Contributed Post | Mike McRitchie | Resume and LinkedIn Profile Writer | Telecom Marketing Content Writer

Signs You Should Work From Home

March 30, 2021 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Working from home has become more and more popular in recent years. Due to advances in technology as well as the flexibility of a new generation of business leaders; many of us at one point or another have been able to work remotely for a period of time.

But what if you could make the move to remote working permanent? There are many brilliant benefits to working from home, and today we want to share some of the signs to look out for that might indicate it is time for you to work from home.

You feel sick when you go to work

Sadly, mental health is something that a lot of us still don’t really talk about or acknowledge – but in some instances you should sit up and pay attention. If you feel sick whenever you have to go into work; this might not be our stomach but instead your mind. Anxiety and stress go hand in hand and a stressful working environment can cause you to become anxious about your trip. If the idea of going into work makes you feel anxious, trying to work from home might be the best solution.

You miss family time

One of the things that most of us notice when we work in an office is that we don’t get as much time to be with our family. It is so important for us to spend time with the ones we love, and working from home could be the best way to do that. By choosing to work from home you will avoid the daily commute and you will have more time with your loved ones. You will also be less likely to be too tired to enjoy their company after a long day.

You get easily distracted in the office

It is so easy to become distracted in the office, and we all know that feeling when you simply cannot focus. This is why working at home with virtual services can actually be much more beneficial to your working day. You won’t have people constantly coming to your desk to ask you things or being dragged into meetings, and you are much more likely to get work done.

You have a long commute

If you currently have to commute for a long drive, train ride, or multiple modes of transport – it might simply not be economical for you to go to work. Consider finding a job that allows you to work from home instead and you’ll save a lot of money each month which can be put away into savings. By not travelling you’ll also have more time in the day and you’ll be happier.

You want your own space

Having your own personal office working space is always a great thing and it is so important for you to take advantage. Consider decorating your own home office to make it homely and comfortable for you and you will be able to work in a way that suits your needs and wants.

Working from home can offer many benefits and it might be time for you to make the switch this year.

4 Ideas For Your Next Corporate Retreat

March 29, 2021 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

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Now that travel options are opening up again, many companies are starting to plan their corporate retreats. The last year has been pretty stressful for most companies and might be wondering if this year’s retreat should be a little different.

Various companies use their corporate retreats for several things. Some take the leaders and stakeholders of the business to analyse the previous year and strategise about the future of the company. Others use it as an opportunity to get employees from the entire business together and participate in team-building exercises and socialising.

Whatever you use yours for, here are some ideas for your next trip:

Celebrations – Hire A Yacht

If celebrating a fantastic year of business is your goal, then what better way than to hire a luxury yacht for a bit of fun and relaxation. There are many companies that specialise in this kind of corporate yacht charter in various locations around the world. You can even find ones large enough to incorporate meeting facilities, so you can still get any business or strategy done that you need to.

Health & Wellbeing – Attend A Wellness Retreat

Both our physical and mental health has taken a bit of a dent during the COVID pandemic. Time away to decompress and focus on health and recuperation could be exactly what your employees need.

Why not work and unwind at a spa, luxury hotel, or specialist wellness centre. Ensure that you get any corporate business out of the way first and then give people the chance to relax in the spa, or head to the gym or a class.

Team building – Head for the great outdoors

Done right, team building retreats can result in huge benefits for the company. If you feel that your team maybe isn’t as cohesive as it could be, then a team-building retreat is a great idea. Rather than doing short, trust-based exercises, which are common, take the team into nature for a calming trip or survival style training. Learning how to work together to build shelter, solve problems and collect supplies can put things into perspective and give employees a totally different outlook on themselves and their colleagues.

Skill-building – Sports activities

Engaging in some friendly competition is a great way to bolster team spirit and blow off some steam. There are so many to choose from including, archery, clay pigeon shooting, karting, climbing or zorbing.

This kind of activity is great if you don’t have the time or budget for a longer retreat. You can look for something suitable in your local area that you can do in a day.

Key takeaways

Planning a retreat can be a difficult thing to do for any business. Trying to please everyone while also achieving the business objectives you’ve set for your self. If you’re not sure what your workforce will respond to, try asking them by sending out a survey or giving them a few different options to choose from. This will also help you to ensure that you’ve considered all employees when planning, which is what any inclusive business should aspire to. Always get feedback after your retreat to refine it or change track altogether for the next one.

What Healthcare Companies Are Most Concerned About

March 29, 2021 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Being a healthcare entrepreneur is a great way to give back to your community, and make good use of both your nursing degree and business acumen. When you’re putting together a healthcare company of your own, you’ll probably have a lot of big dreams you want to follow – after all, many local communities need more, high quality healthcare services, and you can bridge the gap!

However, many healthcare companies face destructive problems in the sector, and you need to know about them before you get started. It’s important to know the issues you’re going to face, in depth, and we’re determined to give you a heads start.

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Getting the Right Technology

The right healthcare technology for your company could mean many things; depending on what you specialise in, you’re going to have to source different machines from different companies. And that can make getting your hands on such tech incredibly difficult, not to mention differing and constantly rising prices.

Most new healthcare tech relies on the IoT to work, meaning they must be connected to the internet at all times. And while this can make the tech much easier to use, and ensure data is accessible at all times, it can also be a huge cybersecurity risk. So, alongside being able to source the right tech, you need to source security as well, which further complicates the process.

