Customer Service $12.99 Customer Service - Laminated Poster

What Happened to Customer Service

I recently had a terrible customer service experience and it led me to ask the question - "What happened to customer service?" We are in the "Now Generation," so I can understand how businesses can get lost in a sea of emails, tweets and instant messages from customers demanding attention RIGHT NOW.  However, it's really no excuse for bad business practices.

Let me explain what happened.  I found a company that sounded like they had a great message and could meet a particular need I had in my business.  I did my due diligence on the company and could only find one complaint anywhere on the World Wide Web about them.  I thought that was very exciting.  I set out on my journey to interact with them about various topics that they specialize in. In the beginning, I received the "Red Carpet" treatment.  Emails were responded to in a 24 - 48 hour period and always ended with the welcoming statement "Please let me know if there is anything else I can assist you with."  I was thoroughly excited about the service I was receiving and I was poised to do a lot more business with the company.  Then, the hammer fell.  As the date of my appointment drew near, I began to notice that the emails I had sent weren't being responded to as promptly as before, I couldn't get anyone on the phone and my phone messages weren't being returned.  What was I to do? I had already provided my credit card information!  The day of my appointment I received an email from the "Customer Relations Manager" stating that I neglected to send over some pertinent information that was due prior to my meeting.  I responded with the standard "There must be some mistake," and promptly received the "Oops, I don't know how I missed it" email from the company.

Things were not looking up.

I continued onto my appointment which was a complete and utter disappointment.  One of the things that we learn about in Business 101 is to Under-promise and Over-deliver.  My experience was the polar opposite.  I was sold a bill of goods on what to expect from my appointment only to receive the bare minimum.  I felt like I was on an awkward first date where neither person really knows what to say or what to do next.  Now, for me, that's possibly understandable, but for the "Seasoned Professional" I was attempting to do business with, I just didn't get it.  The whole thing was a dud, but I accepted it for the learning experience it was and moved forward with the process to get the "Satisfaction Guaranteed or Your Money Back" refund I was promised.

That's when things got worse.

I sent an email. No response. 2 days later I called. No return phone call.  I absolutely HATE automated systems that always end in a voicemail.  No matter what time of day I tried to reach the company, I couldn't get a live person on the phone.  I would probably have had better luck getting The President on the phone than I was having in trying to reach this organization. A week later, I sent another email. Still no response. I called again. Still getting voicemail. Let's try another extension. Voicemail.  After 2 weeks of a dead end, I decided to contact my credit card company as my only remaining recourse.  For good measure, AFTER I contacted the credit card company, I tried one more time to reach the business.  I FINALLY got a live person on the phone (isn't that how it always goes?) and was greeted with a list of excuses as to why nobody in the WHOLE organization had gotten back to me in 2 weeks, but they did go ahead and issue a refund on their end, which is a little less work for the credit card company. The whole experience leaves a bad taste in my mouth as a customer.  Basically, I was told that everyone at the organization dropped the ball AFTER they had my money in hand.

The lesson is this: Customers don't really care about your reasons for bad customer service.  They just know they got bad service. When dealing with people, make a point to be prompt in your responses to questions/concerns/inquiries and phone calls - or hire someone specifically to handle those tasks for you.  Make sure YOUR company isn't dropping the ball on its customers.

About the Author

Nikki Johnson is the owner of Bold New Adventures, The Premier Virtual Assistant Service.  Bold New Adventures (BNA) is located in Houston, TX; however, the virtual nature of the services provided allows us to be of assistance to anybody, anywhere.

When Did Customer Service Breakup?

We have all had friends in our circle who were known as Mary & John, and when John split Mary was alone. Mary was the odd number at the dinner party and we were all concerned about her. Well, today it seems that the union of customer & service have had a breakup. Service has split and customer is on his or her own.

Today, let me tell you a story that many of you will find humorous but is all too common. I can tell you this without fear of our local editor getting sued because it is about me, but business owners take note that you do not fit the profile of company X.

Four weeks ago I decided that I needed another green recycling can from my trash pickup company. We will call them Brown Keg Trash Pickup, an anonymous company in the interest of avoiding litigation. I called their customer service number, and as an environmentally conscious citizen requested my extra recycle can. The cheerful voice on the other end of the line chirped, Of course, we will have one delivered in 48 hours. After giving her all the pertinent location information, I hung up the phone with the satisfied feeling of a good citizen.

I arrived home about 5 p.m. the next day and I was happy to see another green can at the mouth of my driveway. When I looked again, I noticed that I had another green can, but it was without a lid. I quickly dialed my cheerful telephone voice at Brown Keg Company thanking her graciously for the rapid service and then told her about the missing lid.

Just as cheerfully as the first time, she told me to leave it at the end of my driveway after my usual trash pickup and they would replace the entire unit since they did not have extra lids. I agreed, and after hanging up the phone I pondered their plight of having lidless cans but no extra lids. I conjured up all sorts of scenarios that explained where all the lids to the lidless cans went, and sympathized with their predicament.

Well, 3 days went by and there sat my poor, green, lidless can at my driveway and a replacement never arrived. Feeling empathy for this green plastic waif, I returned it to the side of its brother that had a lid. I called my cheerful customer service voice again, and reiterated the plight of my poor lidless can and after a chuckle she assured me a complete unit would be forthcoming.

I found it necessary to make use of my lidless friend, and put it out the next pickup day filled to the brim. Fortunately, it was not windy and all the contents remained inside it. That was 2 weeks ago, and life being what it is, other more important tasks have occupied me until this morning when facing another pickup day I thought of my lidless friend.

