One's career should have nothing in common with a dead battery. In fact, job security alone will not make someone happy. Satisfaction on the job comes when one is making a difference in what he or she particularly wants to do. How many times all of us have have had to do menial tasks that got us no where? To combat the dead battery prognosis, it is important to revitalize one's career.

It is not about what one is doing, it is about what he or she wants to do. It is possible to learn new skills for career advancement outside of work. It is possible. There are a variety of seminars, community resources, and the internet to help accomplish learning new skills. There are continuous advancements in most fields from hospitality to physics. There is no reason to let one's skills become antiquated, just because a job or the current state of a career does not require them. Going the extra mile does not have to take up a lot of time. In fact, it is possible to expand a skill set on any calendar. Moving forward with one's career does not mean waiting for opportunities to come at a current job. Taking charge of one's skill set is beneficial for the present, as well as the future.

Revitalizing one's career involves being active in one's needs. Focusing on new skills and present competencies will make one more satisfied with his or her performance. Furthermore, going the extra mile will give a major sense of accomplishment. All of a sudden there will be less stress during weekends and holidays. Many of the petty pet peeves will dissolve. Bringing work into a better focus does not mean transforming into a workaholic, or cancelling all dates and outings. It is a matter of gaining the needed skills to do work smarter.

Apart from accomplishing tasks and gaining skills, there is a social aspect to revitalizing a career. There is the assurance that the process is not a session of studying at the library in a lonely corner, or gazing at the computer until everything else looks square. For many who want to advance their careers, it about knowing people who can recommend one or two things. Revitalization is a social process, even in something as personal as one's career.

If one is still not convinced, the bottom line should surely give a wakeup call. Most people do not work in their area of study from university. The majority of the population are not fortune-tellers, and cannot predict the future. The most practical thing one can do is to move his or her career in the desired direction through gaining new skills more pertinent to a desirable career area. This means that the bonuses and raises will keep coming. It will mean that the amount of opportunities will increase. Since advancing one's career often means higher earnings, and being satisfied with one's efforts is rewarding, the combination is the best of both worlds.

By Rob W. Colbourn

Personal training is a great option for someone seeking to stay physically active and to help improve the lives of other people. Personal trainers have flexible schedules and a lot of freedom. Working with individuals or larger groups of people are both potential scenarios a trainer might encounter.

While many positions a personal trainer receives provide part time hours, many are able to achieve a full-time work schedule by offering their services to different health centers or gyms in their area. It is important to seek certification prior to seeking employment, as most facilities will require their trainers to possess certification.

For people seeking job security in a growing industry, becoming a personal trainer is a great option. The demand for these professionals is anticipated to increase by 30 percent by the year 2020. Income depends on a variety of factors such as location, experience, level of education, and what are you have chosen to specialize in. On average, personal trainers can earn about $18 an hour, or about $37,000 a year.

You might find a personal trainer in a health club, hospital, yoga studio, or any other facility that offers opportunities for exercise. Trainers may be requested to go to an individual client's home to assist him or her in exercising. The main goal of this individual is to inspire clients with leadership, by offering effective instruction.

As a personal trainer, you may work personally with one to three clients, depending on the situation. Helping clients realize their current level of fitness and overall health is essential to effectively offering them methods for maintaining or improving upon their current condition. Teaching various techniques and demonstrating the correct way to perform exercises is important to safely guide clients and prevent injury while reaching goals. A trainer will not be with his or her clients all of the time, which is why a trainer may make healthy recommendations for time outside of sessions in regards to eating habits or exercise.

If, as a personal trainer, you choose to strive for a director or supervising position, you may be spending most of your time in an office rather than on the gym floor. Being a fitness director or supervisor will still enable you to enhance the life of clients, but will also increase your earning potential and change the setting of your work environment to an office.

A trainer benefits from the flexibility of his or her schedule, but should also allow room for flexibility. This is because exercise facilities are often open long hours to accommodate the schedules of people who work full-time. Personal trainers may find themselves working late into the evening or very early in the morning.

Becoming a personal trainer is an affordable endeavor that offers fair compensation and opportunities to advance within the field. More people are realizing the importance of staying physically fit, and that is why these professionals are finding increased employment opportunities. Living an active lifestyle and helping others to do the same is the keystone of a trainer's lifestyle, and the ideal candidate for this position will have a passion for both. Finding a job in this profession is expected to become easier due to more people wanting to become fit and healthy. If you think this profession is for you, consider South Florida careers, where the climate is nice and you can potentially train your clients outdoors.

By Daniel Still

Being a freelance bookkeeper isn't just about the numbers. It sure would be easier if that were the case. Then you could peacefully crunch number and get your work done in record time.

But being a freelance bookkeeper is mainly about building relationships with your clients. And especially in the beginning of these relationships, there's going to be a lot of what I call babysitting. You have to teach them how to treat you - what's acceptable behavior. In the process you're teaching them how you're going to work together.

But what do you do when it things get way out of hand?

In a recent Q & A call with members of my Bookkeeper's Club we talked about new clients that are difficult to work with. We talked about how to handle it when you're getting calls from 3 or 4 people within one company besides the one who hired you. And what if they're all giving you different stories, or maybe it's the same story told many different ways?

As with good physical health, there are also two ways of solving problems in a difficult client relationship when you're a freelance bookkeeper:

1. The best medicine is preventative.

Everyone knows if you have a lifelong pattern of healthful eating and exercise you can ward off many diseases. It's the same with bookkeeping problems. If you have written policies that address possible problems upfront, and you communicate these clearly to your client, you can prevent a lot of problems.

So the first thing you'll want to do is examine your own policy. Clearly define to yourself what you feel is acceptable. From the beginning you need to set office hours for answering calls and firmly stick to that policy. You need to put parameters around not only the times you answer calls but also from whom you'll receive calls.

Next, you need a clear way of communicating this policy to your clients. An excellent way to do this is to incorporate this policy into your handbook that you review with your prospective client. It's not enough to hand them your book. You should also verbally go over it with them.

2. Remedy the problem with the most effective, yet gentle, solution available.

You don't want to ignore the problem, hoping it will go away. More often than not it will just get worse. You also don't want to overreact and amputate that relationship if it can be saved and strengthened with the proper supports.

Maybe the problem started because you didn't have a clear policy of communication, or didn't firmly stick to it because of the emotions attached to the situation. If that's the case, acknowledge it and do what you can to fix it.

Go back to the one who hired you and say: "In order for us to have a good working relationship, it's really difficult for me to be fielding all of these phone calls. We need to have one point of contact. Do you feel comfortable meeting with everyone to share information once I hand you the results of my work?" Then I would recommend that you incorporate a weekly meeting into your service offerings.

Good communication is what will keep both you and your client from stressing out. Giving in and not sticking to your policies will only make the situation worse. It can be hard to stick to your guns, but it's vital in order to keep your client relationships healthy.

Do you have a thorny and perplexing bookkeeping problem that you're not sure how to handle? Join us at the Bookkeeper's Club where we, as a group of professional freelance bookkeepers, freely discuss real solutions to real problems we all face.

