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Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Fallout from Satyam Accounting Scandal Continues, Vendor Installs New Board

Following the dismissal of the board of IT outsourcing vendor Satyam last week after former chairman B Ramalinga Raju’s admission of a US$1 billion accounting fraud, the vendor has appointed three new board members. The vendor has recruited the former head of technology group Nasscom, Kiran Karnik, ex-Securities and Exchange Board of India member C Achuthan and banker Deepak Parekh to its board.
Raju and another board member have been arrested for conspiracy and forgery and Vadlamani Srinivas, Satyam’s former chief financial officer, is reportedly also being questioned in connection with the fraud.



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How to Successfully Navigate Your Business through an Economic Downturn

An economic downturn is a phase of the business cycle in which the economy as a whole is in decline.This phase basically marks the end of the period of growth in the business cycle. Economic downturns are characterized by decreased levels of consumer purchases (especially of durable goods) and, subsequently, reduced levels of production by businesses. While economic downturns are admittedly difficult, and are formidable obstacles to small businesses that are trying to survive and grow, an economic downturn can open up opportunities. A well-managed company can realize the opportunity to gain market share by taking customers away from their competitors. Resourceful entrepreneurs capture the available opportunities, from an economic downturn, by developing alternate methods of doing business that were never implemented during a prior growth period. The challenge of successfully navigating your business through an economic downturn lies in the realignment of your business with current economic realities. Specifically, you, as the business owner, need to renew a focus on your core clients/customers, reduce your operating expenses, conserve cash, and manage more proactively, rather than reactively, is paramount. Here are best practices that will help you to successfully navigate your business through an economic downturn:
Goals: The primary goal of any business owner is to survive the current economic downturn and to develop a leaner, more cost-effective and more efficient operation. The secondary goal is to grow the business even during this current economic downturn.
Objectives:
Conserve cash.
• Protect assets.
• Reduce costs.
• Improve efficiencies.
• Grow customer base.
Required Action:
• Do not panic… History shows that economic downturns do not last forever. Remain calm and act in a rational manner as you refocus your attention on resizing your company to the current economic conditions.
• Focus on what YOU can control… Don’t let the media's rhetoric concerning recessions and economic slowdown deter you from achieving business success. It´s a trap! Why? Because the condition of the economy is beyond your control. Surviving economic downturns requires a focus on what you can control, i.e. your relevant business activities.
• Communicate, communicate, and communicate! Beware of the pitfall of trying to do too much on your own. It is a difficult task indeed to survive and to grow your business solely with your own efforts. Solicit ideas and seek the help of other people (your employees, suppliers, lenders, customers, and advisors). Communicate honestly and consistently. Effective two-way communication is the key.
• Negotiate, negotiate, and negotiate! The value of a strong negotiation skill set cannot be overstated. Negotiating better deals and contracts is an absolute must for realigning and resizing your company to the current economic conditions. The key to success is not only knowing how to develop a win-win approach in negotiations with all parties, but also keeping in mind the fact that you want a favorable outcome for yourself too.
Recommended Best Practice Activities:
The Nuts and Bolts… The following list of recommended best practice activities is critical for your business' survival and for its growth during an economic downturn. The actual financial health of your particular business, at the outset of the economic downturn, will dictate the priority and urgency of the implementation of the following best practice activities.
1. Diligently monitor your cash flow: Forecast your cash flow monthly to ensure that expenses and planned expenditures are in line with accounts receivable. Include cash flow statements into your monthly financial reporting. Project cash requirements three-to- six months in advance. The key is to know how to monitor, protect, control, and put cash to work.
2. Carefully convert your inventories: Convert excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory items into cash. Consider returning excess and slow-moving items back to the suppliers. Close-out or inventory reduction sales work well to resize your inventory. Also, consider narrowing your product offerings. Well-timed order placement helps to reduce excess inventory levels and occasional material shortages. The key is to reduce the amount of your inventory without losing sales.
3. Timely collection of your accounts receivable: This asset should be converted to cash as quickly as possible. Offer prompt payment discounts to encourage timely payments. Make changes in the terms of sale for slow paying customers (i.e. changing net 30 day terms to COD). Invoicing is an important part of your cash flow management. The first rule of invoicing is to do it as soon as possible after products are shipped and/or after services are delivered. Place an emphasis on reducing billing errors. Most customers delay payments because an invoice had errors, and therefore, will not pay until they receive a corrected copy. Email or fax your invoices to save on mailing time. Post the payments that you have received and make deposits more frequently. The key is to develop an efficient collection system that generates timely payments and one that gives you advance warning of problems.
4. Re-focus your attention on your existing clients/customers: Make customer satisfaction your priority. A regular review of your customers' buying history and frequency of purchases can reveal some interesting facts about your customers' buying habits. Consider signing long-term contracts with your core clients/customers which will add to your security. Offer a discount for upfront cash payments. The key is to do what it takes to keep your current customers loyal.
5. Re-negotiate with your suppliers, lenders, and landlord:
i) Suppliers: Always keep your negotiations on the level of need, saying that your company has reviewed its cost structure and has determined that it needs to lower supplier costs. . Tell the supplier that you value the relationship you have developed, but that you need to receive a cost reduction immediately. Ask your supplier for a lower material price, a longer payment cycle, and the elimination of finance charges. Also, see if you can buy material from them on a consignment basis. In return for their price concessions, be willing to agree to a long-term contract. Explore the idea of bartering as a form of payment.

