Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

But That Was *MY* Idea!

Did you ever have a great idea, then watch someone steal it right out from under you?Somehow, in the middle of the night perhaps, they snuck into your house, opened up your brain, and stole your brilliant plan. You were destined for riches before your brain invasion. Now, you’re left to sludge through the rest of your mediocre life.‘It’s not fair!’ you might whine to your friends or spouse. . . .

You Get Out What You Put In!

During a recent coaching session with Mark, I was briefly reminded of how it feels to give your all to your business and have it spit in your face. “I just don’t get it! I’m putting all my time and energy into this business, and I’m still scraping by. I’m so tired of fighting to ‘just to make it’ but this is what I really want to do.” “Tell me about what’s happening in your life,” I inquired. “. . .

Saying NO to Good Opportunities!

Tracey started her video production company 2 ½ years ago, and after struggling through the start-up phase, she was finally reaping the fruits of her labor. When we talked, it was clear that she was ready to move onward and upward but didn’t know how to go about doing it. “I am so busy these days, but I’m still not getting the level of work I want,” Tracey told me. “I really want to get in with. . .

Articles That Sell: Use The Best Kept Secret Of The Inter...

The power of the Internet as a marketing tool for small business owners cannot be overstated. However, developing a web site is only the first piece of this intricate puzzle. Driving traffic to your site is an ongoing, arduous process – one that is most effectively achieved when you employ multiple strategies.One such strategy is contributing content to web sites, article archives, and “e-zine. . .

Infrastructure and Prosperity

In the past, if you mentioned the word "infrastructure", the verbal reflex would be: "physical". Infrastructure was roads, telephone lines, ports, airports and other very tangible country spanning things. Many things were added to this category as time went by, but they all preserved the tangibility requirements - even electricity and means of communication were measured by their physical manif. . .

God's Diplomacy - International Trade and the Macedonian ...

A British politician, Richard Cobden once (1857) wrote: "Free Trade is God's diplomacy and there is no other certain way of uniting people in the bonds of peace" International, free trade is particularly important to developing, poor, countries (among them the "economies in transition"). Without international trade, the local economy is limited. It does not manufacture and produce more than . . .

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Employee and Management O...

Margaret Thatcher started a world trend during her tenure as Prime Minister is Downing Street. It is called: Privatization. It consisted of the transfer of control of a state-owned enterprise to the Private Sector. This was done by selling the shares of the company. At times, the control itself was maintained by the state - but the economic benefits emanating from the ownership of shares was pa. . .

The Greatest Stedilnica Crisis in History

A crisis the size of the TAT crisis, is, inevitably, political. It involves thousands of citizens, many decision makers from every walk of life and the very economic and financial fabric of the country. But, the TAT crisis pales in comparison with other, similar, crises in other countries in the world. In Israel in 1983, ALL the banks collapsed on ONE October day, for instance! The biggest cris. . .

To Tax or Not to Tax - This is the Question

To tax or not to tax - this question could have never been asked twenty years ago. Historically, income tax is a novel invention. Still, it became so widespread and so socially accepted that no one dared challenge it seriously. In the lunatic fringes there were those who refused to pay taxes and served prison sentences as a result. Some of them tried to translate their platforms into political. . .

The Sickly State of Public Hospitals

There are many types of hospitals but the most well known are the Public Hospitals. What sets them apart is that they provide services to the indigent (people without means) and to minorities. Historically, public hospitals started as correction and welfare centres. They were poorhouses run by the church and attached to medical schools. A full cycle ensued: communities established their own hos. . .

Why Am I Afraid to Sell?

Relationship marketing. It's the backbone of a successful online business. Fail to forge online relationships and your business will suffer. Simple enough concept, right? But what does "relationship marketing" really mean? Simply put, it refers to the principle that, in order to be successful in business, especially online since it's such an anonymous medium, you need to establish a r. . .

10 Scorching Ways To Heat Up Your Sales

1. Email each visitor a satisfaction questionnaire after they purchase. This will allow you to improve your order system, customer service, site, etc.2. Give a percentage of your profits to a cause your customers would like. It could be a charity, school, environmental improvements, etc.3. Take harsh criticism the right way and improve your online business. Don't get down in the dumps, improve . . .

Why Your Mutual Fund Doesn't Return as Much as You Think

(ARA) - As tax time nears, many mutual fund investors are starting to wince. While most mutual funds' returns were down last year, their tax bill remains high.After years under-performing the S&P 500, the average US stock mutual fund finally beat the index last year. But while the average fund was down just 0.37% v. the S&P 500's 9.1% drop, investors in the average fund actually lost around 3% . . .