Linda Hunt is the small business money mentor who understands the spiritual power and soul behind money and its effects on the business and the person running the business. Having run and sold a successful six-figure freelance accounting and bookkeeping practice for 11 years, Linda now works with other freelance bookkeepers who struggle with their cash flow, how to market their freelance practice, price their services based on value and teaches them how to build and sustain a profitable freelance practice. Are you ready to learn marketing strategies that work? Join Linda on a FREE webinar for bookkeepers - "Lead Generating Strategies that KEEP Your Pipeline Full" by visiting: http://www.sumsolutions.com/free-webinar-lead-generating-strategies/

The new job numbers that were just released showing zero growth are believed by many to spell the beginning of a new second dip in the economy. Don't panic! This could be a great opportunity for you to grow your business and come out on top.

Surviving Another Economic Downturn

The good news is that you can see it coming and you can prepare. Keep a healthy amount of reserves for striking on hot opportunities and running a marketing blitz as the smoke clears. Those of your competitors who are not ready or who are stretched too thin will fold and be restricted from taking advantage of the situation or being able to adapt.

Make sure that you have a fully scalable business model and systems in place. This way if you need to you can pull back without crippling your enterprise or sacrificing quality. At the same time it positions your enterprise to build up again quickly to assimilate a surge in new orders with minimal effort and without a big investment.

Streamline every area of your business you can now while you have time. Move to cloud computing solutions for data storage and collaboration so that you can easily replace staff with less expensive ones and utilize outsourcing to remain competitive.

Look at opportunities for expanding your service area now to make up for a loss in available market share and business volume. If you are not, should you go nationwide? If you are already national, what foreign countries can you target which are in a healthier financial position and where people still have plenty of disposable income to spend or invest on what you are offering? Can you offer your product in a different language, or if English is fine then are there different keywords and copy you should be using in your marketing and on your website so that they will find you and want to do business with you?

Capitalizing On A Downturn

Anticipate where the gaps in market share will appear and where you can move in and scoop it up. As your competition falls by the wayside marketing will become cheaper and you will see it making a bigger impact. So do not pull back in these times but be ready to surge forward.

Have the manpower, plan and structure in place to launch a social media blitz for fastest delivery and the most cost effective campaigns. Take the time to expand and polish your profiles now and load up with content.

Perhaps most importantly stay agile. Things can change quickly when the economy dips. Government looks for people to blame and new ways to regulate and tighten things up. Where is this likely to happen in your industry and how can you stay a step ahead?

Finally use the opportunity for mass brand awareness that will concrete your organization as the major player in your niche and don't be afraid to go after deals with your competitors strategic partners and vendors as well as to pick up the best talent at great discounts.

Chuck Boyce is known as the Independent Executive. After achieving success quickly in the corporate world he decided to step off of the corporate ladder and make his business work for him. He is now dedicated to helping other entrepreneurs and business owners achieve the Independent Executive Lifestyle by creating business with a purpose, passion and plan. Find out more by visiting his site at http://www.breakingfreeblog.com

By Chuck Boyce

This year's hurricane season is far from over. There may be little you can do to stop a hurricane from barreling down on your home town but there is a lot you can do to not only protect your business but to capitalize on the situation as well.

You will find many resources on preparing your home and protecting your brick and mortar office from damage as well as filing insurance claims after the fact, but what about really protecting your income and business continuity?

You can rebuild homes and repair your office if you have money coming in but if your business isn't set up right you could see your income cut off overnight and months of marketing wasted. Can your business survive this? Even if it could, what will be left? It will be a long upward struggle to come back after that.

Isn't it wiser to just be prepared and perhaps even be able to turn a hurricane in to an incredible opportunity to advance your business? Start by ensuring that your business can stay connected and operating no matter what disaster strikes you. This means toll free numbers and Internet phone services which can easily be re-routed and forwarded so that your staff can stay connected remotely and keep the wheels moving. Similarly you need to ensure that files and crucial data is available via the Internet cloud so that you don't lose any work or deals in progress.

Once you have secured your business continuity, take the lead. What unique marketing opportunities can your organization capitalize on as a hurricane approaches? What about in the aftermath of a hurricane? How can you help your community and promote your business at the same time? Think branded hurricane supplies, bringing in essential food and water and helping to provide connectivity for those trying to connect with loved ones and family members in the chaos. Host community BBQs, raise donations and take the time to get in some serious face to face networking opportunities.

While you should help others just because they need it, don't overlook the chance to get free press, shout that you are still in business and scoop up your competition's leads and customers as they go un-served. Even though they may be disguised as impossible situations, hurricanes can mean incredible opportunities for your business. You just need a little creativity to see them and to still be operating so that you can execute your strategies.

Chuck Boyce is known as the Independent Executive. After achieving success quickly in the corporate world he decided to step off of the corporate ladder and make his business work for him. He is now dedicated to helping other entrepreneurs and business owners achieve the Independent Executive Lifestyle by creating business with a purpose, passion and plan. Find out more by visiting his site at http://www.breakingfreeblog.com

By Chuck Boyce

For any types of business, planning is really necessary. This is why when you are going to start a new business; you need to have a solid and reliable business plan. This is something that every business should not exist without because this is critical in making a business successful. It should contain all the necessary information like funding, market information and many more. However, a business plan may also fail. This happens when the plan is not well thought of or if it does not fit well to the nature of your business. But aside from this, there are some other reasons why a business plan fails.

Overestimating is the first reason why your business plan may fail. In the process of creating a plan, you are required to some estimation but this does not mean that you have to overestimate. You have to be realistic because estimating too high is dangerous for your business. Never overestimate on how far your funds will go or how fast you will be able to gain a huge amount of profit. In relation to overestimating, you should not overspend as well. Do not force your business to grow very fast in a short period of time because this is a big mistake. Do not rush everything when running your business.

On the other hand, the location of your business may also cause your business plan and your business to fail. Other people may not realize this but the location is very important for a business to experience growth and development. Your potential customers will not know that your business exists if it is located in an isolated or remote area. Thus, a good and accessible location should be stated on your plan. Then you have to carefully consider the actual location to prevent this from becoming the main reason of your failure.

Insufficient funds and insufficient knowledge about the market can also result to failure. Evidently, if you do not have enough money to run your business, your plan will most likely fail. If you want your business to operate properly and gain profit, you should make sure that you have the right amount of capital. Moreover, insufficient knowledge or information about the market can also cause failure because your business plan will not fit to what your business really needs, you will not know the real market condition and the competition. This means that there is big possibility that your business will not be able to keep up with the tight competition.

So if you do not want your business to become a failure and put everything that you have worked on to waste, you should be very careful on what are the things that your business plan should contain. Spend some time to research on the important information about your business, the market and your competitors. And make sure that everything that is written on your plan is appropriate for your business.

By Mabel Miles

Over deliver is a phrase that's turning up in more business, sales and marketing books. More companies continue looking for ways to gain a competitive edge in this new economy. So, with shrinking sales and heavier competition, this word is on the lips of more companies.

The over deliver philosophy grows more effective in a time when more companies and agencies scramble for ways to cut, draw and scale back. This powerful philosophy also reigns as the secret weapon smaller companies use to level the playing field with larger competitors.

Many smaller companies have discovered finding ways to over deliver can work effectively against larger competition. For example the ones too large, impersonal and inflexible to offer the personalized service they can.

Once upon a time if you had a good product or service people would keep their loyalty to the same company for years. But in today's competitive market place people's loyalties continue to grow toward companies who over deliver.

