Attitude Over Skill

Why do so many fail within the first 18 months of taking a job?
When our research tracked 20,000 new hires, 46% of them failed within 18 months. 89% of the time - new hires failed due to attitudinal reasons and only 11% of the time for a lack of skill. The attitudinal deficits that doomed these failed hires included a lack of coachability, low levels of emotional intelligence, motivation and temperament.

Are technical and soft skills less important than attitude?
Soft skills are the capabilities that attitude can enhance or undermine. For example, a newly hired executive may have the intelligence, business experience and financial acumen to fit well in a new role. But if that same executive has an authoritarian, hard-driving style, and they’re being hired into a social culture where happiness and camaraderie are paramount, that combination is unlikely to work. Additionally, many training programs have demonstrated success with increasing and improving skills—especially on the technical side. But these same programs are notoriously weak when it comes to creating attitudinal change. As Herb Kelleher, former Southwest Airlines CEO used to say, “we can change skill levels through training, but we can’t change attitude.”

How will the hiring landscape be different in 2012 and beyond?
We can find the skills we need. The lack of sharp wage increases in most job categories is further evidence of the abundant supply of skills. Technical proficiency, once a guarantee of lifetime employment, is a commodity in today’s job market. Attitude is what today’s companies are hiring for. And not just any attitude; companies want attitudes that perfectly match their unique culture. Google and Apple are both great companies, but their cultures are as different as night and day.

As the focus on hiring has shifted away from technical proficiency and onto attitude, it’s precipitated a lot of tactical changes in how job interviews are conducted. For example, the new kinds of interview questions being asked are providing real information about attitude instead of the vague or canned answers hiring managers used to get. Smarter companies are less likely to rely on the old standby questions like “tell me about yourself” and “what are your weaknesses?” Companies now have answer keys by which to accurately rate candidate’s answers. Interviewers can listen to candidates’ verb tense and other grammar choices and make accurate determinations about someone’s future performance potential.

Where are companies finding candidates with the right attitudes? The majority is using social networks but is that even working?
Companies are not getting high performers from the usual sources. They’re hiring in, what we call, the “Underground Job Market”. According to our latest research (outlined in Hiring for Attitude), companies are finding their best people through employee referrals and networking. They have started to realize that the high performers they already have fit the attitude they want and that these are the people they should be asking to help find more people just like them.
Given that data, it seems like candidates should be networking in every way possible—including social networking. But one thing that people misconstrue is what networking is actually about. Too many people are not networking; but rather are ‘need-working,’ as in: “I need work, or a lead, or an introduction from you”. Usually people on the receiving end of this dodge those inquiries. Job seekers need to ask themselves ‘how can I add value to this person’ and then go from there.

Attitudes change as workforce dynamics change. What happens in this case?
The attitudes for which organizations should hire are not abstract or based on a theoretical ideal, but rather are just the characteristics that separate high and low performers.

Southwest, Google, Apple, and The Four Seasons are all great companies and they all hire for attitude. Their high-performing employees live their attitudes every day and it’s a big part of what makes these organizations so successful. Low performers struggle with those attitudes are typically rejected by the culture. But those companies’ attitudes are very different from each other. They couldn’t successfully emulate each other’s attitudes. Every company has to discover the attitudes that make their organization unique and special. And even if the company’s attitudes change over the years, those attitudes will always be an organic reflection of their most successful people.

Myths About Life Insurance

Death and pushy life insurance agents are two things most people would probably rather not deal with. Here are some common myths to steer clear of:

Everyone needs to have life insurance
Life insurance has two main functions. The most common is to provide for people who are financially dependent on you like children and perhaps a spouse. The second is to pay estate taxes so that your heirs won’t have to sell property or a business to do so.

If you don’t have dependents or a taxable estate (currently over $5.12 million), you may not need life insurance. If you don’t currently need life insurance, you may still want to purchase it now. That’s because if your health deteriorates, it could be a lot more expensive or you may no longer be able to purchase it at all when you need it.

You need life insurance to pay off your debts
This is a common myth. Many people are concerned about their heirs inheriting their credit card or other debt they may have accumulated. While debts can reduce the inheritance that you leave your heirs, excess debt dies with you unless the debt was joint, community property or had a co-signer/guarantor.


