There’s something quite magical about seeing filming locations with your very own eyes. The celebrities and cameras may have gone, but a story’s physical setting stays just where it is. You can consider it as a star in its own right.

Here are 10 travel destinations that should absolutely be on every film lover’s bucket list:

New Zealand

Starred in: The Lord of the Rings trilogy (1999–2001)

“A rite of passage” is how a visit to New Zealand is described in this interactive map of the world’s top filming locations.One of the most beautiful places on the planet, New Zealand is the Lord of the Rings’ main filming location. The trilogy made full use of the location’s gorgeous natural landscapes and rolling green hills which any fan can recognize.  

London, UK

Starred in: Jason Bourne (2016)

The latest adventure of the titular spy-on-the-run brought plenty of white-knuckle, high-stakes thrills to the streets of the English capital. Eagle-eyed fans will quickly recognize the Woolwich Arsenal train station and its surroundings. These are the areas that were transformed into Athens in the film. They also wouldn’t miss the areas around Paddington Station and Paddington Basin, where Jason Bourne made a particularly tense phone call.     

New York City, US

Starred in: Ghostbusters (1984)

We could have gone with any of the countless films shot in the Big Apple, but the original Ghostbusters is the one that truly captured New York City in its ’80s-glory heyday. Streets, plazas, skyscrapers, bridges- you name it.

Looking around as you walk through the city will instantly open up a floodgate of pure nostalgia and Bill Murray hero-worship. There are even guided tours available to match the location to the scene!

Toronto, Canada

Starred in: Suicide Squad (2016)

Toronto has ‘stood in’ for many other cities in movies, but Suicide Squad’s Midway City may be its best fictional incarnation yet. Visitors can check out the spots where some of the film’s most iconic scenes happened. Just by walking along Downtown Toronto’s main thoroughfares, you can check out Yonge Street, Front Street West and Bay Street.

Visitors can check out the spots where some of the film’s most iconic scenes happened just by walking along Downtown Toronto’s main thoroughfares. When in the location, you should check out Yonge Street (car chases), Front Street West (Deadshot’s rooftop rappelling scene) and Bay Street (the helicopter crash).

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Starred in: City of God (2002)

Considered one of the finest films ever made by fans and critics alike, City of God—and by extension, Rio de Janeiro—is a true assault on the senses.

A walk around the city’s famous favelas will give visitors an authentic taste of Brazil. It will also give them an idea of how life must have been like for Rocket, Li’l Zé, Knockout Ned and company. Reminisce and venture into the Cidade de Deus suburb from which the film takes its name.

Namibia

Starred in: Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Speaking of an assault on the senses, how about a visit to the deserts of Namibia’s Skeleton Coast? It’s the setting of the latest (and brilliantly madcap) Mad Max film.

It’s only a four-hour drive from the Namibian capital, Windhoek. It’s  far more accessible than Max and Furiosa would have you think.

Tokyo, Japan

Starred in: Kill Bill (2003–2004)

Although much of the two films were shot in Los Angeles and Beijing, Tokyo is the place to go if you really want to get a feel of the locations and inspirations behind this Tarantino classic.

Navigating this vast, sprawling city can sometimes be tough, but not for committed fans. They can easily find themselves crossing the stunning Rainbow Bridge where the motorcycle chase took place. They can stop by for a bite at the exact restaurant where the infamous all-against-one fight scene was set in Volume 1.

Paris, France

Starred in: Midnight in Paris (2011)

The City of Light is just as spellbinding in reality as it is on screen. It’s one of the best filming locations and it was brought to life especially well in Midnight in Paris. It’s so great that it even helped Woody Allen win an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

A walk along the southern bank of the river Seine will bring fans to the exact magical spot where Gil time-travelled back to the 1920s where the story really began.

Los Angeles, US

Starred in: Back to the Future trilogy (1985–1990)

More of a cultural milestone than a movie, the three Back to the Future films continue to leave a massive impression on film lovers worldwide. A trip to LA is like a pilgrimage for any fan.

The Lone Pine/Twin Pines Mall (aka Puente Hills Mall on S Azusa Ave), the suburb of Hill Valley (which still exists as a set in Universal Studios) and Hill Valley High School (aka Whittier High School, East Philadelphia Street) are just some of the locations you can visit while you’re there. You won’t even need a flux-capacitated DeLorean to do it.  

Sydney, Australia

Starred in: Finding Nemo (2003)

While most of the story was set underwater (in the Great Barrier Reef, in fact), Sydney is where most of the action happened for those without the fins. Fans will remember Sydney Harbour as the location where Marlin and Dory went in search of Nemo.

With rows of white sails on pure blue waters, you’ll definitely enjoy Harbour Bridge and Opera House. The real-life version of the film is just as spectacular as you saw it on screen and you’ll find the local seagulls just as loony.

The post Top 10 Travel Destinations for Movie Geeks appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Today, people are getting more and more concerned about their health and they are utilizing mobile apps to help them stay on track. However, with so many options available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and confused. Making a selection, especially in the case of health apps, is intimidating because they have psychological and physical effects.

If you are looking for extra motivation, here are the best apps that actually pay you as you exercise and keep fit.

