Entrepreneurs To Use Other People's Business Proposals

Every entrepreneur has been there. You need to write a business plan to get your idea off the ground and have no idea how to approach it. The first thing most people do is Google, "Sample business proposal." Why? Well, it's quite simple really. They want to get a head start on the process by looking at what someone else has written. It is an understandable position to take if you are under pressure and need a boost. What people don't realise is that there are inherent dangers in using a sample business proposal.

There are many very good examples of sample business proposals on the Internet, but there are also some scarily bad examples being held up as first class efforts. Having spent the last 20 years as a professional banker and investor I can say this with some degree of confidence.

The bottom line is that even if you do manage to stumble upon a great example it won't be relevant to your unique business or the market dynamics that pertain to your business idea. The parties who will assess your proposal and decide whether to invest are generally well trained and experienced. They read hundreds of these documents every month and can spot a copy and paste job a mile a way.

Will A Sample Business Proposal Help Me?

Using a sample business proposal is OK if you are just looking for some tips on how to structure your own proposal. Of course this is predicated on the fact that the example aligns well with your business and is a good example. If you are looking around the Internet for sample business proposals it's a fair bet that you are not sure what is a good example and what is a bad one. For this reason you may borrow heavily from a poor example and this will actually detract from the thrust of your effort.

There are too many people on the Internet these days offering quick fix solutions or shortcuts to preparing business proposals to attract funding. On balance these solutions are not adequate to get you funding. Here's why:

1. They encourage entrepreneurs to use other people's business proposals as a template that dilutes the originality and can lead to the inclusion of data that is irrelevant.

2. They lead to entrepreneurs skimming over the research component leading to a proposal that is disjointed and fails to make a cohesive business case.

3. Having a sample business proposal as a guide detracts from the entrepreneur engaging fully in the business planning process in that they will have only a cursory understanding of the finer details of their proposal.

4. It will not prepare the entrepreneur for detailed questioning around their business strategy and by association their financial projections.We have seen this all too often in presentations for equity finance. It is glaringly obvious when someone does not understand the proposal intimately and this devastates credibility and trust, virtually nullifying your chances of convincing an investor to part with their cash.

So How Should I Use A Sample Business Proposal?

We genuinely believe that using a sample business proposal is not a good idea unless you are only looking for a structural outline. Even in this case you would need to scan a fairly broad cross section of examples to get a representative sample to form an independent opinion. There is nothing more frustrating than a pitch which doesn't flow and where the entrepreneur is clearly "winging it". We have rejected more pitches for this reason than any other.

 

The only time we would recommend using a sample business proposal is if you are approaching a bank for finance and they provide an example of what they would like to see. However, banks don't provide samples, they provide templates, which is basically them trying to educate entrepreneurs before they apply for finance. In this case this is the bank endorsing a structure for the proposal so it is OK. It still leaves all the blanks to fill in though so it isn't really a full solution to your problem.

 How Will The Audience Know That I have Used A Sample?

This is a common question we get asked and while we cannot speak for the entire investment community we can refer to our own experience as investors and former bankers. Here is a list of the top ten reasons why it is obvious that a sample has been used:

1. Executive Summary is dull and formulaic without communicating why we should invest.

2. Market information doesn't align with the specific demographics relating to the proposal or is obsolete.

3. Entrepreneur's knowledge of the market dynamics is sketchy under questioning and it is clear that what they have written in the proposal is the sum total of their knowledge on the subject.

4. Information around target customers is not based in empirical fact, more observational opinion.

5. Competitor Analysis is obsolete and doesn't track minor competitors or industry trends that could present opportunities.

6. The business strategy doesn't intuitively line up with the financial projections of the business. Financial anomalies are frequent.

7. The level of analysis in the financial section is low. Elevator analysis (only observational comments) is a glaring sign that no detailed analysis has been undertaken.

8. The language style in the business proposal is inconsistent and in different tenses.

9. The structure of the business proposal in terms of the content lay out does not flow intuitively. Think trying to fit a square peg into a circle!

10. The proposal doesn't make a definite conclusion or sound argument to invest (or lend). The lack of analysis leads to inadequate risk mitigation leaving many questions unanswered.

What is The Solution?

This might all seem a little bleak but there is an easy solution to this dilemma and it demands a little more of your time and effort in return for a deeper understanding of your business. You have to learn to write a business proposal rather than using a sample business proposal to take a short cut. Don't do the latter as it will make the experience of approaching investors and financiers unnecessarily painful and will dilute your experience of creating your vision from scratch and your strategic understanding of your own business. Plus, you will be found out!

The truth is that it is not rocket science. Even a working knowledge of the key focal points will improve your finished product greatly. Writing a business proposal is a logical process which can't be done is 8 hours or completed in 1 day, at least not if you hope to truly understand it and communicate it effectively to external parties. In actual fact writing a business proposal is a very rewarding experience and if you are serious about starting a business and attracting funding into that business there will be associated pressure to perform well. Going through the business planning process will train you to be a more pro active and strategic business person and will ultimately improve your chances of making your vision a reality by analyzing your business properly and consistently.

