Cubicles: more interesting then you might think

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Many different types of businesses and companies make use of cubicles as a way to efficiently divide up office space, while giving each and every employee their own semi-private workspace. Typically, a cubicle is a workspace that is only partially enclosed. Visually, employees are separated from one another (with the exception of a doorway or entrance, as well as a lack of ceiling), though in terms of audio most sounds will carry. The partitions that make up the average cubicle are five feet or six feet in height. The cubicle will be partially or entirely open on one or more sides to allow access in and out of it.

The purpose of a cubicle is to isolate employees from one another. Without the distractions that sights and sounds can provide, employees will be able to work more efficiently, as well as have a bit of privacy during their work day. Because cubicles are not often very large, hanging shelves and other types of overhead storage will often be present inside of them.

The nice thing about cubicles is that they are quite easy to setup, modify and arrange. Cubicles can be put together and moved around using standard hardware or special fasteners, depending on the design that the employee or supervisor has in mind. Cubicles easily allow for the introduction and modification of drawers, shelves and bins, and generally offer the employee ample horizontal workspace.

Many jokes are abound in reference to cubicles. A cube farm is a term that refers to companies that set up dozens or even hundreds of cubicles in their office space.
Cubicles are great for employees who want their own space at their place of employment. The desk within a cubicle, as well as the walls, allow for personalization. Photos, nooks, small hanging objects and calendars can easily be displayed on the walls of a cubicle. Many types of cubicle walls have holes and hooks on them, so hanging personal items is quite an easy thing to do.

Cubicles come in different forms. The typical cubicle is made up of three to four walls (if four walls are present, then one of those walls will have a break in it to allow entrance in and exit out of the space that is created within the cubicle) placed together and hooked together securely.

Kimberly Green is offering her insight to the many reasons cubicles are used and how a cubicle office space may prove most functional.

Published By: Indocquent.com- An online resource where you can promote your business, products and services around the world.

Clearing Up Merchant Account Pricing

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This is a brief introduction to some components of pricing that you should be aware of as a business owner. This article will help you know enough about pricing a merchant account so that you don`t get taken advantage of when you`re negotiating with your merchant service provider on your account.

The discount rate is probably the one component of the merchant account pricing that represents the largest percentage of the fees you`ll pay as a merchant. A competitive discount rate for qualified retail transactions is about 1.29% for check or debit cards and about 1.69% for regular credit cards. Internet discount rates are typically considered competitive at 2.15% to 2.25%.

Your discount rate is determined by the risk your business may represent to the bank. The more risky your account, the higher the discount rate. The type of cards you process may also influence your discount rate, such as a business credit card vs. a check card, or rewards card for instance.

If you have a lower average ticket item or average transaction, the per transaction fee represents a higher percentage and can even represent a higher percentage of your overall fees than the actual discount rate or percentage. If you have an average ticket item of $10 and a per transaction of $.20, the effective rate on this transaction is 2%. If you add the discount rate of 1.8%, the effective rate on those $10 transactions is 3.8% which is higher than it could be.

If you take the same $10 transaction and could lower that per transaction fee to $.17, even with a higher discount rate, say around 1.8%, your effective rate would be 3.5% which would lower your overall effective rate on the transactions.

There is a monthly fee for most merchant accounts. There is a cost associated with providing customer support, physical or even electronic statements, and account maintenance. This is usually a $10 monthly fee that is known as a customer service fee, account maintenance fee or a statement fee.

If you have a merchant account, you most likely have a monthly minimum which is what a flat fee charged every month based on the discount fees. If the discount fees exceed $25, the monthly minimum is met. If the discount fees are based on a slower month or lower volume month, the minimum is charged still at $25. If your volume is only $500 that month, the $25 represents a 5% effective rate, no matter what the discount rate is. Many providers now will waive this fee, so if you anticipate at all that fee being an issue, work with your provider to make sure that fee is either reduced or waived.

These are the primary fees that accompany each merchant account. There are several other fees that may apply depending on whether your are processing through a wireless terminal, an internet-based account, or mail order / telephone order.

Finding a sales rep that you can trust and work with on your account will save you significant hassles later on and will be a relationship you can leverage to make this important part of your business hassle free.