Why is the Macedonian Stock Exchange Unsuccessful?

The Macedonian Stock Exchange (MSE) is not operating successfully. True, some of the parameters which we use to measure the success of a stock exchange have lately improved in the MSE. For instance, the monthly money volume has increased together with the number of transactions. But this is a far cry from success. Who is to blame? Is the current management of the MSE incompetent? I do not think. . .

Small Businesses - Big Obstacles

Everyone is talking about small businesses. In 1993, when it was allowed, more than 90,000 new firms were registered by individuals. Now, less than three years later, official figures show that only 40,000 of them still pay their dues and present annual financial statements. These firms are called "active" - but this is a misrepresentation. Only a very small fraction really does business and pr. . .

The Dismal Mind - Economics as a Pretension To Science

It is impossible to describe any human action if one does not refer to the meaning the actor sees in the stimulus as well as in the end his response is aiming at. Ludwig von Mises I. INTRODUCTION Storytelling has been with us since the days of campfire and besieging wild animals. It served a number of important functions: amelioration of fears, communication of vital information (regarding sur. . .

An Evaluation of the Devaluation

A Minister of Finance is morally right to lie about a forthcoming devaluation and a woman has the right to lie about her age. This is the common wisdom. Rumours about a devaluation of the Macedonian Denar versus the major currencies were in the air during the last few weeks. Still, no government official had to lie. The market just did not believe it. The unofficial exchange rate stayed put at. . .

Going Bankrupt in the World

It all starts by defaulting on an obligation: Money owed to creditors or to suppliers is not paid on time, interest payments due on bank loans or on corporate bonds issued to the public are withheld. It may be a temporary problem - or a permanent one. As time goes by, the creditors gear up and litigate in a court of law or in a court of arbitration. This is a technical or equity insolvency sta. . .

What could Macedonia Learn from a Tiger? The Asian Tigers...

The first reaction of economies in transition is a sharp decline in their production, mainly in industrial production. In the countries which attained independence with the demise of the British Empire (where the sun never set) - industrial production fell by 20% on average. Even this was because these countries continued to maintain economic ties with the "mother" (the United Kingdom). They al. . .

The Professions of the Future

Predicting the future is a tricky business. There have been countless ridiculous failures at identifying the trends and products which will determine the future shape of our life and our environment. Even more difficult is trying to guess which of us will be deemed a useful member of the community – and which an obsolete relic. To a large extent, the answer to this question lies in determi. . .

The Demise of the Dinosaur PTTs

Telecommunications is the most important physical infrastructure in the modern world. It is more important than roads because it can replace them. It is more important than office buildings because it allows for the formation of virtual offices. It is more crucial than legal and institutional systems because it surpasses national borders and undermines and subverts fossilized political structur. . .

How Do Other Countries Devalue Their Currencies?

Countries devalue their currencies only when they have no other way to correct past economic mistakes - whether their own or mistakes committed by their predecessors. The ills of a devaluation are still at least equal to its advantages. True, it does encourage exports and discourage imports to some extents and for a limited period of time. As the devaluation is manifested in a higher inflatio. . .

Should the Government Compensate the Clients of TAT?

This, of course, is a political decision. There is no "right" thing to do. Even the IMF imperatives are not sacred. Sometimes, inflationary goals should be sacrifice to avoid the total collapse of the banking system and, with it, the economy as a whole. Unfortunately, a lot of experience has been accumulated elsewhere in the world. No country was exempt, all suffered collapsing or near-collaps. . .

"Bankers' Banks"- The Role of Central Banks in Banking Cr...

Central banks are relatively new inventions. An American President (Andrew Jackson) even cancelled its country's central bank in the nineteenth century because he did not think that it was very important. But things have changed since. Central banks today are the most important feature of the financial systems of most countries of the world. Central banks are a bizarre hybrids. Some of their f. . .

The Typology of Financial Scandals

Tulipmania - this is the name coined for the first pyramid investment scheme in history. In 1634, tulip bulbs were traded in a special exchange in Amsterdam. People used these bulbs as means of exchange and value store. They traded them and speculated in them. The rare black tulip bulbs were as valuable as a big mansion house. The craze lasted four years and it seemed that it would last foreve. . .

