Portf...

What is a portfolio and do I really need one? A portfolio is simply a group of investments held by an investor. It’s a very carefully chosen selection of businesses and generally, yes; it’s a good idea to have one. Let look at it this way. Imagine that you owned an umbrella shop. If it didn’t rain for several weeks, you would make no sales at all and therefore, you would make no money. If your . . .

Differentiation -- Smart Marketing Strategies for the Sol...

Are you ever frustrated or hesitant when you talk to prospective customers because you can’t readily explain why they should come to you rather than go to your competitors? Sure, you might have your 30-second elevator speech, but then they ask you that dreaded question, “So what makes you different?” Then, all those self-doubts creep in, and you just aren’t sure what to say. Differentiation can. . .

Conveyor System

Conveyor system is a material handling equipment. It is extensively deployed to transfer load from one place to another. Conveyor system expedites the movement of materials between people or automated equipment or between people to automated equipment.Conveyor system can efficiently move every kind of material. It can easily move wood, metal, cardboard and plastic.Conveyor system is crucial for. . .

Discovery Procedures for Building Effective Management Sy...

Part One in a Five Part SeriesImagine what a professional football team would be like without a regimen of practice drills? Now take away their playbook and player statistics. What you have in this extreme scenario are highly talented (and perhaps overpaid) individuals participating in organized chaos. They might actually win a game or two, but in the long run, this team is doomed. Management P. . .

Invest in the stock market for the RIGHT reason, using th...

Investing in the stock market is not purchasing a stock at 25 dollars a share, hoping it will go to 35 so you can sell it, then hoping it will drop back to 25 so you can buy it back, so that you can sell it again at 35, and so on and so forth. In my opinion, that is gambling. And, I would imagine, some would believe that ANY investment in the stock market is gambling. So, for the sake of argume. . .

Identity Theft - Is Your Business At Risk?

More and more business owners are purchasing document shredders then ever before.Why?... Identity theft for starters.A new law is going into effect in the summer of 2005 which states that if you employ anyone for any reason and have personal information on file regarding that individual for Social Security taxes, credit references, etc., you will have to destroy that information on any document. . .

Freelance Work: The Changing Face of Employment

No more working for the same company for fifty years. Freelance work is becoming more and more prominent. On-line you can find work or someone to do a job. Check out www.guru.comThe world sure is changing, and if you look at job employment you will see what I mean. Let's just go back to our grandparent's generation, even though I'm sure if we went back further we would see very different struct. . .

Corporate Design

A rough guide to corporate identityThe tabloids report the millions spent by large corporate companies on their logos as a scandal... Those small swathes of colour adorning British Airways’ tail fin, ICI’s letterhead or Sainsbury’s checkout seem to come at a huge price.So do these companies have too much money and not enough common sense? Are they victims of designer indulgence, or are they get. . .

More Bang for Your Buck With Mortgages

Choosing a knowledgeable mortgage lender can make a difference in the quality of home you are able to purchase with your finances. I prefer to recommend a mortgage broker to my clients, because they usually offer 50 or more programs. Regular mortgage companies are usually locked into one source. Take time to research a mortgage lender. And, remember, creative financing can be the way to go if y. . .