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 Ideas For Nurturing Your Mental Health To Stay Well

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“Another idea to try that will nurture your mental health and help you stay well is to journal and practice gratitude. Journal to release emotions, thoughts, and feelings and as an opportunity to come up with solutions to problems you’re facing.”

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A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. Your mental health is arguably the most of important aspect of your being as it drives everything in your life. Thus it’s critical to keep yourself as mentally healthy as possible. The following contributed post is entitled, 6 Ideas For Nurturing Your Mental Health To Stay Well.

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Your mental health plays a significant role in how you feel each day and what you can get done. When you feel lousy then you likely also feel unmotivated and have a lack of energy and focus.

The upside is that it’s not too late to turn your situation and mindset around for the better. There are actions you can take that will benefit you and your wellbeing and help you focus on the positives. Here are six ideas for nurturing your mental health to stay well so you can put your best foot forward and get the most out of each new day.

1. Practice Meditation & Yoga

Practice meditation and yoga regularly if you want to boost your mental health and wellbeing. Mediating is a great way to notice your thoughts and to let them pass through you. You’ll feel refreshed, less stressed, and better able to concentrate when you meditate often. Yoga is another practice to take up if you want better mental health and flexibility. There are many benefits that come with practicing yoga such as having a strong mind and body connection, feeling more relaxed, and gaining strength over time. If you take a yoga class the instructor will likely end by saying Namaste, so don’t be caught off guard. Take the time to learn what namaste means in yoga to appreciate the full meaning and gesture.

2. Journal & Be Grateful

Another idea to try that will nurture your mental health and help you stay well is to journal and practice gratitude. Journal to release emotions, thoughts, and feelings and as an opportunity to come up with solutions to problems you’re facing. Use your journal to write down what you’re thankful for in your life so you can focus on the positives instead of what’s lacking or missing for you. The more grateful you are the more likely it is that you’ll attract more positivity and blessings into your life in the future. You’ll be less focused on the negative and will begin to see the glass half full.

3. Learn A New Skill or Find A New Hobby

Learning and gaining new skills and knowledge are excellent ways to boost your mental health and wellbeing. Continue to challenge yourself so you can grow and develop as an individual and professional by learning a new skill or finding a new hobby. You may discover new interests or abilities you didn’t know you had in the process. Learning and taking in new information helps you create a more open mindset and allows you to have a different and sometimes more rewarding perspective on a matter.

4. Spend Time in Nature

There are many benefits of getting outside regularly and spending time in nature. It can help you reduce stress and the fresh air and beautiful smells and sights will quickly slow a racing mind. Being in nature is good for your health and emotional wellbeing and will allow you to reset and regroup so you return home ready to focus on the day ahead or your responsibilities. There are a variety of activities you can do if you want to be outdoors more such as walking and hiking or gardening. Even if the weather is chilly you can dress appropriately and get outside for a short stroll or to walk the dog.

5. Make Rest & Sleep A Priority

Lack of sleep can take a toll on your mind and body over time. Your mental health is likely to suffer a great deal if you fail to get enough rest and sleep each night. You must make sleep a priority and take breaks to rest and regroup when you’re feeling overwhelmed or tired. Boost your mental health and wellbeing by going to bed at a decent hour and waking up around the same time each day. Find a relaxing bedtime routine that helps relax you such as taking a warm bath or reading a book instead of playing on your phone or computer.

6. Make Meaningful Connections With Others

Relationships and social connections also have a way of making you feel alive and happy. Boost your mental health and wellbeing by making an effort to establish meaningful connections and bonds with others. Find people who you like spending time with and who you can trust when you want to open up and share your thoughts and feelings with them. Nurture and keep the relationships that you find the most rewarding and encouraging and distance yourself from those who are pessimistic or who tend to bring you down. You’ll be much happier and more satisfied when you give your time and attention to people who truly care about you.

Get Help

There’s no overlooking the fact you’ll often need professional help with your mental help. Therapists are the most obvious choice with this, but there are also other options. The goal behind this is being able to understand your emotions and properly deal with them. An Enneagram coach can help with this. Once you get the help you need, staying well will be much easier.

How Often Should You See A Dentist As An Adult?

