The Golden Globes was more electrifying than ever this year and it wasn’t the flashy outfits, comedic host or latest Hollywood scandal that took the show.

This year it was Oprah Winfrey’s Cecil B. DeMille Award speech that shot everyone out of their seats into a standing ovation. It was an ovation that was heard around the world.

The award may be for outstanding contributions to entertainment but her speech went beyond the industry. It’s filled with lessons that one can apply in every aspect of his life, particularly when it comes to career.

If you’re curious to know, below are some of the most important points she made that day.

Remember the career that built you

“And I tried many, many, many times to explain what a moment like that means to a little girl, a kid watching from the cheap seats as my mom came through the door bone tired from cleaning other people’s houses.”

Climbing up the ladder to success is exhilarating. As you knock out each goal, it becomes easier to forget the small victories that came early in your career.

It’s those moments that shaped you into the person you are today. Every success, failure, hardship, and victory is crucial to your story.

Take a moment to consider your first real job.

Think about how you felt that first day, how many mistakes you made, the joy of getting acknowledged for a job well done, and how you felt moving into your first promotion or a new career.

Expand your leadership skills and try to become a more empathetic and approachable leader. When employees make mistakes, need words of encouragement or are hoping for that next big promotion, have a higher understanding of what they need.

See Also: 7 Power Habits of Great Leaders, Business Icons and Inspirational Achievers

Look at your defining moments every day

“She opened the envelope and said five words that literally made history: ‘The winner is Sidney Poitier.’ Up to the stage came the most elegant man I had ever seen. I remember his tie was white, and of course his skin was black—and I’d never seen a black man being celebrated like that.”

We all have those moments that define us down to the core. Some are major moments in history, like Oprah’s. Others are understated, but no less important.

What’s yours? What’s that moment that made you say, “I want to do that”?

Once you’ve identified that moment, write it down on a sticky note and place it somewhere you’ll see every day. Writing and seeing it makes its impact on your leadership skills even more concrete.

When you lose confidence in yourself or are struggling to hit a goal, go back to your note. Use it to remember where your passion radiates from.

Celebrate those around you

“Each of us in this room are celebrated because of the stories that we tell, and this year, we became the story.”

No matter what you do, other people are involved in your journey. Don’t forget them.

When you don’t listen to employees’ stories, your leadership skills become limited because you can’t fully understand how to manage them. In each person’s story lies the key to their motivation, what encourages them, and how they’ll react to certain situations.

Get to know your own team, employees in other departments, and your customers. Ask them what their goals are or if they have special skills or interests. Get to know their favorite activities outside of work.

Incorporate all the information you’ll get into team bonding activities and future projects.

See Also: 9 Traits of a Great Leader

Push for a brighter tomorrow

“…but the one quality all of them seem to share is an ability to maintain hope for a brighter morning, even during our darkest nights.”

Being a leader provides plenty of challenges.

As your leadership skills develop, so will your need to participate in some unhappy moments. From firing or laying an employee off to letting a client know a mistake has been made on his project, there will be tough tasks.

Don’t let these moments define you.

Instead, maintain hope for yourself and for the people you’re leading. Take a moment to acknowledge and accept those dark moments. Then, move onto the solution and new morning.

Remember, you’re not alone in those tough times. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help.

The post 4 Lessons from Oprah’s Golden Globes Speech You Need to Remember Each Morning appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Living in an era of technology, we can say that most of us depend on computers and gadgets. We use them for business and even for recreation. They make our lives more convenient in every aspect.

As we depend so much on computers, files become as important as our bank accounts. Because of that, we need to be cautious and back everything up to prevent data loss.

Here are some simple ways to backup important files on a computer.

Copy Necessary Files on a CD

This process is old but it’s big when it comes to preventing data loss. For this, you’ll need to follow the steps below:

• Place a blank CD (should be rewritable) in your CD-RW. See if your PC will recognize the CD.
• When your PC has already recognized your CD, you can now select the files that you want to save.
• After selecting the files, press right click. A dialog box will appear, choose “Send To ”
• then look for the CD-RW item. Click it and the process will start.
• Wait until copying is complete.

