Common IT Mistakes Your Business Should Watch Out For

Businesses are very complex machines, much like servers and computers. They feature a variety of different components to be successful, but perhaps none more important than IT. Especially with all the recent advancements in technology, it’s more important than ever to have an IT team that’s not only experienced and skilled, but also armed with the most recent, cutting edge technology.

IT Guy

Image Credit: Seeweb/Flickr

However, with an IT teams’ growing role in business, there’s a greater chance that things could go wrong or get forgotten. While making mistakes in other areas of your business might be minor, mistakes in IT can be very costly.…

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Supporting Employees through Financial Difficulties

While many of us still think that people who are working can’t really get into financial difficulties, it’s no longer the case. Employed people are just as likely as the unemployed to be struggling with personal debt, especially as wage rises aren’t keeping up with inflation now.

Facing financial trouble

The average amount of personal debt in the UK is £30,000 and in the US it’s $140,000. While for some this may be manageable, for others it’s an all-consuming nightmare than affects their home and work life.

Employers have a duty of care to employees here

You may, as an employer, believe that it’s not your problem if an employee is struggling in this way, but it is, at least partly.…

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6 Ways to Spend Your Business Loans

Before searching for lenders for your business loan, you need to first understand what you will use this money on. While a large cash lump sum may seem like just what your business needs, you need to approach your loan with caution. Without a proper plan on how you will use these funds you could suffer from irresponsible or even accidental overspending.

what to spend business loans on?

Business loans can help in every facet of your business from inventory to payroll and even helping your business with its prior debt. When thinking about how much capital you will need from your business loan take into consideration these seven ways you could put it to great use.…

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Diversity In The Workplace And Its Effect On Well-Being

It is safe to say that whether recruiters are convinced by the argument for equality or not, there is a tangible effect a diverse workforce has on the well-being of the workplace in general and the individuals it comprises. In fact, in purely business terms, research from McKinsey have found that diverse businesses deliver 35% better results than non-diverse business.

workplace diversity

A diverse working environment promotes acceptance, respect and teamwork, despite differences in race, age, gender, native language, political beliefs, religion, sexual orientation or communication styles among employees.

Effort is required to get it right.

It takes a deliberate effort to achieve a diverse workforce, given the landscape of the workforce and the availability of labour.…

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5 Surprising Ways to Deal with Difficult People

It is not very easy to deal with difficult people, that’s for sure. Let’s imagine the next situation. Your boss instructed you to head your team of four, organize a meeting, plan a product launch, and “ensure that it is 100% successful.” You and two of the team members are easygoing, but the other one is problematic. In fact, they’re such difficult people that they are hard to deal with.

tips to deal with difficult people

For one thing, in fact, they do not have any ideas on how to make this project flawless. For another, they do not agree with your options and are ready to contest everything that you offer.…

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6 Tips to Create Your Own Zen Room

In this day and age, we’re constantly on the go and trying to keep up with our jobs, relationships, health and more. Technological advances also mean that we’re always connected on our smartphones, computers, tablets etc. With such a busy lifestyle, it’s important that we have a space for ourselves where we can just relax, unwind and disconnect.

Tips to create a zen room

Below, we offer 6 tips to create your own Zen room – a restful, serene and restorative space just for you.

1. Select Natural and Light Fabrics

One of the most basic foundations of a Zen room is utilizing natural and light fabrics that are also comfortable.…

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Virtual Reality 101: What You Should Know About VR Technology

Virtual reality is a computer-created environment that allows a user to experience an alternate reality. Just like the Hollywood blockbuster “The Matrix,” science fiction has glamorized the idea of VR in countless novels and movies. The idea of ‘plugging-in’ to a different world has always been coveted, glamorized, and marveled at by tech geeks across the globe. Today, VR technology turns imagination into reality.

Wearing VR headset

By immersing yourself in a VR headset, you can tour places you only see in your wildest dreams. Virtually hike Mt. Everest, fly over oceans with a bird’s eyes view, and navigate any digital landscape that’s been designed for VR.…

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How to Combat Loneliness As a Solopreneur

When you first decide to strike it out on your own in the small business world, the excitement of starting your business can quickly fizzle into burnout. Everyone talks about the joys of maintaining your own schedule as an entrepreneur, but not many discuss the loneliness that can settle in fast. And if you’re a solopreneur dealing with the everyday loneliness of working alone, you’re not the only one.

How to combat loneliness as a solopreneur

To help you get through those days where being on your own doesn’t feel as exciting as it used to, we talked to entrepreneurs, freelancers, and therapists about the strategies you can use to avoid loneliness in your solopreneur career.…

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Small Business Spotlight: Texas (Infographic)

Small businesses dominate the landscape in Texas. Though most things are larger here, this isn’t true for entrepreneurs. Over 99 percent of businesses in the state are classified as small businesses. This includes over 2.2 million nonemployers and more than 791,000 small businesses hiring between 1 and 499 employees.

Texas lone star print

The state of small business in Texas is extremely favorable for entrepreneurs, particularly women. Over 28 percent of small businesses are owned by women in the state, and 19 percent are owned equally by men and women. This gives Texas the second-highest number of women-owned businesses in the country.

If you’re ready to start a business in Texas, there are several key things to consider.…

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Tips to Use Angie’s List for Contractors and Small Businesses

Angie’s List was started in 1995, and the company has grown into a trusted service for consumers to judge the trustworthiness of contractors. Geared towards home services, Angie’s List can be used as a lead generation tool for small businesses.

Angies List HQ

But how can contractors and small businesses better use the site to generate leads?

1. Advertise on the Site

Angie’s List makes money from advertising, and they have salesmen that will talk to you about your service category. Keep in mind that these salesmen need to make the sale to earn their commission, so you’re in control.

But the salesperson will try to pressure you into a sale with:

  • Rate increase threats
  • Deadlines

Don’t worry – these are all empty sales tactics.…

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