The Poker Nightcap

Here’s a controversial statement that gets people either loving me or hating me when I say it:

If you want to make a lot of money very quickly in business, regardless of whether or not you have a lot of experience, money or credit, then you need to know — despite the hype and mainstream misinformation out there — that it’s way more difficult to start a business from scratch than to simply buy an existing one.

Why?

The main reason is the money.

What happens is you go out and start a business from scratch, and you really can’t borrow any money because nobody wants to lend it to you, except maybe Mom and Dad. And even if they want to lend it to you, the chances are slim you’ll be able to pay them back any time soon (if at all) because you will have no profit for a while.

On the other hand, if you go out and buy an existing business, and buy it for a normal market price, you can finance just about the whole thing with a lot less trouble and red tape. Usually, if you understand how the “game” is played, you can finance it 100%.

Don’t misunderstand: This is NOT “no money down”. But it is 100% financing. When I was teaching how to buy businesses nationally, all the real estate programs were talking about “nothing down” in real estate. Well in business, you don’t have “nothing down.” There’s a difference between 100% financing, or close to it, and “nothing down.”

And, unlike start-ups — that are not immediately making a profit — with existing businesses, if you have enough cash flow (and you shouldn’t even bother with a business if it doesn’t have adequate cash flow out the gate) you can finance the whole thing using any number of different financing methods, including using investors.

Arthur B. Hamel has bought over 200 businesses in the past 50 years, and is a well-known author, consultant, investor, business owner, and dynamic lecturer who has shared the stage with such business greats as Robert Allen of “No Money Down” fame. For the past 20 years Art has taught thousands of people around the world — even so-called “little guys” with no formal education or money — how to quickly and easily buy large, multi-million dollar businesses with no credit, banks or prior business experience. He has recently decided to share his unique business-buying secrets and tactics free of charge at: http://arthurhamel.com

Are you tired of waking up day after day, looking at
yourself in the mirror, and realizing that you will
never ultimately be happy working for somebody else?

Do you dream about financial freedom and inner
happiness that can only result in working for yourself?

By working for yourself you will be improving your
state of mind, your allotted personal free time, and
essentially gaining control over your financial future.

Now comes the countless hours of research and
questions. Where do I begin? What’s the best business
fit for me? Can I really afford to quit the daily
drudgery of the rat-race and be my own boss? How much
of an investment will I need to make? Will I succeed?

Well, I know it can all seem a bit overwhelming at
first. It truly is a giant leap of faith to take all
of your pre-conditioned misconceptions and experience
in working for somebody else, and toss it all out the
window. But once you understand that you can be the
sole architect of your own future, and you take that
leap of faith, you will find the stuff that you are
really made of. Nobody will limit the extent of how
far you can go, except yourself. You WILL be your own
boss, and the feast or famine depends entirely on you.

Whatever your personal reasons for wanting to get out
of the 9-5 rut you woke up and found yourself stuck in,
everybody has dreams that they want to see breathed
into fruition. Whether you want to spend more time
with your family and friends, cut costs associated with
job-related expenses such as travel and work attire, or
if you simply work better independently; with the
modern-day technology of the internet, and all of the
global marketing exposure that it generates, take
comfort in the fact that everybody has the power to
manifest their own destiny in the 21st century!

That’s where the beauty of owning and operating your
own home business comes in. Working from home gives you
the opportunity to work as much or as little as you
wish, and there is no end to how much income you can
generate, if you are motivated, and organized.

The first step is to develop an outline of your
business plan. Thoroughly research all of your home-
based options, and do as much networking as possible by
talking to anybody and everybody you encounter. Go
over your short-term and long-term goals, and remember,
do not be afraid to think BIG! Confidence in yourself
is absolutely crucial to becoming a successful
entrepreneur. There will always be someone in your
life who will try to trample on the garden of your
dreams; you must learn to tune out these dream-killers
and skeptics with the knowledge that one day you will
make them eat their own words, and your dreams will
blossom and flourish abundantly if you feed and
encourage them!

First of all, you have to have a business idea. Let’s
look at some legitimate home business ideas to begin
with; let’s get some ideas going here!

Web design, Graphic design, Internet marketing,
Secretarial Service, Medical Transcriptionist, Home
Parties, (there’s lots of these around and you can
definitely make good money if you stick with them), Pet
Sitting, Errand Runner, Copywriter, Real Estate,
Photographer, Caterer, Furniture Maker, Candle Making,
Wedding Consultant, Computer Tuition, Music Lessons,
Insurance Agent.

There’s loads more, but as you can see, it is possible
to find something you enjoy that can be a great home
business. You might have to take some classes to begin
with if you don’t have a skill. It depends what you
are looking for.

The trick with any home business is to ease your way
into one. Keep your regular job while you develop your
home business. Start your business part-time and let
it build. When it reaches the point where you are
making enough money, you can quit your regular job.
This way, you won’t be taking risks and depending on a
new business to support you right away.

All the above mentioned businesses are relatively
low cost start-up businesses. Forget having to
invest hundreds of thousands just to start your
own business. Some of the most successful businesses
were started on a shoe-string, or thereabouts! With a
little bit of research and determination, you can
definitely realize your dreams of having your own home
based business!

