Corb7 International October 27th, 2021 Newsletter

International Business

Feature

The Big Business of Halloween

by Jeffrey H. Corbett
Entrepreneur & Author
JeffCorbett.com

Happy Halloween and Business is Booming! 

Are you cashing in on the holiday? Halloween is now the second-largest commercial holiday, second only to Christmas.  In the United States alone, over 180 million Americans are expected to partake in festivities, spending an estimated $9 billion. Thus, it is safe to say that October 31st is not just for kids anymore.

For adults looking to escape the routine of everyday life, Halloween offers an opportunity to use their imaginations, become anything they want or simply poke fun at their favorite political target. So, if you are attending or throwing a party, giving candy to children, carving a pumpkin, visiting haunted houses, congratulations because you are doing much more than escaping, you are pushing the business of Halloween to the main financial pages.

How Did It start? A Pagan Holiday?

It is widely believed that the ancient origins of Halloween dates back to the pre-Christian Celtic festival of Samhain, which was celebrated on the night of October 31. The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland believed that the dead returned to earth on Samhain with the end of summer. The superstitious belief of the day was that to avoid being recognized by these ghosts, people would wear masks when they left their homes after dark in the hopes of being mistaken as fellow spirits.   The Christian influence over the spooky holiday came as a celebration of the day before of All Saints’ Day, which is November 1st of every year and also known as All Hallows' Eve and thus the contraction of the name to Halloween.  Pope Gregory IV replace the traditional pagan festival when the newer saintly holiday was melded with the well-established Celtic ceremonial rites.

In North America, trick-or-treating has been a Halloween tradition since the late 1920s and the commercialization of the holiday naturally followed.  It is thought that this custom was an outgrowth of the British and Irish tradition of going house-to-house collecting food for the poor while wearing costumes at Halloween dating back to the 16th century.

Want to Plan a Trip? 

As we conclude our fun look at this frequently misunderstood holiday, it might be fun to consider some of the top locations to celebrate.  From Transylvania to Northern Ireland, the video offered below is a quick look at those options.  Enjoy and of course ... Happy Halloween!

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International Business

Business Psychology

Choosing Change

by Toni Delos Santos
90% Mental
90percentmental.com

“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”  Albert Einstein

One of the most challenging things in life is the ability to embrace change. It is human nature to enjoy the feeling of being comfortable. When we are comfortable, we know what to expect, we have become successful, are confident in our abilities and have an incredibly minimal risk factor of failing. This sounds so good so why in the world would anyone want to shake things up by changing teams, jobs, or positions. The answer is two-fold; sometimes we are forced into change and out of our comfort zone and sometimes we choose to want to learn new skills, go for a promotion or even change careers to experience greater success.

A prime example of someone who has left their comfort zone is Tom Brady, the most successful quarterback in the history of the NFL. Tom had an amazing 20-year career with the New England Patriots winning 6 Super Bowls and becoming a 4-time Super Bowl MVP. When his contract was expiring, New England would only offer him a 2-year contract and he wanted another long-term contract. At the time Tom Brady was 42, which is old in the NFL. He had an incredible career and was set financially so it would have been amazingly comfortable for him to accept a 2-year contract and continue his reign in New England. Instead, he chose to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and start over with a new team in a new State. There was a lot of speculation about the decision and most thought he was too old and should have stayed in New England and retired at the end of his 2-year contract. Well, it turned out to be a great decision as he led Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl victory and was awarded the MVP of the Super Bowl!

Fear of failure is one of the main things that holds people back from wanting to make a change. It is a lot easier to stay complacent and accept where you are at in your career rather than take a risk and try something new. Trevor Ragan, content creator and workshop facilitator, looks at change as an opportunity for growth and development. He compares growth and survival with either being a zoo tiger or a jungle tiger. Life as a zoo tiger is repetitive and safe whereas life as a jungle tiger is full of adversity and survival is dependent on the tiger’s ability to overcome adversity and constantly learn new skills.

