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America's Promise Invites Communities Across Country To Come Together For Children And Youth

2009-10-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

http://guide4career.co.cc/College

Last year, America's Promise-The Alliance for Youth and Founding Chairman Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.) launched the first-ever competition to identify the 100 Best Communities for Young People. The goal: to identify counties, cities and towns working to make their communities great places for young people to grow up. Over 1,000 communities took part in the inaugural competition and winners were named from 40 states.

To continue to build upon the success of the competition, America's Promise is conducting a series of five regional 100 Best Forums to provide communities with an opportunity to share how they provide healthy, safe and caring environments that effectively educate young people and help them become productive citizens.

The forums will uncover, recognize and promote best practices by nonprofits, businesses, government, policymakers, educators, and youth and civic leaders. The sessions will also encourage collaboration within communities to see that all young people receive the Five Promises essential to success: caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, an effective education and opportunities to help others. Participants will also be told how their communities can take part in the next 100 Best Communities for Young People competition, slated to begin Fall 2006.

State Farm will serve as the title sponsor for the forums, with additional support provided by the Ford Motor Company Fund and New Century Financial Corporation.

Every community across the country is invited to take part in one of the forums to be held:

• June 8-9, 2006, in Long Beach, California;

• July 27-28, 2006, in Providence, Rhode Island;

• September 14-15, 2006, in Charlotte, North Carolina;

• September 28-29, 2006, in Indianapolis, Indiana; and

• October 12-13, 2006, in Denver, Colorado.

In addition to the exciting sessions and workshops, all forum participants will receive a continental breakfast and lunch each day, and attend an evening reception.
http://guide4career.co.cc/College

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2008-12-24T03:21:00.000-08:00

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2008-12-23T10:15:00.000-08:00

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2008-12-23T09:21:00.000-08:00

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Anti spam appliance, Anti Spam at the Enterprise Level

2008-11-25T06:22:00.000-08:00

"anti spam appliance"

Anti Spam at the Enterprise Level

Every one of us knows how spam impacts us. Every day we either get a ton of spam - or if we're fairly well protected by spam filters - only a few pieces.

Like a large number of people, I don't use any spam filters. Ah. You think I'm insane. But wait. My problem is that I get a lot of email from marketing types which I want to receive. And the spam filtering software is not very sensitive to my needs. Even white-listing doesn't always work. So, I prefer to get all that spam and just delete it.

Now this solution can work for me despite the time it takes to delete my daily overdose of spam. However, at the enterprise level, it's a whole different story. If you have a relatively large internal network with even a modest number of email users, you're looking at a major problem. And the more users you have, the worse the problem is.

Sure, you can put up software on the mail server. Works, kind of. But pretty soon you may find you need to upgrade the mail server. And that's after you already put it on a stand-alone machine.

anti spam appliance

Rather than continuing to buy ever more expensive software to run on a machine that keeps needing to be upgraded, you might want to think about a dedicated anti spam appliance.

To give you some idea of what's possible let's take a look at Barracuda Networks dedicated anti spam appliance. All you need to do is put this baby in front of your mail server. I say baby, advisedly because this one will learn by doing and by training provided by your users.

Dean Drako, CEO of Barracuda Networks said, "Bayesian filtering is still one of the most accurate defenses against spam. The new plug-ins allow users to directly train the Bayesian filter, making the Barracuda Spam Firewall even more accurate based on the users individual email preferences. Viruses and other threats can infect the network quickly if they are not stopped at the network edge. With Intent Analysis our customers have an advantage over these threats because the Barracuda Spam Firewall is able to block them real time. Consequently we have consistently been a first responder when some of the most malicious virus attacks have hit, saving our customers from potentially devastating damage to their networks."

This is one beautiful little machine. A Barracuda Spam Firewall can support from 1,000 to 30,000 active users. It can usually be installed in less than five minutes and receives automatic hourly updates for new forms of spam and viruses. It has a 10 layer defense system beyond the use of open source anti spam and anti virus solutions: denial of service and security protection, IP block list, rate control, virus check with archive decompression, proprietary virus check, user specified rules, spam fingerprint check, Intent Analysis, spam rule-based scoring, and Bayesian analysis. Plus it also does both inbound and outbound email filtering with the inclusion of sophisticated outbound email filtering techniques (just in case you've got a spam zombie on board or somebody's got an infected PC).

However, it isn't exactly cheap. Still, when you consider the time, bandwidth, user frustration and potential hardware upgrade costs, the price may look a lot more reasonable. You can check it out at http://www.barracudanetworks.com/

If you are in the market for an anti-spam appliance, the Barracuda Spam Firewall isn't your only choice. The impact of spam on internet businesses - even those who primarily use it for just email - is so great that a simple search for "anti spam appliance" will find you a number of alternatives to examine. Even McAfee is getting into the anti spam hardware game.

I'm hoping that it won't be too long before I can pick up a Bayesian multi-level anti spam, anti virus firewall appliance for my home PC that keeps me safe and cuts my need to delete without deep-sixing the email I want or costing me more than I can afford. I suspect it's on the way.

"anti spam appliance" Anti Spam at the Enterprise Level

Every one of us knows how spam impacts us. Every day we either get a ton of spam - or if we're fairly well protected by spam filters - only a few pieces.

Sure, you can put up software on the mail server. Works, kind of. But pretty soon you may find you need to upgrade the mail server. And that's after you already put it on a stand-alone machine.

anti spam appliance

Rather than continuing to buy ever more expensive software to run on a machine that keeps needing to be upgraded, you might want to think about a dedicated anti spam appliance.

"anti spam appliance" Anti Spam at the Enterprise Level

Every one of us knows how spam impacts us. Every day we either get a ton of spam - or if we're fairly well protected by spam filters - only a few pieces.

Sure, you can put up software on the mail server. Works, kind of. But pretty soon you may find you need to upgrade the mail server. And that's after you already put it on a stand-alone machine.

anti spam appliance

Rather than continuing to buy ever more expensive software to run on a machine that keeps needing to be upgraded, you might want to think about a dedicated anti spam appliance.

The effect of the mirrors in our Room

2008-11-20T09:03:00.000-08:00

The effect of the mirrors in our Room

The mirrors became a very significant ingredient in designing house and of office.Cheaper than the majority of decorative materials, they serve as good friend to the owner of house because they are attractive, but however be not made a bankrupt.Many people prefer to install some mirrors instead of encumbering the house with other worked objects.

The mirrors are added to the total charm of your house.They cause heat in the household that no other article can emulate.The mirrors differently formed with beautiful reinforcements became the standard today.Some mirrors come even with the lights included from the various kinds which are added to the deployment of drama before your eyes.

Many people discovered with their pleasure that the replanning of the provision of their interiors at the house with mirrors is not a expensive or long effort.Here that you can reduce the expenditure for a draughtsman of interiors too.

Mirrors are found most of the time in our bathrooms.But the large formed mirrors placed laterally or opposite one the other acts as a stratagem to give an illusion of more than space open to the visitor and the of the same prisoners.The mirrors strategically placed help you to obtain a sight of some impossible corners of your house without throwing a glance or putting themselves at knees.

The mirrors improve total lighting of your house.Once placed with respect to a source of light, they would spread the light with other parts or the room gently.The Smallish mirrors formed like triangles or circles, once placed coast at coast in a line on the wall creates a marvellous environment.The dark coloured rooms can obtain a soft feeling with the addition or a mirror or two.

Discussion and permanent ends of removal of hair

2008-11-19T13:45:00.000-08:00

Discussion and permanent ends of removal of hair

I saw that some types do this with mules.They just cannot let go!At all events, the matter with-hand here is sleeping bag of body.Basically you want débarasser of it, or at least of the majority.In this modern era it does not take right fresh step to go around folâtrer a hairy back.The EC what you have need is permanent treatments of removal of hair.

In this moment, you probably already familiarized yourselves with electrolysis and waxing.While electrolysis zaps the follicules of hair to the root, to supposedly prevent them from turning over, waxing draws them simply.Which method you would prefer?The majority of people tend to going hand in hand with waxing for some good reasons.It is less expensive, you can do it in your own house, and that does not take a long time.The results vary, but generally for the last time two to four weeks.

The practice of waxing became rather current among the men and of the of the same women.However, I would not invite exactly to wax the permanent removal of hair.Considering the fact that you must by practice to do it, it is not permanent.On the one hand, the removal of hair of laser is.This form of new-age of permanent removal of hair must be made by a professional in an occupational arrangement.It really implies a type of laser, which blows these follicules tedious with a light high power.In this way it is not very likely to turn over them to surface.The treatments at most take generally approximately 20 to 40 private clinics of minutes, and do not leave fortunately any serious consequence.You can continue your day after your permanent treatment of removal of hair of laser as if nothing occurred.

Obtain the results which you really want!These permanent results of removal of hair can be only found with treatments of laser.In this way you should not continue to be charged by this malicious sleeping bag of body for the remainder of your life.Strike it in a whack!Very that you must make is to find a professional in your neck of wood and to program a consultation for permanent treatments of removal of hair of laser.You will be happy you made!

Who of other wants the removal of hair at the house?

2008-11-19T13:42:00.000-08:00

Who of other wants the removal of hair at the house?

I believe, for the majority, of the people prefers the idea of the removal of hair at the house.I cannot imagine no matter whom to want to travel, rest me in an office, spend an enormous amount of money while there, all to do something which they can do at the house.The best companies heard than our request and maintaining the removal of hair is at the possible, easy and accessible house.

A good example of this is a product which I employ, called Revitol.Independently of the product however, you can do it at the house, when it is convenient for you.The removal of hair of reason is at the so easy house is because the products (quality those) function quickly and effectively.

The removal of hair at the house should not be all the day an event or to require days you rest afterwards.IT should be as simple as brushing the teeth or putting on the hydrating cream.Take care you to find a product of removal of hair at the house which is easy and quickly.You should be able to quickly carry out it at the house;put the cream above, leave place it during one second, remove and viola!Nondesired hair went and only the smooth and soft skin is left.

Do not import what you employ to do the removal of hair at the house, you that that is soft, safe ensure and will really function.Be a smart consumer and seek the testimonials, the guarantees and the service to the customers.Products which are #1 evaluated for something, gained this spot, thus subsistence which with the spirit too.

I do not know others, but I would prefer not to announce that I remove hair of the whole, even less by the extinction in the public.This is why I prefer the removal of hair at the house.The other reasons which I also mentioned make with removal of hair at the house an ideal choice for each one.Be diligent (or controls outside what I employ) and too will find you the productat perfect at the house.

Faire Votre Propre Parfum

2008-11-11T00:10:00.000-08:00

Faire Votre Propre Parfum

Les parfums ont été l'ami fidèle pour des femmes pendant des siècles.La première tentative enregistrée d'huiles parfumées était dans Mesopotamia dans les 2 B.C.L'art de la parfumerie s'est développé avec plus de scientifiques et d'alchimistes développant de nouvelles manières de distiller des aromes des fleurs.Un chimiste Arabe, Al-Kindi a écrit un livre sur des manières de créer les huiles parfumées et le scientifique persan Avicenna a présenté de nouvelles manières de distiller des huiles des fleurs.Cette connaissance s'est écartée en Europe, où les Hongrois ont inventé le parfum moderne en 1370.

De nos jours, le parfum vient dans des bouteilles cher-regardantes, avec aucune d'elles ayant une étiquette des prix de en-dessous de $50.Bien qu'il n'y ait rien mal avec acheter un patron de Hugo pour lui ou un L'Homme pour elle, il est beaucoup plus économique de faire vos propres.

La fabrication de votre propre parfum pourrait être un peu intimidante, particulièrement pour des premier-temporisateurs, mais il est facile si tu suis quelques étapes simples.

1) les ingrédients que tu auras besoin sont jusqu'à votre imagination.Trouver tout ce qui sent gentil, comme les lavandes, le romarin et n'importe quelle autre fleur qui convient à votre fantaisie.Employer littéralement votre nez pour les trouver.Quelque chose qui semble horrible pourrait avoir une odeur gentille.

2) recueillent tout vers le haut dans un grand pot et utilisent un mortier et un pilon pour les rectifier.T'assures tu les rectifier correctement en employant un mouvement circulaire sur le mélange.Ajouter une certaine eau pour faciliter votre meulage et de l'alcool au besoin.

3) une fois que tu as un mélange cohérent gentil, filtres les jus par un thé-tamis et les rassembles dans une fiole.Tu voudras toutes les huiles qui ont été libérées par les ingrédients.Ne pas essayer d'être trop complet en tendant.Laisser là être quelques particules à gauche dans le mélange, pour plus d'arome.

4) tu peus également le mettre sur une bouteille de jet si tu aimes.Il y a beaucoup de conceptions et des tailles disponibles sur le marché.Essayer d'obtenir une petite bouteille classée si tu veus la porter dans votre sac à main.Si tu es la sorte deport de personne, ajouter moins d'eau et faire le mélange plus concentré.

Là beaucoup d'autres manières de faire votre parfum.Expérimenter avec les ingrédients et vos méthodes pour obtenir de nouveaux aromes et couleurs.

Shampooing pour les cheveux huileux - shampooing huileux de cheveux pour le nettoyage et le corps profonds

2008-11-11T00:08:00.000-08:00

Shampooing pour les cheveux huileux - shampooing huileux de cheveux pour le nettoyage et le corps profonds

Si tu es l'un des millions qui souffrent des cheveux huileux, une clarification, shampooing de profond-nettoyage peut être votre réponse.Les cheveux huileux sont souvent le résultat des glandes sebaceous au-dessus-actives.Les glandes de Sebaceous sécrètent le sébum - huile de cheveux - et sont associées à tous les pores de follicule.Généralement, le sébum aide l'axe de follicule à maintenir le pliability et l'élasticité faisant le lissoir de cheveux.Le sébum aide à protéger les cheveux et encourage la livraison des aliments au cuir chevelu et à la racine.Il assure non seulement la protection, mais peut améliorer l'éclat et le manageability.

les glandes sebaceous Au-dessus-actives sont justes que - production de trop d'huile.Le résultat peut être une accumulation d'excédent d'huile qui peut emprisonner la saleté, obstruer des pores et agir avec de la levure de causer le mycète.Et bien que la sécrétion d'huile puisse être facilitée par d'autres issues - la chaleur et l'humidité, glandes sebaceous de dehors-de-commande sont le numéro suspect un.Les cheveux mats de bidon d'excédent d'huile et donnent un aspect malpropre et non lavé.Dans des cas plus graves, le bidon d'huile mènent à l'acné ou à la dermatite de cuir chevelu.L'écaillement peut également se produire pendant que l'habillage de produit s'accroche au pétrole et à la saleté.Il n'est pas rare que l'écaillement soit confondu avec des pellicules.

Pour aider à adresser des symptômes d'excédent d'huile et de résulter, considérer employer un shampooing pour les cheveux huileux, ou au moins un formulés pour régler le sébum.Les shampooings de cheveux huileux les plus efficaces emploient le zinc ou le zinc PCA. Zinc aide les glandes sebaceous de commande diminuant la production de pétrole.Employer un shampooing avec des agents tensio-actifs doux aide également.

Si votre cuir chevelu est sensible, l'irritation ou l'inflammation peut surgir et favoriser les cheveux huileux.Des agents tensio-actifs doux - en utilisant le sulfate de laureth de sodium - sont recommandés pour éviter de compliquer des problèmes de cuir chevelu.En outre, des produits qui emploient les extraits de fines herbes ou botaniques et les préservatifs paraben-libres ont été montrés pour améliorer la santé de cuir chevelu et pour réduire le début des cheveux huileux.Le fenugrec, le lierre et le Burdock ont l'augmentation devenue populaire pour leur capacité de nettoyer doucement profondément et sont communs dans beaucoup les shampooings de clarification normal-basés.

En tant qu'alternatif, employer un extrait en bon état a bien également basé des travaux de shampooing, et ils généralement sentent grands et laissent votre cuir chevelu et cheveux rétablis et les ont régénéré.La menthe et la menthe poivrée sont souvent employées comme avec leur extrait, menthol.Les extraits en bon état ont les propriétés anti-bactériennes et aident naturellement à nettoyer et se fortifier.Cet acte pareillement au zinc à aider à commander la production de pétrole et sont employés généralement dans le shampooing pour les cheveux huileux.

En termes de régime de soin de cheveux, employer un shampooing huileux de cheveux est recommandé quotidiennement.Puisque son but est de nettoyer profondément, tu peus constater que tu dois alterner avec un shampooing qui offre plus de corps, de volume et d'humidité.

Pour combattre le plus efficacement la production d'excédent d'huile employer un shampooing formulé pour les cheveux huileux.ةviter l'abus de dénommer des aides pour éviter l'habillage et pour se laver les cheveux régulièrement.Avec un régime cohérent de soin de cheveux, tu perdras les cheveux huileux et graisseux de cela et le corps et le volume de regain.

Conclusion du parfum droit

2008-11-11T00:05:00.000-08:00

Conclusion du parfum droit

Si tu recherches le parfum, si tu es une femme recherchant un parfum de signature, ou un type achetant le cadeau de l'anniversaire de sa maman, tu devras savoir faire des emplettes pour eux.Savoir les manières au circumnavigate autour du monde fou des odeurs dehors là est important en t'obtenant l'arome exact que tu veus et n'ayant aucun regret au sujet de l'acheter.

Je suis sûr que certains, la plupart du temps types, n'auront aucune idée où commencer même quand entrant dans le magasin de parfum.Ainsi, dans leur intéret, voici quelques bouts qui peuvent aider :

1) les premiers, ont une idée de quel genre de parfum tu veus.Cela dépend de la personne qu'il est pour.Si tu es un homme, tu voudras une odeur masculine rugueuse et si tu es une femme, tu voudras plus léger et attrayant.Si tu veus être noté, tu voudras un parfum fort-sentant.Tu peus même obtenir des échantillons des magasins pour l'inspiration.Si tu es totalement coincé, demander l'aide et la trouvaille une d'un ami qui n'a aucun problème être honnête avec toi.

2) prochain, tu devras trouver le meilleur parfum compare les prix.Votre meilleur pari est des centres commerciaux.Cependant, si tu es sur un budget plus serré, tu peus toujours acheter des hypermarchés et des semblables.Il n'y a également aucun mal dans les boutiques de spécialités entrantes où ils font leurs propres parfums.Tu ne dois pas toujours opter pour les grandes marques.

3) quand au magasin de parfum, demander l'aide de l'aide.Expliquer à eux la situation, si tu recherches le parfum pour vous-même, ou pour quelqu'un d'autre.S'il est pour quelqu'un d'autre, est il pour un homme ou une femme ?Pour quel genre de personne est il ?Ce sont probablement les questions qu'elles te demanderont qu'et il est le meilleur pour avoir les réponses prêtes.

4) essayent beaucoup de parfums avant que tu décides.Ils peuvent tout sentir gentils, mais essayent de les évaluer sur différents aspects, tels que la force de l'odeur, la couleur, la bouteille et naturellement, le prix.Une fois que tu es satisfait de votre choix, acheter la petite bouteille.De cette façon, tu ne gaspillerais pas tellement l'argent si tu regrettes votre choix.

Ils disent que l'odeur que tu exsudes dépeint votre personnalité.Sur cette note, tu devrais trouver un parfum qui montre des personnes de votre nature et individu vrais.

The Inside Secrets Of Free Publicity For Your Business

2008-11-07T02:38:00.000-08:00

Product publicity is the "secret pathway" to business success everyone wants. In simple terms, product publicity is a kind of advertising that costs you nothing, yet brings in the orders for you.

The first, and basic form of obtaining publicity is through what is known as the press or news release. This is generally a one page story about your business, your product/service or an event/happening related to your business that is about to, or has recently occurred. These publicity stories are generally "shot-gunned" to all the various media: local newspapers, radio and TV, and trade publications.

Regardless of what kind of business you are operating, you should want, and strive for, as much publicity for your business and your products or services, as possible. After all, it's "free advertising" that is essential to the growth of your business. However, your publicity efforts should be well thought out, and pre-planned for maximum results.

In every case, send a short cover letter addressed to the person you want your material to be considered by... This means that you send your story to the city editor of the newspapers; the news directors of the radio and TV stations; and the managing editors of the various trade publications. It will do you no good what-so-ever, to send your material to the advertising, circulation or business managers - describing how you're a long-time advertiser, subscriber or listener. The most important thing is that you make contact with the person who has the final say as to what is to be published or broadcast, and at the bottom line - this person's use of your material will somehow make him a "hero" to his or her readers, viewers or listeners.

The cover letter should be a short note. Go to a paper supplier - tell him you want a hundred or so sheets of good bond paper - 8 1/2 by 11" preferably in a pastel color such as blue or ivory - and that you want this paper cut into quarters, giving you a grand total fo 400 sheets of note paper. "From the desk of..." note sheets are too elaborate until the people you're contacting get to know you - first time around, and until they use your material, don't use these semi-formal note sheets...

Problem number one is getting the people to whom you've sent these publicity stories, to use them - publish or broadcast them. And this leads us back to the "right way " of writing them and sending them in.

On this note sheet, begin with the date across the top - skip a couple of spaces and then quickly tell the recipient of the note: the attached material is new and should be of real interest to his readers, viewers or listeners. We advise our dealers and distributors of MONEY MAKING MAGIC - our regular publication for serious wealth builders and extra income seekers - to send the following note to the editors and news directors of the media in their areas:

So now, you've got a cover letter, and you know who to send it to... We type up one such note, and take it to a near-by quick-print shop. They xerox the note 4 times, past these 4-copies onto one sheet of paper, print 50 to 100 copies, and cut the paper into individual notes, all for less that $10... Do not try to save money by photo-copying or xeroxing - a photo-copy is a photo-copy is a photo-copy, and will not do the job for you...

Now you need the actual publicity release, which also must be "properly" written if you expect it to be used by the media. Above all else, there's a proper form or style to use, plus the fact that it must be typed, double-spaced, and short - about a half page in total length.

"Here's something that 's new, and for a change, truly helpful, to people trying to cope with inflation - the soaring costs of living - and those engaged in building extra income businesses of their own. Should be of real value - interest - to your readers. Please take a look - any questions, or if you need more info, give me a call at: (503) 666-5824..." Then, of course, you skip about four spaces, type your name, your business name, and your address - sign your name above where you've typed it, and staple this note in the upper right hand corner of your news release. This note should be typed and double-spaced.

About an inch from the top of the paper, with an inch and a half margin on each side of the paper; from the left hand margin, type in all capital letters: PRESS RELEASE: Then, underline these words. Immediately following the colon, but not in all capital letters, put in the date. Always set the date forward by at least one day after the day you intend to mail the release.

On the same line, but on the right hand side of the page, and in all capital letters, write the words, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Underline this, and immediately below, but not in all capital letters, type your name - your phone number - and your address...

You can write the headline before the story, and then a story to fit the headline - or the story before the headline, and then a headline to fit the story - either way, it's basically the same as writing a space ad or a sales letter... You attract attention and interest with the headline and fill in the details with your story.

Skip a couple of spaces, then in all capital letters - centered between the margins - type a story headline, and underline it... Skip a couple of spaces, and from the left hand margin, all in capital letters, type the words, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: From there on, it's the news or publicity story itself.

Here's an example of the headlines we use on publicity blurbs for MONEY MAKING MAGIC:

HELP IN MAKING ENDS MEET

NEW PUBLICATION FOR EXTRA INCOME SEEKERS

Notice how we continue to sell or involve the editor - His readers are always looking for better ways to make ends meet, and he's specifically interested as to what our promise involves... He wants his readers to "think well" of him for enlightening them with this source of help, so he reads into the story to find out who, what and how...

Suffice it to say that your headline, and the story you present to the editor, must sell him on the benefits of your product or service to his readers. Unless it specifically does this, he'll not use it. You must sell the first person receiving your materials. Keep this fact uppermost in your mind as you write it. The person you send your press or publicity release to, must quickly see and understand how your product or service will benefit his readers - thereby making him a hero to them - and he must be assured it will do what you promise in your headline.

Come right to the point and say your product is lower in price, more convenient to use or in what way your product or service is useful to the people in general. It's also a good idea to include a complimentary sample of your product or an opportunity for him to sample your services.

Remember, the editors receiving your information are fully aware of your purposes - Free Advertising! They are not in the least interested in you or your credentials - If you've sold them on the benefits of your business to their readers, and they want background details, they'll call you. That's why you list your telephone number and address...

These people are busy people. They have not got the time nor the interest in reading about your trials and tribulations or plans for the future. They want only "a flag" that alerts them to something new and of probable real interest to their readers.

Sell the editor first. Convince him that you've found the better mousetrap. Show him that your product or service - that your business - fills a need and/or will interest a large segment of his readers, his viewers or listeners.

As stated earlier, these people are busy, with hundreds of publicity releases passing across their desks every day - They only have so much space or time - therefore, your material has to stand out and in some way, fit with the information they - the editors - want to pass along to their readers, viewers or listeners. Regardless of your business, product, or service, you must build your press release - write it - around that particular angle or feature that makes it beneficial or interest to the readers, viewer or listeners of the media you want to run your press release. Without this special ingredient, you're lost before you begin!

The timing of your press release is always important. Try to associate your press release with current events in the news. A story on job lay-offs and increased unemployment carried in the newspapers, on TV and radio would prompt us to get a publicity release out to all the media on the help and opportunity offered by MONEY MAKING MAGIC! Say there's a deluge of chain letters and pyramid schemes making the round - the media picks up on it and attempts to warn the people to beware... Within 5 days, we would get a publicity release out, explaining the availability of our report on chain letters and pyramid schemes - a report that explains everything from A to Z - who're the winners and who're the real losers.

When an editor uses your publicity release, always follow-up with a short thank you note. Never, but never send a publicity release to an editor and then call or write demanding to know why he didn't use it, use it as you wrote it, or only gave you a quick mention. Do this once, and that particular media will "round-file" any further material received from you, unopened! If your first effort is not used, then you should review the story itself; perhaps write it from a different angle; make sure you're sending it to the proper person - and try again!

There's another kind of timing also to keep in mind... Publication deadlines... For best results, always try to time it so your material reaches the editor in time for the Sunday paper. This is because that's when the papers have their greatest circulation; the most space is available; and the people, the most time to read the paper.

For articles you'd like to appear in the Sunday paper, you'll generally have to get your release in at least nine days prior to the date of publication. If you're in doubt, call and ask about the deadline date.

IN SUMMARY:

Choose the media most likely to carry your press release. Select those that carry similar write-ups on a regular basis.

Always use a cover letter of some kind. It pays to call ahead to find out the name of the person you should be sending your press release to.

Use the proper press release form, complete with a headline that will interest the man deciding whether or not to use your item.

Be sure your press release is letter perfect - no typo's or misspelled words - and don't photo-copy - always have each letter or press release individually typed or printed.

When your item is used, send a thank you note or call the editor on the phone and thank him for using your press release.

Never, but never call or write an editor demanding to know why he didn't use your press release, why he had it rewritten or cut it short - just try, and try again.

The Motivational Triggers That Make People Buy

2008-11-07T02:34:00.000-08:00

In order to sell more products and service, you need master customers' mind. Put youself into customers' shoes and think what customers want. You will make more profit by master these skills.

1. Use the word "guaranteed" in your ad. People want to be assured they are not risking their hard earned money buying your product.

2. Use the word "limited" in your ad. People want to own or receive things that are exclusive or rare because they are considered to be more valuable.

3. Use the word "fast" in your ad. People want fast results, fast delivery, fast ordering, etc. Nowadays, we usually value our time more than our money.

4. Use the word "easy/simple" in your ad. People want easy ordering, easy instructions, easy to use, easy payments, etc.

5. Use the word "discount/sale " in your ad. People want to find bargains. They could be rebates, one time sales, percentage offers, get one free offers, etc.

6. Use the word "free" in your ad. People want free incentives before they do business with you. They could be free books, accessories, services, etc.

7. Use the word "testimonial" in your ad. People want to see believable proof before they buy your product. It should be reputable and specific proof.

8. Use the word "you/your" in your ad. People want to know that you are talking them. This'll make them feel important and attract them to read the whole ad.

9. Use the word "important" in your ad. People do not want to miss important information that could effect their life. People will stop and take notice.

10. Use the word "new" in your ad. People want new products or services that will improve their life like new information, tastes, technology, results, etc.

11. People want to make more money. They may want to start their own business, get a higher paying job or invest in the stock market. This will make them feel successful.

12. People want to save money. They may want to invest for the future or save for a big purchase. This will make them feel more secure.

13. People want to save time. They may want to work less and spend time enjoying life's pleasures. This will make them feel more relaxed.

14. People want to look better. They may want to lose weight, tone their body, or improve their facial features. This will make them feel more attractive.

15. People want to learn something new. They may want to learn how to change their car oil or build a deck. This will make them feel more intelligent.

16. People want to live longer. They may want to get in shape, eat better or gain extra energy. This will make them feel healthier.

17. People want to be comfortable. They may want to relive aches and pains or want to sleep in a more comfortable bed. This will make them feel relieved.

18. People want to gain pleasure. They may want satisfy their appetite or sexual desires. This will make them feel more fulfilled.

19. People want to be loved. They may not want to be lonely anymore or want to start dating again. This will make them feel wanted.

20. People want to be popular. They may want to be a famous celebrity or be more popular in school. This will make them feel praised and admired.

Print this list and keep it in file since it will help you make more profit.

Driving Customers to You - Your Car as a Marketing Vehicle

2008-11-07T02:33:00.001-08:00

Driving Customers to You - Your Car as a Marketing Vehicle

You can turn your vehicle into a rolling advertisement. Costs start at just a few dollars, and you can put your business name, slogan, phone number and web site URL in front of thousands of potential customers while you are driving along the freeway, stuck in traffic or even while you are parked. Here are some of the best ways to use your vehicle as a marketing tool.

And when you are ready to go all-out, consider a vehicle wrap. These vinyl decals look like a custom paint job and cover your entire vehicle with bright, high-quality graphics. This is not a do-it-yourself project, but you can hire companies such as www.coloredink.com to design and install the graphics. At an estimated cost of $3,500, this option is much more expensive than the others described here, but it will certainly make an impression on the other drivers you encounter.

