The Tissot T-Touch Is The Ideal Watch For Any Outdoorsman

The Tissot T-Touch Is The Ideal Watch For Any Outdoorsman
Every watch has its benefits, but none quite compare to the
Tissot T-Touch. The T-Touch combines an attractive design
with a rugged functionality and impressive technology. The
innovation used on this watch is like no other watch on the
market.

The Tissot T-Touch is one of four watches in the Tactile
family, which also includes the High-T, Silen-T, and the
Tissot Navigator 3000. While each of the four watches is
equally impressive, the T-Touch has numerous benefits that
you will find in no other watch.

One of the greatest benefits that amaze most people at
first site is the touch crystal. There is nothing quite as
annoying as trying to press on a mode button on your watch
and not having it work. With the T-Touch, you can simply
activate the crystal with a button in the center. From
there, you can touch the crystal in one of seven spots to
change the modes.

Another feature that very few watches have is a
thermometer. The range of this watches thermometer is -15
degrees Fahrenheit and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. With this
kind of range, you can view the temperature in virtually
any kind of climate you are in.

Keeping with the outdoor wilderness theme, there is also a
compass that is extremely handy. The built-in compass can
measure magnetic north as well as calculate geographic
north. Never again will you be lost in the woods trying to
find your way.

Two features that go hand-in-hand with each other is the
barometer and the altimeter. The barometer has a range of
300 hectoPascals (hPa) and it is accurate to + or - 3 hPa.
As for the altimeter, the range is -1300 feet to 29,500
feet with a resolution of 3 feet. Just like the
thermometer, this gives you a wide range of altitude that
you can measure with the watch.

Everything mentioned thus far is typically features you
will not find with any other common watch on the market.
There are a number of other features that you will find
with other watches as well. For instance, there is a daily
alarm that is nothing special, but loud and effective.
There is a water resistance of up to 30 meters, luminescent
hands, quartz movement and much more.

There is no question that the Tissot T-Touch is the ideal
watch for any hiker or mountaineer. From the incredible
touch crystal to all of the wilderness features you could
imagine, this is the perfect watch for the outdoors. You
can know the temperature, where you are at, the altitude,
and virtually anything else imaginable. And all of this is
built into one amazing watch.

----------------------------------------------------
To inquire about Tissot T-Touch watch please visit our
Tissot watches section
(http://www.watchesonnet.com/Tissot.html). For the latest
luxury news and styles visit our Luxury Watch news blog
(http://www.watchesonnet.com/luxurywatches/ )

Sometimes It's Good to be The Bad Boss

Sometimes It's Good to be The Bad Boss
A leader knows that they have matured into the role when he
or she can deliver bad news in a quick and effective
manner, doing little damage, and in fact inspiring positive
action. This takes savoir-faire.

We all have hard news to convey from time to time. How we
do it is oftentimes remembered even more than the message
itself. We can sting, educate or enthuse with the same
message.

CNN ran a story over this past weekend on 'Bad Bosses,'
discussing how few people learn to deal with the power of
being in a 'boss' as they climb the ladder to success. They
told stories of employees suing their bosses and painted a
pretty bleak picture.

Having worked with hundreds of leaders who truly do want to
make a difference in doing their very best for their
employees and company, my experience is quite different.
The challenge is that not all individuals who are promoted
to leadership positions are given the tools to do their new
job.

Those who succeed in leadership positions know that they
are in a sandwich position. They will always have someone
above them stating their expectations and those below them
who they need to motivate, protect, discipline and inspire
all a the same time.

When speaking of stating their expectations or delivering
hard news leaders, often tell me: "I don't want to be the
bad guy." To which I reply: "If you really were the bad
guy, you wouldn't worry about it. The fact that you do,
shows how much you truly care."

Here are six keys to successfully communicating hard news
in a manner that will inspire, not offend:

* Know what you want; know what your specific expectations
are of this employee.

* Begin with questions. The staff member may be one step
ahead of you, waiting for this discussion and may save you
the agony of correcting their actions.

* Know and mirror this person's communication style. If
they are bottom line, be bottom line. If they need more
information or time to digest, provide both.

* Respectfully tell the truth (no sugar coating if
possible.)

* Lead and end with something positive. They'll remember
the hard stuff; give them something else to focus upon as
well.

* Make sure that your point is being both heard and
understood. Oftentimes, the only message that gets across
is: "I messed up; I'm not good enough. I'm going to get
fired." Ask them what they are hearing and what specific
steps they'll take as a result of this discussion. Watch
their body language closely.

If you worry too much about delivering hard news, you may
never get there. Procrastination is a killer to effective
communication as your angst will come out in other ways
such as body language, impatience or vocal tones.

Ultimate good is being served for both you and your
employee.

* You will unfold courage and strength.

* You employee will know their mistakes and be able to
correct. Without your 'being the bad guy,' neither of you
could enjoy this growth opportunity.

On behalf of those whom you lead, be bold enough to be the
'bad guy' the next time you have difficult information to
deliver. This will allow your team to grow, know without
doubt what you expect of them and allow your company to
prosper. What's better than working for a leader you can
trust who will consistently let you know where you stand?
Now that's inspiring! Enjoy your discoveries and have a
great week!

----------------------------------------------------
For the sake of keeping your career fresh and on track,
would you like to enjoy a weekly shot-in-the-arm from
Master Certified Coach Ann Golden Eglé? You can sign
up for her Success Thought of the Week at
http://www.gvsuccess.com . "A Guide to Getting It:
Vibrant & Lasting Relationships" is available at
http://tinyurl.com/2x73up .

A Simple Solution to Increase Your Sales: Shift From Selling to Serving

A Simple Solution to Increase Your Sales: Shift From Selling to Serving
I used to play small when it came to talking about my
business because I was afraid of sounding "salesy" and then
I discovered the easiest, most-simplest thing I could do to
increase my client numbers - I shifted from selling to
serving. That's right. So much began to happen ... I felt
better about myself, started falling in love with my
business and door upon door opened up with opportunities to
serve the highest good of all: clients who need what I have
to offer AND my business profits. Tapping into your
uniqueness (how you're here to serve) will assist in making
the language of your offer (verbally and on all marketing
materials) easy-breezy!

Here are 5 quick-to-the-point-steps that will help you
shift from selling energy to serving energy (and raise your
business profits!)

Step 1 - You must first become aware of all the qualities,
individualities, expertise, and gifts that YOU offer. The
nitty-gritty bits about who you are and what you do that
truly stand you out from all other entrepreneurs "doing
what you do". There is no need to activate the energy of
competition once you truly tap into your uniqueness.

Simply Put: No One Else Can BE You

Step 2 - Use this awareness to shift from a place of
telling (this is what I do and why you should want what I
have) to a place of being. It allows just-being-who-you-are
to be activated as your main business offering and then
also growth tool - instead of feeling that you have to sell
yourself (convince people that they want what you have).

Step 3 - Develop your own system, program or step-by-step
process. This is what I call your Unique Serving System
(U.S.S.) This gives you language to describe your business
and offering and gives potential clients something to
tangibly grab on to. Connect to your heart when developing
your U.S.S this way you are very clear about your business
as an AUTHENTIC offering.

Step 4 - Appreciate yourself and what you offer. Heck, you
should be proud; you have your OWN system/process/program!
This raises your energy, has you excited about how you're
here to serve your clients and customers and, trust me, is
very attractive!

Step 5 - Become extremely anchored in what makes your U.S.S
- you. Use this anchor as the center to your website,
marketing materials and in all your business conversations.
After all, it's the foundation to your serving.

*** Bonus - Now you no longer find yourself trying to find
the right words to describe who you are and what you do -
whether while speaking or writing about your business. It's
very clear to others what you do and the process you use to
do it!

Call To Action:

1 Make a list of everything you "do" in your business.

2 Take yourself through the steps of what you do when
servicing a client or a customer. Start at the VERY
beginning i.e. in that first meeting or the moment they
land on your website or walk into your story.

3 Condense this into anywhere from 5 to 11 steps.

4 Wahla! You have YOUR Unique Serving System. Get creative.
Find a name for each of the steps and your overall system.
Have fun with this!

----------------------------------------------------
Heather Dominick, EnergyRICH(tm) Entrepreneur Success
Coach, coaches entrepreneurs to identify inner and outer
sources for attracting clients and increasing business
profit. Are you ready to build your business from a place
of serving and abundance rather than scarcity? Then sign up
to receive your free 5 Part EnergyRICH Entrepreneur
E-course here now http://www.energyrichcoach.com

Shredders - Which Brands To Consider.

Shredders - Which Brands To Consider.
Shredders are a very useful tool for protecting highly
confidential business information and encouraging the use
of a shredder among your staff, when disposing of sensitive
business information, is an essential activity for any
company. Employers can encourage good and consistent
housekeeping procedures within their companies by outlining
a clear policy for shredding documents and providing your
employees with a high-quality shredder from the wide range
available through ABT that can cater for all shredding
requirements.

Shredders are available at all specification levels and to
suit all possible customer requirements - whether a
shredder is required for low-level personal use in the home
or the continuous shredding of high security documents
within a large business environment.

Shredding machine manufacturers include Dahle, EBA,
Fellowes, GBC, HSM, IDEAL, Intimus, Kobra, Martin Yale and
Schleicher.

There are many different types of shredder, including desk
side paper shredders, small office paper shredders, large
office paper shredders, heavy duty paper shredders,
commercial paper shredders, automatic paper shredders, high
security paper shredders, cardboard shredders, CD, DVD, and
multimedia shredders, A3 paper shredders and large paper
size paper shredders.

