Author: Chris GillJust because it’s the thick of winter doesn’t mean you can’t plan your outdoor landscape now. That includes picking and designing your plans in conjunction with a new garden water fountain. An outdoor fountain can add different levels, light and motion, but to get the best results it’s always a good idea to plan ahead. Water Fountain Place’s fountain experts often get questions about which fountains would be best for a...more
The special administrative region of Hong Kong is nestled within the Pearl River Delta on the southern tip of the Chinese mainland. The region has evolved from a humble fishing community to an economic and business powerhouse. Home to companies such as the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and Alibaba.com, the city is renowned for being one of the key trade and business hubs in Asia.In addition to a thriving commercial sector, the Hong...more
Author: yanaryMany nonprofit organizations struggle, quite understandably, with technology planning and investment. New computers, sophisticated Websites and database systems can be expensive. Staff members may be resistant to change and to learning new applications. But, to quote a famous saying from my homeland: "penny wise can be pound foolish". Sound and well-thought out purchases in the short term have the potential to save significant resources in the medium to long term. So, how should your Board of Directors and / or your Technology Committee approach technology planning and investment? One technique is to start out with a "blue-sky" session. First, take an inventory of the capabilities that you currently have, what's working in your operations, and your limitations and frustrations. Then, without consideration of constraints such as cost or staff resources, list the things that you should ideally be able to do. I like to use "What's the One Thing" questions for this process to help you focus and prioritize: * What's the One Thing that you're currently doing that is most valued by your constituents? (i.e. Board, members, funders, staff, the general public . . .) * What's...more
Author: Jack CopperBusiness acumen is a much coveted item by business leaders and managers. What really is business acumen? Based on the descriptions by renowned business gurus from all over the world, business acumen can be elucidated as the singular ability to evaluate the ever changing dynamics of the business environment and make the correct...more
Every bride looks forward to a perfect wedding, though perhaps not the planning that it warrants. There are fun parts of wedding planning, like choosing a dress and setting up a gift registry, but that leaves a lot of work in the not-so-fun column. Designing a seating plan for guests at the reception is perhaps more work than enjoyment; addressing...more
Author: Nauka ShahThe natural way to think strategically is to identify your important and longer-term ends and then deploy your means – resources, capabilities, time and energy – to achieve the objectives that lead you like stepping-stones towards the desired result. You will notice that the setting of these intermediate targets, objectives of goals signifies that you have moved beyond strategic thinking and into strategic planning. Strategy is a military concept by origin. Its transfer to the business field – and to organizational life more generally – was attended by much muddled thinking and misconception about it. There is, however, a creative alternative. A cause must come before an effect, but there is no similar logic that says an and must come before the means. Bu creative thinking about your resources and capabilities – using not just your own imagination but that of others in the organization – new intermediate ends can hatch our from the means at your disposal. But the process does take some creative thinking An obvious example in the business context is the development of new products from one’s existing resources, which are strategic in the sense that...more
For businesses to thrive, business owners have to constantly think of creative ways to reduce cost and enhance profitability. There is a common partnership between retailer and wholesaler in the form of drop shipping. It allows retailer to save on...more
Before I started Aviont (a Staffing Software business) in 2005, I had little true entrepreneurial experience. Since both of my parents were teachers at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point (in the areas of biology and chemistry), I had...more
Author: Jack NgarTo be able to buy the right HDTV, there are concepts, terms and some technical information that you just have to know to be able to make the right purchase decision and not be confused by diverse choices and untrained stuff at the...more
The wedding experience can be a dream or a nightmare. Which side of the coin a wedding lands may depend on the money allowed for the big day. It is possible to have a picture perfect wedding even on a limited cash allocation. The key is to...more
Author: Ahmad HassamMaking money is not easy. One of the most difficult things in life is to know how to make money. Take a look around yourself, how many you can find who have financial freedom and enjoy a lifestyle that you dream about. Very few!...more
There are many things that a couple needs to consider when deciding to take the leap into marriage. Everything related to a marriage seems frivolous once you have achieved true love. Although, when a couple allows these frivolous events to buildup...more