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Advantages of Real Estate Investing

Real estate investing is a viable choice for many who are looking to invest in a worthwhile business or property. It is easy to understand the concept of real estate investing, but it can also prove to be challenging. Nevertheless, people still want to invest in real estate as the rewards are great and the opportunities are tremendous. In real estate investing, you can take advantage of the various rewards from due diligence and good practices.

Appreciation of Value

Real estate is a good investment; it has been for many decades. Many people buy real properties and wait for them to increase in value. Real estate almost always appreciates, depending on its location and the real estate market trends. There is a huge possibility that the lot you buy today will appreciate in value in the next few years when developments in the neighborhood are underway. A shopping center can also tremendously affect the value of a property near it as values for properties surrounding the shopping center can increase.

In a good location, even when there is no immediate development, you can do something to accelerate the appreciation of a property’s value. By enhancing a property, such as landscaping, replacing windows or repainting the exterior of a house, you can increase its value. Whether you plan to sell it or rent it, you can attract prospective buyers or tenants more readily.

Profitable

Real estate investing, when done responsibly and with reliable financing, you can make a handsome profit from it. Selling a property after it has appreciated will give you profits. Alternatively, you can earn a steady stream of income from tenants when you rent the property. You can also earn more money by providing other services that tenants may need. Vending machines or laundry machines are ancillary services that can earn a good profit.

Leverage

To invest in real estate, you will need a large capital outlay and some more cash to pay for other costs involved in buying, maintaining and sprucing up the property. The good thing about real estate is that you can finance the purchase through leverage in the form of a mortgage. Most investors do not pay the entire purchase price of a property in cash, but they avail of a mortgage to pay for most of it. You can then offer the place for rent to tenants. The rent you collect can pay a portion of the mortgage payments; therefore you let the property pay for itself.

Look here for more information on investment properties.

Telomere Test – The Key To Anti-aging

One thing that almost every human being can attest to is the fear of aging because everyone wants to be forever young. Unfortunately, this is not possible because no matter what we try doing to reverse the process, it always catches up with us sooner or later.

However, what is possible is to age gracefully, and that is when we apply the anti-aging policy and a telomere test comes in handy when it comes to anti-aging. This is because it gives us a view of how the body cells are aging.

Telomeres are actually parts of the genetic material found in one’s body. Strategically placed at the end of ones chromosomes, they prevent them from wearing when the cells replicate. According to scientists, the telomere which acts as a protective gear to the chromosome is what really helps to determine how and at what rate one is aging.

This is determined when a study is conducted on the chromosomes. It is noted that as the cell ages, the telomeres at its ends become shorter. Being that they are located at the tip of the chromosome, as one grows old, they become too short and inhibit the process of cell replication. This means that the cells cease to multiply and eventually die.

Thanks to the advance in technology, one is able to measure their cells biological age via a telomere test. The interesting thing about it is the fact that however complicated it sounds; it is just a simple blood test. All that is needed from the person taking the test is a drop of blood.

From the blood, the doctors get samples of your chromosomes and with that they are able to observe the telomeres. Once they examine them they are able to compare their length in relation to one’s age. It is with such information that one is able to know if they are ageing at a faster rate than people in their age group.

Once telomere test has been administered and the problem detected. One is advised on how to slow down the loss of telomere by their chromosomes thus slowing down the aging process. When one follows the instructions and medications to the letter, they are assured of a slower aging rate, thus we say it is an anti-aging remedy.

It is clear that a telomere test plays a very important role in the life of human beings. With such technology in place, people can be sure of ageing with grace.

6 Tips For Investment Planning Freedom

Most individuals invest with the sole aim of securing the uncertain financial future. With this in mind, having the right investment planning knowledge is paramount in order for you to achieve the pre-set financial goals, both long-term and short-term.

As a new investor, making the right investment choice can be a bit tricky. Thanks to the numerous investment avenues and half baked truths, the investment field has become more dynamic and much trickier than before.

