According to organizational psychologists, maintaining a good work-life balance is paramount to sustaining strong economic and mental health. Those working in the demanding business sector often find it challenging to balance responsibilities and leisure time in order to maintain career aspirations. At the same time, the credentials they could use to put them on the fast track towards a promotion or raise seem unattainable due to the lack of flexibility in their schedule. Of course, there are also personal and domestic matters to attend to throughout the week; what these businesspeople need is a professional development program that will bend to their busy lives.

Those looking to get ahead without falling through on their domestic, professional and social obligations should consider pursuing a flexible, part time MBA. This is one of the most prestigious graduate degrees available, awarding recipients clout and serving as a badge for their expertise. However, most programs take the shape of full-time, two-year study programs that tend to take over a person’s life. Enter the Lazaridis School of Business & Economics, offering their esteemed part time programs. One takes place two evenings a week in the innovative, startup city of Waterloo; the other occurs on alternating weekends (with Sundays off guaranteed) in the bustling financial district of Toronto.

Candidates have up to five years to complete a program’s requirements, allowing them to remain at their full-time jobs, earning a salary while they study to help offset tuition costs and support themselves along with their dependants. Some companies will even pay for their employees’ study if they see long-term growth potential. With the part time MBA in Toronto option, classes occur on alternating Friday evenings and Saturdays during the day, ensuring candidates have their Saturday nights and Sundays free those weeks to help balance out their lives. The part time programs further guarantees the months of July and August as vacation time for much needed rest, or for students to concentrate on putting what they learned during the year into practice at their jobs.

Another important aspect of climbing up the ladders of the business world is networking, and because the part-time programs occur in two of Canada’s busiest business centres – students will be able to take advantage of attending events and schmoozing with the top players in their chosen field. Even in class, candidates will enjoy solving problems collaboratively with peers that come in with their own valuable sets of business connections, giving every student the opportunity to expand their own network. In fact, lasting business relationships have emerged from such programs.

Working professionals already paving their path in the business sector need an MBA program designed to suit their needs, one that does not require them to uproot their lives, leave their jobs, or sacrifice personal happiness and work-life balance. Just because a businessperson got ahead of the game early in their careers doesn’t mean pursuing graduate studies now should no longer be in the cards. Not only will it help them meet their own aspirations, but it will make them better at their jobs – benefitting companies and firms across the board. 

House flipping isn’t as glamorous as seen on television. HGTV does a phenomenal job at showcasing the reward in fix-and-flip ventures—while successfully minimizing the perceived risk.

In reality, the glitz and glamour that go behind a renovation almost always come hand in hand with grit and grime. The exterior of your newly purchased fixer-upper might have looked in need of just a few band aids here and there, only for you to open the door to a slew of additional maintenance problems inside.

If you’re considering entering the fix-and-flip biz, be sure you know the host of hidden costs you could uncover. Give this list a onceover—then read it twice more—to safeguard your investment and protect your profits.

Exterior

Before even stepping foot onto the property, there are some tell-tale signs that might point to some pretty serious damage.

• Water stains: Scope the property’s exterior and check for large water stains. We don’t mean hard water stains caused by sprinklers, but rather those large, oblong spots affecting the paint on the upper portion of the wall.

If you see any, it might mean water damage. This could be as simple as a leaky pipe or as involved as broken drain; either way, it’s a cost you don’t want to incur.

And you know what often goes with water damage? Mold—another costly expense that could require a fortune to eradicate.

• Cracked pavement: Large cracks in the exterior concrete are major concerns; they almost always indicate foundation damage, which is one of the most expensive rehab costs.

Simply hiring a structural engineer to survey the property could set you back $500, and depending on what’s uncovered, could set your project back by months. Be sure to sidestep any investment property that could have foundation problems lurking beneath.

• Sagging roof: Does the roof appear to sag in some spots? The sagging is less likely due to framing issues and more likely explained by rotten or saturated sheathing. If that’s the case, the roof will have to go and the cost of its replacement will be no small number.
• Landscaping: Almost always, your fix-and-flip will require a bit of yard work—but don’t underestimate this number. Do you know just how much it costs to remove that dead tree? In some cases, up to $1,500, so assess your landscaping needs very carefully.

Interior

Once you enter the property, take a look around for some red flags that could indicate some hidden costs. Discovering these now versus later is critical because it could completely alter the room in your budget.

• Water damage: Any unusual wall stains should be taken as serious water damage indicators. Check for areas of walls that appear swollen or soft to the touch; this likely means that it’s been exposed to water.
• Bad plumbing: Odd sounds coming from faucets? Unpleasant scents coming from drains? A professional plumber will have to figure out exactly what’s going on, but these are examples of plumbing issues which could be costly to repair.
• Electrical problems: Unchecked electrical problems can lead to house fires—and cause your investment to literally go up in flames. Watch out for hot outlets or switch plates, sparking, dimming or flickering lights, buzzing, blown fuses and frequently tripped breakers.All of these could point to some faulty electrical wiring, and should mandate a professional’s point of view. Out of sight does not mean it can go out of mind, so be diligent with your electrical inspection.

Fees

Fix-and-flips are usually budgeted in terms of rehab and maintenance costs, and many investors fail to consider the lengthy list of fees associated with this type of purchase.

• Transaction fees
• Appraisals
• Home inspections
• Property taxes
• Insurance
• Interest
• Dumpster costs
• Selling fees

… the list goes on and on. Fix-and-flips can be lucrative money-makers or they can be down-right money pits. Depending on what hidden costs you uncover, you might have to reevaluate that budget to stay in the green. Plus, you may need to get creative with your capital resource; for some, it might mean hitting up a local financer. Those on the California coast might have to approach Santa Barbara hard money lenders, while a real estate entrepreneur in New York may need to look for assistance from an angel investor.

