Category Archives: Work/Life Issues

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The Essentials Of Being A Corporate Dad From Home

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A lot of people might think that it would be difficult to start up a business when you’ve got a full family life. They’re not wrong. But some things are worth going through hardship for. Starting a business and being in control of your own ability to make money is part of that. So if you’re becoming a corporate dad from home, you need to make sure you do it right.

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Photo sourced by Unsplash

Setting up an office

You might imagine that one of the perks of working from home is being able to do in bed in your underwear. The allure quickly wears off when you realise both how uncomfortable and unproductive it is. You need to list your needs and create an actual office out of them. Even if it’s just a corner of the room, you need a real space where you can focus on writing. Keep yourself supplied and organised.

Building real presence

If you’re starting a business, you can’t make do with just a Facebook or LinkedIn profile. People need to be able to find you and see what you’re all about. That means setting up your own website. There are tools like Squarespace that can easily help you create a site that truly looks professional. However, you shouldn’t use a generic web address hosted on another site. Completing that professional look means hunting for a fitting web address through services like PAC Web Hosting. You need your own server and your own address. Make sure the address is easy to memorize, too.

Building real visibility

The site is just one arm of how you’re going to build the visibility of your business and your ‘brand’ as a businessman. One of the most effective ways of showing that you really know what you’re talking about is by writing about it. Content marketing can be a way of delivering content that informs and educates readers. You can even slip in a few offers that big up your own business while you’re at it. When you’re building your website, seriously consider attaching a blog to it. The better your content, the more people it will attract to your business site.

Finding your balance

When you start a business, it can be easy to get a little over excited. To get all gung-ho and throw all your time into it. However, you need to make sure you don’t overwork yourself. First, it’s not good for your health or your family. Secondly, it can really damage your long-term motivation with the business. Get the ball rolling, yes, but take it easy and make sure you’re setting boundaries. You need ‘in-office’ hours even when you’re at home. Similarly, you need to make sure your family respects your office space when you’re ‘in-office’. You can’t be dealing with distractions every two minutes.

These steps are only the beginning of starting to grow a home-based business. From here on out, it’s about marketing and networking, as well as delivering the best services you can. There’s nothing to stop you from starting a truly successful business from home. Go out there and get ‘em.

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Make Your Life Work For You: Keeping A Balance Between Work Life And Home Life

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Work Life Balance

 

Are you running a business? When it comes to running an organization, it’s a full-time job, especially businesses that are new. Trying to get your dream project off the ground from nothing into a fully functional organization is stressful. There could be working weeks of 60 hours or more. In addition to this, the sleepless nights and the worries they are linked with it could consume a lot more time than you think it might. And did you stop to think about how it is affecting your home life? You might have missed school recitals, birthdays or important anniversaries. So what is the best way to take back the work-life balance that you so desperately need?

 

Understand When You Work Best!

By this I mean what time of day are you most functional. If you’re running a business you need to make sure that you are doing all the tasks the best you can. A lot of people find that they function better in the morning, so if that is the case then take on the more difficult tasks at a time of day. Understanding your energy levels will help you prepare better for your work day. So the inevitable mid-afternoon energy slump can be factored into your day so you can do the most mundane tasks at that point as they don’t require as much attention as applying for a business loan. Companies such as Frosch Learning can assist when it comes to helping you understand your working practices better.

 

Leaving The Work Phone In Work!

This might be the most difficult one for many business owners. As we are so reliant on checking our phones then leaving the phone and the laptop in the office will do you good! Set up an answer phone message or an out of office email. Then you can enjoy time away from the office. It will go a long way to help maintain the boundaries between work and home life.

 

Go Far Away!

In running a business, if you can’t be sure the company will survive without you being there then you need to delegate duties to other members of staff. Sometimes the only way to test if the business will survive is for you to go far away. It may cause you a bout of separation anxiety. But getting away for a period of time will help you gain a new perspective on the organization while also reducing your duties.

 

Stress and sleep.

Stress and sleep.

Image from Flickr

Relax!

Those that run businesses have difficulty in switching off and it’s not surprising when we all have difficulty in switching off at night. Smartphones and tablets are contributing to increased stress due to the blue light being emitted from the devices,  which causes problems with our circadian rhythm and so contribute to a lack of quality sleep, which leaves this feeling stressed or anxious or makes us take up habits that are not good for our health. We all have different triggers when it comes to stress so understanding what those triggers are for you will be a good way for you to overcome them. Finding a pursuit that relaxes you, such as meditation or yoga or spending time relaxing with your family will go some way to reverse damage from stress.

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A Kindness out of the Blue

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Sometimes, if you pay attention, you may see an act of kindness, just out of the blue. I was witness to such an act and, while I couldn’t help, I was able to compliment the one who did.

