Mortgage Leads - American Internet Mortgage
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Premiership Betting Review - 13 February 2006
Middlesbrough made a mockery of their 7/1 odds by crushing Chelsea 3-0 at the Riverside Stadium. Boro, with just one win in their last 11 Premiership matches, took the lead through Fabio Rochemback, while further strikes from Stuart Downing and Yakubu sealed a memorable victory. Chelsea, with just one win in their last five league matches, will have busted a few coupons at 2/5.
Manchester United cut Chelseas lead at the top to 12 points with a convincing 3-1 win at Portsmouth. A Ruud van Nistelrooy goal and two from Ronaldo meant 8/15 United were cruising by half-time.
Livepool at Evens kept up the pressure with a victory at Wigan. Defender Sami Hyypia was the unlikely match winner after 30 minutes.
Arsenal and Bolton met for the second time in a fortnight and the match ended in a bad tempered draw. Kevin Nolan gave Bolton a shock lead after 12 minutes and the Trotters almost held out for an 11/2 win until Gilberto levelled the match in injury time.
Evertons moved up to tenth with a 1-0 victory over Blackburn. Goalkeeper Iain Turner was sent off after nine minutes and was replaced by another debutante in 19-year-old John Ruddy. However, the 10-men of Everton took the lead through James Beattie after 33 minutes and held on to win at 5/4.
Newcastle made it two wins out of two for caretaker manager Glenn Roeder with a 2-1 victory at Aston Villa. Shola Ameobi gave the Magpies the lead after two minutes but in-form Luke Moore levelled for Villa with his fifth goal in three matches. Charles NZogbia netted for the second successive week to seal a 14/5 win.
A last gasp goal from Daryl Murphy salvaged a point for rock-bottom Sunderland. Tottenham Hotspur, 7/10 favourites on the day, took the lead on 38 minutes through Robbie Keane and were cruising to victory until two minutes remaining.
Manchester City edged Charlton 3-2 thanks to a stunning 35 yard effort from Joey Barton. City, 9/10 favourites, took a first half lead through Richard Dunne but Darren Bent levelled. Substitute George Samaras made an instant impact and Barton blasted home on 62.
The biggest win of the weekend came at Craven Cottage where Fulham crushed relegation threatened West Brom 6-1. Two goals each from Heidur Helguson and Collins John, Tomasz Radzinski and an own goal from Curtis Davies sealed a fine win at 5/6.
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Fast Business Loans- A Bridge between Your Business And Success
A constant funding for your business serves it in the same way as fuel serves to your car. If you apply right kind of fund in right amount, your business will grow and run smooth without any hiccups. But on the same side, you may not be able to provide that fund from your own pocket. You obviously need to look out for other sources of fund. Fast business loans are one such opportunity which can both satisfy your business purpose as well as they are easy for you to avail.
You can require fund for either types of businesses, i.e. when you need to give a boost to your business, or you want to start a new one. In both the cases, business loans offer fast money and serve as a financial backup to your business. There are various reasons why you may require a fast business loan. If you are running a business, you may need money to expand it and make it large. On the other hand, if you are planning to start a new enterprise, you need money to meet the initial expenses of buying furniture, manpower, resources etc.
There are various options available to get business loan, but in order to get fast and quick money, you have just one option and that is to apply online. Online lending provides you not only speed but also variety where you can make your own choice. Fast business loans save your time and effort because they require a very less amount of documentation as the entire process is carried online. You will just require to give details about your business, its annual income, profits and losses etc. and a business plan if you are going to start one.
You can get a fast business loan in both secured and unsecured forms. If you wish to take a secured loan, you need to offer a security as collateral to the lender. You can put your home, car, real estate, or any valuable property as collateral. But, if you do not have a property or you do not want to put your property at risk, you can opt for unsecured business loan which do not require any kind of security. Choose the right kind of loan, but before that it is important to know that secured loans offer a bit low rate of interest than unsecured one because the presence of collateral.
A secured business loan can get you amount ranging from 3,000-75,000. However if you put a higher value collateral, your loan amount might get as high as 100,000. The repayment term is around 3-25 years. If you take an unsecured loan, you will get a loan amount between 1,000 and 25,000, with a repayment of 1-20 years.
Fast business loans are available to all types of borrowers including bad credit holders. They offer you all kinds of benefits required for your business. Avail fast business loans and you will soon se your business reach heights.
Tim Kelly is an expert in finance having completed his LLM in Finance (Master of Laws in Finance) from Institute for Law and Finance at Frankfurt University. He is currently working with BusinessLoansUK as a financial advisor. To find Fast business loans, small business loans uk, business loans uk, business loan uk, new business loans uk, small business loan uk, business loan rate uk, unsecured business loan uk, secured business loan uk that best site's you need visit
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Franchise Affiliation
All the things you need to know about franchise affiliation...
Eyes wide open
Youve met with sales representatives of a franchise to determine whether affiliation with the system might benefit your company. But its a big step. Taking it requires you to make a major upfront financial investmentin franchise fees, new signage, maybe even a different color on your office wallsand it commits you to payments going forward, including monthly royalties and contributions to an advertising fund.
Then there are the low-probability but high-impact events to consider. What if the franchisor becomes embroiled in a high-cost, high-profile lawsuit? Even if the matter doesnt directly involve you, youre affected. For good or ill, your companys brand identity is now linked in the minds of consumers and your business partners to that of the franchisor.
Given the high stakes of affiliation, you must enter into a franchise agreement with your eyes wide open, something federal and state regulators want to make as easy as possible. The Federal Trade Commission and some states require franchisors to provide you a wide array of information upfrontan accounting of pending and closed lawsuits against the company, for example, and details about your initial investment and ongoing feesto help you make an informed decision about purchasing a franchise. Franchisors are also required to provide the information in a standardized format, in a document known as the uniform franchise offering circular or UFOC.
But knowing a franchise brand intimately is easier said then done. The UFOC is an imposing document that, with attachments, can run hundreds of pages. Whats more, some of the key operational information you need to conduct your due diligencewhat are the franchisors rules on record keeping, what are its policies on signage?might be hidden away in the company policy manual rather than in the UFOC. Since companies can change the policies in their manual at any time, these changes can impact your bottom line if they result in unforeseen costs to you.
