Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Effective Collaboration - Working With Your Ghostwriter

Using a ghostwriter to craft your free reprint articles and marketing materials is an excellent way to maximize your time and profit. The fastest and most effective way to find a freelance ghostwriter or editor is to post your writing projects on an on-line service like Freelance Work Exchange at http://tinyurl.com/3v69r. This allows interested writers to submit their proposals to you. It ma. . .

The 3rd Plan Missing from your Business

If you're like most people, you probably started with wonderful ideas of fulfilling your dreams, to be successful and to take charge of your own destiny.I hope you have achieved those or are well on your way.You wouldn’t think of starting your business without a business plan and you shouldn’t even consider marketing your product or services without a marketing plan. A solid business plan and. . .

Bad Credit? Qualify Yourself For A Zero Down Mortgage Loan

I decided to write this article today after closing a home purchase loan for a couple that had some major credit issues. They got into the house with ZERO down payment, and only had to bring $600 for the closing costs. Their situation was pretty bad, I’m talking about a bankruptcy 2 years ago, thousands of dollars in outstanding collections, charge-offs and debt to income ratio of 49%. By th. . .

Three Proven Steps to Improve Your Home Business Advertis...

Newspaper advertising is a tremendous source of new business that for so many businesses doesn’t ever reach its true potential. These 3 steps will help you change that forever! You’re about to find out the mistakes that your competitors keep on making, and to start using techniques proven to grab your prospect’s attention and draw out responses that turn your ad into the 'customer producer' you. . .

Your Ideal Client

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody."--Bill CosbyHave you ever had a client/customer that was more trouble than they were worth? Maybe they were always late to pay, or didn't do what they said they'd do. Maybe you just had a personality clash, or they expected more than you were able to offer. Whatever the situation, chances are you had an inkl. . .

The Art of Writing a Check

Although it may seem very obvious, many people do not know how to write checks. With the birth of a generation that regularly uses ATM check cards, online bill payment systems, and credit cards more often than checks, check writing may risk extinction due to ignorance.Luckily for you, this article will take you through the process of properly writing a check step-by-step – so that there may be . . .

Applying for a Home Loan

Applying for a home loan may not be the most exciting way to spend your time, but if you are like many potential homeowners, it is probably a necessary evil. If you have some knowledge of the process ahead of time, however, it will go much more smoothly.Home loan applications tend to be very long, but if you are prepared ahead of time you can finish the application procedure without breaking a . . .

New web-based HR tool is "Max" from NAS, Hannibal, and In...

Three highly respected names in Human Resources have joined forces to provide companies with a revolutionary blend of services that make the hiring process more efficient and effective. The partnership joins three companies: NAS Recruitment Communications, a recognized leader in the specialized field of human resource communications, Hannibal, Inc., a software development firm specializing in r. . .

Business Letter Etiquette

Business etiquette is fundamentally concerned with building relationships founded upon courtesy and politeness between business personnel. Etiquette, and especially business etiquette, is a means of maximising your potential by presenting yourself positively.Writing a business letter is not simply a matter of expressing your ideas clearly. The way you write a letter and the etiquette you employ. . .

Choosing Calling cards - Points to be Careful

1. Connection fee: This is also known as Access Fee. This should be known to most of the calling card customers. This fee is charged whenever one calls to the destination. This usually varies from 5 cents to 1 dollar. The worst thing that can happen with this connection fee is, when the card buyer makes the call and either the answering machine gives a reply or the call is routed to a voice mai. . .

No Degree, No Problem

According to a recent survey, 52% of job candidates polled lied on their resume about having a college degree. Here are 3 brief horror stories: A new Director of Logistics and his family were actually loading the moving van provided by his new employer for relocation from California to North Carolina. The phone rang and it was the Human Resource Manager from his new company. The offer was being. . .

Turning Keyboarding Skills Into Cash!

Most with excellent keyboarding skills wonder if it is possible to use this talent in a home business venture. Unfortunately, many would be entrepreneurs often fall prey to the misleading ads on and off-line recruiting work at home typist. Most of these ads are blatant scams. The companies behind these ads are basically selling outdated information, manuals, or a list of potential customers. Fo. . .

