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.

Land And Logistics: 5 Considerations When Expanding A Business Into New Territories

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. A business sector that’s in the news quite a bit these days is that of logistics. Logistics is a critical sector in any economy. The following contributed post is entitled, Land And Logistics: 5 Considerations When Expanding A Business Into New Territories.

* * *

Pixabay – CC0 License

Everybody has business goals on a grand scale. Once you’ve tackled your local area and you have set up the business with successful custom, you will need to start thinking about international expansion. In the last couple of years, it has been incredibly challenging, but when you extend your business into new territories you will supercharge your growth but you’ve got to be aware of some of the risks. Here are some things to bear in mind.

Have the Right Reasons To Expand

A lot of people expand purely because they want to get more of everything. The reason could be to expand for a specific client base or the fact that you’ve already succeeded in your local market and need new locations to grow. But you’ve got to bear in mind that a local business is so much smaller. You may already have a handle on your local logistics, but international territories come with a lot more in the way of rules and regulations. This is why you may want to start preparing more in terms of your logistics. Whether it’s through the right digital freight broker or researching the best logistics software, it’s all worth nothing if you don’t have the right commercial reason.

Setting Up a Local Company in a Second Location Properly

Going local is vital for every new business because it gives you the opportunity to expand in a very natural way. Given the risks of doing business in any new location, setting up a local company is always a sensible approach. It doesn’t just help you to reduce the risk to the rest of your business, but it also gives you the opportunity to get involved and get local advice. There are so many different local laws and commercial requirements, but there are also local customs that you simply cannot get to grips with in a few months. You need to find the right people that have an inherent understanding of local trade and customs.

Embracing Local Approaches to Doing Business

Every country is going to have a different approach to its business, and while you will need to keep your company culture and ethos the same, you will need to make certain adjustments to make for a more practical transition.

Keep Face-to-Face Meetings Where Possible

So many businesses have retreated online since the pandemic. Naturally, there is nothing wrong with this, but it’s important to meet suppliers and clients face-to-face so you can start to build local business relationships. You’ve always got to make the effort to go to them, and this is why you need to have this built into your approach to doing business in new locations. Time and time again, many local business people do not go far enough and make the effort, so you need to reconsider how you can avoid doing everything remotely.

Being Involved

When you open a business in a new territory, there will be a specific risk. You need to be highly involved, and even if you cannot oversee everything, you need to have somebody that you trust to be in charge of the operation. This will ensure that you are not just developing your business, but you are working hard at keeping employees happy And healthy. as well.

How To Find The Right Digital Tools And Services For Your Business

Three focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. In today’s digital world, there are a plethora of tools available for doing business. It’s important to find those that will aid you in your business dealings. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Find The Right Digital Tools And Services For Your Business.

* * *

Image from Pixabay – CC0 License

Any modern business needs to have various digital tools and services to manage its operations. These tools and services can range in function, designed for a huge number of tasks, from improving security to enabling customer communication. Whatever your business needs digital tools for, choosing the right ones takes time and consideration. Choosing the wrong tools could cost your business a lot of money and wasted time. Before you decide which digital tools and services your business should be using, you need to assess the needs of your business and determine which tools are going to fulfill them.

Compare Performance

Whatever tools you’re looking for, you need them to function well and offer a performance that will improve your business processes. You could read reviews to understand how others have experienced a service or product that you’re considering. However, there are also more objective ways to check performance levels. You can check the status of a service to determine information like Cloudflare down statistics. Clear stats that reveal whether a service offers the performance you’re looking for makes it easier to compare the tools that you’re considering. Of course, reviews can be useful too, especially when comparing functionality and usefulness.

Communicate with Staff

Whenever you are looking for new tools for your business to use, it’s always a good idea to communicate with your employees. They often know best what types of tools and services they really require and what would help them to work smarter and harder. They can also be involved in testing out new tools, especially as they will be the people learning how to use them and using them every day. Get the input of employees at every level who will be interacting with new tools or whose jobs will be affected by the implementation of something new.

Image from Pixabay – CC0 License

Assess the Costs

The costs of your business’s digital tools and services also make a difference when you’re looking for the right options. It’s not just the upfront cost of purchasing any tools that matters but also other associated expenses and budgeting factors. How much will it cost your business if you choose the right tool? How much could you save if you choose the right one? Will implementing a new tool or service incur any other costs for your company? Consider your budget when you are looking for new digital tools to ensure the cost is right for your business.

