Casual Articles - Business

Mining Industry and Water Protection
Modern mines collect veins of materials, which have been trapped over millions of years in the sediment. Once out in the open they can get into the ground water and move down hill with the normal erosion patterns and water flows. This is because the minerals have been buried for centuries underneath in layers from previous periods. In the old Berkeley Pit, a copper mine which is closed not far from the Sunlight Goldmine in Montana, the rain water mixing with the minerals left in the bottom of the Pit was quite toxic and contained arsenic, which is harmful in large amounts to humans and animals. Although arsenic is a poison, it is part of the natural occurring minerals in nature and common to that area. Small traces are not to bad, but once they become to high it is cause for alarm.http://www.carwashguys.com/tour_berkeley.shtml .Most of the Copper Mines in the United States have been closed. Such as the famous old mine in AZ, Bisbee Mine. Arizona at one time had many copper mines. In 1972 Congress passes the Federal Clean Water Act to protect our fresh water supplies from mining waste. Years later many had become Super Fund Sites. Today our modern technologies can prevent pollution and still allow for mining, but since most have been closed and other nations are now in the Global Market selling

s old tool set. When you are on your own, your time is your most valuable asset that unfortunately, you can’t buy more of. When you take the time to equip yourself from the get-go, you’ll be able to deliver professionally with the least amount of anxiety! And as you grow, you need to keep reinvesting to maintain that edge.

Keep learning.

There is no sorrier sight than meeting a has-been-hotshot now "consultant" who thinks he/she knows it all. If you go into business thinking that your clients are going to pay you to keep improving your skill set – you are wrong. Schedule a class, trade show, or conference at least once a month. Sure, you may have had sixty people working for you in the past at your beck and call. Now? You are on your own. So for goodness sake, learn how to really use Word or create Excel macros. Go to trade shows, pick up literature as an exhibits-only attendee, and now and then PAY to attend a conference and go to the sessions. Taking those

Heartfelt and Memorable Holiday Toasts
Give ThanksThank individuals for their contribution to the company. If your group is small, mention each person individually. In larger firms, thank teams or departments who succeeded in special initiatives or projects. Thank your partners and alliances, especially if they are sponsoring your company celebration.Share SuccessesShare specific kudos about your team members with their spouses. You know, it doesn't get much better than hearing that all of one's efforts and long hours are being recognized. And saying this to the spouse lets the spouse know you appreciate his or her sacrifices and support, as well.Allow your employees' children to hear of the contribution their parent makes to your company. Talk about those values you would want your own children to hear; perhaps "commitment," "integrity," "work ethic," "fairness," "team work," or other wonderful qualities. Be an inspiration to those children, after all they just might be your company's future leaders.Highlight the FutureAs the year winds down, it is appropriate to turn your attention to the coming year's main events and the contributions each of your employees need to make. Talk about the goals and make sure you use words and a tone of voice that will help people remember these goals a

In an environment where more and more people are leaving the “security” of a steady, corporate job to hang a shingle as an independent, the difference between those that succeed and those that fail can often be related directly to how much people are willing to invest in themselves.

Putting “skin in the game” is an expression that conveys how far you will go to prove that you are invested in the business. I’ve met so many independents that seem to think that an idea, a cell phone, and an old computer entitles them to contracts but I have found that the people who do best on their own have made significant investments in themselves before expecting others to invest in them (buying projects or infusing capital.) Over the past ten years, I have come up with a list of "no-brainers" that I think every consultant should keep in mind when deciding to go out on his own.

9 No-Brainer Non-Negotiables Keys to Success as an Independent Consultant

1. Give your company name real thought
2. Get a separate business phone line, internet address, web page
3. Buy good equipment and keep it updated
4. Ongoing education counts – go to conferences, trade shows
5. Visit clients on your own dime now and then
6. Don’t misrepresent yourself, and don’t discount the value of a virtual corporation
7. Join associations, volunteer, and network
8. Don’t be cheap
9. Don’t be greedy

What’s in a name?

Your company name and logo makes an impression before you ever get a chance to dazzle your prospect with your expertise. There are lots of opinions on naming conventions – but one thing that screams “small” are people who run one person shops, and name their companies by adding “and company”, or “and associates” to their last name. The exception to this are of course, those career professionals who have a real recognizable name in the industry they are working in. Otherwise, naming your company after yourself ties you and everyone you may hire to your name. And your name usually is NOT an indicator of the benefits you offer your clients. Starting a real business means creating something above and beyond YOU. Get out of your own way. Be clever, be original, and be descriptive. And, incidentally, if you come up with a good story about how you got your name you’ll have something to break the ice when you meet prospects.

You are NOT your company.

