By MJ Plaster
“Oh, dear God, it’s Monday, and I don’t know whether to stab out my eyeballs or slit my wrists.” If that’s what runs through your employees’ minds after the weekend, I know a secret. You might think they loathe their jobs, but it’s more likely they hate you, their Cretan boss. And, what’s worse, these bosses may be so self-absorbed that they have no idea their employees feel this way.
In a day and age that small business trends are always changing, we’re seeing small businesses hire fewer accountants, a position that was always a must for business owners to hire in the past. But why is this the case? Costs certainly do factor into it, but that isn’t the only reason there’s been a shift in hiring. Continue reading
For decades, the world has slowly been moving towards a cashless society. Most of us carry one or more credit cards with us at any time. We are always ready to pull out one of those cards and make the purchases that we want to make. It is easy and reliable for sure, but some ponder if there are still reasons to carry cash at all. The answer may still be yes. Continue reading
Many people today are living beyond their budget. Unfortunately, they don’t know how to interpret the signs that their spending habits are unhealthy and end up living in debts. The pressure to meet certain lifestyle standards are contributing significantly to this trend. L
iving beyond your budget can leave you financially and economically vulnerable in times of emergencies, and this is not a position in which you want to find yourself. Here is a comprehensive checklist of the warning signs that you are living beyond your budget and practical solutions to this challenge. Continue reading
Getting laid off is a devastating life event for anyone to have to bear. It is troubling for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that you still have to figure out how you are going to survive monetarily.
A large number of people live paycheck to paycheck. It is not a great way to live, but it is the reality of the lives of plenty of people. Given this, there are a few things worth taking a look at in terms of dealing with this situation.
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By MJ Plaster
You’ve been offered a promotion to management, and you know it means “more, more, more.” But more of what exactly? Hold your reply to the offer while we take a candid look at the pros and the cons of moving up to management and the best ways to handle the madness and mayhem of the transition to the elevated position.
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Outsourcing some aspects of your business to outside contractors can be a smart way to grow your business without all the added complications that come with sourcing, hiring, training, equipping and managing new employees.
But many small businesses make some mistakes when hiring contractors.
For some, the problem is that they misunderstand the legal differences between contractors and employees, and this can lead them into all sorts of trouble with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Continue reading
By MJ Plaster
Sensitive people need to grow a thick skin to survive in today’s workplace. Thanks, in part to social media, common decency and discourse in society has broken down, and most of us must deal with rudeness at work. Still, there’s no excuse for incivility. It is not a show of strength; at best, it is a display of lack of social skills, and at worst, it creates a toxic environment for everyone.
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When you find yourself wandering in the desert of unemployment, even a sniff of interest from ANY source can send your heart into joyful palpitations. The only thing that kills self-confidence deader than rejection is being unable to land an interview in the first place.
The bad news is that working for some companies might be worse than no job at all. You need to develop the skill of noticing the invisible red flags waving proudly throughout the “vetting” process. Whether it’s in the text of a job ad or in the midst of an interview, here’s how to save yourself a boatload of woe. Continue reading
By MJ Plaster
“Money is just a scorecard.” That’s what people of vast wealth say. Far more view it as a means to buy day-to-day necessities while juggling meager amounts just to keep their heads above water. Your beliefs about money could be limiting your supply. Follow along as we look at 10 flashing red signs that you’re underpaid and explore ways to remedy the situation.
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