Trial Tools and Services

Trying out a new tool or service before implementing it across your organization is smart. Many providers will allow you to start with a demo, where they will show you how everything works and how their service can help. You can then often trial the product to see how it will work for your organization before deciding whether to sign up for a subscription or purchase the product. Trial lengths vary but they usually offer enough time to make a good decision.

Finding the right digital tools and services for your business can take some time but don’t rush the process if you want to make the right choice.

How Physical Advertising Can Increase Business Foot Traffic

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If you own a brick-and-mortar business, you want to figure out how to get as much foot traffic possible into your proprietorship. The following contributed post is entitled, How Physical Advertising Can Increase Business Foot Traffic.

* * *

Physical advertising can have a huge influence on foot traffic to your business. Physical advertising refers to banners, flags and billboard advertisements (non-digital), that people can see in the real world. Foot traffic is the number of people that visit a particular area, in this case your company location. Foot traffic to physical businesses will result in a direct conversion to customers in the same way you can expect on a website. Here’s how physical advertising can increase business foot traffic.

Pexels-CC0 License

Physically Signpost Your Business

Research suggests that 85% of people live within a five mile radius of your business. A physical sign will literally signpost your business to local residents, directing them to your location. A sign is a physical way of highlighting your presence in a specific area. Reputable services and high quality banners like this will help physically signpost your business to local customers. 90% of people that enter your business are usually attracted by a banner placed near your store.

The Science Of Advertising

Corporate events have always benefited from physical advertisements like banners and flyers. This is because physical advertising is scientifically proven to draw people to your location. In fact, what is known as ‘out of home’ or OOH advertising reaches 98% of the population and influences over 50% of these individuals every year. Out of home advertising refers to adverts people see when they go outside. With individuals spending as much as 70% of their time outdoors, they are more likely to see physical advertising than the digital equivalent for a high percentage of the time.

Brand Recognition

Brand recognition has a huge influence on foot traffic to your location. Brand recognition is successful when a customer has associated your branding or logo with your business. Physical advertising like billboards or banners can help expose foot traffic to your business, having a huge influence on brand recognition. The use of physical colored banners can even increase brand recognition by as much as 80%. Higher brand recognition usually translates directly to increased popularity and profits.

Increase Business Credibility

Physical advertisements can act as a boost to your business reputation. High quality physical advertising like banners, billboards or flags can show passing foot traffic that you are prepared to invest in your business. Good advertising can also signal to your customers that you are a credible and high quality business. Brand recognition and credibility combined can have a huge impact on foot traffic, as people usually tend to be drawn towards what they like and trust.

Consistent Digital Advertising

Brand consistency plays a huge role in both brand recognition and foot traffic to your business. If your physical and digital advertising is consistent, then any web traffic in your local area will convert to recognition of your physical advertising. Keep any logos, fonts and colors consistent in both your digital and physical advertising for maximum impact.

Have More Money To Invest In Advertising

Physical advertising is significantly cheaper than digital advertising, and it has a real-time physical impact. Investing in physical advertising leaves you with more money to spend on the quality of the advert, and the volume of the adverts to display in your local area. Physical advertising is considered less competitive than digital advertising, which is why there are fewer cost implications associated with purchasing a billboard or banner. They also last for longer than a digital advert which makes them automatically cost-effective compared to shorter digital campaigns.

Reputation As More Energy Efficient

Many banners and billboards are recyclable, whereas a digital billboard or advertisement costs a lot of energy to run for a comparatively shorter period of time. As many as 80% of millennials consider business environmental policies integral to whether they work with an organization. Through investing in physical advertising, you can reap the reward of additional foot traffic to a more environmentally sustainable business.

Conclusions

Physical advertising can have a real world impact on drawing foot traffic to your business. You are physically signaling to customers your location, boosting your brand recognition, and even boosting your reputation as a sustainable business. If you create a consistent and high quality physical and digital campaign, you’ll benefit from your physical banners even more. With more and more people going outside again this year, you’ll find people are more likely to see a physical advert rather than a virtual one. Try investing in a physical banner this year and see what impact it has on your business today.

How To Keep Your Employees Happy And Satisfied

Two focuses of my blog are Organizational/Management Discussions and Workplace Discussions. No matter what kind of organization you’re running, you want to keep your employees excited and fulfilled while on your staff. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Keep Your Employees Happy And Satisfied.

