Adding USB 2.0

Filed under:University Of Travel — posted on August 15, 2008 @ 9:38 am

The process of adding USB 2.0 ports took no time and the backup system is mighty fast. If you add USB 2.0 ports with a PCI port card, then you’ll still have your USB 1.1 ports, so whatever is plugged into those can stay.

Rob Foster from the UK sent me a port PCI USB card since he had a few extras. Thanks again, Rob. When installing hardware or devices, most situations require loading the software FIRST before doing anything else. This one didn’t - so be sure to check this out before attempting to put the card in. Before starting the process, be sure you have an open PCI slot, a standard slot that has one big connector with a small one behind it.

Turn off the computer, if it is not already. Take off the CPU case. How this is done depends on the CPU. If you lost or misplaced the manual, I’m sure your computer manufacturer has info online. Google it, if needed. Slide the PCI card into the open PCI slot.

At this point, you can cover up the CPU, but some people leave it off until turning on the computer and checking all is OK. When turning on this little feller, it found the new card right away and worked. I didn’t even have to run the software. The card came with four USB ports, one of which holds the backup system. It took under two hours to back up the computer (get size), faster and easier than the tape back up.

Well, it only took a year or so to get around to adding the USB 2.0 ports as that’s about how long the back up system has been sitting here taunting me.

EzineArticles Expert Author Meryl K. Evans

Meryl K. Evans is the Content Maven behind meryl’s notes, eNewsletter Journal, and The Remediator Security Digest. She is also a PC Today columnist and a tour guide at InformIT. She is geared to tackle your editing, writing, content, and process needs. The native Texan resides in Plano, Texas, a heartbeat north of Dallas, and doesn’t wear a 10-gallon hat or cowboy boots.

Tiffany Lamp Reproductions - Quality At An Affordable Price

Filed under:University Of Travel — posted on August 13, 2008 @ 9:46 pm

Choices in Tiffany Lamp Reproductions

You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to acquire an original Tiffany lamp, you can still find quality Tiffany lamp reproductions that add beauty and warmth to any décor. Many fine reproductions of Tiffany lamps are available to you today. While modern home furnishing designs seem to become less imaginative, it is great to know that one can purchase Tiffany lamp reproductions in a variety of original designs and colors. If you want to add some classic Art Nouveau lamps to your home or office, the Tiffany style lamp is a popular choice. With today’s eclectic decorating styles, a reproduction Tiffany lamp can be a great focal point in any room.

Based on the original designs of Louis Comfort Tiffany, the quality and workmanship shine through in the classic colored glass styles now available. The play of light on color continues to be a warm addition to a home or business and you will find the classic styling of Tiffany in restaurants, offices and hotels. Beauty and variety are the two main attractions when choosing Tiffany style lighting. The same deco-style designs are now available in floor lamps, table lamps, wall sconces and ceiling fixtures. Coordinating fixtures can give a room a stylish and well thought out look. Elegant and classic in design, the Tiffany style lamp is an affordable option in decorating.

Quality Reproductions

The main manufacturers of Tiffany style reproductions include Dale Tiffany and Meyda Tiffany, both of which have been producing and selling quality reproductions of Tiffany lamps for decades. The beauty and elegance of an original Tiffany lamp is just as evident in a quality reproduction, plus there are many more design options and color choices available from these makers. A handcrafted process, in the techniques originally developed by Louis Tiffany, ensures that no two pieces are the exactly same. These timeless treasures are not fakes or copies, but well-made quality reproductions, handcrafted with the finest materials. The stained glass shades are offered in a variety of fine colors and use the traditional copper foil method. Lamp bases are crafted from superior materials and are built to last a lifetime and provide joy for many generations.

Good Tiffany lamp reproductions are unique and functional works of art and can be a timeless keepsake for years to come. Designs based on Louis Tiffany’s original lamps include such natural themes as plants and insects. The botanical designs feature leaves, vines, and such flowers as the lotus, wisteria and peony. The hanginghead dragonfly design is also a classic Tiffany touch. Other designs are based on simple geometric patterns or borders and include such shapes as rectangles, squares, ovals and triangles. Lamp shades in the geometric category come in two main varieties - those made of several small pieces of glass and those made of just a few larger pieces of stained glass. Whatever design you choose a Tiffany Lamp Reproduction offers an affordable way to add a touch of Classic Tiffany to your home or office.

