The Traffic Header

Did you know that, in Australia, 60% of small businesses fail in the first twelve months? For those of us who would like to start a small business — maybe even work from home — that’s a very discouraging statistic.

Does that mean that your business idea is doomed to failure? Far from it! There are steps you can take that greatly increase your chances of success. With a little time and some serious research you can hit the ground running. Let’s start from the beginning…

The bright idea

First, of course, you need to come up with an idea. Typically, business opportunities can be divided into four groups:

1. Offering an existing product/service in an existing market.
2. Introducing an existing product/service to a new market.
3. Offering a new product/service in an existing market
4. Introducing a new product/service to a new market.

At this stage of the game the only limit is your imagination. Inspiration can come from anywhere — maybe you have a hobby that you’d like to turn into a full-time job; you may be on the receiving end of bad service one day and decide to try doing it better yourself; or you may have a talent that you’d like to capitalise on.

Once you’ve come across something that you’d like to do, it’s time to take a look at the market and see what’s on offer.

Passing the test

So you’ve had a great idea and you’re keen to roll with it; now it’s time to put it through its paces. For the purpose of the exercise, let’s say that you have a passion for healthy living, and that you want to distribute a range of lifestyle accessories that promote healthy living with a do-it-yourself approach.

Ask around: Is there a market for products that promote healthy living? What sorts of products are available? Who would you be competing with and what do your competitors offer? Do you have the necessary skills to run such a business and — more to the point — what would those skills be? Where would your business be located?

Once you’ve answered those questions you should have a fairly clear picture of what your business will look like.

You source some products and decide to do some further research into the range of lifestyle products offered by a company called Vitality 4 Life. Your own life experience plus some work you’ve done as a dietician has given you the necessary skill sets, and you think that you’ll be able to work from home, giving you more time for family. There is an existing market, but there’s room for expansion. Now it’s time to take a closer look.

To be or not to be?

It’s time to get down to the nuts and bolts. You don’t want to jump into something feet first and find out the hard way that the budget just doesn’t work.

To get started, sit down and work out if you need to hire staff, which means paying wages.

If you lease a premises you’ll need to be able to pay the rent, and your location will have to be suitable for your business and target market (which also means that you’ll have to think carefully about just what that target market is). You’ll also need to work out the likely demand for your product/service.

Ok… you’ve worked out that there is enough demand for good quality juicers, sprouters, water filters and other high end accessories to take a shot at a distributorship as a home-based business opportunity. Now you need to make some marketing decisions.

Look at me! Look at me!

Advertising can be costly so you’ll want to be sure that your advertising budget is spent wisely. That means more market research, this time one-on-one. Profile your customer groups so you can aim your marketing at the right group/s of people.

Draw up a questionnaire (a short questionnaire — people run out patience if you ramble for too long) and hang around outside a few of the local gyms (for our particular example). Come up with a mixture of open questions (What do you think of……..?) and closed questions (Do you have a gym membership? Yes/No.); sliding scales can be useful too.

For our health accessories business, a good question might be ‘How did you hear about this gym? Radio, tv, newspaper, word of mouth etc…’ Such a question would then give you an indication of the types of media that your target group responds best to.

Choose a business name, print up some business cards, buy some stock and get ready to trade!

Measure it, manage it!

A teacher of mine made the point that, in business, if you can’t measure it you can’t manage it.

You need to be able to plan ahead, and to do that you need to know — or to be able to accurately predict — your total sales. The equation is simple: number of customers x average sale x frequency of visits per customer per year = total sales. Remember it, revise it often, measure your business and you’ll be able to manage it!

Keep an eye on your bottom line and, most importantly, always be aware of your cash flow — the cold, hard cash that you have in the bank. Allow for invoice periods (14 days, 30 days etc) when you’re planning your budget.

The market place has a life of its own, and no one can prepare for every contingency. Put some thought into your idea; make sure that there’s a market for what you’re offering; research, research, research; promote your business effectively; always know what’s going on in your bank account and don’t forget about cash flow!

It’s not perfect but, if you follow these few simple steps, you’ll be miles ahead of many new small business ventures. If you’ve heard of a great home-based business opportunity, or have a product or service of your own to market, you’ll at least know where to start!