Regarding Customer Service and Customer Service Career

The customer service industry requires one to exercise certain characteristics when servicing customers. Poise, patience and professionalism to name just a few. There is, however, one three-letter word that can hinder ones ability to consistently display these characteristics. That word is EGO. My definition of EGO is "Emotions Going Orbital" It's possible to ruin a customer relationship should this dangerous word surface during an interaction. That's why it's important to leave home without it!

Now we all have an ego, so it's quite natural to jump to one's own defense when feeling slighted or verbally attacked. Sometimes customers say or do things that can make us feel disrespected or less than a person. A cross word, a mean-spirited request or abusive language can get one close to the edge. Here are a few ways to keep that ego quiet.

Be Determined - Before beginning your workday, remind yourself of the need to keep your ego in check. It takes effort to maintain one's composure when we feel our very identity is being attacked. It's up to you to be aware of when you feel the need to defend your opinion or respond in kind during an unpleasant situation. Be determined to pause for a moment and say to yourself "This is not about me." I learned to practice this suggestion myself when it appeared my ego was about to make an appearance. Doing so helped to avoid what would surely be negative outcomes had I allowed my ego to win the battle. If yours is a strong personality, it's important to not allow that trait to lead to arguments or battles with the customer. You will lose in the long run!

They Don't Really Know You - During my customer service career, I've noticed that it's rare that a customer intentionally sets out to attack someones personal identity. After all, how can they when they don't really know you. Their words may sting or injure one momentarily, but just like anything else, in time this will pass too. Now I hear someone saying, "Errol, you don't know what that customer just said to me!" Yes I probably can guess what comment you may have had to overlook in order to remain professional. Just remember, in the midst of the situation, you represent your company as well as yourself. This particular customer has no idea who you are as a person, so don't allow your ego to override your goal to always be professional. The mark of a professional is the ability to remain professional in the midst of chaos. Set a high standard for yourself and don't allow your ego to cause you to perform beneath your standard.

Be Realistic Regarding Customer Service - As much as we want to please every customer, there will be instances where someone will be unhappy with some portion or all of their experience with a company. Right now as I'm writing this article, somewhere in the world is an unhappy customer. You will encounter not so pleasant people during your customer service career. In knowing this as a fact, be ready to professionally get through a tough situation. Some customers do speak abusively or profanely. They can make unrealistic demands. They are sometimes wrong. In knowing this, it's important to develop internal fortitude that refuses to take a customer's unpleasant behavior personally. If your ego escapes the cage during an interaction with an abusive customer, there will be trouble. I repeat, in knowing human nature, know that you will encounter
unpleasant people. Practice remaining professional - keep your ego locked away.

There will be instances where it becomes necessary to professionally remind the customer of your professional boundaries. I have often spoken these words when encountering overly verbally abusive customers - "Mr./Mrs. Customer, I apologize for the situation. I can understand your frustration. As I work to resolve this situation, I would hope that we can be respectful towards one another. Can we agree to do that?" By getting the customer to answer this question or at least think about what I just said, more often than not the abuse ceased.

Remember, don't allow yourself to become victimized by your Emotions Going Orbital! Resolve to leave that ego at home before servicing your customer. You will encounter all types of personalities during your stay in this industry. Block out that ego by Being Determined, by telling yourself They Don't Really Know Me and by Being Realistic Regarding Customer Service.

Auto Dealerships Increased Sales and Lower Taxes

Auto dealerships in the US have implemented significant renovations as the industry continues to transform and the manufacturers re brand themselves and recover from their financial woes of the past. There have been noticeable results; manufacturers and dealers are seeing increased showroom traffic, which is resulting in a recovery in sales.

With increased sales, comes an increase in earnings, which is a good thing. However, higher profits typically drive higher taxes. To combat this, a number of dealerships are employing engineering based cost segregation studies to more quickly capitalize the tax benefit associate with these renovations. Moreover, dealerships may be able to take advantage of bonus depreciation.

Engineering based cost recovery studies applies tax compliant depreciation timeliness to certain nonstructural components of the renovations. For example, carpeting, which it is often depreciated over 39 years as if it was part of the structural item, could be depreciated over five years, which is more in line with its expected life. 

Many other nonstructural building components can be depreciated in five, seven, and 15 years versus the more standard 39 years. By using this method of depreciation, business owners are able to realize the tax benefits of these improvement quicker than using standard depreciation methods, thereby positively impacting the bottom line.

Furthermore, the tax benefits of properly depreciating current renovations can apply to the entire existing facility, including past renovations. Accelerated depreciation can result in increased cash flows in the early years after purchase, construction, or significant renovation of the property. Indeed, our experience shows us that it is common to document as much as $200,000 of accelerated depreciation per $1 million of building. Assuming 35% tax rate, this will equate to a $70,000 improvement to the bottom line

Moreover, dealerships may be able to benefit from bonus depreciation, which allows a business to make an additional deduction of 50% of the cost of qualifying property in the year in which it is put into service. According to the IRS, this special "bonus depreciation" allowance is available to all businesses and applies to most types of tangible personal property and computer software acquired and placed in service in a particular year. It allows taxpayers to deduct 50 percent of the cost of qualifying property in addition to the regular depreciation allowance that is normally available
In summary, cost segregation analysis, which dates back to 1959, may effectively lower a company's tax burden.

