Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Is Accumulating a $1,000,000 Net Worth Easy? Yes and NO

Is accumulating wealth as easy as following a 3-step plan? Yes it is and no it isn't. As with many things in life, accomplishing a goal such as accumulating one million dollars (or even $100,000) depends on your desire, your personal choices and your daily actions. Let's start with one example on how you might miss this goal. One of the first components of successfully meeting any goal is to ha. . .

Is Accumulating a Net Worth of $1,000,000 Easy? Yes and No

After purchasing Anthony Robbin's Get The Edge program, I was a bit skeptical that it would provide much value. I can honestly tell you that it has dramatically changed many areas in my life. Many of my new or old goals are finally in clear focus, I've been taking action on a daily basis and more of my goals are now beginning to become a reality. Anthony Robbins exudes an abundance of energy an. . .

Don’t Give Presentations Or Speeches. Give Leadership Tal...

The CEO of a worldwide business asked me to help him develop a talk he planned to give to several hundred of his top executives. He said, 'I feel as if I’m Daniel going into the lion's den.' Indeed, it was the business equivalent of a lion's den that he was entering. Hired from a competing firm, he was a stranger to the company, a company hobbled by declining market share and bad morale caused . . .

Seminars: Why Are They Popular, and What Advantages/Disad...

Seminars dealing with "special topics" have actually been around for decades, and are an older form of marketing and information exchanges, that have seen quite a resurgence of interest in the past ten years.Seminars are simply a group of people coming together for the discussion and learning of specific techniques and topics. Usually there are several keynote speakers within each seminar, and . . .

Passwords and the Human Factor

Passwords have a strange dual nature. The stronger and safer the password the more likely it will be undermined by human weakness.It is widely known that passwords are the most common means of access control. It is also common knowledge that passwords are the easiest way to compromise a system. Passwords have two basic functions. First, they allow initial entry to a system. Next, after access, . . .

Online Business Broker: Stress Free Help Selling Your Bus...

You've spent several months, perhaps years, putting everything you have into building a thriving, high-demand online business and now you have decided to sell your baby. Thousands of businesses change hands everyday, oddly enough the channels you can use to get maximum price and exposure for your online business are extremely limited. You have a few options: Ebay. It's perhaps the biggest ve. . .

Venture Leasing - A Smarter Way To Build Enterprise Value

In 2003, venture capitalists and investors dispense over $18 billion to promising young US companies, according to VentureOne and Ernst & Young Quarterly Venture Capital Report. Less documented and reported is venture leasing’s activity and volume. This form of equipment financing contributed greatly to the growth of US start-ups. Yearly, specialty leasing companies pour hundreds of millions of. . .

Insider’s Guide to Snaring the Best Lease Deal

Every year, thousands of business owners and financial managers are faced with the task of obtaining attractive financing for equipment their firms want to acquire. Snaring the best leasing arrangement requires only a bit of planning and a smidgeon of finesse. You can save time, land a better lease deal and make the leasing experience less of a conundrum by considering several important factors. . .

Managing the Sales Negotiation Process

How many times have you heard: "You've got to drop your price by 10% or we will have no choice but to go with your competition." "You will have to make an exception to your policy if you want our business." "I know that you have good quality and service, but so do your competitors. What we need to focus on here is your pricing." "I agree that those special services you keep bringing up wou. . .

7 Proven Tips To Market Your Cleaning Business

Marketing your cleaning business is something that you will already have an idea about when you start your business plan. Nothing is better for an emerging cleaning business than a really good marketing strategy. This is when all of your research will work to your advantage. Cleaning business or any other type of service business cannot survive without a proven marketing plan, In order to build. . .

A Presidential Debate

Talk about a controversial topic!The recent debates were something else.The interesting thing is this, if you’re like me, you’d probably already decided who you were gonna vote for, long before election day ever came.And then, as you watched the debates, the guy who ain’t gettin your vote tended to get you a little riled up.Yesterday afternoon I was reading an article that really got me going.T. . .

How Nov. 15, 2004 Deadline for Sarbanes Oxley 404 Complia...

Public companies have 90 days from the end of their fiscal year to comply. For those with market capitalization of $75 million or more, this clock starts on Nov. 15, 2004; while all others with less than $75 million market capitalization begin July 15, 2005.Fast Relief for Sarbanes Oxley Section 404 ComplianceSection 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires management to confirm the effectivenes. . .

