October 2022 - TODAY INDIA

How to Become a Nurse Entrepreneur And Experience Real Freedom

You know you want more freedom and flexibility but you are unsure how to get there. You have a great idea but you don’t know how to turn it into a viable business. You dream about owning your own business.

But then the years go by and you still haven’t taken action.

You find yourself still in the same old nursing job, maybe even feeling a little burnt out and frustrated.

You’re just mystified! You don’t know where to start.

So what do you do to stop feeling so stuck?

Here’s How You Can Stop Feeling Stuck and Get Started as a Nurse Entrepreneur

1. Consider Your Background

Do you have at least 5 years of nursing experience? Having some nursing experience can be very helpful when you are setting out to be a nurse entrepreneur. This experience gives you the skills you need and also helps you determine a specialty for your nurse entrepreneur business.

2. Research Various Nurse Entrepreneur Opportunities

Reviewing roles other nurses have pursued in setting up their nurse entrepreneur business can provide you with some ideas of what might work for you in your location. There are well over 20 nurse entrepreneur opportunities and more crop up every day. Some of these opportunities include: case manager, legal nurse consultant, foot care nurse, life care planner, nutrition and weight loss consultant, cruise nurse, and many more.

Look for websites about nurse entrepreneurs. Read blogs and articles to get ideas about what others are doing or where there might even be an unmet need for a new nurse entrepreneur business.

3. Find your Target Audience (Customers)

Know where to find the people who are going to buy your nurse entrepreneur products or services. Ideally you want to be able to find your customers in groups. If you can find them in organizations, groups, educational institutions, types of employment, or social groups your sales and marketing will be much easier. Trying to sell to your target market one at a time is expensive and time-consuming. However, you need to know where to find your target audience before starting your business.

4. Create Your Business

Now is the time to decide on a business structure, business name, logo, website name, get an EIN (Employer Identification Number) for tax purposes, determine what insurance you will need and where to get it, and create your business plan. Many US Small Business Administration offices offer training on starting a business. If you aren’t in the US, many countries have something comparable that offer assistance in starting a business. You can also get lots of information from the SBA website even if you aren’t living in the US.

5. Follow Your Plan

Now that you have created your plan, follow it. You have plotted your course.

Take action every day. Even if you haven’t quit your full-time or part-time nursing position. Take a step every day that is part of your plan to move you closer to your dream.

Down the road you will enjoy the excitement of owning your own business because of the steps you took today. Don’t lose sight of the dream because this is what pulls you forward. It is a lot more enjoyable to be pulled forward than to be running away from something.

Wealth Creation – How Your Kids Can Make Money

Here are some nifty ideas showing how your kids can make money. They can do most or all of the work themselves, but may need a little help at times. Besides earning extra cash, these ideas can help your kids learn responsibility and a work ethic.

Types of work for teenagers — Some of the following items are typical teenager jobs you can get for yourself. You can advertise your services in the local newspaper or craigslist website. Other items are jobs you can do for business employers.

1. Applying decorations to clothing — Keep abreast of the latest teen fashions and then apply appropriate decorations to other people’s clothing for a fee.

2. Babysitting — This is a popular job for teenagers, especially girls.

3. Bagging groceries — Go around to the local grocery stores to get this kind of job.

4. Cleaning homes — Advertise this service to get work. The elderly and shut-ins could be a good source of jobs.

5. Collecting redeemable bottles — Some states charge a deposit on beverage containers. You can collect these and turn them in for a refund of the deposit.

6. Cultivating gardens — Many people enjoy having a garden, but they may not be willing or able to do the work required.

7. Delivering newspapers — This is a popular job for teenagers, especially boys.

8. Entertaining at parties — If you have a flair for entertaining people, you could advertise your services. Maybe you want to be a clown or an elf.

9. Grooming the elderly and shut-ins — Everyone likes to look their best, but may not be able to take care of themselves.

10. Growing vegetables — You can raise vegetables and sell them to local grocery stores or fruit stands.

11. Mending clothing — Active children often rip their clothes or lose buttons. You can advertise this service and make some good money.

12. Mowing lawns — This is a popular job for teenagers, especially boys. You can make more money if you have your own lawnmower. Just walk around the neighborhood looking for jobs during the grass-growing season.

13. Picking fruit — This is a seasonal job performed for orchard owners. The faster you can pick fruit (with care) the more money you can make.

14. Providing a referral service for babysitters — You can ask around for qualified babysitters and store their contact information on your home computer. Charge the babysitter a fee when you refer them to the people needing their services.

15. Providing a typing service — If you have a home computer with a laser printer and word processing software, you can provide a typing service for students and small business firms. (Be sure to run the spell checker and grammar checker before printing your work.)

16. Providing an online research service — If you like to do online research, you can sell your services to authors, small business firms, students, and websites.

17. Pulling weeds – This can be a good way to make some money, but be sure to wear work gloves.

18. Raking leaves — When the leaves start to fall someone has to rake them into piles and/or place them in leaf bags.

19. Refinishing and/or repairing furniture — You can advertise to haul away old furniture for nothing. After repairing and refinishing the furniture, sell them at a flea market or your own lawn sale.

20. Running errands for the elderly and shut-ins — When people are housebound, they may pay you to run their errands.

21. Shoveling snow — After the snowing stops, get out your snow shovel. Ask your neighbors if they will pay you to shovel the snow off their sidewalks and driveways.

