Reasoning Theorems of Success

With all of the recent data theft in the financial sector, it is important to make sure that we don’t go crazy trying to protect ourselves from risk. Risk management does have a value but this value lies mostly on the front end. Reactionary risk management almost always produces a point at where the value of protecting oneself or one’s customers overshadows the product or service that you are offering. The majority of companies always go beyond this point, some thinking they can even sell it to the customer as a security measure and build their brand with it.

This is a lazy and terribly detrimental course of action for any corporation to undertake.

I recently called Citistreet, the company that manages the 401K plans for the corporation I will be leaving in a month. I was sent a PIN number about six months ago via snail mail but misplaced the paper and one of the security questions they ask is, “What was your start date with the company.” Well, I worked for a subsidiary of the company that was eventually taken back into the motherfold–so I really have two hire dates and I couldn’t get it straight with the woman from Citistreet.

So, the first gap in their process was a pathetic back-up security system of identifying appropriate customers.

Next, I was told that I would be sent a new PIN number through the mail in 5-7 business days and could then access my account via the web or the phone.

I said, “So, let me get this straight…I have to wait 5-7 business days to get into my account? You do realize that we’re talking my money here, right? I want access to my money right now and if you can’t do that, then I am not going to take my money elsewhere (in 5-7 business days) but I’m going to tell everyone I know about the pathetic operations process you guys have (that’s what I’m doing now).”

In today’s Instant Information environment, it is unacceptable to ask your customers to wait even 5-7 minutes to deliver information. Imagine my shock when I was asked to wait 5-7 business days–it was like someone told Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin after their Apollo 11 space capsule crashed into the ocean that they would be returning to land via clipper ship and the journey would take four weeks.

So, I’m cashing out my funds and moving to another vendor and I think any of you who use this company are insane not to do the same.

The woman on the phone apologized and kept saying, “I’m sorry, Sir–but that’s just our process.”

I finally said, “Your process just isn’t good enough. Fix it or the market will.” What she didn’t realize is that I am the market and so are each of you. Vote with your social contracts, my friends, and you will correct the market and remove incompetence as a barrier to raising the living standard all over the world.

Joshua Minton is President of an Internet publishing and business consulting corporation, Family Bliss Enterprises, Inc. He is also author of two novels, several short stories, poems and articles on art, philosophy, politics, sociology, science, popular culture, business, health insurance administration, internet marketing, blogging and personal success.

You can keep up with Josh through his Podcasts (http://joshuaminton.blogspot.com) and his Blog (http://boyswearpants.com).

His book, Flipping the Temple: Win the Information War Using the Internet to Create Fantastic Success as an Author, will be coming out this Fall and will available exclusively through http://joshuaminton.com where you can sign up for free for Josh’s exclusive weekly newsletters, where he posts his private thoughts and article embryos to his appreciated audience. In gratitude for allowing Josh to keep you updated on his thinking, you will be immediately sent two of his novels and a book of poems that he has published and are available only to members of his newsletter subscription list.

