Chic Fashion Ideas

Subtle accessories play a large role in defining chic fashions.

Nothing says "chic" like individual style worn with confidence. Finding a chic look that works with your lifestyle means having a sense of what makes you feel unique. Whether your preference is comfortable and laid back or tailored and classic, make it chic and sophisticated with a touch of individuality that reflects your personality.

Country Chic

Leave the rhinestones behind and put together an understated country look straight from the heartland. Wear low-heeled brown cowboy boots with a tiered skirt made of white linen or cotton knit. Keep it simple on the top with a cap-sleeved t-shirt worn untucked at the waist and finished off with a wide brown leather belt. Wear delicate jewelry such as silver stud earrings and a silver cuff bracelet.

For a casual look, wear your favorite blue jeans with cowboy boots in black or brown. Top it off with a comfortable black t-shirt. Accessorize with black sunglasses and wear your hair in a low ponytail. You can vary this look by wearing jeans with a white oxford blouse that's fitted at the waist with the sleeves rolled up.

Eco Chic

Yoga outfits aren't just for working out.

Natural styles don't have to mean looking like a hippie. Choose organic cotton, wide-leg yoga pants worn with a solid-color tank top. Opt for clothing in shades of deep beige, brown or black. Pant legs should hit at mid-calf and feature a wide, roll-down waist band for the quintessential slimming effect.

Tank top fabrics in fine-gauge cotton lend a casual effect to eco-chic outfits. Thicker, form-fitting tanks are more transitional and well-suited for daytime errands or an evening out. Accessorize with leather cord jewelry such as a necklace with a stone pendant.

Wear flat leather sandals with a cork heel or dress up your look peep-toe sandals with a wedge heel.

All Business

Garner more respect from associates with a modest neckline.

Close every deal with the power of persuasion in stylish business attire. Menswear made for women is especially sophisticated when worn with black high heels. Look for pinstripe suits with feminine touches, such as darts at the waist and bodice and a pencil skirt that defines the hips without appearing too tight. Blouses should feature feminine touches such as lace or scallops at the neckline.

Chic accessories are never garish when it comes to business attire. Wear a strand of pearls and matching earrings or opt for small gold hoop earrings and a thin gold necklace.

Chic Mom

Comfortable equals chic for moms with style.

Moms need clothes that work hard for style without sacrificing comfort. Look for the newest style in jeans that don't fit like plumber's pants. Modern cuts sit slightly higher at the waist, and legs are straight with a subtle flair at the bottom. Pair jeans with a floral-print blouse or layered t-shirts with detailed trim, such as buttons or bold seam stitches.

Choose classic black high-top or low-top basketball sneakers and carry a side-slung purse or baby bag in soft suede or leather. Wear accessories that won't get in the way of motherhood, such as stud earrings as opposed to large hoops that can attract tugs from toddlers. Polish your look with a quality wristwatch for dependability and stylish sophistication.

Size An Air Conditioner

Sizing your air conditioner is an important step for any home owner. If you purchase a unit that is too large, it will not be efficient and constantly be turning on and off. However, too small of a unit will constantly run and may never reach a comfortable level. All air conditioning units are measured in BTUs. Your job is to determine how many BTUs are right for your needs.

Instructions

1. Look at the previous air conditioner your home used. This is the simplest and, some might say, the most accurate, since it was previously working in your home. Go outside and locate the fan unit. Normally, this will tell you precisely how many BTUs it uses, and you can purchase one of the same size.

2. Inspect the air conditioning units of similarly sized homes in your neighborhood. You may be able to get your neighbors to let you see their air conditioner. This is by no means an exact way to size your air conditioner. However, it may work if you are in a pinch and cannot perform some of the steps below.

3. Measure the square footage in your home for a more precise estimate. There are two factors that people use to determine unit size: climate and square footage. Simply multiply the length of the room or rooms you are cooling by the length for the solution.

4. Use a BTU estimating tool like the one in the Resources section to determine how many BTUs are right for your home. It will not be precise measurement, but will be quite accurate.

5. Find a website that offers a Manual J Load Calculation for a professional estimate of your air conditioner size. The same website mentioned in the Resources section will also take you to a link for this method. However, this is a more intense calculation and may require that you pay a fee to use.

Job Description Of The Massachusetts Condition Representative

Massachusetts state representatives perform the duties of their job at the State House.

The government of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is framed after the U.S. government, with three equal branches: executive, legislative and judicial. The Massachusetts General Court is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Massachusetts state representatives serve two-year terms for as long as they are re-elected by the people in the district they represent.

Eligibility

Candidates for Massachusetts state representative must meet eligibility requirements as outlined by the state secretary. A House member must be 18 years of age or older, a U.S. citizen and a registered voter. Candidates must live in the district they wish to represent at least one year prior to the election date. They also must obtain the certified signatures of at least 150 people who are registered to vote in that district.

Salary

Massachusetts state representatives earned a starting salary of $61,440 as of 2009. Leadership positions may provide a representative with a higher salary. In addition to the salary, Massachusetts representatives receive a per diem allowance ranging from $10 to $100, depending on how far from the State House they live.

Primary Duties

As members of the legislative branch, Massachusetts state representatives draft and pass legislation. The Massachusetts Constitution grants members of the legislature the power to "make, ordain and establish" different "laws, statutes and ordinances" as long as they don't violate any statutes within the state constitution. Massachusetts state representatives may also present legislation written by citizens on the floor for consideration. Members of the House of Representatives also communicate with federal legislators to ensure they vote for legislation that represents the interests of Massachusetts citizens. Whenever state representatives recruit businesses to their districts, meet with foreign heads of state, or even the president of the United States, they represent the citizens of their district.

Constitutional Duties

The Massachusetts Constitution gives state representatives the power to investigate and bring impeachment charges against officers of the Commonwealth for misconduct. Just as with the U.S. Congress, it is the Senate that tries impeachment cases. State representatives are also responsible for all money bills. Although the governor must recommend all appropriations bills, they must originate in the House of Representatives.

Surprising Fact

Massachusetts state representatives have constitutional authority to imprison any person disrespecting the House of Representatives or exhibiting "disorderly or contemptuous" behavior, except a member of the House of Representatives. Representatives may imprison any person threatening the House of Representatives as a body, or individual members for doing their job as a representative. Article X of Chapter I, Section III of the state constitution allows Massachusetts state representatives to imprison any person who assaults or arrests any representative or person required to "attend the house" while going to or from the House of Representatives. No person can be imprisoned for more than 30 days on these offenses.

Obtain Solar Power Panels Free Of Charge

obtain solar panels for free

Solar power is a hot topic that makes sense, it's free energy once the hardware is paid for. I will show you a resource where you can get free solar panels.

Instructions

1. You often see signs around construction sites that are solar powered, from time to time these signs will get damaged from drunk drivers or rubber-neckers passing through construction areas. Look closely at the signs and you will find a sticker with the phone number of the traffic sign rental contractor. Use your pen and paper to write down this number.

2. Ask for the shop maintaince manager or head mechanic and ask him for free damaged panels.If you have kids who enjoy doing experments, have them ask. Most companies love to help kids doing a school or class project. Most all traffic rental sign contractors have free solar panels that have some cracks or slightly damaged when drunk drivers hit the parked sign trailers. They replace them and throw away the damaged ones. We started asking for them and they let us have them for free. most of the panels work but only put off 50% to 75% power off, but for free who would complain when they cost 2200.00 each new.

3. Test and repair the damaged panels as needed, cracks can be resealed with clear silicone. Wiring can be soldered back together. Thank the shop mechanic with a box of doughnuts and he might even call you when he has some more discard solar panels!

Top A Fir Tree

Fir trees naturally grow in a cone shape. They have one main trunk which larger branches grow out from. Topping a fir tree entails removing the main, large branches near the tree's top. This is not recommended since it weakens the branch structure and opens the tree up to disease. One reason topping is required is when the tree begins growing into power lines. To prevent this, plant all fir trees in open areas.

Instructions

1. Select the branches to remove. Topping a tree means to remove the large branches from the fir tree's top portion. This invigorates growth in an upward pattern. The vigorous growth competes with the main trunk, causing the fir tree to take on a rounded appearance.

2. Use a pruning saw to make a cut halfway through the first large branch, from the bottom up, approximately 12 inches away from the tree's trunk. Move 2 inches further away from the trunk and make a second cut, from the top down, halfway through the same branch. Remove the branch right in front of the thick branch collar. Do not cut the branch collar or new growth may not occur.

3. Work around the tree removing the rest of the large branches. When you are done, the fir tree has its large branches on the bottom two-thirds. The top third of the tree looks like a stripped trunk. New growth will emerge at the top and grow up rapidly.