Yesterday, I was running an errand and found myself stuck in traffic on a busy street. As I was waiting for the cars to move, I spotted a homeless man across the street. He had a red shopping cart with his items inside. As I slowly crept along with the other cars, I noticed the man was attempting to cross a smaller street. He had started down one of those ramps built into the sidewalk corner to assist the handicapped. There was some kind of grill at the bottom and the wheels of the man’s shopping cart got caught in them and the cart tipped over.

He tried to right the cart but was having a lot of trouble and, seeing this, I wanted to help him but couldn’t.

That was when I saw a young woman walking towards him. She may not even have noticed him at first as I could see she just happened to be walking in his direction. Well, instead of just walking by him, she stopped and took off the pack she was wearing, and helped him right the cart and put his things back into it. She never hesitated once, not even to handle his cart to right it and not even to grab his items and put them back into the cart. It was spontaneous and there was no “gingerly” motions on her part. There was none of that, “Ewww, I don’t really want to handle this homeless man’s cart because of …” showing on her face or in her actions to help, the way there would have been in so many of us. She just grabbed the handle of the cart and helped to right it without hesitation. Once she was done, I saw the man thank her heartily and they both went on their ways.

Well, I was touched by this and really wanted to compliment her on what she did. I saw that she was walking in the same direction as the traffic I was in, and, due to a change in the configuration of the street to a one way section, I was now on the same side of the street as she was with the sidewalk on my driver’s side. As traffic was slowing, I lowered my window and told her it was nice of her to do what she’d done. She smiled when I said this so I know she knew what I was talking about.

It was an unhesitating act of kindness and it impressed me, as it should all of us.

Be kind!

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Take That Vacation!

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You may have noticed no posts in May until now. Reason? I was preparing for and taking my vacation. I had a great time and I’m glad I took the time off.

And I advise you to do the same. So many of us put it off and in fact, most people don’t take all of their vacation days each year. That’s time that can never be gotten back. Time that could have been used to recharge, get in touch with family or friends that you haven’t seen in a while, to see something or somewhere new, or to rediscover your own world you live in every day but don’t really see.

Why is this? Many people think they don’t have time or there’s too much work to do, others couldn’t get along without them, etc.

But, in reality, there is always too much work to do, and there will be after you leave, others can get along without you for a short time, and, if you really want to, you can make time.

Really. Put aside your biases and worries and think about it and you’ll see this is doable.

I’ve written other posts regarding some aspects of this, including the example of the man who kept putting off visiting a relative he really liked, because of his job and the idea that there was too much work to do. That favorite relative died and the man regrets not making the time.

And no one on their deathbed has ever said that they regretted not putting in more time at the office.

Also, vacations, even small ones, have a recharging effect, which can make you more effective as a worker and as a person as it helps avoid burnout.

So, go ahead and take that vacation!

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More Than Meets The Eye

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You walk into a McDonald’s, order a burger and fries and get it quickly, or you go into a hardware store, find the part you need, and buy it and leave. It all seems so simple, right?

Many people think the business has these items or services and rakes in the money and that it’s easy and simple. But, in reality, there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes of just about any business you patronize, no matter how small.

I’ve certainly come to see this with my job at a radiator shop. It’s not just repairing and selling radiators. Parts have to be kept on hand, which means having them warehoused on site, stock has to be kept up, which means ordering new items from time to time. Add to this, moving items from stores that are overstocked to stores that need more of any item. In addition, there is a need for parts of radiators that need to be ordered and kept track of. Then, the shop also needs to have other services related to the repair of radiators and related items, so the shop does business with other service vendors as well.

Then, there are peripheral items which are just as important, such as items needed for the repair and upkeep of the tools and machines and vehicles that the shop uses. These can range from gloves and goggles for the welders, new blades for various saws and cutting equipment, lubricants and paints, and delivery of chemicals, fuels, and supplies needed daily. This also includes that item virtually all businesses use, paper.

Now, if you go to an eating place, you’ll likely see the cooking staff working, especially if it is a fast food place. But even here, you don’t see everything, especially the management of supplies and services provided by outside vendors, many of which are as important as the food they serve you.

When we are the customer, it’s easy to forget that all those other businesses and the clerks and employees you deal with, have as much complication as you do, and that there’s a lot more to a business than just the facade or sign.

So, next time you are feeling frustrated as a customer, even though the employee you’re dealing with is honestly trying to help you, the company honestly cannot make delivery any sooner, or the mechanic can’t see you today, try not to take it out on them. They’ll thank you for it. Happy shopping!

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Yup, I Had to Let Them Go!

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You may have noticed that my sticky post on this site regarding two new websites to visit, is no longer there.

