Category Archives: Work

Feb17

Don’t Trip Up: Business Trip Mistakes To Avoid

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Don’t Trip Up: Business Trip Mistakes To Avoid

A productive business trip requires plenty of planning ahead. Besides thinking about how that important meeting or sales pitch is going to go, you need to consider all of the fundamentals like how you’re getting there, where you’re staying, and what you will pack. Below are just some of the blunders that could trip you up if you’re not careful:

Ignoring your company travel policy:

If you’re the boss, you get to set your own travel policy. But if you’re an employee, it’s possible you may have to stick within a strict budget and potentially stick to certain providers when it comes to hotels, flights or even restaurants. Review any company travel policy rules before you book anything so that you know what your limitations are.

Booking last minute:

Unless it’s an emergency business trip, you should avoid booking accommodations and flights at the last moment. While you can sometimes access last minute deals by booking late, you may be stuck with limited hotel options and awkward flight times. Start looking into this at least a few weeks in advance so that they’re all sorted.

Choosing the wrong type of accommodation:

Not all types of accommodation are going to be fit for your stay. While a hostel could save you money, it might not give you the comfort and privacy you need when preparing for a presentation. On the opposite end of the spectrum, you don’t want to overspend on a plush hotel for a visit that may not even be that important. Don’t forget to consider short term rentals – some of these may be better suited to longer stays and they’ll give you more privacy.

Overlooking time zone differences:

It’s easy to forget about time zone differences and end up arriving later than planned. If you’ve got an early morning meeting, make sure that you’re not flying in late at night. If you have to communicate with people back at the office, make sure to also consider the time back home before calling.

Forgoing buffer time:

Consider allowing some ‘buffer time’ within your trip – this is extra time allowed for delays such as cancelled flights, late trains, heavy traffic, or accidentally arriving at the wrong building for a meeting. Arriving early before any business interactions are due and giving yourself plenty of time to get from A to B will allow you to stay relaxed and could avoid any late arrivals to important meetings.

Not packing these items:

There are a few key items that could be useful to bring on your business trip. These include:

  • Portable power bank: Bringing a portable power bank will stop you from running out of battery on your devices if you can’t find an outlet.
  • Portable Wi-Fi router: If connection is spotty and you need to conduct a presentation, a portable router could save the day.
  • Travel adapter plug: When traveling abroad, outlets may be different and will require an adapter.
  • Travel iron: This can help you to keep your clothing crease-free on the go.
  • Backup documents: In case you lose your phone or run out of battery, consider bringing paper copies of flight information, hotel bookings, or business meeting details.
  • Business cards: Useful to have for networking.

Not researching into cultural differences:

Finally, consider that there may be cultural differences – especially if you’re traveling to a different country. This could include different business customs. For example, in Japan, it’s common to use a bow instead of using a handshake and to offer a gift during business meetings. Punctuality attitudes can vary around the world too – in some countries, arriving five minutes early is advised, while in others arriving a half an hour late is not frowned upon.

With these tips, your business trip will go without a hitch!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Feb16

How To Make Your Career Go Further

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How To Make Your Career Go Further

Making your career go further doesn’t always mean working longer hours or getting louder in meetings. You don’t also suddenly become a thought leader on LinkedIn, because that’s just cringe. But sometimes it’s just about making the smarter moves that stack up and put the odds in your favor without burning yourself out or pretending to love the hustle culture that we all prefer not to involve ourselves in. Careers tend to store when the learning stops, not because you’re not capable, but because industries evolve faster than most job descriptions. New tools are appearing every day, but the expectations are shifting with them. Skills that were impressive five years ago become just fine now and basic knowledge. Staying curious and adding fresh knowledge is one of the easiest ways to stay relevant and employable, and this is why options like an online graduate certificate in public health appeal to professionals who want to level up without putting their lives on pause. Let’s take a look at some other tools to help expand your career:

Education:

Furthering your education is not just about collecting credentials like Pokémon cards. It’s about sharpening how you think. And learning teaches you to solve problems faster and spot patterns sooner. From here, you can make decisions with more confidence in whatever career path you take. Employers pick that up. So do clients, collaborators, and promotion panels. So you don’t need to become the smartest person in the room. You just need to be sharper than you were last year.

