Category: Contributed Posts

Nine Ways Office Décor Can Make You More Productive

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success, and two key focuses are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. No matter which sector you’re in, the décor of your office can impact the productivity of your staff. This is often overlooked by ownership and management. The following contributed post is entitled, Nine Ways Office Décor Can Make You More Productive.

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Did you know that the way you decorate your office can have an impact on your productivity? The way you decorate can encourage better work and minimize distractions. What are the best ways to decorate your office to help you work the best way you can.

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  1. Light it up. A properly lit office is very important. Being in a well lit environment boosts your energy, and it reduces eye strain. If you’re using a computer all day, make sure your workspace is well lit to protect your eyes. Add more light with lamps, or light window treatments to let in more natural light. Move your desk next to a window to make the most of the daylight.
  2. Choose the right furniture. Make sure your desk is the right height for you to work comfortably, and choose a desk chair that offers good support for your back. Adjust your chair to match your desk height. If you’re furnishing a large office, find the best options by using a service known for connecting global buyers and furniture manufacturers to get the best deals.
  3. Declutter. A tidy workspace can help you to focus. Clear anything you don’t need off your desk, and invest in a set of desk drawers to store everything out of sight instead.
  4. Paint the walls the right color. Did you know, color can have a big impact on your mood? Blues are shown to stimulate the mind, while yellow can increase creativity. To make your office more relaxing, choose green.
  5. Engage your senses. Some people find that scents can help them concentrate too. Experiment with scented candles, reed diffusers or scented oils in your work space and see if it works for you. Peppermint is often used to energise, and citrus is great to reduce stress. If you work in a communal office, make sure your neighbours don’t mind you adding strong smells.
  6. Add plants. Plants make a work space feel more homey, especially if you don’t have much chance to get outside in your work day. Adding plants also boosts the oxygen in your office, which aids your ability to concentrate.
  7. Get motivated. Feel inspired by motivational messages? Add some to your work space. Buy posters or postcards to pin up around you with messages that you find inspiring. You could make your own messages too by using scrabble tiles, letters cut from magazines or with letter board.
  8. Add storage. Being able to quickly and easily find important documents will make your work day go more smoothly. Invest in some practical, but visually pleasing, storage. Store away paperwork, stationery and other desk clutter to keep your desk clear and save you time hunting for things.
  9. Try a standing desk. Sitting all day won’t do much for your energy levels, and many find they get more done while using a standing desk. If you don’t get on with standing to work, make sure you get up and move around often to get the blood flowing again. Whether you just take a walk to the office kitchen and back, or spend five minutes dancing around your home office, taking time to move will help you.

Thoughts On An Effective Healthcare Space

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. While the healthcare administered is the most important aspect of any healthcare facility, the appearance plays a key role too. The right space will make your patients feel comfortable will likely encourage them to return. The following contributed post is entitled, Thoughts On An Effective Healthcare Space.

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Martha Dominguez de Gouveia

Taking care of our health is very important, but can be intimidating and unwelcoming at times. Whilst being looked after in the comfort of your own home can be a better compromise, healthcare practices are often seen as drab spaces with fluorescent light and cold tiled floors. However, an increasing number of practices are shifting towards producing warm and relaxing surroundings which make patients feel at home and comfortable. Regardless of who you are and in what point you’re at in your own life, walking right into a clinic that provides you with a sense of comfort, security and enjoyment will always elicit a favorable response compared to entering a clinical and cold area in which you feel dread and anxiety. This is the reason why it’s critical to make patients feel at ease.

The layout and design of any office are very important for productivity, efficiency, and comfort for the occupants. Fantastic design can play a critical role in the medical business, particularly when accuracy, professionalism and anxiety management are regarded as crucial elements for any clinic. Health practices are a place to be appreciated, somewhere individuals are going to want to return to and also a favorable location for employees. Straightforward design variables such as a splash of color and furniture changes may alter a practice’s dynamic. Significant elements of a thriving clinic comprise an aesthetic layout and excellent decor which will endure the test of practicality and time. The layout should make the lives of both patients and staff simpler. First impressions are also very important to any company.

