Category: Contributed Posts

4 Ways You Can Save Water

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. A key resource that all of us need is water. Quality and safe water is not a resource that everyone has access to, and thus conserving it is of the utmost importance. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Ways You Can Save Water.

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Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Many of us don’t take the time to think about saving water and what a difference it can make if everyone was to changes a few things to help. Whether you need to save water because of a heatwave or are interested in saving money it’s definitely something to be mindful of and to try to make a little bit of a difference. Have a look at some of the easy ways that you could be saving water.

Only Use What You Need

Most people don’t over think how much water we are using with different activities such as making a cup of tea or cooking food however making a small change can make the world fo difference. Try only filling your kettle and boiling the amount of water that you are going to actually use rather than filling the kettle all the way to the top and see how much difference it makes. You can also take on this concept when thinking about watering your garden. By switching to watering by hand using a can you are significantly reducing the amount of water you are using compared to using a garden hose.

Cut Down Your Shower Times

Let us be honest, when we shower we don’t really think about how much water we are using we are preoccupied with getting clean. Fun fact though every minute your spend int he shower can equate up to 17 litres of water, now that sounds like a lot doesn’t it? Try setting a timer and cutting down the amount of time spent in the shower or switching to a more efficient showerhead, they should both help to save you water and cut down on your bills.

Store Rainwater

You really are making the most of your natural resources by catching, storing and using your rainwater and why shouldn’t you? Companies such as National Poly Industries supply and install water tanks, these are brilliant way and highly economical way of helping you to save water and money. You can use it to drink, water your garden and many other ways so it’s something you should be looking in to help take you in the right direction with saving water.

Change Your Diet

This might seem like a strange one to see on the list but there are ways that changing your diet can help you to save water on a much larger scale than you probably think. You could consider eating less meat as rearing animals for dairy and meat for meals uses a massive intensity of water. So by cutting down on the amount of meat you eating can reduce your water footprint immensely. When preparing vegetables you should also consider steaming rather than using pans of boiling water. With a steamer, you are using a considerable less amount of water to cook a larger amount of food.

Do You have any other tips for cutting back on water usage and helping to cut costs? Please share them in the comment section below.

Want To Run A Solo Business? Don’t Forget These Things

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If you’re starting a solo business, there are a couple of key things to keep in mind as it can be a huge undertaking. The following contributed post is thus entitled, Want To Run A Solo Business? Don’t Forget These Things.

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Every day more and more people are deciding that the best choice for them is to walk away from a life of 9 to 5 employment and take their lives into their own hands by starting their own business. And this is pretty understandable. After all, the desire to take charge of your life and pursue something that you’re really passionate about is a pretty universal one. And the great thing is that thanks to the internet, doing so really has never been easier than before. Of course, that doesn’t mean that all of the challenge has been taken out of starting any kind of business. If you’re looking to start a business on your own, there are plenty of things that can make that difficult With that in mind, here are some essential things you need to remember if you’re looking to start a solo business.

The cost

There is no doubt that running any kind of business is one that will always come with at least some degree of necessary financial investment. From the cost of your equipment to the cost of outsourcing certain parts of your business that you’re not equipped to handle, you need to figure out where that money is coming from. Whether you’re investing in the business yourself or you seek investment places like Kickstarter, you need to figure out how you’re going to cover the costs of keeping your business running before you start to turn a profit.

Available resources

One of the best things about running a business in the modern world is how many resources are at your disposal to help you avoid spending too much. From things like social media that allow you to create a strong online marketing presence without spending a single penny to places online where you can get the equipment you need at a reduced price like 123inkjet Canon Cartridges. Being able to save as much money at the beginning of your business is one of the most important things about keeping yourself afloat in the early days.

Burnout

One of the most important things to be aware of as a business owner is that there is always a risk that you’re going to end up putting too much pressure on yourself and burning out. After all, no one can work every hour of the day without it taking some kind of toll on them. Make sure that you learn when to walk away from your business and take a break. Trying to put all of your energy into it is often tempting but is ultimately pretty destructive.

Of course, one of the most important things to remember is that there is no rule that says you have to do everything on your own. Sure, things like outsourcing can be incredibly valuable, but why not consider going into business with someone else. That can often bring about its own set of challenges but partnering up with someone else can be one of the best ways to create a really great small business.