Reason:

I’ve shut down both apartmentway.com and resumescheap.com. I had them up and running for two years, but, no matter what I did, they hardly had any traffic, they required more work than I was able to put in, and my renewal date and bill for hosting them was approaching, so, I’ve decided to cancel the hosting account and shut both sites down.

Apartmentway had only a few posts that have been more or less duplicated here on lifespaceblog.com.

Resumescheap got me absolutely zero business for my resume writing business.

Craigslist, my car door magnets, my business cards, word of mouth, referrals from satisfied clients, and yes, lifespaceblog (Which costs far less to maintain than the other two websites!), each, by themselves, got me more notice and business than resumescheap ever did.

And neither site produced any revenue from clicks on ads or other sources.

What does this mean for this site and my resume business?

Don’t worry, this site, lifespaceblog.com, is here to stay, and so is my resume writing business!

In fact, I’ve had more clients these past two months than I think I’ve had in any two month stretch so far, and, if you or anyone you know needs a resume or other simple writing task done, please send them my way! The sidebar and my services page will have information as to contacting me.

To those of you who have checked out those two other sites, thanks for visiting them and checking them out, and I hope you will still come and visit here at lifespaceblog.

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Get Them Presence For Christmas!

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So, what to get friends and family for Christmas? Video games? New computers, tablets, or smart phones? Subscriptions? Gift cards? Money?

Gift cards and money are good because they give the recipient more freedom to choose what they ultimately get.

But the best gift is probably your presence!

So, that get together you’ve been invited to? Go! If you haven’t heard from someone? Contact them! If those loved ones want you to come visit? Make that visit! If they want to visit you? Tell them to come and welcome them with open arms! No time? Make time!

Yes, there often isn’t time, but isn’t that always the case? Keep making that excuse, and you’ll find one day that there is no time! And you never know how long you’ll have any particular person you love in your life, even the younger ones.

In another of my posts, “Don’t Let Time pass You By!”, which I posted on May 15th, 2015, I mention how a travel writer wrote about not visiting a favorite uncle. That uncle died and the writer regretted not making the time to visit. It’s a good post to read if you think you haven’t the time.

As for money? Yes, it may be tight. And if you live far from those you love, it can make visiting more difficult. But please, do set money aside if at all possible and look for the cheapest way there! It will be money well spent!

So, you think no problem, except, you have no presents to give? That’s ok! Give them your presence! It may be the best present your loved ones would want!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a Happy New Year to all!

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Ditch That Cover Letter?

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Every day it seems that there are one or more articles about what you need to get a job. Sure, there are those real obvious things that everyone knows to do, such as being on time for that interview and being courteous and polite, as well as those obvious things not to do, like knowing not to pass gas or talk trash about the company during the interview.

But some things are not so obvious and there can be a wide range of opinions as to whether it’s better to do, or not do, a particular something during the job hunt.

Recently, I saw an article online that questioned a need to have a cover letter with your resume. The article explained how some hiring managers and employers see a cover letter as a form of “kissing up”.

So, should you ditch that cover letter?

Maybe, and maybe not.

One thing I find about these articles is that they don’t really give a concrete “yes or no” answer, but instead point to possible trends of the moment. And it’s important to view them as such, rather than as a concrete answer either way.

This is because every situation is different. As to the article I mentioned above, regarding cover letters, it really depends on the employer. I’m sure many employers and hiring managers see the cover letter as a come-on and some may even be repulsed by a cover letter. On the other hand, many will see the cover letter as an introduction to the person the applicant is, not just a list of skills and accomplishments. Also, depending on how the letter is addressed, it can make the resume and the applicant, seem more “personal” to the prospective employer, particularly if the letter is addressed to the hiring person by name.

And this goes for any advice you read regarding job hunting. Anything you do during the job hunt will be viewed favorable by some prospective employers, neutral by others, and unfavorable by still others.

So, if an article says that it’s better not to submit a cover letter with your resume, it doesn’t mean that to do so is automatically wrong. It just may not have as much impact with as many employers as it once did.

So, if you feel more comfortable sticking with your current strategy in your job hunt, go right ahead and send that cover letter.

Good luck with your job hunt!

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My Challenge to the High Paid CEO’s of the World

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Tomorrow is Labor Day, and I thought I’d make a challenge to the higher paid CEO’s of the world.

First, believe me when I say that I’m not talking about those CEOs who truly pay their employees fairly and who try to understand where their employees are coming from and that, the bigger the company, the more it is supported by the employees.

The CEOs I’m talking about and issuing the challenge to are those CEOs that you hear about in the news who are paid 100 times or more than their average employee, as well as those who pad their own salaries at the expense of their employees when they could easily pay their employees more without hurting their business’ profits. Some CEO’s of some large corporations may be paid as much as 1,000 times the salary of the average employee at their companies.

