Incorporation Checklist - State Requirements

Incorporation Checklist - State RequirementsIncorporation Checklist - State RequirementsIncorporation ChecklistThis checklist is provided at no extra charge to you. While we believe the checklist was correct and accurate when created, laws do change over time and the various government departments may have changed their fees and other requirements. You should always confirm with the government Corporations department in your jurisdiction or qualified legal counsel to ensure that you have completed all the necessary steps to be able to properly incorporate your Corporation.State Requirement ChecklistNote In addition to the forms listed, you will also be required to file an annual or biannual report. Upon incorporation, you should receive an information package from your secretary of state if you do not, you should contact them to inquire about ongoing periodic filings.GeneralYou may wish to apply for a corporate name reservation prior to submitting your Articles of Incorporation to en sure that the application goes smoothly and that your Articles of Incorporation are not rejected because of a naming issue.Alabama Checklist Reservation of corporate name (contact the office of the Secretary of State) Articles of Incorporation Submit to a probate Judge in the county where the Corporations registered office is located. Original 2 Copies. The Probate Judge will collect the Secretary of State filing fee. Certificate of personenname Reservation (sent by Secretary of State). File the Articles of Incorporation and the Certificate of Name Reservation in the county where the corporations registered office is located.

Professional Appearance in the Corporate Workplace

Professional Appearance in the Corporate WorkplaceProfessional Appearance in the Corporate Workplace

