2015 Business Tax Renewal Important Information

A Message from Antoinette Christovale, Director of Finance/City Treasurer

On behalf of the City of Los Angeles I would like to express our sincere appreciation to all of you who file your business tax renewal on time. Your business tax funds a wide range of essential City services such as public safety, libraries, and recreation and parks. The following are significant highlights, changes or tax reforms for the 2015 Business Tax Renewal.

1.Business Tax Renewal Form – This mailer is your official Business Tax Renewal Form. If you need any supplemental forms or instructions they can be printed from our website. In addition, forms or instruction booklets are also available at any of our Branch Offices listed on the front page of this mailer.

2.Expanded E-Filing Services – Our E-Filing services are now available in English and Spanish to assist more businesses conveniently and easily file their annual Business Tax renewals online. Over seventy percent of businesses that filed Business Tax renewals in 2014 used our E-Filing services. We encourage you to E-File as early as possible to avoid the last minute rush of businesses renewing online.

3.RENEW ONLINE – SAVE TIME, EFFORT AND POSTAGE!

Our E-Filing System speeds and simplifies the filing of your renewal. To access E-Filing, you can use either your account number, your Social Security Number, or your Federal Employer Identification Number. Visit finance.lacity.org, enter a few details and the system automatically calculates your Business Tax liability. If you qualify for an exemption or otherwise owe nothing, submit the form online and you are done! If a tax liability is due you can pay online via e-check, credit card (a service fee will apply), or by ACH (required if your tax liability is $50,000 or more).

4.New Business Exemption Changes – LAMC Sec. 21.30 now provides an enhanced three year Business Tax exemption for a new business that started in the City of Los Angeles or a business that relocated from outside the City on or after January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2015. To qualify, a taxpayer could not have been engaged in business at a fixed location in the City in the immediately preceding tax year. A new business must timely register for a Business Registration Tax Certificate to qualify for this exemption.

5.Other Business Tax Exemptions – Small businesses with total (both inside and outside of Los Angeles) gross receipts that do not exceed $100,000 and creative artists with total gross receipts that do not exceed $300,000 may also be exempt from tax liabilities. To qualify for these exemptions, you must file your renewal timely by March 2, even if no tax is due. Please check our website for further details regarding eligibility requirements for the Small Business and Creative Artist exemptions.

6.Small Business Tax Assistance Program – Businesses that qualify for the Small Business Exemption are also eligible to receive assistance in completing their tax renewal forms by calling (818) 374-6875. This program is available from January 2 through February 12, 2015.

7.Paperless Statement Program – In 2013 the Office of Finance started a Paperless Statement Program. This program provides an opportunity to help the environment, reduce costs, and provide easy on-line access to your account notifications. To take advantage of this new program, please visit our website at finance.lacity.org and click on Enroll in the Paperless Statement Program.

8.Future Customer Service Enhancements – A key priority of the Office of Finance is the delivery of excellent customer service and the continual effort to better serve the department’s stakeholders. Please check our website periodically to learn of new or enhanced services offered to assist businesses.

9.Customer Service Survey – Your feedback is important to us. Please visit our website and rate our services by taking our new Customer Service Survey.

Source:http://smallbizla.org

10 Tips From SBDC Entrepreneurs

As the year comes to a close, we included some of the best tips SBDC entrepreneurs shared with us on their business lessons learned. We invite you to read the tips below and check out their sites for more information on their product or service. 

1. Start on the Right Foot:The SBDC helped these partners select a legal structure, explained the benefits of each type, why and how to file a DBA, get a seller’s permit and obtain business licenses. “The SBDC saved us so much money compared to what we would have had to pay a law firm.”

2. Be Realistic with your Projections:“When you’re doing projections, it’s important to be realistic. The SBDC helped me do more in-depth analysis on the closest business model, look into the growth potential of the solar industry, and [estimate] what market share we could realistically expect to gain in the near future.” This client was the first funding cycle winner of $100k from Innovation Fund So Cal. 

3.Financing Takes Planning:The SBDC helped this first-time tech startup founder develop a compelling pitch deck, create realistic four year financial projections, assess a first-round financing and plan for future rounds. “My SBDC advisor at the Bixel Exchange had a very good idea of what angels expect to see in your business plan, your projections, and how it ties in to your overall story. Our advisor helped us convey our knowledge of the market as well as articulate our understanding of the competition. Our advisor has given us a long term view, both for ourselves and for the investors we’ll approach at a later date.” Six weeks into working with the Bixel Exchange, Frenzy raised $60k in financing. 

4. Use the Right Tools:The SBDC encouraged this client to transition from books on ledgers to QuickBooks, “This helped us tremendously with controlling costs and analyzing the business. Our SBDC advisor also showed us the cost ratios we should be looking at, how to control the cost of goods and what was realistic in terms of pricing.” 

5. There’s Hiring Help:The SBDC connected this client with the Foothill Workforce Investment Board (FWIB), a program that matches employers with employees who are seeking to learn new job skills and overcome disadvantages. “The fact that FWIB pays a portion of a new employee’s wages during their initial four months was a bonus. That has been a tremendous help because when a new employee has to learn 300 cheeses and the meats and wines that pair with them, a lot of labor is lost to training.” 

