Korays Blog

Many small to medium business rely heavily on IT systems to successfully run their business.

If you find yourself spending more and more time managing your network and computers but you don’t need a full time IT person on staff then perhaps now is the time you should consider hiring an IT consultant.

When you start looking for an IT consultant you should consider the following:

Experience. It goes without saying that you need to hire a consultant who has experience in the IT industry.

You should ask the consultant the following questions:

1. Has the IT consultant got experience supporting the same type of business as yours?
2. Do they have any technicians on staff that holds valuable industry certifications, such as Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) etc? In order to become certified by Microsoft, a Certified Microsoft Partner must prove their expertise in Microsoft technology and in specific business areas, such as financial management and supply chain management.
3. If you operate Windows Small Business Server onsite does the consulting company have a member of staff who is a Microsoft Small Business Specialist?

References. Ask the following questions to the consulting companies other clients:

1. How well does the company work for them?
2. Ask whether work is done on time and on budget?
3. Also ask whether the consultant responds quickly to problems.

Services. You need to ask the consulting company the following questions:

1. What services does the consulting company provide? If they don’t supply a particular service will they be able to recommend a professional organization that can?
2. What levels of support do they offer?
3. Do they offer offsite support solutions or do they perform all work onsite?
4. Do they offer preventative maintenance plans?
5. What does the preventative maintenance plans involve?
6. How many hours per month are included in the preventative plans?

Schedules and fees. Find out the answers to the following questions:

1. What is their response time?
2. Are you charged a call out fee?
3. Is their a minimum invoice amount?
4. Do they assure a No Fix No Fee policy?
5. What are their business hours?
6. What happens if you call out of hours?

Personality. It is important that a consultant be a technology expert, but it is also important that they be able to work with and talk to people who are not technology experts.

Final Words. Interview a number of potential consultants. Look for the information listed above. This is not a time to just go with the lowest bid: you want the best for the job. After all, isn’t that why you hire a consultant?

Robert Adelman is an MCSE+I (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer + Internet) which qualifies an individual of being able to www.ittelligent.com.au http://www.ittelligent.com.au analyze the business requirements for information systems solutions, and design and implement the infrastructure required including internet technologies.

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Employers will almost exclusively hire transcriptionists who have completed some kind of formal training in the area or who have experience. There are many ways to obtain such training, but for most a community college or vocational school will be the best option, especially if the training includes on-the-job experience. Do not worry about whether or not they offer the opportunity to earn the Certified Medical Transcriptionist designation. This is not a required certification in general, and in fact, most transcriptionists need a couple of years’ experience before they can pass the test to gain this designation. I am not a CMT, but I was able to find a job.

Courses typically take several months to two years to complete, depending on the school chosen. Many vocational schools include the cost of books and course materials in their tuition, which may be helpful after you have landed a job. If you already work in a medical field, and simply want to switch to working from home, you may only need to learn transcription, as you may already have the vocabulary you need, but think carefully, as a refresher course may not be an entirely bad thing either.

It is also possible to take transcription courses at home. This option is more flexible but may be more challenging in other ways. Your selection of a course of study should depend on how you will best learn what you need to know.

You will need an assortment of reference books. Some you may recieve with your training, but you may find you need others. See the equipment page for suggestions.

College Courses

College courses are best for most people. Having an instructor to help you through the difficult parts and to keep you working on a schedule can be a great benefit. Many schools also offer job placement assistance, which may not be available through home study courses.

Community Colleges

Perhaps the cheapest method of instructor-led training you can get, but it may not be quick. A quick look at a local community shows a 22-25 unit requirement for certification in Medical Transcription. This would require a minimum of two semesters’ work or more, depending on prerequisites and whether you attend part- or full-time.

Costs vary by what state you live in. Check with your local school.

Vocational Schools

Vocational schools cost more than community colleges, typically into the thousands, but may offer more flexiblity when it comes to the timing of your class. This may not be a quick solution either. With a quick look at a local vocational school’s webpage, I found that its Medical Transcription training program takes about 28 weeks of classroom time and four weeks of an externship. Check to see if textbooks and other supplies are included in the cost.

