10 Apprentice Tips Lessons from Lord Sugar

10 Apprentice Tips Lessons from Lord Sugar Lord Sugar is one of the most successful entrepreneurs of his time, so there are probably a few lessons that we can learn from the businessman who went from working class lad to multi-millionaire tycoon! He may not be the most popular man on the planet, but I think that its fair to say that he has his head screwed on when it comes to business. Having founded the company Amstrad at just 21 years old and received a knighthood, I think thats more than most professionals can say! So what can we learn from the infamous Apprentice host? 1) Not everything can be taught Not everyone has it in them to be a successful entrepreneur, so you can read all the books you like about how to start your own business, but if you dont have an entrepreneurial mind you will struggle. For Alan it was clear that he was destined to run his own company from a young age, having spotted  business ideas since as young as 12 years old and taking on several jobs while he was at school. 2) Start a business in something you know about Dont wake up one morning and decide youre going to start a business in an area that you are vaguely interested in, as you wont have any credibility. You must have experience in the area in order to succeed in it, whether it be from your career or a hobby of yours. Before you launch head first into a business venture, you must also do you homework and research your market thoroughly to ensure your product doesnt already exist! 3) Experience trumps  qualifications Lord Sugar describes himself as a commercial person rather than an academic, so therefore has no regrets about not going to University and doesnt believe it would have made any difference to where he is now. Although theres nothing wrong with wanting to further your education and it can open a lot of doors in your career, Alan is living proof that  you can get by just fine without a degree and sometimes life experience is more valuable. 4) You must take a proactive approach Want something? Go get it! You must be driven and have a hunger to succeed, as this will provide you with the necessary motivation to go to all means necessary to  meet your goals. Know what you want to achieve, make a plan about how you intend on going about it and then stick to it. A level of focus and forward thinking needs to be adopted, so have  a positive attitude and create your own opportunities. 5) Respect is more important than likeability To be a good leader you dont necessarily have the be the most popular person in the office, but you do need to have the respect from your colleagues and business associates. In order to gain respect you must show others respect, stick to your guns and inspire. 6) Everything is open to negotiation Never accept the first offer. Just about everything is negotiable and with a bit of haggling, you will nearly always get a better price than the initial figure. You just need to stick to your guns and negotiate hard. 7) Dont be naive Dont be too quick to trust, especially in the early days of your business. People will try to sell you things that you dont need, which you really cant afford when money is tight and it could even be the breaking point for you business. Dont get ripped off.  All of your budget and time should be used for winning customers in the first few months. 8) Never  give up You have to be prepared for set backs when you enter business. There will  be times when you feel like things arent going exactly to plan, but if you believe in your business, its worth sticking to! Stay focused and take action  to get things going. You cant expect to become an overnight success, so dont try to run before you can walk. True success takes time and hard work. 9) Have a unique selling point and know your product inside out Your product has to stand out on the market or people will just go elsewhere. Be creative and find a unique selling point that you can  market you product based on and if you cant think of a niche, just make sure your product is better than others. Make sure you know your product inside out, so that you are qualified to answer any questions your customers have and can spin your pitch for individuals needs. 10) Hook customers with a great price From experience Lord Sugar has learnt that cutting prices generates sales. So if you start off by offering a product at a lower price, you can reel the customers in and then sell them the benefits of your more advanced and slightly more expensive model.  Alan says that 9 out of 10 will then go to buy more expensive model.

