8 Business Trends That Will Make Waves In 2019

Technology has been one of the essential elements that makes a business more effective and successful. It changes continuously, adapting to advancements and innovations in order to constantly improve. In business, the primary driving force is to be able to accommodate the needs and demands of society.

Here are eight business trends that you need to watch out for and will continue to grow this year:

1. Technological innovations to improve logistics.

Previously, managing a business entails a lot of processes. Tasks like product inventory, dispatching, delivery, and shipping are handled separately. The consolidation of files and data are done whenever reports need to be generated.

Technology has made logistics more manageable, allowing for the production of real-time updates and reports. Automation of inventory and adapting systems like POS Systems, and delivery and tracking systems, enable the business run more efficiently and effectively.

2. Digital technology in handling data and transactions.

In a workplace, you might encounter management policies aiming to digitize and store everything in a database. Although it’s not new, the trend will still gear towards the digitization of almost anything—data, transactions, and record management.

The trend will continue to shift to electronic files, reducing paperwork. Moreover, files and data will be condensed to databases that can be accessible by users within the network. The main difference in this trend compared to the previous years is the increased ability to store massive amounts of data in enormous storage capacities. Database storage will be similar to that of a smartphone, but it will be more significant compared to the previous ones.

Use of social media as a business platform.

Gone are the days when you need an actual market for you to be able to introduce and sell your product. Business has completely shifted online due to the rise of social media, and marketing strategies are more focused on using these platforms to generate more potential clients and customers.

Social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram have integrated an additional feature that lets business owners put up a virtual shop directly in their accounts. This year, the trend will continue to revolve around those features. Previously, a business owner will use social media as an avenue to advertise their products and services, with a separate website or client-customer communication platform that handles the transaction. Nowadays, you can shop through social media accounts and pay using online payment systems.

4. Face and fingerprint recognition for business transactions.

Whether you’re making a purchase for a product or making bank transactions, it’s imperative to keep your money and accounts secure. That’s why financial institutions like banks and online payment systems make it a point to provide its users accessibility while simultaneously practicing stringency for the protection of their clients’ valued assets.

To make the transaction more secure, especially when dealing with smartphone applications, integrated features on smartphones such as face recognition and touch ID are now adopted by web and app developers when performing logins and transactions. In 2019, more innovations involving these security features will be prominent in the world of business, especially in e-commerce.

5. Use of artificial intelligence (AI) for higher productivity.

The threat of technology and modernization is often associated with the idea of robots taking over the human workforce. However, you have to keep in mind that the human brain is a very complex organ and not even technology will be able to compete with the complexity of this network.

To achieve growth in a business, the increasing demand for products should always be fulfilled, which is why AI is implemented to make production more efficient, with the primary objective of generating a product in greater quantities within a short period.

6. Generating profits through subscriptions.

The rise of mobile apps and their services, whether they cater to fitness, health or leisure, will continue to soar this 2019. It’s a very promising strategy to increase profits. Let’s say you’re into fitness and you’re thinking of creating an app that offers daily workouts, and also updates new exercises each month or adds new features from time to time. For potential consumers, the appeal of this type of app lies in the fact that it costs much less than going to the gym and availing the actual services of a fitness instructor.

You have to be innovative in terms of what you’ll be offering. Business trends are also more focused on making people’s lifestyles a lot easier.

7. Vast knowledge expansion through online learning.

Another business trend that will continue to grow this 2019 is online learning. With the advent of technology, any internet user can easily and quickly access information. Moreover, they can even acquire certifications and diplomas in almost every field they are passionate about. It’s a great business trend, especially for those in the academe since it’s straightforward to do, and you earn from every student who wishes to enroll in your course.

Academic websites like Udemy and Coursera, along with online instructors, are soaring high in terms of profits. Their services are a lot cheaper and even faster compared to attending traditional universities and schools, where students need to complete years of study before obtaining a certificate.

8. Improvement in customer management relations (CRM).

Previously, customer service provided by businesses is very slow and weak in terms of quality. If you have concerns regarding your product, you might have experienced reaching out to them and receiving an automatic reply that they will get back to you in three to five working days. Thanks to technology, you don’t have to wait that long to receive a response from the customer service team regarding your concerns.

Therefore, another business trend to watch out for this 2019 is the improvement in CRM. Most businesses nowadays have multiple channels where their clients or customers can reach out to them, and customer service is continuously being improved to create a faster response. Real-time client-customer feedback can also generate reports that will enable the business to improve their strategies and system performance.

Final thoughts.

Business trends in 2019 are always geared towards improvement, which can be achieved by implementing the available technology and adapting to innovations. Businesses are expected to make more growth in major aspects in terms of production, security, and even customer relations. New approaches aiming to generate more profits, such as mobile app development and subscriptions, will also continue to make waves this year.

from Young Upstarts https://ift.tt/2NvK4nC via website design phoenix

Tips For Starting Your First Business

If you’re planning on starting your own business for the first time, don’t let the statistics put you off. As the saying goes, it’s better to fail than have never tried. Skill vs. Luck in Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital: Evidence from Serial Entrepreneurs, a Harvard paper, noted that first-time entrepreneurs have an 18 percent chance for success, but by following these tips you can help increase those odds whether you plan to launch your startup in Edmonton, Vancouver, Boston or anywhere else.

Research, Research and More Research.

Before you even begin it’s a must to understand the industry you plan to be involved in. That means knowing everything about your potential competitors, no matter how unique you think your business idea is. If you can’t offer something less expensive and/or better than the rest, it’s probably time to start rethinking that idea. You’ll also want to look at your target demographic – your potential customers should be a priority. You won’t be successful if you can’t deliver what customers want.

Understanding your target demographic provides insight into their buying decisions and can prevent potential mistakes. Talk with similar business, watch your competitors and take a look at their websites. Find out what their customers are saying about them in various social media networks too.

Create a Well-Designed Business Plan.

A well-designed business plan should lay out a vision of growth as well as the steps that need to be taken to get there. It serves as an essential communications tool when it comes to attracting financing as well as staff as your business grows. Clarifying the purpose and direction of your business not only helps you to understand what needs to be done to move forward, but it will allow you to answer the questions of potential lenders and investors so that you won’t leave their offices penniless. A good business plan shows whether your business has the potential to make a profit. By including facts, figures, statistics and a detailed plan in writing you have a much better chance of getting the capital you need to get started.

Start Small.

It’s best to self-fund your business and then seek out funding when you have a growth story. Many people get capital through friends and family, but you don’t want to risk their savings or retirement accounts. When it’s time for financing, consider angel investors and venture capitalists. If that doesn’t pan out, then apply for a business loan through small business associations and banks.

Think About Timing.