6. Understand and Monitor P&Ls:This SBDC client began to receive requests from out-of-state customers, which involves calculating different rates of sales tax. “Although it’s complicated, my advisor spent hours with me teaching me not only how to put in every single entry in QuickBooks, but also the big picture of being able to analyze your business’ profit and loss. My advisor showed me that without a tool like QuickBooks, you won’t really understand the nitty-gritty of your business. If I had hired someone to do the accounting, I never would have learned that.” This client generated more than $150k during the first four months of opening; 15% of sales came from her website. 

7. Improve Your Ops:One of the SBDC’s advisors, a Six Sigma process improvement expert, worked with this client to design a new workflow plan that would: increase the company’s manufacturing capacity, improve efficiencies, reduce costs in research and development and the prototype-build department. The SBDC connected this client with a business student who put all the company’s work procedures in writing. “In the auto industry, you need documentation. Now we’ve moved our processes out of being ‘tribal knowledge’ to being much more documented and structured.” This client received more than $32M in investments in 2013.  

8. Engage with Customers:This client developed a client base through offering facials as a hobby; the SBDC encouraged her to build on that clientele by adding email marketing and social media to her marketing. “I learned how to do email marketing with Constant Contact – now I send out monthly specials. The social media marketing program helped put us on the map and build awareness of our services in just a few months.” Further, this client is working on developing reciprocal relationships with medical practitioners interested in integrated wellness treatment options for patients. Six months after launching, Y. Belleza Wellness met its financial projections and was on track to double sales.

9. Know your Niche:This client sought help after acquiring a Vietnamese market; the SBDC helped this client advertise effectively and expand his product line to include different ethnic foods. “The SBDC advised me how to reach customers from these different ethnic groups.” Now, this client advertises in local magazines, newspapers and on Peruvian TV. The SBDC also advised this client on how to import food from Peru, which gave this client the freedom to sell his food under his own label, and collect a higher margin. 

10. Price your Products to Compete in Markets Abroad without Sacrificing Profit:The international team with the LA SBDC Network helped this client reassess her international pricing strategy to keep more of her profits, develop a plan for international expansion, find international distributors and vet international contracts. During a session, this client assessed her cost of goods and realized the product price was too low. “That was a tremendous eye-opener, the CITD helped us a lot with pricing – they came to our office and worked with us so that our pricing and branding adequately reflected a luxury good- which helped the company boost profits.” The CITD helped Laguna Candles secure a three year international order with one of South Korea’s largest candle retailers.

Source : http://smallbizla.org

Successful Small Business Saturday & Beyond

Small Business Saturday is November 29th this year, how are you prepping? Remember it’s not just about the day or the holidays, but also about spreading the word about your business. Use the ten tips below to complement your  strategy; don’t forget to connect with us for our 15 days of small business tips sent daily.

               

1.Create a Strategy: Take a look at your overall goals and then narrow down your goals for small business Saturday. Your plan can be as simple as, “I want to achieve a higher rate of foot traffic. I set a goal of 2x the amount of my normal daily sales amount of ($X) from foot traffic alone. I plan to offer convenience and personalized shopping to incoming customers. I will provide free coffee outside my business, a ready shopper staff member for customers that want holiday suggestions, bundled gift options and free gift wrap with purchase. I will use my email contacts, website, and social media to get the word out.” You then cover what you want to achieve, how you will measure, what your message is, what channels you will use to communicate, and how you will execute your message.

2.Invite: Before thinking about new customers, focus on your existing customers. Get your email invite out to your current subscribers engaging them to shop local at your business on 11/29, if you haven’t already. Remember to format the message for your home page and corresponding social channels. Remind your neighbors about your business. You might find a potential partnership opportunity for a sidewalk sale or in-store event. If you’re feeling ambitious you can help rally support for a street or block wide event! Don’t forget to mention the big day and any special offers to your customers shopping now to create anticipation.

3.Create an Offer or Incentive: If appropriate for you, pull together a special offer or incentive for customers to buy from you on Small Business Saturday. Most importantly, make sure your business can deliver on the offer. A great article on creating a last minute strategy from Constant Contact suggests being very specific for example, offering 15% off all new items, free coffee and cookies for guests while they shop, free gift over a purchase of $50, or free wrapping. If it’s a finite number of a giveaway item, be sure to say for example “for the first 100 shoppers” or “while supplies last.” If it’s a special contest, make sure to have customers fill out an entry form so you can keep in touch in

4.Promote: Three tools to help promote: 1) Constant Contact toolkit contains worksheets for creating a campaign.  2) The American Express Shop Small site has free tools including signage and postcard templates for your business as well as a banner for your website

5.Gather your Resources: Now that you have your offer and/or message, the Shop Small partners also offer many useful and often free resources to help you spread the word. Don’t forget to review the terms of the offers. Great resources from free poster printing with FedEx to free online ads on Yelp as well as Bing (terms apply). Review the offers that are best suited for your goals and business.