Determining Your New Businesss Tech Needs - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Determining Your New Businesss Tech Needs - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Equipping Your Startup with the Right Tech Entrepreneurs have enough on their plate without worrying about the technological needs of their new business. Between complicated and highly technical infrastructure, advanced operating systems and constantly evolving technologies, it can be difficult for the most steadfast of IT pros to keep up. The majority of todays enterprises share many of the same IT needs, so there are some generic steps you can follow to ensure your companys capacity for doing business in the 21st century. Computer Hardware Think of your computer hardware as the basic infrastructure of your entire IT operation. Personal and laptop computers, user workstations, mainframe systems, dedicated servers and even the wires, hubs and routers that connect them are all a part of your companys most rudimentary of technological needs. Modern computers are powerful enough today that nearly any store-bought model could run a business, but the majority of consumer-oriented PCs are geared toward gaming, multimedia or online streaming. As you can probably tell, none of these applications are useful when maintaining an enterprise. Servers provide you with massive amounts of storage that are accessible by any devices within your business network. They are incredibly helpful when launching a new business because many servers are scaleable, meaning they can be upgraded and expanded, as your IT requirements grow. The hardware needed to run a successful enterprise ultimately depends on your area of business. For many, a system with a speedy processor and a relatively low amount of RAM will suffice. If you have a server, you can also afford to skimp on the storage capacity of your individual workstations and devices. Computer Software Once you decide on the exact type of hardware youll run, its time to choose your software. There are a plethora of options available, but companies tend to use Windows or Linux. In fact, Microsoft currently accounts for roughly 75 percent of all enterprise systems today. In contrast, Linux is currently used on 99 percent of supercomputers across the world. There are a number of different Linux distributions available, including Red Hat, Ubuntu, SUSE and more. Some of these platforms are compatible with Microsoft Windows, which bolsters the usefulness and versatility of all systems involved, but most businesses don’t require a Linux-powered supercomputer. People who value security may want to consider Apple computers. Mac OS X is generally more secure than both Windows and Linux, so enterprises dealing with confidential or highly sensitive materials might require the additional protection. Industrial Computers Some businesses might require an industrial computer. They were once reserved for the largest of corporations and academic institutions, but they’re now used by companies of all sizes. Built specifically with durability, reliability and efficiency in mind, todays industrial computers maintain their performance in the toughest of environments. Common applications include manufacturing, mining, commercial transportation, national defense, aerospace and more. Industrial computers are slightly more advanced than their consumer-level counterparts, but many of the same tips apply when choosing an industrial system for your business. The speed and reliability of the computers processor should be the topmost priority, with system RAM and storage capacity of lesser importance. Intel has made it easy to gauge the general performance of its processors simply by looking at its name. By assigning specific codenames to each new generation of processor, theyve made it easy to tell the new from the old. The first generation of Intel processors, for example, received the nickname of Avondale. The fourth and most recent generation carries the moniker of Haswell. Mobile Connectivity With so many consumers now using mobile technology on a daily basis, including smartphones, laptops and a myriad of other devices, it only makes sense for business to try and accommodate business on the go. It isnt a viable option in some cases, but businesses that utilize a mobile workforce typically see reduced absenteeism, improved employee morale and even greater productivity. Apart from benefiting your new company, the integration of mobile technology with your new business can have other effects, too. Your company will produce a smaller carbon footprint, experience lower overhead costs and stay on top of the latest advancements in IT. Supporting Startup Success Through Technology There’s an undeniable mainstream reliance on modern computing, so entrepreneurs should take every step possible when building their enterprise IT systems. Given the highly technical and advanced nature of the job at hand, you might want to recruit the help of an IT professional to judge IT needs, install infrastructure and commission software.

Gift Season Ahead! Gifts You May Have Overlooked

Gift Season Ahead! Gifts You May Have Overlooked Fall is officially here and that means the season of giving is coming up sooner than you think.   Since most of us start our gift shopping early to get ahead of the crowds and last minute rush, its not too early to start considering your gift giving options.    Theres always new products, of course, but theres also those that might have been around for a while.   Heres a few gifts that you may have overlooked that might be perfect for that someone special this year. Fashion Gifts Pearls Diamonds may be a girls best friend, but pearls have also stood the test of time.   Now, theyre making a fashion comeback.   Freshwater pearls   come in the traditional white, but also in black, silver, and even multicolor. Pearls are a stunning addition to any outfit.   So the same strand can be used to dazzle a dressy look, or just dress up something more casual.   And dont forget the matching pearl earrings. Crazy Socks It seems that crazy socks never really go out of style.   In fact, theyve gotten crazier and more creative in the last while.   You can even get all kinds of electric socks to keep feet warm, display a message, or just put a twinkle on someones toes.   Remember to give this gift the night before so they can proudly display them all day long. Fun Gifts Quirky Clocks Remember that silly Felix the Cat clock that hung in your grandmas kitchen?   Well, its back.   While you may not want this cute kitty swinging its tail in your living room, its an element of fun   when added to a hallway, bath, or laundry. Toys We Played With As Kids From the Etch-a-Sketch to classic versions of video games, everyone likes a gift that takes them back to those carefree moments in their youth.   So whether your gift recipient is the artistic type or a grown up gamer, one of these is sure to be appreciated. Think Ahead And Back! Now is the perfect time to get that head start on your gift shopping.    And you just might find an amazing gift like these or others that is making its way back from the past!

