Teamwork Tips

Teamwork is a key component for business success, and Dirk Kettlewell has learned that teamwork is an important asset in the business world. When building the teams moral, always keep in mind that there is no “I” or “me”, it is always “we” and “us”. There is no place for egoism in any team. Therefore, any time some organizational questions are being discussed, you should first think what profit it might bring to your team, not to you personally. If you find out anything new regarding your company, your target market, your competitors, share this knowledge, so that there were no surprises. A team is then perfectly built, when each its member can carry out the assigned tasks without delays, being under no control. If you are a manager, a team leader, or just one of the most active workers, you can temporarily step aside to watch the things being done without supervision.

Benefits of a Marketing Plan

A document that supplements your business plan and brings together all your market research so you can work out exactly where your business is going and how it is going to get there is a marketing plan. In the business world, Dirk Kettlewell knows how important a strong marketing plan is for business.

A good marketing plan will help you focus on your target market and find if there is any gap in the market that will provide new opportunities for your business. The marketing plan will also provide you with something that enables you to measure how you are progressing. This can highlight strategies that are working for you and those that are not. The plan will deal with the matter of sourcing new leads as well as creating new networking opportunities for your business. The bottom line means that your plan will define your business as well as your customers and future plans.

American Civil War Information

• The Union Army of 2,100,000 soldiers was nearly twice the size of the Confederate Army of 1,064,000.
• The Civil War was the deadliest war in American history. There were around 210,000 soldiers killed in action and 625,000 total dead.
• 66% of the deaths in the war were due to disease.
• Lincoln's famous Gettysburg address was only 269 words long.
• Many of the Southern men already knew how to shoot a gun from hunting. The Northern men tended to work in factories and many didn't know how to fire a gun.

Tips For A Successful Interview

If you have a big interview coming up, one of the best  things you can do is to do your research on the company, rehearse your discussion, and to relax. You can practice ahead of time with sample questions and different interview styles. It is also recommended that you always send a follow up thank you letter after your interview. Learn as much as you can about the opportunity and the interviewing organization. Evaluate your own knowledge, skills and abilities and think about how you qualify for the opportunity. Find out information about the organization ahead of time.

Interesting Facts About The White House

We all know what the White House looks like, but there is far more to it than meets the eyes. Here are a few interesting facts that you may not have known about the White House.

• Six levels
• 132 rooms
• 32 bathrooms
• 412 doors
• 147 windows
• 28 fireplaces
• seven staircases
• three elevators
• tennis court
• jogging track
• swimming pool
• billiard room
• bowling lane
• The White House receives about 65,000 paper letters a week in which the President only read ten.
• Only two couples have been married at the White House.
• In order to paint the outside of the White House, it takes 570 gallons of paint.
• The White House has a twin building in France and in Ireland.
• There are five full time chefs staffed at the White House and the kitchen can serve up to 1,000 guests.
• In the war of 1812, the White House was burned by the British Troops.

Best Foot Forward

Dirk Kettlewell has strived for success in the business world since he was a teenager. Because of this, he has been a successful businessman. Whatever you do in this life, you should do it to the fullest with your best foot forward. When you are at the top of your game, others notice, and more importantly, you notice and gain a sense of pride in your work. Whatever position you hold, if you work to your best ability, you will be successful in life. Work with your highest level of integrity and push your limits. You will quickly acclimate and excel at your new position. Time and time again, if you are pressing your boundaries and excelling at what you are doing, you will be successful at whatever it is you do.  Whether you hold onto it, or let it slip through your fingers, is all up to you.

United States History

Learning fun facts about American history is a great way to learn more about our past and makes the history come to life. By learning about the history, it shows how the land was conquered, how laws were made, and other things that helped our country succeed. History is important to everyone because just like the old saying, “History is necessary so that you don't repeat the mistakes”. Learning about history gives us an opportunity to learn about courage, sacrifice, and heroism. History is the study of the past which helps us live in the present.

