The New Global Community

mazzucaurban asked:

This is the May 2, 2003 International News Update at Newark Academy in Livingston, NJ. Of note, this was David Mazzuca’s (NA’03) final news update; inlcuded in this clip is his farewell address.

Dion

Cindy King asked:


If you start looking for advice on international sales negotiations, you may end up getting more than you need. And you might not know which advice to follow.

There are people who call themselves multicultural or attribute themselves with an international expertise, without having the necessary experience to give you advice on cross cultural negotiations. There are also people who live in foreign countries for years without acquiring any real multicultural expertise at all. So called “bilingual” skills often represent wide variations in language skills.

Everyone has their own point of view, and success formulas based on their own experience. And when we are faced with several different bits of advice, we often choose the easiest option.

As a North American International Sales & Marketing professional in Europe for over 20 years I have had years of field experience in negotiations between North Americans and Europeans. And I’ve received my fair share of advice. I’d like to share with you the most important advice I learned and applied for over 20 years.

There is really only one essential thing you need:



Prepare for your negotiation



You should be preparing for all of your negotiations. In international sales you will need to broaden your preparation a little more. Here are the areas where you need to be prepared:



The object of your negotiation:



Know your company’s position, products and strategy inside out.

Know what you want to get out of this negotiation





The other company you will be meeting:



Find out as much as you can about the company

Get as much general information as well as what is currently in the news.

What are their other international businesses?

Where else are they located?

Who is on the management team, and what nationalities are they?





The other company’s position in the negotiation



What does your client want?

What do you want to sell him?

What cards can you play?

What cards he may want but you can’t play or give at any cost?

What are you prepared to negotiate?

Identify the points you will not negotiate on.

What win-win outcome possibilities do you see?





How the meeting will take place:



Who will you be meeting?

Where will you be meeting?

Who else will be there?





The cultural business environment



Are there any general cultural factors you need to be aware of?

Are there any business cultural factors you need to be aware of?

Are there any negotiation cultural factors you need to be aware of?

How will you choice of country location for you meeting affect your negotiation?

Are there any particular male/female cultural issues here?

What are you expected to bring with you?







That is the most important advice you will receive on international sales negotiations. Yes, you will also need to adapt your own mindset, but you will not be able to do so if you are not prepared.

Sometimes you might feel as if you have over-prepared your negotiation. Your negotiation might have seemed way too easy, to require the preparation time. And you might be tempted to skip the preparation the next time round.

This would not be a good move. Your prior preparation gives you a confidence and an expertise others can pick up in your own behavior. You will gain points without saying anything.

Thorough preparation prior to your international sales negotiations gives you a double advantage.



Solid preparation for your sales negotiation, so you can concentrate on the sales part.

An appearance of expertise that cross the cultural barriers to give you needed credibility



Solid preparation prior to your negotiation will give you the tools you need to navigate the cross-cultural negotiation challenges that inevitably pop up. So, before any international meeting don’t skip the essential preparation. Set aside enough time to do so prior to your meeting.

… and follow this advice.

Are you committed to speeding up your international sales cycles?

Learn how to combine cross-cultural marketing tools and international sales strategies for faster sales.

Join us on the International Sales Road Map.



Erika

Cindy King asked:


You want to get more international clients but don’t know where to start? Here is a simple plan for small businesses, or businesses who are highly motivated to expand internationally, but want to do it on a very small budget. This method also has the advantage of going one step at a time, giving you and your team the time to learn to adapt your products and sales procedures to different cultures.

Start with one targeting one country. If this is the first time you are expanding your business abroad, one country at a time is best. If you cannot decide which country to target first, come up with a short list of countries and go through the steps below for each country.

At this stage, it is a very good idea to break this research into part internet research and part phone call research. Do not by-pass the phone research. Fifteen minutes a day, over Skype, can give you much valuable information. You might even develop your first overseas business relationships.

Most importantly it will help you begin to evaluate the best way to position your products for best international sales results.

Here are some ideas to help you choose which country you would like to expand your business into.

1. Research your own client and prospect data base.

Go back as far as you can, to identify any foreign clients and look for any trends.

Are there any similarities?

Can you determine a specific country or area?

Can you organize a client survey to get more information?

2. Have a brief look online at where you competitors are overseas.

Check out the same information for other companies related to your industry which might not be competitors. You might share a similar target audience.

Is there a country in particular where your competitors are located?

