AchievementRadio.com

Personal Business Ethics in the Pursuit of Professional Growth

AchievementRadio.com's

Personal Business Ethics in the Pursuit of Professional Growth
By Thomas M Elliott

As an Internet consultant and marketing trainer affiliated with multiple schools and professional associations, I have observed that there are two key contributors to success for business people. The same factors apply to any type of sales or consulting, whether related to product markets (weight loss, nutrition, auto parts, Websites, etc.) or services (health care, mechanics, personal trainers, search engine optimization, etc.) The first contributor is indisputably ethics, and a solid sense of above-board business practices. The second is continued, professional growth in the pursuit of expanding your knowledge base.

If your career involves consulting, advising, or otherwise providing solutions to other people in any capacity, whether it is to consumers who seek your expertise, or peers within your own specialty who stand to gain something from the information you can impart upon them, your personal sense of ethics is a premier point by which others will judge you. In fact, your entire professional reputation that takes years to build can be irreparably (or significantly) damaged by a single instance of poor business practices. If you have ever met people who are more preoccupied with their own achievements than with empowering others to succeed, their personal standards (ethics) become apparent when they downplay the achievements of others. Those same people feel entitled to personal recognition and typically have an insecure need to be the glorified center of attention, and they feel robbed or threatened by any recognition earned by others. Consequently, their own need for a personal spotlight governs their actions, creates an agenda, and affects their ethics.

You have undoubtedly crossed paths with people who are motivated like that, and at the mention of their names, their reputation is apparent with a knowing roll-of-the-eyes or casual comment such as, "Well, you know how they are," with no further explanation necessary. Those types of people play office politics well and make fair-weather friends, so long as their purpose is served. Sometimes the materialism and shallow behavior of such people can confuse a new employee or team member, creating the impression that flashy one-upsmanship is what it takes to become a leader, but never forget the old expression that "the bigger they are, the harder they fall."

In actuality, most truly successful, self-actualized leaders are unremarkably non-showy. They are comfortable with themselves, and do not need cheers from a crowd to feel like they're somebody. They have a live-and-let live outlook, but will unselfishly assist others to empower others to enjoy success, rather than try to suppress others in an attempt to remain the center of attention. When you dig into what makes successful people respectable and admired rather than thought of as self-righteous, superficial, and arrogant, you will commonly find a fundamental difference in ethical motivation.

How do your ethics affect your success in your profession?

Ethics spans beyond honesty. Integrity involves the moral courage to adhere to high standards interdepartmentally within a company, and inter-corporately between businesses within the same industry. Take, for example, the competitive nature of retail sales. Most consumers have dealt with merchants that are mercenary against competing vendors at one point or another. If it has happened to you, then you know the bad impression it leaves when a salesperson in one store belittles or degrades what they perceive as the competition. Conversely, consumers tend to appreciate and value a vendor who is comfortable enough to refer business elsewhere. If a merchant is truly interested in the well being of his or her clients, he/she helps clients expand their horizons versus acting in a self-protective, self-interested way by trying to shield clients from any cross-market exposure.

In one such case, a clerk at a local computer store referred me to a computer mega-store to get a better selection for one particular part that I had been trying to find, knowing that the larger store had more selection. In doing so, the clerk was looking out for my best interests instead of his own profits, and he forever after earned my business. In the end, the consumer remembers the helpfulness of the referral and will typically become a repeat customer of the referring merchant. I have sent many friends and associates to that small computer store, knowing they will be treated fairly.

There is simply no room for back-biting or subversive behavior in a successful career path, whether it is inside an organizational environment or between companies. To ignore this guidance is to earn the distrust of co-workers, competitors, upper management, and, yes, your customers as well. A simple downplay of your other associates or competitors is quickly seen for what it is: thinking of yourself instead of your client. Instead, focus on how your product or service can add value to your customers' quality of life, rather than how someone else's product or service is unnecessary.

Think about the ongoing presidential candidate political debates, for example, and how candidates within each party are often less intent on critical issues, and more intent on degrading the other candidates within their own party. How does it affect the way you think of them? They are each trying to be the best, be the winner, be the favorite, and win the vote, so much so that they lose sight of the issues. Would politics be more respectable if personal agendas gave way to focusing on the well being of the voters and the country? In the mind of the politician, the risk of embracing another candidate could mean losing the vote, but in the minds of the voters a tactful, refocusing reply to the mud slinging (rather than a counter-attack) would score a more favorable public opinion. Therefore, although they've succeeded to get on stage or behind the podium, politicians have the general reputation of being big talkers and small thinkers. "Politics" has a bad name. Do you know any politicians in your company? Is that how you want people to think of you in your business?

Whether you are a sales person or a consultant, remember the significance that 1) referring business and 2) keeping the customer central to your focus will yield better results than "bashing" other businesses within your same profession. In the end those who spew negativity towards specific people or companies are seen as small-minded and insecure. It's gossip. It's small. And it is so transparently evident to those who are witness to it. Do not fall into that trap!