Creating a Successful Business from You Art

Two key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. The art business is a niche all with its own caveats and nuances. If you’re interested in this type of business, it’s important to know how be successful it its unique arena. The following contributed post is entitled, Creating a Successful Business from You Art.

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To build a business with your art there are three things you need to do. Of course, the most important is to be able to create work that people want, but you also need to be able to market what you have produced and put the whole thing on a proper business footing.

Create Appealing Work

This is the first thing you have to do as without any appealing work you will not make any sales. You need to make work, whether that is painting, sculptures or some other art form that people will be prepared to pay for and then you will have taken the first step.

Research Your Target Audience

Once you know the type of work you are producing you will need to do some research to find the audience that is most likely to buy it. There is no point in marketing to consumers that will not purchase items of art, as that will just be a waste of your time and effort.

There are also other things you need to be aware of such as how big is the potential market you will be aiming to engage with, and what competition are you up against? Information like this can affect your marketing strategy and the time spent on research will be well spent.

You also need to know the best places to show your pieces of work. Would that be in a public exhibition space, a commercial gallery or a studio of your own that consumers can have access to?

You can make it simple for fans of your work to connect with you by using the various social media platforms. Posting images of your work on the like of Facebook and Instagram can create a lot of interest in your products. Joining local art groups can also help to build a circle of fans that will hopefully become future customers.

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Develop A Business Plan

Businesses do not just happen; you have to work at them for success. You should start with a business plan to work out how much finance you will need when you expect sales to start to happen and how much work you need to produce each week to make the business viable.

There are other things to consider too, such as how will you move a piece of art to the address of the purchaser. There are specialist art movers that deal with these matters, but you need to have spoken to them and let them know that you may need their services in the near future.

Having Business You Love

It is really good to be able to turn a passion into a business and if you are prepared to work hard and plan every stage there is no reason why this should not work for you. Creating a successful business from your art is a great idea and one that you should start on now and not just leave it as an idea to be forgotten.

Common Mistakes Companies Make When Buying New Tools

Two key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Depending on the type of business or company you’re in, there will come a time when you’ll need to upgrade you tools and technologies. Doing so properly will prevent any interruption in your operations, while doing it incorrectly can interrupt your operations. The following contributed post is entitled, Common Mistakes Companies Make When Buying New Tools.

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Buying new tools for your business? Here are a few common tool-buying mistakes to avoid.

Skimping on quality

When it comes to tool quality, you get what you pay for. Cheap tools tend to be less reliable and less efficient, especially if you’re buying used tools. As a result, you’re likely to pay more in repairs and replacements in the future. Such tools also tend to look cheap, which won’t do any good for your professional image.

Consider the factors that affect quality control before buying and research into these. If you’re buying a cutting tool for instance, consider the cutting tool material. You’ll generally pay extra for this added quality, but it’s worth it in the long run.

Splurging on gimmicks

Whilst spending a little extra could guarantee better quality, you should avoid splurging your money on tools beyond your needs. If you need to buy a printer for your office, consider whether you really need an industrial printer capable of printing hundreds of copies per minute. Make sure that you’re likely to use the tool to its full potential.

Buying single-use tools that could be hired

If you’re using a tool once, there’s no use in buying it only for it to gather dust for the remainder of its life. When it comes to these tools, use rental companies to hire them for a short period instead. You’ll save a lot of money by doing this. Just make sure to hire from a reputable company – the best companies will look after their equipment and ensure that it is top quality.

Using too many different brands

Whilst you don’t need to stay completely loyal to one brand, there are advantages to having several tools of the same brand. Firstly, it’s likely that such tools may have similar controls – a die cutter and a vacuum mold machine from the same company may have similar buttons and dials making it easier to learn the controls. There may also be a certain level of integration and cross-compatibility. Hand-held tools of the same brand for instance tend to use the same battery packs or the same chargers. Two types of software from the same brand meanwhile may be linked together so that you can easily move data from one to the other.

Overlooking energy-efficiency

This one applies only to electrical machinery, but it’s an important factor to consider. Machinery that uses up lots of electricity will cost you more in energy bills. Such machines tend to be older used machines – most modern machines are very energy efficient. You can usually find energy ratings for machinery online.

What It Takes To Be A Great Business Leader

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success, and two key focuses are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Many people want to start businesses know much about becoming great leaders of business. There are a couple of keys to it, and the following contributed post is entitled, What It Takes To Be A Great Business Leader.

