Yes, not too long ago there was a company that launched Internet use into the average household. Remember the name AOL? AOL was pretty much the standard for Internet communications, even for many businesses. You waited for the sound of your modem to dial up and viola … you had access to news, chat rooms, search engines, and a whole vast unknown world of web sites to explore.

While we all probably enjoyed the great wonder of the technology, dial up was a pain in the butt. We had to wait to connect and even then cross our fingers hoping we wouldn’t be disconnected from our coveted connection. Disconnects led to newer and improved versions of AOL and birthed competing companies such as Earthlink promising fewer dropped connections online.

As people adapted to the Internet they began to want to surf the Internet faster to obtain more information and do more. To address the issue, many providers began creating dial up that claimed to be faster. The problem with the faster dial up was to get the optimal speed you had to sacrifice image quality or images altogether.

The cries of the consumer did not go unheard and DSL was marketed to the public as the more attractive option to downloading and viewing pictures while still browsing the world wide web. The big problem with DSL however was the cost. DSL was very expensive for it’s day so many suffered at the hands of the slow dial up connections that first brought them Internet connectivity.

The days of over priced high speed Internet (broadband) are finally coming to an end, and at a very good time in web technology. With the addition of sticky sites such as YouTube and MySpace you cannot enjoy the sites without broadband.

Streaming video of comedic situations, live action, amazing events, and even friends and family are all posted on YouTube and you do not want to wait 15-20 minutes to watch a 5 minute video. Broadband allows video to play almost instantly creating an almost television like experience.

An additional benefit are software update downloads. Critical updates for your computer operating system as well as anti-virus programs can be made over the Internet without interrupting your surfing experience or tying up your phone line for 3 to 4 hours.

Not only does a broadband connection allow you to watch video, download programs, and surf the World Wide Web at incredible speeds, but you can actually use it to save on phone bills as well. With the invention of VoIP technology you can make unlimited calls throughout the United States from a regular phone by utilizing your broadband Internet connection through many VoIP providers.

Broadband allows you to also do instant messaging with relatives and friend with live video from a web camera keeping you closer to loved ones far away. The better your broadband connection the better quality of voice and video you will enjoy as well.

With broadband the uses are almost unlimited and time is less spent on aggravating long waits for whatever you want to do online. I think it’s clear what the benefits are for having broadband Internet. Don’t be at home without it.

Many multinational companies are offering distributorship to individuals to market their products in Malaysia.

The best small business ideas are in the field of network marketing where it is inexpensive for you to enter and the rewards are high. An individual can start with any of these companies as low as RM99 and work themselves up to an income of over RM3000 in no time.

You don’t need a lot of money for a head start into network marketing. All you will need is a bit of desire, a small business plan such as goals and a plan of action and a good team to support you.

The opportunities in small business such as a network marketing opportunity are huge. You can earn a few hundreds dollars a week or aim to earn a few thousand a week. It’s an even playing field that allow an average individual to succeed.

You can use a number of ways to market your business and the ideas are many. You may consider doing a part of your network marketing business online as many of the companies offer their distributors a website portal to have a web presence where you can choose to market products on the web.

Some of the best small based business opportunities are to get involved with a company as it opens for business in your country. In Malaysia this opportunity arises daily as it’s quite fashionable for companies to spring up as mushrooms only to die as the competition gets hard.

To make money chose a company that has a proven track history and learn everything about its products, its business plan before you start sharing the benefits with others.

People get attracted to your home based business opportunity looking at your integrity as well as the income the company can give them for their efforts. A network marketing business can provide a handsome profitable income that could turn residual over a period of time as the network of customers increase.

You may do a search for the top network marketing companies if you are considering taking up a part time career in home based business. There are a number of publications on the net that you can do your due diligence from.

The” how to” make money through network marketing is not so important when you are starting out. You must be very clear why you want to get into a secondary income stream. It’s certainly going to be a bit taxing on you as you may have to give up a bit of free time to get this off the ground.

Unlike traditional business you will have to trade time to build this business and must allow 2 to 5 years to build a residual income stream of over RM200, 000 per year. I do realize that there maybe many other ways to earn this type of income. Certainly this is the best way as you build it over time with very little financial risk. There is no stopping the income once it starts flowing in.

Though the entry into a network marketing company maybe rather low it certainly does not mean that your future income is capped. Network companies are considered as high income producing business opportunities these days. It is proven that more millionaires are created by network marketing than any other type of business opportunity.

If you choose the right type of company you will find that the opportunity will outlive you. What a fantastic legacy to leave your children as a gift when you pass on. The interesting thing is that you too enjoyed the income when you were alive.