Once more I picked up the phone and called my trash pickup company, and this time I listened to a litany of choices of buttons I could punch and chose my cheerful customer service button again.

I was transferred, listened to a brief melody when there was a click and I expected my cheerful voice to chirp hello. The next thing I heard was another click, silence, and then the dreaded dial tone that means you have been disconnected.

Not being one of the fainthearted, I simply redialed my number. Again there was the litany of button choices, my choice and the music, and just when I began to feel that all was right with the world I heard click, dial tone and nothing.

This was not the morning for the phone to be playing games with me, so I made one more determined effort and REDIALED! NASA, we have lift-off! I once more heard the litany of button choices, but this time I outfoxed that monotonous voice and punched 0. I asked for the Manager of Customer Service, I was given her name and was transferred. What greeted my eager ear was, You have reached the voicemail of, please leave your name and number and she will return your call.

So here we sit, my lidless, green can and I facing another pick-up day. This eager-to-serve plastic green waif must bravely face another dutiful day half-clothed.

You must admit that is an amusing story, and one that far too many of us have lived through, but what a sad commentary it is about our business community.
Does it not make you wonder if our language has changed so drastically that what we interpret customer service to mean is not what todays business owners mean. It makes me wonder when the marriage of customer and service broke-up, leaving us all the lonely ones.

Entrepreneurs and business owners take note! If you are going to have a number for your customers to access your customer service, please follow these rules.

Have the phone manned by an employee that can hear thunder and see lightening.

Give that employee training in helping the caller and not shuffling the problem to another desk.

Have an overseer, who can also hear thunder and see lightening, check that all incoming complaints were handled appropriately.

After learning how to find your customers and what they want; after getting them committed to doing business with YOU; and after wooing them to keep them as your customers, WHY WOULD YOU LET SERVICE DIVORCE CUSTOMER?

If your customers are not getting the service they require from you, your competitor will be only too happy to help them!

About the Author

For a great customer service oriented business check Annies out:

http://www.marykay.com/awilliamson90

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Promotional Leather Padfolios, the Newest Corporation Promotional Gift

Many corporations use seminars to promote customer base or to educate employees about new product or procedures. This is a great way to keep everyone in touch with what is going on within the corporation, however it is a great opportunity for a corporation to promote or thank clientele or employees as well.

Upon entering into a corporation meeting, seminar, or promotional event, what if the corporation had available for the attendees' promotional leather padfolios for each of them. From the minute a potential client, seasoned client, or employee sits down for the event, your corporation will already be a positive buzz in the air as everyone discuses what a great and impressive promotional gift they have received.

Throughout the event, they will have instant access to jot down valuable notes from the presentation in their promotional leather padfolio and in addition, not only is this a great way of saying thank you for attending the event but also the attendee leaves with a great promotional item that will make a lasting positive impression of the corporation.

The internet has a huge variety of promotional leather padfolios for any level of event a corporation could be involved in, from seminars, to promotion of a new product, to trade shows. They make a great way of saying thank you for personal interest shown as well as continued support from existing clients, new clients, and even employees.

Promotional leather padfolios come in a variety of styles and price ranges, however, even the lowest price range of promotional leather padfolios are high quality and leave a lasting positive impression in the receivers' mind.

Promotional leather padfolios are an affordable way to say thank you and keep your corporation name fresh in a clients mind. With the numerous styles of imprinting available promotional leather padfolios can be customized for the specific event.

With trade shows and seminars, a corporation may want to go with a standard promotional leather padfolio with their corporation logo debossed on the front. To thank a profitable client, a corporation may choose to get more personal and not only have the corporation logo debossed on the promotional leather padfolio but also the client's name, or even text expressing their appreciation for years of business. The personalized touch will keep the client coming back year after year. The personal touch expresses you not only value their business but the person as well.

For whatever level of promotion or expression of gratitude you are trying to achieve, a promotional leather padfolio can do that for your corporation with grace and dignity, putting your corporation a step ahead of the rest. Make sure you leave a lasting great impression at your next seminar, meeting, promotion, or trade show event with the gift of a promotional leather padfolio. Take that step and make that impact you want.

Article Source: RSI-RLP5 Promotional Leather Padfolios, the Newest Corporation Promotional Gift
About the Author

Mary writes articles for helping shoppers find corporate executive gifts, providing shopping tips and how to benefit from personalized promotional gifts. Her work is sponsored by Promotional-Gifts.biz Promotional Leather Padfolios

The Value Of Corporate Gifts

Most of us have received something imprinted with a corporate logo.  Corporate gifts can consist of anything that can be imprinted, embossed, screened or embroidered with a corporate logo.  In some cases, flowers, liquor, or food items can also be considered.  Items can range from inexpensive key rings or pocketknives, to Italian leather briefcases and Movado clocks.   It can be something of little value or very expensive merchandise.  It always has some sort of logo or message imprinted on it or on the packaging.

A gift of obvious value will always leave a good impression.  Brand name merchandise is well received because people recognize it's worth. They know the merchandise by the reputation of the product.  Clever items will also leave a lasting impression.  No one can resist an item that makes them laugh or smile.  Something useful, especially if it pertains to their occupation or profession is always welcome.  Fine merchandise that is well made is another way to make a long lasting impression.

