Uncategorized Archive

Business Process Consulting – Consulting to the Small Business Owner

Why are small businesses such a powerhouse in the economy?One of the ingredients is that successful small businesses are run by people with passion. Small business owners believe in what they are doing, and they love doing it. They are brimming with ideas.At heart, most small business people feel that they were born to make a difference in the world – to make the world a better place. The small business owner is obsessed with succeeding in making that difference and reaping the rewards that they deserve for both themselves and for the people around them.They do what it takes to make something happen – the long hours, the heartache, the joy, the desperation, the failure, the success and the elation. These people experience the full range of human emotion in the pursuit of their dream. They are the true believers.How then can the small business consultant contribute to the small business owner’s success?The answer is that the small business consultant must know how to help the small business owner learn to think strategically and thereby gain clarity, focus and direction. Such results are possible only when the consultant keeps three critical factors in mind:- While passion is often a key ingredient, a small business cannot run on passion alone- The small business person must make good strategic decisions- A successful small business person works hardA Small Business Cannot Run on Passion AlonePassion is critical in small business, but it must be channeled and directed. Single-minded focus is gained only by going through a deep thinking, soul-searching process that delivers a clear sense of Mission, Vision and Values.This process must occur at the personal level and then be reflected in the business itself, through words that spell out the Mission, Vision and Values in easily understood language.These words become the primary essence of the business. For the small business person, these statements spell out their beliefs and assumptions about their business and inform everything that they think, say and do.Every morning, when the successful small business person gets out of bed, it is with a real sense of purpose, namely, to fulfill his or her Mission.Their Mission, Vision and Values are well understood within their business, and they are the critical clauses of the employment contract that everyone in the business signs up for.Mission, Vision and Values inform and shape all business policy development and the processes and measures that are put in place to ensure disciplined execution.Making Good Strategic DecisionsOnce the value base of the business is defined, it must be aligned with good strategic decisions.Strategy Formulation is critical for success in small business. It is the thinking that this exercise generates that delivers high performing action, sustainable outcomes and lasting results.The effective small business consultant takes the small business owner through a process of thinking that ensures that the nature and the direction of the business are fully understood. The critical issues for action are identified and priorities are set.Agreed actions must then be written down, so that they cascade from the strategic level to all the operational streams of the business. Everyone in the business must know what part they play in achieving the strategic goals.Remember, small business people are energized by the demands put on them in the moment. This is because they are people of action. However, this can be a problem when they are under too much pressure. They can become overwhelmed by the clamor of present demands, and they often fail to have a planned approach.Working to a well constructed small business plan, based in good strategic thought and decision making, relieves the pain of the frenetic pace and worries of the day to day.By paying attention to the important things that further their strategic goals, the successful small business person gains the right perspective on immediate and urgent sounding distractions. Business development and risk management are all addressed, when the small business owner works to a plan.One of the important things that the small business person must have clear in their minds is everything to do with their customers. They must know who they are. They must know what they need. They must know where they are and how they are going to be reached. They must know their own capabilities in being able to deliver what their customers want.They must know the gaps in their own business that must be addressed to achieve high yielding results.When all their capabilities are analyzed at depth, the small business owner has the information he or she needs to make the decisions that will secure the future of the business. The small business consultant must ensure this is the case.A Successful Small Business Person Works HardWhen the small business owner is clear about his or her Mission and Vision, and is behaving in keeping with a well defined set of values, hard work is not an issue. Working to a well conceived plan generates sufficient enthusiasm that even small gains become immensely gratifying.Quality of thinking, combined with good decisions and focused action, evoke the work ethic that creates momentum and delivers outstanding results. Small business owners are energized and become even more motivated when they are in touch with their own value base.They feel in control when they have a good plan in place that they can work to. This is because they are paying attention to the right things, in the right way, and they can see that they are making progress.Passion, aligned with good decision making at the strategic level, puts them in control of their business and makes them feel alive. It puts them on the path of never-ending improvement, both personally and in their business.

