How to Expand Your Business’s Reach

It’s common knowledge that clients are the foundations of any successful business. As such, one of your most vital goals as a business owner should be acquiring more and more clients from whom you can extract long-term value.

Thanks to technology, this process has been significantly simplified and made more effective. As such, every enterprise is a potentially global business nowadays, since you can rely on several technologies and practices to make your company known to a worldwide audience. Below are some of the best ways to expand your business’ reach that you should know of.

Offer quality customer service.

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Customer service is essential to all businesses, whether you’re a startup or an experienced enterprise. A solid customer base is necessary to business expansion, and customer loyalty always accompanies brand awareness. Potential customers will always be conscious of your reputation in the industry through customer feedback. Since patrons are always looking for the best value, offering excellent customer service will help you retain many clients whose positive feedback can effectively attract new clients who would want to experience the many touted benefits of choosing your business. Also, consider using business analytics tools, and concepts to assist you with market segmentation and other customer-focused insights. Helpful websites such as the Nick McCullum site will come in handy with tutorials on K means clustering.

Nick McCullum is a professional explainer and software developer who writes software engineering, business, finance, and entrepreneurship-themed articles on his website. His K means clustering Python tutorial is a guide to help you build your first K means clustering algorithm in Python. The K means clustering method is an unsupervised learning algorithm that splits a given data set into a fixed number of clusters. The algorithm identifies the “k” number of centroids and allocates each data point to its nearest cluster while ensuring centroids are as small as possible. The tutorial covers visualizing a K means clustering algorithm’s performance when you know the clusters beforehand, creating artificial data in scikit-learning, among others, all in a Python environment.

Leverage social media and a business website.

Using social media and a website are potent ways to broaden your company’s reach that you should try. The internet is now the most powerful marketing tool globally, and social media is one of its most effective platforms to improve business visibility. You can post helpful and shareable content on social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter to captivate new audiences from all across the globe. Social media also comes in handy for advertising your business’s services and products. A business website with informative content also positively brands your business and makes you accessible to clients worldwide, so invest in a great company website. Several consultants can help you maximize your digital marketing efforts on social media and other platforms, so you can partner with them for the best results. Renowned fractional CMO firms such as Chief Outsiders are great examples of such companies.

Chief Outsiders is a nationwide consultancy that provides management consulting services to businesses. They offer Private Equity marketing services like post-crisis restart assistance to Private Equity organizations and their portfolio companies, helping pave a way forward and accelerating full recovery. They complement Private Equity Firms by allowing you to bring in experienced and talented executives who can help your organization with a broad range of marketing needs. The strategic leaders you bring in can provide various helpful marketing services, including marketing audits, marketing automation, implementing digital marketing strategies, among others. These professionals can also help you fill leadership gaps, put suitable systems and processes in place, and build a marketing engine to drive revenue growth. Additionally, this consultancy has broad experience in providing marketing services, helping many businesses set themselves apart and become more valuable and robust in the Private Equity industry.

Have an offline strategy.

In this digital age, it’s easy to assume that the internet and social media are all you need to put your business out there. While these avenues are undoubtedly effective, you should still rely on some age-old methods to reach more clients. For example, if older people constitute your target market, radio, TV, newspapers, and magazines are still necessary to enhance visibility. Networking is another efficient way to broaden your enterprise’s reach outside of the internet. Attending or hosting corporate events exposes you to several industry players who can help you expand your company, so prioritize regular networking. More networking is a personal goal you can set for yourself as an entrepreneur besides company targets to boost your reach. However, goal setting is ineffective without a proper way to measure key results and important metrics. Consequently, consider adopting the OKR approach to goal setting and using the WorkBoard OKR software to measure team progress on shared goals helps measure outcomes in a meaningful way.

There are several effective tactics to expand your business reach nowadays. The above-listed points are some helpful tips worth knowing to broaden your reach for the best results.

Why It’s a Good Idea to Clean Your Indoor Air

As a homeowner, there are many routine tasks to ensure the safety and comfort of your family. Although your HVAC system and ventilation need to be in perfect working order for the hot summer months, there are many reasons for maintenance year-round. One crucial element is your home’s air quality, which ensures you and your family have the cleanest, most breathable oxygen. Here, we will look at the most important reasons why it’s a good idea to clean your indoor air, as well as how to keep it clean throughout the year.

