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By Susan Young
Leaders come in all stripes and shades. They represent broad varieties of personalities and styles and characteristics. You find them in all kinds of organizations and in most levels of an organization. They may lead large organizations or gangs of one. There’s one thing they all have in common – leaders get results.
We’ve all seen instances where someone has risen to the occasion and accomplished something extraordinary. People we recognize as leaders tend to do that consistently over time. So why do only some people emerge as leaders?
Is it true some people were born to lead? Or does it just let us off the hook of responsibility for developing ourselves? What are the characteristics of great leaders? Visonary? Trustworthiness? Integrity? Good communicator? Good listener? Caring? Risk-taker? Ability to get things done? Persistance? Continue the list. Then ask how many of these characteristics are we born with? How many are directly related to our attitudes?
According to research, the average person uses only 3 to 25% of their potential on a day-to-day basis. Imagine what would happen if you tapped into that other 75 to 97%!
Perhaps the “leaders are born” argument is so pervasive because the characteristics, attitudes, personality that contribute to or constrict leadership are formed at an early age. Wasn’t much of what we were exposed to early intended to keep us safe and contain our behavior rather than encourage us on to bigger and better things? Sheds new light on the question of how much of our potential we use as adults, doesn’t it?
We see success as the continual achievement of our own predetermined goals. So if we are not as successful as we want to be, then we have to ask, “What parts of my personality are taking me closer to success and what parts are taking me further away?
The good news is that our attitudes are developable. Begin by defining who you are compared to who you believe you have the potential to become. Be brutally honest with yourself. And give yourself permission to change.
Leaders know what they want and go for it, rather than accept whatever comes along. If they don’t like the circumstances they are in, they create new ones. So get clear about what you want. And then look at which of your attitudes, your habits of thought, are taking you closer to your goals and which ones are taking you further away.
Think of leading others in terms of needing others to help you achieve your goals or those of your organization. Consider these skills as essential:
• Bring out the best in others
• Include people in what’s going on
• Create an environment in which people can excel
• Give people a mission to accomplish
In First, Break All the Rules: What the World’s Greatest Managers do Differently, authors Buckingham and Coffman describe their research to determine what makes managers great. They found that managers in organizations with high productivity, profit, retention and customer satisfaction had created workplaces where employees:
• know what’s expected of them and that their opinions count ;
• feel their work is important and have the right equipment to do it;
• know their supervisor cares about them as a person;
• often receive recognition for good work and feedback on their progress;
• have co-workers who are committed to doing quality work;
• have opportunities to learn, grow, and do what they do best everyday.
They found that the employee’s immediate manager was the critical player in building a strong workplace. On retention in particular, they found that turnover is a manager issue.
Lastly, successful leaders recognize the difference between external and internal change. External change involves things outside of ourselves or our organization. The economy tanked. Interest rates are going up. The labor market has dried up. Fuel prices are skyrocketing. Wal-Mart is moving in. People aren’t buying.
Internal change comes from what we choose to do about those external changes that affect us, IF we choose to do anything.
In other words, external change is a fact; internal change is a choice.
About the author:
Doug Brown is the CEO and Chairman of Paradigm Associates LLC, a strategic and executive leadership development firm based in Cranford, NJ. He combines an innovative thinking style with his conversational questioning ability to help organizations recognize and breakthrough their existing paradigms. This naturally leads them to solve stubborn problems and work through difficult situations. A Certified Facilitator for the Total Quality Institute (TQI), Brown understands the distinction between simply conducting “training sessions” and facilitating meetings with potentially complex subject matter. Visit www.ParadigmAssociates.USor call (908) 276-4547.
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www.cyrosella.com
Jumat, 03 April 2009
LEADING YOURSELF AND OTHERS: IT ALL BEGINS WITH YOU
Searching for a Mortgage in Lexington ?
By Mark Lambie
Lexington, Kentucky is where you want to live, right? It is a lovely city! Getting a Mortgage Lexington is your first step toward purchasing your next home. Let's discuss some ways to help you achieve this result.
