WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama's economic stimulus

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama's economic stimulus legislation is headed for the Senate after a surprisingly partisan vote in the House in which Republicans united in opposition and 11 mostly conservative Democrats defected.
Obama hailed his recovery plan, saying it would "save or create more than three million new jobs over the next few years."
During Senate debate next week, the measure is expected to pick up at least some GOP support. But Obama's hopes of changing Washington's partisan culture went unmet despite the popular president's separate high-profile meetings on Capitol Hill on Tuesday with House and Senate Republicans.
The $819 billion measure has attracted criticism from Republicans and, privately, from some Democrats for spending billions of dollars on Democratic favorites like education despite questions as to whether they would really put people to work.
But with unemployment at its highest level in a quarter-century, the banking industry wobbling despite the infusion of staggering sums of bailout money and states struggling with budget crises, Democrats said the legislation was desperately needed.
The House plan largely reflects Obama's desires, but after zero GOP support, he suggested the House plan was hardly perfect.
"I hope that we can continue to strengthen this plan before it gets to my desk," Obama said.
The 244-188 House vote registered 177 Republicans unanimous in opposition.
Tens of billions of dollars would go to the states, which confront deep budget cuts of their own. That money marks an attempt to ease the recession's effect on schools and poor people receiving Medicaid health coverage. There's also money for housing weatherization, school construction, road building and other provisions. There are big investments toward Obama's campaign promise of creating jobs that can reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil.
The centerpiece tax cut calls for a $500 break for single workers and $1,000 for couples, including those who don't earn enough to owe federal income taxes. There are also tax breaks for businesses making investments in equipment and renewable energy production.
The House vote marked merely one of several steps for the legislation, which Democratic leaders have pledged to deliver to the White House for Obama's signature by mid-February.
Already a more bipartisan — and costlier — measure is taking shape in the Senate, and Obama personally pledged to House and Senate Republicans in closed-door meetings on Tuesday that he is ready to accept modifications as the legislation advances.
Democrats had already dropped provisions that Republicans had mocked, including money to resod the National Mall and expand family planning programs.
The Senate bill contains a plan that would cost approximately $70 billion to make sure that about 24 million mostly middle-class taxpayers don't get hit by the alternative minimum tax. Although welcome by many lawmakers, the move wouldn't do much to boost the economy since the AMT "patch" is expected anyway later in the year if it doesn't pass now

HANDLING YOUR EMOTIONS TO PROMOTE GOOD HEALTH

HANDLING YOUR EMOTIONS TO PROMOTE GOOD HEALTH

The way we feel about ourselves, other people, our environment and our inter-relationships with them, have an effect on the way our body functions. Many people are not aware of this and are swept along by emotions they do not bother to control. The stress hormone, cortisol, increases in the body when we experience negative emotions. It is very important that people monitor their emotions to prevent prolonged stress. If someone upsets or aggravates you regularly, reduce your exposure to such a person. If it is a difficult circumstance like marriage or a relationship with a boss at work, try to evolve a healthy relationship. This can be done by having good lines of communication which help to resolve issues before they develop into a problem. A negative relationship makes a person susceptible to stress-related ailments. Conversely, being in love and being able to share and receive affection promotes happiness, relaxation and peacefulness. People hang on to abusive relationships and live in an atmosphere where negativity is prevalent. Such people are more prone to illness and in some cases their lives get shortened. A research conducted by a psychologist in Ohio State University examined the effect of troublesome topics on newlywed couples. This was done by measuring the amount of stress hormone cortisol produced when the topics were discussed. The topics were, in-laws, finances and leisure time spent together. The couples were told to discuss the topics for 30 minutes. The cortisol levels were measured before and after the discussions. It was discovered that couples with good communication and loving relationships did not experience an increase in cortisol level because of the sharing. This simple experiment shows how our emotions affect our physiological functions.

Handling your emotions to promote good health does not necessarily have to be dependent on other individuals। The most important person is you. A school of thought believes that there are two major groups of people in the world. This aptly described by Melvin D. Saunders as the Internals and External; the Internals believes that what happens to them is internally controllable. They tend to be self-confident people who spent time understanding their circumstance and adjusting positively. The Externals are controlled by external influences. They feel their fate is in the hand of others and simply submit themselves to chance or their environment. They tend to be suspicious, less aggressive/passive and are less oriented. As you expect, the externals are the majority of the population whilst the internals are in the minority. The dramatic effect that the mind can have over the body is illustrated in the popular “PLACEBO EFFECT” phenomenon. The placebo effect is mediated through internal power or belief. Research has shown over and over again that when patients are given ordinary water or other inert materials medication, they react just as strongly as when they are given real drug. A hypothetical situation is where a person is given an injection containing water under the pretext that it is a sedative. You will find out that because such a person believes that he has been given the real thing, he may promptly fall asleep as if he had been given the true drug. What many people do not know is that there is the “NOCEBO EFFECT”. This is the exact opposite of the placebo effect. It simply describes the phenomenon whereby a normally effective drug is given to a patient, but the patient does not respond to the drug because he is convinced that the drug is water or some other inert material or just would not work. The balance between the body and the mind is greatly influence by our emotions. When we are experiencing negative emotions, we can do lot to reduce the physiological effect by engaging in activities that divert our focus. Divorce, relationship breakups and even bereavement etc are all experiences which hurt and create negative effect on the well-being. Such people feel sapped of energy, do not eat or get proper rest/sleep. The immune system may become compromised and illness set in. feeling sick from negative emotions is as strong as feeling drunk with joy from a positive experience like winning the lottery! When something positive happens to you, it is as if you have just been injected with a feel good pill. A Dr. Robert Ader of the University of Rochester has coined a word to describe the ability of the mind to influence the body. It is called psychoneuroimmunology (PNI). This subject is over 30 years old. You can control your emotions and prevent going yourself overboard with joy or pain. When a person displays very base emotions like hatred or jealousy towards you; do not get upset. Instead, objectively analyze what that person’s problems are that could have led to such emotions. Then assess your position to see what relevance the person has to you. Adjust accordingly. If you are the one getting worked up about the other persons; stop yourself, have a cup of water, snack or anything that makes you feel better. This is a very simple way of handling your emotions positively to elongate your life on earth.