With identity theft currently rising on a global scale, no
one can afford to be without a shredder within their home
or office environment.

Personal users should consider that a potential criminal
only needs to gather details of their credit card; address
or bank account just once to commit fraud in their name and
the importance of investing in a quality and reliable paper
shredder at a discount price becomes self-evident.
Investing in a reasonably-priced, small-scale shredder for
personal use will enable everyone in your household to
dispose of confidential documents with ease and ensure that
you and your family are well on the way to being protected
from identity theft or fraud.

So when looking for a brand of shredder, who should you
consider, and what models are available?

Well, IDEAL paper shredders are the perfect option for the
office or company requiring an industrial shredder. There
are around 50 models. IDEAL paper shredders come as either
cross-cut or strip-cut, and are offered throughout the
price spectrum to suit the customer's individual
requirements, on however large or small a scale. Models
available include deskside shredders that shred small
quantities of paper to large, industrial shredders capable
of shredding up to 700 sheets simultaneously.

The range of Fellowes shredders available on the market is
extensive and there is a Fellowes shredder available to
suit every level of requirement. Fellowes home shredders
are designed to shred an infrequent number of paper
documents, such as bank statements and other personal
documentation. Fellowes home shredders are easy to use,
reliable and very reasonably priced.

Moving slightly higher up the range, Fellowes offer a range
of shredders for the home office user - for those who need
to shred a moderate number of documents several times a
day. A home office shredder will enable those working from
home to protect their business and personal information.

Fellowes small office shredders are designed to service
around 100 shredding sessions a day and are ideal for the
small to medium sized company or department. Fellowes offer
a number of shredders at the small office level, with the
SB80 being an excellent example.

Fellowes large office shredders are designed to be used
throughout the working day and Fellowes offer a range of
models that can shred up to 3600 documents per day.

Dahle paper shredders, are available in both strip cut and
cross cut machines, from security level 3 home office or
personal use shredders to large industrial shredders that
can shred anything from a range of stationery to the entire
contents of a waste bin.

EBA shredders are designed for heavy duty and industrial
use and they are known for their hard-to-beat prices.

HSM manufacture an enormous range of shredding machines,
and are the experts in everything from deskside shredders
costing less than £100 to large commercial shredders
currently available on the market for several thousand
pounds.

Another well known brand to consider is Intimus. They make
all types of machines from desk side shredders available
for around £100 to commercial shredders priced at
almost £20,000. Intimus offer both strip and cross
cut shredders and have a machine available to suit every
possible requirement.

Although their range is smaller than some of the previous
manufacturers discussed Kobra shredders are designed for
desk side use right through to commercial and high security
specifications.

Martin Yale specialise in deskside shredders which are
available in both strip cut and cross cut types.

Schleicher manufacture heavy duty and commercial shredders
and all their shredders are suitable for heavy use in an
industrial environment, with a variety of specifications
available at this level. The Schleicher Pacmate is a
cardboard shredder that has been designed to be easily
transported round your work environment

----------------------------------------------------
ABT's massive selection of shredders is available to view
online, as are details of the servicing and repair facility
and regular updates on news from the shredding industry. A
freephone line is available for all customers seeking
advice or guidance regarding a new purchase, or to learn
more about the servicing and repair of an existing shredder
- http://www.abt-shredders.co.uk/

How To Get Rid Of Your Enemies Easily

How To Get Rid Of Your Enemies Easily
We all think the enemy is somewhere out there, that some
person, force or nation is out to harm us in some way.
Rather than live a life focused upon what they want, many
people's lives center around protecting themselves from
their enemies, devising strategies to beat them. However,
enemies consume time, attention, resources, well-being and
happiness in life itself. And the odd thing about enemies
is that even when we defeat one, ten more seem to
immediately appear. Even when they think they are winning
over their enemies, they are losing a life of freedom,
health and good will.

How To Get Rid Of Enemies Easily

The smartest, simplest and easiest way to get rid of your
enemy is to turn him/her into a friend. It actually takes
only a moment to do this. Stop for a moment and ask
yourself, who decided this person or situation is my enemy?
You did. Now you can turn that decision around and decide
the person is a friend. You can decide to become a friend
to that person, (or to that situation or condition), to
stop fighting and respond with kindness and care. You can
choose to see other aspects of that person, which are not
in opposition to you. Once you step out of the dance they
are doing, how can they hurt you?

The True Enemy In Your Life

The next step would be to take a deep breath and realize
where the true enemy is hiding. What exactly is it that is
keeping you in constant turmoil? This is the moment to
realize that your true enemy is within. It is your very own
hatred, anger, fear and upset. The true enemy is the
propensity we have for projecting our anger and fear
outside into the world, for pinning it on people and
situations and then battling with them. It is extremely
disempowering to project your darkness upon someone else.
It gives the other person power over you. Until we stop
this, more and more enemies will keep appearing.
Ultimately, they are the creations of our own mind and
heart.

Below are some steps to take, to live a life free of
enemies. Try them and see how easy and enjoyable they
really are.

Step 1: Make Friends With Your Enemy

Allow yourself a moment of willingness to consider the
possibility that your enemy wants the same things in life
and is, most likely, just as afraid of you as you are of
them.

A)Say to yourself - "Like me, my enemy wants to be happy
and safe. Like me, me, my enemy has suffered and wants to
be free of pain. Like me, my enemy is lonely. Like me, my
enemy will one day face loss and death."

Step 2: Who Is Your Enemy

A) Make a list of those people (or situations) you feel are
your enemies.(You may be astonished to note that even those
you love are fearful to you).
B) Write down three valuable qualities this enemy has.
C) Write down three ways you have gained from knowing them.
D)Write down what is needed for you to see them as a friend.

Step 3: Reclaiming Your Power .
A) Upon whom have you projected most negativity?
B) What about this person is so unacceptable?
C) Can you see these qualities in yourself as well?
D) For just a moment, can you accept these qualities in
yourself? (This doesn't mean act upon them, just accept
them for what they are now).

Step 4: Turn It Around

A) Offer your enemy the gift of respect.
B) Offer your enemy the gift of really listening and
knowing them.
C) Stop judging your enemy. Let them be who they are.
D) Give your enemy what they want and need. Just one time.
E) Do it again now.
F) Notice how wonderful it feels.
G) Take time to notice how it feels to live in a world of
friends?

----------------------------------------------------
Learn to resolve difficulties easily and create a blueprint
for a constructive relationships where everyone wins. Get
Save Your Relationship, http://www.truthaboutlove.com . Top
psychologist, relationship, family and divorce mediator,
speaker and Founder of Everyone Wins Mediation has helped
thousands resolve difficulties and find balance and
strength. Free ezine, articles, at
http://www.newyorkmediates.com . topspeaker@yahoo.com

Reverse Cell Phone Directory: Does a Legitimate One Exist?

Reverse Cell Phone Directory: Does a Legitimate One Exist?
The cell phone or the mobile phone is one of the most
useful devices in today's society. With it, people are able
to communicate with loved ones as well as business
associates far more effectively than ever before. Keeping
in touch has never been easier with mobile phones.

Convenient as mobile phones are, there are also some
drawbacks. You have to remember that on every good thing,
there is always a dark side to it. Because mobile phones
are private numbers, you will see that it can be hard for
you to look for someone's mobile phone number.

This means that if someone is harassing you through calls
or SMS on the cell phone, it can be quite hard for you to
trace the owner of the number as mobile phone numbers are
unlisted on public phone directories.

So, how will you be able to know who is the owner of the
cell phone number calling you?

To answer this question, you will want to take a look at
some of the available reverse cell phone directories.
However, the question still remains if one even exists or
if a legitimate one exists. You will see that there are
quite a few websites that offer this kind of services.
However, you need to remember that cell phone directory
services don't come for free. Unlike public landline phone
directories, which is available for the public for free.
However, private numbers, such as cell phone numbers and
unlisted land line numbers will not show up in these public
phone directories.

If you want to know who owns a particular cell phone number
calling you or keeps on sending you SMS, you might want to
use the reverse cell phone directory services.

You can look and do your own research on the internet in
order for you to save money, but searching for the owner of
the number on the internet is almost impossible and it can
take quite a long time.

If you want to search for a number the easy way, one way to
do this is to conduct your search on paid online reverse
cell phone lookup services. For a minimum cost of 15 to 20
dollars, you will be able to access the database of cell
phone number directories.

However, you need to make sure that do a search from a site
is reliable and also will be able provide accurate
information.

This is your best option as it will take you as little time
possible, and it will also be a lot cheaper than hiring a
private investigator.

Try going for the website that offers reverse cell phone
directory with a money back guarantee. This way, you will
be able to get your money back in case the directory
doesn't help you find what you are looking for.

Customer support is also important. With this feature, it
will make it easier for you to find the owner of the cell
phone number that is calling you or sending you text
messages.

So, all in all, legitimate reverse cell phone directories
do exist. However, keep in mind that you need to first find
the legitimate ones as there are a lot of websites existing
that offer these services that doesn't provide accurate
information or only provides limited information.

----------------------------------------------------
Visit http://www.reversecellphonesearch.biz today to start
searching by cell phone numbers.

Network Marketing Prospects: Responsible Sponsoring

Network Marketing Prospects: Responsible Sponsoring
There's one philosophy of network marketing that says,
"Sign up anything with a pulse."

