College Life Blog

Archive for November, 2007

There are great speakers in North America who have touched the lives of millions of people. Motivational speakers encourage students to stay in school, say no to drugs and prepare students after graduation.

Motivational speakers can enable adults follow their dreams and achieve goals. They also help in people to succeed in business, develop a positive attitude towards life, have fun in life etc. The list is endless. Speaker can have fun, freedom and financial prosperity in this job while helping others. There are very less jobs like this which offers so many benefits.

Motivational speakers can speak in conferences, college events, cruise ships, government agencies, in non profit organizations, schools, seminar companies, trade shows etc. You don’t need any formal education for this career.

Some students may be unmotivated or employees may be facing energy slump problem or membership in your civic group is down. All these issues can be resolved by hiring a motivational speaker. By bringing him, sales people may be motivated to sell more; students will work hard and inspire civic group members to tell their friends about their great experience.

Many people are confused as to what exactly is a motivational speaker. A motivational speaker spreads good vibes to any interested group. They will talk to people on how to make more money, how to improve your future etc. They try to convey their message within short period of time. Most of them try to add humor in their speech to connect with audience or they can take a very serious tone to inspire onlookers. Some have become millionaires.

Sometimes people need motivation and strength to make changes in their daily life that can lead them to a better future. Motivational speakers can help with that. Students can benefit from them as it helps them initiate the creative process and helps them find motivation to work for a future they have not yet attained. Civic groups can get motivation to work harder on a charity drive.

No qualification is required to become a motivational speaker. Any person who has motivation and a message they have a strong desire to share can become a motivational speaker.

Motivational speakers can boost a lagging sales team, teach new tips and turn prospects into actual customers. They can motivate and encourage the sales team through down periods by providing positive encouragement and new tips. A motivational speaker will be able to teach your sales team how to effectively overcome objections and fears. A motivational speaker can help sales people with customer service. Part of effective sales is retaining and developing good ongoing relationships with customers you already have. They can teach through stories and training the benefits of effective customer service as well.

Speakers, coaches, professionals and other small businesses are great at getting their books written and launched. They want their targeted audience to know about their book so their visibility is strong.

But after the initial one-year honeymoon, sales and contacts slow down. To counter this make sure to let your audience know about your book’s benefits and how it can help your them in their lives. Keep your book and business alive for years when
you write a sales letter.

What Every Book Sales Letter Needs to Get the Most Visibility and Sales

So you can take that needed vacation, purchase a home, invest, or send your son or daughter to college.

1. Start the letter with a benefit-driven headline and include these headlines throughout.

For instance: “Want a Quick and Easy Way to Quadruple your Online Income in Four Months?

If you answered “Yes” to yourself, the headline succeeds, because you will keep reading. If you said “No, I don’t believe this, but I’m curious about where this is going,” the headline still succeeds. You win when your headline seduces your potential customer to read on in your sales letter to discover your book’s benefits and features along with some fine testimonials. If you don’t give your web visitors enough reasons to make their buying decision, they will drift away to some other site.

2. List the top five benefits of your book in bullets.

To define your top benefits start with a list of challenges your client or customer wants solutions for.. If you are not rock sure of who your audience is and what they need, your sales copy won’t work. Essentially, you need to say how your book will make someone’s life easier or richer in time or money; how it will entertain or inspire; how it will make readers be more successful, more attractive, healthier; how it will help them feel better and avoid catastrophe, sickness, or surgery.

Once you have identified the challenges your readers face, you can identify the book’s responses to these challenges as the benefits. Place these near the top of your sales letter.

Remember to highlight your book’s ultimate benefit above the others. This one is usually the top headline of your letter. And if you list more than five benefits use the strongest three to five as your bullet points and sprinkle the rest throughout your copy.

3. Address your potential buyer’s resistance.

Share a background story about where they are NOW so they will connect emotionally with your solutions. Since my book is designed for people who want to write, my sales letter focuses on the fact that many people don’t write books because they doubt that their books will sell well enough to justify all the effort; they worry that a book may not be significant enough, that writing it will take too long and publishing it will cost too much; and besides, they really aren’t writers.” One, by one, a good sales letter will address a potential buyer’s major concerns.

