Articles to Help Your Advertising Agency Succeed

Articles to Help Your Advertising Agency SucceedArticles to Help Your Advertising Agency SucceedVery few owners, or partners of advertising agencies, will ever say their company is perfect. Or even close to it. But while most wont admit to 100% greatness, they also wont do all that much to improve their situation. And in advertising, if youre not getting better, youre going down. So here then, to combat the complacency, are 10 articles to help your agency succeed. From improving feedback and presentations to knowing some basic advertising methods, theres a lot to sink your teeth into here. Cut The Meetings In the advertising and design industry, meetings are the fleas that come with the dog. Some people like meetings, a lot. Others hate them. Most people simply tolerate them, often hoping for a snack or something else to make the whole thing better. But the sad fact is this most meetings are either completely unnecessary or way too long. Constructive Feedback This edition shine s the spotlight on something that not only improves the finished work, but the process, the agency morale, and the quality of the thinking involved. And whats more, it costs absolutely nothing to implement. It needs no extra equipment. It needs little-to-no additional training. This force for good is constructive feedback. Give a Good Creative Presentation The creative presentation, or pitch, is something that everyone in a creative department has to master. The ability to sell your work, and sell it well, is vital to your success as a copywriter, art director or designer. The following tips will help you to make memorable presentations that give your best ideas a fighting chance. Self vorrcken for Advertising Agencies Self-promotion is perhaps one of the trickiest projects any advertising, marketing or design agency can undertake. It seems odd to outsiders that this would even be an issue. After all, when youre the client, surely you can do whatever you want, right? Well, sadly perception is much more idealistic than reality. Here then are the reasons why self-promotion is so tough, and a few basic guidelines you can follow to ensure this task is both a fun and creative one and not a monkey on your back. Let The Creatives Present Their Own Work In advertising, marketing, and design agencies, different roles exist to facilitate the production of good, creative work. There are people trained in account management, others who are trained in production, and theres a whole department filled with creative minds. These are the copywriters, art directors, and designers who produce creative work that makes the agency what it is. The Pros and Cons of Timesheets Advertising, marketing, and design agencies depend on timesheets. They provide the data that shows them the hours that have been spent on each part of the project, what was done in that time, who worked on it and, ultimately, how the clients money was spent. But, while management loves timesheets, the ma jority of people who fill them out generally despise them. The Ups and Downs of Crowdsourcing If youre working in advertising or marketing, you will have at least encountered the term crowdsourcing by now. A term first coined by Jeff Howe of Wired Magazine, crowdsourcing is the act of taking a job traditionally performed by a designated agent (usually an employee) and outsourcing it to an undefined, generally large group of people in the form of an open call. Five Ad Men You Should Know All About Its easy to find articles about great men in advertising. Its a little harder to find articles about great women in advertising, but theyre out there. What usually happens, though, is that lesser-known people from the industry are fated to become forgotten, barely talked about and lost to the archives forever. Five such men are listed here. They have had an enormous impact on modern-day advertising, and in their day they were as talked about as Alex Bogusky, Lee Clow, and Dave Trott. Get to know them, and their work. The Advertising Awards That Matter Advertising awards are a very lucrative business, which is why there are so many of them. The entrance fees usually start in the low hundreds of dollars, and if youre entering several campaigns, you could be out of pocket by a few thousand bucks. Sometimes, even more. So, with advertising agencies having less money to spend, but awards mucksmuschenstill being one of the few ways to show major credibility, which awards should you try and win? Here, we outline the best award shows the ones that matter. Get To Know, and UseAIDA The acronym AIDA stands for Attention, Interest, Desire, Action, and it is one of the founding principles of most modern-day marketing and advertising. Its often said that if your marketing or advertising is missing just one of the four AIDA steps, it will fail. While thats not strictly true (a branding or awareness campaign does not necessarily need the Action step) you need to know about AIDA and use it whenever possible. Its a rule you need to learn well before you can break it. The Silver Bullet - Truth In Advertising A clever image is all well and good, but whats it saying? Lots of copy is fine, but how do you get people to read it and continue reading? Sure, celebrity endorsements work, but what message will they communicate? Theres only one answer to all of those questions, and its something that is at the heart and soul of every successful advertising campaign. The truth.

