Article Depo

I was speaking with a telephone prospect the other day regarding her inquiry about starting a home based business. She really needed to make extra income but was skeptical about investing yet again because of two prior experiences in which she had lost her money. I asked what had led her to choosing those particular businesses and she simply said the following: \”They sounded good.\” Sounded good??? \”O.K.\” I said. \”But how did they look?\”

This is an unfortunate and all too common conversation. You can avoid the mistake of possibly throwing your money away simply by doing a little homework and using the common sense approach outlined below.

These 5 key points are essential for you to research before investing both your time AND money in a home based business.

1. Does the company have a track record? While it’s entirely possible to succeed in a start-up, it’s also very, very risky and more likely that you’ll experience a rough ride in the beginning while the company irons out the kinks. What is your personal time table for achieving your financial goals? If they are more immediate and you are a novice as well, then think hard before joining any start-up. Investigate a company’s recent history (2-3 years) to determine whether its operation is tailing off or taking off. You want to catch a company on the upswing; one that is experiencing verifiable growth and momentum. All boats rise with the tide!

2. Do the principals have a track record? Find out who’s running the company! Good, smart, successful business leaders have a history that can be identified. Would you invest your time, money, and future in following a failure? Everyone leaves clues and a trail. Make sure the people you’re trusting are tested and have passed the test.

3. Is the company publicly traded and/or a member of the DSA (Direct Selling Association)? If a company is publicly traded it is a glass house. As talented as we may be, none of us has the ability or the resources to investigate and scrutinize a company quite like the SEC (Security and Exchange Commission). The DSA is an independent national trade association located in Washington, D.C. It fully investigates a company’s background before it can qualify to be admitted as a member. A company having one or, even better, both of these components will help ensure that you’re investing in a business that operates ethically and is both credible and legitimate. If not, watch out!

4. Is the company’s compensation plan tested? In general there are four basic types of compensation plans that exist in Network Marketing and others that are a hybrid or combination of the four. I won’t discuss the details and merits of each of the different plans (although I definitely have a preference) because that’s not the focus of this article. But whichever plan exists, make sure it’s proven or you may end up greatly disappointed. Are people getting paid on time and are they getting paid the full amount earned? How often has the compensation plan changed, if at all? Are there numerous complaints and reports of discrepancies between the reps and the company? The answers will be able to help you assess the viability of the company’s business plan and its financial stability and commitment to the long term.

5. Who is your support team? Can your sponsor/upline provide you with the right leadership and training in order for you to achieve success? Remember, the person who’s enrolling you may themselves be new. That’s alright, as long as there are experienced, caring, and supportive individuals that are willing and wanting to help. Not just lip service, but true leaders who have a system in place and the ability to walk you through it. In our business, these leaders have a vested interest in your success and know it! How do you gauge their sincerity and effectiveness? Talk with them. Talk to others on the team. Ask questions. Meet with them if geographically possible. Again, successful people have a history that can be verified. You’re not just choosing a business, you’re also choosing the people that will be your daily mentors and business partners, and that decision is VERY IMPORTANT.

Our industry is so special because it offers great rewards to anyone with a dream and a consistent effort towards achieving that dream. More time with family, more money, no debt, a better quality of life, a comfortable retirement… FREEDOM! These are the things all of us want and you are absolutely right to pursue them. However, if you are just like the woman who twice lost her money, then the problem is not in your dreams… it’s in your research!

Companies, management, business plans, products and services, are both good and bad, successful and unsuccessful, whether they exist in Network Marketing or Corporate America. Good opportunities are out there and you CAN find what you’re looking for in a home based business. Just remember to do your homework! That way you can make an intelligent and informed business decision that will be the right one for you and your family.

Copyright (c) 2008 Larry Zimberg

These days just about everyone is looking into feel better, get rid of stress and unexplained muscle aches and ways to pains. Natural detox programs are the best way to go when to following this type of regime to help get your body back into feeling great. In fact you may not even know just how tired and run down you really are from the toxins that you come in contact every day from the food you eat to even the very air.

Natural detox programs are gentler on the system than the purges and fasting detoxifications. The difference is that natural detox programs are designed provide you with a less invasive way of cleansing out the toxic build up within your body. A natural detox is designed to provide your body with a detoxifying effect without the side effects that make people want to avoid the more common detox programs.

