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Articles in Home | Business & Finance | Business Management Sort By: Title|Newest|Oldest Restaurant Merchant Accounts  By : Shane Penrod Some eatery entrepreneurs enjoy the old fashioned style of cooking and serving customers themselves, while others are experimenting with the latest technological enhancements via restaurant merchant accounts. While it is always enjoyable to dine at a restaurant where the owner or manager employs a personal touch, there are times when a customer appreciates modern conveniences like a server’s use of a pager or paying by credit card that are unavailable at many old-fashioned es... Merchant Accounts For Restaurant Owners  By : Shane Penrod A merchant account for restaurant owners may be just the thing to help your business grow. If you have experimented with several marketing techniques and feel that you are ready to venture into e-commerce, this might be the venue you need to help your business really take off and start bringing in high-level profits. Many banks and financial institutions that offer Visa and MasterCard accounts can provide a merchant account for restaurant owners. After building a solid com... 5 Pillars To A Successful Home Business.  By : Joel Suarez - Hustle: Generally, people who make it big have one thing in common—they are dissatisfied with the status quo. They will not take what is “common” or “expected” and let that define their lives—they move past it and excel. You must work hard and hustle. - Character: Someone coined the phrase, “character is what you do in the dark.” In other words, when no one is looking, will you behave differently than if someone was looking? If not, then you have character. If you ... How To Cope With Your Home Business And Your Daily Tasks.  By : Joel Suarez If you’re hearing the song that Bachman-Turner-Overdrive made famous in the 60s, that’s exactly what I want! I’m not talking about “business” in a strictly financial sense, but “business” with the idea that whatever you’re shooting for success-wise, you complete your tasks. Once you have a course plotted for success, there are going to be a million things that will vie for your attention and time. It’s not that these things haven’t been there before now, and it’s not even ... Six Sigma Is About More Than Just Number Crunching  By : Peter Peterka Top executives who know only that Six Sigma is famous and popular have called for the implementation of Six Sigma programs, and, of course, want to see numbers. They may become very enamored with the copious numbers that Six Sigma produces. Unfortunately, they may not want to see more than just a series of reports and may not understand that Six Sigma is about so much more than crunching numbers and generating reports. Certainly, Six Sigma is about number crunching. In Six... The Difference Between Typical Project Management And Six Sigma Project Management  By : Peter Peterka The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK) became an accepted standard (as established by the Project Management Institute) that is still widely used in many industries around the world. At a basic level, many of the methodologies advocated by PMBoK and Six Sigma have a great deal in common. Both seek to establish a sound plan; identify and communicate with stakeholders; conduct regular reviews; and manage schedule, cost, and resources. Six Sigma is not just another ... Best Credit Card Processing Rates  By : Shane Penrod Everyone goes into business to make money, so why spend more of your profits on expensive transaction fees, Website maintenance, service agreements and high credit card processing rates? When you take time to shop for the best deals, you can save quite a bit of money that can be used to good purpose in other parts of your business. Start shopping for the best credit card processing rates and open a merchant account. You will first need to find a reputable bank or credit un... Do You Need Credit Card Processing Services?  By : Shane Penrod Are your customers asking for credit card processing services? If so, you may want to consider adding this service to your company’s Website in order to provide convenient payment methods that will bring back repeat business. Many companies today are moving more toward e-commerce, which means that if you want to avoid getting left behind, you should get ready to join the throng of professionals who are marching into the electronic age of doing business. Although you may ha... Customer Relationship Management  By : Richard D S Hill Changing consumer attitudes are driving Customer Relationship Management. Fuelled by Internet induced expectations and an even increasing mood of self reliance among customers, companies have to compete in an environment where communication, buying processes, data management, delivery and service are all-important in the battle for longterm, profitable relationships. Customers now require: - Control over the buying process (information, comparison, selection, easy to f... Data Mining And Modelling  By : Richard D S Hill The important processes that have to be clearly delineated for Data Mining, Analysis and Modelling are: Data model: what data will be available and how will it flow? Data gathering: how will data be gathered both in physical and technological terms? Data gathered: what data will be gathered? Data types: what types of data will be gathered? Data formatting: how will data be held? Data warehousing: where will data be held? Data mining: how will we retrieve data from th... Is Drug Screening Too Costly To Do Or Do Without? One Company Has The Answer!  By : Laura Betterly The director of telemarketing operations at a financial services company looks out across his 3600 square foot call center on a typical Monday morning. “Look at all those empty chairs”, he laments. “It is sickly Monday and my partiers are taking their usual unscheduled day long break”. The problem of the “three day weekend” or absenteeism in general doesn’t just affect the manager in this setting. What about the other 80% of the work force who showed up? They are now burdened... Free Credit Card Processing For Business Owners  By : Shane Penrod Would you like to upgrade your company’s operations by taking advantage of free credit card processing for business owners? There has never been a better time to locate banks offering this service and make the best possible deal for your interests. Financial institutions are eager to work with you in opening a merchant account, and they sometimes offer attractive incentives to get entrepreneurs’ business. If you like the idea of free credit card processing, start shopping at ... Wireless Merchant Account?  