Change is inevitable (Update on The Dress)

Change is inevitable (Update on The Dress) JibberJobber is like a beautiful woman in an ugly dress. some investor, a few years ago. When JibberJobber launched, 10 years ago, the world was different.  Users were different.  They kind of took what they could.  Over the years I got comments like I dont trust JibberJobber with my credit card because the site looks old. So, we started the hunt for someone who could help us with our design.  Back then I was looking for someone who specialized in UI, or user interface.  This should mean many things, but in my mind, today, it just means look and feel. In 2012 we invested in a UI guy, and he made huge improvements (see images below). I was pretty happy with him, although I had a few reservations on color and some design stuff.  But overall, it was a great change, and we were moving in the right direction. The day after we released his new design, I got an email from someone saying your site looks too outdated. What?? One day after all of our UI changes, I still got complaints? Ugh. I realized this is something I could not win. Meanwhile, I had some new competitors (over the last 10 years there have been about 20 competitors, most of them are gone now) who launched with BEAUTIFUL design. Seriously beautiful. But, (a) their users came over to JibberJobber because, even though we werent as beautiful, we had functional breadth and depth, and some of those sites were only beautiful, but not functional enough (hey, when you are doing personal CRM, you really need functional!), and (b) yeah, those sites didnt all last.  What can I say.  Ill be the tortoise to their hare. I knew that instead of focusing my limited resources on trying to hit this moving target of make it prettier, I needed to continue to focus on functionality.  JibberJobber has A LOT of functionality stuff weve been developing over a 10 year period. However, there was still an issue and that is that people would sign up, get confused, and delete their account out of frustration. This was not a UI issue, it was what we call a UX issue.  UX stands for user experience.  Instead of focusing on colors and curves and aesthetics, we needed to answer this question: How can we help the person who signs up figure out what to do next? Instead of logging in and then staring at the screen in utter frustration, how could we help them know what next steps they could or should do? That is more about the user EXPERIENCE (hence, UX).  And for that, I finally, after 10 years, found the right person to help me put this together.  His name is Udie Chima, and he has been awesome.  In our conversations, he focuses on what our objectives are (which include getting more signups, and helping those signups become users, and eventually enticing users to actually upgrade).  Instead of focusing on a color or a curve, he focuses on THE EXPERIENCE. All this to say, we have changes coming.  You might have already noticed one of them. Let me run through the history a bit, just for fun. VERSION 2 (I dont know if I have images of Version 1) When we first launched, two people had designed JibberJobber. My first programmer, still with JibberJobber, and me.  Neither of us are designers. We are good at functional, but not aesthetic. Hence, we got a lot of comments like it looks like this was designed by programmers.  Because, well, it was.  Heres what JibberJobber used to look like, about 10 years ago: Notice the top (1) has an ad for my LinkedIn book.  The menu (2) is dark blue/purple, and rounded corners and the footer (3) is, well, as important as a footer should be.  Not bad for 2006, I guess.  Again, the focus was on functionality. Version 3 This was the new dress. This is a cleaner look moving the search box from the right side to the top-right and less heavy.  Good changes, which weve had for a while. This footer is cleaner, and emphasizes things because they are in three columns I LOVE the app icons (because they are relatively new). The left is the policy and help stuff the middle is social and other (mobile), and the right is upgrade and contact us and content value-add. Version 4 This is Udies design. There are many things going on here but most visibly, we are shifting the menu to the very top, like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, WordPress, and many other sites do.  This is just how its done now, and its clean and easy, and people expect it.  The top, in blue, is the top level menu. Much of it is the same as what we have had, but we cleaned some stuff up. Notably, we added a home icon (before you had to figure out to click the icon) notice, also, the help link on the right, and the settings icon on the far right. The second level menu has the most important calls to action for new users. Instead of what do I do now, I would expect them to see that here, in JibberJobber, you can (drum roll) add a Contact, add a Company, add a Job, and add a Log Entry.  This is really the core of the value to JibberJobber users, so why not show them how to do these tasks easily?  And, because we are not allergic to money, or paying our bills, we want the idea of upgrading to be a little more obvious The invitation to upgrade, and unlock the very cool premium features, was somewhat hidden in the past. No longer. were happy to finance JibberJobber through making users happy This second level menu is the difference between UI (oooh, pretty!) and UX (oh, now I know what to do!!). This footer is still vertically compact. and what were the three columns are now broken down and easier to see.  The four columns on the right are even strategically grouped. So there you go, we changed THE DRESS again.  