We recently interviewed Josh Melick on his time as CEO of Broadly, where he talked about the challenges facing startup founders.

Josh is an engineer, project manager, and seller who has worked at Broadly.com, a mobile CRM and messaging system. From zero to over 10,000 paying SMBs using his Co-Founder and CEO position at Broadly.com, Josh grew the company from nothing to nearly $30 million in venture capital investment.

After his time with the company as CEO Josh now owns and runs a consultancy that is helping other founders and co-founders get better at what they do.

Q: What would you say is the biggest challenge facing startups? And how did your startup meet that challenge?

A: The main problem we faced was customer acquisition cost. Every day, we had to find new companies to introduce our product or service to and convince them that we could make a valuable change to their business. So everything we did, from the wording of our pitch to where we decided to hold our events, was designed to focus on customer acquisition cost management.

Q: How important is it for founders and co-founders to work as a team throughout the challenges that they face? And how do you ensure that you are on the same page concerning your qualifications?

A: A company is usually founded by a group of people who have different backgrounds and areas of expertise. Some founders make it very easy for everyone to get on the same page by setting the example themselves. However, if someone has an area of knowledge, they might get frustrated when asked to do something out of their area. To avoid this, it helps to have one founder who can take control of any situation and get people back on track.

We had a very clear idea of how we wanted the company to be run from top to bottom, but sometimes people didn’t understand why things were done in a certain way. We didn’t have the bandwidth to get anyone up to speed on our business model, so we had an initial plan of attack for how people should work together before we began hiring.

Q: How do you ensure that everyone is working toward a common goal?

A: Our mission for Broadly was very clear and concise. We wanted to help small businesses easily connect with their customers. As long as everyone was working toward this goal, we all knew what we were working on and how it would impact the company’s greater good.

Q: What’s your motivation for meeting challenges? Why do you get up every day to work on your business idea?

A: Some days, we had to get up at 5 AM, while other days, we might not leave the office until midnight. We worked every day on our business because it was something that excited us. There is no clear end goal when dealing with a startup; new problems appear regularly, so it is really exciting to figure out how to solve these problems and use that knowledge to grow the company.

Becoming a therapist can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Opening your own therapy office, another one. It takes a lot of work to make it happen, but it’s not an impossible task.

Here is a checklist for starting a private practice in therapy.

Consult a business lawyer to follow the laws in your state.

Every state has different laws and regulations you’ll need to follow to become a therapist. You need to know if you need professional licensure, and you will need to understand the ideal practices for a business in the field. You’ll also need to know about any malpractice and professional liability insurance you may need to get.

Get all the certifications and education you need to become a therapist.

Moreover, you’ll have to get the proper education and certifications for the practice. This means you’ll have to go to school to get a bachelor’s degree as well as a degree in a certificate program such as a behavior certification online from UC. UC offers a Master of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) which you can take online.

It’s a 30-credit program that prepares you to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). This master’s degree will allow you to provide special education to people diagnosed with various disorders such as autism, anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders, and cognitive impairment, among other things.

Create a business plan.

As you’re working on your education, you can begin working on your business plan. Your business plan will include your business’ vision, marketing strategies, goals, financial plans, and other executive information regarding your company. You can find many templates for this as well as resources to guide you in the process online.

Find an office space and consider adding security measures.

Another step you’ll have to take in this journey is to find a good office space to give roots to your business. This will include making a budget for a confidential office space where you can meet your clients. Additionally, you’ll need office supplies such as phones, internet access, computers, and a security system.

To stay safe and keep your patients safe, you should implement access control methods by Verkada to protect your office’s vulnerabilities. While most people may choose keypads for their door entry point or key fobs, Verkada offers a state-of-the-art access control system using smartphone credentials.

Their security technique involves using a mobile application and Bluetooth technology to interact with a smart reader on an entry point. This system is cloud-based, and therefore, you can choose any time when you want to get someone off your system from any mobile device or computer. This will help you lock and unlock your office from a remote location for an even more secure office.

Hire a team to help run your business.

Additionally, you’ll want to determine if you want to work with a team or other therapists or if you want to go solo. You can hire someone to handle your reception or accounting. Whatever your business needs, know that you can also outsource these jobs to save you time and money.

