Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Instilling Urgency In The People You Lead

Summary: The author draws a lesson from a classic radio skit to show leaders how they might raise their activities to new levels of awareness and commitment. A classic radio skit by comedian Jack Benny involved Benny being held up on the street by a man with a gun. "Your money or your life," the gunman said to Benny, who portrayed himself in character as an inveterate tightwad. There was a lon. . .

What To Do If Your Business Loan is NOT Approved

What To Do If Your Business Loan is Not ApprovedWords that all business owners dislike hearing from a lender are, "Sorry, we just can't approve your loan." It's frustrating when your business loan is not approved, and it may feel like your business ideas are now a hopeless venture. Rather than letting those feelings of despair overcome you because your business loan was not approved, though, st. . .

Your Path to Success with Liberty League International

Many people who taken the initial step and become associated with Liberty League find that this is the first step leading towards a more fulfilling life. What are the other commitments you can make to speed yourself along the path to success?Firstly read as much information as you can about Liberty League’s range of proven products. Explore the products section of their website and become knowl. . .

Franchising Pros and Cons

Last week's question from Anthony R. on how to choose the franchise that would best fulfill his life-long dream of owning his own business sparked a number of emails from other readers wanting to offer their two cents on the subject.Some folks offered helpful insights and suggestions on how to pick a franchise and a few things to watch out for, while other emails came from current franchise own. . .

When to Get a Second Mortgage

If you find yourself struggling to make ends meet, in need of some additional money for home repairs or home improvements, or just find that you have some financial need that you can't fulfill with your standard wages, you might want to consider taking out a second mortgage on your home. Of course, when many people think of a second mortgage they think of the scenario that's usually presented i. . .

How Do I Qualify for a Business Loan?

Loans are the single most common source of funding, whether for purchasing a home, financing a business, paying off debt, or financing a college education. Before approaching a lender to see if you qualify for a loan, whether your credit scores are ideal or very poor, it's a good idea to understand as much as you can about the factors that a lender will take into consideration when evaluating y. . .

Speculators and Speculation

Speculators get a bad rap. Speculation in stocks, currecies and commodities futures is a necessary part of our economy. Many people have the idea that there is no added value in people "gambling" on commodities prices, for example. The truth is, most people just don't understand of the role of speculators and speculation. The Truth About 'Speculation'Speculative trading is crucial to a modern e. . .

Using Invoice Discounting For Cash Flow

Invoice discounting is basically the same as invoice factoring: it involves selling your invoices that are not yet due to be paid to a company at a discount. The discount provides the company purchasing your invoices with their profit; but by receiving cash now for your invoices, invoice discounting enables you to:* Meet emergency expenses* Pay suppliers early to take advantage of early-payment. . .

Poor Credit Debt Consolidation Loans

Poor credit debt consolidation loans are an excellent option to consider if you are an individual who wouldn't qualify for a traditional loan, but are in need of money to pay off bills, consolidate debt into one lower payment, and improve your style of living.Understanding the exact meaning of a poor credit debt consolidation loan is extremely important. Poor credit debt consolidation loans are. . .

IRS Levy And Garnishments

Unfortunately to many of us the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is one branch of government that can never be our friend and is often feared by some less reputable business owners. When the IRS is owed money, they will get it whether you like it or not. For those individuals who owe back taxes, the state or IRS may attempt to collect those owed taxes by wage garnishment through your employer. On. . .

What Is Invoice Factoring And Invoice Discounting?

The Romans were the first civilization to sell promissory notes at a discount, beginning the industry of factoring. America was built largely on the possibilities of factoring, when colonial businesses were factored by Europeans willing to invest cash in exchange for the promise of large returns, and government bonds also use the same principles applied by businesses when they engage in invoice. . .

Obtaining a Business Loan When Your Credit Rating is Poor

Poor credit, unfortunately, is a common problem for many women. Poor credit can happen for a variety of reasons. It can be due to a divorce, when bills weren't paid on time or at all. It can be due to a medical disaster, where bills have piled up so high that paying them has become impossible, and credit scores have dropped accordingly. It can be due to a job loss or lack of income and the inab. . .

