Cost Of Poor Quality And Six Sigma

If the cost of quality is high, looking through the Six Sigma glass the cost of poor quality is still higher. Companies bear a huge cost of about 9-16 percent of their revenues on problem solving. This is the cost of poor quality, or COPQ, as it is known. Motorola discovered this in the late 1970s at a huge price. General Electric has put the cost difference between 3 or 4 Sigma and Six Sigma at an astonishing $8-12 billion a year.

Anatomy Of COPQ

COPQ comprises costs which have generated as byproducts of defective and inconsistent manufacturing process. Six Sigma directly assigns a dollar value to cost of poor quality, meaning that the COPQ is measurable. The cost of poor quality originates at all places where the product or a part thereof is being made.

1. COPQ originating from suppliers

2. COPQ at the production points

3. COPQ at warehouse

4. COPQ at transportation and distribution

The cost effect due to poor quality from suppliers is defined at two levels. One is straight from the defective production of materials and the other is due to handling and delivery. The second and the third points are very much under the control of the manufacturer.

The following are the generally applicable consistent costs of poor quality:

1 Wastage Or Under-Utilization: This is also referred to as spoilage in Six Sigma, arising out of raw material wasted due to inconsistent and inefficient processes.

2 Cost Of Reworking: This cost includes the cost of repairing and replacing some parts. In addition, this also includes the cost labor to repair.

3 Cost Of Additional Utilities: The overall cost of setting up the extra infrastructure and utilities consumed to run the recycling operation needs to be considered while calculating the COPQ.

4 Lost Opportunities: The dissatisfaction triggered business loss can not be just the loss of margin. You have to include the capital to be invested to regaining the lost revenue and offset the cumulative revenue loss.

5 Lost Revenue Due To Poor Quality: This cost refers to the potential loss of new business due to defective quality.

6 Poor Customer Satisfaction: This is the mother of all costs of poor quality. This cost is compounded by the loss the customer suffers due to the defective product first and servicing second.

While Six Sigma provides for all labor, disposition and reworking costs, it does not permit inclusion of costs like that of inspection and prevention. But it is obvious that these efforts are only aimed at reducing the process variation and any resulting damage.

Quantifying The Cost Of Poor Quality And Six Sigma

The cost of poor quality is directly proportional to the level of Sigma. In other words, the COPQ is directly connected to the number of defects per million opportunities. Supposing your Sigma level is 4, and then across the industry, the standard cost of poor quality for you is 15%. It goes on decreasing with the increase in the Sigma level till it becomes equal to 6. At this point (Six Sigma) the cost of poor quality will be less than 5%. This means you have reduced the number of defects from around 60,000 to 3.4 per million opportunities.

Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions � Six Sigma Online ( http://www.sixsigmaonline.org ) offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

Advantages and Disadvantages of VA Certifications

There are a few certification courses that VA's can take to increase their knowledge in the virtual assistant industry. However, there is much debate on whether or not a person should go for a certification with their business. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of VA certifications:

Advantages

Credibility -

Obtaining a certification through one of these courses can give you some credibility as a professional and help a potential client feel a little better about hiring you for their projects.

Broaden your knowledge -

You can learn more about the Virtual assistant business to help you edge out your competition. You can learn some tips and tricks to provide the best and sometimes quickest services, possible for your clients.

Distinguishes you as a professional -

A certification can take you to a professional level and gives you the opportunity to offer more money for your services to clients who will be more willing to pay for them.

Disadvantages

Expensive -

These courses can sometimes be quite expensive on your budget. A lot of VA's forego the certification process as they are able to find decent paying work without spending the money for the course.

No guarantees -

While a certification is quite helpful for some VA's to find work, there is no guarantee that it will bring you the higher paying work you seek. You would need to decide if the money would be well spent for you.

Insignificant to some clients -

There are some clients who aren't interested in whether or not a VA holds a certification from these courses. They are more interested in whether or not you have either a specific certification in a field, such as accounting, or good standing experience in performing a certain task, like web design.

If you choose to take a certification course to increase your business, there are a few places you can look into. IAVOA or International Association of Virtual Office Assistant is one place you can look. Another one is VAU or Virtual Assistant U. These places offer good informative courses to get your business certified and give you the credibility you need to show you're professionalism.

You can cut your commute & still keep your paycheck. Discover all the many ways to earn an hourly income from home & also gain free access to work at home jobs at: http://www.justonlinejobs.com

All Women and Moms Receive Increased Funds to Pay For Tuition Costs and Get an Education For Free

Mom, you know your children pick up on what you do and say. They learn by imitating your actions. Let them see that something is important to you and the chances are good that they will begin to value those same things.

Show them you believe in yourself and that you are committed to a goal. Show them you are willing to work hard and sacrifice now for a better life. Let them see you put your education first as you study hard and don't give up. Share with them your struggles to finish an assignment or prepare for a test or just make it to class on time and the chances are very good that they will begin to imitate the same attitude toward their own school work.