Remember: No granite countertop is worth more than your investment’s security, so always prioritize safety over aesthetics. If you feel confident about the unforeseen obstacles you might face, go forth and house flip!

Aaron Edelheit theauthor of THE HARD BREAK: The Case for 24/6 Lifestyle (Ideapress Publishing, May 2018, Hardcover) and Chief Strategy Officer of FLO Technologies joins Enterprise Radio.

This episode of Enterprise Radio is working in association with the Author Channel.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Aaron Edelheit discuss the following:

1. You are self-proclaimed workaholic. Who has changed his ways by taking a HARD BREAK, or a Sabbath, as you call it. And now you’re sharing your story and advice with rest of us in your new book! Tell us, what is a ‘HARD BREAK’!
2. What are the benefits of a Hard Break?
3. How did you come to realize you needed a Hard Break?
4. The thought of turning off your cell phone for 24 hours can cause anxiety to many of us – how do get over this or ease into it?
5. Many people benefit from a Hard Break, you share examples of other successful people in your book, can you share a few of them with us now?

AARON EDELHEIT is author of THE HARD BREAK: The Case for 24/6 Lifestyle (Ideapress Publishing, May 2018, Hardcover) and Chief Strategy Officer of FLO Technologies. Since selling his company, The American Home in 2015, Aaron founded Mindset Capital, a private investment firm. Aaron has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Bloomberg, and the New York Times and has given lectures on entrepreneurship and investments all over the U.S., Canada and South Africa.

Aaron serves on the board of the Moishe House Foundation and is a Partner of Social Venture Partners in Santa Barbara working on homelessness. Aaron lives in Santa Barbara, California with his wife and three children and loves Frank Sinatra, board games and (non-dairy) chocolate chip cookies.

Website: www.thehardbreak.com

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

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ESTA Application For The United States

Traveling is a necessary part of many peoples lives. Everything from local travel within the bounds of a person’s own region to international travel. People travel for all manner of reasons including but not limited to, vacations, school, business, and to visit family. Some people also travel for the purpose of deciding on a new place to move, scouting out work opportunities, and to search for adventure. In other words, there is an endless list of reasons to travel both near and far. One common destination for those who participate in international travel is the United States of America. In this article, you will find information on how to obtain the appropriate documents you will need to travel as well as places to see, great locations, and much more.

First up, you will need an e-passport. This is just like any other passport except it contains a chip that has all of the person’s important information such as name and date of birth. To travel into the United States, you need to make sure that the chip also contains a photograph of the passport holder. Not all destinations require a photo to be on the chip; however, the United States of America does require it. If you have obtained your passport within the last decade, it is most likely an e-passport, but if it was issued in 2006 or before, it most likely is not.

Once you have an e-passport, the next step is to fill out an ESTA form. ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorization. You will not be able to travel without filling out this form unless you already have a visa. If you have applied for a visa, but have not heard back yet, hold off on filling out an ESTA until you know whether or not your visa has been approved. Like most things in this day and time, filling out one of these forms is done entirely online. that is why it is called an electronic system. If you search for “ESTA form” on your favorite browser, you will be able to easily find the link to the form. It is not a difficult or long process. After completing the form, which is fairly simple in and of itself, applicants will need to wait 72 hours to check for updates. This is all done through the website where you first apply.

If for some reason, your application is denied, you will be taken to an information page so you can try to determine why it was denied. Even if your ESTA is denied, you still have the option of applying for a visa. On the other hand, if your application is approved, you now have travel authorization. If this is the case, you now need to begin compiling all of the paperwork you will need. You will need your e-passport, an authorization document, papers to allow you to return to your own country, and identification. Once you have all of this gathered, congratulations, you are ready to travel to the United States of America! Keep in mind that officials at the border will have the final say as to whether or not you may enter the country, but rest assured that so long as you have all of your paperwork in order and are not carrying a banned substance, you should not have any problems.

Not that you are in the United States, you have a lot more planning to do. If you are traveling for official business reasons, you probably will not have time to site see and your accommodations are most likely prearranged. However, if you are traveling for pleasure there are a few places you should make sure are on the top of your “must see” list! This includes Hollywood, the Grand Canyon, the Titanic Museum, and New York City. If you are a history buff, there are forts, plantations, burial grounds, and many other historical sites all over the country. Most areas have at least a small historical site, while larger (and older) areas have many. If books are your thing, NewYork has one of the worlds largest libraries and there are smaller libraries and bookshops in almost every region. If you enjoy fishing, West Virginia has a multitude of lakes, rivers, and streams that are stocked on a regular basis.

You will find accommodations for every conceivable price range, everything from hostels to five-star luxury hotels. More rural areas tend to not cater to the nicer hotels due to low need, but no matter what area you are heading to, there will be suitable accommodations. Likewise, there are restaurants for every taste. Small locally owned places, large chains, and everything in between. You will also be able to find a multitude of ethnic food choices. Many owned and operated by families that are deeply immersed in the culture they are representing. Each area has their own selection and is famous for various cuisines. You can find one place that specializes in hotdogs next to a place that serves the finest Italian cuisine. In short, finding food that interests you should not be an issue.

If you enjoy observing wildlife, there are many options available. If you enjoy zoos and aquariums that are many to choose from, but some of the most well known for their amazing exhibits and their great treatment of the animals is the Cincinnati Zoo and the Georgia Aquarium. If you prefer preserves and nature trails, there is an abundance of those scattered all around the country. If hiking and camping is what you are interested in, look to father than the Appalachian Trail. This trail is known for its beauty and immersive nature experience. You have the option of hiking a portion of the trail or the entire thing. Either way, you are in for an amazing experience.