Can you identify a country where you competitors appear to be trying to get into?

Can you see any trends, or angles to position your products?

3. Check which Internet Search Engines are the leaders in target country.

Search for keywords in those countries – use the advanced search options

This will give you a better idea of who your real competitors are in the target country.

Can you see any trends, or angles to position your products?

4. Research industry data

Look for differences in industry standards and regulations on the foreign country

Can you identify a foreign country with many companies in the same industry linked to companies within your industry in your country?

Can you see any trends, or angles to position your products

5. Research press articles, major publications.

Look for publications in your country and in the foreign country. Use the free online instant translation tools to get a good idea of what is in the news.

Can you identify the current key players?

Try to get an up-to-date feel for your industry in the foreign country targeted

Knowledge of recent events will give you something to talk about during your networking by phone.

6. Call any international clients you may have.

Ask them why they bought from you, were they happy, why they chose your company and try to get as much background information as possible about the foreign competition.

7. Keep online research to a minimum.

Simply get the names of the players and any major trends. Then move to the telephone. Start networking on the phone and continue.

Telephone networking will help you adapt your mindset to bring your company to international markets

Telephone conversation can provide you with more background information faster than you can get over the internet

Be sure to aim to speak to people with real insider knowledge of your industry in your foreign country. And look for various sources from different angles to get a broad view.

After a week or so, you should be feeling a direction towards one particular county. Continue your networking a little longer.

After a month or two or even a few weeks, if you methodically did your research through networking, you should feel comfortable in strategizing how you can sell one of your products in one specific foreign country.

You have to recognize that you will need to jump in without all of the information you would want. But you need to feel comfortable and have enough positive feedback to move forward.

This is the half of the second part of 8 Steps To Develop Your International Business. If you would like to get this full report it is yours free when you sign up for the Get International Clients newsletter.

Are you committed to speeding up your international sales cycles?

Learn how to combine cross-cultural marketing tools and international sales strategies for faster sales.

Join us on the International Sales Road Map

Would you like to develop your international business?

Are you a beginner at international sales and marketing?

Read the Beginners Guide Discover Your International Business



Evan

Henry Bates asked:


Brazil is seeing a number of new off-plan developments and infrastructure plans that are driving international investment. Turtle Bay Beach and Golf Resort is one of the many new developments that is set to draw plenty of international and Brazilian property buyers to this area of northeast Brazil.

This particular development offers a choice of 3 villa types, each of which will consist of 3 varying options dependent on the size of the plot and the orientation.

The plots are situated throughout the property with differing views and back-ground settings. There are the beachfront properties and plots which include a golf course and views which overlook lagoons and the equestrian centre. Each home is due to be fully equipped with tantalising terraces and lush gardens for 24-hour enjoyment of this awe-inspiring area.

The Discovery Coast, yet another popular environment is situated along 90km of seafront in Bahia. Beginning to the north of Porto Seguro and running up toward the north of Belmonte, you will find this little ‘utopian’ development.

The town of Belmonte has a population of 22,000 inhabitants and is about 45 km north of Porto Seguro. Not unfamiliar to eco travelers, this destination (and it’s government) seeks to retain the natural surroundings and preserve the area, limiting developments to specifically designated areas – thus keeping damage to the environment to a minimum. Porto Seguro currently has a small international airport and is developing plans for a major new airport.

In light of all of the above, it is transparent as to why the North-East region of Brazil continues to capture the imagination of international property investors.

Supporting this viewpoint is the claim made by many property analysts stating: “It is no surprise this is happening as returns on land are generally equal to – or higher than – returns on bricks and mortar and come with a much lower entry level price. Indeed, land prices in Natal are forecast to go up by 15%-25% per annum based on current market trends.”

Another interesting fact about Brazil, and its property sector, is the fact that according to many sources that “There is plenty of cheap land available in Brazil, some in the middle of nowhere that is being marketed as a good investment. Several of these plots are classed as rustic land (not buildable at present) and consequently do not have utilities (power and water) and infrastructure (roads).”

Important to bear in mind here is that “Purchases in such land should be considered as high risk and purely speculative on the basis that one day they might get urbanised and the promoter might actually implement the infrastructure required.”

As one researches more about Brazil, is becomes clear that the actual cost of such land is actually quite inexpensive, “which is why the land is marketed cheaply by European standards, even with the very healthy margins build into the sales price.”

