Author: anwaryusef

Anwar Y. Dunbar is a Regulatory Scientist. Being a naturally curious person, he is also a student of all things. He earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Michigan and his Bachelor’s Degree in General Biology from Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU). Prior to starting the Big Words Blog Site, Anwar published and contributed to numerous research articles in competitive scientific journals reporting on his research from graduate school and postdoctoral years. After falling in love with writing, he contributed to the now defunct Examiner.com, and the Edvocate where he regularly wrote about: Education-related stories/topics, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Financial Literacy; as well as conducted interviews with notable individuals such as actor and author Hill Harper. Having many influences, one of his most notable heroes is author, intellectual and speaker, Malcolm Gladwell, author of books including Outliers and David and Goliath. Anwar has his hands in many, many activities. In addition to writing, Anwar actively mentors youth, works to spread awareness of STEM careers, serves on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the David M. Brown Arlington Planetarium, serves as Treasurer for the JCSU Washington, DC Alumni Chapter, and is active in the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Ministry at the Alfred Street Baptist Church. He also tutors in the subjects of biology, chemistry and physics. Along with his multi-talented older brother Amahl Dunbar (designer of the Big Words logos, inventor and a plethora of other things), Anwar is a “Fanboy” and really enjoys Science-Fiction and Superhero movies including but not restricted to Captain America Civil War, Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Prometheus. He is a proud native of Buffalo, NY.

Why Won’t The Weight Of Stress Leave Your Shoulders?

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. Stress has so many effects on personal health and literally kill you. As such it’s understand how to minimize and manage stress. If you’re trying to reduce stress, it’s important to zero in on what you can do to alleviate it. The following contributed post is entitled, Why Won’t The Weight Of Stress Leave Your Shoulders?

* * *

Stress is one of the most common wellbeing issues experienced by people of all ages and backgrounds. Sadly, its omnipresence does very little to contain the negative impacts it can have on your quality of life. Worse still, if you follow the same processes as always, you cannot expect to see an improvement in the results.

With this in mind, identifying the reasons for your stress is a key step en route to recovery. Here are some of the most common sources that you may need to tackle head-on.

Pixabay CC0 License

1) Physical Problems

Physical health and mental health are very closely linked. Therefore, if an underlying health issue is left untreated, the restrictions it places on your life will cause stress. It’s not only the major or life-threatening issues that matter, either. Even something as simple as muscle soreness can put your mental wellbeing at risk. Whatever type of issue you experience, the key is to take quick action. The sooner you can put this discomfort behind you, the sooner your mind will start to clear.

2) Bad Influencers

People hold the key to your happiness, but they can also cause a great deal of stress and anguish. Sadly, most people that fall victim to bad influencers don’t even realise it right away. Sometimes the issues can be saved. For example, the Hart Centre offers marriage counselling that can get couples back on track. Then again, there are times where you should walk away from a bad relationship or a bad friendship. Even when it’s a sibling that keeps asking for money, taking a step back can work wonders for stress levels in the long run.

3) Financial Worries

Pixabay CC0 License

It is no surprise that stress, anxiety, and depression have all increased in parallel to the growing frequency of debtors. When you find yourself faced with financial difficulties, you must seek a quick solution. This could manifest itself as debt relief. Maybe you’ll find that managing your funds in an effective manner. Or making short-term sacrifices will deliver the results you crave. Either way, the knowledge that your financial status is moving in the right direction will pay dividends.

4) Legal Matters

Nothing stops you from being able to plan your future like legal uncertainties. When facing a pending court case, even if it’s something like a motoring offence, it can feel scary. Finding an expert like Tony Raunic to present your case can make a big difference. Aside from boosting your hopes of getting the right decision at your hearing, the advice they give beforehand is telling. The clarity of what to expect makes the process far less daunting while you’ll have a better insight into the best, worst, and most likely result.

