Michael Levitt's Blog, page 64

Is The Office You're Renting A Bad Place To Be? Here's How To Fix It

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Are you renting an office in these early stages of your company? Does the space feel small to you? Indeed, a lot of us would love to just jump ship and find a bigger, more beautiful place to be when holding meetings and closing deals! However, this isn’t possible on your current budget, which is why you’re renting in the first place. 

And while it’s a good idea to invest in the workplace environment itself, and ensure that people actually want to work with you, if you’re only renting the office you operate out of, this can be hard to pull off! You can’t change something when you don’t own it, and you’ve got to find a few workarounds. And that’s where this post steps in.

Rearrange Your Working Layout

Maybe you just need to make better use of the space you do have? Sure, there’s not much square footage, but there’s still enough room for three to four working cubicles. And that’s something you should think about. So, draw up a floor plan and mix and match layouts until you find one that makes the best use of the space. It’ll help to make the office feel more cozy and populated. 

Cover Up the Floor

There’s a good chance the floor in your rented office is stained and marked from years of use, and is often slippery to walk on, which is just a hazard plain and simple! But this doesn’t have to be a problem for long. There’s a lot you can do to make the floor nicer (and safer!) to walk on. 

For example, you can invest in temporary flooring solutions to cover up the old tiles and give yourself something softer and with much more grip to walk over. A solution like this will both help to tie the office’s look together, and simply work much better in a commercial environment! 

Change the Lighting

Light has a lot to do with our perception of what’s around us. The type of light you’re using, as well as where the light source is in your office, will inform how big or small the office seems in your mind. 

So, if the lighting is overhead but only in one part of the main room, think about adding in some table or floor lamps to help sort this situation. It’ll help you to see the space as it actually is, and it’ll certainly make the workplace feel lighter and brighter. 

Don’t Leave the Walls Bare

You can’t paint them, but you can hang art and put up posters, and the more motivational the better! Don’t let the otherwise negative space get to you, and start to fill in the gaps with something that’s actually nice to look at. With alternative hangers, that just stick to the wall (rather than be nailed in), the landlord won’t even know you’ve hung anything up. 

Your rented office has a lot of potential, and you just need to find it!

4 Unique Trading Strategies for Beginners

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The article will be discussing four unique trading strategies that are perfect for beginners. The first is to have the right amount of funds to trade. This means you should never buy more than what you can afford to lose in one trade. Second, research the trading platforms that are available and which ones work best for your needs. Third, avoid trading with low prices as this could lead to losses or even require a significant amount of waiting around before it goes up again. Finally, be realistic in trading because there will always be fluctuations in prices, and luck does not exist forever.

Research About Trading Platforms

It is essential to research trading platforms before starting. Many sites offer education and training for beginner traders, so it's a good idea to check them out. One of the most popular ones is Investopedia.

Other sites like FXGlobe reviews help you review sites available to choose one that fits your budget, goals, and different needs.

You should research trading platforms. There are many out there, but only a few offer the best features, so you have to know your options. You can read reviews from traders or even take an online course before making any decisions.  

Have the Right Amount of Funds To Trade

One of the biggest mistakes a trading beginner can make is to trade with more capital than they have. This will lead them into debt, and it becomes hard for them to recover from this situation. So it’s crucial that before trading, you can determine how much money you are willing or capable of risking to get some profits. 

The other issue that beginners may face is not having enough money to pay for the transaction fees. Every broker has their set of rules and regulations but, most brokers will charge a commission fee or flat rate per trade if you are using an online brokerage account. These commissions usually cost around $25-$30, which can quickly add up over time, so it's important to factor this in when deciding how much capital you want to invest. 

Avoid Trading With Low Prices

Good traders always have an eye out for low prices. The market offers plenty of opportunities to find stocks with good potential that are going down in price, but you need a strong stomach and nerves of steel to make the most of them. Trading is not about being stubborn or refusing to cut your losses; trading is about choosing wisely when it comes time to sell off assets at a loss. 

When trading, the prices of stocks are constantly fluctuating. Trading with low prices will result in heavy losses and might even lead to bankruptcy. Ergo, beginners must avoid low-priced stocks while they trade on platforms such as NASDAQ or NYSE. 

Be Realistic in the Trading World

Trading is not for everyone. It takes a lot of work and dedication to do well in this world, and it does come with its risks as well. Trading also requires a whole wealth of knowledge that makes beginners feel like they are out of their depths.

The world of trading is treacherous, and it's not something you should dive into without knowing the consequences. But, unfortunately, for every person who has made money in this industry, dozens more have lost. 