As is apparent in all property sectors, and perhaps should be common knowledge, location, location, location! Perfectly worded by a popular property portal, “The location of plots and property is critical to maximising the investment potential. All regions and locations in North East Brazil are clearly not the same and nor is their investment potential. Just because something is cheap doesn’t mean it is a good investment or good value for money. It can a big risk to buy cheap land site unseen based on price alone, as the likelihood is it will always remain just that – cheap land. “

Needless to say, intelligent investors know that you get what you pay for and that a prime location is critical and imperative to an investment’s potential.

According to another popular news hub, “Infrastructure services such as power and water have already been installed and the roads will be complete within the next three-six months.”

Clearly a positive turn of events, when one considers the ripple effects this will have on all fronts – a positive determinant indeed when trying to determine which destination would be best to invest in.



Bret

Jeff W. Martin asked:


Acid reflux, also known as GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease) is the phenomenon where stomach juices including acid travel back (reflux) to the esophagus from the stomach. Research done recently shows that some one in five people in the developed world must put up once a week with symptoms related to acid reflux, while a further one in five suffer from the distress and sometimes pain of these symptoms at least every month. However, most patients do not really know what GERD is.

What are the local causes of acid reflux?

Gastro esophageal reflux disease happens when the lower esophageal sphincter (the name for the circle of muscle that is the valve between the stomach and the esophagus) does not shut correctly and lets stomach juices be thrown back up, or reflux, into the esophagus. When the esophagus lining is impacted by these juices, this produces the burning sensation in the chest and/or the throat, which is called heartburn.

Although it seems strange, heartburn may also be symptomatic of too little stomach acid. The level of stomach acid has to be enough for digestion to be effective, and prevent the stomach from being obliged to work much harder for the food to be digested. In time, the extra effort of the stomach can lead to acid reflux happening.

As well as the immediate factors leading to gastro esophageal reflux disease, there are also genetic factors (beyond our control) and several other internal factors and cofactors, that make for a context encouraging GERD. A long-term solution can only come from treating the internal factors primarily responsible for causing GERD.

What are the symptoms of acid reflux?

Healthy people also get occasional heartburn, and this alone does not mean that you have a gastro esophageal reflux disease. Diagnosis of GERD is typically based on a recurring (twice weekly or more) manifestation of heartburn. Symptoms may be different for some GERD patients, such as chest pains, morning hoarseness or problems swallowing. Other patients experience a sensation of food getting stuck in their throat or choking or stricture. Recurring dry coughs are also symptoms for this last group of patients.

What are the dangers of acid reflux?

Neglected GERD can have not only unpleasant, perhaps painful symptoms, but can also generate grave complications. Firstly, tissue damage scars can cause constriction of the esophagus and problems in swallowing. Secondly, gastric acid can inflame the esophagus over time to lead to ulcers or bleeding. Thirdly, some victims can develop a condition where cells in the lining of the esophagus take on abnormal shapes and colors, a condition known as Barrett’s esophagus. Protracted Barrett’s esophagus may result in cancer, notably for adults who are more than 60 years old.

Solutions for acid reflux

Treating gastro esophageal reflux disease can be done in one of three ways: a surgical operation; prescription or over-the-counter medicaments; and holistic therapy, using dietary and lifestyle changes, detox, and specific herbal supplements. In very many cases, gastro esophageal reflux disease can be resolved and stopped by natural solutions, avoiding the dangers of surgical treatment or prescribed medicaments. This holistic approach to GERD is also confirmed by a review of recent research that indicates that acid reflux is a medical condition provoked mostly by factors of diet, lifestyle and behavior.

So what is acid reflux? Seen in the context of conventional medicine that compares it to other similar recurring conditions, acid reflux is to be treated by constantly ingesting drugs, antacids and over the counter medicament that only bring temporary relief.

Seen from the holistic viewpoint, gastro esophageal reflux disease is the danger signal for a major internal imbalance that must be corrected. Alternative treatments for GERD therefore (homeopathic cures, herbal treatment, diet and lifestyle alterations and detoxification), by solving the internal cause of acid reflux, are inherently better compared to conventional cures that only bring superficial relief.