The Role of an Artist and Repertoire Representative

The Role of an Artist and Repertoire RepresentativeThe Role of an Artist and Repertoire RepresentativeAR stands for akrobat and repertoire. For record labels, the AR reps are the people who find new artists and sign them to the label. In reality, of course, there may be more than one person involved in the decision to sign a musician or a band to the record label. But in most cases, the AR rep will act as the artists main point of contact with the label- the go-between or intermediary between the artist (or band, of course) and the label. In addition to record labels, music publishers hire AR reps to sign and work with musicians. AR reps also are known as find and sign, although that term is used pretty rarely in the music industry. What the AR Rep Does These days, AR reps may have a variety of roles in the music industry, depending on how their label is run and where they stand in management. Entry-level artist and repertoire people may work to actively scout talent, attending s hows, listening to demo discs, and reading the industry press on new artists. Once they find a band worth considering, they may pass that information onto a higher-up at the label. The AR rep who initially reaches out to the musician will be at the managerial level and may have the power to make a decision about whether or not to sign a new artist (in some organizations, signing approval must come from even higher up the chain of command). As the musicians point of contact at the label during contract negotiations, the artist and repertoire work to negotiate the deal between the label and the musicians. Artists bring their concerns (potentially through their agents) to the label via the AR rep. After The the verstndigung im strafverfahren Is Signed After musicians pen a contract with a record label, the AR rep generally stays involved in the relationship between the label and the talent. For example, the AR rep will facilitate things like setting up the advance and booking recor ding sessions where required. Any task that needs to be done to get the record ready for release may fall to the AR rep. The AR rep also will play an important role in the development of the artist. The rep will have a voice in how the band will market its albums and will help to build a basic promotional foundation for the album and the band. If the musicians involved dont write their music, the AR rep may suggest songwriters or pair a band with songs or even record producers. The Importance Today Back decades ago, AR reps were critical to discovering and signing new talent, in large part because there was no real way for people outside the music industry to discover new artists on their own. Now, however, its not necessary for musicians to rely on a recording contract with a label- artists can record their music and offer it directly to consumers, bypassing record labels entirely. But that doesnt mean AR is obsolete. AR reps still play a major role at record labels, and record labels still play a major role (albeit one diminished from their heyday) in distributing music. Jobs Opportunities There are three levels of AR at major labels. At the lowest level are theAR scouts. They listen to demos, go to shows and find new artists from their contacts and the press. If the scout finds a band that fits the labels roster, hell pass them to anAR Manager. The AR manager will make the decision on whether to sign an artist and negotiate the deal. Its the managers job to get the rest of the department at the label interested in the artist, presenting them to the PR and promotions people. TheHead of ARwill set the overall policy for the label and may take part in decisions about high-profile or new artists. Unfortunately, as in most areas of themusic industry, the best way to get a paid job is through building up contacts. One of the best ways of building up contacts is by doing unpaid work as an intern. It is especially important because jobs as AR scouts are ra rely advertised. A typical path to an AR job starts with an unpaid opportunity to work as a scout. At that point, you may get expenses paid, but you wont earn a salary. You now have the opportunitythough not the promiseof moving onto the payroll if a vacancy comes up. Its important to have contact with new artists. To give yourself the best possible chance of winning that coveted job. Many AR scoutspromote clubs/band nights, write zines,manage bandsor run small labels. It gives them contacts in the grassroots music industry that the labels are keen to tap into. What Youre Likely to Get Paid Initially, youll be lucky to get expenses. But once word gets out that youre an AR scout, expect your mailbox to fill up with CDs, MP3s and invitations to every local bands night around. If you do manage to get a job at a label, you can expect a decent salary (ranging anywhere from $30,000 to $100,000 depending on your employer), but an AR manager is only as good as their last signing. Fail t o sign a successful act, and you could soon be looking for a new job. Music Publishers AR scouts are usually associated withrecord labels, butmusic publishersalso have a large AR department. As well as signing artists topublishing deals, theyll also sign songwriters and then work to get those songwriters songs performed. The Pros and Cons Your job is to listen to new music and going to gigs, and you might even get paid to do it You have the thrill of discovering new acts before anyone else you can help shape an artists career. You get to listen to a ton of new music, and if all goes well, it can be a highly lucrative career. While going out every night watching bands sounds great, it can get wearing. It can also be frustrating. You discover a great band, but your manager, head of AR and eventually whoevers hand is on the purse strings will need to be persuaded that theyre not only great but that theyre a sound investment. In short,youll discover you have little freedom to si gn the bands you love. AR people can also fall into two camps, viewed by the artist as not providing them with what they need and viewed by the rest of the label as someone who gets up late in the day, listens to lots of music, goes to clubs, spends his time with artists. Do-It-Yourself Of course, if you want total freedom to sign who you want, then you can always set up yourown label- then theres no one looking over your shoulder tell you what you can and cant sign. But youll also have to then look after every other aspect of the label, fromraising financesand organizing distribution to press and marketing. However, if you get it right, you could end up employing scouts of your own.

