New Orleans Education Post-Katrina

Education in the city of New Orleans has changed a great deal since hurricane Katrina took place in August of 2005. New Orleans education now revolves around the concept of charter schools. These schools were established out a need that arose in the wake of the natural tragedy. To date they have been shown to be of benefit to the children and adolescents being educating in them.

There is currently a move in the New Orleans Public Schools system to decentralize power that was previously held by the school board’s central bureaucracy before Katrina and give it to certain school boards and individual school principals. These reforms will make it possible for the charter schools to make many of their own decisions and to allow the parents of children attending public schools to enroll them in any school they wish to in the district. It is worth mentioning that at the present time the majority of public school students in the city of New Orleans attend these charters schools. New Orleans education has undergone a tremendous change in the post-Katrina days out of necessity. New Orleans is the only city in the United States where public charters dominate the educational system.

In attempting to understand the New Orleans education system in the wake of the hurricane that changed the way the citizens live their lives, it is important to understand what these schools are all about. Let us take a look at that now.

Charter schools have been garnering a great deal of attention in the past few years however they are not a brand new concept. These types of schools which are privately governed have been around for the past two decades. According to a survey published in 2009 there are more than 4,900 charter schools throughout the nation and as many as 1.5 million students are in attendance at these schools.

Charter schools resemble a type of educational reform that has not only affected New Orleans education but the education in other areas of the country as well. The state of California has chosen to embrace this new form of schooling as well. Charter schools offer a viable alternative to educating students and making sure that they obtain the best education that they possibly can.

Public charters are funded in much the same ways that public schools are funded. The difference is that charter schools are not governed by the state but in a private manner. While conventional public schools do not have to worry about being closed down if they do not yield successful results in their academics and teaching process, charter schools do have this worry placed on their shoulders from the start. Every charter school that opens its doors must be able to prove that it is successful and that its students are learning properly and learning well in order to be able to maintain their charter.

These schools are for all grades from kindergarten up to grade 12. While they are publicly funded they are open to accept private donations in the same way that public schools are. Every school charter that is established in the New Orleans educational system and elsewhere is free from some of the constraints placed on public schools. However there is a level of accountability inherent in every charter that specific results must be obtained in order for the charter to remain in place. A charter school is open to anyone who wishes to attend and these schools are not permitted to charge students fees to obtain their schooling. Be aware that these new types of schools are a component of the public education system.

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Discover The Legit Home Based Business Of Direct Selling

With the economy the way it is today many people are looking for other streams of income. Working from home, having a side business or having two jobs instead of one are all ways they are trying to make ends meet. Although there are many scams out there, there are also many legit home based business opportunities. Knowing where to look is the first step.

Start with work at home forums. These are great places to find the useful information you need to find a legitimate opportunity. Many scam artists are out there making their living off of scamming innocent people. Do not become their next victim. Learn the red flags by connecting with others already working in the home based business field. Use the old adage of if it sounds to good to be true it probably is.

After you have connected with others you will find many different home based businesses that you can do. If you love meeting new people and have a go getter’s attitude then direct selling may be the route for you. Direct selling is exactly what it sounds like. You will be either an independent representative or a consultant for a particular company. Your pay is commission based so this is not for someone who is faint of heart or who needs steady income now.

You can choose from different types of direct selling companies. There are jewelry companies, cosmetics, health and fitness and candle companies. The list goes on and on. You need to find what you are passionate about and you can go far. There are many who win vehicles or make great incomes with their direct selling companies.

One word of advice for these type of companies is having an outgoing personality. You must be able to talk to people you don’t know. Another way you can help build your customer base is with advertising. Share with your friends, family and online. There are many web forums that have places for you to share what you do. Connecting with businesses is also a great way to find new customers and grow your business.

Most of these companies have training to help you get started. They will help you to get on the right path to help you succeed. Be sure to network with others that are in the same business to help you grow and learn as much as you can. Network with other direct sellers to help come up with new and fresh ideas.

There are many legit home based business opportunities out there to be had. Finding the one that is right for you might be the hardest thing to do. Direct selling is a great way to have a legit business and earn a great income. There are no limits to what you can do when you work this as the business it is.

