Monday, July 30, 2012

Reading a Book: The Laws of Prosperity Kenneth Copeland



July 30, 2012 Monday 9:59 AM Philippine Time

5:00 AM Today was a stormy day, but it started out great because two of my greatest joys are in waking up with my baby Hannah beside me and seeing my wife nurse her for whatever babies need. We woke up early and the sun hasn’t touched the sky yet.

6:00 AM A few hours later, the entire house was blanketed by that cold darkness I have always despised. Even though it was early in the morning, there was a power failure. The water supply followed suit but fortunately we still had our extra stores of water. At the time the power went out, my wife and I were actually watching a video that came with the book that my mom lent my wife.

I was curious about it, but to be honest I didn’t really enjoy reading religious material or watching about it. To me they sounded all the same. But since the power went out and I can’t work outside nor dabble with the computer, I decided to read some parts of the book with whatever light I had.

One thing’s for sure, physical labor dulls my mind. I’m certain that it may have the same effects for those who have done it for longer periods. After all, who would want to read a book after doing some dirty and back breaking work?

But since yesterday was also rainy and I haven't managed to do any work, my body and mind were in good condition for some reading.



The title of the book is "The Laws of Prosperity" by Kenneth Copeland. I've been a curious skeptic to what some Christians call the prosperity gospel but I didn't think that this was related to it. For one, I haven't heard of Kenneth Copeland and he doesn't seem to be involved in any of those televangelists like Benny Hinn. I could be wrong and I'm sorry Benny, but your toupée doesn't seem right with me.

I mean, I don't know, maybe it's because of the things he says on television that were just unbelievable or too Christian-marketing inclined. I know that they run an orphanage near my hometown in Paranaque Philippines, and that's the only positive thought that I have of the man. But yeah, who am I to judge him right?

So anyway, I haven't read any kind of book for a long time even though the amount that I've written could already be equivalent to several volumes of Internet related things. I promised myself that I should get back into reading at the very least 1 page a day - to get me back into the habit. Yes, my reading has suffered that much, that I can only read a few pages before I get absolutely bored.

I've actually read 20 pages, so give me a pat in the back. I didn't understand most of it, since my mental faculties aren't really up to par nowadays, but here's one thing that I did understand about the first 20:

The financial laws of man are separate from the spiritual laws of God. That didn't make much sense didn't it?

Let's just say that the System of the World is different from the System of God

Alright that made a little bit more sense.

In the book, Ken, can I call him Ken? He says, that


  • "God has a highly organized system to meet the needs of every facet of your life
  • "The world's system of meeting our needs works exactly opposite from God's system"
  • "God's system and its laws are totally contradictory to the world's system"
  • "Money is the lowest form of power that exists on earth."
That's from page 18. 

My silly thought interlude: As I'm writing, the thought of the atheists on Google+ where I will be sharing this post actually came to my mind. I could almost imagine them saying #Fuckyou with a hashtag. 

Anyway, I know a fair amount about the world's system, but not all. To a certain extent, I agree with the notion that it is fallible. We've seen it, witnessed it, regardless of cultural-religious background. In fact, right now, as I write this, we all know that it is still in the painful process of failing. What I fail to comprehend is this system of God that's being talked about in the book. 

Sure, there are scriptures and inspirational thoughts strewn here and thereabouts, but to me they're all as vague as the weather we have right now. Cloudy and dark. 

I know that eventually, like most Christian themed books on prosperity that it will all redound or go back to tithing and doing God's work. I mean, that's not for me. But I'm interested at the very least in understanding these laws. That's all I can write right now, I'll be continuing this as I progress with my reading. Hopefully, I'll be able to finish it sometime. It's been years since I finished a book. 

Friday, July 27, 2012

Banned in HubPages: Making Money Online - A Poem

Encouraging No-No’s
Flickr
Banned In HubPages
A Poem by Daniel Andrei R. Garcia
"Dannybuntu"

I got banned as a writer in HubPages and I know that it is embarrassing to admit. 

To top that, I got banned 2 weeks after I linked my Google Adsense account in it.

~

I'm not angry and I suppose they can do anything they want

So what went wrong? They didn't even tell me that I can't

~

I linked to my own sites that's what went wrong. 

They say it's overly promotional, so go sing a song.

~

17 articles down the drain with not even a notice

I had to email them and be treated like a lettuce. 

~

My oldest article there was full of culture and flair, 

About Philippine legends unlike the other articles over there

~

I took a look at Keyword Tool External and guess what I found

Making money online was one of Hubpages' main stomping ground

~

Mr. Paul Edmonson the CEO of Hubpages, earlier got angry

For Google Panda may have affected their traffic so sorely

~

Now I must bid farewell to my poor little articles, 

Written since 2010, they're now as good as stinking pickles

~

Earning money online is just my sideline for a living, 

Though sometimes I think that the topic is not worth giving

~

So if you're like me, a weary online traveler 

Do understand that I've warned you not to go under.


Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Forbes Magazine: Investment and Celebrity Fix Publication

Forbes Building
Flickr: Forbes
Forbes Magazine started the ‘richest people’ list that so many of us enviously peruse while imagining what we would do with the billions that some people have. Not much thought is given to the founder of Forbes and what he’s worth. B.C Forbes, co-founder and financier of Forbes Magazine is the guy who joined with Walter Drey to bring the world what is considered one of the foremost business magazines in the world.

Forbes Magazine

The magazine is published biweekly and devoured by the financial sector as it is known for its great investment advice and marketing topics. When B.C Forbes and Drey decided to start the magazine they had no idea it would turn into an empire with very few - but extremely worthy - competitors such as: Businessweek and Fortune magazines.

