Category: Business/Entrepreneurship

Building Your Own Workspace? Consider These Aspects First

A key focus of my blog is Business/Entrepreneurship. In some instances you may need to may need to build your own workspace. In some instances it’s easier said than done as there are numerous considerations. The following contributed post is entitled, Building Your Own Workspace? Consider These Aspects First.

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Pixabay (CC0 Licence)

There are numerous old sayings that relate to the importance of having an appropriate workspace in which to do your work. Trying to muddle along as best you can with what you have can only work for so long, especially if you happen to have a job that depends on precision and accuracy. If your work involves time spent in a kitchen, a lab, a ward or any other facility where the timely following of instructions is a necessity, then you need a workspace that is up to the job.

You can request the building of a space, and lay down your specifications for the expert contractors who will put it together. You, yourself, can construct the space to your own specs and oversee every part of the work. Either way, it is essential to keep in mind certain basic principles which will guide the successful building of a functional workspace, and ensure the right results from your efforts time and again.

Make sure your space is easy to clean

If you’re working in a lab, sterility is absolutely essential – and it’s the same story if you’re in any kind of commercial kitchen. Scientific experimentation or simple replication is dependent upon laboratory conditions – in other words, the merest speck of dirt, the merest impurity on an important surface can negate the work that has been done to achieve your goals. This means that surfaces should be chosen for their ease of cleaning, resistance to moisture and ability to show up any impurity that might linger. Sinks, tables and floors are all of vital importance in this regard.

Storage needs to be accessible and unobtrusive

For ideal results, ingredients and implements need to be accessed at exactly the right times, used and put back where they belong – the importance of avoiding clutter is something that applies to all workspaces. A clumsily placed item can lead to spillage, cross-contamination or worse, so ensure that your workspace has dedicated storage which doesn’t get in the way, but is easy to access when you need it. Using carbon fiber design to create precisely the right implements is certainly a good idea; it’s a versatile compound that can deliver excellent results.

There must be room for maneuver

Space is essential when you are working with anything that may be volatile, anything that may give off heat, or anything that needs to be left to itself for a spell of time. Whether in a lab or a kitchen, you’ll need to have room to move around to look for items, and in some cases (such as emergencies) just to get out of the way. Account for this room when putting together your workspace – particularly if you will be accompanied in there at any time. Bumping into another person constantly – as will happen in cramped spaces – is far from ideal in a working area.

Ensuring that everything is just the way it needs to be can make a huge difference when you are looking for the perfect working space. Considering these points, and others, will help you get the results you need.

Buying Equipment For Your New Business

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. No matter what kind of business you’re running, you will eventually need to buy new equipment. No matter what you purchase, it’s important to do so wisely. The following contributed post is entitled, Buying Equipment For Your New Business.

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(Pixabay CC0)

Very few businesses can run without some form of equipment. In fact, we can’t think of any!

If you’re starting an office-based business, you are going to need computers at the very least. If you’re thinking about starting a manufacturing business, you will need the relevant machinery for your production processes. And then there are all the other types of businesses out there – catering, entertainment, care, etc. that will need one piece of equipment or another for day-to-day operations.

But before you buy something, there are a few things you need to think about first.

#1: Can I afford it?

If you’re cash-rich at the start of your business, then buying equipment might not be an issue for you. However, if money is scarce, it is important to concentrate on the essentials before buying any nice-to-have items. Anything that might not be needed immediately could be put on the back burner until you have funds in place. For the necessities, you might consider buying something second-hand instead of buying something brand new, or you could find ways to increase your capital to give you the money you need for your equipment. You could also lease pieces of equipment on a short-term basis, or share items with a neighboring business to help you cut costs.

#2: Do I need it?

There are some pieces of equipment your business won’t need straight away, despite the marketing push of their respective sellers. Sure, they might look good in your office or factory space, but if you are rarely going to use them, what’s the point? As we mentioned above, you might be able to share or rent certain pieces of equipment instead if you need them irregularly. On the other hand, you might decide against buying something, as your business might be able to function perfectly well without. You will then have more money for the essential things you need, so research businesses similar to your own, and find out what could be considered compulsory.