Michele Miller is a home-based business owner and
medical transcriptionist. You can visit her website:
http://www.medical-transcription-at-home.com and also
get her complimentary ebook at
http://www.home-based-business-advice.com

Have you ever had sore nipples that constantly itch irritatingly? No, please do not ever think of getting the scissors to snip off those nipples! Allegorically, if you really feel like doing this already, read on, you may have nipples with thrush.

Usually, the main culprit in skin itchiness is insect bite. Mosquito bites usually do not last long and could be easily remedied by calamine lotions. If you have innocently treated your nipples like you do with insect bits, chances are you will not get any result. If it is thrush (fungi), it will be quite stubborn because it will last for weeks, and if untreated, it could go for a year.

Fungal infections in the skin can healed by over the counter topical creams applied liberally as indicated by the leaflet of the drug. If the right cream is used constantly and religiously, there is no way a fungi can continue growing in the skin.

In case of the nipple, lactating mothers are prone to it because lactation keeps the nipple moist, and that amount of dampness triggers growth of fungi. This also goes along with the drug treatment the mother is using which can weaken the body from fighting the overgrowth of yeasts all the way. As far as nipples with thrush are concerned, men also acquire them without reason. Yes, fungal infections just come and go, sometimes airborne, but basically, they come naturally and without serious cause.

Thrush is basically internal than external. When all kinds of organisms invade all environments, plant or animal environment, it can never be eradicated at all. In the body, it is beneficial in balancing the processes of the system. They only become harmful when too much, just like any other parasites and bacteria.

The friendliest habitat of yeasts is damp environment. When the nipples are expected to be dry, you may not suspect that too much sweat can leave it prone to fungal infection. The nipples have mammary ducts that are quite different from other part of the skin.

For men, nipples with thrush are not so much an issue as theirs are dormant. For lactating mothers, it could add stress. When breastfeeding is a woman’s gift of nurturing, some harbor thrush and some do not. As breastfeeding gets established, the symptoms could be mistaken as blisters caused by sucking, as it is the first obstacle of any first-time nursing processes of feeding an infant. So it goes for several days, only to find out that the period of adjustment never seem to get comfortable.

Then afterwards, nipples with thrush go advance with constant sensations like pain, soreness and itchiness, which could affect the mother’s desire to nurse. It must be clear that it is thrush that is causing the problem.

With some patience, fungal infections in the nipples could be treated the same way as the other skin. For breastfeeding mothers, it will mean an additional effort and care to avoid passing it to her baby

Fungal preparations, which come in tubes, are manufactured in almost the same formula. Use only the right fungal cream for thrush and not any other medications for common wounds. If thrush is left untouched but constantly treated, it has faster healing result.

If you are a person who have recurring fungal infections all the time, then it is time for you to think of deeper way to cure yourself by changing diet, avoiding foods rich in sugar. For best result, contact an expert.

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Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR’S resource box at the bottom of this article is included and and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.
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Charlene J. Nuble 2006.

For answers to All your frequently asked questions about thrush, please go to: http://thrush.candidaanswers.com/

This extremely hearty, rib-sticking dish is great for warming you up on cool nights. It combines food ingredients from several cultures, including Chinese, East Indian, North American and others. It started as a way to use up leftover meats and rice, but turned into its own unique variation of Chinese fried rice.

Equipment

• Wok is preferred but a large non-stick frying pan will do.
• Second frying pan to make omellette.

General notes

• The white steamed rice should be prepared the previous night, or at least cooled for a few hours. Fluff it up with a fork while it is hot, to prevent clumping when it has cooled. [If it's too clumpy when you cook the next day, break it up gently with a wooden spatula.]
• The original version of this recipe is very spicy and uses halapeno peppers. This is optional, but if used, add them at the same time as the onions and mushrooms.

Ingredients

• 2-3 tbsp of cooking oil (canola, vegetable oil), used in two batches.
• 1/2 – 1 Oktoberfest sausage, cut into thick, bite-sized discs, then cut in halves or quarters. Substitute with spicy Italian sausage, if necessary.
• Any leftover meats (ham, roast beef, turkey, chicken, Vietnamese nem nuong bbq pork sausage), shredded or diced into bite-sized pieces. If you are using more than one meat, shred one and dice the other, for richness of texture. The quantity is up to you.
• 2 tbsp onion, diced
• 1/4 cup mushrooms, sliced
• 1/4 cup mixed bell peppers, small diced (optional)
• 1 small halapeno or other hot pepper, sliced (optional). Remove the seeds if you don’t want too much heat. Use a fork and knife to slice the pepper. If you use your hand, wash it in soap and water right away to avoid accidentally touching your face (or someone else’s).
• 1/8 cup green peas, thawed (optional)
• salt and black pepper to taste
• white wine to deglaze
• 1-egg omellete, made thinly, shredded into bite-size ribbons (about 1-2 inches long).
• Crushed red pepper flake (optional)
• 1 cup rice, cooked. If rice is in clumps, break up with a wooden spatula, not a fork.
• 1 stalk green onion, sliced finely on a bias.
• The measurement for the above ingredients produce enough of a side dish for 2-3 people, or a large meal for one.

