Making good decisions as an entrepreneur

Business owners face tough decisions every day. There are several things that need your attention, including fires to put out. More often than not, these decisions can affect not only your personal life but also those of others. The responsibility of making a choice that can chart or hinder the growth of your business is a heavy burden to take.

However, there are various factors to consider when you make a decision. Oftentimes, you have to take different approaches depending on the situation. And even if you encounter similar circumstances, there is no surefire formula on which solution to take because results may vary from time to time. The best you can do is to make a calculated risk and lessen the possible negative impact of the decision you take. These are things you need to consider to help guide you in choosing the most suitable path for you.

The reason for the decision

Before you look at your options, analyse first the reason why you need to come up with a decision. Knowing your purpose will help you weigh your choices better. Are you going to make a decision that can help boost the sales of your business or is it for stronger long-term relationships with clients and your team? Priorities may change at any given point, so make sure that you are making a choice that will support your present need and priority.

Effect of the decision

What is the possible effect of your decision on yourself, your business, your family, your clients or people involved? Some decisions may be minor to you but major to others. Take into consideration the probable outcomes if you choose a different route. While you are at it, deliberate the short-term, medium-term and long-term effects of your decision.

The time needed to make a decision

There are circumstances where you need to think and act fast. Otherwise, you might lose an opportunity or prolong a crisis. On the other hand, there are instances when you shouldn’t rush with your judgment, but have to take time to assess the various angles of the situation and the options available.

Value of feedback from others

It is not unusual to seek opinions from others, especially those who have more experience or who had been in the same state before. But when you gather feedback from others, it cannot be avoided that there will be opposing or varying views. You need to ask yourself, are you getting inputs from others because you just want to affirm what you have already decided or are you approaching the right people who can help you see through the gaps?

Information and resources available

Is the information available up-to-date that it will help you see the complete scenario when you go by your decision? Are there enough resources to back up what you have decided to do? While some options appear ideal and perfect, carrying them out may be difficult to do because you do not have the capacity and capability to follow it through.

You will never really know when you have made the right decision until the results start showing. Making a decision involves logical and strategic thinking as well as listening to your gut-feel. However, bear in mind that as a business owner, decisions you make may affect several people in the process. There are times when you have to make sacrifices and go against the flow for the greater good or for long-term success. It is good if you can unburden the load by sharing your sentiments with like-minded individuals, similar to the Forum setting in EO, without having to reveal confidential matters. In the end, decision-making is a responsibility you have to take when you lead a team and bring your business towards success.

Taking care of your skin, taking care of your business

Our skin is our body’s first line of defence against harmful elements around us. It’s the first thing that people see, which is why many people want to maintain youthful skin for their looks.  We need to care for our skin, not only for beauty but more so for our health and wellbeing.

If you liken it to your business, your brand – your name, logo, colours, font, tagline, values – is one of the first things that consumers will consider when making a purchasing decision. How do you keep your business and brand on a top shape so that your customers will trust and patronise you?

There are skin care tips that you can interpret and apply when it comes to caring for your business.

Know the type of your skin

Before you take action and opt for a good regimen for your skin, it is important to first know the type of skin you have and how it reacts to various conditions. One of the reasons for skin damage is applying products that are not compatible with one’s skin type.

Know your business well, including the industry where you belong, your competitors and your clientele. You can come up with a successful marketing plan if you know your brand by heart. Always do your research and analyse the data available that can help in drafting your marketing plan. Moreover, don’t ignore your gut feeling. When something seems to be not right, look for the cause and make sure to address it immediately.

Consult a dermatologist or a skin expert

Don’t self-medicate. It’s best to consult a dermatologist or skin expert to determine your skin’s needs and how it reacts to particular products or situations. When problems arise, have yourself checked up to ensure proper medication and medical guidance.

Having a mentor who can guide you on your entrepreneurial journey is a huge help in your growth and that of your business. Learn from the experiences and lessons of those who have gone ahead of you on the journey. Listen to their stories and take them with you when you go back to your team.

Protect your skin from harsh elements

Too much exposure to the sun, cold, wind, pollution and other harsh components in our environment can harm our body’s outer layer. Apart from avoiding such conditions, always put sunscreen on your face rain or shine. Cover your skin depending on the weather.

Always have several back-up plans. Consider the right insurance and safety nets for your business in case unforeseen circumstances occur. It helps if you have emergency plans or exit strategies that you can turn to when the need arises. Install security measures in your physical and online space, as well as in your workflow and operations. Do a background check on your suppliers and applications and have proper documents in place for every transaction. In addition, prepare a PR plan for possible crisis scenarios.

Cleanse regularly

Wash up in the morning and before going to bed. Makeup, dust, smoke, oil and other pollutants may irritate your skin, so be sure to cleanse your face and neck every day. They can cause acne, wrinkles, spots and rashes that may lead to skin cancer and other diseases.

Do regular clean-ups in your business, not just in your office space, but also in the way you do things. Audit your finances, assets, people, clients, products and various aspects of your enterprise. Get rid of unnecessary things and be quick to let go of those that may affect your brand or hinder the progress of your business.

Choose the right products for your skin

It is not advisable to put too many products on your skin. When you put products on your face, start from the thinnest to the thickest, from toner to moisturiser. Do a trial first and see if there are no negative reactions on your skin. Read the label and follow instructions well.

There are many tools, applications and software that you can use in running your business. There are also various media that you can utilise in marketing and promoting your brand, products and services. Study their different features and choose the ones that will fit the needs of your venture.

Drink water often, eat right and sleep well

How we take good care of our entire body, particularly our inner organs radiates to our skin. Eat food that is rich in vitamins. Drink water regularly and get enough sleep. When your body is nourished, so will be your skin. Maintain a healthy lifestyle to achieve that youthful glow.

Teambuilding sessions, planning activities and celebrating victories, big or small, can motivate your people. Develop a corporate culture where everyone thrives and come up with healthy corporate practices that promote your company’s values.

Don’t stress yourself

Stress is one of the factors that can cause wrinkles and illnesses. It can make you look old. Don’t hold onto stress, Instead, release it by sweating it out or enjoying your favourite hobby or form of relaxation.

Step away from your business from time to time. Owning a business can be overwhelming, especially with the responsibilities that come with it. Take time for a vacation. Even your business can use its slow time or off-peak season for auditing and planning. Schedule your events an marketing campaigns sparingly. To be effective in your communications strategy, limit the messages you convey to your audience so that they don’t appear as noise.

The rise of social media stories

And how you can use it for marketing your business

At the turn of the century, technology has developed at an accelerated rate. Now, people can do so many things with the use of their smartphone, connecting users from different parts of the globe through various platforms and providing solutions to many needs we encounter each day. There are several applications for a variety of purposes. In social media alone, new features are added continuously to provide more ways for people to interact.

Now, the story format is making waves in social networks. These are ephemeral posts that last for only 24 hours. Despite its short period of exposure, many are hooked with making stories because users don’t have to scroll down. These vertical posts that occupy the entire screen shifts automatically. Plus, creative filters attract people to this new way of multimedia storytelling.

It all began with Snapchat, and it is now available on Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and other platforms. Social media influencers have been utilising this format to share content and visuals. Even brands are jumping into the bandwagon and using such format to their advantage. How do you bridge your business and your market through social media stories? Here are some ways to reach out to your customers and prospects with the use of stories.

Be authentic, yet relatable

Don’t treat your social media story as a TV commercial. If you want to promote a product, service or event, make it into storytelling form. Add a human factor to your post. Talk to them. Make it spontaneous. When you do it in a hard-sell way or put too polished or too edited videos, it can turn off your followers. They often love it raw and personal, but let your brand personality shine through. If you know your market too well, you will know the best approach to capture their interest and keep them hooked to your brand.

Inject creativity in your story

How do you draw people to your post within 24 hours you put it out? Even if you can archive your story, such as in the case of Instagram Stories, that 24-hour window is crucial to bring people to your account and let them take action like going to your site or purchasing the product you are promoting. Businesses have to make such posts creative enough for consumers to always stay tuned to it and view it. You can create a teaser, make people guess a surprise or do a live story during an event. Brainstorm with your team and get the feedback of your customers on what kind of posts excite them.