Note:

Using CD for backup is simple but it only provides limited storage.

Use External Hard Drives

Hard drives provide a large storage space that can accommodate all your files.

The components of an external hard drive have the same risk as your computer. It is also vulnerable to fire, theft, and other incidents.

There are different brands of hard drives. The only thing that you need to consider when purchasing one is the right storage space. Once you’ve found the best one for you, purchase it and start the process.

There are two ways to create backup files in your external hard drives- the manual and the automatic process.

• Backup Manually

This process is simple. You just need to connect your external hard drive right to your computer and select all your essential files then copy it directly to the hard drive.

• Backup Automatically

You can automatically copy your files using different computer tools that are intended for such process.

For Windows, you can use Windows Backup while you can use Time Machine for Mac OS. when these tools are active, they automatically create a backup of your files.

Backup Files Using Google Drive

This process is not applicable offline. You need to have an internet connection to use Google Drive. With this method, you can upload, view, share, and edit your files online.

Here’s how to:

Turn on your computer and go to Google. Make sure that you have an internet connection.
Click Sign in and log into your Google Account. You can create your google account if you don’t have one yet.

After logging in, go to My Drive, click new, then select the files you want to upload.
Upload the selected files and wait until it’s finished.

Uploading files to Google Drive is useful not only for backup purposes but also for convenience.

If you’re traveling from one place to another, you probably can’t bring with you your work files and that is where Google Drive becomes handy. If there is an internet connection, you can manage your work whenever and wherever you are.

Takeaway

Storing computer files is too risky. That’s why you need to create backup files just to make sure you don’t compromise them and to prevent data loss.

There are a lot of ways to do that and each method has its own pros and cons. Consider them when choosing the right backup method for you and your job.

The post Why Lose It If You Can Save It? 3 Simple Ways To Prevent Data Loss appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Big companies like Coca-Cola, Nestle, and McDonald’s are brands well-known throughout the world. When you go to those companies or buy their products, you get a certain feeling of authority and trust as a customer.

Why?

Because they are huge and established multinational companies.

Now, if you are just starting out with your business, you’re probably hoping to trigger the same feelings in your customers. In this article, we’ll share with you the best tips on how to establish business credibility.

Configure your auto attendant creatively

An auto attendant is a collection of voice menus and actions defined by the caller’s behavior. Depending on what you set it to, you can connect the caller to an extension, send them to a voicemail, play announcements, and more.

For instance, you can assign a voice menu that says, “To reach our sales department, press 1. For technical support, press 2. To talk directly to our receptionist, press 3.”

Even if you’re just a two-person business, you can assign yourself multiple extensions so that you can handle incoming calls for both sales and reception. This will impress callers and make them think that your company is bigger than it actually is.

Make your website more appealing

Being stuck with an outdated website design won’t do your business any good. Since your website is a reflection of your business, you have to make sure that it’s impressive.

Work on the following when trying to make your website more appealing:

• Fantastic UI. Customers should be able to navigate your site with ease. If they don’t know where to go after they visit your homepage, you can easily lose them to your competitors.
• Attractive color schemes. Some business owners are prone to using unpopular colors on their website while some are just basing their colors on their personal preferences. It’s good to remember that it’s not always about you but about the audience you’re trying to attract. If you don’t know where to get started, you can get inspiration from tons of online resources.
• Effective and readable content. Readability is important to make sure that visitors are getting the most out of the stuff they read on your site. Put some effort in ensuring that your content is targeted and friendly to the readers.

See Also: 4 Ways to Make Your Website an Effective Business Tool

Improve your customer interactions

Remember that you have control over how you deal with your patrons. Make sure to turn every interaction into a positive and memorable one for them.

Here are a few strategies you can use:

• Cover all of your bases. Customers will be getting in touch using all forms of communication imaginable. They will email you, call you, record voicemails, send faxes or fill up a form on your website. Make sure that you track all of those forms and see to it that you respond to them in a timely manner. If you can afford it, find a good CRM platform that will allow you to centralize and simplify all types of customer engagement.
• Try to see things from the customer’s perspective. Treat your patrons the way you want to be treated.
• Be transparent with handling feedback. Be appreciative of the feedback that you get whether they’re positive or negative. By doing this, you’ll be able to find the things that you’re doing right and discover the things you still need to work on. Large companies aren’t fazed by negative feedback; they quickly work on making improvements.

