The Ultimate Game of Life
Every day, most people go through life on a human-version of auto-pilot - bored with their jobs, stuck in routines and without real control over their lives, relationships and success.
But what if you could change that quickly and start putting yourself on a track that will literally pull you in the direction of your goals and greater happiness, health and wealth?
That's what The Ultimate Game of Life is all about. We like to think of it as the game with the ultimate reward.
With the support of coaches and a team-like community, The Ultimate Game of Life provides players with a unique and effective game-like
Monday, October 4, 2010
Who's business is it anyway?
Say goodbye to off-the-shelf accountancy.
Sage & Company has the same focus now as when it was formed in 1920s: to help you achieve your financial goals and business priorities, on your terms.
So what are your aspirations?
Business growth? Acquisition? Disposal? Expansion? Retirement? Efficient payroll? Tax reduction? Inheritance planning? Management accounting?
Tell us where you want to be and let eight decades of expertise help you achieve your ambitions.
Sage & Company has the same focus now as when it was formed in 1920s: to help you achieve your financial goals and business priorities, on your terms.
So what are your aspirations?
Business growth? Acquisition? Disposal? Expansion? Retirement? Efficient payroll? Tax reduction? Inheritance planning? Management accounting?
Tell us where you want to be and let eight decades of expertise help you achieve your ambitions.
The man who invented the cash machine
"They're clever scoundrels," fumes John Shepherd-Barron at his remote farmhouse in northern Scotland. He is referring to the seals which are raiding his salmon farm and stealing fish.
John Shepherd-Barron
John Shepherd-Barron's cash machine first appeared in 1967
Inventor's memories
"I invented a device to scare them off by playing the sound of killer whales, but it's ended up only attracting them more."
But failure with this device is in contrast to the success of his first and greatest invention: the cash machine.
The world's first ATM was installed in a branch of Barclays in Enfield, north London, 40 years ago this week.
Reg Varney, from the television series On the Buses, was the first to withdraw cash.
Inspiration had struck Mr Shepherd-Barron, now 82, while he was in the bath.
"It struck me there must be a way I could get my own money, anywhere in the world or the UK. I hit upon the idea of a chocolate bar dispenser, but replacing chocolate with cash."
Barclays was convinced immediately. Over a pink gin, the then chief executive signed a hurried contract with Mr Shepherd-Barron, who at the time worked for the printing firm De La Rue.
Teething troubles
Plastic cards had not been invented, so Mr Shepherd-Barron's machine used cheques that were impregnated with carbon 14, a mildly radioactive substance.
The machine detected it, then matched the cheque against a Pin number.
Reg Varney withdraws cash
Reg Varney was the first to use an ATM
However, Mr Shepherd-Barron denies there were any health concerns: "I later worked out you would have to eat 136,000 such cheques for it to have any effect on you."
The machine paid out a maximum of £10 a time.
"But that was regarded then as quite enough for a wild weekend," he says.
To start with, not everything went smoothly. The first machines were vandalised, and one that was installed in Zurich in Switzerland began to malfunction mysteriously.
It was later discovered that the wires from two intersecting tramlines nearby were sparking and interfering with the mechanism.
One by-product of inventing the first cash machine was the concept of the Pin number.
Mr Shepherd-Barron came up with the idea when he realised that he could remember his six-figure army number. But he decided to check that with his wife, Caroline.
"Over the kitchen table, she said she could only remember four figures, so because of her, four figures became the world standard," he laughs.
End of cash?
Customers using the cash machine at Barclays in Enfield High Street are mostly unaware of its historical significance.
A small plaque was placed there on the 25th anniversary, but few people notice it. Given that there are now more than 1.6 million cash machines worldwide, it is a classic case of British understatement.
Plaque at Barclays in Enfield commemorating the first ATM
The plaque at the site of the first ATM goes unnoticed by many
Mr Shepherd-Barron says he and his wife realised the importance of his invention only when they visited Chiang Mai in northern Thailand.
They watched a farmer arriving on a bullock cart, who removed his wide-brimmed hat to use the cash machine.
"It was the first evidence to me that we'd changed the world," he says.
But even though he invented the machine, Mr Shepherd-Barron believes its use in future will be very different. He predicts that our society will no longer be using cash within a few years.
"Money costs money to transport. I am therefore predicting the demise of cash within three to five years."
He believes fervently that we will soon be swiping our mobile phones at till points, even for small transactions.
At 82, Mr Shepherd-Barron is very much alive to new ideas and inventions - even though his device that plays killer whale noises still needs a little bit of tinkering.
John Shepherd-Barron
John Shepherd-Barron's cash machine first appeared in 1967
Inventor's memories
"I invented a device to scare them off by playing the sound of killer whales, but it's ended up only attracting them more."
But failure with this device is in contrast to the success of his first and greatest invention: the cash machine.
The world's first ATM was installed in a branch of Barclays in Enfield, north London, 40 years ago this week.
Reg Varney, from the television series On the Buses, was the first to withdraw cash.
Inspiration had struck Mr Shepherd-Barron, now 82, while he was in the bath.
"It struck me there must be a way I could get my own money, anywhere in the world or the UK. I hit upon the idea of a chocolate bar dispenser, but replacing chocolate with cash."
Barclays was convinced immediately. Over a pink gin, the then chief executive signed a hurried contract with Mr Shepherd-Barron, who at the time worked for the printing firm De La Rue.
Teething troubles
Plastic cards had not been invented, so Mr Shepherd-Barron's machine used cheques that were impregnated with carbon 14, a mildly radioactive substance.
The machine detected it, then matched the cheque against a Pin number.
Reg Varney withdraws cash
Reg Varney was the first to use an ATM
However, Mr Shepherd-Barron denies there were any health concerns: "I later worked out you would have to eat 136,000 such cheques for it to have any effect on you."
The machine paid out a maximum of £10 a time.
"But that was regarded then as quite enough for a wild weekend," he says.
To start with, not everything went smoothly. The first machines were vandalised, and one that was installed in Zurich in Switzerland began to malfunction mysteriously.
It was later discovered that the wires from two intersecting tramlines nearby were sparking and interfering with the mechanism.
One by-product of inventing the first cash machine was the concept of the Pin number.
Mr Shepherd-Barron came up with the idea when he realised that he could remember his six-figure army number. But he decided to check that with his wife, Caroline.
"Over the kitchen table, she said she could only remember four figures, so because of her, four figures became the world standard," he laughs.
End of cash?
Customers using the cash machine at Barclays in Enfield High Street are mostly unaware of its historical significance.
A small plaque was placed there on the 25th anniversary, but few people notice it. Given that there are now more than 1.6 million cash machines worldwide, it is a classic case of British understatement.
Plaque at Barclays in Enfield commemorating the first ATM
The plaque at the site of the first ATM goes unnoticed by many
Mr Shepherd-Barron says he and his wife realised the importance of his invention only when they visited Chiang Mai in northern Thailand.
They watched a farmer arriving on a bullock cart, who removed his wide-brimmed hat to use the cash machine.
"It was the first evidence to me that we'd changed the world," he says.
But even though he invented the machine, Mr Shepherd-Barron believes its use in future will be very different. He predicts that our society will no longer be using cash within a few years.
"Money costs money to transport. I am therefore predicting the demise of cash within three to five years."
He believes fervently that we will soon be swiping our mobile phones at till points, even for small transactions.
At 82, Mr Shepherd-Barron is very much alive to new ideas and inventions - even though his device that plays killer whale noises still needs a little bit of tinkering.
Floating Funds… Fun for who?
So big corporations withhold money from each of their employees checks for taxes. They find some way to pay the money to government either quarterly or in one lump sum at the end of the year. So what happens with the money while it’s waiting to be paid for the taxes it was drawn for?
Chances are pretty good the money is being re-invested some type of maretable security making 10-12%. I’d imagine that some corporations give a share of it back in the form of a Christmas or performance bonus, or maybe they use it to fund their 401K and other benefit packages. I bet that a lot of places with low paying labor, (Fastfood joints, janitorial companies etc. simply keep it).
I’d be interested to see what really happens to that money.
Chances are pretty good the money is being re-invested some type of maretable security making 10-12%. I’d imagine that some corporations give a share of it back in the form of a Christmas or performance bonus, or maybe they use it to fund their 401K and other benefit packages. I bet that a lot of places with low paying labor, (Fastfood joints, janitorial companies etc. simply keep it).
I’d be interested to see what really happens to that money.
Business as usual for smoke-free places
Nearly two years after Ireland became one of the first countries to strictly enforce a comprehensive ban on smoking in indoor public places, including bars, cafes and restaurants, more countries are taking tough — and not-so-tough — action against passive smoking.
