Brain Wave, Family and Home living, Life in general

Hiring Professionals To Do The Drainage Repairs At Home While Observing Safety Precautions

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Many homeowners cut corners when doing their own home repairs or renovations. The mentality towards saving money than spending extra to hire the professionals to do the service is often being thrown out the window. They think that calling the nearby plumber and other handyman who does digging and patching of other homes can do the trick. A lot can be said about how saving so much in that process can actually hurt the repair of one’s home. One cannot just go online too and press “click now” and hire a contractor without knowing more about the company, the price, and what other customers have said about the company and their service.

When it is time to do major drainage repairs at home, it is wise to call the professionals and have them do the dirty work for us. Yes, this will cost money but imagine the long term benefits of having a professional do the work for you to ensure your home is repaired at the highest level of standards and materials used are of high quality and will last many years.

Having the professional team handle the repairs can actually be more beneficial than what other homeowners dispute because of the cost of the service provided. These professionals have been doing this for a living and they have been licensed to do as such. They know the ins and outs of drainage repair. They also have the proper tools to use to carry out the repairs. And on top of that, safety is given a high priority when conducting repairs and maintenance.

A good professional drainage repair company must be able to provide:

A price quote of the service

Professional service provider of house repairs and renovations must be able to provide a price quote or estimates of the drainage repair. This can either be sent through the mail or printed off and handed to the respective homeowner. The quote must have the cost of materials, service/labor, permits, extra miscellaneous expenses, methods of payment, etc. This quote will become finalized after the agreement of the homeowner to pay the amount stated on the quote.

Contract of the repair

An established contractor must be able to write up a contract of the cost, conditions, clauses, timelines or the drainage repair for the homeowner to agree and sign. The contract must be clear with all the conditions and timelines to be met and this document must be treated officially and homeowners must have a copy on hand for their record.

Repair timeline

Timeline of the repair must clearly discussed and observed in a written contract. It is very crucial for professional contractors who will provide the drainage repair service to honour the outline to avoid any inconvenience and extra cost for both the homeowner and service provider.

Install safety fixtures around the perimeter

A good professional drainage company must have fixtures and other safety equipment and tools to use to cover your perimeter and ensure that workers, homeowners, and the public are safe. Proper gears such as hard hats, overalls, gloves, safety shoes must be worn at all times during the repairs. Surrounding perimeter must be barricaded and dug holes must be covered with steel plates to prevent someone from falling or slipping. Click here now to see a sample of a steel plate or rug used for constructions.

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Brain Wave, Careers, Freelancing and Self-Employment

3 Important Reasons Why the Philippines Is a Hotspot for Freelancers

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The Internet hasn’t just changed how we live our lives. It’s also changed how we work and how we do business. Indeed, the rise and development of apps and web-based services have built up a gig economy for a lot of jobs—both big and small. And this definitely goes beyond signing up for Uber so you can earn extra cash on the side by ferrying people.

These days, tasks that used to be handled by companies in-house can now be easily outsourced elsewhere in the world for a fraction of the cost. Yet worldwide, one country in Southeast Asia continues to get a lot of attention from enterprises that are looking for some freelancing muscle: the Philippines.

Business processes usually outsourced to this country include simple ones like data encoding and customer service. Meanwhile, higher tier freelancer positions have included graphic designer, virtual executive assistant, social media manager, and web developer jobs, as well as a number of others.

freelancing
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There are many reasons why the Philippines has become a hotspot for freelancers. What follows are just three of the most important ones.

English Proficiency Is High Among the Region

Simply put, Filipinos have a high proficiency in English. As a matter of fact, the country is second only to Singapore in the English Proficiency Index among Asian countries. This presents a great opportunity for multinational companies who are looking to cut down on costs while still keeping the quality of work at a high level. This goes beyond merely hiring freelance writers. Other tasks like management, programming, and even accounting can be outsourced to willing freelancers who can communicate well and think on their feet.

And although there are other English-proficient countries in Southeast Asia, there’s one other factor that makes the Philippines a better choice for outsourcing, which leads us to our next reason.

