Brain Wave – Page 2 – Sasha Says…

Brain Wave, Entrepreneurship & Business Talks

10 Simple Tips to Help You Get More Creative in Your Business

May 17, 2023 No Comments

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In the world of business, we can often think about and heavily focus on being professional, organized, and focusing on our goals. Depending on the industry you’re in, you may find that you’re just unable to get creative. Or maybe you don’t understand the importance of it? It could be that you’re focusing too much on data and processing and you’re not really attracting the audience that you’d really like to. When this is the case, it could be that you’re just being too methodical with things. You may find that bringing more creativity into your life is just what you need. In order to do that, it’ll help if you can apply more creative practices to your work.

But what happens when you tend to be a little more strategic or analytical than creative? Maybe you’ve tried to shake things up a little and you’re not getting results. When that’s the case, you may be better off following some tips that are guaranteed to get your creative juices flowing. And the best part is, if you’re just not sure that you’re the creative type, they’re all incredibly simple to apply! So let’s take a look at what could actually help to get your business more creative.

1. Get Visual With Your Branding
First of all, you’re going to want to make sure that you’re able to bring your brand alive with visuals. Have you created an identity for your business with the right colors and fonts and imagery? If not, this is a great place to start. And if you’re not sure what will best represent your brand, you can work with a branding consultant to do this.

2. Hire a Graphic Designer
Next up is the idea of getting a designer in your business. If you know that design, visuals, and creativity just isn’t your thing, then you’ll want to outsource this. You can hire a freelance designer to manage the visuals on your behalf. That way, you can always make sure that you’re injecting creativity into everything you’re doing, without struggling to do it yourself.

3. Plan a Photoshoot
Another creative visual that can come in handy for your business is photos and visual assets to use your in branding and marketing. If you don’t have these, why not plan in a photoshoot? If you’re a consultant or entrepreneur, having professional headshots can help. But you can also do shoots for your products or more branding based so that you have them to use online and so on.

Brain Wave, Money matters

How Fintech Can Help Your eCommerce Business

May 17, 2023 No Comments

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New financial technology, or “Fintech,” can help your business achieve more as you redefine current systems and processes to meet expected consumer demands and future proofing. You don’t need to use Fintech systems, but you can offer better services and security if you do. Among these features are more accurate records that customers can access at any time.

Easier Banking Options
Fintech has many benefits. But of course, the main one is within banking. Yes, all banks offer some kind of online banking. Yet Fintech advancements mean you can provide your customers with all the services they expect. And this is valuable if you run an online eCommerce platform. Evolve Bank & Trust is just one of the financial institutions embracing all that Fintech has to offer. Meaning you get solid 24/7 banking infrastructure with no additional costs or unfair fees.

Improved Payments for Customers
As an eCommerce platform, your customers come first. And business never sleeps. So you must be able to offer your customers what they want when they want it. And this also means transactions and processing of digital payments. Digital payments are quick and convenient. And don’t in the same way as traditional banking transactions that work to a schedule. As a result, your cash flow is constant, as you don’t need to wait for any payments to come through.

Fintech Can Help with Transparency
Compliance, and trust are major factors. One of the key areas where Fintech solutions can help your business is with greater transparency. From moving homes to buying stock, there is a substantial distrust when it comes to online transactions, Fintech used between eCommerce and banking offers a greater look inside all processes. For example, your customers can see who they are doing business with, all payments received, and upcoming payments scheduled.

Efficiency and Automation
Automation, especially with AI, is a major issue right now. Automation makes things easier, and most systems can carry out functions much more efficiently than a human. This is why over 90% of major corporations use automation in at least one core service. For instance, half of these use Chatbots to improve customer service. Chatbots can help individualize communications among a customer, their bank, and eCommerce platform based on historical interaction data.

Access to a Wider Market
eCommerce as a whole relies on access to customers. And when you think about the global reach of the financial industry, there are only benefits for you. Fintech isn’t limited by the borders and boundaries of the land. And when it comes to online systems, there are no issues like supply chains that plague other industries such as logistics. Additionally, third-party apps and user software allow your customers to access powerful Fintech services easily from anywhere.

Summary
There are many ways in which emerging Fintech can help your online business. It makes banking and payments easier, offers a degree of transparency, and opens you up to a wider market. Combined, these help you give customers what they expect from a modern business.

