By Jemma Hill

For many people, to own a Rolex is to display success. Noted notables have remarked that failing to possess one is failing as a man, and so many highly charged and successful businessmen own these gilded status symbols that they have become the apogee of the business world accessory. There is something about that clean dial, and masculine metal case that is intimidating, powerful, professional. It's hardly surprising that Rolex is a household name even among families that could only dream of owning one.

Such is the brand's global domination that you'd be forgiven for thinking that it was the only luxury watch out there - many people can't think of another brand off the top of their heads. But, as any horological fan would know, there are many, many more fish in the timekeeping sea.

Just as a well-known status symbol can be used to intimidate, knowledge that takes you beyond the man shaking your hand can work to your advantage. Without doubt, a Rolex watch conveys excellent taste, but can you boast the exclusivity that comes with an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore, or a Hublot Big Bang?

The many other watch companies that exist often thrive on a limited, knowledgeable client base, and the watches they sell are designed to appeal to this greater horological expertise. Jaeger LeCoultre, for example, test their watches to ensure long-term accuracy, and employ the finest craftsmanship to decorate every major component, be it seen or unseen. They also employ master craftsmen in the art of engraving and enameling the dials and cases, so that the watch is a work of creative beauty as well as precision accuracy.

A Breitling watch, on the other hand, speaks for a more industrious, mechanical mind. The brand's close association with aircraft and the luxury automotive company Bentley give their watches a technical, specialized look, one distinctive enough to allow for anecdotes.

The many watch companies that produce luxury watches allow for a wide variety of distinctive styles and functions. Cartier has models such as the Santos, a distinctive, square dial with a highly executive feel, and the name; long associated with royalty and prestige, is certainly an impressive one to casually drop into conversation.

Owning a Panerai, constantly in high demand on long waiting lists, could give you an edge in prestige. The timeless designs of the Luminor range, and the high-octane associations of its Ferrari partnership are easy to form attachments to, while their scarce nature is definitely something to promote.

Nor should Rolex be discarded simply because it is well-known. In addition to the most famous models, the Submariner and the Daytona, the company also sells many other models, such as the GMT Master and GMT II, both of which allow the wearer to follow time in two different time zones; very useful for the jet-setting businessman.

By displaying this knowledge proudly on your wrist, or even delving deeper and researching different brands, it is possible to turn the watch on your wrist into a display of intelligence and business instinct. Who knows, you could even discover a new passion at the same time.

By Bond Mejeh

It seems the effects of these trying economic times know no bounds. People are resorting to even more illegal activities and theft is on the rise. In particular, car theft seems to be the most attractive for the desperate because of its street value.

Most car thieves used the old fashion techniques like jimmying the lock or using a crowbar. Lately, many car dealerships are dealing with car theft right under their own noses. It seems many of these thefts are inside jobs. Vast majorities of other car dealerships with less than adequate security are becoming more hip to the times and have beefed up security measures to protect against theft form the outside.

It was reported that a western Nebraska, Scottsbluff to be exact, the Legacy Ford Lincoln Mercury Toyota car dealership lost dozens of new cars in early March of this year. The cars were later found at auto auctions in Utah and Arizona. The culprits? Well it wasn't the usual suspects. It was the executives working inside the car dealership - the dealership owner Allen Patch, the general manager Rick Covello and the controller Rachel Fait. They cleared out their offices and left town with 81 Ford and Toyota vehicles!

This was not your ordinary heist. These vehicles were vanishing by the truckload! It rather reminds you of the Fast and the Furious movie with Vin Diesel and his crew high jacking fast cars while driving in even faster cars on the highway at high speed. Of course, that's Hollywood and the guilty here were more low - keyed and under the radar and arranged it from behind an office desk. This was a true insider operation and a car theft story with TV or movie potential. How about that ol' Nicholas Cage auto theft film - Gone in Sixty Seconds? The total cost of the merchandise stolen was over $2 million! It's no wonder the car dealer executives disappeared all of a sudden after the heist occurred.

Though many of these cars were sold, they were eventually caught in Utah at an auto auction. When you're trusted with very expensive inventory, and desperation takes over, stories such as this become the reality. This car dealership was obviously going through some financial troubles just like most businesses in the country.