With that in mind, understand online trading, how to manage your products and losses over time.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many things to remember for people who want to get into trading. Most importantly, you must have the right amount of funds and research about your platform before anything else. In addition, you should always be realistic when investing in the stock market as there will never be a perfect strategy.

Top Tips for Improving Data Center Efficiency

Data centers allow companies to congregate all their IT operations into one facility. Storing, processing, distributing, and all other data center responsibilities require a lot of energy. Without proper upkeep, your data center’s performance and efficacy can start to falter. In turn, you may notice your company’s data center working harder instead of smarter and your energy bills rising because of it.

To maintain your investment’s quality and efficacy, there are several proactive measures you can take. Read on to discover the top tips for improving data center efficiency.

Rid Your Data Center of Zombie Servers

When companies scale the size of their data centers, it’s common for unused servers to get mixed up in the growth. It’s possible you could have “zombie servers,” or servers that you don’t use but that remain on, using precious power.

Identifying and ridding your center of zombie servers is a major way to reduce overall data center energy consumption. You can prevent the issue of zombie servers from occurring during future data center expansions by taking meticulous documentation of all equipment.

Optimize Your Facility Space

The way your company uses the space within its data center is incredibly impactful on its energy efficacy. When exploring all you need to know about data center cable management, you’ll find that there are ways to take advantage of both the vertical and horizontal space of your facility.

Optimizing your space doesn’t just help make your facility appear tidier, but it also creates more seamless airflow for all your equipment. Better airflow allows servers to work successfully for longer and without troubling your fuel source for more power.

Find a Solid Energy Supplier

If you’ve updated your data center with the above top tips for improving data center efficiency and noticed no chance in inclining energy bills, consider that the reason behind the extra expenses may be your energy provider. Reflect on all your energy supplier options to determine whether you’re getting the best deal with your current one. A reliable supplier can help your business utilize energy more effectively.

Pro-Tip: Before switching suppliers, let your current supplier know that’s your plan. They may feel inclined to offer you a discount in hopes of retaining an existing customer.

The Top Reasons To Choose Corporate Housing

When you’re traveling for any reason, one of the many factors to consider is where you’ll be staying. Although many travelers immediately start looking at local hotels or motels, other options are available. For instance, corporate housing rentals are viable options for short and long-term travelers. Read the guide below to learn the top reasons to choose corporate housing over other less accommodating options.

A Homier Experience

One of the starkest differences between corporate housing and your average hotel is the atmosphere. Of course, both housing options are temporary, but the former comes with many home-like amenities and extra-luxurious accommodations. For instance, common corporate housing amenities include full kitchens stocked with appliances and personal washer and dryer units.

Suffice it to say, sharing a washer unit with the whole floor or having to travel to another building entirely for such services isn’t ideal on vacations or business trips. Thankfully, the homey atmosphere of corporate housing flourishes because it tackles these issues and more for temporary housing seekers.

No Employment Necessary

One of the top reasons to choose corporate housing is that you don’t have to be a business traveler to book your stay, despite its moniker. Corporate housing is only one of the many terms that describe this lodging option, with other names including furnished apartments, temporary housing, and short-term rental. For instance, military families temporarily relocating can rely on corporate housing for a comfortable and accommodating stay.

Luxury Lifestyles

There are various types of corporate housing available, but the homey amenities are commonplace among them all. However, as mentioned above, another common attribute of corporate housing is the presence of luxurious amenities. For instance, you’ll find options offering fitness centers, volleyball courts, pools, golf courses, and other enticing activities when perusing corporate housing providers.

Additionally, many corporate housing providers bring an elegant touch to furniture and décor, with some offering garden tubs, impeccable ceramic tiles, and raised vanities. Although these attributes might sound minuscule to some, they make a surprisingly large impact on the atmosphere of any living space. So, when a corporate housing provider pays attention to elegance and convenience, that’s an auspicious sign.

5 Tips For Boosting Motivation and Reaching Your Goals

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What motivates you to keep going to reach your goals? Setting goals is a great motivator to achieve things and pursue a path in life that allows you to do everything you dream. But turning those dreams into reality can be challenging, and it isn't about the motivation for many. It is to do with social or economic issues that hinder progress.

So when the going gets tough, how do you keep going even if all the odds are stacked against you.

Break it Down

Huge goals can seem unachievable. It can feel like you are treading water, not really getting very far at all. Break down your goals into smaller steps and climb the ladder, so to speak. It is more motivating to take it one small step at a time than trying to scale a huge wall with nothing to grip onto. It doesn't matter how many steps it takes. The smaller, the better to help keep you on track.