This is the throw-them-against-the-wall-and-see-who-sticks
approach. The hope is that SOMEONE amongst those raw
recruits will emerge as a leader.

I see two problems with this strategy.

First, it's bad for the network marketing industry. Why?
Let me give you an extreme but true example.

I know a network marketer who enrolled 2,000 new recruits
into his organization in less than two years. And not just
any old recruits. These folks all purchased his company's
top starter pack.

He made quite a bundle on pack commissions, as you might
imagine. Naturally, everyone wanted to know how he did it,
and he became quite popular as a speaker for a while.

Later, I learned that his retention rate was a measly 10%.
Surprise, surprise! He just didn't have the time or the
resources to work with all 2,000 of those people to help
them succeed.

Okay, 10% of 2,000 is 200. That's still a lot of people.

True, but let's turn that around. It means that the other
1,800 people, who paid a lot of money for those starter
packs, got their dreams shattered and are now probably
telling their friends and relatives that network marketing
is a hype and a scam.

Is it any wonder MLM has a bad reputation?

The second problem with this super-enroller approach is
that it's bad for the business of the person doing the
recruiting. How can that be?

I'll answer that very simply: Lack of duplication.

If you've been doing network marketing for longer than five
minutes, you know the importance of helping the
distributors in your organization learn to do what you do
and duplicate your efforts.

I doubt that many of the 200 surviving team members
recruited by the mega-enroller were able to successfully
copy what he did (which come to think of it might be a good
thing, considering the negative impact his type of method
has on the network marketing industry).

Unless he changes his approach, he'll never reach a solid,
residual income that will enable him to retire.

By contrast, here's a completely opposite approach some
friends of mine are using. In their system, a distributor
finds ONE and only one new business builder per month,
every month. No more, no less. (Product users, on the other
hand, can be unlimited.)

Each new enrollee makes a commitment to do the same, and
becomes part of a small team. Team members support one
another and hold each other accountable to meet their
one-a-month recruitment goals.

One a month. Hmmm. If you were doing it this way, you
would have plenty of time to interview prospects, get to
know them well, learn their strengths and weaknesses, and
pick the ONE person among them who is most likely to
succeed - the individual who will take her commitment
seriously and continue the process of working with the team
and finding ONE new person each month herself.

But one new recruit per month - can you really build a
successful business this way? Let's crunch some numbers
and see.

If everyone does what they're supposed to do, your
organization will double in size each month. Starting with
the first month, there would be two people - you and your
first new recruit. The second month you would each find
another new distributor who would commit to following your
lead, and there would be four people on your team. The
third month there would be eight.

I know that so far this sounds really lame compared to
recruiting 2,000 people. But get out your calculator and
see what happens if you keep doing this for twelve months
and everyone else does his or her part.

You'll end up with 4,096 active distributors in your
organization. Compare that with the 200 distributors the
mega-recruiter was left with after the 1,800 disgruntled
recruits dropped off his team.

Of course realistically it's not very likely that you'll
end up with a perfect 4,096 team members after a year
because there will always be a few dropouts. But what if
you're only half that successful and end up with 2,000?
You'll still have lots more active distributors than the
mega-recruiter, and your numbers will continue to grow.
What's more, you'll have achieved that success without
destroying the trust of masses of innocent people in the
process.

Now I certainly haven't studied the compensation plans of
every network marketing company on the planet, but I'm
guessing that anyone with an organization of 2,000 - 4,000
business builders is making a pretty good income,
regardless of what they're selling. And it all comes from
personally sponsoring just twelve new people - one per
month.

The most important point is this: If you want to be
successful in your MLM business, be a responsible sponsor.
Take the time to select your business partners carefully,
and support and train them so they'll have the best
possible start in their new venture.

In the long run, it will pay off for both of you.

----------------------------------------------------
Liz Monte writes on a variety of network marketing topics.
She is the author of a free mini-course, "Basic Training:
The 21st Century Approach to Network Marketing." Find it
on her website at
http://www.WiseNetworkMarketer.com

Work At Home Opportunities for Parents

Work At Home Opportunities for Parents
Lots of parents who are in the job field are turning around
and are looking for affordable ways to earn money from home
online or offline. Why are they doing this?

2 good reasons:

1. They either want to make more income because the income
that they are making from their jobs is really not enough.

2. They are just tired of working for a boss and taking
orders from them. Let's face it, over 95% of people who
have a full time or part time jobs, don't like what they
are doing and would love to be a stay at home parent. Can
you imagine if you had to work for the same boss or other
bosses for the rest of your life. Not many people want that
and that is why you can see more and more people who are
searching for a stay at home based business.

A lot of parents who have children, want to stay at home
and be there when the kids come back from school each day.
Not every dad or mom comes home every day to see their
kids. Some have jobs that require them to be away from home
a few days each month. Do you think that the parent likes
what they are doing? I don't think that they do. But with
bills growing and house payments need to be made every
month, not everyone has a choice to stay at home and quit
their current job.

There are plenty of opportunities and possibilities out
there out there for moms and dads who want to stay at home.

Let's take a look at some great work at home online and
offline opportunities. I am not going to go into much
details but I want to drive home to you that you too can
make money from your own home based business opportunity:

* Online Data Entry

* Network Marketing

* Paid Surveys Online

* Affiliate programs

The above opportunities are the most known and if you just
do your own research on them, you too can become a part
time or full time work at home and stay at home parent.

You need to ask yourself 2 key questions before you even
jump into any of these stay at home programs.

1. Why do you want to get into a home based business?

You will want to sit down, get a piece of paper, and write
down all of the reasons why you want to get into your own
at home business.

2. Are you willing to do what ever it takes to succeed?

You need to know that making your at home income business
will require you to do a lot of work. You have to be very
productive and take action everyday. Just because you will
work for yourself does not mean that you can slack off.
Working for yourself has more responsibilities then having
a part time or full time job.

So how do you find a good, legitimate, and honest work at
home programs online?

Go to any of the major search engines and do a search for
"work at home" or "home based business". Usually the TOP 5
websites that you find are very good and provide very good
info. Just take your time and read everything that you come
across on their websites. Again, you will want to look at
the TOP 5 websites.

----------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to our FREE Work At Home "TOP PICKS" newsletter:
http://www.work-at-home-income-directory.com/Newsletter.html

. I am also inviting you to visit our work at home website
http://www.work-at-home-income-directory.com where we are
offering legitimate and honest online work at home and home
based business opportunities.

Using Construction Estimating Software for "Communications Blueprints"

Using Construction Estimating Software for "Communications Blueprints"
In the construction estimating business, there are several
vital principles you should practice that pave the way to
positive results for both your company and your customer.
Make sure that all of your "communications blueprints" are
smoothly in place before you start a job.

The most effective way to do this is through your
construction estimating software system that is dynamically
linked with all of your processes; customer relationship
modules, accounting, billing, inventory, job costing etc.

Two-way communication throughout the whole building process
cannot be stressed enough. From your initial construction
estimate on, cover details. You know the questions to ask
that your customer may not think to consider.

After you learn what your customer's preferences are, take
the time to write them down in detail and integrate them
into a dynamically linked construction estimating software
system so that the completed construction estimate reflects
a project that closely resembles the image in your
customer's mind.

One of the most important aspects of construction
estimating communication comes in the form of change
orders. Every project has a least a few.

For the protection and well-being of both you and your
customer, every proposed change to the project should be
agreed upon, detailed, price estimated, printed, and then
signed by both parties immediately.

Construction estimating change orders not processed
correctly can make or break you.

Although this is sometimes inconvenient, investing time to
document that you and your customer are both on the same
page will save you a great deal of headaches, and often
money, in the long run.

Also, when input into a dynamically linked construction
estimating software system, the information can be quickly
and accurately disseminated to all individuals involved in
the process as well as exported to your accounting, job
costing, inventory and other modules that make up your
total construction estimating software system.

Shipping errors, bad weather and sub-contractor schedule
glitches happen. At times, owners may believe that
everything is wrong with their project. Because the
construction process is unfamiliar to them, many may assume
that others' projects always flow along smoothly.

If the owner and the contractor are both mutually
respectful, troubles can be worked out successfully. Fill
in your customer regularly. Be up front when things go
wrong. Customers are often not involved in the day-to-day
workings, and often feel they are in the dark. Be ready
with solution options if you have to present problems to an
owner. The owners will most likely feel grateful for your
resourcefulness.

Relax. Explain to the owner that glitches are always a part
of the building process, but keep in mind that your calm,
confident demeanor will tell your customer far more than
your words.

Every wise contractor realizes the business name is on the
line with each job. A bad experience with an owner can
damage your reputation, while a good experience will
increase future business opportunities.

When a contractor submits a construction estimate on a
project, it is implied that the contractor will furnish the
tools, materials and labor documented in the estimate, and
that the quality of the workmanship will be equal to or
greater than current industry standards.

What isn't stated is that not everyone will go about
meeting those standards in the same way. A construction
crew is made up of people with varying degrees of raw
talent and developed skill. Skill levels aside, not all
contractors will tackle a project the same way you do.

If your customer's needs, and terminology is integrate from
the inception of the project into your construction
estimating software, presenting your value to your customer
can become an integral part of your construction estimating
process.

Also, consider carefully who you ask to be a part of your
company. A single individual that does not think and
respond properly to your customer can undo whatever
benefits that you may reap from your well tuned
construction estimating software system.