#3: What can I call for repairs?

Technology: It’s great when it’s working, but not so great when it isn’t! And when something does break down, you could experience downtime in your business. So, when buying equipment for your business, consider what it might take to maintain and repair them. In some cases, the seller will have qualified repair technicians on hand to help you. C&B Equipment, a supplier of industrial engines, are a prime example. In fact, they actively urge their buyers to seek their help for repairs, to stop them voiding their warranties through their own DIY efforts! In other cases, you will need to outsource help, perhaps to an IT technician for any problems with your computers. So, find out who you can turn to for help when buying, and keep their numbers on speed dial just in case you do need to call somebody promptly.

These are just a few of the things you need to think about when buying equipment for your business. Keep them in mind, as your business will be positively affected if you make sensible choices throughout the buying process.

Is It Really So Hard To Have Customers Overseas?

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. In modern times, significant amounts of business is done overseas. In many instances the businesses are based in other countries so though some enterprises make it work seamlessly. The following contributed post is entitled, Is It Really So Hard To Have Customers Overseas?

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The big misconception is that you have to have offices in many different countries and thousands of customers worldwide to be able to have a big, booming, international business. But you really don’t. To have a business like this can feel really intimidating, and we can’t lie, it’s pretty much impossible to have. Only the big brands find that much success in their business that they’re able to explore all of the potential that the world has to offer. But that doesn’t mean that as the small business you are, you can’t expand to providing your products overseas. We would say that this one definitely only applies to those of you who are selling products. For you to be able to sell your services overseas would mean having employees in many different countries, but that’s not necessarily going to be easy to do unless you have such a big brand with money to waste. So, as a relatively small brand in the grand scheme of things, we’re going to try and appeal to you. If you keep on reading we’ll show you how it’s easier to trade overseas than you first might think.

Use E-commerce Websites

This is the top way that you’re going to be able to trade overseas. You might think that you have to sort out your own offices and have staff who are working in that country to try and deliver the products. But all you need is to be able to trade on an e-commerce website and to have a route of getting products over there. If you have ever sent a parcel overseas before you will know this can be as easy as going to your local mailing office to do so. For a business it will be on a bigger scale, but actually having your products on an e-commerce website is the first thing that you need to do. Amazon is a prime example of a good website that you could use to sell your products from. Often your own website isn’t going to have the publicity you need to make an impact.

Managing The Logistics

The logistics of everything is going to be the hard part. Putting your products on Amazon and getting someone to buy it is far easier than you think. 3pl shipping company is one of the options that you could go for. Often shipping is far more cost effective, it’s easier to build up a good rapport with the company, and you can ship more products. All you need then is to be delivered to the other side which can easily be arranged depending on what country you’re shipping to.

Understanding Limitations

There are many limitations that come with it, especially during these times. The main limitations at the trading laws that you need to stick to. Always make sure you’re paying the right costs and you’re shipping things that can be shipped. There’s also time limitations and delays that you need to consider. Customers are going to expect their products on time, and you need to be the one making that happen.

How to Equip your Business with the Right Tools

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. No matter what you business is, you want to equip it with the right tools to give it the best chances of competing and succeeding. As a business manager/owner, staying on top of your tools will keep you head and shoulders above your competitors. The following contributed post is entitled, How to Equip your Business with the Right Tools.

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As a start-up, it is a great idea to modernise and embrace new technological breakthroughs. Business Supplies from companies such as Coastal Business Supplies can provide a business with some great products, however, you can do even more to make your business more modern. Why should you modernise your business? One reason is that it drastically reduces your workload as a business owner, and also reduce your costs in the long term. Does this sound too good to be true? Well, keep reading through this quick article and hopefully, the following points will prove this point to be true!