A Financial Checklist for Your First Year in the Workforce

A Financial Checklist for Yur First Year in the WorkforceA Financial Checklist for Your First Year in the Workforce Congratulations You just got your first job - and your first paycheck as a full-time worker is on its way. Youre an adult. Youre independent.You will be tempted to use up all of your money to purchase things like a new fancy new car or new apartment, warned Monica Dwyer, a West Chester, Ohio-based financial advisor.Maybe you deserve a little reward after landing a competitive job . But, before you go on a shopping spree, do your future self a favor and check off your new financial obligations first.We made a checklist for you, complete with links to some of the best resources to help you complete the tasks.First up, make sure you pay your taxes, but dont overpay.The W-4 form is one of the first pieces of paperwork youll be asked to complete when you get to your new job . The W-4 tells the employer how much of your paycheck you would like to withhold for income tax.Failing to withhold enough money for taxes can lead to an unpleasant surprise next tax season, said Ron Strobel, a CFP at Nampa, Idaho-based Retire Sensibly. Withholding too much means you will receive a big refund. While you may like the idea of getting a big sum of money after filing your taxes, consider what you could have done with the money. The IRS doesnt pay interest on refunds, so receiving a refund means you missed out on earning interest over the course of the year, Strobel said, referring to investments you could have made if you hadnt over-withheld.The unpleasant surprise Strobel mentioned is a tax bill from the IRS for unpaid taxes. If you dont have the funds on hand when you get the bill, you may need to set up a payment plan with the IRS or borrow to titelseite the tax debt. Either vorkaufsrecht isnt ideal. The IRS charges interest on balances not paid by Tax Day, and youll also likely have to pay interest on any money you borrow to pay your tax bill.I f you find the W-4 confusing, you can use this withholding allowance calculator on the IRS website to help you figure out how much you should elect to withhold for income tax. We also have an article on MagnifyMoney that explains tax withholding changes for 2018.You will generally be asked to return your completed and signed W-4 to your employers human resources department as soon as possible to avoid delays with your first paycheck.Another thing youll probably be introduced to during the onboarding process for your new job is your employer-sponsored retirement account , if the company offers one. Experts we spoke with recommended you set your retirement contribution to 10 percent of your earnings.But a 10 percent contribution right out of the gate might not be the most useful advice for someone in their early 20s, said Sean Gillespie, a CFP and co-founder of Virginia, Va.-based Redeployment Wealth Strategies.Dont get stuck on 10 percent. Its a nice rule-of-thumb number, but its a number that can intimidate a lot of younguns so they wont save at all, said Gillespie. He noted new workers with student loan debt might be on a tight budget, so they may not even be able to save a full 10 percent of their salary and cover their bills.Lets figure out how to put something away. If you cant do six percent because you have to eat, lets start with three percent, and lets see if we can bump it up one percent next year, said Gillespie. He added that getting started is mora important than the amount you save at first. Even if its like $50 a month, try to establish the habit.Our Ultimate Guide to Maximizing your 401(k) has some awesome advice you can use to make sure you make the most of your retirement account. The experts we interviewed also provided a few tipsTip 1 Max Out the Match If your employer offers to match your contributions, you should aim to at least maximize the match, advise the experts. Every penny your employer matches can be described as a 100 percent ret urn on your investment up to the match limit. Or you could think of it another way This is part of every penny that youve been promised as part of this job. If you dont contribute, you are giving money back to your employer, said Gillespie.Tip 2 Take Advantage of a Roth New York City-based CFP Sallie Thompson said she advises young workers to contribute to an employer-sponsored Roth 401(k) or Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA) if they have the option. Contributions to a Roth account are made using after-tax dollars. As a result, you can take out the contributions and earnings tax-free once you reach the eligible retirement age. You may be in a higher tax bracket when you are older and earn a higher salary , so getting taxed now means you may get to keep more of your money.Tip 3 Max Out the Annual Contribution Limit If its within your budget, the experts advised maxing out the contribution limits to your retirement accounts.Employee contributions to a 401(k) are capped at $18, 500 in 2018. The limit will rise to $19,000 for 2019. Those 50 and older can still contribute up to an additional $6,000 as catch-up contribution. The limit applies to individuals, not accounts, so if you contribute to more than one 401(k), your overall cap in 2018 is $18,500. The limit does not include the employer match.The IRA contribution limit for individuals in 2018 is $5,500. The limit is $6,000 for 2019. Again, the same limit applies if you have more than one IRA. Employers cannot match contributions to traditional or Roth IRAs.Your employers benefits package may include a variety of insurance options, including health insurance, life insurance and disability insurance. Taking advantage of whats offered, but first, evaluate if the plans suit your needs.Tip 1 Opt for an HSA and High-Deductible Health Plan If you have the option to use a Health Savings Account (HSA) in combination with a high-deductible health plan, you should, said John Gugle, a Charlotte, N.C.-based CFP.Whil e you are young and healthy, a high-deductible health plan can save you money in monthly premiums. An HSA is the only investment vehicle that has a triple tax benefit, said Gugle.The contributions are tax-deductible, the money you invest grows tax-free and any funds you withdraw to cover qualified future health care expenses can be taken out tax-free.Let this account grow and use cash flow for health care expenses. The longer this account can grow tax-free, the better, Gugle advised new workers.Thompson echoes this advice and suggested workers aim to use the funds to cover medical expenses in retirement. Thompson recommended workers invest their HSA contributions into good growth mutual funds for the long term.Tip 2 Get Disability Insurance Your employer will likely offer disability insurance. If they dont, try and find a policy from a private insurer. The coverage is very important to have, as it protects your largest asset your future income. Disability insurance ensures you can k eep paying your bills and put food on the table in the event you become disabled and are unable to work for an extended period of time.MagnifyMoney has a complete guide to disability insurance here to help you weigh your options.Tip 3 Consider Term Life Insurance If you choose to get a life insurance policy, Gugle recommended signing up for term life insurance, as opposed to a whole life insurance policy.In a nutshell, term life insurance policies cover a fixed period of time and are generally more affordable for young workers on a tight budget. Whether or not you need life insurance at this stage in your life depends on if you have financial dependents. We explain in more detail the major differences between term and whole life insurance here.When you are designating beneficiaries on your insurance policies, be sure to designate both a primary and contingent beneficiary.Its a great time in your life to start a discovery process about what is important to you and the lifestyle you w ant to build for yourself, said Kayse Kress, a Bristol, Conn.