John Lim the CEO for Linknexus, a cross channel marketing platform that enables marketers to connect with customers as they move locations and move between physical and digital worlds joins Enterprise Radio.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest John Lim discuss the following:

1. Can you talk about how digital advertising is broken?
2. Within this massive problem, can you tell us what the biggest issue is?
3. Can you explain what events caused the break down?
4. What’s the solution?
5. What is your advice to marketers?
6. How should we be looking at digital advertising now?

John Lim is a voracious entrepreneur, impassioned educator and visionary innovator in mobile, technology, and consumer engagement. His endeavors are motivated by his desire to find new ways to empower others. Everything he does is driven by his passionate belief that marketers and tech professionals should create for the human being and forget the device. He has successfully launched three companies and is the holder of multiple patents, patents pending, and trademarks. As a non-programmer marketer and admitted wannabe geek, John never ceases to innovate ahead of the curve.

His Life In Mobile a multi-million-dollar global company, specializes in consumer engagement, ensuring brands achieve the highest engagement levels by Humanizing their digital marketing. As the CEO, his knowledge and accomplishments have been featured in Mobile Marketing for Dummies, Leveraging Your Links, as well as various industry publications including Forbes and Business Insider. The Fairfield County Business Journal honored John with a 40 Under 40 Award recognizing emerging business leaders. Fairfield County was ranked sixth in the U.S. in per-capita personal income and houses the headquarters of over 25 major multinational corporations, giving it the third largest concentration of those companies in the United States after New York City and Chicago. His company has been recognized with awards such as one of the top 100 private companies by On Media 100 and Red Herring. His clients, including Heineken and others, have won multiple awards including the Mobile Excellence Award. He has traveled on tour with Google and continues to speak at events both domestically and internationally, further solidifying his position as a leading expert in mobile marketing and technology.

Website: www.linknexus.com

Social Media Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MobileLim
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnwplim

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While you may believe that trying to find employees for your company will be easy, it doesn’t mean that everyone you interview will be suitable for the role. If you own a company that needs highly skilled, talented individuals, then this can make recruitment harder. It might be that potential candidates are not noticing your advertisements, or that your employment package does not sway them. Whatever the reason, you need to start making it simpler to find the talent you want. Here are a few ideas that you can try to find and retain talented employees.

Are Your Expectations Realistic?

Before you start to find out why you can’t recruit, you need to examine what it is that you want. You will have an idea in mind about what you are looking for, but you need to be realistic about finding such a person. For example, if you are looking for someone with five years’ experience in a particular field, then not only are you restricting your potential candidates, you are also looking for people that most likely have good jobs already. Try to think about how you can train your employees so that you can recruit those that have just graduated or have limited experience.

Look to Mutual Connections

Sometimes those who know you best can help you find the person you want. Speak to former employees or business partners to find out if they know of anyone that might be suitable for the job. The good thing about using your contacts is that they know the types of people you like as employees so anyone they recommend will most likely be a good fit. As well as mutual connection, using social media sites like LinkedIn and Facebook can also be an effective way to locate people that might be looking for a job. LinkedIn, in particular, can also have an employee work history, so you can see at a glance what experience they have.

Give Current Employees an Incentive to Find Candidates

Your current employees can be some of the best recruiters you will ever have. There are many reasons why they would want to have good employees in the team. They know what it takes to do the job, and they know what you expect of them, so this knowledge gives them a good understanding of what you need. They also want the work to get easier, not harder, so recruiting someone that doesn’t fit the team will look badly on them. You can even offer some type of incentive to your existing staff to help you find the right talent. You can propose that for every person that they find who you hire, they will get a cash bonus. It will be another reason for your employees to want to find the right person.

Look Beyond Your Immediate Location

Technology has grown so much over recent years, that for some roles, you are no longer required to be in the same location as the rest of the company. The explosion of freelance workers has shown just how flexible remote working can be. If you are having issues trying to find the personnel you want nearby, then perhaps you should be looking further afield. If the job role demands that they work in the office or in the same location, then this doesn’t mean you can’t still look further afield. For some people, the idea of moving for a job doesn’t bother them, so you might just find the right person that way.

Encourage Workers to Post on Their Social Media

As well as looking for talented candidates for you, your employees can also help in other ways. Ask them to post on their news feeds about current hard to fill vacancies in your company. Your workers will no doubt have a different reach to you and your business, so it casts the net wider. All they need to do is post an informal message about a certain job and to contact them about it. If they get anyone asking about it, they can then pass on your contact details. As with other ways you might ask your employees to help, you can offer an incentive to them if they post the job on their feeds.

Find Out What Job Seekers Are Searching For

One of the reasons your job postings might be missed is if you do not include the relevant search terms. For example, the solar energy job market is growing fast, so there will be plenty of people looking to get into this field. However, if your ad doesn’t mention solar energy, no-one looking for this job will click on your post. There are many job sites which allow you to see what the most trending search terms are at the moment. It makes it far easier to see what candidates are looking for and where your ads are going wrong.

Research Your Competitors

Your rivals will be looking for new talent just like you, but they might be having more success than you are at finding and keeping their staff. By trying to find out what they are doing, you might be able to find and retain your workers as well. Try to see where they are advertising their vacancies and what is their criteria. If they are offering a lot of on the job training, then they will have a much larger pool of people to choose from. You should also look to see what incentives they are offering to keep their staff. You will probably find this out in their job description, but you don’t want to copy what they have mentioned. You need to find your own unique set of selling points that will encourage people to apply and stay.

Put Yourself Where the Candidates are

If you want to attract the right people, you need to find out where they are. A good way to find them is on social media such as LinkedIn and Facebook. Join a few groups related to your work and mention what you are looking for in the comments of related posts. You might be surprised to find that there might be people in there that are interested in your job. Another alternative is to pay for ads on Facebook and Twitter that you can use to target regions or the skills you want. These types of targeted ads are quite successful in finding the right people, and it saves you a lot of time searching through everyone.

Try a Paid Search Platform

If you are still struggling to find the right person, then you might have to start looking at paid search platforms. Some of them are centered on recruitment and can send your job ad to dozens of job boards. It allows you to get your ad out to as many places as possible without having to spend a lot of time. Many of these sites also allow you to search for specific characteristics on peoples resumes; then, when you have a list of them, you can message them directly about your vacancy.

Look to Hire from Within

Have you tried to look for a suitable candidate from within your staff? You might not think that your existing employees are what you need but think about the advantages they have over an external candidate. They are already familiar with the procedures of your company, and they know what you expect of them. They might not have all the skills you need, but can they be easily trained? Perhaps the cost of training them to meet your needs will be cheaper than a long recruitment campaign? It is worth looking at your staff, just in case there are some hidden talents that you were not aware existed.

