How Did Online Forex Trading Become So Popular?

Finance

Using different styles of financial trading has long been something that people have done as a way to invest or generate a secondary income. However, one of the most popular forms of online and mobile trading in the modern world was actually relatively unheard of until fairly recently. While almost anybody with an interest in financial markets, economics, or current affairs these days is familiar with forex, it wasn’t so long ago that currency trading simply wasn’t accessible to normal people. Rather, it was something only done by banks.

Today, advances in the internet have made forex a part of modern trading for everybody who wanted to try it.

Currency Trading Before Mainstream Internet

Louis Hernandez Jr highlights that there have been mechanisms in place to change money between currencies for about as long as organized currency has existed. However, up until the mainstream internet really took hold, it wasn’t possible for ordinary people to get prices on international currencies and make instant transactions in a way that could really leverage currency pair fluctuations. Banks were able to work with different currencies thanks to their infrastructures, but for the average person, the only time they were really concerned with changing money was to obtain currency when they traveled abroad, usually from a bureau de change or, later, by using cards at foreign ATMs and letting their bank handle the prices.

There was certainly no way to trade currency in any meaningful or profitable way.

The Biggest Advances to Help Forex Gain Traction

Forex trading online became possible because the internet made it possible for people to access trading platforms, hold online accounts, and make transactions. This was possible even in the late 1990s, however, it still wasn’t really something people found reliable. With slow dial-up internet speeds and problems with connectivity, it was hard to trust that your transactions would go through at the price you were seeing. Equally, there just wasn’t the knowledge and technology in terms of online security that there is now. Essentially, it wasn’t until broadband internet became widely accessible that forex trading online began to really ‘work’ as most people wanted – and to be trusted.

The Mobile Revolution

The second big change after broadband was the smartphone revolution. With apps that can connect people to trading platforms and forex resources, the 24-hour nature of forex became more accessible. Traders were no longer tied to their computers for a session and could be notified when conditions they have set up as triggers for them to act are met, allowing them to be available to trade and to avoid missing out on profitable transactions. Between mobile and fast internet speeds, people can now get the most out of forex trading and can also use a lot of analysis and news tools on their mobile devices to help them become more effective as traders.

As you can see, forex has come a very long way in just two decades and it will be interesting to see how its popularity continues to grow moving forward.

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Important Tips For The First-Time Manager

Business

There are numerous situations in which people just end up promoted to a management position because of the skills that they show at their job. Unfortunately, being good at a job does not mean you are going to be a really effective manager. This makes people have to learn so many new things that can easily become overwhelming. Because of this, German Trujillo Manrique highlights the following really important tips that first-time managers have to always think about.

Always Keep Learning

If you are promoted to the management position even if you have no management training, there is a pretty good possibility that upper management knows it. This means you are often given the benefit of a doubt and room to learn.

One thing that is not often highlighted about management is that you always need to keep learning. This is practically the only way to keep thriving. You have to be patient and build the skill level in practically all management areas. A great way to do this is to get help from mentors.

Start with learning all that you can about time management and how to deal with the stress associated with the new position. This can do wonders to help you to effectively manage whatever happens.

Work With Your Team

Because of the overwhelming nature of being a first-time manager, it is common to see beginner managers break contact with the team. This is one of the worst things that can be done. You cannot simply use a management strategy that you see somewhere and expect great results. This is because what works great for an organization or an individual does not necessarily work in other situations.

Remember that the manager is the liaison between employees and upper managers. This means that you have to take into account what both of these sides say, with the main purpose being adaptability. The way in which you communicate with the team and other important people in the company dictates results.

Some of the things you absolutely have to remember include:

  • Make sure services are properly budgeted and funded.

  • Never ignore problems and try to solve them as soon as possible.

  • Do create urgency when it is needed.

  • Analyze past practices. You want to question them and see how they can be improved.

  • Do research absolutely all things associated with the issues that appear.

  • Make decisions and stick to them.

  • Take initiative.

Offer Constructive Feedback

As a manager, you need to offer feedback. However, if something goes bad, so many first-time managers fail to talk as they are afraid critique will make them less popular. Management has nothing to do with popularity. It is vital that you offer both negative and positive feedback. Whenever a project is over, you need to discuss positives and negatives. A failure to do this can easily lead to two unwanted situations:

  • Staff members only receive negative feedback so they end up feeling like nothing they do is right.