22. Teaching people to use computers — Most young people know how to use computers. They can teach their skills to older people for a fee.

23. Tutoring students — If you are very good at certain subjects and can instruct other students, you can earn money as a tutor.

24. Walking dogs — If you live in a big city, there probably are many people who will pay you to walk their dog. The more dogs you can handle at a time, the more money you can make.

25. Working as a retail store clerk – Go around to retail stores in your city and leave your contact information. Visit the stores every two weeks or so.

26. Working as a shipping department clerk – Go around to places that have a shipping department and leave your contact information. Visit them every two weeks or so.

27. Working in a fast food restaurant – Go around to fast food restaurants every two weeks or so. You probably will be hired eventually.

28. Wrapping Christmas presents – Many department stores offer a gift-wrapping service. If you have the required skills, you may get a seasonal job.

Rules about jobs for teenagers

The U.S. has both federal and state rules governing teenager workers. For most kinds of work, you have to be at least 14; but the hours and working conditions may be restricted if you are under 16. In addition, you may have to get a work permit. There are separate rules covering agricultural work.

These age restrictions usually do not apply to traditional youth employment, such as babysitting and delivering newspapers.

Ways to look for jobs from employers

There are several ways to look for available jobs. You can look in places where employers announce their job openings. Examples would be the “help wanted” section of classified advertisements in newspapers and the “jobs” section of Craigslist.org for your desired city.

You could go around to business firms in your local area to see if they have any job openings. You might want to leave your name, age, address, and telephone number if the business looks appealing.

You could ask your family and friends if they know of any possible job openings that might be suitable for you.

Websites about searching for jobs

These job search websites are an easy way to conduct job hunting. When a website has a search selection box that allows for keywords, you usually can enter “teenager” as a keyword. This lets you search for teenager jobs instead of adult jobs.

http://JobSearch.About.com Ways for teens to find a job.

http://www.Teens4Hire.org They claim to be “The #1 career and recruitment website for U.S. teens.” You have to register with the site before getting information on available jobs.

How to Deal With Your Business Distractions

On a recent trip to Canada I read an interesting article in their Globe and Mail newspaper on how to conquer 10 common distractions in the workplace. Here is my take on what I find are my 10 trickiest time bandit distractions, and how I deal (or not… ) with them during the working day…

In the Globe’s article, management writer Harvey Schachter lists the top ten business distractions as portrayed by leadership trainer Tim Millburn, in comfy masculine agreement that does not exactly take into account the realities of women small business owners like me who work from a home office.

All the same here is my summary of the original list, and noble it is, too, in an ideal world…

Unstructured time– schedule ahead so you and others stick to it

Lack of deadlines– give yourself deadlines so you program yourself to get the work done

Lack of a plan– stick to a plan and don’t let incidental things interrupt you

Doing it all yourself-surely there must be some things on your list you can delegate?

Perfectionism – strive for excellence instead as perfectionism can waste time

Pinball urgency– don’t bounce between urgent tasks

Open-door policy– close it when you have a deadline or other urgent task

Always in touch– continually keeping up with email, tweet, text message or update

Too much tech– too many devices running can be distracting

Too many meetings– avoid all but the strictly necessary

Now, here are my own feelings about those points, speaking as small business owner…

Unstructured time– schedule ahead so you and others stick to it.

Great idea and it works if your business is in a well-sheltered office building. But try telling that to the sour-faced electricity worker who bangs on the front door and insists on reading your meter NOW or you’ll get a nice, fat, estimated bill. By all means schedule, but in that schedule allow for the occasional diversion.

Lack of deadlines– give yourself deadlines so you program yourself to get the work done.

I like this one and do it from time to time. But being a lazy, undisciplined cow, I find my own deadlines utterly laughable. The deadlines that work for me, however, are clients’ deadlines. Always ensure those are realistic if you don’t want to be burning midnight oil.

Lack of a plan– stick to a plan and don’t let incidental things interrupt you.

Short-term plans are all fine and dandy if your type of work is predictable and follows some sort of logic. If you work in a hysterical business like mine (writing and editing books, blogs, etc.) you had better be flexible in your planning if you want to avoid sectioning under the (UK’s) Mental Health Act 1983. Long-term planning is realistic and advisable in doing extensive jobs like writing a book, however.

Doing it all yourself-surely there must be some things on your list you can delegate?

To whom, I wonder? As a one-woman-band I can only delegate the laundry and vacuuming to the lovely lady who keeps our household sane, as sadly I don’t have a gaggle of PAs and secretaries waiting with bated breath for my latest best-seller to input or a red carpet appearance to arrange. For the likes of us VAs are worth their weight in 24 carat gold, however.

Perfectionism – strive for excellence instead as perfectionism can waste time.

As anyone who knows me would agree I’m a drooling Grammar Nazi but having been through some slapping-around-the-head-with-a-wet-fish therapy and counselling I’m getting over it. These guys have a good point: excellence is realistic, but perfectionism is boring.

Pinball urgency– don’t bounce between urgent tasks.

I’d like to see this management technique in practice in a domestic situation whereby milk’s boiling over on the stove, the baby’s screaming, the older kids are setting fire to the dining table, the doorbell’s ringing and the cat has just brought in a live squirrel. That’s where we learn to multitask, boys, and we do it at work, too. But the theory is good.

Open-door policy– close it when you have a deadline or other urgent task.