When a potential customer approaches you with a question, of course you want to make the sale. That's natural. And if you are ethical, you ought to strongly believe in (and personally endorse) the product or service you are selling. The sales term, "become a product of your product," means that you believe in what you sell and therefore use it yourself. Sometimes a customer's question can force you to compare or defend your own product or service to explain how it stands up to your competition's. You have a choice on how to do so, and the way you decide to answer the question will reveal your personal ethics.

Example:

Suppose the question you are asked is "How does your product compare to XYZ's similar product?"

There are a number of potential responses, but only two basic paths to take in your reply.

1) XYZ's product is a great product, too! It has features A, B, and C and I've heard a lot of customers who are happy with it. In comparison, ours also does D, E, and F. The price difference isn't appreciable, but tell me, how will you be using the product? Let's figure out which one best fits your needs.

or

2) Oh, you don't need XYZ's product. It does A, B, and C, but it doesn't do D, E, and F like ours does. Plus theirs costs a little more. If you want that kind of a product, I have just the right one for you.

Notice the emphasis in number one is on the customer, not personal gain for the salesperson.

In order to maintain your profitable edge over your competition, one of the best things any professional can do is to stay abreast of the latest marketplace trends, technology, and so forth. How would either sales person (in number 1 or number 2 above) be able to answer the question comparing the two products unless they were educated on the different options available in the marketplace? Some career fields actually force this concept by mandating continuing education credits (sometimes called CECs) within their professions, usually in those disciplines that are fast-changing and that have significant impact on consumers: medical, legal, real estate, insurance, etc.

Whether or not your specialty requires CECs, as an ethical business person, you owe it to your customers, patrons, or clients to become the best you can be at what you do. Read relevant information, attend trainings and certification events whenever possible to stay in tune with the latest developments in your field, listen and watch pre-recorded presentations that expand your horizons, and participate in seminars or Webinars to enhance your professional knowledge. Acquiring the knowledge to become more successful in your field is predicated on having the right attitude to pursue that knowledge.

Anyone who would advise you not to enhance your professional growth and development is advocating ignorance, probably working under some hidden personal agenda, and certainly not looking out for your best interests. Take ownership of your success and be the best at what you do. In the process, remember that your moral courage and character are not defined by what you do while people are watching you; they are defined by what you do when no one is looking.

---------------

Tom Elliott is the author of Website 411: Business Survival in an Internet Economy (available at http://www.website411book.com), the president of WebDrafter.com, Inc. and an international Internet trainer. He is a Board of Directors member of the Central North Carolina Better Business Bureau, and has been the president of a Business Networking International (BNI) chapter. He His undergraduate degree is from Purdue University, and his Masters in Information Systems is from Florida Institute of Technology.

He served 13 years as a Naval Officer, followed by two and half years as the Director of Internet Training for a large marketing company, simultaneously building his own business. He also serves on the bachelor degree advisory board for a technical college, and is a keynote speaker.

For articles, books, and seminars essential to building your knowledge of online business and your business's future success, please visit http://www.website411book.com and http://www.webdrafter.com for more information on Websites, search engine optimization (SEO) and marketing (SEM), and ecommerce.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_M_Elliott
http://EzineArticles.com/?Personal-Business-Ethics-in-the-Pursuit-of-Professional-Growth&id=977850

Personal Business Ethics in the Pursuit of Professional Growth

AchievementRadio.com's

Personal Business Ethics in the Pursuit of Professional Growth
By Thomas M Elliott

As an Internet consultant and marketing trainer affiliated with multiple schools and professional associations, I have observed that there are two key contributors to success for business people. The same factors apply to any type of sales or consulting, whether related to product markets (weight loss, nutrition, auto parts, Websites, etc.) or services (health care, mechanics, personal trainers, search engine optimization, etc.) The first contributor is indisputably ethics, and a solid sense of above-board business practices. The second is continued, professional growth in the pursuit of expanding your knowledge base.

If your career involves consulting, advising, or otherwise providing solutions to other people in any capacity, whether it is to consumers who seek your expertise, or peers within your own specialty who stand to gain something from the information you can impart upon them, your personal sense of ethics is a premier point by which others will judge you. In fact, your entire professional reputation that takes years to build can be irreparably (or significantly) damaged by a single instance of poor business practices. If you have ever met people who are more preoccupied with their own achievements than with empowering others to succeed, their personal standards (ethics) become apparent when they downplay the achievements of others. Those same people feel entitled to personal recognition and typically have an insecure need to be the glorified center of attention, and they feel robbed or threatened by any recognition earned by others. Consequently, their own need for a personal spotlight governs their actions, creates an agenda, and affects their ethics.

You have undoubtedly crossed paths with people who are motivated like that, and at the mention of their names, their reputation is apparent with a knowing roll-of-the-eyes or casual comment such as, "Well, you know how they are," with no further explanation necessary. Those types of people play office politics well and make fair-weather friends, so long as their purpose is served. Sometimes the materialism and shallow behavior of such people can confuse a new employee or team member, creating the impression that flashy one-upsmanship is what it takes to become a leader, but never forget the old expression that "the bigger they are, the harder they fall."

