Photo by: Christian Ferrari

Be sure to have a recent copy of your credit report from all three of the major bureaus, Experian, Equifax and Trans Union so that you can keep track of your credit and check it over carefully to be sure that everything is accurate. If something is incorrect, especially if it is not in your favor then file a dispute; the credit bureau will contact the creditor and they have 30 days to respond with proof or it will be removed from your report. Many times it takes the creditors much longer to respond which works in your favor in case it actually is accurate but they do not respond in time then the negative mark gets removed anyway.

Keep in mind that approximately 30% of a credit score is based on credit balances. So, try to keep the existing balances below 45% of the limit that is available on the card. This also means that you should not max out even one card and then pay it with another since all of your cards and balances will be looked at and this is one thing that many lenders are on the lookout for.

Some companies do not report your available high credit and this can be harmful, as the lenders have no way of knowing your credit limit. Ask the company to add it to the report or consider no longer doing business with the company. Since around 35% of the score is your current payment history you need to make sure that no matter what you do be sure to make the payment always within the 30 days because over 30 reflects a delinquent payment.

Approximately 15% of the score is made up of your past credit history; if you have any older accounts that were paid on time, closed or open, do not have them removed from your report. It shows the lenders you are capable of making payments on time. And, longer credit histories also raise your score so that is another good reason to keep them on your report.

Try to maintain a good sound “mix” of credit being reported. For example, perhaps 3 to 5 credit cards, possibly an installment (for a car) and perhaps a mortgage loan rating. It shows the lenders that you are living within your means and do not seem to be over-doing it with credit.

But just like all businesses, creating an online business requires you to put in quite a bit of effort and planning. Naturally in order to be successful you need to figure out what you are going to sell, obviously it will be some kind of service or product, but what kind of business model are you going to utilize in order to get customers to purchase what you are selling? To follow are some different online business models that will get you up and making online money in no time.

The first one is one that many online businesses make use of and that is the ecommerce site which is designed to make money by selling different products by use of a catalogue and shopping cart online. You have the option of setting up your own “store” from start to finish or you can use one of those complete stores that are offered as an online business from sites such as osCommerce or eBay’s ProStores.

Another business online money maker is the eBay auction style model which is a little variation of the first example; however, rather than using the ecommerce online business site to make your money you will utilize someone else’s. This means that you sell online by using the auction system at eBay which is very useful for those just starting out with online businesses as it is a way of just testing your product to see what type of demand there is for what you want to sell. If you feel that things are going well you can always move up to creating your own online business.

Utilizing a blog is another way of creating an online business; while many people just use them to write down different thoughts they can be cheaply and easily used to advertise your various businesses. In order to promote your blog you should run advertisements on different blog pages such as Google’s AdSense, AdGenta, Text Link Ads and BlogAds.

Naturally you do not have to have just one business model you can incorporate several models to suit your particular needs. And, you can also choose to have many different online business sites using different models but all selling the same service or product each one sending traffic to the other site.

Sometimes when you have to book travel arrangements for business at the last minute it can be a little expensive; fortunately there are some things that you can do in order to save a little money.

One of the first things that many people do is to check out websites online; you can enter keywords such as travel, budget, business, etc. Many of these sites offer last minute deals on traveling as there are times when people have no option but to cancel their plans on short notice. In order for companies such as hotels and airlines not to lose money they will offer plans at a considerable discount for last minute travelers. Keep in mind that many people are searching for the same things so you may need to act quickly when you see a good deal.

If you have to go on a business trip consider purchasing everything as a “bundle”; in other words look for deals that offer air fare, hotels and possibly rental cars for one low combined price. You can save yourself some time by checking online for travel deals and comparing several offers at one time.

It can also save you some money if you are willing to fly stand by for your next business trip or if you are willing to take a less elaborate or even a budget room at the hotel; they would rather give you a deal than risk losing a booking altogether. If your trip happens to be to a popular location but it is considered off season there you will also very likely be able to save quite a bit so be sure to include “off season” in a keyword search if it is applicable.

However, don’t just check out the bundle travel packages because there may be a hotel in the area that has lost a few bookings and is willing to make a good deal; the same thing holds true for airlines and rental car companies. If the trip is going to include several people you can also save money by everyone staying in the same hotel room or using the same rental car.

So, the next time you have to make plans at the last minute for business, don’t panic, get online and enter a few keywords or head over to some popular travel site and save some money.

Basically, you need to understand the trends, regulatory realities, what type of mobility will you have when it comes to moving around and growing within the company and what types of issues does your new company or industry face. Most of these you can find the answers to during your interview process; however, be aware of the fact that many prospective employers may not be entirely forthcoming about any professional downsides or the amount of red tape you may end up having to circumvent.

That being said, you can check out insider blogs on websites and trade publications as additional tools to use in order to find this information. You can also try to locate analyst reports; for instance, if you are going into the automotive industry, reading about the macro trends of the industry will likely give you a good view of the possible challenges you may face.

You also need to know the businesses history, to understand what it has already gone through as it will also give you some idea as to where it is headed. If you start a job at a well known and established company you need to know where it was 50 years ago and what types of turns that it took 5 or 8 years ago as a way of understanding why and where it is going now. On the other hand, if you begin work with a start-up company understanding where they got the original thought it came from will help you to gain more perspective on what kind of market they are trying to fit in or carve out.