Everyone needs life insurance to pay for your funeral and other final expenses
Purchasing a life insurance policy for this purpose can be the most expensive way to fund it. If your heirs will be inheriting any savings or other liquid assets, they can always use them to pay these costs. But if your debts wipe out your estate, a small final expense policy may make sense to avoid leaving your heirs with this burden.

Everyone needs enough life insurance to fully replace their lifetime income
Life insurance agents tend to love using this method of calculating life insurance needs because it’s quick and generates large amounts of insurance needs. But do you really need to replace your entire income for the rest of your working life?

You don’t need to worry about your life insurance policy after you purchase it
People tend to buy life insurance and then forget about it but a change in your financial situation or a birth, death, marriage, or divorce in your family could require you to update your beneficiaries or the amount of insurance you need.

Protecting your family is important but so is making sure you’re not wasting money on insurance that could be used for other financial needs. The key is to find the right balance for you. Don’t let these common myths throw you off.

Satellite TV Is More Important

More families have satellite TV than life insurance, according to the latest Family Finances Report and several other 'luxuries' are prioritised above protecting the family finances in many households.

While 50% of households have satellite TV, only 40% have a life insurance policy in place. And while just 13% have cover for critical illness - which could protect the family financially if a main earner became seriously ill - 14% have mobile phone insurance.

The "lack of understanding" was to blame for many people not protecting their family with life insurance. Furthermore, many families simply don't feel comfortable about discussing their finances: only sex ranked higher on the list of topics families don't like talking about openly.

No-one likes to dwell on poor health or mortality, but by denying that illness - or worse - is even a possibility, people are stopping themselves putting measures in place to protect their loved ones. Too many people assume that someone else will step in and look after their families if they weren't there to provide for them, but the reality is very different.

Everyone has different priorities, and there's nothing wrong with spending money on a few luxuries - but families should consider what they would do if a main earner died or became seriously ill. These unfortunate situations can cause real hardship for families, but life insurance or critical illness cover could help to ensure the family can cover their costs.

Is Life Insurance Permissible

As-salamu `alaykum. Could you please help me know if it is haram to contract a life insurance and critical illness insurance plans? I am a member of a professional association that offers it to its members and I was thinking about having those plans. Jazakum Allah Khayaran.

Insurance of all kinds is controversial. In your case, it is permissible to sign this contract provided it is term life insurance. Responding to your question, Dr. Monzer Kahf, a prominent Muslim economist and counselor, stated,

Insurance of all kinds is controversial. My own belief is pioneered by a great scholar of his time (he died in July 1999) Shaikh Mustafa Az-Zarqah who was recognized as the most knowledgeable Shari’ah scholar of his time. He argued that insurance is a new contract which is permissible provided it is clean of interest and its subject-matter is permissible.

This includes life, serious illness, old age, hazards, medical, car, etc., i.e., all kinds of insurance. The late Mawdudi has similar argument too.

Accordingly, this contract in your question is permissible provided it is term life insurance because what is known as whole life policy (which includes a lump sum payment to the insured if she/he does not die during the contract). Usually life insurance issued by employers and associations are term life, but you need to check.

Source: WWW.onislam.net

Fear Of Failure

Over the years I have seen many people think about getting rich, proclaiming affirmations, visualizing and meditating yet they don't get rich. Let's be realistic... to get ahead in the real world you have to take action.

Why is it that most people don't take action? Sometimes it is lack of knowledge, but more frequently it comes down to fear that stops people from living their dreams.
However successful people tend to act in spite of their fears. They've learned to harness their fears and use them to their advantage.

The Fear of Ridicule
You can't do much about what other people say, but you can control how you react to it. The people trying to stop you achieving your dreams have probably lost the ability to do the same. The only way they know how to build themselves up is to bring other people down. Now that is sad... but it's not your problem. No one has ever died of embarrassment, so tune out to the critics and focus on what you want to accomplish.

The Fear of Success
It is ironic that you work so hard to overcome the fear of failure and achieve success and then all of a sudden you become afraid that you won't be able to maintain your success. Yet I have seen this happen to many investors once they have grown a sizeable property portfolio.

The fear of not being worthy
Many people fail to take action because they fear they don't deserve wealth. This also stems from the "financial "programming" they received in childhood. All those negative things that some well meaning people said early in their lives. Things like "Don't be greedy". "People like us don't get rich." "What makes you think you can do that when others have failed?"