Direction:

This is another underrated career booster. Plenty of people work hard, but they tend to drift. Taking time to learn something new can help you to clarify where you’re actually going in your career. Are you aiming for a leadership role? Do you want a career pivot? Are you looking to have more impact, or do you want to make more money? No judgement, it costs a lot to live these days. Education gives you a structured way to explore what’s next rather than panic applying for random roles at midnight. You also have to consider your confidence when you invest in yourself. You show up differently for everybody around you, you speak with moral authority, and you volunteer for projects that you might have dodged before.

Flexibility:

Being able to go with the flow really does matter. Modern careers rarely follow a neat ladder anymore. They zigzag, they pivot. People swap industries, go freelance, step into a hybrid role, or combine skills in unexpected ways. Education that fits around work and life makes it much easier to adapt without blowing everything up. You don’t need to quit your job or disappear for years to move forward. Remember that careers are marathons, not sprints. Big leaps often come from small, consistent upgrades. Progress doesn’t always look flashy, but it does add up to big wins.

If your career is feeling a bit stuck, it’s not time to panic. You don’t need a dramatic reinvention, you just need momentum and intention with it, and a willingness to keep learning. The glow-up will always follow through!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Feb7

Lil Red Call To Action

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Lil Red Call To Action

Hi hi! If you noticed from my New Year’s Resolutions Follow Up, I did indeed start a new job. I am so happy to say that I am the new Social Media Manager for Empire Window Company in Solon, Ohio. They are a local business that has been doing window, door, and siding installations for the past sixty years. It might be a slight step outside of my comfort zone but if there is one thing that your girl knows how to do, it’s how to create content! I am incredibly excited to be able to work social media management again as my last situation was a complete bust. I feel very confident in saying that I think this is the company for me and that feels wonderful!

I would appreciate it SO so mucho if all of you would help a Lil Red out. Please give a follow to Empire Window Company on Facebook and on Instagram too @empirewindowco. I would love for all of you to see my handiwork as these pages get going! One of my goals has been to give social media management a final go and I have been working very hard on seizing this opportunity. It really is a gift and every interaction is a step in the right direction. I can’t wait to create and have fun with a brand new team and it would be the cherry on top for all of my dear readers to be a part of it. Many, many thanks!!

As a treat, here is me enjoying my OM-Cheese Burger from Applebees lolol:

How is your job going? Are you interested in starting a new job? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan31

Surprise Snow Day

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Surprise Snow Day

Hello! This past weekend was christened “snowmagedden” in good ol Akron, Ohio. We had a huge snow storm on Sunday and are now treated to single digit temperatures. It sucks. What didn’t suck, however, was getting a surprise snow day on Monday! The neighborhood one of my clients lives in literally never gets plowed so they let me know that I had the day off because safety first. It was so sweet! For the duration of winter, I would jokingly ask where the adult snow days are at and I finally got one. I rarely take a day off for myself and while I was disappointed to not go to work, I decided to make the most of the me time and had an amazing time. 😀

After working on the computer for the first part of the morning, my day was wide open to do whatever I would like from the comfort of my heated blanket. So, I opened a book and power read the last one hundred and thirty pages or so of the one I was working on. Peep a brand new Lil Red’s Book Club for the review tomorrow! I still had several hours to spare once I was done reading before Johnny got home from work and my next order of business was to play some Vampire Survivors. Johnny purchased this game over our holiday break for a whole two dollars and it has been an endless source of entertainment. And, rather than have to switch off to Johnny when my level was over, I just got to keep playing. It was freaking awesome!

When I had my fill of Vampire Survivors after two rounds, I wound my afternoon down with a viewing of MTV’s Teen Wolf. One of my clients got me addicted to that show and I can’t stop watching to save my own life. It’s surprisingly well done, has a fair share of gross out and scary moments, and a strong cast of actors. My favorite character is Stiles, hands down, but I love Lydia too! I usually like to watch documentaries when I have the TV to myself and it’s really nice to have a show to put on that’s just for fun. Teen Wolf is that for me to the T and I always look forward to the next episode. I’m hoping to find the MTV Scream series on streaming at some point so I can watch that next. If it’s as good as Teen Wolf then I know I am in for a treat. 🙂

Life handed me lemons with a snow storm that kept me from work but lemonade was made with my snow day. Once I got the text from my client’s family to take the day off, I considered it a sign from the universe that a day off was just what I needed. And you know what? It really was! I got to spend the whole day doing all of the things that I enjoy. I was snugly warm in my blanket, had the space heater blasting, and was in a cocoon of comfort. The following day I woke up feeling well rested and so excited to get back to work and that sealed my snow day success. Hey, everyone needs a day off sometimes!

