How Playing Team Sports Can Benefit Your Child

My little nine year old girl started playing soccer last summer. It all started with pure fun, but after playing for a year now, it is evident that team sports really benefit a child’s growth.

When she began playing indoor soccer last summer, her coach complimented her athleticism and suggested that we should allow her to join the league for proper training and coaching in order for a better future. Even though it was quite challenging for her at first, since she hardly knew anyone on the team, her passion motivated her to keep playing. Through the process, she learned to make new friends and accept others. It was an excellent way to develop social skills for the years to come.

Besides learning to mingle, she learned how to listen and obey. Sometimes, I wish I could have the power of the coach to make her listen and follow my instructions without any questioning. One must show your ability and authority in order for the kids to trust in what you said.

What’s more, she learned the golden lesson, “practice makes perfect”. Success does not come in vain. Not only did she have to practice twice a week, but play an actual game as well. Needless to say, the star players on the team were usually the ones who were present at every practice. You may have talent, but practice is what makes full potential of the talent you have. Your harvest depends on how well you’ve farmed.

Of course, she grew physically stronger and more enduring with each game and practice as well. With all the junk food the kids are eating nowadays, exercise is crucial to part of their healthy development.

Last but not least, she learned how to embrace failure and always do her best in each game. While winning is an amazing experience, the game is about how you’ve proved yourself and how well you have done. Winning is just an empty feeling when no hard work was put forth and no team work was shown. Failures are inevitable in life. It is good to learn early how to accept it, learn from it, and move on.

My daughter is now begging to play basketball in the upcoming season just because one of her friends is playing also, but I convinced her otherwise. If she had quit soccer, then what was all the sweat and tears for? She had just begun improving and excelling in soccer that it would be a waste to just quit. Perseverance is another key to success. My little child got ALL that from just playing soccer for one season, what about your kids?

Author, Myra Lee, marketing manager for [http://www.favoritekidsbedding.com] Here you can find all unique designs of bedding and coordinate bedroom accessories for your kids bedroom. To choose a bedding with sports theme, visit our [http://www.favoritekidsbedding.com/store-categories-Soccer-Bedding_3787613.html]

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How To Format Your Resume For Internet Job Searching

Email resumes…Web resumes…HTML resumes…Scannable resumes… Keyword resumes…Text resumes…ASCII resumes…PDF resumes…Word resumes…Traditional resumes…

A resume is a resume, right? But then, what are all these different types of resumes you keep hearing about? If you are confused and not quite sure what is being referred to when you hear all these different names for resumes, you are certainly not alone!

Over the past decade, the most common resume-related questions asked by job hunters have progressively shifted. While still of major importance, the majority of queries are no longer about functional versus chronological resume styles, whether to keep or remove experience from twenty-five years ago, or whether to include dates of education. With the advent and subsequent explosive increase in the use of the Internet during the job search, questions have turned overwhelmingly to issues of electronic resume creation and transmission.

What are the different types of electronic resumes?

What are the differences between an e-mail resume, a scannable resume, and a web resume?

How do I know which resume format to use?

How do I format my electronic resume to ensure that the recipient can read it?

No wonder there is so much confusion! In just a few short years, there has been a complete revolution in the tools and techniques of job hunting. As applicant tracking technologies have come into common use among headhunter firms, large corporations, and even mid-size and small businesses, recommended resume formats and methods of transmission have rapidly evolved with the advancing technologies. Further complicating things, have been the increasing availability of personal web space for online resume portfolios and biographies.

What does this mean for today’s job hunter? While the Internet has opened unprecedented doors of opportunity in the job search process, for those who have not taken the time to learn and apply the rules it can mean disaster!

While few job hunters have time to spend months studying the most recent technologies and recommendations for the creation of electronic resumes, before venturing onto the Internet with your resume it is critical that you take the time to learn and understand a few simple concepts. Knowing your audience and the formats most acceptable by those audiences are essential pieces of knowledge for the Internet job hunter.