Fortunately, in the subsequent paragraphs you will get to learn on the basic investment planning tips and tricks, all meant to ensure that you derive maximum output from your investment venture. They include:

Create A Budget

A budget is necessary as it allows you to track where the money goes into. It plays a critical role in investment planning. It will also aid you in the mastery of the right financial discipline which in the end allows you to free some money which goes into better use. It cautions you against unnecessary expenditures.

Pay Off Your Debts

As much as you need and want to invest, you can never do this as long as you have unpaid bills. Ensure you pay off credit card debts as soon as possible as this kind of debt tends to attract huge interest rates which drain off your cash.

Put Away Some Cash

Another awesome point into wise investment is by placing some cash away for the rainy days. These emergencies can occur at any moment of our lives. Ensure you place an amount capable of paying bills equivalent to several months. All you need is a savings account with zero hidden charges.

Savings Program

This is simply achieved by opening a recurring deposit account. This sort of account serves you by deducting a certain amount of cash from your paycheck on a monthly basis which is deposited straight into the account. Another fabulous point to note is that money in this sort of account attracts a certain interest percentage on the savings.

Invest Widely And Expansively

This includes investing in education, pension schemes, retirement insurance plans, self-help groups and so much more. Try and get both auto and life insurance from the same company as you will get high returns and discounts for multi-policies. You may also go for tax exemptions which generally lower your taxes.

Diversify Your Investment Portfolio

In investment planning, it is prudent that you do not carry all your eggs in one basket. This is where your risk tolerance goes a long way into determining exactly how you define your investment approach. Equity based mutual funds are suitable for those having a high risk tolerance, while bonds and safe securities for those seeking lower risk exposure.

If you are in the area, look at investment planning services in Midland.

Fundraising Tips For Charities

Getting money for charity isn’t easy nowadays. People who want to manage charity organizations may find it difficult to succeed if they don’t know how to raise funds. It is therefore important to know some fundraising tips and apply them when you need money to help those who are in need. Money is a tool and shouldn’t be a hindrance when you have laudable projects to do.

The first thing you may think of is asking your friends and members of your family. This is not a bad idea because these are the people who can give you the greatest support you need. Apart from giving you the money, your brother or your best friends can also help you to raise funds for the project. You can also write a fundraising letter and send it to colleagues at work, school, residential area and so on. You may give some of these to your friends to also help you distribute to people who will be willing to help.

Some people may want to know the essence of the program before they give out their hard earned dollar. If you experience this a lot, you can simply organize a seminar to sensitize the people on what you have in mind. Try and invite so many people so that the contributions they make at the end of the day will amount to something very big. You can invite dignitaries like commissioners, heads of departments or your church leader. Many people will respond positively when they are aware that people like these will be present.

You can also go through social networking sites like Facebook. You can raise funds on Facebook by creating an engaging status. An engaging status can be made by adding pictures or videos to explain the project you are doing. For example, if you are trying to raise money for less privileged school children, you could paint a picture of a girl who’s going to school with torn notebooks in her hands. You can also create events on Facebook and invite your friends to attend.

Finally, try to organize a pub quiz where people who are invited will donate some money before participating. You could raise so much money from this method if you hold it in a place that attracts lots of people. The best time for this could be night when people come out with friends to pass time. You can make people respond more to this by including rewards such as cash, drinks or customized shirts.

Tips On How To Provide Quality Customer Service

Customer service is essential to every business. Some people think that it is only done by having people who can answer queries and accept complaints. On the other hand, real customer service is around everyone. It is how people deal with customers every single day.

There are many things that can lead to good and bad customer service experiences. These things are often remembered by customers thus affecting how people regard a certain company. Therefore, it is important to ensure that good customer service is provided to avoid bad feedback from customers which can affect a business’s revenue.

Here are some helpful tips on how to provide quality customer service.

Conduct Proper Training

No matter how big or small a business is, it is essential to train people properly especially when it comes to dealing with customers. Let your staff know the value of customer service and conduct brain storming sessions to help them understand how to handle different scenarios. This way, they can remain calm and efficient even if there are customers who are irate.

