Make Money Easy For You

Anatomy Of A Lie

People, businesses and governments lie for all sorts of reasons. For example, lies are told to gain power, profit, votes and simple solutions. Here is a lie that accomplishes all of these for the various parties involved.

The Lie

Business owners don’t want regulation, but they need to be regulated.

The Truth

Business owners almost always want more regulation, not less. Business owners fight regulations that harm them, but at the same time push for those that harm their competitors. Of course they want regulations – the ones that help them.

For example, once an industry develops to a certain point, existing players quietly call for licensing. Why? To exclude competition or make it harder for them to compete, in order to increase profits. Politicians get votes for picking up the cause, claiming that licensing is for the public good. But is it? Do we really think it’s a terrible crime to give a haircut without a license?

A carpet cleaner told me about “cutthroats” that clean too cheap. They don’t have the expensive training and equipment this guy has, so they can charge less. He doesn’t like that, so what is his solution to this problem of free competition? “Carpet cleaning should be regulated and carpet cleaners should be licensed.” That would force the cutthroats to upgrade equipment and training. “Better for the consumer,” he assured me.

Of course the “cutthroats” would either quit the business, or spend the money to comply with the new regulations, and so have to charge more. This, of course, means that the bigger players could compete more easily. That is the real point of such regulation.

Years ago I used one of the “cutthroat carpet cleaners.” Did he clean my carpet as well as the more expensive companies? Absolutely not. But it was good enough, and half the price. Now I have more income and would choose a better cleaner, but I like having the choice. Still, if they ever regulate the carpet cleaning industry it will be in the name of the consumer, and the cleaners will be the ones pushing for the regulations.

Such regulations are rarely meant for the public good. “Public good,” is a concept lawmakers use to hide the fact that they are creating regulations for the benefit of specific businesses and industries that have lobbied them. Politicians get votes from this lie, businesses get profits, bureaucrats get power, and the public gets simple solutions to imagined problems.

With enough money, you already have the ability to buy what you want, right? Want a higher quality bicycle or bed or house? Just pay for it. A rich man doesn’t need regulations that force all businesses to comply with certain standards. He can pay for what he wants.

What about if you don’t have much money? In that case such regulations take away your cheaper options, making life more difficult for you (I just wouldn’t have had my carpet cleaned). So who do these regulations really benefit? Businesses, politicians, and bureaucrats.

What do we get from accepting the lie that businesses don’t want regulation but we need it? For some, it is the pleasure of “punishing” businesses owners with regulations (who ultimately want them anyhow). For the rest of us, it is fewer, more expensive options. By what logic could we expect higher quality or safety without higher cost?

The consumer, then, is the one that loses most from this lie – but rarely understands what is happening. As Warren Buffet says, “If after twenty minutes at the poker table you can’t tell who the patsy is, it’s you.”

Read more: Anatomy Of A Lie

Please Hire Me – Writing a Resume that Gets Results

Those in the Web business know that optimizing a site page is essential to getting it on the search-results lists of major search engines like Google. Nowadays, with the combined impact of online resume-posting and the increasingly prevalent use of scanning technology, even by small companies, the same principle applies to your resume: optimization is essential!

Changing Standards
When resume-scanning software first hit the job market, it wasn’t very sophisticated. Keyword summaries were placed at the top of ascii or text resumes to ensure that they were picked up by the somewhat rudimentary software. Similarly, formatting was minimized for fear that it would interfere with the scan.

Nowadays, these rules no longer apply.

Modern scanning software has come a long way and can recognize text in boldface, italics, designer fonts, and bullets. Furthermore, it can scan for keywords throughout your resume, not just in an assigned area. For that reason, a well-crafted “normal” resume can in fact be an optimized keyword resume that’s poised to get noticed when electronic filters stand between you and a hiring manager.

The Importance of the Right Resume Keywords
It may be daunting to realize that your success in scoring an interview could hinge on a few carefully selected resume keywords, but with keyword-based scanning, this is the case. Employers who use this technology (up to 80 percent of them, by some counts) determine a set of mandatory keywords that reflect the duties of a given job. For example, an accountant’s resume keywords would be ‘general ledger’, ‘AP/AR’, payroll, ‘reconciliations’, etc.

Based on the number of “hits” your resume achieves when it is scanned, your resume will be ranked and submitted to a hiring manager for further review…or not. So how do you determine the appropriate keywords?

Finding Your Golden Keywords
Finding the right resume keywords takes a little work, but it’s completely achievable. If you’re applying for a particular position, a great place to start would be the job listing — but be careful. A hiring manager is savvy enough to detect when their own listing is being regurgitated back to them. That said, the clever use of words that speak to their requirements is always appropriate, as long as it aligns with your professional experience.

