Recently, more like a year and a half ago, I formed a grudge on another girl. And yes, it was over a boy. Don't pre-judge me. I am not usually the grudge-holder type. This was a special exception though. So after having a grudge for the last year or so, I have officially decided that I need to let it go. It has taken me way longer than ever to forgive and forget but I am working on it now. Forgiving people is really important. I have distant relatives that all fought over a piece of land that was left to them and none of the siblings speak anymore. It is a really sad story and it just caused the family to break apart. Being unforgiving only causes a life of regret. So forgive your friends and your enemies. Here are some tips!
Realize the magnitude
One person who has done you wrong is such a small, minuscule, and tiny thing. Is one person really worth all of the fuss? There are so many other important things in your life to worry about. Seriously though, if you are so caught up with this grudge you are holding, you may need to rethink your priorities. The magnitude of this grudge should be microscopic compared to what else is happening in this world.
Decide now
Make a solid decision. Don't be wishy washy or think that you will forgive them only if they're nice to you. Make a decision and stick to it. Don't try and back out half way through the process. Make sure you make a conscious decision. If you need to you can tell a friend or write it down but you don't have to.
Be nice
Nice is such a broad and overused word but it is effective in this case. BE NICE to the person who wronged you. I know it's hard but in order to forgive them you must treat them like a human being, which they are. I know it's hard to believe because to you, they are the scum of the earth. Remember that they are a person with feelings also. I write the word “Nice” on my hand every day to remind me to be nice to people. If it works for me, it can work for you.
It's in the past
Remember that what happened is in the past. It already happened and there is not much you can do about it anymore. If you realize this, it will be a lot easier to forgive. The Amish know how to do this. After a man named Charles Roberts shot five of their children, an amish family immediately forgave him. “They not only used words, but also acts of forgiveness, attending Roberts' funeral and setting aside some of the approximately $4 million they received from well-wishers as a gift for the Roberts family, with a special concern for the shooter's children.” This Amish family forgave him instantly because they knew it was more important to do that than to hold a grudge.
If someone like your room mate or your teacher or your family member does something that has offended you, forgive them. It saves a lot of time and energy and will help you live without regrets.
About the Author
Meagan Hollman is a writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers helps people determine if an online education is right for them and helps them understand which courses are available through accredited online colleges to help them reach their goals.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
5 Ways to Cut Spending and Start Saving
Are you living from paycheck to paycheck? Do you worry about how you would manage if you were facing some type of emergency? Gaining control of your finances so that you are actually able to meet all your monthly expenses and start saving money may seem like an impossible task, but there are many things you can do to cut back on spending.
1. Find out where your money is really going.
Most people fritter away a great deal of money on small things; candy, gum, cappuccinos, bottled water, energy bars, magazines and the list goes on. But if you pay attention to the little things, you’ll discover they really add up quickly. To get a good idea of how much money you are spending, make a commitment to track your spending for at least two weeks, preferably a whole month. During that time get a receipt for every single purchase you make, right down to each and every pack of gum or chocolate bar you buy. At the end of the time period, add it all up. Once you know how much you are spending on the small stuff, you can determine whether some or all of that spending can be eliminated.
2. Cut way back on impulse purchases and casual spending.
Many of the small items you buy are impulsive purchases. With a little planning you can eliminate that type of spending without sacrificing the things you really need or want. If you can’t do without your energy bars, buy them in bulk rather than paying high prices at the corner shop. If you drink bottled water, stop. Studies have shown that bottled water is no safer than tap water and it’s certainly more expensive. If you don’t like the taste of tap water, consider filtering your own water. If you have a favorite magazine that you always read cover to cover, then get an annual subscription instead of picking it up when you are doing your grocery shopping. You can usually save thirty to fifty percent off the cover price of magazines with a subscription.