About The Author:
Pamela Tice is the owner of numerous lighting and home decor websites including Tiffany-Lamps-Store. Her store offers product and information about Tiffany Reproduction Table Lamps and Floor Lamps as well as other stained glass lighting designs and products to add beauty and richness to your home.

It’s Good To Be A New Writer: Breaking The Myth That Experience Is Everything

Filed under:University Of Travel — posted on @ 4:33 pm

There’s a rumor out there in the publishing world that an editor won’t even look at the work of a new writer. It might be true for certain types of writing, but after interviewing hundreds of editors, I’ve found that most are more open to new writers than you might think.

And there are a few major benefits to being a new writer too. So before you spend too much time trying to work out how you can appear to be a published professional writer when you’re not, consider taking advantage of your current position as a newcomer.

What are the advantages? Here are four positive points of being a new writer that will help you get work - and they all come direct from editors.

1. It’s Easier to Impress

Editor says…

“I really don’t mind new writers at all. If you’re new and act professionally, I’m usually willing to give you a go. I’d suggest that new writers just be honest about who they are.

If I get a fairly good article by a new writer, I’ll be impressed. To me, that’s my chance to discover new talent. That’s when I’ll contact the writer and try to help them. If I get a fairly good article by a new writer pretending to be an experienced writer, I will probably just issue a standard rejection.” -Evelyn, Magazine Editor

If you claim to be a professional and experienced writer, an editor is likely to expect a lot. That means it will take a lot to really impress them. Even a good article might not be enough to get their attention. But if you tell the truth and admit that you’re a new writer, it takes a lot less to impress. A new writer with a professional approach is something special - just sending a professional quality submission might even be enough to impress.

2. There’s Room to Grow

Editor says…

“When I get a good article from a new writer, I’m always very happy. Why? Because new writers with the right skills and attitude are wonderful for our magazine. They can be shaped to suit our style, they listen to instructions, they usually have a positive attitude. That’s the kind of writer I like to take on and mentor.” -Stephanie, Magazine Editor

If an editor knows that you’re a new writer, you’re giving them the chance to spot new talent. If you’re new and right for their publication, you might be taken in and mentored until you suit their style.

The same isn’t likely to happen if the editor thinks that you’re experienced. Instead of looking at your work and thinking that it shows potential, they’ll be assuming it’s the best that you can do.

3. Anything Else, And You Risk Losing Their Interest

Editor says…

“I would tell writers to be careful if they’re going to exaggerate. I know everyone does it on resumes. But if someone claims to have been a writer for twenty years and is pitching my low-paying mag, I’m going to wonder two things. First, I’m going to wonder if they’re lying. Second, I’m going to wonder why they’re not working for a higher paying magazine if they really have that much experience. If they’re not lying, then I have to assume that they’re just a bad writer. Either way, it doesn’t look good for them.” - Danielle, Magazine Editor

If you’re a new writer, you need to be targeting the right kinds of markets. And if you are targeting small markets, claiming years of experience is only going to make editors suspicious.

4. Attitude Matters

Editor says…

“It’s simple. Many seasoned writers pitching me have a bit of an attitude, a hint of suspicion, and often a streak of boredom. Fresh writers pitching me tend to have nothing but positive energy and enthusiasm. I’ll take the enthusiastic writer, please.” -Sam, Editor

If you can’t go in with experience, go in with enthusiasm. That might be the big advantage that gets you the job.

“What is an E-mail Address? How Does it Affect My Business?”

Filed under:University Of Travel — posted on August 9, 2008 @ 11:49 pm

E-mail Professionalism


“What is an e-mail address? How does it affect my business?”


Good questions. Think of the customers of Australian telecommunications giant OneTel. When e-mail addresses such as abcCompany @onetel.com.au became useless within the span of a week, the majority of customers turned to DingoBlue for a new one, such as abcCompany @dingoblue.net.au. A year later, it was DingoBlue’s turn to close its doors, leaving those same customers to find a new e-mail address altogether.


A personal or business e-mail address such as bob.brown @businesscabinets.com is like a business card: “This is Bob Brown from Business Cabinets, and we make Cabinets,” it says. Getting the right e-mail address is equivalent to printing your name on business cards with your company name and business details. It’s well worth the effort.


When signing up with an Internet Service Provider (ISP), most new customers accept the name they are offered, even when the name is limited to eight letters. The result? An e-mail address with no correlation to any business or product of the customer’s own.


