Google Have You Identified the Enemy?

One of the most powerful driving forces in human nature is competition. The desire to overcome something or some company, the need to win, the cause, can in many cases be more important than the day-to-day work of the company.

If your company and your people are to ever reach some level of greatness, you must identify and focus on beating something, on creating and communicating a reason for being.

If your reason for being is that you got fired, so you decided to go into business for yourself, then maybe all you will ever create is a job.


Now, understand that when I say enemy or competition, I’m not necessarily suggesting something negative. While the folks at Apple Computer will tell you that their reason for being is often rooted in beating Microsoft, many organizations also draw motivation from saving things, ridding the world of things, creating peace, making life more enjoyable, teaching, sharing, spreading and a host of other very positive things.


And that’s the point. Small business owners often have no readily identifiable group of competitors or Goliath to aim at but they may find motivation in a great cause or reason for being and connecting that that great cause can become the drive to play the game at the highest level.


Your cause can be grand or it can be humble, but find it and you will be much more prepared to market your business, run your business with passion, hire people who support the cause and create a vision for your business. Great causes possess the power of attraction.

Think what you do isn’t grand enough to call a cause?

I will rid the world of bad advertising, one ad at a time. We will prove that tax preparation can be fun. We will empower anyone to buy a home. I will make my customers so overwhelmingly thrilled they will refer their friends and neighbors willingly. I will ensure that no one will ever be afraid to go to the dentist again.

Are you starting to see how this kind of thinking and the notion of focusing on competition could help drive your actions?
What if you could actually connect your beliefs and values to your reason for being? Would that provide motivation to do more? Would that start to feel like more than a job?

So, what is your organization’s cause for being? Aim high and let your cause guide you, your people and your clients to greatness.
Copyright 2004 John Jantsch

John Jantsch is a marketing coach and the creator of Duct Tape Marketing. Find out more and recieve you free small business marketing guide at www.DuctTapeMarketing.com.

Is it REALLY O.K. to want more?

We cannot help but continue to create through our desires and thoughts.

This week, a coaching client asked me this question: "Rebecca, is it REALLY o.k. to want to create more and more and more? Aren't we supposed to be content with just a few things?"

The answer that came from my Inner Being was so delicious! "Was God, the Creative Force, content to create the earth, sun, moon and a few stars and planets? NO! The Master Creator created more and more and more--infinitely MORE galaxies, infinitely MORE stars, infinitely MORE comets, infinitely MORE nebulae--the Universe is endless! No matter how far out into deep space the Hubble Space Telescope goes it will still be viewing MORE and MORE and MORE." I believe that even MORE is being created in every moment.

If we are the physical extention of the nonphysical creative force...

If we are "made in the image and likeness of God"... If we are here on earth to be powerful creators (sons and daughters of God)...

--then we cannot help but continue to create through our desires and thoughts.

Do you have a secret dream, desire or hope?

About the Author

Rebecca Hanson is the owner of two successful business, Aurora websites (www.aurorawebsites.com) and co-owner of TeleClass International (www.teleclassinternational.com). She lives, models, coaches and teaches Deliberate Attraction--a practical application of the Law of Attraction.

Grow Rich With Your Thought

Our brain is a marvelous creation. It receive and transmit information like a wireless phone. Our thought are made of wave. We call that brain wave. It is around 10 to 40 cycle per second when we are awake.

In fact our thought are MAGNETIC. Like a magnet we attract circumstances and opportunities. We litterally ATTRACT the life we want with our POWERFUL thought like a magnet !

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Taught your way to success.

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

Copyright © Michel Richer

PERMISSIONS TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in its entirety free of charge, electronically or in print, provided it appears with the included copyright and author’s resource box with LIVE website link.

Link to : http://hombyz.com

About the Author

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

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

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

Kids Just Wanna Have Fun!

During the recent “schools out session” for the holidays. I was reminded how much the kids crave entertainment. No matter what time of year the “Kids Just Wanna Have Fun.” And who could blame them? I don’t think there are many of us who haven’t longed for the carefree, playful days of our youth. I have four of these carefree fun hungry kids. Keeping them entertained on a tight budget is always a challenge.
I have discovered over the years that more money doesn’t necessarily mean more fun. In fact, some of the simplest, age old activities, seem to feed their fun hungry souls the best. Remember, in the “old days” that is the “very old days”. Family gatherings provided a great source of entertainment. Its hard to believe that in today’s fast paced, high tech, world that children still enjoy this kind of interaction.
I have found that for some reason, maybe because it validates their own behaviors, kids love to hear stories of when we were young. No, not the kind that remind them of how good they have it today. I’m talking about our childhood antics, the times when we misbehaved, did something wrong, and the consequences .

