From Snowboards to Baby Products

From Snowboards to Baby Products Success Story > From: Job To: Startup From Snowboards to Baby Products “I didn't want to work for anyone else anymore. Also, I calculated the number of hours a year that I was spending commuting. It was insane!” * From Snowboards to Baby Products Here's howMark Harrieslaunched out on his own, reclaimed his family time,and learned some tough lessons along the way. What work were you doing previously? I worked for a winter sports retailer buying snowboard equipment. What are you doing now? I run a business from home selling baby products online. Why did you change? I was bored and wasn't growing. Also, I didn't want to work for anyone else anymore. We'd just had a baby. For me, seeing my son briefly before and after work wasn't good enough. I wanted to watch himgrow up. I was really feeling the need to step off the hamster wheel and create something for myself that would a) allow me to work from anywhere and b) see my son more. Also, I calculated the number of hours a year that I was spending commuting. It was insane! When was the moment you decided to make the change? Probably around the time my son was born. Are you happy with the change? Absolutely. I get to choose when to work and for how long. This means of course I have to be a firm but fair boss to myself, which isn't always easy. What do you miss and what don't you miss? I miss snowboarding. The old job afforded me the luxury of calling this work, which I was extremely grateful for as it's a real passion. I also miss the community feel of that industry and the relationships. And I miss the travel: the opportunity to learn about the world through the vehicle of snowboarding. I do NOT miss sitting at a desk for long hours, endless meetings, the two-and-a-half-hour commute, having to make large presentations (I'm an introvert), or the endless spreadsheets. How did you go about making the shift? I took the maximum paternity leave allowed to get to know my son. It gave me some time to re-evaluate where I was in life, and where I wanted to be. I also knew that when I went back to my desk after two months off I would feel awful to be back there. So I sort of forced my own hand. Within days of being back I handed in my notice. I just couldn't take any more! Knowing I had a certain amount of days left there I was able to think ahead to what was next and start planning the next move. What didn't go well? What 'wrong turns' did you take? Plenty. I took a part-time job locally to pay the bills while I was without a main source of income, but it dried up. This left me in a tight spot financially. I should have started the business and quit when the earnings had matched or exceeded my job wage. Looking back now I'm glad I learned that lesson, but man it was tough going for a while. How did you handle your finances to make your change possible? I started to examine all of my outgoings and cut things right back. This was a great exercise for me as I was horrified at some of my expenses. As a result I'm much more of a minimalist now and the headspace alone from having less crap and less to manage is worth it for me. I appreciate what I have. What was the most difficult thing about changing? As I mentioned earlier, being a boss to myself. And learning to run a business, which is of course a work in progress. Switching off can also be difficult. Because it's my own business I tend to carry the work into the evenings, which I'm working on! What help did you get? I took a course in sourcing, selecting and selling products online. And I formed a mini mastermind group with other online sellers. We get together and work on each other's businesses. This is like gold to me! What resources would you recommend to others? I'd recommend Tim Ferriss's4-Hour Work Week. It changed the way I think and really inspired me to do something for myself. What have you learnt in the process? That I'm horrible with numbers despite my background in retail buying. And that it's impossible to do it all by yourself. I need accountability too. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Get your business or idea up and running before you press eject on your job! Hone in on your strengths and base your work around this. Get help or outsource the parts you really don't enjoy when possible. Don't do it alone. Build a network around you of like-minded people. Get an accountability partner. Overall, spend all the time you need getting clear on what you really want. To find out more about Mark's business, visit www.mushymushy.co.uk. What lessons could you take from Mark's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