Possible Contaminants in the Air

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Your indoor air quality has a tremendous effect on your family’s health, as many pollutants and contaminants are airborne and invisible to the naked eye. Through the ventilation system’s ductwork, your air conditioner pumps natural air containing any number of common items known to cause allergy symptoms.

For example, fungi microorganisms, germs, mold spores, pet dander, dust, and mildew all work their way into your family’s indoor air. While these may seem like a minor problem at first, keep in mind that, over time, each one of these factors can build up and clog the HVAC unit completely. Eventually, you’ll end up getting less air from the air conditioner unit, causing unnecessary wear and tear, as well as running up your monthly energy bill.

While changing out your air filters is a crucial practice (HVAC experts recommend this approximately every 1-3 months), there are other strategies to prevent the damage that dirty indoor air can have on the long-term health of you and your family. Recent studies have indicated that UV lamps clean indoor air, and HVAC technicians are now able to install systems to provide the needed ultraviolet light needed for just that purpose.

As the wavelength of UV light is known to kill bacteria, mold spores, and other microorganisms hazardous to breathable indoor air, Modern HVAC units can have additional ultraviolet light sources attached in order to shine through the ductwork, working as an air purifier using “germicidal irradiation.” For the latest technology in home indoor air quality, this method is truly state-of-the-art.

Additional Indoor Air Quality Tips

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Although most threats to your home’s indoor air quality are of natural origin, there are other small foreign substances that can accumulate and affect your family’s health and wellbeing. For example, if you’ve recently had your home painted or have had your car detailed in the garage, the infinitesimal particles can become airborne. This is called “paint overspray,” and can be a major contributor to indoor air pollution once the paint residue enters your home’s ventilation system.

Aside from paint itself, overspray is also a common byproduct of lacquer, and should always be properly removed for the safety and health of those inside the home. The process to remove overspray isn’t a particularly difficult one but is important for your air quality. Buffing the surface area of the recently painted object can be successful in paint overspray removal, as well as wet sanding. However, to guarantee that the overspray problem is addressed properly, the services of a professional consultant should be retained.

In monitoring your home’s indoor air quality, there are a few other inexpensive tips to keep in mind. Aside from the mold, dust, pet dander, and other allergens that a clean HVAC system and thorough ventilation cleaning can eliminate, there are other factors that depend solely on the weather and season. For example, depending upon where you live, humidity may reach a high level, causing a large amount of water to saturate your indoor air. As this can actually be a very serious health factor to family members with breathing issues, such as asthma, either a whole-house humidifier or dehumidifier are both cost-efficient options.

Ways That You Can Help Your Troubled Teen

Whichever way you slice it, adolescents have it rough. As if hormone shifts weren’t enough, young people also have to contend with rapidly changing bodies, peer pressure, navigating the travails of romance, and trying to ace their high school classes. Is it any surprise that they sometimes exhibit negative behavior and even turn to substance abuse to relieve the stress?

Even though we may understand the pressures that young people experience, that doesn’t make it easy to be a parent to adolescents. Quite the opposite. The teen you love almost certainly has a mind of their own regarding everything from engaging in psychotherapy or counseling to the best way to achieve academic success. How can a parent contend with the teen challenge that’s before them? It takes a world of strength.

Nonetheless, depending on the needs of the adolescents in question, there are things that you can do. Whether you’re in New York City, New Jersey, or anywhere in the United States, you are probably facing similar challenges if you parent a teen. Let’s take a look at some of the things that can help you through the teen years’ mess. Remember, you may all emerge stronger on the other side.

Try to sit them down for a one on one conversation.

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Depending on your relationship with the troubled teen in your life, having a one-on-one conversation may be a good starting point. A healthy relationship is one in which everyone involved can be open and vulnerable without fearing judgment. This difficult conversation may mean that you have to hear things you don’t want to or that you need to admit things about your own behavior. Even though it’s hard to admit that your actions may play a part in the behavioral issues your teen is exhibiting, it’s powerful for them to hear you be open about your own challenges. If you feel comfortable, you can share what it was like for you when you were a teenage boy or girl. Hiring about your teen challenge experience might ease the pressure they feel about their own experiences.

