Every passing day brings us one step closer to retirement. When economic conditions or personal finances are unclear, the road to retirement seems much longer, and the road on retirement seems to be a rocky and perilous one. Don't panic, it's time to plan.
Begin with the Serenity Prayer
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
Regardless of personal faith or religious affiliation, nearly everyone can relate to that simple prayer. The wisdom is particularly relevant during challenging economic times. Headlines broadcast rising concerns regarding the price of gasoline, airlines eliminating routes and raising prices, and the HP lay-off 24,600 employees. The financial world is rocked by announcements regarding AIG, Merrill Lynch, and Lehman Brothers. Stocks, housing prices, and consumer confidence have tumbled faster than a Cirque du Soleil troupe on a double shot of espresso. With so many financial pillars falling, it is difficult, if not impossible, to avoid reeling from the pressures of the collateral damage. A person does not need to lose a job to feel the pinch when others do, and the number of people looking for new opportunities is steadily rising.
You may have some power over your travel arrangements, but limited personal power over the price of fuel. You may have power over the stock or retirement funds that you have selected, but limited personal power over Wall Street. You have some power over the decision to buy or sell your home, but limited personal power over the housing market values. You have some power over the money that you spend, but may have limited personal power to quickly impact the amount of money that you owe. Do you have the courage to change what you can, the serenity to accept what you cannot change, and the wisdom to remind yourself of the difference?
Don't waste your time to panic over the things that you cannot change. Rather, spend your time to evaluate and adjust your plans for those areas that you can impact.
Stocks
Did you invest in stocks when the market was rising? Did you enjoy watching your money grow while you casually read the morning paper and sipped on a cup of coffee? Did you pat yourself on the back for having the wisdom to select the right stocks, and to have the patience to watch them grow and increase in value? If so, what active role did you play in contributing to the continuous growth of those stocks? More than likely, you watched them grow, and you watched them decline. If you do not immediately need the liquid assets for some other emergency, then please return to your coffee and morning paper to await the passing of this season. As with nature, autumn and winter are a necessary preparation for spring and summer. If you missed cashing out your investments at the peak, then it may be in your best interest to wait for thaw of the financial market, and look forward to watching the renewed growth.
In the meantime, keep an eye on any stocks with high risk, just to make sure that you do not experience the frost bite and icy cold finger of fate that touched such giants as AIG and Merrill Lynch. It is unwise to move stocks to get away from an investment, but a very wise move to transfer in the direction of a good investment. In other words, do not run hastily from a dangerous position, but rather move intelligently to a good one.
Mutual Funds
Hold on for the recovery. If you move when things are down, then you experienced the decline without giving yourself the chance to experience the rebound. As always, if you are not a professional financial advisor, then find one that you can trust to give you the guidance that you need. You would not even think about doing brain surgery on yourself, so why would you perform surgery on your own financial future?
Bonds
Treasury Bonds and Government Bonds do not offer fast moving overnight success or excitement. Treasury Bonds, unlike James Bond, are not sexy, and do not provide the exhilarating adrenaline rush of extreme risk with potential for flashy rewards. What you do have is a little more safety, a little more security, and a little more confidence that your investment will not be traded, bought out, or suddenly bankrupt. There are times that the tortoise may not keep pace with the hare, but when it comes to your retirement, you really do have the option to place your bets on both the tortoise and the hare. Put some of your money on the tortoise to finish, and the hare to place, and you have more than doubled your odds of winning.
Real Estate
If you can pay your mortgage and are happy in your home, then why are you worried if the housing prices decline? If you lived in your abode and experienced the unruly and exorbitant increases of housing prices for the last decade, did it really change your standard of living? If you did not already sell your home, was your lifestyle raised at the same rate and pace of the housing market? If the rising prices in housing did not improve your lifestyle, then the adjusted balancing of the market is not going to harm you either, so chill out.
On the other hand, if you accidentally bought into the housing market when it was at the peak, then you may have to wait a little while for the rebound to come back and exceed the levels of a year ago. Reassure yourself that real estate can sometimes be a long term investment. Land is the one thing that nobody can make any more of, so there will eventually be demand for it.
Mortgage
If your lender fails, you still need to pay your mortgage to the company that takes over ownership of the mortgage. If you receive an unexpected notice that your mortgage has been transferred, be cautious and investigate to confirm the transfer of ownership. Don't let a scam artist take advantage of you during a period of uncertainty, but always make sure that you know where your money is going.
If your financial situation appears unstable or threatening due to the terms of your loan, then this is a very good time to address your concerns and evaluate your mortgage with the lender. While some banks and financial institutions allowed greater risk in recent years, the current concerns have placed a mutual concentrated commitment to secure profitable loans on good credit, and assure that mortgages can be paid. If you are concerned, then schedule a meeting to discuss options with your lender and express your interest in refinancing at lower rates. The lender wants your money, not your home, so you are already starting your conversation with common objectives.
Retirement Accounts
Retirement plan assets are protected, even if the plan sponsor fails. The good news is that your plan is probably not going away, although it is possible that the value of your plan may be doing a disappearing act. This disappearing act is far from magic, and not nearly as entertaining. The risk and reward of many 401K accounts is intertwined with stock market performance, so you may be in for a bumpy ride. Furthermore, like social security, there are peaks and valleys of generations contributing to funds and withdrawing funds. Your crystal ball has as much chance of being correct as the magic eight ball. Don't put all of your eggs in one basket, because although the basket may not go anywhere, there is no guarantee as to how many eggs will be left in it. Keep a few of your eggs in other safe places, just in case.
Savings Accounts
If your savings account is in an FDIC insured bank, your funds are protected up to $100,000. If the fund that insures the accounts fails, the government covers the balance up to $100,000. If you have more than the maximum insured amount in your savings, perhaps you should consider keeping funds in several different FDIC insured banks. It may be a good idea to use more than one bank or credit union to hold enough funds to pay the bills for a short period of time, in the unlikely and unfortunate event that your primary bank temporarily suspends access to funds for some reason. FDIC protection does not cover money market mutual funds.
Insurance
AIG received much attention and immediate government intervention when it made headline news. In the event that an insurer does go bankrupt, the state regulator takes over to make sure that policies are honored. In fact, the consumer insurance subsidiary of AIG was never in trouble, so consumer insurance plans were not as risk.
Credit Cards
Now this is an area that you should really pay attention to, and plan accordingly. Banks will issue more credit cards in an effort to increase profits. These credit cards are targeted at people with good credit records, but they will come with much higher penalties and increased fees. In a weaker economy, as personal finances are impacted by job transitions, reduced access to loans, or if your profession relies on transactions (sales, real estate, construction, entertainment, etc), it may become increasingly difficult to pay down credit card debt due to reduced income.
Review your bills each month to determine if there are some monthly recurring charges to your credit card that can be cancelled or reduced. If you are carrying a balance forward, make a plan for the amount you will reduce your balance each month. Set a date to pay off your credit card completely, and hold yourself accountable to that date. Start paying with cash, when appropriate, and make a journal of your transactions. Reduce your reliance on the convenience of credit cards for personal use until the economic storm has passed.
Remember that your Credit Card payments impact your overall credit score. As the economy tightens, it is incumbent upon lenders to act responsibly and to limit the access for loans and mortgages to individuals with good credit scores. Lower scores mean higher down payment or rates. Don't let a lack of attention to Credit Cards become a costly impediment to other important purchases or transitions that you make want or have to make in the future. Moving, selling, or buying a home may be in your future, so don't let the Credit Cards slip beyond your control now. Even if your Credit Card Company fails, your history and debt remain, and are transferred to another company.
Borrowing Money
To put it simply, this is not a good time to borrow money. Banks will be eager to lend, but only if the bank believes that you have good credit and that the bank has the ability to profit from your loan. If the bank is assured of making profit, it is money coming from your loan, and out of your pocket. If you are considering borrowing money as a way to get out of a hole, like paying off credit cards, then have a plan on how to get out of the hole that is created when you take out a loan. Digging a hole to use the dirt to fill another hole is only a temporary solution, and may have unpleasant strings attached.
Recession
The threat of recession is the constant beating of a drum. Although we may not always see it, we hear it all around us. There are many contributing factors to this economic illness, so there is no single medicine to cure it. As an individual, it is not something that you can change, so it takes serenity to accept it. Be prepared for the ways that it can impact you personally and professionally. Professions that rely on transactions may slow as liquid assets dry up. Real Estate, construction, travel, and entertainment have already been visibly affected, and this trend will continue at least into the first half year of 2009. Professionals that rely on these transactions will have to adjust, and so will all of the businesses that rely on these individuals as consumers. You cannot change that either. However, you can make personal decisions and plans that will impact your immediate financial security, and your long term investments.
Conversely, during times of recession and economic turmoil, individuals often turn to low cost alternatives to boost morale and self-esteem. While housing sales are in a slump and investors are rattling sabers on Wall Street, the lesser luxury items are in higher demand. Make-up, lipstick, diet foods, and small personal luxury items sales are still strong. Cell phones, iPods, and low cost consumer electronics help us forget about the incessant beating of the recession drums, at least for a little while. There is nothing wrong with feeling good about yourself as the world around you screams of panic. You can be serene, because you know what is within your control, and you are making plans for it.
It is highly recommended to seek the recommendations of licensed financial advisors. Do not make decisions based on haste, remorse, or fear. Make your decisions based on an educated balance of immediate needs and long term security. Like the seasons, real estate, the stock market, and the economy will return and flourish in due time. Your goal is to weather the winter storm and be ready for the next summer.
This article is not intended to render legal or financial advice. If you require legal advice, you should seek the services of an attorney. If you require financial advice, you should seek the services of an accountant or licensed financial advisor.
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Words of Wisdom
"Most people get interested in stocks when everyone else is. The time to get interested is when no one else is. You can't buy what is popular and do well."- Warren Buffet
"We have seen a significant increase in demand from senior executives across the USA and in Europe who wish to leave the corporate world and become independent small business owners, franchise owners or equity partners. While stockholders are pushing hard for corporate re-engineering, executives are facing a job market where it takes on average 1-year to find a new executive job that may last at best, for only 2-years."- Richard P. Driscoll, Jr. Chairman & CEO, The Executive Connection LLC
"While the Internet is becoming cluttered with volumes of meaningless data, it has become essential to deliver clear crisp communications in a matter of seconds.With the objective of presenting the alternative of independent business ownership to corporate senior executives who are considering a career change, we have worked diligently to both educate and inform.”- Warren Denby, Chief Marketing Officer, The Executive Connection LLC
"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs."- Thomas Jefferson, Letter to the Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin, 1802
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Recommended Site Seeing
The Executive Connection LLChttp://www.executiveconnectionllc.net/
Robert J. Reby & Co. Inc: "Conservative Wealth Preservation"http://www.robertreby.com/
Bui Financial Advisory: "Financial Planning, Retirement Planning, Investment Counseling, Tax Advice and Planning"http://www.buiadvisory.com/
The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrityhttp://www.Trusted101.com/
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Sunday, September 28, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The Trusted Advocate Group on LinkedIn Exceeds 500 Members
One of the fastest growing new networking groups on LinkedIn has exceeded the 500 member mark, demonstrating the importance of core values, authenticity, and integrity in modern business.
London, England (EBInews) September 4, 2008 – More than 500 members have joined the Trusted Advocate Networking Group on LinkedIn, and many new members are joining daily.
LinkedIn is a business oriented social networking site with more than 25 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries.
Registered users of LinkedIn can create a profile summarizing professional accomplishments. The profile enables the user to find former colleagues, clients, and partners. LinkedIn also provides access to participate in networking groups, alumni associations, and discussion forums.
The Trusted Advocate Networking Group is a network of business professionals committed to the success of clients and peers. Action with authenticity, advocate with integrity, as recognized and endorsed by fellow trusted advocates. The purpose of the group is to enable empowered business with confidence and community connections with trusted advocates.
Members of The Trusted Advocate Networking Group display a dedication to the personal principles espoused by the group by a logo on the individual LinkedIn profile. The logo makes it easy to identify a Trusted Advocate. Other logos may also be represented based on personal preference, representing alumni associations, groups, or other interests.
Through the network, users can find potential clients, service providers, subject matter experts, offer recommendations and endorsements. This collaboration enables participants to search for new jobs, search for job candidates, and get introduced to other professionals for mutual support and benefit.
The Trusted Advocate Networking Group on LinkedIn was inspired by the award winning book by John Mehrmann and Mitchell Simon, The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity. In The Trusted Advocate, readers are encouraged to identify personal strengths and apply individual talents to attain the goals of clients and peers. The Trusted Advocate surmises that personal satisfaction and success can be achieved with selfless commitment and integrity. Furthermore, the book provides instructions for the reader to apply each concept in personal practice.
The overwhelming response and rapid growth of The Trusted Advocate Networking Group on LinkedIn is a testimony to the importance of authenticity and integrity in modern business practices. With the burgeoning growth of social networking sites, blogs, and other online communications, the voice of the customer is louder than ever before in history. Honesty and ethics are no longer merely good behavior, but have risen in awareness to become the competitive differentiator in the consumer selection criteria of potential vendors, partners, products, and services. Members of the Trusted Advocate group know this and embrace the evolution of ethics in business.
Individuals interested in joining the Trusted Advocate Networking Group must have a registered account and profile on LinkedIn. There is no charge to participate in the Networking Group. For more information, or to become a member, simple follow the easy online instructions to apply: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/83826/03792148A71A
For more information on The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity, reviews, chapter summaries, excerpts from the book, and a list of online booksellers, please visit http://www.Trusted101.com
LinkedIn participates in the EU Safe Harbor Privacy Framework and is certified to meet the strict privacy guidelines of the European Union. All relationships on LinkedIn are mutually confirmed, and no one appears in the LinkedIn Network without knowledge and explicit consent. LinkedIn is located in Mountain View, California.
London, England (EBInews) September 4, 2008 – More than 500 members have joined the Trusted Advocate Networking Group on LinkedIn, and many new members are joining daily.
LinkedIn is a business oriented social networking site with more than 25 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries.
