Flibuti Corp.

Hardware is also an aspect that you should take into consideration when choosing a home console. If you are looking for the fastest system, you should be aware of the fact that the three competitors (the Xbox, PS2 and the GameCube) are offering an almost similar gaming experience. But the difference comes in the ability of playing DVD movies or connecting to the Internet.

Slight differences can be found in the hard drive area as the three systems (the PS2, the GameCube or the Xbox) have different memory capabilities. For instance, the GameCube and PS2 use memory cards that have to be bought separately from the main system. On the other hand, the Xbox is using an internal hard drive that is obviously larger than any memory card. Therefore, the Xbox is capable of storing and playing things you download from the Internet like music or extra levels for your game.

The Internet connectivity feature means that you will be able to play with or against other persons via Internet, you can download extra levels for your games or you can upgrade your gaming options. When it comes to these Internet connectivity features, the Xbox has a built in Ethernet port that allow you to easily get online. The PS2 can be purchased in two options: with an integrated Ethernet port or with a separate Ethernet and modem adapter. The GameCube comes in some models capable of Internet connectivity.

Another hardware aspect is the home console’s capacity of playing DVDs. The PS2 has the incorporated ability of playing DVDs. The Xbox is offering you the same capability if of playing DVDs but only after purchasing a separate DVD accessory. The present GameCube is unfortunately too small to hold a DVD playing capability.

In conclusion when you have to choose between the Xbox, the PS2 or the GameCube, you should look into all their features and capabilities. One home console may have a better feature than the others, or the other way around. It is a natural thing to happen in a competitive market. Your own preferences in games, hardware or Internet connectivity will be in the end the deciding factor.

Are you aware that its really possible to get a cell phone absolutely free withfree line rental for 12 months? What that means is that you can acquire a free mobile phone with free inclusive minutes and free inclusive text messages without paying a bean for them!Right about now your bound to be thinking that this is a bum offer, but rest assured these offers are the real deal!The way to be successful is to take on cell shops at their own game. Please understand, mobile suppliers market 12 month free line rental deals just to get potential buyers into the shop. Before they attach a lot of clauses to the deals to lower the number of customers that take out and correctly obtain a free line rental offer.The way 12 month free line rentalpromotions work is that customers order a cell phone contract as usual, and pay the bill as they would with any other contract. Then, at pre set intervals within the 12 month term of the mobile contract you need to send off for cash back. At this time the retailer that sold you the mobile phone sends you a cheque. Usually three different claims need to be made before you recover 100% of the cost of your mobile phone.Now, the store owners make the process pretty hard , as they ask you provide phone bills (which you may lose). They may also insist upon particular dates for the claim (which you may forget) and put in place various other tricks and loopholes. So, you must be clever and beat them at their own game!Fully read the contract, write down the dates, do not misplace the paperwork and make your claim punctual and you will geta cell phone cost free for a full 12 months!The fact is the retailers don’t mind throwing away a small number of these mobile handsets free of charge as it makes for a a good promotion for them. Being in a position to publicize “free mobile phones” raises the standing of their store, and, as they recognize merely a few individuals will get past all the pitfalls necessary to get a 12 months free line rental deal, it does not actually cost too much!A free line rental offer may not be the right for you as you must be organized and ensure you complete all of the steps of the claim correctly, but, a 12 months free line rental deal is definately something worth due consideration if you are price conscious.

You’re well into planning your wedding and have finally decided on the design of your wedding invitation. The wording has been chosen and the guest list is well on its way to completion. Here are some additional wedding invitation tips and advice that you should also be aware of.

* If children will also be included as guests, you can choose to write out their individual names on the addressed envelopes or put “and family”. For example:

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Simpson, Cathy and John
or
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Simpson and Family

* If the children are older teenagers (say 16 years of age or older), you may wish to send them an individual invitation, just like you would an adult.

* If you don’t wish to include children at the ceremony, do not include their names or “and family” on the outside of the envelope. It’s suggested you add “Sorry, but children are not invited”, “adults only” or something similar somewhere on the invitation to make it clear. If you wish to include them at the reception, but not at the ceremony, you could note this information on the response card…or on the invitation itself at the bottom in some fashion.

