Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Dialogue: The Four Dialogic Principles For Successful Com...

"But you don't understand!" exclaimed the manager, "this new initiative is vital for our team. If it doesn't work we could all be out of a job!""Uh-huh... Really... Explain to me again how this new initiative is so different from previous initiatives that were also going to cost me my job if they didn't work" asked the long-term employee."Look; we have to do this. Can't you see?""Why do we have. . .

How to Survive in Business Long Enough to Win

As a former human resources professional it has always intrigued me as to why people were more 'successful' than others. By 'successful' we are referring to an innate ability of some people to set and achieve worthwhile challenges for themselves.Here we are using the word "challenge" and not goals. A challenge may be a goal, but not every goal is a challenge. Challenges stretch us beyond whe. . .

Time Management Tips for Solo Entrepreneurs

Does it seem like everyone and everything is vying for your attention all at once? It can be hard for solo entrepreneurs to know what to do first, let alone try to find the time to get caught up. Here are some time management tips that will help you to stay on top of it all:1. Put your to-do list in writing and prioritize it. Studies show that people who write their lists down are 90% more like. . .

Important Information For Condo Buyers

Here is a step by step guide for buyers looking to buy a condo in any area. These are important tactics to make a solid and accurate judgement on the property you're looking to purchase.- When purchasing a condominium make sure that you ask for the last three to six months of the condominium minutes. This infomation will provide you with alot of insight into what is happening in the building.-. . .

Turn your Business’ New Year Resolutions in PR Revolutions

As eyes look forward to a new business year, many small business owners and entrepreneurs are hoping that this upcoming year will be the one that catapults them into success. But according to Shannon Cherry, APR, businesses often overlook a key element when making their business plans and resolutions. “Most new businesses fail within three years – and it’s often due to the fact that many busine. . .

Student Credit Cards

With graduate debt averaging over £12,000, the ability to spread the cost of further education using a student credit card is obviously attractive. Adding to their appeal is the fact that these cards are relatively easy to obtain. Unlike many standard credit cards, they are available to people who do not have a regular, minimum income and credit history. They often come with tempting offers inc. . .

The POWER of a Proven Stock Investment Plan

When you invest in the stock market for ever-increasing cash dividend income, verses trying to make a buck in the stock market, your mindset will change. There will no longer be a fear of losing money in the stock market. With the right type of investment plan and investment choices all worries of losing money in the stock market will disappear. The mind set that will emerge when you adopt a pr. . .

How to Meet Quality Standards with ISO 9001

In today’s hectic business environment, it is vital that we are all on the same page, right? But how do we know if we meet those standards? Business owners and executives can avoid the uncertainty, and that’s where ISO 9001 certification comes in.Standardizing Quality SystemsThe ISO, or International Organization for Standardization, was established in 1947 to develop international standards fo. . .

Five Things Never To Tell Your Mortgage Lender When Facin...

1. Never discuss your household finances over the phone with the collection department. What you don’t know is that you are being qualified and not know it. This is the easiest and fastest way to get a turn down. Request a homeowners assistance package so that you can submit the require information. 2. Never tell them you are broke. Even though you may qualify for a special forbearance or modif. . .

The REAL Secret to Success

I used to see a chiropractor who handed out a little leaflet entitled “Dr. Hickman’s Guide to Success in Business.” It was very nice, had his picture on the front and was professionally printed. On the inside it said, “Get a job and go to work every morning.” There is a secret to success, believe it or not, and I’m going to tell you what those people who are “successful” do, that people who are. . .

Barter: It's Not Just for Doctors Anymore

Time was, in the country, the local “doc” was as likely to get paid with a couple of chickens as a couple of dollars. Doctors these days won’t stand for that, of course, but while some people have moved completely away from barter and stayed there, others have embraced it wholeheartedly.Today I worked on a barter deal with a web designer to do search engine optimization on my web site in exchan. . .

Uncle Sam is Ready...Are You? Organizing Tips for Tax Time

Anyone who is closely related to an accountant knows that there are not four, but five seasons in a year: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, and 'Tax Season.' During the other seasons, we accumulate leaves, snow, and mosquito bites. During 'Tax Season' we accumulate paper. And more paper. And if you have a small business or investments--even more paper.Whether you hire someone to prepare your taxes . . .