Home Study

Home study courses offer the most flexiblity in many ways, but they offer challenges as well. You must be capable of working on your own. On the other hand, if you want to work at home, that’s a skill you need. You’ll need special equipment for this option in many cases, such as a foot pedal.

In the time I’ve spent researching medical transcription schools, three names keep coming up as the ones that employers actually hire from regularly: Career Step, M-Tec, and Andrews School of Medical Transcription. Of them, CareerStep is the most affordable. The others have a still better repuation with employers, but CareerStep graduates are plenty well enough trained to find employment. My former employer, Medquist, requires that you take the Gold level or above from CareerStep (last I heard, anyhow), which is my recommendation as well. Expect to take a minimum of 6 months, often 9 months or more, to complete a course.

Which option is best? That depends in large part on how you best learn and what is available in your area. There’s no one definite right answer that will meet everyone’s needs.

Stephanie Foster is a former medical transcriptionist and now runs www.homewiththekids.com/ http://www.homewiththekids.com/ . She shares what she learned about being a medical transcriptionist at www.homewiththekids.com/medical-transcription/ http://www.homewiththekids.com/medical-transcription/ .

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Several years ago, Anastasia Suen sent us this note, which still appears on our web site: “Yesterday’s mail brought copies of Hodgepodge, with my poem on the back page, and an acceptance letter from Babybug for another poem! My poems in Shoofly will be out in April. ALL these leads came from Children’s Book Insider! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” If you go to Anastasia’s own web site today (www.asuen.com) you’ll see that she’s the author of 78 books, a writing teacher at Southern Methodist University, she leads eight online writing workshops, speaks at numerous conferences, and gets $1000 per day for a full-day school visit ($1500 if she has to travel). We like to think of Anastasia as our own personal CBI-success story, but really we can’t take any of the credit. Anastasia did it because she’s got what it takes to be a prolific, published children’s book author. One thing Anastasia, and other writers like her, has is a certain stick-to-it mentality that says, I want this, I can do this, and I absolutely won’t give up.

My son’s been taking karate for 18 months, and every time he tests for the next rank (he’s up to his blue belt now), fewer kids who started with him as white belts test alongside him. It’s not that Matthew’s necessarily a better athlete than they are, but karate is more important to him. He likes learning the forms, and he enjoys surviving a two hour, physically grueling test knowing that most of his friends would have been flattened in the first 20 minutes. When aspiring writers start identifying themselves as authors, just as Matthew sees himself as a martial artist, they’ve taken that first big step toward success.

But there’s a difference between wanting to see your name on a book, and wanting a career as a children’s book author. Anyone with a few bucks can publish their own story, and many books are perfectly suited to be self-published titles given to family and friends. The career mentality, however, is more complex. Check out some common characteristics below and see how you measure up:

Humility: When I get emails from people saying, I’m going to be the next Dr. Seuss, I cringe. Confidence is fine, but don’t compare yourself to someone like Dr. Seuss right out of the gate. In fact, don’t compare yourself to anyone. Work on finding your own style and voice. And know that you don’t have to become a literary institution to be a success. Learning to write well is a lifelong process, and the writers who get published understand that each manuscript, whether it sells or not, teaches them something. They’re not afraid to be critiqued or edited. They’ve put their heart into a book or article, and then removed their ego. They understand that if their critique group or editor says a plot is too predictable, it’s far better to chuck the storyline and start over than to fight to preserve a mediocre manuscript. And they’re grateful for the input that saved them from dozens of rejection letters.

Will Work for Resum?: Successful authors know that their query letters are more impressive if they can list some publishing credits. They’re willing to write for little or no money at first, because the experience of meeting a deadline and working with an editor is invaluable. They may decide to sell one story to a magazine that buys all rights so their next story can be sold to a bigger publication that purchases first rights only. They’ll submit to local magazines, regional publishers and small presses as they perfect their manuscripts intended for larger, national publishers. Well-published authors don’t overlook any market that might be right for a particular work. And when you’re just starting out, seeing your byline in a local parenting publication is just as satisfying as appearing in Highlights for Children.

