Bill Pirraglia, for over 25 years, has combined his expertise in writing with his experience business and sports. As a Senior Management Officer in the financial industry and Business Consultant since 1973, he has managed complex businesses and provided useful advice to hundreds of smaller businesses and entrepreneurs.

Having authored all manner of published material, from articles to newsletters, annual reports to web marketing content, business plans to research reports, Bill has had material in a wide variety of publications.

As a certified youth coach in 4 sports (softball, baseball, basketball, and soccer) and former player, Bill also enjoys providing tips and information to anyone involved, be it player or coach.

Tip: Why Do I Need a Business Plan

Would you start driving from downtown Seattle trying to get to New York City without a map or trip plan? Of course not. A well-thought out business plan is just such a map for business owners and managers. An important benefit: Even if one's business is on the verge of "getting lost", the plan can be specifically modified to display effective "detours" which may bet the business back on track.

Tip: Do I Need a Slick and Thick Business Plan to Impress Lenders or Investors

Contrary to what many think, the level of slick or the number of pages has little to do with the probability of a lender or investor providing the funds needed. Both lenders and experienced investors had seen hundreds, if not thousands, of business plans. Most will know right away whether the plan has manageable, realistic substance or is an elaborate work of fiction. Depending on the industry and quality of content, business plans of as little as 5-7 pages can be as effective, sometimes more useful than 30-40 page plans filled with useless, unrelated information. There are only 2 questions that need be answered for an entrepreneur to receive the funds needed:

1) Does the business have a good probability of succeeding?

2a) (Lender) Will the business generate sufficient cash flow to repay the loan?

2b) (Investor) Will the business generate sufficient profit to provide a decent return on investment?

That's it. There really is nothing else of major importance to anyone deciding to make funds available.

Tip: Death of a Spouse Just Before Bankruptcy. What should I do?

A great deal depends on who the signer of the contracts, loans or other agreements happens to be. If your spouse is the only signer on certain debts, you are not responsible since you were not a party to these legal documents. Also, since they are not legally your debts, you would have a problem asking the court to erase them for you. Do you still have the need to file bankruptcy now that your spouse has passed away? The only debts you will be responsible are those you signed for individually or jointly with your spouse. Look at your debt situation again and eliminate all of those that belonged to your spouse alone. You are not responsible for these. They will go away since there is no borrower to collect against.

Tip: Co-signer of Another's Auto Loan and Your Bankruptcy

If you do not include this debt in those that you will ask the court to erase in bankruptcy, the loan should continue without problem. An issue may arise if you are also an owner of the vehicle and your group of debtors learn of this. They may request that this asset be included in the filing, believing they may generate some cash for themselves through the sale of the auto. You may have to explain the circumstances of this "asset" and your bankruptcy attorney will help you work this out. Let your lawyer advise you how to proceed with this issue.

Tip: First Time Home Buyer Programs

There are numerous opportunities for mortgage financing for first time home buyers. Most states have programs tailored for first timers, many of which involve little or no money down, limited credit reference requirements, and free mortgage information to help new buyers navigate the process with success. So called “government loans” can also be a perfect choice. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and the Veterans’ Administration (VA) offer mortgage programs that have helped millions of people own their first home. FHA programs allow down payments as low as 3% and also allow many buyers to include most of their closing costs in their new loan. For many first timers, having sufficient cash is a major problem, but FHA loans can eliminate this issue. If you are an active or retired military person, you can obtain a certificate of eligibility for a VA loan, which may qualify people for a no money down loan. The VA also provides pre-purchase counseling to give a new buyer valuable information to help simplify the mortgage process.

Tip: Can I Still Get a Fixed Rate Mortgage With My Bad Credit?

