Tag: Personal

  • Personal Injury Lawyer Birmingham AL claims your Hurt

    Personal Injury Lawyer Birmingham AL claims your Hurt

    How to claim your Hurt? When you get a Personal Injury Lawyer Birmingham AL. Birmingham Personal Injury Lawyer – Serious accidents can have life-changing repercussions for the victims involved. If any other party’s negligence has triggered damage to you or anyone you love, you deserve to be trying to find compensation for your losses.

    Here are the articles to explain, the Personal Injury Lawyer Birmingham AL. How to claim your Hurt?

    Depending on your case, you may additionally be eligible to get a better price for financial, physical, and emotional losses associated with your accident. Birmingham personal injury lawyer for you in AL. Schedule a free session with a Birmingham non-public damage legal professional at Morris Bart & Associates, LLC to analyze greater about your felony options.

    What does a Birmingham Personal Injury Lawsuit Entail?

    A personal harm lawsuit is a felony declaration that can file when an individual’s negligent conduct reasons damage to every other party. If a court docket finds that the defendant is accountable for inflicting the plaintiff’s injury. The defendant will order to compensate them for their losses.

    Personal damage claims can file in response to several distinct accidents. Our attorneys have a long time of blended experience, so they’ve managed claims for nearly every accident. Here are some of the incidents our damage attorneys in Birmingham, Alabama, can construct a case for:

    • Car accidents
    • Truck accidents
    • Motorcycle accidents
    • Pedestrian accidents
    • Wrongful death
    • Medical malpractice
    • Premises liability
    • Workers’ compensation

    This listing is no longer exhaustive. If you had been injured in an accident that isn’t referred to above, Morris Bart & Associates, LLC can decide if it qualifies for a non-public harm lawsuit. We’ve represented men and women with accidents of all types, so you can effortlessly remember our wealth of experience.

    Damages You Can Receive From a Private Injury Lawsuit in Birmingham

    If you’ve been injured in an accident that took region in Birmingham. You may additionally be legally entitled to a contract that will cowl your losses. Here are some of the damages a Birmingham non-public harm attorney can win for you:

    • Medical bills
    • Ongoing or future clinical costs
    • Physical ache and suffering
    • Mental anguish
    • Property damage

    These are no longer the sole losses you can get better compensation for in a personal damage case. Schedule a free session with our crew to analyze greater about the damages that practice to your accident. They’ll study the important points of your case and provide you with an estimate of the contract you may receive.

    Evidence in a Birmingham Personal Injury Claim

    To invulnerable compensation in a personal damage claim, it’s imperative to produce proof that indicates the different birthday parties acted negligently. Depending on the kind of case, proof can include:

    • Photographs or videos from the location of the casualty
    • Police report
    • Witness statements
    • Testimony from accident undertaking experts
    • Emails, textual content messages, or different correspondence between parties

    Once the responsible party’s legal responsibility has stood established. You can also additionally want current proof that demonstrates the extent of your losses. This proof may also include:

    • Medical reviews of accidents sustained from your accident
    • Hospital bills
    • Lost wages
    • Reduced incomes capacity if your case worried an everlasting injury
    • Property harm assessment

    It can be difficult to collect this proof when you are getting better from an injury. A personal harm legal professional in Birmingham can gather evidence, and file the vital paperwork. And make certain essential felony time limits exist met, so you can pay attention to your recovery.

    How Personal Injury Claims Are Won?

    To win a personal harm claim, three things want to prove. The first is that the character you’re suing acted negligently at some point at the time of the accident. Negligent conduct refers to moves that can fairly view to put others in danger. Next, your harm legal professional will have to show that the different party’s negligence was once the sole purpose of your injuries.

    Finally, your legal professional will want to show that your harm resulted in financial losses and/or non-economic losses like ache and suffering. To do this, they’ll existing proof together with clinical bills and pay stubs to the court.

    Personal Injury Claim Deadlines in Alabama

    Alabama has a statute of barriers for personal damage claims that limits the time you have to take criminal action. According to Alabama Code § 6-2-38, you have two years after the date of the incident you had been injured in to file your claim. If you pass over this deadline, your harm declaration may want to dismiss.

    Don’t let negligent events get using a statutory technicality. If your two-year timeframe is coming up or has passed, you may additionally nevertheless have felony preferences in opposition to the accountable parties. Even if you’ve overlooked the deadline, it is nevertheless really worth speaking with a private damage attorney.

    What is the Standard Fee for a Private Injury Lawyer?

    Our harm attorneys in Birmingham get it. When you’re injured and out of work, the closing issue you favor to do is pay upfront for an attorney. That’s why we work on a contingency price basis.

    We accept as true that every person deserves justice, now not simply those who can find the money for it. That being said, you would possibly have to pay different prices and costs associated with your claim, like court docket fees. But at least you won’t have to pay out-of-pocket for a fantastically skilled and professional personal harm attorney.

    What Percentage Do Personal Injury Attorneys Take?

    Rather than billing at an hourly rate, non-public damage attorneys take a predetermined proportion of your contract or court docket award. The proportion your legal professional will take relies upon the complexity of your case. On average, attorneys that take care of non-public damage claims take somewhere from 33% to 40% of their client’s settlement.

    However, there is frequently constantly room for negotiations between the legal professional and the client. The proportion will agree upon in advance, and your legal professional must have it for you in writing so that there are no surprises. Should an agreement or courtroom award reach in your favor, the court docket will ship a test to the legal professional to make sure they are paid, then problem you the rest of the agreed amount.

    Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer Before You Get any Concession Offers

    If you’ve been approached by way of an insurance plan adjuster with an agreement offer, do no longer take it till you talk with a lawyer! If your accidents are worse than expected, you ought to lose your proper to pursue similar compensation.

    It’s additionally vital to word that ache from accidents might also no longer current itself till weeks after your accident. Once you take an offer, it’s almost not possible to get more. You are properly inside your rights to communicate with a legal professional earlier than agreeing to a settlement.

    How Long Your Personal Injury Case Will Take to Get a Judgment?

    Several variables decide the size of a private damage case. Your legal professional will in all likelihood suggest you prolong your prison motion till you’ve observed the actual extent of your injuries. This will permit you to acquire as tons compensation as possible, however, it will additionally add a month or so to your case length.