Now you have all of the information that you will need to get you started on your journey to the United States of America. Hopefully, this information will make the process a bit easier for you. Have a safe and enjoyable trip!

Is Ad Revenue Still a Solid Source of Income?

We’ve all been on those websites that obnoxiously fill our screen with some advertisement of a product that we couldn’t be less interested in. After spending any amount of time browsing the Internet, it doesn’t take long to understand why programs like AdBlock exist, and how they make our Internet usage so much more palatable. 

At the same time, there are a lot of honest websites out there that have no other way of funding themselves, and the call for ad revenue seems like the easiest, most efficient way of staying afloat. 

Ad revenue has been a part of the Internet since the Internet first begun, and first saw real returns from sites like YouTube and Facebook, both who made billions thanks to the ads that they push. 

But both those sites are over 10 years old, and the nature of the Internet is changing, as is the mobile landscape. More and more people are choosing to block ads, which begs the question: does ad revenue still work?

Making Use of Ad Revenue

The simple answer is yes, but it’s much more complicated than that. What most people don’t understand is that ad revenue isn’t a simple system, and it takes both time and financial investment before a website can begin to see any substantial returns. Sometimes it can take years, and sometimes never, depending on the traffic, the popularity of the website, and whether people are willing to lift their ad block on your site and allow you to display your ads. 

There is no shortage of website ideas, and every day people purchase server space or sign up for a free site-builder, and begin their dreams of making the next big site that will make them rich. The first question to ask is: what kind of business are you looking to build? 

Is it a site that simply provides income passively and may burn out quickly, or are you looking to create something more long-term that will see you earning for years to come, such as a social media site or a pokies online casino?

Once you’ve decided on that, the next part is understanding how the revenue is actually generated, which is done in one of two ways:

1. Through a huge amount of traffic daily, with the sheer amount of visitors you’re likely to come across even a few who provide the revenue.

2. A small, targeted audience, but one that is passionate about what you do to support you.

Generating the Revenue

If you’re aiming for the larger audience, then you will be relying on the traffic to generate the revenue. This means putting up as many ads as possible with the hopes that at least a certain percentage of the people will click on those ads. 

Conversely, having a smaller audience that you interact with on a more personal level often means being able to both display ads and run a crowdfunding platform to supplement your income. 

For some people checks may seem like an old-school way of making payments. However, the American business community is still heavily dependent on check payments. In this age where payment wallets and online transfers are increasingly becoming user friendly, paying using checks may seem complicated. To give you a brief crash course on all the check types, following are 10 banking terms you should know if you plan on using checks to make payments.

Check Bounce/Bounced Checks: Even though it’s not the official term, a bounced check refers to a check that’s rejected by the bank due to insufficient balance in the check writer’s account. If you write a check that bounces because the linked account is insufficiently funded, banks will reject the check and deduct a fine from your account. A bounced check may also have legal consequences.

Banker’s Checks: A banker’s check also known as cashier’s check guarantees the payment to the bearer. The bank reserves the amount in the check by drawing it out from the account of the person who writes the check. This means if you are giving someone a banker’s check then that person is guaranteed to receive the payment.

Post-dated Checks: The drawer (the person writing the check) can write a date on the check that’s yet to arrive. This practice allows the drawer to ensure that the check is not cleared before a certain date. You would typically write a post-dated check if you want someone to withdraw the money after a certain period. Businesses often write post-dated checks to vendors for goods that are yet to be delivered.

Ante-dated Checks: Opposite of post-dated checks, ante-dated checks have dates that have already passed. Practice caution when receiving antedated checks because some banks have an expiry period within which a check needs to be cashed.

QuickBooks or Intuit Checks: Businesses often use accounting software packages such as Quickbooks and Intuit. One of the many features of these programs is to print business checks. However, certain types of checks are compatible with certain software packages. For example, businesses depend on ordering Intuit check online to go with their Intuit accounting software.

Crossed Checks: Often marked by two parallel lines drawn on the top-left corner of the check, a crossed check cannot be cleared by giving cash to the bearer or the person who presents the check. A crossed check is processed by a banker and the amount is credited to the recipient’s bank account. Simply put, a person cannot present a crossed check at the counter and get the amount in cash.

Open Checks: These checks are uncrossed checks which can be cashed immediately upon presenting them at the counter. There two types of open checks, bearer and order.

Bearer Checks: Bearer checks can be presented at the counter by anyone and cashed at the counter. Also known as bearer draft, these checks do not contain the recipient’s name and is usually marked as “cash”.

Order Checks: Uncrossed order checks instruct banks to check the identity of the person presenting the check before processing the payment.

Self Check: You can write a self check when you wish to draw money out of your own account. With ATMs everywhere, self checking is a practice that’s all but obsolete.

Alena Chapman who is an author, speaker, coach, and entrepreneur & who has dedicated her life to helping others discover their true desires and create happy, fulfilling lives joins Enterprise Radio.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Alena Chapman discuss the following:

1. People call you a Soul Nurturer, can you tell us a little bit about that?
2. Your company works with both men and women but you have a special place in your heart for women who are trying to take a new start. Why is that a major focus?
3. Tell us more about Savvy Sisterhood? Where can people learn more about it?
4. You are also a radio host! Tell us about the show and if you could interview anyone from present to the past, who would it be and what are a few questions you would ask them?
5. What is one thing our listeners a can do to take immediate action in their career, personal life etc
6. Relationships are wonderful but can be difficult. Can you name tips on how we can all improve our communication?
7. How does one know if they are truly in a rut? or as you would call it – in a prison?

