Keep Your Home Wireless Network Secure
Working from home has its advantages, including no commute, a more flexible work schedule and fresh coffee and home-cooked meals whenever you want.
But working from home while using a wireless local area network (WLAN) may lead to theft of sensitive information and hacker or virus infiltration unless proper measures are taken. As WLANs send information over radio waves, someone with a receiver in your area could be picking up the transmission, thus gaining access to your computer.
They could load viruses on to your laptop which could be transferred to the company's network when you go back to work.
Up to 75 per cent of WLAN users do not have standard security features installed, while 20 per cent are left completely open as default configurations are not secured, but made for the users to have their network up and running ASAP.
It is recommended that wireless router/access point setup be always done though a wired client.
Change default administrative password on wireless router/access point to a secured password.
Enable at least 128-bit WEP encryption on both card and access point. Change your WEP keys periodically. If equipment does not support at least 128-bit WEP encryption, consider replacing it.
Although there are security issues with WEP, it represents minimum level of security, and it should be enabled.
Change the default SSID on your router/access point to a hard to guess name. Setup your computer device to connect to this SSID by default.
Setup router/access point not to broadcast the SSID. The same SSID needs to be setup on the client side manually. This feature may not be available on all equipment.
Block anonymous Internet requests or pings.
On each computer having wireless network card, network connection properties should be configured to allow connection to Access Point Networks Only. Computer to Computer (peer to peer) Connection should not be allowed.
Enable MAC filtering. Deny association to wireless network for unspecified MAC addresses. Mac or Physical addresses are available through your computer device network connection setup and they are physically written on network cards. When adding new wireless cards / computer to the network, their MAC addresses should be registered with the router /access point.
Network router should have firewall features enabled and demilitarized zone (DMZ) feature disabled.
You can test your hardware and personal firewalls using Shields Up test available at
http://www.grc.com.
All computers should have a properly configured personal firewall in addition to a hardware firewall.
Update router/access point firmware when new versions become available.
Locate router/access point away from strangers so they cannot reset the router/access point to default settings.
Locate router/access point in the middle of the building rather than near windows to limit signal coverage outside the building.
While none of the measure suggested above provides full protection as countermeasures exist, a collection of suggested measures will act as a deterrent against attacker when other insecure networks represent easier targets.
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Having a firewall, antivirus and anti-spyware are a must on any computer system.
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Be your own boss! Set your own schedule. Retire Early! Who doesn’t want that, right? Multi-level Marketing has been praised for allowing financial freedom; and it’s been criticized for being a big scam. As with any business venture, it’s buyer beware. Do your homework first. Both sides agree; it takes work. If anyone tries to tell you that it’s easy money, there’s so such thing. Also as with any new endeavor, you will need to make an initial investment. It takes money to make money. Below outlines the two schools of thought. You be the judge.
Some of the comments in favor of MLM include: “Donald Trump was asked on the Tonight Show, if he had to start all over from scratch what he would do - His answer...MLM". And yet another satisfied participant, “It is a wonderful combination of being your own boss and being mentored. It has a support system built right in and usually pretty neat products! I was involved with [company] for a while and the people were fabulous, products were great and the system of support was wonderful to have. I hear the same is true for many network marketing direct sales companies! I think MLM companies are great!”
Conversely, those who didn’t speak as highly include: “You only make money when you have lots of people under you. You spend a lot to stay in each month. I was required to spend more than I needed or could afford each month, so I had to quit. Seems to me the ones who do well are ones who can afford to really spend and have contacts already who have money they can spend as well. Then they in turn have contacts of their own that are the same. A lot of MLMs out there say you can make $X each month, but honestly there are few and far between who are really doing it. They hook those who want to work at home and need the money-only to lose them after they’re more broke than they started.” Continued another disgruntled former MLMer, “Unfortunately too many try to convince you that it is so easy. If it were so easy, everyone would be doing it. I have been in several different MLM companies and have experienced constant changes in the compensation plan. As we all know, the compensation plan is what gets our attention.”
