Own your own online business? You might be a Target for Identity Theft

Own your own online business? You may be a target for ID Theft.

QUESTION: What day of the week do you put your garbage can out on the
street?

ANSWER: That is the day you are MOST vulnerable to Identity Theft.

Why?

Think about what you put into your garbage can.

If you are like most people, you have tossed a lot of "junk mail" into
the garbage (usually tied up in a neat plastic bag). Things like
"pre-approved" credit card applications, just waiting for a signature
and returning them back to the bankwith your NAME on the application
form.

Other items include canceled checks, medical bills (usually with your
social security number), phone bills utility bills, and charge card
account information.

Armed with the critical few bits of information you provided in your
garbage can, criminals can hijack your credit reputation and go on
hundred-thousand-dollar shopping sprees using new credit cards issued
in your name.

They can run up large phone charges to 900 numbers, make long distance
phone calls, and using your cancelled checks, make Automatic Check
Transactions on-line to buy what ever their heart desires.

Do you want some more bad news? The government can't stop them.

The U.S. Supreme Court, in effect overturning the 1974 Privacy Act,
stated that: "garbage left at a curb for pick-up is public domain and
subject to inspection and seizure by anyone".

This means "anyone" including criminals and your corporate competitors
are free to check your garbage can or dumpster, anytime they are so
inclined.

So what is a person supposed to do to protect themselves and their
family?

The simple answer is to buy a paper shredder and use it every day.

"Shredding makes your personal information unavailable for the taking"
states Tony Storrie, director of marketing for Fellowes, the world's
leading manufacturer of shredders. "Shredding junk mail, credit card
receipts and any other form of personal information means it is
thoroughly destroyed, useless to criminals looking to profit at the
expense of unsuspecting people."

The Privacy Rights Clearing-house (PRC), a non-profit education and
research program administered by the University of San Diego's Center
for Public Interest Law, also suggests shredding, claiming it can
protect citizens against having their sensitive information stolen
by Identity Thieves.

Start Shredding TODAY!

Merritt Tumanis
Permission is granted to reprint the following article as long as no
changes are made and the byline, copyright information, and the
resource box is included. Please let me know if you use this article
by sending an email to mailto:mtumanis@iserv.net

"Credit Alert, Learn how to reduce your risks for Identity Theft"
found at http://www.wmce.net/idtheft/sales.html

P R O F O U N D K N O W L E D G EPeter Andersen

Profound Knowledge by FocusedImpact.com

We all are on a quest for knowledge. Whether it is information that will make our lives easier or just small packets of data that in a trivial way allows us to sort out "why things are the way they are on this planet." As intelligent beings we are constantly receiving and sorting information, in most instances, we are overwhelmed. Therefore, when relevant information arrives that is meaningful, concise and thought provoking, we have a tendency to reflect on this data for the principles and guidance that it offers. Here are seven insights that are worthy of the title Profound Knowledge.

1. LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES: R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
Respect is essential for effective leadership. Lack of respect will require a leader to work twice as hard to realize their objectives. Furthermore, leaders can't be successful as disconnected individuals, no matter how great their individual expertise or potential is. To be an effective leader, you must have the support and respect of those you lead.

2. PARADIGMS: BREAKING THE MOLD
Paradigms are sets of rules and regs that establish the boundaries of what is currently believed to be possible within a given field. Therefore, our perceptions of reality, based on our paradigms, dramatically effect our business decisions. Likewise, we try to make future decisions by basing them on our current paradigms. Case in point, in 1968 Swiss watch makers had over 60% of the world's marketshare. By 1978, their dominance shrank to a mere 10%. What happened? The current paradigm had shifted and a new paradigm was born... It was the Swiss that first developed the quartz watch however they did nothing to protect their ideas and freely displayed the new quartz at world watch conferences. Seiko quickly capitalized on this new method of watch design and significantly enhanced their marketshare to become a world leader.

3. THE NEED FOR LONG-TERM VISION: THE PELICAN BRIEF
The pelican catches fish by flying high over their unsuspecting victims then diving at a high rate of speed into the water to forcefully overcome their prey. Although a successful method, this process eventually leads to their demise. You see, diving from high altitudes damages their eyes and slowly breaks down other vital functions that allow for their success. Eventually, the pelican goes blind and is unable to fish at all.

4. WORD OF MOUTH MARKETING
Businesses have used word of mouth marketing for years. In the case of the liquor industry, it was not uncommon to have paid agents visit trendy bars, order the brand of choice (normally an unknown import) and strike up conversations with both barkeeps and customers in order to establish or talk up a cool image. In many cases it worked!

5. SUCCESS
Studies by Harvard, Stanford and the Carnegie Foundation suggest that success on the job depends 85 percent on people skills and only 15 percent on technical knowledge.

6. ORGANIZATIONS AND GEESE
Geese fly in a V-formation where each bird must take a turn at fighting the wind and being the leader. Each must know the common destination and choose the right course and speed. At any given moment each bird must be capable of leading all the others.

7. CREATIVITY
Creativity does not come from inspiration. Creativity comes from knowledge.

Focused Impact Media specializes in strategic and tactical marketing through brand development, positioning and new media communications. Discover more Profound Knowledge at http://www.focusedimpact.com