Alena Chapman is an author, speaker, coach, and entrepreneur. She has dedicated her life to helping others discover their true desires and create happy, fulfilling lives. Alena has studied self-improvement for over 10 years. During this journey she has developed a strong understanding of why people stay stuck in lives they do not want to live. She has instructed at Right Relations Family Enrichment, teaching the same skills she shares in her new book, You Can’t Escape From A Prison If You Don’t Know You’re In One.

Through book writing, compiling her weekly email newsletters, and conducting on-line group coaching sessions, Alena joyfully pursues her passion of leading people to new lives in which they experience their highest levels of happiness, confidence, strength, and purpose.

Websites: www.AlenaChapmanLife.com | www.JoinSavvySisterhood.com

Social Media Links:
FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: facebook.com/groups/SavvySisterhoodbyAlenaChapman
INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/Alena_Chapman
TWITTER: twitter.com/Alena_Chapman

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Dan Arriola, CEO and Founder of iD Commerce + Logistics, a premier outsourcer specializing in product fulfillment, promotional fulfillment and enterprise solutions joins eCommerce Radio.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Dan Arriola discuss the following:

1. What is the most common misconception companies have about 3PL services?
2. What is the biggest benefit for retailers when enlisting 3PL services?
3. What is the biggest challenge facing retailers entering the ecommerce market?
4. Due to Amazon’s dominance, how has that changed the strategy of both a Logistics/Fulfillment provider and the retailer?
5. What is one piece of advice you would give to a company that is looking for a logistics/fulfillment provider?

Dan Arriola is responsible for the overall business development, operations and strategy of iD. Mr. Arriola leads the team of iD executives. He is a graduate of Xavier University and a past recipient of a Johnson & Johnson scholarship to attend Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management’s NMSDC Advanced Management Education Program. He is also a 2010 graduate of the ”Owner/President Management” Program at Harvard Business School.

Dan is actively involved in the Chicago community – he is a mentor at 1871, where he works with early stage entrepreneurs and is involved in the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), the Chicago Chapter of The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis, and the Entrepreneur’s Organization (EO), where he serves as a mentor in the EO Accelerator Program. In addition, Dan is a board member of X-Labs, a business competition at his alma mater Xavier University Williams College of Business; where he identifies, coaches, and develops entrepreneurs who have the most aspiring ideas. Most recently, Dan joined Rogue Advising as an advising partner specializing in the topics of 3PL and fulfillment.

Website: www.idcomlog.com

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

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Starting a new construction company has more than its share of challenges. Granted, mistakes are bound to be made. However, there are some mistakes that are definitely preventable. Let’s take a look at seven (7) mistakes every new construction company must avoid.

1. Hanging onto an idea that doesn’t fill the market need.

Sometimes when you come up with an idea, you’re ready to run with it. 

But when you implement it, the market doesn’t respond. It might be tempting to question the market, but if you allow that to go on too long, you could be in trouble. 

It’s usually wiser to find out what the need is first, and then craft an idea.

2. Over-planning

Here is a true statement: “A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.” 

A good plan today will at least allow you to get going and take action. Plus, it’s flexible – as plans should be – because you may need to adjust course. A perfect plan is too rigid, and adjusting course will be more difficult. 

3. Overspending

Imagine going out to buy some “must-have” tools for that job coming up next week, only to find that you don’t have enough to meet your lease payment on your warehouse. 

When starting out, figure out what you’re going to spend each month and how that money will be spent, and stick to it.

4. Ignoring your market

Your customers’ needs change at times, so once in a while you need to reach out to them. Find out what those needs are.

Put out a survey and ask them to tell you honestly if there is something they’re looking for that they need or want – like an improvement in a product or service, or an entirely different one altogether. Then provide it.

5. Trying to have everything “just so”

If you are spending time on activities that you have actually delegated to other personnel, when will you have time to do the things you have committed yourself to do?

Every activity, including your own, has an impact on your business. If an activity is not essential to your core product or service, then it’s not essential at all.

6. Listening to the wrong people

When you’re starting out in a new construction company, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is take advice from people who know little or nothing about your industry.

Turn to people who are not just knowledgeable in the construction business, but also successful. Success breeds success.

7. Buying a new work vehicle

This is somewhat close to overspending. In most cases, a new construction company owner cannot afford to buy a brand new work vehicle, let alone a fleet. Starting out, it may be wise to consider renting a work truck from a company like Flex Fleet Rental. 

It’s hard enough to get a business going, especially during the first year. Make it easier on yourself by avoiding these 7 mistakes.

All businesses need capital infusions from time to time, but securing such funds can be challenging. That’s especially true of rather new businesses. The answer to this dilemma may be right on your lot. Many businesses spent significant money on heavy capital equipment. It’s quite easy to transform the equity in this equipment into a secured loan.

But before you head to the bank to try and get a loan, it’s important to know what amount of equity you have in your equipment. After all, no one places bets in a poker game without a) knowing the rules and b) looking at the cards the dealer tossed into their hands. Someone with substantial equipment lending expertise can help even more.

Step One: Determine Equipment’s FMV

For a consumer asset like a home, determining an approximate fair market value is usually a rather easy exercise. The value on the county tax appraisal website is usually higher than the fair market value, but it is a start. An offer from a home investor may help determine the value as well. Most investors initially offer about 40 percent of the home’s FMV. The same thing goes for prices of other homes in the neighborhood, although that information is hard to obtain.

With commercial equipment, the process is a bit more difficult. The best way to approximate fair market value might be to look at classified ads for the same type of equipment in the same zip code. Short of a formal estimate from a financial professional, that may be the best an owner can do.