Preparation

• Heat the wok or a very large non-stick frying pan with 1-2 tbsp of cooking oil.
• Add the raw meats and saute for 1-2 minutes. Then add any leftover/cooked meat and saute for another 2-3 minutes.
• Add onions and mushrooms and saute for 1 minute. If these veggies stick, add a very little bit (1 tbsp) of white wine to deglaze. Let the wine evaporate almost completely before continuing.
• Add another tbsp of cooking oil. Swirl it around the pan and let it heat up, about 1 minute.
• Add bell peppers, halapenos, and peas (if desired), and saute for 1 minute.
• Add shredded omellette and toss.
• Add salt & black pepper to taste. Add the red pepper flake, if desired.
• Add rice and break up with a wooden spatula, if necessary. Toss to distribute all the ingredients throughout the rice. Do not leave the rice on the heat for more than 1 minute.
• Turn off the heat. Add chopped green onions and toss to mix.

Serving
Serve as a main course with a garnish of finely-diced tomatoes and onions, or a side of bean sprout and mushroom stir-fry. (Alternately, you could add bean sprouts to the dish while its still on the heat, just after the rice. This will add some texture.) Keep in mind that this is a high-protein AND high-carb dish. Some diets do not recommend mixing the two.

(c) Copyright 2005-present, Raj Kumar Dash

Raj Kumar Dash, also known as the very opinionated Elvis Parsley, the “Curry” Elvis, was taught cooking at his mother’s side. A trained cook, he writes about various world cuisines, the health-related aspects of food, food TV shows, and pretty much anything related to the food industry. You can find his new food site (still in revision) at http://www.curryelvis.com/, and four older cooking blog archives by starting at http://curryelviscooks.blogspot.com.

Everywhere you turn online these days you hear
the word “podcast” or “podcasting.” No, it’s not
some broadcasting method used by Martians, even
though it might sound like it. A Podcast is just
an audio file that is syndicated via an RSS feed,
that you download and listen to with your computer
or a portable device such as an iPod.

What makes it different from an ordinary RSS
feed is the audio component included in the
“enclosure field.” Think of it as a feed that
talks to you.

Podcasting is increasing in popularity. According
to Forrester Research, by 2010 podcasting should
have about 12.3 million listeners. That’s a pretty
big audience. For more info see
http://tinyurl.com/84tyo

Similar to a talk radio show, podcasts can also take
the format of an interview. Topics range from
business to hobbies; even rants and obsessions.
Lengths vary, but a typical podcast will run
anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, but I have seen
some longer. So far, there are not many music
podcasts due to the red tape and cost of music
licensing — although musicians and/or small
record labels bypass that issue by utilizing their
own recordings.

Before you think you need some special device to
listen to a podcast, let me assure you that you
don’t. Most RSS readers have the capability
built in to play podcasts. Any software that
can play a sound file can play a podcast. If you
want to take them with you to listen to while on
the road you’ll want to invest in a portable MP3
device like an iPod.

Like other RSS feeds, you decide which ones you
want to subscribe to and you can unsubscribe at
any time.

Online business owners should think of podcasting
as yet another avenue for promoting your products
and services. Like an ezine or the RSS feeds you
already use, it’s a simple inexpensive method of
syndicating your audio files online. It would appear
that a podcast is a bit more personal. Instead of
just reading, like an ezine, people can listen to
the sound of your voice and make a more personal
connection.

Now that I have your attention you may be
wondering “How do I create a podcast?”
Well, it’s really pretty simple if you follow
the easy steps below:

1) First you’ll need to use software to
record your own audio file. A good free
one is Audacity which you can download
at http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
While there, you’ll also need to download the
Lame MP3 Encoder which allows MP3 exportation.

2) Once your audio is recorded you’ll need
to create an RSS feed file which is simply
a special text file with an RSS extension
that also includes a particular enclosure tag.
For step by step directions on making a feed
file see this site:

http://make-rss-feeds.com/making-an-rss-feed.htm

There’s also a great tutorial on RSS here:

http://www.mnot.net/rss/tutorial/

3) Once your audio and RSS files are completed
you’ll need to upload both of them to your
server/website.

If you’d like to read more here are some more
online sites to help guide you.

Make Your First Podcast
http://tinyurl.com/757fx

Create Podcasts Using Your PC
http://tinyurl.com/9jfcb

If you don’t want to do all this work manually
there are software tools specific to podcast
creation.

ePodCast Creator
http://tinyurl.com/do7sq

Pod Producer
http://tinyurl.com/9dwrh

That’s it. Wasn’t that simple? Remember, you
can’t get subscribers if people don’t know
about your feed, so make sure you add it in
a prominent place of your site. You want to
make it easy for them to subscribe and add
your feed to their news reader.