Chuck

walterips asked:

IPS (ipsnews.net) is an international non-governmental not for profit organization dedicated to communication and development cooperation. Its core business is a global news agency, producing independent news and analysis about events and global processes affecting economic, social and political development, especially in the South. The approach of IPS journalism is to give specific and overt prominence to the voices of the marginalised and the vulnerable, to reflect the views of civil …

Fannie

Vikas Sah asked:


A school council is formed by a group of students, elected for proper representation of students’ viewpoint in order to improve the quality of school standard and mutual relationship of teachers, students, and guardians. Student forums and youth parliaments are also part of the student council.

Although there are many school councils which are only formal in their existence and hardly contribute any input for the betterment of school and student welfare, there are a few school councils that work efficiently to improve the school ambience and ensure cleanliness of the school campus.

Some of the remarkable performance of school councils are campaigning to local council to get their toilets sorted out, redesigning of school cafeteria and planning for new and improved lunch menu, introducing new hot line for registering complain against college/school ragging, change in school uniform making a reasonable fusion between convention and convenience (for example, from blazer to comfortable and trendy sweatshirts), and designing and promoting some attractive folders *** school diaries for maintaining school records. Some school councils have also worked effectively in the collection of fund raising for social and moral support in case of some national or international calamity.

Often the school councils do not get success in their working schedule because of the lack of coordination and proper knowledge of handling an intricate issue by the member students. In this situation, different websites for school councils of different schools can provide them some concrete idea about the yearly performance of other school councils. In case of success stories, it is possible to share their experience and problems in order to apply the same in handling a similar problem by another school council. In fact, the website solutions, if consulted, work as readymade suggestion-resource for running the administration of local student councils.

In case of a national issue, the student councils can contact each other by means of websites and form a forum to ascertain their viewpoint for the disaster, thereby working together to fight the crisis.



Vilma

Peter Gitundu asked:


There are very many countries in the world that we can pick as holiday destinations. More often than not, the tickets for too many of these destinations are by far more expensive than tickets for domestic flights. The best thing to do is to plan your vacation early. Then you can look into getting cheap international airline tickets. You can get them from a variety of places, starting from travel agents, airline reservations offices, or even discount travel websites.

When planning a vacation like this, it’s smart to start looking for your tickets months ahead of when you want to travel. This is because you can find cheap international airline tickets at great prices. Ahead of time, airlines still want to fill the seats so they offer them at lower rates. You also have the option of looking at different airlines, and the time to compare pricing, and to weigh the pros and cons of the airlines. Also find out if there are airline deals that are linked to vacation packages. When you book your airline, hotel and maybe car rentals all together, you will find that the prices are considerably lower than when you book them all separately.

Make sure you find out the immigration requirements for the country that you want to visit. It is always a good idea of the traveler to first determine where they want to go on vacation, take care of all the immigration requirements then book and pay for that cheap international ticket.

Some airlines may not be able to offer refunds for their tickets, so purchase it after your get your visa, because if your application is rejected, you are left with a cheap international ticket you can’t use.



Levi

Ella Wilson asked:


Cricket is one of those special games or it should be said that sport that has given rise to a player in every home. Some or the other fans have developed cricketing skills to such an extent that they have been taking it as a profession. Since cricket became an international game, more and more people are getting drawn towards it. By cricket, we do not just mean bat or ball or pitch, it is the flow of emotions and extended support of the fans for their favorite player or team. And for such fans, it becomes highly important to know the ins and outs of cricket field, which can be known with the help of cricket news. Cricket news will help the fans to know more about the teams and players they idolize.

Knowing about what is happening in rest of the world has become all the more necessary in the present scenario. And if it is about cricket field, then it becomes a priority for the cricket enthusiasts to know about issues cropping up in this area. There are can be any issue which may be heard in cricket and that becomes news. Well, it depends on what is happening. If a certain player performs up to the expectations, then the news might be about an analysis of his performance. Likewise, is some controversy arises between two players; fans would be interested in knowing who said what to whom.

It is sure that if you are an ardent cricket fan, then you must be having a keen interest in cricket news. After all, you get to have a deep insight into what event is taking place in cricket field. When cricket awards are organized, fans will surely be paying attention towards cricket news. It is because cricket news will tell them that which player got what category of award. News has always been helpful in enhancing the knowledge and creating awareness about something. So, it makes a special for cricket news. Since the world cup 2007 is approaching in March, cricket news is informing about different aspects of this event only.