Instead of braving the winter wonderland, I spent an entire day in creating my own fun. The January blues were definitely getting me down and I felt like a brand new Lil Red!

What is a perfect day off like for you? What is winter weather like in your neck of the woods? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec31

Ensuring Projects Complete Successfully Across Your Business

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Ensuring Projects Complete Successfully Across Your Business

If you are keen to make sure that your projects are all going to complete successfully, there are a lot of different things that you might find helpful to think about. In this post, we are going to take a look at how you can ensure projects complete successfully across your business for an amazing new year:

Get The Right People Involved:

This is one of the simplest ways to ensure that your projects are going to work out. As long as you have the right people involved you are going to find that you are much more likely to be able to see your projects work out. That means utilizing people who have the requisite skills and understanding to help make the projects a success. Think carefully about who you involve if you want your projects to work out as intended and expected.

Follow The Right Trends:

In all kinds of projects, there is always going to be a question about which trends you should follow and which you might want to avoid. This is something that you should put careful thought into so your projects are up to date with what the masses want. Following the right trends, whether they are construction trends or marketing trends or anything in between will keep your projects modern and interesting. Make sure that you think about this for each project that you are working on.

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Plan It Well:

This probably goes without saying, but good planning is always going to be a central part of any project completion. If you have done this, then there is no reason why your project shouldn’t have successful results. Before any project begins, plan in steps. What staff do you need? What kind of equipment? What kind of packaging or marketing? What’s the budget? Step by step planning will give you a fool proof guide as your project gets underway. Be sure to factor in for things that could go wrong too so any surprises won’t stop progress.

Budget Accordingly:

One of the main reasons that projects fail is that there ends up not being enough money that you had initially thought. This is a real problem as it puts all hard work and effort down the drain until the funding can be met. Make sure that you are budgeting carefully and accordingly. You might not be able to pinpoint the amount you need to spend down to the exact number. However, giving yourself a ballpark range with wiggle room to spare will be most helpful.

A successful project cannot be completed without the proper planning. Leave no stone unturned during this phase because small tasks matter just as much as the big ones and it can be easy to overlook!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Dec23

Why Growing Income Streams Need Better Systems

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Why Growing Income Streams Need Better Systems

It is exciting when your freelance hustle blooms and feels like it will grow even more into a business. This is progress. And of course it is! But this is also the exact moment when money starts feeling weirdly harder to manage, not easier. Let’s explore why this is and how you can better manage the finances of your business:

Every Income Stream is Different:

Freelance income behaves one way, but online sales behave another, and rental income comes with its own rules, timelines, and costs. None of them plays nicely together. Basically, the money comes in differently, different amounts, different times, that’s the premise there. Just trying to treat all income the same usually causes confusion. One stream might look profitable until fees, refunds, or expenses get counted properly. Another might quietly be doing most of the heavy lifting without getting noticed. So, without separating things, it’s hard to see what’s actually pulling its weight and what’s just along for the ride.

Personal and Business Money Slowly Start Blending Together:

This part doesn’t happen overnight. It creeps in. Think of it like this: a client payment covers groceries, a business subscription comes out of a personal account, and maybe even some receipts get forgotten. It feels convenient in the moment but that convenience creates confusion later. The problem here is that profit gets fuzzy. Well, that and planning feels risky. Oh, and don’t you forget about tax season, which will turn into a stressful exercise in trying to remember what happened months ago.

What Worked Early On Eventually Stops Working:

Early systems usually rely on memory and good intentions but growth exposes cracks fast and there’s this constant low-level feeling that something’s being missed. You can’t have that, be it one business, one side hustle, well, anything that’s making you money. You need tools, like if you’re owning and renting property, even a bedroom in your house, then you need to explore accounting software rental property or other systems for whatever you’re earning money with, so the complexity can be taken away and you can get your finances in order nicely and evenly.