Email Past Candidates

Although past candidates were not selected for a reason, that doesn’t mean that you won’t want to hire them on this occasion. For example, if you had several candidates that were close to each other on a previous campaign, then they might be perfect for your new vacancy. Try sending them an email asking them if they are still interested in applying to your company. Even if they have found a new job, your position might be what they have been looking for. Doing something like this is also a good reason why you should look at your employee benefits. If one of your previous candidates has joined a rival company, then your benefits might be tempting enough for them to come over to you. It is also a good idea when recruiting to ask candidates if they are happy to stay on your lists just in case something like this happens in the future.

Recruiting can be a long and tiring process, especially if you are not attracting the types of people you want. That is why you need to think outside of the normal recruitment areas to find those that might not be looking for a new job. Sometimes, these people are the best ones for your company.

In today’s digital age, technology is at the forefront of everything that we do. The internet drives decision making, and though you could argue people are over-reliant on technology, it has drastically changed our lives. The advent of technology has created various job opportunities, and shifted business processes considerably.

Student aspirations have changed to align with where we are in society, and every choice comes with a unique set of challenges. Deciding on a career path requires effort, but if you’re a creative person who wants to choose a progressive career, digital marketing might suit your needs. It is relatively new, so it’s a great time to become a specialist before the market becomes oversaturated. Digital marketing is the next big thing, and there is an increasing demand for intelligent minds. If you’re wondering whether digital marketing is for you, here are some top reasons why you should choose a career in the field.

Fuels Creativity

Digital marketing is your savior if you fear writing lines and lines of program. Mundane jobs are enough to drive anyone crazy, but digital marketing revolves around creative material that’s posted daily. You’ll be required to think outside the box rather than being another statistic, and produce innovative material which defies the boring nature of everyday jobs.

Work in a Great Environment

Not only is the digital marketing sector one of the highest paying sectors in the country, but workplaces are a breath of fresh air. There are thriving environments within the digital marketing spectrum, and if you work for a web design company in Charleston, SC or Portland, OR, you can capitalize on flexible timings and friendly superiors. Web design is crucial with regards to effective digital marketing, and by working for a web design company you’ll enjoy an informal dress code, team outings, and various modern activities you’ll never get tired of.

A Place for Everyone

Working for a digital marketing agency provides a very diversified work experience. You’ll liaise with business executives, graphic designers, and content writers, and have the potential to become a social media strategist! Companies diversify their staffing practices by observing staffing industry news, which is a great method for receiving tips on the recruiting industry. This allows you to focus on your key strengths, while companies have a better ability to identify them. If art is your strong suit, you can become more involved with web design, and if writing is your thing you can produce valuable content. Content marketing is emerging as a prominent aspect of digital marketing, so whether you’re creative or academic, there really is something for everyone.

Become Part of the Digital Revolution

We live in an ever-evolving society where traditional marketing strategies are slowly rendered obsolete. The digital revolution is real, so rather than becoming another slave to technology, it’s better to use technology to your advantage and foster a successful career. Digital marketing allows you to keep up with the next big thing, and you’ll be perfectly positioned to climb the career ladder in an industry that isn’t going anywhere. Throughout history marketing has never lost relevance, and marketing will exist in different forms for as long as consumerism is prominent. More and more brands are looking to create an online identity, and the importance of growing your brand online is profound.

Do you want to know what one of the most overlooked skills is for an entrepreneur? Knowing how to send money to clients internationally safely and efficiently.

If you ever need to send a sum of money to someone in another country such as Honduras, for example, the last thing you want to have happen is to incur high fees, trust your funds with a service that’s not exactly trustworthy, or worse, lose the funds altogether.

There are many issues that can be easily incurred when transferring money across the globe, ranging from high fees to failing to properly manage a forward contract to any other number of hassles.

Here are the top three tips for sending money to clients internationally:

Tip #1 – Confirm The Credibility Of The Transfer Service

This is imperative but also easy, because it’s simply to do a quick Google search online to find out what the major transfer services are.

Specifically, focus on the track record, the online reviews, and the media exposure of the transfer service you want to go with. The quality of service and the transferring rates are only part of what to look for. The reputation of the money transfer service is even more important.

Tip #2 – Making The Process Easier

The easier it is to transfer money internationally, the better, right? The best way to make the process as streamlined as possible will be to define what your goals are: what is the amount of money you need to transfer, who are you transferring it to, and how much can you afford to pay in fees?

Then, work with your money transfer service to get a free quote and to walk you through the process if this is your first time sending money overseas. There’s no need to hyperventilate over it. Defining your goals and then working over the phone or in person with the service is the right approach.

Tip #3 – Learn How To Avoid Higher Fees 

High fees are perhaps the most common problem when it comes to transferring money to people oversees. Not only will you be charged a flat rate or a percentage for the wire transfer, but the transfer service will also take a small margin out of the exchange rate for profit.

While you will have to pay these kinds of fees no matter what, there are three specific things you can do to reduce those fees as much as possible. The first is to research what the fees and rates are for each of the transfer services you are considering.

The second will be to make sure that you receive a guaranteed rate versus an estimated or proposed one. And the third will be to transfer higher sums of money at once, because a 2% fee means less for an amount like $2,000 than it does for a sum like $200.

Sending Money To Clients Internationally 

Thankfully, transferring money to people oversees does not need to be a difficult process, and the more times you do it, the easier and more streamlined the process will become for you.

Formula 1’s Halo is prone to criticism for being much uglier than the typical racing machine, but this is certainly no ordinary racer to say the very least. After all, don’t they say it’s what’s underneath that matters the most?

The common opinion on F1’s new Halo is that it’s much uglier than the usual racer that we’re used to seeing flying across the tracks of an F1 event. As ugly and unwelcome as it might be, it’s not clear as to why some people have this view – more often than not, some petrol heads have been too afraid and nervous to jump behind the wheel of this mean, keen racing machine when offered the chance to. So, just where has this come from?

It shouldn’t matter what it looks like on the outside, its motive is solely to protect our heroes and stop them from suffering serious head injuries or even death – and I’m sure you’d prefer to see them safe than cruising in a style selfishly based on your preferences. Why should we care if its integration isn’t as smooth as it can be, when its purpose is much more important? Even if you’re a dedicated enthusiast who appreciates the beauty of all things related to motors, it’s not like F1 cars are even relatively pretty these days anyway and deep down, we all knew that there would come a time when they look much worse – but who cares? If they keep our enthusiastic sports drivers safe at speed, that’s all that matters.

“The truth is that some might argue being able to see the reckless driver behind the wheel is no longer a possibility with the new Halo, but sure enough, better integration will come in time for this F1 motor. Speaking on behalf of many, enthusiasts mainly monitor the performance of cars more than the driver behind the wheel anyway, so the fact that this has become an issue lately is beyond me. F1’s Halo is a lifesaving bit of kit, and I for one, am happy to see it implemented if it keeps our races alive!”, Scott Matthews of Eden Commercials Ltd.

With that said, we’d have to argue that F1’s Halo is perhaps the best thing to happen in a long time. Because of this device, there will be fewer sports drivers to mourn in the forthcoming F1 events.