The human reader – The traditional, printed, hard copy resume (yes, it does still have a primary place in job hunting!) is created to attract the human eye and attention. With the advantages of word processing applications, sophisticated formatting is possible and should be applied strategically to create eye-appeal and draw the readers’ attention to key qualifications.

The computer reader – The electronic or computer-optimized resume is designed, first and foremost, to be readable by the computer. There are several types of electronic resumes, but the common element of all is the ability to be searched by keyword. Of course, once your resume has been tagged as matching a keyword search, it will be reviewed by a human. So compelling, easy-to-read content is just as important in the electronic resume as in the traditional resume.

Miss these points and the effects could be devastating…you might send out hundreds of resumes only to sit at home and wonder why nobody, not even one company or headhunter, has called you for an interview. There are fundamental formatting differences between traditional and electronic resumes. If you do not understand these differences, your resume will make it into very few – if any – resume databases.

RESUME FORMATS

What are the differences between keyword, scannable, web, traditional, and text resumes?

Traditional resumes are designed, as already noted, to compel the human reader, through persuasive language and design, to take further action and call you for an interview. Layout and page design are critical and should be planned strategically to draw the eye to areas of emphasis. The most effective traditional resumes are focused on achievements and written in powerful, active language that captures and holds the attention of the reader.

Scannable resumes — also a printed, hardcopy format — are designed primarily for accurate scanning into a computer. Captured as an image, scannable resumes are fed through OCR (optical character recognition) software that reads and extracts the text. The extracted text is databased for storage and later recalled by keyword from an applicant tracking system. Scannable resumes are very rarely requested any more. If you are asked for a scannable resume, the most efficient option is to email the requestor your plain ASCII text resume (described next).

Text resumes (also referred to as ASCII resumes) are just what the name implies, an ASCII-formatted version of either your traditional or scannable resume. Text resumes are universally readable on all computer systems and platforms and are the preferred format when you are emailing your resume. An ASCII resume received in email can be entered directly into an applicant tracking system without the added step of needing to scan it. Entry into the system is fast, easy, and accurate and so many employers and recruiters prefer this format.

The phrase “keyword resume,” as it was first used, referred most often to either a scannable or text resume that incorporated a focus on nouns and phrases that employers were likely to use when searching for an applicant. Sometimes the keyword resume had a section at the beginning or end that listed the keywords separated by commas or periods. Today, there is no need to maintain both a keyword and a non-keyword resume. Keywords have become such an essential element in resumes that you should ensure that every version of your resume, whether meant for the human or the computer reader, incorporates the keywords most important in your field or industry.

Still confused? My recommendation is to simply maintain two separate versions of your resume:

Traditional resume – If you wish to send a hardcopy, paper version of your resume you should send your traditional resume. Traditional resumes are most often stored on your computer as a computer file and printed on an as-needed basis. For example, you will want to print at least several copies of your resume to carry with you and hand out at interviews. You may also be asked to send your traditional resume via email to a recruiter or employer. In these cases, you should have your traditional resume saved in the two most commonly asked for file formats: MS Word and Adobe PDF. You can then attach the requested file or files to an email message and send it to the requestor to be printed on the receiving end.

By far, you’ll find that the most requested format for your traditional resume is MS Word. If you comply with the request, be aware that your formatting may be incompatible with the recipient’s system. While usually still readable, fonts and bullet sizes and styles may be different from what you intended. These problems can be minimized, although not always eliminated, by embedding the fonts into the document. This is a simple process, and the MS Word help files will guide you through it. You should also take care, while writing and designing your resume, to use design elements that are default and standard on most systems. For example, it is not wise to use a fancy, custom font on your resume that you know will be emailed. Default fonts such as Garamond, Helvetica, Book Antiqua, or Verdana are better choices.

To eliminate issues with compatibility, if the recipient has the free Adobe Reader installed, Adobe PDF is the best format in which to send your traditional resume. The PDF version of your resume will appear on the recipient’s system precisely the way it appeared on your system. For this reason, if given the choice of sending an MS Word file and Adobe PDF file, always opt for Adobe PDF. However, many recruiters and employers still prefer the MS Word file format, because this is the format they are most familiar with.

