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.

Adding Fun Flavour To The Kitchen

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. A primary residence is the largest investment many people will ever make. To increase the value of your investment, you have to know what updates to make to your home. One place is the kitchen. The following contributed post is entitled, Adding Fun Flavour To The Kitchen.

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Now that the New season is well and truly here, you might be looking at your home as a whole and wondering what you can do to make it more exciting. The kitchen is the heart and soul of the home, and if you are looking to update your living space this year, it could be one of the first places you start. Today we are going to look at some fun ways to add colour and flavour to your home this year.

New knobs

One method of making the kitchen feel refreshed and new without even really trying is to replace your old door knobs with new ones. If you had boring wooden or silver ones before, upgrade these to copper or gold for a stunning setting which will be ideal for you.

A bright floor

If you want to be outside of the norm this year and more exciting in your home, epoxy floor coatings are the way forward. Rather than sticking to traditional marble, wood or stone effects on your floor, why not try a colour? Covering the floor with a bright colour such as yellow or blue could be a great way to life the whole room and it will be a talking point every single time someone comes to see you in your home.

Acrylic patterned splashbacks

Speaking of bright colours, another method to add some extra colour to the home would be to add an acrylic splashback which is bright and bold. A splashback can be a great feature for the kitchen and a centrepiece of your design, and you can be as bold or reserved with the colour as you like!

Fun artwork

Artwork is always something which is great for the home, and in the kitchen it is no different. If you find that you have a lot of empty wall space in the kitchen this year, it could be a great chance to add some artwork. You could either choose images of the outdoors and flowers to help feel as if the kitchen and garden are linked, or you can instead think about something more abstract with bold colours and patterns. Find inspiration online and have fun with it.

Hanging herb garden

A herb garden is not only a great decoration for the garden but it also provides a great way for you to spice up your cooking, literally. Hanging a herb garden on the wall with your favourite flavours can be a wonderful feature and the ideal way to make sure that your cooking is top class.

If you’re happy and you know it….

Hang your pans! If you have a lot of space up above in your kitchen and you are looking for a countryside vibe for the space, hanging your pans in the middle of the room above your heads can be ideal. It is a feature which is stunning and modern and classic at the same time, and it allows you to show off those fancy copper pans you bought last Christmas!

Website Words: 3 Tips For Perfect Copy

Three of my blog’s key focuses are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. Important aspects of your business are your branding and technology. You have to be sure that your website and all of the messages you communicate on it are clear. The following contributed post is entitled, Website Words: 3 Tips For Perfect Copy.

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Pixabay / CC0 Licence

When considering your business’ website, your focus will primarily be on the design and functional elements. You’ll want to ensure that your site looks good and works exactly as you expect – which is undoubtedly important, but there is a final part of the puzzle that can often be overlooked: the text.

The text on your website – which is more conventionally referred to as the “copy” – is just as important as the look and performance of any business website. The text is how you convince customers to buy from your company and how you affirm your brand’s voice, so getting it right is critical. In an effort to help you achieve this goal, below, we’ve assembled five tips that will help you to make sure that your website copy is at its absolute best.

#1 – Be cautious of tone

When writing website copy, there’s a line you have to walk: the text should ideally have an element of personality to it, but it should also remain professional. To achieve the right balance, it’s usually best to try and use the same writing style and word choice you would use if you were writing an email to an acquaintance – someone you know well, but not well enough to consider them a ‘friend’. Viewing your text through this lens should help you to keep things light, but without crossing the line into over-familiarity.

#2 – Consider translation

To work well, website copy has to be understood. As a result, businesses whose target audiences are likely to be bilingual may want to consider opting to translate their website copy to benefit some customers. While translating your entire website’s copy sounds like a dramatic, time-consuming undertaking, professional companies such as Para Plus Translations can help to simplify the entire process and allow you to display perfectly-translated text with ease.

#3 – Watch out for typos

No matter how well written your copy is, if it’s riddled with typos, your customers will notice – and may even judge your company as a result. Unfortunately, finding typos in text you have written yourself is inherently challenging, so you’ll need some form of assistance when seeking to overcome this issue. The best option is to hire the services of a professional proofreader, but a combination of using a service such as Grammarly and then asking a friend to proofread can also work well.

