These are the Areas Where Businesses Always Need to Focus 

Business

There is a great focus today by businesses on making sure they present themselves properly in the marketplace. They devote lots of time and energy to social media marketing, building their website and keeping up with the latest marketing trends. Business experts like Chip Paige, President of Pacific Aviation Holdings, know that these are no doubt important areas of focus for business success, but there are others that should never be overlooked. They include:

Cybersecurity

Cybercriminals are a consistent and never-ending scourge of businesses today. Their targets include businesses of all sizes and locations, including internet security companies proving that no one is immune. Oftentimes cyber-criminals attack those businesses feeling most confident, perhaps too confident, in their abilities to ward them off. This over-confidence sets up the perfect conditions for the cyber-criminals to strike.

The need for securing a company vital information has never been more important or complicated. To be effective in this area a business must have all of its employees involved and make sure that their IT department is fully aware of the current and evolving wave of data breaches that are threatening companies. These will always include: malicious programs, unauthorized access into the systems, ransomware, and Denial of Service (DoS) attacks that individually and collectively threaten the livelihood of the company.

The great news is that companies can engage strategies and utilize software tools that can keep cyber-criminals away from their valuable data. Companies need to create and institute company policies around how data can be disseminated by employees and procedures around how to utilize the internet and particularly email and communications sites like skype, where many of the cyber-attacks occur. Further employees must be prohibiting form connecting non-approved devices to the company network. These devices can harbor rogue software and other dangerous programs that employees are unaware of and can infect the company’s entire network.

In terms of software, today there are ways to keep these cyber-criminals out, recover any stolen data and even recover files encrypted by a virus. Companies should be vigilant about purchasing this software and making sure it is updated with the latest protection protocols. Being vigilant will keep any company safe.

Making the Business About the Customer

It is perhaps the oldest business axiom, to always put the customer first. Many businesses find this approach at odds with their goal of being as profitable as possible. However, when you operate your business properly both of these goals con not only co-exist, they propel each other to bigger growth and higher profits.  A business should always be customer-centric and fully focused on what the customer needs to thrive.

To be clear, focusing on the customer may mean that you have to put aside some short-term company desires for long-term and sustainable gains. Companies must reject those ideas that work against their best interests, and their best interests begin and end with the best interests of their customers. The most successful businesses today continue to demonstrate that this is the best and most sustainable business model.

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These are the Biggest Struggles for Returning War Veterans

Education

Imagine waking up every day not knowing whether you or the people around you will live or die. Imagine finding out throughout the day that many of them do in fact get killed or badly injured losing limbs and an ability to function normally for the rest of their lives. Now imagine this happening to young people, many barely out of high school. Finally imagine this happening to people who have volunteered and are doing it to protect you and your family. This is the reality for a US soldier who goes to war for us and after this stark reality, they must come back home and reintegrate into society. It is not easy and we need to appreciate the struggles they have when they come back.

Homelessness

Veteran homelessness is a huge problem in the United States. In fact, the number of homeless Vietnam War veterans is higher than the number of soldiers who died during the war.  Approximately one third (33%) of homeless males in the U.S. are veterans and veterans are more than twice as likely to become homeless as other Americans. In other words, the problem is chronic and not abating. The problem is so drastic in fact, that is has overwhelmed the US government and they have appropriated special funds to deal with the problem. It is working somewhat with veteran homelessness diminishing but it still remains too much of an issue for the country. Thankfully in addition to the government’s efforts, many private groups have been formed to address veteran homelessness. Groups like Houston based helping a Hero provides homes to severely injured veterans. The non-profit and its chairwoman Meredith Iler, have an unflinching commitment to keep veterans off the streets and they has built 18 homes in Houston for this purpose. Veterans are placed in homes that are built to accommodate their injuries and charged rents they can afford.

