Anxiety and Small Business Ownership: What You Need to Know
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults in the United States, age 18 and older. That's nearly 1 in 5 people! And these numbers only continue to grow. You too might be in these numbers - if you're wondering how to know if you have anxiety, then you can consult with a healthcare professional to find out more. Anxiety disorders can be crippling, preventing people from living their lives to the fullest. For small business owners, anxiety can be a considerable challenge. This is because small business owners often wear many hats - they are responsible for marketing their business, making sales, handling finances, and more.
This blog will discuss anxiety and small business ownership, including what you need to know about this condition and how to manage it effectively.
Anxiety disorders are characterized by persistent and excessive worry or fear. These feelings can interfere with daily activities, causing significant distress and impairment. People with anxiety disorders may have difficulty concentrating, sleeping, or making decisions. They may avoid situations that trigger their anxiety, which can limit their ability to function normally in work or social settings. Small business owners who suffer from anxiety disorders may have difficulty completing tasks, meeting deadlines, or dealing with customers or clients.
There are several types of anxiety disorders, each with its symptoms. The most common are generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder (SAD).
GAD is characterized by excessive worry about various topics, including money, work, health, and family. People with GAD may feel like they can't control their worry, which interferes with their daily lives.
Panic disorder is characterized by sudden and unexpected bouts of fear or anxiety, known as panic attacks. These attacks can be so severe that they cause physical symptoms, such as a racing heart or shortness of breath.
SAD is marked by intense fear or anxiety in social situations. People with SAD may avoid activities or situations where they could be judged, such as public speaking or networking events.
As a small business owner, it's essential to be aware of the signs and symptoms of anxiety disorders. In addition, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it's necessary to try to help manage your anxiety to prevent it from interfering with your work or personal life. Here are some tips for managing anxiety:
1) Identify your triggers:
What situations or activities make your anxiety worse? Once you know your triggers, you can avoid them or be prepared for them.
2) Create a plan:
If you have an upcoming event that makes you anxious, you can create a plan of action. This can help you feel more prepared and in control.
3) Practice relaxation techniques:
Different relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindfulness meditation, can help reduce anxiety.
4) Use certified CBD products:
CBD products are effective in reducing anxiety. Please look for products certified by a third party and start slowly with a low dose to see how you react. CBD products, such as oils, gummies, and topicals, are available.
5) Seek professional help:
Anxiety disorders are common, but they are treatable. If you are a small business owner struggling with anxiety, don't hesitate to seek help. Many resources are available to you, and with the proper anxiety treatment, you can manage your stress and continue running your business effectively.
If your anxiety is severe or interfering with your daily life, it's essential to seek professional help. A therapist can help you identify and manage your stress.
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Getting Ahead Of The Game In The Travel And Hospitality Industry
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The travel and hospitality industry is booming, and if you're looking to get ahead of the game, there are a few things you need to know. In this post, we'll share some tips for success in the travel industry, so read on to find out more!
Invest In Your Staff
No matter what kind of business you run in the travel or hospitality industry, the quality of your food and drink offerings will directly impact your bottom line. This is especially true for guesthouses and hotels, where customers often look for an enjoyable dining experience. To ensure that your guests have a positive experience, staffing your kitchen and bar with experienced professionals is important.
The best chefs and bartenders will be able to create tantalizing dishes and cocktails that will keep your customers coming back for more. In addition, they will be able to provide expert advice on pairings and substitutions, ensuring that even the pickiest eaters can find something to enjoy. Investing in the best staff can create an unforgettable dining experience that will keep your guests coming back time and time again.
Automate Your Booking And Reservation Process
Travel Website Development can save your business a lot of time and money. By automating the booking and reservation process, you can avoid the need to manually input data into multiple systems. In addition, travel software can help keep track of your customers' preferences and contact information, making it easy to provide personalized service. Furthermore, Travel Website Development can help to streamline your business operations, making it easier to coordinate travel arrangements and track expenses.
Connect With Customers Through Social Media
Connecting with customers through social media and online review platforms is important when you are in the travel or hospitality industry. This will help you stay abreast of customer trends and what people are looking for when booking travel. Online reviews are also a valuable way to capture customer feedback that can be used to improve your business. It is also essential to create your own brand and marketing for your guesthouse or hotel; through this, you can reach a wider audience and build customer loyalty. Engaging with customers on social media can create a community of potential customers who can provide word-of-mouth marketing for your business. All of these factors together can help you attract more customers and grow your business.
In addition to connecting with customers, social media and online review platforms can also help you to track customer satisfaction levels and identify areas for improvement. By staying connected with your customers, you can ensure that they have a positive experience at your property and are more likely to return in the future.
In Conclusion
Working smarter means being strategic about the areas of your business that will have the most impact. It's not about working harder; it's about working smarter. And this is especially true in the travel and hospitality industry, where competition is fierce, and new players are constantly entering the market. So by taking a closer look at your business and identifying areas where you can work smarter, you'll be well on your way to success.
3 Career Ideas For Those Still Searching For The Perfect Path in Life
Many people had a hard time making ends meet the last few years as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Numerous tragic job losses resulted from the involuntary closure of millions of companies. While the globe tries to adjust to some type of new normalcy, winging it and hoping for the best, you may be wondering what next year has in mind for you. Take a look at several career paths to begin upon in the new year, whether you were laid off last year or are just searching for something new to do to make a difference in the world.
Health and fitness
It's no secret that the health and fitness industry has been booming as of late, all thanks to the fact that closing gyms in many places has prompted many people to hunt for ways to stay healthy without leaving the comfort of their own homes. People are on the lookout for fun and novel methods to stay physically active. If you're skilled in the fitness sector, you might consider publishing food plans, launching a health and fitness blog, or hosting workout classes that people can join through livestream. We can think of so many avenues to explore!
Return to school
If you're a mature student trying to figure out what to do when you find yourself between jobs and considering furthering your education to acquire a new skill, you may be wondering where to start. Many institutions, however, like the CEHRS Healthcare Unit Certification Program Collegedale TN, have a diverse selection of courses from which you can choose the best one(s) for you. There are a wide variety of classes that you can attend to advance your career while still devoting enough time and money to your family responsibilities, such as raising young children. Just keep in mind that if you find yourself stressed out about money while in school, your college or university will have resources to help you out.