Hire Qualified People

Hiring people who have skills and good manners is like having a team of good soldiers. The success of every enterprise does not only depend on the leader but also through the help of the staff. As you get people who will handle tasks in your business, see to it that you review their resume well. Ask questions that are pertinent to the job that the applicant is applying for to know if he or she can handle what is expected of her. Background checks can be a good option to determine if the person has any records of treating customers badly and other types of misconduct. If the person has a previous employer, you may call him or her so you can ask questions and gather information about the applicant’s performance.

Let Customers Talk

Quality customer service does not only happen when someone is mad, shouting and complaining. Good customer service experts can be done at all times by making sure that customers have a chance to air their side. You can create a suggestion box or provide feedback forms to your customers so they can put their thoughts about the company’s products and services. If a customer provides his or her contact number, you can take time to inform him or her how his or her feedback can help the company improve.

Jeff Canady Houston

What To Look For In An Accounting Firm

Hiring a competent and professional accounting firm is important so that the results you obtain from them are effective and helpful for your business. However, before hiring an accounting firm, it is important to know what to look for in an accounting firm such as understanding your business. Your accounting firm should be able to give you expert advice and guidance on all your personal and business matters.

Your accounting firm should also understand the many and various tax codes so that you can pay your taxes on time and in the right amount. In addition, your accounting firm should also understand the tax benefits, accruals and tax deductions that apply to you and your business.

The choice you make with an accounting firm should also include connections to other lawyers who can assist and be an asset to your business.

Most importantly, make sure that your accounting firm is certified. An accounting firm that is certified will be more apt to know what you need. In addition, your accounting firm should also have a solid and long work history and be able to provide you with several recommendations. The firm you choose should also be able to give you at least five to seven references. With those references, be sure to check each one.

Another area to look into when considering an account firm is to find out if they provide information on the best strategies to help lower your personal income tax in relation to your company.

It is important to note that an accounting firm should be able to prepare your year-end financial statements and guide you as to whether monthly or quarterly financial statements would work best for you. Another area to look for in an accounting firm is to ensure that they meet with you on a regular basis to discuss new opportunities, current business operations and possible changes in the future that will affect you and your business.

http://www.canadycanady.com/

Printer Ink Cartridges: Knowing Your Options

In the event that the ink cartridge of your printer runs dry, there are three main options that you can choose from: purchase an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) cartridge; purchase a compatible printer ink cartridge, or refill the ink cartridge yourself.

Purchase an OEM Cartridge
When it comes to replacing your ink cartridge, perhaps your safest bet is to purchase a replacement printer ink from the same manufacturer that made your printer. Just make it certain to choose a cartridge that is specifically designed for your printer model. While this is probably the easiest and safest approach, the main disadvantage is that OEM cartridges do not come cheap.

Purchase a Compatible Printer Ink Cartridge
There are actually a lot of firms these days that manufacture printer ink cartridges that are compatible with nearly all brands as well as models of printers sold in the market. Such printer inks costs considerably less as opposed to OEM cartridges. There have been claims saying that making use of non-original printer ink cartridges can harm your printer and even void its warranty. However, there have been no hard facts to corroborate such statements. Your warranty will not be void given that you make use of an ink cartridge that is designed primarily for your particular type of printer. Also, most often than not, the quality of the printouts that you would get using compatible ink cartridges is comparable to the results that you can acquire from OEM cartridges.

Refill Your Printer Ink Cartridge
You also have a choice to simply have your empty printer ink cartridge refilled either by yourself, using a DIY kit, or through an ink cartridge refilling station. This approach is actually the least expensive of all. However, the main downside of this is that this can be an extremely messy job. In case you do opt to have your empty ink cartridge refilled using a refilling kit, you should make it certain that you have lots of old newspapers scattered on the area that you are planning to work on, since printer inks can be very hard to tidy up after. Also, most ink cartridges must never be refilled twice or trice.

