I’ve nothing new to read…

Posted August 28, 2020 By Frank Strona

Unlike when I talk about cable these days – “I have nothing to read” are words you will rarely hear come out of my mouth.

Whats makes that even better has been my Amazon Prime membership. It’s been a constant companion since I was back in school. From Summer and winter “disconnect trips” to my commutes between San Francisco and DC/Atlanta. Having the ability to download groups of books has meant I always have something to read.

Summer Reads

With COVID19 keeping so many of us indoors,  in addition to many bookstores closing up, many of us have not been able to get to our fav bookstores. So while I still advocate using independent bookstores when you can. It may be time for you to try #Amazon Prime. I’ve been a fan of it for several years. 

They currently have a discount promo being offered with 50% off the regular monthly subscription; https://amzn.to/3llLOAp

 

 

Try Prime Discounted Monthly Offering

          

Tired of coming across badly in video calls?

Posted August 18, 2020 By Frank Strona

Learn from the students who know.

Adjustable and dimmable ring lights offer a flexible easy way to give you better lighting. Also great for new tiktok users and stuck-at-home workers needing portable lighting.


Amazon is offering 50% off till 9/4 for the one I use.


Neewer 18-inch SMD LED Ring Light Dimmable Lighting Kit w/stand 50% off with code till 9/4.

 

          

Most business owners understand the importance of social media for their respective companies. If you’re wanting to increase your company’s social media presence, it’s wise to think about marketing your business on Facebook. Before doing this, it’s helpful to learn a few tips. Here is everything you need to know about using Facebook to market your business.

A High-Traffic Platform

When choosing where to market your business, it’s helpful to do this on a platform with a lot of visitors. Fortunately, you can find this type of platform by marketing your business on Facebook. According to Harvey Agency, Facebook remains the most heavily used of all social media platforms with an average of 1.59 billion active users every day. These users are spending their time frequently reading posts, leaving comments, and liking their favorite companies.

Do’s and Don’ts for Posting

It’s difficult for your business to have a following on Facebook if you’re not posting content. Considering that, there are do’s and don’ts you’ll want to learn before posting on Facebook. It’s a good idea to post relevant and engaging content that your company’s audience will find interesting. According to GovLoop, you’ll also want to make sure you’re responding to questions and comments from your audience. On the other hand, don’t post anything that might come across as controversial. This often includes anything having to do with politics or religion. Also, don’t make every post overly promotional. Aim for a mix of promotional and informative content.

Pay Close Attention to Metrics

As you know, posting content on Facebook is a great way for your brand to extend its reach. However, you might be unaware that Facebook offers performance metrics for each post you create. These metrics include how many people you’re reaching as well as how much engagement each of your posts receives. By looking at these metrics, you can figure out how to tailor your company’s Facebook marketing strategy in the future. If you ignore these metrics, you might make this mistake of posting lackluster content.

When you start using Facebook to market your business, make sure you keep these things in mind. If you do it the right way, using Facebook as a marketing tool can have many positive effects on your company. For help with learning how to do this, it’s wise to work with a digital marketing company.

One big reminder is to also make sure you create and promote your business using a Facebook Page. Not your personal profile. This allows you to keep some separation between personal and professional posting content. As well as easier integration with tools like Hootsuite, Twitter or Instagram. You can check mine out at MentorSFCA or visit my full social media catalog by visiting me on Linktr.ee

 

          

Living with anxiety can make everything feel a little bit more difficult. However, it is still possible to thrive in every area of your life. Here are some tips for career success if you deal with anxiety.

Create a Better Balance

Managing anxiety means not letting anyone area of your life dominate everything else. This requires you to find a balance between your work life and your mental health. Letting your mental health suffer while you try to get ahead at work will only lead to more anxiety.

Try to have clear lines between your work life and your home life, and create boundaries that keep them separate. Make sure you still have time to work out, eat well and practice meditation to help manage your anxiety. This will help you succeed in every area of your life by calming your inner turmoil. Don’t let your career take so much of your time that self-care disappears.

