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.

Is Your Business Secure Enough Online?

Three of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. No matter what kind of business you’re operating, cyber-attacks can threaten business at any time if the appropriate measures are not taken. The following contributed post is entitled, Is Your Business Secure Enough Online.

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Image Credit

It might sound obvious, but it’s important to keep your business safe. Anyone who runs their own business knows how important security can be. But the truth is, the day-to-day running of a business can make it easy to forget that simple fact. Security is often something that takes place behind the scenes which can make it easy to neglect. Making sure that doesn’t happen is of particular importance these days because of one simple thing: the internet. It used to be that you only had to worry about the physical security of your business. But now there is so much business conducted online that it has opened up whole new areas of risk. Without the proper security online, your business can be in real danger. Luckily, just as new threats arise, new services appear to combat them. Here are some ways to keep your business safe online.

Set up a secure firewall

You wouldn’t leave the doors to your business unlocked at night, would you? Then why do the same with your online presence? Malware is software that is designed to infiltrate and attack computers and networks. This can do untold damage to your business, even going so far as to destroy it. That’s why it’s so important to get your security up to scratch. Set up firewalls beyond the one’s that come with your router. There are plenty of firewall services that will kelp you to keep up with malware’s increasing complexity.

Back it all up

Few business owners would imagine a situation worse than logging on to see that an enormous amount of vital information has disappeared. The idea of files and data simply vanishing is the stuff of nightmares to most businesses. That’s what makes it even more surprising just how often companies neglect to back up their valuable data. Making sure that you’re backing up your data means that if the worst should happen then, you can easily retrieve it. There are plenty of backup services available and which one you choose will come down to your business.

Filter out spam emails

If you’re running a business online then it’s likely that you’re going to sending and receiving a lot of emails. The last thing you want is for spam to be cluttering up your inbox making it that much harder to find what you’re looking for. Antispam software is an excellent way to clean up your emails and reduce risk and distractions for yourself and employees. Running emails through verification to ensure that senders are who they say they are is a crucial step in upping your email security. It’s also a good idea to reach out to companies that can help you stop spam emails. And it’s always important to encrypt your emails. Unencrypted emails is basically a buffet for hackers and cyber criminals

Whether you’re working on your own or as part of a team the first step to improving security is improving your own practices. Making sure that you’re staying safe online will make keeping your business secure that much easier. Avoid accessing potentially dangerous sites at work. Keep your passwords updated regularly. Don’t click any suspicious looking emails. These simple things really will go a long way to protecting you and your business. Plus, if you’re showing safe online behavior, your employees are that much more likely to follow suit.

How to Improve the Ambience of Your Office

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success. A key focus is Professional Development and Skills. No matter what kind of organization you’re running, managing and operating your office space is key. Your office space can impact your employee’s productivity both positively and negatively. The following contributed post is entitled, How to Improve the Ambience of Your Office.

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Your office is more than just a space to get some work done. It’s an extension of your company and plays a direct role in how well your employees are able to work. As such, it’s in your interests to cultivate a positive working environment. Not only will it make going to work more enjoyable for you and your staff, but it’ll also help to boost productivity, and help to give your visitors a positive impression of your business, too. We take a look at a few tried and tested methods for doing this below.

Pexels – CC0 Licence

Set the Tone

The ambience of the office stems from you, the boss. When you walk into an office, you can normally tell pretty quickly whether it’s a happy office or not. Whichever it is, it’ll be because of the person in charge. If you want to create a positive environment, then you’ll need to bring the positivity. The best way to do this is to work on yourself and make sure that you’re a good boss. If you’re viewing your staff as people, not robots, then you’ll be on the right path.

