Business Career Center.com

Once upon a time, discount stores were the domain of the poverty-stricken, the low-income, and the nonachiever, but in today’s economy, people of all income levels are doing brisk business at discount stores. Middle and even high income buyers now see discount stores as not only convenient and thrifty but also a great way to avoid the “luxury shame” that goes along with having wealth when surrounded by others who don’t.

Today’s consumer is complex, and buying decision stem not just from income levels and taste, but also social stigma and cultural distinctions. Business men and women would do well to consider these factors when seeking job opportunities. There was a time when only a job at a high-end retail chain seemed appropriate for a college graduate, but these days shooting low can bring high earnings.

Recent college graduates often drift from one job to another before settling on a career. This is a pretty common occurrence and nothing to be ashamed of. Each college graduate faces his or her own demons when it comes to settling into a permanent career. Some wish to spend time traveling and others simply want to explore their options, but when it finally comes down to selecting a career, many choose business.

The reason for business as a wise choice is simply that it never goes out of style. Business has existed as a career since people first began trading cowrie shells for bags of rice and it is still in existence today, with computers and virtual worlds doing much of our trading for us. “Business” basically means “trade.” It is the world of exchanging good and services for money that can buy other goods and services. In that sense, it is the very thing that provides security to millions of individuals the world over. We all engage in business at some time in our lives, whether it is setting up a lemonade stand as a child, or exchanging information in a study group as adolescents. We all give something to get something, and that is the essence of business. So, if you are a college graduate, take your time deciding on a path, but know that in the end, business will be a lucrative career that draws from many of the experiences you have already had in life.

If your business is in the craft field, the home remodeling or redecorating field, the book market, the health food market, or many other markets, you will often find yourself at trade shows. These shows can be fun, but also tiring. Business owners often get so tired of doing these shows that they dread them. But with a little experience under your belt, surviving trade shows isn’t so difficult. It’s just a matter of knowing some simple trade show tips:

1. Think of working the show as a performance
2. Get your energy high first thing in the morning so you don’t miss those 8 am to 10 am customers
3. Drink plenty of water throughout the day
4. Take short breaks every few hours and get some fresh air
5. Always work with a team—never alone
6. Eat light, high energy meals, like an athlete
7. Sleep at night. Save the partying until it’s all over

With these hints in mind, you an survive and thrive at trade shows. Because so many businesses depend upon them, it is essential to create a “trade show strategy” where your whole team understands what is necessary to get the most out of the experience. That means hard work, but it also means taking breaks and eating right.

As we approach 2010 and the start of a new decade, many business men and women are making resolutions to improve their careers in the new year. But how is it that some folks manage to keep their resolutions, using them as guiding principles all year long, and others seem to forget all about them? There are actually techniques for keeping resolutions that will help you keep your career on track and move forward, so let’s learn some of them:

• Always keep your eye on the prize. That means don’t make short-term responses to long-term problems. Don’t sabotage your own career just because someone at the office made it unpleasant for you. Stay focused on what you are trying to achieve, don’t allow emotional concerns to overwhelm you, and only make choices that move you forward!

• Break large goals down into smaller pieces. It is hard to fulfill a grand goal, such as “get a promotion” or “start a new career” without piecing it out into the various mini-steps needed to climb that hill. Give each small piece of the puzzle a timeline of its own, and watch those accomplishments build up until—voila!—you have achieved your highest goal.

• In addition to making the mini-goals, as mentioned above, you must keep track of the accomplishments you make. Keep a notebook or digital document where you notate your various accomplishments. Some of these will be directly goal related. Others may not be, but being able to view all that you have accomplished over the course of a year will build yoru confidence in yourself and encourage you to keep on trying and keep on dreaming!

If you are interested in developing a business career, don’t be deterred by the state of the economy. Today, in some sectors, small businesses are doing better than ever. With the collapse of large financial firms and insurance businesses in recent months, many job seekers are choosing to cast their lot with more modestly sized companies. Forbes Magazine recently published a list of the 200 best small companies of 2009, so let’s take a look at the top ten:

1. Lumber Liquidators
2. Allegiant Travel
3. Quality Systems
4. LHC Group
5. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
6. Transcend Services
7. Rackspace Hosting
8. NVE
9. American Public Education
10. American Science and Engineering

Each and every one of the above companies has shown both sales and earnings growth and has an annual revenue between $5 and $750 million. These publicly traded companies have stock prices no lower than $5, so while they are “small” by big business standards, each one of the above is large enough to offer you, as a potential employee, all the benefits you expect from a successful corporation. When you are seeking employment, lists like these will be helpful to you. You must always consider that you don’t just want someone to hire you, you want the right company to hire you. You want a company whose success has been publicly announced in a list such as the Forbes 200 Most Successful Small Companies. Such an accreditation gives you confidence that this company will grow with you!