More to come! Change is inevitable (Update on The Dress) JibberJobber is like a beautiful woman in an ugly dress. some investor, a few years ago. When JibberJobber launched, 10 years ago, the world was different.  Users were different.  They kind of took what they could.  Over the years I got comments like I dont trust JibberJobber with my credit card because the site looks old. So, we started the hunt for someone who could help us with our design.  Back then I was looking for someone who specialized in UI, or user interface.  This should mean many things, but in my mind, today, it just means look and feel. In 2012 we invested in a UI guy, and he made huge improvements (see images below). I was pretty happy with him, although I had a few reservations on color and some design stuff.  But overall, it was a great change, and we were moving in the right direction. The day after we released his new design, I got an email from someone saying your site looks too outdated. What?? One day after all of our UI changes, I still got complaints? Ugh. I realized this is something I could not win. Meanwhile, I had some new competitors (over the last 10 years there have been about 20 competitors, most of them are gone now) who launched with BEAUTIFUL design. Seriously beautiful. But, (a) their users came over to JibberJobber because, even though we werent as beautiful, we had functional breadth and depth, and some of those sites were only beautiful, but not functional enough (hey, when you are doing personal CRM, you really need functional!), and (b) yeah, those sites didnt all last.  What can I say.  Ill be the tortoise to their hare. I knew that instead of focusing my limited resources on trying to hit this moving target of make it prettier, I needed to continue to focus on functionality.  JibberJobber has A LOT of functionality stuff weve been developing over a 10 year period. However, there was still an issue and that is that people would sign up, get confused, and delete their account out of frustration. This was not a UI issue, it was what we call a UX issue.  UX stands for user experience.  Instead of focusing on colors and curves and aesthetics, we needed to answer this question: How can we help the person who signs up figure out what to do next? Instead of logging in and then staring at the screen in utter frustration, how could we help them know what next steps they could or should do? That is more about the user EXPERIENCE (hence, UX).  And for that, I finally, after 10 years, found the right person to help me put this together.  His name is Udie Chima, and he has been awesome.  In our conversations, he focuses on what our objectives are (which include getting more signups, and helping those signups become users, and eventually enticing users to actually upgrade).  Instead of focusing on a color or a curve, he focuses on THE EXPERIENCE. All this to say, we have changes coming.  You might have already noticed one of them. Let me run through the history a bit, just for fun. VERSION 2 (I dont know if I have images of Version 1) When we first launched, two people had designed JibberJobber. My first programmer, still with JibberJobber, and me.  Neither of us are designers. We are good at functional, but not aesthetic. Hence, we got a lot of comments like it looks like this was designed by programmers.  Because, well, it was.  Heres what JibberJobber used to look like, about 10 years ago: Notice the top (1) has an ad for my LinkedIn book.  The menu (2) is dark blue/purple, and rounded corners and the footer (3) is, well, as important as a footer should be.  Not bad for 2006, I guess.  Again, the focus was on functionality. Version 3 This was the new dress. This is a cleaner look moving the search box from the right side to the top-right and less heavy.  Good changes, which weve had for a while. This footer is cleaner, and emphasizes things because they are in three columns I LOVE the app icons (because they are relatively new). The left is the policy and help stuff the middle is social and other (mobile), and the right is upgrade and contact us and content value-add. Version 4 This is Udies design. There are many things going on here but most visibly, we are shifting the menu to the very top, like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, WordPress, and many other sites do.  This is just how its done now, and its clean and easy, and people expect it.  The top, in blue, is the top level menu. Much of it is the same as what we have had, but we cleaned some stuff up. Notably, we added a home icon (before you had to figure out to click the icon) notice, also, the help link on the right, and the settings icon on the far right. The second level menu has the most important calls to action for new users. Instead of what do I do now, I would expect them to see that here, in JibberJobber, you can (drum roll) add a Contact, add a Company, add a Job, and add a Log Entry.  This is really the core of the value to JibberJobber users, so why not show them how to do these tasks easily?  And, because we are not allergic to money, or paying our bills, we want the idea of upgrading to be a little more obvious The invitation to upgrade, and unlock the very cool premium features, was somewhat hidden in the past. No longer. were happy to finance JibberJobber through making users happy This second level menu is the difference between UI (oooh, pretty!) and UX (oh, now I know what to do!!). This footer is still vertically compact. and what were the three columns are now broken down and easier to see.  The four columns on the right are even strategically grouped. So there you go, we changed THE DRESS again.  More to come!

