Lifemaps : A Step-by-Step Method for Simplifying 101 of Life's Most Overwhelming Projects

by Michael Antoniak; Mark Levine; Stephen M. Pollan

• ISBN13: 9780743400619
• ISBN10: 0743400615
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-08-06
• Publisher: Atria

Summary

For all of life's little challenges that can seem soconfusing, here's a clear and comprehensive guidebook togetting things done in the twenty-first century.Inspired by the visual format of the bestsellingLifescripts,and offering practical solutions to 101 business, financial, consumer, and family problems, each Lifemap helps you clarify your goals gets you up to speed on the information and terms you'll need to know for each project informs you of the helpful resources available provides a graphic representation of the chronological steps that will lead to completion Whether you're buying a home, starting a business, planning a wedding, changing careers, repairing your credit rating, choosing new health insurance, dealing with a stalker, or just trying to rent a car, here's your guide to simplifying the most intimidating tasks and suddenly making them manageable.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. vii
Introduction	p. xiii
Lifemaps: the basics
How to use lifemaps	p. 3
How to approach any problem	p. 7
How to research anything	p. 12
How to do research on the Internet	p. 16
How to tap into online resources	p. 21
Should you do it yourself or hire a professional?	p. 26
How to evaluate a professional	p. 31
How to protect your interests in a contract	p. 36
How to resolve disputes	p. 41
Lifemaps for career and business
How to conduct a job search	p. 49
How to prepare a resume	p. 54
How to prepare for an interview	p. 59
How to evaluate a company and a job offer	p. 64
How to get a raise or promotion	p. 69
How to fight age, sex, and race discrimination	p. 74
How to propose new workplace options	p. 78
How to develop a business plan	p. 83
How to raise start-up funds for your business	p. 89
How to select a business partner	p. 93
How to investigate a franchise or business that's for sale	p. 98
How to incorporate your business	p. 104
How to choose a business location	p. 109
How to set up a home office	p. 114
How to make your home business more professional	p. 119
How much should you charge for your service or product?	p. 124
How to get publicity	p. 129
How to evaluate advertising and promotional media	p. 133
How to launch or promote your business online	p. 138
Lifemaps for personal finance
How to obtain a lower-rate or no-fee credit card	p. 147
How to repair your credit rating	p. 151
How to launch an investment program	p. 156
How to establish household and personal budgets	p. 160
How to select a financial adviser	p. 165
How to select a pension plan	p. 170
How to set and reach your retirement goals	p. 175
How to select a retirement location	p. 180
How to determine your insurance needs	p. 185
How to buy home and auto insurance	p. 190
How to buy life and disability insurance	p. 195
How to buy long-term care insurance	p. 200
How to avoid a tax audit	p. 204
How to handle a tax audit	p. 209
How to make a will	p. 214
Should you buy or rent your home?	p. 219
How much can you afford to pay for shelter?	p. 224
How to judge a community	p. 228
How to judge an individual apartment, co-op, or condominium	p. 233
How to judge an individual house	p. 238
How to negotiate the price and sales contract of a home	p. 244
How to raise a down payment	p. 249
How to obtain or refinance a mortgage	p. 254
How to obtain a home equity loan	p. 260
How to prepare your home for sale	p. 265
How to find a trustworthy real estate broker	p. 269
How to price your home for sale	p. 274
How to hire and deal with a moving company	p. 279
How to plan a home renovation project	p. 284
How to find and choose a home renovation contractor	p. 289
How to buy vacant land	p. 294
How to appeal the amount of your property taxes	p. 300
Lifemaps for consumers
How to choose a long distance plan	p. 307
How to choose an HMO	p. 311
How to appeal an HMO's refusal to pay	p. 316
How to find a good physician	p. 321
Should you buy or lease a car?	p. 326
How to buy a car from an auto dealership	p. 330
How to buy a used car privately	p. 335
How to shop for an auto loan	p. 340
How to sell your used car	p. 344
How to deal with an auto repair problem	p. 349
How to find the lowest possible airfare	p. 354
How to get the lowest rate at a hotel	p. 358
How to stop junk mail, telemarketing, and e-mail "spam"	p. 362
How to control how your charitable donations are used	p. 367
What to do if your purse or wallet is stolen	p. 372
How to deal with identity theft	p. 377
How to resolve consumer complaints	p. 382
How to file and win a case in small claims court	p. 387
How to trace your family tree	p. 392
How to craft a fair prenuptial agreement	p. 396
How to plan a wedding	p. 401
How to find quality child care at home and away	p. 406
How to get help for a child with special needs	p. 411
How to make college tuition bills more manageable	p. 416
How to choose and gain admission to the right college or university	p. 422
How to craft a fair divorce settlement	p. 427
How to win custody of your child	p. 432
How to plan a funeral	p. 437
How to become a naturalized U.S. citizen	p. 442
How to research a health problem	p. 446
What to do if you are diagnosed with a serious illness	p. 451
What to do when a relative shows signs of depression	p. 457
How to protect your medical privacy	p. 462
How to manage medical care from many miles away	p. 467
How to get a parent onto Medicaid	p. 473
How to get a loved one into a good nursing home	p. 478
How to arrange home care for a loved one	p. 484
How to deal with domestic violence	p. 489
How to stop a stalker	p. 494
How to deal with problem neighbors	p. 500
How to get the police to act on a complaint	p. 505
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