Started in 1917, Forbes gave the magazine his name and financial backing while Drey brought his publishing expertise to the table. Forbes worked tirelessly as editor-in-chief and in 1959 after his passing; his son - Bruce Charles Forbes – helmed the empire. Bruce’s strengths lay very clearly in streamlining operations so he made changes within the company and within his ten-year rein as head of Forbes magazine, he doubled the magazine’s circulation.


The publication may cater for investors and financial gurus but it also quenches the public’s thirst for celebrity financial questions. Everyone wants to know how much money celebs spend on their homes, themselves and the ridiculous amounts they spend on their dogs and parlours. It’s sickening and yet totally addictive. In 2006 stakes within Forbes magazine were sold with Bono of U2 fame buying into the famed magazine empire. Fifty Cent has also added his two cents to the mix by naming the remix of his ‘I Get Money’ hit to ‘Forbes 1, 2, 3.’

As much as Forbes Magazine is a very popular avenue of information the online Forbes has not garnered the hoped-for public reception but that has not changed the fact that $70 million to $80 million a year in revenue is still turned around.

The most recent Forbes new is that it sold the headquarters in New York’s 5th Avenue, Manhattan to the University of New York. Forbes magazine still resides in the building; they just don’t own it anymore. The magazine that has furnished some of the smartest financial minds of the modern-age with facts, figures and advice is now available for NYU students at the drop of a hat.


Vida Denning is a freelance writer who enjoys reading Forbes Magazine in between looking for office space Brisbane.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Will Google+ Hangouts Put an End to Face to Face Meetings?

The introduction of Google+ Hangouts was a bright spot in a product launch that ultimately fizzled out as users trickled back to using Facebook. The service was widely praised for providing an easy way for people to communicate face-to-face over the web. Its status was bolstered further as a plethora of celebrities ranging from President Obama to the Dalai Lama used the service to hold hangouts with their fans. Even the Muppets hosted a Hangout. Many were predicting a new era of videoconferencing.

Was the service really destined to end face to face meetings, though?


Image courtesy of missha, Flickr

Right or Wrong?
To be fair, Hangouts does get a lot right. It’s extremely accessible, requiring only a browser for most individuals. As a web application, it also removes many networking concerns of users operating behind corporate intranets and firewalls. It has an elegant interface, is simple to access and because it is tied to Google+, it also provides a convenient way for users to access their contacts. It is a useful tool with a lot of positive aspects.

However, Google+ Hangouts’ accessibility may also be its greatest weakness. Hangouts is intrinsically linked to Google+, requiring a Google+ account to use it. This may not seem like a huge issue, considering Skype also requires a user account. If a user does not already have a Google account though, the signup process for Google+ is substantially more involved than it is for Skype. Moreover, Hangouts is far from full-featured. For example, there are still no moderation features, which is frustrating for many Hangouts hosts who feel such a feature should have been present upon release.

Past Mistakes
Even if Google+ could overcome these limitations, consider that Hangouts is far from the first attempt at a videoconferencing solution. Skype has featured videoconferencing since the early 2000s. In spite of that, how meetings are conducted has not significantly changed since then. For example, when was the last time you heard of an employer conducting a job interview over Skype? As another illustration, the capability to telecommute in order to work has been available for years, yet employers still prefer to hire local candidates to work on-site.

There is a persistent aversion to using videoconferencing in business situations. It is true that the low quality of early Skype videoconferences were inappropriate for business applications. However, even with the higher quality of modern videoconferencing, virtual meetings have still not gained much traction. Hangouts is used by students for study groups and by public figures to reach out to their fans. Yet, businesses do not appear to make much use of the service.

The problem is that there will always be inefficiencies with videoconferencing. Whether it is a major issue, such as a disconnection, or a minor issue, such as having to adjust the microphone volume, people prefer to work in the least disruptive and most efficient manner possible. Many times, that means a face-to-face meeting. So while it’s reasonable to expect videoconferencing services to grow more popular as time goes on; it’s probably a good idea to keep practicing your handshake, because you’ll likely still need to use it more days than not.


This article was written on behalf of De Vere Venues a London meeting rooms and conference venue provider.

A Business Owners Guide to a Safe Commercial Property

Keys.
Flickr: Bohman
When you are the owner of a business that operates from a commercial property, it is your responsibility to ensure that safety levels are as high as possible in order to protect staff, customers and the items within the building such as expensive computer equipment. With this in mind, the following points have been put together to help you achieve the right level of safety and security for your business.

Choose Key-Holders Wisely
When making the decision to give other members of staff key-holder responsibility, it’s important you choose wisely. It goes without saying that a key-holder should be somebody you trust implicitly, but you should also take their home location and access to transport into consideration. A key-holder is not only responsible for opening and closing the property, they will also be a port of call outside working hours should an alarm go off or suspicious activity arise around the perimeters of the property that require authorities to gain access to the property. For this reason, make sure your key-holders are aware of this, have access to transport and live relatively locally to get to the property quickly.

Shutter Door
Flickr: langleyo
Physical Security Products
To enhance safety measures, physical security products such as roller shutters and window grilles will go a long way in ensuring the best level of security for your commercial property. In order to choose the right combination of products, speak to a security professional who can evaluate your property and highlight weak points within and around the perimeters of the property, suggesting products that will create a waterproof security plan for your company.

Overtime Protocol
When members of the team are working late or coming in early, you need to make sure their safety is always a priority. This can be achieved through ensuring nobody stays after hours alone so that they will not be leaving the property unaccompanied, or by making it as easy as possible for staff wishing to do overtime to do so at home through allowing them to take their laptops home.

Employ a Security Guard
Commercial properties are often a prime target for criminals due to the amount of expensive items that reside within them. For enhanced security outside of office hours, consider hiring a security guard who can monitor the premises overnight with the aid of CCTV cameras and regularly walking around the perimeters of the property.

