The recession has been absolutely brutal to many CEOs, company presidents and business owners according to Howard Lewinter, Business Management Specialist, who serves clients throughout the United States.

From his 20 years as a trusted business advisor, Lewinter knows that this recession is different from earlier ones in its effects on business. Many leaders of businesses feel beaten down by this recession. “It’s really hit business people in the gut,” Lewinter says.

Even when it’s over, because the effects on so many businesses have been so severe, a full rebound to a robust economy is very likely to take time. Till business resumes a sense of normalcy, how do business people deal with running their companies in an uncharted business economy?

“Right now, they’re finding it can be really ‘lonely at the top.’ They need advice that can’t come from within the organization. Yet they don’t know where to go or who to trust for business advice because we have never experienced an economy quite like this. And they are not really sure what the next step is for their business. They need the perspective of an unbiased, outside expert,” says Lewinter.

That’s why Lewinter created the video series, “How Your Business Can Survive, and Prosper, in the Recession” … and why he’s offering it free to CEOs, company presidents, and business owners exclusively. He wants to bring his solid, straightforward style of business advice to as many business people as possible … as soon as possible … to help them during these tough economic times and be ready for the eventual upturn in business.

In this 7-part video series, Lewinter provides answers to business people who are encountering business problems and issues in this recession. Each video focuses on a different business topic and offers valuable strategies, including: How not to be a victim of the recession; How to get in action and get business back on track; Cutting the cost of running a business; Marketing; Prospecting and sales; and How to deal with business stress.

To sign up for Howard Lewinter’s free video series – “How Your Business Can Survive, and Prosper, in the Recession” – go to http://www.TalkBusinessWithHoward.com/recession.

A report released today indicates that the decline in the stock market in the last six months of 2008 worsened the retirement outlook for middle-class Americans. The analysis, conducted by Ernst & Young on behalf of the Americans for Secure Retirement coalition (ASR), shows that the retirement assets of recent and near retirees decreased between 14 and 17 percent in the last six months of 2008 alone.

The study further finds that households with a guaranteed source of retirement income outside of Social Security, such as a lifetime annuity, have the greatest chance of having enough money in retirement.

The new report is an update to Ernst & Young’s 2008 Retirement Vulnerability of New Retirees report which found that almost three fifths of middle-class new retirees could expect to outlive their financial assets if attempting to maintain their pre-retirement standard of living.

“As with our 2008 study, our update finds that households with guaranteed retirement income outside of Social Security are better positioned to have a secure retirement than those without,” said Tom Neubig of Ernst and Young.

“Now more than ever, it is critical that Americans have guaranteed retirement income through vehicles like lifetime annuities. Congress and policy makers need to help secure the retirement future of middle class Americans,” said Bill Waldie, Chairman of ASR.

Findings of the report include:

Press

We have a lot of employees out there who are surely stressed out. But what does a person have to do to make it clear, especially in an office setting, that some people may become irritating and contributory towards allowing them to get their work done?

For sure, we have our share of people who are inconsiderate. People who spend countless times on the phone, mostly talking to friends and spreading gossip can get irritating. This man in the right corner made it pretty clear that he will not take anything lying down. Would you be able to do the same? Don’t forget to wipe that smile of your place after watching this one.

[tags]countless_times, gossip, inconsiderate_people[/tags]

On how the role of Jerry Seinfeld will be on the Microsoft advertising strategies is perhaps obvious but it still needs proper scripting to really fit in Seinfeld with Bill Gates. If you are thinking Microsoft, chances are you may be looking for something techie and advanced but when a comedian steps into the fray, a lot of possibilities step in.

But while we all know that this blockbuster deal is expected to drive in attention, the fact remains that if the audience do not get the whole parody or participation of Jerry Seinfeld in connection with Bill Gates, the whole plan is a mess.

Anyway, Bill Gates can afford it. He did not become a millionaire for one thing and failure is apparently included in any investment he makes. That is if there are any to name to date.

(Source) Red Herring

If only the commercials they made were more like this second one, then perhaps it would all make sense! But are you a PC?

[tags]blockbuster_deal, jerry_seinfeld, bill_gates, advertising_strategies, comedian, parody, millionaire, scripting, participation, failure, audience, microsoft[/tags]

We have heard of trying to save fuel through improving our manner of driving to save fuel. But for airlines, can you really dictate pilots to save fuel? The rising fuel and oil prices are apparently the reason behind this, but as far as flying is concerned, it is quite different from driving a car on the road.

Airlines have reportedly reprimanded their pilots to stop demanding for large amounts of fuel to get from one destination or the other but if you are in their shoes, perhaps you could ask yourself, which is more important, fuel prices or the life of a passenger?

If airlines would want to save on fuel then why not avoid allowing aircrafts from taking off the ground and just save on fuel. Better yet, why not just close down!