If your business requires overseas communications with suppliers or customers; or if you have a loved one living or traveling abroad; you know that cost for overseas calls can come as a shock to your budget and cause you heartburn if you think what future may have in store. Calling rates vary from country to country, so impact on your telephone bill could be dramatic, but there are a few things that you can do to help lessen costs in future.

• Calling Overseas Mobile Devices: Be very careful when placing telephone calls to mobile devices overseas. There are many overseas carriers that use a "calling party pays" system when calling mobile devices (cell phone, pager, etc.) originating from within United States. It is entirely possible that tariff rate for an overseas wireless phone might be considerably higher compared to a call placed to a land-line in same country. This surcharge is referred to as an “International / Special Services Termination Rate”. It should be listed on your carrier’s International calling plan rate schedule. U.S. carriers do not have a choice in this matter and it does you no good to complain to your local provider regarding what you may perceive as excessive charges that appear on your telephone bill.

• Direct Dialing or Dialaround: Depending upon country you are calling, you may get an overall attractive calling rate by dialing direct; accessing network by dialing 011 + country code + city code plus local number. However, you may want to consider using a dialaround service if your local plan charges a high tariff for a country you intend to call regularly. These services are also referred to as a 10-10 number. You do not need to switch long distance carriers to use a dialaround number and it can be used in many foreign countries as well to call home. These services usually have very competitive International rates and can save you considerable sums. Be advised, however, that you will not be able to use a dialaround service if you must dial 8 or 9 to access your dial tone, such as from an office or hotel.

• Operator Assistance To Place Calls: Never, ever, use an operator to place an International call unless it is an absolute emergency. Obviously for every rule there are exceptions, collect calls, person-to-person and third party billing are examples, but whenever possible dial direct or use a dialaround service. When I first moved to Indonesia several years ago I called my son on his birthday using local operator and we talked for about an hour. This was before I got into this business. My phone bill was in excess of $100. A dialaround service, which was not available at time, would have cost me about $15.00 or less.

You might be surprised to learn that a really big vocabulary is not necessary in order to express yourself clearly and to move others with your words.

Some of most dramatic messages that have ever been uttered in English language actually used very simple words to stir blood, or touch heart.

Look at any well-known passage in Bible. Chances are that passage does not rely on sophisticated words to create its power.

Think of Lincoln’s Gettysberg Address. Although President Lincoln spoke in a style that is very different from way we usually speak today, his words still have power to move us deeply with their clarity and their deep emotion. During darkest days of World War II, Winston Churchill’s rousing speeches to British people used very simple, common, powerful words to successfully ignite courage and determination of his people.

So if it’s possible to communicate effectively without using a lot of very big words, why should we bother to try to expand our vocabulary? The reason is that learning new words expands our understanding and improves our “mental muscles”. Every new word we learn entices our mind to stretch into new areas.

When we have a larger bank of words to draw on, we improve our ability to think and express ourselves. Our thinking will become more fluid and supple, and we will understand more of world around us and within us, when we have a larger vocabulary. In modern world ability to use words effectively is often highly rewarded.

The English language has an enormous number of words, perhaps more than half a million of them. Most people however, use a vocabulary of just a few thousand common words on a daily basis. It is possible to get by in English language with a limited number of words, but you expand your options as you expand your vocabulary. When you understand very few words, you are limited in your ability to learn new information.

If you want to increase your vocabulary, there are many approaches you can use. One good way is to read books or articles that are slightly more difficult than what you are accustomed to. When you come across a word you don’t know, see if you can figure out its meaning from context. Look at way word is made up, with its letters and syllables. Does it remind you of any words you already know? What parts of it are familiar?

Many words in English language are made up of common roots they share with other words. You may be able to deduce meaning of new word from way syllables are put together and way it is used. You should consult a dictionary to be sure.

If you come across a word you don’t understand during course of a lecture or a conversation, you can ask someone to explain meaning of word. Many people are reluctant to do this because they are afraid of exposing their ignorance by asking.