7 Reasons Why You Should Invest in Standing Desks

7 Reasons Why You Should Invest in Standing Desks

For many of us, our workday revolves around sitting. We commute to work seated, spend eight hours glued to a desk chair, and then return home to unwind on the couch. While this sedentary lifestyle seems comfortable in the short term, the consequences of prolonged sitting can be far-reaching.

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FemFounder Holiday Gift Guide: Celebrating Women-Led Brands and Unique Treasures

FemFounder Holiday Gift Guide: Celebrating Women-Led Brands and Unique Treasures

Now that the holiday season is in full swing, it's the perfect time to celebrate and support women-led businesses shaping the world of entrepreneurship.

Welcome to the "FemFounder Holiday Gift Guide," where we showcase an array of thoughtfully curated gifts and treasures crafted by inspiring women entrepreneurs. From innovative wellness and beauty to artisanal creations, each item in this guide embodies the spirit of empowerment and creativity that defines FemFounders everywhere.

Discover unique, high-quality gifts that delight your loved ones and empower women in business.

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A Few Tips On Making Your Start Up Business A Great Success

A Few Tips On Making Your Start Up Business A Great Success

What is the most exciting thing in business is going to be when your start-up business is starting to take off and you can put things into place to make it your baby. Before your business even opens, you’ve put so much work into it behind-the-scenes to get to that point and it isn’t always seen by the general public just how much work goes into it.

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Genius at Work: What Was Elon Musk's Inspiration for Founding SpaceX?

Genius at Work: What Was Elon Musk's Inspiration for Founding SpaceX?

Elon Musk, the visionary entrepreneur, and CEO of SpaceX, is known for his audacious goals and relentless pursuit of technological innovation. 

SpaceX, short for Space Exploration Technologies Corp., is a pioneering aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company that has revolutionised the space industry. 

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How Tractor Package Deals Can Benefit Your Business

How Tractor Package Deals Can Benefit Your Business

As a business owner, you know how important it is to have the right equipment to do the job efficiently and effectively. One piece of equipment that can significantly benefit your business is a tractor. However, purchasing a tractor and all the necessary attachments can be costly and time-consuming. That's where tractor deals come in. In this blog post, we'll explore how tractor package deals can benefit your business in terms of time savings, improved safety, competitive advantage, warranty and support, and improved productivity. 

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Smart Ways Women Can Make Money Online

Smart Ways Women Can Make Money Online

Making money online is an attractive prospect for many women. It’s a great way to make money without leaving the comfort of your home, and there are millions of opportunities. However, knowing the best options for making a living or some extra pocket cash on the internet is crucial. Read on for clever ways that you can make money online.

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The Best Home Based Careers Ideal For The HSP

 The Best Home Based Careers Ideal For The HSP

HSPs or highly sensitive people often find traditional working environments overwhelming and draining. Indeed, sometimes things can get so bad that they struggle to perform to their full potential, and they can experience burnout. One solution to this problem is to choose a career where you can work from home. The good news is that because of modern tech the breadth of careers you can do from home is ever-growing. You can even find five of the best home-based career options you may like to consider below.

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5 Ways To Make Money As A SAHM

Being a stay-at-home mom is a full-time job in and of itself, but that doesn't mean it has to be a thankless one. There are plenty of ways to make money from home, and we've compiled a list of five of the best options below. So if you're looking to supplement your family's income, simply want to earn some spending money, or are trying to save for a luxury family vacation, read on!

1) Make And Sell Food Products

If you're a good cook, why not start selling your own homemade food products? Whether it's baked goods, jams, jellies, or condiments, people always look for unique and delicious treats to add to their dinner table. You can find local farmers markets and artisan fairs close by where you can sell your wares, or you can even set up an online shop on sites like Etsy to reach a wider audience.

