Positive And Negative Sides Of Working From Home

Gone are the days when employees are boxed out of their cubicles! Modern technology and contemporary changes paved way for more freedom at work. Nowadays, we can choose to work from our own sweet home.

CONS

1. Working from home is not for everyone. It takes a strong sense of self-discipline to conquer the tasks at hand. Discipline is important to start work and to focus during work. Be honest with yourself! Are you capable of practicing your self-discipline?

2. Working from home entails no outside pressure. If you are motivated by your boss who oversees you all the time then, this may not be for you. Some people find it hard to stay on task without the pressure from another co-worker or a supervisor.

3. Working from home diminishes social interaction. It is no secret that freelancers are vulnerable to being lonely due to their remote location. Loneliness can be dangerous to your mental and physical health. Rethink whether you will thrive in an isolated environment.

4. Working from home puts a gray area between your work and personal life. It is hard to tell whether you are overworked or not due to your environment. There can be an imbalance in your work and personal life, which is unhealthy for you.

5. Working from home lessens vicarious learning. Due to the minimal interactions with other people, learning from a team of like-minded individuals is minimized. There will be no idea sharing or brainstorming face-to-face. There will be no work lunches too.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

PROS

1. There is no commute when you work from home! Employees will be able to save time and money. These factors often lead to boosting overall morale.

2. There is more productivity, if you are working in a comfortable environment. Some employees are willing to work harder in order to continue having the freedom of working from home.

3. There will be few sick day leaves. This time, employees will be less exposed to the infection brought by the commute or the workplace. People will be able to get work done from home.

4. There is less overhead costs when you switch to working from home. A small business will be able to thrive when they eliminate the costs of rent, office supplies, office snacks, and so on.

5. There will be less chances of experiencing burnout. When employees are working on their own terms, they are less likely to feel overwhelmed by their work experience and the tasks at hand.

When taking the leap of faith, you have to weigh both the potential positive and negative sides of your decision. Good luck!

Source: APOLLO

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How To Generate Income Through Facebook

Whether you are addicted to Facebook or not, you can generate income or at least increase your network through this platform. Facebook enables you to connect to potential clients and helps you to develop close relationships. However, you must remember that Facebook is only a part of the strategy.

You still need to market through face to face interactions or through phone conversations. Clients need to feel a personal touch to your products or services. Nonetheless, here are some ways to generate income through the infamous Facebook.

Firstly, you must use Facebook Messenger to stimulate conversations with potential clients. Messenger is like email, but better. It is a way to quickly talk to your clients while attaching documents and stickers. You may highlight your promotions or send a group code to your clients. If you have not spoken to a “friend” in a while, you must renew the relationship first. You do not want him or her to feel like you are only reaching out for business.

Secondly, you must sustain the friendly conversations. Keep the conversation going by thanking your clients for their responses. Provide pictures, videos, and additional information on your products or services. If you do not hear back from them, you may send a “wave” a week after. Ask if they want to know the next step for successful purchase. Be patient.

Thirdly, you must create an enticing Facebook page. Fill your business profile with attractive pictures, genuine reviews, and witty captions. Edit your cover image, profile image, and about section properly. Exude your brand’s personality through the images. While, the about section shall dictate your credibility.

Lastly, you must put your profile on public. Your goal is to let your friends know what you do or what you offer. Let them feel that you can help them. For instance, you may write a similar post if you are a real estate agent.

“Hello there! I love helping people find their dream home. If you know anyone that needs assistance in real estate, please message me.”

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Keep things short and simple. Interested clients will surely message soon after!

Source: inc

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How To Keep Your 9-5 Job While Starting An Online Business

Your path to frugality has two options: you can either cut down your expenses or expand your income. Without a doubt, doing these two options simultaneously can increase your chances of achieving your long-term financial goals.

Establishing an online business is a great way to earn that extra money!

UTILIZE YOUR EXPERTISE

Whether you are an experienced real estate agent or a financial consultant, you can utilize your expertise by becoming an online consultant. The beauty of this is that it does not have to consume much of your time. Help individuals or companies to grow and work more efficiently. Consultancy is taking the world by storm because people would rather pay someone to help them than make their own costly mistakes.

SELL DIGITAL COURSES

It is amazing how you can create and sell your own courses with just a few clicks of a button. Digital courses map out the future and many budding entrepreneurs turn to it for reference.

Do you have to be a master in your field to become a digital instructor? No! All you need to do is to share your knowledge on a particular field and be two steps ahead of your audience. Digital courses can be built through websites such as Teachable and Kajabi. Go ahead! Try navigating through these websites now.

BECOME A GRAMMAR NAZI

I, myself, am caught in a cycle of writing and proofreading. Sometimes, I catch myself editing the past articles that I have written. Proofreading is a task best left to professionals. Writers, business owners, and alike will benefit from editors or proofreaders.