Image Source, Pexels

Apps and Mobile Tech

One way you can help enhance your business is by finding the right apps and using them in the different areas of your business. Many functions of a business can be helped or assisted with an app. Invoicing clients can be assisted using an app like Square. Business and project workflow can be shown visually using an app like Trello. You can keep track of expenses and the receipts that go with those expenses using an app like Expensify. The world is your oyster when it comes to mobile apps and using them to help you manage the different factions of your business.

Cloud Services

Something that a start-up has to manage a lot is travelling. But, as they are travelling they still have a lot of work to complete. So, when it comes to managing your work, investing time and a little money into putting your work into the cloud can really benefit you, with time and with flexibility. Having your work stored in the cloud enables you to work wherever you need to be, and also enables you to keep your data safe.

However, even cloud data has to be secured in a world of hacking and data-stealing, so to get some help with securing your cloud business data and other IT solutions [visit this website]. That is the only downside to using cloud solutions as a way to store your data, as sensitive data can be susceptible to hacking from external people, so it is always wise to keep a back up somewhere of all your data, just to be sure that its contents are safe.

Make Your Business Paperless

This is not only a good idea for the planet, but it is a good idea for you too! By going paperless, you enable the business to have a lot less paperwork and to more efficiently manage the information and forms needed to run your business. You save the planet and you also save yourself a lot of time to dedicate to other more exciting and more important things within your business. However, remember that some things will need to stay on paper, like some legal documents and others, but most things in a business thanks to tech can now become paperless.

Remote Working

Last but not least, all of the above allow you to work remotely. You can work from your bed, you can work on a plane. You can work on the train going into the office. Thanks to clouds services and mobile apps and paperless solutions, you can take your business wherever you go, and never worry about leaving something in the office. Just open your computer or phone, log in, and voila, your business as your fingertips!

5 Ways Manufacturers Can Save Money

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. As with any category of business, manufacturers must figured out how to control costs and save money. In a now global market with things in flux everywhere, this is essential to remaining competitive. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Ways Manufacturers Can Save Money.

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Pixabay. CCO Licensed.

Manufacturers often have a lot of overheads to consider. These costs could affect your overall profit, so it’s important that you find suitable ways to reduce them. Here are just some of the best ways in which manufacturers can reduce costs.

Invest in good quality machinery

When starting out a manufacturing company, there are certain things you don’t want to skimp on. Machinery is one of them – good quality machinery is certain to last longer without frequent repairs. It’s often worth investing in new machinery so that you can guarantee reliability. Used machinery is a lot cheaper to buy, but could be in worse condition, resulting in greater costs in maintenance. That said, you may be able to find gently-used machines out there – these may be in just as good condition as new machines but a lot cheaper.

Choose the right financing options

Most manufacturers have to buy machinery on loan. Compare financing options in order to find the cheapest interest rates going. Many machinery sellers will offer financing themselves, but such finance schemes may not always be the best deals.

Know when to outsource

Whether you’re manufacturing clothes or food or gadgets, there are likely to be parts and components that you’ll want to outsource rather than manufacturing yourself. Think about where your skills and resources lie – if you’re building medical machinery, you may find it easier to look into medical electronics manufacturing for certain parts. That said, you don’t want to outsource too much as you’ll be paying a lot of money in supplier fees.

Prioritise energy-efficiency

Reducing your energy consumption can help to reduce your impact on climate change while also saving you money. There are lots of ways to run a more energy-efficient business. One way to save money is to consider the machinery that you use – older machinery will generally be less energy-efficient than newer machinery. You may also be able to save money by turning off machinery and lighting when not in use. You could even find ways to run your business on sustainable power such as fitting solar panels to the top of your factory roof. By harnessing the power of the sun, you won’t need to rely so much on main electricity and won’t have to pay as high energy bills. Solar panels are expensive to install, but you’ll make your money back in the long run.

Reduce/recycle your waste

There may be ways of re-using waste material. In certain cases, you may even be able to sell scrap to other vendors so that you’re making money from your waste. If recycling waste isn’t possible, then look into ways of reducing it. By recording the amount of waste you produce, you can find ways of reducing it such as ordering materials in smaller quantities or finding manufacturing processes that reduce waste.