Mind Technology – Technology vs Nature

Over time technology has helped man to move his physical body and things faster and faster and to more and more places he couldn’t go before.Now technology is able to help man move his mind faster and to more places in the same way. This technology is Mind Technology.Mind technology is developed from other technologies upon which it is based upon and which makes this possible. Technology such as electricity, electronic audio and computer.What was once done at normal speed in the traditional way can now be accelerated to hyper speeds with technology. It is like being able to travel in a supersonic jet when you once had to walk.Some people think it is best to do things the natural way than to rely on technology. But would you want to walk from one end of the Earth to another when you could fly there in a supersonic jet? You would not even think of doing that!It is possible to walk from one end of the Earth to the other though, since all land is connected to each other from the North pole. The Earth is actually one flat piece of land wrapped around a sphere and not separate pieces across the globe. But without technology, we cannot travel to the deepest parts of the ocean or even to the moon.The moment technology is developed, we got to use it. We either progress or regress. We never stand still. Advancement of technology is the result of advancement in knowledge. Changing the way we do things by adapting technology is the natural way of evolving our lives.Of course, just because we have a supersonic jet, a car or even a motorized wheelchair to use doesn’t mean we do not train our ability to walk anymore. We still use what is natural but we incorporate the use of technology as well. So the best way to live is to use both nature and technology. We should never let technology dominate our natural abilities but we should use it to enhance them.Technology is the natural result of man’s ability to think. So technology is actually part of nature. Technology and nature are one. The only difference between what is natural and unnatural is the use of it. Even things in nature can be used in unnatural ways.Man has used the power of the mind to develop technology. Consequently man is able to use the power of technology to develop the mind. Mind develops technology to develop mind. At this age, humanity’s progress is going to accelerate even more than ever before.A man was found to have virtually no brain at all. His head was bigger than normal size but his brain had shrunk to less than one millimeter of cerebral tissue covering the top of his spinal column. The student was suffering from hydrocephalus, the condition in which the cerebrospinal fluid, instead of circulating around the brain and entering the bloodstream, becomes dammed up inside thereby squashing the brain. His head was practically filled with fluid.The 26 year old student (1976) at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom had walked into the university doctor’s office with complaints of a cold. Somehow though, he had lived a perfectly normal life. He had no signs of any mental deficiency, had an IQ of 126 and an honors degree in mathematics!The brain is actually a receiver and not the total warehouse storing our consciousness. The brain is simply an instrument for the mind to communicate with the body. But the mind is not limited by the brain. It can even communicate with the body directly through nonlocal means.You are not flesh. You are an energy being using a physical body to interpret and explore this reality. Studying matter from the perspective of energy helps you to understand and work with it even better.Mind technology goes beyond the brain. It assist in unleashing the paranormal powers of the mind. With it, you can meditate at the push of a button, increase mental health, open up the sixth sense and sharpen your psychic abilities.

Should You Consider Outsourcing SEO?

For any online business, deciding whose SEO services to employ is a major business decision. In light of the recent trend towards outsourcing business functions to offshore providers, one question that faces businesses is whether to consider outsourcing SEO to an offshore SEO services provider. This article will cover some of the benefits to outsourcing SEO.Outsourcing, in general, can be a huge benefit to companies. Although many companies find it hard to do so, for a fear of a lack of control, those that outsource usually are glad they did. Typical benefits that companies that outsource experience are great results for much less cost. Outsourcing SEO is no exception.One huge benefit to outsourcing SEO is that SEO services companies do SEO for a living, and are good at it. They have the SEO expertise and knowledge to get you the results you need. Being able to tap into the expertise of an SEO services provider will free you up to run your business while experiencing better SEO results than you could probably accomplish on your own.Another benefit to outsourcing SEO is that it would cost you much less than it would to hire an SEO employee. Outsourcing SEO overseas is even cheaper than outsourcing to a local SEO services company. And just because it’s outsourced to someone offshore, doesn’t mean your results will be any worse. In fact, you will often experience even better results from outsourcing SEO offshore than you would from someone local, as offshore SEO services providers need to be good to get the business.A third benefit is that by outsourcing SEO, and putting someone on it who has the time to dedicate to getting you your results, you will get your results much quicker than you would if you kept your SEO in-house and had to juggle SEO with trying to run your business.Here’s a story from my personal experience. My friend was launching an online business which was going to be entirely online, and so he needed good SEO in order to have a successful business. He chose to outsource the SEO services for the business to an offshore SEO. He was soon ranking in the top 5 results on Google for all his main search terms, even beating out Wikipedia and a government site for his most popular term. The best part about it was that he was getting these great results for only a few hundred dollars a month.This example just goes to show that you can get great SEO results by outsourcing SEO. Here’s a quick, three question test that will show you whether or not outsourcing SEO would be a good option for you:Do you want to achieve great SEO results? Do you want these great results at a great price? Do you want great results quickly?If you answered yes to these questions, then you should definitely consider using an offshore SEO services provider. Outsourcing SEO works, and businesses all over are experiencing that. You could too…

