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.

Settling The Very Real Emotional Trouble Of Business Management

Three focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Health/Wellness. Working in business management is much different than being on staff as an employee. Decisions must be made, sometimes difficult ones with can impact one’s quality of life. The following contributed post is entitled, Settling The Very Real Emotional Trouble Of Business Management.

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Running a business is not an easy process, no matter what anyone tells you. To run a business or to get to a CEO, CFO or executive position, you need to work harder than you may ever have in your lifetime. This is why those fields and positions are so competitive, because you often get out what you put in. However, it’s 2020, and it’s time for the recent healthy talk surrounding mental wellbeing to find its way into the workplace.

It’s astonishingly easy for us to burn ourselves out in pursuit of our dreams. You give all you can, and sometimes in business, that may not be good enough. This can lead you to think that you’re simply not giving enough, to the point where you may sacrifice health and comfort in order to make matters work. We know that as a business leader, a solid 7-8 hours of work in a day may not be enough to get things going. That being said, settling the very real emotional trouble of business management should not be considered a side concern, but a pressing measure you should attend to.

We would recommend doing so in the following ways:

Talk Through Your Problems

Don’t bottle everything up. Business struggles sting, and it’s okay to admit that. Having to let staff go can be a real hardship, and pretending as though it isn’t can only make you feel colder about things. If something is troubling you, talk about it. It may be that through services like Bluesky Psychology, you are able to define a real, particular problem you are going through, and get the true assistance you need.

Don’t Overpromise

It’s easy to think of the overpromising businessperson as someone who is insecure and unable to confidently stand behind their product offering. Perhaps they feel as though they need to bend over backwards at every turn because this makes the most business sense. It doesn’t. Remember not to overpromise, because that can leave us without a clear goal, and when the time does come to make good on those offers, you will disappoint. This can only lead to stress, and it will make you feel like a failure, ironically stemming from a desire to help everyone.

Live In Reality, Not In Expectation

Live in the reality you are part of. There can be many ‘would haves,’ ‘should haves’ or ‘fake it til you make its’ in the business world, and this can lead you to think in terms of your vision. There is a certain self-deluded quality that all successful people have to have, especially if they’re making something from nothing. But this must never take precedence over actual objective living in the moment and making the daily decisions as felt. In other words, are you responding to the situations present now and curating your best business, or are you trying hard to live up to what you think you should be as a business leader? These measures are not always in sync with one another. Be here now, to the extent that you can.

With this advice, we hope you can help your mental and emotional health, even working within a stressful business role.

The Secret to Fitness When You Don’t Go to the Gym

A key focus of my blog is Health and Wellness. While we all know going to the gym is good for our health, it isn’t always easy to do. Fortunately, there are other ways to manage our health and wellness. The following contributed post is entitled, The Secret to Fitness When You Don’t Go to the Gym.

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Keeping fit and staying in shape is a massive part of modern society, but not in the way that fat-shaming engulfed much of the previous decade. Instead, people are no longer forcing themselves to go to the gym to look good for other people; they are embracing the gym to look good for themselves.

However, the gym is not right for everybody. Some people do not have the budget. Others are still self-conscious about how they look. While there are also budget issues to consider, especially with the average price of gym membership in the US. just because the gym is not for you, though, doesn’t mean you can’t still start your journey towards better health, and here are some secrets to help you out.

The Right Space

You don’t need wall-to-wall mirrors, pumping music, and that industrial decor so many gyms possess to get into shape successfully. All you need is a space for you to hit the weights.

You can create a home gym either in the spare room or if you’ve got the space in the backyard, metal sheds are a fantastic and often low-cost way of installing a workout space in your home without splashing out on home renovations.

The benefits of these personal spaces are that you can design and decorate them however you like. You can include weight benches, mats, and exercise balls, as well as choosing the music, so you don’t have to deal through endless loops of Top 40 tunes.

The Right Food

The old cliche is that it’s impossible to outwork a bad diet. No matter how many hours you spend on the treadmill, if you overeat pizza and takeout food once you get home, you’re going to undo all of your hard work at the gym.