Speak to a school counselor or a professional psychotherapist.

If the behavioral issues are getting worse and you fear that your troubled teen may not finish the school year, it might be time to talk to someone at the school. A high school counselor can point you in the direction of New Jersey and New York psychotherapists, or psychotherapists who practice elsewhere in the United States. Maybe the answer is family therapy, or maybe your teen needs to see a psychiatrist about a mental health issue that requires medication. The right treatment plan is out there, and the right psychotherapist or psychiatrist can help your figure it out.

MLikeADHD, anxiety disorders, or OCD, mental health challenges often show during the teenage years for the first time. If your teen is exhibiting behavioral changes, it might be time to make an appointment with a clinician and do whatever you have to do to get your teen there.

If the issue is substance abuse, consider rehab or addiction treatment.

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Substance use is not something that is going to go away on its own. This is true, even if we don’t want to know about it. Therefore, if you have a troubled teen who uses drugs or alcohol to get through the school year, it’s time to think about rehab. Teen rehabs are diverse in their approaches to drug addiction and anger management. Some substance abuse treatment centers are inpatient, while some drug rehab treatment programs are outpatient. If your family is religious, there are Christian rehab options and group counseling options if your teen resonates with group therapy more. Take some time to think about the unique needs of your specific teen, and there will be a treatment option that’s right for you.

Consider changing your vision for the school.

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Maybe you have your heart set on a certain high school in Los Angeles or New York City for your teen. Maybe the high school that got you to adulthood is the one you always envisioned your teen going to. It’s important to remember that your teen is not you and that enrollment in a high school should, ultimately, be their own choice. The first place you imagine may not be the best place for them. Ask yourself (and them) what supports will help boost their self-esteem and passions and what framework will help them become a productive member of society. If your teen has a history of drug use, make sure you’re choosing a school that supports their sobriety. Maybe that is in Los Angeles, but maybe it’s a private Catholic high school in Holmdel, NJ. Whatever your choice, make sure that your teen is involved in the decision-making process.

Raising a teen is a challenge, that’s for sure. With these tips, you can raise your teen all the way to adulthood and be sure your kids end up wonderful young men and women.

Smart Tips for Opening a Salon or Spa

Always dreamed of opening up a salon or spa but don’t know where to start? A nail salon, hair salon, or spa can be a profitable business venture with the right planning and team to assist you. You can instantly make it a successful salon with a strong social media presence that caters to the clientele you want to attract. The salon industry is saturated, so it is also important to market yourself uniquely to set yourself apart from the competition.

To avoid some unnecessary headaches in this process, here are some smart tips to keep in mind when opening your new salon or spa.

Create a business proposal.

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When opening your own salon, the first step is to create a proposal that outlines all the information pertinent to staff, investors, and contractors. This can include the location, the salon’s name and logo, the salon space, and the budget. Your business plan is the vision for your salon that you want to convey to the public, so you must clarify how it will look and what services you want to offer.

It is also vital in the early stages to decide how much money you want to allot to construct the space, renovation, decoration, amenities, utilities, and staff salary. If you are a new business owner, it is important to research everything that should be included in your business plan to ensure you have covered all the bases before proceeding with the project. Finding the right location that is a perfect fit for your new salon should be the top priority. Your best option is in a retail area that is easily accessible to the public.

Optimize your space with a design plan.

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The next step to opening up your salon or spa is to invest in the right equipment and tools. Your clients will expect the best treatment and why it is important to find the highest quality materials that will keep them coming back. If you are opening up a hair salon, your clients will be spending all their time in a salon chair so focus your budget on comfortable furniture. It is also vital to decide on your salon’s layout and ensure that you don’t make the space too crowded. If you are opening up a nail salon and spa, invest in the best manicure table on the market.

Choose from dark or light wood-stained manicure tables to match your spa’s aesthetic. Your nail station furniture will get a lot of use, and why you should invest in something durable that will last years. It is also critical to saving some of your budget for decorations; the addition of some throw pillows or funky lamps or artwork can add a pop of color and instantly upgrade your space. Your floor plan should also include an extra closet for storage space to keep clutter away from customers’ view. Remember that accommodating as many clients as possible at a time is not always a good idea. People go to a salon for a relaxing experience, and your customs can feel uncomfortable and rushed if the space is too crowded.

