Management & Leadership

According to the shamanic traditions, the great mystery of being is that all things are alive and have a level of intelligence. This is because all things are a part of the Great Spirit. However, all things also function individually, in thought and action. It is in these individual actions that karma is born. Karmic laws also state that all karma, both good and bad, must also return home...return to sender!

Most of us don''t have a good grasp of group karma. Simply stated, if you agree to be a member of a group situation, you are also agreeing to it''s collective karmic pattern of return. So sooner or later problems at work, in your business or corporate structure will show up at your front door. It''s like you caught the flu from the group...but now your personally ill.

As humanity grows in it''s awareness...it also grows in karmic responsibility. So years ago many industries caused environmental problems, but were not aware of that fact. However, karmic law states all things must return home..........so these industries don''t really exist today.....or operate in a weakened condition [ in the future they will not exist at all].

According to my spirit guides, there is a big push these days too clean up the karma of the global business world. We know from the news that many business institutions, and even very large corporations are in trouble these days..many will not make it through the heavy gate of karmic return. They will fail.............

On the brighter side, Spirit is not against business, but is really pro-business....so now what?The newer business model that is emerging is much more holistic. By agreeing to function more holistically, much less damaging karma developes.....and if you''re really aware of all business levels...very little negative karma developes. So, if you''re in a corporate or business situation, and things are not really going right...take the time to clear the issues up, before you catch the karmic flu!

Just at the environmental level, many things should be addressed....but just start by keeping your office or work space clean and organized....this helps clear out negative energy patterns. Taking it one step further...use Feng Shui tools and techniques if you know how. Or buy a book, hire a consultant or use trial and error to solve some of the ongoing issues around you at the job or business.

Jerry publishes an online magazine and newsletter dealing with shamanism and holism as they aply to life and business. http://www.jeremiahhuck.workzsites.com', 144, 'Business Ethics: The Law of Corporate Karma, Ethics, Ethics articles, Ethics information, about Ethics, what is Ethics, Ethics Information', 'Business Ethics: The Law of Corporate Karma plus articles and information on Ethics

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As a small business operator, personal checks may be one method to receive payment for your goods or services. As a way to receive payment, a personal check is actually better than credit cards because the fees are less and there can be no charge back.

Fortunately, most people are honest and studious in taking care of their checking account. But sooner or later every small business operator will receive a bad check. The first thing to do is politely contact the individual and give them an opportunity to make the check good.

Most times you''ll find that the customer has simply been careless with their checking account or finances. They will probably be embarrassed about the incident and will immediately replace the check with a good one. Unfortunately, there are rare occasions when the individual who gave you the bad check decides to make themselves scarce.

Note: If a personal check is for more than a few dollars, it''s best to let the check clear before delivering the product or service. Say, for example, that someone wants to buy your car with a personal check for twice what the car''s worth. Remember, a check is just a piece of paper until after it clears. They can return to pick up the car after the check clears, or you can offer to drive with the individual to their bank to get the cash.

There are three reasons why a personal check may not clear: "insufficient funds", "account closed", or "stop payment". The proper action to take depends upon why the check didn''t clear. If the check is returned for "insufficient funds", and you can''t locate the individual who wrote the check, file a crime report at your local police station. If a police investigator can locate the individual who passed the bad check, that individual will be required to pay you and/or spend some time behind bars.

If the check was returned "account closed", you may have a criminal case depending upon when the account was closed. If the account was closed before the date the check was written, you definitely have a criminal case. If the account was closed afer the check was written, the court may determine that you didn''t present the check for payment in a timely manner. In that case, you have a civil matter, not a criminal complaint.

If the check was returned because of a "stop payment", you have a civil matter. Some people try to save time and work by filing a crime report for ANY check that doesn''t clear. This can result in the individual who gave you the check being arrested. They may miss work and encounter a host of other problems as a result of your FALSE crime report.