फॉर कमेंट्स: @याहू.कॉम

2348036220342

BOOK REVIEW: BREAKING THE CURSES OF LIFE

BOOK REVIEW:
BREAKING THE CURSES OF LIFE


Friends, curses are real! They are not just imaginations of man, no! They are real! They are practical! Curses are forces in the unseen realm; and they have power to bring evil to come to pass! Some people have died in hospitals for instance, because the doctors couldn’t locate what their problem was, until it was too late. The doctor will be busy treating one thing, whereas something else is eating up the man, until his life is snuffed out! That’s why in this book, Dr. David Oyedepo uncovers the sources of curses; so they can be adequately handled in time, before it’s too late. Curses are real, sir!
Look at Isaiah 42:22: But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore. There are many destinies like that today that are snared in holes - no fresh air at all! It’s a choking experience! Many destinies hid in prison houses! Therefore, try as they may, nothing seems to shine forth. But I assure you, in whatever way you have found yourself snared in holes and hidden in prison houses, the Lord is set to open your eyes, so you can walk into liberty once and for all. Something great is just at your door. That’s why God is removing every barrier between you and the fulfillment of your destiny. In this book, Papa introduces you to ways you work with God for every curses to be destroyed in your life. God is more than enough. It is very important for us to be familiar with the ways of God. Many are so conversant with the promises, very few understand His ways. The ways of God are the highways of life; this end-time, we’ll be celebrating the discovery of the ways of God in this book. Get a copies for yourself and friends. God said: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways... Isaiah 55:8 When things are not working, stop looking out for the devil. Look inwards first - Consider your ways , says the Word in Haggai 1:5. Jesus said in John 10:10: ...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Anything different from that is contrary to His mission. Whatever is less than life more abundantly in your life, God will deal with it now. However, that will begin with you first locating the source of your troubles. In Psalm 107:17 and 20, we read: Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. God sent His Word, and inside that Word, they found the answer; they knew the source of their trouble and then they dealt with it accordingly, and entered into their freedom! Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Psalm 107:28-30 I see you enter into your desired haven today! Papa once said, by the Holy Spirit, There is no mountain anywhere; every man’s ignorance is his mountain. That’s what God is saying in Hosea 4:6: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge... They are not destroyed for plenty of witches or wizards, they are not destroyed because the economy is bad, no! Your business is not down because the city where you’re located is hard. If it is, why is the man next to you doing so well? Is he not in the same city? God bared His heart to us in 3 John:2: Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. So you see, the fault can’t be God’s. We must acknowledge our wrong, in order to get things right. As the Word of God comes to you in this book, may you discover where you are missing it, so you can enter into your haven of rest! Your hour of deliverance has come! Every area where you’ve been suffering the effect of curses will be adequately handled by the time you’re through reading this book. This is your season of refreshing! Curses are real! You’d better make no mistake about that. I can say that this best seller from Dr David Oyedepo is your access to the details of Scriptures that determines your level of accomplishment in life. In this book, God is going to be teaching you the things which you see not, and showing you things you never knew. When these things come to light, you will be free indeed. You know the little foxes? They are the ones that spoil the vine (Songs of Solomon 2:15). Friend, curses are real! You need to organise freedom from the curses of life for yourself. The only curse dealt with on the cross is the curse of the law. But there are several other curses, and it is your responsibility to programme your freedom from them all. God has already given you that power to free yourself. It’s time for you to break into your season of refreshing. You’ve been choking enough; it’s time to enjoy fresh air! Be determined to make the opportunity of your contact with this book a season of thorough cleansing. If you escape being cleansed, you might die in regrets; so be sincere. You have to just come out and be plain. Listen to me: I believe that no matter the problem a man will have in this world, if he can be sincere with himself before the Lord for at least three hours, for a thorough diagnosis of the case and a heated desire for an answer, he will surely come out with a solution.
Bishop said there was a time mama was afflicted with a sickness while he was away in Canada. He said, “I sat up suddenly in the hotel room, and said to myself, I must get an answer to this now! I got to a point where I discovered that I had been waiting for her faith to secure her healing. But you know, her faith is not needed, my authority is what is required. That’s according to the mystery of Ephesians 5:23. So I got back home and said to her, You don’t need faith to be healed. Just as Christ is the Saviour of the Church (His body), so is the husband the saviour of his wife. I cursed the sickness and that was it! That affliction ended eternally!” Invest time in yourself! When the prodigal son came to himself, he returned home (Luke 15:11-32). You too need to sit down for a proper covenant diagnosis of whatever problem you’re facing. I would like you to look forward to doing rigorous exercises with the truths you will contact from this book. This is the opportunity for your long awaited refreshing. Grab it! God is opening the eyes of men; you won’t remain blind! No one gets saved until he agrees that he is a sinner. Even so, no one is free from a curse until he agrees that there is a curse. It is my prayer that your reading this book will be for you a time of discoveries and recoveries. It shall be for you a time of double encounters, in the precious name of Jesus! This day, every curse upon your life shall be broken! You have wrestled with shadows for too long! It’s time now to locate where the shoe is pinching you. Many are under curses, but they can’t tell the reason things are the way they are with them. This book is good news for you. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free John 8:32. And Proverbs 24:13-14 adds: My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off. You can see curses visibly written all over some people - a man will hold one hundred thousand naira cash now, and it dissolves as if it were one naira! And there are some that even if they earn twenty thousand naira per month, they still won’t have enough to eat! The business place is not paid for, house rent is not paid! Yet the man is working and money is coming in! Curses? Yes, that’s what it is! But this is your time of freedom! We are out to look at the root of matters, to know why things are the way they are with you. At the end of it, God will nail every handwriting that is against you to the cross, in Jesus mighty name! I’m so excited about what God is out to do in your life right now! I want you to pray this prayer: Lord, open my eyes now. I am tired of wrestling with shadows. I am tired of confronting invisible barriers. Open my eyes Lord! May God show you His face, and rescue you from every invisible pit; so you can cross over to the other side of rest, in Jesus mighty name!

GET THIS BOOK NOW AND BE FREE FOREVER!

STARTING UP YOUR OWN BUSINESS IS EASY WITH INFINITY. PART ONE

BUSINESS PLAN PREPARATION

AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES.

PART 1

It is not possible to go into a jungle without carrying out a rigorous preparation. One needs to know about the terrain and how to navigate it, the temperature, the rainfall and food supply. You may also need to be keen about the hostile creatures there and how to defend yourself against them. In the same vein, starting a business, particularly a first business, requires the same level of preparation as one needs in crossing the Sahara desert or exploring the jungles of Central Africa. Definitely, one is entering a hostile territory. The required preparation can be phased into these tripartite stages. The Business Ideas (or opportunities).§ The Business Plan.§ The Business Implementation Strategy.§ 1.1 Identification of Business Opportunities - Come up with a business idea. As a major prerequisite of going into any business, you have to come up with a business idea. A new invention of thought, often styled as idea, is usually the starting point of a successful business. But the journey from an idea or prototype to a product on a store shelf can be long and difficult. The actionist looks at the steps involved in this journey, from the protection of the idea to the financing and marketing of the final product. You have decided that you want to go into business, but you don’t know what that business is going to be. You have to look for a great idea. The best advice is to begin by breaking down the bigger picture into manageable pieces. First, look at your own skills and knowledge.

Consider your present occupation, and whether you could do your present job working for yourself rather than being employed by someone else. Successful businesses are frequently started by people with practical experience in the type of work that the new venture is entering. They go into business because they decided that they want more independence in their working lives. Secondly, you may want to modify your present skills and experience while working for somebody else and proceed to start your own business. Thirdly, take a careful look at yourself. It could be that your personality or physique suggests a business idea. If you have persistence, charm and communication skills, for example, you might be a good sales person. This might be an opening for self employed sales agent to sell other peoples product. Fourthly, you might discover a potential hole in the market – a widespread consumers’ dissatisfaction. Once you have an idea of the size of the potential market, you can develop a business idea to fill the gap.

To arrive at a good business idea, one can find answers to some of these frequently asked questions:

(i) How do I identify new ideas? Brainstorming with friends or relations to stumble into business opportunities for entirely new products or services.