Obviously, an item imprinted with a corporate logo is a great way to introduce a new product.  It can be tied in with national advertising.  Logos can be printed in any shape or color, and this serves to reinforce the product name. The product can be in the shape or color of the new item you are introducing, and can contain advertising copy.   The merchandise can be sent to potential clients, or given away with the purchase of another product.  It's also a great way to say "thank you" at a launch party or dinner.  Not only can the gift be imprinted with advertising information, but also the packaging.  The gift box can be screened with information, and the gift bag can also be printed with a logo or product information.  When this is done tastefully, it leaves a lasting impression and is very well received.

Imprinted corporate gifts are a good way to reward employees or clients.  Besides the logo imprinted on the gift, the occasion can be engraved.  Many companies give out 5, 10, 15, and 20-year gifts to employees.  It's a wonderful way to acknowledge that the person is appreciated.  It also calls attention to the entire staff that the employee has been rewarded.  

Corporate gifts are a great way to celebrate the holidays or say "Happy New Year" to clients and potential clients or customers.  Everyone likes to know that they are appreciated.  A gift that will remain in their possession is a constant reminder and will keep your name, your product name, and your sentiments in front of them.

Many items can be individually personalized as well as printed with a logo or a corporate expression.  Often, the item is printed with a motivational message that the company has been using in their advertising.  However, most people cannot resist their own initials or name.  It shows a lot of thought and effort went in to a gift when it's monogrammed with the recipient's own imprint.  People cannot help but be impressed when it is made especially for them.  Initials or name does not take away from the advertising message you are giving.  It just shows that you took the extra time and effort to make the product especially for them.  A gift packaged beautifully is irresistible and elegant wrapping is sure to please.

About the Author

Information on getting rid of possums can be found at the Knowledge Galaxy site.

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Higher expenses drive factories inland

Escalating production costs in China's coastal manufacturing hubs are pushing some suppliers to relocate to the central and western provinces.

The Pearl and Yangtze River Delta regions may soon lose their monopoly over China's export manufacturing sector. Rising costs and the worsening labor shortage are driving companies in these coastal areas to relocate production facilities to the interior.

Although the shift started mid-2004, the trend gained pace in 2007, when rapid economic growth in the west surpassed that in the east. Companies leaving Guangdong, Zhejiang and other coastal provinces are now setting up new production bases in Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Hubei, Shanxi and Sichuan to take advantage of lower worker and land expenditure, among other benefits.

The cost of labor in Tianmen, Hubei province, for instance, is about 50 percent lower than in coastal regions. Electricity and land costs are 20 to 30 percent less.

Such factors are what convinced Full River (Hong Kong) Ltd to relocate its manufacturing facilities from Shenzhen in Guangdong province to Liling in Hunan. The headquarters, R&D and marketing departments remain in Shenzhen.

The monthly minimum wage in the inland city is 500 yuan ($75), while factory rental is about 8 yuan ($1.17) per square meter. In areas outside Shenzhen's special economic zone, the rates stand at 900 yuan ($130) and 12 yuan ($1.75) per square meter. Expenditure is set to rise further, as a provincial mandate will lift worker salaries by as much as 21 percent beginning May 1.

Although Full River has seen its transportation expenses go up, overall costs are still about 5 percent lower. Material sourcing is unaffected, as the company's suppliers are mainly in Zhejiang, Sichuan and Hebei, all of which are geographically closer to Liling than Shenzhen.

Division of labor was one of the major objectives of Guangzhou Canttro Extension Electronics (Group) Co. Ltd, a maker of electronic connectors, when it established factories in Hangzhou in Zhejiang and Wuhan in Hubei.

This forward-looking company anticipates labor recruitment to get increasingly difficult in the future. Setting up production facilities outside of Guangdong would ensure the company's continuous development, as products will also be promoted in different provinces.

"It would be easier to recruit workers in small numbers," general manager Zheng Haibin said. "For example, employing 200 in Hangzhou and another 200 in Wuhan is much easier than finding 400 more workers in Guangdong, where we already have 500."

Managing a small factory is also easier than a large one. "The challenge ahead would be on keeping the loyalty of the workers," Zheng said. "The new employees would be provided with company shares to motivate them."

Guangzhou Canttro's factory in Hangzhou began operations in January 2010. The Wuhan factory is scheduled to open by May this year. The supplier is keeping its Guangzhou office for marketing, sales, R&D and for the manufacture of high-end products.

Local governments in inland provinces also provide incentives, including special land rates for investors that have a registered capital exceeding a certain amount. An initial expenditure of at least 50 million yuan ($7.3 million), for instance, can lower land purchase costs from 90,000 to 140,000 yuan ($13,200 to $20,500) per hectare to just 30,000 yuan ($4,400).

Because of this, most transplanted factories claim to incur general savings of between 5 and 30 percent. This comes even as material and transportation costs are currently higher than in the coastal region.

Labor-intensive plants lead migration

Many of the high-profile transfers involve foreign-invested businesses that carry out manual processes extensively.

Last year, Intel transferred its assembly and test plants from Shanghai to Chengdu in Sichuan. The move started in February and was completed in November 2009.

In October 2009, Taiwan-based Foxconn finalized a $1 billion contract to construct a manufacturing base also in Chengdu.

Hewlett-Packard and Taiwan's Quanta are establishing notebook computer production bases in Chongqing. HP's new factory opened in January 2010. Quanta signed a contract in that month as well.

In November 2009, Pfizer signed an agreement with the local government to set up an R&D center at the Wuhan National Bioindustry Base in Hubei. Attractive brainpower costs as well as tax and housing subsidies enticed the pharmaceutical company to establish facilities there. Although minimum wages are lower in Wuhan, the research skills and English proficiency of workers there are said to be on a par with Shanghai, where Pfizer has had an R&D center since 2005.