The owner wants the project done as quickly and as well as
possible, and under budget. You want to use ALL of the
tools of your trade, not just truck, saws, hammers etc, but
your construction estimating software, job costing software
etc., to complete the project and make a profit.

Always try to meet in the middle. Step out of your
contractor shoes now and then to see the project from your
customer's perspective and communicate on that level. When
you make your customer happy, you reap the rewards.

Also, realize that keeping your customer informed of the
progress of his project, even if the information is a
problem, is always better than letting him find out on his
own.

For this reason, your construction estimating software /
job costing system should have percentage complete
capability for each of the steps of the job, to allow you
to review any problems with scheduling and completion and
also allow you to work together with your customer on a
timeline that will bring the project back on task.

It is a must that your construction estimating software
allows for dynamic linking to your job costing system that
accommodates percentage completion calculations. With this
capability, should not hesitate to review the project with
your client directly on your laptop on the job costing
screen.

You can do this freely knowing that at any time you need,
you have the ability to turn the laptop around, click on
your actual construction estimating software bid and
"massage" the costs, materials, labor etc. to provide an
acceptable solution to the project problems to the
satisfaction of your customer and yourself.

----------------------------------------------------
Phillip P Gilliam is the President and CEO of Discover
Software Inc.Phil 58, currently lives in Florida with his
wife and youngest daughter, is a native of Ohio. He went to
Wright State University and has over 37 years experience in
marketing, construction estimating software development,
business management, and finance.
http://www.easyestimating.com

Does Your Buyer Think Your Company Looks Like All the Rest?

Does Your Buyer Think Your Company Looks Like All the Rest?
If your Buyer thinks so, he'll make the decision on price -
the lowest price. Don't let your Buyer set your prices!

What can you do to be sure your competitors and your Buyer
don't set your prices?

The most important thing is something you can do right now.
You can do this in three easy steps. Don't wait! The longer
you wait, the more likely you are to either lose the deal
or win at the lowest price, and that may not be profitable.

Step 1: Get to know your Buyer inside and out. Here are
some questions you can ask about them: Who exactly are
they, and what exactly are their challenges? Be clear on
their: demographics and psychographics.

Find out: - How do they solve their challenges now? - Who
do they call on to solve their challenges? - How do they
make their money? - Do they buy products and services to
re-sell or put together deals for their customers? Who
provides those? - What is their Vision, their Mission and
their approach? - What prices do your Buyers pay? - What
additional services do they buy or look for? - What are the
negotiating points and "deal-killers"?

If you don't know the answers, read what they read, search
the Internet the way they do, and use the keywords and
questions they do. Study their marketing materials, their
Web site. Know their people, their Vision, Mission and
approach to solving customers' challenges. What do they
promise to their customers? How can you help them deliver
on these promises and be successful at what they do?

Find out how they look for partners and companies to help
them solve their challenges. Which companies do they
routinely call on when they're looking for solutions, or
buying products or services? Are you one of them? Why or
Why not?

Be your Buyer for a day. And ask your customers! They're
usually pleased to be asked.

Your purpose in being a detective here is to be able to
solve your customers' challenges and design products and
services that they can't wait to buy - from you - at prices
that are profitable for you. And to position your company,
products and services in relation to your competitors, so
your customer easily sees the added value you bring to them.

Talk to your salespeople about what they know about their
fellow salespeople and how they sell to your mutual
customers. Ask them how your competitors position you in
relation to themselves. What do they say about you, your
products and services?

A Comparison Matrix is often helpful in comparing the Top 5
companies that your customers consider when making a buying
decision. This is a matrix that you often see when you're
comparing computers or software. For example, the Basic
version provides certain (limited) features, and the Pro
version provides many more. Down one side, list products
and services that your Buyer looks for. And across the top,
list each of the Top 5 companies. Put check marks where
each company offers the service and leave a blank space
where they don't. You can design one that shows off your
company.

Step 2: Now that you know your Buyer, know your own company
inside and out. Ask the same questions (above) about your
own company that you asked about your competitors. Review
and critique your Web site, marketing materials, sales
presentations, product and service lines. How do your
salespeople position you in relation to your competitors?

Step 3: Ask yourself seriously and very specifically what
do you give your customer that affects their bottom line,
and is different from your competitors? That is, what is
the bottom-line Value you provide? Find out ways that your
products and services make a difference to their bottom
line. This could be increasing their sales and revenue,
increases their productivity (which can increase their
sales and profitability) or saving them money or time
(which saves money). Use numbers whenever you can, and make
sure you can prove those numbers. For example:

How is your approach different? For example, do you take
time to get to know them thoroughly, to work closely with
them, to meet with them in person? Is your project
management with them clear, concise, and consistent? No
surprises? On time and on budget? Is your delivery more
flexible?

If you take only one thing from this article, make it this
one:

Talk about the bottom-line Value you provide to your
customer starting in the first sales call. Don't wait until
it's time for the close or the proposal. By then, it's too
late.

Incorporate how you help their bottom line into your
30-second introduction. Leave a voicemail that says that.
Give them your name and number so they can call you right
back, and tell them which day you'll call them to follow up.

In future articles, I'll give you ways to work with
gatekeepers, and design your voicemails and emails and your
30-second introduction, so that you get through to your
busy decision-makers.

----------------------------------------------------
Jan Wallen works with companies that want significant sales
results. Jan is action- and results-oriented. Once you
start working together, she is 100% committed to
significant sales results for you. For a sample Comparison
Matrix as mentioned above, send an email to
info@janwallen.com and put Matrix in the subject line. To
learn more, call (646) 485-4059 or go to
http://www.janwallen.com

How To Revive A Stalled Job Search With High-Payoff Activities

How To Revive A Stalled Job Search With High-Payoff Activities
I frequently talk to potential clients who tell me they
have been conducting a job search for X months without any
success, or that they have sent out X number of resumes
with virtually no response. When I press for more details,
I hear stories about resumes posted in online resume
databases and resumes sent in response to ads found on
online job boards.

What is wrong with these job search techniques?
Well...nothing is fundamentally wrong with them. In fact,
they play an important part - a small part - in most
well-constructed job search plans. However, these are
extremely low-payoff job search activities, and if these
are the only techniques you are using, the chances are far
greater than not that your job search will generate
disappointing and slow results.

If you are unhappy with the results of your job search, it
is time that you took an objective look at your job search
techniques. Are you spending too much of your precious time
and energy on low-payoff job search activities while you
ignore those that will produce the positive results that
you want and deserve?

While the more effective job search activities - such as
networking -usually require people to step out of their
comfort zones, the returns generated by your investment of
your time and energy will almost always be worth it.

So, if you find yourself stuck in a stalled, ineffective
search for your next job, here are some high-impact tips.

1) Take a hard look at your resume. Like it or not, your
resume is your first introduction to most employers, and
your only chance to make a good first impression. Effective
resumes are focused marketing pieces that are strategically
written and designed to sell YOU as THE best solution to a
potential employer's needs. Your resume should be written
to illustrate your unique value proposition, with succinct
"stories" that differentiate you from your competitors in
the job market. Does your resume accomplish these goals? Is
it focused effectively? Does it accurately present you in
the way that you wish to be presented? If not, it is time
to rewrite.

2) Now, take a hard look at your methods. Do the methods
you are using in your job search convey professionalism at
every step? Is your approach courteous and does it
illustrate an understanding of common business protocol?
For example, do you always send at least a brief letter of
introduction when you send a new contact your resume? I
can't tell you how many times a prospective client tells me
he isn't getting calls on his resume, and when I quiz him
he will tell me that he has been sending his resume as an
attachment to emails, and then admits that he has not been
including an introductory note. In this day and age, when
everyone is concerned about viruses and spam, do you
honestly believe that a recipient will open an attachment
that arrives with a blank email? Of course not! Or...Does
the message on your answering machine make you sound like a
polished professional or a party animal? Is your email user
name a professional-sounding one or a cutesy one? You have
tough competition in the job market. Details matter!
Courtesy and business protocol matters! Everything you do
in your job search should convey an impeccably professional
image. My best advice: Apply some basic common sense and
remember your manners.

3) Ramp up your networking efforts. Of all of the possible
job search methods, networking is the most effective by
far, and yet it is the method that the fewest people use. I
know that you don't want to hear this, but no matter how
uncomfortable it might be for you, networking is absolutely
crucial and is the fastest way to your next position.
Remember that when you are networking you are not asking
people if they know of an opening or to give you a job, you
are just asking for referrals or advice. Would you be upset
if someone you knew contacted you to inform you of their
job search and asked if you might be able to offer any
advice or point her in the right direction? Of course you
wouldn't. In fact, you might even be flattered. This is the
same reaction that your personal and professional
networking contacts will have. If you don't have frequent
face-to-face contact with your network, the quickest way to
jumpstart your search using networking is to send your
resume and a brief letter to every single one of your
contacts, and then follow up with a phone call a few days
later. In most cases, people will be more than happy to
help you out. But whether they are able to help you
immediately or not, follow up with a brief handwritten
thank you card. This is a gesture that will make a lasting
positive impression.

4) Do your research; don't just blindly and
indiscriminately send out your resume. Research the
geographic and industry areas that interest you and
identify the companies and opportunities that seem most
promising and intriguing to you. With the vast quantities
of information available on the Internet, you really have
no excuse not to research thoroughly. Identify the hiring
decision-makers and learn all you can about them and their
company, their competitors, their challenges, and their
future potential. This is a great time to call on your
professional network. Who do you know who knows someone who
knows some else at the company you are interested in? Once
you have an "in" through a referral, it is time to make
sure you are absolutely clear on your value proposition. In
what way do you feel you could add value to the company?
How would hiring you be beneficial? What is the return on
investment that the company could expect if they hired you?
Once you have the answers to these questions clear in your
mind, it is time to approach the targets.