Strategies for space and growth of future services have to be considered in as much detail because of the positioning of the lighting and doors. Not allowing enough layout time can be detrimental, which will not promote effective decision making for many parties involved, causing the finished product to be jeopardized for quality & decent design.

Creating flow and associations between design elements, while at precisely the same time being aware of visual focus is paramount for great designers. Throw in the additional components of organic light and compliance with statutory construction code requirements and you’ve got the raw ingredients for the perfect practice.

So why is the design of healthcare practice significant? When we come into a practice to wait for therapy, or work in a clinic, this has a significant impact on our emotional and physiological reaction. It’s the aesthetics which could tell individual and the team just how much the professionals care in their job and therefore are an imperative function which predetermines a patients expectations and expertise.

The most significant marketing components to any health clinic are the surroundings and the men and women working inside it. The way a patient feels in the start, during and following a consultation period is paramount to the company’ marketing efforts. It’s similar to a website that’s simple to navigate and is informative. A well-designed health practice functions in precisely the exact same manner. When the workflow is great and the practice is nicely put together, you’re more inclined to return there.

So You Want To Minimize Your Footprint?

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success. While vast, the world is a small place. As we all share this world, we can all play a major part in making it better. It’s the only world we have, and there are numerous ways we can do that. The following contributed post is entitled, So You Want To Minimize Your Footprint?

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In this day and age, we all know enough of what goes on in the world to care about being more responsible. You just cannot avoid it. The news is very much reporting of all of what goes on, and sustainability is finally on the rise. However, there are just too many people that then go on to assume they just cannot contribute. That their small efforts don’t make a difference. But they do. And so, let’s take a look at what you can do to minimize your footprint.

Avoid Waste

This first one is an easy one. Because it’s safe to say that we’re all wasting far too much in the world right now. We throw things away like it’s nobody’s business, and it’s time to change that. But how? If you can only consume what you need, and look to reduce your consumption altogether, it can really help. The less that you send to landfill, the better. So really try to recycle what you can.

Lend A Hand

But then also, you might want to physically get as involved as you can. When this is the case, you may find that helping out in community projects, or leading the way with big local initiates really helps you. So don’t be afraid to be a part of something bigger.

Get Smart
Also, you need to get smart about the recourses that you’re using. Use less, and know what you’re using. The infographic below can help you here.


Infographic Design By University of California – Riverside

3 Ways To Keep Your Fleet Drivers Safe On The Road

Two of the principles of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Trucking businesses can be very lucrative if run the properly. A key aspect is keeping your fleet drivers safety. The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Ways To Keep Your Fleet Drivers Safe On The Road.

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As a business owner, safety needs to be your number one concern, especially when it comes to protecting your employees. An accident and an injury at work could prove costly for your business, not only from compensation claims sought by your employee but by the level of productivity that will be cut if you are consequently short-staffed because the injury has resulted in an employee absence. Your reputation might also take a hit if you are seen to show negligence as an employer, and that could have a knock-on effect on your profits.

Now, health and safety dangers are not only found on site. As many business owners are reliant on company cars, vans, lorries, etc. for business meetings and cargo purposes, there are all of the expected risks that can be found on today’s roads. According to Automotive Fleet, the annual accident rate for commercial fleets has risen to 20%. Sadly, many of these have resulted in fatalities, and so, if you do have employees working on the roads, you need to focus on their safety to ensure they don’t become yet another statistic.

So, what can you do about it? You can’t be with them on the roads, so you might think the situation is out of your hands. Not so, as there are a number of things you can do.