* When issuing invitations to a guest who is single, it is polite to put “and Guest” on the outside of the envelope so that they have the option to bring along a companion. For example:

Mr. Ralph Jones and Guest
or
Miss Sarah Campbell and Guest

* Be forewarned. Usually 7% to 10% of the guests who respond with a yes will not actually attend the wedding. In addition, 20% to 30% won’t make it to the reception. This can wreak havoc when budgeting for a sit down dinner. You may want to consider a buffet style dinner instead.

* In some cases, you’ll want to invite people to the ceremony, but not the reception or vice versa. If so, then you will need two sets of invitations printed. One that includes reception information and one that doesn’t.

* If you don’t receive a reply from some guests by your reply date, do not hesitate to call them. It is important that you know how many are attending so you budget accordingly.

* If you decide to order invitations, be sure to do so at least 4 to 6 weeks before they are scheduled to be mailed. If you plan on mailing your invitations around the 15th of March, order them between February 1st and 15th.

* Double, even triple check everything before it gets printed. This includes invitations, response cards, envelopes, wedding programs, etc. whether you’re doing them yourself or your having them professionally printed. Check for spelling errors especially.

* Always order extra invitation envelopes and response card envelopes. There will inevitably be a few mistakes when addressing these and you’ll want to have a few extras on hand.

* You should mail your invitations at least 6 weeks before the wedding date and indicate that you would like a response at least 3 weeks before the wedding date. So if your wedding date is July 1st, mail your invitations by May 15th and ask that they respond by June 7th. This will give guests time to receive their invitations and reply by mail, which in turn, gives you time to firm up catering plans, seating arrangements, etc.

* If your wedding is going to actually be held on a beach or other outdoor area, be sure that you let your guests know this, so they can dress appropriately.

Rose Smith has been providing helpful information on wedding planning for many years. For wedding theme ideas, articles and resources, visit her website Wedding Themes and More at http://www.wedthemes.com. Visit Wedding Planning Guides for a full range of wedding planning books at http://www.wedding-planning-guides.com

When my sales manager said “sales is a numbers game”, I should have beaten him with the lie then and there. Unfortunately, my first sale came directly from a cold call and I was convinced that cold calling worked. It only took one hint at success for me to believe in cold calling. You could say that I was cursed for the next few months and became a victim. Many of the old sales books fed my appetite for more sales calls and longer hours. Unfortunately for me, I’m not a math genius and couldn’t see the flaw in the formula. Perhaps there are industries where cold calling works. I just wasn’t in one.

My sales manager was right, “the more cold calls I made the more sales I made”. However, I was fighting a losing battle with time. There simply weren’t enough hours in the day to meet my sales goals. Fortunately, I began examining the sales numbers and noticed a more important equation in sales.

Revealing the Truth of Sales Ratios
My sales numbers began to reveal my sales ratios and a pattern of success. The activity numbers indicated that certain markets and businesses produced substantial sales. These sales trends jumped out as a pattern I wanted to duplicate. My interest in what was working shifted my attention to monitoring the success ratios of my activities.

WOW, my sales manager was right! However, the truth is - the sales ratios are the numbers we must evaluate. Discovering the relevance of sales ratios and sales activities was the break through I was looking for. Once I learned the value and benefits of profiling sales ratios, cold calling didn’t make sense. Why should I follow the less effective random cold calling method when a more efficient formula produced greater results?

It was like turning on the light of truth to the dark world of sales. Instead of cold calling, I focused like a laser on prospects that matched a specific profile increasing my success ratio. If I was going to make sales calls, I would make them on prime prospects.

The Better Way to Prospect for Customers
If you watch the television program Numbers, you know how the characters define profiles and patterns to find the right prospect or suspect. It is the same in sales and all the evidence is at our finger tips. Once we identify the clues of a prospect by the patterns of existing customers, we know where to find new prospects. Instead of random cold calling, we can focus on prime suspects for our business.

To understand and determine your ratios for success, just ask yourself what percentage of existing customers have X? Your answers will reveal the important ratios. From this exercise you will identify a success pattern to duplicate in your prospects.

This gets you started in determining your success ratios and stops the time wasted activity of random cold calling. As you add new ratios to this list, you will multiply your sales results. The great thing about using ratios is that once you identify the success pattern, there is industry information which will narrow your prospecting search down to who, where, when and how to contact them. Good Selling!

