Business Failures

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." This is one inspiring quote from Thomas Alva Edison.

You can think of a lot of things that you want to have and you want to achieve but have you thought of the reasons why you don't have them or why you haven't achieve them yet? The simple reason is that we haven't anticipated upcoming failures. This is also the reason why a lot of businesses fail. For common people, if they fail what they do is that they come up with different reasons or pass the blame, a natural defense mechanism of human beings to survive. However, for a few people, when they fail they learn from it, and they use the wisdom from these failures to avoid another failure, they adapt.

If you have visited several web sites regarding businesses and successful stories, you will come to realize that it is a romantic scene, too sweet to happen. Often we neglect that in reality there are failures but these should not bring you down. Rather, failures should motivate you to come up with a better resolution, a more positive attitude, a better decision, and a successful plan.

Why do most people fail in business? There are business consultants, analysts, and even web sites, who can enumerate from a few up to hundreds, and I can say, they are all good. However, for the sake of simplicity, I believe, there are three major reasons why businesses fail: (1) Lack of capital or insufficient funding. (2) Lack of market research which involves the basis of the business plan. And (3) Lack of proper management and execution.

(1) Lack of Capital. Perhaps, getting the capital is the most difficult part in setting up a business. For some, it will take them years to save and earn money to start the business that they wanted. For others, it will bury them to a lot of debts because of the high interest rates of capital that they loan from a bank or other institutions. There are many advises now from different web sites on where and how you can get your capital, your starting money to put up a business, however, be very careful about scams. But regardless, on how you get your capital, always make sure that it should suffice, not only with the business that you are trying to set up with but with the loses. Come up with the $2-$1-$1 rule in your funding. If your business working capital costs $2, make sure that everything you shell out only costs $1, save the $1 for rainy days.

(2) Lack of Market Research. In order to start a business you must know what people need because this is where your products and services will be based from. You must study the trend of the market. If you can create their need then do so. Does the existing businesses fulfill the needs of the consumers? How can you provide products or services that will satisfy their needs? And more than that, how can your business go above and beyond in satisfying those needs? Study the existing competition and anticipate future competitors. Understand the whereabouts of the location, traffic, accessibility, marketability, safety, water, and electricity. Jump ahead to see the business in a year, two years, five years, and longer. You may read my article concerning Market Research posted July 27, 2008.

(3) Lack of Proper Management and Execution. As a business person, you have to realize that the measure of your success is the result, however, this result can't be achieved by mere good planning alone and large amount of capital. A good result of every plan needs to have proper execution. Employ the managers with good leadership skills and will promote positive atmosphere to all your employees because from their accurate execution awaits the achievement of your goal.

Market Research

In order to have a successful execution of your business, however big or small, one among the most effective ways to plan your business is market research. This is where one can base what is a substancial business for a particular group of people living in a common place, be it in a local community, rural or urban society, or even to the extent of global economy. By substancial, we mean relevant, needed, and timely. For example, a business person won't set up a store that sells typewriters if the market is in Tokyo Japan. In the same way, as another business person won't venture in providing internet services if the market is in Timbuktu, Africa (Although, I believe, in the possibility that the second example will no longer be true sooner or later). A person or group of people who would like to invest one's capital needs to know the whereabouts of the market.

Setting up a business is similar to gambling but not exactly gambling. Business and gambling are similar in the sense that there are risks that we can't eliminate. Well, they both follow a set of rules and they both rely on chances or on the probability of winning from what has been laid down. We can be scientific and mathematical on both if we talk about probability of getting our results, however, they still differ. In gambling, the probability merely rests on what you have and it stays there. Everything is upto chance. Say for example, you are playing Black Jack, your chances of winning is the probility that you get 21 out of several possible combinations of cards from a deck of 52, against the numberof players that you are competing with on the table. Setting up a business is different, chances rely to things that you don't have control; but it doesn't stop there. A business person can try to eliminate as many uncotrollable factors that one can as long as the person understands the market. Therefore, market research is very important.

"Market research is the process of systematically gathering, recording and analyzing data and information about customers, competitors and the market. Its uses include to help create a business plan, launch a new product or service, fine tune existing products and services, and expand into new markets. Market research can be used to determine which portion of the population will purchase a product/service, based on variables like age, gender, location and income level.

Market research is generally either primary or secondary. In secondary research, the company uses information compiled from other sources that appears applicable to a new or existing product. The advantages of secondary research are that it is relatively cheap and easily accessible. Disadvantages of secondary research are that it is often not specific to your area of research and the data used can be biased and is difficult to validate. Primary market research involves testing such as focus groups, surveys, field tests, interviews or observation, conducted or tailored specifically to that product.

