Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. When you’re in charge of a business, you always have to think about how expand and your productivity. In 2020 there are numerous ways you can do that. The following contributed post is entitled, How Your Company Can Do More In 2020.
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If you are a business that has been around for some time, you may have found yourself failing to see some year on year growth. If this sounds like you, there is no need to panic; getting back on track is quite a simple process.
Today, we are going to be looking at some modern-day solutions that could benefit your business in huge ways should you consider applying them. While some of them may be simple at their core, you will find their application in your business could be exactly what you need.
One thing you should recognise is this; we are not saying you are not doing enough with your business, what we are, in fact, saying is that if you have hit a place where you cannot see any continuous growth from your company, then you are going to need to start applying something a little different.
While different may be scary, it can often be the thing that keeps you company afloat and helps you reach the level that you have been aiming for, for some time.
Improve Your Logistics
While most businesses are able to keep hold of almost every corner of their company, there is often one part that can be placed in the hands of others.
We are, of course, talking about the logistics side of the business. As most companies have discovered, they are able to apply control over every section of their business, but when it comes to getting a consignment to a customer, you have to place your faith in the hands of your logistic service.
Now, while in an ideal world, your company would manage its own fleet, we have to be real and recognise that financially this may not be viable. What you want to look for is an expedited trucking company that will be able to provide a service that gives live tracking and everything your business needs to ensure your shipments reach your customers on time.
Look At Better Software Solutions
As we have moved forward into the 21st century, software solutions have very quickly become more advanced, and you can be sure that if you want to streamline your business, there will be a huge need for an update to the software you are using.
Most people are probably thinking, what difference could software really make? The answer to this is simple; a big one.
Today’s software solutions can automate the menial and laborious jobs that take your employees out of the business for hours on end. By having software that can build data build data files on customers to give them a personal experience, can automate emails and even run a nurturing campaign, you will have a huge portion of your business covered.
Having a simple solution like this can save you time, effort and money, and you will be surprised as to how quickly you will be able to see a change in your business.
Three of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. In today’s digital age, many forms of business and marketing involve shooting video and posting it online. You don’t always need an extravagant studio to shoot video and sometimes your smartphone will do. The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Tips to Shoot Professional-Looking Videos on Your Smartphone.
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Thankfully, it’s becoming more common knowledge for businesses to realize that video marketing is here to stay. It’s one of the most effective ways to connect with people, build your brand, and give your business an actual voice.
In fact, 51% of marketing professionals believe video marketing is the best for ROI. SO, if you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon yet, it’s time to play catchup!
If you have, and you’re not sure why you haven’t experienced as much success with your video marketing efforts, have you considered the kind of video you’re shooting and producing? Are you using quality video SDKs from an app or website to quickly shoot and publish your content?
If the quality of your video isn’t up to par, there’s a good chance people will skip it. That’s especially true as more businesses recognize the importance of video and try to outdo their competition when it comes to quality.
So, what can you do to shoot more professional-looking videos for your business, using a smartphone? The good news is, you don’t have to be a pro videographer to make it happen. Let’s go over some tips that can set you apart from your competitors.
Even if you have the latest and greatest smartphone with the best camera that’s ever been released, your video could still look less-than-professional if your lighting is bad. Professional videographers rely on good lighting to make their videos look sharp, bright, and easy to see.
You don’t have to invest in studio lights or other fancy equipment to get better lighting for your recording. But, always try to shoot in a well-lit area to prevent shadows and graininess that can make it difficult for people to see the detail in your video.
Most phones nowadays have “touch focus,” so you can tap on the area of the camera that’s highlighted to focus on one area. The phone should automatically balance the lighting based on the area you’re focused on.
2. Audio is Just as Important
It’s great if you have a high-quality, sharp-looking video. But, if the audio quality doesn’t match up, people aren’t going to pay attention. Unfortunately, most phone manufacturers haven’t given as much attention to the microphones on their devices as they have to the cameras.
So, what can you do to boost the sound quality of your video?
The best thing you can do is to get an external recording device of some kind. Even an inexpensive microphone that can be plugged into your phone will make a world of difference when it comes to the clarity of the sound. If you can’t afford an external mic or don’t want to get one right now, make sure you always record on your phone in a quiet room with no external noises. Try to avoid recording outside.