Financial Institutions - In the city of Lexington there are numerous lending institutions who can offer to you a Mortgage Lexington. Credit Unions, Commercial Banks, Savings and Loan Associations, Savings Banks, and certain nonprofit agencies are in the city to help you out. Get online or visit your yellow pages and start researching today.
Government agencies - city, county, state, and federal agencies are all available to help you in your quest to secure a mortgage. Mortgage Lexington providers will be known more by the first three; contact these agencies for help.
Private or Nonprofit Associations - Groups whose role is to act as an activist for the community can tell you which Mortgage Lexington companies there are. Because of your income level, you may be eligible for certain mortgages that others would not be. Usually these mortgages are based on a combination of factors including: your socio-economic background, ethnicity, gender, age, and any sort of handicap. If they cannot help you directly, they can usually tell you who can.
Your employer - that's right, your company. Visit your Human Resources department to see if your company offers assistance. Sometimes companies have a loan program in place to help employees purchase a home [this may include borrowing against your 401(k) plan for one. It is worth a look, isn't it?
Once you have located a lender there are certain things you will need to bring to your meeting before your application is processed. These items include: the last three years of your income tax returns, pay stubs, a letter from your employer stating current salary, your social security number, picture identification, work and personal references, and any other information requested by the lender. Be prepared to fill out more paperwork than you ever dreamed of and read all the contracts and disclosures presented to you. Get a good real estate attorney who will represent you and review your Mortgage Lexington for you.
About the author:
Mark Lambie is the founder of The Loan House a website that allows consumers to quickly and easily get information on refinacning mortgages
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Knoxville Mortgage Companies
By Mark Lambie
Eastern Tennessee is the home of the University of Tennessee in the city of Knoxville. This large state university is a main draw for local residents and has brought numerous people to the area who are interested in buying homes and settling down. Did you know that Knoxville has scores of lenders who would be more than willing to help you get a mortgage? We list 44 important Knoxville Mortgage Companies here for you:
1. Action Mortgage
2. Allied Mortgage
3. Ameriquest
4. Atlantic Mortgage Loans
5. Bailey Mortgage Company
6. Beneficial Finance
7. Cendant Mortgage
8. Cherokee Capital
9. Curtis Mortgage
10. East Tennessee Mortgage
11. First Century Mortgage
12. First Horizon Home Loans
13. First Knoxville Mortgage
14. First Tennessee Mortgage Company
15. Global Mortgage
16. GMAC Mortgage
17. Greene County Bank
18. Gulf Pacific Mortgage
19. Heartland Mortgage Company
20. Hodges Mortgage
21. Infinity Mortgage Group
22. Long Beach Mortgage
23. Mac Clair Mortgages
24. Mortgage Consultants of TN
25. Mortgage Masters
26. Mortgage Options
27. National Liberty Mortgage
28. New Century Mortgage
29. Ocean West Funding
30. Patton Mortgage
31. Peoples Mortgage
32. Phoenix Mortgage
33. Prestige Mortgage
34. Principle Mortgage
35. Regional Finance Mortgage
36. Renaissance Financial
37. Southeast Home Mortgage
38. Sunset Mortgage
39. Tennessee Equity Mortgage
40. Tennessee Mortgage Source Inc
41. Universal Mortgage
42. Vintage Mortgage
43. Washington Mutual Finanace
44. Well Fargo Mortgage
This list is not comprehensive meaning that there are additional Knoxville Mortgage Companies worth finding out about.
What makes for a good local lender? Community investing, local employees, active and interested management, a variety of funding options, funding of local organizations, etc. Just because your mortgage company is based in Knoxville it doesn't necessarily make them the best choice for you. Shop around, compare, speak to people who have already used their services, contact your local government or Better Business Bureau for any reports [good or bad] on the lender, and visit them in person to see if you want to give them your business.
Most Knoxville Mortgage Companies should give you the service you want. The only way to make sure is by contacting one today!
About the author:
Mark Lambie is the founder of The Loan House a website that allows consumers to quickly and easily get online mortgage quotes and mortgage information.
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"Are There Easy Ways To Make Money?"