Audio files are rather large and can take up
a lot of space on your server, so make sure
you won’t run out of bandwidth. If you’re
tight on space you can always farm it out
to a third party service such as
http://www.PodLot.com . For only $5.00 they’ll
give you 150 MB of storage space with no
bandwidth limitations. Your domain will
look like this: nameofyourshow.podlot.com

If you think you’re going to have a hit
on your hands and want to try to generate
cash from your podcast, check out
http://www.PremiumPodcasting.com . They
provide a system that allows you to charge
for your shows and also include private
access to them, track who is listening
and more. You can try them out for a four
day trial for only one dollar.

Once your podcast is live you’ll want to make
sure you list it with the various directories
that exist for just this purpose. You’ll find
a nice list here:

http://tinyurl.com/create.php

Podcast Bunker
http://tinyurl.com/9qayk

Open Media Network
http://omn.org/submitfeeds.htm

Podcasting Station
http://tinyurl.com/7qlzq

Robin Good has a huge list at
http://tinyurl.com/9rusq

So now that you see how easy it is to create
a podcast, what’s stopping you? Remember, this
is a great tool to add to your marketing mix
and if you’re a bit on the creative side this
might be just the ticket. Have fun with it,
experiment and you’ll become an expert podcaster
in no time.

By Merle- Want to Know the SECRETS of Article
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Mbeya seems so far away from every other place in Tanzania and as a result this lovely African town and surrounding highlands tends to get shunned. Mbeya is about 860km south-west of Dar es Salaam and close by are the borders of Malawi and Zambia.
Mbeya is mountainous region with the exception of some lowland areas which are within the Rift Valley. Close to Mbeya town are picturesque valleys surrounded by undulating hills and a range of mountains.

This is Tanzania’s main gateway to the southern countries of Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. The Temperatures varies quite dramatically from lows of -6C on the highlands and temperatures of over 29C on the lowlands. Driving through the Southern Highlands it is possible to feel the dramatic temperature shifts with the vegetation changing just as dramatically within very short distances.

Mbeya enjoys an abundant and reliable rainfall and there never seems to be a lack of water; it is cool and often misty and even a wooly sweeter is needed from time to time; especially in the evenings.

There is high plateau called the Kitulo Plateau – sometimes referred to as ‘the garden of God’ and here high above the madding crowd is a secret sea of orchids. This National Park of wild flowers in all its glorious color is a delight to anyone who appreciates and loves the orchid in its natural setting. The Kitulo Plateau became Tanzania’s fourteenth National Park for the protection of its plants and in particular the orchid.

This huge carpet of ground orchid’s bloom quite unnoticed, every year, in this forgotten corner of Tanzania. It is unnoticed because it is possibly as far away from the Serengeti and Kilimanjaro as you can get and still be in Tanzania.
To get to Kitulo travel from Mbeya on the road to the Zambian Border – at a place called Chimala turn south; this is about an hours drive from Mbeya town. Then travel up the escarpment and pass through Matamba and arrive at the plateau.
There are not many amenities here and to be self sufficient is the only option. There are a few local places to take up boarding close to the park. However, it is possible to camp on the plateau itself.
It is a pleasure to drive in and around the region as it is well-served with good road networks from different parts of the country – most unusual in Africa. Mbeya also connects with the two main highways linking to Malawi, Zambia Zimbabwe Botswana and South Africa. Mbeya is among the best places in Tanzania for hiking and forest walking, which are all the more enjoyable for the cool weather. For me, Mbeya is a real treat and I always love to visit the area but sadly I tend not to make it to this part of Tanzania as often as I would like.

For more detailed information see http://www.betheladventure.co.uk and also for group safaris at wholesale rates http://www.parksadventure.com support responsible tourism and change lives

There is little doubt that America is riding the wave. She is at the peak of her power and at the top of her game. Trying to get her attention would be a lot like trying to stop a train with a handkerchief. Every similarity to previous world powers notwithstanding our collective national behavior is so close to ancient Rome that all that is missing is the togas. The land of the mighty Caesars made a noise heard round the world for a season then died alone in a protracted whimpering that went largely unnoticed as the world entered the modern era. What can we learn from this? Leaving this question unanswered might normally imply that the answer is understood, however, it is apparent that for Americans nothing at all is understood.

The dangers are ignored, the warnings go unheeded, and the party goes on. Contrasts of our lifestyle and that of other nations make us all the more pompous and less willing to question our own indulgence. We have been all to willing to conclude that there must be something wrong with those guys over there. The prophet, bard and poet must now curb their urgency and put out a more entertaining message in keeping with the tone of the party spirit. We are only one step away from jailing, hurting or killing the messengers who provide us with a call to conscience. Or have we already taken our first few baby steps in that direction.

Like a mangy little dog scampering behind us and nipping at our heals comes the ACLU standing up for the rights of Gays and Lesbians while beating down manger scenes at Christmas and Ten Commandment plaques in public buildings. It makes me wonder if even common heroism has fallen victim to perversion. Are these acts heroic, are they really protecting our freedoms?

In Pennsylvania a law was recently rammed through the legislature that makes it illegal for a minister of the gospel to quote passages of the Bible from the pulpit that cite homosexual behavior as a sin. That law has been challenged by people with a bit of common sense still left to them in that state.