Focus the spotlight on your users

Some people love to see their faces, names or usernames on a known account. Through a story, you can share posts by your consumers. Use hashtags and mention them. You can also utilise the swipe action where viewers can be directed to a site or link. Be more appreciative of your followers through your stories. When you do a live story, be mindful of commenters and do shoutouts to greet your audience.

Make it interactive

Although the audience cannot comment on your story, you can conduct a poll or do a Q&A with them. Take advantage of the various features of social media stories to engage your viewers and interact with your followers. Storytelling in this platform should not just be a one-way communication line. Rather, it is an opportunity to talk and listen to your market.

So, start exploring this new format and see how it can benefit your business. Explore its various functions and features before you apply it to your brand. If you’re unsure of its effect on your products and services, test it first and evaluate how it will fit in your overall marketing plan. Besides, there are experts or other business owners you can consult when you’re in doubt. Most of all, have fun and let your followers enjoy interacting with you.

Attracting venture capitalists to your business

One of the things that aspiring business owners take consideration before they enter the entrepreneurial waters is capital. While there are ventures that may not need a huge amount for a startup, there are those that require some decent investment to open shop and keep it going. Some get a bit intimidated by this thought or discouraged to take the entrepreneurial journey due to lack of resources. Given this, there are those who delve into venture capital to fund the business to put it up.

Venture capital defined

A person or institution invests funds in a startup business in exchange for equity or stake or a share in the enterprise. In effect, the venture capitalist also becomes a part-owner or financial partner of the business. It is also called risk capital because of the huge risk involved if things don’t work out positively. On the other hand, the venture capitalist can also rake in tremendous gains should the enterprise take off successfully.

How to attract venture capitalists to your business

Research, research, research

As a business owner, you have to know your market and the industry where you belong. Learn the laws and requirements in setting up and maintaining a business. Search for the most capable individuals, those who can adhere to your corporate culture and work ethics, to be part of your team. If you want to approach an investor, know its background, goals and priorities and see how you fit in each other’s vision and mission.

Draft a detailed business plan

Your business plan must have clear objectives, detailed action plans, as well as a comprehensible and feasible business model. Include targets, financial projections and timeline in your plan. While you ensure that all bases are covered and all gaps are filled, your plan must be easy to digest, especially by busy individuals that may be receiving tons of proposals regularly.

Present thoroughly

If possible, meet with prospective investors so you can present your plan and discuss thoroughly the partnership. Share the vision, mission and values of your company. Introduce your team and highlight your qualities, strengths and assets. Explain how your business can provide a solution to a particular need and how you will be able to grow the venture using the investor’s funds. Give them a scenario on the opportunities and benefits your company can provide in growing their resources.

Observe transparency

Don’t exclude the problems, challenges and difficulties when you present to a potential investor. They will appreciate the honesty and transparency that you provide. Inform them of the risks involved and the possible threats to your business, including your alternative plans should such a problem occur. If there are any concerns or issues, big or small, let them know immediately.

Draw a clear agreement

Once you are on the stage where you both seem to agree on the partnership, draw a clear agreement and make sure that it is mutually beneficial to you and the investor. Seek advice from a lawyer or legal counsel to check on the provisions in the agreement.

While you are in the process of discussion and you feel doubtful of the partnership, take a step back and analyse it further. Don’t rush into a partnership simply because you need the resources that the investor is offering. It is also important that you share the same values and vision for your company.

8 free blog platforms for your business

We have tackled the benefits of blogging to your business, but the real challenge is how to start your blog, especially the technical part. Topics and story ideas may already be floating in your mind, but putting it into a blog format may be a bit of a challenge for beginners. You can seek out an expert or someone with the know-how to help you through the process. However, when the budget is a concern or if you want to do it internally, you can begin by learning the best blogging platform for you.

Nowadays, there are plenty of sites that can help you build your blog. If you already have a website, you can have it in there or you can provide a tab or a link to direct visitors to your blog site. If you are tight on finances and doesn’t have the resources to have your own website, you can choose from the many free blog and website builders available online. The downside with some free blogging platforms is that there are many limitations and restrictions when it comes to customising your site. They can host it for free but it will be a subdomain of their site unless you get a paid plan where you can use the domain name you want. But there are free blog platforms that can offer this service; all you have to do is to explore each product thoroughly before you decide on the best one for you.

Wordpress

Wordpress is a widely used blogging platform. There are two kinds – Wordpress.org and Wordpress.com. With the second one, you can have the hosting for free, but the domain still has the wordpress.com in it. Plugins, customisation and monetisation are quite limited as the brands and ads all come from Wordpress. On the other hand, Wordpress.org gives more options and freedom to create a site you want, which is why many hobbyists, professionals and small businesses use this. You can have your own domain name, but you have to get it and host the site by yourself. The good thing is that there are also plenty of products that provide hosting services. Both have tons of plugins and support to help you out, and the newest version is more user-friendly, especially for beginners.

Wix

You can build a site and start a blog using Wix. They have free templates and drag & drop tools that make it easy for anyone without blogging or website building experience. It has mobile optimisation which makes it uncomplicated to view the pages and navigate around the site. You can enhance your site using website apps, although many are run by third-party providers.

Weebly

If you want to build an online retail site, Weebly is a good option because it is part of Square, Inc. It provides ready web designs that you can customise and fit according to your needs. There are tools that are simple to use especially for those who have no or little knowledge about coding. However, if you know some coding language and wants to make changes, you can also modify your site based on your expertise. It offers free and premium plans you can choose from, providing you with various choices according to your needs and resources.

Drupal

Having an open-source content management system (CMS), Drupal is best for developers, marketers and agencies. On the other hand, it may be a steep learning curve for beginners because of its sophisticated features. Also, you have to get a web hosting service for your site. Still, it can be used by those who have no programming skills. For those who have a bit of technical understanding of website development, they will find Drupal more flexible.

Joomla

Another free open-source CMS is Joomla. Although there are tutorials available to take you through how to use Joomla, one has to learn it a bit, unlike the other blog platforms. It values data privacy and has several features for developers, designers and integrators. It is multi-lingual with more than 70 translation packs available, which is good for sites that target a wide, international audience.

Blogger

One of the early players in the blogging platform arena is Blogger. It is mostly used for personal blogs because of its simple interface, which is why it can cater to beginners in blogging. Also, it is a Google product so one can easily use a Google account to get into Blogger. However, there are a few tools, designs and applications to allow you to play around your site.

Medium

If you love writing and you want your brand to be out there, then Medium is another option. While it has a built-in audience, you cannot tweak your design or customise your site. You cannot have your own domain. Rather, you are simply putting a blog entry into Medium. Still, the reach is magnificent, so you can utilise Medium to embed your content from your other social media accounts or promote your website through this platform.   

Tumblr

Another free-blogging site where you can easily publish content is Tumblr. Again, features are limited in this platform and you cannot have your own domain name. It is more of a social media community where you can share your multimedia content. If you are concerned about reach, Tumblr posts can be reblogged or reposted within this platform. However, if branding and content ownership is your priority, then Tumblr may not be the best option for your business.

There are other free blogging platforms that are on the rise. However, you have to take into consideration your priorities and purpose for creating a blog. If it is to build a website, then go for the platforms where you can have more control over your content and design, including the domain name. On the other hand, if your intention is to bring your brand to a wider audience, you can choose a platform with available online community and SEO capabilities, and then embed your website and other social media content in it. Some of the platforms above offer both, but you have to learn to navigate around their site a bit to be able to do this.

Keeping a 20/20 vision throughout the entrepreneurial journey

Eyes focused on the prize and the determination to reach the goal are the necessary fuel to keep you going along the entrepreneurial adventure. It’s a tumultuous journey filled with challenges, which may distract or discourage you to continue the path of entrepreneurship. Continually reminding yourself of the vision as to why you started the business in the first place will help you stay on the track and help you recover from the blurriness that may be caused by problems or difficulties.