By Jeff Schuman
Are you looking for easy ways to make money? Let's analyze 3
easy ways you can make money using the internet. Internet
marketing, affiliate programs, and a home based business.
Internet marketing is the use of the Internet to advertise and
sell merchandise or services. This involves use of Web sites and
e-mail to inform customers about a product, solicit their
questions, and accept their orders directly through the
electronic medium. Virtually any product or service can be sold
online over the internet. This is a great way to make money if
you already have a product.
A home business is a business which is carried on entirely
within a dwelling unit by the occupants and with no more than
one full-time equivalent non-resident employee, which is
incidental and subordinate to the dwelling use, does not alter
the exterior of the property , or affect the residential
character of or have unreasonable impacts on the surrounding
neighborhood. A home business can be anything from party plans,
to mlm businesses, or any business based in your home and
conducted outside of it.
Affiliate programs allow Web sites who provide links to your
site to receive payments or reciprocal advertising in exchange
for promoting your Web site. Audio/Video streaming - Audio/video
streaming allows you to provide visitors to your site with a
real-time sound or video experience. Backbone - The network of
connections and high-speed lines that forms the infrastructure
of the Internet. An important consideration in choosing a Web
site host is that host's proximity to the backbone. The less
intermediate network distance between your provider and the
backbone, the faster and more reliable your Web site will be.
Affiliate programs are a way to make money selling other peoples
products.
An excellent program that combines all 3, internet marketing,
affiliate programs, and your own home business is the Plugin
Profit Site. In 3 easy steps you can be set up with your own
money making website, and internet marketing newsletter that you
can run from your own home. This is an easy way to make money
for someone who doesn't have the time, money or knowledge to set
up their own home business on the internet. You can learn more
here:
Easy Ways To Make Money
About the author:
Team-Schuman.Com contains the best make money online
and make money websites available today. If you want to
make money check us out here:
http://www.team-schuman.com/easy-ways-to-make-money.html
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Finding a Mortgage in Louisville
By Mark Lambie
Louisville, Kentucky is a charming city located in the heart of the Bluegrass State. The University of Louisville is noted for its academic prowess as well as for fielding several top sports teams including football and Men's basketball teams. Homeowners enjoy the area because of its smaller city feel coupled with a big university influence. Your mortgage Louisville awaits you if you seek to live in this historic city.
Mortgage Louisville consists of those companies offering lending options to local residents. There are several ways to find out which Mortgage Louisville companies are available to you. Here are some suggestions.
1. Your phone book. The yellow pages lists businesses in Louisville that provide mortgages for qualified homeowners. Among the companies listed with be mortgage brokers, banks, credit unions, savings and loan associations, thrift institutions, and mortgage companies.
2. Your Network. Friends, family members, work associates, and just about anybody you meet can be helpful in your quest to locate Mortgage Louisville companies. Ask your neighbors who they used.
3. Your Realtor. The person selling your home may already have a list of Mortgage Louisville companies. A good realtor will present this list to you before you even have a chance to ask for it!
4. Your Employer. If your company is well known in the community, they are likely well connected and can help steer you in the right direction.
5. Your Church. Many churches and other nonprofit organizations are there to help you spiritually as well as with your temporal needs.
6. The Internet. Yes, a search of the internet will more than likely turn up some terrific results. Enter “Mortgage Louisville” in the search parameters and top institutions are likely to turn up in the results or in the ads that are served up with the results.
7. The Better Business Bureau. Yes, your local business association will know exactly who the top lenders are in Louisville. They can also warn you away from those who have had complaints against them.
Your new home is your treasure and with a little bit of research and an inquisitive mind, you will turn up Mortgage Louisville companies in short order. Start your search today and be in your house before the next basketball season begins!
About the author:
Mark Lambie is the founder of The Loan House a website that allows consumers to quickly and easily get information on refinacning mortgages
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Government Student Loan Consolidation
By Mark Lambie
Are you behind on your bills? Do you have more than one student loan? If you answered “yes” to either question there are some terrific opportunities for you to lump your debt together with a government student loan consolidation. Please read on for more information.
