8 Financial Tips for Freelancers

8 Financial Tips for Freelancers 8 Financial Tips for Freelancers 8 Financial Tips for FreelancersWorking freelance means being prepared to hustle for your next gig, save money to cover late payments, and maybe even becoming a corporation!We’re going to let you in on a little secret: The “we” who collectively bring you the OppLoans Financial Sense blog have some experience with freelance writing. And that’s how we can definitively tell you that freelance writingâ€"and freelance work in generalâ€"is truly a land of contrasts.On the one hand, you’ll likely have a higher degree of freedom about how you structure your time. On the other hand, your situation will likely be much more precarious. A salaried position might be more restrictive when it comes to your work week, but the regular paycheck and (if you have them) benefits can lead to more financial freedom overall.That’s why we spoke to the experts to find out how freelancers can even the odds and improve their financial situation.1. Track your spending.Everyone should keep track of wh at they spend. But it’s especially important if you have irregular income, as many freelancers do.“You should start tracking your spending with whatever method you’re most likely to stick withâ€"write it down, use an Excel sheet, or install a convenient app,” advised Michael Minter, managing partner of Mintco Financial. “At the end of the month, you can view your financial history and determine where you could have saved more.”And speaking of saving more…2. Build up your savings.As with tracking your spending, everyone should have an emergency fund, but it’s absolutely vital for freelancers. You may not always know when your next check will come, and financial emergencies can happen regardless of the whims of your clients’ payroll departments.“Create an emergency fund so you dont have to borrow at high rates when an unexpected expense comes up,” suggested Ilene Davis, CFP(R), MBA, and author of Wealthy by Choice:  Choosing your Way to a Wealthier Future. “Pu t enough into savings to cover two months of bills.”Lacking an emergency fund is one of the main reasons people find themselves stuck with no credit check loans,  payday loans, and cash advances during times of financial stress. The more you can save, the more secure your finances will beâ€"whether youre a freelancer  or  not.3. Always be outreaching.When work isn’t guaranteed, you want to create as many possibilities for yourself as you can. You’re essentially always applying for jobs, and as is the case whenever you’re applying for jobs, it comes down to a numbers game. You may have to send out dozens of messages to get one response.“The most important tip is to market even when youre busy,” Linda Formichelli, longtime freelance content writer and journalist, told us. “Too often, freelancers do a lot of marketing, get busy with work, and stop marketing. Then they turn in all the assignments and … they have no more work on their schedule. At all. Its key to carve o ut time for marketing no matter how busy you are, so youll always have money coming in.“If youre truly overwhelmed with paying assignments, you might just reach out to old clients letting them know your schedule will be opening up soon, connect with prospects on LinkedIn, or repurpose pitches that never sold.”But dont just go harder with your outreach. Work smarter, as well, be prioritizing outreach to some potential clients over others.“Target clients that will provide work on a regular, repeated basis,” suggested Janet Attard, founder of BusinessKnowHow.com. “These will vary depending on what you do, but if you manage social media for companies, for instance, you’d want to look for companies big enough to needâ€"and be able to pay youâ€"on an ongoing basis for some substantial number of hours of work a month.The reason: startups and small businesses that want small jobs done on an occasional basis often take up a lot of unbillable time, partly because of the number of small invoices you’ll need to send out and then make sure you collect. They may also need a lot of handholding.”4. Dont shortchange yourself.You can’t be afraid to make your quote as high as it needs to be.“Price your services to cover your overhead,” advised Abbey Woodcock, creator of The Business of Copy. “Just because you made $20/hr at your full-time job, doesn’t mean you should price your service at $20/hr. You need to factor in things like payment processing fees, software and tech you maintain, etc.Understand your numbers. How much of your fee goes to taxes? What percentage of your time are you spending finding clients? (You don’t get paid for this time so your rates need to cover it). Are you saving for retirement? Do you have a plan for time off/vacations?”Oh, and speaking of taxes 5. Tax attacks.When youre a freelancer, your client/employer likely wont be deducting anything from your check to cover taxes. Youre expected to do that yourself. As such, being a freelancer can mean getting hit with a huge bill come tax time.One way to offset the pain at tax time is to have a separate fund in addition to your emergency fund you can use to prepare for said tax bill. Here’s how Minter put it:“When you’re self-employed, you’re in charge of sorting your own taxes, the last thing you want is a huge tax bill to hit you by surprise. Put a percentage of your earnings away and don’t touch them, so when it comes to that time of the year, you’re ready with the money.”6. Go corporate.  If youre looking to minimize your tax burden, you could also look into becoming a corporation.“I’m an attorney, and also work to help businesses get started,” Deborah Sweeney, CEO of MyCorporation.com  explained. “We work with many freelancers who are finding it a financial benefit to incorporate (S-Corporation) so that they can have write-offs and put themselves on payroll for FICA tax savings.Many freelancers also see the benefit in protecting t heir personal assets by forming a separate corporate entity under which they perform their business services. This is a great way to protect yourself, manage your assets, and save on taxes.Organizing your business structure is also a great way to obtain more business and present a professional business to potential clients and customers. Freelancers give a professional sense about themselves when their business and corporate structure are established.”Of course, regardless of whether you officially incorporate or not, each freelancer is a business in some sense. And that means…7. Get your money.No business can survive unless it is actually getting paid for the services it offers. Which is why, above all else, you need to make sure you’re actually getting paid for the work you’re doing for clients. And, unfortunately, it isn’t always easy.Paul Gordon, a consultant with the Kinum  collection agency, gave us a detailed overview: “Getting paid is a resource-intensive task fo r most businesses. For most businesses that I work with, providing a convenient way for customers to pay is a critical step in receiving that payment. This generally means an online payment method like a web portal or payment system.Also necessary for this is enough communication with the customer to get the customer to take action and pay their bill. One statement every 30 days in a mailbox is a recipe for disaster. Customers with balances due need to be communicated with every few days, using more than one communication channel.“There is no substitute for acting early for both collecting the amount due and keeping the customer. In order to collect a debt (regardless of how old it is) there are only three ways to communicate with that customer: phone, mail, or the customer comes into the business.“It is always a good idea to get an agreement on payment in writing and signed by the customer. If the customer challenges the debt with an agency, the agency will typically ask for do cumentation. A signed agreement carries more weight than a ledger.”8. Be strategic with your invoicing.When youre a freelancer, youre basically your own collections agency. And while you have to remain persistent, you also dont want to be so aggressive that the company decides to not work with again. Maintaining that balance will be key.“If you’re doing work for   or bigger clients, ask, how long they normally take to pay,” suggested Attard. “And be sure you know who needs to get the invoice, so you get paid on a timely basis. If you’ll be doing a big job for a company (ie, something that will tie up a significant amount of your time) ask to be paid in stages. Get money up front to start the job, another payment halfway through the job and the final payment made when you finish the job.“Send out invoices as soon as a job is done. Don’t wait for the end of the month. The sooner you send out invoices the sooner you’ll be paid. Plus, if you wait until the end of the month you may miss the window during which the company cuts checks for vendors and have to wait an additional month for payment. Consider accepting credit cards. Some customer will pay sooner if they can charge your services.”Being a freelancer is tough. But hopefully, these tips will help you keep your money on track. To learn more about managing your finances, check out these related posts from OppLoans:What’s the Quickest Way to Fix Bad Credit?From Budget to Baller: 6 Tips to Grow Your MoneyThe (Comprehensive) Couple’s Guide To Budgeting8 Ways To Save Money Today, Tomorrow and Every Day AfterWhat are your best tips for living the freelance life? We want to hear from you! You can find us  on  Facebook  and  Twitter.Visit OppLoans on  YouTube  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  LinkedINContributorsJanet Attard (@JanetAttard) is a small business expert, author, and CEO of the  website Business Know-How ®.Ilene Davis is a CFP(R), MBA and author of  Wealthy by Choice:  Choosing your W ay to a Wealthier Future. She has 35 years experience as a financial professional helping clients create a more secure financial future, better understand investing, and make wealth enhancing choices.Linda Formichelli is has been a full-time freelance writer and journalist since 1997.Paul Gordon  has worked in both insurance and healthcare industries.  First with insurance, building systems and process for paying health insurance premiums to employee plans to building a call center for all enterprise employees. In healthcare, Paul has been a practice administrator for multi-provider and location practices, responsible for all aspects of practice operations. Now, Paul is helps practices with all nature of operational consulting including, revenue cycle and improved workflow processes.Michael Minter is a managing partner of  Mintco Financial (@MintcoFinancial). He has written a book, been on TV, written articles, spoken at seminars, schools, and colleges. His dream is to reach as man y people as he can to teach about a Personal Financial Plan.Deborah Sweeney (@deborahsweeney) is the CEO of MyCorporation.com (@mycorporation). MyCorporation is a leader in online legal filing services for entrepreneurs and businesses, providing start-up bundles that include corporation and LLC formation, registered agent, DBA, and trademark copyright filing services. MyCorporation does all the work, making the business formation and maintenance quick and painless, so business owners can focus on what they do best.Abbey Woodcock has been a direct response copywriter since 7th grade when she wrote a 30-page sales letter asking her crush to the dance with dismal results. Since then, shes converted better writing sales pages and emails youve probably read from some of the biggest names online. Now she helps other freelancers build and grow amazing businesses at  BusinessofCopy.com.

Facts About the Greek Mythological Creature Cyclops

The Cyclops were represented as strong, one-eyed giants in Greek mythology. Their name is also spelled Cyclopes, and, as usual with Greek words, the letter K may be used in place of the C. Pronunciation:  /saÉ ª.klaps/Also Known  As:  one-eyed giantsAlternate Spellings:  singular:  kyklops,  kuklops.   plural: cyclopes,  kyklopes,  kuklopes.Common Misspellings:  syclopsExamples:  When the volcano at Mt. Aetna smokes, it is, mythologically speaking, the result of the cyclops working at their forge. Who Were the Cyclops? According to the Greek epic poet Hesiod, the Cyclops were the sons of Uranus (Sky) and Gaia/Ge (Earth). Hesiod names the Cyclops Argos, Steropes, and Brontes. The Titans and Hecatonchires (or Hundred-handers), both known for their size, may have been other offspring of Uranus and Gaia. Even though Uranus was their father, he lacked paternal instincts. Instead, he had the nasty habit of keeping all his children imprisoned -- inside their mother, Gaia, who wasnt very happy about it. When the Titan Cronus decided to help his mother by overthrowing his father, Uranus, the Cyclops helped. But they were no better off with Cronus than Uranus. Instead of rewarding them for their assistance, Cronus imprisoned them in Tartarus, the   Greek Underworld. Zeus who, in turn, overthrew his own father (Cronus), set the Cyclops free. Since they were metal workers and blacksmiths, they repaid Zeus with a thank you gift of thunder and lightning. The Cyclops also gifted the gods Poseidon with a trident and Hades with the Helmet of Darkness. Their time in fortunes favor was limited, though. Apollo slew the Cyclops after they struck his son or were blamed for striking his son Asclepius with lightning. Pseudo-Hyginus, Astronomica 2. 15:Eratoshtenes says about the [constellation] Arrow, that with this Apollo killed the Cyclopes who forged the thunderbolt by which Aesculapius died. Apollo had buried this arrow in the Hyperborean mountain, but when Jupiter [Zeus] pardoned his son, it was borne by the wind and brought to Apollo along with the grain which at that time was growing. Many point out that for this reason it is among the constellations.Ut Eratosthenes autem de Sagitta demonstrat, hac Apollo Cyclopas interfecit, qui fulmen Iovi fecerunt, quo Aesculapium interfectum complures dixerunt. Hanc autem sagittam in Hyperboreo monte Apollinem defodisse. Cum autem Iuppiter ignoverit filio, ipsam sagittam vento ad Apollinem perlatam cum frugibus, quae eo tempore nascebantur. Hanc igitur ob causam inter sidera demonstrant. Cyclops as Described by Homer Besides Hesiod, the other major Greek epic poet and transmitter of Greek mythology was the storyteller we call Homer. Homers Cyclops are different from Hesiods, starting with their origin since they are the sons of Poseidon; however, they share with Hesiods Cyclops immensity, strength, and the single eye. The giant Polyphemus, whom Odysseus encounters in his ten-year return sea voyage from Troy, is a cyclops. Here are some passages from Theoi with less well-known information about the various Cyclops:​Tiryns Walls, by the CyclopsStrabo, Geography 8. 6. 11 :Now it seems that Tiryns [in the Argolis] was used as a base of operations by Proitos, and was walled by him through the aid of the Kyklopes, who were seven in number, and were called Gasterokheirai (Bellyhands) because they got their food from their handicraft, and they came by invitation from Lykia. And perhaps the caverns near Nauplia [in Argolis] and the works therein are named after them.TowersPliny the Elder, Natural History 7. 195 (trans. Rackham) :[On inventions :] Towers [were invented] by the Cyclopes according to Aristotle.In Dionysus War Against IndiaNonnus, Dionysiaca 14. 52 ff (trans. Rouse) :[Rhea summoned the rustic gods and spirits to join the army of Dionysos for his campaign against the Indian nation :] Battalions of Kyklopes came like a flood. In battle, these with weaponless hands cast hills for their stony s pears, and their shields were cliffs; a peak from some mountain-ravine was their crested helmet, Sikeloi (Sicilian) sparks were their fiery arrows [i.e. sparks from Mount Etna]. They went into battle holding burning brands and blazing with light form the forge they knew so well--Brontes and Steropes, Euryalos and Elatreus, Arges and Trakhios and proud Halimedes.

Racism In The Movies Essay - 621 Words

Spike Lee’s, Do The Right Thing is a comtemporary look at racism in a ordinary city urban neighborhood. The movie is seen through the eyes of the main character, Mookey, we are shown the multiple relationships and often typical stereotypes of racial groups. This movies is filled with symbolism and imagery that feeds to the story’s plot. Throughout the movie, the scorching heat is always being refereed to. As the movie goes on , the heat rises. I think this is done to represent the increasing racial tension within the neighborhood. The movie uses many situations to paint a picture of the racial tension and inequality. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The main plot of the movie involves the relationship that a black neighborhood has with an†¦show more content†¦They are all blacks. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Yet a third conflict occurs between residents of the neighborhood and the Korean owners of convenience. Here there is a small language barrier that leads to some of the frustration. Another, larger part of the problem is that residents see the majority of the business in their (black) neighborhood as being owned by non blacks. This serves to create anger toward the owners of these business. The residents think that unfair that things are this way. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;A fourth incident occurs when a white male is walking his bike across the street and accidentally scuffs the kicks of one of the neighborhood blacks. The black guy get very upset because the white man did not apologize,and begins to chase after him. The black guy catches the white guy and starts to reprimand him and threatened him. The white man then responds by saying that the neighborhood is his. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The movie ends in a final confrotation at Sal’s in which the police are called and a local black resident of the neighborhood is killed by the police while they are trying to restrain him. This actoin by the police sets the other black residents off. They begin to riot and proceed to destroy Sal’s pizza joint. They almost destroy the Korean store too, except that the owner keeps yelling that he is one of them (black). This act seems to satisfy the mob.Show MoreRelatedRacism in Disney Movies Essay5488 Words   |  22 PagesSullivan 30 March 2010 Racism in Disney During the last several decades, the media has become a strong agent in directing and controlling social beliefs and behaviors. Children, by nature, can be particularly susceptible to the influencing powers of the media, opening an avenue where media created especially for children can indoctrinate entire generations. Disney movies, like all other media â€Å"are powerful vehicles for certain notions about our culture,† such as racism. (Giroux 32). Racist scenesRead MoreAmerican Sport Movies Dealing with Racism6989 Words   |  28 Pages1. American Sport Movies There are few countries in the world in which sports permeate national life to the degree that it does in the United States. Sports are a big part of the fabric of American life. The centrality of sports in American life is amply reflected in the American cinema. For decades movie makers have successfully mined sports to produce some of the most inspiring, poignant, exciting and memorable American movies ever made. The genre of ‘Sport Movies’ established in the FiftiesRead MoreMovies Control: Sex and Violence1436 Words   |  6 PagesNowadays, the media has a greater influence than ever on what the public believes and accepts. Research shows that the amount and realism of violence and sex in movies has skyrocketed, influencing the views of our generation. However, little to no attention is placed on the effects of movies on our views of racism, sexism, classism, and heteronormativity. Before watching a movie, you can get a general idea of how much sex and violence it will contain, in order to decide if it is appropriate for youRead More Comparing the Movies A Time to Kill, by John Grisham and To Kill a Mockingbird1285 Words   |  6 PagesHollywoodized, modern-day version of To Kill a Mockingbird. Both movies employ many of the same themes and plot elements; but the former movie is one-dimensional and predictable while the latter is innovative and purposeful. The movie version of Harper Lees novel To Kill a Mockingbird is considered a classic film, whereas John Grisham?s adapted novel is merely another example of the money making efforts of Hollywood. Some of the movies more prominent themes are the same. Both focus on the familyRead MoreA Time to Kill and to Kill a Mockingbird1314 Words   |  6 PagesHollywoodized, modern-day version of To Kill a Mockingbird. Both movies employ many of the same themes and plot elements; but the former movie is one-dimensional and predictable while the latter is innovative and purposeful. The movie version of Harper Lees novel To Kill a Mockingbird is considered a classic film, whereas John Grishams adapted novel is merely another example of the money making efforts of Hollywood. Some of the movies more prominent themes are the same. Both focus on the familyRead MoreHate And The Video Games Can Be Played By Anyone Because Of Their Safe Ratings For Younger People819 Words   |  4 Pagestypes of people to fight each other in hatred of the other. The killing of one group of people in a game can be taken by some as racism or anti-semitic. But most games don’t try to disseminate or intentionally express hateful racism to other cultures. Rather, encourage and build positive cooperation with others in the gaming community and not being fazed by hatred or racism. Award winning journalist Daniel Terdiman writes that video games have hateful meanings toward a certain group of peopleRead MoreThe Controversial Problem Of Racism941 Words   |  4 Pagesaddressed is racism. In our society, the controversial problem of racism has been a topic quite often talked about. Cases of Martin Luther King Jr., President Obama, Rosa Parks, etc. emphasize this point. Alveda King, a civil rights activist, stated, â€Å"Racism springs from the lie that certain human beings are less than fully human. It’s a self-centered falsehood that corrupts our minds into believing we are right to treat others as we would not want to be treated.† Today, we face racism everywhereRead MoreRace Is a Significant Factor in Identification of Individuals and Groups1493 Words   |  6 Pagesbattle is over. This fantasy mentality is due the naturalized process of racism and racial discrimination (Hall, 272). Naturalized racism is especially dominant in aspects of pop culture including television, and movies. Racism has been commodified and depicted as an act of celebration, which adds to the invisibility. Pop culture has an influential role in constructing and producing the celebratory and commodified ideology of racism. Stuart Hall claims that to understand the ideology of race it isRead MoreCultural Aspects Of American Culture1345 Words   |  6 PagesThree cultural aspects that I observed in the movies are assimilation, acculturation, and enculturation. I saw assimilation in both Spanglish and Crash. In Spanglish, Cristina was the one who went through assimilation. She adapted the American culture and left behind her Hispanic culture. She learned English, Mrs. Clasky took her shopping, and she was able to go to a private school. In the movie Crash, assimilation is seen through all the different people who have adopted the American lifestyle.Read MoreAnalysis Of The Movie Get Out787 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Im T.S... motherfuckin-A. We handle shit. Thats what we do. Consider this situation... fuckin handled.† Get Out(2017), a modern-day twist on the ongoing issue of racism. It follows the story of an interracial couple, Chris Washington(Daniel Kaluuya) and Rose Armitage (Allison William s) visiting Rose’s parents for their annual labor day party. Jordan Peele, the director, captured the audience by having them at the edge of their seats from all of the suspense but added comedic relief to break

Alzheimer s Disease A Progressive Disease - 925 Words

Alzheimer s disease is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other vital mental functions. Alzheimer s disease is the most common cause of dementia, a group of brain disorders that cause the loss of intellectual and social skills. AD can eventually render a person unable to function in society and to even care for themselves. Since the disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States constant research is being done to try to prevent it and to find a cure. Alzheimer s disease (AD) is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions and is the most common form of dementia. Alzheimer s disease is the most common cause of dementia — a group of brain disorders that cause the loss of†¦show more content†¦Unfortunately, the effects on the patient’s brain has been found to develop years before the first symptoms become noticeable. By the time the behavioral and mental symptoms appear, permanent damage to nerve cell s in certain areas of the brain may have already happened. There are currently no specific tests for AD. A physician will perform several tests on a patient, beginning with a physical and neurological exam. The Mayo clinic has a set of criteria they use when determining if someone has AD. They will test reflexes, sense of sight and hearing, muscle tone and strength, ability to get up from a chair and walk across the room, coordination and balance. Blood test will be done to rule out other disorders. Doctors will also perform tests on memory and cognition. They will also perform brain imaging through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography (CT) scan, or a positron emission tomography (PET) scan. The last one that is used in only rare occasions is the testing of cerebrospinal fluid. In special situations, like progressive dementia or very young onset dementia, a cerebrospinal fluid exam may be done. The spinazzl fluid can be tested for biomarkers that indicate the likelihood of Alzheimer s disease. Two structural abnormalities ha ve been found in the brains of Alzheimer patients. The first is Amyloid plaques which are clusters of protein fragments (AÃŽ ²-peptide) that come from a protein called amyloid precursor protein (APP), which isShow MoreRelatedAlzheimer s Disease : A Progressive Disease1663 Words   |  7 Pages Alzheimer s disease is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions. At first, someone with Alzheimer s disease may notice mild confusion and difficulty remembering. Eventually, people with the disease may even forget important people in their lives and undergo dramatic personality changes. Alzheimer s disease is the most common cause of dementia — a group of brain disorders that cause the loss of intellectual and social skills. In Alzheimer s disease, theRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease : A Progressive Disease1667 Words   |  7 PagesAlzheimer’s Disease is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions. Brain cells in Alzheimer’s disease dies and degenerate causing the loss of memory and mental functions. Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.A. Alzheimer’s Disease is named after Dr. Abis Alzheimer. In 1906, Dr. Alzheimer noticed changes in the brain tissue o f a lady who had died of an unusual mental illness that was very unknown. The woman s’ symptoms included memoryRead MoreAlzheimer s A Progressive Disease865 Words   |  4 Pagesin their place: gradually losing your freedom, your memory, and your very own identity. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that slowly destroys the brain’s function of memory and cognition. Eventually, it terminates the person’s ability to do everyday tasks and requires the person to be under around-the-clock care. Alzheimer’s disease is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer. In 1906, Dr. Alzheimer noticed changes in the brain tissue of a woman who had died of an unknown mental illness (â€Å"Alzheimer’sRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease : A Serious Progressive Disease1058 Words   |  5 PagesAlzheimer’s disease is a serious progressive disease. There is no cure for it. There have been an estimated 5.3 million people that had this disease in 2015. 5.1 million of those people were 65 years old or older. 200,000 of those people where under 65 and had the detection of the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s Association (2015) Early detection of this disease is important and imperative in the treatment. Many patients that are suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease don’t find out from theirRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease : A Progressive Neurodegenerative Disease2372 Words   |  10 Pagesdementia is brought forward. Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a brain d isease, is the most common type of dementia, and affects majority of people 60 years or older (1,14). It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, which only continues to worsen over time. Each individual is affected differently with symptoms and the progression. As of right now there is no cure for it (14). Biology of Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, which attacks the brain. It is not knownRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease : A Progressive Degenerative Disease2632 Words   |  11 PagesIntroduction Alzheimer s disease (AD) is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain from which there is no recovery. There are three brain abnormalities that are the hallmarks of the Alzheimer’s disease is initially caused by plaques buildup in the brain’s neurons as illustrated in figure 1. The support structure that allows the flow of the nutrients through the neurons gets damaged and ultimately there is loss of connection among the neurons and they die off (National Institute of Health,Read MoreAlzheimer s Disease : A Progressive Degenerative Disease Of The Brain981 Words   |  4 PagesAlzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that gradually destroys brain cells, affecting a person’s memory and their ability to learn, make judgments, communicate and carry out basic daily activities. The disease is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain. It was first described by the German neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer in 1905 (Selkoe, 2016). The average life expe ctancy of an Alzheimers patient is between five and ten years, but some patients today have live for up to 15 years afterRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease : A Progressive Decline1240 Words   |  5 PagesAlzheimer’s disease is a progressive decline in cognitive function. It affects the brain by damaging brain cells resulting in a decreased in cognitive function, physical mobility, swallowing and fine motor skills. This disease approximately 5.1 million Americans aged sixty-five or older (Alzheimer s Association, 2015) of which approximately 700,000 will likely die this year (Alzheimer s Association, 2015) of related symptoms such as aspiration pneumonia due to decreased swallowing ability. TheRead MoreAlzheimer s Is A Progressive Disease973 Words   |  4 Pagesaffected as well as those who may be caring for them and their families. This change is that of the disease Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important menta l functions. This disease affects more than 5 million Americans and continues to increase. With this disease on the increase, it begs the question if there is a way to prevent this debilitating disease or at least some kind of early diagnosis. Though there is no concrete way to determine the etiologyRead MoreAlzheimer s Is A Progressive Disease1630 Words   |  7 Pagesfor her but also for everyone around us. Alzheimer’s doesn’t affect only the person living with the disease but also those who care for them and love them; this is how my family is also a victim of Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that affects memory, thinking and behavior; making it the 6th leading cause of death in the United States. There are no treatment methods to stop the disease from progressing; therefore there is no cure. What causes most pain in families is seeing how the

Competitive and Global Strategy Borders

Question: Discuss about the Competitive and Global Strategy Borders. Answer: Introduction: The first material is based on the clear description of strategy that is the integral part for the organisational success. The discussions of this material are highlighting some of the key features associated with the concept. These key findings are stated further: The material specifies that the well-known definition of strategy used by the organisations these days are quite different to the actual meaning. The origin of the term strategy was the Greek word strategos, which signifies the role of the general in the war (com 2016). The material clearly compares the business process with the war field and the business leaders with the general of war. It suggests that the leaders must see what the other commanders or employees cannot see. It is necessary for the leaders to make the right choice and shape up the business tactics to grow by directing the associated employees (Gobble 2012). The material also highlights that in order to achieve the determined goals, it is necessary to keep the focus on four major factors. The first factor is the place where the business will compete in and adopt the business activities by comparing products. Second factor is to determine the efficient unique values that can be attractive enough to draw the attention of the customers. The third factor is to determine the necessary resources for implementing such value added and differentiation services (Kryscynski Ulrich 2015). The focus on the tangible and intangible resources is necessary to add the organisational functionalities. The fourth factor is indicating the process of sustaining the ability of providing unique values to the customers (Somaya et al. 2015). The material thus reflects the idea of maintaining the proper strategic decision making process in order to sustain in this competitive world. The acceptance of such techniques would be beneficial for the organisations to win over the business battles in this current situation. Example of the Organisation Concentrating on the tactics of business strategy presented in this material, it is seen that if the companies can implement such techniques, it will derive more benefits in this competitive world. The example of IKEA is appropriate in such case. If concentrated on the previous business strategy, it is noted that IKEA maintains the contemporary Scandinavian style while manufacturing the furniture. It is noted that IKEA provides the stylish home furniture in an inexpensive rate. Moreover, the company has the greater scale if compared to the local furniture retailers (Grant Jordan 2015). However, even though the company is selling the stylish and designed furniture at low cost, it is necessary for the company to shape the mass-production techniques and the shipping facilities in flat boxes (Youtube.com 2016). On the other hand, it is noticed that the extreme low shipping costs are much beneficial for the suppliers. However, such complex strategic values are difficult for the competito rs to imitate. Therefore, the strategy brings more benefits to the organisation. Key Ideas derived from the Material The week 5 material depicts the underlying concept of international trade through the implementation CAGE framework. The framework is developing the idea about the research and international economics that are creating impacts on the trades between two countries. The key ideas derived from the material are listed below: Depending on the trading behaviour between two countries, the CAGE model is developed. The CAGE model includes four different dimensions and each of the letters stands for different values. Such as C stands for cultural, A stands for administrative, G represents geographic, and E stands for economic. The framework determines that during the international trade, these factors are needed to be taken into considerations. The diversifications of culture, political scenario, locations, and economic structure create the significant impact on trade businesses (Youtube.com 2016). These differences are clearly affecting the interactive purposes among the countries. If the two countries share the similar perspectives, such as same official language, income rate, and common border, it becomes easier for the countries to trade with each other. Due to the commonalities foreseen between two countries strengthens the trade relationships and helps in establishing the strengthened economic structure (Ghemawat 2015). However, it is also needed to considering that each of the country holds the special significance, which is needed to be prioritised (Ghemawat 2013). This priority is needed to be taken into account while undertaking the trading functionalities. The establishment of the effective global strategy helps in strengthening the brnad reputation in a competitive scenario. Moreover, when the business partners will be able to conduct the business functionalities, it increases the future opportunities. The above features of the international trade based on the CAGE model are implying the significance of commonalities between two countries. It helps in understanding the business requirements and regulations more specifically. Example of the Organisation The key ideas derived from the material are indicating that sharing commonalities is much helpful for two countries to trade more than 10 to 15 times. It is noticed that Mexico and Canada are sharing maximum equalities in considering the dimensions associated with CAGE framework. Walmart is one of the largest retail companies in Mexican market. The company is trying to expand the business in other countries due to which the proper economic environment is necessary. It is noted that Canada is renowned as the largest bilateral trading partner in United States (Youtube.com 2016). Moreover, Canada shares the commonalities in geographic location, cultural values, economic structure, and administrative regulations with Mexico. Hence, if Walmart decides to expand their business in Canada, it will be beneficial for the company to earn more profitability for upcoming years. The company will be able to understand the cultural values and the political scenario, which are the major focus for con ducting a business. In fact, it is even stated that the company will be able to strengthen the reputed position in the competitive market. References Ghemawat, P. (2013).Redefining global strategy: Crossing borders in a world where differences still matter. Harvard Business Press. Ghemawat, P. (2015). From International Business to Intranational Business. InEmerging Economies and Multinational Enterprises(pp. 5-28). Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Gobble, M.M., 2012. Innovation and strategy.Research-Technology Management,55(3), pp.63-67. Grant, R. M., Jordan, J. J. (2015).Foundations of strategy. John Wiley Sons. Kryscynski, D., Ulrich, D. (2015). Making strategic human capital relevant: A time-sensitive opportunity.The Academy of Management Perspectives,29(3), 357-369. Somaya, D., Coff, R., Zenger, T. D., Wright, P. M., Mindruta, D. (2015). Strategic Human Capital. Youtube.com, 2016. Pankaj Ghemawat: CAGE framework to evaluate international trade opportunities. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FpUJaG7uMk [Accessed 26 Dec. 2016]. Youtube.com, 2016. What is Strategy?. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD7WSLeQtVw [Accessed 26 Dec. 2016].