I said FALSE crime report, because an individual who puts a stop payment order on a check almost always does so because of dissatisfaction with a product or service. The accused individual is now in a position to countersue for the problems caused as a result of your FALSE crime report. This could end up costing you a lot more than the value of the check.

Sooner or later every small business operator will receive a bad check. The first thing to do is politely contact the individual and give them the opportunity to make the check good. If that doesn''t work, many people try to save time and work by filing a crime report regardless of why the check didn''t clear. It''s very important to determine why a check didn''t clear before deciding on a course of action.

Disclaimer: Stephen Bucaro is not engaged in rendering medical, legal, accounting or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

Copyright(C) Bucaro TecHelp.

Permission is granted for the below article to forward, reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website, offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as long as no changes are made and the byline, copyright, and the resource box below is included.

About The Author

Stephen Bucaro

To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on the Web visit bucarotechelp.com. To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter visit http://bucarotechelp.com/search/000800.asp.', 176, 'What to do When You receive a Bad Check, Management, Management articles, Management information, about Management, what is Management, Business Management Information', 'What to do When You receive a Bad Check plus articles and information on Management

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What is the number one way to prevent failure in business? Take a minute to really think about your answer. What comes to mind? Increasing patients or customers served? ? Effective marketing? ? Location, location, location? ? Improving patient or customer care? ? Being the best in your industry?

Although these are all essential aspects of business, the answer isn''t any of the above. The number one way to prevent business failure is to properly manage your working capital.

To ensure that we''re all on the same page, working capital is simply defined as the difference between your current assets and current liabilities. If this figure is positive, you have working capital available. This working capital may exist as inventory, accounts receivable, or cash on hand.

Working capital management is a critical management issue for growing businesses or medical practices. Take the example of a growing doctor''s office: As expenses rise with patient-load increases, you accrue more outstanding cash, particularly before receiving reimbursement from the health insurance payors. At this point, your incoming cash does not nearly offset your costs going out. This may be manageable while you work with payments for past services; however, eventually the time lag may become a significant stress-point for your business.

By adopting a few working capital management strategies, you can make your assets work for you, without becoming beholden to banks.

Strategy #1: Get Paid Now

Let''s take a look at the most obvious area: accounts receivable. What do your receivables do for you when they are not being paid? While your profit margins may look stellar if you have a lot of orders, you have essentially loaned all of your clients the amounts of your invoices-until they decide to pay you. Doctors, in particular, know the pain of this situation. Insurance payors are particularly adept at prolonging the time for payment; they realize that the longer they take to pay, the greater their profit margins.

Is this just another cost of doing business? Well, not necessarily. Eighty percent of small business owners, medical practitioners, and small hospitals are completely unaware of a resource Fortune 500 companies have used for decades: accounts receivable funding.

Banks often measure accounts receivable at as low as 50 percent of their overall value as collateral for a traditional loan. In accounts receivable funding, however, accounts receivable are calculated at full value. Plus, you accrue no debt for this financing, as you essentially sell your accounts receivable for payment against the full value.

Perhaps the idea of selling your revenue stream makes you nervous. But consider this: You usually receive 80 percent of the entire amount of the invoice within one or two days-at least 28 to 118 days sooner than usual. This cash injection allows you to make capital improvements for your business to generate more revenue, leverage the cash for discounts on your inventory, cover operating costs, or provide bonuses to your employees, for instance.

As your invoices are paid, your funder will repay the other 20 percent, minus the negotiated fee (average four to five percent of the invoiced amount). Don''t get hung up on the ''cost'' of the funding. With proper management of those funds, you will more than make up for fees by the investments made in your business. Your day-to-day business costs may stay the same, but the tremendous increase in incoming cash will enable you to rest easy.

Homework: Review your accounts receivable aging report. Note the average payment time from one of your best clients or insurance payors. Assuming payment of 80 percent of the invoice value in 48 hours, make a list of ways to use that money for your business:

• Cash discounts on inventory (estimate in dollar amounts).