When you graduated from school, more than likely your first job was low paying and your expenses were high. It is not that uncommon for students to rack up bills of 30, 40, or 50 thousand dollars or more in debt, just to the school. Car payments, credit cards bills, and everyday expenses can push your debt levels up through the stratosphere. Time to think of getting some help. Time to consider government student loan consolidation.
What is government student loan consolidation exactly? It is a loan which allows for you to take multiple student loans, pay them off, and make monthly payments to just one lender. Why can this be a good option for you? Well, if you have four loans to four different lenders due at four different times of the month, it can seem as if you are always paying someone back for your schooling. Also, try keeping track of all this with your hectic schedule. Between work, family, friends, and all of life's responsibilities wouldn't it just be easier to have one simple payment to make? Yes, it would.
Another good thing about a government student loan consolidation is that you may be able to lower your interest rate, extend your repayment time, and take out little extra money to pay back other creditors. Maybe you have a credit card payment running you 19% interest. If you got a loan at a rate for half that rate, you would save money, right? Yes, you would.
Where do you go to for a government student loan consolidation? Search the internet! Leading companies are advertising their services to consumers and they are anxious for your business. Shop around and find the consolidation loan that is best for you. Some things to keep in mind:
1. Loan Amount. Will the company pay off all of your student loans, or a portion of what you owe? They may want to see pay stubs and other proofs of income first.
2. Loan Rate. Will loan rate be fixed or will it be variable? You may want to lock in a long term fixed rate to assure that your monthly payments remain stable.
3. Loan Term. Can you deal with paying back a your government student loan consolidation for as long as twenty years? Are there any prepayment penalties? What if you were to default on your loan? What then?
All in all, you have options to pay off your student loans that generations never had before. A government student loan consolidation may be right for you.
About the author:
Mark Lambie is the founder of The Loan House a website that allows consumers to quickly and easily get free mortgage quotes and mortgage information.
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Getting Paid - Why Does It Have To Be So Confusing?
By Hamish Hayward
There are many different reasons why people choose to get involved in network marketing. Although it may not be the primary reason for many people, getting paid will be rank high on most people's list.
So it makes sense that, when you are deciding which of the many available network marketing opportunities to get involved in, that part of your evaluation process will consider the payment, or commission scheme in place.
At this point things can get a bit complex. Unsurprisingly, almost every network marketing company in business today will claim to have the best pay plan available. They probably genuinely believe this (and they might be right) and will usually devote several sheets of paper or screens to show this to you in all its glory. Expect to see the word "revolutionary" used at least once.
Some of these schemes can appear a bit complex to say the least. There will almost certainly be a matrix of some kind involved and there will probably be some kind of "ladder of success" where you earn new ranks and titles as you progress in the business.
It can seem a bit daunting, trying to work out how long it will take you to get from Space Cadet to Star Fleet Commander and what it all means in terms of money - but focus on a few simple questions and you can cut through the mumbo-jumbo.
1. What will you get paid for?
2. How much will you get paid?
3. When will you get paid?
4. How will you get paid?
** What will you get paid for? **
Surprisingly enough, this is a (slightly) more important question than "how much?" - for one simple reason. If your main, or only, source of income results from recruiting other people into the business, then there's a very high possibility that you may be involved in a pyramid scheme.
Your main income should arise when you sell a product or service to a customer, not when you recruit someone. There's absolutely nothing wrong with profiting whenever someone who you have introduced to the business makes a sale - but you shouldn't be making significant income just for recruiting them.
You should also check if there is a "qualifying" level of sales that you need to make each month in order to get your commission. It can be very frustrating if, having built a large customer base and a healthy downline team, you miss out on your monthly cheque due to an insufficient amount of personal sales.
** How much will you get paid? **
Having satisfied yourself that you're getting paid for moving a genuine product or service, you can now focus on how much you'll be earning. Obviously you want to make as much as you can - but how much is enough will depend upon the type of product you're going to be marketing.
If you're selling relatively high price items and getting paid for the sale alone, then you will want a fairly high percentage as commission. A minimum of 25
About the author:
Hamish Hayward - Discover the 6 key criteria you must evaluate to ensure business success. Free e-books, newsletter plus other tools and resources. - http://www.perfectsystem.co.uk
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Is Your Home Business Prepared for a Disaster?
