International Business

Business travel expenses has to be estimated depending on the type of trip you are undertaking, for instance the duration of the trip will certainly impact the cost of the entire travel. International travel plans will also include special circumstances such as health vaccinations, etc. Before you start on your trip, it is important that you confirm each and every detail of the trip with your manager and in this way you can also research the travel destination before you take off for your trip. In order to get access to the basic information of the visiting place, you can contact your local travel agent or the visitor's bureau as well.

1) The foremost thing to do would be to conduct a thorough research on the place you are traveling to for business. You can get in touch with a local travel agency and can get information about the average cost which is associated with the transportation and sightseeing. The visitor's bureau will also help you with the necessary information and the international business expenses can also be estimated with the help of an online conversion calculator.

2) Make a spreadsheet with the expected expenses to be filled in the columns and you can approximately compute the expenses by the number of days you will be out of station.

3) In your spreadsheet, include space for both personal and professional expenses and in this way you can understand what expenses you can account for in the business travel expenditure. In this manner, you can clearly distinguish between your grooming needs such as a purchase of an international adapter for shaving or that of a new adapter for your business laptop. Also, create separate columns for tips and gratuity.

4) To understand your costs on fuel, you can make use of the Trip Calculator which will aid you in estimating your fuel expenses while driving in the United States. This tool is a very helpful one and can also be used for other international business travel destinations such as for European trips.

5) Before summing up all the expenses, you have to complete all kinds of currency exchange conversions and you can record the results into your spreadsheet. Before submitting the same for reimbursement, please make sure that you have reviewed the data once again and have included all the necessary business travel expenses which you can claim from your company.

There is a paradox to an international trade show. And it has
two parts.

THE FIRST?

It is unique because it is foreign. If it's your first show, it
should be a real adventure. If it's your umpteenth overseas
trip, you may view it as a drag, or look at it as an opportunity
to maintain and expand relationships.

THE SECOND?

It is the same as doing a show in the US.

Which is right? Both. How can that be? Because.....

The principles of trade shows are universal. There's a
practical understanding to the basics of trade shows - no
matter where in the world you exhibit. Of course, there are
the cultural nuances you must accept. Knowing where you
are going and how to be accepted once there are critical
business decisions.

In addition, there are universal standards in design,
promotion, presentation and follow-up for any trade show.
Your appearance and business practices must align to the
actualities of the host country, industry and the international
marketplace.

These are a sampling of questions you should ask as you
consider starting or expanding your exposition schedule-

ARE YOU GOING TO THE RIGHT SHOW?

A show is not just a show. Each exposition has its own
personality, and that changes from year to year depending
on locale, exhibitors, the health of your industry and how the
economy affects your clients. It is important to understand
there are three Types of Shows. In the US, we tend to
separate these show types - B2B Marketing, B2B Sales and
B2C Marketing/Sales. In many countries, the functions and
audiences overlap throughout the show, or on certain days.
Align your expectations for each type of show. Consider
each show a new show, not a repeat of the previous year.
Then ask - is your timing right for entry into that country via
that show for your products and services? How do you find
the right shows? One obvious way is to ask your clients
what shows they think are important.

ARE YOU GOING FOR THE RIGHT REASONS?

What are you looking for? There are myriad opportunities to
connect with leads, partners, clients, reps, dealers,
distributors and agents. The more you understand how
business works in that part of the world and within your
industry, the more you should network and target your
markets prior to leaving Virginia. Use the pre-show months
to get to know each other and build trust. We Americans
have a tendency to rush into relationships; our overseas
partners may take much more time.

ARE YOU INFLUENCING THE RIGHT PEOPLE?

There is great value in spending time and money for
pre-show research and promotion. Networking skills are
expanded via online research, discussion lists and asking
your business associates. Appreciating the pecking order -
social and business - and how decisions are really made
by your target markets can cut your sales time dramatically.

ARE YOU SENDING THE RIGHT MESSAGE?

We've all heard stories of the misguided, arrogant or
oblivious foreigner who rubs the hosts wrong. We tend to
assume everyone loves us and speaks English. Wrong.
Take time to understand the value of promotion in native
languages and current cultural vernacular. Use professional
translation services - carefully checked so you know what
everything says - for all signs, graphics, letters, promotional
materials, demonstrations. Hiring local multi-lingual talent
is always appreciated for initial and qualifying conversations
at the show.

ARE YOU SENDING THE RIGHT PEOPLE?

First impressions are critical and Your Staff = Your
Company, both on and off the floor. Take staff selection
seriously. This is the time to be smart, not stingy. Search
your options for the best company representatives. Write a
job description and ask for volunteers. Send the people
who are competent but also enthusiastic about spreading
the word about your company. Maybe you have experienced,
savvy in-house staff, or this is the time it makes sense to
hire experienced stand staff at the show locale.

ARE YOU FOLLOWING-UP PROPERLY?

This most critical part often is lost because there you have
no real plan beyond an initial contact or two. Sure, it's
expensive to pursue international business, but today's
technology makes it easier than ever to keep in touch. Ask
visitors how they want to be contacted - do they need a local
contact or is e-mail preferred? Consider outsourcing initial
post-show contact.

ARE YOU GETTING ROI FOR THE DOLLARS?

Your Return on Investment is not just dollars you can track
after the show. There are many ways to boost your bottom
line, sone direct, some subtle. For example, publicity is a
powerful driver for marketing and extending rememborability
after the show. PR and advertising must be planned and
tracked. Tips for getting the most bang for the bucks -

Match your expectations for returns with reality of the money
you are investing in a show.

Understand your sales cycle, delivery times, international
shipping options, customs, tariffs and always have a Plan B

Be truthful about your investment. Trade Show Training, inc.
says there are eight line items of a trade show budget and
seven are definite expenses for Every Show. The exception
is that if your exhibit is costly, you may be able to amortize it
over a couple of years. These are the major line items you
must decide before you can get a good handle on ROI.

1. The Rent on Your Space

2. All On-floor Expenses

3. Your Exhibit, Graphics and Accessorie

4. Freight and Drayage

5. The Cost of Your Time, Staff Time

6. The Costs of Travel and Entertainment

7. Promotions and Advertising Before the Show

8. Follow-Up and Sales Costs After the Show

Is it easy to do an international show? No, but it is easier
when you understand the parameters of the paradox.

Are you a DWG distributor and trying to sell DWG International products? Are you struggling with how to get your offer out to people who would be interested in what you have to offer? Have you tried promoting your products using YouTube? YouTube is one of the most popular websites online today and receives enormous amounts of traffic - but fortunately you can benefit from this. And the best part is, YouTube is a free method to market so for those of you on a shoestring budget at the moment, this is great news!

Create Your Own YouTube Video to Promote Your DWG International Business

If you have the skills and equipment then your first step in using YouTube to promote your DWG International Inc Business is to create your own video. If you don't have the skills or equipment then you could always ask someone else to do it for you - or even run a competition to see who can create the best video for you and reward them with a prize. Some of the best videos to create are informational, talking head videos, lifestyle videos and screen capture videos that contain valuable information.

Ensure That Your Website Address is Clearly Visible and Repeated Often

While people are watching your YouTube video you need to constantly reinforce your DWG International website address so that they will remember it once they finish watching and remember to visit your website. Some good videos I have seen on YouTube have the website address constantly visible at the bottom of the screen or behind the people and then repeat the website address verbally at the end of the video. This is what is called a lower third and is very easy to create with various programs.

Promote Your Video

As with most other internet marketing - you need to market your marketing as well - send people to your YouTube video from elsewhere. Have links to your YouTube videos on your website; share your videos on your social networking and social content sharing websites, like Facebook and Twitter. You can even use authority sites like Squidoo and HubPages to drive traffic to your YouTube Videos.

You can benefit from YouTube in promoting your DWG International network marketing business. Create your own videos - or get someone else to create them for you. Make sure that your website address is clearly visible and then promote your videos as much as possible.

When working on an international level, it's important to have a focused and balanced approach to every aspect of your business. From the way that a company negotiates with clients, to the products and services a business provides, everything has to be carefully managed in order to gain a foothold in international markets.

Modern technology has made this a lot easier for many companies. Orders for products can be received worldwide through websites, and communication has become more simple and manageable thanks to new technology like email, broadband phone services, and Internet fax. However, many businesses don't take advantage of this last item--many traditional fax machines are still in use today, despite the fact that faxing over the Internet is superior in nearly every conceivable way. Considering some of the differences between a traditional fax service and an Internet fax service can be well worth the time for any business that's competing in international markets.