In actuality, most truly successful, self-actualized leaders are unremarkably non-showy. They are comfortable with themselves, and do not need cheers from a crowd to feel like they're somebody. They have a live-and-let live outlook, but will unselfishly assist others to empower others to enjoy success, rather than try to suppress others in an attempt to remain the center of attention. When you dig into what makes successful people respectable and admired rather than thought of as self-righteous, superficial, and arrogant, you will commonly find a fundamental difference in ethical motivation.

How do your ethics affect your success in your profession?

Ethics spans beyond honesty. Integrity involves the moral courage to adhere to high standards interdepartmentally within a company, and inter-corporately between businesses within the same industry. Take, for example, the competitive nature of retail sales. Most consumers have dealt with merchants that are mercenary against competing vendors at one point or another. If it has happened to you, then you know the bad impression it leaves when a salesperson in one store belittles or degrades what they perceive as the competition. Conversely, consumers tend to appreciate and value a vendor who is comfortable enough to refer business elsewhere. If a merchant is truly interested in the well being of his or her clients, he/she helps clients expand their horizons versus acting in a self-protective, self-interested way by trying to shield clients from any cross-market exposure.

In one such case, a clerk at a local computer store referred me to a computer mega-store to get a better selection for one particular part that I had been trying to find, knowing that the larger store had more selection. In doing so, the clerk was looking out for my best interests instead of his own profits, and he forever after earned my business. In the end, the consumer remembers the helpfulness of the referral and will typically become a repeat customer of the referring merchant. I have sent many friends and associates to that small computer store, knowing they will be treated fairly.

There is simply no room for back-biting or subversive behavior in a successful career path, whether it is inside an organizational environment or between companies. To ignore this guidance is to earn the distrust of co-workers, competitors, upper management, and, yes, your customers as well. A simple downplay of your other associates or competitors is quickly seen for what it is: thinking of yourself instead of your client. Instead, focus on how your product or service can add value to your customers' quality of life, rather than how someone else's product or service is unnecessary.

Think about the ongoing presidential candidate political debates, for example, and how candidates within each party are often less intent on critical issues, and more intent on degrading the other candidates within their own party. How does it affect the way you think of them? They are each trying to be the best, be the winner, be the favorite, and win the vote, so much so that they lose sight of the issues. Would politics be more respectable if personal agendas gave way to focusing on the well being of the voters and the country? In the mind of the politician, the risk of embracing another candidate could mean losing the vote, but in the minds of the voters a tactful, refocusing reply to the mud slinging (rather than a counter-attack) would score a more favorable public opinion. Therefore, although they've succeeded to get on stage or behind the podium, politicians have the general reputation of being big talkers and small thinkers. "Politics" has a bad name. Do you know any politicians in your company? Is that how you want people to think of you in your business?

Whether you are a sales person or a consultant, remember the significance that 1) referring business and 2) keeping the customer central to your focus will yield better results than "bashing" other businesses within your same profession. In the end those who spew negativity towards specific people or companies are seen as small-minded and insecure. It's gossip. It's small. And it is so transparently evident to those who are witness to it. Do not fall into that trap!

When a potential customer approaches you with a question, of course you want to make the sale. That's natural. And if you are ethical, you ought to strongly believe in (and personally endorse) the product or service you are selling. The sales term, "become a product of your product," means that you believe in what you sell and therefore use it yourself. Sometimes a customer's question can force you to compare or defend your own product or service to explain how it stands up to your competition's. You have a choice on how to do so, and the way you decide to answer the question will reveal your personal ethics.

Example:

Suppose the question you are asked is "How does your product compare to XYZ's similar product?"

There are a number of potential responses, but only two basic paths to take in your reply.

1) XYZ's product is a great product, too! It has features A, B, and C and I've heard a lot of customers who are happy with it. In comparison, ours also does D, E, and F. The price difference isn't appreciable, but tell me, how will you be using the product? Let's figure out which one best fits your needs.

or

2) Oh, you don't need XYZ's product. It does A, B, and C, but it doesn't do D, E, and F like ours does. Plus theirs costs a little more. If you want that kind of a product, I have just the right one for you.

Notice the emphasis in number one is on the customer, not personal gain for the salesperson.

In order to maintain your profitable edge over your competition, one of the best things any professional can do is to stay abreast of the latest marketplace trends, technology, and so forth. How would either sales person (in number 1 or number 2 above) be able to answer the question comparing the two products unless they were educated on the different options available in the marketplace? Some career fields actually force this concept by mandating continuing education credits (sometimes called CECs) within their professions, usually in those disciplines that are fast-changing and that have significant impact on consumers: medical, legal, real estate, insurance, etc.

Whether or not your specialty requires CECs, as an ethical business person, you owe it to your customers, patrons, or clients to become the best you can be at what you do. Read relevant information, attend trainings and certification events whenever possible to stay in tune with the latest developments in your field, listen and watch pre-recorded presentations that expand your horizons, and participate in seminars or Webinars to enhance your professional knowledge. Acquiring the knowledge to become more successful in your field is predicated on having the right attitude to pursue that knowledge.