5 Damaging Career Moves to Avoid - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

5 Damaging Career Moves to Avoid - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Careers aren’t made overnight, but a few mistakes can easily derail your career pretty quickly. Whether you’re complacent in your current position, or you’re swept up in office politics, there are many snafus seasoned professionals can run into. “People make a lot of mistakes in their careers, some are small and can be recovered from with an apology or the passage of time,” says   Julie Bauke, career strategist, president of The Bauke Group, and author of Stop Peeing on our Shoes: Avoiding the 7 Mistakes that Screw Up your Job Search.  â€œOthers can fully derail your career and your reputation.” From blowing off networking opportunities to aligning with the wrong colleague, here’s a look at the five damaging career mistakes to avoid: 1. Not taking advantage of the tools at hand When taking on a new role, most people set their goals on doing a great job, learning as much as possible and hopefully moving up to a higher position. But often people fail at meeting these goals, simply because they don’t take advantage of the tools and resources that are readily at their disposable. “We offer a lot of really great training tools, a lot of which are offered online,” says Christy Palfy, recruiting manager at Progressive. “Yet a lot of people don’t sign up and take advantage of that training.” By utilizing any tools available to you, you are able to stretch in the job you have today but also advance within the company because you have learned new skills. 2. Being focused solely on your job You want to do a great job in your current position and you want to show you’re a hard worker, but the work can’t stop once you leave the office.   Many people are “working for the weekend” and as a result miss opportunities to develop and grow and become valuable to the company, says Bauke. “It is imperative that all professionals always understand what is going on in their industry, company, and profession so that they can continue to stay aligned with what is needed,” she says. “Our ability to stay relevant and marketable is fully the responsibility of the individual.” 3. Not keeping your emotions and behavior in check Often we spend more hours at work than at home, and as a result we forge deep relationships with many of our co-workers and bosses. While those relationships may introduce a level of casualness ,your behavior inside and outside of the office will have an impact on your career if you don’t keep it professional. Some of those career killers, according to Anthony Graziano,  regional managing director  Randstad Professionals include having an inappropriate relationship with someone ion the office, getting inebriated at company outings, or being insensitive to someone or overreacting emotionally to a work scenario. While you may want to throw your computer across the room in frustration actually acting on that feeling will be a surefire way to lose your job and reputation. 4. Blowing off opportunities to network Networking doesn’t stop once you land the job but instead should become a way of life, particularly if you want to move up in your company. According to Palfy far often people work in the same company for years yet they don’t know what other people in the organization actually do. Whether you are networking at an official event or just chatting with someone in the elevator, Palfy says you should always have your elevator pitch ready and share what you do when meeting new people in your job. Another great way to get access to different people is to participate in company organized groups, outings or teams. 5. Choosing the wrong team Power ebbs and flows in organization and if you align with the wrong person you could end up on the chopping block if something goes wrong. Yes you want to be loyal to your boss and be a team player with your co-workers but you should always keep it professional. If you are working with a disgruntled boss it’s ok to listen to him or her but don’t get involved in any gossip or office politics.   “I have seen situations where people were aligned with the wrong boss and when that boss was removed from the situation, whether a transfer, a promotion or getting fired that person was then negatively affected by that,” says Graziano.  Align with the wrong person and best case you’ll have an uncomfortable time at work. Worst case: you’ll lose your job along with your boss. Author Bio Donna Fuscaldo writes for Glassdoor.com. 5 Damaging Career Moves to Avoid - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Careers aren’t made overnight, but a few mistakes can easily derail your career pretty quickly. Whether you’re complacent in your current position, or you’re swept up in office politics, there are many snafus seasoned professionals can run into. “People make a lot of mistakes in their careers, some are small and can be recovered from with an apology or the passage of time,” says   Julie Bauke, career strategist, president of The Bauke Group, and author of Stop Peeing on our Shoes: Avoiding the 7 Mistakes that Screw Up your Job Search.  â€œOthers can fully derail your career and your reputation.” From blowing off networking opportunities to aligning with the wrong colleague, here’s a look at the five damaging career mistakes to avoid: 1. Not taking advantage of the tools at hand When taking on a new role, most people set their goals on doing a great job, learning as much as possible and hopefully moving up to a higher position. But often people fail at meeting these goals, simply because they don’t take advantage of the tools and resources that are readily at their disposable. “We offer a lot of really great training tools, a lot of which are offered online,” says Christy Palfy, recruiting manager at Progressive. “Yet a lot of people don’t sign up and take advantage of that training.” By utilizing any tools available to you, you are able to stretch in the job you have today but also advance within the company because you have learned new skills. 2. Being focused solely on your job You want to do a great job in your current position and you want to show you’re a hard worker, but the work can’t stop once you leave the office.   Many people are “working for the weekend” and as a result miss opportunities to develop and grow and become valuable to the company, says Bauke. “It is imperative that all professionals always understand what is going on in their industry, company, and profession so that they can continue to stay aligned with what is needed,” she says. “Our ability to stay relevant and marketable is fully the responsibility of the individual.” 3. Not keeping your emotions and behavior in check Often we spend more hours at work than at home, and as a result we forge deep relationships with many of our co-workers and bosses. While those relationships may introduce a level of casualness ,your behavior inside and outside of the office will have an impact on your career if you don’t keep it professional. Some of those career killers, according to Anthony Graziano,  regional managing director  Randstad Professionals include having an inappropriate relationship with someone ion the office, getting inebriated at company outings, or being insensitive to someone or overreacting emotionally to a work scenario. While you may want to throw your computer across the room in frustration actually acting on that feeling will be a surefire way to lose your job and reputation. 4. Blowing off opportunities to network Networking doesn’t stop once you land the job but instead should become a way of life, particularly if you want to move up in your company. According to Palfy far often people work in the same company for years yet they don’t know what other people in the organization actually do. Whether you are networking at an official event or just chatting with someone in the elevator, Palfy says you should always have your elevator pitch ready and share what you do when meeting new people in your job. Another great way to get access to different people is to participate in company organized groups, outings or teams. 5. Choosing the wrong team Power ebbs and flows in organization and if you align with the wrong person you could end up on the chopping block if something goes wrong. Yes you want to be loyal to your boss and be a team player with your co-workers but you should always keep it professional. If you are working with a disgruntled boss it’s ok to listen to him or her but don’t get involved in any gossip or office politics.   “I have seen situations where people were aligned with the wrong boss and when that boss was removed from the situation, whether a transfer, a promotion or getting fired that person was then negatively affected by that,” says Graziano.  Align with the wrong person and best case you’ll have an uncomfortable time at work. Worst case: you’ll lose your job along with your boss. Author Bio Donna Fuscaldo  writes for Glassdoor.com.