How to Save on Automobile Insurance

There are a number of easy ways to save money with automobile insurance. Your current insurance carrier may have pointed out some of the discounts that could benefit you but in the end it is up to you to be aware of your options and to ask what they have available and what you qualify for.Insurance rates are based on a number of factors but the number of ways you can decrease your rates are also numerous. The programs are outlined below. Be aware that not all insurers offer these discounts or rebates and some states’ laws prohibit them from being applied. Everything is mentioned because of 2 main reasons – knowledge is power and it doesn’t hurt to ask the insurance provider.Occupational DiscountInsurance companies pay attention to which occupations tend to mean less driving and less risk-taking as this translates into fewer accidents. If you’re in one of those professions, you could enjoy savings. Some of the qualifying occupations are police officers, firefighters, doctors, dentists, registered nurses, teachers, engineers and scientists.If you are a current or former member of the armed forces, or are a college student taking part in a commissioning program such as ROTC, you might be eligible for certain savings. For insurers that cater specifically to the military there are additional factors which may help to lower premiums such as your rank, whether or not your vehicle is parked in a base garage and if your automobile is stored during deployment or while otherwise away from home.Additionally, some employee car insurance discounts stem from the business relationships your insurer maintains with other companies. Being an employee of one of these companies could translate into savings for you.Generally it’s a good idea to check with all the organizations to which you belong and find out what discounts (if any) they have arranged and with what companies.Credit ScoreChecked your credit score lately? The vast majority of insurance companies take credit scores into account these days, and a high one could help cut your auto premiums by as much as half, The specific scores which trigger discounts are a closely kept secret but industry sources say that someone with a score above 700 will be more eligible for lower premiums than someone with a score in the 500s.AffiliationsInsurance carriers sometimes offer discounts because of their sponsorship relationships. The relationship could be with a sorority or fraternity, a trade association or a university, to name a few. Whether you are a student or an alumni you may be eligible for a discount.Going GreenIt is a common practice these days for companies to offer the option to go green by opting to reduce paper statements. What may not be commonly known is that your insurer may reward you with a rebate for choosing this option.MileageMost people know that reducing the number of miles you drive on an annual basis will result in savings on your insurance bill. Some companies, also offer discounts of up to 10 percent if you go green by driving a fuel-efficient hybrid vehicle. It’s not that the hybrid cars are safer, insurance experts say; it’s that the people who go out of their way to buy and drive them are seen as a better risk.Safety and ProtectionYou may already know that safety features such as air bags or anti-lock brakes can reduce your premiums. But you might not realize you can save money on the comprehensive portion of your insurance by installing anti-theft measures including: car alarms; fuel or ignition cutoff switches; stolen-car tracking systems such as LoJack; and VIN etchings, or engravings of your vehicle identification number on your windshield and windows.Taking defensive driving courses is another way to get a discount on your auto insurance rates. It can represent as much as ten percent off on your premium. Not only that, You may not only end up learning some important defensive driving techniques to keep you and your passengers safe, but you may also end up saving yourself some money.The Good Driver Discount is a well known benefit available to those who have no moving violations. The discount may also take into consideration where you live and where you park. Savings could be as much as 20% if you qualify.Planning AheadPlanning ahead when it’s time to renew your policy can put money in your pocket. Some insurance companies,give discounts of 5-10% if you switch to them before your next premium is due. To take advantage of these early shop-around savings, you should start looking at least two weeks before your current auto policy is up. However, before jumping ask your current provider if they will match the competitor’s early switcher discount with a renewal discount. Chances are they will consent if you are a good customer with a good driving record in order to keep you.LoyaltySome car insurance providers reward loyalty. Nationwide gives customers who have been with the company at least five years a 15 percent discount, or 5 percent off if they have been with them for three years.Good GradesIf you fit into the category your provider defines as qualifying for the “good student discount” you can save money on your car insurance. In fact, companies often provide discounts in excess of ten percent. This is based on the theory that good students are better drivers. Generally the discount only applies to full time students. The qualifications vary but the discount generally applies to both high school and college students. Savings can be 10-25%.Two’s CompanyIt may not make sense to you but premiums can drop when you get married, as insurance company statistics show that drivers who are coupled up tend to be safer than those who are footloose and fancy-free. Some insurers will even extend the discount to unmarried same -sex couplesOther unmarried couples might insure their vehicles together to receive a multicar discount, which almost all providers offer. Or, if the two of you own property together and have homeowners insurance, there’s usually a bundling discount to insure your car with the same company.Whether you’re married or single, do some research before you renew an auto policy to make sure you’re getting all the discounts you canBundling DiscountIf you buy multiple types of insurance from the same provider you can often save money. For example – if you get your life insurance, auto insurance and home-owners insurance from the same company they may give you discounts on each and every one of them. With most companies the more types of insurance you bundle, the more you save off the price of buying them all separately.Payment Method DiscountA lot of insurance companies offer a discount if you set up some form of automated payment. Most of these discounts are cumulative so, if you’ve got a lot of them you might really be able to save.Multiple Automobile DiscountMuch like bundling, insuring more than one car will qualify you for a multiple car discount. The make, model and year of the vehicles, the number of vehicles and other factors are taken into consideration but the savings can be significant.Saving Money with Pay as You Drive InsuranceThis new and increasingly popular type of insurance can be based on specific mileage amounts you and the insurer agree to, the time you spend in your automobile, verified odometer readings or installed technology, such as a GPS.Although considerable savings can be realized with this type of insurance it is important to remain within the mileage constrictions agreed to with the insurance company. Violations can be costly.ConclusionThere are many possibilities for saving money with automobile insurance. Your insurance representative may point some out to you but in the end it will be up to you to do your research and ask the questions.When looking around for the cheapest insurance you can qualify for don’t lose sight of the big picture. What I mean is, an insurance provider that offers many discounts may still not be cheaper than a company that offers few discounts.

