Conference Call Etiquette - The Do's and Don'ts of Multi-Way Phone Conversations By Lyndsay Swinton

The curse of every hard working manager. Love or hate them, with geographically dispersed teams and travel restrictions, conference calls are here to stay as a communication medium in the workplace. If you want to stand out from your work colleagues, then follow these simple do's and don'ts of effective conference calls.

Here are my favourite conference call experiences;

· a barking dog drowns out the key discussion point, bad enough, but the owner then starts shouting at his pet.
· a thirsty caller uses the hold button whilst slipping out to get a drink, unaware hold music starts playing to everyone on the call.
· a talkative colleague uses the mute button to moan about the call, stopping you answering the question from the senior manager you are trying to impress.

Obviously I would discourage all these career limiting behaviours, so what are the do's and don'ts of effective conference calls?

Do get comfortable with the fact you will be talking in front of a group and receiving no visual cues or feedback.

Do use the right phone in a quiet, undisturbed room.

Don't use cell phones or phones that pick up background noise. Calling from an open plan office is the equivalent of having a conversation in a nightclub. If you really can't find a quiet room, use the mute button until you are required to speak.

To avoid a Homer Simpson style "Doh" moment, do learn to use the mute button and other phone technology. Your intelligent contributions mean nothing if no one can hear them.

Do set up the meeting in advance and communicate the dial in number, passcodes and other information. "Spring forward, fall back" is something to keep in mind for your timezone crossing colleagues. Don't work out time differences on your fingers - check on the internet or even phone a colleague in that country and ask what time it is!

Do start the meeting absolutely on time; don't reward latecomers' bad behaviour by waiting for them. Take a role call at the start of the meeting, highlighting the missing attendees. Go on, get tough, people will love you for it!

Do treat the conference call as if it were a meeting. You know the routine; prepare and circulate an agenda, take notes ya-de-ya-de-ya.

Do get each caller to say hello and introduce themselves. Even though you may never meet in person, it's a good relationship builder and gets the shyest of people to at least say their name.

Don't assume everyone recognises your voice. Unless you are dis-respecting the boss and want to stay incognito, say your name before you speak. This is particularly important for the poor soul taking meeting notes.

Do make use of guest speakers. Invite a special or important guest and get them to say a few words at the beginning of the meeting. No one will know they slipped out after five minutes and you'll get the benefit of undivided attention and best behaviour.

Don't allow the topic to wander. Be an iron fist in a velvet glove - polite but firm if people talk too long or over each other. If your callers are at home sitting in their pyjamas nursing a hot chocolate, be considerate that all they want is to go to bed.

Do ask for input by using a person's name. People will pay more attention to avoid the embarrassment of needing the question repeated.

Don't shuffle papers; scrape chairs, pencil tap, hum or other distracting, noisy activities. It...drives...people...mad!

Do close the meeting formally, thanking everybody for their time. That little bit of recognition will make them feel good about talking to you again.

And that's about it. Apart from one very personal tip. Do not sit on a leather chair. Ever. The problem is each time you move around, an embarrassing noise that's at just the right frequency to carry well over the phone is emitted. Either you brazen it out and suffer the comments about your defective digestive system, or sit rigid until the call is over. If you only take one piece of advice make sure it's this - do use fabric covered seats!

Lyndsay Swinton is an experienced team leader, people manager and business coach. Her website is www.mftrou.com - 'Management for the rest of us'. Subscribe to her free no-nonsense Management Tips newsletter at mftrou.com today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/965

Finding Balance In A Tilted World By Stephen Fairley

THE STRUGGLE -- I was recently talking with one of my entrepreneur friends. He has started three businesses in the last several years--a budding entrepreneur. He was relating some of the joys he has experienced in those enterprises: a sense of freedom from the corporate world, pursuing his dreams and passions, setting his own schedule, controlling his destiny and a large potential for financial rewards.

However, he did mention a few downsides: little to no outside accountability, lack of consistent capital, feelings of loneliness, no steady revenue stream, feeling disconnected from others who don't understand his drive to succeed, constant struggles to survive and a severe lack of work-life balance. Sound familiar?