The fear of debt
Obviously the fear of debt holds some investors back, however debt shouldn't be feared. It's the inability to service the debt or repay the loans that should be feared. If you understand how to use debt wisely and if you know the difference between good and bad debt, there is nothing to fear about debt.

By the way... it is not necessary to get rid of all your fears to succeed. All rich and successful people have fears, doubts and worries; they just don't let those feelings stop them. That is the big difference: unsuccessful people also have fears, doubts and worries but they let those feelings stop them.

Black Tea Low Blood Pressure

People who suffer from high blood pressure may want to reach for another cup of tea. A study has found that people who drank three cups a day lowered their levels by an average of two to three points.

Australian researchers, in a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, observed the effects of black tea among 95 men and women and found that long-term consumption was shown to lower blood pressure in people with normal to high levels, reports WebMD.com.

For six months, half the participants drank three cups of black tea a day, while the other half were given a placebo drink that simulated the flavour and caffeine content of tea. Both groups were similar in age and weight status.

Their average systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) was between 115 and 150 at the start of the study. A healthy reading falls below 120 for the top number reading and below 80 for the bottom reading.

By the end of the study, those who drank black tea had an average reduction of two to three points in their 24-hour average systolic blood pressure levels, reported WebMD.

The properties in black tea are thought to help keep endothelial cells — which line the blood vessels — healthy. Endothelial dysfunction is an early indicator of blood pressure changes. Green tea was shown to have similar effects on the same cells in a study out of Greece.

Failure - Beginning Of Success

Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player ever to live missed over 9,000 shots in his career. He lost almost 300 games. 26 times he was entrusted to take the game-winning shot but missed, causing his team to lose. He failed over and over again in his life. And that is why he succeeded.
Even great people like Michael Jordan have significant moments of failure. But they never let failure derail them from their goal of winning.
So, my advice to you today: When you lose a game, miss an opportunity, or fail to execute a task, do not lose heart. You can win too – just don’t let failure derail you.

God Sent An Angel

"Watch out! You nearly broad sided that car!" My father yelled at me. "Can't you do anything right?"

Those words hurt worse than blows. I turned my head toward the elderly man in the seat beside me, daring me to challenge him. A lump rose in my throat as I averted my eyes. I wasn't prepared for another battle.

"I saw the car, Dad . Please don't yell at me when I'm driving.."

My voice was measured and steady, sounding far calmer than I really felt.

Dad glared at me, then turned away and settled back. At home I left Dad in front of the television and went outside to collect my thoughts..... dark, heavy clouds hung in the air with a promise of rain. The rumble of distant thunder seemed to echo my inner turmoil. What could I do about him?

Dad had been a lumberjack in Washington and Oregon . He had enjoyed being outdoors and had reveled in pitting his strength against the forces of nature. He had entered grueling lumberjack competitions, and had placed often. The shelves in his house were filled with trophies that
attested to his prowess.

The years marched on relentlessly. The first time he couldn't lift a heavy log, he joked about it; but later that same day I saw him outside alone, straining to lift it. He became irritable whenever anyone teased him about his advancing age, or when he couldn't do something he had done as a younger man.

Four days after his sixty-seventh birthday, he had a heart attack. An ambulance sped him to the hospital while a paramedic administered CPR to keep blood and oxygen flowing.

At the hospital, Dad was rushed into an operating room. He was lucky; he survived. But something inside Dad died. His zest for life was gone. He obstinately refused to follow doctor's orders. Suggestions and offers of help were turned aside with sarcasm and insults. The number of visitors thinned, then finally stopped altogether. Dad was left alone..

My husband, Dick, and I asked Dad to come live with us on our small farm. We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust.

Within a week after he moved in, I regretted the invitation. It seemed nothing was satisfactory. He criticized everything I did. I became frustrated and moody. Soon I was taking my pent-up anger out on Dick. We began to bicker and argue.

Alarmed, Dick sought out our pastor and explained the situation. The clergyman set up weekly counseling appointments for us. At the close of each session he prayed, asking God to soothe Dad 's troubled mind.

But the months wore on and God was silent. Something had to be done and it was up to me to do it.

The next day I sat down with the phone book and methodically called each of the mental health clinics listed in the Yellow Pages. I explained my problem to each of the sympathetic voices that answered in vain.