Whether you have already crafted a vision for your business or still in the process of making one, it is important to note that it is something you need to constantly revisit. Don’t be afraid to dream big but make sure that it is achievable. The biggest challenge is making it happen. In order to do that, you need to have a vivid vision of what you want to attain in the end. How do you make sure that you don’t lose sight of the goal? How do you maintain a 20/20 vision of what you want to achieve for your business?

Make a clear, concrete vision

It helps when you put your vision into a simple, comprehensible statement that you can hang on your wall to remind you of it. Better yet, have it drawn into a picture or create a vision board that you can look at every day. The more concrete you make your vision statement, the easier it is for you to stay focused. You can also update your vision every now and then as your needs, wants and capabilities may also change.

Align your personal and business goals with your vision

Divide your vision into short, medium and long-term goals and ensure that they are all in sync with each other. In addition, if you want to take good care of your business you also have to take care of your well-being and personal concerns. Look into your personal and professional development that can contribute to the growth of your venture. Refer to the data available and acknowledge your instincts when it comes to setting your goals.

Conduct regular planning

Review your vision regularly and analyse if your plans are made according to your vision, mission and values. The best time is at the beginning of each year or when you do your annual planning. It also gives you the opportunity for your team to take part in plotting your vision and goals into actionable items and remind them of the purpose of your business. Conduct SWOT analysis and evaluate your works, projects, clients and commitments. Eliminate those that are not helpful to achieving your vision and improve those that add value to your business.

Communicate your vision

Let your family, team members, partners, clients and stakeholders know about your vision. Communicate it to them so that they can also contribute to your entrepreneurial journey. The more you articulate the vision to others, the more you become determined to make it happen, enabling people around you to cooperate with you to achieve it.

As the year 2020 begins, what actions have you done to keep you focused on your vision? There may be hurdles along the way, but don’t let your eyes and feet wander. Stay on the track until you reach your destination.

Inspiring creativity in your team

How conducive is your workplace for your team members to think creatively? It’s not just the physical space but also the culture, interactions and systems in your organisation as well. Creativity is important in your day-to-day activities in business. Whether it is for a major project or a simple solution to a minor mishap, a dose of creativity can go a long way.

Creativity can thrive in an environment where there is fertile ground for the mind to flourish. Once the mind works, it can know no bounds unless you block it and do not nurture its capabilities. If you want your workplace to be charged with creative energy, there are many things you can do to encourage it in your team.

Come up with special projects

It could be a group project or an individual activity that you can allow your staff to initiate in your office. You can even come up with small contests or competitions depending on the interests of your staff and team. Some companies empower their members to organise fun bonding activities or volunteer works where they get to shine outside their scope of work.

Make room for collaboration

Many say that two heads are better than one. Allow your people to expand their knowledge and learn from each other through collaborative works that you can enforce within your organisation. They can share their expertise and enhance their skills by mentoring one another on something that they can consider as their special skill or talent.

Invite experts and allow sharing of ideas

Let your staff learn something new by inviting outside experts that can introduce a fresh concept to them. Third-party consultants can judge their special projects or conduct activities that will add a different perspective to the team. People usually act differently when with a new person than with familiar faces, and having someone on certain occasions may inject a fresh vibe to your team.

Have time for fun and play

Allot a corner in your workplace where your staff can take a break from work and relax their minds. Come up with fun games outside of work. Celebrate little successes. Eat out. Take a trip together. Share a hobby or interest. Let them stretch out their mind by getting involved in something that can make them smile and laugh. Give them a free hand in organising such things o that they won’t feel it as an obligation at work.

Do brainstorming sessions

If there’s a crucial point in your business that you need to do, such as meeting targets or levelling up a service to a client or scaling your venture, involve your team members in the process. Cultivate the culture of challenge and openness to ideas by conducting brainstorming sessions whenever you can. Letting your people know that you value their inputs will motivate them to think creatively.

Acknowledge great ideas and reward them

Another good way to encourage and inspire creativity among your team members is to recognise their good works and reward positive results. That will boost their morale and push them to strive to be even better. It will also embolden the rest of your staff, especially new ones, to aspire for something and aim to achieve a certain goal.

There are other different ways to incite creativity in your workplace. It will depend on the kind of people and culture you have within your organisation. You will have to observe, get inputs and often test the waters on the various methods to find the most effective ones that can foster inventiveness, innovation and ingenuity among your team members. And often, you have to introduce new ways to keep them coming and evolving.

How do you close a deal?

You may be selling a product, working on a partnership or bidding for a new client. For any of these, you need to make sure that you successfully close a business deal that will be mutually favourable for you and the other party. The negotiation process may take a while, but there comes a point when you already have to make the final move to accomplish your goal.

But how do you ensure that all the time and effort you invested in the talks will bear good fruit? Sometimes, a prospect stalling a decision may lead to a missed opportunity. You have to put a close to the transaction before it’s too late and someone else takes the prize of your hard work. There are a few techniques you can incorporate in your methods that may help you attain the result that you are hoping to get. Still, it is best to assess the situation and get the pulse of the prospect before you proceed with your strategy. Otherwise, you might end up totally losing the deal.

Having a sense of urgency

You can give your prospect time to think over your proposal. But don’t give them too much time. Two to three days of considering your offer would be enough for them to make a decision. Otherwise, the additional time might give them an opening to back down on your offer. Let them know that there are other people interested in your product, service or partnership and that the slot that may be allotted to them can be given to another prospect within two days if no they do not arrive at a decision. There may be other reasons for you to take back the offer, but it boils down to the sense of urgency to make your prospect sign on the deal.

Letting the prospects understand the solution to their needs

One of the factors that brought you and your prospect together is that you have a solution to their problem. Harp on that need that they have, wherein if they do not sign you up or accept your offer, their worries might pile up. Stress the need to avail of your offering immediately to minimise their worries and ensure that any further difficulties may be avoided.

Offering a limited benefit

One way to help your prospects sign the deal and take your offer is to provide a limited benefit that may expire in a few days. Such benefit may encourage them to consider your proposal within the given time and help you get through the finish line. It could be a discount, a free product or service or an exclusive benefit that they can enjoy should they accept your offering.

Taking them to the pros and cons of not closing the deal

There are prospects that need to fully understand the whole picture before they can make a decision. It is understandable, especially if a huge amount or value is at stake. Just take them through the pros and cons of your offer and let them know that you are there to help guide them in their decision-making process. Remember that your relationship with your prospect is important, and it’s something that you must preserve while conducting your negotiations.

Giving them a visual tour of enjoying the benefit

Some prospective clients or customers just need a little nudge to convince them to take your offer and sign the deal. A more positive approach is to make them imagine how your product or service can change their life or impact their future. They have to visually think of the advantages you can bring to them to encourage them to make their decision as soon as possible.

If you have zeroed in on a prospect, make sure that all your efforts will yield to a positive result. There may be many other more techniques that you can apply. The best way is to observe and learn from situations. Not all strategies may work to all prospects, so you have to feel the situation and find the best approach that will work with a particular client. Most of all, be sincere in your dealings with them and do not burn bridges. Always communicate and reach out to them.

10 Hobbies for entrepreneurs

The stress and pressures of work can often get into you, sometimes ruining your mood or affecting your physical, emotional and mental state of well-being. Indulging yourself in hobbies can relax your mind and bring joy to your heart. But when you are too preoccupied in your business with no time for other things, you may be at a loss on the type of hobby you can start.

Choose a hobby where your interest lies the most and something you want to do in your spare time. The keyword is “want” because it must be an activity that you enjoy doing. There are plenty of things you can do that can bring positive energy to your psychology and physiology. Take a look at the 10 activities below that can give you fun and excitement, as well as enhance your motor skills, creativity, personal dealings with others, decision-making abilities and leadership flair.

