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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.

A Look at the Bitcoin Price History

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Finances Article |Bitcoin Price History|A Look at the Bitcoin Price HistoryEver since Bitcoin was made public, it has gone on to be one of the most valuable crypto coins. Bitcoin has high liquidity, meaning that selling it is very easy. However, Bitcoin prices tend to be highly volatile and its price fluctuates so much.

However, its volatility shouldn’t discourage you from purchasing a few Bitcoins. In this guide, we will take a look at the Bitcoin price history. We will also look at how you can invest in crypto coins if you haven’t done so already.

Buying Bitcoin

Buying Bitcoin is very simple these days. You have the option of using crypto exchange apps or P2P platforms. If you are a newbie, we would suggest you use a crypto exchange platform. They are simple to use and offer wallet services that can come in handy when you’re starting out.

Crypto exchange platforms are available as web apps and on iOS and Android. So, you can access the service from your smartphone or laptop. You will first need to sign up for an account to access the services. Most crypto exchanges allow users to buy, sell, or swap crypto coins. The signup process is very straightforward. All you need is an email address and you’re good to go.

Once your account is verified, your next step is adding your preferred mode of payment. These days, you can buy crypto from your bank account via your debit or credit card. The crypto platform will charge you a small fee to cover the transaction. If you’re new to crypto, this is a great post to read as it will help you understand its history.

History of Bitcoin Price

If you look at the price of Bitcoin over the years, there is one standout feature. Bitcoin prices always close out at a higher price than what they started with at the beginning of the year. When Bitcoin was made available to the public in 2009, it was valued at $1 USD. At the time, most people didn’t believe in digital currencies.

Bitcoin’s major selling point was that the transactions were anonymous. The transactions were added to the blockchain without any human intervention. In 2011, Bitcoin was still trading at $17 USD. However, in June of the same year, its price crashed down to $0.01 USD.

That price crash was caused after a major crypto exchange trader announced that it had been hacked. In 2012, Bitcoin faced another test of time. Many Bitcoins were scammed through a Ponzi scheme that promised investors interest rates of up to 7% per week. During that period, close to 700,000 Bitcoin was stolen in that Ponzi scheme.

In 2013, Bitcoin started at $13 USD but closed out the year at $770 USD, which was quite a rise. However, there were numerous fluctuations throughout the year. Some of the incidences that affected Bitcoin’s value were after it was officially banned in China. Even though Bitcoin is considered one of the most volatile crypto coins in the market, most investors continue to buy it. However, if it stands the test of time, most investors predict that Bitcoin may soon hit the $100,000 USD mark sooner rather than later.

5 Things You Need to Know Before Signing a Commercial Real Estate Lease

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Commercial Real Estate Lease|5 Things You Need to Know Before Signing a Commercial Real Estate LeaseA commercial real estate lease involves an agreement that enables businesses to rent commercial property from a landlord. Commercial leases can be full-term, net, and modified gross leases. Its identification, negotiation, and signing process is long, which is why you should know the steps involved so you can make informed decisions.

A commercial real estate lease is legally binding. This is why you should understand the lease contract as it defines your rights and responsibilities and those of the landlord. Below are things you need to know before signing a commercial real estate lease.

1. Research the area

When looking for a commercial property, researching the area will help you understand the prospective clientele. This is because location is everything for a business to thrive. Bearing in mind that once you sign the lease it becomes legally binding, and it may take at least two or more years before the lease term ends, ensure that the potential location is ideal for your business.

Consider seeking professional help for the ideal business location from industry experts like Jeff Tabor Group. They can also advise you on the benefits, differences, and value of different buildings within your preferred location, helping you make an informed decision.

2. Know the zoning laws

Zoning laws direct the development of real estate and may affect the operation of a business. Depending on your kind of business, research the municipality laws to ensure that you can run within that locality without facing any legal problems. Ensuring that your lease agreement aligns with standard zoning laws of the area will allow your business to operate without interference from local authorities.

