The Lava Bot

Do you take for granted the fact that your friends and colleagues and associates in the business community around you know what your company really does? I certainly have in the past, and everyday I’m amazed by how little people actually know about my company, Cube Management, and what we actually do.

Just this morning I was having breakfast with a long-term associate of mine and we were just talking personally about our work and our personal life, etc, and we got into a discussion about our businesses, and we quickly realized how little we knew about each others companies and before I knew it we were talking about doing business together. Specifically this individual has a need to recruit a marketing person and they had no idea that we were in the business of supplying top talent in sales and marketing to companies.

So a lot of times if we just take the time to make sure that our businesses are known by others in our circle of influence, we can get business and referrals and open up doors to new opportunity that are right within our grasp.

So the question I ask of you is what are you doing to stay in touch with your friends, colleagues, and network associates to make sure they’re aware of what your company does? It’s pretty easy to just neglect this area, and as a result, lose critical opportunities for referrals of business from people that are very close to you.

Here’s a couple of ideas about how to overcome that: First of all, make sure to take time to explain to people and update them about what’s going on in your company. Give them the elevator pitch about your company without spending a lot of time just talking about yourself. Also, when you meet friends or business associates for breakfast, ask them to give you their elevator pitch and a quick update on their business, its size, the kind of work that it does, who its customers are, etc. You’ll be amazed on how that can lead to discussions of either opportunities for doing work together or making vital introductions to each other and referrals.

Also, make sure to keep your friends and business associates and network associates on your mailing lists so that when you’re doing email campaigns and other types of updates on your company’s products and services, they are kept up-to-date on what your company is doing as well.

Finally, make sure that you give them a copy of your business card and encourage them to visit your website to get information about your company. You’ll discover that a lot of people that have known you for a long time haven’t been to your company’s website and don’t have a current understanding of what your company does, limiting their ability to give or refer business to you.

By just practicing these simple principles you should be able to get a lot more referrals and a lot more business opportunities without a lot more effort.

About Cube Management
Cube Management provides sales acceleration services to emerging growth and mid-market companies in the technology, manufacturing, healthcare and business service sectors. The experts at Cube Management work across the entire spectrum of marketing, sales and business development to provide customized solutions that drive revenue and profit growth. Cube Management combines Strategy, Process & People to produce winning results.

Filed by admin at 6:28 pm under Social Stuff
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In the world of fitness, there are many methods to realize this common aim. Some exercisers like to use heavy tools to strengthen muscles, while others are keen to use light ones for mere maintain their fitness. However, selecting the right suitable equipment will be the urgent issue. Consequently, there are many benefits of exercise bikes, which must be considered. This type of exercise is the best, which assists in enhancing all parts of the body, such as legs, thighs, and all muscles as well. When practicing bikes outdoor, it will provide such a stimulation of lungs and heart. Of course, this will be reflected on the health of all body.

Yet, there are some tips regarding the benefits of exercise bikes. It must choose the suitable time of practicing and taking care not to practice after eating a full meal. Practicing must be at certain time daily, at least, and in repetition as well. Counseling the specialist will be great in this matter. Remembering to take vital vitamins and minerals to activate body will assist in getting great results from exercises. This practice has other benefits such as psychological ones. It assists the person to avoid boring and gain most comfort. Actually, it is the best way to burn fats and loss weight, which is known as the utmost target aimed by all exercisers.

Click Here For More Info On Bikes Exercises

Filed by admin at 6:54 am under Fitness Shop, Sports Stuff
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If you have read the previous articles in this series you should now have a clear idea of what brochures you are trying to obtain for your collection.

Now for the fun bit! Starting, maintaining and increasing your collection.

As you are collecting second-hand items, the condition of an item you are after can vary dramatically. Also, it does not help that sellers regularly either omit or misdescribe items.

Therefore, it is paramount that you ask the right questions and look for what the seller hasn’t said as much as what he has in his advert description.

Having been disappointed on more than a few occasions when a “pristine” item has arrived through my letterbox, I have a checklist that I consult before committing to buying. The list is as follows:

1) What is the size of the item in centimetres? Pictures can be deceptive and what looks like a 21cm x 29cm item, may be much smaller in size.