Timing is an important part of starting a business. The best time is when you have the time to devote your attention to it, but there are other elements to consider. Your financial situation is a key consideration – how much risk can you currently tolerate? Other than personal aspects, the ideal time to start a business varies depending on the type of business. It’s a common misconception that starting one up in a bad economy sets you up for failure as certain industries thrive during poor economic conditions, although others do depend on the strength of the economy. The more important question to ask is whether your business is the best type to open at the current time.

from Young Upstarts https://ift.tt/2NxG6Lc via website design phoenix

Welfont’s Unique Journey Results In Top Honors From Inc. Magazine And Entrepreneur Magazine As One Of The Best Entrepreneurial Companies In America

On August 15, 2018, Welfont Companies was awarded with the top spot in the real estate brokerage category of the INC 5000 Awards. They did this by being the fastest growing real estate brokerage company over a three year period.

To earn this ranking, they had to beat out 86,000 other real estate brokerages who were competing for this award.

Welfont was also ranked #16 overall against every privately held business in the U.S., not just real estate brokerages.

Additionally, Welfont earned the top spot in real estate brokerage category of the Top 360 Entrepreneurial Businesses In America ranking from Entrepreneur Magazine. In the overall ranking, they were ranked #20.

More astonishing, Welfont was one of only two companies that made the top 50 overall in both the Inc. Magazine and Entrepreneur Magazine rankings.  Both magazines use different metrics to determine the best entrepreneurial businesses in the U.S., so this is proof that Welfont really does stand out from the crowd.

The numbers help explain why Welfont performed so well in all of these rankings. They were 52^nd out of all commercial real estate brokerages in the U.S. by annual transaction volume, and they also grew at a rate of 11,350 percent over a period of three years, which is four times the growth rate of any other company competing in the real estate brokerage category.

But the numbers don’t tell what makes Welfont so special. For that, it’s important to understand the Welfont approach. Read on to find out more.

What Is Welfont’s Biggest Differentiator?

When asked what makes Welfont unique, representatives from the company cited their approach to the market.

In an industry where most brokerages specialize in either local, retail, office or industrial markets, Welfont did something different. They selected a specific client with which to work:  the undeserved and overlooked non-profit sector.

As a result, they soon found themselves in an untapped marketplace. And unlike other brokerages, they were not competing with the big names in Commercial Real Estate (CRE), which made it much easier for them stand out.

Competition Put Against Cooperation

As the other real estate brokers realized that Welfont wasn’t a direct competitor, they eventually became quite receptive to what Welfont was offering, i.e. access to the non-profit market. Or, perhaps better put, access to a group of motivated buyers.

Welfont also started sharing their approach with other brokers, and this gave everyone the chance to grow and get better.

The immediate benefit of this step was that agents started closing deals with Welfont’s clients, and most of these deals involved sizeable commissions.

Then, as the deals continued rolling in, outside agents started qualifying their list of sellers to find the perfect deal, and it’s from these referrals that Welfont makes most of its deals.

The Policy of ROR (Return on Relationship)

Welfont developed an internal philosophy called Return on Relationship. It’s based on the concept of cooperation instead of competition. This means that the Welfont agents are asked to put their main focus on a the relational and not transactional aspect of a deal.

This was first initiated by Rob Blakely, one of Welfont’s National Acquisitions Directors, but it eventually became a mantra for the entire marketing team. They started believing that a transaction takes place due to the relationship, but they never forgot that the relationship also occurs because of the transaction. In other words, the Welfont team never loses sight of the fact that helping people meet their needs is always a good way to start a relationship.

Welfont also puts heavy emphasis on treating people right, and this helps to foster even more positive relationships.

As a result, whether it’s building trust or creating strategic differentiation, it can be safely said that Welfont takes their clients and business peers seriously.

Overall, running a business on these principles has helped Welfont earn a solid reputation. They have a bright future, and they’re undoubtedly the rising star in the world of real estate.

from Young Upstarts https://ift.tt/2Sv60Qw via website design phoenix

How Entrepreneurs Get Inspired

by Peter J. Strauss, founder and managing member of The Strauss Law Firm and author of “The Business Owner’s Definitive Guide to Captive Insurance Companies“

Entrepreneurship starts with an idea. One of the challenges once the business gets off the ground, though, is coming up with more ideas that push the company forward.

An idea often stems from inspiration and lacking that, some business owners say, can result in stagnation or a failed enterprise.

Without innovation and forward thinking, no business can succeed. But being a business owner is very demanding, and you’ll hit a wall where you can’t seem to come up with new ideas.

To be a successful entrepreneur, you have to stay on the search for the next idea, and that requires inspiration. If you just wait for that to happen, your doors eventually will be closing. You have to try different ways to find and bottle inspiration.

Here are some questions to ask about where to locate inspiration and, just as importantly, how to turn those revelations into resolutions that drive business.

Discussion topics:

• What do you tell business owners who are overwhelmed by the day-to-day operations and don’t have time to meditate over ground-breaking ideas?
• Does lacking a long-term vision for the business in effect limit an owner’s ability to find inspiration on a regular basis?
• Does lacking inspiration, or running out of it, correlate with an owner losing passion for his or her business? How do they prevent that from happening?
• Is “the big idea” often right under an entrepreneur’s nose in the form of existing problems at the company that need fixing?
• While at work, what are some good ways an entrepreneur can find inspiration?
• How can peers or even competitors help an entrepreneur find inspiration?
• Does “getting away” – a long vacation, long walks on a daily basis – fuel inspiration, or is there a regular regimen that can spring a fountain of ideas?

 

Peter J. Strauss is an attorney, captive insurance manager and author of several books, including most recently “The Business Owner’s Definitive Guide to Captive Insurance Companies”. He is the founder and managing member of The Strauss Law Firm, LLC, on Hilton Head Island, S.C, and also the founder and CEO of Hamilton Captive Management, LLC.

from Young Upstarts https://ift.tt/2Tf8kQf via website design phoenix

Online Toughies: The Cyber World’s Most Wanted Criminals

When a computer hacker decides to attack a system, the reasons for their actions might be anyone’s guess. Some do it to get revenge on a perceived enemy, some to steal money, some to injure a corporation or institution they disagree with ideologically, and some – perhaps most of them – do it just to show the world that they can.

There are some keyboard virtuosos out there whose activities have been so prolific and far-reaching in their effects that they’ve actually made it onto the FBI’s list of most wanted cyber miscreants. It’s the black-hat hacking world’s version of the hall of fame, and their stories make for interesting reading.

Here’s a look at some of the names on every law-enforcement agent’s hit-list of online baddies to look out for.

Behzad Mesri.

Iran isn’t well-known for its cyber skills, but this individual definitely placed them on the map. His target – the Home Box Office (HBO). It might seem like a rather low-hanging target, until you recollect that this is one of the USA’s (and therefore the world’s) biggest satellite and cable television networks. Netflix is a virtual baby in comparison to what it once was.

What Mesri did was to infiltrate the network’s corporate servers by compromising user accounts in order to gain access to valuable data stores. The former member of Iran’s military held valuable footage such as upcoming episodes of the massively popular ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ and other shows for ransom. He claimed to have scripts and casting lists for ‘Game of Thrones’ as well. He wanted $5.5 million in Bitcoin. The network denied the ransom, and he went on to dump certain caches of his stolen data haul, perhaps becoming the forerunner of data leakers and whistle-blowers that would come later on, using Twitter to announce data dumps and alert media houses.

Nicolae Popescu.

