* Does it have to be this way?
* Is there some way the little guy can win against their giant adversaries?
* Daniel L. Lowery, entrepreneur and author of attling The Corporate Giants: The Ultimate David and Goliath Story? lt says the answer is Yes! Yes! Yes!?
* lt He describes in his book some of the corporate world? favorite strategies for eliminating smaller opponents as well as the countermeasures for overcoming them.

1) Fighting attritional battles - a common practice of giant corporations is to start a price war to drive down profits. With more capital, they can afford a loss for longer than their smaller competitors. Incorrect Response is’t;when smaller businesses cut prices it actually helps the corporation because their greater resources eventually insure they’ll win. Correct Response is’t;avoid the attritional battle by selling different items, bundling equivalent products with other merchandise and setting diverse price structures.

2) Building a superstructure - Wal-Mart, Office Max and Home Depot build gargantuan superstores known as category killers because they are designed to remove all competition for that type of business. Incorrect Response is’t;trying to carry as much inventory as a huge chain store plays into their strengths. Correct Response is’t; modern entrepreneurs can compete with superstores by finding areas where they are weak. Small businesses should have specialized products and services that the chain stores don’t have. Such as catering to children, the affluent or certain ethnic and regional groups to name just a few.

3) Monopolizing Resources - you think the Sherman and Clayton Anti-trust Acts ended monopoly practices? Think again! Prosecutions at the anti-trust division of the justice department are at an all time low. Wal-Mart, Microsoft and other corporations routinely violate anti-trust law because the fines are so low. Even if legal action is taken, it can take years to see any results. Incorrect Response is’t in today? business climate seeking anti-trust relief is mostly a waste of time. Correct Response is’t;find a substitute for the product that is being monopolized. For instance, an independent, movie theatre owner was forced to pay exorbitant prices for first run movies from the motion picture companies. Instead of accepting these inflated charges he substituted classic movies for newly released films. By doing so, he bypassed the big studio’s monopoly.

4) Hijacking employees - corporations will often raid smaller businesses for their employees. Incorrect Response is’t to enter bidding war to keep your valuable employees. Correct Response is’t have new hires sign a non-competitive clause that prohibits them from working at rival firms. Treat existing employees so well they won? want to leave.

5) Arbitration - although it is made to sound great, arbitration takes all the teeth out pursuing legal action for business disputes. It is also costly to initiate. Thereby making it useless for settling small matters. Incorrect Response is’t assuming arbitration is a fair way to resolve business conflicts. Correct Response is don’t sign agreements with arbitration clauses. If you do, have it modified as close to a court proceeding as possible. Especially focus on getting complete discovery.

6) Playing a one-sided game - considering opening a franchise? While they? e repeatedly touted as the safest way to own a business, consider this: a) The franchise agreements are all written in favor of the franchiser. b) There are sometimes hundreds of restrictions in advertising, hiring personnel, product line and many other areas. c) Franchisers promise the franchisee a certain territory, but constantly violate this agreement. d) Working with a franchise combines the worst of self-employment and having an autocratic boss, i.e. long hours with little pay and a lot of rules. Incorrect Response? lt;signing one-sided agreements and then trying to work the mega-corporations afterwards. Correct Response?lt; avoid playing the corporations game. Play your game instead with your own rules. If you are tempted to become a franchisee at least get the federally mandated Uniform Franchise Offering Circular. This gives you a record of the franchiser history and is an excellent indicator of your probability of success. Also, check with Dun & Bradstreet and the FTC web site http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menu-fran.htm.

7) Changing the rules - just when you learn the old rules, corporations will create new ones that highly favor them. Corporations will use political influence to get exemptions from the minimum wage, safety regulations, pension obligations and others. Incorrect Response?lt; complaining to the corporation about their injustice. Correct response?lt; expose their inconsistency to the public. Their hypocrisy often causes them to rescind their rules.