Repair and Maintenance Specialists

Steeples are known as a standard fixture on the rooftop of many churches around the world. These spires are an attention-grabber for worshipers and passersby. As people gaze towards heaven, they may hear the sound of bells that signify the start or end of church services. They may also notice a church steeple in desperate need of repair. If this is the case, the church may need to solicit church steeple contractors for help in returning the structure to its original state.

Even with regular maintenance, there are times when repairs are necessary. The professional service of qualified church steeple contractors is important to make sure repairs are performed correctly.

Finding Good Steeple Contractors

Knowledge of equipment and expertise in safely performing steeple repairs are essential traits for finding a good contractor. Known as steeplejacks, these craftsmen are skilled at scaling church edifices to provide top-notch service. Before hiring a steeplejack to work on this important structure, make sure the company is licensed and has years of experience.

Whether your church needs a replacement steeple or work to preserve the current one, hire a company that is equipped to handle tasks with professionalism and dedication. You also want to hire a company that offers emergency repairs since some things are unpredictable. A damaged steeple can prove to be hazardous for parishioners and the community.

Having a broad range of experience is another factor to consider. In some situations, the steeple contractor may need to transport removable pieces to repair the steeple at ground level. Other repairs can be handled while the steeple remains on top of the church building. Your steeplejack should follow safety procedures to minimize or eliminate chances of injury.

Further, keep in mind that some repairs can be completed quickly; others may take longer based on the amount of damage. Regardless to how long it takes, you want to hire a steeple contractor who will complete the job correctly the first time.

Maintenance and Restoration Services

Regular upkeep can add additional years to your church steeple. Problems such as leaks can lead to interior damage of the church. One of the best ways to prevent this is for steeplejacks to pressure wash the steeple to keep it looking and functioning like new.

If the steeple has been neglected over the years, restoring the existing steeple is often possible and costs less that replacing it with a new one. Churches that have old steeples made from fiberglass or wooden materials can appreciate the skillful service of a steeple contractor. In addition to restoration services, the contractor may also provide ongoing maintenance.

There are different types of church steeples but all require tender loving care to remain a beautiful fixture on your church. Some steeples may have elaborate decorations while others are constructed with less adorned materials. Nevertheless, deterioration can occur if the structure is not well-maintained by a professional.

Your church budget and design preferences determine how the steeple will look. Choosing slate or fiberglass is not as important as making sure the steeple size is proportionate to the church.

Personal and Professional Change

Doesn't it feel like the rate of change in the world is speeding up? All the most important things in life are affected by change - our health, our environment, our personal lives and relationships and our professional lives.

Yet change is one of the things we humans most fear; most of us innately aim for security, comfort and stability and change can become a serious stress-inducer for many. Wouldn't it be great if we had a resource that helped people cope with change better, seeing as the need to change seems to be coming at us thicker and faster than ever before? Something that helps people make the personal and professional changes that they need to make, but find so hard?

Neuroscience may be unlocking those resources and they are closer to home than we might imagine.

Personal and Professional Change

In the case of making big personal changes, nearly all attempts fail - something like 90%. How did you fare with this year's New Year resolutions? How about last year's?

At work how do you feel when your company announces that there will be big changes in the near future but you are not clear on the details? You probably feel under threat and that may start to stress you out.

This is why changing whole organizations is a huge challenge and why it takes specialist knowledge and experience.

But how can neuroscience help?

Neuroscience and Empathy

A few years ago, behavioral neuroscientists in Italy discovered a new class of brain cells called "mirror neurons" that appear to form the basis of empathy in humans. They seem to have the ability to mirror one person's actions in another person's brain.

While it's important not to read too much into individual studies by neuroscientists, it throws up some very interesting possibilities for explaining why mentoring can be such a powerful way for leaders to help people change their behavioral in teams and organizations.

The finding also has repercussions for the importance of strong human connections, collaboration and teamwork - especially in this day and age, where increased automation can lead to isolation and remoteness for team members in organizations.

Implications for Team Performance and Leadership

Successful team performance involves finding common ground and using it to drive the individuals and the team forward as one; a good leader focuses on directing this process and using the common ground as the binding force to keep everyone moving along the same track and helping them feel a sense of belonging.

This may mean going against the grain of using every single advance of technology to make our jobs easier and more productive, and instead focusing on the value of team members working creatively and collaboratively. There is no getting away from the social requirement of people to interact - as employees don't cease to be human beings when they walk through the office door on a Monday morning.

Understanding more about this aspect of neuroscience is important in many areas of business - not just in organizational change. It has repercussions for hiring policies and leadership appointments, where greater value might be given to a leader's emotional intelligence over his or her experience or academic achievements, for instance. It can also positively affect the bottom line, with lower staff turnover and a happier workplace meaning happier customers who will keep coming back for more.