Whats more, companies arent obligated to show you their policy manual because its an internal document. Some will let you look at it but not take it with you, making a thorough review difficult.
So, how do you cover your bases before entering into a franchise agreement? First, know the principal question you need to answer:
Does the value I receive from affiliating with the franchisors brand identity, advertising muscle, training program, and business process offset the economic investment Ill make and the operational control Ill give up?
Second, do your due diligence. You cant answer that question without first digging into the UFOC. All UFOCs include a table of contents to help you review the document by section.
10 due diligence steps
Review the UFOC with an eye toward the issues affecting your financial investment and the amount of control youll relinquish. Among the issues to consider:
1. Entry and exit costs. How much will it cost to convert your office? The UFOC requires disclosure of these costs, but franchisors typically provide a broad rangein real estate, a spread as wide as $21,000 to $250,000making it hard for you to know what your costs will be.
The reason for the range: Your costs are unique. At the very least, youll need to change your signs and letterhead and pay the initial franchise fee, among other things. But you may also need to add or upgrade equipment or hire additional staff.
Then there are exit costs. How much will you incur in de-identification and other conversion costs to leave the system? Exit costs arent included in the UFOC, so you have to estimate them yourself.
2. Ongoing value. You face monthly royalty payments; other regular fees, such as for referrals (independent companies can choose whether to belong to a third-party referral groupin a franchise, belonging to the referral group is part of the affiliation); and indirect costs. If the franchisor imposes mandatory training on you, for example, you might have to absorb your travel costs if the training is off-site.
For all these ongoing costs, what value will you receive? Are the referrals worth the fees? Is the training worth the cost? Will the franchisors affiliated businessesperhaps it owns a financial services companydrive customers to you that you otherwise wouldnt get? Conduct a cost-benefit analysis, examining your additional monthly costs against the additional income you expect to receive to get a picture of the value of joining the brand.
3. Earnings claims. Franchisors arent required to disclose how much they think youll earn; nor are they required to give you historical data on their franchisees earnings. If the franchisor doesnt report its franchisees earnings in the UFOCand most dontask why it doesnt. After all, the franchisor requires its franchisees to report their earnings, so it has the data available.
4. System growth. Is the number of franchisees growing or contracting? Is the number of company-owned operations increasing or declining? This may be the most important information you review. A declining or stagnating number of franchisees (and a growing number of company-owned offices) may suggest that the system isnt healthy. A high number of terminations or non-renewals may also be troubling.
The UFOC requires franchisors to disclose this data for the three most recent years, but it can be hard for prospective franchisees to identify turnover rates in the system because the numbers are disclosed in aggregate for the entire franchise network. If, in a given year, a franchisor loses one franchisee in an area but gains a replacement franchisee, for example, the data would show no change for that year, suggesting a stable picture. But is the system really stable? For your purposes, it might be more important to know why that one franchisee left.
5. Franchisee input. The most valuable research you can do is to talk with existing and past franchisees, whose contact info the UFOC requires franchisors to disclose. The best question to ask them: If you had to do it all over again, would you do it?
In general, franchise agreements contain confidentiality provisions that restrict franchisees from talking about matters proprietary to the system, such as internal business processes. What youre looking for, though, is a subjective assessment from the franchisee that the systems value proposition is soundthat is, the benefits you get from affiliating exceed your costs to belong.
Seek input from past franchisees, too, but be aware that brokers whove left the system tend to be those most unhappy with it. So weigh what they say with that in mind. Also, if the franchisees have an association or if the franchisor maintains a franchise advisory council, talk to the leaders of those bodies. Very often, theyre among the most widely respected and long-standing franchisees in the system, and they bring historical knowledge that may surpass even that of some of the franchisors employees.
One important point: In real estate, unlike in many other industries, franchise agreements tend to come without post-expiration non-compete clauses. Thats good for franchisees because, if they opt not to renew their franchise agreement, they can convert identities and continue operations without skipping a beat. Franchise systems in many other industries dont permit ex-franchisees that same freedom. Given this flexibility, you can expect real estate franchises to have higher turnover rates than franchises in other industries, all else being equal.
6. Litigation. The UFOC requires the franchisor to disclose all its pending and resolved lawsuits for the last seven fiscal years. Compare its number of lawsuits (those it has initiated and those against it) with its number of franchisees. Theres no rule of thumb for what constitutes a high ratio of litigation. But its probably safe to say that a franchisor with 1,000 franchisees and three pending lawsuits isnt overly litigious.
Also look at how the franchisor responds to lawsuits. Does it settle quickly or does it tend to go to the mat each time? A reading of the UFOC will show you how the franchisor approached each suit because the UFOC requires the franchisor to provide a narrative for each. How the company responds can tell you something about its character and culture.
Note what the lawsuits tend to be about. Is there a pattern? As a general matter, many lawsuits are initiated by franchisors against franchisees for non-payment of royalties and fees. But look below the surface. In some cases, franchisees dont pay their fees because they feel they arent getting the value they were led to believe was there. The narrative describing each suit should provide the argument for any counter-charges by the franchisee. To supplement that information, talk to former franchisees.
7. Franchisor personnel. Look at who the franchisors top executives are. That information, usually in the form of short biographies, is required to be in the UFOC. Pay particular attention to executives whove come from other industries. Some systems are historically more litigious than others. One sandwich chain, for example, is generally recognized as highly litigious. Its helpful to know if an officer comes from such a system. If so, that officer might be quicker to resort to litigation to settle a matter than another officer. To learn about other franchises, contact a franchisee association, attorney, or accountant.
Other things to look for: 1) Nepotism. Are franchise operations managed by family members? If they are, the best people might not be in management positions. 2) Bankruptcies. Have any of the top executives been involved in bankruptcies in other systems? Contact franchisee associations, attorneys, or accountants to find out.
8. Exclusivity. How much protection do you have from encroachment into your territory? Does any exclusivity you have extend to Web site marketing and relocation referrals? You know youll be competing with other brokerages, franchised and independent. But could the franchisor youre considering joining be among your competitors as well?