Tips To Get A Raise

• The best time to ask for a raise is after you have had a big success. Set an appointment with your boss to discuss your issues.
• Do a little research. Gather some information on wages being paid in your field.
• Whenever you do good, keep a success journal. You can present this to your boss during your meeting.
• Present the raise to your boss as a win win situation. Discuss how this raise will benefit your company in the long run.
• Make a point to your boss of what makes you stand out.

The Benefits of Office Parties

Just about everyone enjoys a good office party. It’s a great time for all employees to unwind and it can do wonders for the office morale.  As staff becomes acquainted socially, they will understand one another more and communicate more effectively. Below are a few ideas that will get everyone social, and won’t break the bank. Your employees will be happy and eager to work harder when there are frequent social events.

• Potlucks
• Live screenings
• Hikes and picnics
• Organize alternative events
• Sports Day
• Scavenger hunts and lip-singing contests
• Office turned party - This is where you turn your office into the party

Facts About The Great Depression

• The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decades preceding World War II from 1929 - 1945.
• On “Black Tuesday” the stock market lost $14 billion, making the loss for that week 30 billion dollars.
• During the worst years of the Depression (1933-1934) the overall jobless rate was 25%.
• 25% of people took wage cuts or worked part time.
• During the Great Depression 50% of children did not have adequate food, shelter, or medical care.
• During the Great Depression bankers became so unpopular that bank robbers, such as Bonnie and Clyde, became American folk heroes.

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson was the third president of the United States and the man responsible for the majority of the wording in the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson was a lawyer, horticulturist, writer, politician, and leader. For all of Jefferson’s contributions in making America what it is today his face is on the two dollar bill. Thomas Jefferson served as the first Secretary of State under George Washington. Jefferson is considered one of the most influential Founding Fathers for his promotion of the ideals of republicanism in the United States, ideals that had previously existed but had not had a voice in government. Thomas Jefferson was the second Vice President of the United States of America and served under John Adams. In June 1776, Jefferson was appointed to a five-man committee to prepare what we now know as the Declaration of Independence. The committee selected Jefferson to write the first draft because of his reputation as a writer.

United States History Facts

• The American national anthem, the "Star-Spangled Banner," is set to the tune of an English drinking song, "To Anacreon in Heaven."
• The "Father of Our Country" George Washington held his first public office at the tender age of 17 as a surveyor for Culpeper County, Virginia. He continued in public service until his death in 1799.
• The stars on the original American flag were arranged in a circle to ensure that all colonies were equal, along with the thirteen stripes that exist on our flag today.
• The words "Under God" were not added to the Pledge of Allegiance until 1954.

Perfecting Your Sales Pitch

Forming the perfect sales pitch requires a strategic hand, some practice, and a little creativity. Here are some tips to help you form the perfect sales pitch.

Know your audience. Every pitch should be tailored to the audience you are speaking with. Do a little research on the business you are planning on pitching to. What are their goals? What do they wish to achieve? You can then use this information when writing the perfect pitch and it will be customized to your audience. The potential client will only become an actual client when your product fits their needs.

Benefits of Networking For Small Business

For small businesses, networking can provide a strong lifeline of support and generate a larger clientele. There are a number of benefits that networking can provide for your business.

• Develop ideas, innovation and knowledge of best practice
• Helps benchmark opportunities against competitors
• Joint skills development for staff in your business sector which can save costs because of economies of scale
• Referrals are the most obvious benefit of networking. When someone that you network with meets someone that is in need of your services or product, your networking partner will send you the customer.

Our Lady Of The Wayside

Our Lady of the Wayside provides residential, respite, transportation and social service programming for individuals with disabilities. With their help, they enrich the lives of individuals who have developmental disabilities and provide individuals and their families pathways to healthy and productive personal growth through professional care and guidance. Our Lady of the Wayside has grown from a small community based agency to an agency that serves twice as many families and individuals as it did six years ago. Through an aggressive public relations/fundraising campaign, The Wayside has become well recognized across Northern Ohio.