So there you have it, both sides of the coin. All would concur that Multi-Level Marketing is not for everyone. But that’s why there are so many different flavors of ice cream. There truly is something for everyone. All in all, the bottom line is there needs to be passion and drive to make your business work, regardless if it is MLM or more traditional sole proprietorship or corporation. If money is your only motivator it will likely fail. You need to believe in your product or service or you can simply plan on failing.
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John and Andrea Paduchak have built several successful businesses online and off. Their newsletter, Powerbiz News, has a circulation of 15,000+ readers online and is a compilation of tips, techniques, and technologies to increase productivity and profits at
www.powerbusinessbuilders.com. Their other websites include:
www.complementsforhealth.com,
www.ultimate-outdoor-recreation-guide.com,
www.powerbusinessbuilders.com
Hi everybody,
I just wanted to let you know that we also have another blog at
http://blog.powerbusinessbuilders.com. This blog will have links to new pages on our web site and more step by step articles and tips, whereas we expect this blog to have more general business and home business articles
In fact, we've been experimenting with the different blog softwares that are available. I'll be sharing those with you as time goes on, but suffice it to say that blogs today are a tremendous tool. In fact, having a blog is easy and probably the best way to start out. We chose to use blogger as our main blog. It's free to use from google and has the option to be hosted on your own website which is what we do. The other free blog that is super easy to use is
www.bloglines.com.
I'll talk more fully about blogs as time goes on and their importance, but their are 5 major reasons to start one:
1.) Blogs add a personal touch and a voice.- For businesses, especially small businesses, having a blog and posting to it helps add a personal touch and a voice to otherwise static content where you're diplaying your product and services only. A recent article in Business Week talked about how if your business doesn't have a blog, you may be out of business because your customers and competitors probably do...
2.) Blogs provide "Push Button" Publishing for ezines and newsletters
- No email or hosting is really required, you can just post articles and have your site automatically spidered by the search engines. Your readers have access to your articles instantly and can subscribe to your blog feed.
3.) Blogs make your site dynamic, as long as you keep posting. Fresh content makes your visitors want to come back and is also a source of spider food for the search engines4.) Search engines like sites that are updated regularly; submitting your sites to the search engines is a waste of time and money. You heard me right. Having lots of fresh content is your way to the heart of the search engines.5.) Gain more referral Visitors/customers. If your blog has great content which people find useful and relevant, you can easily get more referral visitors who could become future clients through word of mouth. It's like having your own affiliate program where you have other people bringing visitors to you websites.In summary, it doesn't matter what business you're in your clients and customers need to know who you are so it is increasingly important to have your own website and communicate in your own voice. Not everyone will like it, but it's important for people to know who you are. They might not always like what you say, but they will appreciate your openness and honesty.
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We have some new tools and resources that we will be posting to our website within the next day or perhaps even hours. Keep your eye on
http://blogtools.powerbusinessbuilders.com where we are going to have a spectacular collection of tools to help you in your blogging exploits and make your lives so much easier. I expect that we may even put together a little resale rights package here for you our loyal subscribers that you will not want to miss. I haven't decided on a price yet, but I've committed to repay my mentors by helping a select group reach their online goals this year and blogs are a key tool in your arsenal and here to stay.....
Hey, just as another aside. we are also adding some new ebooks and software tools to our subscriber loyalty page. It is at
http://6free.powerbusinessbuilders.com. We used to have just 6 free products worth over $350 and our free 36 lesson internet marketing course. When I finish it there will be well over $700 worth of software, ebooks and huge discounts I promise you will not want to miss. At the laThis is sample text, I expect to have that available by Monday July 25th. I also plan to include the link to a free report on how to get your sight listed in google in minutes and all the tools you need to do it are FREE. Yup, you heard me right again.. 100%
There are alot of Gurus out there that aren't going to like us giving this info out for free as people are paying $1000s for this information and tools that aren't as good as the ones you can get for free. So remember that date and be sure to stop on by... This is our gift to you for being a loyal subscriber.
