Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

How a Group Purchasing Organization Can Save Your Busines...

GPO’s (Group Purchasing Organizations) have been around for about ten years primarily in the healthcare industry. The basic concept of a GPO is that a group of businesses can come together and buy products cheaper than any single company can. This model may or may not be beneficial for the Coca-Cola’s, Wal-Mart’s, or Johnson & Johnson’s of the world, but they are great for the small to medium. . .

Sales Forecasting in Real World Markets

Virtually every manufacturing or service company needs to generate forecasts of their short to medium term sales. Being able to forecast demand more accurately has major commercial advantages, whether the forecast is used: to plan purchasing, production and inventory, as the basis of marketing or sales planning, or for financial planning and reporting or budgeting. Yet within real world marke. . .

Does Your Company Face a Triple-Threat That Will Cause Th...

Does your company face a Triple-Threat that will cause the loss of your company's lifeblood - customers?See full color web version at: http://www.SeniorManagementServices.com/pvt-101-assets.htmlBe sure to renew your PVT subscription before March 15th! Just cli'ck this link: mailto:Mike@SeniorManagementServices.com?Subject=Renewal-2005"Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life." -. . .

Five Sections of Your Copy Guaranteed To Get Read

Only about 20% of your copy is going to get read. The rest will simply be scanned. I'm sure you've heard the statistic before. It's nothing new. While it might sound frightening or frustrating, it's a fact of copywriting life. So what do you do next? Give up? What difference does it make if only about 20% will be read anyway? It makes a world of difference. Especially if you understand . . .

How Does Bankruptcy Work?

Of course, bankruptcy is your last resort. It is tough but provides a legal remedy for your financial situation. Bankruptcy is a 3-step process: You must first file in federal or state court saying you are “insolvent” – meaning you have no cash or assets (things you can sell) to pay your bills. You have to arrange a repayment plan with creditors and the court. You “discharge” – meaning settle. . .

Keep Your Investment Profits

Have you had one of those huge investment winners – a stock that went from $2.00 to $80.00? Or any other numbers you want that gave you a gigantic percent profit? Did you take the profit or did you watch the equity drop back down to what you paid for it? I hope you sold and kept the money. That’s what it is all about. So many times when I was a broker I have seen customers make large profits an. . .

PR and the Small Matter of Results

As a business, non-profit and association manager, how satisfied are you when the public relations people assigned to your unit spend the bulk of their time on someone’s favorite special event, brochures, press releases and talk-show mentions? Especially when you’d rather have a public relations effort that creates the kind of key stakeholder behavior change that leads directly to achievi. . .

Translation Services: Use a translator, a Translation Age...

A challenge almost any company entering an international market will be faced with is translating its marketing materials, product and service documentation, and other documents into the language of the target market. Depending on your requirements, there are basically three options: You can do the translation yourself or have someone in your company do it. You can find and hire a different tra. . .

Consolidate Student Loans and Shop Online

If you run a home business, you know that budgets can be pretty tight. Saving money wherever possible can be the difference between the business that succeeds and the one that fails. This article represents a broad survey of things you can do, from consolidating your student loans to getting small business deals on supplies, that will help you spend less each month.Next Time You’re Online, Buy . . .

Clearing Office Clutter

The Oxford Canadian Dictionary defines clutter as "a crowded and untidy collection of things" or "an untidy state." When we don't have designated places for all our belongings, clutter is often the result. Even if you have established organizational systems, you will face problems with clutter unless you have a plan to find homes for every single article you bring into your office. Otherwise, i. . .

3 Tests to Hire the Best

Question: What’s the easiest, cheapest and quickest way to have profitable, productive, and honest employees?Answer: Hire profitable, productive, honest people!Unfortunately, managers often hire underachievers or losers. Fortunately, pre-employment tests give managers a simple-to-use, quick, customizable way to hire the best.Only 1 Reason to Screen ApplicantsThe sole reason to assess applica. . .

Evaluating Venture Lease Transactions – Ten Factors Lesso...

Each year venture capitalists fund more than 2,500 start-up companies in the U.S. Many of these companies try to conserve their equity capital by approaching venture-leasing firms to secure equipment financing. By obtaining lease financing, these savvy firms are able to use their equity capital for high-impact activities like recruiting key personnel, product development, and expanding their m. . .