Learning new skills and taking risks also enhances your ability to problem solve and it is very gratifying to overcome obstacles and achieve success. Without failure, there is no growth. Going into a new situation with the mindset that no one starts out being the best. It takes time, practice, and determination to keep learning. Next time you are faced with a new opportunity, ask yourself, “Am I a zoo tiger or a jungle tiger?”

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
                                                Albert Einstein

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International Business

Cross-Border Business

The World's Premier Business Haven

Switzerland

Bermuda Switzerland is often called “the world’s premier business haven” with its exceedingly friendly business culture and a world-class infrastructure second to none. One of the most important industries within Switzerland is the iconic banking sector. One-third of the world’s wealth resides in this tiny nation. Tradition, integrity and trust are adjectives that all aptly describe this international business destination.

Great Location

Switzerland is an internationally recognized financial center. Though relatively small, Switzerland has only 8.1 million inhabitants - 16% of those living in Switzerland are foreign citizens, pointing to the cosmopolitan nature of the population - the World Economic Forum’s "Global Competitiveness Report" recently ranked Switzerland's economy as the most competitive in the world. While the four national languages of Switzerland are German, French, Italian and Romansch, most professionals speak working English. In addition, Switzerland is one of the oldest democracies in the world, established in 1848. For the last thirty years, the Federal Executive has consisted of a coalition between the country's main political parties, assuring balance neutrality and free enterprise. This tiny landlocked country has been successfully competing in favor of Direct Foreign Investment for seemingly countless years. With a long-standing history of neutrality – it has not been in a state of war since 1815 – an iconic banking infrastructure has been developed. Even through the resent global economic crisis not one Swiss bank approached failure. There can be little doubt that the stability of the Swiss banking system and its financial institutions have contributed mightily to this country’s success. Controversies aside, the Swiss have become the world’s banker with a standing estimate that one-third of all current wealth resides here. Therefore, several universal factors contribute to this relatively small nation's ability to compete on the global scale which enhances its reputation:

• Social peace and political stability
• A leading economy with currency and price stability
• Highly professional international banks that focus on privacy
• First-rate infrastructure
• High productivity combined with extraordinary product and service quality
• First-class and world-renowned universities and technical institutes

Switzerland
Location:  Central Europe (landlocked)
Capital City:  Bern
Population:  8.6M (2020)
Language Spoken:  French, Italian, German, Romansch
International Time:  EST + 6 hours
Airline Service:  Swissair, British Airways, American, Air Canada, Continental
Currency:  Franc
Type of Government:  Federal Republic
Main industries:  Flourishing financial services sector
Tax Treaty:  Yes
OECD:  Member
FATF:  Member

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International Business

Business Tools

What is a Swiss Trust Company?

A Swiss Trust Company is a Non-Banking Financial business model that will operate for you as a holding entity and a flagship structure adding prestige and operational authority to any venture. A Swiss Trust Company perpetuates the legacy and tradition of the Swiss financial industry and transitions smartly into any business undertaking that you may embark on.

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International Business

Business Etiquette

How to be a Team Player in Today's Workplace

by Candace Smith
The Etiquette Blog
Candace Smith Etiquette

Within company cultures, "team" is a common word.

• "Our team is working to improve the process for . . ."
• "My team will be on-site to begin the project on Tuesday."
• "Our team presented the Q4 report at the conference."

But what does it really mean to be part of a team in today's workplace?  How do you work as a team player?

Work as a Sport

There is an evolution taking place in work environments today.  Lines are being blurred in the segmentation of workers.  Managers and Directors are becoming Project Leaders.
For the time-being through pandemic phases, work from home offices are commonplace.  But everyone remembers their open workspaces and conference rooms with glass walls, and many expect they will be revisited.  In the meantime, virtual communications can make it easier to have a sense of teamwork and team play.

Transparency is key when working as a team.  Each employee - or player - has an assigned role that contributes to the goal of the team.  Sounds a little like baseball or football, doesn't it?

By definition, a team player:

• Understands her role and goals at work are very important, but can put them aside to work for a common goal and aim.
• Helps others succeed and shares credit for successes.
• Wants others to feel confident and notices when it’s time to give someone a compliment.
• Knows and follows the rules.
• Has an encouraging and positive attitude.
• Listens and is friendly.
• Lends a helping hand.
• Doesn’t hold anyone back by failing to perform duties.
• Is honest and forthcoming.
• Is always punctual!