The Benefits Of A Home Based Business
Taking advantage of a home-based business opportunity can afford you many benefits. There are not only the monetary benefits, but lifestyle benefits as well. Whether lifestyle or monetary, these benefits can be far greater than the benefits you receive working for an employer. If you are already working in your own home-based business or just entertaining the idea, be sure to evaluate your options and consider the value of the benefits you will receive. Home-based business opportunities can provide you with independence and financial freedom if you make smart decisions.
It is not always money that motivates people to start a home-based business. Sometimes the intangible benefits are more important factors when considering home-based business opportunities. One of the more powerful draws to working from home is the sense of freedom you gain. You can set your own schedule, work the hours that are most convenient for you, and have time available for family obligations and leisure activities. Parents with children in school often think about what home-based business opportunities may be available to them. Teacher conferences, after school activities and the ability to be home when the children are out of school are strong motivators in making the decision to start a home-based business. Working from home gives you the benefit of flexible hours and the freedom to adjust your schedule according to the needs of your family.
Stress reduction is another benefit of operating a home-based business. Any business will likely produce its own kind of stress, but certain stressful factors can be avoided when you take advantage of the more promising home business opportunities that are available to you. You will have no daily commute, you will save money on gas and automobile expenses, and you will have the extra time in the morning and evening to relax and interact with your family instead of spending that time getting to and from work. If you plan properly and budget your time wisely, being your own boss can reduce the stress you feel due to constant demands and co-worker interruptions.
A home-based business opportunity cannot only give you the benefit of earning money while working from your home it can give you many other benefits as well. A home-based business is the perfect chance for you to attain financial and personal freedom. There are numerous home-based business opportunities available to you. Research each one carefully and make sure you are willing to put forth the effort that will be required in order to succeed.
Finally, the tax advantages are incredible. Things like cable, phone, and internet, as well as
continuing education and seminars are tax deductible. So many of the things we use everyday that have a role in our home business are deductible. We recently did a study with one of our clients we helped start a home business. Before they owed $2,000 to Uncle Sam, but by starting a home business they wound up getting a $4,000 refund. That's a pretty good swing, and because of that more and more people are looking toward starting a business from home rather than taking on a part-time job. This is primarily because of flexibility, possibility of increased income, and time freedom.
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For more tips, technologies, and strategies for your home business visit us at
www.powerbusinessbuilders.com. Thanks for reading :-)
The Very Basics of Ebay - Getting Started
So you want to sell stuff on eBay, but you have two minor problems: you don't know how and you don't have stuff. Not a problem. Keep reading for some tips to get you pointed in the right direction.
Before you begin you’ll need some basic equipment: Computer, Internet access, digital camera, and some space to put your stuff. That’s really all you’ll need to get started. You’ll also need shipping and packing supplies but that is addressed later.
Next you’ll need to learn how to list auctions. Go to the eBay sellers overview:
http://pages.ebay.com/education/sellingtips/index.html. This will be your lifeline. There is a plethora of information there on everything you always wanted to know and more. Don’t be overwhelmed; just take it one step at a time. You’ll see there is information on listings, on bidding, on photos, on feedback – it’s all there.
Next you’ll need to figure out what to sell. Before you zero in on a particular niche you need some experience and some feedback. Buyers are generally leery of buying from someone who is brand new and has a feedback rating of less than 10 evaluations. While you are getting your feet wet, look around your own house first. You’d be amazed at what people buy. You could list outgrown clothing, magazines, candle holders, CD, books, flannel sheets, recipes, the ugly old lamp that was Aunt Mildred’s, all those goofy Christmas gifts sitting in your basement, that old baby gate with a stain on it. Get the idea? You never know what someone will want. To get those 10 positive feedback scores, be a great buyer first. Find a few items that you really need and see if you can get a deal on them at ebay. Positive scores as a buyer can help you as a seller.
