David Sanders asked:


Entrepreneurship is a business trend which for the last 30 years has gone mostly undetected. It is advancing more today than ever before in American history and is not likely to diminish as the country retools for the new economy. It might be helpful to understand something about entrepreneurs if you want to join their ranks.

The New Oxford Dictionary defines entrepreneurb> as “a person who sets up a business or businesses, taking on greater than normal financial risks in order to do so.” Most business schools are still geared to the BIG corporations, so the typical MBA can’t make a small business work. Fortune Magazine now publishes a small business edition; banks are creating special departments for small business, etc. It might surprise you to learn that women are the fastest-growing segment among entrepreneurs, and Hispanic women are the fastest-growing of all.

When Did This Trend Really Start? One answer might go like this. When the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, they didn’t come ashore looking for jobs. They were America’s first entrepreneurs. They went into the business of raising crops, building houses, hunting and trading with the friendly Indians. They created a new kind of life, which became a new kind of country that has changed our world.

Our Founding Fathers were entrepreneurs who financed the American Revolution to back up their principles expressed in the Declaration of Independence, and the freedoms of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. They never considered Americans would ever be composed of anything but independent business people.

In the early days, there was no assembly line and no automation. Notwithstanding that our forefathers engaged in slavery and a few bigger businesses took root in major cities, the majority of Americans were in business for themselves and our country was dominated by entrepreneurs who tamed the West.

When Did Things Reverse?

Beginning with the Industrial Revolution around the time of the Civil War, we slowly started moving toward being a country of employees. As this trend continued, people moved into large cities to be near the big factories and the companies that serviced these workers. Our school systems started to focus on training people to be employees and our schools began to resemble factories, starting and ending the children’s “shift” with the ringing bell.

However, this trend unexpectedly reversed during our lifetime – a change that has confused economists for decades. Perhaps the major business trend in the US since 1975 has been the steady move of Americans going into business for themselves. Americans have been going into business for themselves at an unprecedented rate since 1975. There was a time in American life when the major corporations ruled. No more – today they employ less than 20% of the work force. By the early 90’s the majority of US exports were produced by firms with fewer than 16 employees! Interesting that the corporate workforce is the most vulnerable in the new economy.



Generally, people become entrepreneurs to pursue a passion in life and to control their own destiny, but a lot of entrepreneurs have joined the movement simply to be free of the confines of being an employee.

Unfortunately, people start a business of their own, often without a workable business plan. Worse, they fail to clarify their purposes. They don’t set adequate clear policy, which kills them as they try to expand. The errors and mistakes cascade from there.

The end result is that new entrepreneurs start out running their business and end up with their business running them. Their lives go out of balance.

There is a common reason for this. Most people who take the leap and go into business for themselves are skilled at only a few of the things a business owner has to know. There is a lot to know to make a business work; skills in leadership, personnel, sales and marketing, finance, quality control and PR are all required in addition to expertise in the company’s products or services. This could also be the primary reason that a high percentage of new businesses go under each year – not “under-financing” as frequently gets the blame. But it is true, when the economy gets tough, as it has recently, the things one doesn’t know really become a threat and funds to make a go of it can become very scarce without careful management of the business.

There are systems that can be learned to deal successfully with the problem areas, and if you use them, you can make entrepreneurship a very rewarding activity. Perhaps the happiest and most successful businesspeople around are those who manage to master each of the skills needed to run a successful business. Accomplishing that, they are free to concentrate on what they like to do most. Sound enticing? For some, I will wager nothing could be better. It is up to you.



Copyright© 2009 Creative Business Strategies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.



Yvonne
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Dec
30
Filed Under (sanders) by admin
Dana Sanders asked:


For many couples desperately trying to bear children, infertility is a reality. Usually, a couple with fertility problems attempts many chances at having a biological family—including in vitro fertilizations. Many couples wish to experience the joy of carrying and giving birth to a child, but physically cannot produce a viable embryo. After trying all viable options, many couples give up hope. However, there is an option that has given infertile couples the ability to have children, even if they are not biologically their own. If a woman is capable of carrying a child to term, this option may be the light at the end of the infertility tunnel. Embryo adoption allows an adoptive couple who cannot conceive on their own the ability to carry and give birth to that life, creating a family of their own.