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A Job Or an Internet Home Based Business? Many Moms and Dads Must Answer That Question

Many moms and dads are asking the question whether to stay in their job or consider an internet home based business opportunity.The current U.S. economic crisis has changed the lives of many families. Some Americans have seen their income reduced or sometimes eliminated because of lost jobs. Others are feeling job insecurity as their companies struggle.The employment picture appears to be improving. Job losses are declining. The unemployment rate remained at 10.0% in December. However, if the work force had not lost over 660,000 discouraged job lookers (given up on finding a job), the unemployment rate would have been 10.4%.But the current economy indicates that it will be extremely difficult to find another job if you are presently unemployed or unhappy with your present employment.When you consider the total of unemployed plus underemployed (employed but making less than before they were laid off) individuals, there are almost 27 million Americans who are looking for a job or a better paying job. It will take many years before all these people find jobs, even if the economy grows at a very high rate.However, there is no way that we will see high growth rates in the economy. The massive federal government spending is resulting in huge deficits. Higher interest rates and increased taxes will be needed to finance these deficits. Both of these will cause a major drag on any economic growth.As a result, unemployment rates will remain at high levels. Finding a job will be difficult for many Americans.We are seeing a major change in families throughout this country. Many moms and dads are considering the pros and cons of joining an internet home based business opportunity. Some are discarding the traditional path of working a job.When talking about an internet home based business, I’m not talking about a job stuffing envelopes or doing medical billing.To pursue an internet home business is not a bad thing. In fact, it is considered a blessing for some. Many moms and dads have considered this type of business before. A job loss or job insecurity can provide the motivation to make this change.Robert Kiyosaki, the best selling author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, recommends owning a business, rather than having a job, in order to create wealth.Of course, owning an internet home based business is not for everyone. A business owner must be a self-starter, be dedicated and willing to work hard, and be willing to learn and develop the skills needed for success. This isn’t an easy job.I recently heard Mr. Kiyosaki interviewed while promoting his latest book, Conspiracy of the Rich, 8 New Rules around Money. He discussed how the middle class was being eliminated and how holding onto a job was keeping families poor. He talked about how job holders were being held back by current tax laws, accumulation of debt, and coming inflation.He indicated that the working taxpayer would end up being the loser in today’s economy and the business owner would be the winner.Moms and dads need to make a decision. Do they want to play it safe and have a job? Or do they join an internet home based business opportunity?Kiyosaki asserts that holding a job, traditionally considered the safe choice, is actually the riskiest option. So the question is, what do you choose?

Three Reasons Not To Fear Your Home Based Business Competition

As today’s economy is still struggling, many people are finding themselves too fearful to take their first step toward operating a home based business. They are afraid of many things, but one of the things they are most fearful of is their competition. They just do not think they could start up their own company and compete with a company that is already established and may be bigger. If you are too fearful to start your own company in your home, the following are just three reasons why you should not fear any of your competitors:The main reason you should not fear your competition is that they will be providing you with the motivation to do better. When many people start a home based business, they often find they have difficulty staying on task and getting their work done. No one is hovering over them, telling them what to do, and, well, there really isn’t any personal punishment for not getting the work done (beyond the fact that you don’t get paid). However, knowing your competition is taking your customers away from you will give you the motivation you need to do your best.Another reason to not fear any of your competitors is you can use their business to better your own. One of the best things you can do is evaluate your competition and see exactly what they offer and how they are promoting it. You can use your own company to fill in their missing gaps. By offering better quality products and services to your target market, you can be sure your competition is not going to stand a chance against your own business. 
Last, you must not fear your home based business competition as there is always room in today’s world. The key is to not give up. You are going to have to work hard, especially if you are competing with a much larger company. However, if you take advantage of all of the promotional opportunities on the Internet, there is no reason why your own company can not be successful and make your own place in the world.

Start a Home Based Business in Retirement? Part 1 – Will a Home Based Business Solve Your Problem?