By : Shane Penrod A wireless merchant account can bring your business into the 21st century by enabling you to accept credit payments while on the go. All you have to do is get approved for a merchant account and then purchase or lease a wireless credit card processor that can be transported from one location to another by employees who collect credit payments from customers. Here’s how it works. 1. Apply for a wireless merchant account by finding a reputable merchant services provider to p... Outsourcing Your Packaging Is A Strategic Option  By : Thomas Bacon In a recent article in "Investors Business Daily", it was revealed that outsourcing has become more than just an easy way to cut costs. It has become a strategic tool that gives businesses flexibility and access to skilled personnel. Since the advent of the Internet, and the rush to get online, companies have turned to outside professionals for services and solutions. Hiring a full-time IT technician is costly and not an efficient use of resources. Outsourcing allows compa... Accept Credit Card In Your Business  By : Shane Penrod Should you accept credit card in your business transactions? Many small companies or home-based businesses avoid doing so because of their concern over fees and expenses that may drain away potential profits. Yet the actual cost of implementing credit card payment processing equipment, along with associated monthly and annual fees, may cost less than you think. The application process is easy, many banks are willing to work with small business owners, and exciting profits are... Work At Home And Make 6-Figures Per Year By Preparing For Success  By : Nick Bramble Time to hit the books! Just like a Doctor or Lawyer has to study to be successful in their field, a person looking to be successful in a home business must do the same. If you do not treat your business as exactly that, it will be hard to be very successful. The closer you get to being an expert in all realms of a home based business, the more success you will achieve. Remember... you are accountable for your business. Do not rely on others to do things for you. G... 5 Steps To Creating A 6-Figure While You Work At Home  By : Nick Bramble Creating a steady income from home can be a daunting process. Being successful from home can often take more work than your regular 9 to 5. But, if you learn to break things down and follow a simple forumla, your home business can give you all the income and time freedom that you are seeking in a work from home business. My successful business formula involves 5 steps. I follow these same five steps with every person I come into contact with. Having a system not only makes... Benefits Of I.D. Badges  By : Trevor Marshall Everyone knows that I.D. Badges are significant to the society. It is used to identify each person from his office, school, and country. But is this the only benefit the I.D. badges provide? In general, the I.D. badge serves as a function to identify the ID bearer as a person who is supposed to be in the building. The ID badge gives comfort to the people around him that he is significantly there for a reason. To establish that I.D. badges are truly essential in your daily ... How Do You Set Consulting Fees?  By : Stephen Pope One of the most frequent questions I receive from those who are trying to start or grow their own consulting business is: "How and what do you charge clients for your consulting services?" The ways of billing clients are numerous. There are hourly rates, by-the-job fixed rates, contingency or performance arrangements, flat fee plus expenses, daily fee plus expenses, and many other methods of charging for your consulting services. Which one is best? Let us consider some ... Top 7 Ways To Profit From Foreign Trade  By : Stephen Pope Here are seven excellent ways to earn income from international trade. 1. Importing: Retail store owners can find additional products to sell from foreign manufacturers, distributors, and other suppliers. You may even decide to go exclusively into the import business and become a wholesale distributor. 2. Exporting: Manufacturers can find new customers for their products in foreign countries. You could also become an Export Management Agent. Arrange for other domestic c... How To Choose A Flow Meter, Easily  By : Matthew Noel A flow meter is necessary for the task at hand. You know that. What you do not know is how to choose the right one for your task. But, there are some very good tools to help you decide. First of all, a flow meter is a device that is used to measure liquid or a gas in linear, nonlinear, mass or volumetric rates. Now, on to selecting the right flow meter for the task ahead! Here are some things to consider about your needs that will lead you to choosing the proper flow meter... Effective Data Conversion, Finding Quality  By : Matthew Noel If you have a need for effective data conversion, then it is absolutely necessary to find reliable and trustworthy services to help you with your need. There are several ways that you can go to get the needs you have filled. To find the right solution, though, you’ll need to consider the options that you have and determine the right budget and the right hands on approach you wish to take. Data conversion can be done successfully several ways. Depending on your specific nee... Contract Manufacturing: Choosing The Right Way To Go  By : Leon Chaddock Choosing the right company to handle your needs for contract manufacturing is the difference between doing well and doing less than well at your project. The good news is that there are some excellent quality companies out there that will serve your needs effectively from the start. Here are some things to think about when hiring contract manufacturing companies to assist you. • Consider how well they communicate with you. You have ideas, needs and plans that need to be ef... What Is A Data Center?  