Posts Tagged ‘stress’
Recession Opportunities
Everybody in the nation, and in fact all around the world, will have suffered the recent global economic downturn in one manner or another, possibly as an individual or as a business owner. It might not have had a direct effect upon your own position or your individual earnings, but the knock-on impact of companies dropping revenue will have influenced the financial circumstance of the wide majority of people. It was a very complicated issue with far reaching ramifications.
The recession now appears to be over, or is at the very least coming to an end, according to many economic experts. Although it might not yet be the occasion to celebrate having made it through the financial meltdown, it should be a time to start looking forward and planning for a future within a steady economic climate. It is time to seek some recession opportunities.
Businesses of almost all sizes, buying and selling in all sorts of marketplaces are no doubt going to need to change their operations in light of the recession. This might be after legislation is introduced to more closely control and keep an eye on the action of international financial organisations. Many companies will also be considering techniques to make themselves much more robust and have the ability to withstand economic instability in the future. Either way, there will probably be adjustments for many companies, and where there is change there is opportunity.
The Recent Recession
The recession of the early 21st century began in 2007 and slowly propagated around the world over the next couple of years. Many financial analysts credited the cause of the recession to be the crash in the U.S. property market, which in turn affected the value of monetary products linked into real estate resources.
This drop in value then uncovered the vulnerabilities of such a widespread network of credit contracts between global companies, especially when much of the system was being backed by subprime lenders who were financial liabilities. A general lack of third-party control of the financial services market had permitted the development of a very complicated web of high-risk credit deals which depended upon a thriving economy.
The following financial fallout saw several individuals lose their jobs and also lose their homes, whilst many large, international organisations were forced out of business. Government authorities all over the world had to introduce radical financial programs to support their own banking systems, and even now certain first world countries are struggling to make it through financially.
As public confidence of the consumer banking construct dropped away the planning consultants market observed a rapid drop in gross sales income.
The Impact on Business
It is probably fair to say that the recession had an effect on just about every business around the world. Particular company models will have been more able to adapt to the additional economic stress than others but they will have nevertheless experienced an impact at some portion of their operation. If a key supplier or a key client goes out of business then that will have a bad effect upon your own company.
Many thousands of small and medium sized businesses have been pressured out of business as a result of the recent recession. Several of these situations will have been comparatively basic; as the general public start to decrease their spending these types of companies lose income, and since profit margins are often very slim in a competitive market place there was very little space to accommodate this drop. It is a simple case of supply and demand not meeting in the middle.
Other cases were not so clean cut. There were circumstances where one company in a long supply cycle had been unable to make it through and the knock-on impact would push every business within that supply chain to the edge of bankruptcy. The companies that were able to pull through have had to make extremely tough judgements to ensure they can survive the economic collapse.
Job losses have naturally been a very sensitive subject to the wide majority of us. It is believed that the current number of unemployed people in the UK is over 2.3 million (almost 8% of the total countries’ workforce), and many of these will have been victims of the international financial crisis. These job losses head to a larger drop in typical spending, which results in a further drop in income for business.
The End of Recession
It does seem that the downturn is coming to an end however, and that can only be good news for business. Gross domestic product (GDP) saw a rise in the UK throughout the fourth quarter of 2009 and total unemployment figures fell, both of which are signals of an economy that is recovering.
Industry experts at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have forecast that the UK economy will actually reduce in size over the duration of 2010 and Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England has spoken of the danger of wide-spread joblessness persisting. When added to the possibility of a new or perhaps hung government on its way into power in May 2010, as well as the real need to decrease a massive financial deficit, the foreseeable future is definitely not set in stone.
This uncertainty can be utilised as an advantage though, and companies that are prepared to take a few risks or that are prepared to alter their own operations to cater for a more wary audience could be set to make good profits.
The impact of the tough economy upon the following company selling a phone sock has been somewhat less serious than numerous other businesses within the country.
Price Sensitivity
On the outside it might appear that the obvious technique to use whilst the overall economy is recuperating is to increase your very own sales charges again to a point that offers your business some margin of comfort regarding operating costs. As the market grows and consumers feel more secure in their jobs they will feel relaxed spending extra money, so price raises ought to be an easy thing for consumers to take.
