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.

6 Reasons To Consider Career Planning

Two key focuses of my blog are Career Discussions and General Education. As a professional, your education never stops but instead continues evolving. Depending upon what you’re looking to achieve, planning is critical. The following contributed post is entitled, 6 Reasons To Consider Career Planning.

* * *

Career planning is about preparing yourself for the future job market. This is as vital as having a career itself. You should know who you want to be in the not-too-distant future, say five to ten years. Going to work every day without having a sense of direction could mean you lack a career plan, which can result in regrettable mistakes in the future. A clear career plan is a roadmap for making crucial decisions to excel and achieve financial stability. Here are some benefits of trying considering this process.

1. Self-development

Image credit

A career plan fosters self-development. It helps you stay disciplined, focused, and motivated to choose a good career path and stick to it. Developing these traits will pay off in the long run. Track your progress as you grow, and evaluate your career plan every six months to ensure it positions you to achieve your long-term professional goals.

2. Job contentment

These days, finding workers who are satisfied with their career path is hard. Unfortunately, career contentment can impact your physical and mental health and the quality of your work output. Developing a career plan that boosts your morale will help you discover your purpose and stay happy.

3. Retirement plans

Having a career plan doesn’t always mean you have to only look for your dream job. It’s more about facing the realities of the future. Many professionals understand that they can’t work for the rest of their lives. A career plan may help make investments or savings allocations toward a happy retirement. Admittedly, your journey may not start on a smooth journey; there may be setbacks here and there. However, the good news is that you can never go wrong by creating a career plan that ensures your retirement life will be easy.

4. Finding educational and learning opportunities

Your career plan can also help you discover further education and learning opportunities. Once you evaluate your career trajectory and identify things that are not working, you can take proactive steps, such as upgrading your resume. You can also determine where you need more education, which would mean getting more certifications, taking online courses, and seeking funding for higher education. Healthcare scholarship opportunities, for instance, can help remove financial barriers for those interested in the emergency medical services (EMS) field.

5. It gives you full control over your career

Several things in your career may be beyond your control, but career planning isn’t one of them. It gives you complete control over your professional life because only you can tell what’s good or bad for your career. Careers eat so much of your time. According to the HuffPost, people spend up to 13 years working and only 328 days socializing with friends. One big mistake you may not want to make is choosing a career path that gives you zero work-life balance.

6. Boost knowledge of career opportunities

Image credit

You will increase your knowledge of various career prospects as you plan your career. Although everyday life has become fast-paced and competitive, a solid career plan can give clarity to help prioritize professional objectives.

Budgeting 101: Tips for Creating a Realistic Budget

Buffer

“With a budget, you can predict your monthly spending habits and plan accordingly to cover your bills while having enough left over for existing debt payments or savings.”

Buffer

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. Budgeting is a critical component when managing money. While it can sound arduous and restraining to some people, it can actually be a lot of fun and a very powerful tool. The following guest post is entitled, Budgeting 101: Tips for Creating a Realistic Budget.

* * *

Building a budget is the most effective way to manage your finances and prevent overspending. With a budget, you can predict your monthly spending habits and plan accordingly to cover your bills while having enough left over for existing debt payments or savings. Unfortunately, many people don’t budget and spend more than they earn without realizing it. If you’ve ever looked at your bank account and been shocked to see how much you spent in a month, you need a budget that provides you with a clear action plan for spending your money every month. Here are a few tips for creating a realistic budget:

Know Your Monthly Income

Most people know their salaries or how much they earn per hour. However, they don’t look at their pay stubs to determine how much money they bring home after taxes. Your net income is crucial when building a budget because it tells you exactly how much money is deposited into your bank account each month, and knowing exactly what you bring home can help you determine how much money you have on hand.

If you have a W-2 job, finding this information should be easy. You should receive digital or paper pay stubs from your employer for each pay period that tells you your take-home pay. However, taxes aren’t taken from your income if you’re a freelancer or small business owner. Therefore, you may have to do additional math to determine how much you take home after taxes. You can talk to your accountant to determine your tax bracket and self-employment tax based on how much you make during the month.