To ensure you see the results you want, consider looking into healthy meal plans that you can prepare every Sunday before the week starts so that you never need to rely on eating out when you don’t have time to make breakfast in the morning.

Not only can you eat exactly what you want, but you’ll also develop a routine that will soon be hard to stray from.

The Right Attitude

Above all else, though, you need to have the right attitude if you want to explore your fitness options. This attitude is essential, especially if you do not have a home gym or an easy way to prepare your meals.

Nothing good ever comes easy, so it’s worth training your mind as well as your body. Once well prepared, you can resist temptations and be more creative with your workout endeavors. This means you can keep up with your fitness routine even when you are away from home.

You don’t always need to gym; you don’t always need your healthy meal. But you do need the right attitude to overcome your obstacles.

The Right Lifestyle

Getting into shape is not something that happens overnight. It takes dedication, discipline, and willpower. Once you have achieved this, you’ll feel better in body and mind, and the world is yours for the taking.

5 Ways To Increase Your Local Visibility As A Business

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. One of the most important aspects of your business is your visibility. Customers are more likely to patronize your business if the more known you are. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Ways To Increase Your Local Visibility As A Business.

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Image by Welcome to all and thank you for your visit ! ツ from Pixabay

One of the hardest things to do as a small and local business is to ensure the people in your area know who you are. Whether you’ve been running for years or you’re just getting started, increasing your local visibility should be one of the main priorities for your business. Luckily, there are lots of tips and tricks you can pick up to ensure you’re doing exactly that. From using business directories to investing in PPC, the more you’re doing the better. With that in mind, here are 5 ways to increase your local visibility as a business:

-Attend Local Events And Networking Sessions

One of the best ways to increase your visibility in the local area is to attend local events and networking sessions. Although it may be daunting at first, attending networking events is a great way to meet like-minded people. Not only that, but it’s the perfect way to meet people that may be interested in your products or services. Although you don’t want to use these networks to sell if the topic comes up, take it as a good opportunity. For a guide to attending local networking events, you can visit this site here.

-Target Local People With Pay Per Click Advertising

If you know who your target audience is and where they’re going to be located, you can use pay per click advertising to create ads that will increase your local profile. Although it can be quite expensive at times, pay per click advertising is incredibly effective. For a guide to using pay per click to grow your business, you can visit this site here.

-Consider A Local Business Directory

Another great way to improve your local visibility is to consider a local business directory. Although they may be hard to come across at first, directories are a great place to list your business and your services. Chances are, you’ll find customers from them more often than not. For more information when it comes to using a business directory, you can visit this site here.

-Consider Working With A Local PR Agency For Coverage

If you want to gain local coverage on TV or in local papers, you might want to consider approaching a local PR agency for assistance. Although it can be expensive, gaining local coverage for your business is a great way to ensure people are seeing your brand everywhere they go. If you appear in local news, it will be much easier to grow as a business.

-Try And Promote A Loyalty Scheme In Your Local Area

Finally, you might want to consider promoting a loyalty scheme in your area. Although it may take some time to grow, it’s the perfect way to get people talking about your business.

Are you looking for ways to increase your visibility as a business? What can you do to ensure you’re doing all that you can to grow locally? Let me know your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.

4 Rules For Interior Design Business Success

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Many individuals have started interior design businesses. If run correctly, these be successful ventures. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Rules For Interior Design Business Success.

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When it comes to dream jobs, there are few more romanticized than a career as an interior designer. You’ll be taking existing places and bring them to life, all within the framework of the rubric set by the client. You’ll be using your creativity, your critical thinking skills, and helping people in the process. What’s not to love? As you can imagine from a job that scores highly on the satisfaction front, this is a career that is in high demand. So how can you ensure that success comes your way? We take a look at a few tried and tested tips below.

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Love Your Job

First thing’s first: if you’re going to throw yourself into the challenging and satisfying life of an interior designer, then it’s important that you’re fully committed to the job. While there are some professions where you can “tip your toe in the water,” so to speak, when it comes to creative jobs, you have to be all in. It’ll be more of a lifestyle than a job. If you’re not willing to throw yourself into the craft, then it’s best to choose something else — only the most committed make it!