Just when I was giving up hope, one of the voices suddenly exclaimed, "I just read something that might help you! Let me go get the article.."

I listened as she read. The article described a remarkable study done at a nursing home. All of the patients were under treatment for chronic depression. Yet their attitudes had improved dramatically when they were given responsibility for a dog.

I drove to the animal shelter that afternoon.. After I filled out a questionnaire, a uniformed officer led me to the kennels. The odor of disinfectant stung my nostrils as I moved down the row of pens. Each contained five to seven dogs. Long-haired dogs, curly-haired dogs, black dogs, spotted dogs all jumped up, trying to reach me.

I studied each one but rejected one after the other for various reasons too big, too small, too much hair. As I neared the last pen a dog in the shadows of the far corner struggled to his feet, walked to the front of the run and sat down. It was a pointer, one of the dog world's aristocrats. But this was a caricature of the breed.

Years had etched his face and muzzle with shades of gray. His hip bones jutted out in lopsided triangles. But it was his eyes that caught and held my attention. Calm and clear, they beheld me unwaveringly.

I pointed to the dog. "Can you tell me about him?" The officer looked, then shook his head in puzzlement. "He's a funny one. Appeared out of nowhere and sat in front of the gate. We brought him in, figuring someone would be right down to claim him. That was two weeks ago and we've heard nothing. His time is up tomorrow." He gestured helplessly.

As the words sank in I turned to the man in horror.. "You mean you're going to kill him?"

"Ma'am," he said gently, "that's our policy. We don't have room for every unclaimed dog."

I looked at the pointer again. The calm brown eyes awaited my decision. "I'll take him," I said. I drove home with the dog on the front seat beside me.. When I reached the house I honked the horn twice. I was helping my prize out of the car when Dad shuffled onto the front porch... "Ta-da! Look what I got for you, Dad !" I said excitedly.

Dad looked, then wrinkled his face in disgust. "If I had wanted a dog I would have gotten one. And I would have picked out a better specimen than that bag of bones. Keep it! I don't want it" Dad waved his arm scornfully and turned back toward the house.

Anger rose inside me. It squeezed together my throat muscles and pounded into my temples. "You'd better get used to him, Dad . He's staying!"

Dad ignored me.. "Did you hear me, Dad ?" I screamed. At those words Dad whirled angrily, his hands clenched at his sides, his eyes narrowed and blazing with hate. We stood glaring at each other like duelists, when suddenly the pointer pulled free from my grasp. He wobbled toward my dad and sat down in front of him.. Then slowly, carefully, he raised his paw..

Dad 's lower jaw trembled as he stared at the uplifted paw Confusion replaced the anger in his eyes. The pointer waited patiently. Then Dad was on his knees hugging the animal.

It was the beginning of a warm and intimate friendship. Dad named the pointer Cheyenne . Together he and Cheyenne explored the community. They spent long hours walking down dusty lanes. They spent reflective moments on the banks of streams, angling for tasty trout. They even started to attend Sunday services together, Dad sitting in a pew and Cheyenne lying quietly at is feet.

Dad and Cheyenne were inseparable throughout the next three years.. Dad 's bitterness faded, and he and Cheyenne made many friends. Then late one night I was startled to feel Cheyenne 's cold nose burrowing through our bed covers. He had never before come into our bedroom at night.. I woke Dick, put on my robe and ran into my father's room. Dad lay in his bed, his face serene. But his spirit had left quietly sometime during the night.

Two days later my shock and grief deepened when I discovered Cheyenne lying dead beside Dad 's bed. I wrapped his still form in the rag rug he had slept on. As Dick and I buried him near a favorite fishing hole, I silently thanked the dog for the help he had given me in restoring Dad 's peace of mind.

The morning of Dad 's funeral dawned overcast and dreary. This day looks like the way I feel, I thought, as I walked down the aisle to the pews reserved for family. I was surprised to see the many friends Dad and Cheyenne had made filling the church. The pastor began his eulogy. It was a tribute to both Dad and the dog who had changed his life.

And then the pastor turned to Hebrews 13:2. "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it."

"I've often thanked God for sending that angel," he said.

