Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Porter's Five Forces Analysis

If you’ve ever listened to Warren Buffett talk about investing, you’ve heard him mention the idea of a company’s moat. The moat is a simple way of describing a company's competitive advantages. Company's with a strong competitive advantage have large moats, and therefore higher profit margins. And investors should always be concerned with profit margins.This article looks at a methodology ca. . .

Nuts and Bolts of Effective Cover Letters

As a job seeker, you shouldn't overlook the importance of a cover letter. If written strategically, a cover letter increases your chances for consideration, and provides an opportunity to highlight your individuality. A cover letter is much more than just a letter stating, "I read the job announcement in Sunday's classified, please accept this letter as an application of interest". It is a sta. . .

It's All About The Customers, Baby

If you want to ensure a steady stream of customers in your business, you must always remember why you're in business in the first place. Sure you want to earn a decent income for yourself, but you also want to provide a useful service don't you? That second reason should take precedence over the first. Your main aim should be to provide a useful service to people. Making lots of money from it. . .

The Big Picture: 5 Questions that Can Boost your Business

As business managers, entrepreneurs, and Webmasters, we strive for unobtainable perfection. Why do I say unobtainable? Because when we focus on perfection in one area, we forego attention elsewhere. Limited money and time mean you must choose from the endless parade of advice and recommendations. This creates a dilemma. How do you choose which to embrace and which to pass up?Consultants, specia. . .

Hey, Mr/Ms Manager!

Does it really make sense to bet your PR budget on results like newspaper mentions and zippy brochures while your all-important outside audience behaviors are probably receiving much less attention than they need? I mean, the concern is valid. What your most important external audiences believe about your organization, and then to what behaviors those perceptions lead, has a lot to do with w. . .

Prepare to Sell!

Sales is a critical part of any business, including non-profits. Sales is not complicated or difficult, but requires preparation, consistent action and a plan. Before completing any preparatory work in sales, consider asking yourself some tough questions. Why are you in this business? Do you believe in your product/service? What are you trying to accomplish?When you believe in your product . . .

The 11 Best Money Saving Ideas of All Time - Part 2

At any time in history, no matter what the current state of the economy, no matter what the current trends, no matter what the unemployment rate is or where interest rates lurk, some money-saving ideas stay true. Some of you may have heard of these ideas before, others may be entirely new to you. But whether you are familiar with these super secrets or not, it will be well worth your while to p. . .

If Your PR Can't Do This, Bag It!

As a business, non-profit or association manager, why continue a public relations effort that doesn’t deliver the key external audience behaviors you need to achieve your department, division or subsidiary objectives? Time for a change. One that will base your PR effort on a fundamental premise that makes sense. And one that actually leads to outside audience behaviors like these: new proposals. . .

Hiring A Virtual Assistant Can Help Your Business Grow

In today’s tough economical times it’s hard to think of hiring someone else to assist you, but it may be more cost effective than you think. If you’re spending a large percentage of your day doing “busy work” rather than working on growing your business or gaining more clients, a virtual assistant may be right for you.Are you a writer, but spend more time researching and less time on your actu. . .

Are You In The Right Online Business?

Did you select the right online business to pursue? People that are struggling find it difficult to admit they are possibly in the wrong business. Fortunately for everyone, many bad decisions can be corrected if recognized early enough. This article is intended to help you understand the available opportunities and hopefully improve your chances for future success.Supply And Demand!Everyone . . .

Create a Win Win for Small Your Small Business

Discover How Specialized Cost Containment Creates A New Win-Win Position For Property Owner’s And YouProperty Management: A simple strategy to increase client loyaltyBy Gary L. GoldsmithProperty managers who pro-actively employ advanced techniques to help property owners and anchor tenants reduce operating costs, will most certainly be considered a more valuable business asset. When you can ach. . .

A New Job Opportunity

HR Lady stared at me across the desk. She was trying to size me up, to understand what makes me tick. I had explained that I wanted to work for MegaCorp, and that I was the perfect person to fill a position that had not even been advertised."Tell me again why you want to be the official MegaCorp scapegoat," she demanded.I thought I had explained it well enough. Every company needs a scapegoa. . .

Secrets of Getting Free Advertising

The opportunities for getting free advertising for your product or services are limited only by your own imagination and energies. There are so many proven ways of promoting your own objectives without cost that it literally boggles the mind just to think of listing them.One way is to write an article relative to your particular expertise and submit it to all the publications and media dealing . . .