Anyone who would advise you not to enhance your professional growth and development is advocating ignorance, probably working under some hidden personal agenda, and certainly not looking out for your best interests. Take ownership of your success and be the best at what you do. In the process, remember that your moral courage and character are not defined by what you do while people are watching you; they are defined by what you do when no one is looking.

---------------

Tom Elliott is the author of Website 411: Business Survival in an Internet Economy (available at http://www.website411book.com), the president of WebDrafter.com, Inc. and an international Internet trainer. He is a Board of Directors member of the Central North Carolina Better Business Bureau, and has been the president of a Business Networking International (BNI) chapter. He His undergraduate degree is from Purdue University, and his Masters in Information Systems is from Florida Institute of Technology.

He served 13 years as a Naval Officer, followed by two and half years as the Director of Internet Training for a large marketing company, simultaneously building his own business. He also serves on the bachelor degree advisory board for a technical college, and is a keynote speaker.

For articles, books, and seminars essential to building your knowledge of online business and your business's future success, please visit http://www.website411book.com and http://www.webdrafter.com for more information on Websites, search engine optimization (SEO) and marketing (SEM), and ecommerce.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_M_Elliott
http://EzineArticles.com/?Personal-Business-Ethics-in-the-Pursuit-of-Professional-Growth&id=977850

Ethical Delivery Of Your Business

AchievementRadio.com's

Ethical Delivery Of Your Business
By Michael Daley

Good Day Friends, This article's subject will be delivery.

How do you deliver yourself to others? In other words, the presentation of yourself to people you meet. Is that delivery honest? Is it real? Or is it just to get them in the door?

If the presentation is not honest, once they get in the door, they will see the truth anyway, so be brutally honest with yourself when answering this question.

Take a minute to think about that, we must do an honest assessment of how people see us upon meeting them. They will see what is in our heart. You must grasp your "persona" for what it truly is, once you have honestly evaluated yourself, you can begin to work on the delivery of yourself and become stronger every day.

The health of your mind and heart will determine how you deliver yourself in this life's journey. I should hope that you would want to deliver happiness, strength, love, and encouragement.

Everyone desires to have things delivered to them in good shape. We enjoy getting packages on our door step that have been properly prepared and shipped with care. We should have the exact same mind set when we deliver ourselves to others in this life, whether in everyday interaction, or in business. And in business, if we have been contacted in regards to the products or service we offer, people expect us to be the total package and we must be prepared and deliver with true compassion.

Are you ready to make the next delivery?

I encourage you to prepare, handle with care, and dare you to make the next delivery the best one yet.

Best regards to all and may your day be blessed!

Mike Daley
http://www.ethicalbusinessconnections.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Daley
http://EzineArticles.com/?Ethical-Delivery-Of-Your-Business&id=977763

Ponzi's, Pyramid's and Other Scams

AchievementRadio.com's

Ponzi's, Pyramid's and Other Scams
By William J. Thomas

P.T. Barnum, the famous circus entrepreneur supposedly said that "there was a sucker born every minute". However, I believe P.T. was being somewhat generous in his statement because it appears as if there are several born every second. In any event, it seems as if the idea of quick cash turns many of us into completely irrational beings. It doesn't seem to matter how much we are told "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is", many of us still fall prey to the quick buck hustlers and scam artists. I'm not trying to preach because I've been guilty of chasing the fast buck from time to time myself. Why is it that many of us throw caution to the wind when it comes to these money schemes?

Back in the early 1900's, a man named Charles Ponzi was working a plan that made him rich, infamous and later landed him in jail. What this enterprising young man was doing was promising fantastic rates of return to 'investors' willing to hand over their money to him. He made claims such as being able to double your money in 90 days. The high returns were supposed to come from exchanging international postal reply coupons or some such thing. Before Mr. Ponzi was brought to justice, about 40,000 people had gotten involved in this scam. The main reason these things collapse is because there really is no product or earnings from which to reap profits from. Still, it did prove to be very profitable for individuals who got into it early, but at the expense of people who got involved later in the game. These type of scams have been around forever in various forms, and new variations arise from time to time.

Speaking of doubling your money, just a few short years ago, 'Doublers' were all the rage on the Internet. So called advertising entities and other types sprung up promising that you could double your money by investing in advertising, email leads or some other type of generally useless product. The way most of them were setup was that you would join the 'matrix' and once you cycle through the matrix, you would receive double your money. Again, getting in early was the key. As more people joined, the matrix in time became so large that the cycling time became extremely long and people stopped investing money and the matrix stalled. Most of the people were left with lots of money sitting in a line that eventually collapsed. That's the thing about these types of programs; some people do make lots of money, but it's the few who originate the program and the ones who get in early.