Nowadays, a significant portion of the car purchase journey is conducted online. Consumers will use the internet to research vehicles and dealers, and it is likely that they will make a decision about whether or not to consider your dealership before they have even visited it. This means that the service you provide through your website needs to be just as refined as the service you offer in person.

Efficiency 

No one wants to wait around for web pages to load. To make users’ experience on your website the best it can be, load speed should be fast. You can reduce load times by optimising code and compressing images on your website.

Your website should also be easy to navigate through, with clear fonts and colour schemes and a simple navigation bar. Ensure that you have included plenty of call-to-actions to help users progress through your site and on their purchase journey.

Images and Videos

Images and videos of your vehicles should be plentiful on your website and they should be high definition and professional-looking. Clear photos provide customers with transparency, and if you upload enough photos and videos to cover every angle of the car, this shows consumers exactly what is on offer, so they have no reason to distrust your dealership.

Reviews 

Another way in which you can be open and honest with your website users, is to display reviews on your site. This will show new prospects that you are proud of your products and service. Consumer research has revealed that third-party opinions are often a big influence for people considering making a purchase, so by not having the means for customers to leave reviews online, your dealership is severely limiting itself.

Provide an Out-of-Hours Service

The majority of consumers conduct product research in the evening, when your dealership may not be open. A number of dealerships offer an out-of-hours service for dealing with sales enquiries and if your dealership does not, customers may choose another rather than having to wait until the following day for a response.

You could assign staff members or a third-party company to answer the phone after hours, or alternatively, you could provide an online retailing platform. Online retailing has become hugely popular recently, with services like Engage, by Click Dealer, acting as digital salespeople.

Could your web presence use some work?

If you’re serious about getting your name out there, you need to target a multitude of well-trafficked web directories and social media properties. For all its obvious benefits, Facebook alone won’t cut it.

Where should you start? These five platforms are as good as any. Here’s what you need to know about each, and how to get started.

1. LinkedIn

LinkedIn needs no introduction. It’s the world’s most popular social media platform for business users. If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, you need to get with the times.

Use your LinkedIn profile to:

• Showcase your CV, all the way back to your first career-track job
• Post content that shows off your expertise and experience
• Connect with potential employers, investors, advisors, thought leaders — whoever might help advance your career
• Research competitors, peers, and other individuals and organizations with which you might work in the future

2. Crunchbase

Crunchbase is the go-to directory site for entrepreneurs and early-stage investors. Use it to:

• Highlight your professional achievements
• Showcase your leadership experience, including executive and board appointments
• Maintain a gateway to the rest of your web presence, as this serial entrepreneur’s Crunchbase profile does
• Promote companies in which you’ve taken a stake or worked at a high level

3. Angel.co

Angel.co is another platform by and for early stage companies. It’s a bit more jobseeker-friendly: if you’re looking for a fast-paced job with a rapidly growing startup, there’s nowhere better to begin your search. But it’s also useful for companies, talent recruiters, and investors. Whatever your motives, you need an active angel.co page.

4. Medium

Medium is arguably the web’s premier clearinghouse for written content. If you worry that your personal website’s blog isn’t visible enough to meet your self-promotional needs, Medium is a great way to expand your reach on your own terms. Use it to promote original content you’ve posted elsewhere, make personal and professional announcements, or pursue passion projects for which you don’t have another platform.

5. Twitter

Twitter is one of the oldest, most durable micro-blogging platforms on the web. Yes, it can be noisy, and certain corners are rife with trolls, but Twitter remains a powerful platform for unimpeded self-expression — and opportunistic of the sort the more buttoned-up LinkedIn isn’t very good at facilitating. Use Twitter to carve out a coherent niche (this content marketing account is a great example), share content relevant to your work, and to connect with thought leaders who might be able to advance your career.

Share the Promotional Love

By themselves, these platforms have limited reach. Yes, each one boasts enviable unique visitor counts. But, as you know all too well, web users’ attention spans are shockingly short. If you don’t have a plan in place to sustain your promotional efforts, you’re simply not going to gain the traction you need to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

All this is to say: creating a multi-platform web presence is only the first step. It’s up to you to weaponize that presence.

When it comes to creating a profitable business, some succeed while a greater number of them fail. Those businesses that succeed are usually well-researched. In addition, an entrepreneur must always identify a unique gap in the market before setting up shop.

Here are five things every business needs to be successful:

• Caters for a genuine need

Successful businesses should meet certain needs or fill a particular gap in the market. It should also give a solution to an existing problem. The only way to identify if there’s a genuine need is through experience and market research. This involves working in a particular field for a certain period of time and becoming an expert in that field. Successful businesses were started by entrepreneurs who knew the products, services or societal issues through personal experience.

• Credibility and  experience

A business that is based on trial and error is most likely to fail. A successful business, on the other hand, should be driven by an entrepreneur who understands the products and services well. He/she also ought to comprehend the problems that customers may come across in that industry. Credible experience not only helps the business to succeed but also creates a sense of trust among potential customers that the business will satisfactorily meet their needs. Experience and credibility also ignites some level of confidence between the business and potential investors, suppliers, employees and any other strategic partners. If you don’t possess the experience or skills needed to build a business, get advisors or like minded partners who have enough prowess to steer the business to success.

• Adequate Resources

Most people think that the only resource they need to build a successful business is money. However, there are other assets that a business needs to be successful. The first step to having adequate resources for your business venture is identifying everything that is required. Most successful businesses started on borrowed resources. You don’t necessarily need money to get started – simply identify the assets you must have, then set the ball rolling. In this age, one of the most essential ingredients for a successful business is technology. Austin Technology offers unlimited IT support that effectively eliminates all your technological frustrations, allowing your business to grow in leaps and bounds.

• Committed customers

Prosperous businesses should strive to get loyal customers who are willing to buy their products or services regularly. Smart entrepreneurs first identify their customers and ask for feedback from them pertaining some new products and services before actually launching their businesses. Having loyal customers validates your solutions, earns you immediate sales and early cash flow that will facilitate further growth of your business. It is important to stay in touch with your customers through social media to build a bond of friendship and trust. Online social platforms also help entrepreneurs to get instant feedback from followers and expand their audience reach.

• Business model

Every successful business should have an effective business model that suggests potential sources of revenue for the business, pricing of the products/services, costs incurred when making the products, total amount of money made from each sale, expenses needed to run the business and profit margin. A good business model should also show how the business will make money and keep running profitably.

Terri Maxwell, CEO of Share on Purpose that creates, launches and/or invests in companies with innovative ideas that make the world better joins Enterprise Radio to discuss marketing trends  for 2018, the strategy, ROI and connection playbook.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Terri Maxwell discuss the following:

1. Marketers are literally drowning in data when it comes to building a marketing strategy.  As 2018 gets underway, what are the meaningful metrics that marketers should pay attention to?
2. How can non-marketing people, entrepreneurs or business professionals, get their arms around effective measurement for their marketing programs?
3. How can they not just market, but connect with their customer community?
4. What measurement or results should you reasonably expect from a professional if you are working with one?
5. What is the success key for marketers that often gets lost in the shuffle?