Estimate Cost For Professional Resume Writing - Who Else Wants to Save Money?

Estimate Cost For Professional Resume Writing - Who Else Wants to Save Money?There are many professional resume writing resources that offer their services and advice, but there are some that charge you for the best estimate in Atlanta GA. They are able to provide estimates in Atlanta GA for the estimated fees in your state, but they will not cover all the costs unless you give them all the information.Today's workforce is highly competitive, with a variety of options. Finding the right job requires good resume writing. The costs for professional resume writing are quite expensive.If you are searching for a professional resume writer or if you want to hire one, you must take the time to find out how much it will cost you to do business with them. Not all companies are willing to divulge their estimated fees, which can result in you paying more for the services. It is important to pay attention to this when looking for a professional resume writer.Doing your own research and finding o ut the fees will be easier if you know what companies charge. You can go online and do some simple research yourself or use the services of an Internet search engine, like Google, to conduct a search. Once you find the cost of the services on the web site, you should be able to get a complete estimate on the fee.If you choose to do your own research, you will have to know the requirements of a professional resume writer. Most companies will require the information on your resume to be either listed as a job title or the name of the position you are seeking. The main difference between resume samples and professionally written resumes is that professionally written resumes use appropriate language and create specific impact.For example, if you are seeking a job as a data entry clerk, you will need to include a statement that explains what your qualifications are. If you are looking for a job as a database administrator, you will need to provide an employment history. The resumes of t hese types of jobs should be very detailed and brief.While it may seem like a lot of work for you to write your own resume, you can save yourself a lot of money by using professionally written samples. In addition, you will be able to provide a professional resume that meets the required standards. It is not necessary to spend money on special software to produce your own job applications. You may just want to check out the services of a professional resume writer who will also provide samples of resumes.Using these resources can be a great help to you when it comes to finding the best possible price for the service. It will provide you with an accurate estimate in Atlanta GA for the cost of professional resume writing.