But locally owned enterprises are also in motion.

Since 2008, a number of garment, fashion and footwear makers in Guangdong have been redeploying their production lines to Hunan and Jiangxi, while keeping their headquarters, design centers, and marketing and sales offices in the coastal province.

In early 2009, nine garment makers moved their factories from Guangdong to Huaxian in Henan. More than 2,000 jobs were affected by the transfer.

Textile companies in Hong Kong and Jiangsu are investing about $150 million in a denim garments processing park in Chongqing. Some 30 companies will be based in the park over the next three years.

Domestic expansion also a motivation

Apart from lower costs, there are other factors driving factory migrations.

Some companies are merely attempting to be closer to their export destinations and save on freight costs. For instance, movers to Guangxi aim to shorten the distance to Vietnam, while investors in Xinjiang would be right at the door of Central Asia.

Further, the large domestic market in the western and interior regions is an enticement. The China government has invested heavily in these areas since 2000, and the rapid development there has been boosting domestic consumption. Retail sales in rural regions increased 0.2 percentage points faster than in urban areas in 2009.

New Zhongyuan Ceramics Co. Ltd supports the China government's campaign to develop the economy of Western China. The company has plants turning out a wide range of ceramic and sanitary ware in Guangdong, Sichuan, Jiangxi and Hunan.

The supplier is building two more factories in Faku, Liaoning province, and Dangyang in Hubei. Aside from benefiting from the lower labor and land costs at the new sites, the expansion enables New Zhongyuan to create a national network and further its aim of becoming the top ceramic manufacturer in China.

Coastal areas to remain major production bases

Despite the high-profile movements, the coastal provinces are not yet in danger of losing their economic power. Many small and midsize companies that have weighed the advantages and disadvantages of moving inland have decided that the coastal areas' strengths continue to offset the benefits of the interior. The supply chain inland is not yet as mature as in the Pearl and Yangtze River Delta regions. Some are turned off by the expenses for finding a suitable location, worker training and new sources of raw materials.

Fears of insufficient skilled labor likewise persist. In the gift industry, for instance, demand is seasonal so efficient employees are highly valued. It may take some years before the level of productivity in the interior can reach the same level as that in coastal regions.

Evergreen Garment (China) Co. Ltd, a maker of promotional shirts with 300 workers at its Shenzhen factory, said it is still easier to find skilled labor in the coastal than inland regions. "Most midsize and small factories think it is not necessary to move inland," general manager Zhang Bilian said. "Labor costs are rising all over the country."

The company also cited Shenzhen's well-established supply chain and proximity to Hong Kong that facilitate exports, R&D and participation in trade exhibitions.

The China government, however, is aware of the skill and efficiency disparity. The educational infrastructure in Western China has been undergoing an upgrade over the past few years in order to close the gap.

To ensure further that there would be sufficient skilled workers and engineers in the area, China's State Council has announced a full refund of tuition fees for college graduates who decide to work in central or western provinces. Various other incentives are given to migrant workers to convince them to head west instead of the south and the east.

Hong Kong-invested Orient Source Mfg (HK) Co. Ltd, a supplier of dolls and action figures, describes the labor cost in Huizhou, where it has a plant, to be more acceptable than in other Guangdong cities. The company appreciates the convenient information exchange and transportation link between Hong Kong and Huizhou as well.

Having been in Huizhou since 1986, Orient Source values its good relationship with the local government and local suppliers, which would be costly to rebuild in other areas.

In Shenzhen, among interviewed companies without immediate plans of relocating are RDI Technology (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd and GOSCAM/Gospell Smarthome Electronics Co. Ltd.

"Shenzhen is the most important production and export hub for many electric products," RDI assistant general manager Mike Yuan said. "With more than 30 years of development, Shenzhen has a well-established supply chain and industrial environment, and an efficient transportation network." The baby monitor company has 700 workers at its factory.

Doll maker Shantou City Chenghai Yinyu Industry Co. Ltd is also content with its current location. "The labor cost in Shantou is not as high as in the other cities of the Pearl River Delta region," sales manager Raymond Xu said. "Shantou is the largest production hub for plastic toys in China. Various companies from different backgrounds have set up base in the city for its great industrial environment and abundant supply chain."

Factory movements not all interior-bound

Shenzhen LYD Technology Co. Ltd is not yet ready to leave the coastal region, but it plans to transfer its baby monitor factory from Dongguan in Guangdong's southwest to Huizhou in the provincial center. The move is prompted mainly by the lower cost of labor in the central city. The minimum monthly wage in Huizhou is 670 yuan ($98), compared with 770 yuan ($113) in Dongguan.

Meanwhile, the transfer to Qingdao of Qingdao Cale Optoelectronics S&T Co. Ltd's factory from Shenzhen is part of a long-term strategy. Chairman Zhang Lianxin said Shenzhen's LED illumination industry is wedged at low-end manufacturing that the local government has no plans to advance.

Qingdao Cale makes high-end and midrange LED illumination products. Qingdao, known as the white goods center of the Bohai Bay Rim Economic Region, offered several incentives for the company to become one of the city's leading enterprises for LED illumination products. These included low land rent, an R&D fund grant, an investment subsidy and a purchase order worth more than $500,000.

The city's white goods industry gives Qingdao Cale access to an ample supply of skilled manual workers. The supplier can also take advantage of the hundreds of manufacturing service providers to which it can subcontract some processes whenever necessary.

Due to the mature supply chain in Foshan, manufacturers such as Foshan Vigorboom Ceramic Co. Ltd prefer to stay in the city or in the surrounding districts instead of migrating inland.