Registered users of LinkedIn can create a profile summarizing professional accomplishments. The profile enables the user to find former colleagues, clients, and partners. LinkedIn also provides access to participate in networking groups, alumni associations, and discussion forums.
The Trusted Advocate Networking Group is a network of business professionals committed to the success of clients and peers. Action with authenticity, advocate with integrity, as recognized and endorsed by fellow trusted advocates. The purpose of the group is to enable empowered business with confidence and community connections with trusted advocates.
Members of The Trusted Advocate Networking Group display a dedication to the personal principles espoused by the group by a logo on the individual LinkedIn profile. The logo makes it easy to identify a Trusted Advocate. Other logos may also be represented based on personal preference, representing alumni associations, groups, or other interests.
Through the network, users can find potential clients, service providers, subject matter experts, offer recommendations and endorsements. This collaboration enables participants to search for new jobs, search for job candidates, and get introduced to other professionals for mutual support and benefit.
The Trusted Advocate Networking Group on LinkedIn was inspired by the award winning book by John Mehrmann and Mitchell Simon, The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity. In The Trusted Advocate, readers are encouraged to identify personal strengths and apply individual talents to attain the goals of clients and peers. The Trusted Advocate surmises that personal satisfaction and success can be achieved with selfless commitment and integrity. Furthermore, the book provides instructions for the reader to apply each concept in personal practice.
The overwhelming response and rapid growth of The Trusted Advocate Networking Group on LinkedIn is a testimony to the importance of authenticity and integrity in modern business practices. With the burgeoning growth of social networking sites, blogs, and other online communications, the voice of the customer is louder than ever before in history. Honesty and ethics are no longer merely good behavior, but have risen in awareness to become the competitive differentiator in the consumer selection criteria of potential vendors, partners, products, and services. Members of the Trusted Advocate group know this and embrace the evolution of ethics in business.
Individuals interested in joining the Trusted Advocate Networking Group must have a registered account and profile on LinkedIn. There is no charge to participate in the Networking Group. For more information, or to become a member, simple follow the easy online instructions to apply: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/83826/03792148A71A
For more information on The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity, reviews, chapter summaries, excerpts from the book, and a list of online booksellers, please visit http://www.Trusted101.com
LinkedIn participates in the EU Safe Harbor Privacy Framework and is certified to meet the strict privacy guidelines of the European Union. All relationships on LinkedIn are mutually confirmed, and no one appears in the LinkedIn Network without knowledge and explicit consent. LinkedIn is located in Mountain View, California.
The Trusted Advocate is Honored with the Publisher's Choice Award
More accolades for the award winning book, The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity, by John Mehrmann and Mitchell Simon.
Orange County, CA (PRWEB) September 9, 2008 -- The award winning book, "The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity", is honored with the prestigious Publisher's Choice Award. The Publisher's Choice designation identifies and celebrates new titles that exhibit editorial integrity and outstanding design quality. New titles undergo stringent editorial review and design evaluation. Selected titles display potential for greater commercial success.
"Mitch and I are deeply honored by the awards and accolades," said John Mehrmann, author of 'The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity'. "The recognition is very much appreciated, but the greatest personal reward is the overwhelming feedback of the readers."
"The book provides real life examples that make sense, speaks to integrity and can be applied immediately. It outlines a selling strategy that focuses on the relationship between customer and salesperson to achieve continued and sustainable growth," said Tina Tuccillo, Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Product Planning at Noritsu America Corporation. "A quick read, you will walk away with page after page of highlights and folded corners of information you can't wait to share with others. A goldmine of wealth you can't afford to miss."
Initial inventory of 'The Trusted Advocate' sold out quickly, and some orders were slightly delayed while additional copies were printed. As recognition has grown, so has the geographic distribution of enthusiastic readers. The web site www.Trusted101.com provides links to a variety of online booksellers in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Italy, Ireland, and Australia.
"Some of us may start reading this volume somewhat skeptical about the authors' opening thesis that the way we are habituated to define success is entirely illusory. But any doubts will be quickly dispelled as the highly readable analysis of the inseparable relationship between real success and the twin concepts of authenticity and integrity unfolds. And more than that, they make it easy for us to internalize what we have read as we are gently provoked to practically apply the knowledge to our own individual situations," said Azriel Winnit, author of Israel based Hodu.com. "In effect, we are all salespeople, whether our need is to sell the ideas we believe in, to secure the best terms for the services we need, or just to convince our boss to give us a raise. Simply put, applying the concepts presented in this book will help to make the world a better place. Period."
The style of The Trusted Advocate is like a participating in a personal conversation with a close friend. It gently reinforces individual qualities that generate sustainable personal satisfaction and business success. Readers of The Trusted Advocate have reported life-changing revelations, greater confidence, and extraordinary success.
A reader review posted on Barnes & Noble proclaims, "The practical approaches and solutions in The Trusted Advocate provide clear, explicit, and factual examples of how to address the strategic and tactical issues that often crop up when the need exists to be a company loyalist and customer advocate while maintaining personal integrity and providing a win, win solution for both constituents being represented. I strongly recommend this book as a basic learning tool for all new marketers and a fresh approach for old timers to consider."
Eric Nelson, President of Secure Privacy Solutions, writes "'The Trusted Advocate' does an outstanding job of articulating what most successful sales and business professionals inherently understand, that people want to do business with those they can trust and are looking out for their best interest."
Kirkus Discoveries had this to say in a recent review of 'The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity', "John Mehrmann and Mitchell Simon have packed years of experience into a single volume that provides fundamental advice for sales professionals. The straightforward writing style is also accentuated with illustrative vignettes which exemplify the crucial aspects of successful sales."
For more reader reviews, chapter summaries, excerpts from the book, and a list of online booksellers, please visit http://www.Trusted101.com
Orange County, CA (PRWEB) September 9, 2008 -- The award winning book, "The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity", is honored with the prestigious Publisher's Choice Award. The Publisher's Choice designation identifies and celebrates new titles that exhibit editorial integrity and outstanding design quality. New titles undergo stringent editorial review and design evaluation. Selected titles display potential for greater commercial success.
"Mitch and I are deeply honored by the awards and accolades," said John Mehrmann, author of 'The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity'. "The recognition is very much appreciated, but the greatest personal reward is the overwhelming feedback of the readers."
"The book provides real life examples that make sense, speaks to integrity and can be applied immediately. It outlines a selling strategy that focuses on the relationship between customer and salesperson to achieve continued and sustainable growth," said Tina Tuccillo, Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Product Planning at Noritsu America Corporation. "A quick read, you will walk away with page after page of highlights and folded corners of information you can't wait to share with others. A goldmine of wealth you can't afford to miss."
Initial inventory of 'The Trusted Advocate' sold out quickly, and some orders were slightly delayed while additional copies were printed. As recognition has grown, so has the geographic distribution of enthusiastic readers. The web site www.Trusted101.com provides links to a variety of online booksellers in the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Italy, Ireland, and Australia.
"Some of us may start reading this volume somewhat skeptical about the authors' opening thesis that the way we are habituated to define success is entirely illusory. But any doubts will be quickly dispelled as the highly readable analysis of the inseparable relationship between real success and the twin concepts of authenticity and integrity unfolds. And more than that, they make it easy for us to internalize what we have read as we are gently provoked to practically apply the knowledge to our own individual situations," said Azriel Winnit, author of Israel based Hodu.com. "In effect, we are all salespeople, whether our need is to sell the ideas we believe in, to secure the best terms for the services we need, or just to convince our boss to give us a raise. Simply put, applying the concepts presented in this book will help to make the world a better place. Period."
The style of The Trusted Advocate is like a participating in a personal conversation with a close friend. It gently reinforces individual qualities that generate sustainable personal satisfaction and business success. Readers of The Trusted Advocate have reported life-changing revelations, greater confidence, and extraordinary success.
A reader review posted on Barnes & Noble proclaims, "The practical approaches and solutions in The Trusted Advocate provide clear, explicit, and factual examples of how to address the strategic and tactical issues that often crop up when the need exists to be a company loyalist and customer advocate while maintaining personal integrity and providing a win, win solution for both constituents being represented. I strongly recommend this book as a basic learning tool for all new marketers and a fresh approach for old timers to consider."
Eric Nelson, President of Secure Privacy Solutions, writes "'The Trusted Advocate' does an outstanding job of articulating what most successful sales and business professionals inherently understand, that people want to do business with those they can trust and are looking out for their best interest."
Kirkus Discoveries had this to say in a recent review of 'The Trusted Advocate: Accelerate Success with Authenticity and Integrity', "John Mehrmann and Mitchell Simon have packed years of experience into a single volume that provides fundamental advice for sales professionals. The straightforward writing style is also accentuated with illustrative vignettes which exemplify the crucial aspects of successful sales."
For more reader reviews, chapter summaries, excerpts from the book, and a list of online booksellers, please visit http://www.Trusted101.com
Trends in Technology
Garter, Inc analysts highlighted the top ten strategic technologies and trends for 2008. Gartner defines a strategic technology as one with potential for significant impact on enterprise in the next three years. Take a few moments to get familiar with the definitions of technology trends that will impact your business.
1. Green IT
According to the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, e-waste is the fastest-growing part of the waste stream, and the Environmental Protection Agency estimates e-waste accounts for 2 percent of the municipal solid waste stream in the United States. More than 1,000 chemicals are used during electronics production, such as lead, mercury, and cadmium. In addition to manufacturing materials, going green means focus on power consumption. IT departments spent 17 cents per dollar to power and cool servers in 1996. Ten years later, by September 2006, IT departments were spending 48 cents per dollar to power and cool servers, according to IDC research. IDC predicts that this cost will grow to 78 cents per dollar by 2010. The focus on green is as much about cost reduction as it is about the environment.
The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition estimates that there are 500 obsolete computers in the United States, and 130 million cell phones thrown away every year. It is no wonder that e-waste and Green IT are topping the charts as the primary initiative for technology and trends in 2008.
According to IDC, over 50% of customers consider a vendor's green initiatives and capabilities when selecting a supplier. One third of customers already consider it very important that suppliers have "green offerings". 80% of Executives say that e-waste and Green IT is growing in importance as an initiative in their organization. The number one (#1) driver for Green IT adoption is economic, to reduce operational costs.
What company is setting the pace with Green IT initiatives? ZSL Inc
2. Unified Communications
20% of the installed based with PBX has already migrated to IP telephony, and more than 80% are already conducting trials and preparing for the most significant shift in telephony since the adoption of cell phones. Voice over Internet Protocol, VoIP, is also known as IP Telephony, Broadband Telephony, and Voice over Broadband. A rose by any other name, the appeal for low cost is what smells so sweet. A single network can carry voice, data, video, and mobile applications on fixed and mobile networks. Get ready to rethink networks as completely integrated communication of voice, video, and data. You will be surfing the Internet, accessing data, and sharing video on your cell phone. You will be making international calls from your notebook computer. Hardware is interchangeable, it is just a matter of the adoption rate for new technology.
What company is setting the pace with unified communications? Cisco.
3. Business Process Modeling
Business Process Modeling is the structured comparison of how things really work, how we want them to work, similar processes with measured results, and planning to move from current state to future state. In IT, business processing modeling requires system and application architects to work with programmers, designers, and analysts to coordinate the design theory, the development, and the institutionalizing of the systems and applications. In other words, the individuals who design the systems and applications will work with the people who build it, and with the ones who fix the bugs.
In some environments the collaboration of architects, developers, and analysts is already accepted as common practice. However, it is uncommon enough to actually make the top ten list of future trends for the next three years. "The beauty and the curse of system architects and programmers is that they are just like the applications that they design based on your specifications. They do exactly what you tell them to do," said John Mehrmann, "so you better make sure that it is exactly what you want them to do."
4. Metadata Management
Metadata management is critical to a information infrastructure, it is the relationship and usage of data. There are three primary segments of data in Enterprise Information Management (EIM) strategy. These three segments are customer data integration, product information management, and product management. Metadata management is less of a technical challenge and more of an organizational process. Simply defined, metadata management uses data from complex structured data sources and databases to create models (schemas) and mappings. Import data to rapidly identify patterns, commonalities, differentiators, and create models. Use design patterns, solution templates, and operators to simplify development of metadata applications.
How is metadata being used today? Metadata captures customer registration to model buying habits, returns, peripheral purchases, and warranty extensions. Metadata is used to track warranty failures, customer contact through multiple channels that include call center and service, and it can be used to selectively offer marketing materials and sales incentives.
What company is setting the pace with metadata management? SAS
5. Virtualization 2.0
Virtualization technologies are infrastructure improvement enablers to improve IT resource utilization and increase flexibility. Automation technologies can improve resource efficiency and automate flexibility based on requirements and services managed holistically, with high levels of resiliency. IT resources adapt automatically to changing workloads and reduce cost. Expect to hear more about virtualization as technologies and trends impact the holy grail of Green IT, better management of resources, and lower costs.
6. Mashup & Composite Apps
Composite Applications are the assembly of existing components in IT with Web based applications, typically using older generation program language languages and developed by professional programmers. On the other hand, mashups are remarkably simple and basic infusion of web services with browser-side java, to connect things together. Mashups simply gather existing data from multiple web resources to either present the data together, assemble and calculate the information to create new data, or create new functionality. Mashups are small pieces of data, loosely joined. There are five types of mashups:
i. Presentation Mashup gathers data from multiple sources and lists the data together.
ii. Client-side Data Mashup gathers data from remote web sites or data feeds and processes the data in a client database or application to analyze it or create a new result.
iii. Client-side Software Mashup uses code in the client side web browser to create distinct new capabilities for gathering and utilizing data captured through the browser.
iv Server-side Software Mashup is already very common as evident by the thousands of open Web APIs currently available. The server collects data from the client.
v. Server-side Data Mashup is the linking and connecting of data between servers. It is already very common to share data between servers and databases, but the fascinating new trend is that this type of data collection and manipulation is happening at a much higher level.
