Video for Small Business

Video presents your business with a new opportunity for marketing. It has the ability to get millions of viewers worldwide. Imagine how this can benefit you. Perhaps you have a small to medium sized business and are wondering if video is right for you. If you use video for small business needs then you are bound to see an increase in subscribers and conversions.

I suspect you may have heard of a site called YouTube. This is a site now owned by Google and allows you to upload your video content. People around the world can then get the chance to view your video. YouTube runs second to Google now in the most popular search engines to use.

The advantage of small business video marketing does not only lie in its global reach. You will find video for small business purposes offers a low cost method of advertising.

All you need for producing good quality video content is a camcorder or some recording device. Also a computer is useful for editing the video content.

If you have an iPhone for example you will find it produces great high quality video content.

Before moving forward with video for small business, there are a few things to be aware of. Although we still use the computer to look at the internet and video, there are also other devices that have become popular. For example, smartphones and iPads are popular. More and more people are accessing the internet on the move these days.

Video marketing experts

No doubt you have a good marketing strategy already. If you want to enhance it further there are people who are capable of creating video for small business owners. This is quite useful for local internet marketing also.

A good strategy is to convert any static text sales pages you have into video sales pages. Articles and publications are other candidates for video content. You will be keeping ahead of your competitors by focussing on strategies like this. You can enlist various services to handle this kind of work for you.

This represents a great marketing strategy when creating video for small business purposes. You can use your video on blogs as well as YouTube in order to spread your message wide.

Sometimes it is better to let others with expertise in video content handle the work for you. This enables you to focus on other areas of your business while they work on creating your videos.

Video marketing tips

On YouTube you will find a variety of video content, some good, some not so good quality. More business owners are using small business video production in order to promote their product or services.

The great thing about YouTube is the massive worldwide audience it has. This is something you need to be a part of as you could be leaving sales on the table by not doing so. This has to be the best video marketing tool to take advantage of if using video for small business. There is no way you could have done this in the past.

Online video allows people to see what you have to offer. Educate and inform them about your products and reap the rewards as a result.

If you create a video for small business you will find it pays dividends for you. People who like your content are bound to come looking for your website. You can gain customers and make sales at the same time when you have more website traffic. Things are not so easy if you don’t.

It can be time consuming to write articles about your products. You need to deliver something that has value and is persuasive to customers. A better way is to convert that article to video content.

Creating video for small business will allow you to use your imagination to create something that has value and connects with your audience. It is not always necessary to show yourself on camera. You could just bring the article or sales page text into the video and narrate over the top. You can be persuasive and show your personality. This is much harder to do in plain old text sales copy.

You have a choice of video formats these days to choose from if you intend to create a video for small business. It is better to go for a camera that is able to record in MP4 or Mov format.

Ensure that it has a socket for an external microphone also as sometimes noise can be picked up from the camera motor. The inbuilt microphone cannot always handle this well. Read the reviews of the camera before investing in it though.

Alternatively, you could use a professional company to get the video made for you. They will be able to make a video for small business and will have the right camera, lighting, computer software etc.

It may be expensive to use a company for the work however, even though the results could be pretty good. Think carefully if you intend to do things this way.

If you want to try and keep online video production costs low then look for someone affordable. The truth is video for small business is affordable. The final output may be better than you expected and you may end up with the video for small business that you were expecting.

You don’t always need ultra-professional quality. I myself prefer to see a slightly amateurish approach as it seems more honest. What is the point of lots of dazzling effects if the video does not deliver on the important content?

Hopefully these tips will stand you in good stead in your video for small business strategy. Get involved with video and push your business ahead.

Conclusion

If your business has an online presence then you should be looking at what video can do for you. Think of the impact video for small business can have on your sales. Video sells things better than plain old text. We prefer to watch rather than read. If you can present visual content you will be branding yourself and getting future sales. Take a look at how best you can incorporate video in your marketing strategy today.

Self Employment Ideas With Low Start

People who are looking for self employment ideas with low start can find a lot of opportunities in many places. They simply need to have some information on how to begin and gather all their knowledge to reach out to the people who will be most interested in their line of business.Coaching is one of the best self employment ideas that has low start up cost. If you’ve always been interested in sports and know a sport inside out, then why not try out being a sports coach? You can coach your neighborhood kids or a local sports club. Or get into coaching a school team if you can manage that.If you like to write and have a flair for language and enjoy creative writing as a pastime, you can turn this into a lucrative career for yourself. Do some freelance writing for a local newspaper or magazine or even write articles or a blog about things you like. This is also one of the best self employment ideas with low start, as you’ll be happy with your job and will get paid for something that you enjoy doing.Online trading is a great idea. The goal is to offer an item and then trade it for something of higher value. People can also try the online buy and sell business. They can put up one or more items for sale on social networking sites and free marketplaces on the internet and then once they get the profits, look for more items to buy and sell online. It’s good to have an eye for things that will eventually increase in value over the next few weeks. Self employment ideas with low start usually involve businesses that are service related.People can offer plumbing services, auto repair services, electrical services, cleaning services, and other professional services at a certain fee. Contractual jobs will render a large amount of income. It will be better to supplement these ideas with a great marketing campaign so that customer demand will grow and the business will also result to extra income and increased reputation for the business owner. Individuals can also try to setup their own website and focus on a particular niche. For example, some people setup a website that offers home cleaning and maintenance services. Aside from the offered services, they also sell home cleaning kits and items and provide articles and good content for people to keep referring back to.