6.Reach out to Local Media: Some small business owners not only decide to start or run their business in the same area they live, but also have incredible stories to share – all of which appeal to local media. Try sending a press release to local media with a grabbing tagline for example, “Local Santa Monica Resident Opens Small Shop, But Thinks Big on Small Business Saturday.” Send the story behind how you started your business, how long you’ve lived in the area, any special offers for the day and invite media to interview your customers on the big day. Press release template and guide

7.Bundle: As  shares in her  bundles often solve holiday dilemmas and lend to higher transaction amounts when the right gifts are wrapped together. Consider pre-wrapping products by theme for “him” or “her,” display bundles together, bundle a service and product, pre-wrap gift cards with your catalog or restaurant menu, or consider gift baskets at different price points. More tips from Rhonda’s guide

8.Upsell: In two ways: 1) Increase the present transaction size by asking, “Would you like to add X to your purchase?” or “Did you get a chance to see X? It goes well with Y.” 2) Make it easier for your customers to spend more often by keeping them in the know about your business. It’s as easy as asking at the end of a transaction, “Would you like to be added to our special offers email list? It is sent out X a mo/week/.”If you’re using a tablet in store, make it easy for customers to check a box to be added to your email list or consider offering a small discount on a future purchase if they sign up. Tips on upselling from .

9.Staff: First and foremost, review your projected sales for the holidays and assess whether you can hire seasonal staff. If so, remind your staff that they are part of the shopping small experience, to say “thank you” to customers, and to upsell. If you’re thinking about offering free wrapping or beverages make sure you assign your employees duties on the onset of the big weekend to assure “stations” are always staffed or stocked. Lastly, in the event of unforeseen circumstances, you may want to consider having “on-call” staff members or advising family or friends you may need their help.

10.Review and Follow Up: After the day is over, make a note of some aspects you would improve in the future and ask your staff or customers their thoughts too. This will help not only replicate actions that worked for next year, but also help your ongoing marketing efforts. Did you reach your goal of 2x your normal sales from foot traffic alone? Did your customers enjoy shopping with you and receive value from your offers? Lastly, follow up with a simple “Thank you” email or note showing appreciation for visiting and anticipation for seeing the customer again soon. Consider including shots from the day and/or including one or two upcoming offers in your email or note.

Source:http://smallbizla.org

Savvier Traveler in 2015

1. Get carded: Thinking about applying for a travel rewards credit card—or switching the one you have? Check out the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite, which lets you put your points toward any type of travel you book, rather than limiting you to a single airline or hotel chain.

2. Check your miles: If you bank your frequent-flier points with a single airline, review its latest policies, says Ryan Lile of the Frequent Flyer Academy. United and Delta, for example, have altered their programs this year, reducing the value for many members. You may want to switch.

3. Be promiscuous: Sign up for every major loyalty program (including car rental firms). They’re free and may provide perks.

4. Reap the rewards: Airlines free up more award seats as the departure date nears, so try booking about a month out, says Brian Kelly of ThePointsGuy.com. Just remember: Many carriers charge extra for booking within 21 days of travel.

5. Search on Sunday: Use Sundays to research flights. “It’s the best day of the week to find low airfares,” says Lile.

6. Pick your day: When you book a ticket, choose the cheapest departure day. According to Kayak .com, that’s Friday for domestic trips, and Tuesday or Wednesday for international.

Source :http://time.com/money

Career Planning Tips

Building a Career

Today, and more than ever, most people are responsible for building their own careers.

Whether you are just starting, or you have several years of experience, these paragraphs might help you advance your career.

The 9 most important career planning tips is listed below:

1. Never Stop Learning

Life-long learning is your keyword.

The world is constantly changing, and everybody is looking for new ways of doing business.

If you have decided that your current skills are good enough, you have also decided that your current job is good enough.

But if you want a career in the future, you should add regular updates to your skills and knowledge.

2. Ask, Listen And Learn

A good listener can learn a lot.

Listen to your co-workers, your boss, and your superiors. You can learn a lot from their experience.

Ask about issues that interest you, and listen to what they say. Let them tell you about how things work, and what you could have done better.

Most people will love to be your free tutor.

3. Fulfill Your Current Job

Your current job might be best place to start your career.

It is often very little that separates successful people from the average. But nothing comes free.

If you do your job well and fulfill your responsibilities, this is often the best way to start a new career.

Talk to your supervisor about things you can do. Suggest improvements. Offer your help when help is needed. In return ask for help to build a better career. It is often possible - right inside your own organization - especially if you have proved to be a valued employee.

4. Build Your Network

Your next career step might arise from your contact network.

Did you know that more than 50% of all jobs are obtained from contact networks?

If you have a good contact network, it  is also a good place to discover future careers, to explore new trends, and to learn about new  opportunities.

Spend some time building new contacts, and don't forget to maintain the ones you already have.

One of the best ways to get serious information from your network is to regularly ask your contacts how they are, what they do, and what is new about their careers.

5. Identify Your Current Job

Your current job should be identified, not assumed.

Make sure you don't work with tasks you assume are important. This is waste of time and talent.

When you start in a new job, talk to your superior about your priorities. If you're not sure about what is most important, then ask him. And ask him again. Often you will be surprised about the differences between what you assume, and what is really important.

