Business Consulting Articles

In general terms, Net Present Value (NVP) signifies the time value of money through periodic fluctuation. NVP calculations are performed to determine the outcome of various investment-related decisions. The basic concept of NVP revolves around the fact that a sum of money carries greater importance in present times as compared to future mainly because the investment returns of that amount would certainly be higher today than tomorrow. rnMost capital budgeting decisions are ba

Over a period of five years I have interviewed several successful people to uncover the secrets to their success. One of the many questions that I ask is “in your opinion, what is the formula for success?” Another question is “What are some lessons that you have learned so far?” I culled 10 formulas for success and 15 lessons learned to share, since learning from others, helps to shorten the learning curve. Formulas for Success - I take care of myself as well as my company.

by: Geoff Ficke A “Wanna Be” Entrepreneur in Reality Is a“Wantrepreneur” and Will Never Be Successful Very few of the hundreds of Consumer Product projects that my Branding and Marketing Consulting firm review each year ever go much beyond the talking stage. Talk is cheap. Dreamers dream. Successful entrepreneurs are relatively rare. The necessary makeup to compete in the marketplace of ideas and products is in fairly short supply.

I HATE MY JOB… By John Grubbs …as a supervisor and there is nothing I can really do about it. I accepted this promotion to supervisor because I need to improve things for my family. I can’t stand confrontation and don’t like dealing with other people’s problems. I don’t really know what I am doing, I haven’t received much training and I am simply “winging it” almost daily. No one told me that supervision would be like this and I am not sure what I should do next. If I admit the truth, I will be viewed as a failure and the company will never offer me another opportunity in the future.

Tales of successes are all around just waiting to be discovered.

If you’ve been working for any length of time like I have, you’ve experienced the full gamut of managers – from the terrific to the terribly toxic. The terrific inspire us to do our best, encourage and teach us, recognize our efforts and create an environment where we want to come to work each ...

As a multi-VA business owner, I’ve hired a lot of VA’s over the years. At the same time, I’ve been hired as a VA and later, as an OBM many, many times. So I’ve learned a few things about how to hire and how not to hire VA’s. Here are my top 7 tips so that you don’t have to make the mistakes I’ve seen (and done)! 1. Shed the employee mindset. Hiring a VA is different than hiring an employee, and if you approach it the same way, you’re setting yourself and the VA up for failure. Approach the process as the start of a partnership rather than an employer-employee relationship.

In industrialised countries, development is associated with the growth of consulting services. Developing countries have inadequate consulting services which are of uneven quality. In India demand for management consulting has grown and will continue to grow on account of competetion and changes ...

A young lady confidently walked around the room while leading and rnexplaining stress management to an audience;with a raised glass of rnwater, and everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, rn'half empty or half full?'..... she fooled them all..."How heavy is rnthis glass of water?", she inquired with a smile. Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz. She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how rnlong I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold

Security is always going to be an issue that needs to be of conce when you operate any business. It doesn't matter if you own a small business that is working out of your home or if you own a large business that spans several offices, you need to be careful about the data that is being collected. In some cases, it is a matter of being responsible for your customers if you collect their Social Security numbers, credit card numbers or other sensitive data.

For many of us as business owners, we feel unprepared for the leadership roles we find ourselves in. Perhaps you wanted to grow a small empire, and maybe you had management experience previously in your career, and yet I talk to so many entrepreneurs who still don’t feel confident about their ability to lead. It’s a common myth that leadership skills are either something you are either born with or you’re not. The reality is that leadership is a learned skill that you can take steps to improve.

by: Geoff Ficke How a Simple Box Concept Changed World Trade And Fostered the Rise of a 3rd World Middle Class

A Soundproof Window will reduce noise levels by 75-95%. This is much better than any replacement window. SOUNDPROOF WINDOWS will act as a sound barrier and eliminate your noise problem. More than 90% of all the exterior noise comes in through your doors and windows - your walls are almost never the problem.nnSoundproof Windows WorknSoundproof Window works in conjunction with the existing exterior window to create a Sound Buffer Zone of air space that seals out noise, drafts a

Tidal flows are an important part of navigation at sea and have to be considered when plotting your course to steer. The gravitational forces created by the sun and moon on the rotation of the earth, affect the rise and fall of ocean water, this is called tide and happens twice each day. Such rise and fall of water levels causes changes in the depth of the water level and produces oscillating currents. These are known as tidal streams. Wind can further influence water levels and intensity of tidal stream. Learning to sail requires in-depth knowledge of seawater levels at all times.