    If your case is greater problematic than the common non-public harm claim, you would possibly have to wait longer till you get hold of compensation. Other elements that affect case size are the defendant’s and the insurance plan company’s willingness to provide an honest contract and cooperate with prison proceedings.

    3 Best Personal Injury Lawyers in Birmingham AL

    We researched for you, the following best personal injury lawyer Birmingham al below is!

    Abogados Centro Legal:

    3021 Lorna Rd Ste 301, Birmingham, AL 35216 – Abogados Centro Legal is a regulation association primarily based in Birmingham, Alabama, with a center of attention on personal injury services. The employer offers the place of work accidents, automobile cases, serious injuries, scientific negligence or malpractice, and wrongful death. Claims can encompass scientific expenses, loss of earnings, and ache and suffering. It serves Alabama and Tennessee and affords illustration and prison recommendations in English and Spanish. Abogados Centro Legal additionally takes on immigration cases.

    Drake Law Firm:

    2 Perimeter Park S Ste 510E, Birmingham, AL 35243 – Drake Law Firm presents regularly occurring personal injury lawyer offerings to purchasers in the Birmingham metro area. It’s skilled with a variety of frequent private damage eventualities consisting of auto accidents, falls, animal attacks and accidents brought about with the aid of faulty products. The company works to aid its clients’ claims through the use of accessible proof as leverage in negotiations with negligent events and claims adjusters. It additionally oversees their clinical cure to file serious accidents and hardships incurred. Other exercise areas encompass workers’ compensation and nursing domestic abuse.

    Hollis, Wright & Clay, P.C.:

    2201 Morris Ave, Birmingham, AL 35203 – Hollis, Wright & Clay, P.C. is a personal injury regulation company centrally positioned in Birmingham to serve victims of negligence in the metro area. Since its basis in 2002, the association has efficiently represented consumers in a broad variety of cases. Its attorneys have got settlements for humans who have suffered in a broad variety of cases, along with bodily and intellectual harm brought about through faulty products, canine bites, sexual abuse, and clinical malpractice.

    Personal Injury Lawyer Birmingham AL claim your Hurt Image
    Personal Injury Lawyer Birmingham AL claims your Hurt; Photo by Álvaro Serrano on Unsplash.
  • 7 Major effective steps in Personal selling

    7 Major effective steps in Personal selling

    Effective steps in Personal selling; 7 types – prospecting, pre approach, approach, presentation, overcoming objections, closing, and follow up. Personal selling is one of the forms of promotion or marketing communications used by organizations to communicate with the marketplace and drive purchases of their products. Along with advertising, public relations, and sales promotion – personal selling makes up the promotions mix or marketing communications mix of a company.

    Here are explained; 7 Major effective steps in Personal selling.

    What is Personal selling? Personal selling can define as; direct person-to-person communication between sellers and potential customers, with the aim of persuading potential customers to purchase products. Personal selling often occurs face-to-face, however it can also take place through telephone conversations, online video conferencing or online text communication.

    Personal selling is an effective way to promote and sell high priced and/or complex products. This is because the person-to-person approach allows for a detailed explanation of products and any individual questions or concerns the customer has can immediately address.

    Effective steps in Personal selling or steps in selling:

    "7

    While it is establishing that no single approach to selling works, in all situations, still a generalization can draw and the Major effective steps in Personal selling can identify as under:

    1. Prospecting and qualifying for Pre approach.
    2. Pre approach.
    3. Approach.
    4. Presentation and Demonstration.
    5. Overcoming objections.
    6. Closing, and.
    7. Follow up and Maintenance.

    Now, explain each one;

    Prospecting and qualifying:

    First, steps in Personal selling; Identify and qualify prospects. Traditionally, the task of identifying the prospect rests with the salesman. Nowadays, with the advances in information technology and software like CRM, companies can establish direct relationships with the customers.

    Thus, the task of identifying prospect is sharing and it makes the job of salespersons more focussed. The prospective customers are contacted and then sorted according to the level of interest and financial capability. The salesman can personally visit those customers where the chances of success are more.

    Four main steps in prospecting are:

    • Formulating prospect definitions: This means defining the prospects according to their financial capacity and the interest to purchase. This helps in segmenting the prospects into the categories where chances of selling are more. This makes the selling activity more targeted.
    • Searching for potential accounts: After segmentation, the prospects are analyzed with respect to the probability of selling. This may involve an exploratory visit to the prospects or contacting them over the phone, man or Internet. This further narrows the focus area of the sales reps
    • Qualifying prospects and determining probable requirements: After having identified must probable prospects, their requirements are studied so that salesman can actually design a negotiation strategy that fulfills the prospect’s needs. This increases the probability of the success of a sales call.
    • Relating company products to each prospect’s requirements: The final step is to integrate both the customers and sales rep so that higher success is achieved with fewer efforts.

    Pre approach:

    Pre approach is the activity of salespersons to learn as much as possible about the prospect. This helps in identifying the factors that play an important role in buying decisions making the process. Once a salesperson is familiar with the factors that are important from the point of view of a customer, he can design his approach strategy accordingly. The chances of success increase with the details of the information. Salespersons go to the extent of knowing the time, place, cultural habits and language of their customers. This helps them to step into the customer’s shoe. This activity helps in saving resources and increases the chances of success.

    Approach:

    The manner in which a salesperson approaches the prospect has a lot of effect on the chances of success of a sales call. As it is said, the first impression is the last impression, the salesperson should know how too great the buyer to get the relationship off to a good start. The dressing, manner, and etiquette, language, politeness and persuasiveness have a lot of effect on the success of a sales call. The right approach comes from the degree of proximity to the customer. Proximity in terms of knowing the customers is very important and nowadays more and more companies are doing the same.

    Presentation and Demonstration :

    After approaching a customer, the salesperson narrates the story of his product. The underlying scheme of presentation is often based on the AIDA model i.e. gaining attention, generating interest, arousing desire and obtaining action. Different styles of the sales presentation are used, as described herein.

    • Canned approach: This the oldest approach wherein a sales, person memorizes, the sales talk covering the main points. It is based on stimulus-response thinking i.e. the buyer is passive and can be moved to purchase by the use of the right stimulus wards, pictures, terms, and actions.
    • Formulated approach: It is also based on stimulus-response thinking but first identifies the buyer’s needs and buying style and then uses a formulated approach to this type of buyer.
    • Need Satisfaction approach: It starts with a search for the customer’s real needs by encouraging the customer to do must of the talking. The salesperson takes on the role of a knowledgeable business consultant hoping to help the customer save money or make money.