Hire Pleasant Employees

Of course, while you can help to create a pleasant environment, it’s worth remembering that your staff is going to have a big role in the overall atmosphere, too. You might do all you can to push it in the right direction, but if you have staff members who are not interested in bringing the positivity, then you’ll run into trouble. So how do you get around this? By hiring pleasant employees. Talent and experience do count for a lot, but they’d have to be pretty special if they’re not going to bring a cheery attitude, too. When it comes to interviewing, consider their ‘pleasant factor’ before offering the job. It really will have an impact on how nice the office can be.

Tidy and Spacious

Of course, you could hire the nicest people in the world, but if the office is dark, dingy, and dirty, then it’s not going to be a pleasant atmosphere. The people are only one component of the ambience. So take a look at making your space more enjoyable to be in by making it spacious and clean. You can add more space by getting rid of any old documents and other belongings that you don’t need (you can throw them away, or put them into storage). To keep things clean and tidy, hire a company such as Southern Cross Cleaning. They’ll ensure that your space is neat and organized, without disturbing your staff or operations.

A Touch of Color

Finally, take a look at the decor of the office. There’s nothing wrong with the old, boring grey decor, but there’s not a whole lot right with it, either. You can liven things up by adding some color to proceedings, be it through the choice of paint for the walls, works of art, or by adding plants and flowers. It’ll help to make the space especially inspiring.

Managing A Busy Home And Helping You To Stay Sane

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a key focus is Health and Wellness. Keeping our homes properly running is a job all in itself. With careers and in some instances having additional commitments and tasks can make managing a home a gargantuan task. The following contributed post is entitled, Managing A Busy Home And Helping You To Stay Sane.

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When it comes to the home, we can all feel a little overwhelmed and lose our minds with bills, tasks and keeping things running smoothly. However, no matter how hard you try, life can always be a busy and hectic. With that in mind, here are some of the best ways to manage a busy home effectively.

Image source – Pixabay – CC0 License

Stay on top of the bills

When it comes to a busy home, it is understandable that the finances can get a little ignored over time. This is when you tend to let things leave your account, or just let a direct debit run its course without realising that you could be making a saving. This is when it is vital to ensure that you get regular checks such as energy deals and car insurance quotes to ensure that you are always paying the best possible price.

The food bill is one of those weekly or monthly expenses that we need to have, but we also have complete control over. As a mom, this job can often be down to us, so it’s important to ensure that you manage it right, rather than overspend. After all, every little saved can be put towards other things like vacations or days out. If you find that the food bill is getting a little out of control, then consider writing a list before you head to the shops. Changing the supermarket in which you shop in, or even consider batch cooking or meal planning as an alternative habit.

Create a cleaning schedule

Cleaning is one of the biggest pet hates of many people. No matter how hard you try, it can often feel like huge task each and every time you take it on. However, there is a solution to this dilemma, and it can help you manage the cleaning activities for your home, rather than feel drowned by them. Creating a cleaning schedule can help you keep on top of the chores in your home. From the things that need to be done daily such as cleaning surfaces or wiping down toilets, to weekly and monthly chores, it will help you keep accountable for what needs doing, and also help you manage it more consistently. It helps to spread the jobs out over the course of a week and a month which means that the tasks themselves shouldn’t feel too demanding on your day, and subsequently should free up more time for you as a mom.

Delegate chores

While on the subject of cleaning and managing your home this shouldn’t be something that is left solely to you, no wonder many of us can feel too overwhelmed by the task at hand. It’s important to delegate some jobs. Children as young as four can be accountable for their own bedrooms or make their beds. Older children can put their clothes away and even take on some of the general chores like vacuuming or dusting the furniture. You can ask your partner to take on some other chores like putting the bins out or doing some of the bigger tasks like cleaning windows or clearing out the gutters. There are plenty of jobs that can be shared amongst the family and this can really take some of the stress away from you, freeing up time to do other things that will ultimately be helpful towards you family and your home.

Let’s hope these tips help you to manage a busy home.