In Iraq and Afghanistan we are kept from entering and searching mosques that are known centers for Islamic jihad groups or where weapons are stockpiled and cached. They are considered cultural centers and thus are placed off limits. Contrast this to the latest effort to keep military chaplains from praying in the name of Jesus Christ with those who they are sheparding. Chaplains are guarding the spiritual welfare of our own soldier citizens, is that any less important than the cultural traditions of foreigners?

On a recent ride through a rural district of Arkansas I noticed that there was a church building about every one and a half miles on the road I was on. There were Pentecostal, Full Gospel, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Nazarene, Catholic and some unheard of varieties of churches stretched out in profusion for well over two hundred miles. As I drove I was thinking of an old adage spoken by one of our most well known missionary pioneers who said…”why should anyone hear the gospel twice when there are so many people in the world who have not even heard it once” I wondered if this profusion of churches laid out to us like a grand spiritual buffet is just taken for granted. No, I’m sure that it is.

After retuning home I saw a picture on the internet that I couldn’t help but contrast to the highway of churches I had just encountered. On a news site online was a picture of three Indonesian policemen standing behind three seated women they were guarding. The policemen were in full dress complete with strapped gun holsters, uniforms with arrays of badges and medals and a stern look of duty etched across each sullen face. In front of them were seated three average looking Indonesian women garbed in light blue prison jumpers. Three middle aged elementary school teachers who had just been sentenced to three years each for teaching their young students about Jesus Christ in their predominantly Muslim school sat stunned as sentence was pronounced. Save that Mosque but waste the lives of three harmless but dedicated educators, now that’s good thinking.

So over here it may not seem so bad…yet. Hollywood would have to make stumbling wimpy idiots of most gospel ministers; it goes with the territory and may seem even a bit tolerable after all. If you’re going to pump out a secular world view full of profanity and degenerate living you don’t want gospel preaching ministers to be taken too seriously. It would be too hard to sell a product if the naysayer’s were allowed a soap box from which to stand and proclaim that the product was trash within the very medium the product was sold through.

Should a dedicated Christian happen to slip through the cracks with the gospel on their lips and a life to back it up, they too would be relegated to the class of the disdained. It seems acceptable to make fun of the born againers and bible thumpers in media and in society in general. No one cares if you strip half naked, paint your face and act like a frenzied baboon on a psychedelic drug at a football game…those are fans are they not? But those who get even nominally excited about God are always labeled…fanatics. It is unlikely that Americans notice such double standards, since we are so bent on disregarding any standards at all.

We have gone from a state of utter dependence on God as we did during our pioneer days and then on to seeking the presence of God in our formative years as a nation. But now we are entering that place where we don’t even like to retain the knowledge of God at all in our thinking or living. What will be the result of all this and what can we expect next? I will let the Bible answer that.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Romans 1:28

Rev Bresciani has written many articles over the past thirty years in such periodicals as Guideposts and Catholic Digest. He is the author of two books available on Amazon.com, Alibris, Barnes and Noble and many other places. Rev Bresciani wrote “Hook Line and Sinker or what has Your Church Been Teaching You,” publisher, PublishAmerica of Baltimore MD. He also wrote a book published by Xulon Press entitled “An American Prophet and His Message, Questions and Answers on the Second Coming of Christ.” His book is now being heralded as the clearest book on the subject of the second coming of Christ since Hal Lindsey’s “Late Great Planet Earth” Rev Bresciani’s website is,

http://americanprophet.org

Unless you have the privilege to have attended business school, you probably don’t know what invoice factoring is. Perhaps you have never even heard of it. Do not worry: not everyone has and, even if they have, they may not understand what they have heard. It is only common in a business setting (or, to be more specific, a failing business etting). So, to help you know what this process is, we have assembled simple definitions. Below, we will show you what invoice factoring is and why it is important to businesses everywhere.

Invoice Factoring: What Is It?

If a business is in financial trouble, receiving proper funding can be difficult, if not impossible. Banks may not be willing to take a chance on what they view as a failing product. So, often, a business will turn to the process of factoring to raise money for a short-term time. Factoring allows a business to borrow larger amounts of money than usual loans offer. The business can then finance itself. The act of invoice factoring is a more specific approach to this process.

Every business has invoices of work completed; when these are unpaid, money, of course, becomes short. Invoice factoring allows that business to borrow against the unpaid invoices as a loan. When the loan is complete (and the financial problems are solved), backers will receive their payment through a large percentage of paid invoices. Simply put: you borrow against them and, as they are paid, use that money to repay your loan. It is a process that has been proven to work.

Invoice Factoring: Is It Worth It?

Often, the thought of borrowing money is daunting, as it should be. But, to save a business, employers must be willing to take risks and, as risks go, this is slightly less of one. Invoice factoring is a proven method of loaning money. Loans can more easily be given, and can be paid off through simple installments. This makes it a more reliable method than just borrowing with the bank.

Of course, there is always a risk involved with any form of loan. While you get a larger initial loan, that does mean that you have to pay off a larger sum when the time comes. When invoice money starts pouring back in, close to ninety percent of it will be taken to pay off your loan. Your profits will be slim during this time, forcing you to be careful with every dime–more careful than you were before you even received the loan. This can make many employers pause, wondering if they can afford to take such loses. But, in all honesty, how can they afford not to?