#4 – Too much information is preferable to not enough information

With website copy, convention suggests that you should provide information succinctly. However, while the quality of the words you choose is more important than quantity, the amount of quality copy needed is more up for debate. While some customers may be more than happy with a few sentences about your products or services, others will want to know more before they commit to a purchase; we all have different opinions about how much is enough when it comes to information. To account for this, it’s best to opt for a higher word count; it’s easier for customers who prefer short text to pick out the most pertinent details for themselves – perhaps aided by short summaries – than it is for those who would like more information to convince themselves to settle for less than they would like.

In conclusion

With the tips above, your copy can join your great design and flawless functionality to create a business website that your customers are sure to love.

Holding Your Own as a Woman in Business

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Now more than ever, women are competing and forming their legacies in the business world. There are unique challenges and distinct for women learning to compete in this arena. The following contributed post is entitled, Holding Your Own as a Woman in Business.

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The big world of business, as well as many other industries, is unfortunately very much still a man’s world. Men still dominate many companies, and certainly upper management. Women are still less likely to start their own business as men, partly because they are put off by male domination or because they are worried about going into negotiations and meetings with a room filled with strong, powerful men.

But, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t women doing it. Many mothers start their own businesses to avoid having to find expensive childcare or leave their children. Women with experience in industry are eager to go it on their own, knowing that their unique skills could make them very successful and many of these women are more than holding their own.

Women are often well organized and great at managing their time. They are passionate, and great at arguing their cause. Women inspire others and don’t take risks without preparation. All of these skills can make them excellent in business. But only if they have got the confidence to take a chance on themselves. Here are some of the ways that you can hold your own in the man’s world of business.

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Find Strong Role Models

There are many, many strong women in business. They launch their own startups, they become CEOs of major firms, they slowly climb up the ladder, and they do it with confidence, grace, passion and even style. Women like Belinda Stronach can be fantastic role models, and having them will help you to pick yourself up on the bad days and draw strength when things are tough.

Build a Support Network

Role models are all well and good, but as a woman trying to hold your own in business, you might also need people close by. You need a strong support network of supportive and understanding people. Friends and family that will pick you up when you are down, understand that you need to work long hours, and commit time and effort to your job if you want to do well. This might also mean cutting those people that bring you down or tell you that you can’t do it. Make sure that you are surrounded by people that make you feel confident and like you can take on the world.

Dress for Success

As a woman in business, you’ve probably heard some frightfully sexist comments about how you should dress. You might have even worked in places that insist upon skirts and high heels.

Well, dressing the right way can have a significant impact on your career. But, the right way should be right for you, not everyone else. Wear clothes that make you feel confident and powerful, but also comfortable and ready to work.

Never Stop Learning

As a woman, you might feel as though you always have to prove yourself and that people are always questioning your knowledge and experience. It might help you to feel better if you know the answers. Keep an open mind and never stop learning and you’ll always be on top of your game.

What’s New In Tech?

One of the key focuses of my blog is Technology. For career, investment and lifestyle purposes, it’s important to keep up on the latest advances in technology. The following contributed post is entitled, What’s New In Tech?

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You probably think of yourself as being reasonably efficient when it comes to technology. You have your smartphone, smart speaker and all manner of gadgets that help to make your life that much easier. But there’s always more out there under development, waiting to surprise us all with clever, evolving technology.

In this blog we take a look at some emerging technologies and what you might see in the headlines over the next 12 months.

Image from Pixabay

Gaming

If you’re big on gaming you might already have your name in the hat for the brand new Playstation 5, coming out, well, no one really knows when. Rumours that 2019 would be the big reveal were quashed by Sony so it looks likely that gaming fans will have to wait until 2020 to get the hands on this fantastic console.

Arch rivals Xbox aren’t to be ignored with the much-anticipated Xbox 2 due to hit the shops soon too. Like the Playstation it looks likely that it will be released next year much to the delight of loyal Xbox fans.

Entertainment

Does your television swamp your living room? While you love the idea of a big screen that makes movies exciting and gaming extraordinary, when it’s just sitting there, it looks kind of big. Then you should consider a television that rolls away when you’re not using it, into a handy table top box. That’s right, it rolls away.

Due out later this year from LG, the technology allows the screen to stretch to 65 inches before disappearing. There’s currently no price listed for this brand new kit, so watch this space.

Transport

Electric cars? Tick. We’re all on board with transport that allow us to create less pollution but that still perform to the standards we expect from our cars. But how about an electric motorbike from iconic name Harley Davidson? This fully electronic vehicle still maintains the classic Harley lines but it super quiet and fully automatic meaning no clutch or gears to take care of.