License plate frames are a favorite of car dealers and auto repair shops, but they can work for any business. You can have them custom made with your business name or slogan, along with a phone number or URL.

Magnetic signs are an easy and low-cost way to put a lot of information on your car. Put them on both sides of the car, and make sure the lettering is large enough to read, even from a distance and when the vehicle is in motion. Personal chef Sue Gaughenbaugh added an effective twist to this idea. She bought a supply of magnetic business cards and placed them around the sign on her truck. When customers see her truck in a parking lot, they can pick up a card to take with them. Gaughenbaugh started getting calls from new customers within days of putting the take-away magnetic cards on her truck.

Bumper stickers are so inexpensive that you may want to print enough for employees, friends, family members, customers and others. Publisher Susan Sabo of Small Dogs Press made bumper stickers saying, “I do bad things for love,” along with the Small Dogs web site URL. The line is from one of their books, and everyone who sees the bumper sticker wants one. Sabo sells them at her web site, and gives them away at book fairs. Of course, she has one on her car, and says she has given them to all of her friends, too.

Vinyl decals and window stickers are a highly visible way to promote your web site. Put the URL in large letters across the width of your rear windshield. After all, you never know who might be behind you in traffic. This is most effective if you have a catchy and descriptive domain name. Custom stickers are available at prices starting under $20.

You can order many of these items from local printers and sign shops. Or, do an online search for companies that can create bumper stickers, magnetic signs, decals and other promotional items.

When your car is a traveling billboard, the time you spend in traffic will become more productive.

The piazza del Duomo

2008-10-30T11:18:00.000-07:00

The piazza del Duomo, also called campo dei Miracoli gathers four of the most significant monuments of Pisa:¶Duomo or cathedral (xie-xiiie centuries), the Baptistry (xiie-xive centuries), Camposanto or cemetery and the bell-tower of Duomo or leaning tower (xiie-xive centuries).¶In the south of the piazza del Duomo, Ospedale Nuovo della Misericordia (xiiie-xive centuries) shelters the museo delle Sinopi.

Pisa is a railway and road crossroads as well as an industrial center turned mainly towards the textiles, mechanics, food and pharmaceutical industry, and glass.Tourism remains however a major activity of the city.

Pisa indeed has a remarkable whole of old buildings, whose principal ones are gathered on the "place of the Miracles":it is of the cathedral, the baptistry, the bell-tower and the cemetery.The building work of the cathedral, large white marble building of Romance style, began in 1063.Its frontage, richly decorated, was added to XIIe century.The construction of the baptistry, of the circular and capped shape of an immense dome, started in 1153;its frontage, very elaborate, date of XIVe century.The bell-tower, universally known under the name of "leaning Tower", is the first place of interest of the city.Its construction began in 1174 but had to be stopped when the architects understood that the foundations, not very deep, were not adapted on the unstable ground.The structure however was completed about the middle of XIVe century.The "leaning Tower" marries a cylindrical form and comprises eight stages equipped with arcades.It leans approximately 10 of the vertical.It had to be closed with the visits at the beginning of the year 1990 because of the risks of instability which its structure has.And, in 1992, one undertook to reinforce the foundations.According to the legend, Galileo would have benefitted from the slope of the tower to throw weights top of his top within the framework of his experiments on the free fall.Lastly, the cemetery (Camposanto) contains ancient fleshflies.Pisa is the seat of a university founded in 1343.

Greek city then étrusque, Pisa became a Roman colony in IIe front century. J-C.In IXe front century.J-C, it had already become a naval power.Helped of its allied, Genoa, it pushed back Buckwheats of Sardinia and took Corsica in XIe century.Later, the commercial competition between Pisa and Genoa lead to the war.XIIe century and the beginning of XIIIe century marked the apogee of the commercial power of the city.During the political disturbances which shook Italy with the Rebirth, Pisa adopted the faction gibeline, partisane emperors of the Empire saint against papacy.The guelfes, opposed faction, were carried out by Florence, who wanted to control the trade of Pisa.Pisa lost its power in 1284, after the defeat of the naval forces vis-a-vis Génois (battles naval of Meloria).During following centuries, Pisa gained some victories over ground, but its general military situation worsened.In 1406, it was subjected by Florence.Pisa became again independent in 1494, but fell down under the control of Florence in 1509.For the remainder of the history of the city, to see Florence.Pisa is the fatherland of several famous characters, in particular Galileo, the sculptors Nicola and Giovanni Pisano, and Andrea Pisano.

Life and training and legal functions?

2008-10-24T10:40:00.000-07:00

There were questions raised about the legitimacy of life, training and jobs in the past two years. Compared with today many of the pop psychology, there were a lot of whispering around the corner, the curiosity Pierced, and many opponents who have not fully explored and training functions of life is really all.

In fact, life is not training as a therapy session. You do not have been the 45-minute session once a week to learn more about what you trouble in May in May or not. On the contrary, I was there to determine a course of action that you want to improve your life. If you're looking to improve one area or want to cover almost all aspects of life, life and training can help you achieve your goals without focusing on the "problems" or any other kind of negative connotation. Life is training and jobs for people who want to focus on the positive aspects, health and life to offer. It also focuses on health and the positive aspects of each customer.

Life is not all trainers are trained in the exact same way. This means that it is possible for all kinds of different training methods and approach to life and life and training. Customers face a variety of options when deciding to take life coach and coaches a wide range of techniques to use to become more efficient. It is a chronic capacity of learners to become chronic and the ability to develop the skills necessary for success in life and coaching job with many customers happy. Through the establishment of the field of education available to the lives of trainers, and not just the industry has gained credibility, but were also able to provide assistance to a greater number of people. It is not that what all this is? The more people who can find their own answers to a source of strength and prosperity, the largest number of people and we are content and happy for themselves and make the best of their talents.

Life Coaching is a profession. A skill that is part of the natural tendency then it is also a skill that can be refined, science and refined. For many customers who have made the transition from treatment for life-cycle training courses, the difference in their lives are concrete. Learning to become your coach is the ultimate goal of any client. Learning to be one who can go through the information at hand and society, strong, saying life is very exciting options. Those who lost their lives administrative functions and found that it is indeed truly in the surprising because they help facilitate one of the most impressive as possible and to allow the process.

Laser skin resurfacing is safe for African American skin

2008-10-23T01:49:00.000-07:00

We saw that cosmetic laser procedures and chemical treatments have proved too severe and harmful for people with dark skin. There was only a narrow range of skin that react positively to this treatment. Those who do not have fair skin dark suffering from burns, fading pigments, peeling and excessive. Fortunately, these cosmetic procedures have evolved, and today many surgeons specializing in the treatment of skin African American or any person with rich pigmentation.

In the past, the main concern treatment of darker skin has been the development of Keloid scars after the procedure. Keloids are thick, raised scar tissue that varies in color from pink to dark brown flesh. Although generally not dangerous, they can become itchy and often an undesirable change in texture and for some it could be the cause of emotional distress. Although people of all skin colors and texture keloids develop in May, those with darker skin pigmentation and their descendants are fifteen times more likely to suffer from this type of scarring.

For those particularly vulnerable to Keloid scars, there is good news. Non-invasive techniques can provide significant improvement in tone, such as procedures like chemical peels and microdermabrasion. For chemical peels, soft acids (even softer than those used for fair-skin individuals) are applied to the skin, evening the color and smoothness of the surface.

Microdermabrasion treatment is even more sweet. A rough surface, texture like sandpaper, is used to buff away the upper layers of skin, revealing fresh, unblemished layers below. Both treatments have been used with great success on African American skin, but it is important to choose an experienced beautician with the challenges of darker skin.

People with more severe skin problems such as acne or eczema scars, have had great success with laser skin resurfacing. This procedure allows even dark discoloration of scar tissue, they mix in the natural skin tone and texture. Since lasers are used to lighten the scars, poorly executed, the skin may become blotchy pigment and May are reduced too. Place tests on a small area to hide your body is recommended that you choose a well-qualified and your skin can successfully undergo treatment.

Another procedure that successfully treats skin is darker hair removal by laser. Even those who have fair skin and blond hair were unable to benefit from this treatment. Previously, he was used mainly for those who had dark skin and hair. Now, new technologies and techniques makes laser hair removal available for most skin colors and hair combinations. Some skin and hair types in May to take more meetings for best results, but, generally, scars and other complications are very rare. Like laser skin resurfacing, it is usually possible to request a test place.

If you are still concerned about the possible development of keloids, fading pigments, or other complications, consult with a beautician or a qualified technician who specializes in African American skin to determine whether or not you would good candidate.

NATO: the failure of NATO to send troops to Afghanistan shows the precarious policy

2008-10-23T00:35:00.000-07:00

North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces of NATO in Afghanistan

Ocean: warned the Supreme Commander of NATO forces, NATO, U.S. Gen. John Craddock that a failure of NATO countries to send reinforcements promised to Afghanistan, evidence of political will "precarious", impeding the progress the task of the NATO force that must not rely on military force Only.

The newspaper quoted "life" of London, General Craddock, was quoted as saying in a speech to the Royal Institute for Defense and Security Studies in London: "The political will of the Atlantic States in the face of the Taliban, foundering because of the failure of some to contribute sufficient troops and restrict the work of its troops in Afghanistan and places of deployment, Which will reflect negatively on the ability of NATO to secure the necessary requirements in theater. "

The troops deployed in Afghanistan to better coordination and greater consistency from the field to achieve the required progress, and end doubts about the appropriateness of the alliance with the requirements of the twentieth century and atheist.

The American general said the victory over the Taliban will not achieve military, but requires greater effort in development and reconstruction.

The new commander of the British army Gen. David Richards, NATO called last week to send 30 more troops, including 5 thousand British to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan, suggesting that a settlement through negotiation may be necessary to end the crisis there. He must undergo negotiations with the terms of the Afghan government and NATO, and is from a position of strength.

Staff American Chairman and the Russian Meet in Helsinki

2008-10-23T00:33:00.000-07:00

George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin

Ocean: armies met with Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Mullen of America in the capital of Finland on Tuesday, his Russian counterpart to discuss the possibility of normalization of relations between Russia and the United States, having been affected by the recent conflict between Russia and Georgia.

The newspaper quoted "life" of London, U.S. military officials as saying that Mullen met with General Nicolle Makarov, after a lunch hosted by the Finnish defense official Johan Kaskeala.

The senior U.S. military official said before the meeting: "I think it is important to have strategic dialogue with Russia, and we support a serious relationship in the long term." He added: "We will continue on some different things. It is clear that Georgia is our current provider."

Makarov and Pader to the meeting. The Russian chief of staff has contacted his U.S. in the days after Russian troops entered Georgia. Mullen said that the Russian initiative positive.

He confirmed that the two countries "important common interests," especially to seek stability in the Middle East linked to Iran could acquire nuclear weapons, and isolation from their dispute over the deployment of the shield parts of the U.S. anti-missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, as well as the United States recognized the independence of Kosovo province.

Australia announces reduction of its troops in East Timor

2008-10-23T00:30:00.000-07:00

Australian troops in East Timor

Ocean: Australia announced on Wednesday it would cut the number of troops for peacekeeping in East Timor with the continuing improvement in the security situation there.

The agency quoted "Reuters" the Australian Defense Minister Joel Wiczjibon saying in a statement: "the authorities in East Timor demonstrated professionalism during the processing of the security situation now is the time for some reduction."

East Timor has struggled to achieve stability since its independence from Indonesia in 2002. The army split on the basis of the area in 2006, leading to violence that killed 37 people, provided 150 people from their homes.

In February last the rebel soldiers unsuccessful attempt to kill President Jose Ramos Horta, who was seriously injured and flown to Australia where he underwent surgery. No Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao in the attack.

Wiczjibon said that about 100 Australian troops to return home early 2009, leaving behind 650 soldiers in East Timor make up the bulk of the force for stability of 790 troops with soldiers from New Zealand.

Still more than 2,500 foreign troops and police in East Timor to help local security forces to maintain stability.

Why Credit Cards Are Good For You and Your Customers

2008-10-22T14:50:00.000-07:00

If you flow a trade where you are one of many vendors at an event, you may have had this experience before.

Someone comes up to your booth at the festival or flea market and starts to dive mark friendship with some of your items. You tell them the assessment and they contain the cash they have with them. They then look uneasy and tell you they only have therefore greatly cash and don ' t know what likewise they may need to buy, so they ' ll come send. Rarely do they return. Repeatedly something else grabbed their attention and their coinage is gone.

Enhanced option is that the customer has picked up a amount of your items and starts to support them to you with a credit card direction assistance. When you tell them you can ' t accept credit cards, they set up mightily of the items away and just keep unrivaled or two that they can afford with the cash they have abandoned.

You may have lost hundreds of dollars on these two scenarios. Instead, you need to look into giving your racket a road of taking credit cards. While many think that getting a credit card processing plan in hangout for their business has to be scarce, it is not always and can pament for itself many times now.

On the incomparable side of things is your function credit card. Businesses should always have a credit card and good line of credit. You never know when you need it.

If your business sees you traveling a lot to craft shows or art shows, you want to have a line of credit aloof access case you need it. What would you prepare if you were on your way to a fat show Saturday morning and the mode hap friendless? You have to pay for a road to get it towed or fixed and get to the nook, hold up? The money you have on hand is meant to be silver, whence you can knock out sales. If you use it, the banks are closed and you may well be out of luck when it comes time to make change.

But if you had a metier credit card this would not be a obstacle. Instead you would act as effectual to irruption unit repair or opposed inadvertent profit that you need and then understand that at the nib of the term, it leave show up on your account and straight make your bookkeeping birr a little easier

Visa Or MasterCard - What is the Difference?

2008-10-22T14:49:00.000-07:00

Start off shopping for a fashionable credit card, and you ' ll quickly find that the vast majority carry the name Visa or MasterCard on them. Trying to figure out which of these names implies a prominent deal can be esoteric. If you ' re struggling to clot out the differences between Visa and MasterCard, you ' re not unitary. Read on for an inside look at these credit companies and what they greedy for you.

Similarities between Visa and MasterCard

Most financial experts are fleet to boundary out that Visa and MasterCard manage leverage almost exactly the same way. Both are considerable international companies. Both procreate and preserve riches systems for credit cards and carefully track transactions.

It should act as champion neither Visa nor MasterCard actually controversy credit cards. They work with banks and capital institutions, which are the companies that issue credit cards to consumers. Citibank, Bank of America, and Supplant are true a few of the many companies that take care of this segment of the credit business.

Both MasterCard and Visa work with retailers and merchants around the world. These places believe credit cards and, allying the banks and financial institutions, use the systems created by MasterCard and Visa. Tracking these transactions is no small mission: billions of dollars go nailed down the fashion every deviating lastingness.

Differences between Visa and MasterCard

While Visa and MasterCard administer ascendancy a similar conduct, there are still differences between the two. They are separate companies, and thus each of them has their let on play ball of unique temperament. Some customers have a personal preference toward either Visa or MasterCard.

Through you look for a card, it is insightful to look at faultless of the contradistinctive type that it offers. Moment many are backed by either Visa or MasterCard, they also list a variety of more benefits. Some cards specialize leadership low interest rates, future others offer valuable deals on account transfers. Rewards programs, rudimentary offers, and beauty periods are other items to take up. You ' ll appetite to sort through all of these colorful characteristics in that you search for your best option.

If you already have a Visa or MasterCard and are looking for further piece of talented, you may close with to go with a card backed by the other thing. Point the risks are incredibly small, you ' ll have another preference to serviceability in case considerable happens to one of the companies. Similarly, if one of these cards is not accepted at a store, you ' ll most likely act as effectual to operation the peculiar one.

By and large, there are few differences between Visa and MasterCard. Some of the biggest differences simply deceit predominance personal preference. If you feel more loaded with exclusive, you may be apt to perdure with the deportment. If you want mishmash, consider getting a card from both of these credit card kings.

When you shop for a unused credit card, you ' ll want to see which transaction ' s name is listed on it. Perhaps numerous important, however, will impersonate looking for the incommensurable benefits included in the card. Gem one that fits your financial lifestyle. It will remarkably to come be your best choice, regardless of whether it says Visa or MasterCard on it.

Secured Credit Cards

2008-10-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

You pament for the credit card before using it, this is why it is called a prepaid or secured credit card. This type of credit card requires you to trade in or pre - pay a specified amount of boodle, sometimes called a " promised land retain, " in the bank of the card issuer. Very much of the time, you will have to pay an amount between $200 and $500 due to a security deposit and your credit line is limited by the value of security paid.

Traditional credit cards are issued on a basis of whether or not you have a valuable credit rating, and when you are approved you will most likely have a specified credit trade available to you. Orderly banks generally will deny the use of a credit card or specialty of credit to those who have a tortured credit rating or no credit.

The closely enforced credit rating requirements that glaringly standard lenders go by may be eliminated on prepaid credit cards being sometimes they may not equivalent organize a credit check or verify your employment. Your credit card ' s calling of credit is guaranteed by the security retain which you made before receipt the card, so the card ' s issuer bequeath receive payments if you befall to lack on them. The prepaid credit card is a good way to establish credit or rebuild in need credit and nearly everyone is eligible being these cards are guaranteed for payment by the prepaid credit card amass. Although you may get instant scrutiny on these prepaid credit cards, there could act for restrictions, such as having to be at least 18 or 21 years old or you may have to be a citizen of the U. S..

You can conveniently use prepaid credit cards like conventional cards, where too MasterCard or Visa is bourgeois. These prepaid credit cards can be used to salary bills online and over the phone and to withdraw coinage from an ATM, and you can further use them to whip purchases online or offline.

Some of the advantages of prepaid credit cards teem with the ability to root or reconstruct a good credit rating and advice to avoid manufacture delayed payments. Contradistinct advantages of the prepaid credit cards are the elimination of the need to compose checks and cash orders and make trips to the gig assignment to pay monthly bills, and your paycheck could imitate deposited soon onto your card.

Some things that are disadvantages of the prepaid credit card are other interest rates and now the limit fees, and a memoir prolongation cost. Some of the disadvantages of using the prepaid credit card may body the possible inability to rent a car at emphatically car rental agencies and that security deposit that has to imitate paid before using the card.

It is of utmost point for you to be on hour with your payments and you committal not go ended the preset credit limits on your credit card agreement when you are uphill to establish or reassemble your credit. Prepaid credit cards were higher our list of financial sources to remedy us learn to season course of longitude our beans is operation and how we can control what we are spending.

It can be too basic to get caught up monopoly the late payment net and before you know it, you are 60 to 90 days tardy and the fees are abiding to add up. If your payments are made on time consistently, many credit card companies will burgeoning your credit line limits and may possibly accumulation your conduct with interest.

Can You Get a Credit Card Without a Bank Account?

2008-10-22T14:45:00.000-07:00

We all know that having a credit card provides a certain convenience. Sometimes there is too abundantly convenience resulting in considering spending, but lets maintain that belief for likewise clothesline. For this article let ' s focus on the problem, whether it is possible to get a credit card without having a bank account?

The simple rumor is, " willingly " however it does come with strings attached. Generally speaking these types of cards are pre - chancy. In other words what you put in is what you can take out.

For example if you pre - load it with a $1000 then you ' re credit limit entrust mean $1000. Ergo when that runs extrinsic you will have no greater spending fund.

There are advantages and disadvantages relative to this type of credit card. The disadvantage is that regularly times we get a credit card to borrow money however in this plight you have to have the money primary.

The advantage is that it restricts your spending based on the lucre you have. With that you get the good fortune of a credit card which for prototype can enable you to rent a car at an airport.

There is also the advantage that you can fix credit if in the event you have no credit or if your credit is bad.

The other advantage is that it forces you to distribute your money and Providence knows based on the conventional economic environment that would not necessarily be a bad thing.

Last but not pioneer make genuine you understand what kind of deal you are getting. Avoid cards with fees and upfront charges if you can. Also make sure there is no obscene interest rate since after whole it will emblematize your boodle?

See What Your Lenders Look at by Getting a Copy of Your Credit Report

2008-10-22T14:44:00.000-07:00

When considering your strife for any form of credit, enact it a mortgage, auto financing or credit cards, your lenders will stab up a copy of your credit report from major credit bureaus, such whereas Equifax and Trans Peace. The information that is contained inside leave emblematize used to determine whether to grant or deny you credit, and is also sympathetic in deciding how vastly credit you qualify for and which interest rates you will embody charged. Generally, those with an excellent credit report get better rates, considering they are special to be a lower risk of defaulting on a loan or frequently misplaced payments.

Term there are other things that lenders will further take concern account, such as if you have any other calling with them, considering right whereas your dividend and plain personal funds, information obtained from the credit bureau is repeatedly one of the major points intent into consideration when adjudjing your application.

The information contained in your credit report primogenial consists of personal data, such as your name, current and previous addresses, session of birth and gregarious security number. It forasmuch as lists whole-hog the current credit accounts that you hold, from which lenders, the market price of credit granted, because well because your treasure habits. It also contains information about any accounts you have that are currently in collections, or if judgments have been issued against you. Lastly, it shows which institutions have made a call to see your credit report, called " inquiries ".

The credit bureaus also use a proprietary the book that is used to dispose your credit merit based on the word contained impact the report. It is called a credit score and is based on many factors, commensurate as figure of accounts currently open, ratio of tally owing vs. credit lucidity and timeliness of payments.

Business Advertising: Is It Effective?

2008-10-22T12:50:00.001-07:00

A lot of business owners contribute a lot to make their businesses turn a profit, but how do you figure out how effective your business advertising is? Can you just go by the increase in sales and the inquiries that come in after you have released the advertisements? Or maybe there are a number of factors involved? Does the same hold true for internet marketing as well?

Offline business advertising relies upon many factors which include the kind of media you use, the budget you have allotted, the objective of your advertisements, your target market and the phase of accuracy and consistency of your advertising. These elements would have to be added in before you could conclude that a particular advertisement is effective. You also need to know what kind of response you would expect to get from your consumers based on what you are advertising.

Basically, you need to know your niche market and what consumers are looking for. Another factor is the cost that is required to launch an advertisement and how long it will be seen by the consumer. Business advertising experts have different views on the best way to gauge the performance or effectiveness of an advertising campaign.

Overall though, advertisements can be very beneficial to the promotional efforts of any business because it enables the clients to become aware that such business does exist and that it can provide a product or service that they need.

It is hard to gauge the performance of your ads when it comes to offline businesses. It takes a lot of time to calculate the outcome of your business advertising efforts and you don't get real-time statistics. However, when it comes to online businesses and internet marketing, there are many tools readily available to track the performance of your ads.

There are many different services out there that will allow you to put a piece of code into your advertising link. When someone clicks on your link the tracking code generates a hit on your report page and gives you the referring link and other valuable information. You can set up as many tracking codes as you need for all your links that you want to promote.

Say you want to make changes to your homepage but want to track how those changes effect your results. You can create a second homepage by creating an index2.html file and then with some code you can rotate the original homepage with the new one. The homepage will rotate for each person that visits your site. You can track your hits through your website stats and see which homepage performs better.

No matter what changes you make to your internet marketing advertising there are ways to be able to track its success, or failure. Then, you can take the results and tweak your ads accordingly until you start getting amazing results. The best part is you can see in real-time how well your internet marketing ads are doing and fix them quickly without losing precious time, because time is money.

Business Gifts Options for Promotions

2008-10-22T12:49:00.002-07:00

Many individuals are using business gifts as a way of rewarding their employees or those who they aim to impress for the future. Choosing an effective product can definitely deliver a professional image for your company. Businesses in most all industries have discovered that using business gifts to reward employees can be instrumental in your company's success.

For example, you may want to get a personalized present for your boss or some of the members of your Board of Directors to show them your appreciation. You can give them a personalize gifts to express your gratification.

You can even add your name, a message and a company logo so that the recipient always remembers which company gave them the wonderful gift. You can get the person a nice plaque, trophy or piece to place on the mantle. A nice business gift that is professionally engraved can leave a lasting impression on any recipient.

If you are on a budget, you may also want to get the individual a personalized gift that is just as thoughtful but less expensive. Some choose to get personalized clothing, such as screen printed t-shirt, embroidered hats or jacket.

Apparel is one of the easiest products to put your logo on and among the most popular and traditional logo media. And of course, the recipient would also advertise the company on the personalized clothing to others while walking around.

Also always popular is a refrigerator magnet - but not just any magnet. Many new and interesting designs are available: custom shapes, frame magnets, clips, and more. Or you could give the recipient a fancy metal or plastic key chain to show your gratitude.

A nice pen can also be a favorite for many people. Make sure your business gift can draw the client to your contact information and that everything printed on your gift is accurate. An appropriate product can:
* Improve traffic at trade shows
* Motivate staff
* Thank a customer
* Increase safety awareness

Many individuals love receiving memory sticks because they are very useful during daily life. Every time someone needs to save a document and transfer it to another computer, then they will look at the stick and remember the company name. In addition, you can offer promotional computer accessories such as mouse pads.

For those businesses that are a bit more environmentally conscious, you can offer eco friendly products as a promotional giveaway. Those individuals that are passionate about saving the environment will appreciate your eco friendly products.

Many products are created with recycled, eco friendly plastic or biodegradable products with organic materials. Some people give out recycled key chains or organic shirts, bags, hats recycled pens, pencils and mugs and solar powered accessories.

Giving away these products is a great way to show everyone that your company is environmentally conscious. Many companies will give you these great custom promotional products at great prices.

Business gifts can be a great way to promote your business and also reward those clients you want to impress. If a business owner chooses the right promotional products, they will definitely get the attention they deserve, while also impressing key clients.

Eliminate These Six Marketing Mistakes To Grow Your Business

2008-10-22T12:49:00.001-07:00

Bad marketing is worse than no marketing at all. On top of that, it is incredibly expensive! What exactly is bad marketing? Here are six common marketing blunders that need to be avoided and eliminated:

1. Impatience ranks at the top of the list. Hard-working, well-meaning business owners often sabotage their own marketing efforts when they expect instant gratification from their advertising. INSTANT and RESULTS simply do not go together. Give your advertising messages a chance to breathe!

2. Ego ranks at the top of the list along with impatience. This personality flaw surfaces when a business owner or manager who is an expert in one or more areas (finance, real estate, law, vehicles, etc.) ASSUMES that their personal expertise in whatever automatically transfers to marketing. It rarely does.

Ego-centered business owners and managers often design their own ads, write their own ad copy, and create their own websites . . . usually based on their personal opinions and tastes rather than those of their prospects and customers. You often see these people pitching their own products on TV, radio or in print. Sometimes they connect with their audience. Most often they do not.

3. Next in line are those time-worn axioms, word of mouth and everyone already knows all about us! No one can control what comes out of other the mouths of your customers and in reality, darn few people have ever heard of you or your business. You need to constantly tell them and never rely on them to tell others.

4. Another personality defect that can do major harm to your business is the belief that you already render the finest service or sell the best product possible. Lose these kinds of thoughts immediately. There is always room to improve.

5. Add conceit to the list of personality blemishes that can do serious damage to the marketing efforts in your company. I call it the big-me-little-you disease found in those who practice rudeness and bluster.

If you have someone on your team that is a carrier, know that they are turning people off faster than anything you can do on the marketing side to turn them on. If you cannot change an ego maniac, furlough them to practice their arrogance elsewhere.

6. Majoring in minors ranks high on the list of marketing impediments. Yes, you do need to know a lot about your product and service but you need to know the most about your prospects and customers . . . Not just as a group but as individuals. If you plan to make it on todays Main Street, you better be well along on constantly collecting personal data about your typical customer.

Talk with them. Listen to them. Reward them for filling out simple questionnaires. Visit THEIR websites (great way to get personal insights!). Meet them where they live and where they hang out. Make yourself available to them.

If any of the above sounds weird to you, step back from your alligator pond and carefully examine your present marketing strategy and the people who carry it out.

Get out of the past and get in touch with the future: information about your prospects and customers.
A small customer-centered business knows what their target market likes, what they read, what they watch and listen to, what excites them, what turns them off, where they shop, how they perceive your business . . . tiny details that make the difference between a one-time buyer and a lifelong customer.

Information is king in the business climate today. If you are not in the customer information collection game, change your strategy and get started. While you are at it, be 100% certain you and your team are not making any of the Bad Marketing Blunders listed above.

Questions and Answers About Compulsive Spending and Debting

2008-10-22T12:47:00.000-07:00

Although we joke that when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping, compulsive spending is a major psychological problem. Many people face bankruptcy and ruined lives while some embezzle money to pay their bills. Shopaholics abuse money the way alcoholics abuse alcohol. We need to stop laughing and encourage money addicts to get help.

Q: What is the difference between compulsive spending and the kind of spending most of us do?

A: My definition of compulsion is: if you can't control when you start or when you stop a behavior you have a problem. Most of us splurge occasionally, but compulsive spenders find the urge overpowering and frequent. Another common trait of shopaholics is that they buy things and never take the price tags off or wear them. Some people don't even take their purchases out of the bag. It's not about things. Spending is a way to medicate unhappiness, fear, anger and low self-esteem. It is an addiction the same as alcohol.

Q: What creates the urge to shop?

A: Conditioning, environmental triggers and beliefs. Believe it or not, many people learn to overspend. Someone close to them provides a role model of compulsive spending and shows the way. Many people go shopping when they are bored. Once they find themselves in a setting like a mall that is filled with exciting temptations, it is very easy to give in. Some people don't think of their plastic credit card as money. Like Scarlett O'Hara in

How To Create A Guarantee

2008-10-22T12:46:00.000-07:00

You've heard it plenty of times before: Money back guarantee. If you're not satisfied with your purchase, we'll give you your money back guaranteed. Many businesses implement guarantees to provide their customers with a level of assurance that if they're not happy with the product or service, they have recourse.

Offering a guarantee to customers is a surefire way to build customer loyalty and to show your customers you genuinely care about them and their business. It's no surprise then that customers often feel more confident and more comfortable when purchasing a product or service that is backed by a guarantee, so it's important that you consider creating a guarantee for your product or service.

