Legal Advice For Joint Venture Marketing

Like almost any business venture, legal advice is generally used when forming a joint venture marketing agreement. This is the wisest way to go to protect the company's assets in the event the business venture is not successful. While a well-planned out venture generally has no reason that it should fail, it is always important to protect the company. On the rare occasion that two businesses are only going to interact for a very short period of time and there are not any high risks involved with the project, then legal council is probably not necessary. For the vast majority of joint business marketing ventures, however, it is wise to include legal advice.

Choosing an attorney

Selecting an attorney for the joint business marketing project can be a difficult process. The company that initially comes up with the plan will probably want legal advice to help them draw up the outline for the project. However, it is not a good idea to approach the other company under the assumption that the project only needs one attorney. The offer for the other company to have its own legal council should always be extended. This way the second company doesn't need to fear they're going to somehow be tricked. The second option would be for neither company to use their own company's legal counsel, but instead hire outside, impartial legal advice. This way the cost of the attorney could be split without one party being unfairly represented. However, hiring an outside attorney will increase the cost of the project. If both companies already have their own attorney, then that is usually the best option to choose.

The most important stage of any joint venture is to have legal counsel present when both parties sit down to draw up the plans for their project. When making agreements such as which company is going to pay for what and how much revenue each company will earn, it's very important to have binding legal contracts that cannot result in an unfair advantage to one party or the other. If both parties are sharing the cost of legal counsel, then it is obviously only necessary for the one attorney to look the plan over. If each party decides to have its own attorney, however, it is important that both companies' legal counsel look over the plan and that they both agree that it will work.

After the initial plan has been approved by both companies and the legal counsel, it is up to the individual businesses to decide whether they wish to keep the legal advice on board for the rest of the project. Obviously if both parties are using company attorneys, then it only makes sense to keep them on hand. However, if both parties are comfortable with dismissing the legal counsel after the plans for the business venture have been agreed upon, then doing so will save both companies money. In the end, the most important thing with legal advice is that both parties feel comfortable with the situations they are agreeing upon and that both companies' assets are protected.

Christian Fea is CEO of Synertegic, Inc. A Joint Venture Marketing firm. He exemplifies how to profit from Joint Venture relationships by creating profit centers with minimal risk and maximum profitability. To discover more Joint Venture Marketing Strategies join his free report on Joint Venture Marketing.

http://EzineArticles.com/6506950

Which Is Better: A Serviced Office Or A Virtual Office?

For people who are just starting their first business or those who have always rented a traditional office they can become quite confused when faced with the option of opening or moving their business to either a serviced office or a virtual office. Some people get confused as to what the differences are between the two and others simply aren't sure which is the best choice for their business. Hopefully, this article will help clear up their confusion allowing you to make the right choice for your business needs.

A serviced office is an office building managed by a company that rents out office space on a continual basis to businesses for a period of time. You can rent the space temporarily (usually 3 to 6 months) or permanently (on a renewable lease basis). You then occupy the office and conduct your business or the majority of your business from your office. The company renting the space provides the furniture, the maintenance, and the security for the entire building. They usually provide meeting or conference rooms that are available for your use and receptionists who are shared among the tenants of the office. Office machines may also be shared between several tenants as well.

A virtual office on the other hand can be a call centre or can be an office building that supplies a live receptionist who can take calls for your business that is located at your home or a distant location. While it is a brick and mortar building with office space, meeting and conference rooms, a waiting area and even a kitchenette it usually only leases these spaces on an hourly or sometimes daily basis saving you from having to pay the high rent of long term rental yet giving you all or most of the conveniences of an office when you need it.

People who work on the road or from home on a regular basis and just need the services of a phone answering service or a receptionist to take messages and set appointments usually find a virtual office set up convenient and financially beneficial. They like the idea of being able to rent a meeting room on as needed basis rather than pay for an office space that they rarely use.

On the hand, people who need the benefit of a office on a regular basis but, simply can't afford to rent an office and hire full time staff or businesses that are expanding and simply need a short term extra space from which to conduct business until their larger office space is ready find that a serviced office offers them most of everything they need at an affordable price.