The game of cricket has got so much admiration that people have started living and talking about that action. The actual enjoyment is seen with the starting of a match. It is the actual time that entire world is packed with enthusiasm and ecstasy. This time period increases the importance of knowing latest and updated cricket news. News experts know that fans would be eager to know about details of the happenings. With the increasing fervor of fans, cricket news has become quite demandable. It is the best thing with which fans can keep in touch with on-field and off-field moments.

As the fans have special interest in cricket news, they are always on a search for mediums that can let them have access to it. Some of the mediums are news papers, cricket websites, news channels and radio stations. Now, it depends upon the cricket fans that what medium they select according to their choice. Internet is the best medium for those fans that have tight working schedules and do not get time to catch the action live. Professionals working with cricket sites or any other medium, needs to update the cricket news regularly, so that fans are provided with latest happenings.



Victoria

jackson asked:


People go for a vacation with their family for relaxation and enjoyment. There are a lot of places in the world to visit. It is impossible for a person to visit all these places in one lifetime. Most people dream of a vacation in the USA. Since the US is a big country, there are many places to see. To enjoy a holiday in the country, it is necessary to make a plan before you travel.

For those travelling to US for the first time, here the top five must-see places.

1. San Francisco, California – This is a city of diverse culture in relation to arts, museums, architecture, music and festivals. San Francisco has become a popular tourist place because of its hillside streets and modern and Victorian architecture. The major attractions of San Francisco are Golden Gate Bridge (a construction marvel); Japanese Tea Gardens; Exploratorium (museum); Fisherman’s Wharf; Alcatraz Islands; Historic Cable cars (the moving landmark of San Francisco); Chinatown; and the Red-and-White Ferry. Some of the modern architectures of San Francisco are Civic Center, Coit Tower, Ferry Building, and the twisty and crooked streets of Lombard in Russian Hill. The city is also the home of different festivals, fairs, parades and parties. The moat famous one is the *** Festival held in June every year. The others are the Folsom Street Fair, the Chinese New Year Parade, the Carnival, and Lovefest.

2. Orlando, Florida – This US city has everything – from theme parks to crocodile farms. If you are planning to travel with your family and are looking for a complete entertainment, then this is the right destination. When you are in Orlando there is a myriad of choices available to have fun. The major attractions of Orlando are the Walt Disney World, Sea World Orlando (marine theme park), Universal Studios, Island of Adventure, Wet ‘N Wild (water park), Discovery Cove (marine theme park), Gatorland (wildlife theme park), Holy Land Experience (museum), Ripley’s Believe It or Not, the Orlando Science Center and the Orlando Museum. Orlando also has tropical beaches for the family to enjoy and relax in the sun. 

 

3. Las Vegas, Nevada – ‘The Entertainment Capital of the World’ is famous for gambling, dining, shopping and entertainment. The major attraction of Las Vegas is casinos. It has got some of the world’s finest casinos like the Golden Nugget, Four Queens, Fremont Casino, and Las Vegas Club. The other attractions are the Adventuredome, Desperado, Gondola, M&M’s World, Nevada State Museum, Stratosphere Tower, Springs Preserve and much more. So, if you are in a mood for some adult entertainment, then travel to Las Vegas alias the Sin City.

4. New York City – ‘The Big Apple’ or ‘The City that Never Sleeps’ is famous for international affairs, commerce, culture, finance, fashion and entertainment. This city is made up of five towns – The Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. The major attractions to visit while you are in New York are The Empire State Building, Ellis Island, Broadway Theatre Productions, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Bronx Zoo, Washington Square Park, Times Square, The Statue of Liberty and the New York Botanical Gardens. New York City is the favourite shopping destination for shoppers. The city has witnessed some of the major cultural reforms in the past. Many events and parades are organised to attract tourists. The famous events are the Halloween Parade and the Tribeca Film Festival. 

5. Grand Canyon, Arizona – This is one of the premier national parks in the US and has become a popular natural tourist destination. It is a steep gorge along the Colorado River in Arizona and is 6000 feet deep and 446 km long. The Grand Canyon National Park can be approached through two ways – the North Rim (remote part) and the South Rim (more accessible and crowded part). Some of the activities you can indulge in here include camping, mule rides, sightseeing, rafting, hiking and helicopter rides. Some of the viewpoints along the South Rim are Grand Canyon Village, the Watchtower and the Hermit’s Rest. The viewpoints of the North Rim are Cape Royal, Bright Angel Point and the Point Imperial.



Deidre