Chase Credit Cards: A Look At The Top 3

Not too many people know this, but there are over 900 different Chase credit cards for consumers to choose from! Yes, the number you read is correct. With most of these cards being “affinity” cards, meaning having direct tie-ins with a store, or with an auto manufacturer, you name it the choices for consumers are bountiful. A little overwhelming too, don’t you think? To cut to the chase, pun in. . .

When It Comes To An Office Lease, It's ALL Fine Print

Last week we looked at a few of the things you should consider before leasing that first office or storefront for your business. To recap, you should not only consider the old standard "location, location, location," but also consider things like sufficient parking, the number of employees who will be working onsite, and future growth projections. I stressed that it was important not to get cau. . .

Seven Scary Reasons Not To Start A Home Based Business

Thinking of starting a home based business can be a scary affair. After the thrill of getting that brilliant idea, it’s usually in that first battle with the mind that people lose and give up. Our minds are terribly good at looking at the down side of things. Here are SEVEN SCARY reasons why people shy away from starting their own home based business and SEVEN SIMPLE steps to help you overcome . . .

There Are No Dumb Business Questions, Not!

Q: I'm curious. What is the dumbest business question you've ever been asked? -- Norris W.A: Shame on you, Norris. There is no such thing as a dumb business question. OK, that's not exactly true. There are dumb business questions and I do get quite a few of them. Not through this column, of course. People intelligent enough to actually use a computer and surf the World Wide Web would never subm. . .

Starting Your Business By The Book

I've gotten several questions recently about the legalities of starting a business. So, this week I thought I would address a few of the more common legal issues most new businesses face. But first, let's get the mandatory legal disclaimer out of the way: the advice dispensed by this columnist is probably no better or worse than the advice dispensed by other columnists. Do not take the followin. . .

Unlocking Organizational Value Through Leadership

Summary: The author asserts that most organizations have a great deal of value locked away and thus unused. Through misguided leadership, they neglect to tap the deep reservoirs of their members' motivation, talents and skills. Here is a surprisingly simple and powerful way to make unlock that value both on an organizational level and personal level. For more than two decades, in many ways,. . .

What to Do if You're Denied a Loan

Sometimes, finding the best loan offer isn't the end of the lending process... after you fill out your loan paperwork and submit your final application, your loan comes back as being denied. It may seem like you're not going to be able to get the money that you need, but that's not true; it's simply going to take a bit more work on your part to find another lender that will approve your loan. I. . .

SBA's 8(a) Program Can Help Some Companies Compete

Q: A friend told me that as a woman of Native American descent I might be eligible for a special SBA program that will help me start a small business. He said I could compete for government contracts through this program. Can you tell me what SBA program he's referring to? -- Clara P.A: Your friend is probably referring to the Small Business Administration's (SBA) 8(a) Business Development (BD). . .

What To Do If Your Business Loan IS Approved

What To Do If Your Business Loan is ApprovedYour business loan is approved. Congratulations! It's one of the most exciting phone calls you can receive as a business owner. It means that your business has received the financing that you've desired for opening your new business or expanding your existing business. Obviously, a celebration is in order! However, before popping open that bottle of c. . .

A Guide to Student Loans and Grants

College and other schooling beyond that offered by public school systems can be quite expensive. In many cases, parents and students will need some form of assistance to help them make ends meet and pay tuition and other costs… preferably without creating more bills that need to be paid while attempting to finish school. Some students will receive scholarships that will cover all or part of the. . .

Do Not Let Your Anxieties Get The Better Of You In The Bu...

When doing business, do not let your anxieties get the best of you in the business world. It is important to know how to handle your anxieties and stresses. As a result, here is a list of techniques and suggestions on what to do in managing your business related stresses and anxieties.When facing a current or upcoming task that overwhelms you with a lot of anxiety, the first thing you can do is. . .

Finding Low Cost Bonds

If you've been considering investing in bonds, then you probably know that the best way to get the most out of bonds is to buy them early for a low price. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be quite difficult to find bonds early… and even when you do they're not always in the price range that you're looking for.Luckily, it is possible to find low cost bonds without spending all of your free time s. . .

Getting Serious About Network Marketing

Network marketing is a business model that has very similar characteristics to franchising. However the advantage that it has over traditional franchising includes a low cost of entry and high potential revenue possibilities.What types of people are attracted to a network marketing opportunity? Generally the types of people who are attracted to network marketing are unhappy in their careers . . .