For one, Internet fax services allow a single fax number to be used for all of a company's incoming orders. This can be difficult, costly, and even impossible for traditional fax lines, as hundreds of machines and separate lines would need to be installed to avoid dropped orders. Internet fax services receive all of their data through broadband connections, and never report a "failed call" to a fax machine that sends them an order, because no fax is ever dropped. Regardless of how many faxes are being received at any one time, an Internet fax service can handle all of them.

This can create the impression of a large, well run, established company, and image is everything in international markets. It's not just an image, either; Internet fax services make a company more organized, as every received fax can be automatically filed. Faxes received through Internet services arrive as common document types such as PDFs, and it's incredibly easy to search through all received faxes for certain keywords or order numbers. The more business a company handles through its fax service, the more they'll benefit from this better form of organization. Customers' past orders can be easily located, cutting down on the time that customer service centers spend to resolve each complaint or issue with an order. The ordering process becomes faster from the client's end, which results in more satisfied clients that are more likely to return.

Internet fax works through existing Internet technology, and as such, any worker who's trained to use email will learn how to use Internet fax services almost immediately. Training can be a major cost for international businesses, but Internet based fax services require almost no training that would otherwise be necessary. This is particularly advantageous for large companies with several international locations, as training becomes more expensive when language barriers are in place.

For those companies with multiple offices, Internet fax services also help with space, as large, unwieldy fax machines become completely obsolete. As mentioned earlier, Internet fax services bring a new sense of organization to a company's fax systems, and less room needs to be budgeted for filing cabinets, printer ink, and paper. These small expenses add up quickly, especially for many of the world's international companies.

The best benefit of Internet fax might be the way that it allows an international business to function as a single, cohesive unit. It's a technology that allows the different branches of a company to act as one, following the same procedures, taking orders in the same way, and handling customers identically (at least for customers that use fax to interact with the company). All international businesses try to project a positive image of their company and brand, and the most fundamental element of a positive image is good communication. Internet fax drastically improves client relations, and as with other digital technologies, it's a vast improvement over its predecessor. Just as letters have gradually been replaced by emails, Internet based fax services are replacing their modem-connected ancestors. For many businesses, it can't happen soon enough.

Handling small scale Businesses with a little number of shareholders have limited liability in terms of law regulations. Because the sole proprietorship does not have any separate legal entity for holding liability for the business's debts. But once you go ahead to take your small business International, the process could be quite serious and complicated too. As a global expansion plan Export and Import, the two major processes of international business transactions are going to be the subjective issue in most cases you have to deal with.

What to Know about Import Export Law?

While doing business in another culture with different rules, politics and traditions, you are governed not only by U.S. laws, but also by the laws of other countries. Whether you prefer trading through FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) or export-import you have to do business properly for which licensing from US federal government is a necessity. An experienced business law attorney would suffice your requirement for smooth operational flow in such case.

Exporting:

You need to collect export license for goods like chemicals, software, electronic devices, and computer components. Various agencies under US government issues these export licenses. Since exporting helps in creating jobs for American and justify the trade balance too, Federal Government will help you in this case. The help can be extended in other ways as well as follows:

• The National Trade Data Bank will deliver business leads
• The Department of Commerce can alert you for export finances, political risk insurance and other international trade issues.
• The Export Legal Assistance Network would provide you source for good lawyers.

Importing:

The law enforcement on importing is being monitored by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Customs) division of the Department of Homeland Security. Every importer has to learn the rules of bringing goods to US for sell. This policy is called "Informed Compliance". The law will ask you to go by the customs applicable. According to informed compliance the importer carries every burden from seizure of goods to severe civil penalties. Paying custom duty in full is mandatory. Depending on the negligence of underpayment or fraud or refusal of liability, penalties can be draw upon which can make your custom duty 2 to 8 times higher leading to loss of revenue.

You need to pay taxes or duties for anything you import. Depending on the country favorites, the duty may get varied. While the duty rate may get reduced for such occasion, it can also be completely forbidden altogether for political reasons.

Foreign Investment and International Contracts:

Typically Foreign Investments carries enough risks with the hope of earning profits in different country. So you need to understand the cultural and legal climate of the country before investing.

For International Contracts the possibility of disputes is high. Because the contracting partners like manufacturers, agents, distributors are hardly controllable. Whatever be your responsibilities there always set out clear instructions in writing among the parties and collect every detail of your trade profiles.

ArdyssLife International is a multi level marketing company that deals with heal and wellness products. One of them being the body magic system. There has been a huge surge of traffic into the business since entering into the United States. Many people who are down and out due to the economy have since jumped on this business and a small percentage has really made a great career change with this business.

For the reps who have not exploded their own Ardysslife international one can only attribute that to not having enough prospects to speak to. The traditional way to build this type of MLM Opportunity is to recruit belly to belly which means friends and family. A small percentage will excel at this and many other will try their first twenty then quit. Now, making money in this business is possible only if products are sold and an opportunity presented to allow others to work with you to sell more products.

The secret to doing more throughout the day is to leverage the internet and tools available to focus on making the business work. Too many get stuck in the planning phase and never really treat the business like a business. Many Ardyss International reps will lose money just for the simple fact they are not conducting enough showcases and getting enough prospects to view the presentation.

One step to moving towards more exposures to the business is using Facebook. Now not to use it to spam but treat it like you would your normal life. You wouldn't pain a giant advertising poster on someone's garage door would you? Treat people like real people and you will build relationships that will connect at a deeper level than expected even with the limitations of the internet.

Learn to reach more people online and connect first if you ever want to build your Ardyss International business online. Leverage time saving tools so you too can be everywhere all the time. Treating your business like a business is the first step to you making serious money.

Tax minimization and simplification of operation just about sum up the advantages of the foreign offshore LLC (limited liability company) for U.S. residents, especially with the latter benefit being true for people of any nationality. Furthermore, when used with an offshore grantor trust this combo assures excellent asset protection also and satisfies the taxing authorities. But first of all, what is an offshore LLC, who is it good for, and how does it differ from the more popular international business company?

A foreign offshore LLC ( limited liability company or limited life company in some jurisdictions ) is an unincorporated business entity which is a cross between a partnership and a corporation. Like an international business company, it protects its members from personal liability for the obligations and debts of the entity they are conducting business through. But like a partnership, the expenses and income flow directly through to the individual members. LLCs typically enter into an operating agreement, which states how the members relate to each other and how the company is managed. While the offshore limited liability company is liable for its operating debts, the members are NOT liable for any of the LLCs obligations.

The main benefit of an offshore LLC structure is that it provides a layer of legal separation between the owners of the foreign offshore limited liability company, the company itself, and the business it conducts. The offshore LLC can be the "poor mans grantor trust" in that it provides fair asset protection to the person with modest assets to protect but not enough money to justify purchasing an offshore grantor trust which typically costs about $2,000 and $1500 per year after the initial purchase to maintain. But like the offshore grantor trust, the offshore foreign LLC when filed as a disregarded entity using form 8832, will allow profits from the assets it holds to flow onto the 1040 tax return of the U.S. owner. This allows the foreign company to function as a tax minimizer since the tax rate can be lower than that of an international business company ( ibc ).

Another benefit of the foreign offshore LLC over the international business company is that a person or entity can get a court order that allows it to seize the stock certificates of the IBC and thereby the creditor gains control over the assets of the foreign company. But with the foreign offshore limited liability company, if a creditor claims a judgment against a member, they are only entitled to a charging order. The charging order gives the creditor the right to receive distributions from the offshore LLC that the member would have received. But these profits become available only if the other members elect to make the distribution. The charging order does not give the creditor the right to obtain the voting or management rights. So the members can decide not to make a distribution and the charging order remains ineffectual and the member's assets are protected.

For the U.S. person the primary difference between international business companies and foreign offshore LLCs is the way they are treated by the I.R.S. and their subsequent tax exposure for either the shareholders or members. At the end of 1996 the U.S. elected that both domestic and foreign corporations were to be taxed at the rate of 35% and could not elect to be taxed otherwise. In contrast, the sole member of the offshore limited liability company can elect to have the the taxes flow onto their personal tax return when the offshore LLC elects to be a disregarded entity using IRS form 8832. So, if the personal tax rate of the offshore LLC owner is 20% for that year then the owner benefits compared to the IBC tax which is 35%.