As client-side applications enable users to access data with web browsers and to mashup data without professional programmers, the evolution changes from how to gather diverse data into how to compare, analyze, and use the data. Once immediate access to mashup data from diverse web resources becomes commonplace, metadata management becomes even more crucial to identify trends, recognize commonalities, and develop predictive applications for accurate forecasts and customer-centric customization.
What company is setting the pace with mashup & composite apps? Google
7. Web Platform & WOA
Emerging web applications provide Software as a Service (SaaS) as a viable option to access infrastructure services, information, applications, and business processes though simple and easy to use web browsers. The web based "cloud computing" environments may access a single source for data, applications, or resources for client queries and reporting. However, as metadata management and mashups become more sophisticated and commonplace, web platform Software as a Service will increasingly enable the recombination of data from multiple data sources, applications, and resources. This evolution enables real time data collection, comparison, analysis, application and resource allocation through web portals, reducing direct data or service connectivity, and allowing significantly greater user flexibility.
What company is setting the pace with Web Platform, API, and Software as a Service initiatives? Amazon
8. Computing Fabric
In the evolution of servers as storage devices, we witnessed the progression of big iron from tape drives to hard drives, and the management of all data on one drive to storing data on an array of drives as a means to expand storage and recover from catastrophic failure. In other words, multiple devices shared access and resources to store data. This concept evolved into blade servers, enabling the networking of multiple efficient devices. The next evolution of the computing fabric is the introduction of technology to treat the network of blade servers as the sum of the components from each of the blades. Rather than manage each blade server as a whole device, the new technology will treat memory, processors, I/O cards and components as a pool of resources, combining and recombining these resources as necessary to appear as an operating system on a fixed single server.
Managing the computing fabric will take the smallest measurable pieces of the networked hardware and recombine resources to achieve Green IT low cost power consumption, better use of hardware resources, and treat hardware combinations in much the same way that mashups converge diverse small pieces of data into single serving results on demand.
9. Real World Web
The term real world web refers to enabling information applicable to a particular location, activity, or context relevant to the real world. Unlike virtual worlds that can be created and manipulated for a particular purpose or entertainment, real world web is intended to augment reality with real-time and real world situations. GPS Navigation, for example, can provide real time directions that react to movement and direction. Airline updates, for example, can alert a user to on-time availability or delays associated with flight departures or arrivals.
Now imagine that you have a flight to another city, real time traffic updates and GPS to bypass congestion, and this schedule is mashed up with web based reservations at a preferred restaurant to entertain a valued customer. Your reservation could be automatically adjusted to accommodate flight or traffic delays. The restaurant would be automatically alerted to the change in schedule and may adjust seating accordingly. The GPS may provide alternative routes to avoid heavy congestion or accidents. The value customer would receive a web based calendar alert to unexpected flight delays, enabling your valued customer to occupy time with other important tasks while you are still in flight. The directions, navigation, reservations, and customer clients updates can be managed automatically with real world web.
Another use for real world web integrates posted gasoline prices with GPS navigation devices. This enables the user to identify and select from gas stations with lower posted prices using the real world web.
What company is setting the pace for delivering Real World Web applications? Microsoft
10. Social Software
The term social software is typically associated with a wide range of web applications that enable users to interact and share with other users. YouTube, MySpace, and LinkedIn are some examples of social sites. Social software typically facilitates a more egalitarian community development in which membership is voluntary, reputation is earned by winning the trust of other members, and the mission and governance of the community is defined by the members of the community. Social software reflects the asymmetrical traits of social networks, and a mutual link between users. You can choose to accept or not accept content or connections.
Social software and social networks are evolving at an astounding pace, and are as diverse as human interests. Social networks exist for business, career guidance or changes, on line gaming, common interests, entertainment, hobbies, staying in touch with contacts, and meeting new people.
What companies are setting the pace with Social Software? YouTube, MySpace, and LinkedIn
Summary
So what is happening? There is so much data, information, applications, and individual contact available through web connections that it has become necessary to break things down into the smallest components and categorize these components in such a way as to maximize efficiency, access, collaboration, recombination, and real time application. Green IT seeks to identify the components of hardware and resources to maximize efficiency, reduce e-waste, and reduce power consumption. Unified communications is breaking down data, voice, and video into streams that can be shared by mobile and web based devices. Business Process Models organize the small bits of data, applications, and resources to design future architecture and integrate analytics are users and clients become a part of the development process. Metadata management identifies commonalities and creates smaller models to organize the data. Mashups take these diverse pieces of data and present them or process them in a manner that produces a new understanding or result. Web platforms and Software as a Service empower mashups and data access. Virtualization 2.0 and Computing Fabric apply the same concepts to the hardware that store, access, and serve up this data, voice, and video. Real World Web integrates all of this with our environment and surroundings. Social software makes individuals a part of the process, identifying and connecting smaller pieces of personal interests with individuals that share similar experiences or interests.
The trend for the next three years is to break down data, voice, video, applications, hardware, and individual interests into the smallest denominators and then to identify and recombine based them on user defined requirements and commonalities.
Companies should factor these technologies into their strategic planning process by asking key questions and making deliberate decisions about them during the next two years,” said David Cearley, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner. “Sometimes the decision will be to do nothing with a particular technology. In other cases it will be to continue investing in the technology at the current rate. In still other cases, the decision may be to test/pilot or more aggressively adopt/deploy the technology. The important thing is to ask the question and proactively plan.”
______________________________________________________
Words of Wisdom
"Where a calculator on the ENIAC is equipped with 18,000 vacuum tubes and weighs 30 tons, computers in the future may have only 1,000 vacuum tubes and perhaps weigh 1.5 tons." - Popular Mechanics, March 1949
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."- Arthur C. Clarke
"Technology is dominated by two types of people: those who understand what they do not manage, and those who manage what they do not understand."- Putt's Law
"Computers make it easier to do a lot of things, but most of the things they make it easier to do don't need to be done." - Andy Rooney
______________________________________________________
Read the details of Gartner's predictions for the top 10 strategic technologies for 2008.http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=530109
You may distribute this article freely, print it, sell it, or include it as part of a package as long as it is intact, unchanged and delivered in the original format with acknowledgement to Executive Blueprints Inc.
About the Author:
John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, educational articles and references to local affiliates for consulting and executive coaching. http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.
1. Green IT
According to the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, e-waste is the fastest-growing part of the waste stream, and the Environmental Protection Agency estimates e-waste accounts for 2 percent of the municipal solid waste stream in the United States. More than 1,000 chemicals are used during electronics production, such as lead, mercury, and cadmium. In addition to manufacturing materials, going green means focus on power consumption. IT departments spent 17 cents per dollar to power and cool servers in 1996. Ten years later, by September 2006, IT departments were spending 48 cents per dollar to power and cool servers, according to IDC research. IDC predicts that this cost will grow to 78 cents per dollar by 2010. The focus on green is as much about cost reduction as it is about the environment.
The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition estimates that there are 500 obsolete computers in the United States, and 130 million cell phones thrown away every year. It is no wonder that e-waste and Green IT are topping the charts as the primary initiative for technology and trends in 2008.
According to IDC, over 50% of customers consider a vendor's green initiatives and capabilities when selecting a supplier. One third of customers already consider it very important that suppliers have "green offerings". 80% of Executives say that e-waste and Green IT is growing in importance as an initiative in their organization. The number one (#1) driver for Green IT adoption is economic, to reduce operational costs.
What company is setting the pace with Green IT initiatives? ZSL Inc
2. Unified Communications
20% of the installed based with PBX has already migrated to IP telephony, and more than 80% are already conducting trials and preparing for the most significant shift in telephony since the adoption of cell phones. Voice over Internet Protocol, VoIP, is also known as IP Telephony, Broadband Telephony, and Voice over Broadband. A rose by any other name, the appeal for low cost is what smells so sweet. A single network can carry voice, data, video, and mobile applications on fixed and mobile networks. Get ready to rethink networks as completely integrated communication of voice, video, and data. You will be surfing the Internet, accessing data, and sharing video on your cell phone. You will be making international calls from your notebook computer. Hardware is interchangeable, it is just a matter of the adoption rate for new technology.
What company is setting the pace with unified communications? Cisco.
3. Business Process Modeling
Business Process Modeling is the structured comparison of how things really work, how we want them to work, similar processes with measured results, and planning to move from current state to future state. In IT, business processing modeling requires system and application architects to work with programmers, designers, and analysts to coordinate the design theory, the development, and the institutionalizing of the systems and applications. In other words, the individuals who design the systems and applications will work with the people who build it, and with the ones who fix the bugs.
In some environments the collaboration of architects, developers, and analysts is already accepted as common practice. However, it is uncommon enough to actually make the top ten list of future trends for the next three years. "The beauty and the curse of system architects and programmers is that they are just like the applications that they design based on your specifications. They do exactly what you tell them to do," said John Mehrmann, "so you better make sure that it is exactly what you want them to do."
4. Metadata Management
Metadata management is critical to a information infrastructure, it is the relationship and usage of data. There are three primary segments of data in Enterprise Information Management (EIM) strategy. These three segments are customer data integration, product information management, and product management. Metadata management is less of a technical challenge and more of an organizational process. Simply defined, metadata management uses data from complex structured data sources and databases to create models (schemas) and mappings. Import data to rapidly identify patterns, commonalities, differentiators, and create models. Use design patterns, solution templates, and operators to simplify development of metadata applications.
How is metadata being used today? Metadata captures customer registration to model buying habits, returns, peripheral purchases, and warranty extensions. Metadata is used to track warranty failures, customer contact through multiple channels that include call center and service, and it can be used to selectively offer marketing materials and sales incentives.
What company is setting the pace with metadata management? SAS
5. Virtualization 2.0
Virtualization technologies are infrastructure improvement enablers to improve IT resource utilization and increase flexibility. Automation technologies can improve resource efficiency and automate flexibility based on requirements and services managed holistically, with high levels of resiliency. IT resources adapt automatically to changing workloads and reduce cost. Expect to hear more about virtualization as technologies and trends impact the holy grail of Green IT, better management of resources, and lower costs.
6. Mashup & Composite Apps
Composite Applications are the assembly of existing components in IT with Web based applications, typically using older generation program language languages and developed by professional programmers. On the other hand, mashups are remarkably simple and basic infusion of web services with browser-side java, to connect things together. Mashups simply gather existing data from multiple web resources to either present the data together, assemble and calculate the information to create new data, or create new functionality. Mashups are small pieces of data, loosely joined. There are five types of mashups:
i. Presentation Mashup gathers data from multiple sources and lists the data together.
ii. Client-side Data Mashup gathers data from remote web sites or data feeds and processes the data in a client database or application to analyze it or create a new result.
iii. Client-side Software Mashup uses code in the client side web browser to create distinct new capabilities for gathering and utilizing data captured through the browser.
iv Server-side Software Mashup is already very common as evident by the thousands of open Web APIs currently available. The server collects data from the client.
v. Server-side Data Mashup is the linking and connecting of data between servers. It is already very common to share data between servers and databases, but the fascinating new trend is that this type of data collection and manipulation is happening at a much higher level.
As client-side applications enable users to access data with web browsers and to mashup data without professional programmers, the evolution changes from how to gather diverse data into how to compare, analyze, and use the data. Once immediate access to mashup data from diverse web resources becomes commonplace, metadata management becomes even more crucial to identify trends, recognize commonalities, and develop predictive applications for accurate forecasts and customer-centric customization.
What company is setting the pace with mashup & composite apps? Google
7. Web Platform & WOA
Emerging web applications provide Software as a Service (SaaS) as a viable option to access infrastructure services, information, applications, and business processes though simple and easy to use web browsers. The web based "cloud computing" environments may access a single source for data, applications, or resources for client queries and reporting. However, as metadata management and mashups become more sophisticated and commonplace, web platform Software as a Service will increasingly enable the recombination of data from multiple data sources, applications, and resources. This evolution enables real time data collection, comparison, analysis, application and resource allocation through web portals, reducing direct data or service connectivity, and allowing significantly greater user flexibility.
What company is setting the pace with Web Platform, API, and Software as a Service initiatives? Amazon
8. Computing Fabric
In the evolution of servers as storage devices, we witnessed the progression of big iron from tape drives to hard drives, and the management of all data on one drive to storing data on an array of drives as a means to expand storage and recover from catastrophic failure. In other words, multiple devices shared access and resources to store data. This concept evolved into blade servers, enabling the networking of multiple efficient devices. The next evolution of the computing fabric is the introduction of technology to treat the network of blade servers as the sum of the components from each of the blades. Rather than manage each blade server as a whole device, the new technology will treat memory, processors, I/O cards and components as a pool of resources, combining and recombining these resources as necessary to appear as an operating system on a fixed single server.
Managing the computing fabric will take the smallest measurable pieces of the networked hardware and recombine resources to achieve Green IT low cost power consumption, better use of hardware resources, and treat hardware combinations in much the same way that mashups converge diverse small pieces of data into single serving results on demand.
9. Real World Web
The term real world web refers to enabling information applicable to a particular location, activity, or context relevant to the real world. Unlike virtual worlds that can be created and manipulated for a particular purpose or entertainment, real world web is intended to augment reality with real-time and real world situations. GPS Navigation, for example, can provide real time directions that react to movement and direction. Airline updates, for example, can alert a user to on-time availability or delays associated with flight departures or arrivals.
Now imagine that you have a flight to another city, real time traffic updates and GPS to bypass congestion, and this schedule is mashed up with web based reservations at a preferred restaurant to entertain a valued customer. Your reservation could be automatically adjusted to accommodate flight or traffic delays. The restaurant would be automatically alerted to the change in schedule and may adjust seating accordingly. The GPS may provide alternative routes to avoid heavy congestion or accidents. The value customer would receive a web based calendar alert to unexpected flight delays, enabling your valued customer to occupy time with other important tasks while you are still in flight. The directions, navigation, reservations, and customer clients updates can be managed automatically with real world web.
Another use for real world web integrates posted gasoline prices with GPS navigation devices. This enables the user to identify and select from gas stations with lower posted prices using the real world web.