Some companies offer both serviced offices and virtual office solutions and will be happy to help you analyze your needs and see which is right for you. With both the serviced office and the virtual office the companies are extremely flexible and are willing to provide the best solutions to fit your business needs.

Looking for serviced office in Singapore? Check out Wangz serviced office here.

Feel free to publish this article on your website, or send it to your friends, as long as you keep the resource box and the content of the article intact.

The content is our own opinion and does not necessarily reflect the views of Wangz Business Centre.

http://EzineArticles.com/6510206

Optimizing Your Marketing Lists to the Max

The name of the game in marketing is finding the right target audience, starting with email. In this golden age of technology, businesses have a multitude of ways of connecting with customers and expanding their demographics, but finding the relevant audience is the first step in the journey. Connect with the right resource of it, make the most out of Facebook, Twitter and other social media tools, and you can vastly expand your demographic reach. If Facebook can have fans in Kenya, why can't you?

Don't Be Afraid of Emails:
The beauty of emails is there are no stamps involved. People laughed Bill Gates off the blog zone when he suggested charging for email. As an electronic send out, it's automatic, so there is minimal to no cost in sending them. It's a matter of freedom of speech. You can send hundreds, thousands, millions of emails. It doesn't matter. Some will strike home, and the more the merrier.

At the same time, your emails will be more effective with the right one. While email is as free as the air, you still wan to reach the right people. Doing that means connecting with the right email marketing lists. The best way to do that is to work with a company that deals in large volumes of email list. Name your target audience, and they'll supply you with hundreds of one in those exact demographics.

Math Counts:
Don't use marketing lists blindly. Do the math, add it up, and make sensible decisions based on business intelligence. The data is there that directly tells you the effectiveness of your email one. Work with a data intelligence service that not only handles the organization of the data, but the interpretation as well. In this day and age, there's just no excuse for leaving your business subject to the winds of chance.

Swoon Them with Deals:
The best email pays you back for reading it. You'll get more leverage out of your email marketing lists when you add incentive for anyone who clicks it. Email that gives you a deal is never spam. Offer your customers something to pique their interest. Deals bring people in and light a fire under your audience. Give them something to keep them coming back.

Diversify:
While you need to target the right audiences on your email marketing lists, don't limit yourself. Subscribe to a wide range of marketing lists. Make them relevant, but comprehensive. Facebook wouldn't be Facebook if it just stuck to college students at Harvard. Invite the entire world.

Damon Kirby is the author of this article, and loves marketing lists, email marketing lists, and his kitten Sprinkles.

http://EzineArticles.com/6504912

History of Mergers and Acquisitions

In today's business, mergers and acquisitions are regular occurrences. In fact, it happens so often that many consumers can't keep up with the new company names or products. To continue thriving in our economy, companies have to grow and evolve, and that sometimes means the combination of two companies will work better for the general public and the companies involved. There are two general types of mergers and acquisitions. The first is the horizontal merger, and the other is the vertical merger. A horizontal merger is two very similar companies joining together to work as one. An example of this would be two telecommunications companies joining forces to offer similar services after the merger. While a horizontal merger is perfectly acceptable, there are many who frown on it because it can offer fewer competitors if they are located in the same market areas. When two companies merge to form one, consumers often find they no longer have a choice between two companies and must, instead, deal only with the one new company. Without the healthy competition between two companies, customer service may decline while prices skyrocket. Essentially, a monopoly is created and consumers may suffer.

A vertical merger happens when a client and a company merge. An example of this might be when a hot dog company merges with a hot dog bun company. Because both products are still offered and they work together, consumers get the products they need. A vertical merger does not eliminate the competition for a particular company and is therefore often seen as a much more welcome combination.

Mergers and acquisitions have been a part of business for hundreds of years, though they weren't as prevalent as they are today. The first significant occurrence of mergers happened in the late 1800s and early 1900s, though the concept wasn't new even then. Since that large wave of mergers and acquisitions, which has become known as the Great Merger Movement, there have been six more significant waves of merger and acquisitions. In most cases, the mergers are peaceful and welcome on the part of both companies involved. The 1990s saw several hostile takeovers, however. The years since 2000 have seen many international mergers and acquisitions, and this is changing the face of business. There is no doubt that these new overseas mergers and acquisitions will continue to alter the way we do business, and chances are that company takeovers and fusions will shape the global economy for several years to come.