For me, the past dropped into place, completing a puzzle that I had not seen before: the sympathetic voice that had just read the right article... Cheyenne 's unexpected appearance at the animal shelter. . ...his calm acceptance and complete devotion to my father. . and the proximity of their deaths. And suddenly I understood. I knew that God had answered my prayers after all.

Life is too short for drama or petty things, so laugh hard, love truly and forgive quickly. Live While You Are Alive. Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second time.

God answers our prayers in His time........not ours..

story by Catherine Worthmoore

Diving Into Job Interview

Here are 10 tips for making your interview a success. Just remember these things NOT to do:

I. Going after large organizations only (such as the Fortune 500).

II. Hunting all by yourself for places to visit, using ads and résumés.

III. Doing no homework on an organization before going there.

IV. Allowing the Personnel Department (or Human Resources) to interview you-their primary function is to screen you OUT.

V. Setting no time limit when you make the appointment with an organization.

VI. Letting your resume be used as the agenda for the job-interview.

VII. Talking primarily about yourself, and what benefit the job will be for you.

VIII. When answering a question of theirs, talking anywhere from two to fifteen minutes at a time.

IX. Basically approaching them as if you were a job beggar, hoping they will offer you a job, however humble.

X. Not sending a thank-you note right after the interview.

An interview is not to be thought of as marketing yourself: i.e., selling yourself to a half-interested employer. Rather, an interview is part of your research, i.e., the data-collecting process that you have been engaged in, or should have been engaged in, during your whole job-hunt.

While you are sitting there, with the employer, the question you are trying to find an answer to is: “Do I want to work here, or not?” You use the interview to find out. Only when you have concluded, Yes, do you then turn your energy toward selling yourself.

An interview is not to be thought of as a test. It’s a data-collecting process for the employer, too. They are still trying to decide if you fit. They are using the interview to find out “Do I want him or her to work here? Do they have skills, knowledge, or experience that I really need? Do they have an attitude toward work, that I am looking for? And, how will they fit in with my other employees?”

An interview is best prepared for, before you go in, by taking these three steps:

1.Research the organization or company, before going in. Go to their website if they have one, and read everything there that is “About Us.” Ask your local librarian for help in finding any news clippings or other information about the place. And finally, ask all your friends if they know anyone who ever worked there, or works there still, so you can take them to lunch or tea or Starbucks and find out any inside stories. All organizations love to be loved. If you’ve gone to all this trouble, to find out as much as possible about them, they will be flattered and impressed, believe me, because most job-hunters never go to this amount of trouble…

2.When setting up an interview, specify the time you need. Experts recommend you only ask for twenty minutes, and observe this commitment religiously. Once you’re into the interview, stay aware of the time, and don’t stay one minute longer than the twenty minutes, unless the employer begs you to-and I mean, begs. Always respond with, “I said I would only take twenty minutes of your time, and I like to honor my agreements.” This will always make a big impression on an employer!

3.As you go to the interview, keep in mind that the person-who-has-the-power-to-hire-you is sweating, too. Why? Because, the hiring-interview is not a very reliable way to choose an employee… [T]he hiring-interview is not a science. It is a very, very hazy art, done badly by most of its employer-practitioners, in spite of their own past experience, their very best intentions, and their carloads of goodwill.

Good Business Plan

Do you have a Business Plan? Congratulations, but you are in a small minority. And if you have a plan, is it integral to your business, and instrumental to its growth? If the answer to this question is yes, then you need to read no further. However, even if you have a plan, most business owners leave it languishing on their bottom shelf gathering dust.

Standard Box
Our secret is this: most business consultants are only interested in selling their time or their ‘Business Plan in a Box’ but know that for a business plan to be useful, it has to be part of a Business Management System. But this is a much harder proposition for the consultant to sell, particularly to small business owners who are just looking for a quick fix. So most consultants just sell a quick fix solution. Once owners have prepared their “fill in the blanks” plan, they expect it to transform their business overnight just by its mere existence. And because this does not happen, it ends up on the bottom shelf.

Business Plan Do Work
Business plans do work, but you have to make them work. It is not a one-off exercise. If you buy a ‘Business Plan in a Box’, you need to understand that you are responsible for maintaining the plan. You also need to satisfy yourself that the product you buy is not just a fill in the blanks product. These plans always end up on the bottom shelf. They don’t show you how to do your strategic analysis (which is never a fill in the blanks exercise- no matter what someone tells you).