Most of us have funny moments in our life that just stick with us. Sometimes they weren’t so funny at the time at least from our prospective, then. My kids love to hear stories of my childhood antics, when I broke the rules, how I felt about it , and what punishment I had to endure because of it. They especially like the punishment part. Some sort of satisfaction knowing that I had to endure the cruelties of punishment also!

Of course it doesn’t sound amusing to talk about times when you got in trouble. But, those memories are funny to us now that we look back at our childhood. Sure we can laugh now……… We’re a lot smarter and see the innocence of our ways.

This is a great way to also remind ourselves that we were once kids also. And not so different than our own kids. With much the same innocence, gullibility, and scheming potential. Ahhhh… a great tool for reminding us that at least some of the behaviors we frown on in our kids is just the normal age old process of growing up! A very reassuring thought when you’re ready to pull your hair out.

In some ways this ritual of reminiscing shows our children that we love them unconditionally. That we understand. Why, because we’ve been there, done that. And we acted in many ways , and felt in many ways , the same way they do today. Its true that some things never change. I have a shorter list of tales to tell being one of three siblings. My husband on the other hand is one of eleven children, and he can keep them in belly busting laughter for hours, leaving them begging for more. Telling not only his own antics but those of his brothers and sisters.

So, if you ever find everyone sitting around looking bored to the gills, start up a casual conversation and work in some of your funny moments in life. You’ll have them begging for more and more tales. “Tell some more, tell some more!” And the best part ….. It’s Free Entertainment!

With a little research….what was that?……..research? If you’ve been to visit http://www.simpledebtfreeliving.com you know this is one of my pet peeves….. If you don’t know what’s out there or if you don’t know what you’re looking for, you’re doomed to spend too much of your hard earned money!

There no disputing the fact that an “ Informed Consumer = More Savings! “ There! I said it again. Boy did that feel good. Well now that I got that off my chest let me share some ideas on this FUN thing.

• Roller skating- went once a week when I was a kid. Loved it! Guess what? My kids love it too! And it’s cheap if you do your research. Our local rink has a family night. Get this , $1 to get in $1 for skates if you need to rent.

• If you make this a regular outing, invest in the skates. That’s one of those birthday or Christmas gifts that will pay you back in the long run. My husband and I don’t skate, those days are gone. Although I highly recommend it for a great workout. That means four kids can get in for $4. Three hours of fun for $4. You can’t beat it!

• I could get us in for even less . . .only $2. We have a local grocery store that prints coupons on back of the receipts, one of the most frequent coupons I get ….the local roller skating rink “buy one entrance fee, get one free” .

• I prefer not to use these for family night since my oldest daughter likes to go to the rink on “teen night” The rink socks it to them at $6 an entry. They know where the money is! This is a social event that many teens in the area just can’t miss! This way she can get in free if she goes with a paying friend. Sometimes, just to be fair, we share the savings with her friends and each of them only has to pay $3. This way she doesn’t feel like she’s taking advantage of anyone.

• Bowling: this can be a great low cost avenue for FUN if you don’t get carried away. Usually you have to pay by the game, per person. So set your limits and have fun. Most lanes have bumper guards now that prevent the little ones from excessive “gutter ball blues” It helps put the fun back in it for the very young children. A great feature. Even for the fumbling adult. Who am I kidding, I love those bumper guards!

• Most alleys have a discount night. So, try to plan your activities so you can enjoy the benefits of the discounts.Just a Note: Both of the above businesses usually offer birthday party rates as well. If you’re not into planning your own party at home (by far the most economical way) then consider checking out the party packages.

• Cookouts and Picnics: Cookouts don’t have to be for special occasions. We have several wonderful parks in our area that sport wonderful playgrounds and scenic walking or biking trails. So take the boredom out of lunch one Saturday or Sunday afternoon and throw together a cookout or picnic at your local park. My kids just need to get out of the house sometimes. They don’t really care where they go, as long as they go somewhere!

