Study Finds Vitamin B12 May Prevent Memory Loss

Global B2B buy sell website: http://www.bytrade.com

 

By Laurie Tarkan

Experts used to think that cognitive decline was an inevitable part of aging, but a growing body of research is finding that lifestyle factors like exercising and a healthy diet may delay the process.

A new study has found a link between poor nutrition and cognitive problems in older adults. The study, published Monday in the journal Neurology, found that adults over 65 with a vitamin B12 deficiency are more likely to have lower brain volumes and cognitive impairment than those with adequate B12.

The study, conducted at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, measured markers of B12 deficiency such as homocysteine, as well as levels of B12 in 121 older adults. The researchers looked at markers because measuring levels of B12 alone is thought to be an inaccurate way to gauge deficiency. The adults took several cognitive tests and about four years later, they had an MRI to measure their total brain volume.

“We showed that four out of five markers of B12 deficiency were strongly associated with poor cognitive performance overall, and more specifically, poor episodic memory and perceptual speed,” said Christine Tangney, Ph. D., the study’s lead author and associate professor of clinical nutrition at Rush.

The researchers also found that brain volume was significantly lower in those with high levels of markers for B12 deficiency.

“We may be missing a potential reason why someone might suffer cognitive decline over time because we’re not making sure they have adequate B12,” Tangney said.

This study supports other research showing an association between the B vitamin and cognition.

One British study found that treating patients with a supplement containing vitamins B6, B12 and folate slowed brain atrophy in adults with mild cognitive impairment.

Tangney theorizes that B12 may impact cognition in two ways.

“One may be by reducing brain volume, and another is that the buildup of markers, like homocysteine, may actually be damaging the brain,” Tangney said.

High homocysteine is also linked to heart disease.

Currently, B12 is not measured in a standard blood workup, and research suggests that testing blood levels of B12 may not be an accurate way of detecting a deficiency if your scores fall in a gray zone.

In the meantime, here’s how you can take in more vitamin B12:
• The recommended dietary allowance of vitamin B12 is 2.4 micrograms a day.

• Eat foods rich in B12 like fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk and milk products

• As you age, your body becomes less efficient at absorbing B12 from food, so the Institute of Medicine recommends that adults over 50 take a B12 supplement or eat consumer-fortified foods.

• “We recommend taking two to six micrograms of vitamin B12 a day,” Tangney said.

New home sales hit 6-month low, prices drop

 Global B2B buy sell website: http://www.bytrade.com  

 

By Jason Lange

Sales and prices of new single-family U.S. homes fell in August despite historically low mortgage rates, underscoring the difficulties policymakers face in efforts to boost the moribund housing sector.

A stagnant job market and a big overhang of unsold existing homes have combined to keep new home sales on the rocks even as mortgage rates returned to lows not seen since at least the early 1970s.

New home sales slipped 2.3 percent last month to a 295,000 annual rate, a six-month low, the Commerce Department said on Monday. That was in line with analysts' forecasts and did little to allay fears the United States could slip back into recession.

The median sales price also moved lower from the previous month and was 7.7 percent below year-ago levels.

"There's no sign yet that low mortgage rates are helping the housing sector," said Gary Thayer, a strategist at Wells Fargo Advisors in St. Louis, Missouri.

The U.S. Federal Reserve last week unveiled new measures to ease credit further for home buyers, but analysts caution that the level of mortgage rates is not the main hurdle to buying.

Many economists are skeptical attempts to lower rates will help much because millions of Americas owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth, which can effectively chain them to their properties while also preventing them from refinancing to lower their monthly costs.

Heavy debts taken on during the housing boom in the previous decade are also making consumers cautious to spend.

After economic growth slowed sharply in the first half of the year, the United States looks especially vulnerable to any escalation in the European debt crisis.

The S&P 500 stock index rose despite the poor data as global equities climbed on hopes that Europe was tackling Greece's debt woes.

Euro zone officials are working on ways to magnify the financial firepower of their bailout fund to fight the region's sovereign debt crisis more effectively.

In its monthly report on single-family home sales, the U.S. government raised its estimate for July's sales pace slightly to 302,000 units. Also, the supply of homes available on the market in August dropped to a record low.

Data last week showed new construction of U.S. homes fell in August, dragging on economic growth.

"The housing sector can't get any worse," said Michael Englund, an economist at Action Economics in Boulder, Colorado.

 

 

Top leadership techniques

 Global B2B buy sell website: http://www.bytrade.com

 

In order to run a successful company, strong leadership skills and management techniques must start at the top. Basic leadership and management skills include being able to make decisions, creating plans, managing meetings, delegating tasks, communicating effectively, and even self-management. Businesses rely on leadership skills and specialized management techniques to remain consistent -- and keep their heads above water if things start to go wrong.

Adaptability

Leaders are faced with the daily challenge of managing changing situations. Every situation requires the leader to use different techniques based on their ability and skill to assess what is currently happening in their workplace. No situation is the same and leaders cannot treat situations with the same approach every time. Leaders must have a sharp vision and demonstrate the ability to become versatile and change their approach based on their assessment of a situation.

Decision Making skills

Leaders need to make daily decisions that have a positive or negative impact on their working environment. It takes skill to demonstrate the ability to define what the problem is, and then effectively evaluate the situation. Effective decision making requires the leader to decide how much time it will take to gather information that they need. Leaders must also effectively delegate to others and get the support they need to make a sound decision. Leaders cannot function in isolation, they must have the respect of the people they interact with and trust they can provide them with information that is current and accurate to facilitate a baseline for making the best decision possible.

Conflict Management

 Leaders understand that conflict will always be present and can occur without any warning. If you have a group of individuals working together, you can anticipate that it is the stage where there will be issues with having some bumps in the road. Employees will look to their leader to have the ability to manage conflict when it occurs in a timely fashion. Leaders can never walk away and turn their head from conflict, conflict will never disappear on its own.

Cultural awareness

In the business setting you will see individuals from many different cultures. Leaders must develop their own awareness of the cultural differences and increase their acceptance of the cultural diversity present in their organization. Leaders must show that they appreciate contributions from all of their employees. Diversity also requires the leader to have a sensitivity for all the differences that exist in every employee. Leaders must be able to help all employees perform at their optimum level, not only employees from their own culture that they feel comfortable with.