Soul Searching
Business planning is a real soul searching exercise for the business owner. You have to be brutally honest with yourself. Even if you prepare your plan yourself (without a coach), get someone else involved to keep you honest. Looking at examples of what others have done can help, but your business will have different strengths and weaknesses and will operate in a different marketplace. And lastly, make sure the off-the-shelf product you choose will show you how to implement your plan into your business.

When a good consultant prepares a business plan they will:

Undertake a rigorous (and challenging) review of the strengths & weaknesses of your business. Show you how the plan should be implemented into your business process
Give you at least one review of your performance against your plan six months after the plan has been delivered.

While this will require a larger investment than a ‘Business Plan in a Box’ and is a harder sell for a consultant, this will ensure that your plan does not end up on the bottom shelf and that your investment is not wasted. Business planning is not an easy process. It takes time and commitment. You don’t just do it once.

Making Decision Under Pressure

Business owners who are spooked by today’s challenging trading conditions are in danger of making a bad situation worse if they allow fear to dominate their thinking. Our brains can cause us to become stuck in the “fight, flight or freeze” state, hampering our thinking and often prompting behaviour which is inappropriate or even damaging to a business.

The current economic downturn has prompted company bosses to order smaller batches of stock, experiment with deep discounting and cut costs at precisely the time when very different actions may in fact be needed – and it’s all down to a pre-historic location in our brain called the Amygdala.

These tiny, almond-sized parts of our temporal lobe play a key role in dictating our instinctive emotional reactions. In one moment it can change a relaxed brain to one that is “frozen” with fear, effectively crippling our intellectual capacity and making it impossible to think in a positive, mature and free-flowing way.

Many people will recognise this as the cramping of their brains before they make a presentation, or on receipt of bad news such as a cancelled order. But while in such a state of lockdown, the brain cannot function.

These are four commonly-used steps to train your brain and change its habitual response.

RELABEL
The first step is to relabel a negative or threatening thought or feeling as something else, usually something positive or at least benign. By doing this you can acknowledge that your fear is a function of a prehistoric part of your brain and not that of a highly functioning adult human being.

REATTRIBUTE
You need then to reattribute these false signals to something, and not to what your brain THINKS is the cause. When fear strikes, acknowledge it as a physical process taking place in your brain. There is nothing at that moment that you can do to stop it altogether, but you can attribute it to a malfunctioning or over-sensitive chemical reaction in your brain which prompts the fight, flight or freeze response. It is caused by a reptilian, prehistoric part of the brain which is misinterpreting your current environment.

REFOCUS
This is the crucial step because eventually this will enable you to move on from this state of paralysing fear and into a more positive, calm state of mind. It involves replacing the fear with a more pleasant sensation, usually by doing something else, if only for a few minutes. Playing a favourite song, go for a walk or do some exercise. Say to yourself “I am experiencing irrational fear, I need to do something else” and take control of the situation.

REVALUE
After a period of weeks or months of practising, the fourth step should come more easily, and that is to revalue the negative feelings as worthless - an unnecessary distraction that is detracting from your life and your natural abilities. By revaluing the fears or urges as worthless, they lose impact and stop controlling your behaviour. The result is a happier, more confident individual who is no longer controlled by a prehistoric survival instinct that has very value in a working or business environment.

OTHER STEPS
There are other techniques that include meditation, most specifically Mindfulness, which helps the brain stay in the present and not get distracted or locked down by invisible fears.

Stand Out

It's a crowded marketplace. Almost every business out there uses advertising: pamphlets, banners, websites, television, newspapers, etc. Customers have many choices, so what can you do to make your business stand out from the crowd?

What is unique to your business?
What is special about your business? Is there something that you do that your competitors don’t? For example, do you visit your customer’s place of business when larger competitors won’t move from their own premises? Or, can you guarantee a specific delivery period? Whatever it is, make sure you tell your customers what it is, and how it will benefit them. Sell them the benefits of being your customer.

Make your customers’ decisions for them
Tell potential customers why they should choose you to help them decide to use your business. Make sure you point out your business’ unique features and highlight how these will benefit your customer. Don’t leave it to chance that your customer will make the links for themselves. For example, if you are a small business, point out that you are small enough to adapt to your customer’s needs. Try to proactively break down any customer reluctance in choosing your business.

