Click image to learn more on blogging with Wordpress.

What does Blogging Provide to Small Business?

If you have a business, you need a blog. A blog can help position you as the expert in your field. You already know a great deal about the products you sell or the services you offer. A blog gives you the opportunity to easily share that knowledge with thousands of interested people across the globe.

Blogging’s something for anyone and everyone. I can’t think of anyone who can’t benefit from knowing more people, never forgetting a thought again and improving on their thoughts with little or no effort.

For some blogging will be like a diary: a historical record of their thoughts at a moment in time.

For others it’ll be like speed-networking. You get to know people in a shallow way and then develop a relationship.

For still others it’ll be something else entirely.

Rate yourself honestly on each of the following questions using this criteria:

• If this is something you are missing or not good at, give yourself a -1
• If you are okay in this are, give yourself a 0
• If this is one of your strengths, give yourself a +1

Add up your scores.

• A score above 0 means you have the potential to be an entrepreneur.
• A negative score means that entrepreneurship might not be the right career for you.
• A score of 8 is the highest score. You have a strong potential to succeed as an entrepreneur.

Ready to give entrepreneurship a try? Learn more at Starting a Business.

Tips:

1. Research shows that most new businesses fail because of poor organization. Make certain that your business has someone with these skills if it is one of your weaknesses.
2. It is important for the people who rely on you for support to be aware of the financial and time limitations a new business may impose.
3. Look at what you do for fun and see if there is a way to start a new business in that field.

Successful people:
•    Never forget their goals and always work towards them.
•    Adapt to changing situations making decisions along the way.
•    Believe in themselves and what they are doing.
•    Do not get disheartened by other’s lack of enthusiasm for their projects or goals.
•    Spend their pennies wisely.
•    Are up-to-date with topical changes and how these will affect their business.

a) Imitating the moves of leading or successful competitors when the market has no more room for copycat products and look-alike competitors.

b) Spending more money on marketing and sales promotion to try and get round problems with product quality and product performance.

c) Establishing many weak market positions instead of a few strong ones.

d) Using debt to finance cost-saving investments in new facilities and equipment, then getting trapped with high fixed costs when demand turns down, excess capacity appears, and cash flows are too small to cover interest costs and debt repayment.

e) Allocating R&D efforts to weak products instead of strong products.

f) Attacking the market leaders head-on without having either a good competitive advantage or adequate financial strength.

g) Making such aggressive attempts to take market share that rivals are provoked into a strong retaliation and costly “arm-race” struggle. Such battles seldom produce a substantial change in market shares; the usual outcome is higher costs and profitless sales growth.

h) Initiating price cuts to win added market share without having a cost advantage.

i) Going after the high end of the market without having the reputation to attract buyers looking for name brand, prestige goods.

j) Depending on cosmetic product improvements to serve as a substitute for real innovation and extra customer value.

These mistakes are usually born out of acts of desperation, poor analysis of the industry and competitive conditions, and/or misjudgements.”- from unknown source.

· Shop around, these people sell a competitive service … the price is probably negotiable. There’s no shame in asking for a cheaper price. Remember, if you don’t ask … you don’t get.

· What is actually included in the chargeable time of these professionals? Understand how they charge and ensure you receive an itemised billing statement.

(Note: Many of these types of organisations offer employee bonuses based on the proportion of time that is invoiced, and it’s quite common to find more chargeable hours than attendance time)

· Always be mindful of, ‘you get what you pay for’, so work out what you intend to get.

· The scope of the services to be provided should be well defined, as a negotiated price for a poorly defined service is no different to giving the supplier an open cheque.

· Do you really need the professional service? Or could you learn how to sort your issues out yourself? What tools do you need? Have you looked into this or simply taken the easy route? Remember their hourly rates are likely to be substantially higher than yours are.

· Are you talking to the right person? People often speak to solicitors about accounting issues and vice versa, remember they charge by the minute!

· Could you use less expensive service providers i.e. debt collection agencies?

· Clarify up front what documents need to be supplied to the service provider. A billable amount for time spent searching for documents the professional never had is an easy method for them to boost billings artificially.