ii) Lenders: Everything in business finance is negotiable and your relationship with a bank is no exception. The first step to successful renegotiations is to convince your lenders that you can ultimately pay off the renegotiated loan. You must point out to your lenders why it would be in their best interest to agree to a new arrangement. Showing them your business plan and your action plan that includes your cost-savings initiatives, along with "the how" and "the when" of the implementation of your plan is the best way to achieve this goal. Explain to them that you will need their cooperation to insure that you can survive, as well as, grow your business during the economic downturn. Negotiated items include: the rate of interest, the required security to cover the loan, and the beginning date for repayment. A beginning date for repayment could be immediate, within several months or as long as a year. The key is to realize that your lender will work with you, but that frequent and continual communications with them is critical.

iii) Landlord: Meet with your landlord. Explain your need to have them extend the term of your lease at a reduced cost. Make sure you have a clause in the lease agreement that entitles you to have the right to sublet any or all of the leased space.

6. Re-evaluate your staffing requirements: This is a very critical area. Salaries/wages are a major expense of doing business. Therefore, any reduction in the hours worked through work schedule changes, short-term layoffs or permanent layoffs has an immediate cost saving benefit. Most companies ramped up hiring new employees in the good times, only to find that they are currently overstaffed due to slow sales during the economic downturn. In terms of down-sizing your staff, be very careful not to reduce your staff to a level that forces you to skimp on customer service and quality. Consider the use of part-timers or the current trend of outsourcing certain functions to independent contractors.

7. Shop for better insurances rates: Get quotations from other insurance agents for comparable coverage to determine whether or not your present insurance carrier is competitive. Also, consider revising your coverage to reduce premium costs. The key is to have the right balance-to be adequately insured, but not under or over insured.

8. Re-evaluate your advertising: Contrary to the other cost-cutting initiatives, evaluate the possibility of increasing your advertising expenditures. This tactic realizes the advantage of the reduced "noise" and congestion (fewer advertisers) in the marketplace. The downturn period a great opportunity to increase brand awareness and create additional demand for your product/service offerings.

9. Seek the help of outside advisors: The use of an advisory board comprised of your CPA, attorney, and business consultant offers you objectivity and provides you with professional advice and guidance. Their collective experience in working with similar situations in past economic downturns is invaluable.

10. Review your other expenses: Target an across-the-board cost-cutting initiative of 10-15%. Attempt to eliminate unnecessary expenses. Tightening your belt in order to weather the downturn makes practical, financial sense. Proactively managing your business through an economic downturn is an enormous challenge and is critical for your survival. However, through well-planned initiatives, an economic downturn can create tremendous opportunity for your company to gain greater market share. In order to take advantage of this growth opportunity, you must act quickly to implement the above best business practices to continue realigning and resizing your company to the current economic conditions.

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Can Data Breaches Be Expected From Bankrupt Mortgage Lenders?