1. Make sure the vehicles are safe to drive

It is important to inspect your company’s vehicles regularly, and while both you and your drivers should take steps to know what danger signs to look out for, you should also seek the assistance of a qualified mechanic periodically. If there are any problems, you should deal with them immediately, and that means booking in your vehicles at your local garage, or looking for specialist service support if specific parts are needed, such as those Sprinter Fleet companies who have the relevant Sprinter van accessories and parts to maintain your vehicle.

2. Ensure your drivers are trained to drive the vehicles in your care

While you know your drivers need to be trained and licensed to drive your company vehicles, you should still invest in extra training to ensure their safety on the roads. This includes specific ‘behind the wheel’ training courses for vehicles they may or may not have had the relevant experience in before, as well as e-learning courses that might focus on particular aspects of road safety. With prices starting at around $85 with courses provided by Skills Driving, you don’t have a lot to pay, although even if at premium rates, you should never let a price tag get in the way of your employee’s safety.

3. Install a camera system in your fleet vehicles

In some instances, your driver will not be to blame for any accidents that might occur on the road. However, there are other instances when they might be, perhaps because they have tried to pull off risky driving maneuvers, or maybe because they have become distracted and taken their eyes off the road. A fleet vehicle camera system will let you see everything, and while the driver might resent being checked up on, you should remind them that you are doing it for their safety. You can then bring up any mistakes or bad driver behavior with them should you notice them, although, in theory, the driver will probably drive more safely knowing that their actions are being monitored.

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There is much you can do to protect your driver’s on the road, so follow our suggestions if you are reliant on a business fleet. Let us know if you have any ideas too, especially if you’re an employer where day-to-day driving is a necessity for your employees.

Why A Graduate Degree Is A Good Idea

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success, and two key focuses are a Career Discussions and General Education. Depending up your career aspirations, a Graduate Degree may be a logical move. The pursuit of higher degrees should be carefully calculated out. The following contributed post is entitled, Why A Graduate Degree Is A Good Idea.

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Thinking about going to graduate school or studying online? Debating an MBA? It’s a great idea for a range of reasons. And here’s why.

Boost Your Knowledge

First of all, a huge selling point for a lot of people, is that you are going to learn a lot more. Maybe you want to go into academia, or you don’t feel as if your education journey is quite over? Or maybe you want to progress in your career, and going back to school to get your MBA can help you to do that? If so, it’s a great idea.

Keep Your Options Open

The next thing reason why going on to graduate school after you get your bachelor’s degree, is so that you can keep your options open. Maybe you don’t know what you want to do for a career right now? Then going on an getting a MBA allows you to learn more and it bides you some time while you figure things out too.

Earn More

You’ll often find that with the right degree, you can also earn more too. Lots of graduate degrees lead to higher positions and higher-earning roles. Not only that, but you may find that you’re able to get a promotion, or you’re offered a higher tiered salary right off the bat. So if you want to progress in your career, getting a graduate degree like an MBA can help.

For more information on the benefits of graduate programs, particularly the online MBA, take a look at the infographic below.


Infographic Design By Northeastern University

Five Ways To Improve Security

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. A part of running your business is putting the proper security in place. Doing so will ultimately lower your expenses and increase your chances for success. The following contributed post is entitled, Five Ways To Improve Security.

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Office security is an important part of any business. The hub of your work needs to be safe for your staff, products and equipment. Office security doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective, however. Here are five ways you can improve your office security.

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Invest In An Alarm System
An alarm system is the first and most obvious tool to keep your office secure. Choose one that is easy to set, so you don’t have to worry if it’s been properly done if someone else is the last to leave the office. Make sure the system you choose is reliable; wireless systems like MeshWrx Alarm Monitoring have less in them to go wrong.

Decide if you want an alarm that automatically alerts you or the police (or both) to a break-in. Knowing immediately there is a problem can be very helpful.

Look After Equipment
Make sure any valuable equipment, such as laptops, is properly labelled. Mark these items with ID tags or barcodes so it’s immediately obvious if something isn’t returned. Keep an inventory of kit so it can be checked in and out easily.