Marketing Strategy Models, Tools and Techniques

Introduction Marketing refers to the activities and procedures used in developing, conveying and exchanging various offers that are valuable to the targeted population. Thus it helps in formulating strategies that facilitate sales and business development.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Marketing Strategy Models, Tools and Techniques specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This paper focuses on two marketing strategies namely, blue ocean strategy and guerilla marketing. It also analyzes two marketing tools namely, the â€Å"porter’s diamond model for competitive advantage† and BCG matrix analysis. The objectives and applications of these concepts will be illuminated in the paper. Blue Ocean Strategy Definition This is a strategy â€Å"that enables firms to realize high growth and profits by creating new demand in an uncontested market space† (Kim Mauborgne 2005, p. 4). The market that is yet to b e discovered is thus referred to as the blue ocean. The existing markets that are characterized by competition are referred to as the red oceans. There are enough growth opportunities in the blue ocean due to lack of competition. The blue ocean strategy is based on three concepts namely, â€Å"value innovation, tipping point leadership and fair process† (Kim Mauborgne 2005, p. 4). Objective The main objective of this strategy is to help firms to identify new market space. This enables them to eliminate the risk associated with cutthroat competition associated with existing markets (Kim Mauborgne 2005, p. 5). Implementation steps The implementation of this strategy is based on six principles. The first four principles deal with the development of the blue ocean strategy and can be explained as follows. Formulation of the blue ocean strategy is based on the concept of value innovation. Value innovation is â€Å"the simultaneous pursuit of differentiation and low cost† (Kim Mauborgne 2005, p. 6). The first principle involves reconstructing the boundaries of the market (Kim Mauborgne 2005, p. 47). This means that the firm moves from the red ocean to the blue ocean. This transition is illustrated in figure 1. It is the first stage in formulating the blue ocean idea. The transition involves considering six options referred to as the six paths.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The options include identifying new opportunities â€Å"across the industry, buyer groups and strategic groups† (Kim Mauborgne 2005, p. 48). For example, the firm can identify a need that has not yet been satisfied in the market. The other options involve identifying opportunities â€Å"across time, scope of product or service offering and functional-emotional orientation of the industry† (Kim Mauborgne 2005, p. 49). â€Å"Focusing on the big pictureâ €  (Kim Mauborgne 2005, p. 81) is the second principle. This is the planning stage and is achieved through the four action framework. The application of this framework is illustrated in figure 2 and can be explained as follows. The first element involves creating new factors that do not exist in the industry. For example, a new product that satisfies an existing or an emerging need. The second element involves identifying the most valuable needs or factors and satisfying them through superior services or products. An example of this element will involve focusing on superior products by significantly improving their quality. The third element is characterized by the identification and elimination of the factors or needs that are no longer relevant in the industry (Kim Mauborgne 2005, p. 92). For example, product features that are no longer useful to customers can be eliminated. Finally, the firm is expected to indentify and reduce the factors that should be maintained below the industry level. For example, the price can be maintained at below the industry level in order to facilitate market penetration. These elements facilitate the process of value innovation. The third principle involves creating new demand. This involves aggregating demand by focusing on the commonalities of noncustomers. Getting â€Å"the strategic sequence right† (Kim Mauborgne 2005, p. 117) is the fourth principle. The strategic sequence refers to the manner in which the blue ocean idea should be executed in order to ensure stable and consistent growth. Thus the firm must properly address the utility and cost concerns. Besides, it must formulate effective pricing policies and meet the adoption requirements in order to realize a feasible blue ocean strategy. The fifth and the six principles deal with the implementation of the blue ocean strategy. The fifth principle involves surmounting the organizational barriers. It is based on the concept of tipping leadership which deals w ith the management of organizational risks. The organizational risks that should be addressed at this stage include â€Å"cognitive, motivational and resource risks† (Kim Mauborgne 2005, p. 147). The last principle involves incorporating the execution into the strategy. It is based on the concept of fair process which addresses management risks such as attitudes. It helps in ensuring cooperation at the implementation stage.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Marketing Strategy Models, Tools and Techniques specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Example The mobile phone money transfer services in East Africa can illustrate the strategy. The low segment of the market had been taken for granted by local banks in the region. Thus Safaricom, the dominant mobile phone services provider, looked across its product line and consumer groups and identified the opportunity. It was the first firm to launch mobile phone money transfer services (blue ocean idea) in partnership with banks in the region (Safaricom 2011). It also targeted the low income earners who had no bank accounts. Due to the value added by the new service, the firm’s customer base tripled in one year. Strengths and Weaknesses The strategy has two strengths which are as follows. First, it provides consistent and reproducible procedures that can be used by all firms to formulate a blue ocean strategy (Welhrich 2010, p. 125). Second, its tools are visual oriented and this facilitate clear understanding of the concepts. The main weakness of the strategy is that it does not emphasis the role of brand and communication. It assumes that value innovation is realized automatically (Welhrich 2010, p. 126). However, this might not be the case due to external factors such as legal requirements. Guerilla Marketing Definition This is a â€Å"form of marketing which relies on the use of innovative, unexpected and quirky techniques to familiar ize people with a brand† (Levinson 2005, p. 5). Thus it is an unconventional marketing strategy that depends on time, energy and creativity instead of financial capital. Objective The objective of guerilla marketing is to gain publicity through unconventional marketing methods (Levinson 2005, p. 10). Thus it focuses on the formulation of a unique and engaging marketing strategy. This helps in attracting and retaining customers. Implementation Steps Guerilla marketing is meant for the small or medium sized firms. However, the large sized firms can also use it to market their products. It can be implemented as follows. The first step involves setting the marketing objectives. Under normal circumstances, the main objective should be to get as many referrals and transactions as possible from the existing clients.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The marketer should also aim at cooperating with his competitors instead of outperforming them. The second step involves formulating the marketing strategy. The marketing strategy should be â€Å"based on human psychology† (Jay Jannie 2007, p. 13) and informed by creative and unique ideas. The third stage involves selecting the marketing communication channel. A number of channels should be used in order to maximize results. The marketer’s messages should target individuals in order to engage the customers effectively (Levinson 2005, p. 37). Modern technology such as the internet should be used to enhance effective communication (Baltes Leibing 2007, vol.109, pp. 46-55). Planning for the implementation is done in the fourth stage. The plan should focus on time, energy and creativity instead of financial resources. This is followed by the implementation of the marketing plan which involves rolling-out the marketing campaign using the chosen communication channels. The final stage involves measuring the success of the strategy. In this case, profit is the main success indicator. Example An example of guerilla marketing involves a video advert that does not conform to the usual procedures. For instance, the advert can be made unique by defying the recommended color choices, contrast and the balance between pictures and words. Another example involves issuing free samples to the public. Strengths and Weakness The main advantage of guerilla marketing is that it requires little resources but maximizes results (Levinson 2005, p. 56). It also helps companies to establish long-term relationships with their clients since it focuses on individuals. The main weakness of the strategy is that profits might not be the best measure of success (Levinson 2005, p. 67). This is because a rise in profits could be as a result of any other factor such as improvement in efficiency instead of the effectiveness of the marketing strategy. Porter’s Diamond of Compe titive Advantage Definition This is a framework that illustrates the â€Å"manner in which an organization’s ability to create competitive advantages at the international level is influenced by its home base† (Walker 2003, p. 117). The base (country) is associated with the factors that enable or prevents a firm from creating competitive advantages in the global market. Objective The objective of this technique is to provide the information that is needed to identify the available resources and how to develop them in order to create advantages (Walker 2003, p. 120). The information also influences the innovation process. Implementation Steps According to Porter, a country’s competitiveness is determined by four factors namely, â€Å"firm strategy, structure and rivalry, demand conditions, related and supporting industries and factor conditions† (Morschett, Schramm Zentes 2010, p. 78). The interrelationship between these determinants is illustrated by figu re 3 (the diamond) and can be explained as follows. Factor condition is the first element on the diamond. According to this element, a nation usually generates its own factors of production. The impotence of these factors depends on the degree to which they are developed and used in a country. The shortage of the factors thus necessitates innovation (Walker 2003, p. 145). In the context of marketing, this element helps in planning for resource allocation. For example, a firm in a country with cheap internet technology will focus on e-marketing in order to reduce costs. The demand condition is the second element. In this case, local firms will be more interested in a product than foreign firms if the demand for that product is higher in the domestic market as compared to the overseas market. Thus competitive advantages are created when the product is exported. A â€Å"strong trend setting local market helps local firms anticipate global trends† (Walker 2003, p. 158). This is b ased on the fact that the local market has a greater potential to determine the ability of the firms to identify customer’s needs as compared to international markets. Thus this element helps a firm to understand the demand for its products in order to formulate the right marketing strategy. The third element relates to the effect of the related and supporting industries. According to this element, firms will benefit from relatively cheap and innovative inputs if the supporting industries in the domestic market are competitive. This effect is reinforced if there is a strong competition among suppliers at the international level (Morschett, Schramm Zentes 2010, p. 97). â€Å"Firm strategy, structure and rivalry† (Walker 2003, p. 171) is the last element. It relates to the management style and the manner in which companies are organized. This determines the work morel and the operation of the firms. Thus a country whose business laws support an effective company structu re will have more advantages. Figure 3 indicates that the four factors are interdependent. For instance, innovation can not be realized due to factor disadvantages in the absence of rivalry. The role of the government is to encourage firms to be more competitive. It does this through regulation and facilitating the creation of factors of production. Example The Japanese motor industry illustrates the application of this technique. Car manufacturers from Japan have dominated the global car industry due to the following advantages. Factor condition is represented by the large number of highly skilled mechanical engineers in the country. The demand condition in the country is characterized by â€Å"a demanding market due to the written language† (Sally 2005, vol. 10, pp. 341-356). There is a large number of supporting as well as related industries that supply car parts at low costs and high quality. Rivalry in the country’s car industry led to innovation as well as cost r eduction. Finally, the government supports the industry through incentives such as tax holidays. Strength and Weaknesses The main strength of the strategy is that it provides a comprehensive analysis of the factors that determine the competitiveness of a firm at the international level (Walker 2003, p. 25). The information provided by this analysis informs the process of formulating the marketing plan. The disadvantage of the strategy is that it focuses only on the industry. It ignores the contributions of individual firms in regard to the process of creating competitive advantages. BCG Matrix Analysis Definition This is a marketing tool â€Å"that uses a chart to analyze the performance of products or business units† (Kurtz Snow 2009, p. 65). The analysis focuses on the market share as well as the growth rate associated with a brand or a business unit. Objective The main objective of the BCG matrix analysis is to provide the information that is needed when allocating resour ces. It enables managers to identify the brands that should be funded and those that should be eliminated (Kurtz Snow 2009, p. 71). Implementation Steps The BCG matrix is illustrated by figure 4. Drawing the graph is the first step in using the technique. The graph is then used to rank the â€Å"products or business units according to their market share and growth rates† (Grant 2005, p. 488). The circles on the graph (figure 4) represent the products. The size of the circle corresponds to the product’s market share. The graph (figure 4) is divided into four parts which can be explained as follows. The cash cow represents the brands whose market shares are high (Grant 2005, p. 488). Besides, the industries of such brands are characterized by a slow growth rate. The revenue generated by products in this category exceeds the amount needed to sustain the firm. This means that such products are profitable and every firm strives to own them. The dogs represent products asso ciated with â€Å"low market share in a mature and slow-growing industry† (Grant 2005, p. 489). Products in this category are only capable of breaking-even. This means that the revenue they generate is hardly enough to sustain the firm. Thus they should be sold since they lower returns on assets. Question marks denote the products associated with rapid growth and thus maintaining them requires a lot of financial resources. The products in this category do not generate a lot of revenue since their market share is low. They are expected to attain the â€Å"status of cash cows if the market