2) How many pages long is it? Beware that on smaller brochures, there can be confusion between seller and buyer with what represents a page. My firm only uses the term “pages” for items that are 6 pages long or more. Otherwise, we use the term number of “sides”. As a reputable seller, this avoids any confusion and disappointment.

3) What is the reference number of the brochure? Most manufacturers have a code system for their brochures that you will become familiar with very quickly. By keeping a note of the references, you will avoid duplicates in your collection.

4) What is the condition of the brochure? Amazingly, very few sellers have a condition scale attached to the advert (we do). One person’s “pristine” may be fit only for the bin in other collectors eyes! I therefore ignore vague words like the above and ask direct questions - Has it any creases or tears and if so how many and how bad? Any fading? Any foxing (A term used to describe stains, specks, spots and blotches in paper)? Any water or damp damage?

5) How will the item be delivered to you? On auction sites especially, it is natural to go for the cheapest posting method. However, if the item is being sent for the cost of the stamp, can you really expect anything more than for it to be delivered in a flimsy envelope? Probably not. The only way that a collectable paper item should be sent is in a card-backed envelope preferably marked “do not bend” with the item wrapped in plastic to prevent water damage and a return address inside, just in case the postal system loses it. I also insist on a proof of posting, again just in case the item goes missing. For any item over a preset limit, in my case £30/$60, I offer to pay extra for recorded delivery. Better safe than sorry.

If you get a satisfactory answer to the questions above, you will be as certain as you can be that you will get the item and that it will be of a standard reflecting the price you have paid. The list sounds a bit daunting, but essentially it boils down to ensuring you know what you are getting and making sure it arrives in the same condition with which it left the seller.

Many is the time that I have received a sodden envelope that contains a perfectly preserved item because I have insisted on it being wrapped in plastic. If the seller says, he does not normally do this, offer to pay extra for the service or if practical, collect the item. If your seller cannot or will not take this care, may I suggest that you walk away and wait for another to turn up.

Please remember that for older brochures especially, a bit of fading and foxing and the odd crease or small tear is perfectly acceptable. In fact, I prefer an item with a patina to an “as new” item as it seems to have more character.

Finally, unless it is extremely rare, I would avoid buying any incomplete, falling apart or badly damaged brochures. On the whole, they have little or no value and it is best to wait for a better one to be offered for sale.

Next week, I will be discussing the correct way to store your collection.

I own an internet firm specialising in sourcing and selling all kinds of paper automobilia.

Whether you want a car or auto brochure, rare workshop manual or simply to chat on our forum about collecting and classic cars a warm welcome is guaranteed.

I supply items worldwide, a large number of which can be downloaded 24 hours a day.

Filed by admin at 8:07 am under Cars + Wagons
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If you are not at your goal weight, this is due to one thing only: something is holding you back. It’s not what you are eating; it’s how you are thinking. You may not believe that you can easily get and remain thin. This is, however, a false belief.

But if you look around you, you will see that for so many people, the weight has crept on - but it stays on, too! Why does it stay? It’s not just because of their eating habits - it’s because of false assumptions.

These false assumptions will hold you back in many areas of your life.

A person may believe that he can’t get a higher level job. A person may think that he or she can’t get the kind of life partner that he or she truly wants. You may believe that you can’t attain that dream of yours - that it is too hard, takes too much time, takes more skill or intelligence than you have.

That is pure bunk. These types of beliefs hold you back. Throw them out!

False assumptions about losing weight have benefitted the diet industry for decades, and continue to do so.

What are these false assumptions?

1. Losing weight is torture. It is too hard and I need to take pills, supplements, join a diet group, or get a set of recipes in order to succeed. NOT TRUE

2. It’s just too hard to stay on a “diet.” I won’t be able to do it. NOT TRUE

3. “Diet” is a bad word. NOT TRUE

4. If I find a diet that actually works, I’ll have to stay on a miserable eating regimen for life. NOT TRUE

5. Even if I managed to stay on a diet, after all that work and sacrifice, I will gain all the weight back and even more. NOT TRUE

6. Once you get past a certain age, the weight creeps on and it’s a lot harder to take it off. NOT TRUE

Don’t buy into these beliefs unless you want to help support the billion dollar diet industry. None of these things should ever be assumed.

Don’t let false assumptions mess up your body. It’s your body, and you can look good if you want to. People lose weight and keep it off all the time! It happens every day for thousands of people and it can happen for you, also.