Melissa Nathans is a consultant with Lyons Solutions, a top Chicago business broker and Connecticut business broker. Lyons Solutions is a mergers and acquisitions expert. For more information about mergers & acquisitions, check out http://www.lyonssolutions.com/ where you can learn more about acquisitions and mergers.

http://EzineArticles.com/6511167

How to Carry Out Luxury Research

Luxury research is necessary to most companies that manufacture and market luxury goods. Most luxury goods are sold to the wealthy, and therefore, unlike standard goods or commodities, they are targeted to a specific group of people, albeit a small one relative to the general population.

Before we discuss how luxury research is carried out, and why it is so essential to many businesses, let's first discuss the luxury market and what it is. Before you can research a specific market, you must first define it so that you fully understand what it is that you are researching.

The Luxury Market

This is where you hit your first roadblock, because even the term 'luxury' is indefinable let alone its market. To the man in the street a Cadillac is a luxury car, but to a Rolls driver is just a runabout. Having a Jacuzzi in your home might seem like luxury to you, but to others nothing less than a fully-equipped pool and spa would meet the definition. So, what many businesses that market such so-called luxury goods will do is that, rather than define the merchandise, they define the market: or those most likely to purchase high-end consumer goods.

What it boils down is that in order to carry out luxury research you have to define who will purchase them and then research that group. How do you do that - you cannot simply email the wealthy and ask them to complete a questionnaire for you because they would refuse? We refuse ourselves, unless we are offered an incentive to do so: a free draw entry or some other form of compensation for completing the survey.

Luxury Research - The Practicalities

In fact, luxury research is not carried out in the same way as a normal consumer survey would be. To understand why, consider for a moment any consumer surveys you have completed in the past. You are generally asked what goods you usually purchase, what initially attracted you to them and that sort of thing. Why do you buy Product A rather than Product B? Do you make use of discounts, and do you buy on price or brand name - questions like that.

Now consider the wealthy and luxury research. You cannot ask the same questions. Why did you buy that Rolls Royce? Did you buy your $20 million yacht on price or brand name? It just does not work. You have to go about a luxury survey a different way, and not so much carry out a consumer survey, as carry out research into the buying habits of the wealthy.

That's why it's referred to as a luxury survey, affluent survey or affluence research. In fact, historical information would be of little use to you. Does it matter if a particular subject purchased a particular luxury item last year? It's not something you buy regularly, so trend analysis would be of little use to you unless some details of the future intentions of the rich. Then you might spot trends and seek out ways of making that type of analysis work for your firm.

Luxury Surveys and Analyzing Results

Luxury research tends to be carried out by companies experienced in that type of work. They have a database of wealthy people prepared to cooperate in the research by expressing their current wishes and desires and offering an indication of any future consumer spending on luxury products they have in mind. They might even provide useful information on how they intend to split their disposable income between investment and luxury goods.

By getting that type of information from large numbers of wealthy people you may be able to spot a trend that your business can make use of, so that you are ready for them when they are ready to spend their money. The best way to sell a luxury item to the wealthy is not to attempt to sell them a stock item, but to develop a product that meets their needs prior to them requesting it. Find that trend, or more wealthy people seeking the same type of item, and your research could be lucrative.

Custom Affluence Research

This type of luxury research will take the form of custom affluence research, where a dedicated market research firm will discuss what you want to achieve from your research project and then devise the right questions to ask their wealthy contacts so that you get the best information you can. They do not only generally carry out the survey of wealthy people on their database, but also analyze the results for you so that you get the best possible return for your investment in the project.

Luxury research is an ideal way to determine the future purchasing intentions of the wealthy, and a means of you having the right products at the right time to meet their needs. Impress them once with your entrepreneurialism and the wealthy will be more likely to come to you first if they have another requirement.

It is important that you carry out luxury research the correct way. For more details on how to do this and how custom affluent research is carried out, then visit the American Affluence Research Center website at AffluenceResearch.org.

http://EzineArticles.com/6507252

The Difference Between Luxury Consumers and Affluent Consumers

Luxury consumers and affluent consumers are not the same, but are different sets of the consumer market for two fundamental reasons. It is important for many businesses that they can distinguish the difference between the two, because the subtle differences involved can have a significant impact on your future manufacturing and marketing strategies, and even on the future success of your business.