Simple Ways to Make Your Business Look Far More Professional

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. They say image and perception are everything. That said, the more professional your business looks, the more business you likely are to get. The following contributed post is entitled, Simple Ways to Make Your Business Look Far More Professional.

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Building an online business often means being on your own. You probably won’t have an IT department who can set you up with an email address and you won’t have a professional writer who can craft content for you either. If you want to make sure that your business looks as professional as it can, then there are a few things that you can do to try and really take things to that next level.

Get a Dedicated Phone Number

The first thing that you need to do is get a dedicated phone number. This gives you the chance to share your contact details with people without even having to think about giving out your personal phone number. The great thing about this is that it means that you don’t answer your customer phone calls unprofessionally. It’s entirely possible for you to get a dedicated cell phone for your business, but it is probably cheaper and easier for you to get a Google voice number instead. This is free and it also gives you the chance to have online storage for your voicemails too.

Source: Pexels (CC0 License)

Get a Domain Name

You will need a fast and memorable way for all of your customers to find you. A lot of services will give you a free domain name whenever you sign up with their company, but if you go down this route then you may end up having a URL that is long and impersonal. This may work if you want to get your business up and running as quickly as possible but it is not going to do your business any favours for the long-run. When you make the decision to go ahead with your domain name, you need to keep it short. Remember to brand your business too, by investing in logo design. If you are renting a space, then you can easily put a sign up there. If you are concerned about your business building not looking professional because of vandalism then invest in a graffiti removal service.

Order some Business Cards

This may really sound like a no-brainer, but at the end of the day, business tools are a fantastic way for you to capitalise on word-of-mouth marketing. It won’t cost you a lot if you get them from an online service and you may even find that you end up building your professional image way faster.

Set up an About Us Page

Your About page is your chance to show your customers what you really stand for. You would be surprised at how easy it is for you to create an About Us page when you just think about the reason you created your business. Don’t be afraid to tell your story and also make sure that you do everything you can to get the word out. If you do then you will soon find that you end up with a solid brand and that your customers are also able to relate to you as well, which is priceless when you think about it.

5 Things To Consider If You Need Vehicles For Your Business

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Some businesses require the use of vehicles. If vehicles are a major expense in your business, they come with a specific of considerations. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Things To Consider If You Need Vehicles For Your Business.

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Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

If you’re looking to buy a new vehicle for your business and you don’t know where to begin then don’t worry, you have definitely come to the right place. Whether you’re buying a vehicle that will be used by only you or you’re buying a commercial vehicle for everyone to use, you need to be sure you’re choosing something that is suitable. Although it may be difficult at first, there are lots of questions you can ask yourself to ensure you’re buying the right vehicle. From setting yourself an overall budget to deciding how often you’re going to be using it, the more you think about it the better. With that in mind, here are 5 things to consider if you to buy a vehicle for your business:

-What Is Your Overall Budget?

One of the first things you need to consider when it comes to buying vehicles for your business is your budget, as this will ensure you’re not spending more than you can afford. Whether you’re buying one vehicle or you’re looking at fleet management, you need to ensure you know exactly how much it is you’re able to spend. If it helps, you may want to consider thinking about all of the additional costs that are associated with purchasing a vehicle. From insurance to the cost of gas, you need to be sure you’re thinking of everything.

For a guide to budgeting for vehicles as a business, you can visit this site here.

-What Type Of Vehicle Do You Want To Buy?

Another important thing to consider is the type of vehicle you want to buy. If you’re just using it to make a few small trips each week, chances are you’re not going to need anything too expensive. For those that are looking to transport stock or travel to sales demonstrations, however, you may need to consider buying something that you know is going to be highly functional. From being able to store products and equipment to allowing for long journeys, the more reliable the vehicle the better. For tips and tricks when it comes to choosing the right vehicle for you, you can visit this site here.

-Where Do You Want To Buy It From?

Once you know what type of car you want to buy, you need to think about where you’re going to buy it from. Whether you’re getting it from a local garage or travelling a little further, deciding this in advance is important.