Set Time Goals

It is useless setting goals if you have no timeline attached to them. To really push yourself to get things done, you need to be realistic about your time to dedicate to the cause. Once you can identify your time, you can create realistic timescales to help you get there. For example, if you want to retrain to become a teacher, you need to assess its steps and look at the training periods. The time you will be dedicated to your training to give yourself the goal of having qualified and a job offer by your set date.

Read Success Stories

Take inspiration from others in your niche who have succeeded. Negativity breeds negativity, and surrounding yourself with people who are not supportive and pulling you back will greatly reduce your motivation and affect your journey. Instead, turn to like-minded people, follow those who have reached their goals, such as Michael DeNobile and use their journey to help you on yours.

Commit Publicly

There is nothing like peer pressure and being held accountable for making you commit and see things through. Being open and public with what you want can help reiterate what you want and allow others to check in to see how you are getting on. Whether you post a timeline on social media or set up a blog chronicling your life so you can have something to look back on, doing so can be the push you need.

Create A Routine and Commit

Routine is the key to being organized and dedicated. Without a schedule, you can take liberties with your time, and it becomes easier to push things to the back of the line or down your list of priorities.

Be honest about what commitments you have, where your free time is, and how often you can carve out time to hit your goals. It may feel a bit forced and regimented, but it will allow you to compartmentalize your life and assign blocks of time, no matter how small your dreams are.

Facilitating Communication and Collaboration Among Your Team – a Brief Guide

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Communication and collaboration are essential aspects of effective team management. However, promotive team cohesion can be a challenging affair. Developing a mentality where all members of a group support one another and thrive on each other's successes is easier said than done. This is an especially relevant point at present, with remote working at an all-time high. However, some techniques and technologies can be implemented to improve communication and collaboration in your organization. Here are some of the best ways to enhance harmony and ensure that everyone is pulling in the same direction. 

Clearly Communicate Team Goals

Ensuring that every team member is aware of the group's goals and what is expected of them. Daily communication and meetings are valuable tools for achieving this. This will help to reduce the risk of misunderstandings and crossed wires in your day-to-day activities. Additionally, regular meetings and communication will help your team to remain focused and productive when carrying out the tasks they have been asked to do. 

Overall, great leadership is one of the most important factors for fostering a culture of communication and collaboration in your team. Setting clear goals will help your employees to work as a cohesive unit, so you must remember that collaboration begins with your management style. 

Use Agile Ceremonies

Agile is an iterative technique employed in project management and software development settings. This approach allows teams to deliver high-value products to consumers in a timely and streamlined manner. An agile team will complete work in small, manageable increments rather than focusing on one overall deadline. This allows such teams to communicate and adapt to roadblocks more efficiently. 

A fundamental aspect of managing an agile team is using ceremonies. These are a cornerstone of agile development strategies and apply to the Scrum framework. Scrum refers to building products or managing projects in fixed-length iterations that are called sprints. If you are managing an agile team, then ceremonies are an essential aspect of communication and collaboration. 

If you are managing an agile team, make use of ceremonies to improve cohesiveness across your operations. Sprint planning, Daily Stand-up, Sprint Review and Sprint Retrospective enable agile development through Scrum. Ultimately, this will allow you to streamline complex problem-solving and enhance communication. For more information about agile ceremonies, visit Easy Agile. 

Recognize the Strengths of Individuals

Highlighting the strengths of the different team members is an excellent way of enhancing collaboration in your workplace. For employees at work, one of the primary reasons for feeling dissatisfied with an organization is when they do not feel like their achievements or strengths are recognized by management. This can make staff feel demoralized, reduce productivity, and contribute to staff turnover, which can be disastrous for team harmony. 

Therefore, you should make a concerted effort to make your employees feel appreciated and listened to. This will make them more likely to enjoy spending time at work with colleagues and ultimately improve performance. By understanding the strengths of your team members, you can assign tasks more effectively and have greater confidence in an individual's abilities to perform them. 

Encourage and Listen to Feedback

Creating an open and collaborative environment means providing space where people feel comfortable expressing their concerns and ideas with other team members. Therefore, you should aim to develop a culture of constructive feedback among your employees. 

This works both ways. As a manager, you should avoid criticizing your team members and instead focus on communication that helps individuals learn and grow. On the other hand, you should also give your employees opportunities to air any concerns or feedback that they might have about your management or the company's direction. Such an approach will foster team spirit and allows all staff members to feel valued and heard in the workplace. 