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Leadership is a funny thing. Many people compare themselves to a lion, and there are many memes that talk about how to be fierce and forceful. But perhaps a real leader looks more, a wolf. One single leader, with a pack underneath them that includes workers, managers, and the weak and elderly.

But what does it take to be a great business leader? To have the acumen of people like Kheng Ly, to take things and turn them into success stories?

Photo by Eva Blue on Unsplash

Work With Your Strengths

Not everyone is good at everything, and personality matters. Being ‘strong’ looks different is pretty much any situation. But working with your personality, knowing what makes you tick can help you as you then put that to use and learn how to get the best out of other people. Being open and knowing where your personal weaknesses are is a great asset. You don’t have to label them as a weakness either, acknowledge their existence and work with them. Your personality will be a big part of your brand, and it should be celebrated rather than broken down and rebuilt.

Flexibility

Business changes so quickly it can make your head spin. Being able to roll and adapt is going to make a real difference in how you run your empire. Seeing when things are going to disrupt your company and making the necessary changes will mean that your staff and support won’t feel a significant impact, but instead, they will be able to adjust too. Following the example, you have set.

Care

While you do need to keep a keen eye on your bottom line, you also need to be aware of your staff, production line, and the people all the way down to the office cleaners. Showing that you care about their job and them as a person. Learning names, building an office ecosystem that rewards your staff and being available when you are needed will make a huge impact. Remember in Happyness, when the 5 dollars was returned? It can be something as simple as repaying kindnesses.

Focus

Focusing on your goals is going to be essential to getting things done. Avoiding distractions and not getting pulled into things that just don’t make an impact on your business is one of the best things that you can do for yourself and your business.

Authenticity

You can’t build a global brand if you are faking it. This feeds into the point about personality and your strengths too. Develop your own voice, one that staff and customers can all trust. Leaders, in most cases, can be trusted and speak honestly on any topic – no matter how difficult.

Great leadership comes in many forms, some people are said to be natural born leaders due to their confidence and curiosity, others get there in time while growing their own voice and learning. Leadership isn’t always about leading the charge, it is often about being at the back supporting others in their goals too.

Taking Care Of Your IT In Business

Three of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. In today’s modern age, most businesses use some form of technology. Information Technology (IT) services that aren’t operating properly can be costly and hurt productivity and thus their maintenance is paramount. The following contributed post is entitled, Taking Care Of Your IT In Business.

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Any business in the world needs to use a considerable amount of IT if they are to keep on top of things and to keep moving in the right direction. If you are starting up a new business, and you are unsure how to approach the whole issue of IT, then there are many things that you might want to consider in order to make it a little easier. For most entrepreneurs, the tech behind a business is one of the more challenging aspects, and it might be something that you find you need to work on in order to improve it and keep the business going strong. In this article, we are going to take a look at just some of the things you might want to do in order to properly take care of your IT. Do that, and you will find that your business is much better off for it.

Only Have What You Need

One of the biggest mistakes that entrepreneurs make is trying to get technology to do absolutely everything, even that which is clearly not intended to be completed in that way. The trouble with overusing tech is that you only end up causing more issues for yourself, as you inevitably will find that you are going to have to spend more time fixing and keeping it running than the amount of time you will have saved by using it. Therefore, you should make a point of only making use of technology where you need to, so that you can hope to keep it as simple as possible, and also keep the process of looking after it simple too.

Outsource IT

Something that the vast majority of business do these days is outsource their IT. There are many great benefits to doing this, and it is one of those things that you will find you absolutely have to do if you run a smaller business or a startup. When you outsource your IT, you effectively free up time and space in your own business for whatever else you want to do. At the same time, you will find that it is inevitably going to be looked after considerably better, and that you will run into few problems. Any problems that remain are likely to be fixed quickly by that team, and you might never even heard of it. If you visit https://www.ribbitbusiness.com/ you will see a great example of this kind of service which you might want to consider for your business.

Consider Training

If you do have any IT teams in your building, you will want to make sure that they know exactly what they are doing. In order to do that, you will need to think about training them up wherever necessary, in order that you might be able to keep the IT running as smoothly as possible. The more training you give them, the more likely it is that they will be able to do whatever is required to keep it going.

How Does EDDM Work?