The foreign offshore LLC as a stand alone disregarded entity for tax minimization purposes is adequate for the lower capitalized individual who wants to protect their assets and can not justify spending money on a foreign offshore grantor trust. But it is not recommended as an entity by itself for those with a sizable amount of assets. The use of an offshore grantor trust as the majority owner of the offshore LLC will give the added asset protection it needs for those who have a sizable amount of assets in their LLC. This addition of the offshore grantor trust will also allow taxation minimization to be a feature of the structure since a foreign offshore grantor trust allows the settler of the trust to have taxes flow onto their 1040 tax return at a lower rate than an international business corporation is afforded.

The offshore foreign LLC is also much better than a U.S. LLC since there is so much red tape to deal with when opening accounts in the U.S. or abroad using the U.S. LLC. So given the choice between an offshore one or an onshore one it is much better to choose the offshore LLC since the freedom and asset protection gained is much better than could be gained from a Nevada or a New Mexico LLC which are the most popular ones in the U.S. These should be avoided for those who want investment and business freedom.

With a foreign offshore limited liability company you have a lot less hassle and paperwork, but with equal or better protection than an international business company if it is set up correctly. There are no director, treasurer, secretary positions to have to try and figure out and keep track of. You have only managers with a foreign offshore LLC and you can have as many as you want or you can have one sole manager which can be the Sovereign YOU.

With a foreign offshore LLC you do not have to mess around with annual meetings or even do any extra time consuming paperwork which is required of directors of international business companies. Since most people are the only manager, they sovereignly decide what to do WITHOUT the paperwork involved with meetings. There is also an easy "operating agreement" you can change yourself as the manager of the offshore LLC. But with an international business company you need to monkey around with changing the bylaws through the hassle of needing to have a meeting periodically etc.

The offshore LLC is also a great way to manage the assets that you contribute to a charitable foundation. We know of a Panama charitable foundation which will allow you to manage the assets you give to it by setting up a foreign offshore limited liability company and making you advisor or manager of it. The assets you contribute are owned by the foreign offshore LLC which in turn is owned by the charitable foundation and the charitable foundation either pays you an income for your services or it may give you tax free loans from time to time. This is tax freedom and asset protection at its best.

DISCLAIMER and WARNING: We are publishers and we can give no specific legal advice. The information provided on this web site is like a newsletter or a book and is provided for informational purposes only. This article is also protected by international copyright laws and comes under the rules of Ezine Articles. All violators will be dealt with severely.

How overcoming cultural differences in communication benefits business.

Today companies trade goods and provide services to global customers. Many companies have facilities in different countries and most companies, small and large, work already with a highly diverse, international workforce.

Communication is clearly the enabler of any kind of cooperation and business activities - nationally and internationally. Different cultures have particular business communication styles, well accepted and adopted by their population. Other cultures have different ways to conduct business and with that, use different styles to open, discuss, negotiate and close business deals and maintain business relations.

What is the best way to communicate for people of different cultural background? The potential customer's style or the one that relates to the language used during the communication? Unfortunately there is no clear answer to this question.

Specific communication styles have developed over long periods based on cultural values. Even with the wish to "speak the language of the customer", these values cannot just be set aside when writing or talking to people of other cultural influence.

Two little anecdotes show the difficulties in communicating internationally. A Japanese corporation hired a professional trainer to teach their people how to communicate with Western customers. The Japanese style uses passive wording, perceived by Western customers "as if they do not want to make business with us". Nothing was further from the truth; the Japanese corporation was of course very interested in Western business. I witnessed another case of misinterpreted correspondence first hand, when a colleague received an email from another colleague in Europe. When reading it he suddenly murmured: "Why is he yelling at me?" I asked him what he meant and he responded that the colleague's use of exclamation marks would be equal to yelling at him. A look at the email confirmed what I thought: the exclamation marks underlined great importance - not to scold the reader. Using the exclamation mark that way is common practice in the country of the writer. But the author wrote in English - so should it not be natural using Anglo-American writing styles and rules?

We will have more fruitful interpersonal and business experience, if:

1. Individuals writing in their second or third language, avoid phrases, formulations and special punctuations that are common in their language but might be unknown or sometimes even offending in other cultural regions. Keep it as simple as possible.
2. Receivers of emails not written in the writer's mother-tongue should read them with extra tolerance. The writer took great efforts to learn this language, but do not expect impeccable wording. Try to understand what the writer had in mind.
3. Openness and willingness to understand different cultures and how they express themselves in business communication, bears a huge potential of additional possibilities. There is benefit in learning the ways of other cultures. Adapting some of them may even give the own company a head start.

While we should adhere to a minimum standard and etiquette in international business communication, it can never be perfect. Good ideas and intentions should not be paled by a curtain of ignorance and limitations. With the global reach of the Internet, every company can present itself as an international player. Let's play by international rules - and win big. Deiton

TIP #1 - FIND SOMEONE WHO HAS DONE IT BEFORE
There is nothing worse than learning through trial and error. Especially, when you are talking about international markets where you probably know little about the culture, customs and language. Find someone to point out the roadblocks and the opportunities. Someone who can make introductions, has resources and a network to assist you. Someone who knows how to approach the market with your products.

It will cost you something. But, the money and time you will save will be far less than what you would have wasted doing it on your own.

TIP #2 - DON'T TAKE THE EASY ANSWER WITHOUT THINKING LONG TERM
So you agree you need to find someone who has done it before - now the caveat: select your partners carefully! You might be 'partnering' with them a long time, and they will be critical to your success. So how do you select someone when you know little about the international market? Look for referrals - international trade organizations in your state, or industry groups are a good place to start.

Don't stop there though: create a list of criteria and a profile that is most important to your company. Then interview, check references, and do a local visit for those on your short list. Assessing the strengths and weaknesses of potential partners against your company's needs and wants can help you make an informed decision while still allowing you to make a timely decision.

TIP #3 - IT IS NOT THE SAME AS SELLING IN THE US
Not so fast: approaching new markets with the same best practices that make you successful in your home market might work - but most likely not, and you risk a negative perception of your brand at launch.

This doesn't mean you do all the work. After all, that's why you have partners. However, you will want to manage the process, and work with your partners to understand which parts of the selling process are the most critical to localize, versus what's nice to have. Yes, it's more cost-effective, but more than that it allows you to focus on what will have the greatest positive impact on sales right out of the chute.

Language, culture, humor can be key (English is not the same!). Also consider infrastructure - how does advertising get done, how many people or businesses are online, etc. Look at motivation and influencers of your end customers; they may be different then those in your home market. What works "here" does not work everywhere; plan up front for the key differences.

TIP #4 - BUILD RELATIONSHIPS NOT MERCENARIES
"Sell! Sell! Sell!" There are a lot of reasons to expand into another market, and of course increasing revenue is usually at the top of the list. If you are currently based in a culture where sales professionals are primarily motivated by money, it might seem counter-intuitive to spend time building relationships with your new sales channel. So why do it? It will pay off in both the short-term and the long-term, over and over!

I recently heard a story about a guy who worked at a company that had a huge banner hanging in the foyer where employees entered the building. The message: "You are working here to make money." The company survived; the employee turnover was high. That single focus resulted in an employer/employee relationship that lacked trust, respect and communication. It worked OK in good times. It was a disaster in bad times.

Building good relationships with your representatives in new markets will allow you both to build understanding and knowledge of each other and your respective businesses; your values, expectations, and objectives will become clearly known and understood. Trust, respect and mutual support will grow as you partner over time to build market share, grow revenue, and enjoy sustainable profitability. Find what your partners are good at and leverage it. Fill in the blanks and support them where they are weak. Good relationships result in a good customer experience. Everyone is happy.

Focus only on the money, and you are likely to go to the bottom of the list in terms of attention given to your products. Others may look for opportunities to jump ship - maybe to your competitors. It's just not worth it. Take the time - build the relationship.

TIP #5 - DON'T IGNORE THE LANGUAGE
Sure, many people around the world speak English - it has become the language of business. Does that make doing business across borders easy? Simple things can be difficult. Even native English speakers across the globe can have misunderstandings due to language! Be diligent about product naming, translation of instructions, advertising and more.