When a couple tries in vitro fertilization, egg and sperm are combined in a laboratory setting to create embryos. These embryos are then frozen using a cryogenic process to keep the embryo alive. Only one of these embryos is implanted, leaving the rest sitting in the preservation freezer waiting for the couple to make a decision. If the couple does not want more children, they can donate the embryos to be used by an infertile couple. Several organizations deal especially in embryo adoption and accept embryo donation from generous couples. One such organization, The National Embryo Donation Center (NEDC) was created to provide options for the couples facing the problem of what to do with these embryos. Another organization, Snowflakes Embryo Adoption, is part of the organization Nightlight Christian Adoptions. Nightlight specializes in assisting all potential adoptive parents with traditional adoptions or embryo adoptions. Before embryo adoption, couples were forced to either destroy the embryos or donate them as research subjects.

Embryo donations can be either open or anonymous adoptions. Upon donation of the embryos, the donating couple can choose to reveal their personal information to those who become parents and carry the embryo. Similarly, couples interested in adoption can request the adoption to be conducted anonymously. Since adoption can only take place after the child has been born, using the term “adoption” for this process is somewhat of a misnomer. Embryo adoption is a legal proceeding that involves specific documentation. Unlike adoption, when the child is born, the names of the adoptive parents will appear on the birth certificate. Once the legally-binding donation contract has been signed, the donating couple cannot place any claim on the child, especially after the child’s birth.

Just like in vitro fertilization, embryo adoption is not guaranteed to result in a pregnancy or a child. Unfortunately, only about two-third of the embryos survive the thawing process. There is only a 20 to 25 percent chance embryo implantation will successfully result in a pregnancy. However, if a couple desires to carry and give birth to a child, these chances may be their best bet.

Economically speaking, embryo adoption runs about a third the amount of standard in vitro fertilization. For many couples, the economic aspect of infertility treatments result in closing many doors. In addition to these costs, travel expenses must be included since many organizations require you visit their location for initial screening and the actual implantation process. If the first embryo implantation does not result in pregnancy, the couple usually has a couple of additional chances. The embryo adoption process at NEDC provides couples with three chances of implantation of the adoptive embryos. Much like in vitro fertilization, the more chances necessary for embryo adoption increases the cost. Granted this is a small price for the joy of giving birth to a child and creating a family, it is outside of the means of some infertile couples. Before embarking on the embryo adoption experience, all decisions need to be made to ensure this process is an option.

Embryo adoption gives couples with the inability to have biological children but have the desire and love to start a family a second chance. To decide if embryo adoption may be an option for your and to learn more about the process, consult the Snowflakes website at www.nightlight.org/snowflakeslanding.asp or the National Embryo Donation Center at www.embryodonation.org.

Copyright 2005 by Dana Sanders. All rights reserved.



Justin
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Gareth D asked:


I’d like to clean up the wooden floorboards in my bedroom - about 11 sq meters - and want to avoid using a sander if possible. Will nitromoors remove the dirt sufficiently for me to then oil or varnish the boards?

Francisco
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Jake Sanders asked:


Digital Cameras have lots of features, buttons, and adjustment tricks all aimed for the sole purpose of capturing great pictures. But what if you’re a newbie and you just want to take one step at a time getting to know your digital camera? Well, I think you’ve found the right place because today we will be discussing simple yet useful tips in ensuring that you will have your money’s worth and the quality of the image you’ve been wanting to achieve.

1. Outdoor Shots

One of the great hidden features of the digital cameras is the fill flash or flash on mode. By taking control of the flash so it goes on when you want it to, not by the camera’s liking or it deems appropriate. In flash on mode, the camera exposes for the background first adding just enough flash that illuminates the subject, thus resulting to an image that looks like taken by a pro.  Wedding photographers and some professionals have been using this technique for years now.

2. Macro-licious

Do you like simple subjects for Photography like the flowers, grasses, or the trees? Then the next time you do, you might want to turn that Macro Mode on (you will see a flower icon somewhere in the buttons) and be surprised to see the world in finer detail. Activate the close up mode on your digital camera and see that even the simplest object takes on new fascinating twist, and the best bit is it is easy to achieve.