Three Steps To Building Your Personal Brand

Three Steps To Building Your Personal Brand Whether youre an aspiring entrepreneur, a freelance worker or just hoping to make a name for yourself in a particular industry, building your personal brand is something that will stand you in good stead. The Internet has democratised so many things and now with access to social media you can build a following and get noticed the first step in attracting opportunities. But with so many other people also out to do the same thing, it is also getting more challenging to really stand out. The key to differentiation? That lies in creating an authentic personal brand. Its what sets you apart from others, leaves a lasting impression with people and compels them to find out more. It gives a human face to what you do and the values that you stand for, which makes it easier for people to connect with you. So how do you go about creating your own personal brand? Find Your Authenticity People can sense authentic others, and they are irresistibly drawn to them. So finding values which ring true to you is an essential base to build your personal brand from. Its not about creating a false persona its about identifying the things youre passionate about and that make you yourself and choosing to focus on them. Take a moment to evaluate your skills, your interests and what you believe in and think about how you can apply that to the world. Think About Your Target Audience In creating your brand, you also need to think about who exactly you are trying to connect with. This will affect how you position yourself and the channels that you focus the most amount of effort on. Not everyone is the person you need to connect with, so be clear on the specific focus that you have whether that is a group of investors in your industry that you want to target in the future, or industry figureheads you may be in a position to offer you a career boost. Work out ways to connect with that sector and that audience. Build your network with that audience through joining LinkedIn groups or attending networking events. A personal brand will help you to quickly create connections and get known as a thought leader within your industry. Dont sit on the fence too much- you need to have an opinion in order to stand out and convince others. Showcase Your Expertise Now that you have defined what brand to create, you need to showcase what you can do. Create a website where you can showcase your skills, add a portfolio of work and consider adding content such as opinion pieces or white papers. When you make this website primed for search engine optimisation you will be positioning yourself perfectly for the right people to see what you do and connect with you learn more about making your website SEO friendly. You should also join some relevant online forums where you can join in on current topics and further establish yourself as an expert.