(ii) Can I look at existing ideas in a new way? Most successful businesses come from modifying, refining or rethinking an existing business idea.

(iii) What goods or services could I provide locally? Think about things or services that you and your neighbours and friends need or complain about locally.

(iv) What goods or services could I provide to local companies? Do some research among local companies about their requirement. For instance local staff canteen to serve many local companies.

(v) How do I find out about opportunities for tourism or leisure businesses in my area?

(vi) How do I find out about selling goods made by other people?

(vii) What do large companies, local councils and other public bodies buy in from outside the areas?

(viii) Is there potential for import substitution in the area? Look at things currently being brought from abroad. You can act as an export agent or make local substitutes. You can also make things happen by turning your hobby into a business. For instance, if you like gardening as a hobby; you could start a garden design business. Buy an existing business. But look carefully at the business accounts and investigate why the owner wants to sell the business.

1.2 The Business Plan The most important step in launching a new business or expanding an existing one is the construction of a business plan. Such plan must include the goals for the enterprise, both short and long term; a description of the products or services, market opportunities anticipated, and finally, an explanation of the resources and means to achieve the goals of the enterprise in the face of likely competition. The core thinking behind business plans and their eventual implementation is strategic analysis.

The strategic analysis refines or confirms the view of what is really unique about the proposition of the business. The business plan, once completed, will serve as a blueprint to follow which, like any map, improves the user’s chances of reaching their destination.

(a) The Objectives of the Plan The major reasons for writing up a business plan are as follows:

• Building Confidence. It gives the confidence that the plan put together will make things happen. It may even compensate for lack of capacity and experience.

• A Veritable Test of Ideas on Paper. A systematic approach to planning helps to make mistakes on paper, rather than on market place which is likely to be too costly.

• It Shows How much Money is needed for the Business. The business plan details how much money is needed, what is needed for and when and for how long it is needed. By so doing, it can reduce the risk of business failure.

• Providing Planning Experience. Preparing, business plan gives an insight into the planning process which is very important to the long-term health of a business.

• Satisfying Financiers’ Concern. If finance is required, it is important to examine what financiers expect to be able to raise funds from them. The business plan is a passport to sources of finance. It shows to outsiders what they require to help to raise money. These outside-parties could be bankers, potential investors, partners or advisory agencies.

(b) How many Plans? A business plan will be more effective if it is written with the reader in mind. It will require research into the particulars interest of the audience in mind. Bankers are more interested in hearing about certainties and steady growth, while venture capitalists, who put up risk capitals on behalf of institutions such as pension funds, are also interested in dreams of great things to come. Business angels, who put their own money at risk, like to know how their particular skills and talents can be deployed in the business.

(c) What should be in the Plan? Layout and contents There is no universal business plan format. But experience has taught us that certain styles have been more successful than others. The following list contains the elements of an effective business plan, one that covers most requirements.

(i) The Cover: The cover should show the name of your business, its address, phone and fax numbers, e-mail address, Web site, contact name, and the date on which this particular plan was prepared. It should confirm that this is the current view on the business’s position and financing needs.

(ii) The Title Page: The title page, immediately behind the front cover, should repeat the above information and also give the founder’s name, address, and phone number. A home phone number can be helpful, particularly for investors, who often work irregular hours too.

(iii) The Executive Summary:

The executive summary is ideally one page, but certainly no longer than two, and contains the highlights of the plan. Writing this summary is a difficult task but it is the single most important part of the business plan. Done well it can favourably dispose the reader from the outset. Done badly, or not at all, then the plan may not get beyond the mail-room. This one page (or the two pages) must explain:

• The current position of the company, including a summary of past trading results, if any. • A description of the products or services, together with details on rights or patents and details on competitive advantage.

• The reasons why customers need this product or service, together with some indications of market size and growth.

• A summary of forecasts of sales and profits, together with short and long-term aims and the strategies to be employed.

• How much money is needed to fund the growth and how and when the provider will benefit? The executive summary is to be written after the completion of the business plan itself.

(iv) The Tables of Contents: The table of contents, with page numbers, is the map that guides readers through the business plan. If that map is obscure, muddled, or even missing, then you are likely to end up with lost or irritated readers who are in no mind to back your proposal. Each main section should be listed, numbered, and given a page identity. Elements within each sections should also be numbered: 1, 1,1, 1,2, and so on.

(v) The Business and its Management: Details of the business and its management should include a brief history of the business and its performance to date and details on key staff, current mission, legal entity, capital structure, and professional advisers.

(vi) The Products and Services: A description of products and services, their applications, competitive advantage, and proprietary position. Include details on state of readiness of new products and services and development cost estimates.

(vii) The Marketing: The marketing section should provide a brief overview of the market by major segment showing size and growth. Explain the current and proposed marketing strategy for each major segment, covering price, promotion, distribution channels, selling methods, location requirements, and the need for acquisitions, mergers, or joint ventures, if any.

(viii) The Management and Staffing: Information on management and staffing should give details on current key staff and on any recruitment needs, include information on staff retention strategies, reward systems, and training plans.

(ix) The Operations: The operations section describes how the products and services are made, how quality standards are assured, and how output can be met.

(x) The Financial Data: A summary of the key financial data, including ratios together with a description of the key controls used to monitor and review performance.

(x) Financing Requirements: Financing requirements needed to achieve the planned goals, together with how long you will need the money for. You should also demonstrate how the business would proceed using only internal funding. The difference between these two positions is what the extra money will help to deliver.

(xi) E-commerce: E-commerce isn’t just about selling goods and services online, though that is important. It covers a range of activities that can be carried out online to make your business more efficient. These solutions extend across the supply chain from ordering your raw materials right through to after-sales service. It can incorporate market intelligence gathering, customer relationship management, and a whole range of back office procedures. Your business plan should show how you plan to tackle this area.

(xii) Major Milestones: Include major milestones with dates. For example: get prototype for testing by 20 December, file patents by 10 January, or locate suitable premises by such and such a date.

(xiii) Risk assessment: Risk assessment feature high on the reader’s list of concerns, so it’s best to anticipate as many as you can, together with possible solution. For example: Our strategy is highly dependent on finding a warehouse with a cold store for stock. But if we can’t find one by start date we will use space in the public cold store 10 miles away. Not as convenient but it will do.

(xiv) Exit Route: Detail an exit route for venture capitalists and business angels. Typically, they are looking to liquidate their investments within three to seven years, so the business plan should show how much money they can make and how quickly. For long-term investment, there is need to say something about who might buy the business and when it might be launched in the stock market.

(xv) Appendixes: Appendixes include CVs of the key team members, technical data, patents, copyrights and designs, details on professional advisers, audited accounts, consultants’ reports, abstracts of market surveys, details of orders on hand, and so on.

1.3. Business Implementation Strategy

With a written business plan, the entrepreneur is ready to commence a business. Starting a business can be a confusing operation: to make decision to take so many actions to carry out. It is important to keep to the right path. This stage helps the entrepreneur to keep to the critical path. Certain steps are set out below as useful guide. They have been distilled from research and successful experience. Not all steps will apply to every business, but one will decide which ones are relevant and critical to a particular business concern.

The strategic steps can be categorized into four sections.

• Initial preparation. • Getting into greater details. • Setting up. • Ready to trade.