Business Plan Advice For Startups

Many people these days are discovering that there can be money to gain in startups. Startups do take a lot of hard work and dedication, and you definitely do not want to quit your day job at the get go. Not all startups make it during the first year, so having a backup is very important. A business plan is going to be like a seedling, with much attention, you will see it grow.

A business plan should be your first task. Whether or not you are seeking financing from lenders, it is essential that you create a comprehensive, thoughtful business plan. Writing your business plan will make you think objectively about your business, and you may even come up with new business strategies in the process. The plan will also serve as a record that you can revisit over time to remain on target or reassess your direction.

Customer Service

Customer service is an integral part of running a successful business. And of course, the customers are the most vital asset of a business. When you satisfy your customers, they not only help you grow by continuing to do business with you, but recommend you to friends and associates.

• When you truly listen to your customers, they let you know what they want and how you can provide good service.
• Take the time to identify customer needs by asking questions and concentrating on what the customer is really saying.
• The more you know your customers, the better you become at anticipating their needs.

Improving Morale In The Workplace

Studies show that employee morale is closely tied to productivity. So in order to stay working as efficiently as possible, it is a good idea to keep employee morale high. When employees are stressed or dissatisfied, productivity will plunge.

It all begins with the employer. Although employees can always be replace, the costs of hiring a new individual can be quite large.

Let the employees know that they are appreciated. They are the ones who keep your business running successfully.

Providing employee perks such as casual Friday or team building events will help keep morale high.

Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders are a professional American Football team based in Oakland, California. The Raiders were founded in 1960 and for the first ten seasons of their existence, they belonged to the American Football League. They are now members of the National Football League since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. The Oakland Raiders belong to the Western Division of the American Football Conference. Over fifty two seasons of football, the Raiders have experienced a considerable amount of success. From the beginning of the 2012 season, the Raiders have sported a lifetime record of 426-351-11, with a playoff record of 25-18.

Tips On Getting A Raise At Work

Knowledge is power, so before you pursue a pay increase, do some research. Compare your salary with that of your colleagues and with job adverts so you know the market salary for your position. You need to show your boss that you are exceeding your job requirements. You need to demonstrate that you have brought in business. Don't work harder for that pay increase, work smarter -- and work in line with the goals of management. You also must make sure your actions and daily plan are aligned with your company goals.

Electoral College

The founding fathers of The United States established the electoral college in the constitution as a compromise between the election of the President by a vote in Congress and election of the President by a popular vote of qualified citizens. The process consists of a selection of electors where they vote for President and Vice President. The Electoral College consists of 538 electors. A majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect the President. Your state’s entitled allotment of electors equals the number of members in its Congressional delegation: one for each member in the House of Representatives plus two for your Senators.

Fun Facts About American History

The shortest inaugural address in U.S. history was 135 words and given in 1793 by George Washington. His dentures hurt, and he wanted to get it over with.

George Washington was also quite an alcohol manufacturer. In 1798 alone, he produced 11,000 gallons of whiskey.

Benjamin Franklin invented the lightning rod, but he did not stop there. He’s also credited for the urinary catheter.

There have been eight left-handed presidents:  James A. Garfield, Herbert Hoover, Harry S. Truman, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama.

Increasing Productivity In The Workplace

Every employee needs to be well aware that he is accountable for his actions and decisions, and he can neither pass the buck or pass the blame to someone else. Employers often set targets and feel their job is done. It is well known that a large pool of employees does need to be managed, provided direction and given assistance. But with this they must also be trusted, given freedom to operate in their style and adopt measures which they think are the best to deliver results.

Election Day Facts

• November was selected because the harvest work was done.
• Tuesday was selected because many people had to travel the day before to reach the polling place. Since most people did not travel on Sunday for religious reasons, they did not want it to be on a Monday.
• They did not want Election Day to fall on November 1st because it is All Saints Day.
• They did not want Election Day to fall on the first of the month because many shopkeepers did their books for the preceding month on the first.
• Election Day is the Tuesday on or after November 2nd.