Drugs and Alcohol 

Drugs and alcohol are a persistent problem for greater society and a particularly terrible problem for veterans. Alcohol use is higher among men and women in military service than among civilians. Almost 47 percent reported binge drinking and 20 percent of military personnel reported binge drinking every week in the past month; and at 27%, the rate was considerably higher among those with high combat exposure. Almost fifteen percent of military personnel report misusing prescription drugs and five percent report using illegal drugs. These issues get carried over and the numbers increase when they leave the military. In one study that involved roughly 600 veterans who were deployed to either Afghanistan or Iraq, 39% of the vets showed positive for probable alcohol abuse.  Although the incidence of drug use among veterans was much lower, there is a strong connection between veteran drug use, depression and suicide. It is important to note that veterans commit suicide at a higher rate than any other group in the US. The US government has again responded with many national and local outreach programs to engage veterans and get them treatment. Too often though there is insufficient resources to serve all of the veteran needing assistance. This leads to too many tragedies and lost lives.

We owe our veterans a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid. What we can do is to ensure that they have the assistance they need to live normal and productive lives when they return home or get the treatment they need to live the best lives possible.

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Planning a House Extension? Here are Some Things to Think About

DIY / Home Improvement

A few years ago I had a decision to make regarding where I was living, I loved the home that I was in but found the need for some more space after my second child came along. I flirted with the idea of moving home but the property market was not in a good state and I begrudged the idea of moving away from my family, social circle and the last thing I wanted was to take my child to a new school to start again. I opted instead to renovate my existing home and add an extra floor as well as some more space on the side of the house. I always knew that the process wouldn’t be easy but I definitely underestimated just how hard it would be. If you are planning something similar then here is my advice to you.

Get Prices For Everything

I massively underestimated how much the raw materials would cost and didn’t look into this until quite far throughout the process. My advice would be that once you have a solid plan from the architect, start getting prices. For example, the quote which I received from David Montoya Stonemakers was very reasonable for the brick work and I got a little carried away, it turned out to be the only quote that I received which was anywhere near my expectation. This caused a lot of to and fro between myself an the architect and forced me to up my budget. Stick to your budget and make that plans around it rather than the other way around.

Move Out

I would wholeheartedly recommend that, if possible, you move out of the property whilst the work is being undertaken. The level of noise, mess and interruption is not helpful when you are trying to run a family home and if you stay, the work will also take a longer amount of time. Start planning as soon as possible to move out of your home for a while and even if you need to stay in a hotel, the money which you will save on the faster building work will more than pay of your time in the hotel.

Legality

Th most important advice that I can offer you is to check out all of the legality surrounding your proposed extension before you sign any contracts. We had great difficulty in getting planning permission for the extension and I had assumed that it would not be a problem. Thankfully we had great neighbors and an open dialogue with them about what we wanted to do and without them, we would not have been able to get permission. If you want to extend your home then make sure that you have all of the legal issues in place before you even consider signing up to the project or hiring contractors. Make sure also that you have a strong relationship with your neighbors or at the very least that you have informed them of your plans.

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6 Things To Do On Your Trip To Australia

Travel

Visitors to Australia are never short of exciting activities and adventures to choose from. This is a country packed with unforgettable destinations – the only problem is how to pack it all into one trip. The best way to experience Australia is to take a gap year or extended vacation, set yourself up in some budget-friendly accommodation, then get ready to have the time of your life. Here are a few quick ideas of how you could spend your time in Australia in order to truly get the best out of this beautiful country.

One of the best Things To Do On Your Trip To Australia: get a quokka selfie!