* * *

In order to have a successful business, you need happy and satisfied employees. It’s as simple as that. If your employees are unhappy, they won’t be productive, and your business will suffer. This blog post will discuss some tips on how to keep your employees happy and satisfied and cover everything from salary and benefits to company culture and communication. So keep reading for helpful advice that will make your workplace a more comfortable place!

via Pexels

1) Consider their salaries

Make sure you are paying your employees a competitive salary. This is probably an essential factor in keeping your employees satisfied. If they feel like they are being underpaid, they will be unhappy and look for other jobs. Make sure to do your research and find out what the average salary is for positions similar to the ones you have at your company. You can also offer incentives and bonuses to employees who go above and beyond their job duties.

In order to keep your employees satisfied, it is important to offer them a competitive salary. By providing a higher wage than other companies in your industry, you will attract top talent and keep existing employees from looking for new opportunities elsewhere. Furthermore, by providing bonuses or incentive programs, you will show that you value employee productivity and motivation.

2) Offer good benefits

Another critical factor in keeping your employees satisfied is offering good benefits. This can include things like health insurance, paid vacation days, and retirement savings plans. If your employees know that they are taken care of financially, they will be more likely to stay with your company. Good benefits are also a great way to attract new employees.

It is essential to offer comprehensive benefits packages to your employees if you want to keep them satisfied. Health insurance paid time off, and retirement savings plans are all important factors that should be included in any benefits package. By offering these financial protections, you will show your employees that you value their well-being and security. Additionally, attractive benefit packages are often key in attracting top talent to your company.

3) Promote a positive company culture

Another essential way to keep your employees satisfied is to promote a positive company culture. This includes things like having a friendly work environment, offering flexible working hours, and providing opportunities for professional development. Whether they need forklift certification or a course on customer service, professional development will play an integral role in their productivity. If your employees feel like they are part of a supportive and collaborative team, they will be more likely to stay with your company.

A positive company culture is essential for employee satisfaction. By creating an enjoyable and supportive work environment, you will encourage employee retention and satisfaction. Additionally, by offering flexible working hours and opportunities for professional development, you will show your employees that you value their time and commitment.

4) Give Them The Right Tools

Nobody wants their job to be difficult, so it’s always worth going out of your way to make your employees’ days easier. Tools and technology are great ways of doing this, and there are more than a few ways you can take advantage of them.

Customer relationship management software is always recommended, but the other tools and systems you use depend on the type of business you run. If you run a travel agency, for example, ChatGPT can be useful, as Anne and Carl Deane highlight.

Since the right tools make your employees’ days easier, they’ll be much happier in their jobs. It could even end up making them more productive, as they can get more done during the typical work day.

By following these tips, you can create a happy and productive workplace that will lead to success for your business! Offer competitive salaries, good benefits, and promote a positive company culture to keep your employees satisfied.

How Does Cloud Disaster Recovery Service Work?

Three focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. If you’re running a business or organization, you must think about protecting your data and back it up, even if you have cloud storage. The following sponsored post is entitled, How Does Cloud Disaster Recovery Service Work?

* * *

How does cloud disaster recovery service work? This article explores cost-effectiveness, scalability, compliance requirements, and SLA. The benefits of cloud disaster recovery service may surprise you, and these benefits can help you determine if it’s the right choice for your business. To help you make the right decision, consider four questions before selecting a cloud DR service. This article was written for business owners looking to save money and applies to individuals.

Cost-effectiveness

A cloud disaster recovery service like https://portworx.com/kubernetes-disaster-recovery/ is a smart choice for businesses that need to bounce back from a cyber-attack or ransomware attack. Cloud backup helps minimize the time it takes to get back online, and it can also reduce the overall cost of a system failure. Unfortunately, while most companies recognize the need to use a disaster recovery service, only a tiny percentage of them do so. However, the benefits of this service far outweigh any cost.

The cost-effectiveness of a cloud disaster recovery service depends on many factors. Several factors to consider, such as the level of protection the service offers, its scalability, and the TCO of dedicated DR infrastructure. Some cloud DR providers have several tiers, and some are better suited for specific data types than others. As a result, a cost-effective cloud disaster recovery service will serve a wide variety of data loads, and it may even be more suited for some companies than others.