One business cabinet manufacturer, when offered a limited selection of names, ended up with jandlcc @amajorisp.com.au. How did this help the business? It didn’t. Not only was the e-mail address disjointed, but also it failed to identify, much less promote, the company. Later, when the ISP went broke, the cabinet manufacturer selected a new e-mail address, changed stationary, replaced business cards, and updated as many of the contacts as could be remembered. It was an expensive exercise.


If the cabinet manufacturer had chosen a domain name of the company’s own, time, money, effort and frustration would have been saved.


Think of your domain name as your business name on the Internet. Let’s say that “businesscabinets.com” will be the domain name used by our fictional Bob Brown. Bob’s Web address would be www. businesscabinets .com. Bob could use a country code with his domain, such as www. businesscabinets .com.au, since he lives in Sydney.


Every person, every section of the company, could have a private e-mail address, even Mum, Dad and the kids. For example: sales @businesscabinets.com, bob @businesscabinets.com (work e-mail), dad @businesscabinets.com and mum @businesscabinets.com (home personal e-mail), and HomeShowOffer @businesscabinets.com. If Bob likes, he can use anything @businesscabinets.com, because he has an unlimited number of e-mail addresses available. Every e-mail address is separate, with its own password that can be set up from within a control panel.


If Bob comes home early, he can still receive his important work-related e-mail. If he travels to Melbourne for the week, he can go to an Internet Cafe and check his own e-mails. He doesn’t need someone to check his messages, fax them to him, or phone him with questions.


What does this mean to your business? To start with, every time you give out your e-mail address, you are giving out your business, trade, or product name. You are promoting your website or future website. You will receive all your e-mail, even when the sender misspells the contact name (slaes @businesscabinets.com instead of sales @businesscabinets.com, for instance). Is this more professional? Absolutely.


The myth that a domain name, 25 personal e-mail addresses, and a basic website must cost a business thousands of dollars is just that-a myth. It can be achieved for as little as $200.00 per year.


So what is an e-mail address? Part of a complete and professional image, as basic as wearing washed and ironed shirts. One of the many promotional tools that businesses must use to compete in today’s tough environment. And a registered domain is yours for life, as long as you pay the domain registration fees. Think of it as the Internet equivalent of a business name registration.


Although e-mail should never be used as the sole method of dealing with customers-it can never truly replace face-to-face contact-what it can do is help you stay in touch with your clients, or update potential customers, as long as you have their permission. Besides e-mail, how else could you contact 100 customers simultaneously at 5 p.m. on a Friday about next week’s special offer?


You can send your e-mail as personally as you like. Either bob @businesscabinets.com or bob.brown_AT_businesscabinets.com may be used. Communication personally sent from you, addressed to your customer, containing details of your client’s company as well as projects he or she might be working on that are related to your business, will be read. How often do you talk to, or contact, EVERY ONE of your customers or prospects?


Used well, e-mail will make you more productive. E-mail messages can include links to web pages, even if it is only the page that comes with your ISP. Hence, every e-mail message helps promote your product or service. Business these days is about promoting your business at every turn, and turning even half-an-opportunity into a sale. This applies to work-at-home businesses such as Avon or Amway as much as it does to major corporations.


E-mail allows you to ask non-urgent questions or send information at a time when it is convenient for you, outside of 8:30 to 5. Have a question? Ask it before the other party has arrived for work, between meetings, or late at night, and take it off your To Do list. How often have you waited on the phone to ask a question like, “What time is Friday’s meeting?” Just e-mail it. They will answer when they get the chance.


Business uses for e-mail

There are many uses for e-mail, limited only by your imagination. Use it well, and it’s like having a phone for every part of your business, only cheaper. Common uses are:


* Sales @yourdomainName for sales questions.
* StaffName @yourdomainname for a particular staff member.
* magazineadname @yourdomainname for your magazine, to measure responses.
* Faq @yourdomainname for Frequently Asked Questions, combined with an “auto responder” that sends a list of questions and answers; you review the questions later to see if any need a follow-up.
* Support @yourdomainName for support or help questions.

Note


Hosting.com, Plans have Multiple e-mail addresses included for free.


By Ian Partridge, Business development manager forHttp://www.hostingOz.com, Web Hosting Providers,
Phone 07 3314 6975, Fax 07 3267 0889,


Copyright (c) Ian Partridge 2003-2004

Can Pizza Actually Be Healthy For You?

Filed under:University Of Travel — posted on August 2, 2008 @ 2:06 am

This article may come as a surprise to you, especially if you follow a healthy and nutritious diet…

It’s about pizza, the weakness of many people including me. I love pizza- always have. I make sure I eat it in moderation, but it’s still one of my favorite foods.