Why the Child Care Industry Wants More Men

Why the Child Care Industry Wants More Men When you think of the child care industry, you immediately think that it is a female dominated industry. That is true to say the least. According to a UK report by Day Nurseries, only 2 per cent of the work force in the child care industry is male.This is both surprising and not-so-surprising. It is surprising because the number of male child carers is very low. And it is not-so-surprising because it is female dominated industry.evalIt is sad for me to write that there is a social stigma against male child care workers. There have been cases where parents have refused to give their child to a male child care worker. And it could be for a number of reasons.Either their sexual orientation will come in to question or some parents consider them to be a risk.But the industry is pushing for more male child care workers. You may be wondering if there is a social stigma against male child care workers, then why is there a push for men to consider a career in child care?Well, it is extremely important to break these social barriers. The child care industry takes safety very seriously. Where I am from in the UK, all child care worker need to hold a paediatric first aid qualification and need to be registered on to Ofsted’s database for regular monitoring.And the thing is, not many people know about this. If these safety protocols are already in place, then these safety concerns should be put to bed.So going back to original question, why is there a push for more male child care workers in a industry that is predominantly female?Well there are a number of reasons:1. Narrowing the Gender AttainmentevalThere is a growing concern in the level of academic achievement in boys in comparison to the academic achievement in girls.The UK government believes that the disproportional gender imbalance in the child care industry is the cause of this. But the main challenge the industry is facing is the social stigmatism mentioned earlier in the post.It is quite natural for us to assu me that a child carer is mostly associated with women, due to their caring and maternal instincts.But with having more men in the child care industry gives boys a chance to spend time with someone that they can relate to.evalEven though we want to live in a world where we are all treated fairly and equally, we can’t deny the fact that both boys and girls are inherently different. Generally speaking, boys and girls have different interests.But saying that, it is really important for child carers to encourage both boys and girls to be open to various different toys and activities.2.Promotes DiversityFollowing on from the point that both men and women are different, when it comes to child care, having more men in the industry can provide new perspectives and view points.Diversity so crucial in the development of society. And this includes children as well. If the child care industry has more men in the industry, then children will be exposed to a true reflection of gender mix in the real world.This will help children develop their social skills at a very early stage so that they can build strong relations with people from different backgrounds.With the industry being female dominant as it is now, the industry is quite accustomed to communicating with the child’s mother, rather than the child’s father. This usually results in the father feeling left out during their child’s early years.More male child carers would encourage more fathers to get involved their child’s development and would also break that barrier that many fathers feel.3. Help Those Children Who Grew Up With Single ParentsChildren who are brought up with single parentage are usually brought up without a male role model. And this is really sad to see.According to a report titled: Fathers and Their Impact on Children’s Well-Being, there are number of benefits to having an involved father during the child’s development.evalThe report says the following:“Even from birth, children who hav e an involved father are more likely to be emotionally secure, beconfidentto explore their surroundings, and, as they grow older, have better social connections.The way fathers play with their children also has an important impact on a child’s emotional and social development. Fathers spend a higher percentage of their one-to-one interactions with infants and preschoolers in stimulating, playful activity than do mothers. From these interactions, children learn how to regulate their feelings and behaviour.Children with involved, caring fathers have better educational outcomes. The influence of a father’s involvement extends intoadolescenceand young adulthood. Numerous studies find that an active and nurturing style of fathering is associated with better verbal skills, intellectual functioning, and academic achievement among adolescents.”To summarise, children who don’t have a fatherly figure are at an disadvantage. Having more male child carers will give children from single parent households access to a fatherly figure that they so desperately deserve.eval4. More Adventurous ActivitiesAccording to accounts by two male child carers on Early Years Careers, it suggests that the male child carers tend to get involved in more adventurous activities. The two child carers have also both described how children are more drawn to them due to the activities that they do, whether it may be soccer, games or playing a musical instrument.And the reason why this is good is because it encourages children to become active. And they will spend less time in front of the TV.Considering a Career in Child CareevalIf you’re a male and you feel that you have right characteristics in becoming a child care worker, then what are you waiting for?The industry is looking for male child carers for reasons that have been listed in this post.Thanks for reading. What are your thoughts on this topic? Please let us know in the comments section below.