growth rate declines† (Kurtz Snow 2009, p. 92). Stars denote products whose market shares are high and their industries are characterized by rapid growth. They usually attain the status of cash cows when the growth declines (Kurtz Snow 2009, p. 93). Example The British Airline illustrates the application of BCG matrix analysis. The company has four product lines namely, long-haul fli ghts, regional flights, domestic flights and mail services (British Airways 2011). Regional flights (within Europe) accounts for 70% of the firm’s revenue (British Airways 2011). This is therefore the cash cow since the industry is also mature. The long-haul flights market (intercontinental) is mature and dominated by major airlines such as Lufthansa. British Airways’ market share is thus low (British Airways 2011). Consequently, the firm discontinued some of its long-haul flights and opted for an alliance with American airlines in order to connect its passengers to the discontinued routes. The long-haul flights are thus classified as dogs. British Airways being the largest airline in UK has the largest market share in the domestic aviation industry. The industry is growing rapidly as more firms join it. Thus the domestic flights are classified as stars. The mail services are classified as question marks. This is because even though their market is growing rapidly, the cost of offering the services is high due to the rise in fuel prices. Strengths and Weaknesses The main strength of the BCG strategy is that it facilitates rational allocation of resources. Such allocations are based on the performance of a product line. However, the strategy is associated with two weaknesses which are as follows. First, it only concentrates on â€Å"market share, industry growth rate and profitability† (Grant 2005, p. 489). Thus it ignores other aspects of the industry such as competition. Second, it is not very accurate since ranking of the products is done subjectively. Appendix Figure 1 This figure illustrates the factors that facilitate the transition from the red ocean (marked red) to the blue ocean (marked blue). The factors that facilitate this transition are listed in the white region (Kim Mauborgne 2005, p. 4). Figure 2 This figure illustrates the framework for achieving value innovation that is denoted by the new value curve (at the center) (Kim Mauborgne 2005, p. 4). Figure 3 Porter’s diamond This figure shows the interrelationship between the factors that determine the competitiveness of a country (Walker 2003, p. 117). Figure 4 BCG matrix analysis This figure illustrates how the performance of products is analyzed according to their market share and growth (Kurtz Snow 2009, p. 91). References Baltes, G Leibing, I 2007, ‘Guerilla marketing’, New Library world, vol. 109, no. 2, pp. 46-55. British Airways 2011, Annual reports, https://www.britishairways.com/travel/home/public/en_ua. Grant, R 2005, Contemporary strategy analysis, John Willy and Sons, New York. Jay, L Jannie, L 2007, Startup guide to guerrilla marketing, Entrepreneur Press, London. Kim, C Mauborgne, R 2005, Blue ocean strategy: how to create uncontested market space, Harvard Business School Publishing, New York. Kurtz, D Snow, K 2009, Contemporary marketing, Cengage Learning, New York. Levinson, J 2005, Guerilla marketing during tough times, Morgan James Publishing, Boston. Morschett, D, Schramm, H Zentes, J 2010, Strategic international management, Gabler Verlag, London. Safaricom 2011, Products, https://www.safaricom.co.ke/. Sally, S 2005, ‘Does Porter’s diamond hold in the global automobile industry?’, Advances in Competitiveness Research, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 341-356. Walker, G 2003, Modern competitive strategy, McGraw-Hill, New York. Welhrich, H 2010, Management, McGraw-Hill, New York. This report on Marketing Strategy Models, Tools and Techniques was written and submitted by user Juan V. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Simpsons Essays - Television, Series, Entertainment, Free Essays

Simpsons Essays - Television, Series, Entertainment, Free Essays Simpsons Who watches The Simpsons? Composition and Rhetoric For this assignment I watched the show The Simpsons, which comes on the Fox network on Sunday nights at eight. The show is about an animated nuclear family and their everyday lives. The Simpsons targets the middle class families that live in the suburbs of America. The show mainly appeals to families that composed of parents who work at blue-collar jobs and have children, between the ages of 10-18. You can tell this from the commercials, how The Simpsons life style is portrayed and the jokes contained in the show. The commercials seen along side the Simpsons apply to the middle class family. These commercials are meant for both the adults and the children who watch the Simpsons. One such commercial is for Toys R Us. The commercial shows a mom and dad taking their son to the local Toys R Us. Inside the store we get shots of the newest toys to appeal to the kids who are watching the commercial. The commercial then states that it has the most toys for the lowest price. This statement is meant to appeal to the parents who have a low income and can only buy toys that are inexpensive. Among other commercials that are viewed during The Simpsons are family vacation advertisements. One such one is of a family going to Disney world. The commercials states that Disney world has everything for everyone in the family. The advertisement shows the Dad playing golf, which is meant to appeal to the dads who watch the Simpsons. The commercial also shows the mom buying something at the gift shop, which is meant to appeal to the moms who watch the show. And finally the commercial shows the children going on the rides, which is meant to appeal to the kids who watch the show. Another commercial seen with The Simpsons is a commercial for a mini van. In this commercial the mini van is compared to a standard two-door car. The commercial asks, How are you going to fit your family in that two-door car? This commercial is meant to appeal to people who have a large family that needs all that extra space only a mini van can provide. Also the min van comes equipped with a small T.V, and shows kids watching it. This is meant to appeal to children who now instead of just sitting there can watch TV on long trips. All these commercials deal with families. So that means that the television channel is trying to advertise to families who watch The Simpsons. Also the Simpsons mirrors the lifestyle of the people who are watching the show. The show always deals with middle class situations that the viewers can relate to. The family in the show consists of a middle class family with two parents and three kids. Both of the parents graduated from high school and that is the extent of their education. The dad holds a job at the local nuclear power plant. His wife is a housewife and the two kids attend public elementary school. Many of the problems seen in The Simpsons are similar to those, which occur to middle class suburban families. This would appeal to middle class families because they can identify with problems facing The Simpsons. In one episode Bart the eldest son has problems with school bully. He gets into a fight and is beaten up. Later his parents find out about his problem. His mom tells him to tell on the bully while his dad tells him to fight back and shows him how to fight. The parents watching can really relate to The Simpsons. They have dealt with similar situations with their own kids being bulled or getting into fights. While the kids who watch The Simpsons can identify with Bart and his problems with the bully. One other episode The Simpsons had to move because Homer lost his job at the nuclear power plant and showed how the family had to readjust to living in a new town. The episode showed how both the parents and children had to meet new people. Middle class families can understand the frustration that comes along with moving to