Whether you have a vested interest in internet security matters, or are simply thinking of whether to renew your NordVPN subscription, you should know about this man right here. What brought Nicolae to the limelight was his role as the leader of a Romanian band of 70 hackers that ran a massive operation that specialized in using established online marketplaces such as eBay, Autotrader.com, Cars.com, and others to sell cars to unwitting clients in the USA.

The problem is, the cars didn’t exist. The group is known to have got away with over $3 million, but with such things, you can always bet on the real figures to be much higher. Despite being captured at a raid conducted on one of their premises, he managed to escape, and remains at large with a $1 million bounty on him. Nicolae and his collective really upped the bar for the gypsies with his high-flying escapades in the world of cyber notoriety.

Evgeniy Mikhailovich Bogachev.

Nobody blames you for looking out for a Russian name on this list. Bogachev, who was, and probably still is, the leader of a cybercrime gang that is held responsible for the creation and propagation of the malware known as Gameover Zeus.

Bogachev apparently collects indictments like Pokemon, as he’s wanted to face charges in various courts all over the United States. These include a standing indictment filed in the state of Nebraska where he’s wanted to face charges of computer fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, among others.

Gameover Zeus was a particularly nasty bit of code. What it did was infiltrate unwitting people’s computers by tricking them into clicking links embedded in randomly sent e-mails that would download the malware onto their computers. While this alone might have been successfully dealt with by the authorities, he used the Gameover Zeus script to propagate another bit of rotten content known as Cryptolocker, which would essentially hold all your computer’s files up for ransom, with failure to pay up leaving you unable to access your files.

With these two tools, Bogachev and his crew cleaned up over $100 million, with a big chunk of this being in the form of transfers to overseas bank accounts through illegal wire transfers. That’s a payday to beat the band, no matter what your racket is.

Bogachev and his band of black hatters remains at large, although there’s a $3 million reward placed on his head – or keyboard, if that suits you better.

from Young Upstarts https://ift.tt/2EjxKlZ via website design phoenix

How To Deal With A Loose Cannon In A Leadership Position

by Keith Martino, head of CMI and author of “Expect Leadership“

His team calls him “Dangerous Dan” for good reason.

Dan self implodes in a New York minute.

Perhaps it’s that inappropriate comment Dan is prone to blurt out. Or maybe it’s that significant lapse in his judgment that triggers the first domino. It doesn’t matter. The explosion is immediate and the outcome is far-reaching. And as Dan’s manager or teammate, you needn’t wonder. You will be blindsided by the flying debris.

Oh, he’s not a terrible person. In fact, Dan typically has the best of intentions. He’s just an eternal optimist. And he never seems to notice the aftershock following behind him. Dan has what you might call “intermittent blind spots.” And he lives in a constant state of denial. My, that’s a deadly combination!

To make matters worse, Dan’s boss can seldom anticipate the timing of Dan’s next calamitous move. Even more troubling, Dan won’t bring a brewing catastrophe to anyone’s attention. But in this age of the virtual water cooler, people still talk. And the delay between when Dan pulls the proverbial pin from a nearby hand grenade and the time his boss hears the explosion only adds to the collateral damage.

So why does Dan’s team tolerate him?

It’s simple. On nine days out of ten his contribution to his team is substantial. And every time he does something helpful, teammates are once again tempted to forget about his recent faux pas. But when Dan bungles it, he offsets every positive action he’s taken in one fatal blow! And it’s a vicious cycle.

The first time I met Dan he showed up at our house out of nowhere. He instinctively made himself as comfortable as a long lost friend. It was an unusually quiet summer evening.  Dan spied our spinet piano in the corner parlor. Impulsively responding to some mysterious melody in his mind, Dan lunged and launched into a loud, busy boogie that rattled our rafters.

He never asked if we cared. He never considered our toddlers asleep in a room nearby. After all Dan was on a roll entertaining us, his new friends! In his mind’s eye he was Billy Joel the Piano Man! In our remembrance, he set off pandemonium.

I painfully learned over the next few years that Dan was and is semi-oblivious to the world in which he lives. He careens off the walls of life like a drunken bull in your mother’s precious china cabinet.

Sure, Dan’s technically awesome. But on a practical level, Dan is blind to the subtleties of his behavior. He doesn’t mean any harm. He’s just being Dan.

So, is there a Dangerous Dan Darting Down Your Hall?

Don’t answer too quickly. The ramifications are worth considering.

When it comes to business, Dan is amazingly self-assured. He’s a problem solver. In those magical moments when Dan saves the day, you want to hug him. But when the stakes are most high and you can least afford a miscue; the carnage Dan creates is legendary.

How can you spot a Dangerous Dan before he wreaks havoc in your living room or lobby?

Answer these ten questions and you’ll know if you have one.

Think of the person you know who most resembles Dan. Ask yourself:

• Do his jokes often strike a jangled nerve in an unsuspecting bystander?
• Do you see evidence that his family’s patience has worn thin?
• In the past, have you considered promoting him but decided against it each time?
• Do you feel sorry for the fact that he frequently undermines his own success?
• Do you continue to discover new and different things that he can do?
• Are you often tempted to give him just one more try?
• Do your team members frequently surprise you with startling new stories about Dan?
• Are you allowing your soft heart to guide your logic?
• Has he randomly cost you a small fortune in unintended consequences?
• Would you say “NO!” if he asked to marry your daughter?

If you answered yes to seven or more of these questions, here’s the inconvenient truth. You can’t afford to have Dan on your payroll. No matter how much you would love to rehabilitate him. It’s not worth it.

Here’s an even more sobering thought. You will likely have to fire Dan if you don’t take action. So what can you do now if you are dead set on keeping your Dangerous Dan?

Here are five suggestions listed in order of importance:

1. Reassign any people who report directly to Dan so that you limit his legal liability.
2. Put Dan in charge of special projects with limited downside.
3. Role play any important customer interactions before Dan leaves the office.
4. Check behind Dan to ensure he’s following agreed upon processes.
5. Avoid any temptation to promote Dan. He will be even more lethal with more responsibility.

Remember… A little power goes a long way in the mind of a Dangerous Dan!

I ran into Dan’s ex-wife not long ago. She and I laughed about all of the good times we had enjoyed with Dan. They were many. But there was a deep sadness in her spirit as she relayed her decision to finally divorce Dan. He, of course was off on a new adventure leaving his former family far behind.

I’d like to say Dan will learn how to handle life one day. And I’d like to say I’ll soon leap tall buildings in a single bound.

But I’m reminded of the time a good friend approached Dan and begged him not to apply for another promotion. “Dan, you’ve tried managing people on two other occasions and it didn’t work out. What did you learn from those experiences that will help you be more successful this time around?”

Dan turned. He stared upwards in thought. The he asked, “What do you mean???”

His team calls him “Dangerous Dan” for good reason.

Dan self-implodes in a New York minute.

Don’t let him shake your confidence in you!