History provides many examples on this topic:
• The American introduction of the 'Nova' car in South America did not "go" very well
• 'Snapshot' is slang for 'butt' in German and Dutch
• Japanese hotel notice to guests 'You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid'
• A Hong Kong dentist claims to extract teeth 'by the latest Methodists'
• In Copenhagen, an airline once promised to 'take your bags and send them in all directions'

A personal example: I was attending a conference in a large hotel in a country where I didn't speak the language. After a full day of meetings a large group of people rented a small bus to visit a local science and technology museum. I decided to join them at the museum later, and asked the Porter to get me a taxi to take me to the museum to meet the bus. Imagine my surprise when my taxi driver sped down narrow streets, informing me that "we will catch the bus". I tried to explain, but he drove on, forcing the bus to pull over so I could join the group, and calmly announced to me "Madame, your bus". What could I do? I paid the driver and got on the bus.

TIP # 6 - CULTURE, CULTURE, CULTURE
Business language, greetings, titles, business cards, conversational topics, negotiation, introductions, business meals, public behavior... need I go on? All these and more need to be handled within the culture where you are doing business. Tips and guidelines are available for many cultures.

But what about colors, pricing standards, truth in advertising, humor, product naming, packaging? Culture drives attitudes and behaviors in business partners and would-be customers, and new market entrants need to be ready to adjust - to "localize" where it's important.

Look at how people buy and sell: trying to export channels strategies that work in one country may feel more like a square peg in a round hole:
• Japan has many layers of small players
• Brazil has many small shops
• Argentina mall was like being in the US

Cultural differences can trip you up if you don't pay attention - little things mean more, so do your homework and pay attention to detail right from the beginning! Bonus: you'll have more fun and build stronger relationships!

TIP # 7 - DON'T IGNORE THE POLITICAL SITUATION
Ownership, operating, and funds transfer risks are key areas to pay attention to when assessing the political situation in a new target market. You already know that knowledge and appreciation of a country's history, language and culture is critical - review the political background to round out the picture before making a long-term investment. Monitor political developments, and factors outside of government control such as strikes, and create country-specific approaches to your business model, including contingency plans.

Be careful to consider laws or regulations that may impact marketing your products, such as
• Entry of goods
• Anti-dumping/below-cost sales of products
• Licensing
• Recycling fees and CE Mark issues
• Health and safety standards
• Advertising
• Membership requirements (e.g. chamber, trade union)
• Nationalistic buyers or suppliers
• Currency and remittance restrictions
• Value-added and export performance requirements
There's a lot to consider, but the good news is there are many resources available to tap both in the U.S. and in the target market.

TIP # 8 - DISTANCE MAKES EVERYTHING MORE DIFFICULT
In market entry decisions, it's critical to look beyond the "math equation" - sales potential may be great, but is it really the best, next opportunity? Distance can make a difference, and "distance" is more than geographic.

Pankaj Ghemewat, in his Harvard Business Review 2004 article Distance Still Matters, suggests a framework of evaluating markets that looks at "distance" through a number of lenses:

• Geographic (share a border, adequate transportation or communication systems, physical remoteness, climate differences, time zones)
• Cultural (religion, race, social norms, language)
• Administrative (currency, trading arrangements)
• Economic (income, distribution/channel quality)
• Where do you manufacture?
• How do you manage customer service or working with vendors?
• Does the distribution system support your product?
• Will the buying criteria still be the same?
• How about localization needs?
• Is sharing a language more important than geographic proximity?

The answers to these questions may be different depending on your product, and where your company is in its life cycle of international business. Understanding what is most relevant, and acting on it, will be a key driver to your successful international expansion.

TIP # 9 - DON'T HIRE IF YOU WANT TO FIRE
Local laws and regulations differ, but often are much more stringent than employment laws in the U.S. especially when it comes to letting someone go, whether due to business reasons, or for cause.

You might say it's the classic question of "control" versus "risk". While many more companies are 'born international' in today's economy, most companies still work through the life cycle of 'going international'. On average annually, 15% of exporters will stop exporting, while 10% of non-exporters will begin. Companies more or less advance along stages until they reach a level right for their capabilities or product (or stop), with the most critical junctures: beginning or stopping exporting.

As noted above, you need to be careful choosing any partner, whether distributor or employee. It may be tempting to hire right away, with the thought that you will have more 'control' than you might with a distributor relationship (for example). However, the risks can be similar, and severing the relationship can be even more costly, so be sure it's really what you need before taking that step. There are four key factors to consider in making your decision:
• Degree of standardization in product offerings
• Marketing program beyond the product
• Location and extent of value added activities
• Competitive scenarios
Finding a balance will be critical to your success.

TIP # 10 - IT'S NOT JUST THE PRODUCT
• Messaging
• Marketing materials
• Sales and channel tools
• Customer service and support
It's all there, and ready to go, now the question is how much 'localization' do you really need to do to achieve the sales? Language, culture, and buying patterns are just a few factors that can impact the effectiveness of your product support structure and materials.

Ideally, you would build adaptability up front, but typically companies are figuring out how to adapt products and services that are already successful in the home market. You may or may not need to adapt the product itself to local markets, but you will likely need some adaptation of materials, packaging, training and more - at minimum, translation of marketing and sales materials into the local language - to be successful.
Key takeaway: don't skimp on what it takes to support your international markets.

My first business meeting in a country where English was not the native tongue was in Germany. I was terribly nervous. I didn't know German, and no one was with me that could speak it. I fell all over myself trying to make apologies for speaking in English and not knowing their language. They brushed it off as no big deal. It turns out that English is widely accepted in Germany as the language of business and most Germans are taught it as a second language throughout their early school years.

So began my journey into the new world of international business travel. I made many mistakes along the way, but eventually I was able to make these trips and hold business meetings routinely without all the drama. I'll spare you the learning curve and share these international business travel Dos and Don'ts with you:

• Do use the buddy system. It's very important to have someone with you when you travel internationally. Making your way in an unfamiliar country can be bewildering and is more work than you realize. It usually takes two sets of eyes and ears to do things that you would normally do on autopilot when you're at home.
• Do find local help. If you can have someone meet you at the airport, get you settled at the hotel, help you with logistics, and join you for your meetings, then don't pass up the opportunity. It simplifies things greatly. And even though English is the language of business, don't take it for granted. There are important points that will be missed in a meeting just because it's too hard for your hosts to think of the right words to say in English. A helper who knows the language will pick up on this nuance and take the time to get everything on the table and make sure you understand.
• Do speak slowly. You need to slow it down and pause frequently so that your hosts have time to translate in their heads. This way of speaking will feel unnatural, but if you don't do it they will either stop you repeatedly so that they can catch up, or they'll give up altogether and tune you out.
• Don't cram too much into a meeting agenda. You need to cut your expectations in half at least. It takes twice as long to exchange ideas when there are translations going on.
• Don't be an ugly American. Keep the mindset at all times that you are a guest and that their time and company is a gift to you. Try to learn a few phrases of their language for little things like, "thank you", "pleased to meet you", "good morning", and "good bye". Show an interest in their culture and history, and be respectful of their traditions and past.
• Do be prepared for culture shock. Total immersion in another culture will take it's toll on you. Between this and the jet lag your mental energy will run out and you will crash hard the first couple nights. Don't be surprised if you are dying for a cheeseburger and all you want to do at night is hide in your room. But resist these urges and get out and see the world. Your chances to do this are few and far between, and the memories will last you a lifetime.

Freelife International was started in 1995 by Kevin Fournier and Ray Faltinsky inspired by life events that had happened to Ray when he was younger. Though the company didn't really take off until 2003 when it announced the Himalayan Goji juice product.

Freelife International has a deeply personal mission, and that is that they believe the purpose of their company is to serve each other by promoting good health, well-being, and the opportunity for an abundant life. They meet this mission not only with the products that they offer but also the income opportunity they offer. The purpose is to provide a way for people to improve their lives from the inside out for their health to their financial state. They also takes a portion of their total sales each month and donates to various children's charities.

The products that they focus on are health supplies, from vitamins and minerals to shampoo to protein shakes. The sell consumable goods that are needed on a monthly basis, which helps their marketing executives build residual income. The compensation plan that they offer is unlike any other plan offered by other companies.

With Freelife International, you only need to recruit three people under you and it offers seven different ways for you to make money. You can earn a product rebate, there is also a fast start bonus and that can include a Value Pack and a Super Value Pack. They offer advancement bonuses, there is a ten level plan, with 20-60% matching bonuses. They also have an Ambassador Generational Bonus and a 2% Himalayan Goji bonus pool.

Let's take a closer look at this. If you decide that you want to purchase $70 worth of product, you will be paid down to four levels (remember the 10 level payout mentioned). As you business grows and if you or one of your enrollees orders $140 worth of product in a month you are then paid down to the seventh level. Now as you grow your business and your enrollees grow their businesses you become eligible for bonuses galore.