• As I mention on my Family Entertainment page (www.simpledebtfreeliving.com/family-entertainment.html) , parks are a great resource for free fun! The internet is a great resource for finding new, different, and exciting parks in your area. Just do a simple search and you will probably be amazed at the numerous parks within driving distance from your home. So keep it interesting and travel a little bit to get to exciting new places!

• An extra bonus . . . . You will be making great memories for your kids!:)

• Museums and Historical Landmarks: Don’t think you have any near you? Bet Ya’ do! Why even in the far out sticks of nowhere you might be surprised to find a museum within a reasonable distance. I am blessed to live in a highly cultural area between Washington DC and Baltimore. So museums, tourists attractions, and historic landmarks (yes many of them Free) are abundant.

• But, no matter where you live, do a little research (yes, again) and I’ll bet you’ll find some interesting attraction or museum convenient to your home. If in a rare case you don’t, then plan to visit an area on a weekend trip where you can enjoy these types of historic attractions.

• Family Game Night:

- I know that many times after a hard days work we just want to sit, relax, and well, basically, do nothing! But, once you get in a habit of designating one night “Family Game Night” I guarantee you’ll look forward to it .If you have a large family with some large age differences, you can opt to have two game nights so you can include games suited for the younger children that the older ones might get bored with. Of course, always provide the option for older ones to be included. Sometimes, believe it or not, they just enjoy the quality time with parents and siblings. :)

Well, that should keep you busy for now! And Remember, it doesn't have to cost alot to be alot of FUN!

About the Author

Cheryl Johnson is a mother of four helping herself and others become and remain debt free. Visit Simple Debt Free Living for more money saving tips and OneStop Internet Business Resourceto earn more money!

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

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

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

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

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

About the Author

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

Travel the World - for Free!

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

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

Here are four ways to get started.

1. Consult.

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. Partner Overseas.

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

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

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

3. Network Locally.

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

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

4. Teach.

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

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

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

Copyright© 2005.
About the Author
Cheryl Lockhart of International Strategies Ltd. assists small- to medium-sized enterprises navigate the complexities of global business development. Services include international project identification and management, market research and foreign partner development. To learn more about exporting and read additional FREE e-zines, visit http://www.intl-strategies.com

The History of Lancaster Castle Pt2

Welcome to part 2 of the history of Lancaster Castle. In this final instalment we cover the Pendle Witch Trials, Take a brief glimpse into life at debtor’s prison, and discover what would happen to you as a child if you got caught committing an offence.



One of the most famous events at Lancaster castle was the Pendle Witch trials of 1612. During the reign of King James I, he passed laws which forbid any act of “making a covenant with an evil spirit, hurting life or limb, injuring live stock by means of charms or procuring love”. All of these acts were subject to the death penalty.


The trial was centred on two families in which five of their members were accused (Elizabeth Southern, Anne Whittle, Ann Redfern, Elizabeth Device and Alison and James Device). Another five from the same locality (Jane Bulcock and her son John, Alice Grey, Alice Nutter and Katherine Hewitt) also stood accused. While awaiting trial, 80 year old Elizabeth Southern passed away in her cell.

The trial began in August of the same year and was presided over by Judge Bromley and Judge Altham. Lord Gerard and Sir Richard Hoghton were in assistance.


The prisoners were deprived of any counsel and could not call witnesses. On top of the original ten another ten defendants, also accused of witchcraft (The Samlesbury witches, also from Pendle along with Isobel Robey from Windle, near St Helens and Margaret Pearson, the Padiham Witch) were to stand trial.


In total, 20 people stood accused and their ages ranged from 9 years old to 80 years. The evidence produced stemmed from idle gossip, false accusations and rumours.


At the conclusion of the three day event, Anne Whittle, Anne Redfern, Elizabeth Device, Alice Nutter, Alison and James Device, Katherine Hewitt, Jane and John Bulcock, as well as Isobel Robey were all found guilty and sentenced to be hanged on the moor above the Town. Margaret Pearson was sentenced to be pilloried on four successive market days at Padiham, Clitheroe, Whalley and Lancaster. Once this was carried out, Margaret was to spend a further year in prison as part of her punishment. The Samlesbury witches and Alice Grey were not found guilty and set free.