Engage in corporate social responsibility

Businesses shouldn’t always be entirely about what the customers buy. Several studies have already proven that modern consumers are more likely to patronize companies committed to advocacies or those that support causes.

Well-known brands such as TOMS and Warby Parker have understood this perfectly. While they don’t exactly have the best products on the market, they sell items like pancakes because of their business model.

“Traditional marketing, where savings is the main message, is no longer as appealing as it was before,” says this social responsibility article on the RingCentral Small Business blog.

Because of this, you need to keep up not just because it’s trendy but because it pays to have a purpose. Also, you have to make sure that the cause you’re supporting is relevant to your business.

Become a leader in your niche

It would be best to score speaking engagements at industry forums. This way, you’ll get to share your knowledge, generate awareness about your brand, and become a leader in your space. You also get the chance to learn from others when you do this.

Spend time building relationships with your audience and with like-minded individuals in your niche. Participate in meet-ups if you can and be active when attending such events.

Be part of associations or organizations that are niche-specific. These will add to your “seal of approval”. They will help you gain the credibility and trust of the people around you.

The bottom line is that you should get your name and your brand out there. You want to be seen and be heard at this point.

These are just some of the things you can do establish business credibility. If you’ve already tried out some of these tactics, let us know how they’re working out for you.

See Also: 8 Top Marketing Tips for Small Businesses

The post 5 Creative Ways to Establish Business Credibility appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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When you’re exhausted, your brain becomes slower and your body becomes less productive. Forcing yourself to work when you’re in such state can only spell trouble for your health.

Unfortunately, since most of us have tons of things to do, we often overlook the importance of getting proper rest and sleep. We force our eyes to remain open so that we can complete our tasks. We ignore our body’s signal to take a break just so we can accomplish our to-do lists.

In the long run, these things can lower your body’s ability to fight infections. They can also slow down your mind’s ability to focus and create proper decisions.

Now, if you feel guilty for neglecting your health and you’re afraid you’ll suffer those consequences, knowing how to rest well is important. Here are a few things you need to avoid.

Don’t Work Out After A Long Day At Work

Try not to hit the gym after an exhausting day at work because you’re already tired and you probably don’t have the stamina to keep going. Plus, it would only be a waste of time if you don’t have the energy to keep up with your routine.

Instead, do your workout in the morning. It’s when you have the most energy.

See Also: Health Myths: 10 Crucial Mistakes People Make in Getting Healthy

Don’t Pick A Fight With Someone

When you are tired and cranky, the last thing you need is a foul mood. Not being able to rest properly can make it hard for you to control your emotions as the brain finds it challenging to keep those reactions in context.

Don’t Tackle Hard Tasks

Now isn’t the best time to take on challenging tasks, particularly if that involves your work or important decisions. It can completely ruin your work and reputation.

Don’t Nap Later In The Day

A nap sounds tempting at a time like this, but it won’t help you in any way. A short quick nap is good to boost your energy temporarily. However, long naps or naps later in the day can make it difficult for you to sleep at night. As a result, you’ll still feel exhausted the very next day.

Are you willing to sabotage a good night’s sleep for just a few minutes or hours of alertness?

If you really need to take a nap, limit it to 20 minutes and nap early in the day.

Don’t Go For A Drive

If you are drunk, driving isn’t a good idea. Since your mind is tired, it will only compromise your safety.

If driving is really necessary, wash your face first to wake yourself up. Don’t challenge yourself unnecessarily. You can also try brisk walking for a few minutes.

It can also help if you take a quick nap before going on a long drive. It’s better to reach your destination late rather than put yourself in danger.

Don’t Give In To Cravings

Are you wondering why your waistline is continuously expanding?

Well, it’s probably because of your snacking habit when you are tired.

Apart from affecting your judgement, sleepiness can also make you more impulsive. Your brain starts craving for fatty, high-calorie foods which are the exact foods that you need to cut down on if you want to be healthy.