-based CFP, referring to the first years in the workforce. By outlining financial goals, you can create an action plan using your money to accomplish those things.Your goals and when you intend to reach them may change as you go through life, and thats fine. You can revisit the list annually or how often you deem necessary.Here are a few questions to help you get started with that listFull-fledged financial planning likely isnt necessary at this point in your life, since you may not have much in your asset column. However, if you have assets or merely want some guidance, you may want to meet with a financial planner on a one-time or once-a-year basis to help you set appropriate goals and prepare to reach them.The most suggested tip experts shared for new graduates joining the workforce was to master cash flow management, or budgeting.Budgeting is not as painful as people think and actually allows you to spend your money in meaningful ways, while also helping you make sure to live below your means, Kress said.To get started with basic budgeting, list your monthly expenses and sort them into larger categories. For example, you might label them savings, fixed expenses, flexible expenses and debt.You can automate your savings by having retirement contributions deducted from your paycheck or situation up recurring transfers from your checking account to a savings account.Im a big fan of automating because it makes life so much easier, said New York City-based financial planner Samuel Deane. It really takes the stress out of budgeting.Your fixed expenses are the nonnegotiables, like your rent or mortgage payment, groceries, your car payment and utility bills. The debt category includes required monthly payments on things like student loans and leistungspunkt cards. The remainder of your monthly expenses would likely fall into the flexible expenses bucket. Flexible expenses are things that are wants, like o rdering takeout, your subscription payments and Uber rides. The flexible bucket is the first place to start when you need to cut your spending.Once you create your budget , try to stick to it. Monitor how youre doing so you can make adjustments. Thompson recommended comparing your actual spending with your budgeted figures on a monthly or quarterly basis.Your top savings priority should be setting aside money for an emergency, like losing your job or urgent car repairs you need so you can continue driving to work. These funds serve as cushion so you dont have to turn to expensive borrowing options.Experts generally recommend saving three to six months worth of expenses in a savings account, where you can quickly access the funds when needed.It should only be used for emergencies. If it goes below the specific amount, it should be replenished, said Thompson. Use a payroll deduction to fund this or set up automatic transfer from checking to savings.A recent study by LendingTree, Magn ifyMoneys parent company, found that millennials in the largest 50 U.S. cities carry an average $23,064 in non-mortgage debt.To get started on your path to financial independence, it is important to start paying down any debt that you have ASAP, Kress saidPaying money toward interest on debt means it may take you longer to reach other financial goals because you have less money to allocate. If you have debt, do your best to tackle it as quickly as possible after fully funding your emergency fund.Using a strategy like the debt avalanche or debt snowball may help to organize and speed up your debt payoff. In addition, you may be able to save money by consolidating your debt with a personal loan or balance transfer credit card.If you have student loan debt, your first bill may be coming soon, as first payments are often due about six months after graduation.Without a student loan payment you will feel rich when that paycheck hits your account, and youll likely have to urge to splurge, said Michael Troxell, an Oakland, Calif.-based CFP. But you may be filled with some regret down the line when you see your student loan bill.Start preparing to make the payments as early as possible. If you havent already received repayment information from your student loan servicer, you can log into the Federal Student Aid website to get more information on making payments. You can read more about dealing with education debt in our ultimate guide to student loans.Establishing good credit early on is key, as a high credit score can help you qualify for new credit at better terms. This is especially important if you ever want to borrow money to buy a home or car. Using a credit card responsibly will help you build good credit.The simple act of paying off your card each month helps you build positive history in the two areas that contribute to about 65% of your FICO credit scoring calculation on-time payment history (35%) and credit utilization rate (30%). Your credit utilization rat e is the amount you use of your total available credit. Using less of your available credit and making consistent, on-time payments demonstrate to creditors you are a responsible borrower who will pay back a loan on time. The habit should help to build your credit score over time, but its not the only thing you can do to help increase your score. MagnifyMoney has a few more credit building tips here in our credit scoring guide.Gillespie suggests those new to the workforce build the habit of thrift. That doesnt mean to shop exclusively at thrift stores, but in a more broad sense, the habit of thrift relates to keeping both your fixed and flexible expenses low.For example, if you have the opportunity to save money by living with a roommate or living with your parents, do it.Adopt the mentality of minimalist, said John Pak, a Los Angeles-based CFP. Build the habit of spotting lower cost options or alternatives. Consume more of what you need and minimize what you want, at least until you start seeing extra money left over each month.Deane said 20-somethings often make the mistake of believing money is something they should inherently know how to manage, when it isnt.You dont necessarily know as much as you think you do, Deane said. You have to make the effort to go out and seek the information, Deane told MagnifyMoney.To that end, the information is out there. You can apply some of the tips you learn from the internet, books, other people and financial experts to your lifestyle, and see what works for you. Every budgeting strategy doesnt work for every personality. Try not to get discouraged if you falter a few times before you get the hang of things. Just try to learn from your past mistakes and make changes for the better.This article was originally published by Magnify Money . Reprinted with permission.