Establish comprehensible policies.

Having a good set of policies can help your clients understand what they can expect from your business. You’ll have to create policies for payment types, therapy session rates, discounts, fees, cancellations, and HIPAA compliance, among other information. Although clients don’t really read through these policies, it’s important you have them sign it; in case you run into any issues with a patient, you’ll be covered.

Start taking patients.

Lastly, you’re going to want to start taking patients and, to get patients, you’re going to need to market your services. Once you start helping people overcome their problems, they will refer other people to you by word-of-mouth.

This checklist will get you started on your journey towards a successful private therapy practice.

Freelancing is a highly attractive career for individuals seeking flexible work hours and want to choose the work they do while still making more money. As a career path, freelancing has rewards. Buying term papers can provide various benefits of freelancing that can seem attractive to most individuals. Here are a few guidelines on becoming a freelancer in the UK and earning a living from it.

• Choosing your business structure

There are fears surrounding the decision to become a freelancer, such as not getting work and the fact that you will be alone most of the time in front of a computer screen. However, on deciding to join the field, you need to identify the business structure to adopt. You can be a sole trader or create a limited company based on the benefits you seek to accrue and the requirements for each.

• Registering for tax

Freelancing in the UK means that you have no employer who will be managing your tax requirements. Having acquired a legal status of a sole proprietorship or limited company business, registration for taxation purposes follows. For a sole trader, your registration with the HM Revenue and Customs should indicate you are self-employed. For a limited company, ensure filing of a Company Tax Return with the HM Revenue and Customs. When expecting an annual turnover above 85,000 pounds, remember to register for VAT.

• Organizing your finances

To run a freelancing business efficiently and effectively, you will need to set up a vast bookkeeping system for recording all invoices and payments in a structured way that can be easily retrieved. The Xero accounting software is suitable if you wish to track receipts, incomes, and other financial records without hiring an accountant. Getting everything in place early enough saves you the time for when you will be working under pressure with tight deadlines.

• Making the right connections

Becoming a freelancer will need you to develop the right connections to ensure a steady supply of work, especially in the first years of operations. Get yourself and your business out there digitally and whenever possible, physically to amass a customer base. For every person you meet, be kind and support their business whenever you can to turn to a future benefit. For the ones that will reject your offer, be positive about the rejection.

• Being confident

If you do not believe in yourself, your clients will not believe in you and shun away from doing business with you. Be confident in the skills you possess, what you provide to your customers, and who you are. Avoid overlooking the connections and networks you have built and seek advice, referrals, and support from your trusted contacts as you get your business going.

Conclusion

Running a freelancing business can be exhaustive as you try to get the business running from the ground. Many fears surround a freelancing business, and facing them is key to establishing yourself as a freelancer in the UK. Follow the laws of doing business in the country you are in, organize all your financial records, and seek tools to enhance the smooth running of your business. It will pay off in the end.

It’s natural for people to resist change. Some of us don’t want to change things we already got used to. It’s the same with employees. They go to work and leave at around the same time each day. So, when you tell them that something needs to change, they won’t accept it right away. However, if you believe that these changes are suitable for everyone, here are some tips to prevent resistance.

Explain the changes

Don’t tell people to follow the changes as if you’re ordering them to do so. Instead, explain the benefits of these changes. Provide the background until everyone understands the need to pursue the changes. Then, entertain questions and answer them based on what you know so far.

Ask for suggestions

Companies should provide employees with a chance to have a voice on the table. Before you pursue changes, make sure you have everyone’s input. It’s not ideal to tell your employees they should follow or meet the consequences. Instead, allow them to give suggestions before finalising the plan. In doing so, it feels better for everyone. Even if they don’t like all the changes, they feel part of the process.

Offer a reward system

If these changes are about how they do their job, offer a reward system. The employees with the best outputs or are most productive get a bonus. You can even provide team rewards. For example, if everyone accomplished their goal, you could go for a fairground hire, where there are funfair rides for hire, including food and game booths. During that day, no one does anything related to work. As a result, you will have fun and bond as a team.