ASCII text resume – If you conduct any portion of your job search on the Internet, ASCII-formatted resumes are critically important tools. Always have an up-to-date ASCII text version of your resume on your computer. This is the fastest way to contact potential employers and to apply for jobs advertised online. You must also have a text version of your resume if you wish to post in online resume databanks.

As previously noted, employers rarely request scannable resumes anymore. If they utilize an applicant tracking system, they will likely request that your resume be e-mailed, either as ASCII text or as an attachment. E-mail allows the recipient to enter your resume directly into the database, eliminating the extra steps of scanning and OCR.

How do you use these file formats and transit them to recipients via email? My recommendation is to actually attach the MS Word or Adobe PDF file to the email in its native file format. Then, ALSO copy and paste the text of your ASCII text resume into the body of your email (where you would normally type a message), along with a letter of introduction or other note explaining why you are sending the resume.

A final type of electronic resume is the web resume, also known as the online resume. Created using HTML, your web resume may be uploaded to space provided by a web-hosting provider. Eliminating the compatibility problems associated with word-processed resumes sent as e-mail attachments, web resumes offer the advantage of maintaining layout and design on the systems of anyone with a web browser. Available for viewing around the clock, conveying a technology-savvy image, and allowing the ability to add supporting content to your resume (effectively creating an online portfolio promoting your qualifications), web resumes are becoming a progressively important tool in the job search. The creation of a web resume or resume portfolio is far beyond the scope of this article, but if web resumes are an electronic format that interest you, be aware that many service providers have begun offering web resume design and hosting at affordable prices.



Preparing Internet Resumes

What do I need to know about writing keyword resumes?

Remember – it is absolutely essential that you create resume content that is keyword rich regardless of the file format. It is not necessary that you maintain a separate keyword version of your resume. ALL resumes must include a heavy emphasis on keywords. Keywords are generally defined as nouns or phrases that an employer will use when searching for an applicant with your skill set. To maximize the recall of your resume in a search, you will want to use as many keywords in your resume as possible.

1. Keywords should focus on technical and professional areas of expertise, industry-related jargon, and your work history. Also, include the names of associations and organizations of which you are a member.

2. Whenever possible, use synonyms of keywords in different parts of your resume and if you use initials for a term in one section, spell the term out in another.

3. Always be specific. For example, while it may be fine to include the phrase “computer literate,” you will also want to list the specific software that you are proficient in using.

This is one of the most common areas of confusion, so I’ll state it once again…the content of a keyword resume does not need to differ from the content of your traditional resume. With careful attention to rhythm and flow, it is possible to prepare a resume that is keyword optimized, but that also includes the powerful, compelling, active language of a traditional resume. Not only will this simplify your resume preparation, but it will ensure that the content of all versions of your resume will be optimized for both the computer and the human reader. Furthermore, if you incorporate a professional summary and bulleted list of qualifications in the text of your resume, there is little if any need to prepare a separate keyword summary.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to recommend a specific list of the best keywords to use in your resume, as the “best” keywords are different for every individual and depend mainly on your unique career objective and background. What is certain, however, is that a well-prepared keyword resume is so critical to your success in a job market that largely relies on electronic applicant tracking systems, if you have any doubts at all you should consult with a professional resume writer.

How do I prepare an ASCII text version of my resume?

Preparing the all-important ASCII text version of your resume is not difficult, but it does require a learning curve. Once converted to ASCII format, you will be able to email your resume in response to an ad or paste it directly into web-based forms and submit it to Internet resume databanks. The specific directions will vary depending on the software you have installed on your computer. But, in general, to prepare your ASCII resumes properly, follow these simple steps:

1. Using your word processing program, open your word-processed resume and use the “Save As” function to save a copy as a “Text Only” or “ASCII (DOS)” document. Title your document with an easily distinguishable name; perhaps “resume_internet.txt”

2. Close your word processing program and re-open the ASCII file. You will not be able to see your changes until you have done this. Note that it has been stripped of virtually all original formatting.