  1. Study and travel. If you’re planning to spend an extended period of time visiting Australia and want to take advantage of the excellent education system to gain some qualifications while you’re here, then applying for a course as an international student could be a great option. There are so many courses and degrees available here in Australia, from master’s degrees to vocational courses, so make sure you check out graduate visa schools online if you’re looking to learn. Many courses offer flexible study arrangements and visa support, so you can enjoy your Australian adventure while getting a solid education.
  2. Road trip along the Great Ocean Road. Whether you’re visiting as an international student or taking a holiday from the 9-5, this road trip is an absolute must-do for tourists and locals alike. This Victoria-based road stretches along the continent’s coastline, providing truly breathtaking views and an unparalleled road trip experience. Bring your camera and prepare for some serious photo shoots.
  3. Visit Sydney Harbour Bridge. Any visitor to Australia knows that Sydney is a hotspot for urbanites, but there’s no greater sight than the gorgeous and iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. If you want to really do this piece of sightseeing right, get harnessed up with BridgeClimb and climb up the arch of the bridge for the best possible view of the city and its surrounding scenery.
  4. Dive in the Great Barrier Reef. One of nature’s most precious gifts is located just off of the Queensland coast in Australia. The Great Barrier Reef is a stunning and completely unique glimpse into the beauty of the ocean, with a dazzling scene of sea life, islands, coral cays, and countless other gorgeous sights. There’s nothing like it in the world, and it’s something everyone should see at least once.
  5. Soak up the rays at Bondi Beach. Bondi is Australia’s most famous and arguably most popular beach, and it’s for good reason. This beach is real hotspot for watching surfers at play, getting a killer tan in the gorgeous Australian sun, and enjoying a delicious breakfast at one of the beach’s many buzzing cafes. Make sure you grab a surf lesson while you’re there if you really want to experience Bondi in true local style.
  6. Visit Kakadu National Park. It’s so important to get a full picture of Australia’s rich cultural heritage while you travel, and Kakadu National Park is the perfect place to do just that. This gorgeous wildlife reserve offers amazing hikes and swimming spots, as well as an insight into Aboriginal culture through the ancient rock art that fills the park. It’s the ideal place to get into nature and learn from the past.
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The Best Ways to Improve Employee Satisfaction

Business

When it comes to getting good results for a business, any good business owner knows that keeping employees happy at work is the key to success. When your employees are not happy in the workplace and dissatisfied with the experience that they are having, then they are much less likely to stick around and work hard to gain good results for your brand. Employers who don’t invest time and effort into employee satisfaction often have to deal with high staff turnover rates, increased complaints, and low results when it comes to productivity. On the other hand, investing in employee satisfaction truly pays off; employees who are satisfied and happy at work are more likely to deliver the best results for your company and be loyal to your brand. Here are some of the top ways to improve employee satisfaction in your business.

#1. Invest in Training:

For the most part, employees don’t tend to be happy with simply turning up to work and never making any progress. Whilst some staff members, for example those who are there on a temporary basis, may be happy with simply having a job, many employees will want to know that they have the chance to learn more, improve their skills, and be in with a better chance of getting a promotion. Offering training and options to gain qualifications such as a bsb50315 diploma of customer engagement, for example, will give employees something to work towards and help motivate them in work.

#2. Listen to Employees:

Just as you must come into work every day, so must your employees. Because of this, it’s important that you lend a listening ear to your workforce and allow them a voice when it comes to letting you know their likes and dislikes, and even offering their suggestions on how they feel the workplace could be improved for them. Bear in mind that when employees have their views and opinions taken into consideration, acted upon and respected will always be much happier in the workplace since they know that they are valued by their employer. Employee surveys, suggestion boxes, and focus group meetings are all just some of the best ways of making sure that your employees have a voice.

#3. Encourage Fun and Friendship:

Whilst everybody knows that the main reason for going to work is for working and earning money, this doesn’t mean that the workplace can’t also be a fun and exciting place to be. As a company owner or manager, it’s important that you respect the fact that work is the one place where your employees will spend most of their time during the day and week, so it’s important to make sure that they have an enjoyable experience there. For example, you could hold ‘bring your dog to work’ days, or encourage other fun games and activities amongst employees to strengthen relationships and get people talking to one another. As a result, the team will only become stronger! It could be any sport activities.

Would you like to add any suggestions of your own for improving employee satisfaction? We would love to hear from you in the comments.

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Can You Repair Drywall Yourself, or Do You Need a Professional?

DIY / Home Improvement

If you have an old property, and it was built using shoddy workmanship, it is likely that water damage, holes, and cracks have started to affect your drywall. Luckily, you can repair most drywall problems yourself so long as you have some DIY experience and the right tools. However, there are cases where the issue is more extensive, and you will need a professional like Lloyd Claycomb to come in. Deciding whether you need a professional is down to issues such as your budget, your experience, and the size of your project.

