The odds are against starting a business and succeeding. More than half of small businesses fail the first year, and about 95 percent fail within five years, according to the Small Business Administration. But Paul Casey, author of Is Self-Employment for You?, says some seemingly counterintuitive approaches can help guard against failure. For one, don't start with too much money. He says that makes it tempting to skip the building steps that are critical to a successful business.
Corporate executives are upbeat about the economy. Executives are more optimistic than they have been for two years, anticipating greater sales and hiring through the rest of this year and into 2005, according to a survey by the Business Roundtable, an industry lobby group. Eighty-nine percent of executives polled predicted sales would rise over the next six months, and 91 percent expected payrolls to increase or remain constant. That lifted the Washington group's quarterly outlook index from 96.5 to 101.7, its highest level since the survey began in 2002.
Why just earn money when you can smell like it too? New York boutique perfumery Bond No. 9 is coming out soon with its latest city-inspired scent, a fragrance called Wall Street, Fortune magazine reports. The androgynous fragrance is described as a "career scent that invests in the brisk energy and bravura of New York's teeming financial district." The signature bottle will sell for $190. Company officials say the scent will have marine accents as well as lavender to relax harried bankers, and end with traditional musky tones.
There's so much more you can do with your computer than surf the Internet or send e-mail. PC Magazine provides a guide to other capabilities in its Sept. 21 issue, including downloading movies and games, and making phone calls.
Stress is an inevitable part of life, but too much stress can result in physical wear and tear that can cause problems in the short- and long-term. Black Enterprise magazine says people under stress can employ coping mechanisms to be better able to fend off disease and depression. Exercise, rest and a healthy diet are essential, it says. The magazine also suggests other steps to take, such as striving for balance in your life and talking through issues causing stress.