Although you need experience, you don’t want to list something that isn’t likely to sell. Do your research first before you invest the time in putting together a listing. An easy method to use is do a “search” on eBay, then look up COMPLETED ITEMS, then sort by HIGHEST price. Then you’ll see if your Tommy Bahama shirt is really worth anything. Or you’ll see that your old baseball cards had 23 listings and not one of them sold.
Pricing is another challenge. Again, you’ll need to do your research. See what they’re going for. Don’t have overly high expectations. You know how you feel when you go to a garage sale and you see a pair of jeans for $15 or books for $4 each. Many people come to eBay to look for a bargain. Consider how much you have into the item. If you have an item from around the house, you may consider that something is better than nothing, so you may be inclined to start the bidding quite low. If you bought it with the specific intention to resell, you will, at the very minimum, want to break even, so take the price you paid for it and consider other costs, i.e. listing fees, final value fees (all explained in your lifeline – eBay seller overview above). People are much more apt to bid if the bidding starts LOW. Sometimes though, you will have collectibles that are worth a chunk of money. Don’t give away that vintage postcard that is worth $56! Do your homework.
The next big question is how do you get paid? You determine what you would accept. Online payments such as PayPal (paypal.com) are very convenient. You can also decide that you’ll accept money orders or personal checks. The more options you leave your buyers, the more likelihood you’ll get more bids.
You also need to decide how you want to ship your items to the winners. Many sellers use USPS, others prefer UPS. If you use USPS and ship via Priority Mail, you can get your envelopes and boxes free from USPS. If you ship First Class or Parcel Post or UPS, you’ll have to shop around for deals on boxes or envelopes and bubble wrap or packing peanuts.
Overwhelmed yet? Yes there is a lot to learn, but it’s not nuclear science. Just take it one step at a time. It’s a learning process. Some yahoo groups (or MSN or AOL, or whatever your preference) are great sources for support and camaraderie with others who are doing the same.
So in summary, if you want to just “start pushing buttons” and learn on your own, YOU CAN DO IT. If you do better chatting with others, those resources are available too. Use what is available.
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You can find links to ebay resources on our website at
www.powerbusinessbuilders.comOur favorite ebay courses can be found at
http://www.l1nk.com/sAm/ebay60.html and
http://www.l1nk.com/sAm/prospandprofit.htmlYou can also visit our own ebay store at
http://www.l1nk.com/sAm/CFH_EBaystore.html for some ideas.
If you are looking for product sources, there is only one resource officially approved by ebay and that is the dropship wholesale directory. You can find the link to it here
DropShip,Wholesale Directory
Organize Your Office and Improve Productivity
Are you frustrated with your office space? Do you hunt for a pen every time you put one down? Is the search for documents a half-day event? Is your paper filed chronologically - working your way down the pile to 'one week ago' and unable to pull out 'four months ago' for fear of a paper flood catastrophe? Every office deals with an excess of paper and whether large or small, your business is suffering when you aren't operating in an organized space. So, how do you clear the clutter and gain control?
SPACE IS ESSENTIAL
The biggest problem with staying organized in an office is that people set up a system and don't give themselves enough room to grow. If you have spent the better part of a day cleaning out a drawer and replacing the items in organized, labeled files, but you can't squeeze a single extra sheet of paper you've wasted your time and the unfiled papers will grow again. Be certain to have at least a quarter to a third (more if possible) of growing room when implementing a system. You may need to change over at some point, but having some extra space will encourage you to keep up with the organizing. This also goes for items such as architectural drawings or other products or documents you may accumulate. Set aside time to purge unnecessary documents. Not only will this provide more space but will save you time that would otherwise be wasted looking through worthless paperwork.
