Author: plugin

by: Bill Roche
Copyright 2024 Bill Roche

Do you know exactly how your employees feel when Monday morning approaches?

Are they eager to get back to a satisfying workplace and to perform important tasks?

Or, do they sit home Sunday night dreading another week of unimportant work performed for an ogre of a boss?

The truth is probably somewhere in between; but without actual knowledge of the facts, it s hard to improve anything.

The ideal workplace provides employees with empowerment and direction when needed, but shies away from unnecessary micro-management. Employees feel they are contributing to meaningful goals in a significant way. The ideal workplace offers compensation and benefits that meet the needs of employees and cause them to remain loyal to an organization for the long term.

If you don’t know where your employees morale level stands, you can’t make life better or productivity higher. Better morale means greater productivity which translates into an improved bottom line. Unhappy employees miss more work and produce inferior work.

By measuring your employee morale level through an Employee Satisfaction Survey, you can learn how your employees feel provided your employees believe that their honest input will result in appropriate change where needed. The danger of conducting Employee Satisfaction Surveys, of course, is that if you do not allow change where change is needed, you may well cause employee morale to drop even lower.

Suppose, for instance, that one result of a survey is that your employees feel your management style inhibits effective production of quality work. Would you be willing to alter your management style and more proactively empower employees?

If you re not willing to change, you will likely be wasting time and money by performing surveys. If you re willing to keep an open mind, surveys can lead your organization to greater heights and result in decisive morale increases.

Some questions that can reveal a great deal about employee satisfaction include:

(1) Do you feel that management listens to your ideas on how to best accomplish tasks?

(2) Is there a recognizable tie between how well you perform your job and your monetary compensation?

(3) Do you often feel you could do a better job if management would only get out of the way?

(4) Do you feel, once assigned a task, that you are empowered to perform that task?

(5) Do you feel that innovative thinking or “outside the box” thinking is encouraged and rewarded?

(6) Are there enough recognition programs for recognizing outstanding accomplishments on the part of employees?

An effective Employee Satisfaction Survey should not be too lengthy; 20 to 40 questions ought to reveal what you need to know about your employees. Whether you select yes/no questions or choose a 1 to 5 scale (where 5 means complete agreement and 1 means complete disagreement with a survey statement), you should, upon survey completion, compile the results using a database that will let you to analyze the results and convert them into bar charts or other graphics which make them easier to understand.

Once you ve analyzed the survey results, feedback to the employees is crucial. Otherwise, they will likely conclude that what they have to say doesn’t matter, resulting in an additional hit to morale.

Hopefully, some of your survey results will indicate areas of high employee morale. Those areas are not likely to need significant attention. The areas where employee morale gets low scores offer the greatest potential for improvement. Develop an action plan and implement that plan with full knowledge of employees. Better yet, involve employees directly. Employee involvement in the development of the action plan and its implementation can lead to positive outcomes and creative solutions to identified challenges.

Most importantly, be aware that you can only fix what you know is broken. Once you ve identified areas of low employee morale, you can zero in on those weak spots and achieve measurable increases in employee morale, productivity, attendance and loyalty on the part of your employees.

About the author:
Bill Roche is the publisher of “Boosting Employee Morale,” a free ezine that provides readers with tips on how to improve employee morale. For regular tips to move you toward a more positive and productive work environment, sign up for your own subscription at: http://www.TopResults.com

by: Sher Matsen
will vary depending on the insurance agency, your driving record, and the type of insurance you are looking to purchase. I you are looking for affordable car insurance or truck insurance then read on.

There are ways to reduce your premiums without giving up coverage. One of the easiest things to do is get auto insurance rate quotes online. This will allow you to comparative shop stress free.

Raising your deductibles is the easiest way to reduce your rates. The higher the deductible, the lower the premium will be. The deductible is the portion you will have to pay in the event of accident, before your insurance coverage steps in. It s important not to carry a deductible that s more than what you are able to pay. Your insurance company will not honor its portion of the claim until you ve paid your deductible. However, the higher your deductible the lower your premium cost will be, so you need to find a

Always remember to ask your insurance broker for any available discounts. Quite often we forget to ask and they don t seem to volunteer the information. A clean record on the current policy for a certain period of time, having your homeowner’s coverage with the same insurer, taking a defensive driving course, having an accident free driving record, and having an approved anti-theft device will reduce your auto insurance rates.

