The Servant - A Book Summary

In order to lead, you must serve. This is the solid





premise of the book "The Servant" by James C. Hunter.





It is discussed through the tale of John Daily, a





business executive who starts to lose his grip as boss,





husband, father, and coach. He was talked into going





on a week-long retreat at a Benedictine Monastery to re-center and find his balance. During the retreat, a





former Wall Street legend turned monk shows





him a different perspective on leadership - servant leadership.

The Ten Attributes of Love and Leadership





The book enumerated the following as the qualities of





a servant leader. Incidentally, these are also the





attributes of love, which was defined earlier as one's behavior towards others.

1. Patient - showing self-control.

2. Kind - giving attention, appreciation, and





encouragement.

3. Humble - being authentic without pretense or





arrogance.

4. Respectful - treating others as important people.

5. Selfless - meeting the needs of others.

6. Forgiving - giving up resentment when wronged.

7. Honest - being free from deception.

8. Committed - sticking to your choices.

All these behaviors will entail you to serve and





sacrifice for others. This would mean setting aside





your own wants and needs to focus on the legitimate





needs of others.

You need to realize that success does not only come





from hard work and appropriately playing the part.





To be successful in business and in your career, you





must be able to distinguish yourself from the rest





of the pack - you need to develop, build and defend





your reputation.

The Law of the Harvest

Remember: you reap what you sow. For authority or





influence to flourish, the right environment must be





provided and a nurturing behavior must be present. In





a garden, the soil, the sun, the water, the fertilizer,





and the care given by the gardener all make up the





environment under which the plant will grow and mature.





The one thing that you are not sure of, however, is





when the flowers will actually bloom. Bear in mind





that influence is not a magical beanstalk that will





sprout overnight; rather, it is





something that grows in time.

The Rewards of Leading with Authority

Leading with authority enables you to have a personal





mission statement: to serve the people you lead, to





listen to their needs, to give praise and recognition,





to show kindness, and to be honest, among other things.





When servant leadership becomes your ethos in life,





people would be lining up to join your cause.

By serving others and loving your neighbors, you are





keeping in line with the doctrines of the Church as





well as other religions. You mature psychologically





and spiritually, which is essentially the end goal of





the individual's journey through life.

While the above payoffs are well and good, the most





important reward of all is the joy you will experience





when you put others first and free yourself from the





chains of self-centeredness. As a certain Dr. Albert





Schweitzer wisely puts it, "I don't know what your





destiny will be, but one thing I do know. The only ones





among you who will be really happy are those who will





have sought and found how to serve."

About the Author:

James Hunter is the author of the internationally





best-selling book The Servant, subtitled A Simple Story





About the True Essence of Leadership. Now translated





into nine (9) languages, The Servant teaches the time





less principles of Servant Leadership and is the text





used in many MBA and other higher education curriculum





around the world.

The Importance of Quality Banking Software

Perhaps as never before, the necessity for excellent banking software has become evident. Retail banking requires a client-focused approach that will attract new customers and maintain them in a long term business relationship. One way to ensure customer satisfaction has been to guarantee rapid response to questions as well as information-gathering for business transactions.

New banking software technology can provide broad retail functionality while it supports various multi-channel models simultaneously. Scalability and resilience are also important features in quality software for banking needs. New core banking applications need to be able to address and support merger and acquisitions activities.

A new concern has been raised by the recent financial collapses within the banking industry. Astute attention to collateral management may have played a positive role in averting some of the humiliating losses that occurred and adversely affected so many smaller banks and loan institutions as well as the customers they represented. Quality banking software is being developed to include systems that monitor contractual descriptions and types. It will have the capacity of maintaining customer information, contractual data, and credit count relationships. This will be a significant part of any core banking application program.

Excellent financial software is also available for corporate and correspondent banking requirements. This banking software can introduce new business models as it responds speedily to ever-changing market conditions. It can reduce costs and identify and manage the risk factors at work, as well. In contractual management, this feature will assist in recognizing contractual shifts in value before they can cause significant damage. An excellent banking computer program will be flexible enough to include new products as they become available and should improve the overall efficiency of the banking business. All of these improvements should add value to the customer relationship which, of course, is paramount.