Brain Wave, Health and medicine

Make it Easier to Exercise at Home

May 17, 2023 No Comments

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Not everyone likes to do certain things in public. And some you can’t by law! So, if you find it hard to exercise at home, give some of these ideas a whirl before you think of giving up.

Try Virtual Instruction
Encouragement is a powerful thing when you want to exercise, especially if you are new to it. If your goal is losing weight, you need someone to get you through. If you want to tone up, you want someone to help you through the burn. Fortunately, today, high-end boutique gyms like HOTWORX offer virtual training sessions with expert instructors for a quality home workout. The point is you can have a much harder time going it alone, so a little help from experts will help.

Do It with Your Partner
If you have a partner or even a flatmate, you can both enjoy the benefits of working out together. This is an excellent way to exercise from where you live since you can encourage each other. And encouragement has been shown to give a better workout. Encouragement from a friend or partner can improve motivation and makes exercise a fun social activity. Some studies have found that you can boost your workout performance by between 2% and 4% with a friend.

Make Space to Exercise at Home
You will have trouble working out if you don’t make some space for it at home. For instance, trying to do some squats and star jumps in a small living room is a guaranteed way to break your shiny TV. And you must also consider equipment storage. For example, you won’t want to get on your stationary bike if just dragging it out of your storage cupboard is exercise enough. So try to make a dedicated space for getting healthy if you have a spare room or a backyard.

Make a Solid Action Plan
It’s great that you want to exercise. But if you exercise at home and/or alone, it can become a solitary activity that loses its enjoyment. But you can make the most of a positive attitude by making a plan of action. Being a goal-oriented person works for most things in life. But it is very helpful when trying to stick to an exercise routine. Partly because your brain knows what to expect. Make your plan around your work and home life, and include days for resting properly.

Make Homewide Dietary Changes
Family can make exercise very challenging. Things pop up that get in the way of your goals. You can be embarrassingly disturbed when during the downward-facing dog pose. And even family food can make your efforts mean nothing. So it helps to change what you put in your cart at the grocery store. For instance, change your shopping list to cut out sugary pop drinks, high-fat chips, and microwave-ready meals. Instead, focus on fresh cooking and healthy snacks.

Summary
You will reach your goals if you make it easier to exercise at home. You can sign up for virtual classes, make a dedicated space for your workouts, and make changes to your shopping list.

Brain Wave, Family and Home living, Life in general

Advice For Planning A Quick, Impromptu House Move

May 11, 2023 No Comments

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The house-moving process very much conforms to the adage “when it rains, it pours”. This is because nothing can happen for months as you aim to sell your home and look for suitable properties to move into, but the moment that you do, ten offers might come in, and you only have a month to move into your desired place.

Of course, the parameters that define the timeline of your move can also be rather constricting, especially if you need to find an approved school placement for your child before the new term starts. In some cases, you may find that all of a sudden, you need to move, and you need to move soon.

This shouldn’t cause you to neglect vital planning efforts, such as using a house inspector to verify the condition of the property you want or making an effort to view it again in person before your final offer. However, if all of that is being resolved, and you have a short amount of time to move, we think the following advice could help you most of all:

Find A Suitable Removalist

It’s good to find a suitable removalist that can fulfill your needs as quickly and reliably as possible. With iMOVE you’ll be able to check through many services in your local area to ensure you have the right one. This can help you decide which features you may be looking for as a matter of course, such as making certain expensive items can be packaged and insured properly as your possessions are transported from place to place.

Set A Strict, But Manageable Set Of Deadlines

When you have to move quickly, everything you need to accomplish has a shorter deadline. However, you can achieve more than you think. For instance, you might block out time during one morning to move all of your utility contracts to the new property by a specific date. Then you might spend the afternoon cleaning your house, or notifying your neighbors of the move, or signing off the end documents. Always make sure you dedicate yourself to the tasks of the morning and afternoon, and then you can break up your efforts into chunks that will progress.

Enlist Help From Friends, Family & Services

Enlisting help from your friends, family, and services can help limit the load at a time when intensive effort is required. For instance, you might use self-storage services to throw your most expensive items into an area of complete security at a time when you’re rushing around your home trying to pack everything. Asking a family member to look after your children when you need to go and visit/prepare the new property can be a big helper, if only for an afternoon. Moreover, you may ask a friend to help you with the drive, or to look over your house with you to make sure you haven’t left anything (and left the stove on) after you leave. That might sound simple, but these efforts really will matter.