Offer your editing services by advertising it on Gumtree or Craigslist. You can also post on social media while targeting the undergraduate and graduate students.

SEW YOUR WAY UP

If you have a knack for sewing or tailoring, you may offer your services online. You see, some people pay for as much as S$30 for a simple stitching problem. You can offer a friendlier rate that will compete with the existing market.

More so, you may build an online business that sells your sewed products such as sweaters or scarves. Go one step further by offering tailoring classes at a cost.

BECOME A SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Social media managers are trending at the moment. There is plenty of money to be circulated using Facebook, Google, and Instagram ads. Thus, businesses need someone to facilitate their online presence. Even with your smartphone, you can complete this job during your downtime.

Image Credits : pixabay.com

You can either take online training courses to pick up the skill or learn it through free YouTube videos. With your determination and commitment, you will be able to pick up the social media management skill.

Sources: 1 & 2

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Surefire Ways To Save Money As A Freelancer

The essential benefits (e.g., health insurance or retirement contributions) indulged by the freelancers are their primary responsibility. It comes along with a variety of other expenses including operating costs. It comes with a variety of problems including late payment from clients. As a result, freelancers must save more money.

#1: EMPLOY THE ZERO-BASED BUDGETING SYSTEM

Zero-based budgeting entails telling each dollar where it is going to go. Simply put, the money that comes in (net income) minus the money that comes out (expenses) must equate to zero. How will you assign your money efficiently? Well, you must prepare for the fixed and unexpected expenses. Assign an amount to fix expenses and variable expenses first. Then, the rest of your money will be put to savings.

For instance, you earn S$4,000 a month after taxes and you spend S$3,500 on your monthly expenses. Let your extra money be transferred to your savings account. Ensure that you have somewhere to place it with each month.

#2: ASK FOR A RAISE

Say that you cannot afford to cover all your expenses or you cannot commit to your savings. Consider asking for a raise from your loyal clients.

Working with a client for a couple of years can help you prove your worth. There is no harm in asking for a raise as the worst thing that can happen is rejection. You are putting yourself if the position where you are on the present time. So, negotiate your salary. Having an increase of a few dollars per hour or per project can help you save money each month. Trust me, it will add up!

#3: PAY YOURSELF FIRST

One of the most influential factors that will enable you to save is paying yourself first. Transfer a portion of your income to your savings account to cover insurance and retirement plans. Since your income varies per month, having a cushion will help you worry less. Have a minimum savings amount to keep track of your saving goals.

Making sacrifices along the way entails that you will not have to struggle during retirement or during the next big crisis. Be responsible with your finances!

#4: AVOID CREDIT CARD DEBTS

As much as possible, you must not participate in credit card debts as it is bad for your credit score. Friends of mine who carry credit card balances pay hundreds of dollars per annum in interest alone.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Re-frame your mind! Never purchase anything that you cannot save up for. Following this statement will help you avoid flushing down your money due to interest. Cash should go to your savings and not your debts.

Sources: 1 & 2

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How To Plan A Wedding Without Getting Fired

For many people, planning a wedding can be a time-exhausting task. It can feel like you are taking another full-time job on top of your current one. Do not fret just yet!

Proper organization, delegation, and time segregation can keep you sane throughout the planning process. Not to mention, you will still be able to keep your beloved job!

ORGANIZATION

To keep the boat afloat, organization is the key! You can either organize your wedding tasks traditionally (i.e., using paper and pen) or digitally (i.e., using computer software and apps). Traditionally, you must keep your wedding tasks and calendar in one notebook. Do not forget to give your partner a copy! Fortunately for you, you can easily update your partner or your wedding squad by creating a digital file.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Go digital to enjoy the ease of accessing your wedding tasks while you are at work or while you are on the go! Google Drive, its computer software and its phone app, is a good option to seamlessly keep everyone on the wedding planning loop. Remember to use your personal email when getting back and forth with the suppliers and other people. You do not want to use the company’s email to complain about your supplier!

DELEGATION

Whether you like it or not, your career should remain your top priority during the wedding planning process. As such, you must turn to your friends and relatives for help. Treat wedding planning similarly as a big project in the office. Delegate wedding tasks to your wedding squad and provide everyone with a clear description of what they are responsible for. Pass the tasks that you know they will be great! Then, keep the communication lines open to review their works.

It is more efficient to split the delegation with your partner by creating a wedding checklist that includes proposed deadlines. These deadlines will help you to accomplish everything on time.

TIME SEGREGATION

Time management begins by scheduling your couple calendar according to your wedding tasks. This way, you will know you set aside the necessary time to tackle important matters. Moreover, you will be able to set your phone’s alarm to keep track of everything.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Now, let us go to your downtime. Maximize the time you spent on commuting or relaxing by setting appointments with your wedding suppliers or by finalizing some details. It is better to search Facebook or Instagram with a goal in mind!

Sources: 1 & 2

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