 

 

Top Internet Marketing Strategies

Global B2B buy sell website: http://www.bytrade.com

 

Designing an effective Internet marketing strategy requires thorough consideration of the factors that determine e-marketing success. Without a plan that focuses on specific targets and goals for what your business aims to achieve, your Internet marketing strategy is most likely to fail. There are several examples of businesses with good products or services that are still being left behind on their performance because they have failed to implement their Internet marketing strategy effectively.

Marketing Strategy-"Twisted Their Arm"

When promoting affiliate products, you can say how the developer never lets anyone promote this particular product, but since you twisted their arms you got to promote it. People love feeling like they are the first or only people to be seeing something, and this simple sale tactic makes your affiliate offering seem more exclusive which also makes it seem more valuable.

Marketing Strategy-"Jumping Around"

You most likely know someone who is always buying up things that they think will solve a problem they have, yet they never really use them, they just jump around from one product to the next. You can tell prospects how you used to be the same way, and therefore you have created the ultimate the solution, the solution that worked for you and will work for them too.

Marketing Strategy-"Health Warning"

The "health warning" marketing strategy really has nothing to do with someone's health, but because most people are quite sensitive to the matter of their health, it is a good way to grab attention and draw it into your sales message. You could start out with "Major Health Warning: The Benefits of Using the Product are Addicting!" which is actually a good thing.

Marketing Strategy-"Not Created Equal"

By telling your prospects that not all similar products are created equal, you make them want to know more about the highlights of your product and what separates it from the rest of the competition. You can then go on to compare your product highlights against competitors that simply do not match up when it comes to value.

Marketing Strategy-"Eye It Yourself"

When you tell your prospects that a particular message is "for their eyes only" it adds a great deal of curiosity. Also, people love getting secrets and closed-door information. When you say something is for their eyes only, it naturally makes them more apt to want to purchase your product or service

In conclusion, the growing use of the Internet has made it possible for organizations to promote their products and services to an expanded target market. But, to create an effective Internet marketing strategy you should carefully think who your target market is and what you want to accomplish with your marketing strategy. Otherwise, everything is likely to fail, including your business.

 

Top Ways to Keep Employees Engaged

 Global B2B buy sell website: http://www.bytrade.com

 

Are your employees giving your company their all? Do they believe that what they're doing is important? Do they feel appreciated? Do they show up for work each day filled with passion and purpose?

 

Follow these tips to power up the performance of your employees and your company.

Be modest

Many new managers are nervous about proving themselves, so their frail ego and fears lead them to discourage their employees from speaking up, losing the benefits of those employees’ experience. He remembers sitting in on one management meeting where the words and manner of the manager conveyed the message: “Given that I know everything and you know nothing, here’s what you should do.” The manager mixed condescending detailed instructions with irrelevant stories of his own heroism. If you find yourself telling self-referential stories, Prof. Viachoutsicos suggests apologizing for blathering – you are just demonstrating your own insecurities.

Listen seriously – and show it

He believes that managers are generally getting better at listening, but their teams don’t always recognize that – and won’t share unless they are sure they are being listened to. In one case, Prof. Viachoutsicos was upbraided for taking notes on loose leaf sheets by an employee who felt if the boss truly cared he would have a bound notebook and that explained why the team’s advice was not being followed. Only when he brought in the ringed binder and showed the detailed notes would the team accept their boss had listened but taken a different decision than they preferred. So make it clear you are listening.

Invite disagreement

Cultural norms within many companies beat back dissent. Managers have to invite dissent, thinking carefully about factors such as room and meeting dynamics (round tables may encourage discussion more than rectangular ones) and viewing every one-on-one interaction with an employee as a chance to tap their expertise and encourage them to express what they really think.

Focus on the agenda

When you have gigantic agendas in meetings ideas will get lost or never even come up because participants have to race through everything. Develop a sensible agenda, sequenced by importance of items, eliminating those that can be handled outside the meeting. The quality of discussion, and intensity of engagement, will heighten.

Don’t try to have all the answers

Since problem solving is central to a manager’s sense of self, he or she can feel inadequate when a solution proves temporarily elusive. In those situations, some managers rush to come up with answers that may be totally unrealistic. Better to admit ignorance, and see yourself as a catalyst for problem solving than as an elite problem solver.

Don’t insist that a decision be made

Similarly, don’t insist that quick decisions be made. The prevailing wisdom in business these days is that a flawed decision is better than no decision, but Prof. Viachoutsicos is dubious. When he was a young manager, he would earnestly supply a decision when his group couldn’t come to an agreement, to show he was decisive. He realized he was making bad decisions and turning everyone off.

 

Essential tips for a young entrepreneur

 Global B2B buy sell website: http://www.bytrade.com

 

Online start-up businesses run by young adults are an increasingly common phenomenon. A commonly overlooked demographic, however, are the real youth — those under 18 years of age. With online businesspeople facing very low barriers to market entry, many tech-savvy kids are getting in on the act and taking advantage of the opportunities that abound. While these entrepreneurs are more the exception than the rule, some of their successes are highly notable

Sadly, these successes aren’t as common as they could be. While the world has countless enthusiastic young people with ideas and technical skills, there are many challenges facing these youthful entrepreneurs. These range from the natural — Venture Capitalists (VC) disputing their expertise, for example — to artificial (such as the age restrictions placed on credit card services that might otherwise be used to pay for start-up resources). Here are some tips for the technically-minded young entrepreneur — both the aspirant service provider and the ambitious salesman — to help them overcome these challenges and succeed in their ventures.

Study at community college

Although the education I received at Otis and OSU was amazing, there are a lot of other things I could do for $60,000. I didn’t really even know what I wanted to do until I spent a few years doing it. Better to go through the same learning process for a fraction of the cost. After all, you can always go to a prestigious college later, after you have saved for it and after you have done it for a while and know that you are pursuing your real dream. For the really ambitious skip high school and get your GED at 14 or 16 depending on the state you live in. Go to community college and graduate with a degree while most of your friends are just starting college. Of course this is really going to screw with your social skills, which brings me to my second piece of advice…

Get a life

I have spent so much time being a student, a CEO, a biologist, and a wife that I have lost a bit of myself. I was letting my titles define who I was. Although I wouldn’t go back, I traded my 20s for my business (absolutely worth it but it is a trade that a lot of young entrepreneurs might not be prepared to make). If you like going out with friends and family or any other normal activity it is likely that you will have to put that on hold for a decade or so. I would have accepted a lot more invitations to parties and declined a few more to meetings because you aren’t really going to regret going to a party. I realized that a lot of the things I wanted to do when I was a child that I expected would be possible when I was an adult really would have been easier to do as a kid. Getting a job and using the proceeds to go skydiving is realistic for someone living at home with no expenses.