3. Never Shoot Vertically
It’s hard to believe that this still needs to be said in 2020, but perhaps the biggest and most important tip to keep in mind is to never shoot your video vertically on your phone. When you record vertically, it makes playback look strange on many other devices. Hold your phone horizontally, and playback on screens everywhere will look just fine.
You don’t need to hire a professional camera crew or be a pro yourself to create better-looking videos on your phone. Keep these simple tips in mind as you boost your video marketing efforts this year.
“In a race-based society, it’s what you own and control that determines your opportunities, rights and privileges! This doesn’t have a darn thing to do with Civil Rights! That’s a waste of time! It doesn’t have anything to do with voting!”
Hello. Thank you for clicking on this link, and I hope you enjoy this essay. Writing a book was the genesis of my blogging, and becoming a video content creator. I have published part one of my book project entitled, The Engineers: A Western New York Basketball Story. It is currently available on Amazon in eBook, hardcover, and paperback formats. Shortly I will be selling signed hardcover and paperback copies on my online store entitled, Big Words Authors. You can place an order now if you want a signed copy. There is also a page discussing the book. Please consider visiting it to learn more about the project, and to see the promotional content I’ve created for the project. And now on to our feature presentation.
“I fear I have integrated my people into a burning house!”
The Image of the Burning House
Before I start this piece, I want to acknowledge the creator of its primary image. It was generated by ‘Creative Designs’, and by the very talented Tamara Coleman. If you want to learn more about Tamara and her work, contact her via email at: Tammy-cole@hotmail.com.
The Power of History and Storytelling
This Black History blog post falls under my principles of Critical Thought and Financial Literacy/Money. Here on my blog and on my YouTube channel, Big Discussions76, I challenge readers and viewers to question things and not just accept the images and messages presented to them. This is particularly important for this election year where we voters are sure to be slammed with all kinds of propaganda and biased reporting by the mainstream news sources.
One of the interesting things about history is that he or she who controls the narrative controls the minds and the perceptions of the masses regarding what happened for a given person or event. Some argue that all the technology we have today has made the world worse, and there are cases where that’s true. I usually counter that sentiment by arguing that in some ways it has made it better. One way it has made the world better is through the ability to share information, so that more accurate and complete stories can be told.
Dr. King’s Dream Fulfilled?
When we think about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we often think back to his historic ‘I Had A Dream’ speech, his philosophy of non-violence, the marches, his time spent in jail, and then his tragic assassination. But there was so much more to the legendary face of the Civil Rights Movement. In my 2019 blog post entitled, Whose Job Is It To Teach Black History?, I discussed Dr. Michael Eric Dyson’s revelation that Dr. King had extramarital affairs and why I thought it was important to know about them–something also depicted in the movie Selma.
Another important revelation for me regarding Dr. King was my mentor sharing that just as many black people wanted to take his life as white people, if not more. It’s odd (and unsettling) to think something like that could happen, but information and perspectives that are being shared now may give insight as to why. Something that classically hasn’t gotten as much exposure, but which is now gaining traction in certain circles today, is Dr. King’s final thoughts on his life’s work.
Dr. King’s signature victory was the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but it turns out that before his death, he wondered if he’d spent his life fighting for the wrong things. He pondered if he’d led his people in the wrong direction as discussed in the opening quote of this blog post. This is a good place to ask an important question. What exactly happened in 1968 that warranted Dr. King’s assassination as opposed to one of the previous years? A prevalent theory is that Dr. King’s focus had shifted from social integration and desegregation to economic and financial equality/power and empowerment. His final effort was in fact the Poor People’s Campaign.
“We’re coming to Washington to get OUR check!” In footage not widely shared until recent times, Dr. King is captured discussing how the federal government financially supported other ethnic groups throughout the history of the United States in legislation like the Homestead Act. Dr. King realized that with such government support, black people could ascend and become whole in the United States. He was planning to return to Washington, DC, not for civil rights but for economic rights. “We’re coming to Washington to get OUR check!”
Who is Dr. Claud Anderson?
At this point I want to introduce Dr. Claud Anderson and then I’m going to bring the two men together at the conclusion of this piece. For those unfamiliar with him, Dr. Claud Anderson is an author/economist/historian and a former cabinet member of President Jimmy Carter. For 40 plus years of my life, I was unaware of Dr. Anderson and I only became aware of him due to the vigilance of Dr. Boyce Watkins, who I watch regularly on YouTube and who I also follow on Twitter. This, in part, underscores the good our new technologies have done.