Get the Ball Rolling

No-one walks straight into success in the interior design world. It’s like any other challenging profession: before success is achieved, the person usually has plenty of experience under the belt, it’s just that they probably weren’t paid all that much, or at all. When you’re taking your first steps as an interior designer, you’ll want to look at performing jobs for free, or at least cheaper than you will one day charge. This will give you the opportunity to develop your portfolio, so you have something to show to future clients.

A Professional Look

Appearances are everything when it comes to interior design. After all, you’re selling your expertise at creating a visually appealing space; if you don’t have “the look,” then people will — rightly — question your professionalism. The two areas you should focus on is your digital life and your personal look. Online, you’ll need a website that is slick, clean, and which shows off your talents. You’ll also need to carefully manage your social media channels, too. On a personal level, it’s all about dressing well and presenting a professional, trendy look. People would rightly raise eyebrows if you were dressed in old, tattered clothes!

Know Your Place

You’re not going to get every interior design job that’s available, and you shouldn’t try to, either. You’ll find that you get more work once you’ve specialized and can focus on one particular type of design. This could be designing interiors of homes, for example, or stores, or hotels. It’s a good idea to play around with a few styles in the early days, but at some point, you’ll want to find your niche. Like with most professions, it’s better to pick one specific area, rather than make yourself available for all jobs. It’ll show that you’re an expert in that niche.

Expanding Your Business The Right Way

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If you started off as a small business, at some point you will want to expand. While expansion may be your next step, it’s important to do it in the smartest way possible. The following contributed post is entitled, Expanding Your Business The Right Way.

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Expanding your business is always going to be an exciting time for your company, but you’ve got to be sure that you are doing this the right way. There is no use expanding if it is not necessary, or it is not going to benefit your company in any way. That is why we have written this article, though, to give you some advice on expanding your business the right way, so if you want to know more, keep reading.

Hire More Staff

How many employees do you have working for you right now? If you expand, are you going to have enough to cover the extra demand? Likely, the answer is going to be no, which means you are going to need to hire some more staff sooner rather than later. Make sure that you aren’t just hiring anyone, though, because you don’t want to have people who aren’t contributing effectively to your company. Go through all of your applicants, pick out the ones who have experience in the role you are looking to fill, call them in for an interview and see what they can offer your business.

When you are expanding, it’s not just about getting more people to fill in the jobs, it has got to be the right people. You don’t want to hire someone who has no idea what they are doing and aren’t pulling their weight. So, be careful with who you select, but make sure you hire more people.

Look At Your Suppliers

The next thing that you have got to do is look at your suppliers. Where are you sourcing all of your stock from, and is there a more efficient way to do this? For example, you might be better off purchasing your stock from China, and in this scenario, you have got to look at how to find a China sourcing agent. There are plenty of ways that you can do this, so just make sure you do your research and find the one that suits you best.

Or, it might be the case that your current supplier is able to offer you a good deal. If this is the case, then you aren’t going to need to go anywhere else to source your products. At the end of the day, it is all about doing what is best for your business.

Think About The Cost

Is the cost of expanding going to hurt your business? In the beginning, you are going to have to put money in if you want to take it out, and that’s just a fact. You’ve got to be willing to put that money into your business to expand it, thinking that you will make a profit soon. If this doesn’t sound like the case for you, then expanding your business probably isn’t the right idea, and you might want to wait a little while.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now know how to expand your business the right way and some of the things you need to think about.

3 Reasons Not to Be Disheartened by Your Personal and Professional Setbacks

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and two key focuses are Career Discussions and Professional Development/Skills. Most career tracks are not straight lines and do involve some adversity and setbacks. Reaching your goal will ultimately require perseverance. The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Reasons Not to Be Disheartened by Your Personal and Professional Setbacks.

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Whether in our personal or our professional lives, setbacks and failures are an unwelcome but ever-present reality and inevitability.

While, of course, success can and should be pursued and achieved, it is seldom ever won without a significant dose of trouble and challenge along the way. But one of the things that most consistently separates high-achievers from the rest of us, is that high-achievers know not to be disheartened by their personal and professional setbacks.