3. Re-evaluate all your regular monthly expenses.
If you are paying for something you don’t actually need or use, cancel it. Also take a close look at things like insurance, bank fees, cable or satellite television, cellular, telephone, and internet services, as well as credit card interest rates. Often you can save money by renegotiating contracts, switching service providers, bundling services or transferring credit card balances to cards with lower interest rates.
4. Create a budget and stick to it.
Operating without a budget is like embarking on a journey with no idea of your destination. Very few people manage to save money without clear financial goals and a specific plan on how they are going to achieve those goals.
5. Never pay full retail price for anything.
Getting a good deal on almost anything has never been easier. It may take a little extra effort on your part, but shopping around for the best prices can save you a great deal of money. You can find price comparison sites online, that will search for the best deals available. Often local retailers are willing to match lower prices that you have found, providing you ask. Cutting spending and saving money requires discipline and perseverance. Take it one step at a time but think long term. It takes time to establish new money habits, but once you do, you’ll never look back.
My name is Muzammil Bashir. I’m working with the Senior Editor of Net Effekt –specialising in white label email marketing white label email marketing.
1. Find out where your money is really going.
Most people fritter away a great deal of money on small things; candy, gum, cappuccinos, bottled water, energy bars, magazines and the list goes on. But if you pay attention to the little things, you’ll discover they really add up quickly. To get a good idea of how much money you are spending, make a commitment to track your spending for at least two weeks, preferably a whole month. During that time get a receipt for every single purchase you make, right down to each and every pack of gum or chocolate bar you buy. At the end of the time period, add it all up. Once you know how much you are spending on the small stuff, you can determine whether some or all of that spending can be eliminated.
2. Cut way back on impulse purchases and casual spending.
Many of the small items you buy are impulsive purchases. With a little planning you can eliminate that type of spending without sacrificing the things you really need or want. If you can’t do without your energy bars, buy them in bulk rather than paying high prices at the corner shop. If you drink bottled water, stop. Studies have shown that bottled water is no safer than tap water and it’s certainly more expensive. If you don’t like the taste of tap water, consider filtering your own water. If you have a favorite magazine that you always read cover to cover, then get an annual subscription instead of picking it up when you are doing your grocery shopping. You can usually save thirty to fifty percent off the cover price of magazines with a subscription.
3. Re-evaluate all your regular monthly expenses.
If you are paying for something you don’t actually need or use, cancel it. Also take a close look at things like insurance, bank fees, cable or satellite television, cellular, telephone, and internet services, as well as credit card interest rates. Often you can save money by renegotiating contracts, switching service providers, bundling services or transferring credit card balances to cards with lower interest rates.
4. Create a budget and stick to it.
Operating without a budget is like embarking on a journey with no idea of your destination. Very few people manage to save money without clear financial goals and a specific plan on how they are going to achieve those goals.
5. Never pay full retail price for anything.
Getting a good deal on almost anything has never been easier. It may take a little extra effort on your part, but shopping around for the best prices can save you a great deal of money. You can find price comparison sites online, that will search for the best deals available. Often local retailers are willing to match lower prices that you have found, providing you ask. Cutting spending and saving money requires discipline and perseverance. Take it one step at a time but think long term. It takes time to establish new money habits, but once you do, you’ll never look back.
My name is Muzammil Bashir. I’m working with the Senior Editor of Net Effekt –specialising in white label email marketing white label email marketing.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
By Golly...Don't Give UP!!
In these tough economic times many churches and ministries are tempted to scale back on planning events so that it won't put any added burden on women who are struggling to make ends meet. The problem is that this is exactly the time when we need to gather for fellowship and encouragement. Here is a "Top 10" list that can help women's leaders plan more effective events that are perfect for this tough economy.
1. Use your own members: Organize an event that uses your own members as the leaders. You can find different women who have specialties and have them lead small groups or you may have someone who would be able to teach a large group time. Look around and see who has a story to tell that others can relate to and go from there. You may want to gather several women and hold a panel discussion on a specific topic. be creative and allow God to direct you to the right women.