Volunteer

Really engage in your community. I can’t emphasize how emotionally rewarding it is to do something that helps the cause you believe in. The only way you can help is by finding out what is meaningful to you and getting involved in the community that does that. No matter how much money you make it will never make you whole.

Read and write

Anything, read the comics, read advertisements, read blogs, the newspaper, put the captions on your television. I loved books and always read but I would have read a lot more if I had known how important books were. Write down how you felt about what you read. So many people that come in to environmental science out of college can’t write well. Writing skill is a prerequisite for advancement in almost every field. Get published. You can write a novel in junior high and be published by the time you are 15 so lack of education can’t be an excuse. The only way to become a decent writer is by writing every day. Even if you don’t think you are ever going to get paid to write, you can’t look professional without quality writing skills.

Make real connections

95 percent of my academic experience at OSU was through email correspondence or video lectures and assigned reading. Although I learned a lot this way, I don’t have a huge group of professors that know me well. This is a big detriment. On the other hand I had a very hands-on personal instruction at Otis and am still connected with several professors there (although I don’t have enough time to keep up with them as I would like). These are the people that can help you find work, leads, clients, etc. Let them help you. Make it easy for them to help you. Give them a good reason to want to help you.

Finally, expect to have to do it forever and if that scares you don’t

I would emphasize this last point to nine-year-old self because most things I want to do only hold my interest for a few weeks. I would have saved a lot of money following this advice. Most startup businesses aren’t going to have so much success that the owners will make a profit selling it 3 years after the doors open. When you start a venture, expect to be doing it for 10 years at least. If you don’t have that kind of dedication than consider something else. Although for those that enjoy risk, starting a business with the expectation of selling after the first year can have high rewards but can come with a financial burden that can take a toll on everything you own and at worst, your family. With my own business, I knew I wanted to work in the environmental research field with my husband and business partner and I wanted to tele-commute. A self-made position was and remains the only option. The most important reason though is a dedication to the people you are working for. When a group that we have worked with has a question regarding our products, I want to be there in 10 years to answer them. I have dedication to my business and that is part of why it is successful.

 

Can Eating Fish Lower the Risk of Strokes?

 Global B2B buy sell website: http://www.bytrade.com

 

People who eat fish a few times each week are slightly less likely to suffer a stroke than those who only eat a little or none at all, according to an international analysis.

The omega-3 fatty acids in fish may lower stroke risk through their positive effects on blood pressure and cholesterol, wrote Susanna Larsson and Nicola Orsini of Sweden's Karolinska Institute in the journal Stroke.

Their analysis was based on 15 studies conducted in the United States, Europe, Japan and China, each of which asked people how frequently they ate fish, then followed them for between four and 30 years to see who suffered a stroke.

"I think overall, fish does provide a beneficial package of nutrients, in particular the omega-3s, that could explain this lower risk," said Dariush Mozaffarian, a Harvard School of Public Health epidemiologist whose research was included in the analysis.

"A lot of the evidence comes together suggesting that about two to three servings per week is enough to get the benefit."

Vitamin D, selenium, and certain types of proteins in fish may also have stroke-related benefits, he added.

Data for the analysis came from close to 400,000 people aged 30 to 103.

Over anywhere from a few years to a few decades, about 9,400 people had a stroke. Eating three extra servings of fish each week was linked to a six-percent drop in stroke risk, which translates to one fewer stroke among a hundred people eating extra fish over a lifetime.

The people in each study who ate the most fish were 12 percent less likely to have a stroke than those that ate the least.

Mozaffarian's report separated the effects of different kinds of fish and found that people who ate more fried fish and fish sandwiches, not surprisingly, didn't get any stroke benefit.

But the research can't prove that adding more non-fried fish to your diet will keep you from having a stroke, Mozaffarian told Reuters Health.

People "could have healthier diets in other ways, people could exercise more, people could have better education that could lead them to see their doctors more," he added, all of which could decrease their risk of strokes.

Still, most studies have tried to take those other health and nutrition factors into account to isolate the effects of fish as much as possible, and they suggest a cause-and-effect relationship, he said.
It's likely that people who start out eating no fish or very little probably have the most to gain by putting it on their plate more often.

"You get a lot of bang for your buck when you go from low intake to moderate, a few servings per week," Mozaffarian said.

After that, the benefit from each extra serving probably goes down.

Fatty fish such as salmon and herring are especially high in omega-3s, The American Heart Association recommends at least two servings of fatty fish in particular each week

Top Strong Growth Careers

 Global B2B buy sell website: http://www.bytrade.com

 

Looking to rebound from the recession in a new, growing career?

Whether you're on the brink of embarking on your first career, switching careers, or looking for work after a slump, the good news is that there are some careers that aren't going anywhere.

Check out these careers with strong growth factors - then see if any are right for you.

Career #1 - Accountant

 

If you're comfortable working with numbers, there's lots of opportunity out there for helping individuals and companies manage their money as an accountant. To qualify for this role, you'll need at least a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related area, says the U.S. Department of Labor.

Growth Factor: The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that between 2008 and 2018, accounting will be one of the fastest-growing occupations in the country with 22 percent growth. The profession is projected to add 279,000 jobs in the ten year time frame.

What Accountants Do: Accountants balance books, prepare tax returns, keep management informed on the company's financial health, and help the company exercise sound judgment when buying assets of any kind.

What Accountants Earn: Accountants have an average annual salary of $68,960.*

 

Career 2 - Registered Nurse (RN)

 

Want to pursue opportunities in a growing - and rewarding - industry? Look into earning either an associate's or bachelor's in nursing or a nursing diploma.

Growth Factor: The U.S. Department of Labor says nursing will grow 22 percent from 2008 and 2018. Translated to the number of jobs, that's 581,500 new RN positions.

What RNs Do: RNs provide patient care and education to those with medical conditions. They might administer medication, perform diagnostic tests, and run blood drives.