Get yours towards the end of the summer from around $30,000,

Government

Making it easier and more secure to vote, governments around the world are looking towards Artificial Intelligence to prevent fraud and keep the process as transparent and easy to deliver as possible. With automation from smartmatic, keep abreast of the latest ways in which countries are encouraging the democratic process.

Leisure

Keen on mixing up the real with the not so real? Give NReal’s glasses are try. Sure, they look like ordinary streetwear but allow you to mix reality with augmented reality with their smart lenses. You’ll be plunged into a world of high quality sound and images as you figure out what’s real and what’s not on your way to work

Useful tech

Charging your phone has been covered by a great many companies with handheld chargers but the latest charger from Mophie acts as a hard case as well as charging your phone, which is just plain useful. It promises more than 30 hours battery life and fits the more recent iPhone models.

If that wasn’t enough, how about a watch that tracks all your activity and your sleep. Yes, that sounds familiar but the difference with the model from Withings is that it comes in much cheaper than its rivals and only requires charging after around 18 months of wear. Not only smart but much lower maintenance than its high street rivals.

In the kitchen

There’s always something budding chefs so get yours a toaster with a difference. How about a toaster that’s see through, completely clear. You’ll never have suffer the disaster that is burnt toast again and bagels will toasted to perfection, thanks to this unusual design.

If that doesn’t tempt you then pick up a KitchenAid Connect for a snip at more than $1,000. It does everything from stirring as it sautees, chopping up vegetables to your prefered size to measuring and weighing. Truly a chef’s best friend in the kitchen.

Whatever you’re into, there’ll be a piece of technology out there with your name on. From sunglasses that merge realities to new realities in the form of the latest gaming consoles. From kitchen gadgets that take all the work out of cooking to chargers that work on the go and protect your screen.

Tech is evolving at a rapid pace with new, fun and exciting gadgets hitting the high streets every year. The next 12 months promises to be an exciting adventure as more and more emerge for every taste and for every budget.

The Next Big Thing: Steps To Ensure Your Brand Is The Name On Everyone’s Lips

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Potentially the most critical piece of your business is the branding and marketing. In today’s age with all the technology at our disposal, it’s important to make sure your brand is out and well-known. The following contributed post is entitled, The Next Big Thing: Steps To Ensure Your Brand Is The Name On Everyone’s Lips.

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One of the most crucial aspects of succeeding in business lies in beating the competition. If you’re eager to entice new clients, increase sales, and ensure that your brand is the name on everyone’s lips, here are some steps to take.

Get social
Social media marketing is an increasingly potent weapon for modern businesses. If you don’t already have social media campaigns running, you may be missing a trick. There are several platforms to choose from, and you can select different sites based on your target market. Facebook is the most popular social media platform in the world, but options like Snapchat and Instagram tend to be more effective when targeting a young demographic. Research social media trends, define your ideal buyer and start using the power and popularity of social platforms to get your brand name out there. Start by creating pages and profiles and offer incentives to encourage people to like and share your posts and sign up for updates. Focus on creating and sharing quality content, which is going to appeal to the target user, and interact with your followers. If you’re getting comments, for example, take the time to read them and respond. If you’re considering posting adverts on sites like Facebook, take advantage of the audience tools, which enable you to define specific groups you want to target.

Image from https://pixabay.com/illustrations/social-media-blocks-blogger-488886/

Revamp your website and SEO strategy
Even if you don’t have an online store, having an online profile is vital in this day and age. If your website isn’t up to scratch, or you’re not getting much traffic, it’s wise to revamp your site and review your SEO strategy. If you don’t have expertise in web design or digital marketing, consider outsourcing. Consumers like to research online, even if they plan to place an order or shop in-store, and ensuring you appear at the top of the search results page will stand you in good stead to outshine your rivals and increase lead generation.

Make the most of trade shows
Trade shows offer a brilliant opportunity to showcase your products and get people talking about your brand. If you are planning to attend an event, you want to make sure that your stand attracts attention. There are several ways you can do this. Aesthetics play a key role in drawing crowds. People are much more likely to gravitate towards a stand that looks enticing and interesting than one that looks drab and dull. Giveaways are also a great idea. If you can offer samples, for example, if you’re selling food or drink products, or you’re handing out branded keyrings, caps, pens or USB sticks, you may find that you get a lot more visitors. For more ideas for promotional products, click here. Interactive displays and demos are another way to pull people in. If you’re selling toys, pet products, kitchen or office gadgets, for example, demonstrate how they work, and let customers have a go. It’s also important to make sure your staff is well-versed in answering questions and dealing with queries about pricing and special offers.