2. Reinvent the covered dish: Most often the cost of an event is largely tied up in the food. Keep costs down by either asking everyone to bring a dish to share or enlist a team of women to organize the different dishes you want to offer and let them designate who brings what. You could decide on a theme and plan the food around that.
3. Network with Other Churches: Find some other churches in your area and share or trade Bible Study materials with them. Your church could buy one study and theirs a different one then after you finish, trade studies.
4. Plan 1 night events: Schedule your next event on an evening so that your costs can stay low. You even start a little later so that everyone has dinner before arriving then offers a dessert fellowship after the program.
5. Serve Others: Remember that if the economic crisis has hit you hard then it has devastated many others. Organize your women to focus on helping others. Service projects are a great way to build strong bonds and show people the love of Jesus in a practical way. The bonus is that your struggles tend to diminish in the face of what others may be dealing with.
6. Start a Support Group: Offer the opportunity for women who have lost their jobs or whose husbands have lost their jobs to gather for support and encouragement. Let your community know it is available and you may be surprised at the outreach it can become.
7. Get Out of the Church: Take your Bible Studies out of the church and hold them in different homes in the community so that people don't have to spend much time or money on gas to be involved.
8. Decorate for Less: Women's events always have the issue of decorating. Go old school and use things you already have at the church or enlist different women to hostess each table and make decorating her table part of her duties.
9. Simplicity and Relevance: Don't ignore the issues that people are dealing with but rather plan an event to specifically address them. Make it a brown bag night or just very simple in all details. Offer topics such as how to dress, dine, and decorate on a budget. Consider inviting a financial specialist to speak on practical advice in troubling times.
10. See the big Picture: Plan your events to coincide with other large gatherings like just after church or when the youth or children are already doing something. Take the stress off of women who are worried about being all things to all people and who feel guilty for taking time out for themselves.
These are just a few ideas. Whatever you decide to do, don't give up on ministry. Women need encouragement and support more now than ever before.
1. Use your own members: Organize an event that uses your own members as the leaders. You can find different women who have specialties and have them lead small groups or you may have someone who would be able to teach a large group time. Look around and see who has a story to tell that others can relate to and go from there. You may want to gather several women and hold a panel discussion on a specific topic. be creative and allow God to direct you to the right women.
2. Reinvent the covered dish: Most often the cost of an event is largely tied up in the food. Keep costs down by either asking everyone to bring a dish to share or enlist a team of women to organize the different dishes you want to offer and let them designate who brings what. You could decide on a theme and plan the food around that.
3. Network with Other Churches: Find some other churches in your area and share or trade Bible Study materials with them. Your church could buy one study and theirs a different one then after you finish, trade studies.
4. Plan 1 night events: Schedule your next event on an evening so that your costs can stay low. You even start a little later so that everyone has dinner before arriving then offers a dessert fellowship after the program.
5. Serve Others: Remember that if the economic crisis has hit you hard then it has devastated many others. Organize your women to focus on helping others. Service projects are a great way to build strong bonds and show people the love of Jesus in a practical way. The bonus is that your struggles tend to diminish in the face of what others may be dealing with.
6. Start a Support Group: Offer the opportunity for women who have lost their jobs or whose husbands have lost their jobs to gather for support and encouragement. Let your community know it is available and you may be surprised at the outreach it can become.
7. Get Out of the Church: Take your Bible Studies out of the church and hold them in different homes in the community so that people don't have to spend much time or money on gas to be involved.
8. Decorate for Less: Women's events always have the issue of decorating. Go old school and use things you already have at the church or enlist different women to hostess each table and make decorating her table part of her duties.
9. Simplicity and Relevance: Don't ignore the issues that people are dealing with but rather plan an event to specifically address them. Make it a brown bag night or just very simple in all details. Offer topics such as how to dress, dine, and decorate on a budget. Consider inviting a financial specialist to speak on practical advice in troubling times.
10. See the big Picture: Plan your events to coincide with other large gatherings like just after church or when the youth or children are already doing something. Take the stress off of women who are worried about being all things to all people and who feel guilty for taking time out for themselves.