As valuable as this trait is, it still amazes me how few companies have even heard of it much less excel at it. This small over sight can act as your open door or silver platter opportunity if you know how to take advantage of it. Keep reading and you'll discover how with specific steps.

The ability to over deliver made companies like Nordrom's, Netflix, and Southwest Airlines famous. And they did it despite competing against much larger competitors. It's what put them on the map and what brings people back to them. And they do it even though they offer the same or similar physical products as their competitors.

That's how powerful over delivering can be to your company, your profits and yourself. To spark your imagination here's 5 powerful ways to apply the over deliver principle to your business, goals or your life.

1. Find Out What Your Competitors Don't Like to Do and Start Doing It.

This is one of the fastest ways to make yourself or your company stand out from the crowd. It simply involves researching your competitors and finding out what they don't like to do.

For example, if competitors are closed on weekends - can you open? Competitors don't do home deliveries - can you? Competitors don't take online orders - can you?

See my point?

2. Focus on Improving in Areas Where Your Competitions are Ignoring or Slipping Up On.

Most companies, even the large ones, often ignore, overlook, even drop the ball concerning customer service. That's why staying alert to your competition can pay handsome dividends. When you find that area where your competition is dropping the ball focus on doing it better?

3. Find Out What Your Target Customers Want More of and Give It to Them.

This is one of the most fool proof ways to use the over deliver principle. It's a powerful 3 letter word that could open a flood gate of sales. The 3 letter word... Ask! Whether you do it through surveys, polls or face to face, ask your target customers what they would like more of and give it to them.

It would surprise you how far this simple action will place you ahead of most of your competitors. Why? Because so few companies or people ask. For example, of all the places you spend your money at - how many have asked you what you would like more of? See my point?

4. Give More in Use Value Than You Ask for in Money.

This is the core to the over deliver principle. Making sure you give more in use value than you're asking a prospect or customer to give you in money.

And remember it's not just enough to give it. Make sure they see, recognize and understand the extra value given. Because it does little good to give an extra widget to someone who doesn't understand the value of a widget.

5. Do More "Unexpected, Didn't Have to Do It... or You Shouldn't Have" Gestures.

Simple gestures can cost little or no money but can pay huge rewards. This is the age of account numbers, passwords and usernames. So, taking the time to remember a name, birthday, or special occasion can work wonders in building customer loyalty.

Taking the time to do something unexpected sticks in a customer's mind. Doing something you didn't have to do impresses people. And performing a you shouldn't have gesture can make people feel a sense of obligation to you to return the favor.

Let these tips help spark your imagination. As you use them you'll find yourself coming up with your own ideas for over delivering to your prospects and customers. To your success.

By Roy Primm

As someone who's been a victim of Chinese counterfeiters, I'm one person who wishes the Chinese were more creative and not just copycats. But it wasn't always like that. One of the most important innovations in history came from China. Ts'ai Lun, the inventor of paper is considered to be one the top ten most influential people in history. It's hard to even imagine a world without paper. Before paper, most books were made of bamboo, which made them quite heavy to carry around. There were a few books written on silk, but only the wealthy could afford them. Papyrus was used in the Western world, which was more advanced than China. But after the invention of paper China became one of the most civilizations on earth. This continued for seven or eight centuries. Other inventions, such as gunpowder and the compass pushed them even higher up the scale.

But these days creativity in China has been replaced by a rote system of learning. Chinese children are good at memorizing, reciting, and repetition, but not when it comes to using their imagination. The "gao kao" test hangs over the heads of all high school students like a cloud. It's a grueling, stressful test that high school students must take to get into college. But it's much more than that. It basically determines what path they will take in life, what college they get into, what kind of job they'll get, who they marry, and how much money they'll make. No pressure there, huh?

This is one reason Chinese students are programmed from an early age to memorize answers instead of working on problem solving and coming up with their own solution. Parents and teachers spoon feed them answers and they parrot them back. There is so much riding on this one test that there is no room at all for creativity.

But the Chinese do understand that in order to compete in a global economy they'll have to do more than just repeat lines. At the same time it's hard to convince people in a strict, formal educational system that play is just as valuable as study. In order to be creative you have to step outside your comfort zone and be willing to fail. That is a very hard pill to swallow when you've spent your whole young life avoiding it at all costs. Decades of doing things one way and doing it so strictly makes change uncomfortable. But China will eventually get to the point where they will either have to change or be left behind by innovation.

Julie Austin is an award-winning writer, inventor & multiple business owner. She's a "go-to" media expert in the fields of innovation & creativity. http://www.creativeinnovationgroup.com

By Julie L Austin

Are you wondering if Usana is a good company to get involved with? This is a neutral review as I am not connected with this company in any way.

Usana, Who Are They?

They sell health and nutrition products, founded in 1992 by Myron Wentz Ph.d who is well known as a microbiologist, immunologist and pioneer of human cell culture technology and infectious disease diagnoses.

Having one of the most proven track records in the industry, Usana have also improved their reputation by contributing to important charities, the most notable being The Children's Hunger Fund. Many under nourished children have been helped by Usanas $8 million worth of donations over the years.

Usana carry a range of highly respected nutritional supplements, foods and personal skin & hair care products. If you take the time to look at their corporate company website, I'm sure you will be impressed with just how many products they actually have!

What's the pay plan?

Usana are one of the most generous when it comes to payout, 45 cents of each dollar they put back into the network to be paid out in commissions. The commission structure is a binary. I'm not a massive fan of binaries, but they can be very lucrative if built right. It's worth taking some time to learn about them if you are not familiar. The potential of spillover payments is often used as an angle to urge people to sign up sooner rather than later, the impression of being able to make fast easy money is given. To qualify for spillovers, usually both your left and right organization must be balanced, obviously this won't happen if you are not recruiting anybody.

Will I actually make any money from Usana?

Well you can certainly make some money with this company, their small print says that the average established, full time associate makes around $85,000 per year, which is a handsome salary by anyone's standard. My experience in MLM has taught me that it's often more challenging to build a downline in a company that's been around for as long time. You should also bear in mind that the market is already heavily populated with many companies selling health and nutritional products.

However Usana have a solid history of success and respect within the industry. Its a safe bet that will be around for a long time.

Over time people become more immune to network marketing companies selling the latest nutritional solutions and using attraction marketing will be essential to success.

Such companies and distributors market very aggressively the latest pill or weight loss product. By learning to cut through the marketing noise and customer resistance you can have a lot of success with this company.

Many have testified to the fact that the products are very good, although I have not used them myself, but this Usana review shows they are a good company.

By Alice Debricey

The following are some of the areas one can work on in order to succeed in any businesses venture.

1. Be disciplined - This is one of the instances when discipline really makes a huge impact on one's business venture. It is not only about hard work though. One should also observe discipline when handling finances and other resources invested for the setup and actual operation of a business.

2. Take risks - The business world is a risky place to be. This is something everyone knows and is also the main reason why not all people are ready to get into an industry. It takes a lot of courage and determination to start up any endeavor, and one should know that businesses can go up one day and down the next day. It is not something suited for the fainthearted.