By : Leon Chaddock Why is it important to have a data center for that matter? A data center is a facility that will house a good amount of the electronic equipment (and information) that a business or group has and needs. There will be computers and communication elements in this area as well as a number of other vital components to keeping the business running smoothly. What is essential about a data center is security and maintenance. Companies may have more than one data center as well. M... Using Holidays To Put Some Extra Cheer In Your Cash Box  By : Meredith Pond No matter your age or station in life, we all look forward to holidays. They give us a reason to decorate, celebrate, and most of all, spend. Think back to any of last year's holidays. Did you buy some new decorations? Probably. Did you plan a party or host a dinner? Likely. Did you buy gifts or take advantage of special sales and promotions? Undoubtedly! Well, instead of being on the spending end of this year's holidays, why not turn the tables and put on a promotion o... Learn How Conference Calling Can Seal The Deal  By : Alan Jason Smith In today’s business environment, companies that excel embrace the global dynamics of an international market with conference calling. The international market opens doors in many countries for increased competition, increased business, and increased profit. The international market has affected foreign policy, and continues to be a key point to success for many companies across the board. Larger markets and target groups increase potential clients. These increases provide roo... Promotional Pens: Writing Your Edge In Business  By : Trevor Marshall Pens are used by almost everybody, from students, professionals, housewives, company executives and virtually in any type of job. Therefore making a promotional pen that contains the company logo, a product name, a company design and any marketing idea that a company wants the public to see is definitely effective. It reminds your customer of your company each time the pen is used. Promotional pens could be used as low-cost promo at the point of sale or as a better-quality pr... When It Pays To Use Incentive Programs  By : Trevor Marshall Non-cash incentive programs and fringe benefits can have a powerful influence on attitudes, which should in turn improve results. You can give employees the greatest incentive program, but by impairing a sense of ownership in the organization. If you don’t know what kind of incentive programs to employ so as to motivate your people to work and increase productivity, here are some tips that you can use: 1. Sharing the shares. Use share schemes as an incentive progr... Collocation Hosting: It Pays To Know  By : Leon Chaddock Collocation hosting is a relatively easy thing to find on the web. If this is the method that you plan to utilize for your business, it pays to take the time to compare companies as well as prices for several reasons. With more and more people turning to the web for help in locating their hosting solutions, there is little doubt that the right option is here. But, considering the cost of many collocation hosting services, you should invest some time in finding the right compa... Invoice Factoring – What Is It And What Are The Benefits?  By : Alan Jason Smith Are you a business owner who wants to increase monthly cash flow, working capitol, and improve your credit rating? Then invoice factoring could be right for you. Invoice factoring is the process by which businesses sell their invoices to a third party, called a “factor.” The factor buys the invoices for about 3 to 5 percent less than the invoice is actually worth. If your business produces any type of invoice, then your business can take advantage of invoice factoring. ... Ten Tips For Creating A Terrific Employee Appraisal System  By : Dick Grote Face the facts: Creating a new performance appraisal system is a difficult undertaking. It’s even more difficult if the organization doesn’t have a logical, well-tested, step-by-step process to follow in developing their new procedure. Based on my experience in helping dozens of companies create performance appraisal systems that actually work, here are ten tips that will help any company create a new performance evaluation system that will provide useful data and be enth... Business Classes: What Can They Do For You?  By : Noel Matthew Business classes are a great way to learn. Not only do they teach you how to run a business inside and out but they also help you to prepare for personal experiences as well. But, before we get into that, let’s discuss just what business classes are. You can take them as part of a college degree program or you can take them as individual classes to help you learn the things covered in the class. What you will find is that there are many choices to consider in business classes... A Guide To Performance Management  By : Trevor Marshall Nowadays, a great significance is being given to Performance Management, as companies incorporate them in their effective management strategies. However, a lot of people find this process a complicated one, mostly because of the many options that it offers – on the organization, a specific department/branch, a product or service, and on employees, among others. In order to minimize this confusion, the items below will give you a general idea of what Performance Management... The Art Of Employee Motivation  By : Trevor Marshall If you think that your employees’ poor performance on their designated jobs is costing you a whole lot of lost profits, then instead of just doing a total overhaul of your employee roster, why not try to do some employee motivation tactics to get them to actually come around and be able to save your company from looming bankruptcy. It really is fairly easy and simple to rouse some employee motivation, you just have to take these techniques to heart: People nowadays are co... Can An Employee Survey Help You?  By : Matthew Noel An employee survey can provide you with a good understanding of what is happening within your business when you are not there or what your employees think of working there. While any company can benefit from doing an employee survey, there are many reasons for those companies that have issues with such things as poor retention of employees and high turnover to those companies that have a low productivity level. Finding out what is happening behind the scenes will help you to ... Document Shredding: ‘Destroying’ The Things That You ‘Value’  By : Trevor Marshall What do the following industries have in common? Law enforcement Legal industries Government Banking Health care Financial service (brokerage) Entertainment Technology Manufacturing industries The answer: The above-mentioned industries regard information as a very important aspect of their operations. They are information-sensitive – they have a need to ensure that important and confidential data are secured and protected at all times. What data ar... Credit Card Machines  By : Alan Jason Smith Credit Cards Machines come in all shapes and styles. Credit card machines come in a variety of price