You can contact Brian through his website dedicated to providing information on business merchant accounts. He has been setting up merchant accounts for all types of businesses now since 2001. You can find more information on his website at MerchantHotline.com.

Published By: Indocquent.com- An online resource where you can promote your business, products and services around the world.

Top 4 Reasons People Fail In Their Network Marketing Business

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Most people fail miserably in their network marketing business. Even though "it`s easy" and "anybody can do it" according to the Guru at the front of the room. Here are the top four reasons people fail in their network marketing business:

1. Lack of money

A lot of people just don`t have the money to market their business. The days of "Make a list and talk to your friends and family" are gone. Do you really think the big dogs on stage are still doing that? Absolutely not. They are investing every month in some form of marketing, and so should you. Luckily, you don`t need much money. With the emergence of the internet over a billion people become available to you through social sites, forums, groups and chat rooms.

If you learn the art of social marketing, along with sort of advertising that captures leads through pay-per-click, solo ads, article marketing, blogging etc, you should be able to capture a decent amount of leads with as little as $50 to $100 a month! You should also strongly consider a Funded Proposal, a method of marketing that creates income for you up-front, while producing all the leads you need.

2. Lack of Activity

I have to admit, I`m lazy by nature, and I know I`m not alone! Give me a choice between something I WANT to do and something I HAVE to do and well... you get the idea. To combat that I have disciplined myself through making network marketing into a game. I play the game 30 minutes a day, and get points for business building activity. This has worked well for me.

Other people find business partners who they are accountable to every day, and communicate by e-mail or phone at the end of every day, comparing results and sharing ideas. Another method that works well is a team call where people can dial into a conference line and discuss the days work with several others. Just figure out a system that works for you, and commit to a small amount of reasonable activity every day, then teach your team to do the same, and if you are consistent and persistent, your team will be as well, and you will create duplication.

I don`t know who said this, but it`s absolutely true: "If you want your team to go into momentum, YOU have to go into momentum."

3. Lack of People to Talk To

The big question is: Who are you going to talk to today? There are three types of leads:

1. Warm Market. These are the people that already know you and (hopefully!) trust you.

2. Purchased leads.

3. Self Generated leads.

Now here`s a tip I learned from one of our guest trainers, Dale Calvert: It`s all about WARM MARKET. But wait! You say. Then why are you telling me about Purchased and Self Generated leads? Simple. Your job is to turn all your leads into warm market leads. Most people make the mistake of thinking of them as "leads" instead of as PEOPLE! If you stop recruiting and start building your warm market, you will take pressure off of yourself, off of them, and your whole network marketing business will grow more naturally and be more rewarding.

4. Lack of Skills and Knowledge

My friend Pat Berry of the MLM Radio Show talks about becoming a "Skillionaire." I love the metaphor. I know a lot of network marketing millionaires, and every single one of them has a high skill set. They know the industry inside out, they have developed great people skills, they are master communicators, and great marketers. And all of those things can be learned. Don`t make the mistake of thinking they were born that way. All of these skills can be developed.

Here`s a simple way to increase your skills (Thanks to Jim Rohn for these ideas!)

1. Read at least 10 pages a day in a personal development book.

2. Listen for at least 20 minutes a day to a good audio.

3. Attend a live seminar at least quarterly.

Three habits that are easy to incorporate into your life, and easy to do.

So those are the four reasons people fail, and some ideas on how to overcome them in your own marketing. Apply some of these ideas consistently to ensure your success in your network marketing business.

Dave Sherwin is an online network marketing expert who won the "Rookie Of The Year" award in his network marketing company. He is also the co-founder of the Lighthouse Marketing System. To learn how to generate DAILY targeted prospects and get the Lighthouse Marketing Guide FREE go here: http://escapethematrix.net/blog

Published By: Indocquent.com- An online resource where you can promote your business, products and services around the world.

Take the Good with the Bad in Business

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In my normal daily routine, I awoke to the dog scratching my bedside anxious to go for his early morning exercise. In the process of getting him and I ready for our half hour trek into the morning chill I turned the coffee pot on and let that brew while I was out so it would be ready by the time we returned.

A half hour later we returned, I poured my coffee and as I often do I sat at the kitchen table reading one of my favorite business magazines. I was particularly intrigued with an article in regards to how failure is actually a good thing when it comes to business. In my own business experiences I have failed so I proceeded to read on as to see how what the author was describing directly correlates to my situations that I encountered.

