I did it. Everyone told me not too, but I didn’t listen. I quit my job to work from home on eBay. Eventually it worked out OK, but the road to OK was a long and bumpy one. Here is what happened.

I worked at a high pressure job in IT (Information Technology) and I hated it. The hours were long; I was on salary so there was no overtime. My kids thought I lived somewhere else and the stress was incredible. I looked for other career options and quickly realized that changing jobs would lead me to the same fate, just in a different location. After talking with my spouse, we decided that I should change jobs. I don’t think he realized that I meant quitting my $50,000 a year job to sell items on eBay. I neglected to mention that. After we spoke, the following morning I gave two weeks notice. Let the games begin!

The very evening I gave notice, I started looking into what it took to sell items on eBay. Surely it could not be that difficult, everyone seems to do it and I have IT experience. I have an eBay ID. So I did what most people do to start out; I cleaned out my closet. The clothes did OK; especially some of the designer clothes I would no longer need because I was going to be working in my PJ’s at night! Looking back I realized I was delusional. When my husband finally realized what I was planning, he flipped. Short of threatening divorce, he said that he was under the impression I would be changing jobs or careers. He never dreamed I would be quitting to stay at home and play on eBay. He gave me a year to get it together or back into the corporate jungle I would go.

My final two weeks of employment came to an end and I still am waiting on payment for one auction. The others shipped out, and I am not sure what else to sell. I started looking around at what I thought would sell. I know, I’ll buy iPods from the liquidator’s websites that are always advertising they have eBay items. Well, the iPods turned into a pallet of electronics that set me back $1,500.00. I love my husband; he hasn’t tried to kill me yet. My loving spouse assumed that I would have discussed a pallet purchase with him before I bought it. Oh well…

About that pallet – it arrived and I was so excited. It was like Christmas. I unwrapped the pallet holding it all together; I couldn’t wait to see the iPods. Oh boy was I disappointed. I thought this was new merchandise, not used opened stuff. 2 of the 5 iPods would not power up. None of the boxes were sealed and there were several other electronic items that did not work. Wait, it gets better. These were an older version of iPod, not the new ones that are consumed in bidding wars on eBay. These are the iPods that only sell once in 4 auctions. Some of the other electronics I was able to get to work. After spending a week going through the pallet of stuff, repairing items and repackaging and taping boxes I was finally ready to take some pictures and list the items that I could. Out of the 100 items in the pallet, 75 were salable. Of those 75, 25 sold the first time but for a lot less than I had hoped, 15 sold the second time around, and the other 35 never sold. The end result was an $800 loss! Not a good start.

What did I learn? First thing is that I really needed to learn what all of those terms mean on the liquidator’s website. If I had known what a pallet of returns really meant I would have passed on this. The second thing I learned is that I had a lot to learn. So I spent the next month reading and researching and understanding it all. Then I finally started to get it right.

I quit my job to work from home on eBay. It was a good decision after all. However, I could have avoided a lot of problems early on if I had done some research. A return to the corporate jungle never occurred. I had a successful business.

We can feel the presence of the wind and airflow. Wind has to be measured to make sure there is proper ventilation in homes, offices and factories. Airflow should also be measured to see to it that buildings are safe (from harsh winds/hurricanes) and laboratories where people work with volatile chemicals are protected as well. Wind tunnels can be used to build and calibrate wind gauges that measure wind flow. These can also be used to know more about the aerodynamics of cars, trains and airplanes.

The Way They Work

Wind tunnels have a simple structure. They are long tubes placed within glass, metal, plastic or at times, an entire building. They consist of a high-powered fan on each end of the tube. One fan blows wind on the object while the other moves air out of the tunnel. In this way, there is no return flow to damage the data that is being collected. They can be small in size like a coffee table or large like a warehouse. Usually, they have many, different settings for testing objects or recalibrating wind gauges in various wind speeds. Therefore, the object/wind gauge will not get damaged as it works while the wind gauge will be capable of measuring the wind indoors or outdoors with precision and accuracy.