DIY Repairs

If you spot some nail holes or small cracks, you can easily fix it yourself, so long as it isn’t indicative of a larger problem. You need a drywall knife, some drywall tape, and drywall compound, with which you can simply patch the issue up. Generally speaking, apply a few layers of drywall, letting each layer dry before sanding it smooth. Do make sure that you have filled in the cracks first. All necessary materials are available through local DIY stores.

Professional Repairs

If you spot a bulging area or a large crack that creeps upwards, it is likely that you have a more significant problem with your drywall. It may have been installed poorly, or it may have shifted because of moisture in your walls. It is also possible that, upon original installation, the drywall wasn’t properly screwed in. There are many other reasons as to why you could have a major problem with your drywall and, while you can patch it over, this will only postpone the inevitable. Furthermore, once you do get to the point that it has to be repaired, the problem is likely to be far bigger, and therefore also far more expensive to fix. If you spot a hole in your drywall, a new uneven bulge, a discolored patch, or a crack that keeps progressing downwards, you need to phone in a professional. They will come in and determine what is going on, diagnosing the problem and coming up with solutions.

Health Considerations

If you do decide to go for a DIY repair job, you have to be aware of the health implications. Sanding down drywall releases a breathing irritant, so you should not do any of the work without wearing a mask. Make sure you leave the mask on when you have finished sanding for quite some time. Do also cover all your furniture, because the dust particles can linger for quite some time. Leave the room and make sure you properly vacuum everything before you allow the room to be used again. Also, be aware of the weight of drywall panels, so make sure you do not allow your children or pets to come near it, in case a piece falls and injures them. Safety has to come first at all times, and you should never cut corners on that. Hence, if you are not sure about what you are doing, phone in a professional.

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Secrets of the Virtual Office: 4 Things You Might Not Know about Flexible Workspaces

Business

 

Image: https://image.freepik.com/free-photo/business-team-using-laptop-to-work_1098-1847.jpg

In recent years, the popularity of the virtual office has soared in Hong Kong. It makes sense in a lot of different ways. For one thing, space is at such a premium in a city this densely populated that it’s no surprise to find businesses eschewing traditional work environments.

Rent costs are on the rise, it’s getting harder to find great offices, and there’s no real evidence to prove that a fixed workspace is more productive. So, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small business owners are deciding to ‘go virtual’ and keep their options open for longer.

The question is, how exactly do virtual offices work and why are they such a big asset for businesses in Hong Kong? Keep reading to find out more.

Virtual Offices Are Real Places

If you haven’t used virtual facilities before, you can be forgiven for thinking that they exist only as a concept. This is a misconception. It is true that they are designed to be used as distance resources. Check out www.servcorp.com.hk/en/virtual-offices/ for more details on this.

However, the best virtual facilities also offer full access to a physical office and a range of IT, secretarial, and administrative tools. The idea is that tenants use telephone lines, mailboxes, and other services to support flexible working arrangements at home or other locations.

The Telecoms Tools Are Local

It might seem like a trivial detail, but something as small as having a local area code for your telephone lines can make a big difference to how your company is perceived. It conveys a sense of stability and longevity which can be hard to obtain when you’re working from home.

Furthermore, high-end virtual providers in Hong Kong offer a range of telecoms services to suit all kinds of needs. So, if you want to set up a customer helpline, you can appoint a qualified receptionist to man the phones on your behalf. You choose how the information is passed on.

You Don’t Have to Stay in One Location

Another common misconception is that, once you sign up with a virtual provider, you can only use the facilities at the original sign up location. This is not usually the case. Most providers operate a number of facilities across Hong Kong and you can visit any of them.

It is a great asset, particularly for small businesses. Though you may not have a traditional, full-time office yet, it doesn’t mean you can’t focus on building up your market presence. It is perfectly possible to visit multiple locations (even in different countries) and continue working.

There Are No Long Term Contracts

Asking tenants to sign a long term, unchangeable agreement would go against the ideas and principles that a virtual office is trying to foster. When you register with one of these facilities, you may be asked to sign an agreement, but this is usually to allow services to ‘roll on.’

