BUSINESS QUOTES

The Brighter Side of the Crisis

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 01:37:00 +0000

Tom Plate
Baverly Hills, California

One good way to counter depression (of the emotional and of the otherwise kind) is to emphasize the positive (of the imagined or otherwise kind).

What I have been doing sometimes these days for therapy and equanimity is recalling the Asian Financial Crisis of some 10 years ago. Remember how Clinton administration and the U.S. policy elite would publicly berate Asia for all the things they were allegedly doing wrong? Remember how often we made the point to them that in economic affairs they ought to restructure, deregulate and be more like us?

Well, that was then - and this is now. Right now China and Japan have more of our dollars than they can count and, their troubles notwithstanding, do not quite seem to be in as bad shape as the U.S.

Right now, in fact, no one is blaming Asia for the global financial turbulence but many people are coming down hard on us. The pervasive poison that was contained in our pernicious financial products looks to be causing even more global misery than China's food and consumer products, which is saying something.

And right now, the world stands amazed to watch our incumbent President huddling in the White House as if simply counting the days left, even as financial markets continue to roil, churn and burn. And (to be nonpartisan about it) "The One" - what we Americans call President - elect Barack Obama - also huddles in his Chicago bunker as if in fear of the raging economic storm outside. Chicagoans are used to bunkering down in terrible weather - but this is ridiculous!

Not only is Asia not so much in the negative spotlight these days, but the region can be proud that over the last ten years, the world has learned more helpful lessons from Asia than from the U.S. about how to handle one's economy. Those lessons include;

Saving money is really not such a bad idea, especially when those rainy days come, American Express keeps crunching your credits ceiling and the mortgage bankers are howling at the door.
Signinficant reform after a financial crisis will help crushion the pain of the next one.
Strong leadership is better tha wishy-washy leadership. Until very recently in America, this prespective was viewed as quasi-socialist!
A related reason is that, for some really important, public-interest things - such as health care, public education and safety-nets like social security - national economic markets all by themselves do not produce the best pubic interest value for the money. In fact, it is the widely shared view in parts of Asia that the value of all individual goods in society does not always trump the value of the same amount of money invested in the overall public good and general well being.
Worship public education and invest aggresively in it. Cutting it is to reduce the size of the promise of society's future.
Asian may generally not realize it, but those of us who visit Asia often notice this difference in treatment of the consumer : While it is true that in the U.S. the customer is king, in Asia the customer is God. Which leads me to a final study point for us Americans:
Make better cars!! If we hade made them better, the head of the Big Three U.S. automakers (GM, Chrysler, Ford) wouldn't have brought their begging bowls to Congress this last week in search of lifeline from - guess what? - Big government. Isn't that rich?!

Conclusion: That which doesn't kill you - goes the old saying - makes you stronger. Assuming we manage to survive this horrific financial meltdown, we should emerge from it in better shape.

Columnist and author Tom Plate, a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy, is writing a book of Asia. (c) 2008, Pacific Perspectives Media Center.

Source: The Jakarta Post, Thursday, November 27, 2008

Institutional Innovations

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:07:00 +0000

BDV-101759-BDV
John Hagel and John Seely Brown

As a management topic, innovation couldn't be hotter—even as the economy is cooling down. But how much innovation is there on innovation itself? Nearly everybody goes beyond products and services to think about innovations to the core processes of the firm. Some even subscribe to the notion of management innovation. Yet all of today's discussions about innovation are bounded by a common flaw: They stay cloistered within the four walls of the enterprise.

Innovation is needed within companies, to be sure. But today's most powerful and exciting forms of innovation are taking place across company boundaries. Think of them as institutional innovations—the changes companies make to redefine roles and relationships across independent entities to deliver more value to the marketplace and to society. Institutional innovation transcends what an individual inventor or even an innovative company can do. Innovation is a decidedly social process encompassing diverse individuals, corporations, communities, networks, and regions.

Rather than taking the four walls of the enterprise as a given, today's most promising institutional innovations seek better ways of connecting talent wherever it resides and building relationships that foster and focus learning.

An Effective Research Road Map

Consider the powerful example of the Silicon Valley nonprofit Myelin Repair Foundation (MRF), which provides an early glimpse of next-generation institutional innovation (BusinessWeek.com, 11/15/07) as it emerges on the edge of medical research and drug discovery. As its name suggests, MRF has a very specific target—to mobilize and focus research on a particular biological process, myelin repair.

Myelin is the substance that coats our nerves to facilitate the passage of electrical signals. In multiple sclerosis, that myelin coating begins to degrade, resulting in a host of symptoms, including fatigue, blindness, and loss of balance, ultimately leading to paralysis and death. The MRF was founded by Scott Johnson, a civil engineer and MBA by training, who himself suffers from the disease.

What's new and exciting about MRF's approach to myelin-repair research is that it creates a distributed network of researchers within diverse academic disciplines such as neurobiology, immunology, and neurology from independent academic institutions in the U.S., including Stanford University and Case Western Reserve University. These researchers collaborate in defining coordinated research initiatives across institutional boundaries—sharing results with each other in real time.

By jointly developing a research road map, participants construct a shared model of possible explanations of the myelin-repair process and pursue parallel, rather than sequential, problem-solving. This approach, combined with rapid iterations where participants review each other's results and refine their approaches based on this shared learning, dramatically compresses the time required for research to generate promising discoveries.

Collaborative Effort and Intellectual Property

To date, MRF has recruited four top researchers, each of whom runs a lab of 10 to 18 research staff who all contribute full-time to this growing, distributed network. These researchers maintain their existing institutional affiliations but join together in the collaboration infrastructure created by MRF, which includes joint research reviews three times a year, monthly conference calls, a shared audio/video/data platform to virtually link all participants, daily interactions, and the archiving of critical intellectual property for patent protection. MRF supplements the capabilities of this core team by contracting other academic researchers and commercial entities to expedite completion of the research plan and move discoveries into commercial drug development and clinical trials.

MRF signed intellectual-property agreements with each of the academic institutions involved, with which it will share royalties generated from discoveries it has helped to fund.

Lawyers engage with the researchers at an early stage of the research process to identify patent opportunities and document contributions to the discovery process so the appropriate researchers are credited for their contributions. And MRF also helps to identify appropriate commercialization partners in the biopharmaceutical industry for license agreements on patents to speed the transition from lab to clinic. With its 50% share of anticipated royalties, MRF will be able to fund even more research in the years ahead—and ultimately become self-funding.

Accelerating Results

But the real incentive for researchers entering this collaboration was not the MRF funding or the potential royalties down the road; it was the opportunity to make faster progress in their own areas of interest and to deepen their own understanding by working with other leading-edge researchers. The researchers are coming together in this process network because they see an opportunity to make rapid progress in solving large, complex, real-world medical problems.

As Ben Barres, professor of neurology at Stanford and one of the four senior researchers collaborating in the network, notes: "We are bringing together academic scientists that operate in an environment where traditionally data cannot be shared until after experiments are complete and published. Within the consortium model, every time the team gets together, sparks fly. There's no question that better teamwork in science can significantly accelerate results."

Scott Cook, the founder of Intuit and an early contributor to the MRF, observes: "The Myelin Repair Foundation is pioneering a new way to organize medical research that speeds breakthrough drug discovery. It uses a unique approach to shared incentives to produce intense collaboration and rapid idea-sharing among the leading neuroscience centers."

Time Frame and Takeaways

In 2004, the MRF undertook a five-year, $25 million research program with the goal of licensing its first myelin-repair drug target by 2009. Conventional research approaches would take 15 to 30 years to identify and validate a single target suitable for drug development. The MRF is currently pursuing leads for 18 targets and is confident it is on track to license the first one by next year. Before coming into the MRF network, the primary researchers had accumulated 125 years of research experience and, in that time, filed for two patents. In the few short years since the MRF network came together, they have already filed for nine patents with eight more in the pipeline.

So, what can executives take away from the MRF story?

1. Institutional innovation amplifies other forms of innovation. The researchers in the MRF network are generating significant discoveries, leading to much greater patent activity. The MRF itself has innovated on the discovery process. But underlying all of this innovation is the institutional innovation driven by Scott Johnson and his team—finding ways to more effectively coordinate research activities across distributed teams in very different disciplines and across major institutional boundaries. As the race for talent intensifies, all businesses will benefit from innovating innovation at this fundamental level.

2. Customer co-creation will become even more profound and sustained. The MRF took shape under the leadership of an MS patient, not an academic researcher or a pharmaceutical company. Experiencing MS firsthand, Scott Johnson had little patience for the slow, sequential pace of traditional medical research and a strong motivation to pioneer innovative approaches to generating promising treatments. Most of the stories of customer co-creation to date spotlight relatively narrow and episodic input provided by customers into specific features or products. Johnson's involvement in the medical research process is far more engaged: He actively participates in the sessions that define the research agenda.

Companies need to seek out customers with the kind of insight and passion that Johnson brings—and find ways to engage with them in much more fundamental ways than conventional market research or customer forums permit. Customers represent an important edge that will drive business innovation in the future. Companies should also remember they are customers themselves and find ways to promote institutional innovation among suppliers and other business partners.

3. Boundaries between domains of knowledge represent significant edges for innovation. Knowledge silos help to deepen knowledge, but they can become significant barriers to insight when experts find it difficult to connect across them. The MRF has paid a lot of attention to building shared understanding and respect across very diverse domains of research. By bringing together experts from such different areas, it's possible to generate insights that simply would not have arisen from individual domains.

4. Innovation is not just about idea generation. Too often, discussions of innovation tend to focus on ways to generate more creative ideas. In our experience, the core innovation challenge in the business world is rarely about generating more ideas. Sift through any business organization and there is an abundance of ideas. The real challenge is to mobilize a critical mass of resources behind promising ideas and to create the mechanisms to more rapidly test and refine ideas as they move from concept to delivery. This is one of the core insights of MRF's institutional innovation—it focuses on accelerating the idea-testing process and creating the necessary incentives to rapidly scale the most promising ideas into commercially successful products.