TIP:  You don’t need to be where the marketing trends are to succeed.  Concentrate on being where your customers are.

Terri Maxwell is the CEO of Share On Purpose, an investment company that has created dozens of powerful brands, like Promote on Purpose, the ROI delivery firm that amplifies business brands.  In a 25-year career, Terri has launched, owned, sold, or turned-around more than 40 firms, and now serves as a well-known consultant to companies competing in the new world of work.  Every business in her portfolio, as well as associates who work in her organization and the clients she serves, receives tireless passion, purposeful expertise and authentic servant leadership.

Website: www.shareonpurpose.com

Social Media Links:
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ShareOnPurpose
Twitter: https://twitter.com/terri_maxwell 

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When painting, you might experience numerous challenges. It might be that there is something that you are not doing right. Either it is that you are using the old painting methods or you are not applying the right measures in your profession. Either way, research has it that at some point, the painting can be tricky even when applied with experience. Okay, maybe you need to try something new and reliable for painting. A paint sprayer can be excellent and convenient if compared to the other painting methods. They are fun and appropriate in a wide range in terms of great painting. But before you acquire one, do you know what it takes for a paint sprayer to be considered reliable? This article outlines that for us.

Types of paint sprayers

Let’s start by learning about the types of paint sprayers. Currently, they are divided into three basic categories.

This includes:

Airless Paint Sprayers – airless paint sprayers are with high pressure and perform at high speed. Mainly, they work with thick paints so as to provide evenness while painting. Airless paint sprayers are commendable for ceilings but can also apply on walls and on fencing.

Compressed Air Paint Sprayers – this paint sprayers are dependent on air compressors hence the name, air paint sprayer.They are convenient, fast and provide great smooth results. Air paint sprayer can apply well with furniture.

HVLP Paint Sprayer – the HVPL sprayer is more of a steam-based sprayer where it is dependent to blow out paint. They use thinner paints and are also convenient for smooth paintings.

Important Features

Power

Paint sprayers have different forms of powering systems. The majority are electric powered, while there are those that are cordless hence batteries powered, while others are fuel powered. So, in this case, your needs/requirements are what will determine your choice.

Portability

A paint sprayer must be portable to ease its utility. This is the only way you can be assured of good painting results since it can be easier to move it either up, down or sideways. Besides, it must be lighter to avoid fatigue to your arms.

Adjustability

Adjustable paint sprayer is an advantage while working. In this case, you can change the spray pattern as well as the thickness of paint as one would desire. Adjustments allow versatility which is good when painting.

Cleaning

A good paint sprayer must be easy to clean after utility. When purchasing, choose the ones that can be connected to a hosepipe. This makes it easy to clean thus it can save you the wearisome cleaning efforts.

Accessories

Accessories are very important to any machine /gadget. When purchasing the paint sprayer consider checking on this. Accessories vary depending on the type of a sprayer you purchase. These accessories include different tips, hoses, filters, and extensions.

Safety

your safety matter a lot, in this case, therefore, safety should be the initial thing. A paint sprayer should then be able to inject paint with pressure to avoid it from coming back to your direction. This way, you can be safe and with less risk to your health.

Price

The prices vary widely thus you should know what you want before purchasing. Besides it is important to choose what is convenient and fits tour budget.

In summary, a good paint sprayer, as recommended in this site, paintsprayermag.com, is supposed to be time-saving and convenient for painting. Paint sprayers vary, as some are designed with certain unique futures. This is in regards to the type of pressure and paint feeding ability they obtain. For that reason, you will need to consider your needs and then follow this steps as listed above for a good purchase.

What if we tell you that the data you have kept in your computer is not safe at all. Do you know how much time it takes for a hacker to steal all your data from your beloved laptop? It is just ten seconds. Shocked? Definitely! As soon as you connect your laptop with the internet, there are hackers that can outsource your data at any point of time.

Everything has pros and cons and so does the internet, which does not mean that you stop keeping your files in your laptop. You can save and protect all your data with certain easy tips and tricks that come handy at all points of time. You must follow all the below mentioned tips so that your confidential documents are kept safe forever.

1. Strong Password 

A good password is very much needed when protecting the laptop from any kind of theft. A good password can protect your device from the theft in physical form. A good password for protecting laptop must not be an easy one that is easy to guess, such as your pet’s name, or your name. A good password must consist of an uppercase, lowercase letters, numbers and special character. However one must always keep a password that is very easy to remember. Password acts up as a first shield to your laptop and guards to any safety threat that can occur anytime.

Tip- To keep the data even more secured, you must change your password every once in a while.  

2. Backing up your Data

Your personal computer consists of all sorts of data- important documents, personal images, e-mails, personal information and other things. You can lose out on your data when your laptop gets formatted due to a virus or due to some technical glitch. The best thing to do in such a case is to back up your data in a hard disk or any other hardware you wish to save in. You can easily back up the data by manually transferring the files you wish to transfer and save for later.

Tip- To keep the data safe and sound in the hard disk one must encrypt the hard drive and keep it in a safe place.

3. Maintaining Distance from Suspicious Websites

This can be a hard job to do as to find out the right website and the website that might attack your computer. But, clearly analysing the website and looking at the contents you can minimise the risk of getting targeted. However, you can also install an ad blocker to your computer to save it from unknown pop-up websites and ads. Other thing you can do is not provide your information to unknown sources, or overseas shipping company that are not known by a lot of people.

Tip- You can Google about the website that you are suspicious about first and check their content on the description without clicking on its website.

4. Avoiding Deals from Unknown Sources

Deals are good for all of us. But deals claiming for some very bizarre discount or prize can be an invitation to malware. E-mails that claim to provide great amount of money in the account and gifts like Macbook, cars, iPhone might be a hoax actually. The main reason behind them can be to trick you to give your details or viruses too. Hackers usually take the support of such tools.

The only trick to stay away from such deals is to avoid them until they come from genuine source, such as known e-commerce websites displaying them.

Tip- You can always search for deals and coupons from coupon orienting websites. As, they research and test the deals firsthand.

5. Leaving the Unknown E-mails closed

E-mails from unknown sources that do not go to spam folders are one such way of hackers to hack into your computer. These e-mails usually come with a catchy subject like prize, unusual benefits or crazy deals. If an unknown source where you have not signed up or an unknown person suddenly provides attracting offers that are too hard to say no to. You must ignore them and delete them too. The e-mails might consist of viruses or another way of taking away your details.

Tip- If you happen to open the e-mail you must delete it and unsubscribe from such posts as soon as possible.

6. Keeping a Tight Check on Social Media

A lot of crimes are happening due to social media. One cannot distinguish between a fake profile and a genuine one. People on social media can know your personal details and might even risk your privacy in seconds. Be it the files that you receive or the links, the hackers out there can risk your data at any time with the social media connections. So as to keep away from these people try not accepting requests who are not your friend and keep your information private.

