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Investing In A Low-Cost Guitar - Can It Be Worthwhile?

  • A lot of people see a low-cost guitar as a cheap and poorly manufactured guitar. The truth is, a lot of folks are afraid of the point that it wasn't a US made guitar. You might never have considered to buy Chinese or Korean made guitars until recently.

    Numerous major guitar manufacturers formerly began making their guitars in Korea, China and India to supply less expensive guitars to the normal guitarist. Not everybody are able to spend $2000 for a Fender or Gibson guitar. You can find a big niche for cheap guitars below $400.


    Almost all of the Epiphone inexpensive guitar models that are owned by Gibson now are manufactured in Korea. Kramer, another supplier owned and operated by Gibson makes the majority of its low-cost guitars in Korea too. Fender decided to buy Jackson recently, and today nearly all of the Jackson guitars are manufactured and designed in India and Korea. BC Rich cheap guitars and numerous Ibanez guitar models are produced in Korea too.


    The reduced specific tax of these countries helps manufacture less expensive guitars, but that alone cannot be the sole cause for lower guitar prices.


    So, why are several guitars truly dirt cheap and on the other hand some guitars are insanely high priced?


    You can find many reasons behind these cheap guitar manufacturing prices.


    The primary reason for manufacturing a guitar cheap or expensive will be the actual guitar production process. Was the guitar hand-made or was it manufactured from a highly automated modern guitar production line? Hand-made guitars tend to be higher priced, as the guitars produced from a computerized factory most of the times are cheaper for the reason that a highly automated manufacturing process doesn't need much hard physical work for example employees for guitar building and quality control.


    Another factor that could determine the cost of a guitar is the quality of materials that has been used for building the guitar. That may include the woods put to use for the guitar neck and body, the paints and finishes. Less expensive guitars use cheap woods such as plywood for creating the guitar body, while higher priced guitars use quality woods like mahogany, rosewood, alder.


    Another factor for producing a guitar cheap or expensive is the value of electronics and hardware built inside the guitar. Inexpensive guitars will often have cheap stock pickups, tuners, and bridges. High priced guitars are produced with excellent electronics and hardware. For instance the price of just one Seymour-Duncan pickup will be more expensive than the price of a cheap guitar produced in Korea.


    Inexpensive Guitars - Is it worth buying one?


    Only a few people will play a low priced guitar. Should you be a professional musician and the guitar is your tool to earn money with, then you probably won't get a low cost guitar. Even though the majority of inexpensive guitars these days have a very good quality, professional musicians desire hand-made guitars manufactured by professional luthiers.


    If you are on a low budget and you don't want to spend thousands of dollars for a Gibson Les Paul guitar, you certainly should check out cheaper guitars. Keep in mind that low cost guitars shall no longer be no-name guitars. It is possible to buy Squier, BC Rich, Fernandes, Epiphone, Jackson, Ibanez, and many other popular guitar brands cheaper than $200!


    I got myself an inexpensive guitar manufactured in China by Fernandes just for $150. The guitar includes a license from Floyd Rose tremolo, an excellent, easy-playable neck as well as a good sound. This guitar has the capacity to put "cheap" and "quality" in a single sentence. My cheap guitar will probably be worth far more than $150 and it's really of a greater quality compared to several US made Fenders I had played.


    Do you rather choose the cheapest US made Gibson model for $550 or might you rather get hold of a Japanese no-name model with a super-fast neck, Floyd Rose Tremolo and pickups for $350? Nobody can make the decision for you.
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    The Top Ten Ways To Be Happy In Your Work - FOREVER!

  • 1. Do what really interests you!

    (This seems like a simple idea, but many times we do work for many other reasons)


    2. Decide for yourself what kind of work best fits you.


    (There is no shortage of people who will tell you what to do, but this decision should come from you since you will be the one doing the work)


    3. Make your work align with the rest of your life, and you won’t notice the difference anymore between vocation and vacation.