Just a couple of weeks ago, there was a car theft at a successful cash for car business in Long Island, NY. The car thief was daring and managed to steal car keys to a Mercedes on the car lot. The thief managed to sneak in and out with the key and drive off the lot with the Mercedes.

Thanks to sophisticated video surveillance placed strategically in key areas, the key theft was caught on tape! The dealership immediately had the video aired on the Channel 12 News that evening as well as the following morning. They received an anonymous phone call from an individual stating the exact same car was parked in the nearby area. Seeing himself on the Channel 12 News must've made him think twice about keeping it.

Suffice to say, the dealership was able to recover the stolen vehicle back to their lot. The owner immediately added more upgrades to the dealership's security to the point where it is more airtight than ever before. Considering the shape the economy is in, they're doing rather well in these times and the owner obviously intends to keep it that way.

By Les Gore

It's raining pink slips. But for those who were lucky enough to land a job as CEO of a major US company these past few years, the only thing crazier than the bloated compensation packages these CEOs got was the size of their severance packages when they were fired.

And what about those people who worked in good faith to execute those failed strategies? They got shafted-cut loose with little or nothing in the way of severance.

This article deals with the hard reality of layoffs: how to do it legally, effectively, and with consideration for your departing and remaining employees-while preparing your business for recovery. Feel free to share this information with a colleague or friend. And if layoffs and freezes are not in your forecast-congratulations.

Head Count. A Company's Largest Expense and the One Cut First During an Economic Downturn.

And who better to validate our downward spiral than George Bush who recently announced that the U.S economy is in a "rough patch" right now.

Tell that to the 9,000 folks at Citigroup and 4,600 at AT&T who got their pink slips a week or so ago.

Whether you call it a layoff, reduction in force (RIF) or downsizing, doing so can result in legal challenges and leave you with a remaining workforce that is demoralized and unproductive. The more you know about state and federal laws and best practices for handling layoffs, the better equipped you'll be in protecting your company from operating and legal difficulties.

A Littered Landscape of Layoffs

Layoffs have become all too common in the landscape of U.S. businesses. January layoffs rose a whopping 69 percent from December 2007 to 75,000-the highest amount since August 2007, according to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas. Housing and financial sectors were hit hardest.

In the months ahead, more layoffs are projected in the retail, professional and technical services, pharmaceutical, automotive, leisure and hospitality industries. A 37 percent increase in 2008 compared to last year, makes this year's forecast the worst in five years, according to a recent survey conducted by Career Protection.

What Do You Say When You're Laying Off People?

How do you keep morale up for your remaining staff and calm their fears about job security? And how do you protect your company from legal exposure with regards to the documents you write when going through the layoff selection process?

Plan Ahead and Follow the Script

Perhaps the idea of "scripting" a verbal communication sounds insincere or artificial. As a representative of your company however, it is a good idea to plan ahead so you don't say too much and land your company in legal hot water, but you still say enough to convey the message at hand.

What You Might Say in the Initial Employee Meeting

"Steve, in an effort to reduce costs, we are restructuring our business, and that will result in the elimination of a number of positions in our company. Unfortunately, your position is one of them, and I'm afraid we're going to have to lay you off. Today will be your last day of work with us, and we have information to share with you regarding your severance package, COBRA and unemployment insurance. I know this is a lot of information coming at you at once, and I'm so sorry to have to relay this message to you. Before I go any further, I want to see how you're doing. Are you OK?

"Just so you're aware: About 35 positions are being eliminated throughout the day. Out of respect for the other people involved, I would ask that you say as little as possible today. We would prefer to tell the affected employees ourselves; we want to avoid people hearing about this through the grapevine if we can help it. In addition, I know that some people prefer to leave quietly while others want to say goodbye to a few close friends. We'll respect whatever decision you make. How do you think you would like to handle that?

"Finally, I just want to thank you for all your hard work and dedication for the past two years. You have made it a better place around here, and I'm personally going to miss working with you. Thank you for all you have done for us."