Army Criminal History Waiver Information

Army Criminal History Waiver InformationArmy Criminal History Waiver InformationAn applicants history plays a large role in whether or not they are eligible to join the United States Army. Its important to note here that federal law requires applicants to divulge all criminal history on recruiting applications, including expunged, sealed, or juvenile records. Additionally, in most states, such records are accessible to military investigators. Review of Applicant History The process begins with an interview by the Army recruiter, asking the applicant about any records of arrest, charges, juvenile court adjudications, traffic violations, probation periods, dismissed or pending charges or convictions, including those which have been expunged or sealed. If the applicant admits to an offenseor the recruiter has reason to believe the applicant is concealing an offense or a record is indicated during the Entrance National Agency Check (ENAC), then the recruiter will request a complete c riminal record from local law enforcement agencies. Some offenses can be waived, and others cannot. Recruiters themselves do not have waiver approval/disapproval authority. Some waivers can be approved/disapproved by the Recruiting Battalion Commander, other waivers must be approved/disapproved by the Commanding General of the Army Recruiting Command. Waivers for Previous Offenses Its important to note that applicants who require a waiver are not qualified for enlistment, unless/until a waiver is approved. The burden is on the applicant to prove to waiver authorities that they have overcome the disqualifications for enlistmentand that their acceptance would be in the best interests of the Army. Waiver authorities will consider the whole rolle concept when considering waiver applications. If a waiver is disapproved, there is no appeal, since the waiver process itself is the appeal. Suitability Review Process Applicants with a criminal history (regardless of disposition) or qu estionable moral character, but because of dismissed charges, plea bargains, or release without prosecution, must have a suitability review for determination of enlistment. A suitability review will be conducted on the following charges (regardless of disposition) prior to any moral waiver processing on all applicants Five or more minor nontraffic chargesTwo or more misdemeanor chargesCombination of four or more minor nontraffic or misdemeanor chargesOne serious criminal misconduct charge Offenses which may be waived Include minor traffic violations and misdemeanors. Any conviction or adverse disposition for what the Army considers a felony requires a waiver. Again, the Army has its own list of what it considers to be a serious offense. Convictions A conviction is a finding or a plea of guilty. The following are also considered convictions by the Army Applicants who have entered a plea of Nolo Contendere that welches accepted by the court despite later processing in the same cas e to permit dismissal, expungement, amnesty, pardon, or clemency based on any of the following are considered to have a conviction (1) Absence of later violations.(2) Evidence of rehabilitation.(3) Satisfactory completion of a period probation or parole.(4) Any other legal appeal that does not change the original finding on its own merit. An attempted offense will be classified in the same category as a successful attempt. A partie arrested, cited, charged, or held for an offense or offenses and allowed to plead guilty to a lesser offense must list the original charges and also, the lesser offense to which a plea of guilty was entered. Even if a waiver is not required, the arrest must be reported. Other AdverseDisposition This term includes all law violations which are not civil court convictions, but which resulted in an arrest or citation for criminal misconduct, followed by the formal imposition of penalties. Admission into diversionary or similar programs.Admission into an a dult first-offender program.Deferred acceptance of guilty plea program sorprobated sentence.Tried as a youthful offender.Enrollment in supervision programs.Orders to pay restitution, pay a fine, serve community service, pay court cost, attend classes, or serve probationary periods which do not constitute civil court convictions.Unconditional suspended sentence and unsupervised unconditional probation. These terms are defined as a court-imposed suspended sentence or probationary status. Expunged Record Some states have procedures for a later expunging of the record, dismissal of charges, or pardon (on evidence of rehabilitation of the offender). Such action removes the initial conviction or other adverse disposition so that, under state law, the applicant has no record of conviction or adverse juvenile adjudication. Despite the legal effect of this action, a waiver of such an applicant may be required and the underlying facts must be revealed. Offenses/Moral Behavior Which Ca nnot be Waived If an applicant was intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of application, or at any stage of processing for enlistment, no waiver will be granted. Likewise, if an applicant has criminal or juvenile court charges filed or pending against them by civil authorities, they will not receive a waiver. Other conditions that will not result in waivers Persons under civil restraint, such as confinement, parole, or probationSubject of initial civil court conviction or adverse disposition for more than one serious offenseCivil conviction of a serious offense with three or more other offenses (other than traffic)Initial civil court conviction or other adverse dispositions for sale, distribution, or trafficking of marijuana, or any other controlled substanceThree or more convictions or other adverse dispositions for driving while intoxicated, drugged, or impaired in the 5 years preceding the application for enlistment. Confirmed positive result for alc ohol or drugsPersons with convictions or other adverse dispositions for 5 or more misdemeanors preceding application for enlistment.Waivers cannot be issued for charges pending, or for individuals who are currently undergoing restraint or probation.