-Are You Buying Brand New Or Second Hand?

Another important thing to consider is whether or not you’re going to be buying something brand new, or whether you’re going to go for something second hand. Although buying something second hand will save you money, you may want to consider whether or not it’s going to be a high enough quality. The best thing to do, of course, is to test drive it in advance.

-Is It Safe?

Finally, you need to be sure you’re buying a vehicle that is going to be safe for all of your staff members to drive. This means buying something that has been checked over recently.

Do you have to buy vehicles for your business? What do you need to consider to ensure you’re buying the right vehicles at a good price? Did we miss anything? Let me know your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.

Efficient and Environmentally Sound Storage for Your Company

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If your business deals with inventory and deliverables, you ideally want to secure storage that serves your purposes but is friendly to the environment as well. The following contributed post is entitled, Efficient and Environmentally Sound Storage for Your Company.

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Efficient and Environmentally Sound Storage for Your Company

If you own a company, or just manage one, you’re probably always thinking of ways to minimize storage, create more space and store inventory in economical, efficient and environmentally-friendly ways. Sometimes it can be hard to envision ways to do this that meet all those criteria, but with a little creativity, hard work and motivation, you can streamline your inventory and make the entire workplace more efficient and eco-friendly.

Photo Credit: Alexander Isreb

Here are a few ideas on how to get started:

“Green” Storage
Whether you’re looking at small storage solutions, like tupperwares and other small containers, or something much larger, like huge bins and storage facilities, a variety of “green” options exist at all sorts of price points, sizes and styles.

Utilizing items that don’t contain harsh chemicals and plastics will reduce your carbon footprint, improve the health of your employees and provide excellent, efficient storage for any type of inventory.

It isn’t just true of storage containers, either. You can find shelving, flooring and all sorts of other eco-friendly “green” options to optimize your inventory and make your workplace a sustainable one.

Shelving, Racks and More
If you have shelves and shelves of product, you’ve likely looked into shelf and rack options that save space, time and money. You want these products to be environmentally sound, too, so you’re likely trying to avoid lots of plastic and other harsh chemical materials.

Cantilever racking is a great option for the business with lots of shelving and inventory to contend with. Easy to customize, move around, and clean, cantilever racking is not made of harsh plastics, is durable and will last for years and years. They come in a wide variety of sizes, each one able to be customized and moved quickly and easily and are available in both single and double sided configurations.

For the business that has lots of pallets and heavy boxes to store, these are a lifesaver. Strong, weather-resistant and durable, but best of all, affordable and eco-friendly.

Trash and Waste
Every company, especially ones that ship a lot of product, have excess waste they must contend with. Everything from broken down boxes, to wrapping materials, labels, packing material, paperwork, and more.

It’s simply good business practice, not to mention eco-friendly, to have a plan to reduce your waste by recycling. Not only is this better for the environment, but it will save your employees time and cut down on your waste disposal/dumpster costs.

Lots of people are on board with recycling things like bottles and cans, but you can recycle almost anything. Check with your local county regulations to see what items you can recycle, including all that unused cardboard, packing materials, and more. Bins can be purchased for very affordable prices.

These are just three ways your company can cut down on waste, utilize shelf space and streamline inventory while still looking after the environment and cutting down on bad business practices. There are many more ways you can be eco-friendly and efficient at the same time.

Handling A Business Emergency

Three of the focuses of my blog are Current Events, Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. In some instances, catastrophic events emerge which adversely impact businesses just like people. The Coronavirus/COVID-19 Pandemic is such a case where people and businesses have been thrown into peril. Just as with humans, the health of sick businesses must be managed. The following contributed post is entitled, Handling A Business Emergency.

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We are living in the middle of a pandemic right now, and while it’s a scary time to live in with the media screaming and people panic-buying, we must think about business continuity. A pandemic is an emergency for a business. It’s going to need a comprehensive backup plan to be able to cope with the stock markets crashing and the economy going belly-up. It’s essential that in any disaster, you have a contingency plan for the business to keep afloat. Still, in a pandemic, when isolation is recommended, we need to do what we can to ensure that your business continuity plan is intact. Let’s take a look.