Now there’s good news for pizza lovers.

According to Men’s Health magazine, research concludes that pizza can be good for you. It’s important to point out, however, that we’re talking about real pizza- not the kind you get from Pizza Hut, Dominoes or the frozen food section of your supermarket. By real, I mean pizza made with real crust, real tomato sauce and pure olive oil.

According to Men’s Health, scientists writing in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that eating pizza can reduce your risk of a heart attack. In a 4-year study of nearly 1,000 Italians, those who ate pizza at least once a week were 30 percent less likely to experience a heart attack than the folks who didn’t partake of the pie.

This is contributed to pizza’s cardio protective ingredients, including olive oil and tomato sauce. And here’s a way to make the pizza even healthier: top it with vegetables, part-skim cheese and use whole wheat crust. You’ll then have a meal that is actually good for you.

Can you get this kind of a pizza in a pizzeria? You might be able to find some that offer whole wheat crust, but I doubt you’ll find any that offer part-skim cheese. What you can do is buy the ingredients at your local grocery store and make the pizza yourself. Speaking from experience, this can be a fun thing!

Enjoy the experience of making your own pizza and savoring a nutritious meal. After all, feeding your body with nutritious meals is the number one thing you can do for better health.

Ryan Cote is the owner of SimpleHealth123.com, a website supplying aging healthy products and a free 4-day health e-mail course, and GetHealthyReport.com, home of the anti-aging product, Get Healthy!

Chill Out with a Quality Ceiling Fan

Filed under:University Of Travel — posted on August 1, 2008 @ 9:01 pm

If your air conditioning is running flat out but your house still feels hot and stuffy perhaps you need to improve the air flow. A great way to move air around is by installing a ceiling fan so what should you consider before making your purchase.

Room size dictates the fan best suited but as a basic rule of thumb most rooms can accommodate a 50″ or 52″ size fan, consequently all manufacturers make their most popular styles in this size. Smaller and over sized fans can be found for special requirements.

The look of a fan is important but the most important factor when purchasing a ceiling fan is the size, power, and durability of the motor. A better quality motor costs more but will move more air without wobbling or noise and can safely be left running for days, weeks or even years without burning out.

5 factors that work together and determine how much air a ceiling fan will move

Blade Pitch

The pitch of the blade and the power of the motor must be well engineered so they can work together and create air movement without going beyond the motors capability, when a fan operates efficiently it will last a lifetime.

Blade Shape and Size

Even the most powerful ceiling fan motor cannot move the blades fast enough if the blades are too long or wide, larger is not always better but too small or narrow is also not good.

RPM

The best fans provide 6 speeds, low to high and many are reversible so that in the summer a ceiling fan can draw warm air up and away and in winter by reversing the fan blade direction can pull warm air from the ceiling down to the floor.

Height from Ceiling

Seven to eight feet from the floor gives the best ceiling fan airflow so you can appreciate the air movement and the ceiling fan can operate most efficiently. Ceiling hugger fans operate in rooms with less head height and would normally operate at slower speeds so as not to cause turbulence and fan wobble.

Motor
The most important factor is the motor, a strong precision made motor will move the most air without noise or wobble if the other 4 factors are present.

For top performance and durability it pays to buy the best you can afford, whilst cheaper ceiling fans may appear better value for money initially they often have to work harder to achieve the same affect and subsequently often don’t last as long.

Installing a ceiling fan can be normally be accomplished relatively easily following the provided instructions but if you don’t fancy the job a good handyman could install the fan for you in a couple of hours or less.

John Buckle has a keen interest in interior decoration and has developed a number of properties and offers ceiling fan design tips and advice at http://www.enmo.org/ceiling-fan/

Welcome To Anything Possible Plumbing!

Filed under:University Of Travel — posted on @ 6:48 pm

Driving home this morning from Hollywood, a van streaked across from the right to my left, and I was just able to catch the name of the company it belongs to:

ANYTHING POSSIBLE PLUMBING.

Of course, that name got me to thinking.

First thought: Is that grammatical? Shouldn’t it be anything’s possible?

Then, of course, it occurred to me that the owner may not know the difference, and being the melting pot that is Hollywood, it’s quite possible that the boss hails from a foreign country.

Well, then, isn’t that the perfect name for a business? You’ve come to the land where anything’s possible, right? This is the land of opportunity, where one version of the American dream is that anyone can start a business, from scratch, if necessary.