1.       Sports

Whether it’s endurance sports, water sports, ball games, board games or mind sports, getting into any kind of sport can challenge your body and your mind. A bit of competition can push you towards your goal, and group games can develop your teamwork. It will also keep you healthy, develop your discipline and help you focus. Moreover, it’s an activity that you can do with your friends and family members.

2.       Music and arts

Art and music have a therapeutic effect on one’s soul. Engaging in such endeavours can sharpen your thinking, enabling you to look at things from a different perspective. If you don’t want something that will drain you physically, then you can consider learning a song, playing an instrument or taking up sketching or painting as a hobby.

3.       Yoga

Yoga is an exercise of the body, mind and soul that has a soothing impact on one’s overall health. It allows you to stretch your physical, mental and emotional muscles, giving you a clearer frame of mind that you need before you embark on the various challenges in your business.

4.       Collecting items

Whether they are toy cars, souvenir items, luxurious accessories, collecting things you like can often bring a sense of happiness to yourself. Adding new things to your collection can give you a sense of accomplishment, especially if these are quite rare and hard to find collectibles. They are something you can revisit in the future and pass on to your kids or grandchildren.

5.       Traveling and photography

If you are more for an experiential type of hobby, then you can consider travelling as an interesting way to indulge outside of work. Whether it’s a short drive outside the city or a flight to another country, the change of scenery and environment can help relieve you of the stress of running a venture. Also, you can always mix pleasure with business and make your travels educational and informative. Collect those memories and experiences through photography.

6.       Gardening and crafts

There are those who prefer to use their hands in doing something they find enjoyment. You might want to tinker with things at home, do carpentry work or feel the earth through gardening. It may take a longer time to see the results but knowing it will yield to something will keep you motivated to keep going.

7.       Cooking

This is a hobby that the entire family and your friends will enjoy, whether doing it with you or feasting on the food you cook. The kitchen is a great place to let off some heat and prepare a delectable dish out of your hard work. It’s a practical hobby, too, as you can always use this for all occasions.

8.       Reading

Quiet down your body and activate your mind by reading books that can motivate, inspire and educate you. There are many things you can pick out of reading, which can widen your horizon and expand your knowledge.

9.       Playing games

Whether they are card games, puzzles, board games, arcades or video games, as long as you don’t get addicted to it, you can take pleasure in doing something fun and challenging at the same time. Some of them can develop your cognitive or logic skills, so choose the games that will not only entertain you but also add value to your entrepreneurial journey.

10.   Fishing

Now, here’s a hobby that will require you a lot of patience. There are too many factors that may affect the success of your catch, which is why it is always a call for celebration when you get some. It’s also a great way to enjoy the outdoors and commune with nature.

Hobbies choose no age, so you can always start a new one anytime. Feel the joy of doing something that interests you the most. Also, learn from these activities and use them as tools to your personal development as an entrepreneur.

Vitamins for you and your business

Sleepless nights, missed meals, fatigue and stress can cause illness and weaken your body. With so many people and an entire business relying on you as an entrepreneur, you need to take care of your health. To keep diseases away, taking vitamins regularly can boost your body. As the saying goes, “prevention is better than cure.”

These vitamins can be sourced through food in your diet or supplements that carry these essential compounds. But apart from its health benefits, vitamins can also bring you some business insights that can contribute to the longevity of your venture.

Vitamin A for good vision

Sourced from milk, dairy products, fish and eggs, Vitamin A is needed for good eyesight, healthy skin and strong immune system. Lack of Vitamin A may lead to night blindness. If you apply this in the business perspective, you need something that can help you stay focused on your vision. It can be a poster on your wall reminding you of your end goal for your venture or a regular activity with your team to help you see clearly what you want to achieve in the short, medium and long term.

Vitamin B for energy

There are six other types of Vitamin B, namely B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12. These vitamins help boost metabolism and energy. Grains, cereals, meat, green leafy vegetables and eggs are among the sources of Vitamin B. What pumps energy to your business? Is it positive cash flow? Good corporate culture? Awards and recognition? Find what brings positivity in your workplace and overall outlook of your enterprise.

Vitamin C for immunity and healing

Ascorbic acid, which is found in citrus fruits and some vegetables, helps in strengthening the immune system of the body and healing of wounds. Mistakes are inevitable throughout the entrepreneurial journey. But you have to come up with alternatives and safety nets to help you recover from failures and avoid bigger ones in the future.

Vitamin D for strong bones

Vitamin D is needed to help absorb calcium from milk, eggs and fish to keep bones and teeth strong. It can also be sourced from sunlight. Our skeletal system is the core and foundation of our body. You have to keep the core of your organisation always healthy through effective human relations program. Retain good people that bring your business forward.

Vitamin E for defence

These are anti-oxidants found in oils, nuts, eggs, seeds and cereals. Vitamin E is a kind of anti-oxidant that builds your muscles and red blood cells, helping your body defend itself from diseases. As you grow your business, you have to make sure that you cover all bases and fill in all the gaps to keep your venture from threats and other unforeseen circumstances. Quality control, proactive plans, and other security measures help protect your business from unfavourable situations.

Vitamin K for blood coagulation

Broccoli, spinach and other green vegetables are rich in Vitamin K that supports blood coagulation. Without it, your body may suffer internal bleeding. Your assets and resources, including your people, are like the bloodline of your enterprise. To keep them intact, you have to continually build your internal and external relations and have regular monitoring and evaluation to ensure its improvement and development.

As the calendar year ends, take a good look of your business and find any deficiency that needs to be addressed. Build up your strengths, address your weaknesses, and plan on how you can take advantage of opportunities and protect your venture from threats. Know what kind of vitamins your organisation needs to aid its growth and progress.

Accounting tips for your business

Keeping up with your finances is always a major hurdle when it comes to managing your venture. Accounting is a key element that you must carefully pay attention to when running a business. Being conscious of your cash flow is important given that so much investment goes to setting up and maintaining your business, whether it is self-funded or financed by investors. Moreover, it is the lifeblood of your enterprise, which is why you need to go over your books even if you are not good with numbers or merely not fond of them.

For startups and those scaling up, here are a few tips you can note to help you manage your accounts.

1.       Have a proficient accounting software and system in place

An accounting system allows you to track, keep and organise your records. You can also automate your methods and incorporate this to your system. Fine-tune your methods and procedures to put in place a proper order of how things should be done and ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

You can choose from any of the accounting software available for businesses. Take a look at the one that is most suitable for your operations and install it in your devices. Have yourself and your team trained on the proper way of using the software to make it more efficient and fast in implementing the system in your day-to-day activities.

2.       Familiarise yourself with the basics of accounting

When starting out, business owners usually do everything by themselves. However, whether you have to personally do the recording of your finances or have someone do it for you, it is still advisable that you know the fundamentals of accounting. It also makes it easy for you to understand the numbers and interpret them. That way, you know when something’s amiss or when you need to pay more attention to a certain part of the business.

3.       Hire a dedicated person to do your accounting needs

Being on your own at the initial stage of your venture is not an uncommon situation for entrepreneurs. But as you go along your journey, you may realise that there is a need to have another person do your accounting work. Whether it’s a full-time staff or a third-party contractor, you need to delegate the finance job to a particular person or team because it will take too much time and effort to constantly do it. In addition, it needs do be done in a detailed and meticulous way to make sure that records are accurate and regularly updated.

4.       Document and record transactions

Always keep and file your receipts and financial documents. It is needed for auditing purposes. Plus, it is also to your benefit and future reference when everything is put in black and white. Better to digitalise your files and save them on your computer so you can store them without taking up too much physical space. Don’t forget to back up your files and keep multiple copies. On another note, be conscious of tax requirements and deadlines and make sure you comply with them. A clean record of your finances will be helpful for auditing and tax filing.

5.       Segregate expenses

Even when you are starting out small, always separate your personal from your business expenses. As you expand, make sure that you segregate budget and expenses per project or department. This also makes it easy for you to track money that comes in and out of your business.

