Mohit Tater's Blog, page 669

5 Tips for a Safer Workplace

Accidents are a burden to any business. These can incur huge costs, impair productivity, and potentially cause hefty legal penalties that leave the company financially severed. Which is why many companies put high priority in ensuring that their business space is free of ill-causing elements. However, the fact remains that accidents are present in many work spaces. But with consistent precautionary measures in place, these unfortunate mishaps may be avoided.

Listed below are some thoughtful suggestions on keeping the work environment a little less hazardous.

Thorough Housekeeping

Needless to say, the presence of dust and dirt is not a good sign of a healthy workplace. Assigning regular general cleaning schedules apart from the daily housekeeping routine lessens harmful indoor substances. It is best to meticulously check every nook and cranny to rid the place of any unwanted guests that thrive in filthy environments.

Organize for Safety

Loose cables and cords are seemingly harmless until someone trips over. These unsightly tripping hazards may easily be evaded with simple cord management tricks. Cable ties are a convenient way to tidy up electronic wires lying on the floor. For wires bulked together, cord covers that can be mounted against the wall provide a seamless solution.

Regular Training

Conducting regular trainings on safety keeps everyone’s knowledge updated. This is particularly relevant to personnel exposed to increased levels of risk. Having sufficient knowledge on safety measures encourages everyone to help look out for each other’s welfare. The Asbestos Institute is an example of an OSHA-accredited center where construction workers can take asbestos awareness training and other certifications to protect themselves against possible asbestos exposure in the workplace.

Words of Warning

The use of proper signage is often disregarded in many establishments. It is important to note that the installation of warning signs prevent the occurrence of possibly serious injuries. Signs appropriately placed in high-risk areas alert employees to be cautious of safety threats. This effortless gesture also communicates the company’s mindfulness of their members’ well being.

Drills

Safety knowledge is most effective when applied. There is no point in providing regular trainings when successful implementation of such theories is not guaranteed. A quarterly drill practice is recommended to ensure that everyone is well prepared when a crisis occurs.

No employee or business owner should feel unsafe in their creative space. Office safety plans are important but prevention should always be the first course of action when it comes to workplace safety. Safeguarding the workplace is a good way to look after the employees’ welfare. After all, a healthy and safe workforce yields better business results.

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Negotiation Tips For The Best Outcome!

With the developing brains in humans, there has always been a reduction in the amount of physical activity. This can be seen in any format of work. From travelling distances to picking up a heavy load, human labor is substantially reduced. The same is observed when we want to want to convince someone or win an argument. You can’t just cut the throat or behead any person who’s against you. Still if you are to win it, you have to use your verbal power. Negotiation is not only effective in business industries like the good old days, but are also effective at every point of time in the modern era. Time has changed from a successful dictator to a successful negotiator. The ability to negotiate successful is indeed a necessity as it draws a clear line between failure and success. Here are some tips to become a better negotiator:

Negotiation Tips

Avoid fear: Most of us tend to avoid confrontations since they are afraid of it. They lack negotiation consciousness or building a confidence that everything in the world is negotiable. This is absolutely a fact that everything has got its merits and demerits. So, keep faith in yourself and go for it. You have to be assertive in every set if words you speak. Being assertive means asking for what you want and refusing to take a ‘no’ for an answer. For example, “you shouldn’t do that” can be substituted with “I don’t feel comfortable when you do that”.
Avoid anger: There is a common statement that “as soon as you raise your voice, you loose the negotiation”. Practise expressing your feelings without anxiety or anger. Note that there a fine difference between being assertive or being aggressive. When you take care of your interests, maintaining a respect for the interests of others it is assertive. At the same time when loose the sight of others interests, you tend to become aggressive. Challenges should not be taken at a face value. You cannot negotiate unless you desire to change the validity of the opposing logic.
Prefer listening at times: Negotiation is not a unidirectional transfer of speech. While plotting your points, you should a grasp about the opposite person is trying to depict. You are well aware of the difference between hearing and listening, they you have a long way to go as a successful negotiator. Without focusing on their preview, you will not be able to clarify yourself on the exact points. This will eventually lead to conflicts.
Never hurry: Being patient is the key to win an argument. Your patient can be devastating to the other at some point of times as they feel the confidence you are carrying inside. There is a 70/30 rule in a negotiation which states that you listen and be patient 70% of the time and speak the rest 30%. State your points, clarify your views in the opposing person’s words and watch come to the same point in which you have successfully opposed earlier. That’s the trick.
Focus on the pressure on the other side: Sometimes out of pressure or hurry, the opposing party may state something which contradicts their own points at some points. Note the pressure points and try deducing the links while them speaking them out. If you find a failure of linkage among them points spoken out, you can definitely make sure of your success. In the further conclusions, try bringing out that particular point at they stuck once. This will lower their self confidence and impart even more pressure on them, thus clearing your way to victory.