   

• Buying or leasing new equipment (anticipated return in additional sales).

   

• New marketing campaign (anticipated additional revenue).

   

After you total the increased income generated by implementing this strategy, you can easily see the real benefit.

Strategy #2: Shorten Your Operating Cycle

Your operating cycle starts when you take cash out of your account to begin work for a client, and ends the day the client pays you. If you complete a project on Tuesday, for instance, but do not invoice until the following Friday-or even the end of the month-you lose days of income. Since you need the cash in your account-not just in your profit margins-you must minimize the time between service rendered and service invoiced.

Homework: Review how long you usually take to invoice a client. If that period of time exceeds a week, have your staff shorten that time. This adjustment will decrease the payment time by as much as 25 percent.

Strategy #3: Collect Past Due Accounts

Do you have a significant number of invoices out more than 60 days? If so, is your staff doing anything to shorten this timeframe? Call the clients whose invoices have been out 30 days and inquire about the invoice. Devoting a few hours a week to completing this task is money well spent if it ensures that even half of your outstanding invoices are paid a couple of weeks earlier.

Some delays in the healthcare industry, for example, are intentional. Prolonging the turnaround for payment controls costs. In these cases, you don''t have any recourse. As any doctor can tell you, calling the insurance company to inquire about a claim can be a fruitless task.

Homework: Review your collections procedures and tighten up your ship, if needed. Assign one person to follow up on invoices outstanding for more than 30 days. Realize, though, that collections results fluctuate with your clients'' priorities. Don''t count on this as your only means of improving your cash flow.

Strategy #4: Turn Existing Equipment Into Cash

As we know, keeping current with technology improvements are constant and necessary to remain competitive. Leasing is a way to stay up-to-date without incurring the charges of frequently buying new equipment.

But have you ever considered leasing equipment that you already own? One option is selling your equipment to a leasing company, and leasing it back from them. This way, you generate some cash for your business. You will, of course, incur the lease payments.

Homework: Take stock of what you own. If you need capital, contact a few leasing companies and gauge their interest in purchasing equipment for you to lease back. Alternatively, a Certified Cash Flow Consultant will shop for you. Since they are independent consultants paid by the leasing companies, you will avoid any additional charges.

Strategy #5: When In Doubt, Outsource

Outsourcing certain support areas of your business, in which you are not an expert, is an excellent way to reduce payroll and insurance costs. You will spend a higher dollar per hour for importing experts, but the reduced costs (no health or workers'' compensation insurance) usually compensate for the cost variance.

Be sure to hire these experts with as much diligence as you would any in-house employee. As you''ll typically retain this type of assistance through specialty staffing houses, interview the individuals to be assigned. As integral members of your team, they must be as reliable as any employee on your payroll.

Homework: Contact area firms that provide the kind of staffing you need. Compare the cost of those contracts against the cost of keeping these staff on payroll. Be careful: Consultants can get expensive, so be sure to build cost controls (i.e., fixed fee for a weekly basis or hourly with a ''not to exceed'' clause) into your contract. Be clear on their scope of work, to whom they report, and how you define satisfactory performance. In addition, you must directly approve any staff changes.

Strategy #6: Inventory When You Need It

Inventory that sits in the warehouse, not being sold for income, eats away at your available cash flow. It is an asset, sure, but it should not become a liability because it is not quickly converted to cash. Over-ordering of inventory gets many businesses into trouble.

Review your inventory forecast all the time, and be aggressive. Know your options in times when you have shortfalls. Fulfilling customer orders on time is a number one priority, so don''t take unnecessary risks. If you simply hoard inventory to offset any chance of being caught off-guard, you lose the potential profits made by managing it more aggressively.

Homework: Review your current and projected inventory for the coming months. Do you need to make changes, or is it all under control? Make any necessary calls to your suppliers to negotiate better terms or better understand their supply controls.

