One of the greatest decisions and largest risks of a person or organizations life is starting a business. The next big decision? Whether or not to go franchise. A franchise business is one which is basically a duplicate of a previous business. The business owner rents the franchise logo and way of running the business. Examples of franchise businesses include McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, etc. But what are the pros and cons of starting a...more
Working at home is something that appeals to many people. The benefits are great. The problem is that many people have the same idea, so finding a home business is sometimes difficult. There are plenty of opportunities, but if a person doe not know where to look they could miss out on the best ones or worse, not find one at all.Most home businesses take place in cyber space via the internet, so it is only natural that it be the place to look for...more
Retirement doesn't mean the end of an active lifestyle. Quite the contrary, it opens up new opportunities for many new activities. Some retirees substitute voluntary community work for their former work. This gives definition or meaning to their roles after retirement.Household work, volunteer work, family roles and community service actually increase after retirement. The familial roles of grandparents increase because of the expanded time available for travel. The skills and knowledge acquired before retirement have value in the life of a retiree. Even if learning something new education and training affects the ability to do various activities at retirement. Lack of skill and a low literacy tends to limit the leisure activities of retirees.A very difficult task to prepare for later on in life is the ability to cope with losses that increase as people get older. The productivity is the first loss in retirement but adjustment usually is short. Loss of a spouse generally has the biggest impact, and in general is the hardest to anticipate unless a terminal illness is diagnosed before death. The best preparation for a loss of spouse is to work on a sense of independence and...more
If you have heard fund managers talk about the way they invest, you know a great many employ a top down approach. First, they decide how much of their portfolio to allocate to stocks and how much to allocate to bonds. At this point, they may also decide upon the relative mix of foreign and domestic securities. Next, they decide upon the industries...more
Did you ever think about becoming a Trading Assistant? Where you basically sell other people's products and receive a comission? Alot of companies know about eBay but don't have the time to learn. Or are just "old school" and don't care to learn.So why not offer your services to them? You already know eBay. And now this lines you up for unlimited...more
November 2004's publication of the Health and Safety Executive's new Management Standards for work-related stress has focused the minds of many organisations on this increasingly serious workplace hazard. But what are the differences between pressure and stress? What are the telltale signs and symptoms? What's the current legal position? And what role should managers be playing in helping to combat work-related stress?Pressure or stress?Many people are confused about what stress is, and in particular the difference between pressure and stress:- Pressure is the stimulation and challenge we need to achieve job satisfaction and self-esteem.- Stress is a reaction to continued excessive pressure or responsibility when we feel inadequate and unable to cope.Ever since prehistoric times, the 'stress response' has been a mechanism that our bodies have used to help us cope with danger. As soon as we're aware that something is threatening us, our brain sends messages to our nervous system to either get ready to stand and fight, or run away. Unfortunately, whereas in Stone Age times we would usually have time to recover from the life or death encounters that triggered the response, in the...more
There is a delicate balance between the fee you need to charge for your products and services, and the fee that people are willing to pay for them. But with gasoline, heating, shipping, health care, and other costs rising, there comes a time when...more
With the end of 'a job for life', the ticking of the demographic 'time bomb', and the ever-increasing pace of new technology, employers are having to consider a wide range of new working patterns that take account of this rapidly changing work...more
If you own your own independent business, there are two organizations that hopefully your are already aware of. They are doing great work promoting small, locally owned independents by promoting community and government involvement. It takes all of...more
Starting a home business is a big undertaking. There are key elements to properly set up a home business. If anything is forgotten or left out it could make starting the business difficult or impossible. The following are key elements that every home...more
Well, we're all reeling from our utility bills. So, what can be done to cut energy costs?Obviously, the best way to cut your utility bill is to go with a non-utility company source of energy. Solar power can be used to warm your house, while...more
Correctly Pricing A Business Is Important If You Really Want To Sell It!As a consultant I talk to many business owners, brokers, and agents on a daily basis about valuing businesses. It always amazes me on how some of these individuals come up with...more