Don't be overprotective

Many business owners worry about implementing a guarantee because they fear customers will take advantage of them. Sure, it happens. You'll have those customers who take advantage of both you and your guarantee, but that shouldn't stop you from creating a guarantee that gives your customers a feeling of protection. Ultimately, the majority of customers are not going to take advantage of you.

Consider your track record

When creating your guarantee, consider your track record with customers. Does your product or service generally satisfy them, or do you receive a lot of complaints? If your product or service is generally received well by your customers, you're ready to sit down and create your guarantee.

However, if you receive considerable complaints and/or lose customers, you must first address those complaints. Only once you've fixed the problem or problems will you be ready to create your guarantee.

Don't try to outwit your customers

Your goal in creating a guarantee shouldn't be to find as many ways to make it as airtight as possible. If you add too many conditions to your guarantee, you're just going to make the guarantee less effective which, in the long run, will result in unhappy customers who may feel duped when the guarantee is voided due to one of the many conditions you imposed.

Keep it simple but specific

Your guarantee should not be pages and pages long, in such detail that your customers become confused or bored. Your guarantee should be written in easy-to-understand language and should be as concise as possible while still ensuring you thoroughly explain the terms of the guarantee.
Remember, you're developing a guarantee to build customer loyalty and to show that you care about your customers' business, so make sure that the language you use is straightforward but not defensive in any way.

Keeping your guarantee simple will also ensure that you have an easy time actually implementing the guarantee.

Inform your customers

Let your customers know you offer a guarantee by promoting it. For example, you can add a note stating that you offer a guarantee on your receipts and invoices. You can post a sign in your place of business, include it on your marketing materials, and ensure your employees mention the guarantee to every customer.

Awesome 5 tips for repairing credit

2008-10-22T11:10:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, you have no other choice but to go back and find your credit habits all the way to where you're stuck. When you realize that you need to repair this terrible credit history, you'll need external assistance. These five awesome repair credit can be your savior in times of trouble.

1. Change your lifestyle
2. Understand that the change in your credit history means to change the way you live. Think and analyze all your expenses from your income. If you were beyond your average life for a long time, it is time to stop your spending habits. Reduces are weak and see how it improves your credit score. Start getting through a week without any credit card purchases. If you have to eat at home and wear old clothes, so be it. Your budget spending
3. If you've always had a good financial plan, you would not be in this rut today. Make a monthly budget of all your expenses and should allocate a little more for emergencies is the right way to manage your income and expenses. The budget is ideal where your expenses are lower than your income, which leaves you with enough money to do what you do regularly, and to some still left at address. Cut them up
4. Keep one for emergencies and cut all other credit cards. If you do not have freedom of expenditure, you will not. But remember, Don t cancel the accounts because those accounts have a zero balance, improving your credit score. It also allows you to the leverage you need to pay the balance more quickly. Have a savings account
5. Even if you can not afford to save twenty dollars a month, do so. It will gradually increase your cash, to claim a credit score higher. Do not be discouraged
You have a mixture of good and bad days. Your objectives will be achieved in the end, but you need patience and courage to continue the process of several months.

Credit Doctor's Advice 8, 9 and 10

2008-10-22T11:06:00.000-07:00

Credit Tip # 8: Risk Based Pricing

Imagine if your credit card interest rate was increased from 9.99% to 19.99% due balances and delinquency with the various creditors.

This happens for consumers of all time. You can have a perfect payment record with Citi Bank, Capital One or any other credit card company and if you have a late payment or another type of crime with another creditor on your credit report, the credit card company can raise your interest rate to 15.9% or 19.9% if they wish.

What if your interest rate increased to 29.99%? How much does it cost you?

Almost all credit card companies only make comments then know what the "risk-based pricing." The credit card companies you want to pay for what they perceive an increased risk for them.

So that you can not pay the bills any report at the end of the credit bureaus. If you do, your credit card company can increase your rate of credit card default rate of 28.99%, 30.99% or whatever their default is.

You can even have your interest rate has increased due to an error on your credit report.

Credit Tip # 9: Change insurance premiums

Most major insurers to draw the credit reports of customers to reset the premiums. Marie, a woman retiring in his 60, has his auto insurance premium up to 20%, though it has no traffic accidents and no tickets with them in 7 years. His insurance company has done a review to ensure its solvency and increase its premium by 20% on the basis of his credit report.

Make sure you stay on your credit rating and what your premiums are so what happened to Mary is not the case for you.

Credit Tip # 10: Check employers credit

Can you imagine trying to find a job, maybe your dream job and be denied this position because of your FICO scores and solvency?

It happens all the time. Research shows that 36% -41% of employers do credit checks as part of the pre-employment screening process. The number jumps to more than 90% for government jobs.

Federal law requires a job applicant's permission before accessing credit files. But how many people can say, "No future employer, you do not have permission to check my credit report." This is another reason why you need to get your FICO scores high and keep them there.

Save money - to obtain a credit card with 0 percent interest

2008-10-22T11:03:00.000-07:00

You can save a lot of money with a credit card 0 percent interest deal.

Some people do not know that you can get a credit card and pay no interest. Of course, there is normally a period of time, lack of interest applies, which can be 6 months, 12 months, 15 months or 18 months. This is where you need to pay attention.

When you look at the fine print, you need to take note of a number of things.

1. How long a period of the 0 per cent interest applicable
2. Are there fees?
3. Is there an annual fee?
4. What is the interest rate to convert after the promotional period?
5. Is there a grace period, and if so, how long?
6. Are there other charges?

First and foremost you want to know the answers to the questions above. Equally important, you also want to deal with a bank you can trust.

You may find additional benefits available with your new card. These benefits are generally announced as rewards. There are rewards for airline miles, gasoline, discounts, hotels, points and cash, to name a few. These rewards can be very attractive, but again, make sure you read all the fine print.

If you are an avid users of credit cards and pay your bill every month as it matures, no doubt seriously consider cards that offer a reward program. If you travel by plane or by vehicle cases, additional air miles and gas rewards can be a great advantage for you.

People watch a credit card with 0 percent interest for one of two reasons (or both):

1. To pay no interest on purchases
2. To pay no interest on balance transfers

You can sometimes find these two options available simultaneously on the same card.

Before submitting your application, consider how you will use this credit card. Rewards will benefit you? Will you use it for purchases that you pay for at the end of the month? Will you use it to transfer the balance to another interest credit card?

All these things are important to know before you make your final decision because there May fees attached to your new credit card that you need to be aware.

Do you want to know the best place to apply for a credit card with 0 percent interest? You can easily and conveniently apply online, but not anywhere online. You must be careful when applying for credit cards, as each time you do, it is reported on your credit file. So compare features, reduced to the best offer and then apply.

Tips for repairing credit you should avoid

2008-10-22T11:02:00.000-07:00

Credit repair are abundant online, to say the least. In fact, if you do a search yourself, you already know there are millions of web pages to help you fix your credit score. And sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between genuine information, misinformation complete, and very popular ... regurgitated information.

In this article I would like to reveal some tips for repairing credit I found online that I think you should avoid. Of course, you can choose whether or not you want to follow them. I just want to give you a little insight based on experience, not hyperbole. In the same vein, here are some tips Personally, I would avoid:

1. All disputes negative on your credit report

Some in the industry you to almost all disputes last detail on your report. The reasoning behind this view escapes me. The credit reporting agencies must investigate each case within 30 days ... unless they find your dispute "frivolous". When you send in a list of 43 Entry disputes discuss every little problem, it is much more likely to simply being placed in the trash.

I recommend disputed obvious errors, updated information, etc. But I do 4 or 5 disputes in both a single letter. Credit repair is a process, not a deadline.

2. Letters threatening Dispute

Some in the industry also advocated using the dispute as the sound of the letters as if they were written by a lawyer, legal jargon endless remind Society appropriation of some sanctions and the implications should they not obey each word on the page.

Original dispute letters should be short and simple. Tell them what you think, why you are appealing, and joining proof to support your position. Neither. No less.

3. Closing Accounts

Frankly, the closure of a credit account has never been a good idea. According to Fair Isaac, closing an existing account can never help your credit score and May in fact used to danger. May this be even more harmful to the future with the new changes in the system of FICO credit score.

If you want to separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to finding advice repair credit line, I suggest you immerse yourself in a first time. Visit the main forums credit line and ask questions. Read the Fair Credit Reporting Act and learn your rights. Invest in a good credit rating or repair course and learn advanced strategies.

But by far the best place to repair credit you can get is to simply take action. Thus, many people become discouraged and confused by all the misleading information on whirling they do nothing with little credit repair advice they have. Do not be one of them. Start today. You will find this experience will be your best teacher.

2008-10-22T10:59:00.000-07:00

Bad Credit Repair - How to pay debt and increase credit score

Each day more and more people find themselves suffering from bad credit. Having bad credit, it is almost impossible to make major purchases such as buying a car, get a credit card, hire a car still buy a home. Here are some tips for easy repair bad credit. These tips will help you repair your credit status bringing your total credit score enough to where you are able to do things.

Many people do not realize how their low credit score is, in fact, they even ask some credit. They sit at the table waiting to get their new car only to discover that there had to grapple with high interest rates because of their low credit score. Well there are ways to increase your credit score. Bad credit repair is easier than you think. By using the right methods to repair your credit situation, you can help reduce your level of debt over a period of time, while at the same time, increasing your credit.

One of the first things you want to do is get a copy of your credit report. Then there are three major credit reporting agencies, which provides a credit report once a year. You can get these reports either directly to call them, go on the Internet and request a copy or you can write to request a copy of your credit report free. Once you have your copies of your credit reports, you should look deeper.

What you are looking for double entries on your report, which will reduce your credit score. With all the anomalies that you find in your credit report, you want to contact the credit reporting agency directly to have them removed from your credit report. To do this in writing and you can find on each of their Web site forms to contest anything on your credit report. They make things very simple for you to work with your credit score.

There are many lenders out there today, that will help people bad credit. May then you pay a higher interest rate at first, as long as you make your payments on time over a period of time, they will increase your credit and lower your interest rates. This helps to increase your credit score after showing you can make payments to a credit agency. There are many lenders that focus on the repair bad credit and the majority of their customers.

When you apply for credit to the lender is looking for your debt to income and what are your scores on your credit report. A bad lender will help you consolidate your debt by paying the debt you have and give you just a small monthly payment you make for them. This can increase your credit quickly and efficiently as your debt is now paid for your own one person.

As a result of bad credit repair above, you'll find that you can increase your credit score and start living the life you want to live. Keep in mind the financial freedom is not what the advice above will give you, but they will nevertheless help you in the right direction.

Can not make payments by credit card? What to do

2008-10-22T10:54:00.000-07:00

Can not make your monthly payments by credit card. It is important to understand what you can do to avoid late fees, higher interest rates and prevent your credit score lowered. Take appropriate measures can enhance your ability to make future payments.

Are not able to make your monthly payment by credit card is a common phenomenon and there are solutions here that can help. Many circumstances may arise which may cause an unexpected major expense or a temporary loss of income that will attract funds and limit the ability to pay bills on time. Unless this happens to you, the worst thing you can do is to ignore the issue when it arises. Once you know that payments will not be able to be done is the best time to start addressing the issue. Failing to address the issue right away can cause the following:

1. Future increase credit card interest rates
2. Late fees
3. Get your credit score lowered by a late payment reported to the credit bureau
4. Decrease your future ability to make payments on time

A short list of steps you can take to avoid these problems:

1. Call customer service your credit card number. Briefly explain your situation and make them realize that it is not likely to happen again and tell them when you expect to be able to pay. If you have not done in the past, it is very likely they will give you an extension.
2. If you feel comfortable enough, you can always ask friends or family for money. As with credit card company, explain your situation and you do not expect that to happen again and give them a date when you expect to have money to pay back
3. Try to get a cash advance on your pay check from your current employer. Many times employers work with their employees to help them.
4. If you have many bills you can not pay, see if there is one who can wait. Missing credit card payments for the most part, have the worst sanctions and may create more problems in the future.
5. Getting a payday loan. This option can only be good if can not obtain an extension of your credit card payment. It normally costs about $ 75, but it may be advantageous to you because you can not pay the late fees on the loan amount and you will be able to maintain a good credit position on your keeping your future interest payments low.

It is important to maintain a good position with your creditors because it will save you thousands in the long term maintaining a better credit score, keeping your low interest rates and eliminate late fees. Do not wait to take action, resolve problems as they arise.

If this seems to be a problem, credit management / counseling might be a good option for you. With credit management, you can get help to plan a budget or help negotiate with creditors on the rate of reduction or waiver of late fees. It is important to take the necessary steps as soon as you realize that there is a problem because it will save you thousands in the long term.

Tips credit in a simple, you must have thought to yourself

2008-10-22T10:24:00.000-07:00

The debt credit card can make you lose seriously impair the enjoyment of life. Studies have shown that how a married couple in the opinion of how happy they are is directly related to the amount of debt credit card they carry. Reducing your debt credit card can also improve your love life! That was enough motivation for me, but you may need a little more.

The best way to reduce your debt is to reduce your expenses and ask that savings on your credit card debt. I'm sure you think "Thanks for the advice genius". Hey, you spent the money first, not me. Anyway, I have some ideas on how you can do without making radical changes to your life. The best way to reduce debt is to reduce your expenses on food and drinks consumed outside of your home. If you are like me I'm sure you can be reduced to a number of things out of your diet and lose a few pounds in the process, but it is a topic for another day.

Here is a small tip. Keep track on how much money you are spending on food. I guarantee you'll be surprised. The first time I made my list, I discovered I was spending more on food than I spent on my house. Yes, I'm serious. It was a revelation. How you pay for the convenience of ready-to-drink and eat? Just make a few simple changes in lifestyle can significantly increase the cash available, you must pay your debt.

The best way to make these changes is to make one at a time. Cuts will leave you feeling deprived, but if you gradually change the way you spend money, you will gain a sense of pride and accomplishment in your achievements. Slow and easy wins the race and it's really the only way you can keep your long-term efforts.

Starbucks and other coffee shops have become icons of American culture. Look around, I am sure that there is a score of other people like you who are waiting for their morning cup of coffee. Specialty coffee drinks generally cost between $ 3 to $ 5 by the time you peak, and you can spend even more if you buy breakfast foods, like croissants, scones, bagels and go with your latte or mocha. I suppose you could cut back on the edge, but do not blame me if you are a disservice, the next time.

Make your coffee at home and jump off at the coffee. You can buy a coffee brewer and a pound of coffee for roughly the same amount you spend on coffee in one week. You can buy Starbucks coffee beans or grounds to the grocery store. Like iced coffee? Add ice! Latte? It's milk! Seriously, you can save a lot of money here and remember every time you now not to wait.

If you look forward to your coffee as a means to socialize, go ahead and walk with your friends for coffee. You can catch up on conversation while you wait in line and wait for friends to drink. Chances are, however, that your friends must also reduce their credit card. Let them read this article.

At the end of the month, add the amount you saved on coffee, bagels, scones and donuts. Reduce your debt credit card that amount, plus your regular monthly payment. Do not go spend all your savings. Use it to repay this debt

The cheapest cigarettes

2008-10-22T08:28:00.001-07:00

Cheaper cigarettes
In October 2003, tobacco taxes have increased by 40% over the national territory. Sales have obviously dropped -31.9% in two years, according to the manufacturers. Smoking in France is impossible. The cost for booked cigarette consumption per month is too important for some households. And as everyone knows, it is not easy to stop smoking. Some n'essaient not even, and decided to buy their packages of cigarettes abroad. You need to know that four packages is purchased abroad, where price is often divided by two.
The state wanted to reduce the consumption of French and fight against smoking, but it missed. When you are hooked, you are hooked. And there are always ways of cigarettes from elsewhere, thus cheaper.
In 2004-2005, nearly 24% smoked packages were purchased abroad, according to a study done after 2 000 customers in September 2005. In April 2004, this figure was only 18.7%, an increase of 28% in one year.

The shortfall is also great for the state and Social Security, said this morning Le Parisien. Each year, nearly 1.7 billion euros of tax revenue (or 17% of total) which do not public coffers. Besides the 170 million euros that the government has pledged until 2007, to sales of 26 border departments, to compensate for the decline in sales of tobacco.

When we speak of pack of cigarettes purchased abroad, the first country to which we think is Spain, where the package costs twice cheaper than in France, as well as the cartridge, which costs € 27.50 here low, and 50 € here at home. A difference of € 22.50.
20 000 people spend each day at Perthus, a town in the Pyrenees-Orientales which straddles the border.

However, this does perhaps not last. In fact, Spain recently adopted a law to limiting tobacco consumption. It entered into force on 1 January. It prohibits supermarkets from selling cigarettes. And not to remain there Xavier Bertrand said his talks with his Spanish counterpart in order to see prices climb Spanish.

Definition of Leadership

2008-10-22T07:48:00.000-07:00

The definition of leadership is not always easy to define, especially since it seems quite moving. Here is an attempt to give a fair idea of the definition of leadership.

The definition of leadership, initially, is the following: the ability to manage and develop one or more groups of other individuals.
However, this definition of leadership, minimalist, is incomplete.

In the definition of leadership, other factors come into play. During the first uses of the word "leadership" included a concept of innate talent, charisma. Leadership is not only the ability to manage a group, but also and especially to convince him and the lead. In this definition of leadership, there are born leaders.

However, this definition of leadership now seems outdated, and we can see a turning point in how to design leadership. Indeed, the definition of leadership is increasingly associated with learning, experience and achievement. Thus, in this definition of leadership is not necessarily an innate quality, but know-how that can be acquired through over time, as in the work.

On this last definition of leadership that are now many leadership training. Learning leadership is now part of the disciplines to teach future leaders. There are chairs and Leadership and managerial skills in schools as prestigious EDHEC. But there is also this new discipline in training more politicized, as WLP (Women's Learning Partnership), devoted to developing leadership and the empowerment of women worldwide.
The definition of leadership that included the idea of learning opens up opportunities for everyone.

Spend Your Energy At De La Terre!

2008-10-22T07:47:00.000-07:00

A small gesture that costs us nothing, but for the earth is very large.
Thank you to forward this message to as many people as possible.

To support the Hour of the Earth, lighting secondary all offices of the School of Public Service of Canada from coast to coast will be extinguished by 20 pm to 21 pm

At school, each of us can do its part by ensuring close computers, monitors, printers, photocopiers, electrical appliances and other energy consumers when leaving the office on Friday, 28 March. And you will see how simple it is to continue to close every night by leaving the office.

The Green committee of the School of Public Service of Canada encourages staff to convey this important message about energy conservation by organizing an evening candlelight, observing the stars or engaged in an activity that does not consume ' energy throughout the evening.

The origin of the Hour of the Earth is remarkable. On 31 March 2007, 2.2 million citizens of Sydney in Australia have turned off their lights for one hour. This massive collective effort reduced energy consumption in the city of 10.2 p. cent during one hour, which is equivalent to the withdrawal of the road 48 000 vehicles for one year.

Convince colleagues, neighbors, your family and friends to take part in the Hour of the Earth.

You need the energy!

Investing in success

2008-10-22T07:43:00.000-07:00

On 18 December last, I began to seriously anxiety because my bank account not as bright a few hundred dollars. I expected payments of contracts but I had to learn that they return in January or February. I had to find some money.

A few weeks ago, I received a letter from a friend showing me the way David Komsi. "Another trick to make money!" I said to myself spontaneously. I get so often, but none m'accrochait. The tone of these very vendor promotional emails me put them in the trash immediately.

As against the letter of the friend was full of heart, sharing a desire to offer me something good in my life. So I downloaded the book's power of attraction David Komsi but without reading, however, and I gave the letter aside.

In early December, I'll dine with this friend. We talk about success, thinking of ways to attract abundance, and so on. The course audio Succeeding David Komsi came on the subject, of course. I read the presentation diagonally before downloading his book Power of attraction. Something I was then "spoken" in the text. For once, I felt that someone really wanted to offer me something worthwhile, it was not just me make money and to himself.

The fact is that attract money or love is a self foremost, I have always been convinced. In the course offers I received, I do not feel an inner spiritual even. Except in the course of David Komsi, confirmed to me that my friend who had listened and was thrilled because it is also personal and spiritual long.

On 18 December last, so cornered the fact that I had to find revenue quickly, I sent a request for assistance in the Universe. The first answer that came was a phrase that one of my friends said to me: "It is when there is no need to invest in that." This phrase is the maxim of two of his cousins, now very prosperous. They had their share of failures but it is understood that when one has the sinking feeling that we should take the bull by the horns and move forward rather than let slip by not seeing that negative situation.

The response following the Universe has been to invest in buying the course audio Succeeding David Komsi. I was a little resistant, skeptical that kind of way. I thought 'What will it help me more than I already know? "Having studied long tools for personal development.

I still follow my own inner voice telling me that was what I had to do. So I bought the course audio Komsi Succeeding David, who is on the same page where you download e-book power of attraction. I downloaded the course modules and got burned to a CD before moving on my sofa with my knitting to start listening.

While knitting, listening to what David Komsi said. He speaks of our unconscious beliefs that block progress toward success, preventing believing and attract abundance at all levels. It explains how our thoughts, how to think in terms of success rather than negatively, we do regularly, and often without us realizing it. He explains that life is a game with which we must "play" to keep heading towards our desires, goals and objectives, and so on.

I already knew everything he said is true, but this afternoon there, I needed that I can put them back in memory because, despite me and unconsciously, I had forgotten. Also, his way of explaining things to me "ringing bells" of understanding on various subjects that allowed me to better understand and integrate some important concepts of success. But I knew I had not yet integrated. In the course of listening to David Komsi, it allowed me to get off the concepts of my head to my heart to put them into action in my life in a positive and constructive manner.

Thus, the same evening, I decided to resume in hand, delivering my thoughts in place to face my fears and release my beliefs by opening the blog where you are. This blog is my daily support personnel for not releasing me and always keep in mind what I really want in life.

I had to overcome my fears and disturbing move for a vendor to achieve what I always said trainers networks: "You're not a beggar or a saleswoman! You offer a product of welfare of people. You their bids to be happier. " And it's true. The course audio Succeeding David Komsi makes happier!

On 1 January, I received my first income. Very modest but very encouraging anyway, I who have always been failures in the sales networks. The fact is that the Internet and writing are my favorite mediums to share and talk about things that I take to heart. In the previous networks, I had to offer products in speaking, which made me feel a beggar, which invariably leads to failure. My thinking was "in reverse" is focusée on the negative. With this course, not only I took my life in hands to bring it in abundance, including handing my way of thinking "in place" but in addition, I can use the means that suit me more to offer and share with my readers.

On 1 February, I received my income in January. My goal was far exceeded and I was able, in particular, fully repay a friend who lent me money to get through this period driest in finance.

Today, I begin to see the results of my commitment to myself or my network reported income alone but I have to do much else to talk through my blog and around me. It's really easy. I must say that I have very good members who believe, too, quality of the course and have the facility to offer. As each member receives income from its affiliates on 5 levels, incomes become what is called "passive" because they are generated through other people.

So I began to realize that the sentence of the first American billionaire John Paul Getty is true and, above all, very pleasant to live: "I prefer to make $ 1 on the work of 100 people working to make $ 100 while alone. "

All that to say that I invested at the right time, at a time when there would be no idea of investing, or when there was almost more sub!

Investing, especially in a time of lean is a decision, even a commitment, not to be going to depression, misery moral and / or financial and the victimite to look to itself to our abundance, our success, which is then available to us at any time to decide on the draw.

5 good reasons to vary the pleasures Family

2008-10-22T07:37:00.000-07:00

If you couple for some time, you probably know that to keep the flame from the beginning, we must take care and l? Feed. To maintain and nurture this flame we must simply avoid falling into the routine. Change and discovery are the keys to avoid? Extinguishing the flame.

This article aims to give you some new or forgotten ideas to spice up your sex life.

- First, learn and try new positions or sexual Kamasutra. Dare to try new positions c? Is also open the door to new sensations. In front, behind, above, below or later. Try them all and repeat them repeatedly to become familiar with the sensations before deciding whether the position for you or not. It can take several attempts to partners is well relaxed and comfortable with a position. At that time only the pleasure will come.

- Changing places for your frolics. In an apartment, there are so d? Exciting place to discover that would harm them forget for the comfort of the bed. For the more adventurous, you can even cross borders to explore your apartment and public places (elevator, park, pool, car, the toilets? Plane or train, etc.).. The only limitations are your imagination.

- The erotic games can help a couple to share their fantasies or even to live. The erotic games come in many forms. The first form is roleplaying games. Highlight your talents? S players and play different character or situation. This may range from doctor or nurse to a prostitute through the police or (e) or even the military soubrette making your room a hotel. Let your imagination run wild and especially Jobs to make the situation more real. D? Other forms of erotic games may be in the form of card games (eg strip poker), games trays that can s? Buy No matter what erotic shop online. You can also paint the body of your partner melted chocolate before you lick entirely. Let your impulses and you get very nasty moments guarantees.

- Massage can be sensual, relaxing or energizing, are vital to create an atmosphere of trust, d? Exchange, or even merging. They are an excellent way to revive the desire if he had disappeared in the couple, or else they can get in a softer, Calin naughty or when a partner is stressed. These positive effects are numerous and worth the trouble? S s a couple? Instruct and practice another. It can s? Stop there or it can be followed? Sexual frolics.

- Finally, why not try toys or erotic sextoys. These objects of pleasure to have long been regarded as objects of perversion. But times change and now This is very fashionable and every woman and every man needs to be plugged? Have one if it is not a collection that is proudly to his friends. It may s? Act vibrators, dildos, vibrating rings, cuff or butt plug. They can be made in diverse materials such as metal, silicon or glass and different style (colored, transparent, chic or classic). Try erotic toys c? Is adopting.

As each couple is unique and different, it? Are no detailed rules for the sake of meaning, for the same reason we? Will not go into detail with this articles. But once again it is essential d? Bring new and d? Have? S originality and diversification in your reports to get a sex life full and rich. Moreover even if sex alone is not the couple, it was proved by surveys that? A healthy sex life flourished and promotes marriage in general and helps to solve general problems that may occur during your life common.

So good discoveries:)

Launching a news portal in the Maghreb

2008-10-22T07:30:00.000-07:00

Maghreboo is an independent information portal dedicated to the Maghreb region.

Its main purpose is to be a source of information and analysis on the regional news.

Over day, incorporates Maghreboo most of the Maghreb and offers information analysis, interviews and comments.

Maghreboo The team consists of journalists and columnists experts on Maghreb.

The cross-regional information Maghreboo distinguishes it from other sources of information on the region and makes it unavoidable for anyone interested in issues of the Maghreb region.

some articles

2008-10-22T05:37:00.000-07:00

Are you qualified to start your own business?

Do you cut to be the senior executive, your president?

Let the World's Favorite

2008-10-20T12:10:00.000-07:00

When you're looking at examples of amazing advertising, you need not look further than the most popular brands in any field or category. Many of them are where they are right now not necessarily because of 100% better products (this is a fact that many people don't realize) but simply because people with extraordinary vision just took advantage of certain situations to assert their leadership in the field through insight, quick thinking and desire. These are the people and companies that eventually become successful because they know how to find their niche and exploit the uniqueness of their product in a category that is theirs for the taking, instead of trying to waste time trying displace established brands by playing them at their own game.

How to Save Money on Gas - What Gas Card Provider Should You Choose

2008-10-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

How to save money on gas? Can you really sure? Of course, it is possible if you know just what to do, and what card provider of gas should you choose. So what steps can be done to save on gas.

First, you must be able to perform routine maintenance car. Frequent developed or at least once a year is needed. The simplest and one of the most effective maintenance measures you should consider is to keep tires inflated. These maintenance procedures in May seems easy, so it will not be at all difficult for you to save on gas.

How to save money on gas through these procedures? Always take seriously when making your shopping and gas taken if the lowest grade octane gasoline that fits your vehicle. Make sure that you drive smart, by not making starts quickly or making sudden stops. Gradual acceleration allows the automatic transmission works best.

The faster you drive, the more gas you use in the process. Also avoid long WARM if during the winter, engines need a long warm-up. If you are not as well with all these cars maintenance, better hire good mechanics.

In addition to having a qualified mechanic, you must ensure that you are your gas budget wisely. In this you will need a gas card. How to save money on gas through a gas card? Simply, this card will allow you to budget your gas. You determine your limit and how much you spent for your gas. This is quite a good option to save on gas. Better look for a good supplier of gas card to testify today as a result.

Circumstances of Having a Small Business Credit Card

2008-10-20T08:35:00.000-07:00

Running a business requires a lot of good knowledge and experience. If you are among the least experienced, you need to know how to take an organized manner. To make sure you are in the right path, you must have a good credit card. For small businesses, applying for a small business credit card would be very favorable.

When a small business credit card, you must ensure that you will avoid overspending. There are circumstances to have a small business credit card which led to the overruns because it is easy to charge purchases on the card. Most of the time, you May not realize at once that you are maxing your credit line that you shoulder your regular expenses.

If you are disciplined enough, you will only have to consider the selection of the best small business credit card for your industry. You can find cards that match your business needs and expenditure, especially with the huge banks. However, you should be quite the selection of the proper implementation of the best rewards, which should match your business. Some good rewards and incentives are not applicable for some companies. Therefore, you get caught in May with some offers, but ultimately, you'll simply frustrated. Getting the map is crucial, especially when based on rewards.

Financing your business depends on your style. Having a good credit card will be among the best strategies to have. Remember, if this is your first time or not, you should be responsible for it will affect your credit history. It will be a part of your implementation of your event to be vigilant of your financial management.

Low Interest Credit Cards - Taking Advantage

2008-10-20T08:30:00.000-07:00

You've worked hard for money and now you want to use it. So, why waste your spending control over expenditure high interest while there are many cards with low interest rates available to help you get the most from your hard earn money? The low rate credit card offers different options that include immediate approval, balance transfer, fixed rate of interest, as well as some of the best credit card charge around - in many cases 0% APR! The low annual fees or other options make the card with low interest rates any reasonable person, which includes students, families and seniors on fixed budget.

