How to Successfully Do Business Overseas

I used to work with Tom. Tom was promoted as our business development manager in charge of expanding our business in Africa. Tom had only operated in western countries and he was at ease with the western culture and its customs. For his first international business trip, he was sent to Nigeria to meet our current clients and new prospects. As we all know business development is not about selling but rather about building relationships to consequently offer services to fulfil the needs of your clients. 

Tom's first business lunch was with Franklin, the managing director of an international oil and gas firm. Franklin was used to working with Phil as our company representative, and this lunch was an opportunity to pass over the management of Franklin's account. It is customary with some countries to give to your client a traditional gift from your country, such as chocolate from Harrods or Scottish shortbread; anything that represents the British culture. These little details show that you care about the foundation of long-term business relationships. Unaware of this custom, Tom didn't bring anything to the lunch. 

To show his discontent, Franklin used Tom's business as a toothpick. 

This was so embarrassing. The business relationship was damaged and it took a while to reposition it back to where it was previously.

I have travelled across the world during my international career. I studied cross cultural differences with fascination and I learned a great deal through my business experience. I have seen managers failing to sign deals just based on their lack of cultural awareness. In my previous business article, I taught the importance of personal branding. In this article, I will reveal to you a few tips you need to know to break challenging markets such as Asia.

1 - Dress for Business

Professionalism begins with your brand persona. So always dress professionally to make a positive impact and satisfactory business impression. Acknowledging cultural differences whilst looking and acting prepared will always be received positively and will help you seal the deal.

Take the time to study the cultural norms of the country that you are doing business in, and find out how they dress. A particular flower for example, may be acceptable in your country, but in another country, it could be used for mourning which would be totally unacceptable in a business situation. Attention to detail is essential and will help you to avoid causing any upset.

2 - Time

Punctuality is also valued differently, so be aware that some cultures are more time conscious than others. In South America and Africa, scheduled appointments are considered as a time guideline rather than something they need to stick by. In Europe, they are always punctual and being late is perceived as unprofessional. Take this into consideration and consequently allow your schedule some time flexibility.

3 - Greeting

In western countries, a hand shake is the commonly accepted form of greeting. In Saudi Arabia, women should wait for a man to offer his hand first. If she offers her hand first, he may not shake it. So save yourself the embarrassment. In Japan, people bow to greet each other. In Italy and Egypt, don't be surprised if your client or partner offers a kiss on the cheek. The best way to start on a good note is to offer a traditional present from your country. This is not bribery but rather a good gesture. However in Asia, this might be perceived as bribery and they are quiet likely to refuse your present. Always address and greet your business partners or your clients by their last names and titles unless you are invited to do otherwise.

4 - Communication

Business people in different countries communicate differently. In Nigeria or Germany, people tend to speak loudly when sharing ideas. In Ghana or Japan, they speak softly and don't interrupt each other. Don't forget to watch your body language when interacting as it could be distracting in countries that are not accommodated to so much body movements to emphasise an idea.

To conclude, always do your research when working in business and in markets that you are not familiar with. Ask advice from colleagues who have experienced working with certain countries. Their knowledge and experience are great values for your own success. Observe and adjust to the ways that your clients or business partners communicate. The more information you know, the more you are in control and capable of signing the deal.

If you would like to find out more about brand image and cultural awareness, please do not hesitate to contact me. Visit my website http://www.3coloursrule.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Flavilla_Fongang

So You Want to Start a Small Business?

The United States is home to millions of small businesses. While many thrive, there are certain risks and challenges that often accompany operating an independent company. If you're thinking about starting a small business, keep these considerations in mind.

· Create a business plan. When you're fired up about an idea, it's easy to overlook the details. A business plan forces you to define your business goals and how you plan to achieve them. It also helps you examine your competition and identify where your products or offering fit in the mix. Lastly, a thorough plan includes the strategies and tactics you will employ to move from ground zero to profitability and the costs and timeframe for getting there.

· Beware of going "all in." You may have read about people who maxed out their credit cards or mortgaged their homes to fund a business that brought them quickly into wealth. Unfortunately, this is not the norm and the odds are stacked against this financial house of cards. Think twice before putting everything on the line for your business. Invest as much time and energy as you can afford, but avoid overextending yourself financially as you pursue your business plan.

· Test the waters. To minimize your financial risk, consider launching your new business on a small scale before quitting your day job. Many small businesses have been started on the side while entrepreneurs maintain a fulltime job. The idea here is to keep income flowing until your business is viable and you can pull a salary without compromising your income.

