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  • 6 Good Reasons Why You Should Consider a Side Hustle

    6 Good Reasons Why You Should Consider a Side Hustle

    It’s only getting harder for the average person to make ends meet. The state of the world and the way we live and conduct business is changing, and you need to stay on your feet to stay ahead of the game. 

    Most people will find that they’re barely just making enough with their day job, and this is why is about that time you start to consider doing something else on the side. If you’re hesitant about taking this step, we’re going to give you 6 good reasons why you should consider a side hustle. 

    It’s Never Too Early or Too Late to Save

    Different people live within different circumstances, and life has its ups and downs, so you can really never be too certain about what the future holds. One thing is for sure though, there’s never a wrong time to start saving– and you should do it whenever you have the chance. When you start working on the side, you’ll soon be able to put something aside for your savings, no amount is too small, and this is extremely important to do. 

    Find Out What’s Out There

    You grew up getting an education and you ended up going down a career path and here you are. The great thing about getting into a side hustle is that it exposes you to what else is in the market, and what is hot, especially where you are. If you live in Canada, for instance, then you need to get online, ask around, and read reviews to see what is hot in the job market at any given time. The best way to earn money online is to first discover what is in demand at that time, and try to get yourself involved in this. There may be things that appeal to you, but don’t pay off that much, and you’ll find that this can be just a waste of your time. 

    Develop Your Skills

    When you try your hand at something that you don’t do in your day job, you’re actually adding to your roster of skills. We often get so caught up in the daily stress of our jobs and home that we convince ourselves that we simply don’t have time to do anything else. Once you push yourself to start working on a side hustle, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that you do have the time, no matter how much it is, to learn something new and develop new skills.

    Have a Backup Plan

    Soon after you get your feet wet and realize that you can do more than what you’re doing for a career right now, you’ll actually open up a world of possibilities. By having work on the side, you can consider switching to a different career, or at least live with the comfort that if something goes wrong, you’ll always have a backup plan. 

    This is especially important given the state of the world right now. After 2020, the nature of business in itself has changed, and everyone is on the edge of their seats, worrying about whether they’ll be able to get a raise, bonuses, or just get laid off altogether- so a side hustle, if nothing else, is safe. 

    There’s Potential For Passive Income

    There are many side hustle options out there. These jobs actually have the potential to give you passive income while you’re doing nothing. For instance, if you decide to start writing blogs and they do really well, you can start earning passive income through ads or through the product or service that you promote, so this is definitely something worth looking into. Other examples of side hustles that can bring in passive income are dropshipping and affiliate marketing. 

    It Can Actually be Fun

    We’ve long forgotten that it really is possible to enjoy what you do for work. Side hustles, besides everything else, can be so much fun. It’s exciting to challenge yourself to do something new, and it’s not a heavy commitment, so you don’t have to stress about whether you can do it or not because it can be a short-term trial if you like. Being able to have that control takes the miserable stress out of the situation and allows you to enjoy the process.

    All the points mentioned here should be more than enough to get you started on your side hustle journey. If you’re under the impression that you simply do not have time to do this, guess what? You always have an hour or two to spare in your day, and in many cases, this is all it takes. You won’t regret it because there really are no negative points to getting a side hustle. 

  • How to Easily Improve Your Business Online?

    How to Easily Improve Your Business Online?

    If you are a new business owner, you might find it difficult to build a strong online presence. This is because the online market is highly saturated with thousands of businesses in the same niche competing for the audience’s attention. If your startup is still in the early stages, it can be hard to focus on the big picture, manage all aspects of your business, and develop an effective online marketing strategy simultaneously. Fortunately, there are fast, easy, and effective ways to achieve satisfactory results online. Read through our article to find out how you can easily improve your business online. 

    Large Local Listing Services

    You can register your business on large listing platforms like Google Places to make it more accessible and visible on Google searches. This will also allow it to show up on Google Maps, making it easier for people to find your physical location. The registration process is very easy; you just have to fill a form and register and verify your business through an email confirmation. Yahoo! Local is also a large database that is powered by Yahoo. It will also boost your search visibility and is totally free of charge. Another similar service that is quite easy to use is Microsoft’s Bing. 

