Archive for December, 2007
December 21, 2007 at 1:17 am · Filed under ramblings
There’s no secret that the Yankees are already a legend, known even by people who have nothing to do with baseball, or with sports in general. This is my case. However, my nephew is a big fan of Yankees, and he doesn’t lose any occasion of telling everybody about his experiences, about the games he saw, about the collection of baseball cards and other collectibles, or about the New York Yankees Spring Training tickets he got this year for his birthday. He went there with his father and with his best friend, and even after so many months we still hear the stories of how good were their seats, and how well they’ve seen everything, and most important, he was impressed with the atmosphere.
Briefly, he was so positive about attending this Spring Training, that he will make it a habit. Moreover, he promised me that next year when I go visit him and his parents, we will go there together. I think I’ll go, not necessarily because I have a strong interest in baseball, but because he will adore to see that I care. Besides, I think it can be interesting to see how such professionals train, so I’m looking forward to next spring, and I hope we will have good tickets again.
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December 21, 2007 at 1:05 am · Filed under ramblings
Tip! The old jokes are often the best.
I remember my parents and their friends telling jokes as a regular part of the day’s entertainment, much as these days people watch cartoons on TV. And people don’t read books of jokes so much any more either.
The well-oiled joke was indeed the best medicine and arguably did more for political and economic advancement than all the staples of television: the news clips and soap operas and reality TV shows.
I also remember Party Games. No, dear, this involved more than throwing the best-looking girl in the swimming pool or spiking the punch. There were Charades, which traditionally dissolved into hysteria before anyone could even take a guess at the tableau played out by arbitrarily drawn teams of tipsy revelers.
Then there were the word games such as Word Association and Capitals. In word association the starter came up with a random word and then, going around the room, the players had to come up with properly associated words - fast. This offered an interesting insight into the popular subconscious. Capitals involved the first player starting with a word. The next player had to start the next word with the last letter of that word and so on round the circle, at speed. It’s harder than it sounds.
Tip! Indeed, I would think that a higher-end artificially intelligent robot should be able to think enough to come up with its own jokes that their human companion would indeed laugh at.
Then there was a lovely game called Tombstones, which my mom invented. The principle was to come up with the most unlikely tombstone engraving for any particular person. The funniest one was the winner. Imagine for instance a literate, wise and meaningful inscription on George W. Bush’s tombstone.
Although we cannot be considered particularly old or even noticeably middle-aged (to one another anyway), my contemporaries and I sometimes become nostalgic about those days, when a joke was a joke. It could be so funny you would cry and sometimes so cogent you could laugh yourself to death.
Recently we were reminiscing about those endless days in the sun, with wine and whisky flowing and great pots of steaming barbecued meat and corn. Out of this came a new, latter-day party game that I shall call Punch Lines. The idea is this: to provide the punch line of known joke. Those who are familiar with it can then have a good laugh at the memory of it and those who don’t know the joke are free to guess how the joke goes.
Tip! Writing humor isn’t necessarily easy, but it is great brain exercise. Whether it is easy or not, by using these ‘algorithms,’ anyone can write jokes and riddles.
It’s a joke form for the new millennium: fast, diffuse and everyone gets to have a say. New jokes come out of old jokes. Politically incorrect jokes become acceptable because they are all in the ear of the beholder. No one gets laughed at for telling a joke badly. Joke telling takes on a lateral thinking aspect that is lacking in the old music hall “I say, I say, I say…” school of wit. It’s a kind of a broad network search for a consensus of what is funny. Democracy made jolly. Or we try.
The other night Priscilla came up with this punch line: “So the guard said, ‘Hans, bring the steamroller.” None of us knew the joke so Priscilla provided the second-last sentence in the joke. “The Jewish prisoner answered: “Squash”. We were still unsure. Priscilla gave the third last sentence. “So the guard gave the Polish prisoner a racquet and told him to go and play tennis.” We got it then. There was a bit of clucking and couple of wan smiles. Priscilla was not happy. “That was the funniest joke I had ever heard when I was 14, back in the seventies.”