With this advice, you’re sure to plan a quick, impromptu house move, without feeling too stressed out.

Brain Wave, Family and Home living

Make Sure you Leave These Home Repair Jobs to the Experts

May 10, 2023 No Comments

If you have a lot of jobs to do around the home, then you will know how difficult it can be to find time to get them all done. You may find that you just don’t have time or even the energy and this can make it very difficult for you to get on top of things. That being said, there are some jobs that you need to leave to the experts. If you want to find out more then simply look below.

Electrical Repairs
The most important job that you should be leaving to the professionals would be any electrical work. If you need to replace an outlet, or if you need to add a new outlet in general then you need to hire a certified electrician to take care of this for you. Working with electricity, when you have no prior training is not only dangerous to yourself, because it’s dangerous to other people as well. Certified electricians have the experience and training needed to get the job done and they can also stop any further damage from occurring to your home. When the time comes for you to sell your property, you have to make sure that you have proof of any rewiring you have done as well. If you have taken care of this job yourself then buyers may haggle the asking price if they feel as though they need to hire a professional to come and take a look.

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Appliance Repair
When one of your household appliances happens to break down, it can cause major damage to your home. If your fridge breaks down, then you will have to scramble to find a way to keep all of your food items from spoiling. If you have a dishwasher that has broken down, then you will have to figure out how you are going to deal with a mountain of washing up in the meantime. Because of disruptions like this, it can be all too tempting for you to try and deal with the repairs all by yourself. If you can, however, you need to avoid this. Appliance repair isn’t easy, to say the least, and if you don’t know what you are doing, you may end up making the issue even worse. You also put yourself at the risk of injury which is the last thing you need. If you want to avoid this, then make sure you hire a repair service. If you want to avoid a repair, maintenance is key. This could involve you hiring a dryer vent cleaning service.

Clogged Drains
One home repair that a lot of people try and take care of on their own is a clogged drain. In a lot of cases, you can take care of this by yourself by putting some boiling water down. That being said, a lot of the time, this will not be enough to deal with the issue. Rather than trying to attempt further measures to correct the clog on your own, you should try and hire a plumber. If you can do this, then you will soon find that it is easier than ever for you to get the result you want. If your initial attempts to unclog the drain are not successful, then make sure that you call a plumber rather than trying to deal with the issue on your own. If you can do this, then you will soon find that you can avoid making things worse for yourself. If you have damaged pipes, then you need to get them repaired as soon as possible because if you don’t then you may find that the issue worsens with time and this is the last thing you need.

Roof Leaks
Roof leaks might not be a serious issue to start with, but it is important to know that they can quickly turn into one. If you do not treat your roof leak quickly then you may find that your roof ends up rotting and before you know it, you will have a huge hole that you need to deal with. If you spot any wet spots in your ceiling, then this is a sign that your roof is in need of some repairs. Repairing a roof is very dangerous work and it is not something that you should ever try and do all by yourself. It will require you to climb up a ladder and remove the shingles. You will then have to install some new ones. If you aren’t careful then you may find that you end up injuring yourself and this is the last thing you need. Professional repair services know how to stay safe while working and this is a great way for you to protect your home against leaks in the future.

Brain Wave, Money matters, Shopping and Merchandise

How To Make High-Quality Fashion More Affordable

May 10, 2023 No Comments

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It’s the oldest cliche in the book, but looking good really does make us feel good. Right now, the benefits of achieving this are greater than ever. However, nobody wants to spend a fortune on fashion choices, regardless of how great they make us feel.

Thankfully, cutting costs needn’t force you to compromise on quality. Here are some top tips to help make high-quality fashion more affordable and accessible with stunning results.

#1. Make Savings Elsewhere

Firstly, managing your finances is all about balance. So, if you wish to spend more money on fashion, spending less money on other expenses will allow you to do this. Saving money on your weekly food shopping bill, for example, could generate the savings to pay for a new outfit each month. Other options include negotiating better deals on your home insurance, energy rates, or cell phone package.

In short, it’ll enable you to increase your clothes budget without impacting your overall financial wellness.