Fire Pits – An Alternative Means to Health and Fitness

Fire, one of the classical elements, has been a source of life since the two proverbial sticks were rubbed together to ignite the first flame. It was used by ancients civilizations to produce warmth in the winter, to keep animals away from camps at night, and to cook food as far back as 1.9 million years ago. Along with water, air, and earth, life as we know it could not be possible without fire. Using a fire pit allows us to take advantage of this powerful alternative life source to help us get on the right path to good health and fitness, on our own terms.Tai Chi, Yoga, and Reiki are ancient forms of exercise that are still practiced today. They combine the union of the body with the mind. Practicing these alongside a fire pit are said to help balance the chakras, which is believed to be a group of 7 centers of spirituality within the core of the body that interact with the rest of the body and mind. In addition, relaxing by a pit while watching the flames dance and feeling the warmth of its energy promotes deep breathing, which is the ideal breathing pattern for encouraging healing from within. These items are widely used during spiritual and religious ceremonies to represent the cleansing of the soul, the life giving energy of a live flame, and the transcendence and new life of the spirit. In some modern Catholic churches, members have the opportunity to list their sins on paper, present them to the clergy, do the recommended penance, and finally drop their list into the fire and watch as the paper burns, creating a visual representation of absolution of sin. Most cultures around the world believe that being relieved of the burden of guilt gives way to inner healing and personal growth, which leads to better mental health and physical fitness.Some variation of the fire pit has been in existence since the first spark was discovered. This old idea has been reinvented and popularized, allowing anyone with access to the outdoors to enjoy this life giving element in a controlled environment. The large variety of pits on the market offers consumers a vast assortment of shapes, colors, and styles to fit an individuals taste and personality. Their popularity has made them accessible to most budgets, so it’s no surprise that their use has gained popularity among those who seek alternative and traditional paths to health and fitness.

Digital Photography – Digital Cameras and Its Benefits

Although photography has been in the market for quite some time, some people still ask “how much it’s going to cost me?”, “what a digital camera can do?” and “why do I need photography?”Let’s look at each of them in detail:As digital photography is getting more popular, things are going to get cheaper. One of the reasons is that manufacturers are competing for market share and they are more likely to launch cheaper cameras with more functions. Just look at the compact digital camera in the market now, you can get a camera with at least 9 megapixels and 10x optical zoom at the price of less than $300. Even the DSLR cameras nowadays are getting more and more affordable.Also when competitions are getting stronger, manufacturers will try to make cameras with as many features as possible. It is like an unwritten rule that compact digital cameras nowadays must be able to record video and audio. When you launch a point and shoot camera without this feature, your potential clients might not even want to look at it.Also some digital cameras nowadays are equipped with sophisticated editing software and touch screen capability. You can now add stars, fog it up or add other wacky stuff on the camera.Since you can operate your camera with touch screen, you can expect that one day, you will see the LCD screen big enough to occupy the back of your camera. Can you imagine how much fun it is to look at your pictures in such a big screen and it will be more breath taking when the manufacturers throw in wide angle lens together.Now, when you are going into digital photography, it is only logic that you have a digital camera. Photography is more than a hobby. It is about keeping the memory of that special moment. You want to remind yourself that you were once there at that period. You want to be able to show your child that you were young once and how life was back then. It is a different experience when you look back at your photos 10 years ago. Go have a look at them now.

A Laptop Lifestyle

Let’s start by looking into the meaning of the term “a laptop lifestyle”. Leading a laptop lifestyle means your entire job or business, and thus your income, can be controlled and managed with a laptop. In other words, you can do your job or run your business anywhere and anytime, as long as you have a laptop and an internet connection.This aspect in itself usually results in you having much more time freedom, since you completely eliminate any amount of time lost during transportation to and from the location where your job or business is located. Furthermore, you can now decide for yourself exactly “when” you want to perform the necessary tasks, and you don’t have to do it in a single stretch. You can manage which task you’ll do at which moment of the day.On top of it all, most online activities can be automated to a very high degree, meaning your own work load will be dramatically reduced, and instead of working 8-10 hours/day you could very well be working only 2 hours a day!Most people tend to think this kind of lifestyle is only for the rich, the celebrities or for the technically gifted.But what if I told you this lifestyle could be obtained by almost anybody? What if I told you, that YOU TOO can create a laptop lifestyle which would enable you to spend most of your time with your family and friends, doing whatever you really like to do?What if I could show you a way to start making money online within 6 to 12 weeks? And what if I could than show you how to scale that income to a 4, 5 or even 6 figure income within the next 6 to 12 months?I know, for most people, this will sound too good to be true, especially considering you could run this business from anywhere in the world, as long as you have an internet connection and a laptop or a computer.What does it take to create a laptop lifestyle?This is where it gets a little tricky, because most people have a wrong idea about what it takes to create such a laptop lifestyle. Many people think you need to be a computer genius or a marketing guru to make this possible. Many people also tend to think it takes loads of money before you can achieve this kind of life.Nothing could be further from the truth!What you really need to create a laptop lifestyle, is the will and the ability to “learn by doing”, to follow the advice you’re given by the masters, and the right mindset.And although a certain background knowledge and some financial means will definitely help you to progress at a faster pace, these things are not absolutely necessary to succeed!The main ingredients for success are to realize that you want or need a change, and TAKE ACTION to start creating a laptop lifestyle for yourself!

