Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Yesterday's Project Manager is Today's Project Engineer

The rapid growth of technology, greater exposure to knowledge, higher levels of awareness are making the young project engineer act more and more like a project manager. What I mean is, todays project engineers are actively supervising new graduates, setting and monitoring schedules & budgets, interacting with clients and so on. A decade or so ago these duties were undertaken by project manager. . .

Working as a "Knowledge Worker" in the Information Age

The old adages: "It's not what you know, but who you know" and "High Tech, High Touch" could be the mottos of knowledge workers in the 21st Century.Never before in the history of the world has both networking and interpersonal communication been potentially easier, broader, more wide-spread and paradoxically, more difficult.The access to people and information in the information age is without . . .

Low on Cash for Christmas? Try Gifts in a Jar

Time is money, and right now you don't have either the time or the money to answer the call of the shopping mall at Christmas. The only way you can show your friends love, peace on earth, goodwill towards men is by shopping at Macy's, so you think. It's a safe bet that the Three Kings didn't buy the gold, frankincense and myrrh given to Jesus Christ in the manger from Macy's or Pottery Barn. Th. . .

The Job Loss Myth

Presidential candidate John Kerry is fond of stating that “... not since Herbert Hoover has any president lost more jobs than George W. Bush.” And there is a kernel of truth to the statement; thanks to technology, jobs require less human intervention to complete. However, a larger factor in this seeming loss of employment is due to the evolution of the American workforce from a lot indentured t. . .

Affirmative Inaction

One of Abraham Lincoln's claims to fame is the fact that he is best known for abolishing slavery. While he may have felt some personal satisfaction from liberating the Negroes from their bondage, Economy was the main reason why he made his emancipation proclamation. He wanted all of America to move into the Yankee version of capitalism. Over half a decade later, and after a series of civil righ. . .

How to Sell Your Products Without Competition

Selling your products at shows can be difficult when you have a lot of competition. Although some show organizers are careful to have a good mix of vendors, it's not uncommon for other shows to have 20% or more of the booths filled with vendors in the same niche - which is a buyer's market and a seller's disappointing show.Before signing up for any show, ask the promoter how many other vendors . . .

Thoughtleading: The Art of Separating Yourself from the Pack

Lately the age-old business dilemma of how to stand out from the crowd has been haunting companies and professional service firms more than ever before. All too many firms nowadays look too much alike, with marketing strategies seemingly unable to distinguish them from their competition. Glossy brochures, snazzy websites, press releases, advertising: when everyone employs the same methods, ever. . .

Five Strategies To Strengthen Your Company’s Financial Ma...

Too many businesses wait until a crisis occurs before they start to focus on improving their financial management. Often, by that time, it can be too late. By setting aside an hour now to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your company’s financial management activities and systems you can save a lot of time and aggravation. It can also help increase your profits, and at the end of. . .

Why "Good Enough"... Isn't

About a year ago, I had an opportunity to have dinner with the CEO of an engineering startup company in Pennsylvania. As we discussed engineering design matters over Chinese food, he took a few moments to talk about his business philosophy. "As far as I'm concerned," he told me, "if a product is good enough, then it's perfect." He explained that in his view, product improvements should only be . . .

Secrets & Benefits of Secured Loans

Borrowing money has become more and more popular in the UK over recent years, and this is partly due to the fact that it has become far easier to borrow money. The rising popularity of consumer finance has also been aided by the wide variety of deals and the low interest rates available these days. Secured loans have become very popular with those that own property, and this type of finance dea. . .

Humor in Business

With the advancement of computer simulators, anybody can repeat all the business routines before he goes to the field, and have the opportunity of relaxing from the tedious work with numbers. The businessman can concentrate more on the human factors: The Customer Service, the relationships among fellow workers, and self care. The occupation with Human factors is obligation to deal with emotions. . .

Intellectual Property Forums Make $100 Billion Industry A...

The intellectual property transfer market is now estimated to be worth over $100 billion. If you have a new idea, an invention, a new art or craft, you may be able to license it or sell it for millions of dollars. Many Fortune 500 companies are now making their intellectual property available for sale or licensing at new online intellectual-property exchanges. These companies are trying to maxi. . .

Basics of Stock Market

Financial markets provide their participants with the most favorable conditions for purchase/sale of financial instruments they have inside. Their major functions are: guaranteeing liquidity, forming assets prices within establishing proposition and demand and decreasing of operational expenses, incurred by the participants of the market. Financial market comprises variety of instruments, hence. . .