5) Wasted Time

The thought that life is passing you by can be an awful thing. Sadly, it encourages you to procrastinate even more. Setting clear goals is the first step to going out and achieving them. On a separate note, you should learn to rid yourself of needless distractions. Avoiding social media when it leaves you feeling inferior is a great example. Conversely, spending more time appreciating the positives in your life can develop a heightened sense of worth. While it won’t remove stress entirely, it can reduce the impacts it has.

3 Health Benefits of Ditching Technology (For a Little While)

Two of the focuses of my blog are Health/Wellness and Technology. While technology has tremendously improved our lives, it does have some potential adverse impacts on our qualities of life. In some instances, it may be advantageous to disconnect from your technology, albeit temporarily. The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Health Benefits of Ditching Technology (For a Little While).

* * *

https://unsplash.com/photos/e28-krnlVmo

Our lives are regularly dictated by technology. We want to catch our favorite shows as soon as they are released. We need to find out what is happening every minute of the day. Indeed, any time spent away from technology now feels unusual. But as much as tech can help us stay connected with friends and learn all about the world around us, it can also be detrimental to our health. Sometimes, you need to take a step back, so here are four health benefits of ditching technology, at least for a little while.

You Can Focus Better

If you choose to sell your iPhone 11 Pro Max, your Xbox or cancel your Netflix subscription, you will find your focus will improve. It won’t happen overnight, but rather than use tech as a crutch for background noise or scroll through when in an awkward situation, you will find you’re not continually feeling around to check worldly updates, even though you only checked a few minutes before.

This will significantly benefit your work and productivity as you won’t have that itchy finger reaching for your phone. You can still have a phone, you might need it, but a model without wifi or app capabilities might be better if you want to maintain a sharp focus. You won’t feel the need to check WhatsApp every 10 minutes, and you will also find that you will concentrate when watching movies, rather than staring at your phone for the entire two hours.

It Will Help You Unwind

Many people dread getting home from work only to see their boss has asked them to make a few small changes to a contract or project. Technology has made it so that we are always on the clock, which can increase stress levels and prevent us from unwinding.

If you make it a rule to switch your work phone off at the end of the workday, you will find you can relax after a long day and spend quality time with your family. Your job is just a job, and while it will help pay the bills, it shouldn’t come before your partner or your kids.

You Will Enjoy a More Restful Sleep

Studies show that 44% of people will sleep with their phones next to them or under their pillow. This is because they will scroll through before going to sleep or use it as an alarm to wake up.

However, while these are established aspects of your bedtime and waking up routine, they can affect your sleep quality. Playing on your phone before bed will affect your sleep patterns, as will the blue light that can impact a good night’s sleep. Try to leave your phone upstairs at night and invest in a proper alarm clock to wake you up in the morning.

Tech-Free

It can be scary to decide to abandon technology, even if it’s just one or two items. However, the health benefits that come with ditching technology can help transform your life for the better. You’ll have more focus, energy, and you might even be happier.

Top Tips For Cutting Costs In Your Medical Practice

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. A medical practice can be lucrative, but you have to know how manage costs. Managing you costs will assure that your practice stays open for years to come. The following contributed post is entitled, Top Tips For Cutting Costs In Your Medical Practice.

* * *

2020 so far has been a tough one for the medical industry. In fact, it is fair to say it has been one of the hardest-hit industries, with staff working flat out to deal with the pandemic, but also facing an uphill struggle trying to keep themselves safe and securing appropriate PPE. Whether privately owned or state-owned, the medical industry is going to have to do all it can to claw back some much-needed cash over the next few years.

While there are obvious things you can’t cut in order to provide the very best care to your patients, there are some things you can do to cut costs and make some savings to help your medical practice get through the next few months and years.

Image CC0 License

Think about outsourcing

More and more businesses are turning to outsourcing and that is because it is an effective and efficient business practise. Yes, it costs you money, but in the long-term, the savings it can create can be invaluable. It gives you time back to work on growing your medical practice and providing the best care to your patients and allows specialists to do the jobs to the best of their ability.

It can be difficult to know what to outsource – certain tasks are better than others. If you have a website, you might want to pass the management of it over to a web specialist who knows their stuff. Other options include your billing telehealth services, human resources and payroll.