· Save for a rainy day. Even the savviest entrepreneurs can get caught in a market down cycle. And no one can predict all the things that might affect your bottom line. Individuals who are in business for themselves are doubly in need of a financial buffer should things take a turn for the worse. If sales falter, you're still on the hook for your business expenses, and you need to pay yourself too. Build savings into your business plan and keep your credit in good standing so you have access to cash if and when you need it.

· Invest wisely. When you do need to put money into your business, be smart about spending so that your dollars multiply down the road. Hire competent people who are as passionate about the business as you are.

· Protect yourself. Every business is vulnerable to potential risks, and it's important to think about the worst case scenarios and how you'd handle them. What if a fire destroyed your office? Would your company collapse if you or a key employee were injured? If a customer, vendor or employee sued your business, could you afford your day in court? There are insurance products made to address all of these risks. Factor in adequate protection as part of your cost of doing business.

· Create an exit strategy. When you're just starting out, it's hard to envision the day you'll turn the reigns over to someone else. Succession plans are an essential part of a sustainable business, especially if you hope to sell and use the proceeds to fund part of your retirement.

· Seek financial advice. If you're serious about starting your own business, get on the right track with financial guidance. Find a qualified financial advisor to look over your shoulder as you develop your business plan and launch your new career. Their financial acumen and fresh perspective can help you steer clear of financial trouble.

Scott Serfass, CFP®, CRPC®, CDFA, ChFC®, CLU® is a Financial Advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. in Charlotte, NC. His team specializes in fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies. To contact him, visit http://www.ameripriseadvisors.com/scott.d.serfass

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_D._Serfass

How Much Capital Do You Need For Your Small Business?

Miscomputing just how much capital you need to start a business is repeatedly cited as one of the top reasons businesses fail. The first thing you need to find out is all the expenses involved with getting started in the first place. Beyond that, however, it will easily be at least 18 months down the line before you start seeing any profits. So many businesses have failed because their owners thought that their sales during the first year or so would be enough to cover operating costs. This is rarely the case.

While most failures come from underestimating the needed capital, overestimating it can also be disastrous. In the first place, trying to come up with too large an amount off the bat will delay you or even prevent you from starting at all, especially if you're asking for the money from a bank or investor. In addition, owing too large an amount means the payments could keep you in the red for too long.

Prepare

It's ridiculous how many businesses start without even a proper business plan. While I won't go into detail on this (this is discussed in another post), one of the crucial parts of the plan is figuring out the required budget and coming up with realistic projections on sales. Many starting entrepreneurs are at a loss for where to start looking for this information. It's simple really: ask others who came before you.

Ask

Look for businesses similar to yours, and ask the owners about their own experiences back when they were just starting out. Some may refuse to help a future competitor, in which case, you can ask others in another town, places who you won't be directly competing against. It may be even better to ask your potential suppliers since you could be a future client. Remember to ask about discounts for bulk, possible credit terms, anything to lower your initial needed capital.

You can also ask the experts, such as established trade associations. The SBA also sponsors the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), who provides resource materials and even mentorship from retired business owners.

Research

Do your homework. Identify everything you will need to spend on, figure out the going rates for each, and come up with realistic projections on your expected sales. Several sites have itemized lists that you can use to help you get started on this.

Good luck!

If you liked this and would like to learn more, check out http://www.retellityblog.com for more great business and marketing advice.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kate_Teng

What Are The Best Work From Home Jobs?

I have searched the internet for the best work from home jobs and I was surprised at my findings to say the least.

Like many people nowadays we would all prefer to work from home, thus giving us more time to spend with family and loved ones. If you went to any search engine now and typed in Work From Home Jobs your search will come up with over a billion search results!

Now that's a lot of work from home jobs but which are legitimate and offer potential? I personally looked at many and a lot are mostly scams that offer nothing more than trying to get your money and no results. However I did find some that can give you a small income but probably nothing substantial to live off.

I found a lot of websites offering you to fill in online surveys and in return they give you a commission back depending on how many surveys you complete and information you supply. Yes some of these websites do pay but I did wonder if I did complete these surveys how much spam and junk emails I could possibly receive and I found a lot of duplicate online surveys as well.

So what else did I find? If you are a keen photographer you can make money selling your photos online and a website that offers such a service is iStock.com. Here you can earn an income depending if people decide to purchase your photos once uploaded to the site and if like any hobby you like doing and put the effort in you can make a steady living from it.