Add Up Your Expenses

There are two types of expenses: fixed and variable. Your fixed expenses are what you spend money on every month, and the amount you spend doesn’t change. For example, your rent payments will stay the same for 12 months if you’ve signed a one-year lease. In contrast, your variable expenses are the costs that change from month to month, such as credit card payments, utility bills, and groceries.

Determining your fixed expenses is easy because you know exactly how much you spend every month. However, calculating your variable costs is much more challenging, especially if you use multiple credit and debit cards to pay for them. First, review your bank statements to find your variable costs and add them up for 12 months. This value is how much you spend on variable expenses per year. Then, to get your monthly costs, divide that number by 12 to give you an average monthly value.

Allocate

Once you know your monthly expenses, subtract them from your net income to see how much you have left over after paying all your bills. Then, allocate the remaining amount into wants and savings. You can have multiple different goals and accounts to help you separate your funds and send money back and forth between them when necessary. For example, you might have a savings account dedicated to emergencies or funding a large purchase and a retirement account.

Set Goals

When allocating your budget, setting realistic goals for yourself is crucial. First, consider the reason why you want to save money. Maybe you want to purchase a house within the next ten years or go back to school. Or perhaps you want to diversify your portfolio with a precious metals IRA. Whatever the case, you have money goals, and it’s essential to build your budget around them.

Track and Monitor Progress

After creating your budget, you should continue monitoring your progress monthly and determine whether you’re holding yourself accountable. It’s easy to start a reasonable budget and fall behind again, so you should dedicate time every so often to tracking your progress, including your income and expenses, to help you plan.

Tracking your progress can also enable you to re-evaluate your goals. As you get older, your money goals might change. For example, if you decide to start a family, your goals might change from saving money for a new car to saving for a house. As your goals change, you must make changes to your budget and review your spending to ensure your habits won’t get in the way of achieving those goals.

Review Expenses Regularly

When creating a budget, you should understand your expenses and where all your money goes. However, things change over time, so you may get new bills or pay off old debts, which will impact how much money you spend throughout the month. Therefore, plan to review your monthly expenses to determine improvement areas. For example, if you’ve noticed you’ve been spending a lot of money on eating out in the last few months, make a conscious effort to cook at home more often and check back to see how much money you’ve saved over time.

Try to lower any fixed expenses, such as car or payday loans. You can also find more affordable plans for internet and cable or various streaming services to help you save a few bucks every month and instead put that money towards your savings account.

Unfortunately, you can’t eliminate all of your expenses. However, you can make lifestyle changes, such as canceling unused subscriptions and memberships, to help you save more every month.

Increase Your Income

If you can’t reduce your expenses, you can increase your income. The easiest way to earn more money is to ask your boss for a raise. While this can be intimidating, it may also be necessary depending on the cost of living and your skillset. That said, you should only ask for a raise if you know you truly deserve it. Unfortunately, not everyone’s boss will give them a raise, so those individuals may have to search for other employment opportunities or work second jobs to increase their income.

Hold Yourself Accountable

A budget is just a list of numbers; it’s up to you to hold yourself accountable and stick to it. Managing your wants can help you save money over time, so review your bank statements to see if there are any categories where you’re overspending, such as entertainment or nights out on the town. Holding yourself accountable by ensuring you continue to review your budget, bills, and expenses every month will prevent unnecessary overspending while ensuring you can still put some of your paycheck toward saving for the future.

Megan Isola

Megan Isola holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and a minor in Business Marketing from Cal State University Chico. She enjoys going to concerts, trying new restaurants, and hanging out with friends.

Maintaining Your Independence As You Get Older: A Guide For Seniors

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. Progressing age is much different conceptually than it used to be. Many seniors are contemplating greater personal independence than in the past. The following contributed post is entitled, Maintaining Your Independence As You Get Older: A Guide For Seniors.