Handling Employees' Questions

If you speak softly and with genuine concern, most employees will appreciate your sincere approach. After your opening statement, expect some employees to question the reasoning behind the RIF:

Question: Why was my position chosen for elimination?

Answer: It was a business decision. Please don't take this personally; when a reduction in force occurs, positions are eliminated. The people who are attached to those jobs then get laid off. It's the hardest thing a manager can do-selecting positions for elimination is so difficult because you realize that people's lives will be interrupted. That's why I'm so sorry that this is occurring.

Question: Who else is being laid off? Am I the only one in our department? Why me?

Answer: Steve, I can't share who else is being laid off in the department at this point. We haven't spoken to the other individual(s) yet, so I would ask that you allow me to hold off on answering that for now. [Or:] Yes, yours is the only position in our department that's being eliminated. Again, please don't feel that you've disappointed anyone. I want you to know that you could be considered for rehire once the hiring freeze is lifted. For now though, understand that we had to eliminate one position, and, purely from a functional standpoint, your position made the most sense.

Question: How can that be? Who's going to do all the work that I do once I'm gone?

Answer: With the elimination of your position, other members of the department will have to take on the remaining job duties that you've handled up to now. That's something we'll simply have to deal with in this new "downsized" mode. Travis is here with us from human resources to discuss some of the details related to your severance package and other important benefits details relating to this layoff.

When One Is Enough

When one individual is selected for layoff from a comparison pool of employees with the same title, expect the person to say: "Wait. You can't lay me off and keep Heather. I have more longevity than she does."

Your answer: "I recognize that. However, I want you to know that we considered tenure in our decision. We also looked at performance appraisals, progressive disciplinary warnings, attendance records, education levels, and skills and technical certifications when determining who would be qualified to assume the remaining duties after the reduction-in-force. We determined that, based on all that historical information along with our evaluation of who would work best in the post-layoff environment, you would be selected for layoff. Are there any other questions I could answer for you?"

Script for Remaining Employee Meetings

In general, it's better to bring about "group closure" when there are layoffs or terminations. It gives employees a chance to express their concerns publicly and hear directly from you what occurred. This not only minimizes concern relating to employees' own job security but also diminishes the rumor mill.

A Sample Script to Help You After the RIF Occurs

"I wanted to call you all into a meeting to follow up regarding the layoffs that took place earlier today in our department. As you may know, two members of our department have been laid off. The company has provided the affected employees with a severance package and is working with them through this transition.

"Of course, no guarantees of job security can be given, but as far as we understand, there aren't any other planned layoffs in our department at this time. I wanted to let you all know to allay any fears you might have about your own job security right now.

"We wish those laid off well, and we have treated them with the respect and dignity they deserve. I know I can count on your support in doing the same. I also want to remind you that if you get any reference-checking phone calls from prospective employers or recruiters, those calls are to be referred to me. I will in turn pass them along to human resources as per company policy. Note that the laid-off employees have been given copies of their last three performance evaluations, and they're free to share those with prospective employers to demonstrate their strengths and areas for professional development.

"If there are no other questions, I thank you all for coming. I appreciate your patience and understanding, and I look forward to moving beyond this difficult period."

Written Documentation Caveats

Line managers often are asked to select individuals for layoffs based on certain criteria. For example, if you are asked to eliminate 12 people from a 15-person department, you may be asked to justify your decision in terms of whom to retain and whom to lay off.

When that's the case, it may be advised to create a comparison group evaluation form that highlights performance reviews, oral or written disciplinary communications, attendance records, tenure, experience prior to joining your company, education and technical skills or certifications.

Such documents are meant to encourage an objective evaluation process, but in case of a class-action discrimination lawsuit, the documents become subject to subpoena in the discovery process. One way to lessen the chances (there's no guarantee) of having this documentation subpoenaed is to designate the documentation as attorney-client privileged.

Your in-house or outside counsel will recommend that you write at the top of each evaluation page: "Privileged and Confidential: Prepared at the Request of (attorney's name)."

The legal rules and guidelines of the attorney-client privilege go beyond the scope of this article. Just be sure to check with counsel first before drafting any documents relating to a layoff. More importantly, don't write freely with little regard to the fact that your notes may be blown up in front of a jury to demonstrate unlawful motives on management's part.