I can only imagine how they handle phone inquiries.

“Hello, Anything Possible Plumbing, how may I help you?”

“Can you fix a broken pipe?”

“Anything’s possible!”

“I like your attitude! Come on by, and give it a try!”

It makes you wonder why more of us don’t inject optimism into our business names.

Instead of Harry’s Flowers, it could be, The Gift of Flowers Is Priceless!

Phone companies could drop boring monikers such as A T & T, and adopt: Great Things Happen When You Phone People, Incorporated, or GTHWYPPI, for short. If they wanted to work another emotion, like guilt, they could name themselves, Isn’t It Time You Phoned Your Family?

All kidding aside, it’s nice that some people are bringing life and verve to their company identities and shying away from “tombstone” names, only. It’s like the folks who answer the line with the cheery words, “”It’s a great day at the Orlando Marriott!”

Even if it’s cloudy or raining, they’re trying their best.

Isn’t that the American way?

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of http://www.customersatisfaction.com/, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC’s Annenberg School, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com.

When Are You Coming Home? Five Practical Tips to Realizing Work / Life Balance

Filed under:University Of Travel — posted on July 30, 2008 @ 7:06 pm

So let’s talk about over-used terms for a minute.

If you’ve been in the business world since the mid 1990s you’ve likely heard your management espouse the desire for employees to achieve greater work/life balance. Many U.S. companies have adopted programs to help employees strike a better life balance by providing health club benefits, entertainment discount programs, and additional time off for events such as the birth of a child. Despite all this, Americans are of the most overworked and flat-out busy people on earth, recently surpassing the Japanese and long surpassing the Europeans. With all this discussion of work/life balance, how can we in the U.S. also be of the most overworked people in the world? The answer is pretty simple; many of us talk work/life balance, but don’t live work/life balance primarily because we don’t know how to do it.

First let’s get clear on the primary purpose of achieving work/life balance. It’s about minimizing stress in your life. Much of the stress in a typical person’s life is derived from work. Stress also comes from non-work activities as well. You can say you’ve got work/life balance, but in addition to working full-time, you might participate in many activities with the kids, volunteer at the local homeless shelter, and exercise five days a week. If you’re feeling stressed and tired you haven’t achieved the primary intent of work/life balance, which is to reduce stress. All you have done is balanced the degree of stress you have in your work life with the stress you have in your non-work life. But at least the stress is balanced J.

To realize a practical work/life balance, consider the following tips:

Consciously (and honestly) decide what is really important - Saying that work/life balance is important is one thing; truly meaning it is a different game altogether. You may want to believe you place other things above work, but wanting to believe it simply doesn’t mean it’s so. Make a conscious, realistic declaration on where your priorities lie, then examine your behaviors or ask a friend, relative, significant other, or spouse. Taking the first step toward the quest for work/life balance means eliminating the gap between what you desire and what you do.

Make your calendar a life thing, not just a work thing - Integrate important personal activities into your calendar. Examples of things to schedule include exercise, being home at a specific time for dinner, and kids’ activities. Also include items such as important meetings that your spouse or significant other needs to attend which require you to be at home with the kids or to take junior to the dentist.

Measure success in results, not hours - Those who measure success based on hours worked will prioritize hours over results and tend to be less motivated to figure out how to get more work done in less time. Those who measure success based on results are more likely to figure out better ways to do things, prioritize their work, and get home in time for dinner. Don’t use the clock as your gauge of success; use the results you deliver as your success yardstick.

Don’t succumb to peer pressure - From our earliest years, we are exposed to peer pressure. The “I dare you’s” from our youth become “Who’s got a bigger house” or “Who drives a nicer car” as adults. Look, just because a peer works 18 hours a day doesn’t mean he or she gets more done or is more effective. It just means that your peer chooses to run the hours race because he or she feels it is the best means to get ahead. Don’t let your peers’ actions pressure you to run the wrong race. Just stay focused on providing meaningful results that provide value to the organization.

Don’t take on too much “life” in work/life balance - Achieving work/life balance doesn’t mean you cram more and more stuff into the life side of the equation to balance out a high-octane work life. Achieving good work/life balance means doing both in moderation and minimizing the stress in your life. You could be working a 40-hour work week and still be stressed out because of the non-work activities you’ve committed to. Doing too much life can be just as stressful to you and your loved ones as doing too much work. Don’t feel obligated or pressured to fill up every hour of your week with life activities. Doing both in moderation helps you attain the key benefit of work/life balance; a low-stress life.

