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5 Ways To Cope With The Pandemic

Trillions around the world are dealing with the stress and the reality of a pandemic. When COVID-19 first started in December 2019, no one knew how much the virus would affect our lives.

On January 30, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized the COVID-19 as an outbreak. By March 11, it was declared as a pandemic.

Countries from all over the world have closed their borders and stopped their economies. Everyone is asked to stay inside their homes. Frontliners are exposed to the dangers of catching the virus themselves.

How does a pandemic affect people?

A pandemic is defined as a “worldwide spread of a new disease. When a new disease arises, most have not developed immunity to it. Also, vaccines and cure for the disease are not readily available.

An epidemic is a disease that spreads within a community or region. Unlike an epidemic, a pandemic affects three or more countries. Its effect is on a global scale.

Due to the large scale effect of a pandemic, the impact goes beyond people’s health. One’s work or livelihood are also affected. Daily living habits may also be put on pause. Schools are also canceled. There may also be shortages of everyday supplies or products.

Everyone’s lifestyle may change during a pandemic, which affects your physical, emotional, and mental health. During this time, it’s important to know how to take care of yourself and your family.

When things seem like it’s getting out of hand, here are some basic tips to help you cope with the pandemic.

1. Keep Yourself Busy

If you’re practicing self-isolation to prevent from getting infected or infecting others, you need to keep your mind and body busy.

Staying at home may seem like a vacation, but in reality, it’s not. When you’re at home, far away from your friends and family, you may feel sad, worried, and anxious.

After a long period of self-isolating, you may get cabin fever. Symptoms of cabin fever are:

Having no desire to move or become activeSadness or depressionLack of focusLack of patienceDecreased motivationFeeling of HopelessnessDifficulty in waking or wanting to be napping all the time

When you start recognizing these symptoms for yourself, you need to switch things up and keep yourself busy.

Try watching new shows or movies. Read a new book. Pick up a hobby or revisit one that you haven’t done in a long time. If you’re up for it, you can also create your own projects to keep your mind and body active.

The key to keeping yourself busy is to find happiness in these activities. If you don’t like what you’re doing, you won’t be able to sustain it. It’s important that you won’t feel like doing the activity is a chore or a task that you need to “just finish.”

2. Schedule Daily Activities

In line with keeping yourself busy, scheduling daily activities can help you mentally prepare for the day. Create a To-Do List or set a specific time for when you will work and when you take breaks.

When you’re staying at home without too many interactions, going through your daily routine can be a little tricky. The days and nights can be combined together and suddenly you don’t know what day it is.

Having a task tracker or a schedule of your daily routine can help you keep track of your day and maximize your time in isolation. But, don’t be too hard on yourself when your schedule isn’t met! It’s fine if you didn’t get to finish a task or two.

Creating a schedule shouldn’t be a way to police your actions. You don’t have to strictly follow your schedule, but having a guide on what you need to do will help you organize your day.

3. Get enough supplies       

Now, being in a pandemic, it would seem wise to hoard a lot of supplies when you’re out on a grocery run. Fight the urge to do that! Not only will you help others (who also need those items), you also lessen the risk of overspending and wasting those products.

Instead of hoarding unnecessary amounts of supplies, take the time to plan what supplies you need and for how long you will consume them. Whether it’s food or products that have a longer shelf life, you need to get only what you need.

An easy way to know how much food you need is by planning your meals for a week or two. With a meal plan, you can estimate how much you need. Plus, you can set aside a budget for your grocery runs.

4. Install additional security devices

During a pandemic and difficult times, it is important to feel that you are safe and secured. Your home should be the safest place for you right now. Having a sanctuary where you can let loose and deal with the emotions and stress of the pandemic can help with your mental health.

Your home is no longer just a home. It’s now your vacation destination, your gym, your movie theater, your school, your restaurant, and your place of worship. For some who can still work, it’s also your office.

Therefore, it’s important to take security measures to keep your home safe. The last things that should be in your mind are worries and doubts about your security.

Getting additional security devices such as a front door barricade bar can help protect you and your home. These devices can also ease your mind. You’ll take comfort in the fact that you’ve got a device that can keep any intruders away.

5. Reach out to your friends and family

Even though we’re physically distancing ourselves from each other that doesn’t mean we need to be emotionally-distant to one another. Reach out to your friends and family. Take time to see how they’re doing and to update them on how you are as well.

What’s great is that we have a lot of advanced technology that can help us stay connected with our loved ones. Apps like Skype, Zoom, Facetime, and Google Meet makes communication easier.

Attend a church service online. Chat with your friends. Set game nights or virtual hang-outs regularly with the people you love spending time with.

You can enjoy fun games with apps like House Party, Bunch, and Facebook Messenger. You can even host a movie-watching party if you miss going to the movies with your friends.

It’s essential that you keep and grow the relationships you have before this pandemic started. They are your support group. Plus, it’s a way for you to keep supporting them. Now, more than ever is the time for you to connect with other people.

There you have it! Five basic tips on coping with the pandemic.

You’ll probably notice that there’s no mention of following the news or being up-to-date with what’s happening outside. It goes without saying that you need to be informed about the pandemic to know how to fight it.

However, the trick is to always find the balance of getting the information and overthinking the situation. You need to get the right information and you need to get the right amount to make sure you can be physically and mentally well.

With the right information, you’d know how to avoid getting the virus, how to get well once you get it, and how to not spread it further. The right amount would ensure that you won’t trigger anxiety, anger, depression, and other negative feelings that could damage your mental health.