John U. Bacon presents his new book, Overtime, to Michigan’s D.C. Alumni Club

On November 7, 2019, the University of Michigan Alumni Club of Greater Washington, DC hosted author John U. Bacon for a discussion and signing of his new book entitled, Overtime: Jim Harbaugh and The Michigan Wolverines – At The Crossroads of College Football. The event took place at the Baker-Hostetler Law Firm in Northwest Washington, DC. It started with a registration, followed by an initial book signing. Mr. Bacon then gave a detailed discussion of the genesis of his latest book, followed by an overview of its story.

Overtime looks inside the Michigan Football Program under the leadership of Head Coach, Jim Harbaugh, who took over its reins in 2015. As with many of Mr. Bacon’s books, it discusses the nuances and challenges in competing in big-time college football for the coaching staffs, the players and the institutions themselves. Overtime specifically chronicles the Wolverines’ 2018 season starting with their opener at Notre Dame and then through to their crushing 2018 loss to Ohio State; and then finally their season ending loss to Florida in the 2019 Peach Bowl.

In Overtime Mr. Bacon discusses the challenges of Jim Harbaugh’s tenure in which he has yet to beat Ohio State, win the Big Ten Conference and qualify for the College Football Playoff. He gives a look into Jim Harbaugh’s life and upbringing and the many events that made him who he is today. The book further tells the stories of players within the program including: Rashan Gary, Devin Bush, Karan Higdon, Noah Furbush and Shea Patterson.

I arrived at the signing after Mr. Bacon started his discussion. I walked in as he was discussing former offensive tackle, Grant Newsome, whose parents, Leon and Kim, were in attendance. Newsome was one of Jim Harbaugh’s most promising prospects, a ‘game changer’ whose mere presence on the field would’ve likely changed the fortunes of his teammates and the coaching staff were it not for a career-ending leg injury early in the 2016 season. I won’t give the entire story away, but I will share that Coach Harbaugh honored Newsome’s scholarship who continues to be involved with the football program, highlighting two of the greatest pillars of the program which are its integrity and loyalty to its student athletes.

I received Overtime as a birthday present from my mother (pictured below) and it’s been a joy to read. At the end of his talk, Mr. Bacon acknowledged his audience for supporting his work over the years. When he took questions, I asked him how likely Athletic Director, Warde Manuel, was to fire Coach Harbaugh to placate half of our rabid fanbase. Mr. Bacon responded that the it was unlikely as the program itself is healthier than it’s ever been (see Endzone: The Rise, Fall, and Return of Michigan Football).

“Harvard doesn’t care if their team wins! Alabama doesn’t care how their team wins!” Mr. Bacon uttered the same words he used when he released Endzone three years earlier regarding how the football program is run and the ‘Michigan way’. What I gathered from Mr. Bacon at the end of the night was that despite the angst surrounding the football program on the field, the best thing would be for the Michigan fans to sit tight and let things play out. In doing so, we will likely ultimately get what we want, and it will come without scandals or violations of any kind, keeping with the values of the program and the school.

“I’m hoping this will be my last book on Michigan Football,” Mr. Bacon said afterwards while signing my copy.

“Well John, you must have at least one more left as the story isn’t over yet,” I said to him.

“You know what? You’re right,” he replied, laughing.

I first heard about John U. Bacon as a graduate student at the University of Michigan from 1999 to 2005. There I regularly listened to the “Ticket 1050 AM-WTKA” where I heard all the latest news and commentaries on Michigan sports while working in my graduate research lab. It was lots of fun listening to it all, especially during football season. The knowledge of the on-air personalities and the passion of the callers, many of whom called daily was unlike anything I’d heard before.

I later found that John was a fixture at the University. In addition to his coverage of Michigan Football as a member of the media, he also served as a faculty member, sometimes teaching some of the student-athletes in his classes. As an Ann Arbor native, he had a deep knowledge of the history of the University of Michigan’s athletics – particularly its storied football program.

John U. Bacon has become the official historian of Michigan football. He has authored numerous books, many capturing the history of the University of Michigan’s storied football program, and the current state of college football including:

• Endzone: The Rise, Fall, and Return of Michigan Football;
• Fourth and Long: The Fight for the Soul of College Football;
• Three and Out: Rich Rodriguez and the Wolverines in the Crucible of College Football and;
• Bo’s Lasting Lessons: The Legendary Coach Teaches the Timeless Fundamentals of Leadership.

Mr. Bacon’s previous two books are: Playing Hurt, which was co-written with ESPN’s John Saunders; and The Great Halifax Explosion in which the story’s main hero is the University of Michigan’s first hockey coach. To learn more about John U. Bacon, his books, and speaking engagements, go to: www.johnubacon.com.

A special thank you is extended to the University of Michigan Alumni Club of Greater Washington, DC for allowing me to cover John U. Bacon’s 2019 visit. Thank you also to John U. Bacon for chronicling the vast and notable history of Michigan’s Football Program.

The University of Michigan Alumni Club of Greater Washington, DC hosts many events throughout the year for its alumni, in addition to its sports game watches, for which the University and its alumni are well known. If you are a University of Michigan alumnus in the Washington, DC metro area and would like to keep up with the club’s events, please go to www.umdc.org. GO BLUE!!!!

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you’ve found value here and think it would benefit others, please share it and or leave a comment. To receive all the most up to date content from the Big Words Blog Site, subscribe using the subscription box in the right-hand column in this post and throughout the site. Lastly, follow me on Twitter at @BWArePowerful, on Instagram at @anwaryusef76 and on the Big Words Blog Site Facebook page. Lastly, please visit my YouTube channel entitled, Big Discussions76 where I discuss Michigan Football in addition to a host of other topics. While my main areas of focus are Education, STEM and Financial Literacy, there are other blogs/sites I endorse which can be found on that particular page of my site.

5 Quick Things You Can Do To Make Your Business More Successful

The first principle of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. As a business owner you should always be looking to improve. Your continual evolution will set you well above your competitors. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Quick Things You Can Do To Make Your Business More Successful.

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If you want to make your business more successful, there are a few things you can do to make this happen. Below, you’ll find 5 quick things you can do to make your business more successful – take a look:

Post More Content
If you don’t currently post enough content, then it goes without saying that this is the first thing you should work on. Content marketing is extremely powerful, and you can create it in a number of ways. You could make videos, write blog posts, and even start a podcast. Add value and share your expertise.
Start Conversations On Social Media
Start and get involved in important conversations on social media. The more conversations you start, the more people will get involved. People will likely remember you, too!
Run Competitions
Run competitions and make sure the prizes are awesome. People love entering competitions online and you will likely increase your audience tenfold.
Give Customers an Incentive To Come Back
Make sure your customers have a good incentive to come back. You can do this by providing unbeatable customer service, but also by giving them a discount code or deal exclusively for them. Make them an offer that they can’t refuse.
Give Away Branded Items
Branded items are an ideal item to give your customers. Branded bags, for example, are something that will come in handy many times while also letting people know that your business exists. The infographic below can tell you more:

credit to BagzDepot

Get Back to the Books

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success. Three key focuses are Career Discussions, General Education and Professional Development and Skills. Once starting a career, everyone has to eventually decide what their next steps will be. Is there the potential for promotion at your current position? Should you switch organizations? Should you go back to school? The following contributed post is entitled, Get Back to the Books.

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You might find yourself wondering from time to time what the next steps are when it comes to your career. Are you going to stick at your job and work your way up the corporate ladder or take a chance on a whole new job.

Both have their advantages and disadvantages and both carry a certain amount of risk. However, if neither of those options appeal there is a third way and that’s going back to school. We’re not talking about studying full time necessarily, there are a number of options but instead looking at ways to either boost the professional expertise of the field you’re already in or explore a new career.

In this blog we take a look at why training up might just be the right thing for you.

Professional Qualifications

If you’ve been waiting for promotion to come your way and it’s just not happening, now is the time to get proactive.

Take a look at some of the professional qualifications associated with your industry. Would taking a course and getting some more qualifications under your belt put you in a better position? Would gaining that Florida Contractors License pay off? If the answer is yes, it’s time to put yourself out there and back into the classroom.

Don’t waste your time doing qualifications just for the sake of them. Pick the ones that are recognised in your area and will allow you to leverage them for promotion or at the very least, better pay.

Image courtesy of Pixabay: CC0 licence

Distance Learning

One of the biggest dilemmas about studying is squeezing it in around your working life. This is made particularly hard if the qualification has nothing to do with your current job. One of the best options you can consider is a distance learning course from a reputable education facility.

These courses often offer part time study that fits around your schedule. While you may need to travel to an exam centre once a year or so, that should be the only time off that you’ll need to schedule. While it often takes a little while longer to complete the course, the pressure of trying to get it all done in a short amount of time is off of your shoulders.

Consider this option a long term investment into your future.

Evening Classes

The final study option is evening classes. Use these to access higher education courses later on down the track. If you’re struggling to pay for your training, consider asking the company you work for help. If your course can, in any way, help you in your current position you may be able to persuade them to subsidise your study.

If that isn’t an option for you, you may find that many education centres offer bursaries and grants for more mature students or those studying for specific industries – nursing or education for example.

When you want to change your working world, think about how education might help you achieve your next goal.

5 Questions to Ask When Building or Renovating Commercial Premises

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“If business is going well and you’re turning a regular profit, the next logical step might be to move to a better premises.”

Buffer

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. One of the most important aspects of your business is its location and your commercial premises. There are a couple of key details you need to know about your commercial premises. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Questions to Ask When Building or Renovating Commercial Premises.

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Image suggestions: https://www.pexels.com/search/business%20building/

If business is going well and you’re turning a regular profit, the next logical step might be to move to a better premises. Whether you’re considering building from scratch or renovating an existing building, here are five questions to ask yourself.

How big will you build it?

A bigger office will be more expensive to buy, rent or build, so it doesn’t make sense to build an enormous structure if you don’t need to. However, one thing to bear in mind is that your business might grow over the years and so more space might be needed. To get around this, you could either build it more extensive than you need, or leave space to extend upwards or outwards in a few years if you need to.

What security measures will you add?

Offices are full of high-value equipment as well as cash and customer data which can be used in crime, making them targets for burglars. Since they’re usually empty after after office hours, it gives criminals plenty of chance to strike. So when you’re building or renovating your office, think about security. Have good quality windows and doors installed, as well as shutters or lockable window grilles if needed. Have CCTV and a burglar alarm fitted, as well as floodlights which can keep burglars at bay.

How will you keep it safe?

When you’re creating a building that people are going to be spending time and working in, it’s, of course, a legal requirement for it to be safe and usable. Make sure you’re following all guidelines on construction advice, use an experienced company and ensure everything is signed off at the end. Double check common trouble areas; get a commercial roofing company to assess the roof, lock down your entry points, and verify if the plumbing and wiring is still usable. You’ll need a fire protection consultant to ensure it meets fire safety standards; this includes things like the materials used, fire doors, windows, escape hatches and more.

How will you make it accessible?

Modern buildings need to be designed with accessibility in mind, during the planning stages consider how accessible it is for those in wheelchairs or limited mobility. You’ll need to think about things like disabled parking, ramps, lifts and more.

What location should you choose?

The area that a business is placed in can be the difference between success and failure for some companies. Shops or retail companies, for example, will rely heavily on foot traffic as a way to get customers. For this reason, you will need to be in a prime location for this. If you don’t rely on footfall to generate customers for your business, then you could build your office a little further out where you’ll get more for your money. However, location is still relevant as you will need to think about how easy it will be for your staff to get to. Look into things like transport links and road access.