By Patty Gale
If you're like most people, you probably started with wonderful ideas of fulfilling your dreams, to be successful and to take charge of your own destiny.
I hope you have achieved those or are well on your way.
You wouldn’t think of starting your business without a business plan and you shouldn’t even consider marketing your product or services without a marketing plan. A solid business plan and marketing plan are your roadmaps to help you to know where your going, how to get their and to achieve your goals.
Nobody likes to think about what would happen if those accomplishments were suddenly pulled out from under you, yet unfortunately it does happen.
Do you have a plan if an event such as a hurricane, tornado, fire or simple computer crash should happen to you? If not, then it's time to start thinking about adding a business continuity plan to your list of things to do. What is a business continuity plan? Simply put, a business continuity plan is a set of planned and documented procedures that will help your business back on track in the event of an emergency.
If your business is managed from your home, both your residence and your livelihood are at risk due to unexpected loss. Natural disasters are not the only risk factors. As devastating as it is to think someone else was in your home, robberies can happen anywhere.
Something as basic as a hard drive crash can cripple your home business indefinitely. I recently spoke with two people in the last month that had said that they experienced hard drive crashes and lost everything.
When you think of how much time, money & effort you have invested in your home businesses, it only makes sense to make sure it is protected and can survive an emergency.
Don’t know where to start? Visit www.HomeOfficeRecoveryPlan.com to learn more.
To Your Success!
Patty Gale
About the author:
Patty Gale is a successful entrepreneur who exchanged her suits, hose and heels to work from home in her "jammies." She is on a mission to empower others to do the same.
She can be reached at: http://www.Home-Office-Recovery-Plan.com
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Buying a Timeshare Resale: Seven Tips For Success
By John McIver
Most people know that when buying a timeshare, great care should be taken. However, even more care and research should be used when buying a timeshare resale. Timeshare resales cost much less than buying directly from a resort developer, but you should still keep your best interests at heart. Being informed about your timeshare will lead to a positive experience.
1. It is a very good idea to actually see the timeshare you are buying. Some timeshare resellers may “talk up” their timeshare. If the reseller says that the timeshare is in a beautiful place, be sure to check it out. A timeshare, even a resold timeshare, is a great investment. It is important to make sure that you are buying what you want.
2. Timeshare resales often have very appealing prices. Sometimes, these prices can cause the buyer to overlook crucial questions. Be sure to ask about maintenance fees and property taxes. If these have not been paid up-to-date, then the timeshare will cost significantly more than the base price. It is very important to know the whole cost before you decide to buy a timeshare.
3. Some timeshares are affiliated with an exchange company. If the timeshare you are purchasing is affiliated with an exchange company, make sure to find out if this membership can be transferred. Doing this can help you to avoid unnecessary hassles in the future. If the timeshare you are purchasing is a point-system timeshare, find out if the points are transferable. Finally, if there are any additional bonuses with the timeshare, find out if they can be transferred.
4. The seller often pays to advertise the timeshare, while the buyer is stuck with the closing costs. Be informed and find out all of the charges that you will be responsible for upon the closing of the sale. This is important because some buyers do not know how much they are paying when they decide to buy the timeshare.
5. Visiting the timeshare can solve this problem, but it is important to be aware of it. Timeshares can sometimes be located in a facility that has only been partially remodeled. Other timeshares have not been touched at all. Paying an extremely high price for an old, worn-out timeshare is never a good idea.
6. Timeshares have different times that they can be used. Knowing when you can use your timeshare is very important. Some timeshares are odd-or even-year-use timeshares. If you buy one of these timeshares, it may be another year or two before you can actually use the timeshare you purchased. If there is a lease on the property, make sure to find out how much time is left on the lease.
7. Last, but certainly not least, find out why the timeshare is being sold. Too many buyers simply overlook this crucial information. Some resellers don’t want it anymore, but other resellers may have discovered a problem with the timeshare, or an inconvenience. It is important to know these issues so you can decide whether or not you yourself want to deal with them. If the reseller tells you the negative aspects concerning the timeshare, and you are still fully confident in its success, then it will be a good investment.