So, how do these CEOs get paid so much? Well, their salaries are determined by boards made up of other CEOs. So, there’s a “I’ll rub your back if you rub mine” mentality. This results in CEOs getting more and more raises, even in those cases when some of their companies perform ever more poorly every year! Oftentimes, its only when a CEO does something really egregious that negatively effects the other CEOs on the board does a CEO get fired or penalized in some way.

But, are these CEOs really worth 100-1,000 times the salary of their average employees? A lot of industry insiders and of course, fellow CEOs will say “yes”, because the companies are large and the decisions that a CEO makes will affect the entire company, plus, they say you would not attract the talent needed for the job, etc.

I’m not so sure this is true. In Japan, most large corporation CEOs make no more than 35 times the salary of the average employee. Yet, companies like Sony, Toyota, and Toshiba, and many other Japanese corporations, have all done well and have certainly made their mark worldwide.

So, my challenge to these CEOs is this:

If you can fill in completely for, and do the work of just 20, that right, just 20, of your average employees for just 1 month, without any ill effects to the company, or customers, both internal and external, to the point where they couldn’t tell the difference in terms of work quality, quantity, and adherence to the same deadlines and quotas, then you really do deserve that huge salary.

An example would be a CEO filling in for a unit of 20 people who puts together and coordinates accounts for the sales team, such as the one I was once part of about 12 years ago.

The challenge would be that the entire unit would be off for that month and the CEO himself or herself would come in and do all that the 20-person unit does for a whole month.

If that CEO can fill in as above, making sure each sales rep gets the accounts that they should get, with all the paperwork and information intact, in order, and on time, seeing that the accounts are delivered to the sales division by the deadline, making needed corrections to accounts, reassigning accounts when the division needs them assigned, seeing that the accounts are printed and collated, filing reports correctly, seeing that added materials for those accounts that require them are added to the paperwork for those accounts, double checking to make sure that the sales division has gotten exactly what they need,  plus, maintaining any machines that the unit uses, keeping track of and ordering supplies, making calls for any needed repairs, making calls and sending e-mails to investigate and address any problems, and working with and meeting with, division managers and other internal customers, without anyone who interacts with, or depends upon, that unit, not seeing any negative impact to them for that month, then that CEO certainly deserves that huge salary!

That’s my challenge to the high paid CEOs of the world. Will they accept? I doubt it.

And to those who think the CEO should be made to fill in for exactly 100 people or that number of people who would equal the CEO’s salary? Well, in a way, comparing the CEO to the average worker in their company is a little like comparing apples and oranges, so that’s why I lowered the number of people to 20. And if this still doesn’t convince you, try calling just 10 people you know and offer to take on all of their responsibilities for just 2 weeks. You’ll see!

Of course, a lot of CEO’s won’t even know of this challenge, but, if any of you happen to have the ear of one, or care to write or e-mail one, let them know about this challenge. If any do take it up, I’m sure they will learn a lot.

Happy Labor Day everyone!

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What are some Good Traits to Have?

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Lots of times, I’ve been in situations where I didn’t know what to say, or whether to say anything at all, or where my timing was just off, or I just felt plain awkward, even if I was just standing there. And, from my perspective, it just seems as if everyone else knows what they are doing.

So, in thinking about this, I’ve identified three traits I wish I had. I’ve also added them to my Page of Lists on this site.

The first of these is, knowing what and what not to say, or whether I should say anything at all.

This may be the best trait I could have. Oh, there have been times when I did say the right thing or when I did keep my mouth shut for the better. But oftentimes, even when I said the right thing, or rightly kept my mouth shut, I was often unsure if I did do the right thing. It would be great to always know. The benefits of such a trait start with the fact that I’d be much less likely to inadvertently insult someone or simply say the wrong thing in a situation such as a job interview or when talking to a car sales rep. Also, I would know when I could negotiate, present something, or sell something,  and when I shouldn’t even try to.

Next, is having great timing.

This is almost as good as knowing what to say. It would be nice to decide to take that different route when it’s not going to be clogged with traffic, or to get to the checkout area just as a new check stand is opening so you can be first in line.

Last is, looking good no matter what.

I’ve often felt awkward in some situations, sometimes just by being there. It’s that feeling like you’re the only one who hasn’t a clue and everyone else looks like they know what they’re doing. This is especially true when thrust into a new situation, such as starting a new job. You hear things like, “reg-E”, “30aught6”, or “MA2784”, and wonder what the heck is being talked about. And you get the feeling that others expect you to have known this from day one. Or at least it seems that way. It’s quite possible that it’s me feeling this way and that others aren’t really perceiving me as a “know nothing”, though In some cases I knew some were seeing me as such.

I guess what I’m really wanting here is the ability to not feel as if I know nothing in such a situation.

So anyway, these are just my votes for the top 3 traits I would want to have or have to a greater degree.

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