5 Best Resume Services in Bridgeport, CT

5 Best Resume Services in Bridgeport, CT Studies about the amount of time a hiring manager spends looking at a single resume vary. Some say your resume will be perused for ten seconds. Others say fifteen seconds. Glassdoorsays it is just six seconds. Only one thing is for certain.It can be measured in seconds.If you are looking for work in the Park City area, you need a professionally written resume. Time and again, job seekers who land their dream jobs report that a polished, focused, error-free, and keyword-friendly resume was their most crucial job hunting tool.Make your job search easier by checking out this list of the five best resume writers serving the Fairfield County market.Best Resume Services in BridgeportIf you are in a hurry and don't want to read our detailed reviews below, here is a list of the Best Bridgeport Resume Writers:Find My Profession(that's us!) Resu-mazing Resumes Etc. Professional Resumes Plus My Executive Career CoachAnd now for the detailed reviews...1. Find My ProfessionFind My Profession is n ot just a top-notch resume service available in Bridgeport. We are a global company headquartered in the US on a mission to master effective, ATS compatible resumes that convert into offers.A major perk of Find My Profession is that we are not a one-person shop.Collectively, our team of elite resume writers has experience in 85+ unique industries/professions. This allows us to assign you a professional writer (in the United States) based on your unique background and experience.We are also not a resume factory. We will never use “ghostwriters”. You will have your resume writer’s name, email, and phone number for direct communication.With 100+ 5-star reviews and a 60-day interview guarantee thatspeaks for itself, you can sleep easy knowing that your satisfaction is our #1 priority.Pros:Find My Profession commits to working with each client until they are completely satisfied. Don’t worry about having a limited number of edits, or a set amount of time with your writer.Cons:Fin d My Profession is a virtual/online company. While we provide services in your city, we don’t have a physical office.Also, with a focus on more senior positions, our entry-level resume service may be a bit pricey for recent graduates.Turnaround: 3-5 business days. Can expedite to 2 business days.Cost: $395-$895Phone: (831) 888-0967Don't take our word for it, check out some of our 5-star reviews.Trustpilot2. Resu-mazingResu-mazing understands that feeling comfortable with a resume writing service depends a lot on understanding how the process works. Resume writer Bill Florin makes the whole arc of your potential collaboration with him transparent right from your free evaluation until the delivery of your shiny new resume. He also offers a 60-day satisfaction guarantee.Pros: Yes, the executive and C-level packages are on the higher end cost wise. But if you read the detail he gives for those packages, you will instantly see that he understands what it takes to market job seekers at that level. So if you are an exec, you will be very well taken care of.Cons: A face-to-face meeting would take place at Bill’s Monroe office, which might be a hike for you. But if you are out that way or prefer working virtually, no worries.Turnaround: Not stated.Cost: $295â€"1295.Phone: (203) 683-74343. Resumes Etc.Resumes Etc. is a locally owned resume writing company and their customers write long, positive reviews about their services. A bonus: If you are a job seeker over age 50, they have a special approach just for you. They offer all customers a free resume evaluation to get started.Pros: This company has hundreds of five-star reviews and comparatively few negative reviews, so your money will likely be well invested.Cons: There is a great deal of information on their website about their credentials and why you should choose them. However, there are no resume samples (although there are LinkedIn samples) and no pricing is disclosed.Turnaround: Not stated.Cost: Not stated. C all for a free consultation to find out.Phone: (203) 353-19334. Professional Resumes PlusProfessional Resumes Plus, based in West Hartford, knows how to optimize and customize your resume so that it will be seen by human eyes. Owner John Brubaker has written over 10,000 resumes, working with people at all levels of the job market. Reviewers rave about the career advice he has given them through the process.Pros: Professional Resumes Plus has extra content on its website to help you understand exactly what needs to be featured in your resume and why.Cons: There are no costs disclosed. That said, you will get a free consultation by calling the number below.Turnaround: Not stated.Cost: Not stated.Phone: (860) 236-94805. My Executive Career CoachMy Executive Career Coach, based in Stamford, provides both resume writing services and, if you need it, holistic career marketing strategies. Owner Linda Van Valkenburgh’s career advice has been featured in Forbes, the Hartford Courant, and C T News.Pros: This writer and coach knows all about marketing and personal branding and can position you well. She also knows all about ATS systems and how to navigate them.Cons: Some sample resumes and price disclosures would give people considering her services some peace of mind.Turnaround: 5â€"10 business days.Cost: Not stated.Phone: (203) 323-9977This List Serves The Following Areas Near Bridgeport, Connecticut:Norwalk, Stamford, Danbury, Shelton, Milford, West Haven, New Haven, Waterbury, Meriden, Middletown, New Britain, Bristol, Ansonia, DerbyBest Resume Services In AmericaNot worried about finding a local company? Want to work with the best of the best? Check out the Best Executive Resume Services.Best Resume Writing ServicesBy Major CityBelow you will find a handful of lists on all of the top-rated resume writing services we could find.Whether you are looking for a local resume writer to meet in person or you just want to work with a resume writer in a particular location, this list should help you find what you are looking for.Allentown Hartford Portland Atlanta Houston Providence Austin Indianapolis Richmond Boston Jacksonville Sacramento Bridgeport Kansas City Salt Lake City Buffalo Las Vegas San Antonio Charleston Los Angeles San Diego Charlotte Memphis San Francisco Chicago Miami San Jose Colorado Springs Milwaukee Seattle Columbus Minneapolis Silicon Valley Dallas Nashville St. Louis Denver New Orleans Tampa Detroit New York Tucson El Paso Orlando Ventura Fort Worth Philadelphia Virginia Beach Grand Rapids Phoenix Washington D.C.