Events and Entertainment in Dublin

Dublin is a cosmopolitan city having never-ending potentials for the provision of round the clock entertainment and fun to its tourist. The reason behind this is its electrifying entertaining attitude and a long list of events happening every next day. Dublin is the capital city and is the centre of entertainment and amusement in Ireland. The cheerful Dubliners believe in “If you’re not having fun… what are you having”. Entertainment is something they live for. Just think about any branch of entertainment and you will definitely find it in Dublin-Theatres, cinemas, festivals, exhibitions, bars, clubs, concerts, comedy, and sports. Let’s talk about each one of these one by one:Dublin CinemaThe cinema in Dublin is a fascinating instrument to entertain locals and visitors at low costs. The magic and magnetism of the silver screen inspires everyone. Cinema is not only a source of entertainment but it also plays an influential role in the education of children and teenagers. When in comes to building up a healthy society the cinema can offer and accomplish much in this regard. Dublin hosts its own international film festival every year. Dublin cinema gives its spectator a complete parcel of action, romance, thrill, adventure and fun.Dublin TheatreDublin has a flourishing theatre scene. Theatre is a form of performing arts which benefits a city with the flair of creativity. The young Dubliners are interested to attend concerts and music events. Theater is a part of Irish culture. Theaters play the role of acting schools. The Irish actors make their money through movies, but earn reputations by working on the stage.
The theater has always been seen as a national amusement activity. Each year around October The Dublin Theater Festival and Fringe Festival are arranged to quench the thirst of drama and arts lovers. Dublin is an extraordinarily lively theater town; major names in Dublin Theatre include the world-famous Abbey Theater, the Gaeity Theater, Civic Theatre, The Liberty Hall Centre, The Pavilion and The Lambert Puppet Theatre. The Abbey is said to be the jewel in the crown of Dublin Theater, It presents productions of works by Irish playwrights in past and present.Dublin Comedy”Laughter is the best medicine.” Laughter is exceptionally significant for a person’s mental health. American cardiologist Dr. William Fry says a good laugh is like a mini workout and 100-200 laughs are equivalent to 10 minutes of jogging or rowing. It makes you feel good, gets your blood circulating, and makes you happy. It is a gift that you can pass it on to other people. Dublin has many offers of comedy shows that will make u laugh until your tummy gets tight.Comedy in Dublin has grown to be a very well-liked type of entertainment over the last few years. You can find the best Irish comedic talent in Dublin. Dublin is also home to a number of big comedy clubs.Dublin SportsDublin has a lot of stuff for sport lovers. Dublin presents a wealth of sports to its people and visitors. Dublin is recognized as the home of the world’s best golf courses. Golf is an individual sport. . The golf courses in Dublin can surely be marked as magnificent places for golf lovers to spend their holidays with fun and etiquettes. Dublin offers a number of world famous golf courses to play. Almost all of these courses are appropriate for beginners and experts both. The ideal time to play and to enjoy golf on the soil of Ireland is in the summer season.Dublin is fairly known for its high breed horses and thrilling race-courses. These world class race-courses provide entertainment and exercise to the riders and the spectators. Horse racing is a popular historical game of Dublin, now it has become a great business as well.Greyhound racing is an electrifying spectator sport and a multi-million money industry. It was introduced in Ireland in 1927 and since the day it was started it is growing. Today, this sport has become an essential part of the lives of millions of people. In the world of Greyhound Racing, Dublin holds its own identity.There are a lot of other games like Hurling, Rugby, soccer, Gaelic football, water sport, cycling, angling and hiking. The shoreline of Dublin Bay always welcomes visitors and locals for windsurfing, sailing and fishing. The lush green magnificent mountains around the city receive the hikers whole heartedly to enjoy their walks in tranquil atmosphere. This place also invites bicyclers. The attitude of this city is warm and friendly for those who are interested in work outs. This is why we see that Dublin’s calendar is full of sporting events whole year round.Dublin CasinoThe heart beat of Dublin night life lays in casinos. Casinos can be found without difficulty all over the city, offering excitement, thrill, suspense and the passion to win. Casinos is Dublin can be called boxes of tricks presenting a diversity of gaming options, including slots, and video poker machines. The Casino Marino is the best known casino is Dublin. The interior of the Casino is entirely decorated with ornate plasterwork and richly decorated ornate floors. Casinos in Dublin ensure that you are going to have a night of absolute enthusiasm and amusement.Dublin ClubbingLights, music, drink and dance is all what makes a club popular. Clubs come to life after dusk and these are associated with hanging out and high tones of music. Dublin club scene has everything you are looking for to spend a dynamic weekend; the perfect milieu, shacking music, rocking DJs and energetic crowd in the dark. There is a long queue of the clubs, bars, pubs and taverns in the electrifying city of Dublin with funky interiors, crazy lights, smoke machines and dance floors. So go to a nightclub, be a party animal and let the madness overcome you.Dublin ExhibitionsDublin is ready to entertain and electrify you with its resourceful exhibitions. Dublin hosts a number of exhibitions all year round. These exhibitions of great artistic work can surely mesmerize you with the quality of products and crafts displayed. Exhibitions are the best way to demonstrate and present any thing to its target audience. Dublin calendar is filled with the various exhibitions happening in the city including exhibition of paintings, book exhibitions, performing arts exhibitions, film exhibitions and flower exhibitions.Dublin FestivalsCome and Get Rocked. Rhythmic melodies, enchanting fireworks, arty street theatres, joyful dances and the fancy parades are part of some of the festive activities in Dublin. The majestic capital city of Ireland, Dublin brings an extensive series of festivals to entertain its people and to glorify the environment like book fairs, fun fairs, food festivals, fashion festivals, film festivals and many more. If you want to treat yourself with a Christmas celebration, a New Year party, St. Patrick’s Day or any other event, then come to Dublin next time. The electrifying celebrations will be there to amuse you.Dublin has a never ending list of celebrations and joys. So if you are planning to spend your next holiday season in the wonderful city of Dublin just go to Dublin Events before you make a vacation plan. The Dublin Events team has categorized all the major entertainment spots and events in Dublin only for your comfort and convenience.