Yep, and while you’re about it add some heavy bolts, chains and a padlock the size of a tractor tire, especially if there are other people in your home during the working day. No amount of door locking works, however, if as the busy solopreneur you hear “Mom, I’ve hurt myself” whispered through the keyhole.

Always in touch– continually keeping up with email, tweet, text message or update.

True. Guilty. That plus checking my website’s stats. But if you balance it and use these activities as breaks from your main work – say once every hour or two – they can bring you light relief. In the old days I would light a cigarette instead. So this is the healthy alternative: thanks, Messrs Schachter and Millburn.

Too much tech– too many devices running can be distracting.

Nah, not in my office there ain’t. Technology and I have the weirdest love-hate relationship since E L James’s bizarre couple in “50 Shades of Gray.” It’s just a PC and a cellphone here (and a Kindle somewhere near the dogs’ beds.)But even girls who have all the toy-toys tend to use them sensibly, not get off on them as so many men do.

Too many meetings– avoid all but the strictly necessary.

YES! By now I must have wasted literally years of my life in meetings most of which were totally unnecessary. At least these days in the home office you have Skype, Google Hangouts, etc. which means you can hold meetings with clients thousands of miles away – and everyone can attend in their pyjamas. Bliss.

What are your favourite – or most hated business distractions? And how do you keep them under control?

5 Myths of IT Outsourcing

Despite the popularity of IT Outsourcing, there are several misconceptions that surround its general principle of working. Though, we cannot cover all the myths that surround IT Outsourcing, we try to focus on the most common ones here:

Myth 1: IT Outsourcing hampers productivity

There is a general belief that when a client opts for IT Outsourcing, the overall productivity of the concern may go down because of several barriers in terms of culture, distance, communication and time that exist.

Fact 1: Productivity is increased when IT Outsourcing is opted for

Excellent English skills and superior technical knowledge possessed by the employees of IT Outsourcing companies ensure that the productivity sees an upsurge despite time and cultural barriers. Also, most companies offering IT Outsourcing work as per their client’s time zone thus ensuring uninterrupted IT activities. In most cases, an on site project manager is appointed by the IT Outsourcing vendor in order to carry out coordination amongst the on site client managers and offshore team members.

Myth 2: Global clients opt for IT Outsourcing to cut costs

The costs of a company sure see a reduction when offshoring of IT activities is done. This is the only reason for clients to opt for IT Outsourcing.

Fact 2: Simplifying the way IT activities are carried out

Often, clients look for technical experts to develop a technical product or application after the requirements are frozen. Recruiting in-house employees and training them is time-consuming and needs specialized attention that the business people cannot spare.

So, the clients offshore such development activities to the experts in the area of Information Technology,who help give their ideas a credible and feasible shape in form of a software product.

Myth 3: It’s about cheap labor

More often than not, people associate the term ‘cheap labor’ to IT Outsourcing.

Fact 3: Quality, Innovation and Specialized skill force

The foremost aim of IT Outsourcing is to find a modestly priced provider, who specializes in offering high-quality output, has predefined methodologies and shows innovation in the field of IT.Affordable labor is just a side benefit, not the only deciding factor.

Myth 4: IT Outsourcing can be done with everything

This is really not possible. However, some global clients and software companies try to make it happen.

Fact 4: Study, Analyze, Decide on IT Outsourcing areas

The software company needs to understand client requirements thoroughly and perform feasibility study. If the business needs cannot be covered by offshoring the IT activities, then there is no point in considering IT Outsourcing.

Myth 5: Job cuts, job cuts, job cuts!

IT Outsourcing is seen as the main culprit behind several natives going jobless. However there are several studies and researches show that it is not so.

Fact 5: Economic growth

It’s about gaining maximum output, with minimum input for the country’s economy when IT Outsourcing is done. Consequently a steady economic growth is seen leading to more employment opportunities for the natives.

5 Alternative Investment Approaches

WHAT ARE ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS?

An alternative investment is a class of investment that are not covered under any Government regulatory like RBI, SEBI, IRDA, and PFRDA. It refers to a privately pooled investment fund – a trust or a company.

Here are some alternative investments approaches that may influence your investment decisions –

#1 FOCUS ON ABSOLUTE RETURNS

You invest to end up with more money than what you started with. It means you are looking for an absolute return: how much did you actually make, is the main focus.

Invest in assets that you believe will do well; don’t invest in a product just because it’s likely to outperform the market. Have your analysis on hand.

#2 RETURNS ARE ONE-DIMENSIONAL, RISK IS MULTI-DIMENSIONAL

When it comes to investments, returns are easy to calculate. Keep your focus on Risk involved with the alternative investment asset as well. Prepare a list of the relevant risks. You need to have a clear idea of the risks involved in your investment, as it will help you to take a calculated decision.

Also, if at all something unexpected happens, you will be more likely to make better decisions if you’ve thought about the risks before investing.

#3 KNOW THE SOURCE RETURN

Understand what will influence and drive the returns on your investment. While you hold the investment, monitor the value of your investment.

Constantly revisit your assumptions of the return drivers of investment, in case they don’t match your parameters or expectations rethink your investment.

#4 UNCLEAR IS GOOD

Anything that’s not traditional is alternative. An alternative investment is populated by investment ideas that may not be immediately obvious. For instance cryptocurrency.

Continuously learning, exploring, researching, studying, and looking outside your comfort zone is the key to financial success.