When it comes to safety, as a business owner you must do all you can to ensure every aspect of your business is fully protected against the threat of intrusion and criminal damage; start your journey towards safer business premises by taking these suggestions into consideration.


Sophie works for CRS Roller Shutters, a company that offers a range of security products such as shutters and grilles to greatly enhance the safety of the people and products within your business property.

The Two Most Important Filipino/Tagalog Words You Should Absolutely Know About

Philippine FlagsWhether you're a future expat, a tourist, a foreigner who's here in the Philippines for a business trip or a Filipino yourself, these two words can take you further with almost anything.
  1. Po
  2. Opo
These are the two most important basic words in the Filipino/Tagalog language.

I. Po - /poh/

Used in many contexts, it is usually added at the end of a declarative or interrogative sentence.

a. Salamat po - "Thank you sir / ma'am"

Po is actually gender neutral and the example above is not the actual translation, but it is very close. The word actually makes us unique as Filipinos. For foreigners, it gives the aura of them showing enough respect both to the language and the person spoken to.

In Google translate, "po" is translated in English as "please" but I beg to differ though it has its merits.

To me, adding "Po" at the end of a sentence goes beyond "please" and shows respect to the person you are talking with and gives you that special aura that can even take you beyond the normal conversation.

Sometimes it can also be used in an exclamatory outburst, but still, the sentence will still be an interrogative one.

Hence:

"Po!!!" is actually very much like saying "Po?!?!" - which means "What?!?!?" in a respectful yet demeaned manner.

But if you say:

"Po?" It sounds more like, "What was that?" in a calm demeanor.

But with that said, using "Po" loosely in an exclamatory sentence angrily or with disrespect is usually done in a sarcastic way.

Hence, if you really want to say in a respectful manner, "What was that?" It is better to say the more complete phrase, "Ano po iyon?" which essentially means "What was that?" but with respect.

Imperative Sentences

You can say "Please pass this" as "Paki abot po" but po will not be translated as "this". You can even try to sing it and you will then be doing it in an awesome and pleasing way.

Try it while smiling, "Paaa-keeey aahhh - bohhhtt - pho"

But, if your boss is saying, "Paki submit mo na po ang report mo." or "Please submit your report immediately." that usually means serious trouble. 


Compare it to "Paki submit mo na ang report mo." which is translated the same as "Please submit your report." stated in a factual and objective manner. 


Hence if you're the boss and you want to emphasize that the report needs to be submitted now or else - you first look into the eyes of the person and say "Paki submit mo na po ang report mo.


You will then have the desired chilling and nerve wracking effect. 

II. Opo - /Uh-Puh/ 

Now this is much more simpler and I know that "much more" is a redundancy, booyah!

"Opo" means "yes" but it's really more than that.

When speaking with a person of authority (excluding traffic enforcers and obvious scalawags - alright, alright, you can include them too) nodding while saying "opo" means deference like a little child to his mother or father.

It is also highly appropriate in a professional setting. Doing so with a cheerful tone, also fosters a positive work environment with the boss.

Making it triple redundant with a "yes sir", is all the more appealing in high octane work environment.

Hence, if you have a horrible boss, you can say "Opo, yes sir, right away." and your boss will feel slightly better and move you from "Incompetent Yes Man/Woman" to "Incompetent But Respectful Yes Man/Woman".

But that's only if you have a horrible boss.

If you have a cool boss, saying, "Opo, yes sir, right away."  redundantly in a cheerful manner will probably make the cool boss say, "Awesome!"


Monday, July 23, 2012

10 Entrepreneurship Tips from Filipino Online Mogul RJ David


Perhaps nothing embodies "pervasive" more than Filipino online mogul RJ David's Sulit.com.ph. A free classified ads website that has undoubtedly changed and improved the lives of several million Filipino entrepreneurs. It has indubitably made a mark not just in the Filipino online marketplace but also in the entire global Filipino market.

What is Sulit.com.ph? It's an online marketplace that helps Pinoy entrepreneurs of all shapes and sizes get their wares or services online for FREE, effectively transforming and bringing the marketplace to a whole new level. With a fast growing market at home and with several million Filipinos abroad and online, as Justin Bieber says, "We can go nowhere but up from here".

Having recently joined twitter.com as a part of their thrust into social, RJ David starts out by giving 10 #entrepTips to the aspiring entrepreneur.



  • Tip #2: When is the best time to start in business? NOW 
  • Tip #3: Get a co-founder for your startup / business
  • Tip #4: Pay It Forward 
  • Tip #5: You cannot improve what you don't measure
  • Tip #6: For critical hires, hire someone better than you and who can say NO to you when it counts 
  • Tip #7: When raising funds, avoid raising too much than what your business really needs. 
  • Tip #8: Scarcity breeds creativity (and improves your discipline) 
  • Tip #9: Happy employees are productive employees 
  • Tip #10: As an Entrep, your main goal is not to make money, but to give value to your customer 


Adding Personality Type as a Factor in Social Ad Targetting

Missouri
School of Journalism
Edson Tandoc Jr.
From Missouri School
of Journalism
Heather Shoenberger
Edson Tandoc Jr., a Filipino and former Inquirer.net reporter along with Heather Shoenberger recently published a study in the International Communication Association Conference in Arizona detailing their discovery regarding the online habits of social media users and its ties to personality types

Entitled Self Presentation in Social Networking Sites, the study details how certain personalities could be identified and categorized by how much and what they post on their social networking profiles.

The study has been billed to have to the potential to further improve social media ad targeting by identifying personality types based on a scale that the team has come up with.