How to Answer Interview Questions About Shift Work

How to Answer Interview Questions About Shift WorkHow to Answer Interview Questions About Shift WorkThe ability to change up shifts or work through the night, whether in a hospital or a shippingwarehouse, is a special skill of its own. People who work at night may have troublebalancing their work and family lives, let alone their sleep, health, and well-being. Energy can diminish if youre not accustomed to late hours, weekend work or all-nighters, andmoralecan wane if you dont feel like a part of the companys daily activities. Shift work often requires a great deal of flexibility with a workers schedule, too. One week, you may work all morning shifts, followed by another week of night shifts. It can be challenging for maintaining relationships, doing chores, and arranging childcare. Employers are well aware of these challenges, and look to hire people who can handle this unpredictability. Tips for Answering Questions About Shift Work Consider your personal situation carefully bef ore answering. If you are unwilling - or unable - to work certain shifts, its best to be straightforward in your response. That way, you and the employer wont have any unhappy surprises when schedules are issued. Consider mentioning the reason that you would be unavailable during certain hours. Be brief No need to share a complicated story. You can simply say, I take care of an elderly relative after 5 p.m. on weekdays, so would not be available for shifts starting then. or I can work any shift if I have enough notice to arrange child care. On the other hand, if your hours are flexible, or youre comfortable working unpredictable hours or nights and weekends, make sure to say so in your response. Some questions you may receive about shift work are How do you feel about shift work?Are you comfortable with shift work and a changing schedule?Do you have experience with your work hours changing from week to week?Are you available to work nights and weekends?Are there any times when you would be unavailable to be on the schedule? Sample Answers Here are sample answers to the job interview question about your interest in working different shifts, taking into account different values and outside commitments. Absolutely. I am single, live alone, and I dont mind keeping hours that take me out of the nine to five routine.As long as I would know at the start of a placement what the hours would be, I would be willing to work any shift. I would prefer to keep one shift throughout each placement.I am really only available during regular business hours as I have an elderly family member who I need to care for during other times.I wouldnt prefer to work at night and weekends but during peak workloads, I am ready and available to work whenever you need me. Night and weekends are the only time I can spend with my family and thats very important to me. But in the case of an urgent situation, if you need me then I will definitely be available.I enjoy night work because to me its a very peaceful environment. However, I needmy weekends to refresh and recharge.If there is an urgent need or an emergency Ill definitely work whatever shifts you need the companys growth and success are mine as well.Ill definitely work whatever shift is needed because I feel a responsibility towards the company to complete the necessary work. I have no problem working different shifts as needed. I consider organization and my coworkers to be my family, and if they need me, Ill be there.I can work any shift you require its my duty to be there when you need me.I would be happy to work night and weekend shifts if you have a proper security guard in place.I am not comfortable with night shifts due to safety concerns but am happy to work any other shift as needed.Im a self-starter and Im confident making decisions during any shift.I can stay focused for a long period of time without getting tired, so Im available for any shift. My schedule is very flexible, and Im open to whatever shift you offer.I do value a work-life balance, so while Im available for any shift, I would like to create a consistent schedule so I can make other plans.