(a) Initial Preparation

(i) While you are still in your job, or about to retire from paid employment, one can undertake the initial preparation and research while still doing this.

(ii) Analyse your character and abilities. Are you the right person to start on your own?

(iii) Discuss with your family and friends the possibility of starting a business. Are they aware of what it means to family life? Will they be committed? (iv) Come up with a shortlist of ideas for a business. Do you have the necessary skills? Does the market look promising? (v) Briefly define business ideas. (vi) Brush up inadequate skills. Apart from reading the relevant literature on the particular business idea, consider training courses and counseling. (vii) Consider whether you should start the business with someone who has complementary skills, that is, who is strong in those skills in which you are weak. Negotiate who gets what share. (viii) Decide how big a business you want. Will it be large or small-scale? How much growth potential do your business idea have? Do you have the essential management skills to opt for a fast-growth route? (ix) Did your self-analysis suggest that you needed ongoing help? Or have you been unable to come up with a sound business idea? (x) Investigate the possibilities of buying a business if you have the necessary funds or can raise them. (xi) Carry out detailed market research into a shortlist of ideas. Do this whether you are starting from scratch, buying a franchise or buying a business. (xii) Identify a market section. Establish what will be different about your product. Estimate all of these, market size, market share, market structure, market trends. Investigate competition and their products. (xiii) In steps xi and xii, narrow down possible ideas to a leading prospect. (xiv) Work out you principal selling method - e-commerce, direct mail, intermediaries, for example. (xv) Forecast amount and timing of sales. (xvi) Review yourself, your skills, your family, your idea. Take the decision to proceed, do further work or abandon. It is better to drop the idea now than carry on with doubts. (b) Getting into Greater Detail (i) Draw up an initial business plan. Forecast sales, costs, cash flows. At this stage, figures will be very approximate. (ii) Make a preliminary decision about your need to raise money. Roughly, how much will you need? Who is the likeliest lender. (iii) Discuss with your family and friends what you will be able to invest. Consider what security you can offer. (iv) Seek out and employ the advisors you need. These could include solicitor, accountant, bank, design consultant, IT specialist, database experts, Web designers. (v) Decide how much you will spend setting up, but keep a margin of safety. Tailor the amount to how much you are wiling to risk yourself, as the funds you can raise will be multiple of what you can invest. (vi) If you are currently employed, are you able to give the necessary effort to get the business going? Or do you need the extra income? Consider giving up work. (vii) Test your product to confirm its performance. Test-market your product or service, if possible. (viii) Apply for a patent to protect the product or register the design or trade mark, if applicable. (ix) What form will your business take: for example, sole trader, partnership or limited company? (x) Decide your IT strategy - consider your needs for hardware and software: accounts package, spreadsheet, e-mail, database and so on. (xi) Name your product and business. Keep in mind your sector of the market and the product’s benefits. The name is part of your selling effort. (xii) Register the company name, or change the name if buying a ready-made company. Check there is no other company with that name. Sole traders and partnerships need take no action. Assistance of a Lawyer is required to guide you. (xiii) Draw up a partnership agreement, if applicable. (xiv) Come up with some initial ideas about letterheads or consider those put forward by a designer. (xv) Develop ideas about how to sell you product or service. Identify the product benefits and advantages. What means will you use to get your message across: leaflets, brochures, etc. (xvi) Identify possible suppliers. Begin your negotiations. (xvii) Develop a pricing strategy. (xviii) Refine the business plan. Be pessimistic about sales and costs. (xix) Ask an adviser or colleague to go through the plan with you, challenge all assumptions and figures. Have you identified the principal risks? (xx) Review the plan yet again. Does the business look viable? Will you go ahead, research further or abandon? All the momentum is to push forward because of all the work and commitment put in so far. But if the idea does not hold water, the right decision is not to proceed but to research something else. (c) Setting Up (i) Consider what equipment your business will need. Investigate how to pay for it: cash, hire purchase or leasing. Are you sourcing them locally or through import? From where? (ii) Establish guidelines on what credit to offer, what credit to take from suppliers, how you will control cash. (iii) Find out what insurance you will need for your business. (iv) Estimate the amount of initial stock and production run. (v) Make first approaches about raising money. (vi) Decide if you will start trading before you raise the money or if you will wait until you have finalized Remember with complicated finance, it can take several months. (vii) Register for tax and VAT. (viii) Set up a simple accounting record system. (ix) Work out what your accounting period should be. There is some advantage in a year-end early in the tax year if profits are rising. (x) Consider the virtues of trading from home, even if several of you are joining together to start the business. E-mail can help you to communicate from several locations. Otherwise, start the search for premises. (xi) Finalize decisions about letterheads and order stationery, once you have found premises and know your business address. (xii) If you will need staff when you start trading, start the search now. (xiii) Carry on developing your ideas about image, how to sell and how to get your message across. (xiv) Draw up terms and conditions of sale, if applicable. Set up your database for actual and potential customers. (xv) If you will be selling direct yourself, develop a sales dialogue. Train up carrying out role-play with your spouse or a colleague. (xvi) Set up a financial control system, that is, how you will compare actual performance with budgeted performance as drawn from your business plan. (xvii) Finalize your decisions about brochures, literature mailers, phone scripts. (xviii) Draw up contracts of employment for any staff. (d) Ready to trade (i) Finalize premises, fitting out, employing staff, sales methods. (ii) If you are still employed, hand in your retirement notice. If you are employed, contract your local Business Link or Jobcentre Plus to find out whether you can get any financial assistance from the start of trading. (iii) Inform the relevant Internal Revenue Service, FIRS and NCS if you are to be a sole trader or partnership or limited liability company, depending on your choice. (iv) If you are forming a company or taking on staff, ask FIRS and SIRS for information on how to operate the PAYE tax system. (v) Set up a reporting system for your staff. (vi) Plan the opening. Conclusion The use of this step-by-step guide is the appropriate strategy in the implementation of a business plan. The guide is in appropriate order depending on when the business is to commence trading. SECTION 2 ACCESS TO FUNDS AND GRANTS Money is required for a successful business set up. There is rent to pay, materials and equipment to purchase, even before any income is received. To start a business which will lead to success requires sufficient money to survive until a point where income continually exceeds expenditure. To raise this initial money and exert effective financial management of the business is fundamental to the success of a business. Many businesses fail due to lack of sufficient day-to-day cash and financial management than any other reasons. This module deals with and common pitfalls to avoid how to raise the right type of money in the running of a successful business. 2.1 Achieving and Managing Financial Growth Achieving and managing financial growth of a growing business requires patience, persistence and balance. It involves all the activities that enable a company to obtain capital for growth, allocate resources efficiently, maximize the income potential of the business activity and monitor results through accounting documents. The benefits of this are numerous and cannot be over-emphasized. It benefits the owners through profit potential, employees’ benefits through increased earnings and promotions and customers too benefit from expanded products and services. In a given business, to obtain financial growth often poses problems.