Make sure any onsite storage for electronics is secure. A sturdy cabinet or cupboard with a strong lock is an easy way to do this. Ask employees to return any kit they won’t be taking home to this cupboard at the end of every work day. A laptop properly stored is far less likely to go missing than a laptop that was left out on a desk over night.

If staff will be taking any equipment home, make sure you provide them with a suitable carrier to protect it, such as a good quality laptop bag. If you need to, put in place rules to stop employees leaving laptops or other gear in unattended in the car or in public places.

Keep Track Of Who’s Coming And Going
Ask your staff to wear ID badges that prominently display your company logo and their name. Give visitor passes to any site visitors that are equally prominent. Anyone without an ID badge or pass will immediately stand out as someone who shouldn’t be there.

Locking the office with key card or fob access can be an effective way to keep out unauthorised people too.

Install CCTV
CCTV is another obvious choice to keep you secure. In the case of a breakin or other incident in the office, CCTV can be a valuable evidence tool. Prominent signs telling people that you have CCTV also acts as an effective deterrent to would-be thieves.

Set Office Security Policies
You’d be surprised how many office break-ins or security breaches occur that could be avoided with a proper protocol.

Make sure that the office is never left open and unattended. Impose the same rule to any rooms or storage areas that are used to keep equipment or sensitive data. Ask your staff to lock their computers if they leave their desk, and to secure any desk drawers or filing cabinets that contain sensitive or confidential paperwork.

When Remote Work Goes Wrong

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a key focus is Career Discussions. Allowing your staff to work remotely is double-edged sword. It can boost productivity and it cause a decrease in productivity as well. It’s something that has to be properly managed. The following contributed post is entitled, When Remote Work Goes Wrong.

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Not so long ago, remote options seemed like the holy grail of the working world. For the average workforce, there could be nothing better than the security of set salaries and the freedom to work when it suited. And yet, as recently as the last two years, remote work has become just another way that we do business.

Now, 70% of workers spend some time operating remotely. In large part, this is because employers noticed how beneficial it can be. Employees get to manage their life/work balance at last, while employers get to enjoy the benefit of increased employee satisfaction and productivity Not to mention that remote work can help to reduce the prices which come with a commercial space and even the need to waste time finding the perfect business premises in the first place.

But, for all the articles boasting about the benefits of this way of working, there’s little mention about what can go wrong. And, sadly, remote work can go very wrong if you aren’t careful, especially during the transition stage. That doesn’t mean it can’t still work for you, but it does mean you might want to consider the following before you implement it.

The question of health and safety

As a manager, you have a responsibility to keep your team safe. That applies whether they work in the office at home. As such, you should seek home working-specific health and safety training courses like those offered by EssentialSkillz straight away, and make sure to apply that new knowledge to your changing arrangements. Make sure, too, that you ask employees to assess their work environments, and let you know about any risks so that you can take the correct action.

The small matter of rules

You should also consider rules as you make this switch. If you still expect your team to work office hours, for example, you must make it clear to them. Equally, be transparent about things like uniform. If you have conference calls, the last thing that you want is a remote worker going live in a hoodie and sweatpants. To avoid that, be clear from day one that you still expect your team to present a professional image, even when they’re at home.

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Can’t forget about contact

Contact is also vital. When your team isn’t next door whenever you need them, it can cause issues and delays which look terrible to customers. This is especially the case if you can’t get hold of remote team members for extended periods. Avoid that by implementing contact plans ahead of time. It’s always a good idea to conduct a morning meeting with remote staff using programs like Skype to start communications in the right way each day. You should then also ask every team member to stay logged onto a program like Google Hangouts, which will allow you to get hold of them at a moment’s notice whenever you need. And, that can go a considerable way towards smoothing the remote journey for all.

What Creates A Community Feeling In Today’s World?