What company is setting the pace for delivering Real World Web applications? Microsoft
10. Social Software
The term social software is typically associated with a wide range of web applications that enable users to interact and share with other users. YouTube, MySpace, and LinkedIn are some examples of social sites. Social software typically facilitates a more egalitarian community development in which membership is voluntary, reputation is earned by winning the trust of other members, and the mission and governance of the community is defined by the members of the community. Social software reflects the asymmetrical traits of social networks, and a mutual link between users. You can choose to accept or not accept content or connections.
Social software and social networks are evolving at an astounding pace, and are as diverse as human interests. Social networks exist for business, career guidance or changes, on line gaming, common interests, entertainment, hobbies, staying in touch with contacts, and meeting new people.
What companies are setting the pace with Social Software? YouTube, MySpace, and LinkedIn
Summary
So what is happening? There is so much data, information, applications, and individual contact available through web connections that it has become necessary to break things down into the smallest components and categorize these components in such a way as to maximize efficiency, access, collaboration, recombination, and real time application. Green IT seeks to identify the components of hardware and resources to maximize efficiency, reduce e-waste, and reduce power consumption. Unified communications is breaking down data, voice, and video into streams that can be shared by mobile and web based devices. Business Process Models organize the small bits of data, applications, and resources to design future architecture and integrate analytics are users and clients become a part of the development process. Metadata management identifies commonalities and creates smaller models to organize the data. Mashups take these diverse pieces of data and present them or process them in a manner that produces a new understanding or result. Web platforms and Software as a Service empower mashups and data access. Virtualization 2.0 and Computing Fabric apply the same concepts to the hardware that store, access, and serve up this data, voice, and video. Real World Web integrates all of this with our environment and surroundings. Social software makes individuals a part of the process, identifying and connecting smaller pieces of personal interests with individuals that share similar experiences or interests.
The trend for the next three years is to break down data, voice, video, applications, hardware, and individual interests into the smallest denominators and then to identify and recombine based them on user defined requirements and commonalities.
Companies should factor these technologies into their strategic planning process by asking key questions and making deliberate decisions about them during the next two years,” said David Cearley, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner. “Sometimes the decision will be to do nothing with a particular technology. In other cases it will be to continue investing in the technology at the current rate. In still other cases, the decision may be to test/pilot or more aggressively adopt/deploy the technology. The important thing is to ask the question and proactively plan.”
______________________________________________________
Words of Wisdom
"Where a calculator on the ENIAC is equipped with 18,000 vacuum tubes and weighs 30 tons, computers in the future may have only 1,000 vacuum tubes and perhaps weigh 1.5 tons." - Popular Mechanics, March 1949
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."- Arthur C. Clarke
"Technology is dominated by two types of people: those who understand what they do not manage, and those who manage what they do not understand."- Putt's Law
"Computers make it easier to do a lot of things, but most of the things they make it easier to do don't need to be done." - Andy Rooney
______________________________________________________
Read the details of Gartner's predictions for the top 10 strategic technologies for 2008.http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=530109
You may distribute this article freely, print it, sell it, or include it as part of a package as long as it is intact, unchanged and delivered in the original format with acknowledgement to Executive Blueprints Inc.
About the Author:
John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, educational articles and references to local affiliates for consulting and executive coaching. http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.
2008 Passport Restrictions
Effective January 31, 2008, adult United States and Canadian citizens reentering the United States and Canada by land, ferry, or by small boat must carry a passport or a government issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, plus proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. Children 18 and younger require proof of citizenship only.
Cruise passengers are officially exempt, but cruise lines recommend passports and already require a photo ID, such as a driver's license, and proof of citizenship.
All US travelers returning from the Caribbean, Mexico, Bermuda, and Canada by air have had to carry passports since January 23, 2007. The change of restrictions in January 2007 created a surge in demand for passports, resulting in extended delays of several months to process the increased number and backlog of requests. Turnaround time for a standard passport is now four to six weeks. Expect to wait three weeks for an expedited passport.
The new guidelines effective January 31, 2008 extend the air travel restrictions to land, ferry, and small boat. Plan ahead for international travel, regardless of the mode of transportation, and allow enough time to procure or renew your passport if necessary.
E-Passports
Since August 2007, the United States has been issuing Electronic Passports only.
The U.S. Electronic Passport (e-passport) is similar to the former passport with the addition of a small integrated circuit computer chip embedded in the back cover. The chip securely stores the same data visually displayed on the photo page of the passport, and includes a digital photograph of the bearer. The inclusion of the digital photograph enables biometric comparison, through the use of facial recognition technology, at international borders. The U.S. e-passport also has a new look, incorporating the latest anti-fraud and security features.
Passports without chips will still be valid for the extent of the original validity period, and must be replaced with the new e-passport at the time of renewal
If you have an existing US Passport that is less than 15 years old, is not damaged, you were at least 16 years old when it was issued, and you name has not changed or you can provide documents to prove that it was legally changed, then you may be eligible to renew your passport by mail. Passports can be renewed through the mail by submitted the appropriate DS-82 form, two identical passport photographs, and a check or money order for the processing fee. The address, current fee, and DS-82 form are available at the U.S. Department of State web site, http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/renew/renew_833.html
The NEXUS Program
The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), are cooperating in a joint venture to simplify passage for pre-approved low risk travelers.
NEXUS members now have crossing privileges at any air, land, and marine ports of entry. Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, the NEXUS card has been approved as an alternative to the passport for air travel into the United States for US and Canadian citizens. The NEXUS program allows pre-screened, low risk travelers to be processed with little or no delay by the United States and Canadian officials at designated highway lanes at high volume border crossing locations, at a NEXUS kiosk at the Canadian pre-clearance airports, and at select marine locations in the Great Lakes and Seattle, Washington.
Individuals may qualify to participate in NEXUS if they are a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or Canada, residing in either country, or if they are a citizen of a country other than Canada or the United States who plans to temporarily reside lawfully in Canada or in the United States for the term of their NEXUS membership and who pass criminal history and law enforcement checks. Individuals may be denied NEXUS if inadmissible to the United States or Canada under applicable immigration law, provide false or incomplete information on the application, have been convicted of a criminal offense in any country for which they have not received a pardon, have previously violated customs or immigration law, or fail to meet stated requirements of the NEXUS program.
To apply for NEXUS, complete a single application and pay one fee. The form can be submitted on-line via the Global On-Line Enrollment (GOES), mailed, or faxed. Qualified applicants are required to come to a NEXUS Enrollment Center only once, for an interview and issuance of a photo-identification card. NEXUS allows United States and Canadian border agencies to concentrate efforts on potentially higher risk travelers and goods, to ensure security and integrity of the borders. NEXUS allows citizens of the United States and Canada to reduce delays at border crossings, and is an excellent form of international travel identification to accompany your passport.
At the time that this article was written, the one time application fee for a five (5) year NEXUS card is $50 US, and the fee for a US passport renewal is $67 US.
______________________________________________________
Words of Wisdom
"When you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make its own people comfortable."- Clifton Fadiman
"Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living."- Miriam Beard
"A person travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it." - George Moore
______________________________________________________
You may distribute this article freely, print it, sell it, or include it as part of a package as long as it is intact, unchanged and delivered in the original format with acknowledgement to Executive Blueprints Inc.
About the Author:
John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, educational articles and references to local affiliates for consulting and executive coaching. http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.
Cruise passengers are officially exempt, but cruise lines recommend passports and already require a photo ID, such as a driver's license, and proof of citizenship.
All US travelers returning from the Caribbean, Mexico, Bermuda, and Canada by air have had to carry passports since January 23, 2007. The change of restrictions in January 2007 created a surge in demand for passports, resulting in extended delays of several months to process the increased number and backlog of requests. Turnaround time for a standard passport is now four to six weeks. Expect to wait three weeks for an expedited passport.
The new guidelines effective January 31, 2008 extend the air travel restrictions to land, ferry, and small boat. Plan ahead for international travel, regardless of the mode of transportation, and allow enough time to procure or renew your passport if necessary.
E-Passports
Since August 2007, the United States has been issuing Electronic Passports only.
The U.S. Electronic Passport (e-passport) is similar to the former passport with the addition of a small integrated circuit computer chip embedded in the back cover. The chip securely stores the same data visually displayed on the photo page of the passport, and includes a digital photograph of the bearer. The inclusion of the digital photograph enables biometric comparison, through the use of facial recognition technology, at international borders. The U.S. e-passport also has a new look, incorporating the latest anti-fraud and security features.
Passports without chips will still be valid for the extent of the original validity period, and must be replaced with the new e-passport at the time of renewal
If you have an existing US Passport that is less than 15 years old, is not damaged, you were at least 16 years old when it was issued, and you name has not changed or you can provide documents to prove that it was legally changed, then you may be eligible to renew your passport by mail. Passports can be renewed through the mail by submitted the appropriate DS-82 form, two identical passport photographs, and a check or money order for the processing fee. The address, current fee, and DS-82 form are available at the U.S. Department of State web site, http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/renew/renew_833.html
The NEXUS Program
The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), are cooperating in a joint venture to simplify passage for pre-approved low risk travelers.
NEXUS members now have crossing privileges at any air, land, and marine ports of entry. Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, the NEXUS card has been approved as an alternative to the passport for air travel into the United States for US and Canadian citizens. The NEXUS program allows pre-screened, low risk travelers to be processed with little or no delay by the United States and Canadian officials at designated highway lanes at high volume border crossing locations, at a NEXUS kiosk at the Canadian pre-clearance airports, and at select marine locations in the Great Lakes and Seattle, Washington.
Individuals may qualify to participate in NEXUS if they are a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or Canada, residing in either country, or if they are a citizen of a country other than Canada or the United States who plans to temporarily reside lawfully in Canada or in the United States for the term of their NEXUS membership and who pass criminal history and law enforcement checks. Individuals may be denied NEXUS if inadmissible to the United States or Canada under applicable immigration law, provide false or incomplete information on the application, have been convicted of a criminal offense in any country for which they have not received a pardon, have previously violated customs or immigration law, or fail to meet stated requirements of the NEXUS program.
To apply for NEXUS, complete a single application and pay one fee. The form can be submitted on-line via the Global On-Line Enrollment (GOES), mailed, or faxed. Qualified applicants are required to come to a NEXUS Enrollment Center only once, for an interview and issuance of a photo-identification card. NEXUS allows United States and Canadian border agencies to concentrate efforts on potentially higher risk travelers and goods, to ensure security and integrity of the borders. NEXUS allows citizens of the United States and Canada to reduce delays at border crossings, and is an excellent form of international travel identification to accompany your passport.
At the time that this article was written, the one time application fee for a five (5) year NEXUS card is $50 US, and the fee for a US passport renewal is $67 US.
______________________________________________________
Words of Wisdom
"When you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make its own people comfortable."- Clifton Fadiman
"Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living."- Miriam Beard
"A person travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it." - George Moore
______________________________________________________
You may distribute this article freely, print it, sell it, or include it as part of a package as long as it is intact, unchanged and delivered in the original format with acknowledgement to Executive Blueprints Inc.
About the Author:
John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, educational articles and references to local affiliates for consulting and executive coaching. http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Buying or Selling on the Internet
The facts and figures from Symantec Security Response and the Internet Crime Complaint Center are both fascinating and alarming. If you have thought about buying or selling on the Internet, especially with Internet Auction Sites, make sure that you are aware of the best practices and the potential pitfalls before you do. An identity is a terrible thing to waste.
How much for your identity?
According to a Blog from Symantec Security Response, the following is the cost for your identity on the black market
How much for your identity?
According to a Blog from Symantec Security Response, the following is the cost for your identity on the black market
- $14-18 for your complete identity
- $1-6 for a US Credit Card
- $2-12 for a UK Credit Card
- $10 for a World of Warcraft Account
Internet Crime Complaint Center
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) was established as a partnership between the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to receive, develop and refer criminal complaints regarding the rapidly expanding arena of cyber crime. IC3 released the sixth annual compilation of complaints received and referred to law enforcement or regulatory agencies for appropriate action.
The following statistics are based on the IC3 2006 Annual Report
Complaint submissions decreased by 10.4%, from 231,493 in 2005 to 207,492 in 2006
Total Dollar Amount of reported losses increased from $183.12 Million in 2005 to $198.44 Million in 2006
Most Common Reason for complaints
- 44.9% Internet Auction Fraud
- 19.0% Non-Delivered Merchandise and / or Payment
- 4.9% Check Fraud
- 4.8% Credit / Debit Fraud
Most Common Amounts of reported loss
- 39.3% reported loss between $100 to $1000
- 31.6% reported loss between $1000 to $5000
- 15.6% reported loss less than $100
Of those who reported a loss, the Average (median) amount of the reported loss
- $5100 Nigerian Letter Fraud
- $3744 Check Fraud
- $602 Internet Auction Fraud
- $585 Non-Delivered Merchandise and / or Payment
- $427 Credit / Debit Card Fraud
Most Common Methods of Contact:
- 73.9% Email
- 36.0% Web Page
- 17.7% Telephone
- 12.0% Instant Messenger
- 10.3% Postal Mail
Best Practice to Buy on Internet Auction Sites
- Learn your obligations as a buyer before you place a bid.
- Find out what actions the seller will take to insure the transaction and the delivery.
- Research the seller, especially if the only available information is an email address. Check with the Better Business Bureau if it is a business. Use Google search, Yahoo and other web sites to investigate the seller.
- Try to obtain a physical address. Be wary if the mailing address is a Post Office Box number.
- If there is a telephone number provided, call it to make sure that it is working and legitimate.
- Send an email to validate that it is an active email address. Be wary of sellers that use free email services that do not require a credit card to open an account.
- Check Seller history and be wary if there is previous negative feedback.
- Use common sense when assessing the method of payment.