Whether you opt to purchase an original printer ink, a compatible ink cartridge, or perhaps have your cartridge refilled, it is imperative that you try to recycle your cartridges. You not only get to obtain money back if you choose to recycle your cartridges, but you also get to do something good for the environment in the process.

Susan Kasi

The Functional Consultant

New Dell 24" Monitor (5)

When I am not watching Big Bang Theory episode list with the amazing Big Bang Theory cast list (check out comedytvshows.org for more), I do this:

A map is not functional until you know where you are on it. Consultants that objectively view their current reality always find a way to reduce confusion and misalignment. Agreement with yourself and your clients about what is true right now—in your company, in your project, in your life—is critical for making clear headway.

Get a Grip

There’s an old saying: “what you resist, you’re stuck with.” I’ve noticed this is particularly true with creative consultants and their work. If you’re not clear what your current job really is and you’ve skipped doing a complete and thorough inventory, you’re going to have a hard time making things happen for your client.

What is your job, right now! What is the main priority today? It is seldom as obvious as you might think. You can best answer that one question by answering these six:

1) What are your current tasks? These may be physical actions you need to take right now about your commitments and responsibilities: phone calls, e-mails, converstations, errands, brainstorming ideas, and so on. Typically a busy consultant can have as much as one or two hundred of these to do.

2) What are your current projects? These are the outcomes you have agreed with yourself to achieve, remeber you are an independent professional and must keep your word to yourself. There’s no one setting your agenda, in fact you are being paid to set it. Now, which of these outcomes requires more than one action to complete. Most consultants have between thirty and one hundred of these.

3) What, exactly, are your current areas of responsibility? Most consultants have ten or fifteen, like staff development, asset management, planning oversight, customer service, etc. But you’re NOT running, nor are you responsible for the WHOLE company. Leave that to the owner or CEO.

4) How are your consulting responsibilities and your personal affairs going to be changing over the next year? I’ve found that the truly effective, high dollar consultants I’ve known and worked with, have taken the time to mesh their work with their lives. You are a one person conglomerate, but also, a living-breathing human being that has ‘outside’ considerations for a well-rounded life. If you don’t consider consulting an extentsion of a real life, a flesh and blood existence, but rather, something altogether seperate, placed in a box called: ‘consulting work’, then you’ll fail most of the time and be very unhappy nearly all of the time.

5) How is this life I lead going to change over the next five years. This is the big picture question, the vision of how things should be, not necessarily how they will be, into the near future. Why is this important? Because, in the quest for the answer to our question above, namely, what is your job right now, we can get a nearly crystal clear answer when we extend our vision into a larger field. By this I mean, you can see if your current job selection is aiding you in your long-term visionary goal.

If you ocmplete a thorough inventory of the ocmmitments, issues, and projects that currently exist in your ocnsultancy and life on earth, espeically in these six areas, you will have a good definition of your work. This isn’t easy stuff, I know. I’ve spent over fifteen hours just identifying my work on two mundane levels: current actions and projects. But wihtout doing these things I don’t feel prepared, nor am I prepared to have conversation with my clients.

It’s all very useful work, however, should I need to re-calibrate my job description or deal with needed changes along the way. So many people have just a vague desription or ‘feeling’ about what they want to do or be in the future. But without a reality based reference point of where they are, right now, they are like the Flying Dutchman, doomed to drift.

So, know where you are on the map, so you can determine if you need to turn right or left.

photo by: William Hook

Why Hire an IT Consultant

2009: Where I do what I do

Many business owners these days are asking, is it best to hire an IT consultant instead of add a regular employee to the workforce to take care of the IT? Well, if you also happen to have the same concern, here are several factors that might help you to decide. Read on:

Activity – Take into account your company’s scope as well as its use of technology. How often do you give out presentations and conduct video conferences? Does your company depend on 24/7 connections to keep customers happy? Do you also have office branches in other far away locations or staffs that work remotely? Your company’s size may help establish whether you require a regular fulltime IT technician to keep things operating smoothly or not. A smaller business may realize that having an additional in-house staff to handle the IT is much costlier as opposed to simply outsourcing.