Hire a marketing expert.

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Your new business’s presence on social media can determine whether your new salon will be successful or not. Investing in the right advertising and marketing tools can help you expand and grow your business. Consider hiring an expert who can assist you in coming up with an advertising strategy and goals. A professional can provide you with expertise that will put your salon above the competition.

For example, if you are opening a new nail salon, post content on your social media sites that show off your skilled nail technicians and the designs they can create. If you offer your own exclusive product line of beauty products like gel nail stickers or nail polish, send them to influencers on social media who can promote them for you and drive traffic to your pages.

Do You Have the Symptoms of Low Testosterone?

The sex hormone testosterone is typically considered a male hormone, but females do produce small amounts. Men produce a higher level of the hormone during puberty then production begins to decrease after 30 years of age. It’s natural for men to experience a decrease in testosterone level as they age, however, some men experience testosterone deficiency.

This hormone is essential for several bodily functions such as sex drive, sperm production, muscle mass, fat distribution, bone density, and red blood cell production. A low level of testosterone can result in erectile dysfunction, reduced bone mass, reduced libido, and fertility issues.

What are the physical symptoms of low testosterone?

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There are several physical symptoms of low testosterone that men commonly experience. Sexual function is usually the first sign, such as difficulty getting and maintaining an erection. Low T levels may cause a reduction in the size of the testicles and cause a reduction in the production of healthy sperm. A low testosterone level results in a loss of muscle mass and an increase in body fat. As men age, it’s common to experience hair loss, however, deficiency of the sex hormone can result in early hair loss.

Other factors can contribute to erectile dysfunction, including high cholesterol, alcohol use, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma. Depending on the severity of your asthma symptoms, your healthcare provider may prescribe an inhaler. Fluticasone is a corticosteroid that reduces the swelling and inflammation of the airways. Taking a regular inhalation dosage can help prevent the shortness of breath and wheezing caused by asthma, as well as reduce the chance of an asthma attack. Common side effects of an inhaled corticosteroid include hoarseness, patches of thrush, nausea, and osteoporosis after a certain length of time.

Whether you know Fluticasone as Flovent, Flovent Diskus, Flovent HFA, or Flovent Rotadisk, you can save money on your prescription Flovent inhaler with TripleCComm. The online retailer provides prescription drugs from licensed international pharmacy markets at cheaper prices than your local drug store.

What are the psychological symptoms of low testosterone?

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Several psychological symptoms indicate low T. Many men have difficulty sleeping and experience sleep apnea. A lowered sex drive or decrease in libido, loss of energy, and fatigue are signs that you aren’t producing as much testosterone as you should. Men with low levels of testosterone may experience mood swings, irritability, depression, and lack of focus.

When you have symptoms of a health condition, you can rely on the professional medical advice provided by an online symptom checker. Simply input your symptoms, demographic information, age, and basic health information, and you’ll receive medical advice about the most likely diagnoses.

You can use MediFind’s symptom checker diagnosis to do further research on the suggested medical problem and seek a doctor to provide medical care. The sooner you check on your symptoms, the sooner you can get medical help for an underlying condition.

Is there a treatment for low testosterone?

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There are a few ways that men can improve their level of testosterone production. Testosterone therapy includes injections, patches or gels, and subdermal pellets. Regular exercise and weight loss can help slow down the decrease of testosterone levels. There are medications you can take to help with erectile dysfunction, and sleeping aids can help with insomnia and sleep loss.

At Medica explains all the things to know about testosterone, including testosterone treatment options. If an underlying condition such as sleep apnea, obesity, or alcoholism is the cause of your low-levels, seeking medical treatment may decrease symptoms of low testosterone. Testosterone supplements can improve hormone production when the deficiency is a side effect of prescription medications. There are also natural OTC supplements that can treat low sex drive and improve blood flow and sperm production.

Talk to your health care provider if you believe there is an issue with your T levels. Your doctor will perform a physical exam, blood test, or bone density test to determine your condition and recommend the hormone treatment for you.