Many of these programs or money games are really hybrids of Ponzi and Pyramid schemes. While many appear legitimate, the thing that sets most of them apart is that there really is no 'real' product, but what matters is that your success and ability to make any money is contingent on you recruiting other participants or suckers into the program. Eventually the numbers needed to make this type of program work become unsustainable because it's based on a multilevel structure where you have to recruit 'X' number of people through numerous levels and rely on others to do the same. In order to make the money advertised, you and everyone else would have to have about 6 million people in your network.

Unfortunately, all of these scams have given a legitimate form of business known as Multi Level Marketing, a bad rap that is hard to overcome. Having belonged to a couple of Network Marketing or MLM companies, I can't recall the number of times I have had prospects say to me, "that's not a Multi Level Marketing program, is it?," with a look as if they have just seen Lucifer incarnate. With all the scammers out there, it is sometimes difficult to tell the difference; just remember that legitimate MLM companies offer REAL products and the income you make with them isn't based solely on recruiting others into the business.

One thing you can say about scammers is that they are very flexible in that they have adapted to the technology of the Internet very well. I must receive 10-20 emails a day telling me that someone in some little place like Timbuktu wants to send me 7 million dollars or so if I just give them my bank account information. Between that and all the lotteries I'm winning, I shouldn't have to be spending hours each day staring at this computer screen trying to eke out a living. Hmm...

William J. Thomas is actively engaged in Internet Business pursuits. He also contributes articles on life, business and other topics. His current website is..Create Income from Home With Your Own...Cash Generating Website....Visit Bill's Blog for tips and discussion about Earning Income on the Internet

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_J._Thomas
http://EzineArticles.com/?Ponzis,-Pyramids-and-Other-Scams&id=977921

Ways They Cook Books - What You See May Not Be What You Are Buying

AchievementRadio.com's

Ways They Cook Books - What You See May Not Be What You Are Buying
By Paul J. Delfino

The business news over recent months has done much more than report the steep slide of the Stock Market. Overall, confidence in business people, distrust of the financial establishment, and a new mind set for the terms CEO and CFO are the byproducts that will linger long after the stock market rebounds with normal cycles.

The long aspired-for titles of CEO and CFO have taken on an aura of shady dealing and distrust. As Watergate did to politics; what has been revealed about Enron, WorldCom and others yet to surface, will redefine our thinking for some time.

Should we be surprised? Probably not. Since the beginning of time and the first "transaction" between cave dwellers, "creative accounting" has been a tool to mask weakness and inflate value. The process and game is not limited to FORTUNE 1000 enterprises. In reality, it is easier for a $1Million Message Center or Call Center to "creatively" position themselves, due to the fact that the numbers of most small businesses are not audited.

Small businesses normally engage accounting firms to "compile" their numbers. A compilation is merely the correct presentation of the numbers given an accountant. A "review" is a spot check of accuracy and an "audit" is certification of accuracy and consistency. Audits are expensive and most small businesses do not make the investment and merely meet the need for end of year reporting with a Compilation.

The message center industry is ripe for consolidation due to:

• The Capital Investment & Scale Required for Emerging Technology
• The Average Size of Firms in the Industry
• The Opportunity for efficiencies with consolidation and overhead reduction.

The above suggests there will be an increase in transactions going forward. If you plan to enter the playing field be forewarned: You are entering a field filled with mines and potential expense.

BUYER BEWARE

We have not been surprised by the news of accounting irregularities. Over the years we have encountered scores of "creative" techniques by business people hoping to look better for courtship and even for their banker. This is not new news and will more than likely remain a fact until the extinction of the cockroach.

Below is a smorgasbord list we created in a brain storming session presenting a sampling of techniques and "creative" adjustments to numbers that you should watch for when evaluating a business.

TIMING

• Deferring current expenses to another accounting period.
• Accelerating discretionary expenses to the current period.
• Keeping cash-received records open after the end of a period; closing disbursements records early.
• Depreciating or amortizing at different rates.
• Writing off future depreciation or amortization in the present accounting period.
• Liquidating reserves against anticipated returns to shift sales revenue to a later period.
• Recognizing revenue before it's fully earned or while significant contingencies exist.
• Delaying publication of financial results.
• Making unusual entries at or near the end of an accounting period

INTERPRETATION

• Not writing off bad loans or worthless assets.
• Over or under valuing investments, intangibles, and other assets, especially difficult ones like excess inventory, private-placement securities, and contract rights.
• Ignoring liabilities such as long-term commitments, significant contingencies, or post-retirement liability.
• Not making adequate provision for depreciation.
• Overestimating the collectability of accounts receivable.
• Ignoring the obsolescence of fixed assets.
• Making bogus estimates, especially on interim financials.

INVENTORY

• Misstating inventory by counting empty boxes, altering documents, or adding in inventory that's not salable, for example.
• Valuing inventory at market price rather than cost.

SALES

• Counting revenue based on goods shipped before a sale is final or based on merchandise shipped but not ordered.
• Considering sales on consignment complete sales.
• Ignoring buyers' rights to return merchandise.
• Recording sales to buyers who are not likely to make payments because they don't have financing.
• Recording phony charges to customers.