2) Create And Sell Crafts

If you're more of a crafter than a chef, there are plenty of ways to make money from home by selling your work. Whether it's jewelry, artwork, or home decor items like pillows and blankets, there's a market for handmade items that are well-made and clearly created with love. In addition, sites like Etsy make it easy to open up your own storefront online, where you can let customers know about new products and specials by posting updates on social media.

3) Generate An Income Working Online

In today's digital age, there is a wide range of opportunities to make money from the comfort of your couch. For example, you could start an online business selling products through affiliate marketing or consider your options to sell feet pictures or even create and design websites for clients. With the internet being such a global marketplace, you can reach out to customers worldwide with just a few clicks of your mouse.

4) Become A Mental Health Counselor 

If you're interested in helping others by supporting their mental health needs, becoming a licensed therapist or life coach could be the perfect work-from-home option for you. You can interview clients over a webcam and provide them with advice and information that they need to manage stress, anxiety, grief, or depression. Whether it's working with individuals or running your own private practice, this is a rewarding career where you can truly make a difference.

5) Consider Tutoring And Teaching Opportunities

If you're an educated professional with a specialized skill set, why not put that to use by tutoring or teaching students online? Whether it's math, science, foreign languages, or music theory that you're skilled at, there are always people who need help learning these subjects. You can set your own hours and rates, making it a flexible option to fit your schedule.

In conclusion, there are many ways to make money from home as a stay-at-home mom. You just need to find an opportunity that fits your skills and interests and then take the initiative to put yourself out there and start making money!

How To Stay Healthy While Being An Entrepreneur

In the realm of entrepreneurship, there is a constant pressure to meet deadlines and a sense of urgency that causes things to move very quickly. This is why you probably have a consistent pattern of irregular eating patterns, lengthy workdays, and little sleep in your life as an entrepreneur. While the urge to grow your business may motivate you to live this way, it may have a negative influence on your health and general wellbeing. It would be in your best interest to use the following methods of staying healthy while pursuing your goals if you want to be a successful entrepreneur and live long enough to enjoy the results of your labour.

Lift a few pounds and strike the pavement 

Many entrepreneurs who choose not to exercise frequently cite their hectic schedule as an excuse. But just as well-known business figures like Oprah Winfrey, Mark Zuckerberg, Barack Obama, and Richard Branson manage their enormous companies while also finding time for exercise, so should you. Exercise will make you feel better physically and mentally, giving you more energy to accomplish your goals. Make time to work out, whether it's after work in the evening or first thing in the morning before you start your day. You could wish to enroll in workout classes or perhaps employ a personal trainer to do this. With the ASFA, you can educate and instruct yourself as well.

Obtained Enough Sleep 

Many business owners believe that no one gets extra time from the cosmos. This idea might lead you to work into the wee hours nearly every night in an effort to keep your company alive and lucrative. Sleep, however, cannot be emphasized enough. Your body and mind are refreshed as you sleep, which improves your performance. If you don't get enough sleep, you may always feel worn out and unmotivated to work. Additionally, your brain will need time to relax after dealing with problems, being yelled at by demanding consumers, and making plans for the future of the company. When you are in a deep sleep, your mind can unwind and rest most effectively. This is why a lack of sleep results in exhaustion, lack of concentration, and anxiety.

Keeping your stress levels under control 

Every area of your business has the potential to cause you stress over time. Anxiety, despair, and exhaustion are just a few of the many health issues that stress frequently serves as a springboard for. While having a busy workday is unavoidable, finding ways to relax will help you better manage stress and anxiety. Additionally, it is advised that you find a confidant who is open to listening to your problems or surround yourself with people who can help you discover solutions when you feel overly stressed. Exercise is a great way to release endorphins, so it would be beneficial if you gave that some thought as well.

If a venture is to succeed, entrepreneurship demands a lot of commitment and dedication. It entails a swarm of tasks that may leave you with little time for your personal life or simply to have a nutritious dinner.

What Challenges Are Entrepreneurs Facing in Today's World?