Buy: Hold: Sell: Jump

I’m sitting here at my computer desk with a cup of coffee at my elbow. The coffee rest in a mug, the mug garnished with the words Buy, Hold, Sell, Jump, vertically along its sides. Emblazoned across the top of the cup are the words, Wall Street, which encircles the upper portions of the mug. The handle of the mug is quite ornate, rounded at the bottom, with a cradle in the handle’s top. In the . . .

Who's Reading Your Resume?

It seems that everyone is an expert when it comes to resume writing. If you show your resume to ten different people, you will get ten totally different opinions. What is a job seeker to do when there are so many conflicting ideas when it comes to resume etiquette? Who should you write the resume for? Computer software? The screener? The recruiter? The decision maker? The answer is yes to all f. . .

Are you a Victim of Predatory Lending Practices?

Help is available to borrowers who have claims against Predatory Lenders. Lenders all over the country are violating the Truth in Lending Act and other State laws regulating mortgage lenders and mortgage brokers. If you are a victim of predatory lending or mortgage lender fraud, you may be able to void the mortgage and apply 100% of your payments to principal. You may also be able to recover m. . .

I Wanna Hold Your Hand: First Time Homebuyers

The Empowerment of Owning Your Own HomePurchasing a home is one of the most powerful and terrifying events of a person’s life. It is a challenge, but once this challenge is met with strategic planning, knowledge and excitement it becomes an investment. One that will change your financial future and bring more return than you ever imagined. The first step is finding a real estate agent with i. . .

Protecting Your Business With Non-Disclosure Agreements

Every business should protect proprietary information when dealing with independent contractors, vendors and other businesses. The best way to do this is to use a non-disclosure agreement, often referred to as an “NDA.” What is an NDA? An NDA is an agreement between two parties to protect confidential information disclosed in a business transaction. The proprietary information can include busin. . .

Are You Taking Care of Business?

Too often, when we say we are "taking care of business", we think about the paperwork, the accounting, the inventory, etc... the trivial things that are important to get done in order for our business to run smoothly and efficiently. While necessary, they are not the most important.We need to change our thinking about what "taking care of business" means. We need to make sales in order to have. . .

Starting A Wedding Videography Business is FUN, EASY & RE...

It is a little known fact that WEDDINGS are the #1 growing industry in the WORLD! Every year, billions upon billions of dollars are spent on Weddings. The question I must ask is why are you not getting into this business?Here are just a few statistics to get your feet wet,There are somewhere around 2.5 million weddings every year in the United States Alone!So... about $40 BILLION is spent on we. . .

Should You Ever Take A Payday Loan?

Payday loans have many names -- cash advances, signature loans and paycheck loans, etc. Payday lenders provide quick and easy short-term cash to those who need money immediately. That's the big reason why they're so popular. However, payday loans come at exorbitant costs. This can -- and often does -- lead borrowers into a downward spiral of rapidly escalating debt. Let's look at the issue from. . .

What To Check Out When You Apply For A Payday Loan

Are you thinking of going in for a payday loan to meet an unexpected expense? If yes, look into these seven things before you finalize one. This checklist can help you make smarter choices. You might even end up saving some serious cash!First thing to consider -- do you really need that cash advance? Sure, you need cash right away, but have you looked at other options? The fact is, a payday loa. . .

Facts You Should Know About Loan Types

When you set out to borrow, you often come across terms like unsecured loans, revolving loans, adjustable rate loans, etc. While these terms are more or less self-explanatory, it is still useful to be clear on their exact meanings and what they imply before you finalize a loan contract. Unsecured versus secured loansAs the name implies, a secured loan is one where you offer collateral of some k. . .

5 Ways To Reduce Bill Payment Anxiety

One repeated source of financial stress and anxiety for many people is the monthly payment of their bills. A friend of mine refers to his monthly dilemma as having too much month at the end of his money. I also know couples that refer to bill paying days as “fight night” because of the tension and strain it can add to a relationship. As it turns out, most of the anxiety associated with payin. . .

Tax Jokes and Quotes

Do you realize that some tax forms ask you to check a box if you are BLIND? Quote: “Two years ago it was impossible to get through on the phone to the IRS. Now it's just hard to get through. That's progress.” -Charles Rossotti, former IRS Commissioner Disappointed that you never had time to write the great American novel? Don’t fret, just go dig out your past tax returns. Quote: "The Eiffel Tow. . .

Why Bank Overdrafts May Be a Bad Deal For You

Many banks actively encourage their clients with low balances to overdraw their accounts. That means, if the customer writes a check or uses her debit card and has insufficient funds in the account, the bank clears the check by granting a temporary overdraft (a short-term loan), up to a specific limit. The customer is saved from the problems of bounced checks or interrupted shopping sprees. Sou. . .

Building Good Business Credit After Bad Credit

Can you establish good business credit if you have bad personal credit? The answer is yes...but with a few caveats. Business credit reports and personal credit reports are generally completely separate databases for legal reasons. However, there are some exceptions in terms of how independent that information may be: -- If you are operating as a sole proprietor or Limited Liability Company, it. . .

How to Find An Affiliate Program For Any Niche in 2 Minutes

There is a great trend lately of marketers finally moving to niche markets and not just focusing on selling to the -make money- industry. This is an excellent move and one that will prove to be very profitable for you. However, a problem that many affiliates are hitting is that they dont know how to find good niche affiliate programs.If there isnt a program in Clickbank, most affiliates are l. . .

Understanding And Improving Your Credit Rating

"No man's credit is as good as his money." E.W. Howe, American journalist, novelist 1853-1937 The American economy is based on credit. If you don't have at least an average credit rating, you will find that getting approved for any type of loan, or credit card, will be very difficult - if not impossible. As the nation's economy worsens, the money supply becomes tighter. A major factor looming o. . .

5 Things to Look for in a Property Appraiser

Homeowners who are seeking a property appraiser often ask “How should I choose which real estate appraiser to use?” When selecting a property appraiser, keep the following in mind:Always make sure a property appraiser is licensed or certified by the state to perform real estate appraisals. While state licensing and/or certification isn’t always an indication of quality, it ensures that an ind. . .

Five Stumbling Blocks To Successful Networking and How To...

The ability to connect with people is essential to success in any business. Professional networking events present opportunities to interact with others on a personal level and to develop profitable relationships. These occasions are critical for anyone who wants to grow a business or promote a career.Many people are simply not comfortable walking into a room full of strangers and striking up. . .

Practice Speaking

For many people, interviewing is not a natural act any more than going on a blind date is. You are asked a bunch of questions about your work. You answer them. They ask a bunch more; you answer them. You’re graded on your performance (you receive a job offer or not). Yet interviews are predictable processes and as such can be planned forWhat does an employer want to know about you? Do you have . . .

Exchange Traded Funds

They call ‘em ETFs.There are hundreds of them.The mutual funds don’t want you to find out about them.Why?Because they beat the socks off mutual funds in so many categories. The expense ratios of most mutual funds runs about 1.5% and many are much higher. To buy a mutual fund you must wait until the end of the day to find out what price you paid. Many mutual funds have instituted redemption char. . .

Groove Network. Good, But How Good?

If you are in a business that passes documents around to be reviewed and edited over and over before they are ready to be posted for advertising or for a client, then you have probably already heard of a software solution to help keep your “floating” documents organized from Groove Network. You may not be aware that there is another option out there. In this article you will be presented with s. . .

Drop Ship Your Way to Wealth

Your customer sees a marvelous array of products on your website. After thoughtful consideration, she purchases the product she wants. Amazingly, you have never actually seen the product. That is because your supplier shipped the order directly to her. 1. Problems With Stocking Inventory After deciding what products you will sell, you are immediately faced with many challenges. First: "To stock. . .

Calling a Time Out on Sports and War Metaphors

Changing the rules in the middle of the game, moving the goalposts, two-minute drill, no harm/no foul, franchise player, lay up, knockout blow, on the ropes, quarterback, the best defense is a good offense, three-pointer, at the buzzer, brush back pitch, hole in one, skating to the puck, ground game, blocking and tackling. Lay siege, barrage, trench warfare, sniper, collateral damage, surgical . . .

Franchises - Success and You

Many people believe owning a franchise will make them rich, financially secure, and provide the life of their dreams. True, franchises have an extremely high success rate, and a very high satisfaction rate among their owners. But is that success guaranteed when you purchase a franchise? NO!There are no guarantees in life, or in franchises. There are those occasions when franchises are not profi. . .

Stock Market Diversification

In one of my previous articles (Investing in the stock market -9 powerful tips), tip number one was: 1. Do not spread your money too thin. My friend has a little over $200,000 invested in the stock market through 27 different Mutual funds. In my opinion, 27 Mutual funds is 27 too many collecting load fees, management fees, commission fees, operating and advertising fees. Diversity is important,. . .

