Mohit Tater's Blog, page 631

Is an Employer’s Health Insurance Enough to Cover All Your Health Issues?

Despite the fact that insurance companies and medical professionals have been emphasising constantly on the need of proper medical insurance, a majority of India’s population remains either uninsured or dependent on their employer’s health insurance plans.One of the probable reasons behind it might be that a major chunk of the working population has not yet experienced a medical exigency that could end up putting financial strain on them. It is assumed by many that if there were to be an emergency, their corporate health insurance plan will cover them for all the medical expenses, and that even their family members are protected thanks to the provision for dependants in such group mediclaim plans.

The Need for Separate Insurance

A corporate plan has its own benefits, but with the current state of lifestyle which most people lead, along with the constantly rising medical costs, it is not a good idea to depend solely on you corporate plan. Having an individual plan if you are single and a family health insurance plan if you are married is the need of the hour. Apart from a regular medical insurance plan, it is also a good idea to buy critical illness insurance, especially if you have a family history of a certain critical illness. Your health is probably the most precious asset you have, and doing all you can to safeguard it should be your priority.

Factors That You Don’t Generally Consider in Corporate Medical Insurance Plans

Companies and employers, if they are providing corporate health insurance for all their employees, have to consider their costs as well, and to minimize costs, they provide bare-minimum coverage policies. For example, health insurance plans that come with a co-pay clause are much cheaper than regular policies, and even bare-minimum insurance can act as an attractive benefit to lure or retain employees.

Here are the two most common factors that people tend to overlook when considering employer insurance policies:

The co-pay clause: This clause stipulates that the insurance company will cover only a part of the total expenses incurred, and the rest will have to be paid by you. This clause effectively reduces the benefits offered by the insurance cover; even though the financial burden might be lightened, it is not eliminated. Most individual or family health insurance plans do not have this clause.
The room-rent limiting clause: This is a clause that stipulates that the insurer will cover your room rent per day in the hospital up to a certain amount only. This amount is generally quite low, and not sufficient to cover the total expenses.

These clauses are only two of the many differences in how the policy coverage in corporate medical insurance plans differs from what’s available in individually bought health insurance plans.

Other Factors to Consider

There are many reasons why you should opt for extra medical insurance apart from your existing corporate plan. Some of these are:

Employment status: A fact that should not really require mentioning, but you are only covered under your employer’s insurance plan as long as you are working with them. For whatever reason, if you terminate your employment with the company, your insurance cover will also lapse. You will be without coverage and liable to pay for any medical emergency till the time you find a new policy. Having an individual or family health insurance in place provides you coverage irrespective of your employment status.
Number of persons covered: If you are a family man, married with kids, or responsible for your parents, a family floater plan is a must for you. Your corporate policy may or may not cover dependants. To be fair, your employer’s insurance might cover dependants, but the number of people covered and the total amount the insurer is liable to pay in case of a claim might not always be enough.
Employer’s insurance is a perk and not a right: Not every company offers a corporate health insurance to its employees. Health insurance is more of an added incentive to attract and retain employees, and a company has the right to pull the insurance cover at any time without fear of legal ramifications. Moreover, if the cover is suspended for a small period of time while the company is looking for a different insurer, and you were to be hospitalized during this period, then you will be in quite a fix.
Post-retirement coverage: Individuals are covered under corporate plans only till the time they are employed with the company. This means that after your retirement, at a time when the need of health insurance plans is at an all-time high, you will find yourself without coverage. While you might think that you can buy an individual plan later, the fact remains that after your retirement, buying health insurance might be an arduous process. You will be required to submit to a panel of medical tests to ascertain your eligibility, and a lot of policies don’t offer coverage for pre-existing diseases after a certain age. The only way to combat such a situation is to opt for a health insurance in your youth that offers lifelong renewal.
Changes in terms and conditions of the policy: Unlike a separately bought insurance, if there are changes made in the terms and conditions of the policy, or in its clauses, you might not find out about it in time. Of course, the information will be shared with your employer, but the information being conveyed to the employees might take time.
Total effective cover: Group policies cover a large number of individuals, which means that the cover might not be enough in case of serious illnesses or long-term hospitalization.