How to Attract and Retain the Right People

If you’re one of the many executives struggling with finding and keeping the right people to propel your business forward, you’ll find these insights helpful.If you’re frustrated by trying to motivate people, work instead to develop a company where people are self-motivated – where they do things because they want to. When we’re inspired, we enjoy our work, we’re productive, and we’re proud of. . .

Sowing and Growing Your Network

The N-word! We all know the value of networking and we feel we should be doing more of it. Unfortunately, for too many of us the very thought of attending an event where we have to mix and mingle with total strangers is enough to drive us into hiding until it's all over! What a pity we often force ourselves to go to a potentially great conference, but we're so busy worrying about the networking. . .

Surviving Corporate Politics Part 2: Keeping Up Appearances

Never a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression, or so the saying goes. We all know that when someone is introduced into your work environment for the first time, their peers size them up immediately. How they are dressed, how they talk, and how they set up their workspace. Especially in large companies, where there is constant personnel movement, keeping up your appearance is a full time task. In . . .

Generate Sales with Lead Generation Marketing Tools

One of the best projects to undertake as an online marketer is to master the art of generating sales from your warm market contacts. A warm market is simply people who have already been exposed to your business and marketing plan. It can be described as “breaking the ice” with your potential customers. The best way to generate a warm market is with lead generation marketing tools. A marketing t. . .

How To Get a Job Offer From Every Interview

About four years ago a friend told me one night that she had an interview the next week and was looking for some comfort as she was extremely nervous, as most people are about interviews. I thought back on my my carreer and realized that in the nine year of my career I had been to thirteen interviews and, more importantly, that I had received a job offer from every one of those interviews. I di. . .

7 Reasons Why Law Firm Diversity Initiatives Fail

Many law firms understand the importance of building a diverse workforce. The changing demographics within the United States have signaled to firms that diversity is an important goal that will affect the firm’s viability and ultimately the bottom line. In response, many firms have launched diversity recruitment efforts designed to bring more women and attorneys of color into the firm. The prob. . .

Change and Performance - Training May Not Be The Answer

Introducing new products or services, bringing new people on board, developing a new process or procedure, installing new equipment, change seems to be the one constant in business today and change always seems to drive a need for training. In conducting training needs analysis at any level, we need to understand that training may not be the solution, at least not the whole solution. Training i. . .

Seven Ways to Say, "No!"

A common remedy for improving your time management is to develop the ability of saying, "NO." Since it is easier to recommend than to do, here are some tips on how to do it.1. Start with your own attitude. What is your self perception when you say, "NO?" Do you see yourself as a slacker? What about the perception of others, are you concerned about what others think of you? Are their opinions i. . .

How To Evaluate A Product Opportunity

Day after day my in box, and I'm sure yours as well, fills with opportunity propaganda on how to make money. Do this, and poof, you're rich. Become an affiliate and sell my ebook, and poof, you're making lots of money. I don't know about you, but I can't tell what’s a good opportunity and what’s not any more. Because of this, I created a list of nine criteria, a sort-of checklist, to use when I. . .

PR: A Potent Force for Success

What’s REALLY potent for a business, non-profit or association manager is public relations’ ability to alter individual perception leading to changed behaviors. And then, to persuade those key outside folks to the manager’s way of thinking, and help move them to take actions that allow their department, division or subsidiary to succeed. Potent because public relations does something positive f. . .

The Effects of Consumer Debt

Consumer BorrowingConsumer borrowing in the UK has now crashed through the £1 trillion barrier. 80% of this is due to credit card borrowing, loans and mortgages. How are people managing to handle their debt and what effect is debt having on families today?The National Consumer Council reports that 6 million families in the UK are already struggling to make repayments towards their debt, and Ci. . .

Searching For A Low Interest Credit Card?

These days, people need to very carefully consider what type of credit card they will carry in their wallets. There are so many options out there, and each individual has different needs. Some of us tend to carry a balance, so we need a low interest credit card. Others pay off their card each month and so don't pay any interest. They are more concerned with having a credit card that has no annu. . .

