Thirty-year broadcast veteran Barry Michaels, ('Michaels In The Morning') has quite a

I now understand the importance of holding. No, I'm not talking about two lovers caressing each other tightly in front of a fireplace (although that is also certainly important, fireplace or not). I'm talking about being put on hold when doing business over the phone. I recently took my automobile in to be serviced at my local garage. After they had it for a day, I called to get the prognosis and see just how much this was going to cost me. I was transferred over to the mechanic working on my car, and by transferred; I mean that the first person I reached yelled at the top of her lungs for a second person to pick up line 2. It was endearing, in a way, but not terribly professional.

Purchasing a business phone system can be difficult, especially if you are unfamiliar with your current business phone system and with what your available options are. Familiarizing yourself with modern business phone systems can yield big dividends when it comes time to upgrade, expand or replace your current system. You will obviously need to know about the different types of phone systems available for offices and figure out which one you have. The three major types of commercial phone systems on the market today are key systems, Private Branch Exchange (PBX) systems, and KSU-less phones. The type of system you have will affect how many stations you can add and what features are available to you. PBX systems are the most expandable and, depending on the manufacturer, are often compatible with a variety of handsets. Key systems offer up to 40 lines in most instances and offer features on par or just below those offered with PBX systems. KSU-less systems are suitable for very small offices with just a few people. Some offer features found on key and PBX systems, although these features are not tied in to a dedicated system. Instead, these features work independently of the other phones on the system, similar to the way your home phone operates.

What makes a great communicator so persuasive? What makes the best leader motivational? How does one become a great, inspirational leader? "I wasn't a great communicator, but I communicated great things." --Reagan in his farewell address as president.

By learning to speak to a diverse audience, you can broaden your client base transfer the learning to more people. We need to be more PC.

For back-to-school or back-to-work, what are the latest trends in technology fashion? A laptop bag, as protection, is a must-have. And having the bag match the style and personality of the laptop owner is just as important to enhance professional image, stylishness, and even flair. Although laptop briefcases continue to be the most popular style in the laptop bag category, there are three new recent fashion trends, which mean more versatility for the laptop owner:

Nothing lasts forever, or so they say. This can be especially true when it comes to small business phone systems. Most experts will tell you that the average life of a business phone system is five to seven years, although this can vary greatly depending on the type of business and what sort of growth they have experienced within that time frame.

As the office manager for a small insurance company, one of the many duties I perform is purchasing. This normally involves stopping off at the local office supply store for pens, paper clips, printer paper, ink and toner. In other words, I'm not exactly entrusted with making high level, crucial decisions when it comes to purchasing. In fact, we used to have one of the secretaries do it. Unfortunately, when she retired, the onus fell on me.

I recently replaced the business phone systems in the company I own to accommodate the needs of my staff. I wish I could say that it was to accommodate the needs of our customers, but sadly, that isn't the case. You see, our old phone system had many more extensions than we had lines for.

Buying a business phone system can be an expensive endeavor, especially if you are operating a new business and aren't prepared for the expense. One way to help keep costs low is to purchase a refurbished business phone system. Refurbished systems are can save you a great deal of money, especially if you operate a multiple location business.