Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Top 10 Mistakes Made in Business Plans

Lenders and investors may see hundreds of business plans in a single day. Make your business plan stand out against the rest, and avoid these common mistakes. 1. Not proving that you have the management expertise to make it happen. The quality of your people will lend credibility to your ideas and even to your financial projections. If your management team is not as strong as it could be, join . . .

The Art of Being Specific Encourages Focus

Being specific has often been difficult for me. I like to dream big and incorporate everything all at once. That is why going from a hobby to a career with Rothline Entertainment (http://www.rothline.com) was more difficult than it needed to be. Rothline Entertainment debuted in August 2003 specifically focused on marketing computer and video games and PC software. However, it took me a while t. . .

Become A Mortgage Auditing Specialist

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. . .

Being a Disciplined Home Business Boss

Leaving the corporate world for a home business is exciting. Being one’s own boss and making one’s own decisions is a great feeling. However, one still needs to have discipline to be effective at being a home business boss. In my home business I have found at least two things that one must be persistently disciplined about in order to achieve success.First is the work schedule. A home business. . .

Performance Reviews That Actually Improve Performance

Employee performance reviews are one of the most dreaded tasks by most managers. It is hard to win here – you can never say enough good things, and one word of criticism is generally the only thing they will remember. Taking the easy way out and just documenting the positive will cause you a lot of trouble if you ever need to fire the employee. The only way this ever gets better is with a lot o. . .

How To Develop Software For Your Business

Software development is a risky business. Many software developers are barely skilled at their trade, much less at business. They can't understand how your business operates - and their code isn't unreliable. It crashes constantly. It isn't professional. It hurts your business. If you want software developed for your business, what can you do? You need a software development professional - a co. . .

How to Start Your Own Business

Have you ever seen an business opportunity infomercial? I saw one last night that was a classic. The product was set against a backdrop of cascading dollar bills (literally money flowing over the equipment). The voice over said something like "want to work less and get rich? - call now!". In essence they were saying that if you bought their machine you could stop working for a living and easily. . .

Want This Kind of PR?

PR that really does something positive about the behaviors of those outside audiences that most affect your business, non-profit or association? PR that uses its fundamental premise to deliver external stakeholder behavior change – the kind that leads directly to achieving your managerial objectives? PR that persuades those important outside folks to your way of thinking, then moves them to. . .

Work-from-home Office Policies

It has come to our attention that self-employed people have somehow escaped the burden of "office policies". No longer. Now even work-from-home hermits can revel in the burden of "office policies." (This is part three of a series that began at http://www.thehappyguy.com/hermit.html and continued at http://thehappyguy.com/pajamas.html .)Every office needs office policies, if for no other reas. . .

How Your Business Can Pick A Software Developer

Eventually, your business is going to need to have some software development. Your business is unique - you can't rely on a huge, faceless corporation to handle your unique needs with a shrinkwrapped, mass produced, production-line solution. You need custom software, and to get it, you'll need to pick an outside software developer. A hired gun. It's hard - after all, most businesspeople aren't . . .

Is Now the Right Time to Become An Entrepreneur?

A number of economic changes are magnifying the role of small business and creating the impetus for entrepreneurship.In the past, many people perceived small business owners as shopkeepers – the mom ‘n pop shops. Today, with a status boost, they’re entrepreneurs, and perceived to be on the leading edge.But is now the right time to step up to the plate and take a swing at starting a small busin. . .

Opportunity Will Knock, If It Can Find the Door

Is your home office a spare room full of whatever doesn't fit anywhere else? Does your daily commute end with winding your way through a corporate maze to your own crowded cubicle? Do you sit down at your desk and push piles of papers aside to create a little workspace? If this sounds familiar, and you know that your productivity is suffering, maybe you want to try a little feng shui in your wo. . .

When You Are Eligible For A Free Credit Report

By Federal law, you are entitled to one free credit report per year directly from a credit-reporting agency only if you certify that: 1. You are unemployed and seeking employment in the next 60 days. 2. You are receiving public assistance. 3. You believe there are inaccuracies in your credit report due to fraud 4. Also if you have been denied credit on the basis of information in a credit repor. . .

Maintaining Your Motivation

I recently spoke to a group of sales professionals at the end of their training conference. The attendees had participated in many learning sessions over a two day period – most of which were product related. I was scheduled to speak after dinner and I was somewhat concerned how attentive they would be by this time. Fortunately, in the days preceding, the company had structured the entire progr. . .