5. Distributed innovation does not necessarily mean loss of intellectual-property protection. A key institutional innovation of the MRF was to develop a way for participants to file for patent protection more rapidly while still sharing their discoveries traditionally via publication in peer-reviewed journals. Without adequate patent protection, the intellectual property generated from MRF's research would have little appeal to biopharmaceutical companies that will have to invest significant amounts of their own money to commercialize products. At one level, the MRF has created an open-source platform engaging peers from diverse institutions while finding a robust way to protect intellectual property.

John Hagel and John Seely Brown are co-chairman and independent co-chairman, respectively, of Deloitte LLP's Center for Edge Innovation. John Hagel writes a blog at Edge Perspectives. Their monthly column, Innovation on the Edge, explores what executives can learn from innovation emerging on various forms of edges, including the edges of institutions, markets, geographies and generations. Sign up here for an RSS feed.

Performance Management- Ten Steps to Bridge Strategy and Execution

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 01:03:00 +0000

By Matt Angello and Ira S Wolfe

Many organizations struggle with executing their business plans. The root cause of this struggle can be as varied as the businesses themselves. The purpose of this document is to provide leaders with the ten essential steps to move an organization from strategy to execution.

Unlocking the potential of your organization requires discipline of definition, communication and alignment. Without these disciplines, your business “plans” will become at best, broken dreams and unfilled “hopes.” The following ten steps will guide your organization on the disciplined path to a successful future.

Step 1- Determine the Destination.
Before an organization can move forward, every employee needs to know the destination. This destination is typically “charted” through clearly and concisely articulated vision, mission and values statements. Vision is an
organization’ s reason for existence and long-term desired state. It answers the question “who are we and what do we want to be?” It often includes a reference to the competitive set, e.g. size, profitability, market share, positioning, etc. Without a vision, an
organization will lack purpose, passion and energy. Mission usually describes the enablers of the vision (“how” it will be achieved), often including references to customers, suppliers and employees. Finally, values describe the inviolable beliefs and guiding principles of the organization, which govern the behavior of everyone in the organization.

Step 2- Set the Course.
Charting the course to the destination ensures that everyone is moving in the right direction. This is accomplished through strategic and operating plans. Strategic plans set the course over a time horizon, typically 3-5 years. These plans include detailed strategies for achieving the vision of the organization over time (market share, profitability, sales growth, product development, entering/exiting markets, etc). To be effective, the strategic plan must lay-out in clear terms what is expected, the current gaps to these expectations, detailed descriptions of the actions to close the gaps and the specified time to do so. Strategic plans are not broadly communicated to employees.

Operating plans are the distillation of the strategic plan over a shorter planning horizon, usually annual. They specify the deliverables of the strategic plan, including objectives and specific/measureabl e outcomes which must be achieved within specified time frames
and budgets. Operating plans must be broadly communicated to employees to ensure that everyone is on the proper course.

Step 3- Spread the News.
Ensure that the key operating plan objectives are disseminated from executive management to employees. This is an opportunity with high engagement building potential for many organizations. Because executive management spends so much time discussing the business with one-another, they tend to assume that employees share their understanding of the key priorities. Absent disciplined communication, this transfer simply does not happen. Start the process by establishing an “owner” for each of the objectives in the operating plan, and communicating the expectation to them. These individuals may or may not have been involved in establishing the objective as part of the planning process. This step ensures that there is no ambiguity as to who is responsible to champion and deliver the initiative. Diffuseness of responsibility is a sure-fire first step to non-execution.

Step 4- Be Clear.
Ensure there is clarity around the delivery date and the financial value of the respective objectives. If dates and/or target values change after the creation of the operating plan, the owner of the objective needs to know.

Step 5- Name the Team.
The owner of the objective must take the time to identify all of the participants who need to be engaged in the achievement of the objective through a “cascade” process. Additionally, they need to ensure (either directly or through a review process) that each participant has an appropriate success measure for their component and an agreed upon time frame for its delivery. Of course, the components and dates need to build in a logical progression to achieve the objective as outlined in the operating plan.

This is typically accomplished in the context of a project plan, which should readily identify all the individuals who have a role to play. The goal alignment process associated with any objective should not stop until the individual contributors to that
objective are identified. It is important to remember that all of the participants in the achievement of an objective will not necessarily fall into the reporting structure of the leader.

Step 6- First things First,
Significant power results when every employee is linked either directly or indirectly to one of the operating objectives. Many linkages will be identified through the cascade process described above, but others will not. If they cannot, then identify other SMART objectives, tied closely to operating performance using the process outlined in the following steps.

Step 7- Define Success.
Each employee should have no more than five SMART objectives, i.e. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-bound. If the objective outgrows a project plan, the measures in the project plan should be used for the
individual employee. If not, then focus on objectives that are directly or indirectly tied to the attainment of operating plan drivers, and/or to the most important department deliverables. Avoid low impact, work tasks becoming listed as objectives.

 Step 8- Break Ties.
It is possible that employees will have conflicting objectives. There needs to be a process to break ties. It cannot be as simple as the immediate manager review, because they may not share accountability with their employee for a particular objective. An example of this could surface in the project planning teams previously discussed, where a department employee, but not necessarily the manager, could play a critical role. In this case, the project manager needs to be involved in the decision as to which objectives take precedence. To ensure an adequate review of objectives, a twolevel approval process is preferred. This process requires that all objectives are reviewed and approved by the second level manager. To the extent that there is a conflict with a project team leader and a department manager, the conflict will be resolved with the second level manager.

 Step 9- Stay Fluid and Think Linked.
Objectives are not evergreen. Priorities have a way of changing with the ebbs and flows of market conditions. Be aware that every time a critical business initiative changes in part or in whole, the objectives of all those
employees who are tied to that initiative must be revisited. To ensure that you do not miss the opportunity to stay linked to changing requirements, managers and employees should revisit their objectives on a regular basis informally, and formally once per quarter. Post the objectives in an obvious location and keep them top of mind. Managers and project leaders should ask to review the objectives when meeting with employees. There are a number of software solutions that are available in the marketplace to assist with this process.

 Step 10- Dance with Your Stars.
Linking pay and incentives in part or in whole to performance against objectives has been demonstrated time and again to have a positive impact on their achievement and company results. High performers embrace such plans, particularly those that provide direct “line of sight,” meaning there is a direct relationship between the employee’s performance and their pay. Weaker performers do not like such programs for obvious reasons. A strongly aligned objective process, as described above provides the best basis for making development, pay and promotion decisions that motivate your star performers and establishes a foundation of performance excellence organization- wide.

About the Authors
Matthew Angello, Principal Consultant and Executive Coach
Matt Angello brings over 25 years of business experience to his practice as a consultant and executive coach, including several years as a Board-Level Executive Officer in Fortune 500 companies. He is an accomplished strategist with expertise in executive and team coaching, organization development, change management, performance and process improvement, and communications. He has experience as both an independent consultant/business owner and global business executive across multiple industries and for companies in various stages of their business cycle.

Matt is the Founder and Principal of Bright Tree Consulting Group, a boutique firm that offers an array of highly personalized and effective coaching and consulting services for executives and companies seeking to unleash their potential, move their performance to the next level and prepare for future challenges. He has partnered with many CEO’s, Boards of Directors and other “C-Level” executives to improve their effectiveness. His clients include start-ups, privately held companies and Fortune 500 global firms. He is an accomplished coach, strategist, team builder and people developer with a global track record. Matt is a recognized human capital expert, and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Human Resources Executive and other publications. He has been the featured speaker at many seminars and has served on the Board of Directors of national organizations. He received his BA from the University of Pittsburgh and an MS from Rutgers University.

Ira Wolfe, Assessment Consultant and Executive Coach
Ira Wolfe brings nationally recognized expertise in personality and skill assessment to his role at Bright Tree Consulting Group. As founder and president of his own consulting company, Success Performance Solutions, Ira has helped organizations across the United States find and hire the right employees, align people with business operating objectives, and identify high-potential leaders.

In 1999 Ira delivered a provocative and compelling forecast of the 10 and 20 year labor market. It wasn't long before Ira found himself speaking to audiences all over North America about The Perfect Labor Storm, resulting in the 2005 publication of a book by the same name. His newest book, The Perfect Labor Storm 2.0: Workforce Trends That Will Change The Way You Do Business has been described by readers as "fantastic," "outstanding," and "required reading for every Human Resource Professional, business owner, and elected official." Ira is also the author of Understanding Business Values and Motivators. Ira has trademarked a highly successful system, called CriteriaOne®, to assist organizations in job benchmarking, employee selection, and managing performance.

Ira is a highly sought-after expert for interviews in dozens of publications, including The Wall Street Journal and BusinessWeekOnline, as well as being the frequent guest on several business cable news shows discussing workforce trends, employee hiring and retention strategies. Ira has been the featured keynote at a wide variety of conferences, conventions, association meetings and Chamber of Commerce audiences, reaching thousands of business leaders and human resource professionals every year.

Ira started his career as a highly successful dentist who grew a large practice in central Pennsylvania. The need to hire the right staff piqued his interest in assessment and he pursued this field with intensity, ultimately achieving his current prominence as a national expert. He received his B.S. degree from Muhlenberg College and his DMD degree from University of Pennsylvania. He is nearing completion of his Master's Degree in Leadership and Ethics at Duquesne University.

THE ART OF LIVING IN LANGUAGE

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:59:00 +0000

From: L. Michael Hall

Oct. 19, 2008

We live in language. As a species of life we have no full fledge instincts, but only "instinctoids" (Abraham Maslow). Our instinct is to learn and create mental models in our heads ("maps" Alfred Korzybski) is what makes us "a semantic class of life." Not knowing what anything "is," or means, or what leads to what (causation), we have to learn. We have to discover. We have to formulate, conclude, and construct a model of reality. We have to create meaning and we do so at multiple levels.

So we live in language as a chief inner context in our minds which then governs what we see, what we perceive, what we feel, what we expect, etc. With the words that we accept, absorb, and invent we live inside them so that they govern what we are prepared to see. If we say that something is "terrible," horrible," "awful" so it becomes to us.

"Criticism is horrible; I hate it. I'm just not able to handle it when people don't like me. I always fall apart."

How's that for a toxic thought? A toxic instruction? A pathology-creating hypnotic induction? And that's just one of many, many, many that we all face everyday of our lives. Want more? Here's a sick list of thoughts full of semantic toxicity:

"Over the hill." "I'm having a senior moment." "I think I'm cursed when it comes to money; nothing ever goes right for me." "It's his fault, if he had not made me feel insignificant and worthless, I wouldn't have given up so easily." "I'm alcoholic." "Change is hard and painful."