The world is constantly changing, and with these changes come various challenges for entrepreneurs. The increase in international connections is leading to new challenges for businesses. The following are major challenges that entrepreneurs are facing in today's world.

Navigating Legal Restrictions Around the Globe

With larger numbers of consumers now coming from outside their country or state, it can be challenging to protect your company legally and internationally. You may find yourself faced with increased risk as well as increased opportunities. It is important to fully understand your surroundings before entering into any partnerships or agreements. This ensures that you are not exposing yourself unnecessarily to risks that could be easily avoided otherwise.

Internationalization of Operations

Many entrepreneurs are internationalizing their operations. To help facilitate this process and make it more efficient, they employ language translation software and technological devices such as virtual office services. As long as there is a cost-effective way to manage the costs and time frame, translation services and technological devices should be an essential part of your overall management approach for international expansion. Additionally, when you begin to consider expansion internationally, you may want to consider getting advice from a professional like Peter Comisar with extensive knowledge about local customs.

Regulatory and Legal Compliance

Countless global businesses are facing challenges relating to regulatory issues. It is important to remember that the laws and regulations that apply to your business in your original home country may not hold in other countries. It is not uncommon for a company that owns different trademarks to find out that they cannot use them in another country. This is because of language differences or a violation of a law related to intellectual property rights. Entrepreneurs should work hard to ensure full compliance by all parties involved with their responsibilities to avoid getting into any more trouble than necessary.

Diverse Regional and Cultural Customs

To make the best use of your business operations, you must be familiar with the cultural norms of all your different customers. The differences in culture, economy and language will become more apparent as the world becomes global. You will want to hire a team of experienced people from culturally diverse countries and regions. This will help ensure you do not inadvertently offend or confuse anyone while developing your business in various areas.

Increased Competition and Strategic Planning

Competition is present in almost every business sector worldwide. However, what changes when you operate in a global market are the various approaches that other companies take to compete with you. In addition to competitive strategies and tactics, global businesses also need to be planning on an international level with many different variables in mind. You will also want to take some time to research what other companies are doing in your field.

The internet has opened up an international market for small businesses. With all these changes happening at once, it is no wonder that entrepreneurship has become so confusing. Entrepreneurs need to have insight into the challenges businesses face today to be better prepared to handle whatever comes their way in the future.

How to Maximize Your Potential as an Entrepreneur

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Do you have an entrepreneurial streak coursing through your veins? Are you determined to forge an authoritative reputation for yourself in your industry? If you want to achieve all of your goals in the world of business, be sure to put the advice laid out below into practice.

Here are three things you must do to maximize your potential as an entrepreneur:

Make use of cutting-edge tech

Your skills and talents will only get you so far in the world of business. If you maximize your potential as an entrepreneur, it’s crucial that you empower yourself with a number of cutting-edge tech tools.

The Slack messaging alternative, Mattermost, is one technological solution that you should definitely consider investing in. With this top-of-the-line open source collaboration tool at your disposal, you will find it much easier to communicate with the colleagues, clients, and partners that you work alongside. Mattermost will help you to cultivate a clear and coherent flow of communication, which in turn will improve your chances of being able to stay on top of your day-to-day workflow.

Here are some of the other benefits that you will be sure to reap once you invest in this cutting-edge tech solution:

1. Enhanced DevOps productivity

2. Self-hosted messaging capabilities

3. Flexible data safety deployment

4. Modernized financial workflow

5. Optimized regulatory compliance

Build your network

Again, you can’t afford to rely solely on your skills and talents if you’re to achieve your entrepreneurial goals. If you’re to achieve this all-important feat, you’re going to need to build a supportive network for yourself.