It’s not funny anymore. We have TV. We are serious. We are cowardly. We jump at our own shadows. We don’t want to offend. We avoid joke books and jokes. Have you heard the one about the Gypsy, the Homosexual and the Nazi officer? The punch line is: Not while I’m alive you won’t.
About the author: Justine Eaglestone is a journalist brick-and-mortar bookstore owner, online bookdealer and booksite specialist. See her blog at http://search-book-sites.blogspot.com/ and website http://www.abillionbooks.com/
December 20, 2007 at 11:23 am · Filed under vacation rentals
Online Hotel Guides can be very helpful for travelers. Especially if you go for the first time in a city, consulting such a guide before your trip will give you some prior knowledge about good, cheap hotels, places to visit, museums, or transportation.
For example, London, UK, is one of the most expensive cities in Europe, and you could easily find yourself in the situation of paying big money for not so great accommodation, only because cabs are also expensive like hell, so you cannot undergo a proper search. If you intend to go to London, read this city guide, which will give you an insight on the most famous touristic places, like Buckingham Palace, or the Tower, or the British Parliament. The guide also provides you with a list of cheapest hotels in London, like Best Western Burns Hotel, where the room rates start from $206 (and believe me, this is cheap). If you are in doubt, you can read the travelers reviews for this hotel. I found one positive and three negatives, so I might want to go further with my research. Thanks to this city guide, I can keep my eyes open and find myself a suitable place to stay during my trip.
The best of all is that once you decided for the hotel to stay in, you can get full directions on the map, with street names, and all you need to prevent getting lost (I’ve been lost in London and I can tell you it can be very annoying).
This is a sponsored review
December 20, 2007 at 11:05 am · Filed under business ideas
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This is my 20th year working in the film industry on over 40 film productions. Throughout that time I have never met a new film school graduate who has a clue about handling the most important aspect of ALL filmmaking - the MONEY! I had always assumed (wrongly, it turns out) that film students just weren’t interested in knowing about film budgets. However after a recent survey of film students at a reputable film college we learned that film students DO intuitively understand that knowing the language of film budgeting is crucial to their careers in film. Surprisingly, over 80% were enthusiastic about learning more about film budgeting!
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Here’s what we discovered from that survey (completed in late September, 2005):
1. Over 80% of film students are not only interested in learning more about budgeting for film productions, they are emphatic about it!
2. In all cases, film students expect to find information about film budgeting from the internet, or as recommended reading from their professors.
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3. We also learned that there are no references or books available to film schools or film students on this very needed subject.
Those working in the film business recognize how important it is to be familiar with film budgeting, if not technically proficient. The confidentiality of film budgets makes it extremely difficult, even for working filmmakers, to get familiar with film budgeting. (I have a true story in my book about a meeting that I had with Ron Howard in 1993 where he wanted to learn specifics about the budget for his film - in spite of having been in the film business for over 30 years as an actor and budding director).
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Learning about film budgets while on-the-job comes at the expense of hard-knocks, expensive film budgeting software and late night self-training with a technical textbook (if you can find one). In the 20 years that I’ve been working in the film business, I have NEVER shown a film budget to anyone but a select few insiders - Producers, Production Managers, Studios, Bonding Companies, etc. So, exposure to actual film budgets really is an insider’s privilege - which I am about to open the door to for my readers. (Keep in mind the figures shown are samples only. The figures are real enough, but are not drawn from my actual past/present/future film productions.)
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How can film students get familiar with film budgets while they have the time and opportunity? The only colleges with film budgeting in their syllabus (that I could find after hours of internet searching) was in a specialty course for Production Managers at the New York Film Academy, and through mentors at the American Film Institute (where, I’m proud to say, parts of my book are being used by a mentor there, who has a long record of producing films including a term as Vice President of Production at MGM).
The only solution that I see for film students, and for working film crew, to get familiar with film budgeting is to provide them with the information myself. But, what kind of information, and at what level of detail?