Policies - slight variation on the rule change strategy. Corporations act as though their policies are law and then expect everyone to follow their one-side decrees. The ?ggressive?accounting policies that led to the recent corporate scandals are a good example of this. Incorrect Response?lt; accepting the unfair policies as law. Correct Response?lt; recognize policies aren? law. Make corporations follow your contract and the law, not their policies

9) Definition game - corporations will suddenly re-interpret a word or phrase in a contract to give themselves an unfair advantage. Incorrect Response?lt; accepting the alterations of words. Correct Response?lt; make sure all contracts are clearly written. Legally challenge all revised definitions.

10) What? yours is mine - corporations frequently conduct bogus audits, withhold paychecks and tie up other funds with their franchisees, partners and contractors. Then they negotiate their return for their benefit. Incorrect Response?lt;/b>fighting a drawn out court battle. Correct Response?lt;/b>let your adversary know their pursuits will lead to undesired outcomes such as bad publicity, increased taxes or counter suits.

You can learn more of these corporate strategies as well as the small business countermeasures in ?attling The Corporate Giants: The Ultimate David and Goliath Story?lt; available at www.american-book.com. The author, Daniel L. Lowery has over 17 years experience in sales. He has spent the last 11 years operating a cellular phone franchise in southern California. His experience competing and working with giant corporations gave him the inspiration for this book: a work truly written from the trenches of corporate warfare.

By: Daniel L. Lowery

Our aim at Simoka.com is to provide education resources for university students, industry professionals and general public with relevant information on many areas studied at universities worldwide.

10. College Is About Education

Higher Education is a business, and like all other businesses colleges need to watch their bottom lines if they expect to be around much longer. Even not-for-profit organizations cannot operate in the red indefinitely. If you start to think about college as a business you can start to act as a more rational consumer. What is their offering? Are there other options at a lesser cost or better value? Other than the home, college is often the most expensive purchase families make. It is worth your while to step back from the pretty brochures and the hype and view college opportunities for what they are - businesses selling services.

9. College Is Really Expensive

Yes, college is really expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. There are many options for families seeking the greatest value for their educational dollar. Community colleges, AP courses, joint high school and college curricula and similar opportunities allow students to earn college credit at a very reasonable price. Furthermore, there are many excellent four year colleges that cut their rates for students they deem most attractive. You have options, so broaden your college search. To use a car analogy, you might want a BMW, but you don’t really need one when there are dealer lots full of discounted, very nice Hondas and Toyotas to choose from.

8. Private Schools Are More Expensive Than State Schools

The sticker price for most private schools are higher than for most public schools, especially when compared to your in-state college choices. However, out-of-state public school costs rival those of private schools, so you won’t get much of a break going out-of-state. More importantly, however, is that families should not pay too much attention to the sticker price. It is only relevant to the family what their actual cost to attend will be, not what is printed in the brochures. It is often less expensive for a student to attend a private school so do not rule out private colleges in your search.

7. Scholarships Will Help Pay For College

If the student qualifies for a need-based financial aid package, outside or third party scholarships are unlikely to lower his out of pocket cost. Most colleges will simply replace part of the financial aid package with the third party award, thereby keeping the total bill about the same. Scholarships given by the school in question are simply tuition discounts and are awarded for many different reasons. It is best to have affordable backup options, for example, a solid college that will offer the student a sizable award because of her GPA or test scores, to offset higher-priced colleges.

6. My Student Needs To Get A Scholarship Or I Can’t Afford To Send Her

Your student will have options if you take the time to search for colleges that are reasonably priced, will offer her need or merit aid, and will work with her to make college affordable. If you don’t look for options you won’t find them.

5. The Sticker Price Is What We Should Expect To Pay

The sticker price is never what you actually pay. If you choose to pay full freight at a college you also need to expect real additional costs. These real additional costs will include transportation, weekend meals, the almost mandatory laptop and course software, cell phone usage, the extra-long sheets for the dorm room twin bed, and various other personal expenses for your student. If you thought having him at home was expensive, you’ve got a surprise ahead. You also won’t pay the sticker price if you qualify for need or merit awards and discounts.