Now look at what cards with low interest rates will be able to do it for you:

Economy: The low interest rate cards to save money in several ways. More clear is offering low interest annual percentage rate APR. Unless you pay the balance each month, and you pay interest on your balance. Lowering the interest rate, the less you'll pay. You can also compound the savings using the balance transfer choices which are offered by most car companies credit when you open a new account. To qualify for the savings, you simply move a high interest credit balances to new low rate credit account. And some companies submitting tenders as incredible intro 0% annual rate of 6 months or more, you can save 30% on interest payments. The low interest rate is important and thought if you plan to use credit card for cash advances. Not like normal credit purchases, which may have a grace period of several weeks, interest on cash advances generally earn stars immediately. Would you like that rate as low as possible.

Stability: Many cards with low interest rates offer a fixed interest rate for the period of time with your contract. If exchange rates, credit card company will inform you of changes are also give you the opportunity to accept and continue the credit, or to decline and terminate the account. The lowest fixed rate credit cards are perfect for anyone on the budget that wants accurately forecast their monthly expenses. True interest rate you can go self-insured, without any need to worry about fluctuating interest rates each month.

Building credit: Now through card application and credit approval process is great way to start building personal credit score. The low interest rate credit card is ideal for this task because you can use to develop a model of buying on credit and making payments on time. Also, if you pay the balance each month, which is great. However, if you're like the others and you need to balance, you will not be required to pay additional low-interest card. By building credit rating in simple and low-risk way, you make it very easy to secure your future credit and loans for big ticket items such as vehicle or other mortgage.

Women's Hair Loss Treatment

2008-10-18T06:19:00.000-07:00

Most of the modern day hair loss treatments articles and researches tend to relate almost exclusively to men. What about women's hair loss treatment? What is the best treatment for hair loss for the female gender? Do these same treatments offer solutions to women suffering from hair loss or is there a completely different category of remedies available?

It is up to the reasons for hair loss. In most of the cases the causes of female hair growth problems are the same as those that affect men. Therefore, women's hair loss treatment in the market are pretty similar.

The most common causes for female hair growth problems are telogen effluvium, female pattern baldness and alopecia areata. Each has its own recommended womens hair loss treatments.

Telogen effluvium - One of the most common causes of female hair growth problems. It usually involves a thinning of the hair because of a traumatic event like pregnancy. The women's best hair loss treatment for Telogen effluvium is time. As time goes by the effect of the traumatic event vanishes and the hair starts to regrow.

Female pattern baldness - The most common cause for female hair growth problems. It is similar to the male pattern baldness. The problem is a reaction to male hormones in the body. The best women's hair loss treatment in this case is Rogaine. Rogaine is the only FDA approved women's hair loss treatment. However, It will not work in all cases. In most cases it stops hair loss and makes female hair growth rehabilitate.

We do not recommend the use of Propecia as a treatment for women's hair loss treatmnet. Propecia is the best treatment for hair loss for men with male pattern baldness.

Alopecia areata - Characterized by bald areas over the head and other parts of the body, This phenomena is yet unrevealed. The women's hair loss treatment for this phenomena could be Rogaine, aloe vera gel or time.

This short review of women's hair loss treatment concludes the best hair loss treatments for 3 of the most common female hair growth problems.

How To Nip The Problem In The Bud... Prevent Hair Loss

2008-10-18T06:18:00.003-07:00

Hair loss is universal problem and millions of people
worldwide are suffering from some degree of hair loss.
There are several cures for hair loss.

However, they do not work on all. Some types of hair loss
or baldness do not respond to the treatments. Nevertheless,
hair loss is preventable and good care and regular
maintenance of hair can go a long way in preventing hair
loss. Here are some tips to take care of your mane -

#1 Keep it Clean

Dirt and excess oil in the scalp can clog the pores, making
it difficult for the hair root to receive nutrition and
grow. This is a major reason for hair loss. Frequently
shampoo your hair and use clean combs. Trimming of split
ends is essential to prevent major hair damage.

#2 Take Care Of Diet

Ultimately, the hair, like any other body part, requires
nutrition to stay healthy and grow. Malnutrition and
imbalanced diet can be a major reason for hair loss.
Include vitamins and minerals like calcium, magnesium,
chromium, iodine, potassium, zinc and Vitamin A in your
diet.

There is no need to take mega doses because they can at
times be counterproductive. Evidence suggests that excess
of Vitamins A and E can actually contribute to hair loss.

#3 Do Not Overdo It

Excessive exposure to heat and chemicals such as hair
colors, styling products, hot iron and blow dryers can
cause damage to hair and result in severe hair loss. You
should use these products sparingly.

Instead of blow dryers, make time to allow your hair to dry
naturally. Get your hair styled in a manner that does not
require any of the above-mentioned procedures.

#4 Give Yourself A Head Massage

A gentle head massage with a hair oil helps to improve
blood circulation to the hair roots and prevent hair loss.
Aromatherapy recommends creating hair oil using equivalent
parts of thyme, rosemary, lavender and cedar wood.

#5 Avoid Stress

Stress is damaging for the hair. Get adequate sleep and
follow stress reduction techniques to prevent hair loss.

#6 Be Careful Of Medication

Certain medications such as anti-depressants, some drugs
taken for epilepsy, cancer have hair loss as a side effect.
Consult with your doctor before taking medication to
prevent hair loss.

#7 Hormone Tests

Thyroid disorders can cause hair loss. Get hormone tests
for thyroid on a regular basis.

It is rightly said that prevention is better than cure. By
adopting the above-mentioned methods, you can prevent hair
loss and maintain good health of your hair.

Why Do People Suffer From Hair Loss?

2008-10-18T06:18:00.001-07:00

You do not usually end life with the same bunch of hair
that you grew up with when you were born. Unlike the eyes
or nose, your hair keeps regenerating, shedding and
growing.

As you turn older, you start experiencing hair loss. This
natural process of ageing starts when you turn 50. However,
for some people the process starts much earlier. This
article examines the various causes of hair loss in men and
women.

#1 Stress and Lifestyle

The fast and hurried lifestyles of today make many
compromises on your diet. Emotional upheavals can cause
health complications that have an adverse impact on the
quality of your hair. Lack of cleanliness of the scalp and
excessive dandruff problems can also cause hair loss.

#2 Hormonal imbalances

Hair growth and health depends on hormones such as thyroid
and pituitary glands. Any disorders in these glands can
cause hair loss. The excessive presence of a component of
the male hormone - DHT can also cause hair loss. This is a
genetic predisposition.

#3 Genetic factors

Inherited causes of hair loss effect the unlucky that have
a family history of premature balding. In men, it is called
Male Pattern Baldness, in which the hair starts receding
first at the temples in a classic 'M' shape. In women, it
is called Female Pattern Baldness. This is less common. It
starts at age 30 and is characterized by overall thinning
of hair.

#4 Side effects

Certain drugs taken for other purposes can cause hair loss
as a side effect. The following is a possible list of
medicines and drugs that could cause hair loss.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs

Ulcer drugs

Anticoagulants

Agents for gout

Drugs derived from Vitamin A

Anticonvulsants taken for epilepsy

Antidepressants

Blood thinners

Anabolic steroids

Chemotherapy Drugs

However, not all prescription drugs under these categories
have hair loss as a side effect. This has to be checked
with the doctor.

#5 Other factors

Research is being continuously conducted on the causes and
solutions for hair loss. Recently, Japanese scientists
concluded from studies that excessive sebum could clog the
hair roots and cause hair loss. An excessive intake of some
nutrients such as Vitamins A and E can actually promote
hair loss.

There is no dearth of solutions, prescriptions and
treatments available for hair loss. Every once in a while,
a new 'wonder' drug such as Rogaine will enter the market.
Not every solution will cure hair loss. The correct
diagnosis has to be made before deciding on a course of
action for hair loss.

How To Reduce Stress That Causes Hair Loss and Bad Hair

2008-10-18T06:17:00.001-07:00

Your hair will be radiant and shining if you are healthy physically as well as emotionally.

Your hair becomes dull and lifeless if you are upset emotionally. Your hair will begin to fall out, and it will become waxy with the overproduction of sebaceous glands.

Stress can affect your hair the same way that affects your other major organs such as your heart. Stress can cause hair loss and many times cause hair problems 3-6 months after some trauma event occurred.

As soon as your body finds its equilibrium and you have recovered from stress, the hair loss should cease. Reducing stress can stop stress hair loss so consider the following stress management techniques.

Deep Breathing

Deep breathing is a simple but effective stress management technique. It is actually the core component of many stress management techniques, which are comparatively complex in nature.

Imagery

Imagery is a method of relaxation through use of pleasant or relaxing images. Such images help to calm the body and mind. One can get a sense of relaxation by simply controlling the breathing and viewing some soothing image.

Meditation Techniques

Meditation has long been one of the most popular stress management techniques. It is the process of focusing upon the core of one's being. It soothes the mind, body and the emotions. One can do meditation by daily practice of a routine or simply while being alone outdoors.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

One can use Progressive Muscle Relaxation to achieve mental relaxation through physical relaxation. It involves tightening and relaxing the muscle groups in succession. In this technique, you first need to tense up a group of muscles to contract them as much as possible. Then relax the muscles normally after a few seconds. You should relax the muscles as much as possible.

Autogenic Training

This stress management technique uses passive concentration and awareness of the body sensations for relaxation. Physicians use Autogenic training as a part of therapy for many ailments. In this technique, one focuses upon different sensations in different organs of the body through repetition of the autogenic "formulas". Those sensations include warmth, heaviness etc.

Biofeedback

Biofeedback is an advanced technique for achieving relaxation, controlling stress responses and for modifying the body's reactions. It uses certain monitoring equipment to extract information from the body. Such equipment can measure heart rate, blood pressure, brain activity, muscle tension, stomach acidity and other biological functions inside the body.
Martial arts

Practicing martial arts can be a great stress management technique. It keeps one physically fit and mentally alert. There are several martial arts that one can take up. Tai chi is a Chinese martial art that is popularly known as "meditation in motion". It stresses precision and force. The body movements are soft and flowing.

Qigong

This ancient Chinese health care system combines Eastern philosophy and relaxation techniques with physical training. The physical training includes aerobic conditioning, isometrics, isotonics etc. This stress management technique has several forms. They are effective in treatment of various medical conditions.

Yoga

This ancient Indian form of exercise is highly effective as a stress management technique. Yoga has many forms but all forms work on the principle that the mind has a connection with the body and breathing. Yoga restores the balance and harmony in the body and emotions through different breathing exercises and postures. It increases the body’s flexibility and capability for relaxation.

Is There A Wrong Way To Wash Your Hair?

2008-10-18T06:16:00.001-07:00

It's not as simple as it sounds. There is a difference!

When washing your hair, it is best if you get in the shower. You may give yourself a back-ache and won’t be able to rinse properly if you wash your hair in the sink. Start by rinsing your hair to remove any leave-in conditioner or styling aids. Use a quarter sized dollop of shampoo and rub your hands together to distribute it. Put the shampoo on your scalp, not the ends of your hair. Work up a lather by massaging your scalp with your fingers and scalp brush. Don’t mix your hair all over your head; the more you do, the more tangled it will become.

You may notice that during the first shampoo, you won’t have much lather. That is because your hair is still dirty! Rinse well and then repeat, but this time, let the shampoo sit for a minute (especially if you are using a protein shampoo). Rinse, then press the water out of your hair. Never squeeze or pull your hair when it’s wet. Instead, smooth your hands down from the top of your head down to remove excess water, and important step before adding any conditioner.

Hot or Cold Water?

Honestly, it doesn’t matter because the effects are barely noticeable. However, experts say to wash hair in hot or warm water to help remove dirt and build-up and to rinse hair in cool water to close the cuticle and add shine.

Deep Conditioning

Conditioners penetrate better on towel dried hair so remove excess water first. Be gentle! To protect your hair, smooth your hands down your head from the top of your head down to remove excess water. As your hair grows longer, gather your hair at the base of your neck with one hand, and once anchored, use the other hand to gently press the water out of the ends of your hair. Then, use a generous amount (half-dollar size dollop or more for longer hair) to make sure your hair is completely covered. Concentrate on your hairline, nape and the ends of your hair, where it’s needed most. Massage well, but DO NOT COMB THROUGH; it’s too damaging to your hair. Snap on a plastic cap and sit under a warm dryer for 10 minutes. Rinse well and follow with an instant conditioner.

Don't Let Dandruff Stop You Wearing Black Dress

2008-10-18T06:14:00.000-07:00

Dandruff is one of those conditions that is infinitely more threatening to your self-confidence than it is to your health, but, for the 50,000,000 people who suffer from it,it is an upsetting problem nonetheless. Those apparently harmless white flakes that drift on to the shoulders of that gorgeous black dress, or that perfectly tailored suit, can have a huge impact upon the confidence of the sufferer, who can wonder why they bothered getting dressed up in the first place. Dandruff is a completely natural body function – the shedding of skin cells, which happens all over our bodies, every day – gone slightly askew. It cannot be completely eliminated, but there are many things that we can do to manage the problem.

Dandruff is thought to be related to a fungus that occurs naturally in our bodies, and is exacerbated to a problematic stage by various internal and external factors, such as the excessive use of harsh styling products, and poor nutrition, or stress. But if you are one of the estimated 97% of Americans who will suffer with dandruff at some point in their lives, don’t worry. There are many ways that will offer you an answer.

There are lots of ebooks which will help you find the best way of managing your dandruff, without spending the estimated $300,000,000 that Americans shell out on anti-dandruff products per year! They will help you learn how you can manage your dandruff using nutrition and other natural remedies. They will help you learn to eat a balanced diet, and tell you about the supplements that can help so if you want to wear that little black dress, or that dark sophisticated suit with pride you should take care of this problem and try to cure it.

Dandruff is a problem that can start within, and these e-books will help you find all the tools that are at your disposal to fight this embarrassing problem, from remedies as simple as altering your diet to ensure you are getting the nutrients required to maintain a happy and healthy scalp. There are many ways to get relief from dandruff. If you employ herbal and natural remedies to help control your dandruff, there is no need to spend huge amounts of money on a huge range of expensive chemical hair treatments, when your kitchen cupboards might prove more helpful!

Many of the harsh products that we use daily can even exacerbate the problem of dandruff. If you go for herbal remedy, you will find how you can stop wasting your money on expensive treatments and use more gentle, natural products to control the problem without irritating your scalp further. Though dandruff is not a life-threatening problem, there sometimes comes a point when we might need to speak to our doctor about the problem. Dandruff can be caused or exacerbated by hormonal imbalances, poor general health, or a hereditary predisposition, and your doctor can help you find ways to approach these issues.

If you are serious about your dandruff problem, consult your doctor who will provide all you need to know to maintain a healthy scalp, and gorgeous hair. Some herbal remedies are offering that they will share the secrets of beautiful, shiny hair that will turn heads, and that won’t break the bank! If you have suffered from dandruff, you will understand all too well the embarrassment and lack of confidence that comes from not being able to enjoy having beautiful hair, but there are lots of methods, especially herbal remedies that will help you have the gorgeous hair you’ve always dreamed of. Finally, you’ll be able to turn heads because of your beautiful hair, and not because of those embarrassing flakes. They will help you finally get the beautiful hair you deserve.

Womens Hair Loss

2008-10-18T06:13:00.000-07:00

The hair care industry is a billion dollar industry. “A perm, relaxer or color ranges in price from $65 to over $100 and most women get their hair retouched every 2-3 months. That’s a lot of money spent per year!

The models that grace the pages of magazines and on television commercials shaking their heads to show off their fabulous locks is one of the major reasons that the industry is doing so well. Women want to look their best and will find any means to do so. Why wouldn’t anyone want to look fabulous! We see our favorite celebrities do it so why not us.

However, there is one area of the hair industry that is not publicized as much, and that is hair loss in women, which has become very common in many women. This can be an incredibly devastating experience for many women. The loss of hair can lead to feelings of embarrassment and shame.

A three-year study of women suffering from loss of hair in the late 1990’s had identified iron deficiency as the cause of hair loss in 72% of pre-menopausal women.

This loss of iron could lead to anemia. But women should not wait for their doctor to diagnose them with having anemia (defined as too little iron in the blood). They should focus on maintaining a healthy diet.

Here are some recommendations:

Try to get your recommended daily iron intake. Some women with iron deficiency have experienced many strands and sometimes handfuls of hair going down the drain when washing their hair and they were not pregnant (note: pregnancy can sometimes cause premature loss of hair).

So, your best bet is to avoid these nightmarish experiences and increase your iron intake on a daily basis. Make sure your diet contains enough meat, fish, eggs, cereals, peas and beans. Try eating more dried fruits, legumes and dark leafy greens, which are very high in iron content.

If you are experiencing hair loss, contact your doctor immediately. If you are taking any medications your doctor should be able to determine if this may be the cause. There are many factors which can cause hair loss – iron deficiency is only one of them.

Common Hair Mistakes

2008-10-18T06:12:00.002-07:00

1. NOT TRIMMING YOUR HAIR EVERY 6 WEEKS.

The tip of each hair is weaker then the root, making it more vulnerable to breakage and split ends. Having the tips trimmed every 6 weeks helps to maintain the condition of your hair and its style.

2. WASHING HAIR ON A DAILY BASIS.

Regularly washing your hair strips it of essential oils and can leave it dry and brittle. If you have naturally oily hair, use a mild, pH-balanced shampoo. When washing your hair don't rub the scalp vigorously as this will stimulate the oil glands to produce more sebum.

3. RUBBING YOUR HAIR VIGOROUSLY WITH A TOWEL.

The action of rubbing you hair with a towel actually roughens the hair cuticle, which can lead to frizzy, flyaway hair.

4. LEAVING SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER IN YOUR HAIR.

Shampoo and conditioner that is not thoroughly rinsed out of the hair is the worst culprit for bad hair days. It counteracts styling products, leaves your hair looking dull, limp and unmanageable. Try to rinse your hair for an extra couple of minutes after shampooing and conditioning.

5. BLOW-DRYING HAIR UNTIL COMPLETELY DRY.

Overheating your hair makes it susceptible to breakage and strips it of shine. A better idea is to blow-dry hair until its 80% dry and then let it air dry, naturally. Alternatively use a leave-in conditioner or styling product that protects your hair from heat styling. Also, hold the hair dryer at least 30 centimetres away from your hair.

6. NOT USING PRODUCTS RECOMMENDED FOR YOUR HAIR TYPE.

Many people misdiagnose their hair type and subsequently purchase the wrong hair products to style hair. Using the right product will help to recreate that special salon style.

7. NOT USING A CLARIFYING SHAMPOO ONCE A WEEK.

Everyday pollutants cling to hair and leave a thin coat of grime that dulls and weighs down the hair. Using a clarifying shampoo once a week will give hair a residue free fresh start.

8. THINKING THE LATEST FASHION HAIR CUT WILL SUIT YOU.

Let's face it; we're not all beautiful models. Not all of us can get away with the latest, trendiest, most fashionable hair cut. May be that fashion cut can give you a worst look. It all depends on individual, their texture, their lifestyle, their quality of hair. Drastic haircuts take a long time to grow out, so be sure you want to take the risk before sitting in the char and letting your hairdresser go to work. Be specific and take lots of photographs to ensure you are getting the look you want. It is a good idea to take along a trusted friend for advice! Better yet, is to check out the style gallery on our website http://rexsalon.4mg.com.

These tips are by Nadeem, who holds the national record (limca book of record holder) in Candle hair cut, blindfolded hair cut, hair cut with glass and papercutter. He had featured in various TV channels, Newspapers & also appreciated by GUINESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS. He works as a hair stylist at REX Salon, Chandigarh (INDIA). Recently he conducted a seminar on hair styling and Japanese rebonding, It was very successful various hair dressers & beauticians from the region participated and appreciated his wor

What Is Normal About Hair Loss?

2008-10-18T06:12:00.001-07:00

It is important to note that shedding of hairs is a natural process with anything from 100 to 300 hairs randomly shed each day. In this article we'll look at two distinct aspects of normal hair loss. Firstly, we'll examine what is actually involved in the hair growth cycle. Secondly, we'll assess the natural progression of hair loss over time.

Hair is composed of long, twisted keratin fibers that are protected by a coating of keratinized cells. Just below the surface of the skin lies a cluster of active cells known as the dermal papilla and it is from here that the hair grows into its follicle.

This growing fiber eventually hardens and grows out from the scalp. At this stage the hair fiber is dead with only the root tip containing living cells.

In a little more detail, the hair growth cycle, consists of three distinct stages:

1. Anagen stage - a phase of growth that can last between two and seven years. On average, each hair grows about six inches (15cm) per year.

2. Catagen stage - a phase of transition that lasts roughly two to four weeks. At this time the hair shaft detaches from the dermal papilla and moves up within a shrinking follicle.

3. Telogen stage - a resting period that lasts about three months allowing the hair to detach itself from the follicle before falling out. After this, the cycle repeats itself unless other factors intervene to prevent repetition of the cycle.

Clearly time has a role to play in the development of hair loss for both men and women. Humans are born with varying amounts of soft and fine body hair. Through time some of this hair becomes stronger and develops further characteristics such as colour and texture. Up to the onset of puberty the hairline is characterized by a low spread across the forehead. For men, this continues only for a few more years.

As men progress through their twenties the hairline takes on a more mature look typified by recessions to the frontal temporal regions and accompanied by slight thinning elsewhere. This concave appearance doesn't necessarily equate to premature balding as it is all a question of degree.

The Norwood Scale is an extremely useful tool in developing a hair growth strategy as it allows you to establish your own degree of hair loss in a way that is understood by physicians and other hair loss experts. More importantly, it can help to set your mind at rest and allow you to differentiate between normal hair loss that does not require remedial action and more extreme loss that calls for immediate action.

5 Steps To Conquering Male Hair Loss...

2008-10-18T06:11:00.002-07:00

Would you like to know how to conquer your hair loss problem?

Well, here are the 5 critical steps that have been followed by every single guy who has ever conquered their hair loss problem...

LISTEN TO ME: If you want to conquer your hair loss, then what do you think you need to do?

That's right, YOU MUST follow these same steps. There is no question about it...

So, without further ado, here goes...

Critical Step #1: YOU MUST understand why YOUR hair loss is occuring. Otherwise, to put it politely – You have no hope!

Critical Step #2: YOU MUST be equipped with the most powerful treatments and techniques on the planet. This is not any easy task – sifting through hundreds of scam treatments to find one or two "real deal" treatments is like finding a needle in a haystack...

Critical Step #3: YOU MUST develop a treatment regime. A treatment regime is a combination approach towards hair loss. See, if you just take 1 approach, you'll be throwing all your eggs in one basket! You also need to choose treatments that you are personally comfortable with using. There are upsides and downsides to every treatment...

Critical Step #4: YOU MUST develop a plan of action, and decide which treatments to include in your regime. Then you need to get hold of these treatments at reasonable prices. And boy, there is a gigantic range in prices for the same ingredients!

Critical Step #5: YOU MUST commit to a plan and then find an effective way to track your results. It's the only way that you'll know whether your treatment regime is working...

Menopause Hair Loss Can be Stopped, Find Out What to Do

2008-10-18T06:11:00.001-07:00

The onset of menopause can often lead to hair loss and has long been a part of aging that many women fear the most. These days many more women are also experiencing thinning and bald spots as they mature, and both men and women are reaching out for new solutions. Even though there is no real 'cure', there are many things that can be done to help.

Both hormones and genes are to blame for menopause causing acute hair loss, as is the aging process. Confirming the causes of your loss with a competent and experienced dermatologist is the first step in determining your best treatment options.

It's possible to have temporary loss of hair caused by physical stress, emotional stress, thyroid abnormalities, medications and hormonal changes (such as androgens and estrogens during menopause) normally associated with females. Tension on the hair by prolonged use of hair weaving or corn rows can also cause permanent loss.

There are autoimmune disorders such as Alopecia Areata that cause patchy loss of hair often in small circular areas in different areas of the scalp. Alopecia Totalis is a total loss of hair on the scalp and is considered an advanced form of Areata. Alopecia Universalis is total hair loss of the entire body. People with diseases such as diabetes and lupus have also reported losing hair as a result.

It's normal to shed some hair each day as about 90 percent of the hair on your scalp is growing at any one time during a normal phase that lasts for 2 to 6 years at one time. Some women notice they are losing hair about 3 months after delivering a child. This is related to a hormone loss and is usually temporary.

Several medicines have been known to cause hair loss such as blood thinners (anticoagulants), medicines used for gout and in chemotherapy to treat cancer. Also, the use of vitamin A, birth control pills and antidepressants has been known to cause hair loss.

On the other hand, male pattern baldness is usually inherited from your genes. An over abundance of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is an active form of testosterone, within the hair follicle can create this type of hair loss. Current medications are aimed at slowing this common type of baldness including Minoxidil which is commonly called Rogaine and is available without a prescription.

Women can apply this product to the scalp. Another medicine, Finasteride, and called Propecia is available in pill form without prescription but is meant only for men. It can take up to 6 months in order to tell if these medications are helping.

Remember, the onset of menopause can often lead to hair loss and has long been a part of aging that many women fear the most. Even though there is no real cure, there are many things that can be done to help.

Hair Loss Prevention- Why Do Castrated Men Never Go Bald?

2008-10-18T06:09:00.000-07:00

Note-This content only presents overviews of hair loss
prevention research for educational purposes and does not
replace medical advice from a professional physician.

The best start to preventing hair loss is understanding the
basics of hair: what it is, how it grows, what system
malfunctions can cause it to stop growing.

Most common hair loss comes under what has been commonly
known as Male Pattern Baldness (MPB). Although referred to
as MPB, females suffer a similar syndrome, so it is more
properly called androgenetic alopecia. Although hair loss
is not life or health threatening, it can cause serious
problems with a personâ€™s psyche and self-confidence. There
has been no absolute cure found for hair loss, and many
factors of hair loss are hereditary, however there are
several preventative measures one can take to maintain
healthy hair and scalp.

Although both men and women can suffer significant hair
loss, over 50% of men will suffer with Male Pattern
Baldness (MPB), also known as androgenetic alopecia, at
some point in their lives. The reason behind hair loss is a
genetically inherited sensitivity to Dihydrotestosterone
(DHT) and 5-alpha-reductase. The enzyme 5-alpha-reductase
converts testosterone, a male hormone, to DHT, the
substance identified as the end-cause for hair loss.

Hair loss has been noticed and studied throughout the ages,
and some interesting discoveries were made in ancient
times. For one it was noticed that eunuchs: those males
without genitals-never went bald. Men who were castrated as
a result of accidents in battle also never went bald. This
was the first indication that testosterone had something to
do with hair loss. It has also been found that the more
recessive the hair gene, the more propensity toward
baldness one has.

Some common myths have arisen concerning hair loss. Because
of medical advancements many of these myths are being
addressed and corrected. For starters, although
androgenetic alopecia or pattern baldness is genetic and
therefore can be hereditary, it is not passed down through
only your motherâ€™s side of the family. Either side of the
family can pass down the genetic disposition toward
baldness. Also, contrary to old family tales, wearing hats
does not cause baldness either.

Beyond the genetic propensity of certain people toward hair
loss, there seems to be various dietary triggers that
activate the process, a notion that is promising since this
can be controlled.

The effects of high-fat diets and the increase of DHT
(Dihydrotestosterone), a chemical produced by the body
found to cause hair loss, is not conclusive at this time.
However, there does seem to be a connection; as societies
that consumed relatively low-fat diets such as pre-World
War II Japan experienced almost no pattern baldness,
whereas in post-World War II Japan there is an increase in
pattern baldness as their society consumes a higher fat
diet. In fact, Asian and African men in their native
countries traditionally suffer very little Male Pattern
Baldness (MPB). Although when the same peoples come to
North America, they begin to develop MPB.

Because people of all races and ethnicities tend to develop
MPB or androgenetic alopecia, yet do not exhibit these
tendencies before moving to America, changes in diet may be
a leading contributing factor. Diets high in fat do
increase testosterone, which is the main component in DHT.
More research needs to be done on this topic to reach
conclusive evidence, although it certainly could not hurt
to lower oneâ€™s fat intake.

There are a number of foods and substances to avoid and
limit the intake of. Substances such as alcohol, caffeine,
sugar and nicotine can deplete the body of nutrients and
raise adrenal levels, which will cause a chain reaction of
producing more androgen and causing hair loss. High levels
of saturated fat and cholesterol rich foods are also linked
to increased DHT levels and their consumption should be
limited. Additionally, common table salt has been linked to
hair loss. And the average diet provides the recommended
amount of sodium intake; therefore, salt should never be
added to food. However, when using salt for seasoning
during cooking, be sure to use salt with Iodine being that
it is a nutrient that is vital to hair growth as well,
unless you are a regular consumer of seafood, which
contains high levels of Iodine.

Although hair loss can be caused by many other variables,
lack of proper nutrition will assuredly cause hair loss in
many people. Fortunately, adopting a proper diet that
includes the proper nutrients can reverse hair loss caused
by malnutrition. One thing for certain, regardless of
whether your hair loss was caused by malnutrition or not,
adopting a healthier diet will help the function of other
areas of the body.

There are some methods that have been used that prevent
hair loss on some people, in addition to the dietary
improvements, there are some naturopathic remedy
suggestions. Massage and aromatherapy have been used with
some success. In minor cases of temporary hair loss, hair
growth can be stimulated by massage, since blood and oxygen
flow to the scalp must be healthy in order for hair to
grow. A blend of six drops each of lavender and bay
essential oils in a base of four ounces of either almond,
soybean or sesame oil massaged into the scalp and allowed
to sit for 20 minutes has been used by aroma therapists to
stimulate the scalp. Once the mixture is in the scalp for
20 minutes, wash your hair and scalp with your normal
shampoo mixed with three drops of bay essential oil.
Massaging the scalp in general for a couple of minutes a
day can stimulate blood flow to the hair follicles and in
mild cases stimulate some hair growth. Of course, one must
be careful to be gentle when massaging and not tug at the
hair or use the fingernails when massaging the scalp. If
one is concerned about fingernails getting in the way due
to extra long fingernails, there are several options. One
is a flat-handed massage, which while not as effective as
the finger massage can provide some circulatory benefits
and results.