There are basically two ways of managing financial growth. • Grow gradually, accumulate profits and use the profits accumulated to finance other additional growth. • Source for outside fund probably through outright borrowing or equity financing. However, the two methods could pose problem. You will definitely experience some rejections and frustrations and this is where persistence is necessary. It is your determination and your willingness to adjust your plans that would carry you through the process. Advising financial growth would likely take more time than you expected, you need not worry over these, many successful business men have experienced some problems. It is also important to mention here that you need to balance your financial growth quest with your business operational aspect of growth, for instance the marketing function of your business might extend beyond your financial capacity at a point in time. You need to simply deduce ways of balancing up between the two. You may for example look for a mere cost reduction marketing expansion technique. Guidelines to Financial Growth (i) Growth should be attempted in a profitable business. A profitable business would be known from two main angles. • Checking at the Assets and Liabilities items that are on the balance sheet. • Checking at the operational items on the income and expenses reports. (ii) Management skills and abilities must exist to take care of the increasing demands of a growing business. (iii) Other considerations: • Expect that your personal involvement and commitment to the business will increase during a growth cycle. • Consider personal sacrifices and the sacrifices of people you work with, including your family. • Expect additional pressure on the time and resources needed to run the business. 2.2 Planning Your Business Liquidity Liquidity is the extent of a company ability to meet its day-to-day financial needs. A company therefore requires adequate cash for this purpose. Cash is the king. It is like the oil in the engine of a car, no matter how powerful an engine is; if the oil in it runs dry, the engine stops. Availability of cash in a business is exactly the same. If the cash runs dry, the business seizes up, no matter how profitable it may be. A way of planning business liquidity is the preparation of cash flow forecast which shows cash coming in and cash going out for a specified period of time and broken down into months. The monthly cash flow forecast provides the financial information of the revenue and expenses as well as the monthly flow of cash in respect of these items. Planning your business liquidity provides you with the means of keeping your business decision making on track, for example, it will serve as an early warning signs when your expenditures are running out of line or your sales targets are not being met. As the manager of you cash, you will have enough time to devise remedies for anticipated temporary cash shortfalls and ample opportunity to arrange short-term investments for the business temporary cash flow surpluses. 2.2.1 Assessing How Much Money You Need It is important that from the onset, you work out how much money is needed to get your business off the ground. The starting point is to make accurate sales forecast, which is an integral part of the feasibility testing. This will be done along with seeking objective advice on estimating costs for initial expenditures such as retail or production space, equipment, staff and so on. To estimate the amount of money a business needs on a day-to-day basis, forecasting cash flow is the most reliable way for this. Preparation of a Cash Flow Forecast There are certain Do’s and don’ts you must observe religiously in making a cash flow forecast. • Ensuring your projections are believable. This means, you need to show how your sales will be achieved. • Base projections on facts not conjecture. • Describe the main assumptions that underpin your projections. • Explain what effect these assumptions would have if the events do not occur. • Don’t use data to support projections without saying where it comes from. • Don’t forget to show seasonal factors, e.g. sales of ice-cream are lower in wet or cold season than dry or hot season. Sales of toys reach the peak at Christmas season. • Don’t ignore economic factors such as an expanding (or shrinking) economy, rising (or falling) interest rates and an unemployment rate that is so low that it may influence your ability to recruit at the wage rate you would like to pay. • Don’t make projection without showing the specific actions that will get those results. • Don’t forget to get somebody else to check your figures out – you may be blind to your own mistakes. 2.2.2 Forecast Receipts You should be able to project correctly the receipt from sales depending on the range of products and services you offer. There may also be receipts from other sources but try to isolate exceptional receipts from regular ones in the projection. In fact, these other outside finances are best left out of the regular forecast at this stage. In forecasting receipts from sales, take note of the following. • Finding enough product or people. Apply the test of feasibility of weather you can get enough goods to sell or enough people to provide the services you are offering. • Sizing up the markets. Ensure there are enough customers with sufficient money to spend to create a viable market place for your product or services. You must carry out market research. • Find your segment of the market. Market segmentation is the process whereby customers and potential customers are organized into clusters of similar types, such as age, sex, educational level or location. • Use the internet to access valuable market information. The 123 World.com Web site (www.123world.com/libraries) is very useful. • To make sound initial sales forecast, also make sure you achieve: Credible projection.§ § Reasonable and comfortable market share. Enough customers (real and§ potential) to carry the business beyond the break-even level of operation. • Calculate the break-even level. In a simple form the more you charge above your costs, provided the customers will keep on buying, the more profit you make. But the problem can be more complex as you see the true nature of some costs. 2.2.3 Forecast Payments (or Expenses.) Some expenses, such as rent, rates, vehicle and equipment bills leases are paid monthly. Others like telephone, utilities and bank charges come quarterly. You must not forget to guesstimate costs like marketing, promotion, travel, subsistence, stationery and printing. They may not be that all accurate, but use them as projections. After you have been trading for a while, you can get a better picture of the true costs. Add up all payments for each month and for the whole year. 2.2.4 Working out the closing Cash Balances With the projection of receipts and estimating the expenses, the closing cash balances provide useful information for you to manage your finance. Working the cash flow projection allows you to see exactly how much cash you have in hand, or in the bank, at the end of each month or how much cash you need to raise. Outline of Cash Flow Forecast (N) Months 1 2 3 4 5 6 etc Opening bal. b/f. X Add. Projected Receipts X Less Estimated Expenses X Closing bal. c/f. X 2.3 Types and Sources of Start up Capital There are various financing options to start up and run a business. At the extreme ends of the financing spectrum are the equity capital and the debt capital. At one end of the financing spectrum lie share holders: either individual business angles who put their own money into a business, or corporate organizations such as venture capital providers, who provide equity capital which is used to but a stake in a business. These investors share all the risks and vagaries of the business and expect a proportionate share in the rewards if things go well. They are less concerned with a stream of dividend, instead they hope for a radical increase in the value of their investment. At the other end of the financing spectrum are debt financiers – banks that try hard to take no risk and expect some returns on their money irrespective of your business performance. They want interest payment on money lent, usually from day one. They expect competence in the management of the business. Understanding the difference between lenders, who provide debt capital and investors, who provide equity, or share, capital is cardinal to a sound grasp of financial management. In between the extremes of shareholders and the banks lie a myriad of other financing vehicles which a mixture of lending or investing criteria. Therefore you need to keep your business finances under constant review, choosing the most appropriate mix of funds for the risk you plan to take and the economic climate ahead. The more risky and relative the road ahead, the more likely it is than taking a higher proportion of equity capital will be appropriate. In times of stability and low interest, higher borrowing may be more acceptable. As a rule of thumb, debt and equity should be used in equal amount to finance business. 2.3.1 Reviewing Your Financing Options The important first step is to know how much money you need to get your business successfully started. There are many sources of funds available to small firms, but not all are appropriate to all firms and at all times. These different sources carry very different obligations, responsibilities and opportunities. You have to understand the differences to allow an informed choice. 2.3.2 Examining Your own Finances The first place to start looking for money to finance your business is in your pockets. You may not have enough cash, but you may have assets that can be turned into cash or used to support borrowing. • Examine your Assets and Liabilities, arrive at your net worth (asset-less Liabilities and make decision on how much money you want to release to finance your business start-up. Note that the more outside money you have raise, the more power and perhaps value you have to share with others. • Look at your ongoing expenses. You have to live whilst getting your business up and running. So, food, light, water, roof over your head are essential expenses. But perhaps a two week long holidays abroad, second wife, second car and membership of a prestigious club are not essentials. These may be great things to cherish while you were a hired hand and your employer had to pay fat cheque each month on some luxury for you, now you are working for yourself. 2.3.3. Determine the Best Source of Finance for Your Business Choosing which external source of finance to use is to some extent a matter of personal preference. But keep a good line of communication open with as many sources as possible. In making your choice, consider the following areas. • Consider the costs of raising the money, the lawyers and accountant costs, as well as cost of conducting the due diligent examination (business appraisal.) • Consider sharing ownership and control.