The Way Wind Tunnels Are Used

Wind tunnels are used in testing and recalibrating wind gauges that measure the force of wind outdoors, factories and ductwork of plants and offices. This helps prevent the ductwork from malfunctioning or being over pressurized from the air that moves through it. It also offers proper ventilation to offices and plants. Factories, plants and offices have to be properly ventilated to make sure of the employees’ respiratory health and in some cases, protect employees and products from harmful chemicals that penetrate the air. A lot of essential oil manufacturers come with elaborate ventilation systems that must do their best to prevent employees from becoming sick or injured.

Wind tunnels can also be used in measuring the aerodynamics of some objects and systems. Most cars and planes are put inside these structures before they are manufactured in volume. This is a way to test whether they are aerodynamic and will operate safely on the ground or air. The same is true for a lot of airplane engines. Most companies like Boeing and NASA make use of massive wind tunnels(as large as an entire building) in testing their airplanes as well as airplane engines. This is critical to guarantee the plane’s safety and efficiency.

Earn An Income Online

Have you ever tried to earn an income through part-time work online hoping that you’ll be able to do that full-time when you can support yourself from the earnings?

Many of the money-making systems are outdated when purchased, they made money for someone and are now sold even though the system has been replaced with an up to date system which you won’t get a chance to see until someone has used it all up and it’s outdated and on the selling block once again.

Let me tell you, making money online is no simple task and don’t let anyone fool you into thinking that they have some get-rich-quick system. However, once you learn how everything works and can make nice websites, you can generate a great income as an affiliate marketer, in a niche that you love.

With about 3 billion potential internet viewers, you can do quite well in your own online business with very little financial investment, and $0 to start!

When I was searching for a career change and needed to exchange a very active job for something that didn’t require so much physical labor. I wanted to choose an encore career that would be challenging and something that I could do from home even well into my retirement years.

Learn Something New

Well, I learned how to build a solid online business, expand it and take it to the next level. You can do this too, through part-time work online in the evenings and weekends and when you have time until you get things built up. Then you can choose if you want to go full-time or keep the day job and enjoy the additional income from your part-time efforts.

Your online business should not feel like a day job. Earning money online should be fun, and it is fun. Once the learning curve is complete you will start following a well laid out plan for success. After all of your online efforts start paying off, even with a low-income, you’ll want to spend more time with it. You can be a witness of and take part in the growth process of your own successful online business.

Making Money Online

There are many ways to make money, even with part-time work online… 1000’s of different ways in fact! The problem is that people often get distracted by the “latest and greatest” product or service and they aren’t able to stick with one method and build a successful, and revenue generating online business.

There are 3 things that you will need, a nice website, education or knowledge, and some expert help.

Choose a Niche

A niche is a distinct segment of a market, in other words, an “audience”. So when choosing a niche that fits you, you should be choosing something that is ideally an interest, a passion, a hobby, a problem, a need or a want.

Almost everything you can think of is a niche and that is why we are going to get you to choose your niche based on things that you are interested in.

You can earn money online from absolutely every single niche because there are billions of people out there searching every day.

This all starts with choosing a niche that you are interested in and will enjoy working with. The more that you enjoy something the less it feels like a job and the more productive you’re going to be.

Building Your Own Website

Now that you have chosen your niche you are going to create your very own website.

Work from home or freelancing looks to be a great idea. Isn’t it? Many people think that working from home for any business, online job, or freelancing gives them more space and freedom. Definitely, it does. It has many advantages I’m going to discuss later, however, one must not disregard the demands and disadvantages of it also.

Advantages:

Let’s talk about both the positives and negatives of work from home:

Work according to your own schedule: This is perhaps the greatest advantage you have in home-based work. You can make a flexible schedule according to your comfort level. You start or stop work whenever you like. If you feel a bit need to have rest, you just shut down and take a break. Some people like to work in the late evening or night hours. They will be more than happy if they get a work at home opportunity. You can have lunch, dinner, tea, and coffee whenever you feel like to. Just relax, make your own timetable and work anytime or any length of hours round the clock. Manage time as you feel comfortable.

Be your own BOSS: Unlike office-based jobs, you don’t have a BOSS. No one will come to your desk to check whether you are working or not. No reporting to and scolding by BOSS at all. ‘No sword is hanging over the head’ is one of the most relaxing thoughts for many people. Therefore, no or less stress than office work.

