Lots of lawyers are trying to build a bankruptcy practice these days. Many make the critical mistake of using outmoded ways of getting the practice off the ground, and end up being an also-ran in their area. Competition is fierce, and lawyers are working smarter - not only harder - to be successful.
10 Steps To Building a Successful Bankruptcy Practice
1. Join the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys: This is the largest national organization dedicated to the plight of consumer debtors. With well over 4,400 bankruptcy lawyer members, it is the best source of information and continuing education for the new and established practitioner alike. NACBA also runs some very active listservs to help members share information.
2. Buy the entire National Consumer Law Center library - including the consumer bankruptcy book: NCLC puts out the most comprehensive set of books on bankruptcy, consumer protection and related issues. Period. After practicing bankruptcy law over over 14 years I still refer to my books on a near-daily basis. If you go to any of the NACBA conventions you will find the NCLC books on sale at a significant discount.
3. Sample the petition preparation software packages and get the one you like best: You cannot practice bankruptcy law without a petition preparation package. There are lots of good ones out there - BestCase, EZFiling, Bankruptcy2010 and Bankruptcy Pro are among the best - but you won't know which one is best for you until you sample them. All provide a free downloadable demo to work through, so take the time before spending a dime.
4. Go to court: Find out where your court's bankruptcy hearings are held, and make plans to sit there each day for a week or more. You'll learn about the trustees as well as about the types of people who file for bankruptcy in your area. Once you know more about who files for bankruptcy you'll be in a better position to know their motivations and concerns.
5. Sign up for CM/ECF: Most courts require bankruptcy lawyers to file cases electronically via the court's electronic case filing system. You need to get a password and (in some places) attend a training to learn how to file cases.
6. Get a scanner: Bankruptcy is a paper-intensive practice area. If you don't start scanning everything into your system now, you'll get snowed under. I personally use a Fujitsu ScanSnap, and it's a life-saver (plus, it comes with a fully-functional copy of Adobe Acrobat).
7. Start reading bankruptcy blogs: There are a lot of terrific resources online to help you keep up-to-date on the latest issues in bankruptcy. Bankruptcy Law Network, BankruptcyProf Blog, and Bankruptcy Mastery are just a few substantive sites that can teach you a lot.
8. Learn how to write: Yes, you know how to write like a lawyer, but that's not what's important. You need to be able to communicate in a way that your prospective clients understand without a dictionary. Writing like a lawyer is OK for judges, but clients need you to make it easier.
9. Online legal marketing basics: Most people start their search for a bankruptcy lawyer by hitting a search engine, so it's important for you to know about the underpinnings of online legal marketing. Start a blog, set up Twitter, and consider if marketing your practice with video is right for you.
10. Start compiling forms: Your bankruptcy practice will require you to be organized, so things like intake forms and retainer agreements are critical. The best places to find these are other lawyers. If you're on the NACBA listservs, just ask and ye shall receive - there's no reason to pay money to get canned intake documents.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Motivation in an Organisation
Ordinarily, people see certain things as motivators, for example money, competition, recognition and disciplinary action. This is true to limited sense. All these things motivate people to a certain extent and under certain conditions.. On the other hand when a person is intrinsically motivated, he feels the activity itself is very rewarding. Recognition, i e the appreciation of good work is very necessary.
The following ways could be used to help create an environment where intrinsic motivation is high:
* Ensuring that the employees have the relevant tools and enterprise required for the job. The employees must consider themselves competent to handle the job. The right tools, right office equipment, skills training or other relevant outputs which may be necessary for them to perform the jobs effectively.
* Employees feel valued and their motivation level is enhanced when managers seek their feedback and try to view things from their perspective. This can be done by conducting anonymous surveys or by interacting directly with the employees.
* By giving the employees to choose the ways and methods of doing a particular job helps the employees to enjoy certain degree of freedom and this in turn encourages the employees to be innovative and try out new ways of doing things.
* Employers feel more fulfilled and satisfied if managers assist them in discovering their true potential. This can be done by conducting self development programs for employees.
These steps can help create an environment where employees are intrinsically motivated. Rather than working for the sake of rewards or recognition, they work because they find the job satisfying and rewarding.
The following ways could be used to help create an environment where intrinsic motivation is high:
* Ensuring that the employees have the relevant tools and enterprise required for the job. The employees must consider themselves competent to handle the job. The right tools, right office equipment, skills training or other relevant outputs which may be necessary for them to perform the jobs effectively.
