Unique Niche Markets

--> Unique Niche Markets A niche is something that sets your business apart
from your competitors. To compete with other
businesses nowadays, especially online, you need
a unique niche. Just make sure your competitors are
not using the same niche. Below are twelve ideas
you could use to create an order pulling niche.

1. Your niche could be that you offer free delivery.
This may cost a little money, but, you will gain the
extra customers to make up for it.

2. Your niche could be that you offer a lower price.
If you can't afford to offer a lower price you could
always hold the occasional discount sale.

3. Your niche could be that your product achieves
results faster. This niche is very effective because
people are becoming more and more impatient and
want results fast.

4. Your niche could be you've been in business for
a longer period of time. People think if you've been
in business longer you have more credibility.

5. Your niche could be that your product tastes,
smells sounds, looks, or feels better. When you
target the the senses you're triggering basic human
attractions.

6. Your niche could be your product is light or
compact. People may want to take the product
on a trip or don't have much room where they live.

7. Your niche could be that you've won a business
reward. When you win a reward tell your customers
or visitors about it. This increases their trust in your
business.

8. Your niche could be that your product lasts
longer. People don't like taking the time and spending
more money buying replacement products all the
time.

9. Your niche could be that your product is easy to
use. People don't want to buy a product that they
have to read a 200 page hard-to-understand
instruction manual.

10. You niche could be that your product has better
safety features. People want to feel safe when they
use your products.

11. Your niche could be that your product was made
by hand. Most people believe that products made
by hand have better quality.

12. Your niche could be that you stand behind all
your products. People want to know that you back-
up any claims you make about your product with
either guarantees, warrantees and free replacements.

Author Dan Brown has been active in internet marketing for the past 4 years. Dan currently is working with the Zabang search engine introducing their new affiliate program, which is due out July, 2005. Zabang

You May Be Marketing Your Company Right Out of Business!

--> You May Be Marketing Your Company Right Out of Business! How many times have you thought "We need more customers!"

If you find that you often feel that your company needs more customers, then consider this...

There is a common belief held by most business owners, managers, and sales teams that all of their business problems would be solved if they could just figure out the secret to "finding and getting more customers."

And, that is their biggest mistake!

The never-ending search for more customers requires an abundance of people, time, and money... resources which are usually in short supply in most companies. In such an environment, the effort put forth to "find" customers is actually depleting the business of its energy, creativity, and enthusiasm...commodities required to serve these customers in a satisfying way. And, since dissatisfied customers do not return, the business must keep finding more customers to replace those they have lost.

So, with each repetition of the cycle, the company has less and less ability to provide the level of service that would satisfy the types of customers it originally intended to serve. So, the number of complaints the business receives continues to increase...and eventually, the complaints outweigh the compliments. The word spreads throughout the community. It becomes harder to find customers to serve. Debts then exceed profits. The business fails.

Conversely, those 15% that succeed have structured their company in a way that "attracts" only perfect customers and clients.

Companies must replace the thought "We need more customers" with the conviction that "We now attract only perfect customers."

What's the difference?

It's the difference between a successful business and one that struggles to survive. It's the difference between a profitable business and one that pinches pennies. It's the difference between a thriving business and one that is hanging on by a thread.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR CUSTOMERS TO SERVE, YOU'LL FIND "CUSTOMERS FROM HELL"

Most people agree that looking for customers to serve requires a lot of energy. First, you must figure out where you are most likely to find the greatest number of customers. And, then you must spend more time and money experimenting with the right way to catch their attention. By the time you have actually found someone who is willing to try what you have to give them, your company has exhausted its energy!

So, when this customer tells you that they are not completely satisfied with your products, your policies, or your pricing, you are more than willing to make compromises to satisfy them ... truth be known, you are simply too tired to put up a fight. Perhaps, thinking that you have won the war, you feel you can afford to let them win these smaller conflicts...especially in light of what it would cost to go out and hunt down another customer to replace this one.

Yet, if your company had more strength and solvency, you might be more willing to listen to the tiny inner voice that says, "Be careful...this one could be more trouble than their worth. This is a customer from hell."

You ignore the voice because of the need to make back the money spent on marketing and sales programs. Or, you convince yourself that these customers must be perfect for your company or you are afraid that you will lose this customer to the competition.

Inevitably, though, the voice turns out to be right. By the time you end your tortured relationship with this customer, you feel that no amount of money in the world would have been enough to compensate us for the cost of the experience.

This is the result when you create marketing campaigns or promotional strategies that fail to clearly convey the bright light of your unique business distinctions; you find customers that other businesses should be serving.

THE LIGHTHOUSE TEST

So, how can you tell if your company is structured to "attract" perfect customers to serve?

Here is the "Lighthouse Test."

Imagine a lighthouse standing strong and erect on the rocky shores of a beautiful ocean. On this particular day, the water is calm, the sky is blue, and there are many boats out to sea. Yet, out in the distance, there is a storm cloud forming on the horizon. It is coming closer to shore very quickly. The sky is getting darker, the waves are getting rougher, and many of the boats are being tossed about on the water. As the rains and the winds pick up strength, so does the power of the beam of light emanating from the lighthouse. Some of the boats, anxious to move quickly to a quiet and protective harbor, are relying on this beam of light to guide them safely to the spot. The darker the skies become, the brighter the light shines.
Notice that not all of the boats are in need of this beam of light to guide them to safety. Some have more confident captains and crew, while other boats have equipment that can handle the storm effectively.
Now, imagine that the lighthouse gets upset because some of the boats are choosing not to come to its harbor. Because it wants to protect and serve all of the boats in the sea, it sprouts arms and legs and begins running up and down the beach, waving its arms, doing its best to catch the attention of all the boats. What would be the result?
Most likely, the boats that were depending on the light to guide them would by now have been destroyed in the chaos and confusion caused by the light moving up and down the beach Other boats, led by their curiosity, may come closer to shore to get a better look at the spectacle of a lighthouse running up and down the shore, and then head back out to deeper waters. While others would be perfectly content to stay where they are...out at sea. The end result, very few boats are served safely and securely.

The test lies in asking yourself what percentage of time is your company the lighthouse standing securely on the shore attracting the boats (customers) with the power of its light and how often is it running up and down the beach looking for boats (customers) to serve?

PERFECT CUSTOMERS COME RIGHT TO YOUR SHORE

Take a moment to recall one of your most perfect customers -- someone with whom you most enjoy working. The customer you describe as perfect is most likely the one who respects and values your time, trusts your company to have his or her best interests at heart, comes to your site with realistic expectations, happily pays what your product or service is worth, and refers your business to their friends and family. Perfect customers make you feel needed, appreciated, respected, and understood. Even more, they reconnect you with the passion and purpose that puts joy in your work. And, when you think about it, these perfect customers often find your site easily; there was an immediate spark of attraction and connection with this client as if synchronicity brought you together at the perfect time and place.

The key to ensuring that your company is only attracting the most perfect customers lies in the asking of four simple questions which comprise a Strategic Attraction Plan:

1. What Are the Qualities of My Most Perfect Customers?

2. What Makes My Perfect Customers Tick?

3. What Do I Want My Perfect Customers To Expect Of My Web site?

4. What Do I Have To Improve?

The daily review for just five minutes of these four questions is what will keep you connected to your company's mission and purpose. It's this connection which powers the light of your message and draws customers who are a perfect fit for that message right to your shore.

Proponents of the Strategic Attraction Planning Process are growing in numbers quickly. As Robert Allen, author of Multiple Streams of Income, www.multiplestreamsofincome.com, reports "this is a simple and effective method for bringing perfect customers right to your doors and web sites."

Copyright 2001, PerfectCustomers Unlimited.

You CAN Improve Your Relationship

--> You CAN Improve Your Relationship

It seems as if creating successful relationships with our significant others and parenting children are two of the most difficult jobs we face and yet we get no formal training in either. It's as if people believe that we are born with an inherent ability to do these two things. Yet, look around us. In the US, the divorce rate is slightly over 50%! I don't know anywhere but baseball where a 50% average is a good thing.

Couples go through life getting along when times are good; and fighting with, ignoring, or leaving each other when things get tough. Most people believe that to seek help with their relationships means to admit a certain kind of defeat that says something about who they are as a person. Or possibly, they believe that relationships are something we are just supposed to be able to manage on our own. Or, finally, some people believe that those out there helping couples can't know any more than they do. After all, what's to know about keeping relationships together?

Well, the truth is that there is a whole lot to learn when it comes to relationships. Unfortunately, the only training most of us ever receive is the passive learning we get through the modeling of the adults who live in our house with us and the media. Now, I don't know about you, but my parents had only received the informal training they got from their parents, and they from my great grandparents and so on back through the generations. There is so much more to know about relationships than that!

Also, my parents have helped support that 50% statistic cited earlier in that they divorced sometime around their 25th wedding anniversary. What I learned about relationships from watching them is that couples never argue, especially in front of the children. On the surface, my parents had a very happy marriage but my father experienced a stereotypical mid-life crisis and suddenly questioned the meaning of "life" and decided marriage was holding him back somehow.

In some ways, this type of training may have been as bad as those who have parents who argue all the time. Disagreements are a natural by-product of relationships. It is virtually impossible for two people to come together and create a life without some of their ideals, values, opinions or day-to-day activities coming into conflict with each other. The question becomes how the couple manages this conflict.

There are many things to consider when speaking about couples and their challenges and areas for growth and development. The first is compatibility. I know there is an expression that says opposites attract and I believe there is some accuracy in that statement when you think of attraction as that chemical interaction that occurs when two people meet and are attracted. This chemical attraction doesn't care what the other person's values are, what is important to him or her, the personality characteristics involved, or what either of you likes to do in your spare time. Compatibility is a key for a successful, healthy relationship. Go to www.therelationshipcenter.biz and take the free Assessment to determine your compatibility with your partner.