‘Tensity: Matthew’s karate teacher urges him to be intense about his practice, and Matthew’s dubbed this mindset ‘tensity. The prolific writers I know think the same way. Though most have families and jobs, they live, eat and breathe writing. Any spare moment is devoted to working on a manuscript. Free weekends are spent at conferences and workshops. When they’re not writing, they’re reading children’s books. As soon as they get one manuscript in the mail, they start the next one. In fact, supersuccessful authors work on several manuscripts at once. If they’re uninspired to revise a scene from their novel, they’ll write a query for an article idea or do research for a picture book biography.

You don’t have to maintain this level of activity to become published. Most writers don’t. But if you want to make a living as a children’s book author, if you want your web site to list 50 or more books in print, then it’s practically required.

Plays the Field: Well-published authors don’t limit themselves to one genre. They’ll write picture books, novels, short stories for magazines, poetry, nonfiction, and material for adult markets such as parenting magazines or writing newsletters. After one book comes out they don’t wait for their editor to ask for another manuscript; they create what inspires them and if it’s not right for their current editor, they market it someplace else. In fact, it’s more difficult to get widely-published if you only write one type of book. A publisher carries a limited number of titles per season, and the editor of your middle grade novel might not appreciate your having another novel for the same age group come out with a different publisher simultaneously. But a magazine article or nonfiction picture book won’t compete with a book for older kids, and still gets your name in front of reviewers and book buyers.

Successful authors don’t dabble in writing now and then, they embrace it and do whatever it takes to get published because it’s what they want more than anything else. So dive in, work with ‘tensity, and send us a quote for our web site when you hit the jackpot.

Laura Backes is the publisher of Children’s Book Insider, the Newsletter for Children’s Writers. For more information about writing children’s books, including free articles, market tips, insider secrets and much more, visit Children’s Book Insider’s home on the web at write4kids.com http://write4kids.com Copyright 2006, Children’s Book Insider, LLC.

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Norwich Union Direct the UK’s largest motor insurance provider as announced it’s new innovative Pay As You Drive cover, offering motorists the ability to reduce their insurance premiums.

Offering two new policies , the basis of which are usage-based insurance premiums, Norwich Union is finally offering cover after its initial pilot scheme, involving 5,000 motorists, was launched in 2004.

Norwich Union’s researched showed that over two thirds of the UK motorists are likely to welcome the initiative by which average savings are expected to be around 33%.

With the use of in-car GPS monitoring devices the UK’s largest car insurance provider is able to tailor make unique car insurance policies specific to the policy holder - premiums being based on usage.A completely transparent itemised billing system should allow drivers to finely tune there policies, yet remaining flexible.

Premiums will be based not merely on mileage but also on other factors such as when,where and how often the policy holder drives. Premiums can even be identified to each journey.

Offering two distinct policies: 18-23 and 24-65 year old drivers Norwich Union is efficiently using its huge databank of claims histories to pass on potential savings to the more discerned driver.

Using a combination of Norwich Unions own data together with statistics supplied by ABI and the department of Transport the pilot scheme revealed :-

18-24 year old drivers are at great risk during the early hours with this group accounting for 46% of fatalities on the road between 11pm and 6am, and are 56% more likely to suffer injury between 1am and 5am.

This group is 10 times more likely to have an accident at night and this rises to 14 times more likely on weekend nights. Premiums will reflect these high risk periods and it is hoped will encourage young drivers to refrain from driving during these periods.The pilot scheme revealed a 20% drop in accidents involving young drivers and strenghtens the belief this type of policy will save lives. Norwich Union is hoping the introduction of this scheme will dramatically reduce the number of accidents involving young drivers.

In the other group - the 24-65 year old drivers, the pilot revealed that this group was 50% more likely to suffer an accident during the morning weekday rush hour than driving at weekends or in the evenings. Serious accidents are most likely to happen at night and that motorway driving was up to 10 times safer than low speed urban roads.

These statistics are encouraging to the 48% of Norwich Union customers who dont use their vehicle to drive to work during the weekeday peak periods.

Iain Napier, director of “Pay As You Drive”? insurance, said: “The launch of “Pay As You Drive”? insurance will give motorists access to insurance that’s specifically tailored to them and their driving habits, potentially rewarding them with cheaper premiums.