Best Business Books on Branding

It’s a Darwin world and brand is key to survival. The game is changing and there are many questions you need to know how to deal with if you want to survive and thrive. For example, how do you grow a premium brand in today’s world? How do you compete in a category for top position in your customer’s mind? How can you build an emotional bond with your customers? How do you leverage the Web to co-create your product and brand to win raving fans, build awareness, and drive adoption? How do you differentiate your brand in a compelling way that connects with customers?Luckily, we can find the answers to these questions, as well as effective principles, patterns, and practices for effective branding, in a choice selection of business books on branding.Harvard Business Review on Brand Management
The power of this book is that it provides multiple perspectives on branding. In this case, it includes the following articles and authors: Brands vs. Private Labels: Fighting to Win by John A. Quelch and David Harding; Building Brands Without Mass Media by Erich Joachimsthaler and David A. Aaker; Can This Brand Be Saved by Regina Fazio Maruca; Extend Profits, Not Product Lines by John A. Quelch and David Kenny; How Do You Grow a Premium Brand? by Regina Fazio Maruca; Should You Take Your Brand to Where the Action Is? by David A. Aaker; The Logic of Product-Line Extensions, Perspectives from the Editors; and Your Brand’s Best Strategy by Vijay Vishwanath and Jonathan Mark. You can use these articles to find unique insights and timeless truths on the art and science of branding.Married to the Brand – William J. McEwen
You can measure the emotional attachment of customers to your brand. It’s one thing to raise your brand awareness. It’s another to build enduring brand relationships. This book is unique in that it provides a strategic framework to manage and measure the relationships between a brand and its consumers. McEwen shows you how to leverage the five P’s to build a better brand: Product, Place, Price, Promotion, and People. He also shows you why you have to have credibility, be compelling, and connect to build the initial relationship. A key message in the book is that while no brand will marry 100% of its customers, every brand should try to create more marriages. The emotional connection with your brand becomes a key differentiator for your business in the long run.The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding – Al Ries
The beuaty of this book is that it’s a collection of timeless principles, patterns, and practices for branding. It also includes insight into building brands on the Web. This is especially important because of how the Web changes the game. The Web puts all the brands at your fingertips, so now you are competing for the top spots. Ries teaches you how to compete more effectively in niches, by dividing the niche and going for the top position in a customer’s mind. The key is that you don’t own the brand. Ries teaches us that the customer owns the brand and the value of the brand resides in the perception of the brand inside the prospect’s mind.The Brand Bubble – John Gerzema
The Brand Bubble addresses how to use brands to gain and sustain competitive advantage. Gerzema analyzed more than a decade’s worth of brand data. He concluced that the brand bubble is going to burst. Manager’s have been measuring trust and awareness as the value of brands, but Gerzema says they are wrong. In fact, by following those metrics, they can actually speed up the decline of their brands. Instead, brands need to show “energized differentation” to achieve better financial performance. Gerzema shares a five-stage model to reveal how creativity and change are the keys to success for brands today and tomorrow.The Brand Gap – Marty Neumeier
This book is about how you make your brand essential to the lives of your customers. It’s a fast-paced book that helps you learn how to ask the questions to ask about your brand. It also helps you test your brand concepts quickly and cheaply. Neumeier gives you a mental model and frame for thinking about how the game of branding is changing, as well as a framework for brand building.WIKIBRANDS – Mike Dover
WIKIBRANDS is about how to play in the new game of branding. The Web changes how things work. Rather than push out your products and your brand, you can co-create them with your customers. With the Web, companies can connect to customers in more powerful ways, and earlier in the cycle, and throughout the cycle. You can find out earlier and faster what customers really want. You can also leverage customers as raving fans to help you evaneglize and socialize your product through work-of-mouth marketing. Dover also shares metrics and measurement tools to help you identify which of your efforts are actually working.Zag – Marty Neumeier
Zag is about how to achieve “radical differentiation.” Differentiation is an increasingly important factor in standing out in the market. Neumier argues that just being differetin in the usual ways is no longer enough. Neumier shares lots of pragmatic advice such as how to use customer feeedback more effectively, how to name your products, services, and companies for better results, how to stretch your brand without breaking it, and how to design difference into your brand using 17 steps.