Partake in Team-Building Activities

Getting out of the office (or home office) and encouraging socialization between team members is one of the most effective ways to build a collaborative culture in your organization. Doing so will help you to build a team that gets on in and outside of the workplace. Overall, your employees will be far more likely to talk and work together if they enjoy each other's company. 

Therefore, it is in your best interests to organize meet-ups and activities outside of working hours. Whether this is to take your team out for a meal, go on a work-away somewhere nice or simply to go to the pub on a Friday evening, it can pay dividends when it comes to collaboration. 

Conclusion

On the whole, creating a team that is comfortable working together and communicating their ideas and frustrations is easier said than done. Ultimately, this success rests on your management style and ability to foster an open and honest environment in the workplace. However, this should be a primary focus of any manager. Following strategies like those outlined above will help improve productivity and efficiency in your organization and help your team members feel valued and happy in their work.

Best Strategies for Keeping Your Small Business Organized

In small team settings, it’s incredibly easy to lose track of just about everything. When team members fill multiple roles and responsibilities shift on an as-needed basis, concepts from brainstorming sessions and assignees for action plans can fall through the cracks. Lost ideas and lost progress mean wasted time and energy. The best strategies for keeping your small business organized focus on communication, access, and routines as key tools for better productivity.

Create Procedures for You and Your Team

The first thing a small business should do to improve its organizational structure is create written and agreed-upon procedures for the team to follow. You should document brainstorming sessions for new products or new strategies in the same way and in the same place so that any team member can return to these ideas as necessary to implement them. The expected timelines of specific work tasks, such as creating graphics for social media, should be clear-cut and in writing so that other teammates can easily understand where a task is and when they need to get involved. Creating these detailed procedures will increase consistency and help more tasks move from ideas to finished products.

Use a Tool That Fits Your Habits

The business world has been fixated on work organization tools and systems for decades. Tracking products, task stages, and customer engagement are all vital to monitoring progress and finding opportunities for improvement. Many companies now rely on applications and computer programs to help them find better organizational strategies. However, the current needs of your business may not necessitate expensive software, as most project management tools are designed to accommodate hundreds of tasks carried out by large teams. Consider all facets of your business’s functions as you implement Product Information Management or Agile solutions.

The most important thing about using any software tools in your work, from shared spreadsheets to digital scrum boards, is to ensure that your team can and will use the tool consistently. If interacting with the software slows down your team, or if something about the program makes them seek other documentation strategies, re-evaluate.

Plan for Scaling

While it may not seem pressing for small businesses currently struggling to organize their workflow, you should find strategies that will continue to work for your business as it grows. Finalizing procedures and making them accessible will benefit new hires trying to understand the company’s mission and processes, so write today’s procedures with next year’s employees in mind. If your current organizational tools only work for ten employees, plan for necessary upgrades as your company expands. Keeping the concept of business scaling in mind will prevent drastic overhauls in the future.

The best strategies for keeping your small business organized are those that you can adapt to your team and the needs of your industry. Every business will find that its employee dynamics will demand unique tools and systems to run their best. As you take steps to organize your business better, prepare for trial-and-error periods, and remain open to feedback and new ideas.

Guide To Make Your Business More Environmentally Friendly

As the corporate push for eco-friendly business continues, you don’t want to get left behind. Explore this guide to make your business more environmentally friendly to find some practices you can implement today.

Use Sustainable Products

From toilet paper to ink cartridges to cleaning supplies, non-reusable plastics make up many of the products that businesses use daily. They are full of chemicals produced in an environmentally unfriendly way.

Eco-friendly products are a simple, cheap way to have a lasting impact on the planet if upheld. It might even inspire employees to implement similar practices in their homes.

Sustainable Packaging

If you are a retailer or restaurant, consider switching from plastic packaging to paper. Many companies now make biodegradable and compostable packaging that is a far cry from the plastic bags at a grocery store.

One plastic bag or Styrofoam cup may not seem like a big deal but think about how many customers you help in a year. Your company could contribute to thousands of non-biodegradable products being throw into the trash. Also, a switch to eco-friendly packaging is something your customers will notice and appreciate. So, while paper packaging might cost more upfront, the benefits seem endless in the long run.

Switch To Paperless

Switching to a paperless model is something that many businesses adopt, not just for environmental reasons. As technology capabilities increase, paper becomes more obsolete. The benefits of digitizing your business’s documents are wide-reaching because it helps organize documents, secures your data, and decreases your budget as supply costs go down.