Knowledge – When interviewing a prospective service provider for a non regular or outsourced position, you should check first with local companies that specialize when it comes to Voice-Over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) as well as business Internet connectivity. Contingent upon the firms that you get in touch with, many may possess several years of solid experience installing phones as well as conferencing equipment. However, with interviewing applicants for a fulltime position, you need to depend on CVs and references. In case you want top-notch knowledge and skills in Information Technology, then you should decide on how you will be finding the apt individual for the task.

My Desktop
Money – Certainly, you should determine if you are able to afford paying a regular salary as well as compensation packages to a regular IT staff. If you choose to outsource, then there is no need for you to worry about insurance, paid vacations and retirement. You only need to contact the IT professional when you require their assistance, and pay them only for their rendered services. A regular IT employee may not necessarily be considered a drain to your company; however, consider thinking carefully of the investment as well as if having a full time employee in the workplace is really needed.

When the market is strong, which enables your company to thrive, it would be in your best interest to maximize on enhancements in telecommunications to be able to further promote that growth. Either it necessitates bringing in somebody new to the office or employing an IT consultant for intermittent visits, this is something which you very much need to think about as well as decide for your company’s well being.

Susan Kasi

Mobile Gaming App Development Explained

Angry Birds

The only thing that I can think of that I feel is more fun than gaming is watching Supernatural! Look at this for an excellent Supernatural guide.

If you’re not familiar with mobile games, you will be soon because this is the next big area of growth expected in the billion dollar gaming market. A mobile game is a computer software game played on a mobile phone. Mobile games are usually downloaded via the mobile operator’s network, but in some cases games are also loaded into the mobile handsets when purchased, or via infrared connection, Bluetooth or memory card. Mobile games are developed using technologies such as DoCoMo’s DoJa, Sun’s J2ME, Qualcomm’s BREW (Binary Runtime for Wireless) or Infusio’s ExEn (Execution Environment). Other platforms are also available, but not as common.

The different platforms

BREW is the more powerful technology, giving, as it does, complete control of the handset and complete access to its functionality. However this unchecked power could be dangerous, and for this reason BREW development process is tailored mainly towards recognised software vendors. While the BREW SDK (Software Development Kit) is freely available, running software on real mobile hardware (as opposed to the provided emulator) requires a digital signature which can only be generated with tools issued by a handful of parties, namely mobile content providers and Qualcomm themselves. Even then, the game will only work on test enabled devices. To be downloadable on regular phones the software must be checked, tested and given approval by Qualcomm via their TRUE BREW Testing programme.

Java (aka “J2ME” / “Java ME” / “Java 2 Micro Edition”) runs atop a Virtual Machine (called the KVM) which allows reasonable, but not complete, access to the functionality of the underlying phone. This extra layer of software provides a solid barrier of protection which seeks to limit damage from erroneous or malicious software. It also allows Java software to move freely between different types of phone (and other mobile device) containing radically different electronic components, without modification. The price that is paid is a modest decrease in the potential speed of the game and the inability to utilise the entire functionality of a phone (as Java software can only do what this middle-man layer supports.)

Because of this extra security and compatibility, it is usually a quite simple process to write and distribute Java mobile applications, including games, to a wide range of phones. Usually all that is needed is a freely available Java Development Kit for creating Java software itself, the accompanying Java ME tools (known as the Java Wireless Toolkit) for packaging and testing mobile software, and space on a web server (web site) to host the resulting application once it is ready for public release.