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. Dental health is often thought to be the gateway to the health of the rest of the body. As an adult, you must continue to be vigilant about your dental health . The following contributed post is entitled, How Often Should You See A Dentist As An Adult?

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Woman having dental checkup – Image Courtesy of Pexels

You should see a dentist as an adult as much as your personal situation calls for. Of course, this can differ for everyone. However, there are many reasons and aspects to adult dental treatment.

Common Dental Problems

About half of adults have gum disease. About 20% of these people have very bad gum disease. You’ll lose your teeth if you don’t treat cavities and gum disease. Most of the cases are caused by tooth decay, oral cancer, and dental injuries. Tooth erosion, gum infections, and gums that pull away from the teeth are also very serious dental problems. These problems can cause a lot of pain and discomfort, but your dentist can help. And they might make it hard for you to eat.

Why You Get Oral Issues

Oral diseases are caused by a number of risk factors that can be changed. These include eating too much sugar, smoking, drinking too much alcohol, and not taking care of your teeth and gums. Most of the time, bacteria are kept in check by the body’s natural defenses and good oral health care, like brushing and flossing every day. But if you don’t take care of your teeth and gums properly, bacteria can grow to levels that could cause tooth decay and gum disease.

See a Dentist as an Adult Once Per Year

Most dentists will tell you to come in about once every six months for a routine cleaning and exam if they are still getting treatment. But in general, the less likely you are to have problems with your teeth, the longer you can go between check-ups. But people who have more problems will need to go to the dentist more often. You can cut this down to once a year with good care. And for every two years if you have excellent oral healthcare with and practice good hygiene.

Ongoing Treatments You Can Try

Taking care of your teeth and mouth is something you have to do for the rest of your life. You can get specialist care and pay for cosmetic dentistry if you go to a private dental office. The goal of cosmetic dentistry is to prevent and, if necessary, fix things that don’t look good. Most of the time, these are discolored teeth, crowded teeth, and the visible signs of gum disease and recession. However, it would help if you still took care of your teeth as well as you can at home.

Effectively Brushing Your Teeth

People sometimes clean their teeth in the wrong way. For example, some people don’t spend enough time brushing. And others take too long to brush. To properly brush your teeth, move the brush gently back and forth in short strokes. You should brush the outside, the inside, and the chewing surfaces of your teeth. Try to brush for around two minutes, and don’t push too hard, either. New electric brushes from Oral-B let you know when you are using too much force.

Summary

With good oral health, you should see a dentist once per year. However, issues like gum disease can mean more appointments. Or excellent oral health could mean less dentist visits.

5 Things You Should Think About Before Unlocking Your Phone

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Technology. Our cell phones and mobile devices have become integral parts of our lives. As such its important to consider how to get the most out of them. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Things You Should Think About Before Unlocking Your Phone.

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Photo by Bagus Hernawan on Unsplash

Unlocking your phone is a great way to get more out of your phone. Cell phone unlocking allows you to use your cell phone on any network, giving you more flexibility with your device and saving money in the long run. Here are five things to keep in mind before unlocking your phone:

You get to choose you own carrier

If you want to unlock your phone, you should consider the carrier. Unlocking your phone means that you can use it on any network. This is important because there are many different carriers, and each of them has different plans. If you’re trying to save money and use a plan that isn’t offered by your current carrier, then unlocking your phone may be right for you.

The process of unlocking a phone involves opening up the device and removing some software restrictions that prevent it from being used on other networks. This can be done through a third party who offers degoogled phones or by the carrier itself.

Cell phone unlocking offers more affordable options

When you unlock your phone, you have the freedom to choose a cheaper carrier when traveling internationally where local carriers are less expensive than roaming fees from your home provider. Additionally, unlocked phones can be purchased used at a lower price point than locked devices because there is less of a barrier for those who already have an established relationship with a wireless company.

Unlocking your phone allows you to cover more areas

Unlocking your phone allows you to use it on multiple carriers. Unlocking your phone allows you to use it in other countries. Unlocking your phone allows you to use it in rural areas, where there may not be enough signal for a carrier and another carrier might have a stronger one.

