Brain Wave, Entrepreneurship & Business Talks

Showing Your Employees That You Appreciate Them

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As a business owner, you’re likely going to be working with a number of different employees in your business. You’re not expected to get along with all of them, but it’s hard to deny the fact that a healthy relationship with your employees can greatly improve the overall productivity of your business.

One of the best ways to build this relationship is to take notice of any activities they’ve done that warrants a pat on the back. Perhaps they stayed after work for a bit to cover for someone that called in sick, or maybe they’ve pushed new ideas to the business which has resulted in higher profits and more customers.

Whatever the case may be, here are some simple steps to improve your entrepreneur skills and show your employees that you appreciate them and their efforts.

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Don’t hesitate when speaking to employees one-to-one

It’s not every day that your employees get to speak to you on a one-to-one basis. However, there are times when it might be necessary, such as when your employees are struggling with certain tasks or if you’d like to congratulate them for something specific. You’d be surprised at just how much it helps to show a bit of appreciation to your employees throby ugh acknowledging them and speaking to them one-to-one.

Get them something special to commemorate a milestone

A great way to show your appreciation for your employees is to get something special to commemorate milestones. For example, you could have rewards for employees that stay with the company for a certain amount of time. It could start with a rather basic item from specialists like Challenge Coins Ltd. Bespoke collectable coins are a good choice since they can be engraved with a number of different designs and messages. By getting something special to commemorate a milestone, you’re showing your employees that you care about them.

Listen to your employees and ask them regularly for feedback

It’s important to listen to your employees whenever they encounter trouble or problems with their work. They might offer some suggestions on how to change your business to improve efficiency, or they might even talk about things that are holding them back. They’ll likely suggest changes that you could make that might improve their overall productivity as well. At the end of the day, you should always be listening to your employees. Ask them if there’s anything you could improve, if they’re facing any problems and if they have any overall income concerns.

Rewards don’t always have to be fun and games

Many companies offer rewards that are based around having fun, entertaining yourself or even sending you off on a holiday. However, there may be times where an educational gift could actually be more interesting. For instance, if your employee has shown that they’re willing to go the extra mile for your business, you can return that loyalty by offering them training courses to learn new skills. It’s a reward that is based on their career and will give them more opportunities in the future.

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Brain Wave, Life in general

Why Experts Are A Must For Piano Removal

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Piano removals happen every day, and for every successful move, there is one that ends in disaster. Why? Because the piano owner decided that they didn’t want or need expert movers to move their piano. Don’t learn the hard way; read on to discover why you should always use an expert piano removal firm.

One of the main reasons why piano removals should always be undertaken by specialist movers is the weight of the instrument. If you slip while carrying a heavy box, you may break the contents and possibly breaking or bruise your foot if it lands on it. However, a piano is a great deal heavier, and should it fall during moving it could cause serious injuries to those involved.

As well as the health and safety of the individuals involved, there is the piano itself to consider. If it is damaged during the move, it is not just the external look of the instrument that will be affected. Even a slight knock could affect the intricate internal workings; breaking strings and damaging hammers, and that’s just the parts you would be able to see.

The other concern when it comes to moving a grand piano is whether it should be taken apart to be moved. While removing the legs may seem like a great idea, if you get it wrong, your piano may never sound the same again.

If this isn’t enough to convince you, then consider your insurance; the easiest way to invalidate any insurance is to do the work yourself. A piano’s insurance is no different, and may even stipulate the need for a specialist removal company.

Cost Is Just One Consideration When Choosing A Service

The cost is, of course, going to feature in any final decision you make about how best to move your piano to its new home. However, the price cannot be the only determining factor in your decision as to who your trust your piano removals to. Follow this guide to hiring the right specialist piano removals service.

When you bought your piano, you would have had it delivered by professional movers. The reason for this was to ensure that it arrived at your home in the same condition that it left the store. If the business you purchased your piano from arranged or controlled the delivery, then this is the best place to start looking for a professional mover for your piano. Even if they cannot complete the move, they may be able to recommend another excellent specialist in moving pianos at a reasonable cost, such as North American Van Lines. If you go down this route, then ensure that you check recommendations and references carefully. You want to check that the company has the experience, not only with your grand or upright piano, but also your building type. Check that the company has the equipment and the number of people needed to complete the removal safely.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions about any aspect of your piano’s move, including whether the company you are looking to use has insurance, and what exactly this insurance will cover. It’s no good finding out after the move that the insurance didn’t cover accidents while the piano was being transported in their vehicle.

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Brain Wave, Life in general, Money matters

3 Financial Tips For First-Time Car Owners

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When beginning to drive for the first time, no matter if that’s when you’re eighteen years old or fifty, it’s easy to feel worried about the financial cost of operating a vehicle. Of course, you have nothing to fear (not really). Vehicles do require maintenance and sometimes they do break down, but if you are willing to look after the pennies, it’s possible to run a car without having to pay over the odds for the privilege.