* Employees feel valued and their motivation level is enhanced when managers seek their feedback and try to view things from their perspective. This can be done by conducting anonymous surveys or by interacting directly with the employees.
* By giving the employees to choose the ways and methods of doing a particular job helps the employees to enjoy certain degree of freedom and this in turn encourages the employees to be innovative and try out new ways of doing things.
* Employers feel more fulfilled and satisfied if managers assist them in discovering their true potential. This can be done by conducting self development programs for employees.
These steps can help create an environment where employees are intrinsically motivated. Rather than working for the sake of rewards or recognition, they work because they find the job satisfying and rewarding.
Vending Machine Commissions - Setting Your Business Policy
When it comes to securing an agreement to locate a vending machine in a certain location, the 'decision maker' will often expect to receive a cut of the profit for giving you the right to do so. Because of this natural 'what's in it for me?' attitude that many people have it is important that you have a firm policy in place so that you can deal with the question when it arises. In this article we look at vending machine commissions and some of the various approaches that operators takes towards this issue.
As you meet with prospective clients you should try to convince them that there are advantages for them in having one of your vending machines on their premises. Let them know that your machines offer a service to their customers or employees by offering them convenience and by providing them with reasonably priced products. Let them know that you would rather keep prices down then have to increase prices to cover their commission.
Some locations will come up with the logical argument that the machine will be using their power. You can counter this argument by saying that your machines are all efficient on energy use and that you can even install timers so that they shut down after hours.
Some vendors feel that commissions are too much hassle and they have a 'no commission' policy. They will politely try to avoid the issue and if pressed they would rather lose the account than give in. These vendors prefer to compete by offering high quality products and excellent service and a large part of the market will find this to be enough with financial compensation not being necessary.
Some vending businesses are officially associated with charities and this can make it difficult for them to offer commissions as well.
Other vendors will enter into agreements that offer the authorizing party a share of machine takings. Sometimes this is absolutely necessary in order for a vending business owner to win a large account. If the account is really worthwhile you can even assure the 'decision maker' that they can watch you as you empty the machine. Some people find it hard to trust others and this should reassure them that they will indeed get the full commission that they are owed.
Some vendors like to let an account run for a while before they will discuss a commission rate. This reduces the risk as they can assess how the machine is performing at that location and calculate the commission accordingly.
Other operators like to sign a contract with the decision maker setting out the commission rate as a favorable part of the deal for the authorizing party. At the same time the vendor will include other clauses in the agreement that are in their favor such as having the client agree to have machines on site for a longer duration.
A fair vending machine commission rate in the industry seems to be around 5% to 10% of gross sales on powered machines and even less on machines that don't require electricity. Locations that have an exceptional amount of foot traffic may expect even higher rates and 20% would not be unrealistic for these locations. Vending business commissions often only add up to a small amount but having to organize payment is an extra hassle for operators.
However you approach this issue you should make sure that you set out a firm policy before you talk to prospective clients. By setting your rules, being consistent and not letting clients push you around over commissions you will find that there are good market opportunities out there for your vending business whether you offer commissions or not.
As you meet with prospective clients you should try to convince them that there are advantages for them in having one of your vending machines on their premises. Let them know that your machines offer a service to their customers or employees by offering them convenience and by providing them with reasonably priced products. Let them know that you would rather keep prices down then have to increase prices to cover their commission.
Some locations will come up with the logical argument that the machine will be using their power. You can counter this argument by saying that your machines are all efficient on energy use and that you can even install timers so that they shut down after hours.
Some vendors feel that commissions are too much hassle and they have a 'no commission' policy. They will politely try to avoid the issue and if pressed they would rather lose the account than give in. These vendors prefer to compete by offering high quality products and excellent service and a large part of the market will find this to be enough with financial compensation not being necessary.
Some vending businesses are officially associated with charities and this can make it difficult for them to offer commissions as well.
Other vendors will enter into agreements that offer the authorizing party a share of machine takings. Sometimes this is absolutely necessary in order for a vending business owner to win a large account. If the account is really worthwhile you can even assure the 'decision maker' that they can watch you as you empty the machine. Some people find it hard to trust others and this should reassure them that they will indeed get the full commission that they are owed.
Some vendors like to let an account run for a while before they will discuss a commission rate. This reduces the risk as they can assess how the machine is performing at that location and calculate the commission accordingly.
Other operators like to sign a contract with the decision maker setting out the commission rate as a favorable part of the deal for the authorizing party. At the same time the vendor will include other clauses in the agreement that are in their favor such as having the client agree to have machines on site for a longer duration.