Steve Martinez teaches business how to out smart and out wit the competition by automating and customizing ACT and Outlook with the best practices of sales. http://www.sellingmagic.com

One of the best books I have ever read is a 1986 classic written by Charles Garfield; Peak Performers: The New Heroes of American Business. Garfield spent nearly twenty years trying to figure out what causes some people to excel to amazing successes, while others bask in the glow of mediocrity.

He discovered all types of individuals can become peak performers, that they are made….not born. Regardless of industry, he uncovered these superheroes of the business world in every corner of the United States.

Possessing key attributes, a peak performer will very likely:

• Be motivated toward results by a personal mission
• Posses the twin capacities of self-management and team mastery
• Have the ability to correct course and manage change

Every field has those who reach the top. There are those who are in the top 10% and then those dominate in the top 1%. I am constantly fascinated by those who have that “spark” that leads them to achieve more than other from similar background. Amazing people who are able to work harder (or is it smarter?) and do so without visible signs of effort. They accomplish more than any one could ever imagine. These people stand out as an example to us all.

I have a friend who we have call “Midas”. Since college he has had a spectacular career. He is able to spot great investments and helps others build their companies and maintains a phenomenally strong network of business and personal contacts. All this and he still has time to be a dedicated husband and father.

How about you? Are you a peak performer? If not, do you have the desire to accomplish more in your career and personal life? Here are three ideas that can help you on your path to peak performance:

• Never stop learning. Read books, magazines, newspapers, websites, blogs and other materials. Develop a never ending thirst for knowledge.

• Have a plan. If you do not know where you are going, how will you know when you arrive? Set goals and write them down. Refer to your goals regularly and make decisions that lead you toward their completion.

• Take action. Many intelligent people never reach their potential because they do not ever get moving. Even if you have to adjust your direction, having momentum makes it easier to get things done.

Make the commitment to be better tomorrow than you were today in everything that you do. With this as your mantra, the sky is the limit on what you will achieve.

Thom Singer is the author of the book “Some Assembly Required: How to Make, Keep and Grow Your Business Relationships” (New Year Publishing 2005), and the leader of “The Business Development / Networking Blog”. More information at http://www.thomsinger.com and http://www.thomsinger.blogspot.com.

You can call it telemarketing, tele-selling, telephone soliciting, prospecting, cold calling, or even customer service, but one thing is for sure.

Despite your protestations to the contrary, you’re going to use a script.

What do I mean, by a “script?”

I mean a pre-patterned conversation in which certain words and phrases are used, repeatedly, across conversations.

There are two types of scripts: those that are written down on paper or in a software program and appear on your screen; and those that “appear” only in your memory. But both are scripts.

Why do I say scripting is inevitable?

I mean there is no way to be completely spontaneous across numerous conversations. Just as you probably take the same route to work or school, day after day, you’re going to repeat significant parts of conversations, verbatim.

And there’s a simple reason for this. We’re creatures of reinforcement, and we repeat what seems to be rewarded. Your commute is rewarded. You arrive safely, and more or less on time. It’s a proven process, so instead of reinventing the wheel every day, your mind wants to do other things.

When we’re calling, we’re not just spontaneous, blathering fools. We’re perception machines, noting how listeners are responding to the stimuli we’re providing. When we happen upon a phrase that “clicks,” inducing a prospect give us an appointment or an order, by golly, we’re going to try that phrase again.

There’s nothing wrong with this. Scripts aren’t about morality; they’re about economy.

When we know, more or less, what we’re going to say, we can pay attention to other important matters, such as our inflections, timing, and note taking.

We can even listen to the breathing of the buyer, which can give us a clue as to how he’s unconsciously responding at a given moment.

By the way, you can prove the scripted quality of language to yourself. Studies have shown that a typical text, such as that which appears in an email or a business letter, is 50% redundant. You can delete every other word, and readers will still comprehend 90 plus percent of the meaning, when compared to a control group that reads the whole text.

If you prefer, record your side of telephone calls. Just roll from one call to the next, and you’ll hear the extent to which you’re currently scripted. It might amaze you.

The choice isn’t to script or not. It’s to script explicitly, to write it down, to test various segments systematically, noting the responses they generate. Then, you can refine it and make it the most effective script, possible.