Seven Cs to Avoid Procedure Writing Errors

You do your best to make sure your organization is operating as effectively as possible. But if your policies and procedures are incomplete, outdated, or inconsistent, then they are not driving the performance improvement they should. When employees try to use incomplete or undefined procedures, waste and costly errors soon follow.Case Study: Little Mistakes Add Up QuicklyWithout knowing it, em. . .

Merchant Accounts - How to save money

Your business is successful, but now your ready to take it to the next level and begin accepting credit card transactions, or you have already taken this step but your feeling that your merchant account provider has high fees and your not sure what to do, or what other providers are out there? You can save hundred's even thousand's of dollars per year by switching over to a new merchant. How is. . .

Is Your Company Growing Fast Enough for You?

Are you frustrated by the lack of growth in your firm, or the effort required to squeeze any up-tick in performance? Are inadequate policies and procedures a root cause? To find out, take this simple self assessment to see if this may be inhibiting real growth at your company.Q. Can you take an extended vacation without the company falling apart? A. If you answered “no” then you have a job and . . .

The Not-So-Effective Cover Letter

Here’s a newsflash: Cover letters work, plain and simple. This is why I’m intrigued by the fact that a) jobseekers rarely submit them and b) hiring managers seldom read them. As a result, I started asking questions. Specifically, “What’s your problem with cover letters?” Here’s what I found out.Jobseekers claim all the pertinent information is included in the resume. Translation: “I don’t know . . .

A Buyer's Guide to Medical Insurance

Buying travel health insurance can be a complex task. There are so many different plans - each with different benefits and restrictions.It is important to shop wisely for trip insurance. Many people buy coverage that seems inexpensive only to find out that they are not adequately covered when a medical emergency occurs. Below are a few key questions you should ask your insurance provider before. . .

Mortgage Prepayment Penalties - Just Say No

One of the most common terms found in a new home loan is a prepayment penalty. This type of penalty says that if the borrower pays off the loan early, commonly during the first five years of the loan, then the borrower will be responsible for paying an additional amount of money, typically about six months interest on 80% of the mortgage balance. Sub-prime market loans will typically carry prep. . .

Dealing With Dual Real Estate Agents

Historically, real estate agents have represented the seller of a property. The seller, after all, is usually the one who pays their commission, and agents therefore have a fiduciary relationship with the seller. This in no way means that agents may operate outside the bounds of the law and ethical conduct of course. It just means that the real estate agent is just that, an authorized agent of . . .

Real Estate Auction Action - Buying A Home At Auction

Due in part to the popularity of the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s home auction program, more potential homebuyers than ever are buying homes at auction. Homes for auction aren't limited to just HUD, however. Many government entities auction homes for payment of back taxes, and some homeowners even auction their homes on eBay.com!Homebuyers considering buying a home . . .

Exceptional Leadership Inspires the Best Effort in Others

There is a steady stream being written and taught about leadership these days. There are tips about leadership, courses about leadership, books, retreats, and continuing education – all focused on leadership. While all of this material is useful and can certainly enhance one’s leadership knowledge, for the most part it avoids asking and answering two questions: Why does better leadership make. . .

Greeting Card Tango: How To Impress, Not Stress, During T...

When it comes to holiday greeting cards, to send or not to send is often the question. Once you have decided in the affirmative, you then have to determine who to include on your list, what kind of card to choose and how to address the envelope.There are lots of reasons for sending those holiday cards. You might want to enhance your current business relationships, attract new customers, remind . . .

Monaco Might Lose Its Status of Personal Income Tax Haven

That Monaco is crowded with celebrities is no piece of news. Since 1869, when the personal income tax policy became favorable, Monaco attracted very many individuals with high net income, such as movie stars, sporting stars etc. who became residents of the Principality in order to benefit from personal income tax exemption.Take, for instance, Roger Moore, Shirley Bassey, Ringo Starr, Karen Muld. . .

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 . . .

PR: The Thrill of a Good Idea

The notion that a business, non-profit or association manager can actually hold a big key to success in his or her own hands IS a thrilling idea! And it becomes more thrilling as the manager actually alters individual perceptions leading to changed behaviors of key outside audiences. Then persuades those external stakeholders to that manager’s way of thinking, helping move them to take actions . . .