Start a business of your own
It can be challenging to determine whether or not to put one's faith in a newly advertised job vacancy as the number of available positions continues to decrease. Will you still be there in a year or two, or do you think the effects of the economy will also have an impact on this job? In order to avoid this and get complete control over your professional future, launching your own business is a smart move. There have been many businesses that have been able to grow despite the pandemic, and while it might appear to be an odd move to establish a business at this time, there is nothing to suggest that you can't build a company that is highly profitable! Becoming your own employer would not only help you achieve complete financial independence but will also protect you from becoming a victim of job loss caused by the epidemic.
What do you think the next year will bring for you? Think about these factors if you're at a crossroads in your professional life this year.
Tips for Dealing With Water Damage in Your Business
Water damage is a common and costly problem many businesses face. If you’re currently dealing with water damage, here are tips to help you get through it.
Has your business recently experienced a flood? If so, you might have questions about what to do next. Finding the right advice for dealing with water damage in your company can be hard. Rest assured, you’re not alone. Here are tips for dealing with water damage in your business.
Contact a Company To Assess the Damage
Water damage is a prevailing situation every business faces, but it’s possible to clean it up and create preventative methods so that it doesn’t happen again. Bring in an experienced water damage professional who can assess the damage.
When the worker arrives, they’ll be on-site, walking with you through the entire building to look over the damages and explain what they plan to do to clean up the mess. If there are other damages, such as electrical wires in the water, they will take additional safety precautions before draining water and cleaning up damp piles.
Find Out the Flood Type and What To Do Next
Businesses deal with three types of water damage: clean, gray, and black water damage.
Clean Water Damage
The first is clean, and this one could happen from a broken water line or defective appliance. Even though this water might come out clean, it could lead to further problems if you don’t clean it up immediately.
Black Water Damage
Black water damage is the worst of the three because it could cause your business to shut down for a while, maybe even permanently. While this is a scary thought, alert a water damage restoration company immediately and don’t touch anything because this water comes directly from sewer lines, rivers, or groundwater. You can tell if it’s black water because it smells like mildew.
Gray Water Damage
The third type is gray water damage. Gray water damage smells like rotten eggs. Usually, standing water will cause this gross smell. Gray water comes from backed-up toilets, dishwashers, and snow.
Keep All Damages Logged and Ready To Report
After learning the flood type, hiring a cleaner, and doing what you can, ensure you log everything before submitting your report for an insurance claim. Your report must include images, descriptions of locations and items destroyed, and what caused the accident. If you don’t know already, a professional can give an accurate overview of what caused the flooding.
Buy Water Mitigation Equipment for Future Use
Your business goes through a lot, and it’s always best to have the right gear for preventative measures whenever you go through a traumatic event. Have water mitigation equipment available to keep flooding under control the next time you experience a flood.
In the business world, you will experience events that negatively impact your business, such as flooding. Follow these tips to prevent water damage in the future so that you and your business can stay ready for disaster.
How To Boost Your Online Business Today
Running your own online business can be such a rewarding experience, as so much more commerce is being done on the web in today's modern world.
Having a retail website online means that your business can stay ‘open’ 24/7, 365 days of the year, in every country across the globe - but it isn’t as simple as just creating and publishing a few pages. There are many things that you must do to ensure that you can attract sufficient levels of attention and interest, otherwise, your site will no doubt get lost amongst a sea of other similar sites and receive very few visitors at all.
Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be as difficult as you might think to start generating a large audience for your online business, especially if you inculcate good SEO practices and make use of affordable website design options provided by professionals.
That said, this guide contains just a few easy steps that you can follow to hit your goals in no time at all, so what are you waiting for? If you’re interested in finding out more, then simply read on to uncover some of the best top tips and tricks that you can utilize to boost your business in no time at all!
Harness The Power of SEO
One of the most important steps to attract customers to your online business website is to use various SEO (search engine optimization) tools. SEO exists to help boost your site to the top of a person's search engine results, helping you attract as many visitors as possible.
SEO can take on several forms, each offering unique benefits that can increase your site’s reach and influence in very little time. First, utilizing ‘backlinks’ in your content that connect your pages will encourage more traffic whilst making the most of ‘keywords’ that relate to your business, and whatever it is that you sell will ensure that your website appears in as many search engine results as possible. If you’re not electronically inclined and don’t want to delve too deeply into algorithms and add-ons, then do not worry, as there are teams that have years of industry experience who offer specific packages and services that will boost your business website before your eyes.
Prioritize Perfect Web Design
How your online business website is designed can have a dramatic impact on the number of visitors it attracts, especially when it comes to repeat users.
A poorly designed page with too many clashing colors, unreadable content in random fonts, and any other visual errors will certainly discourage people from browsing your website. Putting effort into the visual aspect of your site is a good reflection of the quality of your products or services, so focus on creating a sleek and professional design that can channel what your business is really about.
It’s a good idea to keep the background colors light and complemented by dark text colors to ensure that all information is readable and accessible. Designing a brilliant online business is not always easy, so don’t be afraid to contact a web development agency to take over this task for you. They know precisely what it takes to design an attractive, enticing platform!
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Resolving Matters After A Problem Tenant, A Simple Guide
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It’s easy to think of landlords as corporations tasked with developing and managing large apartment blocks, but that mostly only applies to specific properties. Many landlords own one or two properties and rent out the second place to supplement their income and help pay their mortgage. Investing in real estate is an investment, so any disturbance to your return can be a problem.
Tenant rights exist for a reason, and it's essential to keep this in mind as you hold up your end of the contract. That said, it's necessary to know what to do next after suffering a problem tenant and going through the eviction process.