A list of questions that can be answered through market research:

What is happening in the market? What are the trends? Who are the competitors? How do consumers talk about the products in the market? Which needs are important? Are the needs being met by current products? "

See weblink: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Market_research.

This is a simple way to understand the need of consumers, to fulfill the needs that are not met, to exceed their expectations, to know who are the competitors, to lead the competition, and to make a profitable business. But of course, a market research needs to be relative to every type of business. The bigger the business, the more detailed a market research needs to be. And again the goal is to execute a profitable business.

Setting Up a Business

The goal in setting up a business is no other than to succeed. It is in the thinking that we buy something, whether products or services, for a dollar and we sell it for two. This is the simplest practical mindset any businessman has. We succeed at the end of the day if we get our $2 and we fail if it goes below $1. If you are to think of it deeper, it is a simple concept to understand, however, a very complex practice to execute. And if you have the practical mindset then what you expect to see are the results.

There are a lot of things that we need to consider in setting up a business. We may see it, in as simple as, things that we can control and things that we can't. As much as possible, we make sure that we have everything under control otherwise we will end up in losing what we have strive to establish for a long time. However, it is also wise to understand that we can't control everything in our business because there are external causes and reasons outside our will. This is the simple reason why a lot of businesses, however, big or small, fail.

It may sound ambitious, but I strongly believe, that our second means to justify the end to reach success, particularly, in the field of business is to have almost everything under control. Why almost? Because, I still believe, that there are circumstances that are outside our will. You can think of external events that you really don't want to happen but they do happen: calamities, accidents, robbery, and the likes. But despite these, the aim of a businessperson to be successful is to focus on the things that one has control over with and avoid the the things that is beyond one's control. We need to try to eliminate risks of losing.

What are things that we can control and what are otherwise? We need to consider the capital (where, how much, and how we get the capital) , the type of business that we are interested in (what type of industry are we going to venture, be it product or services, how big or small), a detailed feasibility study of the business (the business sketch) the market where the business is located (where consumers are, accessibility, marketability), the short term and long term stability of the business (profitability, sustainability, flexibility), people that are going to be involved (employees, investors, consumers, employers) and all risks that will come along the way (possible causes of failures). Roughly, an examination of these factors are essential in the execution of a successful business.

Practical Car: Honda FCX Clarity / Hydro-electric Vehicle

Buckle up for your safety! Sooner or later we don't have to worry on the rising price of gas.

Honda automobile manufacturer has introduced no gasoline vehicle this year on the road. A car of the future goes hydro-electric. According to their website advertisement, "The FCX Clarity is ready for the road. A limited number of these groundbreaking vehicles will be leased to Southern Californians starting this summer."

See web link: http://automobiles.honda.com/fcx-clarity/drive-fcx-clarity.aspx

"The Honda FCX Clarity is a hydrogen fuel cell automobile manufactured by Honda. Currently there are more than twenty 2002 prototype-based, leased vehicles in the hands of customers in three different American states, including the state of New York, city of Las Vegas, Chula Vista, San Francisco and the South Coast Air Quality Management District.



Limited marketing of a latest fuel cell vehicle based on the 2007 concept model began in June 19, 2008 in Japan and the United States. Honda believes it could start mass producing vehicles based on the FCX concept by the year 2018."


See web link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FCX_Clarity

Although the mass production is anticipated by 2018, a lot of customers are already lining up for their units. The projected price on how much it will cost by 2018 is still not revealed to the public, however, all the units right now, are on $600/ month lease for 3 years. There are a lot of challenges that the manufacturers, owners, and the vehicle itself are facing, like the limited number of refueling stations and the mobility of these vehicles.

Well, we may not feel the practicality of owning this car today but imagine the effect of the mass production of this type of vehicle sooner or later. Honda FCX Clarity is guaranted one among the practical cars of the future.

Practical Car: Chevrolet Volt

General Motors' Chevrolet is now advertising the latest make and model of vehicle that consumers should buy. Unlike any other car, you don't need to spend a single cent for the high price of gasoline. A vehicle that doesn't use gas or diesel. Shall we say: welcome to the future! Yes it is real and this is no longer a rumor. As according to their advertisement, "Imagine: A Daily Commute Without Using a Drop of Gas."

