What's the thing that seems to always happen every time you are finding it difficult to meet your credit card payments? You get slapped with a penalty fee. These fees or penalties seem to always happen just at the very moment you need them least. Someone once described a banker as a man who will lend you his umbrella, and then ask for it back as soon as it starts raining. This seems typical of many people's dealing with the financial services...more
From television commercials to websites to expos and conferences, the call to become an entrepreneur is loud and clear. And it's no surprise. According to the latest research, owning a business has been cited as the number one goal of Americans today. Approximately 62,000 small businesses start up on a monthly basis nationally, according to the Small Business Administration. Small business is a driving force in the United States economy with more...more
How often do people try to sell us something before we have expressed an interest, have a desire, or are in the market for what they have? It seems the standard for many salespeople is to try to sell to anyone and everyone regardless of the interest level. When someone attempts to sell us something before we have expressed an interest, the initial thought may be, "Why would I buy from you? You haven't earned the right to sell to me!" The fact of the matter is that selling, both online and off, is about determining if there is a need before ever attempting to match a buyer with a product or service. It is about providing enough information for the buyer to make the best decision based on their needs. And it is about gaining trust. The most successful sales professionals are those who are a resource before they are a vendor. Having been in both brick-and-mortar and online sales and marketing for many years, it never ceases to amaze me how many people try to sell without determining the customer's needs. They don't seem to realize that the better the match, the more likelihood for return business. The better the match, the more trust gained. If you depend on repeat business or...more
Using sample business plans and their structure, along with studying as many business plan examples as you can, will provide you with the necessary framework to consider your business from every possible angle.Starting or running your business without a business plan is akin to being a human without a skeleton!Not only will using a sample structure...more
"Please -- Pretty Please!! I really, really want to do this." From the sounds of things you'd think a parent and a child were in "one of those" arguments. But it's really a wife trying to persuade her husband to let her work from home. Getting your husband to back your home business can, at times, be as hazardous as those black diamond ski...more
There has been a rapid growth in the availability of zero per cent rates in the credit card industry. These have been caused by the combination of very low national interest rates, and the injection of fierce competition from American lenders such as Capital One. The UK credit card industry is now recognised as one of the most sophisticated and competitive credit card markets in the world. One of the most popular innovations in the past number of years has been the introduction of the zero per cent balance transfer. This has revolutionised the finances for many indebted customers. How it works is if you have very high interest charges on one of you're out standing credit card balances, then you can transfer it to a new credit card. In exchange for getting your business in this way, the new credit card provider will give you a zero per cent interest rate on the sum transferred for a period of usually, six to nine months. While taking advantage of these zero per cent offers is highly advisable, as it can save you literally hundreds on interest charges, there are still precautions that you should take if you wish to avoid some costly mistakes. The first thing to realise is that there...more
As you apply for a home loan or look to refinance your home, it is important to understand your situation and how it will be affected by the type of loan that you will be applying for.But first, it is important to find out why you need the loan. For...more
Consumer worries about credit card fraud have resulted in numerous protections being created. A consumer whose credit card is wrongly used by another generally has one hundred percent protection. If your personal credit card is stolen and used by an...more
For over 20 years I have worked as an independent IT/Business consultant for some of the most prestigious organisations in the world including companies like Telstra, BHP, BMA Coal, Suncorp Metway and many many more. But it still astounds me, that...more
The peddlers of hot penny stocks today peddle their wares much like the hot cross bun streetsellers of the 19th. Century. They don't exactly hawk their wares round the shopping malls crying out "Get your hot penny stocks tips here", but...more
The advantages of time management include reducing stress, gaining time, reducing avoidance, while promoting reviews and eliminating cramming. Another advantage is that managing time helps us to stay motivated while we avoid procrastination.The trick...more
Another year ended, and another round of UK debt statistics. CreditAction has just announced the latest summing up of the personal debt situation in the UK. Their figures show that the end of 2005 has seen the total level of personal debt rise to...more