Books Aspiring Leaders Should Read- The Muse

Books Aspiring Leaders Should Read- The MuseBooks Aspiring Leaders Should Read- The MuseA senior executive wanted her management team to think more deeply about their role as leaders, so she asked each of them to read a book about leadership. Little did she know that just the act of choosing a title would take most of her managers weeks to decide. I dont envy them There are literally thousands of good (and not-so-good) books to choose from. As someone who regularly works with leaders trying to improve themselves, Ive read a lot of them myself. In addition, Ive developed the strong belief that managers shouldnt just read about literally being better managers, but also focus on concepts like strategy that help them to continue growing- youll see that belief woven throughout the list below.When looking through it, dont feel pressured to buy every single title. Instead, ask yourself Which category is most interesting to you? Or, what would your boss (or customer) say you most need to lea rn about to be more effective? As long youre personally interested in the topic or itll help you in an area with room for improvement, its a good place to start. Here are my top picks in each category1. For Strategy and the Big Picture Systems Thinking for Social Change A Practical Guide to Solving Complex Problems, Avoiding Unintended Consequences, and Achieving Lasting Results by David Peter StrohTo advance, you need to learn to see the connectedness of cultures, institutions, economies, families, organizations, cities, and nations to one another. Thats what systems thinking is. This book is not about geschftlicher umgang per se, but it is about how systems impact society, and since society is what powers businesses and organizations, its interesting- and relevantAnother great option is Business Strategy A Guide to Effective Decision-Making by Jeremy Kourdi. Some authors dumb down a topic to make it easier to understand. That didnt happen with this book, but if you can get through it, youll learn a lot about process from creating a vision to executing on a plan.2. For Problem Solving and Decision-Making Think Smarter Critical Thinking to Improve Problem-Solving and Decision Making Skills By Michael KalletThis book is a lot easier to get through than the previous one. It offers some great problem solving methods that you can apply to work or in other aspects of your daily life. It doesnt make as many clear connections to business (so youll want to choose another one if thats a priority for you), but if your goal is simply to learn general strategies for tough calls, this books for you.3. For Self-Development and Self-Awareness Daring Greatly How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene BrownThis isnt a how to book for aspiring leaders, per se, but its just as important. Researcher and author Brene Brown helps the reader understand why dropping the the facades we create can make us more successful, and happier. I tll help you bring your true self to work whichll inspire others and make you more productive.4. For Motivation, People Skills, and Leading Others The Leadership Challenge, 5th Edition by James Kouzes and Barry PosnerFor more than 30 years, people have seen this as the fundamental sourcebook on everything related to leadership in a business. In this edition, the authors have updated the stories and examples throughout the book to keep it relevant with the modern workforce. Another great option is Leaders Eat Last Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Dont by Simon Sinek. This book is filled with examples of why servant leadership works so well. If youre not familiar with the term, servant leadership, its a management philosophy that claims a leaders job is to serve those they lead, versus the traditional (and maybe outdated) idea that the employees simply work for the boss. Sinek is a researcher and ethnographer by education, so the book is full of examples of why and how eating l ast is key to motivating and inspiring others.5. For Teams, Groups and Playing Well With Others The Ideal Team Player How to Recognize and Cultivate the Three Essential Virtues by Patrick LencioniPatrick Lencioni has been using a parable format to make reading about leadership and business enjoyable for two decades. This ones great because it provides equally good advice for being on a team as it does for leading one.Another great option is The Four Agreements A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom (A Toltec Wisdom Book) by Don Miguel Ruiz and Janet Mills. Life and enlightenment may not boil down to four simple agreements, but the authors take on Toltec philosophy is timeless, and the Agreements offer a initiation into the world of self-development.6. For a New Way of Thinking Grit The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela DuckworthHave you ever heard the saying Dont believe everything you think? This book supports that idea. Duckworth shares the role of mindset, and how learni ng to successfully process feelings like failure, disappointment, and boredom can make us more resilient, and happier. 7. For Inspiring a Culture of Innovation and Learning Fail Better Design Smart Mistakes and Succeed Sooner by Anjali Sastry and Kara Penn.Sastry and Penn have landed on a proven feedback process that helps us learn from our mistakes. There is one pre-requisite for this book, youve got to be willing to take some chances that may result in failure. Of course, the other possibility is that your willingness to risk could result in outstanding success.Its no coincidence that only three of these books have the word lead in the title. Thats because leadership is a diverse collection of skills and talents that are applied as the need arises. Regardless of their level of seniority, great leaders are generalists who have a range of skills and knowledge, from creating and executing a strategy to understanding human nature.Have a favorite book on this list or one you cant wait to read? Tweet me and let me know.

