Getting The Right Work-Life Balance

We're human beings, not human doings. This means that sometimes we need to stop fretting about work or chores and approach life in a different way.

Nowadays, this is referred to as having the right work-life balance but what does the term really mean? After all, we're told to have balanced everything just lately, from diet to finances: You've got to wow at work, but be chilled at home, while doing all of your chores. Is this all even possible?

Perhaps achieving this so-called "balance" is ultimately about coming at daily activities from a different perspective, while ensuring you earmark enough time to focus on you. Instead of telling yourself your diet must be balanced, instead focus on making it colourful, fresh and organic. Rather than rigorously enforcing a work/life divide, just promise to live in the moment. Whatever approach works for you, it all boils down to taking away the pressure and replacing it with positive thoughts.

You also need to remember that you can't spell life without "I" - meaning you can't expect to live properly if you don't take some personal time to relax.

Lots of people find spa breaks the perfect antidote to daily life, giving them a chance to centre themselves again and let go of tension. There really is no one else to worry about when you're enjoying a relaxing massage or even going for a leisurely swim in the pool.

A health spa break at Wyboston Lakes Y Spa can give you the space you need to recharge your batteries and put you on top of your game before returning to reality. At the Y spa, guests can just be free from expectations, judgements and responsibilities. It's all about taking time away from life. Whether that's spending the day at the spa before enjoying a lazy Sunday lunch with family, or going for all out pampering with the Paint the Spa Red celebration package.

Whether you take a spa trip alone or with a friend, relative or partner, you'll get the chance to step back from your problems and assess your next move from a place of calm and tranquility.

Meanwhile, you can even use the spa to feed the body what it needs, be it exercise, nutrients or stress release. For example, the Elemis Deep Tissue Back Massage uses deep rhythmic pressure to alleviate high stress levels, ease aching muscles on the back and revive the senses. Experts use the dynamic blend of essential oils and massage to target individual needs, ensuring you leave relaxed, recharged and re-energised.

Another classic way to relax is through a hot stone massage. The ancient therapy uses the therapeutic heat from stones to release tension from muscles. Strategically placed around the body, the stones can also help to improve circulation. Meanwhile, the heat from the stones will drain toxins from the body, leaving you not only feeling healthier but looking more radiant. This is a great treatment to have when you're feeling particularly run down.

Once you're de-stressed from your massage, you can then go enjoy a sumptuous healthy meal at the restaurant, easing you back into the real word and ensuring you're fully blissed out before the working week begins again.

Whatever your poison, with stresses and strains becoming more and more pronounced among Brits, there's no room for neglecting your own health and wellbeing. Whether you believe in balance or just need a time out, be sure you take time to be a human being again.


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar below or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog

You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/djones1509
https://plus.google.com/104849975941505117776

Until my next post tomorrow on stronger branding: how to brand your business online, enjoy the rest of your day! See you back here tomorrow!

© 2013. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.

The Business Of Pleasure: Profiting From Your Hobbies

Executive business coach Joyce Reynolds told Forbes in 2012 that your hobbies give clues as to what can ultimately become a career you love. Kim Lavine of Grand Rapids, Michigan is a great example of this. She used to make microwaveable pillows for gifts. But when her husband became unemployed, she turned her few-times-a-year hobby into a $1 million business within four years.

Many people who love their hobbies cringe at the prospect of converting those spare-time pursuits into money-making opportunities. Being an entrepreneur might be the subject of dreams, but starting your own business could be a thing of nightmares.

Track your expenses, tally up what you've made; you might be surprised. It's no joke that small businesses in this country are big business.


What to Do About It?

The IRS, that government agency that Americans love to hate, publishes some not-always-so-easy-to-understand guidelines regarding hobbies and sideline businesses. Here's the scoop on it:

When you operate a small business, even under your own name and out of your house, you must play by different rules. Early on, you should begin to account for your time, expenditures, and income in a different way. A business, according to the government, exists to make a profit. But, if it doesn't, as long as the records are legitimate, detailed and supportable, you may be able to claim business losses. You can deduct these from personal income, thereby decreasing potential tax liability, as the IRS outlines.

Hobby losses are limited, and expenses to sustain a hobby are treated differently.


Okay, I Have a Business. What Now?

Keeping good records is the prime directive. Any funds you spend to set up shop, literally or figuratively, should be tabulated. Separating personal expenses from business expenses is paramount. Your lunch at a fast-food outlet is not a business expense under most circumstances. However, picking up the tab for lunch with your banker at a white-tablecloth restaurant might be. Of course, if you're seeking a loan, that might give the wrong impression.