6. Identify Your Next Job

Your dream job must be identified.

Before you start planning your future career, be sure you have identified your dream job.

In your dream job, you will be doing all the things you enjoy, and none of the things you don't enjoy. What kind of job would that be?

Do you like or dislike having responsibility for other employees. Do you like to work with technology or with people? Do you want to run your own business? Do you want to be an artist, a designer or a skilled engineer? A manager?

Before building your future career your goal must be identified.

7. Prepare Yourself

Your dream might show up tomorrow. Be prepared.

Don't wait a second. Update your CV now, and continue to update it regularly.

Tomorrow your dream job may show up right before your nose. Prepare for it with a professional CV and be ready to describe yourself as a valuable object to anyone that will try to recruit you.

If you don't know how to write a CV, or how to describe yourself, start learning it now.

8. Pick The Right Tools

Pick the tools you can handle.

You can build your future career using a lot of different tools. Studying at W3Schools is easy. Taking a full master degree is more complicated.

You can add a lot to your career by studying books and tutorials (like the one you find at W3Schools). Doing short time courses with certification tests might add valuable weight to your CV. And don't forget: Your current job is often the most valuable source of building new skills.

Don't pick a tool that is too heavy for you to handle!  

9. Realize Your Dreams

Put your dreams into action.

Don't let a busy job kill your dreams. If you have higher goals, put them into action now.

If you have plans about taking more education, getting a better job, starting your own company or something else, you should not use your daily job as a "waiting station". Your daily job will get more and more busy, you will be caught up in the rat race, and you will burn up your energy.

Source : http://www.w3schools.com

25 Best Practices for Better Business Writing

1. Focus on lucidity or clarity: Write so that your readers will understand your intended meaning. Articulate your thoughts so that the average person can understand them.

2. Use an economy of words: Short sentences are best unless you’re writing for academia or the scientific world. Eliminate unnecessary words and repetition. Less is more.

3. Avoid the latest jargon: Write simply. In an effort to impress readers, some writers mistakenly use the latest buzz words or phrases. It won’t impress articulate senior management.

4. It’s best to capsulize your points: When writing letters or reports, start by stating your information in a condensed form so that it summarizes your points in an easy-to-understand way. You should anticipate important reader questions. Like in journalism 101, answer the following: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? Hint – ask yourself: “What do I want the reader to know?”

5. Professionalism counts: That means avoiding unnecessary enthusiasm or exclamation points. If you’re writing for a job opening, use the salutation, “Dear…” Close your letter or email with “Sincerely” or “Best regards.” Even if you don’t know the person, “Best” or “Regards” will suffice. The rule of thumb: Before you complete your writing project, consider how others will view it, as though it might appear in a newspaper or public-agency record. And remember, the Internet is forever.

6. Use correct grammatical structure: Your sentences should be complete, not fragmented, and contain a subject, verb, and object. A writer who is skilled at diagramming sentences will undoubtedly communicate skillfully.

7. Employ subject-verb agreement: If your subject is singular, your verb is plural (“He wants an agreement”). If your subject is plural, the verb is  singular (“They want an agreement”).

8. Know the right pronouns to use: A pronoun is a word that substitutes for a noun. The most common errors involve the use of “I” vs. “me.” The pronoun “I” is the subject in a sentence (“I want the project”). Me is the object (“Send the project to her and me”).

9. When to use “saw” vs. “seen.”: “Saw” is the simple past-tense form of the word, “see.” While “seen” is the past participle of “see.” For example, you want to write “I saw the bird” and “I have seen the bird.” (“Seen” requires a helper verb, such as “has,” “had” or “have.”)

10. Properly insert your periods when using a quotation: Insert your period outside the quote. However, journalists, such as the practice in this news portal, place the period inside the quotation.

11. Here’s how to use “that” and “which.” :“That” is a restrictive clause and it’s used to explain important information (“We don’t sell trucks; cars are the only vehicles that we market”). More often than not, it isn’t necessary to insert “that.” When using “which” remember it’s a nonrestrictive clause, and it introduces supplemental information that isn’t deemed vital (“Our salespeople have a variety of ways to make good commissions, which is important for their incomes”).

12. Correctly use prepositions: A preposition is a word that links nouns, pronouns and phrases. A preposition introduces the object of the preposition. In a prepositional phrase, for example, “The plane is on the tarmac.” (“On” is the preposition.) Typical prepositions include above, after, at, by, for,  from, in, into, of, on, over, to, under, up, and with. Remember – don’t end your sentences in prepositions.

13. When to use “who” or “whom:” When in doubt, remember it’s “to whom or for whom something is done.” For example, “She was asked whom will be affected.” Otherwise, whom is preceded by a preposition, such as: “At whom did she yell?”

14. How to use “a” vs. “an.”: Correct usage depends on the type of words that follow the “a” or “an.” Use “a” when it precedes a noun that starts with a consonant, “He wants a plane,” or a consonant sound, such as “That was a unicycle.” Use “an” before a noun starting with a vowel, “She wants an elephant,” or a noun with a silent “h”, such as “I want $100 an hour.” When the “h” is pronounced, you can use “an,” including this instance: “He was an hysterical complainer.”