Can be managed on weekends or part-time: Flexibility is one of the biggest advantages of work from home. If your work is not too much stretched out, you can manage it on weekends and as part-time along with a regular job. If you are working with a company that allows working as much as easily manageable, you must take the advantage of work from home. It would be a great source of making money, though may not be very highly paid. However, with a few hours of weekly working, you can make some extra bucks.

Decorate your office place as you like: Not only time, space is also yours in work from home. You can fix a corner for your table and computer system wherever you like. Decorate it with flowers, photos, colors and things of your choice. If and when need, you can change the place also. If your work is mostly computer-based, you can sit with your laptop on the lawn, roof-top, balcony etc. Not bound to a single space.

A lot of saving: When you join an office, you need to go to the job 5 days a week. You have to maintain a proper wardrobe as well as taking out a chunk of money for monthly transportation and food expenses. Sometimes, your office is located far away and reaching there is no less than a hassle. Or you have to rely on outside food which you don’t like. Some of the companies offer to give pick and drop and food for the employees for a reasonable cutting from their salary. But that way, they get a great facility. Wardrobe, transportation, and food expenses eat up a great portion of your paycheck. Work from home totally minuses the expenses of wardrobe and transportation. Then remains the food only which you enjoy in the form of home-made healthy and low-priced meals.

No frustrating co-workers or workplace issues: One of the biggest and stressful problems of office and a regular job is the presence of unpleasant and non-cooperative co-workers. Harassment is also a great workplace issue for females especially. Work from home saves you from these frustrating things which can have a negative effect on your health and career growth also.

Disadvantages:

Above were a few positives of work from home. Now, let’s have a look at negatives also:

Laziness: Work from home gives you the advantage of time flexibility but it also demands a great self-discipline. If you are lazy, you can’t meet the deadlines. You must have to make a timetable and set daily working hours to run it smoothly. Postponing the work for the next day will hurt your progress.

Working alone offers no competition: Presence of co-workers offers a competitive environment and motivates you to work better and better. Work at home has nothing like that. You are your own competitor there so performance comparison is also not involving. Competing with, and defeating your own self is not easy for everyone.

Providing a space at home: If you have plenty of space at home, well and good. But if you are living in a tight space, taking out a room for home-based work may be difficult. Additionally, you may have to tolerate the noise and disturbance by kids and family.

Lack of communication in-between the team: If you are working for a remote or out-of-country employer, you feel a lack of communication with other teammates and employers. Online meetings and chat can’t produce the results as the face-to-face and office-based jobs offer. Time difference between the countries also matters. You may need to wait for the meeting or chat for long hours.

Work ethics and culture: Ethics and culture matter a lot if you are working for an out-of-country employer. If an African is working for an American company, he/she may have to face cultural and behavioral issues. Some cultures don’t like to hear NO from the employees; some encourage to express their opinion. So work from home may also be stressful due to cultural differences.

So these are the positives as well as negatives involved in work from home. If you like it, you must keep all these aspects in mind. Take into account all the facets before plunging into home-based work. It is not suitable for everyone. If you are ready to take on and fulfill the demands of work from home, go ahead. If not, prefer an office based job instead.

We All Experience Hardship In Different Ways

No matter how hard you try, your work will never be done. How do you feel about this? Does it worry you? You see, working on ourselves is a long and difficult process that may take an entire lifetime but it will never be complete. I don't mean to terrify you so you think the work is not important. In fact, working on yourself is more important than ever, especially given the times we are living. The world longs for strong leadership to stand for what is morally right. We can see this across the globe where citizens are staging protests against governments declaring their rights.

I'm reminded of the Greek philosopher Heraclitus who said: "No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man." He was saying that we are constantly evolving and who we were yesterday is not the same person we are today, nor will be tomorrow. What we know today is built on what we knew earlier and we cannot go back to the same way of living. Personal growth is an evolving process and even if you read one book a year and implement one piece of wisdom, the effects are far reaching. Life presents us with experiences and lessons to become whom we're meant to be. Unfortunately, we don't know who that person is when we experience hardships, challenges and setbacks, yet we trust these experiences are showing up for our highest good.

Knowing this, what life-changing experiences have you endured? What lessons did you learn that transformed your life? Not everyone experiences change, and I recall years ago working with people who had overcome cancer. Several of them were happy to put the experience behind them and go back to living a normal life. Yet, others experienced profound awakenings and realisations that changed their life. Similarly, I have worked with people who were involved in life threatening car accidents and are fortunate to be alive, while other survivors blame the experience for their scars. I'm not condemning these people but showing you we all experience hardship in different ways.