ranges, offering enough choices that you can select exactly the model your business would thrive with. Credit card machines are a must for any business to succeed in today’s market. Credit card machines tap into the most popular form of payment for products and services: credit cards. Since the evolution of the atm card into a debit card, credit card machines have developed ma... Importance Of Technology Changes In Business Computing  By : John Maier The importance of keeping up with changes in business computing and technology can be more important over time as your business grows. As and an IT professional far too often I have seen many small businesses get way too far behind in computing technology and wonder why they should pay for the upgrades. Usually I have to explain to them the hard way that the current computers system that are over 4 years old are not going to perform the requested task very well and are not su... The Value Of Safety Videos  By : Leon Chaddock Safety videos can provide many excellent resources for you and for your employees. What are they and how can they help your organization? First, realize that safety videos are full of valuable information. They can teach and provide that information on just about any safety related topic quite simply. And more importantly, effectively. If you have problems with workmen's compensation or employees following state and local safety regulations, consider the purchase and installa... Search Engines - Buying Keywords - Inside Story  By : Bob Schwartz Buying Your Keywords to appear in Browser Address Search Bars – It seems like about two or three times per month we get a phone call that extol a 'sure-fire' way to drive key word directed traffic to your law firm's website. At first blush the pitch sounds very appealing: You can purchase keywords so that when someone types that specific keyword into their Internet browser they will be taken direct to your website. Like many such scams, it takes further investigation ... No Wonder It's So Hard To Make Money Online!  By : Frank Sousa At a recent Internet Conference that my sons and I were teaching, I was reminded about one of the most serious problems that we all face in Internet Marketing, and that is information overload What do I mean? Let's look at a typical day in the life of an Internet Marketer. 9am... you sit down to your computer, with the intent of writing a new website, because you just KNOW that this will be the most profitable project you ever built. But before you get into that, you'... Point Of Sale Products  By : Matthew Noel As a business owner your goal of selling to your customer can be enhanced by the point of sale products that you use. The point of sale is the area in which your customer comes to, in order to pay for his or her items. Whether this is on the web, at an ecommerce website or if it is in a retail location, the final look at what you have to offer is quite important to the customer. Point of sale products are in fact, likely to help you sell whatever it is that you need to if the... Inventory Control: Can You Afford Not To?  By : Matthew Noel Inventory control is the most basic form of protection that you should have in your retail establishment. If you have people come into your location, then you need to make sure they are not leaving with anything that they should not be. But, many business owners do not know the right way to handle inventory control. There are various methods that you can use and they all work well in their specialties. If you have had enough with shoplifting, employees stealing or other loss ... Do You Need An Answering Service?  By : Noel Matthew It is nothing short of annoying when a person does not have an answering service. Let’s face it. In this day and age, everyone should be able to manage at least an answering machine, right? When it comes to business transactions, it is even more important to have some sort of answering service available to your customers. Whether they are calling in with orders or calling in to answer questions, you need to have the proper tools for the job and that includes a well qualified ... The Value Of An Oracle Database  By : Sandy Baker There are some very large, very powerful companies out there that have saved quite a bit of money using an Oracle database. Will your company be one of those? Or, will you simply overlook this opportunity? In order to know if in fact an Oracle database will help you, perhaps you have to know a little more about it. Also, you need to realize the differences that are out there in various versions of the Oracle database. Gathering this information will help you make a sound deci... Computer Rental: Worth Your Money?  By : Sandy Baker Is computer rental worth the money? Depending on the type of computer that you have a need for as well as the expenses that you plan to save, computer rental may or may not be the right road for you to go down. One thing is quite certain. That is, there are a number of companies out there right now wanting to provide you with the computer rental that you are after. They offer a wide range of products and services. But, is it worth spending your money on these computer rentals... Finding Incorporation Help  By : Sandy Baker Incorporation help is at your top priority. There are a number of things that you can do to find the information about this situation. You could take the time to hire an attorney, pay the fees for him and the incorporation itself and then wait around until he takes care of it. Or, you can find the companies on the web that can help you handle it yourself. There are many opportunities for you to get the incorporation help that you need. Before you head off to find an expensive... Finding Offshore Services  By : Sandy Baker Many who are concerned about the safety of their assets have turned to offshore services as a way of helping them. If you are one of the many who worry that your assets could be sued by some frivolous lawsuit and you’ll end up losing everything, then the consideration of these offshore-services is something that you must look further into. The good news is that there is a wealth of information to be had that can help ease your fears considerably. There are various types o... Using SWOT Analysis To Improve Your Business  By : Analyzing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of a business is a well-established tool that is widely used by academics, consultants, and advisors. Although it is a simple concept, business owners often struggle when trying to use it because it is so broad. It is difficult to determine