The answer to that rhetorical question is - in as simple a format as possible, yet still be effective. By effective, I mean that any training in the area of film budgeting will actually help you impress producers for those few film jobs, get your script into production, find financing, be rehired for more film contracts, be more cost effective cinematographers, etc. Also, the basic concept of translating creative ideas into a budgeting process is new to most people, especially those educated in film schools, so that concept should be presented first.
Film students don’t need to become keen budget technicians. However, they DO need to get enough exposure to film budgets to understand the fundamentals, and to be able to communicate to film producers, film studios, bonding companies, banks, financiers, etc. in the same language as would be expected from professional filmmakers.
All of the above is covered in my book, Walk The Talk. I have written a series of 7 free articles based on my book. They’re written for the complete novice, so be patient if you’ve already been exposed to film budgeting. You can sign-up, FREE, for 7 weeks of articles at www.talkfilm.biz .
There is a seventh article that could have been added for those who haven’t been exposed to the simple administrative procedures like petty cash, purchase orders, check requisitions, etc. Knowing how to use these forms will put you WAY out in front of the pack of job-hungry film students looking for those few film jobs. You’ll need to buy my book at this link Walk The Talk to get that inside advantage. (I have kept the price affordable, specifically with students in mind.)
Here are the article titles:
1.MAKING IT! In Film Production
2. Introduction to Film Budgeting
3. Translating Creative Ideas Into the Film Budgeting Process
4. Your Participation In Above-the-Line Budgeting
5. Your Participation In Below-the-Line Budgeting
6. Your Report Card - Comparing The Budget to Actual Costs
7. Presentation of the Weekly Cost Report - It’s As Important As the Dailies
When you read my articles, print them out. Make your own examples. Reread them. Send me your questions if you get stuck. You’ll find that you’ll be way out in front of the pack!
John Gaskin opens the door to a confidential topic in the film industry -Film Budgets! Learn the inside tips from a 20 year pro of over 40 film projects all over the world. To receive a series of 7 free artilces visit: http://www.talkfilm.biz
December 19, 2007 at 3:09 pm · Filed under business
Are you looking for a Baltimore Office Space? If you do, then you could use the services offered by BusinessSuites.com, as they may have what you need, from conference rooms, to offices, or even administrative support. Why hire a lot of administrative staff, when you can use the one which comes with the building? The flexible terms of BusinessSuites.com will allow you to pay only for what you use, thus making it possible to use your money for developing your business. Why not?
This is a sponsored review
December 19, 2007 at 3:02 pm · Filed under business
Tip! Vendors. Negotiate terms with your vendors to help delay the outflow of cash payments.
For small business owners, an enthusiastic vision for smooth, steady growth can become nothing more than a mirage once company cash flow problems begin to heat up. Most will struggle with the timing of payment from clients or customers at some point, all while attempting to pay their own bills in a timely fashion. With all of the best laid plans for rapid flowing cash streams evaporating down to just a gurgle in the ditch, the potential risk of joining the ninety-percent of businesses that fail within their first three years of operation becomes a very sobering possibility.
Many of us would like to operate our companies the same way we do our personal lives. If we need a new lawn mower, we simply pull out the trusty credit card, sign on the dotted line and put off worrying about it until next month. Meanwhile, we enjoy the benefits of the new equipment, at least for the time being, without it costing a dime. Though in this way we may seek a certain gratification from owning our possessions, it’s really just a trick we play on ourselves. The above “charge now, pay later” example doesn’t really convey any kind of real, initial ownership. Instead, it’s just a very common example of a direct loan. The credit card company facilitates a credit arrangement between you and themselves, and the proceeds of this extension are directly used and repaid by you, the borrower.
Tip! To save yourself from bounced checks, the fees for bounced checks can quickly total much more than the fee for taking out the cash advance loan.
In business, however, whipping out the plastic to cover expenses is definitely not the best idea. Many have given in to this temptation, and are paying the heavy cost of damaged or ruined credit. And with that, their chances of digging out of the hole with other means of financing, which should have been sought in the first place, are slim to none.