Picture credit https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2235564

Connect with clients
Marketing plays a vital role in breaking the ice, generating leads and starting conversations, but to make your brand the next big thing, you have to follow up on expressions of interest and make sure your customers feel valued. Take the time to connect with your existing clients and make an effort to communicate with potential customers who have shown an interest in what you do. Send out periodic emails, respond to questions and queries online, and add features like live chat to your website. Customer engagement can help to enhance the user experience, tighten ties and ensure loyalty. Adding a personal touch can go a long way when you’re trying to enhance your brand reputation and raise brand awareness. Even simple things like addressing people by their names in emails can make a difference. Research suggests that click-through rates are significantly higher for personalized emails.

Image source: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/chat-icon-social-network-1873543/

Do some good in the world
As a consumer, you may be aware of certain brands because of initiatives they support or causes they fund. As a business owner, you want people to recognize you because of the products and services you offer, but you also want your customers to have a positive impression of your brand ethos. If you want people to talk about you, consider using your status to do some good in the world. You could support a local charity, get involved with a green initiative or donate some of your profits to charities chosen by your customers.

Are you dreaming of creating a global brand? Do you want to see your business name up in lights? If you have grand plans, hopefully, these tips will point you in the right direction.

Making Home Care More Dignified

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. All of us eventually age, and many of us get to a point where we can’t take care of ourselves. In many instances, the care we get in our last days, is just as important as the care we get in first days. The following contributed post is entitled, Making Home Care More Dignified.

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There are many points in time when you might need care in your life. From infancy to recovering from an injury and old age, you could need care at many stages in your life. How would you expect that care to be? Effective, comfortable, dignified? These are all within the fundamentals of care and should be shown to everyone. So when it comes to caring for someone else at home in your life, how can you make things more dignified? You’ll find some of the answers below.

Image Credit: Unsplash under Creative Commons

Discuss needs and expectations

Having to care for someone else, or help them plan their care, is never an easy thing. Having conversations with elderly relatives or someone who is usually independent about their needs and expectations can be difficult, but being upfront and honest is the best way for both of you to move forward. There could be several issues that need addressing when it comes to providing care, but once you work through it you can help to deliver that care in the most beneficial way for the person who needs it.

Be kind and considerate

Kindness goes a long way, and no matter what you’re feeling, it can’t be easy for the person needing care. Often being cared for can lead to a loss of independence, as well as feeling a lack of purpose – something that can lead to mental health issues in addition to the others that need caring for, Always be kind and considerate when caring for someone else, it really can help make the best out of an unfortunate situation.

Bring in professionals

While many people are classed as careers for their relatives, not everyone has the skills, or even the time, to offer the right care. Sometimes professional help is needed, particularly for more medical tasks like fitting catheters. Bringing in professional careers can cost money, but it can be a cost worth spending to make sure your loved one is cared for properly. Take a look at local agencies and make sure you’ve taken advantage of any health benefits they could be entitled to.

Look beyond the obvious

Some care needs are obvious, such as the need to wash, dress and feed someone. However, some elements of care are not so clear. Being able to see beyond the obvious and go that extra mile can really make the difference to someone’s life. Help your loved one develop new interests and get them out of the house, especially if they’re retired and looking for what to do next. Care doesn’t always have to be in the home, so it’s important to get your loved ones out and help them to keep doing the things they enjoy.

Care can take some getting used to, especially at the beginning. By being as respectful as you can and being open about the whole process, you can help make home care more dignified and help loved ones retain some independence. Always seek professional help where appropriate, even if it’s just to give you some advice or a helping hand. We all need care at some point in our lives, and treating people as you’d want to be treated can go a long way.

6 Reasons You Should Cycle To Work

A key focus of my blog is Health and Wellness. Many people cycle to work for health and productivity benefits. There are numberous other benefits such in the realms of economics and the environment as well. The following contributed post is entitled, 6 Reasons You Should Cycle To Work.

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Photo by Jonny Kennaugh on Unsplash

Now that the weather is starting to get warmer, cycling to work is becoming more and more of an option. Whilst it may not be your ideal method of transport, cycling to work is actually one of the best things you can do when it comes to saving money and looking after your health. Whether you want to lose a few pounds or you’re saving for something special, here are some great reasons to start cycling to work:

– It’s Much Cheaper Than Driving Every Single Day

As mentioned above, cycling to work is a great way to save money. Whether you drive to work or use public transport, you can cut practically all of your costs if you choose to cycle instead. In fact, the only time riding a bike to work will cost you is when you buy your bike. If you’re struggling to purchase a bike outright, you may also find that there are cycle to work schemes you can join. Not only does this mean you can buy your bike immediately, but it means that you’ll barely notice the payments being taken from your account as they’ll be deducted from your pay before you receive it. For more information about cycle to work schemes, you can visit this site here.