In these days of growing disconnectedness amongst people, despite the growing technological connectedness around us, it is encouraging to find neuroscience helping us understand more about how we can improve personal, business and organizational relationships.

Get Promoted More Challenges

Getting promoted is essential if you want more challenges and thirst for making decisions.

Here are 3 Reasons Why as a Techie You Didn't Get Promoted:

1. No Supporters

As a technical person your job is to put out the fires that arise without end. This doesn't leave you much time to get to know your fellow co-workers. However, you're not doing yourself any favors by wanting to hide in your data center or not answering your phone.

If you want to advance your career, you're going to have to talk with the folks who can make that happen. Folks such as your immediate boss, the executive assistant(s) for the executives, the HR director and the VP of sales.

These folks have immediate impact on how you're perceived in your job. Remember, they know you do your job. They don't know what your career ambitions are or what you're doing to aid the company in achieving its goals. Don't be a stranger. Let them know.

2. Only Focusing on Tasks

Tasks are important. However, instead of staring at your monitor and trying to decide what new bright and shiny tech gadget you want next, mingle with other staff members. Mingle, not get on their nerves.

Attend company functions. Don't make the same mistake I made early in my career by performing only tasks (they were important - not critical) instead of taking the time and getting to know your fellow employees. It's not when you leave an event, it's if you show up.

Your fellow staff members will feel slighted if you don't show up. Management will look at you in a different (negative) light and may say that you don't fit in. Don't be a victim. Participate.

3. Being Perceived as Anti-Social

Gone are the days of the tech who solely works in the back room. Even data center techs have to communicate with internal and external customers and staff members.

If you're perceived as anti-social then this can reduce your chances of getting promoted or even a pay raise. 

If you're perceived as anti-social, fellow staff members may avoid asking your for help and ask a more junior staff member who is less skilled technically however has more social appeal. Result? They get promoted and you're left fuming over the 'injustice.'

Be your best by giving your best, promoting your best and doing your best. No on else will do this for you.

These 3 Reasons Why As a Techie You Didn't Get Promoted will enable you to look at what you're doing now and determine your path. Use them to your advantage.

Powerful Ten Tips Write Requirements

 Unambiguous

This means they are clear and they leave no room for anyone to misinterpret them. They are stated in a way that is clearly understood. They should be understood by the writer (which is you), as well as the reader. If they're not clear and unambiguous, then they don't serve much purpose.

Valuable

Great requirements are valuable. They are written to solve a business need, to make things easier for a user, and to align with business objectives. They are important and meet the criteria of the users. If a requirement is not valuable, then it isn't really a requirement. If it's not going to provide any value to a user, then we need to reconsider why it's actually a requirement in the first place.

Verifiable

The purpose of a requirement is to specify what actually needs to be done by the project team (developers, system engineers, etc). To make sure that the requirement is implemented correctly, it needs to be verified. The requirement should be able to be verified - it should be described in a way that allows for someone to check if it has been completed or not. Some requirements are vague or don't allow easy verification of them, which leads to problems in the testing phase.

Concise

A good requirement needs to be concise. It needs to be easy to read and understood, by both the author and the audience. It should not be overly descriptive - only as descriptive as it needs to be. By that, I mean you should only add in words or terms that are needed to help the reader understand the requirement.

Prioritised

Requirement should be prioritised. They should be assigned a value to determine how important they are to the users and to the system. This could be a simple High/Medium/Low scale, a rating of 1 to 5, or something more complex. The aim of a priority is to get agreement on the importance of a requirement, and to help decide if and when it should be implemented.

Separate From Design

A good requirement should not mention any design features or suggestions. At the requirements gathering stage, the method of implementation should not be considered. The requirement's job is the specify what is being implemented - the design is used to specify how. Try to focus on the "what" of the system at this stage and don't mention any specific technologies or layouts or design rules.

Attainable

The requirements you write should be attainable. They can be ambitious, or tricky, but they should be able to be achieved. There's no point writing requirements that are impossible to achieve. Having requirements that are attainable keeps the project team and stakeholders updated and confident that items can be delivered. If something is not attainable, it should not be a requirement.

Consistent

Requirements should be consistent, both in your document and with any other areas of the system. You should use the same grammar and terms when writing requirements, so that the same meaning is determined from them. They also should be consistent when reading through the document to look for any gaps in the requirements written.

Owned

Good requirements have an owner specified. This is so that the author and reader knows who to speak to if they have any questions. This might seem obvious at the start of the project, but two months in you may need to clarify something, and having an owner against these requirements is helpful.

Complete

Great requirements completely describe the objective of the system or the project. Nothing is left out. If there are any requirements that are not going to be built, then they are specified in a separate section. The list of requirements should cover everything that is expected by the system. There should be no gaps or confusion about certain areas.

Unique IDs

I thought I'd include a bonus tip, even though I said there were ten, I thought I'd throw in another tip for writing good requirements.

A good way to improve your requirements is to assign each of them a unique ID (such as REQ001, REQ002). This is helpful for identifying the requirements later in the project, as well as discussing them with other people. The ID is unique across the project and can be used to create other documents.