Resources

For a serious home-based business opportunity take a look at the excellent products and great profit margins on offer at Vitality 4 Life: http://www.vitality4lifeshop.com.au/small-business.php.

Written by Sara Schell
spellcast_advertising@yahoo.com.au.

Sara Schell is a free-lance writer and owns and operates Spellcast Advertising, based in Australia. Sara has been writing professionally for 5 years and thinks that life can’t get much better when you do what you love. Services available: copywriting, ghostwriting, creative writing of all sorts, radio scripts, newsletters, SEO optimised website copy and anything else with words :-).

Strong, positive teamwork is defined by a leader who has a vision and the ability to inspire his or her team to work toward the realization of that vision.

The leader is not threatened in the least by the expertise and diversity of his or her team. Rather, a good team leader engages his or her teammates in a discussion about what quality looks like, what is needed to perform and complete the job, and empowers the team members to always strive for quality improvement.

Let’s break all that down into its component parts. The first is a clearly defined leader. I believe every team must have a leader. There must be someone who is in charge and makes the ultimate decisions.

Team members may take turns being the leader as long as everyone is clear who the leader is on any given day. Another variation of that theme is to have certain people be the leader for projects that are in their area of expertise. However, in every event, there can be no question among teammates who is the leader for that day or project.

The leader needs to have a vision. This is similar to Covey’s second habit, “Begin with the end in mind.” A true leader creates the end product twice—once mentality and then in its actual form. It is impossible to lead toward a fuzzy vision. People are simply not inspired to follow uncertainty.

Having the vision is not enough to inspire teammates to strive toward the same goal. A good team leader knows how to help each teammate see how the end product or service will be useful and what, exactly, their individual contribution is toward that end.

How does the janitor contribute to fans’ enjoyment at a professional baseball game? By providing a clean, neat bathroom experience—that’s how. If the janitor sees himself as a critical cog in the big picture goal and he receives positive recognition for it, then he is more likely to perform his job with enthusiasm.

Another component of being able to inspire one’s teammates is having a clearly defined mission that everyone, preferably, has had a part in developing, but if not, then at least team members can agree to the previously established team mission.

This becomes important in times of conflict between team members. When there is a dispute to be solved, it is helpful to have an already established way to measure the solution. Solutions are always held up against the mission and whether or not it will move the team closer or further from the ultimate goal.

The other advantage of having a mission that has been agreed upon by all team members is that it can enhance cooperation. One of the most difficult things to manage on a team is an individual ego. There can be petty jealousies and a competitive spirit that can kill the cooperation of the best team. The mission statement is a way to minimize this potential for disaster.

The mission remains the focus that everything else is compared to. An individual’s action is either helpful or hurtful to the mission and dealt with accordingly. The group’s goal must always be placed above any individual’s desires or ego. Jealousy and backstabbing have no useful place on a team.

A good leader is in no way threatened by the expertise and diversity of his or her team. The best leaders are always seeking information from the front line people who are doing the actual work. Without information from team members, the leader’s hands are tied behind his or her back.

It is also critical to use team members in their areas of expertise. Leaders can’t know everything about everything. There will be team members who have skills and abilities that surpass those of the leader in certain areas. A good leader will ask for help when it is prudent.

This is also a time to value diversity. Having a team made up of people who all do the same jobs in pretty much the same way really has no value. One person could more easily do the job than assembling a homogenous team.

The value of a team comes from its heterogeneity. Getting feedback and suggestions from people who do things differently is what will spark the creativity and the genius of the team. This is what masterminding is all about. Tap into the wealth that is already there.

Finally, a good leader holds the bar high. He or she does not ask his team to be average or mediocre. Average and mediocre can be easily replaced. The leader asks his or her team to collectively do their very best and when they are done, the leader asks them to always strive for continuous improvement. The work is never done. The team should always be evaluating what has been implemented and be comfortable making suggestions for ways to do it even better.