By language we create our categories of reality and by an unthinking acceptance and use of words, we experience and feel things that undermine our effectiveness and leash our potentials. I often tell the story of Wendell Johnson (People in Quandries, 1946) and his chapter, "The Indians Have No Word for it" (Chapter 17). As a speech pathologist and stutterer himself, Dr. Johnson studied two Native American Indian cultures (Bannock and Shoshone Indians) and could not find anyone who stuttered. And it so happened that their languages had no word for "stuttering. " That idea, that category, that experience is not punctuated by their language, so the experience of "stuttering" didn't exist for them. At first they didn't understand what he was referring to. To even communicate what he was referring to, his associate, John Snidecor, had to demonstrate stuttering. So when a child spoke in a non-fluent way, no one noticed. It didn't exist.

"Speech defects were simply not recognized. The Indian children were not criticized or evaluated on the basis of their speech, no comments were made about it, no issue was made of it. In their semantic environments there appeared to be no speech anxieties or tensions for the Indian children to interiorize, to adopt as their own. This, together with the absence of a word for stuttering in the Indians' language, constitutes the only basis on which I can at this time suggest an explanation for the fact there were no stutterers among these Indians." (p. 443)

Later when Johnson found children from those groups who had been adopted by white families he found those who did stutter. In the new English language, the category of stuttering did exist and so those kids raised in that culture learned to punctuate it as something that as reality and then learned to fear it as something dreadful. They then began to live in the language of stuttering.

For better and worse, we all live in a world of language. When we say a word, we call a world into being. It's a creator power. Genesis describes the beginning occurring when God spoke the world into being, "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light," yet we also share in that same creative power. As we use language, so we create our reality and then operate within it semantically. In our languaging, our meanings are created.

Without language, we would live life moment-by-moment without any awareness of ourselves or life itself. We would lack "... narrative, evaluation, comparison, and contemplation. We would not know who we are, where we are going, or whether or not we have gotten there—the very issues..." that make life human and meaningful for us (Jay Efran, Michael Lukens, Robert Lukens, Language, Structure, and Change, 1990).

"Without language, there is only 'now'—life unfolding moment by moment without self-consciousness or meaning. With the advent of language, an observing 'self' is created and experience is evaluated. Those evaluations continuously and recursively modify what is being experienced, leading to the self-referential quagmire that generates business for psychotherapists. " (p. 33-34)

So given that we live in language to this extent, then what is the art of living in language? How can we live with language and in language so that it supports us and enhances our life?

Obviously the art begins with awareness of language. First we need to become mindful of our words and mindful of what we are doing with our words. What are you doing with your words? And, what are your words doing for you? This is the neuro-linguistic and neuro-semantic facet of language. Language does things to us! Language gets into our eyes so that we see the world in terms of our words and concepts. Language induces us into states. Language gets encoded in our body, in muscle memory. Now you know why Meta-Coaches and Neuro-Semanticists are always asking,

"Do you hear what you're saying?"

"As you hear yourself say that and use those words, what are you aware of?"

"Hearing yourself say that, how will you start to clean up your language and frame things in ways that support you?"

Once you recognize that you live your life in language and always will, the next step is to quality control your language so that you can choose life-enhancing and empowering ways to speak and encode things.

"What cognitive distortions have you found in your language today?"

"How empowering is that term, concept, understanding, or belief?

"How is your language?"

"What are some of your best formulas that unleash your potentials?"

There's more— and that's the subject of the next Meta Reflection.

Need Insurance? Just Compare and Choose

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:57:00 +0000

Perhaps it is a time for you to buy and insurance product for your properties, or even for your life. Unfortunately, oftentimes we are getting confused with the many offering from insurance agents from middle scale insurance companies or even from big insurance companies with their each advantages and benefits.

What insurance do you need? You may need car insurance, home-insurance or perhaps life insurance, then there will be many offers in terms of discounted insurance premium, cash bonus, gift bonus that you may not need it, or even facilities offer that didn't have any correlation with the insurance itself.

In the other side you will be rethinking in term of your claim status you may propose. Will it be paid or not? The smoothness of claim payment will depend on the simply and easily claim terms and condition, and the liquidity status of the insurance company.

How do you get auto insurance or car insurance quotes for instance? You have to choose. Precisely you have to compare among several insurance companies for each insurance product you want to buy. This is not an easy effort. It will be costly, energy and time paying, and that's why people often impelled to believe in friends, relatives, newspaper or even the agents itself.

In the high tech era nowadays you will not be occupied by this insurance comparison effort. Through insurance1.com you can just select your insurance product you need and get up to 4 different quotes from competing insurance agents by filling out just one easy form.

Technology should make anything simpler and easier, not more complicated nor even destructive.

Does Your Courier Come Late?

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:56:00 +0000

It isn't news that electronic communication technology has become the information transfer paradigm. That obvious fact was reinforced to me when I was asked for my contact information recently and it was only after having provided my personal and business e-mail addresses, my business and home phone numbers, my cell phone number and my fax numbers that it occurred to me as an afterthought to include my street address. In today's world. Unless you play on having someone visit you, providing a physical address is an almost pointless exercise.

But it's important that we not overstate that point; there remain a number of reasons that we may need to employ our physical address beyond the need for a personal visit.

The delivery of products in business requires door-to-door transfer for one physical address to another. Even some information is, by preference, delivered in a physical format; our newspaper and magazines are physically dropped off at our homes and offices. And although business can normally be transacted almost entirely in cyberspace, there remain some things that need to be done in the physical world. While, for example, electronic signatures are becoming more and more accepted, for some purposes an original signature on a document is required; that necessitates the physical delivery of an executed document.

It wasn't so long ago that the postal system was the delivery mechanism of choice. Remember Sherlock Holmes? "This little missive arrived in the morning post, Watson. It seems our new client is to arrive on the two-fourteen at Charing Cross Station. The game is afoot!"

In Victorian England, there were three mail deliveries a day in big cities, allowing someone to write a letter in the morning, knowing it would arrive by noon.

Of course that has all changed. The postal system, even in locales where it is known for its reliability, is largely used for the unimportant, the non time-sensitive, and the insignificant. The junk. If it absolutely, positively must get there, and get there by a certain date or time, other methods are used.

In Jakarta, we use private couriers. We have many suicidal young men with motorcycles who, for a very reasonable fee will take their hands and brave the city traffic to ensure that your announcements, tickets, invitations, manuscript, contracts and confirmations will get to the recipient on time. This is the city's informal courier system. In Western cities like New York and Toronto, These couriers use bicycles and go even faster, I know people who will send a written confirmation of their intention to attend a meeting just as they are getting into the car, they know the confirmation will arrive before they do.

For intercity delivery of letters and small packages there is a variety of courier services to select from, each of which offers a variety of options. Same day, next day, pot luck. Like so many other services in Jakarta, unless you choose one of the brand-name couriers, there is no way to tell how reliable or efficient your choice of carrier will be …you have to rely on word of mouth references from someone you trust. In any case, unless you use a service that is big enough to run its own air cargo service, your precious package could be transported via Adam Air and end up floating on the Sulawesi Sea.

For packages an letters that have to go to foreign destinations, the big courier companies are as reliable in Indonesia as they are anywhere in the world. Any reputable company from Purolator and FedEx to UPS will do the job. It's when Indonesia is on the receiving end that you will occasionally run into problems.

The problem isn't with the companies; it's the usual bureaucratic bottleneck. For get the postal system it you need to take receipt of anything important or valuable. There is no telling when something will arrive, where it will arrive, or in what condition it will arrive, or in what condition it will arrive. It is not at all unusual to find your urgently awaited package, three months late, if you find it at all, in a pile in a back corner of a post office, water damaged, opened and partly resealed with cello-tape, with anything valuable missing.

But the blame does not rest entirely with the postal system. Other bureaucracies are responsible for the delays in receiving packages from abroad. Many businesspeople find themselves waiting for unconscionably long periods of time for overseas shipments to be delivered, not because of transportation delays, but because of the official and unofficial bureaucratic requirements in the ports and at customs.

One of the universities at which I teach encountered a problem in taking delivery of a shipment of textbooks. By coincidence, as a part of a policy of employing world-class business standards, that institution had recently instituted an iron-clad policy of refusing to pay bribes to government officials. In the absence of the port officials being greased, the book were not released for months and we in Indonesia had to make do with substandard teaching materials in one of our universities.

Less serious but bitterly amusing is the way these bottlenecks make Indonesia look to the rest of the world. I write a column for an Indonesian version of a Southeast Asian regional magazines. At the moment the editorial content of the magazines is prepared here in Jakarta but it is printed in Singapore and shipped to Indonesia for national distribution. The magazines of course, is held up in port for the usual reasons and the Indonesian version of an international magazines is only available to subscribers in its own country about a month after it can be found on the stands in Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. Since I have to go to Singapore fairly frequently, I can usually pick up a copy there or on the airplane, weeks before my contributor's copy is delivered to my house…by courier.

Nouveau Riche - Tung Desem Waringin

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:05:00 +0000

Tung Desem Waringin was born on December 22, 1967 at Solo, a beautiful city in Central Java, Indonesia. He passed his bachelor degree of Law from Sebelas Maret University Solo on 1992.

Before he founded TDW Your Breakthrough Partner and become an Indonesian Marketing Motivator, he used to work for Bank Central Asia (BCA).

Tung is one of the brave people who have applied a giant step in life. Stepping out from his bright career in banking to become a trainer and motivator is indeed a very brave action. And he proof is decision to become a Nouveau Riche.

For your info regarding his performance in BCA, a big bank in Indonesia are mentioned below

· Best performance from audit result

· Highest growth of BCA ATM card

· Highest growth of BCA Credit Card

· First branch which can recover from rush action in 1998

· Lowest ATM machines issues

One of his key success factors is that he never stops to learn. Even he already called as a brilliant idea generator, he always pursue any experience from many trainers and motivators within Indonesia and International trainers. He also learns from many other Nouveau Richie around the world, such as Anthony Robbins, Gerry Robert & K.C. See, Roger Hamilton, Bob Proctor, Robert T. Kiyosaki, David Neenan, Robert G. Allen, Napoleon Hill, David Novac and many others.