9. Financials. The UFOC mandates disclosure of franchisor financial statements for the previous three years. Show these to your accountant. One thing to look for: Where is the franchisor getting the bulk of its income? If its from initial franchise fees rather than royalties, that could signal turnover among franchisees. A more promising picture is a company whose lifeblood is royalty income. That signals income from ongoing operations.
10. Sloppiness. For franchisors, complying with UFOC requirements can be costly. These pre-disclosure documents are complicated and extensive. Signs of sloppinessmiscalculations, misspellings, internal inconsistenciesshould raise concerns that the franchisor isnt devoting proper resources to a very important task, one with legal ramifications.
Besides typos, look for inconsistencies. For instance, a franchisor might disclose the number of franchisees in as many as three different parts of the UFOC. These numbers should be the same in each case. If theyre not, what does that say about how careful the company has been in preparing the UFOC and how much in the way of resources and competence it brings to its operations in general?
The title page of the UFOC pointedly recommends that prospective franchisees review the UFOC with an adviser, such as an attorney or accountant. But take time to conduct your own careful due diligence as well. Proceeding with your eyes wide open can make the difference in how much your company benefits from a franchise affiliation.
Andrew Adams writes for
http://www.magfranchise.org where you can find out more about franchising and other topics.
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Panama Private Interest Foundations
Foundations are the favored asset protection tools of the Super Rich such as the Rockefellers and Rothschilds
A Panama Private Interest Foundation is sort of a combination of a will, a trust and a corporation best of all, in a sense. Panama Foundations are more versatile and can accomplish more than Trusts plus they are anonymous. It only takes 2-3 business days to form a Panama Foundation. Panama Corporations can be formed in the same 2-3 days even if the Corporation is to be owned by the Foundation.
Summary of Panama Foundation Benefits:
Protects assets (real estate, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, art and collectibles, corporations, boats planes, cars) from financial enemies and potential financial enemies. A Panama Foundation can own one or more Panama Corporations. A Panama Private Interest Foundation is a court tested method to keep assets immune from the personal debts of the person starting the Foundation. It prevents forced heir ship. The Panama statues relating to Foundations are based on the Lichtenstein model Stiftung.
According to Panama law, the assets of a Panama Private Interest Foundation are not considered to be subject to sequestration or embargos. This means that the assets can not be frozen. The meaning of sequester is as follows from the legal dictionary: a legal writ authorizing a sheriff or commissioner to take into custody the property of a defendant who is in contempt until the orders of a court are complied with, or a deposit whereby a neutral depositary agrees to hold property in litigation and to restore it to the party to whom it is adjudicated to belong to. The exception to this rule would be if the Foundation itself (not the founder, not the protector, not the council members, not the beneficiaries) did something illegal like for example it illegally broke a lease on a real estate transaction and refused to pay the rent owed, then the Foundation assets could be frozen to the extent of the amount owed under the contract if a judge so ordered and a bond was posted. If the Foundation itself does not directly commit the illegal action then the assets of the Foundation are not subject to freezing or seizure. This gives one great peace of mind when funding their foundation. Welcome to Panama.
The foundation can have instructions to dispose of assets in a certain way in the event of you encountering serious legal or other difficulties like being sued, being forced into bankruptcy, being kidnapped and held for ransom, being blackmailed or the victim of extortion, or if in any way you are incapacitated or your ability to function freely is inhibited in whole or in part, etc. There can be secret instructions for a specific person to deal with assets in such an event as the founder sees fit. These secret instructions can appoint a temporary protector in the event you are under such duress with specific instructions as to how he should proceed with the foundation and its assets. This would remove the ability for you to move the foundation assets around, period. This is now something you can not do until you can demonstrate to the person inserted as the temporary protector that the conditions acting as the trigger for the empowerment of the new protector are no longer in place or no longer operative and you are no longer under duress and then as per your instructions you will be the Protector again with all the power returned to you.
Panama Foundations have no owner thus there is no registry in existence that records Foundation ownership in Panama. The Foundation can be a shareholder or owner of a corporation. Thus your Foundation could be the owner of an anonymous Panama bearer share corporation which you use to conduct business. Then you could say you are not the owner of the corporation. Since a Panama Foundation really has no owner you would be telling the truth and in the unlikely event the Foundation came up you could also say you do not own that as well.
Foundations can be used to provide for the financial well being of family members according to your explicit instructions. Once could say my foundation income will go to my surviving spouse but in the event the spouse remarries then the foundation proceeds will go to my eldest child. This would be enforceable in Panama. The Foundation can protect closely held businesses, providing for continuity into second and third generations by preventing property-splitting; to protect and provide for minors or disabled persons or those incapable of managing their own assets; to manage payments of income or distribution of assets to family members or to provide for their education, housing, or maintenance.
The Foundation can manage profit sharing or pension plans for employees, to hold shares, participate in or have an interest in private or public companies; it is a vehicle for the collection of royalties. It can engage in commercial transactions where the proceeds of such are dedicated exclusively to the non-commercial purpose or objectives of the Foundation. Very useful point.
You could have a formal written agreement appointing you as the investment manager or business manager for the Foundation. This agreement would be signed by the Nominee Council members and would be notarized and apostiled if needed. The agreement could spell out your compensation including benefits like use of foundation auto, travel expenses, general expense account, use of foundation apartment or house, use of foundation boat, medical benefits to be paid directly by the foundation to the health care provider or doctor including elective surgery like plastic surgery, paid legal expenses direct from foundation to law firm, etc.
According to Panama law, the assets of a Panama Private Interest Foundation are considered to be "non-embargable", and "non-sequesterable", which means that the assets can not be frozen under any circumstances.
The Panama Foundation needs no business license.
The annual tax for the Foundation is fixed at $300, which is included in total subsequent year fees of $695 starting in year two.
The Foundation can serve as a last will and testament.
The Foundation can effectively guard against disputes amongst heirs.
The Foundation can carry on scientific, philanthropic, religious, humanitarian or educational purposes.
The Foundation can have bank accounts.
The Foundation income is tax free under Panama law.
Royalties, copyrights, trademarks can be assigned to the Foundation.
You can assign assets to a Panama Foundation in return for an annuity.
The Foundation can be an investment vehicle for real estate, stocks and bonds. It can hold bank accounts, boats, planes, artwork, collectibles or other assets with highly specific instructions as to how such assets should be dealt with under varying circumstances, all custom designed to meet your specific needs.