These are just a few ideas. Whatever you decide to do, don't give up on ministry. Women need encouragement and support more now than ever before.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Choosing Spiritual Team Members
Choosing worship team members is a critical yet often hurried step, especially in the early stages of building our ministry. Often times just for the sake of building a group, we will rush into this process and we will end up getting ourselves in a tough situation. By that I mean we can end up adding someone to the group who really doesn't have the same vision or priorities that you have. That is why it is so important to have a plan in place for creating a band and choosing new vocalist and instrumentalist. So today we will take a look at some guidelines that you can use in creating your worship team that will lessen or even eliminate some issues down the road.
As you build your ministry no matter the style or affiliation, there are a few basic things to consider.
Pray, pray, and pray some more. When choosing group members your #1 priority should be to pray. Pray that God would lead you to the right people for the positions that are needed. What are some specific things that you might want to look for and pray for?
Choose heart over skill. The key qualification for being part of the group must be more spiritual rather than practical. The group must be made up of worshipers. I mean that is the purpose and the goal of the worship team right. Though I know it can be tempting to choose someone simply because of their musical skill, we must not loose site of the goal and remember that the heart must come before the art. Believe me you will save yourself a lot of frustration by choosing someone who though might have the lesser skill as a vocalist or an instrumentalist but they are spiritually strong. Just trust me on this one. Someone who plays or sings well and just wants to be in the band is not a good candidate. In worship there is no room for performance. The goal is to glorify God not themselves. A person that is considering being a part of this ministry must have a passion for glorifying God. The bottom line is to look for calling over gifting.
What are some other areas that we might want to consider? Are they committed to the church? Do they regularly attend? What kind of personality do they have? Do they seem to get along well with others?
A word of caution must be pointed out here. Be careful not to become judgmental. That is not the purpose here. The goal is for us to heed the leading of the Holy Spirit in choosing team members. Again can't stress this one point enough, pray! The focus of the worship team must be first on glorifying God and second leading His church in worship.
As you build your ministry no matter the style or affiliation, there are a few basic things to consider.
Pray, pray, and pray some more. When choosing group members your #1 priority should be to pray. Pray that God would lead you to the right people for the positions that are needed. What are some specific things that you might want to look for and pray for?
Choose heart over skill. The key qualification for being part of the group must be more spiritual rather than practical. The group must be made up of worshipers. I mean that is the purpose and the goal of the worship team right. Though I know it can be tempting to choose someone simply because of their musical skill, we must not loose site of the goal and remember that the heart must come before the art. Believe me you will save yourself a lot of frustration by choosing someone who though might have the lesser skill as a vocalist or an instrumentalist but they are spiritually strong. Just trust me on this one. Someone who plays or sings well and just wants to be in the band is not a good candidate. In worship there is no room for performance. The goal is to glorify God not themselves. A person that is considering being a part of this ministry must have a passion for glorifying God. The bottom line is to look for calling over gifting.
What are some other areas that we might want to consider? Are they committed to the church? Do they regularly attend? What kind of personality do they have? Do they seem to get along well with others?
A word of caution must be pointed out here. Be careful not to become judgmental. That is not the purpose here. The goal is for us to heed the leading of the Holy Spirit in choosing team members. Again can't stress this one point enough, pray! The focus of the worship team must be first on glorifying God and second leading His church in worship.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
An Interview by Terri Terry as to Women in Christian Leadership
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Become a Travel Professional with Benefits
Do you or anyone you know like to travel? Would you like to travel for pennies on the dollar? Are you tired of owing at the end of the year instead of receiving a return? Has the current recession left you feeling like you need to do something other than work your 9 to 5 in order to get ahead? Consider becoming a travel professional with YTB.
