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Every year I've done somewhat of a review of my business for the last year. Usually, it's revolved around revenue, including my most profitable service or program revenue streams and my highest grossing clients. I also plan what programs I'm going to offer in the next 6-12 months, and plan my marketing and launches around that. Smart business indeed. Well, as the maximizer that I am, this year I put all of that together and added a few pieces. Here's what I have to say about doing the business review. Sometimes, you can be afraid to look at certain things in your business, either because you perceive failure or because you would rather hide your head in the sand. I'm here to tell you that the numbers have a story to tell, and that story isn't always a scary one, no matter what fear you might have about knowing the truth. For example, last year, my revenue pretty much mirrored that of the previous year. At first glance, that does not look good. One of the pieces I added to my yearly review was to look at my success for the year. Well, that included my noting that I had shifted business direction somewhat drastically and almost completely removed one of my largest revenue sources, as it was not in alignment with my purpose. Here is the real story the numbers told... services and programs that were more in line with what I wanted to offer actually kicked into high gear. Removing what looked to be my most profitable revenue stream did not actually hurt my business (which is why I had put that decision off for so long). So, my annual revenue being the same two years in a row - just that statement - does not tell the whole story. So, what's in my yearly review? Actual revenue from the year before - All year, I track my income according to services, individual programs, and products. So, for the yearly review, I just have to run a simple report from my accounting program. (Yay for simple and easy!) I rank revenue according to largest income source to smallest. Along with the numbers, I also calculate the percentage, because sometimes seeing the numbers a different way tells a different story. Projected revenue for the coming year - I took last year's actual revenue and used that as a base for revenue goals for the coming year. Looking at the fact (the story) that one revenue stream was 55% of my entire services and programs, I decided that that was not smart business! One's business should be more diversified so that if something happens, you don't have all your eggs in one basket. Top grossing clients - I ran another report to see who my top grossing clients were. This information can be helpful just to see what people buy, but the bigger reason is to bring in the Pareto Principle, where 20% of your efforts typically result in 80% of the outcome. So those top grossing clients are where you should be spending your efforts and time. Successes - I am happy to report that my Successes section was much larger than my Challenges section. I can't stress enough how important this particular piece of the Yearly Review is. I've noticed that I keep adding to it as I think of things. I love positive thinking! Challenges - This section includes just the facts, ma'am. No judgment. This is another place to bring in the story, because sometimes stories are just facts - without the embellishment and perceptions we might attach to them. So, for example, I will go out on a limb and share with you that my subscriber numbers decreased during the year. That is just a fact. I'm not going to attach anxiety or fear of failure to that fact. AND I'm continuing to work on changing that fact. Thoughts - This section is to note what comes up after reviewing the year, the numbers, and the stories. This includes things like feeling very happy with my new direction, as well as noting that last year my revenue streams were not diversified enough. Notes for the coming year's planning - This section is a work in progress. Right now, it includes some broad thoughts, like "I'm hoping that the new schedule I've implemented will help me get bigger projects done." This kind of note may be perfect, or I'll adjust as I go through the year. Focus for the coming year - Again, like the Notes section above, this section could be a bit vague. I'm happy to share with you that my three foci are focus (no pun intended), self-care, and financial abundance. What is the story that your numbers (and review) tell you? Want to create powerful content that meets your market's needs? Of course, you do! Because when you write from your soul, you connect more deeply and successfully with potential clients and your community. Download your free Writing From Your Soul system at http://www.WritingFromYourSoul.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9290472

If you're moving abroad or are running an export business, you need to hire services for ocean freight shipping. By ocean freight shipping, it means that cargo is being sent commercially to a destination by sea. There are 3 types of cargo sent via ocean freight, namely: Freight shipment Household goods Express parcels Heavy and large cargo shipments are categorized as freight shipment and they cannot be sent as parcel. Export business owners typically inquire from different shipping companies before sending their cargo. The gist here is for them to avail of the best international shipping rates. If you're sending cargo overseas or abroad, you'll find that rates and fees are quite expensive. Again, you have to be particular about the ocean freight shipping company you're dealing with. Get the best price for the services you need while saving money and at the same time shipping your goods safely and quickly. You can save a lot on your budget if you hire a reasonably priced ocean freight shipping provider. Big businesses are wary about hiring an international shipping company. To avail of the best deal, they tend to hire agents that keep track of various shipping companies especially if they're shipping goods internationally. There are different ways of sending cargo overseas. If you choose air transportation, it would be very costly compared to ocean freight which is much cheaper and more convenient. Bulk cargos are better sent by ocean shipment rather than air transportation in terms of cost. Consider that there are rules and regulations to abide by