4. Provide a quick overview of the book’s features.

One client wrote a book on ways to live a successful life. Her top features included *a do-it-yourself” approach, *real-life coaching examples *mastering the art of ‘moseying’ and *practical tips and strategies that can immediately be implemented into your everyday life. Include these below the important list of benefits. Remember, benefits sell. Features explain.

You can impact your letter more when you combine your best benefit with a feature such as “Balance work and home by mastering the joy of moseying.” While benefits do sell, your letter needs to mention features so your potential buyer will know what’s inside your book.

5. Sprinkle testimonials throughout your sales letter.

Since people who learn about your book are more likely to buy it when they think other people already have, it’s important to offer testimonials from experts in your field, relevant celebrities, and satisfied users who have profited from your advice. To learn the easy way to ask for these testimonials read reports, eBooks, or contacts a book coach. You don’t need to send the book for a testimonial.

6. Offer your potential buyers three or four chances to buy.

They may have already decided to buy before encountering your sales letter, so put “Buy Now” information near the top and present more buying opportunities along the way after your list of benefits, your summary of the book’s features, and your testimonials. Many visitors complain that the price is not clear early on. Whi

            Arguments over money are the number one reason for divorce in the United States. I want to share three money myths that are crucial to having financial peace. Coming to honest terms about your beliefs about money will be one of the healthiest things you can do for your relationships and your life.

            The Apostle Paul stated, “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:11, emphasis added). Spiritually, wealth is found in giving to others, not just materially but emotionally of ourselves. This is hard to do when we are drowning in debt.

            Gene Appel once shared a lecture about some common beliefs people have about money, beliefs that are false though widely held. Let me briefly share three of them.

 1) All I need is just a little bit more.

            Different studies suggest a scale of debt that people carry on their credit cards, but most estimate the average to be around $9000. If a person or a couple paid only the minimum payment on their card, it would take thirty years and end up costing $29,000 to pay it off! Many people use their cards to purchase the next big thing, believing that having the newest gadget will give them happiness. When their purchase fails to bring fulfillment, many simply go shopping again to try something else. This crippling belief is the cause of tremendous debt in our culture, both financially and spiritually.

Imagine, in 2007 there were more bankruptcies than college graduates! This year is shaping up to be even worse. We need to realize a little bit less, not more is what we really need. Indeed, as George S. Clason shared in The Richest Man in Babylon, when we learn to let go of the need for more money and instead learn to give more to those in need, we are teaching our brain that there is enough. So let us be wise with what we have, not with what we don’t have.

 2) It will all work out somehow.

            Incredibly 80% of Americans reach the age of retirement with less than $250.00 in savings! One fourth of us believe that the lottery is the best chance for retirement. Others simply try the next get rich scheme. Ruth Carter was one person who made money selling products to friends and friends of friends. In her book Smoke and Mirrors she shares that in 40 years of these gimmicks only 1% of the people made a profit, and about 1/10 of a percent made large profits.

            A much wiser way to look at money is to realize that over time small things make a big difference. Millions of people have found that their lives were changed when they began to give away 10% of their income, save 10%, and learn to live well below the remaining 80%. Following a common sense plan like this one is far wiser than simply leaving things to chance.

 3) I have plenty of time.

            As has been often shared, time is the most precious commodity we have, and none of us knows what tomorrow holds. In the New Testament one man makes grand and selfish plans, only to be told by God, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (Luke 12:20).    

            Putting off until another time decisions that need to be made today will benefit no one. Rather than waiting until it is too late, or until we are forced to change due to some emergency, may we instead begin today making better decisions with how we use money, pay off debt and perhaps most importantly, believe about finances.

 Tobin Crenshaw

Twominutesermon.com

Being and becoming an engineer is no easy feat.  The fact is even achieving a bachelor degree in the field requires high quantitative reasoning skills in math and physics.  However, once a man or woman achieves these skills it is impossible to look back – they will help someone inside and outside the work arena.  A civil engineering degree online is possible in today’s world of online education.  Civil engineers are the creators and sustainers of the infrastructure of cities and towns.  No matter if it is a public building, water supply, sewer system or roads, a civil engineer has his or her hand in the process.