Remember, FMV is not so much a function of what the equipment is worth. Rather, FMV is a function of what people are willing to pay for that equipment at that time. Depending on the commercial and overall economic environment, these two figures could be radically different.

Step Two: Subtract the Loan Balance

This step seems simple enough. But with regard to commercial equipment, there is more involved than just simple subtraction.

It’s sometimes necessary to segregate interest payments from principal payments. The former just goes to the bank; the latter actually builds equity. Another bank will probably not give you credit for money you paid to another financial institution.

Step Three: Maximize Equity in Your Equipment

Cosmetic changes to your equipment may not do very much to enhance its actual value. But they can make the equipment more attractive to buyers. That is an excellent way to increase FMV and therefore equity.

Also, consider paying down the loan balance before you try to borrow money. Such a payment increases the equity in your equipment, shows the bank you are serious about getting a loan, and also represents your current ability to make loan payments. All these things make getting a generous secured loan much more of a possibility.

For your business to get the money it needs, it’s best to maximize the resources you have on hand. That means both determining the amount of equity you have in your equipment, and doing your best to maximize that equity.

James Green, Founder and CEO at OfferToClose.com a Los Angeles based transaction coordinator service that simplifies the process of buying and selling a home regardless of who you are again joins Enterprise Radio.

This episode of Enterprise Radio is working in conjunction with the Real Estate Channel.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest James Green discuss the following:

1. How did you get into real estate?
2. What exactly is a transaction coordinator?
3. What services does Offer To Close provide for real estate agents?
4. I see you recently launched a Transaction Timeline service. What is a transaction timeline?
5. If an agent has an in-house transaction coordinator should they still consider using you?
6. What tip would you give to others looking to get into real estate?

James Green is an entrepreneur with 15 years of experience in the online dating, pet, and real estate industries. In addition to being Founder and CEO of a transaction coordinator business and a startup helping home buyers and sellers find a real estate agent, he also has extensive experience in marketing and business management.

Previously, James served on the Board of the Google Client Advisory Council while working as General Manager and Head of Marketing for Christian Mingle. He is a recent Ashford University alumnus where he obtained his BA of Real Estate Studies.

Website: OfferToClose.com

Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/offertoclose
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offertoclose
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/offertoclose

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Marguerita Cheng, Co-founder and CEO of Blue Ocean Global Wealth joins Enterprise Radio to discuss how financial planning can benefit you.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Marguerita Cheng discuss the following:

1. What is financial planning?
2. How can financial planning benefit me?
3. Where do I start? What should I know about my situation?
4. How can I improve my financial well-being?
5. What are the most important concepts?

Marguerita M. Cheng is the Chief Executive Officer at Blue Ocean Global Wealth. Prior to co-founding Blue Ocean Global Wealth, she was a Financial Advisor at Ameriprise Financial and an Analyst and Editor at Towa Securities in Tokyo, Japan. Marguerita is a past spokesperson for the AARP Financial Freedom Campaign and a regular columnist for Investopedia & Kiplinger. She is a CFP® professional, a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor^SM, a Retirement Income Certified Professional® and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst.

As a Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board) Ambassador, Marguerita helps educate the public, policy makers, and media about the benefits of competent, ethical financial planning. She serves as a Women’s Initiative (WIN) Advocate and subject matter expert for CFP Board, contributing to the development of examination questions for the CFP® Certification Examination. Marguerita also volunteers for CFP Board Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (DEC) hearings. She served on the Financial Planning Association (FPA) National Board of Directors from 2013 – 2015 and is a past president of the Financial Planning Association of the National Capital Area (FPA NCA).

Rita is a recipient of the Ameriprise Financial Presidential Award for Quality of Advice and the prestigious Japanese Monbukagakusho Scholarship. In 2017, she was named the #3 Most Influential Financial Advisor in the Investopedia Top 100, a Woman to Watch by InvestmentNews, and a Top 100 Minority Business Enterprise (MBE®) by the Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council (CRMSDC).

Marguerita’s mantra is “So many people spend their health to gain wealth, and then have to spend their wealth to regain their health” (A.J. Reb Materi).

Website: www.blueoceanglobalwealth.com

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

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A business analyst is someone who scrutinizes an organization’s documents, processes, strategies and integration with technology. The main role of a business analyst is to identify the problems facing the business and to find technological solutions. He or she is responsible for improving services offered by the organization through working with Information Technology and assisting in testing and integration of new solutions.

In a world that is evolving and using more technology, it is important for any organization to have a business analyst to help it grow and deliver their services fully.

Here are four things that you need to do to become a business analyst:

• Research and build knowledge on business analysis

It is important to build knowledge on what business analysis entails, the main roles of a business analyst and the basic requirements to becoming a successful business analyst. This will help you know if you are fit for that career choice. There are different ways of building knowledge on business analysis such as reading books. Numerous books exist, both online and hardcopy, that can help you immensely. Seeking insights from other qualified business analysts and enrolling for business analyst training could also help. There are many platforms that can help you. One exquisite places you should enroll for training is Pierson Requirement Groups. They have both onsite and online classes to help you achieve your dream of becoming a successful business analyst.

• Identify your skills

These are skills that you can transfer to becoming a successful business analyst. They are unique qualifications from previous careers that you can transfer to business analysis. However, these are not those skills you gain as you practice business analysis, they are skills you gain from career history. Some of these skills include communication skills, expertise in a specific process area such as Human Resource, industry domain experience and expertise in a collection of organizations.  