Here is the real truth about this company: YTB stands for Your Travel Biz and is has two sides: marketing and travel. This company was founded eight years ago and their home office is located in Wood River, Illinois. This is a publicly traded company and YTB is a part of the Direct Selling Association. Many people believe that when they are going to make immediate money with this business. However, this is not a get rich quick scheme. If you want to make money, just like with any company, you will have to be willing to work hard.
Although there are other online travel sites available, what sets YTB apart from others is the fact that so much is offered on their site. When you purchase a site with YTB, not only do you have the ability to sell travel, you are now also able to sell flowers, golf tee times, sports and concert tickets, cars, and outings for those who like to hunt. YTB has recently introduced Your Travel Wear! Your Travel Wear includes clothing for men and women, bath and body items, the cost to join YTB is affordable. Really, YTB is considered to be a travel store, because they offer so much more than travel.
Did you know that as a travel professional you are entitled to more tax breaks than the average business owner? Feel free to go the following website for more information: http://www.yourtaxbuddy.com or consult a tax professional. As a travel professional, you are also able to go and enjoy relaxing vacations offered at deeply discounted prices by the vendors. These trips are offered at certain times of the year and known as familiarization trips.
So, if you are looking for a home business that can provide you with a better quality of life, a business that will allow you to take advantage of tax breaks, a business that will pay you residual income, and a business that you can will to your children, YTB is a great choice.
Here is the real truth about this company: YTB stands for Your Travel Biz and is has two sides: marketing and travel. This company was founded eight years ago and their home office is located in Wood River, Illinois. This is a publicly traded company and YTB is a part of the Direct Selling Association. Many people believe that when they are going to make immediate money with this business. However, this is not a get rich quick scheme. If you want to make money, just like with any company, you will have to be willing to work hard.
Although there are other online travel sites available, what sets YTB apart from others is the fact that so much is offered on their site. When you purchase a site with YTB, not only do you have the ability to sell travel, you are now also able to sell flowers, golf tee times, sports and concert tickets, cars, and outings for those who like to hunt. YTB has recently introduced Your Travel Wear! Your Travel Wear includes clothing for men and women, bath and body items, the cost to join YTB is affordable. Really, YTB is considered to be a travel store, because they offer so much more than travel.
Did you know that as a travel professional you are entitled to more tax breaks than the average business owner? Feel free to go the following website for more information: http://www.yourtaxbuddy.com or consult a tax professional. As a travel professional, you are also able to go and enjoy relaxing vacations offered at deeply discounted prices by the vendors. These trips are offered at certain times of the year and known as familiarization trips.
So, if you are looking for a home business that can provide you with a better quality of life, a business that will allow you to take advantage of tax breaks, a business that will pay you residual income, and a business that you can will to your children, YTB is a great choice.
What Leadership is NOT
What Leadership is not:
Leadership does not come with a title or the letters of credentials after your name. It does not matter what position you hold when it comes to the question whether people will follow you. What does matter is your ability to directly influence other to follow your vision. But it must be earned.
Leadership is also not necessarily conferred upon someone just because they have blazed a trail like many entrepreneurs have done. That entrepreneur may get the project off the ground but often they must team up with someone who is good with leading people to bring the project to fulfillment.
Sometimes, people assume that because someone has "more degrees than a thermometer," they must have the education to be a leader. In most cases, the leaders are ones who will enlist the help of the technical experts and PhDs to influence the people in their organization while supporting their vision.
What Leadership is:
If you watch people interact in any kind of impromptu meeting where some leadership and order is necessary, you will find that some people will rise to the occasion while others are content to follow. What inner traits do these people possess?
A leader has more depth and breadth of character than a non-leader. You can see this in their eyes, how they carry themselves and in their confident communication. This confidence has come from having experienced the successes and challenges of past endeavors. They have had more successes than failures and give their followers confidence that they can help them be successful too.
In their experiences of life and business, they have connected with people at a deep and real level thereby developed relationships that last a lifetime. They have learned many lessons along the way and have not been afraid to fail along the way. But they always get back up and learn from their mistakes. They have proven that they are not ever going to quit, no matter what happens.
