Veterans and Education: Are Our Veterans Getting the Education Benefits They Deserve?

In honor of Veterans Day and those who have served our country, we’d like to take some time to look at the educational benefits available to veterans and the men and women who currently serve. Veterans returning from military service are enrolling in college programs in record numbers, but many of our veterans are finding the college experience far less than favorable. They’ve fought for our country honorably – they shouldn’t have to fight for their education benefits too.

Let’s take a look at the education benefits available and how colleges across the nation are working to improve the services they extend to our veterans all the way from World War II to Iraq and Afghanistan.

The implementation of the new GI Bill, renamed the Post-9/11 GI Bill, helps to connect American’s veterans to higher education by significantly expanding the education benefits available to veterans. The new GI Bill helps veterans to earn their degree by paying the full tuition and fees at over 4,000 colleges and providing a monthly living and book and supply stipend.

But many still find that the government’s education programs for service members are inadequate. A loophole in the Bill can often make student loans non-deferrable. Loans can be deferred during times of military service, but when student loans are held by multiple banks, the deferment process can often be undermined. Roy Brown and Eli Williamson, two Army vets, decided to help. Brown and Williamson created Leave No Veteran Behind, a non-profit organization that helps struggling veterans manage their debt and pay off their loans. Loans that veterans take out before entering the service and classes that are interrupted by deployment, for example, are not covered under the GI Bill. The pair recently helped 26-year Air Force veteran Doris Barren, now 51, pay off her entire $5,000 student loan. As they see it, it’s one down, one million to go.

The “culture shock” of reclamation to the civilian world of college campuses is also difficult for veterans, a recent study from the National Survey of Student Engagement found. The transition from military to civilian life is unquestionably hard and the reported lack of support on college campuses can only make the transition more difficult. Of 11,000 veterans surveyed, many reported feeling “disconnected” from the school they attend. The report suggests that college campuses and administration seek out ways of more effectively engaging veterans and providing them with “supportive environments that promote success.” Brian Hawthorne, a student veteran who served twice in Iraq with the Army and is now a graduate student at George Washington University urges educators to understand the differences between veterans and traditional college students, and to provide student veterans with the network of support systems they need.

Many colleges are trying to combat these issues and make the higher education process and experience easier for veterans in hopes that, one day, organizations like Leave No Veteran Behind will be out of work. Colleges have traditionally given honor students and athletes first dibs on classes or “priority registration.” Now, across the nation, student veterans are being given the same opportunity. Prominent ground colleges, like the University of Arizona, are giving veterans the opportunity to register for classes early, ensuring that the classes they want and need to take are available. In 2009, the state of California mandated that all state schools give veterans and current service members priority registration. Additionally, online schools offer veterans a multitude of education opportunities with flexible class scheduling and extensive student services.

A number of corporations are also trying to increase the availability of education benefits for veterans by donating millions of dollars to veteran education programs. Microsoft has given $2 million in cash and $6 million in cutting-edge software to organizations that provide veteran education, skill training and job placement. The money will also be used for services such as career counseling and childcare. An officer in the Navy for nine years, Ross Janson is one veteran who has taken advantage of the Microsoft funding. Janson is taking computer and technology courses at Veterans Inc., one veteran’s organization that received Microsoft funding, to prepare himself for a civilian job in an increasingly tech-driven economy.

Department store super-power Wal-Mart has also contributed, giving $10 million over a five-year period to non-profit organizations that offer veterans job training and higher education or continuing education opportunities. J.C. Penny recently gave $1 million for 5,000 veterans to purchase business clothes for their new civilian workplace. Robert Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, the gaming company which produces popular video games like Call of Duty, was persuaded by the sheer number of unemployed veterans to establish a $1 million foundation to support them. The company recently announced an additional $1 million gift.

Student Veterans of America, a student run organization which helps student veterans transition into college and earn their degree, is one of the countless student-run organizations that many colleges offer to their veterans. There are currently 300 college chapters and Michael Dakduk, the deputy executive director of the organization, hopes that the number of chapters nationwide continues to expand. Through his work, Dudak says what amazes him the most is the number of veterans “succeeding, despite the obstacles.”

Starting A Home-Based Business – The Tools For Guaranteed Success

Thousands of enthusiastic people are starting home-based businesses every single day, but 99% of those people will lose their motivation and eventually give up, assuming there really is no way to earn a full-time income from the comfort of their own homes. This is an unfortunate situation, but it is not really a surprising one, as nobody really takes the time to learn the real requirements that are needed to achieve success with a home-based business.