Learn All About Feng Shui Money Trees

A feng shui money tree is an indoor plant used in order to attract prosperity and wealth into any space. The feng shui money tree's botanical name is Pachira, and its care requires the average sun light and watering that any other indoor plant would need. Its height can reach to as much as seven feet while it can reach to be as much as three feet wide.The shape of these plant's leafs represent . . .

Use Feng Shui Coins To Increase Your Income

Feng shui coins can allow you, among other things, to increase your income. By keeping three coins tied with a read thread, you would protect your already existing income as well as increase it. According to Chinese traditions, three coins tied that way symbolize prosperity and income protection.By carrying these three tied coins with yourself you could attract personal wealth, as well as by us. . .

Brand Your Consulting Brilliance

Today's competitive marketplace for consulting services is no longer responsive to the marketing strategies that worked in the past. The services you provide should speak volumes about your consulting business. Think about what happens when you hear phrases such as 'the ultimate driving machine,' 'don't leave home without it,' and 'just do it.' Chances are good that you can immediately associat. . .

Strategies for Planning and Conducting Effective Meetings

Did you know that business executives spend about half their time sitting in meetings? In fact, 40 to 50 percent of their working hours are consumed by meetings, according to a study by the Annenberg School of Communications at UCLA and the University of Minnesota's Training & Development Research Center. Meetings are inevitable - whether you’re a business executive or member of a volunt. . .

How to Analyze the Veracity of Investment Newsletter

When trying to analyze whether a promotional ad for an investment newsletter or a market timing investment trading system is worthy of investigation, the following questions should be asked:Does the strategy have a track record? Without this you are really allowing your emotions to be in play. All of us want to believe that if someone says something it must be true. Yet the sad fact is the trut. . .

Use Your Cell Phone Trial Period to Test Your Plan: Here...

If you use your trial period wisely, you can avoid some costly missteps when you sign up for your wireless service. The trial period is all about testing your plan. You always want a phone that matches your lifestyle, your geography, budget and service needs. Your lifestyleSome people ‘use’ their cell phones and others ‘love’ their cell phones. Which one are you? Users tend to stick to the . . .

Prepaid cell phone plans: Great option or Last Resort?

There was a time when prepaid plans were marketed mostly to people with poor or bad credit. Now, prepaid plans are being marketed as a great alternative to unlimited plans. Here are a few things to consider before you sign up for your prepaid. What is prepaid?Prepaid usually involves buying a block of minutes via online systems or replaceable cards, and you can use these minutes until they ru. . .

How To Choose a Great Camera Phone

List of FeaturesCamera phones are handy, and they offer the most features of any type of cell phone on the market. The list of features available on a camera phone is truly astounding for such a small product. Here is a sample list:Internet access, better color resolution, improved sound quality, multi media messaging (MMS), zoom in/out, video recording capabilities (short clips, no movies), . . .

Secondary Mortgage Market Sets the Standards and Practice...

The Secondary Mortgage Market is responsible for the setting many of the rules and common practices that determines who gets a home loan. The secondary market includes Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association or FNMA), Freddie Mac (Federal Home Loan Corporation or FHLMC), Ginnie Mae (Government National Mortgage Association or GNMA) and a variety of other investment oriented institutio. . .

Getting Pre-Approved for a Home Loan Is One of the Best W...

The real estate market is soaring because of low interest rates that have brought home buying to average Americans. All over the country, more renters are buying and homeowners are upgrading their properties. In this hot seller’s market, a pre-approval letter from your mortgage lender can help you secure a winning bid on the home of your dreams.A pre-approval involves much more than filling o. . .

How Much House Can You Afford?

Your mortgage calculator says: probably a lot less than your mortgage banker says you can.Sometimes you can qualify for a loan but you should not accept it. Why? The monthly payments are more than you can afford. There are lots of laws in place at the state and federal level to protect customers against predatory lending, but there are still many customers around who will find that six months t. . .

How to Take Your Stalled Projects to the Finish Line

Q. I have several projects going at once -- but I never seem to finish them! I'm pulled in so many different directions -- and I end up with nothing to show for my efforts!A. While you're in a creative mode, you're most likely to be swamped with ideas! Most people have too few ideas or too many. Here’s how to deal with the "too many to finish" challenge.(1) Stop berating yourself for not finish. . .