    Social Media

    Nowadays, any business can receive exposure in no time using the correct tools. Many people become online sensations overnight, all thanks to social media. To make use of everything that social media has to offer, you need to fully invest time and effort in your social media marketing. As a business owner, you probably don’t have time to explore different social media platforms in-depth, which is why you should hire a social media agency to help you achieve desirable results. Social media specialists know how to effectively incorporate ads and promotions on your social media platforms. They also use advanced marketing tools such as analytics and demographics to reach your target audience in the right place at the right time. 

    Start a Blog

    Starting a blog can help you reach potential customers through the web. For instance, if you sell plant fertilizers, you can write a post about how you can boost the growth of your home plants. Find a way to create attractive content that is somehow related to the products or services that you offer. Not only is it a way to promote your business, but it also helps you connect with your audience and build a strong relationship with them. Blog posts will also help you reach your target audience more easily. Figure out what your target audience is interested in and produce impressive content about it. The most important thing about developing a blog is staying consistent and providing the audience with frequent updates. The quality, accuracy, and relevance of your content are also of significant importance. 

    Multimedia

    Visuals are highly attractive and can improve your online presence if you use them correctly. Find a platform, such as Youtube, to upload intriguing media that is relevant and related to your business. Feel free to produce more than just ads; just make sure that the content is captivating enough to grab the attention of your audience. Link back to your website, social media, or even blog posts. 

    Search Engine Optimization

    Using SEO for your website can work wonders for your business online. SEO will help you attract and reach new customers, generate new leads, and find customers who are searching for similar products or services. It creates more web traffic and when done correctly, it attracts relevant traffic to your website. SEO significantly improves conversion rates, increases brand awareness, and helps you stand out from your competitors. It is a cost-effective marketing solution that will generate long-term results and help you grow your business. 

    Press Releases

    Many innovative businesses, or the ones who have come up with creative ideas or solutions heavily rely on press releases to boost their online presence. Press releases are a great way to attract potential customers and grab the attention of the public because it makes your business recognizable. It makes them feel like your business is unique and has something different to offer, which is why it must be newsworthy. Depending on your location, many online magazines and media outlets take pride in local brands and businesses and wouldn’t mind picking up on it. Play on your business’ unique selling points and show the world what you have to offer. 

    Establishing a place for yourself in the market can be extremely difficult. This pressure that comes with running a business, along with the stress of closely monitoring your online presence, can be too much to handle. However, with the right tools and help, you can boost your business’ online presence and performance, and take your company to new heights!

  • Common Abusive Scenarios In The Office You Should Know About

    Common Abusive Scenarios In The Office You Should Know About

    Harassment comes in many forms and most of us have, unfortunately, encountered it. It is usually first experienced as rough child’s play and bullying in school, but it may continue to follow us later in life. Some will have it with their acquaintances, others with their family or colleagues at work. Whatever the surroundings – abuse should never be accepted.

    Apart from standing your ground and directly confronting the abuser – a more sophisticated, yet very effective response is taking legal actions. Recognizing your situation and knowing who to consult with is the first step towards an effective reaction.

    Are You a Victim of Abuse in the Office?

    Abuse in the workplace is a long-lasting problem and as much as 13% of men and 12% of women have been affected by it in the US. Some forms of it are rather self-evident, such as a superior harming you physically or yelling at you, while other forms are more hidden but will hurt you in one way or another.

    Being forced to work overtime while not being adequately paid, a common problem in the hotel and restaurant industry, is sometimes shrugged off as a minor thing but is, in fact, a serious offense and should be dealt with as such. Psychological pressure that comes from mobbing is also frequent and there are various ways you can fight against that too. 

    And to top it all is – discrimination. A very debated topic but also a very present one, being discriminated solely for something personal and which doesn’t affect your work is also abuse and should always be brought up to HR, or the court if it cannot be solved elsewhere.