Scalability

With cloud disaster recovery, your organization can get the scalability and flexibility needed to meet its current and future recovery needs without causing a significant resource drain. Depending on your needs, a cloud DR service may include some or all of your organization’s infrastructure. In this case, your recovery provider should have options to tier the infrastructure with longer-term storage solutions. In addition, you can restore your data and infrastructure remotely.

To choose the right size, you need to determine how much capacity your business needs. There are two main ways to scale up or down. The former involves upgrading memory, storage, and processing power. A vertical approach to scaling usually has an upper limit, and rising beyond that can lead to downtime. The latter method involves:

• Adding more servers.
• Spreading the workload across these machines.
• Enabling scalability to meet your needs without significantly impacting performance.

Compliance requirements

A cloud disaster recovery service can protect your business’ data and resources, but how do you determine which one meets compliance requirements? This article examines the factors to consider when choosing a cloud DR service. To begin, select the type of data you’d like to protect. Do you need to protect sensitive data, or is it enough to ensure your business’s continuity? The answer to these questions can vary by industry and provider, but there are several key factors to consider when choosing a cloud DR service.

SMBs must adhere to specific regulations, such as the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). The requirements vary, but they all require cloud backup solutions to be secure and encrypt data. Also, under HITECH (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act), cloud backup providers must sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with their clients to provide backup services.

SLA

A good SLA for cloud disaster recovery service must specify what normalcy means to the customer. In other words, how quickly can the service be restored to the previous state? In short, what is a “recovery point objective”? This article will explore what that is and how you can find out if the provider is meeting its SLA. After all, when disaster strikes, you’ll want to know that you’ll be able to recover your data as quickly as possible.

When evaluating cloud disaster recovery service providers, it’s essential to look at SLAs for the different stages of the recovery process. For example, continuous replication is critical in cloud disaster recovery as a failure during the replication process could compromise the integrity of your standby backup system, thereby inhibiting the recovery process. So, in addition, continuous replication should be included in the SLA.

How To Carve Out A Career Path In Five Easy Steps

Buffer

“A career path is a direction you plan to take in the future. It’s important to have a clear career path because it gives you something to work towards and can prevent you from feeling stuck in a job that holds no interest for you.”

Buffer

Two focuses of my blog Career Discussions and General Education. One of the most important decisions we will ever make our career path. It will impact our personal well-being and our finances. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Carve Out A Career Path In Five Easy Steps.

* * *

A career path is a direction you plan to take in the future. It’s important to have a clear career path because it gives you something to work towards and can prevent you from feeling stuck in a job that holds no interest for you.

Making your way down a career path can be intimidating if you don’t know where to start. Fortunately, with these six easy steps, you’ll be well on your way to finding the right one for you. Each step requires diligence and effort on your part, but they’re all manageable and straightforward to complete. You’ll feel like a champion by the end!

Photo Credit

5 Steps For Carving Out A Career Path

Step 1. Examine Your Strengths And Skills

The first way to carve out a career path is to thoroughly assess what you have to offer potential employers. Here are questions to ask yourself during this process:

● What comes easily to you?
● What tasks do you enjoy doing?
● What tasks are too complex for you?
● Are there skills you would like to improve?

Step 2. Make A List Of Potential Jobs

List jobs that you’re interested in. Remember to focus on the WHY more than the WHAT. Remember also to list jobs that use your strengths and skill sets. As those are sometimes jobs, you’ll be best at. at. You should think out of the box when making your list, jobs like becoming an expert trucking witness, a unique role where industry knowledge meets legal expertise. You could also consider positions such as a forensic accountant, who uncovers financial fraud; a digital overlanding consultant, advising on remote work while exploring the globe; or a conservation scientist specializing in urban environments, focusing on sustainable city living. Each of these professions requires a distinct set of skills and strengths, encouraging you to think broadly about where your abilities can take you.

Step 3. Research Your Options

This will help you know what exactly you’re signing up for. For example, you should know that careers in data science, accounting, finance, nursing, marketing, and teaching are rising. Engineering and computer programming are two top options for those who want a stable career.

Step 4. Imagine What It Will Be Like In Those Jobs

Your dream job may not be what you expected. You need to consider all the pros and cons. Do some research on the jobs that interest you. The best way to gauge if a career path is right for you is by getting hands-on experience with it. Consider finding someone who can mentor you or act as an advisor while choosing your career path.

Step 5. Put Yourself Out There.