Along this path to becoming a leader, they have also striven to gain the knowledge of their business. At the same time, they utilize the experts to build synergy in their team. With their knowledge firmly established, they also now apply their intuitive skills to see into the intangible components of their followers. They can sense when morale needs to be uplifted, or when shifts in the group energy need to be adjusted. They can intuitively create the circumstances in their organization to create momentum for everyone's benefit.
Success leads to more success and a seasoned leader has proven himself to others. He has proven that he is capable of leading a winning team. Most people want to be on the winning team, and will naturally allow themselves to be influenced by a proven leader.
So if you want to become a stronger leader, practice leading whenever you can. Maybe you volunteer to do that extra project at work. If you are building a business, build your character and see if you can influence others to follow you. One place to practice this is with some type of volunteer organization, such as a nonprofit organization, your school committee, or your homeowner's association. Have fun with learning leadership and realize that what you learn will go with you the rest of your life into whatever roles of leadership you choose.
Leadership does not come with a title or the letters of credentials after your name. It does not matter what position you hold when it comes to the question whether people will follow you. What does matter is your ability to directly influence other to follow your vision. But it must be earned.
Leadership is also not necessarily conferred upon someone just because they have blazed a trail like many entrepreneurs have done. That entrepreneur may get the project off the ground but often they must team up with someone who is good with leading people to bring the project to fulfillment.
Sometimes, people assume that because someone has "more degrees than a thermometer," they must have the education to be a leader. In most cases, the leaders are ones who will enlist the help of the technical experts and PhDs to influence the people in their organization while supporting their vision.
What Leadership is:
If you watch people interact in any kind of impromptu meeting where some leadership and order is necessary, you will find that some people will rise to the occasion while others are content to follow. What inner traits do these people possess?
A leader has more depth and breadth of character than a non-leader. You can see this in their eyes, how they carry themselves and in their confident communication. This confidence has come from having experienced the successes and challenges of past endeavors. They have had more successes than failures and give their followers confidence that they can help them be successful too.
In their experiences of life and business, they have connected with people at a deep and real level thereby developed relationships that last a lifetime. They have learned many lessons along the way and have not been afraid to fail along the way. But they always get back up and learn from their mistakes. They have proven that they are not ever going to quit, no matter what happens.
Along this path to becoming a leader, they have also striven to gain the knowledge of their business. At the same time, they utilize the experts to build synergy in their team. With their knowledge firmly established, they also now apply their intuitive skills to see into the intangible components of their followers. They can sense when morale needs to be uplifted, or when shifts in the group energy need to be adjusted. They can intuitively create the circumstances in their organization to create momentum for everyone's benefit.
Success leads to more success and a seasoned leader has proven himself to others. He has proven that he is capable of leading a winning team. Most people want to be on the winning team, and will naturally allow themselves to be influenced by a proven leader.
So if you want to become a stronger leader, practice leading whenever you can. Maybe you volunteer to do that extra project at work. If you are building a business, build your character and see if you can influence others to follow you. One place to practice this is with some type of volunteer organization, such as a nonprofit organization, your school committee, or your homeowner's association. Have fun with learning leadership and realize that what you learn will go with you the rest of your life into whatever roles of leadership you choose.
Monday, February 21, 2011
What are channel management strategies?
Channel management strategies are indispensable in today's business world. It has shed light on more pressing management needs such as partner satisfaction and improvement. All strategies have certain key components that ensure its successful execution. For channel partner management, partner portals are ultimately essential.
Partner portals are web based applications that allow parent companies to communicate and collaborate effectively with the different members of their channels. It enables them to work alongside their partners efficiently as formed business relationships are nurtured and managed optimally. When these portals were not yet the standard in channel partner management, the various distribution channels used to accomplish tasks through methods such as telephone calls, fax, email messaging and the like. Although useful to a certain degree, such technologies do not guarantee rapid results, accuracy and optimum efficiency. But now, thanks to these innovations, parent companies can easily connect and interact with their partners so that their channels can perform at their best.