As they watch how you organize your time, they learn to do the same. When they see how you approach a project, you can talk it through with them and let them see how that planning works.

When they are all grown up and have to face challenges themselves, perhaps they will remember what they learned from you and think, "Mom did it, so can I." It happens more than you might think.

If you feel like your children need a responsible role model and you know they would benefit from all the things that you could provide with a better job, let them see you take the steps toward that now.

Federal and state money is available for you to use for tuition, books, and childcare if you will go back to school. States are doing their part, in many cases allowing people to continue receiving their unemployment checks while they attend school. Schools are making some certification programs available in only twelve months. It seems that everyone is involved in offering assistance in one way or another.

But it is still up to you to take the first step. Check out your local vocational or community college or online schools. You might find that first year so rewarding you want to continue. Or maybe you go from there to a better job. Either way, you're better off and your children have the experience of seeing just what you - and they - can do!

**Update**

Did you know you can get a $10,000 scholarship for Moms just for registering? Apply right now for free: Scholarships for Moms [http://MOMS4SCHOLARSHIPS.INFO]

Thicker Eyelashes - 11 Tips to Help Women Choose a Safe Eyelash Enhancer

Many ladies know that eyelashes can enhance the beauty of the eyes. Are you one of the millions of women in the world who long for the stunningly beautiful, gorgeous and sexy lashes of the Hollywood stars and models that wows guys and gals?

Most health and beauty websites promote cosmetic products that claim to enhance the beauty of your eyes and the key to this is thicker eyelashes. That is why women with short and thin eyelashes will try just about any product to transform them into longer, denser, darker, and stunningly beautiful ones.

Many products promise to give women the lashes that they deserve within a short time. Here are 11 Tips To Help You Choose A Safe Eyelash Enhancer:

* It must be safe for those who have sensitive eyes or who use contact lenses and eyelash extensions.

* No matter how short, fragile or thin your eyelashes are the product must not only lengthen but also strengthen them

* All the ingredients used in any product must be naturally sourced and are pure and non-irritating to the eyes. They must have undergone numerous clinical trials and have been certified to be safe

* All the constituents should be 100% powerful and effective. The product should combine the power of natural extracts and several potent synthetic ingredients that conditions,lengthens and strengthens the eyelashes.

* The ultimate eyelash development serum should help you develop longer, darker and thicker eyelashes within a few weeks.

* Eyelash Enhancers should not contain harmful substances that can cause side-effects.

* There should not be any allergic reactions.

* The enhancer should stimulate hair growth within the brows of women who have thinning or sparse areas that need to be filled in.

* The product should be a safe alternative to artificial eyelashes.Some high class women, particularly actresses and models use false eye lashes for enhancing the beauty of their eyes. These can cause some side effects like allergy, tingling and burning sensations to the eyes.

* Read several reviews to find out if the eyelash enhancer is highly recommended by top beauty experts all over the world.

* The product should be promoted by a company that has a good track record in selling safe and effective health and beauty products

A Word Of Caution

Though a company may assure you that their product does not cause any side effects,those who intend to buy the product are advised to have a skin test before using it to ensure that there are no allergic reactions

Do take advantage of any Free Trials offered by the company before you buy any Eyelash Enhancer.

The link below will take you to a very important site offering a hot, safe and revolutionary product that promises to transform your eyelashes into the stunningly beautiful,sexy and gorgeous ones that you long for.

Get A Proven And Safe Eye Lash Enhancer Here

Freshwater Pearl Necklace - The Ideal Gift for Women

A freshwater pearl necklace is a beautiful, meaningful, and thoughtful gift that you can give to the most special woman in your life. Whether it's your wife, mother, or sister, she will surely appreciate having a freshwater pearl necklace from you.

What are Freshwater Pearls?
Before we proceed to discussing the mechanics of buying freshwater pearl necklaces, it's important that you know what freshwater pearls are first and be able to distinguish them from other types of pearls.

Freshwater pearls have been cultivated, cultured, or found in freshwater as opposed to saltwater pearls which have been harvested from seas and oceans. Freshwater pearls can be naturally processed with or without human intervention. Without human interference, pearl divers will have to search for mollusks or oysters where a foreign object has incidentally found its way inside and has been encrusted with layers of nacre, the ingredient mainly responsible for the unique luster of pearls.

With human intervention, pearl divers will insert organ tissue material into another mollusk to generate nacre production. They will also carefully monitor all factors that could affect the growth of pearls to ensure that the end product will come out beautiful and evenly shaped.

How to Choose the Perfect Freshwater Pearl Necklace

Source - Freshwater pearls are produced in various parts of the world although the most famous come from Japan and China. The origin of freshwater pearl necklace can readily affect its price so consider purchasing freshwater pearl necklaces from less-known pearl manufacturers if you're on a budget.

