9 PHRASES SMART PEOPLE NEVER USE IN CONVERSATION

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There are some phrases that emotionally intelligent people are careful to avoid in casual conversation. The following phrases are nine of the worst offenders. You should avoid them at all costs.

1. ‘You look tired.’

Tired people are incredibly unappealing—they have droopy eyes and messy hair, they have trouble concentrating, and they’re as grouchy as they come. Telling someone he looks tired implies all of the above and then some. [Read more…]

6 THINGS TRUE LEADERS DO!

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“Now that I’m a leader, I fear people will find out I’m a fraud.” Many leaders with varying degrees of experience share this sentiment. At the heart of this dilemma is the transition from being a “doer with expertise” to a “leader with vision.” This shift, which is rarely easy, differs depending on the company, position and the amount of responsibility you have within your organization. As you assume leadership positions that take you further away from day-to-day tasks, this feeling can become increasingly pronounced. [Read more…]

5 THINGS PRODUCTIVE ENTREPRENEURS DO EACH DAY

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This is probably an understatement, but entrepreneurs are some of the busiest people around. A day in the life of an entrepreneur is chock-full of business decisions, research and networking. Because there’s so much to do and so little time to do so, entrepreneurs can easily get off track and become distracted with nonessentials.

Chat or listen to some successful people, though, and you’ll notice that they have several daily routines or habits that have steered them to success. Here five things that productive entrepreneurs do every day: [Read more…]

How to Overcome Challenges That Marketplace Businesses Face

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Starting a marketplace business is hard. For one thing, you have two sets of customers: buyers and sellers. And, without a quality list of buyers, you cannot convince the sellers to get on board. Without these sellers on your platform, buyers have no incentive to use your service, either.

This is called the “chicken and egg problem” and is one of the biggest challenges marketplace businesses face.

But chickens and eggs are not their only challenge. An array of others, some of them unique, await any marketplace business. Here is a list of some of those challenges and ideas for how
they may be overcome. [Read more…]

10 Business Elements Required to Stand Out Among Others

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Too many entrepreneurs look for that one magic bullet — an exciting new technology, perhaps, or their own determination to make the world a better place — to override any shortcomings in their startup model. Yet, magic bullets are not sufficient to assure business success. If the elements of your business aren’t expertly developed and aligned, even the best dream will be in jeopardy.

Common failures I see along these lines include: solutions that are “nice to have” but don’t address painful problems; a business model that lacks a means for bringing in revenue; and a founder who has turned a blind eye toward his or her competitors. [Read more…]

6 EXPENSES YOU CAN STOP TO SAVE MORE MONEY

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1. APPS (BUT IT’S JUST $1.99!)

So many cool apps, so many low prices. They’re only $2 or $3, and what’s the harm? The problem is that it’s easy to develop a habit. (Ask anybody with a really impressive music collection from iTunes. It can happen a little at a time.) Also, there are some pretty cool free apps out there, too. Be careful, though. Apps, free or not, may have security risks.
So many cool apps, so many low prices. They're only $2 or $3, and what's the harm? The problem is that it's easy to develop a habit. (Ask anybody with a really impressive music collection from iTunes. It can happen a little at a time.) Also, there are some pretty cool free apps out there, too. Be careful, though. Apps, free or not, may have security risks.

2. DAILY STARBUCKS

We’re not suggesting never going in the door. But do be aware studies show you enjoy treats more if they are actually … treats. Which means when they become routine, you actually enjoy them less. There are two ways to counter this, researchers say: variety and appreciation. So, skipping your latte in favor of lemon water (from home, right?) and telling yourself how glad you are that this is the day you spring for a latte can actually intensify the happiness it brings. And crunch the numbers too — if you’re buying a roughly $5 latte every morning, you’re spending about $1,800 a year — that’s a lot of cash.
We're not suggesting never going in the door. But do be aware studies show you enjoy treats more if they are actually ... treats. Which means when they become routine, you actually enjoy them less. There are two ways to counter this, researchers say: variety and appreciation. So, skipping your latte in favor of lemon water (from home, right?) and telling yourself how glad you are that this is the day you spring for a latte can actually intensify the happiness it brings. And crunch the numbers too -- if you're buying a roughly $5 latte every morning, you're spending about $1,800 a year -- that's a lot of cash.