Thankfully, there are better, specially designed cash flow tools available for businesses that are beginning to feel the scorch of the capital income desert. Many business owners are unaware of these tools. Others that are aware fail to take advantage of them. All of them would do well to at least consider the following:
Purchase Order Financing - Simply put, this tool is a loan against the future income of the business. It’s designed primarily to provide the cash needed to pay suppliers and sales-generating business expenses while patiently waiting for clients to pay their invoices. Similarly, purchase order funding is utilized for the completion of existing orders by securing materials when working capital is running short. Once purchase order financing has been successfully utilized for some time, it usually becomes easier for the business to take advantage of more economical means of credit.
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Equipment Leasing - With it’s one-hundred percent financing, preservation of credit lines, tax benefits and the ability to avoid obsolescence, equipment leasing is one of the sharpest and most efficient cash flow tools a business owner can utilize. Paying a premium in order to own equipment can be a huge waste of money. What companies profit from is the use of equipment, not the ownership. Leases can be extremely flexible to meet the custom needs of each business. Therefore, both small and medium-sized companies can greatly benefit from them.
Accounts Receivable Financing - This tool provides a line of credit secured by the company’s accounts receivables. It is a strong method of financing for both short-term working funds and the permanent working capital requirements of businesses that are growing. The paperwork is considerably less involved than in more traditional types of business loans. It is also especially helpful in providing financing flexibility to firms that are growing rapidly.
Factoring - This is the sale, at a discount, of a business’ accounts receivables. It is not based on the company’s ability to repay the money advanced. Instead, it based on their customer’s ability to pay what is owed. Once the factoring facility purchases the accounts receivables, they assume the responsibility for collection. It is not a loan, so neither the time in business, nor the company’s debt to equity ratio are a consideration. A business has the freedom to sell only the AR that it chooses, and is not obligated to continue to do so. Factoring is an excellent source for additional working capital needed by both small and startup businesses.
Tip! Maintain a list of emergency money generators. These are items that you can use that require little or no planning, either because you have it done or it just doesn’t need it, that deliver short-term cash.
The descriptions above are general, and it’s important to understand that there is flexibility and variation within each lender program. In order to get educated on the details of these types of tools, and to find which of them might be beneficial to your situation, talk to a professional loan broker or a commercial lender representative. He or she will explain the benefits of each, and help you decide which tools are right for keeping your business out of the cash flow wasteland.
Mark Uptain is the owner of Regent Business Capital, a loan and lease brokerage that works with lenders nationwide to help small and medium-sized businesses get financing. His website, http://www.EquipmentLeasingSource.com, offers free equipment leasing information and competitive quotes to businesses throughout the United States.
December 19, 2007 at 12:33 pm · Filed under vacation rentals
Who desn’t like vacations? I surely adore them. Because time is always short, I like to be prepared, so I make my hotels reservation online with some time before the trip. This procedure helps me save money and nerves, and secures a nice vacation for me and my family.
There are many online hotels booking sites. One of them is TravelHERO, which can help you find accommodation in US, Canada, Mexico and 216 other countries. TravelHERO has the advantage that it also offers other kinds of bookings, such as flights and cars, so you can arrange all vacation details in only one place.
If you are undecided where to go on your next trip, but you are a bargain hunter, you could check their deals page, as you could find some really hot offers there. For example, you could find a place to stay during the AHSAA 6A State Tennis Championship, which will take place at the end of April 2008. Why not book now, if you know you like tennis and you can spare a few days? Or maybe you want a tour of some US islands?
For each destination, the search returns a list of hotels, with prices, maps and availability check possibility. The availability check is quite fast, but it can return the message that all places are booked, especially in high season periods. A booking plan, calendar-like would have been very useful, but you can do very well also without it.
Have a nice vacation!
This is a sponsored review
December 19, 2007 at 12:19 pm · Filed under business
Tip! To save yourself from bounced checks, the fees for bounced checks can quickly total much more than the fee for taking out the cash advance loan.