Size - Just like it is with all sorts of jewelry, the larger the size of the gem - or pearl, in this instance - the higher its value. Of course, larger pearls don't automatically mean they make the perfect gift. Consider your recipient's taste when selecting the appropriate size of freshwater pearls used in the necklace.

If your recipient haves fun when she's the center of attention, she'll definitely appreciate having large-sized freshwater pearls in her necklace. On the other hand, if your recipient is more appreciative of subtle beauty, she'll probably be more inclined to choose a necklace that makes use of small to moderate sized freshwater pearls.

Shape - There are numerous pearls that are irregularly shaped because they have been allowed to grow without any external interference. It's also more likely for saltwater mollusks to produce evenly shaped pearls than freshwater mollusks. If you're after perfect and evenly shaped freshwater pearls, consider purchasing freshwater cultivated pearls.

Luster - Observe freshwater pearl necklaces in various lights to effectively compare its luster. Some freshwater pearls can glow only in certain types of light but noticeably dim in other types. The best pearls however will glow no matter what light you're using to observe it with. Of course, the better the luster of freshwater pearls, the higher its value once more.

Skin - Just like any other gem, you should also consider the quality of the freshwater pearl necklace. Does it have any visible blemishes, scratches, or flaws? Since freshwater pearls are sensitive to damage, you might have a hard time looking for one that's completely free from blemish.

Color - Lastly, consider the color and make sure that it complements the complexion of the recipient.

Beautiful Things Come from Beautifully Wrapped Packages
The presentation is almost as important as the gift itself because it shows that you've given lots of thought to your gift. If you don't have any gift-wrapping skills (and most men don't so there's no shame in admitting the same thing), consider asking a friend or even a professional to wrap it for you.

There are various designs of jewelry boxes for you to choose from, and some of them are extremely attractive to look at that covering it with gift wrapping paper is mostly unnecessary. A gift ribbon could add a nice embellishment.

If you choose a simple jewelry box then yes, you'll still need to cover it with gift wrapping paper. As freshwater pearl necklaces are no ordinary gift, make sure that you choose something extra special like glossy paper or silk for the packaging.

In the end, you should always base your buying decision on how much money you're willing to spend for your very special gift and what preferences you perceive your recipient has when it comes to freshwater pearl necklaces.

For more information go to: http://www.unlimitedpearls.com http://www.bestpearlnecklaces.com or http://www.bestpearlearrings.com

Discrimination Against Women at Job Interviews and How You Can Prevent It

There is still discrimination against women in the workplace despite all the employment laws covering sexual discrimination. One of the places this discrimination occurs is in job interviews where employers are concerned that a woman applicant may want time off work on maternity leave or to look after dependents. So what can a woman do to prevent being discriminated against in job interviews.

I've been a sales manager for several companies, both large and small, and part of my role has been staff recruitment and interviewing job applicants. Although many laws have been passed to stop discrimination against women in the workplace there are still barriers to overcome in job interviews. An interviewer may not openly show sexual discrimination but there may be reasons they prefer a male job candidate to a female applicant.

A small business owner could be worried about women taking time off for maternity leave. This may not be a direct financial concern about paying women while on maternity leave, it's more probably about the cost of replacing and training someone to cover their role while they are off. I know in many roles it just isn't worth the expense of taking on a temporary replacement as it can take too long to train them up to an effective standard. Another concern for employers is whether the woman comes back to work after the baby is born or decides to become a full time Mother.

Larger businesses worry about recruiting women in the workplace as even in today's liberated society it is often the woman that takes time off if children or other dependents need caring for. This can lead to job discrimination against women as the employer may want to keep a certain balance of male and female employees to maintain staffing levels. This sexual discrimination means the best candidate doesn't always get the job if it's a woman.

In sales, which is the area I work in, many sales managers will want only a small percentage of their team made up of young women. This is because they still have to carry the sales target even when the team member is on maternity leave or looking after dependents. While employment laws to stop discrimination against the employee have been put in place, what about the poor sales managers that miss their targets.

So what can a woman do in a job interview to stop an employer discriminating against her. As a working sales manager I have seen many interviewers assume that any woman of child bearing age is either going to have children in the near future, or already has them and will need time off for parental care. The interviewer's view of the future may be a totally different to the plans of the job candidate. But because of employment laws on sexual discrimination they are not allowed to ask questions that would give them a clear picture of the situation.

One action a woman can take to prevent job interview discrimination is to openly discuss the topic and show she is aware of possible concerns. As an interviewer I would find this positively refreshing. It would show the applicant has her life planned out, knows that this is important to an employer, and is willing to confront these possible reasons for discrimination against women. If a woman has dependants then by telling the interviewer how she balances home and work, and what happens when care is needed, she is stopping the interviewer from making their own conclusions.