Consider a Different Career

Some careers are not a great fit for those who suffer with anxiety. You need to find a career you are passionate about that doesn’t cause your anxiety to go into overdrive. If you suffer from social anxiety, you probably don’t need to work in a crowded building where you never have time alone. Lack of opportunities to decompress without someone else around can increase your anxiety.

There are several other environmental factors that can contribute to social anxiety disorders. Yelling co-workers, bosses who bully or an environment that reinforces negative gender roles can cause your social anxiety to feel unmanageable. Be careful about what career you choose and what kind of work environment you expose yourself to at the office.

Find Support

You may be reluctant to talk to your boss about struggling with anxiety. It’s common for people to worry that these conversations will make them appear weak or unable to cope with a job. However, you do need support to know that you are not alone.

If you don’t want to seek support at work, find a support group or therapist outside of your career to help you cope. Outside support can positively help you professionally because it will show you constructive ways to deal with your anxiety when it flairs. It will also give you a place to go for advice when you have work-related stress that feels overwhelming.

Anxiety doesn’t have to keep you from a successful career. Use appropriate techniques to make sure your mental health struggles don’t stop you from thriving in the workplace.

For more great career advice, attend one of our great workshops or contact me for a free “Get To Know Me” session to discuss how personal coaching can support you.

 

          

Checking in from the remote field

Posted March 27, 2020 By Frank Strona

Hi Everyone

I just wanted to take a few minutes and check-in.

As many of you know I am in my third week of “Shelter In Place” here in San Francisco. I am supporting the local health department with COVID-19 activities. It dawned on me this morning, after my second conference call before 7:30 am, that while I normally work remotely – this may be a new world for you.

So I am sharing a few tricks I use to get through the week with some sanity. 

  • Remember you are not alone. While it may feel like the world is a lonely place right now. Many others are feeling it as well and people are available to talk, listen and share.  This isn’t the time to get stuck in emails and text, and likely the break will be good for both. So pick up that phone and call!
  • Staying Healthy is more than just being aware of what you touch. How is your home ergonomics? What works for the occasional few hours isn’t going to be all that great on your backs, necks and arms week after week. Check out this article on how to optimize your workspace at home.
  • Watch what you are eating. Ok, I am one of those people who tends to snack all day while working. So I needed to figure out a way to not get stuck in a sugar crash or gain unwanted pounds.
    • Instead of a bag of candy on your table or desk – get that bag of fruit, wash them well and leave them in various bowls around the home. Let everyone know that these are “anytime” foods that they do not need to be asked for. Apples, pears, oranges, banana are perfect for this but buy what is in the season for you.
    • If you are a fruit salad fan – this is the best time to make a huge batch up and portion them into those random “lock & locks” and canning jars that you accumulated for your summer crafting. Making up a bunch in smaller containers will make it a “grab and go” for you and your family.
    • Prepare ahead; here are two of my favorite make-ahead breakfasts which means I don’t have cook up something every day. Try overnight Oatmeal or Chia Seed pudding (I make mine dairy-free and with chocolate once a week). They both require no cooking and if you mix it up the night before – it will be ready for breakfast and lasts for several days. Another favorite of mine is Peanut Butter Protein Oatcakes. Now before you roll your ears they are actually really good. You can swap out lots of the ingredients to match your dietary needs too. But I make up a huge batch on Sundays, cool and freeze them. They thaw quickly and toast up well. They can be eaten like a pancake with jam, butter or syrup, or as the bread for a breakfast PBJ sandwich.
  • Take Breaks. Ask “Siri” or “Alexa” to remind you to stand every hour or so. Take a walk to the window or even step outside the door.  Have daytime cuddle breaks with your kids or your pets. Take a moment for self-care and shower, brush your teeth etc. Walk your dog. They need outdoor time. Just be health aware.
  • Plan ahead Discuss with everyone in your space and negotiate “me time”, “work time” and ‘family time”. Most folks tend to overwork and then stress themselves out when they first jump on the “remote work” option. It is very easy to get lost in that “one last thing”. Yet, the next thing you know it is now 8:00 pm and you have been at it since 7:00 am.