If you’re conducting a broader search by posting your resume on an online job board like HotJobs.com, then your resume will be seen by multiple potential employers. How do you then choose the right keywords? Consider how your goals align with your experience. For any resume, the trick is to use what you’ve accomplished to paint a picture of what you want to do next.

You can determine the keywords most likely to be on an employer’s must-have list by:
• Analyzing job postings that are in step with the type of position you want to land.
• Taking a look at the career listings of employers in your target industry.
• Remaining up-to-date on the latest buzzwords in your field.
By optimizing your resume, your will be able to successfully emerge from the resume-scanning process (or online job search), while also creating a document that makes a compelling case for your candidacy.

Be sure to follow this guidance and realize that your resume is a living, breathing document that will most likely be created, posted, and reviewed in an electronic format. You want to ‘optimize’ your resume for all formats. Be sure to follow our guidelines and let your resume stand out from the crowd!

Read more: Please Hire Me – Writing a Resume that Gets Results

Dot Net Questions: COM – DCOM – COM+

The dot net frameworks allow you to build serviced components that can use com+ services. These components of dot net framework runs in the manages execution environment of dot net framework that is share their content with com+ application.

Now the question arise what com+ and what is doing how is its comes in existence. Before com+ comes into existence. COM (Component Object Model) is first programming model that provide component based approach to software development. This component based approach of com allowed us to develop small, logical reusable and stand alone modules that integrates into a single application. But these components could not be display on over network.

So these drawback produce another model that is DCOM (distributes COM). DCOM programming model enabled you to display com components over network and distribute application easily across platforms. DCOM components also help in two-tier client/server applications. These models also have some drawback that helps to development of COM+ approach. What these drawbacks are…

These two-tier architecture helps us to sharing of resources and data but these approach have some drawbacks that are as follows.

The DCOM approach overburdened client computer with the responsibility of performing all processing functions while the server merely acted as traffic controller, helps movement of data to and from the client and server components. So availability of resources was therefore, always a problem and the performance of application suffered. Multiple request of data cause to network traffic. So performance of application decreases.

Dot Net Interview Questions – Dot Net FAQ

After all these Microsoft introduced windows DNA(Windows Distributed internet applications) architecture that overcomes the shortcoming of the two-tier system. The windows DNA helps us to develop three-tier application architecture which helps us to maintain the business logic and data access code in separate components that is business objects. These separate the client application from the business logic and data access code so no need of recompiling and redeveloping client application after change in code.

Read more: Dot Net Questions: COM – DCOM – COM+

Cruise Ship Jobs

It might be an exotic dream to work aboard a cruise liner but can be just as exhausting. Among the 300 or so liners, the minimum crew is a couple of hundred. Some liners have crews of 500 or more. However, with this many employees working together at such close range, you will get to know many people very well over a period of time this way.

There are a variety of employment opportunities on cruise ships. There are positions available in the many entertainment venues on board including singers, dancers musicians, comedians and photographers. Competition is tough because the cruise line look for only the best in their fields in order to guarantee passenger satisfaction. Positions are also found in the ship’s casinos and shops and eating facilities. These consist of waiters, waitresses, hosts, chefs, security, card dealer, slot attendants, clerks, etc. All luxury yachts need crews (marine and deck jobs) to maintain and operate the vessel, and health clubs, spas and salons are always looking for experienced staff. Openings are often found for engineers, technicians, and other crew positions.

A medical staff is also hired for the general well being of passengers and in case of emergencies. There is at least one physician and a nurse, and on some liners there are also massage and physiotherapists as part of the ship’s staff.

Basically, people in all fields can apply for marine jobs. They pay well and a vacation is an added bonus. Applying and getting the job is the toughest part. The rest is, as everyone says, a breeze.

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Career Planning Systems

Career planning is the process through which employees: Become aware of interests, values, strengths, and weaknesses. Obtain information about job opportunities within the company. Identify career goals. Establish action plans to achieve career goals. All career planning systems include the following components: Self-Assessment helps employees determine their career interests, values, aptitudes, and behavioral tendencies. It often involves the use of psychological tests. They help employees identify their occupational and job interests, the relative value the employees place on work and leisure activities. Reality Check. Employees receive information about how the company evaluates their skills and knowledge, and where they fit into the company’s plans. For example, in Coca-Cola’s career planning system, employees and managers have a separate meeting after the annual performance review to discuss the employee’s career interests, strengths, and possible development activities. Goal Setting. Employees determine their short- and long-term career goals during this phase of the career planning process. These goals usually relate to desired positions, level of skill application, work setting or skill acquisition, and written into a development plan. Action Planning. During this phase employees determine how they will achieve their short- and long-term career goals. Action plans may involve enrolling in training courses and seminars, conducting informational interviews, or applying for job openings within the company.

