Everything we do in life requires communication. Personal and business success often hinges on how well we understand others and how well they can understand us. If one of the objectives of communication is achieving a shared understanding, what can you do to become more effective when communicating? Here are few tips that will help you become a more effective communicator: Do you make eye contact when speaking or listening? Yes, this is...more
The other day, I received the last issue of a business magazine before my subscription runs out. Now, I like this magazine, but I'm swamped with reading matter so I won't renew. Of course, I've received many reminders and offers about renewing; magazines try very hard to keep the subscribers they've got. So when the last issue came with a special promotional wrapper on the cover, I wasn't surprised. But, what made this one interesting was a...more
Just like the late, great Rodney Dangerfield, the "humble" cover letter gets no respect.Job-seekers spend so much time and energy on their resumes they've got nothing left to offer their poor, neglected cover letters.Big, BIG mistake!It is the well-written cover letter not the resume that can single-handedly land you more job interviews. The cover letter is your one chance to really "market" yourself to an employer using proven marketing strategies rarely found in the typical cover letter.Conversely, there's only so much you can do with the traditional CV or resume. I believe the carefully crafted cover letter is more important to your job search success than any other written document, including the resume.As a direct marketing professional for over 20 years, I bring to you my 7 secrets of a highly-effective resume cover letter: ADDRESS your cover letter to a specific person. Do your best to find out "To Whom" you should address your cover letter. "Dear Manager" is lifeless. OPEN with an attention-grabbing first sentence to really grip the reader. This will almost guarantee your cover letter and resume get a closer look. REMEMBER less is more. The best cover letters have plenty of...more
These days you can order almost anything without ever leaving the comfort of your home. Online stores and auctions are great ways to shop for those hard to find items, and a great way to find deals in the process. As a consumer you need to be aware of the positive and negative aspects of online shopping. Below you'll find our online shopping...more
According to the IRS, taxpayers underpay their taxes by some $300 billion. If you know someone that is contributing to that deficit, the IRS may be willing to pay you up to $10 million for the information you provide. The bigger the cheating you report, the more you're likely to receive. The most important thing to claim your reward is quality...more
Do you promote yourself as offering prompt, reliable and quality service?Of course - none of us promote ourselves as anything less, and equally we strive to provide this level of service all the time.So what happens when you take your networking to the next level, and start to offer referrals, or even establish partnerships or alliances for certain activities?Whatever you do at this point creates significant impact on your business and personal reputation - potentially positive and also potentially negative.One of the successes of Global Business and Development Solutions (globizdev.com) is not just that we are an alliance spanning Australia, South Africa, UK and the USA. Rather, our success results because we share like values, and each commit to providing the same level of service, whether individually sourced, referred, or a shared client.I am using the word 'partner' loosely - as a catch all for someone we refer business to/from, someone we collaborate on a project with, someone we join market and so on.Regardless - choosing the right partner is critical.So how do I choose the right partner?At some point depending on the level of activity you enter, it could be important to...more
Here is a true story. My dentist did a "clinical" evaluation of my teeth. That is his fancy way to say he looked in my mouth and starred at my teeth with his own two eyes. He found no cavities in his "clinical" evaluation. I felt happy and...more
IntroductionAs the tax filing deadline is quickly approaching, many procrastinators and those who legitimately are just not ready to file their returns become stressed out and frantic, trying to meet what may virtually be an impossible deadline. ...more
Being self employed has many benefits. When you are self-employed, you can write off all of your deductions on your taxes. You have the potential to make more income than someone who is employed by someone else. You have the freedom to be your own...more
Have you heard about or been interested in finding out more about option one mortgage loans? They are becoming very popular, but its important to understand how they work before you apply for one. I will describe, in this article, an overview of the...more
Is there an electronic medical record system ready for the 21st century? Is there an affordable electronic medical record system? Can a good EMR help to reduce my business's medical liability expenses?21st Century Specs You Need for Your EMR This is...more
What is Choice Theory (CT)? CT is a theory of the explanation of human behavior. CT has applicability to both a person's personal and professional life. It teaches us about our five basic needs, how to meet those needs in a responsible way, and how...more