The Game Plan – the Difference Between Small Business Suc...

It is an American dream to own a business. But sadly, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, only 1 in 5 businesses is still in business 5 years after it opens.A business needs a great business plan, but it doesn’t give management enough information to have a successful, profitable business. You dramatically increase your chance of success with a game plan. According to a PriceWaterhou. . .

Are Homeowners Due A Refund

According to U.S. Government Auditors more that 45% of all home mortgages and 75% of home equity loans contain miscalculations or errors in favor of the lender. These errors are costing homeowners to be overcharged billions of dollars per year, and with the number of home mortgages being refinanced because of low interest rates, the figures can only increase.This problem presents a unique oppor. . .

The Seven Deadly Tax Sins: Commonly Missed Deductions

It's that time again, the April 15 tax deadline is looming large. If youre like most people, you havent gathered all of your tax records, let alone filled your return.Before you dig in and get started, take this opportunity to first review a list of a few tax deductions to which you may be entitled if you itemize deductions but most people overlook. Many of these deductions are subject to vario. . .

Halliburton Under Fire

The shareholders of Halliburton are trying to stop state-sponsored terrorism, using the same economic leverage that was effective against South African racism in the 1970's. Back then, shareholders used corporate resolutions to stop companies from doing business in South Africa. The tactic helped bring a peaceful end to an unpopular regime. Today, shareholders are trying to stop companies from . . .

Career Change Is Not For Wimps! 3 Powerful Steps to Do Wo...

Tough words….but I truly believe that folks who make career changes should be applauded for their courage. The courage to live closer to their authentic selves. The courage to put aside all the negativity we hear about the economy. The courage to face their own fears.Most people will change careers 5-10 times in their lifetimes. Not just jobs – but whole new careers. At the same time, we’re not. . .

Is Your Website Blacklisted?

A blacklist, as the name implies, is a list of people or companies who have met with the disapproval of others. In the online world a blacklist refers to those people who have been marked as responsible for generating spam in a very big way. Blacklists are also known as blocklists.Blacklists are used to combat spam in a very specific way. When spam is reported to one of the relevant spam fighti. . .

What is an Investor Ready Business Plan

A Business Plan, as all good entrepreneurs starting out in life should know is the foundation, or rather a springboard, towards the establishment and growth of a new business. A business plan is an essential tool for companies raising capital – and your business plan needs to be Investor Ready. What is an Investor Ready business plan? An investor ready business plan is a document that has been . . .

Nourishing Your Network

It takes less effort to keep an existing customer than to gain a new customer. This is Business 101. Corporations focus on acquisition, but they must also focus on customer service and retention in order to be successful. So why don’t people apply this philosophy to their personal network? For some people the word “networking” conjures up events where people pass out business cards indiscrimina. . .

Negotiating the Real Estate Contract

Negotiation is the process of communication back and forth in order to reach a joint agreement. There is no "one size fits all" strategy of negotiating a real estate contract. Many of our clients have been very experienced negotiators, and we have learned a great deal from them, as well as from books on the subject. We would like to share some of our thoughts on negotiating with you:What do we . . .

How To Make Sure Your Customers Still Trust You

The stock market is still on a wild roller coaster ride. Trust in business is at an all time low. Do your customers still trust you? Here are seven ways to help you make sure. 1. Go the extra mile. Under promise and over deliver - a time worn concept that still works every time. Be there for your customers and show them how reliable you are. It's your actions that count, not your words. 2. Prov. . .

The Organized Job Search

Many people, under financial or other pressures to find work quickly, feel they can’t afford to take the time to get organized. On the other hand, conducting your job search in an organized manner will reduce the amount of time you spend looking for information, following inappropriate leads, or waiting for your dream job to fall into your lap. It generally takes at least a month to find an ent. . .

Lessons In Leadership: What Not To Do... From A Canoe!

When it comes to fishing, my husband takes the lead. But his lack of leadership ability in a recent canoe trip on the Boundary Waters in Northern Minnesota offered wonderful lessons on how leaders can unknowingly screw up. (1) Assign responsibility without authority. Bill insisted that in order to cast his fishing line, he needed to be in the back of the canoe. I was to paddle as he cast and tr. . .

Should You Be In Business?