- Be cautious and aware of laws governing sellers is other countries, international sales may have a dubious outcome
- Ask for written confirmation regarding expected delivery and warranty or exchange return options
- To avoid unexpected costs, find out if shipping and delivery are included or additional cost
- Never give out your Social Security Number, Driver's License Number, Bank Account Numbers or personal information to the seller, they do not need it
- Be very cautious of special offers that arrive by unsolicited email, you are typically better to delete these without opening them, especially if there are attached files
- Do not give your credit card information over the phone
- Do not make purchases online if you are using an unsecured wireless access point
- If you are a victim of fraud, report it to your credit card companies and to the authorities immediately
Best Practice to Sell on Internet Auction Sites
- Take a little time to understand how Internet Auctions work and what your obligations are as a seller.
- Use secure web sites. If you sell from your own web site, then investigate how to offer secure credit card transactions
- Publicly list the actions that you will take to insure the transaction and the delivery.
- List contact information and street address if you are a business. Provide a daytime phone number and email address for inquiries. Make it easy for the consumer to validate your authenticity.
- Take care of your customers and ask for feedback, especially if the transaction resulted in a satisfactory experience.
- Be cautious and aware of laws governing buyers in other countries, international sales may have a dubious outcome
- Post your policy regarding delivery options and related fees, warranty or exchange return options, and payment terms and conditions
- Build reciprocal links with other reputable merchants to establish your authenticity
- Post pictures of the merchandise
- Provide detailed descriptions of the merchandise, including specifications, features, new or used, etc. Research other listings for similar merchandise to see what information your competitors are providing so you will have some additional insight into what your customers may need to see and compare
______________________________________________________
Words of Wisdom
"Organized crime in America takes in over forty billion dollars a year and spends very little on office supplies."- Woody Allen
"There is no den in the wide world to hide a rogue. Commit a crime and the earth is made of glass. Commit a crime, and it seems as if a coat of snow fell on the ground, such as reveals in the woods the track of every partridge, and fox, and squirrel."- Ralph Waldo Emerson
"The scars of others should teach us caution." - Saint Jerome
______________________________________________________
You may distribute this article freely, print it, sell it, or include it as part of a package as long as it is intact, unchanged and delivered in the original format with acknowledgement to Executive Blueprints Inc.
About the Author:
John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, educational articles and references to local affiliates for consulting and executive coaching. http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.
Reliable, Respected, Revered or Feared
What is most the most important attribute to developing your reputation? Would you prefer to be known as reliable, respected, revered or feared? Is it possible to be all of these things over time? Constructing your reputation is like solving a Rubik's Cube puzzle. It takes time, several steps and the right combination of twists and turns. It is also important to know what it should look like when you are done. When you have the goal in your mind, then you can go about solving the puzzle.
The GOAL
The goal of developing your reputation is to be true to yourself. Be consistent with your principals and your personal values. Your actions, your decisions and your interaction with others should be a reflection of the way that you live your life. If you attempt to disguise your intentions or beguile your associates, you will not be able to maintain trust or confidence. If your intentions are to help your customers, look for other individuals with similar intentions. If you are content with your own situation, then enjoy the camaraderie of your peers and help them to achieve their goals. If your intention is personal advancement or promotions, be open about searching for people who will support your efforts.
If you define and share your goals, you will either find supporters or other individuals with similar goals. At the same time, be cognizant and supportive of the goals of those around you. Be prepared to listen intently and understand the aspirations of coworkers and customers. You person who listens the most is heard loudest.
RELIABLE
First, establish a reputation for being reliable. Regardless of your position, title or tenure, the foundation of your reputation should be reliability. If you are the leader, manager, director, clerk, associate or representative, maintain a dedicated focus on being consistently reliable. It is equally important to be a reliable customer as it is to be a reliable vendor or supplier. No matter how powerful or seemingly unimportant you may perceive your responsibilities, there are other people who rely on you. Be consistently reliable for the people you report to, to the people who look up to you, the people that you support and to the people who support you.
Even if some people respect you, revere you or fear you, you will have no value to anyone if you are not reliable. Do not forget this basic foundation in the search for power or prestige. You may be respected for your capability, but what good is it if you can not be counted on as a reliable individual? This is based on your ability to perform consistently and to be supportive of others.
RESPECTED
You do not have to be the president or a brain surgeon to be respected. Take a look at the positions and the people that you respect most in your life. Then look to see what these people have in common. School teachers and police officers are respected for their individual sacrifice and dedication to their profession in the service of others. Respect can be earned by great achievements through consistent effort, self-sacrifice and being someone that other people can count on, being reliable. A leader or a coach does not earn respect for the position, but rather by what they do with the authority and responsibility of the position. A coworker may earn respect by diligence, effort or self-sacrifice. Winning the lottery may achieve instant wealth, but it does not earn instant respect.
What can you do to earn respect? You might be respected for your talent, for your character or for your perseverance. Respect may be earned by the way that you use your experience, knowledge or previous achievements. If you want to be respected and do not know how to begin, start by being reliable.
REVERED or FEARED
For centuries there has been a debate regarding the benefits of being revered or being feared. One dimensional leaders often choose one of these attributes for their reputation and dedicate their ambitions toward a single goal, to be revered or to be feared. Machiavelli described the importance of being feared, and many dictators who embraced this approach were eventually rewarded with revolution. On the other hand, individuals who take extreme measures to be liked or revered may run the risk of being taken advantage of, and thereby losing much more than respect.
In the balance of leadership, individuals are more likely to make perform or make sacrifice for something and somebody that they believe in. When performance and sacrifice is demanded through fear, the output is reluctant and can not be sustained. From a personal perspective, are you more likely to repeat a task and improve your personal performance when doing something that you enjoy, or for someone that you want to please? Are you more or less likely to expend extra effort consistently for a job or a person that you resent?
Good decisions are made when clear purpose and goals are established and shared. The predominance of fear impairs good decisions, or even worse, may precipitate a culture that lacks any decisions for fear of being ostracized. Avoiding a decision is the same as making a decision to allow unmanaged consequences.
It is possible to be both revered and feared. By virtue of being respected as a reliable individual, you will become both revered and feared. Some individuals will appreciate consistency, predictability, direction and reliability. By the same token, if you are consistent with your own personal goals and values, you may be feared by other individuals. If your values are self-serving, you will be revered by a small group of like-minded individuals and feared by many. If your values are self-sacrificing toward the greater good, then you will find yourself revered by many and feared by the self-serving. In any case, consistency of purpose and character will create circumstances that cultivate opportunities to be revered, feared or both. This depth of character is far superior to a hollow one dimensional approach of choosing to be only revered or feared.
What does all this mean? Stop worrying about your reputation and concentrate on doing those things that reputations are built on. Listen intently to others. Be willing to make sacrifices for others. Be consistently reliable, and be true to yourself. Do your job with the same principles and passions that you live your life, and your reputation will take care of itself. By coincidence, if you can achieve this dedicated diligence to your values, you will discover an inverse relationship that your reputation will grow as your care less about it.
______________________________________________________
Words of Wisdom
"Conscience and reputation are two things. Conscience is due to yourself, reputation to your neighbor."- Saint Augustine
"You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do."- Henry Ford
"Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of - for credit is like fire; when once you have kindled it you may easily preserve it, but if you once extinguish it, you will find it an arduous task to rekindle it again. The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear."- Socrates
"There are two modes of establishing our reputation: to be praised by honest men, and to be abused by rogues. It is best, however, to secure the former, because it will invariably be accompanied by the latter." - Charles Caleb Colton
______________________________________________________
About the Author:
John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, educational articles and references to local affiliates for consulting and executive coaching. http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.
The GOAL
The goal of developing your reputation is to be true to yourself. Be consistent with your principals and your personal values. Your actions, your decisions and your interaction with others should be a reflection of the way that you live your life. If you attempt to disguise your intentions or beguile your associates, you will not be able to maintain trust or confidence. If your intentions are to help your customers, look for other individuals with similar intentions. If you are content with your own situation, then enjoy the camaraderie of your peers and help them to achieve their goals. If your intention is personal advancement or promotions, be open about searching for people who will support your efforts.
If you define and share your goals, you will either find supporters or other individuals with similar goals. At the same time, be cognizant and supportive of the goals of those around you. Be prepared to listen intently and understand the aspirations of coworkers and customers. You person who listens the most is heard loudest.
RELIABLE
First, establish a reputation for being reliable. Regardless of your position, title or tenure, the foundation of your reputation should be reliability. If you are the leader, manager, director, clerk, associate or representative, maintain a dedicated focus on being consistently reliable. It is equally important to be a reliable customer as it is to be a reliable vendor or supplier. No matter how powerful or seemingly unimportant you may perceive your responsibilities, there are other people who rely on you. Be consistently reliable for the people you report to, to the people who look up to you, the people that you support and to the people who support you.
Even if some people respect you, revere you or fear you, you will have no value to anyone if you are not reliable. Do not forget this basic foundation in the search for power or prestige. You may be respected for your capability, but what good is it if you can not be counted on as a reliable individual? This is based on your ability to perform consistently and to be supportive of others.
RESPECTED
You do not have to be the president or a brain surgeon to be respected. Take a look at the positions and the people that you respect most in your life. Then look to see what these people have in common. School teachers and police officers are respected for their individual sacrifice and dedication to their profession in the service of others. Respect can be earned by great achievements through consistent effort, self-sacrifice and being someone that other people can count on, being reliable. A leader or a coach does not earn respect for the position, but rather by what they do with the authority and responsibility of the position. A coworker may earn respect by diligence, effort or self-sacrifice. Winning the lottery may achieve instant wealth, but it does not earn instant respect.
What can you do to earn respect? You might be respected for your talent, for your character or for your perseverance. Respect may be earned by the way that you use your experience, knowledge or previous achievements. If you want to be respected and do not know how to begin, start by being reliable.
REVERED or FEARED
For centuries there has been a debate regarding the benefits of being revered or being feared. One dimensional leaders often choose one of these attributes for their reputation and dedicate their ambitions toward a single goal, to be revered or to be feared. Machiavelli described the importance of being feared, and many dictators who embraced this approach were eventually rewarded with revolution. On the other hand, individuals who take extreme measures to be liked or revered may run the risk of being taken advantage of, and thereby losing much more than respect.
In the balance of leadership, individuals are more likely to make perform or make sacrifice for something and somebody that they believe in. When performance and sacrifice is demanded through fear, the output is reluctant and can not be sustained. From a personal perspective, are you more likely to repeat a task and improve your personal performance when doing something that you enjoy, or for someone that you want to please? Are you more or less likely to expend extra effort consistently for a job or a person that you resent?
Good decisions are made when clear purpose and goals are established and shared. The predominance of fear impairs good decisions, or even worse, may precipitate a culture that lacks any decisions for fear of being ostracized. Avoiding a decision is the same as making a decision to allow unmanaged consequences.
It is possible to be both revered and feared. By virtue of being respected as a reliable individual, you will become both revered and feared. Some individuals will appreciate consistency, predictability, direction and reliability. By the same token, if you are consistent with your own personal goals and values, you may be feared by other individuals. If your values are self-serving, you will be revered by a small group of like-minded individuals and feared by many. If your values are self-sacrificing toward the greater good, then you will find yourself revered by many and feared by the self-serving. In any case, consistency of purpose and character will create circumstances that cultivate opportunities to be revered, feared or both. This depth of character is far superior to a hollow one dimensional approach of choosing to be only revered or feared.
What does all this mean? Stop worrying about your reputation and concentrate on doing those things that reputations are built on. Listen intently to others. Be willing to make sacrifices for others. Be consistently reliable, and be true to yourself. Do your job with the same principles and passions that you live your life, and your reputation will take care of itself. By coincidence, if you can achieve this dedicated diligence to your values, you will discover an inverse relationship that your reputation will grow as your care less about it.
______________________________________________________
Words of Wisdom
"Conscience and reputation are two things. Conscience is due to yourself, reputation to your neighbor."- Saint Augustine
"You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do."- Henry Ford
"Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of - for credit is like fire; when once you have kindled it you may easily preserve it, but if you once extinguish it, you will find it an arduous task to rekindle it again. The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear."- Socrates
"There are two modes of establishing our reputation: to be praised by honest men, and to be abused by rogues. It is best, however, to secure the former, because it will invariably be accompanied by the latter." - Charles Caleb Colton
______________________________________________________
About the Author:
John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, educational articles and references to local affiliates for consulting and executive coaching. http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.
Analog to Digital Television
Congress passed a federal law, the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005, mandating the last day of full power analog television broadcasting to be February 17, 2009. On February 17, 2009, all television channels in the US will convert from analog to digital. What does this mean to you?
"This is the end of a 10 year transition," said Bart Forbes, public affairs specialist with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. "This will mainly affect a few people who don't have digital or satellite television."
More than 50% of American homes now have a digital television set. More then 85% subscribe to a cable or satellite provider, and none of those consumers will be affected by the analog to digital transition, because they do not receive transmissions over the air. The only households to be affected are the ones without digital TV, and who receive transmissions over the air by antenna, which represents about 11% of the American households today. This 11% of the population is eligible to receive two coupons from the Department of Commerce, each coupon good for $40 discount on the purchase of a special converter box that will allow traditional analog sets to use the new digital transmissions. Converter boxes are expected to sell for $40 to $60 each.
Converter boxes will soon be available in many of the nation's largest retailers. Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Sears and Circuit City will carry the boxes. Congress has allotted $22.5 billion to subsidize consumer coupons for discounts on the purchase of these converter boxes. An additional $11.25 coupons will be issued once the first set of coupons runs out. Coupons will not be issued until the converter boxes are available in stores. If you have a cable or satellite provider, refer to the web site or contact your local provider, as you most likely do not need a converter box or any additional equipment. If you have rabbit ears on top of your television set, then it may be time to plan a trip to your local retailer to find out when the converter boxes are coming to town.
"Most people 50 and older watch five hours of TV a day," said Sean Voskuhl, associate state director for AARP in Oklahoma. "People over 65 also tend to have an older TV."
Some advocates of senior citizens are concerned that the analog to digital transition will affect senior citizens more than any other segment of the population. Nursing homes, group homes, and similar institutions do not qualify for the converter box discount coupons. Sean Voskuhl said that he is concerned of the impact on senior citizens because of the amount of TV that they watch. According to Nielsen, the New York based firm that rates television viewing, it is just over six hours a day for those over the age of 55. Voskuhl recommends senior citizens apply for coupons early, but since many of these older Americans do not use computers, the options may be confusing.