The stock market is in a tumult. Actually, it has been for about a year, ever since the subprime fiasco (anyone take a look at Moody's performance over the past year?) Now that that particular issue has been beaten to death, other mortgage related issues are cropping up. Most of the stuff covered in the media is financial in nature, but some of those mortgage related issues do concern information security. It's no secret that there are plenty of companies in the US that discard sensitive documents by dumping them unceremoniously: leave it by the curb, drive it to a dumpster, heave it over the walls of abandoned property, and other assorted mind boggling insecure practices. In fact, MSNBC has an article on this issue, and names numerous bankrupt mortgage companies whose borrowers' records were found in dumpsters and recycling centers. The information on those documents include credit card numbers and SSNs, as well as addresses, names, and other information needed to secure a mortgage. Since the companies have filed for bankruptcy and are no more, the potential victims involved have no legal recourse, and are left to fend for themselves. In a way, it makes sense that companies that have filed for bankruptcy are behaving this way. (Not that I'm saying this is proper procedure.) For starters, if a company does wrong, one goes after the company; however, the company has filed for bankruptcy, it is no more, so there's no one to "go after." In light of the company status, this means that the actual person remaining behind to dispose of things, be they desks or credit applications, can opt to do whatever he feels like. He could shred the applications. He could dump them nearby. He could walk away and let the building's owner take care of them. What does he care? It's not as if he's gonna get fired. Also, proper disposal requires either time, money, or both. A bankrupt company doesn't have money. It may have time, assuming people are going to stick around, but chances are their shredder has been seized by creditors. People are not going to stick around to shred things by hand, literally. Aren't there any laws regulating this? Apparently, such issues are covered by FACTA, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, and although its guidelines require that "businesses to dispose of sensitive financial documents in a way that protects against 'unauthorized access to or use of the information'" [msnbc.com], it stops short of requiring the physical destruction of data. I'm not a lawyer, but perhaps there's enough leeway in the language for one to go around dropping sensitive documents in dumpsters? Like I mentioned before, inappropriate disposal of sensitive documents has been going on forever; I'm pretty sure this has been a problem since the very first mortgage was issued. My personal belief is that most companies would act responsibly and try to properly dispose of such information. But, this may prove to be a point of concern as well because of widespread misconceptions of what it means to protect data against unauthorized access. What happens if a company that files for bankruptcy decides to sell their company computers to pay off creditors? Most people would delete the information found in the computer, and that's that-end of story. Except, it's not. When files are deleted, the actual data still resides in the hard disks; it's just that the computer's operating system doesn't have a way to find the information anymore. Indeed, this is how retail data restoration applications such as Norton are able to recover accidentally deleted files. Some may be aware of this and decide to format the entire computer before sending it off to the new owners. The problem with this approach is the same as deleting files: data recovery is a cinch with the right software. Some of them retail for $30 or less-as in free. So, the sensitive data that's supposed to be deleted can be recovered, if not easily, at least cheaply-perhaps by people with criminal interests. Am I being paranoid? I don't think so. I've been tracking fraud for years now, and I can't help but conclude that the criminal underworld has plenty of people looking to be niche operators, not to mention that there are infinitesimal ways of defrauding people (look up "salad oil" and "American Express," for an example). An identification theft ring looking to collect sensitive information from bankrupt mortgage dealers wouldn't surprise me, especially in an environment where such companies are dropping left and right. The economics behind it make sense as well. A used computer will retail anywhere from $100 to $500. The information in it, if not wiped correctly, will average many times more even if you factor in the purchase of data recovery software. Criminals have different ways of capitalizing on personal data, ranging from selling the information outright to engaging in something with better returns. Is there a better way to protect oneself? Whole disk encryption is a way to ensure that such problems do not occur: One can just reformat the encrypted drive itself to install a new OS; the original data remains encrypted, so there's no way to extract the data. Plus, the added benefit is that the data is protected in the event that a computer gets lost or stolen. However, commonsense dictates that encryption is something ongoing concerns sign up for, not businesses about to go bankrupt. My guess is that sooner or later we'll find instances of data breaches originating from equipment being traced back to bankrupt mortgage dealers. The