2 Big Reasons to Use Portals:
1. Business Process Improvement
A partner portal requires partners to provide authorized logon credentials so that they may enjoy real-time access to the application and the many benefits it offers. It permits them to take advantage of the various information, reseller programs, deal registrations, leads, contacts, support and other resources they would require to function well for the channel.
Since the members of the channel can gain access to all the resources, information, programs and support they would require, and then they will be satisfied. The parent company can enjoy loyalty and commitment from these partners if they utilize portals to take care of business relationships. It is not enough to simply recruit a high-performance company into the channel. Manufacturers should do well to remember that a company will not strive to do well for one manufacturer if nothing is in it for them. That's the reality of the business world.
Furthermore, there is increased transparency in channel management thanks to the applications' real time environment. Parent companies can easily identify areas that require modification, and the partners that are proving to be assets or mere liabilities. This way, management tasks can be executed accurately and effectively.
Through enhanced collaboration and communication, partners and partnerships are managed, maintained and improved. Members that perform well equate to a successful and efficient channel distribution network, which in turn implies an exponential progress in business processes and productivity.
2. Channel Conflict Prevention
As mentioned earlier, there is transparency within a channel thanks to portals. Behaviors, performance and partner needs are easily identified which in turn allows managers to act accordingly and provide the best possible management strategy. The proper management of a channel distribution network is dependent on having a clear and direct view of channel activity and keeping track of sales contribution. If this is not accomplished, a series of problems can arise which may potentially harm the network.
The best way portals prevent channel conflict is by integrating deal registration. Deal registrations benefit channel members by deepening and widening business relationships. The end result is a significant decrease in conflict and an increase in sales volume and partner loyalty.
Partner portals are web based applications that allow parent companies to communicate and collaborate effectively with the different members of their channels. It enables them to work alongside their partners efficiently as formed business relationships are nurtured and managed optimally. When these portals were not yet the standard in channel partner management, the various distribution channels used to accomplish tasks through methods such as telephone calls, fax, email messaging and the like. Although useful to a certain degree, such technologies do not guarantee rapid results, accuracy and optimum efficiency. But now, thanks to these innovations, parent companies can easily connect and interact with their partners so that their channels can perform at their best.
2 Big Reasons to Use Portals:
1. Business Process Improvement
A partner portal requires partners to provide authorized logon credentials so that they may enjoy real-time access to the application and the many benefits it offers. It permits them to take advantage of the various information, reseller programs, deal registrations, leads, contacts, support and other resources they would require to function well for the channel.
Since the members of the channel can gain access to all the resources, information, programs and support they would require, and then they will be satisfied. The parent company can enjoy loyalty and commitment from these partners if they utilize portals to take care of business relationships. It is not enough to simply recruit a high-performance company into the channel. Manufacturers should do well to remember that a company will not strive to do well for one manufacturer if nothing is in it for them. That's the reality of the business world.
Furthermore, there is increased transparency in channel management thanks to the applications' real time environment. Parent companies can easily identify areas that require modification, and the partners that are proving to be assets or mere liabilities. This way, management tasks can be executed accurately and effectively.
Through enhanced collaboration and communication, partners and partnerships are managed, maintained and improved. Members that perform well equate to a successful and efficient channel distribution network, which in turn implies an exponential progress in business processes and productivity.
2. Channel Conflict Prevention
As mentioned earlier, there is transparency within a channel thanks to portals. Behaviors, performance and partner needs are easily identified which in turn allows managers to act accordingly and provide the best possible management strategy. The proper management of a channel distribution network is dependent on having a clear and direct view of channel activity and keeping track of sales contribution. If this is not accomplished, a series of problems can arise which may potentially harm the network.
The best way portals prevent channel conflict is by integrating deal registration. Deal registrations benefit channel members by deepening and widening business relationships. The end result is a significant decrease in conflict and an increase in sales volume and partner loyalty.