Encourage remote working where possible

More and more medical practices have implemented remote working during the pandemic, taking video calls with patients rather than face to face interactions. It is a way of working that no one would have thought possible a few months ago in the medical industry, but many practices have found that not only is a great way of keeping staff and patients safe but is actually a really cost and time effective way of seeing patients.

Of course, not every single appointment can be done this way – there are still some people that will need to be seen, but think about whether remote working can be done as far as possible for as long as possible in your practice.

Reduce the necessities

The one thing the pandemic has done for us is to show us what is important and what isn’t. Take a look around you and think about what has remained unused or unneeded during the past few months. For example, if you have a fleet of company cars that have stayed in driveways or out in the parking lot, look at getting rid of them, or at least reducing the number of them. If those overseas business trips haven’t been missed, consider getting rid of them altogether, or streamlining the most essential ones.

The medical industry – and indeed, many other industries – are going to have a tough few years ahead of them, dealing with the economic and health fallout of the pandemic. By following these tips, you can make savings and get through it without too many problems.

5 Ways Technology Has Transformed the Private Sector

Three key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. Technology has created changes in all aspects of world including business. It has transformed the private sectors in several key ways. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Ways Technology Has Transformed the Private Sector.

* * *

Technology has dramatically affected our daily lives from portable telephones to self-driving cars and even cashless systems. The relationship between technology and business is an ever changing phenomenon that is both interesting and intriguing. Through this relationship, companies have found new and improved ways of carrying out their activities. This article takes a look at five ways technology has transformed businesses in the private sector.

1. Reduction in costs

Image Credit

Technology is an excellent investment for businesses, and these investments have created a phenomenon in companies known as business process automation. What this means is that human interference is not necessary for the processes and operations of the business. There are many software programs, machinery, and other tech solutions that help companies complete their tasks. These solutions are faster than humans and do not require much financial support- like wages (or an increase) and other forms of financial aid.

2. Improvement of communication

There are so many ways in which businesses can reach out to their current and potential customers. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have all created features which can be favorable for companies, helping them improve their customer care service. There are also some tech solutions, like live chatbots on company websites, which allow many companies to be more responsive. For example, if you should have a flood disaster in your area, it may take a while for an ambulance to get to you. But, a commercial water damage company might be able to give quick response time due to their advanced communication technology.

3. Increase in efficiency and quality

Unlike human beings, technology allows for faster processing of data and easy retrieval of information. Humans make mistakes, even when performing repetitive tasks, and also tend to consume time. But these issues are removed when technology takes their place. Such a thing usually happens in the manufacturing business, and many factory hands are replaced by machines to improve the efficiency and the quality of the products made.

4. Improvement in security

Security is a vital component in the operations of businesses, and technology has played a crucial role in its improvement. Facial recognition systems, fingerprint scanners, retina scanners, and secure software algorithms are some of the developments technology has made in security for safety at the workplace. With these improved security systems, the business can run safely with little fear of experiencing a breach in security such as theft or a leak in sensitive information.

5. Increase in productivity

Image Credit

Machinery does not necessarily have to replace humans for the business to be productive, but technology can help employees to be more productive. One of the significant elements of productivity is time management. With computers, data can be retrieved and processed faster, giving employees the time to work on other things- meaning that more tasks are done in a day. Alongside this, though, the right machines can also have a dramatic impact on productivity, with options like stainless steel fabricators making it much easier to work with challenging materials.

With technology, the private sector is experiencing a great advantage, and the improvements in the various components of business make technology a worthy investment to make.

How to Increase Employee Satisfaction

A key focus of my blog is Organizational and Management Discussions. In any organization, if you’re a part of management, you have to consider your employees’ satisfaction in you want your organization to continue operating at peak efficiency. Happy employees will do that for you. The following contributed post is entitled, How to Increase Employee Satisfaction.