“We’re confident that “Pay As You Drive”? insurance is simply a fairer way of calculating premiums and gives customers greater control, flexibility and choice. That’s why we expect the first ever “Pay As You Drive”? insurance proposition in the UK to be a huge success with motorists.”

Kay Martin, head of “Pay As You Drive”? insurance, added: “”Pay As You Drive”? insurance provides an innovative solution for young drivers while also appealing to a broad range of motorists who see the benefits of paying for insurance based on actual vehicle usage. The future of insurance is tailored products to suit people’s lifestyle and the launch of “Pay As You Drive”? insurance is the first step in this direction.”

Overall it is likely this type of policy will be well received by UK motorists, especially in view of the transparent billing system, enabling policy holders to make informed decisions as to how and when to use their vehicles.

Dave Kearsley often writes on insurance issues and breaking news. Living in the UK and is a full time webmaster concentrating in the insurance and finance areas.

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There are hundreds of articles and websites devoted to making sure that your partner knows that you love them. However, many of these articles are filled with trite expressions of love that seem clich?d when they’re overused. To really show your partner that you care, you need better guidelines and better advice. Here is some advice that you can actually use.

Make coffee/tea in the morning

When you’re both waking up in the morning, one of the first things on your minds is probably some sort of drink to get you going. One of the best ways to help get your days off to a great start is to make coffee for your girlfriend or wife. Without having to go to the lengths that breakfast in bed goes to, you will show that the first thing in the morning that you think of is her.

Do a little cleaning

After making coffee in the morning, why not straighten up a little before you head to the shower or to wherever you need to go? You don’t have to get out a scrub brush, but taking the time to throw the dishes in the dishwasher and scoop the litter pan can be helpful.

Notice things that are missing

One of the ways to really impress a woman is to do something without being asked. When you’ve running low on toilet paper, be sure to run out to get some. Running low on milk? Stop at the store on the way home. This shows that you are committed to making your lives run smoothly.

Ask if there’s anything that you can do

Many women have mental lists of things that need to be done every day, but will only let you know about them when the list becomes too long. Instead of waiting for the argument that follows, why not ask if there’s anything you can do? It saves both of you time and makes a woman feel appreciated for the things that she has done in the past.

Fill up the gas tank

Something that you many guys might not think about is a woman’s car. Most women hate to fill up their gas tanks - especially when they’re heading to work or when it’s raining or snowing - so why not fill it up for her when you notice that it’s low? It’s simple and certainly something that will be appreciated.

Write something

You don’t need to be a professional writer in order to show a woman that you care about her. But when you’re giving her a card for some occasion, be sure to include your own words in it as well. Women sometimes like to save cards and will cherish the words that you wrote over anything else.

Try to make day dates

Because you’re both busy at work, you might want a little break from time to time. Why not make a date in the middle of your work days? Meet for lunch or for dinner once per month to break up your routines and remind each other that there is more to your lives than your paycheck.

Get to know their friends

A woman’s friends are a representation of the way that she is when you’re not around. If you want to understand her, try to get to know her friends. Your wife or girlfriend will appreciate the way that you show that you care about other important people in her life.

Get to know her family

Just like her friends, a woman’s family is the group of people that came long before you. Even if you’re not the best fit for their tastes, try to find some common ground that you can share.

Ask if something’s wrong

When you notice that something is different about your partner, don’t ignore it. Ask if anything is wrong and let her know that you are willing to listen to her and help her if you can.

Remember anniversaries and birthdays

There are plenty of calendar services that can remind you of important days, so there’s no reason that you shouldn’t be bringing an appropriate gift or bunch of flowers when she’s expecting it.

Celebrate the everyday

Realize that anniversaries and birthdays aren’t the only times that you can celebrate your relationship - why not surprise her with a short note or a small wildflower every now and then? Expense isn’t the point - it’s the expression that matters.

Cucan Pemo

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Are you looking to buy unique gift for your baby? Online sites are always available with huge collection of numerous products which claim to be best for our baby’s and provide you much related information about the products that are used to comfort your little.