Decisions Start Feeling Heavy:

When numbers aren’t clear, decisions stop feeling logical and start feeling emotional. Like, every little decision needs to be calculated, but you’re so stressed, you’re scared, what’s going to happen? For example, hiring help feels risky. Even just investing in growth feels uncomfortable. This all leads to even the smallest of choices coming with hesitation. Instead of confidence, there’s second-guessing. Instead of planning ahead, there’s reacting to whatever comes next. And you better believe that wears people down. But most small business owners aren’t struggling because they’re bad at what they do. They’re struggling because the financial picture isn’t clear enough to support good decisions.

Having multiple income streams isn’t the problem. It’s actually a sign of adaptability and resilience. But the struggle comes from trying to manage them without the right structure. Clarity creates confidence. It makes planning feel possible instead of scary. And most importantly here, it turns growth into something intentional instead of reactive!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Dec1

Starting A Business Over 50 & Staying Healthy As An Entrepreneur

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Starting A Business Over 50 & Staying Healthy As An Entrepreneur

When most people think of entrepreneurs, they usually envision people in their 20s or 30s. Maybe people in their 40s, too. But, that doesn’t mean starting a business over 50 isn’t a possibility. It could just take a bit of an adjustment. It doesn’t have to be as complicated as you’d think, though. Focusing on a few startup tips should be more than enough to help with this moving forward. Three of these should have a significant impact on your startup’s success, and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t help you moving forward:

Leverage Your Experience & Network:

You’ll likely start your business in an industry you’ve spent a significant amount of time in, as it’s where all of your skills will be related to. Your skills are far from the only area your business can benefit from. It can also benefit from your experience and network. You can use these to find opportunities to expand, new clients, and industry events that’ll help your company. Take advantage of this as much as possible from the start to fuel your initial success and kick start everything quickly.

Manage Your Risks:

Starting a business is always a risk, no matter what age you are when you start off. But, that doesn’t mean you should just settle for it being overwhelmingly risky. Implementing risk management strategies should help you minimize this as much as possible. You won’t be able to completely negate all of the risks, but you could avoid some as time goes on. At least, they shouldn’t be as major as you’d think. Proper financial planning is one of the most significant areas to focus on.

Balance Health & Ambition:

When you’re starting your business, you’ll be quite busy, but you shouldn’t push yourself too hard and neglect your health. Make sure you look after yourself so you can stay healthy while running your business. This could help you in more ways than one. If you notice any hearing loss during business meetings, for example, hearing aids could help make sure communication isn’t an issue. The same could be said for more than a few other health and lifestyle aids.

Starting a business over 50 feels like an uphill battle at the best of times. But, this is usually the case no matter what age you are. It’s just a matter of making sure you’re taking the right approach for you and your business!

Featured Image By: Caden Norcott from Unsplash

Nov27

Beginner Modeling Tips That Make You Stand Out

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Beginner Modeling Tips That Make You Stand Out

Making it in the modeling world can be tough, and it takes more than just being photogenic. Whether you dream of doing clothing photo shoots or walking a runway in beautiful gowns, there are things you can do to give yourself a stronger chance of getting signed and finding regular work. Like the following:

Find your hairstyle:

One of the first things to figure out is the kind of hairstyle that suits you best. Speaking to a professional stylist can help you test different ideas and learn which cuts or looks work with your face shape. If you are not sure what you want yet, you can experiment with wigs to see how you feel about different lengths and colors without committing to a haircut. Once you settle on a look, take care of it properly. Regular trims, gentle products, and visits to your stylist will keep your hair camera ready. Try to avoid anything too extreme because modeling often requires you to change your look to match different jobs.

Keep yourself healthy:

Models need to keep their bodies in good condition, not just in terms of weight, but for their skin, stamina and overall health. Eating well, staying hydrated, and exercising regularly will help you feel more confident and make you look your best on camera. Glowing skin is especially important because it reduces the need for heavy makeup and shows professional agencies that you are taking care of yourself.

Have a portfolio:

A strong digital portfolio is one of the most important tools for any model. You will need professional photographs that clearly show your face, body type, and personality. It is worth investing in a trusted photographer rather than trying to take everything yourself. Phones can take great pictures, but a photographer knows how to light, pose, and edit images in a way that agencies take seriously. Once you have your images, display them clearly on your website and social media pages.

Know your style:

Having a sense of personal style helps agencies understand what you are best suited for. Make sure your clothes fit properly, right down to your underwear. A well fitted bra or a supportive set can change how you look in an outfit. If you want to see what is on trend or explore more options, you can shop lingerie in the U.S. online to find styles that match your body shape and personality. Once you understand what works for you, it becomes easier to show agencies your potential.