Nestled into the eastern part of Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean. Cyprus history for the past 10,000 years has seen civilizations come and go and famous historical figures such as Alexander the Great to Cleopatra stake their claim here. According to the legend, Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty was born here. From independent travellers to honeymooners, archaeology enthusiasts to friends of nature, adventure lovers to people enjoying lazy days on a beach visitors to Cyprus find offers to everyone’s taste. Food lovers feast on farm-fresh halloumi cheese and delectable meze, the local specialty appetizers that mix Western ingredients with Eastern zest. Business travelers appreciate the fine, modern conference facilities and warm, professional service at numerous hotels and resorts. Since 1974 there have been two countries on the island of Cyprus - the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the southern Republic of Cyprus. So you can actually visit two countries for the price of one. We invite you to get a delightful taste of what both Greece and Turkey have to offer: beautiful sunny beaches, small charming villages, ruins of ancient civilizations and distinctive local cultures.
HISTORY: Cyprus (Kypros in Greek) gave copper its latin name: cuprum. First Greeks settled on Cyprusin the late Bronze Age (1,600 B.C.) and established trade links with Egypt and the Aegean islands. During this period ceramic art first flourished. Alexander the Great wrestled the island away from the Persians . As centuries passed by, the island came consequently under Persian, Assyrian, Egyptian, and Roman rule. The Roman emperor Marc Antony gave Cyprus as a gift to his lover, the beautiful Cleopatra. Then came a long period of Byzantine domination. For a hundred years until 1571 the flag of the Republic of Venice flew in Cyprus, when the Ottoman Turks occupied it. In 1878 Cyprus became part of the British Empire. It gained independent status in 1960. Cyprus History - Recent Past and Present: A Greek, Archbishop Makarios, became an elected president. On 15 July 1974 a CIA-sponsored, Greek-organised coup overthrew Makarios and replaced him with a puppet leader. Turkey responded by invading the island and Greece quickly pulled out, but the Turks did not stop and took the northern third of the island, forcing 180,000 Greek Cypriots to flee their homes. In 1983 Turkish Cypriots proclaimed a separate state, naming it the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Peace talks have been held sporadically, but Cyprus remains divided.
ATTRACTIONS:NICOSIA: The island’s capital city is divided in two parts by the UN-patrolled Green Line, which separates the Republic from Northern Cyprus. Nicosia is a friendly, laid-back place, with good restaurants, museums, and a lively art scene.A visit here should give you a less touristy view of the country than you’ll get if you stick to the coastal towns. The old town , inside the 16th-century Venetian walls, is the most interesting part of Nicosia, a home to numerous little shops where you can bargain directly with the owners. The Cathedral of St.John houses some outstanding frescoes. The Cyprus Archeological Museum exhibits the priceless collection of Cypriot antiquities and art treasures. Visiting Nicosia gives you a chance to cross the Green Line and to explore the Turkish part of the capital city. Passing through the “no man” zone within the Green Line, where everything is left untouched since the 1974 military action, seeing houses covered with bullet holes leaves unforgetable impression. The Turkish part of Nicosia is smaller, has less things to see, but carries its own charm and specific culture. More about going to the Northern Cyprus- here. PAPHOS: One of the most beautiful parts of the island, place where, according to the legend, Aphrodite arose from from the foaming waves. Among the souvenir shops you’ll see Saranta Kolones, a Lusignian fortress destroyed by an earthquake in the 13th century; it’s mostly fallen columns and sewer tunnels. The underground Tombs of the Kings dated back to the 4th century are carved out of the solid rock, some of them are frescoed and are thought to have been the burial sites of aristocrats and high officials. In Greco-Roman times Paphos was the island’s capital, and it is famous for the remains of the Roman Governor’s palace, House of Dionysos , with its stunning mosaics which is now a major tourist attraction. There is a small harbour and an upper town slightly to the north where the larger shops, offices and town administration are based. TROODOS MASSIF: The Troodos region mountains, in the country’s south, are unforgettable. This is where the highest point on the islanond - mount Olympus (1,952m, 6,507ft) located. Kykkos Monastery, in the western Troodos, is the best known Christian Orthodox monastery. Built in the 12th century, it’s been completely renovated and contains a museum of religious icons including the icon of Christ and the Virgin Mary painted by St. Luke himself. On the Throni Peak in the region there is a tomb of Archibishop Makarios, the first Cyprus President. COLOSSI CASTLE: Built by the Crusaders (Hospitallers, the Order of St. John of Jerusalem) in the 13th century this castle served as their headquarter. This well-preserved castle , restored in 1933 is a good example of military architecture of that period. A spiral staircase leads up to the roof and the restored battlements. There are also plenty of citrus orchards in the area, and you can pick up some of country’s juiciest oranges in the markets here. SALAMIS: It was the most important pre-Christian city in Cyprus. You could easily spend a day here, exploring these very extensive ruins that include a fully restored Roman amphitheatre, the gymnasium with marble baths, and the mosaics, a temple of Zeus, numerous statues of the 4th century. Byzantine remains include the basilica of Bishop Epiphanos (4th century AD). The necropolis of Salamis covers 7 sq. km (almost 3sq.miles) to the west of the town. It contains a museum showing some of the finds. Close to the site is a very nice beach, so bring your swimming suits.
ACTIVITIES: A country of resorts, Cyprus has plenty of places where you can try water sports. If it’s windsurfing or sailing you want, head to the peninsulas and capes, where the wind is strongest. There’s also at least one sea-diving site in each of the big resorts. Mountain biking and hiking are possible all over the island, with specially marked trails in the southern hills, on the Akamas Peninsula and in the Troodos. Although hardly renowned for its skiing, Cyprus does have a resort on the northeastern face of Mount Olympus, but it’s not exactly world standard. For a golf fan there are several courses, the most popular are in the Paphos district. Spear-fishing (without aqualung) angling, fishing with vertical lines or trolling are the permitted methods for which no licence is required. Birdwatching trips and social events are organized for members and the general public. Horse-riding can be enjoyed at special centres, professional training facilities, equipped with instructors who provide lessons for beginners and advanced riders. want, head to the peninsulas and capes, where the wind is strongest.
GETTING THERE AND AROUND, ACCOMODATIONS: The Republic of Cyprus has airports at Larnaka and Paphos, you can book a flight from most of Europe and the Middle East. North Cyprus has an international airport at Ercan, only Turkish airlines fly there. By sea, you can get to Greece and Israel from the Republic’s port in Lemesos. There are ferries from North Cyprus to Turkey, but you cannot exit Cyprus this way unless you entered from Turkey. Bus services run within and between towns every day except Sunday, they are cheap, frequent and efficient. Visitors may travel between the North and the South. 2 and 3- day cruises from Cyprus to Jerusalem, Cairo and Jordan are very popular among tourists. They can be booked through any travel agency on the island. Prices start from $300 USD. 9-11-night Eastern Mediterranean cruises with Cyprus’ Limassol as one of ports of call would cost you from $1,200 USD. Hotel prices start from $65 USD/room in peak season when booked through our agency.
WHEN TO GO, WEATHER: The climate here is typically Mediterranean, with very hot July and August. There are over 300 sunny days per year. Mid-May to mid-October is the ideal season for swimming, sunbathing and watersports. Temperatures are cooler in the mountaneous Troodos area, making it ideal for hiking or simply relaxing. December and January are the months of wet and cool Mediterranean winter. Troodos is ideal for skiing at this time. The first flowers bloom in January, and by mid-February there are fresh green meadows and blooming almond trees. March days are still cool (daytime temperatures around 19C or 65F, 9C or 40F at night). In April and into the middle of May spring is in full force. This is an ideal time for nature hikes and off-road adventures. The most pleasant times to visit Cyprus are April-May and September-October.
Visit <a
href=”http://www.travelmake.com/cyprus.html”>TravelMake.com for a full guide to Cyprus with travel tips and useful links.
We wish you a nice and safe trip!