If you do in fact have a strong desire to start a business from home and work online towards earning a healthy income, then it can be done, but without the right tools to get the job done right, you cannot achieve any sort of real success. There are thousands of “opportunities” out there that promise big income with all of their “tools” and their “support”, but the truth is nothing really works quite like you hoped for, and the reason is simply because nobody will come out and tell you exactly how its done, until now.

If you want to build a real business and work it from home, you only need to focus on four pillars for success, they include:

1 – Product creation

2 – Traffic Building

3 – List Building

4 – Relationship Building

Let’s take a closer look at each of these pillars and you will then be empowered with everything you need to build a successful home-based business.

1 – Product Creation

If you want to make the most money possible, the plain truth is that you must create your own products. A great way to create in-demand products is to create what are known as “information products”. Find a niche with plenty of hungry buyers and write ebooks, create video courses, and build consulting programs that you can sell for lots of money. Trust me, people are paying big bucks for high quality information and help with their problems.

2 – Traffic Building

The bottom line is that you have to drive lots of quality traffic to your online business if you want to make money. This is where many people fall short, simply because they don’t know how to do it or they don’t know what to do for results. There are many great ways to drive very targeted leads to your business, article marketing being one of the best ways.

3 – List Building

A list is like a diary of your customers and those who have shown interest in your business, and if you want to make big money, you have to build a list from day one. There are many great ways to build a relatively big list in little time, so find the top ways to drive that traffic and you are well on your way to success.

4 – Relationship Building

In order to achieve success, you have to build relationships with those who are on your list. Luckily, there are some services called ‘autoresponders’ that will send out emails to everyone on your list in an automated fashion. This is truly a necessary tool in making your business as hands-free as possible and ultimately getting as much business as possible.

Home Based Business – Advice on How to Stay Focused

If you have been bitten by the home business bug you need to be aware of the many challenges you will face in making your business successful. This article was written considering several factors that can detract the home based business owner from staying focused. If you are not trained to avoid distraction it can become quite an ordeal. Read on to get some advice on how to stay focused while running your home business.One of the biggest challenges you are going to face is successfully avoiding the many distractions that are part of working from home. You need to separate home and office and train yourself to accept that you are running a serious business, which is a separate entity from your home. You need to structure your thinking and practice discipline to ensure maximum productivity for business success.Set up your office as far away from the major traffic areas in your home like the kitchen, TV room, etc. If you plan to claim tax deductions you will need to keep your office separate from your home. Talk to your family about the seriousness of the business you are trying to run and the importance of their cooperation with giving you the quiet you need.While you have complete freedom to work the way you want and set your own schedule, it is far better to stick to some kind of work schedule that emphasizes the seriousness of your venture. If your home based business has to do with client interaction, you will need to keep reasonable hours anyway. There is danger in having too much freedom because as human beings we are conditioned to follow schedules.The Internet is our greatest boon for business opportunities and information, but can also be one of the greatest distractions as well. It is so easy to get hooked on surfing the net when you don’t have someone looking over your shoulder. It is far better to make a conscious effort to keep the browser closed when you are working unless you need to use the net for work.Distractions are a part of life and rather than fighting a losing battle against them, you can work around them. Try scheduling break times that allow you to play with your kids or the dog, write some personal notes or catch up on emails or talk to your spouse. In this way you will not feel guilty about wasting time.Make use of the advice in this article to help you stay focused on making your home based business a super success!

Home Based Business Grants – Financial Help For Your Business

Establishing your very own business at home can prove to be quite a lucrative especially the services or products you are planning to offer is in high demand. But as this may be the case, you might still need some financial help in starting up. The rule of thumb when it comes to capitalization for home based business is that you should be sufficient enough for the next six months while your business is still taking off the ground, any less and you might encounter difficulties which can impact your business greatly. If you think that your finances as of the moment would not be able to support or suffice this length of time, then you really should look into home based business grants.By getting a grant you will be able to secure that your finances will not be lacking during those months that your business is still getting a good footing of its market. But before you apply for home based grants though, you might want to remember a few things first. These are:A good business plan:No doubt there will be thousands of competition from other individuals vying for such grant and in order to take the lead and increase your chances you will need to create a good business plan. Make sure that it is complete and that you are able to fill in all the information regarding you, your company and the business that you are establishing. Establish the legality of your business to the lenders as well; convince them that your business is a successful one. If you need more help in doing this, get help from an expert in the field. He or she will be able to guide you on the best possible routes that you should take on how to present your company in the very best of light.Learn more about grants:The government gives many different grants for many different reasons, and knowing which ones you should go for will benefit you greatly. Find a grant that best fits the business you are trying to establish, this will help speed things up for you since the lenders you are talking to know what you are already talking about, all that’s left is to convince them that they will be making the right decision in giving you the grant.Think about the questions:During the presentation of your business, you might have to answer a few questions from the panel or board. You need to be able to prepare yourself about what those questions are and should have an answer for them. Failing to answer the questions properly will affect your chances greatly which is why you need to be able to see and answer them even before they are asked.Do a demonstration:Apart from your business plan, you should also be able to do some demonstration of your product as well as a sales pitch. A good sales pitch will sometimes seal the deal even if your presentation did not go really well. If you are unable to get an approval on your first try, be sure to inquire about other home based business grants within your area so that you may be able to reapply again until you get one that will be able to support your company or products.