    The sales presentations can improve with demonstration aids such as booklets, flip charts, slider, movies, audio, and video cassettes, product samples, and computer-based simulations. Computer-aided presentations are also very useful means. Usually, the presentation is following by leave-behinds such as brochures, leaflets, samples, etc.

    Overcoming objections:

    There arise objections to all the presentations because of psychological resistance. It is very important to resolve them. In fact, objections are the starting point of communication that might transform into negotiation and finally action. So, they must be encouraged as they can have a positive effect on the sales call if they are resolving.

    Theoretically, salesperson presentation should show the prospect that the product requires by him and it should be bought. Very few presentations end that successfully and very few prospects are that easily convinced usually prospect will raise objections. Objections raised by the prospect takes a great deal of skill and training. Experienced sales person welcome objections. The salesperson must be able to identify the real reasons for an objection, respond to the objection, and overcome it.

    Objections provide the salesperson with the opportunity to learn more about the customer’s needs and provide information about the product to satisfy those needs. The most difficult prospect is one who does not say anything during the presentation, refuse to buy and gives no reason for the decision. The best way to deal with objections is to avoid them by building answers to common questions into the formal sales presentation.

    Closing:

    The manner of closing a sales call is as important as the approach. Closing leaves behind an impression, which has a long term, carryover effect. Unconfident salespersons fail to ask for order rendering the entire sales call fruitless. So, the process of winding up of a sales call must incorporate persuasive phrases and actions that not only affect purchase but also help in carrying a long term effect in the mind of the customer.

    The closing follows once the objection has been handled. It is at this point that the salesperson should ask for the order. Unfortunately, many salespersons are too reluctant to close: in fact, one study revealed that 50% of salespeople failed to directly ask for the order. The major reason the salespeople are so resistant to close seems to be is fear of rejection.

    If salespeople do not ask for an order they cannot be turned down and thereby they avoid embarrassment or disappointment. However, all professional purchasing agents expect sales representatives to attempt a close. Closing the sale is asking the prospect for an order.

    The salesperson must be able to recognize the signals that indicate the prospect is ready to close. Successful salespeople learn to time their closing remarks on the basis of signals given by the buyer. These cues can take the form of gestures (Customer nods in agreement, picks up the product and examines it closely) or they can be verbal comments.

    "7

    Follow up and Maintenance:

    Last, steps in Personal selling; In order to ensure repeat business, follow up and maintenance is very important. After closing a sales call, the salesperson should not break contact with the customer. Sustained contact helps in getting business next time. It also helps to enhance customer satisfaction and reducing cognitive dissonance. It also provides feedback to the company for improving the quality of products and service in the future. It’s a must that sales should end in follow up, determine if the order was delivered on time, installation OK, etc. Also helps determine the prospects of future needs.

    Accomplishes four objectives:
    • Customer gain short term satisfaction.
    • Referrals are stimulating.
    • In the long run, repurchase.
    • Prevent cognitive dissonance.

    Follow up activities are critical to the success of salespeople and sales managers. Customers expect after-sale service and it is frequently the job of salespeople to make sure these activities are carried out.

    As a general rule when an order is not obtained on the initial call the salesperson should express appreciation for the time made available and suggests a later visit. In this way, a salesperson show continued interest in helping the prospect and in getting the order. When leaving a salesperson should inquire if there are any brochures, samples or other information. That the prospects need before they meet again.

    Whenever a salesperson leaves without an order they should immediately write down. What they have learned about the prospect. For example; What were prospects chief objections, who makes the decision and what are the prospects primary needs. If the salesperson made any critical mistake during a presentation they should be noted so that they are not repeating in the next visit. Old school, sell and leave!!—Quickly before customer changes her mind!!

    Now:

    • Stay a few minutes after-sale—reinforce, make them feel good, made a wise choice, leave a small gift (with co. name on it!!), call the office at any time, etc.!!
    • Follow up, reinforce, and know birthdays, new year, etc., friendly correspondence…relationship building!!

    Salespeople who do not follow up on sales are unlikely to establish long term relationship with customers or secure repeat business. Purchasing agents expect post-sale service and it is the sales person’s responsibility to see that they remain satisfied.

  • Personal Selling; Introduction, Meaning, Definition, and Theory

    Personal Selling; Introduction, Meaning, Definition, and Theory

    Personal Selling defines as a hand-to-hand exchange of goods and money or Face-to-face selling in which a seller attempts to persuade a buyer to make a purchase. In the competitive marketplace, the product must be communicated across to the customers. Traditionally, advertising is a tool for communication. However, as the competition has increased, the process of communication has also become more and more complex.

    Here are explain Personal Selling; Introduction, Meaning, Definition, and Theory.

    Personal selling is one of the forms of promotion or marketing communications used by organizations to communicate with the marketplace and drive purchases of their products. Along with advertising, public relations, and sales promotion – personal selling makes up the promotions mix or marketing communications mix of a company. What is the importance and process of Decision-Making?

    #Meaning:

    Meaning of Personal selling; Personal selling or salesmanship are synonymous terms; with the only difference being that the former term is of recent origin, while the latter term has been traditionally in usage, in the commercial world. Since a salesman, in persuading a prospect to buy a certain product, follows a personal approach; salesmanship, in the present-day times is often popularly called personal selling.

    It is the most traditional method, devised by manufacturers, for the promotion of the sales of their products. Before the development of the advertising technique, it used to be the only method used by manufacturers for the promotion of sales. It is, in fact, the forerunner of advertising and other sales promotion devices.

    #Definition:

    Personal selling can define as; direct person-to-person communication between sellers and potential customers, to persuade potential customers to purchase products.

    According to Philips and Duncan,

    “Salesmanship is the art of presenting an offering so that the prospect appreciates the need for it and a mutually satisfactory sale follows.”

    They often occur face-to-face, however, they can also take place through telephone conversations, online video conferencing, or online text communication. Also, Personal selling is an effective way to promote and sell high-priced and/or complex products.

    This is because the person-to-person approach allows for a detailed explanation of products and any individual questions or concerns the customer has can be immediately addressed.

    Personal selling Introduction Meaning Definition and Theory
    Personal selling; Introduction, Meaning, Definition, and Theory. Russia cotton Candy Hands #Pixabay.