This Guangdong city has long been a production hub for ceramic tiles. But ceramic manufacturing has been a traditionally high-polluting industry, and the Foshan government has been reforming practices and pushing local makers to leave the city center in recent years. Foshan Vigorboom's factory is in Shunde, a district in the outskirts of the city. Enping Rungo Ceramics Co. Ltd, meanwhile, moved recently from Shunde to Enping in southwest Guangdong.

Local government efforts to develop environment-friendly industries, however, have resulted in diminished resources for ceramics manufacturing. News reports indicate that by 2011, 80 to 90 percent of Foshan's ceramic enterprises would have moved inland.

Tile and sanitary ware supplier Guangdong Dongpeng Ceramic Co. Ltd, for instance, is relocating from Foshan to Hunan. About 800 million yuan ($117 million) has been invested in the new factory, which will not be fully constructed until 2015. Once operational, the new plant will have an annual production capacity reaching 1.5 billion yuan ($220 million).

This article was originally published by Global Sources, a leading business-to-business media company and a primary facilitator of trade with China manufacturers and India suppliers, providing essential sourcing information to volume buyers through our e-magazines, trade shows and industry research.

About the Author

Global Sources is a leading business-to-business media company and a primary facilitator of trade with China manufacturers, providing essential sourcing information to volume buyers through our e-magazines, trade shows and industry research.

Factory Ledger

It is often practical for a manufacturing concern to include a factory ledger in its accounting system. Generally, this procedure is followed when manufacturing operations are far-flung from the main office, or when the nature of such operations requires a large number of accounts.

Some accounts relating to manufacturing are kept in factory office books while other are kept in general office books. What accounts and other records be kept in the factory journal and ledger and what accounts and records be maintained in the general journal and ledger would depend on various factors and the nature of manufacturing concerns. However, there are certain accounts which are usually kept on the factory books. These are accounts concerned with manufacturing costs and include stores or materials accounts, labor or payroll accounts, factory overhead accounts, general ledger, is also included on the factory books.

Most organizations maintain cash and other factory assets on the general office records. Thus the general ledger includes such accounts as sales, cost of goods sold, factory plant and machinery, accumulated depreciation and liabilities etc. It also includes the control account, factory ledger.

Entries relating with general ledger and factory ledger are first recorded in the general ledger and factory journal. The control accounts factory ledger and general ledger are reciprocal in nature i.e., a debit to one is an automatic credit to the other and vice versa; so they permit each ledger to be self-balancing.

In order to check the reciprocal accounts (factory ledger control account in the general office books and general ledger control account in the factory office books), inter office vouchers, which are also called transfer vouchers, are used. Through these inter office or transfer vouchers, the general office is informed by the factory office; and factory office is informed by the general office.

About the Author

Rashid Javed is an Asian author. He writes articles about various topics of financial accounting and managerial accounting such as cash flow statement and activity based costing.

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how do i get a high school diploma here lake charles louisiana?

If you are trying to get a GED, there will be a place for that in Lake Charles (there is an alternate education school here in Alex). Contact the parish school board for the number to the location. Then call to make appt, go to orientation and test will be scheduled. It's $40 in cash and test is usually on 2 separate days for different sections.

My step-son just called for his yesterday, that's how I know this.

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Why do you think sarah palin resigned as governor?

skeletons in her closet? preparing for 2012 presidential bid? what do you think her motivation is for resigning from office as governor?

Um, she is a quitter? Glad she didn't win the vp job, she may have quit that too? Wonder if anyone would vote for someone who quit their elected office?

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Make Money From The Internet With A Proven Online Business

There are a million business opportunities on the internet and so many of them make outrageous claims about the amount of money you will make, the minimal time you need to invest to make this happen and the small financial investment required to create the lifestyle of your dreams.

There is even one guy who is telling people they can make 77 million dollars in 2 years, and that he earns more than the CEOs of all the biggest companies in the world combined! If you buy into any of this rubbish then you probably also believe those badly spelt emails telling you that you have inherited 300 million dollars from some obscure relative!

So let's get real here.

To make money from the internet you have to find a successful online business model with a proven track record. I will outline some very simple steps to identify a business which you will be able to achieve success with.

Firstly, you need to ignore the get rich quick schemes.

To be successful online it will take hard work, persistence and a change in your mindset. You will have to find a cutting edge internet marketing education which will train you to stand out from the multitudes pitching business opportunities online.

You will have to be very, very good at what you do.

You will also have to have:

• a proven legitimate business which is creating results for those who are using it and which has a history of success.

• a powerful compensation plan which will pay you large, upfront commissions every time you make a sale plus a residual income plan.

• mentoring and training from the top people in the industry so you can duplicate their outstanding results

• a company which is led by people with integrity whose number one goal is to assist others in attaining their dreams and aspirations.

• a community of passionate and motivated business owners who are involved with assisting in the success of others.

• a support system which will ensure you will always have someone to turn to for advice whether technical or motivational at any time.

• a product line with huge demand which would stand up as a valuable purchase with or without the business opportunity.

• a training system for all levels of expertise and budget with step by step training and coaching in the many facets of internet marketing, paid and free.

A word of warning about some of the online opportunities which do not have these attributes.

Viral programs which involve spamming thousands of people just annoy everyone and make no one except the founders money.

MLM is a very slow building system with great risks of making no money whatsoever.

Affiliate programs take a long time to build with small commissions taking forever to build to a reasonable income level.