when sending cargo internationally. Authorities are keen on controlling these rules and regulations. On a global scale, ocean freight shipping regulations are supervised by the Federal Maritime Commission. International shipping companies all over the world now have their respective websites where clients and customers can get quotes and acquire more information about the company and their services. It's a major advantage because you don't have to visit their offices physically and you can save time for travelling. Business and transactions can be carried out online and you'll save time, money and effort. Ocean freight companies normally just ask shipping details after which you can access quotes in an instant. Sufficient information is available on the internet when it comes to international cargo shipping and companies. Ensure that your cargo is covered by an insurance policy. Cargos are afloat a carrier traversing the ocean for a few days to a few months. During the carrier's entire journey, cargos are loaded and unloaded several times as well wherein they become vulnerable to damage. Make sure you avoid any losses by acquiring a good insurance policy. If you're hiring a reliable ocean freight shipping company, you won't have any problems with customs regulations. That's why it makes sense to look over and thoroughly inquire about the services offered by the company and pay for the most reasonable rates. Opt for an ocean freight shipping company that offers standardized services and delivers their promise of transporting your goods and items via a sound and safe transit. If you are moving overseas, need economical international shipping, are exporting commercial cargo, or if you just want to ship a few boxes of personal effects, either overseas or across the country, UBox Worldwide can provide all your international and domestic freight shipping needs. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9291387

Microstrategy is business intelligence software that you use in organizing information and generating reports. The software is of great importance in organizations that require reporting and analyzing of a lot of data. For you to be able to work with the software you need to undertake Microstrategy training. Why you should undertake the Microstrategy training There are many benefits of undertaking the training. Some of these benefits include: Business growth: if you are a small business owner and don't have the financial muscle to employ a professional to do the data work for you, you should undertake the training and you will be able to play around with large data volumes and receive the solutions on your own. Career growth: there are many companies that deal with a lot of data and with the Microstrategy knowledge you increase your chances of getting hired by these corporations. Emotional gratification: there is no better feeling than knowing that you can be able to effectively execute a given task. By undertaking the training you have the knowledge of handling data thus you are more confident of yourself. What the training entails When you attend the training you will learn everything on business intelligence. You will learn how to set up the software to how to use the dashboards on your computer and mobile device. Once you are through with the training you should be able to easily install and configure the software. You should also be able to validate reports, create dashboard accounts and automate the administrative tasks. Data warehousing is one of the major topics that you will learn in the training; therefore, by the end of the training you should fully understand all the concepts of data warehousing. Good training Microstrategy knowledge is in high demand. While there are many institutions offering the training, not all trainings are ideal for you. Before you part with your money you should take your time to research and find institutions offering the best training. A good training should have the following features: Training videos: since you will be dealing with software, the training should give you videos that show you how to install the software, how to configure the software and even how to undertake the various tasks. A great training should have a video after every tutorial. Step-by-step guide: step-by-step guides give you step-by-step instructions on how to execute different tasks. These guides are not only easy to follow, they also make it easy for you to understand the content. Great reviews: chances are that there are other people who have undertaken the course you are interested in before. Before you part with your money you should take your time to go through the reviews As rule of thumb you should only sign up with training with great reviews. Lifetime access: a good training institution should give you lifetime access to all the training materials and any updated information on the course. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9294003

Did your heart skip a beat when you read the title? Be honest. I admit that mine does, a lot, when I think of how to raise money for an idea that I am passionate about. How do I raise this amount of money that is at that time beyond me? It is actually a scary prospect. This is one of the principal reasons many people don't go into business, because they are unable to raise the needed capital to execute their ideas. But all hope is not lost. Let me share a few of my experiences on how to raise money for your business: Strip it to the basics Determine the least amount of money you would require to start the business. This means that you should cut out all non-essential needs from your budget. Do you need an official car to start with? Cut it out. Can you share an office with another firm rather than renting your own? Cut out the rent costs. Invest in yourself Start with your own personal investment. If you cannot put in your own funds, why should someone else do so? Debt or Equity A question you should answer when raising financing is: debt or equity? Debt financing refers to loans from either individuals or financial institutions, while equity is investment into the business. They both have their pros and cons: while equity financing is less risky and you can reinvest your profits into the business, it will require you relinquishing some ownership of the company and you can't take major decisions without the input or