Energy-Efficient Lights

The energy bills for businesses can run very high, and with the lights on all day, it’s easy to see why. LED lights and CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) can last 50 times longer than incandescent lighting, even though they might cost slightly more. Also, they are more energy-efficient than incandescent lighting so that you can cut down on energy costs.

Promote Public Transit for Commuters

Employees can have a high carbon footprint before they even get to the office. Transportation accounts for around one-fifth of global carbon dioxide emissions. Offering a discount for public transit for your employees will encourage them to find an eco-friendlier way to commute.

Now that you’ve studied this guide to make your business more environmentally friendly, your company can save the environment and also make money!

Top Tips For Hiring New Employees

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The modern workplace is continually evolving, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of remote working. However, one thing is clear - companies that do not hire the right staff will struggle to succeed. This is due to the fact that your employees are essential to the daily running of your business - whether they are designing and manufacturing new products or working in a customer service position. 

As a result, companies that are serious about the growth of their business need to think seriously about the staff they are hiring and adapt their hiring processes to bring in new and exciting employees.

With that in mind, here are some top tips that you should bear in mind when hiring.

Be specific in your advertisements. When putting together a job description and application pack, you must be as specific as possible when describing your ideal employee. For example, you may want to contain a bulleted list of both essential attributes and qualifications, alongside any desired ones. This will help the right applicants find you. 

Know when to bring in extra help. Sometimes, it can be difficult to find the right employees on your own. Thankfully, there are various companies you can turn to to help you make meaningful connections with prospective employees. For example, if you work within the legal field and are looking to bring in new layers, companies such as Wegman Partners can help by connecting you with job-seekers that are not only highly qualified but incredibly passionate and determined. 

Think carefully about the interview process. According to a recent study, a typical employer will interview 6-10 candidates before finding the right fit for their company. This can be incredibly time-consuming and, at times, demoralizing if a promising candidate doesn’t impress you in the interview. As a result, you should ensure that you structure the interview carefully. Create questions that not only assess the candidate’s suitability for the role but also allow you to learn something about them as a person. Furthemore, you should always ask them to give examples of previous work or when they put their skills to good use. For example, if a candidate states they are great at delegating tasks - ask them for an example of when they did this. This is a great way to coax impressive answers from candidates, especially those who may be a little nervous. 

Be the kind of company employees will want to work for. During the interview process, candidates also assess whether or not they would want to work for your company. Therefore, you need to ensure that you impress them too. Thankfully, there are various ways to achieve this - many of which center around simply taking good care of your current employees and maintaining an impressive employee retention rate. For example, you should ensure that you have excellent management skills and offer your employees the appropriate care and support. For example, you should have steps in place to take care of their mental health through burnout reduction strategies. You should also ensure employees receive fair wages and attractive benefits - especially if you want to bring in high-caliber employees.   

Creative Ideas To Consider for Mobile Businesses

Establishing a mobile business of your own is a gratifying and remarkable adventure. But with so many different products and services to offer, it can be hard to choose which will be the best fit for you. Luckily, we’ve put together a list of creative ideas to consider for mobile businesses to help you land on the perfect option for you!

Coffee Shop Café Truck

Perhaps one of the most creative ideas to consider for mobile businesses is a coffee shop café truck. This cost-effective alternative to a storefront would have all of the best parts of a typical coffee shop like aromatic espresso drinks, gourmet pastries, and gelato. But it would come packaged in a customizable truck that you could adorn with your hip logo and brand. Additionally, starting your own coffee shop will prove simpler and more budget-friendly if you go with the mobile option.

Nomadic Photography Business

Obtaining all the resources and tools to build a proper photography business is a real challenge. After all, you’ll want to ensure you’re working with top-of-the-line equipment. You’d also have to worry about renting studio space, having transportation to each of your locations, and much more. However, using a large truck or van to house your equipment and get to and from your shooting locations can save you oodles of cash and eliminate the need for a studio, so you can focus on taking quality pictures and producing excellent work for your clients.

Mobile Floral Shop

It should come as no surprise that the costs involved with owning a stand-alone floral shop can rack up pretty quickly. And when you start accounting for the expenses that come with purchasing quality florals, a storefront can begin to seem like a money pit. However, building a mobile floral shop might be an excellent alternative.

A mobile shop allows you to house the bulk of your flowers at home and keep the ones you plan to use for arrangements in an insulated truck. You can schedule deliveries for regulars while also having the ability to take orders on demand. And best of all, you can put your money towards your products, rather than worry about sinking it all into keeping your store open.

There are numerous methods for making a business mobile, and hopefully, this quick list provides some inspiration on all the ways you can do it for yourself!