3. Go through your new ASCII document line-by-line. Align all text flush to the left-hand margin.

4. Remove all “centering,” “right hand margin,” and “justification” alignments.

5. Although you should no longer see them, if visible, remove all graphics, artwork, and special character formatting.

6. Remove all tab characters.

7. Remove all columns.

8. Replace bullets with a simple ASCII asterisk (*).

9. Carefully check the spelling and the accuracy of your data.

10. If you wish, use ASCII characters to enhance the appearance of your resume. Asterisks, plus signs, or other keyboard characters can be used to create visual lines that separate sections of your resume and make it easier to read.

The above steps convert your resume to ASCII without line breaks. When pasted into a web-based form or email message, your resume will automatically wrap to the size of the window.

Your new ASCII resume will be universally readable, no matter what computer system the recipient uses. It will also be easy to manipulate for entry into applicant tracking databases, eliminating the inherent difficulties of scanning and converting your paper resume with OCR systems.

There is no denying that the Internet has caused what was once a straightforward process to become complex and confusing to many job hunters. Yet, the benefits far outweigh the negatives. Like never before, as a job seeker you have immediate access to announcements and advertisements of openings around the globe. You have the ability to conduct detailed research on companies of interest. And you have unprecedented opportunity to cost effectively promote your qualifications to hundreds or even thousands of hiring authorities of just a tiny fraction of the cost of doing so through traditional methods. While the new skills you must learn may seem daunting at first, by understanding the concepts and creating your electronic resumes, you are well on your way to an efficient, effective Internet job search.

Want to Use this Article in Your Ezine or Website? You are welcome to as long as you use the following text with it:

Nationally certified resume writer, career marketing expert, and personal branding strategist, Michelle Dumas is the founder and executive director of Distinctive Career Services LLC. Through Distinctive Documents

Distinctive Web and her Executive VIP Services delivered through http://www.100kcareermarketing.com Michelle has empowered thousands of executives, professionals, and managers all across the U.S. and worldwide with all the tools and resources necessary to conduct a fast, effective job search. Michelle is also the author of the popular e-book 101 Before-and-After Resume Examples found at http://www.before-and-after-resumes.com and Secrets of a Successful Job Search found at [http://www.distinctiveweb.com/jobsearchsecrets.html] To learn more about her job search products, resume writing services, and career marketing programs, and to sign up for many other free resources, visit her websites.

Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.

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Finding an Auto Repair Shop For Engine Repair

You may have a reputable automotive shop that you regularly use for your vehicle maintenance such as tire replacement, oil changes and other routine issues. If you don’t have a regular shop, you can ask your family, friends and coworkers whom they trust. Recommendations from these people should be held in high esteem, because a local auto shop that has earned the trust of your family and friends will work hard to make you a customer for life.

If you have significant engine problems with your car, you’ll first want to check your warranty and see if the manufacturer covers the issue. When you bring your car to the shop, you’ll need to ask if the automotive shop guarantees their work in case the issue is not fixed properly or if it comes back without warning. The automotive shop manager will be able to discuss the policies of the shop and offer you a guarantee on the work to be performed on your vehicle.

Be sure to inquire about the type of parts the automotive shop will use on your car. Are they brand name, quality products or cheap, generic products? Make sure they are using only high quality parts. Either way, you will be charged labor fees, so be certain the parts they replace on your vehicle are brand name, quality products.

Depending on your specific engine problem, you may need to leave your vehicle at the auto shop for an extended period of time. Make sure you arrange for transportation. Your favorite auto repair shop may be located near a bus line or taxi stand. Also, your insurance company may offer a rental car. Some repair shops will offer a courtesy vehicle or provide a drop off/pick up service so you can work during the day and get your vehicle back in the evening.