consent of the shareholders. Debt financing, on the other hand, allows you to retain full ownership of your business and your relationship with the lender ends once you pay the loan back. However, the loan must be paid back in a fixed amount of time and should you have cash flow problems, it makes things tougher for you. Exploring social capital Once you have decided for debt, equity or a mix of both, an excellent place to start is with family and friends. Tap into your personal network and sell your business idea to them. Research for grants Explore grants for your business idea. Grants are loans that you do not have to pay back but are given with conditions attached. There are quite a lot of grant opportunities out there, especially for businesses in developing countries such as Nigeria offered either by governments or multilateral organisations. Seek professional advice When it comes to receiving equity investment, seek the advice of an investment professional or lawyer so that you don't sign agreements that are detrimental to your business. It will not be wise if you end up working for someone else who owns majority shares of your company under the guise of being an investor. Capital is not money Another approach to raising money is to keep in mind that capital is not all about money. Your skills and experience are also kinds of capital. You can leverage on them to start your own business, cutting down how much financing you need. Keep in mind that raising financing is not a walk in the park, especially for a new business. While seeking capital, keep revising your idea and the plan to make it succeed. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9290637

You hear how you should do this and you should do that. Heck, as a business coach, even I tell you what to do! (And one note about that... I always follow any suggestion or recommendation with "You have to do what works for you.") Models, formulas, strategies, tools, worksheets, and the like are fabulous for helping you navigate the waters of business, but they're not meant to be so sacred that you can't deviate from them and follow your heart's wisdom. If you're making decisions in your business that are based from your heart and passion for what you want in your business, then you are on your way to creating a business you love. But if you're making decisions - or not taking action - out of fear or lack, then your business will probably not end up being one you love. How do you know if you're making a decision from the heart or from fear? When you delve into "Why do I want or not want to do this?" - pay attention to the answer. Get a piece of paper, and write the possible decision that's on the table. Draw a line down the middle. On the left, write all the reasons why you should make that decision. On the right, write all the reasons you should not make the decision. Then, look at your answers. If they sound like any of the following, then your decision is probably based on fear. People won't like it. I'm afraid people will say no. I'm afraid to stand up in front of a room. What if they don't like me? What if I'm being too pushy? I need the money, so I should do this. It's too risky. I don't have time to do it. People have told me I should do this. Those are all fear-based reasons. And they should never captain your ship. If your answers sound like the ones below, then your decision is probably coming from your heart and deeper wisdom. I have a sneaky suspicion that this action will drain my energy. (Note: sometimes our inner wisdom is giving us clues to not take an action.) This will move my business forward. This will help me get my message out there in a bigger way. This is a place where I can use my gifts and genius. I get excited when I think about it! I've always wanted to do something like this. It makes my heart sing. It's beautiful. The more decisions you make from your heart and deeper wisdom, the happier you'll be, the fewer regrets you'll have, and the more successful your business will be. From what place are you making decisions? Want to create powerful content that meets your market's needs? Of course, you do! Because when you write from your soul, you connect more deeply and successfully with potential clients and your community. Download your free Writing From Your Soul system at http://www.WritingFromYourSoul.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9296709

Having reliable goods transport ships is the reason we can trade all over the planet. Without having a decent ship that could carry the immense weight without getting it wet, transporting goods from one end to another would not only have been troublesome, but it would have been too costly to even think about it. Presently the world business depends on the following: • Mass generation offices (production lines) • Marketing • Banks • Internet • Shipping and transport industry A few individuals might be astounded to realize that the delivery and transport industry is specified in this rundown, yet for some it would not be a surprising truth any longer. We all realize that the greater part of the real creation offices have moved abroad, for the most part to the nations such as India and China. How would you convey all the fabricated items to your nation when they are being delivered such a large number of miles away? Clearly by utilizing the least expensive approach to transport them is the delivery business. So far we have not succeeded in making a flying machine that can convey huge amounts of burdens and still utilize pints of fuel to finish the adventure. In spite of the fact that a vehicle dispatch additionally utilizes heaps of fuel to move, yet the measure of merchandise and the weight it conveys legitimizes it requirement for such high measure of fuel. A vehicle ship, not at all like alternate boats is not fabricated for excellence and solace. Actually it is fabricated to fill a need which is nothing not exactly to transport colossal compartments on its deck and a large number of merchandise inside its payload holds fixed with the load hatches. Sadly, the vehicle ship gets a ton of unpleasant treatment as a result of all the scratching, dragging and the lifting and bringing down of the overwhelming weights on and in it. This procedure wears off the defensive paint conveying the metal body to introduction. As the metal is presented to the profoundly moist