Now that you’re armed with career-building tips, put yourself out there and begin networking. Here are a few ways to get started:

● Find a mentor.
● Join a professional association.
● Use social media as another means of networking online with like-minded professionals.

Taking your personal development forward is important, and exams can be a great way to measure progress. Working towards an exam allows you to focus on areas that need improvement and develop skills. With this in mind, finding resources online such as exam answers in PDF format can be beneficial. Not only do these resources help with revision but they also provide simple, straightforward answers to questions which helps hone areas of knowledge and understanding. GA4 certification answers in PDFs are a smart and convenient way to build confidence when taking an exam, as preparation is key.

Bonus step. How To Use Your Talent To Your Benefit

Suppose you have a talent but aren’t sure where to start or want more feedback before embarking on an independent career path. Consider contacting a worldwide talent acquisition company to give you some guidance. A representative will be able to inform you of any opportunities available in the marketplace.

In Conclusion

Whether you’re planning your first career move or looking to make a significant change, having a strategy will keep you from feeling overwhelmed by options. Following these steps can help you decide on a career path and set you up for success in whichever field you choose to pursue.

When Do You Need Help With Your Business Finances?

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. In addition to having a marketable and profitable idea, another major part of your business is managing its finances. It may not always be easy to do by yourself. The following contributed post is entitled, When Do You Need Help With Your Business Finances?

* * *

Every business owner needs to have some money sense. It’s crucial to ensure that you’re not making decisions that hurt your business’s survivability. However, that doesn’t mean that you need to be making every single financial decision by yourself, nor to completely understand every bit of the complex economic underpinnings of modern business. Sometimes, it’s okay to ask for a little help. In fact, it’s recommended. But, when should you do it? Here are a few examples of when to consider it.

Pic – Pixabay License

When it ensures that you get paid

What could be more vital to the financial health of the business than to make sure that you’re getting the money that you’re owed? Depending on how you get paid by your customers or clients, almost every business could benefit from some kind of payment service. This might mean setting up a merchant account to ensure that you’re able to accept certain kinds of payments. If you get paid by invoices, then you should look at invoice software that can help you track the incoming payments across all of your clients, including the ability to automate reminders for those whose payment date is coming up very soon or those who are late. A lot of business owners let their clients go for too long without giving them the pay that they should be getting.

When it comes to your taxes

Every business has to pay taxes and the vast majority of them are leaving money on the table by not being as thorough as they could be. An effective tax plan could see you saving a lot of money through allowance and deductions that you might not know to take advantage of. As such, you should ensure that you make use of taxation services in the lead-up to tax season. Not only can you make sure that the taxman isn’t taking more than they should, but you can also make sure that you’re avoiding any red flags that could trigger an audit, putting you under the microscope and disrupting your ability to work.

When you don’t have enough time to do it all yourself

You need to stay on top of and manage your small business finances. However, that can be easier said than done when you’re running a growing business and having to wear a host of hats to make sure that everything gets done to standard. If that’s the case, you might want to consider hiring a bookkeeper. Bookkeepers don’t really do anything that a business owner couldn’t, they just allow you to free up your time so that you don’t have to worry about it as much. It’s much better than letting your record-keeping, cash flow tracking, and other vital financial tasks go to the wayside.

Simply put, getting help with your business finances is always better than being unable to manage something related to them. Whether it’s something outside of your expertise or you simply don’t have the time to go over the books all of the time, there’s nothing wrong with getting some help.

Sending Love from Abroad: Making Your Family Feel Loved from Afar

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. Traveling abroad has its own therapeutic benefit. Even when you go, you must also think about the loved ones you’ve left behind. The following guest post is entitled, Sending Love from Abroad: Making Your Family Feel Loved from Afar.

* * *

There are many reasons why people might choose to move out of the country for a more profitable job. For one, the cost of living may be substantially higher in their home country than in the country where they plan to work. Additionally, jobs and corresponding salaries may be much better in another country. And finally, some people may move for their families – wanting to provide them with a better life and more opportunities than what they would have otherwise. Whatever the reason, it’s clear that sacrificing time away from loved ones to support them is admirable and deeply appreciated.

Being away from your family can be challenging, especially during special occasions or holidays. But there are plenty of ways to let them know you’re thinking of them and that you care. A little creativity and thoughtfulness can go a long way in making your loved ones feel cared for, even when you’re miles away.