Preparing For An Interview Is Also A Proactive Process - Pathfinder Careers

Preparing For An Interview Is Also A Proactive Process - Pathfinder Careers Preparing For An Interview Is Also A Proactive Process Many times, we don’t consciously think about what we need to do to prepare for an interview until we get the call that an employer wants to talk to us about a job opening. Then all hell breaks loose. It’s a mad scramble to pull together documents and read up about a company to be as up-to-speed as possible before heading in. Interviews are undoubtedly one of the most difficult steps in the entire job search process. But as a person who actively manages your career, your goal is to be keeping those target companies within your sights for much longer time than a explicit job posting period. Being conscious of which specific companies that would be desirable places to work can help you become ingrained in their culture, values, needs, challenges, and opportunities far in advance of target job opening. The idea is that by the time you actually sit down with the employer, you are ready to have an engaging, informed conversation. You won’t be thinking about the fact that you want the job. You’ll be more interested in a give-and-take discussion that is really a business meeting. And that’s exactly how well-prepared career managers see interviews taking place.

Resume Writing in Chennai - How to Write a Perfect Resume in Chennai

Resume Writing in Chennai - How to Write a Perfect Resume in ChennaiIf you are about to apply for a job with a service provider in Chennai, then you need to start your resume writing in Chennai. It is not enough that you should write a good and effective cover letter but if you are able to catch the attention of the hiring manager, you can also expect to get the job that you want.In the days of the olden days, Chennai was a city of South India and it did not have any special industries. But in recent years, the city has gained fame as one of the most progressive cities of India. It is the centre of IT industry and thus it became the hub of computer professionals from all over the world.There are some factors that you should be aware of when doing resume writing in Chennai. These are quite important because if you are able to fulfill them, then chances are high that you will get an interview and if you are able to get a job, then you will also get some good salary. Here are some tips for you.First of all, if you are applying for a job in Chennai, you need to list down some essential qualifications and skills of yourself. You should list down in the resume what qualifications and what skills you possess. Some of the things that you should list are your name, address, contact number, email id, current employment status, age, year of birth, parents' names, present profession, monthly income and the work experience you have had. By taking care of this, you will be able to find out what kind of job that you want to do and what kind of salary you want to get.Secondly, resume writing in Chennai is all about making the right impression. You should keep your mind thinking of how you can impress the hiring manager so that you get hired. The best way to make a good impression is to include a few sentences about how you will make the hiring manager understand how much commitment you are going to give to the company.After listing down your achievements, you should also inclu de about your work history and the duties you have done. This is very important because it will help the hiring manager to know the real worth of the person.Finally, when doing resume writing in Chennai, you should make sure that you put the importance of the person whom you are interviewing for. Make sure that you include an impression about the person, which will make him or her to trust you and get you hired.Resume writing in Chennai can be a tough job but it is one of the most fulfilling jobs to do as well. So if you want to get hired in Chennai, you should definitely prepare a good resume in Chennai.