To build a robust network, you must: 

1. Focus on communicating with the right people (thought leaders, industry authorities, influencers, etc.)

2. Create win-win situations for everybody involved in your network

3. Provide assistance before you ask to receive it

4. Don’t forget to reconnect with people after your initial interaction

5. Make use of online networking platforms (LinkedIn being the most important tool you have at your disposal in this instance)

Showcase confidence

Confidence is key in the world of entrepreneurialism. If you don’t showcase confidence in everything you do, your consumers won’t trust in your ability to provide them with an industry-leading service level. This will have an adverse effect on your personal brand image, which in turn will be sure to derail your career progression going forward. 

Does your confidence need a shot in the arm? If so, be sure to put the following advice into practice:

1. Remain focused on your own workflow

2. Don’t dwell on your mistakes — embrace them and learn from them

3. Challenge yourself by stepping out of your comfort zone

4. Seek encouragement from others, but don’t make it the be-all-and-end-all of the way in which you view yourself

5. Enhance your industry knowledge

Are you determined to smash through that proverbial glass ceiling in your career? If so, be sure to put all of the advice laid out above into practice.

3 Ways to Gain Customers - and Keep Them!

Starting a business is tough work for any entrepreneur, as it also takes patience and perseverance. And after your startup has had some success, it takes even more strategic thinking and planning to scale, acquire, and retain customers. We’ve rounded up a few tips you can follow to start and grow your business right from the beginning.

how to get customers

 Starting a business for even the most seasoned entrepreneur is hard, and often taxing work. The process requires grit, fortitude, determination, organization, and a will of steel to fight through every doubt and every misstep in order to come through and succeed. Once your business is launched, you can rest easy for a bit – but a different kind of hard work begins when the scaling process happens.

You might have a beautiful logo and sparkling website, a blog that provides nuggets of valuable information, the perfect email sequence that engages your readers, or an online shop that has this season’s must-have fashion in it. None of these matters without website traffic, email subscribers, and customers. Acquiring and retaining customers is the bread and butter of any business success, but it can be easier said than done. So, taking inspiration and guidance from a wide range of sectors, how can we find customers and make sure they stay loyal to us over the long-term?  What is the best way to start this process?

Below are a few simple ways to acquire and retain the right customers quickly and efficiently.

Offering the Right Freebies Can be Effective if You Don’t Ask for Anything

The first trick to get customers and keep them is to give something of value away for free. Businesses can’t run like charities, but the idea is that a small goodwill gesture at the start of the brand/customer relationship will result in further patronage. So, the initial outlay will be worth the money recouped over the long-term. Sometimes these freebies can be in the form of free shipping on all orders above a certain amount of money – which is a bigger factor in consumer decisions than most people realize. Many online retailers offer some variation of free shipping.

Other times, it could be special occasion discounts or specific promotions. For example, the Love Your Body Club at The Body Shop offers a $10 voucher during the month of your birthday, which would hopefully involve you then spending more due to the generous gesture. Streaming services often offer free trials to lure customers in, while print magazines also offer free issues initially to allow customers a chance to try them before they fully commit. At both FemFounder and Marquet Media, we offer free checklists, mini-courses, tutorials, and cheat sheets for our readers to download in exchange for their email address. Offering something that has a high-perceived value for free is one of the most effective ways to build your customer base for a very low cost. This helps the consumer get to know your business and build that line of trust.  

New Customer Offers and Exclusive Promotions

Welcome offers act as an enticing invitation to all as the welcome bonuses from various online casino sites, e-commerce stores, and even some restaurants. Some sites could offer no-deposit spins on various slot games, while others promise cashback or money off their sportsbook, providing something for different kinds of customers. Moreover, clothes retailer ASOS often provide a 10-15% discount on purchases for new customers who sign up. Many other retailers offer similar discounts to help build consumer trust. For instance, the luxury retailer, Bloomingdales offers new customers a 10% discount on future purchases while online retailers such as Athleta offer a 20% discount for anyone who signs up for the email list.

Telecoms companies are major providers of new customer offers, with some people hopping from provider to provider to take advantage of all the offers. Existing customers often cite their reason for leaving a provider being that new customers pay significantly less and are valued more. But in an industry where there are no fresh customers, poaching other companies’ customers is the only way to grow.  