A second consideration is simply that there are major differences in how men are in relationships compared to how women are. Women generally don't understand men because the men don't act like women and similarly, men don't understand women because they don't act like men. And since a woman has never been a man and a man has never been a woman, how does each learn about these important differences? John Gray researched and wrote about these issues in his book, Men are from Mars; Women are from Venus. But I would say that the majority of people in relationships don't take the time to learn about these gender differences. It is easier to point a finger and blame the other person for his or her "irrational" behavior.

As mentioned earlier, a third area of growth is learning how to manage conflict. There are time proven methods for resolving conflict that we don't learn in school or from a book. There are ways to actually hear each other in relationships. By placing the relationship FIRST in importance, these methods can be implemented by couples to greatly improve their satisfaction.

There is so much to learn about satisfying relationships that your parents never showed you. Please don't become one of the statistics of divorce or perhaps worse, stay in a miserable relationship to honor your marriage vows while having so many regrets about your life as the time ticks away.

Take charge and take control of your life. Learn some new ways to improve the relationship you are already in or to prepare yourself for being a better, improved partner for the next person in your life. Contact Kim at 708-957-6047 or email at Kim@TheRelationshipCenter.biz about relationship coaching or take one the many Teleclasses scheduled on the Events Calendar at www.TheRelationshipCenter.biz. Don't wait until it is too late.

Why it is important to find an online business that gives yo

--> Why it is important to find an online business that gives yo What is life-long income? This is income you continue to receive indefinitely after making a single deal. The advantage of such an income is obvious. To start with, many people who really make lots of money online usually insist on selecting businesses with this lifelong-income feature. The advantage is that a single effort or transaction today will continue to bring them income for many years to come.

There are a number of online enterprises that provide for lifelong income. Any business where clients have to pay a monthly or annual subscription and where affiliates are paid a commission on that, will provide for this sort of income. Although MLM is a dirty word in the books of many people, these programs are a very good example of lifelong income earning opportunities that really work. It is important to remember that not all MLM companies are bad.

But probably the most popular and viable type of business for lifelong income that is widely acceptable to most is web hosting. There are various attractions and advantages that hosting businesses clearly have when it comes to finding a reliable source of lifelong income.

One of them is the fact that hosting is a necessity or a necessary service that folks cannot do without. It is almost like food and water. As long as you have an online presence, you will require a host. This beats other types of businesses where a client can choose not to order in future. The only thing that can happen is that a web hosting client can choose to take their business elsewhere and get another hosting service.

Making money online is hard work and promoting an online business or affiliate program is no easy task. But when you look for lifelong income features, you maximize on whatever promotion efforts you make.

Why Join 2 Tier Affiliate Programs?

--> Why Join 2 Tier Affiliate Programs? Like the more common single tier affiliate programs, 2 tier affiliate programs are a great basis for web-based partnerships between merchants and affiliates. Merchants can focus their efforts on what they should do best-creating high quality products and getting them to customers. Meanwhile, affiliates concentrate on producing interesting content to attract web traffic. And when they successfully refer visitors to buy affiliate products, an affiliate commission is earned.

However, 2 tier affiliate programs have an additional attraction for affiliates. When they sign up sub-affiliates under them, and these sub-affiliates successfully make affiliate sales, the original affiliate also earns a referral commission. The result is that affiliates not only make a profit from their direct sales efforts, but also benefit from the leveraged effects of sub-affiliates under them.

While 2 tier affiliate programs are definitely a new and rapidly growing trend in affiliate marketing, the traditional rules still apply. Choose only good products, with high sales conversions (check out the persuasiveness of the merchants website), and only work with merchants who pay regularly! After all, there's no reason to waste precious traffic on affiliate products are hard to sell, or on merchants who don't make it a point to send those commissions on time.

All else being equal, 2 Tier Affiliate Programs are a good alternative for webmasters hoping to add an additional stream of revenue to their sites.

(Please feel free to to freely reproduce and distribute this article, so long as it is reproduced in full, including the hyperlinks, and no modification is made)

Why Branding Is Vital For Your Home Business Success

--> Why Branding Is Vital For Your Home Business Success On a hot Sunday afternoon when your body fluids have been drained dry by the scorching sun, which would you rather order? Coca Cola, or Jeebejus Sweet Soda? The answer is as clear as it is universal. The more established brand would be chosen almost every time.

This is why branding is very important in building a home business. Cyberspace is fueled by information, and information travels fast. Everything on the Internet is delivered with digital speed. Competitions would sprout from out of nowhere on a daily basis. The only way to contend is by beating them to the punch when it comes to consumer recall, and this can be done through effective branding.

In building a home Internet business, much care and attention must be given to your enterprise's name. It is the means by which people would refer to it, after all. Once a name has been decided on, the next logical step would be to build on that brand and expose it to as many people as possible.

Building a brand, and consequently, building an online presence, can be as fast or as meticulously slow as you want it to be. As we've mentioned earlier, everything on cyberspace is faster, and this includes branding your home business. But you also proceed at your own pace, and in the process, giving your market the impression that you're emphasizing quality over popularity.

Here are some branding techniques you could use to help you in building a home Internet business:

* Always use your name. A lot of people are hesitant about online transactions. Giving them your real name would be taken as an invitation for their trust. Additionally, your name would give them something to remember you by.

* Article marketing can help in branding you as an expert on the subject you wrote about. And you being a representation of your enterprise, will in turn help in branding and building a home Internet business.

* Consider crafting a logo during the planning stages in building your business. Visual representations are sometimes easier to remember than written words.

* Build relationships. Relationships would help you achieve a level of credibility and reliability. Additionally, those whom you have befriended would be more than willing to give a good word about you, either in private correspondences with their own network, or publicly by giving you a testimonial for your products or services.

* Provide bonuses and excellent after-sales services. These value added attractions would make your clients feel special, and they would remember you well because of it. Consider this detail in building an online business.

* Publish your own eZine. Having a constant medium through which your thought and your business messages can be conveyed would be a fantastic vehicle in building your brand.

These are but some of the more popular ways of branding, as utilized by veteran Internet marketers. It would serve you well if you'd follow their footsteps and give a good start in building an Internet business that would be remembered for a long, long time.

: Mal Keenan can show you step-by step how to set up and run a successful online home business. Learn the 7 essential strategies to internet marketing success. To receive your free 7 day mini-course visit: http://www.malkeenan.com For a home business you can believe in, check out: http://www.malkeenan.com/pips.html

Source: www.isnare.com

When Bad Debt Happens to Good People

--> When Bad Debt Happens to Good People

An overview of ways to stop the cycle of credit card debt and cultivate a healthy, healing attitude.
Now that the holiday shopping frenzy is upon us, I thought it would be a good time to bring up the issue of "bad" debt. You know what kid of debt I am talking about - credit card debt. These little plastic gems can take you down faster than you can say "Charge It!!" Judging by the growing number of consumer credit counseling agencies cropping up all over the country I'd say we've got ourselves a problem.

It all starts out innocently enough. You are young and you get your first job. You get one credit card and decide to buy yourself (or someone else) a bunch of stuff you've always wanted to buy but did not have funds for. You don't keep track of what you are spending and lo and behold the bill comes!! You cannot pay it off, but you figure that's okay, you'll just pay the minimum.

Then the miraculous happens! You are out shopping again, and the salesperson tells you how, if you apply for the store credit card, you can get 15% off your first purchase!! This is great!! A discount and all you need to do is apply for the card. So you buy more than you came for because, after all, it's 15% off. Then that bill comes, and you cannot pay that one off either. The pattern is now established. The credit card offers keep coming and you keep biting. Two years later you're over $10,000 in debt and you feel horrible.

I know all of us have heard this story before but I say before you begin holiday shopping, this story bears repeating. Having a huge mountain of credit card debt is an awful feeling; take it from someone who knows. It robs you of precious energy and puts you in a spiral of having no cash to purchase anything, thus forcing you to use the credit. The bills just keep coming and you are working just to pay the minimums.

People go into debt for many reasons. In some cases it is that they shop to fill a void that is in their lives. In my case it was because of a depression over my mother dying of cancer. In other cases it is because they trying to buy the affection of the people in their lives. Whatever the reason, if you are in credit card debt, you can start a plan to free yourself NOW. Do this for yourself. Don't hide behind excuses and justifications. Just accept the situation as it is and begin to move toward the solution. Stay solution-oriented; being problem-oriented only yields more problems. It is crucial to be gentle with yourself during this process. Beating yourself up about it and engaging in negative self talk will only serve to draw more negative experiences to you, thanks to Law of Attraction.

If you are having problems making the payments and your credit rating is suffering, call a consumer credit agency such as Ameridebt (http://www.ameridebt.org) or Debticated (http://www.debticated.com). I do not believe in filing bankruptcy for this type of debt - if you've gotten yourself into this, you can get yourself out of it and if you see the time and work it takes, hopefully you will think twice about doing it again. If you don't need to work with an agency, sit down formulate a plan and stick to it. Cancel all of them and keep only one major credit card for emergencies.

The next thing you need to do is find out the cause of the issue and work on that. Consult a therapist, a coach, read books, do whatever you need to do to find out what the real issue is. I doubt it is that you were in dire need of $10,00 worth of stuff that you cannot even account for anymore.

Believe me, once you get through to the other side, there is nothing more exhilarating than knowing you have no consumer debt. When we refinanced our home last summer and when the loan officer was taking our application, he of course asked me about credit card debt. I told him it was $0 - we pay it off each month. He was shocked at this; he told me most of the people he deals with are in $15,000-17,000 of credit card debt at the minimum! I was the one who was shocked!

Now to my main reason for writing this article. Whether or not the rest of the article pertains to you, DO NOT go into credit card debt over holiday presents. This serves absolutely no purpose and is not the meaning of the season. Here are some suggestions to avoid this type of stress this season:

- If your family exchanges, suggest a pollyanna to cut back on the number of gifts purchased. If this is not acceptable you can either set a very small limit or suggest an alternative way of celebrating the holiday, such as spending more time together. This spirit of the holiday is supposed to be about people, not gifts. Do not be embarrassed to stand in your truth and say you are making budget adjustments. If you are judged by the presents you give, you need to rethink some bigger issues around your family.

- If you exchange with friends, suggest a potluck supper or other actiivty, as in #1. Again, if you are judged by the presents you give, you need to rethink your friends.