2.4. Knowing and Meeting Lenders Requirements

Borrowing can be made from many possible sources, but it has been found that most people start and stop at a bank. The other sources may be from family and friends. Borrowing from banks: Banks are the principal and frequently the only source of finance for nine out of every ten new and small businesses. Banks are usually a good starting point for almost any type of debt financing. Bankers like to speak of the five Cs of credit analysis, factors they look at when they evaluate a loan request. When applying to a bank for a loan, be prepared to address the following points. (i) Character. Bankers lend money to borrower who appear honest and who have good credit history. Before you apply for a loan, it makes sense to see that you pass this test. (ii) Capacity. This is a prediction of the borrower’s ability to repay the loan. Bankers look at the business plan for a new business and for existing business, bankers consider financial statements and industry trend. (iii) Collateral. Bankers generally want a borrower to pledge an asset that can be sold to pay off the loan if the borrower lacks fund. (iv) Capital. Bankers scrutinize borrower’s net worth, the amount by which asset exceed debts. (v) Conditions. Banks loan can be influenced by the current economic climate as well as by the amount requested. Banks also use CAMPARI, which stands for: Character, Ability, Means, Amount, repayment and Insurance. (See www.bankexport. co.uk/ comp ari.htm for more knowledge of this concept).

2.5 Funding through Group/Cooperative Association

In Nigeria, Cooperative Societies and Group Credit Union have provided a convenient platform for raising the necessary fund to start and run many businesses. Instead of battling with the stringent terms of the high profile banks, you may take solace in the generous terms of the Cooperative Societies, Association and Credit Union. Credit Unions formed by groups of small business people, both in business and aspiring to start up have been around in major cities and communities in Nigeria, as elsewhere in US and UK. They have been an attractive option for people on low incomes, providing a cheap and convenient alternative to banks. Some self-employed people such as taxi drivers, spare parts sellers or other traders have also formed Credit Union called different names across the nation (Esusu, Adase, Nka uwat etc) The established Credit Union will usually require you to be in a particular trade, have paid money in for a number of months or perhaps years and have a maximum loan amount that can be taken for specified purpose. Members have to save regularly to qualify for a loan, though there is no minimum deposit, members with good track record can borrow up to say, five times their savings, though they may be required to continue to save while repaying the loan. There is no set interest rate, but usually, dividends are distributed to members from any surplus, sometimes the dividend ranges from 3-5% a year. One of the advantages of this source of finance to members and also business ventures is the opportunity to borrow multiples of your total amount contributed to the Society or Union or Association with very little or no interest payment. A lot of small and medium businesses in Nigeria have been financed through this source. 2.6 Funding from Venture Capitalist This is relatively new in the Nigerian business scene. But it has developed extensively in Europe and America. Venture capital as a means of financing the start-up, development, expansion or the purchase of a company. The venture capitalist acquires a share of the company in return for providing the requisite funding. Venture capital firms often work in conjunction with other provider of finance in putting together a total funding package for a business. Venture capital providers (VCs) invest other people’s money often from pension funds. They are likely to be interested in a large sum of money for a large stake in the business. Generally, VCs expect high return in their investment, as well as recouping their investment within about seven to ten years. More information this source of funding can be obtained from www.evca.com or www.evca.co.uk ). 2.7 Equipment Leasing This is another method of financing a business set up whereby equipment or other fixed assets are loaned out by the owner (leasor) to a user (leasee) under an agreement which requires the leasee to be paying an agreed sum of money (known as rental) for a determined period of time. The leasing agreement is such that the business (leasee) chooses the equipment it wants and then the leasor buys. An agreement is thereafter drawn up between the leasor and the leasee. Such agreement will establish the terms of the contract and the amount of rental to be paid at a given period, it could be yearly. Under a lease agreement, the legal title of the assets has complete use of the asset without having to finance its purchase from its capital.

CONSERVING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
IN ENVIRONMENT. (Please, I need your comment concerning this article)

All the inhabitants of the earth rely on nature for foods, water, air, shelter etc. they also interact with their environment for energy needs.
Regardless of this, man is still destroying the natural environment. Nature conservation is of course one of the greatest challenges of our time since man cannot do without nature’s work. WHAT DO I MEAN BY NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION?
Natural resources can be defined as materials or areas considered useful or of value to a particular human culture. It is worth knowing that this must be a basic or primary material and not manufactured or processed goods.

CONSERVATION: Conservation simply means preservation or an act of protection from total depletion or the practice of saving things from loss or waste or efforts to use the land and natural resources for our present needs while also preserving them for the future usage. Therefore, conservation of nature means to use wisely all the resources nature has given man. However, I shall use the definition jointly put in use in 1980 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), and Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF).

Conservation here is defined as the management for human use of the biosphere in such a way that it yields the greatest sustainable benefits to the present generation while maintaining its potentials to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations. Conservation of environment now means the preservation of the atmosphere, lithospheres, hydrosphere and biosphere which are the four layers of the earth against damage or destruction. Resources to be conserved are soil, water, forest, wildlife, coal, gas, and mineral ores. However, the following methods can be put to use for the conservation of the environment.
According to the world conservation strategy (WCS) conservation involves management of human use of the biosphere so that it may yield the greatest sustainable benefit to the present generation, while maintaining it potentials to meet the needs and aspirations of future generation. It is positive, embracing preservation, sustainable utilization, restoration and enhancement of the natural environment.

SOIL: Soil is very essential and mostly needed for growing of plants which in turn provide food and fibre for mankind. Soil is made up of minerals and organics matter and it takes a long time for nature to form the rich top soil which covers much of the earth. Natural forces such as wind and rain gradually carry away the soil. This is term as erosion and can be reduced by using engineering and biological techniques. For example, the root system of trees and grasses hold the soil from being blowing or washed away. Trees also help to check erosion by their leaves absorbing the inputs of rain drops so that less of the soil around them are dislodge. Windbreak checks the force of wind at ground level and therefore reduces the possibility of soil being blown away. For effective preservation, indiscriminate removal of vegetable should be discourage.

WATER: We require water for various purposes such as drinking, cooking, washing, irrigation etc. therefore, we should conserved even though it is a renewable resources. There is need to protect our lakes and streams from pollution, learn to control flood, use and restore the underground water.

FOREST: In Nigeria, the bulk of forest management is government’s responsibility. There are agencies setup by the government to see about the conservation of our forests, i.e. the forest guards. Similarly there are government forest reserves. Where free exploitation of timber and animals are prohibited. Foresters aim at protecting forest from fires, diseases and pests and equally ensure that the reserves are taken good care of by taking such measures as:

1. the establishment of agencies responsibility for the conservation of forest Departments.
2. The enactment of laws guiding felling of trees (deforestation).
3. Prohibiting of the killing of games, that is the killing of animals in the zoo or in the game reserves.