    Overtime

    Any hours worked over 40 hours in a workweek count as overtime when an employee is a non-exempt employee. This is, as stated in the link above, defined by law and all overwork time is supposed to be paid at least 1.5 times the regular hourly pay. If you suspect you are not being given your fair share you could contact an unpaid overtime lawyer in Nashville. But confronting your boss about it should be the first step, as it may be a simple mistake on their behalf.

    In the HoReCa sector, a common scenario is being asked to stay after closing hours to clean up the establishment, even though your 8 work hours ended when the bar closed. As the boss doesn’t count the extra time needed to tidy everything up they will likely not pay you what they are due.

    Mobbing

    Usually a collective effort by a group of colleagues against someone who they dislike, mobbing is the cause of many serious problems. It is often seen in office workspaces where many people are working together in a tight space yet have the time to spare for such mischief.

    After being mobbed at work people will start feeling left out or even paranoid, sometimes to the point of acting aggressively to people on the streets. The pattern comes in the form of subtle and obvious comments or verbal acts that make a person feel unwanted or that their work is in some way humiliating or worthless. The bullying is sometimes done even by the superior, a manager, or employer, in which case it may be wrongly interpreted as criticism instead of mobbing.

    Even though it is very hard to be proven, as is with most passive-aggressive behavior, those who are abused in this way should consult a human resources department, or a psychologist, to help them recognize it as mobbing and act accordingly. 

    Discrimination

    In diverse countries such as the US, there are many bases on which someone could be discriminated against. Race, age, sex, and religion all come into this foul play and it is a serious legal issue. Being rejected from a job just because you are African-American or a woman, for example, even if you have all the required qualifications, is outright discrimination and should be treated as such. 

    Legal actions can be taken as the anti-discrimination laws are very strict on the subject. If you have evidence for such behavior you can file a lawsuit against the employer.

    Taking abuse is never OK, even if you think that accepting your boss’s rude behavior will be rewarded in any way. Ending up with unpaid overwork time or psychological damage is the only sure thing you can get out of such scenarios, and keep in mind that everyone should behave professionally, if not friendly, in the office.

    Work is not playing, but neither should it be abuse.

  • How to Feel Comfortable at Work?

    How to Feel Comfortable at Work?

    Your office doesn’t matter where it is, is a place where you spend at least a couple of hours each day, where you make sure the job gets done. Once you’re finished, you get to go home and relax.

    Most people spend approximately forty hours per week at the office and they must invest all their time and energy into their daily tasks. Sometimes it can be a bit difficult, however, with proper management and organization things may become slightly easier.

    The goal is to be as productive as possible and you cannot accomplish that if you’re not feeling comfortable. So if you’re not sure how you can change your environment, we’ve gathered some tips to help you achieve it and actually enjoy your work more. Let’s check them out!

    Flexible Work

    According to some studies, most employees stated that a flexible work schedule makes them feel more comfortable and at the same time enlarges their happiness. That’s why you should always insist (if possible) on flexibility during working hours.

    This is something that eventually leads to a balance between your job and personal life and allows you to blend these two areas of life together. A flexible schedule typically can be achieved if the business owner trusts his or her workers and believes that they will get the job done no matter what.

    Comfortable Furniture

    When we say cozy furniture we definitely do not refer to beds of course, however, there are many types of it that can be placed inside any office. It’s worth mentioning that sitting in the same position causes huge pressure on your spine.

    That’s why it would be smart if you purchased a high-quality chair, especially ergonomic kind. Experts at ErgoTune.com who have been utilizing these types of chairs for many years, suggest that they should replace the traditional ones because they come with essential features involving a backrest and headrest that support your posture while you’re working. Moreover, with these user-friendly chairs, you can adjust all those amazing features to fit your preferences and needs.

    Namely, a lot of people eventually develop neck issues which lead to stiffness in the shoulder and neck region. There are many complications that can arise in time if you do not take care of it. However, with the help of ergonomic chairs, you will be able to provide your neck with top-notch support for a longer period of time.

    Get A Plant

    Even though this may not seem like a relevant suggestion it is actually more helpful than it appears to be. Namely, obtaining any plant is going to make your space more refreshing, radiant, and vibrant.