The transition will not be from analog to high definition television (HDTV), which is the highest level of TV service. HDTV sets already are equipped for digital service.
"Nothing will change for people with cable or satellite dish," said Dennis Whitman, of Fastpipe Media. "HDTV's sold now already have a tuner that serves the same purpose as a converter box."
The FCC advises viewers to check for any of the following: "Integrated Digital Tuner", "Digital Tuner Built In", "Digital Receiver", "Digital Tuner", "DTV", "ATSC", or "HDTV" on the set or the instruction manuals. When in doubt, contact the television manufacturer or the original retailer.
Digital Televisions are the market leader in consumer products, making up more then 16% of the $160 Billion spent on consumer electronics devices. Any television sold after May 25, 2007 is required to have a digital tuner or the seller is required to disclose that it does not have one.
"There is another aspect of this transition that is going largely unnoticed," said Mark Balinski, Senior Manager of Business Development for ZSL, Inc. "As the American consumer embraces the higher quality of digital television, HDTV, and the flat form factor of LCD, the old analog picture tube devices are being unceremoniously dumped with increasing regularity. Those clunky analog CRT devices and antiquated VCR's are not even considered hand-me-downs anymore. They are becoming poisonous electronic waste in our landfills."
Mark Balinski is at the forefront of a growing coalition to cope with the e-waste solution. Recognizing the challenges posed by the diverse legislation being proposed by individual states, Mark is developing a solution to track controlled substances and materials from the manufacturing process through the consumer electronics lifecycle, and back through recycling and reclamation. The proposed solution simplifies the process for government agencies, manufacturers, retailers, and the end-user consumers. "Our goal is to turn electronic waste into the new raw materials for future products, and to save more of our natural resources for future generations to enjoy," said Mark.
______________________________________________________
Words of Wisdom
"Don't you wish there was a knob on the TV to turn up the intelligence? There's one marked 'Brightness,' but it doesn't work."- Gallagher
"When the politicians complain that TV turns the proceedings into a circus, it should be made clear that the circus was already there, and that TV has merely demonstrated that not all the performers are well trained."- Edward R. Murrow
"It is difficult to produce a television documentary that is both incisive and probing when every twelve minutes one is interrupted by twelve dancing rabbits singing about toilet paper." - Rod Serling
______________________________________________________
You may distribute this article freely, print it, sell it, or include it as part of a package as long as it is intact, unchanged and delivered in the original format with acknowledgement to Executive Blueprints Inc.
About the Author:
John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, educational articles and references to local affiliates for consulting and executive coaching. http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.
"This is the end of a 10 year transition," said Bart Forbes, public affairs specialist with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. "This will mainly affect a few people who don't have digital or satellite television."
More than 50% of American homes now have a digital television set. More then 85% subscribe to a cable or satellite provider, and none of those consumers will be affected by the analog to digital transition, because they do not receive transmissions over the air. The only households to be affected are the ones without digital TV, and who receive transmissions over the air by antenna, which represents about 11% of the American households today. This 11% of the population is eligible to receive two coupons from the Department of Commerce, each coupon good for $40 discount on the purchase of a special converter box that will allow traditional analog sets to use the new digital transmissions. Converter boxes are expected to sell for $40 to $60 each.
Converter boxes will soon be available in many of the nation's largest retailers. Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Sears and Circuit City will carry the boxes. Congress has allotted $22.5 billion to subsidize consumer coupons for discounts on the purchase of these converter boxes. An additional $11.25 coupons will be issued once the first set of coupons runs out. Coupons will not be issued until the converter boxes are available in stores. If you have a cable or satellite provider, refer to the web site or contact your local provider, as you most likely do not need a converter box or any additional equipment. If you have rabbit ears on top of your television set, then it may be time to plan a trip to your local retailer to find out when the converter boxes are coming to town.
"Most people 50 and older watch five hours of TV a day," said Sean Voskuhl, associate state director for AARP in Oklahoma. "People over 65 also tend to have an older TV."
Some advocates of senior citizens are concerned that the analog to digital transition will affect senior citizens more than any other segment of the population. Nursing homes, group homes, and similar institutions do not qualify for the converter box discount coupons. Sean Voskuhl said that he is concerned of the impact on senior citizens because of the amount of TV that they watch. According to Nielsen, the New York based firm that rates television viewing, it is just over six hours a day for those over the age of 55. Voskuhl recommends senior citizens apply for coupons early, but since many of these older Americans do not use computers, the options may be confusing.
The transition will not be from analog to high definition television (HDTV), which is the highest level of TV service. HDTV sets already are equipped for digital service.
"Nothing will change for people with cable or satellite dish," said Dennis Whitman, of Fastpipe Media. "HDTV's sold now already have a tuner that serves the same purpose as a converter box."
The FCC advises viewers to check for any of the following: "Integrated Digital Tuner", "Digital Tuner Built In", "Digital Receiver", "Digital Tuner", "DTV", "ATSC", or "HDTV" on the set or the instruction manuals. When in doubt, contact the television manufacturer or the original retailer.
Digital Televisions are the market leader in consumer products, making up more then 16% of the $160 Billion spent on consumer electronics devices. Any television sold after May 25, 2007 is required to have a digital tuner or the seller is required to disclose that it does not have one.
"There is another aspect of this transition that is going largely unnoticed," said Mark Balinski, Senior Manager of Business Development for ZSL, Inc. "As the American consumer embraces the higher quality of digital television, HDTV, and the flat form factor of LCD, the old analog picture tube devices are being unceremoniously dumped with increasing regularity. Those clunky analog CRT devices and antiquated VCR's are not even considered hand-me-downs anymore. They are becoming poisonous electronic waste in our landfills."
Mark Balinski is at the forefront of a growing coalition to cope with the e-waste solution. Recognizing the challenges posed by the diverse legislation being proposed by individual states, Mark is developing a solution to track controlled substances and materials from the manufacturing process through the consumer electronics lifecycle, and back through recycling and reclamation. The proposed solution simplifies the process for government agencies, manufacturers, retailers, and the end-user consumers. "Our goal is to turn electronic waste into the new raw materials for future products, and to save more of our natural resources for future generations to enjoy," said Mark.
______________________________________________________
Words of Wisdom
"Don't you wish there was a knob on the TV to turn up the intelligence? There's one marked 'Brightness,' but it doesn't work."- Gallagher
"When the politicians complain that TV turns the proceedings into a circus, it should be made clear that the circus was already there, and that TV has merely demonstrated that not all the performers are well trained."- Edward R. Murrow
"It is difficult to produce a television documentary that is both incisive and probing when every twelve minutes one is interrupted by twelve dancing rabbits singing about toilet paper." - Rod Serling
______________________________________________________
You may distribute this article freely, print it, sell it, or include it as part of a package as long as it is intact, unchanged and delivered in the original format with acknowledgement to Executive Blueprints Inc.
About the Author:
John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, educational articles and references to local affiliates for consulting and executive coaching. http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.
The Difference between Being Right and Doing the Right Thing
Is it better to be right, or to do right? Is there a real difference between being right and doing the right thing? When it comes to communications, support, and teamwork, there is a perceptible difference between the two.
Customer Service
Assisting customers can be rewarding, frustrating, and downright annoying. The scope of dealing with customers is as diverse as the personalities of the individual customers and the situation that each customer is experiencing. Some customers are grateful for assistance, and express appreciation for the efforts to help them. Some customers are frustrated by a situation or experience, and may express aggravation in a myriad of unpleasant ways. After an interaction with a highly charged angry customer, it can be challenging to not allow the experience to influence your attitude toward the next customer experience. Recipients of highly charged emotional outbursts may carry the experience beyond the workplace. There is a way to dissuade this personalization of an intense exchange with a frustrated customer, and to alleviate the personal aggravation that may result from the experience.
Perhaps one of the most frustrating experiences in providing customer service is the occasional encounter with a customer who is deliberately providing false or misleading information. Regardless of the reason that the customer is being deceptive, it is tempting to be insulted or annoyed by such an encounter. The frustration from this type of experience can also be alleviated with the proper approach to handling the customer.
In the case of angry, belligerent, and deceptive customers, a common response is the feeling that it is necessary to prove that we are right. In an effort to prove that we are right, it may also imply that someone else is wrong. That someone who is implicated as the individual in the wrong is none other than the customer. In the effort to prove that we are right, we may alienate the customer and create a situation in which our interests are at odds with one another. The focus of the interaction and the dialogue may shift from addressing a specific issue, and turn to the great divide between who is right, and who is wrong. The effort to be right, or to prove that we are right, may intensify the anger, frustration, or deceit without making any progress to resolve the underlying problem. In addition to losing the customer loyalty, the result is quite often an unsatisfying exchange that leaves both parties with lingering aggravation. There is no lasting satisfaction from an empirical victory that proves we are right, at the cost of neglecting what is the right thing to do.
To overcome the emotional experience exchange, maintain a clear and concentrated focus on doing what is right. It may be necessary to explain your actions or response with the perception of why you believe that you are doing the right thing. This is not to imply that you are right, but rather why you believe that it is the right thing to do for the customer. Simply saying that it is policy is not usually a satisfactory explanation. It may be necessary to provide a reasonable rationale for the policy. Doing the right thing may or may not include a customer accommodation, and sometimes even the accommodation is not satisfactory. If you can maintain a concentrated focus on the issues and the right thing to do for your customer, avoiding the interpersonal battle of who is right or wrong, you can align yourself with the customer and endeavor to be a customer advocate. Acting as an advocate for your customer in earnest will give you the lingering satisfaction that you have honestly endeavored to do the right thing, regardless of the outcome.
Teamwork
It is unfortunate that similar battles occur with the workplace. As pressure builds and personalities collide, it is inevitable that conflicts arise in which members of the same workplace community are at odds regarding who is right, and who is wrong. Sometimes there is a perceived need for an individual to prove him or her right. This personal need is harbored internally, just waiting for an opportunity to pounce upon an unsuspecting coworker. As internal frustration builds, it may erupt as a volcano of capital letters or profanity in an email or personal confrontation. Email has made it far too easy to attack coworkers and expose inner frailties to the masses while maintaining a temporary safe distance. Confrontational emails are public demonstrations of personal attacks that typically coincide with vicious rumors and unhealthy gossip. The public effort to aggressively prove one as being right is often the public display of a rot that has been growing beneath the surface. The damage to all parties involved, and the collateral damage to innocent bystanders copied on the communications, can be detrimental to teamwork and motivation of the organization.
The vision of what is right and in the best interest of the company or customers may vary between individuals. It is expected that perception and description of the right direction may be shaped by previous experiences, successes, and knowledge. When these experiences and perspectives are shared in a respectful manner between individuals, it fosters a community approach and a sense of unity. Even when individuals disagree on the definition of what is right, it is possible to acknowledge, understand, and agree on a collaborative course of action. Differences in opinion on the right thing to do may also create opportunities for alternatives and back up plans. The key is to be respectful of the experiences and successes of the other individuals within the company team, regardless of personal perspectives or personalities. The important thing is to come to consensus on the right course of action, rather than debating which person is right. Being able to distinguish what is right, from who is right, is the mark of a mature organization on the path to success.
You may read this and think that it is right, or you may have another perspective. I respect your opinion. In any case, this may be an opportunity to create some dialogue within your own organization to discuss and collaborate on what is the right course of action for you and your customers. I trust that you will find satisfaction in doing the right thing, with an understanding that the definition of what is right may evolve and adapt over time.
Keep smiling.
______________________________________________________
Words of Wisdom
"When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong."- Arthur C. Clarke
"A child becomes an adult when he realizes that he has a right not only to be right but also to be wrong." - Thomas Szasz
"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest."- Mark Twain
______________________________________________________
You may distribute this article freely, print it, sell it, or include it as part of a package as long as it is intact, unchanged and delivered in the original format with acknowledgement to Executive Blueprints Inc.
About the Author:
John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, educational articles and references to local affiliates for consulting and executive coaching. http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.
Customer Service
Assisting customers can be rewarding, frustrating, and downright annoying. The scope of dealing with customers is as diverse as the personalities of the individual customers and the situation that each customer is experiencing. Some customers are grateful for assistance, and express appreciation for the efforts to help them. Some customers are frustrated by a situation or experience, and may express aggravation in a myriad of unpleasant ways. After an interaction with a highly charged angry customer, it can be challenging to not allow the experience to influence your attitude toward the next customer experience. Recipients of highly charged emotional outbursts may carry the experience beyond the workplace. There is a way to dissuade this personalization of an intense exchange with a frustrated customer, and to alleviate the personal aggravation that may result from the experience.
Perhaps one of the most frustrating experiences in providing customer service is the occasional encounter with a customer who is deliberately providing false or misleading information. Regardless of the reason that the customer is being deceptive, it is tempting to be insulted or annoyed by such an encounter. The frustration from this type of experience can also be alleviated with the proper approach to handling the customer.
In the case of angry, belligerent, and deceptive customers, a common response is the feeling that it is necessary to prove that we are right. In an effort to prove that we are right, it may also imply that someone else is wrong. That someone who is implicated as the individual in the wrong is none other than the customer. In the effort to prove that we are right, we may alienate the customer and create a situation in which our interests are at odds with one another. The focus of the interaction and the dialogue may shift from addressing a specific issue, and turn to the great divide between who is right, and who is wrong. The effort to be right, or to prove that we are right, may intensify the anger, frustration, or deceit without making any progress to resolve the underlying problem. In addition to losing the customer loyalty, the result is quite often an unsatisfying exchange that leaves both parties with lingering aggravation. There is no lasting satisfaction from an empirical victory that proves we are right, at the cost of neglecting what is the right thing to do.