Tip- As soon as you find somebody’s profile suspicious. Block them immediately.

7. Installing a Trusted and Well Known Antivirus Software

This is something we all know, but how many of us do install one? Antivirus scans immediately tell you of any threat that might exist and block malware at first. Apart from that, they identify any harmful threats, provide safe browsing, delete redundant files and provide a secure internet connection for you. Good antivirus software available in market include- AV Anti Virus, Quick Heal antivirus, Avast security and others. Buy one online at a cheaper price by using these flipkart coupons at the time of checkout and keep your laptops safe.

Tip- One should not use computer without a good antivirus software and keep updating them from time to time.

8. Choosing Cloud Storage

If your data is not very big then you can choose a cloud storage for yourself. Like Google Drive, Mega and other cloud storage like these are great to save your data. Even after you lose your data it will always remain safe in the cloud storage and all you will have to do after that will be to sign in from any other device and your data will be provided to you. However this option can only be used when the data required to be uploaded and saved is small.

Tip- One should not upload very private documents on cloud storage as hackers can always hack the account that is linked with the account.

9. Keeping a Check on Passwords

Everything nowadays is connected and secured through passwords. But what if you forget one? The process after that is troublesome and at times you might even have to format the whole phone or computer in order to start it again. The same goes with any other thing that you have kept a pass onto. But, what you can do in this regard is keep a check on your passwords and not keep any kind that might be hard to recover.

Tip- One must not keep a same password on all the devices or accounts. As it can become easy to retract files if the password is different.

10. Set Up Location Finding

Losing the data is something we all do not want. However it can happen when you lose our gadgets, like- laptop, mobile, tablets or other. The best way to keep your data safe and secure from the eyes of other person is to keep the location finding on so that whenever you lose it you can find it any time of the day.

Tip- However other apps and website that use locations should not be given permission to share location as it might not be useful in any way.

All these steps do not take up a lot of time or a lot of your money. To keep your data and gadget safe is your responsibility. Once you lose the data it is too hard to get it back but by following these easy steps you can now get protection every time. Follow all these steps and even when you lose your laptop you will be able to recover your data without any hassle.

Technological change is moving quickly, especially in manufacturing, and if your production line features a coordinate measuring machine (CMM), there is a good chance its efficiency could benefit from the attention of contract programming with specialized metrology knowledge. While your business may already have an in-house programmer, hiring a contract programmer who understands the complexities of CMM technology and software, and knows how to maximize the potential of your equipment, is worth it in the long run. Depending on your particular needs, contracting expert help may be more economical than hiring another full-time staff person.

Metrology software is being updated every year, and with new versions of industry standard software like PolyWorks Inspector that drastically expand what CMMs are capable of doing, engaging contract programmers to leverage software capacity to customize your CMM equipment’s pathways to optimal effect will help you get the most out of this new software. If you are looking for CMM contract programming services here are a few things to keep in mind.

First, hire programmers who will be able to work with your current programming staff to help facilitate training and knowledge sharing. This is especially important if you are hiring a contractor to help with the installation of new software or equipment. When considering potential hires, find out whether they offer a training package to help teach your own staff how to get the most out of the new programs.

Second, find out if a programmer can help you increase the efficiency of programs you are already running. If you are hiring an expert contractor, it is more cost-effective to bring them on for a more extensive review of your whole operation. They may be able to find hidden efficiencies that wouldn’t be obvious if they were only focussing on one particular program or machine.

Finally, if you need programmers to help with more sophisticated tasks, like writing programs for complex applications such as customized logic routines, blades and gears, or guided routes for portable inspection using ROMER Arms or Leica Laser Trackers, make sure they are able to provide a clear description of the work they have done for future programmers to refer to. This will not only give your in-house team a resource to refer to should they need to make changes, it will also make things easier next time an upgrade is needed.

We are living through a time of systemic and accelerating technological change. The Internet of Things is streamlining production lines and fundamentally altering how manufacturing works by increasing the capacity for responsive problem solving among machines themselves. This has far-reaching implications for the industrial sector as a whole, but it is also creating huge opportunities for increased profit margins and reduced waste for those who are able to harness the power of this new technological paradigm.

CMMs are only one important facet of the assembly line, however, and with modern factories now requiring a sophisticated understanding of a whole range of different programs, functions, and machines, expert knowledge is more important than ever. If you want to optimize the functionality of your CMM equipment, save yourself time and money by hiring contractors who already have an intimate knowledge of metrology programming, equipment, and software.

Abha Saraswat, the Founder and CEO of Sano Naturals, a natural skincare company that is changing the way we not only look at our skin, but also how we take care of it joins Enterprise Radio.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Abha Saraswat discuss the following:

1. You came from a corporate background to become an entrepreneur.  Can you tell us about what that transition has been like for you?
2. Can you please tell us about Sano Naturals and how it came about?
3. What is different about Sano than other brands and what can we expect from your products moving forward?
4. Your products are luxury products with a reasonable retail price.  Why is that so important to you and who are your typical customers?
5. Can you please share some insight about your silk mask with us and why it is so special?  What should users expect when using it?

Abha Saraswat, the Founder and CEO of Sano Naturals, has multiple degrees from major universities and has worked in corporate America for years.  She left the corporate world to start Sano Naturals when she discovered how to help heal her own skin.  At that time, she decided to help others change their skin as well, because according to her, “if you help someone change how they look on the outside for the better, you help them change how they feel inside.”

Website: www.sanonaturals.com

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The recently proposed senate bill has impacted the Forex market already. Most of the biggest and popular Forex companies/brokers are panicking and convincing clients to sell their shares and stocks. Brokers also believe that the new taxation means making money in Forex trading might be quite expensive. Under the senate plan, minimizing profits will be a hard task. To answer the above question it is important to know what the bill intends to do.

What does the proposed bill entail?

Investors, over the years, have devised ways of reducing their capital gains tax on stocks but the Senate bill might create a limitation which will increase the taxes that investors will be forced to pay. The proposed legislation requires investors who have brokerage accounts that are taxable have the mandate to offload any shares that they have had for the longest period. They are calling this process FIFO which means first in first out.

Congress members are trying to do away with the lower tax rates in the country. They are meant to ensure the costs of their 10-year plan does not exceed $1.5 trillion contrary to the laws concerning budgets in the senate. According to a study done by the Taxation Joint Committee, it was predicted that the sale of stocks was expected to rise up to $2.4 billion.

With the current rules on taxation, investors are able to decide the stocks to sell which allows them to reduce their taxes based on their profits. Take for example an investor bought shares from Microsoft twice  in 1998 and later in 2014 if the trader decided to offload these shares today with the a prevailing trading price going for $150,the tax imposed on the investor would be less if he sold the last shares he bought as opposed to the initial ones he bought. The 2014 shares might have cost $80 while those from 1998 might have cost $2.