There are several electric massagers on the market that
have an attachment for scalp massaging as well. An oriental
method called Qi Gong (pronounced Chi Kung) has been used
to increase circulation to the scalp and face also. The
fingers should be placed at the center of the skull base
and then begin to tap approximately 30 times. Work your way
outward toward the ears continuing to tap gently. After
reaching the ears go back to the center of the skull a
little higher up and work your way around to the ear
region. Keep going up about eight levels, each time
repeating the process.

There is a definite connection between the prostate and
hair loss for men, and therefore a connection between
breakthroughs in BPH treatments developed and their
effectiveness in restoring hair growth. There have been
some herbalists that have experimented with the herb Saw
Palmetto in order to block the production of DHT in
treating BPH. Although most studies of Saw Palmetto have
been for the treatment of prostatic disease, more recent
studies have been conducted on its effectiveness in
treating loss. The herb has been found to work in fighting
benign prostatic disease by lowering levels of DHT, which
is a known cause of androgenetic alopecia. Studies have
shown Saw Palmetto extract is an effective anti-androgen
and therefore there is promise for its effectiveness as an
effective treatment for hair loss prevention.

Rosemary and sage are two herbs that have shown benefit
traditionally when used externally. It is suggested that to
promote a clean scalp, stimulation of the hair root, and
thickening hair one should boil together in water rosemary,
sage, peach leaf, nettle and burdock. Then strain the loose
herbs from the liquid and use the liquid to wash the hair
daily. Also recommended is steeping one ounce of ground
rosemary, two ounces of ground sage, and a half ounce of
ground nettles in one pint of ethyl alcohol for a week,
straining the solution and adding one ounce of castor oil
and one ounce of water to the liquid. This is said to make
a great hair lotion to apply at night before bed or just
before shampooing.

Hair is a living protein, and as with any living part of
our bodies we must be sure to maintain proper health to
optimize our chances of maintaining a healthy head of hair.
Proper nutrition is vital to maintaining healthy hair,
since the hair is a living and growing part of the bodyâ€™s
system. Viewing it in this manner can help us to treat our
bodies different and raise expectations through proper
care. A healthy balanced diet, occasionally with the help
of vitamin and mineral supplements and exercise are all key
components to a healthy regimen of maintaining healthy
hair.

There is an obvious link to hair loss and prostatic health
and this only increases the pace of hair loss discoveries.
Most treatments for prostatic diseases such as benign
prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) also have the pleasant side
affect of growing hair on the heads of those taking it.
With the pace of research and discoveries today, there is a
great deal of optimism in the field of hair loss prevention
and treatment. Hair is an important part of our dress and
appearance, therefore a large part of our self-esteem. It
is likely that there are answers for your situation
presently or coming in the near future.

Remember, the restoration of hair growth is not an
overnight process. The process takes time regardless of the
method chosen. Be patient and follow as much of the advice
given by professionals as possible. Keep in mind that the
body is a system, and it is the abuse of this system by
food intake and environmental causes that lead to most
common hair loss.

Hair Cloning As A Solution For Hair Loss

2008-10-18T06:08:00.000-07:00

One of the most exciting recent developments in the search to find new solutions for hair loss has been research investigating hair cloning. Properly known as follicle cloning or multiplication, it involves taking a sample of a person's hair follicle cells, multiplying them in a lab and injecting them back into the patient's scalp. The aim obviously is to generate natural hair regrowth without the need for invasive surgery. But can we realistically expect this treatment to become available in the forseeable future?

Unfortunately the process is not yet possible but research is underway to perfect it. Current predictions suggest that it is unlikely to become available to the public for at least ten years.

The name of the process is a little misleading as it really refers to cell therapy rather than true cloning. Once perfected it would involve taking a small sample of tissue from the scalp and then creating a culture that would allow the follicle cells to multiply. The theory is that the few sample cells would multiply to become several hundred thousand that could then be injected back into the scalp to create several thousand new hairs.

The major obstacles that must be overcome include the following:

- There is no certainty that the replicated cells can develop into hairs.

- There is no guarantee that the new hairs will grow to the same thickness, color or direction as the existing hair coverage.

- There needs to be certainty that the cloned cells do not introduce serious health problems such as the growth of cancerous tumors.

Clearly hair cloning offers exciting possibilites for the treatment of hair loss in the future but for now, you'd best stick with the more limited treatments that at least are currently available.

Common Treatments For Hair Loss In Women

2008-10-18T06:07:00.002-07:00

Much has been said and written about modern day hair loss treatments but this tends to relate almost exclusively to men. Do these same treatments offer solutions to women suffering from hair loss or is there a completely different category of remedies available? It really depends on what is causing hair loss in the first place and as the most common causes of hair loss are the same as those that affect men, the treatments available are pretty similar.

In an earlier article we concluded that the three most common causes of hair loss in women are female pattern baldness, telogen effluvium and alopecia areata. We'll now look at each of these in turn and examine the best treatments available, bearing in mind the specific needs of women:

1. Treatments for female pattern baldness.

In most instances minoxidil (Rogaine) is the first treatment used. This is one of only two FDA approved hair loss treatments and it remains the only one approved for use by women. Minoxidil comes in the form of a topical solution that works by tackling the symptoms of hair loss and helping to generate new hair growth. It does not target the causes of hair loss and will not work for everyone. The women's version of minoxidil is a 2% solution but the 5% version marketed for men can be used if necessary.

The most popular drug for treating male pattern baldness is of course finasteride (Propecia). Women of child bearing age should not use this drug due to the severely damaging effects it can have on unborn male fetuses. Any women considering using Propecia should discuss it first with their physician. In some cases your doctor may prescribe a different androgen blocker called spironolactone as a means of stopping the hormone activity that is causing hair loss. Spironolactone is normally used as a diuretic and results may be variable.

There is a bewildering range of commercial products available, most of which are aimed squarely at men but many are also suitable for women to use. Whether they work or not is another question but some products containing ingredients like saw palmetto, stinging nettle, pygeum and green tea have shown their value. You can find out more about these and other poential hair loss solutions by visiting the site listed at the end of this article.

2. Treatments for telogen effluvium

This is a hair loss condition that generally does not require any specific treatment. Once the effects of the trauma that caused hair loss in the first place have subsided, the hair will regrow of its own accord. Some patients like to encourage the regrowth process by using minoxidil but this isn't necessary. Implementing a good nutritional regime and supplementing with B-vitamins may help to create a hair friendly environment.

3. Treatments for alopecia areata.

This is another hair loss condition that may resolve itself spontaneously. In some cases one of the following treatments may prove useful:

- Daily application of minoxidil (Rogaine).

- Injection of cortisone into patchy areas of the scalp (this must be administered by a physician). Creams and lotions containing cortisone can also be used but results are variable.

- Dithranol can be applied to the scalp in mild or early cases.

- Application of 100% aloe vera gel.

- Massage the scalp with rosemary and lavender essential oils in a jojoba base.

- Use of a hair loss product containing the Chinese herb He Shou Wu.

- A product called Calosol has recently generated positive feedback.

Please note, however, that none of these is guaranteed to work due to the unpredictable nature of alopecia areata. It is this uncertainty that offers opportunities for scamsters to make outlandish claims. The fact remains, there are no miracle cures for advanced forms of alopecia areata so sufferers may wish to consider other options such as head coverings and wigs.

This does not mean that patients are without hope because, even in severe cases, hair can spontaneously start to grow again even after years of loss.

Don't Lose Hair Because Of Poor Grooming

2008-10-18T06:07:00.001-07:00

One of the most common reasons why men and women lose their hair is due to poor cosmetic grooming. The unfortunate thing about this is the fact it is so preventable. Fortunately there are some steps you can take to put right some of the damage caused.

Speaking at the American Academy of Dermatology's 2004 summer conference, Dr Zoe Draelos offered a number of recommendations to improve the hair care regime:

1. Itching associated with seborrheic dermatitis can weaken and damage hair over a period of time so seek medical help if your scalp skin is itchy, red or scaly.

2. Long hair is more easily damaged. People with extensive hair damage should therefore consider a shorter style.

3. Hair growth slows with age and hair becomes thinner in texture. Older people should therefore ensure that only weaker chemicals are applied.

4. Take care when choosing grooming tools. Use a comb made from flexible plastic with smooth, rounded and coarse teeth. Use a brush with bristles that are smooth, ball-tipped, coarse and bendable. In addition brush as little as possible and avoid brushing wet hair.

5. Don't use tight rubber bands for ponytails as these cause excessive trauma and breaking of hairs. Likewise use hair clips loosely.

6. Understand the nature of your hair and adjust the intensity of your grooming to match. For example, curly hair tends to crack more easily than straight hair so be careful.

7. Make sure the hair is always cut with sharp scissors as crushing the end of the hair will encourage split ends.

8. The less that is done to hair in terms of styling, the healthier it will be. It follows then that care should be taken not to over-style with cosmetic products.

9. Hair coloring and bleaching are damaging to hair. If you must change hair color, try to stay within three shades of the natural color to minimize damage.

10. Hair relaxing and permanent waving are both damaging to hair and should only be used on a very limited basis.

How Does Propecia (Finasteride) Help In The Treatment Of Hair Loss?

2008-10-18T06:06:00.000-07:00

Finasteride was initially marketed to treat prostate conditions under the name Proscar in 5mg pills. It was known to inhibit the formation of DHT, a major contributor to both prostate cancer and male pattern hair loss.

Subsequent research showed that a 1mg daily dose of the same drug was sufficient to control hair loss for 83% of men after two years of treatment. Since 1998 this version has been marketed under the brand name Propecia and it remains the only prescription drug approved by the FDA specifically to treat hair loss. This approval extends only to men's hair loss because of the dangers finasteride presents to unborn male fetuses. Women of child bearing age should therefore consult with their physician before considering the use of this drug.

The main purpose of Propecia is to halt hair loss and maintain what hair coverage is left. It is therefore popular with younger men who want to control hair loss at an early stage. Men of all ages use it in combination with minoxidil to achieve a hair loss strategy that both halts hair loss and encourages new growth.

Propecia works by interfering with the process of androgenetic hair loss which usually follows this process:

1. High levels of an enzyme known as 5-alpha-reductase occur in cells of the hair follicle.

2. This enzyme converts testosterone into DHT.

3. DHT causes miniaturization of robust terminal hairs.

4. This results in fine, soft vellus hairs that provide limited scalp coverage.

5. The growth phase gradually shortens until these hairs are lost permanently.

Propecia inhibits the formation of DHT and over a period of several months reduces levels of DHT sufficiently to minimize its effects on the hair follicle.

As with any drug, finasteride can cause side effects to a minority of users. The FDA trials reported a 2% incidence of varying side effects but these tended to lessen as the body adjusted to the drug over a period of months. Although Propecia or cheaper generic versions are easily obtained on the internet it is strongly recommended that you seek the advice of your doctor, at least in the first instance.

Coping With Male Pattern Baldness

2008-10-18T06:05:00.000-07:00

Androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) is by far the most common cause of hair loss amongst men and a serious problem for many women. For it to develop, three important components must come into play:

1. A genetic predisposition for balding to occur.

2. The presence of male hormones.

3. Aging - enough time for the first two factors to occur.

Despite the common perception, familial baldness patterns are not completely reliable as predictors of future hair loss. The fact that your parent or grandparent exhibited a given pattern does not guarantee your hair loss development will be the same. However, if your father was completely bald and you begin to lose hair excessively at an early age, it's safe to assume you will develop extensive balding.

All normal men and women produce male hormones such as testosterone and DHT. These hormones have a useful role to play in both sexes but it is the fact that androgens occur in much higher concentrations in men that explains why this type of hair loss is more common in males.

The effect of these hormones on hair follicles is as follows:

1. High levels of an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase occur in cells of the hair follicle.

2. This enzyme converts testosterone into DHT.

3. DHT causes the robust terminal hairs to miniaturize.

4. This leaves soft, fine hairs that provide poor scalp coverage.

5. The growth phase becomes shorter until these soft hairs are lost for good.

Excessive hair loss can occur at any age and may even stop only to start again. As time progresses the process of hair loss accelerates leading to its logical conclusion.

Understanding this process helps to explain how the currently available treatments for male pattern baldness work. Propecia is one of only two FDA-approved hair loss treatments and it works by interfering with the process outlined above. In brief, Propecia inhibits the formation of DHT in the system thus slowing down and eventually stopping the adverse effects of DHT on the hair follicle.

Most of the non-drug, commercially prepared products operate on a similar basis by utilizing natural ingredients that attempt to interfere with the production of DHT. Presently the most popular natural ingredient is saw palmetto although some products combine this with other herbs such as pygeum, stinging nettle and green tea.

Is There A Role For Nutrition In Dealing With Hair Loss?

2008-10-18T06:04:00.000-07:00

Could something as basic as inadequate nutrition really contribute to excessive shedding of hair?

Does sensible nutrition have a role to play in helping hair to regrow?

The answer to both questions is yes! There is no doubt that poor nutrition and hectic lifestyles can contribute to hair loss. Modern diets can be associated with a number of nutritional deficiencies that are thought to contribute to hair loss:

1. The refining of whole grains reduces the B vitamin content.

2. Over cooking of vegetables destroys B vitamins.

3. Raw leafy greens are absent in most diets.

4. The vitamins that have been ingested are often re-directed to facilitate the digestion of nutritionally sterile carbohydrates like sugar and white flour.

5. Stimulants like caffeine, nicotene and alcohol rob the body of vital nutrients.

6. Excessive salt intake can encourage hair loss because of its tendency to accumulate in tissue.

7. Low fiber intake inhibits digestion thus reducing the body's ability to deliver nutrients to the blood stream.

Clearly poor nutrition can cause hair loss because the body will ration nutrients in a hierarchy of vital organs first and hair last. It is unlikely that improved nutrition alone will result in new hair growth but it will minimize shedding and support other treatments that encourage regrowth.

Develop A Strategy For Dealing With Premature Hair Loss

2008-10-18T06:03:00.002-07:00

The fact you are reading this probably indicates you have concerns about the rate of your hair loss. Baldness may sometimes be a source of amusement to those with a full head of hair, but premature hair loss at any age can be the cause of intense concern to those affected.

But you can do something about this! By following the guidelines suggested in this article you will place yourself in a position to identify a hair loss treatment that not only works but also fits in with your lifestyle and preferences.

To achieve this you must truthfully answer four simple questions:

1. What is the true cause of your hair loss?

Most instances of hair loss in men, for example, can be attributed to androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) but you must be certain as this will influence your choice of hair loss treatment. To be completely certain you should consult with your physician.

2. How far has your hair loss progressed?

It is crucial to realize that the sooner you start treating hair loss, the greater your chances of success. You need to identify the pattern of hair loss as this will help establish both the cause and most effective treatment option.

3. What hair loss treatment options are you prepared to consider?

Your answer to this question will depend on a number of factors including the type and extent of hair loss, what treatments have been tried previously, your personal preferences with regard to using medications or natural remedies and the amount you are prepared to spend.

4. Do you have sufficient patience and determination to succeed?

There really are no miracle cures for premature hair loss. Equally, there are treatments that can halt and even reverse this condition, but none of them will work overnight. Treatments take time to work and there is no such thing as a remedy that suits everyone.

When you have given proper consideration to these questions you will find yourself in a better position to choose the hair loss treatment that best suits your circumstances. It you're still not sure, talk to your physician or carry out more research. But you need to be clear on one point - the longer you delay, the more difficult your path to hair regrowth will be.

Are Hair Loss Treatments Just One Big Scam?

2008-10-18T06:03:00.001-07:00

The hair loss industry is not one that inspires great confidence in most people. I have to admit this is perfectly understandable given the damage caused by the many rogues and charlatans who have abused the trust of far too many vulnerable people - people who have received worthless and even dangerous products or advice in exchange for their hard earned cash. The end result is the prevalance of a stigma that the industry is hard pressed to shake off.

But is this perception really justified nowadays? Are there no genuine treatments that sufferers can turn to in a bid to treat the ravages of premature hair loss? The simple answer is YES, there are several safe, affordable, accessible and effective hair loss treatments currently available. Some have even been approved by FDA for the treatment of hair loss conditions while others draw on natural remedies as the basis for commercially available products. Whether or not any of them are suitable for a given individual depends on a number of important factors.

First and foremost, every individual must determine the exact cause or causes of his or her hair loss. This may appear to be an over-simplistic statement but the truth is, most people undergoing a course of treatment for hair loss have proceeded on the basis of self-diagnosis. Given the fact that premature or excessive hair loss is often associated with underlying medical conditions, this is perhaps not the most sensible course of action.

My advice in all cases is to seek the guidance of a qualified medical practitioner because the consequences of not doing so may be serious in a small number of cases. Even where all the evidence points to the onset of hereditary male pattern baldness it would probably be best to seek advice, if only to rule out other factors.

Once the cause of hair loss has been properly diagnosed you will be in a position to choose a suitable form of treatment. This may range from the prescription of drugs aimed at balancing disrupted hormone levels to the topical application of minoxidil to reduce the symptoms of male pattern baldness.

Hair loss may be caused by many factors including changing hormone levels, illness, stress, overuse of strong chemicals, excessive traction, poor grooming practices, side effects of medical treatment, poor nutrition, weak immune system and the effects of aging. The good news is, all of these can be tackled with reasonable hope of success but only if you choose the right treatment.

The next article in this series will look closely at the various causes of excessive hair loss and outline suggested treatments that are both affordable and accessible. If you take only two things from this article, please take these suggestions on board:

1. Always seek the advice of your physician before undergoing a hair loss treatment regime.

2. Don't despair, there's often a simple explanation for excessive hair loss and even hereditary loss or male pattern-type baldness can be treated successfully for most people nowadays.

Cause Of Hair Loss - A Comprehensive 13 Point Checklist

2008-10-18T05:18:00.000-07:00

There may not be a single cause of hair loss in many cases but rather a number of factors may contribute to thinning or losing hair.

The following 13 point checklist will help you identify which causes of hair loss may apply in your case. But first a word about hair growth cycles.

Hair Growth Cycles

Hair is constantly going through cycles of growth, resting, shedding. When hairs that are lost are not replaced, or when more hair follicles go into the resting phase, hair loss becomes noticeable.

While there is ongoing debate regarding causes of hair loss, the list below shows many of the common contributing factors:

#1: Ageing

The period for hair loss is between the 20 and 50 years of age. Some individuals arrive at the advance stages of hair loss sooner than others although it becomes increasingly evident as people advance in age.

#2: Cosmetic Chemicals

This can be an unrecognized cause of hair loss, especially bleaching, permanents, and coloring products.

#3: Drugs/Medications/Radiation

This cause of hair loss can include anticoagulants, antidepressants, contraceptive pills, amphetamines, some arthritis medications, some antibiotics, some blood thinners, medicines for gout, drugs derived from vitamin-A, certain drugs for ulcers, beta blocker drugs for high blood pressure.

Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy halt the growth phase of hair follicles which results in a sudden hair loss as those follicles all shed their hair at about the same time.

#4: Heredity

Androgenetic alopecia is the term used to describe a genetic predisposition in men and women for pattern baldness or pattern hair loss. Although there is a dominant tendency for male pattern baldness, female members of a family can be transmitters as well.

#5: Hormonal Imbalance

If the male and female hormones, androgens and estrogens, are out of balance, hair loss may result. Also an overactive or underactive thyroid gland can contribute to hair loss.

#6: Illness and Severe Infections

These can include scalp fungal infections, Thyroid disorders, Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, Diabetes, Lupus.

#7: Immune System Disorder

Alopecia areata is an immune system disorder which causes hair follicles to stop producing hairs. Advanced forms of the disorder are identified by the terms alopecia totalis when all head hair disappears, and alopecia universalis which results in all body hair disappearing.

#8: Menopause

This can be a main cause of hair loss in women. Due to hormonal changes after menopause, some women find their hair begins to thin.

There are a variety of treatments available involving hormone replacement therapy (HRT). There may be side effects in some cases and experimentation may be necessary under the guidance of a physician.

#9: Poor Blood Circulation

Poor blood flow to the scalp, insufficient nutrients in the blood, or poor drainage of waste products through the lymphatic systems can all contribute to hair loss.

#10: Pregnancy

Three to six months after delivering a child, many women notice a degree of hair loss as the hair goes into a resting phase because of the physiological impact of the pregnancy on the body.

#11: Pulling

Traction Alopecia is the term used to describe loss of hair from constant pulling, as with tightly braided hair styles such as pony tails.

Also the improper use of curling tongs or rollers can tug the hair so it weakens.

#12: Sebum Buildup

A basic cause of hair loss is sebum buildup in the follicles which attacks the hair bulb, the rounded area at the end of a hair strand which is rooted in the follicle. Sebum causes the hair bulb to shrink so the hair is not as well rooted.

After the hair falls out the new hair strand growing in that follicle is weaker and thinner and the process is repeated until the hair follicle is so damaged it dies. (Sebum is a fatty substance secreted from the sebaceous glands most of which open into hair follicles.)

#13: Stress and Nervous Disorders

Telogen Effluvium is the term used for a slowing down of new hair growth because of sudden or severe stress. The stress triggers a large number of hair follicles to enter the resting stage, so a few months after the stressful event, those follicles shed hair at about the same time.

From the list above you may be able to identify the main cause of hair loss in your case. Don't hesitate to get professional advice from a medical practitioner if the reason is beyond your direct control. Early action can save much anxiety later!

New Year's Sales & Marketing Resolutions

2008-10-17T12:18:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year! It's a great time to dust off your playbook and think about what your strategic plans are in sales and marketing for the coming year. A good way to start is to start by taking your management team through a series of new year's resolutions. What are your new year's resolutions for sales and marketing? Are you going to boost your lead generation? Are you going to invest more heavily in telesales to reduce your sales cycle? Are you going to commit yourself to double digit sales growth for your company? Are you going to finally invest in search engine optimization in order to improve your company's online visibility using natural and organic search engines? Are you thinking about boosting your performance for lead generation through direct mail campaigns? What about refreshing or developing a new website with better content that's more compelling against your competitors? These are all new year's resolutions that companies should be considering as they think about how to accelerate their sales this year. We're working with a number of companies that are specifically targeting improvements to their sales and marketing programs and now is a great time for you to do that. The year is just now getting started and if you get an early jump on your sales and marketing activities for this year you'll have the best results for converting those investments into actual sales growth. What's your sales and marketing new year's resolution?

The first thing you should be doing is considering an investment in your own business and making sure that your putting dollars into it first before putting dollars into the owner's pockets or into the shareholder's pockets. Why? Because over time, your shareholder value will increase the more you invest in good marketing and good lead generation to accelerate your sales. So that's one of the things we're doing this year…we’re going to make sure we put our marketing programs first in order to generate the kind of leads we need to drive top line sales growth during the coming year. Another great new year's resolution is to try something new and different that sets you apart from all of your competition. How is your company differentiating itself? Not only through its messaging and positioning, but also through the types of marketing programs that it is doing in order to reach its audience. If all of your competitors are going to trade shows, what about spending more money on search engine optimization or e-newsletter campaigns that provide nurture marketing to your best prospects and allow you to stay in front of your long term customers. Thinking of doing something different and innovating in your marketing and sales programs is one of the best ways to set yourself apart from your competition and be more appreciated by those companies that are looking to partner with you or looking for a partner in your particular product of service area.

Another great new year's resolution is to terminate your relationship with unprofitable customers. The ones that are costing you the most money to service and require and eat up all of your resources, delay your projects or aren't paying you well. These are the kinds of customers that we all have had some experience with and one of the best things that we can do is find a way to end those relationships as we go into the new year. Ending those relationships is a wonderful, liberating thing for your company and it also allows you to free up the opportunity cost that is associated with spending your resources to serve customers who are unprofitable when you could be going after profitable customers that could really become an engine for growth for your business. We've all experienced having frustrating customers that end up chewing up a lot of our resources. My feeling is now is a great time for you to go through a list of those businesses that you're doing and figure out which ones it's time to sever the relationship with. Let them go to your competition. Why? Because then your competition can chew up all of its resources and absorb all of its time trying to serve those customers. And that will keep them from going after the best ones that you want for your business.

Another new year's resolution you might want to consider, is if your sales team has worked really hard, the question I have for you is what are you doing to celebrate your successes in sales day in and day out, week after week? One of the things that we're doing this year is spending more time doing internal “atta boys” and celebrating and high-fiving for all of the sales wins that we have as a company. Why? Because boosting the moral of your sales people and boosting the moral of your employees around sales wins has a multiplier effect on your sales effectiveness and that's what we're looking to do, is to improve our sales effectiveness by celebrating more of our successes and recognizing the effects of those people who are working so hard to produce those results that we need in order to power our business up.

Making Change Stick

2008-10-17T12:17:00.000-07:00

A while ago we undertook a study of 120 companies who had been through a ‘Change Programme’ of different types on behalf of a public body and what we discovered was that over 87% of the programmes had ‘failed’, meaning the programme had not been adopted by the organisation and it had not managed to realise the financial and operational benefits of the change.

In analysing the organisations who had been successful, combined with our on-going work with manufacturers, the armed forces, the NHS and service sector businesses over the last 18 months, we found that the key to success could be summed up as:

▪ The selection of the right ‘tools’

▪ Applied in an effective manner

▪ By motivated people

In testing this we then found that every organisation who had failed to achieve sustainable change had failed because they had not addressed one of the issues detailed above. The most common mistakes made by organisations being:

▪ Choosing a change philosophy that did not suit the organisation, for example choosing to adopt Six Sigma (highly analytical) when the organisation suited a more intuitive change style or philosophy.

▪ Failing to ‘move to action’ by spending lots of money on training, coaching, planning and discussing, but then failing to act, resulting in all the preparatory work being in vain.

▪ Imposing change without engaging the staff – either by using outside consultants who designed and then implemented the change (often in the face of resistance from the staff) or where the managers told or led the team to the solution.

In understanding why 87% of organisations fail to achieve sustainable change, we also have to consider the concept of 2nd Order Change.

1st Order Change is about changing processes, whilst 2nd Order Change is about changing behaviours. As an example, when the compulsory wearing of seatbelts was first introduced into the UK there were constant reminders on TV and the Police spent a lot of time reminding car drivers because people kept forgetting – what had happened was that we had achieved 1st Order Change by changing the process. Through constant focus and on-going training and support/encouragement, coupled with the fact that occasionally the press reported someone being prosecuted for not wearing a seatbelt, most people now don’t even think about putting the seatbelt on – that is because their behaviours have changed.

Most organisations change the processes (1st Order Change) and think that behaviours will change without any further action or management focus, but people don’t change overnight and the successful achievement of change that is sustainable in the longer term relies on the combination of ‘Inspiration, Transformation and Synchronisation.’

▪ Inspiration is concerned with leaders creating the right environment for change to work and typically includes such things as strategic planning, leadership development and personal mentoring.

▪ Transformation is about implementing the change (and therefore making the change programme pay for itself) and should include a range of tools drawn from Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, Continuous Improvement as well as Creative Thinking and Problem Solving tools, based on the needs of the organisation.

▪ Synchronisation is concerned with aligning employees to the objectives of the organisation and also gaining their commitment to the change process, which we achieve through cultural mapping, surveys and team/group work.

In terms of sustainable change it is important to remember:

▪ Without Inspiration there is no direction

▪ Without Transformation there is no improvement

▪ Without Synchronisation there is no sustainability

We have tested these concepts with a wide range of organisations from the NHS, Armed Forces, Manufacturing and the Service Sector and have been able to achieve impressive 2nd Order results, all achieved by focusing on:

▪ The selection of the right ‘tools’

▪ Applied in an effective manner

▪ By motivated people

Changing Organizations

2008-10-17T12:16:00.000-07:00

Change is not a unique property of the social reality we see around us. In fact, the social reality is constantly changing and this is not experienced as something strange. The social reality, in turn, consists of organizations. If a group of people organize themselves for some purpose, an organization is born. Whether this group of individuals has organized itself to run a company which manufactures a certain product or for social purposes (friendship, charity, etc.), the most important fact is that people are subjected to numerous kinds of organizations in their daily life. Each person organizes part of his or her life, and the remaining part is organized by other forms of organizations. Organizational change is always difficult because behavioral patterns must be completely rearranged. This aspect will result in a tendency to resist change. The question is: how and when do organizations change? In this article three theories of organizational change will be discussed.

The first theory is that of Lewin who proposed a theory of change based on empirical data. This theory sees change as a three step procedure: unfreezing, moving, and freezing. According to Lewin, the study of conditions for change begins with an analysis of the state of equilibrium or the state where there is no change at all. This state of equilibrium is not a stationary, but a quasistationary equilibrium. Social change can be compared to a river which alters its velocity and/or direction. Humans can also change in time, but humans also have an ‘inner resistance’ to change. It is necessary to break the individual’s resistance to change for the stage of unfreezing. When the stage of unfreezing is established, then the stage of moving to a new level of group life can follow. When the group has actually reached a new level, then the stage of freezing will finalize the complete sequence.

Lewin’s theory is based on research into the behavior of individuals in groups. He discovered that individuals are usually passive and not active. An active attitude is a prerequisite for change, and in order to make people active, several strategies can be applied. One strategy is changing the entire group. It is, however, difficult to find a universal strategy for changing individuals, groups, and societies. In some cases, it is a relatively simple and easily executed procedure, but in other cases, it is a difficult and complex procedure which involves high risks and overwhelming chances of failure. So, change or the stage of unfreezing requires skill, knowledge, and a lot of experience. Lewin’s theory is actually a system’s theory. It is a cyclical process with a feedback mechanism.