To overcome the emotional experience exchange, maintain a clear and concentrated focus on doing what is right. It may be necessary to explain your actions or response with the perception of why you believe that you are doing the right thing. This is not to imply that you are right, but rather why you believe that it is the right thing to do for the customer. Simply saying that it is policy is not usually a satisfactory explanation. It may be necessary to provide a reasonable rationale for the policy. Doing the right thing may or may not include a customer accommodation, and sometimes even the accommodation is not satisfactory. If you can maintain a concentrated focus on the issues and the right thing to do for your customer, avoiding the interpersonal battle of who is right or wrong, you can align yourself with the customer and endeavor to be a customer advocate. Acting as an advocate for your customer in earnest will give you the lingering satisfaction that you have honestly endeavored to do the right thing, regardless of the outcome.
Teamwork
It is unfortunate that similar battles occur with the workplace. As pressure builds and personalities collide, it is inevitable that conflicts arise in which members of the same workplace community are at odds regarding who is right, and who is wrong. Sometimes there is a perceived need for an individual to prove him or her right. This personal need is harbored internally, just waiting for an opportunity to pounce upon an unsuspecting coworker. As internal frustration builds, it may erupt as a volcano of capital letters or profanity in an email or personal confrontation. Email has made it far too easy to attack coworkers and expose inner frailties to the masses while maintaining a temporary safe distance. Confrontational emails are public demonstrations of personal attacks that typically coincide with vicious rumors and unhealthy gossip. The public effort to aggressively prove one as being right is often the public display of a rot that has been growing beneath the surface. The damage to all parties involved, and the collateral damage to innocent bystanders copied on the communications, can be detrimental to teamwork and motivation of the organization.
The vision of what is right and in the best interest of the company or customers may vary between individuals. It is expected that perception and description of the right direction may be shaped by previous experiences, successes, and knowledge. When these experiences and perspectives are shared in a respectful manner between individuals, it fosters a community approach and a sense of unity. Even when individuals disagree on the definition of what is right, it is possible to acknowledge, understand, and agree on a collaborative course of action. Differences in opinion on the right thing to do may also create opportunities for alternatives and back up plans. The key is to be respectful of the experiences and successes of the other individuals within the company team, regardless of personal perspectives or personalities. The important thing is to come to consensus on the right course of action, rather than debating which person is right. Being able to distinguish what is right, from who is right, is the mark of a mature organization on the path to success.
You may read this and think that it is right, or you may have another perspective. I respect your opinion. In any case, this may be an opportunity to create some dialogue within your own organization to discuss and collaborate on what is the right course of action for you and your customers. I trust that you will find satisfaction in doing the right thing, with an understanding that the definition of what is right may evolve and adapt over time.
Keep smiling.
______________________________________________________
Words of Wisdom
"When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong."- Arthur C. Clarke
"A child becomes an adult when he realizes that he has a right not only to be right but also to be wrong." - Thomas Szasz
"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest."- Mark Twain
______________________________________________________
You may distribute this article freely, print it, sell it, or include it as part of a package as long as it is intact, unchanged and delivered in the original format with acknowledgement to Executive Blueprints Inc.
About the Author:
John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, educational articles and references to local affiliates for consulting and executive coaching. http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.
Why People Buy
Selling products or services, it is important to understand why people buy. Marketing, sales, operational infrastructure, and customer service should be crafted with the consumer purchasing perspective.
First, we need to distinguish between why people buy, and why people buy from you. Typically, consumers make a decision to buy, before making the decision on which one to buy, or who will make the sale. Most organizations continually refine the process of studying consumer demographics to understand position in comparison to the competition. In other words, the organizations study why a consumer will buy from them, as opposed to the competition. Design, features, marketing messages, and sales plans are organized to differentiate from the current competition. To take a step ahead of the competition, focus first on the fundamental moment of truth, the point at which the consumer makes the decision that an investment or purchase is worthwhile. Before you can answer the question of "why you", you must first answer the question, "why buy"?
Prestige, Luxury, and Style
Some purchases are based on luxury, style, and prestige. This applies to products from watches to cars, and collectors items to homes. It is easy to see examples of jewelry, watches, and other personal items as purchases based on prestige. Jewelry and watches can be a personal expression of style, achievement, a gift from a loved one, or the result of a special occasion. Some cars are purchased to accommodate a family, or to get better gas mileage. Some cars are purchased to make a statement, to convey status, or as an investment to show credibility and confidence. When the commitment is made to invest in an expensive timepiece, a luxury automobile, or prestigious real estate property, the decision to buy is typically based with this intent, well before there is a decision on who to buy it from.
Quality, Reliability, Durability, or Reputation
The decision to buy based on quality, durability, reliability, or reputation is often preceded by an experience that raises this as a concern. These considerations may also apply in the decision process for items like watches and cars, but typically not for the same consumers. Therefore, it may be necessary to understand the intent of the consumers in the market to which you are selling. While BMW and Mercedes have reputations for quality, reliability, and durability, the 'ultimate driving machine' is recognizably more a statement of luxury performance than a reassurance to avoid roadside assistance.
There is much more focus on durability in the Home Appliance market, for example. The lonely Maytag Repair Man is not trying to convince you that he represents a stylish washing machine, he is reassuring you that his brand is built to last. Once the decision is made to invest in a new washing machine, there are many selections with a wide variety of features. There is opportunity to upgrade for conveniences, for appearance, and for style. However, selections based on appearance are typically made after the consumer has already limited the playing field to a finite number of brands with a reputation for durability. Even the selection of brand is made after the decision that it is necessary to replace a home appliance, typically because the existing item is no longer reliable or must be replaced. Unlike a watch or jewelry, it is not very common for appliances to be replaced as a fashion statement.
Save Time or Money
Sometimes the consumer compelling reason to buy is based on the opportunity to save time or money. This can be just as pertinent to business and commercial sales as it is to individual consumer sales. Saving time, or making more effective use of time, can often be quantified in quality and monetary terms. There is also opportunity to save money by investing in energy conserving devices. Quite often, reducing expense or conserving time are not the catalyst to start the process of thinking about the buying decision, but rather contribute to the timing of the buying cycle. When confronted by a potential need to buy, the opportunity to save time or reduce cost can be compelling motivation to take action.
Sales, Marketing, and the Web
Once you have identified the contributing factors that compel consumers to make a purchase in your market, then it is time to reflect on your message and how you will reach out to those consumers. Your message of 'why people should buy from you', should be framed in the context of this moment of truth, the moment that consumers make the decision to buy. This is a distinctly different direction than beginning your planning based on what you have to offer and want to promote from your own features and benefits. On the contrary, begin with the perspective of that precise moment in time that your prospective consumers flip the mental and emotional switch to relinquish monetary funds for the products or services in your market. What are your customers feeling and thinking about at that precise moment? Your marketing and sales messages should be empathic to that moment of truth, and to those customers. If you are struggling to identify that moment of truth, talk to your current customers and find out why they made a decision to change or buy.
Design your web site to welcome consumers at the moment of truth, and to give them your compelling and empathetic reason to buy. Your messages and images should be based on what the customer is looking for in a provider of goods or services. Your web site is not a place to shout your features to the heavens and hope that customers will be hypnotized by your exotic and unique advantages compared to your competition. On the contrary, if the message on your web site clearly identifies customer needs at the moment of truth, then your competition becomes irrelevant. Use your web site and your marketing materials to identify with your customers and create a relationship through demonstrating awareness, compassion, and commitment to that pivotal moment in the purchase process.
Beyond Sales
It is more than marketing messages, web sites, and sales. The awareness, compassion, and commitment to your clients must resound in every aspect of your organization and delivery. Whether you are providing goods or services, the manner in which support and customer service is delivered to the individual consumer must be consistent with the message conveyed before the sale.
If the message before the sale is based on luxury and prestige, then rest assured that your clients are expecting to be treated with luxury and prestige after the sale. The operational functions and customer service must be designed to deliver exceptional personalized treatment and consideration.
If the message before the sale is based on quality, durability, and reliability, then service after the sale is expected to live up to the same merits. It is inevitable that some products or services may experience unexpected failure or defect. The response to defects in material or workmanship should be as reliable as the product is purported to be, and should mirror the same standards of quality. The quality of customer service has much longer lasting impact on a reputation for customer service than any marketing message or brochure. Quality customer service and operational expertise can be the foundation of a reputation for reliability, and the backbone of integrity with existing and future customers. Reliable service is a compelling reason to buy.
Beyond These Examples
These are just a few examples of compelling reasons that consumers decide to buy. The purchase of services may be predicated on product failure, a convenience to replace personal workload, or a strategic decision to outsource a business function. A business decision to buy may be based on periodic timing to implement changes, end of lease, or financial stimulus. There are many scenarios, but it is important to understand the perspective of your customers and the reasons that they buy. There may be multiple contributing factors, and it may be necessary to prepare several different messages to accommodate the different perspectives. Find the most common reasons that your consumers decide to buy, and then work on your marketing, sales, and customer service delivery to match that moment of truth.
______________________________________________________
Words of Wisdom
"Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it."- Ellen Goodman
"There's a whole segment of the population with a mentality that bases good times on where they can go and what they can buy." - Jeff Foxworthy
"Certainly there are things in life that money can't buy, but it's very funny, did you ever try buying them without money?"- Ogden Nash
______________________________________________________
You may distribute this article freely, print it, sell it, or include it as part of a package as long as it is intact, unchanged and delivered in the original format with acknowledgement to Executive Blueprints Inc.
About the Author:
John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, educational articles and references to local affiliates for consulting and executive coaching. http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.
First, we need to distinguish between why people buy, and why people buy from you. Typically, consumers make a decision to buy, before making the decision on which one to buy, or who will make the sale. Most organizations continually refine the process of studying consumer demographics to understand position in comparison to the competition. In other words, the organizations study why a consumer will buy from them, as opposed to the competition. Design, features, marketing messages, and sales plans are organized to differentiate from the current competition. To take a step ahead of the competition, focus first on the fundamental moment of truth, the point at which the consumer makes the decision that an investment or purchase is worthwhile. Before you can answer the question of "why you", you must first answer the question, "why buy"?
Prestige, Luxury, and Style
Some purchases are based on luxury, style, and prestige. This applies to products from watches to cars, and collectors items to homes. It is easy to see examples of jewelry, watches, and other personal items as purchases based on prestige. Jewelry and watches can be a personal expression of style, achievement, a gift from a loved one, or the result of a special occasion. Some cars are purchased to accommodate a family, or to get better gas mileage. Some cars are purchased to make a statement, to convey status, or as an investment to show credibility and confidence. When the commitment is made to invest in an expensive timepiece, a luxury automobile, or prestigious real estate property, the decision to buy is typically based with this intent, well before there is a decision on who to buy it from.
Quality, Reliability, Durability, or Reputation
The decision to buy based on quality, durability, reliability, or reputation is often preceded by an experience that raises this as a concern. These considerations may also apply in the decision process for items like watches and cars, but typically not for the same consumers. Therefore, it may be necessary to understand the intent of the consumers in the market to which you are selling. While BMW and Mercedes have reputations for quality, reliability, and durability, the 'ultimate driving machine' is recognizably more a statement of luxury performance than a reassurance to avoid roadside assistance.
There is much more focus on durability in the Home Appliance market, for example. The lonely Maytag Repair Man is not trying to convince you that he represents a stylish washing machine, he is reassuring you that his brand is built to last. Once the decision is made to invest in a new washing machine, there are many selections with a wide variety of features. There is opportunity to upgrade for conveniences, for appearance, and for style. However, selections based on appearance are typically made after the consumer has already limited the playing field to a finite number of brands with a reputation for durability. Even the selection of brand is made after the decision that it is necessary to replace a home appliance, typically because the existing item is no longer reliable or must be replaced. Unlike a watch or jewelry, it is not very common for appliances to be replaced as a fashion statement.
Save Time or Money
Sometimes the consumer compelling reason to buy is based on the opportunity to save time or money. This can be just as pertinent to business and commercial sales as it is to individual consumer sales. Saving time, or making more effective use of time, can often be quantified in quality and monetary terms. There is also opportunity to save money by investing in energy conserving devices. Quite often, reducing expense or conserving time are not the catalyst to start the process of thinking about the buying decision, but rather contribute to the timing of the buying cycle. When confronted by a potential need to buy, the opportunity to save time or reduce cost can be compelling motivation to take action.
Sales, Marketing, and the Web
Once you have identified the contributing factors that compel consumers to make a purchase in your market, then it is time to reflect on your message and how you will reach out to those consumers. Your message of 'why people should buy from you', should be framed in the context of this moment of truth, the moment that consumers make the decision to buy. This is a distinctly different direction than beginning your planning based on what you have to offer and want to promote from your own features and benefits. On the contrary, begin with the perspective of that precise moment in time that your prospective consumers flip the mental and emotional switch to relinquish monetary funds for the products or services in your market. What are your customers feeling and thinking about at that precise moment? Your marketing and sales messages should be empathic to that moment of truth, and to those customers. If you are struggling to identify that moment of truth, talk to your current customers and find out why they made a decision to change or buy.
Design your web site to welcome consumers at the moment of truth, and to give them your compelling and empathetic reason to buy. Your messages and images should be based on what the customer is looking for in a provider of goods or services. Your web site is not a place to shout your features to the heavens and hope that customers will be hypnotized by your exotic and unique advantages compared to your competition. On the contrary, if the message on your web site clearly identifies customer needs at the moment of truth, then your competition becomes irrelevant. Use your web site and your marketing materials to identify with your customers and create a relationship through demonstrating awareness, compassion, and commitment to that pivotal moment in the purchase process.
Beyond Sales
It is more than marketing messages, web sites, and sales. The awareness, compassion, and commitment to your clients must resound in every aspect of your organization and delivery. Whether you are providing goods or services, the manner in which support and customer service is delivered to the individual consumer must be consistent with the message conveyed before the sale.
If the message before the sale is based on luxury and prestige, then rest assured that your clients are expecting to be treated with luxury and prestige after the sale. The operational functions and customer service must be designed to deliver exceptional personalized treatment and consideration.