Chapter 1: how to use lifemaps the basicsEach Lifemap begins with a section that briefly describes the premise of the map. When you're trying to get from one point to another, a map is a real convenience. It's the best resource for determining how to reach your destination, what landmarks you should look for, what turns to take. A map describes a path but not your journey. Although a road may not change, it's different for every traveler. Each Lifemap in this book is based on this same premise. In the pages that follow, you'll find information to help you deal with many issues you're likely to face in your personal or professional life. Today, with the demands of family and career pulling in several directions at once, it's often difficult to focus your energy where needed. Lifemaps can help prepare you for specific life challenges. Like any map, though, they only describe the landscape through which you must travel. Their value rests with how well you use and adapt the insights they offer for reaching personal goals.inside informationThe second section of each map provides more detail as it discusses the underlying strategy of the Lifemap. There's always something more you need to know in order to accomplish your goal. We come at many of life's challenges as outsiders; here you'll find a quick synopsis or refresher course that can help you implement the strategy described in the Lifemap. Sometimes that means knowing what forces are at work and the challenges each imposes. In other situations, the focus is on established policies and procedures. Occasionally the section presents a discussion of prevailing trends shaping the topic. The intent in each is to help you develop the understanding and insight necessary to effectively adapt the Lifemap to your life.jargonHere you'll find definitions of some key terms you're likely to encounter as you use the Lifemap. Every business and specialty has its own terms and terminology. Some are uncommon meanings of common words. Or there may be a word you're unlikely to see anywhere else. In a few situations, a definition may describe a document or process specific to the subject of the Lifemap.fyiThe purpose here is to provide some supplemental information to enhance your understanding of the topic. The value of the Lifemaps depends much on what you bring or add to each. You can get a quick grasp of a topic and solution from these pages, but it may take additional research and work on your part to effectively adapt and implement each strategy.warningThis section alerts you to common dangers, pitfalls, and false assumptions that can impede your progress. Every situation, every individual is different. Each Lifemap presents a plan as a linear progression of logical steps. Some you'll fly through; others pose obstacles to further progress; some may even present you with entirely new challenges. Lifemaps are not solutions but recommended strategies you can adapt to your situation.Here you'll find sources of additional information to help you master each topic and realize your goals. You should be able to draw enough from these pages to tackle many problems. Sometimes, though, you'll need to supplement your understanding or turn to an expert for additional help. Depending on the topic, recommended resources may include books and publications; Web sites of companies or agencies; organizations; or any combination of these.Note:The Internet URLs were correct at the time this book went to press; however, all URLs are subject to change. Copyright copy; 2002 by Third Millennium Press, Inc., Michael Antoniak, and Stephen M. Pollan Chapter 2: how to approach any problem the basicsProblems -- "challenges" might be a more appropriate term -- present themselves at every turn, in every day of our lives. They can be as simple as finding direction