Make Your Working Capital Work for You

Working capital management is a key element to business success and the number one way to prevent business failure. By implementing strategies such as accounts receivable funding, outsourcing, or inventory management, your business can optimize the return on assets it already possesses. Your company will then be well positioned to handle future growth or economic downturns.

*Reprinted from Create the Business Breakthrough You Want:

Secrets and Strategies from the World*s Greatest Mentors

© 2004 Mission Publishing, a division of The Mission Marketing

Mentors, Inc., http://www.missionpublishing.net, or

http://www.missionmarketingmentors.com

About The Author

Ms. Anindya Kar, Certified Cash Flow Consultant, specializes in helping small businesses and medical providers with business financing. Her company, AKSF Funding Group (http://www.aksffunding.com), is based in Oakland, California, and works with clients nationwide. You may contact her for more information at 800.406.1399 or mailto:akar@aksffunding.com.', 176, 'What 80% of Businesses Don?t Know: Tips for Improving Your Working Capital Management, Management, Management articles, Management information, about Management, what is Management, Business Management Information', 'What 80% of Businesses Don?t Know: Tips for Improving Your Working Capital Management plus articles and information on Management

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Women business owners are our only clients, so naturally we celebrate and support female entrepreneurship. Operating in this market gives us the good fortune to learn about some of the deeper themes in the lives of women business owners. It gives us insights into what really matters to women, and to what contributes not only to their success, but more importantly to their happiness and gratification in their professional lives.

So what are some of the common denominators among women who on the surface appear very different and diverse?

Female entrepreneurs got comfortable enough with the idea of risk to take action. Notice I did not just say "comfortable" I said, "comfortable enough." By being a risk-taker, I don''t mean adopting a "ready, fire, aim" mentality. I also don''t mean "ready, aim, do more research, aim again, talk it over with friends, aim again, do another market analysis, prepare to fire, ask more questions, aim again?" and never fire. Successful women entrepreneurs do not suffer from what we might call "analysis paralysis." And they would see this as a blessing. Most entrepreneurs would tell you that it''s a good thing they didn''t know what their future would look like and how many challenges they would face, or they would never have begun! To be an entrepreneur means having the courage which is best summed up by John Wayne when he said, "Courage is being scared to death and saddlin'' up anyway."

Many, perhaps most, women business owners simply "started" ? they didn''t found a company with a formal business plan and an SBA loan so much as they hung out a shingle and began doing what they knew they did well. They recognized they were good at what they did and thought, "I know as much (or more!) as the owner of this company does about how to run a good business. Why am I working for him (her)?" Or they were uncomfortable with something in their work environment (perhaps the values, the management style, the vision) and decided it was time to fly. Most women found something they loved to do and turned it into a business. They didn''t buy a business based on market analysis or how much income they could generate. It wasn''t a process based solely on logic, but more on love. Recently, more women have become entrepreneurs by accident, not by choice, when corporate downsizing eliminated their position. They became a consultant or bought a franchise or started a company. Women who began entrepreneurship through unemployment shared the attitude that they were the lucky recipients of a severance package that will help them start their own business, not victims of the corporate machine.

While women entrepreneurs are a diverse group, they do share some important character traits. In general, we see women owners inclined to take initiative, to act; they are blessed with a high energy level. They are persevering, not daunted by problems, but facing them squarely they find a way through, around, or over to a solution.

Women business owners honor the importance of making their work a reflection of who they are and what is important to them. They know who they are, what their values are, what brings them satisfaction and what gives their days meaning. This often has less to do with the content of their work than with the process. For example, one of our members owns a wholesale meat company. This doesn''t mean that she has a lifelong love of cattle, (or worse, of cattle carcasses), but it does mean that she works in a business that is a perfect fit for her skills and talents. She loves the process of creating the vision, the systems, the structure and the teamwork to carry out the plan. She loves the process of improvement, the process of making something better.