Outsourcing work to other consultants is part of my business model and over the years I have learned that people who don’t take themselves seriously as contractors are inconsistent with their deliverables. I look for partners who: have a separate work space in their home (with a door!), have established a business line of credit (separate business from personal expenses), have a cell phone (not one for the family that they share, but their own), have a dedicated phone line, own a domain name for business use (e.g. don’t use yourname@yahoo.com for business mail), have a relatively new notebook computer, a scanner, and at the very least a black & white laser printer. Buying legitimate copies of software counts, too. When you are “official” you have access to help lines which comes in handy when inevitably, you need real assistance to solve a problem. (As an example, I’ve gotten stuck writing complicated if/then statements in Excel, but my legitimately purchased software entitled me to tech support.)

Keep yourself updated with the best tools you can afford

I always pay a little more to get equipment that meets today’s needs and gives me room to grow. A high quality business-class telephone (like the Polycom), a laser printer, a scanner/fax machine – all of these are essential for your home office. Virtual phone systems such as GotVMail can forward your calls to any number while giving you a professional appearance for less than $10/month. And of course, keep in mind that today’s great package is tomorrow’s old tool set. When you are on your own, your time is your most valuable asset that unfortunately, you can’t buy more of. When you take the time to equip yourself from the get-go, you’ll be able to deliver professionally with the least amount of anxiety! And as you grow, you need to keep reinvesting to maintain that edge.

Keep learning.

A Golden Opportunity for Women Business Owners in a $15 Billion Market
The federal, state and local government agencies throughout the United States are looking to do business with women-owned firms like never before. One of the key reasons is that women-owned firms in the U.S. are growing like never before.The federal government, along with many states and local government agencies, maintain goals regarding the contracts they target for women-owned businesses. The federal government’s goal is 5% of the more than $300 billion in federal contracts which amounts to $15 billion in business opportunities that should be won by women-owned firms. This is both good news and bad news. The bad news is that this goal has never been reached. The good news is that there is a greater opportunity now than ever before for women-owned firms to tackle and win contracts in the government market.This is a time of golden opportunity because the SBA has finally issued the proposed regulations to implement the formal women's federal procurement program which was approved as law over five years ago, but never enacted. This important program provides a targeted option to enable federal contracting officers to "set-aside" certain procurements for women-owned businesses. This creates an unprecedented opportunity for qualified women-owned firms to jump-start their government contracting busi

thought
2. Get a separate business phone line, internet address, web page
3. Buy good equipment and keep it updated
4. Ongoing education counts – go to conferences, trade shows
5. Visit clients on your own dime now and then
6. Don’t misrepresent yourself, and don’t discount the value of a virtual corporation
7. Join associations, volunteer, and network
8. Don’t be cheap
9. Don’t be greedy

What’s in a name?

You are NOT your company.

Keep yourself updated with the best tools you can afford

Keep learning.

Technology in the Workplace - Boon or Curse?
Like all new innovations, technology in the work environment can either work for you or against you. What is good for the employer or is not always the same for the employee.Is Technology Working FOR You or AGAINST YouWhen cellphones became available it seemed that they would fill a need for instant communication - any time, any place - that would help people be more efficient and thus save time.Then email became a mainstream method of business communication. Marvelous - now telephones wouldn't ring off the hook, messages would not have to be stored and retrieved as verbal communications, which took time. Instead, information would be clear and concise and could be retrieved and answered any time, any where - again the promise of more freedom.With email, internet and cellphones, was it really necessary for workers to be restrained to the office? Maybe shorter work days would ensue. Perhaps parents could collect their children from school and be contacted at home via either of these methods.The work world was changing.This truth came about as more workers were able to take their jobs with them. The travel from home to work and back again was no longer a barrier for actually DOING the work.Telecommunication was making itself an integral part of conducting busines

d everyone you may hire to your name. And your name usually is NOT an indicator of the benefits you offer your clients. Starting a real business means creating something above and beyond YOU. Get out of your own way. Be clever, be original, and be descriptive. And, incidentally, if you come up with a good story about how you got your name you’ll have something to break the ice when you meet prospects.

You are NOT your company.

Keep yourself updated with the best tools you can afford

Keep learning.

High Risk Merchant Accounts
High-risk merchants such as telemarketers, Internet/e-commerce businesses, merchants in the travel and cruise industries, businesses that conduct Internet auctions, and businesses offering membership clubs may face difficulty opening a merchant account.Just because you have a high-risk business it does not necessitate the fact that you cannot open any merchant account, you would be required to open a high-risk account. The banks and independent organizations that provide merchant account services will evaluate your case on the basis of certain information such as how long you've been in business, your credit history, and any previous merchant accounts you've held.In such a scenario, the length of time that your business has been operational would really make the difference. If your business has been operational for long time, that would act as an assurance to the account provider. If you own a business for a long time the provider is aware that you do understand the matrix of running a business and the high risk involved.The second aspect that the provider would view is your credit report. This is to confirm your capability to repay loans and disclose any information on bad credit such as bankruptcies or liens. The better you credit score better your chances to open the high-risk merchan

or business mail), have a relatively new notebook computer, a scanner, and at the very least a black & white laser printer. Buying legitimate copies of software counts, too. When you are “official” you have access to help lines which comes in handy when inevitably, you need real assistance to solve a problem. (As an example, I’ve gotten stuck writing complicated if/then statements in Excel, but my legitimately purchased software entitled me to tech support.)