Here are two fundamental ways in which luxury consumers and affluent consumers differ:

A. Not Only Affluent Consumers Enjoy the Luxury Market

It is not just the affluent that enjoy luxury goods, and many ordinary people will splash out now and again on luxury items, particularly for special occasions and at certain times of the year. Birthdays, anniversaries and traditional celebrations such as Christmas and Hanukkah are often associated with splashing out on small luxuries - some not so small!

Weddings, engagements and so on are also associated with luxury, and although it is certainly agreed that what is a treat or a special purchase for most of us is commonplace to the wealthy, it nevertheless means that luxury consumers and affluent consumers are not synonymous.

B. Luxury is Indefinable, Affluence is Not

It can easily be shown that while luxury cannot be defined, affluence can be. Consider the term 'luxury'. Can you put a figure to that? No - in fact it is impossible to measure luxury in any meaningful way. You can't say anything over $20,000 is luxury, because you can't get a luxury car for that, but you can sure get some luxury ice cream!

What is luxury to you may not be to Bill Gates, and your idea of a luxury ski-boat might not be good enough for the billionaire next door with his $50 million luxury cruiser. This isn't frivolous: it's a simple way of demonstrating that luxury is in the eyes of the beholder and cannot be measured, and hence it cannot be defined.

Affluence, however, can be defined, and in the USA it is generally taken as being the top 10% of American households, enjoying an annual income of at least $250,000, responsible for 36% of the nation's total household income and almost 50% of its consumer spending. Now, 10% of households cannot use up 50% of total consumer spending on everyday items and food! So the affluent market spend a lot of money on what we refer to as 'luxuries' and they refer to as sometimes 'necessities' and sometimes 'extras',

C. How to Assess the Affluent Market

The 'extras' are the high-ticket products beyond the reach of the vast majority of us. They are not' luxuries' to us, because we will never own them, no matter how hard we save. However, businesses that make these goods, and even those that make the less expensive high-end merchandise, still have to carry out market analysis and consumer surveys if they are to be able to assess their competitors and the potential market in the future.

Unlike most market surveys, historical data from affluent consumers, and perhaps we could also use the term luxury consumers, even though we are involved in just a small part of the market, cannot be used with any degree of accuracy to create a forecast for the future. That's largely because the spending habits of the wealthy change with the wind - or, more accurately, with the trading markets - and also they tend not to purchase high-end yachts every year.

Affluent consumers must be approached personally and asked how they foresee their consumer spending going next year and farther into the future. Many will offer you answers because they understand that they have to cooperate with the designers and manufacturers if their needs are to be met. Not all their spending is on off-the-shelf items, and it is important to auto designers to get a feel for the higher end of their market before committing to new models for affluent consumers. Where luxury consumers are concerned, they will generally take up the slack left by the wealthy, who will still need those lower-priced luxury items and not all developments are affordable only by the rich.

Take car design, for instance. Many of the refinements in auto-technology developed for affluent consumers and tested in Formula motor racing eventually work their way down to cheaper models - luxury models, but not as expensive as the high-end market products. The difference between affluent consumers and luxury consumers is vast when the extremes are compared, but there is an overlap of the luxury and affluent markets which you often get when one is definable and the other is not.

More details on the differences between affluent consumers and luxury consumers together with important information on custom affluence research is available on the Affluent Research website AffluenceResearch.org.

http://EzineArticles.com/6507263

Starting Business On A Shoe String? A Serviced Office Can Help

With the economy the way it is and so many people finding themselves out of work, now seems the time to go out on your own and start that new business you have always dreamed of. However, starting a new business is always difficult and expensive and those with limited funds may find it difficult to stretch the money they have to invest to include all those items and staff that starting a new business may involve. Luckily, a serviced office may be an excellent solution to those just starting a new business and doing so on a shoe string budget. Here is how a serviced office can help you get a good start on your business without going over budget.