For more information, see http://www.dieting-made-easy.com.

Sarah Tanner, who is most well known for her website http://www.irresistible-to-men.com, has written a diet book revealing the secrets of getting and remaining slim. It’s not as hard as you think. Read about her simple, do-able diet at http://www.dieting-made-easy.com.

Filed by admin at 6:47 pm under Better Medical Resources
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Would you go to a dentist if the only tools she used are a chainsaw and a stick? Would you take your car to be serviced by a mechanic whose only tools were a chocolate bar and hairspray? Would you want to your child to go to an elementary school that only taught from a set of 1964 encyclopedias?

Do you see the connection?

It is simple- really. Every industry has tools that can be specific to that industry. The dentist would never use a chainsaw (even though it may feel like it). They use tools that are designed and that are necessary for the successful completion of their task- to assist with proper dental hygiene. The same holds true for ever other profession and industry. At the same time, to take tools that may not be useful to an industry can slow down the process.

So here comes the question. Why is it that those that skip trace do not utilize the tools that are available to our profession or we try to use the tools of other professions to do our job?

What are the tools available to the skip trace industry? You’ve heard me talk about some of them. Databases, each other and our minds. But, what are some other tools available to us? Below is a list. I’m not calling it a complete list, because we think out side of the box and have incredible imaginations, so the list will never be completed. Not all of these will apply to your needs, but maybe it will spark some ideas and you can add to the list.

CALLER ID

Have caller ID setup on ALL incoming calls. When you ask for a debtor for their number, is it matching up with the number they are calling from? If possible, through you phone provider have a report available to you per day of all received calls (just incase you miss it and they don’t leave a message). Any numbers that you do not recognize reverse that number and see what you get.

SUBSCRIPTION DATABASES

Most of us already use these. They can be very useful for obtaining additional information on your debtor or those around them. Some include: www.accurint.com, www.merlin.com and www.skipsmasher.com to name a few. There are several more available, do some research and see which best suites your needs.

FREE PUBLIC INFORMATION WEBSITES

These websites have gathered tons of links to public record sites. Most of them
separate the information by state. Some examples include: www.skipease.com,
www.crimetime.com and www.publicrecordfinder.com.

FILTER DATABASES

On these websites you enter various information of the debtor, public records and
other websites are searched and the results are provided in a quick easy to
understand format. Some examples include: www.argali.com, www.pretrieve.com
and www.zabasearch.com. These really speed up the investigation process.

COMPARE DATABASES

This is where I daydream about a database that you can enter the information for two different people at the same time. Then with the same process of the other databases information is researched on both subjects then is compared for anything that is the same and that information is returned to the user. This way you can determine if there is a spouse or roommate or significant other. The reason that I daydream is because to my knowledge no such database exist at this time. However, if it does PLEASE let me know.

WORKSHEETS

Whatever you call it. A worksheet, a checklist or a form. This is what the investigator uses to make sure that every stone has been turned, every nook and cranny (what’s a cranny?) has been checked for information to help locate the debtor.

LETTERS

This provides another option to reach out a touch the debtor. By sending a letter with PLEASE DO NOT FORWARD ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED printed on the envelope is an easy way to get determine if the debtor has moved and left a forwarding address. The downside to sending a letter is the turn around time.

INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES

There are two different approaches direct and indirect. Direct is determining the information that you need contact the people that have that information and ask them for it. Indirect is also called pretext or social engineering. Determine what information that you need then develop a story, contact the people that have that information and present your story so that they will give you the information that you need. Sometimes pretexting is illegal; please make sure you know both the federal and your state laws that apply.

TRAPLINES

This is a service provide by various telephone companies. When someone calls a trap line the number is captured. It does not matter if it is non published or published you will get a report of all numbers. You can setup a standard toll free number to do this but it takes up to 30 days to get results.

HELLO LINES

This is a phone line that is simple answered as “hello”. It is not answered with the company name or with the professionalism of the company. It is answered in the same way that you would you home phone.

CALLER ID SPOOFING

There are companies that can be used or phone systems that can be purchased allowing the user to change their outgoing Caller ID information.

INVESTIGATOR SURROUNDINGS

Collections and skip tracing need to be physically separated. It helps with the mindset of the skip tracer as well as not allowing the other party to hear a demand for payment in the background.