What Your Website Will Probably Need In Order To Be A Hit

Three focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. In today’s digital world, pretty much everyone has a website or should get whether it’s for blogging, for business, politics or even for churches. There are keys to creating a successful website. The following contributed post is entitled, What Your Website Will Probably Need In Order To Be A Hit.

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https://unsplash.com/photos/npxXWgQ33ZQ

A website is a staple of pretty much every single venture. Whether you’re looking to create a business, or whether you’d just like to start up a personal project; a website will need to accompany it. We’re nearly into 2020 now; we’re so far into the digital age, and it means that pretty much every man, woman, and child is connected to the internet somehow. You’ll need to be amongst the online crowd if you want your venture to be a success.

What does a website need in order to be taken seriously, and to be a real hit with anyone that enters it? Well, it doesn’t exactly take a genius to figure it out, but you’ll still need to practice fairly thoroughly. Here are just a few things you’ll need:

A Good Plan

Before you even think about spending money on the creation of a website, you’re going to want to plan everything out. You’ll first want to figure out what the point of the website is. Sure, having an online presence would be great, but just being online for the sake of it seems pretty counterproductive. You’ll also want to draw out an actual design for it. If you have a clear idea of what it will look like, and what the pages will be, then you’ll be in a better position to work.

Input From A Web Designer

Web designers know a lot more about this kind of thing than you do – that’s a fact. Now, if you’re completely in the dark, then you’ll probably need a web designer to create everything for you – that’s all part of their job, so it’s not a problem at all. You’ll just need to tell them the basic idea, and they’ll get going. Even if you have some skills, and have created a site yourself, you might still want to gather advice from someone that knows.

Managed IT Support

Your website and the data on it could be compromised at any time if it’s not protected. There are a lot of criminals out there looking to ruin your day for some reason, so you’ll need to get a little more secure. Sure, you might have protective software installed, but a company like Binatech that offers managed IT support will add that extra layer of safety.

Enough Content, But Not Too Much

Be sure to regularly update your site with fresh content, that’s the right way of doing things. If you abandon it, then people aren’t going to be interested. If you don’t put in the effort, then neither will others. Pumping in new stuff is great, but don’t just throw in random stuff just for the sake of it. That kind of clutter will only ruin it – and it might possibly make everything look a lot uglier.

Strong SEO

Search engine optimization is quite literally the practice of making a website more popular on a search engine. Make sure your site’s SEO rank is high by utilizing an array of techniques. Link building and relevant content are just two ways of upping this kind of score.

Overcoming Business Hurdles as an Enthusiastic Entrepreneur

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Many businesses fail initially. In the excitement of wanting to succeed, many new entrepreneurs overlook several critical details. As such they run into numerous hurdles. The following contributed post is entitled, Overcoming Business Hurdles as an Enthusiastic Entrepreneur.

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If owning a business was a walk in the park, everybody would be doing it, right? Unfortunately, entrepreneurship isn’t that easy. When running a business it is likely that you will face many challenges along the way. Keeping your company up and running during difficult times is what will make you a successful business owner. When hurdles get in the way of your success, you can rectify the problem in an instant if you keep a positive mindset. Don’t allow small setbacks to stop you from achieving your full potential and consider some of the following ideas.

Seek Assistance Where Necessary

Being an entrepreneur doesn’t automatically denote that you have to do every business task on your own. Seeking assistance might just mean the difference between success and failure. Have you ever started your working day and struggled with your current technology? If you sought advice from a professional IT Consulting company, your hurdles would be instantly overcome. Whatever your unique business needs may be, the experts will be able to help you. Nowadays business technology is complicated, so why make it more difficult? Accept the help you deserve and have complete peace of mind.