What can your maximum payout be? How does 60% sound to you? Their compensation plan has also made adjustments if your down line isn't performing. Say that one month someone in your down line doesn't make a purchase then the people that are under them are moved under you for that month. Freelife International has a terrific compensation plan.

As a company it worth taking note that they were the only company that was less then two years old to be a cover story on Success Magazine. MLM insider put Freelife International as one of their top 22 companies to watch in the next ten years and their top 5 when it came to compensation plans.

Many businesses struggle with the transition from local to national, and furthermore many find it hard to get past the language barrier that comes into play when dealing with international business. Some people incorrectly assume English is the language of choice in business around the globe, and while it is partially true that some companies are attempting to understand it the vast majority see a lack of effort as unprofessional, lazy and rude. That's where language translation services come in to play and in this article I will be looking at the correct way to handle international business transactions and correspondence with the help of language translation services.

Let me begin by discussing the typical correspondence between a business and an international client who doesn't speak the same language. Normally, online translators are used as quick and dirty methods of understanding the general principle of what is being said, notice how I said general there. In business as I'm, sure you know the language of subtly comes into play on an extremely common basis. These online translators might work well for asking where the toilet is in German (Wo ist die Toilette?) but when translating whole documents from an advanced speaker they constantly fail to deliver cohesive and easily understood documents.

By pairing with a translation service you can guarantee your business a rigorously set of translated documents as well as very high levels of consistency within your language. Many of these businesses offer native speaking translators who speak fluently in whatever language you need, not to mention specialist software to double check everything before it finds it's way to your valued overseas customer.

One of my main fears about trusting by documents with a translation company was "can I trust them with my most sensitive documents?", well let me tell you a little about that. Whether it's confidential business deals or simply discussing your family life with a friend overseas I couldn't be sure that what I was giving away would be treat in the highest of standards and with privacy and discretion as the single most important thing around. Well after speaking with several other people who all use the service I found that there experiences tallied up exactly with what I expected and quickly signed up for the service. It's the best thing I've ever done and I high recommend doing the same as I did all those years ago.

International business travel presents its own unique set of challenges, so it's best to always be prepared for the worst-case scenario (and then hope it doesn't happen!). A few things to consider before traveling abroad:

1. Always carry your laptop onto the plane and keep it near at all times. Contraire to popular myth, airport x-ray machines will not harm your computer. Also remember to back up before you leave - you're most likely to have your computer crash or worse, have it stolen, while traveling abroad.

2. Seatguru.com can help you find a seat on your international flight with a convenient and accessible plug-in, and let you know which type of adapter you'll need in order to use your laptop, if any. Many airlines offer in-flight wireless internet access for a small fee and using your laptop for work in-flight is a great way to pass the time. It's better to use the plane's own power than depleting your laptop battery. Bringing a second battery is also suggested.

3. Make sure you have the correct outlet adapter. If you plan to travel to Australia, you will need a special adapter, which can be purchased at myriad online sites, such as amazon.com. Likewise, Europe and Asia have different outlets as well. Many hotels provide adapters for your convenience, and many don't so it's better to be prepared and bring your own regardless. Voltageconverters.com has a handy guide on finding the correct adapter.

4. Check with your cell phone provider to make sure your phone will work overseas. GSM, short for Global System for Mobile Communications, is a digital radio frequency that is accepted in virtually every country on the planet and allows for seamless international travel. Even with a GSM phone, different countries may require a different SIM card. SIM cards are the "brains" of your phone. For example, you will need a European SIM card for travel to Europe, and you will need an Australian SIM card for travel to Australia and New Zealand. Both GSM phones and SIM cards can be purchased online or through your local cell phone retailer. Cell phone coverage is surprisingly good Downunder especially considering its relative population.

5. If you're traveling internationally for business, chances are good that you're pretty familiar with the customs and culture associated with your travel destination. However, international business etiquette is constantly evolving. To avoid embarrassing mistakes that may ultimately not only damage your own reputation, but your company's as well, take a minute to research the latest cultural developments and learn key phrases and pleasantries in the native language as a courtesy, even if you're doing business in English.

Online schooling options are available to students looking to obtain a degree in international business. There are numerous schools and colleges that offer online degree training in the field of business. Students can prepare for the career of their dreams by enrolling in a number of programs. Online schools and colleges allow students to train for careers working in international finance, management, marketing, sales, importing and exporting, and more. Student may study coursework such as foreign culture, economics, imports and exports, tax, and much more depending on the chosen level of degree and specialization. Online degrees in international business can include an associate's, bachelors, masters, and doctorate degree.

Associates degree programs are available from numerous online schools and colleges. Students can obtain an associates degree in international business in as little as two years depending on the specific area of concentration they choose. Coursework may consist of studying international trade, macroeconomics, global markets, international marketing, and other related courses. Students who wish to enroll in an accredited online program can train for careers with banks, multinational manufacturers, import/export corporations, consulting firms, and other international organizations. With an accredited associates degree students will have the skills and knowledge to pursue a bachelor's degree in the field.

There are a number of accredited online educational programs that allow students to train for numerous careers in international business. An online bachelor's degree program will take students approximately four years to complete. Course curriculum will vary depending on the specialization chosen by the students but may include the study of economics, principals of marketing, foreign language, international business finance, cross cultural studies, and much more. Students who wish to pursue international careers such as management analyst, sales representative, auditor, and accountant, should consider a bachelors degree. Those who wish to further their education can consider online degree training for a master's degree in international business.

Online schools and colleges allow students to enroll in masters degree programs in the area of international business. Online degrees at this level typically take students two additional years to obtain. Students can choose to specialize in a specific area including international trade, tax, management, and much more. Areas of study may include international business policy, trade controls, international finance, foreign operations, and more depending on the chosen specialty. With an accredited masters degree students can pursue careers as international marketing directors, multinational managers, international trade managers, financial controllers, and international foreign policy advisors. A degree at this level of education will allow student to enter the workforce or enroll in a doctorate program.

A doctorate degree in international business will allow students to earn their degree with an additional two years of study. Online educational programs train students in a number of subjects to ensure they receive the knowledge and skills to pursue the career they desire. Coursework may include theory of international business, research design, marketing, communications, multi-national enterprise, and much more. With an accredited online education students will obtain the necessary training to find employment as economic researchers, university professors, business development managers, chief executive officers, and other professionals. A doctorate degree is the highest level of degree obtainable in the field of international business.

Students looking to train for the career of their dreams with an accredited online school or college can obtain the degree they desire from just about anywhere. Online international business educational programs allow students to train in a number of specialty areas to ensure they receive the career they desire. By researching programs and requesting information students can be on their way to an exciting new career.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERIC OUTLINE and may or may not depict precise methods, courses and/or focuses related to ANY ONE specific school(s) that may or may not be advertised at PETAP.org.

Copyright 2010 - All rights reserved by PETAP.org.

When the first internet servers were connected back in 1969, I'm sure the US government had no idea of what they gave birth to. The 'net started with only 4 connections between selected US Universities as part of a defence network but eventually grew to hundreds of "nodes" in the late 70's. This grew to Four Million users in 1994 which, as I recall, was the first time I ever heard the word INTERNET. I stumbled through using one of the first search engines and marvelled at the speed of my 28k modem (OMG).

As a business owner now, I fully appreciate what the Internet means to me and my ability to connect with people all over the globe. I run an international business from whatever room in the house I choose. In fact, with wireless broadband these days I can be absolutely anywhere. Plugged into the WWW with my 3G stick and my mobile phone I can be speaking to people everywhere who have enquired with me about my business. In fact I think thats a selling point in itself. If I get a phone call through the computer, or on my mobile phone, and i'm out enjoying life rather than being stuck in a business office or even at home, that speaks volumes to a potential business partner. That's why I do it often. I even plan to make calls back to prospects and leads when i'm out somewhere so they get a feel of the life I lead. That is part of the power of the internet and our truly mobile society these days.

Especially as I work within the network marketing industry, the internet has changed the face of what I do forever. No more meetings and presentations in person. I can have people looking at my business, what I do, how they can get involved AND very importantly they can find out who I am. They can even do this while I'm sleeping - WOW. Traditional businesses, small ones at least, used to be tied down to where they were geographically and locked into the opening hours they were told by local authorities to abide by. Not any more. All those rules can be thrown out of the window by harnessing the power of the internet.

