Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Does Your Business Need a Toll-Free 800 Number?

Should your business have a toll free number for customers to make sales, service and billing inquirers? The industry began in the early 1970’s and today most customers expect you to have it. Providing a toll free line can bring in a number of benefits to your business. From the customer standpoint, it opens an opportunity to inquire about your products or services at no expense. Not only does . . .

Financial Aid for College Students - Grants

The bad news about attending college is that it costs more than ever to attend. The College Board estimates the average four-year public college costs almost $5,000 per year to attend and a two-year public college is almost $2000. And that’s not counting the skyrocketing cost of textbooks or other class fees. The good news is there is more than $105 billion dollars available in student financia. . .

What Are The Benefits and Consequences Of Getting Rid Of ...

We have all experienced getting so far in debt we don’t know how we’re going to get out. There are many different options that you have for quick relief with benefits and consequences. You can look at the overview and see which option is the best option for you.Consolidation1. Benefits Lower monthly payments No worry of paying multiple debt collectors every month, pay only one agency Percentage. . .

Day Trading – The Ultimate Work-From-Home Job?

Ever dreamt of giving up the daily grind? Want to strike out on your own and work from home, but don’t know what you could possibly do to make a living? Full time Nasdaq trader Harvey Walsh wondered just that, and now he asks “Is day trading the ultimate work from home job”?We’ve probably all had the same thought at some time or another, as we trudge off towards another day at work – the same w. . .

How To Save Money On Car Loans

Have you noticed that everyone seems to have a newer car than you? There's good news. You can find a way to upgrade your old clunker to a newer model. There are many ways to save money on your car loan. Lenders are competing for your business, and more and more car loans are approved to allow more people than ever to buy a car.So now that you've decided to buy a newer car, the question on h. . .

How To Eliminate Credit Card Debt

There is almost nothing more troublesome than having too much debt to pay each month. Consumers incur debt for many different reasons. Sometimes illness, accidents, or just bad luck can make it seem impossible to get finances under control. Other times it is simply because we spend more money than we earn. The first step toward taking control of your financial situation is to learn how to elimi. . .

How To Use Your Credit Cards Wisely

Are you one of the thousands pulling your hair out trying to figure out how you're going to pay your credit card bills? Using your credit cards wisely and sensibly will help you avoid financial problems and establish a strong credit rating, so here's some information to help you get your credit card problems under control.Credit cards are convenient for buying things now and paying later. Cred. . .

Having a Portfolio on the Internet Can Help you Infiltate...

If you’re an up and coming graphic/web designer just out of university, you’ll know it’s quite hard to break into the workforce. You have to contact employers one by one, spend your time traveling and lugging your portfolio to their offices. Well, things have changed, and for the better let me tell you. Now you can make your own on-line portfolio on the Internet, and send its web page address t. . .

Home Typing Scams!

"Home Typing Scams" are one of the highest ranking work-at- home scams on the Internet according to leading Internet fraud watch dogs. You see these "Home Typing Jobs" advertised across the Internet. You probably receive their pitches in several emails every day. These companies typically target anyone who wants to work-at-home. Unfortunately, most of these typing jobs are frauds. The followi. . .

How To Understand The Financial Pages

There are a number of key terms that investors should be familiar with. Though these terms are regularly banded about in many articles, they are not explained by many of the authors of these articles. The aim of this article is to explain a few more key terms which investors should be aware of when making their investment decisions.MARKET CAPITALISATION:The market capitalisation of a firm sta. . .

Student Credit Cards 101

If you’re a college student, you probably already have a credit card. If not, you may have plans to get one or more soon. So why should you read on? Because financial debt is one of the main reasons that many students end up dropping out of college. Because your college years can be some of your most memorable—and some of your most costly. They don’t, however, have to be the beginning of an ad. . .

Make the Most of Your Money

I'm always amazed that so many people spend most of their life at work and totally neglect their personal affairs.Many of the business people I work with want their professional lives to be in order, and admit that their personal affairs are in chaos.They have no systems for handling this most important area. The household paperwork is disorganised…piled up in a corner of the house…somewhere. T. . .

Spring into Spring

Hasn’t time flown? Already we’re into the last quarter of the year and isn’t it perfect timing to clear out the cobwebs of winter and prepare yourself for the next few months of sun, sand, surf or is it work, work, work?You know it's time to take action when:You have difficulty finding things Your colleagues make comments about your mess You can't see your desk for the mess You cut your fingers. . .