Merging With A Higher Version Of Ourselves

Our work is never done because there is always something to heal, something to transform, something to make peace with and something to learn . I found this to be the case in the last decade with my own personal development. When I thought I had learned forgiveness for example, life will present me with an opportunity to practice it with a person who is hard to forgive. We are always learning and developing insights on our life's journey. The key is to keep moving forward, even though there are times we are drowning in our setbacks and disappointments. I know, I've been there and pleaded for a lifeline. My circumstances did not change but my inner resolve and capacity to deal with my experiences did.

Are you comfortable with the idea about not cramming your life's lessons into this lifetime? It doesn't mean taking a relaxed approach with our personal growth, it means not being fixated on the goal since there is no destination to get to. The journey and the experiences become the focal point, to become the person you were born to be. Life isn't about arriving at a destination, it is about the evolution of our soul and merging with a higher version of ourselves. Life and Mother Nature are giving in so many ways and it makes sense if we are the expression of life, we must also be of service to others.

With this in mind, I'd like you to give some thought to the areas of your life where you are not evolving. Where you are stagnant? What do you think is holding you back? Is it true or could it be your perception? Sometimes, what we believe is holding us back is not the case and there are other avenues to explore. It means changing our opinion and looking at it through the lens of empowerment instead of victimhood. For example, if your life is not progressing as you like, what is life trying to teach you? Is it patience? Is it appreciating your self-worth? There is always something to learn, even in unfavorable circumstances. When we experience the same experience, it is a message to learn an important insight before the experience is transformed. So try not to bemoan your situation but get curious on what the experience is trying to teach you. After all, your work will never be done as long as you are alive because you are continually evolving into the person you are meant to become.

We spend so much of our time at work, and yet many of us are unhappy. Stress in the workplace is an increasing area of ​​concern, costing UK businesses £ 40 billion last year in stress-related issues; accidents, absenteeism, poor performance. Whether we're working for ourselves or for someone else it's becoming important important to find ways that support work being a happy place.

What is it that's questioning if work is a happy place? Is it the actual work itself or are there other significant factors?

25% adults report suffering from insomnia on a Sunday night. Some of that is due to the dread of a tough Monday morning commute; the prospect of traffic jams, parking issues, crowded buses and trains all make for a less than pleasant start to the week. Increasingly companies are happy for staff to work from home on occasion or use a more flexible approach to their day by maybe starting earlier or later, so avoiding rush hour and minimising the stress of the journey to the office. Would a car sharing initiative or subsidized car parking nearby also help staff arrive at work with a more positive mindset?

– Few people anticipate holding the same job for life . It's a rarity as more employees seek variety, want to experience different companies' methods and gain a wide range of experience. In order to retain good staff and keep them happy at work it's important for them to be challenged, given responsibility and be able to take a pride in their work. Ensuring they're sufficiently trained and qualified supports their ability to undertake their work and also protects the company's reputation. And having a dedicated project or regular responsibility can improve a staff member's confidence, commitment and happiness at work.

– With so many businesses experiencing uncertainty about their future any undercurrents filter down through the ranks, causing staff to wonder how secure they are; Should they be looking elsewhere, is there any point in working hard, what about their financial position? All can make for a shaky, less than enthusiastic team. Being open and honest whilst maintaining regular channels of communication can ensure that employees remain loyal and stay on board.

– But equally, rapid growth can be disconcerting too, especially if there are signs that the company culture is changing or relocation may be featuring on the horizon. Regular briefings and staff appraisals can identify areas of concern and enable good staff to voice requests for additional training or discuss how they envisage their future in the business evolving.

– Staff grievances can be a key factor in the happiness levels of staff. Is there a culture of bullying, nepotism, unfair favorite and, if so, how is it handled? Some people may always seem to have one grievance or another, it's how they operate. But if there seems to be increasing levels of dissent and unrest it's time to investigate what's going on and going wrong, or risk losing excellent key staff members. Big organizations often rely on section leaders, managers and department heads to deal with staff issues, but what if they are part of the problem? Having regular anonymous staff surveys, an open door policy, bringing in an independent external consultant to talk to staff and find out how they feel may help introduce effective procedures and nip staff unrest in the bud.