These are some clear strategies to win an argument or convince any person if they are going against your decisions. Note that these are not exactly as easy as they are to read. Negotiating with people requires no less confidence and the presence of your mind than when you are in an examination hall. And remember, “practice makes a man perfect”.

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Reasons People Put Off Going to the Dentist

Going to the dentist is something most people hate to do. It is important though that you go to the dentist regularly, such as twice a year, to get check-ups. Check-ups and preventative care are important for oral hygiene since it can stop many dental problems before they begin. Even though most people know going to the dentist is very important to prevent painful problems, it is often put off for many reasons. Here are some of the most common reasons people put off going to the dentist.

The Cost

The costs associated with going to the dentist can be extreme. Even if you have cheaper dental insurance going for a teeth whitening procedure or something more invasive can cost thousands. For some people, the cost of going to the dentist for something other than a check-up is a complete deal-breaker. The good news is that these days most insurance companies do cover all costs associated with check-ups and preventative care. If you need work done however, the cost and co-pays for these procedures can keep you from getting the care you need.

Pain

One of the biggest reasons people put off going to the dentist is the pain associated with even simple procedures. There are medications that the dentist can give you to ease the pain, but people are often fearful of needles as well. Drilling into your mouth is painful, but so are the common procedures like a cleaning or whitening. If you have teeth problems already, you might be experiencing increased sensitivity. The increased sensitivity can increase the amount of pain you will endure at the dentist. Pain is often times cited as the main reason to not go to the dentist, and it is one that can be fixed through proper pain management protocols.

Embarrassment

When talking about the dentist, embarrassment of how long it has been since going to one is also an issue. People feel guilty about not going to the dentist for a long time, thinking they will be lectured by a dentist if they ever did go. Another issue is people feel embarrassed over the state of their oral hygiene and teeth. People fear their teeth are a lost cause and there is no hope, which is also why they put off going to the dentist. It is embarrassment that can turn into shame and guilt over their oral health that keeps a lot of adults from going to the dentist.

Conclusion

These are just some of the biggest reasons that people put off going to the dentist. There are many factors and issues at play when it comes to why someone will not go to the dentist. The best thing to do is to go to the dentist regularly and eat healthy. If you are afraid of the dentist do not be ashamed as this is a common problem many people experience. If you need more help to deal with your reasons for putting off going to the dentist, do not be afraid to seek out additional resources.

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Risks for Businesses Investing in Commercial Property

Investing in commercial property offers a great opportunity for many businesses to make a profit, whether it is through buying buildings for the business itself to use or to be rented out. It is a great way to diversify investment portfolios, although many approach the market with caution after the financial crash. There remain a lot of risks for companies investing in commercial property, which they must weigh up and be aware of before taking such a step.

Location Risk

A lot of what helps determine a property’s value is its location. This is something which obviously cannot be changed, so there is a big risk involved if the overall reputation of the area falls. London has seen the value of a lot of its commercial property keep rising, but other areas of the country have seen much bigger falls. Assess the location risk before investing by looking at selling prices over the past few years and what the area offers, such as transport links and other nearby amenities, that could increase its value.

Tenant and Leasing Problems

Tenants are required as a source of income when investing in commercial property and renting it out. In some cases, you will be able to purchase property and it will come with tenants who are happy to stay. However, if you buy commercial property that is empty, there is the risk that you do not find any paying tenants happy to rent the place. Leasing issues, such as its length, can also cause a few problems.