Invoice Factoring: Conclusion

Do not let the idea of a loan make you pause. If a business is in financial trouble, there is often little choice. Invoice factoring allows a business to receive a greater amount of money, helping it stay afloat as invoices come in, and usually allow for easy payment plans. Invoice factoring can be the best way to keep a business in solid financial state.

Richard Cussons is a prolific and diverse writer. You will find out more about invoice factoring at the Factoring Broker website.

Apart from the major downside of the Yellow Pages, that it is nipplepiercingly expensive, it is still a bottom achingly brilliant vehicle to take your marketing message to your target audience. Well, some people think, the YP is on its way out, and I totally agree, but I believe it has a few more years of marching to do until it completely vanishes into thin air or even into a puff of smoke.

The good news is that people who look you up in the Yellow Pages are very serious buyers. They need what you sell right now. So, when they contact you, you are in for a very short buying cycle. And that is a great advantage. However, this advantage comes at a price tag and a pretty high level of commitment from your end. The good news is that…

Some 97% of the Yellow Pages Ads Are Duds

Just look up the YP in any category. All the ads look exactly the same. No difference. Not a sausage. You can shift the company names between ads and you see that they all do the same thing the same way. There is no differentiation. They are like teenagers: They so desperately try to be different from everyone else that they end up looking and behaving exactly the same way as everyone else. Hm.

So, where is the problem with all those YP ads? The Book of Boredom, Yawn and Drab: Are You Making These Nine
Fatal Mistakes in Your Yellow Pages Ads?

Apart from the major downside of the Yellow Pages, that it is nipplepiercingly expensive, it is still a bottomachingly brilliant vehicle to take your marketing message to your target audience. Well, some people think, the YP is on its way out, and I totally agree, but I believe it has a few more years of marching to do until it completely vanishes into thin air or even into a puff of smoke.

The good news is that people who look you up in the Yellow Pages are very serious buyers. They need what you sell right now. So, when they contact you, you are in for a very short buying cycle. And that is a great advantage. However, this advantage comes at a price tag and a pretty high level of commitment from your end. The good news is that…

Some 97% of the Yellow Pages Ads Are Duds

Just look up the YP in any category. All the ads look exactly the same. No difference. Not a sausage. You can shift the company names between ads and you see that they all do the same thing the same way. There is no differentiation. They are like teenagers: They so desperately try to be different from everyone else that they end up looking and behaving exactly the same way as everyone else. Hm.

So, where is the problem with all those YP ads?

First Let’s Look at Some YP Stats

The Yellow Pages reach 76% of the population in the average month, 57% in the average week, and 17% daily. Adults refer to the Yellow Pages almost twice per week, or approximately 19 billion times per year.

88% of these references result in contact with a purchase or an intent to purchase.

Because the Yellow Pages is a reference medium, like classified ads in newspapers, providing over 50% of new clients.

52% of potential clients either have no service provider in mind, or have multiple names in mind when they see your Yellow Pages ad. Your ad can clarify one name for them: Yours.

The average business gets $6 in profit for every $1 invested in Yellow Pages advertising. With a good ad you can even beat that. But be aware of average. When the average temperature in a hospital is normal, it can also mean that half of the patients suffer from high fever and the other half are dead. The YP is the same. Some people make huge profits on their ads, and some curse the name of the person who invented the Yellow Pages. The interesting thing is that the
idiots volunteer to lose on their ads rather than hiring a Yellow Pages specialist.

The average cost of half page Yellow Pages display ad for one full year is over $15,000, so you had better know what you are doing.

81% of YP readers (potential clients) start at the beginning of the heading when they don’t have a business name in mind.

66% of readers believe that a larger display ad indicates a more established, more realizable business. 70% look at the larger ads when they are not sure where to buy.

20% of readers want to see more information. Can you see why you need a website?

81% of readers make contact with the advertising business.

34% will contact a company they had never contacted before. How good are you at handling first contacts? Is your receptionist a minimum-wage bimbo from the bottom of the unemployment scum barrel or a true professional with the necessary communications skills? Also, I
sincerely hope that you have something better than a “corporate voice mail labyrinth”.

42% of people will contact two or more businesses. Remember the receptionist syndrome. Your receptionist brings you business. I don’t care how good of a lawyer, engineer or gravedigger you are. Everything hinges on your receptionist. So, start appreciating and paying her properly. Believe it or not, she carries major “bankrupting power” over your business.

For readers with both small and large directories in their homes, 38% will use the small book, 62% will use the large book, and 8% will reference multiple books. Maybe the lower cost of the small, local book is a good deal after all. There are over 4200 active headings in the yellow pages, and YP can create your own heading for you if needed. So, let’s look at…

Ten Typical Yellow Pages Mistakes and They Can Be Avoided

1. Failing to do the necessary pre-placement planning: Typically when do business owners plan their Yellow Pages ads? Actually never, until they get a call from the YP rep, and they hand over their money to the rep and say they blindly trust the Yellow Pages’ ad specialists to create the ad. Keep something in mind. The Yellow Pages doesn’t care whether or not you make any business from your ad. With this in mind, what is the logic for the YP company to hire expensive ad specialists? Increasing overhead costs? No.