Is it right that a woman should face sexual discrimination because she is the one that gives birth? No it isn't. Should an employer automatically assume that it will be the woman that takes time off when the children are ill? No they shouldn't. But let's not pretend that the employment laws on sexual discrimination will stop an interviewer, male or female, from worrying about these issues and possibly employing a male candidate because they think a woman may be taking time off work in the future. If you have actions in place for child care, or know what your future family plans are, then be honest and open with an interviewer and stop their assumptions from stopping you getting the job you want.

If you are thinking about changing jobs, looking for promotion, or will be attending job interviews in the future, then professional preparation will give you an advantage over the other candidates. I'm Stephen Craine an experienced manager and interviewer. I offer you my Job Interview Preparation Workbook course to help you get the job you want. It takes you through how to answer interview questions, preparing and presenting your experience and evidence, and many secrets about what the interviewer will be looking for. You will be receiving help and guidance from the other side of the interview desk. You can also get more Job interview information on my website at http://www.Sales-Training-Sales-Tips.com

Getting a Reiki Certification Online

Anyone can get a Reiki certificate from any reputable organization that offers courses on the Reiki system of healing. This unique system, that involves learning how to draw and use universal life energy in the healing process, has been gaining a considerable amount of popularity in recent times.

The Japanese doctor Mikao Usui was the person who rediscovered Reiki and developed Reiki as a healing art back in the early 1922. Usui claimed to have received the ability to "heal without energy depletion" after some intensive meditation and fasting over a period of three weeks in Mount Kurama.

Reiki is described as the process of transferring energy from the universal life force through the healer's hands and into the patient's body with the intention to enhance the healing power of the patient and help him heal. The interesting fact is that even though there is no scientific proof or statistical data that describes precisely how Reiki therapy works, thousands of people throughout the world claim to have benefitted one way or another from having received Reiki.

As more and more people get to experience healing with Reiki, many are seeking not only Reiki treatment but training to perform this healing therapy on themselves.

Some believe that Reiki teachings should only be imparted and learned with the student and teacher being physically present and in front of each other. However, there are many others who have been able to learn the art successfully though books, manuals, workbooks, audio and video training. This has allowed for many to get trained in every aspect of Reiki; from hand positions and history all the way to the symbols and images of Reiki.

As a result, several online courses have emerged for you to choose from and get your Reiki certificate. This allows you to learn Reiki from the comfort of your home, at your own time and leisure, and at a much lesser cost. To date, there is neither an accreditation body for Reiki training, nor a regular body for the practice of it. It is merely considered an alternative mode of healing.

There are several modalities of Reiki and as such, a number of different courses. This is because Reiki has evolved and been modified according to the practice and experience of new Reiki Masters who want to incorporate their findings in their lessons and teach them to their students. The ramifications will only continue and this is great as more opportunities for healing are experienced and shared. However, the many forms of Reiki can be intimidating and confusing to someone who's just starting to explore with the intention to acquire a Reiki certificate. Thus, the best recommendation is to start by learning the traditional form of Reiki -also known as Usui Reiki Ryoho, named after Master Usui.

Once you learn the basics, you can further explore other modalities and expand your knowledge and healing power. You can choose from courses that give you certificates of Reiki Master and go on into Reiki Teacher. Most courses outside Japan have been designed in levels. This means that the first level must be taken before moving into the second, and the third one.

Depending on the intention, many are happy to complete up to level two as all they want is to learn Reiki to heal themselves and help others. Level three is for those who feel they have been called to do something greater. Finally, there is the Master Level training that allows you to get a Reiki certificate with the intention to both, heal and teach others the art of Reiki.

Learn more about Reiki ebooks, courses, training and more and take a free eCourse at http://www.Reiki-Master-Training.com

The Sacred Jewelry!

Jewelries are a woman's best friend. It has been used by people to adorn themselves since years during various occasions like religious affiliations, weddings and other social gatherings.
Religious Jewelry are the most sacred form of ornaments worn by men and women alike to show their love and respect to God. Many people also wear it for good luck and to stay close to the Lord at all times.

Each religion has a particular set of symbols that represent them and these are used while creating the religious jewelry. There are many people who love to wear religious jewelries to show their faith in a silent manner. There are many types of Christian jewelry such as crosses, rosaries and lapel pins available in customary and modern designs. The jewelries mostly come in the form of:

o Bracelets
o Necklaces
o Rings
o Pendants
o Brooches

Religious jewelry for Christians:

It is a popular Christian custom to present the infants with crib medals to invoke the blessings of the Lord. This is mostly presented by the parents or godparents of the baby. It also serves as a gift marking their entry to the church and their acceptance in the Kingdom of the Lord. Young boys and girls are also presented with
religious jewelry as gifts marking their first Holy Communion.