Become a trainer and motivator is another way to success, and Tung again showing that possible not impossible. What did he achieved already?

1. Authorized Consultant of Exclusive Indonesia Anthony Robbins (World's No.1, Success Coach), Student of Jay L. Abraham (the top most of Marketing expert) and also an Authorized Consultant of Exclusive Indonesia Robert T. Kiyosaki.

2. Host of "SmartWealth" radio talk show by SMART FM radio network which broadcasted through 7 cities in Indonesia.

3. Columnis of "Road To Be Wealthy" in Warta Bisnis Magazines.

4. As a business consultant he can increase revenue of Free Ads Media 16 times within a month. Increasing 100% sales of Muslim boutique "MANET" a medium store in Tanah Abang, Jakarta. Increasing 100% Aset of Lestari Bank at Jl. Teuku Umar 121 Denpasar Bali & 2.000% of motor cycle credit portfolio. He also increasing average sales as much as 40% of total 9.800 Sales of Columbia Elektronik and Furnitur, only a month after training conducted.

5. Become "10 Eksekutif 2003" Lions Club Surabaya Patria dan Jawa Pos Group version.

6. Acknowledged by Mesum Rekor Indonesia (MURI) to become the first writer best seller of inspirational book of Financial Revolution with more than 10.511 exemplars sold in the very first day of distribution.

7. Best speaker of Indonesian Motivator from Marketing Magazines.

8. The Most Powerful People In Business 2005 SWA magazines version.

The Indonesian businessman, Indonesian Nouveau Riche, who is also a firewalk trainer, is known for his publicity stunts. To promote his first book in 2005, for example, he dressed up as a well known war hero and road around Jakarta on horseback.

Another of his remarkable actions in terms of marketing is that instead of investing thousands of dollars in marketing campaigns, motivational speaker Tung Desem Waringin was thrown 100 million rupiah ($10,740) out of a plane to promote his new book.

To put into perspective how much money this is, consider that many people in Indonesia live on under $2 a day.

Instead of investing thousands in fancy campaigns, he sees it as much more effective to give the money to the people instead.

Although Jakarta police won’t issue him a permit, Waringin, 40, is instead going outside the capital… which will probably be more effective in terms of getting money to the more poverty stricken.

Jay L. Abraham (World’s #No. 1 Marketing Genius)

A Brilliant idea generator - The nation’s highest paid marketing consultant, he regularly works marketing miracles for his client As the founder and CEO of Abraham Group, Inc. in Los Angeles, California.

Jay is the highest paid, most remarkably successful marketing SUPER CONSULTANT on the planet.

“Tung is An Amazing Man. He can teach you How to Create Dramatic Improvement in your life business and future”.

The Secrets The Power

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:52:00 +0000

The Secrets..... .......The Power....... ......

* The First Secret: The power of Love.
Love begins with our thoughts. We become what we think. Loving thoughts create loving experiences and loving relationships. Affirmations can change our beliefs and thoughts about ourselves and others. If we want to love someone, we need to consider their needs and desires. Thinking about your ideal partner will help recognize him or her when you meet.

* The Second Secret: The power of Respect.
You cannot love anyone or anything unless you first respect them. The first person you need to respect is yourself. To begin to gain self-respect ask yourself,
"What do I respect about myself? " To gain respect for others, even those you may dislike, ask yourself, "What do I respect about them?"

* The Third Secret: The power of Giving.
If you want to receive love, all you have to do is give it! The more love you give, the more you will receive. To love is to give of yourself, freely and
unconditionally. Practice random acts of kindness. The secret formula of a happy, lifelong relationship is to always focus on what you can give instead of you can take.

* The Fourth Secret: The power of Friendship.
To find true love you must first find a true friend. To love someone completely you must love them for who they are not what they look like. Friendship is the
soil through which love's seeds grow. If you want to bring love into a relationship, you must first bring friendship.

* The Fifth Secret: The power of Touch.
Touch is one of the most powerful expressions of love, breaking down barriers and bonding relationships. Touch changes our physical and emotional states and
makes us more receptive to love.

* The Sixth Secret: The power of Letting go.
If you love something, let it be free. Even in a loving relationship, people need their space. If we want to learn to love, we must first learn to forgive
and let go of past hurts and grievances. Love means letting go of our fears, prejudices, egos and conditions.

* The Seventh Secret: The power of Communication.
To love someone is to communicate with them. Let the people you love know; that you love and appreciate them. Never be afraid to say, "I love you." Never let an opportunity pass to praise and acknowledge someone. Always leave someone you love with a loving word ... it could be the last time you see them.

* The Eighth Secret: The power of Commitment.
If you want to have love in abundance, you must be committed to it. Commitment is the true test of love. If you want to have loving relationships, you must be committed to loving relationships. When you are committed to someone or something, quitting is never an option. Commitment distinguishes a fragile
relationship from a strong, loving one.

* The Ninth Secret: The power of Passion.

Passion ignites love and keeps it alive. Lasting passion does not come through physical attraction alone. It comes from deep commitment, enthusiasm, interest and excitement. The essence of love and happiness are the same, all we need to do is to live each day with passion.

* The Tenth Secret: The power of Trust.
You cannot love someone completely unless you trust them completely. Act as if your relationship with the person you love will never end. Trust is essential in
all loving relationships. Trust yourself, trust others and trust the world. It is the foundation for LOVE.

Always make your absence
felt in such a way That...
some one misses you BUT...
let not your absence be so longggg
THAT some one starts learning to live
WITHOUT YOU......

Sell the hummer, buy a hybrid?

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:08:00 +0000

Insurance is a contract between you and the insurance company. Like all contracts, it's give and take. That's what makes a good bargain. In this case, we're talking about an auto insurance policy. So, in return for the premium, you're asking the insurer to pay whatever costs arise from the traffic accidents you get into.
It's like a bet. The insurer works out what the odds are given the car you drive and your track record - it's called risk assessment - and sets the premium accordingly. But you can also gamble.
Suppose you think that, as a good driver, you're never going to get in an accident or, if you do, it's never going to be more than a fender bender with nominal damage on both sides. In a perfect world of free choice, you could decide not to carry insurance at all. You'll always have enough cash in hand to pay out for the minor dinks and dents you cause.
Unfortunately, this is not a perfect world. All but three states in the union require you to carry car insurance. If you drive any vehicle on the road without a valid policy in place, you commit a crime.
Why is that? Well, it usually takes two to have a traffic accident. You may be the most careful driver in the world, but the idiot who rear-ends you while you're parked may lack the same skills. It's also possible that you may overestimate your skills and underestimate the amount of money you may have to pay if there is an accident.
Suppose, for example, you hit an imported luxury car and injure the rich lawyer driving, the costs of repairing the car and compensating the lawyer for pain and suffering may be just short of astronomical.
So deductibles are a happy compromise. Most insurance companies allow you to pay the first part of any claim you make. The amounts are usually stepped as $100, $250, $500 or $1,000. So if you cause damage valued at $3,400, the insurance company will pay the balance after you have paid your contribution.
Yes, payment of the deductible is a precondition of the insurer paying out. So, when you're getting your online quotes, always remember to opt for the amount of deductible you can afford.
That way, your car insurance policy will come with a discount. The higher the deductible, the bigger the discount!

2008 is getting started! Check out new auto insurance tips

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:30:00 +0000

New Year is always a new beginning: new plans, new dreams, new opportunities. Maybe this year you'll get promoted or find a good friend, quit smoking or start snowboarding. The key point is that it is the right time to begin achieving your goals. A good start will be to obtain control over your financial situation. Wise money spending is a key to family financial safety and stability. Auto insurance premium is an inevitable part of your annual budget. Here are the best 2008 tips to reduce the car insurance premium.

Be well posted on auto insurance: compare rates and get quotes every six months
Insurance companies are constantly updating their policy offers and always have something new to attract customers. Be up-to-date in the industry. Got the policy in January, 2008? It'll be right to check the situation in July again. According to contemporary statistics, if you get quotes, compare rates and choose the most suitable offer, you can save up to $300 on a 6-month car insurance policy.
The Higher Deductibles - The Better
This is simple: want to reduce the premium - try to increase the deductible. The longer no-accident driving record you have - the lower premium you'll have to pay.
Do not split the premium
If you prefer paying less but monthly instead of one big investment, be ready to spend some extra money on commission. A $7 monthly fee sums into $84 a year. Decided to save? Do it!
Discounts are your choice
There are different discount offers and to find a good one you should be aware of them. Some insurers give bonuses to Internet customers, so look for online quotes and get the policy via Internet. Other option is a multi-line insurance policy - the situation when you purchase both auto and home insurances from one company. You can save up to 15 per cent on each deal.
Be attentive and careful on the road
First of all such habit will keep you from accidents and make your life longer and happier. Second of all, it will cut your premium. Accident free driving is encouraged by most companies.
Tickets cause extra spending
Insurance companies appreciate customers by different criteria, and the number of moving violations is an important one. With many tickets, your premium can jump really high. But If you disagree with the rate you've been given - be persistent and search for another insurer and find your policy.
Got a safe car? Save with it!
Most insurers give discounts to the safety car owners. So if your car is fully packed with modern safety devices, do not to mention it in your insurance form. Most likely you'll get a discount.
Customize your policy
The more personal your policy is - the better. Do not pay for extra coverage. Think through your driving habit and try to eliminate needles points of your auto insurance policy.
More discounts
Ask for Senior discount if you are over 50 and have an excellent driving record. Also, do look for discounts for "Good Students" - special bonuses for those with good grades. Conscientious drivers are always appreciated.
Don't pay while not driving
If you do not use the car that often and have a low annual mileage, why should you pay the whole sum? There are "pay-per-mile" policies and other offers for those, who drive occasionally.

Up Scales Your Career with Cisco Certification Program

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:29:00 +0000

Information technology has affected every area of our lives. IT has been described as the fastest growing and most dynamic industry in the world. Significant advances in Communications technology, most especially the Internet, have introduced dramatic changes in the way we do things. IT affects the way we live, work, interact and socialize.

Before, PCs changed radically how businesses are run, but today, computers deepest impact is felt in the merging of Communications and Information. The emergence of the World Wide Web and the explosion of Internet usage are having far-reaching effects on all aspects of society.