I think most entrepreneurs struggle with similar issues, especially balance. There are many reasons they can give for their lack of life balance and low satisfaction: "I have too much work to do. I just need a few more hours to finish this project. I need more money. I have bills to pay. My business depends on my hard work. My family needs more income. I am solely responsible for developing, marketing, selling and servicing my product or service."

Any or all of these reasons may be true, which might lead entrepreneurs to find great difficulty in managing the two sides of entrepreneurship--balance and success. How often do you struggle with working longer hours than you know you should to try and secure the next sale? How many times has your family and friends tried to pull you away from your office this last month? Take a moment and count up the actual hours you have spent working this last week or month. There is always the temptation to do a little more, work a little harder, talk to one more potential customer in hopes of making one more sale.

What specific things are you doing to take care of yourself: physically, emotionally, and spiritually? Many entrepreneurs overlook these vital areas of life in search of professional success, yet these areas are full of potential for sparking the creative, outside of the box thinking that leads entrepreneurs like yourself to discover life changing products and services and find a new perspective on your business venture.

ASSESS WHERE YOU ARE

Take a moment and write down these 8 life areas:

o friends & family

o fun & recreation

o physical environment & home

o romance & significant other

o fitness & health

o career

o finances

o personal & spiritual growth

Next to each area assess where you currently are. On a scale of 1 to 7, with 1 being "completely dissatisfied" and 7 being "completely satisfied" mark how currently you are satisfied in each area. Add up the totals of all eight areas before reading further. The scoring is at the end of this article.

DEVELOP A PLAN

As you look at your current level of satisfaction what patters or themes do you see? Where areas are you the least satisfied with? The most?

For you who recognize a change is in order, here are a five simple steps to help you start finding the work-life balance that leads to success:

1. Choose 1 area that you are dissatisfied with and would like to see some immediate improvement in. This should not be your worst or best scoring area, but somewhere in the middle. Take a couple minutes and write down in detail what balance would look like for you in that area.

2. Now, get out your planner and make a note to yourself one week from today. In the note, write down:

o the area that you want to improve your level of satisfaction in

o the "score" where you are now and the "score" you want to be at the next week

o 2 things you are going to do to move yourself towards that goal over this next week

3. Tell someone about your goal and ask them to hold you accountable--whether it's a friend, a mentor, or your coach. It's easy to make "new year, new leaf" promises to yourself, but more difficult to follow through with unless you know someone is holding you accountable to reach your goal.

4. Set up a time to talk with your accountability partner the next week. Did you reach your goal? If not, talk about what kept you from reaching it and what will you do differently this next week. If you did reach your goal, congratulate yourself. Do something simple to celebrate your achievement.

5. The final step is to go back to step 1 and do it over again.

Creating life balance is never easy and it's never complete. There will always be room for improvement. The point is that you can make your life more balanced by taking small steps in the right direction. Like most worthwhile things in life, creating life balance is a process, not an event!

SCORING RANGE

8--16 Wow! Things must be pretty rough right now.

17--30 Average score of many small business owners

30--45 There are some very satisfying and very dissatisfying areas in your life

45--56 You recognize the importance of life balance to life success

Stephen Fairley, M.A., RCC is the President of Today's Leadership Coaching, a premier executive coaching and training firm, and a Registered Corporate Coach (RCC). Today's Leadership Coaching focuses on “Developing Leaders Who Deliver Results.” You can contact him at 630-588-0500 or at Stephen@TodaysLeadership.com
© 2001 by Stephen Fairley. All rights reserved. Please contact author for reprints

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/277

Make Your Fortune in a Paper Business By J. Stephen Pope

The problem with some business ideas is their cost.
To manufacture and market a product you have invented
could cost you millions of dollars. The investment in
machinery, buildings, inventory and other expenditures
could bankrupt you before your first sale ever occurred.

For this reason, many prefer to run a paper business.
Paper businesses do not require large investments of
capital for expensive equipment, inventory, and
buildings. Many paper businesses can be run from your
own home.