See web link: http://www.chevrolet.com/electriccar/

"The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in series-hybrid electric vehicle by General Motors, with production expected to begin in 2010. The Chevy Volt will be built at the General Motors plant in Lordstown, Ohio. The company has avoided the use of the term "hybrid," preferring to call it an electric vehicle with a "range extender" due to its design. The vehicle is designed to run purely on electricity from on-board batteries for up to 40 miles (64 km), or about half the range of the GM EV1 — a large enough distance to cover the daily commutes of most Americans, which is around 33 miles (53 km). With use of a small internal combustion engine driving a generator to resupply the batteries, the vehicle's range is potentially increased to 360 miles (579 km) on the highway. Early estimates, from GM staff, were of initial annual production of 60,000 units, but these claims have been scaled back to a planned 10,000 units, as of May 2008, with a ramp up to 60,000 units in the second year.

The Volt concept vehicle was officially unveiled at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) on January 7, 2007 in Detroit, Michigan. An updated version was unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show in April 2007 in Shanghai, China. At the time of unveiling, the Volt project had been in existence for less than a year. The Volt was targeted to cost around US$30,000. As of April 2008, General Motors Vice Chairman of Global Product Development Robert Lutz was quoted as saying that the realistic unsubsidised price had risen to US$48,000, that he reckoned that US$40,000 might be possible, without making any profit, and that only government tax incentives could take the price tag nearer to US$30,000. When asked directly about the price later, Lutz indicated that this was a misquote - and said "The answer is that we don’t know."

GM faces competition from Nissan Motors, which announced their own electric cars on May 13, 2008, Toyota, Mitsubishi Motors, as well as a number of start up auto manufacturers, some backed by Silicon Valley angel financing."

See web link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Volt

The practical consequence is that (1) this answers the problem of global oil price hike; (2) this resolves a lot of environment issues; and (3) this promotes competition among vehicle manufacturers, giving opportunity for its cost to go down.

The pricing that has been forcasted of around US$40,000 is almost buying a 2009 Ford Mustang GT Premium Convertible which is US$33,200, well, not as cheap and not as fast, but not to the extent of a typical Ferrari which cost US$150,000 to US$500,000, well, not as luxurious and not as fast. However, imagine the amount of money that you can save of not buying gas or the help that you can give for a cleaner environment. This car is definitely a practical choice of the future.

Practical Phone: N95

If you are a Nokia loyal customer, then the Nokia N95 is out in the market and is out for grabs. Are you wondering if it is a practical phone to buy? Check out the design, pricing, and features on this article.

As we all know, at least for users of Nokia mobile phones, Nokia changes their design and features relatively faster than other mobile phone manufacturers. In general, Nokia is a little bit for a collector of changing design, a bit adaptive to the customers changing needs, rather than for stick to one mentality.

There are a lot of features that are still in place on this phone, if you are carefully choosing your Nokia series, but what stands out among the rest according to those who actually bought the phone are: strength of signal reception, displays, camera, and sound quality. The second most likable ratings to expect are: keypads, selection of features, and ring tone volumes. The least to like, sad to say, so far as text messaging lovers are concerned, is text messaging.

"Nokia N95 8GB Smartphone (GSM, Bluetooth, 5MP, 8GB - MPN: N958GB) Price Range: $500.00 - $671.08 from 16 SellersNokia N95 8GB Smartphone (GSM, Bluetooth, 5MP, 8GB - MPN: N958GB) Price Range: $500.00 - $671.08.

Seller Description: With up to 8GB of built-in memory, the Nokia N95 8GB has key features of its predecessor, including a 5.1-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, built-in A-GPS, WLAN, HSDPA and an innovative 2-way slide. The N95 8GB also boasts a luminous 2.8-inch (240 x 320 px) QVGA display, so watching videos, browsing the Internet or viewing maps is a pleasure. With its expanded memory, the N95 8GB offers up to 20 hours of video or up to 6000 songs. The N95 8GB supports services like Nokia Music Store and N-Gage Games. Access millions of music tracks from the Nokia Music Store."

See related links for availability, reviews, and detailed features on the Nokia website.

I still remember when I had my first mobile phone when phones become a necessity, believe it or not, it is as big as the handset of a home phone with antenna that you still need to pull. Choosing a phone now really depends on our need, long calls, instant text messaging, mobility, access to web, attention to details, portable radio and MP3 when you want to relax, so on and so forth... our need has been redesigned.

For the practical mind, it is basically important to consider what are our needs that should be satisfied, fashion as a consequence of design is merely secondary. Pricing, well, that is another important factor to consider. N95 has virtually almost has it all except the price.