For Ireland's smokless pubs, it's business as usual.
Sheila Stanley
For Ireland's smokless pubs, it's business as usual.
A few weeks before the ban came into force in Ireland, Dublin banker Jimmy Fogarty asked the barman at his local pub: “What are you going to do when the ban comes in?” “Breathe,” the barman replied.
The ban has since been embraced — albeit reluctantly — by Ireland’s hospitality industry though wholeheartedly by staff working in the sector. However, some studies have shown to be unfounded industry representatives’ fears that business would dip.
A study partially funded by Ireland’s Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) that was published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science in July reported that the number of customers in 38 Dublin public houses had increased by 11% since the ban. Predictably, tobacco industry-sponsored studies say otherwise. But for publicans and clients, it’s still business as usual.
At Mulligans pub in the centre of Dublin, manager Gary Cusack said that the number of clients dipped during the first three months after the ban, but soon picked up to the usual levels after that: “As for our staff, they’re delighted, as the work environment is a lot healthier now.”
Mulligans is one of the many pubs that created an outdoor area to keep smokers happy and now welcomes a new clientele: families with children.
The Irish ban, which came into force in March 2004, was not so much to encourage people like Fogarty to give up smoking, but to protect people like his barman, according to Nigel Fox, an OTC spokesman.
"As for our staff, they’re delighted, as the work environment is a lot healthier now."
Gary Cusack, manager of Dublin pub, Mulligans.
According to OTC statistics, there has been a slight reduction in the proportion of the population that smokes since the ban, from 25.5% in March 2004 to 24% in June 2006. An OTC study published in November 2005 showed a decline in exposure to second-hand smoke and a decline in respiratory symptoms in non-smoking bar staff in pubs.
The tough measures were taken after Ireland signed up to WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the world’s first legally binding public health accord, in September 2003. It was not the first to be tough on smoking.
Singapore introduced laws restricting smoking in public places and prohibiting tobacco advertisements in the 1970s. In 1986, the Ministry of Health launched a programme for smoking control, with the motto: “Towards a Nation of Non-Smokers”.
Bans have been strictly enforced in two US states: California (1998) and New York (2003). New South Wales in Australia banned smoking in public places in 2000.
But since the treaty’s adoption, the number of countries taking tough action has grown fast. As of November 2006, 139 plus the European Union bloc of 25 countries had become parties to the treaty. These countries are required to impose a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship within five years. The treaty requires parties to adopt and implement effective legislative and other measures providing for protection from exposure to tobacco smoke in public places.
Failure to comply with the Convention’s terms can expose countries and individuals in those countries to potentially costly criminal or civil legal action.
In 2001, Israel became one of the first countries to impose a ban on smoking in public places, but enforcement has been weak. This year Israel, as party to the WHO Framework Convention, became one of the first countries to see successful legal action based on the treaty, when a pregnant woman sued a restaurant owner for allowing smoking.
"The scientific consensus is that there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke."
Dr Armando Peruga, the WHO Tobacco-Free Initiative’s Acting Coordinator for National Capacity Building.
The list of countries with smoking bans in public places is growing. But facing pressure to enact weaker prohibitions, some have imposed only partial bans that allow smoking in limited circumstances in bars, cafes and restaurants.
In the UK, a comprehensive ban was agreed upon after a lengthy debate over whether smoking should be allowed in private members clubs and in pubs that don’t serve food, and will be in place across the country by summer 2007. In France, the debate is still raging over the list of public places where smoking should not be allowed.
In Spain, a partial ban allows bars, cafes and restaurants with a surface area of less than 100 square metres to choose whether to go smoke-free or not, while those larger are obliged to provide an INDOOR smoke-free section.
There have also been problems with implementing the ban in restaurants, cafes and bars, according to Dr Armando Peruga, the WHO Tobacco-Free Initiative’s Acting Coordinator for National Capacity Building. These implementation problems are due to uneven enforcement, as regional governments have wavered between being lax and strict.
Smoking bans are not just the preserve of the wealthy nations: several developing countries are joining the club. Thailand has some of Asia’s strictest anti-smoking laws. In Uruguay, a new law banning smoking in public places was pushed through by the country’s president, oncologist Tabaré Vázquez. Uganda pushed a ban through too, despite tobacco farming interests in that north-west of the country, and Rwanda has also implemented a ban on indoor smoking in public places.
The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is the only country to date that has banned the sale of tobacco products altogether. However, Peruga said that other countries need to reduce demand first by banning smoking in public places and making it socially unacceptable because an all-out ban risks creating a black market for tobacco products.
Wealthy industrialized countries have long campaigned against tobacco to protect people’s health. To compensate for shrinking markets in affluent countries, the tobacco industry has turned its sights to Asia, eastern Europe, and countries of the former Soviet Union to promote their products and undermine tobacco-control efforts.
The antics of the fictional tobacco industry lobbyist Nick Naylor in the movie Thank You for Smoking have been described as tame compared to real life. In reality, the industry has used its wealth to influence politicians to create favourable environments for industry efforts to promote smoking.
The tobacco industry has formed alliances with the hospitality industry, arguing that establishments will lose customers if they do not allow smoking in restaurants, cafes and bars. Tobacco interests have sponsored restaurant owners’ associations as front groups to campaign against the ban on smoke-free public places. The industry does this despite the growing body of evidence that smoking is harmful not just to smokers’ health, but secondary smokers as well.
Previously secret British American Tobacco company documents showed that the company considered investing in a £2.25m ($4.2m) action film with a heroine who smoked, for distribution in Europe as part of an aggressive marketing campaign, according to an article published in the European Journal of Public Health in May.
The tobacco industry is also trying to penetrate markets in developing countries that, unlike many developed countries, lack strong public health campaigns and anti-smoking measures. In Uzbekistan, it successfully lobbied for the replacement of the advertising ban, required for countries that sign up to the treaty, with an industry-led “voluntary practice code”. In Mexico, tobacco interests obtained immunity from future taxation and maintained a voluntary code of advertising practice in exchange for donations to the public medical insurance fund.
Facing the prospect of falling demand, the tobacco industry has started promoting non-smoke products, such as snuff and chewing tobacco, and promoted the use of ventilators systems as an alternative to smoke-free environments. The latter measure has found favour in Belgium where a partial ban allows smoking in bars and cafes with ventilation and an area for non-smokers.
However, citing a 2004 study by the American Society of Heating and Air Conditioning Engineering, WHO’s Peruga said that ventilators need “the force of a hurricane” to reduce the concentration of toxins from tobacco smoke to a safe level because “the scientific consensus is that there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke.”
For Ireland's smokless pubs, it's business as usual.
Sheila Stanley
For Ireland's smokless pubs, it's business as usual.
A few weeks before the ban came into force in Ireland, Dublin banker Jimmy Fogarty asked the barman at his local pub: “What are you going to do when the ban comes in?” “Breathe,” the barman replied.
The ban has since been embraced — albeit reluctantly — by Ireland’s hospitality industry though wholeheartedly by staff working in the sector. However, some studies have shown to be unfounded industry representatives’ fears that business would dip.
A study partially funded by Ireland’s Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) that was published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science in July reported that the number of customers in 38 Dublin public houses had increased by 11% since the ban. Predictably, tobacco industry-sponsored studies say otherwise. But for publicans and clients, it’s still business as usual.
At Mulligans pub in the centre of Dublin, manager Gary Cusack said that the number of clients dipped during the first three months after the ban, but soon picked up to the usual levels after that: “As for our staff, they’re delighted, as the work environment is a lot healthier now.”
Mulligans is one of the many pubs that created an outdoor area to keep smokers happy and now welcomes a new clientele: families with children.
The Irish ban, which came into force in March 2004, was not so much to encourage people like Fogarty to give up smoking, but to protect people like his barman, according to Nigel Fox, an OTC spokesman.
"As for our staff, they’re delighted, as the work environment is a lot healthier now."
Gary Cusack, manager of Dublin pub, Mulligans.
According to OTC statistics, there has been a slight reduction in the proportion of the population that smokes since the ban, from 25.5% in March 2004 to 24% in June 2006. An OTC study published in November 2005 showed a decline in exposure to second-hand smoke and a decline in respiratory symptoms in non-smoking bar staff in pubs.
The tough measures were taken after Ireland signed up to WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the world’s first legally binding public health accord, in September 2003. It was not the first to be tough on smoking.
Singapore introduced laws restricting smoking in public places and prohibiting tobacco advertisements in the 1970s. In 1986, the Ministry of Health launched a programme for smoking control, with the motto: “Towards a Nation of Non-Smokers”.
Bans have been strictly enforced in two US states: California (1998) and New York (2003). New South Wales in Australia banned smoking in public places in 2000.
