Wyndham Worldwide rises as Goldman Sachs upgrades

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Video: Lotto Mania: Lump Sum vs. Annuity Payoff

NBC's Gabe Gutierrez reports on tonight's drawing of the largest lottery in world history; and Austan Goolsbee, University of Chicago professor and Ron Insana, CNBC contributor, weigh in on why they would prefer a lump sum.

Related Links:

Business & financial news headlines from msnbc.com

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Business Insurance As Part Of The Risk Management Process

Business and business insurance evolve each year.? New challenges, new products, new strategies, and fresh risks continuously appear.? Insurance companies adapt and even produce entirely new forms of coverage to suit these changes.? All of these kinds of coverage come under risk administration.

The process of risk management involves several cyclical steps.? It begins with setting up a context, then continues towards managing the risks evaluated and prioritized.? An important factor of risk treatment is insurance.? Following this, a period of monitoring and re-evaluation of the effectiveness from the treatment may ensue before the process begins again.

The actual context of a risk indicates establishing the factors to be used any time weighing a risk.? This includes identifying the capabilities, limitations, opportunities and hazards involved in the operation of an enterprise, for both the company and its clients.? It also features the targets of the company and performance signals which tell whether the goals towards an objective are being achieved in a timely and joyful manner.

Once the circumstance is established, the potential risks involved in achieving company objectives are recognized.? A careful analysis of these risks is completed.? For prioritization and analysis purposes, every risk identified is also quantified.? These are usually then incorporated into performance indicators so that those that have the most impact may be prioritized.? Only after these kinds of stages can one formulate any coherent and also well-directed risk administration plan.

It is at the risk treatment period that the greatest insurance policy should be sought.? The components of any policy should be personalized to meet each identified risk accordingly.? After the actual insurance has been sought, the risk administration plan is going to be implemented, watched and evaluated.? This will include how well the enterprise?s insurance coverage matches the actual company?s actual wants and operation throughout the remainder of the year.

For many companies it becomes an annual process, where risk treatment occurs during the initial quarter of the year, and risk analysis begins in the last quarter of that year.? As new types of coverage can be found, the company are able to take advantage of all of them and integrate them into their current method.? It is in this way that risk management and also business insurance go hand-in-hand.

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Get your business insurance quote today, visit http://businessinsurancequote.com.au/

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JetBlue co-pilot becomes an unlikely hero

A federal criminal complaint alleges that JetBlue captain Clayton Osbon told his first officer, "we need to take a leap of faith." NBC's Tom Costello reports.

By msnbc.com news services

In the wake of JetBlue captain?Clayton Osbon's?mid-air meltdown on Tuesday, many are calling first officer Jason Dowd, the?co-pilot of flight 191, a hero.

Pilots train for a range of in-flight mishaps including sick passengers, emergency landings and terrorist attacks, the Associated Press reports. But Dowd faced the rarest of scenarios: deciding whether to lock his incapacitated captain out of the cockpit and make an emergency landing after Osbon began exhibiting bizarre behavior.

Osbon, 49, is charged with interfering with a flight crew and, if convicted, could face 20 years in prison.

According to court documents,?Dowd was "really worried" when Osbon told him "we need to take a leap of faith." Concerned about Osbon's behavior, Dowd suggested that they invite an off-duty JetBlue captain who was flying as a passenger to come into the cockpit

Instead, witness accounts describe Osbon telling his co-pilot "things just don't matter" and sprinting down the center aisle ? yelling jumbled remarks about Sept. 11 and Iran.

The off-duty captain then joined Dowd, and from inside the locked cockpit, which Osbon tried to re-enter by banging on the door, the co-pilot gave an order through the intercom to restrain Osbon, according to the documents, which don't mention Dowd by name.?

Clayton Osbon, who had been flying for nearly 25 years, allegedly began yelling at air traffic controllers and later ran toward the cockpit door after getting locked out. He has been charged with interfering with a flight crew. NBC's Tom Costello reports.

Just north of Texas, the Kansas City air traffic center handed the A320 over to Amarillo airport tower controllers to handle the emergency landing, according to people familiar with the matter and air traffic control tapes released by LiveATC.net.

"Control tower: (Jet) Blue 191 declare emergency," crackled the radio at the Amarillo control tower. "Uh, we're going to need priority to get into Amarillo and, uh, we're going to need a few minutes to get everything straightened out."

The responses from the cockpit were clipped as controllers read out coordinates. The crew asked for security and medical help to meet them on the tarmac. JetBlue was cleared to land eight miles from the runway and within a few moments was down safely. The diversion took 20 minutes.

JetBlue said it had turned over the plane's cockpit voice recorder to the FBI.

The "black box" should allow investigators to compare at least some of the flight deck conversations and other sounds with statements from witnesses about the harrowing flight.

Dowd, an Ohio native who still lives in his hometown of Salem,?is staying out of the public eye for now, but a wave of overnight fame ? much like 'Miracle on the Hudson' Capt. Chesley Sullenberger ? likely awaits. JetBlue says the decision on whether to go public is up to him, but they're not commenting more out of respect for his privacy.

JetBlue has praised Dowd's actions,?along with crew members and an off-duty pilot who stepped in to assist.

"Knowing my son, he would think that he's not a hero. He just did what he was paid to do," Dowd's mother, Jean Beatrice Dowd, told CNN.

"That's just his job, and he loves his job. He's just a quiet man."

His mother-in-law Ruth Ann Kostal said Thursday that Dowd doesn't think he's a hero, but she's not surprised he acted cool under pressure.

"I'm glad for those people he was the co-pilot that day," Kostal said. "Thank God, he was there."

Dowd hasn't been able to come home yet because he's still being interviewed by federal authorities in New York, Kostal said. He has made no public comments about Tuesday's flight.

?Passengers, including those who helped restrain Osbon, also credit Dowd for landing their plane safely.

"I think the co-pilot is really the hero here," passenger Tony Antolino told TODAY. "He had the instincts to recognize that something was going horribly wrong in the cockpit."

David Gonzalez, a 50-year-old former New York corrections office from Tannersville, Pa., who helped tackle Osbon, credits Dowd for getting the captain out of the cockpit and locking the door so he couldn't get back in.

"It's because of his actions that we're here," Gonzalez said of Dowd.

?Public relations experts say there are big pros and cons to going public, like what "Sully" and his co-captain Jeff Skiles experienced in the aftermath of their emergency landing in the Hudson River.?

"For some folks it's a lot to deal with ? especially all at once," said Dr. Ron Bishop, a professor of culture and communication at Drexel University in Philadelphia. "It seems given all the outlets and different means in which we communicate, the attention paid to a person in that situation is ramped up considerably."?