Current limitations of mobile games

Mobile games tend to be small in scope and often rely on good gameplay over flashy graphics, due to the lack of processing power of the client devices. One major problem for developers and publishers of mobile games is describing a game in such detail that it gives the customer enough information to make a purchasing decision. Currently, mobile games are sold through network carriers and operators portals, meaning there are only a few lines of text and perhaps a screenshot of the game to entice the customer. There is a reliance on powerful brands and licences such as Tomb Raider or Colin McRae, a racing game. There is also the use of well-known and established play patterns, meaning game play mechanics that are instantly recognizable in games like Tetris, Space Invaders or Poker. Both these strategies are used to entice mobile gamers to purchase games for a fee when a limited amount of additonal information is provided by the wireless carrier, who typically acts as a third party hosting the game.

Recent innovations in mobile games include Singleplayer, Multiplayer and 3D graphics. Virtual love games belong to both of singleplayer and multiplayer games. Multiplayer games are quickly finding an audience, as players find the ability to play against other people, a natural extension of their mobile phone’s connectivity.

Copied with permission from: http://plrplr.com/32671/mobile-gaming-explained/

photo by: Johan Larsson

Looking At Getting Into Mobile Development?

Look at this mobile landscape video!

And if you want to hire a programmer, look at fairpattern.com.

Increasing Your Bottom Line

New Desk (2)

As a small business, your focus on the bottom line is always crucial. But how do you increase your bottom line? Increasing the bottom line can happen two ways. One way is to reduce expenses. The other is to increase sales. Of course – that’s Business 101, right? But how does a small or home-based business on a shoe string budget do those things?

Reducing expenses

It all adds up! Five dollars here, ten dollars there, maybe a couple hundred somewhere else. Take a good hard look at the services you’re using. Are they all optimized for what you use? A good example is your phone service. Are you signed up for an unlimited long distance calling plan? If not, you should! If you’re using a service like eFax, be sure that you’re on a plan that matches your monthly usage. Same goes for a service like Freedom Voice. Be sure that the number of minutes you’re signed up for each month is in line with how much you use the service.

Current Setup

You can also reduce expenses by making good use of a virtual assistant. A professional virtual assistant can not only help keep an eye on your bottom line, but s/he can save you money because you only pay for what you use. There’s no need to hire a bricks-and-mortar temp service and pay for four hours each time you need a one hour task completed. A virtual assistant is essentially on stand-by for whenever you need her and she only clocks in when she’s working on your tasks. This saves huge amounts of money over in-office assistance and bricks-and-mortar staffing agencies.

Hiring a virtual assistant also helps reduce, actually eliminate, the cost of hiring an assistant. When you make the decision to hire a staff member, if you’re considering an in-house person, you need to factor in the cost of an additional phone line (or two), an additional computer, desk, office chair, etc. With a virtual assistant you don’t need any of those things. All virtual assistants come with their own equipment to get the job done!

Increasing sales

Not enough of you to go around? Write up the sales procedure you use, along with the phone script, give her the qualifiers (what makes a good customer for you), send your virtual assistant the names and phone numbers you want called, and have her cold call and qualify leads for you. Imagine being out and about during the day following up on all those leads she finds you! Talk about saving you time and helping you make more money. You can even take it one step further and ask your virtual assistant to send out the preliminary information to your potential customers. Now that’s making good use of your time and your virtual assistant’s time!

Sending out letters and postcards? Have your virtual assistant do it! As a business owner you shouldn’t be spending your time licking envelopes and stamping cards – it should be selling or servicing your customers. What dollar amount do you bill for your time? $50 per hour? $75 or $100 an hour? Isn’t it more cost effective to have a $20 per hour assistant handling those menial tasks for you?

Have your virtual assistant answer your inbound calls for you. How many times during the day does someone call that you don’t really need to talk to – that someone else could handle. How about the time wasters who call just wanting to chit chat? Let your virtual assistant screen those out for you. Better still – train her on the types of calls that come into your office and teach her how to handle each call type. Again, this frees up your time to do what you do best!

A virtual assistant cannot only help you save money, which of course impacts the bottom line, but he or she can also help you make more money.

corporate finance pdf

structured settlements and annuities

Copied with permission from: http://plrplr.com/14188/increasing-your-bottom-line/

How To Work With A Virtual Assistant (Video)

I recently found an excellent YouTube video on how to work with virtual assistants. Some excellent tips here:

Relax with binaural beats.