Healthy Wage

If you like gambling, then you will love Healthy Wage. The app will pay you via Amazon credit or PayPal if you achieve your targeted goals. You can challenge your friends and family members or take corporate challenges, too.

You can sign up on your own or as a team of five members. Fill out your profile and get a verified weigh-in. You decide how much you want to wager, your goal and timeframe to achieve it.

The app will track your progress as well as share tips and tools for you to achieve your target. If you meet your goal in the required timeframe, then you will get paid. If you fail to reach it, you will lose the bet.

You can take ten challenges at a time and set personal goals to establish accountability. You can also refer the Healthy Wage to your friends, colleagues and family members to increase the chances of rewards.

DietBet

This health app is similar to Healthy Wage but has a couple of noticeable differences. For one, there are two types of challenges offered in DietBet. You can either take the Kickstarter Challenge which is a 4-week challenge or the Transformer Challenge that can last for 6 weeks.

You will place a bet for losing weight. The amount will be equivalent to four percent of your current weight in the first type of challenge and ten percent in the second one. You will be paid if you win and you can also get a certain amount from the users who can’t complete the goal.

DietBet allows you to join the game at the start, pay a small entry fee and then complete the bet in a certain time to win the money. You can start your own game or join an existing challenge to stay accountable.

You can join the app by filling up an online form with some basic questions and then place a bet using your credit card or PayPal. After that, you’ll need to upload a couple of your photos, including your weight and one full-body picture.

If any suspicious activity is detected, you will be required to verify through video weigh-ins. You can interact with other users to share and get advice, ideas, and tips through the app itself or on Facebook.

Charity Miles

This health app will help you earn, better yourself as well as allow you to contribute to charities. Any human-centered activity you do to get fit, like running, biking, walking or dancing, will get you paid.

For example, for each mile you walk, Charity Miles health app will pay 10 cents to you. For each mile you run, you will be paid 25 cents!

Charity Miles will track your activity using the app on your smartphone. The app will let you donate to different types of charities, like ‘RED’, ‘Stand Up To Cancer’, ‘Habitat For Humanity’, ‘Wounded Warrior Project’, ‘Pencils of Promise’ and much more.

The more you work out, the more chances for you to get healthy and donate to charities. Charity Miles is a completely legit app and pays through some official corporate sponsors.

AchieveMint

More than an app, AchieveMint is a platform that clusters data from the health and fitness apps you are already using and gives you rewards for behaving and maintaining your health. It also collects data from social networking platforms.

For now, it is integrated with more than 28 apps, like Meetup, RunKeeper, Fitbit, MapMyFitness, FourSquare, Facebook and Twitter. This means you can go for a walk, check health food stores, do anything healthy that can be tracked down or just tweet something related to fitness and health.

You will be awarded in terms of points just for those activities. When you get one thousand points, you will earn $1.

AchieveMint is not only a health app but a community, too. It will help you share your data, manage your goals to achieve fitness or regain your health at your desired level and maintain it.

Walk, run, cycle, exercise and do your daily activities but just make sure to track them all, and you will be rewarded with AchieveMint points. The app will encourage you to become more active and do healthier actions while earning some extra bucks.

Walgreens Balance Rewards

Earn reward points for gaining health goals! Easy, isn’t it?

Walgreens will automatically pay you points with the new health apps and gadgets. You will get 250 points straight by just finding the right health app or device for you. You can also connect a sugar checker or blood pressure monitor and store your records automatically. This will not only help you maintain your health but also help you earn points every day.

Later, the redeemed points can be converted into dollars and you can use it to make purchases at Walgreens. Just sign up on the website and download the application on your device. Connect the app to your fitness tracker to automatically track your health or you can do it manually by logging in.

You can earn 20 points for each mile you walk. You can also earn points by tracking and maintaining your weight, blood pressure, sleep and blood sugar. Just make sure that you earn at least a thousand points at the end of each month.

Conclusion

Every year, we make resolutions to get fit and stay in shape. Unfortunately, most of us can’t make them happen for one reason or another. Getting paid and challenged might just be the push you need. And your smartphone can help you achieve both getting fit and earning in the process.

Download and access one or more of the above health apps that pay and you’ll be well on your way to becoming fit and healthy! Some of the apps can charge you if you don’t achieve your goals, but that would be an even better motivation for you!

See Also: 14 Top Fitness Apps to Get You in Shape

The post Lacking Motivation? Try These 6 Best Health Apps That Pay appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Whether you are dating in hopes of finding your first love or are back in the game after healing from a breakup or divorce, dating is a whole world of its own. There are unspoken rules and plenty of personalities in the mix that make the waters less than clear for all of the players involved.

Dating has changed a lot in recent years with the development of online dating sites, apps, and matchmakers. I am often counseling people recently separated or divorced who want to re-enter the dating scene. Faced with these new options, they tell me that a process that used to be intimidating and overwhelming has now also become very confusing.

Beyond the ‘how-tos’ of finding a date are the ‘how-tos’ of behaving on a date. In an area where self-doubt and insecurities can get the best of you, fostering some level of self-confidence is crucial to finding dating success.