But since the treaty’s adoption, the number of countries taking tough action has grown fast. As of November 2006, 139 plus the European Union bloc of 25 countries had become parties to the treaty. These countries are required to impose a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship within five years. The treaty requires parties to adopt and implement effective legislative and other measures providing for protection from exposure to tobacco smoke in public places.
Failure to comply with the Convention’s terms can expose countries and individuals in those countries to potentially costly criminal or civil legal action.
In 2001, Israel became one of the first countries to impose a ban on smoking in public places, but enforcement has been weak. This year Israel, as party to the WHO Framework Convention, became one of the first countries to see successful legal action based on the treaty, when a pregnant woman sued a restaurant owner for allowing smoking.
"The scientific consensus is that there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke."
Dr Armando Peruga, the WHO Tobacco-Free Initiative’s Acting Coordinator for National Capacity Building.
The list of countries with smoking bans in public places is growing. But facing pressure to enact weaker prohibitions, some have imposed only partial bans that allow smoking in limited circumstances in bars, cafes and restaurants.
In the UK, a comprehensive ban was agreed upon after a lengthy debate over whether smoking should be allowed in private members clubs and in pubs that don’t serve food, and will be in place across the country by summer 2007. In France, the debate is still raging over the list of public places where smoking should not be allowed.
In Spain, a partial ban allows bars, cafes and restaurants with a surface area of less than 100 square metres to choose whether to go smoke-free or not, while those larger are obliged to provide an INDOOR smoke-free section.
There have also been problems with implementing the ban in restaurants, cafes and bars, according to Dr Armando Peruga, the WHO Tobacco-Free Initiative’s Acting Coordinator for National Capacity Building. These implementation problems are due to uneven enforcement, as regional governments have wavered between being lax and strict.
Smoking bans are not just the preserve of the wealthy nations: several developing countries are joining the club. Thailand has some of Asia’s strictest anti-smoking laws. In Uruguay, a new law banning smoking in public places was pushed through by the country’s president, oncologist Tabaré Vázquez. Uganda pushed a ban through too, despite tobacco farming interests in that north-west of the country, and Rwanda has also implemented a ban on indoor smoking in public places.
The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is the only country to date that has banned the sale of tobacco products altogether. However, Peruga said that other countries need to reduce demand first by banning smoking in public places and making it socially unacceptable because an all-out ban risks creating a black market for tobacco products.
Wealthy industrialized countries have long campaigned against tobacco to protect people’s health. To compensate for shrinking markets in affluent countries, the tobacco industry has turned its sights to Asia, eastern Europe, and countries of the former Soviet Union to promote their products and undermine tobacco-control efforts.
The antics of the fictional tobacco industry lobbyist Nick Naylor in the movie Thank You for Smoking have been described as tame compared to real life. In reality, the industry has used its wealth to influence politicians to create favourable environments for industry efforts to promote smoking.
The tobacco industry has formed alliances with the hospitality industry, arguing that establishments will lose customers if they do not allow smoking in restaurants, cafes and bars. Tobacco interests have sponsored restaurant owners’ associations as front groups to campaign against the ban on smoke-free public places. The industry does this despite the growing body of evidence that smoking is harmful not just to smokers’ health, but secondary smokers as well.
Previously secret British American Tobacco company documents showed that the company considered investing in a £2.25m ($4.2m) action film with a heroine who smoked, for distribution in Europe as part of an aggressive marketing campaign, according to an article published in the European Journal of Public Health in May.
The tobacco industry is also trying to penetrate markets in developing countries that, unlike many developed countries, lack strong public health campaigns and anti-smoking measures. In Uzbekistan, it successfully lobbied for the replacement of the advertising ban, required for countries that sign up to the treaty, with an industry-led “voluntary practice code”. In Mexico, tobacco interests obtained immunity from future taxation and maintained a voluntary code of advertising practice in exchange for donations to the public medical insurance fund.
Facing the prospect of falling demand, the tobacco industry has started promoting non-smoke products, such as snuff and chewing tobacco, and promoted the use of ventilators systems as an alternative to smoke-free environments. The latter measure has found favour in Belgium where a partial ban allows smoking in bars and cafes with ventilation and an area for non-smokers.
However, citing a 2004 study by the American Society of Heating and Air Conditioning Engineering, WHO’s Peruga said that ventilators need “the force of a hurricane” to reduce the concentration of toxins from tobacco smoke to a safe level because “the scientific consensus is that there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke.”
FORTUNE cover story: Business Loves Hillary: Who business is betting on
Who business is betting on
In a wide-open race, candidates are scrambling to get CEO endorsements. Our exclusive Fortune survey goes behind the scenes from Wall Street to Silicon Valley to find surprising alliances and discover how they were forged.
By Nina Easton, Fortune Washington bureau chief
June 25 2007
....Multiply that effort (Hillary Clinton's successful bid for the support of Morgan Stanley CEO John Mack) many times over, and you can understand why the safe to swim signs are sprouting up all over Clinton Inc. Yet she is not the only Democrat to achieve surprising success in a realm traditionally taken for granted by Republicans. Her leading Democratic opponent, Barack Obama, has made forays into Wall Street and Hollywood to nab business support. He, too, has found admirers among top Republicans, most notably John Canning Jr., CEO of Chicago private-equity firm Madison Dearborn (see First). For their part, top GOP candidates like Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and Mitt Romney have lined up a small army of pinstriped pitchmen. But what's different this time is that CEOs are up for grabs on both sides. A Fortune survey of where business leaders are lining up in the 2008 race, based on dozens of interviews with top executives, reveals a concerted push by Democratic candidates to secure the blessing of big business while they continue to take their swipes at corporate America on behalf of the little guy. Even at this early stage of the primary race, the business endorsements of Clinton alone rival - in size, scope, and prestige the list of CEOs publicly supporting the Kerry - Edwards ticket in the 2004 general election. The more than 150 top executives who have raised money for Clinton represent such brand names as Anheuser-Busch, Comcast, Estée Lauder, Palm, Sun Microsystems, and Qualcomm. Venture capitalist James D. Robinson III, the former CEO of American Express and a longtime Republican, told Fortune he now supports Clinton for President, citing her "breadth of experience, especially on the international level, which is critical for going forward."
A difficult war tests loyalties among business leaders, just as it does among other voters, who increasingly identify themselves as Democrats. But Iraq is only one factor behind this year's wide-open race for business support. With the scandals of the early part of the decade behind them, corporate leaders are once again emerging as opinion leaders - not only speaking out on such issues as health care, taxes, and the environment, but calling for government action. "This has been an important period for businesses of all sizes," Clinton told Fortune. "They really can't control health-care costs." And Clinton's Senate tenure has been a significant antidote to her controversial stint as a First Lady proposing health-care reform, which critics decried as an attempt to nationalize medicine. "There has been a real opportunity to know me and work with me," she says, "and to develop personal friendships."
Not to be discounted is that corporate America likes to bet on winners. Coming on the heels of the Democratic takeover of Congress, the party has a real shot at winning the White House. For Republican candidates, a sour political environment is only the beginning of the battle. With several strong candidates and no clear front-runner, a business community that largely united behind George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004 is now more fractured, with most major Bush donors still sitting on the sidelines. "Even in 2000, Bush was the presumptive nominee," notes longtime GOP fundraiser and Thayer Capital chairman Fred Malek. "Signing up with Bush was a no-brainer."
Business leaders can provide added heft to a candidate's fundraising efforts - the major candidates are expected to raise a record $1.4 billion in this race - but they also help a candidate's image branding. Democrat John Edwards, who offers sharp-edged populism, is a tougher sell to business. But Clinton and Obama view CEO support as a key part of their crossover appeal. A roster of business endorsements "says to voters that you'll be strong on the economy," says Clinton campaign chair Terry McAuliffe. Most of the top-tier candidates - Republican and Democrat have made pilgrimages to the Business Roundtable's offices in Washington to pitch some 60 CEOs at a time...
In a wide-open race, candidates are scrambling to get CEO endorsements. Our exclusive Fortune survey goes behind the scenes from Wall Street to Silicon Valley to find surprising alliances and discover how they were forged.