Take a Break from Leave Administration

Sunninghill, South Africa, February, 2004 - Techcharge Software launches LeaveForms, a web-browser based, employee self-service, leave administration system. Companies that use paper-based leave systems can obtain a significant Return on Investment by implementing the LeaveForms application. Leave Administration is one of the simplest Human Resource tasks performed in a company but if you are u. . .

How To Avoid Work-at-Home Scams and What To Do When You'r...

As more and more people opt-out of conventional jobs and instead choose to work from their homes, the number of work-at-home scams has also increased. Each year thousands of people find out the hard way that opportunities which are too good to be true usually are but not before they invest and waste millions of dollars a year.You don't have to be one of those unfortunate people. All you need to. . .

The Missing Link in Presentation Skills Training

Imagine you are the most amazing figure skater who ever lived. When rehearsing in a peaceful, empty rink, you demonstrate the ultimate in athleticism and artistry. You defy the laws of gravity as you leap in the air, landing with flawless precision. You spin with effortless grace and power; you execute jumps other skaters only dream about. On that ice, you are in your element, doing what you lo. . .

Five Things More Important to Buyers than WHAT You're Sel...

Article I of a two-part series. For Article II http://www.giantpotatoes.com/article202.htmNo matter what customers say they want, what they're really looking for is "something special." They can't quite describe it, but when they find it, they know.Indeed, those little details of the buying experience may appear intangible. But what you sell is usually less important to customers, almost incid. . .

How to Draw a Personal Budget that Works

Many people spend their little income haphazardly without any planning and end up getting broke before month-end. They then borrow to make ends meet and end up with more problems that they fail to repay their debts promptly. However, this is not a prudent way of managing your personal financial affairs. Planning your personal financial affairs through prioritization of needs and budgeting inc. . .

Shocking Facts - What Debt Settlement Companies Don't Tel...

If you're thinking about using a debt consolidation or debt settlement service to help you get out of debt faster and save money on your monthly payments, make sure you do your homework before choosing a company. There are definitely shams and scams out there. First let me say that debt consolidation is *not* the same as debt settlement/negotiation, which most people don't realize. Debt settlem. . .

Crisis Management Tips

The term crisis management has different connotations. In this article, I will try to provide pointers that can be used in most situations:Is It A Crisis In The First Place?:This question is important to ask, as there are many situations that go wrong because the right person to handle it is not around. You may be in charge of a project until your supervisor comes back and are unable to conta. . .

The Shrinking Ad Dollar

CPR CPA CTR... what does it all mean? What it means is dollars "out" of your pocket instead of "in" to your pocket. Advertising dollars are gaining in value, meaning the regular advertiser now gets MORE for his dollar than he did a few years back.An advertiser used to pay for "impressions",meaning everytime his ad showed on a web page it was counted as an impression. He would buy 1000 to 100000. . .

Why "Free Agent Thinking" Is Good For Your Company

It's no secret! Day after day the news is riddled with companies who are moving operations to other countries or completely closing their doors. Those who remain must transform themselves to lean, mean, businesses with a constant eye on reducing costs. For the first time, the baby-boomers are finding themselves in an unpredictable work environment. They are shaken by the instability of. . .

Is America Bankrupt?

The US Dollar has been falling continuously in last year. The Euro, not so long ago worth 82 cents, is now at $1.27 - this is a gain of more than 40 percent in a very short time. The same goes for the Aussie Dollar: from 50 US cents to 77 US cents (that's almost 50 percent up). Gold, which was trading at less than $300 per ounce for years, is now long past the $400 mark. What is happening to th. . .

Mining For Gold With The Best Affiliate Programs And Hitt...

Colin McDougall tinkered around with affiliate programs earning a few dollars, nothing much to write home about, even had his own e-commerce site, known as the man’s mall. In theory that site was supposed to offer all sorts of gadgets for guys. Colin created the site with the concept “build it they will come” but in reality no one did. Like so many dot.com ventures, it was a h. . .

Equipping Your Home Office - Part 2

In Part 1 of this article we discussed how to select office furnishings and why making the right choices were crucial to your comfort and ability to remain organized. In Part 2 we will take a look at your basic home office equipment needs. 1. Computers The type of computer that's best for you depends upon the type of work that you do, and whether you spend all of your time in your home office, . . .