Before any work is performed on your vehicle, be sure to ask for an estimate. Agree on a price and ask your mechanic to specifically outline what work is to be done. A good auto shop will alert you of any additional issues that come up during the repair that was not initially noticed. Therefore, you won’t be surprised when you see charges for parts and labor on work that you never authorized.

It is important that you trust your automotive technicians. You are leaving your car in their hands and are counting on the fact that they are experienced, trained and can properly fix the issue at hand. If you do not already have a good relationship with a local automotive shop, ask your friends and neighbors who they trust. Begin using a popular auto shop for your routine maintenance issues, and you’ll begin to develop a trusting relationship with them and get to know the mechanics on a more personal level. Then you can feel good about leaving your car in their hands when larger engine issues arise.

Mr. Oliver is a marketing agent of Dyke Tire and Battery. The auto mechanic repair shop stocks tires for virtually every vehicle on the road and also offers local Richmond-ers a great place to take their vehicles in for repair. Whether you need a simple oil change, new tires or a rotation, or engine repair, Dyke Tire and Battery can help get you back on the road again. For more information on their Richmond Mechanic Virginia please visit their website.

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Popular Business Misconceptions Cost You Money!

Faulty information costs you money! Which of these

popular business misconceptions do you believe?

Popular Misconception #1:

“We Only Need Our Books Done Once A Year For Tax Purposes.”

Are Your Accounting Records Adequate To Run Your Business?

Although it is important to keep records for tax purposes,

it is not the only reason (or even the primary reason) good

accounting records should be kept. Another frequent reason

clients request financial statement preparation is to obtain

bank financing. Although important, this also is not the

primary purpose of keeping good records for your business.

Good recordkeeping will enable you to extract meaningful

financial information for your business that will help you

to manage it properly. If you can`t access this information,

you will not be able to manage your business properly. Bad

management leads to business failure.

Yes, the primary reason good accounting records should be

kept is to produce periodic (at least on a monthly basis)

financial statements for management information purposes.

Only with this current financial information can you properly

manage your business. This information can alert you to

declining sales, excessive expenses, tax opportunities,

cashflow problems, and many other vital concerns for your

business.

To be of value, this accounting system should be set up

with meaningful account categories and departments. It may

be cost-effective to have an outside accounting service do

the monthly bookkeeping. However, with accounting software

that is readily available, you don`t have to be an expert

bookkeeper to do your own books and extract meaningful

financial information.

If you do your monthly statements yourself, it would still

be prudent to have your accountant or business advisor help

you set up your system and, as well review such information

with you to discuss problems and opportunities.

Popular Misconception #2:

“Writing My Hobby Off As A Business Loss

Saves Me A Lot Of Income Tax!”

Is Your Hobby A Tax Write-Off?

If your business has no reasonable expectation of profit, if it is a

hobby and not really a business, you will ultimately fail in your tax

objective. Since your losses are being incurred for a hobby and not a

true profit generating business, the tax authorities will take the

position that you aren`t entitled to any deductions. This is a double

blow. First, you`re losing money. Second, you`re denied tax deductions.

It is true, however, that if you enjoy what you`re doing, you`ll do

better at it. You`ll be willing to work longer hours and you`ll be

willing to put up with more hardships in order to make your business a

success.

Rather than attempting to have the tax system subsidize your hobby,

why not turn that favorite pasttime into a real, profit generating

business? This is a doubly rewarding. First, you make money at

something you love doing. Secondly, the tax authorities legally have to

allow your reasonable expenses to earn your now substantial business

income.

Prove that you`re running a business by running a business. Prepare and

follow a proper business plan. Keep good accounting records with at

least monthly financial statements to give you the information you need

to manage your business. Above all, make money from what you do.

Popular Misconception #3:

“I Don`t Make Enough Money to Incorporate!”

Will Incorporating Really Benefit You?

Some persons resist the idea of incorporating themselves because

the tax savings may not justify the added costs of incorporation,

annual minutes, and extra tax returns. However, incorporation gives

advantages that go far beyond tax savings.