One way to keep track of business expenses is to apply for small business credit cards from American Express. Using the same card for all your business charges not only simplifies record-keeping. It can categorize expenses, detail your cash flow needs, point out spending patterns and enable growth, if that is your goal.


Other Considerations

Certain other expenses which apply to business operation may also impact your personal life. A portion of home expenses such as utilities, insurance and even mortgage payments and taxes, may be deductible. If you use your vehicle for business purposes, you should keep detailed mileage records. If you purchase insurance of any kind, keep every bit of information.

Operating a small business from your home need not be complicated. But, you will at some point probably want to consult with a professional accountant. Likewise, deciding on a business structure may be important. There are numerous resources to assist you such as SBA.gov. Be sure to check local and state requirements for operating as a business.

Finally, remember that there are no rules to prohibit you from making money through your hobby - the limitations are all in your head!

If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar below or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog

You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/djones1509
https://plus.google.com/104849975941505117776

Until my next post tomorrow on getting the right work-life balance, enjoy the rest of your day! See you back here tomorrow!

© 2013. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.

How To Expand A Small Business

Companies are constantly looking for new ways in which to expand further and thus increase revenue streams. When you first set up the business you will have done a lot of research and sought help from advisors and other sources about how to get a small venture off the ground. You will have invested money and time to get the business moving, but now that you've established the organisation, what about expanding even further?

You might now be wondering how to go about taking the next step on the ladder to grow the business beyond its current status. There are plenty of different possibilities to choose from if you're serious about expanding the business. Here is a guide to some of the things you could try to increase revenue and grow as an organisation.


Open a second location

Starting out with one location when initially setting up the business is obviously a good idea because it gives you the opportunity to glean how popular and successful your store or brand is in a particular area. Once you've become established as a firm, it makes sense to try out a new area. However, it isn't just as simple as that, as there are some things that you need to be aware of. Before expanding make sure you're maintaining a consistent bottom-line profit and you have enjoyed steady growth in the last few years.

It is also important to look at economic and consumer trends at the current time, which should give a good indication of the company's staying power in a second location. It might sound simple, but make sure the location is right for your business, rather than your wallet.


Increase stock offerings

If you don't want to risk taking on another location in this economic climate that is understandable, but there are other options available to you and your business - one of which is to expand the services or products that you offer so you can tap into other untouched markets. If some of your consumer targets range from children to college students then perhaps you could think about offering discounts to schools so that youngsters buy their uniforms from there.

You could begin to offer different lines that some of your loyal customers might be interested in, but may not necessarily have the required room to house it all. This is where the use of rented temporary buildings can come in handy, as if people don't respond that well to the new lines you're not hamstrung by having invested in a whole new location. There are plenty of different temporary building options here that would be easy to keep surplus stock in.


If you haven't already, expand to the internet

The internet is absolutely the place to be with millions of people logging on each and every day. An effective website and an online offering in terms of social media is an integral part of any business and if you don't have such a thing at the moment you really will be losing out on revenue streams.


Expand overseas

This is perhaps the most fanciful of all the options previously listed, but it is certainly a good one to think about. You don't need to acquire another business to expand globally; you just need to prime your offerings for an international market. Gain a foreign distributor that will carry an inventory of your products and resell them in their domestic markets and you could see how popular your brand might become.


Did you find this article helpful? Please let me know by leaving me your valued comments in the comments section below.

For more business tips, use this link:
http://www.derekjones.co/search/label/Business%20Tips


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar below or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog

You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/djones1509
https://plus.google.com/104849975941505117776

Until my next post on Wednesday on profiting from your hobbies, have a great and productive week ahead! See you back here on Wednesday!

© 2013. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.

Using Online Surveys Effectively For Business And Education

Surveys are one of the best ways to make use of the information superhighway that is the internet. They deliver precise details that help determine how people feel about specific products or services so the user can offer a more targeted selection of items or services.

A survey is also a great way to gain an understanding of how others react to events or information. Surveys can help a business learn how to better serve their customers, improve products or increase sales. Surveys used in-house can help business owners make the workplace a more productive atmosphere.

However, online surveys are not just for businesses. They are very useful for getting feedback in several areas of life such as:

• Teaching and Educational Institutions
• Business Owners and Online Retailers
• Internet Marketing Specialists

How to Use Surveys to Their Best Advantage and Improve Services

Businesses should ask consumers to take a survey before leaving your website. Do not focus only on those that made purchases. The information from visitors that leave without making a purchase can, in many ways, be even more valuable than that of those that buy something.