3. Create social networks - Businesses are linked to each other. One has to develop good relationships with different kinds of people from different parts of the market in order for success. There are the suppliers, customers and sometimes the shareholders to consider. A good working relationship with these people plays a significant part in how successful one can be.

4. Stay focused - The ability to concentrate on one's goals is very important as well. This keeps all details organized and working towards the accomplishment of a single thing. One should learn to tune out all possible noises and distractions, physical and otherwise. These include the worst destructive noises that come from one's own heart such as fear and self-doubt, which can be highly debilitating.

5. Never give up - There is never any assurance of complete success at the very first shot. Hence, one should persevere and continuously work toward a goal despite any failures that stand in the way. One should maintain a mindset that is persistent despite failures instead of simply giving up. Mistakes happen; not to break someone down, but to make him or her learn and improve next time.

6. Be open to all possibilities - One of the highly limiting characteristics of some people is how they tend to close in on their ideas about the world. There are different probabilities and chances in the world, and someone who is able to utilize such potentials is surely going to go a long way.

These are just some of the areas or skills an individual should develop to be successful in a business endeavor. For some, these are inherent qualities of a person, but if one really wishes to acquire them, they can be learned and incorporated in one's life. They do not make someone an instant success, but they are a great help in getting to the top of the ladder.

Aveta Solutions - Six Sigma Online ( http://www.sixsigmaonline.org ) offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

By Tony Jacowski

There are a number of reasons that companies would attempt mergers and acquisition proceedings, whether in a friendly fashion or by takeover. These reasons are always meant for the better of the company and sometimes are the only course for survival. Some companies may pursue mergers and acquisition processes to become more powerful in a particular market or just to make their presence known. Still others see benefits from teaming with a similar company that may have better technology, staff, talent, or products. Whatever the reason may be, mergers and acquisition activities are never easy. Some may move along more smoothly than others, but there is always one department that will intimately be involved with the integration process.

The Human Resources department is undoubtedly one of the most important departments in any company, though it is often the unsung hero. Of course, without sales and marketing, a company could never bring in the necessary revenue to survive. The Human Resources department, however, brings in the talent that makes the sales and completes the marketing tasks. HR also handles legal issues regarding the rights of the employees, and that keeps everyone happy and productive.

When faced with mergers and acquisition integration possibilities, the Human Resources department will have an uphill battle throughout. To begin with, each entity has HR departments that will have to be merged at some early point to avoid redundancy, or there will not be a unified company HR department. During the pre and post mergers and acquisition planning, the HR department is often responsible for determining the importance of every other job in the company. The HR department will also be responsible for the hiring and firing of employees throughout the mergers and acquisition processes.

In addition to the retention and release of employees from both companies in the union, the HR department will also work hard to streamline the Human Resources processes. After all, it is not likely that two separate companies will have identical policies and procedures. These procedures will need to be combined and solidified before being introduced to the employees of the newly formed company. This also includes the training necessary for any new software for attendance, payroll, and reporting. Insurance information for unemployment, workers' compensation, and disability will all be changed. This is only the very tip of the job that the Human Resources employees will face when beginning any mergers and acquisition processes for any size company or business.

Melissa Nathans works in consultation with Jack Lyons of Lyons Solutions, a nationally recognized business broker. Lyons Solutions is a business broker and mergers and acquisitions expert. For more information about national business brokers, check out lyonssolutions.com where you can learn more about mergers and acquisitions.

By Melissa Nathans

This year, human resource professionals should take the challenge to make some "Human Capital 2011 Resolutions":

• Reconnect with the highly paid professionals you downsized before you lose some of your best talent to your competitors.
• Treat your employees as if they are your best asset.
• Create an environment to attract the best and brightest to add to your talent pool.
• Build a virtual bench to pull from by networking.

In Q4 of 2009, employers took a random 20 percent slice out of their workforce. Many chose to axe the 20 percent with the highest salaries. Now there is a big candidate bucket -- a "garbage bucket" as viewed by many. But did you chop some of your best due to their high salary level? Maybe that bucket is not full of garbage but a mixture containing some very talented and formerly high-paid professionals you may need to reconnect with before someone else hires them.

You also need to become an employer of choice. Talk to employees so they believe their position is a position of choice. Strengthen corporate culture, and think in unconventional ways. What is top talent? They can do more with less, produce more, jump higher than their peers, and are the engine of your company. They are your greatest asset, so treat them that way.

In addition, rethink your purpose for attending networking events. Most people attend networking events just to network themselves. However, it is important to shift that perspective and begin networking in order to build a virtual bench and to constantly keep your eye out for the A-players you would like to someday join your team. Once superstars are identified, go to LinkedIn to see their social networks, find out their interests, etc., and also create several avenues to reach out to them monthly: send them industry info, your blog link, daily quotes, etc. Then, take them out to lunch, coffee or for a glass of wine once a month/quarter. When you're ready to hire, go to your virtual bench and have at it!

After every down year, every group of C-suite folks puts on rose-colored glasses. You must put on a leadership, strategic hat and give full commitment to change. If people are your best asset, how do you create an environment to attract and keep the best people? The more you empower your people, the more they will produce and manage themselves. Take the challenge to come up with a "New Year's Bucket List" that is actionable today.

Kim Shepherd is the CEO of Decision Toolbox ( http://www.dtoolbox.com ), a national recruitment process outsourcing firm. She is the author of the newly released book, The Bite Me School of Management: Taking a Bite of Conventional Business Thinking. The book takes a large bite of out typical corporate culture. The lessons, funny and concise bite-sized servings, can be applied to all industries.

By Kim Shepherd

Many people, especially women, set up their own businesses when they have young children, as a way of getting off the corporate treadmill, and being home for bath and bedtime. Running your own business can transform your life - and it can also become a monster. When people start their business, they are often in honeymoon mode - they are happy to spend all day, every day with it, nurturing it and lavishing attention and resources on to it.

That can't last forever though, and if you try, it's the route to burnout and exhaustion. The key is to set some clear boundaries between work and home time. Here are my top tips - some passed on from my clients, others the product of my own blood, sweat and tears as I struggled with this issue myself.

Keep the computer in another room.

You will find it easier to switch off if the computer isn't sitting switched on in the living room or kitchen, where it will tempt you to check it all the time. If you use the same computer for work and business, then create a business user ID, which you close down at the end of the working day.

Limit the amount of time you spend on social media

Only open your email client and social media up a few times a day, and then shut them down again. They may be a key part of your marketing plan, but unless you are disciplined, work time will trickle away, and you will end up having to work 'overtime' to catch up.

Automate and systematise as much as possible

It may take a couple of hours to set up an autoresponder sequence in your email management system, but then you can forget it. Set up stay-in-touch systems with clients and prospects, and use tools to bulk schedule your social media.

Have working hours and as far as possible stick to them.

Yes, your working hours may be in the evening when the kids are in bed, in which case don't get drawn into work in the afternoons.We've probably all done the 'just let mummy finish this email' line to our kids - while occasionally its essential, if it's a pattern then we end up short changing ourselves, our business, and our families, as nothing ever gets total focus.

Learn to delegate.

It's not an extravagance, it's essential. Think about how much your hourly rate is when you bring in new business and service your clients and customers. Does it make sense to be paying yourself that rate to be doing your own admin, or your own cleaning? Focus on spending your time doing the things in your business that only you can do.

