Acquiring another corporation usually means that the acquiring company's name will be the name of the newly merged entity. There is one factor that can change that -- one that is stronger than anything else. What is it? It is you, the consumer. There is nothing that stirs fear in corporate boards of directors more than negative consumer feedback. The way a company is perceived -- through marketing of its product line to community involvement -- will determine whether the company ultimately succeeds or fails. Thus, it is the buying public -- consumers -- who truly determine the direction a company moves. Lost sales = a sinking business.

An extranet is an extension of your company's internal network that allows outside users to provide and access information in a secure environment. Like an intranet, it is web browser based, making information available on any computer without any special equipment. However, an extranet does require extensive security and may need special software to provide user authentication and to encrypt data. Extranets are used to extend your business applications to suppliers, clients, vendors, customers or other businesses. They make sharing data simpler and more cost effective. Extranets have even allowed companies to save money from an unexpected source -- allowing employees to telecommute. As a result, a company can save on the cost of maintaining on-premises offices and equipment for these employees. Some uses of extranets include: Supporting day-to-day collaboration by service companies who need to share and organize documents with their clients

Millions of books, articles, websites, career coaches, and so on have been going at you full strength to convince you that a career change is not only possible but in fact something you really should embark upon. Yet you remain unconvinced. After all, they don't know your situation, right? You have certain obstacles and a lot of reasons why changing careers is simply not possible. But don't throw in the towel yet!

Recruiters, commonly called headhunters, are business people who get paid by client companies to find people for positions. They have their monetary interests aligned with their client companies, not with the candidates. Although you might think that recruiters are out to help candidates, for the most part they are simply polishing candidates up for sale. Recruiters need candidates and search high and low for people with desirable and marketable skills. Candidates can use recruiters to enhance their career moves. They can work together. Here are a few suggestions on how to do that. Do expect recruiters to test your willingness to be directed and controlled through the hiring process. If a recruiter tells you to do something you should do it. Recruiters have placed hundreds of people. You have placed yourself only a couple of times if you were lucky. Recruiters are usually right, and will take you off their list if you become difficult to deal with or fail to report back after an interview exactly what happened. Recruiters know resume tricks and lead generation tips, salary negotiation techniques and many more job hunting skills than you will ever learn.

For the past several weeks, we have focused on some wonderful but (to my way of thinking) rather fancy ideas about life. I wrote about motivation (I don't believe in it). I wrote about sorting out priorities (I do believe in that!). And I wrote about the 4 traits of highly successful people. I love that stuff! But I believe most of you subscribe to TIP's for help in actually running your office from day to day. Most of you have told me you're professionals in private practice, or owners of small businesses, or a manager. And that means you must attract clients or customers, serve them very well, and earn their return business - and do it every single day. So. Let's talk about some practical steps that my clients have used to build their referral business quickly and systematically. I call it the "5-by-5" process. Let's walk through it.