3. High Resolution Revolution

One of the most important reasons for having a huge space for memory is to maximize your camera’s capability for shooting the highest resolution. If you paid a premium price for a 6 megapixel digital cameras, then get your money’s worth and shoot at 6 megapixels. And while you’re at it, shoot at your camera’s highest quality compression setting too. The point is, if you have enough memory, then there’s no reason to shoot at a lower resolution and risk missing the opportunity of capturing those great shots.

4. Tedious Tripods

The sight of the photographer using the tripod heightened that professionalism aura surrounding his already intimidating presence, and so they thought. Fact is, the tripod has nothing to do with what makes a true photographer.  But the use of the tripod can really make a big difference between good and badly taken pictures. Problem is, they are bulky, heavy, and frustrating if you’re on a travel. Tripod nowadays comes in various sizes and styles and they cancel the problems with that of generic tripod design (as you already know). 

5. Self Timer Possibilities

It doesn’t mean that you’re branded as the family photographer, you will be missing important occasions and events because by the simple reason of you being the “photographer”. Having the tripod and pushing that “timer” on will save you from that doomed position as the missing photographer. Remember that most built-in camera flashes have only a range of 10 feet (or less), so make sure you don’t stand too far away.



Franklin
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Dec
24
riddle_me_this asked:


I have an old Red Devil Tools number 444 floor sander. The motor works fine, but it’s missing the back wheels and wheel assembly. I really want to get this old sander going, but can’t seem to find parts anywhere on the Net. Please help?
Tried the suggestions from raindove and mstrcarp; unfortunately, no luck :-(

Eric
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Sandt22 asked:


Is there a dust collection system or ‘dust collection skirt’ for the PERIMETER of a random orbital sander? Note: in place of the usual dust bag, I already use a shop vac vacuum cleaner which sucks up dust through the holes in the sanding pad. The vacuum attachment I am looking for for the PERIMETER of the sanding pad is to capture the dust that escapes the PERIMETER area which makes it impossible to sand in a truly dust free manner. Thanks, Sandt

Gail
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Percy asked:


I have sears belt sander but would like to buy either a orbitor hand sander or pad. This would be used for cabinet doors and wood work.

Heather
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BarryS asked:


I have an Alltrade rotary tool kit, but I don’t know how the sander band attaches to the tool. Is it supposed to be attached to a collet?

Grace
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storytllr1961 asked:


I don’t mean the polishing part that is attached by velcro, but just the sandpaper. There’s no instruction in the manual.

Billy
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Dec
17
Eric J. Slarkowski asked:


You must follow a few simple steps before starting a drywall finishing project. Before beginning, though, you will need materials including a putty trial, sandpaper, a tray, joint putty and a scraper.

To start, sand down the walls to remove any lumps and then wipe down the wall to remove any sand. Continue sanding until a clear white area is visible, but this step is not applicable for wood walls. If there are holes in the wall, use the putty trial and scraper to apply the joint putty and fill in the holes. Sometimes an extra coat is needed. Simply repeat this procedure until the hole is completely filled, after which time you will need to scrape it down until it is smooth. It is important to smooth out the surface and wash the wall before applying the drywall in order to free the area of any dust. Also, be sure the area is dry before sandpapering the surface. A drywall sander may also help smooth the surface during the sandpapering step.

Once the above steps are finished, you are now ready to start the drywall procedure according to the steps provided in the kit purchased. After the drywall procedure is finished, you can apply paint to the area to make it look more appealing. You will likely need to apply at least two coasts of paint to reach an acceptable look. Of course, allow the base coast to dry before putting anything against the drywall area.

Once the painting is finished and has completely dried, you can decorate the room while adding texture by purchasing new curtains that blend with the paint, for example. Flowers are vases can also offset the paint and help accessorize the room. To be even more creative, you can drywall the ceiling by twirling which will provide a popcorn effect. This same technique can be used on your walls if you would like. Twirls can also be created to resemble such things as flowers, roses or leaves.

Overall, it may cost less than a hundred dollars to drywall and paint your home, or it could cost more than one hundred. In the end, though, the value of your home will increase as well as the appearance. Once the project is finished, you can start to build even more equity in your home. What a good deal! You can increase the value of your home by thousands while only spending possibly a couple hundred dollars. If you have the extra money available to spend, invest it into your home. Though drywall is fairly simple, it is time consuming. The longer you wait, the more time you will spend remodeling your home and wasting money on energy costs that could be avoided by installing new drywall.



Lillian
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