Characteristics of Successful Career Discussions

Manager gains an awareness of employee’s work-related goals and interests. Manager and employee agree on the next developmental steps. Employee understands how the manager views his or her performance, developmental needs, and options. Manager and employee agree on how the employee’s needs can be met on the current job. Manager identifies resources to help the employee accomplish the goals agreed upon in the career discussion.

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A Look at Paralegal Jobs

Paralegals support lawyers by organizing the massive amounts of paperwork law offices generate, running the office smoothly, helping to draft documents and interviewing witnesses. Paralegals may work for lawyers, corporations, or government agencies. In general, a college degree is sufficient education to become a paralegal, although courses do exist to train and certify paralegals. The National Federation of Paralegal Associations estimates that 84 percent of paralegals have some form of form paralegal education.

Several specific types of paralegal jobs are available. Litigation paralegals help prepare documents for trials. Corporate paralegals prepare paperwork for business dealings. Probate paralegals interview clients and prepare tax and financial documents. Real estate paralegals prepare closings and research land laws. Government paralegals work for the White House, the Justice Department, or the Federal Trade Commission and may organize evidence, answer questions for the public, or conduct hearings. Employment paralegals do work similar to a litigation paralegal, but work specifically with unions or discrimination cases.

The average starting salary of a paralegal is about $21,500 while working normal hours. Most law firms, however, require that paralegals work more hours than the typical nine to five, Monday through Friday work week. The extra overtime could bump a beginning paralegal’s salary up to almost $60,000 a year. An experienced paralegal can expect to make around $40,000 a year, about the national average, with life and health insurance benefits.

The National Federation of Paralegal Associations estimates that 84 percent of paralegals have had some formal paralegal education. A paralegal’s specialization determines what fields he could work in, for example medical law or labor movement organizations. According to a 2001 survey, about 25 percent of paralegals have an associate’s degree, about 50 percent of all paralegals have a bachelor’s degree, and eight percent have either a master’s degree or a J.D. degree. Certificate or degree programs are available for paralegals who wish to have more training. At a minimum, the National Federation of Paralegal Associations recommends that aspiring paralegals have a two-year degree with an emphasis on paralegal studies. A bachelor’s degree, however, is recommended.

A paralegal’s resume should list education, experience, awards and highlight writing abilities, professional and personal skills. Sample paralegals resumes are readily available on the Internet. Be sure to attach a cover letter, as you would when applying for any other job, stating your interest and describing the skills that make you a perfect candidate for the job. Sample cover letters are also posted on the Internet.

A simple way to find a law firm is to go to the local library and skim through Martindale Hubbell, an index of every lawyer in the country organized by city and law firm. Online sites also allow registered users to browse hiring law firms.

Read more: A Look at Paralegal Jobs

“German Shepherd Training – Start Early!”

1. German Shepherd Training The Gentle Way.

If you want a gentle and well balanced German Shepherd when it grows up you must treat your puppy with gentle training. German Shepherd training must recognize the high energy and herding instinct of these dogs. Negative behavior must be dealt with in a consistent and kind manner, not by slapping, hitting and kicking. Positive behavior must consistently be rewarded both with praise and treats.

Your dog’s behavior may be modified at any time during it’s life. German Shepherd training is much easier if started with your puppy. It’s unfair both to the animal and the owner to let problems go unaddressed. Behavior problems lead to frustration for both dog and owner.

2. House Training Your German Shepherd.

House training your German Shepherd puppy is very important. It isn’t just that soiling the house is such a mess, which it is! If your puppy is not house trained fairly quickly, the dog ends up at another home or at least outside. It’s easy to see why proper house training is so important.

One method of training your puppy is the crate method. Confine your puppy in a crate or a small area. Puppies usually won’t soil their sleeping area. Frequently remove the puppy to an area for waste elimination. If the puppy does have an accident, you can quickly rush them to the appropriate area. But, remember, accidents will happen so be patient and consistent. These animals are very smart and will catch on quickly.

3. Biting, Mouthing, And Chewing.

All German Shepherd puppies will bite and chew on body parts and clothes. That’s just what puppies do. But early on, this painful and destructive behavior must be stopped. Adult dogs who bite and chew are a serious problem.

If the puppy has a chance to play with other puppies, the playing will naturally teach restraint in biting. Without the interaction with other dogs, you must deal with the behavior yourself. One approach is to say “ouch” , which should be easy to do, in response to puppy bites. You can use a pained expression in your voice, but not loud or angry. Then try leaving the room for a short time.

4. Barking And Whining.

Is there a real reason for the barking or whining? Are they uncomfortable? Can you find out why? There may be a good reason. Or is this blackmail? Your puppy must be taught to handle isolation and separation. They must not expect to get everything they want.