Offer a Discount for Doing Something or Taking a Specific Action

Some companies provide discounts if you do something or take a specific action on the website or social media. For instance, these could be chances to win for sharing posts and commenting on competitions on social media, which can be particularly effective on Instagram or Facebook. This tactic helps your brand become amplified to a wider audience, many of whom may see the original poster as someone of influence to listen to.

Sometimes, the only action you want from customers is their email address for your list. Sales promotions can help here as we can see from UK hotel chain Travelodge, which provides 10% off bookings when you sign up to its mailing list.  Other hotel chains in the US offer similar discounts. For instance, Hilton Hotels is now offering 130K points with the Hilton Honors Surpass Card, which is a credit card. Hilton Honors points enable consumers to upgrade their rooms or exclusive access to various perks. For those who travel quite often (especially for work), this card can provide benefits that other credit cards simply do not have available.

Overall, sales promotions are a key marketing technique in order to attract customers and then provide them with reasons to stay loyal. Using special offers to entice is a clever strategy that appeals to everyone’s love of a bargain. They also see it as a way that you are going above and beyond for them, even if it is just a 10 or 20% discount. Combining some of the main sales promotions outlined above could be the most effective way of getting and keeping brand new customers.

How To Be A Good Leader In 2020

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When you are a leader, you need to make sure that you are setting a good example. Leadership skills are something that can be developed over time and some are more natural leaders than others. Of course, it is possible to be a good leader with very little experience, as long as you are willing to put in some work. If you are starting your own business, being a great leader is very important.

In this article, we are going to give you some of our tips on how you can be a good leader in 2020. This will include everything from delegating more tasks to getting additional training. Keep reading to find out more.

Listen More

One of the most important things that you need to make sure that you are doing as a leader is listening to your team. Many leaders make the mistake of doing what they want and not what their team needs them to do. Being a good listener can be difficult but once you practice you can see the benefits of taking some time to listen. Try to organize meetings and set up opportunities for your team to speak and for you to listen.

Organize Team Days

Another great way to be a good leader is to look after your team and ensure that they have their own relationships with each other. The best way to do this is to host some team building days which will connect you as a team. You can find plenty of team building ideas that you can use to encourage your team to communicate more with each other and yourself.

Get Involved

If you want to be a good leader, then you are going to need to lead by example. If you just stand over your team judging their work and don’t get involved then they are not going to see you as a good leader. While you cannot do all of the work for them, you can get involved and help out when you can. This will show that you are a part of the team and are not just there to tell them off.

Get Training

Being a good leader is something which takes time so if you find that your leadership skills are not up to scratch then you should consider getting some training. There are plenty of leadership courses that you can find online and in your local area. You’ll get to go along and meet other leaders and develop your skills.

Delegate Tasks

Our final tip for those who want to be a good leader in 2020 is to make sure that you are delegating tasks. It can be easy to end up doing everything yourself in order to get it done on time but this can have a negative effect. Try to delegate tasks in order to give your team more responsibility and to give yourself more time to manage properly. Avoid micromanaging and make sure that you are delegating tasks.

Conclusion

If you want to become a good leader in 2020, then you should make sure to consider some of the tips that we have given you in this article. Think about how you can lead by example and also spend more time listening to your team. If you can follow our advice then you should find that your leadership skills develop over time. Don’t forget to treat your team with team days as this can show that you care about them and the business!

4 Simple Ways You Can Keep Your Workplace Content

Happy Employees

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Your business is only as productive as the ladies and gents grinding away in it. If they aren’t pulling their weight, then the entire company will suffer for it. If they’re thriving, then guess what will happen to your business! It would be great if there were other ways to make a company produce excellent output, but the staff and their motives are the only way. You have to work for what you want in this life, after all.

