Ebook Presented Digitally

The ebook is a digitally presented format of any printed conventional book which can be read through a personal computer or through a hardware device called a book reader. The inception of such an innovative idea dates back to 1971 when the pioneer Michael Hart, in U.S.A., decided to create through computers storage, retrieval and scanning of texts available in libraries. This resulted in the origin of the first ebook, a copy of the `Declaration of Independence` which later evolved into `Project Gutenberg`. Today it contains over 20,000 free texts and over 100,000 books.

Every month over 3,000,000 books are downloaded. Ultimately this reached mammoth proportions with ebooks flooding the web because of its easy storage on hard drive or disk. Production of ebooks is carried out generally by document scanning or by using robotic book scanners.

Initially the ebooks were confined to specialty topics which were documents, technical manuals or articles on manufacturing techniques with cutting edge hardware. Such ebooks did not create much impact in the market as there was no consensus on packaging, selling or reading. A number of diverse specifications, supported by leading software companies or by independent programmers, proliferated which catered to readers following multiple formats resulted in further fragmentation of the market. At this stage ebook was not a mainstream item.

This, however, did not stop ebook from spreading its domain. It surfaced in the underground markets wherein the ebook publishers distributed those books which were not readily available in the market. Similarly, authors whose books did not find any publishers started offering their books on-line so that viewers were exposed to the literature. Even unauthorized and unofficial catalogues were available in various web sites. And in this manner ebooks began to circulate on-line. Romantic novels were the first successful ebooks as they catered to a large clientele who bought them on-line and enjoyed reading them in privacy.

These incidents caught the attention of major publishers. Around mid June 2001, the acclaimed publishers started delving into this medium and tried to gain from the ebook formats. This led the publishers to establish on-line stores and partnerships with e-reader manufacturers. Today, the electronic hardware manufacturers are also working in tandem with ebook readers to capitalize on the on-line ebook market.

This upsurge of activity by the reputed publishers, electronic companies and independent operators resulted in the development of new selling models. Simultaneously, a more simple and homogeneous format with better reading hardware was created to achieve a global distribution for ebooks. This has unleashed an array of new publishing houses. Today, electronic manufacturers are wooing the ebook readers through new designs while software engineers are developing new reader application for portable electronic gear ranging from hand held computers, smart phones and game consoles.

The twentieth century readers, unaware of the concept of ebook, are now being gradually exposed to this electronic phenomenon. Commuters read ebooks on laptops, hand held computers or on cell phones. Such is the craze of ebooks in Japan that mobile phone novels have evolved where books could be downloaded and read on the cell screen. Sales which were negligible a few years back has crossed 10 billion yens annually (The Economist). At present, consumers can easily access books of their choice ranging from best sellers to new authors or which ever type suiting their reading pattern.

Ebooks reading are advantageous as it is a space saving device of book storage. One CD / DVD can, approximately, store 500 ebooks and are never out of print, which is a common occurrence in conventional books. For researchers such digitized versions are ideal as they display excellent choice of formats enabling speedy cross references. Readers can adjust their reading convenience by adjusting fonts and text sizes and use back lit facility which allows adequate visibility in low light. Unlike traditional books and paperbacks, ebooks need not be hand held, can be reproduced cheaply and are generally inexpensive as it does not consume paper, ink and other resources used in conventional printing.

The basic disadvantage of ebook is that it requires electronic devices for display. The software may not be readily available or free or compatible with the existing computer configuration. Sudden hard disk drive failure or power disruption causes disturbing interruptions. eBook storage mediums are fragile, the devices are costly and replacement charges could be prohibitive. Finally, and particularly for some publishers, hacking is a perennial danger.

Business Negotiation Strategy in Each Stage

Business negotiation strategy has a wide range. However, there are different strategies in each stage according to the practice.

2.3.1 The strategy of the first phase
a. Consensus-style
Apply: there is no business between the two sides before; their strength are close for the first contact.
Practice: he uses of diplomatic language, and chooses a neutral topic, with the attitude of respect for each other, neither overbearing nor servile.

b. Frank style
Apply: the two sides had business dealings before, and a better understanding of each other. Their relations are very good; and strength is less than the other negotiators.
Practice: he gives a sincere, passionate talk about the friendly and cooperative relations in the past, and frankly takes the views of one’s own statements as well as the expectations of each other; and frankly show one’s own weaknesses

c. Carefully opening ceremony
Apply: the negotiating parties have had business dealings over the past but the other side had not a satisfactory performance
Practice: he expresses regret that the inadequacies of the other party in the past and hope that they can change this situation through this cooperation. In no hurry to reduce the relationship, he uses of a courtesy question to check each other’s attitudes and thoughts.

d. Start-style attack
Apply: the other side is condescending, and has the tendency to force and do not respect one’s own side
Practice: he should be rational and advantage, and to hit the key issues and he can not be too aggressive, to change their practices in a right time.