• Seek genuine feedback

After doing a thorough research, established you want to be a business analyst and identified skills you can transfer to the make a successful business analysis, it is now time to get in the field and exercise the learnt skills. This will provide an opportunity for you to get real feedback from your colleagues or managers. Feedback will help you identify skills that you need to improve. Feedback is also a tool for motivation since you will get to know areas and skills you are doing well. The main point in this point is not necessarily to get an opportunity, but to get feedback. So be ready to volunteer if need be so that you can get feedback to help you grow.

• Strengthen your skills

After getting feedback, you will identify gaps or skills that you need to improve. This is the final thing that you need to do to become a successful business analyst. This may require developing professional plans to fill in the gaps, or finding opportunities to volunteer so that you can learn more. To strengthen your skills, you need to develop techniques such as facilitating meetings, improving business process, getting familiar with information technology and ways to identify and solve problems. Finally, after you are confident, you can now get a job and start practicing business analysis.

Sacha Brant, Owner of Sassy Lasses that specializes in helping build online businesses from startup to stardom and Founder of the new-to-market Empowerment Pride joins Enterprise Radio.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Sacha Brant discuss the following:

1. What drove you to create Sassy Lasses?
2. Where do you recommend starting to develop and launch a successful online business?
3. Branding – do you really need it?
4. Should a new business owner focus on a website right away?
5. How important is peer support to the entrepreneurial journey?

Sacha Brant is a business owner who works with peers to help build their businesses from startup to stardom.

Sacha knows the importance of starting your business off right and surrounding yourself with the right people. She’s worked with many entrepreneurs and brands to establish credibility and boost sales.

She into her 3rd year running Sassy Lasses and has recently begun the Empowerment Pride – an online entrepreneurial empowerment group. She looks forward to keeping entrepreneurs and business owners moving forward for years to come.

Websites:
Main Brand: https://sassylasses.com
NEW Program: https://empowermentpride.com

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

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Marriage counseling can be a great choice when your marriage is facing problems. No matter how big or small the problems in your relationship may be, a marriage counselor can work with you and your spouse to fix them. You may think your problem is too far gone to be corrected, but as you may soon find out, you can work through these issues and restore your relationship. In this post, we’ll see how marriage counseling can help with the many issues facing marriages. 

Communication 

One of the biggest marital issues is poor communication. You may believe that because you’re married, you understand each other. Even though there may be some truth to this, many couples have a hard time communicating in reality. Let’s look at a few communication issues. 

• Not enough communication – This happens when couples drift apart from each other. Perhaps work schedules are different, or intimacy is lacking. What is already a problem becomes worse because neither side is communicating their issues effectively. This lack of communication can apply to long-standing grievances or even just small things like what to have for dinner or where to go for date night, for example. 
• Miscommunication – This is when partners misinterpret what their significant other is trying to say, and a fight may likely result from it. Miscommunication can happen because of many different reasons – for example, your tone may come across as harsh, even though you don’t mean to. Your partner may react aggressively because they believe you sound harsh; you may get upset because they misunderstood your intentions. A marriage counselor can help by examining your communication objectively and finding ways to improve it. 

Financial Woes 

Another big marital issue is finances. The problem with finances is that no one likes to discuss them, and because of the lack of communication surrounding finances, problems can arise. One person may want to save money, while the other likes to spend money on gifts for their spouse and experiences they can share together. These differences may seem insignificant at first, but when there is a financial crisis such as one partner losing a job or suddenly becoming unable to work, figuring out how to approach the situation is when the trouble happens. A counselor can help fix financial issues by helping both parties work towards a compromise to satisfy each person’s needs and also address the situation appropriately.

Solving any Argument with Diplomacy 

One reason why couples have such a hard time with their relationship is due to arguing. Arguments are natural in a relationship, but the problem is that no one knows how to resolve an argument quickly while appeasing both parties. In the perfect world, one partner would listen to their partner’s reasoning, sincerely think about their points, consider them, and explain why they agree or disagree respectfully. However, it’s much different in reality. We automatically believe that anyone who disagrees with us is opposed to us. We want to have the last word in and be right. 

A counselor can help resolve arguments by being a neutral mediator. They can manage emotions appropriately, and keep the conversation constructive. By helping the couple empathize with each other, acknowledge both points of view, and maintaining a constructive, level-headed approach to working towards compromise, a counselor’s diplomacy can transform the couple’s handling of disagreements in the future.

These are just a few issues that marital counseling can resolve. If you’re interested in fixing your marriage, or just improving your relationship, counseling is a great option for you. By finding the counselor that is right for you, you can repair your marriage and get it back on the right track. 

Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.

Stewie Zhu, Founder & CEO at Distributed Credit Chain, that is the world’s first banking ecosystem built on a public blockchain joins Enterprise Radio.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Stewie Zhu discuss the following:

1. What is DCC-Distributed Credit Chain?
2. Do you agree that the current financial industry has defect in itself?
3. How would you define the notion of blockchain in sort of  that basic technology, which seems like it will become a bigger part of financial system going forward?
4. What is the development status of DCC?

Distributed Credit Chain (DCC) is the world’s first banking ecosystem built on a public blockchain. DCC’s mission is to develop global financial inclusivity by empowering individuals to own and use their credit with blockchain technology. Further, DCC aims to establish a decentralized banking ecosystem for financial service providers around the world.

Mr. Stewie Zhu is a serial entrepreneur and scholar in the Internet and Fintech industry. Before founding Distributed Credit Chain, Mr. Zhu was CEO of TN Tech, a leading SaaS financial technology company in China, where he led a team to develop internet-based credit systems for over a dozen of trusts with multi-billion USD annual loan facilitation amount.

Mr. Zhu was a Ph.D. candidate in Finance at London School of Economics and Political Science with the research focus on finance and game theory. Mr. Zhu also holds his Master of Science degree in Financial Economics from Oxford University, Master of Science degree in Statistics from Yale University, and Master of Arts degree in Statistics as well as Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering from Nanjing University.