Here are a few reasons not to be disheartened by yours.

Because failures and setbacks are an excellent opportunity for addressing a weak point and improving for the next round

First and foremost, failures and setbacks identify some kind of weak point or error in your plan, system, approach, attitude, or business model.

On the one hand, you could allow those setbacks to completely crush your confidence and convince you that the particular weak point in question is insurmountable – but how accurate is this sentiment actually likely to be? And more importantly, how does it help you to give up all hope?

A much better and more productive approach is, instead, to treat your failures and setbacks as excellent learning opportunities that show you the way to strengthen and improve yourself or your business, so that when it’s time for the “next round,” you will be in a much better position to meet and overcome your challenges.

If, for example, you ended up in a situation where clients of your business were indebted to you and were in no way holding up their end of the bargain and actually paying, that could be a great lesson to outsource some elements of your business going forward and to utilise the services of a collection agency.

The most capable businesses and people are generally that way because they have systematically identified and addressed many weak points along the way.

Because your destiny is largely shaped by how you respond to circumstances and occurrences

There are always going to be things in life that are out of your direct control, but that nonetheless significantly affect you or your circumstances or environment.

That’s true for everyone. But it doesn’t do any good to sit around feeling sorry for yourself and complaining about circumstances that you can’t do much about.

When all is said and done, your destiny is primarily going to be shaped by how you choose to respond to circumstances and occurrences. There are always more and less proactive and empowered ways of dealing with things. Your challenges, then, are an opportunity for you to show and develop your character.

Because all the best stories ultimately include an element of adversity

We are all the protagonists of our own stories, and life should be an exciting, fulfilling, and gripping tale for each and every one of us.

So, when was the last time you heard or read a great story that didn’t include any element of adversity whatsoever?

In all likelihood, it’s impossible to find a story that anyone cares about where nothing challenging ever happens, and where no failures or setbacks are encountered by the protagonist. As a human being, you need challenges in order to keep life interesting, and to keep you on your toes.

Of course, some challenges and setbacks are going to be absolutely tragic, and it might feel completely inappropriate to use the metaphor of a “plot device” to refer to them. The point remains, though, that you are the one with the ability to shape the course of your life – of your story – largely by how you respond to the challenges that confront you.

Instead of allowing your challenges to break you, meet them in as heroic a way as possible, and write a story that can uplift others.

Does Your Retail Store Need Security?

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. I key concern for any business is its security. Tightening up the security of your business can increase the likelihood of its continued operations in addition to continued profits. The following contributed post is entitled, Does Your Retail Store Need Security.

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As a customer, you might have been into shops that have abundant security. They might have security guards at the door and wandering around the store as well as tags on clothing and CCTV cameras. You might have wondered why the owners were bothering to throw so much money into security. Surely it can’t be worth it, just to stop a little shoplifting?

If you own a retail store of your own, you should certainly consider upgrading your security to the same levels. Let’s take a look at why.

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Keep Your Stock Safe and Avoid Loss

Shoplifting might only be a small problem. But, over time, that problem can grow. Every time you lose stock, you lose money. While big businesses might be able to cope with a little loss here and there, if you run a small company, during a quieter period, this can make a world of difference.

Increase Staff Comfort

Even if you aren’t concerned about a little shoplifting, what about the safety of yourself, your customers, and especially your staff, who will most often be the ones on the front line, confronting any shoplifters or other signs of criminal activity? Hiring a security team, as well as installing other security devices, can help them to feel more safe and secure. It can improve staff morale, increase loyalty and decrease staff turnover. This could save you money, and help you to create a happier, well-run workplace.

Decrease Other Threats

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Shoplifting isn’t the only threat that your business could face. Other criminal activity in the area could affect your reputation and the footfall in your area. Having security in, and around your store will decrease these threats.

Helps You to Build a Reputation

Every time someone successfully steals something from your store, they see it as a win, and you start to become known as an easy target. Shoplifters begin to sell your stock on cheaply, and you begin to get a reputation as a cheap store, as well as one that is easy to steal from. The shoplifters return, bringing criminal friends with them. Your customers might not if they hear they can get your good cheaper elsewhere.