There are two methods for dealing with missing data that have become available in mainstream statistical software in the last few years. These two methods are vast improvements over traditional approaches, as described in Limitations to Common Approaches to Missing Data. This article outlines these two methods.nnBoth of the methods discussed here require that the missing data mechanism is ignorable, that is, not related to the missing values (see Missing Data Mechanisms). If

There are tricks and tools that pro paint and body, racing teams, and street modders use to change their cars or motorcycles from ordinary to awesome; you probably know about some of the most obvious; wheels, lowering kits, engine modifications - but SimCarbon is a company that the best modders and body men know. They have a line of high quality carbon fiber vinyl wrap that is among the best on the market. 3M was one of the first companies to develop this wrap under the name

Declining reimbursements, increased overhead, implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the rush to litigation are but a few of the reasons to "sweat the small stuff" in the medical arena. If you don't think you need to pay attention to the details when it comes to making your patients happy as well as healthy, think again. If ever there was a time to mind your medical manners, it's now.

You differentiate about Google places. Google places can hold office a free of mugging aid from search gadget giant, Google. Inca ate gives map views, hyped up directions, also consummate impact affect tuck away confidence about businesses and points of interest. In scrutinize results, businesses show unfolding ensuing a Google map original inside the list, seeing searches conforming being location-related terms (dig city, street, or scratch code). Seo orange county cede be

by: Geoff Ficke 4 Crucial Elements to Include in Your Consumer Product Branding Strategy When I started to Market Consumer Products 40 years ago the term “Branding” was one I never heard. The term was not one that enjoyed the currency it enjoys today. In the years since formal Branding and Branding Strategies have become key foundational elements that Marketers employ to imprint their products in the psyche of consumers.

Experts say the Best Virtual Assistant Services will definitely make a turnaround in a business and enhance its efficiency and save costs.rn rnSince Virtual Assistant Services are vast and varied hiring virtual assistant services need to be a cautious exercise. For that the business objectives and budgets of the hiring business owner must converge. Personal Support In personalized services a virtual secretary is best to supplement for assistant services, PowerPoint presentati

Have you ever put off taking action because of self doubt? Have you ever thought of writing an article or creating an audio that you wanted to, but did not do it because you thought that there is nothing great/significant in what you are delivering? Did you ever write down your monetary goal and made a list of what you wanted to do with the money and landed in one of the following situations? 1. You did not reach your monetary goal, but were able to accomplish everything written in your list.

Being an entrepreneur is an amazing journey. At some point in this journey, you’re going to need a team. Your industry, size of business and future goals will determine what kind of key players you need on your team. Now when I say team, I don’t mean a dozen full-time staff members or subcontractors. I mean key people you can use when you need them…team members you trust.

Happy New Year! January is a great time to take a good look at what worked in the past year, what didn’t, and what you want to do differently in the year to come. I’ve got lots of exciting things coming down the pike for my business, but there are always areas that I could improve in too. One of those areas for me is time management. The nature of my business is really fast paced, so while I would love to sit down and devote a full, uninterrupted hour or two to one project, that’s just not easy to do. Maybe you can relate.

Being an entrepreneur is hard enough already. Add to that the hustle and bustle of the holidays and the end of the year for your small business, and you’ve got a recipe for stress. Even worse, many of us unconsciously keep work habits that make everything more difficult. So make sure you’re not doing any of these 8 things that drag you down and make your days less efficient.

The only way to maintain mental sanity in the uprising culture of the super-industrial economics is to stay with your defunct purpose in it's vast blue clarity. It is wrong economics to create jobs without pensions and social securities. It is like to swim in a tidal ocean with just one hand. It is an unbalanced economics only made to cough out profit without a sense of responsibility. We need neither blind acceptance or blind resistance to the emerging surprises of the future in the super-industrial paradigm realities.

BUSINESS & BUSINESS ENTITIES Business can be defined as any activity that engages an entity. These entities can be called business entities. Business entities can be classified into two types based on the business objective. 1. Profit Organizations – The goal of these organizations is wealth generation. 2. Non-profit Organizations - The goal of these organizations is service.

by: Geoff Ficke Why Is Laser-Like Focus So Crucial and Yet So Difficult for Entrepreneurs to Maintain When we work with small businesses, entrepreneurs and inventors in our Consumer Product Marketing and Branding Consulting group we constantly find ourselves using and reinforcing the importance of the word “focus” to prospective clients. It is crucial to their success. It is also, often in the shortest of supply.