Public executions took place at Lancaster Castle right up until the 1800’s at a place called Gallows Hill. The prisoners would be taken from their cells in a cart and pass along Moor lane and Moor gate. They would pause briefly at a local public house where they could take their last drink with family and friends before proceeding to the gallows. People from all around the north west of England would congregate out in Lancaster’s streets to watch these public hangings. After 1800 the hangings were shifted from the moor to a place within the castles confines. It was to become known as "The Hanging Corner".

Of all the executions carried out, a total of 265 in all, 43 were for murder and other crimes which included burglary, forgery, robbery and cattle stealing. 131 of these hangings were carried out by the one person – Old Ned Barlow. The last person to be publicly hanged was Stephen Burke in 1865.

Between 1788 and 1868, if you found yourself lucky enough to escape the hangman’s noose, you may have found yourself being transported to a new penal colony called Australia. In total 200, 000 people found themselves ship bound to face the uncertainties of a hostile environment in NSW and Tasmania.

As a convict awaiting transportation you were entitled to the “Kings Allowance” of 2s and 6d a week. The government were charged anything from £8 to £12 per prisoner and the escorting jailers received a set fee per mile for each prisoner.
If you could not pay your debts and were found guilty you would have found yourself serving time in the castles debtors’ prison. The castle housed between 3 to 400 debtors at any one time who would be required to work within the prison.

Life as debtors was quite comfortable compared to the other inmates and you would receive in payment for your work 3 ozs of bread, 4ozs of oatmeal daily and 1oz of salt and 10 lbs of potatoes on a weekly basis.

If you were one of the lucky ones who had access to money from friends or family then your stay in prison was even more luxurious. You could choose your own type of accommodation from the 22 rooms set aside for just such people. The price ranged from 5s to 30s and included a fire, candles, cutlery and a servant who did the cooking and cleaning. The lifestyle did not stop there. You were able to buy beer and wine, purchase tobacco and newspapers, buy meat, groceries, fruit and vegetables from the debtor’s market which was held in the castle yard. You could carry on with your profession and have visitors from morning until night.

And you thought life was a hardship in prison!

Until 1902 when the Borstal system was introduced, if you were caught as a child committing an offence you could be expected to be fined or sentenced to five days hard labour. The resulting fine of 7s and 6d meant that for most families their children went to prison and completed five days of hard labour.

Lancaster has not been short of royal visitors during her 800 years. The first visitor of note was King John who held court and received the French Ambassadors and King Alexander of Scotland in 1206. From that point in time there was a steady stream of visitors.

In the 1400’s Henry IV held his court in the castle and it was also patronized by Edward IV. Both James I and Charles II visited during the 17th century. By the 1800’s, Lancaster was a very popular place to visit with nine Royal visits.


The first was in 1803 with Prince William Fredrick of Gloucester. Queen Adelaide visited in 1840 and Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and the Royal children spent time there in 1852.

The most recent royal visitor was Queen Elizabeth in 1999.

Today Lancaster Castle is a thriving tourist attraction, working prison and court room.

I hope you have enjoyed this two part series on the History of Lancaster Castle and when you find yourself in the area, pay her a visit.

Best Wishes

Stuart Bazga

www.guide-to-castles-of-europe.com





About the author:
A Guide to Castles of Europe was born from childhood dreams and aspirations. It is my hope to educate and stimulate you into exploring these castles for yourselves.

Looking For A Change????

A year into your new job and you've seen it happen all around you - job hopping - as shifts and changes have become part of the landscape at work. You too begin to ponder; maybe it's your turn to move on... But, wait! Do you really have to?

The credentials are right, you are a marketing professional with a management degree, and two years plus experience in multinational. That's reason enough for people to make offers, for a placement co-ordinator to call, or for the advertisements in your daily newspaper to invite your attention, for jobsites ‘sms-ing’ you details of new job listings and make you think again. But before you go decide about that move to shift from your present job, the question to ask yourself – Is there anything unique which I know or have done which very few people have done or know?

If the answer to either of them is in the affirmative then it may not be a good idea to consider a change and if the answer does not apply to either of them then it may be a good decision to change.
Here are a few things that you must consider while making that big leap.

Risk Analysis
Before getting into that new job that one is getting, you need to analyze the new job. Two questions need to be asked —Whether the company is on a growth path and will the new job help me acquire new skills? However, the information available on growth aspects may not be correct and there will be some element of doubt which can only be minimized by analyzing the financials, checking out the credibility of the company, analyzing track records of the people in top management, talking to employees of that company; the interview process is a good opportunity to probe and form an opinion.