Previously, I mentioned that a good leader empowers his or her teammates. Creating a need-satisfying environment does this. Team members must get along and know that the leader and the company have their best interests at heart. They must feel important, listened to and respected. They must have the freedom to make choices within the context of their assignments and they must have some fun in their work.

It is also critical for team members to feel safe. This means that they are not fearful in any way. The team leader is critical in fostering this environment for the empowerment of the entire team.

Kim Olver has an undergraduate degree in psychology, a graduate degree in counseling, is a National Certified Counselor and is a licensed professional counselor. Since 1987, Kim has extensively studied the work of Dr. William Glasser’s Choice Theory, Reality Therapy and Lead Management. She was certified in Reality Therapy in 1992 and continued her studies to become a certified instructor for the William Glasser Institute. She is an expert at empowering people to navigate the sometimes difficult course of life—teaching them how to get the most out of the circumstances life provides them. Her website, Coaching for Excellence, offers free chats, assessments, a blog and an eZine, as well as workshops, teleclasses, e-courses, counseling, and coaching.

Hotels in India have an infinite variety that you can hardly fathom. Much like the diversity of its national culture, the hospitality industry in India too has different ways of treating different guests coming from different parts of India as well as from all over the world. Hotels in India have understood that the only way to survive in the rat-race is by providing anything and everything that a customer asks for. The hospitality industry has taken up the arduous task of providing guests with an unprecedented level of comfort. Be it hotels in Mumbai or hotels in Delhi, the wish of the guest is their order. People stay in hotels for various reasons and the hotels are trying to identify the exact requirement of the guest in order to provide customized service.

The economic growth of India has had an impact on the hospitality industry too. Traveling is now no more limited to leisure tourism only. People travel extensively for the sake of business and the hotels are cashing in on it. Today, the utility of a hotel is not just limited to being a place for relaxation, it is also used as a place of meeting. No wonder, hotels across India are furnishing themselves with meeting facilities. Hotels in Pune and Mumbai, the economic nerve center of India, are making sure that the guests on business tours get the best of facilities and are not troubled by petty matters. To help them focus on the business, the hotels are going all out to make them as comfortable as possible. Food too is not a problem. Whatever your food-habits are, vegetarian or non-vegetarian, hotels throughout India will serve you according to your choice of food.

Making hotel reservation in India is not at all a difficult proposition or a cause of concern. Most hotels now-a-days have the facility of online hotel booking. With the click of a mouse you can reserve a room in luxury hotels across India. If you are on a tour and are on the look out for unadulterated luxury, there are many hotels in India from which you can pick and choose.

Eco-tourism is gaining momentum and hotels are upgrading their facilities so that people who come to enjoy nature do not end up confined in a jungle of brick and concrete. Various hotels and resorts in India are offering package tours and safari tours to the guests. Hotels located near reserved forests and sanctuaries are especially benefited by the prospect of eco-tourism. Indian hotels are offering facilities that match international standard. Know more about some of the finest hotels from across India from http://www.desiya.com

In the modern society, a small accident can result in protracted and potentially money- sapping lawsuits. General liability insurance, therefore, becomes a necessity for most companies. General liability insurance protects a company’s assets when it is facing a lawsuit for damages it may or may not have inflicted upon a person though injury or property damage.

General liability insurance can be bought independently or as part of a BOP (Business Owners Policy). A Business Owners Policy packs liability and property insurance into a single policy. The liability insurance coverage limits, however, are usually quite low. Businesses needing a greater coverage usually buy liability insurance as an independent policy.

In a general liability insurance policy, legal costs of a business in a covered liability lawsuit have to be paid by the insurer. Covered liability claims include property damage, bodily injury, personal injury and damages from false advertising, also called advertising injury. Insurance companies also cover general and compensatory damages. However, liability insurance policies do not cover punitive damages, as they are deemed punishment for deliberate actions.

General liability insurance policies always declare a maximum amount that insurers have to give during the policy period. Under the policy, there is also a maximum amount that the insurer has to pay per occurrence. For example, if a company has a $1.5 million occurrence cap and loses a lawsuit of $2 million; the insurance company is obligated to pay just the $1.5 million; the rest has to be paid by the business company.