* * *

Image – Pixabay (CC0)

Retirement is meant to deliver your truly golden years. However, getting older does change the body in several ways and subsequently brings several new challenges to our daily lives. Therefore, it’s imperative that you learn to adapt your lifestyle, particularly if you wish to maintain your independence.

Here are some of the key steps that should be taken to ensure a better quality of life can be maintained throughout later life.

Stay Healthy

Nothing in this life is more important than your health. While the aging process will naturally change your body, it’s imperative that you stay healthy. Keeping active will help maintain flexibility, as well as bone and muscle density. Meanwhile, staying hydrated and staying in control of your nutrition are both key factors. A healthier you is a happier you. Crucially, it’ll mean you are in a better position to take care of yourself in retirement.

You should also seek help if you have issues with your mobility, hearing, eyesight, or dexterity.

Find A Suitable Home

Most seniors who are in a position to live independently would rather do this than live in a nursing home. However, you may need to look for an affordable home that features some modified elements to make life more convenient. The Millennia Companies places a heavy focus on development for people like you. Supporting those developments and learning about units that may become available is advised.

You will spend more time at home than ever before during retirement. So, you must not overlook this step.

Accept Help

Maintaining an independent lifestyle needn’t mean ignoring support. We all need a helping hand from time to time. Frankly, gaining a little assistance in certain aspects of life courtesy of in-home care services can open the door to greater freedom. Whether you need daily or weekly visits doesn’t matter. This support will save you from a lot of stress, as well as potentially risky situations.

Better still, you will notice that this allows you to spend more time enjoying your independence and the tasks you love.

Get Your Finances Under Control

The harsh reality is that getting used to reduced revenue is hard. For many, it is the most challenging and stressful part of retirement. If you have savings, making them work harder through investments can work wonders. Crucially, though, you should find ways to reduce your expenses by cutting out unnecessary waste. Experts like Senior Services of America can help you discover entitlements too. Embrace it.

When your finances are under control, it will lift a weight of stress off of your shoulders. This will encourage a better quality of life.

Be Ready To Learn

Finally, if you wish to stay independent in retirement, you must be willing to adapt. You are already tech literate. So, if you’re not already using online banking or telehealth services, now is the time to learn about them. Meanwhile, developing skills that can help you out around the home can have a big impact. Being open to new hobbies and social activities should be on the agenda too.

When combined with the other steps mentioned above, the rewards will be immediately seen. Truly golden years await.

Becoming a Homeowner Without Being a High Earner

A key focus of my blog is Money/Financial Literacy. The most significant financial purchase many people will make is that of buying a home. It can be done without being what’s considered a high earner though. The following contributed post is entitled, Becoming a Homeowner Without Being a High Earner.

* * *

Credit – Pixabay CC0 License

Let’s not kid ourselves; becoming a homeowner is a financial priority shared by most people. While I personally think renting can be great for young adults who might not wish to settle down just yet, the benefits of buying a home are huge. The property will become your biggest asset and it also gives you the freedom to decorate without asking your landlord. You will also remove the threat of being replaced by another tenant.

As my good pal Mike loves to state too: “It’s better to pay your mortgage than someone else’s”. But the current housing market is particularly tough, making it hard for first-time buyers and applicants who are not high earners. However, as Mike also likes to say: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Although I’m pretty sure he can thank Billy Ocean for that one. But I digress.

When looking to step onto the property ladder, it’s important to acknowledge it might not happen right away. It may take time to save for a downpayment, secure job stability, and find the right home. So, it’s important to take financial responsibility right away. Firstly, I would suggest researching any government schemes in your region. There are several that are designed to help first-time buyers and low-income applicants get on the ladder. They do vary between states and countries, but a little research should point you towards them.

Whether it’s free financial boosts to savings accounts or tax breaks, all forms of support are a step in the right direction. I would also suggest that you consider budgeting and improved money management. Avoiding unnecessary debts like store cards can be very useful too. Short-term sacrifices will often allow you to step onto the ladder sooner.