This is incredibly exciting for any entrepreneur and there are millions of people around the world who are fully embracing this technology to turn their laptop into a licence to print money. If they can, and I can, then you can too. The internet fully levels the playing field for entrepreneurs; those who wish to start, or already have started their own business. Mainly because you can be seen and heard by anyone, anywhere. You can have customers, distributors, mentors and new enquiries on all the continents. Your shop front is your website and that is open 24/7.

SO what is it that YOU can do, sell, promote or offer to benefit others, to give value to their lives. You don't have to limit your business to your geographical location any more, as small businesses were financially forced to do years before the internet. The global market was limited to those with the resources to get their message out to the international masses back then - but NOW, anyone can tap into that Global Marketplace and reap the rewards. Even stay-at-home dads like me.

Firms desiring to enter international business face several obstacles; some are much more severe than others. The most common barriers to effective business are cultural, social, and political barriers, and tariffs and trade restrictions.

The first one to effective business is the cultural and social barriers. A nation's culture and social forces can restrict international business activities. Culture consists of a country's general concepts and values and tangible items such as food, clothing, and building. Social forces include family, education, religion and customs. Selling products from one country to another is sometimes difficult when the cultures of the two countries differ significantly. For example, when McDonald's opened its first restaurant in Rome, it was met with protest. The people of Rome objected to the smell of hamburgers frying. McDonald's overcame this objection by changing the exhaust system of the restaurant.

The second barrier is the social forces that can create obstacles to international trade. In some countries, purchasing items as basic as food and clothing can be influenced by religion. In many nations, individuals do not have the same choices in food, clothing, and health care.

The third one is political barriers. The political climate of a country can have a major impact on international business. Nations experiencing intense political unrest may change their attitude toward foreign firms at any time; this instability creates an unfavorable atmosphere for international trade.

The last one is the tariffs and trade restrictions. Tariffs and trade restrictions are also barriers to international business. A nation can restrict trade through import tariffs, quotas and embargoes, and exchanges controls.

It's not easy being a student, much less one about to graduate into a workforce still reeling from the impact of the recent global economic crisis. It's important (perhaps more now than ever) to consider ways to be proactive about your future career prospects. In this day and age, you'll need a lot more than a high GPA and a few weeks of volunteer experience to get the job of your dreams. If you have your heart set on getting an international business internship, here's a handful of tips and advice for finding the right international internship for business students.

In preparation for your application to an international business internship, take some time to research all of the large multinational corporation with offices in your area. There's a good chance that you know somebody with connections on the inside, and in many cases these individuals would be only too happy to help you get your foot in the door. Naturally, you'll want to approach businesses that are best suited to your education and/or work experience.

Government agencies offer excellent opportunities for young people to gain international business experience. The US State Department is one such example. Sometimes, the best international internships can be found with a government agency. If you intend to apply for an internship with the Consulate Offices abroad, it would be a good idea to explore their website for information regarding international internships. Business associations provide another great opportunity to research and learn more about international business internships. The chamber of commerce, for instance, can help you identify local businesses with an international presence.

Expatriate networks and student alumni groups provide another opportunity to gain meaningful, actionable feedback regarding international internships. Hopefully, you haven't lost touch with all of the connections you made while in college. They are the people who can likely help you the most. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are wonderful tools for staying connected with former classmates and colleagues.

If you have the resources available to you, why not consider traveling to the country of your choice and try to line up an internship in person. Most employers will appreciate your commitment their cause, when they learn that you traveled half-way around the world to pursue an international business internship with their company. Give it a try, why don't you? What have you got to lose?

With the advent of the internet, one is no longer confined by borders of cartography. Friendships as well as business relations are struck up and maintained without having so much as physical contact between parties concerned. Entities are recognized by a set of unique numbers or email addresses. Despite this hands-off and face-out approach, certain elements are essential in the practice of international business. MBA students who take on this course of study are exposed to the elementary as well as advanced areas which influence its smooth operations and expand business opportunities.

There will come a time in everyone's life whereby interaction with individuals from far away regions becomes a necessity. If the relation stems from business needs, it is all the more reason to learn and familiarize oneself with the ways others carry out trade dealings. Culture is an area of great focus as first impressions are essential in initiating a relationship. Starting off on the wrong foot with an inappropriate remark or action is thus to be avoided so as not to mar one's chances in penetrating the region's industry. Despite the terms that money talks, actions and words speak on equally loud terms.

By obtaining an International Business MBA, successful individuals hope to leverage on knowledge gathered to expand business opportunities. To break new grounds, one needs to formulate effective strategies to suit the environment. Many a time, aspiring organizations charge into foreign markets as though a bull in a China shop. Many learn the hard way that what works at home may not work abroad. Political, geographical and culture aspects, amongst the many, pose as barriers or benefits depending on how they are manipulated. Incorrectly utilized, one had better be prepared for damage control to pick up the pieces.

This qualification serves to enhance one's existing background in business. Prospects of advancing the corporate ladder as well as better career opportunities are sufficient carrots to entice the average business executive.

This is not just another Salu International Business review, this is a hands on, "how to do it" article that will take you to new revelations of success and answer your most urgent questions.

What is Salu International?

Salu International is a fairly new MLM company which promotes two health products: Vital-Flex and Vital-Res V. Vital-Res V contain a highs amount of antioxidants and Vital-Flex is designed to cushion your joints and act as an anti-inflammatory.

Salu International Comp Plan is Binary. The website claims there are six ways to generate income, but I personally believe the main two ways to increase your paycheck will be with retail sales and team duplication. The rest are bonuses that should be looked as a plus.

Q: Can I succeed with Salu International?

A: Yes. You can succeed with Salu International and even retire, you just have to find ways to consistently generate new clients and business partners and then have them duplicate. The challenge of every Network Marketer is more leads and more money. You are in this for profit. And you need a system with tools to market and duplicate. Do you have a system with tools that are easy to duplicate?

Q: How do I know if I my system is easy to duplicate?

A: The answer is simple. Take a look at your personal numbers. Are you recruiting new business partners, and selling product everyday? Then take a look at your team and see if it is growing every day. The fact is your team will duplicate exactly what you are doing, so if you are doing nothing or next to nothing, they will do nothing. If you are just doing one form of marketing, i.e. home presentations, then your team will duplicate most likely through home presentations. You need to find ways to generate new clients everyday, and there are many ways to do it, ones which work better than others because they are easier to duplicate.

Some examples are:

--Social media marketing versus old-school social marketing or 3-foot rule,
--Article marketing versus flyers and posts on places,
--Generating your own leads online versus buying leads that you did not generate,
--Promoting yourself versus promoting your company,
--Doing a webinar versus doing a home presentation, etc.

If you are not using these tools, you are not monetizing from the newest, largest industry in the world which is never in a recession: the Internet. You may continue with your off-line efforts to grow your business, but for faster duplication and faster growth, you should leverage the power of the Internet.

Here are some free tips to begin to grow your Salu International Business today:

These have cost me a lot of money and time to learn, so take advantage of them and use them!

Social Media marketing on Facebook-- Okay, Facebook is the cash cow of all social media sites, and you should be exploiting it!

--Add new friends every day (20-30)
--Create a "Like" page (what used to be the fan page) which promotes you, and invite your new friends everyday.
--Create a group and invite your new friends everyday.
--Send periodic updates and emails with useful information (careful with sales pitches, this is not the time to say Salu International is the best MLM ever) to your fans and group members.
--Have FUN! Do not portrait yourself as solely business minded but show your fans pictures of you and your family, etc.

Video Marketing

--Record videos of yourself giving free tips and good content about Salu International or anything related to your audience and post them in video sites like TubeMogul, YouTube, MySpace... etc
--Promote your videos on Social Media sites like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, PeopleString, etc.
--Study video marketing along with Keyword Research and learn how to rank yourself at the top of search engines.

To learn how to checkmate your Salu International competition with video marketing, read my article "6 Steps To Successful Video Marketing."

Last and more importantly: Build your own list!

Here is the deal, ALL of the Internet efforts and offline efforts have one objective: To build your own list of followers! And every time you send traffic to your Salu International website or any MLM website, you are building a list for your company and not for you. Find an auto responder which will aid you in generating your own list and having the freedom to e-mail them, create a relationship with them, keep track of your visitors and clicks, offer them whatever you want, and much more.

If you want to learn more about Internet marketing and receive an unlimited source of teachings and training, visit my site and begin annihilating your competition today!

Reliv is a company that is thriving right now. The various products that they offer are designed to allow someone to have more energy both physically and mentally. They also taste good and have plenty of nutrition in them. Many people find that they just don't have the energy they want to get through the day on their own.