A key focus of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a key focus is current events. Some would argue that as the world is changing, the sense of community is being lost. If that’s so, it’s going to be important to understand how to build communities and pass that information as much as possible. The following contributed post is entitled, What Creates A Community Feeling In Today’s World?

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Communities have always been a significant part of human history. Together, we are stronger, as the saying goes. Communities only exist when people get together. However, while throughout history, communities were created through a natural process to encourage the survival of its people, things have changed dramatically. The days were the population worked together to protect and feed their villages are long gone. Nowadays, you can order everything you need from your preferred online retailer in a matter of a few clicks. As a result, the community spirit is dying out in the western world. Neighbors don’t interact with each other. People help each other so rarely that when they do, their action makes the news. Local businesses suffer against big competitors.

But communities have, nevertheless, a raison d’être, even in modern society. They continue to bring us together around the same goals. More importantly, they give economic and business advantages to the local population. What can we do, today, to rebuild our community feelings?

Community meeting

1. A common platform to discuss local interests.

Each community shares common interests that are related to the specific elements of their local areas. Take, for example, the population of a town. Creating a forum that discusses the infrastructures and local events will appeal to the locals. Even self-government towns that have grown together into a vast concentration of population can tap into their common interests to build their identity. Take, for example, The Villages golf course discussion online; it helps the population to connect. Additionally, the advertising campaign to play free golf for life in the area ensures that the locals take the condition of their golf course very seriously. The bottom line is that once you find the common interest, you can start creating a community of enthusiasts who share knowledge, tips, and stories.

2. Keeping in contact with the audience.

An active community is not only about talking together. People also need to be heard. At a business or municipality level, every project to bring people together on an online platform or through a community center needs to be monitored. Indeed, you have to keep in touch with your audience, making sure they know about the steps your organization takes to protect the community. Email marketing campaigns or direct mailers are excellent ways of informing your community, for instance. Additionally, your communication strategy needs to include a contact email address or phone number to gather relevant feedback.

3. Creating a positive local network.

Last but not least, when a community is defined by its geography – people from the same town or district – it’s essential to encourage the local network of businesses and experts. Ultimately, shopping local is about helping the small and independent businesses to thrive, because every dollar you spend locally goes back to the community. While you can’t get rid of online retailers and other giant competitors, it is in the interest of the community to support the local economy. Indeed, not only does it create a sense of shared values within the population, but it can also lead to the creation of new jobs and wealth for the local area. A community that builds a strong economy stays together.

In conclusion, communities are more relevant than ever, even though our modern lifestyle doesn’t give them a chance to grow. It’s time for businesses and local organizations to invest time and effort into building shared interests, audience, and economic network.

Corporate Social Responsibility And The Benefits For Your Business

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. While businesses and corporations are independent entities which a policed by the federal government, there’s another force which can impact them, and that’s public image and perception. A poor public perception of your business can erode your customer base and profits. The following contributed post is entitled, Corporate Social Responsibility And The Benefits For Your Business.

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In today’s business world, there are generally four ways to demonstrate your social responsibility.

1. Environmentally, placing a focus on your carbon footprint and taking measures to run a greener company. We suggested some of the ways you can do this in one of our previous articles here at https://bigwordsarepowerful.com/.

2. Philanthropically, running a business that is either specifically geared towards helping others, as can be demonstrated by the IT company at https://www.itforedu.com/ who work to serve the schools in our communities, or by donating your time and money to local charities and community causes.

3. Ethically, by running a business that treats its employees and customers fairly and responsibly.

4. Economically, by growing your business to profit your employees, shareholders, and customers, as well as yourself. You might also create job opportunities that are available to the local community.

These are the four main strands of corporate social responsibility, and as a business owner, you owe it to yourself and your business to consider each one.

Why?

Well, there are some obvious benefits to your business if you do, and these are outlined below.