David E. Johnson, CEO of Strategic Vision, LLC, a leading public relations agency, said if Dowd comes forward, it would likely give JetBlue a needed public relations boost.

"JetBlue needs someone to really step the forefront. It's the second person there that's gone berserk they need to show that they've got good and heroic employees," he said.

In 2010, JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater pulled the emergency chute on a flight after it landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport. He went on the public-address system, swore at a passenger, grabbed a beer and slid down onto the tarmac. He was sentenced to probation, counseling and substance abuse treatment for attempted criminal mischief.

This week, JetBlue reminded all of its 14,000 employees, including 2,200 pilots, of counseling services and other assistance. The company offered legal help to the crew, including Osbon. Passengers will receive a refund for their one-way fare as well as a voucher for twice the value of their original ticket.

The airline also said it would review the incident to see whether the company should change policies on recruitment, training and health screening.

"We believe that our recruitment practices and screening policies are thoughtful, and we believe they work well," said JetBlue spokeswoman Jenny Dervin. "We're going to take a look at everything in relation to the incident itself. Everything is always up for review," Dervin said, noting the carrier follows Federal Aviation Administration guidelines for pilot fitness evaluations.

Like other airlines, JetBlue offers its flight crew a?"safety time out" option that allows them to miss work when they are too tired. Dervin said employees face no penalty for calling a time out, but they will be asked the reason. Dervin said she didn't know how frequently the time outs are used. She said the airline deals with each one on a case-by-case basis and uses them to spot trends in flight crew fatigue. The Federal Aviation Administration had no comment on the flight controller details, saying the matter was still under investigation.

As much as JetBlue likely wants to put Slater's and Osbon's outbursts behind them, Johnson said there's another reason why Dowd may not want to go public.

"He's probably just very low key and just thinks he did what he was supposed to do," Johnson said.?

Information from NBC News, the Associated Press and Reuters was included in this report.

More on Overhead Bin

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Source: http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/29/10927245-thank-god-he-was-there-jetblue-co-pilot-an-unlikely-hero

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A mentor's story ? Marzia Aloisio | Get Mentoring

Marzia Aloisio joined an artisan bakery called The Moody Baker in Alston in 2005 after moving to the North of England from London. In 2010 she and her business partners opened a sister shop in Barnard Castle, County Durham, and Marzia faced the challenge of starting up and running a company from scratch. This experience left her well-versed in the intricacies of running a small rural business: from the early stages of writing business plans, filling out grant applications, recruiting staff and financial planning, to growing an enterprise through product development, exploring new markets and building relationships with suppliers and clients. Marzia says, ?I have met with most of the difficulties of running a business in a rural area and learned to overcome them. As a partner in an artisan bakery I have been involved in both production and retail aspects of the food industry.? Part of that start-up process brought Marzia into contact with some extremely helpful mentors as she looked for funding and business support opportunities in the region: ?I met with people who really opened my eyes to different options and helped me to examine issues in more detail. Their knowledge also helped to make me aware of schemes that I could benefit from ? through The Rural Jobs Fund, for example, we were provided with a member of staff who stayed with us for several months. He had been long-term unemployed but became a fantastic addition to our team.? Having seen first-hand the impact that well-placed advice and guidance can have on an enterprise, Marzia is now focused on doing the same for others. She recently left The Moody Baker for a change of scene, saying, ?I am keen on pursuing a career in business advice services and I thought that the mentor training would give me some of the necessary skills and volunteering would provide a taste of the job. She is now actively looking for her first mentee, preferably a start-up that can directly benefit from her knowledge and experience: ?I?m passionate about the food industry, fresh organic produce and working with local suppliers so I?d like to help anyone who shares those values and could use my experience. I would like to work within the local entrepreneurial community and volunteering as a mentor would enable me to start that.?

Source: http://getmentoring.org/a-mentors-story-marzia-aloisio/

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Deaths from cancer in U.S. continue to fall | The Raw Story

By Agence France-Presse
Wednesday, March 28, 2012 18:28 EDT

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WASHINGTON ? Cancer deaths in the United States continued to decline over the past decade, said a yearly report on US cancer statistics released Wednesday.

Trends in death rates from cancer declined an average of 1.7 percent per year among men and 1.3 percent among women and children from 1998 to 2008, the latest period studied, said the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer.

New cancer diagnoses also decreased less than one percent per year from 1996 to 2006 and leveled off from 2006 to 2008.

Cancer rates and deaths began to decline among US men and women in the 1990s, marking the first such drop since the 1930s.

The report is compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society.

The decline in death rates was seen for many common cancers, but there were some exceptions.

Among men and women, death rates due to pancreatic cancer rose slightly. Death rates from liver cancer and melanoma rose among men, and death rates from uterine cancer rose in women.

The report focused in the average yearly incidence rates of cancers and cancer deaths per 100,000 people in the population, and highlighted the problem of cancers caused by obesity in a nation where two in three people are overweight or obese.

?This report emphasizes that the growing obesity problem and decreased overall physical activity in our society compared to decades ago have a real impact on multiple diseases, including cancer,? said Jeffrey Meyerhardt, a colorectal cancer expert at Harvard University.

?While we currently see declines in incidence of many cancers, if obesity continues at the current rates, I believe these improvements in incidences will reverse and increase over time.?

Cancers that may be linked to eating habits and weight include colorectal cancer, as well as cancer of the kidney, esophagus, pancreas, breast and endometrial lining.

?If you watch your diet, exercise, and manage your weight, you can not only prevent your risk of getting many lethal forms of cancer, you will also increase your chances of doing well, if you should get almost any form of cancer,? added Edward Benz, president of Dana-Farber Cancer in Institute in Boston.

The American Cancer Society has projected that 577,190 Americans will die of cancer in 2012 and more than 1.6 million new cases will be diagnosed.

Agence France-Presse

AFP journalists cover wars, conflicts, politics, science, health, the environment, technology, fashion, entertainment, the offbeat, sports and a whole lot more in text, photographs, video, graphics and online.

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Source: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/03/28/deaths-from-cancer-in-u-s-continue-to-fall/

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Ten possible vice-presidential candidates for the GOP ticket

Presidential front-runner Mitt Romney doesn't yet have a lock on the Republican nomination, and even if he did, he'd be unlikely to announce a vice-presidential running mate until, oh, about August.?

Does that mean it?s too soon to start speculating about the choices? Don?t be silly.