– Equally, old-fashioned, outdated ways of operating can turn people off. 'We've always done it like this', 'if it isn't broken don't fix it', can dissuade enthusiastic staff members from suggesting new ideas and push them to eventually leave. Successful MD's will go and speak with shop-floor workers to get their feedback on what works and what does, quiz them for suggestions on improvements and discover better ways of doing things. Pretending to be your own customer can be a useful exercise too. How do your staff treat difficult or challenging customers? How invested are they in doing a good job? Happy, satisfied staff care about customer service.

– Communication should be a two-way exchange , but in some companies there can be fear or apprehension at voicing anything that may be perceived as negative, not coping or unhappy. As adults, staff need to accept responsibility for being appropriately assertive about their situation but a structure has to be in place where they feel confident about doing so. Sometimes mangers are also under pressure and have little capacity for taking on more problems. Is there a place where troubled staff can go with their issues?

– Stepping back from the business sometimes is a key component in assessing how happy your workforce is. Look at your sickness statistics, absenteeism, staff turnover, grievances. Appreciate that staff have lives away from work. They may have relationship tensions, health issues, children, elderly relatives, financial concerns, or they may be happy and simply want to have quality time with their children, partner or pursue a hobby. Demonstrating that you respect and understand that will make them feel valued and happier.

Maintain a happy workforce by investing in relevant training. This results in staff satisfaction and their improved ability to do a good job. Praise, recognition and appreciation make all the difference when people care about their work. Committing to a happy workforce pays dividends and supports your business and its successful future growth.

Reflecting on your business ABC's can be an interesting exercise and a great way to be reminded of all the different factors that come together to support an effective work environment. You may agree or disagree with these points, but enjoy the read and feel free to add your own!

A's

Ability is an important consideration in our work, especially if we're new to a situation, eager to impress clients, bosses or colleagues. We need to be careful about feigning competency; It's far better to ask for help, be honest or say 'I'll come back to you about that'. Sometimes, if we're lacking a little expertise, it can be mutually advantageous to form alliances with other complementary businesses and so extend the range of goods or services we're both able to offer.

Application. Was it Martin Luther King who said that if you're a road sweeper aim to be the very best road sweeper you can be, no matter if seconds later someone throws rubbish onto those clean surfaces. Being proud of our work and doing the best job we can, whatever that is, rewards us with daily satisfaction. Take pride in making a round of drinks, doing routine admin, as well as signing that fantastic new contract.

Appraisals are important for everyone, whether conducted officially as part of a career progression or on a smaller scale. Set aside time for personal reflection, goal setting and recognition. Give yourself credit for successes along the way – they can all too easily be forgotten or dismissed. But also take time to identify areas of weakness that may benefit from some training or attention. Determine your next tier of goals and set motivational plans in place.

B's

Busyness can be seductive. We all want to look busy, successful and in demand, but being continually busy and rushed off your feet can appear disorganized and chaotic. Use time management strategies like lists, designated times to check online and a commitment to dedicating less time to endless meetings. Share your work load and let others help.

Breaks are a valuable way to manage stress, which in turn benefits your health, wellbeing and clearer thinking. Often, upon your return, you'll be rewarded with new ideas or a different perspective on your situation.

Boundaries. Be clear as to why you work so hard. Yes, it's great to be occupied with meaningful work, but remember that supporting your home, children and lifestyle were often major factors in your desire for success. Allow sufficient time to enjoy those areas; your home, family, friends, hobbies and interests. Sometimes you may need to be firm and say 'no', if too much is being asked or expected of you.

C's

Credit. Give credit where it's due, to others as well as to yourself. Unconditional praise and credit is important as in, 'well done, great job', without adding a demotivational, 'remember to do it like that every time', 'wish you were always that good'! Don't be excessively shy about highlighting your own achievements and let others appreciate your skills and accomplishments.

Courtesy and good manners cost nothing, yet can make such a difference to your relationships, reputation and how others perceive you. Being polite and appreciative of another person's viewpoint matters, especially in tense or fraught situations; People won't remember how they behaved, that they were perhaps angry, rude or offensive, but they will remember how you responded and handled their issues.