The intent here is not to deride the group mediclaim cover given by your employer. On the contrary, it is always a benefit to have insurance from your employer. This insurance could be excellent or it could be the bare-minimum. However, you as an individual should always treat your corporate health insurance as a secondary cover. Analyse how much coverage you are actually getting with your employer’s medical insurance, read the fine print to avoid any nasty surprises, and calculate how much your individual insurance should be for. As long as you are covered by a separate health insurance policy, you can always affect changes in the sum insured and the benefits offered at the time of renewal.

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Five Useful Tips for Online Fashion Entrepreneurs

Getting rid of old clothes or new but unworn ones can be time-consuming and tedious, but it has its own benefits aside from clearing out more closet space. You can earn from used and unworn clothes by selling them online and help reduce the problem of textile waste.

Selling clothes online is no easy task, but with proper planning, excellent products, great customer service, and good marketing, one can successfully attract customers and build a loyal following.

Use these tips to help you set up your very own one-stop fashion shop.

Take Excellent Photos

About 20 percent of the human brain is dedicated to vision—one reason people respond so well to visuals. As such, excellent product photos are key to convincing shoppers to buy what they’re looking at.

There’s a lot riding on good pictures in online shopping. Photos replace the actual experience of physically examining the product, so customers like to see actual shots, in different angles and in actual setting.

For that reason, online fashion entrepreneurs must know how to take good clothing photos. There’s no need to purchase expensive equipment (although they can certainly help). A decent camera, good lighting, clean background, and photography tricks can go a long way.

Neat and clear photos attract the eyes, but for preloved clothes, go the extra mile and provide actual photos of them in use, ones that perfectly show off the clothes. This helps the customer visualize how the look may suit them.

Be Extra descriptive

Detailed descriptions should go with excellent photos. Remember, customers want to know everything they can about the clothes before they buy them. That means being transparent about the pieces’ condition. Are the clothes new? Do they have any damages, like a missing button, a little tear, or faded coloring? Customers will always appreciate an honest seller.

Product descriptions must also include the actual sizes, brands, materials, colors, washing instructions, and other important details.  When sharing sizes, it helps to add a reference chart for sizing in different countries.

Keep in mind that writing the product description is like pitching the goods to customers, so do it with creativity and conviction.

Research Different Prices

After the photos, customers usually look at the price next. Pricing can persuade customers or dissuade them from buying a product even when they absolutely want it.

Shoppers are well-informed and are capable of scouring the internet for better deals. Online sellers should research competitors before deciding on their price list. When that’s done, they should come up with enticing deals.

That doesn’t mean that they have to always sell their clothes for a lower price. There are other ways to convince customers to buy from you. Give out coupons, bundles, freebies, seasonal discounts, and other promotions. Customers love those.

Add Value to Customer Experience

Good products please customers, but great customer experience keeps them coming back. That said, online fashion entrepreneurs should put considerable value in customer service. Online buyers can easily go to other sellers with just one click, but they will always choose a seller who gives them a superior shopping experience.

Reply promptly to their messages, and always be polite. Even when a customer is rude, don’t lash out and risk the business’s reputation. Additionally, be friendly, helpful, and clear when responding to customers’ queries.

Aside from an exceptional buying experience, ensure that customers get their purchase on time and in mint condition. Familiarize shipping schedules, costs, and methods. Buyers don’t want late deliveries, nor do they want to pay extra shipping fees.

Most people like to be pleasantly surprised, so always come up with ways to upgrade their shopping experience. For example, account for possible situations that may harm the product. Ship it in durable, attractive packaging.

Market Products Online and Offline

Marketing is a big part of starting an online shop. Building an online presence, especially on social media, should be a priority for startup entrepreneurs. It’s the most convenient way to reach one’s target market.

Be more accessible to your target market. Create your own website for selling clothes online. There are several platforms where you can easily set up your website in less than a day. This way, you can have full control over what you sell and how you sell your clothes.

Leverage personal social media followers to promote the business. It’s easier to get noticed when people are already paying attention. Moreover, familiarity with the seller can translate to trust in the business.

Don’t discount in-person marketing. Talk to family, friends, friends of friends, and coworkers. They may be interested in buying and know somebody who’s interested. Word-of-mouth marketing continues to be one of the most effective strategies to attract more customers.

Final Thoughts

The online market is suffused with so many sellers and similar products. For one to stand out, sellers need an advantage (or more) over their competitors. Online fashion entrepreneurs also have more competition with bigger companies and brands going online to sell their products.