Spend plenty of time with your puppy so they feel loved and secure. But do not accept excessive noise that is irritating to the human members of the household.

5. German Shepherd Training – Socialization.

A properly socialized puppy is well adjusted and will be a pleasant, valuable companion. Socialization most easily occurs before the puppy is 3 months old. Make sure early experiences are not frightening nor painful. Try some of the following.

Invite friends to meet your puppy.

Invite other pets where that’s possible.

Carry your puppy to places where there are crowds of people.

Take your puppy for short car rides.

Acquaint your puppy with being bathed, brushed and inspected.

Introduce your puppy to anything and everything you wish them to be around.

There are many German Shepherd training “secrets” that professional dog trainers don’t want you to know. Find all of them here:

Click Here!

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Your Natural State

All self concern is a symptom of the disease of “not being” which disappears as soon as you realize who you are – which is your natural state.

Giving it a grand title like “enlightenment” only shows how insane we are.

It is your natural state.

Unperceived – it causes perception, unfelt – it causes feeling, unthinkable – it causes thought, beyond being and “not being” – it gives rise to being. It is the immovable background of all motion – it is the heart in motion.

Once you are here realizing who you are – right here, right now, seeing that this one that is looking through your very eyes is who you are – you are at home everywhere.

It is you. It is where you are happy without cause. The moment you are being who you are you are freed from all agendas, from all the cramps of attempting to be what you are not.

The realization of who you are is a momentary thing until such time that who you think you are completely dies to this one that you are whereby you are immersed so fully, never to “not know” who you are ever again.

It is a point of no return. Full stop.

Until such time that such an “event” should transpire – no one knows when such a dissolution should “happen”; it comes upon you like a thief in the night – you have within your power to be free of who you think you are and to “see and be” who you already are.

There is nothing more that you can do than to be aligned energetically to your self, the heart. This “motion of seeing” that is flowing through your eyes right now. Coming to rest as this very “aliveness,” since it is who you already are.

Being free of who you think you are and its “endless” machinations. Being who you already are and allowing the mindbody to unravel from its nonsense.

Hence it is a momentary motion.

Either being who you are in any given moment or “not being” who you are and believing yourself to be who you think you are which creates more unravelling for the mindbody to go through.

Who you are is already true of you and you can “see and be” it.

Read more: Your Natural State

The Art of the Resume

Step One: Targeting Your Career & Audience
In order to maximize the impact of your resume for your targeted audience — the hiring manager— you must have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish.

Pinpoint Your Goal
Before you begin, ask yourself these questions. Are you:
• Making a lateral move?
• Seeking a promotion?
• Career transitioning?
• Pursuing admission into an academic program?

Match Yourself to the Job

When you look at a job listing, highlight the qualifications that are required and the duties that you would be expected to assume. Every match in terms of required qualifications and your experience should serve as a keyword in your resume.
Knowing how you match up to a potential position will provide focus, so that your resume can be tailored to your targeted audience. The more closely the content of your resume matches the content of these postings, the more likely you will be asked to interview. Be careful, though, not to simply repeat phrases found in a job listing. Your goal is to demonstrate your understanding of the role and your applicable experience.

Step Two: Formatting for Maximum Impact
When your resume is reviewed, it must be appealing, while accurately reflecting your industry or career goal. If it’s not — no matter how brilliantly it is written — it will likely be added to the rejection stack. To ensure that your resume receives the attention it deserves, it’s important to adhere to certain formatting guidelines, which address:
• Template and font choice
• Effective use of white space
• Prioritization of data

Be easy to follow
There is nothing worse than a resume where data is presented in a haphazard manner. That’s why templates are used. An effective template will present company names, dates, job titles, academic information, and all other pertinent data in a clear manner, so that a quick glance will tell the contact person what they need to know.

Be easy to read
Resumes in bold text or italics are difficult to read and unprofessional. The same goes for fonts that resemble handwriting. It’s a common misconception that “jazzing up a resume” will get it read. It’s not the font that attracts attention, but rather the overall appearance and the words crafted within it.
When in doubt about font choice, always err on the conservative side. Two good choices are Times New Roman or Arial in 11 points — no smaller, or the text will be difficult to read.

Step Three: Qualifications Summary & Skill Set
Picture yourself at the market after a long day at the office. You’re in a rush, and want only those items on your list, if they’re on sale. Hurrying into the store, you glance around for the weekly advertising piece that indicates what’s on sale. Trouble is, there’s no advertising piece, and no one to answer your questions. If you want to purchase the items you need at a discount, you’re forced to walk up and down each and every aisle until you find what’s available.
Doesn’t sound like an effective use of time, does it? And yet this is the same type of frustration hiring managers are exposed to every time an applicant submits a resume that fails to open with a well-written Qualifications Summary and/or Skill Set.