And last, but perhaps most important, the most successful female entrepreneurs we see are those who have a grounded sense of self-confidence. They are not arrogant by any means. In fact they are usually quite humble. But somewhere along the way they learned the importance of removing any self-imposed limitations or psychological glass ceilings. I know several successful women business owners who never graduated from college. If they let that get in their way, if they somehow saw themselves as less able, less capable than other women, they would never have built the successful businesses they have today.

Are you hearing that entrepreneurial voice? If so, I hope you''ll see yourself as competent and capable enough of accepting the full manifestation of the success you desire, see yourself as deserving. You don''t need to know all there is to know, but please do hold in your mind your specific image of what success looks like for you. I wish you much success!

FIVE FACTS ABOUT WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS

From the Center of Women''s Business Research

? Nationwide, as of 2004, nearly half (48%) of all privately-held U.S. firms are 50% or more women-owned

? Between 1997 and 2004, the estimated growth rate in the number of women-owned firms nationwide was nearly twice that of all firms (17% vs. 9%), employment expanded at twice the rate of all firms

? In the U.S., women-owned firms employ 19.1 million people and generate $2.5 trillion in sales.

© 2004 Darcie Harris

Darcie Harris is co-founder of EWF International®, an Oklahoma based firm providing personal advisory boards for women business owners and executives. With 30 years experience in marketing, sales, management and entrepreneurship, she is achieving her dream by helping others achieve theirs. EWF International® franchises are available throughout the Southwest.
http://www.ewfinternational.com', 143, 'Hearing That Entrepreneurial Voice?, Entrepreneurialism, Entrepreneurialism articles, Entrepreneurialism information, about Entrepreneurialism, what is Entrepreneurialism, Entrepreneur Information', 'Hearing That Entrepreneurial Voice? plus articles and information on Entrepreneurialism

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Does it seem like everyone and everything is vying for your attention all at once? It can be hard for solo entrepreneurs to know what to do first, let alone try to find the time to get caught up. Here are some time management tips that will help you to stay on top of it all:

1. Put your to-do list in writing and prioritize it. Studies show that people who write their lists down are 90% more likely to complete their list than those who do not.

2. Be realistic about how long it takes to get things done. Block out a reasonable amount of time on your planner, especially if it''s an appointment where there''s driving time to consider.

3. Schedule time with yourself, without interruptions. If that means closing your office door and letting your voicemail take phone messages, then that''s what you need to do. Do this at your most productive time of the day. Are you a morning person? Start your day out with some quiet time by yourself, when you''re the most productive and focused.

4. Don''t multi-task. That''s right! These days, people have found that they''re much more productive when they''re allowed to focus on one task at a time, rather than constantly juggling a dozen different projects at once. Think about it ? don''t you feel like you''ve actually accomplished something when you can cross things off your list?

5. Are you a "yes" person? Learn to say no. Sometimes adding just one more thing to your to-do list means staying at work an extra hour. Ask yourself if you really have the time and energy to handle one more task. Don''t guilt yourself into it, especially if you''ll feel resentful later, for having done it.

6. Do you work at home? Don''t let common distractions sidetrack you. That basket of laundry will still be there at the end of the day.

7. Try to combine like tasks. If you have lots of phone calls to make and emails to respond to, make all of the phone calls first, then tackle the emails.

8. Keep all your contacts in one place, within easy reach. Do whatever works for you, whether you keep an address book in your day planner, in Outlook, or in your Palm. You need to have fast and easy access to phone numbers and email addresses.

9. Use waiting time productively. When waiting for an appointment or traveling, catch up on reading trade magazines, writing correspondence, or jotting down creative ideas for marketing your business.

10. At the end of each day, plan for the next day. Write down tomorrow''s to-do list, prioritize it, and then clean off your desk.