Every sports fan knows the story of a sports team competitively peaking at the right time on the road to winning a championship. The Pittsburgh Steelers won the 2006 Super Bowl even though they only had the second best record in their division. In addition, they had to overcome the huge hurdle of playing three straight playoff games on the road in front of hostile crowds. Entering the tou ament, the Steelers were not favorites to win a championship. But they did.

Do you have your “game plan” for growing a sustainable business figured out? If not, it’s not too late. A Strategic Plan is Your “Game Plan” Having a simple, clear guide that you will actually use is critical to your overall success. Think of it as your “game plan.” Football coaches have an overall “game plan” going into their season and for each game. Hockey coaches have a “game plan.” Pilots submit a “flight plan” for each flight. They plan exactly how they will get from their starting point to their destination. Strategic Plan Moves You towards Your Visionr

Conflict is inevitable. It is proof that we are all unique individuals with distinctive values, opinions and perceptions. Conflict can be both a positive driver and a counterproductive force in the workplace. Unresolved conflicts can sabotage the effective functioning of any organization, and ...

by: Geoff Ficke Customizing Products and Services Presents Entrepreneurs a Great Way to Bootstrap a Business We live in a world where mass production and scalability have enabled consumers around the world the opportunity to enjoy a wider range of Consumer Products and Services than ever before. Large scale production drives down prices. Items that were once luxuries are now within reach of masses of consumers on every continent.

INTRODUCTION Management is a coveted profession both in style and status. Management professionals and graduates are expected to be at par with established standards in their professional lives. There is also a lot of pressure on them to perform regularly and provide some expected quality unlike others. There is less margin for error, pardon is less and competition is more. Of course, rewards are lucrative. The theory of ‘Survival of the fittest’ is very well applicable here. MARTIAL ARTS?

Persistence Pays Off For Driven Product Marketers and Inventors of WD-40 Along with duct tape, probably the most common product handymen keep in the garage for tackling household chores and repairs is the ubiquitous lubricant spray WD-40. I am a mechanical klutz. But when something needs fixing in my home, I simplistically grab the duct tape or a can of WD-40 for use in my first line of attacking the problem at hand. WD-40 is a classic example of a product innovation that defines the persistence required of successful inventors and entrepreneurs when facing hurdles.

Mahatma Gandhi quoted “If I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning “. That is the power of belief. Belief can be defined as the feeling of conviction about anything. It is the assumption of the fact which may be true or false. It can be imaginary. It seems to be logical and correct. But the fact is that belief can build up or destroy one’s capability.r

Many traders believe that future options trading is the best part of the trading arena. They are actually referred to as an option on a futures contract. This is a type of derivative tool that is used in the buying and selling of futures trading on a recognized market. In commodity future options trading two individual parties agree to enter into a transaction. These transactions involve future options that are bought and sold at a particular price. Buying a futures contract

In the business that I own, I am fortunate everyday to have the opportunity to work with business owners, executives and leaders from a broad cross-section of industries. Up until about October 2008, there continued to be a sense of optimism and confidence that businesses would survive and even ...

You may be an entrepreneur in a really good business, and you are looking for a business venture to invest in. Naturally, other firms will hear about you and will send their best telemarketing representative to give you a call. Now, you may have heard all about sales pitches and how they aim to turn you into business leads, but are you sure that these are honest enough? If you want to be sure that the lead generation process   gives you  sales leads  of worthy firms, then

As busy entrepreneurs we juggle a lot of balls. Client requests, team member demands, family demands…the list goes on and on and on. When you have so many balls in the air, eventually you’re going to drop one. It happened to me today. I received an email from a client asking me if I sent a promo email out last week. I created the template, but for whatever reason, the email never got sent. So what do you do in a situation where you’ve dropped a ball…an important one and now you have to face the music?

