Popular Locations to Live in Croatia

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article | Popular Locations to Live in CroatiaCroatia is a country of contrasts, with mountains and hills in the north and developed Adriatic coast home to thousands of dreamlike islands and lovely islets with the unspoiled authentic landscape.

Croatia has experienced a surge in popularity as a Mediterranean getaway destination, which has attracted foreign investors. The demand for coastal property for sale in Croatia at an all-time high, and the real estate market here is very active. If you’re wondering whether now’s the time to invest in homes on the coast of Croatia, we promise that it’ll be well worth your while.

Istria

The Istrian peninsula, with its beautiful coastline and proximity to major European countries, is popular with foreign buyers. Istria is a southeastern region in Croatia with a whole wealth of diversity, from the undulating landscapes with vineyards and olive groves, to the blue of the endless sea. Properties for sale in Istria Croatia are amongst the most expensive due to high demand and its proximity to the rest of Europe. The Istrian peninsula has a total of 445 kilometers of bays, coves, islands, and shoals. It is a homeland of antiquities, an emerging culinary scene, beauty, and health. Istria is often called the Croatian Tuscany for its picturesque coastal towns Novigrad, Umag, Pore?, Rovinj, and Pula.

Are you looking for houses for sale on the beach in Croatia? The following are the most popular areas to search for seaside property.

Southern Dalmatia

Southern Dalmatia, a region to be appreciated by wine enthusiasts, history fans alike, and beach seekers, is located down the coast from the Makarska Riviera. Dubrovnik, Croatia’s most notable city, is a shining gem in this part of the country, but there are several other lovely destinations as well.

Some of the most famous destinations in Southern Dalmatia include Plo?e and Metkovi? as well as Cavtat, Plat, Milni down to the border with Montenegro. Many of Croatia’s top wines are from Southern Dalmatia. The Pelješac Peninsula, which includes small picturesque towns Ston and Orebi?, is renowned for its excellent wines. One of the greatest pleasures is to go on a wine tour of some of the region’s wineries. The islands of Korcula, Mljet, and the Elafiti islands are among the most beautiful islands to visit and enjoy over there.

Kvarner Riviera

The Kvarner Riviera is a lovely area located on the Croatian coast between Istria and Dalmatia. It is centered around the city of Rijeka, the third-largest city in Croatia and the busiest port of the Adriatic. The beautiful islands of Krk, Lošinj, Cres, and Rab, as well as the lovely towns and beaches within them, are all part of the Kvarner region. All sites in the Kvarner Riviera may be easily reached thanks to a straightforward transfer. Krk is an island linked to the mainland via a bridge.

The most well-known resorts in this region are Opatija, Crikvenica, Lovran, Kraljevica, and Novi Vinodolski. Both classic and contemporary villas can be found in Lovran and Opatija, Croatia’s luxurious resorts that offer some of the best residences in the country. These resorts were constructed for the Austro-Hungarian nobility in the 19th century due to their moderate climate. Their style is defined by the fountains, palm-studded parks, grand villas, and original art deco hotels.

Northern Dalmatia

The coast of Croatia is a popular holiday spot and an excellent location to settle down in, owing to its mild winters and pleasant summers. The lengthy, scooped-out shoreline with a number of lovely islands like Dugi Otok and Pašman offshore in the Adriatic. Zadar, Šibenik, and Primošten are the most popular cities in Northern Dalmatia, known for their crumbling, intricate architecture. This region has three of Croatia’s finest national parks: Paklenica, Kornati, and Krka.

3 Interesting Investments to Round Out Your Portfolio

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article | 3 Interesting Investments to Round Out Your PortfolioInvesting brings with it great potential for financial growth, but it also carries built-in risk that the investor must be aware of and manage well. The most basic and crucial lesson you will ever learn in managing investment risk is the importance of “diversifying your portfolio.” This simply means spreading out your wealth to a variety of investment categories so that no one type of investment can do too much damage to your portfolio’s value in the event that it suddenly tanks. Here are three interesting ways to invest your money and round out your portfolio.