Jean Hanson is a Certified Professional Virtual Assistant. Discover how partnering with a virtual assistant will give you more time to do the things you love to do! Visit her at http://www.vaofficesolution.com. Jean is also the author of the eBook, Virtualize Your Business - http://www.virtualizeyourbiz.com.', 143, 'Time Management Tips for Solo Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurialism, Entrepreneurialism articles, Entrepreneurialism information, about Entrepreneurialism, what is Entrepreneurialism, Entrepreneur Information', 'Time Management Tips for Solo Entrepreneurs plus articles and information on Entrepreneurialism

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One of the most important benefits employed people enjoy is health insurance coverage. It is also the single most costly expense for self-employed entrepreneurs. So what can you do to reduce ever increasing costs of health care coverage? Here are a few tips.

1. If a medical bill seems excessive, try negotiating

Your doctor or the office manager who handles billing will probably be flexible, provided you make a valid case. When one woman in Texas was charged $900 for surgery and "consultation," she explained that she had visited the hospital just once, for surgery; her bill was promptly cut by $370.

2.. Contact a medical bill "auditor"

Several services have a medical bill "auditing" system that evaluates your medical bills to determine if errors occurred in the billing process. Considering that 97 percent of hospital medical bills contain errors, it''s no wonder why out-of-pocket medical expenses are on the rise for consumers. Because the typical hospital bill is extremely complicated, often containing several hundred line-item charges, there is ample opportunity for computer mistakes and accidental human error. Do a Google search for medical bill auditors to find companies offering this service.

3. You may get a tax break on your medical bills

Keep all your medical bills together and add them up at tax time. If they exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income, you may deduct the excess. Please note that these items also may be included in the total: the cost of eye glasses, contact lenses, physical therapy, x-rays, hearing aids, psychiatric care, insurance and transportation to the hospital or doctor''s office (at 30 cents a mile). There are phase-outs in some cases based on adjusted gross income. Check with your professional tax adviser.

4. Deduct 100% of your healthcare costs from your taxes

The IRS allows all self-employed to deduct 100% of health care costs from their taxes by using Section 105 of the Internal Revenue Code. To receive this deduction, you must do the following:

a) Hire your spouse as an employee of your business.

b) Have your spouse receive health insurance in his or her name, and include the family on the policy.

c) Pay your spouse a salary that will cover the costs of the insurance.

d) Talk to your tax professional about planning for Section 105 on your taxes.

We all know your spouse is active in your business. Now, you can equally recognize their contribution he or she makes ? and get Uncle Sam to give you a tax break.

5. Help for families with kids -- CHIP

All states have established new programs that help lower income families with children to pay for health insurance for their kids. Financed partly by the federal government, the Children''s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP) operate either as an expansion of the state''s Medicaid program or a subsidy for basic private health insurance. Eligible families may be able to access coverage for their children at greatly reduced premiums which will vary depending upon family income. Contact your state Department of Health or Insurance for more information.

6. Shop around

Hospital costs vary widely, especially between urban and rural facilities. If your doctor has admitting privileges at more than one hospital, find out if you can be admitted to the one that''s less expensive. Keep in mind that hospitals operated by non-profit foundations are usually less expensive than investor-owned, for profit hospitals. To find out how much your local hospitals charge, ask your doctor. Many states have Health Services Cost Review Commissions, which compile such data.

7. Check for free clinics in your community

You and your entire family can save hundreds of dollars by taking advantage of the many free screenings, immunizations, and other health clinics offered by your local community or a town near you. Numerous community hospitals and social services can provide blood pressure checks, shots for your children, free contraceptives and/or advice, and other preventative health care at little to no cost.