stock market is in a tumult. Actually, it has been for about a year, ever since the subprime fiasco (anyone take a look at Moody's performance over the past year?) Now that that particular issue has been beaten to death, other mortgagerelated issues are cropping up. Most of the stuff covered in the media is financial in nature, but some of those mortgagerelated issues do concern information security. It's no secret that there are plenty of companies in the US that discard sensitive documents by dumping them unceremoniously: leave it by the curb, drive it to a dumpster, heave it over the walls of abandoned property, and other assorted mindboggling insecure practices. In fact, MSNBC has an article on this issue, and names numerous bankrupt mortgage companies whose borrowers' records were found in dumpsters and recycling centers. The information on those documents include credit card numbers and SSNs, as well as addresses, names, and other information needed to secure a mortgage. Since the companies have filed for bankruptcy and are no more, the potential victims involved have no legal recourse, and are left to fend for themselves. In a way, it makes sense that companies that have filed for bankruptcy are behaving this way. (Not that I'm saying this is proper procedure.) For starters, if a company does wrong, one goes after the company; however, the company has filed for bankruptcy, it is no more, so there's no one to "go after." In light of the company status, this means that the actual person remaining behind to dispose of things, be they desks or credit applications, can opt to do whatever he feels like. He could shred the applications. He could dump them nearby. He could walk away and let the building's owner take care of them. What does he care? It's not as if he's gonna get fired. Also, proper disposal requires either time, money, or both. A bankrupt company doesn't have money. It may have time, assuming people are going to stick around, but chances are their shredder has been seized by creditors. People are not going to stick around to shred things by hand, literally. Aren't there any laws regulating this? Apparently, such issues are covered by FACTA, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, and although its guidelines require that "businesses to dispose of sensitive financial documents in a way that protects against 'unauthorized access to or use of the information'" [msnbc.com], it stops short of requiring the physical destruction of data. I'm not a lawyer, but perhaps there's enough leeway in the language for one to go around dropping sensitive documents in dumpsters? Like I mentioned before, inappropriate disposal of sensitive documents has been going on forever; I'm pretty sure this has been a problem since the very first mortgage was issued. My personal belief is that most companies would act responsibly and try to properly dispose of such information. But, this may prove to be a point of concern as well because of widespread misconceptions of what it means to protect data against unauthorized access. What happens if a company that files for bankruptcy decides to sell their company computers to pay off creditors? Most people would delete the information found in the computer, and that's that-end of story. Except, it's not. When files are deleted, the actual data still resides in the hard disks; it's just that the computer's operating system doesn't have a way to find the information anymore. Indeed, this is how retail data restoration applications such as Norton are able to recover accidentally deleted files. Some may be aware of this and decide to format the entire computer before sending it off to the new owners. The problem with this approach is the same as deleting files: data recovery is a cinch with the right software. Some of them retail for $30 or less-as in free. So, the sensitive data that's supposed to be deleted can be recovered, if not easily, at least cheaply-perhaps by people with criminal interests. Am I being paranoid? I don't think so. I've been tracking fraud for years now, and I can't help but conclude that the criminal underworld has plenty of people looking to be niche operators, not to mention that there are infinitesimal ways of defrauding people (look up "salad oil" and "American Express," for an example). An identification theft ring looking to collect sensitive information from bankrupt mortgage dealers wouldn't surprise me, especially in an environment where such companies are dropping left and right. The economics behind it make sense as well. A used computer will retail anywhere from $100 to $500. The information in it, if not wiped correctly, will average many times more even if you factor in the purchase of data recovery software. Criminals have different ways of capitalizing on personal data, ranging from selling the information outright to engaging in something with better returns. Is there a better way to protect oneself? Whole disk encryption is a way to ensure that such problems do not occur: One can just reformat the encrypted drive itself to install a new OS; the original data remains encrypted, so there's no way to extract the data. Plus, the added benefit is that the data is protected in the event that a computer gets lost or stolen. However, commonsense dictates that encryption is something ongoing concerns sign up for, not businesses about to go bankrupt. My guess is that sooner or later we'll find instances of data breaches originating from equipment being traced back to bankrupt mortgage dealers.