By Nina Easton, Fortune Washington bureau chief
June 25 2007
....Multiply that effort (Hillary Clinton's successful bid for the support of Morgan Stanley CEO John Mack) many times over, and you can understand why the safe to swim signs are sprouting up all over Clinton Inc. Yet she is not the only Democrat to achieve surprising success in a realm traditionally taken for granted by Republicans. Her leading Democratic opponent, Barack Obama, has made forays into Wall Street and Hollywood to nab business support. He, too, has found admirers among top Republicans, most notably John Canning Jr., CEO of Chicago private-equity firm Madison Dearborn (see First). For their part, top GOP candidates like Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and Mitt Romney have lined up a small army of pinstriped pitchmen. But what's different this time is that CEOs are up for grabs on both sides. A Fortune survey of where business leaders are lining up in the 2008 race, based on dozens of interviews with top executives, reveals a concerted push by Democratic candidates to secure the blessing of big business while they continue to take their swipes at corporate America on behalf of the little guy. Even at this early stage of the primary race, the business endorsements of Clinton alone rival - in size, scope, and prestige the list of CEOs publicly supporting the Kerry - Edwards ticket in the 2004 general election. The more than 150 top executives who have raised money for Clinton represent such brand names as Anheuser-Busch, Comcast, Estée Lauder, Palm, Sun Microsystems, and Qualcomm. Venture capitalist James D. Robinson III, the former CEO of American Express and a longtime Republican, told Fortune he now supports Clinton for President, citing her "breadth of experience, especially on the international level, which is critical for going forward."
A difficult war tests loyalties among business leaders, just as it does among other voters, who increasingly identify themselves as Democrats. But Iraq is only one factor behind this year's wide-open race for business support. With the scandals of the early part of the decade behind them, corporate leaders are once again emerging as opinion leaders - not only speaking out on such issues as health care, taxes, and the environment, but calling for government action. "This has been an important period for businesses of all sizes," Clinton told Fortune. "They really can't control health-care costs." And Clinton's Senate tenure has been a significant antidote to her controversial stint as a First Lady proposing health-care reform, which critics decried as an attempt to nationalize medicine. "There has been a real opportunity to know me and work with me," she says, "and to develop personal friendships."
Not to be discounted is that corporate America likes to bet on winners. Coming on the heels of the Democratic takeover of Congress, the party has a real shot at winning the White House. For Republican candidates, a sour political environment is only the beginning of the battle. With several strong candidates and no clear front-runner, a business community that largely united behind George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004 is now more fractured, with most major Bush donors still sitting on the sidelines. "Even in 2000, Bush was the presumptive nominee," notes longtime GOP fundraiser and Thayer Capital chairman Fred Malek. "Signing up with Bush was a no-brainer."
Business leaders can provide added heft to a candidate's fundraising efforts - the major candidates are expected to raise a record $1.4 billion in this race - but they also help a candidate's image branding. Democrat John Edwards, who offers sharp-edged populism, is a tougher sell to business. But Clinton and Obama view CEO support as a key part of their crossover appeal. A roster of business endorsements "says to voters that you'll be strong on the economy," says Clinton campaign chair Terry McAuliffe. Most of the top-tier candidates - Republican and Democrat have made pilgrimages to the Business Roundtable's offices in Washington to pitch some 60 CEOs at a time...
CHINA’S CURRENCY IS WHO’S BUSINESS AGAIN? NOT OURS!
I not sure what this means but here I am again disagreeing with Paul Krugman. Prof. Krugman argues in the New York Times that we must act to stop the People’s Republic of China from undervaluing its currency:
For the truth is that U.S. policy makers have been incredibly, infuriatingly passive in the face of China’s bad behavior — especially because taking on China is one of the few policy options for tackling unemployment available to the Obama administration, given Republican obstructionism on everything else. The Levin bill probably won’t change that passivity. But it will, at least, start to build a fire under policy makers, bringing us closer to the day when, at long last, they are ready to act.
I suggest that the Chinese currency issue is none of our business. Who gives us the right to decide what some other country can do with its currency? We have debased our currency since 1913 with the Federal Reserve/fiat currency policies? Should some other nation threaten us with sanctions if we do not adopt the gold standard? That is what the Levin resolution does:
The legislation before us today clarifies that countervailing duties can be imposed to offset the effects of an undervalued currency. Countervailing duties would be available to any U.S. industry that could demonstrate that it has been ‘materially injured’ by imports from the country with the undervalued currency.
It gets worse; we invoke the WTO to force Red China to act:
“WTO rules allow for the application of countervailing duties to offset or neutralize export subsidies. To date, Commerce has refused to find currency manipulation a countervailable export subsidy, for the sole reason that non-exporters (e.g., U.S. tourists in China) benefit from the undervalued currency as well. This is more restrictive and is at odds with WTO Appellate Body rulings that a subsidy can be considered an export subsidy even if it is available in some circumstances that do not involve export.
* * *
“Some argue against action for fear of retaliation by China. Such retaliation itself would be inconsistent with the rules of the WTO. WTO inconsistent retaliation is not a reason to delay pursuit of WTO consistent action.”
I am appalled; we are threatening another nation with a international agency on a matter of internal sovereignty. This is outrageous. We would be outraged if the EU used the WTO to interfere in an internal matter. It has already occurred: The Byrd amendment was an attempt to bring compensation for dumping and subsidies to those hurt by the trade abuse; the EU got the WTO to reject it. Read this press release from the EU (Remember – the EU is NOT our friend!) and ask yourselves what we should do.
That means that distribution of collected anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties to US companies will continue and distort the conditions of competition on the US market at the expense of imported goods for an undetermined number of years. * * * The EU will now carefully review the details of the compromise reached in Congress and its implications for EU companies. In so doing, the EU will work in close coordination with the other complainants.
We should withdraw from the WTO immediately and stop forcing other nations to change internal policies. Let’s instead stand for national sovereignty and set an example for others to follow if they choose to do so!
For the truth is that U.S. policy makers have been incredibly, infuriatingly passive in the face of China’s bad behavior — especially because taking on China is one of the few policy options for tackling unemployment available to the Obama administration, given Republican obstructionism on everything else. The Levin bill probably won’t change that passivity. But it will, at least, start to build a fire under policy makers, bringing us closer to the day when, at long last, they are ready to act.
I suggest that the Chinese currency issue is none of our business. Who gives us the right to decide what some other country can do with its currency? We have debased our currency since 1913 with the Federal Reserve/fiat currency policies? Should some other nation threaten us with sanctions if we do not adopt the gold standard? That is what the Levin resolution does:
The legislation before us today clarifies that countervailing duties can be imposed to offset the effects of an undervalued currency. Countervailing duties would be available to any U.S. industry that could demonstrate that it has been ‘materially injured’ by imports from the country with the undervalued currency.
It gets worse; we invoke the WTO to force Red China to act:
“WTO rules allow for the application of countervailing duties to offset or neutralize export subsidies. To date, Commerce has refused to find currency manipulation a countervailable export subsidy, for the sole reason that non-exporters (e.g., U.S. tourists in China) benefit from the undervalued currency as well. This is more restrictive and is at odds with WTO Appellate Body rulings that a subsidy can be considered an export subsidy even if it is available in some circumstances that do not involve export.
* * *
“Some argue against action for fear of retaliation by China. Such retaliation itself would be inconsistent with the rules of the WTO. WTO inconsistent retaliation is not a reason to delay pursuit of WTO consistent action.”
I am appalled; we are threatening another nation with a international agency on a matter of internal sovereignty. This is outrageous. We would be outraged if the EU used the WTO to interfere in an internal matter. It has already occurred: The Byrd amendment was an attempt to bring compensation for dumping and subsidies to those hurt by the trade abuse; the EU got the WTO to reject it. Read this press release from the EU (Remember – the EU is NOT our friend!) and ask yourselves what we should do.
That means that distribution of collected anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties to US companies will continue and distort the conditions of competition on the US market at the expense of imported goods for an undetermined number of years. * * * The EU will now carefully review the details of the compromise reached in Congress and its implications for EU companies. In so doing, the EU will work in close coordination with the other complainants.
We should withdraw from the WTO immediately and stop forcing other nations to change internal policies. Let’s instead stand for national sovereignty and set an example for others to follow if they choose to do so!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Top 3 NLP Framing Techniques For Business
Home study NLP course NLP 12 week home study programme Videos, MP3s, Manuals and coaching www.nlpfromhome.com
Meeting Management Tips Free Slideshow Offers 10 Tips to Running More Effective Meetings www.itbusinessedge.com/meetingtips
NLP - Bandler - La Valle Persuasion Engineering™ & More Full International Schedule www.PureNLP.com
Approach Women Easily Get Past Your Fear - Free Articles and Podcasts www.ApproachAnxiety.com
Leadership skills Stay ahead in IT project management with news, case studies & research www.computerweekly.com
Meeting Management Tips Free Slideshow Offers 10 Tips to Running More Effective Meetings www.itbusinessedge.com/meetingtips
NLP - Bandler - La Valle Persuasion Engineering™ & More Full International Schedule www.PureNLP.com
Approach Women Easily Get Past Your Fear - Free Articles and Podcasts www.ApproachAnxiety.com
Leadership skills Stay ahead in IT project management with news, case studies & research www.computerweekly.com
Essential Business Networking Techniques
Improve your business networking techniques and grow your business by expanding your contacts and building relationships with other people. Here you will find lots of networking information, great tips, essential tools and key networking advice to help you get the most out of networking and generate new business.