A fair vending machine commission rate in the industry seems to be around 5% to 10% of gross sales on powered machines and even less on machines that don't require electricity. Locations that have an exceptional amount of foot traffic may expect even higher rates and 20% would not be unrealistic for these locations. Vending business commissions often only add up to a small amount but having to organize payment is an extra hassle for operators.
However you approach this issue you should make sure that you set out a firm policy before you talk to prospective clients. By setting your rules, being consistent and not letting clients push you around over commissions you will find that there are good market opportunities out there for your vending business whether you offer commissions or not.
Preparation For a Successful Job Hunt
Many people are suffering from job loss in our recent economic crisis. Whether the reason may be, a massive lay off, downsizing, or could you have been terminated for one reason or another? Another situation that is arising is that many companies are shutting down and going out of business. At this point the cause is irrelevant; the fact is that you are in need of another job, and quickly. So, you must pick yourself up and do a self evaluation in order to succeed. Face the facts you need to gather the appropriate information and start working on your resume. It has been proven that you should not write your own resume; you cannot be objective about yourself the way that a Resume Writing Service can. When you start writing about yourself you tend to leave very pertinent information out because you might consider it bragging or not important, there are many other important reasons. Professional Resumes need to be done in a manner to where it is going to catch the hiring managers attention immediately among the other 500 to 1,000 resumes in that endless pile. They are just as frustrated as the job seeker.
So, the first thing that should be done is to gather your work history. Note company names and the dates that you worked in that firm. Below each one write down a thorough job description, what did you do? What kind of equipment did you operate? Were you proficient in operating them? Depending on the type of work you did, these will vary such as if you worked as an administrative assistant, what were your daily duties. Were you responsible for answering the phones, typing, filing, scheduling events, billing etc?
The next process is to put together a list of your skills, this should not just consist of a few basic technical skills but you really need to provide your transferable skills as well. Yes, you do need to list that you have skills such as; type 65 wpm, and AP or AR, call center, management and more, but many people forget about the important transferable skills that you have done most of your life, things like self motivation, manage time effectively, creative thinking skills, listen actively and attentively. The general person does not think of adding these very important items to their career.
OK, you now have your work history and all of your skills gathered. You're almost there, the next question you need to ask yourself about are your accomplishments, what you have achieved throughout your career. This can be more important than where you worked and even some of your skills. Were you successful in certain positions? Did you increase revenue for a company, increased sales and marketing resulting in revenue or sales by 180%? Companies are looking for people that can help them grow, were you promoted, able to design and implement plans of action, create new products and procedures? The most successful job seeker will provide all of this information so that they stand out above the rest.
The time has come to provide an expert with all of the information you have worked on, let someone who knows what they are doing, and make it right for you. Once this is completed you are now ready to start your active job search, be prepared, show your confidence and do not give up. There is a lot of competition out there, but you are ready to stand above the rest and be the winner.
So, the first thing that should be done is to gather your work history. Note company names and the dates that you worked in that firm. Below each one write down a thorough job description, what did you do? What kind of equipment did you operate? Were you proficient in operating them? Depending on the type of work you did, these will vary such as if you worked as an administrative assistant, what were your daily duties. Were you responsible for answering the phones, typing, filing, scheduling events, billing etc?
The next process is to put together a list of your skills, this should not just consist of a few basic technical skills but you really need to provide your transferable skills as well. Yes, you do need to list that you have skills such as; type 65 wpm, and AP or AR, call center, management and more, but many people forget about the important transferable skills that you have done most of your life, things like self motivation, manage time effectively, creative thinking skills, listen actively and attentively. The general person does not think of adding these very important items to their career.
OK, you now have your work history and all of your skills gathered. You're almost there, the next question you need to ask yourself about are your accomplishments, what you have achieved throughout your career. This can be more important than where you worked and even some of your skills. Were you successful in certain positions? Did you increase revenue for a company, increased sales and marketing resulting in revenue or sales by 180%? Companies are looking for people that can help them grow, were you promoted, able to design and implement plans of action, create new products and procedures? The most successful job seeker will provide all of this information so that they stand out above the rest.
The time has come to provide an expert with all of the information you have worked on, let someone who knows what they are doing, and make it right for you. Once this is completed you are now ready to start your active job search, be prepared, show your confidence and do not give up. There is a lot of competition out there, but you are ready to stand above the rest and be the winner.
Tips For Going to Job Fairs
Going to a job fair, or career fair is not what it used to be with the amount of unemployed job seekers out there too. The basic concept is still there, but it just has a completely different atmosphere with so many companies going under. The vendors are different in the since that there are fewer quality companies that are actually hiring; what you will actually find there are a lot of colleges trying to sell their college courses or online courses that have already been saturated. The only good thing that is provided are some quality Resume Writing Services which provide resume critiquing; these lines are very long in the sense that the average job seeker starts at this line first, knowingly that they are going to stand there for at least two and a half hours just to have an expert analyze their Cover Letters and Resumes. Most people only go to job fairs just for this free service.
As mentioned above, even the job seekers see the lack of quality in today's career events. But, there are those certain companies that do find their way there; and these are the ones that you need to be prepared for along with every other person in line. When you go to a job fair prepare to stand in a lot of lines with your competitors; but while you are doing this make it worth your while and make some friends and most important network. You would be surprised how much networking you could actually get accomplished.
At least the day before the event start preparing your material so that you are professionally prepared; gather all of your appropriate work history that the hiring companies might inquire about along with any possible skills and accomplishments. Have this information readily available; prepare a very professional portfolio with all of the printed documents that you might need to show in a moment's notice, even references or certificates. Be ready for anything, your new career could be waiting for you even if you have to stand in line for two hours; maybe you're the one that they are waiting for.
OK, now that you have all of the appropriate documents ready for this exiting career event; what about your attire and how are you going to present yourself to these companies or even some possible colleges if that is what you are interested in. You must dress appropriately as in professional; you may not be a suit type of person and that is OK, but at least show that you care how you look and that you show some interest in your personal hygiene. Wear some nice slacks with a clean shirt and blouse or how about a nice dress that is always a good thing, and speaking of dresses please keep in mind of your cleavage. It is very difficult to talk with someone about their career or upcoming position or anything in that matter if you have to concentrate on not looking at the low cut chest with everything in front of you.
This could be the moment you are waiting for in your career so take it very serious; do your homework on who will be attending making sure that there are companies that you are interested in and make sure you have your portfolio in order. And pick out a nice outfit to wear; prepare for this by being the best that you can be because they are looking for the best.
As mentioned above, even the job seekers see the lack of quality in today's career events. But, there are those certain companies that do find their way there; and these are the ones that you need to be prepared for along with every other person in line. When you go to a job fair prepare to stand in a lot of lines with your competitors; but while you are doing this make it worth your while and make some friends and most important network. You would be surprised how much networking you could actually get accomplished.
At least the day before the event start preparing your material so that you are professionally prepared; gather all of your appropriate work history that the hiring companies might inquire about along with any possible skills and accomplishments. Have this information readily available; prepare a very professional portfolio with all of the printed documents that you might need to show in a moment's notice, even references or certificates. Be ready for anything, your new career could be waiting for you even if you have to stand in line for two hours; maybe you're the one that they are waiting for.
OK, now that you have all of the appropriate documents ready for this exiting career event; what about your attire and how are you going to present yourself to these companies or even some possible colleges if that is what you are interested in. You must dress appropriately as in professional; you may not be a suit type of person and that is OK, but at least show that you care how you look and that you show some interest in your personal hygiene. Wear some nice slacks with a clean shirt and blouse or how about a nice dress that is always a good thing, and speaking of dresses please keep in mind of your cleavage. It is very difficult to talk with someone about their career or upcoming position or anything in that matter if you have to concentrate on not looking at the low cut chest with everything in front of you.
This could be the moment you are waiting for in your career so take it very serious; do your homework on who will be attending making sure that there are companies that you are interested in and make sure you have your portfolio in order. And pick out a nice outfit to wear; prepare for this by being the best that you can be because they are looking for the best.
Trade in Latin America - Discover the Opportunities
Before looking to invest in this area, you must understand Latin America. It represents 20 countries and a population of over 550 million people. It is sectioned into North America, Central America and South America. The countries that make up Latin America are Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.
With the constantly changing and challenging global economy, companies are forced to constantly evaluates new ways to increase their international sales. This region seem to be increasingly interesting for those companies therefore the investment levels have increased in the past years.
For many years, Latin America seem to be an unknown market to a lot of foreign companies. It was a far away region with beautiful beaches and was associated with exotic tourist destination. To the surprise of a lot of people, they have discovered extremely modern cities with abundant buildings and thriving businesses. The countries that are currently standing out for trade are Brazil, Peru, Panama, Uruguay. These countries are showing positive growth rates despite the global economic crisis. The biggest and strongest economy is Brazil which is expected to growth even further with international events such as the Soccer World cup and the Olympic Games to be hosted in 2014 and 2016 respectively.