Reliv products are claimed to be scientifically proven to ensure that a person has the right balance of vitamins and minerals in them for energy. Most people will agree that they don't eat like they should but they would like to make improvements to their diets. They tend to be looking for a long term solution that is simple for them to follow.

That is where Reliv comes into the picture. Consumers appreciate being able to get their hands on great tasting food items, energy drinks, and more. They feel good about adding them to their daily regiment because they want to be healthier. Some people want to lose weight and find these products are a healthier alternative to many other weight loss products they have tried in the past.

Reliv International Inc. continues to strive to help consumers take better care of their minds and body. When a person has enough energy they tend to be more active and they are able to concentrate on tasks. They even have a better mindset and mood then when they aren't getting what their body needs to be fully functional. The products that they offer make it easy to eat better though even when you have a busy schedule and lifestyle. Too often people make poor choices out of a time restraint such a getting take out for dinner and fast food for lunch.

The Reliv International business is one that developed quite by accident. The couple that created it more than 20 years ago were making efforts to drastically change their own lifestyle and improve their health after losing their own parents due to health issues. From there the prospects grew and they have enjoyed being able to help others create the body and mind that they want.

Today you will find Reliv products are just about anywhere you can think of. There are over 70,000 distributors in the world that offer these products. You can also purchase anything that you would like online. The Reliv name is one that continues to develop a positive reputation out there around the world.

Over the years, much has been said about the advantages of learning a second language. It appears that more and more people today are eager to learn how to speak French, Spanish, Italian, or any other language because of the obvious benefits. As the world becomes a more competitive place, it is far more important to realize that the success battle is not just limited to those living in the same city. The battle has now expanded outward to those in a similar city way across the Atlantic Ocean. If you're an engineer in the U.S., you are undoubtedly competing with another engineer in China. As for those who own and operate a business, competition is far more fierce now than at any other time in business history. If you want a leg up on your competitors, then you should seriously consider learning a second language. The benefits are immeasurable.

You Have a Larger Marketplace
Your market isn't limited to those who speak and understand your native language, but is open to those who speak your second language. This means more business, which of course translates into more profits. As more people enter the marketplace, there will be far more business to conduct in both languages. Another, added bonus is that there is less competition. Not every businessperson will speak two languages. Therefore, you will be able to corner more of the market than your competitors.

You Can Reach More Customers
A second language in business means more customers. People generally feel far comfortable doing business with someone who can speak their language than with someone who can't. If you can demonstrate that you are capable of providing caring service to consumers in their language; you will not only have more repeat customers, but will gain far more referrals as well.

You Can Increase Your Revenue and Earnings
The no-brainer is that a larger market equals more consumers, which then translates into more repeat business and referrals, and then more revenue. If you were to open a business in Canada are could speak both French and English fluently, your profits would measure far higher than someone who were to open a similar business in the same location, but could only speak either French or English.

You Have More Travel Opportunities
If you like to travel, having a second language proficiency would be the perfect excuse to go abroad. You could go overseas to conduct international business trade in your second language, and the best part is that as a businessperson, you could write it off as a business expense on your corporate taxes. You may even get invitations to attend meetings or conferences overseas by business colleagues and other professionals, simply because you speak a second language.

You Have Contact With a Greater Number of Colleagues
You can develop far greater business contacts if you can speak a second language. This is something that might not happen if you could only speak your native language. More business colleagues could very possibly open more doors allowing you to expand your business in other territories; even if they are abroad. You could even become an expert in international business trade, which could ultimately lead to opportunities in public speaking or teaching international business courses overseas in your second language.

Ok, so you started your own Regeneca home business. I am sure you are super excited to be taking calls from infomercials from home. What an amazing concept! Leads are vital in growing your Regeneca business opportunity. But, are you like most people wondering how you can generate Regeneca leads to help grow your business until you are able to take calls? Also, wouldn't you like to generate an additional income stream during this waiting phase?

Discussing how to build your business is probably discussed in your training calls, but if they are asking you to buy leads and cold call them, I recommend that you not do that. The leads that you purchase maybe interested in working from home, but most of them want a job. Or, if they want a business, they may not be interested in being on the phone. So, if you are looking for Regeneca leads, you definitely need to generate your own, as they will be less expensive and will be more interested in your Regeneca International business.

When people join a home based business, they often have to generate an income right away to be able to stay in business. This is achievable by incorporating the funded proposal. This is when you offer a low cost product to others and you will receive a commission as well as a new lead for your business. The point is to give value and have your new leads trust you. Trust is what will make your business grow on autopilot. When people trust you and you show then that you will help them succeed, they will join you in your business.

One of the most frustrating things about network marketing is that sometimes what people do to grow their business isn't duplicatable. Growing a business should be easy, but for most it isn't. New team members are shown complex marketing. They "try" some things, get frustrated, and eventually quit. You certainly don't want people to quit before the launch of the home agent program.

If you are like most people you won't be able to work your new business on a full-time basis, so your time is limited when you do work. It is important that in order for you to grow your Regeneca International business opportunity, you spend your time growing your business and not training new representatives. Training is the most important part of this opportunity. You must have a training program already in place for your team to plug into after they join. This will help not only build a successful team and increase retention, but it will save you a lot of time.

Today was my last day of training the fine folks at WorldMark Corporation/Oil Technology Overseas here in Moscow, Russia. Although this was not my first international training mission, it is certainly one of my fondest. The reason is that in a relatively short time (6 weeks) I have acclimatized myself quickly to a new culture, gained valuable insight into my business and most importantly, have forged strong, deep friendships with people that I KNOW I will see again.

International training (or travel for that matter) is not for everyone, and although I am not trying to make myself out like a hero I will say that I do have the right personality and characteristics for extended travel. What might they be, you ask?

I believe first and foremost that you have to be able to suspend judgment. We all are ethnocentric - we see the world through our own values from our cultural upbringing. When abroad it is essential that you have an open mind and even a curiosity for things that are not familiar to you. Can you have a frank but still polite discussion with others on the deadly topics of politics, religion or other taboos in society? Will it end in an argument or a smile? Will you risk sacrificing a fat business contract for the sake of your ego or worse yet, the beliefs of older generations?

Also I believe that when traveling for business you need to have a sense of humour. Bad things may happen. Things that were promised might get modified. The question here is can you handle a little turbulence? If all in all you are involved in with a great company then I am sure you can negotiate respectfully. Pay attention to things that were given that were not promised. Do things balance out in the end?

Lastly I would like to say a business traveler needs a love of language, as language is indeed a window to the culture itself. Even when visiting a country for a short time you should learn at least a few greetings and expressions. It is the quickest way to start to understand your new friends and business partners. Not just their words, but their intention behind the words, and also why they do the things they do that may seem strange to you. In today's world of internet access there is no excuse why you cannot download a few pages to study on your way there or shortly after you arrive.

Well I could go on perhaps listing other important characteristics of an international traveler but for now I think I have hit the few critical characteristics near to my heart.

As I head back to Canada tomorrow I will be smiling, thinking of the good times I have had both personally and professionally, and although I miss my home and the people there I cannot escape the feeling that I will soon miss Moscow just as much.
Thanks for the memories.

Just this week there was a major ring of ID thieves that were caught. Most were from Romania although some of them were from the United States. They were stealing names, Social Security numbers, credit card data and other personal information. This was all part of a "phishing" scam. The practice known as phishing typically involves sending fraudulent e-mails that include links directing recipients to fake Web sites where they are asked to input sensitive data. Phishers may also include attachments that, when clicked, secretly install "spyware" that can capture personal information and send it to third parties over the Internet.

Prosecutors say phishers based in Romania snagged information about thousands of credit and debit card accounts and other personal data from people who answered spam e-mail. The data were then sent to the U.S. and encoded on magnetic cards that could be used to withdraw money from bank accounts. So, why would you open spam email? Some ID thieves know how to conceal the truth in an email and make it seem authentic.

If you suspect it is anything but authentic, contact your bank or local authorities. But NEVER ever send any personal informational through an email that you opened up. Always be the one to initiate the contact when sending personal info and even then you have to be careful. Make sure clear your cache often if you are using it for e-commerce transactions.

There has never been a time in history that so many of our technologies can be used against us. But the criminals and international rings are not growing tired nor are they slowing down. We should not slow down either but press even harder to stay on top of the game. Make sure you have anti-spyware and anti-virus protection on your computer to battle this crime.