  • Staff members only receive positive feedback so they gain false confidence.

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Healthcare IT Professional Mahesh Navani Discusses New Innovation in Medical Technology

Tech

According to one of eClinicalWorks leading forces, Mahesh Navani, the world of healthcare is changing as we know it. Technology has affected the daily lives of individuals around the world, but it has also revolutionized the world of healthcare.

Technological innovations have not just influenced how we communicate with one another or utilize social media. Major steps have been made to also improve technology in relation to medicine. Here’s what Digital Health Buzz has to say on the topic:

“Aside from improving how we communicate with others, technology has also paved the way for innovations which revolutionized the healthcare industry. There are health technology innovations which only seemed to appear in sci-fi movies, but now, we can use these to prolong or improve our health as well.”

Mahesh Navani completely agrees with this statement. According to Mahesh, these are the main ways that tech innovations in healthcare are changing the world as we know it.

Robotic nurse assistant

A robotic nurse assistant might not be able to accomplish the same bedside manner as a human nurse, but when it comes to medical practices and treatment a robotic nurse can pretty much do it all. Not only can it remind you about your daily medications, but a robotic nurse can perform more difficult tasks (such as carry you from your bed to your wheelchair).

3D printed prosthetic limbs

The idea of using a 3D printer to create prosthetic limbs has been in the works for a while now. Finally the time has come where it is actually possible. If a patient is in need of a new limb, like an arm or leg, there is still hope for functionality with the use of a 3D printer. This innovative technology can actually create a prosthetic limb with the proper dimensions to fit your body perfectly.

Augmented reality

Augmented and virtual reality has changed the concept of healthcare education entirely. Medical students and residents are now able to use a pair of virtual reality goggles that play footage in 3D in order to optimize the learning process. They can learn about specific surgical techniques and how the body works by sliding on a pair of these goggles and letting them work their magic.

Studies have shown that augmented reality provides the best learning experience since it simulates real-life scenarios. It is also an interactive method of learning which is the optimal way of learning for plenty of individuals.

Electronic Aspirin

If you are prone to frequent headaches or body aches, this next innovation could be for you. Electronic Aspirin involves implanting a tiny nerve stimulating device in the side of your head that can detect the early signs of a headache. It has the ability to block certain receptors and prevent a headache from ever surfacing.

No more will you need to pop Aspirin pills throughout the day to keep your headaches or migraines at bay. This method might seem extreme to you, but if you experience frequent headaches your overall well being will improve.

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Snifter. Tatiana Kukanova investigates a new app for finding drinking partners.

Entertainment

A new app.

There’s a mobile application for drinking partners now available on both Android and iPhone platforms called Snifter. It’s name refers to the glass commonly served with a brandy and is colloquially used as a way of inviting someone out for a drink. Anyone up for snifter?

It uses the same software technology as Tinder, Facebook and Travel Adviser, like an amalgamation of all three into a handy application. Relying on GPS functionality, profile management to match matching suitable partners along with a helpful local pub listing and review. The app simply finds like-minded members in local areas and links them up via a profile matching message. From that point on, it’s up to the new friends to enjoy their time as they see fit.

When would it be useful?

For those with different work patterns to that of other friends or parents with the odd hour to spare but would rather share it with another, it could actually be of benefit for people needing a bit more sociability in their lives.
I decided to put it to the test on a close friend, Tatiana Kukanova. Tatiana is a mother and part time researcher at University of Arts, London who despite having a busy schedule, finds those odd times of the day when her child is at day care, her work assignments are done and her partner is still at work. ¨I have always loved the pub but have found it hard to find anyone to match my schedule to join me for pint she has mentioned on occasion.

The experience.

Tatiana creates a profile by answering basic questions on politics, cultural pursuits, education and career. Very quickly it starts to feel like a social cleansing experiment and makes her feel uneasy. ¨ I wouldn’t ask these things straight off when I meet a new friend ¨ she admits.
After a few hours, she receives a notification along with a proceeding message from another member asking her out for a pint. Happy that she can make that time and assured by short duration (only 45 mins) she headed for ´The Nags Head´ to meet her drinking partner.

Whilst enjoying a lager top with a packet of crisps, she found her buddy ( writer and cartoonist Ian Weisburg) to make for interesting and pleasant company.
That being said, she didn’t foresee the added complication of meeting random men for drinks in the day with some sense of judgement from her partner. ¨He´s not the jealous type but he did find the whole thing slightly weird¨.