 

Keith Martino is head of CMI, a global consultancy founded in 1999 that customizes leadership and sales development initiatives. Martino is the author of “Expect Leadership“, a series of leadership books – The Executive Edition, in Business, in Engineering, and in Technology. He has also published three sales handbooks, Get Results, Results Now, and “Selling to Americans“. After more than 20 years and numerous awards at FedEx, Xerox and Baxter Healthcare, Martino and his team provide world-class counsel and proven web-based tools that produce consistent results.

from Young Upstarts https://ift.tt/2IBtjZi via website design phoenix

What Property Investors Need To Know About Buying Repossessed Property

The residential sector comprises a variety of property options for business owners looking to build a property portfolio. One of these options is the repossessed home or bank foreclosure. Active property entrepreneurs in and around the country are likely to come across more than a few advertisements for repossessed houses for sale. They might, however, find themselves a little bit stumped when it comes to the ins and outs of purchasing these properties. As with any investment, it’s important for someone to know the exact nature of what they’re investing in before they make any final decisions. In light of this, here’s a rundown on buying repossessed property.

First of all, there’s the matter of terminology. According to Property Power, “a property becomes a repossessed property when a homeowner is in substantial arrears with his repayment on his home loan, [and] the bank takes legal steps to serve the owner with a summons, take judgment and eventually attach the property.” If the owner of the property remains unable to pay off the bond, then the property will be put on auction at what is known as a sale in execution. Here, the amounts being bid will hopefully be enough to cover the payments owed to the bank. If this doesn’t occur, then the bank will buy back the property and it becomes a Property in Possession (PiP).

Now, onto buying a repossessed property or a PiP. Prospective buyers might feel comfortable with attending the auction, but will of course need to be familiar with auctioning environments and processes, the property market in general, and the circumstances that surround the property being auctioned. Property Power does note that “the auctioneer will read out the terms and conditions of the sale in public before the auction begins”. There are certain advantages to buying property at an auction, from the omission of any kind of negotiating process, to the assurance that the property is being sold at a price the buyer is comfortable with.

Then there’s purchasing a PiP, a process which comes with notable perks. Firstly, the bank is only selling the house in order to recover its financial losses. It has no intention of making any kind of profit on the sale. The property might, therefore, be sold at considerably less than its market value, making it a bargain for the buyer. In addition, the buyer will not be required to pay a transfer duty on the property, while the bank will ensure that all levies are paid and accounts are up to date before the purchase is made. In fact, the bank will do all it can in order to get repossessed properties sold, from advertising them to sending lists of properties to real estate agencies.

There are a few drawbacks to buying a repossessed home. For one thing, if the previous owner was unable to pay off the bond, then there’s a possibility that he or she could not afford proper maintenance costs on the house either. This leaves the buyer with the expensive task of renovating the property. That’s why it’s important to inspect the house and gather various quotes from relevant tradespeople (plumbers, electricians, handymen etc) before purchasing. There might also still be tenants on the premises, and it is the buyer’s responsibility to give them notice or, if the need arises, initiate a legal eviction process.

As for other possible disadvantages, Gerhard Kotzé, Managing Director of the estate agency group, RealNet, says, “the original owner may not have been able to sell the property because it has been overcapitalised, or because the area is in decline and there is very little demand for property there.” Of course, consulting an experienced real estate agent is a necessary means of eventually making the right decision. Kotzé is quoted as saying, “while a PiP may well be a ‘bargain’, particularly for a keen and able DIY enthusiast, professional advice is still needed on the true market value, as well as the likely cost of repairs and the best way to access a favourable home loan package – and the best way to access that advice and knowledge is to enlist the help of a professional property practitioner.”

Now that you know a bit more about buying a repossessed home, you’ll be able to decide whether or not it’s an opportunity you might pursue when you are ready to buy a house. Just make sure you know enough about the property market, have enlisted the help of a real estate expert, have decided whether you want to go the auction route or simply search amongst available Properties in Possession, and, if you are eyeing a specific house, have investigated it thoroughly, in terms of condition, finances and legalities. With such good resources and such a solid understanding, you’re sure to be on track to buy an affordable property that has the potential to generate a high return on investment and create long-term wealth.

from Young Upstarts https://ift.tt/2GMukMr via website design phoenix

Top Emerging Startup Industries For 2019

by Pamela Webber, Chief Marketing Officer at 99designs

From Instagram agents and personal coaches, to drones, bot doctors and AI-driven healthcare, the hottest emerging industries of 2019 tap into a wide range of technology and personalization trends.

We analyzed data from thousands of creative projects completed on 99designs to identify and chart some of the sectors experiencing extraordinary growth and are on track to become the new norm by 2020.

If you’re looking for some insight into how the startup landscape is evolving, here are some of the industries we expect to reach a tipping point this year:

AI in Healthcare.

While artificial intelligence and automation have been flirting with the mainstream for a while now, healthcare is where adoption is reaching a real turning point.

Since 2013, there has been a 48% increase in AI related health companies working on our platform, covering everything from health trackers, virtual doctors and secondary services like apps that locate doctors near you.

Why now? Consumer demand for affordable and convenient healthcare is really driving this industry growth, alongside the fact that the functionality of the tech itself has improved significantly in the last couple of years. This means that products utilizing AI are much more reliable and able to deliver viable services in a sector already experiencing high-demand across the board.

Personal Coaching.

Another industry coming into its own is personal coaching—in the US, this sector is now worth an estimated $1 billion. While David Skibbins, the author of Becoming a Life Coach, points to the origins of personal coaching dating back to Ancient Greece, he notes that it has taken a little longer for the industry to fully bloom, thanks in part to the rise (and partial fall) of the corporate culture of business mentoring. This, he argues has led people to seek similar guidance and coaching outside of their professional lives.

Encompassing everything from financial and career guidance to health, wellness and relationships, there has been a 47% growth in personal coaching projects on 99designs compared to five years ago, demonstrating that coaches are experiencing enough success to reinvest in their own brand.

Influencer Agencies.

Social media influencers have carved out an entirely new industry space over the past ten years, but now companies that leverage this trusted layer of the internet are coming to the fore.

Influencer agencies commissioned five times as much design work last year than they did in 2013. This is a massive 320% increase, and the sector experienced a particularly sharp spike between 2016 and 2018 when it grew 79%.

This boost can be explained as a by-product of a maturing digital marketing industry that can now apply metrics that prove the effectiveness of this channel for brand promotion. As the use of digital influencers in marketing becomes standard practice across a broad range of industries, expect to see the number of secondary services like influencer agencies continue to grow.

Drones.

Drone-related businesses have skyrocketed 680% over the past five years on 99designs. This technology has captured people’s imaginations for many years now, and the real question isn’t ‘why now’ but ‘why not sooner?’

As with AI in healthcare, one of the reasons  is that advances in the technology itself have made drones much more accessible than ever before. Not only does this mean that industry-leading drone companies can create even more advanced products and service, the barrier to entry for smaller startups is much lower, which increases innovation and new applications in related areas like photography, video, logistics, reporting and drone tech analysts.

These are just a few of the industries we expect to experience substantial growth this year, underpinned by some broader technology and personalization trends. Consider how your business can leverage these sectors, or be inspired by how emerging brands market themselves in high-growth industries.