Legitimate Home Based Businesses For Anyone

Legitimate home based businesses do exist. You just have to know where to look because there was a time in which legitimate home based businesses were far and in between. But that number has increased dramatically throughout the years, making it much easier for an individual to be able to work from the comfort of their home.However, it is important to seek out and study each home-based business opportunity before getting started. It is a good idea to tear about every single opportunity to make sure that every functioning part of it is right for you. If you find that the business fits you, then you may find yourself earning a fantastic income working your own schedule and being your own boss. Keep in mind that a legitimate home based business is one that provides more than just a way to get rich quick. The truth of the matter is that a legitimate home business is one that does not claim to make you rich overnight, but presents you with realistic goals.Finding the right opportunityYou will find that there are quite a few home based business opportunities for you to take a look at. For example, you may find these particular opportunities:o Data entry
o Survey opportunities
o Freelance writing opportunities
o Transcription jobs
o Online stores
o Direct salesThese are just examples of what you may find when looking for the right work at home opportunity. It is always beneficial to know as much about a company as possible before making any sort of commitment to them. You may try to communicate with individuals who are already a part of the company so that you can see what sort of experiences they have had. This also helps you assess any risks that may come about as a result of you doing work for that company. You also get a great idea of what sort of money you can acquire and how much work will be required to acquire that money.Once you figure out this information, you can make an informed decision about which legitimate home based business opportunity is the right one for you. Just don’t get too excited and make sure you compare opportunities to find which one will give you the most money for the least amount of work. You also want to compare how they pay to make sure pay schedules agree with you.Achieving the dreamSo if you’re like most people, you are looking into a legitimate home based business opportunity because you want to achieve the dream of working for yourself. There is nothing more rewarding than you being in charge of your ability to make money. When you are able to make money without the help of an employer, this is a great achievement. That is a dream that has been accomplished.And as a part of achieving this dream, make sure you always consult with a tax professional when it comes to your legitimate home based business because you need to know what ways are available to you to keep your home based business legitimate. They will help you keep the amount of tax you owe to a minimum by taking advantage of the many deductions that are available to you. They will also be able to help you keep track of your finances. This means exercising the best bookkeeping practices and keeping you out of any and all trouble when tax time comes around.So remember the steps you are going to take. You are going to look for great opportunities, research those opportunities, and you are going to talk to individuals already involved with those companies. Don’t forget to talk to a tax professional to help you with the technicalities of your business. You definitely want your legitimate home based business to be one that is easy to maintain and not something you are going to stress about when tax season rolls around.For more tips and training visit My Site