The goal of any layoff is to treat employees with dignity and respect. The key way to achieve this is to communicate openly and honestly with those laid off and with those who survive and assume the remaining job responsibilities.

Retain Top Talent

It may seem unrealistic to focus on retention when you're laying people off, but there's no other time when retention becomes more important than when a company is letting workers go. Critically assess who the talent is you must retain and do everything possible to do it, including giving them a defined and key role in the turnaround after the layoffs.

The preceding is based on information provided by The Society of Human Resource Management. This material is provided as general information only and does not constitute and is not a substitute for legal or other professional advice.

By Carolyn Clayton

The new style BMW 5 series car was restyled as of January 2007, and despite some mixed reviews, is generally considered one of the finest BMW models on the market. The executive saloon car is luxurious, spacious, classy and refined, yet some critics feel the mean and aggressive front styling has been lost, replaced by a more demure and softer look. It is longer and wider, with boot space and rear passenger leg room greatly increased.

The technology has been improved inside too, with the introduction of active steering, a system which reduces steering motion at low speeds, and makes handling much more direct when travelling faster. Put simply, it helps the driver steer more smoothly, and is considered to be such a step forward that its arrival has been greeted comparably with that of ABS man years ago. The xDrive technology means this BMW can also perform well in wintery conditions, snow and ice are no longer such a problem due to the new all wheel drive element which works hand in hand with other features to achieve a secure grip to the road. Also BMW have integrated an improved and less complicated iDrive system, which is used to control the in-car entertainment, navigation, communication and climate options, and is linked to a dash mounted display. Cruise control is another function to have been updated, with a Stop-Start function for use when moving in slow traffic. The new head up display option, which projects information onto the windscreen in the driver's line of sight, adds a superior touch to the updated models. Another new and innovative feature is the Night Vision thermal imaging camera on board, which can pick out pedestrians/animals clearly in the dark, to avoid any possible collisions/accidents. The new radio system brings near digital quality to radio broadcast, meaning a much clearer listening experience.

Insuring the BWM 5 series depends on the model, but can go from a just above average group 15, to the most expensive possible of group 20.

The BMW 5 has all the comfort, style, features and technology you would expect from a luxury executive saloon, and also the character of smaller sports cars, such as speed, power and handling, which makes it a benchmark for the rest of the industry.

By Pete Ridgard

It has to be said that Great Britain don't manufacture many mass-produced automobiles anymore, which is a great shame as some of the greatest names and brands in automotive history have been dreamt of and founded on these fair Isles. Amongst this pantheon of names are Rolls Royce, Bentley and Jaguar; all now either bought or outsourced by overseas companies in Germany and India. However, amongst the great lost prestige British car manufacturers of the past lies a rather cheaper jewel in the crown that won't be forgotten in a hurry. I speak of the Mini Cooper.

Now the Mini brand is owned by German manufacturer BMW, who have retained the original Mini's sense of fun and adventure. What has been lost is the affordability, which used to be the crowning glory of the Mini Cooper's name. Due to BMW's magic prestige touch, the Mini has been transformed from the young driver's first car of choice, to more of an upmarket 'yuppie-ish' mode of transport. With the basic models starting around the £10,000 ($16,000 USD approximately) mark, this really isn't a great opening price for the first time car owner.

What can be surmised by this is that BMW have altered the Mini brand from being a cute, fun and cheap car for British teenagers, to the cool, suave and upmarket runabout for the country's executives and estate agents. Whilst this may not be an entirely bad thing for the Mini brand, I do feel like some of what I loved about the original Mini has been lost in translation by the Germans.

You can still find the occasional BMW Mini bargain by checking the Used MINI market, but short of buying an ancient original Mini Cooper, you will struggle to find a good condition model for an affordable first-time buyer's price.

By Pete Ridgard

In the world of the executive saloon there are many available choices to the more discerning business man or woman. Depending on your exact budget there all manner of manufacturers vying for your business, so it is important to weigh up what is more important to you; performance or image.

