Nick Yates Business Establishing Tips

Well of course, to the American ear it’s quite a mouthful as country names go. I, Nick Yates,  would like to talk about my experience with the country.

It may make people wince when you announce to them that you and the wife have booked your next vacation ticket there.  Especially if the recipient of the happy news knows anything about the security situation in the exotic Central American nation.  While past decades of bloody insurgency have long since been quelled, instances of armed robberies against tourists aren’t exactly rare.  And any tour guide worth its money will caution you up-front — and no doubt repeatedly — that displaying valuables in the streets isn’t a wise choice.

But to those still reading this article, Guatemala is undeniably the most colorful, exotic and adventurous vacation trip you could book in Central America.

And inexpensive.  The backpacker set will find hotel accommodation year-round for $15-20 per night in its towns and villages.  And the capital city, Guatemala City, offers an array of four and five star hotels that equal those found elsewhere in Latin America — and at less cost.  Food is cheap.  Transport is quite reasonable, even taking into consideration that you’ll probably want to stick with the private minivan services that cater almost exclusively to tourists.

But it’s the native Indian culture and the geography of the place that wow.  Volcanoes, truly big and fiery ones, march across the country from east to west and provide trekkers with some of the world’s best opportunities to view glowing hot lava flows up-close and personal.  Rainforests can be found in almost any Guatemalan zip code, and beaches, at least on the Caribbean side of the country, are of decent quality.

And nowhere else in the hemisphere will offer photographers better angles into native Indian life in all its vibrant color.  The various Indian groups seem almost to compete in providing the most colorful scenes — and are for the most part entirely used to being rendered electronically into screensavers by click-happy tourists eager to impress office colleagues back in the world of work cubicles!

There are also marvelous ruins to be experienced, particularly in the northern lowlands.  A short airplane flight or a very long bus ride from Guatemala City will get you to them.  Though maybe not on the scheduled hour or even day!

Personally, I’ve always appreciated the fact that this part of the world lies conveniently close to my preferred time zone, and therefore requires little or no adjustment, either going or coming.  I hate falling asleep in the middle of the day; my boss hates seeing me do it.  But maybe it’s just us?

All in all then, Guatemala might be a great choice for your winter escape.

Author: Hannah Du Plessis

Your job no longer comes with a guarantee.

Yes, that is right, you might have been taught that if you work hard, study for a professional occupation, and score high grades, your future is set. Nothing can harm you. You get a job with your beautiful education and a good salary, and after 40 – 50 years of working, you retire happy and do anything you want.

Let us look at the facts: Millions of people are laid off work yearly. Some industries, like the record industry, were completely obsolete overnight. Thousands of skilled senior executives and middle managers are losing their jobs. Some students even find themselves unemployed when they finish their courses.

Income and retirement isn’t looking too good either. Nowadays both husband and wife have to work to maintain a descent lifestyle. Statistics show that 95% of all people at age 65 are either dead, or dead broke, and that it is only 6% of the population that is financially independent … and only 1% of those can be considered wealthy.

In the 90’s people turned to small business as an opportunity to create the best economic return available. Most people who venture into their own business are the so-called “Baby Boomers” - people between the ages of 30 and 50. These Boomers represent a third of the population and they are leading the way to make entrepreneurship the Super Career of the 21st century.

Buying a franchise was also seen as a viable option. A franchise is a safe business structure as it has proven systems in place for generating and keeping business.

Women who are disillusioned with climbing the corporate ladder started a new trend in creating home businesses which they can work around their already busy schedules as mothers.

For these entrepreneurs who are looking to start a small business from home, Network Marketing offers many attractive characteristics, including low capital risk and the ease of operation. Unlike traditional small businesses, Network Marketing requires no expensive legal, financial or accounting services, low maintenance or overheads, no employees, advanced education or start up money.

Author: Michelle Bery

For most of us there comes a day when we toy with the idea of starting a small business; work stress and frustrated career goals can often leave us thirsting for autonomy and starting a small business seems to fit the bill. But for those who are thinking of starting a small business, the road can be one of sacrifice and learning.