2.3.2 The strategy of the pricing stage
First, prices starting point strategy

a. suspended construction of the high-profile (Continental quote)
It refers to a negotiation strategy that a seller makes a higher price than the actual requirements in the starting point and bargains with the opponent and makes concessions to reach an agreement.
Do: outcry hard; make concessions slowly
Methods to deal with: ask for basis of quotation or counter-offer.

b. throw the ball down (Japanese-style quotations)
It refers to a negotiation strategy that first of all the seller propose a lower starting point than actual requirements of its own for negotiations in order to attract each other, trying to beat the opponent who take part in the competition, and then take real negotiations with the buyer who be tempted to hook, force them to make concessions to reach their own purpose.
Methods to deal with: first, the buyers compare and calculate the contents of the bid of each other with other vendors’, and straightforward to raise objections. Second, he is not tempted by the small profit of the other side.
Second, division pricing strategy
Divisor is commodity prices and dividend is that quantity of goods or the use of time. It comes up with a very small price. So buyers feel price cheap and low.
Third, adder pricing strategy
In business negotiations, sometimes it is afraid that high prices offered will scare customers. The price had gradually broken down into several levels to make a number of quotations. And the final total is still equal to the original one-time price.
Fourth, differences in pricing
According to the nature of the customer, the number of purchase, trading hours, the payment ways, it adopts a different pricing strategy.
Fifth, Comparison Price
It refers to the other side point out quotations of similar commodity of many businesses which is beneficial for one’s own side to establish reference prices, and then make comparisons between these goods traded and similar goods of businesses in terms of performance, quality, service, and other transaction conditions, and as the basis of price for this side.
Sixth, the number traps
He shows their cost of production of goods to the buyer to support the reasonableness of the total price.
Apply situation: it is a multi-commodity trading, the complex cost, no uniform standard method of calculating the cost, or each other is very offensive to use the case.

2.3.3 The strategy in consultation phase
First, negotiation strategy under the conditions of the advantages
a. do not set a precedent
in the negotiations, it means a party who hold the advantage in order to adhere and raise their own terms of trade to use no precedent as reason for refusing to make concessions, let the other side to accept their conditions.
It is a good way to refuse the other party and do not injure the face of the other party.

b. the first bitter; after sweet
first in the negotiations use harsh conditions to cast doubt on the other side, depression of mind, etc., in order to significantly reduce the opponent’s expectations, and then gradually in the actual negotiations, make concessions step by step, to make each other’s psychology have been met and reach a agreement.

c. the price trap
It refers to the party use of market prices increased trends expected, as well as the widespread concerns psychological, to attract the other sides on the price to let them neglect other important provisions.

d. period strategy
It refers to business negotiations, a strong party put forward the time limit to reach an agreement. Over this period, sponsors will withdraw from the negotiations, as to put pressure on the other side to make a decision as soon as possible.

e. diversionary
In order to achieve a particular purpose and needs, one’s own side consciously direct the subject of consultations to irrelevant false momentum, transfer their attention in order to realize their goals

f. the head start
In the start of the negotiations through the use of one’s own strengths and characteristics, in order to seize the psychological advantage, and he seizes the initiative.

Second, negotiation strategy under the conditions of the disadvantages
a. fault-finding
In Business negotiations, in response to each other’s products or related issues, he over and over again deliberately finds problems and the other side’s confidence will drop, and so to make concessions.
The key point is that critical issues should be raised rightly.

b. take a soft approach to meet the other’s hard attitude
When there is a crisis situation in the negotiations or the other side does not make concessions, and he can take a soft approach to meet each other’s hard attitude to avoid facing conflict, so as to achieve the purpose.
The main points: the use of indirect tactics, insisted reasoning

c. woolly-headed
It is defensive strategy is that in the event of adverse situations, pretending to confuse, and use it as cover to paralysis of the will to fight each other in order to achieve the purpose and muddle through.

d. tired tactics
It refers to the negotiations like the marathon, and gradually wear down the opponent’s spirit, to fatigue, to reverse the own side’s disadvantage and passive of the situation, when the opponent exhausted, dizziness brain up, the party may be anti – from defensive to offensive, with the attitude of reasoning, put the views of this side to reduce the other side to accept the conditions.

e. power is limited
It refers to business negotiations, the weaker party was asked to make excessive concessions on certain conditions to the other side. They claim that the mandate on this issue is limited, and have no right to make such a concession to the other party, or established fact can not be changed in order to make the other side give up conditions. f. turn around telling. It refers to the party at a disadvantage, let the other side to pay more for the negotiations, so that they change from passive to active, to turn disadvantage to advantage.