    (First decide what your vision of your perfect day will be and how that will integrate with the rest of your life)


    4. Decide what culture best fits you!


    (Most people do the reverse and wonder why they don’t fit well)


    5. Select work which you have a passion to be an expert at.


    (Better to be an expert in one area vs. just average in many)


    6. Listen to your positive inner voice.


    (The inner you will always guide you towards the right work for you if you listen carefully)


    7. Become more self-aware – make sure that your work aligns with your values and personal goals.


    (Many people spend their lives at work which has nothing to do with what is most important to them)


    8. Pursue the work which best aligns your abilities (which you are motivated to do) with your deep interests.


    (This is much better then pursuing just the money or the job or the career which has a limited time horizon)


    9. Be prepared to make big change when doing right work.


    (Many times a change in location, lifestyle, and or relationship might be needed to allow for new change in one’s work)


    10. Have relationships which nurture you and your work.


    (Spending time with people who do not respect your work will drain you)


    Follow these steps and you will be happy forever in your work! This seems like a life pursuing, don’t you think!


    I'll be cheering you on as you go!


    Craig Nathanson
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    Hiring Financial Services to Plan Your Retirement Smartly

  • Ensuring financial freedom after retirement is a crucial factor in a financial plan. Most individuals have several plans to realize after retirement. Some people plan to buy a villa on a beach; while others dream of a world tour. Even if you do not have such ambitious dreams, you need money to be readily available after retirement for your daily expenses. This requires smart planning from early years. Taking a small step towards financial planning at an early age can guarantee financial security for a lifetime. If you do not begin early, the pace at which you would need to save would accelerate and the cost of the financial instruments at your disposal would increase.

    One can hire financial services to demystify pension options and retirement saving plans. These service providers will answer your questions on how to sponsor your retirement plans and will help you to make an informed investment decision.


    Financial Services: How Much Do You Need to Retire?


    Consult financial services to determine the right time to start planning for retirement. Remember, retirement planning is not only about finance, it also involves mental preparation to get accustomed to a changed pattern of life. For some people, it is very hard to stop working altogether and spent time at home. In such a case, financial consultant may advise him/her to start working part time for a few years prior to full retirement. Alternatively, one can consider a home-based business after retiring from regular services.


    Coming back to finances, it is important to analyze your monetary requirements in the long run. Prepare an estimate of monthly expenses in consultation with a financial expert. Now consider different investment options that align with your long-term financial goals. Pension funds are an important source of income post retirement. Thus, one should give due consideration to different types of pension plans available and understand how one can monetize them. Other instruments that blend well with retirement planning are:


    • Savings


    • Property


    • Investments in stocks


    • Individual Savings Account (ISA)


    Ask the Financial Service Provider about Types of Pension Plans


    Financial service providers focus on three basic types of pension plans:


    • State pension


    • Personal pension


    • Company pension


    State pension is probably the most reliable foundation for your retirement. An individual who has attained the state pension age can claim it. According to UK Government data, the state pension age for men is 65. However, the state pension age for women will increase from 60 to 65 between 2010 and 2020. Usually, the contributions to National Insurance (NI) are accumulated over the years to provide pension to individuals. Additional state pension is rendered to individuals who are taking care of a child or are employed.


    Personal pension schemes, which can include Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP)for higher earners, are an important investment option for better control over retirement planning. It involves investment into HM Revenues and Customs (HMRC) approved financial products. Some of the financial products covered under SIPP are:


    • Stocks listed on recognized exchange markets


    • Investment trusts regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA)


    • Commercial property


    • Bullion market


    • Authorised unit trusts


    • Futures and options traded in recognized markets


    One can seek expert SIPP advice to leverage these investment options and secure financial freedom after retirement. Remember, state pension guarantees only sustainable income to every individual. To maintain a good lifestyle and make your ends meet, personal pensions (including SIPPs) are an important element in your long term financial planning strategy.


    Company pensions are set by employers and vary between organizations. Usually, the company pension fund is deducted from an employee's salary or deposited by the employer or both.


    Since April 2006, the government has simplified regulations governing personal and company pension. Tax relief has been increased on investment into retirement instruments. With investment planning, it is possible to invest into a homogenous mix of different types of pension instruments. Consult financial services providers to make the best of the available retirement options.
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    What Are You Known For As An Entrepreneur?