Credit – Pixabay CC0 License

Perhaps my best piece of advice, though, is to start looking for affordable housing. Developments like The Millennia Companies move at Cleveland’s Huntington Building are a great example. When homes are aimed to support affordable housing schemes, your hopes of securing a property with a lower income are improved. Meanwhile, some prospective homeowners should consider where they want to live. Some cities are more affordable than others. Also, neighborhoods based on the outskirts are usually more affordable than living in city centers.

Mortgage lending is influenced by your income as lenders use this to determine how much they are willing to lend you. With this in mind, joint mortgage applicants will be offered a bigger amount as long as you both have a solid income and have your debts under control. I would suggest that you use a mortgage calculator to test out the different options available to you. And, of course, you should not enter a commitment of this size unless you are 100% comfortable.

The great news about preparing for a mortgage application is that it teaches valuable financial habits too. For example, Experian credit score boosting will help you with all future credit agreements. Whether it’s car purchases or personal loans, this strengthens your finances. So, even if the home purchase doesn’t go to plan, you haven’t lost out.

Crucially, if you want to buy a home, now is the time to start the journey. The sooner you do, the sooner you can turn your dream into a reality.

Taking Care Of An Elderly Parent Without Hindering Your Life

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. Each of us will age in this world. As we get older, so do our parents and they considerations for most of us. A major key is balancing everything. The following contributed post is entitled, Taking Care Of An Elderly Parent Without Hindering Your Life.

* * *

Having elderly parents to care for can be a lot, especially if you have a full-time job and children. However, you will be the best person to manage their health and ensure they get the support they need.

Hence, here are some tips to help you care for an elderly parent in need without hindering your own life and commitments.

Photo by Steshka Willems: https://www.pexels.com/photo/shallow-focus-photo-of-man-3018993/

Consider assisted living spaces if you do not have space at home

If you do not have space to adapt your home for elderly parents, it is a good idea to consider putting them in an assisted living space where they attain support and you can rest assured they can be looked after.

Putting your loved ones in assisted senior community living will ensure that they can attain 24/7 assistance and be surrounded by people of their age, which will help them stay well and be sociable.

Visit them often

If you do not have the space to care for your parents in your own home and they do not wish to move to an assisted living space, it makes sense to visit them as often as you can.

Although you might have work and life commitments, if they do not live far away, you could go see them each morning before work. You could make them breakfast and spend 30 minutes with them before getting on with your day. Getting up a bit earlier to do this shouldn’t be an issue if it allows you to ensure they are okay.

They will appreciate it, and it means you can keep an eye on them while they happily live in the comfort of their own home.

Hire caregivers

If you cannot attend to your parents all day in their house due to work commitments, it is a wise idea to hire caregivers.

Caregivers can live with their parents to offer endless support if they need it. If they do not need it but can benefit from caregivers, you can book them to visit your parents several times a day to help with daily chores and meals.

Be patient

Taking care of an elderly loved one can test your patience, which is likely due to not wanting to accept that they need help. Throughout the entirety of your life, you might have known them as being strong and supportive. However, they might not be capable anymore, and they cannot help it; it is just a part of life.

Therefore, it is important to be patient with them and accept what is happening. This will make the care process a lot easier for you both. You will be able to give them the support they need and maintain a good relationship if you are calm and patient regarding their needs.

Be sure to utilize these tips if you have an elderly parent who requires help due to their age or a health condition. It will make your life easier and ensure they are getting the support they need.

The Truth About Why Spirituality Is No Longer Tied To The Church

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. Spirituality is an important part of our personal health both individually and collectively. It has changed over the years though as have most things. The following contributed post is entitled, The Truth About Why Spirituality Is No Longer Tied To The Church.

* * *

Picture Credit: CC0 License

According to a recent Springtide study, as many as 73% of young people between the ages of 13-25 identify as spiritual. Yet, church attendance is lower in our younger generations than in any generation that’s come before them.

This is an odd discrepancy, and it highlights one pressing fact – young people simply don’t tie their spirituality to the church in the same ways that their parents and grandparents do.

With this in mind, something needs to change to keep spirituality alive in a modern audience. And, those changes will most likely come from considering the following reasons for the spirituality/church divide.

