A Million Lives

A million lifestyle hacks...unlimited possibilities

  • Home
  • About
    • Write For Us
  • Travel
  • Business
  • Money
  • Auto
  • Fashion
  • Tech
  • Health & Fitnness
  • Education
  • Diy / Home Improvement

November 28, 2017 by Greg Underwood

Chase Rubin LinkedIn Looks at the Similarities and Differences Between the Mafia and Large Corporations

Source

It is, for some, hard to imagine that there are similarities between the Mafia and corporate America. After all, one is illegal and the other is not. However, there are actually some very close similarities between the two, and, according to Chase Rubin LinkedIn, the concept of someone like Al Capone running Apple, or someone like Bill Gates heading the Bonnono crime family, is not that hard to imagine.

Chase Ruben LinkedIn on Corporations and the Mafia

When we think Mafia, we think RICO, FBI probe, victims, scamming, fraud, and more. Those are not things that corporations stand for. However, there are some very clear similarities between the two as well, and they cannot be ignored. For instance, both the Mafia and corporations have very strong values, and very strong rules. And both operate on one core value: increasing profits. 70,000 customers or victims is better than none. Of course, the Mafia uses fear, intimidation, and violence to achieve what they want. But in a sense, corporations do that as well. Smaller companies are always afraid of being swallowed up by the larger ones. According to Chase Ruben LinkedIn, the main similarities between the two are:

  1. Loyalty and honesty, which is what both demand from all their members or employees. But they command it in different ways.
  2. Policies and procedures, which is what corporate America calls what the Mafia would call “rules”. The key difference is that policies and procedures are written.
  3. Strategies come from the top. As much as corporations say they take a “bottom up” approach, the reality is that this is only possible if the top agrees to it. At the end of the day, what the CEO says, goes. And that is the same with the Mafia.
  4. Association and power politics. Both the Mafia and corporations know that networking and relationships are hugely important. Those with the best connections get the furthest, in both settings.
  5. Titles, which the Mafia would refer to as “ranks”. A manager is less powerful than a senior manager in corporations, which is the same in Mafia. Someone’s title or rank makes it clear how much authority someone has.

11 Key Similarities in Values

There are 11 other key things that corporate America and the Mafia share. Those are:

  1. That they forgive but never forget.
  2. That trust must be earned.
  3. That only the powerful will eventually survive.
  4. That there are games to be played, many of which are quite deceptive.
  5. That the goal is on achieving objectives.
  6. That delegation is vital to achieve objectives.
  7. That you must give more than what you take in order for things to remain operational.
  8. To remember those who have been helpful.
  9. To show forgiveness, by keeping your friends close but your enemies even closer.
  10. To choose your battles right.
  11. To be blunt and say what matters when it matters.

November 26, 2017 by Greg Underwood

Application of Business License & Employer Identification Number

Setting up a new business, even a small business on your own is no small matter. There are so many things to look into and to get ready before you can start your business. Things like the types of products you want to sell, whether you are selling online or whether you will need a shop for your business. If you want a shop business, then you will have to look for a good location for your business. Finding a shop to rent may not be easy in a good location and very likely, the rent will be very high in a good business area. The list is endless and it can be very stressful at the preparation stage.

There are some legal matters that you will need to take care of before you can set up your business. You will have to apply for a business license and a Taxpayer Identification Number, also known as Employer Identification Number (EIN). These are two most important things that you will have to take care of.

A business license is a permit issued by government agencies which allows an individual or a company to run a business. A business license is used for registering for business tax collection, for generating revenues, and etc. Depending on the city your business is located, filing for a business license might require the Social Security Number of the owner or owners, directors and officers of the business entity. The same applies for foreign corporations or Limited Liability Company for the government to track the individuals responsible for the business. In some cities, application for the business license will require the applicant to provide the Tax Identification number or the EIN.

A tax identification number or Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a 9 digit number issued by the Internal Revenue Service. If you intend to have employees working for you, you will need to apply for an EIN. As a business owner, you can easily apply online for tax id number on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website.

A tax identification number or the employer identification number will be not required for the application of a proprietorship or a partnership business. You will only need to provide your personal social security number. But, if later in the future, you may decide to take in employees, then you will need to apply for an EIN. The EIN is a one-time permanent number and does not expire. It is used for tax administration purposes.

November 17, 2017 by Greg Underwood

Process Of Obtaining An EIN?

When you’re trying to start a new business, you know that there is a lot of paperwork that has to be done first. Business licenses, seller’s permits, and other documentation is needed to ensure that your new company is up and running the right way. However, the most crucial paperwork you need to submit is the EIN application. Since this is essential to your business, let’s find out how you can get it ASAP.