Public Procurement and Very Private Benefits

In every national budget, there is a part called "Public Procurement". This is the portion of the budget allocated to purchasing services and goods for the various ministries, authorities and other arms of the executive branch. It was the famous management consultant, Parkinson, who once wrote that government officials are likely to approve a multi-billion dollar nuclear power plant much more s. . .

The Ifs and VATs of Taxation in Macedonia - Should VAT be...

To be justified, taxes should satisfy a few conditions: Above all, they should encourage economic activity by providing incentives to save and to invest. Savings - transformed into investments- enhance productivity and growth of the economy as a whole. A tax should be simple - to administer and to comply with. It should be "fair" (progressive, in professional lingo) - although no one seems to a. . .

Battling Society's Cancer: Unemployment

The official figures are staggering: 35% of the workforce - about 280,000 people - are unemployed and looking for a job. Each 1.43 employee support 1 unemployed person. In the USA the figure is 3.3 to 4 employees supporting all the unemployed AND all the pensioners! The truth is less ominous. Many employed people in Macedonia go unreported. Their employers prefer not to report them as employed. . .

Ethics? How To Take the Measure Business

When asked to write a small piece pertaining to ethics and integrity in the business world, my first inclination was to draw on personal experience. Everyone has bad experiences to relate. We deal with a business, determine that we were treated shabbily therefore that business has no integrity. Or perhaps we disagree on the implementation of a refund, hence the business or owner has no ethic. . .

Does Your Customer Talk Back To You?

What is your customer saying about you? Do you really know? Does your customer really know who you are?If you don't know what your customer thinks about you, your business, your product and your services, then you might as well close shop!A customer is the lifeblood of every business and you must always strive to be in tune with what your customer thinks and how they feel. Don't leave your cust. . .

Happy Employees are More Productive Employees

Small workplace-enhancing changes can reap big rewards(ARA) - It's not surprising that employees cite compensation as the number one factor that makes them professionally satisfied these days.What is surprising is that the comfort and aesthetic appearance of their physical workplace virtually ties with benefits for second place.With an increasing number of people spending more time in their off. . .

Recession-Proofing Employee Motivation

(ARA) - As we hear more predictions of an economy showing signs of weakening, managers around the country are asking a couple of key questions: Are we prepared for a recession reminiscent of the early 1990s? Did we learn enough from experiences nearly a decade ago to improve how we perform in 2001? The answer: probably.While the financial experts monitor and project the extent of an economic sl. . .

A Remedial Course in Investing

Or, How We Discovered the Real Y2KBy Carol Clark(ARA) - Was it really just a year ago that we were all running around trying to prevent computers from coming to a grinding halt on the first of January, and speculating about civil unrest and traffic jams around the globe?Time flies, even if the ensuing year hasn't been much fun for investors. In hindsight, I'd say the real Year 2000 Bug was the . . .

9 Tips on Creating a Professional Emailed Job Application

With the advent of the Internet, many of us have the opportunity to apply for work through email.However, just because this is the Internet and email is so fast and convenient, that does NOT mean you should give up professionalism and polish!FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT. I recently looked over a few emailed applications, and let me tell you, it was an eye-opening experience! Here are a few example. . .

No Business Is Safe from Environmental Disaster

Protect Your Assets and Future with Pollution Liability Insurance(ARA) - Fears that the environment will suffer under the Republican administration are misplaced, say the world's leading pollution liability experts. Thanks to privatization and the shift to state enforcement, pollution is being rapidly uncovered. Good news for Mother Nature -- devastating news for those footing the clean-up bil. . .

Thinking About Early Retirement? 10-Minute Quiz Determine...

(ARA) - If you've delayed planning for retirement because it makes you feel a) old or b) financially inept, think again. With a little foresight, you could be out there enjoying life like other people -- maybe even before you reach the so-called "retirement age." Like many people in the prime of life, it's not unusual to think of retirement as such a distant idea that you avoid saving for it un. . .

Managerial Malpractice Claims on the Rise

Protect Your Assets and Executives with D&O Insurance (ARA) - When disgruntled shareholders, employees, customers or competitors allege financial mismanagement, discrimination or other wrongful acts, blame often lands at the feet of corporate directors and officers. Claims of managerial malpractice are on the rise, along with the costs -- legal fees, settlements and judgments -- associated with. . .

Tax Information for Small Businesses

(ARA) - The IRS publishes a lot of tax information to help small business owners and there are many ways to get it. You can always visit an IRS office to pick up copies of IRS forms and publications, although the IRS continues to make it easier for you to get these materials without leaving your office or maybe even your home.The IRS will send you forms and publications free of charge when you . . .