Cyclical Assets

All types of property are essentially cyclical investments. Its value will go up and down over time, reflected in the returns it produces also increasing and decreasing. Commercial property value is estimated to follow nine or ten year cycles, though it is best to seek professional advice and investment help from GVA Worldwide to get a good market overview before putting your money behind any kind of property.

Time and Focus

If you are a business that is looking to expand into the commercial property sector, then be aware that it takes up a lot of time and effort. This can pose a risk you your business’ main goals when spending too much time focusing on tasks associated with the property and not growing the main company. Outsourcing such work is one possible solution or designating to a specific in-house worker.

Being aware of all the risks of investing in commercial property is vital to ensure your business still runs smoothly.

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How to Build a Subscription Box Business: Step-by-Step Instructions

Consumers have really gravitated to the subscription box concept. It makes sense that this business would be successful; who doesn’t love receiving cool, new products on a recurring basis? Entrepreneurs make their money via recurring payments, and the overhead and start-up costs are relatively low. Overall, subscription boxes are an excellent business model.

If you’re inclined to start your own subscription box service, keep reading to learn how you can corner your own niche in this exciting new business opportunity.

Step 1: Learn the Business

Before you can start a subscription box service, you need to learn how the service works. Basically, it’s all about what goes in the box, how much you charge, and how you collect payments. In order to remain in business, you have to generate revenue. This is done via recurring billing, or subscription billing, such as what’s offered by Chargeover, a leading automated recurring billing service. You’ll need to use a service like that or manually process your invoices yourself, but manually processing invoices takes longer and can complicate matters.

You’ll need to learn what it costs to start this business, and how you’ll go about generating those funds. You can seek investors, take out loans, or pay out of pocket. Your products may be donated by companies looking to market themselves or purchased in bulk. You’ll also need funds for technology, such as computers, mobile devices, websites, security, and more. Do your research to learn what other companies have spent.

Step 2: Come up with a Niche Idea

The first subscription boxes were wines purchased in wine clubs, but the industry has grown to include jewelry, makeup, beauty samples, shoes, pet stuff, and even weekday dinners. The aforementioned subscription box niches are the most popular; therefore, they’re also the most competitive. If you’ve got an original idea, you may generate interest faster than if you try to overcome industry giants, such as Birchbox the beauty industry’s most popular subscription box.

Basically, the interest you generate directly correlates to how niche your products are. For example, Paul Jarret, one of the founders of Bulu Box, recognized there wasn’t a subscription service for health, nutrition, and weight loss products. Today, the company has more than 30,000 customers and makes more than $100,000 in monthly revenue.

Step 3: Do Some Market Research

It’s very important that you know your customer, and this knowledge is achieved through market research. “…marketing research can tell companies whether they are meeting their customers’ needs and expectations,” reports Entrepreneur.com. “By researching the answers to specific questions, small-business owners can learn whether they need to change their package design or tweak their delivery methods – and even whether they should consider offering additional services.”

You can hire a firm to conduct this research for you, but can you afford it? If not, you’ll have to conduct the research in-house. It’s not impossible to conduct quality market research on your own, but it is time consuming. You’ll want to set up focus groups, do interviews, conduct surveys, identify your competitors, establish benchmarks, and identify your target demographic.

Step 4: Put Together a Prototype Box

Your initial prototype shouldn’t be a physical product, but rather a digital prototype. This design doesn’t cost anything and can be shown during your market research phase. During that time, consumers will have given you feedback which helped you develop packaging and contents. Once you’re sure of your digital prototype, you can go ahead with the physical prototype.

Basically, your prototype should be big enough to fit all your amazing products, but small enough for inexpensive shipping. Any wrapping, paint, etc. should be safe to handle for consumers. The last thing you need is a class-action lawsuit because you painted your box with lead paint. Finally, make sure your branding is large and eye-catching.