5) Consider a targeted e-mailing of your resume to
headhunter/recruiter firms. But don't just use one of the
cheap broadcast services that send your resume out to some
unspecified list of 1000s of supposed recruiters. If you
are going to do this, use a high-quality service that uses
an up-to-date database of recruiting firms that they can
break down and segment based on the firms' specialties.
Approaching the distribution of your resume to headhunter
firms in this way ensures that the recipients of your
resume are individuals who have a sincere interest in
learning about you and your credentials. They will try to
match you to their current searches, and if you are a fit,
you will get a phone call right then. Otherwise, they tend
to database your resume to search in relation to future
recruitment assignments. Of all the suggestions, this is
the most passive and the easiest for you to implement with
the least amount of work. But, passive or not, if you are
in a profession that is among those often handled by
recruiting firms, you should definitely make this a part of
your overall job search strategy.

Finally, I can't stress enough how important it is for you
to follow up. Be assertive and approach your job search as
if it is a job in itself. Schedule your activities, keep
track of the contacts you have made and the resumes you
have sent, and follow up regularly and consistently.

Yes, there is no doubt that job searching can be a highly
stressful time. But you do have choices about how you will
spend your limited time and those choices can have a
profound impact on the success of your search. Choose to
focus on the high payoff activities and you will find
yourself back to work, in the job you want, much faster
than you thought was possible.

----------------------------------------------------
Nationally certified resume writer and career coach,
Michelle Dumas is the director of Distinctive Career
Services LLC. Through Distinctive Documents
http://www.distinctiveweb.com and her Executive VIP
Services http://www.100kcareermarketing.com

Michelle has
empowered thousands of professionals all across the U.S.
and worldwide. Michelle is also the author of Secrets of a
Successful Job Search http://www.job-search-secrets.com

Organizational Structure

Organizational Structure
There are several different structures: functional, market
oriented, integrated and adaptive structures. Functional
structure refers to an organization form in which grouping
of employees is based on particular functions such as
advertising. Further, the functional selection of structure
may be divided into simple, machine bureaucracy, and
professional bureaucracy. Each of the subdivision may
illustrate a particular industry or organizational need in
order to best optimize the efficiency and effectiveness. In
my experience, the functional structure has a rather
generic approach in which only functional tools are
utilized: this approach ignores the multi-verse and
creative nature of human being. Thus, it may result in
decrease utility and ultimately in lower production
efficiency.

Market oriented approach divides and groups employees based
on the targeted customer segments. This particular approach
uses a reverse methodology i.e. who/what is the targets, in
order to create the most effective group of employees to
serve those particular segments. In my experience, market
oriented approach is more effective than functional
approach: by reverse tracking, firms can select those teams
that are best suited to server their particular goals.

An even better approach is the integrated structure, which
refers to the combination of functional and market oriented
organization. In this particular approach, an organization
can select to implement either approach or combine them.
Such approach naturally creates a greater flexibility in
adapting the organizational response to particular needs of
the market. I believe that such flexibility is a better
choice to reach adaptability.

More adaptive structures attempt to empower employees by
emphasizing core process i.e. horizontal organization, or
creating sponsorships i.e. lattice organizations. This
approach assumes that frontline workers which have a sense
of ownership will naturally have a greater involvement that
may lead to better end results. In my experience employee
empowerment may illustrate a sense of ownership that my
lead to negative outcomes by ignoring core skills and
expertise.

Other approaches such as alliances and modular
organizations which use external resource to streamline
internal dependency function under the assumption that
external entities are reliable partners or subcontractors
which will perform to the highest standards, in order to
minimize the internal cost of adaptability. In my
experience, it is a risky venture to allow external
entities to have influence on back bone structures: the
dependency factor creates minimization of authority and
loss of leverage which in turn may have negative impact on
negotiations and bottom lines.

Personally, I believe that an optimal organization is
simply adaptable: in today's flexible and ever changing
global environment, no organization can have a long term
structure. If the final goal of an organization is its
longevity, it is vital to be elastic and even more
importantly adaptable. Thus, a well structured
organization, is an organization which can reshuffle it
selves in order to adjust to its market and more
importantly adjust to its competitors.

----------------------------------------------------
Organizational Structure
http://www.totalqualityassuranceservice.com/

Telling Your Boss He's Wrong

Telling Your Boss He's Wrong
So, the weekend is over and you're slumped in a chair in
another interminable meeting, half-focusing on your boss
who is doing "yadda-yadda-yadda" about widgets or sales
forecasts or customer complaints or whatever the harangue
de jour is, and all of a sudden you have a blinding vision
of the way things should be done, followed by an
overwhelming urge to share this brilliant idea that
directly contradicts what the boss is saying.

It's the moment of truth.

Do you speak up, saving the company (possibly) thousands of
work-hours and dollars, and risk making your boss look like
an idiot, or do you sink back into the pack and run over
the cliff with the rest of the lemmings?

Yes. No. Wait...what was the question?

Telling the boss he/she is wrong is tricky. It requires
thoughtful analysis, willingness to compromise and knowing
when to throw in the cards or go "all in". Here are some
tips for getting it right.

1. Timing is Everything. The earlier you can get your ideas
in about a project, the better you'll be. Don't wait until
the blueprints are finalized to point out that the access
door needs to be in a different place.

2. Choose Your Battles. How important is this issue? Some
people just like to be contrary and challenge the status
quo. Examine your motives for speaking up and, if you have
a clear conscience and a better way of doing things, then
go for it.

3. Always Have a Suggestion. If you're going to disagree
with your boss, you'd better have an alternative solution
in mind. No one wants a nay-sayer who doesn't like the
current plan but can't come up with anything better.

4. Discretion is the Better Part of Valor. Take your
opposing idea to your boss in private. Challenging him or
her directly in front of a group doesn't offer a
face-saving way out. Unless the situation is critical
(think, life-threatening), it won't hurt to wait.

5. Talk Around It. Instead of coming right out with your
own plan, sit down with your boss for a talk, and do a
little mental maneuvering. Think aloud about the situation
and bring up pros and cons while gradually shifting around
to the plan you want the boss to consider - sort of a
two-person brainstorming session.

6. Be a Team Player. Before you jump in with your own
version, make absolutely sure you understand all the
ramifications of what your boss is proposing and what
she/he is trying to accomplish. Make it a problem-solving
exercise, not a win/lose scenario. And if your idea wins
out, keep it to yourself. Let your boss decide when, and
how, to share the praise.

7. Learn to Lose. If your boss is operating under
constraints that you're not aware of, it doesn't matter how
good your idea is. You don't have the final say-so and you
have to be able to live with that. And, sometimes, your
boss is just going to disagree with you and nothing you can
say or do is going to change that. Accept it gracefully and
live to fight another day.

Speaking up with your boss can be a challenge, especially
if you're not used to putting yourself out there. Good
managers, though, want to hear different ideas and
encourage their workers to speak up -- loudly and often -
and if you always just go along with the flow you may find
yourself overlooked at promotion time. Follow the
suggestions above and start making a positive name for
yourself.

----------------------------------------------------
Joan Schramm, the Workplace Solutions Expert, is a career,
executive and personal coach with twenty years experience
in management, training and coaching. Joan can work with
you to figure out exactly what you want from your life and
your career, and how to get there without a lot of detours.
For more information, or to talk about what's going on in
your life, go to:
http://www.achieve-momentum.com

The Words You Use During Your Job Interview Send a Strong Message

The Words You Use During Your Job Interview Send a Strong Message
The words you use to express yourself say more about you
than you think. In fact, your vocabulary and the use of
appropriate words say more about you than the message you
are trying communicate. You are judged by the words you
use. When you are looking for a job it is not only
important to use the "right" words and language - it is
essential.

It begins with the writing of your resume and continues in
the way that you answer the questions asked in an
interview. Each industry uses "key words" or "lingo" for
each position. In order to be prepared it will be important
for you to research these words and to use them
appropriately. If you do you will sound more knowledgeable
and "in-the-know."

How will I know which words are "key"?

Key words are found in job postings/ads. For each position
there are common words that describe what is required for a
job. Job postings are a list of qualities and skills
employers are looking for in a candidate - their "wish
list."

Here is an example of common words used in postings for an
Executive Secretary position: (Six postings were used).

"Confidential" (used in all six postings)

"Ability to proofread and edit" (used in all six postings)

"Excellent written and verbal communication skills" (used
in four of six postings)

"Organized, Attention to detail" (used in all six postings)

Other words used included, "Discretion," Judgment,"
Self-starter," Scheduling," "Prioritize," and
"Multi-tasking."

If you are applying for an Executive secretary position
these are the key words to include in your cover letter and
resume. Electronic resume scanners will seek out these
words to select your resume as qualified for the position.
If these words are missing your resume may not be selected.
These are also the words to use in the interview that will
make you sound like someone who is a good fit for the
position.

Finding the Key Words for Your Position

A good place to start is with job postings. Common words
are used to describe the requirements needed for each job.
By printing out several posting you will begin to see the
"key" words repeated over and over. The only criteria for
finding these words should be that you are interested in
the job and not limiting your search by location. Make a
list of the words that are used repeatedly and note how
often they are used.