As you can clearly see that trade in this region is filled with endless opportunities. This is a good time to start investigating and discovering untapped opportunities.
With the constantly changing and challenging global economy, companies are forced to constantly evaluates new ways to increase their international sales. This region seem to be increasingly interesting for those companies therefore the investment levels have increased in the past years.
For many years, Latin America seem to be an unknown market to a lot of foreign companies. It was a far away region with beautiful beaches and was associated with exotic tourist destination. To the surprise of a lot of people, they have discovered extremely modern cities with abundant buildings and thriving businesses. The countries that are currently standing out for trade are Brazil, Peru, Panama, Uruguay. These countries are showing positive growth rates despite the global economic crisis. The biggest and strongest economy is Brazil which is expected to growth even further with international events such as the Soccer World cup and the Olympic Games to be hosted in 2014 and 2016 respectively.
As you can clearly see that trade in this region is filled with endless opportunities. This is a good time to start investigating and discovering untapped opportunities.
How Overseas Freight Works
Are you looking for freight quotes to Russia? The term freight refers to goods and produce that is transported across the globe for commercial reasons. Such cargo is usually transported via ship, aircraft, train, or perhaps a van. For smaller cargo, heavy and guarded containers are typically used.
What cargo is commonly transported? Automobiles are frequently transported using roll on and roll off ships. Bulk cargo is usually stacked on pallets and lifted on and off a vessel. This type of cargo may include salt, oil, scrap metal and other commodities. A freight quote to Russia would be a flat rate price, based on the amount of commodity and the precise location. Other types of cargo might include auto parts, machine parts, clothing or fashion, food and toys. For these sensitive items, containers are frequently used for storage. Lastly, there is heavy cargo, which includes large equipment or factory pieces.
A freight quote to Russia refers to the CIS, the Common Wealth of Independent States. This is the new name of the former Soviet Russia. This organization of states allows multinational businesses to use complex transportation networks. Russia is currently a federal semi-presidential republic and has 83 states total. It remains the largest country in the world in terms of space, since it is 17,075,400 square kilometers. Russia actually spans nine time zones. Despite a new government, it remains one of the most influential countries in the world and is considered an energy superpower. The lakes of Russia contain approximately 25% of the world's fresh water. Russia is definitely still a superpower.
The biggest economies in Russia, which will probably be directly or indirectly related to your shipping purposes, include agriculture, energy science, technology and transportation. Therefore, common items shipped to Russia could be technological pieces or even automobiles. In this day and age of instant, globalized correspondence, commercial dealings with individuals in other countries may become an important part of your business.
For freight quotes to Russia contact a professional and established shipping company. Whether you need freight or air transportation, your needs can be met. Make sure the company has been in business for a while, not only to demonstrate reliability but also so that they will have a long list of contacts in order to expedite shipping. For more information on freight quotes and sending items to the CIS of Russia, look up a professional shipping company.
What cargo is commonly transported? Automobiles are frequently transported using roll on and roll off ships. Bulk cargo is usually stacked on pallets and lifted on and off a vessel. This type of cargo may include salt, oil, scrap metal and other commodities. A freight quote to Russia would be a flat rate price, based on the amount of commodity and the precise location. Other types of cargo might include auto parts, machine parts, clothing or fashion, food and toys. For these sensitive items, containers are frequently used for storage. Lastly, there is heavy cargo, which includes large equipment or factory pieces.
A freight quote to Russia refers to the CIS, the Common Wealth of Independent States. This is the new name of the former Soviet Russia. This organization of states allows multinational businesses to use complex transportation networks. Russia is currently a federal semi-presidential republic and has 83 states total. It remains the largest country in the world in terms of space, since it is 17,075,400 square kilometers. Russia actually spans nine time zones. Despite a new government, it remains one of the most influential countries in the world and is considered an energy superpower. The lakes of Russia contain approximately 25% of the world's fresh water. Russia is definitely still a superpower.
The biggest economies in Russia, which will probably be directly or indirectly related to your shipping purposes, include agriculture, energy science, technology and transportation. Therefore, common items shipped to Russia could be technological pieces or even automobiles. In this day and age of instant, globalized correspondence, commercial dealings with individuals in other countries may become an important part of your business.
For freight quotes to Russia contact a professional and established shipping company. Whether you need freight or air transportation, your needs can be met. Make sure the company has been in business for a while, not only to demonstrate reliability but also so that they will have a long list of contacts in order to expedite shipping. For more information on freight quotes and sending items to the CIS of Russia, look up a professional shipping company.
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