Become Sexy: A Practical Choice

Among so many things that a practical mind should be complimented with, is to become sexy. The sexier you are, the more people will like you. The more people who like you, the more opportunities you get. The more opportunities you get the more benefits you reap. Therefore, to become sexy is a way of life to a practical man.

An article I read, shows some tips on how to become sexy. How to Become Sexy (for Boys Only)"You're a guy, and you want to be sexy. Maybe you want to impress the beautiful girl that you see in your classes at school/university everyday, or perhaps you're just getting ready to go out clubbing. Either way, a guy that's sexy has a better chance of getting what he wants (especially girls!) in life.

Wash your hair at least every other day (washing in the morning prevents going out with the grease of last night). A girl loves a boy who smells nice, and cares about his image. Besides, greasy hair is not a good look on anybody, even if they look like Brad Pitt. By taking care of your hair, you at least show that you're interested in your appearance and care enough about yourself to take good care of yourself.

Make sure you have good hygiene. Brush twice a day, and floss once a day.

Wear deodorant every day. Body odor is not an attractive smell, and nobody around you enjoys it. It's a simple routine that can reap large benefits in your friendships, relationships, and with strangers!

If your face is clean shaven, shave regularly. Stubble, when it's not intentionally there, promotes a look of unkempt.

Wash your face every day. This helps to clear up whiteheads/blackheads, as well. However, if you are a teenager, acne is quite normal, and occurs quite often. It will be hard for you to stop getting acne. If you have a severe problem with acne, your regular doctor can most likely refer you to a good dermatologist.

Wear a nice cologne. It is truly amazing how it attracts attention. Don't bathe in it, though, or it'll do the opposite of the intention.

Be confident in yourself. Girls love guys who are confident, and confidence is also the key to getting ahead in the business world. Unless you believe in yourself, you can't sell yourself, so less people will believe in you. Remember, though, that there is a line between confidence and arrogance. Arrogance is not sexy.

Wear nice clothes. The style of clothes that you wear doesn't matter, because you're expressing your personality. Whatever you choose to wear, though, should be clean and ironed (if appropriate). Also do not wear pants that show alot of boxer. This is not sexy. It is gross to almost all girls. If you are going to wear jeans, make sure they are not too baggy. This does not look good.

Be funny! A girl loves a guy who can genuinely make her laugh. If you notice she is being turned off by your sense of humor (which you will be able to tell by her body language) then stop. Give her space. Smile because girls love smiles. It makes them feel beautiful."

See weblink, http://www.wikihow.com/Become-Sexy-(for-Boys-Only) .

What you have read are only some but a few tips on how to become sexy. Becoming sexy in itself is already practical not only if your aim is to get the girl that you want but also to attract people and have them like you, in general. The aim of the practical mind is to get as many opportunities as possible. Therefore, to become sexy is a practical choice!

Let your Children be More Good Looking by Proper Nurturing

By understanding the nature of our genes through scientific research and by controlling the nurturing part of a child at a certain period of his or her development we can prevent autism as most recent discoveries show. In the same light, can we aspire for our children to have better appearance? Can we aspire for them to be more good looking by proper nurturing?

In the article, Nature/nurture Gene Link Sheds New Light On Autism, posted on ScienceDaily (July 17, 2008) — "Neuroscientists at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory found that a previously unsuspected set of genes links nature and nurture during a crucial period of brain development.

The results, reported in the July 8 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), could lead to treatments for autism and other disorders thought to be tied to brain changes that occur when the developing brain is very susceptible to inputs from the outside world. Nature--in the form of genes--and nurture--in the form of environmental influences--are fundamentally intertwined during this period.

"Our work points to how a disorder can be genetic and yet be dependent on the environment," said co-author Mriganka Sur, Sherman Fairchild Professor of Neuroscience at the Picower Institute and chair of MIT's brain and cognitive sciences department. "Many genes require activity to be expressed and make their assigned proteins. They alter their expression when activity is altered. Thus, we reveal an important mechanism of brain development that should open up a window into the mechanisms and treatment of brain disorders such as autism."

In the brain, some genes are only expressed, or turned on, in response to stimulus from the outside world. Like a panel of switches that turn lights on and off, genes that don't receive electricity don't "turn on" and express their particular proteins.

Sur and colleagues found a set of novel genes--including a calcium sensor called cardiac Troponin C, or cTropC--particularly sensitive to a critical period of development. The lack of proteins from these genes during a key phase of development could be one of the culprits in developing autism.