Managing a CAD Outsourcing Project

We must first emphasize that here we are talking about outsourcing CAD projects, which is significantly easier than outsourcing software development or IT services (earlier articles of mine have explained why).This article also assumes that selection of the CAD providers has been completed with due diligence (the methods are described in an earlier article).As I mentioned in those prior article. . .

Disaster Decision - Do You Need Insurance?

The expenses involved with owning a home can be overwhelming at times - routine maintenance, repairs, seasonal preparations, improvements. Not to mention taxes, fees, and all those monthly bills. Some homeowners, in trying to reduce their expenses, wonder if they really need disaster insurance. Disaster insurance is typically defined as additional homeowner's insurance to cover events like hurr. . .

At Home In Your Overseas Home

Homeownership, in any form, is a big step for most people. In fact, it's often one of the biggest financial decisions of our lives. Despite that, sometimes a homeowner in one country will want to buy a second home in another country, whether for a vacation home or future retirement. Usually they make this decision after realizing they visit the same country every chance they get, but sometimes . . .

Ten Effective Ways To Reduce Your Business Costs

Business cost for everyone can get out of control very fast. Here's ten simple yet POWERFUL ways to reduce cost that can have a GREAT effect on the health of your business.1. Barter If you have a business you should be bartering goods and services with other businesses. You should try to trade for something before you buy it. Barter deals usually require little or no money.2. Network Try networ. . .

How To Evaluate A New Business Opportunity

If you are searching for ways to earn an income using the internet, you must have already come across many programs with unbelievable claims of overnight income. This article outlines 7 criteria that I use to evaluate any opportunity that presents itself before me. * 1 Is there a Product in Demand If you are thinking about a business o­n the internet, there has to be a product that has a huge d. . .

Building Wealth by Paying Yourself First

When I look around at all of my friends, and a lot of my family, I see a lot of people living from pay check to pay check, under monetary stress. These same people watch the Calendar for payday like a hawk. Pay their bills, and then open up the spending flood gates, before they know it, they are itching for their next pay check. These same people are the people who don't think they make enou. . .

How to Get 'Triple A' Credit in 25 Days.

Good credit is everyone's dream. A wise use of credit can go a long way. It certainly makes certain goals in life (like acquiring business loan from bank) easily attainable.But the key question remains: "What does it take to achieve 'Triple A' credit?"First and foremost, it is important it is critical to point out where most people go wrong when it comes to their credit and credit report. Peopl. . .

Surviving in Corporate Amercia: Part 1 - Email

There is a saying that goes, “The best offense is a great defense”. Nowhere is that applied better in the corporate world than in the intelligent use of email. In this age of technology, E-mail is a multi-purpose tool that can be adapted into each user’s organizational patterns. Firstly, we will get the basic do’s and don’ts out of the way. Do not use your work address when filling out forms on. . .

Now, Do You Have Any Questions?

“Who is that hot babe in the picture?” isn’t the type of reply an interviewer expects to hear when he or she invites you to ask questions near the end of an interview. In fact, the way you approach the Q&A session will have a direct impact on the interviewer’s perception of you. Based on the questions you ask, a judgment will be made in regard to how interested you seem to be in working for the. . .

Professional Transcription and Your Business

Got stacks of audio tapes that need to be converted to a more user-friendly format? Professional transcription services may be the answer. Professional transcriptionists can take standard or micro cassette tapes and produce a typed version of the text in a format that's clear, consistent and correct. They can create transcripts of taped meetings, training sessions, seminars and conventio. . .

Humor in Business

With the advancement of computer simulators, anybody can repeat all the business routines before he goes to the real world, 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 emo. . .

The Value of a Customer

You need to determine what the value of a customer is to your company. Answer the following questions:How much will the average customer spend with you per year?A = _____________If you provide quality service and products, how many years can you expect to keep a customer ?B = _____________What is your gross profit, as a percentage of revenues?C = _____________The value (V) of a customer is:V = . . .

How One Product Made Me Into a Millionaire: The 4th Thing...

When I was working at a gas station in Chandler, Arizona, fixing windshields for a living, making only $30,000 a year, I had all the drive in the world to succeed. You see, I was in a franchise. I thought that since I had entered into a business of my own and if I worked it hard enough, I would have success. Man, I was dead wrong. What I learned is that I could have all the drive and determinat. . .