Music Royalties 

For some people, there’s almost nothing more personal than the music they listen to, and there’s no better way to invest in that music than buying royalty shares. Investing in music royalty shares essentially means you are purchasing one or more shares of the royalties generated by a given song (which is different than purchasing the rights to the song itself). Royalties for the song (or songs) you’ve invested in are generated over several weeks and months through its use on streaming apps and other platforms, and then those royalties are divided up and paid periodically to the investors by whatever broker they went through to buy their shares in the royalty stream. Investing in these royalties can be a great way to add a unique (and even personal) touch to your investment portfolio, and the returns can be similar to those yielded by investment in securities like bonds.

Cryptocurrency 

Cryptocurrency might immediately remind you of risk, and therefore it can be difficult for some to be willing to invest any money in it. But while it is certainly true that most cryptocurrencies experience a high level of volatility, they also offer the potential to skyrocket in value, especially because of their growth in popularity and the continued interest in them that even larger financial institutions continue to show. Cryptocurrency is also tied together with a technology called “blockchain” that has great potential in itself for growth over time as it is further developed and used.

Art

Investing in art gives you a unique opportunity to really enjoy your investment in a tangible way. Art has the potential to hold value and increase in value over the long term, and in the meantime, it can freshen up and enhance your home or office for your own and others’ enjoyment. You can generally expect a return on your art investment similar to what bond investments would yield. But again, it’s critical not to over-invest in art (or any other aspect of your overall portfolio). International banker Julio Herrera Velutini writes that “it’s best to build a diverse, well-rounded portfolio of investments, with art accounting for just a small percentage.” Also, keep in mind that selling art can take more time than selling stock or other investments.

There are plenty of creative and fulfilling ways to plant your hard-earned money and see it grow over time, and these three unique opportunities can help get you started rounding out your investment portfolio. Don’t let fear or laziness get in the way of experiencing the joy of investing; get started today!

What You Need To Stand Out In A Job Interview

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Stand out in a job interview|What You Need To Stand Out In A Job InterviewThe interview is the most important part of the hiring process. Not only does it give you an opportunity to present yourself to your potential employer, but it also allows them to see if they are likely to hire you too. You may have done everything right when applying for the job, but if you don’t do well in your interview, there’s no way that they will be interested in giving you a shot.

This is why you want to give it your best self and have the best chance of getting the job. But what does that look like and what does it take? Let’s take a look at some important points to help you here.

The Importance of Preparation & Presentation in a Job Interview

Job interviews are one of the most important aspects of the hiring process. They provide a chance to show the employer who you are, what you’re about, and make a connection. So, you’ll want to make sure that you can nail it by preparing properly. The most important thing is preparation in advance so that you don’t miss any key details when in your interview.

Research your potential employer and learn about the company’s culture, values, and history. If possible, try to find someone who has worked there recently or currently works there to get insider information before you go in for the interview.

How To Land The Interview In The First Place

The interview is the most important step in getting a job. But you have to make sure that you get there first. One way to land an interview is by following up with the employer after submitting a resume or application online. You also need to make sure that your resume is great by using a ksa response writer to get it all right. Also, be sure that you’ve not given straight forward answers and that you’re going to not only be suitable for the job, but also stand out as a key candidate!

What’s Important When Preparing For The Interview?

So when you’re actually thinking about getting to the interview, you’ll want to be sure that you’re prepared along the way. First impressions are important in an interview. So, make sure that you are wearing appropriate clothes like a suit or something similar. You also want to bring copies of your resumé with you. Be sure that you’re not late and that you’re polite and kind to the receptionist or whoever greets you when you’re there. It also helps to make sure that you’re in the right mindset for success when the interview begins.

How To Make a Good First Impression in an Interview

When you first meet the interviewer, you really want to be sure that you make a good first impression. But what does that actually look like? You get just a few seconds to come off in a certain way – so some of the things you might want to focus on, that employers want, can include you being enthusiastic and confident. Also be sure to smile and give a firm handshake. You will also want to make sure that they are interested in them and that you ask questions about their work. And if you are using humor, make sure that you do so appropriately.

Staying Calm in the Face of Difficult Questions

The stress of interviews and the fear of getting asked a difficult question can make you uncomfortable and less confident. It’s important to be prepared for all types of questions and to stay calm when answering them. Some of the key questions that you might get asked and that it helps to prepare for are;

  1. What’s your greatest weakness?
  2. Why do you want to work here?
  3. What is your greatest accomplishment?
  4. What are your salary expectations?
  5. Why should we hire you?