Jobs and Health Care, Can You Afford to Get Sick Now?

In our current economic climate having and keeping both jobs and health-care go hand in hand. With a lot of people not being able to afford health insurance on their own it is very convenient if you have a job that has healthcare coverage as a benefit. These jobs nowadays are very far and few in between however and because of this a lot of people are struggling with health care related debt. If you already have a job that gives you a health care benefit, hold on to it with dear life. If you do not have a job which provides this benefit and you cannot afford to provide this for yourself then you should be job hunting. Even if all you can find is a part-time job that has health insurance this is still better than no insurance at all.Both jobs and health care are very important to each and every person especially at the present time when our country is facing a recession. Here are just a few companies that carry health insurance for their employees; Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Starbucks, UPS, DHL, Home Depot, Hospitals, Churches, Costco and Whole foods. These are just a few companies as I am sure that there is a lot more out there that offer jobs that provide health care benefits. You can research these online and find out what is in your area and what is best for you. As I said before you can get a part-time job also, so you can still keep your current job if you have the time to juggle both. Yes jobs are hard to find especially now but you have to try for the sake of yourself and your family. It will only serve to benefit you and your family and no one else. There are so many things that could go wrong which will necessitate medical attention. This is especially important if you have small children or aged parents who are more at risk of developing illnesses.Jobs and health care go hand in hand, that is an established fact. The best options are; either you have a job that provides health care coverage or you have a job that does not but pays you enough so you can afford health insurance on your own. Either way it is your personal responsibility to ensure that you have a job or jobs and health care coverage. You can do research online to see the options that are available to you which will enable you in your decision making process. You can find a part time job and keep your current job if it is too difficult to find a regular job. Whatever option you chose it is imperative to have health care coverage as well as a job and since there is the potential to access both of them at the same time, you should go for it.-

Obtaining Quality Home Health Care

Certified home health care is a convenient in- home companion service available for seniors and their families. Opting to utilize a reliable home care agency offers rewarding advantages; to include a wide range of quality medical services. Elderly who opt to receive in-home medical services are given the opportunity to live healthy and prolific lives at home.Making the decision to receive nursing home care can be challenging for the patient and their families. Healthcare decision- making generally involves identifying key quality measures that will determine how effective such service would be. Consequently, the task for opting effective home nursing care is to identify an agency that meets clinical review standards, while also offering compassionate and compatible services that will help seniors live independently as long as possible.In the home setting, there are a variety of health care interventions utilized to help the patient maintain a comfortable lifestyle. The healthcare services have proven to be resourceful and qualitative. Home healthcare services for the elderly generally include skilled nursing care, health aides and personal assistance, and comprehensive wellness programs. A certified full- service healthcare company is ranked by its ability to provide quality patient care and extensive financial performance. More so, the home care saves lives by managing pain levels, medication administration, and wound healing as well as preventing chronic diseases.Skilled nursing care is utilized by in- home patients to improve or maintain a patient’s condition and to prevent further illnesses. Skilled nurses are registered or licensed clinical staff that ensures that the services are implemented safely and effectively. Conversely, non- professional medical staff, such as health aids or personal assistance employees provide the usual daily activities.The skilled nurses provide services, such as administer medications, administer disease management programs, and implement advanced technology. The health aids provide assistance with daily activities that include eating, bathing, and walking. They may also assist with monitoring colostomy or bladder catheters or administering oxygen. However, the responsibilities of both disciplines are clinically necessary and must meet the review standards to restore the maximal level of function and health.As the oldest form of healthcare, in- home medical care services have a variety of rewarding benefits. Incidentally, elder home care services are inexpensive due to recent Medicaid and Medicare regulations. In the United States alone, 12million Americans receive in- home health servicesas it has become extremely popular amongst the elderly population. Using specialized nursing services not only gives the family members a well deserved break, they are given the comfort in knowing that professionals are prepared to help them.In addition to obtaining professional assistance at a low cost, the patient will maintain a healthy well- being by experiencing daily socialization and communication. Social interactions helps the elderly stay connected and sharpen social skills. Because professional medical care is readily accessible, the family member is relieved of the responsibility and burdens about missing work or school to care for love ones.With that being said, family members do not have to worry about the patient not taking medications in a timely manner or eating a balanced diet as they should. In fact, home health care contributes to the long- term health of their patients as well as the economy.