Greiner’s theory maintains that growing organizations move through five distinguishable phases of development. Each phase contains a relatively calm period of growth which is followed by a revolution. So, the main conclusion drawn by Greiner is that organizations go through evolutionary and revolutionary phases as they grow. He stated that the speed at which an organization experiences phases of evolution and revolutions strongly depends on the market environment. So, his theory can also be identified as a contingency approach. For example, companies in an expanding market will grow faster and the evolutionary periods in those companies tend to be relatively short. In mature and slowly growing industries, the opposite is true because these industries are going through longer periods of evolution. Furthermore he stated that evolution can be prolonged and revolution delayed when the market is poor, revolutions are more difficult to
resolve. What are the specific five phases of evolution and revolution?

Phase 1: Creativity stage will be followed by a leadership crisis; Phase 2: Direction phase will be followed by an autonomy crisis; Phase 3: Delegation phase will be followed by a control crisis; Phase 4: Coordination phase will be followed by a red-tape crisis; Phase 5: Collaborations stage will be followed by a consultation crisis.

Miller and Friesen published a theory which they called the quantum view of organizations. Their theory was a social change theory of organizations. First of all, they found from their research that organizations, especially successful ones, do not change in a piecemeal and incremental manner, but in a dramatic and quantum way. They found that organizations are not always static and unchanging or the opposite, constantly, but that these two aspects are intertwined. Most of the time, organizations favor a stable structure and nature. The activities are focused on the improvement of, for example, the products which are already successful. This is a logical phenomenon since stability is a prerequisite for order and institutionalization.

Like people, organizations cannot constantly change their jobs, divorce and remarry etc, because this would result in an absurd situation or a completely passive attitude. So organizations are actually great supporters of stability. Unfortunately the world around organizations is changing. These changes can sometimes happen slowly, but also very quickly and dramatically. In order to survive, organizations cannot afford to change incrementally because the environment is changing. A situation will then be created of a revolutionary nature. In a short time, organizations will have to change their old habits, activities, norms and values. These organizations are trying to find a new position where they can again reach stability. What has happened is actually a cultural revolution.

The Smallest Intervention You Can Think Of

2008-10-17T12:15:00.000-07:00

A -- non business -- example of an intervention is a chirurgical intervention.

Interventions of all kinds are useful when managing change. You can call in the help of an Interim manager to speed up change. The shock effect in such a situation is normally enormous. And so can be the resistance. The advantage of such an intervention however is that everybody is aware, there is commitment and attention.
The other side is that when this manager leaves the stage, you risk turning back the previous situation. Like the restore of a backup.

Another kind of intervention is one that is not visible. You can hardly call it an intervention, because it smoothes into your organization like a virus.

You will probably be familiar with it, especially if you are the father or mother of a child.
Kids copy their parents. This can be extremely nasty, because when they copy you, you are mirrored your own behavior.

Giving the right example is a difficult job. And that is what change is about. It is difficult. Not in setting up all the scenes with new job titles, interim management and support from outside. It is difficult because of the fact that you have to take small steps.

If you are convinced that you have to bend to the left, you should show others. They will follow you. Eventually.

Pounding Nails Or Building A Home?

2008-10-17T12:13:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite shows is the Extreme Home Makeover. I think the show is so popular because it tells a story of how a very “in need” family gets a wonderful new home with the help of hundreds of strangers. And each week these “strangers” eat and sleep very little, to complete the home in just 7 days. And what drives these strangers to want to work so hard? Because they are helping to better the situation for a family in need. They know that they are not just pounding nails or painting a wall, they are changing the lives of others.

In Leadership, it is important that we find ways to show our people that what they are doing is a vital part of the bigger picture, no matter what their role. Making people feel valued and appreciated is what a leader does. Each of us has a higher need to feel that we are contributing to the overall good of the organization. And if you can identify when your people do make these contributions, and publicly praise them, you will see this behavior repeated over and over.

So I would challenge leaders at every level to take time to look at the various roles, and come up with ways to communicate to each and every team member just how they are making a difference in the organization and to your customers. It’s the individual action combined together that equal success.

I hope you all have a successful week.

Do Not (Intent to) Change What is Fixed And What Should Remain Fixed

2008-10-17T12:12:00.000-07:00

If you want to change (something) you will have to search first for “constructions”.

A construction is something that is fixed, lasting and constant. A building is an example of such a construction. But there are more examples. The structure of your organization is also fixed. Then there is the juridical form of the company and most of all, but less visible are the contracts.

If you would categorize the constructions in order of “hardness” the structure of the organization is softer than a (employee) contract. Under normal circumstances you are not aware of this, but it becomes clear with reorganizations and when you have to deal with resignations.

When preparing for a change you should examine these constructions in order to find out where there is space to increase flexibility. You should ask what constructions can be modified or even torn down.

With the constructions you will find the real information. It is like the DNA of our body. The real characteristics show up when you observe only the constructions. Much of the style depends on this form. You can “ask” the employees in a factory to be more client oriented, but their main focus remains to produce. It is in the characteristic.

Changes against these characteristic will never survive. When this is clear and accepted you can use the next question. What should we change? And why?

Working in FLAT Organizations: An Idiot's Guide

2008-10-17T12:10:00.002-07:00

Flat Organizations have been the “In” thing to happen in many new economy companies for over a decade now. Today most companies “new economy” or the “old economy” like to describe their organization has flat. Initially it did start with a lot of the Silicon Valley ventures, then the IT boom, then the Internet bubble and the idea was well entrenched in to the HR toolkits of most organizations across the globe. Cross pollination of ideas which usually happens when HR head honchos switch jobs eventually ensured that “Flat” is the only way any organization is supposed to be structured. While this article is not useful to anybody looking information on “Flat” as an organization concept, it is a must read for the millions of minions like me who eke a living out of “corporatedom”.

It is not clear where and how this particular word originated but it is expected to be a very fashionable word to use particularly if you are the HR person of the company. My guess is that “Flat” originated as a word which would imply the opposite of the “pyramidal”, a structure of organization most companies were used to ever since the industrial revolution. “Flat” could also have originated has a word which alluded to “Level” since most organizations defined their positions and seniority ladders as levels. Thus “Flat” was supposed to the idea to level out all levels. “Flat” could also be a shorter version of “Flatter” as this is a word which “Flatters” the lowliest minions in the company to think that they are equal to the bosses.

“Flat” could mean different things for different people in the organization, like everything else in the world the meaning of flat depends on the individual’s outlook towards life, like

For an Optimist – Flat could mean she is now closer to the top.

For a Pessimist – Flat could mean there is not enough elbow room to go up.

For the Cynic -- Flat could mean there is not enough to go round.

For the Utopian – Flat means all people in the company are equal.

For the Ambitious – Flat could mean there is no ladder to climb.

For the Lazy – Flat could mean there is no need to try to go anywhere as there is nothing up there.

For the Authoritarian – Flat could mean “Other than me” all are at the same level.

For the Team Player – Flat could mean there are more options to pass the buck (or baton –PC).

In addition to an individuals outlook, how “Flat” impacts your own career depends on which stage of career you are in and what your position in the organization is, like-

If you are Trainee or junior staffer - Flat means you need to take on responsibilities which are directly disproportional to your age and position, since we treat you as an equal!!

If you are a Mid-Level manager – Flat means there is no more room for you to go up. They have replaced the corporate ladder which you were climbing with a stool and you are already standing on top of it. The people above you are actually above the ceiling.

If you are a Senior Manager – Flat means your responsibilities will be now given to smarter and younger staffers probably even trainees who do the same work at much lower pay, so that you become redundant before you retire.

If you are the Top Boss – Flat means other than yourself every thing is Flat and all people are at the same level.

It is difficult to trace the exact reasons for the onslaught of the “Flat” revolution in “Corporatedom”. Although conceptually it has its political equivalent in the Communist revolution, the essential difference to be noted is that the political revolution emphasized in change of ownership of political power from the Czars to the common people and was a revolution caused by the common people. The corporate revolution on the other hand is driven usually from the top or the board. The “common man” in the corporatedom – the staffers and junior managers usually have no interest in the Flat Revolution. In corporatedom – “Flat” does not emphasize change of ownership or even distribution of ownership, it emphasizes only on distribution of work and responsibilities lower down the order.

Along with the distribution of work and responsibilities lower down the order usually accompanied by technology enabled management control systems, it also draws blood much like the other revolutions, by reducing the number of positions and ranks in the organization. Then – what happens to the people who are already occupying those positions and ranks, depending on how lady luck smiles on them and how they have been adaptable to the culture of the organization they could be -

Laid Off - This usually accompanied by a strenuous and excruciating process of “fitment” where HR tries to collect enough documentation to ensure you do not retaliate.

Downsized – Usually means your position and pay is no longer available, you could accept something lesser than you deserve.

Right Sized – usually accompanied by a process of discovery where HR finds they made critical mistakes earlier in offering you better pay and perks and the time for righting that wrong has arrived

Lateral Movement – This is a humiliating process by which the organization asks you to do a job you cannot do and then points out how incapable you are of doing a job.

Kicked Upstairs – This happens to the lucky few who have collected enough brownie points in the past or hold some mission critical secrets which may be either useful or damaging depending on the nature of the person. It is also done if you are good candidate for employment by competition. In this case you are given a senior than current position with more advisory activities, little responsibilities and no action.

What has been discussed above is relevant to people who are caught in the throes of the “Flat Revolution” in corporatedom. What if you have landed yourself a new job in Utopia Inc. where everything is Flat? This can be particularly tricky with a lot of the foolish minions actually taking thinks to their head and assuming that they are as equal as the people above them. Organizing your daily life around a Flat organization can be as tricky as playing Minesweeper on Windows – on wrong click and all the points you collected till date becomes zero –game over- start again.

I will conclude with a few tips for people who join fresh in Utopia Inc. a Flat Organization which may help in survival till you find the next job.

Golden Rules for working in Flat Organizations:

* Remember George Orwell – “ All are equal, but some are more equal”

*Remember it has been proven since the age of renaissance – that the world is round and not flat.

*Remember not to be “Flattered” by Flat.

Typical Symptoms for Flat Organizations:

* Common lunch rooms and cafeterias for all staff which means there is no place to gossip and bitch about your boss.

* Open office spaces and no secretarial assistance to senior managers which means your boss keeps a constant eye on you and you have may have to even do some work supposed to be done by his/her secretary.

* Misleading and confusing designations which is well devised ploy by HR to flatter lower rung employees to think they have the similar sounding designations as bosses and confuse senior employees so that they do not find out that their career is stagnant. Remember that a “Boss by any designation is still a boss”.

* Constant change in roles and responsibilities which is again a well devised ploy to ensure you never become good at what you do.

* Overwhelming use of technology and systems which ensures that has the computing power of chips increases, most of your knowledge is mapped onto corporate databases and the organizations can be made much more flat.

* Penchant for outsourcing work, which becomes essential since the more you outsource the more you can keep on reducing levels in the organization to become even more flat.

So once you have understood the symptoms and use the golden rules as mantras, you need to ensure that you go on daily diet to ensure your fitness to live in flat world. The essential ingredients of your daily diet should be –

Document your good work – This will ensure that when there is an exercise of fitment you can hold forth against HR

Take Credit immediately – Modesty is not a virtue. Take credit for any success which was remotely associated with you.

Be focused on Self-Development - Your aim should be to build your CV as per market needs and work is a means of building the CV.

Be Multi-Skilled – you never know which one will be useful on a particular day. It would be a good idea if you have a few lateral skills like being able to organize parties, bartending, dancing, anchoring stage shows etc in case nothing else works they will help. I know of people who have built a decent corporate career with only these skills.

Be focused on the Pay Check – At the end of the day you are as good as the paycheck in your hand.

Measure your worth – through the seriousness of deliverables asked of you, number of security rights, approval authority and number of people reporting to you and not by your designation or what is communicated to you by HR.

While the tone of this article may appear grim, it has been written out methodical research, observation of organizations and serious contemplation. The intent is not discussing an HR theory but provide the ordinary person with a self help guide.

May your rise to rule “Corporatedom”!

What Does it Mean to be Smart?

2008-10-17T12:10:00.001-07:00

Do your people manage complexity effectively?

Do your people respond to challenges with practical, creative and productive solutions?

Once upon a time, when society was stable and things didn’t change very often, repetition was an acceptable substitute for thinking, and experience was the predictor of success. But now, things are more complex, and experience may only mean that a person has learned how to do the wrong thing very well. In the past, organizations were more hierarchical, and only a few people did the thinking for everyone else. Things are different today. It’s the companies that are able to harness the intellectual capital of their entire organization that hold the competitive advantage.

In the past, decision-making trees and moral codes were established to help people with their thinking, but the validity of these methods has disappeared as the pace, the change and the complexity have increased exponentially. The reality is that business will become more volatile because the rate of change, fuelled by technology and social aspirations, continues to accelerate.

In a complex world, the need for enhanced thinking skills is greater than ever. We each have more freedom to make decisions. Each decision is an opportunity to be smart and creative; to actually THINK. Powerful substitutes for thinking such as habits, doctrine, dogma and letting someone else doing the thinking have not only been weakened, but actually replaced by empowerment—but empowerment of what and by whom? Today, people have to think more and make more decisions, but are limited by the habits of past generations. Most people simply lack the cognitive skills to manage the challenges they’re faced with on a consistent basis. It’s unrealistic, even immoral, to ask people to accomplish tasks for which they clearly lack the prerequisite set of skills required for success.

What it means to be smart is the willingness to learn; to look for alternatives and select the best possible option; then demonstrate the competencies required to execute the plan--to think. Our society adequately develops the required technical and intellectual skills, but we’ve missed the mark on developing essential thinking skills that help people manage complexity.

Information

The Information Age has proven that knowledge and thinking are two different things. The process of acquiring information is not the same as the process of acquiring thinking skills and competencies. Information only enables people to reach the introductory level of thinking. Nowadays, information is presented at such a dizzying pace that people are actually limited in their opportunities to learn valuable thinking skills.

Information is currently perceived as a panacea—if we have more information, then doubt, indecision and problems will disappear. Information is piled on because it’s easy to teach and acquire. With perfect and complete information, there would be no need for thinking; the answers would be simple and clear. Yet this level of knowledge is unattainable; all decisions are based upon imperfect and incomplete information. Until we reach the point where we have perfect and complete information, we need to learn how to think in order to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the information we do have.

The Logic Model

Logic and mathematics can be highly effective thinking systems and, thanks to these methods of thinking, people have walked, driven and even swung a golf club on the moon. As remarkable as these accomplishments are, they’re easier than increasing market share, increasing productivity while cutting costs or getting people to do things that they don’t really want to do and have them enjoy it. Out in space, the variables are fixed and predictable, and follow the laws of physics but back here on earth, we have to deal with people and relationships. Performance situations are vague but interrelated, subjectively defined, with erratic principles dependent on human emotion and ambiguous value systems. Very rarely do we have all the information required to solve a problem, and yet we’re expected to take action and make the right decision.

Animals enter this world better prepared for survival than the human species. If humans had to rely solely on instinct and physical strength, we’d be lower on the food chain than Timon & Pumba from The Lion King. Lions have strong jaws to devour their prey, along with soft feet so that their prey is unaware of the danger until it’s too late. Deer are able to move swiftly through heavily wooded areas to elude the wolf. Porcupines and tortoises move slowly enough for any predator to catch them, but make for unappealing conquests because of the physical penalty and the investment of time. Even butterflies are born with better self-defense mechanisms. Most butterflies have the same coloring as bark or leaves that leaves them unidentifiable to their predators. The most colorful butterflies aren't likely candidates for prey due their highly acidic taste. Birds actually spit them out. But humans have none of these advantages. All we have to account for our survival and dominance is the six inches that lies between our ears. Yet over tens of thousands of years, we’ve actually done very little to develop our one strength. Learning how to think is the only way in which we further develop the human species.

Teaching People How to Think

Thinking can be taught, and the key is to treat thinking as a skill that can be improved by attention. The result of learning how to think is the increased production of alternative
solutions, then choosing the best possible solution. A practical and personal approach is applied to the teaching of thinking, but it can be a very intimidating subject to teach. Thinking is the ego and criticizing thinking threatens the ego. It may involve resentment—thoughts such as “Someone is better”, “My thinking is not what it should be”, or “My thinking is better” create learning obstacles from the beginning. The key is to reduce the intimidation factor by depersonalizing how people think. Everyone can see thinking flaws in other people but are unable to see similar shortcomings in themselves.

Another learning obstacle is that most people see thinking as automatic and involuntary, similar to hearing, seeing and breathing. When people understand that the act of thinking is actually a choice and voluntary, then they begin to understand that the teaching of thinking is the learning of perception. We have a choice in how we want to perceive situations. An important educational principle states that perception and insight increases performance. Perception is how we look at things and thinking knows no boundaries—so the applications are infinite. The “Doers” in your organization—the people who use their thinking to bring something about—will gain the greatest benefit from learning how to think. The goal is to enlarge the perception of the collective whole. As the collective perception enlarges, people see things more clearly, as if you’ve received the right eyeglass prescription for your organization. Companies that see the reality of the marketplace with greater clarity and speed hold the competitive advantage.

Human capital is about people, and it’s people who create productivity. “A country’s ability to improve its standard of living over time depends almost entirely on its ability to raise its output per worker,” said Princeton economist Paul Krugman. World War II veterans doubled their productivity over a 25-year span and lived better than their parents ever imagined. Vietnam War veterans, on the other hand, raised productivity only 10% over a 15-year period and found they were living no better, and in many cases worse, than their parents. Krugman concluded that productivity isn’t everything, but in the long run it’s almost everything. Productivity begins with a thought, a vision of might be. It takes thinking skills to turn visions into reality.

Learn what it means to be smart through Dr. Long's new book, Level Six Performance: A Gold Medal Formula for Achieving Professional & Personal Success published by Champion Press.

Proving through his work with champion athletes and corporate executives that leadership and high performance are learned skills built upon inherent strengths, Dr. Stephen Long has helped permanently raise corporate and team productivity from adequate -- to outstanding. Level Six Leadership™ is a breakthrough social operating system that immediately enhances an organization’s efficiency. Applying his coaching and leadership techniques, Long’s instruction has helped Fortune 500 companies realize a 125% increase in productivity. Long’s method proves performance relies more on learned, deliberate competence much more than natural cognitive ability. Using Level Six Leadership™ techniques, organizations can adapt to stressful and changing business situations as well as any championship team in overtime. Identified as a top-10 performance enhancement specialist in North America in an independent study conducted at the University of Utah, Dr Long is a highly sought after speaker, consultant, executive coach and trainer.

Ten Parameters of Good Corporate Culture

2008-10-17T12:08:00.000-07:00

Sometime in the 1980s, I read a book written by Manfred Kets de Vries who claimed to have found six types of corporate cultures. The most intriguing thesis of the book was that actually most organizations are not sick, but not entirely healthy: the so-called lingering organizations. The other five types of organizations are: the dramatic organization, the depressive organization, the paranoid organization, the coercive organization, and the schizophrenic organization.

The dramatic organization is hyperactive, impulsive, very adventurous and dangerously unrestrained. The decision-makers base their ideas on intuition and impressions instead of facts. The leaders use their charisma to concentrate all the power in the top. They can therefore undertake very risky operations. They do these things to create a completely different environment without really considering the existing business environment. Their goal is unlimited growth. The man in the top wants to be the center of everything. He wants to show what a good leader he is. Without really considering the reality, this kind of behavior can easily result in great disasters.

The depressive organization is characterized by apathy, lack of self-confidence and conservatism. The communication climate is passive and aimless. The activities are implemented according to predetermined programs and routines. The employees are never asked to show initiative. In stable markets, long established companies can withstand many crises despite their depressive state. They can survive as long as the technology and the competitive pattern remain the same. The environment of these organizations is usually protected with trade agreements and fixed tariffs.

The paranoid organization is characterized by extreme suspicion at the top. This is mirrored by the extreme emphasis on procedures which are aimed to collect information and exert control. A complex information system is created to analyze all the dangers of the outside world. Procedures are written down in detailed manner and everybody is obliged to continuously write reports. This need to regulate everything and be alert all the time results in ‘the institutionalization of suspicion’. There are a lot of meetings to collect the same information from different people. The advantage is that the leaders will get the right information, but the side effect is that mutual trust is diminishing. A lot of precious time and energy is lost while the morale is decreasing all the time.

The coercive organization is addicted to rituals. Every move is literally planned. The implementation of the plans is carefully monitored; all activities are usually routine activities. The emphasis is laid on correctness and completeness when the predetermined methods are used. Rituals have become norms. Just like in the paranoid organization, the coercive organization depends on formal control and information systems. There is, however, one important difference; coercive organizations are really meant for monitoring budgets and productivity. The paranoid organization on the other hand, is mainly interested in things which lie outside its span of control.

Like the depressed organization, the schizophrenic organization is suffering from lack of effective leadership. The leaders of a schizophrenic organization are not doing a good job. They are afraid to establish new contacts because they had bad experiences in the past. These leaders have reached a stage in their career in which they are not interested in leading anymore. If they are lucky, this problem is solved by the middle managers, but these middle managers are usually only interested in their own interests. The average middle manager will usually become servants who just want to win the favors of their directors. The directors are constantly in doubt, because they don’t know which proposals to accept from their subordinates. A consequence is that plans are implemented half-heartedly and actions depend on the mood of the day. Lack of consistent and consequent leadership is the most important characteristic of the schizophrenic organization.

The lingering organizations, finally, usually have problems with the central values, norms, and beliefs. If the leaders are not trying to disseminate these aspects or are even against it, subcultures will be created which are not independent. Other characteristics of lingering organizations are: internal company politics is more important than efficiency, promises and deals are oftentimes neglected and the leaders are not really interested of their employees.

So, what are then the characteristics of truly healthy organizations? Here are ten parameters of good corporate culture:

1. Pride of the organization:
Employees defend their company against unjustified critique and they say that they like working for their company; 2. Orientation towards (top) achievements:
‘In our company, everybody tries to do a better job’ and ‘our company is number one and that should stay so’; 3. Teamwork and communication:
Employees listen well and try to understand the ideas/opinions of others and employees and managers really try to help each other; 4. Supervision and leadership:
Managers are really interested in the problems of others and it is customary to ask help when needed; 5. Profit orientation and cost awareness:
All expenditures are evaluated if they are effective or not and all members are strongly thinking about profit; 6. Employee relationships:
Employees are not trying to better themselves from the mistakes of other employees and new employees are accepted quickly; 7. Client and consumer relations:
Everything is oriented towards a better service for the customer; 8. Honesty and safety:
Safety rules are strictly implemented and everybody sees company properties as being sacred; 9. Education and development:
Everybody supports education and training programs and the company really tries to develop its employees 10. Innovation:
Systems and procedures are constantly being pursued and new ideas are always welcome.

How Mean is your Lean? Results of UK Study in Manufacturing

2008-10-17T12:07:00.000-07:00

It is starting to become accepted amongst management that Continuous Improvement (CI) requires an appropriate organisational culture change to create a sustainable improvement and benefits stream.

Whilst this emanates from research which goes back to the early 1990s, it has been slow to gain acceptance amongst business leaders, possibly due to scepticism, as after all, organisational culture is seen by many as being intangible, ‘soft and fluffy’.

Practical experiences and setbacks in the successful adoption of Continuous Improvement by practitioners, coupled with continued research (for example, see Jager et al, 2004 ; Gallear & Ghobadian,2004 ; Tennant & Warwood & Chiang, 2002 ; Warwood & Roberts 2004 ) has led to this final acceptance that organisational culture is a contributory factor in the successful adoption of Continuous Improvement.

The study.

As part of a PhD research programme, a pilot study amongst UK manufacturing companies was conducted. All of the companies in the sample had implemented Lean manufacturing techniques, although at different points in time, so each could be regarded as being at different points on the ‘journey’, but they all shared dissatisfaction with the results they had each attained with their Lean programmes.

Organisational culture assessments, consisting of both quantitative and qualitative approaches were conducted with each of the companies, involving several days with each. The approach was consistently applied across all of the companies in the sample.

Some of the findings.

The results were analysed and the findings which were drawn from these which showed that overall, the top three categories of organisational culture which were ‘resisting’ Lean implementation were Communications, Training & Development of employees, and Planning.

Employees saw the type and level of communications as being inadequate in engaging them with Lean, often inconsistent and contradictory.

Insufficient training and development of staff before and after the initial implementation of Lean made left employees not knowing what it was all about, and how to operate in the new ways of working. This extended to managers also.

The planning category included both planning for Lean, as well as strategic and operational planning. Overall, employees felt that there was a lack of coherent planning and direction, which led them to doubt the ability of the management to manage, as well as to ‘lead’ the implementation of Lean.

Finding out more.
If you would like to find out more about the findings of this research and practical ways of improving your Continuous Improvement (CI) programme, you can come and hear Tim Franklin talk at the Southern Manufacturing event and exhibition at Thorpe Park on Wednesday 8th February 2006 (“How Mean is your Lean?”), as well as on Thursday 9th February 2006 (“Accelerating your business improvement”). Alternatively you can contact Tim timfranklin@ambianceconsulting.co.uk

Sources:

Jager, B. d: Minnie, C; Jager, J. d; Welgemoed, M; Bessant, J; and Francis, D. (2004).
Enabling continuous improvements: a case study of implementations. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, Vol 15, number 4.

Gallear, D; & Ghobadian, A. (2004). An empirical investigation of the channels that facilitate a total quality culture. Total quality management, Vol 15, number 8.

Tennant, C; Warwood, S.J.; & & Chiang, M. M. P. (2002). A Continuous Improvement process at Severn Trent Water. The TQM Magazine, Volume 14, number 5.

Warwood, S.J.; & Roberts, P.A.B. (2004). A survey of TQM success factors in the UK. Total Quality Management, Volume 15, number 8.

10 Steps to Making That Change Happen

2008-10-17T12:06:00.000-07:00

Hair Salon Management can always be
broken down into easy chunks. So if
you're salon management team wants the
best way of how to run a hair salon,
then by following these hair salon
owners tips it will ensure that you can
shout "more clients in my salon" and
have a successfully run salon business.

Put into action these steps and you
will see results¡ I promise!

Step One

Think about the result you want from
your change. Get your Salon Management
team together and really think it thru.
If you're a salon owner then get some
stylists together and talk it over with
them. Sounds obvious but all the of the
jigsaw needs to make sense if you are
to get the team commitment and
corporation. But no need for you to
explain your reasons for changing.

Step Two

You have to change your approach or
behaviour in order to change the
behaviour in others CONSISTENTLY! For
example if you want all clients to have
a consultation before their hair is
washed then you¡ have to do it each and
every time or it will be death to that
idea. If you want more clients in my
salon then Remember its your hair salon
business so you have to change¡.right!

Step Three

Get your salon management team to give
Loads of praise when you catch them
doing it right. Stop catching them
doing it wrong. Why does salon
management , salon owners focus on the
negatives. Reinforce good behaviour by
plenty of back patting.

Step Four

Hair salon business runs better when
systems are in place so run small
regular meetings or one to ones telling
them the importance of the new system
or change you want. If you have loads
of part-timers or shifts then run your
meetings in shifts. Otherwise it will
take forever to get everyone together.

Step Five

Get your salon management team to
Train, Train, Train and train to ensure
that all know how to do what and when.
Wishing alone is not enough you must
train it. (Sorry I know this is going
to be a blow to you but "Fairies are
not real" just because you wish it ant
gonn'a change a thing) make sure they
have the knowledge, understand the
benefits for the client and the hair
salon business.

Step Six

Allow them time to change, you know
what they say Old Habits die hard.
Practice makes perfect, if they see
themselves successful with the new
approach then in time things will
change. But remember you must praise
them!

Step Seven

Expect some of your team members to
feel uncomfortable with the change,
even your salon management with find
this out. This is so common when people
have done something the same way for
years and then they are asked to change
it. It creates an internal conflict but
this is a normal response. Its a bit
like when you have a disagreement with
someone who has a different opinion to
you it makes you feel uncomfortable
right. Remember what it felt like when
you started owning a hair
salon!..........

Step Eight

Reduce the discomfort by putting people
who are happy with the change with the
people feeling uncomfortable with it.
Make sure your salon management are
happy with the change. Have plenty of
group discussions and one to ones. Get
everyone to view their progress and to
publicly commit their support to the
change. This will really make your hair
salon business fly¡¡¡¡

Step Nine

If you adopt the blow by blow approach
above staff will carry out the changes
and change their attitudes. This means
that they have taken onboard the
approach or new information. Often they
will try to do more to bring about not
only in themselves but in others too.

Step Ten

If enough people undergo the change at
least 50% then over time this will
become the norm The culture in the hair
salon will change and your new system
or training will be here to stay. Its
like chucking mud at the wall
eventually it will stick. Then you will
be the envy of salon owners
everywhere¡¡

Management, Change and... Stakeholders

2008-10-17T12:05:00.000-07:00

Stakeholders are those groups of people or institutions that have a stake in your company (where you are not always aware of). There are many general theories about stakeholder management and methods to implement. When dealing with change, a simple stakeholder “view” could help you in controlling the change.

Such a view will look like a spider. It shows the contexts of your organization (the core) and the legs of the spider are pointing to the stakeholders. In the view below, the spider lost one leg:

Clients (Business Clients or Consumers)
Competitors
Employees (Management)
Third parties (Suppliers and Business partners)
Capital suppliers, Investors, Shareholders
Government (local, national, International)
Communities (environmental, professionals)

The Employee-category is different in the sense that this relation is internal, where the others communicate with the world outside.

For planning a change, it is important to know what you must do regarding these relations. You could see this as a complicated version of Client Relationship Management, where different clients groups have different roles. Each relation must be managed in a different way.

Managing this stakeholder context is managing the important network your company ‘got’ entangled in during its business cycle. This context provides valuable information that supports the change management process.

The stakeholder view can be used for both small businesses as for large caps. To manage each relation you must be well prepared, but you do not have to know everything in advance. In a way you need to manage expectations. You also need to listen very well to the stake that is in the game. You cannot negotiate with relations if you do not know how you value the relation.