Image Source: Pexels

● Know The Threat
The biggest threat in the pandemic today is the fact that people are in isolation (depending on where you are in the world). So, if your business is one in the hospitality industry or one that has been forced to let staff work from home, you need a plan – and fast. Enabling home-working and remote access to servers is an excellent way to keep people able to earn money, and your business is still running. In other threats, you need to be able to recover quickly. For example, buying batteries from powRparts to ensure that your generators and equipment can keep running in the event of a blackout is just smart business. Knowing your threats is so important so that you can get that plan up and running.
● Assign Responsibility
We may be dealing with COVID-19, but the other disasters in the world include fire, terrorism, flooding, and magic sinkholes that can swallow up half a street. Assigning areas of responsibility to your staff is so important. This way, you’re not leading the charge by yourself when it comes to implementing your emergency plan. Training up your team to be able to handle an incident is a must, and they will be able to work with you to ensure that everyone else in the business is safe!
● Know Your Contacts
You need to know the best contact information for the assigned emergency leaders in your company. You cannot scramble for phone numbers in a time of worry. You need these to be accessible, and that should be a part of your plan!
● Business Recovery
You should have a whole team dedicated to the recovery of your business in a crisis. You should get in touch with a specialist IT team if your business needs to embrace home working, as this needs to be set up and ready to go in the event of an emergency situation. You should also have emergency equipment to hand on-site in at least three easy to reach locations. You want your business to recover well, and that takes establishing normal operations as soon as possible after a crisis.

Backing up your data and ensuring that your business is reliable as quickly as possible is the best way to ensure that your business recovers well from a crisis. You must get this done as early as you can – just in case.

Starting a Business? You Don’t Have to Focus on Retail

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. There are numerous types of businesses one can start. Retail is just one category and there are numerous other opportunities available. The following contributed post is entitled, Starting a Business? You Don’t Have to Focus on Retail.

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Nowadays, more and more of us are deciding to carve out our own career path, take independence over our life direction and our finances, and start a small business of our own. Who wouldn’t want to do this? There are so many freedoms that come hand in hand with running your own business, including choosing your own working hours, choosing the location of your work, choosing your branding and more. But one thing many people don’t even take much notice of is that you get to choose your area of specialism. People automatically think of heading into the retail sector when selling products. Clothing, skincare, novelty goods and more tend to end up being focused on and this means that these areas are growing increasingly saturated and people are struggling to stand out from the crowd, establish themselves as a competitor in their field, and generate a profit through sales. A better approach, perhaps, would be to focus on another area. Here are a few that you could make a lot of money from!

Healthcare

People seem to just assume that healthcare providers simply exist. Sure, some may be government funded. But many are privately run and you can make a whole lot of money out of making people better. So, why not consider this as an option. Sure, it will cost a lot to set up and get started. You will need the right facilities, the right staff, the right insurance plans, the right equipment, then plenty of other bits and bobs like medical record retrieval software from recordrs.com. But once you’re all set, you’ll always have customers or clients and you’ll always have a steady stream of income.

Hospitality

The hospitality industry tends to experience high demand year round. There are a number of large occasions throughout the year that are celebrated and someone’s always going to be having a birthday that people want to go out and celebrate. Then you’ll have your regular day to day customers who will provide you with your bread and butter income. Restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes – take your pick. You could own your own!

Entertainment

Like hospitality, the entertainment industry can be a whole lot of fun to operate within. After all, it’s greatly rewarding helping people to have a good time. Plus, people are often very willing to spend money on having a good time! Whether that’s starting a business that creates stages

There are so many areas you can set your new startup in besides retail. So, leave this saturated marketplace behind and start out somewhere where you can really make a name for yourself and your brand. It will be just as rewarding an experience and you’ll often have less pressure placed on you too! This isn’t saying that everything will be easy and plain sailing. But you’ll probably find yourself in for a much smoother trip that’s worth more of your time and investment.