What is a Qualifications Summary?
It’s a brief paragraph that showcases your most effective skills and experience. More importantly, it’s your chance to convince a hiring manager of the skills you can bring to the position. This is essential — hiring managers generally afford no more than 10 seconds to your resume, unless they’re compelled to read further.
So, how do you compel them to keep reading?

Let’s use this example: You’re an accountant who has worked at XYZ Company for nine years and been promoted every time you’ve come up for review. Because of your organizational efforts, the company is saving $2,500 monthly. You’ve passed the CPA exam. You’re skilled in Profit & Loss (P&L), audits, taxation matters, and internal controls. Now, you want a Controller position.

Rather than including all of this in the body of the resume, where the hiring manager would be forced to look for it (but won’t), the wise candidate would write something like this:
Results-oriented, detailed professional with comprehensive accounting experience. Background includes consistent promotions to positions of increased responsibility. Skilled in P&L, audits, taxation, internal controls, and streamlining procedures, effecting a monthly savings of $2,500 at XYZ Company. Recently passed the CPA exam; currently seeking a controller position.

In five lines, you’ve given specific examples of what you can do, quantified an accomplishment, indicated past performance, provided data on certification, and provided your career path. And you’ve done all of that in a well-written paragraph that’s easy to read.

Note that personal pronouns are not used here. In business writing, which includes resumes, personal pronouns such as I, me, or my are never used.

Step Four: Accomplishments & Special Skills
There is nothing on your resume more important than your Accomplishments. Why? Think of it this way: you’re a hiring manager with one position to fill and 10 qualified candidates. Each candidate has the same basic educational and professional background. So, who gets the job?

What is a Quantified Accomplishment?
A quantified Accomplishment should include dollar figures, percentages, and time periods. For example: An accountant has streamlined procedures, realizing a $2,500 monthly savings for his company. A dollar figure quantifies the accomplishment, while noting “streamlined procedures” explains how he did it. If he achieved those savings within three months of hire, it might be written this way:
Achieved a $2,500 monthly savings for XYZ Company within three months of hire by streamlining procedures.
Imagine the hiring manager’s reaction to the above, as opposed to this entry: “Streamlined procedures for XYZ Company.” Doesn’t say much, does it?

Special Skills
Special Skills should be presented up front so that a hiring manager knows what you can do. In some instances, a special section (i.e. Computer Skills, Languages, Office Procedures, etc.) should be created to showcase these Special Skills.

Step Five: Professional Experience
In the Professional Experience section of your resume, you will list your employers, job titles, and dates of employment in a reverse-chronological order; that is, your most recent job comes first, followed by your next most recent job, and so on. This format is standard and is expected by all hiring managers and admission directors.

Employment Dates

Generally speaking, hiring managers prefer years of employment, rather than months and years (i.e. 1999 – 2003 as opposed to May 1999 – April 2003). However, some college admission programs want specifics when it comes to dates, so it’s best to use precise dates when applying to graduate school.

In the Professional Experience section, you will also include daily tasks and responsibilities beneath the appropriate employer listing. If you’ve included a Career Accomplishments section in your resume, you should not repeat that data here. Once data is presented in a resume, it must not be repeated.

To ensure that your daily tasks are presented in an interesting and easy-to-read manner, you should do the following:

Use a bulleted format
This breaks up large blocks of text that could prove daunting to a hiring manager.

Begin each sentence with an action verb
This quickens the pace of your writing and makes the text more enjoyable to read.

Step Six: Education & Training

Data provided in the Education section of your resume should be prioritized (and included) according to:
• Your current career level (entry-level, as opposed to professional)
• The purpose of your resume
• The country in which your resume will be distributed
• Your current career level

The Impact of Experience

If you’re an entry-level candidate with little or no professional experience, your education should be presented immediately after the Qualifications Summary and/or skills area. The reasoning for this is that education is currently your most marketable asset. Here, you would include:
• GPA (if 3.5 or above)
• Awards/scholarships
• Dean’s list
• Coursework relevant to job search

If you’re a professional with five or more years of experience, Education should be listed last on your resume. GPAs, awards or scholarships, and mention of dean’s lists are not generally provided in a professional or executive resume, except for those used for entrance into graduate school programs.

Conclusion
Give hiring managers what they’re looking for- a complete, easy-to-read resume that highlights important information which differentiates you from other candidates. By doing so, your resume will stand out from the crowd and get you an interview.

Read more: The Art of the Resume

What Makes a Successful Consultant?