Another source of words is The Occupational Information
Network http://online.onetcenter.org/. You will find a
complete list of occupation keywords, SOC codes, Job
Families. This site also lists skills required - basic
skills, social skills, experience and tasks required. Check
these words against the list from the job postings you used
to build a stronger list.

When you begin to write your resume or prepare your
interview script you will find these words invaluable. Of
course, you would never use a word just to impress your
interviewer. Knowing the definition behind the word is what
will convince the interviewer that you know what you are
talking about.

The right words can make a big difference in a single
statement - more concise and to the point - more powerful
and impressive. Finding the "key" words will make your
statements more powerful. Speaking the industry lingo will
help you be taken more seriously as a candidate worthy of a
job offer

----------------------------------------------------
Carole Martin is a celebrated author, trainer, and mentor.
Carole can give you interviewing tips like no one else can.
Get a copy of her FREE 9-part "Interview Success Tips"
report by visiting Carole on the web at
http://www.interviewcoach.com

Painting Business - 13 Point Checklist of Essential Tools Needed to Start a Painting Business

Painting Business - 13 Point Checklist of Essential Tools Needed to Start a Painting Business
If you are considering starting a commercial or residential
painting business you will only need some basic low-cost
tools to start with. You can buy other tools as more jobs
come along and with your down payments. Here is a list of
the most essential painting business tools needed to get
you started.

1.) Quality Cage Frame - Also called a paint roller.
Wooster and Purdy both have strong, commercial-use cage
frames sold at most professional paint stores.

2.) Extension Pole - Get yourself a good medium-size
fiberglass extension pole for rolling out walls and
ceilings.

3.) Wall-Sander - I always sand walls and ceilings before I
roll them out. It cleans up cobwebs and anything else that
needs to be knocked down to make the walls and ceilings
smooth.

4.) Roller Bucket - I use Wooster's roller bucket. It is
tall, square and has a lid. It is made out of durable
plastic and balances a lot better than a paint tray and
washes out easy. It's a must have.

5.) Cut-in Bucket - I like to put some paint in a small
plastic bucket for cutting in. There are small 1-gallon
buckets of drywall compound that when empty make a great
cut-bucket plus they have a lid. They will last for years.

6.) Step Ladder - A nice wooden 5-foot step ladder works
great in most homes. If I need a 6-foot ladder I have an
aluminum one for that. Most of the time all I need is my
5-footer and I am only 5'6" so there you go.

7.) 16' Extension Ladder - Great for stairwells or
ranch-style exterior jobs. I use my 16-footer more than any
other size. I also have 20' and a 24' extension ladders,
but i couldn't get by without my little 16-footer.8.) Drop
Cloths - I like using the runner type the most. They are
inexpensive, light to carry and can be moved around the
room easily. I also have 9 x 12's on hand.

9.) Fluorescent Light - Interior painting without a
fluorescent light is nearly impossible, especially on a
cloudy day. Fluorescent light is a nice white light that is
great for painting and shows up the colors in their true
form.

10.) Tool Bucket - An empty 5-gallon bucket makes a great
tool bucket. I keep my pliers, a hammer, razor-blade
knives, a caulk gun, etc., in my tool bucket.

11.) Small Fan - I bought a $30 blower type fan made by
Stanley Tools from Walmart. It dries out walls and ceilings
quickly so you can get back to work cutting in and moving
around the room without it being wet.

12.) Drywall compound - I hate spackle. It flashes under
paint jobs. I get the Sheetrock brand of 90-minute
quick-dry drywall compound at Lowes or some other hardware
store for around $11. It will last me all year long. It is
in powder form and is simple to mix up on the job with
water in a small cut bucket. This way you don't have to
carry a heavey 5-gallon pale around with you that can also
freeze during the wintertime and can get lots of chunks in
it over time.

13.) Caulk Gun - I use painters caulk all the time to fill
gaps between woodwork and walls. Most paint stores have it
on hand. I use the 35-year interior/exterior type.

So there you have it. If you are considering starting your
own painting business and want to know how much it will
cost to get started this list will help you. I would guess
off hand that everything on the list totals around $300. If
you already have a step ladder and even a small extension
ladder, this will cut the cost down some.

----------------------------------------------------
Lee Cusano has owned and operated his own successful
painting business since 1991. He has also helped many
others to start their own painting business with his Paint
Like a Pro Estimating and Advertising CD-ROM.
Lee also offers a free report titled "How To Gain a High
Success Rate For Getting Painting Jobs". To get it go to
http://www.painting-business.com

Share Your Wisdom

Share Your Wisdom
Stop for one moment. I have something important to tell
you. You, my friend, are a star. You have so much to
offer this world. So much wisdom to share. So many gifts
to give others.

So what's stopping you? Maybe you just haven't found a
good outlet for giving back to the world. Or maybe you
think you don't have the time. But isn't finding the time
to do good in the world really, really worth the effort?
Of course!

One way of sharing your gifts, and doing good things in the
world is becoming a mentor. A mentor-mentee relationship
allows you to have a very positive impact on someone else's
life.

Wondering what a mentor does? A mentor acts as an advisor
on a variety of issues. For the purposes of this
discussion, let's assume that you might mentor someone in
the area of your business expertise. You may offer
specific business advice, act as a sounding board and teach
your mentee your secrets to success.

It's an ongoing, personal relationship that can span any
amount of time you like. Typically mentor-mentee
relationships evolve naturally. It's not like you walk up
to someone and say "I am looking for someone to mentor."
Although I guess you could. But usually, your mentor just
appears somehow.

Perhaps you've been mentored in the past and know how much
you gained from the experienced and you'd like to "Pay it
Forward." Great! If you'd like to find someone to mentor,
set your intention now. Simply tell the Universe that you
wish to do this and you'll be surprised how quickly that
person shows up in your life.

Keep your eyes and ears open for clues that you might have
just met your mentee. Your intuition will play a valuable
role in this process, so follow the lead. If you meet
someone you instinctively click with, this might be a good
person to consider as your mentee.

You could look for your mentee through your local trade or
professional association. Attending monthly meetings are a
great way to meet other people in your field.

If you meet someone you think might be a good match, simply
offer to act as a sounding board for them on a particular
topic. And see where that conversation leads. Your
continued offer of support will let them know that you are
willing and able to help them. And if the offer is acted
upon over time, the mentor-mentee relationship starts to
develop.

So share your wisdom. You have so much to give. Giving
back to the world is a wonderful use of your time. And who
knows how the world might repay you for your kindness.

----------------------------------------------------
Kelly L. LeFevre, MSM, and Molly A. Luffy, MBA, authors of
the upcoming book Unleash Your Marketing Karma: How to
Build Your Business by Giving It Away, are Co-Founders of
the Business Building Roundtable. This free virtual
community helps service-based solo/micropreneurs create
powerful strategies and implement innovative techniques to
achieve their ultimate success and satisfaction. To learn
more visit http://www.BusinessBuildingRoundtable.com

6 Things To Be Cautious Of To Avoid Work At Home Scams

6 Things To Be Cautious Of To Avoid Work At Home Scams
The internet is filled with a plethora of business
opportunities, but there is an equal amount of work at home
scams to be cautious of. If not careful, you can quickly
fall for a scam that will have you wasting a lot of time
and even more money. Here are 6 things to be cautious of
when getting into a work at home business.

1. Who are you dealing with?

It is vital that you take the time to research up on the
company you will be dealing with prior to joining. By
knowing how successful they have been in the past and what
kind of success people have had within the company, you can
get a better judgment of how you will fare.

2. Know the details

It is a classic scam to get people to pay before they know
the whole story. You will find many companies giving
potential prospects just enough information to get them to
join. From there, they leave you high and dry because they
got your money. Know the details of what the company is
about and what you will be doing prior to joining anything.

3. Easy money

Perhaps the most popular work at home scam on the internet
is the myth of making money quick and easy. There are so
many MLM programs that claim you can make thousands of
dollars in your first couple of weeks. After two weeks and
little to show for it, most people end up quitting. Be
cautious because there are very few, if any, businesses
that you can make money easily in.

4. Assembly work

This work at home scam involves you investing in money for
equipment and supplies for the business. What you have to
be careful about is getting paid. What happens is you buy
the supplies and do the work only to be fraudulently denied
of your check for the work.

5. Multi-level marketing

Out of all of the work at home scams on the internet, this
is the most perplexing one. The reason for this is because
you can actually have success with MLM businesses if you do
it correctly. It is important that you get involved with a
company that will truly help you recruit others; otherwise
you are stuck on the bottom with no way to make money.

The internet is a giant source of opportunities and the
potential for failure. It is vital that you are cautious
of what you join because of the many work at home scams
that are spread across the internet. Take the tips listed
above seriously and you will be able to better identify a
scam when you see one.

----------------------------------------------------
Westly Lager is a success mentor and coach helping teach
people how to work online. With Westly's experience and
expertise you can't go wrong. See how Westly can help you
today by visiting http://myabunza.org also checkout
http://cruisetocash.org for more tips.

Control Your Print and Copy Costs: A New Idea

Control Your Print and Copy Costs: A New Idea
Have you ever replaced your photocopying equipment before
the end of it's lease agreement and had to include the
settlement figure in your new agreement?

Do you want to break the endless cycle of having to replace
equipment who's useful life for producing the quality and
reliability of output required has expired before the end
of its' finance agreement?

Is this dilemma hampering your ability to rationalise your
expensive desktop colour and black print output to new cost
effective multifunctional devices?