Make sure you get the right information from trusted sources. Make sure to limit your time in watching, listening, or reading about it, too. Anytime you feel like the news is overwhelming, you need to stop yourself from watching or reading it. You can go back to it once you’re in a better state of mind.

This goes the same with conversations about COVID-19 with your friends and families. If at any time you feel overwhelmed, you can politely say goodbye or shift the topic of conversation. Make sure to also tell them that you are not comfortable discussing the situation at length so they won’t push it, too. 

What is the best way to cope with the pandemic?

Remember, this pandemic is not a regular situation in your life. It’s not normal for others as well. You have to be kind to yourself and others. Don’t push yourself too much to become productive, to become well-adjusted, or to even be okay.

There are many uncertainties in this situation so you need to take everything one step at a time. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Be kind to yourself and forgive yourself if you couldn’t meet your own expectations.

It also goes the same for how you interact with others. Remember, you are not going through this alone. Everyone is going through this pandemic. Make sure you extend your kindness to others. Sooner or later, everyone will need each other’s support.

The post 5 Ways To Cope With The Pandemic appeared first on Entrepreneurship Life.

Pandemic Proof Jobs: Types of Home-based Jobs You Could Do

On January 21, 2020, the first novel coronavirus infection was recorded in the United States. The pandemic has reached our country. 

When news of a flu-like virus outbreak started in December 2019 in China, no one expected it to be a large threat on a global scale. The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a pandemic by the end of January.

Countries responded to the battle by closing offices, stores, schools, and borders. Everything was put on hold. Everyone had to stay inside their homes–both to keep yourself and others safe. 

Many people filed for unemployment because businesses are finding ways to save money or shutting down completely. In April 2020, the unemployment rate in the U.S. jumped to 14.7%. About 20.5 million people lost their jobs, according to the Labor Department.  

Now more than ever, people are turning to home-based jobs to support their family and their daily needs. 

What is a home-based job? 

A home-based job is a work that you can do remotely, usually from your home. With technological advances, such as the internet, laptops, and web programs, work that is normally done in an office can be done anywhere there’s an internet connection. 

It’s the perfect solution for when there are unexpected situations such as business failures, sudden lay-offs, and now, a pandemic. 

What kind of home-based job can I do? 

One thing the pandemic has proven is that there is a lot of work that can be done at home. (despite some notions that there are little opportunities for home-based work). 

The number of home-based jobs has been increasing. More than that, there are a lot of recruitment companies dedicated to remote work. Notably, there’s Upwork, Fiverr, and Remote Employment. You can even find listings for work on Craigslist and Indeed.com. 

Here’s a round-up of home-based work that you can do that’s pandemic-proof! 

1. Transcription Work

The first type of home-based work requires keen ears and eye for details. Transcription work is a job that transcribes audio recordings, videos, or documents. 

Transcriptionists may be sent recordings of conference calls, interviews, or meetings. In return, a transcriptionist would need to transcribe the conversation into a document. 

What You Need: Headset, Laptop or Tablet, Document Program, Quiet Room, and Internet Connection



2. Data Entry Jobs

Another type of job that requires transcribing work is data entry jobs. The difference between a transcription job from a data entry job is the source of data. 

Most data entry jobs require research on the internet. For example, you need to create a list of available restaurants in a specific area. Aside from the name of the restaurant, you’ll be asked to fill in details such as an address, telephone number, email address, and menu specialty. 

Other data entry jobs provide scanned copies of documents that you need to digitize or re-type into a document. Some documents are handwritten, so you also need to be adept in recognizing words that may not be obvious immediately.

What You Need: Laptop or Tablet, Document Program, and Internet Connection 



3. Tax Preparer

A true pandemic-proof job is to become a tax preparer. Whatever happens, everyone needs to prepare their taxes. What’s great is that it is work that you can do in the comfort of your home. 

A tax preparer is a professional that can calculate, file, and sign income tax returns on behalf of their clients. Contrary to common belief, you don’t have to be an accountant to become a tax preparer. Becoming a tax preparer can become a career and business in one. 

Start your career with tax preparation training. The IRS also provides an Annual Filing Season Program for any tax professional that wants to better themselves. Next, you need to file for a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). If you would like to start your own practice, you also need an Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN). 

Worried about handling taxes and numbers? Nowadays, professional tax preparation software has drastically made tax preparation easier. All you need to do is input your client’s data and apply the knowledge you learned from your training. 

The Ultimate Guide for New Tax Preparers is the best guide that can help you learn how to become a tax preparer. 

What You Need: Professional Tax Software, Laptop or PC, Communication Apps (Email or Video Calling), Internet Connection, PTIN, EFIN, EIN



4. Online Tutoring 

When schools are out, parents are tasked with homeschooling their children while working at the same time. If you have skills in teaching math, science, or literature, you can apply as a tutor for students.

At this time, your teaching skills would be applied virtually. Aside from teaching concepts, you also need to ensure you can engage your students even without being physically present. Teaching aids like bright colored toys or interesting web-based games can help! 

What You Need: Communication App (Skype, Zoom, or Google Meet), Web-based Games, Teaching Curriculum, Laptop or Tablet, Internet Connection



5. English as Second Language (ESL) Online Tutoring

If you’re not confident in teaching school subjects, why not teach your native language instead? Foreigners are looking for native English speakers that can help them practice their English speaking skills. 

There are companies that offer these services to foreigners and employ native speakers (only). For a specified time, you can have a conversation with your student. During the conversation, you can correct your student’s mistakes or explain how he can improve his speaking skills better. 