But with about 7.5 billion people in the world, there’s bound to be a market for every seller. They only have to reach out to this market and give their customers a superior shopping experience through excellent products, service, and marketing.

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Retaining Relationships: How to Connect with International Clients

It’s essential to stay connected with your clients to develop strong working relationships, communicate on projects, and discuss any issues or potential problems. However, in today’s digital age, technology has made it easier to communicate overseas. To help you build long-lasting relationships, find out how to connect with international clients without the expensive costs and hardships.

Slash the Cost of International Calls

Let’s face it, overseas phone calls can accumulate over time, which can result in an expensive phone bill that can eat away at your bottom-line. You must, therefore, strive to slash the cost of international calls so that you can maintain superb working relationships with your overseas clients. Click hereto learn more about how to makecheap calls India.

Pay Attention to Time Zones

No client will want to be awoken in the middle of the night. If you want to avoid frustrating your customers, you should pay close attention to their time zones, so you only telephone them during working hours. All you need to do before you call is review the World Clock to identify if it’s acceptable to call. If it’s not, send correspondence via email or pre-arrange a time that suits both you and the client, even if you need to make the phone call at 9pm. You can also trust they will appreciate the attention you have paid to their time zones, which will increase your professionalism.

Carefully Interpret Emails and Communications

English might not be a client’s mother tongue, so there might be some differences or mistakes in the language during communications and emails. Unfortunately, this could result in crossed wires that could lead to different ideas or expectations. It is therefore important to carefully interpret all emails and communications between you and the client, so you are 100% confident when embarking on a project or service. If you’re unsure, don’t make any assumptions and ask the client for further clarification, which you can do by relaying what the client has said and asking if your interpretation is correct.

Be Specific About Currency

The last thing you will want is to be paid a lower rate than expected for your services, and your client won’t appreciate having to pay out more for a seemingly affordable product. Avoid conflict and frustration and be specific about the currency you want to be paid in for the completion of a project or service. For example, you must state if you want to be paid solely in US dollars. Alternatively, you could customize your rates to reflect your clients’ currency, so they will know exactly how much they will need to pay.

Be Aware of Cultural Differences

Before you start communication with an overseas client, you should take some time out of your busy schedule to research both their local customs and professional etiquette, so you don’t make a big error when talking or writing to your clients. For example, it is rude to talk amount money upfront in some cultures, while a hard-sell will be instantly rejected in others. Australia is a prime example of cultural differences, as a self-deprecating introduction is often more appealing than a self-promotional approach.

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How Is an Executive Resume Different?

You’ve done the job hunt before. You’ve crafted a spotless resume; you’ve written stunning cover letters; and you feel rather confident your ability to get a job. However, after a few years of work and some advanced education, you are qualified for the c-suite — and that is a completely different job-hunting experience from what you’re used to.

Most notably, the executive resume deviates from the traditional resume in significant and conspicuous ways. If you want an executive job, you need to perfect your executive resume. Here’s how.

General Executive Resume Tips

A typical resume is short and to-the-point; hiring managers hardly have the time or energy to sift through every applicant’s personal manifesto, so typical application materials must be eye-catching and brief. However, executives are hardly typical employees; they are tasked with making the big-picture decisions that determine the company’s future. Before a board is willing to bring you on, they need to be certain that you have the skills and knowledge for the position. That means you need more resume than usual to get the job.

Usually, an executive resume is at least two pages in length. This provides you with enough space to explain your education and employment history in full, detailing your responsibilities and your impact. Additionally, executive resumes include a summary, which is more or less an elevator pitch intended to persuade readers of your qualifications.

The most important feature of your resume is your achievement section. Because you will be expected to do great things as an executive, your history of accomplishments matters. You shouldn’t be afraid of tooting your own horn — but you also shouldn’t lie. If your successes are anything less than honestly great, you probably won’t get the job.

Because executives are expected to be the best of the best, you should seriously consider using executive resume writing services during your job search. Professional resume writers not only know exactly how to tailor any resume to any job, but they can also identify mistakes in your application materials and give your resume a final shine.