 

Pamela Webber is Chief Marketing Officer at 99designs where heads up the global marketing team responsible for driving customer acquisition and increasing lifetime value of customers. She is passionate about using data to derive customer insights and to find “aha moments” that impact strategic direction.

from Young Upstarts https://ift.tt/2Ss3LgV via website design phoenix

Stop Wasting Money On Random Acts Of Workplace Training

by Juliana Stancampiano, author of “Radical Outcomes: How to Create Extraordinary Teams that Get Tangible Results“

The people who need the most guidance on how to be successful in the workplace are often flooded with so much information, there’s no way for them to absorb it, let alone change what they do. In my new book “Radical Outcomes: How to Create Extraordinary Teams that Get Tangible Results“, I show companies how to more effectively help their people do their jobs, to build more profitable and productive organizations.

Most business leaders recognize that success in today’s environment demands much more than exceptional products. Companies must also create great experiences for their customers by leveraging the increasingly complex technology landscape. To do this, employees need to develop new sets of skills on a regular basis. Indeed, learning and development is now a $140 billion industry.  However, much of this money is wasted.

There is so much pressure to change, and seemingly so little time to do it. As a result, decision makers make investments that appear to assume we live in a science fiction film, where all you need to do is send those salespeople, managers, or engineers to a five-day training course, and all of the company’s problems will be solved. Moreover, enablement teams – the people in charge of creating the materials intended to help employees learn – often don’t understand the business results they are working to create.

There’s a way to bring an end to this wasted investment in “random acts of training”. The key is to use an outcome-based approach. This mindset demands focusing on measurable results – like process improvements or efficiencies, reduced costs, or increased conversion rates – first, and then identifying the tasks necessary to achieve those results. If you’re not always working backwards from the outcomes you’re driving and measuring, it doesn’t matter how many people show up to class or how many hours of training you put people through.

In addition, enablement teams must create training experiences and content that are easy to consume, highly relevant, and sequenced over a timetable that makes sense. “Radical Outcomes” illustrates this process through the story of a fictional company facing a major challenge: developing an entirely new way of ramping up hundreds of new hires to be able to reach quota in less time. The key elements of the process include:

1. Creating An Ensemble.

It’s rarely one person who is able to achieve something all on his or her own. Being part of a team is what the smartest, most successful people do.  At the same time, teams must find a cohesive way to work together – to become a “collaborative ensemble.” This demands finding a common goal or mission, achieving role clarity, and establishing interpersonal codes of conduct.

2. Letting Go Of What You Know.

Many of the concepts we use at work today to engage, converse, produce, and develop are rooted in stale, decades-old theory. In some cases, we try to enable our people using methods developed during the Industrial Revolution. But if you’re going to effectively help others to do their jobs better, you have to let go of some common beliefs.  For example, you don’t have to create perfect “stuff”.

Even that which is polished is not perfect – and, it’s much harder to change. You’ll need to be agile. And you need to be relevant. But not perfect. Letting go of perfection, we have found, is a big relief.

3. The Outcome Is The Thing.

I’ve found that leaders aren’t seeing the connection between their investments in enablement, the work that’s happening to create those programs, and the results generated by that work. There’s a BIG difference between an outcome and an output.  The “stuff” we create does not, in and of itself, constitute an outcome for the business. Instead, a “radical outcome” that moves the needle must: involve executive-level, cross-functional stakeholders; achieve results over time; and have measurable results.

4. Know Your Audience.

The audience are the people for whom you are creating your enablement experiences. If you don’t know them, and where they stand in their journey at work, how can you ensure that they have a good experience in consuming what you create for them? There are three simple aspects about your audience that you must know: their realities (such as what kind of environment they work in, how they get information, and what time constraints they have); their role (a front-line supervisor’s world is very different from the manager of a call center); and the time frame for their role (consider such questions as “What is reasonable to expect someone who is new to their role to be able to do in 90 days?”)

If you’re frustrated by the obvious ways in which people are wasting their time or working at odds with each other, by the constant stops and false starts, re-dos and re-implementations, with no discernible progress, there’s a real alternative.

 

Juliana Stancampiano, author of “Radical Outcomes: How to Create Extraordinary Teams that Get Tangible Results“, is an entrepreneur and the CEO of Oxygen. For more than fifteen years, she has worked with Fortune 500 companies, both in them and for them. Her firm’s clients include Microsoft, DXC, Delta Dental (of WA), Starbucks, F5 Networks, Avaya, and Western Digital, among others. Her in-depth experience, along with the research that Oxygen conducts and the articles she has published, has helped to shape the perspective that Oxygen embraces.

from Young Upstarts https://ift.tt/2SmxgAN via website design phoenix

Managed Marketing – How Automation Has Become A Powerful Marketing Tool

Streamlining is not just for manufacturing and daily tasks in your organisation. Automation processes are a highly effective marketing tool. Managing your marketing activities through automated processes allows your organisation to deliver a consistent message and frees up staff time for in-person interactions and customer service. There are many ways in which marketing automation could be a powerful marketing tool for your business.

Learn how the right piece of software could make a big difference to your company’s efficiency, effectiveness and level of success at marketing to consumers.

Increase Your Staff’s Productivity Level.

When you automate your marketing, one person easily does the work of 50. Software boosts efficiency by nurturing likely leads. It also allows your company to trigger marketing campaigns when specific conditions are met. With automated marketing, your organization could send out hundreds or even thousands of customised marketing messages on a daily basis.

Improve Accountability.

Every organisation has bottlenecks. Automating your marketing helps you identify where those bottle necks are. For example, if your marketing emails generate a lot of clicks but few conversions, this demonstrates a problem either with the targeting of the customer, the type applicability of the product or service or your sales staff’s ability to nurture the lead generated by the email. Use the information provided by the software to take action and improve accountability within your marketing department.

Grow Your Creativity.

When your marketing staff is freed up from having to send out hundreds of the same emails, they can focus on more creative activities. Your marketing automation software handles the repetitive tasks while your staff develops fun slogans, useful tips or narratives to include in your various marketing materials. Allow the software to manage the mundane tasks, and your marketing team will be happier.

Integrate of Tool Sets.

Automation allows you to bring together different marketing tool sets. Instead of using one tool for your social media marketing and another for email marketing, select a piece of software that integrates these functions. Integrated marketing tools simplify your company’s finances. They also eliminate the need for multiple system logins and accounts or the need to export and import data from one tool to another. Eliminating the movement of data cuts down on lost information, errors and staff frustration.

Look At Each Customer’s Path.

Automating your marketing with a single piece of software allows you to get a full view of each customer’s interactions with your company. Track conversions from each marketing message. Take a look at the different types and frequencies of interactions with each customer.

Evaluate the End-to-end Customer Experience.

The right automated marketing tool allows you to examine every interaction with every customer, from the first time the customer visits your site to their most recent purchase. This type of end-to-end marketing evaluation allows you to determine which campaigns are the most successful with different demographics or target groups. You could use this information to look at the success at marketing to an individual customer or the success at a particular marketing technique, such as an email campaign.

Align Your Marketing and Sales Strategies.