Stop Looking at the Potential in Your Home-Based Business Prospects

My husband has a saying that I believe is fitting for this article. He says, “I got out of the mind reading business because I wasn’t making any money.”No, he has never practiced fortune-telling. He’s never had a crystal ball or anything like that. However, there is a ton of validity and a depth of wisdom in that statement that I believe will help you in your home-based business.In essence, what he was saying was trying to read people’s mind and figure out what they were thinking is an almost impossible practice. Attempting to do that was frustrating him to no end, so he made the decision to stop because it was getting him no where.Most people have a propensity to look at others and see the vast amount of potential in them. And in some ways, that is a good thing. For example, seeing the potential in someone may keep you from completely writing off a teen who is acting rebelliously as a waste of your time.But the reverse side of that is, in business, it can also be very frustrating because when the object of potential doesn’t live up to your expectations, you can feel let down and hurt.As against the grain as this may sound, if you really want to be happy in your home-based business, you are going to have to stop looking at the “potential” in others.There have been a number of times when I knew or had seen someone with great social skills and thought to myself, “Wow, they would be a great addition to my business.”I vividly remember wanting them to enroll them so badly because I knew the money they could make with their social “gifts and talents.” After all, what is network marketing if it’s not a people business? And who better for a “people” business than a social butterfly and people person?You’re laughing, right? How many times have we all fallen into that trap? We get our hearts broken and our hopes dashed because the very person we just KNOW is going to be a superstar in our business either decides not to join or enrolls and winds up a complete and utter failure.I may not be the most intelligent person in the world, but I know if I keep striking my toe on the corner of my bed at night, next time, I’m going to turn on a light to see where I’m going!The same applies in home-based business. You must decide to stop looking at the pent-up potential in others and deciding who is going to be a rock star and who is going to be a dud in your business.For those who’ve been in network marketing for a while, this is called “pre-qualifying” prospects.The truth is you can’t honestly pre-qualify anyone. Over time, I’ve seen that those who I believe would end up as studs in my business turned out to be duds. And some of those who I thought their glory would be in enrolling into the business, turned out to be some of my best business partners!When you stop trying to determine what kind of success your prospective home-based business partners are going to have, you will be a lot less frustrated in your business. Since time is the only way to reveal who will be good and who will be bad, it is actually kind of silly to guess.Sure, it is wise to always have your eyes open for sharp-looking prospects. That just makes good business sense. You never know who will and who won’t, but with a sharp prospect, if they are one of the ones who will, you may have a network marketing superstar on your hands. So, yes – you should prospect sharp people. Never stop doing that.But, what you can’t do is get bogged down in seeing the potential in someone who hasn’t even joined your business opportunity, yet. The time to start seeing their potential is in their actual “doing” of the business. That’s when they provide you with tangible evidence to gauge their level of potential.Learning this one thing can totally help to alleviate the inevitable levels of frustration everyone experiences when building a home-based business.The old mantra still applies: Some will. Some won’t. So what. Who’s next?That’s the mindset you have to adopt to avoid being frustrated in your home-based business endeavor.Implementing this one strategy into your business will keep you from being disappointed, anymore. If you focus on seeing and developing your own potential, that will be serve as a helpful aid in drawing the right kind of prospects to your business, anyway.Stop focusing so much on the potential of others and focus on your potential. Ask yourself are you doing everything you can do to succeed in your home-based business? Assume the responsibility of fulfilling your own potential, and you’ll be amazed at how much more you accomplish!

Why You Should Consider Starting a Home-Based Business

Many types of businesses can operate out of the home, but finding one that works for you can be a challenge. Most find that starting a home-based business solves and relieves many of the problems presented with a traditional career. This article explores the benefits of working from home, and why you should consider starting a home-based business.With the state of the economy, more people are looking for cheaper solutions to cover their needs. Many of these needs are met by home based businesses. With lowered expenses, and increased tax benefits, most home businesses are able to provide their service for a low cost, while still making a suitable profit. This is often why consumers choose low-key private operations, such as these, over large corporations. The demand alone is evidence that these businesses are becoming more popular, and a great reason why you should consider starting a home-based business.Another point to consider is the freedom that comes with a home-based business. With parents having to work to support their families they are left with less time to actually spend with their children. Working from home allows you to completely cut out driving, which saves time, money, and in the long run, leaves more time for your family – not to mention that you can choose when, where, and how you want to work. That’s right, no more missed ballet recitals or soccer games – working at home allows you to be the parent that a traditional job would otherwise prevent. A home-based business means that you get to make all the rules, and no more being forced into pointless meetings to having to work late. These aspects amongst other are why you should consider starting a home-based business.A Chinese proverb says “What you desire is always possible. It will come to you.” This outlook on life is similar to that of someone who operates a home business. Perhaps the best reason why you should consider starting a home-based business is that you are in control of how much money you make, once you find your selling niche you can choose how hard and how long you work. In other words, you choose how much money you make. Whether you just want to be able to pay all your bills, or be able to live a bit lavishly, you can choose how much income you need to feel comfortable.In conclusion, these are just a few examples of why you should consider starting a home-based business. The time is now: demand has never been higher and getting started has never been easier. The freedom and room for profit alone are indicators that this business is for you! With some simple planning you could be up and running in no time; the possibilities are endless! Good luck!

Essential Qualities That Property Managers Must Have

As you hunt for a new property, contacting a real estate company is the best thing, which you can do. You will be able to get hold of the latest information on lands which you desire to purchase. Property Managers from real estate companies help you in knowing and understanding the procedure and methods by which you will be able to acquire a land of your choice. With the help of these companies, you will be able to get your land in a legal manner. You just have to define the budget in which you require a land and you will be provided with numerous suitable options so that you can fulfil your dream of having a land and home of your own.

