Special Speech

Entrepreneurs are hardy stock. But sometimes hardiness can get you
into trouble.

Especially when you’re over committed and could use a little help.

All too often, new business owners decide they don’t need to hire any
outside services. You know how it goes….”I can do this myself. How
tough can it be? It’s just a simple direct mail campaign.”

Big mistake! Trying to do it all yourself …unless it’s your area of
expertise….usually costs you more in the long run. And most of the time,
the work looks pretty unprofessional.

Here’s the scenario…

You’re starting a consulting business. You decide you need business
cards, a logo, a handout of some sort and a website. Pretty basic. You
figure you can hire the right people and manage these projects yourself.

So you do. You brainstorm some names for the company, run them by a
few friends and select one for your business. Next you find a designer
whose work you like and meet with her. You describe the services you’ll
offer and what colors you do and don’t like. Maybe you’ll even have
some sketches of what you think your logo should look like.

So the designer (working with minimal direction) starts to work. Unless
you’ve given her detailed information on your target market, your niche,
how you see your identity developing, this designer is pretty clueless.
But she comes up with some designs. Once again, you go to some
friends and family members for feedback. Based on the general
consensus, you select a design (hopefully, it will fit with your company
name and what you do). You can now either leave it up to the designer
to get printing quotes for your business cards and stationary. Or you can
do it yourself and get some price comparisons. You’ll need to know
what type of stock you’d like, paper weight, quantities, etc.

Next you want to start on some sort of handout or brochure. Do you stick
with your logo designer? If so, better make sure you’ve seen some
samples of brochures she’s done. Often designers specialize in one
product or another. I’ve worked with great logo designers who can’t do
other collateral.

And what about your web site? Is your logo designer also able to do
site design? What about development? Not all designers are
developers. In fact, most aren’t. The best developers I’ve found started
out as web folk, whereas my best designers are sticking to what they do
best - graphic design.

You also need to decide how many pages your site will be, what they
are (the menu), how you want the site to lay out (site map), whether or
not you need a dynamic or static site, what elements need to be
included, etc.

Still happy with your decision? Better make sure you nail down the
costs on all of this so you’re not surprised upon completion.

Lastly, don’t forget about the copy. You need some for your brochure.
You need different copy for your website. They’re different types of
marketing tools and the copy needs to be written in a different style for
each. But everything needs to work together (be integrated) so you
don’t look like a fractured company. Your brochure and website should
have the same look and feel….but the approach is different.

If you’re still managing this yourself — kudos. Especially if you have time
to do any selling or networking or research. Because you’ve taken on
full-time work as a marketing person/project manager.

To think…. you could have saved yourself a lot of aggravation and time
if only you’d called in a marketing specialist at the beginning. Then
you’d have one person who could manage all the above projects for you:

• working with the designer (or designers) and developers to making
sure everyone involved understood what you do and who you do it

• reviewing, rejecting, and/or approving designs before you ever see
them

• writing copy appropriate for each product

• proofreading
• overseeing all the various vendors to make sure workflow is on
schedule and work is correct

… and only calling you for selection, fact verification or final decisions.

Then again, maybe you like a challenge. Or maybe you just need to
micromanage everything. Because by the time you’re done, you’re
likely to end up with a disjointed marketing “program” (for lack of a better
word). And when and if you finally do call in a marketing person to
revise your marketing material, you’ll probably find that turning
everything over to a specialist — who does this all the time - would
actually have cost you less than doing it yourself.

At least you’ll know better next time.

Rickey Gold & Associates is a small, hands-on marketing
communications firm that helps clients identify, reach, entice and sell to
their target markets.
http://www.rickeygold.com
rg@rickeygold.com

773.348.4973

There is something that I have called ‘angler’s attention’. It is developed after you have been fishing, and in this article we will be concerning ourselves with fly fishing, for years and years. You can usually tell those that have it and those that don’t. Quickly rigging up your fly rod, and racing to a likely fishing spot, solely concerned about yourself and your gear, are telltale signs of someone not possessing angler’s attention.

I spent many years, especially when I didn’t have much time to fish, ignoring angler’s attention. If I could steal away even an hour or two, racing down to the river I would go. In a virtual panic, scouring out my favorite fishing spots, then cursing to myself, when they were taken. Frantically I would find a spot to fish, splash out there, and heave out my line. Fishing, at last, my heart would race, I would set the hook on any minute bump, and then have to untangle my line from a tree lurking behind me. Never paying attention to the fly I was using, there wasn’t time to change it, wheter my tippet was proper, what was happening on the water, nothing of the sort. Just get me to the water, and let me wet my line.

Maturity probably plays as much a part in developing ‘angler’s attention’ as anythin. Although I have seen many young angler’s very deliberately observing and then selecting their approach. Besides natural aging what really changed things for me, was actually observing a fellow fly fisher. Actually it was more observing him, observing me. I was fishing a small stretch of fairly remote river. Although this particular spot became ‘discovered’ sometime in the 90’s, it is still relatively pressure free after mid-June. Happily csting to rising fish, I happened to spot a gentleman stading on the bank watching me fish. He was quite a bit older then me at the time, but his presence somewhat annoyed me. Feeling watched, I gave it another five minutes or so, then headed in.