CEO Tips

The CEO is the captain of the company ship, and as such, this person will be responsible for every aspect of the organization, from its finances to its marketing. If you are applying for CEO positions, you need to demonstrate your competency in all business fields, which is best done through a strong resume summary. Once you win readers’ interest, you can show off in your achievements section — which should use plenty of numbers as quantifiable proof of your greatness — and your skills, which should focus on management and leadership but establish aptitude in industry-appropriate fields, as well.

As important as the content in your CEO resume is the document’s look. The CEO’s style impacts a business’s brand, so you should be careful to align your application materials with the look and feel of your potential employer.If you can balance professionalism with your target brand’s feel and prove your experience, then you probably have the job.

CIO Tips

Largely responsible for a business’s internal tech-related decisions, a CIO must have a strong foundation in technology as well as business management. However, unlike a CEO, a CIO is valued primarily for their hard skills. Thus, you shouldn’t focus heavily on your resume summary for these positions; instead, you should highlight your skills, noting where and how you acquired them. Because your technical skills might be almost endless, you should limit your list to those that directly apply to the position you seek. Because this information can be dry, it is imperative that you grab your reader’s attention quickly and maintain it throughout your documents. Unique formatting is your friend for finding the best CIO job.

CTO Tips

One of the newest additions to the c-suite, a Chief Technology Officer focuses on innovation in tech, which usually means producing products for customers. As a result, the achievements section within your executive resume is of primary importance. Your goal should be to list the products you have created — or helped to create — and use numbers to explain their success. For example, you might note how many product sales occurred or the ratings of your products on popular review sites.

Different types of executive resumes look different, but all of them are vastly dissimilar from your standard resume. Before you embarrass yourself with a humdrum application document, you should build an executive resume that will wow and win you the job.

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Useful Tips for Celebrating Your Employees Birthdays

Workplaces and birthday celebrations can often seem like oil and water – they don’t mix all that well. This is simply because most people don’t know how to handle such celebrations. Should they do something big or be discreet? Just how much energy, time, and money should they spend on all of this? Well, as a leader, it is up to you to define the terms of an office birthday celebration. In case you are looking for some guidelines on precisely how to do this, here they are:

Mark Out All of the Days

The first thing you will need to do is to actually mark down every body’s birthdate. You can have a large calendar in the lunchroom, for instance, so that you will be able to tell when everyone’s special day is. Now, there are certain months, like September, that can get a little crowded. This, of course, means that you can’t necessarily celebrate each person’s milestone on the day itself as this can get disruptive. So, for people with birth anniversaries within the same week, you may want to choose a Friday for a joint celebration.

Cakes and Presents Are a Must

There are two things that you can do without on your birthday – cakes and presents. So, you should always make it a point to ensure that both these are available at every celebration. With the cake, make sure to ask the employee what their favorite treat is. After all, it is their special day.

When it comes to presents, things can be a bit tricky. You can choose specific or personal presents but this can quickly become quite tedious and not to mention, pricey. This is why you may want to think of gift cards or flowers as a birthday gift. It will be a sweet gesture that is also appreciated.

Decorate Desks

Another aspect of anniversaries is that they are supposed to make people feel special. One of the best ways to do this is to decorate their desk. You don’t have to go overboard but a few streamers, some cards, and perhaps some candy can really help to brighten things up. All you have to do is to come in a bit earlier than that employee and set things up. Just remember to avoid cluttering up their desk as you set up the decorations.

Have a Special Meal

On the day, try to host a special lunch for the entire office. Not only will this put everyone in a good mood, it will make the birthday girl or boy incredibly popular! It doesn’t have to be a grand or expensive luncheon – simply get a few items for everyone from a local, tasty joint. You can also spring for a meal if you want to cut down on the hassle. At the very least, you should take everyone out for drinks or even just get dessert.

There are lots of different ways that you can make a birthday at your workplace quite special. You just need to know what to do and how to carry out. Undoubtedly, your employees will enjoy this experience immensely.

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Reasons Expats Make Great Entrepreneurs

The age we are living now is the age of entrepreneurship. The innovative businesses of the entrepreneurs are the change agents for addressing serious issues, such as poverty, education, inequality and climate change. Businesses all over the world are now committed towards building sustainable businesses to address environment, societal and climate change related issues. The world has seen the greatest number of people migrating across the world due to various reasons like, employment, better life, or conflicts, extremism and terrorism. This has lead to a large number of expatriate living in various regions of the world. Some countries intentionally promote it so as to promote innovation and diversity of ideas in their countries as they see it as a positive change for their economies. So here are some of the reasons why expats make great entrepreneurs.