They will create an ad that looks exactly the same as all your competitors’, so but your chance of being selected when potential buyers peruse your category is not much. So, what to include in your pre-placement planning?

Some are…
What results do you want to achieve from your ad?

What is your Most Wanted Action? (Action you want your prospects to take?

What proportion of your business do you expect to come from YP?

Who is your target market?

What is your biggest primary and secondary benefit?

Do you have an offer both for “Ready to Buy” prospects and for prospects who are looking for more information?

Which directories do you put your ad in?

2. Imitating the competition: Most YP advertisers are like teenagers: In their efforts of looking unique, they look exactly the same. Again, what happens when a business’ YP ad comes up for renewal? The ad must be in within ten minutes, so the job gets dumped on a people who have never done advertising in their lives. They look up YP, copy one of the competitors’ ads and place them. And retarded business owners all over the world fork out their hard-earned money for some braindead “me too” type ads. Here are the typical ways businesses imitate each other:

The headline is replaced with the company name or logo.

Benefits are replaced with product description. Hint: If you sell drills, advertise amazing holes, not drills. If you are a realtor, advertise quality of life not houses.

Hours of business and location

Company’s slogan or mission

“We take all credit cards”

And the normal reaction to all this rubbish is: “So what!?”

3. Failing to place ads under multiple categories: Most YP advertisers try to save money by placing their ads into one category only. The poor creatures spend a small fortune on their ads, but refuse to spend the extra few dollars to make sure they get maximum results.

4. Writing an ad that pleases you, while ignoring the buyer’s self-interest: Most ads are “me” based: “Look what I want to sell you”. They don’t care about what buyers want to buy. Which only proves that so many companies totally don’t understand their target markets and what they want. Just think of the hole and drill example. Don’t get me
wrong. I don’t suggest extensive and expensive market research, but there are some cost-effective ways of testing the marketplace.

Just think about it. If you want to jump into the swimming pool, you just have to check it for water and temperature, and you are ready to swim at your heart’s content. But you don’t need to hire a team of experts to launch a full-blown research project on swimming pools, the science of concrete pouring and fluid dynamics. That’s retarded but that what most companies do under the aegis of market research. Hint: How many people do you know who “research” their spouses before marrying them?

Don’t waste your time and money researching the market. You will never get the true answers to your research. Instead of research, just keep testing the market. Then you find the true answer. You see Edison didn’t research the light bulb. He tested his ideas over and over again, and then it worked out.

Before you place your YP, use some small ads in the local paper, or even better, use Google AdWords. Google can be your most trusted friend when it comes to testing your headlines and call for action.

5. Failing to consider the five main components of the ad.

1) A kick-butt compelling headline: The headline is the ad for the ad. The headline alone can increase or reduce response rate by as much as 2100%. When you write your ad, you have to spend at least 80%
of your time on the headline.

2) Attractive benefits: No one cares what kind of cleaning agents you use in your carpet cleaning business. To succeed, you must promote cleanliness. Without this, even if your headline catches their attention, the ad itself fails to keep their interest.

3) A sexy offer: After the benefits, you must offer a very specific offer. Personally I prefer to direct YP reader to the website where a free Special Report or some other free offer waits for them. But they have to put in their names and email addresses. This approach has never failed.

4) Call for action: This is a huge problem. Most ads are lame and don’t ask readers to take any kind of action. Make sure you ask for a very specific action. Remember, your ad’s job is to generate sales leads and sales. If your ad doesn’t generate new business, it is dead, and you have just lost your money.

5) Appropriate contact information: Put in all the appropriate contact points where you can be reached.

6. Failing to position your company as a trusted resource: You have two options here: Either you compete with other advertisers by peddling your stuff, or position yourself as helpful resource and offer relevant information to aid your buyer’s decision. Yes, most prospects who look you up in YP are “Ready to Buy” buyers, but it is still a nice and unique touch to offer some relevant information – and I am not talking about brochures or this kind of nonsense. I mean some valuable stuff, like a Special Report or Consumer’s Guide. Imagine. Every ad in your section is screaming, “Give me your money”. But you say, “We have valuable information for you that can save you time or money. For a free report, “Ten Deadly Mistakes Accountants Make When Handling Their Own Taxes” call us at xxx-xxx-xxxx or visit our website at www.xxxx.com.” Now this is an attractive proposition.

With this approach your ad stands out like a trombonist in a heavy metal band. You make your ad different. You create a predisposition towards your company. You position yourself as the expert of the category. It makes you unique for you alone are doing it.

7. Failing to use other lead generation channels: The biggest problem is that you peg your future on one single channel of lead generation. It is like a one-legged table. While standing, it is fine, but when it collapses, then years and years of hard work can go down the toilet.

In order to get a steady stream of qualified sales leads, you need at least four channels of lead generation. One is your YP ad, but you need more, and I suggest that one channel is a properly structured website. I say properly structure because some 98% of all websites out there are total failures as lead generation channels.