Once, a newly graduated undergrad enters into the field of civil engineering it becomes obvious further education will be needed.  One will be able to start working n the field, but we all want to progress and evolve with our skills and talents.  As mentioned above, being a civil engineer takes a lot of time and energy – So, what is a practically answer to the situation?  Earning you civil engineering degree online is the perfect solution.  An engineer’s life is full enough with work alone, but when you include a family and friends it is almost impossible to go back to college.

If you are thinking about pursuing an engineering degree online there are a couple of things to look out for.  Since, you will be doing all the work to advance your career, make sure the program is accredited.  You will be surprised how many online programs are and aren’t.  To make this easier, traditional colleges are now offering a engineering degree online.  The demand is there and the people pursuing them are educated creative people.  There are other characteristics a person will need to succeed in attaining an engineering degree online.

The first and foremost is disciple.  If you are not a self-starter and motivator, this line of education might not be for you.  Though the technology out there is overwhelming and the instructors are very successful engineers, the only one that can get through these programs is you.  You must stay focused – it is graduate school after all.  A second characteristic a person must have while pursuing an engineering degree online is longevity.  Chances are you will be swamped at work; it is the nature of your profession.  So, no matter if you are stuck doing blue-prints or you are traveling to look at prospective cities and towns to restructure, this degree might take some time to attain.

There are also specializations within the civil engineering degree online offers to students.  You can focus in on construction engineering, structural engineering or others.  Before entering into a program it will be helpful that you know the arena you want to become a master in.  Of course always check out the requirements for admission.  Chancing are you will have them secured, but there is always a chance you will have to take and extra class or two.  Besides, these few words on the subject pursuing an engineering degree online can be a great choice and achievement.

Civil Engineering is one of the oldest disciplines of the engineering field. Nowadays, many new fields in engineering have come in to existence and are getting famous among students. But, civil engineering because of its career options and career values stands ahead among engineering options. Civil engineering is one the broadest disciplines, extending across many technical specialties of the fields. Civil Engineers’ plan, design and organize the construction of facilities essential for our day to day life.

In other words, we can say that a career in civil engineering is all about creating, improving and protecting the environment in which we live according to our needs. These constructions may vary in nature, size, and scope. The nature of the construction could be launching facilities, roads, offshore structures, bridges, buildings, tunnels, buildings, highways, dams, airports, harbors, water supply system and other utilities. A civil engineer is responsible for the idea or layout of a particular project, its construction, design, appearance, required scale for the construction and maintenance of the products. A good civil engineer requires not only the adequate knowledge of engineering but also time supervisory and administrative skills.

A civil engineer has to work according to the guidelines of different authorities like local government to get the plans approved. They also have to prepare cost estimates and construction schedules and other minute details. Construction part may involve dealing with clients, architects, government officials, contractors, and supervising the work according to the standards. Their work also involves the maintenance and repairing of the different constructed sites.

Eligibility for admission: The minimum eligibility to get admission into the B.E./ B. Tech in Civil Engineering course is 10+2 or equivalent examination with Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry. The duration of the B.E./ B. Tech course is four years. The selection into these courses is made on the basis of 10+2 marks and ranking/marks secured in Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) conducted by IIT or All India Engineering Entrance Exam (AIEEE) or other state and national level exams. For M.E. or M. Tech in civil engineering, one must have BE/ B. Tech degree.

Career Prospects: Civil Engineers can find job in Government departments, private and public sector industries, research and teaching institutions etc. Job opportunities for civil engineers are expected to increase, although the construction industry is vulnerable to fluctuations in the economy.

After doing B.Tech, one can look for jobs in road projects, building work, consultancy firms, quality testing laboratories or housing societies. The experts say there is a high demand for experienced civil engineers in developed countries.