In fact, many businesses may find that they have to keep their selling prices as low as possible due to the recently provoked price sensitivity amongst the general public. Many of us will have had to tighten our belts during the last few years, and simply because the worst of the economic downturn appears to be over, we are not all prepared to start spending freely just yet.
This is a trend that is tough to precisely quantify, but firms will have to be mindful of how their specific consumer community feels toward spending.
The term price sensitivity represents how influential the element of price is to shoppers any time they are purchasing a specific item. If a fairly large price shift, for example increasing the price of a car by £1000, does not provoke a large decrease in demand for that item then the product is said to be price insensitive. If a comparatively modest change in price, say raising the price of a car by only £100, does see a decline in demand then that product is price sensitive. This exact same theory can likewise be applied to consumers themselves, and following a phase of economic downturn people are much more likely to be price sensitive.
As a result, the market at large will have great interest in the costs of the items that they are buying. Several people may be watching out for discounts for everyday products that they need, and in particular their grocery shopping. Several of these things are essentials however. When it comes to purchasing expensive goods, such as televisions, cars and holidays, the price of the purchase is likely to be an more important decision maker.
Businesses will be able to take advantage of this by utilising special discounts and price campaigns to entice new shoppers into buying their products. Shoppers will be a lot more likely than ever to switch from their preferred manufacturers if the price tag is right, and businesses that offer the best priced items are likely to stand to profit from this. After these prospects have become clients there is a great chance that they will remain faithful to their new product choice as the market rebounds further, which could lead to further spending at the initial prices.
One particular business discovered that their own website has been a good means to interact with their customers during the recession.
Financial Security
People’s awareness of the economic system at large as well as how it influences us all has significantly increased in light of the recession. Previous purchasing decisions may well have been made according to the properties of the product and its price, but there is a fresh factor that shoppers will be considering now. Financial security.
Recession Proofing
Many businesses have endured bankruptcy in the aftermath of recession. This has in turn has put thousands of customers in a very poor situation. As people look to reinvest income into personal savings and shareholdings they would prefer to know that the company they are investing in has some kind of safeguard against future recessions.
Price Guarantees
One particular very visible feature of the recent economic downturn in the United Kingdom was the steep decrease in the interest rate. After this change had worked itself through the high street shops and financial services organisations several people discovered that they were either suffering as a consequence or reaping a monetary advantage. Either way, it definitely elevated the profile of the impact that a fluctuating interest rate could have on every day economic products.
Customers who are seeking to open up new savings accounts or private pensions may well be worried that if the recession does in fact carry on for much more time they won’t be earning any significant interest on their investments. In reality, the tough economy may still take a turn for the worst and interest rates could fall again. In this scenario, a savings product that offers a guaranteed rate of return will become a very attractive option.
The same can be said for customers with credit agreements. If the recession is genuinely over and the worldwide market starts to recuperate more swiftly than many expect, then it may not be too long before we see an increase in interest rates. That would mean that customers would need to pay much more every month for their mortgages and loans. A business that could offer a secured rate of interest that is not linked to the base rate of interest might again attract several new customers.
A similar approach was utilised by a number of firms after the rate of Value Added Tax (VAT) increased from 15% to 17.5% in early 2010. These companies would offer “price freezes” for their items for a particular time period in an effort to retain their existing clients and draw new clients in.
Conclusion
Whether the recession is entirely over yet or not, it has functioned as a firm reminder that no company can afford to become complacent in their own situation of success. Company managers must constantly seek to consolidate their own position and boost their operations where possible.
Tags: art, business, car, cat, credit, holiday, money, party, pet, phone, plan, purchase, stress
Top Solutions To Lower Blood Pressure Level Without Medications
If you have recently discovered that you’ve got high blood pressure, you may also have been told or heard how bad it could be to your health. Thus you might already be on medications or maybe you are thinking about whether to take chemical or natural drugs. Well, here are a number of lifestyle changes which will help you to maintain your blood pressure down without taking any medications.