Consulting with a Leading landlord tenant attorney Dallas, or one closer to you, can help ensure that you're taking the right steps moving forward. Resolving the difficulties of the household, reclaiming lost funds, and making sure you prevent this problem from happening again is all worthwhile use of your time. So, in this post, we’ll discuss how you achieve exactly that, and where you might even get started with such an effort. Without further ado, please consider:
Documenting Correspondence & Payment
Collating all of the information you have for the tenant, including agreed-upon rental rates, requests for payment, complaints, damage fees, and more, can help you prove the trail of your fulfilling the contract, the patience you showed to your tenant for them to change their behavior, and also the incremental actions you’ve taken to try and resolve the issues or warn further action. This package can help you more capably if you decide to prosecute or go through the housing authority to prove your case and see your options.
Deep Cleaning & Repairing The Property, Itemizing Bills
It’s good to use what you have of the security deposit to clean up and repair or replace elements of the household that need it. A helpful cleaning company can restore the house to its previous condition; services like Highland Park Housekeeping https://highlandparkhousekeeping.com/ can be beneficial here, but make sure you itemize all of the expenditure you have returning the property to normal. Again, it will help you better prove your actions, show you were acting proportionately the entire time, and potentially try to reclaim that cost through litigation. In the meantime, your property will be returned to the value it deserves.
Household rubbish removals are essential when a tenant moves out, ensuring a clean and clutter-free space for new occupants. These companies remove all the debris and unwanted items, making the transition to a fresh, empty property seamless and stress-free.
Review Your Vetting Process
Of course, you probably don’t have the crystal ball that the Secret Society of Landlords grants you when you hit 1,000 consecutive tenants, meaning you can’t be blamed if a trusted tenant acts in a way you couldn’t predict. That’s just people. But you can vet people ahead of time through job references, a credit check, and good references from prior letting agents. Reviewing your vetting process and how this person came to rent from you can help you understand how you might catch someone out next time within reason - but don’t worry, you don’t have to act like a CIA agent whenever someone asks for a viewing. Just do the best you can.
With this advice, we hope you can resolve matters after a problem tenant and find some closespite difficulties.
A Leader’s Collaborative Capacity
This is a guest post from authors Phil Clampitt and Bob DeKoch, discussing their podcast interview experiences discussing their pinnacle book, Leading with Care in a Tough World.
When we started doing podcasts to promote our new book, some of the most intriguing conversations revolved around a leader’s capacity to collaborate. These enriching discussions prompted us to draft this post to clarify and enhance our thoughts about collaboration.
Three Collaboration Possibilities
As a starting point, consider three people – a team leader and two team members. We can symbolize this as:
L (Leader) + TM (team member 1) + TM (Team member 2)
A naïve leader might consider this to be the collaborative formula – all you need to do is assemble a team and assume that collaboration will occur.
However, leaders who care recognize three possibilities:
Faux Collaboration – teams dominated by the leader, either explicitly or implicitly, that have the appearance of collaboration but do not produce collaborative outcomes. The team may even engage in discussion but if, in the end, the only idea that “wins” is the leader’s, then the result is faux collaboration - - collaboration in name only. Over time faux collaboration leads to disengagement and quiet quitting as the team learns the unstated conversational rules. In this case, the L + TM + TM equation results in this outcome:
1 + 0 + 0 = 1
Collaboration - collaborating leaders seek to add and enhance ideas with other team members’ input. The outcomes are more than the sum of their individual insights because poor insights are weeded out and good ones enriched. In this case, all team members fully share differing but enhancing perspectives. In this case, the L + TM + TM results in this outcome:
1 + 1 + 1 = 3 or 4 or 5
Collaboration-plus – Sometimes teams can go beyond collaboration and seize upon emergent ideas that none of the participants ever envisioned when joining the team. It’s the surprise or “ah-ha” moment that teams sometimes reach when they recognize a transformative moment. In this case, L + TM + TM equation might be expressed as:
1 + 1 + 1 + E (emergent) = 9 or 10
Collaborative Capacity
Leaders who care collaborate while aspiring to the collaboration-plus level. We believe the secret to that desire lies in three linked issues.
Time management – Collaboration takes time. Caring leaders allocate the proper amount of time in their team meetings and personal schedules to make sure they do it well. They avoid forcing premature consensus, which may mean becoming more flexible on deadlines. It also means being selective about issues on which they seek collaboration. Sometimes it’s not possible to devote the time to collaborate on tactics, but thoughtful leaders will make the time to collaborate on strategic issues. In short, caring leaders think carefully about how much time they allocate to collaboration because they want to avoid stumbling into faux collaborative territory and succumbing to the team’s collaborative overload.
Effective Practices – Collaboration is a skill that can be learned by embracing the right visible and subtle practices. For example, one visible practice is to provide agendas before meetings to help moderate extroverts’ spontaneity and encourage introverts to contribute. A more subtle leadership practice would be arranging the agenda so that problem analysis precedes the development of possible solutions. By adeptly using the right intertwined subtle and visible practices, leaders enhance the collaborative capacity of the team.
Foundational Beliefs - Collaborative leaders firmly embrace a number of fundamental beliefs that support their practices. For instance, caring leaders learn to embrace uncertainty, which means that they are open to new possibilities and perspectives. If leaders believe they have all the answers, then they are not embracing uncertainty and undermine even the best collaborative practices.
Image by Matt Walsh
So What?
So, what does this model suggest that leaders do to build their collaborative capacity?
Assess their collaborative time management practices – Naïve leaders would say, “I collaborate on everything.” It’s simply not possible in a fast-paced world. So, caring leaders are more strategic by asking the question, “Are we devoting enough time to collaborating on the right issues?”
Build both visible and subtle skills levels. For instance, developing active listening skills requires the ability to ask the right kinds of questions (visible) and nonverbally attending to the answers (subtle). It takes practice and coaching to perfect this basic collaborative skill. We’ve identified other intertwined skills in the book.
Become more introspective about core beliefs and how they are manifested in day-to-day interactions. If leaders think they are practicing collaboration, but they are not seeing the results, then it may be time to re-examine their core beliefs. For example, do they really value respecting other people’s opinions or are they more interested in the expediency of decision-making?
Developing a leader’s collaborative capacity is much like creating a healthy exercise program: it requires time, skill, and the right beliefs. We’ve only scratched the surface in the post but we hope it prompts further enriching conversations about the essential issue for leadership success.