What is an EIN?

This stands for Employer ID Number, and it’s a form ofTtax ID provided by the IRS. Just like a social security number is used for your personal taxes, an EIN is used for businesses. This number is necessary if you plan on doing any one of the following:

  • Hire Employees
  • Open a Business Bank Account
  • Form a Corporation
  • Form a Partnership

In many cases, an EIN is also ideal for LLCs, but not always necessary. Also, if you are filing for a sole proprietorship, you can use your SSN in place of an EIN.

How to Get an EIN

Fortunately, the process for obtaining this Tax ID number is super easy. You can either go to the IRS directly, or you can rely on a third-party website.

There is a form that you have to fill out, which you can submit either online or via fax. We highly recommend the former option since it will enable you to get approved within a day or so. In many cases, an EIN can be granted in just a few hours.

Overall, getting an employer ID number should be one of the first steps in starting your new business. Thankfully, the process is straightforward and painless, so you should be able to get it and be up and running in no time.

November 13, 2017 by Greg Underwood

5 Best Flowers and Gifts Combo for the Festive Seasons

Flowers are the oldest gifts for sure. People have used flowers since a long time to show respect, love, and admiration to others. Till today, the special place of flowers have not been snatched by anything else. So, you can combine flowers with other modern gifts to impress your loved ones during festive moments. Here are 5 thrilling flowers and gifts combo for you to consider.

Carnations and Crockery:

Carnations look lovely and they are regarded as the flowers for moms. So on your mom’s birthday, present a beautiful bouquet of red, yellow, and orange carnations. Match these flowers with a crockery set and make her happy. Opting for an online flower shop, you can arrange for a flower delivery tomorrow and get instant delivery of your ordered gifts.

Rose and Painting:

Rose is that flower that symbolizes love, beauty, and passion. For a precious person in your life, show your love and respect by giving them a thrilling bouquet of mixed colored roses and a painting by a world famous painter. As a house-warming gift, birthday gift, or for the upcoming Mother’s Day (along with a Mother’s Day card), this combination would work wonders.

Lilies and Personalized Cushions:

The big petals of lily flower symbolizes devotion and peace. As a Christmas gift, you can take a bouquet of lilies for your loved ones. Match the beauty of lilies with an alluring personalized cushion and make your loved ones happy. Select a favorite picture of the gift receiver and get that imprinted over a cushion to create a magical moment. For Diwali or birthday, you can carry this mesmerizing combo and surprise your people.

Tulips and Perfumes:

Tulip is one of the most famous flowers of the world and in terms of beauty and popularity, it comes second to rose. This flower symbolizes perfect and true love. So, presenting this beautiful flower to your lover, fiancée, or spouse on occasions like anniversary or the upcoming Valentine’s Day would be suggested. A graceful vase arrangement of tulips along with a basket full of some world famous perfumes would make the best gift.

Orchids and Sweets:

Keep this wonderful flower and gift combo for the occasion of New Year. New Year is that time when people want to forget all the past aches and welcome another year with hope and positivity. Orchid is a flower that resembles beauty, royalty, love, luxury, and strength. A charming flower arrangement of orchid flowers along with a platter of mesmerizing sweets like Kaju Katli, Cassata Rolls, and Pista Barfi would be thoroughly enjoyed by your loved ones. In any online flower shop, you can check out the orchids flower bouquets and arrangements and place an order to enjoy the festive season.

November 9, 2017 by Greg Underwood

Should I Set Up a Trust for My Business?

When you put your business assets into a trust, you protect them from legal proceeding, which is highly beneficial if your own a family-run company. This option is a smart one, but it doesn’t come without its own obstacle. To answer the question once and for all, we take a look into the advantages and disadvantages of obtaining a business trust, looking into the legal jargon that often overcomplicates things.

What Makes a Trust?

Different to a limited company set up, a business trust isn’t a separate legal entity in itself. When broken down, it is a business structure where the trustee – often a registered company – conducts business for the benefit of the trust’s members. The trustee responsibility is then to distribute the trust’s income out to its beneficiaries, whilst safeguarding its overall financial health. This can sometimes incorporate larger business decisions such as the sale of assets or money lending. A trust will also come with an appointee, who has the power (as laid out in the trust deed) to remove the trustee and appoint someone else in their place.

What Trust Type Will You Need?

For businesses, a company typically acts as the trustee, with each beneficiary being designated a certain number of ‘units’ in the trust. It is these units that outline how much income that member will actually receive. In addition to this, discretionary trusts can also be created for businesses. More often than not, this will be family trust, where the trustee has full power over the funds that are dished out to the beneficiaries. You can also look to embark upon a hybrid trust that combines units and discretionary trusts depending on your set up and preference.