Weight is related to blood pressure. If you gain pounds, your blood pressure also rises. It is as simple as that. It is considered that the more you medications, the lower does your blood pressure level get. It is also considered that if you are taking medications, your treatment will be more effective if you lose a little weight. However, you should be realistic while setting goals! You should also watch your waistline. Larger waists measurements are often associated with higher blood pressure level. Generally a guy ought to aim for a waist circumference of less than 40 inches and a woman less than 35. However, these figures change depending on ethnicity. Half an hour to 60 minutes of exercise daily will definitely help in losing weight.
Changing habits is one of the most difficult things to do. However, there are a few tips which if you put into practice, will help you implement a healthy diet plan. It is always advisable to keep a food diary. Penning down what you are actually eating could reveal things you never thought of. You will find your real eating habits and will probably find a reason to change. Other tips that could help you adopt a healthier diet include consuming more potassium rich food. These include veggies and fruits. Potassium can counter the effects Sodium has on your body. You must also try to make a grocery list before you purchase anything. This will prevent you from purchasing food that is unhealthy for your health.
It is vital for patients with hypertension to cut down on Sodium. This reiterates the importance of a food diary. You may keep records of the amount of salt you are consuming and this will certainly be helpful to you. You should also find out how much salt is contained in canned foods and try as much as possible to read food labels, so that you know how much salt you are consuming, to be able to adjust the salt in your other food items.
Alcohol consumption must be avoided as far as possible if you have hypertension. Again, you should record your drinking patterns, and try to decrease if you are a heavy drinker. It is also essential to avoid binge drinking as this could affect your blood pressure enormously.
Cigarette smoking is definitely not good for your respiratory system, and it can also raise your blood pressure level by 10 mm Hg and possibly more. This can last for an hour or so after you smoked. So it is advisable to avoid smoking.
Some people might also be sensitive to caffeine. If you are a regular coffee drinker, it is suggested that you check your blood pressure around 10 minutes after a coffee. This is to make certain that your blood pressure does not spike and that caffeine consumption is not risky for you. If you find out that your blood pressure levels rises, you should really consider lowering the amount of coffee you consume.
Stress is definitely a risk factor for high blood pressure. Therefore it is vital that you eradicate your stressors. Massage, yoga and meditation and socializing could be quite helpful if you have many stresses in your life.
Information provided is for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician.
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Tags: cat, food, health, plan, purchase, stress
The Pragmatics of Change DVD Collection by Andrew T. Austin
The Pragmatics of Change DVD Collection
- the angry insomniac
- the distressed late guy
- a multitude of problems
- the lady with depression
Four real patient sessions filmed in their entirety in the spring of 2009.
These are not treatment DVDs or any form of substitute for treatment and are for educational purposes only. People with conditions and issues raised in this DVDs are advised to consult with a registered health care professional.
“Suppressed Anger – Dealing with Very Strong Negative Emotions.”
This is a second session with a client who returned for further work. The first session was for insomnia and was not filmed. Whilst the client reports that the insomnia was not improved by this first session, he reports that other areas of his life have undergone a “massive change.” These changes are discussed at the beginning of this session.
Following a humourous and provocative approach inspired by the work of Frank Farrelly and Nick Kemp, Andrew T. Austin playfully opens the change work by conversationally and subtly probing for the client’s representations and strategies. Advanced practitioners will notice the conversational use of state fractionation as well as the chaining of states in the first half of the session. “The interruptions and tangential questions are not random,” Austin cryptically offers by way of explanation, “this approach works really well and in this case [client] was delightful to work with and noticeably very responsive to the work.”
Some archetypal themes pertaining to persistent anger are explored in this session, such as the use of violent fantasy, mechanisms of suppression and control and feeling as though one is potentially like an exploding volcano.
At times confrontational but never once losing rapport, Austin shows how the Metaphors of Movement process, strategy reframing, submodality changes, kinaesthetic dissociation and future pacing can all be achieved quite conversationally and without incurring any conscious resistance by the client.
Possibly this conversational style is too covert, as at the end of the session, contrasting to the level of intensity of the feeling of anger earlier in the session the client remarks, “How did you do that?! That is quite amazing really. I cannot even imagine myself getting into a state, it’s bizarre!”