Don’t Chug Caffeinated Beverages

Drinking coffee and other caffeinated beverages will only make you feel more tired. It can make it hard for you to sleep at night and that can have a negative effect on your focus and productivity the next day.

If you really need to drink coffee, take it early and not a few hours before you hit your bed.

Final Words

Without proper sleep, your work and personal life are sure to be affected. So, give yourself plenty of rest and go back to work when you have the energy. Try to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep at night.

Don’t try to convince yourself that you are fine even if you know you’re not. If you think you are too tired, then get some rest immediately. Know how to rest properly and make changes in your lifestyle today. You won’t regret it.

See Also: Are You Sleep Deprived? 8 Health Risks Of Poor Sleep 

The post How to Rest Well: 7 Things You Shouldn’t Do When You’re Tired appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Back then, going on vacation means being away from work. If you travel, you’ll miss important calls and messages and you won’t be able to get any work done.

Today, thanks to the Internet, almost everything is possible and getting work done while on the go is easier than ever. You can travel without having to worry about missing deadlines and compromising work.

But how do smartphones help business succeed? How can you make the most of the technology?

Create Your Own Hotspot

Almost anything you plan to accomplish from your mobile relies on a strong Internet connection.

Wired connections took up approximately 38% of Internet access in 2016 and this figure is predicted to drop to 27% by 2021. Wireless access is increasing in popularity both by means of hotspots and mobile data.

Although there is usually WiFi on airplanes, cafes, and even some taxi cabs, you have to be prepared in case you can’t find a good connection in the place you’re visiting. With that, it’s a good idea to invest in your own hotspot.

A fast connection is imperative for quick communication, file transfers, and less frustration. Having your own hotspot also means more protection.

Hackers have been known to create mirror WiFi accounts in public places and once you connect to the wrong one, you risk your information and sensitive data. Set up your own hotspot and up your security.

See Also: Wireless Network Hacking And How To Avoid Being Hacked

Stay on Top of Communication

Communication is a key factor in running a successful business. By staying on top of it, you’ll be able to deal with potential business allies or customers quickly and easily.

Email is the number one method of communication for most businesses. Chat programs, however, are a lot faster and simpler. Just a quick message via chat to your customers or employees and you’ll be able to keep them updated.

Because of its convenience, chat popularity has risen 6% from 2014 to 2016. A lot of apps have been developed over the years because of such demand, too.

Now, because there are tons of choices, make sure that you do your homework and study your options first. Consider what your business needs as that will help you find the right messaging app for your business.

Apart from finding the best communication tool, you should also consider your response time. Answering phone calls promptly and responding to emails as you receive them is a great way to show that you’re professional.

Additionally, answering emails right away keeps them from piling up. Nothing is worse than having to answer 32 emails before you call it a day.

Use Digital Storage Options

The days of taking your portable USB stick and laptop to your business trips are coming to an end. Now, with a tablet or a smartphone, you can digitally save your file.

You can save your documents to your Cloud account and access or retrieve them anywhere you go. You can edit, revise or share your files with your colleagues and employees anytime you need to.

Simply download the digital storage provider your business uses, enter your login information, and you’ve got an all-access pass.

If there are security concerns regarding digital storage, consider enforcing a multiple authentication process for yourself and your employees. By using more than one method of authentication, you’ll be able to protect your documents from malicious activities.

Final Words

Working from a mobile device is getting more and more popular as a lot of people choose to live an active lifestyle. By staying in touch and having access to everything you need while on the move, you can get all the necessary work done without compromising your work-life balance.

Just don’t forget to stay organized and remember to pay attention to your trips. Although work is important, you also have to stop once in a while to relax and enjoy. Put your phone down and enjoy your trips, too.

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Have you ever been so burnt out at work and sick of all the corporate politics that you are thinking of quitting your job?

Or maybe you are only working hard enough to get a paycheck and make it to the weekend?

Week after week.

Month after month.

Year after year.

You meant well when you first accepted the career position. Now, you’re no longer sure if you’re feeling the same way.

And you’re not alone.