Digital World And E-Publishing

People used to depend on print media to flock information. With the revolution of Magazine Subscriptions Online, Book lovers shall have to carry no more plethoras of paperbacks!

Electronic publishing is also familiar as desktop publishing, online publishing or simply web publishing. E-publishing includes e-books, EPUBs, and electronic articles. Scroll down to check the key features of e-publishing

- Hoards printing and distribution
- Endows high global visibility
- Overcomes geological restrictions that are widespread in print media
- Distribution and publication time has abridged substantially
- Anyone can read the published content on a website or on a tablet device, or in a PDF on a computer
- Large collections can be probed simultaneously
- Reduces paper processing, binding, risk of loss/damage

What are the various e-publishing models?

E-publishing has made wonders in the digital media. Let's look into the various models of online publishing

1. Digital Publishing

This method delivers media content such as audio, video, software that doesn't exploit physical media like internet. In other words, it is pertinent to downloadable add-ons / software distribution. With the development in network it became popular in the mid of 2000's.

2. Online promotion

Online promotion or simply online advertising plays an important role in marketing products and services over the internet. This can be achieved through various platforms like ranking in search engines, advertising in social networks like Facebook, Twitter, etc. blogs, banner ads and more.

3. Print on Demand

The tile itself reveals that the printing would be done only when the order has been placed. This method follows fixed pricing per copy and very less or no waste is incurred. Also, this method avoids stocking, handling costs as well as accounting costs.

4. Subscription

In order to access the product or service the user has to pay fees that is termed as subscription fee. This was once pioneered by magazines and newspapers but now it is widely adapted by many businesses.

On the whole, it doesn't mean selling of the product or service but it is periodic selling may me monthly or yearly. In course of time, this model drew attention of telephone companies, cell phone companies, internet providers, magazines, journals and many more service providers.

5. Self-Publishing

Self-Publishing is nothing but publishing any book or piece of work by an author without the involvement of third-party publisher. The author himself is solely responsible right from design to marketing. But the authors can now take a deep breath as the outsource companies that offers all these services have sprung up.

Most Popular Logo Design Tips

Logo-mark, letter-mark or perhaps both

Logos are usually classified into various types. The letter-mark is a logo with only text, usually the name of the product, service or business. The logo-mark is a logo consisting of symbols only. The third very popular type is a combination of both.

You should opt to design a letter-mark logo only if the business has a unique name. The logo will then make the company's name stand out and create a direct emotional connection between the name and the logo.

On the other hand, a logo-mark will be the right option if the company's name is very generic such as Speed, Apple, Water or Stone. Using iconic symbols will help such companies to be identified easily by audiences.

The typeface for the logo design

While choosing your typeface, you need to keep several desired qualities in perspective.

Unique

Avoid common font types, as they may have already been used by many people quite frequently. Select a unique typeface or perhaps design your own.

Readability

When you include typography into the logo design, it should be readable. Avoid using effects like shadows, outlines or emboss, since they make the logo difficult to read.

 Thickness

Choose the right thickness so that the logo needs is readable in different sizes. It should be easily visible in small sizes and seem appropriate in large sizes too.

Relevance

Typefaces represent various qualities that can be sensed by the audience. A font with strong thickness communicates 'strong and solid', while a decorative, thin typeface communicates femininity. Choose the typeface relevant to the business.

Number of fonts

Use a maximum of two fonts in a logo, as too many types only create confusion within the logo and make it appear complicated.

Kerning

This is the spacing between letters and should be an important consideration while designing a logo. The distance should not be too loose or too tight.

The logo designers process

These are some of the usual processes used while designing a logo

The brief

The logo design process generally starts with the brief and you must try to collect as much information as you need, including the name and type of business, corporate positioning, target market, competitors and market segments.

Research & brainstorm: During this step, you will start developing your concepts for the logo and look for ideas.

Logo sketching

Once your ideas and concepts are ready, start making your logo sketches using paper and pencil.

Vectors: The sketch can be transferred to its digital or vector format. You would scan it and then retrace using your choice of vector-based application like Adobe Illustrator.

Presentation

Present the raft to your client and explain the concept behind your logo design, your typeface and choice of

colours.

Revision

Based on the client's feedback, you may have to make the recommended changes, if they are appropriate according to your expertise as a graphic designer.

Effective Logo Design Identify Your Unique Brand

Your choose want your brand to gain a unique positioning, create a fabulous logo design. It is one of the simplest elements of brand communication; however, it is an effective and recognized tool for communication. Since most businesses communicate with their clients through their logos, many leading coffee, car and shoe brands are recognized and remembered due to their unique logos.

Your logo design needs to be effective to achieve the right effect and to create a strong impact. To understand how this can be done, you have to know all the basic elements that go into creating a logo. You can use one or two of these elements or perhaps a blend of all three to design your company's logo.

Image

Use graphics or icons to design your logo, as images usually become prominent even in a cluttered space.

Typeface

Impactful logos can be created with different fonts. You have to design something which communicates your brand's identity in the best possible manner.