When a company department acts as a team, work doesn't stop - the ball doesn't get dropped - just because one player drops out for a time.  It's an effective concept, but how does this relate to etiquette?

The Ultimate Etiquette-ful Person

When you demonstrate and practice etiquette, you place concern for others first in a given situation, while remaining true to yourself.  Though carrying through with your assigned roles in a work environment and being polite and courteous is important, it does not qualify you as a team player.

A team player takes on the equivalent of hosting roles.  That is, regardless of the role you play, you help create an atmosphere of good will.  You greet others, make everyone feel welcome, and are observant when it comes to others' needs.  You don’t hesitate to share information and help direct when necessary.

In this sense, members of the team share in leadership.  They also:

• Do their jobs in a timely and reliable way.
• Are constant learners, keeping eyes open for other views and ways things might be accomplished.
• Acknowledge the leadership roles of others.
• Give feedback at appropriate times.
• Take turns with office responsibilities.
• Appreciate and value differences of personality and working styles of other team members.
• Are attune to the maxim of “live and let live,” never participating in idle gossip and minding other people’s business.
• Quick to look for and congratulate or affirm their associates on successes.
• Use power words (otherwise known as “magic words”) of proper acknowledgement:  “Thank you! … You are welcome.  … I’m happy to do it. ...  Please forgive a mistake I just made.”
• Volunteer to take on extra roles to help the team out and advance shared goals.

The Advantages of a Team Player
Employers are looking for people who are capable of working in a cooperative environment.

This trend is sure to continue as companies shift toward a more "open" work culture.

A productive member of a team earns a good reputation over time.  Regardless of the speed at which you advance or succeed in your job, or even move on to other opportunities, the ability to function well in your group will bring positive recognition.

Ultimately, leadership is not about glorious crowning acts. It's about keeping your team focused on a goal and motivated to do their best to achieve it, especially when the stakes are high, and the consequences really matter. It is about laying the groundwork for others' success, and then standing back and letting them shine.
~ Chris Hadfi

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Lifestyle

Executive Fitness

Healthy Fall Harvest

Food is a big part of fall, and farms play a significant role in seasonal celebrations. Each fall, families plan apple picking excursions with their eyes on baking homemade apple pies. And while Halloween is made even more fun when carving jack-o'-lanterns, savvy celebrants know that carving sessions are not complete without some roasted pumpkin seeds.

The fall harvest is a great time to indulge in some freshly picked healthy foods. While the picking season may vary depending on where you live, and specifically the climate in your region, the following are some fruits and vegetables that might be ripe for the picking this fall.

· Apples: Apple-picking season typically begins in late summer and extends into fall. Many farms offer a variety of apples, which may be harvested at different times. For example, in the northeastern United States, Gala apples tend to be harvested in late summer, while Granny Smith apples may be best picked in early October.

· Beets: The Spruce: Eats notes that beets may be in season in temperate climates from fall through spring.

· Broccoli: Fresh broccoli makes a healthy addition to any dinner table, and Pickyourown.org notes that broccoli can have a lengthy harvesting season. Early harvesting may begin in May in some regions, though it's still possible to pick fresh broccoli in late October. If you want to pick fresh broccoli, The Old Farmer's Almanac recommends doing so in the morning when the buds of the head are firm and tight.

· Cabbage: If you're looking to do some late fall picking, cabbage might be for you. The online resource Harvest to Table notes that cabbage can survive under snow without being harmed, making it an ideal late fall vegetable. Spoiled outer leaves can be pulled away after harvesting without affecting the quality of the remaining cabbage.

· Peaches: People who can't wait to whip up a peach cobbler may need to do so before fall even begins. According to Pickyourown.org, peaches can be ready for picking as early as July in the northeastern United States, and the picking season generally ends around mid-September. The season is even earlier in places like Georgia, a state known for its peaches where the picking season can begin in mid-May and extend through early August depending on the variety.