]]> http://bloggingresource.abufaris.com/professional-costs/how-to-decrease-professional-costs.html/feed http://bloggingresource.abufaris.com/learn/teach-your-kids-about-money.html http://bloggingresource.abufaris.com/learn/teach-your-kids-about-money.html#comments Mon, 09 Jun 2008 06:48:50 +0000 abufaris http://bloggingresource.abufaris.com/?p=54 1. When it comes to teaching kids about money, the sooner the better.

Up until they start earning a living, kids are apt to spend money like it grows on trees. This lesson will show your kids to handle money responsibly.

Long before most children can add or subtract, they become aware of the concept of money. Any 4-year-old knows where their parents get money - the ATM, of course. Understanding that parents must work for their money requires a mature mind, and even then, the action has its wrinkles. For example, once he learned to accept that his father worked for a living, a 5-year-old asked, “How was job today?” “Fine,” the father replied. The child asked again, “Did you get the money?”

2. Once they learn how money works, children often display an instinctive conservatism.

Once they learn they can buy things they want with money - e.g., candy, toys - many children will begin saving every nickel they can get their hands on. This behaviour can determine what kind of financial manager your child will be as an adult.

3. Seeds planted early bear fruit later.

It’s important to work on your child’s financial awareness early on, for once they’re teenagers, they are less likely to seek your advice. Besides, they’re busy doing other things - like spending money.

4. An allowance can be an effective teaching tool.

When your kids are young, giving them small amounts of money helps them prepare for the day when the numbers will get bigger.

5. Teenagers and college-age kids have bigger responsibilities.

Checking accounts, credit cards, and debt are as important to the college experience as books and music. Teaching high-schoolers about banking and credit will make them wiser when they leave the nest.

6. Investing should be learned early.

High schoolers can and should be taught about the market - using real money.

There are reasonable means to save money on insurance, but skipping coverage isn’t one of them. Medical bills from a small car blow can deplete your savings - a major health problem can lead you into trouble.

2. If your employer offers insurance, grab it.

Group coverage, when it’s employer-subsidized, is better than getting it on your own, even if you’re young and healthy. If you’re old and unhealthy, it’s absolutely a bigger deal.

3. Comparing plans is difficult but necessary.

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as standard coverage. Benefits and costs differ broadly from plan to plan. If you were given choices, you’ll have to consider each one carefully to get the best deal.

4. The lowest premium isn’t necessarily the cheapest plan.

What your plan covers is as important as, and sometimes more important than, what you pay up front. Ultimately, the cheapest plan is the one with the best price of benefits you’re going to use.

5. Even good coverage can have loopholes.

You can depend on your health insurance for a hospital stay. Most plans cover doctor visits, but coverage for mental health, prescription drugs and dental care are mostly optional.

6. You’ll pay more for freedom.

Plans with the most absolute advantage at the lowest price require you to use a defined arrangement of hospitals, doctors, labs, and added providers. The more flexibility you demand, the more you’ll pay, in either premiums or co-payments.

7. You can analyse networks before signing up.

A growing number of public and private sources keep informations on the track records of individual doctors, hospitals, and health plans.

8. Your insurance stays if you lose your job.

State and federal regulations assure you from losing coverage in case you lose your job. Unfortunately, they offer little protection from high premium costs.

9. Working couples have more to decide.

If you and your spouse both get health insurance at work, you must decide whether it makes more sense to have two policies or for one of you to cover the other. If you have children, you should decide who will cover them.

10. Tax breaks can help.

Ordinarily medical expenses, including insurance premiums, are not tax deductible until they exceed 7.5 percent of your income. However, if you’re self-employed or your employer offers a flexible spending account, you can get a tax break without meeting threshold.

Some say that having a favicon is like putting on cosmetics. This is only partly true. More importantly, having a favicon on your blog allows the visitors to quickly identify your site in their Favorite folder among the other bookmarked site.

You can have your very own favicon in less than 10 minutes by using the MaxBlogPress Favicon Wordpress Plugin!

If you do not have a favicon currently and you are interested to, here’s how to can do it.