8. Get a second opinion out of town

Believe it or not, your chance of undergoing an expensive surgery or preventative procedure may depend solely on where you happen to live. Statistics show that the frequency in which certain medical procedures are performed varies widely from location to location. For example, residents of New Haven, Conn., are twice as likely to undergo a coronary bypass operation as residents of Boston, Mass. What''s the reason for this discrepancy? One Dartmouth Medical School expert, John E. Wennberg, M.D., M.H.P., explains that certain operations are simply more fashionable in some parts of the United States than others. So, if you plan to get a second opinion prior to surgery, consider going to a specialist in another city. In addition, try to find out what the surgery rates for your procedure are in different cities. HealthAllies.com also offers this service online at www.healthallies.com. To get the names of second-opinion doctors in your region, call the U.S. government''s toll-free second-opinion hotline at 1-800-638-6833.

9. Don''t pay double for a second opinion

As you make arrangements for a second opinion, ask your doctor to send copies of your medical records, x-rays, and lab tests to the second-opinion doctor. These tests don''t need duplication; your second doctor will have the information he or she needs ? and you don''t pay double.

10. Emotional stability

Your mental health is equally important as your physical health. Do you have blue days once in awhile, or struggle with gray winters? St. John''s Wort, an over-the-counter herbal supplement, has been proven to increase positive moods. Before rushing to your family physician for medication to make you feel better, try supplements with a combination of expressing your feelings with friends and a healthy lifestyle. Mood stabilizers are some of the most costly medications on the market today. However, you should be aware of the signs of stress or even depression. Give yourself a simple screening test:

• Do you have feelings of sadness and/or irritability?
• Has there been a loss of interest in pleasure activities you once enjoyed?
• Have there been changes in your weight or appetite?
• Have you noticed changes in your sleeping pattern?
Are you feeling guilty?
• Do you have the inability to concentrate, remember things or make decisions?
• Are you fatigued or have a loss of energy?
• Do you experience restlessness or decreased activity noticed by others?
• Do you have feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness?
• Do you have thoughts of suicide or death?

If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, consider consulting your family physician. If they recommend mental health treatment, it is more cost-effective to have your family physician prescribe mood stabilizers instead of seeing a psychiatrist. However, follow your doctor''s instructions on counseling and referrals to mental health professionals.

11. Order your prescription drugs by phone, web or mail

There are many discount prescription drug benefits available for a modest cost. Communicating for Agriculture and the Self-Employed offers a free prescription card through PCS. This program saves its members up to 40 percent at over 55,000 pharmacies nationwide. On average, CA members save $9.39 per prescription order. You can enroll free on their Web site at www.selfemployedcountry.org.

12. Ask your doctor to prescribe generic drugs

Medicine marketed under its scientific name is usually 50 percent cheaper and just as effective as brand-name versions. In addition, look for generic drugs in the medicine you purchase over the counter. For example, 100 generic aspirin may cost $1.79; the same ingredients packaged under a well-known brand name can cost more than $5 for 100 tablets. Consider, also, just how important the new easy-to-swallow products are to your comfort. The lesser price of some medicines may be comparably easier to swallow when thinking about your budget.

13. Get enrolled in a group plan

For self employed people including those involved in small businesses, individual health insurance can be extremely costly ? sometimes as much as 30 percent of your take home pay. By joining associations like National Association for the Self Employed (www.nase.org), you have the opportunity to enroll in a group insurance plan with unique built-in cost controls.

14. Choose a higher deductible

Often for the healthy family, the number of visits to the doctor totals less than $250 a year, a normally low deductible rate. This low deduction rate, however, can end up costing you more in the form of higher premiums. If your family has enjoyed good health for a number of years, you may want to switch to a higher deductible of $500 or $1000. You''ll notice greatly reduced premiums.

15. Pay premiums annually

You avoid the service fee and may also receive a discount from your insurance carrier. Check with your insurance agent about how much money you can save if you pay your premium one time during the year.

16. Make sure there''s a ceiling for out-of-pocket expenses for catastrophic illnesses

About half of individual policyholders lack this important provision, according to insurance experts, who recommend a major medical policy with a stop-loss clause limiting policyholder payout to $2,000 or $3,000.