That said, it’s up to you to make sure they do their jobs properly with smiles on their faces. If they aren’t performing as you’d like, then that’s going to be down to your decisions and/or your leadership – the buck stops with the person at the very top. The staff are only human; they make mistakes. It’s your job to limit those, and make everybody work properly. How? Well, here are five ways you can keep everything ticking over nicely:

Break Any Monotony That Might Appear

When employees have to do the same thing over and over again, that can have a detrimental effect on their contentment. Sure, they might enjoy doing simple tasks for a while, and completing things might make them feel good, but there comes a time where it just gets too repetitive and depressing. If you think they might get a little bored of the work, then actively look to change things up a little. You really don’t want unmotivated people sluggishly ambling through your workplace.

Create A Lovely Recreational Area

During break times and lunchtimes, staff members need to get away from their work and chill out for a little while. These short intervals help you out as well as themselves. They, of course, come back more revitalized, ready to work, and just straight-up happier. You then benefit due to their new-found motivation and willingness to get things done. You can also invest in a tankless water heater if you want, so you can provide instant hot water. Check out this sizing calculator to find out more.

Keep The Place Stocked Up And The Equipment Functioning  

It’s frustrating when you can’t work due to malfunctions, right? Be sure to check on all of your equipment regularly so as to avoid anything stress or anger towards the work. You should also take stock of everything, too – you don’t want your staff getting frustrated after running out of items or materials. Whether it’s direct thermal labels or coffee granules in the kitchen area, make sure they’re present!

Make Sure Everything’s Running Well 

The facilities and utilities will need to work properly if you want your staff to be happy. Nobody likes the idea of not being able to use the restroom during the working day. The idea of central heating or air conditioning being on the fritz is something out of a horror movie, too. If things are looking a little strange in that respect, then you might want to bring in somebody that specializes in plumbing and heating. Even if things aren’t going terribly, you might still want to let them check through everything. You never know when it could go boom.

Making Employees Fall In Love With Their Office

Do you have a space at home which you use to get things done? A space where you go to write emails, type up reports for your business, make your future plans, organize your finances and more?

This sort of area should be somewhere you feel your mind can fit in. It should be a space where you enjoy sitting and working for long hours. Now, consider what kind of office you provide for your employees and what it must mean to them. What kind of impact do our surroundings have on us when we’re at work? It's without a doubt one of the most overlooked areas for any business owner.

Company culture is first reflected by the office. What you stand for, what kind of atmosphere you have and what kind of professional attitudes you want from your employees will be spoken without a single word just by your office. Not only does a great office improve morale and productivity, but it can supercharge employee creativity and even loyalty.

Don’t go crazy for neutrals

The aesthetics of the office should be pleasing to the eyes. It's important you don’t go crazy with neutrals. Far too many offices are colored in whites and greys. Although this may be good for a home, for an office you want a more varied color palette.

For example, you could have different departments in their own unique colors. The sales department could have red walls and red chairs, while the risk department could have royal blue walls and black chairs. Adding artwork to your walls is also helpful to employees. Nobody wants to stare at a plain wall all day long at their desk. Be creative and have fun decorating your office, make it feel unique so its own culture can arise and thrive. Adding plants to your office is not just for health reasons but they can also bring living color to your office. 

Being Tidy and Clean

Many office floors are carpeted. This can result in foul odors forming over time and this can lead to an unpleasant place to work. You should ask employees to be very careful with rubbish and how they treat their own personal workstations. It should go without saying but unfortunately, some employees have worse hygiene habits than others.

You could also call professional services such as Evergreen Janitorial Services, Inc. to keep your office spick and span. They offer services such as cleaning commercial office building floors. They can also clean marble, wood or tile so if you have expensive materials in your office, you should go with this kind of service that won’t damage them.

Allow personalization

Some businesses are strict with their office personalization policies. However, it's good to allow employees some kind of personalization of their own desk. Photos of friends and family members, their achievements, stuffed animals, badges, and small figures should be allowed onto their desks. Just remember to ask employees they keep their politics and religion to their own private lives.