Types of religious jewelry:

There are many types of gold and silver
religious jewelry available in the market that you can buy for yourself or as a gift for someone. A special rosary gift for the First Communion will be cherished forever. You can also shop for the beautiful rosary boxes that are carefully hand crafted for these special occasions. Young girls can be gifted with religious ornaments like a sacramental charm bracelet or crucifix locket. You can surprise your fiancée or wife with a lovely religious necklace, pendant or ring. There are many fine quality pendants, bracelets, book markers and pins available in 14K, 18K and 24K gold plated designs. These make for great gifts for all occasions.

Religious jewelry for weddings:

Religious Christian jewelry for weddings includes lovely items like gold cross pendants and white gold jewelry. These pieces incorporate Christian religious sentiments. Along with the vow of love to your beloved, it also reassures believers of the eternal love of God and the sacrifice of Jesus. You can also choose from a wide assortment of Christian jewelry which includes inspirational medals of St. Anthony, St. Francis, St. Jude and others.

We offer wide array of Christian Jewelry including bracelets, necklaces, pendants, pins, fashion jewelry and other religious accessories at discount rates. Contact us at 1-800322-6203 to order.

How Should the Topic of Philosophy Be Approached in a Yoga Teacher Certification Course?

Yogic philosophy is so vast that it could easily dominate a 200-hour Yoga teacher training. After spending a three day weekend, lecturing about how to apply Yama and Niyama in every facet of life, I realized that this workshop could have been expanded to two weekends.

However, the philosophy component is not what most Yoga teacher interns want to learn. Most people, in general, feel that Asana (Yoga posture) is the heart and soul of our practice. If life were measured only on the physical plane of existence, this might be true, but humans are also connected by mental, emotional, and spiritual growth.

Maharishi Patanjali mentions Yama and Niyama as the first two limbs of the Eight Limbed Path. Why would he mention them first? At the very least, he has tried to point out their importance. Over time, the message does not come out as it once did.

Essentially, a student should practice the first two limbs to become a serious Yoga practitioner. People confuse terms, such as "true Yogi." Is a true Yogi someone who is a vegetarian, does not drink coffee, but participates in gossip?

There is a conflict in labeling someone as a "real Yogi." Who among us has not harmed another being? Who among us has the superficial appearance of a true Yogi, but stirs up hate and intolerance? The truth be known, to follow Yama and Niyama, every day of your life, is not easy. Some will question why you do not participate in conjuring up negativity.

To do no harm, be truthful, avoid theft, be sexually responsible, and avoid greed are the Yamas. This is a simplistic explanation, but following these moral codes can bring much happiness to anyone who decides to live by practicing Yama.

To be clean, content, committed, to engage in studies, and to completely give yourself to God are the Niyamas. Again, this is a simple explanation, but this is not an easy road. Again, to follow Niyama will bring you happiness.

How many people wake up to complain every day of their life? How many people are clean in mind and body? How many people do not bother to finish anything? We do not have to pursue this line of thinking further.

The point Maharishi Patanjali makes, with the first two limbs, has nothing to do with drinking coffee or any other trivial matter. It is not an easy road to behave with kindness, tolerance, compassion, and give time or money to those who need it. Just by listening to someone who needs it, you a being a "good Yogi."

Therefore, in a Yoga instructor certification course, interns should learn the Yoga Sutras and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Beyond this, an overview of the Gheranda Samhita, Bhagavad Gita, and the Upanishads would be useful. Time places limitations on the depth of learning involved within a 200-hour course, so interns should be advised to make self-study (Svadhyaya) a part of their daily life.

© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html

Government Vs Corporate Contracting

In this economy, businesses need not put all of their eggs in one basket. They should seek public government contracts and private deals. There are set asides in government contracts for small businesses, woman owned businesses, veteran owned businesses, and minority owned socially and economically disadvantaged businesses. In order to be eligible, these businesses have to get registered and certified. Businesses that do not meet these categories can team with businesses that do in order to take advantage of set asides.

I worked in government for more than 25 years and began the business development journey in 2005. I have met thousands of business owners. One topic that seems to confuse some business owners is whether their government business registrations and certifications can be used in corporate contracting. Well, no. Corporations have supplier diversity programs and look for Women Business Enterprise (WBE) and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certifications which differ from those in federal, state, county and city programs.

Government Contracting
Federal Contracting - No cost to get started!

Step 1) If 51% woman owned, begin to use Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB) and Small Business (SB) designations for marketing purposes. Put on your website, business cards, brochures, etc now!
- These merely require self-certification.
- A goal of setting aside 5% of government contracts to WOSB is underway.
- There are bid opportunities currently being set aside for SB's.
- Check your small business status with the Small Business Administration using your North American Industry Classification System (NAICs) codes, annual receipts, and number of employees. Visit the SBA website.
- Determine your NAICs codes.
- Military agencies use Federal Supplier Codes (FSC) and Product Service Codes (PSCs). Determine your FSCs and PSCs.

Step 2) Complete the Central Contractor's Registration (CCR).