WILDLIFE (Fauna and Floura): By wildlife I mean all the plants and animals species living in their natural habitats with little or no interference from man. It also refers to the many species of organisms that have not been domesticated or made to live under man’s structures. In other to preserve the growing number of endangered species, government has enacted laws like the Degree No. 11 of 1985 had been enacted to protect all endangered animals within the country. The most basic method of wildlife conservation is the preservation of their habitats.

AIR: The air we breath is vital to life and thus should be protected. The effect of air pollution are numerous ranging from smog, acid, rains, erosion of building structures, eye irritations and lungs and respiratory diseases to mention but a few.

MINERAL AND ENERGY- These are infact non-renewable materials e.g. petroleum, coal, gas and metal ors and can be classified thus:

i. Mineral fuel such as coal, oil and gas.
ii. The metallic minerals such as iron ores, gold, silver, and copper.
iii. The non metallic minerals (also label industrial mineral) e.g. clay, limestone and gypsum.

These are materials that cannot be replaced easily and should be conserved as much as possible. The only means is to develop alternative energy sources and discover other mineral deposits. We can partially conserve our present non-renewable resources by mining them wisely, and using materials effectively and efficiently, recycling scrapped metals and developing substitutes to take care of the present ones.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Sustainable development seeks to meet the needs and aspiration of the present without compromising the ability to meet those of the future. It is a process in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investment, the orientation of technological development and institutional change are in harmony and enhance both human needs and aspirations. Certain key elements of sustainable development are very important.

These are:

1. ecological integrity and sustainability.
2. Equity and distributive justice at all level (global, national, community and international).
3. Socially relevant economic productivity and technological developments.
4. Popular participation and collective autonomy.
5. Prevalence and institutionalization of human and democratic rights.

Sustainable development, therefore is a socio-economic and political concept, movement or strategy, which largely incorporate the twin objectives of human development and environmental protection. As a concept and a notion, sustainable development is concerned about development that is less harmful to the environment, development that is socially responsible recognizing the extensive nature of poverty, deprivation, classes, nation, and communities. The concept arouse out of the realization that man’s exploitation of nature continues to have unintended but damaging impacts on the environment.

ENVIRONMENT – According to Oxford Advance Learners
Dictionary, Environment refers to ‘Surroundings, circumstances and influence. The surrounding conditions, influence or force that modify the whole complex of climate, edaphic and biotic factors that act upon an organism or an ecological community and ultimately determine it form and survival.

The definition of environment varies from one author to another depending on the areas of specialization and orientation at life. For instance to the geographer, the field may refer to the spatial distribution and interdependence of the physical , climate, demographic and other environmental elements and factors of the earth as a component of the solar system. To the regional planner environment mean the type that has to do with spatial organization, arrangement and management of structures and infrastructures such as buildings, roads and parks. To other scientists the environment is seen as the light of the branch of science of major interest. For example, the biologist may see it as the type that has to do with the type, distribution and interaction of plants and animals with their physical (aquatic and terrestrial ) environment.

A conventional definition of the term “environment’ to an environmentalist is that the environment comprises of the Land, water, air, and other physical structures observable around organisms. However, from and ecological viewpoint, environment is simply an ecosystem. An ecosystem is the basic functional unit in ecology and the term refers to any natural or artificial environment where living things (biotic components) are interacting with non-living things (a biotic components).

An environment may be physical, biological or socio-cultural in nature. The physical environment comprises of air, water, land, and other structures observable around us (non living things). These components of the physical environment are critical natural resources on which man’s socio-economic development and health depend. As a matter of fact, sustainable development in Nigeria can only be achieved with rational management and use of these natural resources in such a manner that the needs of current generation are satisfied while ensuring that future generations will not inherit a degrade environment with little or no natural resources.

The biological environment comprises all living things including man, animal (fauna ) and plants (flora) species (i.e. biological diversity) micro-organisms, pathogens (diseases –causing organisms) and parasites. Man depends on other animals and plants for its main food source, shelter and for medical herbal preparations. Human activities such as hunting, fishing and farming are impossible without a high biological diversity index. Negative environmental conservation practices have the greatest impact on the biological environment. For example, desertification, deforestation, drought, flooding, famine and even extinction of endangered plants and animal species are all possible environmental consequences of human activities.

In conclusion, we are all aware that environmental problems are global issues, the need to conserve and protect our natural environment is vital which all hands must be on deck to eradicate or reduce to its minimum all man-made activities such as desertification, gas flaring, excavation and deforestation which causes soil erosion, land encroachment, bush burning, pollution due to industrial machines, oil spillage and urbanization. There is also need to monitor and control human activities like, mining, quarrying, solid and liquid waste disposal system to avoid polluting our environment.
In the course of my studies, we base our learning, both theory and practical on preventive measures of the environmental problems, for example, some natural hazards (disasters) in our environment like wild wind, Tsunami, flood, tropical storm, earthquake, volcanic eruption, drought, hurricanes, epidemics and pestilence, chemical spills and industrial fires. It is recorded that earthquake which is said to be a motion of ground surface changing from a mild tremor to a wild motion capable to breaking buildings apart and causing gaping features to open in the ground and it’s a form of encry wave motion transmitted through the surface layer of the earth in widening circles from the point where the energy, got suddenly released has been occurring in different parts of the world, the most notable are those that occurred in Lisbon, Tokyo, Yokohama, San Francisco, Morocco, California, Mexico, Turkey, Nicaragua and Ghana in Africa. As expected, lives were lost and valuables worth billions of dollars destroyed and people were displaced. Mount Pinatubo in Philippines erupted last fifteen years, and it was reported as the highest and biggest volcanic eruption of the century. A landslide is a rapid sliding of a large mass of rock which may not disintegrate into debris of various sizes in the process. They occur in areas of very steep slopes, it is not too common in Nigeria. It has taken place in many parts of the world, including South Wales, British, Columbia, Honkong and the Cameroon. In Nigeria, the river-line areas of Rivers, Port Harcourt and delta States are threatened by riverbank erosion and landslides occurrences. The risk includes destruction of settlements, removal of forestlands and blockage of roads. These problems can be prevented or at least reduced to it minimum through proper legislations. There is also an urgent need for preventive measures to be taken, especially in the Niger Delta States of Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Cross River and Edo to keep these states safe from hazards like gas flaring and oil spillages which is rampant in this areas. Also there is need for vast improvement in funding of research works in disaster management and preparedness, manpower development, enforcement of legislations, public enlightenments on the value of the natural environment and the creation of more awareness on effective protection of the environment through conservation and sustainable development.

How to be an active listener

THE ART OF ACTIVE LISTENING


When interacting, people often are not listening attentively to one another. They may be distracted, thinking about other things, or thinking about what they are going to say next. This is particularly the true case when people are in conflicts or disagreements.
Active listening is a structured way of listening and responding to others. Its focuses attention on the speaker. Suspending one’s own frame of reference and suspending judgment are important in order to fully attend to the speaker.