Sell more to each customer. Now there’s a simple formula anyone can easily understand. But many entrepreneurs and small business owners fail to capitalize on the “sell more now” strategy to maximize their returns. Yet, it’s the easiest way to make more money in virtually any business.
Converting prospects to customers is often a difficult challenge. Moving them from a place of uncertainty and indecision to a “yes — I’ll take it!” state of mind, means using the full complement of sales tools and techniques.
But once your prospect has made the decision to buy, the pressure is off. They’re relaxed and relieved. That’s the time to sell more products and services.
It’s your golden opportunity to increase revenues, cash flow, and profits with very little additional effort.
How?
Simply by increasing the dollar amount of the initial purchase — by offering discounts or other extra bonuses on quantity buys. What you want to do is encourage the buyer to spend more money through inducements, extras, discounts, and special deals. Make it enticing and you’ll sell more goods.
Some customers are happy to buy consumable products by the caseload — rather than single packages — when they could save some money by doing so.
Tip! ) Now let’s say you use a new credit card to take a cash advance of $1000, but are unable to pay it immediately. Over the course of a year, your $1000 cash advance at a 29% interest rate could accrue interest of $300 or more.
Just look at the success of stores like Costco and Sam’s Club. Many of their products are bundled into quantities that are larger than those a typical family would buy. Simply making this option available means they sell more goods.
Often the price is just too attractive to pass by. People end up spending more cash — just to “save” money.
Once you have a customer in your store, browsing through your catalogue, or visiting your web site, your task is to maximize the value of their visit. In other words, sell more goods and boost your profits.
Make it easy for visitors to buy. Make it easy for them to spend more money than they planned to. Obviously, you want them to do so happily and without regret. After all, you only want satisfied customers.
Tip! ) Let’s say you have a balance of $1,000 on your credit card and you take a $1000 cash advance. Two months later, you pay $1000 towards your bill.
In fact, you should make it an objective of your business to develop life-long customers. The profit potential of repeat purchases and referrals are simply unmatched. The more repeat customers you have, the less you’ll need to spend on attracting new customers.
You’ll sell more products at far less effort and expense. Whatever quantity deals you offer should always be in your customer’s best interest. It’s not a matter of unloading excess inventory; it’s about offering superb value. Do so and you’ll automatically sell more widgets.
Tip! Revolving Credit Line. Establish a revolving line of credit through a lender to help you with potential cash flow crunches.
Increasing the value of a purchase can be as simple as providing support materials or accessories that are natural and convenient additions to whatever the customer is buying. For example… an electrical supply store could offer booklets that guide homeowners to safely carry out minor repairs and installations themselves.
A sportswear retailer could offer socks and underwear in addition to their full line of outerwear, as extra accessories at the point of purchase.
Self-development author, Anthony Robbins offered a video at a substantial discount with every package of “Personal Power” audiotapes or CD’s sold. The video offer was only introduced after the initial sale had been made. This proved to be an effective technique for increasing the average cash value of a purchase. Offer additional value at the “moment of truth” and you’ll sell more now.
Tip! You must have a checking account. This is logical since that is how you will be able to get your quick payday loan cash.
Scaling down the price-per-piece according to the amount purchased also helps to stimulate additional volume purchases. This works well with products that have large profit margins and where customers can easily justify getting more than one, as is the case with consumable products and gift items. Give buyers an extra advantage on quantity purchases and you will sell more. One local entrepreneur sells single bottle wine stands at local fairs and shopping mall kiosks.
This product is nothing more than a single piece of wood cut on a sharp angle with one hole drilled through, on the same angle. The weight of the bottle balances the board. It’s a novel idea - one that captures people’s attention quickly.
This savvy marketer sells one wine stand for $5 — or two for $6.50. He sells far more packages of two, than he does single units. Why? It’s such a great deal, few passers-by can resist. An extra buck and a half is mere pocket change and there’s always someone the buyer could give it to. It’s too difficult to ignore something like this.