Information Technology is a vibrant field that offers boundless opportunities to the innovative people who make up its ranks. It is an excellent choice for anyone interested in a rewarding, well-paid career.

Are you interested to carving your career in IT? But you're not quite sure how to get started? Or are you already in IT and want to know what it takes to advance your career and take advantage of opportunities in the digital age.

Today IT education is not for the user only. The evolving scenario is one of a growing complexity of computer systems and businesses dependence on them. Qualified and competent IT professionals are needed to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of computers. The widespread effect of the Internet can also not be overlooked.

Cisco certification program has helped many people do many different things on their career paths and all is about upgrading, even upgrading their life. You can start your IT career, plan your IT career, and advance your IT career without wasting your time and money.

The widely respected IT certification programs available through Cisco Career Certifications bring valuable, measurable rewards to networking professionals, their managers, and the organizations that employ them.

In addition to the career certifications noted above, networking personnel can enhance their core knowledge by achieving specialist certifications in technologies such as security, IP telephony, and wireless. So, don’t miss Cisco community by joining The Cisco Learning Network.

A Glimpse at Competition in Logistics Business

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 04:25:00 +0000

What is new in Courier and logistic services? This business are indeed not new in Indonesia. Developments in this business sector have been significant as evident in the many players, both domestic and international, who are no doubt attracted by the potential US$1 billion.

According to the annual spending, covering transportation services, warehousing, warehousing management and efficiency in the flow of products from producers to consumer, the experience of advanced countries shows that logistic spending (the dispatch of goods) may reach 10 percent of a country's gross domestic product (GDP). If Indonesia's GDP stands at Rp 2.761 trillion, the turnover in the logistics business at home may reach Rp 376trillion. This is indeed a lucrative figure!

The domination of express and logistics services is found in nearly every country with vast potential in this respect, with Indonesia being no exception. Indeed, in terms of potential, the logistic market in Indonesia is quite big. As a result, world-class logistic players are eyeing Indonesia, with five global logistic playing having developed networks in Indonesia, namely DHL, CEVA, FedEx, Evergreen and UPS. According to the Indonesian Association of Express Courier Service Companies (Asperindo), there are 800 domestic logistics companies, and the number keeps rising. There are 123 companies operating in Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang, and Bekasi.

Every year, the turnover of these business players grows by an average of 10 percent. As a result, competition among operators has become increasingly keener.

There are also other companies that are not members of Asperindo. As a result, it was only a matter of time before a war of rates erupted. These days, some companies charge a mere Rp 1,500 per document, where as the average rate is Rp 4,000 to Rp 5,000 per document.

For this reason, many courier companies have expanded their businesses to the package dispatch sector. Compared with the dispatch of letters and documents, the package dispatch business is more stimulating. And what's more, it is still wide open.

Although this segment sees some foreign operators supported by strong capital, the package business is indeed a better choice than the cargo business. If you take up the cargo business, you must be prepared to handle dispatches of goods in large quantities. Certainly, this requires quite a big infrastructure. Newly established courier and logistics companies dare not come close to this particular area. The cargo business has become a grave yard for domestic players. In the past year alone, many domestic cargo companies have gone bankrupt.

Competition in the business lane of express and logistic services is quite tight. Just take a look at PT CEVA (an Indonesian Logistic Company previously known as TNT International Express), which has five gateways in Indonesia:Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Balikpapan and Batam. Ceva has also invested a lot in the business. It has built a depot with all the necessary facilities and other supporting equipment.

CEVA is an experienced company that provides business-to- business express dispatches. In addition, CEVA provides time-guaranteed services and door-to-door services for the dispatch of documents, parcel and large packets. Globally, CEVA is supported by 40,000 personnel and 43 aircraft, 1,000 depots and an overland transportation fleet of some 20,000 vehicles.

In the same way, DHL also shows strong domination in the local andinternational scenes. DHL has five specialized divisions, namely DHL Express, DHL Freight, DHL Global Forwarding, DHL Exel Supply Chain and DHL Global Mail.

Just take a Look at the Sunter Spare Parts Center for Indonesia's Ford motor, which is under the management of the Customer Service Operation (CSO). This spare parts center is located on a plot of land measuring 6,000 m2. The CSO team is in charge of two divisions, namely the Parts Supply and Logistics (PSL) and Service Operation Development. PSL handles the supply and logistics of spare parts as well as their distribution domestically and overseas in cooperation with DHL

Meanwhile, FedEx is also eyeing the market in amore prudent and careful manner. The reason is that many new players have sprung up with equally lucrative offers. However, the position of FedEx is indeed very difficult to shake as the company has many years of flying experience. At present, it possesses close to 650 aircraft and 80,000 vans. The fact that FedEx Group is close to its vendors makes this group capable of quickly responding to changes.

According to M.Kadrial, the secretary-general ofAsperindo, as quoted by SWA magazine, there are four categories of logistic companies. First, Port to Port, which is at the lowest level of the pyramid. This type of company uses no information technology as this business offers only shipping services. Second, Door to Door, in which there is a basic mastery of IT skills (information on the position of goods). This type of business usually handles distribution services (tracking). Third, Logistic, which uses an integrated IT system and handles a number of logistic services, such as warehousing, distribution and clearance. Fourth, Supply Chain Management (SCM), in which an integrated IT system allows planning, supply and distribution to end customers.

According to Asperindo data, some 80 percent of Indonesian Companies are still at the door-to-door level. The remaining 15 percent are found at the logistic level and only 1 percent has reached the SCM level. Why? Agains, it is technological backwardness that has placed domestic companies in the lower positions.The reason is that huge capital is required for the application of sophisticated and integrated IT systems.

===

10 Business Success Tips for Young Entrepreneur

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:00:00 +0000

From Demir Barlas

Some of the world's most famous and profitable businesses were started by students. Microsoft began in Bill Gates' Harvard dorm room, Google got its start on the Stanford campus as the computer science project of doctoral students Sergey Brin and Larry Page and thousands of other student companies thrive in every industry.

Even if you're not aiming to be another Bill Gates - maybe you just want to earn some extra cash with a summer landscaping business - you'll have to navigate some unique challenges as a young entrepreneur testing the business waters. Here are 10 success tips for young entrepreneurs.

Do what you love
All successful teen businesses have one factor in common: Their owners love what they do - so choose a line of business that aligns with your interests, no matter what they are.
Know what you want
Are you willing Are you willing to leave school if your business takes off? Or do you envision your business as a side project? Being able to answer questions like these will help you organize your time and priorities.
Be radical…
In your late teens and early 20s, your thinking is fresh, original and full of energy. Don't be afraid to try something no one's ever done, create an off-the-wall product or shake up an existing market by changing factors (such as a service or delivery model) that established companies take for granted.
… but follow the rules
Being a young entrepreneur doesn't exempt you from registering your business, keeping records and paying taxes. Following these simple rules now will save you from legal and administrative headaches later.
Manage your time
Running a business while going to school is stressful and difficult. Understand what is required of you in your separate roles as a student and a business owner, and employ planning and organizational tools - for example, a well-maintained appointment book, Microsoft Outlook or an online time/project management system – to make the most of your valuable time.
Use school resources
Being a student isn't a handicap in business; on the contrary, it can be an advantage. Your campus offers free computers and Internet connectivity, a host of potential employees and/or volunteers and the expertise of professors who would be happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. You're literally surrounded by people and resources, so make the most of your situation.
Final a mentor
Buddy up with a local entrepreneur or business leader with a record of achievement. Your mentor will help you understand the risks and challenges of business, provide a sounding board for your ideas and help you find investors for your company.
Exploit online resources
Your computer can connect you to resources for young entrepreneurs. Immerse yourself in these resources; they'll help to inspire, direct and motivate you.
Be good to yourself
Regardless of how organized and enthusiastic you are, some days will overwhelm you. Don't be afraid to step back from work and do whatever relaxes you. Whether it's the endorphin rush of exercise, the lively company of good friends or a quiet day of meditation on the beach, take advantage of opportunities to invigorate yourself and balance your responsibilities with relaxation.
Check your mentality
One of the problems that can afflict young entrepreneurs is a mental block against, as Nike might say, just doing it. We've all been raised on stories of Internet billionaires, wealthy young actors and other tales of spectacular overnight success. Knowing how well other people have done in business and how quickly they've scaled the mountain is demotivating. It can make some young entrepreneurs feel as if they don't want to get started on a business unless it's going to be the next YouTube. This is a self-defeating mentality. Combat it by reminding yourself that you're not competing against anyone but yourself. Do whatever it is that you can do today, whether that means tutoring, designing T-shirts or building online communities. The important thing is to get your feet wet - not to take over the business world.

The bottom line is that your student days are ripe with entrepreneurship opportunities. You may never again have the energy, resources or motivation to start your business, so get to work.

LifeWire, a part of The New York Times Company, provides original and syndicated online lifestyle content. Demir Barlas has nearly a decade of experience in business writing and editing, marketing communications and online community building. He holds a BA from Cornell University and an MFA from UCLA Film School.

Used Business Loans to Avoid Cash Run-Out

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:19:00 +0000

Why you need a Business Loans? Financial is one of the most important things in business. To build your business you will absolutely need cash. Financial/business experts may say that you not need money to have a business. In fact it's just another way of statement that you can build a business even if you don't have money, because you can borrow the money for it, or you can trade your professionalism or expertise with a business' shares. For the business it self still needs the money.

In fact, financial management hold important role to make your business survive. Your business cash flow is like blood in your body. If your business runs out of money than your business could be died. Even if can make high profit on the business.

Unfortunately it is not that easy to get the money when you need it. You can borrow some money from the bank. Are you or your business bankable enough to get a Business Loan?

Is it not that easy to get the money?
Try AfsLoansOnline and you will assisted by Accommodative Financial Solutions Expert Loan Consultant to determine how much you can qualify and find the best interest rates for your Unsecured Business Loans with no application fees nor hidden charges.

AfsLoansOnine can give approval within 24-48 hours and your business will funded in as quick as one week.