A paper business is a business that can be
operated mainly using pieces of paper, such as
contracts, invoices, shipping documents, et cetera.

Here are some excellent paper businesses that you can
operate.

1. Consulting

Consultants charge large fees for their knowledge, expertise,
skills, connections, experience, and other assets. This
business can be operated from home with little more than
standard office equipment and supplies.

Consulting is a paper business because your product is an
intangible service. Your results are often summarized in
a written, paper report and you use written contracts to
protect your interests.

For further information and resources about consulting,
visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/consulting.html

2. Finding

A professional finder finds something needed by a business or
individual for a finder`s fee. The finder doesn`t invest in
product inventory because he`s not selling it. He simply
collects a fee for arranging to introduce a buyer to a seller.
The finder conducts his business using contracts and other
written documentation.

For further information and resources about finder`s fees,
visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/finder.html

[http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/finder.html%0D%0A]

3. Drop Shipping

Another business (or method of business) where you don`t
invest in product inventory or retail space is drop shipping.
When your customer buys from you, perhaps through the mail,
by phone, or on the internet, you simply contact your
supplier, who then ships it to your customer. Your paper
business involves taking the order, billing and collecting
from your customer as well as ordering, giving shipping
instructions, and paying your supplier.

For further information and resources about drop shipping,
visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/dropship.html

4. Affiliate Programs

With affiliate and associate programs, you collect
commissions from the sale of other peoples` products. Again,
you have no investment in product inventory or expensive
facilities.

For further information and resources about affiliate programs,
visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/affiliate.html

5. Webmastering

Another knowledge-based paper business is webmastering.
Whether you design websites, perform internet marketing,
or render other needed services, your business is again
mainly intangible services backed up by paper records and
contracts.

For further information and resources about webmastering,
visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/webmstrbus.html

6. International Trade

Many times import and export transactions can be conducted
on a commission basis. It is also possible to buy, sell
and ship merchandise without ever having even seen it.
Letters of credit, bills of lading, and other agreements
are needed in this paper business.

For further information and resources about import-export,
visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/impexp.html

7. Licensing

Instead of trying to finance the manufacturing and marketing
of your invention, why not license it to a company with the
expertise and capability required? You will then receive
royalties in return for your idea.

As well, you could become a licensing agent, arranging
licensing deals on behalf of other companies and individuals,
taking a percentage of sales as compensation.

For further information and resources about licensing,
visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/licensing.html

There are many other paper businesses that you could consider
including mortgage brokering, commission sales, equipment
leasing, real estate, and franchising. This is by no means an
exhaustive list. With some thoughtful consideration, you, too,
could make your fortune from a paper business.

RESOURCE BOX:
J. Stephen Pope, President of Pope Consulting Inc., http://www.popeconsultinginc.com/ has been helping clients to earn maximum business profits for over twenty-five years.
For valuable Work at Home Small Business Ideas, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/250

Increase Your Income through International Trade By J. Stephen Pope

If you operate a small business, you may feel that your income potential is quite limited. However, you can increase and diversify your income through international trade.

1. Importing

Retail store owners can find additional products to sell from foreign manufacturers, distributors, and other suppliers.

Advantages of importing include increased product selection, lower costs, and increased income.

You may even decide to go exclusively into the import business and become a wholesale distributor.

2. Exporting

Manufacturers can find new customers for their products in foreign countries.

Perhaps consumers in your country have lost interest in your product. It may have become obsolete because of technological advances. A foreign market, however, may be desirous of that very product.

Maybe there is an economic slump in your country. Another country may be experiencing a boom. Sales from customers in that country may help stabilize your income.

Exporting can also help smooth the peaks and valleys of your income. For instance, if you sold winter sporting goods, you could sell to both northern and southern hemispheres to help offset the seasonal nature of your business.

Of course, you might also consider selling sporting goods for all the seasons and still export to other countries to increase and diversify your income.

You could also become an Export Management Agent. Arrange for other domestic companies to sell their products to foreign corporations and earn a ten percent commission.