COMBINATIONS

• Mixing operating and non-operating accounts.
• Folding a subsidiary's results into the parent company's financials.
• Paying debts out of the owner's pocket to inflate the price of a company before a sale.
• Retaining the main asset of the business in the owner's name.
• Borrowing through subsidiaries.
• Failing to separate unusual, non-recurring gain or loss from recurring gain or loss; "restructuring" charges.
• Using equity or loans to fund dividend payments.

MISREPRESENTATIONS

• Using inflation to hide asset revaluation.
• Reporting quick gains from the sale of undervalued assets or from retiring debt.
• Burying losses under non-continuing operations.
• Improperly capitalizing research and development, start-up costs, advertising, interest charges, repairs, and the like.
• Exchanging similar assets and counting what's received at fair market value.
• Keeping debt off the books.

MORE BAD STUFF

• Intentionally misapplying accounting methods to actual transactions.
• Taking aggressive positions on unsettled, difficult, or controversial accounting issues.
• Treating refunds as revenue.
• Entering phony or bogus transactions.
• Recording income on the exchange of similar assets.
• Failing to identify related-party transactions.

LACK OF AUDITED/CERTIFIED STATEMENTS

Many business opportunities involve smaller companies where certified statements are simply not available. Consider examining the outfit's books, ledgers, bills, invoices, bank statements, checks, and other supporting documentation thoroughly, with your own eyes

Paul J. DelFino is a principal of the consulting firm Opportunity Inc. For nearly 15 years, he has assisted entrepreneurs within service and contracting businesses to increase their return on investment. Visit http://www.opportunity-inc.com to contact them or learn more about their services

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_J._Delfino
http://EzineArticles.com/?Ways-They-Cook-Books---What-You-See-May-Not-Be-What-You-Are-Buying&id=985189

Loving Your Employees

AchievementRadio.com's

Loving Your Employees
By Melvin Polatnick

Owning a twelve room house is very expensive, my cleaning lady and her sister who is my cook cost me fifteen hundred dollars a week for six days work. Health insurance is provided by me. Both are is well worth what I pay them. I like my clothes and linens washed daily by hand and my two cars washed and waxed. The washing machines destroy the quality of material so they are not used except by them. Both have been with me for over five years. we are all lovers but never on working hours.

My cook is three years younger than her sister, she is forty three years old. She once worked as a stripper but gave it up to work for me. The food shopping and kitchen cleanup is done by her. Breakfast is served at eight but lunch and dinner can be served at any time. I always like a late night snack and a dry martini. The sisters live with me and have their own rooms. I cannot sleep well with any one in my bed. When we make love it is in the large bedroom that my deceased parents used to share.

Sunday is my employees day off so we all go mall shopping followed by dinner and dancing. We never return home until the wee hours of the morning. Both sisters are usually dead drunk. I am the driver so I keep my self down to a martini or two. We are all up at eight A.M. to start the working day of with a hot breakfast. Life is good to us all and we are one happy bunch.

On a Sunday night when we were dinning and dancing I asked the sisters if they would like to retire and live with me in a residential hotel. The staff of the hotel would provide all the services needed including cooking and cleaning. They were delighted to hear such a kind offer but were frightened at the thought of losing their salaries. I explained that the salaries would continue and so would our relationship as friends and lovers. They agreed and I sold my house. We then all moved into a luxurious three bedroom suite.

My parents were business people and employed over one hundred workers. Before they died in an automobile accident they explained to me the importance of being fair to your employees. I never forgot their teachings. The sisters that live with me were my employees and if my parents were alive they would be proud of me.

melpol

Retired and single. Lover Of the seashore and writing.

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Loving-Your-Employees&id=1009906

The Truth In Online Network Marketing

AchievementRadio.com's

The Truth In Online Network Marketing
By John A. Stokes

02/26/08 GRNTeambuilder has done something different in their approach to would-be network marketers, they've offered to tell the truth. I've personally seen all types of online home business ads on the Internet and they all share one thing in common, hype and lies. Most of them promise to make you thousands of dollars for doing next to nothing. They appeal to our laziness, our desire and need for extra income, and to our ignorance on what online marketing truly entails. The thing that captivated me about GRNTeambuilder, was their initial E-book, "It's only easy if you know the Truth". In this 63 page E-book, GRNTeambuilder assumes that you the reader wants to earn money at home but doesn't know the first thing about Search Engine Optimization.

GRNTeambuilder then takes you down the path of a successful online marketer, showing you all the things you'll truly need to make a buck online. While $10k a week IS possible, you have to know HOW to get there, and that's exactly what GRNTeambuilder intends to show their members. Most of us want to believe that all we have to do is join, just sign up and "point, click, and earn!" is what we're told, not realizing what goes into an online business. You see, most online business's mainly require you to "point to the website" and let the site do all the "selling and telling". The problem here is twofold, first people want to know who YOU are, and a website with some company "poster child" sitting at his laptop on the beach doesn't tell them anything about YOU.