No-Holds-Barred Conversations with Dan Lok - Part 2

Question: How to deal with ultra skeptical offline or be it Internet surfers in order to reassure them and get them to happily open up their wallets? I like that “happily open up their wallets”! Your customer should be happy to open his/her wallet. When business is done right, everybody wins and nobody loses. You're happy to make a sale and your customer is happy to be getting a good value for . . .

Don’t Discount the Temporary Position Interview

If you think, 'it's just an interview for a temp job -- no big deal,' that's where you're mistaken. Some wonderful opportunities, networking connections and careers have resulted from temporary positions. Temporary assignments today run the gamut from receptionist to CEO and beyond. And since an agency is usually the first contact with the company, much of the marketing and negotiations have be. . .

Imagine PR Like This Helping You

As the kids say, how cool is this? You’re a business, non-profit or association manager and, finally, you decide to do something positive about the behaviors of those important outside audiences of yours – behaviors that MOST affect your operation. What you’re doing, of course, is creating the very external stakeholder behaviors that will help achieve your managerial objectives. Best part is, y. . .

The Role of the Business Model and Strategy for Business

People will always stress that having a well researched business plan is key before you start your business. Although creating a business plan is often an important step in the evolution of a business, particularly if you need financing or you are not experienced at running a business, it is not necessarily the essential first step. There are two key elements that should be completed prior to t. . .

The Shadow

The Shadow knows. There used to be a radio program called The Shadow where the hero, Lamont Cranston, the Shadow, would overcome the shadowy forces of doom by clouding the vision of those around him. “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men” was their intro line. They were great shows and you can still find them on the Internet. The stock market is kind of like the shadow. As you walk al. . .

Do you want your own fully programmable ERP? - Part 3

Continuing from the second article:6. About the aground mathematical model, let us to see the product k: First quantity received in 10/6/98, quantity 1,000, unit cost US$ 34.00. Second in 12/11/98, quantity 1,300, unit cost US$ 23.00 Third in 1/10/99, quantity 760, unit cost US$ 36.00Therefore, if not been sold we would have 3,060 units in stock today. But you sold - in several opportunities - . . .

New Habits, Rebounding Economy Help To Sell Giftware and ...

Just a few years ago, when one thought of a home-based sales business, Tupperware, Avon and a host of multi-level marketing schemes might have come to mind. Today, however, changing market conditions and evolving consumer habits have converged to make home-based selling businesses a realistic opportunity with real profit potential.This is especially true in the world of collectibles and giftwar. . .

All About Balance Transfers

What is a balance transfer ?A balance transfer can be explained simply as a balance transfer! When a balance is transferred usually from a credit card, but possible from a bank account or loan to a credit card with a offer interest rate (usually 0%) for a set period. It does not have to be the entire amount. The card receiving the balance will an interest rate for a set term, normally 6 months,. . .

Common Sources of Financing for Small Business

The choice of financing is an important determinant of whether a product reaches the market, or whether an existing business can survive. The choice of financing is an important part of being an entrepreneur and business owner, and the ability to raise cash when you have no or limited history takes skill and creativity. There are a number of sources of financing. The suitability of the alternat. . .

Business Funding

Every business needs money at one time or another. The process of obtaining financing can be daunting and the chances of success limited if it is approached in a disorganized or haphazard way. Lenders are conservative critters; however it is important to understand that it is their job to lend money, and they are happy to do so if their risk is reasonable. The chances of obtaining a business lo. . .

The Long Term Benefits From Pay Per Click Advertising

The long term benefits from pay per click advertising.Businesses are starting to look closely at the long-term benefits from pay per click advertising. Pay per click search engines are primarily used for sales in the now time frame, but they are also being used to build a business identity that their customers will remember. This form of brand awareness can be applied to a company of any size, . . .

How to Create Well-Defined Processes

Interested in learning how to reduce development time, save money and stay in control? Business professionals can learn how to create well-defined processes with the easy-to-manage Process Approach of Plan-Do-Check-Act.Real Tools for Real Business ProcessIn MBA courses, students come across a lot of buzzwords and the theories behind them. And in the textbook, the terms look and sound great. But. . .

Do You Want Your Own Fully Programmable ERP? - Part 2

In the first article we mentioned the main characteristics that should have a software to be used as a Front-End with some functions of an Enterprise Resources Planning ERP: ODBC, Replication, Computed Views, Integrated e-Mail,and we used the Lotus Notes example, but in principle will be possible to use other softwares with similar functions.Now we will see a practical case, a system to dete. . .