To be or not to be an entrenpreneur!Get a mirror, take this quiz, and find out! Your face says a lot about you, so be truthful and answer yes or no.DO YOU HAVE THE "RIGHT" FEATURES TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN BUSINESS?1 - Do you have high cheekbones?2 - Do you have a cleft in your chin? 3 - Do you have long nostril? 4 - Do you have a high domed forehead? 5 - Do you have a hook nose? 6 - Are you upper . . .

Do you Know the Benefits of Checking your Credit Report?

Do you know why you should check your credit report?Of course you do, because you have undoubtedly experienced one working in your life!No matter where you roam, your credit report follows you through life, updating all aspects of your life: your employment, where you live, your opened credit accounts, your closed accounts, your payment history, and even public records on you. In this country,. . .

Identity Theft Exploding: Here’s How you can Avoid Becomi...

Americans are more concerned about identity theft than unemployment or corporate fraud, according to a survey of 2,000 people conducted by Star Systems. Nine out of ten Americans demand new federal legislation, while two-thirds say the financial services industry needs to do a better job of verifying the identity of customers who open bank accounts (66 percent) and credit card accounts (72 perc. . .

Find a Job in a Fast Growing Field Using Labor Market Inf...

The question confronting most people who want to find a job is "what's a good paying job with growth potential?" At one time, the Conestoga wagon building trade boomed as people joined the wagon trains heading west. Today, the boom is long gone and those wanting to find a job with a future will most likely wish to stay away from such a field. So how can you find a job that will reasonably be ex. . .

Minimize your Risk for Identity Theft

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America. According to the Federal Trade Commission, the number of identity theft incidents reached 9.9 million in 2003. These crimes are estimated to have taken the average victim $500 and 30 hours to resolve.From stolen credit cards to total identity kidnapping, these ugly and prevalent crimes are hard to prevent and often difficult to correct. Al. . .

"Do You Mind If Someone Screams At You?

A headhunter was on the other end of the phone. He was looking for an assistant to a CEO/Owner for a small, but very successful business. Essentially, he wanted someone at his disposal night and day. That didn't seem like a huge deal. And then the next question came..."Do you mind if someone screams at you?" As soon as I could get past the sirens going off in my head, and visions of Dilbert com. . .

How I Became a Hard Money Lender

Unlike other investors, my venture into real estate was a natural extension of my secondary business as the IP Ware software developer. However, opportunity and perseverance beget wealth, or at least a decent side income. Aside from my ventures into lease optioning residential property, I and my partner have managed to acquire a number of properties with our own credit. However, when looking at. . .

3 Simple Keys Will Make Your Customers Stick

Do you spend a lot of time and energy courting prospective new customers, hoping to pump up your bottom line? If so, you're probably missing an untapped source of sales that exists right inside your company -- there's truth in the statement that your customer list is your most valuable asset. There's a gold mine of opportunities to make easier sales and create a loyal following of customers tha. . .

Investors: Avoid These 5 Common Tax Mistakes

For many investors, and even some tax professionals, sorting through the complex IRS rules on investment taxes can be a nightmare. Pitfalls abound, and the penalties for even simple mistakes can be severe. As April 15 rolls around, keep the following five common tax mistakes in mind – and help keep a little more money in your own pocket. 1. Failing To Offset GainsNormally, when you sell an i. . .

Cash Advance Payday Loans

The ads are on the radio, television, the Internet, even in the mail. They refer to payday loans - which come at a very high price. Check cashers, finance companies and others are making small, short-term, high-rate loans that go by a variety of names: payday loans, cash advance loans, check advance loans, post-dated check loans or deferred deposit check loans. Usually, a borrower writes a pers. . .

Networking Tips - Getting An 800 Number

Another way to network is by using an 800 number and establishing a network of experts to refer your clients/customers to. An 800 number provides a way for your customers to reach you. You can answer information needs, resolve problems and obtain information from your customers. You will of course need to publicize your 800 number in your promotional materials, and advertisements. The best way . . .

Networking 101

As a new business owner you must wear many hats.You will need knowledge of accounting, marketing, advertising, management, administration, inventory, sales, etc., in addition to knowledge pertaining to your industry. Since you may be very proficient in some of these areas, but not in others, reading and learning about these other areas is imperative. Of course, the question is, when do I find t. . .