GRNTeambuilder has solved this problem by allowing members to upload a video of themselves onto their website. The second problem is the biggest, advertising online is NOT a business, it's a skill set you must learn to have a successful online business. Think about it this way, if you were told to join a business and all you had to do was make TV and radio commercials, what would you think? Sure it could be done, but if you didn't know HOW to do so effectively, you probably wouldn't get far. The internet is a form of media, just like TV, radio, and print, advertising on the Internet can be costly if you don't KNOW what your doing. You can try it alone, or you can join a TEAM. The company behind the product, Global Resorts Network is the real story, it is putting $1000 checks into many subscribers pocket.Global Resort Network President, Al Morales, has given many the opportunity for financial freedom. GRN is backed by a 20 year old product. This Global Resorts product is at the top of its industry, it allows families to vacation at 5 star resorts for 298 a week, all taxes included. To market this product in the long term one needs to build their global resorts network team deep.

John Stokes
http://www.GRNTeamwork.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNBhyAf_L_U

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http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Truth-In-Online-Network-Marketing&id=1010807

Unethical Business Practices

AchievementRadio.com's

Unethical Business Practices
By Jed Reay

Bad press and lawsuits are things that every business owner fears. Bad press can ruin your reputation, as well as your business, and lawsuits can bankrupt you. The easiest way to avoid both of these situations is to avoid unethical business practices. There are very easy ways to avoid unethical business practices.

First, adhere to the old standby that honesty is the best policy. Be honest in all of your business dealings, whether it concerns vendors, customers, or employees. This also means that you need to use honesty when reporting earnings and expenses, when paying employees and vendors, and when disclosing information to customers.

When you are faced with a complaint, whether that complaint comes from a customer, a vendor, an employee, or the community, the complaint needs to be dealt with head on. Burying your head in the sand, and hoping that the problem will go away will only serve to make the situation worse, and because you are responsible, this isn't the ethical way to handle problems. Never try to spin your own version of the truth to make the problem not look as bad as it really is. This will only damage your reputation in the long run.

When many companies are using unethical business practices, instead of trying to correct the problem, they try to cover it up. They will even go as far as paying loads of money on advertising and public relations to try to hide the problems at hand. Again, this is an unethical business practice, and it should be avoided. When mistakes are made, address them clearly, apologize, do better, and move on. The community as a whole will respect you a great deal more for this than they will if you do nothing, or try to hide a problem, only to be found out later.

Ethical business issues often arise that have little to do with the workplace, but a great deal to do with the product that is being sold. It could be that there are dangers with the product that were only recently discovered. If you are practicing ethical business, you will notify the public about these dangers, and depending on the extent of the danger, you may need to recall the product - even if it means losing some money, and losing some business in the future. Recall the product and fix the problem, and you will avoid a loss of your reputation, as well as lawsuits. When you recall a product, you get press, but because you took the appropriate ethical action, it isn't considered to be bad press.

Placing blame is another issue. When problems occur, it seems that a businesses first instinct is to look for someone to blame, instead of taking responsibility for the problem themselves. Not only is this unethical, it is almost childish in nature, and it does little to instill trust in the public, in employees, or in vendors. If the issue arose because of a mistake that an employee made, depending on the seriousness of the problem, the employee may be fired, but it is unethical for the business to name that employee. In the publics' eyes, it is the company that made a mistake, and not an employee.

Again, there are many unethical business practices that crop up in the business world on a day-to-day basis. For your particular business, it is important to constantly monitor yourself and your employees to ensure that you are operating above board, and that unethical business practices are dealt with immediately, in the best possible way.

To Your Success

Jed A. Reay
Managing Partner of 5 Star Success Team
800-863-4592 Option #1

R&R InfoSystems, Co. ~ P.O. Box 7427 ~ Eugene, OR. ~ 97401 ~

"Excellence can be attained if you Care more than others think is wise; Risk more than others think is safe; Dream more than others think is practical; and Expect more than other think is possible."
Author Unknown

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Unethical-Business-Practices&id=1013362

Doing the Right Thing

AchievementRadio.com's

Doing the Right Thing
By John Males

When we started Fathom Corporate Training, we searched high and low for a name befitting our firm. So many ideas can surface when undertaking these types of endeavors. Sometimes though, we have a hard time simply deciding what to order on the restaurant menu. Trying to make the right decision can become an obsession. We turn in circles trying to make perfect decisions, but we really don't have all the information to do that. Recently I had a revelation. I woke up with a clear understanding and realization of how much time I have wasted in my life trying to make that "right" decision. While my life has gone pretty smoothly, I have indeed sacrificed. I have sacrificed precious time trying to make these types of perfect decisions. Time is something we can't get back. I now remind myself every day that "right" does not exist. There will always be a "left" staring you in the face so that you inevitably will ask yourself, "I wander if I should go that way?" When the fear of the unknown and indecisiveness comes up because of a new fork in the road we must realize a couple things:

1. We don't know the future.

2. There is no right way.

There are many different roads to getting there and because there is no way to know what roadblocks may be ahead, it may be time to simply choose. Ultimately, you'll get where you're going and feel more productive and efficient. Or, you may discover a new way of getting things done that you could have never planned for. Go ahead, step into the unknown. And remember, we are all whistling in the same darkness!