Did you know that you can watch TV on your computer? I’m not talking about YouTube, or going on the homepage of VH1 to watch deleted clips. I’m talking about using satellite TV software to watch TV on your computer screen and getting thousands of television channels available on your computer via your internet connection.

Whether you are just sick of watching the same old reruns over and over on TV, think your cable company is trying to take over the world (and charging you way too much in doing so), or fed up with a satellite signal that falls out every time it rains, satellite TV software could be an alternative worthy of your consideration.

First the downside: despite what some over-zealous advertisers may try to tell you, the quality of satellite TV on the computer is not normally as good as using a dedicated satellite dish and large-screen television. This is not to say the quality is bad — just that a satellite dish and quality TV would usually give you higher definition. The quality of the signal will also depend upon the speed of your Internet connection, so you will definitely need to have a high-speed broadband connection to get the most out of the software.

On the plus side, satellite TV software is relatively inexpensive and provides access to thousands of channels. So it’s a trade-off that many people are willing to make. I personally appreciate all the international channels available because I have lived all over the world and the software allows me to watch foreign TV shows and sporting events that my local cable provider doesn’t carry.

I used to pay hundreds of dollars a year to receive fewer than one hundred basic cable channels. I also didn’t get to choose which channels I wanted, so there were probably only a handful of channels that I actually watched on a weekly basis. But with satellite TV software, there are thousands of channels available; making it more likely that you can find something you’re interested in watching.

It was always so disappointing to come home and turn on my favorite channel only to find that they were showing re-runs that I already watched several times last week. With satellite TV software, this is not such a big issue, because if there’s nothing on my favorite channels; there are thousands of others to choose from. I just flip through the “TV guide channel” until I find something I want to watch.

I still watch some of the same channels I have always watched, only now I don’t pay a monthly fee to do so, and I can also watch my favorite channels in the UK and France. When I go away, I don’t have to try to figure out where my TV channels are in a different area, and I never have to get upset because the cable provider where I am doesn’t carry my favorite show.

So how does the software work? Basically, you just buy the software and download it to your desktop or notebook computer. Once you’ve completed the steps of the installation, you are ready to watch television on your computer. There is a one-time purchase fee and no monthly fees. And of course, you don’t need any special hardware — any Windows PC with a broadband Internet connection should work fine.

One interesting feature of satellite TV software is its portability. You can travel anywhere in the world and, in theory, still have access the same TV channels you watch at home. All that is needed is a fast internet connection and a laptop computer.

Today, it seems more important than ever that we make the most of our business communication. And when we’re selling, using voice mail is one of our most important tools.

By avoiding these 7-Deadly Sins of Voice Mail, you’re giving yourself a much better chance of having your phone call returned by your customer.

SIN #1:

Your name isn’t clear

This is perhaps the most common mistake made. After all - people are extremely familiar with their own names. But you should never make the assumption that your customer or prospect is. The most common problem is that people say their names too quickly and subsequently their first and last names tend to run together.

The Solution:

Slow down when you say your name. Experts advise you to put an audible pause between your first and last name. At first, this can feel strange and foreign to you - but with a little practice, the pause won’t seem so bad. The key is to make 100% certain that the person on the other end of the phone knows both your first and last name.

Now your customer knows who you are.

SIN #2:

Your company name isn’t descriptive enough

This one has become more of an issue since the age of the Internet. Unless you’re working for a globally branded company, the chances are that most people won’t know who your company is, or what it does. This is especially the case if you use an acronym for your company name.

The Solution:

Like your own name, say your company’s name slowly and clearly. If your company’s name is an acronym, consider saying the whole name. Or, at the very least, let people know what it is you do. For example, “I work for ABC Building Supplies, with the widest selection of building supplies in the northwest”.

Now your customer knows who your company is and what your company does.

SIN #3:

No reason why you are calling

I see a lot of “old school” sales types who have a (wrong) belief that you should always try and keep your customers and prospects hidden in a cloud of mystery. The reality is - “mystery” might have worked 30 or 40 years ago, but today’s savvy customer wants none of that. They are generally incredibly well informed and don’t have the time or patience to play games.

The Solution:

Simply tell the person why you are calling. If you want to add more punch, then create a benefit statement that’s compelling to the customer. Remember, it needs to be put in the form of a benefit to your customer - not you - for it to be compelling.

Now your customer knows why you are calling.

SIN #4:

No reference to another person or event

A lot of times when we’re calling someone for the first time, simply saying your name and company generally won’t mean a thing to them.

The Solution:

Chances are, if you’re not calling someone “cold”, then you have a person or a point of reference to use to jog that person’s memory and further “soften” the call. Remember people are much more receptive when there is a common thread. It creates a personal connection. And creating that personal connection is the first step to building trust.