Ok – I just wanted to give you all a few ideas and remind you, we are all adjusting to lots of changes and its ok to be stressed.  People are available to talk. Stay in touch with your Advisors if you are feeling like you are overwhelmed in the course and discuss options

          

How to Empower Yourself Financially

Posted January 20, 2020 By GuestSpot

Managing finances can be overwhelming for anyone. Mastering this process is not something that will happen overnight. In order to make the best financial decisions for yourself, you need to get in the habit of practicing solid financial processes. Here are a few things you can do to empower yourself financially so you can feel confident about your financial future.

Budgeting

Budgeting your money is a great habit to build for yourself if you’re looking to save more money. It’s a great way to be more aware of what you are spending and make sure that you have enough money for both your wants and your needs. When creating a budget, YNAB advises that it’s always a good idea to make sure that you are living a lifestyle that costs less than the money you are bringing in. This will ensure that you have enough for all of your living expenses while still having enough money to keep adding to your financial nest egg. You should also regularly examine your budget and make tweaks as necessary.

Approaching Debt Carefully

Taking out debt can be necessary for certain situations, but it’s important to approach it carefully. Taking on too much debt can be a big financial downfall for many people. To avoid problems, it’s important to be tactful about what you take out debt for. Everyone can understand the temptation of putting things on your credit card and thinking that you will be able to pay it off later. However, it does not take long for the debt to spiral out of control and send you on the path to financial disaster. If you find yourself in the position of thinking that declaring bankruptcy will solve your financial problems, Cornwell Bankruptcy advises that you carefully examine all of your options. You should find alternatives to bankruptcy if you feel you are at risk. Having a bankruptcy on your record will stifle your economic advancement for years. Making sure that you approach debt tactfully and carefully will help you to avoid problems like these.

Planning for the Future

Especially when you are just starting out in your adult life, it may not seem that important to begin thinking about your financial future. However, Betterment says that this is exactly the right time to begin saving and investing for what lies down the road. Understanding the power of compounding interest will help you to see why it is vital that you begin the saving process as early as possible. In addition to planning for your retirement, you should also consider your life insurance needs to protect your family. Think about how you’ll save for your children’s college education and more. There is absolutely no downside to being financially prepared for what is in your future path.

Developing solid financial habits now will put you on the road to financial freedom and empowerment. While it takes great discipline and dedication, the end results will be well worth it.

For more financial tips, check out this article: Stop Stressing About Your Finances: 5 Tips to Reduce Financial Stressors

          

Poor Financial Choices and How to Avoid Them

Posted January 16, 2020 By GuestSpot

Building good credit takes time. It is not something that will happen overnight. In order to boost your credit score, you need to get in the habit of practicing solid financial processes while avoiding poor choices. Here are three of the more common financial choices that can usually stop you up and how you can avoid them.

Not Budgeting

Not taking the time to properly budget your money is a big reason that many people have problems saving money. When creating a budget, YNAB advises that it’s always a good idea to make sure that you are living a lifestyle that costs less than the money you are bringing in. This will ensure that you have enough for all of your living expenses while still having enough money to keep adding to your financial nest egg. You should also regularly examine your budget and make tweaks as necessary.

Getting into Unnecessary Debt

Taking on too much debt is the biggest financial downfall for many people. Everyone can understand the temptation of putting things on your credit card and thinking that you will be able to pay it off later. However, it does not take long for the debt to spiral out of control and send you on the path to financial disaster. If you find yourself in the position of thinking that declaring bankruptcy will solve your financial problems, Cornwell Bankruptcy advises carefully examine all of your options. You should find alternatives to bankruptcy if you feel you are at risk. Having a bankruptcy on your record will stifle your economic advancement for years.

“It takes money to make money” is sad but true. When possible pay off bills and take advantage of prepaying discounts.

