Many businesses lose money yearly because they don't think creatively about the future. They run their businesses doing what they think they should: dealing with customers, dealing with problems, ordering for their business, and paying their expenses. They act like their business is a job. They are surviving and that's it. They are not looking at the big picture. They need to use their business as a stepping stone to success. Picturing...more
The internet stands as the largest open marketplace in the world today, almost every possible product or service is being sold on the internet. With such an availability of potential monetary transactions, the preferred method of payment is the credit card. This method allows instant transfer of funds from the consumer to the merchant in a secure environment, and payment can be verified immediately. But this process poses a dilemma for the...more
There is an old expression you may have heard - to 'gild the lilly'. Basically, this means that if something is working fine, don't attempt to 'fix it', or 'improve it'. Chances are you will end up doing more harm than good. Nowhere is this more true than in the cut and thrust arena of stock trading. And nowhere in the world of the financial markets is this more clear than in the release of the so-called 'T4 Trading Strategy'.Way back in the dim and distant trading past (mid 1990's, in fact!) two VERY successful and famous traders by the names of Linda Bradford Raschke and Larry Connors came up with an extremely simple yet effective trading pattern which became know as the 'Grail' or even the 'Holy Grail' pattern. This, of course, was a tongue in cheek reference to the fact that there is no 'Grail' - simply because no trading system is infallible.The Grail, being a simple yet effective trading strategy, quickly became popular, mostly due to the free Grail tools available on www.tradestars.com. As a method for taking advantage of a trend (either up or down), the Grail has consistently shown itself to be one of the very best trading strategies out there. No surprise really, given the...more
More and more businesses are seeing the value of photography in marketing their business. Websites, html emails, business cards, banners. Scanners and other digital equipment is HOT! What do you need to know about the subject of photography to take advantage of photos in your business? Many memorable moments would be lost and long forgotten without...more
Have you ever gotten frustrated when you realize that your prospects keep stereotyping you as a "salesperson"? And because of that, they don't give you the trust and openness that you deserve, and that are essential if you're going to help them solve their problems?That's what's been happening to Michael, who calls companies to set appointments...more
Popular techniques for individuals and business ownersNow is a good time to figure out how to cut your 2004 tax bill. Although everyone's situation is different, the National Association for Black Accountants www.nabainc.org (NABA) offers ten popular year-end strategies for individuals and small-business owners:1. Charitable donations: As a general rule, the full amount of a cash donation is deductible on the donor's personal tax return. If a donation is made by credit card at year-end, the gift is deductible in 2004, even if the charge is not actually paid until next year. Added tax break: For donations of property, the full fair-market value is deductible if the property has been held for more than one year.2. Alternative minimum tax liability: The alternative minimum tax (AMT) can sneak up on unsuspecting taxpayers. It applies if your AMT liability, based on a special tax computation involving tax preference items, exceeds your regular tax liability. Individual taxpayers should have their AMT liability calculated before year-end. Depending on the result, it may be advisable to shift tax preferences to next year to avoid or reduce AMT liability. Alternatively, you might...more
I would like to determine if I am well suited for an entrepreneurial career? (Yes) (No) Mull over these thoughts... What is entrepreneurial talent and do have it? Have I tested my entrepreneurial capabilities either with a personal assessment tool...more
Managers know the difficulty of getting people to do the right things the right way. And employees need their expertise and understanding of the way things should be done. But how do you get it across so it actually sticks? The answer is well-defined...more
In many ways a commercial mortgage is just like a residential mortgage in that you pledge real property as collateral against a loan to either buy or refinance that property. You can also receive a commercial re-mortgage and use it as a line of...more
Gone are the days when self-publishing was synonymous with self-defeat. Authors such as Deepak Chopra, Mark Victor Hansen and Neale Donald Walsch, originally self-published successfully before selling their books to major publishers (in order to gain...more
Outsourcing is an established way of doing business today, allowing companies to maximize their budgets and resources and generate better products. Also referred to as subcontracting, outsourcing simply means acquiring a product or service rather...more
Credit card balance transfer involves using a credit card to pay off the amount outstanding on one or more credit/store cards. The total debt then moves to one card. The main benefit of balance transfer is a money-saving one. In the competitive...more