The next thirty minutes or so were spent discussing fly fishing with this gentleman in ways I had never thought of before. The knowledge this man possessed and frankly the lack of urgency to wet his fly were astonishing. He seemed quite as content to stand and talk about fly fishing as he was to actually be out doing it. He discussed with me clouds and mayfly hatches, the current time of the Callibeatis hatch, the onset of the Giant Stonefly hatch based on elevation, water flow, and air temperature, the need to have your fly drift naturally. The benefit of watching the naturals on the water, the effect of line drag, etc, etc.

After I had finished my lunch, did he finish talking. And then asked if I wanted to give it another try, motioning out to the water. I told him to go ahead, it must be his turn, and he said there was room for two. He was definitely a talented caster, one of the best I had ever seen, gracefully placing his dry fly expertly in the feeding lanes, on the edges of deep pools, and right below large rocks that were all favorite holding places for trout. Stopping when the hatch slowed and beginning again when the hatch began.

From this expereince, I have deliberately honed my own angler’s attention, and marvel not at what I notice, but what goes unnoticed by many. And many think it is unnecessary information, figuring they will catch fish using the same tactics they always have, or there just aren’t fish to be had that day.

For those that routinely ignore the hints that Mother Nature is giving you in solving the what will fish hit today puzzle. Next time try taking a few minutes to observe the minute details of the place you are fishing. Start with the big picture, the water flow, clarity, time of year, guess at the water temperature (some take a thermometer), consider the time of day, the air temperature. Then look closer, look at the current world of the fish you are trying to entice. Turn over a few rocks, look at the bugs there, some take a screen and place it in the current to view the offerings fish are being presented with. Observe the surface of the water, check for dimples, for feeding fish right below the surface. Actually spotting fish in the water takes practice. Then look for hatching insects, for insects laying eggs over the surface, and of course that greatest of all fly fishing prizes the rising fish.

Observe it all, not just before fishing but the whole time, watch for nuances, changes in the air temperature, changes in the sunlight, the hatches, the surface activity. Are you hooking up deeper, shallower, suddenly less frequently. Be a part of the fly fishing equation, at peace with it, in harmony with it, and you will be amazed how much more you enjoy it.

As you go along, you will find yourself unable to look at any river or lake, without observing it in this way. Even if you are just driving by it. You will be amazed at the hatches you can observe from your car, you wil find yourself analyzing the bugs on your windshield. Angler’s Attention will just be the way you looki at the entirety of the fish, insect relationship, and everytime you find yourself fly rod in hand, you will be the better fly fisher for it.

About the Author

Cameron Larsen is a retired commericial fly tier and fly fishing guide. He now operates The Big Y Fly Company. http://www.bigyflyco.com/flyfishinghome.html He can be reached at info@bigyflyco.com. This article will appear in the Big Y Fly Fishing E-Zine at Http://www.bigyflyco.com/Bigyflyfishingezine.html

It is likely to be one of the largest purchases of your life, and it can be extremely nerve racking and overwhelming. Buying a new home! Whether you are buying your first home, or moving to a new home; purchasing a home and shopping for home loans is a major decision that requires a lot of time and energy.

Where Do I Start?

If you are shopping for a new home and a home loan for the very first time then you may become very overwhelmed very quickly if you do not take it slowly. The first thing that you should do is start researching your options. Collect all of the financial information that you have and approach your bank.

A good place to start is with the financial institution that you do most of your banking with. You have likely built up a reputation and perhaps a relationship with your bank and that will help when you are trying to get a loan. You will have to gather together all of your financial information including:

* Pay stubs
* Proof of other income sources
* Car payment records
* Other debt information
* Savings and investment information

Your financial institution should be able to determine from the information that you bring in what type of a mortgage you qualify for. The bank or financial institution will also pull a credit report for you to see how your credit looks.

Should I Only Visit One Bank?

No, definitely do not stop shopping for a mortgage after visiting only one financial institution. It is definitely a good idea to shop around for the best mortgage rate. Different institutions may offer you different payment options and lower interest rates. If you have poor credit, then you may want to talk to a mortgage broker who will likely be able to offer you some options that you can afford.

Get Pre-Approved From Your Bank

Before you even go out house hunting it is a good idea to get a pre-approval from your bank or financial institution. This process will take a little bit longer, but it will pay off in the end because you will know exactly what price range to look at when you are house shopping.

Another benefit to being pre-approved is that when you find a home that you are interested in, if the seller is in a hurry to sell, they will often go with a buyer who has been pre-approved because it is a sure thing.

What About The Interest Rate?

It can be overwhelming when you go to get your home loan; there are so many decisions that have to be made. Do you want a variable interest rate or a fixed interest rate? How do you decide?

Your decision will likely depend on a number of factors in the market place, most importantly, what the interest rate is at the time that you get your home loan. In the past few years, the market has seen a sharp decrease in interest rates. In fact, some of the lowest rates in history have been experienced in the last few years.

If the interest rate is quite low relative to the last few months when you apply for your home loan, than you may want to consider locking into a fixed rate mortgage. That way, even if the interest rate climbs in the future, you will be guaranteed the same low rate that you signed on.