To increase your odds of success, take a look at these four common dating mistakes and evaluate yourself. If you might be making any of them, then follow the tips on how you can avoid them.

Putting on a show

What you’re doing: We all feel the need to present the best of ourselves to a date and, in a way, perform for them. We understandably want to make sure that we come across as likable and leave a great first impression. With this, it is easy to cross the line and give a false representation of who we truly are.

How to stop: Rather than focusing on how you are coming across to your date, just try to be present in the moment with them. Be yourself, listen to your date and be engaging. This will help you to be able to decipher how you feel about your date instead of just wanting them to like you enough to go for a second date.

See Also: 5 Ways To Keep a Conversation From Coming To a Dead-end Standstill

Being superficial

What you’re doing: Putting too much emphasis on a person’s looks or income won’t build a lasting relationship. Superficial things will eventually fade away and the relationship won’t have enough of a solid foundation to stand on.

How to stop: Take the time to learn what your date’s core values and morals are. Being able to have a great conversation, along with similar goals and life ethics, will set a better groundwork for a mutually enjoyable and lasting relationship than most other qualities.

Ignoring warning signs

What you’re doing: In the beginning, we tend to ignore the obvious red flags about our date, either because we really like that person or because we really want it to work out. However, it is important to pay attention to their behavior and trust your instincts when dating.

How to stop: If your date is rude to the waiter, talks about himself the entire time or gives you a bad feeling in your gut, trust that as a warning sign and don’t continue seeing them. If something bothers you on an early date, it will really irritate you later on in the relationship.

Putting too much emphasis on chemistry

What you’re doing: If sparks are flying, then that is great, but don’t equate chemistry to love or compatibility. Things like physical attraction and charisma can all lead to chemistry, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the two of you will make a good pairing in the long run.

How to stop: Take the time and ask questions to find out more about the person you’re dating. It’s great to laugh and have a physical connection. Just make sure you are also getting to know who the other is as a person and that the things he cares about are also things you care about.

Early dating should be a fun and a pressure-free experience. The purpose is simply to get to know the other person and learn if the two of you could connect on a deeper level. Don’t worry too much about ‘the rules’ of dating such as when to call the person or the right way to ask for a second date.

Focus on just being yourself and having good conversation, and you’ll make yourself a much more attractive date and potential future partner.

See Also: The Dos and Don’ts of a First Date for Men

The post 4 Dating Mistakes You Could Be Making (And What To Do With Them) appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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We had this great idea: “Let’s step it up. Let’s expand and grow. Let’s play a BIG game.”

I’m talking about me & my husband, John, here.

Now, anyone who knows us will easily realize that when we say “Let’s play a BIG game.”, it’s going to be the kind of game that would send 99% of people running for the hills.

When we say that line, it means we’re going to be so far out of our comfort zone that it won’t even be visible anymore. It’ll be long gone over the horizon.

There will be no going back and everything will change. We will not be the same people after we’ve played this level of game.

And that’s scary. When you decide to play another game or when you decide to expand your life, fear sometimes paralyzes you.

The thing is, in order to be someone different and to have something different, you need to give up who you are, the things you do AND what you have now. You can’t have something else AND be the same person you were before.

If you do something new, you will never be the same person after. You now have new experiences and the whole world will be different for you.

The same goes for what’s possible or not possible for you.

Say, you decide to learn rock climbing (and I’m using this analogy because John IS a rock climber). When you first start to climb, you grab for the big holds because you’re trying to feel safe and secure. You go up a few meters and then you realize that you can’t go any further because you’ve run out of big holds.

By that time, you’re stuck.

If you want to move on and start conquering fears, you have to use smaller holds. You have to learn to trust. As your time, experience and confidence move on, you learn how to plan ahead, look for the paths and see things differently.

When you’re first learning, all you can see are the big holds. You don’t pay too much attention to the smaller, sometimes tinier, ‘holds’. You don’t consider them as something that could hold you up so you skip them.

I use the term ‘hold’ very loosely and it’s a perfect example of what I’m talking about.

I’ve watched John climb and some of those ‘holds’ are nothing more than minor waves in the rock! IMHO, there’s nothing ‘holding’ about them, but they almost always hold him up!

When John looks at a rock face now, he sees something totally different to what he saw when he first started rock climbing. Everything is different now. As far as rock climbing is concerned, John is not the same person that he was when he first began climbing.

John’s experienced some hairy moments along the way (I’ve seen some of them), but he’s learned to push himself to try new things and to expand what he can do. Each time he’s done that, he comes down knowing different things:

• He knows himself as someone who can do
• He knows that… doesn’t work
• if he sees a particular set of moves coming up, he knows that he needs to prepare for it by doing…

But, before he actually does new moves or takes a fresh route, there’s fear: What if he can’t? What if he falls off? What if he hurts himself?

John climbs with a buddy for the most part. They set up belaying ropes so if they come off, they might hurt themselves a bit, but they won’t die. So, after a while, he began to realize that if he comes off, he’ll still be able to try again and again until he can finally do it.

In other words, he knows he’s safe.