Civil engineers can find jobs in government departments, private and public sector industries, construction of bridges, tunnels, roads, railways, dams, pipelines and major buildings, and teaching and research institutions. Job opportunities for a civil engineer are increasing day-by-day, although the construction industry always gets influenced by the fluctuations in the economy. Civil engineers are majorly employed in private construction and real estate companies. They are also hired by various industries dealing in design and structure related fields. Those who are down to earth and want to work for the social causes can also work with NGO on their different projects or they can also open their own consultancy.

Several institutes in India offer Civil Engineering as a subject. Famous among them are seven IITs at Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Mumbai, Bangalore and Roorkee. Besides these eighteen National Institutes of Technology located all over the country also provide this course. There are other private/ government institutes like Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad; Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management, Gwalior; Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore; Delhi College of Engineering, Delhi; Anna University, Chennai; Birla Institute of Technology, Pilani and many more.

After the completion of civil engineering course, you can choose the

As a sophomore in college, I constantly observe many of my fellow classmates worrying about getting a job after graduating in May of 2012. Fear of life out in the “real world” starts to set in as we see jobs disappear and unemployment rates reach 9.8% due to the recession. Our professors are constantly urging us to build up our resumes and gain a competitive edge in hopes that it will make us more desirable to companies during interviews. Many students worry how they will pay back college loans, save up to buy a house, and support themselves if they cannot land a job after graduation. And let’s face it, no one wants to work for minimum wage in order to pay the bills after putting themselves through four years of schooling for that hard-earned degree. Luckily, I am pursuing a degree in accounting, which is one of the few fields projected to grow in the coming years.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that accounting is one of the few careers projected to increase in demand in the next five years. Between 2006 and 2016, the employment of accountants and auditors is projected to increase by 18 percent. This is faster than the national average for all occupations. The industry expects an additional 226,000 positions to be created throughout this projection period.

Why is this? A major reason for the anticipated growth stems from the current shortfall in accountants caused by recent modifications in federal regulations that are expected to continue through 2014. Additional explanations include the increase in the number of business start-ups, more consumers looking to manage their assets, the prevalence of various forms of white-collar crimes and fraud, and new industries requiring investment guidance and bookkeeping activities. It all comes back to the saying that you can guarantee two things in life- taxes and death. As long as there are taxes to pay, there will always be accountants needed.

The high demand and low supply for accountants creates a seller’s market. This market enables possible negotiation when it comes to the employee’s starting salary and signing bonus. Currently, the median salary range for accountants and auditors with one to four years of experience is between $36,329 and $52,007. This range results from differences in the location and size of the company and the nature of the work.

What does it take to ensure a successful accounting career? Although you can get a para-professional accounting position with only an associate’s degree, you must earn your bachelor’s degree in order to become an accountant. If you go for the fifth year of schooling, you can qualify to take the four-part exam and become a Certified Public accountant (CPA). Becoming an accountant is not easy, but it is worth your time and energy if you are interested in the subject matter. One of the most important things is to find the area of accounting that best suites you.

The four major accounting fields are public, management, government accounting, and internal auditing. The wide-range of available careers allow accountants the opportunity to pursue their particular interests. There are numerous specialized jobs in accounting ranging from budget analyst, to loan officer, to forensic accountant. An important aspect of accounting is that it allows individuals to work their way up the corporate ladder through hard work and experience. A staff accountant can one day become a partner or a CEO as long as they are dedicated. Salaries for positions vary from an average of $43,273 for staff accountants to $79,336 for finance managers.

When the average college tuition is $25,143 for private universities and $6,585 for public universities per year, students start to question if earning that degree is really worth it. What does an accounting degree really buy you these days? Consider this, the May 2008 national occupational wage estimates released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the average annual income of an accountant or auditor was $65,840, compared to the average national wage for all occupations of $42,270 a year.

An accounting degree will not only better your chances of getting a job out of college and earning a decent salary, but it has the potential to be a career that allows you to look forward to Monday mornings. Accounting isn’t that stereotyped number crunching job it used to be. With the constantly changing corporate culture, accounting has expanded into many exciting branches that are in high demand.

My fellow students might be worried about getting a job out of college, which is understandable. This economy does not make it easy to land your dream job right out of school. However, as an accounting major, I know that if I keep a high GPA, get a good internship, and impress those employers at the interview, I have a good chance