Spend time doing non-work things with people who aren't involved in your business.

You don't have to spend every minute of the day developing yourself. Sometimes you can just have fun!

Joyce Campbell is the creator of The Get More Clients System and TheGetMoreClientsSystem.com She works with service-based solopreneurs to help them get more clients, make more profit and reach more people. Visit the website to get her free e-course, Six Steps to Ramp Up Your Online Presence. She is also an NLP trainer and author of How to Get Off Your Backside and Live Your Life.

By Joyce Campbell

The national debt encompasses every level of government borrowing and spending and currently is at approximately $14 trillion; it is the largest debt in the world and is so huge and so out of control that it can never be paid off. The national debt is literally the biggest threat to the security of the United States of America as well as the rest of the civilized world. It is a very real danger to entire world, it effects every decision of our leaders, investors and citizens; knowingly or unknowingly. The national debt will continue to cause the US Dollar to weaken which will in turn cause the US government to raise interest rates which have been held extremely low for a considerable period of time and cannot go any lower.

Surprisingly the government recently actually agreed to lower the national debt by roughly $ 1 trillion, but also raised the debt ceiling (the amount they can borrow) at the same time. So much for setting a positive example for the world.

Unemployment rate -- The number of unemployed workers expressed as a percentage of the labor force. Unemployment is one of the most devastating things that can happen to you in American society. High unemployment means employers aren't under much pressure to pay their workers more, in most cases employers will demand longer work hours for less pay. Unemployment and underemployment continue to cause hardships for millions of families and weigh heavily on the confidence of the nation. The combination of the high unemployment and high interest rates will be tragic for a great many people. Instead of having to pay the interest obligations on our national debt we could be using the money much more productively such as creating millions of jobs through infrastructure design and construction.

Inflation rate refers to a general rise in prices measured against a standard level of purchasing power. Inflation is often described as the creation of new money and has a significant effect on investment returns, decisions and monetary policy. Inflation by its very nature creates a debt-based economy, destroys savings, and makes retirement next-to-impossible. As inflation rises, every dollar will buy a smaller percentage of a goods and services. Inflation is currently about 10% and the actual unemployment rate is roughly 20% not the official 2-3% and 9-10% respectively, as officially reported.

The national debt is also a driving force behind the raising of the interest rate.

Two major factors of supply and demand causes real estate values to go down: overbuilding and tight money, both of which are currently in place. Since the beginning of 2007, real estate values in many parts of the country have declined anywhere from 30% to 50 %, due to the so called real estate bubble bursting. Currently people are unable to afford houses due unemployment and strict loan terms; and should probably wait for the foreclosed surplus to hit the market anyway.

In summary, we have briefly looked at the leading factors that have stemmed from the national debt and will in both the short and long term will have a dramatic impact on the quality life for people around the world; we are just starting to see the impact now. As these factors continue and the effects begin to feed off of each, what we will see; unfortunately will be an economic perfect storm resulting in the largest transfer of wealth in the history of the world! The middle class lifestyle which has been under attack for at least the last decade will continue and speed up leaving most people either wealthy or poor.

Unfortunately things probably will get worse before they get better; however there could be a silver or even gold lining in the clouds on the economic horizon for you personally by taking preparation now. There are several precautions that you can take to alleviate the national debt and ensure you are out of debt yourself and secure your position on the correct side of the wealth transfer. You should definitely become more self reliant by starting your own business. You could start out part time in an area of your passion to protect against job loss and/or inflation. Get your investments in order. Holding a large percentage of conservative investments won't cut it any longer as they won't keep pace with rate of inflation, look to be a little more aggressive; especially within the technology and commodities market. Hold off from buying a house in the short term and opt instead to rent while waiting to find the real bottom in the real estate market.

Lance Boyd is an expert author, leading entrepreneur committed to providing the value of truth and freedom through economic advancement. Lance is also dedicated to helping other's to overcome life and professional obstacles through personalized mentor-ship and training. He enjoys networking with people around the globe and encourages anyone committed to catapulting roadblocks on their way to financial and personal freedom to contact him immediately. Lance is currently advising people around the world on how to take advantage of the coming Global Wealth Transfer...

Go To http://www.healthwealthwisdomhomebusiness.com for more information

By Lance Boyd

I'm writing this article 2 days after Hurricane Irene came through. I have no power or phone service. I charged my cell phone in the car. I will be heading to the library shortly to charge my laptop and use their Internet access.

We were lucky when it came to Irene. We knew the hurricane was coming and had time to plan and prepare. We knew there was a good possibility that we would lose power and maybe even water. We took preventive measures and charged our cell phones and laptops. We made sure we had flashlights and batteries and knew where they were. We filled bottles with water and put away anything outside that could possibly "take flight".

The storm came and did a lot of damage here in NJ but my house was spared. In the big scheme of things, losing power was just an inconvenience especially since we were prepared.

Fortunately hurricanes don't happen very often (at least not in New Jersey) and when they do we have plenty of warning. In our businesses we're not always that lucky. Emergencies tend to crop up all the time.

Some emergencies are good news. For instance, you are asked to fill in at the last minute on a radio show. It's very exciting but you have only a short time to pull everything together. Or you bring on a new client and find yourself scrambling to get all of the material together so you can get started.

Other times, the emergency is bad news...your ezine is due out tomorrow and you still haven't gotten the article written. Or you find yourself up against a deadline on a project you are working on.

Running your business from emergency to emergency is exhausting. But I have to ask you...if these types of things are happening again and again are they really emergencies or are they situations that, while they might not occur every day, you have had warning about and should have prepared yourself for?

Here are three areas you can look at to help you prepare so that you and your clients are covered and your business and life will run smoother.

1. Think about your day-to-day schedule. What types of "emergencies" often strike? Sure the specific situation might be unexpected, but I bet there are a lot of similarities between these events. Pay specific attention to when you find yourself saying "UGH! Why does this keep happening?" What can you do to prepare? What tools can you put at your disposal so that your business keeps going?

2. Look at the things you do often. What can you automate or create a system for so that these situations become barely a ripple. Create a "welcome package" for new clients so that sending them information is easy. Create a package of material on the various presentation topics you do so that you can quickly give it to anyone who needs it.

3. What type of true emergency systems can you put in place? If you were called away from your business suddenly do you have support that can cover for you and help you reschedule appointments? Can you automate various communications with prospects and clients? What if you lost power or your computer's hard drive (I've lost 3) or lost your cell phone? Is your computer backed up and do you back it up regularly? Do you charge your phone regularly? Would you have your important phone numbers available?

The bottom line is that there will certainly be true emergencies that force you to stop everything you are doing and focus your attention elsewhere, and you'll never be able to avoid them all. The key is to do as much as you can to minimize the interruption that they cause.

What can you do to minimize the impact of emergencies in your business?

Carrie Greene is a speaker, trainer, coach and author of Chaos to Cash. She helps entrepreneurs cut through the confusion and chaos surrounding them so they make decisions, stop spinning and procrastinating and make more money. Free resources at http://www.CarrieThru.com

By Carrie Greene

Advertising plays a very important role in any business; however, this depends on the mode of communication and strategies used. The success rate depends on how well you the message get to your target audience; mobile marketing makes an efficient communication model since you get the message across as fast as possible. Generating messages is easy and delivery is immediate, which potentially creates a higher response from your target clients.