Now, rock climbing is not for everyone, myself included, but the analogy is one we can relate to:

• When we expand our lives and grow, we will not be the same person when we’ve finished
• Once we’ve done something — even just once — we realize that things look totally different from having had that experience
• Doing something new is always going to be scary. The bigger the jump in the level of difficulty, the scarier it will be.
• We are always safe. We might get a bit of an ouch, but we can learn from it and carry on.

So, we decided to play a big game. We decided to step it up massively to create a huge impact.

It’s scary. It’s an unknown territory and we don’t know how to do it.

But, from the moment we make the decision to go down that path, we’re sure that it’s the right thing to do.

The thing is, you’re not going to be able to achieve what you want to by being the person you are now. You must be someone different.

You need to give up who you know yourself to be and the things you know to be true if you want to do this new thing (like with the holds in rock climbing).

Your perspective in life must change if you’re going to see the things you need to see and achieve your goal.

And finally, this is possibly the scariest bit. You must trust that you wouldn’t feel so strongly about something if it’s impossible for you to achieve.

Remember, you put out those vibes into the universe, so everything you need in order to achieve your goal is already there. You just can’t see it by being the person you are right now. The truth is, you can only see it by being the person who has already achieved it.

Give up the fear and step into the future you know is yours.

See Also: How to Find your Buoy of Safety When You are Drowning in Fear

The post Conquering Fear: Here’s How To Change Your Perspective In Life appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Short trips and quick getaways are trending. A lot of travelers today are on a tight budget and can’t make a long vacation work. Some of them are breaking up their PTO to find pockets of excitement throughout the year.

Whatever their reasons are, travelers are discovering how a quick vacation can pack just as much of a punch as an extended one.

Not only does traveling expose one to the rest of world; it also has a positive effect on a person’s mental health. Whether you’re eating a mouthwatering burger under the California sun, gazing at the Milky Way from one of Utah’s national parks, or tromping through ice caves in Icelandic glaciers, quick getaways can be rejuvenating.

By getting away multiple times each year, you’ll be able to recharge your batteries and return home with new enthusiasm and fresh ideas. So, don’t trick yourself into thinking that you can’t take a vacation because you can’t afford a big excursion or you think nobody else can do your job.

Instead, embrace the “work hard, play hard” mentality Millennials love and book your most-desired weekend getaway now.

See Also: 10 Wonderful Benefits of Traveling

Make the Most of Your Short Trip

A short trip doesn’t have to pass by too quickly. Here’s how to maximize your time, regardless of the number of days you’re going to spend in your destination

Know Your Budget

A truly memorable vacation won’t be free. However, although this is a short trip, you’d still wouldn’t want it to take too big a hit on your wallet.

Before anything else, understand how much you can spend. You know you’ll have to pay for transit and lodging, so look around for the options that can give you the most value. This way, you can leave the maximum amount of funds possible for your itinerary. Getting a ballpark of what you need to spend on lets you know how much wiggle room you have, too.

Make First Things First

When I went to Portugal, I had no plan for how I’d spend my time. Instead of getting out and exploring the country like I intended to, I ended up wasting most of my trip at the resort.

Save yourself some regret and make sure you have your must-sees and must-dos in mind for your trip. You likely have one or two activities you can’t miss or a few sights you need to see, so make those your priority. Work them into a concrete itinerary, and buy tickets or book transportation in advance if necessary.

Don’t Spend Too Much Time Getting There

No one likes to waste time in transit. Traffic, layovers and delayed airplanes can make you all the more stressed. Consider a destination you can easily reach or look into taking a red-eye flight.

Go into your trip knowing the lay of the land and how to get around. Researching what public transportation looks like or booking rental cars in advance gives you more time to do what you’re there for.

Step (or Jump) Out of Your Comfort Zone

It’s easy to get sucked into a routine. Maybe that’s part of the reason you’re traveling in the first place. Vacations can offer a break from your usual routine so take advantage of that opportunity. Plan at least one new experience alongside your must-sees.

Zip line through a rainforest. Make your own beer. Swim with stingrays. What’s more memorable than something you’ve never done before?

Don’t Get Too Itinerary-Happy

Planning for any trip is essential, but a key piece of travel is discovery. If you’ve planned out every hour of your vacation, you’ll have no room to get lost in the wonderful parts of the city or talk to the locals about their favorite restaurants.

See Also: 7 Important Things To Do To Travel Like A Local

Finding that balance is tough, especially when you’re short on time. Although making a general plan is essential, make sure you still have time to wander. You’re sure to learn something no guidebook or blog could prepare you for.

Whether your budget doesn’t allow for a two-week expedition or you’re taking a quick break between projects at work, a short trip doesn’t have to be any less memorable than a lengthy one. With some thoughtful planning (and a little room for discovery), going on quick getaways can bring experiences that stick with you for life.

The post 5 Tips For Getting Maximum Value Out Of Your Quick Getaways appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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When it comes to renting office space, you can never be too careful when signing a lease. Failure to do your due diligence can lead to problems. For instance, the wrong space can hurt your business if it’s difficult for your clients to access your building or if you don’t have the amenities they require.