As I concluded the article talked about parallels to my own business and probably yours, ones of finding the positives out of the negatives, meeting a new person in bad business ventures and why a person who has failed is stronger than one who has not.

Take the first point of pulling the positives out of the negatives. It is invariably easier to get down on yourself and say, "oh why did this happen to me", or "I can't believe it didn't work out." However we need to focus in on the positives here. Write down the reasons the venture failed. Did it fail because of, lack of funding, a bad business partner, not enough research up front or you provided a business or service that people did not want?

All issues that are very fixable when you can clearly see what the issues are to begin with. As I have found in business, regardless of how bad a business venture goes, you will find one or more people that are wonderful human beings, great mentors and/or excellent business people. I recently built a property to flip and sell. However the project took a long time to complete, as we hired people who weren't right for the job or we hit government road blocks with certain regulations. By the time the property was complete the real estate market tanked and I had to take a huge hit on it. Ok, lesson learned.

But along the way I met some really good people. One's that helped steer me in the right direction and others who worked hard to get the job done in a timely fashion and on budget. To this day I am still friends with these people and when the situation exists, I call upon them for help. I can almost guarantee that you know many of the same that I do.

A person who fails is stronger because they now know what doesn't work! Yes a little backwards in the way of thinking but you now have found an avenue in your business that hits unnecessary roadblocks or walls that will either cost you too much time, money or both. Failure is a part of life, whether it is in business or your daily routine. Those that are able to use that failure to their advantage and learn what to do because of it, are those that rise above and succeed.

About the Author
Bruce Tucker is a contributing writer to Indocquent, an online advertising and social networking medium where you can promote your business, products and services for sale and hire throughout the world without pay-per-click prices or auction fees.

Don`t forget to download Indocquent`s free social bookmark utility.

Published By: Indocquent.com- An online resource where you can promote your business, products and services around the world.

Got the Right Stuff To Be an Entrepreneur? Find Out Now!

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Do you have what it takes to make it as a business owner? Making a realistic assessment of your skills, abilities, and interests should be considered essential. You most likely will not fit the entrepreneur profile exactly, but knowing your strengths and weaknesses gives you an advantage in preparing for the support you may need in running your business.

If your personal profile does not seem to line up with the following profile of characteristics of the typical successful entrepreneur, give some long, hard thought as to whether you are really cut out to be a business owner. The matter of your success is far too important to leave to chance.

#1 - Drive to Achieve
One factor that is found most often is highly successful business owners is a tremendous drive to achieve. This attitude tends to override everything else and seems to have almost everything to do with success.

#2 - Desire to Succeed
Success can be considered to be the constant achievement of worthwhile goals. Exactly what are worthwhile goals is a matter of individual interpretation. Obviously, any measure of success must agree with the Word of God.

#3 - Overall Tendency to Follow Through
This applies to any personal commitment or the accomplishment of any task. Even when the going gets tough, the entrepreneur is not apt to quit halfway through. In a word, you must have perseverance.

#4 - Positive Mental Attitude
Being generally optimistic even in challenging situations is a kind of attitude that generally grows out of being confident in who you are and understanding your abilities. Knowing who you are in Christ, and that you are called to the business arena, are major contributors to this.

#5 - Objective Approach
This entails the ability to realistically and accurately view each situation and assess associated risks and determine an appropriate course of action. Being able to honestly determine one`s own abilities and limitations is vital, as is not thinking more highly of yourself than you ought.

#6 - A Respectful Attitude Toward Money
This includes a tendency to look upon money as a means for accomplishing things, rather than as a thing to be sought after as an end in itself. The love of money is still the root of all evil.

#7 - A Tendency to Anticipate Developments
Those who possess the ability to see things coming are able to take the appropriate course of action, rather than reacting only when circumstances are upon them. The prudent see danger and protect themselves.

#8 - Resourcefulness
The ability to solve unique problems in unique ways is vital for entrepreneurs. They are often demanded to handle new developments with no previous experience to rely on as a guide.

#9 - Stable Relationships
Being emotionally stable, cheerful, cooperative, and able to get along well with employees and associates are vitally important characteristics of successful business owners.