Never give out your password to anyone and make sure that you initiate the contact when you give out personal info on a website. Don't click on any links in emails that are asking you to input any of your account information. Your bank or credit card agency will not need to send you an email asking you for your account information. And if you find that they do, hurry and get another bank or credit card.

Don't hesitate to question any new accounts opened up in your name that you did not open. Don't hesitate to ask ANY questions when it comes to YOUR account and good name. This is your business and if you have to get aggressive so be it. The bank doesn't care about your name the way you do, so why not be proactive. Stay the steps to protect yourself and fight ID theft.

The more explicit you are with your marketing plan strategy, the more you will be able to identify the right opportunities and the more likely you will be able to reach your target audience for your home based international business opportunity.

Many people have a deluged feeling of overwhelm when it comes to operating their home based internet business as there seem to be so many avenues to take. They are looking for some guidance.

What is missing for serious individuals to actually make progress towards the goals they have set with their international business opportunity?

The most essential missing component is MINDSET!

It's essential to know your destination, where you want to be, what you want, and who you want to be.

Take an assessment of where you are now and it will give you a much clearer picture of what you need to do to get to your destination.

Figure out your INTENTIONS and actually write them down. This will take some focused effort and time. Once you've done this, it will allow you to develop and condition your thought processes for the success you desire.

A great book to guide you to developing empowering INTENTION statements for the various areas of your life, including your international business opportunity, is "Imagine Your Soul Abundant" by Judy Berg.

Once you are aware of and have done the work to determine and set up your MINDSET and INTENTION statements, you will need to develop your international business opportunity Marketing Plan...

First, to establish your presence, research empowering keywords that will enable you to connect with your potential customers and attract them to your international business opportunity.

Figure out their mindset so you can figure out the places to find them so you can help empower them with your international business opportunity and your own skill-sets and possible training. (Their mindset may be like yours when you were looking for and found your specific opportunity).

Get your website up and running and be sure to make an offer to your target audience they won't be able to refuse. (This should include providing true value such as a digital product you have produced or informative and educational information and materials).

Second, focus on improving your promotions.

Using keywords and SEO (Search Engine Optimization), learn how to position yourself at the top of internet search engine results on Google, Bing, Yahoo, Alexa and all the others for your home based internet business.

Include the use of social media where you can provide valued content to create a buzz by giving people something to talk about and to remember you.

Make sure to have an opt-in box on your website so you can build your list and then start developing a relationship founded on trust from the valued content you regularly send out to them via emails using Aweber, HootSuite and so on.

Third, make sure you have a built-in strategy to increase the profits of your business.

Set up tracking and spend time performing analysis of the results of your marketing for your international business opportunity. One of the most common mistakes is to realize that you have to measure it if you want to manage it.

In other words, you have to learn how to test, analyze and tweak to improve and get empowering results with your marketing efforts for your international business opportunity.

Be consistent and persistent. Leave your mark by planting an unforgettable seed that will grow in the mind of your target audience.

Always follow-up consistently with meaningful and valued content, questions and information. In other words, serve them by giving them what they are hungry for with empowering and truly beneficial information to help your target audience one way or the other, even with their own home based internet business or international business opportunity.

Business on the international level would mean transactions done by two or more different countries. Mostly the transactions would focus on a country's resources in terms of labor, products, and financial resources.

The modern times have ushered in advancement when it comes to technology and communication making our society global.

Some people are looking into pursuing an international business career. This is quite a challenge and interesting endeavor as it requires a person to understand the different diverse culture of every country he will be dealing with. Aside from getting the chance to travel around the world, it will allow a person to learn and discover each country's uniqueness when it comes to language, culture and even the political and financial system.

The person is also required to possess skills in math and communication. He should have the knack of creative thinking on how to deal with people from other countries.

Because of the presence of internet, communication is not a barrier anymore. You can easily share and retrieve important data at a short period of time from country to country. This makes international business transactions effective and productive at a short period of time.

Collaboration of marketing, sales, manufacturing and outsourcing of job can be done in a short period of time with the aid of modern communication through the Internet. Even problems whether financial or technical can be promptly solved.

International business career is highly potential to pursue. However, it is important that the person should put emphasis on understanding the complexity of establishing a good business relation with other countries to be successful.

It is very challenging to learn the different culture and language of other countries but it is considered a must. It can also be helpful if you do some research that will prepare you on how to deal with people from other countries.

Operating a business in another country can be challenging indeed. That I can attest too after franchising my company abroad. Being an American company brings with it a bit of prestige and respect, but all of that can turn in a moment if our leadership ends up hitting a political impasse with any of these other countries you are doing business in. International diplomacy is a touchy issue, and all too often business people get caught in the middle. It's a travesty, and it seems that all the hard work that business people do as they conduct their international business transactions can be lost in a heartbeat by ego driven politics.

Then there are issues with trade disputes, territorial waters, human rights, and other nations which are allied with or against our trading partners. All of this makes it extremely complicated, and more difficult to manage and operate for the international business person. Let me give you an example of a rather challenging issue regarding the Japanese automakers in China.

There was yet another article in the fourth quarter of 2012 over how the territorial water conflicts between China and Japan had caused nationalistic pride in both nations. In China protestors attacked a number of Japanese automobile factories, and the number of new Japanese cars sold in China plummeting by half. This latest article appeared on November 10, 2012 in the Wall Street Journal titled; "Boycott Hits Japan Car Sales" by Rose Yu, Colum Murphy, and Yajun Zhang.

The attached graph showed car sales in China of Japanese cars slid from 250,000 in June and July to under 100,000 by October - indeed, a huge hit for the Japanese automakers by anyone's standards. What many people don't understand is this could easily happen to the United States as well. If the United States were to get in the way, or take a lead role in negotiating territorial waters off the coast of China with the Philippines, Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan, or Japan it is quite possible that Chinese nationals would dismiss products made there by US companies.

This could hurt Wal-Mart, McDonald's, General Motors, Boeing, and a number of the companies on the Fortune 500 list. That in turn would hurt these US companies and their bottom line, therefore their stock price, which would also lead to consolidation, laid-off employees, and could easily crush their profitability for multiple quarters until things came back into view and the situation resolved itself.

The challenge of course for international business person is; you just never know. It isn't just these large companies that get it hurt, such issues can easily affect the growth and sales of smaller companies doing business and trading with these other nations. Please consider all this and think on it.

In this work driven world, people are goal-oriented and often financially driven; and sometimes people take for granted the importance of physical safety. Insurance makes security tangible. The insurance industry has delved its hands into various aspects of life, securing animals to kids to education to cars. You name it, insurance can secure it. Insurance has become so important in our everyday life that it's now considered an imperative need.

The largest group of insurance companies are engaged in the travel insurance business. These insurance companies typically offer specialised policies to business travellers. The policies cover risks associated with international or domestic travel which include accidents, deaths, trip cancellations, lost tickets, damage to properties like car rentals and other concerns related to travelling. Procuring this type of insurance is important because it provides security not only to the traveller but also the employer.

Business travellers, especially those travelling internationally, are people on the go. Their employers are potential policy holders. Business travellers are exposed to more risks. The risk covered by the corporate travel insurance is unique to the business the traveller represents. For example, a business traveller working as a car dealer meets an accident while on a Cessna plane can be compensated by a travel insurance covering the risks of medical expenses while working on the job. In getting a corporate travel insurance policy, it is important to tailor the policy in order to cover all the risks that the business traveller is exposed to in relation to the work he's involved in. Equity dictates that tailored fit policies are necessary for the safety and security of both the employer and the business travellers because of the basic reason that their travels are considered work; it is but a natural obligation for the employers to compensate and insure them.

Corporate travel insurance differs from the usual holidaymaker insurance because it cover more risks and could be specialised in accordance to the type of business the business traveller represents. For example, if the business traveller is working for mining company, the travel insurance policy can include accidents met while visiting a mining site. Because of this specialisation feature, the premium paid for these corporate travel insurance is higher than the usual travel insurance.

A tailored corporate insurance policy is being offered by various insurance companies. One of the most comprehensive policies is the group business travel insurance. For this type of insurance, it is important that the insured or the policy holder is the employer and the beneficiaries are the employees or group members. As to the requirements, each insurance policy provides for different requirements; basically if the employer can pay the premium and the insurance company is willing to cover the risk then a tailored group business insurance policy can be issued.

People work to earn a living. Often than not their work is the cause of their injuries. It is important for employers as well to prevent lawsuits filed by employees they send for travel. The best and equitable solution is to procure corporate travel insurance.