    #Introduction, How to Sale?

    Introduction to Personal selling; The marketers of today cannot rely on only advertising the marketing communication mix comprises 5 modes of communication as explained herein;

    • Advertising: Any paid form of non-personal presentation and promotion of ideas, goods, or services by an identified sponsor.
    • Sales promotion: A variety of short-term incentives to encourage the trial or purchase of a product or service.
    • Public relations and publicity: A variety of programs designed to promote or protect a company’s image or its products.
    • Personal selling: Face-to-face interaction with one or more prospective purchasers to make presentations, answer questions, and procure orders.
    • Direct marketing: Use of mail, telephone, fax, e-mail or internet to communicate directly with or solicit & a direct response from specific customers and prospects.

    The present article deals with personal selling as one of the modes for selling. The topic falls within the scope of both marketing communication and sales management. It is the most effective tool, especially in the later stages of the buying process. It is very useful in building buyer preference, convictions, and action.

    Distinctive qualities:

    Personal selling has three distinctive qualities;

    1. Personal confrontations: They involve an immediate and interactive relationship between two or more persons each party can observe the other’s reactions at close hand.
    2. Cultivation: It permits all kinds of relationships to spring up, ranging from matter-of-fact selling relationships to deep personal friendships. Also, Sales representatives usually have the customer’s best interests at heart.
    3. Response: It makes the buyer feel under some obligation for having listened to the sales talk.

    Theory of Personal selling:

    Personal selling is more of an art. Often effective salespersons have an instinct. Yet, it is realizing that proper training can enhance the skills of good salesmen. In present times, it is becoming more and more customer-oriented because no more do are have a buyer’s market.

    Theory of Personal selling - List
    Theory of Personal selling – List

    Three major aspects of personal selling are;

    1. Professionalism.
    2. Negotiations, and.
    3. Relationship marketing.

    Now, explain each;

    Professionalism:

    The belief that good sales are born is giving way to a professional approach to sales activity. As well as, the sales managers realize the importance of training the sales force and spend huge sums of money each year for the same. We find the market flooded with training aids comprising books, video and audio cassettes, CDs, and many more.

    Also, The aim of sharpening the skills of a salesman is to make him more and more effective. All sales training approaches try to convert a salesperson from a passive order taker into an order setter. An order taker is passive and stands dominated by the situation. In order Getter molds the situation in his favor and takes charge to achieve his objectives. What is the IT Professionalism in Information Technology Essay? Also, The modern professional approach to salesmanship stands customer-oriented.

    The act of selling stands projected as aimed at solving the problems of the customers. Such an approach is satisfying the customers more thereby making sales activity more and more effective. Furthermore, the sales personnel are trained to understand the situation and they formulate their reaction because no single approach works in all situations.

    Negotiation:

    Negotiation skills are one of the most important skills of a salesman. Likewise, The two parties need to reach an agreement on price and other terms of sales. A good salesman wins the order without making deep .concessions that will hurt his profitability.

    Also, he must not unduly extract the customer because such an approach will be detrimental in the long run. This process of exchange by way of negotiation is more of an art. Learned by a salesman over time. The professional approach to negotiation identifies the zone of agreement between the seller’s surplus and the buyer’s surplus.

    Such an understanding helps in reaching the agreement point where both parties feel satisfied. Negotiation involves communication that is Focused and planning. Also, A good salesman understands his customer well and then formulates a negotiation strategy.

    Relationship marketing:

    As the salesman becomes close to the customers, the Transactional nature of the selling approach gives way to the relationship approach. Furthermore, the Transactional approach is deal to deal approach centered on short-term gains. Also, The relationship approach is long-term and establishes a relationship between the buyer and the seller.

    Both understand each other and support each other. Sales managers have to realize that it is far easier to get sales from an old customer as compared to getting the same from a new customer. So, it is important to retain existing customers. As well as, Personal selling is the most effective method of building relationships.

    No other means can establish relationships as effectively as personal selling does. So modern salesmen work with a long-term perspective, establishing close customer associations. Such a practice is most evident in banking, airlines, insurance, and investment industries.

  • Library and Internet Research

    Understanding and Using the Library and Internet Research

    What is Library? A library is a collection of sources of information and similar resources, made accessible to a defined community for reference or borrowing. It provides physical or digital access to material and may be a physical building or room, or a virtual space, or both. A library’s collection can include books, periodicals, newspapers, manuscripts, films, maps, prints, documents, micro-form, CDs, cassettes, videotapes, DVDs, Blu-ray Discs, e-books, audio-books, databases, and other formats. Libraries range in size from a few shelves of books to several million items.

    What is Internet Research? Internet research has had a profound impact on the way ideas are formed and knowledge is created. Common applications of Internet research include personal research on a particular subject (something mentioned on the news, a health problem, etc.), students doing research for academic projects and papers, and journalists and other writers researching stories.

    Research is a broad term. Here, it is used to mean “looking something up (on the Web)”. It includes any activity where a topic is identified, and an effort is made to actively gather information for the purpose of furthering understanding. It may include some post-collection analysis like a concern for quality or synthesis.

    A third approach to generate new business ideas is to conduct library and Internet research. A natural tendency is to think that an idea should be chosen, and the process of researching the idea should then begin. This approach is too linear. Often, the best ideas emerge when the general notion of an idea, like creating casual electronic games for adults, is merged with extensive library and Internet research, which might provide insights into the best type of casual games to create.

    Libraries are often an underutilized source of information for generating business ideas. The best approach to utilizing a library is to discuss your general area of interest with a reference librarian, who can point out useful resources, such as industry-specific magazines, trade journals, and industry reports. Simply browsing through several issues of a trade journal on a topic can spark new ideas. Very powerful search engines and databases are also available through university and large public libraries, which would cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to access on your own. An example is IBIS World (www.ibisworld.com), a company that publishes market research on all major industries and subcategories within industries. IBIS World published a 30-page report on the solar power industry, for example, in March 2011, which includes key statistics (about industry growth and profitability), a complete industry analysis, and an outlook for the future. Spending time reading this report could spark new ideas for solar powered devices or help affirm an existing idea.