The office aesthetic has such an impact on the psyche of employees. Their surroundings should not be bland with neutrals, but rather colorful and with touches of unique decorations and decor.

How To Make Your Office A Place You’ll Absolutely Love Working In

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To get things done in life, you need to be in the best possible frame of mind. When it comes to things like work, you need to also be in the best possible surroundings. You can’t be around lots of distractions all of the time and expect to complete things speedily—it rarely ever happens. Some people have the power to turn things out, but the majority of us struggle with multiple stimuli hitting us at once. 

Have you ever tried working while sitting on your couch? You might carry out a few things, but, on the whole, you’re too cozy and laid back. You’re probably stuck staring at the TV, too! That’s why the environment is so important.

When you’re in a more formal and professional setting, you behave accordingly, and you tend to get loads more done. It doesn’t matter whether you’re working for a particular company in their designated office space, or whether you’re working from home in your study, things need to be perfect if you’re to get things done throughout the day. Even if there are a few teeny problems; the whole day can be ruined.  

With all that said, it’s now a case of making the office a place where you’ll enjoy working in; a place where you’ll want to get lots done. How do you do that, though?

At the end of the day, it’s just a room where you sit and work, after all. Well, whether it’s an office at your company’s workplace or home office that you’ve created, you can do things to the aesthetics: you can remove or add items–-there’s not really a limit on what you can do; your options are as far as your creativity takes you. If you want a few pointers, then you might as well continue reading!

Declutter  

After a certain period of time, you’re going to have a build-up of clutter. It’s not too much of a problem; it happens to everyone. We all have items in our possession every single day, and we always need somewhere to put them. Unfortunately, we don’t all have lots of storage facilities, so we end up tossing them into the corner of the room! 

Your first step of this entire project would be to spend a little time removing all of the unnecessary items from the office. It’s quite a boring task, but it’ll be worth it as you’ll feel as though you have more space to breathe. When the area is much neater, you’ll feel so much better about your surroundings. Clutter just brings us down; tidiness gives us more of a boost. After the job is completed, you’ll have a blank canvas to play around with; the real work can therefore begin. 

Paint!

The color scheme of a particular place always makes people feel a certain way. It might not always have a huge impact on your workday, but it definitely has a part to play. For example, some people become buoyed by warm colors. If they’re entering an office and see that they’re going to be surrounded by boring and bland decor, the blandness can creep into their mindset.

If you’re working from home and your spare room is your new office, then your walls might be covered in old wallpaper and paint—it hasn’t been occupied in a while, right? Painting the place will help to revitalize it and, thus, revitalize you. 

Work At An Attractive Desk

It helps if you like the place that you’re sitting at all day, huh? If you have to work at a worn out and old desk, then your motivation is going to match the beaten and broken workstation. As humans, we naturally judge things based on looks, so if we’re sat working in a pretty area, we’re going to be more content. If we’re sat in a place that doesn’t really inspire us, then we’ll probably want to be elsewhere. 

Look at places online that sell professional and formal furniture. If you have a basic table and chairs set up in your office, then it won’t exactly be difficult to look for an upgrade. If you have something fairly fashionable, then choosing something might take a little longer! You’ll have the opportunity to check what kinds of things are out there. Perhaps you’ll prefer a fancy-looking thing with Wood Table Tops and classical design, or maybe you’ll enjoy a more modern style. Whatever you choose, you’ll be in a much better place than before. 

Get Yourself A Really Comfy Seat (Or Two) 

What you’re going to be looking at all day is, of course, very important. Your backside’s well-being is arguably more important, however! You need to be comfortable while working. If you’re not comfy, then you’re going to be heavily distracted all the time. There’s nothing worse than having to constantly shuffle around in your seat because your back is sore and you need to relieve the stress a little. 