Some statistics say up to 85% of people hate their jobs. So, if you find yourself wondering if you should change careers, here are 4 important things to consider when changing careers.

#1: What is your ideal work situation?

Analyze your work environment. Has it changed dramatically since you accepted the position?

If this is the case, then you have to put yourself back in your life’s driver’s seat.

Make a list of the top 10 words or phrases that describe your career. You can include all the pros and cons of your job. For example, you can write how many hours you spend commuting per day, all the benefits you get, and the things that make your work extra hard.

Now, how do you feel about that list?

#2: Do your actual job duties match your personality?

There are 4 traits that make you the person you are today.

Those traits relate to your ability to interact with people, solve problems, manage day-to-day tasks, and respond to events and situations.

Here’s what you could do:

Take your list from question one and start to ask yourself which of those things match who you are.

If you don’t know where to start, I suggest taking the DISC personality profile test or a Myers-Briggs personality profile test. Once you have the results, ask yourself if your dominant personality types fit your current career.

See Also: How To Get Out Of A Career Rut

#3: What are your values, passions, and dreams?

“Always remember, you have within you, the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” Harriet Tubman

Do you dream of a work-from-home position?

Well, does your current company offer that? If not, then you won’t fulfill this dream until you change careers.

Do you have a passion for achieving results but your team simply goes through the motions?

Start looking for another team to be a part of today.

Do you value work-life balance?

Take the necessary steps to see how you can create more balance in your current career. If that’s not possible, it’s probably time to change careers.

#4: Is there a paying market for your ideal career?

Honestly, I love to eat Mexican food. Unfortunately, it’s impossible for me to find or create a job where I can get paid well for only eating Mexican food.

Career changes are similar. Don’t just move from one thing to the next if there’s not a great paying market for you. Living on beans and rice to get by is fine for a while, but your family will need more than that.

My word of advice for those I coach is to stay at their current jobs while they look for a new one or start something that will fit them better.

So, is it time for you to change careers?

I don’t know for sure but I do believe that if you take the time to evaluate where you’ve been and where you’re headed, you’ll come to a conclusion of what’s best for you.

Don’t wait any longer trying to make your career fit you. Take action and begin finding or creating the work that you love.

See Also: How To Change Careers Without Losing Your Mind

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Getting down on one knee and popping the big question is hard. If you’re doing a destination proposal, it’s going to be way harder. There’s always the risk of ruining the surprise and worse, losing the ring while you’re traveling. For someone who’s prepared so hard during the last couple of months, that’s probably the last things you want to happen.

So, what to do?

Here are a couple of tips you can use to make sure nothing goes awry while you’re traveling with jewelry.

Safety Tip #1: Make a plan

Before you head out to your destination, make sure you already have a plan in place. Buy your ring several days or weeks before your trip so you won’t have to scramble and panic hours before you leave. Make sure that it’s the right size and design you want.

Consider where you’ll pack your ring, too. As much as possible, keep it in a box with maximum cushioning. You can place the box inside one of your socks if you’re worried that it might get jostled around inside your luggage as you travel.

Now, instead of keeping the ring in a checked bag, store it in a carry-on. Choose a smaller bag so it won’t have to be checked.

Why?

Your ring is likely to trigger the metal detector. That won’t only make your partner suspicious but the airport security as well. Read up on your airport security’s rules about jewelry so that you can take appropriate measures.

Safety Tip #2: Insure the ring

This is probably the most important thing when it comes to traveling with jewelry. Since you’ll never know what things can happen while you’re traveling, particularly with all the excitement, securing insurance for the ring should be a top priority.

Get one before you even make the proposal. This way, your ring will be protected in case it gets lost or stolen during your trip.

Take note, however, that not all travel insurance policies can cover big jewelry claims in the event that you lost yours. This makes it important that you do your homework and find out all about insurance for engagement rings or talk to your agent and clarify what type of policy you’ll need. Never skimp when it comes to investing in the right insurance policy.

Tip: Make a list of all the pieces of jewelry you’ll be taking with you on your trip, including the engagement ring. You can take photographs as well as part of your documentation for your insurance.