- If you have children, be honest with them about the situation. Explain that there will be less under the tree this year. Hopefully you've been teaching them about the spiritual gifts of service and giving, and not materialism. They'll survive, and in the long run you will be much more present for them because you will no longer have this albatross around your neck.

- Give some money away to charity. I can hear you now - "Is this woman kidding?" No I am not kidding. I am basing this statement on the Law of Attraction. Scarcity consciousness will get you more scarcity in your life. Even if it's $10 - give it away!! It will raise your vibration and make you feel more abundant. Abundance attracts abundance.

- Lastly, try to avoid such vocabulary as "I can't afford it," "I don't have any money," etc. Again, Law of Attraction at work here. When you consistently offer these vibrations, you will attract exactly that into your experience - not having any money. You really are at choice here; you can buy that $350 dress, it is just that you'd rather not pay for it long after the event you bought it for is over. Instead, praise yourself for your commitment to getting out of debt and keep on your path. It will be well worth it, I promise.

Mary Jo is a spiritually-based career and personal coach whose specialties include career redesign, creativity, practical spirituality and life balance. She received certification as a Comprehensive Career Coach from Comprehensive Coaching U. She is passionate about assisting people in uncovering their true passion and helping them to achieve their dreams! Contact her for a 30-minute complimentary coaching session at 610.446.3704 or maryjo@coachmaryjo.com to see if the coaching relationship is a fit for you. Visit her website at http://www.coachmaryjo.com and subscribe to her FREE monthly ezine, Extraordinary Living. Get on the path to true joy today!

What is an Offset Mortgage?

--> What is an Offset Mortgage? An offset mortgage is very similar to a current account mortgage - but instead of having everything all in one account, all accounts are held separately.

The offset mortgage concept treats your money as one giant pot, with each element (mortgage, savings, current account etc) separate to the rest. The result is basically a giant overdraft, although it behaves differently.

Offset mortgages are where the interest on your mortgage is reduced by the funds in both your savings accounts and your current accounts. The more you have in your savings account, the less interest you pay on your mortgage, which helps you to repay your mortgage faster and more cheaply in the long term. Your part of the deal is that you don't receive any interest on your savings or your current account.

The interest is work out by taking the state of each account separately and offsetting them against the others so that you can benefit from your savings and pay less interest. A current account mortgage allows you to benefit in the same way, except it also acts a bank account so your salary goes into the same account that your mortgage is in.

This is slightly different to the current account mortgage because your mortgage account is separate from a savings and income account that you open with the same company. Like the current account mortgage, your income and savings are offset against your mortgage, which reduces what you owe. The interest is calculated on a daily basis on that reduced balance.

Offset mortgages work by setting the money held in savings and current accounts against your mortgage debt. So instead of earning interest on your cash balances, you pay less interest on your borrowings. The idea of offsetting is that, with less interest to pay, the mortgage is paid off more quickly and as a result costs you less.

Some of these mortgages can even be linked to your other personal financial commitments and arrangements. One of the main attractions of these mortgages is the prospect of paying less interest.

All your other debts, such as your credit cards or your personal loans are also linked into the nest of products, and this allows you to repay all of your debts at the mortgage rate, which is likely to be a lot lower than your pay rate on those borrowings.

A further advantage is that the credit cards and loans remain unsecured borrowings even though they are paid off at the mortgage rate, so if you can't keep up the repayments on those your home is not at risk.

The people that will find offset mortgages very suited to them are people with volatile incomes, such as the self-employed or people often paid in large bonuses. People with significant amounts of savings will also find offset mortgages useful.

If you do opt for an offset mortgage, especially one linked to a current account, you can maximise its benefits by keeping your cash in your account for as long as possible each month. With interest calculated daily, each day's credit balance can make a small difference.

The rate on an offset mortgage will be higher than the cheapest rates available.

The benefit of the offsetting feature is that you can always have access to your savings if you need them. So you can make them work to pay off your mortgage, and access them when you need to.

The advantage to the offset mortgage is that the feeling of being in debt is not as all encompassing as with a current account mortgage. However an offset mortgage is quite complicated and you need to make sure that your accounts are offset in the best possible way to benefit.

You may freely reprint this article provided the author's biography remains intact:

John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

What Is A Home Based Travel Agent?

--> What Is A Home Based Travel Agent?

Many people are unclear about the travel industry. Travel agents are often thought to be the same as real estate agents. Becoming a travel agent or more specifically a home based travel agent is an exciting career change or retirement option. Some people do it full time while many do it as a part time business.

A travel agent books travel for customers and is paid by suppliers a commission on the booking. For bookings that suppliers do not pay a commission on, a travel agent also can charge the client a service fee for his/her time. An example is if you were to book a hotel for a client, the hotel would then send a check to the agency after the client checked out. Most hotels pay 10% of the price of the hotel before taxes and fees. A $100 per night hotel reservation would mean $10 a night for the travel agent who made the booking. This hotel would cost the same whether the customer uses a travel agent or books through the hotel directly. In many cases the travel agent can get a better price. It costs the customer nothing to use the travel agent unless the travel agent charges service fees.

Can anyone do this? In order to work with suppliers, you must have an account set up with the supplier. Most require an agency to hold an IATAN, CLIA or ARC number. IATAN stands for International Airlines Travel Agent Network. CLIA stands for Cruise Lines International Association. ARC stands for Airline Reporting Corporation. Each of these memberships requires different things including sales, money in the bank, experience or training in the industry, and membership fees. Many will require Errors and Omissions insurance of $1,000,000 or more.

For the average travel agent, membership is not a possibility with some organizations so the agent will team up with an agency and work as an independent agent or outside agent. There are also advantages of working with an agency because most travel agents cannot make enough in sales with a particular supplier to obtain higher commission levels and bonuses. Working with an agency with many agents can increase the commission percentages the agent gets because of the joint sales of all the agents at the agency. Support is also a very important aspect of being a successful agent. Agents who do not work with others tend to feel more isolated and have to learn to do it all solo. Since no agent can have the experience of being everywhere in the world or staying at every hotel or resort, having others that you can get advice from is really helpful.

The future of travel agencies is always questioned. The truth is the industry has changed in many ways. Some changes were for the better, some for the worse. Many airlines have cut commissions for travel agents. However, there are many other suppliers who are paying travel agents more than they were ten years ago. Cruises used to be booked by only the rich and now people in every income book cruises. Each year more and more people go on cruises. Most people say they want to go on a cruise at least once and many who go on their first come home to want to book another.

You can earn commission on many travel reservations.

• Hotels
  

• Rental Cars
  

• Tour Packages
  

• Cruises
  

• Some airline tickets
  

• International airline tickets
  

• Travel insurance
  

• Ground transportation including limos
  

• Attraction tickets
  

• Train tickets
  
  

  People all need travel arrangements at some point in time. Those who take road trips need hotel reservations. Those who need to travel for business need airline tickets, rental cars, and hotel reservations. Families want to experience vacations with their loved ones. People visit family and relatives. Most people who win money say they are going to spend it to take a nice vacation. Newly married couples go on honeymoons. You are not selling something that is hard to sell. People contact you for help, you are not calling them or approaching them trying to sell them something they don't want.
  

  Educating the public is the main thing any travel agent must do. Most people put travel agents into the same category as real estate agents. They believe it costs additional to use a travel agent. This is untrue. In many cases a travel agent can get a better price than the general public through the suppliers who work only with travel agents. Many people do not know all the options for booking a vacation. A good travel agent does. Once people are educated on how a travel agent gets paid, they are more willing to work with travel agents. If a person knows that if he or she let you book a hotel and it will cost the same price regardless, she or he will work with you. It is important to let people know how you can help them save time and money on their travel arrangements.
  

  So how do you get into the industry? Many people think they must go to school or become certified. This is not true. You can get into the industry and begin training. I don't recommend anyone spend thousands on a travel school until he or she knows this is a career that he or she will really want to pursue. The truth is you do not have to spend thousands to get trained. There are many courses free to travel agents from suppliers. There are also organizations such as ICTA (Institute of Certified Travel Agents) who offer courses as you get more years experience in the industry. CLIA also offers courses. There are some agencies that will offer training. Even if you decide this is a career you would like to pursue, you do not need to spend thousands to become an educated and competent travel agent. There are many courses you can take with suppliers and organizations to get a better education in travel. I truly believe a hands' on approach is the best way to become a better travel agent. Learning to work with suppliers and how to find the information your clients need is an important part of becoming a good travel agent.
  

  How can you find an agency to work with? There are a few organizations dedicated to independent travel agents. NACTA and OSSN are the top organizations. NACTA stands for National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents. OSSN stands for Outside Sales Support Network. You can also search online for home-based travel agent programs. I would never recommend anyone spending a lot of money to start this business. It is key to first try and see if it is something you would really want to do and get training before you invest too much money into it. Get involved in the industry first and see if it is really a career that is best for you.
  

  Jennifer Dugan CTA
  

  
  Owner of Dugan's Travels
  

  
  Travel agent since 1993
  

  
  http://www.duganstravels.com
  

  Copyright 2004 Jennifer Dugan
  

  Mother of two who started a homebased travel agency in 1997. She has over 200 outside agents working with her agency and is active in the travel industry. She has been an agent since 1993. She is the author of three ebooks.

What Are Chemical Bonds and Why Do They Form?

--> What Are Chemical Bonds and Why Do They Form?

Attraction between atoms or ions leads to a chemical bond. According to the types of bonds contained in a molecule, the physical properties including melting point, hardness, electrical and thermal conductivity and solubility are determined. Chemical bonds involve only the outermost or valence electrons of atoms. Using the example of the simplest element, hydrogen, its two atoms on approaching each other, cause electon-electron and proton-proton repulsions to attempt separation of the atoms. But counterbalance by proton-electron attraction fuses the two hydrogen atoms forming a bond.