Again, you can look online for some of the comfiest office chairs around. Unfortunately, some of the best ones can cost an absolute fortune, but you can get some good quality seats for less than three figures. Like before, if you’re currently using a basic, cheap chair, then you’re not going to be too bothered about the specific quality because the quality will undoubtedly be better than what you currently have.  

Purchase Great Software 

We all like new things. If you have old stuff on your computer, then you’re not exactly going to be inspired by it. Newer and more powerful equipment and programs do the complete opposite for us, though. Whenever a new technology comes out, we feel compelled to get stuck into it. Perhaps you could buy some new equipment and get it installed on your workstation. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a project management system or a piece of accounting software—if it’s new and exciting; you’ll enjoy it. 

Personalize It To Your Taste

You’ve cleared the place out, painted it, and added furniture. Now that all of the necessities have been installed, it might now be time to add a personal touch to the whole place. If you’re not really into the idea of customizing, then that’s okay; it’s not for everyone. If you are, though, then you could bring in all kinds of ornaments and decorations. Adding a little personality to the office stamps your name firmly onto the room. It should make you feel more comfortable, especially if you’re working on your company’s office. 

Do Something About The Lighting

If you’re sitting in a pretty dreary and dark place, then that’s only going to lower your mood altogether. If you can’t do anything about the windows in terms of natural light, then you could get a few more lights installed. Either that or buy a lamp for your desk! The darkness can really put you off – try to avoid is as much as you can!

Get Stuff Done In There 

We’ve talked about how to change up the aesthetics and the overall feel of the office. There’s one final way you can become more interested in the office, however, and that’s by completely lots of tasks in there already!

If you sit in a room all day struggling, then you’re going to associate that room with struggle. If you get lots done, then you’re going to bounce into it the next day. Knuckle down and get your work done, even if you’re having a bad day. There’s nothing like completing work and being productive with your time! 

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Keeping The Best: A Guide On Staff Retention

It is so often the case, that staff members are a business's most valuable asset. However, keeping the best ones over the long term can be a real challenge for companies, both large and small. After all, people's needs change, and there are always competitors that will try and poach the best workers away. Happily, there are some tactics you can use to keep hold of the very best employees.

Read on to find out what they are. 

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Image at Pixabay - License CC0

Don't say goodbye to your best employees! 

Work environment 

Above all else, what keeps people in their jobs for the long term is that they enjoy them. That they don't dread going into work each morning or watch the clock religiously until it gets to 5 pm each day. 

That means as an employer, you need to make the atmosphere in which your employees work as positive as possible. In fact, you can approach this situation in two ways. The first is to look at the physical environment in which you expect people to work. The idea being to ask yourself whether it's safe, clean, and aesthetically pleasing? These are the factors that can make the most difference in staff satisfaction.

Secondly, don't forget that the atmosphere of a workplace is more than just the physical environment but extends to the emotional situation as well. Therefore, someone feels left out, or there is a particular toxic member of staff, you must deal with this as soon as possible. In fact, doing so can not just help you retain the best staff over the long term, but also reduce any employee advance days due to stress as well.

Training 

Next, if you want to keep a hold of the best employees in your business over the long term, you must provide them with opportunities for training.

Now, you may think that as long as they are performing their work tasks adequately, training is an unnecessary expense and use of time. However, this is not the case. In fact, offering training to staff can help them be more invested in their work, and stay in their posts for longer, especially if it is leveled training that is related to official levels which can be displayed on their resume.

Happily, you don't have to dedicate a lot of person-power or in work time training to provide these benefits either. In fact, you can use automated lms software to manage training functions. Something that basically allows employees to work through the content at their own pace with very little interaction from your HR department. 

Wages 

They say that money makes the world go round, and it is true that many of us would not work if we didn't have bills to pay. Of course, what this demonstrates is the importance of remuneration for a job well done. In fact, being able to offer comparatively high wages is something that will also help you to keep the best employees working for your business. Often over the long term, this can be very beneficial for your company. 

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