Political writers and pundits have been salivating to begin one of the favored handicapping contests of any presidential year, and Mitt?s rise to the level of presumptive nominee seems to have given them the go-ahead.?Here are 10 of the most likely possibilities.

- Amanda Paulson,?Staff writer

1. Marco Rubio

Marco Rubio, a tea party favorite and a first-term US senator from Florida, seems to have everything going for him when it comes to what Mr. Romney might want in his running mate.

He?s a Hispanic senator from a key swing state who is popular with many of the more conservative Republicans who question Romney?s credentials. He potentially helps Romney with Latinos (a group with whom Romney struggles), Southern voters, Florida voters, and tea party voters.

True, he?s relatively inexperienced, and he?s insisted he doesn?t want to be VP ? but he?s taking a lot of steps that seem to be positioning him for that role.

Yes, it?s early in the game, but Senator Rubio is the clear favorite so far.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/ZG5a4UcugCw/Ten-possible-vice-presidential-candidates-for-the-GOP-ticket

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New dimension for solar energy: Innovative 3-D designs more than double the solar power generated per area

ScienceDaily (Mar. 27, 2012) ? Intensive research around the world has focused on improving the performance of solar photovoltaic cells and bringing down their cost. But very little attention has been paid to the best ways of arranging those cells, which are typically placed flat on a rooftop or other surface, or sometimes attached to motorized structures that keep the cells pointed toward the sun as it crosses the sky.

Now, a team of MIT researchers has come up with a very different approach: building cubes or towers that extend the solar cells upward in three-dimensional configurations. Amazingly, the results from the structures they've tested show power output ranging from double to more than 20 times that of fixed flat panels with the same base area.

The biggest boosts in power were seen in the situations where improvements are most needed: in locations far from the equator, in winter months and on cloudier days. The new findings, based on both computer modeling and outdoor testing of real modules, have been published in the journal Energy and Environmental Science.

"I think this concept could become an important part of the future of photovoltaics," says the paper's senior author, Jeffrey Grossman, the Carl Richard Soderberg Career Development Associate Professor of Power Engineering at MIT.

The MIT team initially used a computer algorithm to explore an enormous variety of possible configurations, and developed analytic software that can test any given configuration under a whole range of latitudes, seasons and weather. Then, to confirm their model's predictions, they built and tested three different arrangements of solar cells on the roof of an MIT laboratory building for several weeks.

While the cost of a given amount of energy generated by such 3-D modules exceeds that of ordinary flat panels, the expense is partially balanced by a much higher energy output for a given footprint, as well as much more uniform power output over the course of a day, over the seasons of the year, and in the face of blockage from clouds or shadows. These improvements make power output more predictable and uniform, which could make integration with the power grid easier than with conventional systems, the authors say.

The basic physical reason for the improvement in power output -- and for the more uniform output over time -- is that the 3-D structures' vertical surfaces can collect much more sunlight during mornings, evenings and winters, when the sun is closer to the horizon, says co-author Marco Bernardi, a graduate student in MIT's Department of Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE).

The time is ripe for such an innovation, Grossman adds, because solar cells have become less expensive than accompanying support structures, wiring and installation. As the cost of the cells themselves continues to decline more quickly than these other costs, they say, the advantages of 3-D systems will grow accordingly.

"Even 10 years ago, this idea wouldn't have been economically justified because the modules cost so much," Grossman says. But now, he adds, "the cost for silicon cells is a fraction of the total cost, a trend that will continue downward in the near future." Currently, up to 65 percent of the cost of photovoltaic (PV) energy is associated with installation, permission for use of land and other components besides the cells themselves.

Although computer modeling by Grossman and his colleagues showed that the biggest advantage would come from complex shapes -- such as a cube where each face is dimpled inward -- these would be difficult to manufacture, says co-author Nicola Ferralis, a research scientist in DMSE. The algorithms can also be used to optimize and simplify shapes with little loss of energy. It turns out the difference in power output between such optimized shapes and a simpler cube is only about 10 to 15 percent -- a difference that is dwarfed by the greatly improved performance of 3-D shapes in general, he says. The team analyzed both simpler cubic and more complex accordion-like shapes in their rooftop experimental tests.

At first, the researchers were distressed when almost two weeks went by without a clear, sunny day for their tests. But then, looking at the data, they realized they had learned important lessons from the cloudy days, which showed a huge improvement in power output over conventional flat panels.

For an accordion-like tower -- the tallest structure the team tested -- the idea was to simulate a tower that "you could ship flat, and then could unfold at the site," Grossman says. Such a tower could be installed in a parking lot to provide a charging station for electric vehicles, he says.

So far, the team has modeled individual 3-D modules. A next step is to study a collection of such towers, accounting for the shadows that one tower would cast on others at different times of day. In general, 3-D shapes could have a big advantage in any location where space is limited, such as flat-rooftop installations or in urban environments, they say. Such shapes could also be used in larger-scale applications, such as solar farms, once shading effects between towers are carefully minimized.

A few other efforts -- including even a middle-school science-fair project last year -- have attempted 3-D arrangements of solar cells. But, Grossman says, "our study is different in nature, since it is the first to approach the problem with a systematic and predictive analysis."

David Gracias, an associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Johns Hopkins University who was not involved in this research, says that Grossman and his team "have demonstrated theoretical and proof-of-concept evidence that 3-D photovoltaic elements could provide significant benefits in terms of capturing light at different angles. The challenge, however, is to mass produce these elements in a cost-effective manner."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The original article was written by David L. Chandler.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. Marco Bernardi, Nicola Ferralis, Jin H. Wan, Rachelle Villalon, Jeffrey C. Grossman. Solar energy generation in three dimensions. Energy & Environmental Science, 2012; DOI: 10.1039/C2EE21170J

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120327094615.htm

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The Increase In Search engine marketing Businesses All around ...

Companies nowadays are actually very well recognized inside the on-line community. This is a great pattern move because of the trend of men and women making use of the web daily. As an internet company, you want your company or group to get on top on the google search pages. Nonetheless this can be not achievable without using the works of an Seo or Search engine optimization business. They have all of the equipment and expertise to be able to aid increase the sales, income as well as market the site to ensure that ordinary net users will check out the web site. This approach alone can help convert directly into revenue.

Why must you hire Seo companies? Running a web site isn?t easy especially if your purpose will be to promote it and increase profits. You should be up and running for making it on top in the search engine sites such as Google or Yahoo! a good seo comes into the picture because they are aware of the way to make use of the niche market vocabulary. This is a term utilized in the key phrases, words or terms whereby a regular net user type in search engine listings. A lot of these key phrases really should be found in the web site and must be logically positioned to ensure that the content will not appear like a spam. Search engine optimization solutions recognize these key terms or phrases and work on it for their particular client?s sites. They are aware of the resources that tends to make details less difficult to carry out with a good output.