What RNs Earn: The average salary for RNs is $67,720 per year.*

 

Career #3 - Computer Systems Analyst

 

If you're looking for a growing career that requires big-picture thinking, computer systems analyst might be the right option for you. Consider earning a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field.

Growth Factor: The U.S. Department of labor projects 20 percent job growth (108,100 computer systems analyst positions) from 2008-2018.

What Computer Systems Analysts Do: Computer systems analysts help implement and improve existing computer systems, reviewing capabilities, analyzing requirements, and making recommendations for software.

What Computer Systems Analysts Earn: The average annual salary for these analysts is $81,250.*

 

Career #4 - Dental Assistant

 

If you're looking for careers with a strong rebound factor, dental assisting takes the cake. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, this is one of the fastest growing professions from 2008-2018. The best part: You could potentially qualify to pursue opportunities in this field with a one-year dental assisting program.

Growth Factor: The U.S. Department of Labor expects 36 percent growth (105,600 new jobs) in this field between 2008 and 2018.

What Dental Assistants Do: Dental assistants perform a variety of functions in a dentist's office, including preparing patients for procedures and updating dental records.

What Dental Assistants Earn: Those in this position have an average annual salary of $34,140 annually.*

 

Career #5 - Computer Support Specialist

 

If there's one industry that shows no signs of slowing down, it's computer technology. Prepare for opportunities in one section of this growing field with an associate's degree in information technology or computer science.

Growth Factor: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, this profession is projected to experience 14 percent growth from 2008-2018. That's 78,000 new jobs.

What Computer Support Specialists Do: Technical support specialists provide support and advice to computer users, writing training manuals, responding to questions, and resolving technical issues.

What Computer Support Specialists Earn: These specialists have an average annual salary of $49,930.*

 

Is Your Attitude Killing Your Business?

 Global B2B buy sell website: http://www.bytrade.com

 

By Susan Schreter

During the last few weeks I've received letters and comments from business owners that reflect their uneasiness with the economy and the potential for another “dip” this winter. They worry that “things are really going to get bad again” but they don’t exactly know how or when. 

One business woman asked, “Is it better to try to prepare for some worst case scenario or just wait until it happens and deal with it then?”

Years ago, during a similar period of economic uncertainty and sluggish growth, I read an expansion business plan written by a gas drilling rig equipment owner. It was a bold plan especially when U.S. gas drilling had stalled out because of declining prices. When I asked the owner why he believed his business could survive, let alone succeed, he said something like this.

"My advantage is my attitude. All of my competitors are complaining about the market and waiting for it to turn around. In the meantime, there are still opportunities out there and I will be the only one pursuing them. If you think the market is dead then soon your business will be dead.” 

I agree. It is dangerous for business owners to adopt a turtle-like “wake me when it’s over” mentality.

Here are some recommendations to replace angst with business building activity.

No. 1: Seek more customers. In the spirit of the rig operator, now is the best time to go out and pitch new customers. So what if the sales cycle (the time it takes to solicit and receive a first order) may be longer than in years past. Owners should spend at least one day a week pursuing new customers. 

Here’s another benefit of initiating a new sales campaign. Your employees will be inspired by your confidence and commitment to resist defeat.

No. 2: Evaluate business weaknesses. Owners should ask every employee or manager the following question. What sudden single event would be heart stopping bad news for your department?  It could be the loss of a the top sales rep to the competition, loss of a big account, loss of a production source,  loss of a bank credit line, etc. 

Once the owner has identified the top areas of vulnerability throughout the company, then the entire staff can work together to come up with action steps to reduce the company’s areas of vulnerability. Not only will the business benefit from the proactive steps taken, but employees will feel more productive addressing problems than worrying about them

No. 3: Watch customer payment patterns closely. If commercial banks increase borrowing costs to small business owners or cut off their credit entirely, then owners can expect another nasty slow down in bill paying around the country.  Owners should also watch out for customer over-ordering with no intention to pay on a timely basis. 

No. 4: Prioritize payments. For business owners in extreme cash flow distress, it’s worthwhile to establish bill paying priorities. Salaries and payroll taxes should always come first. If owners don’t make timely payroll tax payments, interest and penalties can mount up quickly. Plus, owners are personally responsible for these payments even if their business is structured as a corporation or limited liability company. Next, owners should pay obligations that are backed by a personal guarantee, such as credit cards.

Yes, attitude and actions do matter.  If startup entrepreneurs and business owners pause too long, they make it easy for their competitors to pass them by.

 sources: foxbusiness

Top Ways to Keep Employees Engaged

 Global B2B buy sell website: http://www.bytrade.com

 

Are your employees giving your company their all? Do they believe that what they're doing is important? Do they feel appreciated? Do they show up for work each day filled with passion and purpose?

 

Follow these tips to power up the performance of your employees and your company.

Be modest

Many new managers are nervous about proving themselves, so their frail ego and fears lead them to discourage their employees from speaking up, losing the benefits of those employees’ experience. He remembers sitting in on one management meeting where the words and manner of the manager conveyed the message: “Given that I know everything and you know nothing, here’s what you should do.” The manager mixed condescending detailed instructions with irrelevant stories of his own heroism. If you find yourself telling self-referential stories, Prof. Viachoutsicos suggests apologizing for blathering – you are just demonstrating your own insecurities.

Listen seriously – and show it

He believes that managers are generally getting better at listening, but their teams don’t always recognize that – and won’t share unless they are sure they are being listened to. In one case, Prof. Viachoutsicos was upbraided for taking notes on loose leaf sheets by an employee who felt if the boss truly cared he would have a bound notebook and that explained why the team’s advice was not being followed. Only when he brought in the ringed binder and showed the detailed notes would the team accept their boss had listened but taken a different decision than they preferred. So make it clear you are listening.

Invite disagreement

Cultural norms within many companies beat back dissent. Managers have to invite dissent, thinking carefully about factors such as room and meeting dynamics (round tables may encourage discussion more than rectangular ones) and viewing every one-on-one interaction with an employee as a chance to tap their expertise and encourage them to express what they really think.

Focus on the agenda

When you have gigantic agendas in meetings ideas will get lost or never even come up because participants have to race through everything. Develop a sensible agenda, sequenced by importance of items, eliminating those that can be handled outside the meeting. The quality of discussion, and intensity of engagement, will heighten.