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC’s Annenberg School, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com

The September/October issue of Time Compression Technologies magazine includes a feature article, “Lean Manufacturing: How Big is the Market? Lean Enterprise: How Much Bigger is the Market?” authored by North America’s leading manufacturing journalist, Thomas R. Cutler (www.trcutlerinc.com).

Cutler provided a detailed history of the lean manufacturing marketing including how e-kanban solutions are central to an effective lean manufacturing initiative. According to Matthew Marotta, founder of Datacraft Solutions, “We do not charge for upgrades to the system as we learn about new best practices that clients ask us to incorporate. Before Datacraft incorporates the request, it is reviewed buy a lean advisory board to validate the value of the best practices and the value added impact upon our partner community. Once it is passed, they develop, test, and implement.”

The hosted solution provides the customer with their own set of servers which are maintained offsite by and outsourced set of administrators. All of the administration fees, equipment, support teams and software updates are all included in the monthly service fee which is less then the cost of hiring an internal system administrator.

The value of an ASP is that manufacturers can buy “by the drink”, low risk, and a see a rapid ROI. Only internet access is required.

The non-ASP option leaves manufacturers investing a large sum into the communication network, IT personnel, IT training, application servers, consulting for system modification, along with all the hidden costs that come with it. The only disadvantage of using an ASP is the client never owns the system (application), only their own data. This concern tends to be the issue of IT since they want to control all phases of the e-kanban operation. The cost of the control is wasteful and completely antithetical to a Lean Initiative.

While some ERP systems QAD, Factory Logic, and Supply Works have some e-kanban functionality is not their core focus, so manufacturers are purchasing the ERP system at a significant price tag including all the prices increases (and upgrade charges). From the perspective of Lean functionality and immediate ROI the cost cannot be justified, unless there is a plan for a manufacturer to replace the ERP system.

Datacraft Solutions www.datacraftsolutions.com Matthew Marotta 800-819-5326

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Every year it is the same story. In spite of walking to work, and an irregular weekend hike, every snowboarding season kicks off on those excruciating first few tours during which Im forgotten in the paths of younger and better ski chums.

If you are out of shape while touring it’s unenjoyable, and could be very perilous. To get down you need some extra capacity. A tired boarder is more than likely to suffer skiing injuries and tiredness is likely to be a contributing factor to accidents, for example falls and rock falls.

Surely there is a safer manner in which to kickoff the winter, and a newly published 301 page report from Cathy Watkins, who previously wrote Alpes Chamonix, appears to provide a resolution. Although aimed at mountaineers the data is mostly relevant to touring, with its arduous scrambles besides other hobbies.

Climbing, training for peak results is highly researched and easily read. It is a quality all round guide that gathers a lot of information. You may evolve a specific training program or tune your existing regime. Given that it’s calculated for climbers, so some report maybe inapplicable for skiing, it is definitely a guide to acquire if you wish to do a few of the long 24 hour or multi-day tours.

Raider of the Lost Ark follows the Hero’s Journey template…

• Introduce the Hero, his nature, his capabilities and his character in his Ordinary World [Indy in South America].

• Introduce the Shape Shifter [Belloq] and the Hero’s inner challenge [the snakes].

• Hero’s status [attractive to women]. Introduce a Mentor / Supernatural Aid . Develop Hero’s character.

• Heralds (government agents) bring the Call to Adventure . Develop the Hero’s suitability to embark on the adventure. Explicitly state the Call to Adventure.

• Warnings (a form of Refusal ) before embarking to the First Threshold [by the Mentor].

• Journey to the First Threshold . Pursued by the antagonist [the Germans].

• Introduce the character of the romantic challenge.

• Hero meets and conflicts with his romantic challenge.

• Develop the Antagonism [the Germans]. A Trial [Marion in danger]. Hero passes the Trial [rescues Marion].

• No Way Back [Marion's bar burns down].

• Belly of the Whale . Physical separation from the First Threshold [Marion will journey with Indy. On the plane].

• Road of Trials . Meeting with a new Mentor. Mentor guides the Hero [updates Indy]. Mentor warns the hero about the adventure.

• Pursued by the Antagonist [the monkey and the Germans].

• Separation. Enhance the hero’s back-story; Hero separates from romantic challenge. Conflict [Indy loses Marion].

• Feelings of loss at the separation.

• Meeting with the Shape Shifter and Antagonist. Appreciation of each other’s abilities. Polarization. Restatement of the challenges.