Companies may need you to go through an assessment and interview first before becoming an ESL online tutor. You may also need to follow a specific schedule for the classes. 

What You Need: Headset, Laptop or Tablet, Company Web-based App, Internet Connection



6. Translation Jobs

Know more than one language? You can become a translator! Get paid for translating words from English to another language or vice versa. 

Most often, translators are given a document that they need to translate within a given period of time. It could vary to fiction books, manuals, or publicity materials. 

Instructions are sent to make sure the output meets the standards set. For example, if you’re working on a manual, you may need to use formal or jargon words in your translation. So, if your foreign language level is low, you can work on informal materials like essays or publicity materials. 

What You Need: Foreign Language Expertise, Document Program, Laptop or Tablet, Internet Connection



 7. Customer Service Jobs

Everyone needs help from time-to-time. Everyone calls customer service centers at least once. With the recent pandemic situation, customer service centers are shifting their operations to home-based. 

There are two types of customer service jobs: voice and non-voice. Voice customer service jobs involve talking to customers on the phone or through VoIP. Non-voice customer service jobs answer customer concerns using emails or chat. 

If you do not have a quiet room, it’s better to work on non-voice accounts. However, if writing is not your forte, voice accounts may be up your alley. Using tools such as VPN and VoIP, the customer service center can forward calls or concern tickets and provide you with a system while you’re at home. 

Just remember, when you apply for a customer service job, you have to check that they have home-based or remote work positions. Do not confuse this with the office-based customer service jobs. Since office-based jobs are the norm, you have to be careful in applying and clarify first. 

What You Need: VoIP, Web-based App, Headset, Laptop, Internet Connection



Why should I consider a Home-based Job? 

With home-based jobs, you can afford to work at the comfort and safety of your home. If there’s a pandemic, the best place to be in is your home. You can lessen possible instances of infection when you don’t need to go outside to work. 

If you have a home-based job, you won’t have to worry about losing your job. What’s great with home-based jobs is that it’s project-based at times. You can finish a project and then look for another one. So if a business goes bankrupt, you won’t be too scared because you won’t be dependent on that business alone. 

Speaking of being dependent, these home-based jobs don’t have to be your full-time job as well. You can keep these as side gigs in order to earn more money during your free time. 

If you’re serious about having a home-based career, then becoming a tax preparer is the best choice for you. The tax preparation season is only from January to April. That’s the only time when you’ll be busy. If you choose to expand your business in the future, you can work as a professional tax software reseller during the off-peak season. 

The world of business has changed alongside technological advances. Through the use of the internet, you can earn a living without risking your life during a pandemic.

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5 Ways To Protect Your Assets And Properties

Regardless of the reasons, losing your assets can be a nightmare for your entire life. Imagine working for something for several decades, only to lose it to creditors or a lawsuit. Unfortunately, it is not only the doctors and corporate executives who are prone to litigation. 

Anyone can fall victim to this frustrating situation if the necessary measures are not put in place. In fact, the more assets you amass, the more of a lawsuit target you become. As such, you need a mechanism(s) to protect your assets from such cases and even your rivals. 

Although most institutions specialize in private wealth, protecting your business assets should also be on your to-do list. This article will cover some of the factors to keep in mind with regards to the protection of your assets and properties.

1. Separate Your Assets

More often than not, business properties are the ones that are most hit when it comes to lawsuits. It is quite challenging to protect them entirely because they are exposed. However, you can keep your private wealth safe by separating it from your business or company. 

The best place to start is the bank accounts, especially if you own a sole proprietorship business. Usually, distinguishing the two is done for the sake of accounting, but it also has legal benefits. Also, try to draw a line between your assets and that of another person, such as a family member.

For example, you and your spouse have a joint bank account. The money here is shared 50/50 between the two of you. So, in case of a divorce, this could be a huge problem. Of course, everyone would like to have a long-lasting marriage, that’s why no one can dispute the idea of joining accounts. However, if you feel–for whatever reason–that the unthinkable could happen, then, it is best to be proactive. Find the best asset protection company and employ its services. 

2. Transfer Ownership Of Your Assets

This is the idea of having nothing but controlling everything. It is only reasonable that no one can take something away from you if you legally have nothing. So, how do you do it?  The first option is to sign up with a company who specializes in this field. Cook Islands asset protection, for instance, will ensure that your wealth will not be at risk in case of a lawsuit. 

Alternatively, you can place the assets in your spouse’s name. Of course, this requires a lot of trust between the two of you. In case of a divorce, there could be severe implications in the division of wealth if care is not taken. So, it is up to you to weigh the situation and see which option works best for you.

3. Operate Your Business As An LLC Or A Cooperation

As a sole proprietor, your private assets are exposed. Most of the time, they are attached to the business. To avoid such a scenario, it is best to operate your business as a limited liability company (LLC) or partnership. What this does is that it makes it easier for you to separate your private and business properties. 

As such, in case of a lawsuit, it is way more challenging for the creditors to bring your wealth into the picture. So, what’s the difference between corporation and LLC?  Well, the two are, more or less, the same, but have a few differences when it comes to the law. If the creditor is awarded a charging order against your portion of an LLC, all your distribution out of the company will go to the creditor. However,  they cannot force you to make a distribution, and that may encourage settling of the case since the one holding the charging order may end up getting no money despite having access to the tax bill. 