Advertising can be costly, and businesses need lower cost ventures that add value. Mobile marketing involves a simple service charge and most businesses can negotiate better rates when there is need to send out higher volumes. Using the mobile as your campaign tool makes it more affordable and the business will always remain certain that the message got to the intended recipients. Businesses can lower advertising costs and at the same time gain a wider reach. This is an area where small enterprises can benefit most due to the low costs involved.

Unlike other advertising channels, mobile ad campaigns take a more personal approach. Messages can be customized to reach selected people. It also remains certain that your addressees will get the message since most people carry their mobiles and take time to go through their gadgets severally. Businesses do not have to work with certain possibilities that potential customers will drive past a billboard or read posters.

Mobile marketing helps businesses attract and retain customers by maintaining close relationships. Mobile communications makes it easy for companies to personalise and interact with clients, thus, creating dependability and reliability. Organisations can use mobiles for constant updates, which keeps clients informed and up to date. Customers who grow with you company remain loyal. Customers also feel confident when dealing with you given that they can reach you for queries; mobile communications also make it very easy to respond to your customers seeing as you can respond to them immediately.

Businesses can also use voice-messaging services; addressees become more comfortable know that they are dealing with humans and not just messages originated from machines. It also accommodates people of other age groups who are less receptive to text messages.

With increased technology, mobiles make it easy for organisations since they offer a wide range of advertising options. This exposes entities to a wider variety and makes then more innovative. Advertising campaigns leave a better impression when you use creativity.

In general, it is easy to measure results is easy when using mobile adverts and get prompt response from clients due to the personal nature of this form of advertising. Businesses can also benefit with the fact that most individuals share messages, which is another form of lead generation or recommendations from your loyal clientele.

By Sam Whitstone

In the modern world of business, files and pieces of information are no longer kept only in physical form. They are also stored as digital files on computers. This is done so that everything can be kept track of in a very efficient manner. It is also done so that information can be shared easily. It is much easier to transfer a digital file from one person to the next than it is to mail them a copy of a piece of paper. The whole process of keeping things in order is called digital asset management, and you need to do this effectively if you want your business to run efficiently at all times.

Using Central Servers
The first thing that you need to do is to store all of the files on central servers that can be accessed easily from any of your computer stations. This will allow all of your employees to get to the information that they need right when they need it. They will not even have to leave their terminals. You can still restrict who has access to sensitive information by putting it behind passwords. In fact, you want to make sure that everything that you have on your servers is not accessible by every employee or you could have information accidentally deleted, misplaced, or altered.

Sorting With Folders
It is important that you do not just dump all of your files onto your servers with no regard for where they are or how they are sorted. Digital asset management can only be done correctly if things are put in a logical order. You need to create folders on the servers, and you can then put the files in the correct folders. All of your spending could go in one folder, for instance, while customer contact information could go in another. Make sure that you label things accordingly so that they can be found quickly.

Creating Backups
You should also create backups of all of your files. You can do this physically if you would like, either by printing out the pages or by putting all of the data onto compact discs and then storing them at the office. You would be much better off, however, to use an online backup program. You can set this so that it automatically runs every day, adding new files to the backup servers and replacing files that have been altered. Your information will then be stored remotely. This allows you to recover it if there is a disaster - such as a fire - at your place of business.

Streamlining Your Business
If digital asset management is approached correctly, it can really streamline your business. Information is meant to be shared in mere seconds in the modern day. Computers and the internet have made this possible. If you do everything in your power to make use of these tools, you will be able to be more productive when you are working. Productivity can lead directly to greater income and expansion.

By Jamie Simpson

There are a number of ways to determine how well a person is doing in the workplace. Because of the number of different standards that can be assessed, it is important to understand the importance and necessity of a compliance assessment. When used properly, it can be a tool that reveals weaknesses and offers opportunities for improvement.

While many will groan at the mention of any assessment, it can be a creative tool for them to expand their skills and assets. These assessments can be used to let workers know where they excel, and where they still need to focus their attention. Some will not take criticism to heart, but they maybe more receptive when there is actual data to back up the information. If a person is able to see where they are making a mistake, it is very possible that they will be able to change and alter that behaviour or problem.

There are multiple benefits to compliance assessments in the workplace, one of them being tied to job security. The better that the employees do, the better the company does, ensuring that business is good and that workers can continue to do what they love. It must be recognized that the customer has the choice of where to go. If they do not feel welcome or feel like the company is not meeting their needs, they will go elsewhere. By using compliance assessments, a company is able to pinpoint issues that will help improve their image and even alter the attitude of their employees.

From the standpoint of a business owner, compliance assessments can help them determine the strengths and weaknesses of their business, letting them expand and grow. For employees, they are able to hone in on their skills and improve both the income of the business as well as the image of the company itself. Those that take initiative may show signs progress, allowing for promotions within the company.

It is important to understand that compliance assessments in the workplace are not limited to people. In fact, people can assess a service, product, or even a process with a compliance assessment. How each aspect is assessed will depend on what is being examined, but some methods include testing, observation, and auditing. Each method will have its own strengths and weaknesses, so it is important to know what to test for and how to use the results.

When it comes to assessing products, the results can even determine the success of that product. It is crucial that these products meet specific guidelines so that safety is maintained and the product is able to meet the needs of the customer. By testing products, a company can rest assured that all safety standards are met and that they are delivering the product that they promise.

Whether testing a product or a person, there is no doubt that compliance assessments in the workplace give people a window into how something is really doing. When used properly, it can be used to strengthen a company substantially.

By Jamie Simpson

It is widely accepted that a workplace filled with good quality air, plenty of light and boasting a well laid out floor plan to maximise space, is an enjoyable place to work. However, these are not the only factors, and while arrangements of corporate flowers can add fragrant and aesthetic qualities, dressing office walls with interesting art work can also invigorate staff.

Using indoor plants in an office is highly beneficial, so strategically placing flowers around an office, boardroom and reception area is important. But the value of displaying art, whether paintings, sculptures or photographic prints, cannot be ignored. They can encourage thought, prompt creativeness and form a working environment that involves positive interaction, cooperation and team work.

Generally, office art does not have to bought by a business, but can be rented. This means that even high quality art is affordable, and a change of artwork at regular intervals during the year is possible to keep an office fresh and interesting to full time staff.

But while the inclusion of common landscape, seascape or even city scape artwork helps a great deal in injecting energy into a place of work, there are some less common and more interesting options that can be hung on a wall. Acoustic Art Some offices can be almost cavernous, with bare walls and concrete floors ensuring that an echo reverberates between the four walls. This can be particularly distracting to workers, with noise sometimes stretching above the recommended levels for a workspace. Often, the motors and workings of facilities like lifts can even be heard. A solution is the inclusion of acoustic panels and other noise absorbing items, to effectively soak up much of the distraction.

These panels are generally wooden and padded with soft fabrics that can absorb the sound waves very effectively. The problem is that they can look extremely bland on office walls, so they are spruced up by being combined with art. Any artistic images can be used on the panels, but floral images, city scenes and landscapes are amongst the most popular. Branded images depicting the company name, logo or maybe some of their products can also common.

Radiographica

This type of art form shows the negative or xray version of an image. So, instead of seeing a flower, for example, in its natural colour against a light filled background, it is shown with a pitch black background and the flower in shades of blue or bluish green. The result is an alternative image of what is a normal thing, making it look quite dramatic.

This type of image is not for every type of work place. It boasts a kind of artistic intrigue that is representative of the work that a company operating in the photography or graphic design areas might do. The obscure nature of the pictures can help to excite creative minds and encourage staff to look at the ordinary from different perspectives. Architectural Art It might seem slightly strange to have pictures of buildings and famous landmarks on office walls rather than a pleasant floral or landscape print. But, an architectural theme can benefit an office in more ways than simply making sure the walls are not bare. Architecture carries with it three different aspects that personnel tap into, namely shapes, construction and places.

The shapes are included in the actual structures of buildings, with arches over doorways, rectangular walls, triangular gables and cylindrical columns. Construction rests in the fact that the structure has been built and now stands tall. The concept of places relates to famous buildings, such as the Taj Mahal, the Empire State Building, or the Sydney Opera House.

The theory is that one or more of these concepts will inspire. Shapes exercise the mind, buildings convey the idea of steady progress while places provide the sense of thinking of the bigger picture. Of course, office art can be whatever a business wants it to be, and so there is no real limit to the possibilities. Often, the indoor plants themselves are incorporated into an overall artistic theme, perhaps in the form of a centre piece in the lobby of an office building.

There will always be room for the carefully positioned displays of corporate flowers, with their uplifting effects on staff. However, when it comes to feeding the thought process and general enthusiasm, the art that hangs on the office walls can be very influential.

By Sarah Shore

As the Baby Boomer generation begins to decide they would like to spend less time working, many are looking to sell their businesses. There are not as many people interested in buying businesses as there are in selling businesses. Because of the reality of the demographics, businesses owned by Baby Boomers will be sold in a buyers' market.

The fact it is a buyer's market does not mean you will be unable to sell your business. There are still buyers out there. Some of them may be working right in your business, as your trusted partners or employees. You need to consider all the possibilities to find the best buyer.

Partners Or Shareholders

If you are not the only shareholder in your business, it is possible one or more of the other shareholders might be interested in purchasing your shares. If this is the case, your shareholder agreement likely covers this situation.

Employees

The advantage of selling to the employees who work in your business is they understand the business. The disadvantage is they do not usually have the money required to buy you out. If you are considering selling to your employees you will most likely end up doing some of the financing as a vendor take-back, due to the lack of funding on the part of the employees. The length of time you want to wait for your money will determine the length of the vendor take-back.

Competitors

Competitors understand the business and may have the money to purchase your business. The process has to be undertaken carefully. You will want a non-disclosure agreement signed before you give any competitor your financial statements. Recognize they will still know your business even though the agreement says they cannot tell anyone.

Customers

Maybe one of your customers is interested in purchasing your business. Let's imagine you are a drafting business and one of your biggest customers is a firm of architects. They may decide it makes sense for them to buy your business and set up their own drafting department within their business. Take a look at your customer list and see if you can spot any likely candidates.

Giant Corporations

Maybe your business would be a good fit for a large conglomerate which does not yet have a business in their stable which does what you do. These organizations can certainly afford to buy your business, but recognize they will drive a hard bargain. Foreign Nationals

Perhaps your business could be sold to a person who wishes to immigrate to Canada. Individuals in this position may be eligible for a government program which requires them to make some sort of investment in Canada to be permitted to immigrate.

Strangers

If you cannot think of anyone to approach about selling your business, it is possible to advertise your business for sale. It might be time to consider hiring a broker. A broker will assist you with the whole process of selling your business.

Take the time to evaluate all potential sources of buyers for your business. You want to get the best possible price. To do this you need to be sure you have exhausted all the realistic possibilities.

Debi J. Peverill CA is an accountant with a sense of humour. She has written 11 books for business owners and is in demand as a speaker. Learn more business strategies at www.Peverill.ca.

By Debi Peverill

Although men's fashion styles come and go, there is one thing that has held true for many years and probably will continue to for many to come: when attending a job interview, you should wear a suit. Sometimes people ask, "is it okay to combine a suit jacket with different pants?" In my opinion, no, it is not. Your best bet for a job interview is to wear a two-piece suit. Simply put, the two-piece suit creates the positive first impression you want to make by helping you to appear polished, professional, and put together.

Why not three button or four button? Three button may be seen as a little too formal, whereas four button may be viewed as too trendy (it's all in the details). However, depending on the job for which you are interviewing, you may want to appear just a little bit trendy. This may apply in arts-related fields, such as if you are interviewing for a cutting edge graphics design firm. Go with your gut, but at the same time, if you are uncertain, it is best to waiver on the side of conservatism. You want the interviewer to be focused on what you are saying, not distracted by what you are wearing.

When selecting an interview suit, charcoal gray and navy are good colors from which to choose. Earth tones and light colors are generally regarded as too informal, so while there are lots of nice olive gray and brown suits out there, you may want to avoid them for your interview. While black was once seen as very formal, it is now commonly worn by men for many occasions. So if you feel your best in black, you can go for it. Navy or dark blue suits are generally regarded as a favorite to wear to an interview.

Solid color shirts and suits are best for an interview. If you want to wear a suit with a pattern, keep it subtle. A small pinstripe or light plaid pattern is acceptable, as long as it is light, and the suit appears solid colored from across the room.

If you are buying a suit off the rack or getting it altered before your interview, make sure that it fits properly. You'll want proper range of movement in the shoulders in order to allow you to shake hands, and potentially remove items from a portfolio. The suit jacket should fit so that it can be easily buttoned without creating tug marks across the fabric. The suit jacket cuffs should fit so that you have just about of an inch of your shirt sleeves showing when your arms are relaxed at your sides. When you sit down, you will need the bottom of your pants to reveal only a glimpse of your socks, not any bare leg.

Now, it's best to remember that few men can wear suits right off the rack. So don't plan to shop the day before the interview and expect to find a suit that fits you like a glove. Allow time for your suit to be tailored so that it fits you perfectly. This is definitely worth the investment-- both in terms of time and money.

We all know that job interviews can be a bit unnerving, so this is another reason to not wait until the last minute to select your suit. The morning before your interview, lay out all the pieces of your interview outfit: suit, shirt, tie, belt, socks and shoes. If your suit is new, make sure that you have removed all tell-tale signs, such as tags and extra buttons. Cut off the zig-zag thread that keep pockets and slits closed (make sure you look at the back of the jacket too). Insure that all of your clothing is clean, pressed and wrinkle-free.

According to Kim Zoller at Image Dynamics, 55% of another person's perception of you is based on how you look. So don't forget, the way you dress for an interview is crucial to making a good first impression and landing the job.

Author: Michael Taylor is a Marketing Manager at TIE SNUG. TIE SNUG eliminates continuous adjusting and makes wearing a tie more comfortable. Being concealed within your tie knot makes it perfect to wear to an interview. A slipping tie knot looks unprofessional, so be confident that you look your best with TIE SNUG. For more information or to make a purchase, please visit http://www.tiesnug.com.