Top Ten Saddle Fitting Myths

The internet is chock full of information, but sometimes it can be frustrating not knowing what is true and what is not. Myths abound in the area of saddle fitting, and we sort through these myths with our customers on a daily basis. These myths can cause frustration as well as cost you money, so beware of the following:Myth #1: One size fits all.Quite a few times per week we find ourselves explaining that one size saddle does not fit all horses. This seems like basic information, but for a first-time horse owner, it can be baffling to find that not only do saddles come with different seat sizes for you, but they also come with different tree sizes for your horse. We tried to make a simple way for customers to measure their horses to find out what size bar they need and came up with our handy, printable gullet templates. Regardless of how much your horse weighs or how wide you think his back is, measuring just to make sure can save you the headache of returning an ill-fitting saddle.
Myth #2: I’ll be able to buy a saddle that fits two different horses.There is a rare exception to this myth, and that’s if you have two horses that are extremely similar in weight, back width, back length, and wither shape. But a mere 25 pounds in the wrong spot, a 3 inch shorter back, or a slightly higher wither can mean a saddle fitting one horse and hurting another. If you’re shopping for two horses, we recommend focusing on one horse at a time instead of trying to come up with a compromise between the two. Compromising saddle fit is, quite frankly, compromising your horse’s comfort and therefore, his behavior as well.Myth #3: A good saddle pad will solve my saddle fitting problems.Many horse owners think that putting a good saddle pad under an ill-fitting saddle will alleviate pinching, slipping, or uneven pressure. Good saddle pads can cause the saddle to fit better. There is much technology in the pad industry to help a saddle fit better and you should take advantage of that technology. Padding-up to help eliminate sores from a poor fitting saddle is not a good choice. For example, if a saddle is too narrow, padding up to buffer the pressure will make the horse wider which will cause more pressure.Myth #4: All saddles that claim to be semi-quarter horse have the same gullet width.There are many variations to this myth. The truth is that the saddle industry uses terms loosely. Semi-quarter horse bars are often referred to as quarter horse bars, but others use the term quarter horse bars to describe wide bars, so the same saddle can be given different terms. This is very confusing to someone buying their first saddle. We’ve tried to wrestle this myth to the ground in our shop by standardizing our terms. We apply the term regular to narrow, semi-quarter horse bars and the term full to wide, full quarter horse bars.Myth #5: There are standard measurements in the saddle industry.It’s surprising to find out that manufacturers do not have a standardized way to measure gullet width. Billy Cook may do it differently than Crates, so that if each company were to measure the same gullet, a different number might be the result. At the shop we built our own little tool to measure gullets. We measure each saddle by hand so that a standard of comparison between our saddles is achieved, no matter what manufacturer produced it. Most online saddle shops simply use the statistics that the manufacturers provide with each saddle, leaving you to guess how the numbers actually stack up.Myth #6: I can’t order a saddle online because I need to try it on first.There’s no denying that the best way to see if a saddle will fit is to try it on your horse. Yet thankfully saddle fitting is not rocket science, and our customers have successfully fit thousands of “hard to fit” horses simply by using our downloadable templates and discussing the horse’s particular needs with a saddle expert. We’ve dealt with all sorts of conformations, from sway backed to high withered, and unless your horse has multiple unique issues, there’s no reason to think you can’t make a great choice online and save money over your local tack shop.Myth #7: I have to be an expert to tell if my saddle fits properly.With all the helpful articles on saddle fitting on the web today, it can feel like you have to know a textbook full of information to be able to select a well-fitting saddle. Many customers call feeling exasperated wondering, “Is it really THAT hard?” No, it isn’t. All you have to be sure of is your horse and your saddle needs—no one can be an expert on those two areas but you! We have several tips regarding this frustration. First, if you’re having a specific problem, like white hairs on your horse or saddle slippage, troubleshoot those areas first. Secondly, if you know your horse’s build and figure out what size tree will fit, half of your work is done. Most saddle fitting problems arise from a saddle that…doesn’t fit! Review our checklist on how to tell if you have a good saddle fit here.Myth #8: You have to spend a lot of money or get a custom-made saddle to find one that fits properly.If you went to Wal-Mart and were unable to find any clothes that fit, would you walk out convinced that you should pay exuberant prices for custom-made designer clothes? Probably not. It’s the same with your horse. If you have a hard-to-fit horse and are having trouble finding a saddle that fit, it doesn’t mean you need to dish out more money. Have you thoroughly researched your horse’s specific needs? If you know exactly what you need but haven’t found it yet, give us a call. Not only do we have extensive experience fitting horses, but we also have the ability to tell you what can and can’t be done and at what price. We’re proud to be partnered with Dakota saddelry, a quality company that does custom work for our shop. Dakota has always been willing to work with our customers and fit their specific needs at a low price.Myth #9: Flex trees can warp or cave in after you use them.We don’t know where this myth came from, but quite frankly, it’s preposterous. Flex trees are relatively new to the equine industry (in comparison with the age old wooden tree), and we suppose that if someone only heard the term “flexible tree” without knowing what it is, this myth would be easily spawned. Many people hear the term and assume that a flex tree is bendable like a piece of plastic or rubber. In reality, flex trees only “flex” about a centimeter in either direction, and only under pounds of pressure. You would probably find it hard to even see a flex tree “flexing.” This centimeter of movement, however, is what makes the flex tree more comfortable for the horse and allows the saddle to conform better to his movement. We’re not going to recommend flex trees for roping or ranch work, but we’re willing to say that under trail and pleasure conditions, there’s no way a flex tree is going to warp or cave in.Myth #10: I can get a close contact, narrow twist saddle for a very wide horse.Can you get a high-fashion, well-fitting, sportcoat for a very wide man? Nope. In the same way, a very wide horse is going to have to unfortunately admit he’s in the minority. Extra wide saddles are not impossible to come by, but you have a much more narrow selection. We recommend checking out Tucker trail saddles if you need an extra wide tree. The terms close contact and narrow twist refer to how you feel on the saddle. A close contact saddle with a narrow twist has less bulk and won’t spread the rider’s legs far apart. But a horse that is extra wide is not going to allow a close contact feel because of his broad back.