On reflection Tatiana concedes that meeting women for social drinks might actually be better, although disliked the sexism that it implied. She felt it would make the whole thing more comfortable for herself and her partner.

Could it last?

From the brief experience Tatiana had, it would be interesting to see from a range of people who might benefit from such an app. The gut feeling is that it might be a guy thing, where there’s a sense of security to the situation. Rather depressingly woman are having to be so guarded around strangers and drinking.

The phrase ´Tinder for Boozers´ was bandied about the office when I mentioned this app. One can foresee where there’s drink and the unknowing of strangers, could lead unpredictably towards difficult circumstances.
Ultimately, perhaps people should get off their phones and strike up conversation naturally? I’m sure pretty soon you will know if that person is a suitable drinking buddy or not.

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Reputation Management Consultants Reviews – How a Reputation Management Firm Can Immeasurably Help Your Business

Business

Do you know what your online reputation looks like for your business? If the answer is no then you aren’t alone and there are a worrying number of companies who have no idea what is being said or written about them online. There is hope however and it comes in the form of a reputation management company, dedicated companies who can greatly help you to clean up and increase the stature of your online reputation, in fact you only need to look at the online reputation consultant management reviews to see just how much they have helped a number of companies. If you aren’t sure whether or not this is a service which you need, here are just a few ways in which they can help you.

Measure

The first step is of course to understand what your online reputation is, before the team can set about maintaining it, improving it or fixing it. Within a day you will have a full idea of what your company’s reputation looks like online and this will set the ball rolling for improving the fortunes of your company.

Social Media

Does your social media reflect the values of the company? If not then the rep management team will first set about to fix this. The power of social media is absolutely incredible and on one hand you can go viral and bring in huge amounts of success to your company, unfortunately you can also bring disgrace to the company with an ill-timed Tweet or Facebook post which can cause irreparable damage. The rep management company will first clean up your social media and then they will help you with what to post and most importantly, when to post for maximum engagement.

Reviews

Word of mouth has long been a favorite marketing tool and in the modern era this type of conversation is had online, via online reviews. You may be blissfully unaware that your business is being slated on the online review sites and this could be preventing more customers from coming through your doors. The reputation management team cannot delete poor reviews but they can give you the chance to respond, which can often turn a bad situation into a good one. The reputation management guys will also set up alerts so that you know whenever someone is leaving a review, good or bad.

Relegation

When someone searches for your company’s name on Google what will they find? If the answer is some negative articles then the reputation management company will be able to help you. Using SEO tactics the reputation management company will be able to produce lots of positive content about your business and then this will ensure that those negative articles are then stuffed further down the search rankings so that nobody will see them.

If you are not managing your online reputation then you could be damaging your business.

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TitleCard Capital – Tips on Choosing the Right Private Equity Firm

Business

TitleCard Capital is a real estate private equity firm who work tirelessly for their investors to provide the very best returns that they can on their investment. I began working with TitleCard around 9 years ago and I have been incredibly happy with how it has all gone so far. Private equity firms are the same across the world, whether they invest in real estate, stock options or oil futures and if you want to invest your money into a diverse portfolio which will be managed by experts, this is a great way to do so. I spent a lot of time weighing up my options before investing with TitleCard and I wanted to offer you a couple of tips on what to look out for when you are searching for a private equity group to invest in.

Returns

The first and most important thing to look at is of course the returns which you should be looking to make from these investments. It is important that you do not focus on the returns which the investment group tell you that you can make, but rather the returns which have been paid out in recent years. Whichever firm you are looking to use, ask them to see some historical data of the last 5 years, marry that up with the returns that they are promising in order to make an informed decision.

Management

I have learned that they key to success for these companies is the right management team, with that they can deliver great results. To make sure that you have a high profile management team looking after your money you should simply look into each member of it, check out their history and make sure that they are the real deal. The team at TitleCard is filled with people with a track record of success and this was part of the reason for my choosing them. If you are looking at a firm who have high turnover and management who don’t have a proven history of success, they may not be the best option.

Investors

This vehicle of investment only works when there is lots of investment coming in and this is something else which you need to be sure of. You should have a basic understanding of how much money is in the pot because if there are limited funds then you won’t be able to enjoy all of the benefits which a firm like this should be able to offer you. Speak with the investment manager to gain an understanding of the financial power which they have.