“Dealing With Extreme Emotional Distress (when really bad stuff happens to really good people)”
Filmed in its entirety, this is one of the sessions that Andrew T. Austin regards as one of the best demonstrations of his work from 2009. The client in this session has struggled for a long time with chronic feelings of depression. Advanced practitioners would do well to study the language patterns used in this unusual client session. This work is very much “secret work” as the content and story of the client’s problems remain undisclosed throughout the session.
Disregarding the negative effects upon his life of these problems, Austin quickly engages the client at the level of his personal strategies using his Metaphors of Movement approach to reframing. Working with both the psychological representations and the manner by which the client moves and positions his muscles, Austin’s unorthodox approach moves the client’s awareness away from the effect of how bad he feels and chunks up towards addressing the strategies by which the client addresses life’s challenges.
Areas addressed or demonstrated in this DVD include metaphors of movement, advanced reframing, strategies, timeline organisation, future planning/future pacing and translating strategic thinking into physical actions.
Having arrived distressed and very late owing to a long car journey and heavy traffic, the client’s level of stress is very noticeable at the beginning of the session. Towards the end of the session the level of change is very noticeable. Following the session, the client wrote, “Many thanks for seeing me, despite my lateness! I really do believe that the long journey I made was worth every mile. The session with you seems to have changed my attitude and disposition already. Positive things are already happening to me. Shit, this is weird! A big thank you again.”
“Tinnitus, Depression and Physical Illness – Feeling Very Low.”
In this session, the client presents a complex set of problems principally revolving around tinnitus (ringing in the ears), depression, a serious blood disorder and problems with excessive alcohol intake.
With limited time, Andrew T. Austin chooses first to work with the depression aspect, followed by the excessive alcohol before exploring the tinnitus experience. Early in the session, the client demonstrates clearly “being at effect” – i.e. in tune with the effects that these problems have upon his life and his day to day experience – but he struggles with finding “cause.” Like so many people who have suffered chronic problems, his experience reflects that problems just happen to him and that the solutions are outside of conscious control.
Ignoring the tangential thinking that the client presents, Austin persistently sticks with the structured interview, a structure of which the client is clearly unaware. Austin guides the client inward to eventually enable him to begin to examine his own personal mental strategies. This stage is not reached before the client clearly begins to feel quite uncomfortable and challenged by the nature of the session. As Austin teaches his students, “sometimes you just need to be comfortable yourself with other people’s discomfort.”
Viewers will note the unusual way in which the session ends – it just stops and the client is dismissed quickly despite the worsening of a particular symptom. Austin claims that in this instance this is a vital therapeutic manoeuvre and not just a function of the necessity of time constraints. He says he will leave it to the viewer to workout the exact reason for this.
“A Smiling Depression.”
Not all people with depression look particularly depressed. Many people struggle through feeling bad on the inside whilst maintaining a mask of smiling and being jolly on the outside. Their pain is often a secret pain without witnesses.
In this session, Andrew T. Austin demonstrates a content free method of working with a client with a history of depressive illness. Without overtly exploring the client’s story and personal history, Austin uses the core algorithms that lay at the heart of integral eye movement therapy to begin a profound process of change and self exploration.
Whilst seemingly doing little more than the eye movement exercises, the client is led through a structured interview, beginning first with a simple recollection of a minor but troublesome memory before moving rapidly into the deep underlying emotional states that drive the depression.
Incorporated into this interview, Austin introduces the client to two key elements of what he terms, “The Patterns of Chronicity” which better enable the client to follow the change work without inadvertently “blocking” the work.
In his characteristic and unconventional style, Austin delivers much of the change work before asking the client what the problem is. It is at this point in the interview that he changes direction to begin exploring aspects of identity and personal growth. In exploring identity, Austin hits upon a number of archetypal themes including people pleasing, masks, aging, difficult relationships and self esteem.
One week after the interview, the client wrote, “After filming, I had rather a leisurely afternoon and was quite agitated, but not depressed. The following day I felt very agitated, I was expecting to feel depressed but didn’t - I felt slightly confused and was a bit clumsy. Today, I feel good, not depressed or expecting to feel depressed. I have good mental clarity and for the first time in a very long time, my head is not filled with foggy meaningless crap!!”