Travel Insurance As Protection Against Political Instability in the Modern World

A lot of people travel but unfortunately, not all of them are covered with travel insurance. This is a big mistake considering the current status of the world today with wars, political instability and even natural disasters sprouting left and right. For cases like this, travelling with insurance is necessary in case delays, unrest or even problems in paperwork are encountered during a stay.Why sign up for travel insurance?Statistics have shown that political instability has become more and more frequent for the past ten years. Just take the situation in third world countries as an example. Locations like Tunisia, Egypt and Libya have recently battled out or are still in the process of clearing the political crisis in their locations. During all this time, foreigners who are supposed to take a vacation in the said countries have encountered difficulties and may have been injured during a crisis.Should one have travel insurance, then this type of injuries will be covered by the insurer, allowing a person to save on their medical expenses. In some cases, the insurer will also pay for medical rescue service as in the case of helicopter rescue.The same holds true for economically unstable countries or those that are deemed as “third world”. Although most of these boast of natural wonders that make them a favorite destination for Europeans, the fact is that the crime rate is fairly high in these areas. For this reasons, travel documents ranging from credit cards to passports must be protected – ideally through an insurance policy.By being prepared for whatever eventuality, travelers can at least feel relatively safe when exploring another country of interest. Although it is always better to settle for a country that has no hint of being in turmoil, a travel insurance would at least be a possible solution should there be a problem.How to Choose a Travel Insurance ProviderOf course, in order to reap the benefits of comprehensive travel insurance, vacationers must choose a good insurance agency that would represent them. This usually means assessing exactly what the insurance companies offer and at what price.More importantly, applicants should ask for a copy of the contract for study before actually reading it. Even asking the opinion of a lawyer regarding the stipulations might be a good idea. Should there be any confusions regarding the fine print, do not hesitate to ask.Travel insurance would only be an effective protection if an understanding is met between the insured and the insurer. Hence, never fail to read the fine print and ask for clarifications for the insurance “jargon” to be understandable.Of course, there are a lot more reasons why a person should always avail himself of travel insurance regardless of where he or she goes. The fact is that political upheaval can happen in any country at any time. This means that every traveler must be prepared whenever they visit a location. For this matter, getting annual travel insurance might be better in the long run to cover all trips abroad.

Something to Keep in Mind When Considering Automotive Solutions

What with troubled financial times and everyone needing to keep a tighter reign on their budgets, people are often tempted to look for cost efficient ways of addressing their automotive solutions, they cut costs, go to the cheapest mechanic and very often only discover the true costs of their decision at a later stage.They very often realize that a decision such as this can cost them far more in the long run when their timing belt snaps and the vehicles valves get bent or the engine is a write off, all of this to save a couple of dollars on a substandard seal or gasket. Is it really worth it at the end of the day?The true secret to correct automotive solutions is for people to begin to understand that they need to understand the cost implications of being able to own the vehicle which they have and these cost implications should include the servicing, maintenance and safety of the vehicle.Taking the short cuts and cost-effective options when it comes to automotive solutions can cost your pocket and your emotional state dearly at a later stage. Not only can system or part malfunction on your vehicle set you back financially, but also emotionally should this failure resort in injury or loss of life.So when you decide to buy a new vehicle, do not simply look at its price tag on the sales floor, take into consideration the maintenance costs, part pricing and technology which will be necessary in order to be sure that the vehicle is in good condition and running properly.This decision when it comes to automotive solutions might not only save you a couple of dollars, but quite easily also the life of a loved one or yourself, so be sure to make the correct decisions and do not let them be purely financially based.