17. Get educated about your health

Invest in your health by becoming information-rich. Read publications about health care. Pay special attention to free wellness publications like Inside Mayo Clinic at www.mayo.edu/healthinfo/public.html or have on hand a book on medical self-care, like The AAFP Family Health and Medical Guide and The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. A wealth of information is also available on the Internet.

18. Take advantage of free health advice

For free information booklets from the U.S. government about nearly every health care topic you can imagine, simply write to the Consumer Information Center in Pueblo, Colorado. The government offers several dozen booklets on topics ranging from nutrition, medical problems, mental health, to drugs, exercise and weight control. To receive a catalog explaining these booklets, write to:

Consumer Information Center
PO Box 100
Pueblo, CO 81009
www.pueblo.gsa.gov (you can download booklets from this site)

Once again the U.S. Government comes through by providing a number of toll free health care information phone services. Topics are numerous, including hearing aids, cancer information, Alzheimer''s disease, drugs and pregnancy issues. For information on the health topics and phone numbers, call the National Health Information Center at 1-800-336-4797.

19. Brush up on first-aid skills and become CPR certified.

Proper treatment of various accidents may reduce the number of visits to the doctor, and can save lives in an emergency. It''s important to always keep an updated medical kit in your home or office.

Here are the basics for your first-aid kit:

• bandage supplies, including a roll of 3 inch wide gauze, individually packaged 4 inch sterile gauze pads, a roll of 1 inch bandage tape, butterfly bandage tape, and scissors
• elastic bandages
• cotton swabs
• sterile dressings or towels
• pain reliever (acetaminophen or ibuprofen)
• anti-inflammatory medicine (ibuprofen)
• ipecac syrup (for use on advice of medical professional to induce vomiting)
• tweezers
• hydrogen peroxide
• skin creams, including hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion and antibiotic creams
• an antihistamine (diphenhydramine for allergic reactions)
• flashlight
• eye patch
• arm sling
• tongue depressors (to be used as a finger splint)
• ice pack
re-hydration fluids (such as Pedialyte or Infalyte)

20. Take a lifestyle approach to wellness ? every day

Take charge of your health by making simple changes in your lifestyle. By following these seven basic rules of good health, you''ll improve your chances of living a long, healthy, active life.

• Get eight hours of sleep per night.
• Eat breakfast every morning.
• Cut down on snacks between meals.
• Keep within 10 pounds of your recommended weight range. If you''re unsure what your weight range should be check with your doctor.
• Exercise aerobically for at least 30 minutes three times per week.
• Don''t smoke.
• Don''t drink more than two alcoholic beverages per day.
• Take recommended dosages of vitamins and supplements.

  Copyright 2004, Monikah Ogando, Ogando Associates, Inc.

  __________

  Monikah Ogando is a highly skilled facilitator and charismatic speaker. She continues to inspire her audience through her expertise in Business Development, leadership effectiveness, individual accountability and the values that guide excellence.

  She practices what she speaks: an entrepreneur, Monikah leads her own two companies, consulting firm Ogando Associates and Exodus House Publishers and is a Team Member of Solo-E.com.

  _________

  ***** Find more articles like this at http://www.Solo-E.com ? Keeping Solo Entrepreneurs Juiced in Business and in Life. Our team of Solo Entrepreneurs are comprised of small business experts who support others in finding business success with the flexibility and freedom to have a life, too. Network with other freelancers, self-employed and Solo Entrepreneurs in our forums, enjoy our articles and newsletter, and find other online training opportunities. *****', 143, 'Health Insurance for Solo Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurialism, Entrepreneurialism articles, Entrepreneurialism information, about Entrepreneurialism, what is Entrepreneurialism, Entrepreneur Information', 'Health Insurance for Solo Entrepreneurs plus articles and information on Entrepreneurialism

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