Now your customer personally connects with you.

SIN #5:

No time to call back

Often times, when we’re making out-bound sales calls, we do them one-after-another. So if a person returns your call right away, they’ll end up getting YOUR voice mail! The worst part about ignoring this sin - is that it inevitably leads to the “game of phone tag”. Which is both time consuming and frustrating for all involved.

The Solution:

Leave your customers with a couple of options when you’ll be available. While it won’t eliminate “phone tag”, it will considerably reduce the odds of it starting in the first place.

Now your customer the best time to call you back.

Sin #6:

Only leaving your name and number once

This sin is very common and very important. As strange as it may seem, when you leave a voice message, the chances of your customer forgetting your name by the end of the message are actually quite high. Most of the time people spend so much time and energy listening to the body of the message, that by the end of it, they’ve already forgotten your name. Making matters worse, people tend to rush through their phone number - again, like their name, because of their familiarity with it - and they generally say it once. This means that your customer often has to rewind and listen to your entire message multiple times to try and decipher what your name and number.

The Solution: Clearly re-state your name in the same way you did at the beginning of the message, thus reminding your customer who you are. Also, state your phone number clearly, two times. Saying your phone number twice will give your customer a chance to correctly write it down without having to rewind the message. If possible say it at the same speed that you would if someone was writing it down in front of you.

Now your customer knows who you are and how to contact you.

Sin #7: There is no warmth in the voice

A rushed voice mail lacking in personal warmth will not be received as well as one that has it. Remember, people want a personal connection - and having warmth in your voice is so much more appealing to your customers.

The Solution:

Smile. It really is that simple. Smile as you leave your voice mails. It’s amazing and true - studies have shown that people can hear your smile. A smile conveys warmth and puts people at ease. So even though it may feel a little strange to smile at a phone while you’re leaving a message on a machine - smile anyway. And if it helps, have a picture of a friend or loved one in front of you to help make it easier.

You may not be able to avoid these 7-Deadly Sins of Voice Mail all the time, but with a little practice, you’ll be leaving a far better voice mail message.

Now it’s time to get back to those phones!

When you think of Couture there are some names that need no explanation and epitomize the height of fashion. Coco Chanel is one of these names. When you think of the Chanel brand today , you think of the suit, the perfume, Paris, Grace Kelly, Jacky O. The name conjures images of the beautiful women who have adorned the front covers of the world’s magazines wearing designs and accessories from the famous Coco Chanel over nearly a century.

For it was in a modest milliners shop in Paris in 1910 that the designer, christened Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel began her career. Her first dress shop followed shortly afterwards in 1914. Her trademark suit launched in 1923 of short knee length skirt and box jacket was one of many trends set by Chanel in the 20’s. She was accredited with ‘the little black dress’ whose necessity in the closet of every women goes without saying. Hairstyles and handbag styles were also set by designer in pre-war Paris.

In 1939 she closed her shop and it re-opened after the war in 1954. It was not long before she was once again influencing the world of fashion. In 1955 she launched the quilted shoulder bag that took the world by storm. It still remains one of the ‘classic’ handbags to own. Through the late fifties and sixties Hollywood endorsed her and stars such as Grace Kelly and First Lady Jacky Kennedy would often be seen wearing Chanel.

By her death in 1971 the house of Chanel was firmly established as the hallmark of Parisian couture and the diminutive ‘Coco’ would be revered for all time as one of the greatest influences in culture and fashion of the twentieth century.

One of the major influences that Coco Chanel made to the fashion world was the introduction of highlighting the importance of accessories. Handbags, Perfumes and jewelery all became part of the overall couture experience. This rise led to other fashion houses of long standing such as Hermes rising to new heights.

Hermes was a family owned business for nearly two hundreds years founded by Thierry Hermes in 1836. Originally a saddlery company Hermes fame grew in the first half of the twentieth century on the back of accessories such as its silk scarves and handbags such as the Constance bag and the Kelly.

The Kelly Bag was, in fact first produced in the 1930’s but got its nickname much later in 1956 when the actress come wife of the monarch of Monaco was pictured wearing the bag on the cover of Life magazine. The nickname stuck and the Kelly bag was born.

Of all its bags though, the Birkin has probably retained its popularity and fame the most. Originally designed by a collaboration between the then head of Hermes, John Louis Dumas and , of course, Jane Birkin, the off the shoulder bag is still sported today by the rich and famous such as Sharon Stone, Martha Stewart and most recently Lindsay Lohan. With such a diverse spectrum of admirers the bag cannot fail to continue as one of the most sold accessory items in the world today.