Dr. Watkins is unapologetically black, a staunch advocate of black love, is considered controversial by some, and while he regularly weighs in on some of the social issues of the day (recently Lizzo for example), his background is in economics, money and investing. His core messages are thus about black people learning how to invest and build businesses. He’s very, very passionate about black kids learning to buy stock and build businesses as early as possible and he has programs for teaching such skills to both children and adults. He argues that this is more important than our kids learning to do the latest dances or excelling at football or basketball.
I don’t recall when Dr. Watkins started bringing Dr. Claud Anderson onto his show, but once he did it was easy to see why, and why he looks upon Dr. Anderson with such reverence. I’d encourage any readers to look up any of Dr. Anderson’s discussions with Dr. Watkins, and then any of Dr. Anderson’s abundance of interviews available on YouTube. He had a powerful discussion with the popular ‘Breakfast Club‘, and over the holiday season I stumbled upon an interview of Dr. Anderson from 1995 in Detroit. He had another powerful interview with Rock Newman here in DC. The interviews are below:
What’s remarkable about the 1995 interview was that Dr. Anderson spoke on everything that’s unfolding today. One point was the efforts to bring in immigrants into the United States to undermine the black vote and I’ll leave that there. It’s a very polarizing topic as ironically many black people support the same politicians who are looking to enforce these policies. The year of 1995 was just prior to the internet becoming mainstream. Interestingly, even when transferring to my Historically Black College/University (HBCU), I don’t remember any mention of Dr. Anderson, which is very strange. As noted before, the same is true for intellectuals like Dr. Thomas Sowell and Dr. Walter E. Williams, black conservatives, but ‘intellectual heavyweights’ nonetheless.
Then again, it’s not strange as Dr. Anderson discussed how the individuals who decide which books will be used at HBCUs don’t want his books there during his interview with the Breakfast Club. While I recommended three of Dr. Anderson’s interviews above, and while I’m going to recommend his books below, in watching and reading Dr. Anderson’s content, I must warn you. If you’re a Barrack Obama enthusiast who was in love with the symbolism of his presidency, or even a staunch Democrat, his words aren’t kind to either. He’s not a pro-Trumper by any means, but he’s very open about the political class’ role in the state of Black America now. By the way, many, many criticisms of Barrack Obama’s legacy are emerging within the black community these days and can at least in part be attributed to what happened to Senator Kamala Harris in the Democratic primary.
Dr. Claud Anderson’s Economic Floors Proverb
With the videos I’ve listed, you can go watch and learn more for yourself. For the sake of this post, I’m just going to focus on three things. The first is Dr. Anderson’s plan for empowering black communities across the United States, much of which can be done by the communities themselves without outside help. He described the following points with hosts DJ Envy and Charlemagne THA God on the Breakfast Club. He described black economic empowerment (by the black community itself) as erecting a proverbial building with multiple floors:
• First Floor– Build a community and practice ‘group economics’; particularly making the money ‘bounce’ in the community 8-12 times before it leaves (discussed below). • Second Floor– Politics; without economics there’s no ability to influence politicians or elections as a group; Voting is immaterial and a game of entertainment; You buy or rent the politicians. • Third Floor– Use the politicians to influence the court systems and law enforcement to decrease things like police brutality. • Fourth Floor– Media; If you don’t own media, you can’t organize, communicate or motivate. • Fifth Floor– Education; Interestingly the final level, but according to his logic it makes sense as there would theoretically be the existence of black businesses for our young professionals to start working in.
The second point I want to focus on is that of black people relearning how to ‘bounce’ their dollars in the black community as described above. In this context, bouncing simply refers to spending money within the community to give those there the opportunity to benefit from it long-term. Dr. Anderson argues eloquently that of all the other races and ethnic groups, the black dollar bounces the least within its own community before quickly leaving. In the Black History-related piece following this one, I’m going to discuss whether racial desegregation irreversibly started the process of destroying black businesses. An example of supporting a black business is patronizing the above-mentioned Tamara Coleman who created the primary image of this piece.
