INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you will be doing business primarily within the state of Texas and your business includes unique goods or services, you can file for a state trademark. This gives you enhanced legal protection against those who might try to copy your ideas and solidifies your brand.  The fee to register a trademark is $50 per product or service class. Trademark forms are complicated. It can be filed without an attorney, but it is strongly recommended you consult with an attorney if you have any questions. You must have your products and services well defined to fit within one of the 45 classes.  The interactive trademark form can be completed online and printed. It must be notarized before submission. When you name your business, consider making it unique by having it incorporated into a logo. If you have graphic design skills, you can create it yourself. Otherwise, patronize another Texas business and have a logo professionally designed. Registering your name and trademark gives your business an air of authority and professionalism. If you have sufficient programming skills, you can design your own website and social media pages. Otherwise, consider using a Texas marketing firm. Add the phrase "[Business name] is registered to do business with the state of Texas and [county.] If you file for trademarks, add "[Name] is a trademark of [Business Name] of [Address, City, Texas]" to your home page and About page.

SUMMARY: Consider filing for a trademark. Incorporate your business name into logos. Use your business name on your website and social media.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: In order to be successful as a business process analyst you will have to master a wide variety of tasks.  You need to have a thorough understanding of the business you are in and how you conduct operations.  You will need to be able to identify organizational issues that limit efficiency and devise data driven solutions for them. You will need to conduct statistical analyses of the operations within your business. Be prepared to devise new methods or to alter existing ones to improve efficiency. You may need to serve as the liaison between technical staff and managers. Having a good business process analyst can significantly reduce expenses for a company through increasing the efficiency of operations.  Processes are inherent to nearly every organization, and by streamlining those processes you can increase profitability and decrease costs.  By identifying inefficiencies in existing processes and knowing how to measure their impact on production you can provide changes in methodology that can mean the difference between a business succeeding or failing. Identifying issues before they become significant presents an opportunity to save money before its spent on resolving problems once they arise. Business process analysts usually bring value to their companies in one of two ways; some use their technical knowledge to analyze processes while others use their business expertise.  Your educational background will help determine which methodology you employ.  If you come from a technical background, your expertise can help you identify inefficiencies in technical processes individually. Business and finance oriented business process analysts tend to look at the bigger picture and identify unnecessary expenditures or ways to save money. Some companies require extremely specialized experience to serve as their business process analyst, others may prefer more generic business and financial training. If you are already specialized within an industry thanks to previous work history or education, you may choose to pursue working as a business process analyst within that industry because of your experience.  Otherwise, you will need to choose what type of industry interests you.  Manufacturing facilities often seek business process analysts to help streamline their processes and reduce costs. Information Technology companies also often use business process analysts to aid in their manufacturing, service and operations planning. Apply to positions within companies you are interested in.  You will need to develop a thorough understanding of all aspects of the company and its operations so it’s important that you have a passion for it.

SUMMARY: Identify the responsibilities of a business process analyst. Be clear about the value you bring a business. Identify if you are technically or business minded. Choose your industry.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: As you do this trick, ask the audience to copy your hand motions. Do each step slowly, and explain to the audience what you're doing. You'll actually be doing one extra step you aren't telling them about. The audience will end up with tangled hands and arms, while you will be showing them two thumbs up. Hold your arms out in front of you, and point both thumbs downward. Remember, tell your audience to do the same thing you do. Wait until everyone has made this hand motion before you keep going. Move one arm over the other, still with both thumbs pointed downward. Clasp the fingers on your left hand and right hand together. Your wrists – and the wrists of your audience members — are now twisted around each other, with your fingers interlocking. As your audience figures out how to copy you, keep talking to them to distract them from what you're doing. Say, "not like that, cross your arms like me. Remember, your thumbs are pointing downward and you're holding your hands together. There! Look at her, she's doing it right." Keep your arms crossed over each other, but let go of your hands so you can point at the audience member you're talking about. Quickly, while the audience is still looking where you pointed, turn over the hand you pointed with. Flip that hand over completely, so your palms are touching again, then grasp your hands together. This will look similar to the position your audience members are in, but it is much less twisted.  If you're trying to practice this and don't understand it, stop and put both hands in front of you with the thumbs facing up. Clasp your hands together, then turn them so the thumbs are pointing down. This is the position you want to end up in after this step. Keep talking and looking at your audience while you do this, not at your hands. Tell your audience to copy you, so everyone will give each other thumbs up. Move your hands up toward your chest, turning your hands so your thumbs are facing up. The audience will try to copy you, but because they're in a different position, they'll end up with their hands twisted, their arms still crossed, or other tangled gestures. Tell them they must be doing it wrong, and repeat the trick from the beginning. You can usually do this several times, while the audience laughs and wonders why they can't get it right. Use different distraction methods each time, so the audience doesn't get suspicious:  Pull your hands apart to hold an audience member's hands, and guide them in the "right" position. Clasp your hands together again in the fake position only you know. Wave your hands around while clasped, shout "Abracadabra" or other "magic words," then spin around while changing the position of your hand.

SUMMARY:
Ask the audience to follow along with you. Point your thumbs down in front of you. Cross your arms and clasp your hands together. Let go with one hand to point at someone. Rotate one arm and clasp your hands again. Rotate your hands. Pretend to get irritated and repeat.