Cut Back Money For Any Small Company

Running a small business definitely requires a lot of work, time, and money. Before starting a business, there are several thing that you should first consider. Taking precautions and planning out your every move will help your small business succeed. With a few simple steps, you'll learn spend less money for a small business.

Instructions

1. Calculate the monthly costs required to successfully run your small business. You'll need to take into account the amount needed for paying insurance premiums, utilities, phone services, and even office supplies. All of these figures will play an important role in discovering how much of your expenses you can reduce. Get rid of the unnecessary items that are cutting into your profit line. If you have a reasonably small space, then consider getting rid of your cleaning crew and do it yourself. This will allow you the chance to save a little bit more money for your small business needs.

2. Eliminate unnecessary employees whenever possible. If you have several employees doing the same job, consider reducing the workforce. Another good way to reduce some operating costs for your small business is to take on a few more chores than you usually do. Not only will this help you save money, but it will also allow you to have a more hands on approach for your small business. Working closely with your current employees will help you to monitor their daily actions as well.

3. Reduce your marketing campaigns. There are lots of small business owners that spend countless amounts of money on advertising campaigns. Although this is a good way to get the word out about your small business, it can also quickly eat into your business's funds. Consider doing more “word of mouth” advertising that will not require you to formally print out any advertising materials. This can be easily done via several methods. Advise your current customers that they can receive a discount for each new customer they refer to your small business. Another useful way to get the word out about your small business is to volunteer for community events. If you provide excellent customer service and wonderful products, then your satisfied customers will gladly spread the word about your small business.

4. Purchase refurbished office equipment instead of brand new items. There are many manufacturers that will drastically reduce the price of certain things because they have been returned to them. These items are still in great working order, but the customer was not satisfied with it for some reason. Instead of taking a loss on the product, the manufacturer will reduce its cost and sell it again. Your small business could easily rack up on these low cost products and still be up to date with the latest office technology.

Close A Company Email

A business email account can be closed just as a regular account can be.

When you use a business email account, you provide your customers and clients with an email address to use to contact you for business matters. If you no longer want to have a business email, there are some ways that you can close the email account. Closing the account doesn't always mean the account is no longer active, just that you no longer use the account.

Instructions

1. Create a new business email account, if you are going to continue your business and wish to have contact. If you are not going to continue your business, you do not need to do this step.

2. Compose an email message to any clients you have in your address book or anyone you communicate with using your business email account. Explain that this account will no longer be used, and tell them contact you if you want to still have that contact. Give your new email address, or give instructions on whom they should contact if they used to do business with you.

3. Create an automatic message to be sent anytime someone emails you at the business email. You can do this by clicking on "vacation messages" in your settings. Explain in the message that this account has been closed and tell the person receiving the message how they can contact you or whom they can contact if you are no longer that person.

4. Contact your Internet Service Provider if it also provides email access. Tell it the day you would like to have the email account closed. Then prepare your account to close on that day by removing all of the personal information in it, copying any emails or contact lists, and making sure you have nothing in the account that isn't backed up.

5. Log out of the account. If your ISP has nothing to do with your email, and if you are using a free, web-based email service, you cannot actually close the email account. However, if you stop checking it, and there is no login information within a certain time frame, most email companies like Hotmail or Gmail will close accounts for you.

Make Money Like A Government Contractor

Being a government contractor can be a highly lucrative prospect. However, before you enter the government contracting game, assess your skills and determine if they are relevant and of use to the various government agencies. If so, the main route to netting a large profit is by setting the lowest bidding price while keeping costs low. As a result, the most profitable government contracts tend to be performed by those with a strong knowledge of what each project entails.

Instructions

1. Measure your own skills and abilities. Most government contracts lie in a highly skilled area such as construction, research or science. If you are going to build for the government, you should ideally have considerable experience as a construction manager. If you are going to help rejuvenate a forest, you should have a background in ecology. In other words, your skills should be matched to one or more of the various government agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior or the Department of Energy.

2. Find an opportunity with one or more U.S. government agency. The Federal Business Opportunities website offers a comprehensive listing of available opportunities. Such opportunities may be found by searching by state, sector or contract type.

3. Meet with the relevant government officials involved in your project. This may be done by networking. Meeting with such people will not only give a sense of what the project is about, but will also give you a clue to how much the project will cost you. Remember that the amount of money you receive from the project must be greater than the project's cost in order to net a profit.

4. Set a price. Government contracts are awarded through bidding, with competing companies submitting formal documents detailing how they would perform the job, how much each step would cost and what deadlines would be met. The contractor with the lowest price wins. Furthermore, government agencies are required to receive no less than three proposals before they pick a contractor. Thus, your bid must be the lowest of at least three competing proposals. The trick is to submit an offer that is not only competitive for the government but that will also net you a profit that is worth your time and energy.

Insights On Class Thinking Methods

Students are active discussion participants within the Thinking Classroom.

"Reflections on Classroom Thinking Strategies," written by Eric Frangenheim, is designed by teachers, for teachers, according to Teacher Training Resource Bank Online. The reflections outlined within the book have been not only birthed within the classroom, but tested there, as well. The ideas illustrated within the book are intended to ignite a love for learning for both students and teachers, using one basic belief and three main strategies.

The Thinking Classroom

The Thinking Classroom has a mission that includes four major goals. It provides teachers the ability to interactively teach thinking. It justifies the thinking of teaching philosophy by raising the student learning and understanding ratio. It introduces teachers to many different approaches to teaching thinking. It illustrates ways that thinking can fuse into the curriculum to enrich learning and knowledge. The Thinking Classroom has a thinking-centered curriculum design online, as well as in the classroom, for teachers to attend online workshops and courses, to compile portfolios, activities, lessons and to receive and provide feedback from other educators. The rationale behind the Thinking Classroom is the belief that intelligence can be learned; therefore, teachers are obligated to teach thinking.

Analysis and Evaluation Strategies

Analysis and evaluation strategies promote thinking and active learning. According to analysis of the research literature from Chickering and Gamson's "Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education" in 1987, students must not simply just listen, but they must solve problems, read, write and discuss. According to Frangenheim's reflections, students must be active in the classroom and become involved in higher-order thinking tasks, such as analysis and evaluation that promotes instructional learning skills.

Creative Thinking Strategies

Creative thinking strategies focus on generating originality. Extending ideas and imagination, formulating hypotheses and original outcomes in any activity, are all examples of creative thinking strategy goals. Within a classroom that promotes creativity, the teacher and students value unusual and challenging questions and value diversity. They make connections, try new approaches, find new solutions and evaluate new ideas. Games and questions promote creative thinking skills. For example, asking students to design a video game or to invent something will help them formulate original plans.

Cooperative Thinking Strategies

Cooperative thinking strategies are designed to improve the students' experience within the classroom as they restructure information within group tasks. Students can use cooperative thinking strategies to learn, work and think cooperatively and productively together. Cooperative strategies help to improve interpersonal skills, as well as help students learn manipulate the outcome of their own learning.

Gas Specialist Salaries

Some states require technicians to obtain licensing to operate propane equipment.

Propane is a hydrocarbon or liquefied petroleum gas used to power homes, vehicles and machines. Every day, millions of Americans use propane to cook in their homes, power appliances, and run air conditioning units. Propane technicians install, repair and maintain propane equipment for residences, businesses and factories.They typically work at gas plants, utility companies and propane retailers. Average salaries for propane technicians range depending on factors such as geography and experience level.

Function and Average Salary

The national average salary for propane technicians was $42,000 per year, according to a July 2011 Indeed report. Propane technicians are responsible for a variety of activities, including inspecting, fixing and delivering propane tanks and equipment. They must also make sure that installations comply with government regulations and standard industry procedures. Jobs for propane technicians often require physical activity such as lifting and carrying heavy objects, crawling under buildings and working outside in all types of weather. Strong customer service skills are also required, since propane technicians must interact frequently with customers and other colleagues.

Geography

Average salaries for propane technicians differed across various regions, according to a July 2011 SalaryExpert report. For example, the average salary for propane operators in Atlanta was $49,572 per year. Propane operators working in Dallas reported an annual wage of $51,710 per year. Workers in Orlando received an annual wage of $32,476 annually. In Phoenix, propane operators reported an average salary of $44,363. Propane operators in Miami and Chicago averaged $35,572 and $47,713 respectively.

Potential

Propane technicians with experience are competitively positioned for jobs with higher salaries and growth potential. In addition, employers prefer candidates with formal training from a college or technical school. Propane technicians can also increase their salary potential by advancing to inspector or managerial roles. For example, Salary Expert showed that gas inspectors averaged salaries ranging between $60,078 to as high as $89,539 in selected metropolitan areas. Gas plant operators received an average salary of $57,660, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2010 report.