1. The ability of expats to solve problems creatively provides them an edge over others. This creativity comes from having work across cultures and continents. This empowers them and makes them perfect for whatever jobs they take up. Expats prove to be extremely resourceful and consistent for the host country and hence makes this characteristic is very suitable to be a promising entrepreneur.

2. Expats are highly flexible when it comes to working under different circumstances. They have already lived their life as such. Entrepreneurship requires one to be highly flexible with working conditions and this is what is there in these expats

3. Expats are rapid learners and can grasp things to swiftly. This helps them understand complex problems easily and simplify them for their peers. It is an invaluable skill that they have which helps them throughout if they are running a business. They can grab opportunity faster than others and gain edge over them.

4. Expats are freedom seekers, as they tend to explore the world around them. This quality is imbibed in them since the time they have been traveling around exploring cultures and places. They are masters of their own fate and choose to work from wherever they want and with whoever they like.

5. They are open minded people ready to challenge the conventional biased norms prevailing around them. They are unaffected by any kind of stereotypical situation arousing because of their presence and continue to thrive for their success as they want to achieve more in life and be open to all kinds of opportunity that life has to offer to them.

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How to Make Traveling Stress-Free During the Holidays

Photo by  Atlas Green  on  Unsplash .com

Flying overseas or driving to the countryside during the holidays can be very thrilling. As exciting it is to see new places and meet people, the traveling can sometimes take a toll on vacationers. During the holiday season, the roads and flights are packed to the hilt, which can make planning and the actual traveling part quite stressful. To optimally enjoy your vacation without even a hint of stress, here are several tips for managing holiday travel:

Getting Through Airport Security

Airport security has become very tight recently in many countries. Getting through airport security is not a breeze anymore. You can seriously risk missing your flight if you are not prepared in advance. Therefore, arrive at the airport with plenty of time to get through security. If you are booking connecting flights, make sure there are at least two hours in the airport between the flights. Also, have all your travel documents ready at hand to show security. Read guidelines in advance so you don’t pack anything that the security might take an interest in. Some airports have expedited check-ins, which you can sign up for in advance online. It would help you avoid the long lines.

Photo by MichałParzuchowskion  Unsplash .com

Transportation Expenses

The transportation expenses can really pile up if you are not careful. To save money on flying, find a good app or a service for cheapest flight tickets to any destination. There are multiple services out there. Browse through each and find the one that suits you best. You can find similar services for finding cabs, trains, and other modes of transportation on the ground. Ask about public transportation modes to keep costs down low. In some cities, public ferries and buses haul tourists for free.

Traveling with Relatives

Holidaying with parents, in-laws, or other relatives offers plenty of opportunities for family bonding time. But it can also create moments of minor conflict. Older relatives, especially, may not be at ease during travels because they are venturing out of their comfort zone. Therefore, before leaving, lay out some ground rules. Establish who will pay for transportation and what will happen during the trip. For example, if you are driving, ask everyone where they want to stop for a meal beforehand. Make plans together so expectations don’t end up clashing.

Photo by Paulon  Unsplash .com

Unfamiliar Taxi Hauling

When you are in a different city or a country, you may have to rely on taxis to get from point A to B. Most travelers are very uncomfortable or overwhelmed by calling a cab in an unfamiliar region. There are legitimate safety concerns. Also, some drivers may overcharge when they realize the passengers are tourists. To avoid these problems in advance, ask locals or the tour agent about what normal cab fare in the region is. There are smartphone apps that allow travelers to book cabs in advance at set rates, which can prevent unpleasant price disputes on the way. Use a GPS app on the smartphone to map out the shortest routes so an enterprising local cabbie doesn’t get the best of you.

If you stick to the above tips, you will be able to eliminate most of the stress associated with traveling during the holidays.

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Here’s What it Takes to be a Successful Entrepreneur

Do you dream of becoming your own boss one day? In a world where technology has made it possible for the “average Joe” to launch a startup, you would think it’d be easy to accomplish. In fact, there are more than half a million businesses started every month in the United States. Unfortunately, however, only half of those startups will remain intact for the first year. Though there are a lot of contributing factors that can play a role in the destruction of a new business, one of the most important is leadership.