6.       Do regular financial check-ups and reporting

Filing, monitoring and reporting financial transactions are tedious work. However, they come in handy when you maintain a rhythm. Reporting allows you to be conscious of your current financial status. You learn from previous data, which you can use when you plan your future and forecast your earnings. Regular accounting check-ups contribute to the financial health of your company.

When in doubt or when problems come your way, always consult an expert. You can refer to certified accountants and fellow entrepreneurs regarding efficient accounting procedures and systems that can help your business grow. Observe good financial practices to avoid drawbacks that you may encounter in your entrepreneurial journey. Accounting is a serious matter because the numbers you see in your

Business notes from playing musical instruments

Several studies and researches have shown the effect of music on the brain, including how it stimulates the mind, improves memory and reduces stress. Music can also be a powerful factor in honing the skills and creativity of entrepreneurs. Picking up an instrument and learning to play it will not only make a great hobby but it can also bring a lot of benefits to one’s wellbeing, as well as insights that you can apply to your entrepreneurial journey.

If you are considering learning how to play a musical instrument, you can choose from the various types: percussions, such as drums, chimes or xylophones; brass instruments, such as trumpet, bugle or trombone; strings, such as guitar, violin or harp; keyboards, such as piano, organ or accordion; woodwind, such as flute, clarinet or oboe; or electric musical instruments.

While you enjoy creating music through these devices, don’t forget to bring home some business lessons that you can draw from these musical tools.

Listen and observe well to learn well

Listening is not just about hearing the sounds by ear. It also involves sensing others through one’s mind and heart. Music is best interpreted when it is played with feelings. Techniques and methods can be acquired if you pay close attention to how your teacher and experts do it. In the business sense, it entails observing and understanding the market, your team and the industry flow. You can base your decisions on how your customers, consumers or clients react to your brand, products and services.

Know the theories but don’t be afraid to be creative

Music has measures, rules and fundamentals. But you can also create art out of it. In most cases, music shapes culture or is shaped by culture. And as society evolves, music also innovates. It is advantageous for a musician to learn the basic theories of music as much as it is beneficial for an entrepreneur to be knowledgeable of the rudimentary of business and trade. Still, putting in your persona into your craft will even make your music or business more relatable and relevant to others. Do not hesitate to be creative and shape your venture according to how you visualise it to be.

Train and practice to hone your skills

Experience is said to be the best teacher. There is no better way to improve your skills, may it be in music or entrepreneurship, than to keep practising and applying the learnings you obtained during your training. Sometimes you commit mistakes, but that is how you learn most. It sticks to your mind which ones you should avoid in the future and which ones you must retain. As you keep on practising the skills required of the craft, you also develop certain habits that can lead to your mastering the field. Continue honing your capabilities until it becomes second nature to you to do the things you need to do.

The fruits are not only for yourself but also for others

Playing an instrument produces music that you can enjoy by yourself. But it can also be shared with others and give them a warm feeling. You build your business not only to benefit yourself and your family or loved ones but also to serve those whose needs are addressed by your product or service. You provide a particular solution to a demand, which is why people patronise your brand. When your audience or customers enjoy the value you give them, they will most probably show their loyalty to you.  

Harmony is key in group work

You may be able to play an instrument by yourself, but it is even more beautiful when you play it with a band. The music becomes more alive and magnificent when you harmonise with other players in the group. The same thing goes for entrepreneurs. You may be able to start by yourself. However, if you want to grow and expand your services, you need a team to work with you. When this moment comes, you have to do things with harmony where everyone is on the same page and direction to lead you towards your goals.

There may be more insights you can get from learning to play a musical instrument. As you let your hands and body become one with your musical tool, don’t forget to be in the moment and enjoy the experience. Let the songs get into your mind, heart and soul and extend the warmth to your business. The entrepreneurial journey will be more pleasant when you accompany it with the joy of making music.

Tips on how to become a good public speaker

When you achieve a certain level of success as an entrepreneur, one of the things you’ll receive are invitations to speak to a group and share your entrepreneurial journey with them. While there are some that feel right at home on stage and under the spotlight, there are those that find it daunting to face and talk to an audience, especially a large one.

Stage fright or the fear of public speaking can often hinder one to share valuable insights. If your fear is to mess it up and not deliver your message right, then there are a few things you can do to develop yourself to become a good public speaker.

Preparing for a speaking engagement

Preparation is key to hone your craft in public speaking. And you have to prepare yourself mentally, physically and emotionally even when you don’t have any scheduled engagement in place. You have to keep a mindset of being always prepared in case something comes up and you need to take the podium and the microphone. Here are things you can do before or when you are preparing yourself for a public speech.

Watch videos of speakers. During your spare time, learn how the experts do it by watching videos of them like the ones in TED Talks and similar materials, many of which you can access online. Note what makes them effective speakers and observe the various methods they employ to capture their audience.

Don’t memorise, but outline your thoughts. When you plan what to present and how you will go over your topic, organise your ideas through an outline. It’s more advisable NOT to memorise your entire speech as you might make a mistake along the way and affect your entire presentation. Rather, keep in mind the flow of ideas by familiarizing yourself with the outline. Of course, this goes without saying that you should know the type of audience you have beforehand so that you can adjust your presentation and tailor-fit it to them. Prepare your notes in bullet points using keywords or keyphrases so it’s easier to remember.

Inject anecdotes and personal stories. The audience loves it when you share a part of yourself. While you may present facts and figures during your presentation, it makes your speech more engaging through personal experiences. It strengthens your connection with the audience, especially if they can relate to your story. It adds a human element to your speech. You can also include powerful quotes from famous people, but don’t overdo it.

Practice in front of a mirror. If you really want to hone your speaking skills, you have to practice a lot even when you don’t have a speaking engagement coming up. Practice in front of your family or friends and do it also in front of the mirror. You will find excess gestures or habits or facial expressions that you need to control when you speak in front of a crowd.

Record your speeches and practice sessions. When you speak before a group, record your presentation and watch closely the things you need to limit and avoid next time. Probably, you stammer or you talk too fast. Maybe your face stays stoic the whole time or you talk on a monotone. Make a mental note of what you can stop, continue and improve doing when you deliver a message to an audience.  

During the speech

The crucial moment is when you’re on stage and holding the microphone. If you’re not careful and you allow your nerves to get the better of you, you might experience a mental block or freeze on the spot. First, remember to breathe. Focus on your breathing until your nervousness goes away and you become calm. Then go ahead and start your talk.

Pause and talk slowly. Don’t rush. While you are mindful of the time element, deliver your speech rightfully. You can change your pace throughout your talk, pause for effect, enunciate words that you want to stress and repeat certain phrases that need to be highlighted.

Control your tones and gestures. Watch out for your hands. You might be overdoing some hand movements. Control them by putting your hands together in front of you in a relaxed manner and use them only when necessary. An enthusiastic tone can help gain the attention of your audience. You can lower your voice at certain portions and raise them up at important parts. The key is to have variations throughout your speech so as not to lose your audience.

Maintain eye contact and interact. Scan the crowd and look at people in the eyes when you talk. Public speaking is also a form of conversation, it’s just that you are talking to several receivers of your message. Make your presentation interactive by asking questions, engaging your audience or even making them repeat some phrases for emphasis. The eyes are the windows to the soul and looking directly to your audience allows you to show your sincerity, be sensitive to their feelings, and build confidence.

Maximize your space. You may have a large stage for your talk, a small platform or you may be seated on a couch. Get familiar with your space before your talk so that during the presentation proper, you can use it to your advantage. If it’s too large, walk around to involve all your audience in the conversation. However, if it’s just a platform, it’s an opportunity for you to be intimate with your listeners because you can walk nearer to them.

Leave a good closing statement. Make your ending memorable. Just like any good movie, doing a presentation also leads you to a climax and denouement. The finale must be impactful and powerful enough to cap your talk. That way, the audience will remember more about your speech and the pertinent points you raised.

So, get your notebook ready and start taking down notes. Go in front of the mirror and practice speaking. Hone your public speaking skills because it’s a tool you can use in inspiring and motivating others, sharing your story, building yourself and promoting your business. Once you have the confidence to hit the stage and the podium, you can now start accepting invitations for speaking engagements.