Gut

It may not be very scientific but your gut will also tell you a lot about whether or not you should invest with a certain firm. If things don’t feel right or the management team just don’t give you the confidence that your money will be safe with them, don’t do it, it is better to wait than make a mistake.

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Jared Seyl – How to Map Out Your Career

Careers

Jared Seyl is a man who I have come to respect greatly and a man who has inspired me a great deal. I first met Jared when I was working as an intern for a Denver-based insurance company which was dedicated to farmers insurance, Jared was actually in his last couple of months with the company before he was heading off to pastures new to work in financial advising. Prior to meeting Jared I never really had a plan for my career and in truth the thought of one felt rather mundane. Jared used to speak to me about how he had achieved all that he wanted to in his career and this really resonated with me, so much so that I began to map out my own career, in order to achieve what I wanted to.

Specific Goals

When considering what it is that you wish to achieve from your career you must be specific, it isn’t enough to simply say ‘I want wealth’ or ‘I want power’ or even ‘ I want happiness’. If you set vague and broad stroke goals for yourself in this way then it will become difficult for you to focus on what it is that you are actually looking to achieve. Drill down into your desires, if you want power then think about what kind of power, what position do you want and with what kind of company? If it is happiness then what does that look like? Kids? Partner? Living conditions? The specifics are the most important part of mapping out your career.

Obstacles

We cannot plan for every obstacle that is in our way but we can certainly spend some time thinking about them and how we may find our way over the obvious obstacles which exist. Let’s say for instance that you want to become a CEO of your firm, you need to think about who is in that position now and why, then start thinking about what you need to change about yourself and your performance in order to put yourself in contention for that position. These are the obstacles to overcome and once you are aware of them, and you highlight how to get past them, that is when you can put yourself on the right track.

Plausibility

Don’t think about the probabilities of you being able to achieve your dreams because if you start thinking that they are improbable then you will be defeated before you start. Whether or not you achieve your dreams in the end is completely irrelevant, this stage of the process is about understanding what those dreams are, and working out what the path looks like to go and get them. If you fail then so be it but don’t fail before you even start, that goes against everything that you are trying to do.

Map those dreams out, work hard and stay focused, you will get there in the end.

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Integrity Heating and Cooling – Why March is The Perfect Time To Check Your Cooling System

DIY / Home Improvement

As someone who lives here in Mokena, Il I know just how severe the weather can be throughout the state of Illinois and it is something which we residents have had to get used to. Beyond the wind which we experience we can have a climate which plummets to minus 40 as it did last month, and then in a matter of weeks that temperature can climb back up again to around the mid 20s. As you can imagine then, every home here in Mokena, Il and across the state has both heating and cooling systems inside them. It is still not hot here in Illinois but it is the month where my mind starts thinking about the warm weather, and the need to have my cooling system checked out. I usually call the team at Integrity heating and cooling in March time, and here is why I do it so early.

Financial

Eleven years ago it was the first hot day which we’d had in the year, it was mid-May and the sun was beaming down and the humidity was rising. I woke up in the middle of the night and went to switch the cooling on, and it wasn’t working. The team came out to check on the cooling system and they condemned it there and then, I needed a new air conditioning unit. Unfortunately at that time I had just paid out a huge amount for a tax bill and I simply couldn’t afford to buy a new unit. I was lucky enough to borrow a portable air con unit from a friend until I could afford to have it replaced. Shelling out for a new unit isn’t cheap and if you get the machine checked in March or April, it will give you enough time to save if needed.

Better Early

Until I was able to borrow a cooling system from a friend we had to suffer for 3 days in the burning heat and it was most uncomfortable. Most days I would go out just to keep cool and the nighttimes were definitely the worst. Air conditioning units will usually break down after a long period of inactivity which means that the first day of summer is often the most likely time for this to happen, when you need it the most. Get it checked out early and avoid the pain of a house which you cannot cool.

Ease

If you need a cooling repair and it is the height of summer you can expect to be waiting around a while to have someone come out to look at it, and then to get the parts which you need. As you can imagine the summertime is the best season for cooling repair experts so it makes a lot of sense to get ahead of the curve on this, and deal with things easily in April.