Smile:

Not every modeling job requires you to smile, but having a great one makes a huge difference. Keep up with dental check ups, brush properly, and take care of your teeth. If you feel insecure about your smile, whitening toothpaste or speaking to your dentist about options like veneers can help you feel more confident.

If you stay consistent with your look, maintain your portfolio and keep posting high quality images online, you will give yourself more opportunities. Do not wait for agencies to find you. Reach out, apply for casting calls, and stay active. The more your name and face are seen, the more likely you are to land the jobs you want!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Nov24

How To Succeed With Your Dental Practice

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How To Succeed With Your Dental Practice

If you are keen to try and make sure that your dental practice is as strong as possible, there are lots of things that you might want to bear in mind. The truth is that you can always improve your dental practice, and it’s the kind of business that is open to being quite flexible. What are some of the areas that you might want to focus on to help you with this? Here are some ways to help succeed with your dental practice as much as possible in today’s world:

Build A Personal Patient Experience:

This is one of those things that will make a huge difference and can be relatively simple to achieve. If you want people to come back – which can be tricky when it comes to the dentist – then you should aim to build a personal patient experience that each individual patient will appreciate. That means that scheduling is made smooth and flexible, you have trained your team to greet patients by name, and you follow up after significant procedures. Patients notice these small touches!

Use The Best Equipment:

There is a lot to be said for making sure that you are using the best possible equipment you can. As long as you are doing this, you are going to find that you are much more likely to succeed, and that the experience your patients have is so much better too. For instance, you might want to think about making use of dental-grade soft reline material where possible, as this is going to be much more resilient and effective than any other grade.

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Keep Your Team Aligned:

If you want to run a successful practice, you need to make sure that everyone is on board at all times. Your staff is your brand in motion, so make sure that you have strong practices and that you are investing time in clear workflows, regular team meetings, defined roles and recognition for good performance.

Streamline Operations:

If you can streamline operations through the tracking of key metrics and using the right systems for everything from billing to inventory, you are going to find that it makes for a much more efficient dental practice overall. You will notice, your staff will notice, and your patients will definitely notice, so it’s something you’ll want to invest in.

Happy patients will continue to come back and these tips can certainly help!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Nov18

TikTok Love

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TikTok Love

Howdy! As you all know, I am a word girl through and through. I don’t really like scrolling through videos or pictures and have always preferred Facebook as my primary social media. However, way back at the end of March, I decided to make a TikTok. I had just left a work situation that, for lack of better words, sucked ass. I was in a weird kind of limbo but what I wanted most of all was to focus on my own content again. Not anyone else’s – just me, myself, and I. And you know what? It felt good!

Prior to making my TikTok, I rarely made videos of myself and was busy making videos for other people. I was deeply ambivalent at first but after a few days, I definitely saw the appeal. It’s just pure fun! My blog baby will always be my A1 but I loved the idea of making video content that coincides with what you read on lifewithlilred. It’s like an extra sneak peek into my world and I have found myself enjoying making OOTD videos just as much as shooting them in picture form. I have also been having a blast just making videos that I think look cool or are funny. It might not be to anyone else, but it is to me.

I went into my TikTok with no intentions of following trends. No expectations of getting paid or becoming TikTok famous. I went into it with the intentions of trying something new. The last new thing I tried in terms of work sucked and that’s because it wasn’t on my own terms. My TikTok was totally different because I had the final say and I still relish in that feeling every time I click post. It really does feel amazing to do something for you with zero expectations. Just to enjoy yourself. It sounds silly, but my blog and TikTok really are my favorite forms of self care. Outside of shopping, and getting my hair and nails done – obvi lol!

As I have literally zero expectations with my TikTok, every new like and follow feels like a huge win. Every notification is a victory and it feels like a pat on the back. I am immensely proud of my 2,640 followers and 24K likes. Like my blog, my TikTok is an extension of me. Something I made all on my own. I started both pages on a total whim and the fact that I still make daily content after all this time tells you everything you need to know. I just love to create!

If you are in the mood for more Lil Red, have I got a deal for you! Follow me on TikTok for more from your favorite lil blogger. Every single follow means the world!

Are you on TikTok? What is your handle? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah