When you think about it, it’s really quite amazing how quickly technology has changed our world in such a short time. It could be debated that this growth is unprecedented in human history. Perhaps, the discovery of fire, the wheel, written language, or the printing press may fit into this category because they completely changed the way people do things.

Storage Disasters from Paper to Chips

The point is that computers have changed the way we interact and do business. It has been such a change that it seems like eons ago that we put everything on paper.

Paper is vulnerable to the elements, such as water and fire, and they needed a great deal of space for storage. Paper could get also get lost, and sometimes data on your computer gets lost, too, but you probably won’t lose your computer.

These factors, of course, are the main reasons why computers were embraced with a fury once their size became less of a burden. But, it’s left us vulnerable in familiar and new ways.

Fire and water can still ruin our computers. These are the familiar vulnerabilities. The new ways are the dependence on electricity, system crashes, and those nasty viruses that people inexplicably put out there because they can.

These were things we didn’t have to worry about with paper. But, what did we do to protect ourselves for potential paper loss? We made copies. Sometimes in triplicate. And we stored them in different locations to protect the information that they contained.

The Need for Internet Storage

We can do this with our computers, too. You can back things up on CDs, or on another computer in your network. If you’re a business, you likely have your own servers that store all the data your company needs. But, even those are vulnerable if there is some kind of old or new disaster.

Internet storage is a way of storing your information on a source outside of your home or company computers and servers. This method of internet storage is becoming an ever increasing popular tool for businesses and people who want to save personal data like photos, music, and more.

Do we really need it? It can’t hurt. And despite our leap into technological advancement, there’s still a few things we can learn from our paper-toting forebears. Keep copies of everything, and don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Internet storage gives us a few more baskets.

Convictions of serious criminal charges (namely felonies) often result in hefty fines, a tarnished record and a damaged reputation.  Depending on the severity of the crime, you may also be facing potential jail or even prison time ranging anywhere from a few days to even years behind bars.  Furthermore, criminal conviction could affect job, college and even loan applications.

It’s important to know that skilled, experienced and competent lawyers will charge more than those who aren’t.  A lawyer who has won many cases similar to yours will obviously charge more than an attorney right out of law school.  In regards to legal counsel, cost often equates to experience and skill.  With so much at stake – your freedom, your finances and most importantly, your future – the last thing you want is to have an inexperienced lawyer representing you and presenting your case to the courts.

It may seem like a lot of money to spend but can you really put a price tag on your freedom and potentially your future?  Whether you need a California DUI attorney or Maryland criminal lawyer, do yourself (and your family) a favor by hiring a seasoned attorney who is skilled and proficient in the type of law and criminal offense your case falls under.

Health Care
People get sick no matter what state the economy is in.  Thus, doctors, nurses, CNA’s, physical therapists, and virtually all other health-related careers are likely to remain relatively secure despite a flagging economy.

Law Enforcement
Crime actually rises during an economic downturn so police officers, detectives, and other law enforcement officials typically remain in high demand throughout the country, especially in densely-populated areas.

Trucking
Though business may have slowed slightly because of the recession, truck driver jobs are vital to the economy since they transport and deliver virtually every good manufactured, used, or consumed in the United States.

Education
As the U.S. tries to compete with other nations in technology and engineering and the immigrant population continues to increase, the demand for teachers (namely those of math, science, and English as a second language) will grow as well.

Government
It’s estimated that more than half a million federal government employees will retire by the year 2016. leaving vacancies in virtually every government agency from the CIA to NASA.  In addition, there will be a wide range of state and local opportunties available as well and the government rarely lays off employees.

What is a Merchant Account?
Simply put, a merchant account is a specialized bank account extended to merchants that allows them to accept online payments in the form of credit or debit cards.  It also serves as a contractual agreement between the merchant, the bank, and a payment processor for the settlement of credit/debit card transactions.

What Costs are Involved Using  a Merchant Account?
Regardless of the amount of an individual transaction, there are likely fixed fees that apply in order to process the transaction.  These include (but are not limited to):

• Application Fee – Typically a one-time cost, application fees are charged for processing the initial merchant account application and setting it up.  Not all service providers charge an application fee.
• Monthly Fees – Most (if not all) service providers will charge a flat, fixed monthly fee to use their services.
• Annual Fees – In addition, many providers also charge an annual flat fee paid once a year for their services.
• Transaction Fees – Each transaction processed will likely have its own fee, the amount dependent upon the overall transaction amount.
• Cancellation Fee -  A service provider may require a cancellation fee should you choose to terminate the contract prematurely.  Most providers require a contract between one to three years.