Job Outlook

The BLS revealed that jobs in the mining industry, which include petroleum workers, will decline 14 percent through the year 2018. Environmental legislation and global competition may curb growth in the oil and gas industries. Despite employment declines, propane technicians will be needed to replace workers retiring or exiting the sector.

Stop Solicitation Telephone Calls To My Company

Avoid annoying solicitation calls and make every call count for your business by registering your numbers

Not only are solicitation phone calls to your business annoying, they also cost you time and money. These calls can take time away from your customers, for whom you wish to provide quality service, can be distracting to your employees, and interrupt your company's flow of business. Fortunately, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers business, private and cell telephone users protection against this sort of annoyance and harassment. It's easy to register your business phone numbers on the National Do Not Call List.

Instructions

Do Not Call List Registration

1. Register all business numbers on the Federal Trade Commission Do Not Call List. Assign one person to this task, and insure all numbers for your business are registered, including any fax lines.

2. Document the date and time the business numbers were registered. According to the FTC, all solicitation calls must stop within 31 days of registration. Unfortunately, registering your business numbers is not an instant fix, but if you are patient, your business will be protected by FTC statutes after the waiting period.

3. Create a phone log and have employees begin documenting solicitation and annoyance calls immediately. This will provide you with written proof of whether calls stop by the end of the waiting period.

4. If your business receives solicitation calls after the 31-day waiting period has expired, you can report the caller to the Federal Trade Commission via telephone, email or snail mail. Solicitors are then held accountable by the FTC, and can face fines, as well as other sanctions.

Perpetuity Agreement

A court of law may uphold a perpetuity.

Most business transactions are sealed with a written contract agreement. Sometimes the contract includes a perpetuity clause, which upholds the conditions or services of the contract for an indefinite period of time. Such agreements should only be signed if you are prepared to abide by the contract's stipulations in perpetuity.

Timeshares

Timeshare agreements usually included a perpetuity clause. In the context of a timeshare, a perpetuity clause allows for perpetual ownership of the timeshare, such that it can be directly passed onto future generations of family members. This also means that the maintenance charges associated with the property become the responsibility of the property owner for an indefinite period of time. As a result, selling your timeshare property is usually the only way to get out of a timeshare perpetuity.

Service Contracts

Legally, a perpetuity clause can be attached to almost any type of contract, including a service agreement. If, for example, a food supplier enters into a perpetuity agreement with a grocery store, the supplier is by definition agreeing to deliver or otherwise supply the grocer per the conditions of the agreement for an indefinite amount of time. If both parties agree to termination, or one business ceases to operate, the agreement may be terminable.

Court Rulings

The concept of an agreement that literally lasts forever is often difficult to grasp in its entirety. In 2000, a UK court ruled that even though Harbinger UK Ltd. had requested the termination of a software licensing agreement with its client GE Information Services Ltd., which GE agreed to, it was still responsible for providing software support to any customers using the software. As a result, there is no specific date when Harbinger UK Ltd. can stop providing service.

Considerations

Because most contracts do not contain a perpetuity clause, a business or individual may enter such an agreement without a full understanding of the potential consequences. You should always consult an attorney to review the contents of any perpetuity agreement before you sign one. If you are not prepared to uphold the services or conditions of a perpetuity agreement in full, and for an indefinite amount of time, you should not sign this type of contract.

I Don't Want To Become A Co-signer Any longer How Escape Legally

In some states, co-signing for a loan that goes into default can result in a lien on your house.

There are two problems with co-signing a loan: You become as responsible for the payments as the person who gets the money for the loan, and you remain responsible for the loan until it is fully repaid. Unfortunately, you cannot get out of being a co-signer once you've signed unless the lender lets you out. And the lender has absolutely no motivation to let you out.

You've Been Warned

You may not have noticed it, but before you co-signed for the loan, you were provided with a notice that spelled out your responsibilities as a co-signer. It is required by federal law. The notice warned you to "think carefully" before co-signing because by doing so you become responsible for the loan. While the notice does not mention how long the responsibility lasts, implicit in the explanation is the understanding that your responsibility lasts as long as the loan.

Why the Lender Won't Let You Out

You are free to approach the lender and ask if you can be released from the responsibilities of co-signer. The lender is under no obligation to release you from this responsibility. According to the Federal Trade Commission, studies have shown that as many as three out of four co-signers will repay a loan that has gone into default because the borrower did not make timely repayments. With those kinds of odds, a lender is motivated to maintain your responsibility.

Ask the Borrower to Refinance

While the lender is unlikely to let you out of your co-signing responsibilities, the borrower might. After all, you did him a big favor by co-signing for the loan. Whereas the borrower was unable to qualify on his own when he took out the loan, if the borrower has made all required payments, he may be qualified for a loan of his own now. He may be able to refinance the existing loan without your help. Refinancing will effectively repay the loan for which you are responsible, getting you off the hook, and place the borrower as the sole liable party.

The Worst That Can Happen

If the borrower defaults, the lender will come after you. Collection laws vary from state to state, so how that happens depends on where you live. Common collections practices include wage garnishment, bank account levies, and liens that in some cases can result in foreclosure. The lender will first need to obtain a judgment in court against you.

What Goes On To Nations That Don't Take Part In Free Trade

Lack of imports can eradicate competition and result in higher prices in the market.

Free trade refers to the absence of trade restrictions, such as quotas and tariffs, allowing transactions between international buyers and sellers to commence without barriers. However, when a government wants to protect the local industry from international competition, it can raise obstacles to foreign investment. This practice of not participating in free trade is called protectionism and can have serious effects on a country's economy.

Rising Prices

Free trade guarantees competition between those supplying the same -- or similar -- products and services, keeping supply at high levels and prices low. However, when a government does not allow equality on the market for foreign companies, competition receives a blow. Especially when there is just one or only a few domestic companies on a specific area of the economy, then the supplier has the ability to increase the cost without worrying consumers may turn elsewhere.

Reduced Economic Activity

The majority of imported goods are not sold through international shops, such as e-commerce websites, but are supplied through local shops. Therefore, the imposed tariffs and quotas, which are restrictions on the amount of imported goods, affect local merchants directly, as cost to fill up their selves becomes higher. Furthermore, when purchasing power (what a unit of currency can buy) shrinks, consumer spending is also reduced, limiting market activity.

Protecting Local Industry

Protectionist measures aim to protect local industries from cheaper imported products that may be more attractive to consumers because of their low price. As Edward Younkins, professor at Wheeling Jesuit University, suggests, "Protectionist policies may 'save' some jobs in a specific industry, but only at the expense of the overall welfare of the country." This is because allocating resources (human and material) to protect an insufficient industry the government fears it may be destroyed by international giants can deter productivity of industries the country has a comparative advantage in.

Entrepreneurship

Free trade can prevent prospective investors from entering a specific economic area, as the profit margin can be extremely small. On this occasion, protectionism allows budding businessmen to enter the market. For instance, in the field of computer software, large corporations such as Microsoft and Apple have the lion's share. However, if their dominance is limited by trade restrictions, domestic entrepreneurs can fill the gap and take advantage of the market's potential.

Prevent Individuals From Frauding A Check Out

When running a small business, fraud is no joke. While larger organizations have well-established cash-handing policies and small armies of fraud prevention staff, a small business owner is on her own. Small businesses can face difficult consequences when fraud happens, but with a few small investments and some changes to workplace policy, you can minimize the chances of an errant employee defrauding you and your cash register.

Instructions

1. Before spending money to protect your business, there are some policy changes that can lower your chances of being defrauded by an employee. The first and easiest is to require that employees give a receipt to every customer. This will make it more difficult for employees to intentionally ring up purchases incorrectly on the register.

2. Implement an inventory control system that will illustrate losses in your inventory. A pattern of inventory losses can indicate fraud and just the knowledge that this system is in place can deter potential theft.

3. Have a trusted employee such as a shift manager count the contents of the cash register at the end of every shift. Keep a log of what amounts should be in the register and what amounts were actually found in the register. This will help track down which employees were working when any sum of money disappeared from the drawer. For added security, have a second employee watch while the drawer is counted to reduce errors or dishonesty.

4. Install a highly visible video camera pointing at your cash register. Record video and keep it in long-term storage. Illustrating to employees when they are hired (or when the camera is installed) that all cash transactions can be clearly seen and correlated to receipts will reduce the possibility of hiding theft and therefore deter the theft in the first place.

5. As your organization grows in size, you might need to hire staff to manage loss prevention and investigate any inventory or cash handling problems in your business. These employees can be worth the investment as they are dedicated to reducing theft and loss and are another visible deterrent to theft.