India’s Move to Right to Education

BACKGROUND.It was Saturday afternoon; the world seemed to be on vacation but me, as I was busy serving guests at a lunch party at my masters’ residence. Chatting and laughing was loud enough to be heard in every nook and corner of the house. But those were of least concern to me, because I had to respond to every single call for any requirement at the very word of the guests or the master in particular. It was 2009, and I was just seven, wearing a sweater and a half pant, watching a bunch of people boasting about the achievements of their wards and trying to prove ones child better than the other. When suddenly, an old man read from a magazine that the government was to pass a new act namely, Right to Education Act. But to me those routine talks about the household work made more sense than this new coming up topic, because neither I could read or understand there high-level conversation, which had diverted there talks from their children, on top of that I didn’t even understand, what the word ‘right’ meant. That elderly fellow said something like…History of the Act:The Free and Compulsory Education Bill 2003 was the first attempt of the Central government to draft a comprehensive legislation on education after the 86th Constitutional Amendment that made education a fundamental right. The Bill was an excellent example of bureaucratic empowerment, creating up to 6 levels of various authorities to ensure the provision of free and compulsory education. Furthermore, the reservation of up to 25% of the private school seats for the economically backward students to be selected by these authorities ensured that the Bill was a throwback to the old licence-permit-raj regime. Following widespread criticism, the Bill was discarded.The Right to Education Bill 2005 is the second attempt by the Central government to set the education system right. Some of the important provisions of the Bill:• Promises free and compulsory education of equitable quality up to the elementary level to all children in the age group of 6 to 14.
• Mandates unaided private schools to reserve up to 25 percent of the seats for students from weaker sections. The schools will be reimbursed by the lower of the actual school fee or per student expenditure in the government school. The aided schools will reserve “at least such proportion of their admitted children as its annual recurring aid bears to its annual recurring expenses subject to a minimum of 25 per cent.”
• Requires all remaining students to be accommodated by opening new government schools and within three years of the passage all students to have a school to go within their own neighbourhood.
• Forms School Management Committees (SMCs) comprising parents and teachers for state schools and aided schools. The SMCs will own the assets of the school, manage the accounts, and pay salaries.
• Establishes a National Commission for Elementary Education to monitor the implementation of the Bill, State Regulatory Authorities to address grievances under the Bill, and several ‘competent authorities,’ ‘local authorities,’ and ‘empowered authorities’ to perform a vast number of regulatory functions and meet out punishment to defaulters.
• Assigns all state school teachers to particular schools from which they will never be transferred-creates a school-based teacher cadre.The finance committee and planning commission rejected the Bill citing the lack of funds and a Model bill was sent to states for the making necessary arrangements.INTRODUCTIONAs is evident, even after 60 years, universal elementary education remains a distant dream. Despite high enrolment rates of approximately 95% as per the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER 2009), 52.8% of children studying in 5th grade lack the reading skills expected at 2nd grade. Free and compulsory elementary education was made a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution in December 2002, by the 86th Amendment. In translating this into action, the `Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill’ was drafted in 2005. This was revised and became an Act in August 2009, but was not notified for roughly 7 months.The reasons for delay in notification can be mostly attributed to unresolved financial negotiations between the National University of Education Planning and Administration, NUEPA, which has been responsible for estimating RTE funds and the Planning Commission and Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD). From an estimate of an additional Rs.3.2 trillion to Rs.4.4 trillion for the implementation of RTE Draft Bill 2005 over 6 years (Central Advisory Board of Education, CABE) the figure finally set by NUEPA now stands at a much reduced Rs.1.7 trillion over the coming 5 years. For a frame of reference, Rs.1 trillion is 1.8% of one year’s GDP.Most education experts agree that this amount will be insufficient. Since education falls under the concurrent list of the Constitution, financial negotiations were also undertaken between Central and State authorities to agree on sharing of expenses. This has been agreed at 35:65 between States and Centre, though state governments continue to argue that their share should be lower.KEY FEATURES OF THE ACT INCLUDE:1. Every child from 6 to 14 years of age has a right to free and compulsory education in a neighbourhood school till completion of elementary education.
2. Private schools must take in a quarter of their class strength from `weaker sections and disadvantaged groups’, sponsored by the government.
3. All schools except private unaided schools are to be managed by School Management Committees with 75 per cent parents and guardians as members.
4. All schools except government schools are required to be recognized by meeting specified norms and standards within 3 years to avoid closure.On the basis of this Act, the government has framed subordinate legislation called model rules as guidelines to states for the implementation of the Act.The family, I had been working for, (walia family) had always been caring for me, with occasional slaps and abuses, to which I had become accustomed to and accepted them as a part and parcel of my monthly income of 700 Rs along with square meals and the discarded cloths of the children to the master. But then that was my life……bhaiya and didi (son and daughter to the master) were both elder to me by 4 or 5 years respectively and during my free time often played along with me, but again I was reminded of my being a servant whenever I forgot that…they had thought me to read and write my name in Hindi, which I always kept scribbling at the corners of the walls which resulted in a colour change of my cheeks to red from white, whenever caught. That Act being the burning topic of those days always managed to occupy some space at the front page of every news paper, which further became a topic of early morning drawing room discussion for the family as it was that day and just like every normal citizen he also started which his speech, with the critique of right to education act and its loop holes….LOOPHOLES IN THE ACTThe Act is excessively input-focused rather than outcomes-oriented. Even though better school facilities, books, uniforms and better qualified teachers are important, their significance in the Act has been overestimated in the light of inefficient, corrupt and unaccountable institutions of education provision. Then the Act unfairly penalises private unrecognised schools for their payment of market wages for teachers