* * *

Image Credit

No matter the size of your business, a collaborative team of satisfied employees is without a doubt a worthwhile goal. By increasing your employee satisfaction, you’ll be able to create a workforce that is motivated, productive and loyal, all of which are essential to your success. When raises and bonuses aren’t in your business’ immediate budget, there are many effective alternative paths to choose when building employee satisfaction and creating a happier workplace.

Keep the Work Environment In Check
Technical issues such as slow servers and physical issues like broken equipment can inevitably occur in the workplace. However, when they happen frequently enough, employees can become frustrated and increasingly demotivated with the quality of their work output. To avoid dissatisfaction, identify issues and deal with any staff complaints as quickly as possible. This will demonstrate your commitment as an employer in providing an enjoyable work environment.

Offer Flexibility
Any business that gives their employees the opportunity to have greater autonomy and responsibility for their own time at work is vital to increasing satisfaction levels. This is because offering control allows employees to achieve a suitable work-life balance. Try offering flexible work arrangements such as telecommuting, flex time, or even seasonal flexibility such as “summer” hours.

Recognise Achievements
Acknowledge your employee’s achievements and reward them in innovative ways alongside any financial bonuses. This could include their name in an internal newsletter, applauding them in a staff meeting, or even offering the best parking slot for a month. These small acts of recognition can be powerful incentives that propel other employees into following the acknowledged employee’s example and increase overall workforce productivity.

Training
No employee wants to stay stagnant in the same place – help drive your employee’s career development by offering professional development opportunities, such as valuable online courses, mentoring, coaching, lectures, or knowledge transfer plans such as with https://stevetrautman.com/learn/knowledge-transfer-plan/. All of these ideas can help your employees progress in their role as well as engage with your business.

Wellness Benefits
A company that is invested in its employees’ health is made instantly more desirable to employees as a long-term job. Promote and drive good health with the likes of nutritious food options in the cafeteria or break room, educate employees with wellness seminars, and offer discounted gym memberships. To combat work related stress, ensure that your employees are taking regular breaks as well as their annual leave, and encourage them to be open about their work worries with you. To get your team together, why not try organising a spa day or a rewarding charity run on the weekend?

Encourage A Sociable Workplace Culture
A team that attends regular social activities outside of office hours such as work lunches, celebrations, and fun events is a strong team. Fostering a sociable workplace culture through encouraging teamwork, socialisation, and communication will result in greater contentment in the workplace and can give employees a sense of belonging. Where applicable, employees should be given the opportunities to voice ideas, collaborate together, and create strong bonds with one another.

Take Control of Your Finances When You’re Struggling

A key focus of my blog in Financial Literacy/Money. A significant part of your personal success and quality of life is your personal financial health. Taking control of your finances is particularly important when you’re struggling. The following contributed post is entitled, Take Control of Your Finances When You’re Struggling.

* * *

Image from Pexels – CC0 License

Everyone experiences money troubles of different kinds. Even when you’re financially comfortable, you can have times when you’re trying to work out how to stretch your money further. There are also times when you can feel like you’re really struggling and you don’t know how to get back on track. Your money problems are ruling your life, but you don’t know how to make them go away. You could be in a lot of debt or struggling to pay the bills, and you feel like you have no control. If you want to start getting control of your finances, have a look at these steps.

Make a Plan for Your Debts

Most people have some kind of debt, whether they’re paying off a phone, have a credit card or have a mortgage. Some debt is good debt, but there’s also plenty of bad debt, and it can weigh on you heavily. Making a plan to pay off your debts should be a priority if you’re having financial problems. You might need to look into tax relief options if you’re struggling to pay off a tax bill or consider debt consolidation if you have a number of debts. Look at different strategies for paying off debts too. You might pay off the cheapest or the most expensive first.

Image from Pexels – CC0 License

Create a Budget

Everyone who wants to get their money under control needs to start budgeting. When you set a budget to stick to, it helps you to control your spending. The first thing that you need to do is take a look at what you’re currently spending. Work out how much your fixed expenses are, then come up with a reasonable budget for more variable expenses, such as groceries and clothes. Once you have a budget, you can track your spending, and you’ll be more conscious of whether you’re sticking to your budget.