So, in other words, unless you cancel or tweak your terms of use, you’ll pay a fixed access fee each month. This can be terminated at any time. Some providers charge a slightly higher rate for the privilege of using any of their virtual offices, anywhere in the world.

Where to Find Out More about Virtual Offices

If you would like to find out more about virtual workspaces, talk to a provider directly. There are a number of high-end facilities in central Hong Kong. They include offices at the Two International Finance Centre, the Hong Kong Club Building, and at One Peking Road. If you head over to any of these locations, you’ll be able to chat with an onsite team.

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How to conclude your dissertation

Education

Knowing How to conclude your dissertation can be tough

If you have finished working on your dissertation to complete college but still have no idea how to end it properly, then read on. In this article, we will teach you everything about the proper ending of the dissertations, so get ready!

So. You have spent sleepless nights researching the trustworthy sources, analyzing what has already been said about the issue you chose for your thesis. You have spent hours writing your findings down, and have ended up having an excellent main body of the dissertation. The only problem is that now you need to conclude the thesis, and you do not know where to start.

Is it the case for you?

If so, do not worry: you are not alone in this problem. Many talented students have been there. And they have all gone through it successfully. And so will you with our useful tips. Just read on and memories them to put to action once you get a chance for it.

So, let’s see how you should conclude your dissertation.

How to conclude the dissertation

The first thing to bear in mind when talking about conclusions is that they serve one goal: to remind the readers of the most powerful statements you made in the thesis as well as leave a positive impression so that readers will finish the piece with a particular thought in mind.

Once you realize these two goals, you will be able to deliver a proper conclusion. So how can you create proper conclusions?

  1. Restate the central thought of the dissertation. You need to remind what you focused on when writing this paper so that the next statements you make are in agreement with this idea.
  2. Remind what you researched. Readers should be reminded of the main issues you focused your research on as well as the approaches and methodology of your dissertation. Keep it very short not to bore the readers to death, yet make sure you go over all the important details.
  3. Mention the prominent scholars whose works you used in your research. It is important to give enough credit to the authors, as otherwise your work might be considered plagiarism. So, name the key scholars you referred to in your thesis in conclusion.
  4. Go over your findings. Finally, you should talk about the main thing of the comprehensive research which are the results of your hard work. Create a list of all the findings you made in the course of this study and state how exactly you came to one or another finding. Let the readers see these results and learn from them.
  5. Explain why you believe that this study is significant. Do not just go over each finding, but state what makes each of it important. It is important, so do not miss a chance to state it.

These are the tips on how to compose a proper conclusion to your dissertation. With them, you will no longer have to worry about what to say and when. You will only need to follow our advice step by step and enjoy the improvements. https://assignmentbaron.net/blog/ contains much more interesting information about essay and dissertation writing.

Photo courtesy by quinnanya on Flickr

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Vancouver or Toronto? Which is Canada’s Top City to Visit?

Travel

Canada’s two most popular cities, Toronto in the East and Vancouver in the West, each offer visitors a great experience, but given the choice, which city should you visit?  After you read these descriptions of the amazing things to do in both cities, we are sure you will be ready to get a cheap flight to Canada.

There is a reason why Toronto has Canada’s busiest airport, the city is simply a top choice for those who want to experience one of the best cities in the world.  Toronto is known for its Maple Leaf’s hockey team, its international film festival, the CN Tower, and it’s most famous current resident, the musician Drake, but with gems strewn around the city like confetti there are many more reasons to get here.

The city abounds in upscale dining with bunches of cafes, bistros, and restaurants whose offerings rival New York and London, and its shopping is comparable to Los Angeles or Hong Kong.

Those visitors interested in the outdoors have many choices from the Toronto Islands, to beaches to dozens of parks and hiking paths. Or get in a round of golf at one of Toronto’s top golf courses. For culture freaks, Toronto has museums and galleries galore. And for families, the city abounds in activities for young people including the Ontario Science Centre.

But even with all of this, Toronto is different and much more. The city is set on the northwestern shore of beautiful Lake Ontario, and with a fast growing population of 2.6 million, it is now, the fourth largest city North America. Toronto is a very modern city, with almost every building being built during the past twenty years. In 2005 there were only thirteen skyscrapers and today the city has 50 with 130 more being planned or built.