Not Planning for the Future

Especially when you are just starting out in your adult life, it may not seem that important to begin thinking about your financial future. However, Betterment says that this is exactly the right time to begin saving and investing for what lies down the road. Understanding the power of compounding interest will help you to see why it is vital that you begin the saving process as early as possible. In addition to planning for your retirement, you should also consider your life insurance needs to protect your family. Think about how you’ll save for your children’s college education and more. There is absolutely no downside to being financially prepared for what is in your future path.

Developing solid financial habits now will put you on the road to financial freedom. While it takes great discipline and dedication, the end results will be well worth it.

For more financial tips, check out this article: Stop Stressing About Your Finances: 5 Tips to Reduce Financial Stressors

          

Apps to Help Manage Your Health

Posted January 15, 2020 By GuestSpot

It’s easier than ever to manage your health with a myriad of apps designed to encourage your overall physical and mental wellbeing. Regardless of whether you are counting calories or tracking your sleep patterns, there is an app for every health issue. Here are four types of apps that will help you to more effectively manage your health, both physical and mental. (None of the links mentioned on this post are affiliate links)

Health Maintenance

The fitness industry has jumped on the app bandwagon with a wide selection of trackers designed to help you manage your overall health. Pedometers built into your phone help users to track steps taken so that you hit all of your daily activity goals. There are also apps to help track overall fitness goals such as losing weight, building strength, and improving flexibility.

If you have a smart device wristwatch, many of them are connected to a different app. But just having your phone on you will work as well. I love to use MapMyRun (which I use for walking as well) and find it tends to be my favorite.

Nutritional Management

Along with tracking your physical activity, you are going to want to manage how you nourish your body. There are a variety of apps on the market that help you to count calories and track the nutrients that you take in each day. You can even find apps to help you track your nutritional habits when eating out. This will teach you to stay honest and accountable about what you are eating.

Managing Mental Health

Mental illness is a health issue that should not be taken lightly. With the increasing number of health apps available today, you can track common symptoms of psychological distress to help deal with them. There are even apps that will help calm your nerves and put you in a better space mentally through the use of soothing sounds and music. Finding an app that encourages and supports better moods will go a long way in helping you to deal with mental health problems. Mindfulness is a big keyword these days when searching for apps that work to reduce your stress by reminding you to focus on yourself. My best suggestion is to try a few out and find the one that resonates with you, I tend to use Breathe.

Sleep Tracking

You cannot be healthy without getting enough sleep each night. Sleep deprivation leads to a host of health issues, including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and more. Getting quality rest can be a challenge for many people who have issues falling into a deep and restorative sleep. A dedicated sleep app can help you to track your sleep and ensure that you are actually getting deep REM sleep each night.

In today’s increasingly connected world, you can track and manage a bevy of factors that contribute to good health. Consider any one of the apps listed above and leverage the power of technology to manage your health. Your body and mind will thank you.

When it comes to being healthy, there’s a wealth of resources out there. But an overload of information can make things seem overwhelming. That’s why I’ve specially curated my top wellness picks for you.

          

How to Make a Successful Website for Your Business

Posted January 9, 2020 By Frank Strona

You’ve put in all the work to drive customers to your website. From implementing SEO into your blogs and product descriptions to undertaking massive marketing campaigns, there are a lot of things you can do to get traffic. However, if customers arrive at your site only to find a complicated navigational system that prevents them from finding your products quickly, you can safely assume that the customer will move on without making a purchase. Keep reading for some of the best ways to avoid these issues and create a successful website for your business.

Design from the Ground Up

One of the most common challenges when attempting to fix a website is that there is simply too much to redo. Often, starting from the ground up is the easiest and most effective way to really put that unique touch on it. Keep the principles of good design in mind when designing your website from the ground up. This means that if you are looking to add a video to your homepage, always make sure that it looks good on all devices, such as mobile, tablet, and desktop. Make sure it’s easy for customers to navigate the website to find what they want.

Hint: Ask yourself – will is pass the “Click Test”.