#2. Save Money On Jewelry

Jewelry is often the most expensive part of an ensemble. So, it becomes a great starting point to generate savings while simultaneously achieving a premium style. Lab created diamonds are a particularly great choice as they deliver the same sparkle as mined diamonds. In addition to providing a more affordable solution, they are also a more ethical choice. Traditional mining is a dangerous industry.

Perhaps the best way to save on jewelry is to focus on quality rather than quantity. After all, you can only wear a certain amount of pieces.

#3. Don’t Be Afraid Of Used Goods

When thinking about used fashion, many people assume that all items are either poor quality items or items that have been worn out. In reality, charity stores and other outlets often stock premium goods that have been donated. Knowing how to get a bargain may allow you to get an item that’s been worn once or twice for just a fraction of the normal costs. You will notice that it provides great satisfaction too.

The fashion pieces you find here, or at online marketplaces, may be unwanted gifts or products that no longer fit the old owner.

#4. Hire Special Garments

If you have a wedding or major business event coming up, it’s natural that you will want to look the part. However, paying hundreds of dollars for an outfit you may only wear once seems futile. Opting to hire a dress or suit for the big occasion is a financially savvy decision. Not least because the money you save can be used to fund purchases of pieces that you wear more regularly.

Any items you already have that were worn for previous special events can be sold to ease the financial strain on future purchases too.

#5. Shop Smartly

Perhaps the most effective way to make fashion more affordable is to always seek value for money. Buying end-of-season items in preparation for next year can be a great long-term strategy. This is because retailers need to sell those outgoing items quickly to make space for the next line. You can also consider visiting outlets for high-end fashion labels. The options may be a little limited, but the chance to grab bargains is incredible.

Finally, if you find yourself purchasing fashion items on repayment plans, get a 0% interest deal. Otherwise, you’ll pay far more than necessary.

Brain Wave, Family and Home living, Money matters

Saving On Food Costs Throughout The Week

May 9, 2023 No Comments

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Running a household is expensive. Running a family is even more expensive. Even if you’ve become something of a hero in the kitchen as of late, costs can pile up.

For this reason, it’s good to consider how and where you can save expense without having to limit the quality, nutritional value, and general amount of food you eat. After all, a hungry family needs to be well fed, but cooking well doesn’t necessarily correspond to more expensive ingredients.

After all, even the simplest of recipes can turn out poorly if you overthink things. For this reason, trying to save on food costs throughout the week, and as such free up your household budget, can actually help free you as a home cook, too.

Luckily, this process is more than achievable if you know how to proceed correctly. In this post, we’re going to help you get there, with advice that should help you save money, eat well, and reduce wastage. Without further ado, please consider:

Meal Prep & Cook In Larger Quantities

Meal preparation can make a huge difference in how we plan and cook our foods, and how much money we save over time. For instance, you may make a large batch of chicken curry for dinner this week, replete with amazing spices and even citrus that can cut through the spice for a beautiful taste of freshness. Then, store this in containers, freeze it, and over the week you can reheat and eat a fresh meal again, perfectly portioned, be that at the office desk, after your mid-day workout, or in a quick pinch when you need to feed your kids. This saves money over time, and also helps you reduce wastage.

Go Off-Brand Where You Can

You may not be a fan of the off-brand or simple value products that supermarkets offer for everything you eat, after all, sometimes on-brand items can offer better quality. However, it’s also true to say that going off-brand where you can and purchasing the cheapest item can sometimes be more than okay, especially when you’re putting meals together. So for instance, the cheapest kidney beans you can find still work great in chili con carne, without anyone being able to discern the difference. Cutting costs in this way helps you grow your understanding in the kitchen, helping you spare the expense for items that really do matter.

Consider Buying In Bulk & Storing Your Ingredients

It’s also healthy to buy in bulk where you can, and cook that way. This also dovetails nicely into our previous advice to meal prep and store where you can, because buying in larger quantities and then cooking those ingredients will eliminate waste completely. If you invest in a freezer, or have a pantry that remains cool and dry throughout the year, large preserves, beans, rice, and even meats can be picked up from a wholesaler, and brought home where needed. This way, you always have what you need to hand, and can ensure you don’t have to mico-buy ingredients throughout the week, which always increases cost.

With this advice, you’re sure to save on food costs throughout the week, in the best possible way.

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