Tips To Take Care Of Employees Mental Health
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There has never been such a focus on mental health as it is now, and ensuring that people in your organization are doing well is essential. Mental health is no longer seen as less important than physical health, and you, as an employee, have a responsibility. There are more cases of workplace burnout now than ever, which can affect the people who work for you and influence your work ethic. If you want the best for those who work for you, you need to think of ways that you can take care of their mental health. We have put together some top tips to help you along the way.
Offer flexible working
Your employees might feel better mentally because they must compromise their home life for work. If they have a long commute and don’t get to spend time at home, they can feel demoralized, which can take its toll. Some people naturally work much better at home, so why not offer them the chance to work from home? You could do this by allowing them to work from home all the time or hybrid, where they come into the office sometimes. This can help to boost morale and support their mental health and wellbeing.
Ensure they have someone to talk to
Creating a supportive environment is key. Encourage your employees to reach out to HR for support. It's vital that they have a safe space to voice their concerns, whether it's through a phone call, email, or in-person conversation. This higher power should be readily available to address their issues and provide the necessary support.
Encourage and incentivize them to keep morale high.
Another great way to take care of employees' mental health is to encourage and incentivize them. It could be a bit much if they are doing a lot of work, feeling stressed, and getting no recognition. Instead, show you appreciate all their hard work by offering rewards. You could offer them physical items such as a bottle of wine or cider at the end of a week, let them have a Friday afternoon off, or send an email of recognition. The small things generally make the most significant differences, and you’ll be surprised by how they can help boost people in your company.
These are just a few things that can be done to take care of employees' mental health. Mental health is a big deal that can’t be ignored, and the people who work for you will appreciate it if you take it seriously. Make sure to look out for the signs of burnout and ensure you’re there for those who need it. Have you got techniques to help take care of your employees' mental health? What can you do to help?
How To Return To Good Health After An Injury At Work
Photo by Karolina Grabowska:
As a worker, in any environment, it is important to know the critical safety tips and what to do if you experience an injury. You might often attain training on the safety procedures of the workplace. However, an incident that is out of your hands might result in an injury.
If so, here are the steps to ensure you return to good health after an injury at work.
Seek help from a specialized lawyer
Whenever you experience an injury, inside or outside of work, it is essential to seek help from a specialized lawyer.
Getting a specific lawyer for injured workers will ensure you attain expert help and support. Although you can seek help from any lawyer, a lawyer specializing in the field will provide a greater outcome. Their help will ensure you get the full compensation you deserve so that you can return to good health and life sooner.
As well as financial help, lawyers will ensure that you seek the best medical help for any physical injuries you attain.
See your doctor
Even if your injuries are minor and can be dealt with at home, you should still consult your doctor and let them know what happened. They can perform a full body assessment to check that you are in good health. You might not know that you have strained your neck or slipped a disc. You will later find out, but in the meantime, while you are experiencing shock, you might not notice the symptoms.
Ensure to see a healthcare professional with minor or major injuries as soon as possible. Your health will thank you for it if you can find a solution sooner.
Keep your company updated
When returning to work after an injury, your employer might not know your wants and needs if you do not update them with your recovery and progress.
For instance, you might have needed three months off because of a back strain or knee injury. If so, having no contact with them for that long could result in them not understanding what you need when you return. You might need more comfortable back support or to work shorter hours. If so, keeping them updated throughout your recovery will ensure that you can be cared for suitably when you return.
Take your time
There is no use in rushing back to work after experiencing an injury. If you rush yourself, you could worsen your injury or delay your recovery.
Therefore, take as much time as you need to heal and recover to good health. Your doctor will advise you how long to take off before returning. They will provide the documents you need to attain your earnings still. Handing these to your employer as soon as possible ensures you do not go without financial support, which you will need to live and invest in your legal bills.
Change your routine
When recovering, it is advised not to keep the same routine you had before. Although you might enjoy waking up early for a run, your health might not permit that. Or it might suffer from it in the long run. Therefore, it is important to change your routine according to your current health and needs.
If you incur a serious physical injury, take time off of exercise and keep taking the medication until you fully recover. Likewise, ensure you do not work long hours when you return if you physically and mentally cannot cope. If you change your routine and adapt it to suit your health, you will find yourself healing quicker and returning to your old self sooner.
Furthermore, let your employer know if you want to return to work sooner but know you cannot fulfill five days a week and 9 hours a day. You might need support and documents from your doctor to still receive your full payment. Returning can benefit your mental health as it allows you to distract your mind and socialize. However, be cautious about how long you work and how many days you go into the office. Reducing your time can help you enhance your mental health while still aiding your recovery.
Every employer should be comfortable with your reduction of hours. As long as you still commit to some tasks, you are helping them (more so than taking every day off). Therefore, ask them when you are ready to go back and come to an agreement that suits you so that you can enjoy your work and recover effectively.
5 Things All Businesses Need To Do Yearly
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As a business owner, it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind and lose sight of the bigger picture. But if you want your business to succeed in the long run, you must step back and stay on top of the yearly basics. From updating your website to updating your health and safety checks, here are five things all businesses need to do yearly.
1. Review Your Website
In today's digital age, your website is often the first impression potential customers will have of your business. That's why keeping your site up-to-date with fresh content, accurate contact information, and a modern design is essential. If your website is over a few years old, it might be time for a complete redesign. Not only will this give your business a much-needed facelift, but it can also help improve your search engine ranking and attract new visitors. For even better results, consider working with a digital marketing agency to develop a tailored strategy that maximizes your website’s potential and drives meaningful engagement with your audience.
2. Review Your Insurance Policy
Your business insurance needs will change as your business grows and evolves. Ensure you're regularly reviewing your policy to ensure you're adequately covered. In addition, you may need to add or remove coverage as your business changes, so it's essential to stay on top of this every year. And if you haven't shopped around for a new policy in a while, now is also an excellent time to compare rates and see if you can get a better deal elsewhere.
3. Update Your Business Plan
Your business plan should be ever-evolving as your business grows and changes. Each year, take some time to review and update your business plan so it reflects your current goals and objectives. This will help keep you focused on what's important and ensure you're making progress toward your long-term goals. Plus, if you ever need to apply for loans or investors, having an up-to-date business plan handy will make the process much easier.