· Pumpkins: Thanks in part to Halloween decor and the popularity of pumpkin pie as a Thanksgiving dessert, pumpkins are synonymous with the fall harvest. And pumpkin picking season aligns perfectly with each of these holidays, typically beginning in early or mid-September and extending deep into October.

Fall is a great time of year to pick fresh fruits and vegetables at a local farm.

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Lifestyle

Spirits & Cuisine

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Carving jack-o'-lanterns is a Halloween tradition that both adults and children enjoy. It's hard to resist an opportunity to carve a funny or scary face into a pumpkin that will soon make its way to the front porch, but there's another irresistible element to carving pumpkins as well.

Roasted pumpkin seeds make for a tasty, tempting treat. Seeds must be removed before carving pumpkins, so turning them into a savory snack is a great way to make use of them and cook up some fuel for family carving sessions.

Roasting pumpkin seeds is a straightforward process, though some people may have their own techniques to make seeds more flavorful. The following recipe for "Pumpkin Seeds" from the Food Network reflects various ways to prepare this beloved snack, ensuring that people with varying tastes can no doubt find a way to incorporate their favorite flavors into this Halloween staple.

Pumpkin Seeds

1. Seed the pumpkin: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Using a spoon, scrape the pulp and seeds out of your pumpkin into a bowl.

2. Clean the seeds: Separate the seeds from the stringy pulp, rinse the seeds in a colander under cold water, then shake dry. Don't blot with paper towels; the seeds will stick.

3. Dry them: Spread the seeds in a single layer on an oiled baking sheet and roast 30 minutes to dry them out.

4. Add spices: Toss the seeds with olive oil, salt and your choice of spices (see below). Return to the oven and bake until crisp and golden, about 20 more minutes.

5. Sweet Toss with cinnamon and sugar (do not use salt in step 4).

6. Indian Toss with garam masala; mix with currants after roasting.

7. Spanish Toss with smoked paprika; mix with slivered almonds after roasting.

8. Italian Toss with grated parmesan and dried oregano.

9. Barbecue Toss with brown sugar, chipotle chile powder and ground cumin.

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Lifestyle

Leisure

Know Your "Jack-O'-Lantern"

The toothy grins of jack-o'-lanterns are as much a part of Halloween as candy corn and costumes. Even though these carved pumpkins have become synonymous with Halloween, the festive gourds weren't always tied to the October holiday.

The history behind jack-o'-lanterns is not entirely known and there are multiple origin stories, but people may have been making these carvings for centuries.

One tale traces the origin back to Ireland and a popular Irish myth. According to History.com, the tradition involves a man nicknamed "Stingy Jack." As the story goes, Stingy Jack invited the devil to share a drink with him. Being the cheapskate his name implies, Jack didn't want to pay for the drinks, and he convinced the devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy the beverages. After the devil transformed, Stingy Jack instead pocketed the money and placed it next to a silver cross, which prevented the devil from changing back into his original form. Jack made the devil promise that should Jack die, he wouldn't claim his soul. Eventually Jack freed the devil, but not before he tricked him again with another con.

When Stingy Jack eventually died, legend states God would not allow such a trickster and unsavory character into heaven. The devil could not claim Jack's soul as promised, but he was upset by the tricks Jack had played. In turn, the devil then sent Jack off to wander the dark night infinitely with only a burning coal to light the path. Stingy Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been traversing the planet ever since. Irish storytellers first began to refer to Jack's specter as "Jack of the Lantern." Eventually the name was shortened to "Jack O'Lantern."

There are other origin stories regarding jack-o'-lanterns. Some say the term originated in 17th century Britain, where it was often customary to call men whose names were unknown a common moniker like "Jack." Night watchmen who carried lanterns might have been called "Jack with the lantern."

Other theories connect jack-o'-lanterns to the Celtic pagan practice of hallowing out root vegetables and carving them with grotesque faces. Illuminated by coal or candles, these items served to ward off evil spirits. When settlers came from Europe to America, where turnips and other root vegetables were scarce, they used native pumpkins instead.

Jack-o'-lanterns are often seen lighting up the Halloween night. There are various theories regarding the origins of the carved gourds. While the truth may never be fully known, it's fun to learn about the various origin stories connected to this popular symbol of Halloween.

