Actual for You - Business

Managing Change - Air Cover
Imagine you’re landing on the beach in war and I guess we could say you are like those poor unfortunate souls, the Cuban Freedom Fighters (if you’re old enough to remember that one) who landed down there during the Bay of Pigs and were slaughtered because in the last minute, maybe hours, President Kennedy withdrew his support.In the change wars going in across the land people aren’t killed but careers are, everyday. Let me explain the connection. When you start a change war you have to have a team and you have to give that team support. Every leader of course says they will, but in reality, just as in the Bay of Pigs, it is often withdrawn at a critical moment.A case in point was a few years ago when I was Vice President of one of America’s high flying companies my boss started a change war. Now the politics in this tech giant (who thought they had no politics) would rival Washington on their best day. Our CEO was from Europe so his former business unit over there could do no wrong and when they did you’d better turn your head quick. Well, that wasn’t my style.My boss had some bad blood with the supply chain folks from over

d The Directory of Mail Order Catalogs from Grey House Publishing (www.greyhouse.com; 800-562-2139; $250).

Trade associations are usually an excellent source of mailing lists. Better associations always list the industry’s major players. Local associations like the Chamber of Commerce in your area are usually good for local business names. You can select by business size, number of employees, SIC code (the government’s industry classification of each business), or any of a multitude of other selection parameters. Two great sources for finding associations are reference books from Columbia Books, Inc. (888-265-0600; www.columbiabooks.com) publishers of the State

To Be or Not to Be a Medical Transcriptionist
Is medical transcription the right career choice for you? It certainly isn't for everyone. Without excellent grammar and spelling skills, it would be impossible to do. It also demands a listening skill that is almost supernatural. If you think doctors' signatures are bad, you should hear their dictations! I've actually heard doctors dictate things like, "Umpphacarumpaluma viral meningitis," and "Breath sounds are clafuandparmsolufbiraferty." Of course, not all doctors are nightmare dictators. Some are very clear and precise in their dictations. Sometimes the problem does not rest with the dictator at all, but with their dictation equipment.Here is a list of problems you might encounter as a Medical Transcriptionist:* Bad sound quality on dictations. Some doctors sound as if they are dictating from underwater.* High noise levels in the background. Some doctors sound as if they are dictating from a frat party.* Other strange background noises: Clicks, whirs, crashes, ringing phones, crying babies, arguments, sirens, alarms, yawns, and noises too bizarre to describe.But for those select few who can get past those

There are two types of lists, determined by their origin: compiled lists and response lists.

Compiled lists are a common source of names and records that have been gathered, collected, and entered into a database. The names may have been acquired through public records such as vehicle owner registrations or high school teachers. Directories, such as a directory of plant maintenance engineers, are usually compiled lists. Many lists are compiled from categories in phone books across the U.S. Examples would be all the photography shops or all the luggage dealers in the United States. Or all the plumbing supply dealers.

Keep in mind that compiled information - like fish - gets old rather quickly and doesn’t age particularly well.

Response lists are data from people who have responded to an ad or who have purchased from a catalog, direct mail package, TV ad,or other offer.

With any mailing you are considering, first ask precisely what groups or what characteristics make up the perfect audience. Then try to find a list that matches these definable characteristics closely.

Good delivery percentages of your mailing piece to a specific audience can usually be found in lists of magazine subscribers. These lists are usually very targeted to their audience, and good because most publishers are extremely prompt with their name and address corrections. Call a magazine publisher and ask if their subscriber list is for sale, then ask for the name of their list broker.

There are over 10,000 magazines published so you can probably get a magazine subscription list that goes straight to your perfectly targeted buyers. If you’re not sure what magazines would be best, there are some easy-to-use periodical directories found in most reference libraries. The best directories of magazines are Burrelle’s Directory of Magazines (800-USMEDIA), Bacons (800-621-0561), SRDS (800-851- SRDS), and Oxbridge Communications Standard Periodical Directory (800-955-0231). If you can’t find the exact targeted magazine filled with the eager-to-buy-your-product subscribers you are looking for in any of these directories, the publication doesn’t exist. You can find any industry - and all the magazines that are sent to that industry - in under 10 minutes in these useful directories.

Catalog houses earn a good portion of their revenue from the sale of their lists. Call the catalog and ask for their business office, then ask who handles their list sales. Almost all catalog houses sell their lists. Catalog houses can be found in the Catalog of Catalogs from Woodbine House Publications (www.woodbinehouse.com; 800-843-7323; $28.95 PPD), and The Directory of Mail Order Catalogs from Grey House Publishing (www.greyhouse.com; 800-562-2139; $250).

Tips On Changing Careers
A career is not only your livelihood but must also satisfy a person’s emotional and intellectual wants and needs. Very often, people cannot take up a career of their choice due to financial problems or other constraints. However, after a point of time, it becomes difficult to continue working on a job that you do not enjoy. A job change in the same career stream might not be the right solution. Hence, a change in career may be your only alternative.People tend to change their career when they are bored, fed up, or unhappy with their current one. They prefer looking for a more rewarding profession, one that aligns better with their skills, interests and values.As changing careers is a major decision, one has to seriously look at the possibilities and opportunities ahead before making a change. A smooth transition between careers is essential or else it can become traumatic. Keeping in mind a few tips will make the transition simpler and lead you in the right direction.Make A Self-AssessmentThis is the most important step to establish a workable career plan. Evaluate your experience, skills and interests in reference to

hat compiled information - like fish - gets old rather quickly and doesn’t age particularly well.

Response lists are data from people who have responded to an ad or who have purchased from a catalog, direct mail package, TV ad,or other offer.