Before starting a small business do as much research as possible. Talk to other people who have started a small business and are willing to give you some guidance, read books by people who have a passion for entrepreneurship, and get online to read as much as possible about the ins and outs of starting a small business. On the Internet you’ll also have access to advocacy organizations developed to help those starting a small business; as well as access to chat forums where you can learn from the experiences of others in your situation

Locally there should also be organizations that can help you in starting a small business. Look at the business advocacy groups in your local area that can offer guidance.

Gather as much information as you can and keep careful notes. Remember that this business will be a reflection of you and as such should mirror the philosophies to which you subscribe. Starting a small business is not the same for everyone; take your own special circumstances into account before beginning your journey.

Depending on the business you are starting, it may also be in your best interest to hire legal counsel. A lawyer can help you navigate the complexities of small business ownership and save you time and money further down the road.

Additionally, a lawyer who is well-versed in online commerce can help you establish an online presence if starting a small business for you includes an Internet component.

Also, if starting a small business for you means bringing on employees, a lawyer is essential to your success. Hiring employees opens you up to a whole new set of liabilities; save yourself any complications by having a lawyer by your side to protect you.

Author: Susan West

Increasingly, women managers are choosing to “opt out” when corporations fail to meet their professional needs. Opting out—the latest catch phrase within corporate circles—describes the growing trend of leaving corporate positions for alternative career paths.

A significant number of women managers are leaving large companies to start their own businesses. In fact, women are quitting corporate jobs in favor of entrepreneurship at twice the rate of men, making a significant impact on the traditional and online marketplace, according to Cheskin Research, a California-based strategic market research and consulting company.

Recent research indicates interesting trends for women entrepreneurs. According to the Center for Women’s Business research, the number of women-owned U.S. businesses grew at twice the rate of all firms between 1997 and 2002. And the U.S. Small Business Administration reports that women-owned businesses account for 28 percent of all privately-owned companies. They employ 9.2 million people and contribute $2.38 trillion in revenue to the U.S. economy.

Why Women Managers are Leaving Corporate America?

Women used to be willing to devote their time, energy, and effort to the corporation’s needs—at the expense of meeting their own professional goals. But not anymore. They’re starting their own businesses in an effort to gain more freedom, recognition, money, opportunities and other rewards.

Fifty-one percent of women business owners with prior private-sector experience cite the desire for more flexibility as the major reason for leaving corporate positions, according to a study by Catalyst, a nonprofit research and advisory organization working to advance professional women. Twenty-nine percent said restrictive glass-ceiling issues drove them out the door. Of those women, 44 percent felt their contributions were not recognized or valued.

“As women walk out the door after years of training,” said Catalyst President Sheila Wellington, “what really walks out is the potential that those women would have brought to Corporate America.”

The Catalyst research—co-sponsored by the National Foundation for Women Business Owners, the Committee of 200, and Salomon Smith Barney—also revealed that:

• A third of the women surveyed by said they weren’t taken seriously by their employer or supervisor.

• Fifty-eight percent of them said that nothing would attract them back to the corporate world.

• Twenty-four percent said they could be lured back by more money, and 11 percent by greater flexibility.

Keeping Women in Corporations

Experts say corporate America isn’t doing enough to keep women from walking out the door. Companies need to focus on providing flexibility, as well as continuing challenges and opportunities for personal growth, to retain women whom they view as high-potential or who are already significant contributors, says Catalyst. In addition, companies should identify potential women managers early in their careers, reward women’s bottom-line contributions, and recruit female entrepreneurs to corporate boards and senior line positions.

Expanding opportunities for women in leadership will require corporate change, as well as accommodations on the part of women themselves. Corporate cultures must support initiatives such as giving women high-visibility assignments, making gender diversity a part of succession planning and holding managers accountable for women’s advancements.

Women managers can hone their leadership ability by seeking out risky, high profile assignments. If they need to strengthen their leadership skills to meet new challenges, they should consider hiring an executive coaching firm. For example, QuadWest Associates of Michigan offers a variety of business coaching and leadership development services to help executives optimize their skills and performance.