I know that in the age of the 99 percent versus the 1 percent, the word "business" can sound like a four-letter word. But the reality is that we can all learn a great deal from successful businesses. All we have to do is apply those lessons to our personal lives. (This is true no matter what your political views are.) Let's examine this to determine if you think the argument holds water.

1. Risk

The first task any business owner undertakes is to understand the risk he is taking with his business. Will I have enough sales? Will my product or service have long-term demand? And, of course, do I have enough and the right kind of insurance to run my shop?

Apply this to your own financial life before you worry about making investments. What are your risks as CEO of You INC? From a financial standpoint, there are two great risks. One is that you will not have enough money while you are alive. The other is that you won't have enough money after you are no longer alive. We'll deal with the first issue in a minute. For now, let's talk about running out of money after you pass away.

While this is often not a huge concern for single people, it's the number one headache for people with families. The quick-end solution is cheap term life insurance. But folks don't like talking about this issue for a few reasons. First, they don't like to discuss mortality. It's as if just discussing the issue brings bad luck. The other reason is because they just don't like life insurance companies or life insurance.

I understand and respect both these attitudes. But I can tell you firsthand that it's rather short sighted--and I have firsthand experience in the matter. My father had no life insurance for years. Then, shortly before he was killed in an airplane accident, he was forced to buy cheap term life insurance in order to facilitate a business transaction that he was party to. The deal didn't go through, but the insurance did.

He made one payment on his policy before his accident and if it weren't for that my siblings and I would never have been able to attend college. I am a firm believer in term life insurance if you have a family. Please make sure you have enough term life.

2. Cash Flow

I mentioned that every good business has to have enough cash flow in order to survive. You are no different. If you want to advance in life and have more financial freedom, your first order of business is cash flow. It goes without saying that you will need to track your spending and make sure you earn more than you spend. But beyond that, you need to look ahead. If you are just getting by, that isn't good enough. You need a solid financial plan.

The best financial plan for cash flow is also the simplest. Figure out what you need to save every month in order to reach your goals and save that money before you do anything else. If it means taking on a weekend job, do it. If it means working part time, get on it.

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For Financial Success, Run Your Life Like A Business

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

DataArt, a custom software development firm that builds advanced solutions for select industries, today announced completion of a Kindle Fire mobile banking application for Plastyc, which provides UPside Visa cardholders with a complete range of banking services on-the-go. The latest addition to Plastycs mobile application is now available for Kindle Fire customers and can be downloaded from Amazon.

The new Kindle Fire application has been designed to optimize the tablets 7-inch screen resolution and provides a range of services for personal banking. These services include new account activation, signing up for direct deposit, redeeming cash back points, bill payment, funds transfers, issuing paper checks and balance checking, transaction history. Users can also tap into MoneyPak retail locator searchable by zip code. Plastyc relied on DataArt to set the highest security standards for user information account protection and ensure encryption of all local data. Sophisticated password authentication and access safeguards installed for all purchases and spending transactions automatically logs out users after five minutes of inactivity.

The new Kindle Fire app is a testament to DataArts expertise. DataArt has allowed us to extend the reach of the UPside Visa app to our iPhone and Android customers and to provide the same high quality services to Kindle Fire owners, said Patrice Peyret, CEO of Plastyc.

As mobile banking flourishes, customers need to trust not only their device but the portal in which they share their sensitive information, said Alexei Miller, Executive Vice President of DataArt. Our work with creating rich and secure global applications for financial services deepens our understanding of evolving vulnerabilities, and helps us develop a greater degree of applications that support next generation banking strategies.

The Kindle Fire app is the latest DataArt development project for Plastyc since 2006, including the back-end systems for Plastycs iBankUp prepaid card portal, mobile banking and payments platform and most recently its iOS and Android UPside Visa applications. DataArts mobile technologies team is well versed in mobile Web/HTML5 development and all modern mobile platforms including iOS, Android, Windows Phone 7 & 8, WebOS, BlackBerry OS and Symbian. The firm has created cutting-edge mobile apps for blue-chip brands, including auto makers, high-fashion houses, pharmaceutical companies, an airline and numerous digital media agencies.