5 Benefits of Living in the Mountains

Whether you’re moving to get away from life in the big city for work or simply to play in the mountains, there are many benefits to mountain living that you might not have ever heard about. From many areas of the mountains being prime real estate to being able to drink a beer out on the front porch on a starry summer evening without the blaring of horns and the headlights from traffic on the street below, there’s much to be appreciated when it comes to mountain living.

From Western North Carolina to Asheville, you’re not going to find more gorgeous scenery than you will from the front porch of the North Carolina mountain homes for sale in the area. Whether you’re purchasing a log cabin in Asheville or purchasing land to build a cabin in West Jefferson, North Carolina, you should know the many benefits of living in the mountains. In this article, you’ll find a few benefits to help you make up your mind about whether mountain living is indeed for you and your family.

1. Privacy

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If you’ve never been a big fan of crowds, car horns blaring on every corner, and nosy neighbors counting the number of american light lager beers you drink while sitting on your front porch in the evenings, then this benefit of living in the mountains will attract you to this style of living like nothing else. When you live in the mountains, you don’t have to worry about car horns, someone asking what flavor of beer you’re drinking, or even anyone talking to you at all if you don’t want to see them.

The mountains in NC are a quiet place, full of the sounds of nature, and the birds and mountain lions don’t care what type of aroma is coming from your beer or how much you paid for it at the local brewery either. While there are plenty of neighborhoods to choose from in the mountains, if you’re a social person that wants to be around people, there’s also plenty of mountain land that you can purchase, so you can be isolated as well.

The choice is completely yours to make. Also, since there aren’t as many people, if you have moved to the North Carolina mountains with your family, it’ll be easier to find a Catholic high school that you can trust to educate your children and not have to worry as much about their safety.

2. Views

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One of the biggest benefits of living in the mountains has to be the gorgeous views. From waterfalls to creek beds and from the starry night sky to the beaches, there’s a lot that can be seen in the mountains of North Carolina. In fact, you might want to grab your camera, head out on a hiking trail, and take some shots to send to your family and friends. Make sure that you invest in the best cloud for photos, such as My Cloud Home.

In this way, you’ll have unlimited storage space for your photographs in Dropbox and cloud storage on your mobile device or your computer. It’s much easier to share your photographs with family and friends when you can put them in a folder in cloud storage, transfer them to your Dropbox, then share them across the social media sites your family uses. It’s also easier to use your Dropbox with your account in Google Drive and to transfer your Google photos for everyone to see the gorgeous views of the mountains you’ve decided to live in.

3. Clean Air/Water

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Anyone who lives in the mountains can tell you that the air smells fresher, and the water tastes better. This is because you’re living at a higher elevation than the rest of the town, and with a high altitude comes fresher cleaner air, and fresher, cleaner tasting water. Fresh air is important to everyone’s continued good health, so why wouldn’t you want to move your family to the mountains where the air and the water are cleaner and much better for you?

4. Outdoor Opportunities

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When you live in the mountains, it becomes hard to stay inside, glued to the TV all day. On the weekends, when you’re off work, you’ll find yourself hiking the trails through the mountains to commune with nature or mountain biking with friends and then going into town for an early dinner. Once you’re home for the night, you’ll find yourself sitting out on the front porch watching the stars above‚Äîsomething you can’t see if you live in the big city for sure.

There are so many things to do in the mountains, or even in the town at the bottom of your mountain, that you may find yourself looking for some time to just be by yourself if you aren’t careful, and there’s plenty of opportunities for that as well when you live in the mountains.

5. Improved Health

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Studies have shown that living in the mountains can be great for your health. From fighting obesity to helping prevent heart disease, the benefits to your health of mountain living are endless. Even the fresh air in the mountains and the relaxed way of living can help fight stress, headaches, and mental issues.

Not only do the mountains encourage you to get out and get more active, the fresh air and altitude also promote sleep. If you have insomnia, there’s a good chance it’ll be a thing of the past when you move to the mountains. However, if you do have physical issues that the high altitude in the mountains could harm, it’s best to talk to your primary health care provider before making a move. It’s best to know that the mountain air will be the best for your condition before you make the move.