rather than elevated civil service wages. It also penalises private schools for lacking the infrastructural facilities defined under a Schedule under the Act. These schools, which are extremely cost efficient, operate mostly in rural areas or urban slums, and provide essential educational services to the poor. Independent studies by Geeta Kingdon, James Tooley and ASER 2009 suggest that these schools provide similar if not better teaching services when compared to government schools, while spending a much smaller amount. However, the Act requires government action to shut down these schools over the coming three years. A better alternative would have been to find mechanisms through which public resources could have been infused into these schools. The exemption from these same recognition requirements for government schools is the case of double standards — with the public sector being exempted from the same `requirements’. By the Act, SMCs (school management committees) are to comprise of mostly parents, and are to be responsible for planning and managing the operations of government and aided schools. SMCs will help increase the accountability of government schools, but SMCs for government schools need to be given greater powers over evaluation of teacher competencies and students learning assessment. Members of SMCs are required to volunteer their time and effort. This is an onerous burden for the poor. Payment of some compensation to members of SMCs could help increase the time and focus upon these. Turning to private but `aided’ schools, the new role of SMCs for private `aided’ schools will lead to a breakdown of the existing management structures. Teachers are the cornerstone of good quality education and need to be paid market-driven compensation. But the government has gone too far by requiring high teacher salaries averaging close to Rs.20,000 per month. These wages are clearly out of line, when compared with the market wage of a teacher, for most schools in most locations in the country. A better mechanism would have involved schools being allowed to design their own teacher salary packages and having autonomy to manage teachers. A major problem in India is the lack of incentive faced by teachers either in terms of carrot or stick. In the RTE Act, proper disciplinary channels for teachers have not been defined. Such disciplinary action is a must given that an average of 25 percent teachers are absent from schools at any given point and almost half of those who are present are not engaged in teaching activity. School Management Committees need to be given this power to allow speedy disciplinary action at the local level. Performance based pay scales need to be considered as a way to improve teaching.The Act and the Rules require all private schools (whether aided or not) to reserve at least 25% of their seats for economically weaker and socially disadvantaged sections in the entry level class. These students will not pay tuition fees. Private schools will receive reimbursements from the government calculated on the basis of per-child expenditure in government schools. Greater clarity for successful implementation is needed on:• How will ‘weaker and disadvantaged sections’ be defined and verified?
• How will the government select these students for entry level class?
• Would the admission lottery be conducted by neighbourhood or by entire village/town/city? How would the supply-demand gaps in each neighbourhood be addressed?
• What will be the mechanism for reimbursement to private schools?
• How will the government monitor the whole process? What type of external vigilance/social audit would be allowed/encouraged on the process?
• What would happen if some of these students need to change school in higher classes?Moreover, the method for calculation of per-child reimbursement expenditure (which is to exclude capital cost estimates) will yield an inadequate resource flow to private schools. It will be tantamount to a tax on private schools. Private schools will end up charging more to the 75% of students – who are paying tuition’s – to make space for the 25% of students they are forced to take. This will drive up tuition fees for private schools (while government schools continue to be taxpayer funded and essentially free).Reimbursement calculations should include capital as well recurring costs incurred by the government.By dictating the terms of payment, the government has reserved the right to fix its own price, which makes private unaided schools resent this imposition of a flat price. A graded system for reimbursement would work better, where schools are grouped — based on infrastructure, academic outcomes and other quality indicators — into different categories, which would then determine their reimbursement.Quality of EducationThe quality of education provided by the government system remains in question. While it remains the largest provider of elementary education in the country forming 80% of all recognized schools, it suffers from shortages of teachers, infrastructural gaps and several habitations continue to lack schools altogether. There are also frequent allegations of government schools being riddled with absenteeism and mismanagement and appointments are based on political convenience. Despite the allure of free lunch-food in the government schools, which has basically turned the schools into a “dhaba” and school teachers to “chefs”, many parents send their children to private schools. Average schoolteacher salaries in private rural schools in some States (about Rs. 4,000 per month) are considerably lower than that in government schools. As a result, proponents of low cost private schools, critiqued government schools as being poor value for money.Children attending the private schools are seen to be at an advantage, thus discriminating against the weakest sections, who are forced to go to government schools. Furthermore, the system has been criticized as catering to the rural elites who are able to afford school fees in a country where large number of families live in absolute poverty. The act has been criticized as discriminatory for not addressing these issues. Well-known educationist Anil Sadagopal said of the hurriedly-drafted act:”It is a fraud on our children. It gives neither free education nor compulsory education. In fact, it only legitimizes the present multi-layered, inferior quality school education system where discrimination shall continue to prevail.”For me this new topic was like Ramayana being recited in the house, although Ramayana was still Hindi, but this was complete alien…it was Wednesday afternoon and the family members were all taking rest when I decided to run away from that house, and then actually did…but when was back home I was scolded brutally by my father who said ‘here comes one more, person with his mouth wide open, good for nothing creature’. After few days, I was as well enrolled in local village school, which served lunch to every student who attended the school. But the food wasn’t easy here too, every pupil was made to cook food and wash dishes, the left out time was utilized in fulfilling the desires of the school teacher. I did everything in the school but study. But my sister was not as lucky as me, although for sake of attending school, she was only enrolled in there but the reality was that she hardly attended any classes due to engagement in the household work, as that was more important and education for marriage than that what was written the school books. The only day