4. Financial Aid Packages Are Not Negotiable

Aid packages may not be negotiable, but they sure are flexible and can be appealed and reviewed. Colleges will often adjust awards if there has been a significant change in circumstances since the aid application was filed, such as a job loss or sickness in the family. They will also work with the family to tweak awards to help the student attend; after all, the college admitted and wants to matriculate the student. Finally, in some cases the colleges will adjust, or even match, an award package offered a student by a college they deem a competitor.

3. We Don’t Need To File The Financial Aid Forms

Everyone should fill out the financial aid forms for three reasons. One, you won’t get any aid if you don’t apply. Two, if your circumstances change for the worse during the college years, making you eligible for aid, you won’t get any without the forms on file. Third, if you don’t qualify for need-based aid but the student is given a scholarship many colleges cannot release those funds to the student unless the forms are on file.

2. We Make Too Much Money To Get Financial Aid

Hogwash. Everyone who fills out the forms will get some aid, even if it’s just a loan package. And frankly, sometimes a loan is just what you need to smooth out your cash flow so you have the time to get your financial house in order.

1. There Is Nothing We Can Do

There is always something you can do. Be rational in your college search, economically and otherwise, and approach college costs as a large expense - or investment - financial planning issue. That way no family is at the mercy of the ‘financial aid process’ alone. Take charge, be proactive, and your college costs will not be an insurmountable obstacle.

by Bill McCumber

A daunting task at first glance.

But it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With some pre-test preparation, the experience can go much easier than you ever imagined.

First, let’s get a better idea of what’s included in the GED testing process.

The GED Language Arts, Writing Test is composed of two parts, and takes two hours to complete. In Part I, you’ll answer 50 multiple-choice questions. In Part II, you’ll write on a topic provided to you. The topic will be something you should have no trouble writing about, such as your personal goals in life or your opinion on a current event.

The GED Language Arts, Reading Test covers 40 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 65 minutes. The test requires you to be able to comprehend what you’re reading, and be able to interpret different passages.

The GED Social Studies Test is 70 minutes long and is composed of 50 multiple-choice questions covering U.S. history, world history, government and civics, economics, and geography.

The Science Test allows you 80 minutes to complete 50 multiple-choice questions based on life science, earth and space science, and physical science.

The GED Mathematics Test runs 90 minutes and is delivered in two parts, each with 25 questions. Areas covered include: number operations and number sense, data analysis, statistics, and probability, algebra, and geometry and measurement.

Now, the good news is that you don’t have to go in cold. Most libraries and bookstores carry GED preparation materials. In addition, most local testing centers also offer preparation programs at either a minimal charge or often no charge at all. You can also check with your local school district office to see if there are any adult school programs in your area that offer GED preparation help.

There are also some great Internet resources that can help you get a jump on the GED. For instance, at GEDonline (http://www.gedonline.org/) you can take the official GED Practice Tests developed by the GED Testing Service, grade them online, and study using online interactive practice lessons. It’s a great interactive community of people who are all after the same thing … success taking the GED.

You can also take the complete GED Preparation Course online through Steck-Vaughn’s Gedpractice.com (http://steckvaughn.harcourtachieve.com/en-US/gedpractice). This is a free service provided by Steck-Vaughn to help familiarize you with the types of items you’ll see on the actual GED test. Answering the practice questions and getting feedback can help you get a feel for the kind of reading, thinking, and problem-solving skills you’ll need to pass the GED test.

Then there’s GEDforFree (http://www.gedforfree.com) where you can take a complete online GED Preparation Course for free. This two-hundred page course, presented as an online class, is designed for adults with a ninth-grade education or higher. The information provides you with a solid foundation in the GED topics, includes helpful tips and strategies, and even includes links to the official practice tests presented by the GED Testing Service of the American Council on Education (ACE).

Don’t let the idea of taking the GED intimidate you. Even though it can sound overwhelming, you have access to a wealth of resources that can help make sure you’re well prepared and your goal of attaining your GED is a successful one.

by: D. Silva