You get increased resale value for your phone

If you plan on selling your phone, be sure it’s unlocked before doing so. A locked phone can only be used with one carrier, while an unlocked phone is compatible with any compatible network. This makes your device more valuable and easier to sell—you can get rid of that old iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S8 without paying a carrier any fees, or you could even sell it internationally if you’re looking to make some extra cash!

You can use a single phone internationally

Unlocking your phone allows you the freedom to use it wherever you go. If you travel often and need a SIM card for each country, unlocking will save money in the long run. You can also use your phone to call and text friends and family back home if they have an international plan with their carrier.

Additionally, many phones come with GPS capabilities that can help travelers find places such as restaurants or hotels without having to rely on a map or ask strangers for directions.

In conclusion, unlocking for your phone has a variety of benefits, that will allow you the freedom to use your phone and increase its security. So if you’re interested in unlocking your phone, you should definitely consider it.

Expanding Your Legal Firm Abroad

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If you own a legal firm, one of your considerations may be expanding it abroad. This is no minor undertaking and there are several aspects to ponder. The following contributed post is entitled, Expanding Your Legal Firm Abroad.

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It’s no secret that the legal industry is booming. In fact, more and more people are choosing to go into law every year. The problem is, there aren’t enough lawyers to go around! So, if you’re looking to expand your legal firm abroad, you’re in luck – this is a great time to do it. This blog post will discuss some of the things you need to think about when expanding your legal firm abroad and tips on making the process as smooth as possible.

1) The first thing you need to do when expanding your legal firm abroad is research the market:

It would be best if you made sure that there’s a demand for your services in the country you’re looking to expand to. This can be done by speaking to potential clients or even conducting online research.

Once you’ve done your research and you’re confident that there’s a market for your services, it’s time to start planning your expansion. Here are some things you need to think about:

● What type of legal services do you want to offer?
● What are the regulations surrounding foreign law firms in your expanding country?
● How will you go about marketing your firm to potential clients?
● Do you have the necessary financial resources in place to support your expansion?

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2) Planning is key:

As with any business venture, planning is crucial when expanding your legal firm abroad. But first, you need to make sure that you have a solid business plan that considers all of your expansion’s different aspects.

If you’re not sure where to start with your planning, there are plenty of resources available online, or you could even speak to a professional business consultant. Once you have a clear plan in place, you can start thinking about your expansion’s practicalities.

● Where will you be based?
● Do you need to hire any additional staff?
● What type of office space do you need?
● How will your clients be able to contact you?

3) Specializing in certain areas:

Another important thing to consider when expanding your legal firm abroad is what areas of law you want to specialize in. This is important because it will allow you to focus your marketing efforts, and it will also give potential clients a clear idea of what your firm can offer them.

If you’re not sure what areas of law you want to specialize in, think about the type of clients you want to work with and the type of cases you’re interested in; for instance, widening to the Gulf, you can specialize in becoming oilfield attorneys, and so on. Then, once you have a clearer idea, you can start to research the different markets for each area of law.

● What type of clients do you want to work with?
● What type of cases are you interested in?
● What is the market like for each area of law?
● Are there any niche areas of law that you could specialize in?

4) Making the most of technology:

In today’s day and age, technology plays a huge role in business. This is especially true when it comes to expanding your legal firm abroad. There are a number of different ways that you can use technology to your advantage, such as:

● Using online tools to research potential markets
● Creating a website for your firm
● Registering with online directories
● Using social media to market your firm
● Utilizing video conferencing technologies to stay in touch with clients and colleagues

5) The expansion of your firm will also give you the chance to work with new people and learn new things:

This is one of the significant advantages of expanding your firm abroad – it gives you the opportunity to meet and work with different types of people from all over the world. In addition, you’ll learn new skills, knowledge, and ways of working that you can bring back to your home country.

In addition, expanding your firm will also give you a chance to learn more about other cultures and legal systems. This can be incredibly valuable for your future career, as it will make you more well-rounded and knowledgeable. And, as an added bonus, you may even find some new friends along the way!

In conclusion, expanding your firm abroad is a great way to grow your business, learn new things, and make new friends. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your expansion today!

How Your Brand Can Influence Customer Purchase Decisions

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Of all the elements of your business, you brand may be the most important of all. It can be a great ambassador for you, but it can also be a great liability to you. The following contributed post is entitled, How Your Brand Can Influence Customer Purchase Decisions.

