Woman Dies from Caffeine Overdose and Expert Calls for Action in New Book and FDA Petition. 1-2-3 Steps To A Successful Joint Venture.
An autopsy released this week has found caffeine to be the cause of death for a woman from New Mexico. The incident took place in June 2004 after she was admitted to a hospital after a fight with her son. The injuries sustained were thought to be the cause of her lapsing into a coma but was later revealed that high amounts of caffeine were found.
"So many hidden forms of caffeine exist," says Kushner, "from baked goods, frozen dairy products, gelatins, puddings, analgesics and even lipstick!"
Kirkus Discoveries calls Kushner's new book, "A wake-up call about caffeine" and "full of interesting factoids" while
listing specific health threats (heart disease, central-nervous-system disorders, ulcers, cancer) and mapping out specific routes to end dependency.
"It's unfortunate that a death must result to draw attention to this most insidious drug," adds Kushner. Her organization, the Caffeine Awareness Alliance. has formally petitioned the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to require manufacturers of caffeinated products to indicate the exact amount of caffeine in milligrams so consumers can make informed choices.
Caffeine intoxication can produce mood swings and insomnia, increased muscle tension, impair digestion and nutrition, restrict blood circulation to the brain, raise blood pressure and accelerate the heart rate. Death can result in as little as 5 grams of caffeine.
"Life Without Caffeine" features numerous clinical studies by respected medical journals and healthy alternatives to coffee.
Marina Kushner is the founder of the Caffeine Awareness Alliance, the first non-profit organization dedicated solely to educating consumers about the dangers of caffeine intoxication. She is a reformed coffee drinker, leading investigative journalist and speaker. She is president of Soy Coffee, LLC, makers of the popular caffeine-free coffee substitute "Soyfee", which is made from soybeans. Certified organic, its brewed just like coffee and comes in 8 delicious flavors like hazelnut, mocha, french vanilla & house blend. Its available at select health food stores or online at http://www.soycoffee.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
A successful joint venture marketing effort is the goal of many small businesses, and is a great way to increase market visibility and profits.
Joint venture marketing is rising in popularity everyday, but it does take some skill, good planning and foresight to execute. Here are the steps a business owner should take to be successful in this arena...
1. Write down your goals and desired outcome
Be sure to have specific, measurable and action-oriented goals for your joint venture, along with a realistic time frame for their execution. These should be written down and easily accessible so that you can refer to them when implementing your action plan.
2. Analyze the target market you want to reach
Begin by reviewing your current clientele, then choosing the clientele you want to attract. Analyze your target market for buying habits, marketing trends, etc. Brainstorm other products and services used by your target market and determine whether there's synergy with what you offer.
3. Identify potential partners who already serve this clientele
Think of potential partners that have influence and credibility with your target market. Remember that your network of business associates, suppliers, family and friends may be a good fit or can introduce you to prospective partners. Create a list of potential partners that offer the best expansion opportunities, and have the most desirable client base.
4. Determine your joint venture format
Do you want to offer a profit sharing format, or a reciprocal arrangement, or both? If you choose to pay your partner a percentage of the profits, then you will pay them a specific amount or percentage for each new client they send your way. If you choose a reciprocal arrangement, then you will systematically send clients to each other. Think of something that is of high perceived value to offer the clients.
5. Determine your budget
It goes without saying that you should control costs from the beginning of a project. That means you need to sit down at the start and list every item that's required to carry out the joint venture.
6. Create an action plan and implement it
Once you've listed your potential partners, create an action plan. This should detail the steps you'll take to approach them and implement your joint venture project e.g. "I'll contact Joe Bloggs of XYZ Corporation on July 15th." To keep you focused, refer to your goals when creating and implementing your action plan. Also note that the details of your action plan will change depending on the pace at which the project goes.
7. Contact your partners and open the door for discussions
Make initial contact with your potential partners and set up a meeting. You can contact them by phone, snail mail or email, but phone remains the best contact method. At the meeting, keep your eyes and ears open to make sure the market fit is as good as you initially thought. Also, ensure that the "chemistry" is good between you and your prospective partners. Emphasize the benefits of your proposal.
8. Decide on either a contract or a hand shake deal
If you choose a contract, ensure that it specifies terms for review, and doesn't lock you into any long term arrangement without specific criteria for profitability being met. If you choose a hand shake deal, be sure you trust your partner!
9. Launch your joint venture and test the results
Start small by doing a test run first. Write, print and send the endorsement letter and implement the tracking system. Make sure you're equipped to handle the flood of new clients once you've set the joint venture into motion.
These steps are simple and easy to execute. If you follow them appropriately, you can look forward to having profitable, win-win joint venture projects! As with any marketing strategy, remember to test, tweak, track and review results until you find the best fit.
Copyright © 2005 by Habiba Abubakar and Emprez. All rights reserved.
Note: You are welcome to republish this article as long as the resource box at the end is included fully and unaltered.
Habiba Abubakar, a.k.a. The Profit Diva, specializes in helping small business owners who are struggling to increase their client base and are tired of earning mediocre profits. The tips in this article have been excerpted from her home-study program, "Joint Venture Profits For Small Business Owners."
To learn more about this step-by-step program, and to sign up FREE for her revealing Mini eCourse, "The Easiest Way To Skyrocket Your Profits In 90 Days Or Less," visit http://www.profitdiva.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
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