Review Your Spending

After creating a budget, you might be able to start saving some money by lowering both your fixed and variable expenses. For example, review your bills to discover whether you could save any money. Find any subscriptions or services that you no longer need or that are wasting your money. Do you really need cable TV? Do you use that Netflix subscription? Getting rid of unnecessary spending can help you pay off debts faster, save more or have more money to spend on things that you want or need.

Image from Pexels – CC0 License

Go Cash Only

If you feel like you need to reconnect with your money, consider using cash only to pay for things. You can set up automatic payments for bills, but when you do things like go grocery shopping, withdraw a set amount of money for the month so that you know exactly how much you have left. Stop using your credit card and even debit card for a while, and slowly start to use them again if you feel comfortable.

You can take back control of your finances. Start taking a close look at any debts, your spending and how you could save money.

Why Better Communication Is Essential After Covid 19

Three focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Current Events. In the aftermath of Covid 19, communication is going to be critical for businesses of all kinds. In addition to the human health crisis it caused it arguable caused business crises as well. The following contributed post is entitled, Why Better Communication Is Essential After Covid 19.

* * *

Because “organizational change” is now in the daily vocabulary of companies and – due to the Covid 19 crisis, it often acts as a synonym for adverse surprises or has an unpleasant effect on employees. The importance of proper communication stands out as the overriding priority because now more than ever, businesses need to ensure, across all industry niches, that they are working as a team to override the issues caused by Covid. It may also be that you need to branch out and look at seeking legal representation to ensure that you are getting back on track.

Photo: Unsplash

Careful analysis and communication

The first principle of a good strategy is to make tough choices for the best use of limited resources and not try to communicate everything to everyone at the same time. A message that is general and not two-way, rarely stimulates the mood for a change in behavior or way of working. The questions that need to be answered is: “who, when, why”. Which means a careful analysis, with whom we want to communicate, at what stage and for what purpose. Of course, each stage of change requires its own specific “audience” and it’s important to know who you’re wanting to target. In the initial stage, the audience is numerically small and exceptionally high.

Internal marketing

It is also recommended to avoid “internal marketing” of change through the Intranet, with posters, slogans and related messages, which may increase the information, but do not convince anyone in favour of any change. Instead focusing on better campaigns and better use of social platforms to spread awareness and implement changes, including new ideas, ways to connect, ways to market research and promote better services.

The wording matters

In large organizations it is not possible for the CEO to be extensively involved in communication which is why the email and phone systems used are vital. It is also important to look at ways to improve your business such as custom wire manufacturers to ensure that your connection is impeccable. Look at what your staff need. Do they need new technology? Do they need to have better schedules and reassess what they need to do in order to achieve new goals following Covid 19. Do they need upgraded systems or better security to protect the business?

A proper process of change gives employees the opportunity to ask questions, to disagree, to provoke opposition, in order to finally assimilate the need for change. In short, make the change part of their business because often it is the employees that can see the workings of the company better and may be about to troubleshoot more effectively. Communication with its advantages to balance and bring the best quality and financial results for the business, reducing costs, saving time and increasing productivity and efficiency. Be sure to set new goals and problems to solve all the current issues before moving forward. Covid 19 may give you the chance to shake up the business and reset it to achieve a healthy and successful future.

3 Benefits of Working and Planning for the Future

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success. They say that those who plan have many, many advantages over those who do not. Planning and looking into the future is in fact mentioned in many, many wealth building books. The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Benefits of Working and Planning for the Future.

* * *

Pixabay CC0 License

There are various different ways in which we can all choose to live our lives, across a variety of different dimensions.

One of the key differences in how people can choose to live their lives is that they can either decide to be focused on pursuing pleasure and satisfaction in the immediate to short-term, or they can be focused on working and planning for the future, and aiming for longer term and more enduring prizes.

Of course, as with all things in life, there needs to be a balance. There’s no point in being so future-focussed that you never stop to enjoy the present moment, or to be mindful of the blessings that are right in front of you.