The short answer is it depends on who you ask. In doing some research for this article I literally found dozens of “biggest problems” depending on what the writer wanted to sell me. There are surveys that call out numerous exte al problems ranging from the high cost of health insurance, taxes, government regulations, and the list goes on. In my current role as a business coach I find business owners and CEO’s frequently list their biggest problem as whatever is hot at the t

“Well, I don’t want Annie to be mad at me – we are so close, she really is my best friend,” I heard this woman at Whole Foods say. It seemed like a harmless enough comment when I heard it. Boy was I wrong. First, let me say I do not spend my days ease dropping on complete strangers conversations at the grocery market. However, this particular woman was on her cell phone in line right in front of me. It was kind of hard for me, and the other people in line, not to hear her.

Accounting software for small to mid-size companies and organizations is commonly a system of data entry to a database. The accounting software automates the double entry accounting principles and produces both accounts receivable, accounts payable and general ledger databases. This type of software would require background knowledge of accounting principles. So if a controller or bookkeeper is not on the payroll, it would be more applicable to use more user-friendly account

The hit television drama “Mad Men” recently began its third season to rave critical reviews and spectacular viewer ratings. The program, which is focused on the professional and personal lives of the associates of a New York City advertising agency in the early 1960’s is a magnetic period piece, featuring the fashion, lifestyle, dalliances and social interactions of a diverse group of contemporaries employed by the Sterling Cooper Agency.

by: Geoff Ficke How Modern Gastronomy Has Been Influenced by The Commercialization of Ancient Condiments Several years ago I had the good fortune to re-visit the ruins at Pompeii near Naples, Italy with my family. I had been to the ancient site some 30 years before, but the excavation of the volcano shrouded city had progressed a great deal in the interim and there was much that had not yet been discovered on my earlier visit. Our very informative guide advised us that archaeological work and discoveries would be ongoing for many decades still.

Have You ever felt like building a list of your own prospects, but did not know where to start? I, sure have been there. I wanted to build my own list, but I put off doing it, because I thought it is not necessary and did not believe that MONEY is in the list. Why should you build your OWN list? As per my experience, there are four reasons. 1. To learn about your Target Market. Who are they? What do they want? How can you help them with their problems? What is their geographical location? 2. To Develop services/products using YOUR strengths/skills that benefit them. 3.

Taking things off your plate can be hard. You want your work to be excellent, and you’ve probably been burned before by VA’s or employees who don’t even come close to meeting your standards. So if you’re like a lot of business owners, you have a usual excuse for why you hold certain projects close to your vest. Here are the five I see most commonly, and the truths about them. It’s just like they say: the truth will set you free. Myth: “I’d love for someone to take things off my plate, but no one can do what needs to get done as well as I can.”

by: Geoff Ficke 6 Things You Need to Know In Order to License Your Product My Marketing Consulting, Branding and Product Development firm receives numerous queries on Licensing Consumer Products, Services and Concepts every week. Most inquiries are of no value as the hopeful Licensor has not organized proper due diligence that potential Licensees will require. The following are 6 Points to address before attempting to present a License opportunity. 1. Who is the Competition?

Happy New Year, everyone! It’s hard to believe that we’re already more than half way through January! As I’ve traveled around doing my thing these past few years, so many people have asked me how I stay so upbeat and positive! Everyone goes through tough times, and I’m no exception. We’ve all had our share, especially these past couple of years. How we navigate them and “bounce back” is critical to surviving and thriving… personally and professionally. You’ve heard me say so many times, we are people first in the workplace, then employees!

A distillation of interview responses conducted for my book Tales of People Who Get It provides 13 clues that alert you when you are speaking to people who “get it.” These 13 ItnessPoints are critical to successful living for people who want to live a more fulfilled life. - Learn continuously/read voraciously: Learning is an endless process that continues throughout life. Invest in yourself by making personal and professional development a priority. Each year, decide on a learning theme.

If you’re like most of the small business owners I work with, the marketing emails you send take up a lot of your time. They’re worth it because they drive traffic to your landing and sales pages that lead to increased income, but they can be complicated and time-consuming. However, there are ways to automate your email marketing efforts to take the burden off you and make them more efficient and effective at the same time. 1. Get the most out of new subscriber follow ups.

The ability to succeed as an entrepreneur is one of the most rewarding experiences any person can enjoy. Seeing your product on a store shelf is an amazing rush. Knowing that your service is benefiting the public is incredibly rewarding. Beyond the obvious monetary rewards, the knowledge that you have achieved a level of success most people can not even attempt is a significant gift. So what does an inventor, or creator, do to advance their opportunity if they do not have classic entrepreneurial makeup.