Restrictions - In general, Private Interest Foundations may not engage in commercial activities like a corporation but they may carry out commercial activities like owning corporations that are actively engaged in commercial business activities, as long as the profits of those activities are used for the purposes for which the Foundation exists. The Foundation can of course engage in passive investments like stock market investments, mutual funds, bank deposits bearing interest, Forex, bonds etc as long as the proceeds are used for the purposes for which the Foundation exists for the benefit of the beneficiaries and you can of course be a beneficiary of the Foundation. You could also have an investment manager agreement with the foundation signed by the nominee council members, notarized and apostilled stating your compensation and benefits for managing the investments of the foundation. This agreement would be private and would document your role as an employee with the foundation.
Cast of Characters in a Panama Private Interest Foundation - The Foundation has a Founder, a Council, a Protector, and Beneficiaries.
Founder: The Founder is the person or entity that establishes the Foundation in the Public Registry of Panama. Our law firm provides a Founder for you since the Founder appears in the Public Registry. We provide a Founder who does not know you for your privacy, protection and anonymity. The Founder has no control of any sort over the Foundation and its affairs, and is only recognized as the individual who presented for filing the Foundation articles in the public registry when the foundation was originally registered.
Council: The Foundation's Council can be thought of as being similar to the board of directors of a corporation. The council members are each recorded in the public registry with their names and identification as council members of the Foundation. Our firm appoints a Nominee Foundation Council to fill the council positions like we provide nominee directors for a corporation. The nominee council members do not know who you are to provide privacy and anonymity for you. Along with each nominee council member comes an undated letter of resignation enabling you to replace the council at any time. Nominee council members have no control over the Foundation assets, can not go to the bank and take money out since they are not bank account signatories. If the nominee council members tried to add, change or delete the bank account signatories the Panama bank would directly contact the existing signatories on the account for permission in which case the signatory would call the police and the nominees would go to jail. The nominees know this, Panama banks understand nominees and this is not a scam that will work. Being a nominee does not come with bank signatory privileges or any other form of asset control. The Panama Corporation can take the place of the nominee council members. Now if it is a Panama Bearer share corporation the ownership is anonymous and if you have the
Protector: The Protector is the person or entity who has the real control over the foundation and all of the foundation assets. The Protector is appointed by the Foundation Council at the time the Foundation is created. After the Protector is put into position, the Protector is free to remove and replace the nominee council members whenever they chose to do so without any further permissions or steps needed to be taken. The Protectors appointment can be kept private through a notarized Private Protectorate Document, signed by the nominee foundation council members. This document is not registered or recorded anywhere thus the position of protector is quite private or just about anonymous, not to be found in any government database or registry. As protector you can maintain complete control over your foundation and its assets while maintaining serious privacy. A protector is not mandatory, and one can always use a nominee protector as well.
Beneficiaries: The Panama Private Interest Foundation does not have owners, it has foundation beneficiaries. The Foundations Beneficiaries are appointed by the Protector through either a simple private written set of instructions which will keep your beneficiaries private out of any registry or database. One could instead use a more formal set of Foundation By-Laws. Either way, the privacy and confidentiality of beneficiaries can be assured. This is important to protect against kidnapping, blackmail, extortion, identity theft, frivolous litigation (if ones assets are concealed they are not so much of a target). The Panama Foundation may be set up so that the protector (that would be you) is the sole beneficiary of the foundation until death, at which time the foundation continues but its purpose alters for the benefit of the other beneficiaries you so designate. You could insert instructions that are highly specific like if a certain beneficiary (say surviving spouse) remarried their benefits may shift to another beneficiary (children). Foundations can continue for 120 years. Panama Foundations restrict the ability for the beneficiaries to fight with each other over the estate and wind up not speaking to each other for the rest of their lives.
Letter of Instructions: The Letter of Instructions is a simple letter, written by the Protector, which specifies exactly how the Foundations assets should be handled or distributed upon a triggering event such as the death or incapacity of the Protector. The Letter of Instructions should also state whether the Foundation should continue existing, and have a new Protector appointed, or if the Foundation should be dissolved and how the assets should be liquidated upon the death of the Protector. There is no specific format for the Letter of Instructions, and it can be written or changed at any time after the Foundation is formed, per the Protectors wishes. The Letter of Instructions can be held privately with no filing requirement so there is non-disclosure of details with serious privacy for all concerned. Generally, most people prefer to maintain the Letter of Instructions privately, so that the Beneficiaries and Protector remain anonymous and private.
Foundation By-Laws: The Foundation does not need to have By-Laws, since a Letter of Instructions is legally sufficient for fulfilling the Protectors' requested testamentary instructions or wishes. However, one could have a more formal Foundation testamentary document, written and signed by an attorney from our law firm, and notarized by a Panamanian notary. The Foundations By-Laws essentially handle the same function as a Letter of Instructions since the By-Laws specifying how the Foundation should respond upon a specific triggering event such as the death or incapacity of the Protector. The By-Laws should also state whether the Foundation should continue existing, and have a new Protector appointed, or if the Foundation should be dissolved upon the specified triggering event(s). There is a legal precedent that the By-Laws must follow. By-Laws content can be modified at any time at the discretion of the protector. The By-Laws can be held privately for anonymity, or can be registered publicly which is not suggested normally.
Ronald Edwards is a researcher, with years of experience in finances and real estate.
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Article Marketing: Long or Short Articles - Which Is Better?
Most online professionals know that article marketing is one of the most effective ways to promote a product/service. However, when marketing with articles, which is better, long or short articles?
Most experts say that articles should be between 400-600 words, give or take 50 on either side. However, in general, I disagree. Why? For the following three reasons:
NOTE: There are times when shorter pieces -- eg, Tip of the Day, Just an FYI, an editorial/opinion piece -- are justified.
1. Not Enough Detail: Many articles are written to sell something. So, a business owner may pay someone to write a general article on their topic to drive traffic to their site. This is fine, but as a reader, when Im searching for information, I usually want details that go beyond what a general article will dispense.
It's frustrating to just get the tip of the iceberg ie, information I may already know and not get the meat of a subject.