where to start, what questions to ask, and where to focus. The obvious problems get attention while many other important issues get overlooked. SWOT analysis is a great... New Generation Of Financial Information Systems Makes Crunching Numbers Faster And Easier  By : Jack Palone In what seems like only a few short years, fiscal selective information systems (FIS) have evolved from simple, back-office support systems into fully integrated solutions that can handle everything from payroll to accounts receivable and gross cycle management. But such increased functionality would not be possible without the ability to combine disparate databases into a single source of entropy that can be mined at multiple levels. The importance of data mining quickly... The Pygmalion Effect  By : Eric Garner There is a tale from Ancient Greece of how a prince turned a statue from ivory to life and married her. It is the story of Pygmalion. Remarkably, the principles of this story are relevant to modern techniques of leadership. Read this article to find out how. True Information Management: Far More Than Technical Automation Support  By : Johnny Bee Across the Regular army, the term Selective information Management connotes different substance. In a garrison environment, a unit or section selective information direction military officer is typically that computer smart individual responsible for keeping their respective automation assets properly configured and Entropy Assurance Vulnerability Alert compliant in accordance with Directorate of Info Management policy. In a tactical setting, specifically at division and high... Mergers And Acquisitions, What Are They?  By : Noel Matthew Mergers and acquisitions happen just about every business day of the year. You may not hear about many of them, mainly because they are low key companies. But, having the inside scoop on the latest and greatest mergers and acquisitions can help you to keep your head above water as well. What are these and why are they so important anyway? If you are not sure what mergers and acquisitions are, let's talk for a moment about that. In the simplest of terms, a merger is the co... Finding The Right People For The Job  By : Sintilia Miecevole If you are a manager, one of the most stressful aspects of your job is finding good people to fill available positions in your company. Whether you work in a small business or for a large corporation, hiring new personnel can be a hard process to manage. There are many things to consider when you are reviewing resumes and arranging interviews, but if you attention to some key factors, you will typically find a successful match for your needs. The first step toward finding ... Get The Best Credit Card Merchant Account  By : Dane Collins Looking for the best credit card merchant account? Admittedly, there are a plethora of lenders to choose from when you browse the Internet for merchant account services. But what are you really looking for? Do you want an enhanced business image? Increased public exposure? A larger client base? Additional sales and revenues? Then you’re on the right track! A merchant account can do all this and more when you work with the right company. Finding a quality lender to work wi... Naming Your Local Business  By : Marcia Yudkin Pothole Pictures: Normally this name wouldn't create a positive image for a movie theater. But in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, where glacial potholes in the Deerfield River running through the village are a cherished part of the landscape, the name works well. When naming a business whose geographical reach and clientele are mainly local, you can use nicknames, regional or city lore, local in-jokes and historical references that might be lost on outsiders. Subliminally... Find The Best Merchant Account  By : Dane Collins Do you know where to find the best merchant account? If so, you probably already have one. If not, maybe it’s time to find out. A merchant account can open the door to e-commerce and position your company for unprecedented growth. The chief benefit sought by many business owners is the ability to process credit card payments. Studies suggest that people who pay with plastic tend to shop often and spend more. You can take advantage of this trend with a merchant account from a ... Your Business Merchant Account  By : Dane Collins Do you have a business merchant account? If not, isn’t it time you got one? The companies you compete against for customer business may already have this special account that allows them to process customers’ credit payments. If you are not yet doing so, why not apply for a merchant account to help your business grow? A business merchant account is the best way to expand your company’s operations and conduct e-commerce without risking too much of an investment. Simply app... Get A Credit Card Merchant Account  By : Dane Collins A card merchant account can put your business on the road to financial success. If your company is not yet accepting credit card payments, you are missing out on the powerful potential of this income stream. Many business owners who started taking credit card payments claim that their income has doubled while overhead costs have diminished. When you become eligible to receive credit card payments, you are likely to experience an increase in sales volume and chase fewer dud ch... Compare Merchant Accounts  By : Shane Penrod “Compare Merchant Accounts” is one of the best pieces of information a company owner can receive. All merchant accounts are not created equal, and it will be up to you to find the best package for your particular enterprise. Here are a few tips to keep in mind. Compare Merchant Accounts for lenders. You need to find a reputable lender that will work with you to protect and grow your company interests. Someone who doesn’t care or who issues a merchant account solely to mak... Market Failures And Business Cycles (Part 1)  By : R Thotakura The following is the most comprehensive ever explanation to the most mysterious phenomenon of Capitalism – the Business Cycles. In order to ensure that the article can be read by any well educated reader, I have minimized the economics jargon and have added a short and simple introduction to the structure of the economy. Each and every one of us would be interested to know as to why we cannot have a paradise on earth. Why is it that we are often besieged by such painful downs... Networking Clubs And Their Relevance To Contract Cleaners  By : David Andrew Smith If you are a new business just starting out into the world of contract