What’s the First Step to Set Up a Merchant Account?
Merchant accounts are available through a handful of financial institutions including banks and ISO’s, or independent sales organizations (also commonly known as third-party merchant account providers).   Merchant service providers (which can often be banks and ISO’s as well) also provide merchant accounts and other credit card processing services.

Click here to learn more about merchant accounts and what you need to know to get started!

With so much information and a variety of worthwhile resources, it’s hard to choose which aspect of YoungEntrepreneur.com is my hands-down favorite. The Young Entrepreneur forum provides a platform for users to ask questions, garner feedback, offer advice, and take part in the rapidly growing trend of young startups and entrepreneurs. The myriad of well-written, niche articles offer all the basics for Entrepreneurship 101 and provide information on pretty much all things business, from internet marketing to conducting international business. Furthermore, the blog (managed by Evan Carmichael) is an entrepreneur’s dream – fresh, new content daily designed to help you grow and nurture your business.

Ok, so I lied. I do have a favorite part of website: Entrepreneurship University, a weekly post where experts (a.k.a. successful entrepreneurs and business leaders) share advice, experiences, and life lessons. What better place to glean valuable and beneficial information that can help you and your business than from those who have achieved what you are diligently and incessantly striving for?

Struggling with your business model? Want to learn more about personnel policies? How about finding ways to reduce costs and overhead? Check out YoungEntrepreneur.com.

When the economy slows down and begins a steady spiral towards a recession, consumer confidence drops and businesses from Wall Street to Main Street feel the pinch.  Yet a handful of jobs and industries remain stable despite a recession and even flourish.  Such jobs must meet certain criteria in order to thrive during harsh economic times.  They are typically jobs that are in high demand, require certain skills, and continue to provide goods or services despite happenings in the economy.

Energy - Jobs within all sectors of energy including gas, oil, and alternative energy are likely to boom despite a downturn in the economy for two reasons: more than two-thirds of current workers in the oil industry will retire over the next ten years increasing the number of available jobs.  In addition, the massive push to lessen the U.S’ dependence on foreign oil will open jobs to explore alternative energy methods.

Liquor Shops – A slow economy typically means people will be spending their limited discretionary dollars on home-based entertainment in an effort to save money.  Many consumers view alcohol as an affordable luxury, so alcohol sales will remain up and possibly increase as consumers take to the bottle to ease financial stress and worries. Â

Healthcare Professionals - People don’t stop getting sick or injured during tough times so the need for healthcare professionals will remain steady, as many benefit from inflated salaries and secure positions.

Truck Driving Jobs – Did you know that roughly 75% of all consumer goods are delivered by commercial truck?  Without truck drivers, Americans would not have the items that make daily life what it is.  From small, private trucking companies to major carriers (such as Swift jobs), a truck driving job can provide great pay and job security during a weak economy.

Real Estate Investing - Given the subprime mortgage crisis and crumbling of the financial industry, real estate is obviously not a recession-proof industry that comes to mind.  However, if you have the discretionary funds and resources, real estate investors can scoop up foreclosed properties for next to nothing and sit on them until they can turn a major profit.

Crematories - People don’t stop having funerals during a bad economy; however, they are re-thinking how they do them.  Cremation has skyrocketed in popularity because it is a much more affordable alternative to a traditional burial (roughly $1,500 compared to a burial which can cost anywhere from $6,000 to $9,000).

Federal Government – Known for offering employees outstanding benefits, Uncle Sam is also a great employer during a recession (or close to one).  On average, the federal government hires 2% of the American workforce and during harsh economic times, vacant positions are not filled as opposed to letting employees go.

How is your company going green?

The second was to earn more income to pay off tens of thousands of dollars in escalated debt. We both work full-time and getting a second job sounded exhausting.

Instead, I am going to work part-time selling items on eBay. I know many people do it full-time, using a dropship service to supply products. My husband bought me eBay Business All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies for Christmas so I can immediately get started on my new business. I can’t wait for my new business to get started and to be completely debt-free!