Natural detox does not mean that you are just using things from nature. It means making use of your body’s natural detox abilities, organs and methods. This means that you are going to want to look for a program that provides your liver, kidneys, skin, lungs and intestines with that they need to pass release toxins, which have already made it into your body and provide a way to ensure that more toxins are not going to be stored.

The first thing to do is to get off as much packaged food as possible. You will want to start this several weeks before your actual natural detox program. This includes sodas, coffee or other caffeinated beverages, fast food and other types of what is normally classified as junk food. You will want to do this gradually. It will assist in the headaches and cravings by making them less intense as well as less likely to occur.

The thing about natural detox is the fact that it is designed to be natural and non invasive. It does have to be done slowly however, in order for it to be one successful and two free of the majority of the side effects that make other natural detox methods difficult.

Most people simply attempt a cold turkey approach to Detoxing. This does work however it is rarely pleasant. You can wean yourself off the things that are going to give you hassles when you go though natural detox several weeks or even months before you actually start the natural detox.

Remember during this time and during your natural detox that you drink plenty of water. Most people are dehydrated and do not even realize it as a result the toxins that are released during the withdrawal period end up getting stored because there is not enough water to flush them from the body.

Next make sure to take a good vitamin regime that is designed to aid in natural Detox plans. You can do this even while you are preparing for the actually start of the detox program that you are looking into. This will provide your body with the foundation necessary to complete the detox with a minimal amount of side effects.

If you are like most people, you have probably read in more than a few places that detoxification of the body can do wonders for a variety of medical conditions and if you have checked into you have probably found that there are a variety of elements that make doing a home body detox less than appealing. In fact, most home body detox program outlines sound down right unpleasant, painful and often times leave you feeling incredibly ill for several days. Of course, with an outline like that who is going to want to do it on a regular basis, there are other ways however, to detox the body and do it in such a way that you only feel how much better you feel and you are not dealing with the harmful and often painful side effects.

This is not to say that you will feel no discomfort. You probably will feel some as your body starts to release the toxins that you have had built up within the body. It will not however be as bad as the detoxification programs that you read about that involve taking diuretics and purgatives and fasting.

There are however safe home body detox programs that can provide you with the benefits of detoxification with only minimal discomfort. This is a longer program than what most people think of as a detox. Most people think of the weekend detox program or the ones that last only a week. Studies have shown however that detoxification of the body in order for it to be complete takes a total of 3 months and involves significantly more than doing the harsh purge detox programs that currently hold popularity.

A home body detox program should take 28 days. It should be done in such a way that symptoms from the detoxification are kept to a minimum. After all, who is going to want to maintain a diet and program to cleanse the body if it makes you feel worse than before you started.

Do not just jump right into a home body detox program. Due to the high levels of processed foods, carbohydrates and caffeine that most people intake jumping right in can cause serious side effects as you go through withdrawal from these substances. It is best if you start several weeks earlier and begin lowering your intake of these substances until you no longer crave them. This will make it easier for your body to handle the home body detox program safely. It also makes the side effects of a home body detox program significantly milder making it easier to maintain and easier to live life even while you are going through the detoxification process.

There are some other things to consider as well to make sure that your home body detox program is both successful and contains the least amount of issues when it comes to side effects. Remember to drink plenty of water when you are on a home body detox program. Even the mildest of home body detox programs are going to be hard on the body.

By drinking plenty of water during a home body detox plan, you can avoid the side effects such as headaches and many times muscle aches and pains.

If you are among the millions of people taking advantage of real estate investing, then you may have overlooked one of the most simple and practical ways to take advantage of your ownership. Real estate investors and owners can greatly benefit from using cost segregation studies in order to accelerate the overall property depreciation. This may sound baffling at first glance, but when you realize the dramatic current income tax benefit, the advantages become much clearer.

You can use this tax benefit if you have an investment property in one of the following categories:

Commercial

Industrial

Multi-family

Special purpose real estate

Generally speaking, the tax benefits increase with the specialization and cost of the property. Unfortunately, these benefits are neither utilized nor maximized by real estate owners as all too many of them fail to have a cost segregation study performed on their investment.

What is this magical, advantageous cost segregation study, you ask? Good question. A cost segregation study (sometimes referred to as CSS) is an analysis performed on a property in order to determine the total cost or value of a building on a property, as well as any site improvements that have been made. These studies rarely include either an analysis of any actual land value, or the contents of the building, such as fixtures, furniture, and equipment.