15. Possessives need attention: You add an apostrophe to change your nouns into a possessive form. Here’s how to use a singular possessive: “Did you see the bird’s unique colors?” Plural possessives require that the apostrophe follow the “s” in the noun: “All of the birds’ colors were red.” If there is not a question of possessiveness, then there isn’t an apostrophe.

16. Avoid common mistakes in using “affect” vs.“effect.”:“Affect” is a verb and “effect” is a noun. For example, “On a sunny day, the bright sun affects my vision when I try to catch a baseball, and it has an effect on whether I catch it make an out.”

17. Save your copy as successful templates for future prototypes: If you’re successful in writing a good piece – save it –especially, if you sense that you will be writing a similar document for another occasion. You’ll save time, which is money in your wallet. Be sure, though, to substitute the right salutation or other information in the new document.

18. Insert a call for action: Don’t end your writing in a nebulous way. Make it clear what you hope or expect. For example, suggest setting a time or appointment. Give two options for the reader to consider. Ask the reader to choose the preferred option.

19. Focus on correct genders, names and titles: These three are the most-important words to readers. Make a mistake with one of these and you’ve offended the readers. By far, these are the most-important words in their vocabularies.

20. Use courtesy: Be sure to thank the persons for their consideration. Use the term, “please,” whenever you want something. You’ll find that 98 percent of all communications provide an opportunity for one or both of these courtesies. Avoid the trite, dreadful phrase: “Have a nice day.”

21. Prevent buyers’ remorse: Enhance your odds for success by including a “buyers’ remorse” statement. Remind the readers about the benefits you’re proposing, and how pleased or glad they’ll be.

22. Contact information in e-mails: Your signature should include your contact information, for your reader’s convenience to reach you. If you have an idea or product to market, remember convenience is one of the top five reasons for success.

23. Proofread your work: Yes, it’s easy to overlook errors, and it’s important to double check your tone of writing. One trick I use is to read the  information aloud. That makes it easy to prevent embarrassing errors. If you write something while you’re in a bad mood, proofreading becomes even more important. Showing anger is not OK in business.

24. Use your spell check: Misspelled words are not good for your image. As a safeguard, spell check is a good service. NOTE: However, Microsoft Word’s spell check isn’t 100 percent accurate. In many cases, you’ll have to override the software.

25. Confirm whenever possible: When you receive an e-mail document a strategic partner, even unanticipated, don’t leave the person hanging. Respond with a confirmation. It’s considered good manners.

Not intended to be all-encompassing, these 25 tips avoid most of the errors I’ve seen as a business-performance consultant. If you’re not supremely confident in your organization’s writing, consider hiring a qualified freelance writer.

Source:http://www.bizcoachinfo.com

Career Tips For Something

However, I think I would have also wanted something more to specific to apply to my day-to-day life. In the spirit of sharing more practical advice based on what I’ve learned throughout my career, here is my best advice to my 20-something self:

1.Always show gratitude: If someone has done you a good turn, take a moment to express genuine gratitude by mail, email, text, or a few words and smile. It’s a gracious way to live. As old-fashioned as it seems, mailing a hand-written card to a potential employer or dinner party host leaves a lasting impression.

2.Remember: Whether you’re riding high on good fortune or you’re wallowing in the dumps of tough times, things move on and so will you. Be grateful when things are good. And be grateful for the things that are good when other things are crumbling around you.

3.Never expect someone else to advocate for your best interest or to navigate major life decisions: While there are people who will want to help you, you know yourself and what you need best. Take whatever time you need to research, learn and to create your best options. From great options, make good decisions.

4.Maintain your professional reputation: Avoid burning bridges with those you’ve worked with. If anything, invest a little time to continue cultivating your past relationships with colleagues. You never know when you might cross paths again in business.

5.Every night, think of three positive things from the day :– no matter how minor. This is another way experiencing gratitude, but it’s more introspective. Gratitude has been documented to generate success in individuals.

6.Exude confidence: You only have one body. So be comfortable in it. Confidence in yourself will spur confidence others will have in you. Don’t have the confidence? “Fake it ‘til you make it,” as they say.

7.Surround yourself with people who nurture you and encourage you: This is true in both your professional and personal life. Anyone else can be a distraction at best and an energy drain at worst.

8.Be generous with yourself: I don’t mean that you should go on a buying spree. Be more practical than that. For example, make your bed in the morning as a small comfort for when you’re tired after a long day. You will feel a little more cared for. In addition to investing in as much as you can in your 401(k), set aside savings for the opportunity to advance your education. Even if you don’t end up going back to school (graduate school or otherwise), you will have a safety net if the economy goes south. Spend 150 minutes a week on yourself by incorporating cardiovascular activity. If you don’t have your health, everything else falls away pretty quickly.

9.Understand that job interviews are a two-way street: View them as career interviews. The company is as much of a candidate for you as you are for them. After all, if you’re going to be spending 40+ hours per week somewhere, it’s important to be fully informed about how much they will enable your career growth. I always ask job candidates if they have any questions for me. What you ask is sometimes as important as what you’re answering.