Managers and PR: One Thing Is Clear

As a business, non-profit or association manager, you have a clear choice when you set up your public relations. Arrange your resources to generate a variety of product and service plugs on radio, and in newspapers and in magazines. Or, use a broader, more comprehensive and workable public relations blueprint to alter key external audience perceptions that lead to changed behaviors – beh. . .

Book Summary: Mind Your Own Business

This article is based on the following book:Mind Your Own BusinessA Maverick’s Guide to Business, Leadership and LifeDoubleday & Company, Inc., 2003ISBN 0-385-50959-6208 pagesA maverick is an independent person who will not go along with the other members of a group (Oxford ESL Dictionary). This book provides priceless stories and insights from a maverick of the business world; an exemplary bus. . .

Cross Cultural Communication needs...

Within the business context, cross cultural communication refers to interpersonal communication and interaction across different cultures. This has become an important issue in our age of globalisation and internationalisation. Effective cross cultural communication is concerned with overcoming cultural differences across nationality, religion, borders, culture and behaviour.Cross cultural comm. . .

16.4% APR $5,000 Auto Loan…HELP!

Are you the victim of a high interest rate auto loan? If so, the following email discussion may help you. Read on:DEAR LoanResources.Net: I was very impressed with your article entitled "8 Point Checklist, Evaluating Online Lenders."I have tried several sources to refinance my auto. I only have 2 more years to pay $245.04 a month. I owe 4,414.00 on the car loan. This may not seem like a lot. . .

Why Your Brick-and-Mortar Biz Needs A Website

The internet has taken over our lives with a vengeance, and has changed the way many of us do business. More and more consumers are now doing their shopping online and, unfortunately, some business owners have felt the pinch. But there are many small businesses that have been virtually unaffected by the internet boom. Those professionals in the more service-oriented fields - veterinarians, chir. . .

Credit Traps Snag Consumers

Nearly 20 years ago I worked for a small consumer advocacy organization in Washington, DC. Each week we received sacks full of mail from consumers across the country requesting our list of credit cards with low interest rates and no annual fees. If you wanted a low interest rate on a credit card back then, you often had to apply to a bank in Arkansas where interest rates were capped by state la. . .

New Website Launched for Consumer Finance and Education

Credit Card Management Services, Inc. is a fully licensed 501(c)(3), non-profit, credit counseling agency whose mission is to provide compassionate, professional debt management counseling and education in an ethical manner with efficient, timely and problem-solving client support. Since 1996, CCMS has helped thousands of consumers gain financial stability through credit counseling, personal fi. . .

WIN THE “YEAH BUT” GAME in 5 Easy Steps

You know the game, don’t you? Someone invites you to help them solve a big problem and every great suggestion you make is met with, “Yeah, but that won’t work because….” Frustrated and defeated, you finally give up. Next time someone tells you about a problem, use these steps. 1. Listen politely, without offering any suggestions. Remember, it is not your problem. 2. Affirm that the problem is r. . .

10 Things to Look for in a Home-Equity Line of Credit

If you are a homeowner, you've probably received offers to apply for a home equity line of credit (HELOC). Handled with care, home equity credit lines can be an excellent way to improve financial flexibility, provide readily available cash reserves for emergencies, or pay for large expenses (like college tuition or home improvements) that have irregular payment schedules. But be aware that not . . .

Are You Using the Right Form of Energy?

As we near the end of summer, here is a question I have for you, “Are you using the right form of energy to grow your business?” Are you having trouble growing your small business as fast as you want? Are you making all the right moves and still the business just inches forward? Read this article and see if you are using the right form of energy to grow your small business?Head EnergyMy cons. . .

5 Tips for Savvy Use of Your Home Equity Line of Credit

Tapping your home's equity to pay college expenses, consolidate credit card debt or even to buy a new car or boat is common place. Many economists attribute the additional buying power afforded consumers through home equity debt as a primary reason the nation's economy has been able to emerge from the recent recession. Yet, aside from simply allowing consumers to spendmore, the flexibility and . . .

Decision Time: Home Equity Loan or Home Equity Line of Cr...

Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit continue to grow in popularity. According to the Consumer Bankers Association, during 2003 combined home equity line and loan portfolios grew 29%, following a torrid 31% growth rate in 2002. With so many people deciding to cash in on their home's equity value, it seems sensible to review the factors that should be weighed in choosing between out. . .