All right. Some people say they have no intention to use their websites to bring in business. Then what is the point in having an expense in your business that is not producing? Would you have employees in your company who openly brag
about their unwillingness to do any work? That is plain retarded.

8. Telling prospects they can find you in YP: Why would you direct your prospects to a competitive minefield that is riddled with ads (many of them are much better than yours) from your competitors who are desperate to see you out of business and starve to death, knowing that will give them more business? This may sound drastic, and it is. But
this is the reality. Yes, your ad is in YP but you lose all of your advantages because all your competitors are promoting the same advantages. Your ad just blends into the competitive environment. Instead of guiding prospects to the Yellow Pages, guide them to your website. That is your home turf with no competition.

9. Failing to track responses. Over the years of writing Yellow Pages ads and organising campaigns for clients I have seen this over and over again. And do you know where this logic comes from. From large ad agencies that try to convince their clients that ads can’t be traced and tracked, and that clients just have to fork out the dough and then
fly blind. Originally I studied engineering, so for me everything must be traceable and trackable, and this habit has served me nicely over the years. Just figure out how to track your responses and don’t believe the ad agencies. Hey, have you thought why most ad agencies use door-to-door peddlers to sell their services? Maybe because they are
pretty lousy at advertising their own stuff and they have to resort to traditional prospecting grunt work. Just a thought really…

So, we have covered some ground here. Make sure you implement these nine points in your Yellow Pages ads, and you will see a big difference.

Organisational Provocateur Tom “Bald Dog” Varjan of Dynamic Innovations Squad helps providers of professional services to achieve the income and lifestyle levels they desire through high-trust high-impact client relationships. For a FREE fee-setting guide: “Why most service professionals consistently and persistently undercharge for their services and what to do about it” visit his website at http://www.di-squad.com

You’ve made the decision to start some type of homebased business, but you just aren’t sure which one. There are as many business opportunities to choose from as there are flavor combinations at Cold Stone Creamery. But, the one thing you know for sure is that you want to do something fun – something completely different from what you’ve done before (and possibly what you need to continue doing until you start making an income at home).

Wading through all the “fun” homebased opportunities, being a travel agent catches your eye. It sounds exciting. Plus, you already love to travel. It sounds too good to be true. You ask yourself, “Can I really make an income as a homebased travel agent?” You wonder, “Will I really be able to build a legitimate travel business from my home and one day be able to quit my full-time job?”

There are a couple of factors to consider when making such a decision. First, do you know anything about the travel business? If not, it would be imperative to align yourself with a good host agency who will help train you, show you the ropes, and provide excellent support to its agents. You ask, “What’s a host agency?” Basically, a host agency is a travel agency who has already established a relationship with various suppliers. They are already doing business and have experience. They also have travel agency credentials, as well as an errors and omissions insurance policy that often covers independent agents. The best type of host agency is one whose main objective is to support its outside or independent agents. They don’t sell travel to consumers. They don’t have an in-house sales department. Their customers are independent travel agents, and they work hard to give great customer service to the agents who contract with them. You don’t want to affiliate yourself with an agency that is actively seeking consumer business too. This often creates a conflict and you’ll find that your host agency is trying to juggle pleasing too many clients (you, as well as their consumer clients).

The second thing to consider is whether you’ll do what it takes to build your business if you become a homebased travel agent. Let’s face it, sales is the biggest part of just about every homebased business out there. In order to sell something, you have to love it and have a passion for it. That enthusiasm has to be genuine and contagious. You need to determine if you love travel enough to talk about it all the time. You might be interested in specializing in only one area of travel that you love – cruises, for instance. You’ve been on a cruise and talking about your experience on your cruise really turns your crank. That might be your passion. If it is, then your chances of success are much greater. Find that area of travel that makes your face light up when you talk about it. Once you find it, your enthusiasm about it will translate into sales success.

Lastly, do you have the self-discipline to work for yourself at home? Can you leave that pile of dirty laundry until the weekend in favor of taking care of your business? Can you say “no” to all the distractions that tug for your attention all day long? If you have the self-discipline to follow through with the day-to-day affairs of your business, then you’re well on your way to being a successful travel agent.

The bottom line – the opportunities are certainly there to make a good income from home as a travel agent. The conditions are ripe for consumer business. More and more people are traveling each year. Some travel suppliers – especially the cruise lines – are doing so much advertising that most people are already familiar with what you sell when they learn you sell cruises. The sales pitch has already been made. All you need to do is close the sale. Plus, with the advances in internet technology, homebased agents can easily access supplier sales tools and reservation software, keeping them on par with traditional storefront travel agencies.

With perseverance and a little hard work, you can definitely make an income as a homebased travel agent. The clients are out there. All the tools you’ll need are available to you. With the right host agency partner and a savvy business plan, the sky is the limit.

Tracey Amino is the CEO of Sapphire Cruises, the original home party plan company for cruising. Sapphire Cruises specializes in group cruises, with independent agents located nationwide. If you love cruise travel, visit her website, Sapphire Cruises, and let her show you how to make money doing something you love.