    Viz, recent research has shown that having plants in your office helps you get restorative potential, which means that it is going to boost your creativity. And that’s not everything. Just carefully observe your work environment.

    We assume that it probably looks a little bit dull and boring. Well, that’s why you should acquire a plant to add some texture and color to your workspace. At the end of the day, having flowers can definitely do no harm to you.

    Honest And Open Communication

    Anyone can easily get frustrated when they are not permitted to talk honestly about various concerns that bother them. If that’s the case with your company, then let them know how important it is to have a safe space where you will have the opportunity to raise your voice whenever you feel like some aspects of the corporation should be improved.

    Here it’s all about trust and confidentiality. Everybody wants to feel like they can speak to the manager or their boss whenever they are experiencing an issue. Of course, these conversations must never be misused and must always remain private. 

    Personalize Your Space

    Have you ever thought about your work environment and whether it reflects you? Because if it doesn’t, it definitely should. No matter where you work or what you do, we all want to feel closer to home.

    The good news is you can easily achieve it by putting familiar and close to your heart objects around you. This step is going to help you improve your connection to your work surroundings. In case you are feeling somehow alienated from what you are working on, just bring a picture of a person you love, or your pet, or change your screensaver and you will immediately be in a better mood.

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    Unfortunately, a lot of people these days are not satisfied with their job. If you are currently not able to change that, then at least you can do is to modify your work environment. As you can see, it really doesn’t take too much to do it.

  • How to Successfully Move Across the Country?

    How to Successfully Move Across the Country?

    Moving home or office from coast to coast or from one state to another can be a tiring and stressful exercise. Millions of Americans move every year for employment or family reasons. The same exercise can be smooth sailing for you if you plan early and follow the tips described in this article. If moving is inevitable, take it lightly and make it easier and more organized with our help. 

    Arrange Supplies and Start Packing Early

    Believe me, packing can be fun when you start weeks before the actual day of moving. Why pay a mover for packing items that you can pack on your own? Start with items that are not used in weeks but you still want them moved to your new address. These include books, non-seasonal items of clothing, and items of decor that you can pack without experiencing any difficulty in day-to-day life.  Do not forget to make a list of all items packed inside each carton. Store all packed items in one room of the house.

    Why Pay for Packing of Items You Don’t Want

    There are always dozens of household items that are not worth moving from one place to another. Why take pains of packing such items and spend money on their moving? Organize a garage sale and sell unwanted items to collect some money for your moving exercise. You can donate many items to charities or gift away to neighbors and friends to have a manageable list for moving. Get rid of all such items to have peace of mind with relatively fewer household items for packing and moving. 

    Take Care of These Small But Significant Things

    It is not uncommon to forget about small but important things during your moving exercise. Make a note of these tasks and tick them off after completing them. 

    • Schedule and transfer utilities
    • Cancel your subscriptions to magazines, newspapers, gyms, and clubs
    • Make changes in your mailing address
    • Obtain medical records of your pet from the vet
    • Collect records of your kids from their schools

    Pay a Visit to the New Home Once

    It is always a prudent idea to visit the new place where you are moving at least once. Having an idea of the important amenities like groceries, parks, schools, banks, hospitals, and of course, your new home makes you feel confident and you do not feel all at sea when reaching there after a long and arduous move.

    Shipping of Automobiles

    One of the biggest spendings on moving takes place on taking your car to your new home. If the distance is thousands of kilometers and driving can be tiring, you have no choice but to fly and ship your car. If your car is on a lease, it is not advisable to drive in any case. You can sell the car if it has become old and buy a new one after arriving in your new home. If you decide to ship the car, you need to take public transportation for a few days or share a carpool with friends.

    If you’re looking for the best vehicle shipping service to transport your car safe during your cross-country move, check out RoadRunner Auto Transport.