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As an entrepreneur, the pressure to influence customers’ purchase decisions is inevitable. And according to reports, 71% of people are more likely to buy a product based on social media referrals. It requires taking proactive steps to strategically position your brand to ensure profitability. The first step in that direction would be to assess your brand’s health. After that, you can use the suggestions below to influence your customers’ purchase decisions.

1. Create a personalized product to satisfy groups of people

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In marketing, sales and customer initiatives, there is a lot of focus on the individual or consumer of the product. While this is not bad, experts say it would be more useful to extend it to groups. In other words, think about your target market as categories in the marketplace. For example, plan your marketing activities to target groups of medical professionals, college students, media organizations or artists. By categorizing your consumers, you would be more aware of their needs to develop a product or service to meet them, so feel free to consider this.

In no time, your consumers will start to base their purchase decisions on how your product serves their category of people, so keep this in mind. The Coca-Cola beverage company made a huge global impact using this technique. With a brand built around sharing happiness with friends and family, the company started branding bottles with categorizations in mind. This was the period when their bottles had “Mama,” “Friend,” “BFF,” and other personalizations. After a huge success with it, the company targeted millennials and made a slight move from baby boomers in 2014.

2. Make the product stand out by intensifying tangible benefits

Making your product stand out requires creative thinking and effective marketing. If it is a tangible product, it will take a team of experienced and highly-skilled product designers. On the other hand, if it is an intangible product, you may want to concentrate on tangible benefits that are easily recognizable. For example, a car wash is categorized under intangible products because it offers a service. To get customers readily hooked on your car wash brand and services, you will need to make them see the tangible benefits.

For example, you must use authentic car shampoo that helps customers’ vehicles maintain their original color. And that is a tangible benefit that can be seen. As expected, customers will always consider a brand that offers ready-to-see, lasting benefits of its products or service. When you understand it from this perspective, it is easier to remain on the minds of consumers. This mental availability intensifies your brand’s category entry points – good news for future profits.

3. Be intentional about putting your product out there

It is already established that the consumer market is fiercely competitive. You wouldn’t be wrong to assume it is a dog-eat-dog environment. This is why you stand a chance to be seen by deliberately putting your product out. Your brand can only make waves when you devise strategies to get it to the consumer. Apart from accessing the customer, your brand or product must have enough reason to stay relevant to the target audience. Over the years, many companies have used this strategy and reaped great benefits.

One example is Hutchison, a Hong Kong-based mobile company. When the brand released its flagship mobile product, it had to up its game in the customer access department. The company used an intentional approach to put their product out there. They sent young people to train stations at specific times of the day, with the new mobile product in hand. Within a few weeks, people got attracted to the flashy appearance of Hutchison mobile products. This technique helped boost the company’s initial sales.

4. Make effective use of the urgency approach

The power to influence a customer’s purchasing decision is not handed to entrepreneurs on a silver platter. It would help if you worked very hard and smartly for it. The fact that your marketing activities are all checked doesn’t mean that customers will patronize your product. This is where a gentle push may be required. You can accelerate their decision-making process by using the urgency method. Global companies like Apple have successfully used this approach.

By creating a scarcity of a product, you increase urgency among consumers. Indeed, this has worked for well-established global brands like Apple, so how can it work for a yet-to-known name like yours? The trick is to release your products and let them flood a section of the target market only for a short period. When initial sales exceed expectations, you will be right to maintain this move. Once people hint at your product’s efficacy, they want to own one. In this scenario, you will be controlling their purchase decisions, so keep this in mind.

5. Create a customer loyalty program

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These loyalty programs effectively retain old customers who have stuck to your brand for months, years and even decades. Chances are that you can already control or influence this group’s purchasing decisions. And the repeat business they give your business proves they have your brand in mind. However, it is important not to take their loyalty for granted. A strong competitor can easily sway old or loyal customers when you fail to maintain standards.

This is why you will need a customer loyalty program. By rewarding existing and old customers, you unconsciously encourage them to return for repeat business. Using this strategy keeps your brand on their minds, especially when they must purchase a product you create. Many skincare companies like Nivea, Dove and Clinique have successfully used customer loyalty programs. This technique would be useful for a brand with a huge existing customer base. But it can still work for growing businesses, so feel free to consider this.