– It’s Great For Your Health And Fitness Levels

Cycling to work every day, no matter how far you have to cycle, is great for your health. Not only is it a great way to ensure you’re getting exercise on a daily basis, but it will also encourage you to improve your fitness further as you start to get used to the daily exercise you’re doing.

– You’ll Be Helping Lower CO2 Emissions

Another great thing about cycling to work every day is that you’ll be helping to lower CO2 emissions. Although it may be the quickest and easiest ways to travel, one of the worst things about everyone driving to work each day is that in reality, it’s really bad for the environment. Whilst there are lots of ways you can help when it comes to the environment, one of the best ways to use your car as little as you possibly can and taking your bike instead. For more tips when it comes to helping the environment, you can visit this site here.

– It’s Easy To Keep Your Bike Safe In A Shelter

One of the most common things that stops people from taking their bike to work each morning is not having a space to put it. Whilst that may be the case for some people, lots of workplaces are now using dedicated bike shelters to encourage people to cycle to work instead of drive. If your workplace doesn’t have a bike shelter yet, you could always encourage them to put one in.

– It’s Much Quicker Than Walking Or Using Public Transport

Depending on where you live, cycling to work could be a much quicker method of transport. Not only do you get to cut traffic, but if you’re cycling instead of using public transport you will also be able to miss out all of the unnecessary stops. If you have a long way to travel it will definitely take longer than driving, but once you start to get the hang of it you will pick up your pace and learn the fastest routes.

– It’s Fun And Encourages Happy Endorphins

One of the best things about exercise is that it encourages you to be happy and increases your endorphins. It’s a great motivator for the start of your day and chances are you’ll arrive at work feeling happy and energised. If you struggle to wake up in the mornings, this could be the best possible solution for you.

Are you thinking of cycling to work? What benefits could it bring you? Let me know in the comments section below.

Lessons In Manufacturing: Four Factors You Must Consider

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Of the many businesses out there, manufacturing businesses can be particularly lucrative if they are run properly. There are several keys to excelling in this type of business. The following contributed post is entitled, Lessons In Manufacturing: Four Factors You Must Consider.

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Are you think about setting up a manufacturing business this year? Perhaps you’re not setting up a company like this but manufacturing will be part of your overall business model. Regardless of which factor is true, there are a few things that you need to know. This will help ensure that you are running your manufacturing company the right way without mistakes or issues that could impact the profitability of your company. Let’s take a look at some of the options available to you.

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Should You Outsource?

You should consider outsourcing all or certain elements of the manufacturing process for your business. This is going to be more cost effective and could actually lead to higher quality items being produced by your business. This is always a distinct possibility, particularly if you don’t have the knowledge or indeed the experience to run these processes the right way.

If you do decide to outsource make sure that you are thinking about the company you choose very carefully indeed. Ultimately, it’s crucial that you can trust whichever company you use to deliver the solution that both you and your clients expect.

The Best Materials

Yes, you need to make sure that you are investing in the right materials as well. It’s worth spending a little more to get the best supplies here too. If you don’t do this, you can end up in a situation where your product won’t live up to the performance levels you want. Look at the avionics industry as an example. Businesses in this sector rely upon LCD bonding supplies and solutions. A low-quality material here would impact the performance and the value of the equipment being manufactured. The good news is that the buyer is always king so you should easily be able to locate and purchase the high-quality supplies that you need.

Stay Automated

You do need to make sure that you think about using automated technology. Automated tech is another great way to save costs and if you are running a manufacturing company it means that you won’t have to worry about hiring a massive team of staff. As well as this, automation will allow you to streamline any and all production processes. This basically means that you won’t have to worry about your productivity and efficiency levels being painfully low.

Go Green

Finally, you should be working to make manufacturing processes as green as possible. This sector of business can feel like an analogue clock stuck in a digital age, but there are always ways to make things a little greener. Keep a check on new tech emerging on the market that could benefit you. Work to manage wastage and reduce it where possible. If you do this, then you will find that your manufacturing processes are greener than most others on the market.

We hope this helps you tackle and approach manufacturing the right way whether as a business venture, or part of a larger model. If you do this, you could find your reach even greater levels of success in this sector.