Your sales and marketing efforts need to be aligned. Proper alignment allows you to evaluate their success. When you use a single automated tool, your company benefits from the seamless integration of marketing and sales. For example, your marketing emails could be tailored to the most recent sale to a customer. A person who bought new sheets might want to replace their pillows or comforter next, and your integrated system could track this type of information. Software makes this type of customised marketing simple, efficient and effective.

Target Customers Across Multiple Channels.

When you have a robust piece of marketing software, use it to target customers across multiple channels. With the help of marketing automation software, it is possible to develop a sequence for making contact with the customer. Your sequence might include emails, postcards or text messages at different points in the customer’s journey. Use the software to track the customer’s responses to see which methods are the most effective. The software teaches you about the most productive contact methods for each customer.

Comply With Data Tracking Regulations.

The European Union’s GDPR policies mean that your company has to allow customers to inform you of their data use preferences. In order to adhere to the GDPR requirements, technology is essential. When you need to demonstrate your organization’s compliance, having a single tool for marketing automation makes the compliance process easier and faster for your IT department.

Enhance Your Data Security.

Your customers expect you to safeguard their personal information. This includes their contact information, mailing address, ordering history and payment details. When you have one tool to manage your customer data, safeguarding the information is easier. The use of one tool for marketing simplifies your IT department’s work.

Having a single tool for automating your marketing needs streamlines all of your internal processes. Customers benefit from customized points of contact that are in tune with their preferences. Your marketing and IT teams increase their productivity while delivering better service and complying with international data standards.

from Young Upstarts https://ift.tt/2Edrk80 via website design phoenix

7 Accessories Every Professional Needs To Carry Around

When it comes to maintaining a professional image and staying productive on the go, a few handy accessories can be worth taking with you.

Here are just 7 accessories that every professional needs to carry around with them.

An umbrella.

There’s nothing worse than getting caught in the rain without an umbrella and turning up to a professional meeting looking like a drowned rat. Having an umbrella on you at all times will tell people that you’re organised and ready for life’s emergencies.

A watch.

Whilst you can always read the time on your smartphone, a watch helps you to be more time-conscious because the time is always there in view. A watch is also a symbol of organisation – the people around you will think that you’re more time-conscious by wearing a watch and they will trust you to carry out tasks on schedule.

A pen.

Having a pen handy is always useful if you need to sign a document or take notes. If a client hasn’t got a pen, you can also hand it to them to gain their trust. You could even invest in a branded pen and use it as a chance for marketing your business.

A tablet.

Tablets are ideal for doing digital work on the go. Whilst you could argue laptops also offer portability, tablets can be used standing up. These gadgets also tell people that you’re tech-savvy, which can reflect well on your company’s reputation.

A notebook.

For when you need to scribble down notes in a hurry, a notebook is always convenient. Many people find it still easier to take down notes in this form than on a laptop or a phone. You can even look into custom notebooks and use it as another opportunity for visual branding. As with other tools on this list, they also help you to look organised.

A pack of business cards.

Business cards are still the fastest way to exchange contact details. They can also be strategically left in places as a form of guerrilla marketing, potentially helping to attract more customers. They’re a simple and cheap way to promote your business and are worth having on you at all times – you never know when you may meet someone who could be a potential client or a useful networking contact.

A portable card reader.

When it comes to accepting payments on the go, having a portable card reader on you can make things much more convenient for your customers. If you usually accept payments by cash and someone is short of change, you’ll be able to accept card as a backup option. It’s also a lot faster than having to do a bank transfer. There are now card readers that can attach to your smartphone – such gadgets aren’t even that expensive.

from Young Upstarts https://ift.tt/2BMg1mL via website design phoenix

How To Find A Reliable Loan Lender When You Have Bad Credit

Having bad credit means that your credit file contains evidence of missed loan payments, bankruptcy or judgements against you. If you are looking to obtain a loan, the providers will access your file and would consider that you may not be reliable enough for them to offer credit. A credit score can repair and by taking further loans and paying them off and by using a credit card sensibly along with the passage of time, you can repair your credit. You may need to look for a bad credit loan lender.

So how do you go about finding a reliable lender if you have bad credit?

The first question you must ask yourself is ‘How much can I afford to pay for the duration of the loan’. Take into account any change of circumstances that may be likely to arise during the period of the loan. Then decide on how much money you need to borrow and over what period of time could you pay that back. Is the loan really necessary or could I wait?

There are a number of options open to you depending on the amount of borrowing and the duration of the loan.

Secured or Unsecured Loans.

A secured loan is a loan which is taken out and secured against the value of an asset, usually a property so if you are a homeowner, this could be an option. This means however that if you default on payments, your house would be at risk. With an unsecured loan you are not taking that risk. Shop around. There are many loan lenders out there who will lend to you but many of them will lend to you at a very high rate of interest. Each lender has their own criteria and you may find that some are a bit more flexible than others. You will see an APR quoted on each loan, the figure quoted is a representative figure and it may not necessarily be offered to you so ask for the APR. Do not apply to too many lenders at the one time as too many credit searches on your file can add to the negative impact that you already have. Look for reviews online to find out what other people are saying about the lender.

Talk to Your Bank.

Would an overdraft facility be an answer for you? If you need a small amount of money over a short period of time, this could be a possible option.

Credit Unions.

You would have to be a member before they would lend to you but Credit Unions tend to have more favourable interest rates compared to the banks and other lending institutions. They do however ask that you have a savings plan with them. 

Peer-to-Peer lenders.

This is becoming an increasingly popular way to borrow money. Peer-to Peer lending companies operate online. The borrower is matched with a member of the public who has money to lend and an agreement is reached.

Use a Broker.

Having bad credit does not mean that you will not get a loan, it just means that your search will be more difficult. It may be worth talking to a broker who has access to multiple companies and may be able to save you time and money with your search. He / she will also be able to guide you through the application process.

from Young Upstarts https://ift.tt/2tBmRaj via website design phoenix

Money-Minds: 6 FinTech Startups To Watch In 2019

Fintech (financial technology) ruled the roost when it came to industries on the up-swing up until a few years back, when blockchain technology and all the possibilities it offered stormed the scene. Even so, there are still plenty of lively startups in the fintech sector that have shined through the crowd to make us sit up and notice them. They cover a wide scope of industries, and are keeping the buzz in the financial technology sector alive.

Here’s a bit of a look at what they’re doing and why you should know about them.

1. Scholar Raise.

Saving up for the college education of your children can be one of the most costly undertakings of a parent’s life. In these current economic times, filled with uncertainty and rapidly shrinking possibilities in various economic sectors, any help in this area is highly appreciated. What Scholar Raise does is provide a crowdfunding platform to help parents hit their stated funding objectives.

The government backs the 529 college saving programs listed on the app, allowing friends, family and well wishers, from wherever in the world they may be, to help out by contributing to your child’s college fund. The fund grows as your child grows, making it that much easier to reach the goal figure by the time they are ready to enter college.