SIMPLE FILING SYSTEM
Do not make your system too complicated or it will be hard to follow through. Color coding can be the easiest if you do not have too many categories. This is effective for systems which only require 'Income', 'Expense', 'Projects', 'Correspondence' or something similar. For filing of large groups of clients, projects or invoices, use a single drawer for each group of related files. A tall filing cabinet can even be divided into alphabetical or chronological systems. For items you refer to daily or even hourly you might consider a posting board near your desk. This is a great idea for phone number lists, 'To Do' lists and appointment calendars.
MAINTENANCE
A filing system is only as good as the upkeep. You may find it easier to have a small system of files located on or near your desk and daily or weekly transfer the items into their permanent home. This also works for items which you need close at hand such as current project information or price lists etc.
STYLE OF FILING
Consider if you can realistically maintain a filing system. Perhaps labeled boxes would suit you better (especially if you tend to pile papers). The key is to find something you will feel comfortable maintaining. If papers are sorted and occasionally purged, your system will work.
EVERYTHING NEEDS A HOME
Everything MUST be assigned a home. By giving each item a place you will not loose pens, cellphones, glasses and so on. Don't crowd the items or you will get frustrated. Recognize that all of your efforts will help you run your business more efficiently, and thus productively. Reward yourself for keeping the system working!
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Finally, Technology can increase your productivity. For some of our favorite solutions take a look at GoSolo, and hotconference to be more productive with clients avoiding unnecessary travel.
We have also been using a new VOIP phone solution called InfinityVOIP.
You can find links to these and other great resources at our website at
www.powerbusinessbuilders.com
What can you learn about business from a children's movie? You can learn some great entrepreneurial lessons from the recent film "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" starring Johnny Depp.
WARNING -Spoiler Alert- If you have not seen the movie (or the older version) yet, this article may give away a few elements of the story that could reduce your enjoyment of the film. You can always come back and read it after you have seen the picture.
Marketing
"Find 1 of 5 Golden Tickets in a Willy Wonka product and be one of the first people in a long time to visit the magical chocolate factory. Also, one kid will win a special prize that will exceed your wildest imagination." This is an excellent promotion. It sparks interest in Willy Wonka products, builds brand awareness, and most importantly; it significantly increases sales. The media picks up on the promotion and generates a tremendous amount of free publicity. Word of mouth referrals help spread the promotion to areas that were untouched by newspapers and television.
Positive Thinking
There are many "naysayers" who discourage the main character, Charlie, from getting his hopes up about finding one of the lucky Golden tickets. Negative thinking can be devastating, especially to a child. However, Charlie does not take heed of the negativity. Supported by his Grandmother's constant reassurance, Charlie keeps a positive outlook and believes that he has as good a chance as any other kid to find one of the five tickets.
Don't Quit
Charlie refuses to give up on his dream of finding a ticket. After he doesn't find one on his first, and probably only, attempt - he doesn't quit. Charlie believes that he will get one of those tickets. Providence provides two more opportunities and amazingly, Charlie finds the last ticket! This is especially significant because it had been falsely reported that all of the tickets had been found.
A Good Support Network
Charlie has an excellent support network. Although very poor in financial terms, Charlie is very rich in family. He lives in a loving environment and appreciates every member of his household. He selflessly offers to sell his ticket to provide some much needed cash for his family, instead of taking the special chocolate factory tour. His family will have nothing of it and encourages him to pursue this once in a lifetime opportunity. When Willy Wonka offers to make Charlie his heir, Charlie refuses because accepting the offer would mean that he probably would never see his family again. Willy Wonka later makes the offer again, but allows Charlie to bring his family this time. Charlie's family then extends its hospitality to Mr. Wonka and he ends up gaining the positive and supporting network that he had needed as well.
Four Good Lessons
If you are an entrepreneur or are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur, remember these lessons from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". It takes good marketing, positive thinking, and a good support network to get started. Most importantly, don't quit - your success may be only one candy bar away.