Texas Fashion Design Schools

Fashion design schools teach necessary skills.

Students who study fashion design learn create garments and garment lines. Students who graduate from these programs have received hands-on experience in what it takes to pursue a career in fashion design, including creating their own fashion line. Texas fashion design schools are either a franchise of national schools or locally owned schools. Most of the schools offer degrees, but some only offer training in fashion design, with no admission requirements.

The Art Institute of Dallas

The Art Institute of Dallas fashion design program focuses on the skills required to pursue a career in fashion design, including patternmaking, traditional design skills, computer designing techniques, construction, sewing, illustration and design production. The school helps students identify trends, develop their own styles, develop interviewing techniques and learn network. Students receive an associate degree in fashion design upon completion, which will prepare students for entry-level jobs, including costume designer, fashion buyer or seamstress. The school also teaches students create their own fashion design portfolio.

The Art Institute of Dallas

8080 Park Lane, Suite 100

Dallas, TX 75231

214-692-8080

rnartinstitutes.edu

International Academy of Design and Technology San Antonio

The fashion design and merchandising training program at The International Academy of Design & Technology in San Antonio offers either an associate degree in applied science degree in fashion design and merchandising, or a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in fashion design. The program is a combination design and business program with concentrations in marketing, purchasing, merchandising and managing. Other emphases include fashion design history, trends, forecasting, promotions and media. Coursework includes drawing fundamentals, textiles, market research, principles of merchandising, pricing, distributing products, computer design, fashion displays, consumer research, layouts and inventory. Students who graduate from this program have the skills to pursue careers in fashion merchandising, with roles as production assistant, store manager, stylist or buyer.

International Academy of Design and Technology San Antonio

4511 Horizon Hill Boulevard

San Antonio, TX 78229rn210-530-9449

iadtsanantonio.com

Austin School of Fashion Design

The Austin School of Fashion Design does not offer degrees, grades or school credits, as it is simply a training program. There are no admission requirements. Programs include the Adult Fashion Design Program and the Children's Program for ages 8 to 16. Classes available in the adult program include sewing, patternmaking, draping, fashion illustration, pattern design, clothing line creation, marketing and costume design. Classes available in the children's program include sewing, illustration and patternmaking.

Austin School of Fashion Design

3216 South Congress AvernAustin, TX 78704

512-448-9636

asfdesigns.com

Five Modes Of Entry Into Foreign Marketplaces

There are a number of modes of entry into foreign markets

In an effort to sell their products and services to new customers, businesses will often attempt to enter new, foreign markets. Entry into a foreign country can be tricky, however, as the business must adapt to a new clientele, new legal regulations and new competition. To make for an easier transition, there are a number of common modes that businesses can use when starting up in a foreign market.

Joint Venture

One of the most popular modes of entry is the establishment of a joint venture, in which two businesses combine resources to sell products or services. Many countries with tightly controlled economies, such as China, often require foreign companies to partner with a local company if they wish to sell products to their residents. Although joint ventures provide foreign companies with a partner experienced in the foreign market, these partnerships can be difficult to manage and require a splitting of profits.

Licensing

In the licensing mode of entry, companies sign contracts with foreign businesses, called "licenses," that allow the foreign companies to legally manufacture and sell the company's products. The foreign companies will either purchase the license outright, pay a regular licensing fee or pay a percentage of their revenue over time in the form of royalties. Often used by manufacturing firms, licensing allows a company to enter a market quickly and inexpensively, but gives them little control over the products' foreign marketing and sales.

Exporting

Rather than attempt to partner with or provide a license to foreign companies, some companies will simply sell their products to distributors overseas, who will sell the products to consumers. This exporting prevents the company from having to invest the money in developing manufacturing facilities in the foreign market, but transportation costs and restrictive tariffs may make this mode uneconomical for certain products.

Internet

Many companies will attempt to enter foreign markets indirectly, by targeting foreign consumers on the Internet. Similar to exporting, companies retain their physical operations in their native countries, but ship products overseas. However, whereas in exporting, companies contract with local businesses, with the Internet they take orders directly from consumers. The advantages to this mode are that it is relatively cheap, entailing only the cost of a website and marketing. The downside is that it is often less effective than establishing a physical presence in the foreign market.

Purchasing Foreign Assets

Many companies, rather than launching an entirely new venture in a foreign market, will simply purchase or invest in a foreign company. While often more expensive, direct investment provides allows the investing company to reap the profits of a business that is already well integrated into the local market.

Create A Homemade Floral Preservative

We all love getting a surprise delivery from the florist or bringing home beautiful fresh flowers from the market. They always come with a little powder packet that you add to the water in your vase to keep your flowers fresh. Ever wonder what is in that packet and if you can do the same sort of thing with cut flowers from your own backyard or garden? Here is a simple effective recipe for an all-natural homemade floral preservative that will keep the lovely arrangements you grow and design yourself as fresh as the ones that you buy at a florist.

Instructions

1. Clean the vase you are going to use. Wash it thoroughly in hot water with soap and rinse well. This will keep bacteria, dust and dirt out of the water and extend the life of your flowers.

2. Cut your flowers in the early morning because their stems will be filled with water and nutrients from the plant. Cut quickly and place them in a clean plastic bucket full of plain water immediately as you work.

3. Mix 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of plain household bleach, 2 teaspoons of lemon or lime juice and a quart of lukewarm water. Add them to the vase.

4. Cut the flowers' stems again at a 45-degree angle. Use a very sharp knife or scissors that does not smash the stems. Remove the lower foliage that would be submerged in the water.

5. Add the water preservative mixture to the vase and arrange your flowers in a pleasing fashion.

6. Check your arrangement daily and remove any wilted flowers or ones that have gone limp. You can try re-cutting the limp flowers to see if they will freshen up. Check water levels and replenish it with the preservative mixture if necessary.

Get Ready For A Marketing Sales Meeting

Prepare for an Advertising Sales Job Interview

Advertising sales is one of the great business-to-business sales industries that sells an intangible. Advertising without a doubt increases revenue for a business. The trick is teaching businesses the concept of spending money in order to make money. It's important you're well prepared for an interview in advertising sales because of its high demand.

Instructions

1. Get a couple copies of back issues of the publication, television show, coupon book or radio programming you are discussing in the interview. Review this material and become familiar with it. Look at who advertises, which industries seem to be prevalent and the sizes of the advertisements.

2. Find out the circulation or ratings of the advertising outlet you would work for. Look at how those numbers compare with the competition. Know how the media outlet at which you are interviewing compares in the market.

3. Make a list of questions to ask during your interview. The questions should include whether the position is an inside or outside sales job, what types of sales goals are expected each week or month and whether outside sales representatives are reimbursed for gas expenses.

4. Research the number of primary industries in the market. If there are certain industries that are typically sold to the publication or show, look in the yellow pages to determine how much more opportunity there is for sales in that particular industry.

5. Determine whether you would have a specific territory and whether you would be sharing that territory. Obtain specific demographic information about the territory such as median income, number of households and average age. This will give you an idea about whether you believe you can sell in that particular community.

Advertise Affiliate Links Free Of Charge

It is possible to make money online without going through the hassle of creating and maintaining your own website. You can make money with affiliate marketing and you can advertise links from places like clickbank for free. This can save you time and money. Having a website may or may not be better for your affiliate venture. If done right, you can make money by advertising your affiliate links for free.

Instructions

1. The first thing you need to do is decide what types of products you want to offer. A good thing to do to get an idea of what is in demand is to do internet searches for different products you see as affiliate options.

You can also look in the Clickbank marketplace and look at gravity etc. to see what has the most potential to sell.

2. Once you have a product you want to promote that you think will do well, you need to start setting up your accounts with eHow, Infobarrel, Squidoo, Hubpages, etc. This will allow you to write reviews and sales articles for you to be able to promote your link and make sales.

What makes these websites great is they are free and they do not have traffic limitations. Stay away from free hosting.

3. Once you have your accounts set up, you need to start writing reviews and sales articles. Once you have some articles and reviews written on these websites, you need to embed your affiliate link from Clickbank into your articles and reviews.

In eHow you put your link in the resources section.

4. Make sure you write legit and well written articles and reviews. If they are legit you have a better change of getting a conversion.

You can also post your link on sites like Kijiji, which is an online classified ad website. This is easy to do, it may take you a little time to get your ad on all the different cities but it opens up a whole new doorway for you to make sales.

5. You can also make flyers and post them around your town or city to get people interested. A good thing to do is have a domain name that you redirect to your affiliate link and have the flyer tell people to go to your website then have it redirect when they go to it. That is another way to advertise for free.