These are just a few of the benefits you’ll experience when you decide to give mountain living a try. From improved health to cleaner air and the ability to see the stars, there’s nothing like mountain living to make you happy.

4 Tips To Help Capture All Your Special Memories

Life is made up of a series of moments, special ones and general moments of everyday living. When you look back and think of all the great times and special memories, you fill with gratitude. It’s important to look back at the people, places, and things that have made you who you are today. And reflecting on great memories is a way to remind yourself of how happy and joyful you felt during those times.

Of course, everyone chooses to remember and reflect on things differently. Sometimes it’s great to just share stories, other times you may be interested in looking through old photos or scrapbooks, other times you may be able to look through old notes or messages. There are also moments you’re living through that you may not immediately realize will be a huge memory down the line. As you’re going through your daily life, there are the milestones you know you’ll want to remember like weddings, graduations, and birthdays. However, there are also plenty of moments you won’t realize the significance of until they’re gone. Late night trips to McDonald’s with your besties, sleeping in with your significant other, laughing so hard that water comes out of your nose. These are the moments that make you think of that quote from The Office: “I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.” You deserve to capture every special moment and memory. Here are just a few tips for how to do so.

1. Snap your photos.

Pictures are one of the best ways you can capture a moment. Pictures last forever and remind you of exactly where you were and how you were feeling on special occasions or at ordinary moments. Several decades ago, a picture was a big deal, whereas now you can snap a photo on your mobile device without even thinking about it. This means there are even more ways to capture memories. Just be sure you have a way to store those moments afterward. Your online photo storage needs to be the best of the best. One hard drive or Dropbox or smartphone storage may not do the trick. Rely on unlimited storage options that will keep every pixel of your photo storage service updated and fabulous. This way you never have to worry about losing those special memories and pictures.

If you are someone who documents and photographs every moment to put away in photo storage, remember to get candid shots as well. Posed images of your life aren’t the messy parts that make it fun and interesting. So take those pictures when you are maybe off your guard a little bit, but feeling genuinely happy. You’ll be amazed at how these kinds of memories will stand out down the line.

2. Write it out.

Another great way to remember your special moments is to document them with your words. While keeping a diary may seem like a habit of a middle school girl, it can actually be a great option to keep a journal or reflect on your own life. It’s like having a subscription to your own life. Looking back you can remember how great it felt to accomplish something or even see how much you learned from a more unfortunate circumstance.

The beauty of having your own journal and a written record is that nothing is too small to write about. If you had some wild-caught gulf shrimp that you absolutely loved, write about it! Have a memory maker that isn’t necessarily blasted all over social media or shared. Writing out your experiences and memories can be a great way to capture a more raw side of things.

3. Take a video.

Pictures aren’t the only media that can help you remember great moments. While you typically think about looking back on favorite photos, taking videos to remember things can also be a great option. People have now started the habit of recording big reveals or surprises that make for an excellent memory. For example, telling your children you’re going through the legal process of a second parent adoption can be a huge moment for your family members. Consider recording the big reveal on your smartphone as the best way to remember that moment in parenthood. By recording a video, you are remembering that exact moment forever.

4. Remember the feeling.

While capturing moments and memories can be important, you always want to be sure you’re still enjoying them in the moment. Don’t be so dedicated to remembering the moment in the future that you forget to experience it in the present. Ultimately, if you are truly engaged with an experience, you can look back on that moment and share stories of the experience and feel the joy come flooding back. Sometimes remember the feeling is the best way to capture the memory.

4 Benefits of CBD

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the many cannabinoids (chemical properties) found in the marijuana plant. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is another popular cannabinoid best known for its psychoactive properties. Knowing this, the fact that CBD has no psychoactive effects makes it an appealing option for those seeking relief from pain and other health conditions. Available in oil, edible, topical, and vape form, CBD is quickly gaining popularity in the wellness industry. Keep reading as we explore four reasons for this below.

Always consult with a health professional before using any CBD products.

1. Skin Care

The antioxidant properties of CBD oil make it one of today’s go-to beauty products. This is because the powerful antioxidants present in CBD works by alleviating the appearance of fine lines, and other visible signs of aging.