Researchers have long investigated the molecular mechanisms involved in monocular deprivation--when one eye is deprived of sight during a critical period of brain development, that eye becomes permanently blind, even after it is uncovered. This phenomenon is considered an important model for brain development because synapses for the covered eye--deprived of environmental stimulus, or what Sur calls "nurture"--shrivel up or get reassigned to other uses.

Sur and his colleagues looked at which genes are expressed, and which are not, when this phenomenon occurs. They hoped to pin down the correlation between nature--meaning the genes--and the external environment, or nurture. By identifying which genes are particularly apt to switch their expression patterns in response to "nurture," the researchers potentially narrowed down the ones that may be implicated in developmental disorders.

Researchers believe autism spectrum disorders are tied to brain changes that occur during critical periods of development. Different but overlapping critical periods are thought to exist for various cognitive functions affected in autism, such as language and social behaviors.

"Autism is a strongly genetic disorder: genes set up risk factors but by themselves simply make proteins," Sur said. "Genes work together with other influences. In the case of autism, these influences are unknown but could be molecules made by other genes or chemicals from the environment."

If scientists understood how genes changed in response to environmental influences during this crucial developmental period, they might be able to one day prevent or reverse the changes."

In the practical mindset, this recent discovery gives us hope for many things. One is the hope to prevent and reverse the changes of autism. However, whether proper nurturing to a child can bring him or her to the world with a more good looking appearance is no longer a scientific mystery. The belief already works to a lot of successful people.

Technology Education: A Free Ride with a Ferrari

The role of Good Technology Education in teaching has a vital role in the learning program of a student. The goal of education is not necessarily practical in itself because it has aims that are curriculum based, compulsory, and or academic in nature. However, in the practical mindset, I firmly believe that education is a vehicle in achieving our goals. The use of the Internet is rampant now a days. And the way we are educated things from school, if it will be thought of as the vehicle that we ride, needs an overhaul--redesign teaching in such a way that it is technology powered or equipped.

Chris Lehmann tries to answer the question What is Good Technology Education Leadership? In his blog, A Whole New School, he provides two answers: a simple answer and a complex answer , both, shall we say, in the academic perspective.

According to him, "The simple answer is that good technology educational leadership is no different than good educational leadership; that the choices we make with technology education should be deliberate, thoughtful and in line with the overall educational goals of our organization.
But that answer falls short because it fails to take into account that the technologies at our disposal should transform our classrooms as well. Neil Postman, in Technopoly, wrote that some technologies are not merely additive, but transformative. The example he used was the Guttenberg printing press. His argument was that after Guttenberg’s invention, we did not have Europe plus books, we had a new Europe. The Internet — and the incredible changes it has brought about — has transformed many of the ways we live our lives, but as of yet, it has done very little to change our schools. We need to understand that with these tools, we should not have schools plus computers, we should have whole new schools."

And he proceeds with his more complex answer, "First, we have to recognize that to use these tools only for two periods a week is not transformative, and it perpetuates the problem of access. If we only transform learning for those students who can afford the equipment and the access outside of schools, we continue to reinforce the class stratification that currently exists in our country. (And yes, I know that the digital divide is closing, but that does not mean that we as educators can now ignore it.) These technologies must be ubiquitous, necessary, and invisible. They must be everywhere, touching the way we learn in all aspects of our schools, and they must never be the first thing we think about.

Secondly, these tools allow all of us — students and teachers — to do five things better than we’ve ever been able to do them in our classes before: Research, Collaborate, Create, Present and Network."

So what is practical in technology based education or learning? Imagine, learning things without boundaries, accessing books and information without being constricted because you can't buy their high price, presenting your own ideas in the most diversified ways, getting ideas from different experts when speed is in its at most demand, working with other people with the same line of interests, and more importantly, letting the world know that you and your idea exists.

Therefore, if education is our vehicle towards our success, then good technology education in teaching can be construed as giving as a free ride with a Ferrari.

Money is a Capital: A Practical Mindset

Why is money so important?

Almost everything revolves around money. The food we eat, the water we drink, the house that shelters us, the electricity that gives us warmth, the clothing that we wear, and virtually everything is bought or has a cost. We can't deny that reality. Money is a fact of Life.

According to the encyclopedia, "Money is any token or other object that functions as a medium of exchange that is socially and legally accepted in payment for goods and services and in settlement of debts. Money also serves as a standard of value for measuring the relative worth of different goods and services and as a store of value. Some authors explicitly require money to be a standard of deferred payment.