Two key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. A key aspect of any business is marketing and there are several ways to market. Marketing need not be high-tech with a lot of bells and whistles and can sometimes be simple. The following contributed post is entitled, How Does EDDM Work?

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If you’re looking to put your small business on the map, have you thought about embracing the tried and tested marketing concept of EDDM, or every door direct mail? If you’re keen to increase customer numbers, target a local audience or get your name out there, this could be an excellent way to attract more attention. If you’re not familiar with EDDM, here’s a handy infographic to tell you more.

EDDM is different to conventional direct mail marketing, and it is ideally suited to businesses that want to reach out to clients in the local area. Using a service offered by the United States Postal Service, you can use EDDM to advertise your business to local residents.

The process involves a series of steps, the first of which is to create a USPS account. Once you’ve done this, use the map to select a route and choose areas to cover. The next stage is to design your flyers, postcards or leaflets. For the best outcomes, keep things simple, and make sure you get your brand message across in addition to the services you offer, your contact details and information about any promotions. Next, print your mailpieces at home or via a printing company and select a drop-off date. Arrange your mailpieces in tidy stacks of 50-100 sheets that are no higher than 6 inches. Fill out your processing forms, attach a facing slip to each order and then pay for the shipping online via your USPS account. Finally, take your bundles to the post office on the drop-off date selected and your customers will receive them shortly after.

If you’re searching for a local marketing method that will drive your business forward, why not consider EDDM?


Infographic design by Direct Mail by Catdi Printing

Follow Your Dreams: How To Jump Into An Into A Tech Job (With No Experience)

Two of the key focuses of my blog are Career Discussions and Technology. With every passing year, new technologies are emerging and along with them the need for individuals who have backgrounds in the Information Technology (IT) fields. If this field particularly intrigues you, it will be important for you to know how to get in. The following contributed post is entitled, Follow Your Dreams: How To Jump Into An Into A Tech Job (With No Experience).

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Photo by Pexels

Breaking into the tech industry can be a daunting task. Fiercely competitive and outrageously ambitious, it can seem like an insurmountable barrier to entry especially if you don’t have the relevant credentials. However, one of the great things about the industry is that although Here, we’ve outlined some key components for you to land your dream job digital IT.

Get Some Experience

Tech is a notoriously difficult industry to break into without the relevant experience. The top technology companies often want to see that as well as being a great personality fit, that you’ve taken the time to immerse yourself in the culture and honed your skills to ensure that you’re a perfect fit for your desired role. Look to cut your teeth on small entry-level projects that don’t take much investment and can easily fit around your lifestyle. Upload some examples of your work to freelancing sites such as Fivver, or Upwork to fine-tune your skills and get a grasp of the ins and outs of your role without too much commitment. It also gives you a chance to put yourself forward for a variety of projects and therefore allowing your skills to be even more well-rounded, which is exactly what many tech companies are looking for.

Time To Study

Sometimes, though it’s worth noting that smaller experiences may just not be enough to land you that dream tech job. Jobs in tech have stringent entry requirements, and many recruiters may not even consider your resume if you do not have the relevant qualifications or degree required for the position. Browse job specs and job boards liked Linkedin to get a rough idea of the minimum bar of entry and use that to define your starting point. That being said, going back to college may just not be a feasible option for you. If that’s the case you may want to look into taking on an apprenticeship. IT apprenticeships can be a great way to get hands-on technical training and at the end of it, you’ll come away with a recognised qualification that is bound to open some more doors.

Stand Out On Your Resume

Once you feel confident enough to apply for your dream role, it’s time to make sure that your CV stands up to scrutiny. Make sure that you highlight anything that may be relevant to recruiters, no matter how small or insignificant you think it may be. Be candid in your cover letter and let your future employer know why you’re passionate about tech and how you can now prove it with all the smaller projects and courses you have invested in. Don’t get called back for a second interview? Don’t give up. Keep working on extra projects and work experiences, to really beef up your CV.

How to Get the Most from a Recruitment Company

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Depending on the type of business you’re running, a key to success is recruiting the right talent mix. Recruitment companies can valuable tools in these instances. It’s important to understand how to get the most out of your partnerships with them. The following contributed post is therefore entitled, How to Get the Most from a Recruitment Company.

