Benjamin’s Musings

asset recovery

July 16, 2008 – 5:01 am
Recently I was looking online for items to sell and I came across a site about asset recovery. I never realized that so many big corporations sell off their old stuff for pennies on the dollar and even our government uses this method called government asset recovery to reclaim their money on items that they replace in different branches and offices. If you have the money to purchase items in bulk this is a great way to start a business. You can buy up whatever they have available and use different avenues to sell these items off to the average consumer and turn a marginal profit. I knew you could potentially buy things at wholesale in bulk and sell them for profit, however, I never realized that you could do this right through the federal government, it is amazing. The internet gives even the average person a leg up in finding ...

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health insurance

July 11, 2008 – 6:05 am
My husband had been working for a company, a large company for about 6 years. We had a great benefit package including health insurance, life insurance, disability, and a great 401K match program. Well, we didn't really realize how lucky we were until he injured his back last year. Once he was injured, he did receive minimal disability for about 6 months, but since he could not return to work in the same capacity as when he left, they terminated him, and he was sent looking for another job. We didn't realize how tough it would be for him to get on with another big company, until he went through 4 jobs in the next 8 months. None were with good companies, none provided benefits. We were not really sure where to turn. He wasn't making enough money to pay for our own health insurance and life insurance, and even ...

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LED flashlight

July 10, 2008 – 5:10 am
I love to camp, and since getting married my husband hates it, and I am just not really sure how to convince him that it will be fun. Quite honestly one would think that I am the guy in this relationship and that he is the girl. After all, isn't it usually the woman who gripes about not having running water, convenient bathrooms, and her own bed? I think so. I was a girl scout for 11 years and I always went camping with them and we always had a blast. I love to sleep in my sleeping bag under the stars. It is a really incredible experience to be one with nature. I even remember going winter camping, and to know this you must know that I am not a cold weather person. I remember waking up over and over again in the night because my feet were freezing. Then ...

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promotional products

July 8, 2008 – 9:32 am
Unfortunately with the economy being so far out of whack these days, it is difficult for the small business owner to get and keep business. Prices are rising and as a small business owner, I have had to adjust my prices accordingly. People are definitely feeling the crunch and I need to keep thinking of new and innovative ways to advertise and keep my customers coming back. Let's face it, we all like free items and so as an entrepreneur I thought to myself, how can I give away stuff and make it beneficial to my customers and myself. Then I came across some really great promotional products to give away to customers. Now, if you are unfamiliar with promotional products then let me just tell you, these are items that you can give away to customers and clients and even to employees. They are for the most part practical ...

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six sigma training

June 30, 2008 – 5:19 am
Six sigma training is the newest most innovative way for companies to get the most out of their employees and their business. Recently used by many large corporations, these training programs involve a multi tiered approach to their training which is modeled after the belt system in Karate and other similar martial arts. You can either take these seminars in person or for a more convenient self paced approach they are available online as well. These training programs are becoming a necessity for the companies that want to keep their employees on the top of their game. The six sigma approach to business is constantly encouraging your employees to stop what they are doing, examine how well they have done it and then implement improvements. This approach, in a sense allows everyone input into the business at their own level. It allows for a more all inclusive approach to the business. ...

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family health insurance

June 26, 2008 – 10:03 am
I just received a job offer at a local company and it is a pretty good deal. I would start at around thirteen dollars an hour and be up to fifteen in about a year. My family health insurance would start in two months after the starting date. With a Wife and three children I feel that this is a good move, but it would be third shift. Ten thirty to Six thirty and my wife is not crazy about the hours. My friend Tony Drives for this company one day a week, Sunday. He tells me the work inside is boring and hard and he is landscaping earning a lot more money than they are paying. He also said he paints, and does some small repairs. I guess he is doing well because he is sending his kid to Italy for a month thru some type of program. Tony ...

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promotional pens

June 24, 2008 – 3:11 pm
As a professional business manager, people are constantly asking me for free advice.  All kinds of questions about better ways to run and promote their current business venture are constantly being thrown my way.  Well, I always first tell people that they can hire me, but then putting all kidding aside, the best thing that someone can do to promote their business is to get their name out there into the world as much as they can.  The answer they always come up with is that advertising is sooooo expensive.  My response is simple…think outside the box!                                                                                           You can do many unconventional things to get your business rolling, and you can do them for little to no money if you really think about it.  The neat thing about advertising for your business is you can go about it anyway you want, and the crazier the idea, the better the results.  ...

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auto insurance

June 23, 2008 – 4:33 pm
These days with the rising cost of everything in the world, I swear to you my auto insurance is the most reasonable that it has ever been. I know everywhere you turn you hear about the rising costs of this and that, but honestly I haven't had this good a rate in years. Perhaps it is just that I am getting older, you know that in addition to your actual driving record there are many other factors that your insurance company uses to determine your car insurance rate. Your credit rating is one factor that insurance companies use to determine your rate. It seems unfair to me that your credit rating is a factor. Although I do believe that having a good credit rating is important, I don't necessarily think that the cost of your auto insurance should go up because of it. As a matter of fact your credit rating ...

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alternative energy drink

June 17, 2008 – 10:26 am
If you were looking to purchase a bottle of water at your local convenience store, you'll notice that water is no longer the ideal beverage for the athletically minded. Energy drinks are all the rage, and the dwindling supply of water has been flavored and fortified within an inch of its life to suit our need for a superior beverage. But are these drinks really superior? Commercials and spokespeople would say yes, of course. But to the average consumer, your definition of superior may be something else entirely. Take energy drinks: You want your energy drink to taste good. You also want it to give you a boost of energy. By this definition, most energy drinks at least past muster although a fair share requires a chaser due to a lingering aftertaste. If your definition requires something as profound as natural ingredients or health benefits, you're out of luck. Until now. The alternative energy ...

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gift baskets

June 17, 2008 – 5:36 am
The world behind the scenes in the hotel business is something I don't think many people really understand.  I have been working for a major hotel chain, which shall remain unnamed, for the summer so far.  I am sure that everyone has seen the specials and news reports about the horrors of the hotel business, but I don't want to talk about that.  From where I stand in this whole thing, I really seen more interest in the actions of the customers who frequent the hotel than anything the staff does.   I think there is something special for most people in even the thought of staying in a hotel for a night.  Most of us feel a certain degree of freedom because we are not obligated to clean or maintain anything else in our lives while we stay there.  Most of us just enjoy this experience to a certain point ...

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