Having been in the personal care manufacturing business for a number of years I have some advise for those of you thinking about starting a manufacturing operation. First off some manufacturing basics. Manufacturing is essentially the same no mater what product you are producing. It is governed by supply and demand. The term "manufacture it and they will buy" does not always hold true. Manufacturing a product that was popular 25 years ago...more
Learn more about these topics by subscribing to "Monday Morning Mindfulness" at http://www.schrift.com/monday.htmSandra's ezine 'Monday Morning Mindfulness' Sandra Schrift will help you grow and enlighten your soul with her bi-weekly ezine 'Monday Morning Mindfulness. Request a free subscription at www.schrift.com and start improving your speaking success!Table of Contents:On Special Offers and Invitations On Generous Spirit On Short-Term Stress...more
Imagine paying your mortgage off in 15 years! Think of all the great things you could do with that extra money. What would you do? Retire early? Buy an R.V.? Travel around the world? If you could eliminate your mortgage in half the time, then your options would be wide open. Let's take a look at 3 benefits and 3 considerations when evaluating whether or not the 15 year fixed rate mortgage, is right for you: Lower Interest Rate Huge Savings on Interest Paid Mortgage Paid in 15 Years Affordability Expendable Income The 15 Year Loan as an Investment1. Lower Interest Rate: The 15 year amortized fixed rate loan carries a lower interest rate. The interest rate is usually about ½ % the rate of a 30 year term. For example, as of today's date, the average 30 year fixed is going for about 5.67%, while the average 15 year fixed is going for about 5.10%. That's a savings of .57%! 2. Huge savings on Interest Paid:Do you want to save a ton of money? A 15 year fixed will accomplish this for you. Let's look at a $300,000 loan. Over the course of 30 years, at 6% interest, you will pay the bank $347,514 in interest. (Yes that's right. You're paying the bank 115% of the loan value, over...more
It seems that every day I turn on the TV and find a Poker game. Texas No Limit seems to be all the rage these days. I love watching it. When I discuss this with others, their response is always the same, "You should play." Ah, but what they don't know is I stay out of the kitchen. As far as risk to reward ratio. That's a gamble I'm not willing to...more
The main reason is to stop any potential lawsuits from happening! But do you know how many individuals I have talked to about this very thing? Many! Do you know what the majority have told me? They have locks and cameras, so they don't need anymore security than that!This is a mess waiting to happen, the reason is as follows. This attitude is the...more
"Joan, I'm working so hard and I'm not getting anything done!" I have heard some version of this cry of frustration by many an entrepreneur. It's a common complaint voiced by those of use who sought the freedom to have complete authority over our schedules, only to find ourselves unwittingly shackled by old ways of operating. It does not appear to matter that we are independent professionals or business owners, we live in a world shaped by the rules of corporate life. Most of us came from jobs and daily schedules that dictated what to do and how to spend our time. Being somewhat like the long-term prisoner we got very used to the daily regimen. We were told when to start work, take lunch, take breaks and leave for the day. Managers, clients, customers and operating manuals told us what to do and when to do it. So we get out on our own, having dreamt of the freedom, only to start filling our days with busyness, in a panic from the very start. We don't have a clue as to how to do otherwise. It doesn't seem to matter how long you have been out on your own. It's just as difficult to break outdated habits and beliefs when we do become financially successful. Why? Because whatever path...more
Steps and tips on marketing your business to the government.Fact: Federal, state and local governments buy over $450 billion combined in goods and services each year.Part of that can be yours if you know how to get it.Fact: Federal procurements under...more
Outsourcing has become a controversial issue and a hot topic among presidential candidates this year. But have you stopped to think how your business can benefit from the efficiency, functionality and cost savings of outsourcing? If you have, you...more
There are four different ways that audience members assimilate information. They are: visual, auditory, auditory digital, and kinesthetic. While all members of the audience will process information utilizing all four of these approaches at...more
al debt load and ROI, whether the industry as a whole is in a slump, whether there are too many partner or legal problems, whether future demand will materialize and so on and so forth. While these questions are certainly relevant, the most...more
If you are already in business it is hardly likely that you will agree with my title. Aren't all businsesses different?When you think in broader terms, yes, of course you're right. I want you, however, to look , for the moment, only at the basics.All...more
The idea for this month's newsletter came from an unlikely encounter: I recently had lunch with a new friend named Rick Rockwell. You may remember him as the bachelor from the first-ever reality TV show, "Who Wants to Marry a Multimillionaire?"...more