4. Engage In Proper Contracts

Using fraudulent procedures gives creditors a leeway into your private properties. It is the easiest way for them to attack you and your business, and there’s little you can do when it gets to this stage. The best solution is to avoid contracts signed under the table. 

Ensure that every project goes through the required preparation channels before they are launched. Also, make it a habit to employ licensed professionals. They may include repairmen, legal contractors, and tax advisors. These people should also–if possible–be insured to avoid any legal repercussions. 

5. Take The “Umbrella Insurance” Route

Umbrella insurance is a personal or business insurance that covers all the other insurance services you may have. It will only cost you between  $300 and $500 annually to cover assets of up to $2 million. Of course, you must be on the right side of the law to receive their assistance. So, if you find yourself in scandals involving fraudulent practices or negligent actions, then, it might be tough to rely on umbrella insurance companies. 

One significant disadvantage of this option is the fact that it offers up to $2 million coverage. Some entrepreneurs, however, may require protection of assets worth more than that. As such, it could be challenging for them to secure their wealth using this route. 

Bottom Line

Protecting your assets is something that you should consider right from the start. Do not wait for a lawsuit for you to react. There are several ways to be proactive in asset protection. However, as discussed above, some of the options can be risky and could put you into more trouble if you’re not careful. Therefore, you need to consider all the possibilities before your preference. 

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5 Ways to Relax After Working From Home

There is nothing better than coming back home from a busy day at work. Throwing yourself on the couch in front of your TV with your favorite snacks can be a great way to relax after a busy day. But this doesn’t work if you’re working from home. It gets difficult to unwind when working remotely. Days blend into each other as you lose the sense of time.

You can try various things from disconnecting or taking a bath, to playing games online or reading. If you like playing bingo games, look no further and play online gala bingo, which is one of our favorites. You can read books, dystopian and New Adult are our favorites.

To help you relax and rejuvenate, we bring you 5 ways that you can try out.

1. Disconnect

It will be difficult to unwind if you’re still thinking about your work. Stepping out of the office is easier said than done when working from home, but it isn’t impossible. First off, turn off the notifications of your work phone or work-related apps, avoid checking your office messages and mails post office hours.

You can also go a step further and use tools and browser extensions that would ban you from accessing your work emails in non-working hours. Remember that you have got the free time that you deserve after working and putting your energy into work that day.

2. Take a Warm Bath

One of the best ways to leave your work behind and really freshen up is to wash away the stress from your body. It’s a classic, but it works all the time. 

A hot shower can help relax your muscles, and if followed by a few splashes of cold water, will re-energize your body. Not to mention the bathwater can be surprisingly therapeutic and calming to the mind.

If you have a bathtub, soak your body with warm water with some Epsom salts in it, it will help relax muscles and loosen stiff joints.

3. Read a Book

If you are sick of the chaotic life of yours, just slip into another one. The chaos in a good fiction book can be relaxing. Reading lowers your heart rate and eases tension in your muscles as you sit calmly and comfortably while reading your book.

Choose your book carefully as you wouldn’t want to read anything exhausting after a long day at work. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t read heavy books if that’s what you would want to read, choose whatever works for you the best, and get lost in the beautiful chaos for a while.

4. Play Games Online

Playing games online can be one of the best ways of relieving stress and improving mindfulness, much needed after a stressful day at work. Games that you play online will quickly engage you and immerse you in the game.

These sessions will help you disconnect from the real-world challenges and relax while you plow your way through the game.

5. Sleep

Get a good night’s sleep, and you’ll restore your energy lost to your work-day. This is a challenge for many of us as we tend to stay up and stay distracted even after going to bed.

Make a rule that your bedroom is a place for sleep and sleep alone and also make sure you make your bed early and keep all of the distractions away that will prevent you from sleeping.

Final Thoughts

Working from home makes it difficult to have a balance between work and personal life. People tend to overwork and let the work stress seep into their personal space. It is important for you to establish boundaries so that you can truly relax.

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Investments in Developing Countries

Today, the sheer range of investment instruments is astonishing. It is possible to profit from currency exchange, shares, derivatives, or ETFs. These instruments can be linked to developed or developing economies. Here are the basics of dealing with emerging market systems.

Classification Overview

There are 200+ countries on the planet today, and they can be classified based on the soundness of their economies. The largest Western systems are classic examples of developed states, as they are fully formed and stable. Younger states, such as Thailand, can fall into the categories of developing, less-developed, or emerging markets. Their economic models can also bring profit to international investors.

Many countries in Asia are classified as developing. Aside from Thailand, the category includes Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. BRICS members are included in the same group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), along with Turkey and Mexico.

Classification is multi-level, with different criteria of economic and social nature. For instance, literacy rates, per capita income and life expectancy are all factored in. Countries with lower ratings do not qualify as developed.

Developing or LDC?

The wording used by international investors has received its fair share of criticism over the years. However, even to this day, the least developed nations belong to the categories of “less economically developed countries” or “frontier markets”.

Countries placed between well-established developed economies and the weakest systems of LEDC are states with a decent standard of living. Their gross domestic product per capita is relatively high. Generally, ‘development’ can be measured in many ways.

So Many Definitions

Classifications in use today vary between organizations. Here is an overview of the most common definitions. In each case, the grouping is based on a specific methodology and set of criteria.