By Michael D Taylor

Do you want to be successful in your life? How are you mapping your road to riches? How are you walking your way to success? Of course, we all want to lead a successful life. We all want a new home, a new car, to be financially secure, to have a happy family and many others. Nobody was created to live a mediocre kind of life. And nobody aims at that. But is it possible for success to come your way when you do not have clearly defined goals?

If you really want to become rich in your life, there are three important steps you will inevitably have to set your heart on. You will have to visualize, set clear goals and focus your mind on achieving them. It's such a clear road to riches, although very few people follow it. The day you learn to follow the three steps, you will then have known the secret behind walking your way to success.

The first step to riches is visualization. Do you always visualize your desires? Do you always see your desires in your imagination every time? If you have not been doing it, it's high time you started applying this simple ingredient to riches for you to see many positive changes in your life. When you see your desires in your mental mirror and draw imaginary pictures in your mind, you definitely tell your SUBCONSCIOUS MIND to begin working on them by picking facts, which it bakes productively to give you responses on how to fulfill your desires.

Desiring is not just wishing temporarily to have something and you stop there. For instance, if you need to start a new business, you don't just stop at saying it and wishing to have one. Everybody wishes to have a business. But for you to have one, you have to focus your mind on it. You have to even see yourself in the picture of having it already. Then your subconscious mind will work out ways for you to start your own business. That's how it works.

Walking the road to riches does not stop at only visualizing. After you have visualized what you desire in your life, you follow it up by establishing your goals. Setting goals helps you to know where you are going and how to go there step by step. It helps you to avoid giving up when faced with a temporarily defeat, to do things from easier to the most difficult, to aim higher and to remain focused.

For example, when you want to start a home business, you visualize in your mind the type of business to do. Then you set your goals on when and how to start it. You also set your goals on the kind of support and skills you need. All these have to be well planned and it's always a good practice to write them down. Achievable goals do not remain in your head. Putting them down helps you to walk swiftly the road to success.

After clearly defining your goals, you have to put them in your computer or the subconscious mind. Let them be absorbed in the mind for you to react the right way. For the subconscious mind to work on them, it needs to repeat the mental pictures it draws about the actions. That's how it works. When you focus your mind on your goals, the subconscious mind will bring to you the people to support you to begin your business. It will provide you with the energy to work on your business tirelessly. It will help you to turn what seemed to be impossible to something very easy to achieve. Are you ready to do that?

As you plan to start your journey to riches, be reminded that success does not come by with wishes. It's not about admiring other successful people. It's about changing your ways of doing things. Learn to visualize, learn to set clear goals and to focus your heart on achieving your goals. You will then find the road to riches a very smooth road.

Charles Kiyimba owns http://www.CashWithGoleza.com and http://www.golezadesigners.com where popular home business ideas and opportunities are tested rigorously to find out what works and what doesn't. Visit today to discover the secrets behind building a successful home business.

By Charles Kiyimba

Who else thinks that making $100 a day would be a GREAT way to start their journey to financial independence? An extra $50 or $100 a day would not only give you some extra income, it would also, more importantly, give you the momentum and the self confidence to KNOW you can achieve your financial goals.

However, you find that days, weeks and months go by and you are still trying to make that extra $100 to pay the bills. Well, join the club. The majority of people who come online hoping to do just that find out that the reality is something totally different. There has to be a better way, right?

The truth is, making your FIRST $100 is hard... but it gets easier every day... once you have a system with all the kinks worked out... and when you've become comfortable using it... no problem then. It becomes quite automatic... making that $100 a day.

So, how can you get there? Especially when you've tried so many different products and programs and you're not able to sell any of them. Is it possible then to make that $100 a day and not sell a thing? I tell you... yes, you can.

Six years ago, I found myself suddenly out of a job. I had been with my company many years... gave them my best everyday and yet, here I was... middle-aged, single parent and unemployed. After trying for a year to get another job with no success, I decided that I was no longer going to be at the the mercy of the whims and fancies of bosses. I was going to take control and create a job for myself.

It took me a few years of determination, trial and error, research and sifting through scams. I lost money when I got scammed a few times. Spent money on programs that did not make any money in the end. Nevertheless, my perseverance finally paid off and I was finally able to make that extra income online. I had found legitimate and guaranteed ways to make money online and one of these is a technique that made that extra $100 a day that I needed to help me pay my bills every month.

This technique is an age-old method. Tried and proven to work for decades, even centuries, no matter if there's a recession or not.

- It does not matter if you have nothing to sell. No product is required.
- It does not matter if you have no money. Start up capital is not required.
- It does not matter if you have never sold a thing in your life. You do not need to sell to succeed at this.

Is this going to break any laws? No way. It is 100% legal. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone otherwise. I definitely would not jeopardize my family's welfare by doing something illegal. Would you? Of course not. So, what did I do to make that extra few hundred dollars?

All I did and am still doing... is help people get what they want... and get paid to do it. You can do the same. If you think that this is something you can do as well... then come learn more about it at http://dcsys.weebly.com.

I enjoy helping others succeed. Having gotten fed up of being at the the mercy of the whims and fancies of bosses, I decided to take control of my own life and embarked on my journey to financial independence and freedom for myself. You can do the same and start making money online the right way! http://dcsys.weebly.com

By Carolyn Y

Jute bags are the best solution to carrying grocery because they are organic and thus biodegradable. As a result, they address the concerns of the environment adequately. Printed organic jute grocery bags have been widely used to promote businesses since they break down naturally and can be used to show a company's commitment to the conservation of the environment. When you use printed organic grocery bags to advertise your company, you show customers that are conscious about the environment and this endears them to your company.

When Printed organic jute bags are used for grocery, they prove to be an ingenious way of promoting a company because they hold the attention of many people. Every time someone goes shopping and uses the these bags, your company name and logo is given exposure and this makes the image of the company improve greatly. When the image of the company improves, business traffic is increased and this leads to an increase in revenues. Another advantage with jute bags is that they are not expensive and promoting with printed jute bags is worthwhile as compared to other alternatives of advertising such as the media.

Printed jute bags are a great investment for marketing with and will help your brand achieve recognition especially when you take responsibility and market with something that has a great and positive impact on the environment. If you show that you are socially responsible, people will look up to you and will want to be associated with your company. By helping alleviate the destruction that is caused on the planet through pollution, you ease the pressure on the planet. Jute bags are wonderful for shopping because they are dependable and can carry many items. They are not expensive and they are also available in very wonderful designs that are fashionable.

Because Jute bags are easily washable, they are a good alternative that can be used to carry groceries on a daily basis as you can clean them after using them. By giving away jute bags you encourage people to use an eco-friendly alternative to shop while also looking after the environment. In appreciation of your customers, you can look forward to presenting your clients with something that they can use while helping advance the cause of the environment as well as that of your company's brand. Jute bags are real quality and they can give you the opportunity to present your brand image to the general public.

You can gift jute bags at the corporate or the personal level and as long as you have your name and your logo on the bag, you can be sure that your company will receive all the publicity you can get. As long as people use the bags to carry groceries, your company will remain in the public eye. The spotlight will be on your company because of how you use bags to help shoppers achieve their goals. Jute is much better when compared to other materials such as plastic and can be used to carry the shopping easily. Certain companies are very much of the benefits of jute as a shopping bag that can carry groceries and have effectively used the kind of bags to a great effect to benefit their promotional campaigns.

By Andrew Sherman