Insurance may give you some protection against loss. However, you

may suffer business losses and lawsuits that may not be covered. For

extra protection, consider incorporating yourself. The limited

liability of your own corporation alone may justify the additional cost

and complexity.

Corporations may also be used for income-splitting with your family,

as well as estate planning and retirement planning objectives.

Additionally, corporations lend some credibility to smaller businesses

and may enhance your image and prestige in the eyes of clients or

suppliers.

Lower corporate tax rates will generally apply on small business income.

Even in loss years, wages can be paid by the corporation to you so that

you may utilize personal tax credits available. If unincorporated, these

credits might be lost forever. The now larger corporate losses can be

carried forward to future (hopefully more profitable) years.

A full analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of incorporation is

beyond the scope of this report. However, being incorporated may give

you more flexibility and advantages than you originally anticipated.

Certainly, it is not prudent to reject it as an option simply because it

is more complicated and costly. In fact, it may be one of the best

investments you ever made.

Popular Misconception #4:

“I really need an office out.

Being home-based makes me look amateur!”

Is A Home Office REALLY Professional?

Many times small business persons make the mistake of generating

unnecessary overhead in order to impress clients and prospects. Often

this attitude leads to escalating debt and business failure. One such

example is getting an impressive, but expensive, commercial office

space.

Customers aren`t stupid. They can see when such outside space is

necessary or advantageous for them. They can also see when it is a

waste of money and designed to fuel your ego. What matters most to

clients is whether they are getting cost-effective results or not. If

your product or service delivers such excellent value, your customers

will be impressed and come back. In contrast, if one allows his ego to

get in the way of satisfying the customers` needs, they will go

elsewhere.

With the move to telecommuting, downsizing, networked communications,

and home-based businesses, operating from your home office is actually

smart and trendy. Can you think of a more appropriate location for a

consulting firm specializing in home-based businesses? They of all

businesses should set the example in cutting unnecessary expenses and

operating efficiently.

This is not to say that there aren`t any disadvantages to being

home-based. One certainly must be well organized, disciplined, and

willing to follow good time management principles. This alone could

mark you as more professional than other businesses, home-based or not.

Expensive office space is not the answer to reflecting a professional

image. If you are truly concerned about your image, offer quality

service. Make sure that all your corporate communications (telephone,

websites, printed materials, et cetera) reflect the professional nature

of your business.

Popular Misconception #5:

“Since we`re not seeking financing,

we don`t need a business plan.”

Do You REALLY Need a Business Plan?

To obtain financing, many persons will prepare a business plan.

Although entrepreneurs will go to great lengths to get their loan or

capital, these same business persons will not bother to plan ahead very

far or analyse their business. Even if you required no additional

money, preparing a business plan can help you to succeed in your

business.

Running a business without a plan is like going on a trip without a

map,sufficient gas, money, or even a destination. Just as you wouldn`t

go on a vacation without some planning, no business can be successful

without it. Putting that plan in writing helps you to think out a

strategy for successfully operating and growing your business.

Where is your business today? Where will it be tomorrow? What is your

mission statement? What product lines are profitable? Which ones

aren`t? What business do you think you are in? What business do your

clients think you are in? Should you be in a different business? Is

your product or service less attractive to your clients? How are

competition, global commerce, technological and social changes affecting

your company? What is your competitive strength? What are your

weaknesses? Who are your biggest competitors? What are their

weaknesses and strengths? What is your marketing strategy?

What are your projected income and expenses and cashflow for the next

year? How about the next five years? Do you have a capital budget?

What determines whether you buy an asset or not? Do you have an exit

strategy? How will you manage growth? Do you have a financial plan? Do

you have an operations plan? What definite sales and net profit targets

have you set for this year and the next five years? What factors could

interfere with the attaining of these goals? What contingency plans have

you made to deal with such problems?

The purpose of these questions is to get you thinking and planning.

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Although your accountant or

business advisor can help you prepare your business plan, only you can

set the appropriate goals and follow through on them. Yes, you

definitely need a business plan, not just for obtaining capital, but as

a roadmap for your business.