The Cost of Living Is Relatively Low

When it comes down to it, all businesses want to minimize operating costs. Hiring freelancers from the Philippines helps achieve this thanks to two interrelated factors. In the country, both the minimum wage and the cost of living are quite low and competitive, with the average monthly family income in Metro Manila at the equivalent of around USD 760 in 2015. This is compared to around USD 4,800 in the United States.

Due to the comparative difference in living costs, the possible savings from outsourcing to the Philippines is very high. This is especially true when the low cost of manpower is combined with the following reason.

The Country Has a Huge Pool of Talent

Compounding the reduced cost of enlisting Philippines-based freelancers is the country’s big talent pool. And this goes beyond the country having a sizeable population of 100 million people to pick and choose from. The country also has a highly skilled and qualified workforce, with computer technology degrees being popular among young Filipinos. This alone makes the Philippines a great choice for seeking freelance programmers and web developers with good communication skills.

The amount of talent at your disposal can determine whether your company is on the trajectory towards success or not. Yet again, this is another area where the Philippines does not disappoint. And when this factor is combined with low wages, the country becomes a buyer’s market for businesses looking for freelancers to beef up their team.

A Final Word: The Talent Is Easy to Access

In addition to all of the previously stated factors, Philippine entrepreneurs have also long been aware of all of these benefits. Indeed, there have been numerous companies and organizations, such as freelance websites like Smalljobs.ph, who have helped bridge gaps between companies and freelancers. This is yet another factor that further helps out the local freelancer market in the Philippines, turning it into a must-tap resource—for all types of businesses.

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Brain Wave, Entrepreneurship & Business Talks

3 Tips for Setting up a Digital Business

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technology-business
Image via Pixabay

Pretty much wherever you turn these days, you can expect to find new articles, guides, books, and Instagram profiles dedicated to the art of stepping outside the realm of conventional work and becoming a digital entrepreneur. Often, this will often be paired with advice on how to hit the road on permanent semi-vacation, as a “digital nomad“.

It’s not hard to see why this lifestyle has become a dream for so many people. Firstly, working as a digital entrepreneur gives you a historically unprecedented degree of freedom. All you need are your particular skills, a computer, and an internet connection, and you can ply your trade anywhere in the world, from anywhere else in the world.

You do not need to be in a particular place, wearing a particular outfit, between the hours of 9-5, five days a week. You also do not need to worry about managing and storing a bunch of stock, or manning a physical storefront.

Setting up a digital business can absolutely be as fulfilling as is often claimed. But, of course, getting it up and running isn’t necessarily going to be an effortless process.

For the sake of helping you to get started, though, here are a few handy tips for setting up your digital business.

Identify what you can effectively do solo and what should ideally be done by a third party

People who have made the decision to live the life of the entrepreneur, are often completely obsessed with the idea of doing absolutely everything in their professional lives solo. As in, completely solo.

It is, therefore, not rare to see people whose core skillsets lie in completely different areas, cobbling together their own somewhat sub-par business sites and marketing materials, as a way of saving money, and taking on full responsibility for their business.

While the drive behind this is admirable, it’s important to know what you can effectively do solo, and what should ideally be done by a third party. Your website is important, so if you’re not currently able to make it look as sleek as possible, probably best to hire a web designer.

As for your marketing materials, the same principle applies. Can you make them outstanding on your own? If not, seek outside assistance, or at least, look into obtaining tools like font managing software.

Come up with a very clear definition of “success” for your business, along particular metrics

For a business to ultimately be successful, it has to be “aimed” at something. You can’t just work blindly, with a vague definition in your own mind of what “success” looks like, or you’ll find you simply lack the required focus to make a real impact.

Come up with a very clear definition of “success” for your business, instead, as well as particular metrics for how progress can be assessed.

What is your “mission statement”? What are your quarterly targets and KPIs? Drill down and get specific.

Commit to regular working hours

Many entrepreneurs cause themselves a lot of trouble, because they are unwilling to impose necessary structure on themselves.

Instead, newly liberated from the conventional world of office work, they cut loose completely, and start working haphazardly, whenever, and shifting between day-and-night work depending on their mood.