More than a Vision

What many individuals end up finding out the hard way is that being an entrepreneur is more than just having a big idea. It is having the skills, ability, support, and network to take that idea and develop from it a vision to a profitable opportunity. When you think of some of the most prolific entrepreneurs today like Mark Zuckerberg, Richard Branson, and Shailesh Dash, their road to success required passion, hard work, risk-taking, and a slew of other steps, resources, and support to get to the top.

To fulfill your dreams of becoming a small business owner, it is recommended that you take heed of the advice listed below:

Passion for What You Do – Are you starting a business because you want to make a lot of money? If money is your only motivator, it won’t take you very far up the ladder of success. As you’ll soon discover, most new businesses don’t start off generating a ton of profits. Passion, on the other hand, will push you to keep going through the long hours, failed attempts, setbacks, and a shortage of cash. So, whatever idea you have, make sure it is something you’re passionate about.
Step Outside Your Comfort Zone – There isn’t one successful entrepreneur today who succeeded by only doing what they’re comfortable with. In order to achieve greatness, you must be willing to seek new experiences. Through these experiences, you expose yourself to new skills, people, and information that can help you to grow as a professional.
Be Fearless – If there’s one thing you should know about starting a business is that there are going to be a lot of roadblocks and failures along the way. Fear of failure or taking risks will only lead to your demise. The best at what they do create a plan, take calculated steps towards reaching their goals and bounce back from setbacks. They realize that mistakes will be made and that failure is a part of the learning process and as such, use those errors and setbacks to make a more efficient plan for the future.
Constantly Learn – The world of business is constantly evolving, and if you’re going to keep up, you must be willing to constant invest in learning opportunities. Successful entrepreneurs understand the significance of not only partaking in training, reading current trends, and evolving on their own, but they understand the importance of learning from others before them. In surrounding themselves with other accomplished business owners, hopeful entrepreneurs are able to learn a great deal from their experiences. The best realize that the more they invest in their growth and development as a professional, the better equipped they are to take their company to new heights.
Be Aware of Weaknesses (and Be Unafraid to Get Help) – You don’t have to be the best or even knowledgeable about everything to run a business. Those who have been successful are fully aware of this. When you’re not well-versed in an area that is necessary to run your business, a true leader must be willing to accept this and hire or outsource those efforts to someone who is more experienced in the field. They realize that to make it to the top, they cannot rely on their skill set alone, but must be willing to work with others to reach their goals and objectives.
Be an Effective Leader – Entrepreneurs must also be effective leaders. As they work with others to reach their goals, it is imperative that they develop the necessary skills to accurately lead their team to the top. Leaders must be effective communicators, know how to delegate tasks according to their team’s strengths, encourage and motivate others, possess honesty and integrity, and have the ability to guide others with charisma, compassion, and understanding.
Be Willing to Put in Work – If you thought that being the boss meant kicking your feet up while your team does all the work, you may want to reconsider this as a career option. In fact, being an entrepreneur means a lot of sacrifices and hard work. It means working more than 10 hours a day, 7 days a week. For some, like Shailesh Dash who spent several years working in the financial industry for other companies and then branching off to chase his own dream.  Being an entrepreneur is all work and very little play, particularly in the beginning stages, and requires continual effort to remain successful.
Be Resilient – Those who truly make it in any business are those who hold on to their visions, goals, and dreams and remain steadfast in seeing them come to fruition. Despite the blood, sweat, tears, sacrifice, long hours, roadblocks, mistakes, setbacks, failures, financial issues, and industry complications that may be thrown in their path, they remain resilient through it all. Never backing down the most prolific entrepreneurs are optimistic about the future and reaching their goals.

The journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur and running a profitable company isn’t one to be taken lightly. As easy as it may seem to start a business, the truth is, being the boss isn’t the correct role for everyone. It takes a special set of skills that go beyond any formal schooling and education. A true entrepreneur has a vision, is passionate about that vision, and allows that passion to act as a motivator to get them on top. With practice, patience, and the support of others, you too can become the mogul you’ve always dreamed of.

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Top 6 Skills Every Great Leader Needs to Succeed

There are two kinds of leaders in this world: those who are put on the “throne” only to fail, and those who try their best to succeed. We all know our fair share if leaders who, throughout history, caused havoc and didn’t even succeed with their little “projects.”