6. I hope this teaches you something that you may have not thought of. These are all ways to get creative and advertise your affiliate link for free without a website. Good luck.

Be A Male Model

Become a Male Model

The fashion industry is full of famous female supermodels. Their images fill television ads and magazines. Although they never get as famous as female models, fashion needs male models, too. A modeling career may look easy, but it takes lots of hard work, drive and devotion to become a male model.

Instructions

1. Try to meet the industry's standard requirements. Most male models are between 5' 11" and 6' 2" and under 175 pounds. Males can start a modeling career from the age range of 18 to 25 and their careers can last well into their 40s, which is much more relaxed than their female counterparts. Don't worry about being all around perfection, if one body part is exceptional, there's work for hand models and eyewear models, too.

2. Keep toned. Although the modeling industry doesn't want a body builder's frame, they do want a fit and healthy appearance.

3. Move to a big city. New York City is the best place for modeling as it is considered the modeling capital of America. Other large cities need models, too, so check around via the Internet and in phone books for modeling opportunities in these areas.

4. Create a portfolio. Get several head shots and full body shots in both sportswear and business attire taken. Keep information like clothing size, height and weight on the back for potential clients to look at.

5. Get an agent. A good time to find one is when a modeling agency holds open call, which is when anyone can go in and be informed of their potential in the industry. Sometimes a model search will go to smaller towns to look for talent. Be sure to research their legitimacy before signing up. There are even scouting companies (See Resources) that can send information to modeling agencies for their clients.

6. Be persistent. Even today's top models have been rejected more than once. If one agency passes on you, think of it as an opportunity to find a better agency.

7. Keep a flexible schedule. Once an agent starts booking shoots, a model must be ready to be on location on short notice. A passport is a must for any model.

Commonalities & Variations Between Web & Print Advertising

Print advertisements include newspapers, magazines, pamphlets and brochures. Web advertisements encompass any ad appearing on the Internet, whether on a large website or as a banner on another site. Differences between print and web ads center around the ability for web advertisements to generate ongoing revenue. Similarities include the way an ad needs to target an audience, and how the ad design has to appeal to consumers.

Communication

Conveying information is the key to any successful ad. The way to plan both print and web advertisements is similar in that they must elicit attention from an audience. This is done with a specific message that must be clear to be effective. Both types of ads utilize a theme. This theme becomes the idea communicated to consumers, which involves being specific about the services and deals offered. Branding is also the same in both ads. Print and web ads both use color and design to make an indelible impression with consumers and lure them into the advertisement.

Access

The way a consumer "discovers" print and web ads is vastly different. For a person to view a print ad, he must have specific access to the newspaper, magazine, brochure or pamphlet. Several web ads are spontaneously seen when they are banners or links to other sites. Print ads have the space to be longer, and more detailed. Web ads, according to New Entrepreneur.com, "are more like billboards than ads." This means less space to convey a message because many computer users do not like to read long copy online. Full color ads are expensive to produce. This sometimes limits design features in print ads. Web ads have the ability to be flexible in design and color use because these features are free. Print ads are considered "static" because once they are printed, they cannot be changed. Web ads are considered "dynamic" because they can be altered multiple times without adverse effects.

Pros and Cons

The biggest con of print advertising, according to Technology Evangelist.com, is that print ads grow stale. They cannot be constantly updated the way a web advertisement can. Web ads can be targeted to specific geographic audiences. Print ads only pertain to the immediate community reading the local ad. Web advertisements have an ability to be seen by more consumers than print ads, depending on the size of the print publication running the ad and the ability of web ads to be circulated in popular search engines. Print ads work well in local media and for community businesses where customers that read those papers more are also potential customers. Print ads can also utilize coupons that readers can on-the-spot rip out and present. This has the potential to increase the sales of other products. Consumers must take the time to print out web ads before redeeming them.

Setup Ms Word 2007 For Typing Out A Study

Microsoft Word 2007, part of the Microsoft Office 2007 Suite, is a word processing program that offers full personalization and customization of documents such as letters, proposals and reports. Word can produce just about any kind of report, streamlining your workload with a quick-click interface and many templates. You can type and format reports in Word quickly and easily.

Instructions

1. Open Word 2007. The default Word workspace is a page that is 8.5 inches by 11 inches. If this is not the size you want for your report, you can select a different page size by clicking the "Page Layout" tab, clicking the "Size" button, and selecting one of the preset sizes. Or click "More Paper Sizes" and create your own. Word automatically adjusts the workspace as soon as you select a new page size.

2. Position your cursor at the top of the report page and start typing. The default font is 12-point Times New Roman. To change the font, click the "Home" tab at the top of the screen and select options from the "Font" section of the toolbar, including the font, size and color. For example, if you want a smaller, red, sans-serif font in your report, change the text to red 10-point Arial.

3. Place your logo on the report by clicking the "Insert" tab, clicking the "Picture" button and browsing to the digital image. Double-click the file.

4. Adjust the line spacing by clicking the "Home" tab and clicking the small arrow icon in the bottom right corner of the "Paragraph" section of the toolbar. This brings up the "Paragraph" window. Pull down the menu under "Line Spacing" and select a new line spacing option.

5. Set your margins by clicking the "Page Layout" tab, clicking the "Margins" button and selecting from either the preset options or clicking the "Custom Margins" button and creating your own.

6. Add protection to your document with a watermark by clicking the "Watermark" button on the "Page Layout" tab and clicking one of the watermark options, such as "Draft" or "Confidential." Click "Custom Watermark" to type your own, such as the date or your company name. The watermark prints behind any of your report's text.

7. When you're done typing your report, click the "File" menu, click "Save As," type a name for the report and save it to your computer.

Setup Subscriber List Software For Any Website

So you've got a website for your business, which is great, but do you have a simple, efficient way to follow up with prospects who are interested in what you're selling but aren't quite ready to buy now? If you're not yet using mailing list software to capture those leads and follow up with them regularly, you're missing out on hundreds, if not thousands, of potential sales. Setting up a mailing list software for a website is simple if you follow these basic steps.

Instructions

1. Determine your needs. There are a variety of mailing list software choices out there, and not all are created equally. For starters, some let you set up autoresponder emails that automatically go out to your mailing list at predetermined intervals (like five days after they sign up, then two weeks after they sign up, etc.). This option can be vital to those who want to set up a string of emails that essentially runs itself as new prospects sign up for their newsletter. You will need an autoresponder if you're offering any kind of free download, like a free report or ebook, as a bonus for subscribing to your mailing list. Otherwise, you'll find yourself wasting your days away as you monitor new subscribers and manually send out your giveaway.

However, if you're not giving away a free download and just use the mailing list to touch base with current and potential clients, you might not need an autoresponder. A quick search for mailing list software will give you several mailing list options to browse through and compare.

2. Create an account. Once you choose the right mailing list software for your needs, most will require you to set up an account before you can access the software. Once you've finished the set-up process, you should be able to log in so you can finish setting up the mailing list software for your website.

3. Browse the mailing list software you've chosen for instructions on installing a sign-up form on your website. Some mailing list software might call it a web form, others might simply call it a sign-up form. Click the appropriate option, and your mailing list software should walk you through the process of creating your sign-up form. When the form is finished, you'll have access to the HTML code that will allow the form to function on your website.

4. Insert the HTML code into your website. If you have trouble with this step, contact your web host or a web designer to help you place the HTML code for the sign-up form on your site.

5. Test your sign-up form. Once you've placed the HTML code on your site, add yourself as a subscriber so you can make sure everything is working properly. Make sure that your name was successfully added to your mailing list, and also check the email account that you used to sign up; it should have received either a confirmation or welcome email, depending on how you set up your mailing list software.

Theater Company Business Structure

A theater company's organizational structure has foundations in its how it approaches its art.

A theater company must be organized before a play can make it into an actor's eager hands. The organizational structure of a theater company depends on the company's approach to crafting the production. However, most theater companies have similar structural foundations.

Features

Features of a theater company include an artistic director, who represents the vision of the company while the executive director manages the business end of the company. A theater company must have a board of directors to be recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The ensemble is the core group of actors who work with the company. The company may also have a managing director who organizes finances.

Function

A production usually begins in the imagination of the artistic director. The artistic director reads a play and wants to produce it. The play is brought to the executive director and the board of directors, or for smaller theaters the entire company. The artistic director and managing director choose a time frame for the production and start scheduling auditions, production meetings, rehearsals and performances. The executive director and managing director begin planning marketing, fundraising and budgeting.