#5 DIVERSIFICATION IS A MUST

Holding a mix of assets that are equally good, but which behave differently, will leave your portfolio’s return intact, and lower its risk as well.

Diversify means constructing a portfolio with very varied return drivers and risk parameters, not just different assets.

Most of us see investing in alternative investments highly risky. However, if you desire to live a successful and fulfilling life and retire with enough money to enjoy your retirement years, you must take calculated risks. This includes risks in your relationships, risks in your career, and risks in your investments.

While taking smart calculated risks is vital to reaching your goals in life, remember that taking bad risks and losing can set you back, sometimes significantly. It may help, however, to remember that taking smart risks is as simple as making wise decisions.

A Framework for Good Decision-making

I’ve learned a lot in my life from observing others and through my personal experiences-both good and bad. Therefore, when I consider taking a risk in any area of my life, here are the questions I ask myself:

1. What are the risks? Be honest. Don’t let your emotions prevent you from carefully considering all possible risks. This is where the landmines exist.

2. What are the odds of one of the risks coming true? Be truthful. Use real data whenever you can by doing research and talking to others.

3. What are the rewards? Be realistic. Can you really quit your day job and devote ten hours a week to something and make $100,000 a year? (Probably not.)

4. What are the odds of those rewards? Be sensible. Find out how many others have done something similar and how they have fared.

5. What other options do I have? Be creative. Don’t limit yourself. Consider all possibilities.

6. Do I need to make this decision today? Probably not. Take the time you need to do your research and explore your options.

After you finish answering these six questions, remove the emotions from your decision and ask what your gut is telling you. Also, never forget about the wild card risk; you don’t know what you don’t know!

Successful Business – Top Reasons

1) Direction.

Every startup needs a leader with a vision. During the difficult times, the CEO needs a clear idea of the end mission and how the company needs to get there. A good business leader keeps the long-term in mind, while dealing with the immediate needs of a new company.

2) Speed to market.

You can’t be second when it comes to startups. Especially with the rate of technology development, the faster a startup can produce its service or product, the better chance it has in delivering to customers. Young businesses have to compete with established industries. One of the reasons businesses succeed is that they reach consumers first.

3) Financial savvy.

Successful startups know how to work within a budget. Managing finances and keeping a young company out of debt it can’t repay is key to becoming successful. Companies just starting out need to do more with less.

4) Well-Connected.

Just like early career builders, young startup companies can gain a leg up by knowing a few well-connected individuals. These companies use their social network for their first clients, investors, and mentors. As the old adage goes, it’s not what you know – it’s who you know.

5) Dedication.

Startups need leaders who are willing to work hard and stick to their goals. This leadership inspires others to commit to a strict work-ethic, aligned with the company’s mission. All employees must be committed and dedicated to the goal.

6) Perseverance.

Even when times get tough and the road to success offers bumps and blockages, startups need to persevere to achieve success. The majority of startups bail when money is tight or disagreements arise between founders. Successful businesses stick it out in turbulent waters and remember their end goal during difficult times.

7) Quick to Adapt.

Successful startups are comfortable with change. Leaders who know how to make smart decisions without a clear roadmap can take advantage of opportunities that more cautious companies can miss.

8) Knowing How to Attract Investors.

Money talks in the business world. Without the startup funds, companies can never get up off their feet. Smart business leaders know how to generate capital to give their million-dollar ideas a shot.

9) Confidence.

Startups need unwavering commitment to their mission and goals. Without the confidence that the company will succeed, the startup will dissolve when facing initial obstacles.

10) Efficient Time Managers.

There’s no down time when it comes to startups. If the leaders of a company are not putting in time around the clock, success is unlikely.

11) Execution.

Everyone can have a million-dollar idea. It takes moxie and strategy to put an idea into action. Knowing how to execute sets apart successful businesses from the failures.

Go Online To Shop For Baby And Kids Clothing

Babies and small children are the best delights of life. They are special bundles of love. It is a special time to be able to nurture them, care for them, and dress them with just the special looks that make them even more adorable. Very few shopping trips go by without something catching your eye that gives you ideas about what they would look best in.

Shopping online for baby and kids clothing can add another great dimension and so many more choices for deciding how to dress your toddler or child. Why limit yourself to driving around from shop to shop or mall to mall to find great clothing? Think about the advantages of shopping online. You do not have to get dressed up to go out. You will not have to battle long lines or crowds. You will never feel rushed or hurried.

Two things that you will find online when you find the right sites are good selections and great prices. The selections you can find may be of two different types. Some vendors will have huge selections to choose from which will give you much variety to choose from. Other vendors will offer you custom and select designs. If finding unique fashions not readily available on store shelves is important to you, then get online to shop your baby clothing and kids clothing.

Pricing is another item that is beneficial from shopping online. Online vendors rarely have the huge overhead that most stores have to carry to put their products out to market. Lower overhead will mean reduced costs and products can be offered to you at much lower prices. Even when you factor in shipping costs if they are charged, you will most time pay less for goods purchased online.

Another benefit that can be obtained for shopping for baby and kids clothing online is the support of small personal business instead of large and impersonal brands. Get online and look at some of the small businesses that make, market, and sell their products with that something special. That something “special” is pride in the creation of their products. The pride can be seen in the creativity of designs and in the workmanship of the product. For many online businesses, baby clothing and kids clothing will be the only products offered.

It is refreshing when a small online business can offer more than just clothes. Imagine shopping for toys and books as well. Read reviews of satisfied customers and what products or fashions are loved by those also buying online. You can ask questions and get answers. Shared feedback will always increase your information that can help in good solid decision making and buying.