10 Secrets to Get Your Press Release Noticed

It’s difficult enough running the day-to-day aspects of a business, let alone trying to drum up new business as you go. But according to Shannon Cherry, APR, even if you have additional staff helping to get the word out about your products and services, location and prices, delivery and sales support, news releases can make your company grow faster. “A news release is sent to editors and journa. . .

Breaking the Ice and Winning Over the Client

Wherever you turn these days you’ll find articles covering every business strategy and tactic available to man from how to make a great presentation to strategies for success all the way to negotiations and prospecting and getting a client to commit. But hardly anyone touches on the subject of breaking the ice with a new client and winning them over. Experts say it takes only three seconds to . . .

4 Simple Steps to Successful Delegation

Last month, my featured article was about creating a “Stop Doing” list. Hopefully, if you followed my suggestion, you now have a list of tasks that you are looking to delegate away. It seems a natural progression that I now disclose a few simple steps that will ensure your foray into delegation is a success. 1. Choose the right “delegatee” Review the task and determine what skills are required.. . .

Internet Marketing: Are You Penny Wise And Dollar Foolish?

It never ceases to amaze me how many people set-up a web site, without any type of plan or clue about how to promote it--how to write a sales letter--how to write an ad--nothing! Fact is, nowadays, anyone can have a web site. But once you get one, then what? How are you going to make money with it? If you don't know what you're doing, then do the smart thing and consult with an Internet marketi. . .

Rules for Simplified Employee Pension Plans better known ...

A SEP is a special type of IRA. Under a SEP plan the employer creates an IRA account for each eligible employee, hence the name SEP-IRA. A SEP is funded solely with employer contributions. Employees do not make contributions to their SEP-IRA retirement account. Any money that goes into a SEP automatically belongs to the employee. Thus, the employee has the right to take his SEP IRA account mone. . .

PR: Here's All You Need to Know

Above all, you need to know that the right PR can alter individual perception and lead to changed behaviors. Especially when you create external stakeholder behavior change, the kind that leads directly to achieving your managerial objectives. And all because the core of your public relations lies in doing something positive about the behaviors of those important outside audiences of yours . . .

The 21st Century Way To Build Equity

Here to stay and firmly established in the U.S. mortgage market, biweekly mortgage payments are gaining momentum. First introduced into the U.S. in the early 1980's by several small Northeastern Banks, the idea of biweekly mortgages has its origins in Canada.This concept soon became the popular choice nationally within less than a decade after it's arrival placing the biweekly payment plan in t. . .

10 Worst Tips To Give A Speaker

1. Learn the speech by heart or read it from a script. This is meant to be a way of making sure you don’t forget what you’re going to say. Instead, it’s usually a way of making sure you don’t connect with your audience. Most people who use a script end up reading it out and, unless you’re a professional actor or a very experienced speaker, this will come across as unnatural and stilted and it w. . .

5 Things You Must Do To Fail in Business

There are more books about succeeding in business then curse words on MTV. It is not easy to define what makes a business succeed, but it is easy to describe what makes a business fail. If you are starting your business or currently being miserably unsuccessful, you might want to read on.No doubt that most entrepreneurs want to succeed in business and I wont argue that failing is on the top of . . .

Getting Good Value Personal Loans

Over recent years, personal loans have become a popular solution for many consumers looking to raise finance for a variety of purposes. You can get personal loans for all sorts of things, from debt consolidation to holidays, cars and other purchases. It is far easier these days to get a great deal on finance, with cheap personal loans available from a variety of competitive lenders. When lookin. . .

A $2.95 Road Trip, Complete With Souvenirs

"Hey, I didn't know you were a writer, I thought you were a Virtual Assistant." No matter how many times I hear this comment it still surprises me. I learned early on that writing was one of the most lucrative services that I could offer in my virtual assistance business, not to mention an incredible means of free marketing.I have discovered a valuable resource for writing assignments and oth. . .

Stop Paying Two Phone Bills: Make Your Cell Phone Your Pr...

If you find a good service and affordable features, or spend a lot of time away from home, then consider going totally wireless.Many cell phone customers are now using their cell phone as their primary phone line. As the number of cell phone subscriber continues to rise, the monthly fee for basic cell phone service are falling. If you spend a lot of time away from home or constantly have busine. . .

Your Budget And Taste For Gadgets Will You Determine What...