It costs five times more to attract a new customer. So, you can safeguard the ones you have until you can fund activities to draw in new ones. For businesses, having control over consumer purchasing decisions is a necessity.

How Any Business Can Be Better For The Planet

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. A major concern for many businesses today is their impact on the environment. The following contributed post is entitled, How Any Business Can Be Better For The Planet.

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It’s an aim that most people are keen to achieve, but one that can nonetheless be surprisingly hard to actually get – making sure that your business is as good for the planet as possible. If you are keen to try and make this particular kind of improvement to your company, then there are a lot of ways that you can go about it – but you will obviously be keen to ensure that you are doing it in the most efficient and effective way possible. So let’s take a look at how you can make your business better for the planet in no time at all.

Change Processes

First of all, consider changing any major processes that you might need to change, especially those top-down ones which affect the entire business’ processes. If you can do that, it should mean that you are going to have a much better chance of your entire business being so much better for the planet, and that is exactly what we are aiming for here of course. So change those processes where necessary and you will find that you are already in a much better position regarding your business’ effect on the environment.

Pic Source – CCO License

Opt For Better Tools

It’s also important that you are looking at which tools and materials you are using, because some are always going to be better than others when it comes to the ability to be eco-friendly. As long as you mostly use reusable and recyclable materials, you are going to feel a lot better about your green credentials. Depending on the nature of the business and what industry you are in, that might involve using something like voidformer or whatever else. The important thing is that you are using whatever is necessary in each case to be as eco-friendly as possible.

Set An Example

You can also make a difference by how you set an example to the world, especially if yours is a brand that is generally quite trusted. If you are thinking of trying to do this, then you might want to think about how you are going to make it work, and mostly it comes down to actually walking the walk. As well as that, you should focus on your branding to ensure that you are clear about your green credentials and that they are out there for all to see. Once you have done that, the rest should more or less fall into place.

Pic Source – CCO License

Offer Remote Work

Finally, there is much to be said for offering your employees remote work, and this is something that you should definitely consider if you are keen to make sure that your employees are going to be doing their own part in terms of caring for the planet too. Remote work means fewer expenditures, but also that your impact on the planet as a company is going to be much less, so it’s really important that you are thinking about this in particular. With more remote work comes a better world.

Going Greener With Your Business Can Actually Save Money

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. The wave of the future is going green. Despite its stigmas, going green just may able to save you money. The following contributed post is entitled, Going Greener With Your Business Can Actually Save Money.

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Each day it becomes more and more important that we’re all doing our part in going green. There are many ways in which we leave our carbon footprint on the environment, and while sometimes it cannot be avoided – you have a lot of options when it comes to turning your business towards greener solutions.

What a lot of business owners haven’t realized yet is that going green can actually save you a decent chunk of money, which could be better spent on other aspects of your business. On top of the savings, you would be improving the reputation of your business, and you may even expect to see a rise in sales as you grow more and more conscious of the environmental impact your business is having.

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Profitable recycling

Recycling is something we should all be doing, regardless of whether we’re at work or at home – but if you’re often having to throw out materials, tools, or anything; you should be looking for better ways of disposing of it. Just because something is no longer functional, doesn’t mean you can’t do better than dumping it. Recycling can even turn out to be profitable if what you’re trying to get rid of has useful materials. Ridding yourself of unwanted junk and gaining a profit for it in return can do a lot for your business, so keep that in mind!

You can learn more about getting money for your recyclables at this post. The added complexity can be worth it if you’re constantly trying to make a difference with your business.

Less commuting costs

Working from home is something that’s become more and more common throughout the past couple of years, and as a result, businesses are managing to significantly lower their carbon footprint. When employees no longer have to worry about commuting to work each and every day, less money is going to be spent on that commute, and less pollution is going to be impacting the environment.

Not only is this a great chance for you to improve upon your business practices, but it allows you to lower the utility costs of the offices, as you won’t need to keep the lights running each and every day.