  • Just a few months ago I was helping an entrepreneur who has many talents take a look at her business to figure out why she wasn't making the income she wanted to make. As we talked, I realized that she had the same problem many solo professional entrepreneurs have. She wasn't clear about what she offered her customers. She knew she added value for them but she was having a hard time explaining who she was and what she did to me. I knew, then, that she was not clear to potential customers (prospects) either. And more than likely, her copy (the words on her website or in any brochure she had) were not compelling, not pulling in the people she could serve the very best.

    As an entrepreneur, you have certain experiences, expertise, and wisdom to offer your customers. What tends to happen over time is that we forget what we are really good at, because it is second nature to us. Here's a half-hour exercise for you that will help you make sure you are putting all your goodies on the table for prospects to see.


    1. Answer these questions (write down your answers):


    A. What are your life and work experiences that you draw from when you work with your customers?


    B. What is your expertise, and what is your proof of that expertise?


    C. What wisdom do you bring to the table from your life experiences, your own personal growth, your spiritual development?


    2. Ask yourself "are these what I am known for?"


    A. Would current or former clients agree that you are known for these?


    B. Does your website's copy (or copy in brochures) reflect these?


    When I asked my client what she is known for, we came up with these attributes:


    * Building successful businesses Looking at a client's ground, the place from which they operate and make decisions.


    * Challenging clients to change where they are stuck and hurting their business or personal success.


    * Being supportive and offering encouragement.


    * Seeing the possible, often before clients see it.


    * Taking people from a job to their own work.


    * Wisdom


    * Intuitiveness


    * Instilling confidence in others.


    * Fearless stepping out.


    * Solid experience and training in guiding and mentoring others.


    * Creative and low-cost marketing strategies.


    Some of her copy reflects these, for sure. But we needed to sharpen her "who and do what" statement and add in things she had not even realized she offers.


    There's a third part to this exercise, which is to ask current and former clients what they think you are known for. It's a good test, to see if what they see is the same thing as what you see. You can do a quick survey on Survey Monkey (it's free). You can then blend their comments in with your own list, and build your "who and do what" statement from that. Being positive about what you are known for as an entrepreneur gives you solid ground and attracts the people you work with best.
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    Tips On How To Realize Your Dreams

  • What I think a lot of people assume is that when you want to “realize your dreams” you have to completely turn your life on it’s head, quit everything you do (job, family, kids) and move in to a one bedroom apartment with a desk and a computer being the only furniture other than a lounge to sleep on…… or at least it feels like that.

    But exactly what is your dream about, fact or fantasy. So lets look at the points to consider:


    1. How long you will need to try and realize your dreams


    2. The amount of lost wages during that time vs quitting for the pursuit


    3. The cost of living during that time


    4. The cost of starting for your online presence


    If it doesn’t turn out to be a huge loss for you then it may just be easier than you first thought. For example, say you have long-service due and need a few months to see if your idea will work or not, how much could that possibly cost? A few thousand dollars? $10k at the most? Put it this way, what are you prepared to do in order to realize your dreams?


    Have you ever sat down and thought of it this way… of course I have you say, “it’s just that I have my mortgage and Timmy has piano lessons that are expensive and Margie wants to take that trip in October and…” psst..WRONG!


    Self Doubt Wont Let You Realize Your Dreams


    Self-doubt can lock you up in the same spot for years and lead to complete inactivity almost without you knowing at times. Believe me I know from experience. What happens is that you consciously want to complete or execute a task, say “Get in Shape” or “Start a new Business”, but the self-doubt you have is harbored down in your sub-conscious, keeping your legs from going anywhere. So all your day ends up looking like is:


    * I want to start my own business…


    * Oh it will never work, I don’t know what it takes


    * I could just check out the library and read up on it


    * Yea right, and then what, blow through all your savings and be poor?