Reason 1: A new approach to worship

Young people with limited timeframes and a growing need for connection are increasingly finding alternative ways to make room for spirituality in their lives. This is a requirement that online sermons have been attempting to fulfill since the pandemic but, with just 13% of young people reporting a feeling of joy after an online sermon, further steps may also be necessary.

Church-led community initiatives and college-based religious representatives seem to be especially effective in this sense. A focus on personal connections forged with one key religious leader, rather than entire congregations, also seems to help young people feel more supported, and more impassioned in their religious practices.

Reason 2: The age divide

65% of people aged 65 or over attend weekly church sermons. Churches, therefore, face the challenge of appealing to older audiences and attracting a new generation.

This can be a difficult balance to strike, and it’s one that many churches are failing to achieve. Luckily, priests like Father Adam Park are proof that this divide needn’t be as restrictive as it seems. Through a focus on appealing to both audiences, he’s managing to bring a whole new generation to his church. A similar approach, which respects tradition while also making way for the new, could see other churches enjoying similar levels of success.

Picture Credit: CC0 License

Reason 3: Changing institutions

It’s also important to note that age-old church-institutions like marriage are simply no longer as relevant to young people as they were to previous generations, and may even feel restrictive to individuals who continue to be left outside of these institutional practices.

Equally, far from requiring church groups and other internalized focuses that have traditionally worked alongside the institution, many young people are calling for the church to contribute towards modern concerns like climate change. And this needs to happen outside of institutional confines.

An ongoing shift to more inclusive marriage will perhaps be the biggest help here, but pastors and priests could also benefit from listening to the concerns of young people (which are largely led by environmental worries), as well as continuing to prioritize age-old church concerns like local charity.

The proof is out there – young people are still turning to spirituality in their droves. But only time will tell whether the church can continue to play the same role in that focus that it’s fulfilled for hundreds of years.

In Case You Missed It: Astrophysicists Authoritatively Weighing in on Endocrinology and Gender

Buffer

“A major question facing everyone is whether transitioned women should compete in sports with natural women. Is it fair to the natural women?”

Buffer

Science, Culture, Politics and Religion

I discuss numerous science- and technology-related topics on my YouTube channel entitled, Big Discussions76 Science and Technology. Science stories are all around us and in some instances, they overlap with culture, religion, and politics even when they should not. This is not a good thing, and this is the case with gender and now athletics. A major question facing everyone is whether transitioned women should compete in sports with natural women. Is it fair to the natural women?

Who Should Compete in Women’s Athletics?

Two famous individuals recently made headlines in this area. They are Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson and Martina Navratilova. Dr. Tyson is a world-renowned black astrophysicist and Navratilova is a legendary female tennis player who is lesbian. What is the intersection between the two? In this era of gender transitioning, many men of have transitioned to being women and are seeking to participate in women’s sports. As a result of their underlying biology, these transitioned women still have physical advantages over natural women in terms of speed and strength, allowing them relatively easy (sometimes brutal) victories in athletic competitions.

Factions Within a Larger Group?

Interestingly Dr. Tyson stepped out of the astrophysical world to advocate for this type of thing. The retired Navratilova courageously spoke out against Dr. Tyson and others regarding allowing transitioned women to compete with natural women. Regarding gender, the rainbow groups are typically lumped together in our modern culture. Navratilova’s position in all this interestingly shows that even lesbians still want to retain the biological lines separating natural men from women at least in the realm of athletics. These two figures and this whole discussion inspired me to create the livestream embedded below. It involves not just science, but also how it gets entrenched and intermingled in culture, politics and sometimes religion. If you watch the video, please give it a like and consider subscribing to my channel. Best regards.

The Big Words LLC Newsletter

For the next phase of my writing journey, I have started a monthly newsletter for my writing and video content creation company, the Big Words LLC. In it, I plan to share inspirational words, pieces from this blog and my first blog, and select videos from my four YouTube channels. Finally, I will share updates for my book project The Engineers: A Western New York Basketball Story. Your personal information and privacy will be protected. Click this link and register using the sign-up button at the bottom of the announcement. If there is some issue signing up using the link provided, you can also email me at [email protected] . Best Regards.