Image from Pexels – CC0 Licence

Assess Your Finances Regularly

It is very easy to fall into financial troubles in the early stages of entrepreneurship. Hire an accountant and don’t turn a blind eye to any money worries you may have. Be wary of your spending in the first months and years; don’t make risky business decisions without weighing up the pros and cons. Money is everything in the initial stages of your business, so try to be as thrifty as possible.

Keep a Close Eye on Your Competitors

The competitors in your market can seem like hurdles, but you can actually use them to your advantage without a doubt. By tracking the movements of other companies in your market you can stay one step ahead and remain a strong contender at all times. Whether you’re tracking their keywords on Google searches or taking note of their marketing campaigns, you can learn a lot from opposing businesses.

Don’t Give Up

Your enthusiasm levels as an entrepreneur may dwindle from time to time, especially when new competitors emerge onto the scene. Staying motivated as a business owner is easier said than done, but you need to concentrate on why you started your company in the first place. Read your business plan again and you will soon regain the fire you once had in your belly.

Many business owners wallow in self pity and allow hurdles to get in the way of their success. If you let minor or major problems stop you from pursuing your career goals, you will never be able to reach your full potential. Whether you’re accepting IT help or carrying out competitor research, each one of these steps will help you to get the best out of your business. Don’t let the hurdles defeat you; accept the challenge and learn from everything it teaches you.

The Things That Every Small Business Owner Should Do To Get Ahead

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Small business owners have a different set of considerations than large business owners. Following a certain set of keys can ensure that your business will make that transition and grow. The following contributed post is entitled, The Things That Every Small Business Owner Should Do To Get Ahead.

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Your small business might seem insignificant at the moment, but every big corporation had to start in the same place as you. If you have the motivation and the willingness to persevere through mistakes and slow financial periods, your company could slowly start to grow into something more successful on a long-term basis. The key is to be willing to take risks and not shy away from pressing onwards when you occasionally face setbacks. That’s a part of the learning process, even if it feels as if you’re facing setbacks and no instances of success. These are the things that every small business owner should do to get ahead.

Picture Source

Research the target market.
First of all, you need to research the target market, as explained at bizfluent.com. Your company can’t stand out from the crowd if it doesn’t know what the crowd is missing. Simply offering the same products and services in the same way as your competitors will not help you to get ahead. Why should consumers choose you over your bigger and more established rivals? That’s the question you need to answer. And if you can solve a problem that your competitors have yet to solve, then you’ll have given the target market a reason to choose you.

So, make sure you conduct extensive research on a regular basis. Talk to your current customers and any potential customers who want to share their opinions. Use your social media pages to connect with people by running polls and surveys. Make posts requesting direct feedback on your business and your industry as a whole. That’s how you’ll start to figure out what your intended audience needs from a company such as yours. Once you start solving their problems, your small business will start standing out. And, as a result, you’ll increase your customer base, as outlined at inc.com.

Outsource certain services.
You should also outsource certain services if you want your small business to get ahead. You might have a small and reliable team of professionals who help you to deliver high-quality products or services to the market, but you might still find that your company is falling behind in the market. However, before you start hiring new full-time employees, consider a more cost-effective investment: outsourcing. You might need full-time employees to handle the more technical aspects of your daily operations which relate to your specific field of work, but you don’t necessarily need full-time employees to deal with every aspect of your operations (whilst your business is still small and limited in funding, anyway). You might want to visit safebitsolutions.com for IT support services. If you don’t have a proper IT team or you simply need technological guidance, then those outsourced professionals could consult you effectively. Outsourcing can help you to grow your small business in a cost-effective manner.

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Use digital marketing properly.
As a modern-day entrepreneur, you probably know that digital marketing is crucial for businesses. Still, you might be struggling to make an impression on your target market. Online marketing is competitive; it takes more than a website and a few social media pages to advertise your company effectively on the internet. You need a strong social networking strategy. Create content regularly on multiple platforms to widen your reach, as has been suggested on this site before. You need a constant presence online to not only engage with consumers but maintain their interest.