This example demonstrates the gain, loss and sharing of electrons by atoms for possession of the same number of electrons as the noble gas in closest proximity on the periodic table. With eight valence electrons (s2p6), all noble gases are chemically stable in a phenomenon called the octet rule. But certain exceptions are possible. Among them, one group of atoms has less than eight electrons like hydrogen with only one. BeH2 has just four valence electrons around Be, with Beryllium contributing two electrons and each hydrogen with one. The second exception applies in elements in periods 4 and above. Their atoms can have over four surrounding valence pairs in certain compounds.

Types of Chemical Bonds

Familiarity with three types of chemical bonds is required for the SAT II Chemistry exam, ionic bonds, covalent bonds and metallic bonds.

Ionic Bonds

An electrostatic attraction between ions with opposite charges, cations and anions causes ionic bonds. They usually involve metals and nonmetals as elements active in ionic bonds are mostly from opposite ends of the periodic table with an electronegativity difference exceeding 1.67. Being very strong, ionic bonds in compounds increase melting points and take a solid form in normal conditions. Finally, an electron in an ionic bond is transferred from the less electronegative atom to the more electronegative element. A prime example of an ionic bond-content molecule is NaCl or table salt.

Covalent Bonds

Atoms may share electrons instead of transferring them from atom to atom, resulting in covalent bonds. But the sharing is rarely ever equal due to the difference in electronegativity value of each atom. The only exception is the bond between two atoms of the same element. Covalent bonds are said to be non-polar when the difference in electronegativity of two atoms ranges from 0 to 0.4. Polar refers to electronegativity difference between 0.4 and 1.67. For both non-polar and polar covalent bonds, higher electronegativity in an element results in stronger attraction of the electron pair. Carbon dioxide, CO2 molecules have two bonds which are covalent bonds.

It is possible for covalent bonds to be single, double or triple. A single bond occurs when only one pair of electrons is shared. This single bond is a sigma bond with the electron density being most pronounced along the line joining the two atoms.

Metallic Bonds

Metallic bonds are exclusive to metals alone, including aluminium, gold, copper and iron. Each atom in a metal shares a bond with a number of other metal atoms, thereby allowing their electrons unrestricted movement within the metal structure. It is this specific phenomenon that is behind the properties of metals being unique, an example being their high conductivity.

That basically sums up the essence of chemical bonds, the differences in various types and the reasons for molecular structures being formed.

Vehicular Diuretic - To Use or Not to Use

--> Vehicular Diuretic - To Use or Not to Use Diuretics, commonly known as "water pills," are designed to help eliminate water. In engines, water and fuel are inbred kissing cousins, that when left unsupervised, produce carbon baby abnormalities, e.g., power and performance demise, decreased mileage, increased toxic emissions, increased maintenance applications, and engine fatality.

Who should use an engine diuretic?

Machinery or vehicles dependent upon fuel to function, should snack on a nutritious engine diuretic.

Is water present in gasoline?

Yes. Like all fuels, gasoline has a fatal attraction to water. Sulfur resides in fuel, and when wedded with water, births sulfuric acid.

Sulfuric acid assaults engines. When not burned off during combustion, its carnage of carbon deposits is left strewn throughout the engine. Carbon babies cling to spark plugs, valves, oil, etc., and impair an engine's ability to perform. Too many carbon baby deposits, the engine undertaker is knocking on the door.

Is water present in diesel fuel?

Yes. Being less refined than gasoline, diesel fuel will retain larger quantities of water. Water in diesel fuel is a breeding ground for microorganisms, or bacteria, which feed on hydrocarbons in fuel. These microorganisms produce baby spores, which grow up, become active and begin producing their own cohesive families. These families of microorganisms foster slime, which clogs filters.

The onslaught of carbon babies moves at a swifter pace in diesel powered engines, putting them at greater risk for impotency and early retirement.

At what age can an engine diuretic be used?

There are no age barriers. An engine diuretic can be used from newborn to elderly, with the exception of veteran engines (dating 1919 or earlier).

What size engines can use a diuretic?

All sizes from small, e.g., weed-wackers, lawnmowers, motorcycles, etc., to large, e.g., automobiles, boats, ships, farm and construction machinery, or 18 wheeler trucks.

Should you be concerned about fuel interaction with an engine diuretic?

Yes. Alcohol or dry gas additives reduce the lubrication ability of fuel, which can result in fuel system damage or entire engine failure. An engine diuretic with a lubricating constitution is paramount.

What does the Fuel Doctor have to say about a diuretic for engines?

Water, sulfuric acid, and carbon deposits lethally effect engines.

Gasoline, diesel, agricultural diesel, marine fuels, and bio-diesel fuels all contain water and sulfur, which begets unhealthy sulfuric acid. When not burned off during combustion, spawned carbon deposits set up squatter's rights in engines.

Therefore, all engines need a diuretic, regardless of age or size. However, caution should be taken in choosing an engine diuretic, as some target limited areas and many rob lubrication ability of fuel.

The Fuel Doctor's Advice and Prescription:

It is easy to minimize diaper changes on engines resulting from maintenance, toxic emissions, and fuel.

A simple pill, the size of a penny, popped into the tank at every fill up will combat water, prevent sulfuric acid damage and carbon deposit carnage, yet lubricate the entire engine.

Side effects:

-Increased engine performance and power
-Increased engine longevity
-Increased mileage
-Eradicated carbon deposits - present and future
-Decreased maintenance costs
-Decreased toxic exhaust emissions
-Decreased octane / cetane requirements

Recommended manufacturer of the ultimate engine diuretic -- UBiee Power Pill Fe3.

**Attn Ezine editors / Site owners **
Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your site so long as you leave all links in place, do not modify the content and include the resource box as listed above.

Dee Scrip is a well known and respected published expert author of numerous articles on PowerPill Fe-3, Home Business, Business Opportunities, Fundraising, VoIP, VoIP Security, and other related VoIP issues.
http://www.free-pc-phone.com
http://www.thefueldoctor.com
Engine Diuretic

Vacations Made Easy: Buying a Florida Investment Property

--> Vacations Made Easy: Buying a Florida Investment Property Vacations Made Easy: Buying a Florida Investment Property
A relaxing beach vacation means different things to different families. However, imagine returning from a long day in the sand and waves, hair dripping and tan glowing to a place where you and your family have settled over the years. You know where your favorite beach towels are tucked away and where the soothing aloe gel sits in your medicine cabinet. This is what you call a home away from home. You can avoid the regular vacation stress by buying a Florida investment property, close to the theme parks and beautiful beaches of Florida; your own Florida Investment Property. With the increasing popularity of vacation homes, travelers can find their own place in the sun tailored to fit their family's needs. Plenty of websites offer condominium listings to help you find a condo in the area you desire. These condominium listings give an overview of properties and the features they offer along with special deals. Owning a Florida Investment Property gives families the chance to experience a comfortable vacation at their own pace. All it takes is finding the perfect condominium in the right location.
Hot Places to find a Florida Investment Property
When searching for the perfect place near a Florida Investment Property for your family, there are a lot of choices to consider. First, find an area that is near the places you want to see. For families with kids, a place near the attractions may be the best option. There are plenty of areas surrounding Walt Disney World. Kissimmee and Davenport are two Central Florida towns that are right around the neighborhood of the theme parks.
Beachside vacation condos also offer specials at certain times of the year. If you choose to stay by the beach, your family is still close to the inland attractions. Many Florida Investment Properties may offer decreases in sales prices during the Winter months sine it will be very slow season.
Your Florida Investment Property Style
One of the first things to decide on when searching for a Florida Investment Property is the style of home that a property offers. Ask for detailed floor plans. Do the room sizes meet your family's needs? Some condos don't offer only a basic kitchen space while others include a full kitchen and dining room. Find out if the condo comes furnished or if you will need to factor in the cost of furniture to fill another house.
Another point to consider is the actual purchasing of the condo. If the property is a time-share, you will be locked in to certain times during a year to visit and will need to plan your vacations accordingly. If you are purchasing the condo, there will be maintenance fees. Properties offer a range of purchasing options. One property near Orlando Florida, the Bimini Bay Resort offers a revolutionary system. Vacationers purchase a condo and receive fees from the property for its use when owners aren't in residence.
Finding the perfect Florida Investment Property also requires love at first sight. Do cool Caribbean houses make a splash in your mind or do you prefer pristine white high rises? Almost every vacation community today offers a website where perspective buyers can view the property and its amenities. This is good for narrowing down the candidates. However, once you decide on a property it's best to call them directly and ask questions that can be answered by someone on the property. Ask for any type of visuals, schematics and possible links to pictures from previous buyers. Finally, visit the site. Most Florida Investment Property offer a personal tour of their vacation homes. This way, you can get a feel for not only the condos themselves, but also the community surrounding the property. You can then make the deal in person and avoid unanswered questions later. Now all you have to do is pack your bags and enjoy the Florida sun!
Florida Investment Property Features
Families should look for a place where they can be comfortable away from home. Property owners know this and therefore cater to a wide range of features for buyers. Families can choose a Florida Investment Property with enough bedrooms for kids and parents, whether they need a full kitchen or just a simple area to prepare food, as well as the amenities that a property offers.
Many Florida Investment Properties offer three and four bedroom accommodations

Use the Law of Attraction to Build Your Business

--> Use the Law of Attraction to Build Your Business Michael Losier 2004. You may include this article in your ezine or on your website or distribute it to others, provided you include the copyright statement and the bio information tag line found at the end of this article.

Have you ever had something you wanted just fall into place; come to you through an out-of-the-blue phone call or by coincidentally meeting someone on the street? Have you ever met the perfect client or life partner--just by being at the right place at the right time?

Many of us have various ways to describe this phenomenon; serendipity, coincidence, fate, karma, luck, it was meant to be, self-fulfilling prophecy, what comes around goes around, and success breeds success. All of these expressions describe what is known as the Law of Attraction.

Law of Attraction can be defined as: You attract to your life whatever you give your attention, focus and energy to, whether wanted or unwanted.

If you wish to attract more money, referrals, clients, contracts, business partners, or anything else your heart desires, it is essential to understand the workings of the Law of Attraction.