It’s a fact – 70% on average of new business is gained through referrals or relationship marketing, and not only that it is one of the most cost-effective ways of building your business.
You may already have spent considerable time, effort and money on other marketing methods such as advertising or direct mailing with little or no return. Or perhaps you have tried cold-calling with little to show for your efforts leaving you feeling demoralized and no further forward.
It’s a fact – 70% on average of new business is gained through referrals or relationship marketing, and not only that it is one of the most cost-effective ways of building your business.
You may already have spent considerable time, effort and money on other marketing methods such as advertising or direct mailing with little or no return. Or perhaps you have tried cold-calling with little to show for your efforts leaving you feeling demoralized and no further forward.
Types of Business Organizations
Sole proprietors are unincorporated businesses. They are also called independent contractors, consultants, or freelancers. There are no forms you need to fill out to start this type of business. The only thing you need to do is report your business income and expenses on your Form 1040 Schedule C. This is the easiest form of business to set up, and the easiest to dissolve. (An LLC with only a single shareholder, a so-called single-member LLC, is taxed as a sole proprietor on a Schedule C.)
Corporations are incorporated businesses. Every form of business besides the sole proprietor is considered a separate entity, and this often provides a measure of legal and financial protection for the shareholders. The shareholders of corporations have limited liability protection, and corporations have full discretion over the amount of profits they can distribute or retain. Corporations are presumed to be for-profit entities, and as such they can have an unlimited number of years with losses. Corporations must have at least one shareholder.
Partnerships are unincorporated businesses. Like corporations, partnerships are separate entities from the shareholders. Unlike corporations, partnerships must have at lease one General Partner who assumes unlimited liability for the business. Partnerships must have at least two shareholders. Partnerships distribute all profits and losses to their shareholders without regard for any profits retained by the business for cash flow purposes. (LLCs are taxed as partnerships, unless they choose to be taxed as corporations.)
S-Corporations have features similar to a partnership. An S-corporation must have at least one shareholder, and cannot have more than 100 shareholders. If any shareholder provides services to the business, the S-Corp must pay that shareholder a reasonable salary. This salary is a separate payment from distributions of profits or losses.
Trusts are usually formed upon the death of an individual and are designed to provide continuity of the investments and business activities of the deceased individual. We will not discuss trusts further.
Nonprofits are corporations formed for a charitable, civic, or artistic purpose. Nonprofits are generally exempt from federal and state taxation on their income, and so they are often called "exempt organizations." Nonprofits have substantial responsibilities for reporting their activities, income, and assets to ensure that they are in compliance with federal and state laws governing charities. For additional information on starting, managing, and developing a not-for-profit organization, see the About.com Guide to Nonprofits.
Corporations are incorporated businesses. Every form of business besides the sole proprietor is considered a separate entity, and this often provides a measure of legal and financial protection for the shareholders. The shareholders of corporations have limited liability protection, and corporations have full discretion over the amount of profits they can distribute or retain. Corporations are presumed to be for-profit entities, and as such they can have an unlimited number of years with losses. Corporations must have at least one shareholder.
Partnerships are unincorporated businesses. Like corporations, partnerships are separate entities from the shareholders. Unlike corporations, partnerships must have at lease one General Partner who assumes unlimited liability for the business. Partnerships must have at least two shareholders. Partnerships distribute all profits and losses to their shareholders without regard for any profits retained by the business for cash flow purposes. (LLCs are taxed as partnerships, unless they choose to be taxed as corporations.)
S-Corporations have features similar to a partnership. An S-corporation must have at least one shareholder, and cannot have more than 100 shareholders. If any shareholder provides services to the business, the S-Corp must pay that shareholder a reasonable salary. This salary is a separate payment from distributions of profits or losses.
Trusts are usually formed upon the death of an individual and are designed to provide continuity of the investments and business activities of the deceased individual. We will not discuss trusts further.
Nonprofits are corporations formed for a charitable, civic, or artistic purpose. Nonprofits are generally exempt from federal and state taxation on their income, and so they are often called "exempt organizations." Nonprofits have substantial responsibilities for reporting their activities, income, and assets to ensure that they are in compliance with federal and state laws governing charities. For additional information on starting, managing, and developing a not-for-profit organization, see the About.com Guide to Nonprofits.
Choosing a Successor for who business
That's not unusual. Many business owners hit a point at which they just feel overwhelmed.
There can be a variety of reasons for wanting out.
Maybe you are too hands-on and hate to delegate, and the business is growing to the point where the workload is just killing you.
Maybe you are simply working way too hard for too little money.
On the other hand, maybe business is doing so well that you feel you finally have earned and deserve a break.
Whatever your reason for wanting a change, it's OK to feel good about your decision to get out.
Changing leadership every so often is a good thing for most businesses. New leaders bring in fresh perspective, fresh ideas and fresh energy.
So who should replace you? That's a tough decision. The best way to find your replacement is to list out potential candidates and evaluate each of them on attributes that are important to you.
Build a spreadsheet with these attributes in the rows and then create a column for each succession candidate. For each attribute (i.e. row), rank each succession candidate on a scale of one to five with five being high and one being low.
Here are some sample succession candidate evaluation criteria that you might consider using:
Do you trust them?
What's their relevant experience?
What's their level of commitment to the firm?
Do they have an effective management style?
How good are their communications skills?
Will they run the business profitably?
Do they show signs of creativity that might help to grow the business?
Are guts and ambition part of their makeup?
How well do their values align with your values?
What's their education?
How well-connected are they?
Once you've filled in your spreadsheet, add up the numbers for each candidate. The total for each candidate is your assessment of how capable he or she would be as a successor. The candidate with the most points may be the best person for the job.
There can be a variety of reasons for wanting out.
Maybe you are too hands-on and hate to delegate, and the business is growing to the point where the workload is just killing you.
Maybe you are simply working way too hard for too little money.
On the other hand, maybe business is doing so well that you feel you finally have earned and deserve a break.
Whatever your reason for wanting a change, it's OK to feel good about your decision to get out.
Changing leadership every so often is a good thing for most businesses. New leaders bring in fresh perspective, fresh ideas and fresh energy.
So who should replace you? That's a tough decision. The best way to find your replacement is to list out potential candidates and evaluate each of them on attributes that are important to you.
Build a spreadsheet with these attributes in the rows and then create a column for each succession candidate. For each attribute (i.e. row), rank each succession candidate on a scale of one to five with five being high and one being low.
Here are some sample succession candidate evaluation criteria that you might consider using:
Do you trust them?
What's their relevant experience?
What's their level of commitment to the firm?
Do they have an effective management style?
How good are their communications skills?
Will they run the business profitably?
Do they show signs of creativity that might help to grow the business?
Are guts and ambition part of their makeup?
How well do their values align with your values?
What's their education?
How well-connected are they?
Once you've filled in your spreadsheet, add up the numbers for each candidate. The total for each candidate is your assessment of how capable he or she would be as a successor. The candidate with the most points may be the best person for the job.
Achieve Entrepreneur Success with Optimism
There may be times when you question your ability to succeed and whether or not you're cut out to be an entrepreneur at all. One essential thing for you to do to achieve entrepreneur success is to remain optimistic. Achieving entrepreneur success with optimism is a technique and way of life for many thriving business people.
Celebrate The Good
One key point to achieving success with optimism is to make it a point to celebrate every good thing that happens in your business and in your life for that matter. Whether it be a day where you met your sales quota or one where all your customers were satisfied, this will help you to see that things aren't as bleak as they sometimes may seem. By celebrating the good, you get yourself in a frame of mind that positive things are possible and do happen. This will put you in a mode of expectancy. It's a proven fact that people tend to receive from the universe what they expect to receive. Celebrating the good helps to raise your level of expectations for good things to continue to happen.
Connect With Positive People
Align yourself with others who are optimistic. The old saying of "birds of a feather flock together" is true. If you want to have a more positive outlook on life, you need to surround yourself with others that have the same outlook. Stay away from individuals who believe they are the victims of what's happening to them as opposed to those who believe that they control their own destiny.
Get Advice From Successful People
You should never take advice from someone you wouldn't want to trade places with. Get advice from successful people who are experiencing prosperity in their businesses and personal lives. These type of people usually love sharing how they got to where they are and giving you tips on how to do the same.