So, don’t get off the couch, but do put your shopping hat on. Grab your favorite beverage and snack and get online. You might not have a specific item in mind so you can browse everything a particular vendor has to offer.

Venture Capitalism and Enterprise Revolution in Nigeria

The African Capital Alliance (ACA), a private equity fund manager in western Africa, announced the raising of $200 million from investors in July last year. The third installment of the Capital Alliance Private Equity (CAPE) fund will target important sectors such as power, oil and gas, communications and financial services in Nigeria and across the sub-Saharan region. The ACA is confident of eventually raising a total of $350 million for the fund from aid agencies, international banks and Nigerian institutional investors. The development reflects mounting confidence in Nigeria’s resurgent economy, considering the country’s fist such fund that started out in 1998 with a capital of just $35 million.

While there is no conclusive data on the size of the Nigeria equity market, estimates for the whole of Africa put it over $6 billion in 2000; South Africa, the continent’s largest economy, accounting for half the share. High economic growth fuelled by an enthusiastic reforms programme has seen Nigeria’s growth scale to almost double the figure for developed markets in recent years. The country’s GDP growth rate in 2006 stood at 5.6%, significantly higher than the US (3.2%) or the UK (2.8%)1. Although the private equity market is still in its infancy here, increasing opportunities to invest in high-growth businesses have succeeded to some extent in eroding the conventional insistence on public equity and debt. However, there continue to be significant risks attending investment in Nigeria due to unhealthy policies, a volatile security situation and massive infrastructure shortfalls. Much of this holds true for the continent at large and explains why it receives only a fragment of global foreign direct investment (FDI). Out of the estimated $250 billion in global FDI to developing countries in 2001, Africa received only $11 billion2.

For many international investors, venture capital and private equity in Nigeria are risky propositions because of political instability, violence, social unrest and corruption. Progress in this direction has been impeded by several other reasons as well:

* Poor corporate governance and lax regulatory mechanisms.

* Red tape, legal restrictions and hostile investment policies.

* High trading costs in the primary market for equities.

* Market volatility and the resulting high-risk perception.

* High exit risk for investors because of low liquidity.

* Difficult and often confusing ownership and property rights.

Over the last decade, Nigeria has displayed a steady commitment to reforms. The Investment and Securities Decree was passed into law soon after the return of civilian rule in 1999, opening up the economy to foreign investment. The government of former president Obasanjo also established the Investment and Securities Tribunal for speedy resolution of disputes arising out of investment deals. More recently, the Securities and Exchange Commission slashed transaction rates for equities from 6.9% to 4.2%. International venture capital investors have shown increasing interest in Nigeria after the liberalisation of several important markets like telecommunications, transport, and oil marketing. The fact that fresh policies have persuaded at least some investors to overlook the high cost of doing business in Nigeria is a significant achievement in itself.

Its large population and market size bestow tremendous potential on the Nigeria economy – Africa’s third largest and among the most rapidly growing. The country’s ambitious Vision 2020 programme and the UN Millennium Development Goals together represent considerable challenges in terms of economic revival. Past experience favours strongly against big businesses, which have had a dismal track record and a high-failure rate under both private and public operation. Undeniably, the fate of Nigeria’s long term goals rests on rapid proliferation of SMEs and their ability to drive an enterprise revolution that will sufficiently diversify the economy away from oil and reverse decades of stagnation. The objective is to use SMEs to deliver sustainable development, employment creation and most importantly, poverty alleviation.

This is where venture capitalism derives its significance in the context of Nigeria’s long-term ambitions. Private equity investment has been responsible for some of the most notable economic success stories across the globe. Entrepreneurs starting out with angel loans turned India around into the largest software exporter in the world. In South Korea, booming small high-tech businesses bypassed larger firms to lead the country’s recovery from the Asian economic crisis. Equity funded enterprises have likewise recorded high growth figures in developing countries from Asia, across Europe and in South America. The global experience with venture capitalism throws up a number of important considerations in terms of providing the right environment for rapid growth. The following are some of the most important challenges and considerations facing Nigerian policy makers in this regard:

* Establishing a venture capital technical assistance programme to enhance SME performance in diverse economic sectors.

* Institutionalising tax benefits for equity investment to attract foreign investors.

* Providing risk guarantees to create strategic venture capital industries that improve self reliance and curb import quotas.

* Enhancing venture capital capacity to stimulate and promote the industrial expansion.

* Focusing equity investment on SMEs that optimise resource utilisation and assist local raw material development.

* Promoting innovative business ideas, processes and techniques that boost both productivity and profitability.

* Hastening industrialisation through equity infusion in high-growth areas like telecommunications and tourism.

Nigeria’s reforms process prompted a unique voluntary initiative at the turn of the last century when the Nigerian Bankers’ Committee launched the Small and Medium Enterprise Equity (SMEEIS) scheme. Billed as an attempt to promote entrepreneurial expansion, the scheme required all locally operating commercial banks to earmark 10% of pre-tax profits for equity investment in small and medium enterprises. Even though more than Naira 18 billion had been set aside by 2003, utilisation of the funds remained abysmally poor at less than 25%. The Nigerian Central Bank owed it to a lack of viable projects and general reluctance toward equity partnership. If poor managerial and business packaging skills are areas of concern, the prevailing mindset against venture capitalism in both existing and emerging enterprises is even more so.