Tips For Writing An Objective For Resume

Tips For Writing An Objective For ResumeIf you are looking for tips for writing an objective for resume, the first thing you should do is to make a list of your personal objectives. You may want to write a list of the personal objectives that you can think of right now. The objective of the resume should be at the top, followed by the position you hold, the name of the organization, the position you are currently in, the specific duties you are responsible for, and the name of the contact person.When you make a list of your personal objectives, you can include details about what you have done and what you would like to do in the future. You should also list all the accomplishments that you can think of that relate to your job or organization. You should also include what you would like to learn in the next two years that will enhance your ability to do your job or to do what you want to do in the future.List all the strong points you can think of that you think will make you more suc cessful in your work or career. List all the weaknesses you think will make you less successful. You will have a better idea about what the employer needs to know about you if you think of what you are good at and what you are not good at.Now, you have the list of your objectives, you need to figure out how to tell the employer what you have accomplished. The best way to tell the employer what you have accomplished is to use specific examples. Try to be specific about what you did. If you use general descriptions, the employer may feel confused about what you have accomplished because they won't know how you intend to go about accomplishing the objectives listed on your resume.Examples should be concrete. You can explain what you did by stating a specific example. Don't try to use words like, 'The company hired meto help deliver products for the entire year.' This type of job description would seem too general to the employer and not precise enough for what you have actually accompl ished.Instead, you should state a specific example of what you did. For example, you could state, 'The company hired me to help deliver products for the entire year.' The employer will probably understand this type of job description and know what they will expect when they see your resume.If you haven't figured out how to use examples and specific examples of what you have accomplished, use examples. Write down a few specific examples that you believe will accurately represent your accomplishments. If you can include these examples in your resume, then the employer will be impressed by your accomplishments.Remember, you should never use examples that are vague or generic. If you don't use examples, you will probably create a boring resume that does not stand out and is unreadable. These tips for writing an objective for resume are only a guide for writing an objective for resume.