Safety Tip #3: Use a safe

Pieces of jewelry, like engagement rings, can easily attract thieves when you’re in a foreign place. Instead of carrying it with you wherever you go, find a safe place where you can hide it. You wouldn’t want to lose it while you’re hiking, diving, or driving around town.

If you are staying in a hotel, ask if you can use one of their safes. Just make sure that you secretly ask for it and that your partner won’t be using the same safe. Otherwise, it might ruin the surprise.

Tip: Choose the hotel’s front desk safe as it’s more secure than an in-room safe. It’s less likely to get broken into as well.

Safety Tip #4: Keep calm

The more you think about the ring and your surprise, the more nervous you’ll get. This can easily make anyone suspicious. Try to remain as calm as possible throughout your trip until the big day. Enjoy the activities you planned but be sure to check the ring once in a while. Make sure that it’s still there when you need to retrieve it.

Safety Tip #5: Propose early

The longer you keep the ring in the safe, the longer you’ll worry about it. This can take out much of the fun from your trip or vacation.

Instead of waiting for the last day, propose at the beginning of the trip. You won’t have to hide and worry about the ring for days and you’ll be able to enjoy your vacation more.

Safety Tip #6: Pick your proposal location properly

It might be tempting to propose on the beach but it’s not really the best idea as you can easily lose the ring in the sand. You should also avoid proposing in amusement park rides or while you’re parachuting as you’ll have an unstable footing there.

Avoid proposing in overcrowded areas or locations where the ring can easily get snatched from your hand by passersby. Don’t put it in foods and drinks as the ring can get lost or chocked on.

Safety Tip #7: Don’t overshare it

Being engaged is a blissful experience and you’ll probably feel too excited about it. However, despite how excited you are, refrain from sharing too much about it on social media. Geotagged photos can catch people’s attention, particularly burglars within your area.

To be safe, limit posting or you can just save the photos and upload them once you’re home. Don’t talk too much about it as well, especially when you’re in a crowded place. It might seem paranoid but there can be thieves and burglars around who might overhear your conversation.

Safety Tip #8: Wear it the other way around

Diamonds are attention-getters. They can easily get people to look at them, particularly if they’re big.

If you and your fiance are planning to go around town to explore, ask her to wear her engagement ring the other way around. Keeping the stone facing her palm lessens the risk of people catching sight of the diamond

Conclusion

Planning a proposal isn’t easy, particularly if you’re doing it in another city or country. You have to consider so many things, like how you can go on traveling with jewelry and how you can keep your ring safe. Worrying about such things can easily spoil the fun of your vacation and even your proposal.

This set of safety tips can help make sure that you get the most out of the experience. Just follow them to a tee and always be aware of your environment. Take precautions as there are potential thieves almost everywhere.

The post 8 Safety Tips For Traveling With Your Engagement Ring appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Have you wondered how many employees use their personal email accounts for work purposes? Who uses their work email for personal reasons? An anonymous survey has helped answer these questions and more about business and personal email usage, but one question remained: Is using your work and personal emails interchangeably a bad thing?

The short answer is yes, business email accounts and personal email accounts should remain separate in most cases. Currently, 38.8% of people living in the U.S. allow their email usage to overlap at least some of the time. Here are three great reasons why keeping your emails separate is the smart choice.

It’s Unprofessional

Unprofessionalism with business and personal email accounts is twofold. First, communicating personal life through a work email usually means you are doing so on company time. This is a poor use of your time, and disrespectful to your employer. Instead of using work downtime to put yourself at risk by being unprofessional, get up, take a short walk, and get a breath of fresh air. If you are asked by your boss why you aren’t at your desk, ask if there is anything they need to be done. Offering to help with the extra workload is a great way to shine at work.

Secondly, if you are the employer, or a freelancer, using your personal email for business can be disorganized, allowing more room for miscommunication and missed emails altogether. Junk mail alone accounts for too much of our personal inboxes, clouding the space for efficient communication. Not to mention potential customers noticing your email is JohnSmithGOSTEELERS@gmail.com is likely not going to look great unless you do work for that football team.

Tip: Best email addresses for work include the business name, such as JohnSmith@windowinstal.com. Not only do your customers know exactly who they are dealing with, but they also see your company name anytime they contact you. It’s advertising in a simple form.