If the message before the sale is based on quality, durability, and reliability, then service after the sale is expected to live up to the same merits. It is inevitable that some products or services may experience unexpected failure or defect. The response to defects in material or workmanship should be as reliable as the product is purported to be, and should mirror the same standards of quality. The quality of customer service has much longer lasting impact on a reputation for customer service than any marketing message or brochure. Quality customer service and operational expertise can be the foundation of a reputation for reliability, and the backbone of integrity with existing and future customers. Reliable service is a compelling reason to buy.
Beyond These Examples
These are just a few examples of compelling reasons that consumers decide to buy. The purchase of services may be predicated on product failure, a convenience to replace personal workload, or a strategic decision to outsource a business function. A business decision to buy may be based on periodic timing to implement changes, end of lease, or financial stimulus. There are many scenarios, but it is important to understand the perspective of your customers and the reasons that they buy. There may be multiple contributing factors, and it may be necessary to prepare several different messages to accommodate the different perspectives. Find the most common reasons that your consumers decide to buy, and then work on your marketing, sales, and customer service delivery to match that moment of truth.
______________________________________________________
Words of Wisdom
"Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it."- Ellen Goodman
"There's a whole segment of the population with a mentality that bases good times on where they can go and what they can buy." - Jeff Foxworthy
"Certainly there are things in life that money can't buy, but it's very funny, did you ever try buying them without money?"- Ogden Nash
______________________________________________________
You may distribute this article freely, print it, sell it, or include it as part of a package as long as it is intact, unchanged and delivered in the original format with acknowledgement to Executive Blueprints Inc.
About the Author:
John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, educational articles and references to local affiliates for consulting and executive coaching. http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.
Quality Customer Service
What does it mean to be a Trusted Advocate in Customer Service? To be truly successful in delivering service, it is necessary to understand and support the many collective individuals who are part of the complex chain in delivering customer satisfaction.
As an executive in the service organization of a global manufacturer, it was relatively easy to admit that it would be impossible for me to personally handle every customer complaint or escalation. Even with excellent quality product, the sheer number of consumers and potential for escapes in a well run process were more than any single individual could juggle. Fortunately, the quality of the people in the service organization, and the quality of the service provider network, was commensurate with the renowned quality of the brand. This complete circle of quality relied on integrity, honest communication, and trusted collaboration.
Advocate for the People
Mark Blevins put it best when he said, "service pays for the sins of the past." Service organizations do not design the product, the process, or the promise, but service organizations have to fix the problems when one of those three preceding perspectives fails to perform. Quite often, the problems do not appear until long after the marketing, sales, and revenue are long gone. Service organizations continue to provide solutions for items that the sales and promotion pipeline have long since forgotten. Of course, these problems can not be overlooked. There is a stated or implied commitment to the consumer, there is a relationship with the customer to be maintained and preserved, there is reputation, and there is future business to consider.
It takes a very special kind of person to work in a service organization. Each day is full of commitment to understand and resolve numerous consumer complaints. Typically there is very little warning about what type of issues will escalate, or the perceived severity of each one. Most often, problems carry a considerable amount of emotional baggage. It is difficult, if not impossible, to circumvent the emotional baggage on the route to the root cause of the problem. So, customer service associates have the additional burden of assisting the customer with carrying that baggage until the problem is resolved. It takes a tremendous amount of compassion and patience to be a bellhop for emotional baggage on a daily basis, while simultaneously being a detective to solve the problems with a very limited number of clues. Needless to say, customer service associates can be identified by big hearts, broad shoulders, and an incredible sense of humor.
A primary function for any executive or manager in a customer service organization is to give these associates as much support, understanding, and protection as possible. Sometimes the burden of the emotional baggage may become too great. Sometimes the problem or the resolution may be too elusive. Sometimes the associate just needs a helping hand, or someone to refuel the compassion and patience that they have just spent on customers. Sometimes the group just needs a little protection when the policies that they are trying to defend are not keeping pace with other changes in the environment, and the associates are caught in the current of change. A leader of this group must be an advocate for the people, listening intently to their needs and providing the necessary tools. A true advocate will provide not only tools and empowerment necessary for customer service associates to satisfy the clients, but will also provide tools and empowerment for the customer service associates to develop and achieve personal professional goals as well.
This commitment to advocacy is not limited to management. This advocacy is expected and portrayed in the camaraderie that is displayed within the trenches. As the threats, complaints, and abuse fly overhead like so many misdirected bullets, the customer service associates support and defend one another in the trenches. It is this commitment to one another that gives strength, when the satisfaction of assisting a thankless consumer is sometimes not enough.
Advocate for the Service Provider Network
Beyond the confines of the ivory tower are the people in the field. Many organizations enlist the support of network of authorized service providers, field service agents, or similar representation that is much closer to the actual consumer. This closeness is often face to face with the consumer, and quite often is the only face of the organization that a consumer will ever see in person. These faces may belong to retail or reseller associates, detailers, installers, delivery personnel, or technicians. These individuals have power beyond reckoning, because these are the people who are closest to the consumer and have immediate impact by decision and action. The reputation of the brand, the torch of compassion and competence, is carried in their capable hands.
Just as a manager or leader has responsibility for the welfare of the people in the service organization, so too does the entire service organization have responsibility for the welfare of the field service network. To be a successful service organization, it is necessary to advocate for the service providers. This means providing education, training, information, and assistance to enable the service network to satisfy customers, and it is more than that too. The service organization should also study and learn what the service provider network needs to be successful as independent businesses and individuals. The success of the service organization is intertwined with the success of the field service network and external service providers. If you are in a position to hand off a customer relationship to another entity, then learn everything that you can about what you can do to make your service partner successful. This relationship works both ways, and it relies heavily on honest communication and trusted collaboration. With collaboration, all of the partners can succeed and endeavor to work together for the benefit of the mutual customer.
Acting in partnership with service partners is more than a focus on pay. While reimbursement is an essential element of the interdependency, a relationship as a trusted advocate is based on mutual obligation to understand the goals and requirements of the other. It is very much like the relationship between a manager and employee. While adequate compensation is an expectation, employee satisfaction is not based purely on pay. Employees typically desire a career path, opportunity for personal development, a sense of belonging, and self-worth. Managers typically seek cooperation, creative ideas for improvement, and collaboration. Why should the partnership between a service organization and the field service network be any different? Communication with active listening is crucial to developing trusted collaboration.
Advocate for the Consumer
Whether the role is with the central service organization, or with a service partner, it is necessary to have harmony in the aligned efforts to advocate for the consumer. Designing and developing customer services policies and procedures should be based on information and insight gained from listening to consumers. Gather the feedback and you will learn about competition, industry, environment, expectations, issues, and opportunities. Being truly committed to customers does not necessarily mean that every customer is right, or that every customer can be satisfied. Being obligated to customer satisfaction means listening to each consumer with an open mind, identifying the real issues behind the emotional baggage, and acting accordingly. It also means learning from each experience as an opportunity to repeat or improve performance, working in concert with coworkers and service partners to produce excellence.
The excitement and allure of customer service is that there is no finish line. It is a perpetual race to stay ahead, but it is a race without an end. The delight of one customer provides a spark of enthusiasm that carries us to the next one. The camaraderie in the trenches gives us companionship. The challenge to continually adapt and improve, as the industry and the environment continue to change around us, is like a puzzle that can only be solved temporarily. Everything that we have learned in the past can only prepare us for what we will learn today, and give us fresh ideas for tomorrow. By advocating for one another, and for the mutual clients that we serve, we can savor the sense of achievement in our dedication as each new challenge comes along.
______________________________________________________
Words of Wisdom
"Service pays for the sins of the past."- Mark Blevins
"The crisis of yesterday is the joke of tomorrow." - H G Wells
"Everything that we have learned in the past can only prepare us for what we will learn today, and give us fresh ideas for tomorrow."- John Mehrmann
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Meade
______________________________________________________
You may distribute this article freely, print it, sell it, or include it as part of a package as long as it is intact, unchanged and delivered in the original format with acknowledgement to Executive Blueprints Inc.
About the Author:
John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, educational articles and references to local affiliates for consulting and executive coaching. http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.
As an executive in the service organization of a global manufacturer, it was relatively easy to admit that it would be impossible for me to personally handle every customer complaint or escalation. Even with excellent quality product, the sheer number of consumers and potential for escapes in a well run process were more than any single individual could juggle. Fortunately, the quality of the people in the service organization, and the quality of the service provider network, was commensurate with the renowned quality of the brand. This complete circle of quality relied on integrity, honest communication, and trusted collaboration.
Advocate for the People
Mark Blevins put it best when he said, "service pays for the sins of the past." Service organizations do not design the product, the process, or the promise, but service organizations have to fix the problems when one of those three preceding perspectives fails to perform. Quite often, the problems do not appear until long after the marketing, sales, and revenue are long gone. Service organizations continue to provide solutions for items that the sales and promotion pipeline have long since forgotten. Of course, these problems can not be overlooked. There is a stated or implied commitment to the consumer, there is a relationship with the customer to be maintained and preserved, there is reputation, and there is future business to consider.
It takes a very special kind of person to work in a service organization. Each day is full of commitment to understand and resolve numerous consumer complaints. Typically there is very little warning about what type of issues will escalate, or the perceived severity of each one. Most often, problems carry a considerable amount of emotional baggage. It is difficult, if not impossible, to circumvent the emotional baggage on the route to the root cause of the problem. So, customer service associates have the additional burden of assisting the customer with carrying that baggage until the problem is resolved. It takes a tremendous amount of compassion and patience to be a bellhop for emotional baggage on a daily basis, while simultaneously being a detective to solve the problems with a very limited number of clues. Needless to say, customer service associates can be identified by big hearts, broad shoulders, and an incredible sense of humor.
A primary function for any executive or manager in a customer service organization is to give these associates as much support, understanding, and protection as possible. Sometimes the burden of the emotional baggage may become too great. Sometimes the problem or the resolution may be too elusive. Sometimes the associate just needs a helping hand, or someone to refuel the compassion and patience that they have just spent on customers. Sometimes the group just needs a little protection when the policies that they are trying to defend are not keeping pace with other changes in the environment, and the associates are caught in the current of change. A leader of this group must be an advocate for the people, listening intently to their needs and providing the necessary tools. A true advocate will provide not only tools and empowerment necessary for customer service associates to satisfy the clients, but will also provide tools and empowerment for the customer service associates to develop and achieve personal professional goals as well.
This commitment to advocacy is not limited to management. This advocacy is expected and portrayed in the camaraderie that is displayed within the trenches. As the threats, complaints, and abuse fly overhead like so many misdirected bullets, the customer service associates support and defend one another in the trenches. It is this commitment to one another that gives strength, when the satisfaction of assisting a thankless consumer is sometimes not enough.
Advocate for the Service Provider Network
Beyond the confines of the ivory tower are the people in the field. Many organizations enlist the support of network of authorized service providers, field service agents, or similar representation that is much closer to the actual consumer. This closeness is often face to face with the consumer, and quite often is the only face of the organization that a consumer will ever see in person. These faces may belong to retail or reseller associates, detailers, installers, delivery personnel, or technicians. These individuals have power beyond reckoning, because these are the people who are closest to the consumer and have immediate impact by decision and action. The reputation of the brand, the torch of compassion and competence, is carried in their capable hands.
Just as a manager or leader has responsibility for the welfare of the people in the service organization, so too does the entire service organization have responsibility for the welfare of the field service network. To be a successful service organization, it is necessary to advocate for the service providers. This means providing education, training, information, and assistance to enable the service network to satisfy customers, and it is more than that too. The service organization should also study and learn what the service provider network needs to be successful as independent businesses and individuals. The success of the service organization is intertwined with the success of the field service network and external service providers. If you are in a position to hand off a customer relationship to another entity, then learn everything that you can about what you can do to make your service partner successful. This relationship works both ways, and it relies heavily on honest communication and trusted collaboration. With collaboration, all of the partners can succeed and endeavor to work together for the benefit of the mutual customer.
Acting in partnership with service partners is more than a focus on pay. While reimbursement is an essential element of the interdependency, a relationship as a trusted advocate is based on mutual obligation to understand the goals and requirements of the other. It is very much like the relationship between a manager and employee. While adequate compensation is an expectation, employee satisfaction is not based purely on pay. Employees typically desire a career path, opportunity for personal development, a sense of belonging, and self-worth. Managers typically seek cooperation, creative ideas for improvement, and collaboration. Why should the partnership between a service organization and the field service network be any different? Communication with active listening is crucial to developing trusted collaboration.
Advocate for the Consumer
Whether the role is with the central service organization, or with a service partner, it is necessary to have harmony in the aligned efforts to advocate for the consumer. Designing and developing customer services policies and procedures should be based on information and insight gained from listening to consumers. Gather the feedback and you will learn about competition, industry, environment, expectations, issues, and opportunities. Being truly committed to customers does not necessarily mean that every customer is right, or that every customer can be satisfied. Being obligated to customer satisfaction means listening to each consumer with an open mind, identifying the real issues behind the emotional baggage, and acting accordingly. It also means learning from each experience as an opportunity to repeat or improve performance, working in concert with coworkers and service partners to produce excellence.
The excitement and allure of customer service is that there is no finish line. It is a perpetual race to stay ahead, but it is a race without an end. The delight of one customer provides a spark of enthusiasm that carries us to the next one. The camaraderie in the trenches gives us companionship. The challenge to continually adapt and improve, as the industry and the environment continue to change around us, is like a puzzle that can only be solved temporarily. Everything that we have learned in the past can only prepare us for what we will learn today, and give us fresh ideas for tomorrow. By advocating for one another, and for the mutual clients that we serve, we can savor the sense of achievement in our dedication as each new challenge comes along.
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Words of Wisdom
"Service pays for the sins of the past."- Mark Blevins
"The crisis of yesterday is the joke of tomorrow." - H G Wells
"Everything that we have learned in the past can only prepare us for what we will learn today, and give us fresh ideas for tomorrow."- John Mehrmann
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Meade
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About the Author:
John Mehrmann is a freelance writer and President of Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, educational articles and references to local affiliates for consulting and executive coaching. http://www.InstituteforAdvancedLeadership.com provides self-paced tutorials for personal development and tools for trainers. Presentation materials, reference guides and exercises are available for continuous development.
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