Money includes both currency, particularly the many circulating currencies with legal tender status, and various forms of financial deposit accounts, such as demand deposits, savings accounts, and certificates of deposit. In modern economies, currency is the smallest component of the money supply.

History of money

The first golden coins in history were coined by Lydian king Croesus, around 560 BC. The first Greek coins were made initially of copper, then of iron because copper and iron were powerful materials used to make weapons. Pheidon king of Argos, around 700 BC, changed the coins from iron to a rather useless and ornamental metal, silver, and, according to Aristotle, dedicated some of the remaining iron coins (which were actually iron sticks) to the temple of Hera. King Pheidon coined the silver coins at Aegina, at the temple of the goddess of wisdom and war Athena the Aphaia (the vanisher), and engraved the coins with a Chelone, which is to this day as a symbol of capitalism. Chelone coins were the first medium of exchange that was not backed by a real value good. They were widely accepted and used as the international medium of exchange until the days of Peloponnesian War, when the Athenian Drachma replace them. According other fables, inventors of money were Demodike(or Hermodike) of Kymi (the wife of Midas), Lykos (son of Pandion II and ancestor of the Lycians) and Erichthonius, the Lydians or the Naxians. "

See web link, http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Money .

To be practical is not simply being satisfied with this working definition. To be practical is not just accepting that money is a fact of life. For a practical mindset money is not just a neutral word as defined above. Well, it may be as important as any person could think, however, the practical mind sees money as having another definition. Money is a capital.

"Capital (money) used to fund a business should earn returns for the capital owner who risked their saved money. For an investment to be worthwhile the estimated return on capital must be greater than the cost of capital. Otherwise stated, the risk-adjusted return on capital (incorporating not just the projected returns, but the probabilities of those projections) must be higher than the cost of capital. "

See web link, http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Cost+of+capital .

Therefore, the practical mindset is to construe money beyond being a fact of life but to use it as a capital to fund a business wherein the ultimate aim is to yield more money.

Money Problems: Understanding Where the Problems Come From

It is interesting to know why do we run out of money, if not on most occasions then at least some times. If we do have a job and the money that we earn compensates our cost of living then it is only logical that we won't be short of money. Where do money problems come from?

An interesting online resource where it is explained in a perspective that money problems come from what is programmed to us and lack of planning. I like the use of the word programmed because not only it connotes being accustomed or formed as a habit but also the resolution that I'm proposing is reprogramming.

It reads, "The problem is that we are "programmed" to spend and not to plan for our financial future. Except for the inflation/recession, which is government-originated, this can be seen in detail below.

The Seven Money-Eaters:

Inflation/Recession Crunch – inflation is an increase in the ratio of currency and credit to the goods available. In short, the government has "manufactured" excess cash in the system. Moderate inflation "fuel" the economy and helps to maintain full employment. Uncontrolled inflation causes the economy to "heat up" and causes prices to rise. Consumers will therefore save or reduce purchases. This causes recession in the business sector. Inflation is the "silent eater" of our money’s value.

Emergency Crunch – we must spend because a situation, often dangerous, arises suddenly and calls for prompt action.

"The Thing" Crunch – we must get it because it is the "in" thing.

"Get it Now" Crunch – we must get it now, not later.

"Keeping Up" Crunch – we must get it because our neighbor has it.

Save Crunch – a variance of "get it now" crunch. We must get it now because it will give us a discount now than later (during sale).

Easy Credit Crunch – we can get it now, even if we don’t have the ready cash, because we could pay it later. "

You may visit the web link: http://www.aredconsult.com/finance-course-online/money-eaters.htm

It is worth note taking to understand where our money problems come from and as a result of understanding the problem is knowing the appropriate solution that we can offer. A practical mindset focuses on resolving problems and not letting the problem continues. The resolution that I am offering in the six out of seven money problems is to reprogram our mindset to the extent of changing our way of life to stop unnecessary spending. The resolution comes from within, an examination of our practices, habits, beliefs, discipline, and the likes and avoiding the impractical.

The ultimate aim of getting rid of money problems is not necessarily having a lot of money but rather avoiding losing money, that is, by saving money. It is not how big we earn everyday but how much we save because from saving our money we can think of future investments which is in the long run will give us more benefits.