    Internet research is also important. If you are starting from scratch, simply typing “new business ideas” into Google or Yahoo! will produce links to newspaper and magazine articles about the “hottest” and “latest” new business ideas. Although these types of articles are general in nature, they represent a starting point if you’re trying to generate new business ideas from scratch. If you have a specific idea in mind, a useful technique is to set up a Google or Yahoo! “e-mail alert” using keywords that pertain to your topic of interest. Google and Yahoo! alerts are e-mail updates of the latest Google or Yahoo! results including press releases, news articles, and blog posts based on your topic. This technique, which is available for free, will feed you a daily stream of news articles and Blog postings about specific topics. Another approach is to follow business leaders and experts in the industries you’re interested in on Twitter. The best way to locate people on Twitter you might be interested in following is by typing into the search bar labeled “Who to Follow” relevant keywords preceded by the “#” sign. For example, if you’re interested in solar power, type “#solar power” into the search bar. All the results will be people or companies who tweet about solar power topics.

    Once an entrepreneur has an idea, it often needs to be shaped and fine-tuned. One way to do this, in conjunction with the suggestions made previously, is to enlist a mentor to help. An explanation of how to use a mentor in this regard, and where mentors can be found, is described in the “Partnering for Success” feature.

    Library VS Internet Research

    Many people are confused about what constitutes library research versus what constitutes Internet research. Some people argue that effective research is never conducted on the Internet, that one needs access to the resources of a library to conduct thorough investigations. People in this camp argue that institutional libraries pay significant sums to provide access to proprietary databases to their customers that is, databases that offer abstracts, bibliographical information, and, oftentimes, full texts of articles published in scholarly journals. Also, research purists may argue that documents published on the Internet lack the authority of research that is peer-reviewed and published by major publishers. Something important to consider is the difference between an Internet resource and an academic resource accessed via the Internet. For example, if I simply Google “research method,” one of my first search results is from about.com – a good resource, but not necessarily an academic resource. Although I can glean about.com for useful information about the generics of a topic like “research methods,” for the purposes of an academic research assignment, it may be wise to use the Internet to access my library’s databases (like Academic Search Premier, JSTOR, etc.) for online access to a plethora of information pertaining to my search term. The Internet hosts a variety of resources, some of which are useful for casual, everyday references (like about.com) and others which are more appropriate for an academic research assignment (like my library’s databases: Academic Search Premier, JSTOR, etc.)

    Because of a misunderstanding about the way in which the Internet serves both purposes (casual, everyday research and formal, academic research) some students report they never use their library’s resources. Studies of the research processes of students have found that many students limit their investigations to search engines such as Google, paying especially close attention to the first eight or so hits on any search. Unfortunately, students who conduct research in this way often end up with sources that they later realize aren’t useful in crafting informed, thorough, formal academic research and/or arguments.

    To conduct effective research, you may need to use both the library and the Internet. Limiting yourself to the library cuts off some very innovative work that may not yet be accessible for your library’s periodical indexes and abstracts. In turn, relying solely on the Internet is like trying to dig a hole with your tongue rather than a shovel: extremely counterproductive and a waste of time.

    Information junkies know arguments for using either the library or the Internet are out of touch with reality. As research libraries increase the number of electronic resources they subscribe to, many traditional resources are now accessible via the Internet although passwords may be required. In other words, distinctions between the library and the Web are blurring.

  • Brainstorming

    What is Brainstorming?

    Meaning of Brainstorming: “Brainstorming is a group creativity technique by which efforts are made to find a conclusion for a specific problem by gathering a list of ideas spontaneously contributed by its members.”

    Definition of Brainstorming

    Process for generating creative ideas and solutions through intensive and freewheeling group discussion. Every participant is encouraged to think aloud and suggests as many ideas as possible, no matter seemingly how outlandish or bizarre. Analysis, discussion, or criticism of the aired ideas is allowed only when the brainstorming session is over and evaluation session begins. See also lateral thinking and nominal group technique.

    A common way to generate new business ideas is through brainstorming. In general, brainstorming is simply the process of generating several ideas about a specific topic. The approaches range from a person sitting down with a yellow legal pad and jotting down interesting business ideas to formal “brainstorming sessions” led by moderators that involve a group of people.

    In a formal brainstorming session, the leader of the group asks the participants to share their ideas. One person shares an idea, another person reacts to it, another person reacts to the reaction, and so on. A flip chart or an electronic white-board is typically used to record all the ideas. A productive session is freewheeling and lively. The session is not used for analysis or decision making the ideas generated during a brainstorming session need to be filtered and analyzed, but this is done later. Show the four strict rules for conducting a formal brainstorming session. As you’ll see, the number one rule for a brainstorming session is that no criticism is allowed, including chuckles, raised eyebrows, or facial expressions that express skepticism or doubt. Criticism stymies creativity and inhibits the free flow of ideas.

    Formal Brainstorming Session

    I. No criticism is allowed, including chuckles, raised eyebrows, or facial expressions that express skepticism or doubt. Criticism stymies creativity and inhibits the free flow of ideas.
    II. Freewheeling, which is the carefree expression of ideas free from rules or restraints, is encouraged; the more ideas, the better. Even crazy or outlandish ideas may lead to a good idea or a solution to a problem.
    III. The session moves quickly, and nothing is permitted to slow down its pace. For example, it is more important to capture the essence of an idea than to take the time to write it down neatly.
    IV. Leapfrogging is encouraged. This means using one idea as a means of jumping forward quickly to other ideas.

    Brainstorming sessions dedicated to generating new business ideas are often less formal. For example, as described in more detail in Case 11.2, during the creation of Proactiv, a popular acne treatment product, Dr. Katie Rodan, one of the company’s founders, hosted dinner parties at her house and conducted brainstorming sessions with guests. The guests included business executives, market researchers, marketing consultants, an FDA regulatory attorney, and others. Rodan credits this group with helping her and her co-founder brainstorm a number of ideas that helped shape Proactiv and move the process of starting the company forward. Similarly, Sharelle Klause, the founder of Dry Soda, a company that makes an all-natural soda that’s paired with food the way wine is in upscale restaurants, tested her idea by first talking to her husband’s colleagues, who were in the food industry, and then tapped into the professional network of a friend who owned a bottled water company. Through the process, she met a chemist, who was instrumental in helping her develop the initial recipes for her beverage. Klause also went directly to restaurant owners and chefs to ask them to sample early versions of her product. While this approach only loosely fits the definition of brainstorming, the spirit is the same. Klause was bouncing ideas and early prototypes of her product off others to get their reactions and generate additional ideas. DRY Soda is the subject of Case 9.1.