Consider The Work Culture
Do work ethics culture, management policies, welfare practices, team management, organizational structure et al figure in your reason for seeking a shift? Quite often it is the case. A young marketing professional says, "Office atmosphere and work ethics are not issues of concern when somebody joins the company for the first or second time, but they do become influencing factors later while making a quit/stay decision."
Understanding the corporate culture, vision and values of a company that you either wish to quit or join is a good way to determine the feel of the place and your commitment to that organization.

‘M’ Alias Monetary Benefits
Money is magnetic, especially when you are contemplating a quit or stay decision. Nothing seems a better indicator of the rise in your career graph and your sense of worth! But actual satisfaction in your work experience will require you to dig deeper. How does your compensation compare with your peers in the organization or outside? What is your present dissatisfaction about? Will the shift to a new job with enhanced monetary benefits eliminate the present dissatisfaction? Does the new job offer you scope? Cross-functional movement? Does it capture your interest because it focuses on your area of expertise? Answering these will infuse meaning into your decision.

Discussion With Friends/Contacts
A friend of yours has joined a new organization and thinks the place will be a good fit for you as well. Trust him/her, but ask for more information about the company’s work environment, company’s vision, team management spirit, HR policies, mentors, the pitfalls—people profiles, office politics and other possible blocks. These impressions from a friend are likely to be value based and can effectively answer questions like, "Does the organization resent dissent? Is the place very hierarchical?" etc. If it's a consultant's call, he/she is likely to sell you the obvious attractions—money, projects, overseas assignments etc. Ask for time and ask for more information.

Optimistic Approach
Your satisfaction level is high when you have just completed an interesting and challenging project. But sometime a week later, anxiety begins to creep in about the new project you are to work on . The wait builds on your dissatisfaction and the project is finally not up to your expectations. Prepare to deal with such issues on a positive note. Keep the momentum going by investing time in learning something new, by signing up for a training program or making it to an interesting seminar. Work on smaller, achievable personal goals and targets. Looking for a change during this period is absolutely the wrong time to do.

Run Checks On EQ And IQ
Run periodic checks on your Emotional and Intelligence Quotients(EQ and IQ). This will clue you in to the 'right break'—an opportunity that will help you grow both intellectually and emotionally. A high emotional quotient will find you feeling respected and consulted, with a sense of belonging to the organization. Does the project you are on excite you? Do you look forward to spend more time on it, and does it challenge you with real possibilities? Have you learnt new skills? Have you been rewarded for good work? Have you earned a promotion? Have you been selected for a coveted training program? A positive response to these questions gets you a high score on the intelligence quotient. When you are contemplating a quit or stay decision, remember to view the decision in totality and use the rule of rationalizing to make the right choice. Last but not the least, career planning is an art and the sooner one masters it, lesser are the mistakes one is likely to make.

About the Author: Rajat Rajwansh is a artcle writer for one of India's biggest jobs site, http://www.naukri.com.

Source: www.isnare.com

Opting For A Credit Card? Check Out Certain Terms

You've just received a "pre-approved" credit card offer in your mail. Without wasting a minute you're ready to accept it, especially if it's the "before-the-offer-expires” one. Wait! Don't be in a hurry. Shop around a little and then make your decision about that credit card.

Do you know that these "pre-approved" offers that pop up almost every time you open your mail are just gimmicks? Actually, the approval of your credit card depends on your formal application. If it fails to meet the criteria, you may be either denied the credit card or offered a higher interest rate on it. Moreover, don't be in the illusion that just because your credit card is pre-approved, it'll be compatible to your spending habits. Credit card basically means that you're borrowing money by paying some charges. So, it's essential to understand the terms and conditions of the credit card before accepting it.

Every credit card applier should be aware of certain terms before opting for that valuable plastic asset. Are you aware of them? If not, then read on…

Annual Percentage Rate (APR): It's the measure of the credit cost that is charged annually. Before opening your credit card account, you should be familiar with the APR. In addition, some credit card issuers may change your APR with the change in interest rates or other economic indicators. Programs allowing such change are called "variable rate" programs.

Free Period or Grace Period: Always find out whether your credit card gives you a free period lest you may be deprived of the benefit of avoiding finance charges on full payment before the due date. If your credit card offers a grace period, you should receive your bill 14 days prior to the due date, so that you get sufficient time to make the payments.