Types

Theater companies structure their organizations differently based on their needs; for example, a small company and a Broadway production have different needs and thus structure their organizations differently. A standard theater company structure begins with a directorial head: an artistic director, producing director or executive director. The middle rung of the company's organization is balanced with business functionaries such as a managing director, marketing director or financial director, who work closely with the artistic staff on funding for a production. Below the second rung of decision makers are educational directors and production managers and finally the actors, resident directors, designers and stage managers. When a production is in rehearsal production managers, directors and stage managers take on major leadership roles.

Decide When You Should Offer Stock Privileges

Stock rights are the rights of shareholders to purchase stock at a set contract price, rather than the market price, at a future time. Here are some suggestions for decide when to offer stock rights to shareholders.

Instructions

1. Determine whether the company has debt that needs to be paid down. Stock rights are a way for companies to raise cash to pay down debt.

2. If your company must expand and does not want to take on more debt, use the stock right plans.

3. Decide whether the company wants to offer rights that shareholders can transfer. The stock options are non-transferable, but stock rights are transferable. Shareholders can transfer their shares on the open market.

4. Determine whether dilution is too much for the company to accommodate. Dilution can reduce the earnings per share or book value per share of stock through the conversion of the rights into shares. This causes several problems with stock voting rights, overhang, and buyback programs. The company may be raising capitol, but must consider the cost of this capitol.

5. Determine whether other options are more economically feasible. A company can borrow, sell more stock, or offer stock option plans to reserve or increase cash. The company must decide whether these options are better than offering stock rights.

6. Tell the public why you are offering stock rights. An investor may be quick to snatch up stock at a reduced price, but others may be skeptical of why the company is doing this. Through the media, inform the public that the company is not going under or in desperate financial need.

Get Eco-friendly Grants or loans

Get Green Grants

The nation is making many efforts to conserve energy and improve the environment. Combating global warming, building energy-efficient buildings, creating green awareness and conserving land are just a few examples of efforts accomplished by government entities, businesses, nonprofits and individuals nationwide. Because of these green efforts, many funding opportunities are available in the United States for organizations with green-related projects. Obtaining funding for your agency's environmental efforts takes ample and thorough research.

Instructions

1. Research federal grants. The United States government issues funding to eligible organizations striving to improve the environment and increase awareness. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is a branch of the government that provides grants. The EPA offers environmental education grants to organizations supporting the public's knowledge, skills and awareness that help people make proper decisions regarding environmental quality, according to EPA.gov. According to EPA.gov, the government also offers environmental justice grants to eligible organizations.

2. Seek out statewide funding opportunities. Your state may offer funding to your organization's green initiative. For example, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation offers funding to eligible agencies, according to dec.ny.gov. Conduct online research to find information regarding green state funding.

3. Research foundations that support environmental projects. For example, the Captain Planet Foundation supports and funds environment-related projects for children, according to captainplanetfdn.org. Another funding source, the National Environmental Education Foundation, supports organizations' efforts to increase and improve environmental education, according to neefusa.org. Schools and organizations nationwide are granted funding from this foundation. Keep in mind that some foundations restrict funding to specific areas. Be sure to read the funding guidelines carefully before writing a proposal. The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation supports environmental efforts by eligible organizations, but this foundation only funds agencies located in the Great Lakes region of the United States.

4. Inquire about possible funding from local clubs or organizations. Many local environmental or conservation clubs may offer funding. A local club may also sponsor a fundraiser to earn funding for your organization's green efforts. Even local clubs that don't have an environmental focus may be willing to sponsor a project that will benefit the environment in your community. Some example of clubs in your area may include the Junior League, the Rotary Club, the Kiwanis Club and the Sierra Club.

Generate A Trade Event Booth

Trade shows provide a medium for attracting customers as well as networking with other business professionals. Successfully promoting your business at a trade show can give your business the needed edge over competitors and expand your territory. Learning to set up an organized, eye-catching display can give your booth the best chance at drawing in the crowd of participants.

Instructions

1. Read the trade show guidelines before making plans. Study examples of acceptable booths from the sponsor's previous events. Each trade show has specific rules regarding factors such as appropriate display materials and the proper usage of overhead signage. Some trade shows even require a picture of the finished booth prior to event acceptance. Stick to the rules to ensure that your booth doesn't attract unwanted attention.

2. Determine a realistic event budget. While the actual booth rental may cost $150, for example, you may incur additional charges for services related to electrical and phone line set-up. Find estimates and order forms within your trade show information packet. Talk to previous event vendors for service and provider recommendations.

3. Bring a tool kit and extra supplies. Find out how early you can begin setting up your both. Arrive at least two hours before the scheduled start time, if possible. This will prepare you for any mishaps related to booth set-up. Ensure that your booth and its components are in working order prior to the start of the show. Contact the event sponsor to report any malfunctions.

4. Get creative with your set-up to attract more customers than your competitors. Since well-established and promoted trade shows can feature hundreds of vendors, it's important that your booth isn't left in the shadows. Choose a display theme that shows off the innovative nature of your business. New angles such as futuristic concepts can bring smiles as well as sales to your booth. Keep your booth stocked with promotional items such as candy or pens to hand out.

5. Provide wall-to-wall and ceiling-to-floor excitement. Display your products in layers to keep customers interested in your booth. Use a combination of shelves, overhead signs and table displays to make your display attractive and engaging. Create a multisensory experience by adding elements such as soft music, film clips and product samples. The best trade show booths are those that engage the audience.

Variations In Multidomestic & Global Companies

Companies do business internationally in different ways.

Sophocles, the famed Greek playwright, once said, "Chance never helps those who do not help themselves." Many businesses see the opportunity to expand internationally as lucrative. However, a company has different options to develop abroad. It can choose to become a multi-domestic company, which focuses on specific countries, or a global company, which provides a standard product all over the world.

Going Global

The term "globalization" refers to the business strategy in which a company launches the same product in several different countries simultaneously. That means that whether you live in Argentina or Russia, your package of cornflakes will be the same. Through globalization, a company in the US can take advantage of technologies and industries developed abroad to access untapped markets overseas.

Multi-domestic Strategy

A multi-domestic strategy, conversely, involves offering non-standardized products in different countries. That means that instead of selling the exact same cornflakes in Russia and Argentina, the company makes changes to the product to tailor it to the tastes of individual markets. For instance, the company might choose to offer cornflakes coated in dulce de leche in Argentina, while presenting cornflakes with dried berries on Russian shelves.

Rationale

Companies make the choice to become multi-domestic or global based on a few factors. One such factor involves the concept called "economies of scale." This term refers to the reduction of costs due to the increase in production facilities. Sometimes, the cost does not decrease no matter how much the production facilities expand, so it becomes cheaper to develop separate factories in different countries. In addition, some industries require differentiated products for specific countries.

Competition

In the business world, competition means that a rivalry exists on an open market, in which every seller vies for profit and market share. A multi-domestic company faces competition from competitors in the countries in which it sells its goods. In contrast, a global company competes on an international level. Its rivals operate on the same playing field.

Strategic Planning

Companies plan differently, depending on whether they adopt a multi-domestic or global strategy. Multi-domestic corporations should manage their subsidiaries as distinct and separate entities, meaning decisions must be based on the local business environment and its issues. Global companies, on the other hand, need to plan on an international scale. Its subsidiaries do not act independently, and they all follow the same strategy.

Generate A Webinar

A Tele-seminar also known as a teleconference is a powerful medium to connect and communicate to your clients. Set up your tele-seminar or a series of seminars with a variety of topics and informative information about your business, products or services. Bring your business to the next level with more efficient communication.

Instructions

1. Become educated with all tele-seminar features, capabilities and functions.

2. Get a free bridge line. Check online and search for a free teleconference line.

3. Perform a test call on your bridge line. Invite your friends to test out the line's features.

4. Prepare a topic for your tele-seminar. Promote a particular product, service or special offering.

5. Organize an outline or script to follow during the tele-seminar. An outline will help you include all of the key points and topics you would like to inform or educate your client about.

6. Record your teleconference by following the easy step-by-step process on your bridge line.

7. Upload the recorded tele-seminar to your website. Let your clients know that they can also listen to your tele-seminar on your site.

8. Blast an email to current clients, prospects or existing clients. Invite them to take part in your premium teleconference call.

9. Notify clients about all call details, outline and promote them to take part in the opportunity to receive a discount or promotion on a product or service during the end of the call.

10. Make an outline to distribute to your clients to help them follow your teachings during the call.

Sell My Durable Medical Equipment Company

Before selling your durable medical equipment company, determine the value of the business so you will receive a fair price for your hard work and dedication. A certified business appraiser can help you sift through business documents and inventory sheets. After determining a selling price, hire a business broker to find a buyer. Business brokers with experience in the medical field will put you in touch with medical professionals and business people interested in purchasing your business.