Build Lifelong Networks With Your Own Barter Group

I don’t know if you have ever seriously considered bartering. If you haven’t considered it, it’s probably about time that you did. Why? Well, besides the fact that both parties involved in a barter leave feeling satisfied, it can also build lifelong personal or business connections. Building a network of contacts with other people not only increases the number of acquaintances and friends you h. . .

How Network Marketing Can Help You Build A Second Income ...

We live today in an age of inflated money- where every necessity and luxury costs us more each year. To live well, we need a larger income. For many, running harder and faster in the rat race of a ‘job’ yields that bigger paycheck. At some state whilst jogging the marathon of life, one comes to the realisation that running harder for someone else means we are making them richer and only weari. . .

The End is the Beginning

People remember best what you say last. In a presentation, what people take with them to put into action or to connect with what they already know depends to a large degree on how you end the presentations. So in one sense, the end of your presentation is the beginning for the audience. Speakers often reach their momentum in the middle of the presentation and lose contact with the audience by. . .

The Presentation After the Presentation

Allowing the audience to ask questions after your presentation is an excellent way to reinforce your message and to continue to sell your ideas. In addition, because listeners can ask for clarification, audience members are less likely to leave your presentation with misconceptions about the concepts you delivered. Because of these benefits, the question and answer period is actually another p. . .

Six-figure Professionals: Their Seven Secrets

In my work with hundreds of coaches, consultants, and small business owners, I have found that there are specific actions that have created their success. Here are seven success elements that they use effectively to earn $100,000 plus a year. By focusing on these important elements, you too can grow your business to reach this goal. Six-Figure Professionals Focus and Target their Efforts Profes. . .

PR: Let's Cut to the Chase

If your key – that’s KEY – outside audiences don’t exhibit the kind of behaviors that lead to results like these, you need to take a closer look at your public relations effort. Results like fresh proposals for strategic alliances and joint ventures; rising membership applications, customers starting to make repeat purchases creating bounces in show room visits; prospects starting to do bus. . .

Book Review - Manners That Sell: Adding The Polish That ...

This beautifully laid out trade paperback has a gorgeous and practical design both inside and out. I recommend you read this book with a highlighter and a pen and be ready to take copious notes in the blank pages thoughtfully provided between chapters.Manners That Sell: Adding The Polish That Builds Profits should be required reading for high school and college students and for anyone already. . .

Are You an Entrepreneur That is Starved for Time?

Being an entrepreneur and running a successful home-based business is stressful at times, and can be hectic. Success within a home-based business though, absolutely demands time management skills, or the chores that need to get done will be left undone, and procrastination, as well as a serious "personal time deficiency" will occur. Several studies have shown that many first-time entrepreneurs . . .

Cutting Costs can significantly increase your income

As a work at home Mother, I know the value of a deal. Any smart business person knows that the best way to make money is to SAVE money.Recently my husband quit his 9 to 5 salaried career to work from home with me. In order to afford this we had to take a good long look at our typical expenses and determine what we could do to cut our costs.We quickly realized how much money is spent to make m. . .

Types of Investment

The word 'investments' is one that most of us are familiar with hearing in financial context. For many of us, it may make us thing of big business and vasts sums of money, but there's much to the world of investments than multi-million dollar deals.Although it's true that, at the top level, investments may run into many millions, it is possible for the average person in the street to invest sma. . .

Business Card Etiquette

When doing business abroad it is important to understand the local culture. Culture includes areas such as a country’s norms, values, behaviours, food, architecture, fashion and art. However, one area of culture that is important for the international business person is etiquette.Understanding business etiquette allows you to feel comfortable in your dealings with foreign friends, colleagues, c. . .

How to Work Effectively With Recruiters

“R-E-S-P-E-C-T / find out what it means to me” is a line made famous by Aretha Franklin, and one that recruiters have adopted as their mantra. This is probably because there is a love-hate relationship between candidates and recruiters. Specifically, candidates love what recruiters can do for them, but at the same time, aren’t fond of the fact that they need their services.One can hardly blame . . .

Outsourcing CAD Offshore: Assessing Service Provider Reli...