What about procrastination? Do you procrastinate? We all do to some degree. If getting a project started in the perfect way or at the "right" time is holding you back, your procrastinating. One key to stopping your procrastination is to first know when your doing it. We all do something different when we procrastinate. Do you find yourself running lots of errands. Sure, your getting lots done, but what? Most of us are very efficient, but not effective. What's the difference? Doing the most in the shortest period of time is called efficient use of time. Effective use of your time means getting the right things done. Things that will lead you to accomplishing your most important life goals. It's seems easier to go to the store or watch TV than to start on something that feels threatening, such as an important project. So simply get started. Just remember the Spartans if the project is too large and feels overwhelming. When facing the ruthless Persian army and outnumbered by thousands, the 300 brave Spartan soldiers felt completely overwhelmed. With one simple question, the Greek leader of the Spartan army broke down the massive task at hand. "Can each of you slay 3-4 more Persians today than you did yesterday?" They agreed that they could. And they did, one at a time!

John Males spent 10 years on the management team of Continental Airlines in sales and marketing, taking part in what is recognized as the largest and most significant corporate turnaround in American business history. Used in case studies worldwide for its exceptional business practices, the firm continues to rank on the Fortune 100 "Best Companies to Work for List" and as one of the most globally admired firms. John Males brings expertise to clients facing critical challenges in the areas of management, sales and branding. His customers include some of the world's most successful firms and recognized brands. He can be reached at info@fathomtraining.com or http://www.fathomtraining.com

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Doing-the-Right-Thing&id=965846

Ethics Pay

Ethics Pay
By Andrew Routledge

I would like to tell you a short story about a conversation that I had with a man I met in the lobby of a hotel. We were both attending a food exposition and had some time to kill before our taxis came to take us to the exhibition hall.

The conversation started when the Dutch gentleman asked if the seat at my table was taken. I told him that it was vacant and he quietly sat opposite me. I asked him if he was staying at the hotel for the food fare. He answered that he was. He asked me what my line of business was and I told him that I operated a large catering firm. I asked him the same question. He told me that he had a chain of high street butchers shops in Holand.

Interested, I asked him how many workers he had in his business. He answered that there were around one hundred and fifty people working for the him. I continued by asking him if business was good to which he replied, "it is now". " I made some changes and now we are all very happy", he continued.

Puzzled by the reply I asked him what me meant when he said "we" to which he replied, "the workers and myself". I must still have looked puzzled because he added "let me explain".

He continued, "one day I met an old man who looked to be very wise. After talking to him about this and that I told him that I was not happy with my business because I was not making much money and I had to fight to get customers through the doors of my shops despite much advertising in local papers. I tried everything. All types of advertising campaigns, schemes, incentives, you name it I did it. I was very quickly getting very mentally drained. The man asked me just one question. He asked me if my workers were happy working for me. I knew that they were not. I paid minimum wage and gave very few holidays and sick leave. In fact my workers always looked gloomy and sad. But I didn't care. I told the man that they were not happy. He said "do you realize that your workers are your most vital asset. Nothing can move in this world unless people make it move. Besides, if your workers are happy they will sing your praises to everybody they know and bring them to your shop".

"Suddenly I saw the error of my ways", continued the Dutchman. "I realized that I had turned so many potential ambassadors into slaves. I realized that not only could they advertise for me but so could all the people who got a recommendation from them. In addition I also realized that my produce was not always the best quality. I had been trying to reduce losses by selling meat that was about to go off. I decided there and them to stop all my advertising accounts and to re think the pay structure and social conditions for all my workers. In addition I decided to sell only the finest and freshest produce at good prices."

"When I told my workers about what I had decided they were so emotional that many of them burst into tears. So did I. I asked their forgiveness and told them that we were opening a new page. The next day there was a real buzz in the shop. Everybody was smiling. Customers smiled at me and told me that I was a good man. I felt better than I had for many years. I had no need to worry about the produce either because none of it stayed in the shops long enough to go off, it just seemed to fly out of the doors. From then on I have never looked back. I have added many new products to my range and the customers love them. In fact I am here to buy more new equipment so that the worker's job will be easier."

"What a wonderful story" I said. "And it all came from a few words with that wise old man, wonderful, wonderful," I said

Just then the taxis arrived. I never saw the Dutch man again but his words will remain with me forever. Ethics does pay.

Hi, I'm Andy Routledge, writer, photographer, coach and culinary expert. I would like to invite you to look at one of my many web pages at http://www.squidoo.com/snake and see how you can get your own web pages up and running absolutely free and with no previous knowledge of web page building necessary. Your page will be ready in minutes, it's so easy my kids do it. Don't miss this opportunity. Write about whatever you want and use it for whatever purpose you like. See also http://www.squidoo.com/foodhygiene

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Ethics-Pay&id=806834