Website: http://dcc.finance

Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/DccOfficial2018
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DccOfficial2018

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Award-Winning Author & Multi-Million Dollar Serial Entrepreneur Gregory Grant with Grant Business Solutions joins Enterprise Radio. Mr. Grant is an innovative franchisee in the 28.6 billion-dollar vehicle leasing industry.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Gregory Grant discuss the following:

1. What inspired you to take your decades of knowledge and expertise to the nonprofit sector?
2. What led to your decision to partner with the City of Jacksonville to plan, develop, and successfully deploy the second annual Jacksonville Vetrepreneur Summit?
3. Why did you decide to turn your Forbes.com referenced article “3 Reasons Why You Must Have A Business Plan” into your award-winning breakout book fittingly titled Small Steps For Doing Big Business?

Gregory Grant is currently an innovative franchisee in the 28.6 billion-dollar (2017 Auto Rental News) vehicle leasing industry. His business holdings in this billion-dollar market consist of MG Auto Leasing Inc. and DBA MG Truck Leasing.

As an Avis Rental and Budget Truck agency owner, his direct responsibility is the management of over 2 million dollars of rotating assets for the third largest rental vehicle company in the auto leasing industry, Avis-Budget Group. He secured, negotiated, and managed contracts with Fortune 500 companies such as Haskell Construction, Bank of America, Rayonier, Army Corps of Engineer, and many others due to his strategically executed leadership directives created by his organization.

Grant’s company MG Auto Leasing, the contracted agency owner, contributes over 1.3 million dollars in annual revenue to Avis-Budget Group’s operating P&L. For more on Mr. Grant click here.

Website: www.gregorygrant.net

• You can purchase Gregory Grant’s award-winning business guide here: https://goo.gl/4qEJV9
• Entrepreneur Podcast Network listeners receive a complimentary brand evaluation by contacting Grant and his team here: http://grantbusinesssolutions.com
• You can register to here Grant speak at Florida State College at Jacksonville here: http://jaxvetbiz.com

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When you go to the hair salon, you expect to be pampered and to look amazing when you leave. Sometimes, though things do not go as planned. This happens for a number of reasons; maybe the stylist is having a bad day, maybe you were left under the dryer for too long, or maybe there is a scheduling mix up. Whatever the reason, it always makes for a bad day when a salon appointment goes awry. Thankfully, there are a few things that you can do to help ensure you have the best experience possible the next time you head to the salon. Here is a list of five tips to get you ready for your next appointment and to help ensure it is everything you want it to be.

Tip number one, don’t be that woman who goes in and says “do whatever you want” to the stylist. This puts your stylist in a very awkward position and you may end up with a style that you hate. This is not good on you or your stylist, it is simply not possible for another person to know exactly what you want to be done to your hair. Do you prefer your hair long or short? Layers or no? Color, and if yes, what color, what shade of that color? Bangs or no bangs? There are so many ways this could go wrong and it may even put your stylist in a bad mood, fearing that you will not be happy with whatever he or she decides to do. Keep in mind, if you would not choose a strangers life mate for them, do not ask your stylist to do whatever they want to your hair.

This tip should be obvious, don’t be late. It is far better to show up five or even ten minutes early than it is to arrive even a few minutes late. Most salons stay very busy and make appointments for a reason when you show up late, you put them behind for the rest of the day. This means that every customer that stylist has for the rest of that day will be forced to wait longer for their appointment. It also means that the stylist will be late going home, maybe late picking up children. Basically, it is very rude to be late and puts a lot of other peoples day off schedule. This is neither fair nor right. Be early or at the very least, be on time.

Don’t go to the salon with dirty, greasy, tangled hair. If you would not want to touch a strangers hair that appears dirty and tangled, why would your stylist want to? First of all, it is gross and second, it is rude to your stylist. It is always a good idea to keep up your hair hygiene regardless of whether or not you are going to the salon. Wash your hair regularly and keep it combed and detangled as much as possible. We all get in a rush sometimes and do not have the additional time to get a wash in before heading to the salon, but even when that is the case, take a short moment to at least run a comb through your hair. Actually, it is advised to wash your hair the day before your appointment due to some of the processing that has to happen depending on what you are having done. So, don’t worry if you do not get your hair washed right before going, just make sure it has not been a long time.

The fourth tip is very simple, try to avoid Saturday appointments. This is because Saturdays are often one of the busiest days at a salon. Therefore, you will not be afforded as much time and attention from your stylist as you would on other days. The schedule is generally so packed that stylists are often on autopilot trying to get through as many patrons as possible in a short amount of time. Not only is this difficult for the stylist, but also for you. This means that the stylist is most likely frazzled and that could potentially be disastrous for you and your hair. It also means that you may not receive the pampering that you are used to. This is also the day students will be in during school dance season; not the best day for regulars to have an appointment.

This final tip is to help you understand everything that is being done to your hair during your appointment. Know the hair salon lingo. There are certain words and phrases associated with certain styles, certain techniques, and particular color patterns. If you know all of the lingoes, you will know if something is being done that is not what you asked for and you can stop it before it becomes an issue. Here is a list of some of the most common phrases and their meanings.

• Dusting – This refers to someone who only wants the ends of their hair trimmed and the overall length and style to remain the same.
• Base Color – This is the main color that is being applied to your hair, the color that will be on all of your hair and will show anywhere that does not have streaks.
• Blunt Cut – This is a term used for when a stylist cuts across the ends of your hair horizontally, leaving a perfectly straight line.
• Wispy – This term refers to the texture that the stylist is trying to create in your hair. It often involves the ends of your hair pointing in different directions instead of falling straight.
• Fring – This is another word for bangs. Specifically bangs that actually lay on top of the forehead rather than off to the side.