A Progressive Solution: Total Volume Rental Plan

Total Volume Rental Plan (TVRP) is an agreement that
enables easier management of the copying and printing
function of your business and solves the problems outlined
above. What is TVRP? TVRP allows your entire printing and
copying facility to be managed through one agreement.

The agreement is set-up in such a way that it can end when
the machine has achieved its optimum volume rather than the
chronological term of the finance agreement. In other words
match the agreement to your changing requirements not to a
long inflexible lease term!

How does it work?

Your vendor will agree with you the estimated minimum
number of prints/copies you will typically produce on a
quarterly basis. This figure is then used calculate a cost
per print including all equipment and running costs. Any
excess copies produced at the end of a quarter have the
effect of reducing the time left on the agreement. This
allows you to match your equipment life to the demands
placed upon it, and you now have an agreement which can end
earlier than the term over-which the agreement was set.

What are the benefits?

Photocopiers and printers are designed to produce a certain
volume of prints over their commercial lifetime, a TVRP
allows a finance agreement to end when the machine has
achieved that volume, thereby preventing a situation where
a machine that is effectively worn-out has a number of
months or years to run on a leasing agreement. It is a well
known fact that most leasing agreements involving copying
and printing equipment are upgraded before the term of the
finance agreement ends (largely because volumes increase
beyond levels anticipated at the outset). Such upgrades
have the additional cost of re-financing the settlement of
an original leasing agreement, because TVRP can be based on
print volume rather than time, and the agreement can end
when a certain volume of prints has been achieved, the
costs involved in settling leasing agreements can be
reduced or eliminated. Additionally this facility removes
the need for capital outlay or purchase budgets as this
system operates on a matched revenue to usage, particularly
useful for departmental recharging. This facility allows
for easy cost effective replacement of equipment as the
original machine nears the end of its useful life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happens if my print volumes suddenly and
consistently fall below or above that agreed?

A: The terms and conditions of a TVRP agreement allow
regular reviews of print volumes and any correction
required can be easily accommodated.

Q: What happens if for some reason I don't achieve my
agreed volume by the end of the term of hire?

A: The contract will enable you to keep the equipment for a
maximum of one year after the end of the minimum period,
thereby allowing you the time required to complete the
number of copies included within the original contract.

Q: Will my copy costs increase during the term of the
agreement?

A: Because TVRP includes the provision of service, some
increase in cost during the term of a contract might be
required. However any such change is limited to a maximum
increase of 5% per annum in your cost per copy.

----------------------------------------------------
Jimi St. Pierre writes for several Office Equipment
suppliers in the UK, including office systems supplier
Principal Corporation. The Principal Corporation trades
under the slogan "Delivering Genuine Business Benefits" and
their range of office equipment, software and document
management services can be found at =>
http://www.principalcorp.co.uk/

The Greatest Bottleneck in Your MLM Business (and How to Avoid It)

The Greatest Bottleneck in Your MLM Business (and How to Avoid It)
Let's face it. In the traditional prospecting equation
there's always one major bottle neck...YOU.

No matter how good you are at prospecting and recruiting
for your business or how bad you are at it (and I've been
there before), your personal results are always tied to how
many prospects you speak with and how many people you sign
up and how many times you made an exposure that day.

Unfortunately, most companies only teach you the
"traditional" way which relies on still, to some degree,
trading time for results.

True, you have duplication in your team — and that's
always something to be put in place — but you should
not be relying on your team to provide all of your profits.
It's always dangerous to put your income 100% in the hands
of someone else, regardless of what industry or business
you're in.

That's why for years, I've been teaching direct
response-based prospecting strategies that put you in the
driver's seat. Strategies that allow you to truly leverage
and profit from the work that you do just one time (read:
autopilot).

With solid marketing techniques like sales letters and good
copywriting, you remove yourself from the equation. You can
ratchet up your leads, prospects, recruits and sales
practically anytime you want.

Copywriting is hands-down the most critical marketing skill
you'll ever learn. It's a powerful, powerful skill.

And once you master it, you can literally write your own
ticket. (Personally, I've sold well over a million dollars
in just the last few years alone with sales copy.)

Another reason copy is important for you and your business
is because 99% of the companies out there provide crappy
copy and marketing pieces. All of their tools focus on
pretty, flashy presentations. Their websites have 17
different things on it that aren't focused and confuse your
prospects. And the tools are just all over the place
because they're not focused on *good* copywriting, which is
essentially good salesmanship.

So what's the most important thing copywriting gives you?

In a word, leverage.

Now let's think about it. A sales letter is the most
powerful master prospector you could ever hire. For about
the price of a cup of coffee (or really just the cost of
turning on your computer if you're using email and doing it
online), it will relentlessly go out and deliver your
message perfectly every time.

It's never going to call in sick. It's never going to
complain. It will never quit on you or go into the witness
protection program like a lot of people in downlines like
to do.

Simply put, a powerful sales letter is like having a little
automatic money-making robot working for you tirelessly,
day and night, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Plus, there's no rejection. You don't ever have to feel
silly or dumb because sales letters will go out and
recruit, sell and do all the talking for you 24 hours a day.

And a good piece of copy is specifically designed to
uncover the exact people that are interested in your
prospects, your services, your opportunity. You're never
going to have to talk to anyone who's not interested again.

In fact, when someone says "no" to your copywriting, you
don't have to ever know that; they didn't say "no" to your
face. You weren't even talking to them because the sales
copy was doing the work! (Wouldn't you rather talk to hot
interested prospects who all called you and raised their
hands, instead of dealing with time-wasters?)

Plus, using copy puts you back in the driver's seat.

It's important for everybody to know that you don't own
anything in network marketing. You're basically still
working for another company, just on your own terms and
schedule...

You don't own the company, you don't own the downline, you
don't own the marketing materials, you don't own the
products, you don't own the services, you don't own the
websites, you don't have any assets at the end of the day,
so if something happens, you don't have any wealth building
assets under your control.

So it's important that you have marketing pieces and
marketing systems to deliver prospects to you that are
under your control (like copywriting does) because that's
when your wealth and your income become stable.

If your company disappears tomorrow or the FCC doesn't like
their marketing or God forbid some Jack Bauer 24-style
moment happens to you and you can't go out and prospect
anymore...if you have systems like this in place, then
you're going to be in a position that's much more powerful
and much more stable.

Now if you're skeptical about this working in your
business, here's your answer: You would not be here right
now reading this if sales copy did not work. Truth be told,
everything that you saw to get you to this point right now
was all good copywriting online.

And when you start using this tool in your network
marketing business, prospects will literally start raising
their hands, wanting what you have...without you even being
there!

----------------------------------------------------
Chris Zavadowski, 2007's Network Marketing Coach of the
Year, has gained top recognition online for his unique ways
of growing businesses with the Internet! He's taught
thousands his successful ways of working online and
leveraging their efforts. Chris creates breakthrough online
network marketing tools, and more details (including a
totally FREE "how to" training course) can by found at:
http://www.InstantMLMSalesLetters.com

The Many Uses Of A Red Poly Tarpaulin

The Many Uses Of A Red Poly Tarpaulin
If you are looking for a protective tool that is versatile
and reasonably priced, you may want to consider purchasing
a tarp. Tarps are wonderful tools to have around for
protecting belongings, gardens, and even homes. There are a
variety of great uses that tarps can be used for, including
for home improvement, outdoor protection, and landscaping
needs as well. You will find that tarps come in a variety
of different colors; however, one of the most popular
colored tarps are the red tarps.

Many Great Colors Available When it comes to tarps, there
are a variety of different colors available that you can
choose from. You can choose from blue tarps, white tarps,
tarps that are clear, yellow tarps, camouflage tarps, brown
tarps, orange tarps, green tarps, and even red tarps. Many
of the different colored tarps come in different grades as
well. Heavy duty tarps come in the colors of red, green,
yellow, and orange, for those special heavy duty needs that
you may have.

Great Uses for Red Tarps There are a variety of different
reasons that red tarps are so popular today. If you are
considering red tarps, the following are a few great uses
that these tarps can be used for.

- Heavy Duty Jobs - One great use for red tarps is for
heavy duty jobs. If you need a tarp that will keep the wind
and rain from getting to your supplies, red heavy duty
tarps can definitely do the job for you. They can help you
support heavy loads, and they can help to shield materials,
tools, as well as equipment as well. When you go with the
heavy duty red tarps, you'll find that they have special
corner reinforcement as well as grommets that are spaced
only 18 inches apart.

- Great for Christmas - Red tarps are very popular around
the Christmas season as well, especially because of the
bright and festive color. If you need a tarp around the
Christmas season that will portray the feeling and
festivity of the season, a red tarp is an excellent idea.
They are great to put down in your yard when you are
decorating to keep your decorations off the ground.

- Mark Areas for Safety - Another excellent use for red
tarps is to help mark areas for safety. There may be some
important areas that need to be marked off for safety
reasons, and a red tarp can help you do this. Red really
stands out so it is sure to catch your eye and keep you
from danger.

As you can see, there are a variety of excellent uses for
red tarps, and no doubt you can come up with even more uses
on your own. If you need a tarp for the Christmas season,
something to mark areas for safety, or something that will
do a heavy duty job for you, then a red tarp will be an
excellent choice.

There are a variety of places that you can find red tarps,
and one of the best places to get a deal on a tarp that is
red is online. You'll find that online stores can provide
you with the red tarps you are looking for and they will
offer you a price that is affordable as well. So, for all
your tarp needs, consider going with red tarps.