Step 5: Promote, Share, and Sell

The final step is to build up your subscribers. You’ll need to promote the box, as well as get others to promote it for you. You can get people to refer their friends and family by offering them discounts, or by starting a referral program which rewards them with free boxes for sign-ups. You can also give free boxes to influencers who will publish reviews and video unboxings. Overall, the most important thing is to not give up. Keep promoting your box, and in time it may catch on with consumers and become the next big thing.

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Why Leadership Is a Key Qualification of a Chief Clinical Officer

As the demand for nurses continues to grow, the need for leaders expands proportionately. It is estimated that within the next ten years at least one million nurses will be added to the workforce and that means there will be an even greater need for those with experience and advanced knowledge to lead this new population of nurses. Most medical institutions, large private practices and clinics now employ a Chief Clinical Officer, CCO, who has responsibilities that are part clinical and part administrative, which is a healthy combination of the two. Having excellent leadership skills is a key qualification for the job. If you are interested in taking your degree as an RN to the next level, you may be interested in studying for your masters of science in nursing, which would qualify you to work as a CCO.

Qualifications for the Position of CCO

Typically the minimum degree you would need to qualify for the position of a CCO would be a Master of Science in Nursing. While some CCOs have a doctorate, this advanced level is generally not required. Since you will be working directly with patients and staff, often as a liaison between the two, one of your primary roles will be that of leadership. Most often a CCO is required to have at least five years of experience in nursing and will have demonstrated a continual effort to excel in the field and a good grasp on the ever-evolving needs within the healthcare industry.

Responsibilities of a Chief Clinical Officer

Some of a CCOs responsibilities might be to work directly with patients in certain circumstances, but primarily a CCO will have administrative duties. A CCO will typically seek to help institute policies while helping the medical institution to define and reach goals at the same time as adhering to a set budget. The CCO answers directly to the CEO and is tasked with ensuring patients’ needs are being met through regular reviews. A CCO will also work to ensure that all regulations are being complied with and will be active in setting protocols and procedures within the facility in which he or she works. Most often the CCO is seen as the team’s coach and will mentor nurses as needed, offering guidance on what is needed to be compliant with best practices.

While many nurses are content to continue working in the field as an RN because of their passion for patient care, others seek to continue advancing in their jobs. Working towards qualification as a Chief Clinical Officer is a noble ambition because this is a person who will, in the long run, help to shape the industry one medical institution at a time. As healthcare continues to evolve and greater numbers of nurses and other medical professionals are added to the workforce, there will be an even greater need for leaders. And this is just what a Chief Clinical Officer is: a leader who is committed to excellence in patient care.

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Five Things An Entrepreneur Needs To Add To His Daily Routine

If we define an entrepreneur in the words of a dictionary, he is a person who sets up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit or is a promoter of the entertainment industry. These definitions themselves are very revealing about how difficult the task is and how difficult it must be for the person – the entrepreneur to execute this task. What is needed in an entrepreneur is leadership quality and a daring nature. If one is willing to do and dare, one is bound to get success with his new enterprise. Therefore an entrepreneur needs to be very much focused and hard-working. To help get focused, one needs to follow a strict routine and every entrepreneur should have an unique routine which can help him and his business shine.

With the fast changing lives and lifestyles of people, an entrepreneur also needs to change his strategies and more importantly – his routine. Every morning he must add something to his schedule which wasn’t there the day before. So, here are five things that every entrepreneur needs to add to his morning routine:-

Trying to get the right people around – When you have a good and obeying team, who also come with great ideas to help, your business is bound to succeed. For a good team, you need the right people to make it up. And if you prefer working solo, then also you need the right people who can help you promote yourself without much difficulty or hassle. Also make sure that you avoid swindlers.
Trying to inculcate good habits in you – If you want people to appreciate your business, you have to first try to make them appreciate you. It is very simple – when you don’t like somebody, you automatically can’t bring yourself to like what they are doing, however good the work may be. So if you have good habits and a pleasing personality, success is yours.
To try to be the leader, but a humble one – Yes, you have all the right to lead your business, but overdoing that and becoming the tyrant won’t do any good. What is needed here is a good leadership quality, someone who can make tough decisions and stay calm in stressed situations and instruct others in the right manner, but at the same time be someone who is cool and calculated and is sympathetic and understanding. These qualities will make people look up to you and help you.
Trying to help more and more people everyday – Now, if your business is of no help to anybody and solely made for the purpose of profit, no one would like to promote it. Hence, entrepreneurs should try and help others as much as possible to gain popularity as well as be of greater good to the society.
Giving it your best shot everyday – Entrepreneurship is all about how much can you give, it takes all you have. So, just try to do more and more for yourself, your business and the society everyday. No lazing around – just do whatever you can for it.