My final point regarding Dr. Anderson is that of ‘Reparations’, which is basically the reconciling of the debt and economic disparities by the United States believed to be owed to the descendants of slaves created by the Chattel Slavery and Jim Crow. I’m not going argue whether black people should get them here, though it is interesting that groups like Japanese Americans got something following World War 2. Other groups apparently got similar severances. I’ll just say that Dr. Anderson is a staunch advocate of reparations, and don’t be surprised to see a further fractured black vote in the 2020 general election due to this one issue, which was in large part brought to the forefront by the Obama Presidency.
Dr. Claud Anderson’s Book Powernomics
I’d encourage readers to purchase copies of Dr. Anderson’s books which it seems are not available at HBCUs as described above. I asked for and received Dr. Anderson’s three books last year for Christmas: Powernomics, The Black History Reader and Black Labor-White Wealth. Again, he has in large part been kept out of mainstream media and, based upon his messages, it’s not surprising why. I would also encourage readers to visit Dr. Anderson’s Harvest Institute to learn more about his efforts and to make a donation if you’re motivated to do so.
What’s the Connection Between the Two Men?
So, what does all this have to do with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr? Well, it relates directly to his vision of the burning house. Were his efforts in large part directed in the wrong direction? Was it always economics? Did desegregation ultimately have harmful effects on Black America, causing all our black businesses to wither away and die? Also, have we become a permanent underclass as described by Dr. Claud Anderson?
In terms of reparations, based upon responses by then Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris, and remaining candidates like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, I’m not going to hold my breath for them. Part of Dr. Claud Anderson’s ‘Gospel’ regarding economic empowerment though is hopeful and suggests that black people as a group can still coalesce and build something. The question is ‘will we?’.
It would require a mass shift in mindset which is the hardest part. If you watch Dr. Boyce Watkins’ content, he’s shared frustrations numerous times about black people as a group not being interested in learning about economics and financial literacy. Some are, but personally I thought it was odd that it took something like Jay-Z’s ‘444’ album to get black people talking about these topics at least for a little while. Again, some of us are interested in this stuff and actively talk about it and study it, but the majority isn’t. A small group will thus likely thrive while the majority may not as much.
Other Topics on My Blog
If money, financial literacy and business topics fascinate you, I have a wealth of content on that now right here on the Big Words Blog Site. As a matter fact, my blogging platform was rated one of the 10 Best Financial Education Blogs by the company Expertido for 2019. I’ve written several literary pieces about some basics of budgeting and topics regarding things like Matching Contributions. My pieces are usually personal stories discussing my journey learning these concepts.
Working with a collaborator, I’ve published profuse amounts of content in the areas of Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. These are smaller informational pieces you can read through in five minutes or less. Just go to the categories tab on my platform and choose one of those categories. I also discuss money topics on my YouTube channel entitled, Big Discussions76. Please stop by, subscribe and find the playlist entitled, “Big Discussions Financial Literacy”.
As Black History Month approaches, I’ll be publishing another piece specifically focusing on whether civil rights and desegregation hurt Black America. Thank you for reading this piece. I want to thank Dr. Boyce Watkins for his hard work in trying to get his money messages out to our people, and for getting Dr. Claud Anderson out into the spotlight where he has always belonged. Again, for 40 years of my life I had no idea who he was and I’m not alone. That’s a major problem, but if you understand economics and media as I do now, it’s not unexpected.
The Big Words LLC Newsletter
For the next phase of my writing journey, I’m starting a monthly newsletter for my writing and video content creation company, the Big Words LLC. In it, I plan to share inspirational words, pieces from this blog and my first blog, and select videos from my four YouTube channels. Finally, I will share updates for my book project The Engineers: A Western New York Basketball Story. Your personal information and privacy will be protected. Click this link and register using the sign-up button at the bottom of the announcement. If there is some issue signing up using the link provided, you can also email me at bwllcnl@gmail.com . Best Regards.
Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). For those individuals with a mind and aptitude for investing, there are lots of opportunities in the sciences. The following contributed post is entitled, Science And Investment Opportunities.
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Science And Investment Opportunities
There are many people around the world that are looking for places to invest their money. Whether it’s a charitable cause, or an investment opportunity that hopefully will bring big Returns. So when it comes to investment and the Sciences, where can we invest our money for either life and will changing reasons, or for a return on investment? It can be a minefield, and it’s important to know that the advice and and and information that you may receive when doing your research, is not everything, you have to really consider all of the alternatives and make the right investment choice for you. So where can we mix science and Investment? The first thing to think about is how much money you are looking to invest in the first place and once you know no this you will know where to start.