----------------------------------------------------
Tarp expert Robert Page has worked in the Tarps industry
for over twenty years and has therefore built up a
considerable amount of experience in the tarpaulin
industry.Robert can be contacted on 239 643 0877 or email
bob@tarpaflex.com http://www.tarpaflex,com

Communication

Communication
One of the rather siginificant issues in efficiency is
business communication. In particular I am interested in
360-Degree feedback, speak-out programs and improvement
contests.

360-degree feedback refers to the process of collecting
information and evaluation from all relevant parties
concerning a particular individuals' performance, which may
include superiors, coworkers, and team members. Personally,
I have a serious problem with this kind of feedback. In my
experience and opinion, it is a great mistake to ask equals
or coworkers for feedback: such feedback is naturally
biased. In either case, the feedback can hardly be neutral
due to factors such as consequences or rivalry. I believe
that feedback should be obtained by neutral superiors which
are only interested in objective evaluation that may lead
to improvement. Otherwise, it may create a hostile work
environment.

Speak out program is referred to the process of collection
and evaluation of employee input in decision making. This
particular process will enable the employees to contribute
to the firms' decision making by taking advantage of the
knowledge of front line workers. I certainly have a
positive experience with this sort of input: mid and upper
management are usually far away from day to day process and
flaws of daily tasks. The most reliable input is from those
that actually have to deal with customers and clients.
Thus, their input is more accurate and can be invaluable to
streamlining and higher profits. Naturally the information
and input has to be evaluated for neutrality: this can be
easily achieved by cross referencing several employees'
information.

Improvement contest refers to competitive evaluation of
implemented improvement actions, whereby internal
assessment mechanisms decide on the validity and value of
each contestant group. Personally I have not yet witnessed
a successful implementation of such process. I believe that
such contest would be contradictory to clan culture of team
work and success: since by definition, improvement contests
are the evaluation of team efforts, it is contradictory to
recognition of individual efforts. I realize that team work
and team efforts are invaluable to success of most
companies, however, since the basic building block of a
team, is its individual members, I would suggest that
personal and individual efforts should be recognized first.
Thus, I believe that a successful improvement contest has
to recognize the individual efforts as well as group
efforts.

Ultimately, all three of these concepts are tools of
communication which are meant to increase the efficiency
and effectiveness of corporate productivity. It is vital to
analyze all of them in context of individual setting and
individual corporate culture. Any selected process or
combination of procedures has to be chosen and optimized
based on predictive advantages within particular industry,
and clan culture.

----------------------------------------------------
Communication
http://www.totalqualityassuranceservice.com/

Is e-commerce for me?

Is e-commerce for me?
Small businesses run up against the same obstacles on the
market as big corporations. They also have to respond
quickly to any changes and meet the clients' needs. Big
firms can afford expensive promotion and media advertising.
For small enterprises e-commerce is nowadays an important
development factor. .

One report announced that, according to research carried
out in September, an average Briton had spent around 250
pounds on the Internet while the average of all countries
polled amounted to 123 pounds. In the USA each consumer
spent on shopping the equivalent of 119 pounds. Another
good news is, this year more people decide to shop online
compared with last year. Shopping is obviously one of the
possible options of running business online.

Product

How to recognize if it is the right time to start online
activity, too? To find out what goods and services are most
frequently offered via the Internet and which are not it
will suffice to look through the websites of firms and
shops. Selling on the Web has its advantages and
limitations. There is nothing new about mail-order sales or
remote-order service. The advantage is that firms using the
Internet carry out their activity at a low cost. A
mail-order bookstore does not have to incur lease related
costs of a well situated establishment, neither does it
employ staff. A warehouse, if needed, can be located a long
way from the city centre, where space related costs are
low. You can reach clients from remote areas or even from
abroad. As in almost every mail-order system, shipping
costs constitute a problem, though. Furthermore, some goods
are only advertised rather than sold directly via the
Internet, like for instance cars, complex equipment, and
machinery. It is also difficult to sell online the goods
covered by regulation, e.g. black powder guns. Some
chemicals or services including direct contact with the
client (massage therapist, plumber and the like) constitute
a problem as well. In this case the Internet will remain
only a form of advertising, unfortunately, not so efficient
as local press since you should not expect someone to come
from the far end of the country to buy goods. Certainly it
is always worth having a website, although you cannot
expect miracles of it.

Taking attractiveness to potential clients into
consideration, one can divide online goods and services
into two groups. The first one includes these elements
which have to compete in terms of price and product range
with the offer of traditional stores. The other covers rare
goods, not that easily accessible, unique, and intended for
a special consumer. Here online sales has a great potential.

Do your customers use the Internet?

It is worth wondering who buys my products and uses my
services. Naturally, the majority of people who buy
software, computers, and electronic gadgets of all kinds
are the potential Internet users, whereas goods for the old
may not sell well this way. The same will apply for local
market goods. You can always try to expand the target group
of consumers by offering also online shopping; however, you
should consider the costs that are worth incurring in this
case, including both direct ones and labour related ones
(updating, introducing new products and the like).

The services that do not require direct contact with the
customer are also recommended for online selling, as in
case of tourist or financial services,. There is no need to
send any products here but for the confirmation of signing
the contract via traditional mail. It is worth paying
attention to developing services, such as e-consultancy,
e-training and the like.

Among frequently bought items are also printer
accessories,, basic office equipment, or vacuum paper bags.
They can be bought in many places, nevertheless, in an
online shop a wide range of products are available round
the clock. What is more, the shops which "remember" what
their customers bought facilitate further shopping.

We launch e-commerce

Each new way of selling is a challenge for a firm. It is
reliability that matters to the client. It is unacceptable
that when an order via the Internet is received, there is
no assigned person who is going accept it and prepare goods
for shipment. First, you should consider the outsourcing of
running the website and shop. If you decide to have your
own website, it is worth using the services of an expert
agency, whose specialists will support us with drawing up a
marketing plan or advertising and preparing the visual site
identification and competition analysis. A correctly built
online shop should as well be able to handle such problems
as: how to facilitate the process of placing an order for
customers and how to prevent the phenomenon of abandoned
shopping carts.

The websites of firms which begin their Internet adventure
contain the elements that can negatively influence the way
companies run their business. For instance, such firms
boast about the producers and distributors they cooperate
with by putting names on a site as well as links to their
websites. Taking a small company starting its business into
account, we show the potential customer where to look for
the item which they are interested in (our offer may not
prove to be the best).

Good websites certainly bring measurable benefits to firms.
They reduce advertising and promotion costs, broaden the
group of potential customers, create communities of loyal
clients and support brand-building. It would be a pity to
give them up.

----------------------------------------------------
This article was translated by mLingua Worldwide
Translations, Ltd. mLingua provides professional language
translations in all major Western and Asian languages,
software localization and web site translation services.
Please visit http://mlingua.pl

Closing The Sale is the Tipping Point

Closing The Sale is the Tipping Point
Thank you author Malcolm Gladwell, for your exciting,
revolutionary, perceptive and timely book, "The Tipping
Point." His identification and description of the process
that defines so many procedures in society has almost
become generic, commonly used, a household term, repeated
frequently everywhere. Although Gladwell did not publish
this unique book as a selling manual, "The Tipping Point"
is a legitimate phrase, quite accurately utilized in
describing part of the selling process.

Think about each of the items that comprise the selling
process: Prospecting, identification, research,
questioning, presentation, handling objections and closing.
Each part of the process is necessary for the success of
the next. Each component is critical to the sales process
yet all are useless unless an attempt to close the sale is
made. If you have read this ground-breaking and popular
book, you will easily identify the closing component as the
aspect of the selling process known as the "Tipping Point,"
the point at which all of your efforts before it suddenly
yield a mutually satisfying conclusion. In this case, the
sale is made!

As a salesperson, whether a professional or not, do not
allow the stigma so often associated with closing sales to
stop you cold. You will know when you achieve the rank of
"professional" when you deeply understand this simple
proclamation: Too many salespeople succumb to the
complexity and awe associated with the "science of
closing." Learn to think of the close as simply the
"Tipping Point" in the selling process. Perhaps this idea
will remove some of the pressure so many salespeople
experience while considering closing.

Remember that selling is actually the process of simply
helping your prospect to buy. The job of the salesperson is
to help clarify their need and expertly offer a product or
service that meets or exceeds that uncovered need. Since
many people do not like to make decisions, your job is
simply to help them decide that by purchasing from you,
their needs are met in a most satisfying manner. They must
clearly see that the value they get from your product or
service far exceeds the money that they will spend in
acquiring it. At this point, the "Tipping Point" occurs and
everyone gets what they want.

Professional salespeople know that that they add unique,
considerable value to their products and services
eventually bound for the prospective customer. They
understand that "The Tipping Pont" is the point of decision
in every sale where everyone wins! This is the critical
point of understanding that builds their income.

Remember, closing is simply "asking for the order," nothing
more. Do not be intimidated by the very thought of closing.
Closing the sale is simply a logical step in the natural
progression of the sales process. It is the "Tipping
Point," where you realize the full return on your selling
efforts. Go get 'em!

----------------------------------------------------
Daniel Sitter, author of both Learning For Profit and
Superior Selling Skills Mastery, has garnered extensive
experience in sales, training, marketing and personal
development over a successful twenty-six year sales career.
http://www.superiorsellingskills.com
Visit his resourceful blog at http://www.idea-sellers.com