S&P 500 Rallies As U.S. Dollar Pulls Back Towards Weekly Lows

Key Insights
The strong pullback in the U.S. dollar provided significant support to stocks.
Treasury yields have pulled back after touching new highs, which served as an additional positive catalyst for S&P 500.
A move above 3730 will push S&P 500 towards the resistance level at 3760.
Advertisement

Pfizer Rallies After Announcing A Huge Price Hike For Its COVID-19 Vaccines
S&P 500 is currently trying to settle above 3730 as traders’ appetite for risk is growing. The U.S. dollar has recently gained strong downside momentum as the BoJ intervened to stop the rally in USD/JPY. Weaker U.S. dollar is bullish for stocks as it increases profits of multinational companies and makes U.S. equities cheaper for foreign investors.

The leading oil services company Schlumberger is up by 9% after beating analyst estimates on both earnings and revenue. Schlumberger’s peers Baker Hughes and Halliburton have also enjoyed strong support today.

Vaccine makers Pfizer and Moderna gained strong upside momentum after Pfizer announced that it will raise the price of its coronavirus vaccine to $110 – $130 per shot.

Biggest losers today include Verizon and Twitter. Verizon is down by 5% despite beating analyst estimates on both earnings and revenue. Subscriber numbers missed estimates, and traders pushed the stock to multi-year lows.

Twitter stock moved towards the $50 level as the U.S. may conduct a security review of Musk’s purchase of the company.

From a big picture point of view, today’s rebound is broad, and most market segments are moving higher. Treasury yields have started to move lower after testing new highs, providing additional support to S&P 500. It looks that some traders are ready to bet that Fed will be less hawkish than previously expected.

S&P 500 Tests Resistance At 3730

S&P 500 has recently managed to get above the 20 EMA and is trying to settle above the resistance at 3730. RSI is in the moderate territory, and there is plenty of room to gain additional upside momentum in case the right catalysts emerge.

If S&P 500 manages to settle above 3730, it will head towards the next resistance level at 3760. A successful test of this level will push S&P 500 towards the next resistance at October highs at 3805. The 50 EMA is located in the nearby, so S&P 500 will likely face strong resistance above the 3800 level.

On the support side, the previous resistance at 3700 will likely serve as the first support level for S&P 500. In case S&P 500 declines below this level, it will move towards the next support level at 3675. A move below 3675 will push S&P 500 towards the support at 3640.