3. What do you know about the landlord and the building owner?

At times, the landlord may not be the building owner. Before signing the lease agreement, ensure that you know who the landlord and the building owner are, their financial capacity and if they make good on their payments. This will help you protect your business should anything go wrong. For example, if a landlord doesn’t make payments to the building owner’s account, you may end up being evicted even if you made your payments on time. Conduct thorough research to ascertain that you’re signing the right deal for your business.

4. Find out about the nuisance laws

Once your business opens its doors, you want it to run without limitations. Before signing a lease, familiarize yourself with nuisance laws and check any smell, noise, and equipment clauses and negotiate where necessary. Look out for any environmental regulations governing the building you intend to lease to ensure they aren’t against your business.

5. Don’t forget the lease statutes

When reviewing your lease document, pay attention to the rent structure to determine your monthly payments, by what your rent will increase and after how long, so you can look at your budget and decide whether you’ll stay. Don’t forget about the lease term. Consider how a short- or long-term lease will affect your business. Find out about expenses like property taxes, insurance, maintenance, utilities, repairs, modifications, security, and more.

Endnote

Commercial real estate leasing can be tricky, especially when you lack the proper knowledge. Consider the above tips and advice from industry experts before signing a lease agreement.

9 Keys to Success Strategy Guide

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StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article | 9 Keys to Success Strategy Guide1. Start with a Clear Purpose.

Successful entrepreneurs are driven by a purpose bigger than themselves. While they realize they need to make money to be sustainable, none of the 100 entrepreneurs we interviewed mentioned money as a primary driver. It is not what motivates them. Instead, they want to do something they are passionate about, solve a problem that intrigues them, create jobs in their town, provide phenomenal customer service, and change the world in their own way.

2. Build on What You Know.

Successful entrepreneurs build companies in industries they understand. About one-third of the entrepreneurs we interviewed worked in the industry in which they started their business. Another third had worked in a related industry. The remaining third were serious and frequent users of the products, so they understood the industry from the customer’s perspective. The better you know your industry, the greater your chances for success.

3. Launch Opportunities Not Ideas.

Ideas and business opportunities are not the same thing. Our business failure rate is high because people launch ideas. A true business opportunity meets the conditions of the NERCM test: (1) Need, (2) Experience, (3) Resources, (4) Customers, and (5) Model. Your chances for success go up significantly when you prove there is a need for your product, you have adequate experience, you bring together sufficient resources, you have customers committed to buy, and your business model is sound.

4. Develop Your Supporting Cast.

Successful entrepreneurs thrive on the experience of others. They recruit talented individuals to fill in the gaps in their skill set. They build teamwork at three levels: (1) they create a “Brain Trust” of mentors with expertise they need, (2) they build a core team of partners who join them in the venture, and (3) they develop strategic partnerships with individuals and companies who can help them grow their business. Talented teams can go further and faster than any individual working alone.

5.Maximize All Available Resources.

Effectiveness is achieving important company objectives. Efficiency is doing it with as few resources as possible. Successful entrepreneurs are masters of efficiency – they have a real knack for finding and utilizing a host of resources other than money. They borrow rather than buy, defer compensation, partner with their first customers, negotiate excellent terms with suppliers, and use someone else’s plant rather than build one – they think resources first, cash second.

6. Work with a Zealous Tenacity.

Successful entrepreneurs are high energy people. They have two related and vital qualities: (1) a tremendous zeal for their business, and (2) a dogged tenacity to win. Zeal is the fire that fuels the venture, and tenacity is the trait that produces the results. These two qualities combined get you through the challenges of building a business and dramatically increase your chances for success.

7. Build a Community of Raving Fans.

Customers approach companies with preconceived notions of how they should be treated. If their expectations are met, they are basically satisfied. The problem is, satisfied customers are not always loyal customers – they will patronize competitors’ businesses as well. Giving customers more than they expect to receive will set you apart from your competitors and help you create a community of raving fans that love your business.

8. Pivot to Multiple Revenue Streams

Winning entrepreneurs continue to seek out and develop multiple streams of revenue. They do this by (1) offering related products to their growing customer base, (2) finding new markets for their growing product line, and (3) utilizing their growing resources to create new ventures. Over time, they end up juggling a reasonable number of projects in the same or related industries. Having multiple revenue streams reduces the vulnerability of a single product line, and increases the chances for long-term success.