In addition, an Search engine marketing firm also gets things completed speedily. Because they know the best way to deal with each situation and they use ?cream of the crop? experts, the client?s web sites are up, operating and building their particular way into the first two pages of every single online search engine sites. His or her techniques will not be merely quick however it additionally performs elements in the right and successful ways. This means the website reputation will also improve because you?ll find some sites which have negative PR results.

How to look for the right Seo business? Considering that Search engine optimization providers are really sought after nowadays, you will find various Search engine marketing companies that come from thin air and some of these have unfavorable PR results or provide poor providers. You do not want to get entangled with these people so its greatest to learn precisely what you?re looking for within an Seo firm.

1 ? ?They walk the talk? In the event the Search engine optimization company promises to put your internet site on top, it can?t harm requesting the Google Seo selection guidelines because they know who provides the best outcome. By basically researching the company name any person will know concerning their achievements, the things they do and even their particular fees. Even though the price of using an Search engine marketing organization is expensive, the price really should basically be just right. Investigate their PR outcomes as well. This may assist you to decide the reputation from the organization which you are thinking of getting

2 ? Other Companies feedbacks are essential The critique and feedbacks coming from various other people particularly from earlier customers are crucial to gauge the competitiveness and also the result of an Search engine marketing organization. For those who do not know any of their clients, you?ll be able to visit discussion boards and ask around on-line thoughts that will help you make a decision whom to seek the services of.

Should you be planning to use a seo company provider that can help boost your website there are many you are able to locate on the web or simply visit seoservicesclub.co.uk

Source: http://montrealmarketingcompany.com/the-increase-in-search-engine-marketing-businesses-all-around-the-planet/

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7 Reasons to Study for a Masters in Finance Degree | Bangladesh ...

7 Reasons to Study for a Masters in Finance Degree

Be convinced to enroll in a Master Degree in Finance by learning seven hard-to-resist reasons.

For finance professionals and those who are planning to start a career in finance, here are seven reasons why you should study for a Masters in Finance degree.? One, it is the most reasonable next step after earning a Bachelor?s degree from university.? While most college graduates decide to take a break or begin looking for work, some consider it wise to pursue graduate studies right away while they are still used to being in a learning environment.

Two, a Master in Finance degree makes one?s credentials look more attractive and the person more employable.? The individual who has decided to take a Master?s degree immediately after college could very well end up getting a better job than someone who straight away looked for a job without first building credentials.? Employers have a high regard for a Master?s diploma.

It is not exactly a bad thing to get a job immediately after college.? The finance professional could earn a few years of work experience and then go back to school for post-university education.? With a Master?s degree and a few years of work experience, the finance employee may be moved to a better job position.

A third reason why you should take a Master?s program in Finance is the training for future promotions.? Some leading corporations identify their most reliable and promising employees, pay for their education and offer them higher-level job positions.? This is such a handsome deal.

In most cases, corporations pay half of the schooling costs and you pay the other half.? That still is a good deal.? Getting your employer to sanction your studies means he understands that you may need a little leniency at work.

Four, a promotion leads to pay increases.? People get employment to make money to pay the bills, send the children to school, pay for mortgage, save for the rainy days, and afford a few conveniences in life.? A student may have to pay tuition and spend some money while studying in a graduate course for two years, but the rewards to come later more than make up for the school expenses.

America and the rest of the world are still battling to completely recover from the global economic crunch that has plagued a number of world economies.? Times are hard, people have been laid off and salary increases are hard to come by.? In any given economic situation, corporations are much more ready to invest in employees with very good credentials.

Five, studying through a Masters in Finance will educate you on several finance concepts, principles, theories, instruments, and strategies that you did not learn in university.? The Masters curriculum includes deeper courses and subject matter.? Some of these are on financial economics, financial management, market risks, budgets, investment management, behavioral finance, and so on.

Six, compared with an MBA (Masters in Business Administration), a Master?s of Science in Finance (M.Fin.) provides more focus on the study of finance and finance concepts.? MBA is much broader since it basically aims to provide training in business administration.? While MBA may be more popular, M.Fin. is more intentional and practical.

Seven and finally, enroll in a Masters in Finance to personally improve yourself as an individual. Education promotes self-confidence; more education, more self-confidence.? Over and above the professional benefits, studying for a graduate degree makes people more confident, prepared, responsible, driven, and fulfilled.

? How to Choose the Right School for Your Online Masters Degree Programs

Source: http://www.ben-center.org/finance/7-reasons-to-study-for-a-masters-in-finance-degree/

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Nature Writings: The Story of My Boyhood and Youth / My First Summer in the Sierra / The Mountains of California / Stickeen / Essays

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New season, new resolve for Captain Jack

By ANNE M. PETERSON

AP Sports Writer

Associated Press Sports

updated 7:13 p.m. ET March 23, 2012

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - At a chilly morning practice for the Portland Timbers, most of the players are bundled up against the threat of rain, even snow.

Not captain Jack Jewsbury. He's out in the 30 degree temperatures in short sleeves and shorts.

Perhaps he's so focused that he's impervious to the cold, or maybe he works so hard that he's sweating soon despite it. More likely it's a little of both for the Timbers' 30-year-old midfielder, who has big expectations for Portland's second Major League Soccer season.

"As a group, I think we've said this - probably repeated it too much - that we want to make sure we're atop the conference. And not just kind of limping into the playoffs, but make sure we're one of the top teams consistently throughout the year," he said.

The Timbers made a splash as an MLS expansion franchise last season. An already established and rabid fan base helped amp up the excitement for Portland's second professional sports team. Season tickets were snatched up so fast that the team offered 2,000 more this season, and 17 sellouts paved the way for more seats at Jeld-Wen Field.

The one thing that was missing was the playoffs. Portland defied the expansion label and was competitive last season, finishing 11-14-9. But their 2-9-6 showing on the road ultimately hurt them, and they finished sixth in the conference.

The goal is to change that this year. The Timbers opened at home with a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union, then played to a 1-all draw at FC Dallas. On Saturday, the team visits the New England Revolution.

"I think from Day 1 you could tell that guys came back more fit," Jewsbury said. "I think they realized the expectations that are on this team, and they realize that we need to make the playoffs to be successful."