How To Improve Your Negotiating Skills

Negotiation will be an important area for every homebased business owner, especially in lease purchasing. Whether you're dealing with suppliers, employees, or prospective clients, you're negotiating. The following tips will help you to negotiate better.A. Know what you want. Establish a goal and what will satisfy you.B. Develop a plan. Develop a negotiating strategy. Where do you want to start . . .

How to Write a Business Plan in Five Steps

People often ask "What makes a good business plan? Or, "How do I make my plan attractive to lenders and investors?". The simple answer is that lenders and investors (I'll call them "readers" from here on out) are looking for "good deals". A "good deal" is one that offers the reader a reasonable rate of return for the risk assumed. The complete answer is that you should write a plan that a reade. . .

What is an Artist's Statement & How Often Should It Be Up...

An artist’s statement is a statement of ideas and thoughts that describe your philosophy, vision, and passion towards your artistic creations. Ponder over the following questions prior to writing your artist’s statement: Is your work whimsical, thought provoking, or edgy? Does it portray a series of stories? Whom or what has influenced you the most? How is your work meaningful to y. . .

How to Get the Best Price for Your House

The best price to sell your home is always determined by how you compare against your competition, the house down the street. If your property looks better than the next guy’s the customer will buy yours. It all comes down to image, making sure it shows at its best. This is accomplished with minor repairs, some decorating and a lot of elbow grease. It’s no different than a used car dealer shini. . .

Independent RN Contractors Are Taking The Nursing Profession

Nurses wake up and take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity. Are you tired of having no input in your career, little money in the bank, lack of respect for your profession and little compensation for the long hours and years of dedication? Independent RN Contractor is a great way to renew your interest and rejuvenate your nursing career. As An Independent Nurse Contractor you will incre. . .

CAUSE AND EFFECT! CHOOSE A PATH...

Three steps to your Personal Transformation: Awareness and Perception Law of Cause and Effect Law of AccumulationThese categories are what you need to understand in order to be in total control of your being!Most go through life never reaching their potential because they never take control of all their faculties or abilities.This information is designed to help you gain complete control of you. . .

Cash Flow Management

Cash. Most people want more. When running a small business it's particularly important to monitor how cash is coming in and how much cash is going out. This month, I'd like to take a few minutes to share some ideas on cash flow management as in how you can keep more cash in your business for a longer time. 1) Periodically re-evaluate your expenses. If you are anything like me your business chan. . .

Need A Sales Boost – Try These!

The telephone is still the best and most effective way to reach people. It can help generate more sales and build your business. Unfortunately most people don’t like the telephone and don’t use it effectively. In order to become more proficient using the telephone, you need to follow some basic guidelines and then practice, practice and then practice some more. Like everything else, selling by. . .

Can Nurses Be Entrepreneurs?

Yes, Nurses can be entrepreneurs. In today’s market place nursing has a unique service to offer not only to hospitals but nursing homes, private care and doctor offices. We as nurses have the skill, knowledge and motivation to be successful entrepreneurs. Nurses are tired of being told how much our services are worth. The economy is ripe for the nurse entrepreneur. Why wait? The nursing sho. . .

Tips for Curing Bad Customer Service

Bad customer service is everywhere these days — unmanned front desks, surly servers, clueless staff, employees talking on the phone, and managers who refuse to acknowledge a customer. It’s no longer an exception ... poor service has become the norm.In an all-too-typical scene, a customer walks into a retail store with a question about where to find a product. The employee, who is busy and doe. . .

Five Steps to An Effective Business Plan

You have an idea for a business. You know what you want to sell, who you can sell it to, and how much you stand to earn from it. There's just one more thing you need: a business plan. Many people dread the idea of preparing a business plan. They think of them as complicated, unnecessary documents that exist only to make it more difficult for them to get started as an entrepreneur. They are wron. . .

Can You Really Improve Your Organisation Skills

I'm sure most of you have heard of Zig Ziglar International Sales Guru. Well in one of Zig's weekly newsletters, there were a number of comments about the habits of well-organised people which I couldn't resist sharing with you.What are the habits of well-organised people?Can a person be 'taught' skills that will make them organised, or is that a quality you either possess or lack?We asked thos. . .

The 'Eighth Wonder of the World?'

I'm sure you've heard this term used at least once or twice… And if you're like many people, you've maybe never thought about its true significance. One person even went as far as to say that 'those who understood it, were certain to collect it, while those that didn't would be doomed to pay it'. Many have even called it the 'eighth wonder of the world'... Some time ago now, someone asked. . .