Popular Misconception #6:

“I like bartering with clients

because it saves paperwork and taxes.”

Are You Reporting Barter Transactions?

Bartering is an excellent way of doing business. However, contrary to

popular belief, some barter transactions are taxable, both for income

and sales tax purposes.

Legally, you must maintain adequate financial records for your business.

Barter transactions made by your business must be reported to the

appropriate taxation authorities and taxes paid. However, transactions

between friends not engaging in business with each other may not be

taxable.

If you are an auto mechanic and I am an accountant and I swap accounting

services for your car repair services, the transaction in this case is

most likely taxable, even if we are friends. However, your accounting

fees should be deductible as a business expense and so should the

business portion of my car expenses. Note also that sales and similar

taxes may apply on this transaction.

On the other hand, if I trade accounting services for a vacation for my

family, I should really declare the value of such services as income.

The firm supplying the vacation would be able to deduct that value as

accounting fees. Any sales or similar taxes would have to be paid on

such transaction.

Many persons don`t record such transactions. For some, it may be a

matter of wanting to believe that you don`t need to be bothered with the

extra paperwork or taxes. Remember, though, that ignorance of the law

is no excuse. Legally, you must keep proper records and pay all taxes

due.

Popular Misconception #7:

“All My Workers Are Self-Employed, So I Don`t Need

To Bother With Payroll Or Workers` Compensation.”

Do You Need To Pay Payroll Taxes?

To save on payroll taxes and workers` compensation premiums, many

employers arrange their affairs in such a way that those working for

them are self-employed, independent contractors. This is good tax

planning.

On the other hand, some employers take the position that all those

working for them are self-employed, whether they are or not. Although

it is tempting to eliminate payroll taxes and workers` compensation

premiums, care should be taken to do so legally.

Whether those working for you are employed or self-employed is a

question of fact (which can be determined by the Courts). Do you supply

the tools and vehicles? Do you determine the working hours? Do you

have the right to control how the job will be done? Do you pay a

flat-rate or by-the-hour or a salary? Does your worker have other

clients?

By asking several such questions, a pattern will emerge as to whether

your worker is employed or self-employed. If it turns out that your

worker fits all the criteria of an employee, don`t say he`s

self-employed. On audit, you would still be responsible for the payroll

taxes (and penalties and interest as well).

Even if your workers are considered independent contractors by the

Income Tax Department, it is still possible that they will be considered

to be “workers” for purposes of Workers` Compensation legislation.

Thus, it is the responsibility of the employer to determine whether such

coverage is necessary or not. Failure to obtain proper coverage could

subject you to substantial (and unnecessary) costs.

In review, calling someone self-employed, doesn`t necessarily make them

self-employed. If you have a dog, call it a dog. Your position that

your dog is really a cat will not be successful. Likewise, make sure

that your position regarding your workers is legally correct.

Popular Misconception #8:

“My Accountant Charges Too Much.

I Can`t Afford It Anymore.”

Is Your Accountant Worth His Fee?

Many business persons view bookkeeping, accounting, and tax preparation

as necessary evils. In their view, accounting fees are an expense to be

reduced, deferred or even completely eliminated.

A good accountant, however, can give you benefits far in excess of the

fees charged. Well-designed accounting systems will enable you to

extract meaningful financial information for your business that will

help you to manage it properly, avoid business failure, and alert you to

declining sales, excessive expenses, tax opportunities, cashflow

problems, and many other vital concerns for your business.

Your accountant can save you lots of money with the advice you receive

on tax and other business matters. As well, a competent accountant can

be a valuable resource in discussing business problems and opportunities

with you.

Popular Misconception #9:

“Nobody Makes Money On The Internet.”

Can You REALLY Profit From The Internet?

Many people feel that the Internet is all hype. Many others feel that

it is overrated. Still others are of the opinion that it may be good

for some types of business, but not theirs.