But, here are some of the benefits of working and planning for the future, as a general rule, whether that means investing in universal life insurance, keeping up a regular fitness routine, or working on your own business.

Deferred gratification can lead to greater and more stable long-term happiness and reward

There’s some evidence in the field of psychology that suggests that a focus on short-term gratification primarily involves the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is associated with craving.

As a general principle, it’s impossible to “satisfy” the dopamine mechanism, but only to continue chasing after the next “hit.” Doubtless, this is why dopamine is highly implicated in the addiction cycle.

Deferred gratification, however, typically involves working on making progress towards desired and longer-term outcomes that are more carefully thought out, and that engage systems of the brain associated with the drive for happiness and fulfilment, rather than the satisfaction of craving. Such as, perhaps, the neurotransmitter serotonin.

The future is uncertain, by planning for it, you can potentially counteract some of its troubles

The future is always uncertain, and there are unfortunately bound to be struggles, troubles, and unpleasant events that we all have to confront down the line.

Working and planning for the future, however, can go a long way towards helping you to potentially counteract some of these troubles – and to at least reduce the sting a bit, if not to vanquish the potential trouble outright.

Being mindful of proper nutrition, exercise, and regular health checkups, for example, might save you from having to battle a tragic health condition later in life.

Efficacy is almost always built incrementally – but by keeping your eye on the prize, you can stay consistent in your daily habits and systems

With few exceptions, efficacy – skill, effectiveness, and insight – is always built up incrementally, rather than as a result of one-off, short-term actions.

Whether you want to become the best you can at some sport, or as a professional blogger, writer, entrepreneur, or anything else, keeping your eye on the future prize can help you to remain consistent in your daily habits and systems, so that you can keep putting in the steady and regular work that gets you to where you want to be.

If, on the other hand, you keep a much more short-term focus, those more ambitious goals and skills are likely to remain out of reach.

Six Ways To Deal With Muscle Soreness

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. If you’re very active in terms of exercise and in some instances competition, you will likely deal with some form of muscle soreness. It’s critical to understand how to manage this soreness so that it doesn’t impact your quality of life, and so that you can continue doing the activities you enjoy. The following contributed post is entitled, Six Ways To Deal With Muscle Soreness.

* * *

Have you ever done an amazing workout and then really regretted it the next day because of DOMS? You’re not alone. DOMS – or delayed onset muscle soreness – is one of the most difficult things to deal with when you are exercising regularly. It can feel awful to put all your effort into exercise only to be in too much agony to even walk the next day. Muscle soreness is the difficult part of exercise, but if you know how to combat it, you can manage your regular day to day activities even after a heavy workout.

You need to remember to warm up and cool down with every workout, but more than that, you should check out these six ways to deal with muscle soreness after working out.

Image Source: Pexels

Invest In a Foam Roller
You can find these anywhere at a low cost, but foam rollers could be the help you need when you’re in pain after a workout. Foam rolling is a good way to recover when you’re in pain after a workout, and it works by compressing and rolling the muscle tissue to move the fluid and help you to heal. Yep, it’s going to hurt, but go slowly and focus on the tight areas of the body.

Go For A Massage
Whether you ask your partner to use a Sports Massage CBD Oil on the achy areas of your body, or you book in a proper sports massage, you can do so well with getting rid of muscle soreness this way. Massage manipulates the muscles and helps you to feel relaxed afterwards, too.

Eat Well
Your muscles tear during a workout, and they require the right nutrients to recover properly. You need to remember that your muscles have to recover, and you can do that when you eat well. Bananas and other proteins and slow-release carbohydrates can be excellent pst-workout choices. You can go for protein shakes, too, if you want something quick and easy.

Embrace Epsom Salts
Epsom salts come with magnesium, which will be absorbed through the skin and reduce the muscle soreness you’re feeling. Everyone loves a hot bath after a workout, and when you add salts, you’ll feel much better.

Get Some Sleep
Sleep is healing, and it’s the most overlooked aspect of healing when you are dealing with muscle soreness. You need to try and have at least 8 hours of sleep a night if you want your muscles to recover properly after a workout.