From: Inquirer.net

Interestingly, both "reserved" and "aggressive/appetitive" social media users tend to use social media frequently despite the differences in the precise way they use it. As noted in the Inquirer article, reserved users tend to scroll along their feeds while aggressive users actively visit and participate in online activities that are considered as high risk.

See: Missouri School of Journalism Article

Practical Uses
In relation to this, in an online conversation I had with online entrepreneur RJ David the founder of Filipino online ad giant Sulit.com.ph, I was quite surprised to learn that in their recent campaign which consisted of television ads, billboard placements, Google adwords and Facebook ads - the ones that gave them the most results were still from their television advertisement spot - quite surprising since the bulk of their target market conducts business online. 


Now I don't have access to the precise numbers, but offhand, I see this in the purview of a general Filipino population that's still very much hooked on free television. 


Now in relation to this, one of the possibilities that could be gleaned from the study is mentioned by Ms. Shoenberger herself when she said that, "Identifying these individuals using the motivation activation measure can give advertisers an advantage over their competitors and bring some order to online advertising."


What is the motivation activation measure


It's the scale that the team has come up with to find the trends in social media behavior. 


To me, it introduces a whole new demographic or category on how we see social media users together.

For instance, if you want to advertise on Facebook, you have to take into account the following factors:

  • Geography
    • Country 
    • Town
    • Postal Code
  • Age Bracket
  • Gender
  • Precise Interests
  • General Interests 
  • Social Connections
  • Sexual preferences (Interested in)
  • Relationship Status
  • Language
  • Education 
  • Workplace


With this study, the possibility of "personality type" being added into the fray actually makes a lot of sense. Without having to go through Psychology 101, it's a worthy thought to pursue given that even if you are able to target an extremely specific market and try to sell them, it's entirely possible that the ad that you're crafting may be too aggressive or too bland for them to notice.

Ad targeting that takes into consideration personality as a factor could further improve the efficiency of many, many social campaigns. 

What is the Best Vacation You've Ever Had?

A facebook friend asked this question on her wall and it made me think about all the vacations I've ever had in my life.

Like one of those miniature epiphanies, I realized something simplistically profound yet strikingly straightforward about vacations and it tends to be something we often overlook.


But before all that, let me tell you about all the things I like about the social network Google plus. 


Shared by Yahiva MV
Shared by Lombardo Arizmendi
Shared by PEDRO PAULO SANTOS
The pictures shared on it makes one feel the pulling desire of the moment captured inside a lens.  It plays with the imagination that meshes emotions with words and thoughts.

These then leads us to desire and wanting to go on a vacation.

This leads us to want to be there - in the moment. But the truth is, for these places to matter at all to us,  for them to become appealing - they first have to pass a very important conditional.

We have to picture ourselves in the moment first with the people we love.

Because without them, it would all be meaningless.

True, some places might be adequate for solitude and soul searching - but that's not how most vacations go. Vacations and travel are always planned - with other people, whether friends or family.

Vacations are mini adventures that only becomes fulfilling if they're shared in person.

For what is the meaning of being in the greatest place on the planet if you're all alone with no one to share the moment with?

Why Your Next Business Won't Start as a Great Idea

Starting a new business - P1030459.JPG
Flickr: Lars Ploughman

If you are like many of us and fed up with the state of the economy today and the prospects for job growth, starting a new business can be a really appealing option. However, for the same abysmal economic reasons, you may be nervous about your lack of a breakthrough idea that will guarantee your success.

What many new start ups fail to realize though is that true innovation and many of the million dollar industries out there are not as simple as a “man with a plan” mentality.

In fact, the likelihood of finding the next big thing is so slim that it’s not worth the investment at all. Instead, you are far better off taking a systematic approach to your industry and working from there.

Making “Little Bets”
In his book, Little Bets, author Peter Sims discusses this phenomenon in detail. Basically, through extensive research he has found that some of the greatest ideas and businesses of our time, such as Apple, Amazon and Pixar Studios rely far more on small risks than on big ideas.

Sims thesis is that through making little wagers in terms of time and money, entrepreneurs are more likely to succeed since they will be able to quickly fail without losing too much.

Once you learn from a failure, the key is to pick up the pieces and make another small wager to see what develops. By looking at a problem from this angle, we begin to depart from the traditional thinking encouraged by schools that places logic over creativity and stifles a lot of innovative growth.

"The Brain Show"
Flickr: TEDxPioneerValley2012
Changing Your Thought Pattern
We all remember the problem solving schemes we were presented as students, especially those of us with business degrees. Most of the time, tackling a problem in the workplace involved a look at the macrocosmic as well as microcosmic elements that created it and developing a detailed action plan.

While this method can and does work in a lot of managerial situations, it is not the answer for innovation. If you are looking to start a business, tackling a great problem with a one-stop solution is not easy and the answer will not magically appear.

Basically, you need to start small. Comedians, for example, will test new jokes and routines in front of small audiences, gauging response and overall impact and making necessary changes before presenting a new act in a large venue. This remains true even for the most famous among them.

In this same light, you need to find small venues in which to tackle a business problem and find cheap, easy solutions to small elements before making large investments in time and energy.

Just like a comedian cannot afford to bomb a joke in front of a sold out Las Vegas crowd, you need to make sure that any investment you make in this sour economy has been tested and vetted before “jumping in.”

Start Small and Start Now
The good news about this method of action is that it doesn’t require dropping it all tomorrow and taking a major risk in terms of your livelihood. If you are serious about your next business venture, you can start with your first “little bet” today and then work from there.

By making changes to your approach and learning though fast failure you can begin to refine your ideas and then move towards success. You also have the added benefit of maintaining your current job as a means to supplement your experimentation and eliminate the total risks involved in starting a new business.