Can your users find what they are looking for in less than 4 clicks of the mouse? Make content accessible.

Create Engaging Content

An often-overlooked area of website design is engagement. Simply having a customer on your website does not mean instant sales. When a potential customer is on your website, they must continue along with the selling process. This can be done through engagement tactics, such as providing instant polls, questionnaires, and even a video demonstration of your product, to name a few possibilities. Providing consumers with an engaging website can certainly increase your conversions.

Hint: Is it too much?

Sometimes all the bells and whistles actually slow the site down and make users frustrated. So balance affiliate ads,  pup ups, promotions with solid content.

Show Comments and Reviews

A common challenge for new online companies is gaining the confidence of their customers. Customers want to know that whoever they are dealing with is going to be professional and take care of their personal information. What better way to show that you are not only legitimate but that customers see great results than by allowing comments and reviews on your website. Doing this might be a little daunting, as it also allows negative feedback to be seen. However, responding and making sure things are right can show potential customers that even when things do go bad, you are professional and responsive enough to fix it.

Hint: To comment or not to comment

One of the challenges with leaving comments on is that they sit. If you aren’t willing to respond to comments (especially those that aren’t favorable or may offer a difference of opinion. It is good to consider posting a note, letting people know that not all comments are responded too. Or choose on a case by case posting which you will turn comments features on for and then log on each day for 7 days and post a brief response to content specific comments.

Remember to Update Content

Update your content and your back-end design. Especially links. Nothing is worse than putting up your content , then not keeping it fresh. This includes running updates, checking links, revisiting old posts and revising to reflect changes, etc.

Creating a successful business has many components. One of the most important is your website. A website is one of the last stops for your customers, and it should be understood that this can break or make the sale.

          

How to Become a Better Problem Solver at Work

Posted January 5, 2020 By GuestSpot

Problems at work are always going to arise, even if everyone gets along and knows how to do their job. However, dealing with problems doesn’t have to cause strife, especially not if you know how to address them and move forward. These tips will help you to improve your problem-solving skills at work.

Deal With What You Know

When you’re solving a math problem, you need to assess the available information to help you figure out what the first steps are. Similarly, with a work problem, you need to assess your knowledge of the situation. According to InsideOut Development, the GROW model is all about making the right choices with what you already know. Broken down between goal, reality, options, and will, it lets you take a moment to get your thoughts together. It can keep you from making irrational decisions. Use this method for small problems, such as having to figure out how to perform a certain operation on a new printer, and keep at it in the event of a major problem.

Identify All Possible Solutions

Problems can have different solutions, but not all situations are made alike. One solution might benefit you, but it could also put coworkers in a bind. Another solution could end up putting so much stress on you that it’s going to cause more problems. According to Lean Decisions, write down all the feasible solutions, even ones that you know you won’t use. Then, go through and list the pros and cons of each one. This will let you quickly strike the worst solutions and focus on which of the good ones is the best. None of them might be perfect, but your evaluation can get you closer to that point.

Don’t Be Afraid To Fail

Most of us are afraid that trying and falling short is a super bad thing. But in many cases, it can be the opposite. If you deconstruct where the “fail” went, you can, in fact, use it to your advantage and take the lesson learned and revise the plan. No this doesn’t mean your team or supervisor, won’t have comments or tension around the fail. But if you get ahead of it and create a culture that looks at being engaged and taking failures as a win. It can change and support risk-taking for real growth.

Get Help

Trying to solve problems can keep you so focused on yourself that you forget about others and the solutions they could have. A coworker could drop a bit of wisdom even without you seeking out their advice specifically. They might also notice the problem and offer their opinion in hopes that you can put your heads together. Problems don’t have to start with one person, and they don’t have to end that way either.

If there weren’t any problems to solve, there wouldn’t be much motivation to improve. The positivity that comes from solving a problem can be fuel to keep going. When you become a better problem solver, you can also be a great help to your coworkers and bosses by showing that there are options beyond throwing their hands up in frustration.

Here’s another article you might like: How to Be Respected by Your Employees