4. Check Your Equipment
Suppose you have any heavy machinery or equipment essential to your business operations. In that case, it's important to have it serviced and checked regularly for safety. Yearly checkups can help prevent accidents and downtime due to mechanical issues. Don't forget to add this to your list of annual tasks. Your equipment works hard for you throughout the year, so you must do your part to keep it in good working order.
5. Update Your Health And Safety Checks
Regularly reviewing and updating your health and safety protocols is a legal requirement and essential for your employees' well-being. Make sure you're following all necessary regulations and keeping on top of any regular checks that need to be done. This can include commercial pest control, fire extinguisher inspections, and other health and safety measures that apply to your industry.
Yearly checkups may seem like a lot of work, but they'll pay off in the long run by helping you avoid costly mistakes and keeping your business running smoothly. So make sure you add these five items to your yearly checklist!
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How to Educate Your Employees on Phishing Emails
Almost every business will experience a phishing attack at some point. Therefore, it's essential to be prepared and know how to educate your employees on phishing emails so that they can avoid becoming a victim. This blog post will discuss what phishing is, how to identify a phishing email, and the best ways to educate your employees on phishing emails.
Phishing is a type of cyber attack that uses fraudulent emails to try and trick people into revealing personal or sensitive information. The attacker will usually pose as a trusted individual or organization, such as a bank, and send an email that looks legitimate. This email will typically contain a link that takes the victim to a fake website where they are asked to enter their personal information. Once the attacker has this information, they can use it to commit fraud or identity theft.
There are several things you can look for to help you identify a phishing email. The sender's address may not match the name of the organization they're claiming to be from. Also, the email may contain typos or grammatical errors.
In addition, the email may contain unusual links or attachments. Be cautious of any links in emails, even if they look legitimate. If you're unsure, hover your mouse over the link to see where it will take you before clicking. Don't open any attachments from unknown senders.
Lastly, the email may create a sense of urgency or fear. For example, the attacker may try to trick you into clicking on a link by saying that your account will be suspended if you don't take action immediately. For more information on how to check if an email is safe to click on, have a look at the infographic below, which offers some valuable insight.
5 Key Characteristics Of Highly Successful Businesses
Anyone that launches a business does so with the expectation that their new venture becomes popular and highly profitable.
However, the harsh reality is that many startups fail within their first 12 months of trading, and those that thrive do so under challenging conditions.
It's likely that you're reading this blog post today because you either own or lead a business and you want it to continue being a roaring success.
But, which characteristics define a successful business? The good news is there's no "secret sauce" - just a bunch of common-sense points you can follow to ensure your brand is a market leader:
1. The Best People
It should come as no surprise that one of the primary reasons for a business being successful is down to the people that run it.
Wegman Partners, for instance, is a popular name in the legal industry and that's mainly down to the team of legal professionals running it.
If you don't have the best personnel representing your brand, you may as well not have a business. Your people are your brand's best investment.
2. The Right Tools For The Job
Whether you sell products or services, it pays to have the right tools to help your business be a market leader. Aside from having the right people, you also need to invest in the best tools to help you offer superior service to your customers.
Cost is undoubtedly a concern for businesses - especially those starting in the industry - so it makes sense to explore the different options available to help your brand have the right tools at its disposal.
3. Offering Something People Need
Let's face it: there's no point in offering a product or service that no one will want or need. Hopefully, you'll have conducted market research before launching your brand, helping you ensure you only offer products and services that your target market will buy.
However, you shouldn't be complacent; it's worth noting that buying habits will change as time goes on, so your business should check that what it offers still meets the needs and demands of the market.
4. Determination And Persistence
It's a sad fact of business that some people don't have enough drive and determination to see their plans through to fruition. They may have the right products or services, staff, and tools to make things happen. But if there's no passion, the business will simply fizzle out.
That's why you should always have the determination and persistence to "carry on" despite life's challenges trying to make you second-guess your passion for your brand.
5. First-Class Customer Service
One final characteristic to keep in mind is customer service. It's no secret that customers will flock to another brand if they receive a less-than-stellar service from yours, so it's vital to keep at the top of your game in that respect.
If your business struggles to offer superior customer service, look at the reasons why and take necessary steps to address them sooner rather than later.
Consistent PR Strategy Keeps You Top of Mind
Guest post By Janice Beetle
If you want to raise awareness for your business or nonprofit organization, sending press releases to the media on a regular basis is a great idea, and, for some, that can mean monthly or bimonthly while for others, the distribution might be quarterly.
The reason you want to be front and center in the media is so that people see and hear your name in the news over and over and over again and begin to connect you with the product or service you provide.
When you are top of mind in the news—not in ad space—you position yourself as a thought leader in your industry.
Think about the companies you see and hear about repeatedly in the media—not the Fortune 500s, but the small boxers. Your local businesses. When you need a roofer or a lawyer, wouldn’t you automatically think about the one you just read about in the Business section? They might be your first call.
We respect business owners who care enough about their firms to ensure that people are educated and informed about what they do. It’s an indication that the quality of their services would also be good.
It’s a good idea to develop a PR strategy so that your news rolls out over time and is consistent and methodical.
Sometimes, determining the topic of a press release is easy. Perhaps there is a new employee, leadership team member, or board member. Or maybe your organization has received an award for a particular service or program, which gives us the chance to talk about that service or program, who it serves and how it helps the community.
Sometimes we have to dig deeper for a topic for a press release. It’s a good strategy for the organization to hold a live—or, these days, virtual—event or workshop or offer a speaker. Events are a great way to raise awareness, and they give the organization a great reason to talk about itself.
In some releases, you might write about substantive changes a business has experienced over time, perhaps changes that aren’t so obvious. This type of release has been common since the pandemic, as businesses were forced to pivot and reinvent themselves.
Whatever you talk about in the media is key because people don’t know that you are sending the press releases out, and that’s why they are reading about you. People instead think the media has chosen to focus on you; they see editorial content as an endorsement, and that’s far more valuable than paid advertising.