Step 3) Be sure to complete the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Dynamic Small Business Registration
- You will be prompted to enter this registration process at the conclusion of completing the CCR registration.

Step 4) Consider the SBA 8a certification program.
- But, bare in mind that few WOSB owned by Caucasians get certified.
- You must prove both a social and an economical disadvantage.
- Certain races are presumed to be socially disadvantaged (Black American, Native American, Hispanic American, Asian Pacific American, Subcontinent Asian American).
- Must be in business for 2 years
- The net worth of the individual claiming disadvantage must be less than $250,000.

Step 5) Consider getting prequalified with the General Service Administration (GSA) by submitting a GSA schedule contract proposal to the GSA for the products and services that you sell.

Step 6) Check if your business is located in a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) zone.
- Visit the SBA's website to find out if you are in a hub zone.
- If so, apply for HUB Zone certification and be eligible for Hubzone set-asides

Step 7) If your business is 51% owned by a veteran or service disabled veteran, you may be eligible for Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) or Service Disable Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) certification.
o Visit the Veteran Administration's website.
o Self Certify or get Verified (preferred)

State Contracting
Note: There are no set asides in Georgia other than the US Department of Transportation federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program with the Georgia Department of Transportation and MARTA

Step 1) States use the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) product and service codes. Determine your NIGP codes.

Step 2) Complete vendor registration applications for any city and county that you want to do business in. In Georgia, it is the Team Georgia Marketplace registration online.

Local Government Contracting (Counties, Cities)
Step 1) Complete vendor registration applications for any city and county that you want to do business in.
Step 2) Complete small business certification applications for any city and county that you want to do business in. The designations are Small Business Enterprise (SBE), Female Business Enterprise (FBE), Woman Business Enterprise (WBE), or Minority Business Enterprise (MBE). In Georgia, there are programs at:
- City of Atlanta
- Atlanta Public Schools
- City of Roswell
- City of Savannah
- City of Augusta
- Fulton County
- DeKalb County
- Cobb County

Corporate Contracting
Corporate Certifications - Fee based
Step 1) If 51% woman owned, submit a Woman Business Enterprise (WBE) application with the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
- Visit http://www.wbenc.org
- The application fee is $350
- They will conduct a site visit
- It typically takes 30-90 days

Step 2) If 51% minority owned, submit a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) application with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) at a state chapter of your choice.
- The application fee is $500 in Georgia (GMSDC)
- They will conduct a site visit
- It typically takes 30-90 days

I urge businesses to get a Strategic Marketing Plan to determine which agencies buy what they sell; which certifications and registrations to pursue; and to find teaming partners.

By Clovia Hamilton, President, Lemongrass Consulting, Inc., http://www.lemongrassplanning.com
Clovia founded Lemongrass Consulting in 2005 with 25 years of government work experience and serves as a procurement counselor in the Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC).
Lemongrass Consulting provides strategic planning solutions including government contracting strategic marketing plans.

Work at Home Jobs - How to Spot a Legitimate Opportunity

The internet has definitely created a world where business scams and schemes are more prevalent than ever before. However, just because there are scams out there doesn't mean that you have to become a victim of them. It also doesn't mean that there aren't legitimate opportunities to work from home available to those who want them. It doesn't matter if you are looking to start your own business or are just in a place where you want to work for other people from home, because there are plenty of opportunities out there to be found as long as you know where to look.

Work at home jobs include everything from marketing, information technology (IT) jobs, writing, editing, and other services. You can do just about any job from home these days, and many employers are turning to the world of working from home to answer their need for more employees on a smaller budget. Hiring remote or contract employees allows a company to get the help that they need without having to spend as much on hiring onsite employees that cost more money to keep and have on staff. With a contract employee, companies save money on office space, supplies, and even time spent because the contract employee is more likely to utilize their time well.

For every scam, scheme or MLM business opportunity, there is a handful of legitimate work at home jobs out there for you to choose from. You can find everything from remote customer service work to article writing positions, and more. If you don't want to work for someone else, you can also start your own home business with little to no money needed for startup costs thanks to the internet. There is a lot that the internet has given the world that is beneficial, but perhaps nothing is more useful than the ability to work at home and have more job opportunities in a time when they are so scarce.

Take the time to check out all of the great work at home opportunities that you have, and make sure that you watch out for the scams and schemes. Anything that sounds too good to be true probably is, and you don't have to look far to find legitimate work. If you're not motivated and driven to succeed on your own, you might be better suited for a traditional onsite job. However, if you have what it takes to make yourself work and you want to enjoy a new way of working for a living, consider the work at home industry before you look anywhere else.

Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions - Six Sigma Online ( http://www.sixsigmaonline.org ) offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

How Should the Topic of Pranayama Be Covered in a Yoga Teacher Certification Course?

When teaching Pranayama (Yogic Breathing Techniques), to a student who is new to Yoga, you realize that beginners take their breathing for granted. It is natural to take breath and life for granted.