Education Education is, of course, the basis for any improvement. Improvement of the way we live, and the way we look after our planet, and this is an important aspect of investment. Investing money into the education of younger people, and for the Education of people who may not otherwise have access, means that we are likely to move forward in the future. Giving access to education to many people means that one or two who are going to make changes in the world are able to do so. The way in which we can move forward and educate the population is a fantastic opportunity. But it relies on investment. Whether that’s from personal, or business investments, it makes no difference as long as as.the funds get to the right places.
Research Research in science is, of course, essential, researching new ways in which you can treat illnesses, such as cancer, and researching alternatives two fossil fuels, for example, can make a huge difference to the planet. The only way we have reached the current medical advances, and spectacular technology we that we have no, is through research. But we need the funding to be able to drive this sort of research. And many of us benefit from these advances. So whether you’re investing gold bullion via ABC refinery, or investing your time, there is is no end to the benefits of research in science. It can take decades to reach a breakthrough, and this, of course, equates to a lot of money. But to actually advanced and evolved, we all have to make investments into this industry.
Climate Change Climate change is a big talking point all around the world at the moment. And 99% of scientists agree that unless changes are made then the human race is going to suffer from the effects of climate change. This, of course, means that we need to have more investment opportunities, the right people, and the right research being done on alternatives and ways in which we can improve the planet. Humans are no longer and wittingly causing damage to the earth, so it is important that we invest as much as we can into reversing the effects of this damage.
Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If your business is one of the lucky ones to make it past its early stages, you will likely think about expansion. Before expanding your operations, there are some things you want to think our first before investing the necessary resources. The following contributed post is entitled, Is Expansion On The Cards For Your Business?
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Expansion is something a lot of small business owners dream about. You think of the day you can open up a second location, or take on more staff to help deal with the influx of customers coming your way. It’s one of the best signs of business success, and you can only hope things will turn out this way sooner rather than later.
But at the same time, you need to be ready for expansion, and to be able to spot the signs of when it’s coming. So, we’ve listed a few questions below that you’ll want to keep in mind when looking at your books. If expansion is on the cards, these little thought statements will help you to keep an eye out for the opportunity.
A steady flow of customers means a steady cash flow, in and out of your business. And if you’ve got enough customers to ensure your profit margin is always bigger than your costs margin, it’s a good sign you’re ready to take on more.
After all, if you can always turn a profit based on the limited resources you have at the moment, what kind of positive impact could another location or more people to service your customers have on your business?
Are You in Need of Another Office?
Another office is a good thing to have in your collection of business assets. It ensures you’ve got more than one location to work in, and that means you can cover more and more area around you. Sure, you’ve got the online world to rely on, meaning your virtual reach is massive and untouchable, but you need a similar tangible reach to rely on as well.
Setting up satellite offices might seem costly and unnecessary at first, but if more and more people outside of your local area are becoming interested in your business, it might just be the perfect solution. You’ll have another office to work out of, closer to your new source of custom, and that makes business convenient for both sides of the equation.
Is Your Team Eager for More?
Of course, your team needs to come into a decision like this as well. If you’ve got a strong team around you, who are capable of working together and taking initiative as and when it’s needed, it’s a good sign you can take on more business and assign tasks out accordingly.
At the same time, your team members might just be eager for more too. After all, they’re professionals in their own right, and have ambitions and goals just like you do. If you can help them take their professional acumen to new heights, they’ll do their best work for your business.
Expansion is something a lot of small business owners look forward to, and now might just be your chance to make it happen. After all, the sooner you’re ready for expansion, the better your business accounts look.
Three of the focuses of my blog are Career Discussions, Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. While going into business and working for yourself is highly glamorized, there are stark realities to it. There are a whole host of aspects and responsibilities an employee doesn’t face. The following contributed post is entitled, The Right Mindset for Successfully Working for Yourself.
Transitioning from being an employee in the traditional sense, to “being your own boss” and running your own business, is certainly fulfilling and uplifting in many ways; but it’s also deeply challenging in many other ways.
While everyone generally likes to think of all the perks of being self-employed – things such as setting your own hours, and not having to be accountable to a boss you hate – there often isn’t enough attention paid to getting the right mindset and expectations in place, to actually make a success of the venture.
Here are a few mindset adjustments to make, in order to successfully work for yourself.