    Approaches to brainstorming are only limited by a person’s imagination. For example, to teach her students an approach to utilizing brainstorming to generate business ideas, Professor Marcene Sonneborn, an adjunct professor at the Whitman School of Management Syracuse University, uses a tool she developed called the “bug report” to help students brainstorm business ideas. She instructs her students to list 75 things that “bug” them in their everyday lives. The number 75 was chosen because it forces students to go beyond thinking about obvious things that bug them (campus parking, roommates, scraping snow off their windshields in the winter), and think more deeply. On occasions, students actually hold focus groups with their friends to brainstorm ideas and fill out their lists.

  • Focus Groups

    What is Focus Groups?

    A focus group is small, but the demographically diverse group of people whose reactions are studied especially in market research or political analysis in guided or open discussions about a new product or something else to determine the reactions that can be expected from a larger population. It is a form of qualitative research consisting of interviews in which a group of people is asked about their perceptions, opinions, beliefs, and attitudes towards a product, service, concept, advertisement, idea, or packaging. Questions are asked in an interactive group setting where participants are free to talk with other group members. During this process, the researcher either takes notes or records the vital points he or she is getting from the group. Researchers should select members of the focus group carefully for effective and authoritative responses.

    Define of Focus Groups

    “A group of people assembled to participate in a discussion about a product before it is launched, or to provide feedback on a political campaign, television series, etc.”

    Definitions of Focus Groups

    Market research: Small number of people (usually between 4 and 15, but typically 8) brought together with a moderator to focus on a specific product or topic. Focus groups aim at a discussion instead of on individual responses to formal questions and produce qualitative data (preferences and beliefs) that may or may not be representative of the general population.

    Problem-solving: Idea generation or forecasting technique where several experts or informed individuals share their point of view on a specific topic or problem.

    A focus group is a gathering of 5 to 10 people who are selected because of their relationship to the issue being discussed. Although focus groups are used for a variety of purposes, they can be used to help generate new business ideas.

    Focus groups typically involve a group of people who are familiar with a topic, are brought together to respond to questions, and shed light on an issue through the give-and-take nature of a group discussion. Focus groups usually work best as a follow-up to brainstorming, when the general idea for a business has been formulated, such as casual electronic games for adults, but further refinement of the idea is needed. Usually, focus groups are conducted by trained moderators. The moderator’s primary goals are to keep the group “focused” and to generate lively discussion. Much of the effectiveness of a focus group session depends on the moderator’s ability to ask questions and keep the discussion on track. For example, a retail establishment in which coffee is sold, such as Starbucks, might conduct a focus group consisting of 7 to 10 frequent customers and ask the group, “What is it that you don’t like about our coffee shop?” A customer may say, “You sell 1-pound bags of your specialty ground coffees for people to brew at home. That’s okay, but I often run out of the coffee in just a few days. Sometimes it’s a week before I get back to the shop to buy another bag. If you sold 3-pound or 5-pound bags, I’d actually use more coffee because I wouldn’t run out so often. I guess I could buy two or three 1-pound bags at the same time, but that gets a little pricey. I’d buy a 3- or 5-pound bag, however, if you’d discount your price a little for larger quantities.” The moderator may then ask the group, “How many people here would buy 3-pound or 5-pound bags of our coffee if they were available?” If five hands shoot up, the coffee shop may have just uncovered an idea for a new product line.

    Some companies utilize hybrid focus group methodologies to achieve specific insights and goals. An example is “college drop-ins.” This approach involves paying college students to host a party at their campus and providing them a budget to buy food and snacks. During the party, the hosts interview and videotape other students about specific market issues. Everything is up-front—the partygoers are told that the information is being collected for a market research firm (on behalf of a client).

    History of Focus Groups

    Focus groups have a long history and were used during the Second World War (1939-1945) to examine the effectiveness of propaganda. Associate director sociologist Robert K. Merton set up focus groups at the Bureau of Applied Social Research in the USA prior to 1976. Psychologist and marketing expert Ernest Dichter coined the term “focus group” itself before his death in 1991.

  • The Creative Process

    The Creative Process

    Creativity is a phenomenon whereby something new and somehow valuable is formed. The created item may be intangible (such as an idea, a scientific theory, a musical composition, or a joke) or a physical object (such as an invention, a literary work, or a painting).

    Scholarly interest in creativity involves many definitions and concepts pertaining to a number of disciplines: engineering, psychology, cognitive science, education, philosophy (particularly philosophy of science), technology, theology, sociology, linguistics, business studies, songwriting, and economics, covering the relations between creativity and general intelligence, mental and neurological processes, personality type and creative ability, creativity and mental health; the potential for fostering creativity through education and training, especially as augmented by technology; the maximization of creativity for national economic benefit, and the application of creative resources to improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning.

    The Creative process can be broken into stages:

    Preparation

    This is the first phase, which most people call “work.” A writer, for example, prepares by writing, by reading, or by revising earlier work. A musician plays scales, chords, or songs; a painter messes with paints or visits an art gallery; an entrepreneur researches problems to solve; a programmer plays with code. In each example, the creative is going through relatively mundane processes.

    The reason I say most people call this phase “work” is that these processes may or may not be inherently enjoyable. They’re also fairly mundane and tedious, but the creative has learned that this process is necessary to plant the seeds that lead to…Preparation is the background, experience, and knowledge that an entrepreneur brings to the opportunity recognition process. Just as an athlete must practice to excel, an entrepreneur needs the experience to spot opportunities. Over time, the results of research suggest that as much as 50 to 90 percent of start-up ideas emerge from a person’s prior work experience.

    Incubation

    Incubation is the stage during which a person considers an idea or thinks about a problem; it is the “mulling things over” phase. Sometimes incubation is a conscious activity, and sometimes it is unconscious and occurs while a person is engaged in another activity. One writer characterized this phenomenon by saying that “ideas churn around below the threshold of consciousness.”

    This would be the mystical process if there were one, because you often don’t know that you’re incubating an idea, or if you do know you’re working on one, you don’t know when it’s going to come out. It’s during this phase that your conscious and subconscious minds are working on the idea, making new connections, separating out unnecessary ideas, and grabbing for other ideas.

