Tag Archives: tips

Is It Too Late to Start a Business?

Many people crave the freedom of their own business and fantasize about that beautiful moment they would be able to tell their boss where to stick their job! However, the reality of leaving a secure position to start something from scratch is actually very scary and requires a great deal of bravery, commitment and confidence.

The truth is, it is never too late to follow your dreams and start a business, but where the heck do you begin? Read on to find out where…

The Idea

Probably the most difficult stage, if you have an idea, well done! But, if you’re still stuck for one, think about your skill set and things you are good at. Could you take your skills from your current job and use them to start your own business. Probably! It’s easy for someone who works as a bookkeeper to transition to a self employed bookkeeper, however, if you work in banking, how do you make that your own business?

Well, most niches require coaches, so if you don’t have a trade or practical skill, think about how you can harness your knowledge to create an income. If you don’t feel you have skills in the workplace, think about things you are good at when at home. Are you a competent handyperson, great dog walker or even a fast typist? You would be surprised what kind of things you can turn into a successful business.

If you’re still stuck, ask friends and family what they think you are good at! You can even Google business ideas and find sites that list great potential enterprises.

Setting Up

Once you have your idea, you need to think about how you are going to execute it. You have to consider things like marketing, whether you want / need premises and staff, and equipment.

For you, equipment could be something as simple as a small business desktop, or you might find when you sit down and map everything out, that you need a premises and machinery. So, spend time creating a workable business plan – there are loads of great templates and tools free of charge online that will help you do this.

As well as helping you get your idea straight in your head, this will also give you a better starting point should you need to approach banks for funding or apply for grants.

Transitioning

If you’re uncomfortable quitting your job and diving in with both feet, then don’t! There is no reason you have to give up your security all in one go unless you really wish to.

There are many people who run their business’ part time whilst working full time, and gradually drop their hours at work as their business begins to grow. There is no reason at all you can’t be an employee and a business person (and a dad and all round superhero!).

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, celebrate every win and enjoy the process. Building a business is one of the most exciting things you can do!

The Weight Loss Secrets Nobody Taught You In School (Or Anywhere Else)

man drinking water after running. exercise

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Losing weight is much simpler than pundits and the medical establishment make out. Given the current obesity rates, it seems like an intractable problem, but it is actually surprisingly simple to solve, at least on an individual level. 

What’s more, you can start today. Just change one behavior and watch the weight fall off. 

Here are the weight loss secrets nobody taught you about in school. 

Drink More Water

Drinking enough water is critical for sustained weight loss. People who have large drinks with their meals are much less likely to gain weight than those who do not. 

The reason for this comes down to how water works in our bodies. When you drink cold water, it actually lowers your body’s core temperature, forcing it to burn more calories. Water is also vital for ensuring that the body’s metabolism functions properly, making it less likely to hoard fat. 

Eat Fruit And Vegetables

Eating fruit and vegetables is the best policy for weight loss. In fact, if fruit and veg are all you eat, then you will become slender in no time at all. 

There are several reasons why fruit and veg are so effective. First, they fill you up quickly. After eating, the water and fiber bulk in the food send signals to your brain, telling you that you are full, even if you haven’t had many calories. 

And, second, fruit and vegetables contain powerful compounds that reprogram your metabolism. The reason you so rarely see overweight vegans is because the diet contains plant elements that prevent weight gain, and avoids animal foods that encourage it. 

Read The Food Labels


You might think a particular store-bought item is healthy, but don’t count on it. The vast majority of products in the middle aisles of the grocery store contain sugar, oils, fat, salt, or a combination of all three. 

The problem with these ingredients is that they actively foster weight gain. They are highly palatable and dense in calories. They also lack compounds found in natural foods that make you feel full and regulate your metabolism. In short, they are a disaster. 

The trick here is to read the labels. You’ll notice that the second and third ingredients in most products are sugar and oil. For instance, if you buy marinara sauce in a packet, instead of making it from scratch, you’ll notice that the primary ingredient is tomatoes, followed by sugar. 

Drink More Tea

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Tea contains powerful plant compounds that change the way your body’s metabolism functions. The best weight loss detox tea, for instance, has catechins and other phytonutrients that encourage your body to burn excess energy instead of storing it as fat. 

Pick A Time To Exercise And Make It Fun

For many people, exercise is a chore they would prefer to avoid. They see it as hard work, grueling, boring, or a mixture of all three. 

However, in truth, it’s all a matter of perspective. If you view exercise as something enjoyable, such as a treat to yourself, you’ll come to see it differently. All of a sudden, you find yourself wanting to go out on your bicycle or hit the gym. 

Eat Slowly

Are you the sort of person who likes to eat their food as quickly as possible? If so, you could be missing a trick. Failing to chew properly could mean that you’re bypassing your body’s satiety mechanism and eating more calories than you otherwise would. 

To avoid this, eat mindfully. Pace yourself. Try to make a plate of food last at least 20 minutes so that your stomach has time to signal to your brain that you are full. Eating slowly lets you enjoy the food more and avoid unwanted weight gain. 

Keep A Gratitude Journal

Keeping a gratitude journal might not sound like it has much to do with weight loss, but it is actually way more important than you might think. Think about it: why do most people eat things they know they shouldn’t? Chiefly, it’s because they are trying to cope with negative emotions. Food helps to numb the pain. 

However, there are ways of avoiding this pattern. Instead of turning to food (which is high in calories), you can turn to gratitude, which is entirely calorie-free. The more grateful you are for the thing you have, the less likely you are to experience negative emotions. In fact, it’s almost impossible to feel bad about anything if you are feeling grateful.

Batch Cook

Lastly, you can batch cook all your meals in advance at the weekend so that you have something that you can just grab during the week without any prep when you might be short on time.

How to Encourage Your Kids to Be More Creative

As a dad, it’s important to find ways to encourage your kids to be more creative. This is something that will help them in life no matter what they choose to do. There are many different ways to do this, and we’ll discuss a few of them in this blog post.

One great way to get your kids thinking creatively is by giving them opportunities to express themselves artistically. You can do this by taking them to museums or letting them paint, draw, or sculpt. Another way to encourage creativity is by helping them learn new things. This could mean exposing them to different cultures or teaching them how to play a musical instrument. 

Also, one of the tried and tested ways to get your kids thinking creatively is by having fun with them. This could mean playing games, telling jokes, or going on adventures together.

Karaoke is a great way to get your kids thinking creatively. Not only will they have fun singing their favorite songs, but they’ll also be using their imaginations to come up with new ways to perform them.

Plus, karaoke is a great way to bond with your kids and create lasting memories together. So what are you waiting for? Break out the karaoke machine and let the good times roll! And, if you’re wondering how you’ll be able to set up a machine like this, have a look down below at some simple instructions that will help you set your kids’ karaoke machine in no time!


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