10.Mistakes can be gifts: Whether a learning experience, a happy accident, or a humbling experience, mistakes can serve us well. Don’t be afraid to make them. Just try not to make the same one twice.

 Source: http://www.forbes.com/

Best Weight-Loss Tips Ever

Losing pounds doesn't have to be torture (we're looking at you, cayenne-pepper cleanse). Adopt at least three of these behaviors — they're simple to integrate into your day-to-day routine, and all are enthusiastically backed by nutritionists — and you'll be thinner and healthier in days. (Plus, the weight will stay off.)

1. SNACK, BUT SMARTLY:

Grazing between meals used to be on the weight-loss hit list. But nutritionists now know that it's better to satisfy a craving with healthy grub than ignore it and risk a junk-food binge later. The best picks are filling, protein-packed snacks, such as one stick of string cheese, a tablespoon of peanut butter on a piece of fruit, or a medium-size bowl of damaged.

2. TURN OFF THE TV:

Dining while viewing can make you take in 40 percent more calories than usual, reports a new study. And texturing, driving, or any other distracting activity during a meal can also result in your eating too much. Instead, make each meal something you put on a plate and sit down to, even if you're eating solo.

3. STEP ON THE SCALE DAILY:

If your regular weight increases several days in a row, it's a red flag letting you know you need to cut back a little or beef up your workouts slightly.

4. SCULPT THREE TIMES A WEEK:

Doing 5 minutes each of push-ups, lunges, and squats (in 30-second intervals) will help build and maintain muscle mass. The more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism will be, so you'll torch more calories as you go about your day.

5. REACH FOR YOUR CELL:

Next time your mind gets stuck on a certain food, call a friend and redirect your brain by asking how her day's going. Research shows that cravings only last about 5 minutes, so by the time you hang up, the urge to devour junk will have subsided.

6. EAT A BIG, BALANCED BREAKFAST:

An a.m. meal made up mostly of carbs and protein with some fat keeps blood-sugar levels steady and hunger pangs away so you're not susceptible to pigging out come lunch, studies show. Opt for something satisfying for your stomach and taste buds — like egg whites and turkey bacon with whole-wheat toast.

7. WATCH THE BOOZE:

One innocent-looking margarita or cosmopolitan can rack up hundreds of calories that do nothing to quench your appetite. Treat yourself just on the weekends and cut back somewhere else or stick to a glass of wine, light beer, or vodka and soda — three drinks that each have about 100 calories per serving.

8. HAVE FRUIT TWICE A DAY:

Fruit has no fat and is mostly water, so it'll fill you up while leaving less room on your plate (and in your stomach) for high-cal fare. Don't freak about fruit's carb count — we're talking the good kind of carbohydrates that contain lots of healthy fiber.

9. STAY ASLEEP LONGER:

Getting to bed just 30 minutes earlier and waking up 30 minutes later than you normally do can help you make better food choices, researchers report. Also, when you're well-rested, you're less prone to snacking out of fatigue or stress.

10. VISUALIZE YOURSELF THIN:

When you feel your willpower breaking, conjure up a mental picture of yourself when you looked and felt slim. The visual motivation keeps you focused on your goal weight and reminds you that it is attainable, since you've achieved it before.

 Source :http://www.cosmopolitan.com

I Need a Career

Some of us are lucky enough to get employed at an ideal company right after college. These lucky few will move up the corporate ladder with a combination of hard work, positive work environment, progressive learning, and time. But for the rest of us, we may find ourselves stuck in a first or second job, and we still have to establish the right career footing in our late twenties. It can be a career dead end unless you change jobs now.

Here are ten signs that your career is going nowhere and it’s time to find a new job.

1. You’re not learning new things

It’s been two years or more since you joined the company and you find yourself doing the same things repeatedly. Sometimes you feel like working in an assembly line. You’ve asked your employer for new responsibilities or new projects, but he turned it down. It’s time to change jobs.

A career is the sum of the experiences, skills, and knowledge that you’ve earned from work. This sum makes you more competent and earns you more authority or expertise on your field. If you’re not learning new things over the course of time, you’re not moving your career.

It doesn’t have to be a promotion or a departmental change. In most cases, a lateral project is all you need to expand your knowledge. For instance, if you’re a sales executive assigned to conduct personal pitches to clients in your designated territory, you can suggest to adapt an online newsletter to reach out to your customers. This way, you’ll learn a new thing aside from the sales skills that you’ve developed through time: online marketing. Think of a lateral project that can help you perform better and preferably involving people from other departments to expand your knowledge. If the current work environment prevents you from doing these things, it’s time to move out.

2. You’re not earning more

If your salary is stuck where it was a couple of years ago, you’re not having a career but just a job. Businesses are designed to earn more profits every year, and they usually do or they risk folding up. Chances are, if your employer is not raising your pay scale, the company is either losing business or it doesn’t care much about sharing its profits. Both reasons should compel you to look for a better job.

Moreover, earning more doesn’t always mean in cash, especially if the company is short of it. Many startups offer stocks as part of the compensation package. The idea of your income being tied with your company’s potential income is good enough reason to stick to your job. Otherwise, it’s best to look for an employer who is willing to give you a chance to earn more.