Defining the Financial Services Authority

Every country that has a banking and finance system needs some sort of entity to regulate it… after all, simply allowing banks and financial companies to run independently without any sort of system of checks and balances would almost certainly lead to corruption and disaster. In the UK , the regulatory entity of the financial system is the Financial Services Authority, or the FSA, and is opera. . .

Six Tips To Increase Your Interview Success

In a recent research study, undertaken by Extra Sensory Perception and commissioned by on-line recruitment company Ifoundwork, over 50 recruiter's from key industry sectors in the UK were questioned about the traits that they most like and dislike in an applicant. When asked about the things that made a positive impression on them during the interview process certain trends emerged. Six of the . . .

Why Term Life Insurance is the Smart Option

By far, the most efficient way to obtain life insurance is through a term life insurance policy. term life insurance policy Some financial advisors insist that their clients use whole life insurance rather than term life insurance. I am going to show you why they are wrong. The three primary reasons they give for recommending whole life are: 1) whole life insurance lasts the period of your enti. . .

Eight Things Not To Do In An Interview

Less than 7% of applicants are successful in landing that ideal job. Competition is fierce, so to avoid disappointment it’s useful to know what not to do in order to increase your chances of interview success. In a recent research study undertaken by Extra Sensory Perception Limited, commissioned by on-line recruitment company Ifoundwork, over 50 recruiter's from key industry sectors in the UK . . .

Managing your website development – eight easy steps to p...

Managing your website development need not cause you sleepless nights providing you learn the secrets of successful project management. Perform the best practices in project management and give your project the best chance of success.Define objectivesObjectives guide everyone on the project to your final goals. Are your objectives to sell your product online, to provide customer support, to pro. . .

Team Building Exercises - Choosing the Right One

When a prospective new client calls us up and expresses an interest in team building, we ask a simple question - what do you want to achieve out of it? You might be surprised at how many people don't have an answer. After a short pause, we might get a reply along the lines of "well, we want it to be fun..." and then it tails off again.If you don't know what you want from a team building event, . . .

Protecting Your Bank Account from Hackers

It seems that as days go by people are becoming more and more concerned with the security of their money and protecting their personal and financial information from identity thieves and hackers. Wanting an extra degree of safety and security is never a bad thing, especially in a world where it seems that identity theft and high-tech crime is increasing.Many people worry because they aren't sur. . .

How Buying on Margin Works

If you pay attention to finance and investment news, you might hear something from time to time about buying on margin. It may sound intriguing, being able to purchase large amounts of stocks or other securities without having to pay the full cost of them… in most cases, though, that's all of the information that is given and it leaves you to wonder exactly how buying on margin works. If you ar. . .

Coosing The Right Accounting Software

For nearly 20 years I have been involved in writing accounting software and in training users on how to use both my own and other leading accounting software packages. Their knowledge when I met them for the first time ranged from being qualified accountants to those that had never even switched a computer on – let alone run an accounting software package.Please understand that there are thous. . .

Boat Loans - To Explore The Wonders Of The Sea With Your ...

Do you dream to drive a boat of your own exploring the vast sea? If yes, then you can choose a powered speed boat to a narrow boat from a house boat to a smaller cruiser, whichever boat you wish to own. But, do you have the money to buy it. If yes, then everything seems to be at the right place. But, if it is the other way round then you are in a big trouble. How will you buy your dream boat? Y. . .

Education and Communication Build Commitment

"The increasing availability of new information and communication technology is one of the key ingredients that make a high-involvement management approach possible. This capability, more than any other, makes it possible for individuals to become self-managing, to be involved in the business, and to control processes and operations..." — Edward Lawler III, The Ultimate Advantage: Creating the . . .

Alan Greenspan – A Retrospective

No one person has been praised or criticized for the economic progress of the United States over the last 20 years than Alan Greenspan. Here’s his story. Alan GreenspanAlan Greenspan has led a prolific life in the financial industry. Many people consider him the single most powerful person in the country. With his February retirement approaching, let’s take a look at this very interesting man. . . .