Understand the resistance

Some employees will accept the changes because they know there’s nothing they can do about it. If almost everyone agrees with the changes, the only thing left to do is to accept. It might take time for them to realise the value of these changes, so you have to be more patient. Allow them to adjust until they understand why you have to do the right thing.

Be optimistic

You took the time to think about the best steps to improve the company. Since you decided to pursue these changes, be optimistic about the results. There might be obstacles along the way, but they’re part of the process. Keep going and embrace the changes. Monitor the progress and don’t hesitate to consider further changes if need be. Companies grow because they accept new ideas and trends. You don’t want to get stuck because you resist in every turn. Think about big companies like Nokia. The brand used to be synonymous with mobile phones. Due to the resistance to change, it’s now an irrelevant brand. If you understand the need for change, pursue it.

Hopefully, your employees will come around and realise that you’re doing what’s best for the company. Even if they disagree at first, they have to work hard to see things through. Besides, if the company succeeds, the employees will also succeed. So, accept everything thrown at you for introducing something new. When you see positive results, everything would be worth it.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

Image: https://unsplash.com/photos/Kz8nHVg_tGI

 

In our modern world, businesses need to stand out in order to thrive. From constantly changing search engine algorithms to the digitization of business operations, there are a plethora of options online that customers have wade through in order to find the best. This is why it’s so important for business owners to focus their energy and resources on building brand recognition and optimizing their online presence. The following are some great tips for business owners looking to stand out in the crowd of the competition.

1. Creating Beautiful Presentations

Business presentations have become an essential resource, particularly so since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and many businesses were forced to switch to remote operations. Being able to effectively captivate your employees, share critical information, and hold your audience’s attention is critical now more than ever before. Essential information about your business goals and upcoming projects needs to be shared with your team clearly and concisely. The best way to do this is with unique and interesting PowerPoint presentations for your team meetings.

The graphic design experts at PowerPoint Design 24/7 can help you bring your creative visions for your presentations to life. Their team understands the importance and nuances of Powerpoint presentation design, and they’re committed to sharing their expert knowledge of modern design. From infographics and charts to unique fonts and color schemes, PowerPoint Design 24/7 can design stunning visuals for your team’s PowerPoint presentations in less time.

2. Partner with an Executive Coach

As the boss, your team members look to you for guidance and leadership. While this is what you do best, sometimes you need some support. This is especially true for small business owners who are bearing the full weight of the leadership responsibility. There are so many details that require your attention and decisions that need to be made on a daily basis that all fall upon you as the boss. This is why it can be so effective to bring in an outside executive coach to help your team thrive.

If you’re new to the coaching process and feel out of your depth, an executive coach might be the exact answer to your problems. The executive coaching experts at the Center for Creative Leadership have years of experience and a proven track record of improving the professional development of businesspeople.

Whether you’re looking to target leadership development or set up more generalized workshops for your entire team, the executive coaches at the CCL have the tools and expertise to make this possible. In order to advance your team and operations to the next level, you need the skills and wisdom that a professional business coach has to offer.

3. Improving Employee Engagement and Collaboration

We are now living in a post-COVID world where business teams have had to routinely adapt to quickly changing circumstances. When the initial government-enforced quarantines were implemented, company leadership at countless businesses had to swiftly adjust their mindset and best practices for their teams.

As teams transitioned to fully remote operations, there was a high potential for disruption in communication and collaboration. The physical distance created many obstacles for businesses whether it was related to deadlines or employee productivity. In order to ensure your team continues working efficiently even while operating from home, you need the right software tools and employee interfaces that allow your entire organization to stay connected.

Having effective communication channels and collaboration tools for your team allows them to communicate with one another efficiently in practical ways. A lack of access to communication channels can be disastrous for any team, but it’s especially troublesome for teams that are working remotely. Not being able to meet face-to-face with your team members shouldn’t mean that your business operations have to suffer. With the right software tools, you can keep your team focused and regularly meeting business goals.

More businesses are recognizing the benefits of turning their data into insights that can set their company on the right foot forward. A proper data management system can be an undeniable asset, and it starts with a business establishing its data fabric. Data fabric is an end-to-end integration solution that provides a unified, consistent user experience that allows organizations to share and manage their data sources. Here are just some of the things that data fabric technology has to offer your company.