Put simply, most executive saloon cars seem to be able to be categorised in one of two descriptions. Firstly, they either look great or don't deliver performance-wise, or they drive like a bat out of hell but look like they were designed by an artistically challenged infant. The ideal compromise would be a car that can make a great impression on your clients, whilst still retaining a great drive quality that you can enjoy on a daily basis.

My personal recommendation would be a car like the Saab 9-3. Unlike a lot of executive saloon manufacturers, Saab models have kept a certain amount of exclusivity by not attempting to corner every single market. They know what they do best and that is saloon cars that provide comfortable yet engaging drive experiences.

The price of saloon cars can sometimes be a bit of a drawback, which is why it might be worth checking out the used market before settling on a particular new model. A little bit of research shows that you can get a great deal on a Used Saab, which is only a year or two old with less than 20,000 miles on the clock. If you take the Used Saab option you are likely to save a great deal of money.

By Pete Ridgard

If you are a high powered executive, or perhaps a successful Sales Representative who has to travel the length and breadth of the country, you are more than likely to need an executive car to match your job description. Without beating about the bush, there is a great deal of choice out there varying massively in quality, size, shape, power in pretty much every way imaginable. So how can you possibly go about making sure that you pick the right one for you?

In the rather questionable research of Automobile Semiotics the answers come thick and fast.

The key to answering this question is image. The whole raison d'être of these cars is image. You have to pick the most suitable executive car to the kind of persona you are trying to impress upon your potential clients. BMW drivers are seen as firebrand risk takers who may make your business millions, but lose millions in the process. Audi drivers are astute types who may make small significant gains and no major loses. Mercedes Benz drivers are calculating and may be serving their own needs whilst serving yours.

It would appear a happy medium is a car like a Lexus. Lexus drivers seem to run the gamut between risky and reliable, self-serving and generous. The price tag needn't bother them either as there are a veritable glut of Used Lexus models appearing on the market due to the new September registrations being released.

The important thing to remember from this is that in business, as in life, image is everything!

By Pete Ridgard

When it comes to choosing the best possible Saloon Cars, most car magazines or other Automotive mediums will inevitably point you in the direction of one particular make and model; the Ford Mondeo. The Ford Mondeo has been a consistent and popular seller since its release in 1993. Back then it was the replacement for the relatively popular Ford Sierra, which had been a good flagship model for Ford in the company car sector, but was beginning to lose steam. The Ford Mondeo was meant to reinvigorate the design and bring a more 'executive' edge to the manufacturer who were beginning to run out of ideas.

The Mondeo then began a 20+ year domination over the saloon car market, which is yet to dissipate thanks to Ford's constantly evolving design ethic. The current design falls into Ford's new 'Kinetic' design aesthetic, which is meant to represent the vehicle's movement even when it is standing stock still. This sounds a little bit 'clichéd' as far as design briefs go, but in practice it really works and looks rather striking.

In a rather crude experiment to see how the Ford Mondeo has evolved over time, I have spent the week comparing an original Mark 1 Mondeo to the new Mark 4 edition. Obviously first impressions are vastly differing; the Mk1 looks rather too much like the old Sierra for my liking, but is definitely a step in the right direction. In contrast, the MK4 looks like it was designed by Mercedes during a cloning of an SLK experiment gone wrong. In short, it looks fantastic.

The performance test confirms the new edition's clear dominance over the past incumbent. In a one lap time trial race of a 3.4 mile race track, there was a clear winner despite both cars having 2.0 Litre petrol engines. As if you hadn't guessed, the MK 4 won by a shamefully long 6.3 seconds.

So what we can agree on is that the Ford Mondeo's star is definitely still in its ascendency. Whether it will maintain its positive trajectory rather depends on Ford and the often fickle buying public.

By Mike Trudel

If your fingers itch for a touch screen even during the morning commute, there may be a solution -- particularly when you're carpooling in the passenger seat and have a minute to play. Vehicles are now being released with "carputers" or "carPCs" as an option, not just as a retrofit. A familiar type of "carPC" to most folks is a Global Positioning System (GPS). According to an online encyclopedia, a GPS device is much like a limited laptop running GPS software.