That being said, financial wisdom applies to all areas of life, and running a vehicle is no different. For those who wish to save as much as they can, or rather spend in the areas that are most important, it’s worthwhile to know what your options are. Thankfully, you don’t have to learn these tips through trial and error, instead, you can come to rational conclusions based on worthwhile tips and tricks you deserve to know.

So – what do you deserve to know? That’s a great question in itself. Let’s move forward and share all we know about financial guidance for first-time car owners:

Consider Financed Options Or Loans

Financed options or loans can help you achieve a vehicle that is more reliable, more affordable in the long run, and more worthwhile. New Roads Auto Loans can help you secure a car you’re looking for, because ultimately if you purchase a sustainable vehicle (or one that can operate well without proprietary repairs), you are saving money in the long run. No matter if you buy a gas-guzzler or a tiny hatchback, the same principles apply. This way, you’re more likely to benefit.

Understand The Basics Of Maintenance

If you’re able to change a tire, check and change your oil, and understand the basics of maintenance, you can avoid having to call someone out for the privilege each time a difficulty springs up. Something as simple as checking tyre pressure before a journey or replacing brake fluid can help you avoid nasty callout charges. At the very least, invest in great insurance so that you are covered even if there’s something you can’t fix. This will help you avoid issues (and financial holes) in the long run.

Buy Fuel On A Credit Card

Buying fuel on a credit card is useful. It helps you pay for your gas wherever you need it, without having to overly worry about the exact penny cost to your limited debit account funds. This can also grant you the means of paying off your expenses later on, building your credit score, and ultimately helping you secure a better option (or better insurance) next time. When you know you can afford fuel no matter what and pay it back at a later date, you will have peace of mind on the roads, and feel very comfortable as a result. That’s a greata place to start.

With this advice, you’re sure to manage the 3 best financial tips for first-time car owners.

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Brain Wave, Health and medicine, Society at large

How Lockdown Is Affecting People’s Mental Health

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The Covid-19 pandemic has kept at least 2.6 billion people in some form of social isolation. But how does that affect people mentally? Well, according to experts, the Covid-19 lockdown has caused some of the most major psychological challenges the world has seen in recent years. And now there are deep fears that towards late 2020, an outbreak of burnouts could hit the globe as a result of lockdown.

Covid-19 mental challenges are real

Following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the world’s health facilities have been overwhelmed as a result of the upsurge in new infections. Nations scrambled to erect tents and temporary healthcare centers to treat infected patients. For example, in the United States, field hospitals were put up in Central Park when the COVID case counts and death toll shot to the roof. Unfortunately, what’s conspicuously missing in the world is the lack of psychological help centers for people grappling with the effects of social distancing protocols and quarantine. If the world is to come back stronger post-COVID-19, then nations shouldn’t be ignoring the mental health dangers posed by people being torn away from their loved ones as a result of unprecedented lockdown. There is a good reason why experts are tagging the Covid-19 pandemic as the “biggest psychological test” the world has seen in a long time. With a third of the global population living in isolation, that cannot go on without sparking psychological effects.

Effects of lockdown on mental health

Around February 2020, The Lancet reviewed 24 studies on the impact of lockdown on mental health. Insights from that study revealed what may be going on in the millions of households that have been hit hard by the pandemic. As expected, the results showed that quarantined people have a high likelihood of developing a broad spectrum of symptoms characteristic of psychological disorders. These include anxiety, sleeplessness, depression, stress, and anger, among other traumatic experiences.

But in particular, it was observed that low mood and temper irritability stood out among the psychological effects of Covid-19 lockdown. Moving to China, the origin of the virus, researchers also confirmed mental health challenges springing from the coronavirus pandemic.
In cases involving the quarantine of parents and their kids, the toll on mental health was much more pronounced.

Some studies found out that close to 28% of parents in quarantine showed trauma-like symptoms relating to mental health abnormalities. Meanwhile, healthcare workers can’t be left out. Nearly 10% of hospital workers experienced severe symptoms of depression. In the face of these difficulties, healthcare workers have a high tendency to engage in risky behaviors such as alcohol abuse and self-medication. In some cases, health practitioners avoid making contact with patients due to the fear of being infected.

The lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) also explains why doctors shirk their basic responsibilities of catering for the sick. The big question is — if doctors are closing their offices for fear of their lives, what happens to Covid-19 patients and those with non-communicable cases such as hearing losses? Well, that means Covid-19 patients may lose their lives needlessly, and the hearing-impaired won’t have access to an audiogram to diagnose their conditions.