1. Creating a unified data environment.

One of the greatest benefits of data fabric is having a unified data platform for employees companywide to have access to. This allows a company to take a massive amount of data from all branches, ranging from forecasting to marketing and customer behavior. This gives an organization a competitive advantage, with real-time insight derivation to make a company a cut above the rest.

This allows for higher-ups to make quicker business decisions for the expansion of a business and the innovation of new products. Proper data storage will assure that information inputted into this data fabric technology is of the highest quality, with no missing info or replication.

2. Risk Mitigation

Data fabric provides real-time analytics, with the help of artificial intelligence, to understand virtual models and forthcoming scenarios from the data pipeline. An agile model allows for adjustments to be made as needed, with data engineers making sure that the platform operates across all data assets.

This makes business users wary of any forthcoming issues with either product development or the customer experience. This provides maximum integrity while maintaining accessibility and a quicker flow of datasets. This form of data architecture can also be used to monitor all of this information for any regulatory issues.

3. Fast Query Times

With proper architecture within a data fabric, you’ll have data quality and reliability at your fingertips. Thanks to the digital transformation, insights are accessible with a quick search that specifies what within a database a customer or employee may be looking for. For businesses operating out of multiple locations, a hybrid cloud can allow for the access of data from any endpoint within a data management system.

Through data virtualization, engineers no longer have to comb through physical data in a lengthier process. The expedited process will depend on the data type, but vendors are making great strides in innovation each day.

4. Reducing Costs

Big data fabric can be a game-changer for even the largest of companies, reducing the number of man-hours spent on data management, and other business processes. Business intelligence and automation with a standardized format can allow for a quick upload of data and easier access.

By decreasing down from data silos, this cloud environment helps a global corporation better monitor its data assets. These virtual models can also make companies aware of different hurdles that could come up in the production or development of goods. By avoiding these hindrances and prototype creation, the savings are immediately carried over to a company.

5. Optimizing Data Security

The most important part of any data fabric platform is that the information uploaded into the system is safely protected. Data protection is important not only for the safety of a customer’s personal information but also for regulatory compliance in certain lines of industry. By controlling who has access to business data and when, a company can take solace in knowing that information is safe in hand, with analytics to follow that are secured by their systems. Machine learning and data management are bringing companies into 2021 with greater structure, and an embrace of what the future may hold.

 

EDI or electronic data interchange is the communication of business documents between different companies. Simply put, EDI is an electronic communication format that replaces paper documents like invoices or purchase orders. The process of automating paper-based transactions allows companies to save time and reduce the likelihood of costly errors that are often the result of manual processing. EDI transactions involve information moving directly from a computer application in one organization to a computer application in another. This allows for the rapid sharing of data over hours, days or weeks compared to using paper documents and other methods. Here’s what to consider when choosing EDI software.

Data Transaction Volume

Since EDI is all about moving files and other data objects quickly between different computer applications, the amount of data volume that you want to move needs to be taken into account. Working out your data transaction volume is important as you will need to make sure that the platform or software that you choose is strong enough to manage the volume.

Integration

There are a number of different ways that EDI software integration can be done. You might wish to do an ad hoc integration with limited synthesis between the EDI software and your operations, or alternatively, you could integrate your EDI software into the workflow itself. One main advantage of this is that it can provide several opportunities for you to streamline your processes and enhance the data exchange from the beginning to the end of the workflow.

Managed or In-House?

One of the biggest things that you will have to consider is whether you are going to be managing your EDI platform yourself or outsourcing it to a service provider. It may not always be logical for your company to manage its own EDI no matter how small the business is. You will need to think about factors such as hiring and training somebody who has the necessary IT skills.

Support

It’s also important to look at the team behind the EDI software itself to ensure that it’s going to continue to meet your needs over time. One of the most important aspects of this is making sure that the EDI software you choose is able to support all the formats and standards that you need. Bear in mind that you may gain new clients who use different systems to your current clients, so it’s important to choose an EDI provider that is flexible and able to help your business grow over time.