There are many consultants, these days, working in a huge range of different fields, yet some consultants earn much more money, and are in much higher demand, than the average for their particular field of expertise. What is their secret and how can you be one of them?

If you want to be in the top echelon of consultants then there are seven skills that you need to master and apply.

1. The skill of recognizing problems and opportunities quickly and accurately.

The world is full of problems and opportunities but most people are very poor at recognizing them. A good consultant can quickly isolate a problem that is slowing or preventing progress and they are equally skilled at quickly recognizing a genuine opportunity for success.

2. The skill of finding, cost effective, practical solutions to those problems and cost effective strategies for capitalizing on those opportunities.

Once a problem is clearly identified it needs to be solved in the most efficient and effective manner. A good consultant can identify and focus on the “real issues” of the problem and either solve it themselves or focus the team’s attention on brainstorming a cost effective solution.

Similarly with opportunities. The consultant can clearly see how an opportunity can be capitalized on and then create an action plan to take full advantage of that opportunity.

3. The skill of communicating those solutions effectively.

One of the most important skill sets of a good consultant is the ability to communicate clearly and effectively while retaining good rapport. Many people today, particularly in the technical disciplines, lack good communication skills and often lack interpersonal skills in general. The consultant needs to develop those skills so that they can communicate effectively both up and down the chain of command.

4. The skill of productively managing the human relationship aspects of the work.

Consultants are brought into organizations for a range of reasons. Often it is to solve a problem or increase efficiency. Other times it is to manage a project. Whatever the reason, the consultant is faced with the reality that they are an outside person coming into an organization and they are usually expected to produce immediate, or at least fast, results.

For the consultant to maximize their success they require the skills of dealing with the human side of the organization. They need to be able to quickly establish good working relationships and win the respect of those that they will be working with or interacting with.

5. The skill of managing your time effectively.

To have reached the level of consultant you should have already mastered time management at both a personal level and a team level. However there are many people today who market themselves as consultants and have not yet acquired these skills. My advice to you is that if you want to develop a successful career as a consultant then get your time management skills up to scratch or your career may be shorter and more difficult than you had hoped.

6. The skill of demanding a substantial fee for your service.

The consultants who earn a large fee are the consultants who have developed the skill and confidence to demand a high fee. If you don’t ask you won’t get. Remember that the first person you have to sell your financial worth to is yourself.

7. The skill of successfully marketing yourself.

You can be the greatest consultant on the planet but if no-one knows that then you may well be unemployed. A great consultant realizes that every single thing that they do is a marketing opportunity. They develop the skill of self promoting without being overbearing.

Make sure that as part of your marketing strategy you develop and maintain a contact network of people who want to promote you to others and are happy to introduce you into potentially profitable situations.

Conclusion

These are the seven basic skills that the best, most highly paid, consultants do better than others. If you master these seven skills then you too can be a successful, highly paid consultant in your area of expertise.

Read more: What Makes a Successful Consultant?

The Importance of Maintaining a Professional Image on Social Networking Sites

With the recent growth of social networking sites such as My Space and Facebook, online self expression has become the latest trend. Many individuals dedicate countless hours, days, and even months trying to create social networking pages that give outsiders a bird’s eye view of their thoughts and personal beliefs. While on one hand, social networking sites can be used to promote a positive cause or professional business, too much of a good thing can be detrimental to one’s career and professional image.

Gone are the days when social networking meant exactly what it stands for. These days, social networking sites can be used to promote professional businesses, organizations, and other causes. Members of these sites have also begun creating pages that contain pornographic pictures and other offensive imaging. If you are 18-20 years old and a member of the, “Girls Gone Wild” group, it may be fun for now, but what about your future? For example, a recent news story describes how a police officer was fired because of offensive imaging on his, My Space page, which consisted of pictures of women being tortured in a satanistic manner. Although, these social networking sites take preventative measures, it is still up to the individual to take responsibility for themselves and the images and content that they post on their webpages. In this particular case, this is especially true because of the type of value system and beliefs, police officers in the local community strive to represent. A police’s professional image plays a huge role in the public’s opinion of that individual and the police department.

The same holds true for other professional companies and organizations. In order to prevent being embarrassed by prospective employees, employers have begun doing background checks on these individuals. Many employers have refused to hire individuals that post offensive pictures and other material on their personal webpages. While some critics disagree, the reasoning is simple: employees are apart of the organization, therefore, employees represent the organization. This not only applies during work hours but after work as well. When an employee working for a major company embarrasses themselves, by disgracing themselves in public, it is also embarrassing for the company or any other organizations that individual is associated with.