9. Serve Your Broader Community

Successful entrepreneurs are intimately involved in the fabric of their communities. They are using their resources to assist individuals and organizations that need their skills, experience and expertise. They are addressing issues in education, literacy, health care, and the environment. Their communities end up saying, “This business supports us, so let’s support this business,” even though this was not the original intent of the service offered. Serving communities is good for everyone.

About the Author

Mike GlauserMike Glauser is an entrepreneur, business consultant and university professor who has built successful companies in the retail, wholesale, and consulting industries. His passion is helping people create successful businesses, gain financial freedom, and live the life of their dreams. His latest book, Main Street Entrepreneur: Build Your Dream Company Doing What You Love Where You Live (Entrepreneur Press), is a roadmap for doing exactly that. Learn more about Mike at: www.mikeglauser.com.

Are You Spending Enough Time with Your Kids?

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article | Are You Spending Enough Time with Your Kids?They say that being a parent is the most difficult job in the world. You are both accountable and responsible for another life, and it is up to how this kid will become an individual a few years from now. When they say everything starts at home, it does indeed start with the parents. Being family-centered is just as important as regularly saying your prayers.

So what if you are not around to be a parent to your kid? What if you are working from afar to provide for your little beans? It is not commonly frowned upon, but there would be a possibility that this could affect your children.

It is a sacrifice you need to make, and you can only hope that your kids will understand your decision to work abroad to provide them a better shot in the future. But how do you make sure that your kids understand why you have to do this? How do you keep on being their mom or dad while you have chosen to be a better provider miles away from them?

If you relate to this situation, this article will help you find common ground with your kids.

Don’t Forget to Talk to Your Kids

Working away from your family is nowhere near easy. There’s the feeling of homesickness that can lead to an even magnified exhaustion after work. You will be struggling to adjust at first, but you need to find time to be present, especially when your kids are growing up fast to their teenage years. Kids who used to be sweet, thoughtful, and loving would later become brooding teenagers who like to be left alone. So before this happens, you need to make sure you are a part of your kid’s life.

There are scenarios that overseas Filipino worker (OFW) parents get lucky to have a yearly vacation, but there are others who get to visit home only after three to four years. Some even take longer to go back home. During this period, a lot could have happened to your kids when they needed a parent. Your daughter could have her first boy heartbreak and needed her dad to remind her she’s beautiful. Your son could have suffered a major rejection from his varsity tryout and needed his mother to cook his comfort meal. You won’t be there personally, but you can be present to still ask them about their days.

Don’t Forget to Send Them Gifts

Kids all have a soft spot for their parents. Adults would probably deny that, but we all did when we were younger. Kids ask their parents for toy presents, and they keep them close to their hearts. They would grow up and even remember the times you bought them the latest Lego collection. This small thing can either make or break their childhood, and you know it.

So even when you’re far from home, do not forget to send them gifts. Or if you cannot find a shop where you can buy imported toys, you can send money online and let your kids buy what they want for themselves. With a reliable remittance service, sending love to your kids would be easier than transferring to banks and waiting for a few business days for processing.

Do Activities with Your Kids

During this trying time, the world has learned that there could be ways to connect with your friends and family even when apart. There are video conferencing applications that help connect families and loved ones, and it isn’t just simple video calls anymore. Applications such as Discord and Zoom allow you to host parties with more than ten members! Also, it allows you to do watch movies together and even play together using smart bots. If you have kids young enough to enjoy these things, then these are for you.

Additionally, even without Zoom and Discord, parents can virtually do things together. You can cook meals with your kid, even play mobile games with them. As long as you are spending time with them, your kids would just forget the distance between you and them, and in a way, you would be an important part of their lives. You wouldn’t have to worry about your kids growing up without your presence.

Parenting is hard, and parenting from afar is harder. But with the right tools and consistent efforts to make time and be present, distance shouldn’t be a factor to raise a compassionate and kind individual. So don’t worry; you will get by.