Maintain Constant Communication

One of the best ways to make your family feel loved from afar is to maintain constant communication. Whether you’re sending them a text, email, or video chatting with them, hearing your voice and seeing your face will help remind them that you’re always thinking of them. If possible, try to schedule regular video chats so that you can hear about their day-to-day lives and see their faces and expressions. Despite the distance, it will help bring you closer to them and vice versa.

Another great way to communicate is through sending handwritten letters or cards. In today’s age of technology, there’s something special about receiving a physical letter in the mail. Seeing your handwriting and thoughts on paper will make your family members feel loved. If you can’t send a letter often, consider sending one for special occasions like birthdays, holidays, or anniversaries.

Make an Effort to Learn about Their Lives

It can be easy to feel out of touch with their lives when away from your family. To make them feel loved, you must make an effort to learn about their lives and what’s going on with them. Ask them about their jobs, hobbies, friends, and anything else that’s going on in their world. Showing genuine interest in their lives will let them know that you care about them and want to stay up-to-date on what’s happening with them.

Additionally, you can help make your family members feel more connected to your life by sharing details about your own experiences. Send them photos, videos, and stories about your life to feel like they’re right there with you. It will also help prevent homesickness by making them feel like they know what’s going on in your world.

Support Them Emotionally and Financially

If your family is going through a tough time, be there for them emotionally. Whether they’re dealing with a death in the family, an illness, or any other type of hardship, let them know that you’re there for them and offer any support you can. It may include sending them money, if possible, or offering to help out in any way that you can from afar.

You can also support your family emotionally by simply being a good listener. Sometimes, all they need is someone to lend a listening ear. Let them know that you’re always available to talk and offer advice or words of wisdom if needed.

Celebrate Their Accomplishments

Your family members will appreciate hearing about their accomplishments, no matter how big or small. Whether your sister got a promotion at work or your nephew learned to ride a bike without training wheels, take the time to celebrate their successes with them. It will make them feel appreciated and loved, knowing that you took the time out of your day to share in their happiness.

Do Something Special for Them

There are many ways to make your family feel special, even from afar. Consider sending them a balikbayan package filled with their favorite or requested snacks, books, or other items. You can also make them a homemade gift or send them a gift card to their favorite store. You can even fly back home for a surprise visit if you have the means. They’ll be genuinely touched by your thoughtfulness and cherish the gesture for years.

Saying “I Love You”

Last but certainly not least, don’t forget to say “I love you” often. No matter how much time has passed or how far away you are, those three little words will always mean the world to your family. Hearing those words will fill them with happiness and love, whether you say it in person, on the phone, or through a text.

Conclusion

No matter how far away you are from your family, there are many ways to make them feel loved. From staying in touch often to celebrating their accomplishments, you can show them that you care about them and appreciate them. Just remember to say “I love you” often and let them know that you’re always there for them, no matter what.

Technology and Real Estate: Streamlining Acquisition Process

Three focuses of my blog are Business/Entrepreneurship, Home/Property Discussions and Technology. Just with every other sector, the real estate world has been impacted and in many ways enhanced by technology. The following guest post is entitled, Technology and Real Estate: Streamlining Acquisition Process.

* * *

Technology has had a profound impact on the real estate industry. It has allowed for more streamlined processes and made it easier than ever to locate your next property. Below are some ways technology can help you during your next real estate transaction.

Online Listings

In the past, finding a property that fits your specific needs could be a challenge. You would have to rely on print advertisements, word-of-mouth, or brokerages to see listings that met your criteria. After which, you would have to set up appointments to view the properties in person.

However, with today’s technology, this is no longer necessary. Most property listings are online, and you can effortlessly search by specific criteria such as location, price range, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, etc.

It’s an excellent way to save time and streamline your real estate acquisition process.

Virtual Tours

Another advantage of technology in the real estate industry is virtual tours. It can be highly beneficial if you’re looking to purchase a property but live in a different city or state from the property you are interested in.

Virtual tours give you a realistic way to view a property without being physically present. You can view the properties remotely via video walkthroughs, which means that you don’t have to leave the comfort of your home to get a glimpse of what the property has to offer.

It eliminates the hassle of arranging viewings and makes finding the right property for your needs easier.

Applications

There are different apps to buy a house, and they can be beneficial in your search for the perfect property.

For example, some applications allow you to search for homes based on location and find information about schools, crime rates, and other essential factors. It also provides user-generated reviews of neighborhoods.