Tips for Carving

A refresher course on carving one can help those who haven't dusted off their carving skills since last fall.

· Don't carve too early. Though it can be tempting and fun to carve a jack-o'-lantern once the calendar turns to October, it's unlikely the finished product will make it all the way to October 31. Horticulturists indicate that jack-o'-lanterns have a shelf life of roughly five to 10 days, though an especially cold October could shorten that life expectancy even further. If you want your jack-o'-lantern to greet trick-or-treaters on Halloween, wait to carve it until a few days before the big day.

· Use a dry-erase marker to outline the design. It's easy to make mistakes when carving a jack-o'-lantern, especially if this is your first time using a carving knife since last year. Use a dry-erase marker to trace the design onto the pumpkin before you make a cut.

· Avoid severing the stem. When many people envision jack-o'-lanterns, the image in their minds is one in which the top of the pumpkin is removed so candles or lights can be effortlessly placed inside. However, the custom pumpkin carving experts at New York-based Maniac Pumpkin Carvers note that removing the top cuts off the vine, which supplies the pumpkin with nutrients and moisture, even after it's been cut. A whole in the back of the pumpkin can provide easy access when placing candles or lights inside, and cutting here won't cut off the nutrient and moisture supply a pumpkin needs to avoid drying out.

· Scoop everything out. The interior of a pumpkin will be loaded with seeds, which can be removed and later roasted to make a savory snack. In addition to removing the seeds, be sure to get all of the pulp out. Pulp left in the pumpkin will soon get moldy and that can shorten the lifespan of the jack-o'-lantern. In addition, when removing the interior, try scraping the front inner wall of the pumpkin thin, which may make it easier to carve.

· Avoid candles when lighting the interior of the jack-o'-lantern. Candles might seem like the most authentic and even spooky way to light the interior of the pumpkin, but the heat produced by a burning candle can shorten the life expectancy of the jack-o'-lantern. An LED light won't give off much heat and will provide ample illumination.

A few simple tips can help Halloween celebrants ensure their jack-o'-lanterns make it all the way to the big day at the end of October.

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Lifestyle

Lifestyle & Travel

Historic Haunted Houses

Haunted houses can provide some interesting insight into history while also satisfying Halloween lovers' need to be scared out of their wits. The following are a handful of locations that may not be for the feint of heart.

· "House of Death," New York City: Located in the picturesque West Village neighborhood of Manhattan, the "House of Death" at 14 West 10th Street was built in the 1850s and was once the home of Mark Twain. Twain's ghost is one of many reported sightings inside the brownstone, where paranormal investigators have reported seeing visions of a lady in white as well as a gray cat.

· Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, California: This architectural wonder in San Jose was once the residence of Sarah Lockwood Pardee Winchester, an heiress to the Winchester® Repeating Arms fortune. The 24,000 square foot Winchester Mystery House is reported to be haunted by everyone who was ever killed by a Winchester® rifle. The labyrinthine home includes cut-off staircases and halls that lead to nowhere among its 160 rooms, many of which Sarah Winchester added to provide a place to stay for the many spirits she believed were haunting the house.

· The Marr Residence, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada: Built in 1884, the Marr Residence is the oldest house in Saskatoon that is still standing in its original location. Visitors to this popular tourist attraction insist they have encountered ghosts during their visit. While no one knows for certain, those ghosts may be the spirits of soldiers who were wounded during the Northwest Resistance armed conflict in 1885. The Marr Residence was one of three homes in Saskatoon that served as a field hospital during that conflict.

· LaLaurie Manson, New Orleans: Located on Royal Street in the heart of New Orleans' famed French Quarter, LaLaurie Mansion was built by Marie Delphine MacCarthy Blanque LaLaurie in 1832. Madame LaLaurie was a slave owner who was rumored to be especially cruel, even refusing to provide the key to the slave quarters when area residents arrived at the property to help put out a fire in 1834. Victims of Madame LaLaurie's cruelty are believed to haunt the property to this day, and passersby have reported hearing screams coming from the home, which is not open to the public.