Unproven wealth generation systems are almost certainly going to take your money and give you nothing in return – avoid pre-launches and start-ups like the plague they are.

I did my due dilligence before I decided on the business and marketing system I use, in fact I researched many opportunities for months before identifying a top tier direct sales company I felt ticked all the right boxes and I am thankful I identified a business which really does get results. I have seen so many people who have racked up huge amounts of debt by going with the wrong business model.

Be careful out there! A bad choice could set you back years!

About the Author

Mike Morgan is an award winning internet entrepreneur, mentor, business coach and marketing strategist who runs his business from his home at Muriwai Beach in New Zealand. Mike works with his wife Midge and a team of top global entrepreneurs who have developed a powerful business system which teaches you how to make money from the internet and is producing incredible results for those who use it. Visit http://www.mikeandmidge.com for more on this business or find out more about Mike Morgan at http://www.meetmikemorgan.com

Is Business Coaching Meant for You

Business coaching is conducted primarily to have a competitive advantage in the market. Most companies that opt for business coaching already have high revenues. Most established businesses find it a worthwhile investment for increasing productivity, management efficiency, and income. It can be very effective in proprietary businesses, especially when the management is planning to expand, achieve yearly objectives, or sort out day-to-day problems.

Business coaching is meant for businesses that are growing at a very rapid rate. Fast growing businesses need to constantly recruit new employees and arrange for the required amount of capital for expansion. This can very often create problems related to workforce management, resource allocation, and delegation of authority and responsibility. Although these problems have very little effect on the bottom line, in time, these problems can manifold and can seriously start affecting productivity and profits along with the competitive advantage that the business had in the first place. Owners of fast growing businesses have little time to manage day-to-day problems, as most of their time goes into planning and managing expansion plans. Business coaching enables businesses to prioritize their objectives and allocate time and resources to each component of productivity in proportion to their relative contribution.

Businesses that have failed in the past and are starting out fresh can also benefit from professional business coaches as they help in identifying mistakes made in the past, break free from inefficient management practices, and create positive new ones. Business coaching is for businesses that want to benefit from a fresh point of view provided by professional coaches who offer an unbiased opinion about the business, and give the right kind of advice without any ulterior motives. Business coaching plays an advisory role and does not directly affect the decisions of the management related to recruitment, salary hikes, bonuses, and cost cutting. It is a mutual partnership wherein the business coach identifies business goals and resources, and suggests the most suitable path for achieving the planned objectives.

The duration of business coaching depends on how much time the management is willing to commit to working with a business coach. If the aim is to learn goal-setting skills or create marketing plans, then a coaching session of four to eight weeks is sufficient to cover the subject. However, if the objective is to receive advice on a regular basis, then business coaching can continue for months or even years, depending on what your goals are, the manner in which you want to work with your coach, and how often you intend to meet with your coach. If the business has identified long-term goals over a period of several years, then it is imperative to continue business coaching as it enables and ensures that the company stays on track until the completion of the goals. By making an investment in business coaching, businesses have and will continue to receive motivation, training, guidance, and mentoring that will insure growth and increased profitability. The investment is small considering the ROI achieved through the business coaching relationship.

About the Author

BusinessCoach.com is a full service Business Coaching firm, founded in 1989 and based on the philosophy of Gary B. Henson, an entrepreneur and business owner for over 25 years. Chari Darneal is Vice President and Senior Business Coach. Our clients manage anywhere from five to 500 employees each, and cover more than 60 industries. Visit http://www.businesscoach.com for more information, free articles and be sure to sign up for our newsletter.

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How to Mind Map - 4 Tips That Will Guarantee Learning Success

Mind mapping is a technique that uses visual representation of a central idea that helps someone memorize and learn information in a very specialized way. The credit for introducing this technique to the world goes to Tony Buzan. Since that time, there have been so many interpretations on how to properly mind map.

So where do you begin? You start out with a blank piece of paper and you write down the main idea or concept on the center of the page. Most experts prefer that you use a colorful image to represent that idea, but you can still use words if you want to. From here, you think of related ideas connected to the main idea. You then draw lines, arrows and even branches to connect the ideas together. Again, color is recommended when you draw these connections. This how it all begins and those are the 2 simple steps to follow.

How does it work? The simplest way of saying this is that it uses the whole brain instead of just the left or the right brain. Think of it this way, in school and at work we are often asked to review, study and even memorize lists and tables. When we do this, we only engage the left side of our brain. Mind mapping uses both sides, thus increasing a person's learning ability. The use of colors, lines and pictures allows the map to access the right side of the brain.

Does this work for everyone? Yes, if done correctly. Here are some guidelines to remember to ensure you're doing things correctly. First, use only keywords and not whole sentences because this would only confuse yourself. Second, make sure that the central idea is a strong and clear visual image. Remember that it should stand out because it needs to stand out on your mind. Third, do not limit yourself when using colors. The more colors your map has, the more engaged the right brain is. Fourth step is: do not check or judge your work. Write down ideas as they come, draw images as you picture them and do not stop until there are no more ideas. Lastly, leave lots of space. Even if you have run out of ideas in one session, you can always go back to your map to add more.

Are there other ways to mind map? Fortunately there are other ways. With the advent of technology, a lot of websites are offering software that will guide you and would even suggest ideas for you. Most of these software applications are very easy to use and the best part is they're inexpensive and some of them are even free.

This has evolved so much in the last decade and it is fast becoming a mainstream learning tool for students and employees. A lot of businesses have benefited from this and schools are beginning to teach it too. So take advantage of it because others already have.

About the Author

By simply clicking on the link below, I will give you my best reports totally for free on effective time management tips and secrets.