    This is the phase that most people mess up the most with distractions and the hustle and bustle of daily lives. Modern life, with its many beeps, buzzes, and distractions, has the strong tendency to grab the attention of both our subconscious and our unconscious mind, and as result, the creative process stops and is instead replaced by more immediate concerns.

    Insight

    Insight is the flash of recognition when the solution to a problem is seen or an idea is born. It is sometimes called the “eureka” experience. In a business context, this is the moment an entrepreneur recognizes an opportunity. Sometimes this experience pushes the process forward, and sometimes it prompts an individual to return to the preparation stage. For example, an entrepreneur may recognize the potential for an opportunity but may feel that more knowledge and thought is required before pursuing it.

    Evaluation

    Evaluation is the stage of the creative process during which an idea is subjected to scrutiny and analyzed for its viability. Many entrepreneurs mistakenly skip this step and try to implement an idea before they’ve made sure it is viable. Evaluation is a particularly challenging stage of the creative process because it requires an entrepreneur to take a candid look at the viability of an idea.

    Elaboration

    Elaboration is the stage during which the creative idea is put into a final form: The details are worked out and the idea is transformed into something of value, such as a new product, service, or business concept. In the case of a new business, this is the point at which a business plan is written.

    Illumination

    This is the “Eureka” moment that many of us spend our days questing after. When it hits, the creative urge is so incredibly strong that we lose track of what else is happening. The driving impulse is to get whatever is going on in our heads down into whatever medium it’s intended for.

    The most frustrating thing for me is that the “illumination” moments happen at the most inopportune times. They invariably happen when I’m in the shower when I’m driving by myself, when I’m working out, or when I’m sitting in mind-numbing meetings that I can’t get out of. Of course, the bad part is as I said above: the impulse is to get the idea out as soon as possible, so it’s not at all uncommon for me to stop showering, driving, or working out and run to the nearest notepad – and, in meetings, I start purging immediately anyway. I’ve yet to gain enough clout to excuse myself from the meetings, but I’m working on it.

    I was speaking to a friend a few weeks ago, and I told her I was frustrated because I was pregnant with ideas and didn’t have time to get them out. Keeping with the analogy, when a Eureka! moment hits, it’s much like labor – you’re done with incubating, and it’s time for…

    Implementation

    This phase is the one in which the idea you’ve been preparing and incubating sees the light of day. It’s when that written piece comes out, when that song flows when that canvas reveals its painting, and so on. It’s also when a good creative starts to evaluate the idea and determine whether it’s good or not – but only after they have enough to see where it’s going.

    Most of the creative I know or work with get really frustrated with others during this phase. Other people only see the creation at the end, and they don’t recognize or care much about the process that generated that idea. This is especially true with some supervisors and bosses who expect the end product on a certain schedule, even though the creative process does not work that way. Creative know that for every good idea, there are at least a few that don’t work out, but they can’t know ahead of time what’s going to work out and what won’t.

    The creative process begins with work and ends with work. The takeaway point here is that creativity is not just percolating and Eureka: it’s percolating and Eureka sandwiched between work phases.

  • Successful Characteristics of Entrepreneur

    Successful Characteristics of Entrepreneur

    Have you ever thought about striking out on your own? After all, being your own boss can be an exciting prospect. However, owning a business isn’t for everyone. To be a successful entrepreneur, you must have or develop certain personality traits. Here are nine characteristics you should ideally possess to start and run your own business:

    I. Motivation: Entrepreneurs are enthusiastic, optimistic and future-oriented. They believe they’ll be successful and are willing to risk their resources in pursuit of profit. They have high energy levels and are sometimes impatient. They are always thinking about their business and how to increase their market share. Are you self-motivated enough to do this, and can you stay motivated for extended periods of time? Can you bounce back in the face of challenges?

    Meaning of Motivation is a theoretical construct used to explain behavior. It gives the reason for people’s actions, desires, and needs. Motivation can also be defined as one’s direction to behavior, or what causes a person to want to repeat a behavior and vice versa. A motive is what prompts the person to act in a certain way, or at least develop an inclination for specific behavior. According to Maehr and Meyer, “Motivation is a word that is part of the popular culture as few other psychological concepts are.”

    II. Creativity and Persuasiveness: Successful entrepreneurs have the creative capacity to recognize and pursue opportunities. They possess strong selling skills and are both persuasive and persistent. Are you willing to promote your business tirelessly and look for new ways to get the word out about your product or service? Meaning of Creativity is a phenomenon whereby something new and somehow valuable is formed. The created item may be intangible (such as an idea, a scientific theory, a musical composition, or a joke) or a physical object (such as an invention, a literary work, or a painting).

    III. Versatility: Company workers can usually rely on a staff or colleagues to provide service or support. As an entrepreneur, you’ll typically start out as a “Solo-entrepreneur,” meaning you will be on your own for a while. You may not have the luxury of hiring a support staff initially. Therefore, you will end up wearing several different hats, including secretary, bookkeeper and so on. You need to be mentally prepared to take on all these tasks at the beginning. Can you do that? Meaning of Versatility; ability to adapt or be adapted to many different functions or activities.

    IV. Superb Business Skills: Entrepreneurs are naturally capable of setting up the internal systems, procedures and processes necessary to operate a business. They are focused on cash flow, sales and revenue at all times. Successful entrepreneurs rely on their business skills, know-how and contacts. Evaluate your current talents and professional network. Will your skills, contacts and experience readily transfer to the business idea you want to pursue?

    V. Risk Tolerance: Launching any entrepreneurial venture is risky. Are you willing to assume that risk? You can reduce your risk by thoroughly researching your business concept, industry and market. You can also test your concept on a small scale. Can you get a letter of intent from prospective customers to purchase? If so, do you think customers would actually go through with their transaction?

    VI. Drive: As an entrepreneur, you are in the driver’s seat, so you must be proactive in your approaches to everything. Are you a doer — someone willing to take the reins — or would you rather someone else do things for you? Meaning of Drive; operate and control the direction and speed of a motor vehicle. Propel or carry along by force in a specified direction.

    VII. Vision: One of your responsibilities as founder and head of your company is deciding where your business should go. That requires vision. Without it, your boat will be lost at sea. Are you the type of person who looks ahead and can see the big picture? Meaning of Vision; the faculty or state of being able to see. The ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom. An experience of seeing someone or something in a dream or trance, or as a supernatural apparition.