Resume French Secrets

Resume French Secrets There are a few reference points we can utilize. If youre commuting, prepare right ahead and specify a time allowance, so you can anticipate delays due to traffic and other possible explanations. Theres no denying that applying for job opening can be tough and intimidating. Begin with your latest job and degree first. Choosing Good Resume French I disagree with Manjoo for a number of distinct reasons. Make certain youre in a position to catch the interest of employers to increase your odds of being hired. Based on where you are and job, they could just tip the scales in your favor. This is quite easy and fast for practically any individual thats adept and fluent in both French and English. The Little-Known Secrets to Resume French Resumes may be used for a number of reasons, but most often theyre utilised to secure new employment. They may be organized in different ways. Recruiters understand what youre up to You may choose to translate your CV. Your CV may include everything which youve done so far. We are going to answer all of your CV vs. resume questions. If you are attempting to compose a good resume that could help you raise your odds of getting hired, youre in the appropriate place. On the 1 hand, it does feel like it is a different life. Have a look at the tips below. For more tips and tips on building a cover letter, take a peek at our blog. Together with the principal sections you ought to include, the following are some other crucial elements to contemplate for professional resumes to showcase your abilities and abilities in the simplest way possible. Folks can sense if youre just boasting or showing off. So, now it is possible to observe how an idea is translated in specific contexts. The very first point to bear in mind is that youre notlage creating some type of compound character that consists of a normal character and an accent mark. Choosing Resume French Simply take a look at this writing guide and F rench tutor resume sample to have a better knowledge of what employers are searching for so youre able to impress them. Sometimes you do your best and even then youre not able to score well in your home tasks. Skill lists are fantastic strategies to showcase your capabilities in a fast, digestible way. Its possible to easily depend on us to find essay help as we have a tendency to assist and guide the students with the aid of our professional experts. However, how some countries can attain both high average amount of literacy performance and little disparities between students from several backgrounds suggests that quality and equity in learning outcomes do not necessarily exist at the cost of one another. Youll still must place your education on your resume. Several risk factors for the evolution of meningiomas are hypothesized, and until now, the literature doesnt reveal any obvious association. If a particular language is important for any given position, you can take a p roper certification exam. The French tutor resume sample demonstrates that the education section doesnt will need to include much info. On account of the overwhelming data volume, it hasnt been possible to perform a manual editorial check on every one of these documents. The poem and my translation can be seen below. Wrote summary notes after every session. Following that, as you note, it will get a bit fuzzy. You may also have to include specific details. Please I would like to know whether you require any extra information. Even then youre unable to discover the informative and accurate details. We offer a platform at which you can directly get in touch with your writer this can cut back communication barrier. In addition, youd be in a position to explain what that amount of proficiency means in practice. It impacts the clotting procedure for the blood. Its a strong and at times overwhelming odour and is frequently eaten outdoors. In different parts of the Earth, the expression CV keeps its American meaning. You need to have a particular languages section which gives more thorough info on your ability. Resume language skills are the same. Your language skills are just a small portion of your resume, therefore its very important that also you recognize how to compose a resume by every section. But the most usual spellings appear to use a minumum of one accent. Last, I learned I dont will need to directly translate every word. Whats more, if you would like to list more than 1 language, you will be using up too much space. Bearing this in mind, you want to pick a place forputting languages on a resume.

Facts, Fiction and Free Resume Templates to Download

Facts, Fiction and Free Resume Templates to Download Resume templates are one method to guarantee structure behind your resume. Creating a resume with the assistance of a template can help you become mindful of the resume areas that you must fill. Its possible to stop seeking the best resume templates for Word at this time. Utilizing a resume template is extremely useful in making your professional profile. A photo header appears fantastic. Sometimes all you will need is a traditional style template thats clean, clear and right to the point. By having the completely free image style, it can be the fantastic insight. By having the absolutely free visual layout, it may be the wonderful comprehension. When youre writing your resume, at times it is sometimes a huge assistance to find some examples. Each one of our creative style templates provide a perfectly balanced mixture of personality, professionalism and a little style. The seminars and training programs which youve at tended can also be added to your resume especially if theyre about the work functions of the work position that youre applying for. Check to make certain youre providing all of the info required and clearly define your skill sets with regard to application requirements. You can also get a chance to analyze student monitoring capability. There are lots of beautiful resume templates out there, but nevertheless, it can be simple to feel as a lot of the greatest cost a ridiculous quantity of money, require special plan programs in order to edit, or both. What Free Resume Templates to Download Is - and What it Is Not Utilizing a template can lessen the quantity of time youve got to spend formatting your document, which enables you to concentrate on adding content and polishing your resume. Bear in mind, as soon as youve finished personalizing your resume, youre not prepared to fill out an application yet. Utilizing a resume template is now an acceptable and smart practice for quite a few explanations. New Step by Step Roadmap for Free Resume Templates to Download Its possible for you to download as many resumes as you desire. The superfluous assortment of resumes are currently in the service of your enterprise. Professionally, our resumes are often the very first impression a prospective employer gets of us. You will certainly be amazed by our resumes in short.