7 Personal Finance Tips for Startup Entrepreneurs CareerMetis.com

7 Personal Finance Tips for Startup Entrepreneurs Running a business is not an easy task in any way. The most difficult challenge every entrepreneur has to overcome to have successful startup finance, both personal and business-related. The main reason finances are so important is that even a simple financial mistake can ruin both your business and your personal life.But to get to business finances, you must first settle your personal ones. After all, you cannot fully commit to growing or developing your startup if you’re burdened by personal financial issues. This will take away your time and your resources, and your startup will inevitably suffer for it.evalAnother reason why settling personal finances is important is that they can have an impact on your business in many ways. It’s even safe to say that personal and business financial statuses are correlated, even if you separate the accounts.In other words, if you’re not good at managing your personal finances, then you probably won’t be able to manage business finances e ither. Without further ado, here are a few tips on how to settle personal financial tips so that you can grow your startup carefree.1) Don’t Quit Your JobMany entrepreneurs grow tired of their 9 to 5 jobs and decide to abandon it all and start their own venture. This is all well and fine but running a startup business requires a lot of capital. When talking about capital for businesses, it’s not just about the initial capital required to start a business.It’s also about the capital required to maintain your business operational until it becomes self-sustainable. In other words, you must provide funds for your business until your startup starts to generate revenue and profits.Therefore, quitting your job may not be a good idea after all, at least not straight away. Remember that you have personal finances to deal with alongside your business needs. Paying for bills, food, taxes and other necessities is still a must.If you allocate all your capital to developing your business, y ou won’t have enough left over to take care of yourself. Having a job while running a business can be overwhelming but it might be necessary if you want to pull through.2) Always Maintain a Good Credit ScoreA lot of people have heard of a credit score and that this score somehow affects your personal finances. However, a lot of people also don’t have a clue how all of this works or what to do about it. In short, a credit score is technically a number that evaluates an individual’s creditworthiness â€" i.e., likeliness to repay a debt.evalSo what does it all mean? Simply put, lenders, such as banks, will look at your credit score and your credit history to determine how able you are at paying off your dues and how timely you are with your payments. Based on your credit score, lenders will decide whether or not you’re trustworthy enough or eligible at all for a loan.Here’s an example of credit score ratings and which factors affect the overall score:eExcellent score â€" 800 to 850.Very Good score â€"740 to 799.Good score â€" 670 to 739.Fair score â€" 580 to 669.Poor score â€" 300 to 579.The factors that affect your credit score:Your payment history.The total amount you owe.Length of your credit history.The types of credit you have.New credits you have.If you have a bad credit score, you can experience a lot of financial issues. Banks may deny you for a personal or a business loan, as well as charge you with insanely high-interest rates.evalFurthermore, to maintain a good credit score, you must pay your dues on time and check your credit report regularly. A simple mistake on your report can ruin your score; even more alarmingly, you could be a victim of identity theft without even realizing it.3) Look Towards the FutureWhen it comes to personal finances, financial security is something each and every one of us is looking forward to. You can accomplish this by starting to look at the future today. Saving for retirement, for example, has more benefits tha n simply ensuring your sound retirement.Individual retirement accounts The way to achieve this is to consider various opportunities you can invest in. If you ever happen to have excess capital and don’t know what to do with it, you can, of course, put it aside and save it for rainy days.However, you can also try to invest that capital and earn more income than you currently have. Every investment poses a certain risk so make sure you consider your options well before you proceed. Here are a few investment options to consider that may help you boost your incomes.a) Investing in StocksevalThe stock market is the most popular way to invest excess capital for both individual investors and entrepreneurs alike. The way it works is that you invest in other companies by buying their stocks, thus making you an owner of that company’s percentage of shares, which includes all of the company’s assets. You can, of course, buy and sell stocks at the right price or hold on to them to enjoy a dividend income.b) Investing in Real Estate:Real estate investments are beneficial for business owners mainly because you can always use the property you’ve invested in as your business premises in the future. Buying and selling properties at the right price is a good way to boost your profits or you can also hold on to properties and enjoy a rental income and tax deductions.c) Investing in Other BusinessesInvesting in other businesses is a way to not keep all of your eggs in the same basket. Having capital invested in other companies that show potential is, in fact, a way to ensure profits or an additional revenue stream. For example, you can invest through bonds, which are a form of a loan with an eligible interest rate. You can also consider venture capital and angel investingas well.evalInvesting in other opportunities doesn’t necessarily mean you need a lot of excess capital. If an opportunity seems good and you lack the funds, you can always take a loan to make the invest ment but only if you find a way to mitigate and minimize the risks of investing.6) Cut Down on ExpensesThe real personal financial issue we all have is our spending. It’s so easy to lose control over our budget when there are so many things to buy. We consider these things a necessity, whereas, in reality, they are just small luxuries that make us happy. Our spending habits are the real problem in many cases, to be fair.Take credit cards, for example. Which one among you hasn’t gone over the limit during a shopping spree at least once in your lives because you simply could? The temptation to overspend is often too great to consider the consequences beforehand. When we do overspend, we tend to pay only the monthly minimum on our credit cards or we skip a bill payment or two so that we can break even.This habit creates more financial difficulties as a bare minimum on credit cards leads to higher interest rates and more debt while late bill payments lead to additional fees. As an e ntrepreneur with a startup business on your plate, you can’t afford to be an irresponsible spender.Overspending and being late with payments is not good for you or your business. Instead, create healthy financial habits from your personal life so that you can leverage the same practices with your business.For example, automate bill payments so that you aren’t late. Also, pay off your credit card loan or at least avoid paying only the monthly minimum. Moreover, cut down on spending and buy only what you need with the least amount of luxuries.After all, you can’t just give up on everything to save money. Last but not least, consolidate your personal loans so that it becomes easier to pay off your debts and be timely about it; remember, your credit score and pretty much everything else depends on it.7) Seek Out AdvicePersonal financial issues oftentimes originate from simple ignorance. People are unaware of the potential consequences of their bad spending habits and they don’t know how to turn things around. No one will blame you for this.Finances, both personal and business ones, are complex and there’s no shame in not being able to understand what’s involved. The key, however, is in your willingness to educate yourself and in becoming more informed about the matters at hand.Therefore, don’t hesitate to seek advice. If you have a friend who’s good at personal budgeting and is a careful spender, ask them to help you out. You can also seek out professional assistance from a financial advisor or an accountant.Yes, you will have to pay for professional assistance but you can look at it as an investment where your newly-found knowledge will help you save money and spend wiser in the long run. The important thing is to learn how to manage your personal financesand how to budgetthemefficiently.Understanding how much you earn and how much you spend is essential in understanding where and how you can cut down on expenses. Being responsible with your perso nal finances can help you a great ordeal when it comes to managing business finances.Settling personal financial matters can be a long and challenging process. We all have some kind of financial trouble that burdens us.However, there’s no room for desperation, especially since you have a startup business to grow and develop further. That’s why it’s important to start managing your personal finances now so that you can fully commit to running and growing your business carefree.