The War Against Best Resume Examples

The War Against Best Resume Examples A solicited letter of an application is merely one which is normally composed to turn inside an application for a situation thats advertised in only about any type of media by means of a prospective organization. Whether youre just starting your career for a librarian or are searching for a senior position, weve got a sample that will allow you to tailor your own cover letter. So however much experience youve got, our examples will help you to get started. Its certainly recommended to include as many of the subsequent examples of information as possible. So you are going to be showing yourself off in your very best light. You should exploit your strength and concentrate on the information. Besides your LinkedIn account, the perfect resume should incorporate any links that are related to your work, like a personal site, portfolio, or blog. In reality, there is absolutely no perfect, good resume example. The most suitable quality of paper and size is likely to make your resume look much better. You may use our resume building software to produce your own from scratch. Before sending, be certain to review your document in the new format to make certain it appears the direction you would like it to. Dont let yourself be superficial, colors arent useful for instance, but instead try to utilize your imagination in the organization and basic layout of the resume. Characteristics of Best Resume Examples To compose a very first class resume you will need to make it predominantly results oriented and concentrate on your achievements and contributions during your career. Below, you will locate a list of resume examples that may assist you with your work search. However much or what type of work experience youve got, theres a resume format that is likely to make your qualifications shine. To earn a good resume, youve got to mix decent content with strong design. A job out application is merely another chance to promote your own expertise, therefore make certain you list the qualifications that are connected with the occupation for which youre applying. Plug in your info and youre prepared to send off your application. Its important your project application has to be encouraged with a suitable cover letter when youre requesting for job and notably applying to obtain an advertising job. Writing a strong application is a difficult procedure and we would like to make it simpler. Meanwhile, you require a job as an LPN. Use white space prior to each section in order for the recruiter will appear there first and make certain that you list the most crucial elements to the recruiter at the beginning of each section. He does not what to know what your responsibilities were, they want to know what you have actually achieved. No matter where you include your skills section on your resume, you can be certain that the hiring manager is likely to find it and definitely likely to ask about doing it. If yo ure attempting to acquire work in accounting or finance you require averystrong resume. Understanding how to tailor your resume will obviously provide you an advantage. Writing a resume for employment in the art industry can be difficult. You can also check at a number of the samples of various types of resumes for various kinds of careers. It is possible to even look at any of the samples of different sorts of resumes for various kinds of careers. Whether you would like to receive a job in nursing, dentistry, or pharmaceuticals, weve got a sample that is applicable to your career path. You are unable to compose a single resume for a number of kinds of jobs. Job seekers deserve to discover decent content quickly. Careers in the health care industry demand a variety of expertise and education. Your jobs could possibly be varied, your experience and techniques vast, and it can be challenging getting it all on paper. Transportation jobs involve plenty of responsibility and your resume will want to reflect you can take care of that. If you want to change fields or positions, be sure that you know what kind of job that you are aiming at and make sure you are qualified for it. Just being up for the job may not be adequate, so dont hesitate to demonstrate any creative skills you may have. So if youre truly interested in finding job, then you need to find the help of such on-line firms. So if youre really interested in finding job, then you need to seek out the assistance of such on-line firms.