Minimize Your Office And Equipment Start-Up Costs

When you set up your office area you have to consider clients, suppliers, family, neighbors and yourself. The balance is easy to achieve when you keep in mind the double function your home has from now on: a home and an office. Below I outline the baby-steps that will help you to achieve this balance. Define your work area This is the first step on your path to success. If you don't have a defi. . .

Want to Loosen Uncle Sam's Grip on Your Wallet?

Talking About MoneyWith Jim Larranaga(ARA) - The average person pays more than $6,000 in federal income tax, according to the Congressional Budget Office. If you cringe at sending a big chunk of change like that to Uncle Sam, you may be looking for ways to keep a little more jingle in your pocket. I'll give you some tips, but, like me, you should consult a tax advisor before taking steps that c. . .

Branding Your Business

If you think only big corporate names need to think about things like brand names, think again. Your brand says a lot about you and your business, and that's as true for a one person home-based operation as it is for a multinational conglomerate. In this article we look at how creating a strong brand for your business can help you set yourself apart from the pack and lay the right foundation fo. . .

Slam the Door on Debt

IHateFinancialPlanning.com offers ten tips to help you get out and stay out(ARA) - According to American Consumer Credit Counseling, Inc., the average balance on a credit card is $7,000, offering an average interest rate of 18.9 percent. Additional statistics show that the average household has 10 credit cards and, not surprisingly, over half of those households report having trouble paying the. . .

Direct Deposit Brings Reliability, Safety and Convenience...

(ARA) - Have you ever rushed to the bank to deposit your paycheck before the cutoff time? Have you ever played "beat the bank" -- writing checks before making a deposit? Have you ever made a trip to the bank just to deposit your paycheck? Have you ever lost checks that needed to be cashed or deposited? If you answered yes to any of the above, it's time to reconsider the way you bank. Banking sh. . .

Successful Dot-Com Offers Strategies for Success

(ARA) - Lost amidst billions of dollars in squandered venture capital funding and endless reports from network anchors about the macabre state of e-commerce lies a seemingly overlooked fact: Not all of today's dot-coms use red ink in the accounting ledger. As the e-commerce tree hourly shakes off companies with poorly laid business plans, and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks continue to disrupt t. . .

10 Amplifying Ways To Turn Up Your Sales Volume

1. Make your potential customers forget about the competition. Just tell them to forget with a factual and believable reason why they should.2. Joint venture with your competition if you can't beat them. You could agree to work together and beat the other competition then share the profits.3. Visit chat rooms were your potential customers would gather. You can lurk and do market research or men. . .

10 Ways To Gain An Avalanche Of Sales

1. Utilize holidays to increase your visitors or sales. You could give away free electronic greeting cards, hold discounts, send customers holiday cards, etc.2. Become well known by speaking or chatting at seminars. The seminars could be held offline, in a chat room, by telephone or via e-mail.3. Start a free ebook club on your web site. People could sign up to receive a free ebook from you eac. . .

Glide into Tax Season with Solid Financial Planning

(ARA) - With good planning, you can start the year off right by making sure you and your family are financially fit and ready for the new year, and possibly reduce your tax bill. Here is a financial checklist to consider:Tap into the Power of Tax-DeferralIf you are thinking of investing in mutual funds for long-term or retirement savings, purchase a variable annuity. You've got the 1099 forms. . .

Controlling Costs Key to Running a Business

(ARA) - With more and more small businesses and dot.coms going bankrupt these days, businesses are developing new strategies to stay in the game and obtain a profit at the same time. More than ever, not enough emphasis is being placed on controlling costs. "Increasing sales is overrated. The old adage that volume cures all ills is outdated and moldy," explains Patrick Bruce, senior business ana. . .

Financial Tips for Trying Times

IHateFinancialPlanning.com offers advice on managing your money (ARA) - When life gets unpredictable, there's one thing Americans always want to hang onto: their money. During times of national uncertainty, it's only natural to want to hunker down and hang on to your cash -- or at a minimum, squeeze as much as possible out of every paycheck (that is, if you're still getting one). Many Americans. . .

10 Mind Blowing Ways To Increase Your Sales

1. Show your prospects how much enthusiasm you have for your product and business. If you're convincing enough, they will be enthusiastic too.2. End your sales letter or ad copy with a strong closing. It could be a free bonus, a discount price, a benefit reminder, an ordering deadline, etc.3. Please your complaining customers. You can refund their money, give them a discount, give them a free g. . .