This is a big turn-off for me. And when I visit a site, if its filled with a lot of these what Ive deemed common sense pieces, with no meat information, I conclude that the site owner is more interested in selling me a product/service than educating me on a particular subject.
Education leads to knowledge which leads to trust, which THEN leads to SALES. If more online sellers would realize this, theyd do better.
2. No Expertise: Many articles are obviously written (or commissioned) by those with little or no experience on/in/with the subject written about. Most of the information found in the majority of articles can be Googled and found via official sources.
I dont know about most surfers, but when I look for information, I want the personal experience how you did it, what worked for you, what didnt work and why? This is the real benefit of the Internet. It allows a true exchange of first-hand information.
When youve used a product, built a business, found an effective technique and can back it up with a personal story (eg, this is what happened when I did x), it gives sooooo much more validity than just spouting off what can easily be found via official sources.
And again, this leads to knowledge, which leads to trust, which THEN leads to SALES. Why? Because people get the feeling that you know what the heck youre talking about.
INSIGHT: I particularly like personal stories that detail what didnt work so well? Why? Two reasons: a) It saves me from making the same mistake; and 2) allows me to brainstorm about how to do it better. It also lends an air of truth (hence, validity) to whatever sales pitch youre making.
This leads to my final point failure.
3. Dont Tell Me What To Do, Tell Me What NOT to Do: Many articles begin with How To. And, this is fine most of the time. But, also take the time (eg, expand the word count) to tell me what NOT to do.
To digress a minute, I dont know how/when we became a nation of people afraid to admit failure, but thats almost the first lesson of success. It takes failure to get to success.
Ive failed at so many things (especially businesses) that I just have to laugh as I look over the list (yes, I keep one). But you know what, I wouldnt know half of what I know now if I hadnt failed so often.
When you gain knowledge via failure youve earned it thats like money in the bank. You can move forward confidently because you know what, for sure, DOESNT work.
Why "Failure" Increases Sales
When a writer drones on and on about this, that and the other, Im searching for the grain of truth, for the human element of failure. Admitting to failure does three things:
a) It tells me that youre passionate about your product/service: When youre persistent enough to keep trying something after failing at it youre either just plain crazy, or passionate about it. This passion will always be translated to your end user -- you just have to trust me on that.
b) It tells me that youre human: Part of connecting with a customer is making them feel like you understand their situation.
If you excel at everything you try well, I just cant relate to a person like that. If I cant relate to you, youre going to have a harder time selling to me. It doesnt mean its impossible, it just means youll have to work that much harder.
c) It tells me that you care: When you fail and put it out there for the world to dissect it tells me you care enough about me, the consumer, to want me to avoid the same mistakes. And you know what, Ill like you for that, trust you for that and BUY FROM YOU because of that.
Sincerity can be sensed and if you have page after page of obviously canned material on your site, re-evaluate why you are really in business.
Remember, article marketing is not about dispensing information its about dispensing helpful information -- and that usually calls for more than 500 or 600 words.
Yuwanda Black is the publisher of
http://www.InkwellEditorial.com: THE business portal for and about the editorial and creative industries. First-hand freelance success stories, e-courses, job postings, resume tips, advice on the business of freelancing, and more! Launch a Profitable Freelance Writing Career in 30 Days or Less -- Guaranteed! Log on to
http://www.InkwellEditorial.com to learn how.
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Your Attorney's Pushing Bankruptcy While Your Intuition Screams For Caution. How Do You Make The Right Choice?
The first thing a person must understand is just what's at stake. First consider what a bankruptcy will do to your credit for the next 7-10 years. If your home is at risk and you want to avoid or stop foreclosure then this creates another set of questions to be answered. Take an active role no matter what else you do. As hard as it may seem at the time educate yourself. Learn about your various debt options and be a part of the decision making process. An attorney may try to push you toward a bankruptcy filing while consumer agencies lean against it. Understandably an attorney specializing in bankruptcy stands to profit the most if he can get you to file. If most bankruptcy attorneys were doctors they would operate on every patient who came in with an upset stomach, while consumer agencies would treat the symptoms of the illness and never operate even if it meant having the patient on medication for the next ten years. Don't let either talk you into a solution just because they say so.
I am not trying to advocate a "do-it-yourself" mentality. This is fine for painting the living room, but could be disastrous when it comes to handling a bankruptcy filing. If bankruptcy happens to be the only way out then by all means hire an attorney. If you hire an attorney and think you're not being properly represented don't be afraid to switch lawyers or hurt their feelings. Losing a client they never should have advised in the first place won't change or interrupt their life. Losing your house or filing an unnecessary bankruptcy will surely change yours.
Below are a few simple guidelines to consider:
If you are not making mortgage payments or they won't accept your checks save the money. Don't spend it on other bills. You may need it to save the house. The ranks as one of the worst mistakes people make when finding out they cannot stop foreclosure.
Don't make promises you won't be able to keep. Tell creditors what you can really do, not what you think they want you to say.
Do not spend money on house repairs if you may be losing the house.
Explore all options but be ready for the worst.
If home foreclosure looms then ignore the collection agencies from the unsecured creditors. You have more important things to worry about. Don't let them bully you into giving them anything. You may need every cent to avoid foreclosure and save your home. If they persist tell them you are exercising your rights in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act and they have to communicate with you in writing.
Don't file for bankruptcy unless it's really the right thing to do. It's not the only option as there are many alternatives to bankruptcy awaiting your exploration. If your attorney doesn't explain the other options get a new attorney. If the bankruptcy option works the best for your situation don't be afraid or ashamed to do it.
Make the time to deal with this problem. If your house matters to you, this is more important than almost anything else. If you hate the house anyway, don't pour money in to save it, explore other residence options.
If you have been able to save some money don't leave it at a bank you owe money to. They might be able to take it from you without notice.
If you really want to keep the house be prepared to work for it. This may mean getting a second job, or doing away with unessential expenses like cable television or high speed internet.
Perhaps the most important, don't lose hope and don't give up.