An "Unsecured" Small Business Line of Credit May be exactly what you are looking for:
Think about it. When expanding your business, you don't always need all of the money in one lump sum, but you need to know that your capital it is available and that you have easy access to your money when you need it. That's what AfsLoansOnline.com is all about, tailoring your financing needs and finding the lenders that will assimilate your needs with their financing. Maybe one month you need extra working capital to hire on additional employees, while you need other unsecured financing the next month to buy new office furniture or medical equipment. Why pay interest on a loan if you don't have to. With an unsecured small business line of credit, you can pay interest only on the money that you've used and not the funds that are still in your account waiting to be used.

What if I need all of the money up front to purchase equipment, what then?
Under these circumstances an unsecured business loans would be just right. Other times AfsLoansOnline can satisfy you by finding you a lease to apply for. That way you can obtain all of the money upfront to purchase the equipment that you need, without having to put your home up as collateral and lease then equipment and get the instant write off without using your own capital. AfsLoansOnline can help you get an unsecured loans, leases and credit lines necessary to buy that much needed piece of equipment so that you can keep making profits without having to use your home as collateral.

Public Speaking: Know Your Audience!

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:49:00 +0000

If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the results of a hundreds battles"
Sun-Tzu

The quote from the General Sun Tzu, famous for his Art of War strategies tells us that if we know enough about the enemy and ourselves, we will win our battles. And interestingly, "knowing the enemy" comes before "knowing ourselves"; perhaps because after identifying the enemy's strengths and weaknesses, it's easier to create a winning strategy for ourselves.

Connect with the Audience
The same applies to public speaking – it is only when we have sufficient knowledge about our audience that we are able to connect and get our message across to them. One way of connecting is to speak their language.

If your audience has no financial knowledge, and you have to talk about financial planning, using complicated lingo will throw them off. Instead, use simple, layman's terms to get your point across.

Another way to connect is through the use of relevant examples. Most people find it easier to understand your message if you use anecdotes or stories they can relate to, to illustrate or explain your points. This not only keeps the speech interesting, it also holds the attention of your audience.

Know Your Audience
But before you can think of connecting with your audience, you must first know your audience. In fact, you must know as much about your audience before you even start preparing your speech! Here are some key aspects you should know:

1 – Their age group
An audience of 20 year olds will generally have different preferences when it comes to food, music, clothes and styles as compared to those in their 50s. Quoting a line from a Beatles song will have a much greater effect on 50 year olds than it will on those in their 20s.

2 – Male/Female ratio
It's no secret that men and women generally communicate (and listen) differently. Men are more logical whereas women are more emotional. Selling car to women may require you to emphasize on color and elegance rather than engine-capacity and fuel efficiency for men.

3 – Profession/Education
If you're communicating with a group of CEOs, you may want to keep your presentation short and precise, so as not to waste too much of their time. However, when speaking to housewives or school children, you may speak about a few general topics before diving into your main message so you don't come across as too serious.

4 – Ethnic/Origin backgrounds
People from different ethnic backgrounds speak, think and even eat differently. If you research and discover certain traits that will bring about an instant connection, not only will they listen to your message, they'll also remember you!

5 – Motivation: Why are they here?
Lastly, to be effective, you must know why they are part of the audience. Re they here to learn, have been forced to listen, or are just there to be entertained or pass the time? With this knowledge, you can prepare accordingly.

Getting Your Message Across
What distinguish a great speaker from a mediocre one is not how well they communicate with certain group of people; it is how well they are able to connect with different audiences.

And one of the most impressive and successful ways of doing so is to first know your audience, and secondly customize your communication to suit them.

Gulshan Harjani
The writer is a business consultant, trainer and personal coach who run Communicating @ the Workplace – A question and answer column in The Jakarta Post. If you have any questions you want answered, you may e-mail him at gulshan@success-workz.com

===

Promoting Technology Adoption and Prosperity Through PPP

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 11:56:00 +0000

Bill Gates

Chairman of Microsoft Corporation.

We live in an era of unprecedented progress and prosperity. Today, about 1 billion people round the globe can expect to live long, productive, and comfortable lives made rich by access to incredible amounts of information and new ways to connect with the people they care about.

This is a wonderful accomplishment, and 1 billion is a very large number. But it is a relatively small fraction of the world's 6.6 billion people. In fact, more than 5 billion people still lack access to the full range of economic and social opportunities that so many of us take for granted.

One of the most important determinants of whether you are part of the 1 billon or the 5 billion is access to the benefits of technology. Those of us with access to the tools of the digital information revolution – PCs, the Internet, productivity software, email – can be full participants in the global knowledge economy. Those without access face difficult hurdles as they strive to gain skills and knowledge, access decent medical care, and transform their ideas into competitive businesses.

How important is access to information technology? A World Bank report released earlier this year found a very high correlation between the rate of technology progress and income growth. According to that report "Technological progress [distinguishes] fast-growing developing economies and slow growing ones. It also distinguishes economies that have made great strides in reducing poverty and those that have been less successful."

Today, thousands of governmental and nongovernmental organizations worldwide are trying to provide underserved communities with access to affordable, relevant technology that can play a role in driving sustainable economic growth and development. Their efforts are having a significant positive impact for millions of people.

At Microsoft, we share the belief that information technology can have a dramatic positive effect on people's lives. We also believe that one of the best ways to accelerate the speed of technology adoption is through close partnerships between the public sector and the private sector. Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) make it possible to multiply the impact that a single organization or company could hope to achieve working alone. These partnerships combine public sector organizations' knowledge of local communities with private companies' technical expertise and implementation experience. As a result, public-private partnerships can develop and deploy relevant and effective information technology solutions that solve specific challenges with much greater speed.

The notion that businesses have a responsibility to promote the public good by supporting the work of nonprofit and governmental organizations is not a new one, of course. The late 1940s and early 1950s saw companies such as Ford, Western Electric, and Philip Morris form foundations to manage corporate giving. But much of this activity centered exclusively on financial support.

Today approach to public-private partnerships where the value of corporate involvement lies as much in expertise as it does in monetary support is relatively new, and grows in part out of efforts by a number of United Nations agencies in the late 1990s to look for new ways to work with corporations to help address major global health issues.

The rise of what some people have called "strategic corporate philanthropy" based on public-private partnerships that seek to address areas where social needs overlap with both corporate expertise and business interests are an important step forward. When a company likes Microsoft is in position to provide not just money, but also the expertise and experience to help an organization use technology to achieve its goals more quickly and more effectively, it can speed the pace and scale of progress.

A great example is a program run by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to create a set of global technology competency standards for teachers. The goal is to ensure that teachers have the training and materials to provide students with the technology skills they will need to participate in the global knowledge economy. The program was created with the involvement of three major corporations: Microsoft, Intel, and Cisco. All three companies are participating because of a shared belief that a technically literate workforce is an essential ingredient for sustainable economic growth.

Across Asia, public-private partnerships are playing an important role in creating new economic opportunities. In South Korea, the Ministry of Information and Communication has worked in close partnership with the private sector for nearly 15 years to build a national technology industry. Today, South Korea is a global leader in information and communications technologies and it is a model for how collaboration between the public and private sectors can serve as the catalyst for creating a vibrant technology industry that provides the foundation for new jobs and significant economic growth.

The ultimate goal is to support the development of local economies that have the infrastructure and skilled workforce needed to create sustainable growth. My hope is that this will help increase the number of people who have the tools and knowledge to participate in the digital revolution from 1 billion to 2 billion and beyond. As this happens and more people join the global knowledge economy, they will spur further innovations that address difficult issues faced by so many people around the world. This, more than anything, will be the key to creating a world where everyone can expect to lead long, healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives.

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ECB: Keeping Prices Cool isn’t Trade-off against Growth or Jobs Creation

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Fri, 30 May 2008 16:02:00 +0000

European Central Bank (ECB) Prsesident Jean-Claude Trichet on Friday defended the bank's focus on keeping inflation cool, saying price stability was not a trade-off against economic growth or job creation.

Soaring global prices of energy and food drove euro-zone inflation to record levels this spring. At the same time the euro economy is cycling down this year as a credit crisis hurts borrowing and a US. Slowdown dampens exports and investment.

The ECB has kept its key interest rate on hold at 4 percent since last June, contrary to the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of England which have slashed borrowing costs to ease conditions for bank finding it hard to loan money in the wake of financial market crisis.

The bank has instead relied on injecting large amounts of money into credit market to help financial institution keeps lending. Trichet said there was an emerging consensus that stable prices would help reduce volatility in economic output – which is affected by rising labor and energy costs.

He claimed the bank's effort to limit price volatility had already been successful in calming any large swings in output. "I don't think there is a trade-off between price stability and job creation and growth in the medium to longterm, "he said after giving a speech at the Brussels Economic Forum. "I think that was the credo before the major wave of inflation but I don't think that's the case now".

Trichet said the ECB was closely watching wage negotiations in the euro area, warning that avoiding large pay hikes was "essential to preserve price stability in the medium term and, in turn, the purchasing power of all euro area citizens.

Such words have angered workers who say they deserve more pay as a reward from the recent economic boom and to help them cope with higher heating, transport and grocery bills.

He said other central banks were also behind the focus on calming inflation. "Now we have a worldwide consensus, almost a total consensus in seeing that it's important to stabilize medium-term prices" he said.

Trichet repeated the ECB's mantra that price stability was its primary goal saying "there is no place for complacency". The credit crisis has changed the usual landscape for central bankers, in particular the ECB.

SEO Marketing techniques

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Fri, 30 May 2008 11:09:00 +0000

SEO Marketing is a technique used by professional who want to get your web page ranked high on the search engines. When you choose to implement to your web page with the proper SEO Marketing techniques, you will quickly see the improvements to your customer base and your business. Follow the step by step guide that many SEO Marketing teams supply you and soon you will find that you have the high ranking web page that brings you the business that you want. Professional SEO Marketing Choosing to upgrade your web page to a highly optimized advertising machine is something that many business owners strive for. In order to do this, you should always get the best advice possible. By working with the professional SEO Marketing team you find here, you will be able to gain the level of web presence that you need for optimal results. SEO Marketing works on a number of different levels. Educating yourself about some SEO Marketing will help you when it comes time to ask questions. Asking the right ones will allow you to be more involved in the process and getting the right SEO plan for you. SEO Marketing Get the SEO marketing that you need when you sign up with a marketing firm that brings you the right information and the end product that you want right on time, every time. When you are ready to build your client base and raise your level of visibility on the search engines, you can do so by getting the right SEO Marketing firm to back you. Check out the information that you see before you right here.

Yahoo Seeks to Conceal Shareholder Lawsuit

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Tue, 27 May 2008 10:15:00 +0000

Associated Press

San Francisco

Yahoo Inc. is seeking to conceal large portions of a shareholder lawsuit alleging the Internet Company's board improperly thwarted Microsoft Corp.'s $47.5 billion takeover offer, raising shareholder questions over the motives for the secrecy.

In a letter sent Friday to the judge overseeing the case in Delaware, a lawyer for the shareholders argued Yahoo is trying "to whitewash embarrassing documents" because the company thins the information will damage the board's efforts to repel a challenge by activist investor Carl Icahn.

Angered by the board's handling of Microsoft bid, Icahn has nominated an alternate slate of candidates to oppose Yahoo's 10 current directors – including Chief Executive Jerry Yang – at the Sunnyvale-based company's July 3 annual meeting.

Yahoo is trying "to sanitize the public record and maintain a cloak of secrecy regarding unflattering evidence of breach of fiduciary duty," shareholder attorney Joel Friedlander wrote in a letter to Chancellor William B. Chandler III.

The redacted documents include information about an employee severance plan that Yahoo adopted shortly after Microsoft made its initial bid Jan.31 and notes about a conversation between Yang and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, Friedlander wrote.

Yahoo had no immediate comment Friday. Generally, companies often seek to keep parts of publicly available lawsuits under seal for competitive reasons.

A hearing on the request to unseal the disputed material has been scheduled Tuesday in Chandler's court, said Mark Lebovitch, another lawyer representing the shareholders. He declined further comment.

The concealed information was gathered during the discovery phase of the nearly three-month-old suit. If they're made public, the documents could become fodder in Icahn's campaign to remove Yahoo's board.

The information would be particularly damaging to the board if it suggest the directors deliberately took steps to make Yahoo more expensive for Microsoft.

Friedlander's letter says the redacted documents include estimates about how much Yahoo's employee severance plans would cost Microsoft in a takeover – information that could be of particular interest to shareholders trying to figure out if the current board acted in their best interests.

Yahoo had previously disclosed the plans would give its 13,800 employees anywhere from four month to two years pay. Every $1.4 billion in severance cost theoretically would translate into about $1 per share less that Microsoft would have available to offer Yahoo shareholders.

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Get Your Cell Phones More Than You Expect

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Tue, 27 May 2008 07:37:00 +0000

Increasing number of mobile phone subscription in the world reached almost half of human population. This makes mobile phone become the most widely spread technology in the world, and the most common gadget as well. Mobile phones itself currently become more and more sophisticated. There is not only standard voice function of phones but also support many additional functions such as text messaging, MMS, email, packet switching for internet access, java gaming and also many accessories like Bluetooth, infrared, camera with video recorder or radio.

Most current mobile phones connect to a cellular network of base stations (cell sites) using Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) technology leading to GSM Phones nickname, CDMA or TDMA which are all digital and as second generation of mobile phone technology. GPRS system is actually a standard technology between 2 and 3 generation technology of wireless communication, here so we called GPRS as a 2.5G technology.

Third Generation networks are also called 3G technology was deployed from Japan at 2001 which offer high-speed data transfer in addition of voice services. Communication standard being used in this third generation are W-CDMA/UMTS, CDMA200 EV-DO and TD-SCDMA (which will launch in China).

With this amazing rapid technology achievement gives people huge opportunity in dealing with information. But you should remember that there are two other big parts to establish this communication technology, namely content developer and communication hardware producers. Luckily there also a lot of business man dealing with this two big parts. And now it is your challenge to find out which one is fit with your lifestyle or your business style.

You can visit many stores near you. But browsing physically among many stores will pain in the ass for you. That's one reason why nowadays we can see online stores spread-up widely in the virtual market, including this mobile phone handset.

Just take a sample of PureMobile which provides you with various Unlocked Cell Phones, PDAs, Smart Phones, Unlocked iPhone, and of course with their various accessories such as Bluetooth headsets, cell phone chargers, memory cards, car kits, and many other accessories.

If you such a brand minded person, just search your stuffs by brand, and you can find many brands of cell phones and related products as you wish. Choose from the biggest brand-names like Nokia, Sony Ericson, Motorola, Apple, LG, Samsung, Blackberry and more.

Use PureMobile as your cell phones catalog. Digest each product offered one-by-one. Compare each other till you find the one that fit on you. It's totally free.

When you decided to buy the one, PureMobile provides safe and secure online transactions you can trust and make convenient on you. So no worry whether you pay by Master Card, Visa Card, American Express, Discover or PayPal.

With PureMobile, you not just buy your cell phone with fast shipping and live stock guarantee, but you also know your cell phone. You can find many articles all about cell phone through Puremobile Learning Center. It's no doubt if I say "Get your cell phones more than you expected."

China-led East Asia Integration Spurs Economic Boom

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Mon, 26 May 2008 02:41:00 +0000

Ellen L. Frost

Yale Center for Study of Globalization/Washington, D.C.

Although the balance of power in Asia is stable, the balance of influence is shifting in favor of China. Will china's rising influence translate into political domination, forcing Asians to choose between Beijing and Washington and undermining their national autonomy? Can the United States accommodate China's legitimate interests and compete peacefully for influence? What can other Asian's do to recapture lagging U.S. attention and ensure a stable, peaceful and prosperous environment?

The major cause of China's growing influence is the giant chugging sound of China's economy. China has become the number-one or number-two trading partner of virtually every country in the region.

Despite the significant of these changes in Asia's strategic landscape, for many years now U.S. attention has fixated on the Middle East. High ranking U.S. officials are preoccupied with Islamist terrorists, the war in Iraq and recent developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Since Asia is stable and peaceful, the president and his top aides pay little or no attention to regional diplomacy in Asia. The consequence of this high-level neglect is a widespread perception that the U.S. has lost interest in Asia, especially Chinese influence is growing.

Conscious of residual wariness, Chinese leaders go out of their way to reassure their Asian neighbors that Chinese intentions are entirely peaceful. Unlike Washington, China has projected a sympathetic and listening attitude, offering aid and trade deals without immediately demanding anything in return.

Beijing has settled virtually all of its land-based disputes and put its maritime territorial disputes in the East and south China seas on the back burner.

The subtle risk posed by the shifting balance of influence is that in the absence of constructive engagement on the part of the U.S., Washington's voice will gradually lose resonance compared to Beijing's. Other Asians already conform to China's wishes when it comes to the Dalai Lama and proposed Japanese membership on the UN Security Council.

None of these issues are vital to them, but all stir up core Chinese feelings and threaten – at least symbolically – China's perceived vital interests. On less volatile issues, China's leverage is implicit. If the U.S. Were to largely relinquish its role in Asia, China's new influence would likely tilt the outcome of negotiations on trade, investment, the treatment of Chinese firms, energy, climate change, maritime territorial disputes, security relationships, votes in the UN and other international bodies and other issues more heavily in China's favor.

The competition for influence is by no means zero-sum and has many positive aspects. But Beijing's long-term behavior, intentions and identity are unknown. If China's political system softens into more open, predictable and participatory governance based on the rule of law – something like Singapore's "authoritarian capitalism" – Chinese goals, values and interests are likely to be largely congruent with those of the U.S. and its friends and allies in Asia. If not, some degree of tension will remain.

Realistically, the U.S. president and his top appointees will not have much time for sustained regional diplomacy anywhere outside the middle east until the next administration scales down U.S. forces significantly in Iraq. Small steps are possible, however.

They include scheduling more high-level visits, signing the ASEAN's Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), revitalizing U.S. participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC), actively supporting the Asian integration movement instead of merely tolerating it, and devoting significantly more resources to regional health and education.

Meanwhile, what can Asians do to strengthen their position as a region – and to recapture constructive, high-level U.S. attention? While waiting for the next U.S. administration, Asian governments could launch or intensify several initiatives. Freeing up trade and investment is an obvious choice – and specifically focusing on Asia's impressive maritime assets.

In my book, Asia's New Regionalism, I argue that we are witnessing the resurgence of a pre-colonial "Maritime Asia" – the sweep of coastal communities, port cities and towns, and waterways connecting Northeast and Southeast Asia, India and now Australia. Maritime Asia is the locus of Asian wealth and power.

It is where 60 to 70 percent of Asians live, the biggest cities are and globalization driven investment is concentrated. The world's six largest ports are all Asian.

To take better advantage of this asset, Asian governments should explicitly build Maritime Asia into their vision of integration and work with local officials, business representatives and civil-society, groups to remove barriers impeding its natural flow. These include border taxes, tariffs, quotas, corruption, crime, antiquated transport links, duplicative security checks and restrictions on labor mobility.

For example, Asian governments should extend and develop a legal framework for ASEAN's "Single Window" program, which aims at limiting the cargo clearance of container ships at any major port to one 30-minute stop and validating it for the entire region.

To protect this asset, Asian governments need to become far more active in global efforts to stem climate change.

Implementation of market oriented policies on the production and consumption of carbon-based fuels, enforcement of existing cross-border agreements on air pollution, the adoption of appropriate domestic regulatory mechanisms, and a cooperative approach to energy supplies would ease the threat.

As long as China's economic development remains vigorous, Chinese influence will continue to rise. This is a fact of life that other Asians have accepted; the U.S. must accept it as well. Closer cooperation within the wider Asian community, combined with renewed U.S. engagement, can help ensure that China's new influence is exercised in a way that conforms to regional norms, enables other Asian governments to retain their sovereignty and permits Asian companies to compete effectively in the global economies.

The writer is visiting fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and adjunct research fellow at the National Defense University. She is the author of Asia's New Regionalism.

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IT SECURITY FROM DATA CENTER TO DESKTOP

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Mon, 26 May 2008 01:51:00 +0000

Protecting information systems from physical threats can easily fall into a no-man's land. Information security professionals can be distracted by worms and viruses, while facilities personnel are spread thin trying to keep entire sites up and running. When it comes to protecting the physical infrastructure of the computing environment, each of these constituencies may have overlapping responsibilities that are unclear and result in some physical threat monitoring being left undone.