If you have decided to outsource some of your CAD to an offshore service provider ("OSP"), it is important that you carefully evaluate your potential partner first. Outsource to them only if they successfully pass through your appraisal sieve. Here are some important evaluation criteria and methods for assessing them: --- Criterion: The OSP Should Be Web-Savvy Check if the OSP has a webs. . .

21 Questions To Assess Your Readiness For Time Management

How many of us are guilty of “Putting the cart before the horse?”Much is written on HOW to manage your time (the load in the cart) while little mentions the first step (the horse that pulls the load) of time management, asking WHY before we do the HOW.Millions of people have read Napoleon Hill’s, “Think and Grow Rich.” Why have most of these readers failed to grow rich? Could the answer be th. . .

Are You The Worst Enemy of Your Business?

My 14 year old son attends classes at a martial arts center. The martial arts center is run by a 30 year old man. He is by all means a successful business man for his young age. He stood in front of his class and asked them if they knew what the most powerful muscle is in their body was. There was not an answer. My thought was he would say your brain. When the 10 year old in front of me po. . .

Business Meeting Etiquette

Business etiquette is essentially about building relationships with colleagues, clients or customers. In the business world, it is these people that can influence your success or failure. Etiquette, and in particular business etiquette, is simply a means of maximising your business potential by presenting yourself favourably.Business meetings are one arena in which poor etiquette can have negat. . .

Business After the Iraqi War

The rewarding of high compensation packages to top executives who turned over weak quarterly earnings, or who were involved in corporate scandals, adversely affected short-term investing, and collectively contributed to the downturn of the global economy over the last couple of years. Even the help and expertise of Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and several notable Nobel Prize winning . . .

The Most Important PR In America

Just happens to be public relations activity that alters individual perceptions leading directly to changed behaviors. PR pulls that off by persuading a manager’s key outside audiences with the greatest behavior impacts on the organization, to its way of thinking. Then it moves those external stakeholders to take actions that help the organization succeed. I don’t believe public relations. . .

Duplication vs. Individualism

How can we add Word Rich Content to our Websites without overtly duplicating others website content, and as an end product maintain our own Individualism? In theory Article Libraries are the answer to the above question. But, is it true that if you continually add like information to your site, you no longer maintain an individual posture? Not every article that is submitted to your site will f. . .

How To Make The Most Out of a Business Networking Event

You’re not alone. Most people are uncomfortable walking into a roomful of strangers. But networking at business events can help you grow your business, as well as allow you to do hands-on marketing research. Learning to mingle and to follow-up with business networking contacts is crucial to your self-employment success. The following techniques will assist you in connecting effectively with. . .

Business Etiquette

Business etiquette is in essence about building relationships with people. In the business world, it is people that influence your success or failure. Etiquette, and in particular business etiquette, is simply a means of maximising your business potential.If you feel comfortable around someone and vice versa, better communication and mutual trust will develop. This comfort zone is realised thro. . .

The 6 "Secrets" To Sales Success

There is no magic pill, trick, teqnique, system or secret to success. However there are many beliefs and habits that will bring you the desired results that you wish to have. It is your choice to develop the appropriate beliefs and habits that produce the results that you wish to have. If you honestly are not happy with the results that you are having then you must change the actions, which are. . .

Einstein - Definition of Insanity

Insanity in the Sign & Graphics IndustryEinstein’s DefinitionAlbert Einstein once said “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. Think about this quote for a second and ask yourself, does this quote apply to the way you run your company?Have you been doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results? If so, the. . .

Secured Credit Cards- Consumer Tips

Whether you have no credit or damaged credit, secured credit cards are a good tool for building a good credit history.Several months ago Tom, a member of CreditBoards.com, filed for a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. Now he is in the process of rebuilding his credit history. It’s a task that is not easy, but with patient persistence he is seeing progress already. Daily he checks his credit score and is sl. . .

Eliminating Objections to Increase Sales

You want to increase the flow of sales revenue, but you are stymied by prospects' seemingly endless objections. Prospects say they're not interested. They tell you your price is too high, or this isn't the right time. You've heard all the objections. What can you do to get rid of these once and for all? Engineering Your Marketing When I was seven one of my favorite ways to spend a hot summer da. . .