Some are specialized in baby products. But it is always good to be cautious before buying any baby products because most of the times to look good and attractive manufactures make use of chemicals, synthetic additives and irritants which dry baby’s skin and are absorbed into their bodies. The related products are listed below:

Baby Powder

if something you are buying for your baby skin choose a product which is smooth and 100%safe for the skin. While buying baby powder make sure that it should not contain any chemicals like zinc stearate, magnesium silicates and other substances, which are harmful for your baby.

Baby ointment

To prevent your baby from diaper rashes make use of baby ointment so as to make your baby a healthy baby.

Baby Food

There are many food items in the market that contain chemicals which are harmful for our baby’s health. Buy baby food from reputed company and have some popularity. Do not give your baby hard food to swallow. You must see that the food you serve your baby is soft and easy to digest. Always serve fresh and healthy food to your baby

Baby Clothing

Always it is not necessary which look good should be good. Many times we parents just buy anything which looks good on our baby and forget that our baby may not be comfortable in wearing that. Do not dress your baby too tight or too loose. Select soft material that does not create on your baby’s skin. Always choose attractive clothes as baby too gets attracted towards the design and pattern of the cloth.

Baby Toys

Make sure the toy your purchase for your baby should always have a blunt edge and a smooth surface. See that toys do not have a pointed edge. It is good to purchase soft toys for your baby.

Anna Josephs is a freelance editor having experience of many years in writing articles and news releases on various topics related to health, automobile and social issues. Currently, she is working on www.benzer3.com http://www.benzer3.com . To get more details on Baby Products, please visit baby.benzer3.com/baby-products.html http://baby.benzer3.com/baby-products.html . Please feel free to write feedback on this article. Anna Josephs can be contacted at annajosephs@gmail.com annajosephs@gmail.com .

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Emilia-Romagna stretches from the Ligurian border in northeastern Italy to the Adriatic Sea. As the name indicates, historically it was composed of two regions, Emilia and Romagna. It may be the only region of Italy named for a road, one constructed by the Ancient Romans almost 2200 years ago. It is one of the most prosperous regions of Italy with strong agricultural, industrial, and tourist economic activity. Its total population is about 3.9 million.

Emilia-Romagna produces a very wide variety of pasta, fruits and vegetables, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, cheese, and fresh and cured meats. Two of its biggest stars are a cheese, Parmigiano Regianno, and a ham, Prosciutto di Parma. Parmesan cheese as it’s known in English, was mentioned by the famous Italian author of the Fourteenth Century, Giovanni Boccaccio. We review it below. Parma ham, as it’s known in English, is an uncooked ham that is dry cured for at least ten months. Usually it is served in very thin slices, often as appetizer with melon.

Bologna whose population is about 375,000 is the administrative center of Emilia-Romagna. It is the home of the first university in the Western World, founded in the 11th Century. Bologna is also considered the capital of Italian gastronomy, in spite of its unfortunate association with a low-quality sandwich meat. Another city of interest is Rimini, a resort center on the Adriatic Sea with a population of 135 thousand.

Emilia-Romagna devotes about 178,000 acres to grapevines, it ranks 5th among the 20 Italian regions. Its total annual wine production is about 125 million gallons, giving it a 4th place. About 57% of the wine production is red, leaving 43% for white. The region produces 18 DOC wines. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine and 1 DOCG white wine, Albana di Romagna. The G in DOCG stands for Garantita, but there is in fact no guarantee that such wines are truly superior. In fact, while this wine was the first white wine to be accorded the DOCG designation in Italy (1987), many feel that Albana di Romagna does not deserve such an award. (I have never tasted this wine, and from the reviews that I’ve read, I’m in no hurry to taste it.) About 21% of Emilia-Romagna wine carries the DOC or DOCG designation. Emilia-Romagna is home to more than four dozen major and secondary grape varieties, a few more red than white.

Widely grown international white grape varieties include Malvasia and Trebbiano. The best known strictly Italian white varieties are Albana (source of the DOCG wine) and Pignoletto.

Cabernet Sauvignon is the only widely grown international red grape variety. The best known strictly Italian red variety is Bonarda. The Italian red varieties Barbera and Sangiovese are found elsewhere, including California.

Before we reviewing the Emilia-Romagna wine and cheese that we were lucky enough to purchase at a local wine store and a local Italian food store, here are a few suggestions of what to eat with indigenous wines when touring this beautiful region.