NETWORK OF INVESTIGATORS

A spider web works because there are many strands connected. If your debtor is running from you they are probably running from someone else. We need to work together.

MINDSET

Here is where the rubber meets the road. Skip tracing is a game of hide and seek. The debtor is hiding you are seeking, it’s that simple.

INVESTIGATOR EDUCATION

A skip tracer MUST stay up to date with laws, procedures and resources to be the best that they can. About a once a year seminar that includes laws, processes, skill sets and resources with the ability to network should do the trick.

We have the skills. We have the resources. We have the tools. Lets show the rest of the world how the professionals do it!

Oh, if you come up with some more to add to the list-please send a copy my way.

As always, happy hunting.

Ron Cooper
ACCURATE INTELL
http://www.accurateintell.com
PO Box 30485
Greenville, NC 27833
(252)375-0262

Filed by admin at 1:20 am under Commerce
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Got 10 pounds to lose? Don’t torture yourself by not eating and taking weight reducing drugs that may not be beneficial to you in the long run. You may be dying to lose unwanted fat in your body but you don’t have to do it in an instant. Have patience and gradually and diligently work on your aim. Soon you’ll realize those 10 pounds you ought to lose will just be a part of history.

So you have 10 pounds to lose? Check out these simple yet effective ways to lose ten pounds gradually and safely:

Exercise

The best way you can do to get rid of those ten pounds is to exercise. The reason why you get fat and gain weight is that the calories (energy) your body has gotten from the food that you eat are more than what your body needs or what you utilize. The excess calories not burned up are then stored in form of fat. The stored fat becomes your alternative source of energy when what you eat is not enough to provide for your energy requirements. However, when you consistently take in more calories, the tendency of your body is to store more excess calories in form of fat. The unconsumed fat is the one that makes gain weight.

Exercising would help you burn those stored calories and thus prevent weight gain. As you increase your physical activities, more and more energies are consumed so calories that you take in don’t accumulate in your system as fats. However, bear in mind that exercising is essential to good health and should not only be done if you’ve got 10 pounds to lose. Make it a habit in order for you to maintain your good health even as you grow older.

Eat the Right Food and the Right Amount of Food

Eating the right kind of food, that is, low-calorie food and the right amount of food is very important if you are serious about losing weight. The principle here is that you have to take in only the right amount of calorie you shall be consuming as all the excess will just be stored as fat. Also, drink lots of water.

Sleep Early and Get up early

Most people do not realize they have already gained so much weight within certain period of time. This is because gaining weight can be a long and sluggish process. Everyday, you gain a pound or two without noticing it. Then suddenly when you check your weight you realize you already got 10 pounds added to your weight, which means you got 10 pounds to lose as well. For most busy people, exercising may not be a good idea as it may take much of their time.

Sleeping early and waking up early in the morning can be one of your alternatives. Getting up early means doing more things earlier. Since you do not eat much or you probably eat much healthier food in the morning, you are more likely to burn calories (as you move around the house, prepare your breakfast and your things) from fat that have already been there in your system. Moreover, if your reason for not exercising is your “lack of time,” getting up early would give you time for exercise, even just the basics such as brisk walking for a few minutes.

Filed by admin at 9:31 pm under Better Medical Resources
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It’s estimated that there are 47 million Americans without health insurance. For a time me and my family were among them. My husband was laid off from his job. We lost his health insurance coverage. We have two teenagers at home and needed coverage. We didn’t know anything about how to buy health insurance. One of my husbands ex-colleagues, who had also lost his job told us about how to search for health insurance family on line.

He told us he learned about different types of coverages and prices. He was able to look at five different health insurers and do side-by-side comparisons. He was able to pick the best health insurance coverage for his family.

It can be overwhelming trying to pick health insurance for your family. There are so many different companies and plans to choose from. I went on line and did a search on health insurance family and found a wealth of information. I hadn’t considered lots of things. I needed to make sure that the doctors we see accept the health plan I choose, or we would have to change doctors.

I needed to consider things like deductibles and co-insurance payments and also prescription drug coverage. Buying the cheapest health insurance coverage you can find isn’t the best thing to do. Make sure you have all the facts before you choose.