2. CreditSnap.

Most of us know how frustrating and complicated the search for suitable credit facilities can be. There are countless loan and financing providers out there, but not all of them are as efficient as we would like, with a dangerous number of them being potentially risky propositions in themselves. What CreditSnap does for us is provide Intelligent Cross Sell and Pre-Qualification engines that take the stress out of determining the safest, most cost-effective credit facilities available to us. The financial decision-making process is rendered a whole lot easier.

3. Fundamental Interactions.

For all the traders who like to try their luck, or skills, on the international forex and stock markets, Fundamental Interactions has come along to help make their work easier. What the technology firm does formulate multi-asset trading products for high-energy trading purposes. You will also have access to all of the well-established trading tools and strategic implements that make a part of every trader’s toolbox.

The goal is to optimize the inter-operability, efficiency, and overall regulatory compliance required for effective and successful trading. Algorithmic routing, order crossing, pre-trade risk analysis, market data compilation, and derivative trading types such as cfd trading (contract for difference) are all supported.

4. BetterTradeOff (BTO).

The stated mission of the BTO team is to provide a way to personalize life-planning for the masses in a way that’s accessible, user-friendly, and effective. Everyone hopes to achieve financial security for themselves and their loved ones, and the goal is to make this a reality for as many as possible with their innovative Aardviser’, which is basically a financial life coach. It guides the technology’s users through the steps and paths they should take in order to achieve the financial position they hope to attain. Functionality and simplicity are the watchwords for BTO, and they look set to make a success of their undertaking.

5. NoPassword.

Every one of us lives in a virtual world filled with dozens of passwords, many of which we hardly ever use and barely remember. It doesn’t matter most of the time, except that it always seems that we forget a password just when we need it the most. Well, the team over at NoPassword has stepped up to the plate, offering a solution to those of us who wish to eliminate the inconvenience of multiple passwords from our lives.

They have chosen to do this by going high-tech. They offer a net-generation level of single sign-in solutions and identity management functions that are based on bio-metrics and multi-factor identification protocols.

6. PayActiv.

Both employees and the employers they work for experience a crunch and heightened stress levels whenever payday comes around. Payroll solutions have always been prone to inefficiencies and occasional malfunctions that resulted in highly disruptive and friction-inducing delays and irregularities in payment. PayActiv seeks to make this a thing of the past by formulating payment schedules that are optimized to suit the financial positions and considerations of everyone involved.

from Young Upstarts https://ift.tt/2GZDDYL via website design phoenix

Why You Should Hire A Translator For Your Business Meetings

Every businessperson wants to have a successful business meeting. Yes there are few factor which you have to keep in mind to have a successful business meeting, for this many people hire a translator that work as a chain between the owner and the client.

Now you folk will be thinking of “Why not to use the translation headsets?” Well elaborate the answer to this question is like that translation headset are very good for the translation purpose but these kind of things are mostly used in the parliament and UN assembly. As in the ordinary business meeting you are sitting in a close room and to have to convince the client with your product.

Now if the client can’t understand the language in which you are speaking then the translator will explain all the factors and conditions which you are trying to explain to your client.

Proper translation matters a lot. In this very article we will explain some factors that will help you realize why you should hire the translator.

1. Get the ideas and details.

Huge thoughts are vital, and not constantly basic. There can be a lot of nuance and sensitivity in a single sentence, also a full presentation. Details are additionally important  the explicit whos, whats, wheres, when, and the ever-critical how much. well if the thoughts and details aren’t being communicated legitimately, what’s the purpose of having the gathering in any case?

Conference interpreters have some expertise in shipping complex thoughts and moment details over the language barrier as precisely, effectively, and persuasively as could reasonably be expected.

2. Beyond bilingual.

Many global organizations have bilingual staff, and it very well may entice simply pull one of the local partners into a meeting and have them translate for the supervisor. All things considered, they talk the two dialects and they thoroughly understand the company, isn’t that so?

Companies employ experts for a decent reason  they have ranges of abilities that go well beyond an essential inclination. Furthermore, meeting interpreters are experts, much the same as legal advisors and accountants they are appropriately prepared, guaranteed, and have the certainty to convey a mission-critical administration while working with foreign companies.

3. Security in Context.

The facts demonstrate that numerous business discussion includes setting that an independent interpreter probably won’t be well-known with  internal references and abbreviations, the names of people or organizations involved technical terminologies etc.

Luckily, proficient interpreters dependably come prepared. They’ll begin with foundation examination into your industry and its language. If you have any presentation materials for the meeting, it’s a smart thought to impart it to your interpreter ahead of time so they can survey them and make inquiries if essential. Going through 15–30 minutes with your interpreter either on the telephone or in person previously is generally enough to ensure everyone is in agreement.

from Young Upstarts https://ift.tt/2T9xRu5 via website design phoenix

Re-entering The Job Market After Divorce

American psychologists and specialists in the field of relationships conducted a survey of divorced women and found that the majority of them, some time after their divorce, view the breakup of marriage not as a collapse of life but rather as the beginning of a new path.

Such an optimistic point of view! And since we wish this to be the case for everybody, it behooves us to figure out how to get past the very first steps of this new life, which are difficult regardless. Armed with a positive vision, let’s think about how to conquer stress and fear, how to gain confidence and independence (not just in legal terms), and eventually how to become psychologically and financially self-sufficient.

This article naturally has its focus on newly divorced homemakers, for whom a divorce means not only personal and emotional stress, but also the necessity of re-entering the job market and related pitfalls.

Situations abound where women (as well as men in some cases) quit their career or do not even build one in the first place, doing so in order to share family responsibilities with their spouse and follow a societal pattern – one partner is engaged in earning money, while the other is responsible for child care and upbringing, maintaining the house, and creating the family atmosphere in general. This system often works well unless and until the spouses decide to separate. When this happens, the spouse who was the “breadwinner” of the family may think that they no longer have to support their unemployed ex-spouse in the way they had done during the marriage. Additionally, most state laws do not force compensation unless there are substantial grounds  (e.g. the unemployed spouse’s disability, etc.). And finally, the intention to return to work after a long break is often not just a question of money-making. It can be a matter of personal ambitions, a desire for self-actualization, catching up, or finding meaning in life (separate from the family), especially if the spouses’ children have already grown up.

Stay calm and analyze your strengths.

No matter how enthusiastic a person is, job searching after a long break (or starting a career in your 30-40s or more) can be frightening and confusing. Unfortunately, this fear is mostly justified. Age and gender discrimination in employment is still part of our reality,  though to a much lesser extent than it was some decades before. Do not lament lost opportunities, and do not despair. At this stage, your main task is to stop your inner monologue from taking over. Instead of panicking or ruminating about the past, you should ready yourself to grab everything that life has to offer you today.

Before you proceed directly to a job search, dedicate just one day – one full, uninterrupted day – to yourself. Unplug yourself from divorce-induced stress, and let yourself focus not on past mistakes but on the qualities of yours that you consider the most attractive and advantageous. What boosts your self-esteem? For example, you might want to pursue one of our hobbies, and, at the same time, ask yourself why exactly you’re so fond of doing what you do. If your hobby has a creative bent, what does this say about you? Are you attracted by the meditativeness of the process, the desire to convey emotions in your artwork or, perhaps, you like to be in the spotlight? If you are passionate about sports, is it competitiveness that attracts you? Perhaps you are a perfect team player. Or maybe you are a master tactician…

Answers to these questions will help direct your first step towards choosing a career, since even people who have never been employed develop and put to use many skills that can be the perfect foundation for future occupations.