3. MEMBERSHIP TO BIG BOX CLUBS

If you live where all three have a presence, it can be tempting to be a member of all three. After all, memberships save you money, right? And this way, you can go to whichever happens to be most convenient on a given day. But do you really need to belong to all of them? (Plus, you might be spending more than you need to in the name of getting a deal, which is the opposite of saving money.)

If you live where all three have a presence, it can be tempting to be a member of all three. After all, memberships save you money, right? And this way, you can go to whichever happens to be most convenient on a given day. But do you really need to belong to all of them? (Plus, you might be spending more than you need to in the name of getting a deal, which is the opposite of saving money.)

4. SUBSCRIPTIONS YOU NO LONGER USE

Whether it’s music, magazines, streaming services or premium channels, if they no longer make your life better, stop paying for them. Having less financial stress will make your life better. Do the math — if you pay for three video streaming services — Hulu Plus, Netflix & Amazon Prime — you spend roughly $300 a year for all three. Would life be so bad if you only had one?
Whether it's music, magazines, streaming services or premium channels, if they no longer make your life better, stop paying for them. Having less financial stress will make your life better. Do the math -- if you pay for three video streaming services -- Hulu Plus, Netflix & Amazon Prime -- you spend roughly $300 a year for all three (caveat: your Amazon Prime membership does comes with other perks). Would life be so bad if you only had one?

5. GYM MEMBERSHIPS

This is a maybe. If you can get yourself to exercise without a gym — or if you never go anyway — you may want to forgo this expense. There are plenty of free videos online, and there may be fitness classes at a recreation center that are cheaper and require less of a commitment. But if you’re faithful about using the gym to work out, then dropping it may be penny wise but pound foolish.
This is a maybe. If you can get yourself to exercise without a gym -- or if you never go anyway -- you may want to forgo this expense. There are plenty of free videos online, and there may be fitness classes at a recreation center that are cheaper and require less of a commitment. But if you're faithful about using the gym to work out, then dropping it may be penny wise but pound foolish. (Literally.)

6. CABLE (OR ITS SUBSTITUTES)

If you’re looking to dig out, cutting the cord can help you save big. On the other hand, if you already did that last year, take a look at how much you use the streaming services you may have bought to replace it. If they’re not worth what you’re paying, it may be time to cut again.
If you're looking to dig out, cutting the cord can help you save big. On the other hand, if you already did that last year, take a look at how much you use the streaming services you may have bought to replace it. If they're not worth what you're paying, it may be time to cut again. (Game night, anybody? Or what's on at the dollar theater?)

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5 WEEKEND HABITS THAT MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL

 

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Understandably, the weekend is a time when many workers focus on relaxation, family and fun. And there’s nothing at all wrong with that, but you can also think bigger. Instead of simply using the weekend for leisure time, there are things you can do ahead of time to help your next work week go more smoothly.

Unfortunately, we rarely appreciate the power habits can have in transforming our lives. Whether you’re new to habit-building or you’re an old hand, give these five weekend habits a try in order to set yourself up for a successful work week. [Read more…]

6 WAYS TO PROMOTE YOUR SELF-CONFIDENCE

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Even the greatest leaders lack self-confidence at certain times. Self-confidence is not a static quality; rather, it’s a mindset that takes effort to maintain when the going gets rough. It must be learned, practiced and mastered just like any other skill. But once you master it, you will be changed for the better.

Here are six effective ways to promote your own self-confidence. [Read more…]

5 DETAILS YOU SHOULD NEVER LEAVE ON FACEBOOK

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The whole point of Facebook is to share your life with other people. You probably have more than a few friends who fall into the over-sharing category. But don’t snicker. You may be one, too, and not even know it.

Here are five personal tidbits Facebook asks you to share that you’re much better off keeping to yourself. [Read more…]

8 BAD PEOPLE YOU SHOULD REMOVE FROM YOUR LIFE

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1. Those who are judgmental

Judgmental people will find a way to criticize anything and everything they come in contact with. You could take the time to explain something to them in great detail but it goes in one ear and out the other. They come to their conclusions before they hear any facts — they don’t listen well and are horrible at communicating. Asking for advice or feedback from a judgmental person is a complete waste of time. [Read more…]