The Entrepreneurial Sunset: How To Gracefully Dismount The Startup Carousel

Buffer

“Entrepreneurship can be an exhilarating ride, full of ups, downs, and unexpected turns. Unfortunately, all good rides must come to a stop eventually – while hanging up your entrepreneurial hat may feel like the end of an exciting chapter, it may just be an opportunity for new opportunities!”

Buffer

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Businesses have life cycles similar to people. Once you have been in the entrepreneurial phase for a while, there is a next step. The following contributed post is entitled, The Entrepreneurial Sunset: How To Gracefully Dismount The Startup Carousel.

* * *

Entrepreneurship can be an exhilarating ride, full of ups, downs, and unexpected turns. Unfortunately, all good rides must come to a stop eventually – while hanging up your entrepreneurial hat may feel like the end of an exciting chapter, it may just be an opportunity for new opportunities!

Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

The Reality Check: Entrepreneurship’s Expiry Date

As milk turns sour and bananas brown, entrepreneurship also comes with an expiration date. You may feel invincible while riding the entrepreneurial high, but eventually its rapid-fire startup ecosystem might start to feel daunting or the thrill of finding next big idea may no longer excite you as much. Unfortunately, entrepreneurship is not meant to be your lifelong career; rather it should serve as one exciting chapter among many of your professional journey – being cognizant of this reality is crucial in planning for life after entrepreneurship.

Bracing for Impact: Navigating an Emotional Rollercoaster

Detaching yourself emotionally from entrepreneurial life may be like breaking up with someone special: after pouring yourself and your energy into nurturing and growing it over many months and nights. As you prepare to step off the entrepreneurial carousel, fear, sadness and even loss may surface as emotions surface during this transition period. Remember that it’s perfectly natural for this change to bring out these mixed reactions within yourself – all are normal responses to change! Acknowledging these emotions is an integral part of the process, helping you cope with change and open doors to new opportunities. So buckle up, brace for impact, and prepare to ride this emotional rollercoaster ride – you are stronger than you think, you are resilient, and this journey won’t break you.

Making the Transition: Exiting Like a Boss

Exiting your entrepreneurial journey should not be seen as an act of surrender but as a deliberate, graceful move with dignity and grace. Like an experienced chess player navigating their way towards victory, an entrepreneur needs to know when and how best to step back – timing is of the utmost importance here! Consider all aspects and consider your goals before aligning them with those of your business. Though this task is no easy one, remember that every change opens the way to new beginnings. So summon up the courage, accept change and exit like a champion. Whether that means selling your startup, handing off leadership to another leader or simply moving on – do it with dignity and poise; remember this is just the start of another chapter that’s waiting to be written.

Future-Proofing: Preparing for the Aftermath

Stepping off the entrepreneurial stage doesn’t mean your career has ended; on the contrary! It provides an opportunity to explore uncharted territory, try on different roles, or perhaps even take that coveted sabbatical you have long wanted. Prepare yourself for this change with just as much care as if it were a business strategy. Start by detaching yourself from your business identity, so that you may explore beyond being just an entrepreneur and explore other passions or interests. Have a hobby that has fallen by the wayside because you don’t think you have enough time? Dust it off and give it another go! Financial planning is also essential when transitioning from entrepreneurship. Consult with financial advisors, invest wisely, and create a nest egg for future security. Embark upon a new chapter of life today: it is an opportunity to discover, expand, learn, and expand yourself! Prepare yourself because The Next Act awaits!