Fun Features For The Office This Summer

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of success. Change is good throughout the year if you’re running a business or organization. Changing up the environment for the summertime may in fact increase the enthusiasm and productivity of your employees. The following contributed post is entitled, Fun Features For The Office This Summer.

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The office is the heart of the workplace, and the way we decorate and fill our office can have a profound effect on the happiness of our employees on a day to day basis. A boring old office with a blue carpet is what no one wants in their workspace, which is why today we are taking a look at some fun features you can add to the office to make it feel more exciting and fun this year.

A garden bar

Let’s start with a super fun idea: a garden bar. If you have an office which is singular and has its own car park and outdoor space, it would be a shame not to make the most of the fresh air in the summertime. One amazing idea for a Friday lunch treat would be to use a utility cart and fill it with ingredients for cocktails, and have this ready outside whenever your employees want to make a quick tipple on a Friday. You can also buy a utility cart cover with your company logo on which will keep the cart dry and will also act as some fun free advertising if you ever take it out!

A herb garden

One of the things you could do with your employees this summer is give everyone a pot and compost each, and they can all plant a herb seed of their choice and watch as it grows. Not only will this make the outside of the office smell amazing, but it will also allow you to use the fresh herbs for fresh soups and salads in the kitchen!

A coffee bar

If you have a flexible and fun workplace and you are off the philosophy that trusting your employees is key, a coffee bar is a wonderful addition to the office. This can be the ideal escape for anyone who wants to work on a project alone or have a quick brainstorming session with others, and it will act as a more comfortable and informal place for them to work for a little while. It can be an amazing idea and one which will give your workers a change of scenery and pace during their working day.

Events

If you have a policy of fun in the office, a great way to promote local businesses and also bring your employees together is to have people visit the office every month with new products to try or services to provide. It could be cake pops, cocktails, yoga… there are a wealth of things you can offer and this will be a great chance for your employees to try something new and bond a little as a team.

An art wall

If there is a prominent wall in the office which everyone can see, you can send out an email for employees to bring in one piece of art to create a collage on the space. They might choose their own paintings, photographs, movie posters or something different entirely. It will brighten up the space and also allow your workers to get to know each other in a new way.

Careers For Creatives That Pay Well

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a key focus is Career Discussions. In many instances, creative skills lend themselves well to certain careers. Once properly plugged in, those individuals stand to make a lot of money. The following contributed post is entitled, Careers For Creatives That Pay Well.

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Image Source. Licensed under Creative Commons.

Tired of being a starving artist? Creative jobs have long had a reputation for being low paid. Fortunately, there are careers out there that creative people can earn big bucks from. Here are just a few examples of careers where it’s possible to make a lot of money.

Industrial design

Industrial design is one of the higher paid design jobs out there and involves using creative problem solving to help design new products. Industrial designers must consider elements such as form, function, sustainability, cost, ergonomics and aesthetics when designing products. A degree in product design or engineering could be useful when entering this field. A few technical skills are required, but creativity is an important asset.

Marketing

Marketing relies heavily on creativity in order to help companies attract more customers. There are so many niches within it from content writing to events marketing to SEO. Entry-level positions can be low-paid, however marketing director and management jobs can be very well-paid. You can reach these positions by either scaling the career ladder or starting your own marketing company. Whilst marketing qualifications can help, they’re not needed when breaking into this industry. You should however still do your homework to get an understanding of the industry – there are online marketing training tools that you can use as Legendary Marketer review points out. There are also plenty of books and blogs that you can use to educate yourself.

Animation

Animation is an industry that is projected to grow by 8%. It relies on a mix of artistic talent and computer graphics skills – qualifications in art or computer graphics may be needed to get into this industry, although you may simply be able to familiarise yourself with tools as found at Creative Bloq, allowing you to make a name for yourself. Animators can be very well paid.

Sound/video production

Producers are often needed in music, TV and film to help handle the editing and mixing process. It’s a job that can often be very well paid. A degree in communication or film/broadcasting could be useful if you hope to get into TV and film. Meanwhile a degree in music or music production could be useful for those that want to produce music professionally. It is possible to get into these careers without these qualifications, but you’ll still need to build the necessary skills.

Architecture

A career as an architect can also be very well paid and can rely heavily on creative talents. You’ll generally need a degree in architecture to get into this industry. Architects can often have high starting salaries, however this can be a very competitive industry and you’ll need to build a strong portfolio to prove your talent.