With all these five things combined in five mornings, an entrepreneur shall be all set for the race of success. With a good bit of focus, the sky would be the limit for him.

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Resources to Utilize on a Business Trip

Travelling to a foreign country on a business trip can be a disorienting experience for all those involved. Unlike when journeying for recreational purposes, there is no time to acclimatize to your new surroundings. As such, to ensure that you hit the ground running, you will need to use all of the resources at your disposal in the new settings. With these measures, you will be able to have an efficient and productive business trip. Here are some of the assets that you can use to your advantage when travelling to an unfamiliar country:

A Fully Organized Itinerary

Ensure that you employ a travel agent that is capable of adequately planning your entire trip. This means that all of the necessary details are taken care of. You will not have to waste any time making any further arrangements. With the right travel agent, all you will need to do is simply check into the places that you have already been booked into. This will save you a lot of time, effort, and frustration. Therefore, organizing the trip is the first and most important step.

Communication Options

In today’s world, you cannot even spend a moment being disconnected from others. This is why it is important to ensure that you get all of the necessary connectivity items the instant that you land. For instance, if you are visiting France, you should make sure to get a France data SIM immediately. You should have a working phone number as well as means to access the internet on all of your mobile devices. This way, you will be able to maintain contact with the business at home as well as your foreign agents and clients.

Chauffeured Transportation

The next thing you will require is a means of being transported from one place to another with ease. Taxis or public transportation are often accompanied by several aggravations and can cost a lot of money and time. As such, it is always best to have a personal car and a driver. This way, you will be able to make it to appointments on time and do so with minimal hassle. It will also help you to get around the foreign city a lot more easily.

These are the most important resources that you will need to utilize when in a new country. This will ensure that you maximize the potential of your business trip.

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How To Decide Between A Startup Or Franchise

You’re ready to change your life by going into business for yourself. You’ve decided to take the risk and go out there and follow your dreams. You also realize the odds are not in your favor because most small businesses fail within their first five years.

So, in order to succeed you will have to sacrifice your leisure to get to where you want to go. If you don’t, you’ll end up where you were before—working to make someone else rich in their business while you took home a small paycheck that couldn’t keep up with the rising cost of living.

Once you’ve made a decision to start your own business, you now face a crossroads. How should  you start your own business? If, for instance, you’re interested in opening up a retail store, you have to ask yourself whether you should use a startup model or franchise model. Should you open up an e-commerce store or open a UPS store?  Assuming you have enough time, money, and family support to initiate a startup or open up a franchise — which will ensure a better future?

Let’s take a look at both choices:

Launching a Startup

To launch a startup, you will need to consider the following things:

1. Your business idea. What do you know that other people will want to buy? Even if you decide to dropship products from an ecommerce website, you will need to find a line of products that you like to sell. If you decide to sell cookware, but don’t know how to cook and live on prepackaged meals and takeouts, then you won’t know what products to get from vendors or how to answer customer’s questions. So your idea has to blend what you know and what people want to buy.

2. Your legal structure. You will need to find out about all the legal requirements of starting your own business.

3. Your financial system. You will need to understand financial information and buy some accounting software or hire someone who is good at bookkeeping.

4. Your products. You will need to research and test out different product lines to figure out the difference between what sells and what doesn’t sell. Relying on your own preferences or going by manufacturer’s biased recommendations isn’t enough. The only way to figure out what people like and dislike is by test marketing your product idea.

5. Your technological infrastructure. You will need to get good at technology or hire someone who is good at it. Most of your business will involve technology, and you will have to understand how to build a website, build a blog, and build a social media platform. In addition, you may have to buy a server and create your own network or use the cloud.