Chuck Lunsford
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Reach out and touch someone -- Coupons and promotions on your cell phone
It's lunchtime, and you can't decide what to have today. So you take a stroll outside, just to see what looks good at the various restaurants in the neighborhood. As you're walking along, browsing at the different menus displayed in the front of each restaurant, you get a notification signal on your mobile phone. It's the newly opened bistro on the corner, asking you if you want to receive a coupon and a menu. You respond with a Yes, and the files are sent straight to your phone. There's a full menu and a coupon for a free appetizer with your entree. Lunch sounds good -- let's give it a try. You've just taken part in a Bluetooth Marketing campaign.
So, aside from the funny name, what exactly is Bluetooth Marketing? How does it work? And what does this mean for the average consumer?
Most mobile phone shoppers have probably heard of Bluetooth by now. It's a standard feature on almost every new cell phone sold today, as well as many laptops and desktop computers. One of the more common uses for Bluetooth is to connect to a hands-free headset, but it can actually do a whole lot more. Bluetooth is really just a way for various devices to connect to each other and share information without the need for wires. So, with Bluetooth, your cell phone could also connect to your computer to synchronize your contacts list, transfer songs and ringtones, even upload those pictures you just took with your camera phone. What's more, if your friend also has a Bluetooth phone, you could easily send them your pictures, songs, videos, games, or other files stored in your phone, all without having to worry about having the right cables to connect.
So, what does this have to do with marketing? Well, through some clever use of technology, companies are now using Bluetooth to send their latest promotions to the mobile phone -- that ubiquitous device that almost everyone uses and carries with them at all times. How does it work?
A small, Bluetooth enabled file server, specially configured for this purpose, is mounted in a busy location. The server will continuously scan the area for Bluetooth enabled devices as they come within range (up to 100 meters). When found, it sends the user a message asking if they wish to receive the advertiser's content. This could be a coupon, a video, Java game or any other multimedia file. If the user responds with a Yes, the file is sent automatically. If they respond with a No, the server logs this decision, and will not ask the same user again the next time they come within range. This so called "blacklisting" feature ensures that users are not continuously bothered with requests to download things they don't want.
And, in contrast to SMS or text messaging, there is never a charge to send or receive files via Bluetooth. What's more, since files don't pass through any cellular carriers, Bluetooth Marketing works even where there is no cell signal, such as subway stations or other "dead" zones.
So what are the benefits and pitfalls, both for prospective businesses looking for a new and unique way to connect with their customers, and for consumers, who may view advertising on their cell phones as a sort of invasion of privacy?
For advertisers, Bluetooth Marketing allows them to send their promotions to people for very little cost. Aside from the initial purchase of the equipment, Bluetooth Marketing campaigns are essentially free to run. Because files sent by Bluetooth are free, it would not matter if a company sent 10 promotions or 10,000. More importantly, users who choose to accept the message inevitably take the time to look at it. This differentiates Bluetooth marketing from other types of advertising, which goes largely ignored by the target group. Advertisers also have the opportunity to market their products and services based on the proximity of the consumer. For example, restaurants can send coupons to people as they walk by; movie theaters can send video trailers of new releases to people standing in line, etc. What better time to send promotions to customers than when they are physically close?
Of course, from the point of view of the consumer, there may be fears that this technology may raise some privacy issues. Would people be spammed with ads they don't want as they're walking down the street? Will advertisers be able to record their cell phone numbers and use it for marketing purposes? And what if someone doesn't want to receive this kind of marketing -- ever?
In fact, the technology does incorporate ways to resolve these issues. Again, Bluetooth servers must always get permission first from users before any content is sent. And if the user refuses, the software remembers this, and will not ask again in the future. This ensures that only people wishing to receive content will get it -- a benefit to both advertiser and consumer. Also, personally identifiable information is never collected by the system. The server only detects each phone's MAC address, a unique hardware ID, but nothing else. It cannot collect phone numbers or any personal information from any user. People needn't be afraid that their private information is being compromised in any way. And, of course, users can always choose to never participate in any Bluetooth campaign by simply setting their Bluetooth to "invisible", so they won't be found in the first place.
Bluetooth Marketing has been popular in Europe for several years now, and is only now beginning to catch on in the United States. Besides just coupons and promotions, stores can get creative and offer free games or songs to reward customers, companies could use this technology to distribute bulletins to employees, or professionals can use Bluetooth to send business cards to potential clients, ensuring that they always have their correct contact details handy. The possibilities are vast. So the next time you're walking down the street and you get an unexpected message on your phone asking if you want a free cappuccino, just say Yes, and look around you. You may not have noticed the cafe on the corner, but they noticed you!
James Wong
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Save Money by Refinancing Your Car Loan
If we define the term refinance in lay man terms, refinancing is nothing but a loan taken on low rate of interest to pay off the previous high interest rate loan or it can be also defined as the replacing or extending the existing tenure of loan with a new tenure of loan. Like wise, if we apply this definition on the refinance car loan, it will be seem as a new car loan taken with low rate of interest to set off the previous car loan taken on high rate of interest.
Refinance car loan is nothing but shifting from the high rate of interest to low rate of interest. Lets explain the situation when the need of refinancing car loan emerges. Imagine the person availed a car loan and after two months he finds that there is downfall in the financial market which has further reduced the rates. But he finds himself paying higher rate of interest as compared to the rate prevailing in the current financial market. In such condition he opts for availing refinance car loan in order to pay low interest as other are paying.
Getting refinancing through refinance car loan enable the person to save large sum of money and thus he can use his saved money in order to satisfy his other personal needs.
Refinance car loan makes the repayments affordable and saves the person from falling in the sea of debts. As paying higher rate of interest increases the burden of debts, which further create difficulty in making repayments.
Refinancing car loan can be taken from the same lender or another lender that is, as per the convenience. The features of the refinance car loan are illustrated below:
Comparatively lower rate of interest
Low monthly instalment
Improves credit score
While availing refinance car loan the borrower must negotiate with the lender and must appeal them to reduce the cost of the loan. And, if the borrower has good credit rating then his good credit score enable him to avail loan on more competitive prices.
The process for applying refinance car loan is simplified through online. Researching and comparing various offers on the internet is much simpler than comparing and researching in the physical market. Today internet shows each aspect of the refinance car loan. Thus, it is absolutely right to say that it saves time, effort and money while applying loan through online.