A CSS looks into the allotment of value or cost among each of the different elements of the building itself as well as the site improvements, in a way that recognizes certain federal tax depreciable life categories. In order to reach an optimal level for the reclassification from a longer to a shorter lifespan, a detailed CSS analysis of a property is necessary. This CSS is performed by qualified engineers and appraisers and accountants.

Only by understanding certain tax guidelines and regulations, as well as tax court cases, revenue rulings, and other current and relevant legislation issues, is an appraiser capable of accurately performing a cost segregation study.

If you are a taxpayer who has acquired a property, constructed a building, expanded on a facility, or otherwise changed the tax basis of their real estate ownership or investment property, then you qualify for using a CSS and enjoy the benefits it can offer you. You may also perform a CSS if you have a property that has been constructed or acquired in the past ten years, if it had not been performed at the initial time that the property was placed in service.

Typically, the methodology of CSS requires that the person (or people) performing the study must develop a completed and detailed comprehension regarding the entire cost or value of the real estate investment so that it may be analyzed at the level of total depreciation for taxes. In order to accomplish this, a detailed accounting of the cost of the land itself, as well as any site improvements, structures, and equipment in use on the property must be provided. In the case of a new construction, additional details are required regarding the direct and indirect costs. What is the difference between these costs?

Direct costs are those paid for labor and materials in order for the structure to be built. Indirect costs, on the other hand, are those paid so that the project may occur, but that are not directly relevant to the actual labor and materials going into the construction. Indirect costs will usually be allocated to direct costs on a pro rata basis.

The next step is the inspection of your property in order to completely understand the function, nature, and operation of each of its elements. At this time, the appraiser will also confirm the accuracy of any documents that have been created or submitted about the property. This is an essential step in the process as it allows for the identification of the exact property classifications associated with the depreciable federal tax lives. The property units are established by asset function.

The most involved and important stage of the CSS is the precise identification and quantification of the asset components qualifying for 5-year, 7-year, or 15-year depreciable tax lives. Frequently, in the case of a recently constructed property, detailed information regarding the construction costs can provide a breakdown of the different costs incurred. The CSS will analyze and supplement this information with \”quantity take-off estimates\” which allow for the further reclassification of more of the property into a shorter tax life.

Lastly, the analyst must then document and report what has been found throughout the rest of the CSS process. This usually means that the process of identification and quantification will need to be supported with additional documentation and calculations. Generally, these will be referenced using an automated computer-based report specifically for cost segregations.

The report that is produced allows for the full description of the property, as well as the different efforts made in order to conclude on the quantification and the property life, as well as the supporting data. All of the procedures of analysis requiring continual, logical, and supportable reporting are provided. Other related and supporting calculations from different portions of the process will also be included in the report.

Finally, a cost segregation study, when conducted well, will always include a detailed, referenced work-paper file. Its purpose is the support all of the final conclusions that have been made by the CSS. This also allows for an audit trail. Should additional, similar property portfolios exist, a sampling methodology may be utilized in order to support the analysis that has been made.

By having a cost segregation study done at the right times throughout the ownership of your real estate investment, you can take advantage of a substantial tax advantage that is well worth your while.

A new client just said this to me the other day: \”My problem is that I’m lazy- I just can’t seem to stay focused, or get started on doing the important things.\”

It’s no wonder he thought this- all the messages coming at us from popular culture tell us that if we’re not doing what we’re supposed to be doing, we’re lazy.

I’m going to tell you right now, I don’t believe in lazy.

What is laziness? Back to my well-thumbed American Heritage Dictionary: \”Resistant to work or exertion; disposed to idleness.\”

Okay, I accept the first part of the definition: \”resistant.\” But NOT disposed to idleness. How many people in business do you know who are disposed to idleness? Out of the hundreds of people I’ve worked with, I haven’t really seen anyone prefer to sit around all day, for days on end, with their hands in their back pockets.

Sure, maybe you are working on ineffective things. Or are paralyzed because of indecision. But lazy…? I don’t think so.

If you think you’re lazy, do nothing for one week.

Nothing. Don’t clean the house. Don’t make any phone calls. Don’t surreptitiously work on your marketing. Don’t even think about any of this. If you can do this for one week, even then you aren’t lazy- you’re probably just enlightened.