You will improve your public image. With a negative public image, your business would suffer. If you became renowned for treating your employees badly, for example, or if it could be proven that your business had a negative impact on the environment, you would receive both public and media backlash. You would then experience financial losses when consumers decided to ditch your business in favor of a more socially responsible company. Turn that around then and think of the improved perception of your business when you start taking steps to be more socially responsible.

You will improve your employee’s morale. Would you want to work for a company that operated unethically? We assume not, and we are guessing neither would your employees. If they had the knowledge that the company they worked for was making active steps to support the local community, they would have greater morale and job satisfaction. Their productivity would then increase, and that would profit your business. You might also attract the best hires, including those millennials fresh out of grad school looking to make a difference in the world.

You will have an advantage over your business rivals. By taking steps to demonstrate your social responsibility, you are going to attract more customers to your business. By doing those things that your competitors aren’t, such as donating some of your profits to a local charity and using more sustainable ways to package your products when shipping, you will establish yourself as a company that cares. If your rivals don’t follow suit, then they will struggle to gain the same public recognition and positive word of mouth that your business will receive.

You will feel happier getting out of bed in the morning. Knowing that you are making a difference in the world should give you an extra spring in your step. And even on your worst days in business, those days when you are tired, and problems seem insurmountable, you are more likely to persevere if you know that what you are doing actually means something to others, as well as to yourself.

Demonstrating your corporate social responsibility is not only good for others, but it’s good for business too. Today then, think about what you could do, and then start to action any plans that could benefit both your profit margin and the local community around you.

Let us know what you think, and if you have anything to add to this article, perhaps in the way of how to demonstrate social responsibility, please share your ideas with us.

The Knowledge Of Life Sports Give Us

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success, and a key focus is Athletics/Sports. While we tend to think of sports in terms of the professional level, there is a lot of knowledge that the they teach people even if they don’t make it to that level. This knowledge transfers into the other areas of life. The following contributed post is entitled, The Knowledge Of Life Sports Give Us.

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Little did you know it, but when you were involved in a sport you were being taught life lessons. Whether you were a football player, baseball player, soccer player or even some kind of racing driver, you were in the school of harsh lessons and personal growth. When we’re young we don’t take it that seriously but as we grow older we see some of the similarities in sport to the thing we go through in life. A double play can be screwed up in a tight baseball game, because someone who was thought to be mentally tough ended up choking under the pressure. The ball might have slipped out of their hand or they perhaps lost their focus. These are things that happen in life to us all but in very different ways. Not folding under pressure at key moments in your life and being mentally ready for hard or intense times is just part and parcel of the lessons we learn.

The style of outlook

All of us in life, carry some kind of style. No we’re not talking about fashion or perhaps the way you walk. We carry a style in life of our approach to situations, we carry a carefree or a cautious mindset wherever we go. In certain situations the people who will think strategically will end up thinking further than those around them. For example, you are trying to out a mortgage. Many banks will actually offer smaller rates for a short term contract that then suddenly rises in price. In sports we learn to not think about how much energy we might have at the beginning of the game, but how much we’ll have at the end of it. Thus our training and our mindset are focussed on the long term goal. Someone with this kind of mentality would rather take a long term mortgage with smaller rates or a short term loan with high rates. This kind of outlook maintains financial independence and self-reliance.

Reading other people

Without a doubt the psychological aspect of sports is coming more and more to the fore. We are now seeing that the most successful players in the world, always engage in some kind of psychological battles with their opponents. Whether it’s Sebastian Vettel from F1, Tiger Woods from golf or Christiana Ronaldo from soccer, they all do it. If you are very in tune with sports you will be able to see which team is going to win even before they play against each other. You can use this knowledge of reading other people to earn a living when you work with a company like payperhead247.com. They can help you set up a business in which you can make money from games and the sport you yourself love and watch. Many other people just like you are know about the teams in depth will also be able to have a chance at putting their money where their mouth is.

Sport always teaches us things we don’t really know about until we are older. Things like reading people and using that to help us in life, or approaching challenges with a long term mindset for example.