The Timbers made moves in the offseason in an effort to attain their goal, including the acquisition of striker Kris Boyd, the Scottish Premier League's all-time leading scorer with 164 goals in 296 appearances with clubs Kilmarnock and Rangers. The team also added midfielder Franck Songo'o of Cameroon, who played last season for Spanish side Albacete.

Jewsbury spent eight years with Kansas City before coming to the Timbers in a trade before the inaugural season. Even though he was from Missouri, he saw opportunity in Portland and he was quickly named captain by coach John Spencer.

Known for both a steadying presence and a knack for set pieces, Jewsbury had a career-best seven goals and eight assists in Portland last season. He was named to the MLS All-Star team and was also voted as Portland's Player of the Year by his teammates.

And, thanks to the Timbers' wildly enthusiastic supporters, he became something of a local celebrity, affectionately known as Captain Jack.

"It's not in many MLS cities that players get recognized when they walk down the street, unless you're David Beckham," Jewsbury kidded. "It happens all the time here."

But Jewsbury is quick to deflect attention from himself. Even when he talks about his personal expectations for the season, it's about how it relates to the Timbers overall.

"Whatever role you have with the team there's going to be pressure," he said. "Yeah, there's pressure. I think that's a good thing to have. It's one of those things that keeps you going and keeps you trying to get better every day when you go out to training.

"So I'm excited about this group we have. It's a great group of guys, both on and off the field. Everyone gets along and wants to fight for one another. And I think that's important in moving forward."

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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More newsOtto Greule Jr / Getty Images

Sounders shut out Dynamo

David Estrada scored his fourth goal in two games on a deflected shot in the 23rd minute, Brad Evans converted a penalty kick four minutes later and Seattle rolled to a 2-0 win over Houston on Friday.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/46840247/ns/sports-soccer/

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Parents Should Lead By Example in Weight Loss, Study Finds

[ [ [['chance to show up and campaign', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GIioD2', '[RELATED: Santorum says re-electing Obama would be better than Romney]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Witnesses said the gunman pulled up on a black scooter', 7]], 'http://yhoo.it/GzwOIW', '[Related: New York police tighten security at Jewish sites]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['test Zimmerman for alcohol or drugs', 11]], 'http://yhoo.it/Gzn6VF', '[Related: White House says Trayvon Martin is local issue]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['The charges signed against Bales include', 1]], 'http://yhoo.it/wZT5zV', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/7/a0/7a07c51b2aa0f39b1a23355046d13870.jpeg', '512', ' ', 'AP Photo/DVIDS\, Spc\. Ryan Hallock\, File', ], [ [['George Zimmerman, if I had a son', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/thousands-protest-fla-teen-death-1332387124-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/os/152/2012/03/22/d761a49f3fcc99080a0f6a70670053cd-jpg_150905.jpg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/John Minchillo', ], [ [['Mohamed Merah', 10], ['prosecutor Francois Molins', 5]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/four-dead-in-french-jewish-school-shooting-1332173151-slideshow', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120321/2012_03_21t151508z_425380421_gm1e83l1sqs01_rtrmadp_3_france_shootings_raid.jpg', '630', ' ', 'REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier', ], [ [['Shortly after he wrapped up his victory remarks', 2]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/4-straight-romney-wins-washington-gop-caucus-1330835515-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/3/e9/3e9b0082c3c3111dcc19e3527ae94cc7.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/Steven Senne', ], [ [['best understands the problems of average Americans', 2]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/4-straight-romney-wins-washington-gop-caucus-1330835515-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/3/e9/3e9b0082c3c3111dcc19e3527ae94cc7.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP Photo/Steven Senne', ], [ [['Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery', 7]], 'http://yhoo.it/GB2RVy', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/os/152/2012/03/20/photo-1332257995646-4-0-jpg_171722.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AFP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]

[ [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/parents-lead-example-weight-loss-study-finds-200242967.html

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SR & ED Tax Credit Financing ? The Only Two Things You Need to ...

SR & ED Tax Credit Financing is somewhat misunderstood, or in fact not really Considered by many Canadian business owners and financial managers in Canada. We use the word ?Considered? simply because many are not aware SRED claimants that their claims can be SR & ED financing as soon as they are filed ? in some cases prior to filing

So let?s return to our! topic ? what are the two things you need to know about financing your SRED tax credit. We?ll keep it simple ?

first

You have to have a SR & ED claim to obtain financing for the claim

2 A financing SRED claim is in fact similar to any business financing application ? frankly it?s quite simple and more focused

Is that it? Yes, it?s as simple as that. SR & ED tax credit financing is one of the most unique ways to bring valuable cash flow and working capital back into your firm. . Just the very nature of SRED itself suggests that your firm Relies heavily on the credit to recover the capital you have spent under the government?s quite generous non repayable grant

So let?s return to our point # 1 ? to finance a claim, you need a claim. The SRED program in Canada is the rebate governments, in effect it?s a grant, back to Canadian business for any investment you make in research and development. More and more information is coming out everyday from government and private sources suggest that many firms Which who are eligible for the program either are not aware of it, or even more disappointing, do not know how to go about preparing and filing a claim . We are often amazed when some clients infer that it?s ?too much trouble? to prepare a SRED claim.

A couple of points

subject can be made on this. We have met a small handful, and we repeat small handful! Of clients over the years who prepare their own filings. This of course is possible, legal, and business owners in some minds? cost effective. The hard reality is that most firms do not have the technical and financial know-how to complete a claim on their own. (Apologies to the Which firms successfully prepare their own claims a file ? you know who you are!)

The Majority of SRED claims in the area are prepared by what is known as SRED consultants. We tell clients that these consultants are specialized high, are up to date on current government SRED and accounting matters, and in most cases work on contingency ? meaning that they prepare the claim at their own risk and time, and charge a fee Which is totally Based on success of the final claim approval. If Canadian business owners and financial managers do not choose to pay a contingency fee then they can play a flat rate based on the SRED consultant?s time on the claim and filing. Naturally more often than not the fee has to be paid SRED as soon as the claim is completed, even if you have to wait several quiet months to a year to get your funds. More importantly, as It Relates to the financing of the SRED claim, a claim Tends to be more viable when finance it is prepared by a reputable consultant in this area. And in fact when you claim is financed, either at time of filing or priority, the SRED consultant can then be paid in full or in part out of the financing. So the bottom line on our point # 1 is simply ? make yourself aware of the program if you are not, prepare a solid claim with the use of a reputable consultant, and be knowledgeable that the claim can be financed during preparation or at time of filing

. Let?s move on to point # 2 ? Clients ask, is it really that simple to finance a SR & ED tax credit. There is only one answer, Which is of course yes. You should treat your SRED tax credit financing just as any other basic financing. Because this area of ??Canadian business financing is somewhat of a boutique are you should Ensure you are working with a credible, trusted, and experienced advisor in this area.