Congratulations. You’re retired and you thinking about starting a home based business.You’ve probably heard that at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting each person gets up and starts his talk by saying, “Hello, I’m __________ and I’m an alcoholic.”What they’re doing is admitting they have a problem, and they want help and support in solving it.Well, now that you’re retired, you’re reading this because you have a problem, so say aloud “I’m retired, and I have a problem.” That’s right; the first step in solving your problem is to admit that you have a problem.Perhaps your problem is:

Your retirement nest egg has been severely hurt by the drop in the stock market, or You can’t afford to take the vacations you want to take, or You have trouble paying your bills, or You’re just bored.

 
Whatever your problem, you’re wondering whether starting a home based business is a solution for you, and if it is, which business opportunity should you select, and what do you have to do to make it successful enough that it solves your problem.I started a home based business because my wife had a serious accident, and I needed to spend more time with her at home. I solved my problem by starting a home based business. Before making a decision, I thoroughly researched all the data available, so I could make an informed decision.I spent months collecting data. Hopefully, by giving you the results of my search, you will find your answers in a much shorter time.Briefly, what I found out is that a home based business can be a way to solve your problem. A great many people are making a very good living from their home based business, but many, many more are not only not making money, they are losing money.People lose money because they believe the hype that it is possible to make a lot of money in your spare time without any expertise and with very little expenditure of time and money. When they find out that this hype is a lie, they give up.A home based business is like any other business. You can make a lot of money in a home based business, but like any other business, it takes hard work, marketing skills, and an investment of time and money.Also, you can run a home based business part time, but you can’t run it in your spare time. You have to dedicate a specific amount of time to your business, and allocate that time to the various tasks that you must do to have a successful home based business.The key to a successful home based business is (1) using modern marketing methods and (2) finding a mentor who will help you get started. If you do these two things, you can succeed in any opportunity you choose. However, for a retired person, some opportunities are better than others.In succeeding articles, I will discuss these points in more detail.As I said at the beginning, you probably are looking for help and support to solve your problem. If you want help in solving your problem, don’t hesitate to email me, and I will do my best to help you.

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Starting A Home Based Business – 3 Tricks For Faster Success

Are you ready to start making some extra money on the side, or even to start earning a nice full-time income all from the comfort of your own home? If you said yes, then you are not alone, as more and more people are turning to their computers to start earning a living from home. Even though it is simple to get started, it is not easy to succeed. There are some very confusing messages out there of what you should actually do in order to achieve success when working from home, and most of it is incorrect. If you want to achieve success in your home-based business, you absolutely have to get advice from someone who has been there and done it already.With that said, let’s take a look at what my top 3 tricks are for achieving success in your own home based business:Trick #1 – Sell electronic productsIt is so easy to sell information products online (ebooks, MP3′s, etc), and if you have anything you can share with others, then you have what it takes to make it in the information product business. Millions of people are searching for solutions to their problems online every single day, so if you were to create some simple products then you can sell them online and keep 100% of the profits. On top of the ease of selling these products, there is no need to store them in your home, and the cost to send them to your customers is free, since they are sent electronically.Trick #2 – Treat your home-based business like a real businessMany people make the mistake of assuming that a home-based business is somehow easier to run and make profitable then a brick-and-mortar business, but if anything it is actually harder. You are essentially creating something out of nothing, so if you want to be successful, you should be prepared to work long hours for quite some time in order to become established, build your reputation, and become profitable. One of the great things about a home-based business in today’s world is that you can become profitable almost immediately since there is very little overhead involved in your start-up.Trick #3 – Don’t be afraid to failOne of the most common causes of failure in starting your own business is the fear of making mistakes and failing. If you want to make it in business, you have to have the guts to go outside of your comfort zone and just go for it. Don’t be afraid to seek the counsel of someone who has successfully started their own home-based business already, as these people can help you to significantly cut the learning curve and therefore become successful much, much faster than if you tried to figure it all out on your own.

Home-Based-Business: How to Be First and Get Deals With No Competition At Every Garage Sale!

How can you be the first one to every garage sale, every time? How can you get their first, and still get the absolute best prices? How can you just flat wipe out any competition? How can you make a big business out of buying garage sales? Find out right now!I cleaned out my shop last month – it made me think about garage sales. We (my wife and I) have also been business partners for 30 years. We have always been fascinated by business and business marketing, even on the micro start-up level. As I cleaned out my shop, I had the following thoughts a home-based-business based on garage sales.Thought #1: Make an offer they can’t refuse. If you have just one or two thousand dollars in capital to start your home-based-business, you can go to almost any garage sale, survey everything there and make an offer on all of it.This is true today, but it would have been risky home-based-business not that long ago. Simply scan the stuff for the most valuable items. Write down what they are. Walk town the block and get on the internet and check eBay’s Completed Items category to check the actual value – this will show you what actually sold.Garage Sale Home-Based-Business Thought #2: Make the offer for everything. Make your offer is based on the value of the key items, but take everything. You may not want to take everything, but by offering to take everything, you’ll get all the small stuff for free or nearly free because you are taking the problem away for the seller.In other words, do what others won’t and you’ll win. No other buyer is going to mess with the small stuff, so their offers on the good stuff will not have as much value as your offer.You may be saying to yourself as you read this that you don’t want to deal with the little junk – I understand that. However, if you just set up a simple sorting system and donate what you don’t want to resell, you’ll get great deals from the sellers who REALLY don’t want to deal with the small stuff. Dealing with things fast and right is what being in a real home-based-business all about.Garage Sale Home-Based-Business Thought #3: How can you eliminate the competition?How can you always be first to a garage sale without competition? Run Craig’s List ads that say, “I’LL BUY YOUR ENTIRE GARAGE SALE NOW!” Place it in the “wanted” category. In the body of the ad, tell them you’ll pay a price that will make them happy and you’ll take everything to save them the trouble of having a garage sale – you can even offer to sweep the garage out in the bargain. Why? The more you make it a “service” the more seriously your offer will be considered. In fact, it would be good to use the word “service” in everything you do with your new home-based-business.Why? It’s because we are all human. If someone wants to help you, even if they are buying everything you have at a bargain, you’ll be more inclined to think kindly of them and accept their offer. Contrast with the hard and crusty professional buyers you see at garage sales who are simply trying to make low ball offers on only the items they want. You want to be providing a service – the service eliminating all of the hassle for your customer.What are you risking by softening the blow of your offer by offering to sweep the garage? The vast majority will appreciate the offer but won’t have you sweep. Why? It’s because most of them are neat freaks – that’s why they are selling everything at a bargain! They just want to get to the good part, the part they like, cleaning up.This is important: Please understand this – you are advertising to people who are thinking about having a garage sale. You are offering to save them time because they won’t need to have a garage sale at all, because you’ll take all of it. Can you see how you won’t have any competition? You’ll be the only buyer there because you’re there when they are just in the thinking stage – just thinking about having a garage sale!WARNING:Always think in terms of massive action when it comes to business. Advertise on CL and your local throw-away paper like The Penny Saver. Also, make up a flyer and make 5,000 copies for very little money by finding a printer online. Put out 1,000 at a time and see what you get. Be sure to use the same language – you want to buy their entire garage sale of items.Buying at garage sales and reselling on eBay and CL always sounds like a tiny business. STOP thinking small. You could get rich fast doing this home-based-business.What should you do next?

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Reasons Why You Might Need a Property Management Company

Having a rental property can be overwhelming for any landlords or owners. And one of the biggest decisions that you can come up with is whether you should hire a property manager to look after your properties. There are many factors that may influence a property owner’s decision it may be his or her accessibility to the property they own, their availability to manage and check their tenants and if they can afford the cost of employing a professional property management firm.

If you live near your property you will be able to keep a close eye on things. Also, you will be able to visit your rental property on regular basis which is required for maintenance, inspections, and collections. On the other hand, if you live further from your rental house or apartment it would cost you so much time and money to visit it regularly. Scheduling a monthly visit to check the condition of your properties and tenants and responding to their calls in the middle of the night can be burdensome for landlords. A property manager can make these things easy for you and ensure you that your property is taken care of even if you are in the comfort of your home.

Not every one of us has the special gift of negotiating with people under pressure. At the end of the day it takes a professional person to handle the ups and downs of your business. Aside from collecting the monthly rent and making a regular inspection and maintenance there are more other problems that may encounter everyday that can push people to their limits.