Why You Need to Find the Time to Write Your Resume

Why You Need to Find the Time to Write Your ResumeMany people need to seek a little bit of help in their resume writing. They don't have the time or the money to do it themselves, and they don't want to waste the precious time that they have to spend on a job application. However, it is not something that is impossible to do. You just need to make sure that you go about it the right way, or else you will likely spend a lot of time trying to make your resume as good as possible.The first thing that you will need to do when you need to find the time to write your resume is to make sure that you don't need anything else at all. If you have some free time, you will be able to get more done if you are in the comfort of your own home. Of course, this should be a rare case because you still need to go about getting the rest of your work done.Taking breaks throughout the day is also important. You want to take enough time to relax and calm down, so that you can be able to focus on what you a re doing. You don't want to put all of your effort into a job application that you cannot finish.Another thing that you will need to consider when you need to find the time to write your resume is to make sure that you get referrals from professional resume writers. This is probably the best way to go about finding someone who can help you write your resume. You can usually find these individuals in many different ways.If you have had a few interviews that you need to complete for the next step in your career, you may want to ask for a written recommendation from someone who has worked with them before. This can help you decide whether or not to go with the professional that they recommend. Also, you may want to find a few different recommendations, because you want to take this process seriously and you need to get the most out of it.You will also want to make sure that you talk to your friends who work in the industry that you are looking for. If you are trying to get a position i n a certain company, it can be helpful to know what the average salary is of those that work there. You will also be able to see which employees are making more than others and make sure that you are one of the best people to interview with.Another good idea when you are looking for a way to find the time to write your resume is to go online and do some searching. You will find plenty of tips and advice that you can use to make your resume as good as possible. There are some websites that are specifically designed to help you with this process, and you can make sure that you get all of the information that you need for the best possible results.There are plenty of other ways that you can go about getting the help that you need when you need to write your resume. All of these ideas are great because they all offer you some very important things. Finding the time to write your resume is not nearly as hard as it seems, and you will be surprised at how much better you will be able to ge t at the time that you need it the most.

Financial Tips For Women In Business

Financial Tips For Women In Business Women are a critical part of today’s business community.   The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor found that women have gained a bit of ground as entrepreneurs, growing by a respectable seven percent in the past five years. Studies show that companies with women at their head tend to survive longer in the market and make a lasting positive impression on the surrounding community. When it comes to women and finances, it is important to note that often money becomes a very emotionally charged subject.     Money represents many different things to different people.   Sometimes it represents power or control, and sometimes money can represent more complicated concepts like love and security.   Either way, it is most important to understand what women can do to affect their financial future positively and succeed in the world of business.  Manage finances personally  Do not be a woman who lets her partner manage her finances.   Take personal responsibility for budgeting and managing “personal” finances.   It is one thing to work together with a partner, but do not allow a relationship to dictate the distribution of funds with absolution. Women who allow their spouses or partners to manage their money tend to end up feeling unsatisfied with the result.   It is just better to personally handle financial situations.  Get a grip on outstanding debts  Make sure to keep a watchful eye on credit ratings and outstanding debts.   If the past was not such a great time financially, just keep it in the past and push forward.  Pay at least the minimum payment on any overdue credit cards. If necessary, research credit card consolidation options and turn five payments per month into one easy and more manageable payment.   Paying down debts is critical to future financial success.    Seek out and befriend other women in business  Seek out and befriend other successful women in business.   Women should stick together and lift one another up whenever possible.   Find a role model/mentor and soak in the knowledge that person exudes.   When women surround themselves with other successful, intelligent, and powerful women, they almost always find their own successful, happy endings.  Always cover all legal bases  Always cover all legal bases when it comes to managing finances.   If there is to be a wedding, then there needs to be a prenuptial agreement.   It may be a bit challenging for a partner to accept, but people are unpredictable. A woman must protect herself in every way possible.   It is never good for anyone to build his or her existence (financial or not) around their partner.   Independence is okay.   Never forget that.    Save whatever, whenever possible.  It may not always be feasible, but save whatever, whenever possible.   Toss even a few dollars into a savings account each week, and forget the account exists.   Eventually, there will be quite a comfy financial cushion built up for a rainy day.  . Images via pixabay.