3. You need more challenge

It’s a career killer: when you’re bored with your job. It’s no secret that career achievers have one thing in common: passion to conquer a challenge. It’s the thing that will make you work harder, excel, innovate, and be creative. But without a challenging task, it’s hard to outperform yourself on the next round and your career will likely stagnate. It’s time to look for a challenging job.

In fact, we measure the most successful people not by how much they earn, but by the challenge that they have overcome. Steve Jobs is credited for making mobile phones smart and cool. Neil Armstrong is hailed as the first man on the moon. We know Christopher Columbus to have discovered America for Europeans. We don’t really care how much they had earned, but just how much they had accomplished.

Similarly, you need a challenge to measure your own career success. The challenge can be short-term like closing a new client (instead of simply maintaining accounts) or long-term such as outsourcing non-core services to streamline the business.

4. You’re done with your boss

If you believe your boss is behaving unfairly towards you, not just once or a few times, but for the longest time, it may be out of character and not of work-related stress. A boss who keeps on discrediting you or stop short of crediting your achievements can ruin your long-term plans. Unless the human resources department can work a way out for you, it’s time to shift to a new job with a positive work environment.

The American Psychological Association points out that if an employer’s hostile behavior is caused by stress, that behavior can be managed by understanding where he’s coming from. Is he pressured to meet his superiors’ expectations? Is he threatened by your better skills or more advance education? You can improve the situation with some goodwill techniques. Warm up to your boss by showing him you’re a partner in his plan. Give him credit for the department’s achievements. Socialize with him. But if he remains the bad boss that he is even while you try to build goodwill for months now, you deserve a better job. Ask for a transfer; or look for a new employer.

5. You’re done with your hostile co-workers

Every workplace has its cultural quirks. But sometimes, the quirks by co-workers can be counter-productive that it threatens your career mobility. If your employer cannot help you address this problem, it’s time to look for a new job.

Extreme cases like sexual harassment, racial discrimination, or drug and alcohol-related scenarios are addressed by state and federal regulations. However, some hostile work environments are caused by frictions in the nature of work, rather on personalities. For instance, sales people and advertising people are usually at each other’s throat when it comes to giving credit for the company’s record earnings or, worse, losses. If you’re a solitary copywriter working in a roomful of sales officers, you may find it difficult to perform your task. Without an ad team to back your ideas, you’re likely to be relegated to secondary status. Even if you’re in good terms with your co-workers, but they have an undue influence over your work, that’s a hostile environment for your career, at least.

6. Jump a sinking ship

Loyalty only counts so far as the company can earn profits for itself and you. Yes, you should be conscious if the company’s earnings is increasing, plateauing, or sliding steeply. After all, your salary depends on the business. Think like an investor. Get a long-term picture where your company is heading. Is it a sunflower field or a scorched farmland? If you believe the ship is sinking, jump now before it drags you down to the bottom of the sea.

But don’t jump at the first sign of distress. Businesses do falter occasionally and eventually recover their footing. However, a company that’s losing market grip continuously and, worse, management hasn’t shown or inspired a solution to stop the bleeding is a sign that the sinking is for real.

7. You need to adjust to a new life

When you’re single, a hyper-active, fast-paced career that sends you to far-off places or nightly events may be your cup of tea. But now that you have a family, you want to settle down to more predictable working hours and off-days. It can also be the reverse when you’re looking for a more exciting work culture. In both cases, ask your employer for a new position or task to help you adjust to your new life. If the company cannot help you, it’s time to look for a new job that fits your kind of lifestyle.

Sometimes looking for a new job to adjust to your new life means changing states. Some states may have lower paying scale, but they also have lower living costs. If adjusting to a new life means raising a family, you might be interested to know America’s most and least family-friendly cities cited by Forbes.com. New York City is said to be the costliest city for a family, while San Jose in California is the most affordable.

8. Your job doesn’t use your strongest skills

Many people find themselves not doing what they are good at because they simply grabbed the first job opportunity that came their way. It’s a wrong fit at the start, but it should not stay that way. Ask the human resources for a transfer within the company, but if that’s not possible, it’s time to look for a new job that fits your skills.

The best way to excel in career is to tap your best skill. Are you a natural leader back in college but you haven’t been given a chance to head a team, never mind a department? Are you creative but have to stick to templates designed by a management that can’t think out of the box? You may be good at building rapport but you’re not exposed to prospective clients. You should build on your strength and your job should allow you to do that.

9. Get a better offer

Of course changing jobs may be a simple case of getting a better offer. The offer can be higher salary, greater career mobility, better benefits, or an improved work schedule. In any case, if you believe this opportunity comes knocking but once, grab it and it’s time for a new job.

Leaving a job for a better offer doesn’t mean you’re burning bridges behind you. Rather, it’s better to leave in goodwill—with advance warning that you’re leaving or a simple thank-you letter expressing your gratitude for all those years with the company—because you may need your old employer in the future, whether as a prospect, partner, client lead, or whatever. It’s a small world and you should be expanding your network of career people at every chance.

10. Career shift

It’s never too late to shift career gears. If you have the passion for this newfound career, that passion will likely carry you to excel. It’s time to shift jobs.