1. First, you will need to download the plugin.
2. Install the plugin and go to: Options >> MBP Favicon
3. Click on the icon which you want to use as favicon:
4. Click on save
   
5. Your blog is now already equipped with the small but powerful tool called favicon. It will help you get more traffic as well as get your blog recognized among others.
6. You can also use your own image as favicon collection. Go to Chami.com’s Favicon Tool page.
7. Upload your image by clicking the “Browse” button and click “Generate Favicon”.
8. After Chami’s tool completed the generation, you will be presented with the link to download you favicon. Click the download link and save the favicon on your computer. (You can also test your favicon by clicking on the “Test in Browser”)
9. Unzip the contents you have just downloaded and upload the favicon to your webhost (”/wp-content/plugins/maxblogpress-favicon/icons/” folder, for most of us).

Note: If you wish to change your favicon, simply choose your preferred favicon with another. Enjoy.

SOALAN
SAYA suami berumur 32 tahun dan berkahwin tujuh tahun lalu. Isteri saya berumur 30 tahun dan kami dikurniakan empat anak yang comel dan sihat.

Saya bekerja di syarikat multinasional dan isteri pula di sektor perbankan. Saya dan isteri tiada masalah, cuma sekali sekala kami bergaduh dan bermasam muka, tetapi hanya sementara, paling lama pun hanya satu hari dan kami akan berbaik semula.

Kedudukan kewangan kami kukuh dan boleh dikatakan kami sekeluarga hidup mewah. Masalah di sini bermula apabila saya mengenali seorang gadis yang kebetulan menelefon saya berkaitan kerja. Saya namakan dia A.

Umur A baru 20 tahun dan hubungan kami sampai ke tahap di mana A sedia melakukan hubungan seks dengan saya. A benar-benar sayang dan mencintai saya serta sanggup menjadi isteri kedua.

Saya keliru dan seronok dengan pengakuan ikhlas A, tetapi niat saya pada awalnya sekadar menjadikan A teman berbual. Tidak sangka pula melarat hingga ke kamar tidur.

Saya tidak sanggup menjadikan A isteri kedua kerana isteri saya pun cukup bagus dan sempurna pada mata saya.

Pada masa sama, saya mengenali seorang pelajar universiti yang kebetulan menjalani latihan amali di tempat saya bekerja. Saya namakan dia B dan berumur 21 tahun. Hubungan kami serius dan B juga takut kehilangan saya.

B juga berharap saya menjadi miliknya. Saya melayan A dan B sama rata. Apa yang A dapat, B juga dapat. Ini menjadikan mereka rasa disayangi dan dihargai. Usah ditanya bagaimana saya mengatur jadual pertemuan dengan mereka dan juga urusan saya di rumah.

Baru-baru ini saya menjalin hubungan dengan bekas pekerja di tempat kerja saya. Perkenalan terjadi pada hari terakhir dia bekerja. Sebelum itu kami hanya senyum bila berselisih dan pada hari terakhir dia bekerja, saya meminta nombor telefon gadis yang saya namakan C.

C berumur 20 tahun. Dia setuju memberi nombor telefon dan daripada situ bermula detik saya berhubungan dengan C pula. Buat masa ini saya dan C belum ke tahap serius dan masih dalam proses mengenal hati budi, tapi saya tahu C sudah lama tertarik dengan saya.

Bukan mengangkat diri atau berlagak. Fizikal saya tidak menarik, cuma saya guna kelebihan mengatur ayat manis untuk memikat ketiga-tiga mereka. Mereka anggap saya romantik dan penyayang.

Ketiga-tiga mereka boleh dikatakan sangat menarik, menjadi rebutan serta bualan. Saya rasa beruntung dapat memiliki mereka sekali gus, tetapi jauh di sudut hati rasa bersalah dan kesal yang amat sangat kerana curang terhadap isteri.

Bagaimana saya dapat menebus kesilapan ini dan dalam masa sama mengelak melukakan hati mana-mana pihak. Saya tersangat sayangkan isteri dan anak. Saya takut kehilangan mereka akibat perbuatan ini.

DAMIEN

JAWAPAN
Alangkah beruntungnya saudara kerana diberi kebahagiaan dan kenikmatan hidup oleh Allah SWT. Pasti ramai mencemburui saudara kerana kenikmatan yang diperoleh.

Kebahagiaan dan kenikmatan yang Dang Setia maksudkan bukan mengenai gadis A, B dan C yang kini berebut-rebut untuk memiliki saudara, sebaliknya isteri yang baik, anak comel serta kehidupan mewah hasil kedudukan kewangan saudara yang kukuh.

Sepanjang tujuh tahun berkahwin pula, secara keseluruhannya rumah tangga saudara bahagia, jadi izinkan Dang Setia bertanya apa sebenarnya menyebabkan saudara menjalin hubungan dengan wanita lain, bukan sekadar seorang tapi tiga.

Saudara ada menyatakan pada awalnya hanya suka-suka dan tiada niat curang, namun keadaan berubah menjadi serius dan saudara tidak sangka boleh jadi begitu.

Bagi Dang Setia, itu alasan ‘murah’. Ramai suami curang memberi alasan sedemikian, hakikatnya punca utama mereka, termasuk saudara, menjalin hubungan dengan wanita lain kerana nafsu.

Dang Setia percaya saudara sedar hakikat ini, namun enggan mengakuinya kerana berbuat demikian bermakna saudara mengakui kelemahan sendiri.

Hakikatnya, mengakui kelemahan sendiri adalah sikap positif yang boleh membawa kemajuan dan mereka yang tidak berani berbuat demikian sebenarnya menipu diri sendiri.

Sebenarnya saudara tidak perlu malu mengakui saudara kini hampir tertewas dengan godaan nafsu. Ini kerana hanya dengan mengakui kelemahan sendiri kita mampu memperbaiki keadaan dengan berusaha mengatasinya.

Saudara juga perlu sedar saudara kini mungkin diuji oleh Allah untuk mengukur tahap keimanan dan ketakwaan terhadap-Nya.

Jangan beranggapan ujian Allah hanya hadir dalam bentuk kesusahan atau kesedihan kerana ujian juga hadir dengan Allah melimpahkan kesenangan serta kemewahan.

Ini kerana lumrah manusia mudah lupa atau lalai dengan tanggungjawab kita sebagai hamba Allah apabila hidup dilimpahi kesenangan dan kemewahan.

Bagi Dang Setia, itulah situasi saudara sekarang. Saudara diuji dengan dua godaan hebat, iaitu kemewahan dan wanita. Kedua-duanya memang menyeronokkan, tapi jangan sekali-kali lupa keseronokan itu sebenarnya nafsu.

Oleh itu, yang saudara perlu lakukan sekarang ialah bermuhasabah atau melihat ke dalam diri sendiri untuk mencari kelemahan yang boleh menjauhkan saudara daripada Allah dan mungkin juga menyebabkan saudara kehilangan segala nikmat hidup yang dikecapi sekarang.

Insafilah betapa isteri yang baik, empat anak comel dan kedudukan kewangan kukuh yang saudara nikmati sekarang sesungguhnya nikmat berharga daripada Allah.

Saudara ada mengatakan sayangkan isteri dan anak serta tidak mahu kehilangan mereka, tapi cuba fikir secara waras, hati isteri mana tidak terluka jika tahu suaminya menjalin hubungan dengan wanita lain?

Bukankah menjalin hubungan dengan wanita lain bermakna saudara sengaja meletakkan diri berisiko tinggi untuk kehilangan isteri dan anak?

Dang Setia percaya saudara tahu, untuk memastikan rumah tangga kekal harmoni serta tidak kehilangan isteri berama anak, tindakan paling tepat ialah putuskan saja hubungan dengan A, B dan C.

Berpoligami? Ya ini boleh menjadi satu lagi jalan penyelesaian untuk saudara, tapi adakah ia lebih baik.

Jika masih teringin untuk berpoligami, terpulangl pada diri saudara, cuma Dang Setia ingin saudara fikirkan kenyataan ini yang disampaikan kepada Dang Setia oleh seorang lelaki yang ada tiga isteri.

Katanya, dalam berpoligami, nikmatnya hanya satu tapi peningnya sampai 10. Fikir-fikirkanlah.