    VIII. Flexibility and Open-Mindedness: While entrepreneurs need a steadfast vision and direction, they will face a lot of unknowns. You will need to be ready to tweak any initial plans and strategies. New and better ways of doing things may come along as well. Can you be open-minded and flexible in the face of change? Definition of Flexibility; The quality of bending easily without breaking.

    IX. Decisiveness: As an entrepreneur, you won’t have room for procrastination or indecision. Not only will these traits stall progress, but they can also cause you to miss crucial opportunities that could move you toward success. Can you make decisions quickly and seize the moment? Definition of Decisiveness; The ability to make decisions quickly and effectively. the conclusive nature of an issue that has been settled or a result that has been produced.

  • Personal Characteristics of the Entrepreneur

    Personal Characteristics of the Entrepreneur

    An entrepreneur is typically in control of a commercial undertaking, directing the factors of production – the human, financial and material resources that are required to exploit a business opportunity. They act as the manager and oversee the launch and growth of an enterprise. Entrepreneurship is the process by which an individual (or team) identifies a business opportunity and acquires and deploys the necessary resources required for its exploitation. The exploitation of entrepreneurial opportunities may include actions such as developing a business plan, hiring the human resources, acquiring financial and material resources, providing leadership, and being responsible for the venture’s success or failure.

    How did Michael Dell come up with the idea of a “build it yourself” computer company? How did Dave Roberts, the founder of Pop Cap Games, figure out that there is a large and growing market for “casual” electronic games?

    Researchers have identified several characteristics that tend to make some people better at recognizing opportunities than others. Before we talk about them, there is an important yet subtle difference between two key terms pertaining to this topic. We’ve already defined an opportunity as a favorable set of circumstances that create the need for a new product, service, or business. But, the term opportunity recognition refers to the process of perceiving the possibility of a profitable new business or a new product or service. That is, an opportunity cannot be pursued until it’s recognized. Now let’s look at some Personal or specific characteristics shared by those who excel at recognizing an opportunity.

    Prior Experience

    Several studies show that prior experience in an industry helps entrepreneurs recognize business opportunities. For example, evidence over time about the founders of firms appearing on the Inc. 500 list shows that well over 40 percent of those studied got the idea for their new businesses while working as employees for companies in the same industries. This finding is consistent with the findings of research studies the National Federation of Independent Businesses’ group has completed over time. There are several explanations for these findings. By working in an industry, an individual may spot a market niche that is under-served. It is also possible that while working in a particular area, an individual builds a network of social contacts in that industry that may provide insights that lead to opportunities.

    Once an entrepreneur starts a firm, new venture opportunities become apparent. This is called the corridor principle, which states that once an entrepreneur starts a firm, he or she begins a journey down a path where “corridors” leading to new venture opportunities become apparent. The insight provided by this principle is simply that once someone starts a firm and becomes immersed in an industry, it’s much easier for that person to see new opportunities in the industry than it is for someone looking in from the outside.

    Cognitive Factors

    Opportunity recognition may be an innate skill or a cognitive process. There are some who think that entrepreneurs have a “sixth sense” that allows them to see opportunities that others miss. This sixth sense is called entrepreneurial alertness, which is formally defined as the ability to notice things without engaging in the deliberate search. Most entrepreneurs see themselves in this light, believing they are more “alert” than others. Alertness is largely a learned skill, and people who have more knowledge of an area tend to be more alert to opportunities in that area than others? A computer engineer, for example, would be more alert to needs and opportunities within the computer industry than a lawyer would be.

    The research findings on entrepreneurial alertness are mixed. Some researchers conclude that alertness goes beyond noticing things and involves a more purposeful effort. For example, one scholar believes that the crucial difference between opportunity finders (i.e., Entrepreneurs) and non-finders is their relative assessments of the marketplace. In other words, entrepreneurs may be better than others at sizing up the marketplace and inferring the likely implications.

    Social Networks

    The extent and depth of an individual’s social network affects opportunity recognition. People who build a substantial network of social and professional contacts will be exposed to more opportunities and ideas than people with sparse networks. This exposure can lead to new business

    starts. Research results over time consistently suggest that somewhere between 40 percent and 50 percent of those who start businesses got their ideas through social contacts. In a related study, the differences between solo entrepreneurs (those who identified their business ideas on their own) and network entrepreneurs (those who identified their ideas through social contacts) were examined. The researchers found that network entrepreneurs identified significantly more opportunities than solo entrepreneurs but were less likely to describe themselves as being particularly alert or creative.

    An important concept that sheds light on the importance of social networks to opportunity recognition is the differential impact of strong-tie versus weak-tie relationships. Relationships with other people are called “ties.” We all have ties. Strong-tie relationships are characterized by frequent interaction and ties between coworkers, friends, and spouses. Weak-tie relationships are characterized by infrequent interaction and ties between casual acquaintances. According to research in this area, it is more likely that an entrepreneur will get a new business idea through a weak-tie than a strong-tie relationship because strong-tie relationships, which typically form between like-minded individuals, tend to reinforce insights and ideas the individuals already have. Weak-tie relationships, on the other hand, which form between casual acquaintances, are not as apt to be between like-minded individuals, so one person may say something to another that sparks a completely new idea. An example might be an electrician explaining to a restaurant owner how he solved a business problem. After hearing the solution, the restaurant owner might say, “I would never have heard that solution from someone in my company or industry. That insight is completely new to me and just might help me solve my problem.”

    Creativity

    Creativity is a phenomenon whereby something new and somehow valuable is formed. The created item may be intangible (such as an idea, a scientific theory, a musical composition, or a joke) or a physical object (such as an invention, a literary work, or a painting).

    Scholarly interest in creativity involves many definitions and concepts pertaining to a number of disciplines: engineering, psychology, cognitive science, education, philosophy (particularly philosophy of science), technology, theology, sociology, linguistics, business studies, songwriting, and economics, covering the relations between creativity and general intelligence, mental and neurological processes, personality type and creative ability, creativity and mental health; the potential for fostering creativity through education and training, especially as augmented by technology; the maximization of creativity for national economic benefit, and the application of creative resources to improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning.

    Creativity is the process of generating a novel or useful idea. Opportunity recognition may be, at least in part, a creative process. On an anecdotal basis, it is easy to see the creativity involved in forming many products, services, and businesses. Increasingly, teams of entrepreneurs working within a company are sources of creativity for their firm.