Furnished Office Space

Setting up the office itself is an expensive endeavour. Not only do you need to rent office space for yourself but, you may also need to have addition space for conferences, your receptionist, and a waiting area. On top of that you will need to rent or purchase office furniture, office machines and other items necessary to get your new office up and running. However, with a serviced office, you rent the office and the service provides the furniture, access to a conference room and to the business machines you need. While the rent on these offices may be slightly higher than renting that empty office space, you save money in the long run because the furniture, conference area, and use of the machines are provided as part of your rental agreement.

An Impressive Address

In many cases, service offices are located in great areas of the city which means from the first day you open your office you are able to provide potential clients with an impressive address rather than one in a less attractive part of the city. One of the most important things about becoming successful and building client trust is giving new clients the impression that you are already successful which an impressive address can do.

Receptionist/Answering Service

In most cases a serviced office provides you with a shared receptionist and answering service saving you the expense of hiring someone full time to fill these positions. Often times, unless you choose to pay for each service separately these services are part of your rent so there is no extra cost involved in their services. This can really save you a great deal of money when you are just starting a business.
Support Staff When Needed

In addition to all the other money saving benefits a serviced office can provide to a new business they also provide you with support staff when you need them. This is a great savings for businesses just starting out because you are saved from paying full time wages to staff members those first few months when business may simply be too slow to need this type of staff on a regular basis.

Serviced offices do a great job of providing for the needs of a business starting out while helping to keep those costs down which is a real help when you are starting a business on a limited income.

Looking for serviced office in Singapore? Check out Wangz serviced office here.

Feel free to publish this article on your website, or send it to your friends, as long as you keep the resource box and the content of the article intact.

The content is our own opinion and does not necessarily reflect the views of Wangz Business Centre.

http://EzineArticles.com/6510204

The Touch Screen Display: Profits Through Better Customer Interaction

The touch screen display is becoming one of the most powerful branding and customer education tools in the business world today. With the advent of social media, businesses and organizations are seeking new ways to connect with today's technologically savvy and socially-motivated consumer, and multi-touch hardware and software applications are quickly becoming one of the most effective means of doing so. However, from a marketing standpoint this particular method is interesting in that it's not the technology itself that motivates or even interests consumers - it's the interaction that it provides. Businesses that utilize the touch screen display for this purpose will realize increased profits as a result of improved consumer relations.

One of the fastest growing and most important markets today is an increasingly technologically savvy one. Consumers in their teens on up through their thirties have a mastery of everyday technology that allows them to instantly communicate and network, research and uncover information, comparison shop, seek entertainment and educate themselves. Businesses that cater to this group can capture one of the most profitable demographics out there - and there are few better ways to do this than with a touch screen display. By speaking to this valuable consumer group in a language they understand, companies can build relationships with these individuals that go far beyond what a brick and mortar or static website-based business could hope to accomplish.

Regardless of demographics, nearly all humans are visually oriented and learn best from visual cues and information. The ability to educate employees, consumers, clients and peers in the best method possible will result in increased retention of the information presented and improved comprehension when graphical aids are well-designed. Using a touch screen display to accomplish this education will also result in a better ability on the part of the viewer to describe it later to another, leading to an improvement in the clarity of word of mouth advertising.

Touch screen displays allow consumers to literally interact with your business - even when you're not there to manage this process. While this might seem like a simple creature comfort, people feel empowered when they are able to use their own skills to uncover information, and an empowered person is one who is more likely to buy than someone who is unsure. Direct interaction on the part of consumers leads to more involvement in your company and better brand loyalty as a result. If a customer feels like they are a part of what your company is doing, they'll be more likely to do business with you.

Ultimately, a better educated customer requires less time to close the deal, saving your company money and significant effort because you'll be dealing exclusively with pre-qualified leads or repeat customers. And with the right product and the right level of education and interaction, your product or service just might sell itself. Customers who are educated are more likely to recommend your business, and in today's world of fast moving viral news and social media, this can make or break a company over night.

Take the next step in maximizing customer interactions and watch this touch screen display video.

Check out this video on multi-touch technology.

http://EzineArticles.com/6512085

Online or Offline: Location Is Everything

The Internet has changed the face of business in many ways. You are no longer restricted to selling products only to those who walk through your front door. If you have a strong online presence, you can market your goods and services all over the world. In that scenario, it almost seems that location no longer matters in the same way that it used to. While it's true that marketing has changed in some ways, location remains important, even if your sole presence is online.