The first step is to know more about our use of Declarative Statements and how they contribute to Law of Attraction. A Declarative Statement is a positive statement of what we want to attract, that elevates our mood or feeling. Examples include: "I love the way money comes to me effortlessly in expected and unexpected ways.", "It feels so good knowing that business comes to me in all seasons." and, "I love the way my reputation attracts clients to me."

When people fail, it's often because they have unconsciously made Declarative Statements to themselves that are negative, such as: "Money comes in one hand and out the other.", "I take one step forward and two steps back." or, "My business slows down during the summer months." These statements have negative feelings and moods attached to them.

Re-read the definition of Law of Attraction: We attract into our lives whatever we give our attention to, whether wanted or unwanted. Law of Attraction responds to these negative feelings and gives us more of them. Law of Attraction does not know whether it is something you want or not; it simply responds to your mood or feeling and gives you more of it.

Each time you hear yourself make a Declarative Statement that does not serve you, simply restate it and offer a better mood or feeling. Here is a quick way to turn a negative statement into a positive Declarative Statement.

Simply ask yourself: "So, what do I want?"

The moment you define what you do want, you start to experience a new mood or feeling, and Law of Attraction will respond to this better mood or feeling.

Over the next few days, start to notice what is appearing in your life, that is, what you are attracting. Then think back to what mood or feeling you may have offered that could have attracted what appeared. You'll soon find yourself manifesting more and more of what you do want, and less of what you don't want, by deliberately putting the Law of Attraction to work for you.

For more articles by Michael Losier, Teleclass information or to purchase the book, Law of Attraction, The Science of Attracting More of What You Want and Less of What You Don't, visit www.LawOfAttractionBook.com.

Michael Losier, a Law of Attraction Trainer and author, supports people in understanding and practicing the Art of Deliberate Attraction, so they can have more of what they want and less of what they don't. Michael has been applying the principles of Law of Attraction for many years and enjoys a wonderful and rewarding life in the city of Victoria, BC

Unleash the Magic of Goal Setting for Internet Marketers!

--> Unleash the Magic of Goal Setting for Internet Marketers!
Unleashing the Magic of Goal Setting for Internet Marketers!

There is a magic power in goal setting that, when unleasehed, can dramatically accelerate your results as an on-line marketer. Those who understand and utilise the basic laws of goal setting
achieve extrodinary results. Those who don't can only wonder and hope! This article explains how Internet Marketers can fire up their on-line results by having the magic of goal setting work for them.

First and foremost, goal setting establishes a sense of purpose and order in our lives. When we develop a goals consciousness we begin to live on purpose and by design, rather than be blown by the winds of change. Goals give clarity to the objectives and expectations that we have of our
on-line businesses.

In Brian Tracy's new book 'Goals' he states that 'Success is Goals, everything else is commentary'.
In other words, at the core of every great success lies an intensly goal focused person. This is equally true with those striving for success on-line. Success is a hard place to arrive at by accident.

Lets face facts! There are many people on-line today promising that if you will just buy their program, marketing system, traffic generation, MLM opportunity and more you will be
successful and make it big. There are thousands of eZines and Newsletters out there that all claim to have the secret inside information on how to be an Internet Marketing success just
like them. Every other web site offers free eBooks on how to turn the Internet into a cash machine, or to generate a traffic virus. There is just a ton of great quality information out there.

If there is so much information readily available then how come you are still struggling to earn money from your on-line marketing ventures?

No matter how good the information is thats available to you, and no matter how good your online venture, success will avoid you if you lack clarity around your objectives. With clarity
comes certainty and conviction. A lack of clarity leads to your efforts being diluted and your attention easily diverted.

So how do you go about setting goals that are relevant to your on-line business?

A good starting point is to establish goals using the S.M.A.R.T formula. In other words goals have to be:

S - Specific
M - Measurable
A - Achievable
R - Realistic
T - Have a time line

By using the S.M.A.R.T formula you give your brain clear specific objectives to aim at. Your brain works best with clarity. Focusing on, and dwelling constantly on clearly defined objectives sparks your brain with the fire to achieve it. With such clarity your Reticular Activating System will hone in the exact resources, knowledge, skills and opportunitys you need to make
it happen.

What type of goals are required for success in your on-line business?

There are certain fundamentals that you need to be proficient in to be successful in any endeavour. Jim Rohn says that their is usally about a half dozen things that you need to master
that will give you approximately 80% of your results. Success in on-line marketing is no different. In order to establish a successful on-line business you might consider setting specific goals for the following key areas.

1. No of visitors to your web site. Per Day ? Per Week ? Per Month ? Growth rate?

2. No of subscribers to your eZine. ie Of those visiting your site, how many subscribe to your eZine? Whats your conversion rate?

3. No of orders. How good is your sales copy? What is your current conversion rate of visitors to sales achieved? What do you plan to improve this to?

4. How many affiliates do you have? Do you have an affiliate program? If not, when do you plan to have one up and running? How many affiliates do you aim to have? No of sales made by your affiliates?

5. Search Engine locations. How high do you want to aim ? Based on how many key words?

6. Back end products. How many back end products do you wish to develop? How many sales do you plan to make of your back end products? What % of customers do you expect to sell your back end products to.

These are just some example key performance indicators. Your business may be different and require a different set of key performance indicators.

So what should you do from here?

If you wish to unleash the magic power of goal setting in your life then take action right now and complete the following three steps. By doing so you will propell yourself forward into the
category of those who do vs those who dont. Your success will be within your grasp and you will begin to activate the Law of Attraction.

Step 1: Identify the Key Performance Indicators that you need to ensure your success.

Step 2 : Clearly identify where you are at today in each area.

Step 3 : Write clear specific goals for the next 3 months, 6 months and 1 year.

Bonus Step 4 : Write down a vision statement of where you see your on-line business in 5 years time. What will your business look like? What turnover will it produce? What will be your
income from the business? What will your lifestyle be like?

Remember this when goal setting : Most people greatly overestimate ehat they can achieve in 1 year and greatly underestimate what they can achieve in 5 years. Use that as a guiding principle in your goal setting. Watch the magic of goal setting come to life and expand your on-line business and gaurantee your success!

Rod Moore
Self Management Systems

**************************************
Rod Moore is a leading authority, author and speaker on the topic of goal setting and personal empowerment. More than 10,000 people use his 'Goals Magic System' worldwide. To get your FREE copy of the 'Goals Magic System' visit http://www.goalsmagic.com
**************************************

(C) 2003 Self Management Systems - All rights reserved.

You may reprint this article in your eZine, eNewsletter or on your web site providing the article remains intact including the accreditation and copyright notice. For more details and articles on the magic of goal setting contact us at self_manage@yahoo.com

Rod Moore is a leading authority on the subject of Goal Setting and Self Empowerment. More than 10,000 people use his free 'Goals Magic System' to enjoy more success in their lives.

Travel the World - for Free!

--> Travel the World - for Free! I have been very fortunate to travel to several countries of the world while on business - countries I may have never visited on a holiday. There are pros and cons to working/doing business in a foreign country vs. visiting as a tourist but I have found it to be very rewarding. I have made many friends, been invited into many colleagues' homes to meet their families, dined on local specialties, and seen all the local attractions (I've been to the Giza pyramids three times - see photo on the right) because business partners are always proud to show you their country. After all, don't we always take visitors to Alberta to the Rocky Mountains? Foreign business delegations traveling to Calgary always schedules time to go to Banff, often timing it to coincide with the weekend.

So even though I don't sell a product, I do consider myself an exporter. That is because I am exporting my experience and knowledge - basically I export a service. Many more Canadian service companies (and consultants), from environmental companies to engineering firms, could be exporting, but aren't.

Here are four ways to get started.

1. Consult.

Consulting overseas is essentially exporting a service. For many Canadians the obvious first step is to examine the opportunities offered by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) - the executing agency of Canada's $2.87 billion aid program.

CIDA funds various development programs, some of which are administered and implemented directly by the recipient government and others by Canadian partners. In either case, experts are required for some aspect of the project. In my case, over the past year I have spent a total three months working in Indonesia providing export-related technical assistance to garment manufacturers in Bali.

To work with CIDA, all consultants must be registered with Consulting and Audit Canada. However, CIDA does not directly contact everyone and therefore it is useful to know the partners that cooperate with CIDA, and luckily a list of non-governmental organizations (NGO) is available on the CIDA web site (type 'voluntary sector division' in the search box, choose the first result and then click on 'Links to CIDA's partners').

CIDA also publishes a list of all its current bilateral projects which includes the name of the primary partner organization, the value of the project and time remaining. You may be able to offer your services to these organizations. From CIDA's home page, click on 'Projects' and then 'CIDA's contracts and agreements.'

Once you have gained experience working with CIDA, many international financial institutions such as the World Bank also hire consulting firms to plan, manage and evaluate their projects. For example, right now there is an Expression of Interest for a "Country Environmental Analysis" for Vietnam. It also helps to cultivate contacts within the World Bank as contracts under $100,000 are not publicly posted.

Even if you are not in the "development" business, think about what expertise you can offer to other countries.

2. Partner Overseas.

Very few companies are successful overseas if they do not have a local partner, regardless of whether they are selling a product or a service. The format of a partnership in services exporting (i.e. joint-venture, strategic alliance, equity agreement) is not necessarily the prime consideration but the Canadian company must take the time to determine what they need and want from their foreign partner. Someone to identify and pursue leads? Labour to undertake certain aspects of the project? Administrative assistance? Insight into local laws and customs? Language support? Competitive intelligence? The Canadian partner also needs to consider what they bring to the partnership. New technology? Expertise? Financing?

CIDA has funding available for Canadian firms developing partnerships in developing countries under its Industrial Cooperation Program.

Do you have a unique technology in demand overseas but are reluctant to start exporting? Don't assume all of the responsibility yourself - find a local partner and reap the benefits.

3. Network Locally.

This method for entering new markets is probably one of the most overlooked, despite its low risk. Every Canadian company working overseas is outsourcing some aspect of the project, usually to someone they know and trust - often one of their domestic suppliers. For example, most Canadian oil and gas companies have operations overseas as well - often in remote areas that require housing and catering. Rather than relying on local capabilities, they generally contract their camp services to well known Canadian firms, thus ensuring the comfort of their workers - because a camp full of unhappy and miserable oil rig workers is not a good thing!