The type of car you drive can also reduce your rates. Stay away from cars that have a high class rating. Rates vary among the different makes and models of vehicles. The different rates are based on the risk of accident, cost to repair, higher theft rates for a particular model and replacement costs such as with a new vehicle. So be sure your vehicle isn t going to be in a category that increases your rates too much.

A safe driving record consisting of no accidents and no traffic violations will get you the most substantial discount. Most insurance companies are very good at recognizing good driving habits. These are the drivers they want to insure because their risk is much lower.

If the car is old and not very valuable, comprehensive insurance is probably not worth buying as it can quickly add up to more than you d ever receive in the event of an accident. You can save up to 20% by eliminating collision insurance. You may want to opt not to carry collision insurance as well which can save you and additional 20%.

Check around to make sure you are getting the best auto rates you can. Online auto insurance shopping has taken the guess work out of buying insurance and you can very quickly see if you are being hosed. So if your insurance is coming due now is the time to start shopping!.

About the author:
2024 Sher from The Auto Insurance Center has been serving customers for over 20 years. Please visit us at http://www.all-auto-insurance.com/

by: Al Walker
Here’s a real simple way to become wealthy.

Marty and his wife live at home with their 2 children. They own
a 3 bedroom house in a middle class neighborhood and try to live
within their means. Marty works full time in the Printing
Industry, while his wife is in charge of the home and looking
after the children.

They’ve accumulated some credit card debt and have 2 years left
on a car loan. They try to stay out of debt as much as possible
and together they’ve managed to contribute a total of $32,000 to
their own Retirement Fund. It is kept in term deposits receiving
5% interest annually.

Two years prior, the couple bought an older house that they
fixed-up and rent out for $850 a month. After paying the
mortgage and taxes $300 is left over each month. This goes into
their savings account each month.

At Christmas, the family bought themselves a new computer and
decided to start a home-b2024 business. Things started out
fairly slowly but after 8 months they were receiving a steady
check of $400 a month which also goes into their savings
account. This part-time business will continue to grow with the
effort they dedicate to it.

This business also offers them some very lucrative tax savings.
By taking advantage of these Tax Strategies they are able to
save an additional $300 a month on tax that was normally
deducted from Marty’s paycheck at work. This monthly income is
also added to the couple’s savings.

Marty has just begun writing an E-book about his “production
expertise” at work. His plan is to market this book on the
internet for profit

Every Sunday the couple takes a drive to stay familiar with the
Real Estate market in their area. They’re looking for another
property, a “handyman’s special” to fix-up and rent out. They
have saved enough for a down payment and their credit with the
bank is well established.

The family’s total monthly expenses are $2000. Now, here’s the
question:

Does Marty’s family have Wealth yet?

To answer this question properly you first have to understand
exactly what “wealth” means.You achieve wealth when: *Your
Passive Income is the same or greater than your Expenses.* So
what does this mean?

First, what is Passive Income?

Passive Income is money that you are paid over and over again
for work that you only do once. (This excludes using a gun or
finding cash on the street) Some examples of this would be
royalties for writing a book or a song, commissions that you
receive for sales that others make and interest from bank
savings or dividends on stocks/options that you own.

Second, what Expenses are we talking about? This one’s a little
easier to understand. Expenses are the total amount it takes to
run your household and your life. This includes, rent, mortgage
payments, car insurance, food, credit card and loan payments,
etc

Let’s look at Marty’s family a little closer . Does Marty
have any Passive Income? Yes he does. Marty’s salary is not
considered Passive Income. That’s because he has to work 40
hours a week just to get the basic amount. If Marty doesn’t go
to work then he doesn’t get paid. His overtime also doesn’t
count as Passive Income.

The interest from their Retirement Fund does though. It’s paid
to him month after month as long as it’s left in that account.
So, $32,000 at 5% is $1600 a year. Divided by 12 months equals
$133 a month in interest. Ok ..what else?