3 major life events every Millennial should be saving for right now

3 major life events every Millennial should be saving for right now3 major life events every Millennial should be saving for right nowWhen someone departures talking to you about financial savings, do you hit the mental snooze button? Wereallydont blame you. After all, most of us arent exactly in the best spot financiallycompared to our parents generation, and thinking about growing a savings account when youre already kind of struggling to pay rent doesnt sound too appealing.But dont worry - we can compromise. Here are the three most major life events that - yes, three- you should start saving for ASAP. And it doesnt matter how loose or tight your current budget is. It just matters that you start saving.1. An emergency or unexpected purchaseAs unfortunate as it is, most of us experience emergencies or big, out-of-the-blue purchases at least once in our 20s. From company layoffs to a sudden death in the family, shit can hit the groupierealquick. And how it affects you (other than t he obvious emotional toll) can heavily depend on how prepared you are to face it financially. Enter the emergency savings account.Whats the purpose?To protect you against a house scare, or if your car breaks down, or a job lost, or if you need to get a plane ticket somewhere far,Ariel Anderson Fortunato, a certified financial planner atSociety of Grownupstold Swirled. If it happens and youre leid prepared, youll rack up credit card debt.Heres how to build emergency savingsCreate a completely separate savings accountjustfor emergencies, and open that account at a different bank. Youll feel like that money isnt super reachable. Its out of sight, out of mind and its meant to be used only for those emergencies, Fortunato said.Exactly how much should you be saving?Aim to save three to six months worth of living expenses in your emergency fund. Of course, this may take different people different lengths of time to achieve, but make this goal a priority. It alsodepends on your own life and its many facets. Do you have a car? Do you rent or own a home? If youre pressed for cash, start with at least $20 a month. Saving even just a little is better than nothing, and youll save three months worth of living expenses eventually.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more2. RetirementYeah, yeah, yeah, retirement seems like a lifetime away. But one day, it wont be, and youll be old and ready to chill. If you havent started preparing financially, guess what? Your geriatric self isnotretiring. That might not seem like a big verstndigung im strafverfahren right now, but do yourself a huge solid and listen up.Whats the purpose?Pension plans are dying and the future of social security is uncertain. Its important for individuals to self-fund their retirement, Fortunato said. The good news is that if you start early, you have time on your side.Heres how to build retirement savingsThere a re lots of different types of retirement savings programs. The 401k, for example, is one of the most popular. If youre not familiar with the programs, check outthis explainerfromThe New York Timesthat breaks down each one and to whom theyre typically applicable. Once youve identified the program most relatable to you, ask your companys HR department (or designated person on the team) if the company provides that plan.Sometimes, employers who offer 401k programs will not only allow you to stash money away in the program before taxes are taken out of your paycheck, but also matchthe amount you add. This means they might contribute up to a certain percent of your salary with money from their own funds. Basically, theyre giving you free money for your retirement account.If your employer doesnt offer any retirement plans, dont fret - you can start your own independently. Your biggest options are anIRA,Roth IRA,SEPandSolo 401(k)plan. To start your retirement plan, just read up on each an d choose one. Check out different companies to open your plan with, too. For instance,Ellevest is a great option.Exactly how much should you be saving?Start with a goal in mind so that youre on pace to retire in style. Aim tosave at least the equivalent of your salaryin your retirement account by the time youre 35. If youre single and have an IRA or a Roth IRA, you can contribute up to $6,000 in 2019. If youre single and have a 401(k), theannual contribution limitis $19,000 for 2019.Whatever you do, contribute to a retirement account. If you have an employer-sponsored account, its smart to sign up right away. That money is taken out of your paycheck before your taxes so you end up saving even more money in the long run. Plus, youll most likely forget that the money is even missing from your paycheck. Deducting a certain amount from your paycheck each month for retirement will make saving feel like second nature.3. Your first big investmentIf the previous two life events dont seem ob scure to you, we bet investing does.Investing moneycan seriously help you build your wealth and have more money in the future. Well get into the nitty-gritty details another time, but all you have to know right now is that youdohave the power to invest money and potentially enjoy a big profit later in life. You just might not be ready to take that leap yet, so prepare for it.Whats the purpose?Fortunato said that even though youre likely not ready to jump into a big investment, you should still learn about your options. Starting small is a perfect solution. Youll learn the lingo and and how investing works, so when you decide to invest more, youre comfortable and youll know more about it.Heres how to build investment savingsAgain, we wont get too deep into every single option you have, but a good way to start is to look into online platforms and apps that make small-risk investing easy. There are a lot of online platforms and apps where you can invest as little as $5, Fortunato said. Its not for the elite - its for everybody. TryAcornsorRobinhoodto get started with as little as just $5 - its really that affordable.Exactly how much should you be saving?How much you save for your big investment is totally up to you, and it depends solely on your financial goals. But a good rule of thumb, Fortunato said, is to consider when you want to use the money that youre investing. Is your big investment meant to fund your retirement or a down-payment on a new car within the next five years? Consider your short- and long-term goals before determining how much you want to save.Start saving for these three major life milestones now and youll be living a financially free life later on. Have you started saving for these events yet? Tell us about your strategies inour LinkedIn GroupThis article originally appeared on Swirled.