Start with Gelato di Parmigiano, Parmigiano “Ice Cream”, which includes heavy cream and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, suggested as an appetizer.

A more traditional dish is Scaloppine di Vitello alla Bolognese, Veal Scaloppine all Bolognese, which also includes Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, as well as other local specialties Prosciutto di Parma and balsamic vinegar.

For dessert (as if the ice cream wasn’t a dessert) try Torta Bonissima, a Honey and Nut Pie.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY While we have communicated with well over a thousand Italian wine producers and merchants to help prepare these articles, our policy is clear. All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed

Donini Lamberti Trebbiano-Chardonnay IGT 2005 12% alcohol about $8 (liter)

Everybody has prejudices. I approached this bottle with several of them. It seems to me that a liter of wine is usually too big, accentuating quantity at the expense of quality. Given the economics of the wine industry, I am usually reticent to purchase a bottle for $8, which would be $6 for a regular-sized bottle. And finally while Emilia-Romagna is often known for its red wines, it is not particularly known for its white wines, with an unfortunate exception, the DOCG wine Albana di Romagna, discussed above. And now to the actual wine.

The first time that I drank this wine I found that its taste was one of green apples, dominating everything else but still light on flavor if not unpleasant. It didn’t really accompany the food, a breaded chicken cutlet in sweet and sour sauce with potatoes cooked in chicken fat. As the wine aged a bit, (it takes a long time to finish a liter if you don’t care to drink very much at a time) it got better instead of worse. I have read that 3.5 million bottles of this type wine are produced yearly. I understand that it is popular in fish restaurants along the Adriatic Sea. I’d love to find out for sure. Final verdict, not bad for the price.

Parmigiano-Reggiano is a cooked, unpressed semi-fat hard cheese made from raw cow’s milk. It is encased in a thin, yellow rind. This cheese is finely grained and very flaky. Its taste is delicate and fragrant, and frankly wasted with a wine of this quality.

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. His wine website is www.theworldwidewine.com http://www.theworldwidewine.com . You can reach him at ital@mail.theworldwidewine.com ital@mail.theworldwidewine.com .

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It seems that a lot of people dream of getting a children’s book published. Knowing that I am in the publishing business, I have had scores of people over the years tell me that they either have an idea for a great children’s book or have already written one. But how many of these ever got published? Not many. A lot of them just aren’t that good, but some of them may be gems. The reality is that, even though you have a good story, it is not easy to find a publisher. Some people resort to paying a company to publish their book. That isn’t really a viable alternative because you have to invest a lot of money up front before you know if your book will sell.

One solution is to take advantage of modern technology and publish your book yourself. So how do you go about publishing a book that you have written? Fortunately, you have several options. With today’s powerful desktop publishing tools it’s not too hard to do a layout all by yourself, print the pages on a laser printer, and take it somewhere like Kinko’s to be put in a generic binding. If you want the book to be personalized with the child’s name and the names of friends and relatives as well, it’s possible to do that with word processing software, although you have to be pretty good at using the software. One alternative would be to find someone experienced at word processing to do your layout for you on a contract basis. Another alternative would be to use a custom book service Custom Books that would take your story and illustrations, place them into a scripted format, and provide you with customized software and binding materials for making your books at home, one at a time, as your customers order them.

Once you have the production aspects of your book handled, you can decide how you’re going to market your book. Thanks to the internet, it is now possible for an author to market his or her books directly to the public. You probably aren’t going to get rich this way, but that’s not really the point in most cases. It is satisfying to see your creation in print and to know that others are enjoying your book. By doing a little research on the web you can quickly learn how to develop a website to market your book. There are many hosting companies from which to choose, and it’s surprising how little it costs to operate a small site. You can easily set up a PayPal account so your customers can pay by any means they wish to use.

Instead of just dreaming about being a published author, why not just make it happen? I recently read an inspirational poster in a classroom to this effect. It said something like this: Don’t sit around and wait for your dreams to come true; instead, work hard to make them come true.

Bill Graham,

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There is a wide range of unique African American gifts available today. For history buffs, a figurine of a historical figure would be a welcome gift for any occasion. Figurines of Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Madam C.J. Walker, Ida Wells, Frederick Douglas or a Buffalo Soldier, Tuskegee Airman or member of the Kansas Infantry will be proudly displayed.