To quote former Central Bank governor Joseph Sanusi (29 May 1999-29 May 2004), accelerated economic development is not possible until Nigerian entrepreneurs learn to appreciate that “it is better to own 10% of a successful and profitable business than to own 100% of a moribund business”.

Be Realistic About Cross-Referrals

As you build your business, you naturally explore different avenues of networking for new opportunities. One such source is the cross-referral.

Cross-referrals are strategic agreements, whether formal or informal, between companies serving like markets to trade their clients’ contact information to the other for marketing their complimentary products or services. For instance, web designers may build referral resources from freelance writers, marketing and branding companies or web developers and other businesses that do things that the designers don’t, but offer complimentary services to their end-customers.

Cross-referrals are a great way to use free, word of mouth advertising though referral agreements may not always be free. There will be some arrangements where a commission can be earned based on a prearranged percentage or a flat-rate referral fee; but many startups are happy to give free referrals in return for the same courtesy. While these referral arrangements may seem like promotional gold, you cannot always rely on other companies to sell you to their customers. There may never be more than a passing comment made to the occasional client. If you are relying heavily on referrals from others, you need to make a change in your approach. While paid referral agreements may offer more of an incentive, it is your responsibility to provide your referral sources with adequate materials to help them promote your business.

Some ideas include:

Professional-looking brochures and business cards that contain your website, contact information, and a blurb about your services or products. If the situation warrants, you can regularly provide referral sources with discount offers and coupons they can pass along to their own clients that are exclusive to referral clients or customers

Promotional items such as pens and magnets that can be passed along to others.

Say Thanks

When the referrals do begin to come in, make sure your cross-referring business partners know how much you appreciate them. Courtesy thank you notes are crucial after referrals made bring you business. Keep a stack of personalized thank you cards to drop in the mail after a referral pans out. You may consider a small gift basket of cookies or snacks to say thanks from time to time. A nice lunch meeting can also help reinforce your gratitude for the referral assistance.

Referrals Aren’t For Everyone

Don’t expect everyone to be open to engaging in free referrals. You can quickly become tiresome to others if you are constantly asking for help in getting business. You should have a strong marketing system in place, so that you aren’t relying exclusively on referrals for new business, making any referral that comes in icing on the cake. It is good practice to touch base with your cross-referring sources to keep them up to date on what is new with your business.

Remember – it’s a two way street, and you should be working as hard to make referrals to your cross-referring business partners as you expect them to in exchange. The more often you make referrals, the more likely the favor will be returned.

Don’t Forget Your Clients

One of your biggest resources for referrals may not be from other businesses. In fact, it is your clients’ praise that will warrant consistent word of mouth advertising for you. This is one of the reasons that excellent customer service is vital to your referral success. Clients who have consistently had a good experience with your company will be more than willing to spread the word to others who are in need of your product or service. While there is no obligation to reward these acts, you might provide something in return for their advertising on your behalf. The better you take care of the clients you already have, the more likely you are to expand your client base. For those clients who are particularly good to you, a token of appreciation like a gift basked of cookies or treats sometimes goes a longer way than a discount on a service or a referral commission, and it humanizes the relationship between you beyond a business one.

Referrals can be a great source of business for you, especially when you are just getting started. You cannot expect everyone to cooperate, but you certainly cannot be a wallflower when approaching the situation. Be direct but flexible – and always offer to return the favor.

Philosophy of the Economy Part Three

There could be distinguished probably many Current International Levels of Development but for simplifying this philosophical conception we will are allocating 5:

1. Basic CILOD up to 6000 BC

* It is characterized with basic physical individual competition best described by archeological discoveries. Small tribal and on a move large family units mostly on a move; nomadic life.

2. Basic Social CILOD up to 1100 AD

1. It is characterized with growing large empires and settling of tribes: described by the Odyssey and Iliad, also by the Old Testament; and the history of China, South America, Persia, Egypt and Rome. Individual competition had progressed from the perception for individual qualities value changing from mostly physical to mostly organizational when organized political structures and trained armies were most valuable then the individual physical strength; the new priorities required skills and knowledge not being known before therefore the socio-economic structures of the most developed societies and countries at the time established rules and benefits for this kind of development; in the beginning political structures were rigid totalitarian of empires as Persia, Egypt, China and then more democratic as Greece and early Rome then the early feudal structures in Europe. Some of the most important developments on this long period were the development of governmental and market structures; the rise of the organized monotheistic religions particularly of the Christianity bringing humanitarian values very powerful and productive to organize social structures. Economics had changed priorities through this time from basic individual survival of the previous period to mostly governmentally control in the old empires to the market economics of the Greeks and the Romans and to the market economics of the feudalism.

3. Social CILOD up to 1700 AD

The Discoveries and Colonization of the Americas, Africa and Asia by the Most Developed Countries brought plentiful resources to the colonizers which helped the feudal socio-economic structures to start braking and developing into pro capitalistic economics’ structures; the numerous ways for individuals to compete for money and power gradually and in some countries like France abruptly through revolutions; the Renaissance has brought freedom of expressions and high expectations to the citizens of the Western and Central Europe: the feudal structures of novelties and kingdom were losing gradually their powers to the new developing socio-economic structures. The historical developments of this time was affected by the ideas for social justice and the crystallizing nationalism; more nations has been becoming nationalistic with feuds among them; the large holders of power were constantly fighting each other for World dominance and at the same time smaller countries and nations were struggling to distinguish themselves from the big ones’ political and economic control. The economic growth in Europe has ignited the nationalism and chauvinism which lately brought the ideologies; the following wars of the 20 Century were already being anticipated by the building hatred among nations and countries. International trade and business even always interrupted by wars and feuds were already showing the signs of importance for political and economic domination by the Most Developed Countries.