However, if you think that the interest rates are still likely to fall then you may want to sign in on a variable interest rate home loan. That way if the interest rate falls, you can still take advantage of the new lower rate. You will want to check with your lending institution on the variable rate home loans that they offer, as they do differ greatly.

What Term Length Should I Choose?

Another big decision when you apply for and sign onto a home loan is the term of the loan. This is a very important decision because the length of the loan will determine how much interest you will pay over the term of the loan. There are a few ways to look at this problem. If you require low monthly payments than you may want to choose a longer term loan, such as a 25 year or a 30 year term instead of a 15 year term. If you extend the term of your loan, then your monthly payments will be lower, however in the long term you will be paying more interest.

If you are in a situation where you are able to handle slightly larger monthly payments, then you will be paying off the principal of your home loan much faster, and not paying as much interest.

Are There Other Ways Of Paying My Loan Off Faster?

Most types of loans will allow you to make balloon payments at least once a year. A balloon payment is where you can pay directly on the principal of the loan, so you are not paying any interest. This is an excellent way to reduce the principal of your loan. And if you are able to make balloon payments, they are worth it.

So Now What?

When you are ready to start shopping for a home loan, whether it is your first or your second, remember to do your research. A good place to start is with a mortgage calculator. You can find a mortgage calculator on the internet. This is an excellent tool to help you make some of the tougher decisions about your mortgage. But there is no replacement for discussing your individual case with a financial institution. Just remember to shop around before you decide which home loan is right for you.

© 2005 http://www.home-loans-101.com

About the Author
Kevin Brown is successful author and publisher of many informative websites including http://www.home-loans-101.com. His websites offer tips and advice on a wide array of topics including home mortgage loans, mortgage refinance, home equity lines of credit, and more.

It’s shocking how many people don’t have the slightest idea how to write a resume.

If you’ve been in the professional workforce at any level for any amount of time, you’ve likely needed a resume. Most people I’ve known slapped something together that they thought looked and sounded good. Many of them spent some time without jobs.

Slapping something together isn’t the way to go. But that doesn’t mean you have to hire somebody to write your resume (I happen to think that’s wise, though). All you have to do is follow a few simple rules.

1. Use Microsoft Word. If you attach anything else to an email, the recruiter you send it to is likely to ignore it.
2. Use numbers whenever you can. Always quantify your experience. Numbers stand out, because many people don’t use them. Include dollars you added to the bottom line (cost saved, revue added), quantified operational improvements you made (such as months of reduced time to market), number of people you supervised, and so on.
3. Don’t use an objective. Use a hard-hitting, targeted summary of your qualifications instead (it contains your objective, actually). Depend on your cover letter to sell you for the job you’re applying for.
4. Use “power words”. That means verbs. Verbs say you did something. Absence of verbs suggest you didn’t. Use lots of verbs, in the past tense.
5. Focus on what you can do for THEM. Believe it or not, your resume isn’t about you at all. It’s about what you can do for the company who might hire you.
6. Don’t get personal. Leave off your weight, height, personal interests, hobbies…all of it. This is a document about what difference you can make in a company. If they ask you about a hobby in the interview, then you give them more details. By the way, part of not being too personal is referring to yourself with “I”, “my”, “me”, etc. Just stick to past-tense verbs. A reader knows he’s reading about the person who’s name’s at the top of the page. Don’t beat him over the head with it.
7. Don’t say you can provide references on request. This is a wasted statement. Of COURSE you can provide references. Keep an up-to-date list at all times, and be prepared to hand it to any interviewer, or give it over the phone if they call you. But save it until somebody asks.
8. Filter your experience. If you’ve been in the workforce less than a year, college or even pre-college jobs have a place on your resume. If you’ve been around the block a few times, list all your jobs (to avoid any appearance of time gaps), but go into detail on the few (preferably most recent) with accomplishments that add to your commercial for the job you’re applying for.
9. Use a chronological resume. Conventional wisdom says that a functional resume can help you handle gaps. Given that that’s the conventional wisdom, you should be suspicious. Recruiters smell trouble when they see a functional resume. Avoid it.
10. Never lie. Always tell the truth. Don’t lie, don’t “exaggerate”. If you do, you’ll likely get a job you don’t really want, because you’re not qualified for it. That’s a recipe for stress at best, and getting fired at worst.

That’s all there is to it.

Common sense, you say? Okay. Most people must not have any.

Copyright (c) by Roy Miller

Roy Miller created http://www.Job-Search-Guidepost.com.

Would you like a “secret weapon” to crush your job search competition? Subscribe to Roy’s free newsletter and get a free report that shows YOU can win the job of your dreams in record time. Visit here to subscribe and claim your free copy: http://www.Job-Search-Guidepost.com.

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Roy will link to you if you publish this article! Publish with no changes (keep the bio box at the bottom) at your site or in your newsletter. Then email Roy here to let him know where you’re publishing: Editors@Job-Search-Guidepost.com. You’ll get a link at http://www.Job-Search-Guidepost.com, and maybe an ad in Roy’s weekly newsletter.