How can this be avoided? As an individual, it is always important to remember the importance of a good reputation. It is said, that it takes years to build a good reputation and only moments to ruin it. Credibility and reliability are key aspects of building a good reputation. Understanding the importance of weighing the consequences of our decisions and considering our long term goals is especially important when trying to project a professional image. The solution is simple, when creating personal webpages, think of the consequences that may result from posting images that may be offensive to others. No one wants to lose the opportunity of a life time because of pictures from their spring break in college. Before you post these images consider your future and how others will view you as an individual and a professional.

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Got Fired? Don’t Get Mad, Get Motivated! The Top Five Things to do After You are Laid Off

Recently, companies have been looking for ways to cut cost. One of the most effective ways for an organization to save money is to reduce the number of personnel and miscellaneous programs. While some companies opt to simply reduce employee benefits packages, along with miscellaneous spending items, other companies decide to realign their entire organizational structure in order to save money. The military, for example, has considered several options over the last few years in order to pay for new equipment and growing personnel costs, including wounded veterans and retirees, who often receive lifetime pensions. As a way to combat these costs, the military’s mission has begun to change and like so many other companies, they are learning to “do more with less”. Because of this “do more with less,” mentality, there has been a reduction in the number of personnel accepted into certain career fields in the military. Many organizations have followed in suite. As an employee, it is important to prepare for the unexpected. If you are expecting to receive a pink slip any day now, you at least have time to prepare. But, what if being laid off was unexpected? What if you came to work today, only to find out it is your last day? How would you react? Where do you go from here?

Don’t Get Mad, Get Motivated!

Just because you have been laid off, doesn’t mean that this is the end of the road for you, career wise. This is simply a fork in the road, and now you have to decide which way to go. The key is to stay positive, and not to get angry or fall into a depression. Often when you are fired from the job, it usually comes with some type of severance package. Stay focused and do not make hasty decisions as to what your next step will be. If you have no savings, for example, it would not be wise to take a thirty day vacation to Japan or anywhere else for that matter. Consider your responsibilities and goals before making any decision. The following list is comprised of recommendations to help you look forward to life after being laid off from the job.

1. Relax
What good is it for you to become stressed out? If you have enough savings, you should take a vacation in order to clear your head and decide which direction you would like to go. If you do not have enough savings, take a break in order to think things over. The important thing here is, not to panic. When I say relax, let me make it clear, that you should not become lazy. Relaxing, simply means not to panic. Take time to decide the best direction for you and your family. By relaxing, you can avoid making rash decisions that you may regret later.

2. Network
You have no job therefore you have plenty of time to get to know people. Create business cards and a resume, and start networking. Whether you network in person, via internet, or by phone, people should know who you are. Don’t be afraid to go out there and sell yourself. Join networking organizations, go to parties, and out to lunch, if that’s what it takes. Besides, you never know, who you know, who knows someone that could offer you a job or at least a good recommendation for one.

3. Look for another Job

So, you are so motivated, that you hit the ground running, pounding the pavement, immediately after being laid off. The job market is tuff and you shouldn’t be discouraged, if you are not offered a position right away. You should also remember that most jobs are not posted online, it is better to find out information from someone within the company that can help you follow-up on job leads. Finally, don’t forget to always say thank you, and to follow-up after each interview. Keep an open mind about the direction you would like your career to go and don’t be afraid of new challenges.

4. Open Your Own Business

Maybe you decide that this is a good time in your life to finally start your own business. Just be prepared for what lies ahead. Many new businesses fail within the first five years, but if you are willing to take the risk go for it. Consider the sacrifices involved with creating a new business. You must also consider funding, research, business plans, type of business, etc. before investing in such a venture. Doing the proper research and securing funding can save a lot of headaches in the long run.

5. Go Back to School

You may decide to go back to school. If you do decide to finish your education or change careers, choose carefully. Many midcareer adults are deciding to return to the classroom. Everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their career goals. Many colleges and organizations understand this and have created programs to accommodate working adults. When considering where to continue your education be aware of the school’s accreditation and reputability. Some schools were created for the sole purpose of educating midcareer adults, but this does not always mean that they are quality educational institutions.

With each decision we make there are benefits and consequences, it is up to you to make the best decision for yourself. If you are laid off or find yourself between careers, weigh your options and choose carefully. Remember to consider the benefits and consequences before making any life changing decision. In the end, who knows being laid off may be the best thing that could have ever happened to you. Stay positive and motivated and you’ll be able to make the right decision for you.

Read more: Got Fired? Don’t Get Mad, Get Motivated! The Top Five Things to do After You are Laid Off

Carburetor Kits

The carburetor is one of the most important parts in automobile engines. The carburetor ensures that there is the right mix of gasoline and air in the engine so that the engine functions correctly. Too much air or too much gasoline in the mixture causes damage to the engine, so a carburetor is very important in all stages of the engine functioning. Carburetors are generally found in old cars and in small engine automobiles like 2-wheelers, lawn mowers, and chain saws. All new cars use the fuel injection technique instead of carburetors because of its low emission levels and fuel efficiency.