It’s a Security Risk

Adults under 35 and over 65 are more likely to use their personal email for work-related communication. For business security, this is risky. The more files get transferred to and from these emails, the more likely they are to become susceptible to viruses and other malicious activity. Not to mention your company cannot insist on the security of your personal email. Therefore, they have no way of ensuring protection against possible threats. Using personal email for work is an unassumed risk your boss may not be too happy about. Consider business security especially before forwarding any sensitive information and exercise extra caution if you’ve signed any document preventing you from sharing information. The last thing you want is to be the employee responsible for leaked or lost information.

See Also: 8 Easy Steps To Your Browser Security And Privacy

It Reduces Your Privacy

Communicating personally through your work email is risky business for you. Chances are good that the IT department has the ability to see and report on everything that happens via work computers, including your email. That spicy photo you just sent to your girlfriend may have been spotted. Even worse, if you’re job hunting and communicating with possible future employers and you get caught – goodbye current paying gig!

Let’s say that no one says anything to you about the unprofessional emails you’ve been sending or receiving from your desk. This doesn’t mean they have gone unnoticed. When the time comes for a promotion or raise, those mistakes may come back to haunt you. This is a case where the best policy is to keep work at work and home at home.

Fact: Men are more likely to use personal email for work communication, use their work email for a personal login, and to forward work emails to their personal accounts.

If these reasons aren’t enough to scare you out of using your personal and business emails interchangeably, consider your work-life balance. If you use your personal email for work business, you are never far away from work or coworkers and trust us, they don’t care if you’re on vacation. Vice versa, your great aunt Margaret can’t pester you about attending the family reunion while you’re at work if she doesn’t have your work email. Keeping your work life separate is the key to sanity, we promise.

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When the weather starts to get warmer and the vines begin to grow, a trip to one of the best wine regions can be a really fruitful experience. Not only do you get the opportunity to sample and learn about some of the finest wines in the world, but you also get to explore the beautiful regions they exist in.

Here are 5 of the best wine regions that you simply must visit before you die.

Champagne

The Champagne-Ardenne region is located in the northeast of France and- you guessed it- it’s the birthplace of champagne, the most celebrated of sparkling wines. Because of its close proximity to Paris, you could easily make a day trip to the region.

However, if you really want to make the best of your trip, try to spend at least two nights there. This way, you can fit in a visit to the towns of Reims and Epernay.

In Reims, you can choose from a variety of wine production and cellar tours. Those tours include the world-famous houses of Taittinger, Ruinart, Veuve Clicquot, Pommery, and G.H. Mumm. While you’re there, be sure to pay a visit to Notre-Dame de Reims and the glorious basilica, Saint Remi de Reims.

In Epernay, the tourism is solely centered around champagne. It includes tours to the prestigious houses of Moet & Chandon, Perrier-Jouet, Martel and De Castellane.

Lombardy

Just like France, Italy is famed for its wine regions and Lombardy in northern Italy is one of the largest in the country. Lombardy also produces some of the finest sparkling wines around: Franciacorta and Lambrusco.

The region is known as the industrial capital of Italy but it has this really beautiful view.

Take a tour of the gorgeous Tenuta Montelio, a monastery estate where vines have been cultivated since the 13th century. While you’re in the region, you can also visit the many attractions that nearby Milan has to offer. Great examples include the Duomo cathedral and the Royal Palace of Milan.

Or why not hit the shops for a spot of upmarket retail therapy?

Catalonia

Catalonia is one of 17 autonomous regions in Spain and is home to more than 850 wineries. Because of the region’s warm weather, the wines of Catalonia are full-bodied and are generally high in alcohol content, particularly the red wines.

Red wine lovers should take a trip to Priorat, just south of Barcelona. It has a history of wine-making dating back to 1163.

There are a number of tours there that allow you to explore two to three cellars per day and sample many fine wines. Make sure you take the time to appreciate the incredible mountainous views the region has to offer before the wine gets to your head!