This is not conducive to productivity, wellbeing, or health.

Set yourself clearly defined working hours instead, and commit to them. Structure your day as if you were your own benevolent boss.

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Brain Wave, Shopping and Merchandise, Travel and Attractions

What You Need to Know About California “City Shirts”

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City shirts or shirts that have specific towns and cities as a theme are nothing ne. They have been a popular motif for t-shirts since shirt printing became popular. However, not all so-called “city shirts” are made equal. California city shirts are virtually a genre into their own for many reasons. Some of these include:

Different varieties

Unlike with many states, the sheer breadth and variety of shirt types are represented. California city shirts include tees (made popular by the film industry in Hollywood), raglans (made popular by Southern California surfers and punks), hoodies (a staple of wardrobes across the entire Golden State), tank tops (a Cali favorite all-year round) and even classic sweatshirts (no California college student would be without one). Given the state’s role in popularizing so many garments we take for granted today, it’s not surprising city shirts would come in so many different styles and varieties.

A selection of cities

San Francisco, Los Angeles, and other areas such as San Diego, Sacramento, San Jose, and the Inland Empire are all iconic places in their own right, and their residents as passionate about them as they are about their state. This makes collecting California city shirts a continuing challenge as a near-infinite deluge of designs are available, featuring different cities as a theme.

An ever-expanding selection of designs

Speaking of designs, more and more are added by shirt designers and enthusiasts every single day. With California’s status as a leader in world culture, tech, entertainment, and style there’s always something happening that will inspire a new shirt design. Even the skylines and the unique urban nightscapes have an iconic status, making these another existing theme in California shirt design.

Enduring popularity

We all know someone whose favorite shirt is one that shows off their love for their hometown. There’s just something about a well-designed, well-made shirt with a city theme that’s really earnest and endearing. This is especially true when the city in the design is something close to the heart of the wearer.

The earnestness that it takes to create a tribute to a city that you love is infectious – even if it is just a t-shirt. By owning and wearing a city shirt, you are expressing your love – and what can be more beautiful than that?

Awesome as gifts

California receives the most foreign and domestic tourists of any American state. We can guarantee that city shirts are among the most popular, if not the most popular types of gift items that tourists get for themselves and their loved ones.

The sheer breadth of the designs and the love that goes into making many California city shirts ensures that there is virtually a shirt for everyone. Do they live in a cold place? Get them a hoodie. Do they like to go to the gym? Get them a tank top. Not sure what to get someone? Just get them a T-shirt of your favorite city. It’s all good.

What are your favorite California city shirt designs? We’d love to know!

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Brain Wave, Health and medicine, Work at Home

4 Great Healthcare Jobs You Can Do From Home

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There’s nothing worse than finishing a day’s work and feeling that for all our hard work and effort that we didn’t really contribute anything of value. A rewarding job should leave you feeling at the end of every day as though you’ve made the world a tiny bit better than it was at the start of your shift. For those who want a profession that makes a difference, the field of healthcare is most certainly an avenue worth pursuing.

healthcare-job
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However, if you have grown accustomed to the life of remote work, you’ll be delighted to know that there are a plethora of jobs which allow you to make a positive contribution to the lives of others and help to improve their health from the comfort of your own home with the flexibility that comes with working remotely…

Remote nursing

The world of nursing has been aided enormously by digital technologies. For a start, remote learning has enabled nurses to learn new skills, hone their craft and create new career opportunities for themselves through programs like the RN to BSN. What many may not be aware of, however, is that there are a number of healthcare companies who employ nurses who work remotely, usually from home. Here are just a few.

Medical coder

Medical coding is the transformation of medical data including healthcare diagnoses, medical procedures, medical services, and equipment into universal medical alphanumeric codes. Medical coding professionals play a vital role in helping to ensure that insurance companies are properly billed for healthcare provision. They help to ensure that the codes are applied correctly during the billing process, including abstracting the information from a range of documentation, assigning the appropriate codes, and creating a claim to be paid by the patient’s insurance carriers.

