2. Separating services from goods allows you to see your assets and liabilities without getting in a tangle. As your business expands, you can go as far as to put them on separate books and assign separate employees to each area. This lets you focus more accurately on your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

3. Broadening your target market with expand your client base faster and more effectively. Get to know the kind of people you intend to market to and find out what they’re reading, viewing, and listening to. Get in their way; don’t be annoying, but command their attention. Use your knowledge of the market to get them to consider your business and what you can do for them.

A study was recently conducted analyzing the correlation between education and leisure time. What they found was very interesting.

They found that those with more education tend to have less leisure time than those with less education.

I found this so interesting because it goes against everything we have thought about the American Dream since we first learned about it in grade school. The American Dream has always been to work hard, make a lot of money, and then have tons of leisure time. Well what they are discovering is that those with more money tend to make less leisure time for themselves than those with less money,

An important thing to remember is that those with less education have a higher unemployment rate that those with more education so this is a factor beyond their control. Despite this, what concerned me most was that those with less education and more leisure time spend less quality time with their children and less time exercising.

These are two things that are important for progression and to emphasize family values so I just hope that this is a not a growing trend. I am super idealistic but I want all Americans to progress and have personal goals.

Certainly every city in America has been hurt by the recession.  And though these five cities aren’t buffered from the hardships, things are looking up for them.  These cities have areas of growing job markets and affordable housing.  If you fit the right mold, there are plenty of opportunities for employment. Take a look:

1. Anchorage, ALASKA

Companies planning to hire in next quarter: 28%
Best job prospects: Construction, Durable Goods Manufacturing, Nondurable Goods Manufacturing, Wholesale & Retail Trade, Information, Financial Activities, Professional & Business Services, Education & Health Services, Leisure & Hospitality, Other Services, Government
Population: 279,243
Average home price in January: $313,796
Unemployment rate: 8.1%

The local economy benefits from the state’s rich oil and natural gas supplies, tourism, and U.S. military presence.

2. Provo-Orem, UTAH

Companies planning to hire in next quarter: 24%
Best job prospects: Construction, Transportation & Utilities, Information, Financial Activities, Education & Health Services, Other Services, Government
Population: 90,857
Average home price in January: $195,333
Unemployment rate: 5.1%

The Utah Valley economy has weakened in recent months but the area has benefitted from its technology jobs and jobs at Brigham Young University, and Utah Valley University.

3. Kennewick-Richland-Pasco, WASHINGTON

Companies planning to hire in next quarter: 24%
Best job prospects: Nondurable Goods Manufacturing, Transportation & Utilities, Wholesale & Retail Trade, Professional & Business Services, Education & Health Services, Leisure & Hospitality, Government
Population: 794,555
Average home price in January: $133,134
Unemployment rate: 8.8%

The Tri-Cities metro area is made up of the principal cities of Kennewick, Richland and Pasco. Kennewick, the largest of the three, has a strong manufacturing, food processing, retail trade, and services economy. Fast-growing Pasco’s economy is based around food processing, and Richland is home to Washington State University-Tri-Cities and the Energy Dept.’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

4. Yakima, WASHINGTON

Companies planning to hire in next quarter: 24%
Best job prospects: Construction, Nondurable Goods Manufacturing, Transportation & Utilities, Financial Activities, Professional & Business Services, Leisure & Hospitality, Other Services
Population: 82,805
Average home price in January: $125,231
Unemployment rate: 10.4%

About 75% of all hops are grown in the sunny Yakima metro, which is a rich agricultural area that also produces apples and wines.

5. Omaha, NEBRASKA-Council Bluffs, IOWA

Companies planning to hire in next quarter: 22%
Best job prospects: Construction, Durable Goods Manufacturing, Nondurable Goods Manufacturing, Wholesale & Retail Trade, Information, Financial Activities, Professional & Business Services, Education & Health Services, Leisure & Hospitality
Population: 419,545
Average home price in January: $114,977
Unemployment rate: 5.1%

The Omaha-area economy is one of the nation’s bright spots. It’s home to a number of large corporations including Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA), Union Pacific (UNP), ConAgra Foods (CAG), and Kiewit. It also has a low cost of living, low pollution, and museums, theaters, and other entertainment.

(Information gathered from yahoo.com)