Okay, so what is this thing that we call ‘lazy?’ It’s resistance. So, if we’re resistant, especially if we’re unconsciously resistant, it’s probably a good idea to find out why.

In every case when I’ve looked at the situation with myself or a client, the resistance was a healthy (healthy!) stopping point, because our beings didn’t want to move forward and jump over a necessary step.

Remember my new client who thought he was lazy? When we looked, we saw a crucial self-care issue that he had been unconsciously trying to jump over. If he had actually moved forward into action without dealing with this self-care piece, he would have ended up successful, but burnt-out and disconnected from his heart.

If you are calling yourself lazy, I think it’s time to acknowledge your resistance as healthy, and see what your heart doesn’t want you to miss.

Keys to Lazy

Most issues of laziness actually have to do with forgotten self-care issues.

While you aren’t getting something done, feeling more and more frantic or self-judgmental about it, you are probably also feeling depleted. Notice the depletion- what do you need to care for yourself?

Hundreds of people have taken the free Remembrance Challenge- a 14-day free online course in applying your heart in business situations.

If you are feeling depleted, or not getting to something, the Remembrance will help you find the answer.

Try breaking it down.

Meaning, whatever it is that you aren’t getting to, perhaps in reality it’s more than one thing. For instance, that email you’ve been meaning to send to your list- it’s not just writing the email, it also involves three other tasks, including calling someone that you feel uncomfortable talking to.

Ahhh! That’s what was stopping the email- you aren’t lazy, you are uncomfortable talking to this person. Use the remembrance, or a business healing, to get to the core of it. Have I mentioned the Remembrance Challenge?

My very best to you and your business,

Mark Silver

Whether you are a newbie in boating or a seasoned navigator, you will find that choosing a boat to buy can be quite a daunting task. There are so many different types and models of boats for you to choose from, and you have to take certain factors into consideration when you are looking for the perfect boat to buy.

Firstly, you have to know what type of boat best suits your purposes. You should take into consideration things like what the boat will be used for, who will use the boat, and where the boat will be used. For example, if you are planning to use the boat for longer trips out at sea, then you should get a boat that has cabins, toilets and cooking facilities.

On the other hand, if you just need a boat for a day trip, for fishing or other activities, then a small and simple boat will suffice. If you have difficulty finding out which type of boat is most suitable for your purposes, you can refer to informative articles in boating websites and boat review magazines to find out the different types of boats that are available today. You can also ask your friends for their opinions and find out about their experiences with their own boats.

You should also consider the size of the boat that you are going to buy. Different sizes of boats are suitable for different purposes, and you do not want something that is too small or too spacious. If you are planning to get a boat to go sailing in the ocean with a large group of friends, a bigger boat will be ideal. On the other hand, if you plan to use the boat for fishing trips with one or two family members or friends, or even alone, then you should opt for a smaller boat.

However, you should bear in mind that a bigger boat will require more maintenance because it has more amenities, like cabins and toilets. Owners of big boats often have a hard time transporting their boats from sea to land because the boats tend to be too big to fit into a trailer. Also, a bigger boat will need more gas compared to a small one.

Once you have ascertained which boat size you need, you have to consider whether you want a new boat or a used one. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages, which you have to evaluate carefully. With a new boat, you can be assured that it will not have any defects. A new boat also comes with a warranty that covers all repair expenses for a period of time, in case your boat gets damaged.

Most new boats can be customized to suit your personal preferences. If you do not have a big budget to buy a boat, then you may want to consider getting a used boat. Used boats are most suitable for beginner boaters or those who do not know exactly what they wish to do with their boats.

One disadvantage of getting a used boat is that you may not get the amenities, features, or design that you want, and if you want to customize it later, you will have to spend a lot of extra money. Before you buy a used boat, you should have it inspected through a marine survey. This is important because you can identify any structural or mechanical problems that need to be fixed, so that your safety can be ensured.

Whether you are going for a new or used boat, shopping around before making a purchase is still the best way to get the most appropriate boat for your sailing needs. When you buy a boat, you have to make sure that the dealer is reputable.

Before buying a boat from a dealer or seller, you have to ask for proof of ownership to make sure that the boat is not a stolen property. If you are not confident in your ability to choose the right boat, you can work with a yacht broker who can give you expert opinion on which boat to buy. A yacht broker can also negotiate and arrange financing options for you.