Equipping Your Home Office - Part 1

Having an adequately equipped home office is essential to being productive. It is not necessary that everything be brand new, nor is it necessary that you spend a lot of money. What is important is that you select your items carefully and that they are functional and safe for use in a home office environment. Check your telephone directory for used office furniture stores. Many time you can fin. . .

Isurance Claim Handling Online - TPA Adjuster System

Claims management and administration software systems enable insurance claims adjusters, supervisors, and managers to process incidents and administer claims more efficiently and at a lower cost than traditional paper file and transport methods. Some areas that are made more efficient, thus lowering costs, are otherwise insufficient tracking and handling of medical provider billing (especially. . .

10 Things You Will Like About A Home Based Business

Here's a few things I've discovered along the way that you will like about owning your own home based business.1.You Are The BossHow many people endure a Boss that undervalues your contribution to the organization? Or one who takes credit for your work. More than you might think! Own your own business and you are the boss! You take the credit win, lose, or draw.2. Work The Hours You WantThat's . . .

The Lurking Affiliate and MLM Junkies

Ever since the introduction of money making programs became available. Mis-guiding experts decided to become more of a nuisance than provide realistic help to the newcomers on the net.The type experts to watch for--The Feel Good Presenters-These presenters seem to have such enlightenment That they forget about the real aspect of internet businesses and decide to market anything and everything.. . .

Workplace Fitness: A Gym Full Of Useful Advice For Conti...

Workplace Fitness: A Gym Full Of Useful Advice For Continual Learning"Where do you get all your energy?" That's a question many of us are asked as we finish leading an intense management retreat, conducting a training session, or keynoting a major conference. My answer, after I jokingly say, "Drugs!" is "Exercise". I've realized that some of the lessons learned in a physical fitness program. . .

10 Ways To Protect Your Financial Identity Being Used For...

Someone impersonating you could be spending your hard-earned money. Impossible! Not really, check, loan, and identity fraud are a real problem. In 2002, the federal trade commission estimated that identity fraud affected and estimated 3.3 million Americans; costing consumers $3.8 billion and business $32.9 billion. Here are 10 ways to protect yourself from having your financial identity used fo. . .

Are You An Innocent Victim of These Popular Myths?

Misconceptions, misinterpretations and just plain “untruths” are floating about income taxes. Believing them could be costing thousands of tax dollars!Myth: A Professional Tax Preparer knows all there is to know about taxes so you don't have to know anything them.Truth: Tax Preparer's/CPA's/Accountants are not uniformly informed about ALL tax laws. Most are able to file a personal income tax an. . .

Seeking Initiative and Innovation? Reward Failure!

Based on Proprietary Research"If you want to increase initiative and innovation, you have to encourage and embrace failure. A culture that punishes less-than-ideal risk-related outcomes will stifle both initiative and innovation".Prevailing in the face of intense competition requires companies to be nimble and innovative.An innovative and high-initiative culture helps an organization respond be. . .

It’s Not the Size of Your Bank Account

You might think that if you win the lottery or get a huge raise, all your problems will be solved. Sounds logical, right? Well, it might sound logical, but it isn’t. Having a bigger bank account will not make all of your problems disappear. Why? Because money is nothing more than a giant magnifying glass. Any problems you have with money only get bigger when you have more of it. There are peopl. . .

Taking Control of Your Workspace

Let's face it: it's HARD to always be "on" when you're at work. No matter how much you try, even the best-laid plans and schedules break down; sometimes it seems like all the forces are against you. You can get discouraged, weary, frustrated and unfocused. You can blame your boss, your spouse, interruptions, computer crashes, too much work, too little time...the list goes on and on.When it c. . .

Do the People in Your Organisation Dress For Success?

What really amazes me, with all the personal and professional development seminars people attend, from executives in corporate world, business owners and employees alike, very little investment has been made into the way they look ... personal image. Perception is RealityI'm no image consultant, however I have been to a couple of different ones to try and improve my appearance. Not from a vanit. . .

How to Boost Morale In Your Organisation

Who keeps the wheels turning in your organisation? Who holds it all together when chaos reigns supreme? Who can you rely on to run your department/business in your absence?Generally it's the admin/secretarial/support staff who toil away at their computers day after day, week after week and maybe year after year. Tell me…when's the last time you thanked or rewarded them for their efforts? I'm su. . .