Let?s cover some of the very simple basics around the key financing of your claim. Most firms are eligible, under the program itself, to receive anywhere from 20-50% of your expenses in the R & D area. Your SRED claim will ultimately have a final value, Which is made up of the federal and provincial portions combined. Let?s assume its 200,000.00 as an example. You and your accountant have filed your year end financials, and included a SRED claim of 200k. What happens now if you want to finance that claim. The reality is that you simply have to fill out a standard business financing application ? just as if you were borrowing for any other matter. In our case the ?collateral?, if we can call it that, it?s the SRED claim

Important to note hear that you are not incurring debt or creating a ?loan? on the SRED -. Your balance sheet stays intact, you are simply ?monetizing? the SRED claim in order to generate working capital and cash flow now. Generally you receive approximately 70% of the claim as an advance, with the 30% held back to yourself and payable in full when you final claim is audited, approved, and that from the government is Cheque ?in the mail?! The financing feels itself, associated with the tax credit financing are deducted from that final 30% holdback. You can create a generic rally SRED loan for a period of a minimum of 60 days, but most SRED financing generate load rally from 3-12 months, Depending on the size of your claim, its eligibility with CRA, and Whether you are a first time filer .

So what?s our bottom line ? it could not be simpler:

? Make yourself aware of this great program ? prepare a proper claim with someone who is experienced
- If you are focused on cash flow and working capital financing needs consider your claim and directly monetizing this great program

id=?article-resource?>

Source: http://www.lovefinanceinfo.com/2012/03/sr-ed-tax-credit-financing-the-only-two-things-you-need-to-know-about-sr-ed-finance/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sr-ed-tax-credit-financing-the-only-two-things-you-need-to-know-about-sr-ed-finance

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FrontFour's David Lorber Exiting Fisher Communications Board ...

Board Changes

FISHER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. has announced the resignation of FRONTFOUR CAPITAL GROUP's DAVID A. LORBER from its board and the nomination of PAUL A. BIBLE, MATTHEW GOLDFARB, and PETER E. MURPHY for new terms on the board, with FRANK P. WILLEY nominated as a new member.?

FRONTFOUR gained seats on the board after the dissident investment group fought the company in 2011; GOLDFARB was one of the two FRONTFOUR candidates elected at that time, and WILLEY is being recommended by FRONTFOUR as well.? BIBLE has served since 2009 and became non-Chairman in 2011, while MURPHY was added to the board in JANUARY of this year.

BIBLE said, "During DAVID's tenure on the Board, FISHER's management and Board strengthened the Company by repaying its $150 million of outstanding long-term debt and selling its non-core asset, FISHER PLAZA, for $160 million. We share DAVID's commitment to create lasting value for our shareholders and appreciate FRONTFOUR's recommendation of FRANK WILLEY to serve on our Board. We remain focused on executing our strategic plan for the benefit of all of our stakeholders."

LORBER said, "During my term, FISHER's Board has taken decisive actions to improve the Company's balance sheet and position the Company for ongoing success and shareholder value creation. As I leave the Board to focus on other companies within the FRONTFOUR portfolio, I have confidence in the current composition of FISHER's Board and believe that FRANK WILLEY would be a strong contributor to the Company's continued success."

? see more Net News

Source: http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/103840/frontfour-s-david-lorber-exiting-fisher-communicat

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Greatest Innovation in Gaming (Console vs. Online) | Blue Meanie ...

Posted by on March 20th, 2012

www.youtube.com Click here to watch Versus ? Most Badass Chick in Gaming: Lara Croft vs Samus Aran! Versus ? Greatest Innovation in Gaming (Console vs. Online) S03E25 This week on Versus, Steve and Larson debate which gaming innovation pushed the evolution of the industry more: the home console or online gaming. This video will show you? HOW TO play Pong. HOW TO threaten TV. HOW TO build a community through online gaming. ? - ? - ? - ? - ? - ? - ? - ? - ? - ? - ? - ? - ? - ? - ? - ? - ? - ? - ? - Like Machinima on Facebook! facebook.com Prove your gaming skills on the Respawn Army app therespawnarmy.com FOR MORE MACHINIMA, GO TO www.youtube.com FOR MORE GAMEPLAY, GO TO: www.youtube.com FOR MORE SPORTS GAMEPLAY, GO TO: www.youtube.com FOR MORE MMO & RPG GAMEPLAY, GO TO: www.youtube.com FOR MORE TRAILERS, GO TO: www.youtube.com Tags: Steve Larson Versus VS Machinima ?Lara Croft? ?Tomb Raider? Legend Anniversary khaki shorts ?Samus Aran? power suit Chozo RIdley ?Space Pirates? Metroid ?Super Metroid? ?Metroid Prime? ?The Other M? Nintendo NES SNES ?Super Nintendo? GameCube Wii console ?Magnavox Odyssey? ?Atari 2600? Pong ?Sega Genesis? Netflix Hulu ?ESPN 3? ?Fallout 3? ?Bioshock? ?New Super Mario Bros.? ?Resident Evil 4? ?Wii U? ?Ocarina of Time? Halo ?Playstation Move? ?GTA 4? ?online gaming? multi-player ?Doom 3? ?Call of Duty? ?Modern Warfare 3? ?Battlefield 3? ?Dead Island? ?PLATO system? co-op ?World of Warcraft? ?Starcraft 2? Xbox360 PlayStation PC Steam
Video Rating: 4 / 5

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Source: http://bluemeanieme.com/2012/03/20/greatest-innovation-in-gaming-console-vs-online/

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Six Appeal steals the show ? wins the Pacific Northwest Harmony ...

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Six Appeal, an aptly-named six person a cappella group represented by G. L. Berg Entertainment, Performing Artists & Speakers, won 1st place at the Pacific Northwest Harmony Sweepstakes Competition held at the ...

Source: http://www.glberg.com/2012/03/six-appeal-steals-the-show-wins-the-pacific-northwest-harmony-sweepstakes/

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Biplane to break the sound barrier: Cheaper, quieter and fuel-efficient biplanes could put supersonic travel on the horizon

ScienceDaily (Mar. 19, 2012) ? Cheaper, quieter and fuel-efficient biplanes could put supersonic travel on the horizon.