However, those who succeed all have a set of common skills and abilities. Here are 6 of the most important skills.

Listening

Nothing unnerves a team member more than knowing that they are not paid attention to. And if there’s anything that we’ve noticed among successful leaders, it’s that they all have the ability to listen to those who have the “weaker” voice.

If you are in a meeting with your peers, offer them your undivided attention and don’t try to be a know-it-all dictator. Instead, take notes, accept judgment, and be open to ideas.

Motivating

If you have the ability to motivate and inspire your team members, then you definitely have the right to be called a great leader. You need to make your employees believe that what you are doing actually makes a difference. By doing so, your project will definitely succeed.

Communication

You can’t be a good leader unless you can actually communicating with your team members. Talk with your peers, exchange ideas, and figure out tactics to make the environment more productive.

When you communicate, you should also show courtesy and confidence. Use facts to back up your statements and avoid evasive words such as “maybe,” “might,” “possibly,” and so on.

Saying “No”

As a leader, it’s important to know when you should say “yes” and when you should say “no.” Still, how you say no is just as important. You need to be sensitive about the matter and not make them feel like the lowest creature of the food chain.

When saying no, try to empathize with them. Make them know that you do understand what they want to say, and offer a reason for your “no.”

Negotiating

A great team leader knows how to negotiate. Regardless if it’s with their employees, their clients, or their family, they should know how to be considerate and fair while still pushing for their achievements.

To be a good negotiator, try to look at things through the other person’s eyes. Have several other options ready so that the end result is fair to both parties.

Criticizing

A good team leader will have the skill of offering not criticism, but constructive criticism to their team members. If you see that your employees are not performing the way they should, talk to them in private while looking for solutions for this problem. Remember, you want to make them feel like they can improve, not send them spiraling down into depression.

If you want to be a better leader, you may also find some good leadership courses here. Even the best will have to learn so that they remain in their position of power.

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Useful Tips to Maximize Your Earnings by Dropshipping Products on Shopify

With the increase in the use of the internet, many businesses have transitioned into online platforms to maximize profits and efficiency. One of the most viable businesses that are taking the market by storm is drop shipping. Drop shipping involves making arrangements for delivery of products between manufacturers and clients. As a drop shipper, you will avoid costs incurred by businesses with physical stores such as inventory. If you need perfect in this business, there are tips that you might consider to maximize your earnings on your Shopify.

Search a Marketplace for Products that you can Import Directly.

As you start your drop shipping journey, you need to find direct importers for the products that you will be helping clients purchase. You will be looking for suppliers with fast delivery of products to enhance your interaction with your clients. Bad experiences in delivery can be a great downfall to your businesses based on the negative reviews from your customers.

Choose a Marketplace Using the Oberlo app on Your Website

While conducting your drop shipping business, you will need a system that makes it easy to import products from the suppliers directly into your Shopify store. This task can be overwhelming if done manually and may end up increasing your operating costs. With the use of Oberlo app, the process becomes easy to move products between the suppliers and the clients with only a few clicks.

When focusing on increasing your returns through drop shipping, you want to ensure that your Shopify can be run by yourself or only a few people. Oberlo eliminates the inclusion of more employees and hence, excludes any extra costs of hiring. With this app, you will also be able to access a range of resources that will be helpful in running your drop shipping business.

Easily add and Ship Products

Oberlo provides a straightforward platform for adding and shipping products to your clients. The ease of using this app ensures that you can ship as many products as you can without going through a tedious process of manual work. You will also be able to take control of your Shopify store by having an organized approach while acting as a link between the suppliers and end users. The app automates your business in such a way that your paperwork is reduced. You can, therefore, make better-informed decisions based on the statics and decide the best approach to dealing with your business progress.

As much as drop shipping is a profitable business, you need to choose a niche that is not overcrowded and perfect in it. Consistency in drop shipping, just like in any other business, is the key to enhancing customer experience. Ensure that you are able to adjust your marketing and delivery procedures to meet the expectations of the clients. Creating a rapport with your suppliers and clients will see your business grow from a few sales to hundreds through referrals and positive reviews. Ensure that you also maintain trustworthy suppliers in your system for a smooth flow of products and delivery of quality products.

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