Celebrate The Good
One key point to achieving success with optimism is to make it a point to celebrate every good thing that happens in your business and in your life for that matter. Whether it be a day where you met your sales quota or one where all your customers were satisfied, this will help you to see that things aren't as bleak as they sometimes may seem. By celebrating the good, you get yourself in a frame of mind that positive things are possible and do happen. This will put you in a mode of expectancy. It's a proven fact that people tend to receive from the universe what they expect to receive. Celebrating the good helps to raise your level of expectations for good things to continue to happen.
Connect With Positive People
Align yourself with others who are optimistic. The old saying of "birds of a feather flock together" is true. If you want to have a more positive outlook on life, you need to surround yourself with others that have the same outlook. Stay away from individuals who believe they are the victims of what's happening to them as opposed to those who believe that they control their own destiny.
Get Advice From Successful People
You should never take advice from someone you wouldn't want to trade places with. Get advice from successful people who are experiencing prosperity in their businesses and personal lives. These type of people usually love sharing how they got to where they are and giving you tips on how to do the same.
The Sport of Business
From coaching to team-building, it seems like the best way to run a business these days is to manage it like a sports franchise. But are sports metaphors really a helpful way to think about your small business?
Although the comparison between sports and small business has its limitations, there are certain aspects of owning a small business that are analogous to managing a sports team.
After all, small businesses and sports teams are both comprised of individuals working together to achieve a common goal. As your company's "head coach", it's your job to make sure the team is equipped to achieve that goal. Here's how to do it:
Create a Game Plan
Good coaches know the importance of going into the game with a game plan. The same is true for good business owners, only your game plan is your strategy for achieving your company's goals.
Like every game plan, your business strategy should describe each team member's role and team members should be encouraged to understand how each person fits into the overall scheme of the business.
Also, your strategy should be flexible enough to accommodate changes in the marketplace if and when they occur.
Recruit Quality Players
Winning teams consist of winning players. Your ability to achieve your goals in business will be limited by your ability to attract and hire quality employees.
In the same way that coaches scout and recruit talented players, you need to routinely seek out the best and the brightest for your company. Ironically, a good place to begin your search is the same place professional sports franchises go to recruit new talent - college campuses.
Often, small businesses can offer college graduates opportunities that can't be found in blue chip competitors.
Play to Win
Winning teams play to win. Likewise, winning businesses play to succeed - to achieve their strategic goals, and realize steady trends of growth and profit.
As the business' owner, it falls on your shoulders to set a winning tone for your employees. If you approach your goals with a "can-do" attitude, your employees will display a similar attitude and will go the extra mile for the sake of the team.
Focus on Fundamentals
When a coach tells his players to focus on fundamentals, he is reminding them to maintain proficiency in the bread-and-butter skills that are vital to the sport. Similarly, your company's fundamentals are your core proficiencies, the products and services your company is known for in the marketplace.
Although the comparison between sports and small business has its limitations, there are certain aspects of owning a small business that are analogous to managing a sports team.
After all, small businesses and sports teams are both comprised of individuals working together to achieve a common goal. As your company's "head coach", it's your job to make sure the team is equipped to achieve that goal. Here's how to do it:
Create a Game Plan
Good coaches know the importance of going into the game with a game plan. The same is true for good business owners, only your game plan is your strategy for achieving your company's goals.
Like every game plan, your business strategy should describe each team member's role and team members should be encouraged to understand how each person fits into the overall scheme of the business.
Also, your strategy should be flexible enough to accommodate changes in the marketplace if and when they occur.
Recruit Quality Players
Winning teams consist of winning players. Your ability to achieve your goals in business will be limited by your ability to attract and hire quality employees.
In the same way that coaches scout and recruit talented players, you need to routinely seek out the best and the brightest for your company. Ironically, a good place to begin your search is the same place professional sports franchises go to recruit new talent - college campuses.
Often, small businesses can offer college graduates opportunities that can't be found in blue chip competitors.
Play to Win
Winning teams play to win. Likewise, winning businesses play to succeed - to achieve their strategic goals, and realize steady trends of growth and profit.
As the business' owner, it falls on your shoulders to set a winning tone for your employees. If you approach your goals with a "can-do" attitude, your employees will display a similar attitude and will go the extra mile for the sake of the team.
Focus on Fundamentals
When a coach tells his players to focus on fundamentals, he is reminding them to maintain proficiency in the bread-and-butter skills that are vital to the sport. Similarly, your company's fundamentals are your core proficiencies, the products and services your company is known for in the marketplace.
Managing Team Dynamics in who business
To get started in business initially takes a lot of courage, mental toughness, perseverance, drive, ambition, a lot of which have nothing to do with other people. However to keep a business growing and thriving means you have to keep the people who are working in the company growing, thriving, and working well together, and that requires a whole new set of skills.
There are a few things you must make sure to do in order to have a company that is successful in working together:
Have relationships throughout the organization
One of the most important things you need to do as a leader of your organization is to build relationships with as many people as possible. Of course use the 80/20 rule for this as it is virtually impossible to have a great relationship with your entire team. Try and "invest" 80% of your time in 20% of the people who are producing 80% of the results, but make sure to "spend" time with everyone so they all feel valued. This helps to always keep you in the know and helps you to start to figure out the types of strengths you have in different parts of your team. You also get to know the truth of what is really going on when you go to the lower ranks of your team and build relationships. Sometimes the people directly under you can be misleading in their communication with you about what is going on beneath them. Having good relationships with the people below them will help reduce the risk of a cancer spreading before you catch it.
Edify the right example
Make sure you are consistent in your praise and recognition of others. Never praise someone just to praise them. There has to be a valid reason for edification of anyone in your team and that reason needs to be clear, communicated, and understood by everyone. Edification that is not justified will create disunity and the eventual breakdown in camaraderie. If you praise people who are not doing anything just so they can feel better about themselves you will frustrate the leaders and the producers in the organization. On the other hand if you only praise the leaders and producers you will demoralize the people who might not be producing as of yet.
Understand personality differences
Difference in personalities is a big reason why most people in teams do not get along. As a leader it is important you appreciate the differences in personality that the people in your team have. You can't treat every employee the same way. Each person is motivated by something different, connects differently, talks differently, etc. Just like every child is different even though they come from the same sets of parents, every employee is different even if they work for the same company. Most companies are less like well-oiled machines and more like dysfunctional families if you take a closer look. If you keep that in mind you will always have an environment where every type of person feels they have a voice and that will always facilitate growth.
Chukwuma Asala is an international student from Nigeria who is studying to earn an MBA from the State University of New York in Albany. He has analyzed more than 20 industry case studies throughout his education thus far, and hopes to bring some of his business knowledge to Gaebler.com.
There are a few things you must make sure to do in order to have a company that is successful in working together:
Have relationships throughout the organization
One of the most important things you need to do as a leader of your organization is to build relationships with as many people as possible. Of course use the 80/20 rule for this as it is virtually impossible to have a great relationship with your entire team. Try and "invest" 80% of your time in 20% of the people who are producing 80% of the results, but make sure to "spend" time with everyone so they all feel valued. This helps to always keep you in the know and helps you to start to figure out the types of strengths you have in different parts of your team. You also get to know the truth of what is really going on when you go to the lower ranks of your team and build relationships. Sometimes the people directly under you can be misleading in their communication with you about what is going on beneath them. Having good relationships with the people below them will help reduce the risk of a cancer spreading before you catch it.
Edify the right example
Make sure you are consistent in your praise and recognition of others. Never praise someone just to praise them. There has to be a valid reason for edification of anyone in your team and that reason needs to be clear, communicated, and understood by everyone. Edification that is not justified will create disunity and the eventual breakdown in camaraderie. If you praise people who are not doing anything just so they can feel better about themselves you will frustrate the leaders and the producers in the organization. On the other hand if you only praise the leaders and producers you will demoralize the people who might not be producing as of yet.
Understand personality differences
Difference in personalities is a big reason why most people in teams do not get along. As a leader it is important you appreciate the differences in personality that the people in your team have. You can't treat every employee the same way. Each person is motivated by something different, connects differently, talks differently, etc. Just like every child is different even though they come from the same sets of parents, every employee is different even if they work for the same company. Most companies are less like well-oiled machines and more like dysfunctional families if you take a closer look. If you keep that in mind you will always have an environment where every type of person feels they have a voice and that will always facilitate growth.
Chukwuma Asala is an international student from Nigeria who is studying to earn an MBA from the State University of New York in Albany. He has analyzed more than 20 industry case studies throughout his education thus far, and hopes to bring some of his business knowledge to Gaebler.com.
Making Good Business Decisions
That's the kind of leader your business deserves and that's the kind of leader you can be. All you need are a few common-sense decision-making tips, and you'll be on your way in no in time.