How to overcome coronavirus-related mental health challenges

  • Call for help

    • This is not the best time to hide your poor mental health situation. Speak it out, and you will get help. For example, make a consultation with a psychologist and seek help before it’s too late. As trained mental health professionals, doctors and psychologists can offer you advice and even medications to improve your condition. Explain your feelings to them, and follow their recommendations to restore your positive mind.

  • Socialize with friends online

    • The internet is serving the world perfectly in the course of the pandemic. Even though lockdown can tie you to your home, don’t allow it to cut off your communication with family and friends. Of course, in quarantine, you may not be able to attend parties with friends, but you can connect with them online through platforms like FaceTime, Facebook, and other platforms.

  • Find a flexible job

    • The Covid-19 crisis has affected people’s sources of income because the pandemic has dealt with businesses a big blow. To lessen your financial worries, you need to find a flexible job during the pandemic. Think about how you can work from home to make some money and meet your household needs.

    The pandemic has affected the psychological state of people. But if you take the above measures, you can mitigate the negative impact of lockdown, and have your full mental health back.

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Brain Wave, Health and medicine

Health Appointments You Should Definitely Check Into

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We all want to be in the best health we can possibly be. We want to live our lives free of discomfort and pain. We also want to live as long as possible. But to achieve this, you’re going to have to put some work in. This goes beyond the usual health routines of eating balanced meals and going to the gym regularly. You’re going to have to book in for regular health checkups with professionals too. Here are some that you need to fit into your schedule!

Dentist Appointments

If you’re having any form of dental problems, your first point of call should be your dentist. They’ll be able to carry out a full examination and any emergency procedures that may need to be carried out to put a stop to pain or other issues. But this isn’t the only time you should see a dentist. You should also check in regularly even if you haven’t noticed any problems. A six month dental checkup will give your dentist the chance to take a look around your mouth and examine its overall health. They may be able to spot warning signs of issues that you haven’t noticed yet, such as small cavities or signs of gum disease. They can then carry out procedures to stop these issues in their tracks. They can also carry out an X-ray to ensure the health of the inside of your teeth, which you can’t take a look at yourself. This could unveil wisdom teeth or other potential future inconveniences or problems. Your dentist will also likely offer aesthetic services, such as straightening, whitening or veneers if you’re interested!

Hygienist Appointments

While we all know we need to see a dentist, it’s surprising how few people book in an appointment with a hygienist. A hygienist will ensure that your mouth is as clean as possible, tackling areas you might not reach yourself and carrying out a scale to remove any build up of plaque or tartare. They may also be able to point out areas you’re missing, helping you to take better care of your teeth in your own cleaning routines.

Eye Tests

You should visit an optometrist for an eye test once every two years. This isn’t high commitment, so there’s no reason to miss your appointments. Everyone can spare half an hour once every two years. During your eye test, a professional will survey the health of your eye. This will give them the opportunity to identify symptoms of any conditions that will need to be put right. Generally, for most people, nothing shows up and they can simply progress to their sight test. In the sight test, you’ll carry out a number of tasks to determine whether you need prescription lenses or not. If you do, your optometrist will write out your prescription and you’ll be good to go!

Hearing Tests

Hearing tests are even less regular than eye tests. You just need to check in if you notice any changes to your hearing or if you’re worried about your hearing at all. If you are recognizing hearing loss, an audiologist will be able to carry out proper tests to determine whether you need hearing aids or other hearing devices to help you get by more easily on a day to day basis. If you do need any hearing aids, your audiologist will be able to recommend different makes and models, will be able to order them on your behalf and will be able to fit them for you when they arrive. This can make all the difference to your day to day life!

General Health Check Ups

If you feel that any other aspect of your health may be deteriorating, check in with your doctor. They’ll be able to conduct tests to determine the cause of your problems and set you on the right path to treatment. Whether that’s medication, surgery, therapy or anything else! These routine checks will ensure that any problems that are establishing themselves are tackled quickly and effectively.

Sure, there are a fair few checkups that you need to fit into your calendar. But the good news is that they are generally far between, so you won’t find your schedule absolutely packed with them. Plus, they can really help you out, making a profoundly positive experience to your day to day life!

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Brain Wave, Entrepreneurship & Business Talks

Going the Way of the Entrepreneur: 2 Key Personal Traits to Learn

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It seems that many people are jumping onto the freelance way of life at the moment. And partly, it’s to do with necessity, it’s also the personal outcomes that can influence our decision. Many people are learning how important it is to have control over their lives, and it seems that this is one of the key ways these days. When there is a recession there appears to be a spike in people looking for ways to make money for themselves. But when you start to build your own freelance career and decide that you want to be an entrepreneur there are certain personal considerations that you need to think about.