Starting a business means hiring someone, and nothing is quite so important when hiring someone as making sure they aren’t a criminal. If you want your business to succeed, you have to know that you can trust the people working for you.

This is a guest post from DareNet via MyBlogGuest. If you're looking for thoughtful and insightful guest posts such as these, MyBlogGuest can help you. Plus they're holding a contest right now under the twitter hashtag #MBGcontest.

blogging contest

Sunday, July 22, 2012

London Leasing With a Twist London Olympics via BidToRent.co.uk

Disclosure: This post is a sponsored blog post by www.BidToRent.co.uk which is offering leasing auctions targetting the UK, London area. They reached me via my fiverr.com gig which promises to blog about their business objectively.As of today, their website is unoperational, but I'll still have a go at the general gist of how I understand their business.

With the 2012 London Olympics transpiring soon, finding affordable leasing arrangements will be a challenge for tourists and enthusiasts alike who want to experience and witness both the spirit of athleticism and the beauty of London itself. 

Check the London 2012 Olympics schedule 


Formerly known as the "The Wen", "The Big Smoke" or "The Square Mile" in the days of old, this bustling and iconic European city has a tremendous amount of culture built into the very fabric of its existence.
London, England
Flickr: TimMorris


The setting of countless classical literary masterpieces, including Oliver Twist, The Canterbury Tales, 80 Days Around the World, Great Expectations and more, London is also known as one of the first cities with extensive CCTV footage every 35 yards (32.004 meters)

With the Olympics, security has been at its highest levels too.

To top these concerns, the DailyMail.co.uk reports that residential leasing or home rentals have spiked to 150% making London a very expensive place to rent in. One such property mentioned in the article normally costs £40,000 is now priced at £100,000 - a week. That's roughly $156,170 US Dollars. 


Palace of Westminster - London, England
Flickr: Trodel
What I think about www.BidToRent.co.uk


Well, first of all, I think they should get their site up - very soon, like yesterday actually or last month. 


They have a lot of catching up to do and I've actually done some research with regards to London properties and the lease rates are spiking so high that services that help both landlords, tenants and tourists are at a premium. 


Now from what I understand of their service and I might be wrong, BidToRent.co.uk is essentially introducing a combination of Ebay style auctions for rentals. 

That's as simple as I can understand it. 

And if I'm correct with my assessment, it bears a lot of promise that we should see very soon once the site is up and operational. 



Sponsor a blog post on Dannybuntu.com Using Fiverr


If you enjoyed this article and would like me to write about your website, business or practically anything I can research. You may find my fiverr.com gig and order a blog post for the incredible low, low price of $5 dollars. 


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Friday, July 20, 2012

How Introverts Can Succeed In Business

Underappreciated, underestimated and oft overlooked, the introvert has never been touted as one of business’ best assets. But what if we told you that an introvert does have a place in the business world, and that it’s an integral part of the success of a company? Don’t believe it? Well, as it turns out, studies have shown that the majority of companies work more efficiently when staff members are separated from one another and left to brainstorm ideas on their own. As our society leans closer to the Linux or Wordpress style movement, we see more use of this principle in allowing workers to develop plans and programs in isolation before allowing their colleagues a crack at improving and changing these ideas. If that’s not a principle built in introverted personality traits, what is?

Getting Around The Extrovert Model

While typical workplaces tend to be set up in order to cater to the extroverted people in the workplace, there are definitely ways for introverts to find their own path within the office, or better still, outside of it. Today’s office model is one that is moving towards cost cutting, meaning that managers and owners are looking to pay as little in overhead as they possibly can. If they can find a way to downsize their office space, their technical costs, or the cost of a commute, they will. More and more companies are opening up to the idea of hiring remote employees to do tasks from a location outside of an office, which opens a huge door for introverts looking to make headway.

Forget Small Talk

Introverts hate useless banter. While extroverts draw energy and enthusiasm from the mere mention of social interaction, introverts would rather say only words that matter. In order to avoid small talk, one suggested method is to show how effective you can be without it. Instead of doing the usual dance around a potential client at a social event, cut to the chase by disclosing something mildly personal which will intrigue your conversational partner. Open yourself up by admitting your disdain for these types of social situations. This raw honesty is going to paint you as honest and straightforward, tough traits to come by in the business world.

Make Your Words Matter

When it comes right down to it, you don’t have to say much to be considered an asset. Speak openly and honestly with your boss. Show your superiors that you have useful information they can use to get ahead. If you’re a Social Media expert in your spare time, consider drafting up a plan for your company to use in order to tap into this aspect of marketing. If you’re a financial guru, talk to your boss about the benefits your company could see from using a small business credit card over a loan. These pointed pieces of advice are going to completely overshadow your shy personality as they boost you to the top of your game in the business world.


This guest post is from Allision with BusinessCreditCards.com.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Tips for Dining with Your Boss

Going out to dinner with the boss? Dinners should be fun and enjoyable, but somehow your boss can have a way of making you nervous and tongue-tied. Here are some tips to help you make it through and do it right.