The UPside Visa app for Kindle Fire is available immediately for free from Amazon.

About DataArt:

DataArt (www.dataart.com) is a custom software development firm that builds advanced solutions for the financial services, healthcare, hospitality and other industries. Combining domain knowledge with offshore cost advantages and resource flexibility, DataArt develops industry-defining applications, helping clients optimize time-to-market and minimize software development risks in mission-critical systems. With an unrivaled talent pool of highly skilled software engineers in New York, London, Russia and Ukraine, DataArt provides the technical skill, accountability and industry knowledge needed to deliver custom applications on time and on budget.

DataArt clients include Standard & Poors, Harmonic Fund Services, Ogilvy, artnet, Panasonic, Cancer Research, Ocado, Charles River Laboratories, Betfair, Misys, leading asset management firms and three of the worlds top ten investment banks. http://www.twitter.com/DataArt

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DataArt Delivers UPside Visa Mobile Banking App for Kindle Fire

HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Insurity, Inc., a proven provider of core insurance processing software and services, today announced the expansion of its leadership team with the addition of Bruce Broussard and Julie Schieni as Vice Presidents of Business Development. The appointments of Broussard and Schieni further strengthen Insurity's market position and add even greater depth to the already strong Insurity executive team. Broussard and Schieni will team to help drive Insuritys aggressive growth strategy. Both will report to Lani Cathey, Insuritys Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing.

In his new role, Broussard will spearhead Insuritys large scale business development opportunities and the market for Insurance Enterprise View (IEV) development initiatives. He will also be instrumental in the development of Insurity's partner strategy and program. Prior to joining Insurity, Broussard most recently spent 15 years with IBM as Associate Partner, Global Insurance Consulting practice. With over 25 years of insurance IT experience, Broussards career also includes his positions as Vice President, Application Development and Support with the Pan-American Life Insurance Company and Director, and Base Application Development for software vendor CAPSCO Pallm Systems.

Bringing more than 25 years of industry experience to Insurity, Schieni will also focus on large scale business development, as well as on strengthening Insuritys market position and strategic relationships, including Insuritys relationships with industry analysts. Schienis previous insurance industry experience includes founding the Insurance Practice for Ampia Consulting, Senior Vice President positions with OneShield and AMS Allenbrook Services, a Manager role at McCracken Computers, and work as an underwriter for Sentry Insurance.

Commenting on the Broussard and Schieni appointments, Lani Cathey, Sr. VP said, We are thrilled to announce the addition of Bruce and Julie to our leadership team, and we look forward to taking full advantage of their individual and combined depth of knowledge and experience in the insurance industry. Bruce and Julies contributions will enable us to deliver even greater value to our customers and the industry overall.

About Insurity

Headquartered in Hartford, CT, Insurity, Inc. provides policy administration, claims, billing, and analytics software to more than 100 insurance companies. A market leader in deploying policy administration software and full service solutions to the property & casualty insurance market, Insuritys solutions process billions of dollars of premium each month and address the needs of all carriers large and small, national or regional, commercial, personal, or specialty lines writers, as well as MGAs.

For more information about Insurity, call 860-616-7721 or visit http://www.insurity.com.

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Insurity Expands Leadership Team with Two Business Development Professionals

Products to be showcased at largestNorth American CosmeticsSupplier's Day on May 15th and 16th

QUEBEC CITY, May 9, 2012 /CNW/ - Botaneco Corp. ("Botaneco") (TSX-V:BOT),a health science company focused on natural proprietary ingredients in the cosmetic and food industries, todayannounces the commercial launch of two new revolutionary product offerings to the personal care industry. Both products are derived from its proprietary Hydresia and Vegelatum technologies, and can be used to replace some of the less desirable chemical ingredients used in cosmetics. These product offerings build on the company's track record of delivering innovative natural products that will make an impact in the growing $380 billion cosmetic industry.