Scranton, PA; A nice place to live, work or play
Scranton, PA who has copied the Painted Horses from Casper WY to draw in tourism has a few tricks still up their sleeves. For a town with a lot of old history, it is having some good growth in newer parts of the city and surrounding areas. One college age student we had a chance to talk to says most college age kids try to figure out a way to make thier place in the world outside of their hometown of Scranton, this maybe why these kids would good family values choose other cities to make their way in. Scranton of course known for it's history in coal mining and it's closeness to the Pocono Mountains, which are still and East Coast Favorite get away.http://poconofunguide.com/ .Coal mining in PA goes way back to the middle of the 1800's and it was always dangerous, if you ‘google’ the mining industry accidents in the state you will see what we mean. The demographics are good in Scranton, although it has been economically challenged as of late. Under-represented with minority populations but it is a good market never the less. Of value is the many industrial parks in the North Eastern Penn area and the good road situation South of tow

are extremely prompt with their name and address corrections. Call a magazine publisher and ask if their subscriber list is for sale, then ask for the name of their list broker.

Professional Parasites and Amateur Professionals Considered
Have you ever met a well-dressed Buzz Word Blitzing Professional Parasite Practitioner? Well they are everywhere, they say all the right things and then you wonder if you can trust the slick well dressed person and their substantially high rates.Recently in an article someone had pointed this out to me and a very good article indeed and in my business career let me tell you I have met tons of both Professional Parasites and also amateurs who had integrity and indeed were extremely professional and great to do business with. My favorite type of person to do business with is the true man of honor and character who dresses like a regular guy, calls an ace an ace and a spade a spade.He knows something inside that he is honorable and capable, sometimes he might use a swear word now and again. BS walks with him. He does what he says he will do and does not care what others might say about him personally, or perhaps does but generally never says a word about it. He despises professional parasites, but never to their face, cordial completely unless they cross him. I guess he the guy with the regular hat and all the land and cattle. Not the

you can’t find the exact targeted magazine filled with the eager-to-buy-your-product subscribers you are looking for in any of these directories, the publication doesn’t exist. You can find any industry - and all the magazines that are sent to that industry - in under 10 minutes in these useful directories.

Executive Search Firms
Executive search firms for job analysis use several techniques. The most important among them are interviews, direct observations, maintenance of long records, questionnaires and critical incidence techniques.There are two types of interviews that can be used for job analysis: individual interviews (with a group of employees who do the same job) and supervisory interviews (with one or more supervisors who are thoroughly knowledgeable about the job being analyzed). The interviewer has to collect accurate and complete data and information by creating a favorable attitude among employees and supervisors. The interviewer should introduce himself so that the workers know him. Who he is and why he is there? He has to do a complete job study within the objectives of the program. He has to verify the job information obtained, by consulting the other employees doing the same job.Direct observation is particularly useful in jobs that consist primarily of observable physical activity. One approach to this method is by observing the worker on the job during a complete work cycle. In the process, notes should be taken regarding all the job ac

d The Directory of Mail Order Catalogs from Grey House Publishing (www.greyhouse.com; 800-562-2139; $250).

Association lists and data are also available in the Encyclopedia of Associations by The Gale Group (800-877-GALE) on disk, CD, and on- line through Lexis-Nexis. This hardbound, three-volume set ($505) is the motherload of associations - showing detailed information on more than 23,000 local, state, national, and international associations.

Trade show lists are also great marketing tools - lists of both attendees and of exhibitors. Check out two great websites: www.tscentral.com and www.tradeshowweek.com for trade show information. The Tradeshow Week Data Book (213-965-5300; $355) is a great tool published by the editors of Tradeshow Week Magazine. Another great trade show directory is the TradeShows and Exhibits Schedule from Bill Communications (800-266-4712, 856-619-5800) - organized by industry, by location, by date, and in alphabetical order for fast look-ups.

Two excellent resources for investigating lists at the library are the SRDS Direct Marketing List Source™ (800-851-SRDS) and the Oxbridge Communications National Directory of Mailing Lists (800-955- 0231). We use both in our own office - they’re thorough and exceptionally easy to use. These reference tools are each about the size of the Manhattan phone book and contain nothing but list data: who owns what list, number of records in each, source of names and, list pricing. Both tools are available in major libraries.

List brokers are found in the phone book in every major city. They can be heaven, supplying incredible information, or hell, looking for that fast buck. Make sure you ask tons of questions before handing over any money. While you pay the broker, he actually works for the list owner - so take that into consideration when you ask questions and negotiate price.

A plethora of list managers of mailing lists can be found in the direct mail trade magazines such as Catalog Age & Direct Magazines: 203/ 358-9900, Target Marketing: 215/238-5300, Direct Marketing: 516/746- 6700, and DM News: 212/741-2095.

Some list brokers sell through their own catalog of mailing lists. These handy reference tools will give you an idea of just what’s out there - what kind of lists are available and counts of how many records exist in the thousands of different list categories. Want to know how many dentists there are? It’s a piece of cake: 190,168 are members of the ADA. Want to know if there is a list of picky ale drinkers? Find the list of “Ale in the Mail-Continuity Membe

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Eileen gives a tried and true business plan for running your MLM company so as to not just sign people up, but actually keep them in the company.

Throughout our industries, both public and private, there persists a perception that motivation is a commodity to be handed out by the manager at his own discretion. Nobody seems to consider the effect of what would happen, if instead of finding time for motivational speeches and conferences, we spent the same amount of time and energy looking for the reasons that people become demotivated in the first place, then simply get rid of those reasons.

As a solo-professional or small business owner, you have many responsibilities. Not only do you have to run your business you also have to market that business. But just how should you divvy up your day?

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