Basic Specs and Tech:

"Carputer" machines consist of a motherboard, processor and memory and data storage method, such as a hard drive or solid state flash memory. Interface hardware depends on non-distracting options to interact with the "carPC," such as wireless protocols, which are commonly used to connect to GPS devices and mobile phones. Wirelessly connecting and transferring data to and from home computers is also possible.

A well-executed interface is paramount to the machine's success, and its software runs the computer's hardware. Good programming allows drivers to use their favorite piece of technology without being distracted. Common operating systems are available and nearly all are customizable.

Making sure "carPCs" keep their juices flowing is a slightly more complicated matter than it is for the average desktop or laptop. The danger lies in the sudden power drain to certain systems that occurs upon start-up or, of course, when the ignition is cut. To suddenly seize a computer's supply, however, is risky; software can malfunction and data can be lost. To safeguard against this, a DC-DC power supply is often used, which provides a continuous, 12V power stream to the "carputer." A DC-AC inverter can also be installed, but it tends to use more energy and produce more wasted heat. The right hardware and software combination allows the computer to sense when the main power source has been cut and use what's left to safely shut down the machine.

Experiments have found that Internet users experience marked levels of frustration when a Web site takes thirty or more seconds to load. Bearing this in mind, imagine how quickly "carputer" popularity would decline without the relay circuits enabling the machine's devices to start automatically. Without properly relaying circuits, devices such as amplifiers and screens would have to be started manually -- something a portion of the general public doesn't even know how to do anymore.

Before 2000, LCD character displays were the screen of choice for "carPC" builders. Commands were usually sent to the machine through a keyboard with this system. Soon, wireless serial port remotes were made possible, and small television screens became affordable. The majority of first screens were video input only. For over a grand a pop, though, these were hard to justify. Rapidly advancing technology and production increases have recently made touch screens available and affordable.

Lest one thinks these little "carputers" are all business, entertainment features have been added. "CarPCs" now bring nearly all the entertainment comforts of home onto that cross-country trek. Passengers feel like watching a movie? No problem. Playing a video game? Hook 'er up. Download favorite music, tune in to satellite radio and map the next trip to Europe on advanced GPS software. It's all there. No more "Maaa-om. Are we there yet?" "Pop in a movie," says Maaa-om. Or, "do your homework," which she downloaded from a desktop at home. At last -- technology not only brings hope for peace and quiet but also a way to make sure no one gets too lost along the way.

The possibilities are nearly endless. After all, automobiles have already been introduced to the world of high technology. Consider infrared cameras, a variety of hands-free applications, cargo detectors, lane departure and side (blind spot) warning software -- these technological offerings are all not only possible but are already being incorporated. Imagine the capabilities modern computers possess. Now imagine that in your car.

By Alex Dianga

Have you ever wondered why there is new car design coming out in the market every day? Have you ever stopped and asked yourself this question? Many car manufacturers are spending huge amount of money and time to come up with new designs. While it is a fact that car design is an important part and parcel of car manufacturing, the same do seem to apply very much when it comes to making purchasing decision. Exterior car design has played a part, to some extent, in aiding purchasing decision of the consumer for some time now. Until very recently car buyers have not been keen in the interior design of car. Much of the decision to buy a car has been based on certain performance metrics such as quality and reliability, vehicle appeal, service satisfaction, and ownership costs.

In a survey conducted by JD Power, an American firm which conducts comprehensive annual surveys of car owners to see who is happy, and who is not, with their new car, it was found that "the way in which technology is integrated into new car design, especially interior features and controls, is now considered to be as important to car buyers as defects and malfunctions". Additionally Joe Ivers of JD Power says that "New vehicles today are often packed with new technologies that unfortunately can be complicated and frustrating for the average consumer when their integration is not well executed. This could explain why many car buyers have not been keen in the internal design of the car as opposed to external design.

In 2004 it was found that more and more Americans are paying attention on how their cars are designed. The way a car looks has become very important to car owners. The saying that "you are what you drive" has become more important than ever. Car designers have become celebrities overnight depending on how their design is performing in the market. The craze in car design has become intense such that car manufacturers have been rushing to link up supermodels and celebrities in an effort to up their sales.