Instant Solutions to Resume Writing Accomplishments and Special Skills

Instant Solutions to Resume Writing Accomplishments and Special Skills Should you need additional resume help, youve got many choices when considering how to make a professional looking resume. Your resume should be formatted in an easy, professional way. With the above data in mind, you may be eager to see concrete examples of superior accomplishment sections. After all, youre presenting visually an abbildung of the quality of work you plan to bring to the provider. Resume Writing Accomplishments and Special Skills at a Glance The writers present exactly what employers search for and describe accomplishments and abilities in the most efficient method. Your resume accomplishments section ought to be coherent with the remainder of your experiences and qualifications. If youre finding it nearly impossible to think of any accomplishments all on your own, it is possible to always ask your colleagues or friends to assist. Type of Resume Writing Accomplishments and Special Skil ls Rewriting your resume to emphasize achievements and results is nearly always the single most impactful improvement you may make. Adding an accomplishments section to your resume is an excellent means to demonstrate your best achievements and regions of expertise as they relate to the job which youre applying for. Functional resumes mean to highlight your precise abilities and accomplishments that have been demonstrated through specific work related achievements. Now youre ready to compose a teacher assistant resume summary. If you would like any additional information regarding my career you are able to go through my resume. The role of writing a resume is to secure a work interview. At precisely the same time, you ought to be cautious not to compose lengthy and prosaic resumes because employers wont have time or patience to experience such long resumes. Exceptional writing skills arent required. What skills or exceptional abilities were utilized to create things better . Further, special abilities and qualifications ought to be highlighted so they arent missed by the reader. Skills and knowledge youre predicted to possess in order to do your daily work duties comprise your duties. If you opt to present your experience employing the functional format, you are going to be showing off your abilities and your potential, rather than your previous responsibilities at work. Bearing that in mind, the information that you include in your resume will be dependent on your degree of experience, the quantity and kind of certifications you hold, and your long-term career plans. Your resume accomplishments enable you to describe your finest wins so employers wish to have a chance on you. So long as resumes are an advertising tool, which is valued for creativity and uniqueness, it is best to think about writing them a true challenge. What About Resume Writing Accomplishments and Special Skills? Without regard to the formatting style you pick, you should be sure your potential employers can easily locate the information that they require. If you believe writing is not your strongest skill or whether you doubt that youve an understanding of resume scanning software or keywords, we advise you to receive professional assistance on how best to compose a resume. While no 2 resumes will look the exact same, there are particular similarities in all great resumes.

The Legal Working Age in Louisiana

The Legal Working Age in LouisianaThe Legal Working Age in LouisianaIf youre a resident living in Louisiana and you are considering getting your first job, dont start your job search without finding out what the extremum legal working age in your state is. If you are of legal age to work in Louisiana then you can start saving for a car, college tuition, and books, clothing, or other whatever hot new app is worth downloading on iTunes. Just as important, entering the workforce will teach you valuable life skills such as teamwork, overcoming obstacles, and problem-solving. Age Restrictions and Types of Work for Louisiana Teens Both federal child labor laws and Louisiana state law agree that the minimum age to work is 14 (with some exceptions). However, child labor laws in each state sometimes vary as to the minimum age to work and which permits are needed. When this happens, federal law will be followed if its more stringent. In certain circumstances, teens younger than 14 may some times work. The minimum age to work does not include door-to-door sales (e.g., selling Girl Scout cookies), working in the agricultural field (e.g., on the family farm), and in the child entertainment industry. Teens may also be paid to work for household chores, yard work (e.g., raking leaves but not using power-driven tools), babysitting, and paper routes. So, even though teens under the age of 14 cant work in an official capacity, they have opportunities to earn money. Child labor laws also dont usually apply to children who work for their parents in a family-owned business, where they might be paid to sort and distribute the mail. Before youth begin their jobs, they should review the rules and restrictions surrounding child labor laws to know their rights and the protections the government affords them. Certificates Required for Work Louisiana state law requires child employment certificates for youth under age 18. Employment certificates are provided by the school system an d are easy to obtain. A parentand the potential employer must sign the paperwork to complete the process. The state doesnt require minors to have an age certificate by request. What Hours Can Teens Work? Although teens ages 14-15 can work in a variety of jobs (including in offices, restaurants, grocery stores, retail stores, and hospitals) the hours they work are restricted. Youth this age cant work more than three hours on a school day, 18 hours in a school week, eight hours in a non-school day or 40 hours during a non-school week. Additionally, these teens can only work between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (except from June 1 through Labor Day when working hours extend to 9 p.m.). While older teens can work more hours and for a longer time span, 16-year-olds may not work between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. on school days, and 17-year-olds may not work between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. on school days. Teens of all ages must get a break after working for five hours straight. It is also prohibited to allow minors to work in hazardous occupations that expose them to toxic chemicals, dangerous machines, or dangerous work situations such as mines. For more information on the minimum age to work in Louisiana and how to obtain employment certificates, visit the Louisiana State Labor Website.