    Hire Services of an Experienced Moving Company

    It is a good idea to contact several cross-country movers to know how much it will cost you to get your household items packed and moved to your new address. The cost of moving is dependent upon the size and number of items to be moved and the distance between the two places. The cost of utilizing the services of a professional moving company is certainly more than booking a rental truck and packing your items on your own. However, according to expert movers at reputablemover.com, if you take into account the time and effort that goes into packing and the efficient manner in which the employees of a moving company carry out the exercise, booking their services is a prudent decision to make. Do not fall prey to the claims of lowest moving charges as you get what you pay for. Make sure that the moving company has a valid license and a long experience of moving household items over long distances. 

    Carry Important Documents and Valuables With You

    Though you can breathe easy after hiring the services of a reputable moving company, it is always better to carry important papers and valuables along with you. Keep important documents like birth certificates, degrees, marriage certificates, and insurance policies in a bag and valuables like jewelry items in another bag and carry them along with you whether you are taking a flight or driving to the new address. It gives you a lot of peace of mind and you feel confident while moving. 

    Get the Contact Number of the Driver

    Cross-country moving can be a long exercise taking several days. It is always desirable to get the contact number of the driver of the truck carrying your household items. You can establish contact by talking to the driver during the moving exercise to reassure yourself and to know the exact location of your household items. If they don’t give the mobile number of the driver, you can ask for the number of the representative of the moving company who can establish contact with the driver on your behalf.  

    Pack Moving Day Essentials in a Separate Bag

    Always make sure that you pack essential items you and your loved ones would need immediately after arriving at the new address in a separate bag. You will carry this bag with you so that you have access to items like toothbrushes, soaps, towels, biscuits, snacks, pet foods, medications, and important documents. It means you will not face difficulties upon your arrival in the new home and manages your needs easily. Imagine rushing to buy a torch or a screwdriver to fix the fuse to turn on the lights in your new home. 

    Making a cross-country move can be an overwhelming exercise for anyone because of the sheer magnitude and things to remember. But the same endeavor becomes smooth and hassle-free when you have the help and support of an experienced moving company. Choose the movers carefully and follow the steps mentioned above to make it a smooth and organized endeavor.

  • Systems You Should Outsource As A Small Enterprise

    Systems You Should Outsource As A Small Enterprise

    When starting a small business it is so important for you to automate as many processes as you can and to ensure efficient working. One of the ways to ensure both accurate and efficient work every day in your small business is to outsource some processes and take the burden off yourself. 

    We all know how hard it can be to manage a small business on your own, and putting your fingers in too many pies can damage your productivity and lead to mistakes. Instead of trying to manage every aspect of the business yourself – today we want to discuss outsourcing. 

    Outsourcing is a way to provide yourself with business services without hiring in house. It is cheaper, more efficient, and often the best choice for small entrepreneurs in early days. Here are some of the best departments you can outsource today for your business. 

    Project management 

    Project management can be a complex subject – and you cannot simply pick it up from reading a few online articles. You need to have a strong understanding of business processes when learning project management – and you should leave this to the experts. Hire a project management contractor or agency to help you complete a project; and once the project is done you can end the contract. The beauty of outsourcing is that you only need to keep the service running for as long as you need it for the business. This is of course much more complex with in house employees and can be difficult to manage. 

    Finance 

    Finance is complex, and even if you have a good handle on your personal finances you will not be prepared for the complexity of business finance. It is so important for you to not underestimate business finance and outsource this to an accountant. This will ensure that you don’t make mistakes regarding tax and other things that could land you in trouble later on. 

    SEO 

    Marketing is a huge part of running a business and while you might be able to handle social media marketing; SEO is a whole different ball game. SEO is what determines your viability online and it can be complex if you are new to the concept. Increase your reach and visibility by hiring SEO specialists to help you with your efforts. You’ll see a huge impact on your business with proper marketing and you can grow and thrive as a result of this. 

    Architecture 

    Architecture isn’t just about buildings – it is also about business. Roles such as business architecture solutions are crucial to a business because they literally determine the building blocks of your business. When considering how to improve your business processes and become more profitable, hiring a business architecture firm is a great idea because they can advise you and help you shape the direction of your business in the future. These are the wizards of business and will make a massive impact on your success. 

    Outsource these processes for your small business this year and allow yourself more time to focus on your own talents and skill set.