No trip to Catalonia would be complete without spending some time in Barcelona. There, you can enjoy beautiful architecture, culture, and art. Don’t miss the Sagrada Familia, the Casa Mila, and Park Guell. They are all designed by the architect Antoni Gaudi. Book your flights to Europe and start exploring!

Santiago

Santiago is considered to be one of the best wine destinations in the whole of South America. Some of the most acclaimed wineries and vineyards can be found in areas such as Maipo Valley, Casablanca Valley, and Colchagua Valley. They are only a short drive away from the city.

Maipo Valley is perhaps the most popular choice for tourists, renowned for its cabernet sauvignon.

The best time to visit?

Harvest season in April.

Wine tours and tastings are very bespoke here and need to be arranged beforehand.

While you’re in Santiago, trek up the San Cristobál Hill for a panoramic view of the city. You should also pay a visit to the Parque Forestal, which is dotted with famous landmarks and sculptures.

Melbourne

Melbourne provides the perfect climate for winemaking, allowing the region to produce chardonnay, pinot noir, and shiraz.

Yering Station Winery, a 43,000-acre vineyard, is only an hour away from the city, making it the ideal place to sample some fine red wines. You can also have a delicious meal at the restaurants there.

Yarra Valley, Sunbury, and Mornington Peninsula are just some of the other celebrated wine regions near Melbourne. They all deliver varying results due to their unique geographical characteristics.

Aside from the wine tourism, spending time along Melbourne’s sunny shores will surely make you understand why it’s often considered the most “liveable city” in the world.

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For all the beautiful surprises your boyfriend plans for you to make you happy and for every little thing he does for you to make you feel special, it is now your time to show all your love for him. This February 14, make him feel loved and special by surprising him with a beautiful gift.

Now, if you aren’t sure what to give him, here are 8 Valentine’s Day ideas for him.

An Electric Wine Opener

This Valentine’s Day, surprise your boyfriend with an electric wine opener. You can make it a little more special by adding his favorite bottle of wine. He would definitely love this surprise from you.

Love Cushions

Cushions make one of the best Valentine’s gifts as they don’t just provide comfort but also remind the recipient of you even when you are away. A comfy and cozy cushion with a ‘You’re My Hero’ quote printed on it will really make your partner special. This gift will also show him how much you care for him.

Best Boyfriend Mug

A cute coffee mug that says ‘Best Boyfriend’ can make your boyfriend’s coffee time a lot more special. Each time he drinks his favorite coffee, you’ll surely find him with a beaming smile on his face.

A Grooming Kit

A grooming kit will make a meaningful gift for any man on Valentine’s Day because it’s something every man can put to use almost every day. Just make sure that your grooming kit contains all the necessary items your partner needs.

Include his favorite hair styling product, shower gel, and trimmer. You can also add his choice of shaving cream and deodorant. And because he also needs to pamper himself, you can include a good set of skincare products for him.

A Fitness Band

If your boyfriend is health conscious and regularly goes to the gym, then gifting him a fitness band on Valentine’s Day will really make him happy. This gift will show how much you respect his individuality. With a fitness band, he’ll be able to keep track of his fitness progress, including his weight loss or weight gain.

A Delicious Cake

This special day wouldn’t be complete without a delicious cake.

So, begin the celebration on a sweet note with a delicious cake. Make sure to get one in his favorite flavor.

While you can order a cake from online cake shops, he’ll appreciate it more if you bake one especially for him.

Books

If your partner loves reading and getting lost in the world of fantasy, a good book would be the perfect gift. Now, before you give him one, it’s a good idea to find out what genre he’s interested the most.

You can check out the collection he already has at home. You can also see what books he likes talking about the most or ask some of his friends for some recommendations.

Accessories

As much as women enjoy getting dolled up, men love being fashionable, too. You can get your partner a new belt, necktie, watch or a new pair of sunglasses. You can even design a hamper and wow him on Valentine’s day.

Be the reason for your boyfriend’s smile and prepare a surprise with these Valentine’s day ideas for him. Your gift doesn’t really have to burn holes in your wallet. Remember, it’s the effort and thoughts that matter.

See Also: Korean Valentine’s Year: 12 Romantic Celebrations Every 14th of the Month

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