You would think that selling to foreign customers would be quite risky. However, use of letters of credit can protect all parties. An Export Management Agent might actually arrange for ninety percent of the sale to be paid directly to the domestic supplier and ten percent to be paid directly to himself.

3. Licensing

Consider becoming a licensing agent. Earn royalties by arranging for foreign corporations to manufacture and sell the products of domestic companies.

To learn more about making money as a licensing agent,
visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/licensing.html

4. Finder`s Fees

Imagine the possibilities for earning finder`s fees in
international trade!

You can earn fees from domestic companies for finding
foreign buyers (or for finding suitable imports from
foreign suppliers). You can also earn fees from
foreign companies for finding domestic corporations
that will buy their products (or for finding suitable
suppliers and products from domestic corporations).

To learn more about how to earn finder`s fees, visit
http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/finder.html

5. Drop Shipping

Visualize receiving an order from a customer based in a foreign country and not having to be bothered with shipping and handling the product. No customs declarations or brokers are required by you. This is because your drop ship supplier is handling those details.

You might collect $100.00 plus shipping of $15.00 from your foreign customer. You then simply send your customer`s order to your drop ship supplier with your payment of $65.00 (consisting of $50.00 wholesale cost plus $15.00 shipping). Your drop shipper will now fulfill the order. Congratulations! You just made fifty dollars.

To learn more about how to make money drop shipping, visit
http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/dropship.html

6. Mail Order

Add a mail order service to your existing business operation. Manufacturers, retail stores, and other businesses can increase their sales by using this additional method of selling that is very conducive
to international trade.

To learn more about mail order, visit
http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/mailord.html

7. Internet Marketing

You can also extend your reach to worldwide customers by means of the Internet. Methods of obtaining foreign business include affiliate marketing, online auctions, online stores, and websites.

To learn more about Internet marketing, visit
http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/netmrktg.html

Yes, to increase and diversify your income, consider international trade.

To learn more about international trade, visit
http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/impexp.html

RESOURCE BOX:
J. Stephen Pope, President of Pope Consulting Inc., http://www.popeconsultinginc.com/ has been helping clients to earn maximum business profits for over twenty-five years.
For valuable Work at Home Small Business Ideas, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/256

Other People's Products Can Make You Rich By J. Stephen Pope

Although there are advantages to selling your own
proprietary products and services, there are also
drawbacks. For example, the time and investment
required to produce your own book, invention, or other
product could mean a long delay in receiving profits
and cashflow essential to your business survival.

For this reason, you may decide to sell other people`s
products and services, either exclusively, or to
complement your own product line.

You could stock an entire retail store with products,
buy a franchise or other business, or obtain a
distributorship or dealership. However, this could
require a substantial financial investment.

Here, then, are just a few, low-cost ways to profit
from selling other people`s products and services.

1. Commission Sales

Act as a sales representative or agent of a company
and sell their products or services for a percentage
commission of the sales price.

Many companies on the Internet offer associate or
affiliate programs that you can join to earn
commissions selling their products and services.
Sometimes you can even make money from the efforts of
other affiliates who sign up through your website.

Thus, without having a product of their own, some
persons are earning their sole but substantial income
from affiliate programs.

To learn more about affiliate programs, visit
http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/affiliate.html

2. Consignment Sales

You can take other people`s products on a consignment
basis, making your commission when you sell the item.
Many second-hand shops, arts and crafts stores, and
other retailers operate this way.

You can also sell products of others through Internet
auction sites such as eBay or Yahoo! Auctions.

To learn more about online auctions, visit
http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/auctions.html

3. Drop Shipping

You could buy inventory wholesale and try to sell it
retail, but what if it doesn`t sell? Even if you do
sell, do you really want all that money tied up in
stock? For these reasons, many businesses use drop
shipping as a method of doing business.

Whether from your home, retail store, directly from
your website or through an online auction, you can
arrange to sell an item before you purchase it. That
way you have nothing invested in inventory and won`t
get stuck with stock that won`t sell.