Tip! Maintain a list of emergency money generators. These are items that you can use that require little or no planning, either because you have it done or it just doesn’t need it, that deliver short-term cash.
Think of supermarket pricing. While shopping for groceries yesterday, the price of bundled green onions were clearly marked at — 3 for 99 cents. There was no price listed for just one bunch. Guess what? Most people that were buying green onions yesterday, took 3 bunches.
Perhaps it was the perception that this “special price” was only available on quantity purchases. People often assume that they’ll get a better price (per piece) on three, than just one. Here’s how the thinking goes. ” I might be charged 50 cents for one bunch. Buying 3 gives me each for just 33 cents. That’s better value, so I’ll take 3 bunches”.
Tip! Vendors. Negotiate terms with your vendors to help delay the outflow of cash payments.
Another way to encourage customers to spend more is by offering an attractive discount on a second, or third similar product.
This could work well for businesses whose customers would like to buy more than one. A good example would be a ladies shoe store. This kind of business could significantly increase sales by offering a second pair of shoes at 15% — 20% off.
What could you do today to increase your revenue, cash flow, and profits? Could you sell more today by applying any of these ideas?
Robert Boduch is an author of dozens of best-selling books, reports and articles on the art and science of selling. A free newsletter targeted at anyone interested in selling more of anything is available at http://www.makeyoursalessoar.com
December 19, 2007 at 12:03 pm · Filed under business
Imagine if a client stepped in today and asked you if you can show him the motorcycle microfiche, to see what spare parts you have in stock. You’d like to find everything fast, and to know in every moment how many items you have in stock, so you can renew your supply in time.
You can, but you’ll have to use a business inventory tracking software, like CommanderNE. Commander is a great choice, because it interfaces with most known online ordering software, so you’ll be able to syncronize with your various suppliers.
Features that recommend it as an ideal choice for your business:
- technologically advanced
- very easy to learn how to use it
- low annual maintenance fees
- skilled and responsive technical staff
- compliant with Microsoft Vista
Don’t you think your clients would be happy to benefit from a fast and reliable service from your side?
This is a sponsored review
December 19, 2007 at 11:52 am · Filed under business
Tip! Vendors. Negotiate terms with your vendors to help delay the outflow of cash payments.
Cash is one of the most important resources to a new business. One of the best ways to conserve cash for a startup business that is in need of office space is to rent an executive suite rather than to rent traditional office space. Most people don’t even know this little secret. In fact, most people don’t even know what an executive suite is.
An executive suite is generally referred to as a small office that one would rent from an executive suite facility like Plaza Executive Suites, http://www.plazaoffices.com, located in Las Vegas Nevada. The office environment would include all the necessary services needed to operate a business. The key cost savings is that most of the services such as the receptionist and conference room are shared with other renters. As an example, instead of paying up to as much as $40,000 per year to answer your phones and greet clients, with an executive suite, since the services are shared, you would only pay a fraction of that cost.
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Necessary services such as photo-copying, telephone usage and mail handling are paid on an as needed basis. For new businesses, the opportunity to enjoy lease and space flexibility is most appealing.
Startup costs are greatly reduced by renting an executive suite over a traditional office. With a traditional office, one would have to consider all the upfront and ongoing expenses associated with the space build-out, secretary or receptionist wages, telephone equipment, office furniture, copiers, conference rooms, utilities, repairs and maintenance, etc.
Tip! Revolving Credit Line. Establish a revolving line of credit through a lender to help you with potential cash flow crunches.
With an executive suite, you get a friendly receptionist to answer your phone calls with your personalized greeting as well as greet any of your clients that visit you. For your important meetings, you would have use of fully equipped conference rooms. In fact, you would get all of the services that you would receive from a traditional office environment but, at a fraction of the cost.
If you are looking to conserve your cash, renting an executive suite is an option that needs to be considered.
Jeff Strum is managing partner of Plaza Executive Suites, located in Las Vegas, Nevada. http://www.plazaoffices.com
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