Dealing with Prescriptions

Prescriptions can be a pain to fill at the best of times, but as a healthcare company acting on a patient’s behalf, or as a pharmacist yourself, if something goes wrong, you’re going to be treated as the bad guy. Especially with the recent pandemic making all healthcare services a lot harder to get a hold of, being able to continue to serve your patients in this manner can often be a struggle.

But what can a business like yours do? Well, cutting costs is key here; using something like the Benecard PBF could be part of the solution, but also offering an assistance plan to your patients could help to bridge the gap. This’ll bring more patients to your door, guaranteeing profits, but it also ensures you deliver on what you promise at a time when that’s tough, and that’s very good for business.

Rising Prices

Many healthcare companies use shareholders to stay in business, and ensure there’s a board of medical knowledge to refer to. However, this can be a double edged sword – discord and disagreements, as well as consistently rising healthcare costs, can grind your business to a halt.

With spending in this sector at such a high and variable rate, it’s a good idea to take pricing in your own company into your own hands. Make sure you know the local prices to either match or do better than, and never be afraid to negotiate treatment/medication prices when dealing with your own suppliers.

Healthcare companies have a lot of concerns in the modern era. Make sure you’re aware of them.

Unexpected Ways To Make Good Use Of Your Degree

March 29, 2021 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

There are many career options out there, and when you’re qualified in one field, you might think you’re not ready to throw your hat into the ring elsewhere. However, there are many ways to make good use of a degree, and we’ve got a small snapshot of how you can find the right job for you, no matter your academic experience.

So, if you’re fresh out of college, or you’ve been coasting for a while and you’re just not sure what to do with your degree, make sure you keep the points below in mind during your search.

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Use it to Network

Of course, the age old adage of, ‘It’s not what you know, it’s who you know’, fully applies here, but it isn’t as simple as this. You’ve got to put some work into this proverb yourself, and that’s where networking comes in. Networking is a big part of finding the right job for you, as when you personally get in touch with the right people, you have a much better chance of making a good impression.

You have a chance to reach out and show your interest, put together a networking pitch that both draws someone in and asks the necessary questions of them, and most of all, you’ve got the chance to move into fields you never would have considered before, but more on that below.

Focus on Your Physical Attributes

Your physical attributes may seem like a soft skill, but that doesn’t make them any less valuable to your job search. Let’s use CMDR Brad Swanbeck as an example here; someone who achieved great feats on a sports team at a younger age could very well move into fields such as the military, or heavy manual labor such as construction or other building work.

You know you’re capable of working in environments like this, thanks to your previous academic achievements, and your relevant physical attributes will always make up a part of your career success. So, why not depend on them?

Get Specific

And finally, you’ve got an entire sector at your fingertips here, and a degree that qualifies you to work in all of it. Because of that, it can be hard to track down a job, or even be considered against the potentially hundred other candidates also applying for the position. And that’s why you need to get specific.

There are millions of job titles out there, and at least a portion of them are going to apply to you – use that to your advantage! Apply for things that seem out of your way, use niche descriptors when tapping a search into Google, connect with people with similarly titled jobs and ask about the field they’re in. Show your interest in such a specific niche, and you may just have better luck with your job search.

Making good use of your degree can mean a variety of things – however, if you’re searching for a job, use it smartly for success.

What To Do When Your Freelance Business Slows Down

March 29, 2021 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

There are many reasons to become a freelancer; be your own boss, greater flexibility, work on what you really want, etc., and many people who freelance never regret the decision they’ve made.

However, every single business out there goes through a slow period, and people who are self employed aren’t exempt from this rule. And because you’re the one in charge, it’s all up to you what happens next, and that can be both an exciting and a scary thing to have to face.

So, when it comes to a slow period in your freelancing business, what can you do? You still need to turn a profit, but opportunities are slim – if you find yourself in this situation, here are some ideas to keep in mind.

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Sell a New Product

You can’t quite get enough clients together right now, or even your regular retainer client has nothing for you at the moment, and you’re left with some free time, low profits, and the same bills to keep paying. And that’s why it’s a good idea to come up with a new product or service.

Branch out a little here. Put together an ebook you can sell, or a course you could teach, that people can sign up to at any time. These are both forms of passive income, so once you put the effort in, you won’t have to put any more in down the line, which still leaves you free to do your regular work once it picks back up again.

Make Some Noise

Take the COVID-19 pandemic as an example here, and take a leaf out of Michael Lerner’s book: if you’re running a freelancing business that requires a lot of face to face, physical contact/presence, write about how it’s becoming difficult, and begin to collect a community of freelancers just like you together.

Even just two heads are better than one, and in making some noise about your business, you’ve got a chance to make something new of the situation. You’ve got a chance to create a group that offers a new service, or come up with some new funding, or even just find out you’re not alone during your slow period.

Research Some New Clients

You’ve got more time than ever before on your hands, and that can make chasing down client leads a lot easier than ever before! After all, this should be a big part of your job already, and knowing where your next project is going to come from is a key skill in being a freelancer.

Look into your niche. Look into the companies or websites you want to work for, and find out what they’re looking for from the freelance world. Put together a new letter of enquiry, with all your new experience, and don’t be afraid to reach out.

Your freelance business may start to slow down. You’ll need some ideas for times like that, to keep your company going when the going gets tough.