One resulting effect of this is that brokers are now urging their clients to liquidate their shares before the senate bill, which has the FIFO change, is passed. Prior to the proposal, investors had the power to select any stocks that they wished to dispose which is what they are meant to do for tax loss selling. The bill also has an impact on various investors starting from large family owned corporations to traders and hedge funds.

Various tax firms have taken it upon themselves to look for other ways that can assist the investors to maintain their tax benefits, in case the proposed legislations are passed. It is now possible for investors to evade this by splitting their holdings and spreading them out to various money managers or traders. They can also separate low and high basis stocks.

What are the tax strategies?

By using the theoretical Microsoft investor, earlier mentioned, a trader can take the stocks bought in 1998 and put them under one trading account while also putting the ones bought in 2014 in another account. This means the broker has one remaining lot that can be sold and the best case scenario would be to sell the 2014 share and hold on to the 1998 shares. Normally, the IRS reviews basis reports by brokers based on accounts held by the brokers. There are high chances that the IRS will create an anti-abuse law that stops tax payers from avoiding the intention of the FIFO bill. Another way to avoid the taxation would be to take a significant amount of stocks into a family-owned partnership, which is a different tax unit. These strategies are just preliminaries seeing as the bill is still pending.

The bill might impact the donations of shares as the existing law allows investors to freely donate shares that would incur a large capital gain tax if they were to be sold. This is beneficial to non-profits as donated shares can be worth up to $15000 when given to charity and worth $10000 to a single person after taxes. By taking away one of the incentives behind donating to charity the process is slowed down.

The uncertainty is making wealth experts modify their tax advice and they are telling investors that have large capital gains to sell the stock immediately while they can control the cost basis. Others are speculating that the senate are trying to make investors taxes simple by using The FIFO change. However at the end of the day, investors would love the power to select the shares they sell while minimizing their taxes.

The news of the senate bill has affected the dollar bill which has gone down as investors are trying to grasp the entire concept of the tax cut bill. The Republicans have differed with the Congress on some of the issues such as the reduction for local and state taxes, the tax inheritance and the corporate income tax. The version proposed by the Republican aims to delay corporate reductions by a year and wants to do away with the Obamacare personal mandate. The plans are meant to benefit business but the technology corporations may not enjoy the benefits mostly because they keep most of their money off shore and will be subjected to higher tax in the coming year.

The bill which was approved by the House of Representatives caused an uproar with protesters taking to the streets to march against what they termed as killing investors and Forex trading. The tax bill’s impact is heavily felt by the middle class citizens whereas the multi-millionaires and big corporations have little to lose. The sting will be felt by the Wall Street population but the common American will suffer most and this is a bad effect for the long term economic stability of the country.

Conclusion

The Senate indeed plans to impose restrictions to Forex business indirectly by using the proposed tax laws. The House of Representatives have already approved the bill and the final decision rests with the senate. Forex brokers are already devising plans that will help them save on money and their business. The long term effects will be felt most by the less wealthy in the society.

The largest economy in Latin America isn’t just attractive because of its business potential for foreign investors; it’s also a country of vibrant culture and unbridled fun that will appeal to adventurous entrepreneurs with a gregarious streak. In order to expand or set up in Brazil – especially in the import/export industry – it’s important to be aware of some of the country’s unique aspects that make it a business environment quite unique from those of Europe, America, Canada and other established world-leading economies. Here are some tips to help with your delve into the jewel of the South American continent.

Get to Grips with Portuguese 

Brazil is a fabulous country to travel in, not least because of the huge Amazonian wilderness that’s home to some of the unique creatures on earth. The myriad tribes that exist in the thick of the jungle still retain their indigenous languages, but when it comes to business, it’s Portuguese that’ll get you places. Be aware on arrival in Sao Paolo or Rio de Janeiro that English is not spoken as widely as in other developing countries; you’ll have to get some of the local lingo under your belt to excel in Brazil.

Whether you’re working a job in the US or you’re a globe-trotting entrepreneur, learning Portuguese as simple as using language-learning apps, taking night classes, or even going the traditional route of living in Portugal or Brazil to slowly pick up the dialect. Bear in mind that Brazilian Portuguese is distinct from its European derivative so that you may find yourself struggling with regional accents if you do happen to have experience in talking in Portugal.

Understand the Culture

Although Brazil has some acute issues when it comes to societal inequality, the business environment in the country is comparable to those that you’ll be more familiar with, though of course, it comes with its regional flavors.

Getting to grips with the general and the business cultures of Brazil is best-achieved through exposure to the country itself, perhaps on a long prospective tourist trip during which you see some of the main sights while establishing your first contacts in this marvelous country of contrasts, carnivals, and Catholicism. The more you learn, the more context you’ll have to approach business deals with a regional knowledge that’ll gain you trust in the local individuals and will ultimately single you out as an investor who’s interested not only in making money but in the country as a whole.

Prepare for Business

There’s a set number of objectives you’ll have to achieve when working with Brazilian partners in business. For one, you’ll need to ensure you’re on the correct visa when visiting the country; this can be researched on the relevant immigration websites. You will likely need to set up a local bank account that’s operational throughout Latin America, and you’ll do well to be aware of the financial services at your disposal so that you’re able to be agile and knowledgeable come to the ups and downs of setting up shop in a new country.

This site, for instance, offers small to large personal loans from an online platform for those in need of a quick boost to their cash flow. Moreover, homespun financial technologies and institutions are gaining global recognition as important players in greasing the wheels of Latin American business, and having the wherewithal to harness these powerful tools will give you some extra support when it’s needed. Finally, you’ll want to find some office space or an address in the country to call your own for various reasons – it might be required for setting up a bank account, and it’s certainly required for receiving the post.

Don’t Just Stick to Rio

Glamorous and swelteringly passionate, Rio de Janeiro is a wonderful city to base yourself in when conducting business in Brazil. It’s for this reason, though, that there’s already a fairly well-established international business crowd in the city who are likely cutting into the markets you’re seeking to invest in. Looking beyond Rio to Brazil’s myriad other cities might prove to be a savvy early maneuver in your Latin American business adventure, exposing you to fruitful markets – again, especially for import/export – that are as yet untapped.

Sao Paolo has roughly double the urban population of Rio de Janeiro and is home to over 15 universities and colleges, marking it out as an exceptional place to hire staff, whereas smaller provincial cities such as Salvador, Brasilia, and Belo Horizonte are all positioned in unique cultural and climatic regions with their own unique people and economies that you should research and visit on your fact-finding trip to Brazil. Always listen to local knowledge and advice, as Brazilians are unfailingly happy to help.

Rely on Strong Contacts

With an understanding of both Brazilian culture and the Portuguese language under your belt, making those all-important contacts is the most vital aspect of setting up in Brazil. Friends in high places will protect you from governmental intrusion and corruption, expose you to further contacts who’ll be able to help you, and will be able to school you on any unique regional caveats you’re likely to encounter.