The United Nations sees any country as developed or developing based on its conventions. The category of the least developed includes states where incomes are low, employment systems are weak, and the economy is vulnerable due to population displacement or insufficient reserves of natural resources.The World Bank has changed its approach, classifying economic systems as “low-income”, “lower-middle-income”, etc. The key criterion is GNP (gross national income) per capita. In 2018, the first group of countries included states with per capita income below $1,025. Meanwhile, the same threshold was $12,376 or more for high-income ones.The International Monetary Fund (IMF) uses the most comprehensive system. In addition to per capita income, the general level of the country’s inclusion into the international financial system plays a part. The IMF will also assess how diversified its exports are.







Investment Opportunities: Overview

So, how is an investment done? For retail traders, the most popular way is to buy and sell local currencies. It is important to note that not all systems are accepted on the global exchange. Residents of Thailand can learn Forex basics and trade majors, minors and exotics through reliable brokers like FXTM. Today, online trading is booming.

ETFs: Attractive Instrument

The easiest way to invest is by using ETFs, or exchange-traded funds linked to the emerging markets. These are pooled investment instruments, and their value is based on a basket of securities. Another notable feature is higher volatility in comparison with instruments connected to large economies. Popular examples are the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) and Vanguard MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (VWO).

These ETFs are high-risk/high-return tools, so investors who focus on long-term gains are most likely to be attracted. As developing systems are growing faster than their wealthy counterparts, the profit potential is impressive.

The second important benefit is that ETFs are widely used for diversification of investor portfolios. Those who manage a range of assets reduce their overall risks by spreading them across a set of tool. As a result, losses from any single asset are much less harmful. Investors with securities from developed states will often add emerging market ETFs for balance.

It is also possible to buy securities on foreign stock exchanges, which is complicated due to regulation and taxation issues. Finally, American Depository Receipts (ADRs) are limited to U.S. exchanges. These are linked to specific companies within the emerging economies.

The Bottom Line

Foreign investors need to keep a balanced portfolio of assets. To diversify the selection, they may use ETFs linked to emerging markets. Although these systems are still on their way to maturity, they may bring high returns as a result of higher volatility. When making investment decisions, it is necessary to consider the specifics of the developing nations and the risks they are most vulnerable to.

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Bhanu Choudhrie Invests in Aviation Industry, Future Pilots

Bhanu Choudhrie has navigated a risky path to a place as a successful investor and entrepreneur. He has given back to the community in numerous ways and as a result, he has become an inspiration to those around him and a leader in several industries, especially aviation. Through looking at his path to success, there are several lessons entrepreneurs can take in working towards building an equally promising career.

Starting Down the Road to Success

Born in New Delhi, India, in 1978, Choudhrie had a great start in an entrepreneurial-minded family. In an interview with Ideamensch, he shares, “Our family started investing in the real estate business in India over 30 years ago, my father and uncle started a TV import-export business in the 70s and one of my great grandfathers was the chairman of the Punjab National Bank in India.”

In a family like that, inspiration came easy. However, he still had to earn a name for himself by working hard in school and through higher education. He succeeded in gaining entrance to Boston University where he earned a degree in International Business and Marketing and subsequently, with his excellent performance in college, he gained entrance to Harvard Business School’s Owner Management Program.  

Showing Great Promise in the Business World

After college, Choudhrie started as an intern at JP Morgan in the United States and after building up a wealth of experience, he founded his family-owned private equity group, C&C Alpha Group. His firm began with investments in the healthcare, hotel, real estate and restaurant fields and, through many years of stewarding those investments it finally paid off. Today, the firm has 24 hotels in its roster featuring over 2,000 high-quality hotel rooms. While those four industries continue to serve as part of the core portfolio of C&C Alpha Group, it is the aviation industry that allowed Bhanu to really make his mark.

Developing the Alpha Aviation Group

Choudhrie’s first foray into the aviation industry was with the acquisition of Air Deccan, which he purchased in 2003 as a tiny airline operating just one plane. Within five years, his efforts helped that airline grow in leaps and bounds to provide India with an additional 200 flights per day. With that tremendous growth, they became a force to be reckoned with, forever changing the airline industry in India.

In an interview for This is Money, Choudhrie explained that although it proved successful, there was a lot of doubt in the beginning. “The airline was a risk. Four of us invested and we said at the beginning, ‘if [it] doesn’t work out at least we can say we had an airline.’ It ended up opening up the airline industry in India, with a massive boom in aviation. One, two, even three day journeys on trains for people to get from one village to another became an airline journey away,”. By the end, they were able to not only say they had an airline, but also sell it to Kingfisher for a significant profit.

Overcoming Key Industry Problems

While operating Air Deccan, it became clear that the world needed better pilot training. With that realization, Choudhrie turned his focus toward creating the Alpha Aviation Group in 2006.

Started as a subsidiary of his firm, Alpha Aviation Group was built to provide the world with exceptional flight school offerings for both beginners and advanced pilots. They used their research to identify the best state-of-the-art devices and training techniques to prepare pilots at all skill levels. In response to the need for nearly 300,000 commercial pilots across Southeast Asia, they continually upgraded their facilities with new flight simulators and now, upon entering the simulator bays, trainees can learn how to fly everything from Cessna to Airbus planes. This allowed them to put many accomplished pilots into the field to elevate the success of the industry.

Giving Back to His Community

Beyond solving the need for highly trained airline pilots, Choudhrie wanted to do more to give back to the community. Upon achieving financial success across many different industries, he focused on serving the Path to Success charity, which his mother, Anita Choudhrie, created in 2005. Through the charity, they help disadvantaged children in the UK and India enjoy better educational opportunities, despite a lack of resources. Their work also helps children with disabilities overcome their hardships and achieve their goals.