Take a look at your current clients and see if any of them are doing business overseas.

4. Teach.

Everyone is aware of the opportunities to teach English overseas, which is what my sister is doing right now in South Korea (see photo at left). She signed her contract through a Toronto-based agency which is essentially exporting her knowledge of English and Canada (she has actually sung O'Canada to a room full of junior high kids, with no accompaniment!). At the post-secondary level, countries that are rapidly expanding their education systems are demanding skilled teachers and partnerships with foreign institutions in all professions. China and the United Arab Emirates are two that come to mind. However, it is not only within the formal education system that teaching and training opportunities emerge. The same issue of Canadian Business that printed my exporting advice (June 6 - 19, 2005) features a scantily clad model on its cover (I guess sex sells even business magazines) with the line, "The Business of Becoming China's Top Model." After four years of working in China, where white skin is highly valued (and here in North America millions are spent on tanning lotions and tanning salons - go figure), Canadian model Tracey Grebinsky is working with a local talent agency to: 1) train Western models about the complexities of working in China, and; 2) educate Chinese firms about the business of modelling (i.e. contracts, choosing a "look", working with agencies, etc).

Re-evaluate whether you have an exportable service. I'm a big believer that almost anything can be exported.

So pack your bags and get ready for an international adventure.

Copyright 2005.

Cheryl Lockhart of International Strategies Ltd. assists small- to medium-sized enterprises navigate the complexities of global business development. Services include international project identification and management, market research and foreign partner development. To learn more about exporting and read additional FREE e-zines, visit http://www.intl-strategies.com

Travel Writer Jobs, What Are They And How To Find Them

--> Travel Writer Jobs, What Are They And How To Find Them

Travel writing jobs are few and far between. Getting into this field is hard to do and requires a lot of training and experience. But, there are many benefits to them. There are many individuals who would love to get employment opportunities in this field. And, because the world is faster and faster becoming accessible to more people, increasing employment availability can be found for travel jobs as well. But, how does a person get in and how do they do their job?

Travel writer jobs belong mainly to freelance authors, travelling far and wide. They learn about the amusements, the attractions, and the little secrets of the towns, cities, and countries they visit. Then, they provide this knowledge to the general public in the form of articles, books, or even transcriptions. It is amazing that many people go from location to location by simply learning about different areas and using this knowledge to write. But, this work is far from easy. It may be costly to afford to do this type of traveling. It often does not pan out as a worthwhile adventure anyway. It is often difficult to find publishers or employment vacancies in this area as well.

To get these types of jobs, it will often take experience in the writing field and the researching field. Freelance opportunities, in which the author will visit locations at his own expense, are necessary. In other, simpler cases, a breakthrough into the business can be done by working for the local newspaper or through a magazine. In any case, though, it will require time to develop the necessary knowledge.

When looking for vacancies like these, it would be wise to realize that it will take time to build up the reputation needed to get these opportunities. Perhaps working on less glamorous writing jobs will have to be taken in order to have stepping stones out into the travel writing world. If you have the funds and the talent it is easy to go out and find locations to write about without being commissioned to do so. But, there is no guarantee of any of this type of work paying off. Patience may be the only way to get into and maintain a career in this field of writing.

Visit http://www.FreelanceWritingResource.com for more Articles, Resources, News and Advice about Freelance Writing Jobs.
Copyright FreelanceWritingResource.com. All rights reserved. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact.

Top Ten Things Kids Teach Us About Our Careers

--> Top Ten Things Kids Teach Us About Our Careers Inciteful Insight: * Children may be better teachers about our career than graduate degree professors. From infancy thru teenagerism, our children give us great tidbits which can be useful in our own career development. The method to discover their teachings used to be written on railroad crossings. Stop, Look and Listen. The following are some samples of what you may learn when you stop, look and listen to your kids.

* Inciteful is spelled intentionally to mean to urge one into action.

10. Work will go on without us.
If you have ever missed work in order to care for a sick child, attend a school event, or just go fishing or shopping, you know the work you missed was somehow done. I know I now wish I had tested this teaching more frequently.

9. Pace yourself.
Go for 8 or 10 or 12 hours at a hundred and ten per cent, arrive home and then just try to give five minutes at seventy five per cent to an excited child. For some reason, that little person who considers you a hero, God and desirable wants all of you until bedtime! Kids will attempt to teach you to save energy so you can make a sprint to the finish at the end of the day or week.

8. You are the most important person who works there.
My Dad was a Methodist minister for 50 years. I came along towards the end of that career. He knew God was the most important person, closely followed by the janitor, chairman of the board and all of the other members of the church. He was last in line. When I first began to remember at about 5 thru about age 49 when he died, I always thought he was the most important person who worked there. Not even the Bishop could come close!

7. Success is often in direct proportion to attention given.
Children try to teach us that lots of attention creates success. I was one who figured out that lots of attention given to a career made it possible to climb the ladder of success quickly. Eventually, my kids and wife taught me the value of balancing career and family, or should I say I finally learned what they tried to teach me all along!

6. Giving honor comes easy with respect.
When my kids were young, they had great respect for their Mom and Dad. They gave us honor easily and frequently with drawings for the refrigerator and stories from books and their imaginations. When we respect our boss, our employees, our fellow workers, our customers and suppliers, it is much easier to say "Thank You!" All we need to do is let them earn our respect and be respectful.

5. Humor is a serious asset.
Raising kids is serious business. Luckily, kids usually provide ample opportunity for parents to be humored by their antics, struggles and successes. Add a little humor along the career track and you may even find yourself drawing a Dilbert cartoon!

4. Two heads are better than one.
Take on a kid one on one and you have your work cut out for you! Include your spouse in the process and your odds of success increase. Transfer the lesson to marketing, customer service, employee training, and other challenges. Use the expertise of those around you. Allow me a shameless marketing tip: Hire a coach and discover how two heads draw out your own expertise.

3. Attraction works better than whining.
How many times have you said, "Quit your whining or you won't get anything!" You were trying to teach your child to act and behave in an attractive manner. Go and do the same in your own career.

2. A power play is a temporary victory.
I always tell parents, "Avoid power plays with your kids. If you don't, your child will always win." Often I receive a quizzical look with, "But if I ground my child, they lose, right?" Think about it. Those battles are often repeated and what fun is that? Find ways to avoid power plays in your career to elevate yourself.

1. Behind great success is a greater spouse.
It is easier to raise kids with a Mom and a Dad. It is easier to to develop a career when your spouse is supportive. Let your spouse know what your definition of supportive is and remind one another you are both on the same side. The world is yours.

Carwin Dover works with owners and managers who want to balance their business and who want to balance their life. Learn more at www.mycoachswebsite.com .

Top 7 Mastery Principles to Building a $1,000,000+ Enterpris

--> Top 7 Mastery Principles to Building a $1,000,000+ Enterpris Are you aware of the single ** most powerful ** asset
in your business? Is it money? Is it employees? Is it
your credentials or intellectual knowledge? Is it your
products or services?

No, actually, it is none of these. Your single most important
business asset is your MIND ... more specifically, your mindset.

Your business only grows as quickly as you, your mind and
your thinking do. If you want to create a $1,000,000+
business, you must think like a $1,000,000+ business
owner. You must in your mind's eye already BE a $1,000,000
business owner.

The seven mindset principles below are crucial to building
a $1,000,000+ business. Print this list, and refer to it
often. Devoting as little as 15-30 minutes per day to
shifting your mindset is THE single best investment in
building your $1,000,000+ enterprise.

1. THE PRINCIPLE OF TRANSCENDENT PURPOSE

Great companies and great business leaders do
great things that leave a lasting legacy and make
this world a better place for you and me. Such
leaders create CAUSES, not businesses.
If you want to get to the $1,000,000+ level in
your business, you must have at its core a
"transcendent" purpose for its existence - a
purpose that bigger than yourself and your own
self-interests.

Viktor Frankl, the great Austrian psychiatrist,
said it best: "Success, like happiness, cannot be
pursued; it must ensue ... as the unintended side
effect of one's personal dedication to a cause
greater than oneself." What is the transcendent
purpose of your business? How can you make
your business a vehicle for making a difference
in your customers' lives?

2. THE PRINCIPLE OF HIGH PROBABILITY THINKING

Whatever you focus on, that is what you will
multiply in your business. If you focus on the
problem, you will get more of the problem. If you
focus on finding a solution, the door will open to
more solutions. Wherever your attention is, will
drive your most probable outcome. Where is your
attention right now in your business - on the
problem or on the solution?? How must you shift
your attention in your business to get to the
$1,000,000+ level?


3. THE PRINCIPLE OF MAGNETIC ATTRACTION

What you think , you magnetize and attract. Your
** thoughts ** make your business and your world.
Eg., if you are attracting low income producing
or difficult customers, your beliefs about your
income worthiness or about the kind of clientele
that will want your products/services are
attracting such marginal customers. Your
business is **always** a mirror of your own inner
thinking.

To go to the next level in your business, you must
first get to the next level in your mind. You must
know the value you offer and raise your mental
sights on the kind of customers you want to
attract. What challenges do you have in your
business currently? How do they mirror back to
you your thinking?

4. THE PRINCIPLE OF DELIBERATE CREATION

Having hopes, dreams and visions of becoming a
$1,000,000+ enterprise is not enough to create it,
although certainly a first step. Deliberate
creation comes from deliberate intention, from
making a **decision**, that no matter, what you
will take your business to the next level.

When we come from a place of 100% committed
intention, synchronicity and magic happen. Finding
the right people and resources to support your
vision unfolds effortlessly. Momentum pulls you
in the direction of your dreams. Are you in a
wishful state or have you committed 100% to
creating your visions and dreams? What will
it take to be 100% committed?