5 Things To Consider Before You Hire A Virtual Assistant

T i e d o k a s

Understanding What a Virtual Assistant Can Do

I hear the term “Virtual Assistant” more and more in business. Did you know that you could possibly hire someone from another continent that works while you sleep and maybe for $8 – $12 Dollars. Mos t of the VA’s I work with have degrees and one an MBA in Business Admin. I pay her a pautry $15.00 per hour and what a bargain that is.

With the growth of virtual assistants has also been a change in what it means to be a virtual assistant. The leaders and founders of this particular entrepreneurial job have made distinctions between what it means to be a virtual assistant, and what it doesn’t mean. When you are explaining your business to others, you want to make sure to keep this standard.

Being a virtual office support assistant is becoming a distinct definition of a specific home owned business. It is expected that the standards will be upheld of a virtual assistant for all others who are working in this profession. This means that a virtual assistant is someone who provides a variety of services to businesses and individuals following the standard that has become formalized in the past decade.

The first angle that is taken towards approaching what a virtual assistant is includes the idea of being virtual. If you are not working out of your home, or remotely, then you are not considered a virtual assistant. Instead, it is considered to be a temporary job or a telecommuting job. One of the standards for being a virtual assistant is having the freedom to work where you want.

The second part to being a virtual assistant is the distinction that is made in the job description. Most virtual assistants will cringe at the idea of being called a secretary or freelance worker. Technically, a freelance worker is one who only does the job for extra income. At the same time, a secretary is one who doesn’t do the work continuously with only one client. A virtual assistant is provided in order to create a substantial and long term relationship with a business.

Here are 5 things you should consider in a Virtual Assistant?

73/366 ~ trapped

1. Professionalism. Does the VA answer her or his emails, voicemails and other correspondence in a timely and professional manner? It is important if this person is to work for you has the right skills to not keep you or a deadline waitng. Make sure you give a covert task to her or him to pass that shows comittment to deadlines.

2. Project Management. Juggling tasks nowadays is vital. We now tap out feet in front of the microwave so things need to get done. If a person cannot work with a few projects on the go you might want to move on. I guarantee you will only find out that they have a project management problem when you lose “the big deal”.

3. Availability. Many of these people work for several people at the same time. It is not uncommon for you as an employer to be in a funnel system for the VA. You slowly move down the funnel as they take on better contracts from new virtual employers. Be aware that you and your project will get dropped at the most time you least need it. You also need to be lining up new VA’s. Try to split your work between 2 or more VA’s to combat this problem.

4. Test. Give the VA a mini project before going ahead with a contract. I also give a minimum of 2 tasks that cost no more than $30 -$40 to complete. I need them done correctly and to my total satisfaction before I even consider this person. It is simple to hire one of the first few people to come along but please shortlist at least 10 and give the tasks to 2 of the 10 you shortlisted. Obviously make sure these tasks are something you actually want doe, dont waste any money.

5. Get References. Can the VA give you a list of people whom you can contact who will tell you about working with her or him?

The main distinction that most virtual assistants will work towards creating is the idea of being in a relationship with a business, and making this their business. This goes beyond the Expectations of any temporary work or telecommuting job. It also means that the services a virtual assistant can provide will go outside of job descriptions that are made in the office. By understanding the standards for being a virtual assistant, you can best approach this in your own relationships with businesses.

Copied with permission from: http://plrplr.com/5319/5-things-to-consider-before-you-hire-a-virtual-assistant/

photos by: C Jill Reed & Pörrö

Educational Changes In The Field Of Information Technology

CAT5e / RJ-45

As the information technology industry has grown, so have the related educational opportunities. Educational curriculum isn’t always the best gauge of industry changes within a particular field, although the rules which make that fact a plainly evident reality for most industries rarely apply in the modern world of information technology. In fact, unlike disciplines such as medicine, the very nature of the current IT industry promotes the idea that advancements in technology are only truly valid and successful when they are recognized and widely accepted by all. For this reason, IT curriculum is often on the heels of the latest developments, with competition among educational providers also helping to spur the cutting edge component of the coursework.