cleaning then your immediate aim is to gather as many new customers as you can and constantly grow the business. The initial stages are hard and it is difficult to gain those first few customers. How gain you gain a foothold in this highly competitive market? Many of the marketing strategies you might employ have been explained in previous articles. One area that was not explored in these articles was netw... What Is Lean Six Sigma  By : Peter Peterka Lean Six Sigma combines the quality improvements that come from using Six Sigma with the speed improvements that come from using Lean manufacturing principles . Six Sigma is a disciplined, data-driven approach and methodology for eliminating defects in any process -- from manufacturing to transactional and from product to service. Lean manufacturing focuses on improving the speed of a process and the elimination of waste primarily by eliminating non-value added steps. Lean Fl... Make Money Fast With No Investment-how Andrew Made $100,000 In 6 Months  By : Martin Thomas Andrew Newberry is a distant family friend that knew about my business acumen. He knew how I had been in his position only 24 months previously and had heard about the new life I was leading with the wealth I had generated. I could hear the earnest desperation in his voice, when he asked me "how'd you do it Jack"? His question was open and sincere. In my eye's he was at a point where there was only one direction for his life to go...up. Andrew needed to make money fast. H... Applying Lean Six Sigma To Service  By : Peter Peterka Although both Six Sigma and Lean Flow have their roots in manufacturing, it works just as effectively in service industries. Much of the U.S. economy is now based on services rather than manufacturing and many service organization managers are wondering how they can achieve the tremendous process improvement benefits of Lean Six Sigma to their service organization. Many service organizations have already begun to blend the higher quality of Six Sigma with the efficiency of Le... Six Sigma As A Way To Develop People  By : Peter Peterka One of the many benefits of Six Sigma is how it helps to develop people. The dual processes of Six Sigma training and Six Sigma projects cultivate excellence in not only product quality and financial savings but also in the knowledge, confidence, and quality of the people in your organization. People are, after all, your organizations' most valuable assets. To sustain and continuously improve, an organization needs to develop its people. Six Sigma helps to develop your people... The DMAIC Method in Six Sigma  By : Peter Peterka The Six Sigma DMAIC process methodology is a system that brings measurable and significant improvement to existing processes that are falling below specifications. The DMAIC methodology can be used when a product or process is in existence at your company but is not meeting customer specification or is otherwise not performing adequately. DMAIC is an acronym for five interconnected phases: * Define the project goals and deliverables for both internal and external custo... Mission: How Leaders Create The Greatest Version Of What You Can Be  By : Eric Garner Writing a mission statement for your business is often seen as a chore that managers have to do. Change your view of what a mission statement really is and it can become the most important thing you have to do. Let this article show you. Work At Home Moms Time Management Tips  By : "How do you DO it?!" If I had a dime for every time I heard that, I would be able to quit my home business. Just kidding. Seriously, time management is a serious issue for work from home Moms. You want your home business to be a success, but you don't want the rest of your responsibilities to fall by the wayside... especially your children, who are the reason you chose to work from home in the first place. While you're probably already doing some of the obvious thing... Scheduling Retail Employees  By : Scheduling my team has always been one of my least favorite tasks as a retail manager. It’s tedious, it takes hours and even when I think I have it right, I probably don’t. What makes scheduling a challenge is that you are balancing the demands of individuals on your team with the demands of your business. This can be a very time consuming and frustrating. Lets say you complete a schedule which took you 2 hours to create. You have carefully made sure everyone has at least... Exploding Six Sigma Myths  By : Peter Peterka Six Sigma doesn't improve the customer experience. It may seem that Six Sigma turns the focus away from the customer because it is driven by data. In so many companies, quality improvement is driven by the latest customer complaint, or some manager's latest issue. This may seem like you are being responsive to the customers, but such an ad hoc and scatter-shot approach is inefficient and ultimately doomed to failure. The question you need to ask is what data is presented to t... Countering The False Notion That Six Sigma Is Elitist  By : Peter Peterka Too often, when people think of Six Sigma and black belts they see them as having an elitist connotation. The opinion that Six Sigma is elitist or that black belts are elitist, however, are false. In its purest form Six Sigma is a “way of life” for an organization serious about process improvement. It just happens to have certain characteristics that people like to throw stones at. That some people have come to believe this false notion is because they have misinterpreted the... Does Your Customer Service Suck?  By : As a customer, I know what it's like to be on the customers side of the counter. You want to turn over your hard earned money for goods or services. You are then confronted with attitude, rudeness and utter disregard for just how hard you have worked for your dollar. Either the service is slow and the quality of the goods are poor, or worse the company you are patronizing rigidly enforces poor policies for handling customer issues. As a business owner I realize the cost of... Your Fast Merchant Account Is Waiting!  