5. THE PRINCIPLE OF MASTERMIND MARKETING

Marketing is **not** a battle of products. It's a
battle of PERCEPTIONS. It all starts in the
customer's mind. Perceived value, first and
foremost, is what attracts customers to your
business. Real value is what retains them. What
are you doing to create perceived value in your
customer's mind? ARe you winning the battle of
perceptions?

6. THE PRINCIPLE OF SUPERIOR CONSEQUENCES

With every action, there is a consequence or
outcome. While you cannot control the outcome,
you can control and are responsible for your
actions. This principle tells us If
you want a different consequence or outcome in
your business, you must take different actions.

No matter what your current level of success,
a $1,000,000+ enterprise requires higher
level strategies and higher level performance
actions than your past efforts. Where are you
getting inferior outcomes or results in your
business? What different actions can you take to
create a different outcome?

7. THE PRINCIPLE OF MENTAL RICHES

All riches are of the mind *** first ***. It is your
MENTAL ATTITUDE that determines the difference
between a floundering $10,000/year business and
a booming $1,000,000+ empire. "As you believe,
so shall you receive." If you were to picture a
$1,000,000+ business, how would that business be
different than what you are operating now?? How
differently would YOU need to be to run a
$1,000,000+ business?

A FINAL NOTE: Mindset changes do not happen overnight.
It takes persistent focus, effort and attention to shifting
deeply embedded thinking to a new level.

However, just 15-30 minutes of time daily to mastering
these principles and shifting your thinking can reap much
greater rewards in your business than 1000 hours of
additional efforts. The creation of a $1,000,000+
enterprise is only a mindset away.

Denise Corcoran is a Master Business Coach,
Strategic Consultant and Performance Catalyst.
Invigorate your mind, your business savvy and your
creative juices with paradigm-shifting, breakthrough
strategies and principles of today's superior businesses.
It's all there in our monthly ezine -
THE EMPOWERED BUSINESS (TM). To subscribe,
send email to: Empowered_Biz-subscribe@topica.com.

Top 10 ways to Increase Sales, Boost Profits and Generate Le

--> Top 10 ways to Increase Sales, Boost Profits and Generate Le If you're not familiar with travel vacation vouchers packages,
here's how they work.

YOU simply give a FR'EE vacation voucher package to your valued
customers, clients or prospects, for purchasing or trying your product
or service. This alone can greatly increase your customer and prospect response rate.

You can choose to give away a 3 day, 2 night vacations, a $500 FR'EE spending voucher for meals, attractions, or shows and a FR'EE airline voucher.

In fact, YOU could even give away all vouchers for a complete vacation package worth more than $500.

Your customers or clients would absolutely love to receive a vacation package like that. It's a great way to attract new customers.

Once your customers receive their vouchers, they simply make their reservations, request the $500 benefits booklet for the destination of their choice, book their airline flights and enjoy a complete vacation package worth well over $500, compliments of YOU, or YOUR company.

Now that's a promotion your customers will never forget!

So let's look at "10 WAYS to boost your sales and build your business by giving away Complimentary Vacation Travel Vouchers Packages".

1. Use Travel Vouchers packages as YOUR business cards.

2. Give Travel Vouchers packages to your customers if they upgrade to a more expensive package or product.

3. Give Travel Vouchers packages to prospects for trying
your product, or using your service.

4. Give Travel Vouchers packages to everyone who takes a
FR'EE tour, or trial membership in your current business opportunity.

5. Give Travel Vouchers packages to those who attend your home parties, grand openings, or special events.

6. Give Travel Vouchers packages to everyone who purchases from your kids school fund raisers. Your kids will be top sellers, and your personalized vouchers will be in the hands of many new prospects.

7. Give Travel Vouchers packages, along with your regular tip, to restaurants, home delivery drivers, or common places you do business. Works great if your promoting a business opportunity.

8. Give Travel Vouchers packages to associates, clients, or prospects on birthdays, holidays, or any special occasion.

9. Give Travel Vouchers packages to local businesses. They can give them to their team, staff, or employees as bonuses or employee appreciation programs.

10. By printing your name or company information on these vouchers, you'll see powerful benefits, increased sales, and more potential leads as you give away vouchers using
methods 1 - 9.


Sheryl Strasser knows from experience that focusing on the basics and making a consistent effort are the keys to success. Learn how to boost sales and generate leads at Sheryl's incredible website www.travelvacationvouchers.com/lcs01.html . Once there, you can contact Sheryl so that she can guide you toward the success you deserve.

Think of Wealth and Become Wealthy

--> Think of Wealth and Become Wealthy

Our thought are magnetic ! Like a magnet we attract circumstances and opportunities. We litterally attract the life we want with our powerful magnetic thought !

You might say :" But Michel i have been thinking about wealth all my life and the only thing i got is 5 cents in the banks !"

Do you think about wealth or the lack of wealth ? This is different my friend. When you think about not having enough money what do you attract ? Not enough money of course !

This is a spiritual law ! It's the law of attraction or sameness or harmony. You cannot have, what you don't think you can have. Like attracts like. Like criminals with criminals and saints with saints.

We join a group because they share the same ideas as ours (the law of sameness). We won't join people who doesn't thing the same as us ! Like attracts like - you get the point ! I'm sure you do now.

We have to replace our old thinking if we want to succeed. Think about success and wealth and not: " Not enough money " or " I cannot succeed " . Replace this with : " I will succeed litlle by little, day by day ".

Our action follows our thinking. If we don't believe we can start a business we won't start a business. Period.

But if we believe we can start a business here is what happen : First our thought will attract information on how to start a business. So we first learn how to start and grow a business.

After that we start taking action like maybe getting a loan, finding a location (if we have a physical business). After that finding good employee, good marketing, good products etc.

We do what we think. Everything we do comes from our thought. Our thought form our belief. We have to believe to succeed. We act from our belief.

It's not diificult to believe in wealth ! Look at all the people who succeed and have succeeded. There are not different from you. There are flesh and bones and not some space alien !

To become wealthy you have to think like them. Learn from them. If they have done it. You can do it too.

You don't need to have come from a rich family or to be a crook to be wealthy. The crook will one day get caught.

The simple formula to succeed is this. The ultimate truth of all ages and all the universe is : THOUGHT.

Taught your way to success.

Think and act. Act and think. Use your crative thought to create wealth or anything you like in your life. What you like you attract easily. Remember like atract like.

Copyright © Michel Richer

PERMISSIONS TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in its entirety free of charge, electronically or in print, provided it appears with the included copyright and author's resource box with live website link. Link to : http://www.hombyz.com

Michel Richer is the Business Manager and Webmaster of http://www.hombyz.com.

He is dedicated to helping you succeed on the Internet. With over 10 years experience in internet business and a solid reputation in the industry.

You can take a look at his website at: http://www.hombyz.com for Your Home Business Success !!!

The Top 10 Ways to Choose a Good Partner

--> The Top 10 Ways to Choose a Good Partner Here are the top 10 ways to choose a good partner using your emotional intelligence.

1. Sexual attraction is based on a primitive and powerful
feeling that can "hijack" us.

It comes from the reptilian brain and is automatic and powerful because it relates to our survival. It is not, in
itself, a reason to act or react. Don't let yourself get "hijacked." Take a second look; get up to your limbic brain (bonding, parenting, relationships) and your neocortex
(thinking)for this important decision. More on this later.

2. Touching is very important to our mental and physical health.

Choose a partner who is affectionate, who likes to touch you and be touched.

3. Most communication is nonverbal.

Choose a partner who looks at you with affection and kindness in their eyes. Emotions are contagious and largely transmitted through the eyes!

4. Think as well as feel your way through this decision.

Emotional intelligence means using all 3 of your brains -- including the neocortex, the thinking brain. Contrary to what some people think, EQ doesn't mean "only emotions." It means
thinking as well as feeling. Consider compatibility -- family background, values, goals, how he or she takes care of their physical and mental health. Consider general living style. The find-a-roommate-site asks just a few questions. Among them are -- drug use, when you like to get up and go to bed, your level of neatness, and how quiet you like it to be. Pay attention.
You'll be living with this person. Do use your intuition. It's a strong guide. Take advantage of it. If you need to develop your intuition, work with an EQ ( http://www.susandunn.cc ) or Intuition coach ( http://www.bemyguide.net ).

5. Consider the emotional self-awareness of your partner, and
their awareness of your emotions; their ability at empathy.

Studies show that one of the most predictive traits for compatibility is if one partner is able to sense the sadness of the other.

6. How optimistic is this person ?

Optimism is the facilitator of all the emotional intelligence competencies. In addition, optimists live longer, enjoy better health, heal more quickly, and accomplish more. Emotions are
contagious, and optimism is a forcefield you want in your life.
It can be learned ( http://www.susandunn.cc/courses.htm ).

7. Be intentional and expect it in your partner.

Intentionality is an EQ competency that means saying what you mean and meaning what you say. It also means being accountable for the motives behind your actions. You'll need to be in touch
with this yourself, and have a partner who is as well, because partnering requires a commitment, i.e., Intentionality. Intentionality means you're not "allowed" to say, "I didn't
mean to ..." High-level skill. Good one to look for.

8. Consider the level of your intended partner's resilience.

You'll be together a long time, through ups and downs, and life can throw some curves. How do they manage adverse events and setbacks? Do they bounce back eventually? Have they been able
to grow through adversity, not just go through it?

9. How do you and your partner manage anger--your own anger and that of the other?

Studies show that the most successful couples are those who are able to soothe one another instead of agitating and escalating in an argument.

10. How balanced is their life?

Do they combine learning, working and leisure? Studies show that people who die in their 5th and 6th decade have this life trajectory: school, then work, then leisure. Resilient seniors
combine all three during all stages of life. You'll want the one you love to be around a long time!

The Top 10 Priorities That Guard Your Five-Star Reputation

--> The Top 10 Priorities That Guard Your Five-Star Reputation TOP 10 PRIORITIES THAT GUARD
YOUR FIVE-STAR REPUTATION

Making money doesn't make your reputation...
your reputation makes you money. Gala Gorman

Whether your business is product or service-oriented, the
loyalty and dedication of your customers is greatly dependent
on your reputation. Your most effective sales force is your
existing customer base. Word-of-mouth or the personal
recommendation, serves to create an expectation that you must
only live up to - rather than one that you must create from
scratch.