In addition to unintentionally neglecting physical security, many MIS managers continue to struggle with creating more complex rules for network access and the proliferation in both the number and complexity of passwords. The most common tool to remember these very complex and numerous user names and passwords often is a sticky note stuck to the wall or to the bottom of the keyboard, increasing security risks to the network. This all leads to an increased number of calls to the help desk, where password related inquiries represent up to 35% of daily activity.

As a result, it's never been more important to implement strong security solutions to maintain data centers and ensure continuous, secure computing the desktop level.

The Emergence of Physical Threats.
Sometimes so much time is spent worrying about cyber-attacks that the basic problem of physical threats is ignored. The truth is, physical threats have the same potential to interrupt business processes as a hacker or virus.

There are many types of physical threats that must be factored into a security program, including theft, sabotage, human error and environmental disruption. Theft is the most obvious example, but anyone with a grudge against an organization may provide some risk of sabotage against sensitive systems. It's also important to consider the extreme heat at the rack level caused by new data center computing strategies such as high density environments and deployment of blade serves.

However, the hazards from ordinary activity of personnel working in the data center present an even greater day-to-day risk in most facilities. People are essentials to the operation of a data center, yet studies consistently show that people are directly responsible for 60% of data center downtime through accidents and mistakes.

With this in mind, it is important to integrate data center environmental and video monitoring solution. This combination gives customers an end-to-end solution that will ensure the availability of critical network resources.

The need for higher levels of security is also manifesting itself at the desktop level where finger scan or biometrics technology is increasingly seen as the mist authentic form of strong authentication security and the most convenient form of two factor security.

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Advantages of Personal Cash Advance

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Sun, 25 May 2008 04:32:00 +0000

It was several times I wrote about cash advance or payday loan or pay day cash. This is such a prospective business nowadays being growth significantly. It is undoubted that many people may face a situation in need, in urgent, of cash in advance that unexpected and they have no ready cash on their pocket. What is your solution? Applying a loan facilities will spent much times. Borrowing from your relatives or friends may rise up social problems sometimes. Of course this Personal Cash Advance might be your only easiest solution.

Before I summaries the advantages of personal cash advance, you should be aware that this solution may create another problem unless you treated wisely. You should utilized that this solution only for overcome your mismatch cash flow, avoiding costly bounced-check fees or late payment penalties. It means that you have to have a source of payment but in different time. It is not to covering your lack of money situation! A payday cash advance provides you with unsecured, short-term cash advance until your payday.

Advantages of Personal Cash Advance:

Easier Qualification
Qualifying personal cash advance is easier than traditional credit. Here, your job and your paycheck act as your collateral. Also you are adult person.
Quick Process
You can get your personal cash advance approval within hours. And you can have access to your fund in the very next day due to the money transfer process.
Bad Credit Score are still Available
No worry about your bad credit score. This is not what the cash advance providers worried about.
No Collateral
Your job and your paycheck is your collateral.
No Application Fees
Personal Cash advance never charge applicants for signing up for a payday cash advance.
Secure Data
Your privacy is guaranteed. All sensitive information transmitted between your browser and their server uses 128 bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption technology.

Some another terms you should aware:

Not a Repeated Use
Whenever you need an urgent or immediate cash, this personal cash advance will help you. But you have to remember that personal cash advance is a short-term solution for urgent cash needed. It is not intended to repeated use in supporting on-going budget. Repeated use of payday loan can create serious financial difficulties.

Limited Amount
Your current income combine with the information you provided truthfully will determined the amount of cash advance you can get.

Limited Payback Period
Generally you should repay back your cash advance loan within seven (7) days and not more than eighteen (18) days. Your lender should disclose this when you agree to the personal cash advance.

Again, be wise to utilized this facilities!

Like Paper Like Oil in Environmental Preservation

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Thu, 22 May 2008 17:29:00 +0000

Rivanda Royono

Jakarta

People tend to see a problem from only one point of view their own. This is especially true when a particular problem hurts them badly. When the price of paper increased a few weeks ago, Indonesians lamented left and right how it would harm their lives.

Working and studying would be impended, books would be unaffordable and basically generations of undereducated people would be denied their right to read and write.

Now we have something new to bemoan: the oil price. If an increased price of paper would lead to a tragedy of an illiterate nation, surely an increased price of oil – the source of all our energy – would lead to utter catastrophe. Oil-triggered inflation would choke us to death. Household expenses would double, children would go hungry, industries would close down and the entire economy would crumble.

Everyone should take a deep breath and calm down. Let us try to see these issues from another point of view.

On everage, using a very conservative estimate, a person in Indonesia would use approximately 100 kilograms of paper in a year. While it is difficult to get a precise number, one tree can produce around 1 ton of paper. So from use of paper alone, an average person would have to chop down a tenth of a tree every year.

There perhaps 150 million people in Indonesia that use paper regularly. So at the present paper consumption rate, we're cutting down 15 million trees annually. Only for paper!

Now here's the rub: We can in fact significantly decrease the number of trees we chop down for paper by reusing and recycling paper. The problem with Indonesians is we have never had the incentive to do that. We never bother to print or copy on both sides of paper, we never bother to collect our papers and recycle them.

Professors in respectable universities reprimand students who submit their essays that are printed on used paper.

Paper is more than simply sheets of cellulose; it is a product that incurs significant environmental costs. The more paper we use, the more trees we chop down, the less water retention our soil has, the more carbon we release into the air, the warmer our planet gets. And that last one translates to floods, failed crops and tropical disease outbreaks, just to name a few.

These costs are not reflected in the price we pay for paper. Economists have a term for this phenomenon: negative externalities. To us, paper is cheap. And when a product is cheap, we tend to use it beyond our absolute needs. But someone will be we and our children in the next 20 years or so.

The negative externalities of fossil fuels are even more extreme. Every time we use oil-fueled transportation or electricity, we inject loads of carbon along with other hazardous chemicals into the atmosphere. We warm up the planet and infuse toxins into its atmosphere. Those costs are never taken into account. We pay much less for oil than we're supposed to.

But there is something even direr in our oil consumption at the present: We tend to forget that we need to save some for our children.

Indonesia's – and the world's – oil reserves are seriously depleting. At our current consumption rate, an optimistic estimate places Indonesia's oil reserve at a mere 20 years. Global oil production will peak in a mere four years, followed by a steep decline lasting around 30-40 years.

That means that a child born this year as an Indonesian will have to be a billionaire by the time she turns 20 years old if she wants to use electricity or a motor vehicle because by that time nothing will be more expensive than oil – if there is any left for Indonesians.

Indonesians' indulgence in oil is off the chart because not only have we never taken into account the environmental cost of oil, the government has been making oil even cheaper by throwing in subsidies. Hence for decades, there has been no more incentive for Indonesian cities to design good public transit systems; no incentive for individuals to use available public transportation; no incentive for the electricity utility to search for alternative energy; no incentive for industries to make energy use more efficient. Instead, individuals opt to have personal cars because petrol is cheap, while households crank up their AC because electricity is cheap.

So while things are looking pretty gloomy today – and nobody is denying the huge cost of increasing the domestic oil price – we need to understand that most of us have been chanting the wrong demands for the last few months.

Bringing back down the price of paper and maintaining subsidies for oil is not the right thing to do. We may think we're protecting the Indonesian people's interest, but we're actually doing the exact opposite.

Those demands, if met, may works to our benefit bust most definitely to our children's disadvantage. Cheap paper and oil will eliminate any incentive for us to do the right thing. That is simply not acceptable. We need to change our demands and, while we're at it, our behavior.

We should not demand cheaper paper. We should demand the government provide incentives – tax breaks, for instance – for paper producers to recycle paper. We should demand school teachers and university professors to encourage – not deter – their students to print their assignment on used paper. And we should think twice before printing and copying any document we have.

We should not demand the government maintain fuel subsidies. We should demand the government provide better public transportation and pedestrian facilities. We should demand the national electric utility continue and expedite its research on viable alternative energy for Indonesia. And we should stop circumventing the law and stocking up subsidized fuels in our garages.

It is time to stop being selfish. We need to stop seeing problems from only one point of view. We need to stop focusing on our generation's interest alone. And we most certainly need to stop paying only a fraction of the bill and letting our children bear the bulk of the cost.

Rivanda Royono is the executive director of the Association for Critical Thinking and a student of the University of Indonesia's planning and public policy graduate program.

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World Must Choose Energy or Food Prices

noreply@blogger.com (Aris Martant) — Thu, 22 May 2008 10:15:00 +0000

Agence France-Presse
Singapore

The world must choose between higher energy prices or rising food costs, experts said Thursday, arguing that the use of farmland to make biofuels was likely to continue amid strong energy demand. Biofuels are among the factors blamed for escalating global prices of food stuffs including corn, rice and wheat. The rising cost of such staples has sparked protests in many countries, including in Asia.

Biofuels account for a substantial portion of the fuel produced in non-OPEC countries, so governments, businesses and individuals must decide if they want higher energy prices or more expensive food, the experts said at a Singapore conference.

Oil prices would be 15% higher if biofuel production was taken out, said Fransisco Blanch, global commodity strategist at Merril Lycnh, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Ltd.

Biofuels such as ethanol can be derived from foodstuffs including corn, soybeans and sugarcane.

Last year, on-third of oil production by countries outside of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) cartel came from biofuels and this is projected to increase to two-thirds this year, he sid at the conference.

"So if you think that in the next five years we can live without biofuels because governments decide that they are pushing up agricultural commodity prices, it's going to boil down to a decision between eating or moving around," he said.

Diverting farm products to produce biofuels, which power cars, has come under heavy criticism by environmental activists and some government officials, who it is one of the major reasons for rising global food prices.

Biouels were initially viewed as an environmentally-friendly alternative compared with dirty fossil fuels, but they are now under attack as some unintended consequences emerge.

Speakers at the conference said making a choice is not easy, especially in a market where crude oil supply is struggling to meet demand, and with oil and gas production costs soaring.

Michael Coleman, founder of the hedge fund Aisling Analytics, said that the issue of the choice between high food prices and higher fuel costs "has a moral dimension that everybody needs to wrestle with."

Paul Willows of LD Commodities Asia Pte Ltd added that "biofuels is here to stay if we think oil prices are going to remain over US$100 a barrel." Oil prices broke through the $100 per barrel level at the start of the year and are now trading above $120.