After the mortgage and expenses are paid with the rent money
they receive on their rental property they are left with $300
every month. This is Passive Income. Just as long as the tenant
stays and pays his monthly rent.

How bout that $400 from the home-based business and the Tax
savings. Is this Passive Income? Well, Marty’s wife made sure
that she chose a company where she could sign new business
accounts and get paid commissions on those accounts over and
over again. They’ve made a 5 year commitment to build this
business part-time. So yes, both the $400 and the $300 in Tax
Savings would apply as Passive Income. Let’s add up Marty’s
total Passive Income.

Interest $166.00 Rental Income $300.00 Home Based
Business$400.00 Tax Savings $300.00 Total $1166.00

Not including Marty’s salary from work, his family’s Passive
Income is $1166.00. Not bad. Every month this amount flows into
the family’s bank account, regardless of anything else they do.

We said that Marty’s monthly expenses total $2000.00 a month.
And we also said You have Wealth when: *Your Passive Income
is the same or greater than your Expenses.*

$2000 Expenses subtract $1166 Passive Income = $834 monthly
balance needed to have Wealth.

Marty’s Expenses are still more than their Passive Income so
they’re not wealthy just yet. But they’re well over half-way
there. With this kind of knowledge a family can know exactly
where to focus their financial attention.

Maybe when Marty writes that ebook he could get some sales and
royalties from it. Also the new Real Estate and more work on
their Home-based business would certainly help them to attain
more Passive Income. Once Marty’s Passive Income is more than
the family’s Expenses then Marty could start to have much more
freedom. He may even choose to quit his job and continue
developing his Passive Income streams.

Take a look at your own finances. What are your monthly
expenses? Do you have more Passive Income than your Expenses? If
you do Congratulations. You’re Wealthy!!! If you don’t. It’s
time to get started and start adding Passive Income from other
areas as soon as possible.

When you truly understand this principle, you’ll be well on your
way to becoming wealthy

About the author:
Al Walker, makes it easy to launch a successful online business and rapidly build your wealth to a six-figure income. Learn the 5 essential keys to online success. To receive your free 4-part mini-course visit: http://www.businessprogramreviews.com

by: Chris Rohrer
Everyone seems to be trying to work from home today. With the success most people are having from running a home base business everyone wants to get in on it. I myself have started up a home based business, but I keep my full time job. I have the time and freedom to do what I want to my business when I want.

Starting a home business is not that easy though. You have to be willing to work hard to get it up and running to the point where it almost makes you money with out you doing anything. Once you have reached that part of your business that is when most people will start another home business. That is how they make even more money by running more then just one home business. It took me a good two months before my home business got off the ground and into gear.

I have the found the perfect work from home business that anyone can do. With my hard work I put into my home business I started to see results a few months after I started. What is this business? It s working with the e-currency exchange program. It is simple to start but hard at first because there is a learning curve. I bought a simple guide that showed me step by step how to start off in this amazing business. Once I was done I invested $400 and applied the steps that I learned, and watched my money grow to $4,000 in under Two months.

The more you put in the more you will make. My little brother (21 years old) didn t think it worked but gave it a shot and only invested $100 into it. Before he knew it his money turned into $700 in under 32 days. You can see just that little more put in will make a big difference. The great thing about the e-currency exchange program is that your money grows everyday by 1.5% – 4.0%. There is nothing better then watching my money grow day after day. This is the easiest home business that I found that really does work.

About the author:
Learn how I invested $400 and made it $4,000 in under 2 months time. Please visite E-currency Online
for more information.

by: Timothy F

Shopping around for a car insurance estimate is not something most people look forward to. It is one of the least exciting chores that is required in order to have a car on the road, but it is worth seeking out the most competitive car insurance estimate available. Although getting a car insurance estimate from a number of companies isn t a desirable task; many people spend far more than they absolutely have to each year on their auto insurance because they simply haven t taken the time to compare rates and policies with other auto insurance companies. It would be hard to find someone who would walk into an appliance store and decide to spend $200.00 more on a washer that offers the same exact quality and features as the one next to it that costs far less. It doesn t make too much sense to do the same thing with car insurance.