4. Advance Social CILOD up to 1980 AD

This Current International Level of Development is characterized by

* the Global Colonization by the Great Powers of the entire World which process was considered the way for them to grow economically and politically: this kind of competition was giving them a social-economic release tools to let more individuals competing and contributing to their growth; the old saying “to keep internal peace one should go to war with their neighbors” was working. The socio-economic injustice and huge crock between the “having and having not”,

* the suppression of social justice by the governments; in the entire World they defended the privileged classes

* the establishment of the United States of America where individual freedoms and free market economics showed to the World what power such approach holds; it was a mass exodus of people from Western Europe, China and Japan to the New World in search of personal freedom and economic prosperity getting away from their socio-economic rulers: the US became a symbol of the new coming just World.

* the technological revolutions which brought grueling working conditions and pollution;

* the October Revolution in Russia which was already based on Marxism a “pro demand” socio-economic ideology

* the great wars which exterminated millions of people and devastated many countries’ infrastructure;

* the growth of ideologies possible because of the new means of communications the radio and later the TV

* the decolonization of the World which came after the great wars when the great powers already devastated by the Second World War figured out that maintaining their colonies was too expensive;

* the post war Cold War between the Soviet Block and the United States: where the ideologies became ruling their Economics:

* from one side pro-demand governmentally run economies of the Eastern Block and China, which inflexible totalitarian regimes limited individual freedoms and individuals involvement in communist economics was as strictly controlled by the governments which approach in economics is quite inflexible and insufficient

* from other side the pro supply capitalistic United States and Western European Countries, Canada, Australia and Japan which differ in their Capitalistic Economics: Western European Countries, Canada and Australia developed a pro social economics, US a trickle down economics and Japan a pro nationalistic export based capitalistic economics closer in structure to US then to Europe; the pro supply capitalism was more progressive at this time in building business and infrastructures thus it was giving their individuals much more open space to compete: even differing from country to country the pro supply capitalism combined with personal freedoms was giving the business fruitful space to grow and build its structures

* the rest of the World was divided to the cold war blocks’ sphere of influence attaching or detaching themselves to one side or the other: overall socio-economic justice was limited elsewhere in the World as well.

* US established itself as the frontrunner and leader of the free world as a protector of freedom and democracy from the dark forces of the communism. People around the World admired the technological advances and the high standards of life US was achieving.

* the humanization of the capitalism: gradually it became obvious that a Market of a country could be strong only if the Demand for goods and services could support its growth therefore an economics of pour redistribution of wealth could have unfavorable effect on its growth; the socio economic policies nave been gradually changing to adapt these new conditions; the Trickle Down Economics worked relatively well using the competition as main economic tool to rapidly expand the Supply and the Demand was following it up: the expending Labor Market followed as well. Thus a strong middle class of white and blue color workers and professionals founded a strong US market advancing the rest of the World in consumption and achieving higher life standards. The European bureaucracy and the inflexible Eastern Block and China’s communist economics were no match for it; US Economy achieved total supremacy having the best economics for balancing Supply to Demand, low Governmental involvement in the Economy, easy regulations of businesses start up, flexible employment regulation benefiting businesses, strong technological advance as a result of highly successful post graduate education and open immigration policies allowing intellectuals from around the World to take refuge in US; the lower prices of crude oil and other commodities dictated by the huge US Market and strong Dollar.

In this kind of economic environment the US capitalism achieved the highest level of growth and it humanized it by giving countless opportunities for virtually any individual willing to do business educate themselves to participate in the economic competition.

United States of America was and still is the Most Developed Country and Market in the World.

· After the Eastern Block bogus system collapse most of the countries past members started integrating into the European Union structures and the rest open their markets to the global competition one way or another, after China integrated in the WTO and India became a power source of high tech professionals and most of the South American countries stabilized politically the World market started globalizing rapidly the old conception of the Trickle Down Economics as well of the Bureaucratically complicated European Union Economics and Governmentally involved Chinese and Russian Free Market Structures are all becoming more inadequate and inflexible to support the incredible growth accelerated by the vastly improving technologies, the internet’s informational and Globalization effect and overall the intellectualization of the Global competition: the World has been changing so fast that none of these Economics could manage it without major disruptions in wealth redistribution: the main issue for all of them is the Demand to Supply balancing when giving more Individuals access in the Global competition and in the same time improving their social structures of access to good education, care for the elderly and the socially disadvantaged, and the over all social stability; building and maintaining their infrastructures and fighting the increasing treat of the fundamentalistic terrorism.