Colour

Your choice of colour combination plays a very interesting role in the creation of your logo. You may have noticed that certain colour combinations signify a specific brand. Some brands are known simply because of the colour combinations and not their logos.

As a logo designer, your first priority should be that your logo is understandable. People should be able to relate to your brand through your logo. To be distinctive, your logo should preferably be differentiated from competitive brands. You can achieve this through using unique colour combinations, text and graphics. A logo may be considered unique based on any one of these elements. The impact created by your logo should be so strong that it gets accepted widely and people remember your brand for a long time.

However, in an effort to create a unique logo, don't make it overly complicated. Although such a logo may communicate in detail what your company does and look very artistic, but these details will be lost when the logo has to be scaled down. In contrast, a simple logo will create a greater impact regardless of the size.

Since a logo needs to be timeless, the style should be such that does not age for years to come. If you choose a trending style in font or graphics, it may look amazing now, but you may find yourself re-doing it within a few years.

Your logo will be used in many promotional and business tools, such as business cards, banners, the website and even on the products. The design that you create should work well within all these elements.

Now that you are aware of all the significant elements that are essential for logo designing, you are ready to get started. Create a remarkable logo and give your company a professional image that communicates with your clients.

What Is The Impact Of Switchable Glass In Your Business

Whether your business is looking for an affordable way to improve its interior or exterior aesthetics, or it simply needs an affordable privacy solution that is easy to install, it should consider implementing switchable privacy glass from Polytronix -- panels that change from transparent to translucent with the press of a button. Press the button again and the panels returns to a translucent state.

Switchable privacy glass is composed of five layers: a layer of liquid crystal film that is contained between two layers of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) that are sandwiched between two panes of glass. When the product is powered on, liquid crystal droplets in the liquid crystal film line up to make the pane transparent. When the product is powered off, the crystal droplets randomly disperse and cause the pane to have a cloudy color. The PVB layers enhance the optical effects of both states.

Installation Ideas

Providers of switchable glass services can install the glass in various building areas in a variety of sizes and
configurations. Common areas of installation in professional business settings include: boardrooms, cubicle areas, and offices. Installation sites in restaurants and clubs frequently include: bathroom doors, VIP areas, and exterior windows and doors. Popular areas of installation in health care settings include: surgery areas, maternity wards, and patient consultation desks. Common installation sites in health clubs include shower enclosures and private workout areas.

In addition to being aesthetically unique, switchable privacy glass gives businesses the ability to control the level of privacy in any given setting. Many businesses prefer the aesthetic of an open floor plan but need secluded areas for client consultations and project meetings. Providers of switchable glass services can provide a solution that permits both options. When meetings are not in session, transparent panels can make the floor plan feel open. When meetings convene, the panels can be made translucent with the press of a button. Often discussed for its unique aesthetic, the product also offers practical solutions for interior design.

Installation and Use

Polytronix switchable privacy glass is easy to install and easier to use -- just press a button to get the effect you need. Whether you operate a dining establishment, an office building, a health care center, a health club, or another type of business, chances are that the product has something to offer your business in terms of a privacy solution or a unique aesthetic implement. To learn more about Polytronix products, call a provider of switchable glass services today. Glass industry is growing in the world Business.

Socialist Countries From Ruining Their Economy

Many nations in a state of disrepair and challenged with being overrun by the society? Why is it that some leaders try to rule with an iron fist or through a socialist motif only to find that all of the citizens they've been busy giving to are busy trying to overthrow them? Well, some say it's because; familiarity breeds contempt. Yes, this is totally true, but it's only part of the problem really. What happens is leaders promise the people things that they can't give them, and then they try, but when they have exhausted all their resources the citizens demand what they were promised and more.

Maybe we should talk a little bit about Latin America, and all of the challenges there. We've already seen the problems in Europe with those nations identified as the PIIGS - Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece, and Spain. We've also seen what had happened in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, and who knows what nation will fall during the next Arab Spring type riots. Now then, in Latin America Hugo Chavez has died, and Venezuela's economy is in shambles. Not only that, but there is social disarray, crime, and well, one could say that things are working all that well.

There was a very interesting article in The Journal of International Affairs, spring/summer 2013 addition, volume 66, Number two. The research piece was titled "The Transformation of Security in Latin America: a Cause for Common Action," by Gabriel Marcella. In this research piece the author notes that 42% of all the murders in the world happen in Latin America, but they only have 8% of the world's population.


Wow, those are scary statistics, care to dive into this information a little further, or discuss the root cause? I believe the cause of this is the dumping down of populations and the reliance of these populations on the government for all of their needs as the socialist nations collapse under their own weight, mostly due to all the promises they have made. Many times the US sends aid, assistance, military help, makes special trade deals, and offers quite a bit to socialist nations and their leaders. I believe this to be a mistake.

By propping up these regimes, we are prolonging their reign and helping them further blow up their bubble until it collapses, so doesn't that make us culpable, especially when we know our history of how socialist nations rise and fall? Don't you think the citizens of those nations are watching and will eventually realize that the US had supported those leaders, the ones who lied to them and eventually collapsed their economies, standard of living, currency, and brought on crime and social breakdown.