CBD-infused skincare products assist with free radicals which are weak atoms that damage cells and are consequently responsible for aging and other illnesses. By helping with free-radical damage, CBD anti-aging creams and serums may help to alleviate skin issues related to deep lines, wrinkles, acne, crow’s feet, dry skin, eczema, and other skin conditions.

2. Mental Health Wellness

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Baking, yoga, and gardening (consider these local options for plant deliveries) are small self-care practices we incorporate as we begin to care for our mental, physical, and emotional well-being. But CBD also shows some promising signs in mental health wellness as researchers suggest that CBD may be able to help you manage occasional anxiousness. A recent study found that CBD alters how your brain’s receptors (protein messengers that attach to your cells and aid your cells in response to stimuli) react to serotonin.

Serotonin is a natural mood stabilizer that aids with your body’s eating and sleeping functions. Given that serotonin helps your body to regulate its moods naturally, its presence in the brain can also arise feelings of happiness, an overactive mind, and a change in mood levels. Low levels of serotonin have even been linked to depression.

Other benefits of CBD for mental wellness can include stress relief, decreased physiological effects of anxiousness, such as an increased heart rate, and inducing sleep.

3. Insomnia

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Lack of proper sleep has consequences on our health. For starters, it can weaken our immunity, while putting us at risk of various health conditions. Knowing this, many people are now turning to CBD for help with insomnia and other sleep disorders.

Insomnia can arise from a number of reasons‚Äîstress, physical pain, and poor sleep hygiene. Given that CBD shows promise in relaxing an overly active mind, it’s no wonder more people are seeking it out to help them get a good night’s sleep.

4. Chronic Pain Management

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Most individuals living with a chronic disease are also likely to experience chronic pain as a symptom of their illness. To remedy this, research shows that CBD oil is fast gaining popularity as a natural remedy for chronic pain relief. CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties have been found to offer relief to arthritic, migraine, and neuropathic pain‚Äîto mention a few.

Although prescription and over-the-counter medications are often recommended in the treatment of chronic pain, most people also explore alternative homeopathic therapies like acupuncture, nutritional supplements, and CBD oil. The most common reason for this is that most patients wish to bypass some of the common side effects associated with standard pain medication, such as kidney damage.

Just as you would be aware of things to consider while planning for pregnancy which can include reducing alcohol intake, taking prenatal vitamins and folic acid supplements, and scheduling a preconception appointment with your obstetrician, you may also want to be on top of all the ways to manage your chronic pain.

How To Find the Right Therapist for Your Needs

If you’re struggling with your mental health, you’re not alone. Whether you experience depression, anxiety, or another mental health condition that makes life feel more difficult, help is always available. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to contact a therapist who can help you manage your specific needs. Everyone has a different journey toward betterment and a trained therapist can help you determine the right path for what you want to achieve. Numerous resources are available to help you find the right therapist, so it’s important to know exactly what you need before you begin your search.

Determine What You Need

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The first step toward finding the right treatment for your mental health is to determine exactly what you need. Do you want to engage in talk therapy or are you looking for a treatment group where you’re healing alongside others? Would you benefit from speaking with a psychiatrist or a psychologist? There’s a big difference between these two types of medical professionals, so it’s good to know in advance what each does and what they offer you as a patient. A psychiatrist prescribes medication and typically centers their assessment and treatment plan around the use and distribution of the medication to treat your symptoms. A psychologist treats both emotional and mental distress through various methods, including psychotherapy.

If you’re unsure of which option is right for you, start by utilizing an online resource such as With Therapy to determine what type of therapist is best suited to what you’re experiencing. With Therapy is an online database that helps match you with the best therapist available. To start the process, you’ll use the interactive With Therapy website to discuss your concerns, your health background, and any preferences you have for the type of care you want to receive. From there, the site provides you with a list of therapists who are suitable for your concerns and background. You have the ability to see which professional you feel most comfortable with by contacting them directly and trying an initial session.

Always Ask Questions

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When you’re vetting a potential therapist, it’s important to ask specific questions to ensure you’re finding the right fit. Start by asking the therapist how much experience they have working with the issue you’re seeking help for and how they commonly approach a treatment plan for this type of concern. Will you undergo cognitive-behavioral therapy or does the therapist believe a prescription drug will help you manage your symptoms more effectively? Oftentimes, a combination of talk therapy and prescription medication is recommended to help you live a more fulfilling and manageable life.

