Let’s face it in the furious sound of the politic which in the end really does signify nothing; we so often see debaters of either side spout endless facts and figures. Often there is no basis for such data and if there is, the data is usually taken out of context and/or the report, article or research it was taken from in the first place leaves a lot to be desired.

Recently I was invited to moderate a particular side of a National Political Online Debate and was assured that the other sides views would be moderated and monitored; “Hello Lance, I’ll guarantee you that the monitors that I choose will have to validate all posts before they are posted on the web site.”

It is good to see that folks out there really do wish to keep a level playing field and here about the issues and this is a good thing. Yet on further review I have seen the kinds of validation and reports that Democrats use to justify their points. Reports from “K-street” Law firms and the academia manufactured reports. Then we see further data sets taken out of context.

Additionally they continually report NYT articles? As if a reporter who has an axe to grind against his belief system is actually in the “Know” and thus it does not matter if you monitor the comments if the parties are using false and misrepresentative reports? It is like doing an audit on a company using only the information they feel like giving you? Not to mention the Democratic Leadership has said they will fund 80 million in Think Tanks using Soros’s money? Sounds to me that any reports used are going to be questionable? Here are two examples of the kinds of tactics, tricks and scams they use when promoting the liberal agenda:

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?s=f393a133a7ec84ee955ad2c1fd465b84&showtopic=200

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?s=f393a133a7ec84ee955ad2c1fd465b84&showtopic=188

You see I have no problem debating with facts, but innuendoes, half-truths and manipulated data is another thing. Surely a free man of his faculties can debate on concept and common sense, but the incessant false data being thrown into the political arena can get a little unnerving at times. So we might all wish to think on this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

It can be very difficult if not impossible to determine the status of a company by its financial statements alone, especially in circumstances where the company is in its initial product development phase. All of the normal financial indicators, that are normally utilized to determine a company’s status, such as sales, gross margins and inventory values are totally meaningless.

The question then becomes how does an investor determine if a business is on track if it is not expected to have any product sales at this time.

In general entrepreneurs are extremely optimistic and self-assured individuals. They have an undying belief in their product or service and what they are doing or trying to do and they have sold you, the investor, on the potential success of their business. Because of this, it becomes very difficult and embarrassing for the entrepreneur to admit, even to himself, that the business is not progressing as planned or advertised. The entrepreneur also generally believes that the problems are nothing more than hick-ups (the optimism) and that things will correct themselves over time, they believe that there is no need to put the investors into panic mode nor do they “need” to have the investors “hounding” them about the “small” problems that they are encountering. “After all the investors don’t have a true appreciation for the creativity and development involved to get the product to this stage, all they care about is making money.”

Over the years, I have taken note of what I consider to be a number of non-financial indicators that can provide you the investor, in advance of meaningful financial information, a suspicion that there may be a problem within a business.

Please bear in mind that not all of the indicators will appear in all of the cases. All of the items are based on change. If an entrepreneur has always operated in a specific manner then the fact that he is doing so now is probably a sign that things are proceeding along well. It is a change in operating style that could be the indicator of potential problems.

Operating changes that should raise a red flag include:

1. Middle management seems to have a high turnover rate:

Senior managers generally have a “commitment” to a company and to see a project through from start to finish. There is a level of professionalism and personal ego involved. Middle managers do not, as a general rule, appear to have the same commitment to an organization. Middle managers seem to be aware of problems instantly and are the first to look for new employment if they feel that their job security is threatened.

2. Monthly reports are delivered earlier or later than normal or skipped:

If the entrepreneur feels that the investor group is suspicious of a problem a report may be forwarded earlier than normal. It would appear that the mental justification is that having the report early will quell any suspicions of problems and build confidence within the investors.

If a report is filed late I have found that it is because the entrepreneur experienced a problem and was hoping to have a resolution to the problem prior to sending the report out.

Overall, I have found that a report filed earlier than normal, without any other justification of why it was filed earlier, is a more serious red flag then a report filed late.

In some cases a report may be skipped completely, besides the fact that this is a bad habit to indulge, it could be a sign of problems.

3. Monthly reports show very few negatives:

Every business experiences ongoing problems and challenges, whether they are internal or external. How problems are dealt with is the key to a successful business, not whether or not the business has problems. Reports to investors that do not identify any problems are unrealistic and should be questioned.