Lower resource investment

A great way you can save money while going greener would be to go paperless within your office. An unthinkable amount of paperwork is handled by different businesses every day, and with modern technology, that’s not always necessary. There are so many ways you can work around the use of paper, but it involves making changes to how things are handled within the workplace.

You could solve this by making better use of the cloud, allowing you to keep all of your documents in one place, while still being accessible to anyone who is sharing the network. You’re saving money, reducing waste, and also freeing up some of the space in your office that would otherwise be used for printers and file storage.

Improve Your Productivity At Work With Smartwatch

Three focuses of my blog are Career Discussions, Workplace Discussions and Technology. Smartwatches are an innovation that is change most aspects of our lives. Smartwatches can significantly impact our time at work. The following contributed post is entitled, Improve Your Productivity At Work With Smartwatch.

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The value of smart watches is continually on the rise, and more and more people are beginning to regard them as trustworthy additions to the workplace. This digital assistant that you wear on your wrist can take over a number of tasks, allowing you to increase your productivity in a variety of different work areas. It can do this by taking care of a number of different responsibilities. Of course, it is important to get a good one, and check the battery life for apple watch – no one wants it going flat in the middle of a working day.

Keep reading to find out more about the numerous ways in which a smartwatch can assist you with your professional needs.

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Never let a call go unanswered

It is possible that your chances of being successful at work will be hurt if you are absent when an important call comes in. It is possible that a smartwatch would come in handy in this kind of scenario. You will be able to stay on top of all of the daily work calls that come into your smartphone if you have a smartwatch because it functions as an extension of your smartphone and allows you to do so. Put away your smartphone and let your smartwatch handle all of your call responsibilities instead. You will not even need to take your phone out of your pocket.

Your wrist will serve as the control center for both incoming and outgoing phone calls, and you will be able to manage them all with ease. Without having to look at your smartphone, you are able to make and answer calls, access your call logs, and set favorite contacts. You will find that it is much simpler for you to complete a number of different tasks at the same time as a result of this.

Use voice commands

The use of smartwatches enables users to complete tasks with the assistance of their voice, which is a very convenient option. It is not necessary to take your phone out of its case in order to use the voice assistant on your phone any longer. Because some smartwatches come equipped with dedicated access to the voice assistant on the user’s smartphone, it is possible to make phone calls, send texts, and perform web searches directly from the wrist with those smartwatches. Other smartwatches do not have this capability.

There are even options available that come with an integrated Alexa, enabling you to carry out tasks without the need to use your phone in the process. If you use your voice to get updates on the various tasks you are working on, you will be able to approach your work in a more methodical manner, which will allow you to get more work done.

Uphold a high level of performance at all times

Smartwatches are able to assist you in easily completing tasks such as these, whether you need to monitor some changes in the stock market or you just want to run some numbers on the calculator.

If you have the capability to directly access the internet on your wrist, you will have the ability to perform instant web searches, view your social media handles, and even keep up with daily current events. If you are on top of things and discover stories as they are unfolding, you can achieve this by staying informed and keeping up with the news.

Take the initiative in everything you do

A smartwatch’s primary function is to act as a personal assistant by providing the wearer with guidance and reminders to help them stay on top of their day-to-day to-do list. If you have a smartwatch, you can use the watch’s programming capabilities to create your own unique routine and instruct it to alert you of upcoming appointments that are particularly important to you.

With the help of a smartwatch, you will be able to manage all of your responsibilities, from keeping track of important phone calls and meetings to staying on top of all of your tasks. Make sure you do not forget anything by customizing your reminders for each of your responsibilities, which will allow you to stay on top of everything.

The functionality of smart watches is only going to continue to expand, which means that they will be of increasing assistance to us in a variety of different aspects of our work.

The Benefits Of Buying Used

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. Many people like to buy brand new items. In many instances though, used items can be a powerful strategy. The following contributed post is entitled, The Benefits Of Buying Used.

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Pixabay – CCO Licence

If you are someone who usually buys the things you need for your home and business new, then you are probably wondering about how you can save money, and the answer is undoubtedly buying used.

However, if you have never bought anything used before, you might be wondering what the benefits of secondhand are, so let’s take a look at them right now.