By : Shane Penrod A Fast Merchant Account is waiting to usher your business into the technology age! All you need to do is choose a lender that will work with your company and then enjoy the benefits of a fast merchant account. Here are some of the ways in which your company can advance with the help of a merchant services account: 1. A Fast Merchant Account will link you to a stable lender with the authority to help your company get set up to accept credit card payments. You will enjoy th... Obtain A Free Merchant Account  By : Shane Penrod You may have heard about the distinct advantages of offering credit-processing services to your clients, but do you know how to obtain a free merchant account? Many lenders request applicants to pay an online credit application fee that can run more than $100. Others waive this fee, but they then impose other types of costs, like an annual membership fee. Yet there are some lenders out there who offer a merchant account at no direct cost to business owners. While there will b... Change Management: Getting It Right  By : Matthew Noel Change management is something many companies may face throughout their existence. Whether something simple or a complete change, various things can be done to allow for a successful change. Management of the change effectively will allow for the best overall final product but it really just is not that simple. But, there are ways to get effective change management in such a way as to contribute to the betterment of the company. Change management is the management of chan... Crisis Management: The Most Basic Of Needs  By : Sandy Baker Crisis management is something that every individual needs to consider. Whether you are preparing yourself for a crisis situation or if you are responsible for a school full of children, it is necessary to be prepared. There are excellent resources to help you do this and it also helps to take a good look at your individual situation. There are many types of crisis management situations and we will discuss that here. Business Related Crisis Management: • Public relati... The 7 Basic Rules Of Proper Presentation Design  By : J. Douglas Jefferys Abstract: This article elucidates the rules of presentation visual design that, if heeded, will almost always assure that your audiences will be able to follow your ideas every step of the way. Of course, you must keep in mind that visual design is only one-third of the package required for a successful presentation, the other two being content and delivery. Like a fine dining experience that requires equal parts food, service and atmosphere to really work, the visual design ... The Procurement  By : Leon Chaddock There are several things that are important about procurement that you should consider. In a business standpoint, timing is virtually essential. If you are like many business owners, the best time is the time when prices will be low enough to handle. This can be quite difficult to call and even more so, it will be difficult to manage. But, when procurement is used effectively, your business truly can reach new heights. What should you consider in procurement? • You will w... Top 3 Tips For Buying Office Furniture  By : Roger Wembley The topic of office furniture is about as exciting as watching the grass grow to some people. Generally, these people see buying office furniture as a necessary evil which requires them to search through the numerous offering of different manufacturers to finally find that perfect piece that they’ve been looking for. While the topic of office chairs and other office furniture items might seem a little dull to the new shopper, there are plenty of ways to make it exciting. Yes.... Part 2 The Negotiation.  By : MIKE GAMBLE Dependant on how this part of the process is approached it can be a stress free or stressfull experience. All Media I've read on the subject recomend an adversarial role between you the customer and them the sales proffessional. The objective of course is to have a fair and equitable deal for all is it not? Some recomend that the customer should give nothing away ( in the way of information which may put them in a weak negotiating position ) In all successfull negotia... Writing A Business Plan What Makes A Good One  By : William Siebler Writing a business plan can be a lot of hard work or it can be great fun. An effective plan can help your company to greatness. A poor one can lead you out of business. No plan is like asking to fail before you even start. Not every business needs a 200 page bound business plan. However every business needs to have some idea of where they want to go and how they are going to get there. This article covers some key insights into writing a business plan that get your busine... Document Shredding And Document Security: Protecting Your Vital Information  By : Mahesh Natarajan Document security and document shredding have never been more important before and are bound to impact our lives in a way that we just can’t imagine. If you see a proliferation of caro document shredding or Davison document shredding, or even curtis document shredding, you are witnessing the new wave of privacy protection. Document shredding, document security and what they mean to us is symptomatic of the world we occupy. The times that we live in today are new, wonderfu... Employee And Coworkers Gifts  By : Giving gifts to your co-workers or your employees can be a tricky business. You want to give something that is they will really enjoy but doesn't break your piggy bank. You want to give something that suits the individual's tastes but doesn't suggest anything politically. We have some suggestions that for the most part can be given to either sex and to anyone of almost any age which we think will help you in your gift giving search. - Everyone uses a memo pad even if the ... Benefits Of Coupons  By : James Brown Coupon clipping is one of the most commonly used forms of saving money. From clipping coupons out of the local newspaper to getting coupons from your favorite retailer as a reward for being a customer, the benefits of coupons can apply to anybody. And while clipping and saving coupons for your next shopping excursion can be time consuming, the benefit of saving money is a positive aspect for any consumer. Many stores offer coupons on their most popular items as a way to d... When Your Product Makes People Feel Great, You Make Money!  