To minimize the chances of these and other disasters occurring, consider taking benefits from professional property management and asking your commercial property managing agent the following questions:

What happens if the space isn’t ready by the expected move-in date?

Unless your office is ready, you can’t be sure that there won’t be any more problems. To avoid last minute problems, you should double check if your lease is clear about what can happen if your office space isn’t ready by the move-in date.

Read the fine print carefully. Watch out for any clauses that say your landlord can place you in a different office space within the building if your designated area is not yet ready by your moving in date. Being forced to occupy a temporary space will only magnify the costs and other issues associated with moving.

Does the lease come with an option to renew?

After your lease expires, the landlord is under no legal obligation to offer the same space to you – unless there’s a renewal clause in your lease. This guarantees that you will have first dibs on the space when the lease expires.

Will the landlord take on the cost of changes (like new carpet, special electrical needs, etc)?

You will probably want to modify and update your new office space to meet your business’ specific requirements. In most cases, you will be responsible for these costs. But, there are some landlords who are willing to amortize the costs over the term of the lease so make sure to ask.

See Also: How Often Does A Landlord Have To Replace Carpet Or Repaint In Rental Unit?

How much traffic does the area get?

Is your building in a central location that’s close to train stations and airports to accommodate heavy business travelers or out of town clients? Depending on your business type, this may help determine the amount of traffic that you will receive. The agent should have information about community demographics, car counts and other essential statistics available.

Do you have “right of first refusal” if the space next to yours becomes vacant?

There are some instances when a tenant is faced with unexpected growth and, when that happens, there are some landlords that will move you to a larger space with no penalty. If there is a “right to refusal” clause in your lease, it will ensure that you get first dibs if any adjacent spaces become vacant.

Is it possible to secure a non-compete clause so that a competitor cannot open up shop in your center or building?

When renting office space, it’s a good idea to consider your business’ security first. Having a competitor in close distance can spell disaster for your business so check if there are zoning laws in place to protect your company. You can try to include a clause in the contract that forbids your landlord from leasing nearby office space to direct competitors. 

Is it possible to enter into a CAM Stop Lease?

A lot of leases today are triple net. For example, you’ll be responsible for paying the rent as well as a share of the property taxes and CAM fees for the property.

A Cam Stop Lease will ensure that you are only responsible for the increase in property taxes and CAM fees above your initial base year. You may also want to ask for a cap on the CAM so that it won’t increase by more than a certain percentage.

What happens if a major system (like electrical, plumbing, or HVAC) fails?

Agreements about repairs and renovations should be in writing and, in the best case scenario, come complete with a detailed floor plan and a cost estimate from a reputable contractor. But, it’s important to note that this standard is different from property to property.

Who is responsible for insurance?

When signing a lease for an office space, we tend to skip over insurance. And, as a result, a lot of buildings, especially those with several tenants, are coverable by insurance policies that are inadequate in some respects and overlap in others. Thus, if a major disaster occurs, like a fire, it can take years for the various insurance companies involved to check out the claims and decide where coverage begins and ends.

Will the office space meet your technology needs?

Most commercial properties offer tenants networking options like T1s, fiber, DSL and Cable. If your business will require a ton of bandwidth to successfully operate, make sure that the property has the infrastructure to support your needs.

Moving to a new commercial space can be a hassle. But, if you ask your commercial agent the aforementioned questions, it can take a lot of the headache out of the process. Good luck!

See Also: One Size Doesn’t Fit All: How Office Space Caters To Each Stage Of A Business Journey

 

The post 10 Questions To Ask Your Commercial Agent When Leasing Office Space appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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App development for businesses and brands is on the rise. Many companies are waking up to its benefits and are now working to design and build their own.

When in the process of mobile app development, there are so many variables and so many things to think about that if you are not careful — or if you lack experience — you might just miss a trick or two.

To make sure you get the most out of your app, here are six questions you have to ask during design and development.

How Can Your App Add Value?

Apps provide an opportunity that no other form of media can.

Instantly accessible through anyone’s smartphone, they offer a real chance to give users a bit of added value. Options to consider are exclusive deals, offers codes, vouchers and unique methods for connectivity, such as a live chat service.

However, while made easier on an app, you can also implement these options on a website. There are, though, two ways to add value that you simply cannot do without an app. It includes push notifications and mobile loyalty programs.

Push notifications can be hugely beneficial for both you and the consumers. They allow you to send direct messages to users on their phones via the app. Similar to text alerts, the great thing about push notifications is that they won’t easily get buried and will almost always be seen by the user.

This gives you the opportunity to send users information about deals and new products. Your consumers can also receive added value by being kept aware of updates that may be of interest or useful to them.

Loyalty bonuses allow users to gain rewards via the app that can be exchanged for goods or services from your company. Loyalty bonuses are great for improving the consumer experience and doing so through an app means such rewards are easy to earn, track and spend.

What Platform Should You Build It On?

App development can be expensive and small businesses often don’t have the resources to build software for both iOS and Android at the same time. Unfortunately, both require different coding which means you can’t just upload the same app to both platforms.

So, which platform should you pick?

In previous years, the answer was almost exclusively iOS. The more popular brand of choice, Apple users were seen to be the market everyone wanted to reach.