Top 7 Ways Puppy Training Can Help Your Business

As leaders we always want to improve the performance of our organization. To improve we must release the creativity in our employees, leaders must get involved in their employees’ work. Not everyone knows how to do this, but maybe it isn’t all that different than training a puppy. Following are seven common themes used in training puppies.1. Have a proper kennel, it should not be too large, jus. . .

Keeping Your Business Event Entertainment Clean, Not Obsc...

When John Hakel decided to hire a comedian for one of his company's events, he knew that hiring the right comic would be no laughing matter. As the Director of the Association of General Contractors of California, Hakel plans dozens of events each year and he had heard of other planners who got blindsided when the hired comic's jokes quickly went from funny to filthy. "My job security depends . . .

3 Sure Fire Ways To Beat Financial Stress

1) Get CREATIVEDon’t fall victim to typical or cliché financial goals that you know, from your own experience, you haven’t been able to stay focused on. Switch things up and simply commit to spending 10-15 minutes, one day a week, thinking about ways you can turn regular spending into savings. Choose a specific dollar bill, for example, a five or ten dollar bill, that you will separate and s. . .

Make Your Fortune as a Professional Finder

Have you considered the lucrative opportunity in finder`s fees? You could become a professional finder and earn a fortune from this alone. Alternatively, you could supplement your present income with finder`s fees. A finder is someone who finds something for a person or business. The amount paid for this service is called a finder`s fee. What is the difference between a finder and a broker or c. . .

The advantages of consumer credit counseling

Many individuals have been helped by consumer credit counseling to take control of their finances and to eliminate debt. Consumer credit counseling can work for you by teaching money management skills which can help you throughout your lifetime.Consumer credit counseling can help you better understand your credit situation. It can help you understand the costs associated with misusing a credit . . .

Cash Advance as a Loan Source

Cash advance loans are a quick and hassle free way of obtaining some much needed cash. The loan is generally meant to be repaid in the short term.Cash advance pay day loans is helpful for those people who have run out of money before the end of the month and need some assistance to sustain them until their next paycheck.A cash advance agency will usually pay between $200 to $1000 in increments . . .

Preventing Identity Theft

Preventing identity theft is never foolproof but here are some good tips that will make it more difficult for anyone to steal your personal information.The first and most important step for preventing identity theft is keeping a close watch on all of your personal information and your credit report.Check your credit reports from all three bureaus at least once a year. Once you get your credit . . .

The Right Way to Start a Home Based Business

Starting a new business is scary, exhilarating, challenging and at times downright confusing. It's easy to get overwhelmed by the huge number of tasks in front of you. When you get in that state, step back and think, "What can I do today that will get my message in front of my customers?" If you're thinking about this all the time, the other details will fall into place. The first thing you nee. . .

The Secrets of Million Dollar Home Based Business Opportu...

That’s right…there really are million dollar home based business opportunities out there. Where? Well to be honest they’re everywhere! Just like beauty being in the eye of the beholder so is opportunity. Opportunity really does greet us at every corner we turn! Opportunities are even laid out for us step by step and yet most of us either don’t see them or don’t believe what do see. You see the . . .

The Perfect Network Marketing System!

Network marketing is hard. Do not even attempt a home based network marketing venture unless you either have or plan on putting into place a highly potent and highly duplicatable network marketing system geared for 2005 and beyond.Before I tell you what a billion dollar network marketing system should look like let’s talk about what doesn’t work. As I’m sure you probably know, network marketing. . .

Present Statistics In Context

“I didn’t have 3000 pairs of shoes. I had only 1600 pairs.” --- Imelda MarcosEverything’s relative. A million dollars sounds like a lot of money to someone who makes an average salary, but it’s a drop in the bucket to a Warren Buffett or a Bill Gates. Running a hundred metres in a few seconds seems like a miracle to ordinary mortals, but a track and field athlete will work hard to shave even mo. . .

Wrestling with Home Based Business Opportunities!

What’s that you say? You say your home business has you frustrated and at your wits end. You say no matter what you try you it seems you’re only making the network marketing companies and those guru guys richer. Well, you’re probably right. But, so what!Here’s a little story I’d like to relate to you about my own life and it has nothing to do with home based businesses. Though, by then end you . . .

How a Best Buy Sales Clerk taught Me the Simple 6 Step Fo...

Follow this story….I went to Best Buy today to get a few CDs and walked out with a new subscription to Sports Illustrated. Immediately confused, I asked myself how’d that happen? As I went through the steps that brought to that point in time, I realized I was sold on the subscription before I ever had a chance to even think about saying no. Wow! What if and I had this power? My home business wo. . .