air, what else do you hope to happen than the body to catch rust and get to be frail? The rust destroys the majority of the metal's layers and makes a gap in it which is exactly what the stickiness and the water needs to get inside the boat's body and make turmoil inside the freight holds. While there is no real way to stop rust and the openings to be made, there is an approach to treat the harm by cable transit areas watertight testing. Running this test permits the team to find out about the gaps that have occurred in the boat's body and an arrangement can then be detailed to have them repaired. Repairing the gaps relies on the expense causing on the procedure and the eagerness of the administration to shoulder the expenses. Another vital element to keep in perspective while sending a boat for repairs is to remember about the voyages the boat has been reserved for and if there is sufficient time to apply the repairs without missing a voyage. Water can do a great deal of harm to a boat separated from simply demolishing the freight. At the point when water discovers its way inside the boat's body, it is allowed to investigate and enter alternate parts of the boat as well. A percentage of the deadliest occurrences of the past have been short-circuiting of the links since some water figured out how to access them. Henceforth the significance of multiple cable transit areas testing likewise turns out to be to a great degree fundamental particularly if an opening has been found in the boat's body. At the point when water has figured out how to get inside, there is no assurance that it exited the links unharmed which are spread everywhere throughout the boat such Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9296715

All pipe systems sustain damage over time, now matter how well they were installed and the quality of the material they are manufactured with. Thankfully, there are now many methods and products that have been developed for the simple purpose of restoring an entire pipe system back to its former glory. The reasons for pipe damage are numerous, but one of the prime causes is the chemicals and abrasive substances that run through these pipe and sewer systems on a daily basis. Unfortunately, these chemicals can degrade some pipe materials much worse than others. Some of the most common types of pipe system in place in homes around the world are copper pipe systems. These were often installed in the West during the 1960s and 1970s, for the prime reason that this metal is very long lasting, which is a quality that is undoubtedly of key importance when putting a system in place, as minimal need for replacement means minimal disruption. There is a significant downside to this metal being used for pipes, however, and this is due to the fact that it is very reactive to certain chemical substances. As a result of chemical reactions, the copper becomes corroded and starts to leach into the water system. This hereis the main reason why copper pipe repair is so important - the copper that leaches into water can be very hazardous to human health. Although pipes are long lasting, they will still need to be repaired or replaced every twenty years to ensure that this level of corrosion does not occur and that the health of those in the household and the community is not negatively impacted. Some of the health hazards of too much copper being ingested by humans include degenerative diseases, Alzheimer's, diabetes and arteriosclerosis. The human body also has difficulty processing copper which is ingested through drinking water as compared to consuming it through fruit and vegetables. As a result, keeping pipes in tip top condition and investing in copper pipe repair is strongly advised if you have this type of pipe system in your home. One option is to have the entire system replaced entirely, which may be necessary if the system is in very poor condition. This can certainly be the case if you have been residing in your property for over twenty years and have never had the pipes repaired or replaced. If in doubt, contact a local plumber and ask for their advice. They will be able to offer you guidance and assess your situation so you will be fully informed about the options open to you. For those pipes which are not severely damaged to the point of no return, there are several methods of copper pipe repair that involve lining the pipe rather than replacing it entirely. One popular method is lining the interior with an epoxy coating, which can fill any gaps and cracks in your pipes and halt the corrosion of the pipes. In addition to this, coating the pipes means that there is minimal disruption to the property and there is far less expense involved. In addition to this, the copper contamination in the water supply will be drastically reduced, meaning that there is far smaller risk of copper toxicity than before the repairs had taken place. Looking after copper pipes in the home is absolutely essential to ensure that they are not corroding and leaching a large amount of metal into the water. As excess copper has a negative effect on human health, this is certainly no small issue for home owners. With that said, copper pipe repair does not have to be expensive, and you may not need to replace your pipes at all. In all cases, speak to a local plumbing expert in order to get personalized advice on your unique circumstances. Nu Flowis the world's premiere solution for mechanical pipe system rehabilitation, serving a vast range of markets from multi-tenant buildings, hospitals and schools to industrial, commercial and historical buildings. Because Nu Flow has the unique ability to fix both pressurized piping systems and non-pressurized piping systems using existing access points, the company now offers the most viable and least disruptive option for pipe renewal. Founded in Canada in 1998, Nu Flow initially focused on the manufacture and installation of patented and proprietary trenchless drain and sewer lining solutions, later expanding its product lines and services to include technology for the rehabilitation of potable pipes and mechanical systems. Today, Nu Flow continues to be the leader in the small-diameter market, serving clients in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and abroad. Find out more at: http://www.nuflowtech.com/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9292344