Most of the time, a car insurance estimate will include collision, liability and comprehensive coverage on a vehicle. Most households have two or more vehicles and every car should be included when seeking out a car insurance estimate. There are a few things that can be done to make getting a car insurance estimate easier and more accurate especially when dealing with more than one car insurance company.

One of the best things to do before looking for a car insurance estimate is to see exactly what the state requirements are as far as what the necessary minimum coverage is in order to have adequate coverage. This is something that might be better to do without the assistance of an insurance agency if possible because their job is to sell insurance and they make more money with the more coverage they are able to sell.

In order to spend less time on the phone when looking for a car insurance estimate, it is a good idea to have a number of items handy including a driver s license, vehicle identification numbers, make, model and year of each car and even the name and contact information for the company that is financing all vehicles if applicable. There are also a number of factors that can be taken into consideration when seeking a car insurance estimate that may mean additional savings per year. Features on each auto including airbags, auto alarms, anti-lock brakes and other things may mean discounts on auto insurance. Some insurance companies will even offer discounts for having more than one policy with their company as well as insuring multiple cars through with their coverage. Additional discounts may be found through other things like accident-free driving record, defensive driving course incentives and other discounts.

Other circumstances may cost a driver more with certain companies when looking for a car insurance estimate. Men under the age of 25, single drivers, younger drivers under the age of 21, the number of miles driven per day and even the kind of car that is driven can cost a person more money on car insurance when shopping around. The best part about this is that not one car insurance will probably charge the same amount of money for the same coverage so shopping around will prove that there are better choices available.

About The Author
Timothy is the webmaster and owner of ” Discounted-Car-Insurance.com ” and has been researching and reporting on Car Insurance Estimate solutions for years. Click Here ==> http://www.discounted-car-insurance.com/

2024 About the author:
About The Author
Timothy is the webmaster and owner of ” Discounted-Car-Insurance.com ” and has been researching and reporting on Car Insurance Estimate solutions for years. Click Here ==> http://www.discounted-car-insurance.com/

by: Greg Ryan
Our country is just starting to face the music for our actions. It’s expected that millions will have weak bones, get diabetes, become obese, and die of heart disease in the next five or ten years. Will you be one of these people?

My responsibility as a high profile fitness expert lies not in if you like me, or even if you buy my e books. My responsibility lies in giving you straight talk with no sugar coating it. Some of you will not like what I have to say, even though it is the truth. And that may be where the problem of American’s health problems lies. No one wants to give you the truth.

You want quick fixes to your health problem that has taken years to develop. You get it by purchasing gimmicks that promise you fast results. You fall for it, and at the end of the day you are more frustrated than every. Why? Because you are denying the root of your problems.

I have counseled thousands of people over my twenty year tender as a personal trainer, health club consultant and best selling author. And in all my travels, the answers to people’s problems with weight come down to one thing: it’s a matter of choice!

My approach with people is, either you pay a price now or you will face the music later on down the road. I am really tired of dancing around and trying to delicately ask people to eat better and get some form of exercise. When all the while, most I know are in the least bit serious about their health, and have no idea what they are in for down the road.

Don’t waste your money on products that are not long lasting and do not teach you anything. I know you want fast results but you will just waste your money. Let me remind you, until you deal with your approach to weight loss the other is pie in the sky.

What if you knew that if you didn’t exercise, you would face the CONSEQUENCES soon?

What if you knew that your kids would do exactly as you do? Most people wait until something happens to them or to someone close to them before they change their lifestyle habits.

Our country is just starting to face the music for our actions. Look at what we’ve done to ourselves over the last thirty years. It’s expected that millions will have weak bones, get diabetes, become obese, and die of heart disease in the next five or ten years. Will you be one of these people?

There are no guarantees that healthy living will add one more day to your life, but what if it could? At the very least, what if your day-to-day quality of life could be better? Or worse yet, what if tomorrow a stroke, heart attack, or cancer struck your life? What then? The first thing to do is for you to face the music or embrace the reality of your health. Accepting your circumstances does not mean you are admitting defeat. It means you are starting to build a foundation in order to move forward.