The key to good decision-making is self-discipline. Most small business owners are forced to make so many decisions that the temptation to shoot from the hip can sometimes be overwhelming. But sloppy decision-making almost always backfires, creating more problems than solutions. Instead of winging it, the best decision-makers adhere to self-imposed decision-making guidelines that are designed to make every decision count. Here are five of the best that you may want to consider.
The key to good decision-making is self-discipline. Most small business owners are forced to make so many decisions that the temptation to shoot from the hip can sometimes be overwhelming. But sloppy decision-making almost always backfires, creating more problems than solutions. Instead of winging it, the best decision-makers adhere to self-imposed decision-making guidelines that are designed to make every decision count. Here are five of the best that you may want to consider.
Proper Business Dress
The safest bet for men is always a suit. Style doesn't matter too much, but the suit should be well fitted with the appropriate lengths for both the pants and the suit jacket. Dark colors like Black, Navy Blue and Smoke Grey are preferable over any other colors with a white shirt as a background. White is universal and goes well with any suits and any ties. The back of the pants should rest comfortably at the base of the shoe but not touching the ground with the front of the pants resting comfortably on the front of the show with little folding.
The arms of suit jackets should not pass the wrist and preferably should be at least three-eighths of an inch from the wrist to allow the shirt sleeves to show up from under the suit jacket which gives a very professional look.
Ties should command respect like solid red, pink, something that stands out noticeably. Make sure that the tie does not pass over the belt buckle of the pants but isn't too short either.
For women, dress suits are very professional and are really a step up from pant suits. Pant suits should be used for semi-formal wear. And remember to always wear pantyhose at all times. For dress suits, it is important that the skirt not be too high and the top of the shirt not be too low. If the budget is limited for both men and women, purchase two good suits and alternate the shirts in the case of the women and the ties in the case of the men.
The arms of suit jackets should not pass the wrist and preferably should be at least three-eighths of an inch from the wrist to allow the shirt sleeves to show up from under the suit jacket which gives a very professional look.
Ties should command respect like solid red, pink, something that stands out noticeably. Make sure that the tie does not pass over the belt buckle of the pants but isn't too short either.
For women, dress suits are very professional and are really a step up from pant suits. Pant suits should be used for semi-formal wear. And remember to always wear pantyhose at all times. For dress suits, it is important that the skirt not be too high and the top of the shirt not be too low. If the budget is limited for both men and women, purchase two good suits and alternate the shirts in the case of the women and the ties in the case of the men.
Signs of a Good Leader in business
Written by Scott Scheper for Gaebler Ventures
How can you tell if you're succeeding as a leader? Here, we provide six steps that ensure you're headed on the right track to becoming an effective leader, and explain how to keep your employees happy.
Being a business owner requires strong leadership abilities.
(article continues below)
How can you tell if you're succeeding as a leader? Here, we provide six steps that ensure you're headed on the right track to becoming an effective leader, and explain how to keep your employees happy.
Being a business owner requires strong leadership abilities.
(article continues below)
Business Leadership
Being a good leader is often a key success factor that determines whether an entrepreneur will succeed or fail. In this article, we take a look at the characteristics of good business leaders.
What does it take to be a good business leader? Do you have what it takes to lead a business?
(article continues below)
Over the past several years, one of the most important contributions psychology has made to the field of business has been in determining the key traits of acknowledged leaders.
Psychological tests have been used to determine what characteristics are most commonly noted among successful leaders. This list of characteristics can be used for developmental purposes to help managers gain insight and develop their leadership skills.
The increasing rate of change in the business environment is a major factor in this new emphasis on leadership. Whereas in the past, managers were expected to maintain the status quo in order to move ahead, new forces in the marketplace have made it necessary to expand this narrow focus. The new leaders of tomorrow are visionary. They are both learners and teachers. Not only do they foresee paradigm changes in society, but they also have a strong sense of ethics and work to build integrity in their organizations.
Raymond Cattell, a pioneer in the field of personality assessment, developed the Leadership Potential equation in 1954. This equation, which was based on a study of military leaders, is used today to determine the traits which characterize an effective leader. The traits of an effective leader include the following:
Emotional stability. Good leaders must be able to tolerate frustration and stress. Overall, they must be well-adjusted and have the psychological maturity to deal with anything they are required to face.
What does it take to be a good business leader? Do you have what it takes to lead a business?
(article continues below)
Over the past several years, one of the most important contributions psychology has made to the field of business has been in determining the key traits of acknowledged leaders.
Psychological tests have been used to determine what characteristics are most commonly noted among successful leaders. This list of characteristics can be used for developmental purposes to help managers gain insight and develop their leadership skills.
The increasing rate of change in the business environment is a major factor in this new emphasis on leadership. Whereas in the past, managers were expected to maintain the status quo in order to move ahead, new forces in the marketplace have made it necessary to expand this narrow focus. The new leaders of tomorrow are visionary. They are both learners and teachers. Not only do they foresee paradigm changes in society, but they also have a strong sense of ethics and work to build integrity in their organizations.
Raymond Cattell, a pioneer in the field of personality assessment, developed the Leadership Potential equation in 1954. This equation, which was based on a study of military leaders, is used today to determine the traits which characterize an effective leader. The traits of an effective leader include the following:
Emotional stability. Good leaders must be able to tolerate frustration and stress. Overall, they must be well-adjusted and have the psychological maturity to deal with anything they are required to face.
The Sport of Business
What can business leaders learn from sports coaches? It turns out there's tons to be learned. Here's our take on how winning sports methods can be applied to business to foster business success.
Crack open any business-based resource and you will inevitably see buzzwords that have traditionally been associated with the world of sports.
(article continues below)
Crack open any business-based resource and you will inevitably see buzzwords that have traditionally been associated with the world of sports.
(article continues below)
Leadership in Drainage Solutions in business
At ADS we have established a reputation for leadership in the drainage industry by exceeding the expectations of our customers, employees, shareholders and other stakeholders. We remain committed to the development of state-of-the-art products and services that set industry standards, and help solve water management challenges.
Our reputation is made and supported by our products. Whether the project involves storm and sanitary sewers, agricultural drainage, road and highway construction, residential and commercial development or turf and recreational applications, there is an ADS Corrugated HDPE Pipe solution. In addition, we offer solutions for surface runoff retention/detention systems, on-site leaching chambers and septic systems.
Our Core Values will serve to help us deliver those products, services and innovation that our customers demand.
Our reputation is made and supported by our products. Whether the project involves storm and sanitary sewers, agricultural drainage, road and highway construction, residential and commercial development or turf and recreational applications, there is an ADS Corrugated HDPE Pipe solution. In addition, we offer solutions for surface runoff retention/detention systems, on-site leaching chambers and septic systems.
Our Core Values will serve to help us deliver those products, services and innovation that our customers demand.
Home Economic
To buy or not to buy, that is the question. Whether ’tis nobler in the bank’s hands or to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous mortgages. My apologies to Shakespeare. I hand it off to Brett Arends and The Wall Street Journal and their 10 Reasons to buy a home.
Enough with the doom and gloom about homeownership.
Sure, maybe there’s more pain to come in the housing market. But when Time magazine starts running covers that declare “Owning a home may no longer make economic sense,” it’s time to say: Enough is enough. This is what “capitulation” looks like. Everyone has given up.
Enough with the doom and gloom about homeownership.
Sure, maybe there’s more pain to come in the housing market. But when Time magazine starts running covers that declare “Owning a home may no longer make economic sense,” it’s time to say: Enough is enough. This is what “capitulation” looks like. Everyone has given up.
The Taboo of the Bananas: Organizational Culture and Recruiting
Once upon a time there was a company known as Robotic Chromosomes. Don’t bother Googling it; it’s no longer in business, and besides, that’s not the real name. Robotic Chromosomes had a way of hiring programmers that isn’t all that unfamiliar to folks in the software industry: logic puzzles. Like Microsoft, and various other companies, Robotic Chromosomes put every potential engineer
through a series of logic puzzles in order to determine if those engineers were qualified.
There is, in fact, no actual correlation between programming ability and the ability to solve logic puzzles.This did not stop the folks at Robotic Chromosomes, who were convinced of the validity of their methods and were not interested in allowing facts to get in the way.
Even within the logic puzzle method, though, there were some definite oddities and idiosyncrasies that distinguished Robotic
Chromosomes from other companies.
through a series of logic puzzles in order to determine if those engineers were qualified.
There is, in fact, no actual correlation between programming ability and the ability to solve logic puzzles.This did not stop the folks at Robotic Chromosomes, who were convinced of the validity of their methods and were not interested in allowing facts to get in the way.