Marketing, Branding And Reception Signs

You cannot deny the importance of your office reception. Think of your reception as the face or the external skin of your body. While your brain, heart and vital internal systems do most of the work to keep your body going, it is your face and skin that make an impact on other people. They don't definitely analyze the health of your heart to form an impression about you!

The reception in your office has similar importance. So, you need to pay a lot of attention to the elements you include in your reception space in order to make a strong first impression on customers, business associates and others who visit your office. In fact, if you have an attractive reception space, your employees feel warmly welcome when they come to work every day. It revs up their energies and gets them to work optimally.

Reception signs for branding

One of the things that you should include in your reception is the reception signs. These signs play a very important role in establishing your goals and efficiency. Depending on the kind of work you do and the interiors of your office, you can choose from a whole lot of reception sign choices. From a name board that stylishly embeds the name your company in every visitor's memory to boards that announce the attitude of your company towards work, reception signs can be used for a whole lot of purposes. In doing so, these signs become your brand ambassadors.

Reception signs as marketing partners

By using effective reception signs, you can convert your reception area into a marketing and advertising space. Put up signs that advertise your products in the reception area. This way, you can familiarize and create a strong positive impression about your products and services in the minds of visitors.

Reception is usually a place where you provide a small waiting area. When visitors to your office are seated here, they are doing nothing. Their eyes wander along the reception area. You need to capitalize on this time because you already have a captive audience. You can use this time to drive your company's advantages into them. Use attractive signs that catch their attention. This can be one of the best times for you to advertise and market your products.

Reception signs to put business deals in motion

When people come to meet you for business dealings, you usually spend the first few minutes in the meeting trying to make a positive impression about your company. Save time and use reception signs to make an impression. Along with the name of your company, include your motto or tag line. Choose a sign that looks classy, elegant and trendy. Additionally, ensure that the reception area is well organized, spotlessly clean and a reflection of efficiency. Putting up powerful reception signs in such a well organized space can be a great way to put business deals in motion before the meeting actually begins.

Prepaid Debit Card Work For Operate Bank Accounts

Prepaid debit cards are a low-cost alternative to traditional checking accounts, and are a proven way to save hundreds of dollars each year in inflated banking and check cashing fees. Prepaid cards operate just like a bank account but incur little to no fees in the process. Prepaid debit card providers offer safe, easy-to-use, re loadable cards that can be used to pay for virtually anything everywhere Visa and MasterCard are accepted.

There are numerous benefits of using prepaid debit cards, but let's look at five of the reasons you should have one of these cards in your wallet.

Control Your Spending

If you have trouble sticking to a budget and have a tendency to overspend, a prepaid debit card is a great tool for money management. Unlike your average credit card or bank card that allow you to overspend and rack up fees-as interest rates skyrocket and minimum payments increase-you only have access to the funds you put on your prepaid card. You can even set up your prepaid card account for recurring bill payments, and separate these from discretionary spending to better control your finances.

Get a Prepaid Card Even If You Can't Get a Traditional Bank Account

Some people don't qualify for traditional bank accounts or don't have access to mainstream banking. Whether it is due to location, credit problems, income, or other issues, the inability to use traditional banking services is referred to as "under banked." If this sounds like you, a prepaid debit card can help. You'll qualify for a prepaid debit card regardless of credit rating or income. You can deposit your paycheck directly on the card and use it anywhere credit cards are accepted.

Protect Yourself During Travel

Carrying cash isn't the best option when you travel. You're also putting yourself at risk when you take your bank cards and credit cards with you-especially if they are lost or stolen. Prepaid debit cards are ideal for traveling because you only load the money you need for your trip. They're not connected to credit or bank accounts, so if they are lost or stolen you won't have to worry about losing all of the money in your account or someone charging thousands of dollars to your credit card. Plus, prepaid debit cards are often insured if they're lost or stolen so you can rest easier using your prepaid card on your vacation.

Prevent Identity Theft

Identity theft continues to rise, especially as a result of credit card data being stolen. Many savvy consumers who are aware of identity theft risks avoid using their credit cards except in an emergency. While this is good practice, when you don't regularly use your credit cards and rarely check your balances, they become a perfect tool for identity thieves. A better strategy is to use a prepaid debit card as an emergency backup because its data and associated funds are much less accessible to thieves.

Teach Teens about Financial Responsibility

Teens need to learn financial responsibility as early as possible. You can help them get started by allowing them to manage their money on a prepaid debit card. This not only helps you monitor their spending, but also gives them the opportunity to have a little financial freedom without the risks associated with using a traditional bank account or credit card.

These are just a few of the reasons why a prepaid debit card is the best way to approach money management. Whether you're a parent teaching your kids about spending or you want to travel safely, prepaid debit cards offer you the flexibility, affordability, and convenience.