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Sunday, January 11, 2009

apple iPhone 3G Kings Button, the most expensivephone in world

It seems like the financial crisis has not affected the Austrian jeweler Peter Aloisson because he has created the most expensive phone till date. He has developed a unique and innovative iPhone 3G Kings Button.
The iPhone 3G’s home button or the main operating button is integrated with high quality 6.6 carat diamonds, this impression itself of the phone is very attractive. The expensive iPhone is made of 18 carat white gold, rose gold and yellow gold. The beauty of the phone is the white gold line which has approximately 138 finely shaped diamonds on it.
The gold and diamonds used to create the iPhone 3G are of the best quality. The designer has created this beautiful luxurious piece so well that every corner has a white gold line. The lavish jewelry designer has in fact created a record for himself by creating the most expensive iPhone 3G in the world.
The impressive phone dressed with gold and diamond that looks stunning will not be affordable by many. If you want to feel like a king and if you can afford this high profile phone then go ahead and own the iPhone 3G Kings Button for 1,790,000 Euros or about 2,418,111 USD (approx. Rs 12 crore).

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Learn English - How to improve your fluency in English?

It is evident that in order to improve English, one has to work quite hard. Learning good English is not just about learning new words, it has to be combined with right expression, attitude and proper grammar. Fluency in English is one of the great personality improvement techniques that can help you to communicate to a global audience and even enhance your career. Fluent English can be achieved by practicing daily. Control of high and low pitch matters a lot while speaking, it basically helps to better express yourself to others with right emotions and style. A great way to improve English is to watch classic western movies, read novels and talk to your friends in English. Focus a lot on grammar and punctuation, it helps to deliver a better flow of expression.
Just speaking some newly learned English words will probably not work out to be the only way to improve your fluency and proficiency of this language. Learning any language requires a genuine effort, dedication and a desire to learn from your soul. Many people tend to initially think in their mother tongue and then convert that thought to English as they speak, well try to think directly in English itself, thats where the soul comes into the picture. As mentioned earlier, listening to English songs and watching English movies can help you deliver a punch in English language like a proper British man. One important point to be noted is that there is no place for hesitation during your learning process. Reading newspaper, magazines, novels and noting down all the new words you come across really helps to improve your vocabulary, these new words are like the starters of your new meal "English". Some people think that working in a BPO (call center) will improve their English skills. But the fact is that language skills can not be improved by just working in a BPO. However, you have to visualise things to remember new words and give time to the new learning atleast one hour a day. Standing in front of a mirror and talking to yourself will boost up your confidence and give you a motivation power, help you to develop attention and confidence even if you were standing in front of a crowd. Fluent talking in English language will make you a highly presentable gentleman and this change is reflected in your attitude as well as in your new personality. Regular meditation will combine your thoughts at one place and this will be a great tool for success. Getting English classes will only help you to mug (or cram) things. It is rather suggested that you should buy a good grammar book and give your brain a work out of those grammar rules. Learning new language takes time, but slow and steady wins the race.English is a fantastic language, a person speaking a proper English will leave a excellent impression on anyone.
I like communicating my message in English. Although, I am not perfect in it, I try to improve it.

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Saturday, January 10, 2009

Guitar Tuning And How To Tune A Guitar

There are many different ways to approach guitar tuning. We'll touch on a couple of the more effective methods on how to tune a guitar. Not necessarily the most popular as some methods, though extensively used, are considered 'bad habits' rather than genuine, effective guitar tuning alternatives.
Tips For Any Guitar Tuning MethodFirst, lets cover a few things that every player should know when taking the proper approach to guitar tuning and how to learn to tune guitar.Learn to attach the strings to the machine heads properly. Never try to tune down to a note. Stretch the strings and tune up to the note. Tuning heads have a certain amount of 'play' in them so make a couple of deep bends and then fine tune the string. Before tuning a suspect string, check it against both adjacent strings to determine which string is actually out of tune. The string you suspect may not even be the culprit. When tuning a guitar with a vibrato arm, tune the string, give the arm a good shake, stretch the string, give the arm another shake and fine tune. Veterans of guitar playing will already know these things so if you're a beginner and just learning to play the guitar, you're already ahead of the game if you implement these practices into your routine. For a great tool visit http://www.guitarmusician.com/guitar-tuner.htmHere's A Quick Method For Guitar TuningTune the treble (high) E string to an A440 tuning fork by holding your finger on the 5th fret, then tune the open B string to the open treble E string – listening to the interval of a fourth. It's easy to hear the fourth in that register.Play the A note fretted at the 2nd fret of the G string, and compare it to the open treble E string – you're listening for a perfect fifth interval.Fret the 2nd fret E note on the D string and compare it to the treble E string open. Double check this by fretting the E note on the 14th fret of the D string.Now tune the 7th fret harmonic on the A string (an E note) to the open treble E string.Finally, tune the 5th fret harmonic on the bass E string to the open treble E string. This is a simple guitar tuning method that works well.