Look Good

“Dress to impress” is never more important than when out to dinner with your boss. Make sure you dress appropriately for the atmosphere of the restaurant you’re going to, and even then, dress up a little bit more. Wear your nicest clothes, shine your shoes, and do whatever you can to avoid looking like you just came from a long day at the office (even if you did).
Arrive Early

You know you should never be late for work, and you certainly should never be late for a business dinner. It’s not always enough to arrive on time, either. Get there early – even earlier than your boss. Your boss may go early, too, and you definitely don’t want to make him wait for you, even for a minute or so. Arrive about 15-20 minutes early to be on the safe side, and wait at the entrance or at the bar- never at the table.
Prepare for an Exit

Hopefully you’ll enjoy your dinner and not be rushing for the door, but it’s a good idea to plan an exit strategy. Let your boss know ahead of time that you have an obligation afterward. This way you can get out if things aren’t going too well, and you also won’t risk overstaying your welcome.
Know Your Etiquette

Hopefully you know some basic table manners. You want your boss to be impressed with your knowledge of fine dining, or at least not be put off by your casual or naĂŻve style. Learn basics like which fork to use, where your bread plate is, and where to place your napkin and silverware. Be on your best behavior, and remember the things your mother always told you, like keep your elbows off the table, and no talking with your mouth full.
Keep the Conversation Light

It’s not a good time to discuss heated topics like politics or religion. You shouldn’t bring up negative office topics like difficulties with coworkers, gossip, impending deadlines, or finances, so don’t comment on them unless your boss brings them up first, and even then think carefully before you answer. Start the conversation with casual office talk until you’re more comfortable. But look for casual similarities to discuss, like sports, family, and books.
Be Positive

The dinner is a chance to impress your boss and let him get to know you better. It’s a great time to show off your good qualities and good personality, so be eager to seize the opportunity. Think positively, and be positive at dinner, too. You want to convince your boss that you’re a good person who he can talk to and who he wants to have on his side.
Be Wary of Alcohol

Don’t order an alcoholic beverage unless your boss does or insists. If you do drink, limit yourself to one or two. Overdoing it on the booze could easily become your worst mistake.


Valerie Burton is a marketing pro and blogger who has tons of experience surviving business dinners with the boss. She loves to write and blog about anything from marketing strategy to today's top entrepreneurs.

Photo Credit: Cardiff Business School

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

The Raven (2012) Movie Review


My wife and I are movie nuts and this is the latest movie we have watched thus far. As the sub heading indicates, John Cusack plays the role of an egotistical literary giant in the person of Edgar Allan Poe who suffers from alcoholism and a penchant for the macabre. With his dark thoughts placed on pen and paper, he struggles mightily to woo the daughter of a rich merchant with his ineffable wit and skill with words.

But while all this is happening, a creepy admirer of his work decided to make Poe's macabre serials into a reality that spells doom to many a hapless victim.

It's a writer meets a gruesome reality type of movie that might have been better played. I'm sorry, John Cusack, as much as your words and literary wit have managed a break even performance, the prospects of The Raven is as dark as the movie itself. It could have been more inspiring if this was played by a more serious and darker actor.

In its defense, the movie was interesting enough to make us postpone sex until the lackluster ending which could have been more dramatic.

 

Should you watch it?

  • If you have lots of butter popcorn and have nothing else to watch
Would I watch it again?
  • No, not really. 
Parts I liked
  • The enormous amount of play on words that John Cusack has had to struggle with. 
Value
  • Made me more interested in Edgar Allan Poe. 
  • Macabre blood
IMDB Rating: 6 point something, which was ok, given that 5s usually mean dumber movies.

A Shy Person's Sales Pitch and Guide to Small Talk for Business

Shy.
Flickr: Renato Gonzaga
Nowadays, it has become quite a need for people to be able to make small talks for one reason or another. And if you can’t do so, you get labeled as an introvert or too serious and uptight.


Being shy or an introvert would almost always discourage a person to try out a career in sales and marketing. People would always tell you off that you won’t get anywhere with being shy in sales. But, no matter what you, you really don’t feel comfortable making that small talk with people you barely know.

You don’t know how to respond to short questions that actually don’t mean anything but just to start a conversation. You’re a shy person and you tell yourself you just can’t joke around and carry on a conversation out of nowhere just like everybody else. You’ve attended countless seminars, read self-help books, to no avail.

Still, in today’s business, you need some kind of charisma or sparkle, regardless if superficial, in you to attract attention and execute a social and business negotiation. You need to speak up to do things such as arranging dates or activities with friends and colleagues, delivering presentations, presiding meetings, or closing deals and contracts.

So you need to find some way to make negotiations while still being an introvert. You need to do a sales pitch regardless if you do it in an extravagant way or just simple and hard hitting. Here’s the deal, as a shy person you don’t have to force yourself to be who you’re not. You can stand your ground while you work around the small talk stereotypes with two ways.

Strategy 1. Don’t say anything in reply but instead put on your nice smile. When someone starts making a small talk with you, you can keep quiet. That person will definitely look back at you when you don’t respond and when they do put on your genuine smile. It’s will not come as if you’re pushing them away but instead you’re just being polite in that you really don’t have anything to say to them so just simply smile.

Strategy 2. Don’t force yourself to be like the others in their opening statements and replies. Stay true to yourself and you also do make your sincere reply. You can openly say what you have in mind and then ask for what other person’s thoughts or say in the matter. You’re being honest at the same time welcoming the other side’s perspectives. Sometimes being direct and straightforward can be better than being overly dramatic and attention grabbing.

Being shy doesn’t give you a special bubble you can always stay in while living your daily life. It’s inevitable to conform to certain norms in society but that doesn’t mean you can’t do it your way. As long as you’re not being offensive or you do not have any of that kind of intention, feel free to follow your own persona. Just trust yourself and what you have to offer.


About the Author Rommel Asuit

Developing a Web Presence for my clients is my greatest "business" passion. I love talking and sharing ideas with other like minded individuals. I am the Directing Manager of a web development and Marketing firm called Crazywebs (http://www.crazywebs.net)

So if you're a business owner who is struggling with online marketing, or need someone who you would like to have a chat with to explore some possibilities, then please feel free to email me on contact@crazywebs.net

50% Success Rate: Dannybuntu's How to Plant Ginger Guide



With the self imposed closure of our resort, I am left with agriculture and making money online as an alternate revenue source. 