Menu Driven Business Planning

So you want to open a restaurant? Many people come to me with their plans, and ideas after they have decided to build or open a restaurant. It is my responsibility to assist them in their planning process and determine how clearly they have thought their concept through. I ask them to show me a menu, and if their initial response is "I haven't gotten that far in my planning process yet," my res. . .

What’s It Worth?

Sound financial business planning means taking ongoing assessment steps looking at the business from multiple perspectives including capitalization, expansion, menu concepts, cash flow and even an exit strategy. Whether you are a chef dreaming of your own restaurant, the head of a family business discussing succession, an independent considering retirement or you are thinking about buying or se. . .

How to write a Privacy Policy

A Privacy Policy can be defined as the policy under which a company or organization operating a web site handles the personal information collected about visitors to the site. For most of us consumers, privacy involves protecting our integrity and our right to disclose or not our personal information to third parties, without letting anybody bother us with unsolicited communications if we do no. . .

Credit Card Shocker

Have you ever looked at your credit card statement? I’m not talking about just making sure that all the transactions are correct. I’m talking about looking at the finance charges. I daresay that sometimes that figure is almost as great as the minimum monthly payment you’re making. After all, as long as you can keep the creditors at bay by paying the minimum, that’s all you care about, right?. . .

What Is Your Greatest Weakness?

The fastest way to make a good interview go bad is to avoid questions posed by the hiring manager. The one question candidates love to avoid is, “What is your greatest weakness?” Most candidates are quick to respond with superficial answers such as “I’m a workaholic” or “I’m a perfectionist.” Not only are those responses boring, but they are also predictable answers interviewers are used to hea. . .

Photography Jobs: Do You Have a Future in Photography?

There is a wide world of photography. It touches each of us in our lives on a daily basis in some form or another. Photography is so much a part of our culture now that we hardly even notice all the places that it exists. When you watch television, look at a magazine or even view a billboard on the highway, this is all because of photography. There are so many ways that photography crosses our . . .

How to Improve Your Management Procedures’ Usability

Are your people consistently following your procedures? Each year, organizations lose thousands of dollars through common mistakes and lapses in usability. But what does that mean for business owners and executives?Ask yourself: Are your required actions described thoroughly and accurately, or are the details left open to interpretation? Is your content consistent and complete, or are your wri. . .

Expect Success to Stay Self-Motivated and Get Great Results

If you called my office you will hear my voice mail message that ends with the words “Expect Success.” There’s a important intent behind that. What if every time we made a phone call or personal request or met with a potential new customer, you expected you would be successful? Do you think your behavior would be different? If we truly expected success we would make more phone calls, make more . . .

Flipping Fixers: Using Transformation Psychology for Top ...

Satisfying and lucrative real estate investment depends upon your correct assessment of profit potential, of course, but your ultimate success depends on your ability to transform a fixer into a dollhouse. The renovation process involves physical work and choosing the best supplies, in order to create maximum positive emotional effect and profits. By incorporating the psychology of residential . . .

Project/Program Management Best Practices for Success in ...

Where is our success? Although there have been improvements, over 60% of projects/programs failed and many were canceled in 2003 (ref:The Standish Report CHAOS)! Our goal for 2004 and beyond is to contribute to a 60% and better, project/program success rate! STOP THE MADNESS-MANAGE AND CONTROL PROJECTS WITH THE FOLLOWING:Best Practice Processes for Project/Program Success(Outline): Program/Pr. . .

Public Relations – Defining Your Organization from the In...

What do your customers say about your company? Would you let your major competitor control your sales strategy?Public relations is an inevitable consequence of being in business. Whether you like it or not, your corporate image evolves with every interaction with clients, investors, competitors, and even between your own employees. Thus, managing perceptions of your company is just as important. . .

Risk and Reward

If you are doing your own investing in the stock market, what would be the first question you would ask yourself before you make any trade or investment? If your answer is how fundamentally sound the stock is, or whether the stock just broke out of a trading range on a chart, or the fact that the stock has gone down 50% in the last 6 months, or whether the volatility is low now so it is a good. . .

Learn Some Useful Feng Shui Career Tips

As it does with every main life aspect, feng shui also provides tips and guidelines to help you improving your career. If your career is not moving on in the way you wish, that is due to a lack of balance and harmony within your environment and the elements that affect it. Feng shui career tips intend to help you reach that harmony, but besides of following these specific tips, you should try t. . .