For 27 years, the Concorde provided its passengers with a rare luxury: time saved. For a pricey fare, the sleek supersonic jet ferried its ticketholders from New York to Paris in a mere three-and-a-half hours -- just enough time for a nap and an aperitif. Over the years, expensive tickets, high fuel costs, limited seating and noise disruption from the jet's sonic boom slowed interest and ticket sales. On Nov. 26, 2003, the Concorde -- and commercial supersonic travel -- retired from service.

Since then, a number of groups have been working on designs for the next generation of supersonic jets. Now an MIT researcher has come up with a concept that may solve many of the problems that grounded the Concorde. Qiqi Wang, an assistant professor of aeronautics and astronautics, says the solution, in principle, is simple: Instead of flying with one wing to a side, why not two?

Wang and his colleagues Rui Hu, a postdoc in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Antony Jameson, a professor of engineering at Stanford University, have shown through a computer model that a modified biplane can, in fact, produce significantly less drag than a conventional single-wing aircraft at supersonic cruise speeds. The group will publish their results in the Journal of Aircraft.

This decreased drag, according to Wang, means the plane would require less fuel to fly. It also means the plane would produce less of a sonic boom.

"The sonic boom is really the shock waves created by the supersonic airplanes, propagated to the ground," Wang says. "It's like hearing gunfire. It's so annoying that supersonic jets were not allowed to fly over land."

Double the wings, double the fun

With Wang's design, a jet with two wings -- one positioned above the other -- would cancel out the shock waves produced from either wing alone. Wang credits German engineer Adolf Busemann for the original concept. In the 1950s, Busemann came up with a biplane design that essentially eliminates shock waves at supersonic speeds.

Normally, as a conventional jet nears the speed of sound, air starts to compress at the front and back of the jet. As the plane reaches and surpasses the speed of sound, or Mach 1, the sudden increase in air pressure creates two huge shock waves that radiate out at both ends of the plane, producing a sonic boom.

Through calculations, Busemann found that a biplane design could essentially do away with shock waves. Each wing of the design, when seen from the side, is shaped like a flattened triangle, with the top and bottom wings pointing toward each other. The configuration, according to his calculations, cancels out shock waves produced by each wing alone.

However, the design lacks lift: The two wings create a very narrow channel through which only a limited amount of air can flow. When transitioning to supersonic speeds, the channel, Wang says, could essentially "choke," creating incredible drag. While the design could work beautifully at supersonic speeds, it can't overcome the drag to reach those speeds.

Giving lift to a grounded theory

To address the drag issue, Wang, Hu and Jameson designed a computer model to simulate the performance of Busemann's biplane at various speeds. At a given speed, the model determined the optimal wing shape to minimize drag. The researchers then aggregated the results from a dozen different speeds and 700 wing configurations to come up with an optimal shape for each wing.

They found that smoothing out the inner surface of each wing slightly created a wider channel through which air could flow. The researchers also found that by bumping out the top edge of the higher wing, and the bottom edge of the lower wing, the conceptual plane was able to fly at supersonic speeds, with half the drag of conventional supersonic jets such as the Concorde. Wang says this kind of performance could potentially cut the amount of fuel required to fly the plane by more than half.

"If you think about it, when you take off, not only do you have to carry the passengers, but also the fuel, and if you can reduce the fuel burn, you can reduce how much fuel you need to carry, which in turn reduces the size of the structure you need to carry the fuel," Wang says. "It's kind of a chain reaction."

The team's next step is to design a three-dimensional model to account for other factors affecting flight. While the MIT researchers are looking for a single optimal design for supersonic flight, Wang points out that a group in Japan has made progress in designing a Busemann-like biplane with moving parts: The wings would essentially change shape in mid-flight to attain supersonic speeds.

"Now people are having more ideas on how to improve [Busemann's] design," Wang says. "This may lead to a dramatic improvement, and there may be a boom in the field in the coming years."

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---

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The original article was written by Jennifer Chu.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. R. Hu, Q. Wang and A. Jameson. Adjoint based aerodynamic optimization of supersonic biplane airfoils. Journal of Aircraft, 2012 (accepted)

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120319163811.htm

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Apple has sold 3 million iPads

CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) ? Apple Inc. says it has sold 3 million iPads since Friday when it released the latest version of the tablet computer.

The new, third model comes with a faster processor, a much sharper screen and an improved camera. As with the previous models, prices start at $499 in the U.S.

Apple said Monday that this is its strongest launch for an iPad yet.

The Cupertino, Calif., company began selling the latest tablet computer in the U.S. and nine other countries Friday and will begin selling it in 24 more countries at the end of this week.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/495d344a0d10421e9baa8ee77029cfbd/Article_2012-03-19-US-Apple-iPad/id-b3739494d06e4125a2d31868f0897236

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Ignite your Edgeness ?: Persuasive presentation ... - Ignite Excellence

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Golf is a sport I have always found expensive, unphysical, a waste of time, and something you can never perfect. If I was not going to make money at it, win at it, or perfect it, why bother? Ernie Els may not agree with my evaluation of the sport, but then, he does make money at it.

Then it occurred to me, being a professional speaker, that presenting has some similar elements to golf. You don?t need to be perfect to win. The more you do it, the better you get, and you often play against yourself, striving to improve with each game or in this case, with each presentation. The difference is a person can learn to present persuasively and make a living on the rewards of their successful presentations a lot faster than most can master the game of golf.

As a marketing professional, presenting persuasively can differentiate you, your offering and your company from the myriad of colleagues, products, services and competitors that are waiting in the wings silently hoping you?ll add a stroke.

So what can possibly interfere in the process of mastery? One of the biggest obstacles to overcome is fear itself. Fear is really just False Evidence Appearing Real. The key to dealing with fear is to embrace it, along with preparation and practice.

But with anything worth striving to achieve there are obstacles, the rough or sand traps, to overcome. During presentations there can be equipment problems, late arrivals, interruptions, noise or audience distractions?All of these barriers can be overcome with good planning and persuasive presentation delivery.

When preparing a presentation the more you know about the audience, and your equipment, the less likely these barriers will become crippling obstacles.

I am sure you have heard the mantra echoed by many experts in regards to delivering presentations ? ?It is not what you say, but how you say it.? Although I agree with the general sentiment, I think what you say is just as important as how you say it. I believe audiences show up for the ?what? you say, they share it for ?how? you say it, which is ultimately the goal when conducting a business presentation. You want people to talk about your presentation, as discussion can leads to positive action.

What do you need to do to differentiate yourself?

1. Present with intention ? this includes focusing all your information and your energy on the audience.

Your intention will gain the audience?s attention.

?How you will do it?