I'm not a farmer by trade, but last January, I had the privilege of harvesting something which I planted on my own. 

Ginger

It is locally known as Luya.

My grandfather, Lolo Ariong, told me that it was a cash crop and I've seen some articles online about the good opportunities in Ginger production.

These pictures were taken last week or the second week of July. I planted them sometime in January 2012. 

What I did was cut portions of the first Ginger lump we harvested and planted it in an experimental plot near our house. I planted 14 and out of that 14, 7 grew. I just discovered this after cutting the grass since I almost gave up on them and figured that they were eaten by "Bayuko" or Snails





How to Plant Ginger
For now, my plan is simple, I've already managed to have a harvest however puny they are and now I intend to learn how to make my planting more efficient.

We have 15,000 square meters of idle land and I intend to fill it with ginger.

The only problem would be the capital, I'm not too keen on risking a loan at this moment and I have tried with the Bank of the Philippine islands but they said that they only accept Residential or Commercial properties as collateral when it comes to business loans.

Our property is registered as Agricultural.

There are many who text me about Collateral and Non-Collateral loans but their marketing approach is too invasive and I wouldn't want those types of people nagging me for payments when it comes to paying time.

Anyway, I'll be making a video for this "how to" when it stops raining.

For now, here is the step by step procedure.

  • Planting season should be 1 to 2 months before the rainy season which starts in June or July. I'm not really sure on this, but this is what I have done. Some guides out there may be more accurate or correct. My reasoning is the plants seem to love it and grow faster during the months of June to July. So it only makes sense for the Ginger to be planted 2 to 3 months prior. But I could be wrong.
  • You can buy matured gingers for planting in the wholesale section of the market or even the groceries, but its more expensive there. I don't know if the Philippines Department of Agriculture provides free "binhi" for ginger and I don't know how to translate that in English.  
  • Divide the Ginger lump according to bump. Generally speaking, the larger the lump of Ginger you plant, the better chances of it growing. But some are actually saying that you should plant ginger stumps with bumps or "bukol" on them. These bukols - hehehe - would become the plants later on. 
  • Dig 6 to 10 inches deep in the ground and make it sizable enough for the average size of your ginger stumps. There should an allowance around the center so they have easy room to grow. 
  • Burnok or Jason, our former employee told me that the ground surrounding the planting area should be how do I put this, "buhaghag" (Omigosh I sound konyo...) or loosened because the ginger will expand in volume. 
  • Don't cover the ginger too much with soil, leaving only a few centimeters of soil above it. It would actually grow a little upwards too, too which you should just constantly pile with soil a few centimeters every time it pops its head out.  
  • Cover the entire column with "palapa" or coconut leaves. Generally speaking - and again I may be wrong, if you are an agriculturist or professional farmer please comment below - Ginger only needs marginal sunlight - that's the reason for putting the coconut leaves on top. But since our place has a lot of trees, the sunlight is dispersed. 
  • I don't know yet if we should use fertilizer on these very easy to grow plants. We'll see. 
  • To be continued.

How to Install StatCounter in Blogger Dynamic Views

Green Leaf of a Bio Plant in Nature
Flickr: Epsos
free web statsGoogle Analytics is all fine and dandy but its feature set leaves something to be desired. For one, and do tell me in the comments if you know how to do this, I can't find the keywords through which people find my blog - a fine feature that you can do in StatCounter with ease.

Maybe I haven't figured it out yet, but I really do need my StatCounter code working in Blogger's New Dynamic Views Template.

Blogger DV enables you to present your blog in visually appealing formats, such as Mosaic, Magazine, Sidebar and more. But once you've changed your blog format, a lot of third party widgets or widgets simply stopped working. Javascript does not work. Code does not work on the Add CSS portion of the template editor.

So, in this little experiment of mine, I'm going to try a few things.

Experiment 1 - Worked
This one actually worked. I found this here: Google Product Forums
Side Effects: Changes the background image. Workaround is to change the Page Background color to something similar with the original background image. I also tried this on another blog, but statcounter keeps saying that the code is not installed - I checked the project list but they worked anyway.

  • Step 1. Logon to Blogger/Blogspot > Select the blog you wish to modify > On the left sidebar click Template > On the main screen click Customize.
  • Step 2. You will be brought to the Blogger Template Designer. Click on Advanced then click on Add CSS.
  • Step 3. Logon on to Statcounter. I am assuming that you have it installed previously so I'm skipping some steps. Click on the Project Name for your old StatCounter blog code.
  • Step 4. Click Config at the top left. 
  • Step 5. Under Reinstall Code, click Install Guide for Blogger Dynamic Views. You will be given a code which looks something like this: 
<a title="tumblr visitor"
href="http://statcounter.com/tumblr/" target="_blank"><img
src="http://c.statcounter.com/35326/0/10bd9/1/"
alt="tumblr visitor" style="border:none;"></a>


Take note of the highlight I made, DO NOT COPY. Use your own code.
  • Step 6. You will need this CSS. Using your own code, replace the URL in this CSS with the one generated by Statcounter:
body {
background-image : url('http://c.statcounter.com/35326/0/10bd9/1/');
background-repeat:no-repeat;
background-position:left bottom;
}
  • Step 7. The resulting CSS should be the exact code that you will paste on the Add Custom CSS box of the Blogger Template Editor. Remember to use your own code, generated by statcounter.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Will Marissa Mayer Save Yahoo?

With a yet again new CEO on board, Yahoo.com seems to me like it's a sinking ship with a conveyor belt of captains at the helm.

It doesn't matter who's the captain, it's a fricking sinking ship with its anchors right at the top of the deck, plunging it down with sharks as investors circling in for the kill.