#10 - Effective Communications
The ability to effectively communicate and present your ideas for both verbal and written means is extremely important. You must be able to communicate an idea or vision beyond just stating the facts in order to generate a response in others.

#11 - Technical Knowledge
An entrepreneur is usually well-rounded, knowledgeable about business operations and practices, and able to skillfully utilize information towards effecting reasonable results.

#12 - Understands Own Skills
Successful entrepreneurs have taken a good, honest look at themselves. Answering the following questions is a good place to start. What do you like to do best? What are your three major skills, and what can you do better than most people? Describe your management abilities and how your experience applies to your business.

Running a business is nothing like working for someone else. You are responsible for everything. Truly, the buck stops with you. Are you a self-starter, capable of planning, organizing, and carrying out projects on your own initiative? If this all still sounds good to you, operating your own business can be source of immense satisfaction and can provide many wonderful rewards.

To learn more about priorities, goals, money management, and MUCH more, all from highly successful leaders, businessmen, and entrepreneurs, get your copy of "Profiles of Success" today, available at http://www.theleadingedgepublishing.com.

Published By: Indocquent.com- An online resource where you can promote your business, products and services around the world.

Time management: how to get the most out of you work day

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Why is it that so many business owners and employees fall into the routine of a mini panic attack at 2pm after realizing that they haven't accomplished anything? As a small business owner, time is money and not one cent can be wasted. Count your pennies later and learn now, because it is never too late to develop new habits.

Most businesses, no matter what size, operate Monday to Friday between 9am to 5pm. Eight hours a day multiplied by seven days a week seems like enough time to complete the project.
Interruptions come in many forms, such as stacks of money or a large vacuum sucking all the stacks of money away. No matter the industry, all small business owners have over 50 emails to respond in a day as well as the phone to answer during the work day. Certain tasks can not be ignored, for example, talking to potential clients and giving full attention can drag on from 5mins to 20mins. All of these interruptions add up to hours wasted in a day. Sadly, many amazing projects are initiated and then pushed back week after week - transforming into a game of "catch up" that you will not win.

5 effective tips to keep you task oriented throughout the day:

1. Phone: calls do not go over 15mins. When you make a call and are forwarded to voicemail, leave a detailed message including your email.
2. Email: look at them once and promptly create a folder the item
3. Make a list and cross off each task as you complete it during throughout the day
4. Set up timeframes for each task
5. Take a break and eat

I urge you to print or write these tips down. Tape it to your computer or where you spend the most time in a day. Good luck and keep adding new ways to use the most out of your day every day. Time is the most expensive resource. The reason, you can't go back in time.

Jeff Oxley owns a Toronto Web Design Company that specializes in custom web development and Internet marketing.

Published By: Indocquent.com- An online resource where you can promote your business, products and services around the world.

Place Your Product Into a Person’s Life

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When I look at a product I'm not immediately thinking to myself about how I might make use out of it. Typically I just see the product, see what it does, and that's it. Yes, I'm sure that product could change my life, but I'm not entirely sure just how it would change it, and so I don't bother to buy it.

Have you ever seen a new product, had a little bit of interest, but walked away because you just couldn't see it fitting into your life? A few months later you're visiting a friend or talking to a coworker and they mention this specific item. They start going on and on about all these different ways they've been using it, this thing has made life so much easier for them.

Suddenly you think about how you might be able to use it for these exact same activities. They're telling you exactly how the product can be applied to your life, and now that you understand, you want to buy one yourself.

I know I've been in a situation like this. The only reason I didn't buy it to begin with was because I just didn't understand how it could impact me. That was a fault in the marketing for not giving me a helpful hand.

Marketing is meant to encourage a person to buy something. You need to generate interest in that product, and the best way to do this is to give people a reason why they should buy it.

If you plan on getting brochure printing done than make sure that your brochure is focused on what the product is and how it can impact a person's life. Come up with a variety of different specific ways they could make use of it. Don't list vague facts, but set activities. Brochure printing allows you the room to really go into these kinds of details so that a person will walk away understanding exactly why they would benefit from owning the product.

You can't know that I'm going to talk to someone else who owns it, and every time a person who could make use of your product doesn't buy one because they didn't know it was useful is a lost sale because of misguided marketing.