Filed by admin at 11:30 am under Better Medical Resources, Healthy Stuff, House Of Insurance
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A simple decision at face value- choose a paint color or color scheme for your home - can turn even the strongest amongst us into quivering wimps. The fear of picking the wrong color has many homeowners paralyzed and unable to make a decision. You can always hire a decorator or Color Design Expert to help you solve your color selection problem. However, if your would rather do it own your own you can use a simple technique that I recommend to my clients and decorating workshop students.

1. Make a trip to your local home improvement center and head straight for the paint department. Pick whatever color you take a fancy to. Don’t worry about where you will be using the color for now. Just have fun with your choices this will help you reduce the intimidation of choosing a color. This is the first step in overcoming your fear.

2. Grab you favorite fashion magazines and cut out images with colors you find attractive. After all if you are attracted to a color in make-up or fashion, odds are you will like that color in your home.

3. Find an inspiration piece in your home that you absolutely love. Use the colors from that piece to guide you in you color choices.

4. Buy pint or smaller sizes of paint colors you have decided on and apply them to a small section of wall or posterboard (tape it to the wall). Watch how the color changes through out the day as it responds to daylight and artificial light. IF you definately love the color -then get the color and start painting. If not just repeat this exercise.

Keep in mind that choosing a paint color or color scheme for your home is not a life or death choice. Approach the decision with a sense of humor and adventure knowing that no matter if you choose right or wrong at least you made a decision. If you chose the color you love Congratulations. If you chose a color you decided you didn’t like Congratulations too! You are just one step closer to finding the color that defines your personality and one step further away from your fear of color.

Carmen Natschke is an award winning designer and co-founder of roominakit.com an online home decor shop and decorating resource. Carmen is passionate about decorating and has shared that passion with hundreds of women through her Decorating Divas workshops and seminars. She is currently working on her book “Decorate Like A Pro” which is based on the innovative approach to decorating taught in her workshops and seminars.

Filed by admin at 12:20 am under Great Home Improvement Tips
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Well it looks as if we need to make some serious choices with our government, as they just will not stop spending will they? They just keep blowing money on all sorts of crap, none of really relevant to anything in the Constitution, except the military expenditures perhaps.

Nevertheless it is time to downsize and cut costs right? Sure and how are we going to do that? Well we can do what corporations do when they have had enough of the BS of over regulation, class action lawsuits and government fines. Move your corporate offices offshore and outsource your factories to another nation. That is what they do.

Well it is time to cut costs and save the taxpayers some money so it looks as if we should outsource our government to India. You see all the government produces in excuses and shuffles paper work. It produces stuff like a modern day factory, as our government produces bureaucracy.

Surely in India they can do the same but much cheaper and therefore we can save taxpayers money and reduce the National Debt before the government spends us into oblivion and it is too late. We must Outsource our Government to India and Save Taxpayers Money! Consider this in 2006 and vote for Lance.

Filed by admin at 11:08 pm under Geek Stuff Center
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The exertion of having to drive to a gambler’s den makes it advisable to give it up unless ineluctable. In fact you do not need to leave your desk to experiment with online poker or related games because it’s easily accessed from your familiar home office assuming you own a computer including Internet access. On the other hand, don’t get all worked up to soon as there’s several pointers which you must first consider in regards to online poker or related games, notably should you be green.

Wow your friends: Learn to play gambling statistics here.

The foremost thing which a shrewd virtual plunger like me should definitely suss out is an online poker or related games Web page of the type offering its patrons the best odds. Take care the online poker or related games Web page is controlled by a trustworthy bookkeeping firm to check the official games’ pay-out percentages in a documented manner. Always make sure that the online card playing Web page has a legal license, e. g. by probing the ministerial operating authorization on the casino site’s About page. If it’s not possible to discover any ministerial operating authorization on a selected online card playing Web page, don’t ever think of risking with this web site.

Going further, another vital tip is to place your wager for beginners with minor sums in place of using up crazy amounts off the cuff. To begin with, check the soundness of this specific online card playing structure rather than running some severe injury- notably that of losing your money… And now, the last eminent piece of advice in regards to virtual roulette. It can obviously only be to never ignore that gambling in an online casino should primarily be concerned with having fun and less about making a buck. Gambling in an online casino is definitely no job, but a pastime which should help you feel exultant and your life satisfying. So, simply having gone with the summarized leads, you can go ahead surrender to the temptation of online card playing…

Filed by admin at 6:00 am under Lucky Web, Unassigned
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