6. Your team. Eventually, if all goes well, you will be in a position to build a team. You will reach a point where there is too much work for one person. However, you may have to build an outsourced team when you launch, consisting of an accountant, a lawyer, and an IT person.

Joining a Franchise

With a franchise, you will be educated on all the business processes that you have to figure out on your own with a startup. You will also get corporate support to help you get set up and troubleshoot problems. Your main job is to make sure that you follow the instructions instead of trying to reinvent the wheel.

If you do your due diligence, then you will find the right business opportunity.

When researching a franchise, you need to research the franchisor, the product or service, and the market area. You will also need to carefully review the contract and get a good understanding of how much support you can get as you work to build your business.

While the franchisor may give you plenty of information on their business model, it’s still your business, and success or failure will depend on your own ingenuity and effort. Simply getting a blueprint on how to follow proven best practices is not a guarantee of success.

When researching the franchisor, find out if they have a good track record, if they have industry expertise, and if they have financial strength. You will also want to know about the franchisee screening process and whether the business is profitable.

Next, look at the product or service. Is it something that’s in demand and are sales strong in its industry? Also find out about competitors, if the product is competitively priced, and if there is plenty of potential for growth if your business does well.

Then, research the market. Will you get an exclusive territory and does the territory offer sales potential? Again look at competition, as well as how many franchises in your market are doing well.

Assuming that all these three things check out: the franchise, the products or service, and the market and sales territory, you will need to review the contract.

Review the fees and royalties; review the conditions for renewal, termination, and transfer; and review all costs and expected sales quotas. You want to make sure that everything is fair and reasonable.

Finally, assess how much franchisor support you can reasonably expect. Ask the hard questions up front so that you aren’t taken by surprise later on.

Making a Choice

Think carefully about your choice. Startup or franchise? Once you’ve decided to become an entrepreneur, commit to it fully.

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Five Ways To Make Your Business Shine On Social Media

Technology is on the advance every moment of the day. We have reached an era of computerized cars and robots. In today’s world, the fact that everything is going online, from buying fruits and vegetables to booking a seat for a matinee show in your nearest cinema, is not a very big surprise. This has led to many businesses going online to provide different services to people, reach out to a wider and clever audience and thus flourish. More and more businesses available on the net has created a tough competition among the service providers. Every business wants to succeed, where ironically, this success is limited. Hence, marketing and advertisement have become imperative which show the audience which service offers what and helps them to choose between different similar ones.

Every business on the net wants to be liked and get used by more and more people. This requires a correct marketing strategy and attracting advertisements on all popular and not-so-popular websites. The best platforms for these advertisements are the social media websites, with millions of users worldwide. If you are one of those who want to take your business on to the top level on the internet, here are five ways that may help you: –

Get clear about your target audience – This is the first and foremost step that you must follow. If you are clear about what your product is and for whom it is meant (the age-group of people who are meant to use the product), you can easily come up with an idea of attracting that particular age-group towards buying your product/service. For example, if your product is meant for the young generation, but your advertisement shows old people in it, none of the young get interested in it.


Making a good advertisement – Now, on social media, different people with different perceptions are found. And an advertisement is all about showing your product in its best light. Therefore it must be such that it is attracting, interesting and appeals to everybody (in your target audience) and is in no way criticized by anyone i.e. nobody has anything to complain about it.


Designing the advertisement properly – The next important thing is that your advertisement must be designed properly so that people do not face any problem because of it. For example, it should not block a page or cover the whole of a page and it should not be a very long one if it is a video. If it annoys people on the media, however good the product may be, it wouldn’t get that much success.


Make your advertise and promotions unique and plagiarism free – If what you show has already been shown for some other product/service, nobody would like it, even if it is better than the other one.


Having a good working and creative team – If your team knows what to do, how to do it and when to do it, that’s all you need to het success with your product.

So, these are all the strategies you need to make your business shine on social media. In this competitive area, if you don’t give it your best shot and also don’t come up with unique, interesting and engaging ideas from time to time, it would be very difficult to promote your business.

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