Are You Diagnosed as “English Phobic”? Here is the Treatment

Apart from my profession, I have been associated with teaching and content writing since 2006. With the passage of time I have come across different kinds of individuals belonging to varied ethnic backgrounds along with different educational trainings. When I was Growing Up, (I know Growing Old is a new-age alternative for this term), we used to have 3 kinds of schooling systems including Matriculations, O/A Levels and Cambridge system. All three had their own pros and cons. Teachers were focused back then, they used to be specific and very particular about the language and the terms used by us (students). Back in those days studying in O/A Levels or in Cambridge system used to be a status symbol (believe it or not – it’s a fact). Today I see majority of people living in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore (the Metro Cities) is sending their kids to either Cambridge Based Schools or O/A level schools. This is really good – but have you ever thought about the language they are using? Have you ever listened them conversing with seniors, juniors and individuals from their own age group? Well! I did, as I come across with more than many such students and professionals as well.

The new age students use almost same linguistics with every one, they treat everyone with same yardstick. There is a difference in speaking, with people from different age brackets and different backgrounds. I don’t know if you might agree with me or not. But I was taught to use politeness and decency while talking to seniors and juniors (and we still use calculated and definite words in front of them). We were allowed to get friendly with guys and girls of our age group. Whereas today this is “kind of” alien approach I suppose. The idea was to show and pay regard to others. These days we see every Tom, Dick and Harry speaking English language in great accent – this is the reason why most of the people are taken back when the other starts to speak. Trust me, nowadays it is only accent on which students and teachers emphasize. If you get your nerves under controlled, try to listen to the language that they use mostly, the grammar is terribly misused in most of the cases. I know American Culture is overshadowing ours as well, but all those who consider America as benchmarking tool, get some brains’ utilization. America is a country full of nation without culture and heritage.

There are also those people, who might not be able to speak English fluently and at a faster pace, but they have great grammar sense, they know how to write, what to write and which tone to use. So all those individuals out there who easily get impressed or at times stressed by the individuals with amazing Aussie or American accent based language, try to listen to them properly and reply back them with a well-knitted answer. Try to keep yourself calm, if you think you will be a bit late in replying as compared to their speed – don’t worry, if they will cut you off, they are not worthy of being communicated with. No one in the world has the right to point a finger on you on the basis of language. Your confidence is your discriminative point. Don’t lose it! English is just a language not a life-saving drug.

P.S. I have talked here about the majority – exceptions are always there, after all Pakistan has great talent and potential and I truly support this statement. All we need are right mentors and comparatively better paths to prove the same to world. Do not get personal as this (article) is an outcome of personal experiences, observations and incidents.

Stay blessed and be happy!

Financial benchmarking for small business

What Does Actually Financial Benchmarking Mean?

When you are in any industry and you want to compare the potential of your company, in terms of the increased profits, competencies, growths and deductions in cost per units with the other companies in the same industry, this whole process and technique is known as benchmarking. Many companies follow benchmarking, because by this they get to know, which area to emphasize on. Small businesses can come up with more feasible business plans if they practice benchmarking in the very initial stages. For instance Canada has some great small business benchmarking data, let’s say about 30 performance benchmarks are available on the data-base.

Why Benchmarking Is Beneficial?

We always think about the reason, to adopt any thing. Similarly, when it comes to benchmarking there is a definite and strong reason behind it. Companies need to develop certain schemes and plans for the continuous improvement and efficiency. Small business must know before entering in any industry that, which are the best practices present in the industry. Some like to investment in the production, because of the mass market. But it could also be possible that, rather then having a huge production, one should emphasize more on the marketing and advertising, so that awareness of the brand is created amongst the customers and consumers. This can be extracted by involving one’s self into following the benchmarking reviews. These are the most important measures which can be used to assess one’s business and future entrepreneur.

Common Financial Benchmarking Tools

There are certain financial benchmarking tools to assess the standing and feasibility of any particular business. For instance financial ratios play a significant role in such purpose. One should be aware of the particular areas in the business, which are performing exceptionally well and some being mediocre whereas the others being the worst ones. These stages can be known through financial tools commonly known as the financial ratios. Some of the most popular and accepted financial ratios are Quick Asset Ratios, Debt Ratios, Profitability Ratios and Liquidity ratios. These ratios and others too, should be checked over a certain tenure or period. Mostly companies take the ratios for over 4 years and at times 5 years, so that they may find a gradual and systematic trend. These trends help in knowing the consistency, improvement and decrease in companies’ performances, depending upon the results of the financial ratios.

Appropriate Use of Financial Benchmarking

Every business conducts different kinds of surveys, to know the personal likings and tendencies towards their products. These activities are done to make one’s brand strong and impact full in the perceptions of the customers. Similarly companies should also practice financial benchmarking so as to understand the trend of the market and know in advance the next move of the competitors. There are always plans to which any company stick to, as if you don’t have any plan, you are planning to fail. But by doing certain exercises one can easily be pro-active rather then re-active. Formation of contingency planning is very essential for a business entity, but when to adopt that planning is the essential question, which can only be answered by using the earlier stated financial tools and techniques. In today’s’ fast pace world, where even small businesses are on cut-throat war with one an other, it is very essential and significant to find a way before hand rather to re-act to any strategy implemented by the other businesses. Small business can benefit their selves by practicing on benchmarking and knowing the norms and conditions of the market. This is the way they can stay in the business for a longer period of time and enjoy ample profits to satisfy their needs.