You need to be certain that you're giving people adequate and compelling reasons to make your product a part of their life. Of course, the better you know your customers the easier it will be to come up with these kinds of reasons. Once you know who your customers are, you'll be able to give them the best reasons why you can help make their lives that much better. Only strong research is going to provide you with the ability to accomplish this.

For more information, you can visit this page on brochure printing

Published By: Indocquent.com- An online resource where you can promote your business, products and services around the world.

Hedge Your Bests Against Layoffs, Job Loss, And Reduced Hours

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Ok so you`ve decided you want to build a website and perhaps use it to make some extra income during this time of economic uncertainty. If your looking to hedge your bet against possible job loss, layoffs or reduced work hours your could have decided on a worse idea. Making money online using a website or blog is one of the most common forms of small businesses that are being created today. However for each one that makes money there are probably 100 that fail miserably and lose tons of money in the process.

The easiest way to make money online is buy selling your own products, widgets, junk or other products that are you have easy access too. The most popular places to market your goods are eBay or Craig list, but there are several others just as good. If you want to make money selling from your own website instead of one of the middlemen your going to need to do your homework.There is much more involved in creating a profitable website than just slapping up a pretty picture, adding inventory and waiting for the checks to come rolling in.

Your website will be worthless as far as making money is concerned if you don`t get some traffic. Getting traffic these days involves ranking high in the search engines and little else will help. People that are new to web development and trying to gain position in the search engines need to take the time to learn from those that have already done it.Don`t pay a dime for advice, tools or products that guarantee to get you traffic. They all will fail until you learn how to use them. Do your research and study up on search engine optimization if you want to make a go of your new money making websiteIf you`d like some ideas on how to start making money online you need to check out the search engine contest that is open to beginners and experts alike.

Dirty Blue Widgets by TWSMarketing.com

Published By: Indocquent.com- An online resource where you can promote your business, products and services around the world.

Don`t Just Survive, Thrive

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I am sure most of you are aware of the doom and gloom that is being spread right now regarding the current state of the economy. Today, I felt it was time to provide some valuable information on how to not just survive during this so-called crisis, but how to thrive. Like everything else you must decide what you will do with this information. You can read it and delete it or you can apply it. The choice is yours.

If you want to thrive you must do two things.

#1 - Be completely honest with yourself as to where you are at in your life right now and what fears you are facing. Are you afraid that you are going to lose your job? Are you worried that you aren`t going to make enough money? Are you scared that you may lose your house? How about your investments? Maybe your stocks or retirement fund is providing a place for concern?

Take some time right now to write down exactly where you are in your life right now, today. Now, right down the fears that are present when you look at your list.

#2 - The second thing you must do is make a commitment. Make a commitment to yourself. Commit to yourself that you are bigger than you currently are. You are not your current situation. Only you can decide if you are willing to commit to doing what you have to do to become what you want to become.
The current economic situation is just a bump along the road of life right now. It is just a part of life that is going to challenge your commitment to yourself.

It`s easy to be poor, unhealthy and unhappy. It requires no commitment. Playing the victim requires no effort from you. If you are ready to make a commitment and you have the spirit and the heart to change your life, keep reading. At his point it doesn`t matter if you know how you are going to change your life, you can get help with that part. The important step is that you really commit to yourself.

OK - You have made the commitment. You know where you are and you know what you are afraid of. Now you must take ACTION! You are only going to thrive if you take action RIGHT NOW! Not tomorrow, or next week. RIGHT NOW! Right now determine one action step you can take to move yourself from just surviving to thriving. Once you have determined that step....do it!

My method of choice to move from survival to thriving is to leverage the power of the internet to grow my business. I don`t have a background in websites, blogs or internet technology. However, I am a great student and I have learned a lot . I am a wife and mother of two kids with the heart and spirit to make sure my business grows and I thrive in the current economic situation. I am committed to making sure that money is not the reason my children are stopped from pursuing their dreams. I want to encourage you to find the heart and spirit inside yourself and do the same.

Georgee Low is the CEO of Decide Your Life, a community of like-minded people, sharing knowledge, reducing risk and taking women in business toward a better future. She is passionate and dedicated to helping entrepreneurs gain more freedom, fun and fortunes through their business. For more information visit our website at http://www.decideyourlife.com

Published By: Indocquent.com- An online resource where you can promote your business, products and services around the world.