Everything is your responsibility now – so you absolutely have to plan and prepare accordingly
If you’re working as an employee for a large company, it is quite likely that such questions as whether or not the uniforms are made of antimicrobial scrub fabric, have nothing to do with you at all, unless your compartmentalised role within the company happens to be dealing with such issues.
When you are self-employed, though, everything is your personal responsibility – and you absolutely have to plan and prepare accordingly, on the assumption that no one else is going to swoop in and pick up the slack.
This means being as orderly as you can possibly be. It means having a very robust task and project management system, staying on top of your calendar, being punctual with appointments, and just generally being prepared every step of the way.
Your own level of discipline and grit will have a totally decisive impact on how successful you can expect to be
Being self-employed is hard work – and especially if you’re trying to create a new business from the ground up and make a success of it.
That being the case, you can expect that you will have to work long shifts on a regular basis, will have to push forward in spite of frequent frustration and disheartenment, and will have to exercise a level of grit and discipline above and beyond the ordinary.
The bottom line is that your level of discipline and grit will have a decisive impact on how successful you can expect to be. So, if you’re not ready to be your own taskmaster, you should probably either get ready quickly, or go do something else.
You are your number one resource and asset – so take your own health and well-being seriously
Although you will have to work hard and be organised, you shouldn’t fall into the trap that many self-employed people do, of running themselves absolutely ragged until a major “crash” results.
Remember that you are your number one resource and asset, and that you should be taking care of your health not only for its own sake (although that is, of course, self-evidently something you should do), but also so that you can continue to be the most productive and driven version of yourself at work.
What’s true for your physical health is true for your general well-being, too.
Eat good, nutritious food, make sure to get enough sleep, and have some fun when you can, in your free time.
Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. No matter what your business is, a key to is your branding. Your personal branding will set you apart from your competition. The following contributed post is entitled, Why Personal Branding Is Essential.
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This is a competitive world that we live in, and it’s not always (or ever) as easy to get ahead as we would like it to be. There’s always competition for jobs, or for the products and services that we are trying to sell. All we can do is our best, and hope that people take notice. There is, on occasion, ways that we hold ourselves back, however — for example, if you’re not investing in your personal brand, then you’re missing out on an opportunity to show off your credibility and professionalism.
But what’s personal branding all about, anyway? It’s a term that you hear often, but it’s not always so clear as to what it involves. Essentially, it’s all about controlling your own message. It’s about ensuring that people that are searching for you see the values that they want you to see, and not anything that might harm your reputation and cost you business. With the rise of the internet, it is easier to look up people than ever before. This is why personal branding is such a priority for executives and professionals; they know that their business may be harmed if it’s not watertight.
Personal branding can also be used during the job search. All large companies do a background check on their candidates, and it’s usually the ones that have put the time into making their personal brand as watertight as possible that get ahead. To learn more about the importance of personal branding, take a look at the infographic below.
Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. A significant part of a business is accounting. Depending on the volume of your business, a major challenge may be making sure that your accounts are up to date. The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Ways To Ensure Your Accounts Are Up To Date.
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When you’re a business owner, making sure your accounts are up to date is one of the most important things you’ll do. This ensures you’re paying the right taxes and claiming the right expenses, and that everything is above board. It can be difficult to do this, and it can take a lot of time that you simply don’t have if you’re doing it inefficiently. Below, you’ll find 3 ways you can ensure your accounts are up to date:
1. Use An App Start by using an app. An app like Quikbooks can be a huge help and can help you to keep track of absolutely everything so that you don’t need to worry about missing anything out or forgetting anything. Although it may cost a little, there are free apps available for when you’re just starting out.
2. Outsource Alternatively, you can outsource your accounts to another company. This way, it’s not taking up any of your valuable time and you’re still free to do what you’re best at.
3. Hire In House Alternatively, you could hire an accountant or accounting team in house to take care of everything for you. However, if you do decide to hire, then it’s a good idea to be aware of the trends in accounting so you can make the right decision. The infographic below will help clue you in so you can decide exactly what you want to do.
Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Starting your own business can be a massive endeavor which many people talk about, but only a few do. There are steps to consider before starting your business. The following contributed post is entitled, Preparing to Start Your Own Business.
