Eric Go dot Net

Though Entreprestuff Weblog will still be around, I had put more focused on my ramblings website at Eric Go blog. I am promoting it vastly along the world wide web and is looking forward for it to make big online.

Ever Wondered Why Prices of Steel Kept Increasing?

To those in the construction industry, they must have heard the story. On what was the reason behind the increase in steel such as angle bars, common wire nails, etc. for use in the construction industry.

Before it was China making most of the demands for these products. And now it is the middle east who are consuming most earning lots from exporting oils worldwide, now it is their turn to use those earnings to developed their country by constructing more buildings.

The construction boom in middle east thus created a gap between demand and production capacity thus finds a need to increase. Do not ever wonder if steel will keep increasing.

As quoted by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry

It estimated that the Kingdom requires at least 1 million new homes in the next five years to address population growth needs. Similarly the Ministry of Education has outlined a $4 billion plan to build another 4,000 schools.

Prepped for Grad

THE month of March comes with that sense of accomplishment, of success and temporary liberty for most students. And for those who are in their last year in school, March is one of the most special and memorable event in their life–the graduation day. This should be an exciting event, after all, you graduate from college only once. You now think of wearing your graduation gown and cap, and that graduation ring that cost your parents a lot of money. Then there’s also the thought of sending over dozens of resume to several companies right after graduation, and weighing which offer to accept or decline.

To many, graduation is a culmination of college life, a time to bid our terror teachers goodbye, and a time when they can forget about mind-boggling statistics exams—permanently. And before the proverbial closing of that chapter in your life and opening a new one, Zup shares some tips so you can breeze through graduation.

Study harder than usual for the finals.

With just a few days left before the final exams, extra effort and time should be allotted for review. Do not be too confident that you will ace that Philosophy exam or that test in your major that you think you know so well. It will take only one failing mark to lose that diploma. You surely wouldn’t want to be running after your professor while everyone is preparing for the graduation ball.

Settle Your Tuition

Most schools don’t allow graduation candidates to take the final exams and join the commencement rites until all school fees have been settled. Do not forget to pay for all these fees earlier, no matter how small the amount.

Book Your Gown Early

There is a very limited number of graduation gowns for all of Cebu’s graduating students to use. With all the schools preparing for graduation, there could be a shortage of the graduation garb so have your toga reserved as soon as possible, unless you want to join the graduation march in your favorite jeans and shirt. And don’t forget to return the gown immediately after your graduation to avoid extra charges, and to spare other eager graduates the anxiety of a toga-less graduation.

Be Cleared

You might be overexcited about your big day and could be forgetting that your clearance forms need to be signed. So go after all the signatories—your dean, students’ affairs office, accounting, library, etc.--and have their signatures on that important slip of paper.

Hope this simple graduation tips are of help. And congratulations to March 2008 Graduates!

This article by Eric Galvin Go (author of entreprestuff) was published by Sun Star Daily March 3, 2008 Lifestyle Section.

The Arrogant Westerners

As much as my fellow citizens working abroad, my country has been a home to a lot of poor westerners. Mostly who dreamt of retiring here due to the low cost of living as well as their taste for exotic and oriental beauties.

These westerners normally had thought of only bringing in only about 2,000 dollars and thinks that they can live with that amount the whole year round. This perception of theirs always resulted in over-staying, and not be able to pay their bills in hotel, condominiums etc.

And they are usually tactless, and thinks that they are rich, but poor. Poor in everything - money, wisdom, manners, character, attitude, etc. That has been affirmed by a recent incident in an internet cafe as well as in a hotel of a friend's.

This American guy upon knowing that the internet connection in the cafe is slow throws the computer mouse damaging the item. And worse, my friend seeing it with her two eyes, the American would not admit and even could not afford to pay a lowly 300 pesos. Hey that is only about less than 6 dollars guy!

As much as I tend to complain that some people in my business could not follow policy, I had much relief hearing that this westerner guy could also not follow policy (at least I am not alone in this complaint, but my friend too). The policy says that the minimum charge for internet usage would be 10 pesos for 30 minutes use, so irregardless whether you use the service for less than 30 minutes you still have to pay the minimum of 10. But as they tend to create their own policy maybe they just could not afford to pay lowly 10 cents dollars!

In a hotel incident, the American guy, broke the glass door in the main entrance punching it knowing that the shuttle bus is not working. This act is something that is really ill-mannered, uncivil that I had always felt only ill-bred individuals can do and has the gut to do.

Some Interesting Acronyms in IM

Just finished watching an episode of FoxCrime.

Here are some interesting list of acronyms used to chat. Some of these are most commonly used by sexual predators to teenage girls or vice versa. In contrast to the notion that there are only a few but commonly used such as gtg that stands for got to go, brb for be right back, lol for laugh out loud, etc. Here are the list:

• POS for parents over shoulders
• IPN for I'm posting naked
• LMIRL for let us meet in real life
• WTGP for want to go private
• LDR for long distance relationship
• LTR for long term relationship

Test your knowledge with these acronyms might bring good to you most specially watching your kids go online.

Presenteeism Hurts Twice than Absenteeism?

According to New York times article, presenteeism hurts more than absenteeism does. The research was based on Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine that was published stating it decreases employee productivity by 60%, worst case it might infect and affect others.

But employment researchers, and employers themselves, are increasingly acknowledging that having sick employees stumble in to work and slog through the day - a phenomenon they call "presenteeism'' - is not just painful for the employees, but can also hurt the company, because ailing workers are unlikely to perform at their normal level and they may also infect others.

May this be true or not, gone maybe the days were when you are sick you would still report to work just to show to your boss how hard you work. Entrepreneurs or at least bosses right now already knows that instead of spending a day fulls pay while giving only 40 or 60% of yours (because of ailment) may not be a good idea. Any alternatives, might work like working at home communicating through email or any messenger device.
The challenge question right now, absentteism or presenteeism? Please comment.

Signs to Avoid a Customer

Unless we deal with them on cash, here are some signs of customers that you would like to avoid in your business:

• Check put on hold or being replaced
• Building contractors who immediately buy luxury cars after receiving downpayment
• Paying partial for every statement of account or choosing to pay smaller amount of invoices to be paid in a statment
• Transferring from one supplier to another
• Asking for immediate terms mode of payment for their first purchase
• Banks with over draft issuance of checks
• Business in existence for a long time, but bank account reference is still new

Do you have something to add? Or do you agree or not? Please share to us your experience.