Janice Beetle is a PR strategist and the owner of Beetle Press. She serves leaders of for- and nonprofit organizations in Western Massachusetts and the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, helping them map out content and PR campaigns to raise awareness, boost sales and fundraising efforts, and inspire participation.
Janice Beetle
PR and digital marketing: Beetle Press
Book development and editing: Janice Beetle Books
413-374-6239
Make Sure Your Content Isn’t Just More Noise
Guest post by Janice Beetle.
As business owners and entrepreneurs create and roll out storytelling campaigns to raise awareness about their organizations, they must make sure they are producing content of value and not just more noise.
People are saturated with content today. You want to make sure you are standing out and getting noticed. Not deleted. Or unfollowed. Or unfriended.
The best way to make sure you are connecting with your audience is to focus on educating them about what you do, rather than selling to them. Make sure you are discerning between what is education and what is off-putting.
Here’s an example of noise:
“You just found the best nutritional advice on earth! Try it now for free!”
Or “Come take a tour and see why we’re the best retirement community in your area.”
That is not storytelling. That is just telling.
We all want to be seen as the best, though, and when we are the best, we want our prospects and clients to understand what sets us apart.
Show them success stories. There is no better content.
If you are a nutritional therapist, and you are consistently helping people to make healthier choices, and you are changing lives in some way, tell that story. Write about your client who suffered from embarrassing and frustrating digestive problems for years until you taught her that soups and stews made from real bone broth, and foods that are made without preservatives, could eliminate the problems.
If you are the premier retirement community in your region, tell stories about your residents, what they enjoy, and how your center is enhancing their lives.
Show your superpowers.
Educate. Don’t sell.
Every person in business has a product, service, or concept they want us to buy, but most of your clients aren’t thinking about shopping and buying when they are on social media or using Google to search for something they’re interested in.
They are poking around, seeing what’s out there.
People need to be wooed in a gentle way. They need to learn who you are and what you do and what the benefits are for them in order to get interested in your wares.
Here are some tips for moving your marketing content in a direction that is educational:
Share your success stories.
In your blog, your e-newsletter, donor newsletter, or on your website, share the stories of clients who have had a positive experience. Tell the stories of clients who came to you in need and are now thriving because of your good work.
Avoid superlative phrases and or statements that could appear to go over the top.
Maybe the health program you offer is the best on earth, but you have to earn trust by showing your audience why it’s the best. Teach your audience how to make broth, explain why it’s healing, and tell stories about who you have helped regain their life.
Simple is best. Keep your content short, simple, clear, and concise. Online messaging should be brief, between 300 and 500 words, so don’t go into more detail than you need and don’t get sidetracked with tangents.
You will have so much more success when you are gentle with your audience and teach them what they need to know about you.
Janice Beetle is a PR strategist and the owner of Beetle Press. She serves leaders of for and nonprofit organizations in Western Massachusetts and the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, helping them imagine and roll out content and PR campaigns to raise awareness, boost sales and fundraising efforts, and inspire participation.
Critical Safety Tips for Decorating Business Event Venues
Throw the perfect professional gathering by using these critical safety tips for decorating business event venues, whether it's a large space or a small one.
Business events range from trade shows to holiday parties and beyond. Although they can differ, one thing that remains true is all business events should be safe for everyone. Safety is easy to achieve if you take a step back and assess a few critical tips beforehand. Check out the information below to find three critical safety tips for decorating business event venues.
Always Inspect Your Equipment Before the Event Starts
After setting up all the decorations and equipment, take time to complete a thorough visual inspection of everything. Simple mistakes can cause dangerous hazards, so taking a second glance at everything is invaluable.
Everything should be stable and safe for everyone in attendance, from event lighting to photo booth displays. Improper equipment setups remain among the top event hazards you need to know, so taking the time to inspect everything ensures you can prevent that hazard from happening.
Identify the Emergency Exits & Fire Alarms in the Venue
Knowing the precise locations of emergency exits and fire alarms will help you maintain order and efficiency if emergencies strike. These components are critical to consider when decorating the venue because you must avoid covering those alarms and exits with décor.
For example, a stylish photobooth blocking a fire exit is a pretty substantial problem, so take this factor into account when designing the event layout. You’ll avoid accidentally blocking fire exits and compromising other safety systems.
Never Neglect the Room’s Maximum Capacity
Suffice it to say that every room only has so much space, so a critical safety tip for decorating business event venues is always checking the room’s maximum occupancy. That way, you can avoid compromising safety codes and creating an overall uncomfortable environment. Consult the building manager if you have any trouble learning the venue’s maximum occupancy.
If a fire breaks out and 300 people are uncomfortably crammed into a room with a 200-person limit, the event can quickly become chaotic. Don’t worry! Taking the time to plan your event and keep it under maximum capacity ensures you can get the guests to safety if an accident strikes. Keep these tips in mind for your next business event so you can enjoy the evening with peace of mind, not panic.
Tips for Improving Your Manufacturing Efficiency
Are you looking for ways to improve your manufacturing efficiency? Generate better business by using the following advice and suggestions.
Improving your manufacturing efficiency for your business is crucial for saving money, enhancing productivity, and reducing errors throughout all aspects of the process. The quality of your products or services and customer satisfaction can greatly increase as you tweak procedures and protocols in the interest of better manufacturing. Use the advice below to learn how to implement a more efficient production process.
Find Bottlenecks in Your Production
A bottleneck is a portion of your work stage that’s not meeting the production quota, which delays or stops your operations. It’s crucial that you find and identify these issues so that you can better understand how to improve your manufacturing processes. Bottlenecks could be machine errors or human errors that prevent the next step in production from taking place in a timely manner. Once you identify what is going wrong, you can better fix and eliminate this issue from the process.
Implement New Technology
With an uptick in technology, more devices and programs are available to help make your manufacturing job easier. Devices such as PLCs can improve supply chain production by minimizing problems and building a more transparent communication chain among machines. Go over the current technology your business uses throughout the production process and find instances where you could benefit from new technology that will streamline and simplify your work.