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Developing your business can be an exciting time. The desire to get things moving and set up can be overwhelming and potentially lead to something being overlooked. Just as you wouldn’t build a house without a solid foundation, it isn’t advisable to jump straight into a new business without having a solid business plan in place.
Image Credit: Pexels CC0 License
Putting the effort in before you open for business will help you to reap the rewards of your hard work once you are up and running. There is a lot of talk about building a business plan for now, and the future of your new company – knowing what needs to be done and getting it done to reach your goals is something every business owner should be doing.
The simple fact is, setting up a new business can be a difficult and stressful time. So how can you make sure it runs smoothly so you don’t burn yourself out before you even start trading as a company?
Plan Ahead.
The rules for business vary from state to state and are dependant on the sector you are going into. Taking the time to get all the necessary permits, licenses and insurances well ahead of time will take a huge weight off your mind. The last thing you want to be doing is cutting it fine by not having all your paperwork in order for opening day.
Try not to leave anything to the last minute. This will cause issues later on as you start to run out of time
Register your business.
Make sure your business is legal as soon as possible.
● Tax ● Bank Accounts ● Insurances ● Phone Number ● Be compliant with state regulations ● Find a business lawyer.
There are different acts you need to make sure you are compliant with before you start trading. For example, for those looking to set up in the financial industry, hiring a compliance consultant such as Scott Robert can make sure you are legal and ready to accept business before your go-live date.
Look After Yourself.
The last thing you want is to be burnt out before you even start trading. The only way to ensure this doesn’t happen is to make sure you are looking after yourself in the run-up to opening day.
Eating well, getting enough sleep and exercising is all part of a healthy lifestyle and is more important when you are taking on a new project. Set yourself boundaries and clear working hours to help you separate business and work life.
Believe in Yourself.
You know what you are doing, you are well versed and experienced in your sector so relaxed. Trust your instincts and have faith that you know what you are doing. If you have uncertainties, then look to do something about this. Brush up on any areas you are lacking knowledge in. Take a course or even hire someone to take care of this for you or teach you all you need to know.
Be confident in your abilities and the hard work you’ve put in to get to this point.
Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Home-based businesses are some of the most effective enterprises out there. If you’ve had some initial success, you’ll want to take your business to the next level. The following contributed post is entitled, Home Work: 4 Ways To Ready Your Home-Based Business For The Next Phase.
The vast majority of us have no choice but to start our business in modest surroundings. While you might have dreams about acquiring a commercial property when you are running a home-based business you need to put a lot of leg work into it. And whether it’s become a full-time endeavor or a side hustle that’s making significant inroads, what do you need to do to ensure that your business is ready for the next phase?
Getting Your Finances In Order For those people who start with a modest side hustle, it can get to the point where you’ve got to have your books in order. When you are at the point where you’ve got to start paying your tax it can benefit to get a QuickBooks accountant so you don’t have to keep track of everything. If you are somebody who has already been in charge of your finances, an accountant can give you a new perspective of things. It’s not just about cooking the books but it’s about addressing areas that can be reduced. Accountants can also provide you with invaluable information relating to tax breaks.
Diversify Your Marketing Efforts Whether you’ve been using affiliate marketing techniques or have been able to get a dedicated group of customers without necessarily advertising your products, when you start to improve your efforts you will begin to see significant returns. Marketing is one of those things that can seem like an expensive investment. While so many people use social media as the one singular way of marketing, setting up your own website and creating marketing strategies to acquire extra custom will make sure that you stay competitive.
Focus On Fine-Tuning The Processes Look at what you’ve done right and start to see if the process can be shortened. Working at home means you have your own way of working but when you struggle to find a new approach you might be losing time, and therefore, money. There are numerous ways to help a business improve its processes. Automation is one of the best ways to help any company make more of its processes. A small home-based business usually means that you do everything. And even if you’re not able to automate if you can find ways of doing things quicker, for example, dictating emails rather than typing them gives you the opportunity to multitask more effectively.
Start To Employ Part of readying your business for the next phase is about getting additional help to push your products. It’s all about supply and demand. Even if you have the money you might think that it’s worth purchasing more products to be ready for market demand. The same applies to employees. To begin with, it might just help by getting a family member to help you out. This is cheap labor after all! But when you need to make significant inroads and require people with skill this is when you can start to hire freelancers and then get a full-time employee. It’s not as anxiety-inducing as you may think. The key is about looking at what you really need and finding a person that fits the mold.