Find your own place
Think about advertising in different ways and places to your competitors. Stand out simply by being the only one advertising that way. For example, setting up an automatic text message service might make you stand out from your competitors if you are the only one doing it.

Be social and be memorable
Social networking is not just for keeping in touch with your friends anymore. Smart businesses are entering this space to create brand awareness, and to provide easy access for customers. Taking the time to set up a facebook page or a twitter account might make your business appeal to a more computer savvy client. Regularly sending out announcements of special deals, or new products keeps your business in your customer’s mind.

The key to standing out from the crowd is to know why your business is different, tell this to your customer in new and unique ways, and make sure they know the benefit of being your customer.

Responsibility & Accountability

Singapore subway operator SMRT Corp Ltd said today that Chief Executive Saw Phaik Hwa has resigned and board member Tan Ek Kia will take charge until a replacement is appointed.

SMRT's announcement came after the subway network suffered three major failures last month, each lasting several hours, prompting calls for Saw's resignation.

"Ms. Saw will remain with the group to assist the relevant investigation teams and the committee of inquiry reviewing the causes of, and responses to, the disruptions to train operations in December," SMRT said in a statement.

"Tan Ek Kia will assume interim executive responsibility for the management of SMRT, with a particular focus on rail operations."

On one evening in December, hundreds of commuters were trapped underground without light and ventilation for more than an hour before they heard from SMRT, while rescue buses arrived late, partly because some drivers got lost.

"Finally. Now we know that our words do mean something to those in power," said Najib Zakaria, one of 190 people who commented on Saw's resignation on the Online Citizen, a popular Singapore socio-political blog.

"Let's just pray she doesn't pop up in some other GLC (government-linked company) and that this is the first of many accountability resignations," added Ben Teo Teck Chye.

Known for its efficient government services, Singapore has been hit by a spate of breakdowns, the most recent being disruptions to mobile internet services offered by Singapore Telecommunications Ltd, its largest telecoms firm.

SingTel and SMRT are units of Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd, which is headed by Ho Ching, the wife of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

SMRT said Saw had indicated her wish to step down prior to the spate of train breakdowns.

Over here - CEO of LRT, KTM , Rapid, continues to offer us their excuses instead of their resignation. No wonder we are still a third world country

Medical Insurance

In general, the Hospital & Surgical Insurance (HSI) policy covers you against expenses incurred whilst you are hospitalised, due to a covered illness or as a result of an accident.

Medical Coverage
Generally, you would only be covered as an in-patient unless it is an emergency out-patient treatment due to an accident. In addition, day surgeries are also covered for certain procedures nowadays, like cataract operation, whereby you need not stay overnight at the hospital. With the “Day Surgery” benefit, you need not purposely stay a night to qualify for the coverage and this reduces your total medical costs.

A HSI policy usually covers hospital accommodation and nursing expenses, surgical expenses (surgeon’s fees & costs associated with surgery), physicians’ expenses and in-patient tests. This policy sometimes includes overseas cover, accidental death benefit and out-patient tests or consultation.

Limitations & Exclusions
HSI policies usually exclude any hospitalisation / treatment charges as a result of pregnancy related conditions, congenital abnormalities, cosmetic surgery, non accidental related dental treatment , sexually transmitted diseases, routine medical check up’s and psychiatric related illnesses.

One common exclusion under a HSI policy is that of pre-existing conditions or illnesses that existed before the effective date of a HSI policy, for which you are receiving treatment or have shown symptoms.

If you consulted a medical doctor for any pain or discomfort in connection with the condition, it would be regarded as a symptom of a disability and will be excluded from your policy. There is also a list of specified illnesses for which you will not be covered if the illnesses have been treated or occurred during the first 120 days from the commencement of your policy, irrespective of whether you were aware or them or not.

Waiting Period
Take note that you will not be eligible for any claim arising from any medical or physical conditions within the first 30 days of the cover, except for accidental injuries. Again, this is irrespective of whether you were aware of such conditions or not.

However, this does not necessarily mean that you’d be automatically covered after the first 30 days as you’re still subjected to the 120 days waiting period for certain specified illnesses and the pre-existing condition exclusion.

Disclosure
It is also important that at policy application you truthfully disclose all your relevant medical information. Insurance companies have the right to reject a medical claim if they have evidence that the insured did not disclose any material information at time of purchasing the policy.