• Escape from the Antagonist. Saved by the Mentor.

• Meeting with the Oracle. Antagonist sets up an attack on the Hero.

• Meeting with the Goddess . Hero discovers the location of the Sword.

• Mentor saves the Hero from the Antagonist’s attack.

• Antagonist references the Reward. Polarization between the Antagonist and Shape Shifter.

• Hero travels to seize the Sword. Guardians [German soldiers] interfere, but are overcome.

• Hero seizes the Sword.

• Hero escapes from the Chamber of the Sword.

• Reward and Reattachment. Hero rejoins his romantic challenge [Indy finds Marion]. Comedic element [Indy leaves Marion tied up].

• Woman as Temptress. Hero prepares to embark on the Night Sea Journey [Indy prepares to dig for the Ark].

• Time pressure caused by the Antagonist [Nazis push Belloq].

• Night Sea Journey . The hero descends downwards stealthily and in the dead of night [Indy digs in the dead of night].

• Danger of the descent recognized. The danger relates to the Hero’s inner challenge [Serpents block the way].

• Shape Shifter pursues the Romantic Challenge; attempt to usurp the Hero’s prize [The Shape Shifter is an alternative hero; Belloq hits on Marion].

• Serpent Battle. Hero battles the serpent [Indy faces a Cobra - his inner challenge].

• Romantic Challenge refutes the advances of the Shape Shifter [Marion rejects Belloq].

• Hero rewarded for defeating the serpent [Indy finds the Ark].

• Time pressure increases. Comedic element [Nazis prepare to torture Marion; it's a coat hanger].

• Hero et al forced into a near death experience [Indy and Marion buried underground]. Extreme time pressure.

• Antagonist foreshadows a confrontation [Belloq won't believe Indy is a problem solved until he is out of there].

• Atonement with the Father . Hero battles the Antagonism [Indy battles with the Nazi soldiers]. Extreme time pressure. [Marion is trapped and the flames are nearing].

• Apotheosis . Hero has an insight [it's now or never; the Ark on its way to Cairo].

• Ultimate Boon Hero has inner resolve to capture the Reward [Indy chasing the truck].

• Refusal of the Return. Departure with the boon. Antagonism [Nazis and Belloq] not yet defeated. Friendships. Goodbyes. Kisses.

• Magic Flight . On the boat home. Sexual (reward) and comedic in nature ["it's not the age, it's the mileage."]

• Rescued from Without . Hero forced to return [Marion and the Ark stolen by the Nazis].

• Hero dresses in the Wolves Clothing. Comedic element [Indy in the Nazi soldiers uniform].

• Foreshadow of the Final Conflict [Indy bumps into Belloq].

• Crossing the Return Threshold . Hero allows himself to engage in the Final Confrontation [Indy agrees not to destroy the Ark].

• Master of the Two Worlds . Journey to a dangerous place. Final Confrontation. Hero able to cross between Worlds.

• Freedom to Live [Hero and romantic challenge together post the adventure].

Learn more…

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and FREE 17 stage sample and other story structure templates can be found at http://managing-creativity.com/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author’s name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at http://managing-creativity.com/

A log analyzer is an essential part of many websites. It basically tells you what is happening on your website. Do you want to know where your website’s visitors go and what they do? If you are an ecommerce merchant it can be quite important to know which ads and which set ups the public likes and more importantly what they react to. But, how can you find this information when you do not have a log analyzer? You can. So, take some time to purchase one!

Here is one of the reports that many log analyzers provide. They normally provide a report that tells you what paths visitors to your websites have taken. That means that it will tell you which page they arrived at and where they went form there. While that doesn’t seem all that important, it will give you a good amount of information about your website that you can later use to expand or recreate it to be even more powerful. For example, if your log analyzer told you that nine out of ten people that visited your website saw your ad for bubble gum and clicked on it, then that ad was either very powerful in its message, located in the right location, or had the design and style to attract their attention enough to get them to click through. This is how you make money.

The good news is that these log analyzers can do much more than that as well. They can provide you with invaluable reports far more important than just that. In fact you can choose the log analyzers that fit your needs the best and purchase those. This will help you to incorporate the marketing tactics as well as the maintenance and effectiveness of your website so that you can make it just that much better. Log analyzers are powerful tools to count on.

for more information please see http://www.log-analyzer-help.co.uk