As a cover against these types of circumstances, companies buy umbrella liability insurance, which comes into the picture where general liability coverage stops. It covers payments that go beyond the company’s policy’s limits and gives extra protection for liabilities not covered in the standard insurance policy.

Generally, there is a requirement for the policyholders to report to the insurance company as soon as an accident that can lead to a liability claim has taken place. The business owner will then have to help in the investigations, forward legal notices, etc.

Liability Insurance provides detailed information on Liability Insurance, General Liability Insurance, Professional Liability Insurance, Pollution Liability Insurance and more. Liability Insurance is affiliated with Short Term Disability Insurance.

A long-distance haul means different things to different drivers. For me on one recent journey, it was a 400-plus mile trek from Redondo Beach, Calif. (South of Los Angeles) to Sacramento.

It was a seven-hour day in the car. The trip included the long climb over the infamous Grapevine in Southern California and plenty of flat and high-speed miles along Interstate 5.

The 2006 Nissan Pathfinder was my transportation and the mid-sized SUV, now on the market for two decades, performed well. My test vehicle was the four-wheel drive LE model (with navigation system), the most expensive of the four available models.

Several top manufacturers’ current SUV models are seemingly interchangeable, and that includes Pathfinder and its top competitors, the Ford Explorer, Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot.

I drove my test vehicle nearly 700 miles, including the climb on the steady grade that connects Southern California to the mid-state agricultural valley. And although I never engaged the four-wheel drive feature or carried a heavy load, those are two attributes that distinguish the Pathfinder from rivals.

In addition to mega-interstate miles, I nimbly maneuvered the vehicle through city streets. Parking lots, narrow driveways and U-turns in tight quarters were all handled easily. The vehicle never felt cumbersome. The LE is the only member of the fleet with full-time all-wheel drive, and it can be left engaged on dry pavement. The Pathfinder also has a 6,000-pound towing capacity.

Each of the four Pathfinder models includes a 4.0-liter, 270-horsepower V6. During my trek, the vehicle advanced adequately even while ascending the most difficult climbs. But it did take a heavy throttle to get the job done, and that didn’t do much for the one major downfall of most SUVs — lousy gas mileage.

The Pathfinder is rated at 16 mpg (city) and 23 mpg (highway), but I averaged just under 20 mpg on my trip. Nissan recommends premium fuel, further adding to the not-so-thrifty costs.

The Pathfinder was redesigned in 2005, and both the interior and exterior changes were nicely accomplished, including added width, height and length. The interior has well-placed, cleanly designed gauges and the console and instrument panel are handsome and smartly positioned.

Unlike other SUVs, the Pathfinder has a standard third-row seat. Without removing headrests, the rear row folds level, and the folding front-passenger seatback further builds the cargo room to 79.2 cubic feet. That’s among the best in the class.

The Pathfinder LE model has standard 17-inch wheels; other models have 16-inch wheels. The LE also features standard front-side and side curtain airbags (they’re optional on other models).

Regardless of model, the Pathfinder’s standard equipment list is impressive. It ranges from illuminated visor mirrors to the AM/FM radio with in-dash, six-disc CD/MP3 changer and heated power mirrors and sunroof to a memory system for the driver seat, mirror and pedals.

My test vehicle also included five option packages ranging from the navigation and rear-seat entertainment system to leather and heated front seats. The various options added nearly $8,000 to the vehicle’s base price.

The result is a finely equipped SUV that can certainly ease the ordeal of a 400-mile drive and also provide an equally enjoyable ride around town.

The Weekly Driver: 2006 Nissan Pathfinder

Safety features — Dual front airbags (standard); front and side curtain airbags.

Fuel Mileage (estimates) — 16 mpg (city), 23 mpg (highway).

Warranty — Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; Powertrain, 5 years/60,000 miles, Corrosion, 5 years/unlimited mileage; (24-hour) roadside assistance program, 3 years/36,000 miles.

Base price — $35,550.

China is often left out of discussions of early civilization which is a mistake since it was one of the first. If you are taking a trip to China, here is some background information your should know.

An Overview of China for Travelers

The official name of the country is the People’s Republic of China. China covers a land mass of over 3.7 million square miles, making it a large country indeed. The capital is Beijing. Other major cities include Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenyang, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Harbin, and Chengdu.