You can still get a fixed rate mortgage if you have bad credit. The rate will depend on just how “bad” your credit is at the time of application. You might have to accept an interest one or two per cent above the normal good credit fixed rate and you should think carefully if this is what you really want. The reasons for your less than perfect credit are crucial to your decision to apply for a fixed rate versus an adjustable rate mortgage.
Be honest. If you are simply living beyond your economic means and are habitually lackadaisical about making your required payments on time, you might be better off with a fixed rate, even if it is higher than it might be. If, however, your current situation is caused by income disruptions, medical bills, or other issues that should be corrected in the near future, you might be better served with an adjustable rate mortgage loan. The rate will be lower for a while and you might be able to correct your credit deficiencies before the rate escalates. If you can, you might once again qualify for a lower fixed rate mortgage in the near future.

Tip: How Can I Fix My Credit to Get a Good Mortgage Rate?

The best way to fix your credit brings to mind a cliché that remains true: Make a plan, and then work your plan. Unless your credit report deficiencies are the result of a severe onslaught of medical bills or an abrupt loss of income, your situation probably took some time to develop. You should understand that it will also take a bit of time to rectify. It will happen fastest if you have a plan to consolidate your debts to make the monthly obligations more affordable or to set aside more available cash to catch up on delinquent obligations. Either of these plans will work.
Please realize, however, even after you are up do date with your obligations, there will still be another 60-90 days before your credit report will be updated since your creditors only report once every 30 days and cannot report your new and improved credit status until after your efforts are complete. They must first receive and record your payment(s) that bring your account up to date then wait until the end of that month to electronically report this new information to the credit bureaus. That is why a consolidation loan is the fastest way to fix your credit. But, you must be careful. Do not accept a loan that may only make your situation worse in the near future. You must get advantageous terms to make this work. Also, your credit situation may prevent you from obtaining an excellent consolidation loan. Then, using a solid plan to make higher than required payments to “catch up” may be the best option. Be patient and committed to fixing your situation – and you will.

Tip: Can FastPitch Softball Players Still Use Soft Toss for Practice?

Absolutely. They can even use two forms of soft toss. The classic method is to have a coach or another player kneel (or sit on a ball bucket near the hitter, softly tossing (looping) the ball in the air so the hitter hits the ball as it's coming down. This forces the hitter to concentrate on nothing but the ball and allows her to watch the bat actually hit the ball (a very important concept that is sometimes difficult to teach younger players).

After some repetitions with classic soft toss, here is a different soft toss drill that really helps fastpitch hitters. Have a coach or another player stand in back of the hitter (sort of over her left shoulder if a right hand batter). Please stand far enough away so you don't get hit with the batter's follow through. With a ball in your hand, stretch out your arm, holding the ball over the batter's head. (You may have to stand on a stool or ball bucket if you player is tall.) Without giving her warning, drop the ball and have the batter hit it. As you can see, the hitter will have less than one second to react, similar to facing a decent fastpitch pitcher. The hitter is forced to concentrate on nothing but the moving ball and to develop the short, compact swing needed to succeed in fastpitch softball.

Tip: How Can I Learn to Run Faster While Playing Basketball?

Basketball is not really about speed, but quickness. You should work on becoming quick going side-to-side and developing an explosive "first step". As many famous coaches have said, "You can't coach height and foot speed. It is what it is." But you can work on improving quickness.

Going side-to-side over distances of 10-20 feet or facing another player (try to move quicker than your partner). Don't use any cross over steps, just keep your feet moving horizontally as quickly as possible. You will find yourself getting quicker and quicker.

First step quickness is important on both offense and defense. On offense, see the spot you want to hit in your mind just before you move. This quick visualization will give your mind a fraction of a second to send the signal to your legs. That's all it can take to get by an opponent.

On defense, there is a trick that always works. Get out of the habit of watching your opponent's head, arms, and legs; just watch his belt, his/her stomach. You can easily fall for a head, arm, or step fake. But your opponent's belt MUST go where he/she goes. Your opponent cannot fake with your stomach. Impossible. By doing this, you will not only get quicker, you will immediately appear quicker to your opponent.