Save money

As we touched on above, whether you are buying iPhone 6S Plus that has been used and fully refurbishes, or a used car, when you choose to buy goods that have already had a life, you will save a huge amount of money, and these days, even used goods often come with a warranty and a full guarantee, so you have nothing to worry about.

Good for the planet

When you buy used, you are not causing the demand for new items to increase, which means fewer finite resources are needed and less carbon is produced. If this is important to you on a personal level, then it makes sense to buy used, but it can also make sense on a business level too.

These days, customers are looking to buy from companies who are ethical and who care about the planet, if you buy used IT equipment or recycled paper or things of that nature, then you can talk about them and how you are trying to be more ethical thus saving money and boosting your brand credentials in the process. You know it makes sense.

It helps people

Buying used goods can also help people. If you buy directly from people in your neighborhood, you might end up supplying them with the few dollars they need for the grocery shop or to pay the electricity bill that week. And if you buy from a thrift store, you will help to fund many good causes too. If you are someone who likes to help those less fortunate, then buying used is a good way to do that because it benefits your wallet and the charities and people who live around you too.

Cut down on packaging

Packaging, especially plastic packaging is a really bad thing for the environment and those of us who live on the planet. Obviously, when you buy used more often you end up using less plastic packaging, which means less waste overall. It is also a really good way to set an example and show that another way is possible.

Bigger profits

If you buy used machinery and equipment for your business, then you will be able to take a bigger profit at the end of the year and keep your cash flowing more effectively, which is why so many more businesses are buying secondhand today.

As you can see, there are numerous benefits to buying used both in your personal life and your professional one, so before you spend lots of money unnecessarily on anything from phones to clothes, see if you can find the same thing second hand instead.

5 Essential Components Of Your new Restaurant Business

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. A very lucrative but nuanced sector of business is the restaurant business. There are several components that you’ll need to have in place in to be successful in this sector as it’s not just about your unique cuisine. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Essential Components Of Your new Restaurant Business.

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Opening a restaurant is a fantastic way to share your love of food and people with the neighborhood and the wider community. However, not everyone is cut out to be a restaurateur, which is why a high percentage fail within the first three years. If you want to avoid being part of this statistic, you need to know the essential components of opening a restaurant.

The Perfect Location

A bad location is one of the most common reasons why restaurants struggle to make ends meet. While being a hidden gem sounds cool, a strong reputation but not customers won’t pay the bills.

It isn’t just about where the restaurant is, though. You also need to think about how the vibe reflects the areas. You don’t want to cultivate a family atmosphere in a bustling downtown area just the same way you wouldn’t want something edgy in the depths of suburbia.

Comfortable Amenities

People enjoy their food more if they are comfortable, so welcoming restaurant furniture is a must for any business. The more comfortable your diners are, the more likely it is they’ll stay a little longer, meaning they may also rack up a higher bill.

These amenities should cover all areas of the restaurant. There should be no rickety tables. The chairs should be comfortable to sit on for an hour or more. Your bar stools and even waiting areas should also match the atmosphere you want to create.

Passionate Kitchen Staff

Some people feel that kitchen staff are lazy and even entitled, but that isn’t always the case. Although some may be fresh out of college and looking for some quick cash, you can find more professional team members who will put their all into the food.

This all begins by finding a head chef who knows what they are doing. Typically, the best head chefs have been trained at an official school, but you may find someone who has been around the block in restaurants across the city.

The Right Technology

Modern restaurants rely on technology more than the average customer might think. Besides wireless Point-of-Sale terminals, you can also take advantage of online ordering programs and digital seating charts to keep up with the current capacity and work out when space becomes available. This tech shouldn’t be as complicated as many restaurants make out, but it’s still worth training everyone on how to use it.

A Vision

If you want your restaurant to survive, you need to think about where you see the business in the next three, five, or ten years. Your restaurant vision is crucial for maintaining interest and keeping things fresh. You can take some time at the beginning of the restaurant to build a following and a reputation, but once you’ve established this, play around with the menu, introduce new items, and showcase your entrepreneurial skills.

Bon Appetit

Whether you want to create a fine dining experience or share some delicious, calorific home-cooked recipes, your restaurant business has the chance to thrive. Make sure you’re in the perfect location and have a supportive team behind you. If this is the case, you can look forward to many years of high-quality meals and happy customers.