Managing Stress - Hire the Right People

Managing stress is not easy if you don't have the right people in your business or team.One of the biggest challenges any business owner or manager has is hiring the right people.I've recently discovered a simple, inexpensive yet very effective way which will help you get it right.This week I've asked Nathan Chanesman, Managing Director of Myprofile Pty Ltd. to please explain…"Without quality e. . .

Turn An Arts And Crafts Hobby Into A Business

Are you searching for a quick way to make an extra income? Why not turn that Cooking Interest, Comic Book Collecting, or Your Retro Clothing Collection Into A Home Based Business Venture! Most people enjoy hobbies they have pursued with great enthusiasm for years. Even though they may find their leisure activities fulfilling and enjoyable they never imagined making money with a fun hobby! . . .

"Will That Be Cash Or Credit?"

From Bangkok to Edmonton, credit card statements stuff mail and email boxes with payment deadlines. Every bill reminds the giver that gifts given freely do not come free. Giving and buying often exceed generosity and need as a brittle piece of plastic becomes an avaricious spoiler of hopes and dreams. During this week, two families emailed me about credit card debt. One family lugs $12,000, and. . .

Give Candidates “A Day in the Life”

What sounds good on paper can sometimes be completely different in action. For candidates, this might mean a job that sounds very appealing until it's actually experienced.Finding out that your candidate doesn't really enjoy the work you've hired them for is not something you want to discover on Day 1 of their new position. So it can be worthwhile to give prospective candidates a taste of what'. . .

7 Basics to Look for in a Work at Home Business

We live in the age of the internet. No where has the internet made a bigger impact than in the area of the “work at home entrepreneur”. You want to start your own home based business. But, there are so many different ones. Some are legitimate, some aren’t. Since the purpose of your starting a business is to make money and free up some free time eventually, you certainly don’t want to waste your. . .

Ten Steps To Building A Good Credit History

Are you thinking of buying a house? Do you want to buy a new car to replace that old wreck? Trying to get insurance on you home, auto, or life? In each of these situations, what’s on your credit report will determine if you can get a loan or insurance and what rates you’ll have to pay. If you’re trying to build or repair your credit history, you have a daunting but not impossi. . .

Creating Value With Streaming Video Content

Having a corporate or promotional video for your company is often viewed as something of an expensive luxury – useful, but rarely considered to be an essential marketing tool. Whilst many businesses can understand the benefits of having a corporate video, all too often they are put off by the perceived cost and subsequently find it hard to justify commercially. Furthermore, the process of makin. . .

Time Out

The Patriots earned their money when settling the Super Bowl challenge thanks to Adam Vinatieri's kick through the goal posts. Just before that kick, the Carolina Panthers called time-out to unnerve Vinatieri and Kinchen, the stand in center. On Thursday, January 29, 2004, Greenspan and company suggested they might kick up short-term interest rates. Hinting a time out for interest rates unnerve. . .

Organisation Tips For The Mobile Executive

Despite the fact that everyone sighs "How glamorous!", the life of the business traveller can actually be hell! Fighting international datelines, jetlag, airline food, hotel pillows filled with rocks, and the constant packing can turn an efficient, organised corporate commando into a bumbling mess.The situation can be similar for those whose car has to occasionally transform into a mobile offic. . .

Downsizing in Organisations…The Real Truth

I've met and worked with many people in all sectors of the business world and found that the majority of managers and team leaders are spending too much of their time on basic administrative tasks. Tasks for which they have had no training in. In many instances people are stressed out with too many responsibilities due to ongoing restructuring and downsizing in their organisation.Get RealWhen y. . .

How To Leverage Your Current Ideas And Products Into Mult...

Diversify - to make diverse, give variety, to balance, to divide securities in different industries, to produce variety, to engage in varied operations.Diversification is a wealth building strategy; it is also an excellent method for becoming more profitable. By working on your business instead of in it you can remain focused on the big picture and clearly see the best options for creating mult. . .

10 Ways To Help You Plan Your Home Office For Productivit...

Some home offices are set up in a dedicated area just for the business, but most people need to have a family room, bedroom, or guest room do double duty. Getting focused about what you need your home office to do for you will help you buy the most efficient equipment and have the most effective layout to help you get more things accomplished.1. What do you want this space to be able to accommo. . .