A carburetor is just a tube with an adjustable plate called the throttle placed across it. This throttle controls the amount of air that flows through the tube. The carburetor tube narrows down at a place called the venture, where a vacuum is created. There is a hole in this narrowing called the jet that allows the fuel to be drawn in because of the vacuum. There are several parts in a carburetor that allow for smooth functioning. They are the pilot, pilot airscrew, throttle valve, jet needle, needle jet, air jet, and main jet.

Carburetor kits are a complete set of carburetor parts that can be easily assembled and placed in an engine. These kits are pre-tested and pre-jetted. Most carburetor kits contain parts for replacing broken down parts within the carburetor. They can be customized to fit the exact model of the carburetor. There are carburetor kits available for Harley-Davidson, Triumph, and Norton bikes. Carburetor kits are very important since very few cars and bikes use carburetors these days so carburetor kits help to keep old Harley-Davidson engine running, for example. Though all carburetors are not the same, there are some common makes of carburetors for which kits are readily available at automotive dealers’ stores. Kits for specialized carburetors are available at specialty automotive stores.

There are several websites on the Internet that contain information about carburetor rebuilding. These sites also provide carburetor rebuild kits for many car models including pickup trucks, SUVs, vans, and recreational vehicles. These kits can be ordered online and are usually shipped on the same day. They also provide professional support by technicians who would take a look at the engine and help to decide the best carburetor kit for rebuilding the carburetor.

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The Top 10 Ways to Find Your Passion-Filled Life’s Work

1.Practice Extreme Self-Care

The first and most important step to finding your passion-filled life’s work is to take outrageously good care of yourself! When you feel numb and the only thing that gets you excited is a good long nap, your passion could plop in your lap and you wouldn’t even notice it! So start taking excellent care of yourself now. What are some nurturing activities you could do everyday? Enjoy!

2.Listen to Your Body

Do you know how your body says “No?” Many of us have been in jobs and had the unpleasant experience of our body saying “No!” We get sick often, have headaches, stomachaches, neck aches. All kinds of aches and pains! It is hard for our body to lie. That is why lie detectors work so well. So if you want the truth about what your passion listen to your body! Listen for it to say “Yes!” Watch for increased energy (fear is ok too!), excitement and joy.

3.Explore Your Passions

Passion is a feeling so notice them. What subjects, activities, magazines or topics interest you? Have fun with this! Make a list of what you are passionate about and watch for themes. Now, begin exploring your strongest passions.

4.Allow Yourself to Dream

As adults we often stop dreaming in favor of being “realistic.” The problem with this is that we lose track of what we REALLY desire. So start dreaming wildly and with abandon. Look at each area of your life and write down an ideal vision of what you truly want that area to be like.

5.Look for Dreams that Have been Following You

Do you have a dream that has been following you? Have you been saying things like, “I would love to start my own business.” “Someday I will turn this hobby into a career.” Pay close attention to those “clingy” dreams. Often finding your passion-filled work is as simple as looking behind you to see the dreams that are chasing you!

6.Expand Your Vision

Most of us have a small, safe vision for our lives. We are terrified to reach for something greater. Are we worth it? Can we do it? Absolutely! It is time to grow and expand that vision! Find out what gifts you give others. Decide what is really important for you to accomplish. Design the life you desire and take action. A vision comes alive only when we take action towards it!

7.Find Your Genius

All of us have strengths and talents. These are gifts we have had our whole life. We often overlook them because they come so easily to us. When we use and develop these strengths we are working on the “Genius Level.” Work on your weaknesses and you will be competent. But develop your unique gifts and you will be a genius!

8.Start Clearing Out Your Choking Beliefs

Often we are stopped from creating our desired life by “Choking Beliefs.” They literally choke the life out of our dreams! These beliefs come from past experiences, our parents, teachers or friends telling us we can’t or shouldn’t do something. It’s time to take a look at them and the price we pay for believing that way. Lose the Choking Beliefs! Choose supporting beliefs that breathe new life into your dreams!

9.Make a Plan

All the dreaming in the world will not change your life unless you take action. When you have an idea about what your passionate work would be, start taking the first steps. Make a plan that will help you explore that idea. It is amazing how many doors will start opening for you when you make a plan and take action!

10.Celebrate Your Successes

This is my favorite part–celebrating! Right from the beginning celebrate each small step on your journey to passion-filled work. Why? Well, first, because it is fun! Second, celebrating every success helps you stay focused on your successes and keeps you motivated to move forward.

Read more: The Top 10 Ways to Find Your Passion-Filled Life’s Work