Xenia Stevens has been associated with AmericasCarLoans. She has completed her Masters in Finance from Cranfield School of Management. She provides useful information on Car loans. For further details in car loans, Refinance car loan, car loan financing, instant car loans, private car loans in US visit
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Dog Clothes make Great Gifts
When it comes to the art of giving, a gift of clothes is fraught with peril. We all have stories to tell, and if you don't, you will. Just give it time.
Mine started early. My grandmother, having survived the Depression, knew how to stretch a dollar. Clothes for her grandkids were always purchased 3 or 4 sizes too big so we could "grow into them". And she passed this charming trait on to my mother. So, we endured our baggy clothes, with the sleeves and pant legs rolled up, until we were finally big enough to wear them with dignity. By which time they were ready for donation.
Then there's my husband. Heaven forbid I should try to give the man a Polo shirt with an uneven hemline. Most Polos are made longer in the back to help them stay "tucked", but hubby goes un-tucked -- always. He rejects any polo that breaks the rule, no matter how subtly. For an otherwise easy-going guy, his behavior is almost perverse.
If you must give clothes this season, there's one giftee on your list who's sure to look great in any outfit you buy him. He'll wear your gift with pride and appreciation, head held high and tail wagging.
That's right, your dog. Or your best friend's dog. It's so easy you'll wonder why you didn't think of it before.
Dogs love any kind of attention you lavish on them. So, Spike will wear his outfit - whether it's cute or ridiculous - as soon as he sees how happy it makes his owner. Spot will eat up all that extra attention he gets from strangers. And Fifi might even want to Vogue for the camera.
Clothes shopping for dogs is a lot like clothes shopping for babies. Unless you're going for practicality, cuteness is what counts. And that's easy to accomplish, given that any dog wearing clothes looks pretty darned cute.
Choices in dog clothes range from winter sweaters to football jerseys and summer tees. You can get a set of flannel PJ's for bedtime or a terry robe for after bath. There's even an entire line of Harley clothes for dogs, complete with leather cap and studded collar. Dog costumes made for parties and holidays are just too cute for words.
If you really want your gift to be a hit with admirers, accessorize. Try a designer dog collar and maybe a cool pair of sunglasses--they make them just for dogs. And I recently heard that leg warmers are making a come back.
Got a mischievous sense of humor? Making the baby look silly might be a no-no, but it's good clean fun when it comes to dressing up a dog. There are some really creative doggie costume out there that are good for a chuckle or two.
There's really only a couple of rules you'll need to keep in mind when shopping for dog clothes:One is that if the dog in question is an avid chewer, you should avoid buying him anything tempting. Shiny buttons, fringe, and feathers are examples that come to mind. An object that can easily be chewed off and swallowed is a choking hazard and can get stuck in the dog's digestive tract.
The other rule is that any dog, no matter how tolerant, will be more comfortable wearing clothes that fit. Proper fit typically requires measuring from the dog's collar to the base of her tail for length. Most garment's girth can be adjusted with velcro tabs, but could still be an issue with a barrel-chested breed such as a bulldog. Measurements are typically in inches.
Remember that a dog will never "diet down" into an outfit that's too small , or -- unless you're shopping for a puppy or a pregnant female -- "grow into" an item that's too big. (Sorry, Grandma.)
Oh, and one more thing--if you're handy with a sewing machine, you can make your own dog clothes creations. Just don't forget to include an opening for the dog to relieve himself. Don't laugh, it happens a lot!
Now, if you're shopping for your own dog, you're all set. But if you're buying clothes for someone else's dog, I've got a few more tips for you.
Surveys conducted on the subject of gift preferences of men and women have shown that men prefer gifts that are more playful or practical. So, if the dog's owner is male this might translate into a doggie Harley jacket, a funny costume, or a reflective hunting vest (more on practical clothing in another article!).
Women, on the other hand, prefer gifts that are beautiful, memorable, and personal. It shouldn't be hard to find an item of clothing for a woman's dog that's either beautiful or memorable or both, and it will of course be personal!
Exception: if the woman is someone you don't know well. The more distant the relationship between giver and receiver, the riskier it is to give a personal gift. So, be they man or woman, if you don't know the dog owner very well, you probably shouldn't be buying dog clothes for their pet.
I hope you'll have fun picking out something nice for the canine on your shopping list. If you get a chance, send me a photo!
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Mortgage Broker Strategies 101: Back to Basics
Mortgage Broker strategies are important as you very well know, but have you considered all the marketing you can do on a day to day basis. This is not the type of marketing where you put an ad in the paper or hire a call center. These are the little things you can do to make sure that your mortgage business continues to grow. These are the things that cost very little but are huge in terms of keeping business as well as high customer satisfaction.
First Tip
Whether you are sending out a letter, a card, or even an ad for the paper, make sure you use effective writing techniques. First among these is to make sure that you have a headline on everything you do. Whether people realize it or not, the headline grabs the reader. Once they see a headline, they are way more likely to read the rest of the piece of text. Always make sure that the headline has a benefit in it so that your client has a reason to keep reading.
Second Tip
Keep writing! For many people, the thank you note has raised their income by large percentages. Every person, customer or friend, loves to show appreciation. They like to know that you are happy for them and that you realize what they have done for you. When you thank them you are connecting with them and helping to cement a future relationship.
If you make it a point to write thank you notes every day, you can really help your return business. Thank people who didn't even work with you on a mortgage. You can thank those who did something for you: your mechanic, mailman, or even the teacher your kid has at school. Whatever you do, just make sure you send those thank you notes. It will definitely pay off for you.
Third Tip
Be a braggart. When you do something for a client, make sure you tell them. You want to make yourself valuable to the client for a couple of reasons: so that he or she understands why you are getting paid, and so that he or she would refer you to someone else in the future. This can be very valuable down the road. Even though bragging seems harsh normally, so be humble and just point out the things you accomplished because in business you want to be valued.
Fourth Tip
This is a strange one for many, but make sure that if you have a phone person, that he or she always suggests that you are with a client. If he or she says "I'm sorry but he is working with a customer right now, give me one second to see if he can take a call right now".
This allows you to look busy and confirms that you are worth the effort to work with. It also gives you an out if you don't want to talk with a certain person for one reason or another.