How to achieve true job search progress - Sterling Career Concepts

How to achieve true job search progress How to achieve true job search progress Wishing or wanting to see job search progress?   Heres the thing to remember: Activity is not the same as action. If your goal is to see more progress in job search, are you confusing “busywork” with progress? Are you spending a lot of time researching jobs online and applying for lots of positions? While it’s recommended that you spend at least an hour a day on your job search if you are currently employed (and 2-3  times that if you are currently unemployed), make sure youre tracking how much time you are spending, and on  what youre spending it. Invest your time wisely. Always spend your time on high-value tasks â€" identify and research companies you’d like to work for, and try to connect directly with hiring managers and recruiters. Alternatively, have coffee with someone who works for the company at which youre applying or want to apply. This is a much better use of time than sitting in front of your computer. A side benefit to paying attention to tracking your time is a more interesting and varied day. Mixing up your activity will keep your interest level higher and may help pass the time faster. More resources on this topic: This is a trap to which many can easily fall prey, but it also one of the easiest fixes to make to start seeing faster job search progress.  If this is a concern or a concept that hits home with you, and youd like to read more about how to structure your time better and be more efficient with your job search work, here are three more blog posts on the subject: A simple tip for reinvigorating your job search Two common mistakes that prevent job seekers from finding a new  job   Six keys to finding your new job faster

Loose Ties Bind for Your Job Hunt - Expand Your Network for Success -

Loose Ties Bind for Your Job Hunt - Expand Your Network for Success - Weve all heard itNetwork your way to a job. 80% of jobs are found via networking. Many may incorrectly think that this means everyone finds a job via the proverbial brother-in-law connection! In fact, statistically, weak ties are very useful for the job hunt. Maybe you have a story that proves this is true. I have a friend who learned about her job from another mom while attending a story time for her son at a local bookstore. She didnt know the other mom, but struck up a conversation and found out about a job opportunity that turned out to be a perfect fit! The New York Times recently published an article, The Brave New World of Digital Intimacy, which emphasizes the importance of expanding your network beyond your immediate circle: This rapid growth of weak ties can be a very good thing. Sociologists have long found that weak ties greatly expand your ability to solve problems. For example, if youre looking for a job and ask your friends, they wont be much help; theyre too similar to you, and thus probably wont have any leads that you dont already have yourself. Remote acquaintances will be much more useful, because theyre farther afield, yet still socially intimate enough to want to help you out. Malcolm Gladwells The Tipping Point (an excellent read for those interested in being connected) also reminds us of how important it is to expand your network beyond your immediate circle. What does this mean for the job seeker? Dont discount connections on sites like LinkedIn, Twitter and other organized social networks. Im amazed at the open and giving nature of interactions online. I think that the bottom line is that many people LIKE to help others. This is a message Ive been sharing for years. People are flattered when you ask their advice, I tell my clients. Wouldnt you be happy to share your insights about your profession with someone if asked? Ive never had anyone argue that they would NOT be happy to help. So, dont worry if your brother-in-law isnt influential in your industry! Seek weak ties. They may be more binding for your career plans! What weak tie stories do you have? Share them in the comments section! If you want to receive free up-to-date tips to help with your job hunt, Click here to subscribe to receive future blogs sent directly to you via email! Prefer to subscribe in a reader? Click here for a link to receive Keppie Careers feed sent to the reader of your choice. Need help with your hunt? We can help you get your job hunt in gear! Visit Keppie Careers online for information about our services: www.keppiecareers.com. photo by melissambwilkins