As American clergyman Alexander Gregg once said, “There are three things to aim at in public speaking: first, to get into your subject; then to get your subject into yourself; and lastly, to get your subject into the heart of your audience.”

20 Inspiring quotes from successful entrepreneurs

When the hardships of the entrepreneurial journey take a toll on you, you often need the power of words to encourage, uplift and inspire you to keep going. Some wise quotes from successful entrepreneurs who have been through it all can give you a little push to strive towards your goals. Their words can remind you how these business owners have triumphed in their respective challenges and adversities.

We compiled these quotes that you can hang on your workplace or office or put as a reminder for you whenever you encounter some setbacks along the way. These words can give you a push to motivate you when you feel down or discouraged. See which ones suit best for you in your present situation and reflect on how you can apply these sayings to action.

“Entrepreneur is someone who has a vision for something and a want to create.”
– David Karp, founder and CEO, Tumblr

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
– Steve Jobs, co-founder, Chairman Apple Inc.

"Passion, creativity, and resilience are the most crucial skills in business. If you’ve got those, you’re ready to embark on the journey." 

– Jo Malone, founder, Jo Malone

“Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve.” 

 – Mary Kay Ash, founder, Mary Kay Cosmetics

“When you find an idea that you just can’t stop thinking about, that’s probably a good one to pursue.” — Josh James, CEO and co-founder, Omniture

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”
– Walt Disney, founder, Disney

“My biggest motivation? Just to keep challenging myself. I see life almost like one long University education that I never had — every day I’m learning something new.”
– Richard Branson, founder, Virgin Group

“Always deliver more than expected.”
– Larry Page, co-founder, Google

“See things in the present, even if they are in the future.”

– Larry Ellison, co-founder, Oracle

“I knew that if I failed I wouldn’t regret that, but I knew the one thing I might regret is not trying.”
– Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO, Amazon

"You have to see failure as the beginning and the middle, but never entertain it as an end." 

– Jessica Herrin, founder and CEO, Stella & Dot

“Show me a person who never made a mistake, and I will show you a person who never did anything.”
– William Rosenberg, founder, Dunkin’ Donuts

“What do you need to start a business? Three simple things: know your product better than anyone, know your customer, and have a burning desire to succeed.”
– Dave Thomas, founder, Wendy’s

“Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.”

– Bill Gates, co-founder, Microsoft

"No matter how many customers you have, each is an individual. The day you start thinking of them as this amorphous ‘collection’ and stop thinking of them as people is the day you start going out of business." 

– Dharmesh Shah, co-Founder, HubSpot

"People are the most important thing. Business model and product will follow if you have the right people." 

– Adam Neumann, co-founder, WeWork

“The fastest way to change yourself is to hang out with people who are already the way you want to be.”
– Reid Hoffman, co-founder, LinkedIn

"Ignore the hype of the startups that you see in the press. Mostly, it’s a pack of lies. Half of these startups will be dead in a year. So, focus on building your business so you can be the one left standing."

– Jules Pieri, co-founder and CEO, The Grommet

“No more romanticizing about how cool it is to be an entrepreneur. It’s a struggle to save your company’s life – and your own skin – every day of the week.”

– Spencer Fry, co-founder, CarbonMade

 “So often people are working hard at the wrong thing. Working on the right thing is probably more important than working hard.”
– Caterina Fake, co-founder, Flickr

Later on, when you have carved a name for yourself not only within your industry, niche or territory but also to the global business world, in general, you may also be able to share words of wisdom that aspiring and budding entrepreneurs can take inspiration from. There is always a part of your entrepreneurial journey that can bring insightful lessons to others who may come after you.

Shaping your corporate culture

Corporate culture is an important facet in the success and longevity of a company. Similarly, if a corporate culture incites undesirable behaviours within its people, it may lead to the downfall of an organisation.

Culture is not something that is built overnight. It develops over time until it becomes a standard and comfort zone of a set of people. When it is ingrained deeply in their minds and conduct, it becomes an accepted norm. On the other hand, the wrong values or culture that become a regular practice in your organisation will be difficult to undo and change to how you want it to be.

Hence, it is vital that an entrepreneur shapes the corporate culture of his company in the onset. However, not all business owners may have this in mind when everything is just starting to roll, especially for those who spend the initial stage doing all the roles by themselves and employed people only a few years later. Before they know it, the establishment has grown and people have become absorbed to a particular mindset, psyche, belief, language, behaviour and interaction that may dictate to how things are perceived and done in the organisational space.

If you want your company to adapt to a particular corporate culture, there are a few things you need to do to shape it according to how you want it to be. It may yield far longer than you have anticipated, so you have to exercise patience, persistence and consistency to achieve the desired results.

1.       Determine the values you want to inculcate

Envision the kind of workplace and interaction you want to attain within your business. From that, identify the values that you want your company, brand and employees to have. You may want your business to be attributed as a fast, efficient and reliable one. It could be that you prefer a family-type of environment among your staff and with your clients. You may want to hype creativity within your group that others will associate you for your out-of-the-box ideas. Whatever it is, your vision of your work environment is essential in carrying out the specific tasks to introduce and build a particular culture in your organisation.

2.       Include in the policies

The good thing about being an entrepreneur as compared to working as an employee in a huge company is that you have a hand on how the work culture would be within your business. To reinforce your aim and turn your ideas into action, you will often need to put it into policy. For example, if you want punctuality as a culture within your venture, then you need to have HR guidelines on work hours, turn around time and activity timelines.

3.       Communicate and listen to your team

For you to be successful in shaping corporate culture, there has to be a buy-in from your staff and stakeholders. Keep mentioning about the kind of work environment you’d like to have during meetings whenever you give a pep talk to your team until it has become ingrained in their thoughts. Include this as an agenda in your regular huddles. Create an atmosphere of suggestion where your team can openly share their thoughts on the culture. If everyone agrees to it, emphasise it through reminders on your bulletin boards or in your various communication channels. You can introduce a culture or policy through a teambuilding activity, where you can hire a consultant to help you convey to your team the culture you have in mind.

4.       Hire according to the culture fit and skills set

The challenge often is when a new person comes in and it disrupts the current culture of the team. When hiring a new staff member, look into the candidate’s culture fit as much as you review the credentials and skills set that they may bring to the table. Once you have successfully selected the right person for the position, make sure to orient the new hire about your corporate culture to avoid misunderstanding or possible conflict in the future. They must know what they’re getting into and be committed to abiding by the rules and culture of your business.

5.       Validate right behaviour with rewards

To fortify actions that contribute to the corporate culture you want to build, validate them through a rewards system. As in the example above, if punctuality is something you want to be part of your culture, then include an award for employees who come to work early or do things without delay. When employees develop a good feeling towards something they have done, they will tend to continue with it or improve on it.

6.       Lead by example

The best way to entrench in the consciousness of your team about the kind of culture you want to have in your workplace is to live by example. Whatever they hear from you or read in employee manuals will be substantiated by your action. You cannot stress punctuality if you come late to work. Otherwise, it will cause some cracks in your organisation because people will no longer take your word seriously.

If you don’t know where or how to start shaping your corporate culture, seek counsel from a mentor or someone who has done it before. Remember that culture involves people and people are dynamic. Thus, culture may evolve or it may come out differently as to how you imagined it to be.

Stay focused on your vision, mission and values, which are the foundation of your corporate culture, and set your directions based on that. Conduct self-reflection and evaluate your work environment regularly. A positive and encouraging culture can bring happiness to you and your entire team, which can lead to a motivated staff that works with you in achieving your goals.

The importance of succession planning in business

It takes a lot of effort to plan, prepare, start, manage, sustain and grow a business. However, most ventures revolve around the business owner. If the entrepreneur does not have any business partner or family members involved and when unexpected things happen on the owner without any backup plan in place, all those hard work may go down the drain.