The assets of your business have traditionally included
property, plant, equipment, and your customer base.
Progressive organizations understand that the concept of
business assets should be expanded to include their good
reputation. By being responsive to change, having the ability
to conduct a constructive dialogue with stakeholders, and
taking advantage of networked resources, the organization
further extends their tangible and in-tangible non-traditional
assets.

Companies are increasingly adopting socially responsible
business practices based on sustainable development to ensure
efficiency, stimulate innovation, and create top-line growth.
This new approach to business requires leadership to re-think
priorities with a focus on a longer-term agenda. The socially
responsible leader understands that decisions made by management
must focus not only on profit-making but also on reputation-
building. Fortunately the latter feeds the former.

These are the Top 10 priorities that will ensure a sustainable
future for your business or organization. After thoughtful
consideration, priorities must be established (re-established)
and communicated to stakeholders. With every area of the
organization working in alignment with the vision, mission and
values, goals and objectives are more easily reached. To begin
the discovery process, use this list to honestly evaluate your
organization's priorities.

1.Define and demonstrate your values.

A.What products or services do you provide and how do they
serve to demonstrate your values? You must first define your
values and create your mission with a clear understanding of the
values you wish to demonstrate. If your products and services
can't be reconciled with your values, trust is eroded.

B.How will your products or services impact stakeholders?
Your stakeholders include stockholders, but the group also extends
to staff, associates, vendors and the community that is directly
or indirectly impacted by what you produce. Stakeholders become
a far-extending community of concerned parties.

C.What filter is in place for decision-making? Your filter
is created from having a clear understanding of your values and
mission. Decisions are run through this filter before being
communicated or implemented.

2.Create a recognizable image.

A.What is your desired image? Once you have defined your
values and mission, you have an easier job of creating your image.
You know how you want to be perceived and recognized and,
consequently, you can take action that will create the desired
result.

B.Are your logo and promotional materials consistent and
memorable? Your logo is a powerful trigger that creates
recognition for your organization. Careful thought and
consideration should be given to your logo and how it communicates
the message desired.

C.Does your marketing support and extend the desired image?
Your marketing plan and program should serve to create and extend
your brand recognition. All activities, whether they are marketing
related or otherwise, should serve to create and support your brand
environment.

3.Know your market and customer.

A.Who is your perfectly-aligned customer? You should be able
to readily communicate the profile of your perfect customer. By
creating this profile, you set the universal law of attraction into
motion so that you can focus your energy on customers whose values
and beliefs are in alignment with the organization's.

B.What does your perfectly-aligned customer expect from your
services? If you are focused on serving a customer that is
perfectly-aligned with your values, by understanding how they expect
to benefit from your services you create a powerful business model.
You walk a mile in the customer's shoes.

C.How might you extend your services to exceed expectations?
Once you understand customer expectations, you can begin to discover
ways to exceed them. It is important to maintain focus and know what
you can realistically do without diluting your energy.

4.Strive for perfection.

A.Is perfection expected? Perfection isn't conditional. It
must be the primary goal regardless of circumstances. Every level of
the organization should understand what it means to perfect its product
or service.

B.How are mistakes or errors turned into learning opportunities?
Mistakes and errors can be transformed into tremendous opportunities if
they are given appropriate consideration. The root cause can be mined
for its eye-opening insight into breakdowns in an organization's systems
and infrastructure.

C.Who decides if it's perfect enough? There must be one clear
standard that is demonstrated at every level of an organization. This
standard applies regardless of time pressures or circumstances.

5.Treat your stakeholders like family.

A.Do you understand who your stakeholders are? Stakeholders is a
fairly new term that extends far beyond an organization's stockholders
or owners. Even the organization's customers are stakeholders - they
have a vested interest in the organization's continued existence and
success.

B.Is community encouraged? For example, staff spends more of
their waking hours with fellow workers than they do with their own
family. By encouraging community through fostering relationships
between stakeholders, the organization creates loyalty, dedication,
and commitment.

C.Are wealth creation and benefits shared fairly? Careful
consideration should be given to the distribution of wealth amongst
those that are most instrumental in creating it - intrinsically and
consequentially. All members of an organization's family can expect
to benefit from the success created by sharing and progressing the
agenda.

6.Contribute to your local community.

A.Is your local community defined and understood? For some,
local may be limited to a 10-mile radius. For others, local will
encompass the globe. In order to contribute effectively to your
local community, you must understand its make-up.

B.Is community participation encouraged and rewarded? The
organization should create a win/win relationship with its community.
The community provides it with its means for creating success and it
gives back to the community appropriately by allocating and sharing
its resources.

C.Do you understand how your local community extends globally?
While many organizations may limit their focus to a community that is
in their neighborhood, all organizations impact the global community
in some way, shape, or form. It is instrumental in progressing the
social responsibility agenda to initiate the dialog and take global
considerations into account.

7.Make decisions considering intrinsic and consequential
costs/benefits.

A.How are costs determined in decision-making? In the evaluation
of any project or initiative, there are clearly identifiable associated
costs. There are also consequential costs that can easily be overlooked
if the decision-making process isn't designed to incorporate a
full-spectrum of cost considerations.

B.Are decisions made with a long-term focused perspective?
Short-term motivations are generally limited to a strictly
profit-oriented agenda. In order to effectively incorporate progressive
and socially responsible initiatives, longer-term results must be
considered and prioritized.

C.Does the organization tell the truth? There are lies and..there
are lies. The truth should provide the recipient with the information
needed to make an informed decision. If a decision is made based on
inaccurate or incomplete information, it is based on lack of the truth.

8.Manage the organization with integrity.

A.Are financial records maintained to ensure accurate and
meaningful reporting? Accurate financial reporting is critical to
effective decision-making. Financial policies should be employed to
create records that provide the most genuine and meaningful results of
operations.

B.Does management emphasize being socially progressive? Most
organizations delay the implementation of a socially responsible agenda
until the pain associated with the delay is intolerable. By taking a
pro-active approach, social responsibility becomes the competitive edge.

C.Do the company's products and services promote quality of life?
If the organization's success is dependent on the degradation of society's
health and welfare, integrity will be beyond the organization's reach.
Products and services should be designed to contribute to human welfare.

9.Encourage innovation and continuous improvement.

A.How does the company capitalize on technological advancement?
Technology is a powerful tool that can bring an organization's
stakeholders into closer proximity. In order to foster community,
technology can be a great ally.

B.Are employees encouraged to increase competencies? Continuous
improvement requires a commitment to education and personal/professional
development. The organization's compensation program should reward those
that increase their skills that can be developed and applied to meet
customer's needs.

C.Are resources allocated to research and development? It is
tempting to focus on today. In the competitive environment we operate in,
a today-oriented focus is critically shortsighted. Innovation and
improvement must be supported with a commitment of resources.

10.Tread lightly on the planet.

A.Is the workplace environmentally friendly? As was pointed out
above, we spend more time in the workplace than we do in our home-place.
The environment should be thoughtfully created to promote creativity,
health, and productivity - with an emphasis on the environmental
implications.

B.Have products and packaging been developed considering life
cycle? The organization should have a clear understanding of where
their products or services will end up 10 (or 100) years from now.
When life cycle is taken into consideration, a product's cost
incorporates an entirely new perspective.

C.Does the organization understand its environmental impact?
There is a trickle-down effect associated with just about anything we
say or do. This trickle-down effect could also be referred to as a
trickle-out effect. The environment is effected in seen and un-seen
ways.

Your reputation is one of the most valuable assets of your business.
By incorporating a new set of values and priorities into what has proven
to be a successful formula on many levels, I believe that business will
be the platform for a new agenda - the Social Responsibility Agenda.
That agenda will solidify your reputation as an organization that is
worthy of its stakeholders' dedication and loyalty.

Regardless of the size of your business, you make a contribution to the
global marketplace that impacts humanity with a rippling effect. As an
organization's leader, you choose whether that ripple will be felt
positively or negatively. Even a small movement or change in a socially
responsible direction can have a dramatic effect. Every day produces a
new opportunity to mold the way your organization is perceived and to
enhance your reputation!

=====================================================

The Top 10 Priorities That Guard Your Five-Star Reputation have been
developed from the Social Responsibility Assessment TM (SRA TM) which is
at the center of Wholistic Business' executive development and consulting
programs designed for small to medium-sized businesses. Your FREE Report
- 40 Questions for Socially Responsible Leaders - is available at
http://www.WholisticBusiness.com. At Wholistic Business, we believe that
business literally makes the world go around. It will be business owners
and managers that will ultimately change the world for the better.

Wholistic Business (http://www.WholisticBusiness.com), a division of
MetaComm International, LLC, is committed to assisting small to
medium-sized organizations in developing socially responsible business
practices with a keen eye on productivity and profitability. Gala Gorman,
MetaComm's CEO, holds a Master's Degree in Human Development, is a
certified public accountant, certified financial planner, published author,
executive development coach and business consultant with over 25 years of
experience.

The Social Responsibility Assessment TM (SRA TM) is a great way to
establish a baseline for your organization ensuring that future decisions
and practices move you in your intended direction. The SRATM includes a
closing report, prepared after a thorough review of the organization's
policies and practices, which discusses practices currently in place
within your organization and suggestions for improvements or
recommendations for new implementations.

Call today for your FREE initial consultation to discuss how your
organization will benefit from a Social Responsibility Assessment TM
conducted by Wholistic Business and from implementing socially responsible
initiatives.

=====================================================

For more information, contact Gala Gorman between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Pacific Time at:

METACOMM MEDIA
A division of MetaComm International, LLC
(888) 886-4111 or (702) 286-4111
Post Office Box 1016
Boulder, CO 80306
E-mail: gala@metacommintl.com
Web site: http://www.WholisticBusiness.com

Gala Gorman,
MetaComm's CEO, holds a Master's Degree in Human Development, is a
certified public accountant, certified financial planner, published author,
executive development coach and business consultant with over 25 years of
experience.