Even within the logic puzzle method, though, there were some definite oddities and idiosyncrasies that distinguished Robotic
Chromosomes from other companies.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
What Human Business And the Social Web Are About
I want to share my take on how human business works, and what the social web is all about. When I talk about these things, they might not line up with what you’ve thought about, but that’s okay. We see things differently. To me, this is a large tapestry and we’re weaving the fabric of new stories together a little at a time. It’s okay if you don’t see it this way yet. I just want to share my perspective, if only to give you a fuzzy squint into what I believe is here, and what I think is coming with all this. Your thoughts and additions to this are welcome. Or this might not resonate at all. I’m open to your ideas, either way.
How to Recognize Your Green Business Deficits and Solve The
Sustainability is here to stay as a central business issue, yet many corporations do not have the right resources or organization to comply with the new demands efficiently or, more importantly, to turn them to business advantage. I have found that companies not ready for this challenge typically show one or more of these five traits:
* Responsibility for sustainability issues is fragmented. Many organizations scatter responsibility for sustainability so thoroughly — in operations, legal, compliance, government affairs, corporate communications — that it only comes together at the CEO level (or, worse, in an ad hoc group set up by the CEO).
* No one at the top understands the potential for competitive advantage in sustainability. The company's leaders view sustainability as a set of technical compliance issues (for energy systems or smokestack scrubbers, for example) and delegate them to lower levels to execute.
* There is no sustainability tab in the business plan binder. There are no explicit processes making sustainability a business issue, leaving no one responsible for pursuing such a strategy. Sustainability, if it makes the business plan at all, is an add-on issue.
* Responsibility for sustainability issues is fragmented. Many organizations scatter responsibility for sustainability so thoroughly — in operations, legal, compliance, government affairs, corporate communications — that it only comes together at the CEO level (or, worse, in an ad hoc group set up by the CEO).
* No one at the top understands the potential for competitive advantage in sustainability. The company's leaders view sustainability as a set of technical compliance issues (for energy systems or smokestack scrubbers, for example) and delegate them to lower levels to execute.
* There is no sustainability tab in the business plan binder. There are no explicit processes making sustainability a business issue, leaving no one responsible for pursuing such a strategy. Sustainability, if it makes the business plan at all, is an add-on issue.
How to Cite Sources in a Business Plan
A business plan must be grounded in solid research that is verifiable by the lenders and investors who will read it. Additionally, you'll often use the process of writing the business plan as a tool to help you better understand your own business and product. Citing your sources is critical to establishing your credibility and for remembering how you arrived at the conclusions and figures you present in your plan.
Read more: How to Cite Sources in a Business Plan | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5827432_cite-sources-business-plan.html#ixzz10ObApHGp
Read more: How to Cite Sources in a Business Plan | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5827432_cite-sources-business-plan.html#ixzz10ObApHGp
Monday, September 20, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Mesa Health Insurance - a booming company in providing genuine Health Insurance
A single person can rely only on his own income. In case of a sudden injury or an accident or the diagnosis of a disease, the medical expenses have to be borne by the single himself. Singles have no other family member to aid them financially. Hence, it is important that singles have a good health insurance policy that covers all medical expenditures. This will ensure that the single person does not have to be financially burnt out in case of illness or an accident. If adequate health insurance single is not enjoyed by an individual, his entire savings can be used up as medical expenses. Having the health insurance single will give mental peace to the singles and protect them from unexpected expenses
Health insurance refers to the insurance policy that pays for every kind of health expenses. There are many individuals who get health insurance eit
Health insurance refers to the insurance policy that pays for every kind of health expenses. You can purchase health insurance from low-cost insurers or you can go for government sponsored insurance programs. A health insurance policy is a contract where both parties agree to the sharing of the risk
Buy inexpensive Milwaukee Health Insurance in immediate and easy manner
Health insurance refers to the insurance policy that pays for every kind of health expenses. There are many individuals who get health insurance either through their jobs or are covered because any of their family members is working. A health insurance policy is a contract where both parties agree to the sharing of the risk.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
: What benefits does the x4 labs penis stretcher have
I don’t know about you, but when it comes to the leader of the penis stretcher market, the one developed by the x4 labs is in many ways the best. But there are some other benefits than the obvious penis improvements and this is where you will find out about them
Get help on what natural essential oils to buy
Natural essential oils are used predominantly in aromatherapy and at Baldwins we have a great number available
James Wong's "Grow Your Own Drugs
James Wong is an ethnobotanist from Twickenham in the UK and best known for his BBC2 series "Grow Your Own Drugs
Know more about Aloe Vera products
At Baldwin's we supply a large and varied range of Aloe Vera products from the cosmetic to the medicinal.
Oil Burners for beautiful, relaxing and delightful scent
If you want to fill a room with a beautiful, relaxing and delightful scent, whether for therapeutic reasons or just to freshen up the atmosphere in your home, then one of the most effective ways of doing so is with oil burners.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Anti Aging Cream For Timeless Beauties
For all those women who aberration and about-face their faces attractive in mirror every morning, the acceptable anti crumbling creams accept brought some solace. Well, it doesn't beggarly these women do not accept the acceptation of adroit aging, rather they accept it appealing able-bodied and that's why use the best anti crumbling chrism as a band-aid to their contraction problem. Understanding the needs of these crumbling women, abundant companies accept taken attempt into advancing
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Increase Ejaculation Naturally
Most males yearn to have the confindence to produce extra sperm so that they can exhude huge, effective orgasms. Larger volume of semen can multiply pleasure on ejaculation since your physique requires stronger contractions to release extra seminal fluid on ejaculation
To achieve financial independence, experts encourage even currently employed individuals to consider entrepreneurship. Setting up your own business, n
My neighbor asked me, "Why would anyone sell a successful company?". He could not understand why anyone would leave a business that was doing well. Of course successful companies get sold all the time
Credit Card Services and Business Loans for the Small Business
To achieve financial independence, experts encourage even currently employed individuals to consider entrepreneurship. Setting up your own business, no matter how small, is touted as one of the best ways toward building the foundation for wealth. Those who are concerned about having a safety net need not take the plunge recklessly. One can start setting up a small business even while employed.
How to get the most from your personal relationships
We are all guilty of taking things for granted. Perhaps the thing we take for granted most of all are our personal relationships. However, very rarely do we stop to think about the processes involved in forming personal relationships. The reason why we should, is because personal relationships are at the heart of our happiness and future success.
Networking is one example of this. Your ability to form both informal and formal alliances with people can make or break both your chances of happiness and success in your future life. Whether we want to or not, making the right connections will make the difference to your career or business. In short the right inter personal relationships are what give us the edge.
Interpersonal skills are essential if you want to gain confidence. Interpersonal skills come naturally to some people- but even for those of us who possess charisma in abundance there is no harm in looking at the science behind personal relationships. By refining our technique in forming relationships we can guarantee success rather than just leaving it in the lap of the gods.
Networking is one example of this. Your ability to form both informal and formal alliances with people can make or break both your chances of happiness and success in your future life. Whether we want to or not, making the right connections will make the difference to your career or business. In short the right inter personal relationships are what give us the edge.
Interpersonal skills are essential if you want to gain confidence. Interpersonal skills come naturally to some people- but even for those of us who possess charisma in abundance there is no harm in looking at the science behind personal relationships. By refining our technique in forming relationships we can guarantee success rather than just leaving it in the lap of the gods.
How to Get the Most From Your Personal Relationships
We are all guilty of taking things for granted. Perhaps the thing we take for granted most of all are our personal relationships. However, very rarely do we stop to think about the processes involved in forming personal relationships. The reason why we should, is because personal relationships are at the heart of our happiness and future success.
Networking is one example of this. Your ability to form both informal and formal alliances with people can make or break both your chances of happiness and success in your future life. Whether we want to or not, making the right connections will make the difference to your career or business. In short the right inter personal relationships are what give us the edge.
Networking is one example of this. Your ability to form both informal and formal alliances with people can make or break both your chances of happiness and success in your future life. Whether we want to or not, making the right connections will make the difference to your career or business. In short the right inter personal relationships are what give us the edge.
Get the Most from Your Personal Relationships
We are all guilty of taking things for granted. Perhaps the thing we take for granted most of all are our personal relationships. However, very rarely do we stop to think about the processes involved in forming personal relationships. The reason why we should, is because personal relationships are at the heart of our happiness and future success.
Networking is one example of this. Your ability to form both informal and formal alliances with people can make or break both your chances of happiness and success in your future life. Whether we want to or not, making the right connections will make the difference to your career or business. In short the right inter personal relationships are what give us the edge.
Networking is one example of this. Your ability to form both informal and formal alliances with people can make or break both your chances of happiness and success in your future life. Whether we want to or not, making the right connections will make the difference to your career or business. In short the right inter personal relationships are what give us the edge.
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