Instructions

1. Determine the best time to sell your business. Planning ahead can save you money while increasing the business' overall value.

2. Hire a business appraiser with experience in the medical field to help you determine the value of your business. Contact an organization such as the American Society of Appraisers to find one who is qualified.

3. Retrieve all financial records, inventory, sales history, client lists and business tax returns. In addition to reviewing your current inventory, a business appraiser will review company profits and losses over the years.

4. Hire a business broker specializing in the sale of medical equipment and supply companies to find a buyer for your business.

5. Create a selling memorandum that outlines why you want to sell your business and for how much. Include information about your business such as the number of years it has been in operation, the number of employees, sales volume, types of durable medical equipment sold, and profits made each year.

6. Negotiate with buyers until a mutual selling price has been achieved. Sign all legal documentation necessary to hand the business over to the seller. Some legal documents can be downloaded from IRS.gov or SBA.gov.

Where You'll Get A Listing Of In foreclosure process Houses

Foreclosed Homes

Foreclosed home listings can be found in a variety of different ways. As the number of foreclosures has risen, more outlets have popped up. Obtaining the listings for these homes can be done from specialized sites on the Internet, your local county courthouse and banks.

Internet

You can find virtually anything on the Internet. Foreclosures are no different. There are many different foreclosure listing sites out there. Two of the best are propertyshark.com and foreclosures.com. These sites will provide you the necessary data needed in regard to the amount owed on the home and the current market value. These are the two monetary items that help determine if a property is worth taking a closer look. There is a cost to using both of these sites, but they also offer a free trial. This trial period gives you the opportunity to take the site for a test drive before spending any money.

County Courthouse

A complete listing of all the foreclosures in a given area can be obtained by visiting your county courthouse. There will also be a posting of when the next auction will be. A foreclosure auction is held by the county to get rid of excess foreclosed properties.

Banks

Homes foreclosed on by a bank are referred to as REOs or Real Estate Owned. This happens when a home owner stops paying their bank-financed mortgage payments. The bank steps in and repossesses the home. During this repossession period, the home owner can still sell their home. This is how many experienced home investors acquire properties at a good value. A situation like this is referred to as a pre-foreclosure sale.

Banks have no interest in owning real estate. They don't want to repossess homes as their business is lending money not selling real estate. Once a bank does take possession of the title to the property, they want to sell it as fast as possible. During the period of ownership, they are required to pay taxes and insurance just as a regular person would. Plus, too many foreclosures by a single bank are not a good situation as it displays poor lending decisions.

Most banks have an REO department that handles all of the properties. It is not uncommon for a savvy investor to buy a home for 50% of its market value. Many investors regard this as the best way to find good deals on foreclosures.

Live & Operate In France

Eiffel Tower, Paris

Since the creation of the European Union, living and working in France has become a lot more difficult for Americans. Because of visa laws, French employers often prefer to hire European workers, which means you will have to work a lot harder to make your dream a reality. If you still have your heart set on it, however, there are things you can do to get things started on the right track.

Instructions

1. Consider getting a student visa if your French language skills are high enough for it. Foreign students can work up to 20 hours a week while living in France. You will still need to prove that you have the financial means to support yourself in order to get the visa in the first place.

2. Talk to the company you currently work for to see if they have international branches or connections. Many large organizations offer their employees international transfers, either temporarily or permanently. This may be the easiest way to find a job in France.

3. Make sure you have enough funds to support yourself until you start working. Even with a job offer, you may be asked to show proof of “settlement funds,” or money to help you support yourself until your first paycheck.

4. Contact the local French embassy to get a list of specific requirements for the different types of visa. These may vary depending on whether you have a job offer, your nationality, profession and even age.

5. Search for a job before you leave home. To work legally in France, you will need a carte de sejour (work permit), which can only be obtained with the help of an employer. If you have no connections in France, you can look for a job by searching companies such as Monster.com, where you can search posted opportunities or upload your resume to allow employers to contact you (see Resources below).

Copyright A Company Idea

Secure your creation with a copyright.

If inspiration strikes and you develop a genius business idea, you'll likely be eager to copyright this idea as a means of protection. Through the obtaining of a copyright, you can ensure that others don't steal your work and profit from your great idea. Applying for and receiving a copyright is the only way to legally protect your idea and, as such, is well worth the time investment.

Instructions

1. Check to ensure that your business idea fits into one of the copyrightable categories. The U.S. Copyright Office offers copyrights in eight categories: literary works, musical works, dramatic works, works of choreography, artistic works, motion pictures, sound recordings and architectural works. If your business idea doesn't fit into one of these categories, you can't obtain a copyright; you need to seek a patent instead.

2. Put your idea into tangible form. You can't copyright an idea that you haven't made into tangible form. For example, you can't say that you have an idea for a musical program that will help students learn to read, and copyright the idea alone. To be copyrightable, you must actually create the work that you envision.

3. Complete a copyright application (see Resources). On this application you're asked to classify your work, compose a brief description of the work and provide personal information about yourself. This application must be completed in blue or black ink, or typed into the PDF form provided.

4. Submit the application, along with a filing fee and a copy of the work to be copyrighted, to the United States Copyright Office. Mail this application to:

U.S. Copyright Office

101 Independence Avenue SE

Washington, DC 20559-6000

Generate A Home Based Business Payment System

One of the best things about being a home business owner is having a successful one. Getting paid for doing something you love to do is a marvelous way to fulfill your dreams. When your customer base begins to increase and the money starts rolling in, it's time for you to place your home business finances in working order. With a few simple tips, you'll soon learn set up a home business payment system.

Instructions

1. Get a tax ID number for your home business. This will be an important step for turning a favorite hobby into a business entity. You will be able to easily obtain a tax ID number from the IRS. It can be done simply by filling out the correct forms from the IRS website or just speaking to a representative over the phone. In a few short steps, you'll have your very own tax ID number for business purposes.

2. Obtain a name for your home business. This will provide you with a professional image for your home business. Once customers start sending payments to you, they can pay the funds to your home business name instead of your personal one. Creating a separate home business names makes it extremely easy to sort incoming financial payments. You'll instantly know what payments are going directly into your home business.

3. Open a home business bank account. When you start receiving funds for your new home business, you won't have to worry about mixing it with your personal finances. It's always a good idea to keep your personal and home business finances separate. Doing this will cause less confusion during tax time. Your home business accountant will not have to pull their hair out because of confusing financial records.

4. Choose the best merchant account for receiving credit card payments to your home business. There are many to choose from and you can conveniently compare them from the Internet. Some of them come with monthly or yearly fees and take a percentage of all incoming payments. The best way to decide which one will work best for your home business depends on the amount of financial transactions you will experience.

5. Compare online payment systems that do not require a merchant account. There are a few online payment systems that do not require a setup fee and can offer your home business a more cost effective way to get paid. Usually, they will only take a small percentage of your incoming funds per transaction. Incorporating this type of system into an existing home business website will only take a few minutes because it does not require enhanced programming. The only requirements are an email address, checking account, and a credit card.

Do You Know The Advantages Of Corporate Social Responsibility To Some Company

Corporate social responsibility is a model of business which is heavily rooted in responsible ethics. A company that adopts this strategy may enjoy several benefits from a positive consumer image to higher sales and worker output. Corporate social responsibility requires a company's full dedication and resistance to cutting corners on materials and employee benefits, which could ultimately serve to damage the company's image.

Better Brand Image and Reputation

According to the International Institute for Sustainable Development, a company who adopts a business model involving corporate social responsibility is able to develop a better image for its brands and a more positive company reputation. The image of the company and its products are improved because consumers believe the company to be ethically responsible in creating products with only quality materials and using manufacturing techniques which don't pose a threat to the environment.

Increased Worker Productivity

Corporate social responsibility places an emphasis on taking care of workers in the form of competitive wages and helpful benefits like health care and retirement plans. This leads to increased worker productivity because the employee feel the company cares and supports them and they in turn work harder. The company isn't viewed as the villain in a corporate social responsibility model but the helping hand.

Greater Customer Loyalty

Consumers like to purchase quality products for a fair price. A business that uses corporate social responsibility can build customer loyalty on the strengths of how its products are made and the ingredients which go into them. According to Santa Clara University's Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, an example of this form of brand loyalty is found in the organic food industry where companies readily tell consumers what's in the product to show consumers the quality ingredients and health benefits of buying from them.

Lower Regulatory Oversight

A company that deals with the environment and its business matters in an ethical, responsible way ultimately nets less government oversight than a company looking to shave the edges of what's legal. This leads to a lower chance of expensive fines and sanctions by federal and state regulatory agencies. State and federal government officials may even seek out a company with a socially responsible reputation for opinions on shaping policy in the company's field.