With such a massive land area, you can image that there is a wide variety of terrain in the country. Generally, one can find plains, deltas and hills in the east, while mountains, high plateaus and a vast desert exists in the west. The climate ranges from tropical in the far south to arctic cold in the far north on the border with Siberia, Russia.

The people of China are known as Chinese. The most recent population study put the total number of Chinese at over 1.3 billion people, more than four times as many people as found in the United States. Population growth, however, has slowed to roughly half a percent annually. The reason for the slow down is very controversial. Concerned about economic strain caused by population growth, China has implemented a policy of allowing for only one child per family with some minor exceptions. Enforcement of this policy is supposedly done through fines, but forced abortions are known to occur despite government policy opposing them. The government hopes to stabilize the population at no more than 1.6 billion people through 2050. The current infant mortality rate is an astonishingly high 25.5 per 1,000 births.

Ethnicity in China is a hodgepodge issue given its vast size and long history. Han Chinese is the dominant group, consisting of over 91 percent of the population. This is a very loose group, however, as evidenced by various dialects of language in the country. There are seven major Chinese dialects and literally hundreds of localized dialects. Mandarin is the dominant dialect, spoken by over 70 percent of the population in one form or another. That being said, only 60 percent of the Han Chinese can speak it with the remaining 40 percent speaking other dialects. In addition to Mandarin, languages spoken widely included Turkic, Korean, Uygur, Tibetan and Mongolian. It is often said that people in one part of China can’t communicate with people on the opposite side.

From a religious perspective, China is officially atheist. That being said, it takes a lax view towards faiths that work with the government. Buddhism is the largest faith with over 100 million practitioners. Taoism is the second most popular. There is a smattering of Muslim and Christian believers, but nothing significant.

As this overview demonstrates, China is huge and unique. This makes it a great travel destination.

Richard Monk is with FactsMonk.com - a site with facts about everything. Visit us to read more about country facts and facts about China.

Hampton Court Palace is sited to the south west of London, on the banks of the River Thames, enclosed by park and awe-inspiring private gardens. Hampton Court Palace, King Henry 8ths brilliant riverbank dwelling is set in well over six hundred acres of woodland & grounds. Enjoy England has many great places to visit. Hampton Court Palace is no exception.

Inflaming the feeling of more than 450 years of legacy, uniformed artists can be witnessed throughout Henry eights & King William 3rds outstanding State accommodations. The scenes, noise & aromas of the incredible Tudor kitchens where royal occasions were setup for Henry?s courtyard of over 1000 guests can also be viewed.

Hampton Court Palace has been separated into six separate routes or tours. The Maze at Hampton Court Palace that is built on the River Thames to the west of the City is in all probability the most prominent hedge maze in the world.

Hampton Court palace has a horrific history and is supposed to be run by lots of phantoms, including two of Henry eight’s dead wives and a nurse to his family. Hampton Court Palace custodians & employees will be close by to show people to their designated state residence for a wine & canap?s gathering. Uniformed staff will announce supper and guests will be invited to locate their places for an extraordinary 2 course meal with the best fine red and white wines.

Hampton Court Palace has 60 acres of state grounds on-top-of the five hundred acres of royal plants. The royal private gardens date back to the 16th Century, when the first Privy Garden was put down between fifteen thirty and fifteen thirty eight for King Henry VIII.

Foreign Currency Direct is the United Kingdoms best independent foreign currency negotiators, Foreign Currency Direct have been round from the year 2000 FCD are nowadays experts in the field & have a terrific team of helpers who can be found set up and waiting to support you yourself with almost anything one might often require.

They offer one off overseas payment, so if people need to send a lump sum to an offshore bank account. www.currencies.co.uk will supply customers with a specialist account manager to handle all of the stages of the current transaction. Saving up to 0.04 if compared to typical prices sold by high street banks can often make one’s transaction noticeably better value as well as hassle free. Foreign Currency Direct additionally sell spot contracts targeted at settlement within 2 working days and immediate transfer to the bank account you require, or maybe forward contracts to select a currency exchange rate aimed at the future, for instance, when a property completion are timed for quite a few months time, by using a forward contract you could know how much pounds you yourself can need for a future requirement for a different countries currency.