Communicate well, in every area of ​​your life. Keep clients and customers happy by providing networking opportunities, training sessions that reference your goods or services and newsletters. All these are ways to keep your business at the forefront of their minds and be viewed as a helpful supporter of their success.

Cherish your family and friends. Stay in touch. It's all too easy to end up exchanging information updates rather than really talking about your feelings or the things that are on your mind. Make quality time for family and friends. Mutual support comes from nurturing good relationships.

Compromise and be prepared to meet halfway. Remember, you may win a battle but lose the war! Standing firm until the other person capitulates isn't necessarily worth the ensuing hurt or damage to the relationship. A compromise can allow everyone to come away feeling that something positive has been achieved.

It's always valuable to invest in the various parts of your life. That way you support your overall health, happiness and quality of life.

Our experience is that many students on the social work degree can be intimidated by the word ‘theory’. This immediately inhibits effective learning about theory. Theory in social work is about how we relate to others and how we make sure that we are providing effective services. It is important that theory is not seen as the preserve of academics or senior social workers. Through understanding and applying theory to social work practice our work with service users can become far more effective and person centred.

Lots of people think that theory is something purely academic, with no link to “real life”. Many social work students cover theory at university, but begin their practice learning experience intimidated by the idea of how to apply theory to their practice and especially concerned about how to demonstrate the links they have made in their assignments and reflective accounts..

Practice learning is about relating the ideas learned in University to the practice setting. However, in order to link theoretical knowledge to practice, students need a firm grasp of the fact that theory is something everybody uses every day in social work and that theory has a clear link to common sense/what works/real life or whatever the phrase of choice is. Without this, theory can become something which seems abstract and this develops the idea that theory is something you learn at University and then forget when you enter the “real world” of work.

The Requirements for Social Work Training state that all social work programmes must:

“Ensure that the teaching of theoretical knowledge, skills and values is based on their application to practice.” (Department of Health 2002)

Whilst the basic aspects of social work theory will be taught in the University setting, practice learning is about you transferring your knowledge and applying theory to your practice, and you will need to demonstrate that you can make the links in your written work.

What is theory?

It is our view that social workers in the field and social work students on placement are applying theory every day. However, they may not realise it, and they may not be able to describe the theory or name it.

Theories in social work are nothing more than an attempt to explain situations and social relationships. Theories have been developed since it became clear that there were similar patterns or repeating cycles of behaviour both in an individual’s life and in the lives of lots of different people. Since theories have been expressed by academics and social scientists, they often use an academic language. Don’t let that put you off. Theories are life dressed up! Many theories actually have a very straightforward, accessible message even if you sometimes have to look beyond the jargon.

There has been some debate about what actually constitutes a theory. Generally, a theory helps to explain a situation and perhaps how it came about. In science, a theory is seen as helping to:

** describe (eg: what is happening?)

** explain (eg: why is it happening?)

** predict (eg: what is likely to happen next?)

Sometimes theories are also seen as helping to control a situation and bring about changes.

Social Work Theory and Practice Learning

In supervision discussion, placement assignments, portfolios etc you need to be able to describe the situation you are working with, explain why you think this came about, what you can do to bring about change etc. In doing so, you will be drawing upon some form of theory. You may, however, not always be aware of this.

Whenever you are considering theory, we would urge you to:

1. Recognise that no single theory can explain everything: When a person engages in an action (or inaction) the reason for their behaviour can be rooted in a range of causes or motives.

2. Related to the first point, recognise that some theoretical approaches just don’t work with some people. Applying Brief Solution Focused Therapy can be really effective with some people. For other people, it leaves them cold.

3. Take a critical approach to theory. If it doesn’t “work”, why not? Can you adapt aspects such that it is helpful?

4. Always apply the value base to theory – much of the theory used in social care practice and social work is drawn from outside of the profession. Theory may have its roots in education, psychology or management. As such, it may not incorporate social work values and you should take responsibility for applying these

5. And finally, never be intimidated by theory. You use it every day.

Why do we need to apply social work theory to practice?

Whilst individual social work theories have different purposes, using all kinds of theory in our work offers us, as social workers, some important things.