Just as it's still important to have a good physical location if you have a bricks and mortar business, your online location also matters. Setting up a retail business involves buying real estate and evaluating the kind of traffic you can hope to attract there. Setting up an online business means you don't have to pay as much attention to real estate, but you do need to make sure that the traffic on the Internet is made aware of your presence. There are several ways to do this.

One is through good, old-fashioned advertising. It doesn't really matter where your website is hosted, as long as you have reliable service. Buy purchasing advertising and placing it where you think your customers will see it; you should be able to draw people to your website. One of the most popular types of online ads is click-to-pay. You put up small ads and only pay those who host it for the number of clicks that go through to your site. You can also arrange to pay a percentage of sales to those hosting your ads. This approach has the advantage of giving hosts the incentive to make your ads prominent and drive traffic to them. You also don't have to pay if no traffic comes to your site.

Another way to draw attention to your online location is by using search engine optimization (SEO). This method uses keywords to increase the likelihood that your site will appear when people type those words into search engines. The benefit of SEO is that it doesn't cost anything to do it yourself. You may find it beneficial however, to hire a professional firm to do your SEO, since it can take some time to learn how to do it very well.

Having an online presence means that you no longer have to worry about people bypassing your physical location, but in order to be effective, you will have to take some steps to make sure that your presence is just as visible online.

Online or offline, location of your business is everything. To learn more on how to build an effective online presence for your business visit Business with Success.

http://EzineArticles.com/6458090

We Need US Locomotives For Economic Growth And Job Creation

To revive its sagging economy, America needs a new locomotive of growth: a new job-creating engine. In the 19th century, canals and railways were the locomotives of growth. In the 20th century the locomotive was fueled by the combination of freeways and cheap oil. These locomotives were created by the private sector in partnership with government. Today's U.S. government stimulus quiver has run out of arrows: the traditional monetary and fiscal policies have run out of steam. We cannot stimulate domestic production without adding structural changes to the economy. It is like pushing on a string or trying to inflate a tire with a hole in it. Entire industries are now overseas, predominantly in Asia. Hence the persistent very high US jobless rate. There is absolutely nothing on the horizon that promises to revive the sagging American economy.

This paper proposes a new locomotive of growth in the form of an Apollo-scale health and energy initiative to be financed, almost totally, by the private sector. This initiative will lay a solid new foundation for a vibrant economy and put America back to work. It's a job-creating machine for the 21st century. The beauty of this plan is that it does not exacerbate the deficit or balloon the size of government.

Where will the money come from? Currently, we're in the middle of a huge liquidity crisis. Investors and corporations have trillions of dollars sitting on the sidelines waiting for a secure financial vehicle to invest in. We are proposing the creation of two new government-guaranteed private venture funds that will activate this dormant, parked money and use it to rebuild our economy--making energy and health twin locomotives for economic growth. This initiative will replace the overstretched consumer as an engine for economic growth.

Here's how the U.S. government, in conjunction with a consortium of "Venture Capitalists," can help jump start this new locomotive:

1) Develop two blueprints that detail the Energy and Health initiatives. The Energy Blueprint defines the architecture for a green nation-wide grid--including the details of how different sources of clean energy can participate in the grid. The Health Blueprint defines an Apollo-like medical research program to eradicate the big Medicare draining three chronic diseases in America, cancer, heart disease and diabetes, with a heavy emphasis on prevention. Technocrats can work out the details and present them as a package for political review and approval.

2) Announce the creation of two new government-supported Private Venture Funds: the U.S. Energy Fund and the U.S. Health Fund.

3) The government will insure the initial investments (i.e., the Founder Stocks) that go into the venture. In return, the government will be given a 15% ownership of the Founder Stocks. The bulk of the fund will come from a sea of money that is currently sitting on the sidelines looking for safe and profitable sources of investments. As a further incentive, the government could waive capital gains and dividend taxes on these funds.

4) The Energy and Health Funds will fund new and existing ventures to achieve--in record time--the goals set by the blueprints.

5) The government will subsidize some of the non-profitable parts of the plan (for example, some parts of the public energy grid, basic medical research). In these cases, the government will receive additional stock in return for its investments.