Other websites I found offering work from home jobs are Elance.com. If you are particular good and knowledgeable in a certain subject then Elance will certainly be beneficial to you. Basically you advertise your subject specialities for example you could be good at copywriting. The customer finds your services interesting and decides to hire you, so in the long run you will build a portfolio of customers and gain credibility, thus making money. The advantages of Elance are its secure and safe and offers real potential to work from home and make a considerable amount of money if you are good in a particular subject.

So my conclusion is the best work from home jobs are the ones you can create yourself and be a true entrepreneur.

Selling your own brand, product or service is the ideal way to make a profitable income online. Yes it does take a little effort and you maybe thinking now where do I start?

Well look at what skills you may have now! Do you play the guitar? Have an interest in a subject? Or a product some people will benefit from? It's really not that hard and most people find it hard just to get started. Even if you haven't got nothing to sell you can still make a living and more just using your own computer or laptop by affiliate marketing!

Take time to think about what specialities you have and you may find the best work from home job is right in yourself as an entrepreneur!

Visit http://www.WorkFromHomeComputer.com join for Free! And be the next big entrepreneur, the best work from home jobs are the ones you create yourself!

Get full support and training on how to start your very own work from home business, and copy what these entrepreneurs are doing to make a successful living online using a computer or laptop!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_J_Chapple

Home Based Jobs

There was a time when people would rush to the employment exchange to get themselves registered for getting jobs. Twenty years back it would be a common sight of people rushing to their respective jobs in the peak hours. Nothing much has changed in terms of working hard for earning money; the only thing that has come into existence is working from home. Whatever might be the reason, call it computer science, technology revolution or anything else, the new trend "work at home "is very much in the market.

The phrase "work at home" includes data entry work like filling forms jobs, copy pasting jobs, simple typing jobs, translation jobs and social media face book jobs. Home based jobs are usually of writing work. These jobs could be online and off line as well

There is no age limit. Home based jobs can be done by anyone, be it a student, a retired person, or a mom. Working from home could be part time or full time depending upon the requirement or interest of the concerned person wanting to do the job.

When it comes to searching for the home based jobs, lots of options are there to help you out with it. Some good names are Deniha hospitality group, Ion data solutions, Naukri.com, and jobs8home.om.

By doing so called home based jobs you can have the advantage of being your own boss. Working from home gives you the ability to literally be as successful as you want to be and you can make your dreams come true

These jobs enable you to fit your work around your family's daily activities. It's a perfect career choice. It saves the transportation expenses since you don't have to drive to go to office.your office is located in the next room. All you really need to start your day is just a cup of coffee.

You will have more time for yourself, family, friends and even the time to organize your work and meet deadlines.

On the other hand some disadvantages are there with these home based jobs. Lack of focus will always be there. It is hard to stay focused on your work.

And it holds especially true if you do not have a separate area. There may be children playing, telephones ringing, friends visiting and so on.

One has to be very careful while working from home as there is only a thin line between personal and professional lives and this can create tension in either your work or your family. Isolated operating atmosphere creates dissatisfaction and deprives you from any Changes in scenery. In addition being nonstop at home can be extremely dull and non productive.normally; individuals who work outside from home are surrounded by co- workers, and can feed off of the environment to increase productivity. On the contrary, people who do a home based job, may need interaction with people in order to feel motivated.

Generally speaking a home based job provides the freedom of working at your own hours but on the flip side it may include some serious pitfalls.Before stepping into the great realm of the world wide web that uncovers extremely profitable opportunity. You should first determine the benefits as well as the downsides of a home based job to make a well- informed decision

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gyanendra_Ojha

Strong Employment Prospects for Qualified Cardiovascular Technicians

A career as an unlicensed allied health professional in the healthcare sector is one of the best choices for employment within the United States today. Modern trends including population growth, expansion of medical coverage, the aging Baby Boomer generation, and poor exercise and dietary behaviors have all contributed to the rapid growth of several medical professions and have driven employers to hire more allied health personnel to help manage the influx of patients. This has resulted in a growing number of employment options for individuals who do not want to complete several years of college education and specialty training in order to make a positive contribution to the health and well-being of others. Those who are considering a career as an allied health provider are encouraged to include the cardiovascular technician position in their list of potential work opportunities.

Cardiac care is a unique branch of the medical system that provides basic and advanced services for the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. Within the United States, heart disease has become one of the top contributors to long-term morbidity and mortality. In fact, government agencies estimate that there are approximately 600,000 people who die each year because of some form of cardiac condition. Some of the most common causes for heart disease include diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Since these conditions have become far more common over the past several years, the rate of new cardiac patients entering the healthcare system has accelerated rapidly.