How to create a Strategic Position for your Company

A strategic position statement is kind of like a statementfor your company. You want to explain this statement howyou view your company and how you view it within the restof your marketplace.Circuit City is a good example. It's an electronicdepartment store that is making excellent profit marginswhile their competition is going out of business. They'vetaken a unique strategic position, being nu. . .

Subprime Mortgages – Information

Undoubtedly, you’ve heard the radio commercial claiming you can get a mortgage despite having bad credit. Bad credit mortgages are better known as subprime mortgages. Subprime“Subprime” is a euphemism for a borrower who simply doesn’t qualify for a traditional home mortgage. Subprime loans used to be very difficult to get, but things changed in the 1990’s. Banks began to realize there were a l. . .

Credit Repair Business in Florida

If you own or are interested in starting a credit repair business in Florida, one thing you will definitely need is credit repair leads.There are quite a few ways to obtain credit repair leads for your credit repair business in Florida. Such as customer referrals, an educational web site, and a toll free number to name a few.The benefit of purchasing leads for your credit repair business in flo. . .

0% APR Credit Cards: How Can They Do That?

During the days when the federal bank interest rates were at its lowest, back in 2002 and 2003 to be specific, countless credit card providers offered 0% APR credit cards to many consumers. Needing only to pay the outstanding balance, smart consumers were able to charge up to their limits without incurring monthly interest charges. The question that some people were asking when these cards were. . .

Retiring With A Decent Income

These days, it’s hard to listen to the financial or economic news for long without hearing something about pensions. These news stories usually give us some bad news about the pensions shortfalls in the gaping holes in pension funds. The chancellor Gordon Brown has recently gone on record suggesting that he is in favour of increasing the working age, and the debates about whether to link state . . .

Computer Insurance

Investing in a personal computer is not less an amount. It is next only to investing in a house or a car. So, it’s not unwise an idea to insure your computer and its allied accessories like peripherals and software. However, how much coverage you get for what accessory depends on individual market offer. There are several threats your computer might face. Such as virus attack, data corruption, . . .

Cultivating Leadership

Over the last two decades I have consulted to, provided workshops for, and delivered keynote presentations on leadership to a variety of restaurant chains and individual restaurant managers. I continue to be surprised by the general confusion between management and leadership. Managers push, leaders pull. Managers try to light a fire under people, leaders stoke the fire within. Managers command. . .

Developing a Team or Organization Vision

As Mark Twain once remarked about the weather, there's a lot of talk about vision, but very few managers really do anything about it. Visioning is sometimes an innate natural skill just like leadership sometimes is. And the moon sometimes blocks out the sun - but none occur very often. Most people have had to consciously and with great effort continually work to strengthen their visioning. Visi. . .

Family Finance

One of the hardest things that young couples report during their first year of marriage is getting to grips with joint finances. While most are willing to share what they have with their partner, they are not sure on the best way to bring this sharing into effect so that they can share with their new partner, but at the same time maintain financial security and a degree of independence. Some co. . .

Customer Intimacy and Empathy are Keys to Innovation

"Above all, we know that an entrepreneurial strategy has more chance of success the more it starts with the users — their utilities, their values, their realities ... the test of an innovation is always what it does for the user...it is by no means hunch or gamble. But it is also not precisely science. Rather, it is judgment." — Peter Drucker, Innovation and EntrepreneurshipJust because a compa. . .

Point Of Sale Software

If you have a business that takes cash from your customers at the front desk then you must have a good and robust point of sale software package, or POS as it is sometimes called.The reasons are quite simple.1. Many products today have bar code labels attached to them. This means that the product can be fed into the sales invoice via a bar code scanner. There are several advantages in doing thi. . .

A Guide to Finding the Best Loan Quotes

The loan market can be rather difficult to navigate at times… with so many lenders available, it can be hard to tell whether the loan offers that you're getting are the best that you'll find. In order to get the most out of your money and find the lowest interest rates and best loan terms, it's important to take your time and request quotes from the different lenders that you're considering for. . .

Auto Insurance, Policy Assets, and Customer Assistance

One morning a friend of mine was running late for class at school. His wife was throwing together some kind of breakfast while he gathered his laptop, notebook, and picked out the books he was going to need for school that day. He zipped up his pack and ran outside to warm the car up. Except, there was no car. It had been stolen. My friend ran into one disappointment after another that week as . . .