* the dehumanization of the capitalism: the system of Trickle Down Economics based on the Ideology of Capitalism was working fine:

· up until the point where the competition has become Global and the Conglomerates have started exporting all their jobs abroad to a cheaper labor and thus disrupting the Supply to Demand Balance;

· up until Japan overrun US in automobile and many high tech products market share;

· up until the point when the Eastern Communist Block was dismantled and millions of skilled workers flooded the Western and US labor markets;

· up until the point where China released its huge Market to a freer Market business;

· up until the point when India flooded US with its high tech educated specialists and many high tech and software conglomerates open their RC there

· up until the point where the profit margins of the small to medium US corporations doing business only on US soil have been tightening profit margins unable to compete to the cheaper import and raising prices of imported commodities:

So after all these and other developments on the Global Markets the US Economics based on the ideology of capitalism has been becoming inhumane: the middleclass has been losing ground, the good education has become very expensive, the infrastructure has been aging as a result of the shortage of capital as a result of the deficit triggered by the global wars on terrorism and weakening or not growing enough US Economy: the overall capitalistic balance of Supply to Demand has been disrupted and a new Market Forces have been emerging which could not be fixed by using the ideological tools of the capitalism or any other known ideologies: these new developments need a pro Market driven pragmatic approaches.

1. Market CILOD – Market Economics’ characteristics:

* Intellectualization of the competition

* short term between ideas and their realization allowing medium to small companies to participate into the global market

* high technological serge on a Global scale

* global expansion of medium to small businesses

* heavily regulated business interactions, contracting and practices

* internet expending its role in communications, education, exchange of information, sales and general business practices

* heavily regulated direct and indirect investment through exchanges or trusts

* global access for investment to medium to small investors and investment groups

* international politics dictated by the interests of the Global business and investment

* globalization of the banking transactions and credit system

* political and market economic pressure progressively democratizing the rest of the World and expanding the interactive global market

* boost and ever expending international business travel

* heavy environmental regulations

* Global struggle to fight fundamentalism and terrorism

Chapter IV Philosophy of “Market Stability”

The free market competition was in the very foundations of the capitalism and therefore the market economics which too relies on the competition and Market balance is a continuation of the scare resources economics of the capitalism but because of the new market environment it differs into a pro Demand to Supply relativity’ heavily regulated economics. This new environment is prompted by the new developments: the internet, the market globalization and the political liberalization of many parts of the World which will better serve a Global growth; by being well regulated it will prevent business and investment fraud, and uncontrolled pollution to establish relative security on the market exchanges and business practices and by establishing security on the Global market it will allow more individuals from all over the World to participate in the Global intellectual and market competition which will engage their creative powers, improve their life conditions and thus prevent religious fundamentalism and terrorism from expanding their destructive activities currently based on lock of opportunities and widespread poverty.

The new

Chapter V Psychology of “Market Stability”

A few points could comprehend the individual attitude

Processes

· Intellectualization

· Globalization

Qualities

· Flexibilities and adaptabilities

· Open mind

· Individualization of business

· Self reliance

The new system will break old ideologies of the pro Scares Resources capitalism and socialism or communism, it will extinguish nationalism and chauvinism the co-products of even previous level of development thus a competitive self improvement with access to Global market of science, investing and business will change the values of importance. The relativity of wealth in the new system is based on the constant appreciation of assets all around the World which means that cities and countries will compete for their location to attract individuals with hi intellectual and business qualities the internet’s communicational and educational abilities will give the opportunities to individuals who in the previous system were out of competition. In this kind of new competition the old created self confidence based on nationalistic belonging, or advance classes or other belongings will have less bearing on the access to the Global competition for individuals therefore the individual values of intellectual power will be preceding and promoting these individuals. The qualities of life succeeded by individual countries and they will be called Most Developed Countries will attract advantageous individuals to move there; such processes are already very well established in Western Europe which sucks intellectuals from Eastern Europe and from as far as South America, and the United States which does the same from India, China and all over the World; even internally for China as an examples this processes work where the urban areas suck intellectuals from the rural areas along with migrating workers: the process of concentration of intellectual powers by relocating these intellectuals is a very small part of the picture of globalization: there are much more advanced processes in action in which universities and companies will be approaching individuals located elsewhere for virtual education and self-employment providing more and more opportunities not relating their physical locations; the psychology of globalization is about expanding global access for individuals to the global intellectual competition; in this regard global investment will play the role of fueling local economies and thus promoting business competition: when the small to medium corporation and investors from the Most Developed Countries have a better secured opportunities to invest Globally the value of their investment will be much higher in the Less Developed Countries or as a matter of fact the same approach applies for the internal for these countries less developed parts of their own regions: this kind of raising the value of invested capital will widen the margins of return and provide the Most Developed Countries with a huge advance of Concentration of Equity which assets will b elsewhere.

The psychology of this kind of development is one breaking the old system of ignorance toward the rest of the world’s problems too: not only the environmental and rising fundamentalism concerns are prompting close integration on the Global scale but also the common sense of limitless opportunities for business and investment expansion with their wide margins of return will push this kind of attitude of globalization.

In this kind of political and business environment the attitude toward Social Security, Medicare, of building internal infrastructure and transportation system will change too: until now there were considered more like a liabilities and expenditures and this will change with the security of the Market Stability which will change them into assets with their equity: how and why this will happen?

Without socializing the Economics the raising productivity based on the growing intellectual and business competition globally and the value of a country’s common assets will prompt growth by the growing Demand: the infrastructure particularly of public transportations will be most valuable assets.

In the Market Stability promoting and prompting growth are the most valuable tools of Economics for a country to retain or maintain its status quo of a Most Developed Country it has to perfect its abilities to prompt and prompt growth.

In a wide margins investment’ environment the inflationary forces will be strong but as we know from the history of economics competition lowers prices: the regulated but free Market Economics will retain its stability based on the Globalization and the revolving and expanding capital.