Build Wealth From Home

Build Wealth From HomeAs you sit in traffic, inching along between irate drivers, you think to yourself, “there must be a better way.” You get to work, you endure another tirade from an incompetent boss, and you think, “there must be a better way.” You work hard, you’re underappreciated, underpaid, and fed up. After all this, you can barely pay the bills, and haven’t taken a real vacation i. . .

Principles for Total Prosperity In Business And Beyond

Are you looking for that “something” to give you the winning edge in your business? Is success still elusive even after burning both ends of the candle? Well, you may be looking for success in al the wrong places or you may not have an accurate picture of what true success is. In a fast-paced society that’s driven by a mentality of “more is better,” extreme stress and lack of fulfillment are in. . .

Warning - This Lease Might Explode Any Minute

Mike Caringi, owner of a small New Jersey business that sells pumps, found himself facing a gut-wrenching dilemma last summer. Should he continue paying $ 1,500 each month for essential telecommunications services he no longer receives and for leased equipment he claims was never installed? Or, should he stop making payments and face a potential lawsuit from the firm that financed the equipment. . .

A Better Way To Watch Your Credit Reporting

Are you a victim of any credit card fraud or identity theft? Then you definitely need an enhanced defense from those menaces. You can get superior security from http://www.gotocreditreport.com. Actually, those financial offenses take place due to the lack of knowledge of your personal credit status. But, with GotoCreditReport.com , you will get an in-depth analysis of your personal credit with . . .

Secrets To Successful Publishing

Have you ever wondered what would it take to compete successfully with the “big guys” like Simon & Schuster and even get to the top of the heap? If there is such thing as a magic formula for success, then the story of Geela, the author of the bestseller book THE AMERICAN DREAM can certainly make a believer out of you too. Mastering the art of the possible is at the heart of Geela’s brand. . .

The Challenges of Human Resource Management

IntroductionThe role of the Human Resource Manager is evolving with the change in competitive market environment and the realization that Human Resource Management must play a more strategic role in the success of an organization. Organizations that do not put their emphasis on attracting and retaining talents may find themselves in dire consequences, as their competitors may be outplaying them. . .

10 Ways To Find The Money Hiding In Your Paycheck

No matter how tight things are financially for you; no matter how bleak you think that 2005 might be, if you are earning a paycheck then there's extra money hiding in it. You just need to know where to look. Here are 10 ways to bring that money out into the open. 1. Get an instant raise from your boss Going in to work and demanding a raise might not be too smart, but there is a way to get one t. . .

Virtual Assistants... Even Santa Needs One!

Trying to fit all the planning and preparing and celebrating of the holiday season into an already busy schedule can bring a lot of stress to a time of year that's supposed to be full of peace. These days, even Santa needs help making his list and checking it twice!Fortunately, help is available. Virtual Assistants, or VA's, offer a wide range of services designed to save you time and lighten y. . .

If One Does Not Do Any Planning, One Is Planning To Fail

MARKETING STRATEGIESAn enterprise may adopt different marketing strategies dependent on the size and position of the business in its industry. The marketing strategy adopted may prove crucial to generate sales. These marketing strategies are often the result of competitive forces. The different techniques to tackle marketing opponents, or defending one's turf against competitors, are dealt w. . .

Create Your Entrepreneur Dream Team

I hear it all the time. “What should I do about . . .?" As a business owner you're faced with the daunting task of making all the decisions that affect your business. Should I remain a sole proprietor, become an LLC or is an S Corp better? Should I start using an electronic PDA or stick with my trusty, but out-dated, Day Runner? In what direction should I take my marketing? Is the color right o. . .

No Deposit Home Loans

A few years ago, many of us would have had a light chuckle to ourselves if someone mentioned that you could borrow money to buy a house with only the promise of solid future earnings. But today this is a regular occurrence. Many of the industry’s non-conforming lenders are selling these financial products to many happy consumers, with most of the major banks avoiding this riskier route.Ideally,. . .

Small Business Tax Deductions for Year End 2004

As a small business owner, it's wise to familiarize yourself with some key deductions that may reduce your tax bill for 2004. Employee Benefit Plans - You may deduct contributions to employee benefit plans (such as health insurance plans and retirement plans). Depending on your circumstances the maximum contribution that you may deduct per employee in a qualified retirement plan can go up to:re. . .