Beyond business, Brazilian friends are unfailingly upbeat and fun and will support you in your transition to move or live in Brazil, introducing you to the roots of Brazilian society that tourists and travelers are unable to scratch the surface of. When setting up business in Brazil, never forget to have fun and live well in the Brazilian formulation – it’s a different society from the US or the UK – more open, taking itself less seriously – and you may well find that joining in on this spirit with new friends helps you settle in to your new business.

Brazil possesses a huge and promising economy that adventurous entrepreneurs should seize with both hands in order to conduct successful business in a uniquely fun and stimulating environment; follow these tips to assist with your set-up in Latin America.

Chris Moreno, President of GoKapital, a private business lending and real estate financing firm based in Miami, Florida joins Enterprise Radio to discuss the myriad of alternative lending options currently available, and the benefits of having access to these non-bank loan programs.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Chris Moreno discuss the following:

1. How has the small/medium business lending industry changed in recent years? (-15 secs to answer)
2. Why are banks not a viable option for all borrowers?
3. Why is it important for entrepreneurs to have access to working capital?
4. How does GoKapital facilitate access to non-bank financing to borrowers?
5. What types of alternative lending programs offered by GoKapital should business owners be aware of?
6. What advice can you offer to borrowers applying for a business loan?
7. How do you see the industry changing in the next few years?

After a banking crisis that severely limited traditional lending option, GoKapital was formed in 2013, with the goal of facilitating access to alternative financing to borrowers nationwide.

Chris Moreno, CEO, and founder is a graduate of Cornell University’s business school and has previously worked in financial services in New York City, as well as in economic research for the federal government in Washington D.C. He was raised in Miami with an entrepreneurial upbringing, with his family having emigrated from Colombia in the late 1980s.

GoKapital now has over 100 active sales agents, an A+ Rating from the Better Business Bureau, an office in Miami and Colombia, and hundreds of satisfied clients. Chris has also presented as a Guest Lecturer to FIU’s business students on topics in entrepreneurship/career goals. By maintaining its values of providing exemplary service and employing committed staff, GoKapital will continue to expand its operations and provide financing to more customers for years to come.

Website: www.gokapital.com

Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoKapital
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoKapital

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2017 is now past us, but casino players can’t complain because it passed after preparing their minds on what to expect from the upcoming trends of mobile games.

It was a great year that brought with it an improvement in the technology that you now enjoy in the mobile casinos. You can now enjoy thematic games on Mr Mobi online casino, the virtual reality technology that everyone can’t resist, bitcoin analytics and the live games that players can enjoy with partners across the globe.

2018 is expected to be a prosperous year in the gambling industry, and the following are some of the tendencies that will make it the best year so far in this arm of the entertainment industry.

Virtual Reality

The rate at which this technology is spreading is a confirmation that shortly, all mobile casinos will have embraced it. In the beginning, it may seem to be expensive because of the related devices that players and mobile casino owners will need to purchase.

The bright side of it is that with any industry when an introduction of a service or commodity has been spread to all corners and reached most of the consumers, it tends to get cheaper. The saturation of the technology will make it affordable to all.

Live Gaming

Going by the speed with which live casinos have been launched, there is no doubt that in the new year the trend will spread further. Developers are even in the process of launching live dealer casinos to improve the reality of the games. The good thing is that with the improvement of the game comes the improved quality of the internet, and the devices for accessing the internet.

Players will hence be able to access a casino like Mr Mobi and play an online game just like it has been downloaded on their mobile device. That is, without delays or strobing.

Extra Gamification

It’s a tool used to convince consumers to use a specific brand due to various events. They can be; competition, costs and interesting tasks. When a game is marketed well and has immersive features, more players will play it. The psychological nature of players is that when they find a few others playing a game, they will also want to try it, and the trend goes on and on.

More Data Collection

Modern players have the advantage of communicating with the developers through the mobile casinos gaming applications. The “Leave us Your Feedback on Your Experience” feature is a great way for the developers to collect crucial data that they will use to improve the gaming software.

It does not only give them ideas of making the games better, but it also provides them with insights of producing other better games.

The Prospects Going Forward

The rapid evolution of the industry makes it more profitable. The profits will by 2020 exceed the £41 billion mark, and that will be a great achievement. The good thing is that the major players in the industry – both casino owners and developers – aren’t relenting in improving the status of the industry.

They will broaden the diversity of the games to attract and grow the customer base for casinos.

Boredom would seem to be an immutable fact of the human condition. We’re a tough bunch to please, or at least to keep pleased for very long.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in the workplace. Despite well-intentioned (and sometimes off-the-wall) attempts by HR professionals to liven things up around the ol’ office, burnout and tune-out are all too common.

If you’re done in all but name with your current employer, or simply aren’t feeling challenged in your role any longer, you have no shortage of options at your disposal. You can ask (subtly) for a promotion. You can volunteer to take on additional projects or responsibilities (with or without a new title). You can look for freelance side gigs that don’t conflict with your current role.

Or you can cut ties completely and strike out on your own in search of the next adventure. Whether you land in a position of greater responsibility at a dynamic new employer or follow in the footsteps of seasoned executives tackling new challenges and launch your own enterprise, you’ll regain some measure of control over your professional life and probably improve your mental health to boot.

Not sure how to get started? Here’s what you need to do, and when.

Update Your Resume

Get the boring stuff out of the way.

If you haven’t looked over your resume in a while, now’s the time. Bring it up to date, adding new competencies and credentials, recent positions, notable achievements, and extracurriculars. Don’t be afraid to tap a consultant for assistance — they’ve been around the block more times than you have.

Burnish Your LinkedIn Profile

Ah, yes: your “second resume.” LinkedIn is a crucial tool for job-seekers and budding entrepreneurs; the cruel irony is that it’s very often seen as superfluous by comfortably employed folks. Make sure your LinkedIn is up to snuff well before you announce your intention to quit.

Create a Separate Personal or Professional Website

If you don’t yet have a personal or professional website that stands apart from your LinkedIn profile and corporate team profile, create one. (Or hire someone to spin one up for you.) You don’t need anything fancy — basically, you’re going for an extended CV that succinctly outlines your experience and value to prospective employers or partners.

A blog, though optional, is a great way to highlight your expertise and burnish your thought leadership credentials — though you should already be doing this via LinkedIn updates and published posts. If you’re a creative, include links or clips of published or live work products.

Bone Up on Interviewing (and Start Practicing)

When was the last time you sat for a job interview?

For inexperienced job-seekers, the prospect is downright terrifying. Take some time to review the basics of preparing for a job interview, and begin practicing mock interviews with a willing partner (spouse or dedicated friend works best) well in advance of your first engagement. Once you know where you’ll be interviewing, spend time researching the company — you can’t be too prepared.

Hang Out a Consulting Shingle

Unless you have a non-compete agreement that prevents you from soliciting work outside your professional lane, take whatever steps are necessary to re-enter the freelance job market before formally quitting your current gig. You don’t have to give over your evenings or weekends entirely to freelance work, but the mere act of making yourself available is a boon to your visibility and reputation.

Who knows? You might find that you enjoy the freedom of independent consulting so much that you set that 9-to-5 job search on the back burner.