5 Things New Graduates are Looking For in a Job - Classy Career Girl

5 Things New Graduates are Looking For in a Job As more new graduates take over positions once filled by Baby Boomers, the workplace evolves to meet the demands of new employees. Thriving businesses are focusing on the employee experience, whether through a personalized workplace that focuses on the individuals experience or as a whole entity in order to meet the demands of Millennials. Modern technology, like apps and social media, are increasingly important for businesses that want to thrive in the digital age. 5 Things New Graduates are Looking For in a Job 1. Social Media  Presence Creating a business presence on social media isnt just a way to generate more sales, it is also an increasingly popular way for new graduates to seek employment. Social networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are popular among Millennials. These offer new graduates a first look at businesses, but the demand for an online presence extends beyond offering potential employees an insider view of the workplace. Along with using online resources to explore company benefits, a recent study indicates 80 percent of job seekers expect to use their smartphone to assist in their job search. To meet the demands of tech-friendly graduates, digital workplace trends focus on creating mobile-friendly employment applications combined with an approachable social media presence. The demand for web designers may see an increase as more technology-focused graduates enter the workforce and seek positions using online sources. 2. Health Promotion Programs Healthcare initiatives are a bonus that new graduates actively search for. To meet the growing demand for a health-focused workplace, businesses are incorporating personalized health and fitness initiatives into the workplace with the assistance of modern technology. For example, offering employees fitness trackers like Fitbit encourages a healthier workplace and attracts new employees. New graduates are more focused on healthy lifestyles than previous generations, and wearable fitness trackers also reduce healthcare costs and sick days in the office. 3. Technology Leadership New grads are looking for a workplace that offers apps, social networking sites and other integrated technology as a method of giving and receiving feedback. Updating your quarterly reports with a mobile-friendly, anonymous app that provides nearly instant feedback is an attractive benefit for Millennials. In addition to offering integrated technology in the office, new graduates are seeking positions that allow a more balanced approach to work and life. Technology that allows employees to work from home, for instance, is attractive to new graduates who want a more balanced lifestyle. Developing a business plan that allows employees to complete work on their own schedule at least part-time is a huge bonus for new graduates. [RELATED: Job Application Tips for College Grads] 4. Workspace Design Creating an office environment that is attractive to new graduates extends beyond developing a web presence. You also need to create an office space that meets the expectations of new graduates. Open floors plans are becoming more common as new graduates enter the workforce. Open floor plans allow employees to interact easily for increased efficiency while also creating an uncluttered space that helps them focus on the task at hand. Along with a minimalist design, an office space that is geared toward teamwork is attractive to Millennials. Creating spaces for teams to work together in innovative spaces is ideal for attracting top talent to your business. Innovate spaces can include traditional meeting tables, but can also extend to bean bags in secluded corners or standing workstations that allow employees to think on their feet. With the workplace quickly becoming driven by new graduates, creating a plan to meet the demands of a modern, technology-driven workforce is an important step toward recruiting the people who can help your business grow. 5. Career Paths in Tech With Millennials making up more than 75 percent of the workforce by the year 2025, the demand for computer technology is going to rise exponentially in the near future. If you are asking what should my future career be, now is the time to examine the qualifications needed to be a web designer. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that web designers can expect to see a 27 percent growth in their industry as more new graduates turn to online sources for applications, and as more businesses develop their online presence to attract both customers and employees. Learning what jobs will be in demand in the future can also help you prepare your business for the evolving marketplace. With an updated approach to hiring new graduates, your business can thrive in the evolving and increasingly digital marketplace. Jobs for new graduates includes ample growth in mobile development as businesses focus on creating user-friendly mobile sites.

How to Write a Resume For Highschool Students With No Work Experience

How to Write a Resume For Highschool Students With No Work ExperienceIt's important to develop a resume for high school students with no work experience. You want them to come in for an interview and get a job offer without having to explain that they're at a school without many employees. The following will give you some advice on how to create a resume that reflects the kind of person you are.First of all, the resumes of those with work experience are often more professional. There's usually a paper wear on the resumes that shows that they've taken time to learn what it's like to get hired by a company. If you have no work experience, your resume needs to make this clear. Many employers want to hire someone with at least some kind of business acumen.Also, keep in mind that having a good resume is not enough. When you send in your resume, it must be checked. Even if you're using a paperless application and the resume has been sent via email, the employer still needs to read it. The Internet requires security but even more so now, than ever before. They need to know what you have to offer and how much you should charge for your services.Also, a resume is a great tool that helps the employer to see the full potential of you. Take advantage of the fact that it is possible to change a resume in an instant with the click of a button. Make sure that your resume looks professional and is up to date. A recent college graduate can certainly have his or her resume updated with some current school history information. However, this is not possible for someone who has been in school for years.However, it doesn't hurt to have the past school work updated to show that you've worked at least one year out of highschool. Your resume has to show that you can handle the responsibilities of a student. Taking care of things like your school records, grades, essay topics, and those sorts of things should all be highlighted in your resume.The resume should also have your contact inf ormation clearly displayed. Of course, your job choice should also be included. Your college has the right to ask you to submit additional documentation as well, so be sure to provide this information as well. Don't forget to list the schools you attended as well. This will help them know how much of a head start you had on them.Your references are important. People in the work force want to know where you learned your skills. Even if you haven't graduated from high school yet, they may see the potential in you. In some cases, these people are able to get you a job faster. That makes sense, and when you're looking for a job, having a friend or a family member they can use can be helpful.If you don't have any work experience, then your resume for high school students with no work experience needs to be different. You may need to search on a specific topic or you may need to put together a job package that will include certain keywords to get you noticed.