Now, though, things are different. Phone producers like Google and Samsung have made a considerable dent in Apple’s market. With Android tablets selling just as well as Apple iPads, it has become ever-more difficult to decide which platform to focus your investment on.

The best way to find out if either the App Store or the Google Play Store will benefit your business more is to find out what phone your customers use. You can do this in one of two ways. You can either use your website analytics to find out what phone your website visitors are using or just ask them directly.

If you are able, developing on both platforms is obviously a huge bonus. According to Gartner, if you develop for iOS and Android, you’ll be covering over 99% of all smartphones.

How Will You Update Your New App?

An app is not just a one-off investment. Over time, you’ll perform maintenance and introduce updates; for example, if you launch a new service.

You need to make sure that your app development platform offers some kind of flexibility with regards to making changes and additions. The last thing you want to do is build a very self-contained app that is almost impossible to adapt to new business circumstances.

As part of your design process, ensure you have functionality built in that allows you to make changes and access code easily. The last thing you’ll want is to build an entirely new app in case you decide to change your business direction.

Is It Going To Be Free Or Paid?

It might seem like a no-brainer, right? Make your app free so people will download it.

Of course, this is the option most businesses will take — and it is the option most businesses should take — but it is not for everyone.

The question you have to ask is not just ‘Should it be free or paid?’. It should be ‘Is the app worth paying for?’.

A simple eCommerce or takeaway ordering app is not going to garner much appreciation if you must pay for it, but what if your business model is different?

Perhaps your business offers networking opportunities and, by downloading your app, users can get access to connectivity options. Sure, they might get the same options on the website, but that instant accessibility and ease of use may well be worth paying $0.99.

Analyze your business app. Gauge what users can get out of it and if it is worth putting a price tag on. Yes, you’ll receive fewer downloads, but they’ll be more engaged.

If you really don’t know if your app is worth paying for, try feedback surveys and focus groups.

How Will You Market This App?

“If you build it, they will come” is not a phrase you should link with business app development. Sure, loyal and regular customers will likely jump on board, but it is unlikely that everyone else is going to go searching for it.

When building an app, it’s important to start thinking about how you are going to market it. Once completed, you wouldn’t want to be left with an app with just a handful of downloads as you slowly work through the marketing process. You want to get your money’s worth and bring in downloads straight out of the gate.

Consider your marketing options prior to the app’s release. Run your campaign simulations before going live on app stores and marketplaces. Press, blogs, and ads are all great ways for you to promote your app as soon as it is released.

Is There Functionality To Track And Measure User Engagement?

Apps provide a powerful marketing tool that should never go underutilized.

By recording user input variables, you can gain valuable insight to your customers that is unattainable through other means. This includes data on how frequently the app is visited, what tools within the app are most popular, what time of day most users are online and where your users are geographically.

However, you can only record and measure these data if you set up the right codes to track them. When it comes to mobile app development, be sure to include methods of keeping tabs on user inputs.

See Also: 7 Smart Reasons Why Small Businesses Should Develop Their Own Mobile Apps This 2017

The post 6 Questions To Ask When Designing A Business App appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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Back when you were in high school, your teacher probably told you that you could predict the eye color of your future child’s eyes by knowing which genes are dominant and which are recessive. It turns out that, much like many of the things you learned about in high school, things are a lot more complicated than what is taught in class.

For starters, there are multiple genes that control eye color.

Predicting the eye color of your future offspring using the techniques you learned in high school is about as accurate as choosing the winner of the Super Bowl from the Puppy Bowl predictions. There’s a lot of science behind your eye color and the process is a lot more complicated than you may think.

Here are some eye color facts you should know.

What’s In Eye Color, Anyway?

Eye color is caused by varying levels of the pigment melanin. How much melanin you have is determined by several genes and how those genes interact with each other.

• Lower melanin levels lead to lighter eyes while higher melanin levels lead to darker eyes.
• Contrary to popular belief, all babies are not born with blue eyes, though most Caucasian-American babies are. Eye color is basically set by a baby’s first birthday.
• The OCA₂ gene produces the P protein that determines eye pigment.
• The HERC₂ gene limits the OCA₂ gene’s P protein production.
• There can be genetic variations.

What Does Your Eye Color Say About You?

Like it or not, people make a lot of snap judgments about you based upon your appearance. Your eye color, for example, can affect how people perceive you just as your clothing or other features can.

But, there are a few things that seem to correlate with your eye color from an empirical standpoint. It’s important to note though that correlation does not imply causation.

Here’s what people believe they can tell about you based on your eye color:

• A study showed that people tended to rank brown eyed people as looking more trustworthy than those with lighter eyes.
• Empirical data show that people with lighter eye colors tend to do better at sports that involve breaks, like bowling. People with darker eyes tend to do better with sports that involve reaction times, like boxing.
• Another study found that people with lighter eye colors tend to be more competitive.
• The same study showed that people with darker eyes tend to be more sympathetic than people with lighter eyes.