Land a Job: 101 Career Interview Questions

One of the best ways to get money, is to find a job and the best way to land a job is to be prepared on the interview questions that are waiting for you. It is a big step ahead if you are anticipating the questions that might be laid down before you enter an office where you plan to work. Here are some of the top interview questions that are normally asked during the screening process:

1. What can you tell us about yourself?

2. What do you think are your strengths?
3. What do you think are your weaknesses?
4. In your previous job, did you have a favorite superior and why?

5. How far do you live from this office?
6. Why do you want this job?
7. Where would you like to be in your career two years from now?
8. Can you tell us about your proudest achievement?

9. Was there a person in your career who really made a difference?

10. What do you think is your ideal company?

11. How did you hear about us and what attracted you to this company?

12. What do you think you are most proud of?

13. Are you looking for a career development and how will you go about it?

14. Which is better in business upbringing-- structured or entrepreneurial?
15. How do you react when you don't get what you want?

16. If I were to give you this salary you requested but let you write your job description for the next year, what would it say?
17. Why do you think there is a fuzz on a tennis ball?
18. How would you go about establishing your credibility quickly with the team?
19. There's no right or wrong answer, but if you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?
20. How would you feel about working for someone who knows less than you?
21. What do you like to do?
22. Can you give examples of ideas you've had or implemented?
23. What are your lifelong dreams?
24. What do you ultimately want to become?
25. How would you describe your work style?
26. What kind of car do you drive?
27. Can you tell me about a time where you had to deal with conflict on the job?
28. What's the last book you read?
29. What magazines do you subscribe to?
30. What would be your ideal working situation?
31. Why should we hire you?
32. What did you like least about your last job?
33. What do you think of your previous boss?
34. How do you think I rate as an interviewer?
35. Do you have any questions for me?
36. When were you most satisfied in your job?
37. What can you do for us that other candidates can't?
38. What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?
39. What negative thing would your last boss say about you?
40. If you were an animal, which one would you want to be?
41. What salary are you seeking?
42. What's your salary history?
43. Do you have plans to have children in the near future?
44. What were the responsibilities of your last position?
45. What do you know about this industry?
46. What do you know about our company?
47. How long will it take for you to make a significant contribution?
48. Are you willing to relocate?
49. What was the last project you headed up, and what was its outcome?
50. What kind of goals would you have in mind if you got this job?
51. Can you give me an example of a time that you felt you went above and beyond the call of

duty at work?
52. What would you do if you won the lottery?
53. Can you describe a time when your work was criticized?
54. Have you ever been on a team where someone was not pulling their own weight? How did you handle it?
55. What is your personal mission statement?
56. Tell me about a time when you had to give someone difficult feedback. How did you handle it?
57. What is your greatest failure, and what did you learn from it?
58. What irritates you about other people, and how do you deal with it?
59. What is your greatest fear?
60. Who has impacted you most in your career, and how?
61. What do you see yourself doing within the first 30 days of this job?
62. What's the most important thing you've learned in school?
63. What three character traits would your friends use to describe you?
64. What will you miss about your present/last job?
65. If you were interviewing someone for this position, what traits would you look for?
66. Can you give us five words that describe your character?
67. What is your greatest achievement outside of work?
68. Can you sell me this pencil?
69. If I were your supervisor and asked you to do something that you disagreed with, what would you do?
70. Do you think a leader should be feared or liked?
71. What's the most difficult decision you've made in the last two years?
72. What do you like to do for fun?
73. Why are you leaving your present job?
74. What do you do in your spare time?
75. How do you feel about taking no for an answer?
76. What was the most difficult period in your life, and how did you deal with it?
77. What is your favorite memory from childhood?
78. Give me an example of a time you did something wrong. How did you handle it?
79. Can you tell me one thing about yourself you wouldn't want me to know?
80. Can you tell me the difference between good and exceptional?
81. Why did your choose your major?
82. What are the qualities of a good leader? A bad leader?
83. What is your biggest regret, and why?
84. What are three positive character traits you don't have?
85. What irritates you about other people, and how do you deal with it?
86. If you found out your company was doing something against the law, like fraud, what would you do?
87. How many times do a clock's hands overlap in a day?
88. How would you weigh a plane without scales?
89. What assignment was too difficult for you, and how did you resolve the issue?
90. If I were to ask your last supervisor to provide you additional training or exposure, what would she suggest?
91. If you could choose one superhero power, what would it be and why?
92. What's the best movie you've seen in the last year?
93. Describe how you would handle a situation if you were required to finish multiple tasks by 94. the end of the day, and there was no conceivable way that you could finish them.
95. What techniques and tools do you use to keep yourself organized?
96. If you could get rid of any one of the US states, which one would you get rid of, and why?
97. With your eyes closed, tell me step-by-step how to tie my shoes.
98. if you had to choose one, would you consider yourself a big-picture person or a detail-oriented person?
99. If selected for this position, can you describe your strategy for the first 90 days?
100. Who are your heroes?
101. Can you tell me 10 ways to use a pen other than writing?