Third, negotiation strategy under the conditions of the balance of power
a. testing the waters
The negotiators intended to propose a number of assumptions, through the other side responses and answers to detect the other side’s intentions and seize the good opportunity to make a deal.

b. first rally; after counter
It refers to after the other side make offer, in no hurry to make a counter-offer, but point out that changes in market situation, or to emphasize the strength and advantages to build the situation in favor of the own side, and then raised prices.
Response: refused, adhering to offer, make a concession carefully

c. first “vertical” post “capture”
It refers to although the party would like to make a deal, but put on a nonchalant way, cover up their eagerness, it seems merely to satisfy the needs of the other party for the negotiations, so that the other side is eager to take the initiative to make concessions.

d. put on foolish, but clever in fact
It refers to a party put on deliberately confused, frightened, hesitant, slow response in order to let the other side down, for sufficient time to achieve the purpose.

e. for the cursory
It refers to the party at the negotiating table, encounters the key issues, or there are insurmountable differences between each other, or to remedy its own mistakes, make an excuse for their own that the decision can not be done by them, to further negotiations by another.

f. fish in troubled waters
It means in the negotiations, he deliberately disturb the normal order, and put many of the problems out once, making it difficult to meet in order to let the other side make mistakes.

g. private contacts
It means through the personal contacts, using a variety of ways to enhance understanding and emotional contact, the establishment of friendship, he can use this way to promote the negotiation.
There are many forms of private exchanges, such as telephone contact, visits, entertainment, and dinner and so on.

h. lubrication strategy
It refers to the negotiators in order to express the feelings of friendship to feed gifts for each other, for a better effect of negotiation, the West humorously referred to it as “lubrication strategy.”
To consider: cultural differences, the value of gifts, gift-giving occasions and rituals.

i. emotional transfer
It refers to when the formal negotiations have difficult impasse or obstacles, the organizers of the negotiations should be conscious to transfer the environment of the negotiations, the atmosphere and forms, so that the other side’s emotion transfer

Being Present: Can Childhood Trauma Make It Hard For Someone To Be Present?

One thing that is often spoken about in self-development is the importance of being present. In some cases, this is seen as the answer to every problem and, in others, it is just seen as something that will allow someone to function better.
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So when someone is present, they won’t be caught up in what happened in the past and they won’t be caught up in what might happen in the future either. Their attention will be in the now.

An Illusion

It has been said that there is no such thing as the past or the future and that there is only an ever-present now moment. Even so, someone’s mind will create the impression that there is a past and a future.

Therefore, while there will only be the present, someone will have a mind that won’t be able to accept this. One way of looking at this would be to say that their mind has to be this way or else it wouldn’t have a reason to exist.

Embracing Life

When one is able to live a life where they generally live in the present moment, they won’t be weighed down by what has happened in the past or caught up in what they think might happen in the future. They will be in the now, which is the only place where they will have any power.

Also, through being in the moment, they will be able to focus and to fully show up. Their awareness is then not going to be in their head, focusing on something else – it will be in their body, in the present moment.

Another Benefit

What they are also likely to find, as a result of living in this way, is that it is a lot easier for them to respond to life. Being in their body and in the now moment will mean that they won’t be caught up in something that took place last week or last year, for instance.

If they were, not only would it stop them from being able to be present, but it could also cause them to overreact to something. Another person could politely ask them something and they could end up losing it.

A Pleasant Experience

Being this way, then, will stop them from getting worked up and having a go at someone for no reason. This is naturally going to have a positive effect on their relationships, with the people in their life knowing that one typically won’t get worked up over nothing.

These people can feel comfortable around them and know that it is safe for them to talk to them about most things. One is not going to be seen as someone who is unstable and expects other people to walk on eggs shells around them.

Staying Centred

If they did have the tendency to get worked up, it probably wouldn’t do their health any good in the long run. Thus, being present is going to make it easier for them to make good decisions and it will be easier for them to stay calm and relaxed.

Another part of this is that when there is unrest around them, they won’t need to get pulled into what is taking place. Once again, this will be good for their health and their ability to think rationally in such moments.

A Very Different Reality

Although this is how some people will experience life, there are going to be plenty of others that have a very different experience. For someone like this, they may rarely be in the present moment.

Most of their time could be spent thinking about what took place in the past and what might happen in the future. This will show that they find it hard to be in their body and to be in the now moment.

Unaware

Nonetheless, it doesn’t mean that one will realise that this is what is taking place. Instead, they may typically believe that what is taking place in their mind is a reflection of what is taking place externally.

What this means is that one is going to be projecting what is taking place in their mind onto the external world without even being aware of it. Living in this way is likely to take a lot out of them, with them spending a lot of time feeling exhausted.

A Closer Look

It could be normal for them to overreact and to create unnecessary drama, to feel fearful and scared when they are completely safe, and to think irrationally and to make poor decisions. It could seem that they just need to learn how to observe their mind and to not get caught up in what is taking place inside them.

This could be it, or what it may show is that they are carrying a fair amount of trauma. If one has been this way for as long as they can remember, it may show is that their early years were anything but nurturing.

A Rough Time

During this stage of their life, they may have experienced some kind of abuse and/or neglect. The view that they have of the world and the people in it as an adult will be a reflection of what it was like for them as a child.

It won’t matter how many years have passed since this time in their life as they will still be carrying the trauma that they experienced. Until this is dealt with, it will be more or less impossible for them to embrace the present moment.

Awareness

If one can relate to this, and they want to transform their life, they may need to reach out for external support. This is something that can be provided by the assistance of a therapist or a healer.