Richard Branson Weathered the Storm--and Lived to Enjoy It

Richard Branson Weathered the Storm--and Lived to Enjoy ItRichard Branson Weathered the Stormand Lived to Enjoy ItRichard Branson Weathered the Stormand Lived to Enjoy It FisherMother Natures wrath knows no bounds, including billionaires.Back in September, Hurricane Irma smashed everything above ground on Virgin Group founder and CEO Richard Bransons private Caribbean island. Branson was there, but no worries. He and his staff waited out the cataclysm hunkered down in a vast wine cellar, playing dice and having what his blog called a sleepover, replete with bunk beds and big fluffy pillows for all.Leadership, after all, is about being prepared.A prolific writer and brand leader,Bransons next book is likely to recount the details of rebuilding what Irma destroyed. Meanwhile his most recent tome, his seventh since Losing My Virginity in 1998, continues the tale of building the Virgin brand into a global empire of more than 400 companies with almost a million employees.Finding My Virgin ity (Portfolio, 2017) isa lively, likeable read. The book provides a few peeks into Bransons leadership style, and how hes managed his many triumphs and failures that ordinary mortals might find useful. Here are four of them.1. Admit your mistakes quickly, and move on. Ever heard of Virgin Clothing, Virgin Cola, or Virgin Vie cosmetics? How about Virgin Cars, or Virgin Vodka? No? Not surprising Those are some of the many Virgin product lines that didnt work out and were swiftly shut down.Then there were strategic goofs like Bransons belief, back in the mid-90s, that he could safely ignore social media, since upstarts like Twitter would turn out to be, he recalls, a passing fad. Oops.No matter. Failures didnt put me off, writes Branson. Generally, we like to work fast try ideas, see if they stick, and, if they dont, quickly move on to the next one.2. Listen to customers, bedrngnislage critics. In 1998, when the worldwide market for cell phones was taking off, the only providers were traditional behemoths like British Telecom. I, along with everybody else, was paying through the nose, recalls Branson. Lengthy contracts that had huge service charges became the norm. The phones had become so useful so quickly that most people just accepted they would be ripped off.Enter Virgin Mobile, with the notion that those customers deserved better. Financial analysts, journalists, and assorted other experts suggested we were spreading the Virgin brand too thinly and entering too many sectors in which we lacked expertise, Branson writes. I wasnt worried about that.Smart. By offering phone users a better, cheaper deal, Virgin Mobile became the fastest-growing start-up in British history, signing up its one millionth customer in 2001not bad, writes Branson, for a company that started as a punt only a couple of years earlier.3. Pitching an idea? Passion beats PowerPoint. To reach its (literally) stratospheric goals, fledgling space travel venture Virgin Galactic needed big inves tors. So in late 2009, Branson made an appointment with United Arab Emirates deputy prime minister Sheikh Mansour, one of the worlds richest men.Having been up late the night before fine-tuning an elaborate presentation, Branson took one look at the Sheikh and his peripherie and decided to chuck it. I was nervous, he recalls,and I knew I needed to appeal to their imaginations.Branson came away with the cash infusion he was after (about $380 million), thanks in large part to beautiful spaceship pictures and a lot of enthusiasm and belief in the project, he writes. Investors buy into people and ideas, not numbers alone. In any negotiation really, the key is to display passion, know-how, and determination, Branson adds. Dont rely too heavily on statistics, and certainly not PowerPoint slides. 4. Write everything down. I jot down ideas, thoughts, requests, reminders, and doodles every single day. If I didnt, Id forget them before I could ever put them into action, Branson recommends, ad ding, I have met one particular government minister many times who never takes notes he agrees on things and nothing happens. Another minister I know always takes notes, follows up, and gets things done.Branson expects that of his employees, too. Virgin has a note-taking culture, and Im certain it wouldnt be the success it is today without it, he writes. If somebody works for me and doesnt take notes, I ask them, Are you too important? Note-taking isnt beneath anyone.While youre recording your thoughts, consider putting some of them online. Branson and his content team write about 600 blog posts a year If you think that sounds too time-consuming, think of all the things you do that take lots of time and are not productive. Rather than slave over a spreadsheet, why not write a blog and turn your pitch into a story?Of course, unless youre an iconoclastic billionaire, your jottings might not attract the millions of fans and followers that Bransons do at virgin.com. But you might have f un. Finding My Virginity, like Sir Richards previous books, makes clear that hes a big believer in that.