Don’t try to have all the answers

Since problem solving is central to a manager’s sense of self, he or she can feel inadequate when a solution proves temporarily elusive. In those situations, some managers rush to come up with answers that may be totally unrealistic. Better to admit ignorance, and see yourself as a catalyst for problem solving than as an elite problem solver.

Don’t insist that a decision be made

Similarly, don’t insist that quick decisions be made. The prevailing wisdom in business these days is that a flawed decision is better than no decision, but Prof. Viachoutsicos is dubious. When he was a young manager, he would earnestly supply a decision when his group couldn’t come to an agreement, to show he was decisive. He realized he was making bad decisions and turning everyone off.

 

10 Habits That Are Ruining Your Skin

 Global B2B buy sell website: http://www.bytrade.com

 

 
Wrinkles, sagging skin, brown spots… these are all expected skin problems as we get older. And although the aging process is inevitable, we may be able to slow it down a little.  It turns out we may be able to prevent other facial problems too, like breakouts, dryness and discoloration.

 Dr. Ariel Ostad, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist in New York City, tells us how some of our daily habits may be ruining our skin and offers tips on how to fix them.   

Habit: Alcohol, cold weather, washing in hot water—they can all dehydrate the skin.

 
Skin Fix: Use moisturizers with ceramides, but any will do. Moisturizing your skin in the morning and evening is key. The best moisturizers are non-comedogenic, non-greasy and non-irritating.  The formulation should contain a superior system of emollients and natural ingredients to nourish the skin.  

Habit: Aside from lung cancer, smoking cigarettes causes wrinkles and is clearly associated with destroying skin elasticity.

 
Skin fix: There are all kinds of aids to help you quit—support groups, nicotine-replacement products and drugs. So stop smoking! 

Topical retinoids have been shown to improve the texture, fine lines and the ability to increase the thickness of the outer surface of the skin, the epidermis. Retinol is a purified form of vitamin A, which has a rejuvenating effect on tired, sun-damaged skin.  Chronologic aging leads to skin that is thin, lax, finely wrinkled, fragile, easily traumatized and slow to heal.  Retinol reverses these effects.  

One major benefit of retinol that distinguishes it from other skin care ingredients is its ability to reach the areas of the skin where it can actually have an effect on increasing collagen production and decreasing collagen breakdown.  A topical retinol product should be used daily and the strength to use should be determined by your dermatologist. 

Habit: Ironically, many lip balms contain phenol, which dries out your lips. It feels good when you put it on, but soon you need more.

 
Skin Fix. Read the ingredient list and use the ones without phenol.

Habit: A candle may be a girl's best friend (what lighting is more flattering?) but don't burn it at both ends. Stress hormones are at their lowest during sleep, while the anti-inflammatory molecules are at their highest, so the less you sleep, the worse skin is.

 
Skin Fix: Studies say you should get eight hours of sleep. Start by adding 30 more minutes each night, and see if you can tell the difference

Habit: Studies suggest about 20 percent of inked clients are unhappy with their tattoos. For those who decide to get them removed, the process is time-consuming, costly and painful.  

 
Skin Fix: There's a new encapsulated ink, which can be removed in one or two treatments as opposed to eight or 10—much less traumatic to the skin. Also, there are great coverage cosmetics that work wonders.

Habit: You might as well call them "cancer booths." A University of Minnesota study published in May found that people who logged 50 hours or more in tanning booths, had up to three times the odds of developing melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. 

 
Skin Fix: Get your bronze glow from self tanners—spray, lotion, gel or wipes.

Habit: Squeezing pimples and picking blemishes are not winning strategies for anyone. Just about any manipulation—especially if the skin is already inflamed—will result in hyperpigmentation (discoloration), which can last months to years and is very difficult to treat.

 
Skin Fix: If your skin is inflamed, see a dermatologist as soon as possible.  A steroid injection, for example, can make the problem go away quickly without leaving marks.

Habit: Stress wages chemical warfare! Pro-inflammatory neuropeptides make the skin more reactive, which can worsen acne and psoriasis.  Hormones like adrenaline constrict your blood vessels, depriving the tissue of nutrients. Long-term stress can cause the production of cortisol, which potentially leads to the thinning of the skin.

Skin Fix: Guided imagery, meditation, hypnosis, biofeedback, exercise, yoga and tai chi are all good ways to manage stress and help improve your complexion. 

Habit: From wrinkles to cancer, photoaging is "the single biggest cause of damage to the skin," declares Skin Care & Repair, a new report from Harvard Medical School.

Skin Fix: You know the drill—sunscreen that's least SPF 30 and protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Re-application is necessary especially if you are swimming throughout the day. 
Don't forget behind the ears and neck. Annual skin checks with your dermatologist are important as early detection can save your life.  

When buying sunscreen, consumers should look for the following ingredients to be able to receive a full spectrum coverage and protection:

*Micronized zinc oxide -- for broad spectrum UV protection (including UVA), soothing effects for skin irritations, antimicrobial properties

*Titanium dioxide --an excellent absorber of sun rays (UVA & UVB rays) provides long-term UV-protection, water resistant.

*Niacin-- clinically shown to visibly improve skin tone, texture and discoloration.

*Vitamin E -- helps heal and protect your skin

Habit: A common mistake among the acne-prone is thinking “the more creams, the better.” Some people use three or four products at a time, and this ends up drying out their skin, which makes them break out even worse.

Skin Fix: If you can't find one over-the-counter product that works, see a professional. Acne is not just from oils. It's also from irritation and inflammation.

Source: iStock

Ten questions before you pick a partner

Global B2B buy sell website: http://www.bytrade.com

 

But before you throw equity around like beads at Mardi Gras, here are 10 questions to ask yourself:

1. Are you sober?

After three gin and tonics, every one of your employees will look like they have partner potential. Sober up before you offer anyone a stake in your business.

2. Why do you want a partner?

Running a startup from a spare bedroom in your house can be so lonely that you might find yourself at Starbucks just for the social interaction. With no money to hire and desperate for someone to share the experience with, you may be inclined to offer equity to almost anyone just to have a partner to work with.

But loneliness is not a good business reason for asking someone to become a shareholder. Consider working from an incubation centre or a business centre offered by a company like Regus; or join an organization like Corporate Alliance.

3. Are they willing to buy equity?

Would the person you’re about to offer a partnership buy equity in the form of cash, or work in lieu of a market rate salary? If not, what does that say about their belief in your business?