Improved Customer Service

Getting a Security Company in could even improve customer service. If you have the same guards in store all of the time, they’ll become part of the team even if you don’t employ them directly. They’ll develop relationships with your customers, and help you to offer excellent customer service.

Customer service will also be improved because your staff will have more time to interact with customers, knowing that other threats are taken care of.

Security Options

Security staff are an excellent option. Having someone in your store full time, or at least during busier periods where your staff might be less vigilant, or less able to watch all areas of the shop, can be exceptionally effective at improving safety and decreasing crime. Alternatively, if you are based in a small shopping area, you might want to work with other businesses to share a security team. CCTV, tags and alarms are also worthwhile.

Three Reasons You Can’t Skip Image Captions

Two of the focuses of my blog are Blogging and Writing, and Technology. In today’s world where most everyone needs and uses websites, the use of images is critical. Just using the image is the only key to maximizing is effectiveness for you. Captioning the image also matters. The following contributed post is entitled, Three Reasons You Can’t Skip Image Captions.

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Since the internet began (or near enough), website images have been key to appealing to audiences and getting big-name search engines like Google on-side. And, with human attention spans now commonly shorter than that of a goldfish, proper usage here has reached new heights. You’ll certainly struggle to appeal to modern audiences if you only offer unbroken pages of text for them to scroll through!

But, you don’t need us to tell you that. A business pro like you has been using images on your company page since its launch. What you might not realize is that simple image use may not be enough to give you an edge for much longer.

As online competition heats up, changing priorities and needs mean that, now, businesses who also implement image captions achieve the edge. This is a step that many of us skip because, on the surface, it doesn’t seem to offer any business benefit. But, once you delve into the matter, you could find that the habit of captioning your website pictures opens you up for benefits including –

Image by Radek Grzybowski: CC0 License

Accessibility

As any company that deals in ADA eCommerce site compliance will tell you, adherence with accessibility requirements is, by far, the best benefit of image captioning right now. By including an easy-to-read description, you increase the chances that even visually impaired visitors will be able to grasp your website content. You could even take this further by pairing captions with audio descriptions. Then, there’s no risk of discriminating or failing to accommodate possible audiences. What’s more, this simple step guarantees that you’re always operating on the right side of the law. Given the reputational and monetary damage that legal proceedings can cause, that’s always worth working towards.

Credit where it’s due

While this doesn’t apply if you use your own images, captions also provide the opportunity for you to give credit. Again, this can help avoid legal proceedings if you’re using royalty-free images. Even if you seek pictures from an outside company, something as simple as a caption with credit can help to maintain positive relationships. That’s an absolute must for keeping your reputation clean and ensuring you can use those same photographers down the line.

SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a pressing reason to use images, but it also provides an incentive to caption your pictures. That’s because, while the readability benefits of images are the most apparent search-engine benefit, SEO also relies heavily on keywords. By increasing your keyword usage through carefully-planned captions, you can guarantee that your relevance, and thus your search listings, soon start to soar. And, given that a high ranking on sites like Google is your best chance to entice a new target market quickly, we would say it’s well worth the added work you’ll need to put into design to make it happen.

Before you skip captions during your next design rehaul, you might find that it pays to think again. Your consumers and your profits will undoubtedly thank you for it.

4 Tips For Businesses Throwing a Fundraiser

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. There are any number of reasons for your business to throw a fundraiser. Fundraisers are good ways to raise awareness of issues and help those in need. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Tips For Businesses Throwing a Fundraiser.

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Entrepreneurship is a great way to take your career in your own hands and make a living for yourself on your own terms. It’s also an opportunity to rewrite the rules and work towards a better, more equitable and more sustainable form of capitalism. Business owners get to shape the economy and reverse the fundamental inequalities like wage repression, racial inequality and gender pay gaps that are still sadly rife in the world of business. It’s also a great opportunity to use your brand to do good for charitable causes in ways that might not be possible for you as an individual.