Botaneco has developedHydrePure,a new delivery system for cosmetic ingredients based on the Hydresia Oleosome technology. Its first offering from this platform is HydrePure Retinol, a naturally encapsulated pure retinol in Oleosome product. Retinol, a natural form of vitamin A, has been used as a leading anti-aging active in the personal care industry for over a decade. However, well documented irritation and stability issues have prevented consumers from receiving the full benefits of retinol. Botaneco has discovered that retinol loaded inside Oleosomes has enhanced stability and a reduced irritation potential, when compared to retinol alone, which positions Botaneco to be a global leader in this well recognized anti-aging ingredient. Botaneco has worked closely with a key early adopter Dr. Zein Obagi and ZO Skin Health, Inc., who recently launched RETAMAX a new skin care product using Hydresia Oleosomes to stabilize retinol. Dr.Zein Obagi is a leading authority in cosmetic dermatology and created Skin Health Restoration, and Skin Conditioning, the standards by which skin conditions can be successfully treated regardless of skin color or age.

"Botaneco scientists have discovered how to effectively load and stabilize active ingredients, such as Retinol, within Oleosomes" stated Dr.Jack Guth , VP R&D at Botaneco. "We believe that the HydrePuredelivery platform can also be extended to include a variety of active ingredients beyond retinol and plan to offer these to the personal care industry in the future".

Botaneco is also excited to be launching a new product offering from its Vegelatum technology. Vegelatum Omega-3 is a natural proprietary vegetable gel loaded with flax seed oil, high in healthy Omega-3 fatty acids. Botaneco has demonstrated in oxidative studies by an external laboratory that flax seed oil is significantly more stable when delivered in the form of Vegelatum gel than when it is delivered alone, allowing customers to make Omega-3 claims in their personal care products. This new commercial launch follows Botaneco's recent press release in April on the significant commercial expansion of the Vegelatum line through new formulation development and global distribution agreements.

"These two new exciting products will be showcased at the upcoming New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists (NYSCC) suppliers day, giving cosmetic companies the opportunity to learn more about these revolutionary products" stated Tony Abboud , Director of Sales and Marketing at Botaneco. "Hydresia and Vegelatumare both proprietary plant based ingredients, the kind of natural ingredients that consumers want and that cosmetic companies are continually adopting into their new product lines. Botaneco aims to be a leading supplier of natural ingredients to the lucrative cosmetic industry and will continue to develop innovative products."

About Botaneco Corp. Botaneco Corp. specializes in personal care, food and nutraceutical ingredients. We are committed to developing groundbreaking ingredients based on our patented technologies, and offering multifunctional, tangible and documented benefits to formulators and consumers alike. Botaneco is a global developer and marketer of innovative technologies that help manufacturers meet the consumers growing demand for natural, environmentally friendly, personal healthcare products. A competitive advantage to Botaneco's patented technology over traditional products in the 'green sector' is the ability to significantly enhance the performance and versatility of these skin and hair care products.

The company has also been awarded theCanadian Agri-Food Award of Excellencefor its flaxseed technology marketed in the natural food industry. Botaneco holds patents for its HydresiaOleosome, Vegelatum, DermylexWhey Protein (for the treatment of Psoriasis) and Flaxseed De-hulling technology.

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Botaneco Launches New Hydresia® Delivery System Platform and Vegelatum® Omega-3 products to the Personal Care Market

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -05/08/12)- http://www.shinesrooms.com has a handpicked team of market professionals with over 100 years of combined investing experience. Today they are providing members comprehensive research on the Personal Computers industry and are offering free analytical research on Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Dell Inc. (DELL). Register with us today at http://www.shinesrooms.com/index.php?_controller=RegisterMember&_method=index to have free access to these research reports.

The personal computers industry seems a dynamic industry at present. Innovation is rife and the development of tablets continues. According to Canalys' research, the first quarter saw 11 percent year-over-year growth in laptop shipments and an 8 percent increase for desktop PCs. Get your free reports on Apple Inc. and Dell Inc. at http://www.shinesrooms.com/index.php?_controller=RegisterMember&_method=index. There is no commitment to join.

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Dell Inc. appears focused on expanding its offerings with new high-performance laptops and desktops. The company recently unveiled its XPS 8500 and Vostro 470 desktops as well as its Inspiron Special Edition laptop series, all of which are designed to provide the high levels of power and performance necessary for complex tasks and entertainment activities. Dell Inc. report is accessible for free by registering today at http://www.shinesrooms.com/DellInc080512.pdf.

