To find information for this article I googled “10 reasons businesses fail”.  Here are some of the results:

1. Lack of planning
2. Over expansion
3. No website
4. Insufficient capital
5. Poor management
6. Owner quits too quickly
7. Lack of branding
8. Inability to close a sale
9. Demand
10. Unlucky

Thats enough of what google thinks. From your experience, what have you seen as the main driver behind why businesses fail?

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]]> http://www.surveymagnet.com/2010/03/why-do-most-businesses-fail/feed/ 15 http://www.surveymagnet.com/2010/03/office-politics/ http://www.surveymagnet.com/2010/03/office-politics/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:00:19 +0000 Marcus http://www.surveymagnet.com/?p=2214

In the world of work politics can run rampant.  When things get out of control even the most loyal employees can be seen updating there monster.com profiles.  People have the natural tendency to try and exert their power over their subordinates.  This ultimately leads to the politics that occur at work.

Why else would a person ask you any of these questions?

• What time did you get to work?
• Do you understand who are you talking to?
• Where is the cover sheet for the TPS report?
• Why aren’t you smiling?

Office politics can be insane in certain environments.  You or somebody you know has definitely experienced it.   Have you seen politics dampen someone’s spirit?

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Wikipedia defines corporate responsibility as:

a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model. Ideally, CSR policy would function as a built-in, self-regulating mechanism whereby business would monitor and ensure its adherence to law, ethical standards, and international norms. Business would embrace responsibility for the impact of their activities on the environment, consumers, employees, communities, stakeholders and all other members of the public sphere. Furthermore, business would proactively promote the public interest by encouraging community growth and development, and voluntarily eliminating practices that harm the public sphere, regardless of legality. Essentially, CSR is the deliberate inclusion of public interest into corporate decision-making, and the honoring of a triple bottom line: People, Planet, Profit.

Somewhere in the middle of that word mass is verbiage that relates to community growth and development.  A financial investment is needed to achieve those aims.  How much of an investment is the topic of much debate.

How much do you think they should reinvest?

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There are plenty of ways to create cash on this planet.  Trying to list them all would be silly and pointless, so w won’t go down that road.

It is known that most people hate their current job/career path.  The reasons are plenty:

• Too time consuming
• Boring
• Not enough money
• Boss’ took your wife

I’d venture to say that much office time is spent dreaming about a more glamorous career option.  What career do you dream about?

]]> http://www.surveymagnet.com/2010/03/dream-income-stream/feed/ 6 http://www.surveymagnet.com/2010/03/should-politicians-accept-funds-from-rich-donors/ http://www.surveymagnet.com/2010/03/should-politicians-accept-funds-from-rich-donors/#comments Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:00:38 +0000 Marcus http://www.surveymagnet.com/?p=2185

The story has been told a million and one times.  A large company reaches into their considerably deep pockets to purchase the influence of a politician.  This (among other things) has been identified as a principle reason behind the recent recession in America.  This type of behavior seems to go against everything the US stands for.  It would seem that the country will be out of wack as long as this continues.

What do you think?  Should politicians accept funds from big companies in exchange for their influence?

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In the movie  A Time to Kill Samuel L. Jackson plays a father whose daughter is raped by 2 racist rednecks.  He murders the 2 men to get revenge.

This type of vigilante justice is understood and supported in certain extreme situations.  Those situations vary from person to person.

What actions would drive you to take the life of another person?

Divorce payments have been known to bring people to their knees.  Losing 40% of your net worth tends to have that impact on people.  Celebrity divorce settlements draw much attention because of headline grabbing dollar amounts:

• Michael Douglas – $45 Million
• Steven Spielberg – $100 Million
• Craig McCaw – $460 Million

These amounts are staggering even for the ultra rich.  For a person living a regular lifestyle that 50% hit can mean the difference between having a place to stay and living with your mother.

There has to be a point when the payout is too much.  What is that point?

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As a child I performed several acts that resulted in a blistered behind.  At the time I thought I had it rough.  On a hot summer day my entire outlook on the situation changed.

I was in my front yard minding my own business when I heard a shriek.  A buddy of mine burst out of his house and fell down a full flight of stairs.  His mother came out of the house wielding a belt and screaming.  Before he could regain his footing her belt ripped through the skin on his shoulder 3 more times.  After 15 more seconds of abuse she relented.  He lay in his front yard with blood streaming out of his back and tears in his eyes.

Needless to say, I no longer felt abused.

So when is the line crossed?  When does punishment become brutality?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Police officers are often accused of being trigger/taser happy.  It is easy to see why a person would make this accusation.  Officers of the law have the right to shoot/taser anyone committing a “crime”.  History has taught us that the word “crime” can be very subjective.  See the video below for proof:

Click here to view the embedded video.