How to Write a Resume That Describes Your Abilities

How to Write a Resume That Describes Your AbilitiesThere are a lot of people who wonder how they can write a resume that is truly 'first person' friendly. A lot of times, when someone is writing their resume, they tend to talk about themselves as though they were the one with the problem. However, when you are writing a resume for your job, you should always try to put yourself in the shoes of an employer.The only way that you are going to be able to put yourself in the shoes of a potential employer is by trying to visualize yourself being interviewed for the position. What are some things that you feel that you are good at? It's okay to say that you're good at that, but once you tell the interviewer that you are going to describe what you are good at, it will be easier for them to understand what you're trying to get across.When writing a resume that describes what you do, you need to remember that you have just outlined for the potential employer exactly what you want. This will al low you to get down to writing your own description of your abilities. You can use the description as a guideline for how you want to be described. In addition, your resume writing guide should give you a way to explain to the potential employer why you're right for the job.There is a way that you can write a resume that describes your abilities without sounding too direct. When writing a resume, it's important to leave out the details when describing your abilities. For example, when writing a resume for a janitorial job, you're going to want to include details about what you do, including how long you've been there, what duties you do, and any special skills you may have. By leaving out the specifics, it'll make it easier for the potential employer to figure out what you do best.As you start thinking about how you can write a resume that's the first person friendly, you may be wondering how to explain what you're good at. First, it's important to remember that you don't have to wr ite every detail down. Instead, use your descriptions as a guide and then write in a more detailed way once you feel like you have covered all of the main points.One of the best ways to explain what you do best to the potential employer is to give a brief description of how you're able to help with what they're trying to do. This is a good way to take the interviewers' questions in a positive direction. It's also a great way to make sure that they know that you're good at what you're doing.Another way to explain what you do well to the potential employer is to answer a specific question. If you're taking an interview, you should do everything that you can to answer the interviewer's question. One of the best ways to do this is to describe in great detail what you do and then explain in more detail what you didn't get time to talk about.Be sure to talk about your personal characteristics and skills as well. Remember that you don't have to write everything about yourself down. What yo u're doing is actually setting up yourself as an authority figure. So make sure that you're talking about your own experiences so that you're actually bringing something to the table.

Happiness and the bottom line - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Happiness and the bottom line - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Was there ever really any doubt: [Result of a] study of more than 7,500 workers: companies whose workers are highly committed to their employers and have confidence in their top management deliver dramatically higher returns to shareholders. Well, duh! This point is so obvious to me, that its actually difficult for me to argue it. Like defending the benefits of oxygen in the atmosphere or the wetness of water. Full article here Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Industry Review - Whats Growing in America

Industry Review - Whats Growing in America With 9% unemployment nationwide being the new norm, people are looking  at other industries to find work. They may not have experience in their new industry, but you go where the opportunities are. So what new industries are open to American job seekers? Some may surprise you. 1. Green Technologies Managing, scientific and technical jobs abound. The key to getting these jobs is having a background in them, but any new industry will need accountants, marketing personnel and office workers. The industry may have changed but the need for office workers has not. 2. Services for the elderly and health care With so many people approaching retirement, or way past, the health care sector has never looked more promising. Those babyboomers are going to need someone to assist them with their services. These include health care cost, nursing homes and finding work for the elderly, who are still working late into their 70s and 80s. 3. Speech therapist and physical rehabilitation workers The third fastest growing industry also deals with health. But this time its helping people recover from injury or developing needed parts of speech. More children are diagnosed with speech impairments now than ever. This requires people knowledgeable in dealing with these ailments. 4. Data processing, web hosting and online services As the world changes, so does the way that we receive and send information. With almost everyone using the internet as the chosen medium of communication, more people are needed to man the ever increasing data stream. These people range from data processors to people with capabilities maintaining existing infrastructure. Improvements are needed as well, so expect this segment to grow. 5. Computer design and related services Designing user interfaces that work with existing data streams will become even more important as new programs are needed to help workers diagnose problems and troubleshoot. If you are looking for work, dont just limit yourself to only the industry you are comfortable in.  Revisit your resume, look at your skillset and see what other opportunities are out there for someone with your qualifications and experience.