Elsewhere in the industry tablets continue to make their mark. In the first quarter of 2011 tablets made up a mere 7 percent of total PC shipments. However, in the most recent quarter, tablets had grown their share to 19 percent. Apple Inc. (AAPL) is widely considered the tablet leader and seems to be further securing its position. It is estimated that Apple commanded 68 percent of the tablet market in the first quarter, up from 55 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011. Apple Inc. report is accessible for free by registering today at http://www.shinesrooms.com/AppleInc080512.pdf.

The two Personal Computers stocks research reports are available for free by signing up now on http://www.shinesrooms.com.

About Shinesrooms.com

Shine's Rooms is the brain child of David Shine, a 13 year Wall Street veteran with a stellar track record. For 13 years Shine has trained thousands of traders to navigate and profit from the markets. Using cutting edge technology, Shine provides you with a community in which you can trade alongside Shine and his Team as they guide you through the market's ever-changing landscape.

To view our disclaimer, visit this link http://www.shinesrooms.com/disclaimer.html.

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Equity Research on Apple Inc. and Dell Inc. - Personal Computers Strong

Team of five industry veterans will decide winner of global personal training program

SCHILLER PARK, Ill., May 8, 2012 - Life Fitness today announced its selection of judges for the 2012 global Personal Trainers to Watch program, an effort to recognize personal trainers for fitness excellence. The panel of five esteemed industry experts ranges from exercise physiologists to published authors, and has been hand-selected to determine one winner and 10 finalists by scoring online nominations from across the world.

Expanded to a global market for the first time since its launch in 2011, the Personal Trainers to Watch program calls for the nomination of fitness professionals who exude a passion for health and aim to better the lives of their clients.

"After taking Personal Trainers to Watch to a global market, it was important to select a well-rounded judging panel that could relate to an international nomination base," said Chris Clawson, Life Fitness president. "We`re thrilled to give deserving personal trainers a chance to connect with some of the world`s most established and successful fitness professionals."

2012 Personal Trainers to Watch Judging Panel

Nicole Nichols was named America`s Personal Trainer to Watch by Life Fitness in 2011. "Coach Nicole" is the fitness expert and managing editor for SparkPeople.com, and is one of the most-watched trainers on YouTube. Nicole has a bachelor`s degree in health promotion and education, specializing in fitness. She maintains several fitness certifications, including the American Council on Exercise (ACE) Personal Training and AFAA Group Fitness Instruction, and is comprehensively trained in mat and reformer Pilates through Balanced Body University. Her latest DVD is titled "SparkPeople: 28 Day Boot Camp."

Rodney Corn is a co-founder of PTA Global and has more than 20 years of experience in the fitness industry. As a collegiate athlete, bodybuilder, published author and regular contributor to industry publications, Corn has traveled the globe sharing his extensive scientific and practical experience in wellness, sports performance and corrective exercise. He is an adjunct faculty member at the University of San Francisco and California University of Pennsylvania. Corn holds a bachelor`s degree in psychology and master`s degree in biomechanics. He is also a Fellow of Applied Functional Science with the Gray Institute.

Pete McCall is an exercise physiologist with ACE. In his role, McCall creates and delivers fitness continuing education programs, and is a co-creator of the ACE Integrated Fitness TrainingTM (ACE IFTTM) model. McCall has a Master of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from California University of Pennsylvania. He is a certified personal trainer with ACE, and holds additional certifications through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the National Academy of Sports Medicine. McCall also serves on the content review committee for http://www.ptonthenet.com, and is an adjunct lecturer for the Exercise and Nutritional Sciences program at San Diego State University.

Chris Clawson is president of Life Fitness. An industry veteran, Clawson joined the Company in 1994 and has served in a number of different positions focused on product development, sales and marketing. Clawson also spent six years in retail management with two leading sporting-goods retailers. Athletics has always played a significant role in Clawson`s life, having played professional baseball before entering the fitness industry.