Will Your Great Idea Sell?

No matter how great your idea is, if the market isn't ready for it, or if it's already saturated, you just won't profit from it, at least not at the moment. So how do you know if it's just another great idea or a money tree ripe for the picking? How about some basic market research. There are a few ways you can go about this. You can hold a focus group, you get a bunch of people together, expla. . .

A Great Marketing Model – Utilizing the Power of OPM

Staying ahead of the marketing curve seems to be a never-ending quest. Marketing doesn’t have to be as complex as some people make it out to be. It’s simply a matter of understanding who you are marketing to – your ideal customers – and then coming up with a system that keeps your name in front of them. A huge part of the system is creating enough value for your customers that they want to hear. . .

The 99 Percent Rule

It's Friday night, you're sitting at a restaurant, and as your meal arrives, the server says, "Now, don't touch that plate. It's hot." What's the first thing you do?Well, 99% of the time you're going to touch that plate, right?I call it the 99% rule. It's closer to 100%, but I give myself a little "out" for those who wish to find a loophole in it.After years of studying human behavior, I've com. . .

Purchase Your Future Now While It Is Still Inexpensive

Leaving school, getting a new job, or even a raise at your current one, has most people considering their next great purchase. Few think about the affect this could have on their future. Rather than pay down the debt they carry, many ponder, “What can I buy now”? The greatest purchase anyone can make is their future. Each year as you live your life, the proper choices would have you. . .

Defining a Long-Term Investment in the Stock Market

Defining a long-term investment in the stock market.For some “long term” would mean holding a stock position over the weekend. For others, it may mean holding a security for at least 1 year for the purpose of declaring a long-term capital gain, thus saving on taxes.The rigid definition of a long-term investment in the stock market would be holding a security for a minimum of 5 years, to as long. . .

Radio Interviews - How to get them!

The complete article together with preactical excersises and Coaching tips can be found at www.my1stBusiness.com.Getting on the radio can be a great tactical move as part of your overall publicity effort, but you do need to have a story idea or an angle to present on a particular topic. Selling yourself as a guest on a talk show is a great way to raise your profile and if your subject relates t. . .

Ten Tips for Cross Cultural Communication

Here are some simple tips to help you improve your cross cultural communication skills:Slow DownEven when English is the common language in a cross cultural situation, this does not mean you should speak at normal speed. Slow down, speak clearly and ensure your pronunciation is intelligible. Separate QuestionsTry not to ask double questions such as, “Do you want to carry on or shall we stop her. . .

Economic Survival in the 21st Century - the Three Key Que...

In this “special report”, I want to pose a few important “philosophical questions” to my readers. Firstly -- our Federal Reserve Chairman, Alan Greenspan, addressed the effects and implications of our aging population on things such as Social Security again in a speech that he made last Friday. Readers may remember that I also briefly mentioned this issue in my June 24th commentary. I urge y. . .

Birds of a Feather May Be Turkeys

Birds of a feather do flock together. It's true. Given a choice, most of us will seek out people who think like we do, people with whom we feel comfortable, those we won't quarrel with. Visit any company cafeteria and you will notice that the people at the tables will be in groupings from the same discipline, department or ethnic group.As a general rule, relationships do not usually thrive when. . .

Universal Success Secrets Shared

Are there any universal laws that most successful people seem to follow? Great question, huh? With that in mind, Gregory Scott Reid, well-known speaker and two-time #1 best-selling author of, "The Millionaire Mentor" and "Wake Up: Live the Life You Love," listed some common denominators in order to share them with others. “I’ve been very fortunate to have had some success in my life, as well as. . .

How to Really Benefit from Associations (Part 1 of 3-Part...

Looking for new leads, new contacts, new business opportunities? Do what nine out of 10 adults do, according to a recent article by the American Society of Association Executives. Join an Association. Choose from over 130,000 associations in the United States alone that represent practically any industry at national, international, regional, state and local levels.How can you reap benefits fro. . .

Real Estate Bankruptcy

Although real estate bankruptcy cases no longer dominate the bankruptcy courts' dockets as they did in the early nineties, but they continue to be filed with great frequency in UK. At its essence, the real estate bankruptcy is a two party dispute between mortgagee and mortgagor. Real estate bankruptcy cases are typically filed after a foreclosure sale has been set. Upon learning of the bankrupt. . .