To ensure the continuity and growth of the business, especially when one wants to, later on, be on the business rather than be in it, putting together a succession plan won’t hurt and may even be beneficial to the entrepreneur. Having one doesn’t necessarily mean that you are leaving the business. Instead, it can help you focus on more important roles rather than taking on several responsibilities.

Ensures continuity and assures stakeholders

Creating a succession plan is a way of securing the continuity and future of your business. Whether you want to take on a different role, expand the business, start new ones or retire from the company, it will assure your investors, board, staff and clients that the company will continue to operate and carry on the vision and legacy it wants to create. It guarantees your stakeholders that there will be no void in the organisation should anything inevitable may happen to you or the business.

Motivates current employees and hones prospective leaders

Succession planning is usually done through internal movements in the organisation. Going that route can encourage your current employees to perform well in the hope that they will someday take on a higher position, which can be one of the positions you hold. You can evaluate members of your team who has the potential to take on bigger responsibilities. It will also hone prospective leaders within your team as you equip them with skills and qualities that are needed to fill in a leadership role in the business.

Fills in the gaps

When you put a succession plan in place, you may be able certain gaps in the organisation that you might not have seen before. It allows you to see things from a different perspective and gives you room to address what you may have missed before. When you look at possible candidates for an important post in your business, you tend to step back and look at things from a bird’s eye view and then you zoom in to the details, giving you the opportunity to think ahead of possible problems and come up with solutions or alternatives.

Provides opportunity for personal and business growth

Although most business leaders come up with a succession plan during the times when they intend to leave the organisation, it is not always the case. You may want to take on a board role rather than handling the day-to-day operations of your business. There may be instances when you want to start new businesses while maintaining the current one. Whatever circumstance you may have as a business owner, having a succession plan gives you more room to grow as an entrepreneur and expand your business.

If this is something that you are wanting to do in the future, it is good to discuss this with your HR and board so you can put a proper structure and system in place to get a succession plan going. But even before you draft a blueprint of your plan, you can first seek advice from mentors or other entrepreneurs who have done it before. Also, know the repercussions that may come with having that plan in your current setup. Nonetheless, it’s something you might have to face later on along your entrepreneurial journey.

Family bonding tips for busy entrepreneurs

Running a business of your own and providing quality time for the family are two priorities that many entrepreneurs try to balance in their lives. There are several schools of thoughts when it comes to juggling personal and business responsibilities. Likewise, every entrepreneur has a different approach to managing their time, based on what works best for them.

A family is a strong support system that can help business owners go through the demands and trials of the entrepreneurial journey. Correspondingly, when problems arise in the family, it can have an adverse effect on one’s well-being and of those around them. Thus, it is important to preserve the joy and unity in your family. Having a healthy relationship between couples is a strong foundation in good parenting and keeping the family together. Whether you have a young family or children that are on their teens or adolescence, having a connection with them is significant in the growth of the relationship.

Understanding the importance of family, entrepreneurs find ways to nourish and cultivate it. Some business owners may have the intention of putting a focus on their family but don’t know where to start. Remember that there is no clear-cut formula to family success because one method may work for one and not on another. Nonetheless, there are a few suggestions that you can do to deepen your relationship with your family members.

Dine together

Doing a family bonding activity does not need to be extravagant. Simple joys like breaking bread or sharing delectable food may already bring you together. The most common activity that a family share is having meals. The key factor is that you have to put family matters in your schedule as much as you do for your meetings and business transactions.

Whether you spend it at home every night or you go out to a restaurant on a weekend, eating together is a form of fellowship. Avoid using your gadgets when you’re gathered around the dinner table. Appropriate this time to converse with each other and take an interest in the lives of one another. Have one-on-one dates with your partner and with each of your kids and allot a group date where all family members can be present.

Help out in studies or do family projects

Children look up to their parents to guide them in their works. You and your spouse can schedule who will help out the kids on their school work. Better yet, do a project where the family can all partake in that endeavour. Clean the garage, landscape your garden, wash the pets or cook a meal – do something that everyone will enjoy.

Travel or take a vacation

Sometimes you really need some time off from work to relax and spend special moments with your spouse and children. Travelling can bring out the best and worst in you and your companions. But it’s also a way to get to know each other better and find means to adjust to each one’s personality. Take a vacation where memories can last for a long time. Go fishing or camping. Whatever you want to do or wherever your destination may be, make sure that you agree and plan your vacation as a family. Otherwise, if you do it all by yourself, you might end up satisfying only yourself and neglecting the preferences of other family members.

Indulge in sports or hobbies or shared interests

If you are an active family, it’s good to sweat it out over a ball game or a sport you all love doing. It could be that you are a family that enjoys doing puzzles or making beautiful arts and crafts. You probably have the heart to be involved in charity works where you, as a family, can help other families or vulnerable sectors in society. Find your shared interest and work on that to bond with each other. Doing such will also contribute to the personal development of every family member.

Involve them in your entrepreneurial journey

Because the entrepreneurial journey is full of highs and lows, it is best that your partner and children understand it as well. The good thing with EO is that the forum experience can be extended to your spouse or partner as well as to your children that are 16 to 30 years old. They can share their experiences and concerns with other spouses or other children of entrepreneurs. Whether they are interested to be involved in your business or not, taking those who are important to you in your entrepreneurial journey will allow you to walk together towards success.

All in all, discuss with your partner and children how you can nurture the love and care within the family. Despite your busy schedules, find time for each other and cherish the presence of one another. Help each other in your individual undertakings and bring out the best of every family member. When you reach your goals with your loved ones by your side, success becomes even more meaningful and fulfilling.

10 Books by Women Business Leaders

The business space is no longer just a man’s world. Many women entrepreneurs have already entered the scene, although the path is still a challenging one. There are those who have paved the way can guide other women who are contemplating going through the entrepreneurial journey.

Apart from encountering gender bias in their respective industries, women also have to juggle various responsibilities, such as homemaking, parenting and running a business. Good thing there are resources available where you can gather insights from female business leaders on how to brave the business world. We have listed 10 books by women leaders in the business field where you can take inspiration from and help you chart your own path.

Shark Tales: How I Turned $1,000 Into a Billion Dollar Business 

by Barbara Corcoran - Founder, The Corcoran Group

At 23, Barabara already worked in 20 or more jobs. Borrowing $1,000 from her boyfriend then, she left her waitressing post and founded a real estate firm in New York City. The rest, as they say, is history. But the part between establishing her real estate company and growing it into a billion-dollar business is what most people are curious about. Her book is the key to finding that phase of her career that catapulted her to a Shark Tank star. She turned the lessons she gathered from her mother into strategies, adding common sense, determination and creativity into the equation.

She Means Business: Turn Your Ideas into Reality and Become a Wildly Successful Entrepreneur

by Carrie Green - Founder, Female Entrepreneur Association

Carrie’s foray into entrepreneurship was an arduous and lonely one when she began her first online business at a young age. To connect with other women and to support each other through inspiring stories and business trips, she formed the Female Entrepreneur Association. She also came up with a digital magazine, She Means Business, which is of the same title of her book. Carrie shares her experience through her book and provides some tips and exercises to hone your entrepreneurial mind.

I Thought it Was Just Me: Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame

by Brené Brown - CEO, The Daring Way

Female business leaders can pick a lot of inspiring thoughts and nuggets of wisdom from this book by Brené Brown, a University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work research professor and TED Talks speaker. Her in-depth studies and research enabled Brené to establish The Daring Way, a training and certification program for helping professionals, and write several books, including I Thought it Was Just Me. The book tackles the effects of shame on women and how women can transform these into courage, compassion and connection.

Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder

by Arianna Huffington - Founder, The Huffington Post

People may know Arianna as the name behind The Huffington Post and the Founder and CEO of Thrive Global, yet there is more to her than meets the eye. Regarded as one of the world’s most powerful women, Arianna shares her personal realisations on how the drive for power and money can hold us up temporarily through her book, Thrive. She emphasizes the need for a third metric to redefining success, which is living a life of well-being, wisdom, and wonder.