What To Do After The Interview

Finally, you might want to make sure that you know what to do after the interview. To find out what happened after the interview, you should ask the interviewer if they need any more information from you. If they say no, you can follow up with them in a day or two to check on the status of your application.

The safest practice is to wait for at least 24 hours before contacting them. This allows for them to go through your application without being contacted by phone or email. Sometimes they are hesitant about giving feedback due to fear of hurting the applicant’s feelings. Giving them some space will give them enough time to produce an answer that they feel comfortable with. So have faith and believe in yourself.

Be Like Water: 3 Martial Arts Lessons for Negotiation

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StrategyDrive Practices for Professionals Article |Negotiation|Be Like Water: 3 Martial Arts Lessons for NegotiationIn the struggle between the stone and water, in time, the water wins.

– Japanese Proverb

You may wonder what martial arts and negotiation have in common. As a lifetime practicing martial artist, I constantly use lessons from various martial arts to help me in my professional life. One of the most common themes running through all martial arts is the silencing of the “self.” Martial artists meditate to quiet themselves and become more attuned to the processes of the self and the world around them.

Negotiators must also be mindful, especially if they wish to be successful. When you’re doing all the talking and pushing, you’re the rock or the stone. Whereas when you’re water, you take whatever shape you need to become. This puts you automatically in control, even if that requires patience and time. You can be prepared for anything without being blocked by your thoughts and senses.

If you’re tense or distracted by the planning and anticipation of your next move toward your opponent, you’re much more likely to be hit. Similarly, if your thoughts and senses block you in negotiation, you’re more likely to give away your position, strategy and point of weakness. But if you come prepared to listen with complete openness, you begin to notice things. You find openings in arguments, unravel the essential backstories behind the arguments and realize where the actual questions lie.

Negotiation is investigative; it’s an art for the curious. Those who approach it with an open and serene mind are less likely to expose their weak points for attack. This is what it means to become the water and not the stone.

Here are some martial arts techniques to apply to negotiations:

1. Relax without showing strength or weakness

Great competitors will not show their strength because it also may display a weakness. Revealing your strength can expose your vulnerability. To be like water, relax.

I recall an instance where I did exactly this. I was attending a play in New York City’s Times Square with my business partner at the time, accompanied by his girlfriend and my wife. After the fantastic show, the audience poured through the exit. I was about 10 feet away from my wife and business partner’s girlfriend when I observed a man studying them. He seemed to be looking at their purses. I could sense he was about to make a move, so I immediately closed the gap and stood between him and the women.

I looked him in the eye and smiled and put out my hand to shake his hand, and I said, “Hey, how are you doing?” He put out his hand and shook mine, and I just said, “There’s nothing for you here.” He shook my hand for a little longer than you’d expect and then smiled and walked away.

This is a perfect example of the power of a be-like-water strategy. I wasn’t threatening. I wasn’t afraid. I could have approached the matter differently and been combative and accusatory, but that would have caused far more trouble than it was worth. I knew in that instance to be like the water — calm, collected. I listened and observed my surroundings and obstacles, ultimately knowing that through the art of listening and silencing myself that I could leave the situation unscathed yet wiser.

2. Find openings

In martial arts, the search for that opening in your opponent is a patient one that eventually yields results.

Negotiation is a human process and thus rich in human interaction, showing your human side, establishing that you care and demonstrating empathy make the people you interact with more comfortable. How can you do this? By listening and asking questions.

Imagine that you enter your negotiation with questions. You come in like water. You’re prepared but don’t presume your outcome by making demands of what you want. You ask good questions.

What are good questions? Those that, like water, find an opening.

Finding openings can be the most challenging part of a negotiation, and asking and listening offer the best opening. If you’re specific about precisely what you want at the outset, you may leave something important on the table. If you ask for too much, the negotiation may end quickly.

Openings require open-ended questions and a bit of small talk. People are more receptive to open-ended questions. Asking open-ended questions creates an atmosphere in which your counterparty thinks and believes that the ideas presented are his or her own.