For business, Toronto is Canada’s top city, with a booming business sector and many large international companies setting up shop here and many of Canada’s top companies having their home offices in the city.

With so many reasons to come, how could you possibly stay away from Toronto?

Vancouver, Canada

In 2015, the Quality of Living survey ranked Vancouver as the best city in North America for quality of life, for the second time. The survey looks at personal freedom, crime, political stability and air quality.

Even with these major accolades, Vancouver is still an under-rated destination that excels at being a modern, traveler-friendly place with a moderately mild Pacific Northwest temperature and a host of reasons to visit again and again.

Many say Vancouver is blessed with more natural beauty than any major city in the world. With its gorgeous sites including: the North Shore Mountains, English Bay, Vancouver Island, its temperate rain forests, and an active volcano, Mt. Baker, Vancouver is a wonder to behold.

For gastronomes, the city can’t be beat. You can find every style and taste here and because a large part of Vancouver’s multi-cultural mix comes from Asia, the best Korean, Japanese and Chinese food in North America can be found in Vancouver.

The climate, the ocean and the mountains combine to make Vancouver and area a year-round playground. You can sail, play tennis, snowboard, swim, windsurf, run, mountain bike, paraglide, and ski nearly year round here.

For entertainment, the city features the Vancouver Canucks hockey team, and a full range of museums, parks and sites to engage visitors of all ages, for days on end. And of course the is Vancouver’s famous Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains that with over 8,100 acres of snow-covered slopes, offer the ultimate in big mountain skiing experiences

The city is also a top film and television location destination, with many top films shot here every year. And downtown Vancouver is home to many of Canada’s most successful businesses.

Both Toronto and Vancouver offer a stunning array of amenities and attractions for visitors and each has its own unique character. Which city is the best to visit depends on your personal preference. Is it the big city allure of Toronto, or the beauty and charm of urbane Vancouver? Our vote is you visit both!

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Is That Individual Worth Dating?

Love

Whether you are a woman or a man, online dating can be a blessing or a nightmare.

As individuals turn to the Internet to meet someone, there should be the least bit of trepidation.

What someone says about themselves on the worldwide web can be very different from who they are.

How much time and effort will you invest in doing an online search or two of the person you might be most interested in?

Know as Much as You Can Before Dating

So that you can know as much as possible about an individual before dating them, consider these tips:

1. What will the Internet tell you?

For starters, do your best to know as much as possible about them.

No, you’re not a detective, but that does not mean you shouldn’t do some research here and there.

Is it in the back of your mind that someone you’re talking to online may not be telling you the entire truth? If so, what options do you have in front of you?

One option of course is to end the conversation and move along.

Another is to do a criminal records search.

In that search, you can find out if someone is withholding certain information from you. Most important would be that they in fact do have a criminal record.

While a few traffic tickets are not a big deal, domestic violence, robbery and other such offenses are.

2. Listen to them 

Face it; many folks had to listen to someone go on and on about themselves either before or during a date. In all honesty, it can get pretty boring in a hurry.

That being the case, you should still look to pick up on certain statements.

For instance, does someone show contempt for people of authority? If so, that could be a warning sign that they are not respectful of others.

An example of this being a red flag would be someone who talks bad about their employer.

Yes, while many people have issues in the workplace, most people are thankful to have a job in the first place. As such, bashing an employer or co-workers can be more than your everyday frustration.

While you can’t always focus on every said or written word, do your best to listen and look with attention.

In the end, doing so could save you much time and frustration.

3. You get what you paid for

As using the Internet to buy items may not always pan out; joining a dating site comes with ups-and-downs too

Always remember that you get what you pay for.

On the one hand, you could end up meeting the person of your dreams by dating via the Internet.

On the flip side, it could turn out to be a nightmare at the end of the day.

You may find that meeting someone through friends, work, even church would be better.

For all those married couples out there, it had to start somewhere, right?

That said many of them could likely share a dating nightmare or two.

As such, don’t feel bad if you go through a bad date or two along the way to finding your true connection.

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