Gaining Business Intelligence

A white paper on how companies should analyse customer data to gain better business intelligence and how they can use that knowledge.GAINING BUSINESS INTELLIGENCEIn an increasingly competitive world, using your client database smartly, to gain a better understanding of your number one asset – your customers – can make or break the success of your company. Most companies use databases to store i. . .

Do You Make These Ten Management Mistakes?

As a busy executive, you face some extremely difficult challenges like creating and dominating new markets or finding and keeping the best people. But then, like many executives, do you find yourself spending too much time solving everyday problems (that only you can solve, right?), which prevent you from growing your ideal business?Most managers find themselves spending 80% or more of their t. . .

Ramp Up Your Newsletter To Build a Strong Business

To survive in business, you've got to focus your attention on the areas that will guarantee you success. Your clients are your greatest asset. Taking the time to educate them and connect with them will pay big dividends over the long haul. There are lots of ways to spend your marketing dollars. But I've found that the number one most effective marketing tool around is a newsletter. This is the . . .

Managers, Which PR Is Right For You?

An effort built around a string of print and broadcast exposures? Or, a public relations initiative that delivers results far beyond simple publicity tactics. Namely, real behavior change among your most important outside audiences leading directly to reaching your objectives. Achieved, incidentally, by persuading key outside people with the greatest impacts on your organization to your . . .

IF- The Wonders of Investing

IF If it seems as if all investors are selling, who is buying? If trading has become entertainment for you, it may be time to refocus on profits. If your stock has reached an annual low, can it go any lower? If your stock has reached an annual high, can it go any higher? If all the television analysts jumped off a bridge, would anyone care? If your portfolio is based solely on fundamental analy. . .

Are Mortgages a Risky Business?

A bank or mortgage company is nothing more than a box in which to keep money. The owner of the box has to do a few calculations. Firstly, how much is he going to offer those people who deposit cash in his box, in return for such a deposit? Secondly, how much of that money should he keep as cash in case the owners of that cash want it back? Maybe 5%, maybe 10%, what are the regulations in his j. . .

Internet & Mortgage Calculations

“You’ve been approved!” The words you have always wanted to hear when you filled out the home loan application. It swirls through your mind the opportunities and memories you will cherish in your new home. Before you even start shopping for a home it is best to understand in real terms what you can afford. Your income level may make it tight for you every month to make the mortgage payment if y. . .

Is Starting A Business For Me? What To Consider Before St...

Do you have the right temperament?Starting a small business is one of the most serious decisions that a person can take in life. Positively, it often results in higher income levels than one could achieve as an employee together with the unique buzz of being your own boss but conversely it also can be stressful, will demand longer working hours and will probably reduce your ability to take long. . .

What To Do When You Get Caught Surfing By The Boss!

It has been a long morning and you need a mental break. You start thinking of your weekend plans and jump on your messaging program to make plans with a friend. You have the movie times and a chat box up on your screen and what happens, your supervisor walks up behind you! You think to yourself Murphy's law is in full effect. What do you do when you get busted surfing or chatting at work? The s. . .

The Global Work Marketplace - The Revolution Of How Work ...

Will cubicles be a distant memory for today’s workforce? Will the expense of office space and the tremendous burden of employee benefits be a thing of the past for modern day businesses?The reality is, for thousands of people, this change has already occurred. Internet based 'Service Auctions' now abound where businesses can post their ongoing jobs or one-time projects to a global market of fre. . .

Feng Shui Office

Things to take into account at the time to look for feng shui office harmony.At the time to look for feng shui office harmony, there are many important things to consider and to use in order to achieve your search for harmony goal. Through this article we will provide you with some of the most important feng shui office evaluation techniques.The main thing to have into account, according not on. . .

Rules of Simple IRA Your Business Needs to Know

A Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees plan, better known as a SIMPLE plan, is an IRA-based retirement plan available to employers with fewer than 100 employees. Under a SIMPLE IRA plan, an employee can contribute a portion of his pay to his SIMPLE IRA account. An employee can make a maximum contribution of $9,000, ($10,500 if age 50 and over), to his SIMPLE IRA account for 2004. You, the. . .

Einstein, The Universe, and Leadership

Every since serving a hitch in the military, I have been nagged by the question that’s been hanging around leadership since time immemorial: How can some leaders persuade people to believe in them and follow them and other leaders can’t? But it wasn’t the military that provided me with a framework to answer that question. It was Albert Einstein and his quest for the unified field theory of the . . .