Patient advocate

The role of patient advocate is extremely rewarding and allows you to give support to those undergoing long-term periods of illness. When we are ill we can find it difficult to apply the same critical thinking as when we are well and in many cases our judgement may become impaired.

A patient advocate is there to represent the interests of the patient and help them to navigate the potentially confusing intricacies of the healthcare system. They act as a liaison between patients, healthcare providers and insurance companies and inform them of their legal rights and responsibilities.

Clinical program manager

Clinical program managers and directors co-ordinate the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects. Their primary responsibility is to ensure that the research is compliant with necessary protocols and overall clinical objectives. They will plan, direct, and coordinate clinical research projects and will usually be involved in the collation, evaluation and analysis of clinical data. They tend to be in charge of the management of research budgets and the dispersal of funds. They may also participate in quality assurance audits. These are usually conducted by study sponsors, external agencies, or designated peer review groups.

If you’re looking for a rewarding career that you can do from home, a career that really makes a difference, you’ll find more opportunities in the healthcare industry than virtually any other field.

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Brain Wave, Family and Home living

Holiday Celebrations

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If you think the Christmas celebrations are over… think again! There are still a couple of days left before the end of the year and a few more before the feast of Three Kings (for us Catholics, anyway). So, Christmas celebrations are still on!

I will most likely share here a few of the photos I took over the past week. We celebrated Christmas at home, family members complete. Then, we celebrated it a bit more with relatives the following day. Just today, we had a mini reunion with uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews and nieces. They all came over and we had a blast!

Can you just imagine the chaos with all of us together in one place?! My dad’s side of the family is quite large and there are kids all over the house today. It was such a joyful day to see them happy but, at the same time, it was crazy energy all over the place. Good thing there are coloring books and sketch pads and chalk boards to keep them busy. The printables you can find on the net is also a big help in entertaining kids.

printables

Printable Learning, initiated by Carrot Ink, a leading provider of remanufactured and compatible ink and toner cartridges, provides free downloadable printables such as activity books and coloring books.

And we still have a few more parties this weekend!

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Brain Wave, Family and Home living

Things You Need to Get Right in the Home

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When looking at some of the best ways of improving your home, you have to consider what it takes to make the right decisions. There are a lot of things that have to play a part in this, and it is important that you come up with ideas that will help you make your home better. You don’t want to spend the whole time worrying about your home and the condition it’s in, and that’s why this is important.

There are a lot of things in the home that need to be right, and it is your job to ensure that they are as right as they can be. This is something you have to make sure you sort out as best you can, and you will be able to benefit from it. Here are some of the most important aspect of the home that you have to keep in mind moving forward, and you should get this right immediately.

Your Roof Needs to be Perfect

Your roof is such an important part of the business moving forward and protecting the home, and you have got to make sure you are focused on improving the property. Safety and security have to play a big role when you are looking to protect your home and make it more of an asset, and the roof plays a big role in this. There are a lot of things you can do that will help you make the roof better, and bringing in professional roofers wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.

roofer
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Try to Go Green

Going green in and around the home is something you have to make sure you get right as soon as you can. This is an excellent way of embracing a much more eco-friendly way of living, and it can also help make your home healthier and happier in the long run. There are a lot of things you can do if you want to look at how you can go green, and this is one of the things that can help you out the most when it comes to improving your home and making your life better.

Make Sure Everything is Working

Making sure the house runs like a well-oiled machine is really important, and the way to do that is to make sure everything is working as effectively as it possibly can. There are so many things that can play a part in this, and it is important to understand that you sometimes need to call in experts to help with this. For instance, home a/c repair professionals can carry out the important task of making your air con more functional and longer-lasting.

Increase the Value

You should do as much as you can to work on increasing the value of the home where possible. There are a lot of things you are going to need to keep in mind moving forward, and this is important. Something like an extension or renovation would be a wonderful way of being able to increase the value of the home moving forward. This is certainly something to keep in mind for the future if you are serious about achieving success.

As you can see, these are just some of the things you are going to need to keep in mind when you want to make the home better. Getting these aspects right is so important, and these are not areas you can cut corners. There is a lot to think about in this respect, and you have to make sure you are making the right choices for your home right now.

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