For example, let`s assume that you have just sold a
product to a customer for $100.00 plus shipping
charges of $15.00. Having received the customer`s
payment, you now need to e-mail or fax your order to
your drop ship supplier. You will need to pay your
supplier your cost of $50.00 plus $15.00 shipping,
leaving you a $50.00 gross profit. Your supplier
will now ship the product to your customer.

To learn more about drop shipping, visit
http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/dropship.html

4. Finders` Fees

Did you know that you can earn fees simply by
introducing buyers and sellers?

For example, a mining company may need to buy certain
hard-to-obtain equipment for their operations. You
could negotiate a percentage finder`s fee for finding
this equipment for them.

Conversely, you could also obtain a finder`s fee from
a company that is trying to sell off their excess
machinery but is having difficulty finding a buyer.

To learn more about finders` fees, visit
http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/finder.html

5. Joint Ventures

Joint venture arrangements can be profitable. As an
example, you could arrange to feature someone else`s
product in your e-zine or newsletter in return for a
commission, even if they don`t presently have an
affiliate program.

To learn more about joint ventures, visit
http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/joint-ventures.html

The above list of low-cost ways to make a profit from
other people`s products and services is by no means
exhaustive. However, it certainly illustrates that,
with some effort, other people`s products could make
you rich.

RESOURCE BOX:
J. Stephen Pope, President of Pope Consulting Inc., http://www.popeconsultinginc.com/ has been helping clients to earn maximum business profits for over twenty-five years.
For valuable Work at Home Small Business Ideas, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/249

Barter Your Way to Profits By J. Stephen Pope

Have you ever faced any of the following situations?
One: You need a lawyer but you don`t have the cash for
the retainer. Two: You have a warehouse full of
inventory that just isn`t moving. Three: Sales are
down and you need more customers.

Each of the above problems might be alleviated by
bartering.

1. What Is Bartering?

Bartering is simply exchanging goods or services
without money.

For example, you give your accountant and his family
a meal in your restaurant in exchange for the
preparation of your income tax return. This is a
barter transaction because no cash changes hands
between the two parties.

2. Bartering Improves Liquidity and Profits

A shortage of cash is not an unusual situation for
either businesses or individuals. Perhaps you would
like to advertise in a certain publication but just
don`t have the money. Have you considered exchanging
something of value that you have (a service or product)
for the advertising you need?

Such a barter deal is mutually advantageous. Neither
party has to part with cash to obtain the desired goods
or services.

Not only does bartering conserve cash, but it can
actually generate sales and profits. Inventory turns
over more quickly. Service providers sell more of
their time than they would had they insisted on cash.

3. Bartering Creates New Customers

Notice, also, that both parties just made a sale to
someone they wouldn`t normally have. You both just
received a new customer.

If happy, your new customer can refer you to many
more customers, including ones who pay cash. Perhaps
your original barter customer may also start paying
cash in future transactions with you.

4. Barter Exchanges

In addition to trading with individuals and
businesses, you might consider joining a barter
exchange.

A barter exchange is a business that facilitates the
exchange of goods and services between its members.
There are membership fees for joining. Also, the
barter exchange charges a commission on transactions
made through it.

5. Tax Aspects of Bartering

Barter transactions made by your business must be
reported for income tax purposes. Also sales taxes
may apply on such transactions.

For increased liquidity and new customers, consider
bartering your way to profits.

For more information about bartering, visit
http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/bartering.html

[http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/bartering.html%0D%0A]

J. Stephen Pope, President of Pope Consulting Inc., http://www.popeconsultinginc.com/ has been helping clients to earn maximum business profits for over twenty-five years.
For valuable Work at Home Small Business Ideas, visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/143

Work at Home Business Ideas By J. Stephen Pope

Here are some excellent businesses that you can
start, operate and grow from your home. All these
work at home businesses have the following desirable
features:

**Low Startup Costs

**Ease of Entry

**High Income Potential

**Home Based and Operated

**Worldwide Sales Potential

**Residual, Recurring and/or Passive Income Potential

1. Consulting

A consultant is someone expert in a field who, for a fee,
advises businesses or individuals on various matters of
concern.