Network intensively.

Once you have some ideas of what would you like to do, it’s go time. Do not limit yourself to job ad sites! Network furiously, and contact everyone you know.

Mention that you are searching for a job during any small talk you have. You never know which social connections will be the source of information about an excellent vacancy for you. There are no accidents, and sometimes we need to give luck a helping hand. Put yourself in a position to get lucky.

In addition, plenty of good vacancies close up quickly because many employers, with all else being equal, prefer to hire someone who was recommended to them by an acquaintance. It is quite hard for employers to find suitable candidates, and hearing the advice of friends and colleagues can give them a clearer picture of a candidate’s merits than a CV by itself.

Back to school?

A lot of people, faced with the task of re-entering the workforce, consider going back to school and obtaining a new degree or profession. Although gaining new skills is always great, you should think this over carefully. Can you afford it?

Perhaps you were granted rehabilitative spousal support after the divorce. Here you can spend this money directly on forms of education, self-development, or retraining that you really need. However, if you need to begin supporting yourself financially as soon as possible, additional education may not be the best idea.

Analyze your particular situation and listen to your heart. Is your intention to get an education driven by necessity, or do you just feel unconfident and hope that additional schooling will help qualify you for a future job? The point is that for a lot of newly divorced people, education seems to be a psychologically comfortable reason for why they still have not begun their job search. What often lies at the core of this intention is fear – for this reason, most job coaches do not advise going back to school immediately after a divorce (at least, if you haven’t even tried to find a job yet). They emphasize that one more degree can’t guarantee that you will become more qualified for the job.

A lot of young people who are fresh out of college are disappointed with their first job since it turns out that they need experience to get experience. Are you sure you’re ready for that kind of stress? In general, some short training courses may be really useful in helping you update your knowledge and skills, but you should not spend too much time on training or expect too much from it.

Trends and opportunities.

Women make up half of the workforce nowadays. Most of these women have children, so long breaks, primarily associated with childcare, are not uncommon. Employers cannot ignore these specialists and their conditions, which is why the trend of “Returnship” is gaining momentum. You should consider this option if you are a professional in the field and already have experience. A returnship is a paid internship aimed to help people who, due to family circumstances, left their career for a significant period of time. It helps them catch up with the latest developments in a certain professional field and refresh their knowledge, making sure that it is applicable in the current conditions.

A considerable advantage of returnships is that the entire retraining process is paid, and you can re-evaluate your profession with a fresh look. The modern world changes so swiftly! Something you considered boring some years ago may turn out to be exciting and promising now.

Also, learn more about nonprofit organizations designed to assist people in your situation. They arrange paid career internships, and a lot of respected companies partner with these organizations. In addition, similar agencies typically provide information about various other job programs, conduct seminars related to job search tips, and give career advice.

In sum, re-entering the job market after a divorce is undoubtedly a challenge. Armed with a vision, mission, and goals, however, you can make it a great adventure. Make your personal circumstances your allies. Perhaps the post-divorce period is one of the few times in your life where you are willing to relocate, and this will be to your advantage as a candidate. Maybe the fact that you had a long hiatus from your career makes you a more motivated employee who will enthusiastically absorb new information. Perhaps, after divorce, you want to devote yourself to work entirely. Maybe now you are more willing to take risks – starting your own business, for instance.

According to surveys, about half of divorced people point out that the breakdown of the marriage prompted them to make positive career changes. Get to know yourself, network, refresh your skills, and start your new life with a clean slate.

from Young Upstarts https://ift.tt/2IxzyNF via website design phoenix

Google Assistant Will Let You Make The Most Of Your Daily Routine

Google Assistant (or GA) is an ingenious product from Google that was presented to the general public in mid-2016. Meant as a replacement of Google Now, the app represents the next step in the development of AI-powered cloud-based services. Though it is pretty similar to Apple’s Siri and Microsoft’s Cortana, it provides a much smoother and more enjoyable user experience.

GA can be used for performing tasks based on the entered information, retrieving location data, as well as searching for information from various online resources such as weather, traffic, news, exchange rates, retail prices in stores, essay writing help for high school students, etc. In this case, you should specify the most preferred service provider.

Google is trying to make Google Assistant compatible with all mobile devices. To download this app on an Android smartphone, you just need to say “Okay, Google” or press and hold the home screen button for several seconds. To get it on iOS, you need to download it from AppStore. At present, the application is available in different languages, however, there are some limitations.

How Does Google Assistant Work?

The user can have the Google Assistant perform different tasks by giving it voice commands. This function enables you to find information on the Internet, create reminders, and perform various actions, such as calling a taxi or booking a table in a restaurant.

Developed and designed for interactive communication, the application has a virtual personality that can track your conversations and evaluate context. You can get to know it better by inquiring what its favorite movie is, finding out its nickname or asking it to make you laugh. GA adjusts itself to your speech style to be able to create a database of relevant responses. The application will find what to answer even if you ask it an abstract or philosophical question (e.g., “What is better?” or “Can I do it?”).

GA can listen, save, and analyze the user’s dialogues for the purpose of determining and searching keywords and concepts. It can answer questions in the usual dialogue mode, set the alarm or timer, show booking data, translate speech, talk about the weather, find a movie, and make a playlist of favorite songs.

Google Assistant can recognize songs that play nearby. For that, you should only say out loud “What is this song?” or “What song is playing?” GA knows where you work, what your favorite sports team is, what your travel plans are, and what is interesting to you. It can also suggest various options for purchasing goods or ordering services. Any message pronounced can be sent via WhatsApp or Viber.

Additional Innovations.

Offline search. If you are trying to find information while your Internet connection disabled, the application will remember what you were looking for and display the search results as soon network connection is restored. Though this function isn’t new, Google made it even more convenient — when access to the network appears, GA gets your device to download the first few pages with search results so that you can view the necessary information even if the connection disappears again.

Simplified mode. Once this mode is activated, web pages and images are downloaded faster, letting you consume less Internet traffic.

Payments via Google Assistant. Now, this function does not work, but in the near future, users will be able to add their credit cards details, as well as payment systems for online shopping. In the US, Google will launch Google Express Service for the delivery of goods purchased with the help of Google Assistant.

The application can be activated from the Google homepage. Now, this feature does not work, but its con is available on the home page for quick access to the service.

Control of all home appliances. At present, Google verbal processing algorithm allows users to control all home appliances by voice.

Support for Google Assistant. Using a keyboard instead of voice command and new settings for flexible adjustment of this app to the user’s needs.

Install this application on your smartphone in just one click. You can also launch it by using the “Ok Google” command or pressing and holding the home screen button. Your personal assistant is ready to come to your rescue anytime and anywhere. Just ask it a question or tell it what to do.

from Young Upstarts https://ift.tt/2U4LdVt via website design phoenix