Martha has been sales pitching enterprise solutions to small- and medium-scale companies. She’s caught in the unenviable position between demanding clients and hardheaded programmers. Until she dipped herself into coding out of frustration to meet client expectations, she didn’t realize she has a knack for this new career. What’s more, she believes she can program better solutions because she has the perspective of both client and programmer.

Career shifting is a milestone and you should think hard before you do it. Still, the only thing worse than shifting careers and regretting it later is not shifting at all when you know your career is heading nowhere.

You should not stop at simply keeping a job when you know you have more to offer, and to get in return. But you need to be proactive and conscious that in career mobility, you have the last say, not your employer, and that can mean looking for a better opportunity, elsewhere.

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Source : http://careers.financesonline.com

Tips that will land you a job at a small company

If you’re hoping for a job at a business like the one I cofounded — Of a Kind, where a team of four sells the pieces and tells the stories of emerging designers — then here’s something you should know: The hiring process is very different from that of a company with a massive human resources division. So how do you get yourself noticed and employed? Below are 11 things that will make you stand out.

1. Pitch yourself right out of the gate:

The most frustrating inquiries I get are the ones from people asking how to apply for a job. If a small company is hiring, you better believe everyone working there is basically drowning. If they aren’t hiring right this minute, the inquiries that catch someone’s eye are the ones from people who seem like go-getters, self-starters and all of the other things people claim to be in interviews but so often aren’t. So prove your efficacy here and now: Write a three-paragraphs-at-most email that expresses your interest in any current openings or ones that might exist in the future, what you’d bring to the table and why you think that this biz is such a star. Include a link to your website and/or attach your resume — bonus points if it’s one page.

2. Read up:

Dig into that “Press” tab on a company’s site; Google them; watch videos with the founders. Not only will understanding a company’s goals and motivations give you fodder for an interview when that time comes (fingers crossed!), but it will also help you shape a cover letter and sell yourself.

3. Know who you’re talking to:

Odds are, you aren’t emailing an HR department — you’re reaching out to someone who is your (hopefully) future boss. So don’t you dare kick off a cover letter with "To Whom It May Concern" or "Dear Hiring Manager?" Dig up an email address for the person you’re hoping to target. Guess — who cares if you get a bounce-back? — or write to info@company.com and address the person you hope is on the other end.

4.And know how to speak to that person:

Every company has a voice, and, when it comes to small companies, that voice is very likely shaped by the person or people behind it — not a brand manager or copywriter. Emulate this voice in your cover letter and correspondence. But here’s the trick: Going too far down this road can backfire — you can come off as zany, trying-too-hard, or just out-of-sync with the company’s vibe if you don’t totally nail it. So stay professional, and if you fear you might be pushing things too far, well, maybe you are.

5. Don’t go overboard with resume design:

We’ve never been offended by a plain, boring resume — but we have been turned off by ones that go design-y with loud fonts and splashy backdrops and, as a result, convey an aesthetic that doesn’t mesh with ours.

6. Push what you can contribute — not what title you want:

If there’s not a job opening listed and you’re reaching out blindly,position yourself as a Jack/Jill-of-all-trades who’s ready to dive into anything and everything. Then spell out what skills you have that would benefit the company and demonstrate your range. If you’re hoping to be the fifth employee at a company, the crux of your job might be marketing, but you should be prepared to pitch in on all fronts — and you should sell your ability to do so.

7. Don’t say that you’re looking for a new job:

That’s made obvious by the fact that you’re reaching out in the first place! It also makes it sound like you’d accept any gig that seemed better than the one you can’t wait to leave (which, fine, maybe you would — but no one needs to know that). The company you’re approaching wants to feel special — like you can’t imagine working anywhere else. Express that, for you, it’s not about just breaking into an industry or working at a startup but rather that it’s the magic of this very impressive company. Just try to say that in a way that’s not so kiss-ass-y, if possible.

8. Make sure your social media activity is up to snuff:

You most likely don’t need to do a dramatic overhaul here, but you should probably make sure that, no matter where you’re applying, you haven’t put out a dozen negative tweets in a row. While you’re at it, take the opportunity to emphasize what about you makes you such a good fit for the company you’re approaching. Dying to work for a cooking app? Drag that Pinterest board of recipes to the tippy-top of your profile. 

9. Follow up a meeting with a thanks and some genuine feedback:

Yes to a handwritten thank-you card — but yes to a same-day email follow-up as well. Just a nice, short note reflecting on something that was discussed or sharing a quick biz dev thought will do it.

10. Be a super-user:

Demonstrate how hardcore you are by using the crap out of the service. You don’t need to be a super-spender if the company charges for its services, but it’s hard for us to believe that anyone is an Of a Kind diehard if she’s never bought a single thing from our site.

11. Proclaim your affections before you ask about jobs:

You know what’s amazing as a business owner? To get an email from a customer or user who just wants to say he or she appreciates what you’re doing — and asks nothing in return. If you’re utterly obsessed with a company and would dream of someday working there, write to the people behind it and don’t attach your resume. These are things people remember — or that their inboxes remember if they search for your name when you apply for a gig later. At the very least, it’s good karma.

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Source : http://mashable.com