Halloween celebrants who can't wait to be scared this October 31 can make the day even more frightening by learning about the many houses across the globe that are believed to be haunted by ghosts from years past.

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Business Services

Business Acquisitions

"The Complete Guide to Swiss Trust Company Ownership"
by
Jeffrey H. Corbett

About the Author:
It is our mission to save you both time and money when it comes to implementing a successful cross-border strategy as well as make a Swiss Trust Company acquisition possible for you within the shortest possible period of time. Offering more than 25 years of hands-on personal experience, the management of Corb7 International has guided more clients to successful endeavors with Swiss Trust Companies than any other alternative source.

This operational and management experience has allowed Jeffrey Corbett to develop a keen understanding for how international businesses can get bloated with redundancies or inefficient networks resulting in the loss of both time and money. To that end, the Corb7 Strategic Development Solution was created by him. This in-depth approach allows an entrepreneur to retool achieving a sleeker, smoother and more strategically focused organization. An advocate for bringing critical functions in-house, his clients range from small to mid-cap international concerns that can appreciate the additional control and cost reductions.

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With Corb7 international, driven leaders in international finance rely on winning strategies to cut costs, preserve wealth and capture profit from new markets within this sound business framework. A Swiss Trust Company is a rare, focused model that allows discerning entrepreneurs to employ these strategies. Whether your motivation is Profit, Privacy or Asset Protection, we are about to introduce to you a totally unique business tool - Swiss Trust Company Ownership. No other business tool is like it, offering you the capability to conduct almost limitless transactions through a prestigious European financial c enter with the assistance of highly regarded professionals.

We will provide you with a true turnkey acquisition - this will include acquiring the company, Swiss administration and a legal retainer with a top law firm located in Zurich - all for one investment. Our intent is to save you both time and money when it comes to implementing a successful cross-border strategy. The Trust Company you choose will have been walked through a strict due-diligence process and is guaranteed to be free of any present or past debts or liabilities.

Strategic Benefits:
- Asset Protection: Obtain a safe haven for either your personal or corporate wealth
- Profit: Acquire ownership of a “Non-Banking Financial Entity” in a major financial center
- Privacy: The ability to lower your financial profile and protect yourself from identity theft
- Gain Control: Avoid cumbersome red-tape in which will improve efficiency
- Potential Exit Strategy: Roll existing business into a STC and then listing on an exchange
- Portfolio Management: Manage portfolios of Real Estate or Securities

Additional Benefits Include:
- Political and Economic Stable Environment
- The Swiss Franc as an Independent Currency
- Own Subsidiaries and Hold Assets for Third Parties on Fiduciary Basis
- Tools like joining an SRO, applying for a light FINMA Banking License
- Efficient Network of Swiss Banks including communications by SWIFT
- Business Friendly Location

Investment:
Swiss Trust Companies are available for an initial investment ranging from $70,000 to $150,000. The average client invests approximately $100,000 to acquire their company. Your outlay will increase with the age of the structure since older companies are more difficult to locate. As a rule of thumb, older Trust Companies are more appropriate for clients who wish to make their STC acquisition an operational non-banking financial entity. This type of business model typically involves portfolio management or some other activity involving third parties. The age and established corporate goodwill are also of major importance when establishing corresponding banking relationships. If a client, however, is looking to benefit from owning a Swiss Trust Company solely for asset protection, then a younger company would be more appropriate and thus require a smaller investment.

Our Service & Experience:
- Experience: More than 25 years involvement with successful STC acquisitions.
- Neutrality: If there is a better option for your business plans you will be guided in that direction.
- Education: Professional and dependable source of information.
- Professional: Our Zurich based associates provide superb administrative services with in-house SRO license.

Bottom-line: with offices in Beverly Hills & Zurich we are here to serve you.

If you wish to gain a better understanding of the benefits of owning a Swiss Trust Company, then the best way to explore whether this unique structure will fit your needs is with a 15 minute complimentary phone consultation which we would be delighted to schedule for you.

Corb7 International, Inc.
a Business Advisory & Publishing Firm
www.Corb7.com

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please see my new site:  JeffCorbett.com