Active Listening as a Communication Tool

For teens and parents, adolescence is a time of happiness and troubles. It is a time when an adolescent breaks from the past, and yet, retains some childhood behavior. As a parent of a teenager you may often feel as though your son or daughter is speaking a completely different language than yours. Still, listening to your children during their teen years is important because this is the crucial time when they are forming their identities and taking ownership of their own values and beliefs.

It is a vital part of parenting teens. Active listening is a communication tool that can help parents and teens speak with each other clearly and be understood. This paper defines active listening skills and demonstrates how to use these skills to strengthen communications between you and your adolescent.

Three types of responses in active listening

Active listening is about focusing on the person who is speaking. An active listener needs to focus full attention on the person who is speaking. The way parents can show they are actively listening is to do the following:

· Listen Non-Judgmentally,
· Rephrase
· Ask Good Questions.
· Empathize With Their Teen.

Firstly, as a parent, you train yourself to ask questions in a way that allows your teen to feel comfortable about answering truthfully, and about using his or her own words. Secondly, you restate what you heard to make sure that you understood what your teen was saying. Lastly, you need to take the time to see things through your teen’s eye and get some understanding of how adult-in-process is experiencing a given situation.

Rephrasing
Rephrasing is a tool you can use to make sure that you understand the message that you think your teen is sending. It is rephrasing the information you just received to make sure you understand it. For instance, your child says, “I don’t like mathematics and the teacher because he never lets us do anything cool!” You might say, ‘it sounds like you are having a hard time with math and that makes you feel frustrated and bored”. This technique helps parents and teens communicate in several ways, i.e.
· First, it helps parents make sure they understood the message correctly.
· Second, by restating or rephrasing, you draw further information from your teenage son or daughter.
· Third, rephrasing allows the teen to know that his or her parents have heard them and are interested in what he or she has to say.
· Fourth, it allows the teens an opportunity to correct any misunderstanding immediately.

Asking questions
Often questions can seem accusing or blaming to the person asked. A question may make the person feel comfortable or feel backed into a corner. For example, if a parent asks his or her teenager, “You didn’t like the movie, did you?” it is clear that the parent doest not approve of the movie and, if the teen did like the movie, he or she ends up feeling the need to defend his or her position. Consider how much easier it would have been to respond to the question “what did you think of the movie?” and once your teen has expressed an opinion, rather than giving yours, ask more questions to encourage your teens further thinking.
Active listening requires the speaker to look at the hidden meaning behind the question. People often ask questions that might make others feel pressured into coming up with the correct response. For example, you might feel pressured when someone close to you asks, “Do you think I have gained weight?” These types of questions tends to put the person being asked on the defensive. Often the person may shut off communication in order to protect him or her.

Empathizing
This means that you have the to put yourself in some else’s shoes. To empathize you must ignore your own perception of the situation and accept other persons feelings, thoughts and ideas of the situation as yours. See to it as the other person – during your discussion. It doesn’t mean you need to agree with the other person or allow the other person to set his or her own rules to avoid confrontation.
This means that you do not see the other person as ridiculous or silly. Your acceptance of his or her ideas and feelings increases the chance that the other person will talk to you about the problems and issues that he or she is facing.
It is very easy to know when you are empathic because:

· Your body language and tone match.
· Your tone and your feelings match.
· You are focused on what the other person is saying and meaning you are trying to see things from his or her own point of view requires that:
· You do not impose your feelings, thoughts and ideas throughout the conversation.
· You refrain from immediately giving advice.
· You are tired after listening because it takes a great deal of energy.
· You ask yourself if you would make that same statement to an adult. If not then think twice about making it.

Tactics
It is important to observe the other persons behavior and body language. Having heard, the listener may then paraphrase the speakers words. It is important to note that the listener is not necessarily agreeing with the speaker – simply stating what was said. In emotionally charged communications, the listener may listen for feelings, thus, rather than merely repeating what the speaker has said, the active listener might describe the underlying emotion (“you seem to feel angry” or “you seem to feel frustrated, is that because…?”).

Individuals in conflict often contradict one another. This has the effect of denying the validity of the other person’s position. Either party may react defensively, and the may lash out or withdraw. on the other hand, if one finds the other party understands, an atmosphere of cooperation can be created. This increases the possibility of collaborating and resolving the conflict.

Thomas Gordson state in his book “Leader Effectiveness Training” that active listening is certainly not complex. Listeners need only restate, in their own language, their impression of the expression of the sender… still, learning to do active listening is really a difficult task…”




Uses

Active listening is used in a wide variety of situations, including tutoring, medical workers talking to patients, HIV Counseling, helping suicidal persons, management, counseling and journalistic settings. In groups it may aid in reaching consensus. It may also be used in casual conversation to build understanding, though this can be interpreted as condescending.

The benefits of active listening include getting people to open up, avoid misunderstanding, resolving conflict and building trust. In a medical context, benefits may include increased patient satisfaction, improving cross-cultural communication, improved outcomes, or decreased litigation.

Barriers to Active Listening

All elements of communication, including listening, may be affected by a barrier(s) that can impede the flow of conversation between individuals. Some of these barriers include distractions, trigger words, vocabulary, and limited attention span to name a few.

Results from active listening
· Active listening takes time and practice and does not produce result overnight.
· Usually, each time you are discussing, your conversation get easier and will include more active listening, not just from you but from the other person.
· You have to lead the way.

Instrument of Discouragement: Shifting Blame

Instrument of Discouragement: Shifting Blame

Stop looking for who to blame for your circumstances. When things are working, every man commends himself and takes the glory. But when the tide changes, he looks around for the scapegoat to carry all the blame.

The Israelites left Egypt with much joy. Many of them must have probably praised Moses and Aaron. They must have rejoiced over the precious jewels they got from the Egyptians through God favour. But hear them in Exodus 14:10-12:
And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord.

And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?

Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
Here they were, the Red Sea in front of them and the savage Egyptian army advancing from the rear, with hostile vegetation by the sides. In the face of apparent death, they preferred their servitude; they could not remember all that the hand of the Lord had wrought for them in Egypt!

They threw God’s promises to the winds and despised His faithfulness. They blamed the apparent danger on Moses, whom they had hitherto hailed!
If you don’t want your courage to wane, don’t shift blame. King David knew this secret.
And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag (his headquarters) on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;

And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away...
Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him...but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

1 Samuel 30:1-6
David was caught in a frustrating web, but he encouraged himself. How did he do it? He refused to shift blame. Rather, he inquired of the Lord and the Lord told him to pursue the enemy, with the assurance that he would recover all. David responded and at the end of the day he was the wiser. He recovered all!

Stop shifting blame. Instead of apportioning the blame on anyone, seek for how to claim what you have lost. Stop blaming your spouse, parents or neighbours. No one is the reason for your present circumstances. Do not be caught in the delusion that other people are busy scheming to destroy you. Every one is busy about his own challenges. Lift up your head, encourage yourself and move on.

The truth is that nothing can stand on your way if your courage is well fed. Shifting the blame will rob you of your courage, so don't do it. Mike Murdock said, “Those who caused yesterday’s pains do not have power over tomorrow’s potentials.”

Even if somebody was instrumental in putting you on the floor, do not remain there! Victory is waiting for you. What you have been robbed of is the best the robbers can get from you now, but that is not the best you are capable of producing.