 first two years I implemented this plan. My target market was financial institutions in the Greater Toronto Area, close to my home. The ideal client was a senior executive of a large financial institution, preferably someone with whom I had worked in the past. In many instances, I had known and worked with these executives for over a 15 to 20 year time frame. When I called on them, I received a warm greeting. When we began to explore business opportunities, they would ask about the size of our company. At that time, I had one employee, an administrative assistant. I could see them mentally calculating the size of project they were comfortable assigning to me. Usually, it was a project with a $40-50,000 budget. The maximum was about $100,000. It was often the type of project in which I had been involved when I first started in this business.
I realized that my past was my future. Clients were not going to entrust multi-million dollar projects to a one-man band. Throughout my career, I had been involved with some of the largest companies in the world and delivered very successful multi-million dollar projects. The complexity of this type of work and the opportunity to work directly with senior executives was extremely rewarding and leveraged my unique ability to help organizations redefine performance. To do the type of work that was most satisfying for me personally and brought out my unique ability, I was required to build a business. In 1997, I rewrote the Business Plan. The Vision became to build a multi-million dollar business primarily focused on large financial institutions in the US, Canada and internationally. Today, we are a multi-million dollar company and our clients include some of the largest financial institutions, professional service firms and corporations in the world.
Business planning as an iterative process. Change is the only constant and you need to schedule time on an ongoing basis to review and update your Business Plan.
The Business Opportunity answers four questions: Where do you make your money? How do you spend your time? Who do you sell? What do you sell them?Less than two years after he stepped down to wage an unsuccessful campaign for Congress, M. Tom Shimizu has announced he wants to regain his seat as a Salt Lake County commissioner.
Shimizu, 54, made the official announcement Monday in front of more than 100 supporters assembled in the Commission Chambers of the $54 million Salt Lake County Government Center he helped plan.Standing against the backdrop of a giant poster announcing "Return of the Shimizu" designed as a parody of the hit movie "Return of the Jedi," Shimizu said he wants to emphasize his past accomplishments while pointing out what he could do if elected.
But to regain the seat he held from 1981 to 1986, Shimizu must defeat incumbent Democrat Dave Watson, a strong critic of the way Shimizu performed during his previous 2 1/2 terms. No other Republican has announced plans to run for the two-year post.
A loser in the race for the state's 2nd Congressional District in 1986, Shimizu said his commission campaign would concentrate on the need for economic development, improvements in the transportation system and greater efficiency in government.
"The Salt Lake Valley is a wonderful place to live," he said. "We must have a vision. We must be able to see forward."
During his five years as a commissioner, Shimizu said, he helped form the county's volunteer program that now uses up to 10,000 volunteers and saves taxpayers $6 million, expanded the parks and library systems, and turned other government functions over to private business.
Shimizu, an engineer, said he has visited Japan and other countries in an effort to attract business to Utah.
"Economic development is at a crucial stage," he said. "To plan for the future economic security of our area and to provide job opportunities for our citizens, the time has come for us as elected
officials to stop talking about economic development and to do something about it."
Shimizu said he would urge creative solutions to the county's immediate transportation problems while saving money to solve expensive long-range problems.
"Maybe we can construct extra lanes on the freeways. Maybe we can encourage car pooling and encourage people to ride mass transportation," he said.
Shimizu began serving on the commission when he was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Commissioner William E. Dunn. Shimizu then ran successfully for the office in 1982 and 1984.
He and his wife, Junko, live in the Butler area with their four sons.Gobber wants to help Hiccup. So does a certain stranger.
The stranger’s leather apron did nothing to hide the mass of muscle underneath. A belt encircled his waist, and a hammer hung from it. Beyond that, he wore a type of skirt and flat shoes, neither of which deceived Gobber into believing he was womanish.
“What is it?” Hiccup emerged from behind a barrel, covered in smuts. The lad had been working in the smithy since Snoggletog, and became an apprentice three weeks past. Keeping clean wasn’t a priority, but he couldn’t leave looking grimy.
Gobber poured a measure of mead for both of them. The forge was broiling, but the man never broke a sweat. The heat was an old friend to Gobber, but he sweated bucketfuls.
“Alrighty, then. Since you’re not from Asgard, how can you be certain? Our Gothi’s said nothing about it, and the lad’s acting no different than before. I’ve no good reason to trust you, especially with the safety of my apprentice, Master Hephaestus.” Gobber shut up; it didn’t do to snap at a god, and he wanted to survive. He was needed here on Berk, and didn’t want to risk death by mouthing off.
His words had the ring of truth to them, and Gobber was torn. Divine notice might be good or bad, and Hiccup needed help. If this worked, Hiccup gained an edge Gobber couldn’t provide. His gut told him the blacksmith’s god was trustworthy in his dealing with Gobber.
“On Berk, I rule the smithy. ‘Tis a small kingdom, but my word is law and my desires the only ones that matter. Would you treat with me as a human would in my place of authority?” Gobber folded him arms and watched Hephaestus.
“May I bring one by for you to meet? I won’t let any of them trouble young Hiccup, and she’s not going to act against me. I made her bow and arrows, and if she wants them maintained, she’ll agree.” Ah, leverage. Gobber did much the same; it made his life easier.
“Yes. I’ll swear on my anvil, if you want.” Gobber nodded. “I, Hephaestus, swear in my anvil to honor the terms of this agreement until the end.” Gobber repeated the oath, just in time to hear Hiccup stumble over the buckets outside.
“Okay, got it.” Hiccup took no notice of the god, but began picking up the metal bits scattered around.
Gobber heard Hiccup mutter, “Gobber won’t mind, I guess.” Hiccup collected scrap from left to right, finding bits he missed before.
Gobber nodded at Hephaestus, who saluted him and left.
This might work out better than he expected.
Hephaestus returned, bringing a lean, dark haired lass. 
“I am Artemis, and I was told your skill with weapons is exemplary. I want you to examine my hunting bow.” She handed it to him.
The bow, arrows, and quiver were made of pure silver, a metal far too soft to make functional weapons. The bow was warm to the touch, and hummed with an unusual energy. Gobber handled it with respect for the marvel that it was, and gently offered it to the goddess.
“It is not new, and all weapons suffer wear. Please look it over long and hard, Gobber—you may be able to suggest improvements.” Gobber had no desire to annoy the goddess, and resigned himself to searching for flaws in a smithing miracle.
Hiccup brought her a mug of water, and found himself talking to the lady with the bow. She allowed him to hold the quiver, hand her arrows, and hear about plucking the string and drawing back. Once he’d run his fingertips over the weapon, the goddess took it back.
“Thank her, laddie. Mistress Artemis has been generous with her weapon, and you don’t want her thinking you’re ungrateful.” Hiccup snapped out of his stupor.
“You’re welcome, young apprentice.” Her smile was dazzling, leaving Hiccup shy from the attention.
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka sold 10.39 billion rupees of 5 and 10 year bonds Friday with yields plunging after the sovereign bond sale, ahead of a large bond maturity on November 02.
The debt office sold 3.69 billion rupees of 5 year bonds maturing on 01.05.2020 at an average yield of 8.99 percent, sharply down from 9.58 percent at an auction on September 15.
Sri Lanka also sold 6.7 billion rupees of 15-year bond maturing on 15.05.2030 at an average yield of 10.33 percent.
On September 09, similar