we had a feast was when inspection was on the calendar. I did wanted to study but my pockets didn’t allow me, I always pondered but couldn’t make out what was wrong with my school when compared to those big ones in the cities but the answers were nowhere for me……THINGS WHICH CAN BE DONE FOR THE IMPROVEMENT.The RTE Act has been passed; the Model Rules have been released; financial closure appears in hand. Does this mean the policy process is now impervious to change? Even today, much can be achieved through a sustained engagement with this problem.Drafting of State RulesEven though state rules are likely to be on the same lines as the model rules, these rules are still to be drafted by state level authorities keeping in mind contextual requirements. Advocacy on the flaws of the Central arrangements, and partnerships with state education departments, could yield improvements in at least some States. Examples of critical changes which state governments should consider are: giving SMCs greater disciplinary power over teachers and responsibility of students learning assessment, greater autonomy for schools to decide teacher salaries and increased clarity in the implementation strategy for 25% reservations. If even a few States are able to break away from the flaws of the Central arrangements, this would yield demonstration effects of the benefits from better policies.Assisting private unrecognized schoolsSince unrecognized schools could face closure in view of prescribed recognition standards within three years, we could find ways to support such schools to improve their facilities by resource support and providing linkages with financial institutions. Moreover, by instituting proper rating mechanisms wherein schools can be rated on the basis of infrastructure, learning achievements and other quality indicators, constructive competition can ensue.Ensure proper implementationDespite the flaws in the RTE Act, it is equally important for us to simultaneously ensure its proper implementation. Besides bringing about design changes, we as responsible civil society members need to make the government accountable through social audits, filing right to information applications and demanding our children’s right to quality elementary education. Moreover, it is likely that once the Act is notified, a number of different groups affected by this Act will challenge it in court. It is, therefore, critically important for us to follow such cases and where feasible provide support which addresses their concerns without jeopardizing the implementation of the Act.AwarenessMost well-meaning legislation’s fail to make significant changes without proper awareness and grassroot pressure. Schools need to be made aware of provisions of the 25% reservations, the role of SMCs and the requirements under the Schedule. This can be undertaken through mass awareness programs as well as ensuring proper understanding by stakeholders responsible for its implementation.Ecosystem creation for greater private involvementFinally, along with ensuring implementation of the RTE Act which stipulates focused reforms in government schools and regulation for private schools, we need to broaden our vision so as to create an ecosystem conducive to spontaneous private involvement. The current licensing and regulatory restrictions in the education sector discourage well-intentioned ‘entrepreneurs’ from opening more schools. Starting a school in Delhi, for instance, is a mind-numbing, expensive and time-consuming task which requires clearances from four different departments totaling more than 30 licenses. The need for deregulation is obvious.Today, I am 15 in age, out of school and again away from home, working only to earn hand to mouth, to boast that am literate I have gained my elementary education but the fact is, I only know how to write my name in Hindi along with few more things and that’s not because of the school but I owe that to Mr walias’ children. And today, the biggest question for me is, why should anyone get enrolled in a school to gain elementary education, when that education is doing no good to him in the future? After 14 I had to leave the school, in spite of me being still in standard four, I couldn’t support my studies further so ultimately all my efforts went in vain, leaving me all to myself, just to ponder what should I do????CONCLUSION:The Act has failed in identifying what actually ails our education system and so not surprisingly it offers solutions that are either redundant or counter-productive. Its unrelenting faith in the bureaucracy and its seething animosity towards private initiatives in education reflect a bygone era. However well-intentioned the government may be, the central planning approach cannot serve the future needs of India. It has failed in economics and it cannot do any better in education. The promises made in the Bill then amount to political grandstanding.The fulfillment of the constitutional obligation does not necessarily require the state to build and manage schools. It can discharge its obligation successfully by restricting its role to the provision of financial resources to those who cannot afford and enabling all parents to make informed choices. The education system should be designed in such a manner that there is competition and choice. The schools should compete with each other to attract students and the students should in turn have the freedom to choose their school. This would ensure the best allocation of scarce resources and an improving quality of education.One way for the government to finance education that would guarantee access to school and would create right incentives for improving quality is to fund government schools on the basis of number students in the school. Instead of a lump sum grant, the government fixes a per student charge, which multiplied with the number of students, determines the grant that a school would receive. The state can also provide financial support to students in the form of a voucher that can be redeemed only at educational institutions to cover the expenses of education. With this education voucher, the student would be in a position to choose from amongst the various public and private schools.This would ensure competition amongst schools and thus good quality education. Furthermore, the financial resources of the state would be put to more effective use by targeting them towards the poor only and by optimally utilizing the management skills of the private sector. There is no doubt that privately managed institutions have made a tremendous contribution to the cause of education, and in the last decade particularly the unrecognised private schools for the poor. It would be a tremendous loss of social capital if these schools were forced to close down. If the government opens a new school and runs well, there would be no reason for parents to send their children to a fee-charging, unrecognised school.They would go out of business automatically. One more reason not to outlaw these schools with the passage of the Act is the chaos and harm it would create since they will have to close down well before the government will be able to open new schools across the country. In its zeal to fulfill its constitutional mandate, the government would achieve the opposite.Instead of treating private initiative as inherently corrupt and exploitative, the government should channel the private enterprise to help expand access and improve quality of education. It has been done with great success in many areas.a