Male Misconceptions about Us!
Women have been in the white-collar workforce for a generation, but plenty of things about them still puzzle many a male manager. As an HR leader and working women for a generation myself, I've compiled this Top Ten list of tidbits that the women in your workplace would love for you to know.
1) View me as myself, not a stand-in for The Working Woman.
Women tell stories, when they get together, about being the token woman in the management meeting, the only woman in the sales meeting, the only woman on the business trip. That's not the bad part - the bad part is being viewed as a specimen, representative, and spokesperson for the entire gender.
2) Don't compliment me by saying that you wish you could compliment me.
Ten years ago, it was irritating to have to listen to boorish male co-workers say "Gee, that skirt really shows off your legs." Today, it's almost worse to hear them say "I'd tell you that you look great in that skirt, but I'd get in trouble!" Just can it - the lame disclaimer doesn't help.
3) Don't assume that I don't know what I'm doing.
It shouldn't happen, after all these years, but female software engineers still report that their male colleagues say things like "Check her code again, just in case." Because she's a woman. And it shouldn't happen, but when a woman gets promoted, someone is sure to say "Well, they must have needed more women in management." What if she's just, well, qualified? Can we assume that men and women are equally equipped to do their jobs?
4) Don't ask me about my child-bearing plans.
If you and I are friends, that's one thing. But if we're not, you have exactly no right to ask me a) whether I plan to have children; b) whether I plan to have another one, once I've had one child; or c) anything else relating to my family planning. Why do some managers assume, that because my three-month absence for maternity leave might have some impact on the business at some point (if I'm still working here, when I have kids, if I even make that choice) that they have a right to know about it?
5) Don't put me in the Girl Ghettos.
If I apply for a job in PR, Marketing or HR, that's your cue that I'm interested in one of those jobs. If I don't, please don't jump to the conclusion that I need to work in one of the designated Female departments. If I'm succeeding as a mechanical engineer or the Director of IT, that's because I like the work. Let me succeed or fail in it!
6)Don't get freaked out when two of us arrive.
Many a female manager has noticed that as long as she's the only woman in the group, her male co-workers do okay. But when the second women leader shows up, people get nervous....as in, The Women Are Taking Over! That's ridiculous. Men still rule the roost in corporate America, for better or worse, and two (or three, or four) women in leadership does not a coven make.
7) Don't worry about my family - they're fine.
Working women report being caught in a vise - when they're going great guns at work, their bosses still give them less challenging assignments or stall their career growth "for the sake of your kids." They're my kids, for Pete's sake! I'm perfectly capable of deciding how many hours at the office, how much travel, and what size job I can manage while parenting them. You, as my boss, have nothing to do with it.
8) Don't dismiss my non-linear judgment.
It's well established that women's and men's brains operate differently. But there's a great tendency in the corporate world to pooh-pooh and belittle the non-linear, intuitive decision-making that so many women are so good at. If I'm getting the right answer most of the time, I deserve to get airtime: even if I don't lay out my argument in your favored PowerPoint-style, data-driven format.
9) Don't freak out when I get emotional.
Look, male managers pound their fists on the table and everyone's supposed to deal with it. But let a woman show a little mist in her eyes, and people say "She's emotional," "She's hysterical" and "She's not playing fair." You've got your emotional expression, and we've got ours. We're tired of hearing that our hard-wired emotional reaction to an emotionally tough stimulus is any less PROFESSIONAL than yours is.
10) Don't make me your mother, or your child.
It happens every day: a working woman realizes that her male boss or co-worker has substituted her for his mom or daughter, to her utter dismay. If you're treated with respect, kid gloves, deference and have no influence in decisions - and are "protected" from bad news - then you're Mom. If you're treated graciously and carefully and kept out of difficult or thorny situations, you're somebody's surrogate daughter. Women won't tolerate that. We are just who we are - women that you hired, women who will make your company thrive and flourish, if you let us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