Last Tip
Though there is an unlimited amount of advice that could be given about mortgage marketing techniques, there are some that are certainly more important. One of those is this: never stop marketing. Even if you are the best mortgage broker that ever walked the planet, if you cannot market then it won't matter. Nobody will know you are great, you will have no business to close, and you will not make any money.
Above everything else, mortgage is about getting clients in your door. The rest is just paperwork and learning the ropes of the loan biz. With that in mind, there is one other thing you should consider:
Form realtor partnerships whenever you can. If you can find a program that will help you hook up with realtors the right way, you should jump on it. By giving yourself that extra advantage, you are enabling your business to grow without making yourself do more work.
With a partnership with the right realtor, you may find yourself with a large number of renters turned buyers on your desk each day. What a great way to run the mortgage business huh?
So no matter what you do, implement a new marketing tip each day. Try to send out thank you notes, thank people in person, look for times to brag about your self, and even try to keep marketing. Above all, find ways to form those partnerships. Getting hooked up with a realtor and with changing renters into buyers, you will grow your business faster than you ever imagined.
Shane Brooks is a hard nosed business man that doesn't take kindly to competition. His hard hitting no nonsense marketing techniques constantly makes waves for his competitors regardless of the market he is focusing on. Shane doesn't mind stepping on the toes of his competitors or ruffeling a a few feathers of the so-called gurus in order to level the playing field. For more info please visit
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Your Biggest Do it Yourself Project
When I meet people and tell them what I do, I often hear, Oh, you are a motivational speaker, with some amount of assuredness in their voice. While I realize there are many speakers that people lump into this category (some who are my friends and mentors), I strongly disagree with that label.
Do I speak? Yes.
Can I inspire, challenge thinking, provide ideas, input, and encouragement (and in smaller settings), provide feedback? Yes I can.
Can I motivate? No I cant.
DIY
There is a channel on my television called DIY The Do It Yourself Network. On this channel you can learn how to make drapes, redo your landscape, take care of your yard, build a deck, make unique crafts, and much more. Many people must watch it, because it has been on my television for several years.Actually this doesnt surprise me. People want to learn how to do new things. They want to avoid the cost of the expensive plumber, carpenter or painter, and they like the pride that comes with seeing the results of their efforts.
If people do the things they learn about (rather than just watching) they are doing it because they are self motivated. No crafty, clever, or comical TV host has motivated them they have motivated themselves.
It is the same with our personal, professional and business projects we may work with others and need expert coaching, advise, counsel and encouragement, but in the end these are Do it yourself projects too.
Five Suggestions
Here are five things you can do to make your own improvement and growth and do it to yourself project.
1.Have a reason for doing. If your windows are bare, you know you need drapes. If your grill sits in the grass, you know you want a deck in your backyard. What is the reason you want to improve your skills or habits or achieve new results? Having a clear goal is the first step towards self motivation. If you watch the TV show because you are interested, but dont need that skill, you will just watch. If you listen to a great speaker or read their book and dont have a clear goal, youll get no more than an enjoyable experience.
2.Take action every day. You have your goal, your reason, so now take action. I cant take that action for you any more than Bob Villa, your boss or a family member can. Make a plan and get started. You dont have to carve out two hours in your already over crowded day, but do something. Take a step towards your self-improvement project every day. At least one thing, every day.
3.Put in the positive stuff. Many people who are learning to build that deck buy books, magazines, and software; go to the local hardware super center for classes and ask for advice, and much more. Are you putting anywhere near this amount of time, effort, and money into reaching your personal or professional improvement goals? Read or listen to the positive, uplifting material each day. Consider it inspirational fuel for your own motivation.
4.Lose the Losers. Do you have people around you who arent willing to invest in themselves? How much time are you spending with those who ridicule or put down your efforts? While you may not be able to remove these people from your life, you can reduce the impact their attitude has on you. Recognize how they negatively impact you and move on.
5.Turn off the TV. Yes, even football, I remind myself. Am I saying you should not watch any television? No, but TV is the major time stealer in our society and is a self reinforcing habit. Every show has commercials for other shows. So not only are watching others achieve their goals while we arent achieving ours, but we are being bombarded with messages about products we dont need and being convinced to watch even more. You will find as you watch less TV it gets easier to watch less. Why? In part because you wont know what is on!
The person who learned how to dry wall his own basement when asked why they chose to do it says something like, I figured no one would care as much about the quality of the job as I would, so I decided to learn myself. Besides, I have so much more pride in the results.
These are great reasons to do it yourself. Apply that same logic and reasoning to yourself. Dont ask me to motivate you. That is your job. Just like the expert on TV, I can help show the way and help you see that it is possible. But in the end, it is your life, your results, your project.Go out and Do it yourself.
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Why Read Inspirational Quotes?
Maybe you've heard this one:
"What does it profit a man to have gained the whole world, and to have lost his soul?" - Jesus Christ
Inspirational quotes and sayings from the present day or centuries past, can inspire and instruct us. This is true regardless of the religious or spiritual tradition they come from. Nor do religious or spiritully-oriented individuals have a monopoly on useful words. Quotes that strike at the truth of the matter can come from scoundrels, saints, and ordinary people.
We are what we repeatedly do. Excelence, then, is not an act, but a habit - Aristotle
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the men of old. Seek what they sought." - Basho
Why Read Inspirational Quotes?
Philosophies and arguments often use logic in an attempt to "capture" truth in a net of words to build systems of knowledge, or to satify egos. Logic is important, but when mis-used it leads to confusion. Inspirational sayings cut through the fog and point at the truth, so you can see it for yourself.
Imagine a choice: do what you love and possibly fail, or wait a few more years. Now, outside of mathematics, virtually all reasoning is tainted with rationalization, so you can support whatever you decide with "logical arguments," right? No wonder we're often confused and demotivated! How can we trust our own reasoning, if it just finds a logical construct for whichever fear or other feeling is strongest!
Then you read an inspirational quote:
"You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take." - Wayne Gretzky
Can you see how this hockey metaphor might touch you precisely because it isn't a logical argument? It just points at a truth you can see for yourself: You can't get what you want without "taking that shot." Seeing the truth is far more motivating than arguing it. That's the value of reading inspirational quotes.
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