Even Einstein himself wouldn't be able to come up with a unified theory on how to save Yahoo, but there's always hope and Marissa Mayer, a former Googler of very high regard seems poised to superhumanly lift Yahoo out of its misery.

Compete.com data


What's All the Fuzz with Yahoo.com Anyway?


Pundits and analysts alike are acting more like Perez Hilton about Yahoo.com as if it were Justin Bieber. Moreover, so-called activist investors within Yahoo itself are always poised to grab the reigns from the rampaging Internet giant.

I went around and picked up some choice morsels from around the web to try to understand what's going on.

  • Jon Swartz and Scott Martin over at USA Today, pointed out that those Barney Stinson look-alikes over at Wall Street seem to be pleased with a legen - wait for it, wait for it - dary fervor that it has brought Yahoo's shares up by 2%. Much of the optimism seems to be anchored on the capabilities of Marissa Mayer to attract severely needed top notch talent to the company. New leadership > new hope > new talent > new innovations and new potentials for revenues
  • Businessweek's Brad Stone seem to be cautiously optimistic, like a Wookie inside the Death Star, highlighting that putting a superstar CEO at the helm of Yahoo.com could lead to two things - a surprise turnaround to Yahoo's misfortunes - or the doom of yet another CEO. He also noted that  Yahoo's corporate mission and vision is somewhat vague. Like, what does “create deeply personal digital experiences” mean? 
  • As usual, Mashable.com posted the most enlightening and deep account of them all by pointing out that Marissa is pregnant. High five Mashable! No, just kidding... 
Personally, to me, as an ordinary nobody with silly opinions and an Internet connection, Yahoo.com is the first ever website I ever visited. And no, that's is not my security question on any of my email accounts. 

It used to be the gateway to the Internet in the sense that, back then, everything appeared to be contained inside Yahoo. For a time, even Google was inside Yahoo. If you want to find websites about blueberry cheesecakes, you go to Yahoo. If you wanted pornography, Yahoo used to be good at finding that too. 

But then with Google's superior search engine, I rarely visit yahoo.com now. I now see it as two things:
  • A free email host
  • A news website
Therein lies the problem. The free Gmail killed Yahoo mail and a hundred million or other news websites puts Yahoo.com in a precarious and extremely competitive niche. But despite that, the numbers are still considerable:
  • 150,000,000+ Unique visitors this May according to Compete.com
  • #4 website according to Alexa.com    
  • $1.06 Billion Revenue for Q1 2011 (TechCrunch)
My Conclusion
Innovate or sell. 

Marissa Mayer


Do You Still Go to Yahoo.com? Why?

Stephen Covey Author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Dies

FMI Show_Palestrante_Stephen Covey
Flickr: Portal Abras
Perhaps one of the most influential men of our time, Stephen Covey, the world renowned author of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, has passed away.


His last tweet:


Want simple ideas for improving your job as a father? Try this book: "Dad Rules: A Simple Manual for a Complex Job" 

Monday, July 16, 2012

Spotlight on Technical Analysis

Twittergrams: Morning Tweet Graph
Flickr: blprnt_van
Technical analysis is often an understated aspect of both the business and finance sectors. Once obtained, many professionals believe that qualifications of technical analysis are invaluable to a successful career in finance. Particularly in the trading and investment areas of the finance sector, technical analysis can provide a great insight into market trends and the best times to buy and sell. While many students gain qualifications in finance, technical analysis provides a more specialised skill set, particularly for people wanting to enter the investment and trading areas of the financial sector.

Technical Analysis Subjects

For finance students wishing to improve their knowledge and skills in technical analysis, beginning with the FIN231 Technical Analysis subject is a solid start for gaining a broad aspect of the subject. If you wish to become more adept in technical analysis, after completion of the FIN231 subject, professionals recommend studying 9063 Specialised Techniques in Technical Analysis. This course will assist students in further developing their specialisations within the subject, such as a more in-depth look at esoteric theories of technical analysis and more training specifically focused on technical trading techniques.

Finance Tower - Tour des Finances - Financiëntoren Brussels 3
Flickr: Historic Brussels

Why is Technical Analysis Important for your Career?

Many professionals have stated that the completion of a technical analysis qualification has enabled them to better understand the trading and investing world and make smarter decisions within their career. Thorough training in technical analysis can assist professionals in making educated decisions regarding the timing of entry to and exit of the market, which is ultimately where the money is made. Rather than predictions and educated guess work, technical analysis involves focusing more on the timing of trades, making it a more conclusive way for professionals to work.

Upgrading your finance qualifications to include technical analysis subjects can also help to open a number of doors within the job market. A specialised technique, such as technical analysis, is always in high demand and provides job seekers with a great advantage.

What can you get from Technical Analysis?

If you are searching for a rewarding career in finance, a specialisation in technical analysis may be just what you are looking for. Many qualified technical analysts, who are now professionals within the finance industry, say that technical analysis is one of the most stimulating and rewarding areas of their job. Rather than examining market trends from only one perspective, students training in technical analysis will be able to observe the financial market from different angles and gain an alternative perspective, ultimately allowing them to provide better information to others in the financial sector.

NYSE trading floor
Flickr: Ilamont.com
If you are looking to take the next step in your finance career, technical analysis can provide you with a new specialised skill set, along with the necessary expertise to break in to the fields of investments and trading.


Richard is a Technical Analyist for one of Australia's largest businesses. He says that you can become qualified in Technical Analysis online at www.KaplanOnline.edu.au. Away from work, Richard likes to drive his Ferrari, go mountain climbing and downhill mountain biking.

EventId's in Nostr - from CGPT4

The mathematical operation used to derive the event.id in your getSignedEvent function is the SHA-256 hash function, applied to a string rep...