When you have chosen the perfect boat, you must take it out for a test drive. The test drive will enable you to ascertain the efficiency of the boat. Before going on a test drive, you must check if the engine is warmed-up.

A warmed-up engine can be an indication that the boat has start-up trouble. The owner may start the engine before you arrive so that he can hide the fact that the boat has trouble starting up. You should also check the bilge for any oil leaks before and after the test drive. The precision and performance of the gauges and instruments, as well as the oil pressure should also be checked.

During the test run, you must do some evaluative maneuvering to check the overall capability of the boat. Maneuvering wide and tight turns must be a part of the test run. Response time should also be checked by maneuvering the boat forward and backward.

You must also pay attention to the bow steering at low speeds and find out the time it takes to achieve high speeds. Take note of how well the boat handles waves because you do not want a bumpy ride out at sea. Make sure that the test drive is long enough, so that you can assess overheating problems.

After you test drive the boat and find that it is worth buying, make sure that you negotiate with the dealer for the best price. Once both of you agree on the selling price, you should get the owner to document the agreement, listing the terms of the purchase as well as other add-ons that need to be purchased. If you are planning to buy a brand new boat, it is advisable that you contact several dealers first to do some comparison shopping before you decide which boat to purchase.

As Summer draws near and the amount of daylight grows, the activity that grows more prevalent in many people’s minds, especially many children’s minds, is swimming.

We seem to be instinctively drawn back to the water from which our most distant ancestors came (and perhaps this is a key to unlocking the door on the mystery of why dolphins so love human beings).

However–we land-lubber human beings no longer have gills or fins. And contrary to a commonly held myth, swimming is not second nature to us (infant water therapy notwithstanding). So, as much fun as swimming in the water can be for us, it can also be deadly.

Statistically, a home with a back yard pool is more dangerous, more potentially deadly, to children than a home in which the parents keep a locked gun cabinet. Each year, there are more children who die by drowning in swimming pools than there are who die because of a gun accident.

There are certain vitally important safety measures that adults should make sure they practice with children whenever there is a swimming pool or a beach, a lake, etc where children are playing in the water.

First and foremost, no children under the age of 14 should ever be left alone near the water. Not for a second. It takes only a split second for a child to fall into a pool, hit her head on the edge on the way in, and die in a matter of minutes, or to have something very similar happen just as quickly and tragically. If you have to go somewhere, all young children need to go with you.

Another thing to do is be wary of pools bearing toys. Even if it isn’t your own back yard pool, but one close by your home, pay special attention to small children going into the pool to play with the toys. Always keep your pool toy free when you’re not there, and encourage your neighbors to do the same.

Also keep your pool fenced in, and make sure the fence is locked and is too tall for small children to climb over. Children have little sense of the dangers of pools and won’t think to ask for adult supervision.

Teach your children to swim, or have them taught, from the earliest possible age. Ignore their protests if they put up resistance. They will thank you later, and it could very well save their lives one day.

Children also need to be taught never to swim alone. They should always have at least one friend with them whenever they are going swimming. First aid kits and life-savers should always be close by the pool. If you are swimming at a place such as a lake, take first aid kits and life-savers with you. As a parent, learn CPR.

However, even more safety can be afforded to children who are going swimming, or boating or fishing on a boat, with the use of one of the best water safety inventions ever devised–the life jacket or safety vest.

At Avendales, there is a wide array of Coast Guard approved safety vests and related water safety items that are offered to give children added protection in or near the water.

Their Finis Swim Vest can be adjusted by adding or removing foam layers that alter the buoyancy. The vest also acts to keep children upright in the water.

The large life vest for children is designed to promote floating on one’s back, one of the safest positions to take in the water.

Their Sprint Children Therapy Wet Suit was especially designed to be worn by autistic children to keep them safe while they, too, enjoy the water and the sunlight. The Swim-Tee Trainer is a tank top swimming suit with a heavy duty inflatable inner tube designed for small children just learning to swim. This trainer promotes self-confidence in the water while providing a very high degree of safety.

The 401 Spring Duck Mat is used to provide safety and support for water therapy rehabilitation or water aerobics.

Avendales offers a Water Sports Helmet to be used with such water sports as tubing, water skiing, and wake boarding. The impact resistant outer shell adds much more protection to potentially dangerous but exciting sports.