4. Could you achieve the same result without a partner?

Often we assume that the only way to get fingers-to-the-bone effort is to make someone a partner.

But many people will work harder and smarter for a short-term reward than they ever would for some vague, uncertain promise of money years in the future.

5. Do they care as much as you do?

You founded your business. You dreamed up your product or service and you were so excited that you told everyone you knew about your idea. You came up with a name and a logo, and your business is an expression of who you are. No matter how much equity you share, others will never care as much as you do.

6. What happens if they leave?

It can be exciting to build a company with a partner but what happens when he or she decides to leave? Unless there is a predetermined formula for handling equity grants when an employee leaves, you may become resentful of carrying equity holders like an albatross around your neck when they are not adding value to your company as employees but expect to share in your success as owners.

7. What kind of watch does your prospective partner wear?

If you wear a Timex and your prospective partner sports a Rolex, it may be a sign you have different attitudes towards money. If you make vastly different lifestyle choices than your partner, expect friction when it comes time to decide how much to pay yourself at the end of the year and how much money to leave in the company.

8. Is this person your friend?

The only thing worse than hiring a friend is partnering with one. By inviting a friend to become a minority shareholder in your business, you are placing a monetary value on a friend’s contribution and importance.

A friendship should always be a mutual bond, not a lopsided business arrangement. Buying friends was a bad idea in high school and is an even worse idea now that the stakes are higher. Keep your friends and your equity.

9. Do you have a reasonable chance of being acquired?

Being a minority partner in a privately held business typically only has significant value for your partner if the business is sold. Do you have a legitimate shot at being acquired in the medium term? If not, the equity you share may become a source of frustration for your partner when he or she wants an exit.

10. What happens if you’re successful?

Let’s say that in the early days of your business, you share 5 per cent of your company with an employee because you want to make him or her feel like a partner. It’s easy to share with employees when your business is modest and your financial statements prove that you’re pouring all of your money back into the business.

But what happens when your business matures and you’re pulling a million dollars a year out of it in the form of dividends? Do you really want your 5-per-cent partner to know how much money you’re making?

In the early years of building a business, it’s natural to want a partner to share in the experience, but make sure you run through all the possible implications of your generosity before you have that third gin and tonic

 

Top 11 Ways Social Media Policies #FAIL

Global B2B buy sell website: http://www.bytrade.com

 

By Boris Segalis

In the past few years, social media has become a dominant medium for communicating with friends and family members...and getting fired. There are a number of publicized cases that have generated attention over the years that involve a range of situations including employees complaining about their bosses online to teachers getting fired for posting derogatory comments about students on Facebook.

But what small business owners need to realize is that social media-based terminations can easily go the other way - with the fired employee having just cause in a wrongful termination suit that could cost the company dearly. 

In mid-August, the acting general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which is to labor law what the Fed is to interest rates, issued a 24-page report analyzing the board’s recent social media enforcement actions. This report is a goldmine for business owners and human resource directors, as it provides a rare glimpse into how the NLRB applies federal employment law when deciding employee social media cases. 

The key takeaway from this report is that the labor board prefers narrowly-written social media policies, and often considers overly-broad provisions limiting employee speech outside of work to be unlawful. Companies often make the mistake of thinking it’s better to have a general policy in place that can be applied to most specific cases, rather than a specific policy that can only be applied to certain cases. As evidenced in this new report, companies with narrowly-defined policies often fare better.

The NLRB, according to the report, also considers social media activity to be protected in most cases where the employee is addressing working conditions, from simple complaints to the exposure of unlawful activity. It also suggests that the labor body has a low threshold for what it considers to be “concerted” activity - a key element to establishing employee protection under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act.

Here are the top 11 mistakes employers make in their social media policies, that could cause them to lose a wrongful termination lawsuit:

 

1. Prohibit employees from posting pictures of themselves in any media, including the Internet, which depict the company in any way, including posts featuring a company uniform or corporate logo


2. Prohibit employees from making disparaging comments when discussing the company or the employees' superiors, coworkers or competitors


3. Generally prohibit, in the application to social media, offensive conduct and rude or discourteous behavior


4. Prohibit inappropriate discussions about the company, management or coworkers


5. Prohibit any use of social media that may violate, compromise or disregard the rights and reasonable expectations as to privacy and confidentiality of any person or entity


6. Prohibit any communications or posts that constitute embarrassment, harassment or defamation of the employer or its employees, officers, board members, representatives or staff members


7. Prohibit statements that lack truthfulness or might damage the reputation or goodwill of the employer, its staff or employees


8. Prohibit employees on their own time from using social media to talk about company business, from posting anything that they would not want their manager or supervisor to see or that would put their job in jeopardy, from disclosing inappropriate or sensitive information about employer, or from posting any pictures or comments involving the company or its employees that could be construed as inappropriate


9. Prohibit employees from using the company name, address or other information on their personal profiles


10. Prohibit employees from revealing personal information regarding coworkers, company clients, partners or customers without their consent


11. Prohibit the use of employer’s logos and photographs or of the employer’s store, brand or product without written authorization

 

 

Home sales jump 7.7 pct as foreclosures rise

Global B2B buy sell website: http://www.bytrade.com

 

By DEREK KRAVITZ

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans who bought previously occupied homes rose in August. But the sales were driven by an increase in foreclosures, a sign that home prices could fall further next year and slow a housing recovery.

The National Association of Realtors said Wednesday that home sales rose 7.7 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.03 million homes. That's below the 6 million that economists say is consistent with a healthy housing market.

Last month's pace was slightly ahead of the 4.91 million sold in 2010, the worst sales level in 13 years.

Homes at risk of foreclosure made up 31 percent of sales. That's up from 29 percent in July. Many of the sales went to investors, who are increasingly buying homes priced under $100,000. Sales in that category rose in August while sales of more expensive homes fell.

At the same time, activity among first-time buyers, who are critical to reviving the housing market, didn't budge. First-time buyers made up only 32 percent of sales, matching the July level. They normally make up 40 percent of home sales in healthy markets.

Economists offered a grim outlook for the next few months.

"With economic growth sputtering, the modest recovery we have seen so far in home sales is likely to become even more sluggish," said Sam Bullard, senior economist at Wells Fargo.