Cope With A Rude Worker

Rudeness should not be tolerated in the workplace.

As a manager or human resource administrator, it is your responsibility to deal with a rude employee. This is a challenging but necessary task. A rude employee can be detrimental to any business operation, causing decreased work production from co-workers and a loss of customers. It is imperative to address the situation and explain the behavior that is expected from the employee within the workplace.

Instructions

1. Document all instances of rudeness and unacceptable behavior displayed by the employee. Documentation could include formal customer complaints, fellow employee complaints describing specific instances of rudeness and e-mails received from the employee containing rude language.

2. Speak with the employee in private. Remain professional during your meeting. Do not speak in an accusing or superior tone. Present the incidents of rudeness and how they are affecting your business operations. There is typically some underlying cause to the employee's behavior. Determine if the employee is unsatisfied with a workplace situation, ill, dealing with personal problems or may have a drug or alcohol problem.

3. Offer help to find a resolution to the problem. Resolving the underlying problem may enable the employee to change their attitude in the workplace. The employee may need time off to deal with an aging parent or an illness, rehabilitation for an addiction, anger management classes or counseling.

4. Enforce disciplinary action. If all other attempts to resolve the employee's rudeness to coworkers and customers have failed, disciplinary action may need to be implemented. Abide by your company's employee policies and procedures.

Worldwide Auditing & Assurance Standards

Auditing standards help companies establish adequate operating controls.

Auditing and assurance standards help auditors review corporate controls, procedures and systems in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. These standards also help auditors ensure that employees abide by laws and regulations.

Auditing Defined

Auditing is a business process in which a specialist reviews the controls of a company, ensuring that they are adequate and functional.

Assurance Defined

Assurance services allow an external expert to provide an opinion regarding the work of another person. Audit services are part of assurance engagements.

Engagement Discussions

An auditor must discuss significant issues with a company's management before starting control tests and reviews. These issues may relate to test planning and review scheduling.

Control Testing

An auditor tests controls to ensure they are operational. A control is a set of instructions that management puts into place to prevent losses.

Risk Assessment

Risk assessment procedures allow an auditor to review corporate controls and rate risks as "tier 1," "tier 2" and "tier 3," depending on the loss expectation.

Report Issuance

An auditor issues a final report after discussing "tier 1" and "tier 2" issues with senior management and reviewing mitigating measures.

Create A Felt Soccer Banner

Don't mess with the Rockets.

It is a tradition in some regions of the country to create a felt banner for the local youth soccer team. Felt soccer banners make a great prop for team photos, are an easy way to recognize which team is playing on what field during a busy tournament and are a symbol that both parents and players can rally around. They are easy and fun to make, and can be a great team bonding activity to kick off the season. With the colors of your squad staked proudly on the sidelines, players will be inspired and opponents will be intimidated. It's a sure-fire weapon for victory.

Instructions

1. Wrap approximately 2 inches of the short end of the cloth around the top half of one of the rods. Secure the base of the cloth to the rod with the athletic tape.

2. Sew the flap of cloth around the rod with the needle and thread.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for the other side of the cloth using the other rod.

4. Lay the banner flat on a smooth surface.

5. Cut out letters for the name of your soccer team from the various pieces of felt. Secure the letters in the top middle of the banner using the hot-glue gun.

6. Design a team mascot, soccer ball or other logo to put beneath the team name. Cut the design out of the felt with scissors, and secure it to the banner with the hot-glue gun.

7. Cut out stars and other various shapes using the remaining felt. Cut out enough shapes so that each player can have one.

8. Have each player write her name on a star or other assorted shape. Secure these shapes to the banner in various places with the hot-glue gun.

Business Practices In Chinese Culture

China is a big player in the global economy.

With the second largest economy in the world, the People's Republic of China is a major player in the global economy. This most-populated country in the world is also first in economic growth. With China featured prominently in the business world, an awareness of Chinese business practices is essential.

Business Card Etiquette

The exchange of business cards is important in China.

When accepting a business card in China, never place it directly in your pocket or briefcase, as this is an insult. Always read a card before putting it away. It is a good idea to have one side of your card in Chinese and one in English. Gold engraving on a card indicates wealth and prosperity.

The Handshake

In China, even a handshake can be done the wrong way.

The Chinese do not value a long, hearty handshake as we do in America. The most acceptable handshake in China is a light, short one. A handshake that is too long and too strong is inappropriate in China.

Addressing Colleagues

When you address colleagues in China, always use their title and last name. Professor Ling or Mr. Chang is much more appropriate form of address than a casual first-name approach. Respect is everything in China.

Business Attire

A conservative suit is standard business attire.

The accepted business attire is professional. Business suits for men and women in dark colors are appropriate. Avoid bright colors or too much jewelry.

How Much Cash Do Freelance Copywriters Average

The availability of Wi-Fi and laptops means freelance copywriters can work anywhere for clients around the globe.

Written words are everywhere around us -- in books, newspapers, online and even the ads people see while shopping. Copywriters put each of those words on paper, transferring concepts into tangible documents. The income of a freelance copywriter is more volatile than the income of salaried copywriters, but freelancers have more control over their work and can choose the projects and hours they want.

Type of Project

Copywriters may work on many different types of projects -- these projects represent different sectors within the copywriting field. Each sector pays a different average rate. For example, doing advertising copywriting yields an average hourly rate of $83 an hour as of 2011, while ghostwriting provides hourly pay of $67, says Lynn Wasnak of Writer's Digest. Similarly, catalog copywriting pays $71 an hour. The average income of a copywriter thus depends largely on the type of copywriting she opts to do.

Billing Method

Copywriters bill in various ways, depending on the sector in which they work. For instance, most script writing and editing is done on a per project basis, not by hour. Some projects lend themselves to a per word or per page rate. To compare rates of different copywriters and calculate average earnings, you have to convert each of these billing methods to one standard, such as dividing the total project cost by hours worked to figure an hourly rate.

Technical Level

Some sectors require much more technical expertise in copywriting than others do. For instance, a copywriter working on a consumer manual or medical document must have an understanding of complex terminology associated with the project, as well as formatting standards for the sector. The more technical a project is, the more a copywriter usually charges.

Experience

Copywriters who are just starting out routinely offer rates well below their experienced counterparts -- a rate of $10 to $30 an hour is more typical for these writers. If a writer has no literary experience, he may accept rates as low as $1 to $3 for an article; the goal is to build a resume rather than to make a lot of money. More experienced writers may command $100 to $200 hour -- some may charge as much as $500 in some sectors such as webinar writing.

Bottom Line

Freelance copywriters may charge relatively high hourly fees, but this makes up for the fact that their projects are inconsistent. Freelancers constantly have to spend extra time marketing themselves, which dips into profits. Many freelance copywriters do not earn enough solely from writing to support themselves. A rate of $35,000 is typical, says Wasnak, although the best copywriters may earn as much as $200,000 a year.

Do You Know The Aspects Of Normative Leadership

Sometimes leaders can facilitate decisions by group concensus.

Decisions are the life blood of a company, and managers must make them every day. In 1973, leadership theorists Victor Vroom and Philip Yetton proposed the normative leadership model that focused on how a leader interacts with her subordinates. This theory explains how how a manager involves those under her in making the decisions that impact the workplace. The model also figures in time constraints, the quality of decisions and employee satisfaction.

Levels of Involvement

In the normative leadership model, there are five levels of subordinate involvement in the decision-making process. In the first autocratic level, the manager makes the decisions himself. With the second autocratic level, he might ask for advice, but makes the decision in the end. In the first level of the consultative section, the manager asks individuals in the group for their input, then makes a decision. Their opinion has more bearing on his decision in this level. The next level of the consultative section is to have a group meeting, and then the manager makes the decision. The final level is the one in which the group ultimately makes the decision.

Decision Quality

The manager has to assess how much she knows about an issue to determine which level of involvement to use in the decision-making process. If the manager does not know anything about the situation, then using the autocratic methods is not going to yield a very high quality decision. Likewise, if the group is not knowledgeable about the situation, bringing the decision to the group is not always the best course of action. A good manager has to know which level to use for the best quality decision.

Time

Time is something a manager needs to consider when trying to determine which level of involvement to use in making a decision. Group decisions usually take a long time, so a decision that must be made quickly is likely to be made by the manager. However, a manager can help this by asking some representative members of the group for their opinions before making the decision on her own.

Employee Satisfaction

Employee satisfaction is something a leader needs to think about when making a decision. Always choosing autocratic methods can make employees feel helpless. If a manager always chooses to make things a group decision, though, it can sap some of the her power away. A good balance is needed in order to maintain quick, beneficial decisions and happy, empowered employees.