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Ashton Dixon

Vintage Maps: Décor With Direction

Vintage Maps: Décor with Direction

“A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its loveliness increases;
It will never pass into nothingness;”
- John Keats

Maps have long enjoyed a special place in our heritage. Capturing the wayfaring spirit of the traveling adventurer, the intrigues of shifting kingdoms and political fiefdoms, the historical perspective and routes of our forefathers, and the unique colors and flavors of the world, maps offer what most pieces of vintage art do not—a romantic appeal to most everyone. With unique allure, maps can serve as focal centerpieces or merely serve as interesting accents. These attractive pieces of vintage art offer Old-World charm and captivate our fascination, even if for a brief moment, wherever they are placed, as conversation starters or as meaningful pieces with eternal appeal.

As a Design Feature

1799 Map of The World
Antique world maps encapsulate the essence of a changing world and provide unique pieces of historical romance and splashes of adventurous color to any room.

The vintage map is unique in its ability to mesh its design with virtually any type of design scheme, color palette, or enclosed space. Maps speak artfully across the ages of the desperation of esteemed ancestral émigrés, the derring-do of heroic explorers, the determination of military minds, and the doggedness of beleaguered cultures by framing time within man-made land boundaries and natural seascapes. The crisp graphics and subtle tints allow us to capture an entire era, a nation or a culture that has receded into the past but demands not to be forgotten.

The use of the vintage maps as a décor item allows us to capture a time and place which we may have never experienced directly or one that we wish to cherish as a memory. As the human lifespan extends, the length of our future makes the extent of our history seem all that more important. The vintage map can give us a starting point and a sense of direction contained in a clear and concise piece of art that will allow others to see the patterns of our personal or cultural history.

1716 Homann Map of The World
A double hemisphere map of the world by Johann Baptist Homann. Digitally retouched .

Universal Usage

Most everyone uses maps, and the vast majority of people do so with the single purpose of finding a proper route from where they are to where they want to go. In some cases, they even look to see where others have started and ended journeys. A select few, however, see the map as artistic design, perhaps even viewing it as the high expression of engraving and printing skills. Beginning in the 18th century, and well into the 20th, the wealthy, the powerful (and those aspiring to be) either used the bound, colored atlas as the centerpiece in the private library or sitting room in an attempt to demonstrate both acumen and urbanity. The cleverly displayed atlas was left open to a page denoting a recent travel experience, a troublesome current political event, or even a gloomy catastrophe in an effort to spark conversation.

Dynamic business leaders, determined politicians and high-ranking military officers have always used the imposing globe or impressive wall map to delineate the extent of their influence or the depth of their ambitions. Medieval and Renaissance governments and their commissioned discoverers kept maps as secret weapons to rile foes or foil rivals. Democratic societies distributed maps to their populations as a symbol of freedom while totalitarian regimes made maps, and the potential such documents gave for travel, off-limits to all but a few in the ruling echelons.

As an Artform

Vintage Map of Greece
Published in 1688 in Amsterdam. , originally printed on three sheets. Includes illustration of lion with enslaved human figures shown in embellished title cartouche. Views of fortified towns in outer margins.

Fortunately, maps have other uses beyond their function as travel aids. When maps first appeared on the walls of the powerful or in the atlases of the wealthy, the eye-catching beauty of the design and the power of the ability of paper and ink to evoke emotion were immediately apparent. Color, line, structure and even the calligraphy of maps could transcend the purpose for which they were originally intended. The tool became an art form unto itself. A map’s practical use could be made obsolete by war, politics or cataclysm, but the beauty of the design and quality of production gave a well-executed map an eternal appeal.

Evolution of Cartography

The first maps to be engraved, colored and printed for non-field use were produced for the most part as artworks, not as practical tools for navigators, engineers or armies on the march. In these display maps, the functional part of the chart often took up a minority of space with the majority being devoted to depicting the grandeur of the cartographer’s patrons or the novel landscapes and wondrous creatures supposedly to be found within the map’s boundaries. Other maps offered the pictorial histories of those who had traveled the depicted lands and seas. Until the 16th century, most maps had been individually hand drawn and illustrated with much the same care and artistic verve as could be found in medieval manuscripts. Just as books became mass-produced and mass consumed, so did maps, and in both cases the practical aspects of the product soon overwhelmed the artistic. Although today’s maps are far more accurate and the information infinitely more useful, modern collectors and interior designers look to the past for the finest examples of cartography for use in display or décor.

Bird's Eye View Map of San Francisco
Published in 1876 by Currier & Ives.

The Allure

There has never been a time when people have traveled as often and as far as we do today. Everybody came from somewhere and most of us want to go somewhere else. The frequency and exigencies of travel often destroy our sense of time and distance but maps return this sensibility. We not only can recapture these sensations from our own travel experience but those of our ancestors and culture. Vintage maps allow us to display pride in our own accomplishments while linking them to our lineage. Like a shelf of richly bound classic texts, a well-framed map speaks as much about the owner’s worldliness as it does about taste. Few people today can decorate their walls with portraits of stately ancestors, but that does not mean one’s ancestry is not worth celebrating. A vintage map can say as much as a hall of portraits in far less space and in a much more subdued voice.

The Variety

The choices of décor maps are many, but the effect is the same. A city map of medieval Naples, a county map of revolutionary Cork, a regional map of Provence, a Civil War map of the United States or a 16th-century map of the New World are as much conversation starters as they are symbols of the owner’s perspective on life. Some are elaborately framed or shadow boxed to match a classical interior design while others are simply shielded by a glass panel to emphasize the graphic quality of the print. Whatever the presentation method, people are instantly drawn to these displays and it takes little to encourage the viewer’s historical opinions or personal travel experiences.