When one thinks in terms of universal banking, the amount of information that must be collected, processed, re-calculated regularly, and stored is mind-boggling. More and more banks have chosen to simply out source some of this mass of data collections, including information in contractual management, rather than handle it in-house. New technology will allow for broader functionality in the banking service. Various different kinds of banking products will be able to move across all kinds of channels, especially on the international level. This agility will enable banks to compete with the large international financial institutions that venture into their markets.

When considering the best in banking software, one must look at its "functional richness" as well as its scalability and flexibility. It must be adaptable to the latest in open technology, and it should include a system- connectivity with bilateral management. Customers today want as close to real-time views as possible. They want quick access to their counter-party's collateral and exposures. The ability to function with broad and sweeping informational strokes will strengthen the attractiveness and competitiveness of banking operations for the approaching years.

Distracted Driving Is a Bigger Problem Than We Thought

The numbers do not lie: 37,150 people in the US died due to distracted driving in 2017. But, sadly that is not the worst part of the news. Researchers are finding that there is no single cause to preventing distracted driving.

This means that there is no direct route to a solution resulting in more and more deaths. Right now, the only thing proven to work is to spread awareness about distracted driving.

Another thing that experts are deciding to try is how to make smartphone connectivity to cars to take less attention. Almost every new car on the market makes it easy to connect your phone to your car.

You are able to stream music, map directions, and in some cases even order food, coffee, etc. This is taking many drivers' attention away from the road, in drivers aged 17 to 22 spend at least 12% of their time behind the wheel messing with their smart phones. Any percentage of time on your phone behind the wheel is too much time directed away from the road.

Both Apple and Android have their own extensions for cars. At one point Apple demanded more of customers' attention than the Android version when entering directions and getting from one place to another. But, when it came to texting Android was by far more of a distraction. However, both must make a change to reduce the threat of distracted driving.

With all of the new tech in cars, come inward facing cameras. Some people are not okay with that for privacy reasons which is understandable as to a degree, it is a basic right, in most peoples' eyes. However, these cameras may help develop self-driving cars with the data it collects. Additionally, it may be our answer to solving the distracted driving epidemic.

The data the cameras collected from crashes and everyday driving habits can be analyzed by experts to determine how to make the new technology in vehicles less cognitively demanding or even develop an algorithm to prevent inappropriate use while the vehicle is in motion.

But, how much privacy are consumers really willing to give up? How much of their data are companies entitled to? Right now, there is not much regulation, but it is probably coming soon as new cars will soon all have this technology.

There must be some type of compromise because when this data is used appropriately, breakthroughs can happen. For example, a lot of the tracking built into these cars can prevent crimes. A lot of the data provided can solve the mystery of crashes, including distracted driving crashes and provoke ideas on how to prevent them. The results can save money on auto insurance, medical bills, and most importantly lives which are priceless.

However, it is ultimately up to drivers to stop practicing distracted driving habits. Remember, distracted driving does not only come from cell phone and car functions taking your eyes off of the road. It also includes eating, drinking, putting on makeup and more. It must be put to an end to reduce the number of accidents and casualties.

How Long Can a Bad Debt Be Collected?

There are different views on how long an unsecured bad debt is collected. For the debtors they will relly on the statute of limitations where after seven years the creditors will not be able to pursue the debts anymore. On the creditor's side, they will still have options especially if the debts are already with collection agencies and court rulings are accepted. An unsecured bad debt may already be written off on the claimant's books but these accounts can also be turned over to collection agencies and they will do the collection efforts themselves. They will be those who will send collection notices and demand letters in order to pursue these collection efforts.

Actually an unsecured bad debt can still be collected especially if a court judgment has been made. The account can also be counted as active if payments have been made. After the last payment the debt can still be pursued and collected within a seven year period, counting from the last day of payment. Within this period the creditor will make efforts to seek for a court judgment because after seven years the statute of limitations will already set in. This is the prescription period usually set by the law and after this time they will not be able to pursue the debt. However, debtors have to check on the laws in their places because the limitation period may be different, and they have to go with this statute of limitations or prescription period.

If you have a bad debt and you are concerned about how long your creditors can keep on pursuing these debts you have to take into account this prescription period of seven years, or with how many years it will be in your place. It can be of help also if you will not sign demand letters or collection notices so that it can not be used against you. Initials can be made only if these letters are actually handed to you. However, you have to think also that creditors or their agents will do all efforts to collect from you. When these bad debts are already established as yours they can go to the courts and it can be possible that they can get a court judgment.

For your bad debts it may be more to your advantage and peace of mind if you will seek a debt settlement agreement for this. You can get a credit counselor or you can do the negotiations yourself. A credit counselor may have the better option and they can have the possibilities of obtaining negotiable agreements that will be to your advantage. Your debt capital may be lowered and may even have the potential of having the debt balance paid in monthly amortizations that can be extended to a longer term. The percentage rate of your debt may be reduced or the surcharges written off, with the negotiations made. If you have an unsecured bad debt like unpaid credit card debts, it may be better to pay this through a negotiated settlement agreement and not forgetting it completely.

Crucial Factors That Decide The Fortune Of A Mobile App

While businesses had long ago embraced website development to go online, with the advance of smartphones, they leapt further to become mobile-friendly. Having only a website is no longer sufficient enough to catch the attention of customers, but there's need for some mobile-friendly approach too so that customers could access their services on the go. It becomes a paramount necessity for businesses to develop their own customised business app, with which they could target specifically and increase their outreach on the market.

However, despite mobile apps becoming inseparable and pivotal part of businesses as a marketing strategy, a mere percent of apps actually get through the success among the several million listed in the app stores. This is owing to some critical factors that can either make or break a business application. Here's quick recount of some of them.

Faster loading

The first thing app owners need to assure is whether their apps are loading quickly or not. Their loading time, in no way, should exceed more than 15 seconds. An app that works at a snail's speed and take 16-20 seconds to load, is destined to fail because users will be uninstalling it and download an alike app that loads with high-speed.

User-friendly apps are clear winner

An ideal app is that which is exceptionally easy-to-use. For attaining far-reaching attention in the market, it should be intuitive and users could use it without needing anyone's help. Further, with a plentiful of apps available in the same business line, no one is actually interested to spend time in taking instructions on how to use one. They will simply abandon it to find some other app that is simple to use and understand. The best way to keep it simple is incorporating as fewer features as possible, by prioritising only the crucial ones.

Lesser technical faults

Besides being faster, apps that are hard to crash have more chances to become successful and can sustain a longer life cycle. An app needs to pass through several tests to deem perfect for use. Bugs and other technical issues will never allow an app to get closer to their goals of user acquisition. Thus, app makers should ask for assistance from a reliable development team that will not compromise quality or testing for the budget.

Frequent updates are imperative

To affirm success in the long-run, an app maker must commit to release updates of the app consistently to bring new features, advanced functionality or fix the bugs that users earlier experienced while using. No updates after the first release is a major turn-down factor because that shows the absence of credibility from the maker and can cause download rates to decline. It is thus inevitable to release updates at frequent intervals as that keeps users interested.

Easy registration interests the users

One major reason people prefer using apps over a website is its convenience on the go. The makers of the app should try to make their every experience convenient, from signing up to checking out, to make sure of its success. Henceforth, keeping the registration process short and simple with few pieces of information looks fine and more compelling to the users.

These are a handful of influential factors for considerations to make an app successful enough. However, there's always have to be some expert team for real implications of these and to help an app to bear fruits.

Why You Should Enlist the Help of a Debt Recovery Service Today

As anyone who runs a business will know, collecting the money owed is easily one of the most challenging aspects of administration. One of the things you realise after going into business is that clients will always get away with what they can. The majority, of course, will pay up faithfully and on time every time, but there is always a percentage who will--for whatever reason--drag the chain when it comes to payment. Often, it seems, the exact same clients who were exceedingly demanding of your prompt responses during prior transactions. One way in which to take the stress, lost productivity and frustration out of chasing up invoices is to engage the help of a debt collection agency.

What Does a Debt Collection Agency Do?

In terms of managing outstanding accounts, a debt collection agency can provide holistic, big-picture solutions that take the worry, stress and administrative work out of chasing up funds owed to you. From early-intervention call services all the way through to (last resort) legal proceedings, a debt collection agency is your answer to staying on top of who owes what! Depending on the services you need most, you can set up a system whereby overdue invoices are immediately referred to your agency after a certain number of days. You can then agree upon a course of action--for example, how many days you are willing to wait before certain proceedings are undertaken, and you can expect detailed reporting on the status of your unpaid invoices at every step of the way.

Why Outsource?

Depending on the size of your company, chasing up overdue invoices can at the least be a gross misuse of valuable time and productivity, and at worst an entirely impossible undertaking. Debt collection agencies take all the guess-work out of the process, and instead of having to continually spend time and money with back and forth exchanges, it's simply a matter of entrusting the right company to get you the payment you're owed--often far more effectively than you ever thought possible. A debt collection agency holds the added weight and threat of a bad credit rating--something nobody wants--so you'll find that it is often a lot easier for an agent to get results faster. In addition to this, a debt collection service can cater payment plans for clients experiencing financial trouble, and the added 'middle man' can take some of the heat out of situations.

If you're experiencing difficulty with getting clients to pay up, or even if you just want to reevaluate the amount of staff time and resources you expend on following up financial issues, consider enlisting the help of a debt recovery service. The peace of mind and efficiency you'll experience will be almost as beneficial as the cash you'll start to see more of!

Telecoms for Business

Any business relies on technology to operate. With fast and reliable internet connections, strong mobile signals and advanced telecoms systems, it is possible to effectively communicate with customers and collectors, suppliers and partners in a variety of ways. Any business that does not have access to the latest technology is put at a disadvantage.

The accelerated rate at which digital technology has grown in recent years and our reliance on it has put great pressure on the capacity of copper based networks. The wide scale deployment of fiber (often referred to as Fiber to the Premises or FTTP) networks is being seen as the only way to address this and equip homes and businesses with what they need.

A recently released 'Building Gigabit Britain Report' compiled by leading UK businesses highlights the importance of a wide spread fiber network to the long term prospects of British business and the wider economy. As the population embracements advances in digital communications, wireless devices, remote working and competition in global markets, the need for fiber is obvious.

The Report highlights a number of ways in which the Government could, and in opinion of the authors should, support the roll out of a new fiber infrastructure. These include investing in a clear strategy that commits to 80% of the population having access to fast fiber broadband by 2026, with near universal coverage by 2030.

In regards to the regulations which currently govern the industry, it is noted that whilst some regulations help to protect customers, others are more of a hindrance to progress. It suggests that some of the financial barriers are removed and that current regulations are reworked in order to encourage both competition and collaboration from telecoms companies. This is seen as vital for innovation in communications and private investment in rolling out the fiber networks.

The report also raises the importance of advertising guidelines being enforced, so that clear and transparent information is available to the public. The success of many local economies could depend on the timely roll out of fiber and how the process is communicated and managed by local councils and telecoms companies.

Fast and Reliable Broadband

So, if fast and reliable broadband and embracing digital technology is so essential to the future of the British economy, how does it affect your business? Did broadband speed influence your decision on where locate your business? Are you reliant on the roll out of fiber in order to realize the goals in your business plan?

Has fast reliable broadband enabled you to make the most of the latest business telecoms systems? If so, your employees could be as easy to contact (by you and your customers) whether they are at their desk, out at a business event, or working remotely. You could be saving time and money by conference calling partners and clients, rather than meeting in person. You can avoid missing that important call with voice mail and printed transcripts of the message.

Many companies have not upgraded their business telecoms in recent years, it simply has not seemed like the top priority, but much like your IT, there can be significant benefits from streamlining procedures, increasing productivity and integrating one system with another.

Business Telecoms Systems

Your company may have to wait several years before fast and reliable fiber systems are in place, but you can give your operations an advantage by investing in the latest business telecoms systems. If your team are finding it increasingly difficult to manage the increasing volume of calls, or seasonal peaks, then this could be a sign that an upgrade is due.

Other indicators include issues with resolving problems with the system and the prohibitive challenges associated with adding new lines or integrating the phones with other technology. Whilst many Company Directors have concerns about the cost of an upgrade, the reality is that the latest business telecoms are often far more cost effective that older systems and can lead to considerable savings in the long term.