These apps show you updated listings in real-time, so you don’t have to worry about missing out on a newly-listed property. It also allows you to make an offer or schedule a viewing in the blink of an eye. So whether you are searching from afar or prefer a more digital approach, it can be a valuable tool to help navigate your search.

Property Checklists

Of course, buying a property is a considerable investment, and you want to be sure that you are making the best decision for your needs. This part is where technology can help.

Nowadays, many online checklists are available to help you evaluate a property and ensure that it meets all of your requirements. These checklists can help you stay organized and on track during your search, so you don’t worry about making mistakes.

Plus, you can refer to these checklists when it’s time to negotiate the purchase price. By having a list of all the must-haves, you can be sure that you are getting the best deal possible on your dream home.

Professional Support Services

Once you’ve found the perfect home for your needs, it’s crucial to have reliable, professional support services to help with the acquisition process.

From working with a realtor and mortgage broker to having an inspection team verify that all systems are in good condition, having an experienced team on your side can help you navigate the buying process with ease.

Many websites offer a list of qualified professionals in your area to ensure that you are working with the best possible team for your needs. It allows you to tap into the resources and expertise of experienced professionals to feel confident that you are making the best decision for your next property.

Loan Matching Services

Technology has also made it easier to get pre-qualified for a mortgage and compare different loan options. In the past, you would have to work with a bank or broker to find out what you qualify for and compare interest rates.

Nowadays, online services can help you do this quickly and easily. You can input your information and estimate the monthly payments for different loan types. It can help you streamline your search and enable you to find a property that fits within your budget.

Besides, it gives you a better understanding of your financing options and allows you to shop around for the best deal.

Automatic Payment Systems

When you’re buying a property, there are a lot of payments that you need to make on time. It can be challenging to keep track of everything, from the deposit to closing costs.

Fortunately, technology has helped you stay on top of your payments with automatic payment systems. You can set up automatic payments for your mortgage, insurance, and other associated costs.

It takes the guesswork and stress to make sure you’re making your payments on time. So you can focus on enjoying your new home.

Technology has revolutionized the real estate industry and made it easier for buyers to find their dream property. From online listings, virtual tours, applications, property checklists, professional support, and loan matching services to automatic payment systems, there are different ways that technology can help streamline your real estate acquisition process. Keep these in mind when you’re ready to start your search.

Avoid These Corporate Event Mistakes

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Corporate events are important functions and must be handled with care. Mistakes must be kept at a minimum. The following contributed post is entitled, Avoid These Corporate Event Mistakes.

* * *

Pexels – CCO Licence

When you’re planning a big corporate event to impress your clients or the boss or whoever, you want to ensure that everything goes right and you, and your company get glowing reviews.

This is harder to achieve than you might think and many people have screwed up in one way or the other. The good news is, we’ve put together a list of the most common mistakes corporate event planners make, in the hopes that you can avoid them and be one of the people who get it right…

Not outsourcing it to an event production company

If you have the budget to do so, but you don’t hire a full service event production and design company to handle the bulk of work for you, you are wasting more of your time and effort than you need to and increasing your chances of having a mishap at the same time. These people are professionals; they know what they are doing, If you are able to do so, hand things off to them and amazing things will happen.

Not planning well in advance

The best corporate events are the ones that have had months of loving planning out into them. So, if you are asked to plan a corporate event at short notice, and you don’t have to accept, hand it off to someone else, or at the very least try to negotiate more time to plan for the big day.

If you have plenty of time available to you, start planning right away. Book the venue, call the caterers, reach out to entertainment providers and get as much done as soon as you can because, if you leave it too late, things are sure to go wrong.

Not drawing up a tight budget

Most corporate events have a strict budget. If that is the case, you need to sit down and think very carefully about how much you will allot to each area of the event from venue hire to catering to goody bags, and you need to do everything you can to stick to those numbers.

It is so easy for things to get out of hand and you to spend way too much securing the perfect venue only to have no money left to serve your guests a decent meal. A tight budget will save your event, and potentially your job.

Not keeping your guests happy

From being there to greet them with a smile to ensuring their champagne glass is always topped up and that the conversation is flowing. If you don’t take the time to look after your guests and be the gregarious host, there is a good chance that the event will fall flat and that is the last thing you want to happen. So, whatever else you do, keep the guests happy.

If you can avoid these corporate event planning mistakes, you can ensure that your event is a total triumph from start to finish and that your place in the company is secured for the foreseeable future.