Scalability

Scalability is a very important factor to consider, especially if you plan to integrate your EDI software directly into your workflow. The software will need to match both current data transfer demands and your projected demands. When integrating software into your actual processes and the software reaches its limit, it’ll put a stop to any business expansion. It’s important to choose an EDI provider who can expand with your business rather than being the cause of any disruption.

Today, EDI is becoming more and more important for businesses of all sizes. Choosing the right EDI provider can make all the difference to business success.

 

Since the establishment of F.H. Cann & Associates Inc. (FHC), it has been a national leader in ensuring that clients get the best services out of business process outsourcing (BPO) solutions, loan servicing, financial recovery.

Also, clients’ needs are put first and as such customized care solutions are provided to cater to their needs, these include their safety and security.

At F.H. Cann & Associates Inc., the importance of technology to protect customers is never overlooked. To this end, there is continuous investment in advanced technologies to provide staff with competitive edge and customers with valued service and protection.

In today’s post, we’ll highlight the top technologies used by F.H. Cann & Associates Inc. in 2021 to protect customers.

Artiva collection system from Ontario Systems

This technology is one of the most customizable and robust systems in the industry. It has been specifically designed for complex, yet, customizable workflows that are peculiar to each client.

This cutting-edge technology meets the federal government’s stringent requirement for security and flexibility. As all transactions are user, time, and data stamped, this provides the Client and F.H. Cann & Associates Inc. with the knowledge of who accessed what and at what time.

Collection Floor Security Standards

After 120 seconds of inactivity, all workstations automatically go into lockdown mode. Employees are also prohibited from using cellular phones in their workplaces and access to client and debtor information are restricted to a few authorized employees alone.

Secure Electronic File Transfer

File transfers are acknowledged and monitored on a daily basis and they all undergo a quality check to ensure that the files are not corrupted and that all of the data are in the correct fields. Also, the quality assurance manager is there from time to time to review each file for accuracy and discrepancy.

Network Security

Since F.H. Cann & Associates Inc.is a contractor of the federal government, all sensitive data of clients are on a well-protected network security segment. Therefore, they are inaccessible to third party.

With over two decades of serving vast database of clientele with excellent and secure customer services, we have the capacity, resources and experience to handle your ever-growing business while giving you the attention and time that you deserve and demand.

Related Reading:
Top Technology Trends that are Helping the BPO Industry
Our Favorite Work-From-Home Digital Tools In 2021

Are you planning to develop your career in the Beer Industry? If yes, then you must have to convert your passion into your career. Now, I understand that you may have several questions in your mind regarding your career in the beer industry.

It is pretty natural to have questions and doubts in your mind before you want to join the beer industry. For example, what types of jobs do you need to perform in the Beer industry? What are the prospects that you can get from it? What is the salary you can draw from this industry? These are some of the common and obvious.

Types Of Jobs The Brewing Industry Can Offer You

There are multiple types of jobs that the beer industry can offer you if you can explore the industry properly at the right time. But, first, let’s identify the facts you need to take care of while building your career in the beer industry.

1. Brewer

The opportunity for microbrewery is enormous in the beer industry. So you need to address the whole host of the options for all the brewers to all the level of brewers whether they are qualified or not qualified technical personnel.

Melvin Brewing provides several types of job opportunities to some of the passionate brewers of your country. However, you have to understand these facts before making your decisions for building your career in brewing.

2. Engineer

The roles of engineers in the beer industry are immense. They can start their career starting from the maintenance or through building the projects. However, in the mechanics, processes, systems, and constructions, the beer industry can flourish faster. Creative beer Mugs are one of the best engineering crafts of this industry. The salary scales of the Engineer are also quite good in this industry.

If you are a sound engineer and have a passion for brewing, you can build your career here, and it can help you achieve your objectives in the right way at the right time. However, like any other job, you have to be a sound engineer who needs to qualify to manage this position effectively.

3. Microbiologist

You will get the opportunity for lab work if you are a microbiologist or a chemist in the beer industry. You have to identify the opportunities to achieve your career objectives in the beer industry. You can live your passion if you can develop your knowledge about this industry in the correct order.