** Theories can help us to make sense of a situation. Using theory, we can generate ideas about what is going on, why things are as they are etc. For example the information obtained as part of an assessment can seem like a jumble of information – applying theory can help “make sense” of the information.

** Using theory can help to justify actions and explain practice to service users, carers and society in general. The aim is that this will lead to social work becoming more widely accountable and ultimately more respected.

** In work with individuals, making use of the theories which may relate to their specific situation will give us more direction in our work with them.

** Using theory can give an explanation about why an action resulted in a particular consequence. This can help us review and possibly change our practice in an attempt to make the consequences more effective.

It is clear then, that theory is important in practice – both for work with service users and for social work to be more valued in society.

When you watch commercials, music videos, TV programs, or films, do you ever wonder who it is that handles the job of getting them on camera and how they're put together? That's the work of a video production company. There are really two kinds of companies that create video content. A technical production company may target details that the client isn't interested in doing. They may do the things that come after the video is shot, the editing and the post-production. Or they may simply take the finished video and post it online. That's one thing that a video production company may do.

Other companies are full-service. That means they do it all from start to finish, and post-production as well. A full-service company will do the creative development, then write the script. They'll be responsible for locations and casting. They'll produce, edit, and deliver the final product for posting. A company like this is totally hands-on; the client states what they want and the video professionals do the rest.

A commercial production company, as you may expect, has a specific focus. It creates short videos, 30 to 60 seconds, that are oriented toward commercial branding. They are all about promoting a product, a company, or a service; or getting a company name, brand, and message out in front of the public as widely as possible. A commercial production company creates videos to grab the public's attention and interest, and to create excitement- "buzz," as it's often called. The company creates what are effectively "teasers" to bring in potential customers.

Commercial producers and their creative teams have to get excited about a client's product, brand, or message. In this way they develop ideas that connect with the audience. Their process includes personally experiencing what the client is selling to create an understanding of the market and the customer.

The video producer's job looks creative and exciting, and it can be. It is also a highly demanding and responsible job that calls for not only creativity but people and business skills. The producer might be thought of as a "creative problem-solver." He or she is the leader of the process from pre-production through actual production to post-production. The producer is responsible for the planning, scheduling, and final editing of the project, and hiring the talent and the staff. He takes part in selecting graphics and audio and may actually write the script. He is the point of contact between the company and the client, facilitating all communications to make sure the project is delivered according to the client's specifications. And of course, it's the producer's job to make sure everything is done on time and on budget.

It is very exacting work that a video production company does. You might not believe the amount of work that goes into a 60-second spot and the number of people it takes to pull it off. But these production companies know how to do it with the greatest effect.

It is most important that if you’re starting a new, home-based business that you form a plan for all possibilities and contingencies that may come up.

This will help you reach your goal for the future, AND will also help if you’re trying to get financing for your home-based business.

This important information will actually define you home business. There are four basic components of each stage of building a business that needs to be covered.

A great business plan is laid out after you have identified the components of each stage of the business.

The infrastructure is a component of a home business. This infrastructure contains the central abilities and competencies necessary to execute your company’s business model.

The partner network, would be the business alliances you have which will complement other aspects of the business plan.

Also to consider is the value configuration, which you will want to spell out in detail. How your business is in fact mutually beneficial for your business as well as for your customers.

The value proposition for your home business plan will be describing the products and services that your business will offering for sale in your marketing efforts.

Put otherwise, value proposition it is what your customer is getting for what your customer is paying.

A customer can and will determine the value of a company based on these two broad elements, what your customers are buying vs what they are paying.

It is the sellers marketing and sales efforts which offer that value proposition to the customer/buyer.

Next consideration are the customers. It is extremely important that you are clear about who your target customers are. You should be able to describe your customer, male or female, income range, age, interests, etc.

If you look into Facebook advertising they have extensive information on ‘audience’, who would be looking for what you have.

So you need to clearly define your target audience, for the products and services your business is providing to your audience/prospects.

The distribution channel part of your plan describes how the your company will deliver goods and services to your customers.

This distribution channel could be very simple such as simply delivering your products via the postal service, all the way up to a major transport company driving your products across the country.

Finally, there is your relationship with your customer. How how you intend to build that relationship will be a central key in your business plan.

There are other area’s to address of course but I hope this helps you in taking control of your home based business.