In the Company of Women: Inspiration and Advice from Over 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs

by Grace Bonney - Founder, Design*Sponge

Here’s a book where you will find 100 stories of female entrepreneurs and how they faced various challenges. Design*Sponge founder Grace Bonney has been featuring the creative community and the people behind the designs. Through her encounters of women that embrace the entrepreneurial spirit, she came up with the book, In the Company of Women, which is a rich repository of inspiration from women of diverse background and how they brave the challenges of setting up their own creative businesses.

Girl Code: Unlocking Secrets to Success, Sanity, and Happiness for the Female Entrepreneur

by Cara Alwill Leyba - Creator, Dagmar Rose Vintage and The Champagne Diet

Cara has transformed her passion for fashion and writing into a business, and she has inspired many people through her designs, books, podcasts and workshops. Her book Girl Code is like a blueprint for female entrepreneurs as she shares her stories and life lessons. The book also has practical workbook sections that can help readers reflect on themselves and transform their lives.   

WorkParty: How to Create & Cultivate the Career of Your Dreams 

by Jaclyn Johnson - CEO, Create & Cultivate

Embodying the name of her business, Jaclyn has been at the forefront of women empowerment, encouraging them to create and cultivate their ideas to make a mark for themselves. At 28, she already sold her first business and opened her second company, Create & Cultivate, which is a multi-million dollar business. Apart from that, she invests in startups owned by women. Her book reveals the roller-coaster ride that is her entrepreneurial journey and features other female entrepreneurs who have also overcome adversities in their respective journey.

Body and Soul: Profits With Principles 

by Anita Roddick - Founder, The Body Shop​

Anita founded the global beauty brand, The Body Shop, where she had merged her advocacy for environmental consciousness and ethical consumerism into the products. She has left a legacy, not only for her business but for her activism and philanthropic works. She penned Body and Soul, the story of how she founded The Body Shop and brought it to success, along with her views and stands on various social issues.

#GIRLBOSS 

by Sophia Amoruso​ – Founder, Nasty Gal and Girlboss Media

Named by Forbes as one of the world’s richest self-made women, Sophia went against all odds, did several jobs and created an online eBay store that led to the establishment of Nasty Gal. Later on, she filed for bankruptcy and established Girlboss Media. Sophia realised she’s different, given her problematic background, so she wrote #GIRLBOSS for women like her and how they can still get on track on the road to success.

Broken Open 

by Elizabeth Lesser – Co-Founder, Omega Institute

Elizabeth has been involved in various environmental and social causes. She co-founded Omega Institute, which has been providing training and workshops on various fields and topics, including spirituality, personal growth and women’s empowerment. Her work, Broken Open, has a mix of stories, anecdotes, insights and other tools to guide those who are at the crossroads of their lives to make the right choices amidst the difficulties.

Both male and female entrepreneurs can learn from the writings of these women business leaders. Take inspiration from their experiences and bring the lessons from their entrepreneurial journey to your personal and business growth. Use these as your guide as you move forward towards your goals.

Designing an effective packaging material

A good product should go hand-in-hand with effective packaging. It’s such a waste if you have poured so much effort to come up with high-quality items only to fail just because the packaging has not been well-thought-of or the design is not properly executed.

When supermarket or store shelves are filled with different brands, the most efficient packaging is the one that will attract consumers the most. The sad reality is that people will only judge your product once they have unboxed or tried it. If you have a new product or one that they have not yet used before, they can only rely on your wrapping or container to make their purchasing decision.

If you are in the stage of conceptualizing your product’s package, these are a few things you have to consider for an effective design.

Catches the eye of the buyer

The appearance of your box or packet can be appealing without having to be too loud. It can be simple, yet attractive; colourful, yet do not have too many elements. If it’s also iconic, consumers may be drawn to it. Make your design different from the rest. Don’t be afraid to break conventions and dare to go against the norm. It may be a huge risk. Nonetheless, it is a risk worth taking if your disruption is the key to introduce a breakthrough and encourage buyers to pick your product.

Conveys clear messaging

Be direct and straightforward in your messaging, whether it’s your design elements or copy. It must not confuse your consumers and must portray what is close to reality. Be honest in your overall design because whatever you claim on your package can be verified by customers when they purchase your item. Any exaggeration or false claims can backfire on your brand. Don’t forget to include clear instructions and other necessary information on your product cover.

Embodies your brand

When you are at the drawing board creating your design, you don’t have to look further as to where to get your inspiration. Simply look at your brand elements and translate them to your packaging. They include your logo, font, colour and other features of your company or product. Moreover, whatever you put on your wrapping must embody the image of your brand.

Resonates to your audience

How you design your product’s container or packet must also connect to your audience. It has to be practical and useful to them, apart from being attractive and appealing. Functionality is an important factor in the decision-making process of buyers. If it’s environment-friendly or if it helps the community, it’s definitely a plus point. Thus, it is helpful to test your packaging and do constant research to make it resonate to your audience.

Discuss with your team your packaging design and see how effective it will be to capture and retain your clientele’s attention. You can also test your design vis-à-vis your competitors. Also, look into your income and profit to see how your sales are doing and how your package contributes to the bottom line. Take into consideration the cost of your containers or packet that it will not cause a dent on your pricing.

Short office exercises for busy people

When your day is spent sitting in front of your computer, and the only break you get is attending meetings left and right, your body slacks off, while it absorbs all the tension at work. With so many tasks, responsibilities and people vying for your attention, you may inadvertently skip your gym sessions or never be able to fit exercise in your busy schedule.

The danger this poses is that the pressure of running a business and the lack of activity by your body may lead to certain illnesses or harm to your health. If you can barely leave the confines of your office due to piles of workload, you can try some short exercises within your workstation that can help circulate your blood, ease the strain on your muscles and clear your mind.

You may exercise a part of your body every hour or so, if time and space are limited. Below are some recommended activities for various parts of the body that you can do in your office or work area.

Neck and shoulders

Some exercises you can do are neck stretch, neck twist, head roll, shoulder shrug, and shoulder roll. Bring your head from side to side, whether by stretching your neck or twisting it left to right and vice versa. Do head rolls by putting your chin towards your chest and rolling your head clockwise and counterclockwise. If you have neck pains, you can do shoulder shrugs standing up, with an option to doing it with weights. For shoulder pains, do shoulder rolls forward, down, back, up and reverse direction.

Arms and hands

Spending your time tapping on your keyboard and using your mouse the whole day can cause strain on your arms, wrists and fingers. Hand flaps, arm circles, wrist stretches, hand stretches, water bottle weights, chair dips and chair plank can work out your hands and arms. Shake your hands and arms every now and then. To relieve your hand of discomfort, extend one hand in front of you with the fingers pointing upward and palm facing away. Using the other hand, pull your fingers towards you and hold it for 5 to 10 seconds. Do the same with the other hand

Torso, core and back

Prolonged seating and slouching often lead to back pains and poor posture that constricts nerves and blood vessels. Dong abdominal, long spinal and lower back stretches, chest openers, wall sits, crunches, and waist rotations can help restore alignments and eliminate backaches. One exercise you can perform on your seat is sitting upright with feet firmly flat on the ground and legs spread apart, then slowly bending forward, sliding your hands from your legs to your feet until they touch the floor. With your hands between your feet, press your fingers and your palm flat on the floor (or as far as you can reach) and hold for 30 seconds.

Hips, glutes and feet

Spending a sedentary day bound on your chair can be more damaging than relaxing. It is best that you move your glutes, legs, feet and hips every so often to exercise your muscles in the lower body. Suggested movements include seated hip stretch, inner thigh stretch, leg planks, food drill, chair squats, calf raises and toe raises. Even while working you can simply stand beside your desk or chair and raise your heels while keeping your toes on the floor, which you can do repeatedly.

The better options are to walk around your office, take the stairs, and go outside and walk a block for a few minutes. The best way still is to hit the gym or enrol in a fitness program. You can be focused on your business without sacrificing your health. These small exercises may be the beginning of your road to health and wellness.