Realizing the quest for work/life balance means first doing some serious soul searching and coming to grips with your true life priorities. If you acknowledge you are a workaholic and don’t want to change, then by all means work 18-hour days. If you do want to change, though, you need to accept the challenge head-on and get on the road to a more balanced lifestyle. You may be surprised at how your quality of life increases and how little it truly impacts your career aspirations.

Lonnie Pacelli - EzineArticles Expert Author

Lonnie Pacelli has over 20 years’ experience with Accenture and Microsoft and is currently president of Leading on the Edge International. Lonnie’s books include “The Project Management Advisor: 18 Major Project Screw-Ups and How to Cut Them Off at the Pass” and “The Truth About Getting Your Point Across”. Get the books, leadership products, other articles, MP3 seminars and a free email mini seminar at http://www.leadingonedge.com

Shut Up And Sing

Filed under:University Of Travel — posted on July 27, 2008 @ 11:57 pm

What is it with these performers and their politics? Do they really think that people who pay $100 or more to hear them sing want to hear them utter political opinions? The audience pays hundreds of thousands of dollars to see and hear a performer PERFORM. You want to spout politics, run for freakin office, you moron! When performers use a paid venue to play politics they are abusing the paying audience, the venue, the sponsors and everyone connected to their artistic performance. It’s an inappropriate venue and inapproprite behavior to voice your political viewpoint, you jerk! And they wonder why people boo.

Somebody pays a small fortune for their ticket to see them perform and ends up being subjected to a political opinion from someone who makes millions of dollars a year but doesn’t have a real job, doesn’t have to live in reality and doesn’t have a clue about the real world! Yeah, right, tell me about your political views while I’m sitting here waiting to be entertained by you. That’s why I came here and that’s what I paid for isn’t it, you ungrateful clueless idiot. You want to spout off, do it for free. Yes, free. Why don’t you perform for free then you can say anything you want to your audience. Then it’s fair and balanced. Then the audience gets what it pays for.

And what about the incident in Orange County, CA where the performer makes a comment about Linda Ronstadt and audience starts booing and the performer responds with how America used to be a place where you could openly discuss your views. Ha! Twenty thousand people and he’s the only one with a microphone! Open discussion, my ass.

So, a word to the wise. You want to keep performing, keep making millions, keep living in your fantasy world? Shut up and sing.

Maya Pinion is a freelance writer and contributing editor for News4Net. Article inspired by radio talk show host, Dennis Prager, who has a brain in his head and a heart in his chest.

What Is A Business Plan?

Filed under:University Of Travel — posted on July 26, 2008 @ 10:57 am

Individuals running small self-owned units with low revenues and lower profits are prone to ask -What is a business plan? They did not grow, simply because they didn’t have one, and never bothered to find out before. Evidently they don’t care much where their business is headed.

Others wish to expand their business but have no idea how to go about it. Ask them what is their business plan and they shake their head, skeptical. Simply wishing will not lead to success. You need to chart down your goals and figure out the way to reach them. This is exactly what a business plan is all about. It guides the enterprise towards stated objectives through carefully chalked tracks and processes, taking into account future conditions and contingencies.

It is your company resume and includes, among others, the following: a current and pro forma balance sheet, a statement of income, and an analysis of cash flow. An enterprising business plan is crucial if you want serious consideration of that important loan application. The plan will contain specific and organized company information and loan repayment method and details. It will also describe the company’s business model and guide your sales team and suppliers.

Your resources may be plentiful today, but only a business plan will help you allocate them wisely. Even with meager means, firms have managed to show record growth, due to careful planning. Good business decisions do not emerge from instant brainwaves; they stem from a predetermined strategy based on detailed financial projections, market forecasts and careful analysis of risks and uncertainties.
The next time someone asks you what is your business plan, be prepared with answers. Tell them a business plan is what helps you stay afloat in bad times and lets you tower ahead of competition in good days. Planning generally pays.

Dave Lavinsky - EzineArticles Expert Author

Since its inception, Growthink Business Plan Development has developed over 350 business plans. Growthink clients have collectively raised over $750 million in financing, launched numerous new product and service lines and gained competitive advantage and market share. Growthink has become the firm of choice for venture capital firms, angel investors, corporations and entrepreneurs in the know. For more information on this topic please visit http://www.growthink.com/businessplan/ or visit our venture capital placement site at Growthink Venture Capital.


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