Enhancing manufacturing efficiency is crucial for businesses seeking sustainable growth and competitive advantage. Implementing cutting-edge technologies, such as the innovative linear servo motor, can significantly boost production speed and accuracy. Streamlining operations not only optimizes resource utilization but also enhances overall output quality, positioning your company as an industry leader. Stay ahead of the curve by prioritizing manufacturing efficiency, a key driver for success in today's dynamic business landscape.
Provide Better Employee Training
Without proper training from management, new hires could pick up on habits from other workers that might not be in the best interest of the position. If the company manager does not take the time to create an excellent employee training program, jobs within the production process cannot be completed to standard. Create a training program that provides thorough information about the company, and ensure you’re using the same program for all employees to guarantee everyone is learning the same information.
Standardize Processes and Procedures
Processes and procedures that are not standardized leave room for interpretation from the employee on how to go about a specific task. Creating a plan for workers to follow and standardizing protocols will ensure every job is done the same way to minimize delays, failures, mistakes, and damages. Improve manufacturing efficiency by placing a checklist at each workstation reminding employees about how to navigate a process. Take the time to review new procedures and changes during meetings so that everyone is aware of expectations.
Boosting efficiency in the workplace will take some time. You might experience some trial and error that indicates bottlenecks in production, technology errors, procedure issues, and poor training tactics. Making small changes here and there can make a massive difference in the production process—start implementing the above suggestions today for better manufacturing efficiency.
Are Your Employees More Productive in Office or Remote?
Companies are now wondering whether they need an in-person office. Do you wonder if your employees are more productive in an office or remote setting?
As a higher-up individual in a company, you know all the ins and outs. Technology is advancing, allowing more employees and companies to make the switch to remote work.
First, ask yourself this question: are your employees more productive in an office or remote environment? Then, follow the list below to further examine which form of work is best for your company.
Support Network
A great perk about working in an office is the community it creates. Whether employees are asking work-related questions or having a friendly conversation, an office setting develops strong connections between coworkers.
Also, if anyone has an issue, they won’t need to communicate through chats and emails; employees can walk directly to the person they need for an answer or additional help. With electronic complications, a face-to-face office allows the employee to easily seek help!
Internet Connection
Employees can’t effectively do a computer-based job without the proper internet speed. If programs don’t load or employees can’t join important meetings, remote work will develop unproductive and frustrated employees.
Before considering remote or hybrid work, each employee needs to test their internet speed to determine if it’s adequate for working from home. Then, as a company, evaluate how many scheduled meetings occur each week and if those meetings can take place over video calls.
Distractions
Another important factor to understand when asking if your employees are more productive in the office or remotely is evaluating the number of distractions. While developing those personal connections in the office is important, it can also be a distraction with frequent non-work-related conversations. When working remotely, most employees discuss work-related topics over chats and emails.
Remote work does create some distractions since individuals are in the comfort of their homes. They may want to complete tasks around the house instead of working because it’s a distraction. If remote employees have a designated workspace, they can effectively complete their work in a timely manner.
The Final Solution
If you’re considering switching to remote work, first consider creating a successful hybrid workplace so it’s a gradual adjustment for managers and all employees. Communication and daily tasks are much different when working remotely. This hybrid environment will give employees time to determine if working remotely will positively or negatively impact productivity.
After observing and asking employees questions, you can start thinking about the next best step. Employee feedback is incredibly important to this process. Take your time and work through various obstacles to find the perfect plan for the company and employees.
Setting Up Your Own Ecommerce Store
Ecommerce is easily one of the best kinds of business you can choose to run, and it’s one that you are always going to be keen to ensure that you are considering for yourself.
Ecommerce is easily one of the best kinds of business you can choose to run, and it’s one that you are always going to be keen to ensure that you are considering for yourself. If you are looking for a first business to run, or you are keen to have a business that you can run from home, then ecommerce is going to be the one to go for. There are many ways in which it is one of the easiest kinds of business you can run, and you will probably find that you can get a lot out of it.
However, there are many things you will need to bear in mind too, to help ensure that you are getting it going in the right way. The fact is that setting up an ecommerce store requires that you are paying attention to a few key points. In this post, we are going to take a look at those points, so that you can hopefully set up your own ecommerce store in no time at all.
Decide On Your Niche & Model
Firstly, you are going to need to know what your business model is and what kind of niche you are going to focus on. Having these clear in your mind is really important if you want to make sure that you are as likely as possible to succeed in your business. When it comes to thinking of a niche, it is usually best if it’s something that you personally care about a lot, and genuinely so. In terms of that, make sure that you have something in mind that you can see yourself focusing on within your business.
Once you have done that, you can think about your business model. There are more ways to approach this than you might think, and it’s all about making sure that you are happy with your choice of business model and that it is likely to work as well as you would hope. As long as you have a model that you are happy with and which is likely to be profitable, you should find that you are more likely to have success with your business on the whole.
Don’t rush into either of these decisions. They are important enough that you need to make sure you are really, truly happy with them before you do anything further in your business.
Find Product Opportunities
Once you have both of those in place, you are going to have a better idea about the kinds of products that you are likely going to need to sell. That is something that you will need to be really clear on, and which you are going to need to think about in detail - because your products are of course the basis of your whole business. As such, it’s vital that you are aware of this and happy with your choice of products in general.
One way to look at this is to think in terms of product opportunities. You need to keep your eyes peeled for anything that seems to be something you could sell, or which you are going to be able to potentially sell at some point in the future - as well as products which you might be able to create new versions of, where possible and necessary. That alone is one of the most important things that you can do here when you are starting up an ecommerce store business.
It’s important to find a balance between having a clear niche and generally keeping your options open. As long as you manage to do that, you’ll have a much better chance of success in the future with your business.
Figure Out Your Supply Chain
The actual question of how you are going to get your products in stock and then sell them on is of course hugely important. This kind of logistical aspect to things is something you can’t afford to overlook at all. If you don’t know where you are going to source your products from and how you’ll ship them out, then you don’t actually yet have a business in place at all.
There are a lot of ways you can approach this. You could decide on your products, as above, and then look around for the best places where you can get these for a decent price - bearing in mind you also need to keep the quality of the products as high as possible too. Or you might want to make the products yourself - however, you should be aware that this is a much more difficult process that immediately complexifies the entire business model. Nonetheless, it works for some people and it is at least worth considering.