7 Keys to Turn a Financial Crisis Into Your Best Opportunity

This is a simple article about one family (ours!) who dared to dream big 4 years ago and finally climbed out of financial ruin. Many families, including ours, were in financial crisis long before the wall street meltdown and current economic concerns hit. A growing majority simply don’t have enough cash to make ends meet, much less investing in their future. Combine this with the recent job losses and you have a recipe for a major financial crisis.Finding opportunity amidst the financial crisis involves thinking about your situation in a brand new way.What is it that you’re after?The way money relates to “freedom” lies in the ability to devote your life to causes that you deem as more soul serving than working to make ends meet. Whether you are after just a little more each month or getting to a position where you no longer have money worries, each family can generate what they are looking for with some focused attention on a few key factors.Our family is working towards financial freedom and early “retirement.” As the children of parents who have had very little financial success, my husband and I have seen how years of money worries can smother hopes and dreams. We knew we wanted to avoid repeating the same circumstance in our lives, however, without understanding a few basic rules of financial wellness we made a mess of our own finances soon after getting married.There is a silver lining in all crisis though. Financial meltdowns can serves a huge opportunity for you and your family with some work and a fresh perspective.Why is a financial crisis your best opportunity? The problem with being constantly cash strapped is that over time it can seriously affect how you perceive opportunity in the world.I’m going out on a limb to say that since there is no shortage of opportunity, a limited perspective is one of the major reasons why it is so hard for families to recreate their bank balance. A limited perspective makes it very hard to overcome obstacles and hardship. The comforts of stability do not require much personal growth and learning so a crisis of any kind is amplified by how ill prepared a person is to handle it.We lived for 4 years on the verge of bankruptcy and nothing sucked more than being a slave to our own circumstance! The good news is that a financial crisis turns your life upside down. Crisis has always motivated people to make great changes in their lives and your financial crisis can be the same gift of change, if you choose.The following 7 keys will help you see a financial crisis from a new perspective and turn it into your best opportunity:1.  Accept Personal Responsibility.Regardless of the perceived cause of your crisis, accept responsibility for it. To quote a popular saying, “you cannot change what you don’t accept.”  While external situations may have caused additional hardships, take back control for the fact that the solution now lays in your hands.If your financial slop has been brewing over a longer period of time, begin to ask yourself probing questions about how you view money, yourself, success and other successful people to greater understand why opportunity may continuously elude. (I’ll include a book list for the next article which will help you probe deeper into this.)The main point is that people who are personally responsible no longer feel scammed, cheated or defeated because they take advantage of each situation as a learning opportunity. Become solution oriented and forget spending time thinking about things that do not change your circumstance.2.  Don’t Rely On Others To Make It Easier.As soon as you decide that you cannot rely on others for your financial well being, you will no longer accept less than you deserve. Are you holding out for a little while forsaking the opportunity to Be and Have more?We soon realized what a huge motivator “rock bottom” can be! Continuous “help” from others is a problem because it  serves as a band-aid that only delays the need to hit “rock bottom” and become resourceful enough to figure out a solid plan of action. While assistance can be a lifesaver for the short term, don’t exchange it for the reward of being able to choose how you want to live.3. Accept that There Is No “Secret” Formula. Call it the “lottery mentality” in the age of  instant gratification. We, along with so many people were waiting for the “big reveal” on what it takes to be financially independent. There must be something they’re not telling us? One of our biggest moments of personal growth was realizing that we too can have the same success as others. There is no “secret” that we need be privileged enough to have access to!All of the highly successful people we have come into contact with have only been willing to do a few key things that others are not willing to do.Financial independence comes with a price though. There is a price to pay for everything. Do you have the discipline to delay your gratification in order to make sacrifices with your time and effort until you reach your goals?4. Study To Grow Larger Than The Problems You Face. Most of us eventually arrive at our destination not because we’ve intended it to be this way but because we’ve fallen asleep at the wheel. You can be sure that the one thing that greatly influences every financial decision in your home is your own personal mindset about money. Use this crisis as an opportunity to understand how your thinking differs from those who are in the financial position you want to be in.
 Thinking about our personal views on success and money was a lot of fun although frustrating and shocking to admit that we had some pretty “poor” ways of seeing ourselves. Once you begin to shift your perspective you will be in a much better position to take steps towards fixing your financial situation.5. Invest In Yourself First.YOU are the best return on your money. If you want to break past the ceiling or plateau of J.O.B. income then it pays to invest in yourself.Consider starting a business. You don’t need to bet the family farm to gain big rewards either. Start small. If you don’t have a business yet, consider that the only way to build something for the future is to generate multiple streams of income. Begin with one additional income stream outside your current job or income source.Examine your financial goals, talents and passions and then take some steps to invest in yourself and your future.6.   Learn To Take Calculated Risks.The day we finally became sick and tired of our limited choices was the day we decided to take our first bold steps towards a new life. We were able to risk what others do not because we felt we didn’t have much to lose. Despite popular advice, we chose to risk it all because the life we had would always be waiting for us if we “failed.”Do you take the risks required to advance towards your dreams? When you do take a risk and it doesn’t provide the results you seek, does the cynic take over and you give up?  Mature your “entrepreneur spirit” by taking small calculated risks that will season your tolerance level for taking bigger risks in the future .Don’t let any “problems” along the way become a roadblock for you! The only way to move past problems is by paying special attention to Key #4 – “Study to become larger than the problems you face.”7. Be Selective.Too many people take financial advice from people who are not walking their talk. Is your “adviser” earning a wage from his advice or is he financially free because of his advice? Big difference.If it is financial abundance you are seeking then it pays to learn a little about what the rich do to get wealthy. How do they think, how do they work, how do they see assets, liabilities, time, and opportunity. Their perspective is much different that what you will find on TV or from the popular “money guru’s” currently dispelling their advice.Also remember that much of the so called wealth you see around you is swimming in debt so never feel envy or competition towards others.In Summary Tune out the negative and focus on what YOU want for your family. Stop buying into the crisis, set a new course and be willing to go the distance. You can do this because we managed to do it, even when everything was against us.Find out more about the valuable resources that that saved us from ourselves on my blog.