You have to do the quality assistance and the analysis job to maintain the beer quality that will be sold in the market. It is why the beer manufacturers today seek the help of the beer manufacturing companies to develop their process of turnover in the market.

4. Manager

There are lots of career opportunities there in the beer industry for management candidates. It starts from brewery manager, production manager, operations manager, logistics managers, and sales and marketing manager.

If you have the proper qualification and experience to handle these positions, you can quickly build your career here. You must develop your soft skills and knowledge about this industry to make things happen in your favor.

5. Sales & Marketing

Like all the industries, the beer industry is also dependent on sales and marketing professionals to increase their level of profitability to develop their brand image in the right direction at the right time.

You have to know the industry well to boost the sales figure of your beer company. You cannot make the wrong attempt in this while seeking a future career in the beer industry. You need to know the norms to act upon them better.

Career Options You Can Pursue In Beer Industry

Multiple career options you can pursue in the beer industry if you want to build your career here. You can opt for these career options when you want to develop your career in this domain. Ensure that you know the details well of these career options while growing your career in this field. Also, ensure that you do not commit any mistakes from your end while handling these career domains.

When it comes to encrypt and also authenticate data, which passes from one computer to another, SSH and SSL both the technologies help. At a high level, they are similar in many ways, but they offer two very different purposes.

So, it is really important to understand the differences between SSH and SSL. But before we dig deeper into the major differences between SSH and SSL, it will be better if we get some basic idea of what SSH and SSL are along with the SSH key manager.

What Is SSH?

SSH represents Secure Shell. SSH provides a secure way of remotely logging in to another computer and then issuing commands, for example, your website. With the help of SSH tunneling, you can develop an encrypted connection between the client and a website server.

For creating a secure SSH tunnel, one is required to authenticate using either a username or a password. Setting a cryptographic public key or the private key will also do. Once you’re done with the authentication, you can access information securely and via the command line, also can issue commands to the remote server.

What is SSL?

Secure Socket Layer is the original term for SSL. Have you heard of the TLS or Transport layer security? Technically, SSL is the older version of this more modern protocol. But for all practical purposes, we can consider SSL and TLS as the same.

The SSL protocol was primarily designed for protecting the transmission of data with authentication and encryption between two parties. Most commonly, this transmission involves someone’s web browser and the server of the specific website they are visiting.

Indeed SSL helps in authenticating the server, but any authentication from the client is not required here. This is totally different from SSH, where the client’s authentication is always required.

SSH Versus SSL: High-Level Differences

There are two things that you need to keep in mind for SSH and SSL. They are:

• Both help you in creating secure connections.
• Both encrypt the particular data, which passes between two devices.

Now I will tell you the key difference. One uses SSH for building a secure tunnel to another computer, and from this, he or she can transfer data, issue commands, and a lot more.

On the other side, one uses SSL for securely transferring data between two parties. It does not allow him or her to issue any commands, just he or she can do with SSH.

As long as you enabled HTTPS and installed an SSH certificate, everyone who is visiting your website will be able to interact with the server of the site using SSL. in order to access your site; they do not need to authenticate themselves.

On the other hand, the only person who is capable of interacting with SSH will be you, along with other technical users, who have direct access, and are also capable of authenticating themselves with a username and password or a specific cryptographic key.

SSH Versus SSL: More Technical

There are also some technical differences between SSH and SSL which will not be for you if you are a casual user. But for more technical-minded people, they are vital.

SSH	SSL
It runs on port 22.	It runs on port 443.
It is totally based on a network tunnel.	It is based on digital certificates. Like an SSL certificate.
It is a cryptographic network protocol.	It is nothing but a security protocol.
SSH is used to remotely and securely connect to another machine for issuing commands.	SSL is used to transmit data securely between two parties. Usually, these two parties are a visitor of your website and the server of your website.
Here the client needs to authenticate with a username and password or a cryptographic key.	Here the client is not required to authenticate; authentication is only required on the server-side.

Conclusion

So, these are the differences between SSH and SSL. The main purpose is quite similar, but there are differences in operations and technological facts between SSH and SSL if we look deeper. Was that helpful? Do let us know.