Many times we tend to feel that our knowledge, skills
or abilities are nothing unique. However, many lack
those same assets and would gladly pay us for our
knowledge and services.

Although it is possible to make a living from consulting
with individuals, the big money is in performing services
for businesses.

Do you have knowledge of bookkeeping, accounting, tax or
similar business matters? Some have made excellent money
specializing in small business consulting.

Are you a computer hobbyist with business or internet
experience? You could make money in web design, internet
marketing, search engine optimization, or some other
specialty.

Some lawyers have combined their legal experience with their
love of the Internet and specialized in intellectual
property and computer law.

For further information and resources about consulting,
visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/consulting.html

2. Finding

A finder is someone who, for a fee, finds something
needed by a business or individual. A finder`s fee
is the amount paid to the finder for locating what
was required.

Finder`s fees are paid for finding money (loans,
equipment leasing, et cetera), equipment (mining,
construction, et cetera), personnel, companies for
sale, locations (fast food franchises, vending
machines, et cetera) and just about anything else
that people are willing to pay for.

Simply match sellers with buyers and you can earn
finder`s fees.

For further information and resources about finder`s fees,
visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/finder.html

3. Auctions

An auction is an event where items are sold to the highest
bidders. An internet auction, online auction or e-auction
is an auction where you can buy and sell items on the
Internet.

Many thousands now make their living or fortune from
selling products and services on eBay and similar auction
sites. So can you!

For further information and resources about auctions,
visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/auctions.html

4. Drop Shipping

Drop shipping is a method of selling products without
stocking inventory yourself. When you make a sale you
contact the manufacturer or authorized distributor who
ships it to the customer with your invoice and shipping
label. Advantages include no warehousing, shipping, or
inventory costs.

For further information and resources about drop shipping,
visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/dropship.html

5. Affiliate Programs

An affiliate or associate program is a method of selling
products on the internet through commission sales. When
someone you refer to a website buys, the company you are
an associate of (or affiliated with) pays you a commission.

In many cases, it is also possible to make money from the
efforts of people that you introduce to the affiliate program.
You can also expand your product line by joining and
promoting more than one affiliate program.

For further information and resources about affiliate programs,
visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/affiliate.html

6. Webmastering

A webmaster is a an internet specialist responsible for all
aspects of web sites.

Areas where businesses need assistance include web site
design, logo, banner or graphic design, web hosting,
e-commerce, internet marketing, web programming, scripts,
security, web site maintenance, copy writing, mailing list
management, and many other areas.

For further information and resources about webmastering,
visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/webmstrbus.html

7. Self-publishing

A self-publisher creates, produces, and sells information
products. Information products may be in the form of books,
booklets, videos, audio cassettes, compact disks (CDs),
electronic books, files, databases, private websites, and
other media.

The information products that you create are unique. You
have exclusive control and ownership of your own products.

For further information and resources about self-publishing,
visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/selfpub.html

8. Instant Publishing

An instant publisher sells information products produced by
someone else who grants them reprint (or resale) rights.
Often self-publishers will sell such products to complement
their own information products.

For further information and resources about instant publishing,
visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/instantpub.html

9. International Trade

International trade involves importing and exporting.
Importing involves buying goods and services from suppliers
in another country. Exporting involves selling goods and
services to customers in another country.

For further information and resources about import-export,
visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/impexp.html

10. Mail Order

Mail order is a method of conducting business through the
mail. Goods and services can be sold through direct mail
(and also via catalogues, magazines, newspapers, radio,
television, web sites, and other media). Customers can order
by mail or by other means (fax, telephone, internet, et
cetera). Delivery of orders can be made by mail or alternative
means (such as by courier for physical goods or by fax, e-mail,
telephone, or electronic files for information).

For further information and resources about mail order,
visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/mailord.html

RESOURCE BOX
J. Stephen Pope, President of Pope Consulting Inc., http://www.popeconsultinginc.com/ has been helping clients to earn maximum business profits for over twenty-five years.
For valuable Work at Home Small Business Ideas, visit: http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/172