4. Monthly reports show very few, if any, failures and/or threats:

This is very similar to point number three. Every business experiences failures and threats of failure, whether it is a deadline not met, the loss of a key employee or a joint venture that didn’t come to fruition. Businesses that do not experience failures and threats of failure are not realistic operations. No failures, no threats, red flag!

5. Monthly reports do not provide continuity:

For instance, a report one month that shows an opportunity and the opportunity is not mentioned in any manner in the next months report. The same situation applies to threats. A threat to the business is reported one month and the following month it is not mentioned at all.

6. New opportunity conversations:

Conversations with the entrepreneur, whether in person or by telephone are always centered around or directed towards “new” opportunities in the form of additional products and/or markets, with little if any conversation about the original product or market.

7. Abnormal working hours:

The entrepreneur, and other senior management are working more hours and weekends.

8. Less contact between company directors/investors and staff:

If the entrepreneur always invited other staff members to board or investor meetings (with the consent of the board) and now he deals with the board and the investors on his own, it is a signal that there are problems within the organization.

If it was common for board members and/or investors to have a tour of the facilities and talk with other employees, when there was a meeting and those tours seem to have disappeared it could be a sign of problems.

9. Change of meeting venues:

If meetings were held at the company’s facilities and the entrepreneur has suggested utilizing a hotel or other outside meeting facility it should raise a red flag.

10. Telephone calls/email messages:

If the entrepreneur generally took your telephone calls and now has someone take a message and/or if you used to get a response to an email message in a short period of time and now that doesn’t happen it is an indication of a change within the business that may not be for the better.

11. The entrepreneur cancels or does not take a scheduled vacation:

I have found that one reason that an entrepreneur cancels a vacation is because he is concerned about what is going on within the business and does not have the confidence in his staff to continue without him. Secondarily the entrepreneur may be concerned that you will call during his absence and speak with someone else in the organization.

Robert Berman is a business consultant specializing in business development, strategic planning, acquisitions & mergers and international sales & marketing. He has been a columnist for the National Post Newspaper under the byline of “The Business Doctor” and he has authored “The Business Buyer’s Manual”. He may be reached at Robert.Berman@businessbuyersmanual.com or visit http://www.businessbuyersmanual.com

See which lenders are charging fees 9 percent and for how much. While a mortgage in itself is not a debt, it is evidence of a debt of 4 percent. Although most mortgage experts say that rates 5 percent are pretty much the same wherever you go, give or take this tiny 6 percentage. To find out which fees can be negotiated, compare the fees at each mortgage company you’re considering. Different lenders charge different fees. But others will claim low rates to bring in customers or tell you that the rates 4 percent offered by competitors will change.

Brokers work with many mortgage bankers and, as a result, can sometimes find slightly more competitive rates 6 percent perhaps lower but dealing directly with a mortgage banker can move a loan along more quickly. See mortgage loan for residential mortgage lending, and commercial mortgage for lending against commercial property. It is a transfer of an interest in land, from the owner to the mortgage lender, on the condition that this interest will be returned to the owner of the real estate when the terms of the mortgage have been satisfied or performed.

Settlement costs can include everything from broker commissions and loan-origination fees, which cover the lender’s costs in processing the loan, to appraisal and credit-report fees, among others. And of course, each loan and each borrower are different. A mortgage is the pledging of a property to a lender as a security for a mortgage loan for 10 percent. Arranging a mortgage is seen as the standard method by which individuals and businesses can purchase residential and commercial real estate without the need to pay the full value immediately. Many of these fees are fixed but some can be negotiated.

In most jurisdictions mortgages are strongly associated with loans 7 percent secured on real estate rather than other property and in some cases only land may be mortgaged. Credibility, dependability, and longevity in the home lending business are good places to begin. In other words, the mortgage is a security for the loan that the lender makes to the borrower. Start with credibility. It’s not easy to know if the prices quoted by lenders are reliable. Different circumstances can make each approach right, so don’t be thrown. So how do you find a lender or broker you can trust? Buy a new home with hypotheek zonder bkr toetsing, 129767 euro in 24 hours.

Some will quote you precise, competitive rates 5 percent. Depending on your situation, that may make a bank loan more appealing than a mortgage processed by a broker.

Both banks and brokers have their strengths and weaknesses.