Image by Drew Rae via Pexels

When you throw fundraising events as part of your business operations, it can be hugely beneficial for you and your cause. It can demonstrate your sense of Corporate Social Responsibility to your local community and the world at large. It can also be a huge morale booster for employees and help them feel that they are a part of something special.

Here are some tips to help you throw a fundraiser for the ages…

Choose a cause that resonates

While the choice of cause is, of course, up to you, you’ll find that you have more success with a cause that resonates with your community and your workforce. If you have a number of causes that matter to you personally, you might benefit from holding a poll on your social media feed and encouraging your employees and / or customers to vote for the one that matters the most to them.

Add a touch of class

A fundraiser is all about the cause… but it’s also about finding ways to add value to your brand. Thus, any effort you make to add class and prestige to your brand should be embraced. Whether you choose to throw a chic cocktail party, a lavish charity ball or even get in touch with casino equipment suppliers to help people game their way to charitable giving is up to you. But adding a touch of class will add to the sense of occasion and elevate your brand.

Build awareness and hype through your content marketing

With so many causes worthy of our attention it can be hard to get people to consider donating to your cause at the expense of all others. However, your content marketing allows you a valuable storytelling opportunity to help your cause better resonate with your following. Focus on the personal stories of the people you’re trying to help and focus on the good that people’s donations will do.

People are likely to be all the more generous when they know for sure that their donation will make a tangible difference.

Make donations easy and accessible

However you choose to hold your fundraiser, it’s imperative to make it easy for people to donate, whether they attend or not. As well as taking cash donations at the door, you should also make it easy to pay through Paypal or contactless payment via their credit card, debit card or mobile device.

Get it right, and you’ll be able to do some good for a worthy cause while also increasing your business’ ethical standing.

Getting Started On Your Entrepreneurial Journey

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. One of the most exciting and fulfilling anyone can do is set off on their own and become a business owner. While it has potential perils, it also has potential rewards. The following contributed post is entitled, Getting Started On Your Entrepreneurial Journey.

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If the arrival of a new year has prompted you to think about changing career or given you the confidence to think about setting up your own business, you might be experiencing a mixture of emotions. Going it alone can be daunting, but it’s also a hugely exciting proposition. If you’re preparing to take your first foray into the world of entrepreneurialism, here are some steps to take today.

Image credit https://pixabay.com/photos/office-business-accountant-620822/

Figure out what you want to do
If you want to become your own boss, the options are endless, but some avenues may be much better suited to you than others. Some people will go into the process of thinking about setting up a business knowing exactly what they want to do, while others will be exploring different possibilities and conjuring up ideas. If you haven’t already got a set idea in mind, it’s beneficial to focus on your skills and talents, to use your experience and to indulge passions and interests. You can utilize transferable skills to get started with something you already have knowledge and understanding of, for example, providing consulting services or tutoring or mentoring, or you could undertake additional training to offer something different. Training is also incredibly beneficial for learning how to run a business effectively and efficiently. If you’re used to pitching to buyers, teaching kids or providing massage therapy, for example, you might not be au fait with managing books and filing tax returns.

Consider your options
There are various options open to you when it comes to being your own boss. You could go freelance, set up your own business or take over a franchise. If you have experience in accounting or you’ve managed your own tax returns for a long time, for example, you could learn how to open a tax office. If you’re a caterer by trade, you could investigate the possibility of managing your own restaurant or cafe franchise. Alternatively, if you want total control, establishing your own venture may be a more appealing prospect. If this is the route you’re keen to go down, and you’ve found your niche, the next step is to draw up a thorough business plan, secure the finances you need and research the market. For those who are eager to try freelancing, it’s important to establish and make use of contact networks and to take steps to get your name out there. Market your services using professional social media platforms, email marketing and SEO. It’s also a great idea to drop flyers through doors if you’re looking to attract a local audience.

Research
Research is vital when setting up a new business, switching to self-employment or taking over the reins of an existing venture. Get to know your market, define your ideal customer, analyze the competition and use the information you gather to market your business, establish price points and create an impactful USP.

If you’ve decided to go it alone, and you’re ready to start your entrepreneurial journey, hopefully, this guide will point you in the right direction.