Breathing happens naturally, or conditionally, without giving it a thought. At the same time, breathing makes life, itself, possible. In the Yoga Sutras, Maharishi Patanjali mentions pranayama as the fourth limb in the Eight Limbed Path.

Pranayama has therapeutic value, and it is the most basic tool for creating a mind / body connection. Through pranayama practice, self-realization and presence in our Yoga practice are discovered.

As you sit on a mat practicing meditation, asana, pranayama, mudra, bandhas, japa, or any Yogic method - this is just practice for daily life situations. All of these aspects should be part of your daily life, regardless of the location of your Yoga mat. The easiest method to transfer into daily life is pranayama.

How many people practice pranayama with every breath of life? Actually no one can do this because it is impossible to monitor your breath, with complete awareness, for days at a time. You have to go to sleep sometime. The moment you go to sleep, your breathing will not be monitored, and it will take an unconscious course.

However, if you make a concerted effort to practice pranayama throughout the day, you will feel much healthier. There are some pranayama techniques you can perform, during the day, without making anyone aware of it. The only awareness required is yours alone.

During 200-hour Yoga teacher training sessions, it is not necessary for interns to learn one hundred pranayama techniques. On the other hand, any pranayama taught in a teacher course should be thoroughly covered and practiced repeatedly.

Of the many pranayama techniques to choose from, Bhastrika, Kapalbhati, Anulom-Vilom, Brahmari, Udgeeth, and Ujjayi are essential. There are many more valuable methods, but these six techniques are priceless. Interns must be properly guided and monitored, as they will teach these techniques to their students. Complete understanding of six to ten techniques is essential.

Therefore, the ability to completely understand the therapeutic application, and how to perform each technique, is much more important than quantity of pranayama methods learned.

At the 200-hour level, it is better to know the application and mechanics of six essential pranayama methods thoroughly, than it is to learn one hundred techniques. Consider this: After the teacher training is over, how many graduates will remember more than six techniques?

© Copyright 2008 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA.

http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com

He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive Free Yoga videos, Podcasts, e-Books, reports, and articles about Yoga, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/member-offer.html

How I Started Training

When I started really working out I was about 19 years old, I didn't know a thing about working out so I went through the motions. I did some running, push ups, crunches, lunges pretty much anything I've ever seen I was trying to do. This worked very little for me but I was a young kid who didn't have a lot of money to get a trainer or buy the equipment I thought I needed. Time continued and I still saw very minimal results so I kinda gave up at this point. I gained maybe 30lbs of fat and weighed 180lbs which isn't very heavy for me and I could feel it. I was no longer good at being active and I started smoking cigarettes and drinking excessively, partying and not focusing on anything but trouble.

A few years went by I continued my poor ways and I really felt like I hit rock bottom. I kept falling into and out of depression school was the least of my priorities and continued my destructive ways by drinking and partying til all hours of the morning every single day. Then one day a friend of mine asked me If I wanted to go try a strength and conditioning program. It was at The College of New Jersey and was being conducted by a student who was completing his thesis. This intrigued me a lot so I jumped on this opportunity seeing that I had just got back into my routine wanted to really see results and was looking for a positive way to redirect my energy.

The program went great I learned skills like proper dead lift and squat, how to bench press and dumbbell press, I learned about explosive training and I learned about proper program design. This completely changed my life. After the program I went into over drive, I enrolled in Okinawan Kenpo and started working out at a gym on my own. It went great I was getting stronger my squats went from a measly 155lbs to over 300lbs in a matter of 3 months and I exceeded all my Instructors expectations on athleticism in martial arts so at this point I knew I needed to follow further with exercise science because it had become my passion.

I enrolled in the Exercise Science program at mercer county community college and completed it, I then went on to achieve my NSCA-certified personal trainer certification along with my NHE-CPT, on top of that my martial arts had taken me to black belt level and I am currently studying nutrition and exercise science further trying to work on my bachelors degree. I am studying for my NASM-CPT and hopefully will begin my corrective exercise specialty shortly after I achieve this cert. I have now started my own personal training business with the F.I.T (Functional integrated training) being the foundation of my beliefs. F.I.T is taking everything in the gym, medicine balls, bands, Olympic weightlifting techniques, Kettle Bells, tabata training, meditation, Traditional body building, calisthenics, plyometrics, yoga, martial arts and agility training,nutrition and energy flow bringing all of these styles together in my opinion makes for total balance and keeps the routines fresh and fun.

In conclusion that 10 year span got me from 180lbs of chubby to 180lbs of muscle a new outlook on life and a career that I will be involved with until the day I die. Everyone I just want you to know that you can achieve anything in this world. The key is to work hard and live life with an open mind. Don't limit yourself because the road less taken might be the road to your dreams.