By : Monique George We've all heard about the importance of offering a product or service that is a good value. The better the value, the more sales you will make and the more money you will earn. Sometimes good value can be based on a low price, or finding an otherwise hard-to-find product or service. Good value can have more to do with customer service or service after the sale. But how about this one: the best value comes from a product or service that makes you FEEL good. Think about i... 10 Effective Ways To Reduce Your Business Costs  By : William Nabaza of http://www.nabaza.com/ 10 Effective Ways To Reduce Your Business Costs Accounting Principles & Standards: Avoid Them At Your Peril  By : John Day Accounting principles are the basic assumptions, rules of operation, and essential characteristics that make up the framework for the construction of accounting financial statements. Long ago, I was perplexed to discover that there was no “set” of accounting principles that was presented in one form such as you might find in the Bill of Rights. This is not to say that the principles are incomplete or vague, it only means that the definitions of accounting principles can b... CPAs vs. Non-Certified Accountants - Clearing Up The Confusion  By : John Day I wish I had a nickel for every time someone asked me what the difference is between CPAs and non-certified accountants. Essentially, non-certified accountants can simply hang up their shingle and open their doors for business. There are no educational requirements. If they want to prepare taxes, most states require a certain number of qualified hours of study plus continuing education hours each year. By contrast, CPAs have usually majored in accounting in college; sat f... Accounting Professionals: Are The Necessary?  By : John Day Does your business needs an outside accountant? It all depends. If you require an audited or reviewed financial statement, then, yes, you need a CPA. In any event, it is always a good idea to maintain a relationship with an accountant no matter how small your business. Whether your accountant is a CPA is up to you. The real question is: To what extent do you need outside accounting services? That also depends on you and the nature of your business. I always start with... Accounting Police: Do They Exist?  By : John Day Who created accounting principles? Who sets and revises accounting standards? What if you don’t follow all the rules, do you go to jail? Is there an accounting police force that investigates and arrests violators? It would seem that there must be some regulatory force to make sure that providers of financial statements conform to the rules. There is, up to a point, and here is how it works: Mainly, it’s all voluntary and it works pretty well. First, double-entry accountin... Buying Into Japanese And German Exporters  By : With the euro down nearly 15% this year and at a two-year low against the U.S. dollar, the world’s largest exporting nation is worth a good look. So is another country that has thriving exports in spite of a stronger currency. We’re talking about Japan and Germany, respectively, the world’s second- and third-largest economies. The top lines at leading German industrial companies are rolling in with impressive numbers for an almost zero-growth economy. Quarterly sales at S... Mix Business with Pleasure? There's a Safe Way  By : Charles Burke Want to drastically cut the workload in your business, reduce the emotional drain to nearly nothing, and inject more pleasure into your work day? Here's a secret -- check your client list. Troublesome clients will -- if you let them -- account for a disproportionately large part of your workload and emotional strain. How I Lost The Secret Of Dazzling Success For 20 Years  By : Charles Burke When I started a new job selling door-to-door, it seemed like heaven. I was ecstatic from the first minute of the first day. Every house I walked up to, my heart sang and I said over and over to myself, "I am SO-O-O-O-O-O glad to be out here and not trapped in that cubical." Then, after a few weeks, something quietly changed. How To Hire Like The Fortune 500's: A Guide For Small Businesses  By : Robert Burko A recent iLogos Research study revealed 94% of Fortune 500 companies now hire employees online, a stark contrast from 1998, when only 29% of them were doing the same. If you own or manage a small business, that means the vast majority of your fiercest competitors are now spending less time and less effort on recruitment. And that leaves them with more time to, simply put, get a leg up on you. Sure, it sounds like a threat. But isn’t lack of technology an inevitable drawbac... Characteristics Of A Successful Entrepreneur  By : Sintilia Miecevole Studies have shown that successful entrepreneurs possess these characteristics: 1. Self-confidence This is that magical power of having confidence in oneself and in one's powers and abilities. 2. Achievement Oriented Results are gained by focused and sustained effort. They concentrate on achieving a specific goal, not just accomplishing a string of unrelated tasks. 3. Risk Taker They realize that there is a chance of loss inherent in achieving their go... Are You Correctly Located And Faced For Prosperity?  By : Henry Fong The title of this article may sound a little strange. What did I mean by located and faced for prosperity? I must warn that this is not a typical business article. It has nothing to do with marketing, sales, productivity or even the internet. It is about a branch of Chinese Metaphysics called Feng Shui. Feng Shui, which literally means "Wind Water", is an ancient meta physical science that studies how our surroundings can support us positively or negatively in our pursu... Handling Statistical Variation In Six Sigma  By : Peter Peterka Six-Sigma provides a methodical, disciplined, quantitative approach to continuous process improvement. Through applying statistical thinking, Six Sigma uncovers the nature of business variation and its affect on waste, operating cost, cycle time, profitability, and customer satisfaction. The term “six sigma” is defined as a statistical measure of quality, specifically, a level of 3.4 defects per million or 99.99966% high-quality. To put into practice the Six Sigma manageme... The Forklift And How It Can Make Your Life Easier  By : Dave Robinson The forklift is a machine that will power you beyond what you can physically do. It offers an ability to lift, to move, and to utilize better the materials that are necessary. Many of the factories, landscaping outfits as well as warehouses of all sorts use these powerful machines to move stuff from one place to another easily. Anyone in the business of selling products most likely will need a forklift of some sort to help them. But, let’s take a closer look at what these mac... A Clothes Encounter In The Business World  By : Lydia Ramsey Follow these professional business attire tips for both men and women because we are judged by the way we dress. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]	Authors Sign Up for a free account. Submit your articles. Publishers Category RSS feeds. Resources Downloadable Audio Books Recommended Resources

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