Timeshare resales can be complicated business. It is important to be as informed as possible when purchasing a timeshare because it is often a very large investment. The more investigating you do, the more informed you will be. Being informed is the best way to ensure that you have a positive timeshare resale experience.
About the author:
John McIver enjoys writing about timeshares and timeshare resales. Learn more at http://www.sellmytimesharenow.com.
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The 10 worst mistakes you can make when selling your privately owned small business
By The 10 worst mistakes you can make when selling yo
Thinking about selling your business? You are not alone. CNN Money reports that 35 million baby boomers are expected to retire between 2000 and 2020. If you are approaching retirement or soon will be, chances are you’ve considered putting your business on the market for one of the following reasons:
• You feel burned out;
• Industry conditions have changed;
• You are facing health issues;
• Your business has matured and plateaued;
• Your business is doing well;
• It’s a good market for the sale of a business.
In the end, no matter what your scenario or reason for selling, your objective is to get the most money for your blood, sweat, and tears. Here are ten mistakes not to make when selling your privately owned small business:
1. Not Knowing Your Business’s True Market Value:
Different buyers will have different perceptions of value and some will pay far more than others. Unless you know your business’s range of value you are handicapped in the process. Knowing value is always the best starting point when you plan to sell your business.
2. Having Customers, Employees and Others Know that you are Planning on Selling:
Keeping the entire process completely confidential is essential, otherwise you create the risk of losing employees, customers, and vendors. This will negatively impact both value and marketability.
3. Stating an Asking Price:
Putting a price on a business creates a ceiling. If you are able to find that “value added” buyer who will pay a premium for your business, a stated price may result in a lot of money left on the table.
4. Providing Seller Financing:
There are a number of lenders who will finance buyers wishing to purchase privately owned businesses. Your objective should be to get “cashed out”. If you do provide any financing, it should be a small percentage of the sales price.
5. Allowing the Buyer to Control the Process:
If you allow interested buyers to dictate “what” and “when”, you will find that you end up going through lots of processes (such as due diligence) numerous times rather than only once, which should be done solely with your prevailing buyer.
6. Not Having Multiple Buyers Involved in the Process:
There is an old saying in the mergers and acquisitions industry: “one buyer is no buyer.” This simply means that with three or four buyers competing for your business you are more likely to end up with the best possible transaction regarding price, tax
structuring, getting cashed out, and having a low litigation risk profile.
7. Not Understanding Essential Tax Issues:
After tax dollars in the sale of a corporation can vary between 45% and 85% of the sales price based solely upon tax structuring issues. This means that you need to understand the process before you start the process.
8. Neglecting Your Business While Trying to Sell the Business:
Psychologically, once you decide to sell your business there is an inclination to slow down or spend time on the selling process to the detriment of the business. If you do this, earnings will suffer and it will lower your business’s value, negatively influencing
marketability.
9. Handling the Process Without Professional Help:
If you are struggling with the decision to hire a professional to help sell your business, consider these gruesome war stories about people who
have traveled this path alone and ended up:
• Paying more in taxes than they might otherwise have had to;
• Sold far below their true range of value;
• Financed the buyers and ended up not getting paid;
•Spent time and money during the process and still did not get
their businesses sold;
•Ended up with poor legal documentation resulting in legal problems.
Typically, the sale of a privately owned business involves a large
percentage of the seller’s net worth. Don’t begin your learning
curve at ground zero.
10. Paying Front End Fees to Merger and Acquisition Firms or Brokers:
If you elect to get professional assistance you are advised not to pay brokers and others front end fees other than the necessary fees to close the transaction. Many firms in recent years have collected substantial sums of money from clients without ever
selling their business. Ultimately, how you sell your business is just as important as how you run it. Do your research and carefully consider engaging the services of an experienced, proven professional with a stellar reputation.
About the author:
Barry Evans writes about san diego merger and acquisition firm. Learn more at http://www.acquisitionservicesgroup.com.
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