Some African Americans collect memorabilia that has to do with the life, punishment, flight and emancipation of their ancestors. These collectors love to receive replicas of posters, documents and segregation signs. Some collect such things as chains and shackles that can be purchased at auction sales and are a part of history that is slowly fading away.

If your gift recipient is a lover of angels, there are so many beautiful ones available on today’s market. Angels are popular and now you can purchase a line of African American angels. From the innocence and simplicity of child angels to the exquisite angels with flocked wings and carat gold trim, angels bring the feeling of love and peace into a home.

For a warm cozy feeling, give your gift recipient a blanket or throw. Perfect for a wedding gift is a throw that depicts an African American couple jumping the broom. Black Heroes and African American Women are honored on throws and many have cushions to match. Throws depicting more contemporary scenes are also available.

For the religious gift recipient, give a beautiful Bible cover or organizer that shows a scene from the Good Book with African Americans going about their daily business of worshipping and praising God. Praying Hands and Mud Cloth designs are also available.

For children, there are a wide variety of books and games available. A good read is always welcome to the avid reader. Children will love learning about their culture by reading such books as Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas or The Underground Railroad. These books teach children the history of both their ancestry and America.

From African American calendars, books and figurines to CDs, DVDs and posters, you can easily find a unique gift for those of African American descent. Check stores that carry unique gift items or search online for that very special gift made just for the gift recipient.

Cassaundra Flores is the co-owner of www.skyfireproducts.com http://www.skyfireproducts.com , where you’ll find thousands of creative, unique and inexpensive items for your home, bed and bath, garden and any special occasion in your life.

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Surveys have shown that the average person will work 900,000 hours in their lives (1,800,000 hours in a two-job household) and when they retire will live on an income only 1/3 of what they were earning prior to retirement. In reality, many people may work all their lives and never be able to retire.

Adding insult to injury, during their working careers most people must endure having their boss control their income, their daily schedule and even when they can take vacation. They will also risk layoffs, downsizing and termination… regardless of performance.

How can (and do) people break this scenario? By owning their own businesses… and thousands of people are entering the world of entrepreneurship every day.

People who never thought they had an option are learning that they can own their own businesses (and their futures) and working part-time or full-time can earn substantial secondary or primary income to their families as well as realizing the meaningful tax benefits that accompany business ownership.

One in fourteen U.S. homes is incubating an entrepreneur. In close to 7 million U.S. households, someone is trying to launch a new business. That means approximately 7.2% of Americans are hoping to get into business for themselves.

According to the Entrepreneurial Research Consortium that trend dovetails with another: more MBA’s as well as college graduates are starting business ventures after graduating from school.

Why do people start a small business? Most times, for one of the following four reasons:

Independence. They are tired of working for someone else.

Challenge. Small business ownership requires a great deal of responsibility. Some people thrive on that.

Prestige. Small business ownership offers community recognition, first as a successful business operator, and later as a contributor to the economic and social welfare of the entire community.

No Restrictions. There are no restrictions and few prerequisites for small business ownership. Race is not a factor in small business. Neither is gender. As a matter of fact, women are starting small businesses at six times the rate of men.

If you are thinking of going into business, you should consider the advantages and disadvantages.

As one frustrated entrepreneur (who had still kept her sense of humor in tact) was heard to quip - “The only thing more over-rated than natural childbirth is owning your own business.”

Running a business of your own will bring a sense of independence, and a sense of accomplishment. You will be the boss, and you can’t be fired, though there may be days when you would welcome it. You will experience a pride in ownership - such as you experience if you own your own home. You can derive great satisfaction from offering a product or service that is valued in the market place.

By being the boss you can adopt new ideas quickly. Since your endeavor undoubtedly will be a small business - at least in the beginning - you will have no large, unwieldy organization to re-direct if a change is needed. This opportunity for flexibility is one of small businesses greatest assets.

Dr. James A. McCain is a Management Consultant in Rexford, New York and may be reached at Business Works, 518-383-3337, or through his web site at www.bizdrsolution.com http://www.bizdrsolution.com .

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