Over the past 20 years, they have contributed to many different community projects, including the creation of mobility equipment, such as motorized wheelchairs, for adults and kids, the development of a wheelchair basketball club called the London Titans and the establishment of a long-term homeless shelter for vulnerable adults in England. They have also made great strides in supporting relief efforts across Haiti and beyond in response to natural disasters as they occur.

Every step of the way, Bhanu Choudhrie has shown a willingness to work hard and have faith in the process. With that approach, he has been able to achieve phenomenal growth across many different industries. He encourages budding entrepreneurs to follow in his footsteps to achieve their own career goals. All they have to do is remain open to new ideas, work hard and take calculated risks to reach new heights in their professional lives.

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Steps You Should Follow To Start Working From Home

Working from home is one of the work changes that has taken over in recent times due to the coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent stay at home order. Working from home is easy, productive, cost-effective, and reliable. This is why it is now well-favored in the workforce.

To start working from home, you need to take two significant actions. These actions are further developed into various simple steps that you can follow without fuss. Here are the following steps on how to start working from home:

Regular Job to Work From Home

The first step to take to start working from home is to transition your office job to being home-based. Depending on the kind of what you were doing earlier, this might not be easy. If you had a regular 9-5 job where you had to move from home to a specific location, you need to make strategic decisions.

You first need to find out if your workplace has a telework option. Can the organization survive without you being there physically? Are provisions made for work from home efficient? How do you plan to communicate with your team?

Once you have done your research about the possibility of the work-at-home option, you need to inform your boss or the HR department of your decision. Submit documents informing your boss of your decision, the benefits to both you and your employers, and the reason why you would like to work from home.

Most importantly, you need to inform your boss of how you plan to manage your duties efficiently right from home. You could request a short period of trial before the decision is made final. 

Apply for a New Work-From-Home Job

You need to know that you are taking bold chances by informing your boss of your intended switch to working from home. Depending on the company’s policy or telework provisions, your application to work from home might be rejected. If this happens, you have the choice to continue to commute to work or resign and apply for a work from home job.

Ensure first that you have hitched a new work from home job before quitting your regular job. There are several jobs you can do online from home and if your current career isn’t favorable for a work from home job, you can consider venturing into something new.

Instead of applying for a specific job, you can consider freelancing on various platforms.  Also, if you are opportune to, you can start your own work-from-home business. This might take time before paying off; thus you need patience and determination. 

Now that you have set your work-from-home job in motion, you need to take further actions to encourage yourself to do the job efficiently and increase productivity. Here are the following strategies to help you work efficiently and productively at home.

Designated Workspace

To get into the feel of working, you need a functional workspace. Set up your office area in a private space where you would be free from distraction and able to focus on getting your work done. Your laptop/desktop and other work essentials need to be set in place.

Download all appropriate online collaboration tools such as Zoom, Slack, Google Docs, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangout, etc. Your kids and pets should know that that zone is off-limits to them. Set up your station appropriately. 

Make Your Rules

Distractions can come up if you allow it. You need to create a schedule and stick to it. Determine if you would follow the regular 9-5 hours or you would follow irregular work patterns as your job requires. It is always better to follow a regular pattern for the working hours; this gives you work and life balance. 

Minimize Distractions

It is crucial to minimize distractions in every way possible. You could make your partner and children aware of your need for concentration while working. Setting ground-rules would reduce the chances of your kids barging while you are in a meeting.

You can tell your kids to play with their friends or you can employ a nanny to look after them. You can also consider locking the door, to reduce the chances of anyone barging in and distracting you. If you have pets such as dogs that could disturb you by barking incessantly, you can consider buying noise-canceling headphones. 

Get Some Rest

Often, it is possible to lose track of time and use up family time for work; this could affect your productivity. After working and accomplishing some tasks, you can take out little time to eat, relax, and ease tension.

You can use this time to connect with your family and friends before getting back to work. This would ensure that you remain productive after being on the desk for a long time. 

Conclusion

Working from home can be both comfortable and strenuous; therefore, you need to know how to maximize your time to effectively work while at home. A lot of people tend to do the work-at-home, all wrong, and it affects them significantly. However, the steps mentioned above can guide you towards achieving a productive and efficient work-at-home system.

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Warehouse Storage Design Tips You Should Try Today

Warehouses serve many functions. From storing manufactured goods to packaging products ready for export or distribution, warehouses have so much to offer. Because of this, it’s extremely important that they’re designed to be both functional and aesthetically appealing. Their designs should explicitly reflect your company’s goal and style. So, if you are planning to build a warehouse, here are some design tips to inspire you.

Location

You really want to make sure that your warehouse is accessible to roads, ports, and airports. While choosing the perfect location, you also want to consider costs and growth possibilities. What’s the objective of your logistic facility? And for what purpose are you building it? Will the location you’ve chosen support the company’s growth strategy and improve the quality level?

Construction

The construction of a warehouse is commonly influenced by factors such as building height, land size, structural complexities, as well as explicit construction requirements. It’s also important to note that aspects like height can influence slab specifications. It can also influence the fire system requirements in the warehouse.

Racking System

Your warehouse’s racking system design will directly affect the picking efficiency, container handling, as well as cross-docking. Because of this, you need to design your warehouse ‘inside out’. What this means is that you need to start by designing the operational storage plus the material handling system before constructing the building itself. Doing this will ensure both operational capacity as well as flexibility.

Door Type

Doors might look simple but they’re a worthy consideration when it comes to warehouse design. Before choosing a door type, you need to consider how often it will function. Will it be utilized for external or internal purposes? Does it require insulation?