Keep yourself updated with the best tools you can afford

Keep learning.

Can You Believe Your Customer? Can You Trust Traditional Market Research?
One of the most common objectives of market research is to find the customers wants and wishes, or their hot buttons. But what if traditional market research identifies the wrong hot buttons? What if conventional market research singles out hot buttons that freeze your fingers? What if standard market research uses malfunctioning thermometers? A recent scientific study by Professors Dan Horsky, Paul Nelson, and Steven S. Posavac published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology examined this possibility.The study (Horsky D., Nelson P., Posavac SS. Stating Preference for the Ethereal but Choosing the Concrete: How the Tangibility of Attributes Affects Attribute Weighting in Value Elicitation and Choice. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 2004, Vol. 14, No. 1&2, Pages 132-140) compared the attractiveness of five sporty car attributes calculated using answers provided in a market research study (what people say), and the attractiveness of the same five attributes derived from the actual buying behavior of the car buyers (what people do). The five attributes were Performance, Dependability, Comfort, Prestige, and Exterior Styling.The relative attractiveness of the performance, dependability, comfort, prestige, and exterior styling attributes calculated using the answers in the market research stud

Keep learning.

Stop in and say hello.

Not just to the clients that are in your city. Schedule a trip – go visit clients that are across the country, just because – and do it at your expense. Find a conference and schedule trips around it. The more proactive you are, the more top of mind you will be when a project comes along. The key is not to have a high pressure sales call. Your long term agenda might be to get more work, but short term -- you should focus on checking in with people and demonstrating that you care about them and their problems even when you are not on the clock. Setting up your schedule is easy if you don’t pressure people to see you. At least twice annually, I find a good conference to attend in a city where I have clients and prospects. I mention that I’ll be in town for the X conference and would love to stop in and catch up. While I don’t leave with contracts all the time, more often than not, I’m the first person they call when something new and intriguing comes up. And don’t limit yourself to clients. If you work with others virtually (other contractors, vendors) make it a point to meet them. It makes all the difference in the world when people can size you up in person.

Represent yourself as you are.

I’ve run a virtual corporation for nearly ten years. I have had Fortune 50 companies meet at my dining room table. How is that possible? I represent what I do honestly. I explain that I have a virtual team. We are all connected via the internet with group collaboration software (think Basecamp, WebEx Intranets) and we meet regularly for updates on our projects. I invite clients to visit with the team – and host everyone at my home, or we agree to meet at a trade show. On those occasions where it counts, those who want to grow together find ways to get there. Showing up is 90% of success or so it seems. Once people know they can count on you, they do.

No consultant is an island, get out there, network and share!

As a professional information specialist, I belong to as many associations as I can to keep on top of industry trends. In my business, the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), American Marketing Association (AMA), Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP), Market Research Association (MRA) are just a few of the many groups that I have associated with through the years. As a woman-owned business, I joined the WBOC in Syracuse, NY and the National Women’s Chamber of Commerce as well. While I can’t attend all the meetings, I actively participate on list serves, attend conferences, and volunteer when I can. Keeping up with contacts is easy using LinkedIn as well as address book software, such as Plaxo. I find that the more I share with others, the more they share with me. The more I know, the more value I bring to my clients.

Don’t be cheap.

Just don’t.

The tighter you are with your money, the more people think you are desperate and the less likely they are to do repeat business with you. On the other hand, don’t be a prima donna. You don’t have to go overboard to impress others. If someone invites you to join them on a client call, pick up the tab for lunch. If an associate invites you stay over (instead of staying at a hotel), bring a small gift. When you’re at a conference and you go to get a coffee, buy one for your client. And when it comes to projects and deliverables, if you can throw in something extra, do it. Nickel and diming your associates and clients will earn you a reputation that is impossible to shake. The old saying "it takes money to make money" -- is true. You need to dress the part, act the part, feel the part, and suddenly, you will be the consultant you envision.

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If your company has successfully implemented Six Sigma, there are certain things that need to be checked and rechecked to verify that results are accurate. This article makes clear how and when you should conduct a Six Sigma Audit!

One time sellers and long term sellers can cash in on the advantages of free online classifieds. Despite the service is given to you free of cost, free online classifieds ad websites offer great service in helping you sell your products.

Why would a franchise company which has master franchisees in charge of regions and those regions in charge of the franchisees and the franchisees in charge of their stores and each store has a manager in charge of the employees? After all doesn’t that represent 5-levels of marketing?

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