Another question to ask is what type of insurance plan each therapist accepts, as this often differs from one professional to the next. Speak with your health insurance provider directly if you’d like an initial list of mental health professionals to contact who accept your current plan, or simply ask With Therapy what type of insurance is accepted before you begin your first session. This is especially important if you receive prescription medication, as the cost of these drugs is much higher if you’re paying out of pocket.

Get Started

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Once you vet potential therapists and determine what type of treatment plan works best for you, it’s time to get started. This can be the hardest step as it’s difficult to admit when you need help. After you take the first step by setting up an appointment with your new therapist, everything becomes easier from there. You’ll work directly with your chosen therapist to discuss your concerns and you’ll continually make adjustments along the way to ensure you’re receiving the proper level of care.

If you need prescriptions to help manage symptoms, work with your health insurance provider to see if there are any prescription discount options available to stay within your target budget. Generic prescriptions typically cost less, but your insurance plan may allow you to receive the lowest price for the exact medication you need.

From there, you’ll find a nearby pharmacy like CVS pharmacy where you can easily fill and retrieve your prescriptions whenever you need them. Combined with therapy and other treatments, you’ll start to feel better.

3 Ways to Maintain Your Reputation as a Merchant

Selling goods and services can be very rewarding. However, there’s a right way and a wrong way to go about it. Without a customer base, you have no active market. Therefore it’s imperative to build and maintain a good customer experience as a merchant.

Most companies feel like building a robust business model, hiring a good sales force, selling fewer products for more money, or creating fake discounts on their products is what they need to maximize profit. This is not entirely true.

Gaining your customers’ trust would build a stronger foundation and long-term growth for your business. To ensure that you maintain a good reputation for your target market, achieving good customer satisfaction should be one of your main goals. On that note, here are three ways to maintain your reputation as a merchant.

1. Get a good customer service team or individual.

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Owning a business requires lots of commitment. It’s also tough to run one on your own, especially if you have a high-risk or large-scale business. That’s why it’s best to hire a team to manage your customer needs, concerns, inquiries, etc. Your team could be responsible for the customer service side of things. This includes customer data management and taking handling phone calls. Having a good customer service team cannot be overemphasized. It would help you maintain your reputation and that of your brand with less effort on your part.

However, you’d need a team who can address your customers politely and professionally. Negative experiences stick to people’s memories much more than positive ones. Worse yet, customers aren’t afraid to share these experiences. Using salesforce contact center integration would make this interaction with customers much easier.

2. Be accessible to everyone in your community.

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There’s no need to market your goods if it’s not accessible to people. Being accessible to your customers in all capacities would also help give your business a good reputation. When concerning accessibility, we’re not just referring to the business’s location but also the payment methods and product variety offered.

For example, you have to consider that not everyone likes to carry cash around for security reasons. So, it’s crucial to have various payment options that also include POS payments and online debit/credit card payments (especially if you have an online shop). Currently, there are no federal laws in the US that address online payment services in particular. This means that there’s a high risk of credit card fraud with no legal consequences. Because of this, Mastercard came up with the MATCH list.

This makes it easy to detect high-risk merchants by monitoring their charge-back ratios and other data. Banks can also screen out potential fraudulent merchant accounts thanks to the MATCH database. As a merchant, you need to stay off this list to ensure you maintain a good reputation. If you’re on the MATCH list, banks will flag your account as a high-risk, and you’ll lose credibility.

3. Give back to the community.

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The fact that your community has chosen to patronize your business should encourage you to give something back. In addition to this, companies who give back earn customers’ trust and loyalty. So, you can help by offering resources lacking in that community or even sponsor education and vocational skill-training. That being said, it’s essential not to limit your idea of what a community is. It may not only mean the neighborhood you live in also your social media followers.

All in all, learn and improve your communication skills, be inclusive, respect everyone’s opinions and beliefs and try to be benevolent. This will help you understand what is lacking and how you can lend a helping hand. There’s nothing more attractive than a business that truly cares for its customers’ wellness and livelihood.