Paul Dales, senior U.S. economist at Capital Economics, said weaker consumer confidence and the "associated surge in concerns about the health of the overall economy," could send sales falling further this fall.

"There is a real possibility that all this put off potential buyers, meaning that fewer deals were signed in August and that existing home sales will fall back in September," he said.

Yet another complication: New maximum loan limits by government-controlled mortgage buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. On Oct. 1, the maximum loan in high-cost areas will fall from $729,750 to $625,500 and, in some areas, to $550,000. That means some buyers will be unable to get mortgages in cities where homes are more expensive, such as New York, San Francisco and Washington.

More than two years after the recession officially ended, many people can't qualify for loans or meet higher down-payment requirements. Even those with excellent credit and stable jobs are holding off because they fear that home prices will keep falling. Home sales are also being hurt by a steep decline in first-time buyers.

Sales have fallen in four of the five years since the housing boom went bust in 2006. Declining prices and record-low mortgage rates haven't been enough to boost sales.

Most economists say home prices will keep falling, by at least 5 percent, through the rest of the year. Many forecasts don't anticipate a rebound in prices until at least 2013

The median sales price dropped roughly to $168,300 in August from July. A key reason was the rise in foreclosures and short sales — when a lender accepts less than what is owed on the mortgage. Those homes sell at an average discount of 20 percent.

Investors are taking advantage of the discounts. Their purchases made up 22 percent of all sales last month, compared with 18 percent in July.

The high rate of foreclosures has made re-sold homes much cheaper than new homes. The median price of a new home is roughly 30 percent higher than the price of one that's been occupied before — twice the normal markup.

And deals that are near closing are falling apart at the last minute. Contracts were cancelled at a higher rate in August, with 18 percent of Realtors saying they had at least one contract scuttled. That's up from 16 percent in July.

The Obama administration is trying to expand a program that allows homeowners to refinance their mortgages. But economists say that will do little to help the depressed housing market.

Across the country, home sales rose in every region. In the West, sales increased 18.3 percent, with prices there dropping significantly over the past year. Sales rose 5.4 percent in the South, 3.8 percent in the Midwest and 2.7 percent in the Northeast.

The glut of unsold homes declined slightly in August to 3.58 million homes. At last month's sales pace, it would take 8.5 months to clear those homes. Analysts say a healthy supply can be cleared in six months.

 

6 Ways to Sharpen Your Memory

Global B2B buy sell website: http://www.bytrade.com

 

Take a few minutes out of the day to challenge yourself with these mental exercises.

If “Now, what was I going to Google?” has become your new catchphrase, it’s time to challenge your gray matter. “You can improve your memory and the way your brain functions overall by regularly exercising each of your five senses,” says Manning Rubin, a co-author of Keep Your Brain Alive. Pick three days a week to do this series of six brain-stimulating exercises.

In the Morning
1. Change the Station
Set your alarm clock to a new radio station (or switch to the buzzer). Processing unfamiliar sounds—rather than that familiar DJ—wakes up your brain another way.

2. Get Dressed With Your Eyes Closed
Lay your clothes out the night before, then put them on blindly in the a.m. (no peeking!). “If you blunt one of your senses, the others work harder, which strengthens the brain,” says Rubin
In the Afternoon
3. Play Lunch Roulette
Swap brown bags with one of your coworkers. Breaking a routine by surprising your taste buds helps force the brain to trigger new nerve pathways, which keeps it healthy.

4. Shop by Heart
Fire up your brain-cell activity by trying to remember your grocery list in your head instead of relying on a written list. Or at least tuck the paper into your bag and pull it out only at the end of your trip to catch what, if anything, you’ve missed.

5. Have a Silent Family Dinner
Enforce a “no talking while eating” rule for one night. You’ll have to communicate your request for an extra roll in a visual way, which will spark creativity.

6. Switch Your Brushing Routine
Or, rather, use your nondominant hand. This challenges your brain to exercise nerve cells on the side that you don’t typically use. Fighting cavities and memory loss: a fresh take on multitasking.

How to make a lasting and sustainable business

 Global B2B buy sell website: http://www.bytrade.com

 

Following are 10 tips for small businesses that want to make a lasting and sustainable stamp in the business world.

1. Plan. Before you can run a sustainable business, you’ve got to have a solid business plan in place. Use your plan to integrate the changes you can make in your company to maintain and increase your environmental sustainability. This plan should outline your company’s environmental philosophies as well as your mission statement.

2. Sweat the small stuff. Daily rituals such as printing, shipping and even office lunches can make a big impact on your company’s carbon footprint. Is it really necessary to print that particular packing slip? Perhaps you can ship products every other day? Small changes, such as a garbage-free lunch room, are easy to implement and will likely be appreciated and supported by employees as well.

3. Go paperless. The mass of paper and waste that many companies accumulate on a daily basisis unnecessary. Take a stand and use your business as an example of how green business can be done. If an item can be saved on the hard drive of your computer, it doesn’t need to be printed. If bills can be processed electronically and online banking is an option, take advantage of these small opportunities to go green.

4. Stay current and educate. Staying current on your businesses’ environmental mandate is part and parcel of being a successfully sustainable small business. As your customers may not have the time or resources to do the research that keeps your business running green, make an effort to keep on top of the latest developments and best practices in corporate sustainability. When you find out something new, share your research with your customers. Doing so will not only build a trusting relationship between you both, but will provide you with the ongoing incentive to be on top of the latest developments.

5. Environmentally friendly team. The easiest way to get buy-in for your staff is to hire team members who share the company vision. Look for employees that are committed to a green philosophy and it will be much easier to put sustainability efforts into place.

6. Be a leader. Once you have identified the environmental cause that your business will support, be a leader in that movement. Create initiatives that will build awareness as well as potential solutions. Donate your time and support your employees in doing the same. If you are able to, share your profits with environmentally-related causes. Actively lead by example.

7. Don’t be a hypocrite. If you are asking the public to live a healthy, environmentally friendly life, than you must lead by example. Remember to show your employees and customers that you practice what you preach.

8. Support and collaborate. There are plenty of like-minded businesses, individuals and organizations that will share the same motivations as you. Seek them out, partner with them, ask their advice and support their endeavours. A lot more will be accomplished by working in unison.