    * My parents might lend me money


    * Great and then you’ll be in debt your whole life, idiot


    * I guess I should just hope for that promotion at work…


    * Good, that sounds safe


    And next thing you know, it’s been 5 years, you are fatter than ever and the process you need to try and realize your dreams has gathered dust. Believe me again when I say….ahh let’s not go there. So you have nothing to show for your time either at your company (somebody else got the promotion, or it was a hell of a lot less interesting than you thought) and a nightmare has replaced the dream. You are completely frozen in place and don’t know why… it’s this elusive “locked up” feeling, like a engine freezing up on you with no oil… that my friend is what chronic self-doubt feels like.


    Take Action If You Want To Realize Your Dreams


    What I’m getting at is you need to oil the gears and unlock the chain get on your bike again and move yourself to action… any action, just some action. Even if that means “forget about starting your business, just check a damn business book out from the library”. Turn every insurmountable task into micro-tasks, things that are easy to complete, until you turn around 5 years down the road and… holy hell… you actually ended up starting your own business without realizing it because you completed so many micro-tasks, there was just a natural progression between Point A (complete lockup) and Point B (beginning to realize your dreams).


    I can’t impress this upon you enough, so I’m going to call this out explicitly for anyone that just self-doubted themselves while reading this paragraph on self-doubt:


    The only way to combat chronic self-doubt, is action, ANY action is better than non-action is it not?


    Don’t read that last sentence and think “Yeah yeah, but I can’t start my own company tomorrow”. I didn’t write that, that’s your self-doubt kicking in and making this task seem impossible, even before you tried to do anything at all.


    Just complete some micro-ass task related to what your eventual goal is… hell, buy a domain name, that’s like $7 at iPage. Then setup a blog with WordPress, and learn to use it. It’s free to install and use.… then a month later, join a team of mentors that are willing to help you at no cost. You’ll find free training like I offer in many many other places.


    To Conclude


    So there’s your call to action right there, right now. In fact you can start that training today and see just what it takes to take that first step. I promise you that after a week of my free training course, if not less, you will have all the tools you need to decide what your next move is going to be. See these are all completely easy-to-do micro-tasks that you cannot excuse yourself out of doing, but they are all forcing you to walk closer towards your goal. And it’s spread out over months, so in years you will most likely have your business and it will be a hell of a lot easier than you thought. You can begin to realize your dreams today
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    Choosing The Best Content Writing Services Will Grow Your Business

  • While the internet has been around quite a long time, content writing services are a bit newer on the scene. Originally, the internet was developed by the military in order to have a secure information exchange between commanders and their units. The internet is still the same in essence, it facilitates in information exchange. One of the only differences is who creates the content. In some cases, the site owners do, in many other cases content writing services do it for the owner at a price.

    Content Writing Services and You

    To some, content writing services seem like a waste of time, but for others it could be one of the best investments they make for their online presence. Content writing services are able to produce content, the main thing that most people go on the internet to find, and at the same time the professional content writing services are able to increase page rank in the search engines for their clients. If you have a website and are reading this information, then you probably already understand the important role that content writing services play in the scheme of things. You realize that content writing services can free your time of creating content to do other things to enhance your site, while the content writing services do the leg work for the information on your site. Chances are, unless you are a professional writer, content writing services will be able to provide a higher quality of content for your site than you can.

    Find Quality Content Writing Services

    You can probably find a company offering content writing services pretty easily. A simple Google search will provide you with a huge number of companies. Hopefully, you already realize that just because a company offers content writing services doesn't mean that they are any good at it. In the same fashion, not every touch screen phone is as good as the iPhone. Some content writing services are will waste your money and your time. Other, truly professional content writing services, can save you time and give you a great return on investment.

    Cheap Priced Content Writing Services

    Beware a company offering content writing services for ridiculously low costs. Chances are you will get burned if you choose one of these content writing services. Consider the following example: You choose a company offering content writing services charging $1.50 per article produced. You contract them to produce 100 articles for you. You spend a total of $150. The content is poorly researched and badly written by the so called 'professional' company offering content writing services. Due to the poor quality, you don't see an increase in traffic to your site.

    Now take a truly professional company offering high quality content writing services. Yes, they charge $5-$8 per article so you decide to keep to the same budget of $150. When you receive the articles from this company, while numbering only 18-30 articles, you see a huge increase in traffic to your site. This is because they really offer high quality content writing services. Just remember, not everything is based solely on price.
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