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Image Credit: Pexels

When you need to find the best talent but don’t have time to sift through 100s of average applications to find “The One”, you should definitely consider hiring a recruitment company. Recruiters spend all their time matchmaking talented executives with their ideal roles. This means that while you have to start from scratch every time, they already have a great talent pool to choose from.

However, when you hire a recruitment company, you can’t just pick the first one you happen to stumble across. You need to look for certain qualities that suggest that you will work well together, and though a brilliant executive recruiting portfolio is a good place to start, it’s not the be all and end all of partnerships. You have to put some work in too.

Knowing Who You Are as a Business

When you are working on your branding, you are most concerned with how your customers see you. But when you are looking for new talent, you also need to think about how your company reputation will be seen on the job market.

Communicating your company ethos to your recruiter is vital as they will be able to use this information to refine the candidates they present. It’s important to remember that when candidates approach recruiters, they are also looking for something specific. By showing off your company’s personality, you are much more likely to attract someone who will fit in.

Employees aren’t just looking for a steady paycheck anymore, they want a healthy culture and greater prospects too. When you are looking for new talent, don’t forget that the interview goes two ways. They will be looking for the qualities they want too.

Knowing What You Are Looking For

Writing a job description is much more than a list of responsibilities, it should also clarify the type of person you are looking for and how they will fit in with the rest of the team. It’s at this point that you really need to be certain about what you want. The job description is also a good chance to put across a bit of your company’s personality so please don’t hide behind buzzwords!

Though you might be determined to get an experienced candidate in, the reality is that most people who use recruiters are looking for roles that will challenge them and build their skill sets. This is important to remember because it’s pretty rare for someone to make a sideways move. Instead of looking for experience, you should be looking for potential.

Look for the Best in Every Applicant

When you have a list of requirements, it’s pretty easy to work through applications and simply discard those that don’t immediately tick every box. Instead of doing this, you should give every applicant a fair chance to show you their best – and this goes for the interview too.

Recruiters are bound to send you a few curve balls now and then so take the time to see how these applicants might fit in. You never know when you might hire the person who makes a real difference to your company.

Choosing Who You Want To Be In Life: The Influences

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success. The people who we influence us when we’re young, and who we allow to influence us when we get older, have a lot of power. Your influences can impact your success in life. It’s therefore important to understand whose influence to follow and whose to avoid. The following contributed post is entitled, Choosing Who You Want To Be In Life: The Influences.

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You only get one life, so you have to live it. Those are the words we hear all too frequently when it comes to our actions and lives. But yet do we really take those matters into our own hands? The truth is, when it comes to life, be that our careers, our relationships and the choices we make for the things we do, we are often influenced. Sometimes we seek out the influence and the inspiration, other times we simply don’t see it happening under our very noses. There is nothing wrong with being influenced, as long as we can say at the end of the day the choice that was made was done with our own best interests at heart. With that in mind, here is a little discussion around some of the influences we can all face today.

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Influences from family

When it comes to choosing the life that you want one of the biggest influences in your life will be your family. This might be fathers or mothers wanting you to go into the family business, or it might be parents just wanting better things for you and then pushing you in a particular direction. While we don’t always want to hurt our families feelings, it can be hard to stand up to them if you have a different journey you want to take. You might also want to be aware that often conflict between families when it comes to business can happen, people like Belinda Stronach has shared some of the issues that she’s faced with her family. It happens, and while they will be a big influence in your life, they won’t be the only voice that matters.

Social media influence

So many people use social media these days, and often a big 70% of people will check their social media feeds at least once a day. So that means that you are being influenced by what you see before you even realise it. There is a lot about people sharing things online these days, and there is a lot of perfection put out there. This is where you get influenced into doing something, buying something or acting in a certain way. It’s part of lives now, and we don’t realise how much of an impact social media has on it.

Peer pressure

You will be influenced by your peers. Fact! At school you are influenced by acting in a certain way, from the phrases that you say to the things that you do. In work, you will still beindluecc by peers and work colleagues that are doing well in their field. It is there all the time, but this is when it can feel like peer pressure, so it is important to understand when it is a positive or a negative influence on your actions.

What we see on TV or in films

Finally, we are influenced by what we watch. People will watch a boxset on law, only to want to be that person or do that job. People will watch a documentary about living in a certain part of the world, only to want to live there. Holidays get shared on TV, what people wear, what people think. It is impossible to not be influenced by it.

Let’s hope this has made you more aware of the influences in your life.