9. Regulate. “Green Washing” has become a common practice in this day and age. Because of the very limited and poor regulations surrounding environmentally focused companies, many organizations have jumped on the bandwagon while having no true sustainability efforts as part of their businesses. There are, however, very legitimate private organizations that have formed to eliminate ‘green washing’. Seek out these entities that will accredit, regulate and provide seals of approval for truly sustainable companies.

10. Inspire. Inspire existing and potential clients to live a healthier, more environmentally friendly life by talking about the benefits of working with your company. Stay positive, keep negativity at bay and keep the environmentally sustainable business model forward.

 

Top ways to improve cash flow

 Global B2B buy sell website: http://www.bytrade.com

 

Managing cash flow can be the single most challenging aspect to managing a small business, particularly in times of steadily increasing costs. To make matters worse, many small business owners believe “it costs what it costs,” which is simply erroneous. Here are 10 tips for small businesses to reduce operating costs and increase cash flow:

1. Leverage consumable spending. It may seem that purchasing paper towels or hand soap periodically is not a significant investment. However, if you consolidate this spending with fewer suppliers, you’re more likely to obtain volume discounts. Consolidating purchases of janitorial supplies with packaging materials, for example, can result in an attractive piece of business for many suppliers who offer a one-stop shopping experience and can reduce your costs in the long run.

2. Online ordering. Purchasing from online stores can free up significant time and help you obtain volume discounts. For example, many office supply companies tier discount programs using data consolidated from online order volumes.

3. Negotiate cell phone plans. The market for cellular service continues to heat up, and by following these three simple rules your costs can be dramatically reduced. First: investigate online offers against in-store offers, as there are often differences in pricing and features. Second: If you’re looking for improved features or pricing, call the provider’s customer service desk and ask to speak with the customer loyalty department to stress your concerns. These people are paid to retain customers and their power far surpasses that of a typical hotline attendant. Third: If you have made the decision to change carriers, request the competing carrier include your cancellation costs as part of the incentive to move your business. Many of the larger carriers will offer discounts which cover up to 90 per cent of the cancellation penalty charge.

4. Switch your telephone service to VOIP. The increasing speed of internet connectivity is making VOIP an increasingly popular option, and there are a growing number of companies offering VOIP telephone service at a fraction of the cost of a typical telephone land line.

5. Need a chair? Buy someone else’s. Upgrading or adding office furniture can be an expensive proposition. Fortunately there are several businesses that sell high quality used furniture at a fraction of the cost. Because many of these dealers tend to be small businesses themselves, customer service levels are generally high and limited warranties are often available.

6. One person’s junk is another person’s treasure. There’s an enormous market for used equipment in North America and abroad. The greatest challenge is locating reputable used equipment dealers. To overcome this challenge, contact those who sell new equipment. If you clearly identify that you are not interested in new equipment, but have a budget to support used equipment, they will often be able to provide you with some reputable dealers, or in fact may sell used equipment themselves. Keep in mind that margins on used equipment are typically high, so make sure to negotiate the final price and don’t be afraid to walk away.

7. Spend time on valuable tasks, and outsource the rest. Time is our most precious resource, and is at a premium when operating a small business. Be conscious of those activities that absorb unnecessary time and do not provide direct value to your customer, then search for opportunities to outsource. You likely are already using a lawyer, an accountant, a banker, and possibly a realtor, but are there other areas which absorb your time and provide no value in growing the business? Increasingly, more businesses are taking advantage of virtual assistants to provide real-time virtual help with office tasks, reporting, and even marketing efforts.

8. Negotiate terms. It’s not uncommon to negotiate the price of a car, a piece of equipment, or even a lease payment, but very few take the time to read and negotiate the terms of agreements which accompany these purchases. Terms associated with a lease, employee benefits, or insurance, for example, can include hidden costs and risk which often appear at the most inopportune time. Read the terms and negotiate with your best interests in mind. The effort will net you reduced risk and improved concessions at least 75 per cent of the time.

9. Not everything needs overnight service. We have become a society that believes everything is time sensitive. Couriers have capitalized on this belief, and continue to grow in both popularity and numbers. If you don’t believe me, just try to understand the confusing pricing structure applied to your courier account. Take time to identify which shipments are time sensitive and which are not. Find more economical, or local couriers or use standard ground delivery services to reduce courier costs.

10. Develop successful habits. Managing operational costs is an ongoing venture; however, doing so can provide significant returns in the form of increased cash flow. Developing a few simple cost management habits is the most effective means to free up cash for further investment into the business: obtain more than one quote; rely on your suppliers to support you as a partner in your success; seek partners who understand your current business position and who will support your growth; treat everything as negotiable, but manage your investment of time appropriately; and seek professionals to manage those tasks that do not add value to the business.

 sources: theglobeandmail.com

SEO: Keyword research best practices

Global B2B buy sell website: http://www.bytrade.com

 

Keywords is a term that you hear all the time when it comes to SEO and Internet Marketing. In fact, it’s difficult to read something about SEO without keywords being mentioned. This blog post will help you understand why keywords & keyword research are so important to the popularity of your website.
                  
Simply put, keywords are the words that the search engines use to catalog, index and find your website. The idea is to find the most relevant and popular search terms that apply to your business and then make sure the content of your website are optimized for them

 What are the best practices of keyword research?

The first important factor in keyword research is to be thorough and methodical.  You may spend hundreds of hours writing killer content, back-linking, social networking and promoting your site based on the keyword research.  Therefore it is a good idea to make really sure those hours are not wasted.

♦   First: Understand the 3 Types of Keywords.

Keywords come in many shapes and sizes.  Let’s use this article as an example.  The term, “SEO” is a keyword in and of itself.  No “sane” person would try to target that as a keyword, though.  A quick check of Google shows 948,000,000 uses of that keyword.

KeyPhrases are the next step.  These are normally 2-5 words long.  This article uses, “Keyword research and SEO” .  This takes the nearly 1 billion articles of competition and pares it down to a cool 7 million.  Still too competitive.

Finally you get to long-tail keywords.  A long-tail keyword is a longer phrase (4-8 words long usually) that is desirable to rank for.  The volume of searches for these keywords is greatly decreased, but the chance of ranking for them on page #1 of Google is greatly increased.  A good longtail for this article might be, ”Best Keyword Research practices for Helium Articles”.  That phrase knocks the competition down from a billion to 400,000 articles.  –Still too competitive in many ways, but getting a lot closer on a very competitive area.