Energize your Business Strategy with Social Media

Energize your Business Strategy with Social MediaEnergize your Business Strategy with Social MediaEnergize your Business Strategy with Social Media Jo Martin, founder of Digital Royalty and author of Renegades Write the Rules (Jossey-Bass, 2012)Project Manager. Accountant. Sales Person. Inventory Clerk. Marketing Manager. Creative Director. These are just a few of the many possible hats that entrepreneurs wear, sometimes simultaneously.It seems there just arent enough hours in the day. So, how and why would you want to add Social Media Managerto that list?Because its the single most important thing you can do to grow your business.Start with the Why of Social MediaIt may seem overwhelming to jump into the social media space. But its actually easy to get started. Think back to the beginning. Why did you start your business in the first place? Or begin to work with a small business? Whatever that story is, your customers want to know.As Simon Sinek so wisely says, people dont buy what you do, they buy why you do it.Social mediacan be used to expose your why and to shed light on the people behind the brand. After all, humans connect with humans, not logos. Show some skin and let a little personality shine through. People will appreciate your authenticity and end up being mora loyal customers.Better communication also enhances company culture.A company that embraces social media and gives employees the freedom to communicate and experiment with it has happier and more productive employees.Through social media, people can expose their why to co-workers and connect with others who believe what they believe. Through our online platform, Digital Royalty University, we offer classes to help individuals with personal branding and how to use various social media platforms.Save Money on ResearchOnce you have established relationships with customers, the next phase of dialogue can begin. You can tap into your consumer base in real time and ask for their opinions and ideas - for free. You can skip the costly formal research study to determine what it is that your customers really want.Starbucks realized that many of their customers tweets contained great suggestions on how to create a better overall Starbucks experience, so they created a separate Twitter handle specifically to address and respond to all the incoming ideas.From new coffee blends to improving the recycling process, Starbucks considers all suggestions and when one is implemented, the person who submitted the idea gets credit on the Starbucks blog.Your customers are happy to tell you what they want. Just ask. Then listen and respond. Then listen again. Listening and responding are key because the more genuine interactions you have with your customers, the more likely they are to give you honest and continuous valuable feedback.Provide Quick and Amazing Customer ServiceThe immediate nature of social media makes it an extremely efficient customer tafelgeschirr tool. Within a few moments, y ou can help a customer with a problem, or answer questions.All most people want is just for their voice to be heard. Issues that could potentially have a negative effect on your business can be dealt with right away, instead of becoming a brand-damaging PR fiasco. The good, the bad, and the ugly can all be handled in a timely manner via social media.Big retail brands such as Zapposuse Twitter around the clock to respond to questions, complaints and satisfied customers. Southwest Airlines, which is legendary for providing outstanding customer service, uses Twitter to alert passengers of flight delays and to learn of customer complaints.Crowdsource your Product DevelopmentAs your brand and company grows, new products, services, and ideas can be tested and refined based on what your customers think. Engaging consumers pushes them farther up the loyalty ladder. Asking their opinion about your new product instills a sense of ownership and pride in what theyve helped create.When it came t ime to give my new book a title, I turned to my social media followers and asked what they thought the title should be. They helped me come up with a very appropriate title, Renegades Write the Rules.Crowdsourcing your idea also lets you take advantage of the collective wisdom of your audience to create a better end result.Interact in New WaysSocial media allows companies to interact with customers in new and different ways. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.Tactics that bridge the virtual and physical worlds are the most engaging, whether its a product giveaway for the first response to your tweet, or using social media to localize your marketing efforts.Nike and Whole Foods have separate Twitter handles for each store, enabling employees to address and get involved in their communitys issues and concerns.On a smaller scale, local food trucks that tweet out their whereabouts make the eating experience more fun and memorable because it keeps hungry customers on their toes and gives them the perspektive to meet up with other loyalists while waiting in line.Dont get caught up trying to chase the numbers. One thousand completely loyal followers are worth more than 100,000 followers that have no real affinity toward your brand.Impressions dont convert, but influence does.Author BioAmy Jo Martin, founder and CEO of Digital Royalty and Digital Royalty University, teaches brands, corporations and individuals how to measure and monetize their digital universe. Her book, the New York Times Bestseller Renegades Write the Rules, was published in October. Follow her on Twitter AmyJoMartin.