If you need to go get a check up, do it. Not knowing about your health is worse than getting the facts. If you need to ask for help, then do it. Two good heads working together are better than one bad heart.

In my father’s eyes

‘If only I had known this was going to happen to me?’ That’s what my father said to me last year in the hospital room after suffering a heart attack. The man who showed no fear, never sweat under pressure or complained about anything, laid before me scared as a little boy who just lost his mother in a grocery store. ‘If only I had known, I would have taken my blood pressure medicine. I would have eaten less fried stuff, and I would have walked a little more,’ he whispered.

Denial, Pride and Laziness almost got the best of my father that day, yet he lived. He was lucky. The next time he may not be. Next time YOU may not be!

In a Nut Shell:

Life sometimes has a way of giving us slight hints or sometimes shocking wake-up calls. The question is, ‘Will you answer the call?’ Would your life be any different if you knew what the future held? Most of us would say it would be. The truth is in that old saying, ‘We really are not promised tomorrow.’

You may not be able to change when you will die, but you sure can change how you feel each day through daily exercise and eating the right foods. What would your life be like if you felt better, had more energy and lowered your stress levels? Can you imagine?

If you had to choose which one would motivate you more to exercise–truth or the consequences–which one would you, choose? Most would say it would have to be the consequences. No one wants bad things to happen to their health. No one wants to pay the price for his or her bad decision, right?

‘Are you going to let Denial, Pride, and Laziness keep their grip on you?’ There are no guarantees that exercise and eating will prolong death or ward off a disease. However, there is a good chance they can give you a better quality of life? No doubt our health as a whole will get worse before it gets better, but it does not have to be that way for you.

The bottom line is: denying your health is a losing cause; entertaining pride is a waste of energy; and being lazy is no excuse for anything.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Greg Ryan is a high profile fitness expert and former employee of Kathy Smiths. Body building champion, public speaker and personal trainer to the stars. Start getting in better shape today!For FREE MINI COURES click here www.resolutions.bz

by: Phil Goglia
How to Choose a Personal Trainer

In the fitness industry there is a joke that goes something like this: ‘The reason I decided not to become a personal trainer is that I had no table waiting experience and I didn’t want to become an actor.’

This may sound humorous but, unfortunately, there is a core of truth there. Because there are no strict guidelines about who can call themselves a trainer, almost anyone who has a job or career aspiration that demands a high degree of physical fitness can hang out a shingle or get a job coaching at your local gym. In fact, it is very common for an actor, sports model, or athlete to try to pick up extra money by working as a fitness instructor, especially because there is good money to be made by doing so.

While these individuals may know what works for them as far as exercise and diet goes, that does not automatically qualify them to train others or to give them nutritional counseling.

What Are Your Goals?
The first thing you need to be clear about when considering a trainer is what goals you have in mind. Do you want someone who can design an exercise and nutritional protocol that will help you to shed 20 or more pounds? Do you want to develop greater strength and muscularity, perhaps with the guided use of protein drinks and sports supplements? Do you want to get back into shape after a pregnancy or a long period spent without exercise? Or maybe you are trying to slim down for a class reunion, wedding, or other family event.

Once you are clear on what you would like to accomplish, it will be easier to find the person who has the experience and qualifications to help you get there.

Where Do I Find Trainers to Interview?
There are several ways to locate trainers. Word of mouth through friends, colleagues, or your family doctor are good places to start. You might also check your Yellow Pages under ‘Personal Trainers,’ ‘Health Clubs,’ and ‘Exercise and Physical Fitness.’

Another great resource is the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), one of the largest nationally recognized fitness organizations (www.nsca-lift.org).

Questions You Should Ask a Prospective Trainer
Once you have found a trainer who look promising, you need to learn as much about their qualifications as possible. The first and most important question you should ask is ‘What qualifies you to be a personal trainer?’ NSCA and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists (CSCS) are two nationally recognized certifications. A background in exercise physiology, sports medicine, physical education, or anatomy and physiology are also helpful because that tells you that this individual has made a thorough study of the body and how it works.