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Each and every year around 2.5 million weddings take place
nationwide. This means that the number of weddings that will
take place in your immediate area is astounding. Your wedding
plans are going to be affected by number of factors, because
many more weddings will happen at or around the same time as
your wedding.

If you want even the tiniest little detail to be taken care of
at your wedding, it’s recommended that you hire a wedding
planner. Hiring a wedding planner can save you a lot of time and
money. The wedding planner will help you coordinate your wedding
and the most important of all the wedding planner will save you
from frustration.

So, what is a wedding planner anyway, and what does the wedding
planner do?

A wedding planner (sometimes called a wedding consultant,
wedding coordinator or a wedding producer) is hired to help the
bride and groom coordinate a wide variety of tasks associated
with their wedding. Planning your wedding can get vary
frustrating at times, which on the other hand will make you
forget about the fun that you need to have at your wedding. So,
it is a good idea to spend a little bit more on a wedding
planner to make sure your wedding day goes smooth.

A wedding planner can help plan many aspects of your wedding,
including DJs, floral arrangements, cake, seating arrangements,
invitations, photography, and so on. In some cases, a wedding
planner might be able to use his or her industry connections
with vendors to get you a good deal on many things.

The wedding planner will conduct an interview with the
bride-to-be and the groom-to-be, and then coordinate the details
of the wedding that have been agreed upon. A good wedding
planner will be able to assist in organizing, budgeting and
purchasing services for your wedding. A good wedding planner
after the interview will put a contract together that you and
him or her need to sign. Without a contract there’s a lot of
room for misunderstanding and confusion of what was agreed
between you and your wedding planner.

In the contract or often referred to as a letter of agreement,
the wedding planner will include the services that the he or she
is expected to perform, the cost of these services and the
payment terms.

When you receive the contract, if there’s anything you do not
agree with or anything not to your desire, discuss it with your
wedding planner before signing it. When you sign the contract,
you and your soon to-be wedding planner have to agree on all of
the items listed to avoid any possible misunderstanding. But
remember: even though you have been through the interview
process, you are not obligated to continue with that particular
wedding planner until you sign the contract.

So, how can you find a wedding planner, and not just any wedding
planner, but a good wedding planner?

Nowadays, it’s probably the easiest to find a wedding planner on
the Internet. But, it’s best if you know anyone who had had a
wedding planner for their wedding. Referrals are always the best.

But, even if you have to seek help from the Internet or the
yellow pages, when looking for a wedding planner, be sure to ask
for his or her credentials. Ask for references from each of your
potential wedding planners and research their past work. Also,
ask to see a few other weddings your potential wedding planner
has prepared. This will help you make a decision very easily
whether you like the style of that particular wedding planner or
you need to seek another one. Keep a lookout for the wedding
planner you’d like, and don’t hesitate to ask family and friends
for suggestions.

Some of the advantages of hiring a wedding planner are, of
course saving you from frustration; money savings, since most
wedding planners have connections in the industry; solving your
wedding problems; low stress since your wedding planner is there
to pick up the slack should a problem arises.

But, there could also be some disadvantages, such as:
overconfident (ego) wedding planner may try to convince you into
having a wedding of “his or her dreams” and not the wedding of
your dreams. If you’re a person who likes to be known or to show
off, hiring a wedding planner may not be a good idea as they
will be in charge of your wedding. Another disadvantage could be
that you may accidentaly hire a scam artist who may not have
done any weddings while broadcasting his or her enormous
experience. That’s why it is vital to do a thorough research on
the wedding planners of your interest.

So, how much does a wedding planner cost?

If you hire a wedding planner expect their fee to be anywhere
between 5% and up to 20% of your total wedding budget. At the
end of the day it will be your decision whether you want to
concentrate on the fun that you will have at your wedding while
your wedding planner takes care of the details, or you want to
be in charge of the details that will make hiring a wedding
planner a waste of money.

Have fun interviewing those wedding planners.