Maximum Coverage Age
Most HSI policies today extend their coverage to age 80 and some even up till 100. However, there’s always a last entry age and be sure to get into the plan before that stipulated age and never let it lapse. Otherwise, you’d not have the cover when you need it most.

Customary Charges
Also, while a typical HSI policy may cover overseas treatment, the benefits would be limited to reasonable, customary and medically necessary charges for such equivalent local treatment in Malaysia and shall exclude the cost of transport to the place of treatment.

For example, let’s say a typical appendicitis operation here costs RM2,000 but you had to undergo the operation in Singapore which cost you S$3,000. You’d then be reimbursed for RM2,000.

Overseas Limitation
Further, if you were to live or travel out of Malaysia for more than 90 consecutive days, no benefits will be payable for medical treatment outside Malaysia. Therefore, if you do not plan to be back in Malaysia for more than 90 consecutive days, you may need to get another HSI plan in the country where you’d be residing.

However, the moment you step back into Malaysia, your HSI coverage will resume until such time you are out of Malaysia again for more than 90 consecutive days.

M&A Insurance Industry 2012

The high volume of merger and acquisition activities in the Malaysia financial services sectors is expected to continue in 2012, particularly in the area of insurance, a PricewaterhouseCoopers official has said.

According to Malaysian publication, The Edge, PWC's Malaysian executive director Angie Wong said the local insurance scene would continue to be spurred by low penetration rates in the life insurance market as well as the fragmented general insurance business, thanks to a relatively mature rating environment.

The government's decision to liberalise ownership structures in the insurance and other service sub-sectors in 2009, which raised the celling for foreign shareholding to 70% from 49% , also helped raise the appeal of the Malaysian markets to foreign players, she is quoted as saying.

Wong also said the introduction of the Risk-Based Capital framework too had perhaps assisted in spurring M&A activities, though it may not be the main driving force behind local insurers seeking strategic partners, according to The Edge.

Wong told the publication her view of increased M&A activity was backed by findings of a recent survey conducted by her firm with regards to the prospect of M&A's in the financial services industry in Malaysia in the next 12 months.

Life Insurance 2011 - 2012

MALAYSIA'S life insurance new business premium is anticipated to moderately grow between 14 per cent and 15 per cent this year, compared with the lower double-digit growth in 2011.

The Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (Liam) believes that growth would hinge upon several market opportunities.

"Among the factors (for growth) are the current low penetration rate of life insurance at about 42.83 per cent, which would spur internal market demand, the government's Economic Transformation Programme and higher tax incentives for retirement products that would provide a platform for growth of the life insurance sector," it told Business Times.

It also added that the new private retirement scheme administrated by the Securities Commission of Malaysia would be a source of growth in the coming year.

In the first nine months of 2011, the life insurance industry delivered a moderate performance with new business sales growth of 8 per cent on weighted premium basis.
The growth was contributed by a positive performance in regular premium sales which went up by 13 per cent as compared to the same period in 2010.

By class of business, investment-linked business continued its strong growth momentum in 2011. The sale of regular premium investment-linked insurance plan increased to RM752 million in the first half of 2011 from RM597 million in the corresponding period in2010 with a growth rate of 26 per cent. Meanwhile, for single premium business, there was a 16 per cent growth in investment-linked plans.

Liam expects retirement-related products, medical and protection-related products to do well this year. "While insurance companies fortify their grip on the market, distribution channels play a significant role in boosting sales," Liam said.

As part of Liam's five-year strategic plan, the association said it will continue to drive its consumer education programme and raise awareness of the virtues of life insurance, especially the need for savings and protection to boost the level of insurance penetration in the country.

"In an environment of high inflation, it will bring about the question of how much disposable income is available and how much should put aside. Such a situation usually results in an increased demand for financial planners as clients become more sophisticated and highly demanding," it said.

On the ongoing Eurozone and the US debt worries, Liam noted that the industry would be able to sustain if an economic downturn happens as proven during the 2008/2009 global credit crunch.

Back then, despite tough conditions, the life sector recorded positive growth albeit lower figures mainly due to the fact that the domestic financial system has sufficient buffers in place with sound risk management system as well as adequate levels of capital to alleviate any effects from untoward global economic slowdown.