Work Profile of property managers

The work of these companies are to provide land and other natural resources so that you can develop property on them as per your need and requisition. They manages all your work like buying, selling, leasing and renting. He also helps in managing land resources in the best possible manner.

Managers and brokers from real estate firms work together harmoniously so that work can be accomplished in the best possible manner. It has been seen that agents and brokers not only handle residential properties; they also focus on business properties for setting up offices and other aspects of business.

Job Outlook

This industry is having a wide scope of job opportunities for people who are interested in working as a manager. If you are having good connections in the industry, then you will be able to survive and sustain in the best possible manner and earn good income opportunities for yourself. If you are having the motivational skills along with some other important requisite qualities then you will be able to go a long way in this field. As real estate is always on a boom, it has ample of good opportunities to offer.

Qualities Which Are Necessary For Property Managers

If you are interested in working as a property manager, then there are some skills, which you must possess. Below mentioned are some of the qualities that you must inherit for working as a successful property manager.

Updated knowledge and passion for real estate is the foremost skill that you must possess.

As pricing is the most crucial and important aspect of real estate, you must keep the knowledge about the price statistics of real estate as it keeps fluctuating.

Keeping knowledge about the location for sale or rental is essential.

Establishing strong relation with the clients will help in augmenting your career graph as a manager.

Another important point or rather skill which Property Managers must have is the availability to the customers 24*7.

You must be a good listener so that you can understand the requirements of your clients and provide the best property deals.

They must have the skill to manage the relation between tenants and owners to avoid any conflict.

Best thing is that it is not a single road career. As there are different aspects of real estate, you can select them as per your requisition to be one of the best professionals in real estate.

The Basics of CRMLA – Useful Information for Real Estate Buyers

It’s advisable for buyers of Rancho Santa Fe homes for sale to know everything they can that is related to real estate, including the laws that govern buyers, sellers, and even mortgage lenders. It’s essential to know these things to prevent any issues from happening during the home buying process.

Aside from the California Finance Lenders Law and the Real Estate Law, a law was enacted as an option to these laws that license lenders: the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act (CRMLA).

The CRMLA was passed in 1994 and started operating in 1996. It was enacted to give a licensing law to mortgage bankers that is purposely created to control their main tasks of originating and servicing mortgage loans. It is specially intended to regulate and authorize activities concerning mortgage banking, unlike the California Finance Lenders Law and the Real Estate Law.

Applicants of this act may acquire a license as a servicer, a lender, or even both. If approved, these licensees are authorized by the CRMLA to do the following:

- Make mortgage loans that are federally related

- Make loans to fund home construction

- Sell loans to investors

- Service loans

- Buy and sell loans that are federally related

- Give institutional lenders contract underwriting services

- Service any mortgage loans that are federally related not considering whether the loan is made or a servicing portfolio is purchased

- Give brokerage services to borrowers by means of trying to acquire a loan from another lender on their behalf

As required by the CRMLA, any individual who is in the business of servicing or making residential loans within Rancho Santa Fe and California must be licensed under the Act; however, there are some entities that are exempted from these licensing requirements. These include the following:

- Federal credit unions, federal savings bank, federally chartered loan and savings associations;

- Industrial loan companies, insurance companies, trust companies, banks;

- Individuals engaged exclusively in agricultural, commercial, or business mortgage lending;

- Credit unions, savings banks, and savings and loan associations that are authorized to do business in California;

- Municipal, state, and federal governments;

- Completely owned service corporations of savings banks or savings and loan associations;

- Individuals who act in a fiduciary capacity granted by a court’s authority;

- Pension plans that make residential loans to their members;

- Finance lenders in California;

- Licensed brokers in California; and

- Trustees in foreclosure procedures.

Licensed mortgage bankers under the CRMLA may be any one of the following:

- A person

- A sole proprietorship

- A corporation

- A partnership

- A limited liability company

- An association

- A trust

- A joint venture

- An unincorporated organization

- A joint stock company

- A government

- A government’s political subdivision; or

- Any other entity

Here are the requirements for applicants to acquire a license:

- Approval as a lender and/or a servicer from any of the following: the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Federal National Mortgage Association, Government National Mortgage Association, Farmers Home Administration, Veterans Administration, or Federal Housing Administration

- Audited financial reports that show actual net worth of a minimum of $250,000

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.