Prepare for Your Exit Interview

Most employers subject exiting employees to exit interviews. This is a valuable opportunity — your last, at least in a formal setting — to help your soon-to-be-ex-employer understand why you left and what can be done to prevent your colleagues from making the same move. (Assuming you want to keep them on the job, of course.) Be frank and candid, but don’t spill everything — for instance, you’re not obligated to say exactly why you left, unless you’re contractually bound to do so.

Be Available to Help With the Transition

If you’re leaving on good terms, be prepared to provide reasonable assistance during your transition out of your current role. This might include interviewing replacements, assisting with onboarding, and complying with housekeeping requests such as returning work-related files or devices. It’s no one’s idea of a good time, but you don’t want to burn any bridges on the way out either.

Mind the Gap, But Don’t Fear It

Don’t feel like you have to land in your new role — whatever it is — immediately after you walk out your current employer’s door for the final time. Just as the “gap year” following high school or college graduation represents a once- (or twice-) in-a-lifetime opportunity to pursue an interest or endeavor for which you might never have time again, a gap between formal gigs — assuming you have the savings — has the potential to open personal and professional doors.

Use it to get a new professional credential, take meetings with colleagues and peers you’ve heard about but never met, tackle a long-delayed professional development goal, or work on the book you’ve always wanted to write.

Or just take a nice, long vacation. You deserve it.

Look Before You Leap

As they say in the movie stunt business, don’t forget to look before you leap.

The consequences of making an ill-advised career move aren’t quite as dire, perhaps, but such a move will still set you back. The fact that making the leap itself is the right choice for your career doesn’t mean any leap will do.

Changing employers requires lots of careful planning, beginning months in advance of your actual exit. Launching a solo practice or new business demands even more thought and advance work.

There’s no shame in taking it slow and thinking it through. Better to do it right in due course than to rush into a situation for which you’re not entirely prepared.

Entrepreneurs put especially rigorous demands on themselves.  The constant pressure, empowering ambition and energy draining tasks can leave a person exhausted.  It can impact sleep patterns, diet quality and energy balance.  However, changing your overall lifestyle is likely not going to happen without conscious effort to put your health first.

Sleep is my business.  As the owner of the online retailer Rest Right Mattress, specializing in sleep products, it consumes my day to day activities.  I’ll be the first to admit though; I don’t always prioritize my own healthy sleep.  I do however know why sleep is important and the difference it can make in my productivity. That’s one of the reasons we should all aim to get the recommended amount of sleep.  Continued success as an entrepreneur requires focus and energy and those are only two of the reasons sleep is necessary.  Maintaining healthy sleep patterns allows your body and mind to recharge.  Internally, sleep affects multiple processes.  If you don’t get enough quality sleep, you could find yourself less creative and more likely to forget that thing you need to remember.  It can also influence your attitude and decision making.

Diet quality goes hand in hand with sleep.  A proper diet supplies your body with energy in the form of nutrient dense calories.  When people work hard – and stay busy – nutrition is often one of the first things to go to the wayside.  Sneaking in a fast snack can end up replacing meals.  Rich fatty foods are often consumed in client meetings.  Office junk food is all around tempting a time crunched go-getter.  It only takes a few minutes each day to set yourself up for success in this area.  There are lots of tips out there but something that I find that works is planning ahead.  Make healthy snack packs and keep them readily available.  I prefer that it be something that doesn’t require refrigeration for convenience, but if you have refrigeration available throughout your day you have a lot more options! Apples or other pieces of fruit and nuts make great natural pick me uppers.  It goes without saying that these aren’t meal replacements, rather an emergency stash for those times you are hungry and don’t want the sugary, fat laden donuts from this morning’s meeting.

Sleep patterns, diet quality and energy balance can all be very important to an entrepreneur. Exercising regularly is a great way to boost your energy levels.  Not only does getting your heart rate up (due to exercise, not stress) benefit your overall health, it can lead to more creativity.  Finding the motivation to prioritize your workout can lead to increased motivation for other tasks as well.  In fact there have multiple studies performed that show results that diet and exercise are directly tied to motivation, productivity and happiness.

As a fellow entrepreneur, I encourage you to make yourself a priority today for the sake of your health and the sake of your business.  I challenge you to get enough uninterrupted sleep to cycle through the necessary sleep stages multiple times each night.  I invite you to make healthy food choices and to get some exercise!  I wish you the most success.

In business, you can’t just talk the talk – you need to walk the walk. To be taken seriously, you need the brains, the experience and the right look  – everything from smart clothes to a classy vehicle. But it can be hard to know where to start.  Don’t waste your time talking, searching for the most popular vehicles in the private and business sectors – everything you need to know is right here.

The state of the market

It’s undeniable that there’s a lot of choices out there when it comes to buying a new car. The United States has been a leader in the automotive industry since the early 1900s, ever since Henry Ford introduced the world to the assembly line method to car production with his Model T.

The market has been growing and growing ever since, with Statista reporting just under 7 million cars sold in 2016 (around 4 million of which were produced in the United States). Business Insider predicts that 2018 will see the industry continuing to boom.

Considerations when choosing a new company vehicle

When choosing to buy a new company car, you’ll obviously want to consider what’s popular in the market right now (which we describe below). However, there’s a lot more you’ll want to think about when making your decision.

The team over at American Express give some really useful tips for what to look for in a new company car: from the vehicle’s fuel economy and its technologies (including its ability to create a wifi hotspot – essential for those businessmen and businesswomen who are always on the road) to its level of comfort and its impact on the environment.

Personal vehicles 

In their 2017 roundup, Car Keys put together an impressive collection of personal company car options – everything from high-power SUVs to trendy sports cars. Topping the list is the BMW 330e iPerformance, a package that gives you the best of both worlds: speed and eco-friendliness.

Also near the top of the list are the Volkswagen Golf GTE, another sensible hybrid that’s also reasonably priced and affordable to run; the Mercedes E350e PHEV, with electric capability that doesn’t sacrifice speed and power; and the Audi A3 Sportback e-Tron, with a great charge-to-range ratio that makes it ideal for business trips with a low travel cost.

Fleet vehicles 

When it comes to fleet vehicles, Fleetio expects us to see some pretty impressive innovations in 2018. This year, we should expect to see new fleet vehicles equipped with everything from more sophisticated driving behaviour trackers to the increased installation of telematic units – and the introduction of autonomous vehicles!

In terms of what’s popular, Automotive Fleet reports that more and more companies are replacing midsize sedans and trucks with compact SUVs, with the Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4, and Honda CR-V taking the lead. Right behind at about 200,000 units sold annually are the Nissan Rogue, Chevrolet Equinox, and Jeep Cherokee.

There’s a lot of information out there and it can be difficult to digest it all when it’s time to buy a new car for your company – regardless if its a personal car for the CEO or a couple of delivery vans to complete your fleet. By choosing among the most popular vehicles, you’re more likely to buy something that’s well-tested already and, as a result, more reliable.