There are many items that you can purchase to increase your cell phone use and satisfaction. Here is a short list of the must-haves with a few recommendations on where to find many more accessories for sale.Usually, an earpiece or headset, long lasting batteries and a car charger are provided at a discount when you purchase your phone. If you plan to replace these items, make sure that your ne. . .

Where Can I Get a Home Loan? Here Are The Top 5 Mortgage...

There are hundreds of sources for home loans online and right in your neighborhood. Banks, Credit Unions, Mortgage Bankers, Government Agencies and Private Sellers all offer different sources of financing for anyone shopping for a mortgage.Neighborhood BanksOne of the best resources for getting a home loan is your neighborhood bank. Depending on the length of your relationship with the bank . . .

Get More Clients From Networking - Follow The Rules Of Da...

If you’re a business owner, you probably spend quite a lot of your time at networking events. In fact, it may be the main way you try to get new clients. But do you ever feel that you could get more from these meetings? Do you actually get the results from your networking to justify the amount of time you put into it? If you don’t find you get a lot of interest from the people you meet, it may . . .

Free Cell Phone Offers – A Win-Win Situation?

You can find a long list of free cell phone offers on the web by doing some online research. A few of minutes of research can help you save time and money. These free cell phone offers are a great way to: Get more phone on a budget. Upgrade your phone and get a better brand Add more features and capabilities Put the extra money saved towards your monthly plan. Keep the extra cash and don’. . .

Save Money on Cell Phone Offers: Beware of Family Plans

There are many offers for family cell phone plans on the web. To get the best deals, here are some guidelines: Get enough anytime minutes Keep track of your usage Be aware of the costs for extras like text messaging and internet access Have a family policy on whether or not your will these extra services Avoid roaming charges and... Monitor your monthly statements15 minutes talk time per dayGe. . .

Debt Consolidation

There are many reasons why people get into debt - some of them self inflicted and some of them way outside of our control. Losing a job, illness or accidents, all of these can suddenly plunge one into unexpected expenditure, and often the only way to deal with the emergency is to use debt. There is a tendency, however, to keep on borrowing once you start. This is because the process becomes so . . .

Getting Your Family Involved In Your Home Business

Do you own your own home business? Is your family involved with your daily business? Yeah, I know at times it seems easier to just do everything yourself. It is an easy trap to get into. Why take the time to explain the job, show them how it should be done, make sure it is done properly, and then possibly have to redo the project if it is not done to your liking? Yes, we have all been through t. . .

Your Own Home Business - Dream or Reality?

This is a question many people have asked themselves, sometimes over and over. Is it possible for the average person to start and run a successful home business? I’m here to say that the answer is a resounding YES!With that said, there are some specific questions you should answer before starting your business. This list is by no means a complete, comprehensive all-encompassing checklist, but i. . .

Customer Service - A Lost Art?

Is customer service a lost art? Before you answer that question, take a moment and think about the last few times you have gone shopping or out to dinner. Okay, now that you have really thought about it, is your answer any different?Why is it that when we actually DO receive excellent customer service that it makes such an impression on us that we usually choose to go back? Why - because the oc. . .

Protecting the Tax Advantage of Your Deferred Compensation

The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 imposed strict new rules on non-qualified deferred compensation plans. Beginning in 2005, deferred compensation programs that are not in compliance with the new rules may be taxed as wages, slapped with a 20% excise tax, plus charged an interest penalty. Given the potentially huge tax consequences for non-compliance with the rules, you should consult with . . .

Are You In It For The Long Haul?

Do you own a home business? Now I'm not talking about the twice yearly yard sale. I am talking about a legitimate home based business. It doesn't matter what type of business you are running affiliate marketing, ecommerce website, ebay auctions, etc.). The question remains the same: Are you in it for the long haul?What exactly is the "long haul" you may ask? I consider the long haul sticking wi. . .

Are You "Set Up" For Success

Believe it or not, 2004 is already here. Yeah, I know, where has the time gone? My mom always told me that as I got older, the years would start to fly by. Did anyone ever tell you that? Did you believe them? Well it is happening to me right now.Before I get too deep into this article, just let me say that the intention of this article is NOT to make people angry or depressed. The real purpose . . .

Build Your Business (on a shoestring): Hire a College In...

Starting up a new venture or business can be one of the most exciting times of your life. It can also be one of the most stressful. In the early months, or even early years of your business, cash flow is often not what you would like it to be. If you’re a solo entrepreneur, you’re wearing many hats – in fact, you’re probably wearing all of them. Not only are you selling your product or serv. . .