The company additionally specialise in timed overseas payments, if you yourself possess a EUR mortgage found in France, Spain or Portugal there timely payment plan is a marvellous means to cut back the new monthly £ cost. www.currencies.co.uk sell free payments for transfers and it includes 0 bank charges for transfers in excess of 300 GBP. Lastly currencies.co.uk have knowledge in bringing a different countries money back to the United Kingdom, should your selling your overseas places and require to send a different countries money back home to the UK in great British pounds, then maybe currencies.co.uk will probably serve you. People should utilise a accomplished account managers who will often share their capable knowledge with folk and serve customers conduct every one of your necessary arrangements. Foreign Currency Direct offer currency exchange rates that beat high street store rates, they have dealers working around the clock to secure the best rates.

A Toad in Trouble

Recently, I was deeply stirred by the healing power of acceptance and love after hearing a dear friend’s story about his five year old son. While the young boy was shopping with his mother he created some trouble in the store, resulting in a scolding from the store clerk and his mother. With childhood wonder, innocence and regret the wee lad explained to his parents, it was the “toad” who got carried away in the store, not he. The toad indeed, was very sorry.

From then on, each time “bad” behaviour erupted, my friend and his wife used the toad metaphor to help their five year old identify inappropriate behaviour. This occurred a time or two until one afternoon at home the young boy had a huge upset with his mom, ending with him spouting mean words. Both mother and father, heated and frustrated, again chastised their young son, “The toad is misbehaving again. We don’t want to see the toad now.” The episode ended with the strained mother departing alone for what had been a much anticipated shopping trip. The loss of the shopping outing and the painful family upset left the little lad wholly distraught. My dear friend, being a wise and caring soul tried to comfort his boy but to no avail.

A Bell Rings in the Soul

Then, as my friend described it, it was as though a bell rang in his soul. I knew well what he meant. During pivotal times with my own son this bell had rung in my soul awakening me to the significance of the moment. In that heightened awareness habitual response is suspended. In a flash of clarity my friend understood the “toad” was hurting so he invited the toad to come near and talk.

“The toad can’t come see you now,” came the unhappy response. “The toad is hiding behind the corner but the nice puppy or the electrician will play with you.” As with all children this age the boy loved pretending to be animals or “workers.” Listening to the little boy’s words with the keen ears of the soul, my friend then spoke deeply from his heart. “Oh! Poor little toad! That poor little toad must be so lonely, hiding by himself and unable to come out.” The sweet little boy burst into tears and rushed into his daddy’s arms. Together they wept as my friend softly reassured the small boy, “Oh, little Toad, I am so sorry we told you to go away. You’re a good little toad - sometimes you just get a little carried away but we love you and never meant to push you away.” Drying his tears the young son revealed, “Dad - that toad is clever too.” Great healing filled their hearts.

Kiss the Toad; Find Love

What a gift for us all! Our toad to be loved! Within each of us dwells a lonely toad filled with fear and hurt. When our fear and pain croaks to us we have been trained to squash it - to be rid of this dark side. “Enough! Stop that! Buck up! Suck it up! Shut-up! Get over it! What is wrong with you? Grow up…” Just as this would further damage that sweet little boy - we hurt ourselves by despising the toad.

As in the sage teachings of fairytales we see it is in kissing the toad (frog) that we transform all that we first reviled, into the love of our life - our prince (or princess). By accepting and unconditionally loving the beast we discover its beauty (and cleverness!). Let us all practice kissing the toad!

Teresa Proudlove is the publisher/editor of http://www.yourlifework.com: support and inspiration for your work and life. Teresa has been inspiring, supporting, and mentoring over 3000 people upon their lifework path for fourteen years, leading workshops and authoring many internationally published articles.

The decline of nations can be traced to the slow almost imperceptable growth of inefficiency and disorganization in the politican and economic sectors of a nation. Such a process can be reversed by a systematic process of reorganizing known as social engineering.

About the Author

None