The important thing is to make sure that you have a means of securing your products and that you are sure it is sustainable. Otherwise, it might not be suitable for your ecommerce business’ future.
Set Up Your Website
Now comes one of the most important elements of all - the website itself. It probably goes without saying that you need to make sure your website is as good as possible. After all, in an ecommerce setting, the website is actually the main place where business happens. It is your shop floor, so to speak, so it has to function as one. You need to make sure that you are setting it up just right if you want your business to succeed.
So what can you do to ensure that your website has the best possible chance of succeeding? There are quite a few things to be aware of here. First of all, think about what domain name you are going to use, ensuring that it makes sense for your business and that it is memorable. Then you need to focus on getting your website actually designed, and this needs to be as professional as possible, which is why it’s always important to get a professional to do it for you, or with their help at least.
There are many elements to a website that you need to be aware of. For instance, there is the actual marketplace itself, the pages that you are going to need to have for your products. Then there is the searching function, which has to be as good as possible if you are going to keep your customers happy at all times so they can find what they need when they need it. And of course, you need to make sure that you are able to take payments as well.
That is actually one of the most important elements in all this, because you obviously need to be able to take payments if you are going to ensure that you are making money, and it’s also one of the most important aspects of keeping your customers happy too. The better the payment system is, the happier they will be, so make sure you are using an online payment provider that you can trust and that you know is going to work well.
You’ll probably also want to make good use of SEO tactics, to help make your website more popular. If you can do that, it’s amazing how much of a difference it makes to the whole experience of using the site, and to how easily people can find it. With all that being considered, you are going to find that you have a website that really works, and that’s going to lead to a much better ecommerce store in general.
Research The Competition
All companies have competition, and you need to make sure that you are as aware of what your competition is as possible. If you don’t put any time and effort into this, you will end up not quite knowing what your business needs to do in order to succeed, so it really is important that you are thinking about this. If nothing else, it will mean that you have a better sense of the kinds of things that are going to help with getting your business to be more popular.
There are two main ways you can learn from your competition: from their successes, but also from their failures. The more attention you pay to both of these things, the better off you are going to be with regards to your future success. Once you start paying attention to the competition, you are already going to be in a much better place with your business.
Make sure that you are doing this from as early on as possible, so that you can hopefully get to a place where you are aware of what they are doing at all times. If you do that, it will really help you out a lot.
As you can see, there is plenty to consider when you are setting up your own ecommerce store, so make sure that you are aware of these as best as you can be. That is going to be really important from the start.
Is Leasing or Selling Better in Real Estate Development?
Leasing or selling real estate development is a critical decision that has a significant impact on the success of your project. It can be difficult to determine which option is better for your particular situation, but there are several factors to consider when making this decision.
Leasing or selling real estate development is a critical decision that has a significant impact on the success of your project. It can be difficult to determine which option is better for your particular situation, but there are several factors to consider when making this decision. In this blog post, we will explore the pros and cons of leasing and selling real estate development, so that you can make an informed decision about which option is best for you.
Leasing Real Estate Development Offers a Number of Advantages
Leasing gives you the ability to generate income from your property without having to sell it outright. This can be a great way to generate revenue if you are not ready to sell your property or if you anticipate that the value of your property will increase in the future. In addition, leasing allows you to maintain ownership of your property and control over how it is used. If you lease your property to a business, you can ensure that it is used in a way that is consistent with your vision for the property. Finally, leasing gives you the flexibility to terminate the lease at any time if you decide that you no longer want to lease your property. Other developers like Paul Ognibene have found success by leasing their developments.
Selling Real Estate Development Offers a Number of Advantages
Selling your property outright offers a number of advantages. First, it allows you to receive the full value of your property immediately. This can be a great way to generate revenue if you need the money quickly or if you do not anticipate that the value of your property will increase in the future. Second, selling your property gives you the freedom to use the proceeds from the sale as you wish. You can reinvest the money into another real estate development project, use it to finance your lifestyle, or save it for retirement. Finally, selling your property removes the hassle and responsibility of maintaining ownership of the property.
There are a Few Key Disadvantages to Consider with Both Options
While leasing and selling real estate development both have a number of advantages, there are also a few key disadvantages to consider. First, with both options you will likely have to pay taxes on the income you generate from your property. Second, if you lease your property, you will be responsible for maintaining the property and ensuring that it is in good condition. This can be a significant expense if the property requires extensive repairs or renovations. Finally, if you sell your property outright, you will no longer have any ownership stake in the property. This means that you will not be able to benefit from any future appreciation in the value of the property.
At the end of the day, whether you decide to lease or sell real estate development depends on a number of factors. You will need to consider your financial goals, the condition of your property, and your personal preferences. If you take the time to weigh all of these factors, you will be able to make the best decision for your particular situation.
Election 2022 - Interview with Clea Conner
Clea Conner
Clea is the CEO of Intelligence Squared US Debates (IQ2US), a nonprofit organization that organizes Oxford-style debates that cover provocative topics such as whether a confrontation with Russia is worth it and if we should use gene editing to make better babies. Debaters get to make their case before an audience, which then votes on who has been the most persuasive.
IQ2US has organized over 185 debates that have reached millions of people through their multi-platform distribution network which includes over 230 public radio stations, TV networks, and their podcast, which has over 4 million downloads. Their debate series has won multiple awards, including five Telly Awards in 2021.
Clea has also won multiple awards for her work in politics and public affairs radio and television programming, including eight Telly Awards, seven Clarion Awards for Women in Communications, and Crain’s New York 40 Under 40 in 2018.
She developed “Up For Debate” and “That’s Debatable” as TV programs for Bloomberg, PBS, and Newsy. Clea also produced the first debate between artificial intelligence and a human debater in partnership with IBM’s historic Project Debater.
Social Media Links:
https://www.facebook.com/IQ2US/
https://twitter.com/IQ2US
https://www.youtube.com/user/IntelligenceSquared
https://www.instagram.com/intelligencesquaredus/
Podcast:
Intelligence Squared U.S.:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/intelligence-squared-u-s-debates/id216713308