Writing a Resignation Letter for Unsatisfactory Working Conditions

Writing a Resignation Letter for Unsatisfactory Working ConditionsWriting a Resignation Letter for Unsatisfactory Working ConditionsWhen conditions at a company hinder job performance, you might decide to find a new job. Bring the working relationship to a close with a resignation letter thats professional despite the circumstances. The following sample includes details on why the employee finds conditions unsatisfactory. While it makes sense to elaborate on the problems to a certain extent, your resignation letter should not turn into a rant. Resignation Letter for Unsatisfactory Working Condition Example Elements of this resignation letter include The date of writingThe name of your supervisor or managerA few highlights of your time with the companyYour reason for leaving (unsatisfactory conditions)A brief description of the issue(s)Your last day of work Sample Letter Todays DateManager NameCompany NameCompany AddressDear Mr./Ms. ManagerIt is with reluctance that I submit this letter. Although my time with (company name) has been, on the whole, satisfying and productive, for quite a while now I have become less and less satisfied with the work situation. The direction of the company, the group in which I work, and the new targets and the methods of accomplishing them have made it increasingly difficult to feel Im contributing enough.Therefore, it is with regret that I ask you to accept this letter of resignation from (company name) effective (last day of work).Sincerely,(Sign Here)Your Namecc (people to be copied on the letter - HR Manager, Director, etc.) Expand Why You Should Give a Reason for Your Resignation Including a reason for your resignation can alert bosses to conditions affecting staff morale. In large companies, especially, its easy for managers to lose touch with employees. When you tell them about serious weaknesses, they may be surprised at how bad the situation is. Hopefully, theyll take action and fix the problem. And even if you dont want to work there anymore, the environment can improve for others. When the Relationship Is Beyond Repair You wont always be able to salvage a relationship with the company. This usually happens when bosses know youre unhappy but do nothing to improve conditions. Other reasons might be The company forces you to do tasks youre uncomfortable performingConditions at work threaten your well-beingThey demand unreasonable job performance Workers often feel upset, or even angry, because of the experience. If you simply want to move on, perhaps a more appropriate letter should be brief and to the point. It only advises the company you are resigning and the effective date. Below is a sample of a brief resignation letter. Brief Resignation Letter Todays DateManagers NameCompany NameCompany AddressDear Mr./Ms. ManagerI hereby tender my resignation from (company name), effective (last day of employment).Sincerely,(Sign Here)Your Namecc (people to be copied on the letter - HR Manager, Dire ctor, etc) Expand Why You Shouldnt Bad-Mouth the Company While its easy to lose control and deride the company for their shortcomings, keep your emotions in check. This works in your favor because You dont want an aggressive letter to ruin your reputation.If youre overly critical of the company, it might come back to haunt you. (Think about references and your bosss connections to other influencers in the industry.)When you leave on neutral ground, you have the opportunity to secure new connections before you go. You can also save existing relationships that may prove beneficial.Youre leaving soon (many companies stipulate a two-week notice period in contracts), so dont make the situation worse than it already is. If your letter forces a turnaround at the office, you may even find yourself back at your old desk. Thats only possible if your letter is amicable. Next Steps When a hiring manager asks why you left your previous job, dont smear your old bosses. You can mention the challenges you faced. However, focus on how you maintained a professional attitude right up to your resignation and departure. Use the experience as a positive when you move to your next position. You can appreciate the improved work environment, which means motivation to perform better. And youll be more aware of the warning signs if conditions at the company start to decline.