As the number of rental properties you own increase the more problems you will face as you manage your own properties. Many investors with large portfolios take advantage the service of property managers. It would be more efficient to hire the skilled people to take care of your investments. Moreover, if you do not have the experience in home maintenance and repairs they are the one who can help you get things done. And with the help of a professional property management company you can ensure that the work is done well in timely manner.

Another advantage of hiring a property management firms is they can help you in advertising, fielding calls, help you find a good tenant to decrease your vacancy rate. They can also help you handle the accounting and keeping records for your property.

Customer service is very important in rental property business. We know that each tenant requires attention even to their smallest concerns. The management team you respond to your tenants when an emergency happens in your property. They can quickly fix your property and handle problems immediately. Furthermore, they can help you instantly resolve problems with tenants like late payments. They could also help you ensure that your property is run legitimately to prevent lawsuits.

Finally, your decision whether to hire or not a management firm to handle your business will depend if you are financially capable of employing one to manage your rental property dealings. Assess first the opportunity cost that you will be taking once you finally employ a property manager.

Before you decide if you will hire an expert in managing properties think first if you really need them and if it will be beneficial for you to seek for their help.

Real Estate Law – What You Must Know

Real estate or Property law is one of the safest investments and people use it as an investment avenue. It’s not meant for attorneys and estate agents only. Every property investor should understand the basics of real estate law.

A good short note on the law can be of great importance to investors. Investors need to understand it relating to legal procedure that will help in a smooth transfer of title of the property they are acquiring or selling, and other relevant documents and procedures. Investors need to understand the financial implication in acquiring property and the guiding law.

Classification of properties and how basic property laws apply to investors should be the Interest of the investor. The law has different applications to commercial and residential properties and investors/sellers should understand this. The tax laws relating to property are some of the thing that would be of interest to investors. Investors should study taxes on properties; how loans are treated in relation to property law.

Tenancy aspect of the property law should be well understood by landlord/lady who wishes to rent out their property. Investors should not put all their energy on studying the law alone and leaving the investment aspect of it. The law should be left for the expert in this area such as property lawyers and property brokers.

Understanding the various legal terms referred to in property laws can also help you in not only enhancing your understanding of real estate but also help in making your conversations with property attorneys/agents really fruitful. The laws are different from state to state across the country but the basic laws are same especially property tax. Property tax also changes over time but any major changes will be published in the newspapers and any other print media. The law is what any investors must know as a guide to real estate investment

Olusegun Kayode is a Lagos Based Real-Estate Consultant and a Freelance Writer

How To Succeed At Online Product Creation The Easy Way

Product creation could be a frightening subject for a lot of Internet marketers to face. Some folks who get in the game with the intention of making a full time income are completely ignorant as to how an online business operates. One of the most profitable ways to create online cash is by creating a product that others are happy to pay for.

Product creation is legitimate method of generating money through internet marketing but many entrepreneurs get it wrong. They start by imitating their Internet marketing gurus by creating information products on Internet marketing in hopes of getting rich the way their heroes did. The problem is that they usually don’t know what they are doing and enter a highly competitive niche with very little marketing experience or connections.

Here are a few tips for effective product creation that may help you get on the right track:
Start by finding a profitable niche with low to moderate competition. If you conduct some rudimentary market research and keyword research, you’ll find many opportunities in areas that will surprise you. Amazon and eBay are two great places to brainstorm for product ideas.

Developing Your Product does not have to be a difficult project. You can find experts in the right field for your niche and pay them to write the material while an artist designs the packaging and website or blog. You can outsource the entire product creation part of the project after you conduct the research and testing to ensure profitability.

Sales and marketing strategies should be created while developing the product and learning about the market. Some experienced marketers use pay per click to drive traffic to their offer page; some folks outsource the entire marketing campaign to affiliates through ClickBank or other affiliate programs.

Product creation does not need to be hard, particularly when the merchandise is electronic. E-books, videos, audio and multi-media products sell very well. They are distributed immediately to customers electronically. Once you have a good feel for a niche market, try to service your customers with associated products and upgrades. If you want to earn money online through product creation, you must understand supply and demand. The majority of new online marketers fail miserably because they go after highly competitive markets or forget to research their chosen niche properly. You have to create your products according to the needs, wants and desires of the prospective customers.

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