The Different Types of Set-Aside Programs

Set-aside programs are designed and intended to help disadvantaged businesses get a leg up in the government contracting arena and to make the bidding process more competitive. There are several programs that the Small Business Administration (SBA) has created to give advantages to certain types of small businesses; one that we've already mentioned, but today we're going to discuss two of the biggest ones: woman- and minority-owned small businesses. Please note that businesses can only qualify as a woman or minority owned business if they also meet the SBA standards for a small business. The following two categories fall under the Minority and Disadvantaged Business Owners.

Woman-Owned Small Business

A business qualifies as a woman owned business if at least 51% of the company is owned by one or more women, or at least 51% of the stock must be owned by one or more women. In addition, one or more women must have majority control over the daily business operations and management. One of the many goals of having this certification is to help teach woman how to market to the government and bring them into the federal contracting marketplace, and the procurement benefits are usually delivered through the Office of Government Contracting.

The certification "woman-owned business" can be of significant help in the government contracting arena. In 1994 President Clinton signed Public Law 103-335, which established a government-wide goal of having no less than 5 percent of all prime and sub-contracts awarded each year given to women-owned businesses. The law added women-owned companies as a separate class for subcontract goals and required agencies to meet minimum standards.

Another benefit of being a woman-owned business (in addition to the contracting preference) is that the SBA offers training courses and counseling in owning or managing a business as a woman, including financial, management, marketing and technical assistance, and procurement training. There are at least 70 women's business centers in 40 states and an additional location in the Washington, D.C metro area. Part of the benefit of these courses is that they will help teach women how to market effectively to the government while still having the agencies' preference.

Minority-Owned Small Business

As a part of the small disadvantaged business development program, businesses that are owned by people of a 'socially disadvantaged ethnic group' are given additional procurement advantages. What the government considers socially disadvantaged individuals, completely disregarding the person's individual qualities or talents, are those who have been subject to 'racial or ethnic prejudice or culture bias because of their identity in relation to being a member of a group.'

To obtain the minority status, one must be able to present a clear and well-supported case. First off, the applicant, who must be a US citizen, must own at least 51% of the company. Secondly, the individual must be able to prove that they are at a social or economic disadvantage based upon their color, national origin, gender, physical handicap, long-term residence in an insolated environment away from American society, or other similar instance that was beyond the individual's control. The discrimination the individual faced must have happened in America and not another country, and the social disadvantage must have had a negative impact on their entry into the business world. In addition, one must be able to prove that they are indeed suffering a disadvantage from the aforementioned differences and that disadvantage must be constant and chronic.

Just as women have their own centers for training and counseling, so do minority owned businesses. These small business development centers offer counseling and management advice and are in every state. Visit the main SBA website at http://www.SBA.gov for more information.

Some of the many ways these opportunities are presented are through contracting officers, the SBA, and from the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU). Contracting officers are required to give a certain percentage of all small business contracts to minority owned businesses, both as a primary contractor and as a sub-contractor. In addition, there are different loans and advance payment structures that may be available to program participants.

A huge benefit of working with Gateway to Government is that we have both of these certifications, giving our company several advantages over many others. The preference that we have makes government contracting a breeze for your company to get started bidding on - and winning - government contracts. Uncle Sam is required to favor businesses with these certifications, so why not work with Gateway and participate in a program legally required to help your business grow!

Laura Guthrie

Contact Me!

[http://www.gatewaytogovernment.com]

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Yoga Teacher Certification in New England

Your yoga teacher certification in New England will give you many career options and a refreshing new life

New England has been good to you. But could it be better? If you are a yoga lover, then maybe it could be. Getting your yoga teacher certification in New England can improve your work and personal life at the same time. Maybe it's time to take the plunge into a better life.

There are many types of yoga teacher certification in the New England area. From Maine to Rhode Island, your options are wide open. Perhaps you are looking at obtaining a bikram yoga certification. Bikram yoga is a style of yoga that is performed in a heated room to improve body detoxification. If that sounds like your style, then a bikram yoga certification just might be for you.

Maybe you are more interested in holistic yoga. Holistic yoga is a great healing technique. If curing others through yoga sounds like your ideal job, then perhaps you should consider getting your yoga teacher certification in New England with special training in holistic yoga.

Whatever style of yoga you decide you want to teach, your yoga instructor certification recieved in New England will do so much for your life. You will be thrilled with the personal growth you experience as you start a fabulous job in the field of yoga instruction. A new career and a chance to perfect the art of yoga in your daily life will be refreshing and rewarding.

Yoga is a great way to strengthen your mind and body and get in shape as well as a great way to unwind after a long day. Whatever your yoga clothing and equipment needs, we have the information and resources to point you in the right direction. We have yoga music, mats, clothes, pants, videos and journals as well as information on the different yoga postures, postures and the history of yoga. If you are interested in becoming a yoga teacher learn more about yoga instructor certifications in your city or state.