Living the Good Life

Transitioning out of entrepreneurship does not mean saying farewell to all the joy and fulfillment it brought you; quite the contrary! Now is the time to bask in the fruits of your hard work and experience all those joys life had in store – ones which you may have missed on your entrepreneurial journey. Have you been daydreaming of exploring the world? Well now is the time! Whether your interest lies in learning Italian cuisine or playing an instrument – give them both a go! Buy real estate in Shingletown and celebrate your success! Or why not visit a snowboard shop, get all the gear you need, and hit the slopes? At this stage, the focus should be on finding a balance between leisure and productivity. Following your heart, pursuing interests, and engaging with new experiences are all integral parts of the equation. Engage in intellectual pursuits; participate in meaningful dialogue; make an impactful contribution to social causes; or simply take some time out for nature. Life beyond entrepreneurship isn’t an empty canvas to fill with freedom, exploration and joy – so put aside any fears you might have and enjoy the journey ahead of you – remember, life’s not about arriving somewhere, it’s all about going somewhere!

Business to Pleasure

Transitioning from entrepreneur to non-entrepreneur opens up a wealth of possibilities. While entrepreneurship may often involve long hours and heavy stress, its opposite – non-entrepreneurship – offers freedom, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Now is the time to let go of workaholic tendencies and focus on personal development, self-care, well-being and hobbies you put aside while building your business. But how can you best prepare yourself for this new phase of your life?

A Fresh Take on Finances

At the heart of post-entrepreneurship lies financial preparation. A comfortable nest egg doesn’t just appear out of thin air; chances are, you have probably been too preoccupied managing your startup to attend to your personal savings account. Now is the time for a good, hard look at yourself financially: connect with a trusted financial advisor, discuss retirement goals, understand income streams, and develop a comprehensive financial plan – it’s never too early or late to start planning for the future!

Health Is Wealth

You’ve likely heard the old adage countless times: health is wealth. Entrepreneurship can be demanding on time and energy resources; leaving little for fitness or proper diet. Now that life post-entrepreneurship beckons, take time out for yourself by joining a gym, taking yoga classes, getting regular health checkups, or keeping to a balanced diet plan – anything to achieve health without entrepreneurial stress getting in your way!

Photo by Sara Bakhshi on Unsplash

Conclusion: Parting Ways with Entrepreneurship, Not Success

Stepping down from entrepreneurship doesn’t mark an end of success: rather it represents an opportunity. When making this transition from entrepreneurialism, keep this in mind: your skillset, connections made and experiences gained will still serve to propel you forward no matter where it takes you. So embrace each new chapter with equal enthusiasm as when starting off on this entrepreneurial adventure; every sunset brings the promise of another dawn!

Handling The Rigors Of Entrepreneurialism: A Guide

Buffer

“But the truth is that no two entrepreneurs are exactly alike, which is why modeling yourself on a successful figure entirely or simply taking advice from one person is never really going to cut it.”

Buffer

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. While it can be lucrative, there are my rigors to being an entrepreneur and it is not easy. The following contributed post is entitled, Handling The Rigors Of Entrepreneurialism: A Guide.

* * *

Pexels – CC0 License

Much is said of being an entrepreneur, including how you should think about your day, how to act, how to deal with challenges, how to accept failure, and, sooner or later, how to succeed. But the truth is that no two entrepreneurs are exactly alike, which is why modeling yourself on a successful figure entirely or simply taking advice from one person is never really going to cut it.

We’ll leave you to navigate your path and we’re certain you’ll find success, but as you do, it’s important to be careful about how you manage your personal life and wellbeing. In simple terms – entrepreneurism is a rigorous and intense mode of productivity, where you’re not only trying to prove yourself through side hustles and initiatives, but also trying to manage people, to pitch, secure funding, and even to risk your own financial standing for the chance of success.

For this reason, then, it’s important to be very clear about your intentions and goals going forward, and how to protect yourself against burnout. If you can achieve that, then you may be able to curate a healthier outcome. In this post, we’ll discuss how that might look:

Manage Your Time Blocks & Stick To Them

Time blocking means sticking to one specific priority and blocking out time to properly focus on it. It’s not necessarily about achieving particular goals in that block of time, but rather investing your time to pay full attention to it, which in the long run allows you to complete tasks more quickly than you would when distracted with five mini-priorities alongside your main one. This can help you avoid burning out mentally and feeling as though you’re spinning a million plates at once.