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It is part of a practical mindset to prepare for what is about to happen, in as much as, succeeding in getting what we want. Big part of getting what we want, is our resources and for most of us, resources start from where we get our bread and butter, from our jobs, at least for those who have. But even so, with or without a job, we still think of our opportunity to land a job that can compensate our needs. And these questions will be part of our preparation.

Be Rich and Famous by Looking at Things Positively

When you are ask a question on how you can describe things that are happening to you, will you consider them good or bad? Roughly, by good , we mean in the most general sense of the word, be it in the state of happiness, contentment, fulfillment, pleasurable, beneficial, and the likes. On the contrary, by bad, we mean, the exact opposites.

Our mindset on how we see things that are happening to us, is in as much as examining what we do in our everyday lives. It is just as important as the things that we do in itself on the reason that this is our conceptual framework on to deal with the world. Be it in our ordinary state of affairs such us, how we talk to our friends and colleagues, how we compliment another's accomplishments, how we face challenges, how we deal with criticisms, how we motivate ourselves to accomplish a particular goal, and an infinite multitude of instances.

A dictionary may tell us that "Optimism is an outlook on life such that one maintains a view of the world as a positive place. It is the opposite of pessimism. Optimists generally believe that people and events are inherently good, so that most situations work out in the end for the best. A common conundrum illustrates optimism-versus-pessimism with the question, does one regard a given glass of water, filled to half its capacity, as half full or as half empty? Conventional wisdom expects optimists to reply, "Half full," and pessimists to respond, "Half empty" (assuming that "full" is considered good, and empty, "bad"). Another paradox sometimes associated with optimism is that the only thing an optimist cannot view as positive is a pessimist. Pessimism, however, as it acts as a check to recklessness, may even then be viewed in a positive light. " ( http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Optimism)

It is not my aim to debate whether what is the appropriate way to look at the world or what is the better outlook in life. We will spend hours of argumentation accomplishing nothing but intellectual masturbation. I remember my university days, when we were discussing two contrary set of beliefs in philosophy. An hour and a half class is not sufficient to resolve two conflicting views. We even had continued discussions outside class in coffee shops in order to resolve whether one is inherently good, bad, or both, whether one action is motivated by desire, and if so what is that desire... so on and so many. At the end of the day, at least we clarified a lot of things and if not learned anything at all, in itself, it feels good.

However, if there are options that are laid down to us, due to lack of term, be it optimism, be it pragmatic, be it practical, be it what works, whether to see the world in a positive way or the exact opposite, why not consider the alternative of looking at it in on the positive light. It may be worth while if we contemplate for a minute or two whether what were doing or about to be done is something worth doing. In my philosophic point of view, our answers on how we describe things that are happening to us, doesn't really matter, whether it is good or bad. What matters is what we have done and what do we have.

And again, at the end of the day if we try to ask ourselves what we have done... or what do we have? We are not satisfied with mere clarification. We are not fulfilled with mental intoxication. We don't don't buy gas by understanding sense data. We don't feed our hungry stomach without the appropriate means. The alternative that I am offering is the practical mindset, you won't lose anything but believing. And part of this mindset is to look at things on the positive light. This is the means for you to be rich and famous. Who knows? You might be the next richest man in the world!

Are These Cars Hot or What?

Have you dreamt of getting your most desired car?

Are these cars hot or what?

These cars are the most desirable vehicles on their lines and the newest on their models. Check out their basic pricing. For more details about specification, pricing, and their whereabouts, you may check out their specific web sites. For sure you don't want to miss them.

According to the wise, all of us necessarily desire but not all our desires are necessarily satisfied. This may sound discouraging but you shouldn't be. It only tends to remind us that it is not possible to get everything we want, however, by being pragmatic in terms of mindset, it should motivate us to set our particular goals.

For a few people, dreaming is not that far from planning. Although there is a rational distinction between dreaming and planning, planning is the more practical one. Accurate planning is the bridge to the realization of your dreams.

So why don't you stop dreaming of getting one among these hot cars? You definitely like at least one of them, don't you? Start your accurate plan on how to get them... you may start turning those dreams into plan-- that's the practical mindset. Good luck to your brand new car!!!