It would also be a plus if your trainer were involved in some sort of elite exercise him- or herself, such as body building.

If you need nutritional guidance from a trainer, make sure that he or she has some kind of solid education and background in the subject.

Ask your prospective trainer what their goals are. If they tell you they want to star in films or have their own sitcom on NBC, they are probably not the right person for you.
You will also want to know the length of time a person has been working as a trainer and how many clients they have coached.

The most important thing you can request are client referrals. Speaking with people who have received fitness instruction from the trainer you are considering will give you an idea whether he or she is the right person for you.

Some questions you might consider asking clients are:

‘How long have you worked with this trainer?
‘Has he or she helped you to achieve your goals?
‘Do you feel like this trainer makes efficient use of the time you have together?
‘Does this trainer clearly explain each exercise to you and help you to perform it with good posture and body positioning?
‘Have you ever been injured when working out with this trainer?
‘Do you find him or her professional and supportive of your goals?

Starting Out: What to Expect
Once you have chosen a trainer, there are certain questions they should ask you and evaluations they should perform.

First, they should be very clear about what your goals are and make some suggestions as to how they can help you to achieve them.

Before even beginning an exercise program they should do a complete physical evaluation of your strength, range of motion, flexibility, current exercise routine (if you’ve been working out on your own), any injuries you might have sustained over the years, and any physical limitations you might have (such as a weak lower back or arthritis in your knee or shoulder joints).

Once they have designed a unique program to fit your body type, level of ability, and goals, they should be able to give you clear instructions and a clear idea of how to correctly position your body on any exercise ball, machine, or with any free weights.

You will only get the maximum benefit from each exercise and avoid injury if your trainer is knowledgeable about physiology. They should be able to coach you on correct posture, which includes good head, neck, shoulder, arm, lower back, hip, and leg positions for each machine or exercise.

Good posture and positioning of the body will enable you to perform exercises correctly and without pain. If something is hurting you or you feel undue strain, stop immediately and communicate this to your fitness instructor. Improving your level of fitness takes effort, endurance, and consistency, but not to the point of strain or injury.

A good workout program should include enough sets and repetitions of each movement to challenge you and to fully work each body part. If you are doing two sessions per week with a trainer, they should spend one on upper body and abdominals and the second session on lower body and abdominals. In other words, they should thoroughly work each section of the body and allow it enough time to recover in between workouts.

Warning Signs
There are certain behaviors you should be aware of that might indicate that a trainer is not being as professional as they should be with a client.

A trainer should be a good listener, always attentive to your goals. If your trainer is constantly using a lot of ‘I’ and ‘me’ statements, they are not making good use of your time together. They should be focused on your needs, your progress, and what you require.

A good trainer should always respect emotional boundaries. Beware of trainers who want to tell you their life story, ask you for advice in their career, or pour out their heartaches and stories about their love life. You are their client, not their therapist. It is equally time-wasting to work with a trainer who encourages you to take about your own problems. In such a situation is it easy to feel sucked dry emotionally and talk your way through your hour, instead of getting the full workout you are there to do.

We are all human and have our ups and downs’and we mention them from time to time’but this should first and foremost always be a professional relationship from which you need to get a certain amount of value for your physique.

Lastly, a good trainer should always keep upgrading your workout. If weeks go by and someone is still having you do the same amount of sets and reps with the same amount of weight, they are not helping you to make progress. The body will eventually acclimate itself to any exercise routine and it needs to be continually challenged.
If you follow these guidelines, you should be able to find a trainer who will help you to meet your goals and improve your physique, energy levels, and general health. Good luck!

About the Author

Philip Goglia is a Los Angeles-based nutritionist, trainer, and author. Goglia has just released SmartJourney, a metabolic food program that is personally tailored for each individual. ‘There is no one-size-fits-all diet,’ says Goglia. ‘We realize that everyone has their own unique metabolic type, and we design a program just for you.’ For more information about effective exercise and nutrition, please visit his website www.SmartJourney.com.