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Tips to Make Your E-commerce Site Legit and Trustworthy

Business Tech

Online users can be very meticulous when it comes to the websites that they support, most especially for e-commerce sites, where they input their personal details and billing information. They make sure to scrutinize if the website is legitimate and trustworthy first before they go any further. And as a website owner, you should do your best to gain customer trust. In this article, we will share with you some tips that will make your e-commerce site safe and trustworthy, and eventually, this will lead to more sales.

  1. Have an SSL certificate – one of the first things that users check in a website is if the site has an SSL certificate or the “https”. SSL certificate allows secure connections from a web server to a browser. Users enter their personal information, especially their credit card details when dealing with e-commerce shops, thus it is important for them to know that their details are safe.
  2. Provide accurate and detailed About Us and Contact Us pages – next, you should make sure to have a detailed and accurate About Us and Contact us pages. You should discuss who you are including the mission and vision of the company. Most importantly, users want to see contact details including phone number, email address, office address and other contact information so they know where to reach you in case they have questions or if there’s a problem with their transaction.
  3. Have a step by step guidelines how your site works – you should also feature step-by-step guidelines how your site works starting with registration, how to order, how to pay and when they can expect to receive their orders. You should lay out everything so they know exactly what to expect. You can do this in the form of video, infographics or a simple and direct to the point write up.
  4. Feature a LiveChat support – it would be great to have a LiveChat widget on your site so users can chat when they have quick questions. You can assign one or two customer support personnel to answer customers’ queries. This will give your customers feeling of relief that they can contact you in real time.
  5. Reply to queries within 24-hr period – it is also important that you answer all enquiries with 24-hour period so customers do not feel neglected. They tend to freak out when not receiving a reply especially when it comes to their orders.
  6. Publish high quality content – next, you should publish only high quality content including articles and photos. Make sure that your photos are accurate and also the descriptions that you include. Do not deceive your customers or else they will not trust your site ever again.
  7. Always update your site – lastly, it is the best habit to keep your site always updated. Make sure to publish new content at least twice a week. This way, visitors will also keep coming back to your site.

Follow the tips that we discussed in this post to help you make your e-commerce site successful. Your first priority is always your customers so be sure to take care of their needs and keep them happy and satisfied all the time.

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How to Save on Your Next Certification

Education

Certification

Certification

One of the things you can do to push your career forward is acquiring new skills. Even better, you can pursue specific certifications in your field as a way to boost your career. Multiple studies have shown that certified professionals earn more than non-certified employees, which makes investing in certifications an option worth considering.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to earn the right certification for your career. You can also take steps to reduce the cost of getting certified by a substantial margin. We are going to review the best tips to use if you want to save on your next certification in this article.

Avoid Failing

As silly as this may sound, the main reason why people spend more on their certifications is, well, because they failed on their first try. Rather than spending $200 on your Mikrotik certification, for instance, you may end up spending twice or three times that amount because you failed the first time.

The way to avoid failing the test is by preparing yourself better. The internet is on your side when it comes to preparing for certification exams. There are resources and materials to go through, mock tests that you can take, and plenty of resources on how to prepare better for the test.

Compare Courses and Certifications

The same certification doesn’t always cost the same. Depending on where and how you pursue the certification, you may need to pay more. A simple way to get around paying more for the same certification is by comparing exams from multiple providers.

Some certifications also come with a comprehensive training program, which makes the whole process of acquiring the skills you need to become a certified professional more streamlined. Comparing training programs and courses is also something you want to do before making a decision.

The Cisco Certified Network Associate or CCNA training is a good example of how the same training and certification could cost differently depending on the institution providing the training. Thanks to findcourses.com, finding and comparing training programs is no longer difficult. You instantly have access to programs from multiple institutions with a simple search. If you want to learn more about CCNA training, there are a selection of training options here.

Take It Online

Aside from the wealth of resources you can use to prepare for your certification exam, the internet also provides plenty of opportunities to get certified as well. In fact, many top training institutions have started offering their courses and certifications online.

Online certifications are generally more affordable than their offline counterparts. You don’t have to travel – which is a saving on its own – and the training institution doesn’t have to deal with high overhead costs. The result is more affordable training programs for everyone.

There is another advantage of opting for online certification: flexibility. You can study at your own pace and take the test when you are ready. You can complete the test from the comfort of your home or office too, so you can skip being nervous before the test.

You can earn your next certification and advance in your career without breaking the bank. The tips we covered in this article will help you get started with becoming a certified professional right away.

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