Hair Of the Dog
We’re not suggesting a drink, but we’re suggesting a workout to recover. Yoga and Pilates offer you the chance to recover your muscles after a heavy workout. If you do it right, you can stretch the muscles and keep them warm. You want to go slowly and not rush too much – this has to be carefully done so you don’t do more damage.

These six tips will help you to get your recovery going properly after you workout – why not try them today?

4 Things You Need to Know Before Starting a Cannibus Business

Two of focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Today the Cannibus business is very lucrative for those who know how to successfully work in it. It’s not all fun and games though and there are some key aspects to consider. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Things You Need to Know Before Starting a Cannibus Business.

* * *

The cannabis industry has seen continual growth over the last several years, especially as it continues to become legal in more states. It’s becoming so popular that about 14% of Americans now use CBD products on a regular basis.

So, it’s no surprise that people who are passionate about the benefits of cannabis are considering starting their own businesses. It’s important to keep in mind that because of the long history of cannabis, there are still some stereotypes and specific schools of thought on it. Needless to say, for the time being, it is still a niche business, which needs to be taken into account as you get started.

But, if you’re willing to educate yourself and know what to expect before you get started, you can absolutely start your own successful cannabis business from the ground up.

Let’s take a look at a few things you should know before you decide to jump in headfirst.

Unsplash

1. Understand the Rules and Regulations

Cannabis still isn’t legal in every state. In the states where it is legal, there are typically a lot of rules, regulations, and strict guidelines to follow.

The last thing you want is to get started only to get shut down right away because you’re not compliant with one of those rules.

It’s important to educate yourself on every aspect of the law as it pertains to your business. You may even benefit from hiring a receivables management crew that specializes in the cannabis industry, so you can put your focus elsewhere.

2. Choose Your Niche

Saying you want to start a cannabis company simply isn’t enough. You actually should think about making your niche even smaller in order to be more successful. Think about what you’re most passionate about within the industry and where you think you would sell.

You can either choose to be a grower/cultivator or sell retail products. You can even create your own variety of cannabis-infused products and get into the manufacturing side of things. Once you have a better idea of how you want your business to run, you can start to work faster toward getting it off the ground.

3. The Right Name Will Go a Long Way

Because the cannabis industry continues to grow in popularity and more businesses continue to pop up, it’s important to stand out. That starts with the name you choose for your business. While it can be tempting to turn it into something humorous or even “edgy,” think about who you will be marketing to, in the long run.

Your goal should be not only to draw in customers who are already interested in cannabis. Instead, it should be to make everyone realize that cannabis isn’t a “dangerous” or bad thing, and it can actually help with a variety of different ailments.

So, choose a name that reflects who you are and what you want your business to represent. Make sure it’s memorable without being crass, and make sure it describes what you have to offer so no one gets confused.

4. Be Careful With Marketing

Again, because of the laws and regulations in place, marketing can sometimes be an issue for cannabis business owners. One of the easiest and safest ways to market your business is through social media.

Simply creating accounts on various platforms and staying active on each one is a good place to start. You can also purchase sponsored posts or advertisements. That allows you to target specific age groups, locations, etc., so you can focus on bringing in the right audience to help your business grow.

As you do start to become more popular, social media marketing will start to do even more work for you. Once people know who you are and the quality of your business, they will leave reviews, recommend your place to friends online, and be more willing to interact with you on social media. Marketing experts know that word-of-mouth advertising simply can’t be beaten, and that includes online. So, even if you don’t know much about social media, don’t be afraid to get your feet wet, or hire someone who has experience working on those platforms.

Is a Cannabis Business Right for You?

Though the industry is rising in popularity right now, that shouldn’t be the only reason you consider starting a cannabis business. It should be something you’re genuinely interested in or passionate about. That will give you the drive to make sure everything is legal and compliant, and it will motivate you to market your business well.

If you do have an interest in the cannabis industry, keep these tips in mind as you consider starting your own business, and you’ll have a better chance of reaching success in your community quickly.