Luster and Surface: Luster is amount of light reflected from pearl's surface. A strand of pearls with high luster, mirror finish and clean surfaces is most desirable and valuable.

Color: It is a personal choice. Consider buying a pearl necklace whose color will complement your clothing and your skin tone.

Size: The price of pearls that are larger than 7mm varies greatly. People usually buy largest pearls they can afford.

Shape: Round pearls are most desirable and valuable.

Matching: For a pearl necklace or bracelet, matching refers to ways in which all of pearls are similar. It is difficult to find enough identical pearls to make a well-matched pearl necklace; therefore such a necklace commands a top price.

After you have decided type, color, size and quality of pearls that you want, think about your budget. Take your time to shop around and find that perfect pearl necklace for your wedding day!

Copyright: © 2004 by Yan Berry

The leader promotes closure. He should know right time to get things done.

The leader knows what he doesn’t know. The leader is not afraid to ask clarifications, if he does not understand a particular subject.

The leader knows meaning of two minutes. He should respect time of others and that of his own.

The leader teaches.

Above all, leader develops others. As Lao Tzu advanced: “the leader having accomplished great things, people all feel they did it themselves…”

The very best leaders go beyond mere setting of example. He should be able to cause a leap of imagination and faith in his people.

The leader recognizes that people are often at their very best moment they have been let go. There are times when an employee doesn’t like work anymore, or he is unable to appreciate how whole enterprise works- this is time to set him free.

A Company Must Be Profitable

1. A solid financial base is fundamental.

2. Debt should not exceed equity. A debt to equity ratio of 1 to 1 or better should be goal, so that a company’s leader and key executives do not spend all their time on mere survival -paying bills, meeting payroll, and keeping banks happy- but moving forward and meeting bigger challenges and doing more visionary work.

3. There should be a regular process for annual strategic planning and budget-planning.

The Fundamentals of Profit and Loss

1. Manage expectations, not profits. Keep shareholders informed, to eliminate doubts of manipulating numbers.

2. The Chairman and CEO should be financially literate. They should know what numbers really mean.

3. Good growth and profitability requires exercise of critical judgment. The leader should make certain that budget is one company can live with.

4. In repurchasing company’s own stocks, make sure that it will add to company’s earnings.

5. Look into availability of funds so that balance sheet will not be compromised.

Make an Edge in Business World

1. Writing. It is a unique and powerful skill you can use for clarity and persuasion.

2 Public Speaking and Story-telling. Speak directly, and without notes, to your audience. Individuals respond to a well-told story.

3. Thinking. People do not respect sloppy thinking in a leader. Thoughts should be carefully considered then expressed directly, crisply, and clearly.