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Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Zoology and Environmental Science

Investing in agriculture (aquaculture) for food security. Aquaculture can contribute to improved food security and nutrition through various channels: local food supplies can be improved through the increased availability of low-cost fish; employment opportunities and incomes can be raised; and consumption of fish can be increased directly. While increasing the quantity and variety of fish and other foods consumed by the poor will reduce under-nutrition, such dietary improvements are not automatic benefits of aquaculture development. Food consumption and good nutrition are not determined solely by how much food is produced or available. Households must have physical and economic access to an adequate amount and variety of food, and household heads and care-givers must have the time, knowledge and motivation to make the best use of the household’s resources to meet the food and other basic needs of all members. The key to securing the maximum nutritional benefits from aquaculture development is to ensure that the poor and undernourished gain greater access to the increased supplies of fish and that they can enhance their aquaculture-derived income. . Fish can make a unique contribution to efforts to improve and diversify dietary intakes and promote nutritional well-being among most population groups. Fish have a highly desirable nutrient profile providing an excellent source of high quality animal protein that is easily digestible and of high biological value. Fatty fish, in particular, are an extremely rich source of essential fatty acids, including omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), so important for normal growth and mental development, especially during pregnancy
and early childhood. Fish are also rich in vitamins and minerals (especially calcium, phosphorus, iron, selenium and iodine in marine products).Fish therefore can provide an important source of nutrients particularly for those whose diets are monotonous and lacking in animal products. Increasing the availability of fish in the diet increases palatability and leads to increased consumption of a range of foods thereby improving overall food and nutrient intakes.

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Accountancy Career Change

There are times when you suddenly feel that there is a need to change your career path. If you are not satisfied with your present work, you have to decide the right career path to take. Life is too short and you should be doing a work that you truly love and enjoy.There are various reasons why many individuals want to make a career change. Perhaps you find your job boring lately because of the low salary or you have higher ambition that you want to fulfill; well, whatever the reasons are, you can make that change in your life and you shouldn’t even fret about it. You see, nowadays, there are a lot of employment options and opportunities. You can already secure a high paying job for as long as you qualify and did you know that an accountancy career might be good for you?Even if you’re not a graduate of an accounting degree, you can become an accountant. That’s not a lie but that can only happen if you’re willing to study again. You’re never too old to go to school. If you’re an undergraduate or you’ve taken a business-related course, you can pursue your college education in accounting. Those who have taken business-related courses can easily shift to accountancy because some of their subjects in college can be credited. They will only be taking the necessary units in order to finish the degree. Although it might take a few more years, the rewards can make your head spin. Be patient and don’t hesitate to gain more knowledge.There are thousands or even millions of people out there who have decided to make a career change. If you’re planning to do the same thing, it’s a good feeling to know that you’re not alone in your quest. But before you make that ‘big’ career change, here are a few things to ponder.1. You have to ask yourself why you want to change your career. Even if you can name a lot of reasons why you want to leave your old job, that will not help in making a good decision. What you must do is to identify the aspects of accounting (if you plan to make an accountancy career change). If you think that you have the qualities of an accountant and you feel that you can be creatively and commercially expanded, go ahead. Does the thought of math figures and numbers excite you?2. Suppose the reason why you want to leave your job is the low salary, an accountancy career can give you a high salary. You see, starting salaries of accountants is usually around $35,000 per year. It increases as years go by. But you must remember that you can enjoy these salary benefits if you finished a degree in accounting.3. Get to know people who are in the accounting industry. You can conduct some research to determine the necessary skills required, how business accounting works, and many more information.Changing a career to accountancy can alter your life forever. You have to come up with a responsible and conscious decision. Once you’re already in the accountancy profession, you have to work carefully and diligently.Keep yourself motivated because you will surely experience set-backs. If you can overcome these things, nothing vcan stop you in doing your job efficiently.

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Resume Format - Too Many Available! Which One To Choose??