Typical comments heard include: “I`ve lost money on the Internet…Major

corporations have lost millions…Do you personally know anyone who has

made money from the Internet?”

However, if you check out the list of recent billionaires, a high

proportion of these are Internet-related, and many of them under

forty years of age. As well as the very rich, you can find many cases

of more modest financial prosperity resulting from Internet commerce.

It is true that many are losing money on the Internet. It is also true

that many don`t know what they`re doing. However, with the proper

assistance, you, too, could profit from the net.

J. Stephen Pope, President of Pope Consulting Inc., http://www.popeconsultinginc.com/ has been helping clients to earn maximum business profits for over twenty-five years.

For valuable Work at Home Small Business Ideas, visit http://www.yenommarketinginc.com/

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3 PHP Fundamentals Beginners Must Understand to Succeed

As a beginning student of PHP, you must understand 3 important fundamentals. Your lesson will begin with three definitions.

- scripting language

- start/end tags

- interpreter

A scripting language is the way a programming language was created to read and process your programming code. A scripting language like PHP uses start and end tags to start and end this process. These tags tell the built in interpreter that PHP programming code is between these tags. Line 1 and line 3 below are the PHP Start/End tags.

Example 1

[Line 1]<?php [Line 2]// this is a comment &#8211; a way to write reminders [Line 3]?>

The PHP Interpreter is the built in part of the programming language that reads and processes the code that you write. The code that you write is your program. In the example above, the Interpreter reads line 2. Line 2 is a comment, a way to place information inside your PHP program so you can remember it.

PHP is an interpreted language, which simply means the processing of your program is done on the fly. As your programming code is read by the interpreter, it is processed in that very moment — line by line.

[note]

Java, on the other hand, is a compiled programming language. It has a built in compiler. Java is the opposite of PHP, and the ‘in the moment processing’. The built in compiler processes (reads) your code and creates a compiled copy before it can be used.

PHP is a scripting language. The code you write is processed in the moment. This processing begins when the built in interpreter finds a PHP start tag. It then reads and processes your programming code. This continues, line by line, until the interpreter finds the matching PHP end tag.

The interpreter is the ‘processing engine’ of PHP. It runs behind the scenes reading in your PHP programming code, processing the instructions that you wrote, and then performing the actions you commanded it to do. This process is automatic. To start and stop the Interpreter (processing engine), you must use scripting tags.

There are two main PHP Scripting Tags. One is the the PHP start tag, the other is the PHP end tag. Start and End tags tell PHP to start ‘processing’ your page

For example, using PHP to output your favorite color to the screen, you would type:

Example 2

[Line 1]<?php [Line 2]echo &#8216;My favorite color is blue&#8217;;[Line 3]?>

Line 1 and line 3 are the start and end tags. These tags tell the interpreter to start interpreting (reading and processing) the PHP commands contained within them. In this case the Interpreter reads the line 2:

echo ‘My favorite color is blue’;

The built in command ‘echo’ tells the processing engine to output to the screen whatever follows it. In the example above. The output to the screen would be:

My favorite color is blue

EASY PHP PROGRAMMING STEPS:

Step 1. Start the processing by writing the start tag as shown on line 1.

Step 2. Place your PHP commands next. Do not forget to end all your commands with a semicolon.

Step 3. End the processing with the end tag as shown on line 3.

Step 4. Save your program file with a ‘.php’ extension (i.e. getTheDate.php)

Conclusion

PHP is a scripting language. It has a built in interpreter. A scripting language uses start and end tags to call the interpreter. An interpreter reads and processes your programming code. Your PHP program can be one line or thousands of lines. But it starts and ends the same way every time — with a PHP start tag and PHP end tag.

Paul Markovich is a Lead Technical Trainer.

He has been designing and building custom web sites for entrepreneurs since 1997. He’ll help you get the answers to your burning open source programming questions!

Looking For More PHP Programming Tips?

Discover Proven Programming Strategies.

Learn faster, save time, energy, and money!

http://centeroftech.com

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