Find out why the viewer decided not to make a purchase. Ask if there was enough of a selection, enough information on a given product, or for information on their overall experience with the website. A survey can let you know if a website isn't laid out in an easy to use fashion. What seems right to you may not be accessible to the average user.

Teachers can create a free online survey as a test to see how well students are adapting to the classroom. They can find out if students are comfortable with the teaching methods, class materials and even how comfortable they are with other students.

By using survey software to make blind questionnaires, students do not have to feel pressured to give the "right" answers, and teachers can make adjustments to improve the quality of the classroom experience.

Internet marketers or online entrepreneurs can use online surveys to learn about market trends and forecasts. They can connect with visitors to a website by getting them to answer questions about their likes and dislikes on a given subject. These kinds of surveys are very helpful in determining the right products to offer.

Consumers are more open to answering questions about what they are looking for in general and what will make their lives easier on a website or forum set up to feel like it is offering information or connection with others who share a common interest. Using this type of site in conjunction with a survey can greatly enhance the success of an internet marketing campaign.


Physical vs. Online Surveys

Physical surveys offer the benefit of having a personal interaction with public individuals, and perhaps increasing the responses. However, having a survey taker asking the questions can make consumers more leery about giving the answer they are looking for.

Physical surveys cost a great deal more than it would be to create online surveys. Even paper surveys mailed to consumers will be expensive in both printing and postage aspects where many survey programs are free to use and can automatically send the questions to a mailing list when it is available.

Attaching an online survey to a website is a simple procedure and operates 24/7 without hourly wages or overtime costs of a physical survey taker.


Evaluating Survey Responses

Another benefit of online surveys it that there are tools to help analyze the information gained from each survey, compares it to the group. These survey tools also highlight individual comments where applicable so you can see at a glance where trouble spots exist.


About The Author: Sameer Bhatia is founder and CEO of ProProfs.com which is a leading provider of online learning tools for building, testing, and applying knowledge. Through Survey Software, ProProfs offers marketers and trainers powerful-but-simple features without requiring them to download or learn expensive software. Sameer has a background in technology with a Masters in Computer Science from USC (University Of Southern California) and is an ed-tech industry veteran. You can find Sameer on Google+ and Twitter.

Did you find this article helpful? Please let Sameer and myself know by leaving us your valued comments in the comments section below.

Would you like to guest post on the blog? Please use the Contact tab above to get in touch if you write business-related articles or articles on the topics of Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Social Media Marketing/Optimisation (SMO), Blogging, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM).


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar below or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog

You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/djones1509
https://plus.google.com/104849975941505117776

Until my next post on Monday on how to expand a small business, have a fabulous and fun-filled weekend! See you back here on Monday!

© 2013. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.

Introduction To PLC Training Courses

PLC training courses can boost your career and bring you one step closer to success. These programming classes are designed for fresh engineering graduates, electricians, multi-craft maintenance technicians, and non-programmers looking to improve their skills. PLC stands for Programmable Logic Controller. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to implement basic programming instructions, identify PLC components, and set up a PLC-based control system.

American Trainco offers practical PLC training courses that can help you save thousands of dollars on costly repairs and service calls. These classes are suitable for those who work in commercial buildings, manufacturing plants, airports, shopping centers, hospitals, and research facilities. Students can learn about organize, design and plan their own programming systems, identify the most common system faults, and create application programs. The course covers most PLCs, including Mitsubishi, Siemens, Allen Bradley, Omron, and GE.

PLC training classes are in high demand. Those who attend these courses learn valuable programming skills. They are able to identify the inputs and outputs of PLC programming, write medium level PLC programs, describe software structure, and troubleshoot SCADA systems. PLC training classes are an investment in your future. Whether you want to improve your skills or boost your professional life, you can benefit from PLC training.


If you found this or any of my other posts helpful, don't forget to share the posts to your favourite networks using the toolbar below or by using the "+1" and "Share" buttons located at the bottom of each post.

As ever, if you want to stay up to date with the latest blog posts, don't forget to follow via Google Friend Connect (button on sidebar), on NetworkedBlogs, via Email (maximum of one email per day), on Facebook and Google+ or by subscribing to our blog feed at:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/DereksHomeAndBusinessBlog

You can also follow me on Twitter @djones1509, Google+ and on Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/djones1509
https://plus.google.com/104849975941505117776

© 2013. This article is DMCA protected. Republication is prohibited.