When you open by listening, you’re letting the other party in the negotiation lead. But you need to let them lead in a way that doesn’t appear as though you’re trying to corner them. This means asking open-ended questions, not closed-ended ones. Think of closed-ended questions as those that can be answered with yes or no, while open-ended questions welcome narrative.

Patiently search for that opening in your opponent. Consider borrowing from classic sales techniques and using questions to uncover shared interests. Respond to the opponent’s answers with follow-up questions to establish trust.

An opening I’ve used is: “So, why are we here?”

I’ve diffused tension with a simple, “How can I help?”

Openings to negotiations should be simple, non-threatening, inviting and used to establish trust.

3. Wait for the right moment

Don’t come into a negotiation with your sword drawn. Come in empty-handed. Come in formless and shapeless, like water. Come in prepared to ask evoking questions that will lead to discovering information that you can use to your advantage. But first you must get them talking.

Intently concentrate on listening so that you’ll remember everything you hear. Uncover all of the essential backstory to find out the other party’s true desires and dissatisfactions and what they most want. Then, and only then, connect your services, your products and your perspective with the other person’s needs and desires.

Openings are conceptual gaps where you can test, interject and match their needs and desires with yours. You must be so well prepared and clear on your negotiating position that introducing these as needs and opportunities will be effortless. It will be natural. You’ll be leading, but the other party will believe that the lead is theirs. When you behave and act this way, the other party will feel like they’re teaching you.

Come in ready to listen with complete openness until the opportunity to present your position arises. Most of all, be patient and relaxed. Be like water.

About the Author

StrategyDriven Expert Contributor | Cash NickersonCash Nickerson is chairman of AKKA North America’s Business Unit. He was President, CFO, General Counsel, and the second largest shareholder of PDS Tech prior to its purchase by AKKA Technologies. Previous roles include attorney and marketing executive for Union Pacific Railroad, associate and then partner at Jenner & Block in Chicago, and chairman and CEO of an internet company. He teaches Negotiation as a Professor of Practice at Washington University in St. Louis, School of Law. Nickerson has authored several books, with his latest book, Negotiation as a Martial Art: Techniques to Master the Art of Human Exchange (Made for Success, July 2, 2021), named “Best New Release in Business Negotiations” by the Wall Street Journal. Learn more at cashnickerson.com.

3 tips for brainstorming as a professional

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article | 3 tips for brainstorming as a professionalBrainstorming sessions are the perfect way to improve your business. They will make sure all noses are pointing in the same direction. It almost sounds promising and exciting to go in for a new session. What are we talking about today? Which new products will we launch the upcoming months? Being part of a team of motivated employees and working on new things to improve your business can be ecstatic. It will boost your creative mind in ways you have never felt before. Unfortunately, this is not always the reality. Bad brainstorm sessions are more common than you think. Want to know how to improve the brainstorm sessions within your business? Here are 3 tips to help you brainstorm as a professional.

1. Only use pen and paper

Brainstorming can be quite hard when there are distractions all around you. That’s why it can be a great idea to put smartphones, tablet and laptops aside and just use plain and simple pen and paper. Just get out your favourite cross pen and an empty notebook and start writing. Just as you would when there weren’t any shortcuts.

Fun fact: by writing you’ll boost your brain to think more creatively. Writing words will take some effort from your brain. The left- and right side of your brain will need to be in perfect harmony to write. That’s why its capable to think more solution-oriented. Just what you need when brainstorming as a professional.

2. Assemble a great team

The people you work with during a brainstorm session are the most important. They make or break the success of the meeting. That’s why it’s important to assemble a great and very much diverse team. Don’t speak only with the employees of a certain department, but assemble a team with people from every department in your business. People who have right to say things. Of course, this doesn’t mean you’ll invite the janitor when there is a brainstorming about launching new products. The people you invite, need to have some form of connecting to the issue you’re trying to resolve.

It’s not only important to assemble the right team, but also to make sure that there aren’t to many participants in the room. The magic number will be between six and ten. Not too big, not too small.

3. Document everything

In the heat of the moment sometimes people will be outspoken by other participants. That can be a shame. Especially when great ideas aren’t heard. That’s why it’s important to ask a team member to document everything that’s being said. So, when the brainstorming session has ended, you’re able to read through the different ideas and maybe enjoy a great solution, which you hadn’t known about if there weren’t any notes.