Genes Aren’t Everything

Sometimes your genes can go awry and leave you with an atypical outcome. Instead of ending up with blue eyes or green eyes, you can end up with two differently colored eyes or even one eye that features multiple colors. Kiefer Sutherland is known for having eyes that are two different shades of blue while Mila Kunis is known for having one green and one hazel eye.

Elizabeth Berkley, who skyrocketed to fame in Saved by the Bell, has one eye that features half brown and half green pigments in her iris. On the other hand, David Bowie had the appearance of one of these conditions, but it was actually a permanently dilated pupil from a teenage fight over a girl.

Not All Babies Are Born With Blue Eyes

You may have heard it said on occasions that all babies are born with blue eyes. While that is generally true for Caucasian-American babies, babies from darker skinned ethnicities are more likely to be born with darker eyes.

A baby’s eye color can change until around his first birthday, thanks to melanocyte level activity. After that, only about one in six Caucasian American babies will retain their blue eye color. This is one of the amazing eye color facts not all people are aware of.

Learn The Science Behind Eye Color

Eye color is a lot more complicated than what you were led to believe in freshman biology. Considering the many factors that come into play in determining eye colors, it’s a wonder how people can even become people with all those genetic variations.

Learn more eye color facts from this infographic! You might be surprised to learn that there’s so much more than meets the eye!

Source

 

The post There’s More To Eye Color Than Meets The Eye appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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One thing that successful people share is that they are driven to set goals and meet them every time. There are various techniques that you can employ to feel inspired every day and one of them is getting positive reinforcement from the best motivational quotes.

You can surf the internet for websites that specialize in quotes or you can download a daily quotes app to deliver the best motivational quotes to you on a daily basis. We are rarely ever apart from our mobile phones so it makes sense to use it as a tool to get our daily dose of inspiration.

We’ll share this little tidbit with you. Apparently, there are three things that make inspiring quotes highly effective.

First of all is the measure of self-selection. You see, in general, not all people are drawn to those quotes and anecdotes. However, when one feels an extreme connection, it triggers a self-dialogue that pushes us to try harder.

Haven’t you ever read a quote and thought, “This is it. This is my quote! The universe is sending me a message.”

Another factor is good wordsmithing. It’s relatively easy to say a motivational piece. But, once you add good rhyming and arrangement of words, the message becomes a lot stronger and more appealing for us.

Work for a cause,
Not for applause.
Live life to express,
Not to impress.

Finally, in addition to those two things, motivational psychology plays a big role, too. Humans are highly aspirational. We tend to look to others for inspiration. We look up to successful and credible people and we follow what those people say. Think Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, or Nelson Mandela.

How To Choose A Good Motivational App For Your Phone

There are tons of motivational apps you can download on your phone but not all of them can keep you engaged. The best daily quotes app should be able to stimulate your senses so you can stay motivated to improve your life.

It should also have the following features:

• Gives you the option to set your goals and track them
• Has a friendly user interface
• Contains a wide range of quotes from famous and successful personalities
• Has no typographical errors
• Has beautiful imagery
• Features sharing options
• Sends notifications
• Has the option to customize and save your favorite quotes
• Provides the opportunity to come up with a list of goals

One great example of a daily quotes app that has these add-on features is Motive. You don’t just get your daily dose of inspiration, you can also use it as a tool to easily track goals and to-do’s. It is Inspiration and Productivity all in one handy little app.

Here are some example quotes that you can get from motivational apps. Is there any one quote that resonates with you in particular?

30 Inspirational Quotes That Can Change Your Life

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney

“If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.” – Bruce Lee

“Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” – Dolly Parton

“If you want happiness for an hour — take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day — go fishing.
If you want happiness for a year — inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime — help someone else.”
– Chinese Proverb

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.” – Helen Keller

“The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president. You realize that you control your own destiny.” – Albert Ellis

“ Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill

“The first recipe for happiness is: avoid too lengthy meditation on the past.” – Andre Maurois

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” – Herman Cain

“If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.” – Ken Robinson

“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” – Paulo Coelho

“Remember that failure is an event, not a person.” – Zig Ziglar

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all, in which case you have failed by default.” – J.K. Rowling

“Failure happens all the time. It happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it.” – Mia Hamm

“Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.” – Paul J. Meyer

“Being lazy does not mean that you do not create. In fact, lying around doing nothing is an important, nay crucial, part of the creative process. It is meaningless bustle that actually gets in the way of productivity. All we are really saying is, give peace a chance.” – Tom Hodgkinson

“Happiness is not having what you want. It is appreciating what you have.” – Unknown

“Whatever you decide to do make sure it makes you happy.” – Paulo Coelho

“Forget about the consequences of failure. Failure is only a temporary change in direction to set you straight for your next success.” – Denis Waitley

“If you’re doing your best, you won’t have any time to worry about failure.” – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

“Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn’t stop to enjoy it.” – William Feather

“Take risks: if you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wise.” – Anonymous

“Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic.” – Anonymous

“Most people chase success at work, thinking that will make them happy. The truth is that happiness at work will make you successful.” – Alexander Kjerulf

“Happiness is the art of never holding in your mind the memory of any unpleasant thing that has passed.” – Unknown

“Being happy doesn’t mean everything is perfect. It means you have decided to look beyond the imperfections.” – Unknown

“Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” – Abraham Lincoln

“Losers quit when they fail. Winners fail until they succeed.” – Robert Kiyosaki

“The biggest risk is not taking any risk. In a world that changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.” – Mark Zuckerberg

If you’re feeling stuck in your career growth or feeling depressed with how things are going in your life, that one special quote heard at the perfect time can be just the very thing to shake you out of your funk. So pay attention! Be inspired and do the work.