Money Is More Than a Commodity, It Is a Mindset

Building any company, whether it’s online or in real life, requires a relationship with money that goes beyond the physical. The best place to begin when you have a poor relationship with money and you’ve been in debt previously is to get a clean slate. While there are debt discharge programs like on www.DTSS.us you have to think about being debt-free as a mindset too. So many people start a business as a way to scramble together money quickly, but this is not the case. The first year can be incredibly difficult for any budding business person. And you may feel that you are financially worse off. This is why you need to change your relationship with money. Changing your lifestyle so you can invest in the business but also get an understanding of that sensation you feel after you’ve earned that first dollar can help change your entire approach to how you live.

Learning to Lead

Going back to the idea of being self-sufficient in terms of our own careers, we may feel that we need to be in control of our domain. The big problem with being in charge of your own business is that you have your own preconceived ideas of what being a boss actually entails. So many people have so much of a chip on their shoulder, they feel in order to get anywhere they’ve got to beat on people below them or be incredibly harsh leaders. The true value of being a leader is not about shouting loud or being someone who puffs their chest out; it’s about being the person who listens, inspires, but also has an approach that considers everybody. You may think that you need to be a Donald Trump and start blaming everybody for problems that you’ve created (hopefully without the hairstyle and hue of orange), or you can be the person that takes responsibility, like Abraham Lincoln. There are so many characteristics of great leaders to consider, and there are 5 of these on www.FastCompany.com. And while you will encounter people throughout your life that think this is the best way to be, morally speaking it doesn’t help.

To be a business person you may have preconceived notions of the entire mindset. But when you are in charge of something that has to pay other people as well as yourself, you have a duty of care. If you are considering going the way of the entrepreneur, these are the two key personal considerations to start with.

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Brain Wave, Shopping and Merchandise

Looking After A Diamond Ring

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If you own a diamond ring then it is likely to be an extremely precious piece of jewellery, such as an engagement ring. Therefore, if you want your ring to look as stunning as it did when you first received it, you need to make sure you look after it properly. Your diamond is not going to maintain its beauty without proper care. When you consider how much of an investment a diamond is, you see why it is so important to care for your diamond properly. This article aims to give you a helping hand with that by providing you with some key advice on taking care of diamonds.

How do you clean a diamond ring?

One extremely effective way of cleaning diamonds is to use vodka. So, how do you use vodka to clean diamonds? This is a really simple method. All you need to do is leave your ring to soak in a glass of vodka. Once you remove the ring you will instantly notice that the diamond has got its sparkle back. However, don’t immediately place it back onto your finger. You will need to rinse it under the tap with warm water and then make sure you rub it dry as well. Use a lint-free cloth.

If you don’t keep vodka in your home then maybe this next method will be more beneficial for you. You will need to get yourself a bowl and mix together four parts warm water with one part household ammonia. Soak the ring in this solution for no longer than ten minutes. Once you have removed it you should brush it very gently with a soft small and gentle brush, such as a child’s toothbrush. After this, dip it back into the mixture and then rinse it with lukewarm water. Leave it on a drain to dry or you can use a lint-free cloth similarly to the previous method.

One important point to note is that you should never leave your ring on a paper tissue to dry. This is because it can leave dust and fibres onto the ring.

It is also a good idea to make sure you take your ring off while you are getting dressed. If you do not do this, it is going to get covered in perfumes, creams, and lotions, which can cause the ring to deteriorate a lot quicker than it would usually.

How should you store your diamond rings?

Storing your ring correctly is important as well, especially if this is an engagement or wedding ring. Make sure you keep your diamond jewellery in a fabric lined jewel case. In addition to this, don’t keep your diamond jewellery next to other pieces. You don’t want scratches to arise from them rubbing together.

Have a quality jeweller on hand

Last but not least, it is important to make sure you have a quality jeweller on hand to provide you with a repair and reconstruction should you need it. In fact, it is recommended that you take your diamond jewellery to a jeweller every six months so that you can have it looked at professionally and so that the prongs can be tightened.

When it comes to choosing a jeweller, the answer is simple; make sure they are experienced, they have a wealth of repair and construction services, their prices are fair, and they are experts in the field of diamonds.

Thanks to the Internet, it is easier than ever before to find a reputable jeweller. You can read reviews that have been left by others. Independent review platforms are best because you will know that you are reading authentic and genuine comments, rather than comments that have been hand-selected from the company in question.

Don’t forget about the security of your diamond ring

It is also important to make sure you invest in a quality safe for your diamond. At the end of the day, this is a highly valuable piece of jewellery, and so you need to make certain that it is looked after. What are the best home safes? This depends on what you are storing inside. You can get safes that are specifically for jewellery, which can be secured in your bedroom, or another part of the property if you would prefer.

To conclude, it is important to look after your diamond jewellery properly if you want it to sparkle for as long as possible. Not only do you need to consider jewellery maintenance, but you also need to make sure that your diamond jewellery is secure as well.

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