One of the first things you should do when starting a new job is to get to know the people that work there; their personal dynamics and egos. Because if you take a company, any company, and switch out the people the entire culture within the company will change, as well as its performance. Understanding the politics within the business is important since people really are inherently selfish and will of course be looking after their own needs first.

The climate and culture of a company makes up its politics and will be the reason that some companies will feel like a better place to work than some others.

However, there are some basic money saving tips that your ancestors used that helped them save for a comfortable retirement and ensure that their money went a long way.

First you need to do a reality check, before you make any large purchase make sure it is your head and not your emotions that is making the decision. People do tend to make this kind of purchase based on wants instead of basing it on needs, so be sure to analyze your situation before making a large purchase.

Secondly, you always want to shop around and compare before you buy. The Internet has made this process much easier and with only a minimal amount of effort you can compare multiple products or services from different sources which may save you from a costly mistake or even an unwanted nasty surprise.

It is not too late to start saving money and there are some small things that you can do that really will add up. For example, try not to spend the entire paycheck, start by saving just a small amount from each one. Around 15% is recommended but don’t panic if you can not do that every time as the most important aspect is to save something consistently.

Also, reduce those ATM fees, either by estimating what you will need in cash for the week and making one withdrawal rather than several during the week; or often times you can just use your ATM card as a debit card when making a purchase without any fees at all so check with your bank on its policy.

Finally, keep a very close eye on your money; keep track of where you are spending it and how much you are spending. People that keep track of their spending tend to have a better idea of how much has already been spent which helps to keep you from going over budget.

A perfect elevator pitch is simply being prepared for your “big break.” It should be understood, rehearsed, and ready to fly as soon as some key contact asks you to sell yourself or idea. Whether you are interviewing, searching for investors, or simply answering the question of “what do you do?” it is worth the time and energy to have the concept of your elevator pitch refined.

Answers to these questions should be contained within your pitch:

What do you sell?
Briefly, simply describe what you sell.

To whom?
Briefly describe your market. What industry? How large?

What is your revenue model?
How do you expect to make money?

Who is behind the company?
Tell them a little about you and your team’s and/or your advisory board’s background and accomplishments.

Who is your competition?
Briefly discuss competitors and what they have accomplished. Successful competition is proof your business model and/or concept will work.

What is your unique selling proposition?
Communicate how your company is different and why you have an advantage over the competition.

Ready? Set. Go:

A “hook”
Open your pitch with an attention-getting “hook.” A statement or question that piques their interest and begs for more.

About 150-225 words
Your pitch should go no longer than 60 seconds.

Passion
Investors and employers expect fire and commitment.

A request
At the end of your pitch, ask for something: Their business card; a referral; or to schedule an interview?

Write your elevator pitch. Then practice saying it to the mirror over and over and over. Make sure it flows well. Video it and play it back. Say it to family and friends. When you are ready for your close-up, you will shine.

The BBB offers the following advice to consumers if they receive a suspicious telephone call about an outstanding debt:

• Ask the debt collector to provide official documentation which substantiates the debt.

• Do not provide or confirm any bank account, credit card or other personal information over the phone until you have confirmed the legitimacy of the call.

• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission online if the caller is abusive, uses threats or otherwise violates federal telemarketing laws.

• File a complaint with BBB online if you believe a debt collector is trying to scam you.

According to complaints online, phone numbers that the scammers are calling from include: 949-468-5107, 415-200-0274, 415-200-0274, 213-784-5745, 408-715-1614 and many others.

For more information or to schedule an interview with a BBB spokesperson, call 703-247-9376 or visit www.bbb.org for more information about BBB.

(1) The right frame — you should make sure you are solving the right problem in the first place.

(2) Clarity about what you want. For example, are you trying to maximize shareholder value or just trying to stay alive and minimize damage?

(3) Creative alternatives.

(4) Gathering the right information, including information about uncertainty, which is essential if you want to choose the best alternative.

(5) Reasoning, which includes what you know and what you don’t.

(6) A commitment to make it happen, since a decision is no stronger than its weakest link.

Spetzler says that managers make three basic types of decisions:

Strategic decisions. Managers have weeks or months to make these decisions, which have life-shaping effects on a corporate or personal level. Strategic decisions are very important, involve significant uncertainty and complexity, and are hard to think through.

Typical decisions. These decisions often come from team meetings that last a few hours. They can have a big impact, but they are frequently tactical in nature and arrived at through a collaborative process.

In-the-moment decisions. For decisions made on the fly, managers use a different part of the brain that emphasizes rapid pattern recognition. Beginning with limited or incomplete information, they habitually look for similarities to experiences they’ve had in the past.

In this moneywatch <a href=”http://moneywatch.bnet.com/career-advice/video/online-makeovers-for-baby-boomers/285328/?tag=col1;drawer”>video</a>, these networking tips are explained by consultant Brian Johnson:

Do:

1. Sync-up. It’s all about who you know. Set-up work and personal address books to sync automatically.

2. Sign up. Create accounts in the popular networking sites: Linked In; Plaxo; Friendfeed; and Facebook.

3. Speak up. Highlight your skills that you “can do” that would help benefit a business.

Don’t:

1. Soap up. Networking sites shouldn’t be a soap box for controversial political or religious views.

2. Update your status daily, but avoid the frivolous “brushed my teeth” entries.

3. Check your profile frequently. Google yourself to understand how easily you are located and how your online identity comes across.

4. Write an unsolicited recommendation once a week. It should generate recommendations for you, in kind.