Deborah Plitt has been a network trainer for Life Fitness since 1994. Plitt develops education modules and provides academic training to Life Fitness customers throughout the world. Plitt received her Bachelor of Science from Penn State University in Exercise and Sport Science and is currently working toward a Master of Science in Human Movement Science from A.T. Still University. Plitt is also a certified corrective exercise specialist with the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and an advanced health and fitness specialist with ACE.

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Brunswick Corporation : Life Fitness Announces Judging Panel For Personal Trainers To Watch 2012

Thanks to the rapid growth in the use of apps and services, the personal cloud will eclipse the personal computer (PC) as the hub of consumers' digital lives by 2014, introducing a new concept on how people store, synchronize, share and stream content, said a latest Gartner report.

According to Michael Gartenberg, research director at Gartner, the personal cloud is not a single offering, but a reflection of consumers' expectation that their content will flow seamlessly as the result of a combination of services that overlap the consumer, business and government domains.

Personal cloud encompasses content storage, synchronization, sharing and streaming, as well as context-based access. It also includes business, consumer and government services.

The report said that while there's no single company with all-encompassing dominance at present, the stakes are high as large vendors such as Microsoft, Apple, Amazon and Google try to claim multiple aspects of the personal cloud ecosystem.

On the other hand, smaller vendors struggle to capture parts of the consumer experience with more vertically oriented and dedicated offerings, such as digital storage and streaming services accessible across particular platforms and devices.

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"Consumers are confused about the nature of the personal cloud. This will not be helped by many vendors continuing to equate personal cloud services simply with online storage and neglecting their additional features and potential," said Gartenberg.

"Consumers will define their own sets of personal cloud services with regard to communication, collaboration and media consumption, despite vendors trying to control the digital ecosystem," he added.

The report highlighted three areas where competition in the personal cloud market is expected to grow:

Mobility And Location: Because of constant development of contextual devices and platforms, consumers now have the ability to access relevant information from the location of their choice on their favorite devices. They can now store, synchronize, share and stream in ways not previously imagined.

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Personal Cloud Poised To Eclipse PC As 'The Hub Of Consumers' Digital Lives' By 2014: Gartner

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdK75Me-WTY

09-05-2012 15:33 For more information, visit: American InterContinental University is committed to providing quality online education to business students. Our online Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business School and Programs (ACBSP). ACBSP is a leading specialized accreditation association for business education supporting, celebrating, and rewarding teaching excellence. Dr. Gregory Washington, Provost and Chief Academic Officer at AIU, and actual graduates of the MBA program discuss the challenging curriculum and the streamlined online learning platform available through AIU's Virtual Campus.

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An Online MBA That Means Business - AIU Online - Online Degree - Video

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSRFG03iwCk

09-05-2012 15:50 Enounce MySpeed is a great tool to watch videos faster and more efficiently. This video shows how you can speed up any online streaming video so that you can watch it faster saving you time and allowing you to learn more quickly. Works great for stock market commentary, training videos, per-recorded webinars, online training.

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Speed Up Online Video and Your Options Education with MySpeed from Enounce - Video

By SAMANTHA SARACINO 6 News Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) - For those who believe in the importance of getting a college education, does it matter how you get it?

Many students continue to attend large universities, like the University of Tennessee. They physically come to campus and sit in class to get their degrees, but some students are doing it differently. They're getting their degrees online.

"I enjoyed it because you got down to the core of the class. You got the materials. You were able to ask for help when you needed it, but mostly you were allowed to go," said Charlie McAdams, who received his degree online from The University of Phoenix.

McAdams was working at EdFinancial while he earned his degree. He says he needed that convenience factor.

"I could do it before work or after work. I could do it after the kids went to bed. The main assignments I could do over the weekends," McAdams explained.

Getting a degree online is not for everyone. That's why at UT, only graduate students can get their degrees completely online.

"For graduate students, they're more mature. They're very focused in their studies and they can do well in that online environment. Some of them are a little challenged with the technology, especially if they're a little bit older," said Sally McMillan, UT vice provost of academic affairs.

McMillan says undergraduates seem to need more direction with in-class instruction.

One of the main ways students are using online education is by taking some classes online and coming to campus for the rest.

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Online education on the rise for East Tennessee students