Any Design Scheme, Any Budget

An artful map presentation can be used in any room and with any design scheme or within any decorating budget. Maps can be printed in any size deemed suitable and serve as an affordable means of affecting a timeless sensibility to home or office. Properly presented maps focus the eye and the intellect with a subtle mixture of graphic excellence and historical perception. Like many other forms of art, the vintage map can reduce the world while expanding the mind.

Reprinted with Permission from StockMapAgency.com. StockMapAgency.com (http://www.stockmapagency.com) offers an extensive selection of vintage maps from the 15th to early 20th century available as a museum quality art print or digital download.

About the Author

StockMapAgency.com offers an extensive selection of vintage maps from the 15th to early 20th century available as a museum quality art print or digital download. Large selection of antique US city panoramic maps as well as maps of world exploration. We offer over 2200 antique maps in several sizes to fit your budget.
Link to Site

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Start a Quilting Business Making and Selling Custom Tree Skirts

Christmas is a time of year when people splurge. They buy gifts for people, they decorate their homes and offices, and they create special memories for their friends and families. Your quilting business niche could be making and selling custom tree skirts for the holidays.

Who buys custom tree skirts? People who can't make them themselves...and there are plenty of people who can't! If you are a quilter, chances are that you've made one for yourself or even for a friend as a gift. Maybe you've never considered making and selling them.

Making and selling custom tree skirts can be a year around business. Here's how to get started:

First, make a couple of tree skirts to show as samples. Use a traditional quilt pattern in Christmas-themed fabric to make a sample. For another sample, make it truly customized. Use machine embroidery to put a name on the tree skirt or appliqu?he name onto the quilted skirt.

Another way to show a customized tree skirt is to use appliqu?If you are making a tree skirt for a fireman, you could start with a solid color cotton background and appliqu&eacute onto it designs like a fireman hat, a hydrant, etc. You would use your quilting skills to quilt around each appliqu?br />

Applique is the best way to customize a tree skirt for a business. The base of the skirt is your pallet and the appliqu?are your works of art!

Don't let the word "art" scare you. If you haven't done a lot of applique, you might not realize just how easy it is to create a custom tree skirt. Your designs are as close as your clip art collection.

If you have a business customer who wants a logo on the customized quilted tree skirt, you might need a scanner (or at least access to one). Print out a copy of the business' logo and use it as the pattern for your appliqu?br />

Once you have a few samples, you can sell your custom tree skirts in a couple of different ways. Advertise and wait for customers to call, or sell them directly to potential customers.

In using the advertising method, snap photos of each of your custom designs. Make fliers using the photos. Develop a webpage using the pictures, or place a small ad in a local newspaper.

With the direct sales method, you pack up your quilted tree skirts and hit the road. You ask people if they'd like to buy one. Some of the best places to go (if the offices allow solicitors) include a county courthouse or city hall, banks, schools, and hospitals. While you're there, make sure to ask the top ranking official if he/she would like to buy one for the business, not just for the home.

A combination of the two methods is to sell at quilt and craft shows. This can be tricky unless you have several generic skirts ready to sell during the show. Choose a few traditional patterns and a few appliques for top professions like nursing, teaching, banking, etc.

Selling at craft shows gives you a market full of people who want to spend money on crafts. It will also give you a chance to be physically in front of customers without the aggressiveness often needed to be successful in direct sales.

No matter which method of sales you choose, always attach a business card with each custom tree skirt you sale. When your customers get compliments about the skirts, they can refer their friends to you!

About the Author

Penny Halgren
http://www.TheQuiltingCoach.com
Penny,a quilter for more than 27 years, enjoys exploring all aspects of quilting and sharing her knowledge with all quilters. If you are looking for an Internet quilting club with a wide variety of resources for all level quilters, check out http://www.TheQuiltingCoach.com .

Unerase Digital Photos

Unerase Digital Photos
Application restores accidentally lost photos
Wednesday, Aug 19, 2009;
It has become the need of our today's fast growing life for securing our precious memories (pictures, photos, snapshots etc). Digital media stores photos and images in its digital flash memory. What if you have lost some precious pictures you had saved on your digital cameras memory card? Or maybe you formatted your SD card? Don’t worry our company Photo undelete provides you best solutions to get back your lost pictures, photos and images in seconds.
Digital pictures recovery software retrieves deleted photos, album, images and snapshots saved in jpeg, gif and jpg file formats from formatted or corrupted windows hard disk drive and USB flash removable media drive. Photoundelete.org releases new Unerase Digital Photos software to ensure user to get back lost photographs and missing images from formatted or corrupted multimedia card, SD card, compact flash memory cards etc. Software easily restore missing or erased snapshots due to formatting or reformatting disk partition, virus attack, power failure, hard disk failure, software corruption, accidental deletion, inaccessible partition etc in just few mouse clicks. Application installs on all windows operating systems like Vista, XP, 2003, NT, ME, 2000, 98 etc. Digital photos salvage program securely scans the storage media and save all recovered data at user specified safe location in tree like structure. The software development team of Photoundelete.org combines a variety of advance features in this particular software. Some of the important features are:
* Application used to restore jpeg, jpg, gif pictures, photos and image file format.
* Digital pictures backup application easily scans the storage media and restores photos at your specified safe location.
* You can see preview of the recoverable data in tree structure format.
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About the Author