Plus, you also want to make sure that it allows for heavy traffic and has safety, as well as, emergency features. Depending on your budget, you can always find the perfect door for your specific needs. The market is flooded with numerous warehouse door designs ranging from ordinary steel to crash doors, aluminum, insulated/non-insulated sectional doors, rolling shutters, and high-speed warehouse doors.

Health and Safety

Health and safety measures need to be incorporated into your warehouse design right from the planning process. And this starts with the location, occupancy, potential hazards, and desired functions/processes of the proposed warehouse.

To effectively balance safe and secure design, you need to use high-quality materials for the frame, the roof, the cladding, and the floors.

Automation

If you opt for automation, then it should be implemented during the design process. And like most aspects of warehouse design, space optimization is extremely important. The facility’s height and column layout are paramount to a successful automation solution.

You may want to incorporate additional into your technology, such as facility design, extending your company’s visibility across the supply chain, as well as, standard operating procedures.

Conclusion

A warehouse isn’t just a place to store or sort products. It also serves as your company’s aesthetic focal point. Thus, before constructing a warehouse, think about its functionality and aesthetic appeal. The above ideas should help you construct the best warehouse for your company. You can also contact Bob Moore Construction Company Dallas for the best warehouse designs. Good luck!

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Why Do You Need To Have Insurance For Your Business

Business insurance is a type of insurance that’s used to provide coverage for a business from the risk of unforeseen occurrences that could halt or disturb business operations. There are various types of business insurances, and their basic coverage includes legal liability, business interruption, property damage, employee-risk, etc.

The kind of business insurance a business needs depends on its size and mode of operation. However, most businesses downplay the need for insurance. Still, here are top reasons why you should consider insurance for your business:

1.    Reduced Uncertainty

If anything, the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on businesses has shown the great importance of business insurance to reduce the devastating effect of unforeseen occurrences.

A fire incident or natural disaster could occur, reducing a business location and everything in it to shambles. The business owner or critical partner/employee could lose their life due to an accident. Or, the business could be sued for thousands or millions of dollars, resulting in the business’ closure. 

With those in mind, it’s safe to say that there are indeed many unforeseen events that could destroy a business. With business insurance in place, the company would be able to bounce back after the disruption.

Besides, a business that could break apart in the face of any unforeseen event doesn’t look appealing to investors. With the backings of insurance, a potential investor is given the assurance that even in the case of a sad occurrence, the business wouldn’t die out.

2.    Business Continuation

Business discontinuation is another uncertainty that’s attached to an uninsured business. If the business founder or one of the significant co-founders dies, it could lead to the disruption of the business’s activities.

This frequently happens in the case of uninsured businesses. If the business is managed solely by just one person, the effect could be even more devastating.

To avoid the uncertainty of closure that accompanies the death of a business founder, co-founder, or even one of the shareholders, business insurance is essential. Key man insurance, a type of business insurance, helps provide adequate coverage for a business in the event of the death of a key partner.

The coverage comes in the form of an insurance premium. The insurance premium would help the business stay rooted while necessary adjustments are made. 

3.    Increased Business Efficiency and Productivity

If a backup plan (insurance) is not included in a company, the business can’t effectively maximize profit. The reason is that any mistake could be costly, and there would be nothing to fall back on. If insurance is in place for your business, you’ll be able to push your time, energy, and money into your business.

In the case of medical institutions, like hospitals, having business insurance helps them fulfill the Hippocratic oath to the best of their ability. This is because inhibitions which the hospitals might have due to fear of legal actions from patients will not stop them from rendering the optimum medical care within their ability.

For an employer, business insurance would help the employees perform their duties efficiently and productively. This is because the employees would have the assurance that their workplace and their job won’t disappear just anytime.

It’s assuring to know that nothing can hamper your business even if a sad event halts the business’s operation for a little while. This knowledge has helped push lots of business-inclined people to high points in their business and career.

4.    Credit Enhancement

Giving and obtaining a loan is a massive risk on both the giving and receiving parties. This is a significant reason why banks and other lenders won’t provide a loan to an uninsured business. The reason is that the risk of an uninsured company is very high. As mentioned above, any unforeseen event could lead to the permanent closure of the business.

Since collateral is also needed before a loan is given, the business can pledge the insurance policy as collateral for the loan. If the business is unable to pay the loan by a given period, the insurance policy, particularly the redeemable debentures and insured properties, can be used to clear off the loan and the interest attached. 

It would be hard for most businesses to expand without credit options. Since financial lenders aren’t charity programs, they can’t give out loans to businesses without knowing the probability of getting it back. Business insurance gives the lenders assurance that they can get back their money along with the interest even if the business is unable to pay as agreed.

5.    Key Man Indemnification

The key man for a business is not necessarily one person. The key man could be the founder of one of the major partners. In fact, it could even be a valuable employee. If, for any reason, the key man exits the business, this could disrupt the business’s productivity and growth.

The premium from the insurance coverage would compensate for this devastating loss and make adequate provisions for a possible replacement that would move the business forward. If it’s the business owner who exited the company under unforeseen circumstances, such as death or disability, the insurance will help the business continue and maintain operations. 

6.    Welfare of Employees

A business employer needs to ensure the well-being of the employees. This enables the employees to give the best to their working place, knowing that provision is made for the risk or eventuality of sickness, disability, accident, old age, and death.

In workplaces, like factories, the factory workers are regularly put at risk of sustaining bodily injuries while going about their duties. If a scenario such as this occurs, business insurance would help cover the costs associated with the injury or even loss of life.