2. Ignite your edgeness ? ?This is pushing your edge of your comfort zone enough that you are more engaging presenter.

How do we find our edgeness ? in business presentations? My program, Persuasive Presentation skills that Move Minds speaks of ten planning components to a persuasive presentation, and although you can ignite your edgeness ? in most of the components, I will focus on a few techniques that make a big impact.

• Get personal, by being personal- Start your presentation with a personal story. It needs to be relevant to the overall objective of the presentation. This is a great way to relax you and connect with your audience on an emotional level.

• Saying it is so doesn?t make it true ? Use evidence in your presentation to support the claims you make, ?we are the best? is your opinion not a conclusion.? To ignite your edgeness ?, firstly, you need to make sure you are actually providing the information that is relevant to this particular audience, not just any audience.

?Secondly, many people provide facts, charts and other data to try to convince their business audiences of their point of view. Try something more engaging, like stating a case study, an anecdote, or using a provocative visual as a prompt. Again, you will gain a more emotional connection with the audience.

• People build relationships, visual aids don?t- Aids are just that: they are an aid and should not dominate the presentation. So challenge yourself and don?t use them for the beginning and the end of you presentation. Because they help retention, in business presentations they should be used. However, once or twice during your presentation type the letter ?B? on your keypad, this will black out the screen and put all the attention you. ?Being front and centre creates the perception of confidence, credibility, and control.

• Be inclusive, not exclusive ? Eye contact is the most effective way to demonstrate intention. The key is who to look at, when to look at them and for how long. Ignite your edgeness ? by talking to one person at a time. One thought, one person. Easier said than done, but whenever you have a natural pause, switch to a new pair of eyes. And please, don?t forget to look at someone.

• Gestures illustrate, so you illuminate ? Are you standing in front of your audience with no personality, some personality or too much personality? Your gestures can be the key to unlock or control the energy you exude. Ignite your edgeness ? by thinking of what you are saying and add the appropriate gesture. Gestures can be the best form of visual aid, and again, they connect you to the audience.

• Vocal variety creates vitality ? If you want your message to be heard and understood, how you project, modulate, and emphasize is key. Ignite your edgeness ? by taking the time to consider your key messages, and what you want your audience to remember. Rehearse those messages so they resonate and garner a positive response.

• Moving with purpose ? It takes a real master to utilize movement with grace and purpose. The knowing where to be and when to be there can have huge impact on the tone and energy in a room. The audience is often completely unaware of your motives, yet they feel the implications. Your subtle movement will take control of the room. You need to challenge your perceptions of what is right and wrong in movement and start moving with purpose to engage each corner of the room.

• Therefore practice may not make perfect, but it will make you persuasive ? You want to rehearse out loud! We all sound fluid in our heads. ?Rehearse beyond where you sound like a ?presenter; to the point where you are engaging in conversation with your audience. Practice is fundamental to ensuring that you are transferring your energy to the audience ? in other words, demonstrating intention.

There are a number of ways of challenging yourself to perform better in each presentation. The key is to practice, demonstrate intention by ignite your edgeness ?, and evaluate your development. Like golf, if you don?t practice, challenge yourself and evaluate your stroke, you may get lucky with a good shot now and again, but you won?t know how to repeat it. With each presentation not only will your performance improve, but also your ability to persuade will be evident in the audience?s positive reaction. Now go ignite your edgeness ?!

Action: Pick one of these skills and start practicing it in every day communications. When you get up to the front of the room, it will be a lot more comfortable to use when you want to persuade people to a positive outcome.

Ignite Excellence Inc. is launching online, influential communications programs March 2012. The first program launched will be Persuasive Presentation Skills that Move Minds.? If you are interested in receiving a early-bird rate for this programs click this link? Influential Communication Program(s) Inquiry. Use the following code to receive the introductory rate WE050.

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Visit our other Ignite Excellence Group of initiatives? websites with corresponding blogs.
Suzanne F Stevens ? Profiling women leaders who have pushed their edge to personal or professional potential from backpack to briefcase to boardroom
Ignite Excellence Foundation ? Leadership, Advocacy, Education ? following donations to scholarships for women in developing countries
Wisdom Exchange TV ? A forum where women will be inspired from the achievements of African women in business, education, philanthropy and politics.
You Me & We ? a husbands and wife?s journey through Africa in 2011/12
Ignite Excellence Inc. ? Influence, Differentiate, Engage more people and more business ? a training & development company

This entry was posted on March 19, 2012, 5:49 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Source: http://www.igniteexcellence.com/blog/?p=177

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Tips on Social Media Marketing for Your Business | Stacey Dahl

The popularity of online social media networks has revolutionized online marketing. Businesses are constantly striving to communicate with customers, build business connections and create brand awareness through social sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and MySpace. Here are some tips on how to go about the social media marketing (SMM) process.

Chalking out an action plan

To get started, you should have a plan of action in place. Positioning your company properly is an important aspect of internet marketing. Having a good presence on the internet by setting up social accounts is crucial. At the same time, ensure that you don?t end up opening an account that will not be used. From the onset, chalk out a strategy on how to go about the internet marketing process.

Setting up accounts with social networking sites

Positioning your company on the right social networking sites is an extremely important aspect of the social media marketing process. You have to determine which sites fit in your business interests and niche. Other factors to consider include creating an appropriate user name for profile links and choosing the most appealing profile information to share. You should also have the ability to filter activity based on what is suitable for a particular networking site. You will find networking sites with a more playful, casual atmosphere as well as ones that have a strict professional focus. Choose websites that align with your company?s interest as well as fit the personal interests of web users who will help you in your SMM process.

Social media optimization strategy

It is not enough just to market your product through social media marketing. SEO or search engine optimization is also a key feature of the overall online marketing strategy. For this, you need a website, blog, articles, images, videos, comments and so on. The right set of keywords for higher search engine rankings and all other SEO strategies should complement the SMM process.

Test you plan and tweak wherever needed

You have to test your plan before executing it. Any loopholes should be corrected and the plan should be tweaked wherever it is necessary. Web traffic and high search engine rankings are of no use if such activities do not have any impact on sales. So you have to make sure that you finalize on a workable plan that can assure good sales results.

If yours is a small home-based business and you are embarking on a social media marketing venture for the first time, then you should know that the process can seem very challenging at first. Instant results are seldom possible, but you learn a lot along the way and eventually start realizing the benefits of internet marketing. If you will be doing your own SMM and SEO, you should do a lot of prior research. Ideally, this important responsibility should be given to a reliable SEO company that has strong experience in this field and can simplify the process for you.

By: Patrick LeMay
Posted:

Source: http://staceydahl.me/2012/tips-on-social-media-marketing-for-your-business/

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