To give one example:

A bank is changing its strategy. Many of the local branches will be closed due to the fact that internet is a growing channel. Yet there are a group (community) of elderly people than – although not belonging to the main focus group (80%) will resist in this new approach.

If you have not included them in the stakeholders view, you will have to do a lot of rework once you think you go live. They, representing maybe only less than 20%, will give you a lot of exceptions to handle.

Forward: The Right Direction

2008-10-17T12:04:00.000-07:00

I read an old newspaper account of three tragic deaths. Two men and a youth (Arnold Dobson, Harold Most and his son Harold, Jr.) perished in the blasting summer heat of Death Valley in California. Sheriff deputies found the bodies at seven, fourteen and seventeen miles from their abandoned car. In leaving their stranded car to seek help, the three had headed in the wrong direction going towards a ranch house they had passed thirty miles back. Just a mile in the other direction was a grove of willow trees and a spring.

How often have we made the same mistake? We look back to what we know, rather than seek the unknown, the unfamiliar. We trust what we think is the correct path without looking into what could be our salvation. The future always seems a little scary, but events in the past were just as uncertain and sometimes even looking back casts doubt on our decisions.

What could the future hold? What will tomorrow bring? How will business be different next month, next year or the year after? We never know, but we need to train our minds to be open and accepting of the possibilities . . . just a mile down the road.

Don't Let Your Hiring Practices Turn Into Your Maginot Line

2008-10-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

Every business wants to be secure. No business wants to lose money. To offset the current and future threats to security or capital loss, modern businesses large and small spend tens of thousands, even millions, installing video cameras and metal detectors. They hire security guards and order employees to carry identity cards. They monitor activities and wrap barbed wire around the parking lot.

From a technological standpoint there is no end to efforts to secure data files and proprietary content. No industry lives without fear of crackers and hackers, vying to steal vital computer codes, bank accounts, and credit card information. In response, myriad companies are producing their versions of data security applications. They develop firewalls, passwords, encryption codes and spyware protection applications.
Meanwhile, far too many companies have failed to take the first and most obvious step in protecting their business from theft and abuse. They have failed to order even basic pre-employment background checks on their job candidates. Despite all precautions, they have created a situation where the menace lurks within. And that menace may be (greater than all other threats combined.

I recall my conversation many moons ago with the notorious international jewel thief, Albie Baker. At the time I was doing the book tour for “Stolen Sweets,” Albie’s autobiography. While driving around from one media interview to another he pointed out the fancy mansions in Beverly Hills he had burglarized some twenty years before.

“It was so easy,” he said. “Back then, they would spend all their bucks on securing their front doors. But the back doors and maid’s entrances were secured only with a simple lock. I used to open them with a screwdriver.”

Too many companies are following the same senseless pattern as Albie’s victims. They are spending all that money on physical and technical security, and yet they are trying to save a couple of bucks by failing to conduct pre-employment background checks. They are leaving not just the back door open but the front door as well, for workplace violence, embezzlement, data theft, sexual harassment, and drug and alcohol abuse. Some companies are so careless they have hired candidates without knowing if they were felons, perverts or diligent workers.

To make this point, CBS News recently ran a special feature where it had one of its people apply for the Santa Clause gig at five different malls in Los Angeles. The catch was that instead of using his real name the CBS employee assumed the identity of an actual convicted felon and sex offender. The man he was impersonating was a convicted pedophile and was registered along with the 63,000 others in California on what is commonly known as “Meagan’s List.” His nefarious past and questionable present were not what you call a deep secret.

Nevertheless, all five companies hired this man to be Santa Claus. As caretakers and de facto protectors of the thousands of kids who come to the malls every Christmas season they provided the lap of a pedophile as the place for your children to sit. Can you think of a better way to ruin the holidays? For your kid? Forever? In defense of their actions, one man claimed he ran the applicant through a free pre-employment background check. The others commenced to shucking and jiving, issuing an assortment of lame excuses.

Considering that drug and alcohol abusers cost businesses and estimated $100 Billion annually, you would think every business would take the precaution of mandating pre-employment background checks. Add to this sad statistic that employee theft costs American businesses between $60 and $120 Billion, annually and is the cause of thirty percent of the business failures. It has been estimated that replacing the wrong hire can cost the employer up to 24 times his or her annual salary. I’m sure you can guess if it’s the drug and alcohol abusers or the sober and diligent employees who are the cause of most accidents and the most violence in the workplace. The statistics go on, the costs mount up, the risks are heightened.

Yet there are still some decision makers who don’t see the importance of conducting pre-employment background checks. And if they do conduct pre-employment background screenings, they try to cut corners and cheap it up, rather than obtain a really comprehensive background report. Not only are they doing themselves a disservice they are doing the same to their own employees.

The early loss of the French to the Germans in the Second World War has been attributed to the French misconceptions of its “Maginot Line.” The Maginot Line was a formidable series of fortifications, bunkers, artillery, considered impregnable to assault. Perhaps it would have been the case has the Maginot Line been pointed in the right direction. But as with Albie Baker’s quarry in Beverly Hills, the Maginot Line was constructed to protect the front door. However, the Germans came through the back door and defeated the French military in short order. It could be said, “They opened it with a screwdriver.”

The simple lesson to all of this, is let history and Albie Baker dictate that you should never overlook the most obvious place that your are vulnerable to theft and disaster. Sure data security, video cameras and security guards may all be necessary, but don’t allow your business to be another Maginot Line. Common sense dictates, if you want security then address the area where you are the most vulnerable. Considering shrinkage, the risk of lawsuits and countless liability issues, pre-employment background checks are extremely cost effective.

Remember--Check Them Out Before You Hire.

Effective Design

2008-10-17T12:01:00.000-07:00

Developing new products and services rapidly and effectively is a very important skill in many businesses and the ‘decision to design’ can commit the business to hundreds of thousands of pounds and many months of work, as well as significant risk. The focus needs to be on minimising cost whilst reducing the time taken to develop the product or service and reducing the business’s risk exposure.

The problems with traditional design processes are that they occur sequentially and often involve ‘over the wall engineering’ in that one department ‘throws’ the design to the next department who then have to unpick the problems that have been designed in, often at great cost. In manufacturing companies, often the design engineers will not understand the production process and will design a product which cannot easily be made, or is too expensive, and in service companies often the marketing team will not understand in detail the operations function and will promote a product which is difficult to manage effectively – both examples of dysfunctional and sequential design.

During WWII, the need for rapid product development was recognised and the concept of Concurrent Design (CD) was born. The backbone of CD is the formation of a multi-function team consisting of designers, production, quality and test engineering personnel and key suppliers to develop a new product. This changes the cash flow profile (ie more money is spent earlier on), but can easily reduce the ‘time to market’ and post-design changes by 75% as well as reducing the actual development spend by up to 40%.

CD is a concept which is viable for both manufacturers or service sector businesses, but for manufacturers is complemented by Rapid Prototyping tools and techniques which have evolved to a new level of sophistication over the last 20 years, again reducing the time taken to receive solid models from weeks to hours and contributing to shorter development times.

Reducing time to market for new products and service can be shown to have many benefits including increased market share, longer product lifecycles and higher margins, but requires collaboration between departments and companies and the adoption of new practices and processes in the design value stream.

Mark Eaton holds the Viscount Nuffield Medal for his contribution to UK Industry and has held numerous senior positions within industry, as well as holding the post as Director of a number of major public sector programmes. Mark is Chair of the IET's Manufacturing Network and the IOM's Operations Development Panel which aims to promote best practice in Operations Thinking in Manufacturing & Healthcare.

How Do You Know You Are Getting Better? Use Data to Drive Improvement

2008-10-17T12:00:00.002-07:00

The best quality improvement initiatives are driven by data! Why? How are you
going to know how much you have improved if you don’t measure something?

All of you have been exposed to measures in many situations. Most of them were
important. In school, you were graded. Perhaps you own shares of stock; how do
you measure the success of the stock—its increase in value, a measurement. How
do you know if your team wins? By its score, a measurement. The fact is that many
daily activities in life have accompanying measures to judge their success.

You might argue that you know if things are getting better; you can just tell. I am
sure that you can. This is not enough, though. In the healthcare field it is
important to measure improvement. One reason to do so is to prove to others that
things are improving. For instance, suppose you are in charge of implementing
electronic health records in a hospital setting. You meet resistance from several
staff members, including a large number of doctors. How can you overcome this
resistance? Collect data—lower percentage of wrong prescriptions, for instance—
from a pilot program of willing participants and then demonstrate the positive
benefits with your data. With such results in hand, you will overcome many
doubters.

Another reason to measure improvement is to demonstrate the saving of time and
money. With healthcare costing so much today that many find care out of their
price range, it is important to find ways to lower costs. For instance, suppose that
staffing at your facility is very expensive; the payroll costs are way over budget. I
recently read of a lean six sigma project that demonstrated through the use of data
collecting by staff charge nurses that staffing shortages and costs were significantly
reduced. The right staff was present when needed and the facility eliminated the
need for using short-term staffing of nurses through agencies; this saved a great
deal of money. Besides lowering costs, staff morale improved significantly at this
site.

I hope that I have convinced you that to make significant quality improvements, you
should be actively measuring. What should you be measuring? The most common
measurements are costs in providing a service, time taken in providing a service and
various measures of patient health, such as the lung capacity of asthmatics. You
can also measure improved bottom lines. One doctor I know improved his income
38% in 5 years by working hard to adopt quality measures in his solo practice. Many
ER’s now boast of how they have significantly decreased waiting time for patients.
One such local hospital did so well that they were overwhelmed by the increase of
demand for service at their ER. You might want to measure if spending a few more
minutes with patients talking about pursuing good life habits like eating the right
foods leads to improved health, like lower cholesterol.

Once you have decided what to measure, you should first measure the variable
(cost, time, etc.) as it is in the state before you begin an improvement initiative.
This is a baseline against which you can measure your improvement. As you begin
and proceed through a quality improvement effort, keep track of the measures and
see what improvements occur. I suggest that you keep the data in a spreadsheet or
database. For short term record keeping you might want to use charts. You will
want to check to see if your means are significantly improving (you can use
statistical tests if you choose—they are more accurate) and if your variation is
decreasing.

Once you have reached your goals, revisit the new processes once in a while and
collect new data on the variables you chose to measure. Doing so, will help keep
you from backsliding to the old ineffective state. Backsliding is all too easy. It is
hard to break old habits, but keeping data will help you. This is, in fact, what drives
the the success of many programs, such as Weight Watchers.

I hope that I have convinced you that data driven change is the best way to approach
quality improvement. It will concretely demonstrate how you are progressing and
will prove to others that your site is doing much better. It will help you earn your
just rewards!

Just What is "Adding Value" Anyway?

2008-10-17T12:00:00.001-07:00

CEOs proclaim it, corporate managers repeat it, and HR people say it over and over: it's the "value-adding" employees who make the difference in a company's ability to serve customers, to compete the in the marketplace, and to create shareholder returns. But what does it mean to "add value" on the job?

A manager recognizes a person as "adding value" to the team when, after this person has worked in a function or been responsible for a process, the function, or process, is BETTER. It's not a matter of doing your work every day - that's expected from everyone, and doesn't mark you as an exceptional employee. Adding value is a matter of having the Midas Touch, so that the things/relationships/processes you touch actually improve. Here are some examples.

"I worked as the front desk manager, and our customer response ratings got twenty-five percent better in my first six months on the job. Turnover dropped to almost zero, and overtime went down."

"I worked as the catering sales manager, and our sales results doubled over the previous year."

Adding value means improving tangible results. What's most important to your boss, the person who is evaluating your performance? Pick a metric that matters, and blast it out of the park. Getting the job done every day is the table stakes - that doesn't move the company forward. To add real value, you have to IMPROVE the job, so that when someone asks you, "What's in your wake?", you can tell them.

An obvious way to get a feel for adding value is to rewrite your resume every year. In fact, for me, a resume-revision exercise is a lot more useful than the standard annual employee performance review. After all, you're supposed to have accomplished important things on the job every year - shouldn't those show up clearly on your resume? The relevant question is not "did you come to work and get your work done this year?", but rather "What's working better, in your area of the company, than it was this time last year?" That list of improvements - that's where your value was added.

At the same time that you're reviewing the value to the company, spend a minute thinking about what the company has added to YOUR value - your marketability to employers, in other words. Even if you're not planning to change jobs any time soon, it's great to know that the value you add in internal process improvements, customer relationships, incremental sales and other areas comes back to you in increased hire-ability. Now THAT'S a win-win situation.

Handling Statistical Variation in Six Sigma

2008-10-17T11:58:00.000-07:00

Six-Sigma provides a methodical, disciplined, quantitative approach to continuous process improvement. Through applying statistical thinking, Six Sigma uncovers the nature of business variation and its affect on waste, operating cost, cycle time, profitability, and customer satisfaction.

The term “six sigma” is defined as a statistical measure of quality, specifically, a level of 3.4 defects per million or 99.99966% high-quality. To put into practice the Six Sigma management philosophy and achieve this high level of quality, an organization implements the Six Sigma methodology. The fundamental objective of the Six Sigma methodology is the implementation of a measurement-based strategy that focuses on process improvement and variation reduction through the application of Six Sigma improvement projects. Projects are selected that support the company's overall quality improvement goals.

A Six Sigma project begins with the proper metrics. Six Sigma produces a flood of data about your process. These measurements are critical to your success. If you don't measure it, you can't manage it. Through those measurements and all of that data, you begin to understand your process and develop methodologies to identify and implement the right solutions to improve your process. Six Sigma’s clear strength is a data-driven analysis and decision-making process—not someone's opinion or gut feeling.

Metrics lie at the heart of Six Sigma. Critical measures that are necessary to evaluate the success of the project are identified and determined. The initial capability and stability of the project is determined in order to establish a statistical baseline. Valid and reliable metrics monitor the progress of the project. Six Sigma discipline begins by clarifying what measures are key to gauging business performance, then it applies data and analysis to build an understanding of key variables and optimize results. Fact driven decisions and solutions are driven by two essential questions: What data/information do I really need? How do we use that data/information to maximize benefit?

Six Sigma metrics are more than a collection of statistics. The intent is to make targeted measurements of performance in an existing process, compare it with statistically valid ideals, and learn how to eliminate any variation. Improving and maintaining product quality requires an understanding of the relationships between critical variables. Better understanding of the underlying relationships in a process often leads to improved performance.

To achieve a consistent understanding of the process, potential key characteristics are identified; the use of control charts may be incorporated to monitor these input variables. Statistical evaluation of the data identifies key areas to focus process improvement efforts on, which can have an adverse effect on product quality if not controlled. Advanced statistical software such as Minitab or Statgraphics, are very useful if not essential for gathering, categorizing, evaluating, and analyzing the data collected throughout a Six Sigma project. Special cause variation can also be documented and analyzed. When examining quality problems, it is useful to determine which of the many types of defects occur most frequently in order to concentrate one's efforts where potential for improvement is the greatest. A classic method for determining the "vital few" is through a Pareto chart.

Many statistical procedures assume that the data being analyzed come from a bell-shaped normal distribution. When the data to be analyzed does not fit into a normal bell-shaped distribution, the results can be misleading and difficult to discern. When such data distribution is encountered, other statistical techniques can be used to assess whether an observed process can reasonably be modeled by a normal data distribution. In such cases, either a different type of distribution must be selected or the data must be transformed to a metric in which it is normally distributed. In many cases, the data sample can be transformed so that it is approximately normal. For example, square roots, logarithms, and reciprocals often take a positively skewed distribution and convert it to something close to a bell-shaped curve. This process will uncover significant statistical variation, separating the important data from meaningless data “noise.”

Once the data is crunched and a problem’s root causes are determined, the project team works together to find creative new improvement solutions. The data is used and relied upon—it is the measurements of the realities you face! Yet it is smart measurement and smart analysis of the data—and above all the smart creation of new improvement solutions and their implementation—that create real change. The Six Sigma statistical tools are only the means to an end and should not be construed as the end itself. Using tools properly is critical to getting the desired result. Through a successful use of statistics in uncovering significant data, Six Sigma will drive an organization toward achieving higher levels of customer satisfaction and reducing operational costs.

Change Management - Urgent Information

2008-10-17T11:22:00.000-07:00

Thinking Your Way to A Better Future

You can get change working in your favor. I have used the following suggestions to get positive change management outcomes over the past 17 years. The following is urgent information because every day you don't use it is a day you'll live in fear of an uncertain future. Plan for change and you'll end up in a place your happy with - one in which you are in control- not your circumstances. Start to think through the major change building in your life. Make a decision now to cooperate with the change. Don't even consider fighting it.

Gaining Awareness

From this moment go on red alert so you can be the first to know of changes in information coming your way, changes in relationship between those closest to you, and attitudes towards you. All these can be forewarnings of a big change coming your way. Be forewarned and you can build a positive response.

Grabbing Hold of the Change

Don't let another day pass without actively seeking out all the possible information on the coming change. Gather all the details you can from loved ones, team members and even those you would not normally talk to. Treat change like a friend whom you want to know well. Being fully informed enables you to make quality decisions to position yourself to control the plans of those who think they are managing the change in your life.

Locking Down the Change

Now that you're viewed as a hero in the change process use all the power and influence you can to limit, and lock into place, the specific steps in the coming change. With this lock down you can have an assurance about not only "surviving" but "thriving" in the midst of the change.

Change Forecasting

With this major change will come secondary change. One major such change will be fluctuations in income level. With pen and paper do some sums as you forecast what this change will be. Often times these sums and the information they give you provide a bigger change management reward than your response to the primary change. Say you forecast a 30% drop in income. This motivates you to step up your efforts to earn multiple streams of income from the Internet. The end result is your forecsat income for the next financial year is greater than anticipated.

Evaluating Your Plan

Your change management plan, when completed, needs to be evaluated for possible improvements. Where their are sections of your plan not giving you the desired outcome then fine tune them with appropriate changes.

Treat these foregoing suggestions as your Urgent Information and you will be in control of the change and it will not be able to control you. In particular, be sure you are, Thinking Your Way to A Better Future, Gaining Awareness, Grabbing Hold of the Change, Locking Down the Change, Change Forecasting, and Evaluating Your Plan. Then you will be a seasoned change manager and in the best position to profit from the next round of change that comes your way.

Change Management: Getting Everyone on Board the Change Train

2008-10-17T11:20:00.002-07:00

How do you get everyone on board the change train that is gaining speed and heading out of the station? How do you get your people to, not only go through the motions, but also actually “buy into” the changes that are necessary? People’s resistance to change is not entirely irrational; it stems from good and understandable concerns. Here are the six most common reasons people resist change and tactics to convert this resistance to commitment.

Surprise, Surprise!

People are easily shocked by decisions or requests suddenly sprung on them without groundwork or preparation. Managers frequently make this mistake when introducing change. They wait until all the decisions are made and then spring them on unsuspecting employees. However, the first response of people to something totally new and unexpected, not having time to prepare for, is resistance.

Tactic: Give people advance notice. It’s better to know ahead of time of a plant closing or a move to a new location. Then they can have time to adjust their thinking and, most importantly, to begin realistically planning for the changes.

Loss of Control

How people greet change has to do with their perception of whether they are in control of it or not. If people feel out of control, they are more likely to act defensively, either by excess complaining, by dragging their feet or by becoming territorial. Change is exciting, when it’s done by us; threatening, when it’s done to us.

Tactic: Give everyone a chance to participate and get involved in the change effort. Although the decision regarding the specific change has been made, people who are going to be affected by this change can have input on its implementation. They can decide how to re-arrange the office or determine the optimum way to use the new computer system. The more choices that are left to the people, the better they'll feel, and the more committed they will be to the specific change.

Excess Uncertainty

If people don't know what the next step is or where it is going to take them, any change will seem dangerous. It’s like walking off a cliff blindfolded. As one long time employee said to me:

“I know the old Bell system---its mission, its operations, its people, its culture. In that knowledge I had an identity and confidence about my company and myself. Now that I work for a company, one-fourth its former size, I find myself asking: Who am I? Who are we? How is it going to affect me?”

Tactic: Share information about what exactly is happening and at every step of the change process. Furthermore, by dividing a big change into a number of small steps, change will seem less risky and threatening. People can then focus on one step at a time and feel that they are not being asked to leap off the cliff blindfolded.

The Difference Factor

Change requires people to become conscious of, and to question, familiar routines and habits. This is difficult because a great deal of work in organizations is habitual and provides a sense of stability. Imagine what it would be like if, every week you went to work, your office was in an entirely different place and the furniture was rearranged. You would stumble around and need to expend a large amount of physical and emotional energy just trying to constantly adapt. This is what happens to people when they are experiencing too many changes all at once.

Tactic: Minimize or reduce the number of differences introduced by the change, leaving some of the traditions, habits or routines. In other words, maintain some familiar sight and sounds, the things that make people feel comfortable and in control.

Concerns about Future Competence

People have concern about their future ability to be effective after the change: Can I do it? How will I do it? Will I make it under the new conditions? Do I have the skills to operate in a new way? It can be very threatening for many employees to be told that, all of a sudden, the new world demands a new way of thinking and a new set of skills.

Tactic: Make sure people feel competent. Provide sufficient education and training as well as opportunity to practice the new skills or actions without feeling judged. Give them time to get comfortable with new routines or different procedures. Nobody likes to look inadequate, especially people who have been around a long time.

Ripple Effect

Change tends to be perceived by employees as requiring more energy, more time, and probably more work. In fact, change does required, in many instances, above-and-beyond efforts. Change may also disrupt scheduled plans and projects and even personal and family activities. Change sends ripples beyond their intended impact.

Tactic: Provide needed support and compensation for the extra work of change. Acknowledge people for their extra effort; offer days off after the crunch; have a big family celebration after the change. Being sensitive to people’s lives helps them get on and stay on board the change train that’s rumbling through your organization.

Remember, people don’t resist change, they resist being change. The trick is getting people to choose change rather than solely resist it.

Marcia Zidle, a business and leadership development expert, works with entrepreneurial organizations who want to be a dominant player in competing for customers, clients, funding or community awareness.

In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy say, “Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore”. Well business, government and community leaders, Marcia says, “It’s no longer business as usual anymore; its business that has to better than usual.”

Make Change Easy - Get Involved!

2008-10-17T11:20:00.001-07:00

There are wild variances in how much involvement organisations are brave enough to offer their people in change. From those organisations where they just 'tell' (sometimes by text message even!), to the most enlightened extreme, where they enable wholesale contribution to the change process.

Such organisations actually create the time and space to involve as many people as possible, in the issues surrounding the need for change.

This organism of change, where the organisation fully respects (an important word in this context), the ability of individuals to contribute, not in a patronising way, but more in a synergistic and fully contributory way, enables two significant and positive steps.

Firstly, involvement in the creation of change solutions, empowers people in what can be a very disempowering situation. They begin to have a role in their own and their organisation's future.

This leads to a second significant point. The ownership of the solution shifts, so that individuals get really bought into the need for change and that they can contribute, sometimes much more than can be expected. Their empowerment values them as never before.

This can, with acute awareness on the part of senior managements, move the organisation from fire-fighting when things go wrong, to an ongoing search for quality, review and questioning of assumptions. This becomes as Ricardo Semler found in his wonderful book, 'Maverick', rewarding holistically, for the organisation, the employees and also the locality as a whole.

A marvellous example of embracing change, freeing a business owner and exemplar leader, and his team to realise their true potential.

An exercise to consider...

Think about changes where you have been involved.
How were the changes launched to you?
What were your feelings at the time?
What are your feelings now, in retrospect?
What might have made the experience better, in light of the information above?
How might you have 'done it differently'?
In your own organisations, what opportunities do you have for involving your people in change?
How could you explore this further?
What could you do in the next month?
What will you do?

Change is an opportunity which can grab you any way you choose - or you can take the lead and choose your own path...

Follow My Leader - To Effect Change, Leaders Must Walk the Talk!

2008-10-17T11:19:00.001-07:00

A leader’s role

In any change project, a leader must wear many hats, however his/her role can be split into two key areas:

1. Set the strategic direction of the change and;

2. Convince everyone of its importance.

The importance of the first part of this role is generally understood and is for another article on another day, however the second part is often overlooked (or done very badly) and can be of even greater importance.

Where this point is addressed, it is generally done by giving presentations and distributing memos. Although these can be necessary, they are often ignored or just paid lip service if the most important method of communicating the importance of the project is missed – action.

“Do as I say, not as I do!”

Many of us will have heard this line from our parents (some of us just might have been known to use it with our own kids now and again), but can we remember how patronising it felt?

Too often this is the message communicated to employees from senior management during a major change. Employees are expected to attend seminars and workshops (and are sent memos and emails stressing their importance). These may even be preceded by a major presentation from the managing director, stating that everyone must give full support to the project. The senior management then continue to go about their day-to-day jobs as if nothing has changed.

The Managing Director misses a session he was scheduled to attend because he has a meeting with a major client then the Sales Director uses this excuse at the next session, which the Finance Director also misses because he has a meeting with the auditors. In the next round of workshops, there are no salesmen able to attend (they all have meetings with clients), the payroll clerk cannot attend because the wages must be processed and the management accountant makes his excuses because he is under pressure to get the month-end accounts out.

Pretty soon the project is completely off the rails and the managing director is wondering what went wrong. The simple fact is that people follow the examples of their leaders rather than what they are told. When the Managing Director demonstrated that his meeting with a client was more important than the project, this message was picked up by the Sales Director (who also has important meetings with clients), then comes the Finance Director, who is quite sure that his meeting with the auditors is at least as important as any client meeting. This message is then cascaded down to those reporting to these directors, until no-one is attaching any importance to this project.

Perception is reality

Not only must the senior management team give the project the priority it deserves (and that they are telling everyone else that it has), they must go out of their way to be seen to do so. This is often best done by doing something out of character that clearly (and publicly) demonstrates the importance of the project. This may involve such activities as missing a regular golfing trip to attend a workshop session (no-one said it was going to be easy) or coming in on a Saturday morning to attend a session with Saturday staff. The trick is to get people talking in the canteen about how important the management must see this project as, if the managing director is missing his golf/Saturday mornings, etc.

Listen and act

As a project progresses, one of the best ways to demonstrate its importance is to listen to feedback from workshops, etc. and act on it as soon as possible. This demonstrates that the project can really make a difference and that this is everyone’s opportunity to contribute to how the business operates.

If senior management can demonstrate this level of commitment, the project is well on the way to success.

Lean Strategies For Lean Leaders And Their Teams

2008-10-17T11:18:00.002-07:00

Dealing With Resistance: Kaizen 1 - Building More Lean Buy-In

Building Lean Buy-In:

Step 1: Discovery

Know your audience very well - Assess the business goals, needs, and priorities of those you are trying to persuade to come on side. Make sure you select the key benefits of Lean that address those particular goals, issues and needs.

Remember that people do things for their reasons not yours. Also be aware of the preferences that people have for styles of presentation and persuasion. Some people want facts and data, others want to see that the vision is well conceived. Some want to spend a lot of time going over the details and some will just want you to cut straight to the bottom line - "If we do this now, we will save $XX within this fiscal". If you have had mixed or even poor success at getting buy-in (from above, from peers, from your staff), chances are that you haven't done your homework and researched what their issues are. You may also have presented your case in a way suitable for you but not for others.

Make sure your style is a good fit for the way others work - this is particularly true when persuading up and across the organization. The key to good discovery is your ability to listen well. People will always tell you or signal their needs; it's up to you to make sure you hear them! When you match Lean benefits to both strategic and specific business needs you get sustainable buy-in.

Step 2: Stay results focused

There is a vast resource out there for you to tap into for Lean metrics, proven results, statistics, success stories, and bottom line performance improvement measures. Check the Internet, check your local bookstore, check with Lean associations in your area and, above all, go to see other companies farther down the Lean road than you are. Have this data available for your meetings and one-on-one discussion opportunities.

There are people who like to see the raw data and talk about numbers, while others prefer to hear real stories from the shop, laboratory or office floor. Suit your presentation to their preferences - this cannot be said often enough! It is so easy to become a Lean enthusiast and forget that others need to come on board in their own ways and their own time.

Be patient, don't try to give someone all of the information in one fell swoop - pace yourself and adapt to the needs of others. Some will want a quick presentation and prefer to make equally quick decisions. Others will want some time to mull over the data, to think of what might happen during implementation. These people are extremely valuable once on board. They will be the folks with the good questions, the interesting solutions, and they will be the 'stayers' for the long term. Just make sure you give them time to reflect and come back with their questions. Do not try to 'muscle' or force a decision before someone is ready.

Patience, not pressure, is your best friend in creating buy-in! Lean is all about 'pull' not 'push'.

Step 3: Use tools that really help

One of the most effective ways of getting buy-in is exposing people to Lean training. Bring your major players to one-day training sessions that will orient them to the Lean methodology. This approach often brings significant levels of buy-in. If you can swing it, get the key people you need on board to actually participate in the Enterprise Value Stream Mapping TM exercise for your initial value stream. This is a huge plus. These people will see the benefits first hand, in the context of their own operation. Anyone taking part in a VS exercise will see the waste, see its impact on operations, and also see the opportunities that Lean provides to remove that waste and yield substantial savings.

If you are having a real struggle trying to understand what people need to hear and how they need to hear it, consider working with an advisor using some behavioral and values assessment tools. These are quick, user friendly, group oriented tools that can save time and energy with key insights. They help working groups understand why someone can't seem to hear what you say when the same message seems to work just fine elsewhere.

Using these tools also eliminates a lot of cultural waste imbedded in conflicts (both passive and active) that come from misunderstanding the motivations of others. Joe or Sally may not be trying to sabotage your initiative; they may simply need to hear about it in a different way.

Sometimes getting help is the smartest thing you can do!

Step 4: Never stop reinforcing the buy-in

Test for understanding and agreement on an ongoing basis. Make sure you continue to actively listen for any concerns or doubts about the Lean implementation as it goes forward. Work on these issues together and do not let them build into significant roadblocks by ignoring or dismissing them. Every concern you can successfully address, every concerned person who feels you really heard what they said, is a huge plus in building an ongoing committed Lean team across the enterprise. Remember those needs and issues from your first round of discovery. Check in from time to time to see if they have changed. You must commit to regular updates on the Lean implementation. If your results are not in synch with the business goals, needs, and issues of your audience (particularly senior management and peer departments) then your efforts could be dismissed as 'nice to have' but not 'essential'.