These are just a few tips to help make your salon experience as amazing as it should be. If you are in doubt about anything regarding the way you want your haircut, the style you want, or what color would look best on you, don’t hesitate to ask your stylist. As a general rule, your stylist will be more than happy to explain something or help you choose something great. If you happen to live in or near the Montreal area, be sure to check out Montreal Afro Hair Salon.

Kenan Pala, a 14 year old 8th grader from San Diego who started a non-profit Kids4Community when he was just 11 years old for programs to fund programs for homeless, education joins Enterprise Radio.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Kenan Pala discuss the following:

1. Can you tell the audience about your journey to starting Kids4Community?
2. What sparked your enthusiasm for Enterprenuership at such a young age?
3. You are also a tri-athlete, can you tell us a little bit how can squeeze training in with all the other stuff you’ve got going on!
4. What’s your advice to your peers as it pertains to balance and fitting everything in you want to accomplish?
5. Where can we find out more information about your charity?

Kenan Pala, a 14 year old 8th grader from San Diego who started a non-profit Kids4Community when he was just 11 years old for programs to fund programs for homeless, education and more has just hit the $500,000 mark in just two years and he’s quickly becoming a national story. In Fact, the Major of San Diego proclaimed January 23rd as Kenan Pala Day!

Website: https://kids4.org

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Unfortunately, college is not in the cards for everyone. Although, many jobs require applicants to have some sort of degree or certification. Other times it is simply necessary to undergo additional training so as to fully understand how to perform a given job. Whatever the reason, more and more people are searching for ways to get the training they need without having to send out an enormous amount of money in the process. Sadly, there are not many ways to accomplish this. Cue Amazon to the rescue. Amazon offers free digital courses in architecture, development, operations, and cloud practitioner. Here, you will find all of the information that you will need to determine if an Amazon course is right for you and how to get started if it is.

The term “Cloud Practitioner” is a not a terribly common one, at least not in many circles. It is, however, becoming more prevalent. What exactly is it though? Almost everyone has heard of “the cloud”, right? That space where we digitally store information, documents, photographs, and any other IT (Internet Technology) resources, that is referred to as “the cloud”. With that being said, cloud practitioner is a term that is currently being used to describe an individual who is seeking to understand more about the AWS Cloud. AWS stands for Amazon Web Services and the AWS Cloud is where all manner of IT resources and programs are stored. If this is the first time you have heard this term, it may seem a bit daunting to understand all of the in’s and out’s of what all you can accomplish with the AWS Cloud by becoming a cloud practitioner, but it is not all that difficult once you truly dive into it with an Amazon course. If, on the other hand, you are already well acquainted with the term and are ready to learn more about becoming a cloud practitioner, you may want to skip ahead to the portion about getting started with an Amazon course.

Next, let’s talk about which job positions and industries would benefit the most from partaking of an Amazon course. There are many careers that work with the AWS Cloud; among them are financial professionals, any aspect of the technical department, sales departments, purchasing departments, and managers are only a handful of the professions and business departments that would benefit from engaging with Amazon’s cloud practitioner course. In this era of technological advancements, every business has to be able to engage with the internet and utilize at least some of its many capabilities. Of course, the larger the business, the more departments and professional personnel it will have at its disposal. Therefore, it is very likely that these individuals already have the necessary training; however, small businesses and individuals looking to get started in one of the aforementioned career areas will need to have access to information that will get them started on this cloud practitioner path. If any of this sounds like you, the next section is your next step to pursuing your dreams. Consider also, that there are several other course options besides cloud practitioner. Amazon also offers courses in architecture, development, and operations. These courses can benefit a great many individuals with achieving their career dreams.

Now it is time to discuss how to get started with one of Amazon’s courses. The first step is, of course, to choose which course would be the most beneficial to you and which one you are the most interested. There are over one hundred and fifty different courses to choose from so to accurately make a decision you will need to go to the Amazon Course website and browse all of the available courses. Next, you will need to set up an account on the site. All of the digital courses are self-paced which means that you go through the lessons on your time and at your pace. Therefore, you will not have to worry about having the time to complete your work and finish the class. Each class does have a certification that you can earn, that is something that most free courses do not offer, this is one of the biggest aspects that set these courses apart from others. After you have chosen a course and set up an account, it is time to sign up for your chosen course.

There are courses of every imaginable length, you will find courses that only take five minutes and courses that take weeks. There truly is a course for every need. Because of this, it is entirely possible to take multiple courses in a single day, depending on your schedule. There are also classroom courses available. These can be taken live or virtually, whichever works best for your schedule and location. All you have to do to find a class near your location is head over to the Amazon Courses website, click on the bottom near the bottom of the page that says “classroom experience”. Scroll through and find a class that you are interested in, underneath the description of the class there will be an area that says “find a class near you”, click that. From there you will be able to locate where the closest location to you with that particular class is. From that screen, you will be able to sign up for that course.

Hopefully, you now have all of the information that you will need to find an Amazon course that will benefit you and how to get started with the sign-up process. Whatever class you decide on, you will have a seamless experience with Amazon Course. There is always the small possibility that you will not find a course that appeals to you, but the chance is very small. It is also always a possibility that you have a bad experience, but again the chance is small. If you are in need of training to attain your career goals, Amazon Courses is a great place to begin. If you decide to take more course at a college or university later, you will already have some credentials under your belt. If all you need is a quick course to get you on track, you can accomplish that without having to worry about affording it. Overall, Amazon Courses are a fantastic asset that can benefit a great many people.