What Is the Downside?

In contrast to a partnership or sole trader set up, a trust can often be expensive to put in place with required fees from trust solicitors on an ongoing basis. The initial installation fee can typically be reduced if a pro-forma trust deed is used but this can be complicated so it is best to seek professional insight from trust solicitors in Manchester. If you opt to be more private than what you’d see of a company, the legal and compliance trust requirements become a lot more difficult and stricter. Something worth noting is that a trust comes with a limited life span, which is commonly a total of 99 years.

Trusts can be highly beneficial for family run businesses as they offer tax advantages and flexibility in regards to how profits are distributed to beneficiaries. It simply depends on your situation but whenever making a decision that is of such importance, it is always best to seek legal advice to highlight if a trust is the correct path for your business. Whether you choose to go with a trust, partnership, company or sole-trader arrangement, it is vital that you understand your specific needs before signing on the dotted line to avoid an unneeded costs and headaches.

October 15, 2017 by Greg Underwood

How To Make a Positive First Impression in Your Business Meeting

How are first impressions formed?

You only get one chance at a first impression and, according to recent studies, 55% of a first impression is formed by the way you dress, act and walk through the door. That’s over half of the impression you’re trying to make being given, without you even saying anything! Another 38% is simply from the quality of your voice; the grammar and confidence you have, leaving a mere 7% of your first impression to the words you say themselves. Wow.

So how do we achieve that perfect first impression?

Make eye contact.

In my experience, someone who doesn’t make eye contact with me when we’re talking, makes me feel a little uneasy. I find it slightly unsettling when I’m having a conversation with a person, and they’re looking at everything but me. I don’t know why, but it makes me feel suspicious and a touch paranoid. Now, imagine I’m someone who you’re having an important business meeting with…

If you’re simply a little shy and nervous about making eye contact with people, then, for the purpose of this meeting, you might have to embrace it head on. Likewise, too much eye contact can be equally as unnerving. We aren’t looking to acquire a restraining order from our first encounter.

Smile. Genuinely.

A smile; one of the simplest of movements our faces can do, one of the first we learn to do, and quite possibly one of the best expressions to display. But it must be genuine. Anything forced, or fake will be obvious, so smile genuinely, at the opportunity arising to you, as you greet a new person.

Give a firm handshake.

Now, we all know this one. This pearl of wisdom that is passed around through generations of families, strangers in the street, careers advisors. Just the right amount of pressure; too much and you’ll hurt the person, this isn’t a world’s strongest man contest. But not enough squeezing and your bordering on just simply allowing the other person to hold your hand; and you might not know each other that well yet!

If you could combine a firm, but not too firm hand shake, with a genuine smile, whilst making eye contact with that person then you are onto a winner.

Be presentable.

Dress for the part. Smart, appropriate clothing is always the best option. I would always rather be over dressed for an occasion, than under dressed. Hair should be neat and tidy, this includes facial hair. Err on the side of caution as you don’t know how strict or relaxed a company’s policies are.

Say their name.

You’d be surprised at how effective simply referring to someone by their name can be in creating a great first impression. It shows you’ve paid attention, you’ve retained some information and it can make that person feel special and important, to be individually identified.

Listen.

A fundamental skill. It shows respect, enthusiasm and empathy to listen to another person. Showing them signs that you’re actively listening is even better. Smiling, nodding and responding to what is being said shows you are present and engaged in the conversation.

First impressions can make or break your success in any situation. Undertaking some simple steps to ensure you create a positive and lasting first impression could be a lot simpler than you thought.

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8

Follow us

  • twitter
  • facebook

Recent Articles

  • 10 ways to experience Bali like a local?
  • What you need to know when choosing a web host
  • How Much Will I Receive After My Slip and Fall Lawsuit?
  • What You Need to Know About the DBPR Continuing Education Course
  • How to File a Foreign LLC in New Jersey

A Million Lives

Travelling in all its glory is fun and exhilarating but sometimes you might want to find some information on where to go, what to see and how to go about it from someone other than the go-to websites, especially when it comes to travel hacking and the coolest, most useful ways to get the most out of your next adventure.

Recent Posts

  • 10 ways to experience Bali like a local?
  • What you need to know when choosing a web host
  • How Much Will I Receive After My Slip and Fall Lawsuit?
  • What You Need to Know About the DBPR Continuing Education Course
  • How to File a Foreign LLC in New Jersey

Follow us

  • twitter
  • facebook

Pretty Chic Theme By: Pretty Darn Cute Design