Medical facilities across the US have been working to expand the healthcare infrastructure and recruit additional personnel to help manage the large influx of patients that has been occurring in recent years. Within the cardiac care unit, administrators are now hiring thousands of new technicians who are able to perform routine tasks associated with care including documenting medical histories, recording vital signs, conducting electrocardiograms, assisting with invasive procedures, and much more. Although an employer often prefers to hire individuals who have previous patient care experience and who are more familiar with the unique challenges associated with working in a fast-paced medical environment, they have been more willing to hire inexperienced individuals as demand for care has increased.

In order to be considered for a position as a cardiovascular technician, an applicant will need to possess specific character qualities that make them well-suited to working in a service industry. These include attributes such as compassion, empathy, intelligence, attention to detail, and willingness to receive the instruction needed to become successful. Applicants who possess these personality traits are viewed favorably by employers and can expect to be considered for open positions. In addition, new technicians are typically required to complete a short training program and pass a national certification examination within a few months of being hired. Although these expectations do make it somewhat more difficult to enter the profession, they allow individuals to demonstrate competence and may result in a higher EKG technician salary along with better benefits.

Individuals who prove to be reliable employees and who are interested in taking on more of a leadership role within an organization may be asked to take responsibility for some managerial activities including training new employees, providing performance reviews, implementing quality improvement initiatives, and much more. These types of opportunities have become more common in recent years due to the shortage of qualified professionals and the growing need for cardiac care. Although an administrative promotion might not appeal to everyone, it can be a great way to advance one's career if the additional stress of the work does not bother the technician. Those who take the initiative to position themselves to benefit from the growing medical needs of society can expect to enjoy several years of continuing job growth and high levels of both personal and professional satisfaction.

Readers who are strongly considering a career in the cardiac field are advised to review the EKG technician profession in greater depth by visiting http://www.ekgtechniciansalary.org/ where they will find details about practice regulations in different states along with facts about training, certification, and several other industry relevant topics. Committing some amount of time to developing an informed perspective of this career path will enable aspiring technicians to make better decisions about career advancement and will show employers that an applicant has the initiative to provide high quality patient care in a fast-paced medical setting. In addition, it is always a good idea to begin networking with individuals who have worked in the cardiac specialty for several years and who are willing to provide advice as an individual attempts to enter the sector.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_S_Sinclair

 

 

What Are the Benefits of a Part Time Job for Both Employee and Employer?

High inflation rates, rising cost of living, expensive education are some of the reasons that have forced the working professionals to hunt for other alternative earning options. This is the story of every common man. Many working individuals are considering the option of a part time job as a secondary source of income. part time job seekers usually work for less hours in comparison to full-time employees.

This job option is a popular choice for many individuals who are looking ahead to earn a flexible income while working from home. It is a well-known fact that both small businesses and large organizations make use of the employees seeking work other than their primary job. The working hours may range from a few hours to up to 40 hours as per the work assigned. However, employees are scheduled to work at least 20 hours per week on a regular basis and are expected to be employees in the organization for at least one year. Also, they get limited benefits from the organization, but are eligible for all types of leaves.

Let us have a look at some of the advantages for part time employees -

Flexibility

People working in this field find flexibility as the key advantage. As they work less than the full-time employees, and so they are able to fulfill other personal obligations and professional responsibilities. Also, they have the option of working at any time of the day-morning, afternoon, evening or night as per their suitability. This is very advantageous for mothers as they have to juggle between their regular household chores and career.

Gain experience in diverse fields

It is a great idea to increase your knowledge in distinct sectors. For instance, if your job does not furnish you with new opportunities to learn or enhance your skill-set, then you can always seek a part time job as per your interest.

Reduced dependency on a job

Taking this type of job broadens your job prospects and you're not solely dependent on one single job.

Chance to work after retiring

Generally, these jobs have nothing to do with the age. This means, if you're retired, then this is a great option to use your time constructively instead of idling around.

What advantages does a company enjoy in hiring part time-workers?

Cost

A significant importance of hiring a part time employee is cost cutting. Part time workers are paid on an hourly basis and their hours of work is scheduled as and when required by the company. Mostly part time employees do not qualify for company retirement plans which saves a lot of money. To encourage them, the company initiates bonus/commission programs which are usually performance based.

Shedding workload

part time employees are often hired to share the workload of the organizations. Also, companies strategically hire the employees for future assignments building an essential workforce.

Customer Service

To maintain seamless customer services, companies hire seasonal staff when they foresee rise in company activity. For example, retail companies bring in extra staff during the winter holidays to carry the smooth functioning of the businesses.

It would be right to conclude that part time jobs formulate as essential part of the business, thereby providing job opportunities to a number of people.