Keep your eye on the ball in reporting results - Lean is about meeting business goals faster and better!

Step 5: Never be afraid to start again

From time to time, Lean crusaders will make mistakes and find their ideas marginalized in the corporate competition for resources and air time with executives. Don't despair, go back to steps 1 and 2 and start again. Find out where you made your mistakes and learn from that. Move forward with confidence. If you quit when the going gets rough, you'll never reach your Lean Future State.

Lean has helped thousands of companies worldwide to increase profits, grow competitive market share and add new business lines. The data is there to prove it - it's up to you to make sure your colleagues get that data in ways that suit their needs and preferences.

Lean is about learning and growing - that applies to both the technical and the human side of the Lean enterprise!

Managing Organizational Change - Some Basic Principles

2008-10-17T11:18:00.001-07:00

Managing transition is never easy. The loss of familiarity with the new processes, necessity and ability to learn new things and new ways of working is often very painful. The people and organizations accustomed to a certain way of work will take time to change.

While change is essential for progress, what are the elements to focus in preparing for the change management initiative?

Vision

Helen Keller said "nothing is more tragic than someone who has sight, but no vision". Vision inspires all change and development. Vision whips up passion for achievement. Vision is the outward projection of the mankind's core values and dreams of greatness. Nothing can inspire a person more than vision of excellence and his own contribution to such excellence. The power of vision is the major tool in the change managers' arsenal for creating quick acceptance and effective implementation of the change initiative.

Sense of direction and purpose

A clear focus on what we want achieved out of the change initiatives and why would bring a sense of direction. Unless people understand clearly the purpose and direction they may not be enthusiastic about the process which is likely to be painful.

Micromanaging

Change initiatives often turn into exercise into micromanaging, effectively cutting off employee initiative. If an entire organization is accustomed to being micro managed and told what to do, they would wait to be told before taking decisions. The change manager should focus on results desired and the approach to it and leave the micro management to the junior management. Micromanagement ultimately compromises the larger gains to be made out of the change management initiative.

Knowledge

Knowledge is the key to success for a change agent. He needs to learn new and effective ways of doing things and communicate them to people where change is desired. Often it is best to take stock of the ground realities rather than be a theorist and go purely by data.

Rewards and Recognition

First share the cash then share the compliments holds good for the change initiatives too. When there is a reward for change and improved performance, much of the objections to change can be easily put aside. Celebrate the successful adopters to change widely with promotions, increased pay checks and recognition to drive the change process faster.

Final Thoughts

No organization can insulate itself from change. The change process is driven by external environment and beyond the control of managements. Unless the change leaders prepare the organization and its people for change in tune with the changes sweeping the globe, the organization would be left behind in spite of good products and people, and ultimately die an untimely death. How well you prepare the people for constant change would decide your survival and success.

Have We Learned Nothing About Managing Change?

2008-10-17T11:17:00.001-07:00

Patrick, the baby of my extended family, started kindergarten this year. As a
graduate of pre-school, we thought he’d be right at home in his new class. But after
the very first day, he firmly announced that he wouldn’t be going back to school.
When questioned about this decision, he admitted that the teacher was nice enough,
and all his friends were glad to see him, but (and to Patrick, this was the deal
breaker) there was no naptime.

No naptime! In Patrick’s school, 5-year olds are being asked to “pay attention” from
8 am to 3 pm without an opportunity to rest and recharge. Have we learned nothing
about educating young children?

Which started me thinking about my work . . .

I’ve spent the past twenty years helping individuals and organizations thrive on
change. Yet, recently, I’ve seen leaders making some of the same mistakes I noticed
two decades ago. Have we learned nothing about managing change?

I don't mean to minimize the complexity and chaos that leaders are facing. Rapidly
changing technologies make yesterday’s choices obsolete. The turbulent economy
increases pressure to “do more with less.” Companies rely on a shifting stream of
alliances – competitors one day and partners the next – and sometimes both at the
same time. Corporate reorganizing is becoming an annual affair. Mergers and
acquisitions are on the rise. Customers are demanding “better, faster, cheaper”
everything. Competition is fierce. The pace of change is accelerating. And
employees are increasingly skeptical about committing to business strategies that
are constantly being redefined.

Yet this is our reality – and in this world, leadership success belongs to those who
can keep a work force resilient, positive, and engaged while dealing with the
tsunami of change that is turning our organizations upside down. Here are the most
common mistakes leaders make managing large-scale organizational change and
the lessons we need to reinforce.

Mistake: Not understanding the importance of people. As high as 75 percent of all
major restructuring fails, not because of faulty strategy, but because of problems
with the "human dimension." After years of research studies and statistics, we know
this for a fact. And yet, as recent as last month, a vice president facing the
transformation of her department asked me if she really had to include her
employees in planning for the change.

Lesson: Organizations don't change. People do . . . or they don't. If employees don't
trust leadership, don't share the organization's vision, don't understand the reason
for change, and aren't included in the planning, there will be no successful change
regardless of how valid the need or how brilliant the strategy.

Mistake: Neglecting the emotional side of change. Transformation requires a
redefinition of who we are and what we do. It's often unpredictable (responding to
unforeseen circumstance) and unnerving (requiring employees and businesses to
reinvent themselves while they are at the top of their game). It can twist people’s
past success into their greatest obstacle for the future. It’s highly emotional.

Lesson: To lead an organization (or a department or a team) through
transformation, it is not enough just to appeal to people’s logic, you also have to
touch them emotionally. Change leadership is about creating meaning. Employees
need to be engaged by a vision of the future, and to be inspired to execute that
vision. This takes leaders with a deep understanding of human emotion, who can
see the power of intangibles and can capture the imagination of an entire work force
in the pictures they paint and the stories they tell.

Mistake: Not being candid. Under the rationale of protecting people, leaders present
change with a too positive "spin." And the more they "sugar-coat" the truth, the
wider the trust gap grows between management and workers. Organizational
communicators, perceived as the purveyors of corporate propaganda, lose
credibility as well.

Lesson: Honest communication goes beyond simply telling the truth when it's
advantageous. It requires an unprecedented openness and transparency: a
proactive, even aggressive, sharing of everything – financials, strategy, business
opportunities, risks, failures. People need pertinent information about demographic,
global, economic, technological, competitive, and industry trends. They need to
understand the economic reality of the business and how their actions impact that
reality.

Mistake: Defining ”change communication” as what employees hear or read from
officially sanctioned sources. Reflecting this belief, leaders focus most of their
attention on traditional communication vehicles -- speeches, newsletters, videos,
intranets, email, etc. Yet, from the employees’ perspective, traditional
communication accounts for only ten percent of what convinces them to change.

Lesson: The most powerful change communication, accounting for 90 percent of
what impacts a work force, is divided evenly between organizational structure
(whatever punishes or rewards) and leadership behavior. Rhetoric without congruent
action quickly disintegrates into empty slogans. A communication strategy that is
not aligned with organizational systems and the actions of leaders is useless.

Mistake: Trying to lead change with command and control tactics. In a command
and control culture, only top executives are expected to solve problems, make
decisions, and set the change agenda. Such a limited view not only places an
enormous burden on senior management to come up with all the answers, it also
restricts the contributions of the rest of the organization and widens the division
between them and us.

Lesson: A company’s competitive advantage is a combination of the potential of its
people, the quality of the information that people possess, and the ability to share
that knowledge with others in the organization. During transformation, leadership's
primary challenge is to link these components as tightly as possible. The most
successful change strategies are highly collaborative. Developed in participative
sessions, these strategies capitalize on the wisdom, experience, and creativity of
employees throughout the organization.

The Change Management Process

2008-10-17T11:15:00.000-07:00

Change Management is a critical piece for corporations. Large corporations depend on it for anything that affects their production environment. But what is change management at all? Change Management is the process that kicks in when a change is made to the production environment of a business. For the matter of this article we will use an Information Technology related case to explain Change Management.

Company "A" uses change management to keep track of changes to its web servers. The change management process also allows to inform all internal business units and departments of the upcoming change to the web servers and what parts of the business are affected by this change. The change management process is started by the decision to update the web servers with a newer version of the web application. The website administrators, the QA department and the developers have finished the final testing of the new application update and now it is time to go live.

The website administrator starts the process by writing down the purpose of the change and what steps are required to complete the task. He also describes the impact to internal and external users and which departments of the business might be affected (example: external customer service). The description of these tasks for the update are usually high level and not too detailed. The reason for this is more to inform the business about the change and not to list an exact how to step by step guide.

Once the website administrator has finished the initial change management request form (electronic or hardcopy) it goes up one level to his direct manager and with his approval the change management request is being distributed among departmental points of contact that have been defined in an earlier process. The different departments and business groups review the change management request to evaluate the impact to the department or group. If no impact is visible or if a possible impact is already addressed and covered in the change request the department or group approves the change management. If a possible impact is not addressed the group or department denies approval and ask for more information or how the issue in question will be addressed. Approval for the change request goes to "pending".

Once all issues are addressed and worked out and every necessary approval has been submitted the change management request awaits one more step - CTO (Chief Technology Officer) or CIO (Chief Information Officer) approval might be required. This process makes sure that a track record of changes that affect the business is created and that every group, every department and the business management are aware of what is going on.

Some critics see change management as a process that slows down the ability to act fast when needed. Others see it as assurance for continuing business success as department A might not realize how big the impact of a proposed change is to department B.

Change Management: Avoid Havoc In Very Uncertain Times

2008-10-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

Escalating gas prices...tensions and turmoil in the Middle East...a struggling world economy. Leadership, in times of uncertainty, is not that much different from that of ‘normal' times. What does differ is the degree to which basic tactics of change management are applied. In times of uncertainty, leaders must pay even more attention to the people issues in change. Here are five ways to avoid leadership havoc.

Get off of autopilot.

Examine your organization’s strategy. With your leadership team confirm or revise your current strategy or mission. Should it change as a result of what is going on in the environment? Should it change as a result of what is going on with customers or competitors? Should you continue going in the same direction – swerve to the right or left – or take a totally new path? Don’t overreact but don’t sit still waiting for ‘it’ to pass.

Manage and multiple the impact.

During uncertain times, employees are inundated with stories of downsizing, pay reductions, etc. There's no one perfect way to communicate change. Some organizations make an enormous mistake in using only ‘low touch’ methods such as newsletters or the company intranet site. But ‘high touch’ – face-to-face encounters– is vital. One manager puts it this way: “It’s important to get eyeball to eyeball – to see and react to your people.” Effective communication is inclusive, candid, and decidedly two-way.

Identify your key players and re-recruit them.

Who are the most important people in your organization or team? Be aware they can be at all levels, not just the top. Meet with this them on a regular basis to monitor what is going on. Seek their input, clarify specific performance goals, give them the resources they need, let them go, and reward them in whatever way you can for results. Don’t lose them or their commitment.

Get out of your ivory tower – pay attention to frontline action.

Related to the earlier point about refining existing strategies, it becomes critical to ensure that these strategies are turned into frontline action plans. Changing goals and performance outcomes must be translated so that people understand them, buy into them, and are motivated by them. This is the time to power up your people engine.

Build and maintain stretch alliances.

During uncertain times it is more important than ever to maintain strong relations with the senior leadership and with other key managers. It ‘s also a good time to strengthen external relationships with others such as suppliers, vendors, selected customer groups, and perhaps even other organizations in a similar “business” as you.

Change creates uncertainty for employees, customers, and suppliers. If you follow these five change management techniques you will more likely maintain productivity, retain key employees and stay sane in a world that doesn’t stop changing.

The Chasm of Change-"Restructuring-The Goliath"

2008-10-17T11:12:00.002-07:00

Richard L. Daft one of the country’s recognized academic leadership experts raises the question, “What kind of people can lead an organization through major change?” A Turn-A-Round restructuring qualifies as major change and requires transformational leadership. Daft points out that this type of leader is characterized by the ability to bring about change through innovation and creativity. This type of leader motivates people to not only follow their lead but to believe in the vision of corporate transformation, the need for revitalization, to sign on for the new vision and to help institutionalize a new organizational process.” Daft points to four principles in discussions about leading an organization through major change. These four principles are the foundation of the restructuring Turn-A-Round process.

1. Create a compelling vision

2. Create a new organization

3. Mobilize commitment, Empowerment

4. Institutionalize a culture change

Caution------Beware of the Dip

A “Transitional Performance Dip” is common when introducing major change accompanied by a culture shift. Performance most commonly gets worse before it gets better. There are four phases of the transitional dip with associated cause. They include:

Denial--- Confusion exists, feelings of being overwhelmed, acting like nothing is different & checking out are common employee reactions in this phase. Communication and sharing of information is critical to overcoming this type of employee reaction

Resistance--- Complaining, blaming others, spreading rumors, frustration, anger and erratic performance are common employee reactions. Again, communication, understanding and listening skills are critical during this phase of the transition.

Acceptance--- Renewed energy starts to become evident, optimism appears and doubt begins to dissipate. Excitement and risk taking become evident. This is when the vision must be restated and shared with every employee taking the time for full explanation and answering all questions.

Commitment--- Discretionary energy is released. Employees become action oriented toward new goals. Ownership of the vision is now company wide. Rewards and reinforcement are essential during this stage.

The length of time or “depth & width of the dip” depicting this phenomenon cannot be accurately predicted due to the complexities that determine it. Factors contributing to the length of time before the change efforts begin to show improvement can be impacted by the following factors:

• Magnitude of the structural changes

• Success of the communication to all employees

• External environment factors

• Critical mass of the company itself

• Competency of the middle management group and their experience with structural and cultural change

• Competency of the executive staff and their people skills

• Effectiveness of leadership at all levels

• Severity of the financial crisis or level of financial success

• Timing

Change Process

The restructuring change process begins with the strategic restructuring of the organization, which is required to “Stop the Bleeding.” This process starts with the immobilization of the old culture. This is mandatory, as introduction of change into any existing culture is difficult at best. Introducing change into a losing or stagnant culture is almost impossible. This change must deal with organization theory, social psychology and business history. It must be dynamic and include the introduction of fresh new leadership. This is a behavioral process. People can create change but people also resist change. The change process introduced must answer the question, “How do we get from here to there?” The answer to that question is your new vehicle for success.

This vehicle includes the restructuring plan, individual one-year departmental plans and every strategic initiative developed by the new management team. Most importantly, this new vehicle is submerged in the empowerment theory releasing individual employee initiative. The plans must be unified, simple, consistent and universally understood by everyone. Most of the change that has been introduced must be induced change versus autonomous change. Autonomous change has a life of its own. It proceeds due to internal dynamics and follows its own course. It is not easily controlled as it forms its own dynamics. Induced change is calculated and planned. It can be controlled if buy in is generated through sincere communication and employee involvement. Each step along this path will be accompanied by distinct challenges. As questions arise, management must be prepared to answer openly and honestly. While the old culture is suspended, change can thrive under the right circumstances. It is the responsibility of the executive team to insure that these circumstances exist. The primary ingredients that create the right circumstances include open honest communication, empowerment, risk taking, acknowledgment and reward.

Organizational Behavioral Process (OBP)

This is basic to creating change, and it becomes an important part of the new vehicle for success. OBP may be described as the wheels of the new vehicle. This process will carry the organization on to new heights, new accomplishments. Organizational behavior has its roots in organizational theory and group dynamics. People are the most important ingredient to every organization and the organizations behavior. People and how they are treated will reflect the organizational characteristics, the way it acts and interacts with its own people.

Empowerment, the decision making process and the communication channels are examples of how the organization interacts with its people. Organizational behavior is not easy to change. That is why it is so important as mentioned earlier to immobilize the old culture to introduce change. (E-mail rick@ceostrategist.com for a list of immobilizers) The behavioral process of the organization can withstand personnel changes. In other words, changing out management does not guarantee change in organizational behavior. You must take proactive steps designed to create new organizational behavior. The new vehicle is part of that. It includes, focused specific objectives, open channels of communication, empowerment and a sincere respect for the individual employee and his contribution to the organization.

Organizational behaviors become generalizations. They are discovered from observations of everyday work habits and they have no independent existence apart from the work processes in which they appear. They are difficult to identify but they are extremely important. They affect the form, the substance and the character of the work processes themselves. They actually affect the way the work process is carried out. They are different from culture because they represent more than just values and beliefs.
They actually are involved in the sequences producing work. The decision making process is a major characteristic of the behavioral process. The decision making process is a much studied process beginning with the studies of Chester Barnard and Herbert Simon who argued that organizational decision making was a distributed activity, extending over time and involving a number of people. In other words, decision-making is not the personal responsibility of a single manager but a shared, dispersed activity that they only need to orchestrate and lead. This is still a surprising and often unaccepted theory of managers today.

The Eight Road Blocks to the Change Process

1. The lack of a sense of urgency

2. The lack of buy-in, a coalition of support

3. An unclear vision

4. Failure to communicate the vision

5. Failure to provide resources and remove obstacles

6. Not systematically planning and creating short term wins

7. Declaring victory too soon

8. Failure to anchor change in the culture as it is occurring

Sense of Urgency

Success at anything requires a sense of urgency, a commitment to accomplishing something. If employees don’t have this sense of urgency, complacency can become an issue. To meet difficult challenges, to excel at anything, to create competitive advantage it is absolutely essential that employees release their discretionary energy toward achieving company objectives. Discretionary energy is that extra that you can’t ask an employee to give but is automatically given by those employees that have a sense of urgency. Of course, no employee will release that discretionary energy for a leader that has not earned their trust and their respect. A leader will not be respected by the employee until he shows respect for the employee. A leader will not be trusted by the employee until he shows trust in the employee.

Forming a Powerful Guiding Coalition:

Success is not an individual accomplishment. Initiating change requires buy in and agreement. A group of believers, achievers and team players must be assembled to not only support the change process but to drive the process. The group must function as a unit showing unilateral support of the change process. Examination of market and competitive reality is part of the challenge as well as identifying and discussing potential crisis, critical constraints and major opportunities.

Creating a Vision:

Success at initiating change starts with the creation of a compelling vision that provides a roadmap for the change. This roadmap clearly answers the question “What’s in it for me”. WIIFM. The vision is supported by the development of strategy and action planning to achieve the vision.

Communicating the Vision:

Success requires leadership and leadership without communication is like a gun without a bullet. It looks impressive but it can’t do anything. A specific communication strategy must be outlined and acted upon to insure that all employees are aware of what the vision is and how it is expected to be accomplished including defining individual roles and contributions. It’s about buy in.

Empowering Others to Act on the Vision:

When critical constraints or roadblocks are identified, they must be removed or overcome quickly. This means allocating resources accordingly. Systems or structure that can undermine the change must be eliminated. Empowerment involves trust and allowing people to use their initiative and creativity.

Planning for and Creating Short-Term Wins:

Milestones need to be set up to mark progress and allow victory celebration along the change path. Success breeds success and excitement breeds’ excitement. Create that success and excitement by setting interim goals that can be achieved and celebrated. Recognize and reward employees accordingly that are part of the accomplishments.

Declaring Victory too Soon:

Interim success and short term victories are important but don’t spike your own Kool Aid. Be realistic and keep your long term goals in sight. Consolidate those short term improvements to produce continuing change. Use increased credibility to change systems, structures, & policies that don’t fit the vision. Hiring, promoting, & developing employees who can implement the vision is essential to continued success during a major change effort. Reinvigorate the process with new projects, themes, and change agents.

Institutionalizing New Approaches:

Success must be anchored as it occurs and then built upon by articulating the connections between the new behaviors and corporate success. Leverage this success to ensure leadership development and succession.

Make no mistake, effective leadership is about creating change. This is true in every circumstance, whether a company is facing restructuring or dealing with the challenge of accelerated growth. Change is the defining moment that identifies true leaders from imposters. To become an effective leader, understanding change, creating change and most importantly managing change is the first prerequisite.

When Business Becomes A Battlefield

2008-10-17T11:12:00.001-07:00

“We have to be careful it’s like a minefield out there”
“I like to lob the odd grenade into the meeting to shake things up”
“You have to watch your back all the time with her”
“We need to attack whilst they are in a weak position”
“There was blood all over the carpet after he had finished with them”

What is your reaction when you are in situations where you hear these kind of messages? What sort of tone and atmosphere do you think they create?

These words and phrases are becoming more common-place language amongst managers and are indicators of how things are done in their business. They are also indicative of the growing number of leaders who believe that running a business is like waging war or engaging in a military operation.

Using analogy, metaphor and strong language are all helpful in getting a message across. However, they become unhelpful when they aggressively drive the ways in which communications and interactions are carried out.

Let’s examine the effect of operating with a warlike and military mindset.

First, it encourages people to adopt a consistently aggressive stance and set of behaviours. In a war one side supposedly wins and the other loses. Yet as we know, history has often proved this to be a fallacy. In business a win/lose approach generally creates fear, anger, frustration and often the desire for payback. Do you want these feelings to be rife amongst your managers, staff, suppliers and customers? A leader who adopts this way of thinking is also giving permission for his people to attack others, ignore them, abuse, bully, manipulate, and put others down. When this becomes a pattern, the outcome is usually characterised by a growing culture of hostility, inappropriate competition, resentment, lack of trust, overcritical feedback, excessive control and poor decision making. This is exactly what happens when a military group becomes riddled with abuse.

Second, at a personal level, individuals are encouraged to view others as the enemy. Too often this becomes people from other areas of the business rather than uniting and focussing energies on a goal, or what competitors are doing. How often do you hear, “It’s those idiots in HR who are slowing us down” or “IT are a law unto themselves.”?

These conflicts often prevent a business from supplying the type of service the customers need and so external relationships become more difficult. One situation where this is most acutely observed at its worst occurs where buyers or sellers talk of “screwing the b******* for every last penny.” What do you think it’s like to be “forced to give ground,” when you are already struggling to maintain a foothold or it seems like you are “in retreat?

Let’s imagine a day in the life of “W”, our archetypal warmonger, so we really understand why this situation is a disaster. Leaving the “home” battlefield in the harassed hands of a suffering lieutenant, “W” is drawn into conflict with every other commuter who is perceived as delivering “hostile fire.” ...red-faced and pumping adrenaline. On arrival at work, “W” is fired up to give the team a roasting for this week’s performance. Having dispatched these shamefaced privates to the front line, “W” can now beat off the demands and advances of several colleagues and seek out malevolent customers whose payments are a day overdue. Now on a roll, “W” stalks or pursues departments who have not supplied the figures or information “needed yesterday”. “W” even has time to offer the bosses advice on the right tactics for the way forward. It’s been a good day for “W” as he steels himself for the next campaign, unaware of the trail of destruction in his wake.....

Do you want to be another “W”? What is it like having to work with or for him?

What can you do to create a different scenario?

Start with your own thinking and mindset. You will only create a constructive environment for yourself and others if you believe that life and work can be joyous, fun, stimulating and challenging – and you want to be part of it. Consider before you attend your next meeting, are you thinking: “this is going to be difficult, a fight for survival, where I can’t afford to give anything away and I must battle for everything”. OR a much more helpful alternative, “this will stretch me and I can rise to the challenge by convincing others that what I bring is useful and we can all get some of what we want”.

Your attitude needs to be supported in your overall approach. If you adopt an optimistic, constructive, interested, caring and honest approach, it becomes positively contagious for others. Most people respond to leaders who are forward looking, straight talking, focussed on positive outcomes and willing to include others in their vision and decisions. Added to this, is the ability to use a range of helpful strategies, dependent on the situation and the people involved. Ask yourself at any point, how do you need to approach these people to get their commitment to the vision, make the most of their thinking, and deal with the problems we need to resolve?

Finally it will be your day-to-day behaviour towards others and their perception of your impact that will confirm their response and position. By developing a complete toolkit of complementary behaviours which you can use consciously and in the right place, you will increase your positive impact and success rate.

Based on our research and experience, we strongly recommend you use combinations of the following styles, as appropriate:

Be clear, concise and structured when you want to persuade others to your point of view. Ask yourself how will this idea make sense to them and what benefits will be important?

When things are going well let others know and celebrate success. Conversely people prefer to know what is not working. So be explicit and precise about what needs to be different.

State directly and precisely what you need others to do and what your expectations are. Most people like to know where they stand.

Really listen to what others think, so you can learn from them and tap into their creative abilities. Continually explore for the best idea and solution. Remember, your idea is not always right.

Establish as much common ground as you can early in the relationship so that you are working from a strongly shared base and can resolve issues more easily when things get tough.

Be open about what is going on for you and in the situation. Seeking help when you need something will make it easy for others to know how to best support you.

Articulate your vision and strategy only when you know it contains something which will really hook and attract others.

The easiest way of all to create a positive environment for yourself and others is to say “thank you” and take a personal interest in those working closely with you.

Leaning Toward Change

2008-10-17T11:09:00.000-07:00

Seduced by the publicity surrounding the impact of Lean on organizations, it’s no surprise that people new to Lean, upon hearing or reading such information, are anxious to implement a continuous improvement initiative in their organizations.

What has received little publicity, however, and often frustrates Lean implementation, are the employees on whom Lean is often inflicted, albeit unwittingly. The culture of an organization can repel attempts to implement Lean, so it is vital to understand the culture that you have, so that you can create a cost-effective implementation plan. I say cost-effective, because many organizations spend more time, effort and money to implement Lean than they first envisage, or they give up, or they settle for a halfway house solution. Often, they do not realise that it is their prevailing culture that is out of alignment with the ideology of Lean.

Here is a story of one company, between 2002 and 2004, who realised that they needed to be cognisant of their organizational culture when implementing their Lean programme. The company concerned is a fully integrated manufacturing business, covering product development and design, through to product installation. Sales are around $25 million. They employ 150 people. The company had changed ownership at the beginning of 2002, moving from being part of a much larger business to a stand-alone profit centre. I’ll call them ABC Co, for purposes of anonymity.

In the summer of 2002, a survey was undertaken, to assess the prevailing organizational culture, to understand how well the existing climate would support Lean working methods. The results were revealing. They showed that, on nine out of the ten ‘dimensions’ of organizational culture, employees perceived the organization as being below average. In particular, the employees felt that communications, structure, planning, leadership & humanistic working practises were inappropriate. Interestingly, the one above average response said that employees viewed the organization as being a sociable place to work, although morale was slightly below average.

Put into context, employees appeared to be saying that the organization was very hierarchical, rigid and autocratic and not a people centred company. The sociability seemed to arise out of two situations: firstly, the organization had been established for very many years, with little staff turnover, and secondly, employees ‘stuck’ together, to defend themselves against the management. Morale appeared to have dropped over the preceding months, largely because the employees were apprehensive about what the new management team were going to get up to. This did not appear to be a particularly good cultural backdrop for a smooth Lean implementation programme.

Meetings were held with the Directors, to discuss the results of the organizational culture survey, and to create an action plan to try and improve the working climate, before announcing a Lean implementation initiative a few months later. Incidentally, during the survey, employees had commented negatively on how previous management initiatives had ‘fizzled-out’ after a very short while.

Anecdotal evidence during the period following the original survey suggested that the management were trying to address the employee concerns. A Lean initiative was announced, and commenced in Autumn 2002.

In January 2004, the organizational culture survey was repeated.

Compared to those four ‘dimensions’ in the 2002 survey, which attracted particularly negative views from employees, the 2004 survey results showed that employees perceptions had improved marginally on communications practises and considerably on leadership practises and organizational structure. Employee perceptions had lowered on how sociable the company was and how committed employees were towards the company. This was echoed in the morale ‘score’, with a drop of 26%, and on the secure/insecure scale, a drop of 31%.

Comparing the 2002, and 2004 surveys, some of the key findings were:

- Whilst employees perceived that the organization had repositioned itself to become more customer focused, and more competitive, they did not feel as happy, or as secure as they previously had.

- Employees initially enjoyed the communication sessions, where they heard about the Lean implementation initiative, which sounded like a good idea.

- The Lean implementation programme had started well, and employees felt informed and involved.

- The communications sessions became less frequent, and patchy.

- Employees became less involved with continuous improvements, supervisors and managers started to tell employees about what Lean changes were going to be made.

- Employee turnover for the past three years was rising, with an overall turnover of nearly 70% during the period.

Conclusions

The new management appeared to have had every intention to engender an organizational culture that was more conducive to Lean working, and originally started out in earnest to change the working ‘climate’. Unfortunately, many of those management actions that were agreed, to improve the working climate, and initially implemented, started to falter. This was mainly due to commercial pressures imposed on management time and, in response, the management tried to speed up Lean implementation, in an attempt to reconcile their time pressures whilst still producing the desired business results. As a consequence, a number of continuous improvements were originated and implemented by supervisors and managers, not by employee teams. As a result, employees felt less involved than they were, less motivated, and started to think that there was a ‘hidden agenda’.

Here is a good and factual example of how Lean implementation can fail to achieve the desired results, because not enough attention is paid to nurturing the culture of the organization. In ABC Co, the decision to implement Lean was decided locally, so there wasn’t a head office imposing it on unwilling Directors. Why is it that a group of Directors, seemingly committed to Lean principles can fail to realise its potential? There has to be a good personal understanding of the people side of Lean, implementation has to be at a pace that takes employees with you on the journey, not leaving them someway behind, scratching their heads, wondering what it is all about. It’s all too easy, especially for experienced Lean practitioners who move to a new company, to go too fast for the employees; they need to have time to understand, practise and adapt to the Lean ways of working. I’m not suggesting that Lean implementation has to be a slow, arduous process, far from it, but if you want a timely and successful introduction, you must major heavily on the people-side of the process. Take communications, it is amazing just how insatiable employees are for information. Many organizations fall into the trap of reducing communications, because employees don’t seem to be bothered - some stand there looking bored. Don’t be misled! As you reduce communications, I bet that there is a positive correlation with lowered morale, attendance and participation, although I haven’t tested for this – yet.