One of the challenges that jobseekers have to face is resume writing
. There are a lot of resume formats available but you have to choose the right resume writing format for yourself. It is common in many office programs and word processors to have templates of resumes
. Although these templates are okay to use, they hardly ever give you the exact thing that you want, particularly if you have to move parts of the resume, and delete or add sections. The format itself, to tell you the truth, is really not much of a concern in resume writing. Provided that your resume is easy to understand, reader-friendly, arranged logically, and has a fine sense of balance (that is, the proportion of black text against a white background), then you don’t have to worry. Most people who will read your resume will be more concerned with the pertinent information written in it rather than its visual appeal. Resume readers would want your resume to have data prominently presented on the page in an easy-to-find manner, so don’t be distressed about which format looks more appealing.If you don’t have any idea where to start, it is a good idea to browse the Internet for samples of resume. Some sites even give free downloads of resume samples. This way, though you may not get the exact resume you want, at least, you will get a rough draft or a design in your head just what elements of a resume you would want to employ in your own format. Bear in mind these two things when writing your resume: (1) the sections should be similar and coordinate with each other; (2) there should not be any drastic or exaggerated modifications in style used between sections.There are quite a few problems that most resume writing format examples and templates share, as said by many resume writing experts. These problems include:• the use of fonts that are too fancy or are too small, sacrificing readability of the resume• too many additions such as underlines, bold and even italicized letters• employing a lot of different types of fontsThus, when using a resume writing format on a template, pay attention to the different fonts and styles applied. As much as possible, employ one to two font sizes and choose only one font type. Also, restrict the use of bold, underline or italics to emphasizing and organizing only; however, don’t use all three of them in the same resume. Employers can detect a bit of your personality based on the resume writing format that you choose. Therefore, choose the format you think will best reflect you. If you feel that a certain format is not you at all or if you do not feel comfortable using it, then search for more samples of formats until you find the one most suitable for you. Do not lose patience in searching because in the end you will feel satisfaction and contentment with the format you really want.

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Sunday, January 4, 2009

Career in Modelling

There is a distinct difference between the types of modelling required for a photo shoot than for the type needed for a catwalk show. Although it is likely you may be asked to do both kinds in your career, most models specialise in either one or the other, due to the specific requirements needed for each one. Most models are more suited to one than the other; so it is worthwhile to determine which one you are most suited to, and try and focus your efforts in applying for those types of jobs.To be a catwalk model it is imperative that you have long, sleek legs, an elegant neck, good posture, stance and gait, and that you are able to walk and pose well. Catwalk shows are nearly always used for modelling clothes, so therefore you must have an excellent figure for modelling clothes, and a perfect shape to fit the standard sizes produced, which tend to be very small. You must also be able to change clothes quickly during shows, and present a variety of different looks within a very short space of time. You will have many people working on you a once changing your look for various parts of the show, and the atmosphere backstage at a fashion show is always continually one of high pressure and intensity, so you have to be willing and able to work under these conditions. Fashion shows also require preparation and rehearsals, so you have to be willing to devote a lot of time and energy in being a catwalk modelPhoto shoots may be for modelling clothes as catwalk shows are, but they may also be for beauty products, hair products, makeup or many other commodities, and you must be adaptable and able to move between genres and present anything you are asked to model well. Although there is more time available for hair and makeup to develop a specific look, you must still be able to take a wide variety of looks, in order to give the client what they want. To be a photo shoot model it is imperative that you can create a wide range of facial movements and poses, that you can take focused direction from the photographer and apply it, and that you are able to promote the product appropriately. More attention will be paid to your face in photo shoots than in catwalk modelling, as your face will be in close-up on them. Therefore you must have excellent skin, facial symmetry, and grooming to be a photo-shoot model.Decide which of these traits you have more of through a critical analysis of your look and personality, and therefore which type of modelling you are best suited to, and focus on that type of modelling in particular. However, it is unquestionable that both types of modelling are tiring, stressful and demanding, but with the right determination, drive, and knowledge about which type of modelling you suit best, modelling can be a very interesting and rewarding career.