How To Manage Tax Work To Your Own Business

 Preparers and handle tax work. This is a fast-paced world we are living in. That is why a lot of people tend to get a bit impatient. While there are things we can acquire in just a blink of an eye or a single click, things with high value need a lot of hard work. Often times, these are the ones that are taken advantage of. What not a lot of people don't know is that these things apply to businesses and companies, too. This very dynamic world turns a lot of things in an instant. A company may be at the top of the world for now, and at the bottom in a snap. Thus, there is a need for competent people to handle work for various companies.

When it comes to finances and marketing needs, various businesses and corporations acquire services from auditors, accountants, bookkeepers and tax preparers for the organization and systematic handling of their financial transactions. Not to mention, this team of experts also provide services to help the company in decision-making processes as well as to retain its honor and integrity by filing accurate returns.

So how does these tax preparers work? Here are some of the key points on how effective and efficient these professionals are.

These finance experts have great sense of foresight. They have the knowledge in finance, economics and marketing and for them to apply their skills in providing the best solutions for companies; they need to have sharp skills in prediction and trending. They must know which ones are valuable assets for the company, which ones are risky and which ones could be a great game changer in the future.

These financial experts work well under pressure. They think ahead of time and are able to plan about the strategies the companies should take in the future. And since they have plans and back-up plans, they work well in a calm environment, even so in a chaotic one. They easily adjust and are flexible enough to know the repercussions of taking such actions. They easily formulate analyses and reports on how things tend to go.

These financial experts handle work with organized and systematic approach. They have various techniques in sorting and categorizing. They develop plans on how to strategically make things easier for everything to be analyzed. They have various testing methods for different data. Thus, they are able to employ the best methods for more efficient results.

Growing Your Own Business

Running your own business should be exciting, challenging, rewarding and, ultimately, lucrative. However, it isn't always so. Many SMEs fail. Few achieve their full potential. Most grow for a while and then reach some plateau where, despite the best efforts of the business leader or the leadership team, they continue to bump along year after year.

Why is this?

It may be due in part to external factors like market turn-down, a worsening economy or your product starts to lose ground to competitors. Perhaps a change of staff has not produced employees who are as effective as the original small team.

Often, however, the answer is much simpler than that. Take a look in the mirror! The limiting factor for most businesses is the time, attention or knowledge of the person or group of people running it. The owners may grow the business for many years just by working hard, for long hours, but there comes a point where every new thing they have to do means that something they used to do no longer gets done. Even if the business has employed more staff, overall productivity is going down.

Managing a business and leading people is difficult to do well and it is unwise to try to practice it through trial and error. People often say, "I'll pick it up as I go along" - and the vast number of those businesses struggle. This is not a coincidence - these facts are related.

What can you do about it?

Start by recognising the limiting beliefs that are holding you back - your mind-set - and replace them with enabling beliefs.Take a look at the purpose: your vision of where you want to go, how you want to get there, what you believe in, what you value and what you do. What is your strategy for explaining what is special about your product and how it is a better proposition for your chosen market?

Systematization: this makes your business efficient, repeatable, resilient, reliable - and scalable.

Finally, think about engagement. People are much easier to manage when they are committed to the cause. They are also much more productive. An engaged workforce is aligned with the organisation's purpose, will feel proud to be part of a winning team and teamwork will come naturally to them as a result.

First Step For Start Small Business

There are so many ideas when it comes to small business. Some are good and some are not so good.

I have a couple of commandments that I like to follow when I coach small business owners.

Never give up" Winston Churchill. You will be tested again and again to test your resolve. There will be days where you want to go back to the security of your job. This is the time where you need to be strong, emotionally strong that is. If business was easy everyone would be doing it. Franchises are successful because everything is done for you, you have systems in place. Even with a franchise, there is no guarantee of success. I remember one morning (1 am) when I started my shift, the Internet was done, the phone line wasn't working and I did not get one sale for the next 3 days. How did you think that felt? I was destroyed. I looked around my study with my motivational hand written pieces of paper stuck to the wall with blue tack. One of them said, "There is a silver lining in every cloud" I saw no silver lining.

All I saw was misery and a feeling of helplessness. However, I dusted myself off and got up again. The roller coaster ride of business is something that cannot be explained until you experience it. You can give me all the motivation and tutorials you want but when that phone stops ringing, all your fears come to the surface and that little voice in your head creates havoc. This will happen for the rest of your business life. Get on with it, be positive and do your best but never give up.

2    When you succeed, do not change as a person, show empathy. Time and time again I have seen successful people bragging about how busy they are and that they cannot keep up with customers. This trait is embarrassing and not recommended. The majority of people lie anyway in my experience. You don't need to advertise that you are busy. People are smarter than you think; they can work it out for themselves. You see, here lies the problem. If you are arrogant, then one day your business closes down, what do you do then? Do you hide in shame? Do you crawl under a rock? No.

Do not get in this position. People will resent you. When people ask how's business, you say business is OK, we are seeing improvements. That is empathy. You should tell people you are successful without big noting yourself. Nothing makes my father prouder than when people tell him how humble his son is. I take after dad. He is the same guy who arrived on a boat in Australia, nothing has changed. Sure, he has a better house and car but deep down he is still the same guy who grew up in a strict household