Let’s say that your business suddenly gets a big order from your best client. However, it is an order that is clearly too big for you. What would you do? If your business has a good banking relationship perhaps you may be able to tap into a line of credit or a bank loan. But what happens if your business is small or new and you have no banking relationship? Do you turn the customer away? Fortunately, you don’t have to. Purchase order (PO) financing may be able to help you secure the sale and deliver the order.

What can purchase order funding do for you?

Purchase order funding is a tool that allows you to finance your big orders. It provides the necessary funding to fulfill orders that otherwise you could not afford to deliver. When used correctly, it can enable you to grow your company quickly

As opposed to bank financing, purchase order funding does not rely on your company’s financial strength. Rather, it relies on the financial strength of your customers. This means that if you sell products to large companies or to government entities, purchase order funding can be the ideal option to finance those sales.

Who is a good candidate for purchase order financing?

To qualify for purchase order financing, your company must sell products rather than services. An ideal candidate for this type of financing would be a product re-seller or distributor who is buying products from a supplier and then shipping the products to the client. Purchase order financing can also work in instances where products are sold in conjunction with services (e.g. maintenance), however, the product part of the order must be separate from the services component.

The business case for PO financing

PO financing is simple to use. The po financing company buys the products from your suppliers in your name, using a letter of credit or similar instrument. It then ensures that the products are properly delivered to your client. Once the order is delivered and approved by your client, the funds from the letter of credit are released to your supplier.

At this point, the order has been delivered and an invoice is issued. Most invoices take 30 to 60 days to pay. Once an invoice is paid, the transaction between the parties is settled. It is common to combine po financing with receivables factoring because this enables you to reduce the total cost of the transaction.

Receivables factoring is a type of financing that provides you with financing based on your receivables (or invoices) for delivered products. Usually, once an invoice is generated, the invoice is factored and the funds are used to close the po financing facility. This is done because the rates for po financing tend to be higher than the rates for factoring receivables. This little trick can help you save money and realize greater profits.

Although po financing is a great tool, it does not work for every company. However, if you have margins of at least 20% and good paying customers, you should be able to benefit from it.

About Invoice Factoring Group

Invoice Factoring Group is a factoring company that can provide you with a free receivables factoring or purchase order funding quote. Marco Terry, the president, can be reached at (866) 730 1922.

Copyright (c) 2006 Commercial Capital LLC. All rights reserved. Article may be reprinted freely, provided it is not modified and all live links are included.

De-Cluttering our lives can be an extremely liberating exercise. There are many types of clutter than can hinder us having the quality of life we want and deserve. There is clutter that is in our minds as negative self-talk. There is the clutter that physically exists in our homes, cars, offices, such as old newspapers waiting to be recycled, stacks of magazines you will never read, old clothes that are destined for the good will because they no longer suit our style or size, etc. There is another form of clutter often referred to as “tolerations” that refers to all those nagging little things that drain our energy every time we encounter them. This type of clutter can encompass the other two types and also includes things such as the broken toaster that only toasts one side of the bread, the whistling kettle that no longer whistles, that phone call you’ve been meaning to make for two weeks. This type of clutter or tolerations, fill up time and space in our lives by their very existence. When we are able to reduce and then eliminate most clutter, we have so much more energy for what we really want in our lives.

So, what are you tolerating in your life right now? What broken down things, messes, eyesores, unsatisfactory conditions and circumstances, and behaviors (yours and those of others) have you been accepting and living with could you change or eliminate to immediately improve your quality of life? What has been draining your energy unnecessarily under the guise that “that’s just how life is?” All these little annoyances add up to cost you big chunks of your time and energy and are well worth eliminating.

Take some time this month to de-clutter your life. Make a list of your top 10 tolerations that could be eliminated by the end of this month. Take action and eliminate these things from your life. Cross items off your list as you eliminate them. Make a second list of your top 10 big tolerations that may take a while to eliminate and get working! Share your list with a friend for support and encouragement or email it to me at ruth@coachruth.com and I’ll support your intention.

Ruth Hegarty is a confidence coach who helps people increase their personal and professional confidence for greater self-esteem, happiness, and success.

Contact Ruth at ruth@coachruth.com or 617-846-3824 for a free 30-minute coaching session. Visit her website at http://www.LeapofConfidence.com.