 

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Being an entrepreneur and building a business is a big challenge- a very big challenge.

What if you work full time elsewhere, but you’re really passionate about it? Would you still do it?

That’s the case for me, but there’s more to it than just that.

I’m a dentistry student who got a 3.92 GPA in his first year and built a 5-figure freelancing business that same year.

All that and I’m just 20 years old. Sounds challenging, right?

But, I was able to do it. My secret?

I use the power of habits. I keep building habits that help me become productive so that I can reach my goals.

To help you achieve the same things, here are the 7 productive habits that I formed last year that had a huge effect on my life and my business.

Read More… by Smart Reading

It’s no secret that most of the leaders and high achievers in most fields are avid readers. For example, Warren Buffet, the billionaire investor, says that he spends 80% of his day reading.

Back then, I wasn’t able to spend a lot of my time reading due to my studies. That’s when I saw this Ted Talk by Tai Lopez entitled Why I Read a Book a Day (And Why You Should Too).

Authors often put a lot of fluff in their books to make it 300 pages long. What you need to do is to extract the golden nuggets, even if that means reading only a few chapters of a book.

For a detailed step by step guide, check out this video from Alex Becker, How To Read A Book Every Day (3 Step Speed Reading).

See Also: 7 Reasons To Start Reading Books? Here’s why!

Get the right amount of sleep, even if you’re busy

When I tell any of my friends about my GPA and successful business, they always say something like, “That means you’re sleeping 2 hours a day.”

Imagine the shocked look on their faces when I say that I always try to sleep no less than 7.5 hours a day. Yes, there are a few days here and there, especially during exam time, when I sleep less.

But, sleep is very important for productivity so don’t compromise your sleep just to get more done. To start learning about the importance of sleep, check out the article by James Clear, The Science of Sleep.

Try to avoid exposure to blue light 2 hours before you sleep. This is a fast hack you can apply to get better sleep.

The short wavelength blue light — which is emitted from your laptop and mobile screens — can decrease the secretion of the hormone melatonin. It’s the sleeping hormone that can affect your sleep quality and is essential in getting into deep sleep.

Of course, I can’t stop working 2 hours before bedtime every day. So, I dim the display and I use a blue light filter where the screen turns orange/yellow. I use F.lux and it’s free.

Going on a walk for 30 minutes

I used to have a lot of days where I was completely burned out and I couldn’t study or do any work. When I look at the screen, I can’t write a word and when I try to study, all I get is zero even after an hour.

That is when one of my friends suggested taking a walk for just 30 minutes a day.

In a nutshell, it was worth it.

To get the maximum benefits, I listen to Tony Robbins or a podcast, like the Tim Ferriss Show, Entrepreneur on Fire, the School of Greatness by Lewis Howes and the Fizzle Show.

The benefits of walking included improved sleep and decreased burnout. Plus, I also got to learn new ideas to improve myself and my business.

You need to start this habit, even if it’s just for 10 minutes.

Journaling

Thanks to Robin Sharma, this is an essential part of my life now. It helps me feel positive all day.

In the morning, I write my to-do list and one thing I am grateful for. In the evening, I write notes about what happened during my day, especially what made me feel negative.

Before I sleep, I write 5 small wins. This makes me feel good about myself and it helps me to focus on making a few more wins the next day so I can write them down, too.

I use the bullet journal system. You can check out this cool 101 series from Boho Berry.

Don’t skip this one. It’s invaluable!

See Also: 5 Benefits of Journaling To Inspire and Motivate You

Just waking up earlier than usual

Most people wake up at the last minute and get dressed and go to work/college.

After reading The Miracle Morning, I stopped doing that.

Not only did my stress levels become lower, but my productivity became higher, too. What’s great is that you can even customize your morning routine by adding a few short activities, such as exercise, journaling, and affirmations.

If you’re not yet doing this, do yourself a favor and read The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod– ASAP.

Using the Pomodoro technique

I’ve saved the best tip for last.

If you want to know how I achieve more while working less, this is the secret.

The Pomodoro technique is a simple technique where you do focused sessions of 25 minutes of work and then take a rest for 5 minutes. That’s it.

It helps you eliminate distractions and focus on the tasks at hand so you get more done.

Check out this cool article from Chris Winfield, How to Get 40 Hours of Work Done in 16.7.

These are the 7 habits I started practicing last year to achieve what I accomplished today. And these are the exact things that you need to achieve more in your life.

Yes, you can achieve great results in your life, too. All you need to do is take the time and use the right habits to guide you along your way.

You can do it and these 7 productive habits are going to help you get started! To help you apply them, I have created this cheat sheet to guide you along the way. Click HERE to grab it.

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