James Rice to Receive the ASME Medal at the 2015 Honors Assembly

James Rice to Receive the ASME Medal at the 2015 Honors Assembly James Rice to Receive the ASME Medal at the 2015 Honors Assembly James Rice to Receive the ASME Medal at the 2015 Honors AssemblyJames R. RiceASME Fellow James R. Rice, Ph.D., is one of eight engineering innovators who will be recognized by ASME this year at the Honors Assembly, which will be held Nov. 16 during the ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition in Houston, Texas.Dr. Rice, the Mallinckrodt Professor of Engineering Sciences and Geophysics at Harvard University, will receive the Societys highest award, the ASME Medal, during the ceremony. The medal, established in 1920, is awarded for eminently distinguished engineering achievement.Rice is being recognized for his significant contributions to the field of applied mechanics, including the J-integral method in elastic-plastic fracture mechanics, which has been broadly applied in mechanical engineering and related disciplines. His pioneeri ng concept have had a major impact on engineering practice and have led to new directions of research.A leader in the applied mechanics field for more than 50 years, Rice has been a member of the Harvard faculty since 1981. From 1965 to 1981, he was a faculty member of the Division of Engineering at Brown University. Beginning as an assistant professor at Brown, he was promoted to professor in 1970 and was named L. Herbert Ballou Professor of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics in 1973. During his tenure at the two universities, Rice has taught courses on a sortiment of topics including solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, fracture mechanics, computational mechanics, hydrology and environmental geomechanics, soil mechanics, earthquake source processes, mechanics in earth and environmental science, differential equations and complex variable theory.In recent years, Rices work has focused on problems in the theoretical mechanics of solids and fluids - problems of stressing, deformation, f racture and flow - as they appear in seismology, tectonophysics and surficial geologic processes, and in civil and environmental engineering hydrology and geomechanics. These research areas have included fault zone shear processes, earthquake nucleation, tsunami propagation, meltwater interactions with glacier and ice sheet dynamics, landslide processes, and general hydrologic phenomena involving fluid interactions in deformation, flow and failure of earth materials.His earlier research focused primarily on plastic deformation and cracking processes, principally in metals, as they occurred in mechanical and materials engineering, and on related computational and analytical methodology. The ASME Foundation is the proud supporter of the ASME Honors and Awards program through the management of award endowment funds set up by individuals, corporations or groups. For more information on the special events scheduled to take place at the ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, visit www.asmeconferences.org/Congress2015.