In an instance like the video above, the police officer was clearly out of line.  What should occur in a situation like this?

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Digerati Life presents How Our Consumer Debt Problems Got Out of Control posted at The Digerati Life, saying, “My opinions on consumer debt.”

BankShout presents TradeKing Review posted at BankShout.

Ethics

Honeypurple presents 20 Great Talks on the Future of Information posted at Online Colleges.org.

Archvillain presents Get A Rope! posted at A Dark and Sinister Force for Good, saying, “Big Brother is watching … your children via their school-issued laptops”

Fashion

Robert presents Paris Hilton Hair Extensions posted at Hair Extensions Pictures, saying, “Website dedicated to hair extensions pictures, hair extensions before and after pictures, and celebrity hair extensions.”

Simply Luxurious presents Pedicure Passion posted at Simply Luxurious, saying, “So often women are told to put themselves at the top of their own priority list, but do women follow this advice? My thoughts on this sometimes controversial topic.”

Government

Ella Moss presents FLYING P.I.G.S., ETC. « Zodiac Times posted at Zodiac Times, saying, “more on upcoming economic disaster and dirty politics”

Health and Fitness

Alvaro Fernandez presents Educational and Clinical Implications of Neuroplasticity posted at SharpBrains, saying, “Nora D. Volkow, M.D, one of the directors at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), discusses the educational and clinical implications of neuroplasticity that look most promising for the coming decade, the 2010s.”

Other

Lema Nsah presents THE AFRICAN MAID – A Story of the Working poor posted at Face2Face Wealth Alliance Systems, saying, “Thought provoking, I share my thoughts or questions about the the working poor of Africa and the U.S. It is a different kind of article that is sure to strike a cord in the reader. I hope you like it, I am sure your readers will.”

Personal Development

Words2Words presents Anecdote about “What If…” posted at What If – Editorials and opinions covering popular culture., saying, “An article asking the question “What if?” in an attempt to explain various events in life.”

Mary Jones presents 10 Youngest College Graduates in U.S. History (and Where They Are Today) posted at Online Degree.

Simply Luxurious presents Simply Luxurious: “Vintage” Photo Shoot posted at Simply Luxurious, saying, “Reinventing oneself take work – hard work, but if we decide to see all obstacles as opportunities, we won’t ever want to look back.”

Igor presents 5 Steps To Simplify Information Overload posted at Simple.. Frugal.. Content.

nissim ziv presents Taking a Career Break: Career Break Ideas & Options posted at Job Interview Guide, saying, “Seriously Considering a Career Break? Taking a career break. The gap year. A sabbatical. Basically, you need time off, you want to refresh and recharge, you need a change of scenery, or maybe it’s necessary for you to leave and not by choice.”

Politics

Mike Ross presents 20 Bizarre and Fascinating Facts About the US Presidents posted at Star Costumes Blog, saying, “Being the head of the world’s most powerful nation, the President of the United States is widely considered as the world’s most powerful leader. And there are some fascinating facts about these historical leaders that you may want to know. Very interesting yet informative indeed!”

Madeleine Begun Kane presents Senator Bayh, Buh Bye! posted at Mad Kane’s Political Madness.

Carole Gold presents Glenn Beck’s Bigger Message posted at Carole Gold, saying, “Even in politics there can emerge a higher message where, hidden within, you can find a light to shine the way.”

Relationships

Weddings Affordable presents Wedding Help From Friends and Family posted at Affordable Wedding Planning, saying, “A great way to save money on your wedding is to enlist help from your friends and family.”

Sex

Anne Simone presents The Gender Gap: 10 Surprising Stats on Women in the Workplace posted at JobProfiles.org – Job Descriptions and Online Schools to Start Your Career.

Technology

James Feudo presents 5 Social Media Mistakes That Can Prevent You from Getting a Job posted at Overnight Sensation, saying, “Social media, when used incorrectly, can hurt the chances of you getting a job.”

Rugbygirl Crosby presents 25 Essential Free iPhone Apps for Journalists and Bloggers posted at Journalism Degree, saying, “While some of the most useful iPhone apps already come installed — including the Safari Web browser, camera, maps and voice memos — journalists and bloggers often need more apps to be on the cutting edge of any news story.”

TIC presents ,Is Internet Access a Basic Human Right? posted at Technology In Class, saying, “Is internet access a basic human right? It will be.”

mrs laughton presents Top 25 Social Media & Networking Sites for Cops and Crimefighters posted at Justice City, USA, saying, “One way to make police and crimefighting work easier is to use social networking tools. Not only do crime fighters use sites such as FaceBook and Twitter to catch criminals, they use them for camaraderie and families of crimefighters use them for solace and support.”

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of opinions using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.