Tips To Get Promoted At Work

• Focus on behavior that can help you get promoted. What types of behaviors do your superiors look for?
• In the hopes of getting promoted, there may come a time when you will have to take a job that is equal to the job you currently have. Remember that sometimes these moves are beneficial to being promoted.
• Ask your boss what they would like to see you do in the next three to six months. If they tell you, it gives you something to strive for, and will most likely get noticed down the road.

What You Must Have In A Business

Business is work relating to production, buying and selling of goods and services. When you set your mind to do business,there are certain things that you must have. Experienced business adviser, Dirk Kettlewell  found out the following to be mandatory things that one must have;

• Capital-This is a large sum of money that you need to start a business.
• Vision-In a business, you must have a vision, a vision is how you want your business to look like in the future.
• Goal-A goal is something that you hope to achieve .Here you need to spend a lot of you time to achieve what you have set.
• Enthusiasm-This is a great eagerness to be involved in your business, this shall only come when you choose the business that you like and you feel that it is important.
• Aggressiveness-In a business, you must be aggressive, you must be ready to do anything to ensure that you succeed.
• Determination-This is the quality that you show when you have decided to do a business of your choice and nothing will stop you or prevent you from perusing it.
• Mission-Missions are not only in schools and in public offices, but in businesses too. This is a strong Commitment and sense of duty to achieve what you had set in your business.

Therefore, if you want to success in your business, you need to employ the above requirements. 

Business Networking Tips

• If you meet someone who might benefit from your services or vice versa, get their contact information. Keep in touch with these people. Let them know you were happy to meet them and maybe arrange for a get together to share ideas.
• Networking is about being genuine. Through networking, you can build trust and relationships to see how you can work together.
• Networking meetings are a great way to promote your services and meeting individuals with their services. This can help you earn much needed recommendations.
• Be sure to follow through quickly and efficiently with referrals. If you respect that, you will see your referrals grow.
• Volunteer with different organizations. Not only will your network grow, it is a great way at giving back to groups that have helped you.
• Know what your goals are when participating in networking groups so that you will pick groups that match your needs.

Kids In Need Foundation

Kids in Need Foundation is a charitable organization that was founded in 1995. The Kids In Need Foundation's mission is to ensure that every child is prepared to learn and succeed by providing free school supplies nationally to students most in need. Kids In Need provides free school supplies to students and teachers through the Kids In Need National Network of Resource Centers, award grants to teachers for innovative classroom projects through the Kids In Need Teacher Grants program, and to develop community school supplies giveaway programs through the School Ready Supplies program. Kids In Need is able to support children with the help of financial donors, program sponsors, product procurement, and presence at trade shows. The children are all so thankful from the wonderful support of those who work alongside the Kids In Need Foundation.

The Fifties and Sixties

World War II ended in the early fifties. Soldiers began coming home and making families of their own. New jobs were created and corporate expansions began. It was the beginning of the baby boom era. Growth was abundant at this time in all aspects of the American life.

The first color television came out in 1950. In 1954, segregation was ruled illegal and in 1955 Rosa Parks refused to leave her seat on a bus. The sixties was known as the swinging sixties because of the relaxation of racism and sexism among other things. In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his now famous speech “I have a Dream”. In 1965, the United States began sending troops to Vietnam followed by a mass draft protest in 1966. In 1969, the first man walked on the moon.

The Boomer Esiason Foundation

The Boomer Esiason Foundation is a partnership of leaders in medical and business communities, joining together in a dynamic way that holds committed core volunteer members that heighten awareness, education and quality of life for people who are affected by cystic fibrosis. The ultimate goal is to provide financial support to research a cure.
They work to ensure the brightest researchers and scientists have the resources available to them to complete the cure they’re getting near every day. Meanwhile, they work with dedicated doctors towards treatments that ease the suffering of people afflicted with it. They are also working with those who are affected by cystic fibrosis, helping in education and motivation and empowering adults and children to take active roles in it. They also work on providing students and hospitals educational and financial resources that prepare them for the challenges that come up working with cystic fibrosis.