Lately, another trend is beginning to emerge, with more universities offering specializations in the field of IT. While IT and computer science related programs with specializations are becoming more commonplace than ever, the marriage of IT and education was not always such a happy, fruitful union. Not long ago, computer science curriculum could be summed up in two phrases: network administration and programming. Large scale hardware and software IT implementations were performed by technicians certified by Cisco or Microsoft. These were the certifications one sought after they graduated from college but before attempting to find employment. Now, with the implementation and operation of server based corporate intranet systems having long ago been de-mystified, most IT professionals are going from cap and gown to business casual with few if any stops along the way. The reason this is possible has a lot to do with changes in the educational system’s view of information technology.

Most institutions are moving toward a diverse curriculum that incorporates IT fundamentals with an emphasis on a particular area of specialization. Educational institutions are reacting to the needs of employers in the job market. From the implementation of infrastructures to systems security, an area of study that once might have had a course or two devoted to it now comprises an entire degree program.

The result of these changes in the educational landscape regarding IT is indeed a direct reflection of changes in the workplace. As alterations to the structure of IT management have occurred, so have evolutions in the way IT personnel are educated and trained.

Copied with permission from: http://plrplr.com/31118/educational-changes-in-the-field-of-information-technology/

photo by: Justin Marty

Excel Association Management Review

Communities have numerous associations which provide various services, both for-profit and nonprofit, that have numerous investors relying upon accurate managerial assistance to propagate various fiduciary, human resource and general property overseeing. Without Excel Association Management, many large companies would actually falter.  Frontline support in all facets of associations is what Excel provides.  Here’s generally how Excel propels Board of Directors’ goal sets through precision managerial solutions, widely touted and impossible to live without.

Expedient Research And Bookkeeping

Understanding market analyses, albeit on smaller scales, simply takes too much time for board members with work which takes them away from their offices.  Competition unseen through other intuitive research methods reveal where other associations around yours falls under, or above, your current fundraising markers. By delivering timely figures, facts and stratagems which community associations can easily understand, financial calendars and ad campaigns could be formulated.  Excel Association Management provides one-stop reporting for all areas of market research, locally and nationally.

In addition to our researching prowess, administrative functions including records keeping, audit assistance, data entry and many other admin needs are handled right at Excel with accuracy.

Management Of Properties

Association offices often remain closed due to staff hitting the pavement, corralling investors or beginning fundraisers.  Excel Association Management provides property management which includes around the clock maintenance, tracking of work orders, dispatching law enforcement to protect and serve your property when compromised and more.  Trusting your property will care for itself while you’re attending important association functions puts your company at risk; let us take care of your needs for you.

We’re Great At Negotiation

Having bargained the North Texas Tollway Land Annexation, imbued our project management skills in several large renovation projects and even partaken in Screen Wall refurbishment in Carrollton, our experience in keeping quality high with comfortable pricing means we’ll invest time, expertise and research to make sure every project your association is planning, including land development or major cosmetic appearance changes, are overseen by decades of expert project managerial experience.  Excel Association Management also has extensive experience working with developers of community associations to promulgate new ideas.

Our Communities Need Stability

Special interest groups and loving community members volunteer with Excel, yet deploying our association management skills is your one-way ticket to permanent community change and not simply and over-glorification of the obvious. The community needed an association geared towards permanent change while helping other associations, and has it now; your continued humility and provisions are appreciated as we continually support communities, their associations and making strong futures for everyone these associations benefit.  Excel Association Management provides many services which, when culminated together, handle the affairs of Board Members busy outside their office doors with making our villages, cities and townships better places to live, work and play.

Look at http://excelam.com for more information.

A Short IT Consultant Interview

Anyone interested in a career in IT consulting may want to check out this video.