Optimize Yourself

It’s important to optimize yourself if you can. What does that mean? Well, with exercise, good sleep, and meditation, you can enjoy your best sense of self, confidence, and purpose. This isn’t just a nice platitude, it actually has a true impact on how well you can work, focus, and even be creative each day. That, coupled with nootropics or rituals that help you become more attentive and productive each day (some people enjoy drinking green tea while listening to zen music, others work in cafes for that comforting vibe) you can optimize your output and sense of purpose as an entrepreneur.

Be Mindful Of Entrepreneurial Advice

One of the main difficulties of being an entrepreneur is knowing that tens of thousands of other entrepreneurs are all too happy to give you advice as if they were the authority. Make sure to look into the people offering said advice, and also if they’ve used that in the past. Sometimes, you just have to swim upstream away from the crowd too, after all, you’re in a competitive environment and taking the wisdom of someone who stands to take your market share, especially if they’re not a direct mentor to you, can be difficult. This way, you can focus more on your own intent and voice as opposed to feeling carted in multiple different directions.

As a tip, stick to counsel from seasoned businessmen with knowledge and expertise in your field. For instance, experts like Hussian al Nowais can offer helpful insight into real estate if that’s what you have your eyes on. Fortunately, these experts have blogs and social media platforms where you can get helpful resources and connect with them respectively, so feel free to consider this. While at it, consider attending seminars and workshops that focus on your area of expertise. Getting a mentor with a successful record can also help; they can offer insights into proven strategies to boost your business success. They can also show you what mistakes they made, so you can avoid them.

With this advice, you’re sure to handle the rigors of entrepreneurialism to a much more successful degree.

How To Invest As A First-Time Investor This Year

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. One of the keys to getting ahead in terms of money is learning to invest. It’s never too late to start but you want to do so wisely. The following contribute post is entitled, How To Invest As A First-Time Investor This Year.

* * *

Always wanted to invest your money but don’t know where to start? You’re likely to be in the same boat as others who have very little knowledge or no clue of how to invest their money.

Unfortunately, it’s not something that’s really taught and instead is a learned skill that only so many will then choose to put to use as they start earning money. Here are some helpful tips to invest as a first-time investor this year.

Image Source

Get professional advice and guidance

First and foremost, when it comes to investing, it’s good to get to grips with how it works and how to make the most out of every dollar you’re spending. That means understanding everything that comes with investment, a topic that you might not have any personal knowledge of.

It’s not something we learn as kids unless there are influences in our lives that have invested already. A company like Manulife Wealth might be worth reaching out to in order to understand how your money could go further with the help of experts.

It’s an approach that’s much better to take than to try and figure out yourself or to jump in too soon and lose the money you wanted to profit from.

Start off with small investments

With all first-time investors, it’s always good to never bite off more than you can chew. With that in mind, start off with smaller investments, rather than spending all the money you have available on something that might not pan out.

Smaller investments are going to help drip feed what you’re investing into and it means you’ll have less of a bad experience with investing if you’re only losing small amounts to begin with.

Putting your money all on one investment and then losing it, might sour your experience so much that you don’t invest again.

Mix up your portfolio with low and high-risk investments

Try to mix up your portfolio with both low and high-risk investments. This is useful to do because it gives you a good chance of making a profit with some and other investments that might have made a loss, could make a gain on other investments.

The mix of low and high risk also gives your money the best opportunity for success because you’re spreading your risk more evenly.

Review your portfolio regularly

It’s useful to take a look at your portfolio regularly to ensure you’ve made all the relevant decisions and reviewed what might need to be sold or added to.

Diversifying your portfolio is one thing but you should be actively keeping up with a review of your investments every now and then.

Ensure you have a variety of short-term and long-term investments

Just like the low and high-risk investments, make sure you mix up the length of the investment too. Having a mix of both short-term and long-term investments again spreads the risk but could help set you up for the future too.

Aside from the typical life investments such as a first home, there are plenty of other investments out there worth exploring.