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First Man in Oval Office"Barack Obama",start of an new era

For over a year we watched and listened to Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama plead their cases to the American people and state why they would be best for President. It was believed that John McCain would win with no problems - but the people spoke otherwise. On November 4th Barack Obama won the Presidency by a landslide. Being in office Barack must now face the biggest challenge of his life. He must be able to rule a country that is slowly easing towards a depression and is in the middle of a war that will never seem to end. This requires him to be able to fulfill all of the promises that got him into this demanding position. The American people are now asking whether or not he will be able to take the soldiers out of Iraq and harms way? Or will he be able to steer us clear from a depression and into an economy that people cannot only afford - but can also enjoy to live in. He has four years to prove himself. Along with trying to keep the country well run and balanced out he most endure criticism from everyone. The fact that he is the first black President makes him an icon forever and someone that many people will look up to. But it also means that others will not like him. But this comes with the territory does it not? We see it with every President that takes office. When you are in such a high position of power you are required to do EVERYTHING by the book and with no problems whatsoever.. One small wrong move like not pronouncing a word right or wearing the wrong clothes will be ridiculed and splashed on every comedic television show and website. It seems petty but that is the world that we live in. The one thing that every American loves to hear are some good clean and also not so clean jokes concerning our soon to be President. Hundreds of Barack Obama jokes are already making their way across the Internet and let’s face it - they’re down right funny. They may not be true - but having a good laugh over him can be fun. But at the same time let us remember that he is our new President and does deserve some respect from us. After all he is the most powerful man in the country and he can control most things. Let’s try to keep him happy and we wish him good luck on the next four years!

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Get a Real Work From Home Business - Don't Settle For This Scam!

The home based business industry is a great place to be once you find a real work from home opportunity you can get behind and feel great about. Too many people out there are chasing the dream and the money instead of looking for a business model they can commit to long term.
Now I'm not saying that to have a real work from home business you have to be saving the planet or preventing hunger and disease in foreign countries (however, both are very noble endeavors) but you MUST be involved in something that you're passionate and excited about at the end of the day. If not, a singular money motivation will not sustain the long term success of even the best work from home opportunity.
Now on the other hand, if what you are passionate about will not result in a profitable business, that's another story altogether. This isn't to say that you have to bag the idea, but it does mean that it may be more of a hobby than a real work from home business. With the thousands of legitimate home business opportunities out there, you should easily find something that meets both criteria.
Bottom line, don't settle for the latest money making scheme as they usually don't pan out because the money motivation is never really enough to sustain you or the company long term. In my eight years of real work from home experience, you have to be in it for more than the money to see any serious success anyway.

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Discover 4 Methods to Grow Your High Ticket Marketing

Properly advertising your high ticket products online can be the best thing that you can do to earn fatter checks in no time. The idea here is very simple; expose your offerings to people who are most likely to buy from you, promote product awareness, make people feel that they need your product, and you'll surely get them to buy from you in no time.
Here's how you can grow your high ticket marketing:
1. Why people should buy from you? Put yourself in the shoes of your prospects and understand what they need to see or what they need to have in order to convince them to buy from you. Typically, people will only buy from trustworthy and credible person. Give these people a guarantee that they can trust you and that you'll deliver great, amazing products. Also, make them feel that you are the best in your field by highlighting the elements that set you apart from the rest.
2. Launch free short teleseminars. You can't simply convince people that you are good on what you do by just telling them that you are an expert. Let them see that for themselves by inviting them on your teleseminars. For best results, talk about topics that these people will find interesting and make sure that you deliver in-depth and complete information. Your goal here is to convince your participants that you are the best solutions to their problems so they will consider doing business with you.
3. Use lead generators. Sometimes, it can be quite challenging to get people to shell out thousands of dollars on your coaching programs or advanced seminars. It would help if you can launch a product funnel where you can offer these people inexpensive products so you can slowly build customer trust and later on, customer loyalty. Your goal here is make these people see that you only offer high quality, top-notch products so they will do business with you over and over again.
4. Be different. Too many people are now competing in getting the attention of limited buyers. If you want to set yourself apart from the rest and if you want to outplay your competitors, you must be able to offer something different that will excite your prospects. Think out the box and if needed, do some experiments to discover new ways on how you can supercharge your offerings.
By the way, are you a coach, consultant, entrepreneur, speaker, small business owner or online marketer who is tired of getting paid less than you are worth for your coaching and consulting?
What if you could learn how to package and sell your coaching packages for $4k, $8k, even $12k or $25k and enroll multiple clients per month at those prices?
To begin learning how you can sell your own coaching for between $4k and $25k per client, download my new recording:

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