6) When these two initiatives are successful, the government will eventually sell its stocks to fund Medicare and Social Security. There are sixty trillion dollars in unfunded entitlements, primarily in Medicare and Social Security, which will somehow have to be financed. Increasing taxes on a job base which has shrunk due to globalism is not the answer.

This program will put America back to work in record time at minimal cost to the taxpayer. It will also revive the financial markets. America will be issuing government-guaranteed securities that are backed by real infrastructure. The program shifts the implementation of these initiatives from the public sector, transforming them into public private initiatives, resulting in enhanced creativity and job growth. Checks and balances, tough underwriting, transparency, bullet proofing from lobbyists and all those who will try to subvert the process for individual profiteering, high principles, and extensive due diligence are paramount to a successful program.

Implementing this plan will mobilize resources from every sector of our economy.... research and development, capital markets, domestic factory production, construction, and most importantly will harness the underutilized talents and energies of millions of American workers in all skill categories. The jobs produced must be domestic ("sticky") and not easily transferred offshore.

Structuring the energy and health initiatives as proposed, will enable them to be implemented on a much bigger and well funded scale than simply appropriating limited government funds for government administered initiatives. Just as essential, the nation will be offered a new vision to strive for, distracting its attention from the self perpetuating spiral of fear of global systemic failure we are once again in. It is a win-win proposition for putting America back to work. It's a new locomotive of growth for the 21st century. It will create millions of new American jobs without adding new taxes or expanding the deficit. Over time, the new jobs will reduce the deficit and make America the most productive country on earth.

Michael Job lives in California. He holds a BA in political science and an MBA in international finance from UCLA. He also holds a Juris Doctor in Law from Western State University. Michael has lectured in Christian apologetics and comparative religion at university campuses, business groups, and community centers in nearly thirty countries on five continents. Michael upon graduation from UCLA was employed by Credit Suisse, Los Angeles, as a loan officer, and then was active in commercial brokerage, and real estate development. Michael authored a popular apologetics website, which is translated in 12 languages, and has been a guest on radio and television shows in several countries.

http://EzineArticles.com/6486373

Why Most New Businesses Really Fail

Believe it or not it isn't a lack of funding, knowledge, bad luck or market conditions that kill most small businesses. What really, ultimately causes that demise of most start ups is the fatigue and loss of passion for the venture that sets in from long hours week after week and doing tasks that are really un-enjoyable.

Once you lose that drive and passion for your business the downward spiral begins, revenues slow, quality drops, the competition overtakes you and things grind to a halt, often with disastrous consequences.

The good news is that this is all avoidable, no matter what business you are in. The two things you need to do in order to avoid these pitfalls are to create a plan for eliminating grueling work weeks and the need to do those tasks which will grind on you and sap your drive.

Yes, starting a new business can be a lot of work. It can mean late nights of brainstorming and jumping into put out fires and may be even rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty now and again. However, you shouldn't be working long hours and weekends, week after week. Eventually it will catch up with you. You will get burnt out and you could be setting yourself up for a serious business disaster. Whether you are being wise and are outsourcing, already have a large in house staff or you have chosen to remain a one person shop you need to recognize the importance of moderating your work. If not for the sake of having a personal life, because it is essential for maintaining a high level of positive energy and passion that will fuel your success. So don't over book yourself.

No matter what industry you are in there are an array of tasks that must be handled and overseen by the entrepreneur. You have planning, marketing, payroll, recruiting, promoting, organizing, managing operation and sales. This requires a variety of different functions that vary quite widely and require different talents to accomplish them. Some involve public speaking and conversing with the public, some creative thinking, others artistic ability, some risk taking and others still an acute attention to details and organization. Most of us are not masters of all of these things or are just not interested in half of them. Perhaps you are great at math and organizing yourself so paying the bills is something you love to do and making sure that everything is documented is something you thrive on. Or maybe you crave action and love doing sales but just detest pouring over metrics and your Google Analytics. You don't have to love every tasks in your business, though of course these are items that cannot be left undone. What is important is to recognize now which of these items are going to hold you back or are going to sap your passion and love of your business.