Opening a Bank Account Doesn't Have To Be Difficult

If you're a young person who has just begun to earn some money, it is very important that you know how to open a bank account. Once you do, you'll have taken the first step in a long-term process of financial independence and growth.A bank account is not only essential to cultivating savings, it is also important for day-to-day financial activities. Before you decide what bank or financial inst. . .

Wire Transfers: The Easiest Way To Send Money

In the past, if you wanted to send money electronically through a wire transfer you only had a few options available to you. You could go to your local bank to conduct the transfer, or you could use the services of a company such as Western Union. But nowadays more and more companies are set up to provide wire transfer services, especially online. Companies such as PayPal, for example, allow al. . .

A Balancing Act: How To Properly Organize Your Checkbook

With all the things you have to remember to do on a regular basis, balancing your checkbook doesn't always receive priority. But if you plan ahead and schedule some time for this important task, you will reap the financial rewards.Before you begin make sure you have the following items on hand: checkbook, ledger book, ATM and deposit receipts, calculator and a pencil. The next step is to check . . .

PR Still a Mystery to Some

Unfortunately, there are managers who define public relations by its applications. Which explains neither its underlying strengths nor what PR is all about. The casual observer is left with a confusion of tactical, application-oriented definitions of the public relations function: Is it publicity? Crisis management? Special events? Reputation management? Promotion? Or a slew of other tactics in. . .

What Is Your Legacy of Success?

Success! Easy to talk about, but difficult to achieve. Or is it? Success is defined differently by virtually anyone you ask because success is a very personal experience. Is your definition of success based on the values, dreams and beliefs of others? How often do people strive for accomplishments that will show they are “successful” yet they are left spiritually and emotionally lost? As we gro. . .

6 Keys to Successfully Screening Church Staff and Volunteers

Whether you are in the process of formulating a screening policy for your congregation, or already have a screening program in place, here are some tips to help you with your efforts to protect your church family.1. Get your house in order. Decide who will oversee the screening process and keep track of the paperwork. This person must be well respected in the congregation, be trusted to handle. . .

Do You Need A Financial Planner?

No matter how much money you make, it pays to keep on top of money coming in and going out. Even if you do a good job of that, there are important times in your life when talking with a professional adviser makes sense.Almost every major life event - finding or losing a job, getting married or divorced, having a baby, buying a home -- is likely to have a major impact on your finances. A new j. . .

Relationship Networking

What is Relationship Networking?Relationship networking is simply the art of meeting people and benefiting from those relationships. Often the benefit of these relationship is to obtain information and leads to further grow your business. Any successful relationship, whether a personal or a business relationship, is unique to every pair of individuals, and it evolves over time. Effective relati. . .

Business is About Making Money

Ask most people why they are in business and they will give you any number of reasons. Things such as wanting to improve the lives of others; make the world a better place; provide for their family; have more free time; the list goes on and on. Fact is business is about making money, which means the bottom line is the bottom line. Many business owners, managers and sales people seem to forget t. . .

Building Your Network Marketing Business

Network marketing is experiencing tremendous growth in the business arena today. Many more companies are benefiting from the networking systems used to get product to the consumer. In fact, individuals are reaping the rewards in this business drawing greater attention to the amazing income potential and lifestyle rewards in running a network marketing business.There are still many qualms abou. . .

Generosity Is The Seed Of Wealth

Generosity, which includes the free, no strings-attached sharing of resources, money, and information among people, is the seed of prosperity. What was the initial seed planted that caused the “Silicon Valley Miracle” No, it was not the invention of the oscilloscope by David Hewlett and William Packard, but, rather, an act of no-strings attached generosity, the founding of Stanford University b. . .

The Diamond Cutter

Geshe Michael Roach is a Princeton graduate and a Buddhist monk. After graduation, he spent seven years studying the wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism. At the suggestion of his teacher, he joined a fledgling diamond business in New York to test his ideals in real life. He stayed with the business as a member of the core management team for seventeen years. The company grew from a start-up with two own. . .

Reducing Debt Before It's Too Late ... How to avoid the p...

Reducing debt usually isn't a high priority for people until they have already gotten into trouble with overspending. Using a few basic guidelines, and debt calculations, can help you see when your debt load is getting into the danger zone. Budgeting Guidelines Creditors use budgeting guidelines when reviewing and approving credit. If your debt exceeds the financial communities recommended guid. . .