An insurance company usually makes all these provisions based on agreements with the business. This scheme helps ensure seamless interaction between the business and the workers. If employee coverage affairs are put in order, it reduces the risk of a company being sued by an employee.

Conclusion

Without insurance, a business is like a lamb waiting inside a lion’s den to be eaten. This means that insurance is absolutely crucial for the growth and sustenance of a business. 

Having insurance also prevents your business from getting sued, cater to the welfare of your employees, and improve the business credit score.

The post Why Do You Need To Have Insurance For Your Business appeared first on Entrepreneurship Life.

5 Tips to Find Clients For Your New Startup

Congrats! You’ve just decided to take a step into the service industry.

Now all you need to do is find paying customers. Finding clients for your brand new business venture can be intimidating. And, if this is something you’re struggling with, you’re not alone. 

Not having a ton of experience can make finding clients one of your greatest challenges. But once you get your feet wet, finding new clients will be exciting, especially when you start seeing your bank account increase!

We’re going to share 5 practical tips that you can start doing today to connect with new clients.

1. Start With Your Community

Everyone has an online community that’s already established. You have friends on Facebook, Instagram, a list of contacts on your phone, and a ton of other online connections. 

In 2018, Pew Research Center reported that 68% of adults in the U.S. use Facebook, and most of the check it daily. 

The best part is that all of those people can be reached in a few minutes, right from your phone.

If you’ve just started a new company or side gig, let your friends know!

Don’t be shy about it; your friends want to support you. Even if they don’t want or need your offer, the more people who know about your new venture, the better!

Start by promoting your service to the people who already know you and have some level of trust built. You can post more than once because some people won’t catch it the first time, but don’t be annoying.  

2. Go Where Your Clients Are Hanging out

This is something that a lot of new entrepreneurs struggle with. They want to hang out with like-minded people who are on a similar journey. 

Writers like to hang out with other writers; designers spend time with other designers. While that’s a great learning environment, those people aren’t going to be your customers!

Spend some time thinking about who your ideal clients are. 

If you’re starting out as a new graphic designer, find businesses that need your design skills. 

There are communities for every type of person, so when you know who your potential customers are, start finding communities of them. There are thousands of Facebook groups, forums, YouTube channels, and in-person meetup groups.

Just be sure not to start conversations with your elevator pitch. This is a place to get to know people and develop relationships. The right time will come for you to offer your help.

3. Establish Yourself As The Expert

That may sound like a daunting task when you’re getting started. 

The truth is, if you’re confident enough to start your new gig, you already have more knowledge than the average person. 

The internet is full of people asking questions about everything!

You can start establishing yourself as a subject matter expert by answering people’s questions. Check out sites like Quora and Reddit. There are forums on every topic you can think of, and plenty of opportunities to share your knowledge.

When you answer people’s questions, they see you as an expert, which is one of the best ways to find potential customers. 

Again, this isn’t the place to start with a sales pitch. Ideally, you want to connect with people and prove to them that you’re a knowledgeable and friendly person. That’s who people want to work with. 

If you want to find some popular questions people are asking on the web, check out answerthepublic.com. This is an excellent resource if you want to do some studying to improve your knowledge. 

Another great way to establish yourself as an expert is to share tips with people for free. You can share what you know on social media, or your website.

People spend their money with people they know, like, and trust. When you share valuable info for free, people start liking and trusting you more!

4. Offer Your Services

When you’ve started to let people know about what you’re doing and began building relationships, you need to make offers to people. 

This is uncomfortable for people just getting started because it feels like you’re unqualified for the job. Some people have more experience, why would anyone hire you?

The truth is, customers aren’t going to put much effort into finding you, so you need to go out and find them. As long as you have some proof that you can get the job done, there’s a chance of getting the job. 

But don’t expect opportunities to fall into your lap, or be served on a silver platter. You’ll need to do the work to find potential customers and make them a good offer. 

Be sure not to undervalue your services either. Most people understand that they get what they pay for. If you’re charging half of the standard rate thinking it will get you more business, think again. 

People want to invest in quality work. Offering a super low price says that you are inexperienced and offering low quality work. Low prices will also attract low-quality clients, which will be challenging to work with. 

Remember that you have something valuable to offer, and you deserve to get paid for it!

5. Overdeliver 

Overdelivering on your first projects is guaranteed to set you up for success in the future. 

This is essential because returning customers and referrals are much easier than continually finding new clients. 

You want to make an effort to wow your customers so much that they need to tell their friends and leave you a great review. Plus, overdelivering will increase your chances of becoming their go-to person. 

It may seem tempting to overpromise during your startup phase, but that tends to backfire. 

If you tell your new client that the job will be done in 3 days, but it takes 5, they’re going to be disappointed. If you tell them it will take 7 days, they’ll be happily surprised when you finish in 5 days.

Overpromising will only lead to added stress and hurt the quality of your work. Since you don’t have much experience yet, it’s best to err on the side of caution when you make promises to your customers. 

Bonus: Don’t Give Up!

Building a brand new business requires a lot of work. If you get rejected more times than you can count, don’t worry. 

Every successful person has dealt with their fair share of failures and rejections. The difference is that the successful people didn’t give up. 

Do your due diligence to be the best, and keep going. Rest assured that when you do find the right people, it will make up for all of the times you were turned down. 

You can use every no as an opportunity to learn and improve. When you do that, every no becomes a step closer to your yes. 

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