Identify these pitfalls now and create systems so that someone else can handle the important aspects of your business that you don't want to do yourself and so you don't have to be chained to your business around the clock. Only this way will you be able to keep up your love for what you are doing and ensure the long term success of your business.

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/

http://EzineArticles.com/6514224

Second Chance: Working Women Return to School

Introduction
With the economic downturn, many individuals are turning to universities to retool their skills and abilities to become more attractive to employers. With roughly 15 million people unemployed, people are looking for new job strategies. According to the U.S. Department of Education, approximately 90 million individuals participate in some form of adult education each year, including training and basic education offered outside of traditional higher education. Yet, non-traditional students make up the fastest population of those returning to school. In fact, 40% of American college students (almost 6 million people) are 25 years of age or older. This article examines practical and proven strategies to better assist working women in their transition to higher education.

Economic Plight
Economic troubles make career planning more difficult. Since November 2009, America has lost 7.2 million jobs, with the unemployment rate topping 10%. Companies have shed 11,000 workers from their payroll. State agencies have had to lay off or furlough workers. Millions of Americans are now waiting longer for food stamps, unemployment checks, and disability payments. Margaret Simms of the Urban Institute notes, "The length of the recession clearly has put a strain on the resources that states bring to bear." Therefore, our lives continue to unravel as things we depend on disintegrate before our eyes.

Today's women comprise more than half of the labor force. According to the U.S. Labor Bureau, mothers with older children (6 to 17 years of age) are more likely to participate in the labor force than mothers with younger children (under 6 years of age). Furthermore, unmarried mothers have higher participation rates than married mothers.

The Right Strategy
Working mothers need practical, proven methods if they are to make a successful transition to college life. Yet, many working women find various obstacles that prevent them from reaching their dreams. Noriko Iwanaga Chapman, a Japan native, is a working professional with over 16 years' experience in the automobile industry. As a young, single-parent Baby Boomer, Chapman understands the demands of caring for elderly parents and raising a young family.

Chapman was preparing to enter graduate school when he encountered a severe obstacle. Chapman notes, "In 2009, when being diagnosed with cancer, I was devastated by the life-threatening disease and unknown future. A year later, I have survived and gained my health back for a second chance of my life." Overcoming the health challenge, she was able to start graduate school at Lincoln Memorial University while balancing work and family life.

Her first book, Second Chance, fully utilizes Chapman's "can do" attitude to assist others in her community. Likewise, the right strategies can help encourage a working mother who is straddling the fence when considering returning to school. Below are some proven strategies for working mothers:

• Check out the latest college scholarship books at your library, such as
Peterson's Scholarship.
• Remove or limit negative people from influencing your personal decisions related to your goals.
• Research non-traditional programs, such as weekend formats and online degree programs that provide maximum flexibility. Check out John Bear's books, such as Bears Guide to Earning Degrees by Distance Learning.
• Build a positive support group that can assist you with the demanding lifestyle of returning to school with children.
• Get a good grasp on how you will finance your education by talking with financial aid officers, applying for grants and scholarships, or borrowing the money from non-traditional sources, such as local community groups in your area.
• Join a group that shares your values and beliefs in order to build your network.
• Seek to find a mentor who has returned to school from the workforce.
• Write positive affirmations regularly to create a positive environment.
• Allow your children to share in the excitement of you returning to school.
• Be persistent and patient.

Conclusion
Many women recognize the need to retool their skills during this economic crisis, which threatens to dash the hopes of millions searching for the American Dream. With such a weak job growth outlook, many working adults are looking to sharpen their skills in order to be more competitive. Women comprise a large share of the labor force and an increasing proportion of those who are returning universities and colleges. Yet, the hectic lifestyles of most working mothers stop them from pursuing this career strategy. Going back to school can provide the mechanism to assist them in improving the quality of their lives. Therefore, taking the right steps in this transition is critical for working mothers so they can be successful.

2011 by Daryl D. Green

About Dr. Daryl Green:
Dr. Daryl Green provides motivation, guidance, and training for leaders at critical ages and stages of their development. He has over 20 years of management experience and has been noted and quoted by USA Today, Ebony Magazine, and Associated Press. For more information, you can go to http://www.nuleadership.wordpress.com/ or http://www.darylgreen.org/.

http://EzineArticles.com/6512921