6 Aspects of Understanding the Foreclosure Inventory and 2008 Financial Crisis

The US suffered an untold financial crisis in the year 2008. This led to the worst economic recession the nation has witnessed since the World War II experience. The crisis virtually affected all aspects of the US economy. The real estate business suffered a setback. The foreclosure inventory trend also declined. A clear understanding of the foreclosure inventory and the 2008 financial crisis is very vital. There are 6 vital aspects to consider. Let’s examine them now.1. The trend of Foreclosure Inventory in 2008The trend of the foreclosure inventory has been going down ever since the 2008 September financial crisis. There have been over 3.5 million completed foreclosures since the days of the crisis. Lots of decreases have been noted in the quarterly and yearly reports on foreclosure inventory. The number of loans in foreclosure inventory, decreased by 6% as at March, 2012. Of all the homes with mortgages, an approximate number of 1.4 million homes were seen in the March 2012 national foreclosure inventory as against the 1.5 million homes involved in the previous year.2. The 2008 Melt DownTo understand the reason for the declining state of the foreclosure inventory, a look at the 2008 financial crisis is very important. Actually, the crisis began in September of the same year. It led to a major recession in the US economy and also caused economic meltdown in many other nations. In the same September 2008, the Lehman Brothers which is one of the World’s largest investment banks failed. The US stock market also went down drastically. Several big companies in the US downsized the number of their employees. The entire US economy came under great attack by the recession. This affected several areas of the economy including real estate and foreclosure deals.3. Causes of the 2008 Financial CrisisSeveral factors led to the 2008 financial crisis in the US. Market instability is seen as the one of the major factors. There were severe changes in the creations of new credit lines. This caused retardation on the economic growth and also dried up the money flow. Cheap credit access is also another factor that led to the crisis. People found it very easy to access credit loans for buying houses and making investments. The cheap credit system made more money available and hence caused people to spend money as they want. This later caused economic crisis in the financial sector.The 2008 crisis went from bad to worse when greed set in. Many people in government got rich quick while the poor masses suffered in the process.4. The Impact of the 2008 Financial Crisis on Foreclosure InventoryThe 2008 financial crisis left negative impact on the entire US economic. Virtually every aspect of the economy suffered the heat. In the real estate sector, lots of setbacks became apparent. The housing market declined. Access to mortgages skyrocketed. Many people who borrowed money from lenders couldn’t repay back the full payment. This led to foreclosure cases. In any case, the foreclosure inventory kept decreasing as seen in many states.5. Foreclosure Inventory in Various StatesSince the days of the 2008 financial crisis, the inventory has continued to decrease. The highest percentage of foreclosed assets was still very low in various states as at March 2012. Some states had higher percentages rates. Florida had 12.1%, New Jersey had 6.6%, Illinois had 5.4%, and New York had 4.9 % while Nevada also had 4.9%. The trend continues in many other states. Some states had the lowest percentage of foreclosed homes. Among them include Alaska with 0.8%, Wyoming with 0.7 % and South Dakota with 1.4% and Nebraska with 1.1 %6. The Way Forwardthe final point to consider in this excursus on understanding financial inventory and the 2008 financial crisis is the actual way to make things right. It’s very clear that the foreclosure inventory is coming down. To help the system, loan modifications should be introduced. The use of deeds-in-lieu and short sales should also be encouraged as best alternatives to foreclosures. This will help in ameliorating the impact of the 2008 financial crisis on foreclosure deals.