Annual Fees, Transaction Fees and other charges: It's vital to have knowledge about the annual and transaction fees charged by the credit card issuer. Besides this, you may also be charged in case of a cash advance, a late payment, or exceeding your credit limit. Sometimes, you've to pay a monthly fee even if you don't use your credit card.

The Bonus Program: If you're opting for a credit card that offers attractions like airline miles, merchandise, or cash back, check out whether there are any participation charges linked with them. If you think you won't get a chance to use these bonuses due to your lifestyle, then it's better to avoid such credit cards.

Zero percent financing: If you hold several credit cards, then a credit card with an initial 0 percent balance transfer rate would save you hundreds of dollars in the first year. However, such transfers may come with some charges. Check them out.

Credit card terms differ with the issuers. You should know how you'd use your credit card. For instance, if you are going to pay your full balance each month, then you should concentrate on annual fee and other charges rather than the periodic rate and the APR.

Moreover, you should know your credit card limit too. Also, find out how popular the credit card is and what are the features and programs of the credit card you've opted for.

Once you are well versed with the terms of the credit card, just apply for it!

About The Author

James Marriott is a finance writer with more than 15 years of experience in writing financial content, including those related to credit cards, mortgages, stocks, investments, and funds. He has been with RNCOS, a premier financial writing services company, for 2 years as head of financial writing. He is also a regular financial columnist with renowned business journals. For your comments on the article and further financial assistance, please contact our staff writer at info@rncos.com.

How To Start, Survive, and Finish Your Journey To Super Succ

"The more you hate, the more you love."

What an ironic statement. Whoever said those words must have been drunk. The bottom line is this: It is extremely difficult to like or love something that you despise.

But what can we do to solve this dilemma? What if you're trapped in an environment that you don't want to be involved in? What if you're sick and tired of your job that you feel like puking every time someone mentions your work?

Of course, you take inspired and motivated action to get out of your present rut and start living the life you've always dreamed of.

Guess what? It's not going to be easy. You will have to come out of your comfort zones to discover potentials and opportunities waiting for you. You have to conquer your fear and take calculated risks. You have to stay focused and persevere despite the difficulties you will encounter.

Success doesn't come easy. It takes heart and passion. It may also take some time before you can actually reap the fruits of your labor.

But how do you actually survive this stage? This is the moment when you're working extra hard to reach your goals. This is also the instance when you're enduring whatever adversity hits you.

For example, you're employed in a job that you hate. You know deep inside that you would not like to stay in the rat race throughout your life. So you decided to engage in a part-time business or to study night courses. Good move, my friend.

So far so good. A few days later, time started running out for you. Your family complains that you've never spoken a word to them in such a long time. You're getting crazy over your very hectic schedule. Soon enough, your attitude changes negatively. You get mad and frustrated over the tiniest setbacks. You hate the world for all the misery it has brought upon you.

Stop right now!

That is not the way to go. You are attracting negative elements into your life. Yes, you have to work harder, dig deeper, and sacrifice more to attain your ambitions. But no, you don't have to hate the world and feel bad about your difficult situation. Remember the Law of Attraction. If you hate the world, the world hates you back.

So what do you have to do?

Learn to love your current situation. See all the positive sides of life. Be enthusiastic. Love your
boss, your coworkers, your family, your friends, and even strangers that you meet on the streets. It may not be easy, but nothing is impossible with a strong will power. Just don't fall in love so much that you totally forget about your dreams.

Balance is the key. Dream and take some positive action to move you toward your goals. Take it one step at a time. But while you're slowly crawling into the long journey to success, be patient and be as enthusiastic as possible. Don't hurry up too much that you totally forget how to enjoy life.

One fine day, you will finally attain what you have always longed for. But when that day comes, don't spit back on the face of those who belittled you before.

Stay humble. Don't look down on others when you see that you are becoming more successful than they are. Help them. Inject your positive aura into their personalities. When you give, you will yield back equal or greater rewards.

Are you ready to begin the journey? Start it with the courage and desire to improve your life. Survive and go through it with persistence, enthusiasm, and positive thinking. Finish it with a resounding bang of accomplishment and with the desire to help others succeed as well.

About the Author

Zaak O'Conan discovers and presents useful information on to enhance and/or repair your life, body and relationships. You'll find his other articles on how to improve your life and expand your horizons at http://your-health-center.com