LIFESTYLE

When we think of progressive countries, the chances are that Scandinavian countries are the ones that first spring to mind. But why is this? What exactly does being progressive mean and what criteria needs to be met to be considered this? We usually talk about progressive countries as being the most developed with a lot of freedom of choice, but is this really what it should mean? A concise definition of progressivism would be advancements in fields such as science, technology and economic development, all of which play an important role in improving the human condition.

Technological developments would be one which many people nowadays would be able to relate to. Within the past few decades we have seen incredible leaps in technological advancement that has been seen in developed countries, and is even more so evident now in developing countries. Ironically, while we have seen vast improvements in the technology behind motor vehicles, bringing us from fossil fuel powered cars to those running on renewable energy such as hydrogen, many countries considered the most progressive have been moving away from such technology altogether and reverting back to truly zero emission vehicles such as bicycles. There has been such an outcry to reduce pollution and traffic that countries such as Denmark and the Netherlands are focusing on promoting bicycle use much more.

Waste is a big problem for the majority of countries, considering it can take up valuable space and can be very polluting. Smaller countries have had to get creative with ways to get rid of their waste or cut it down drastically. Progressive countries have made huge investments in industrial waste recycling equipment to do their best to send as little as possible into landfill. This can be considered a progressive mindset because they are thinking of new and innovative ways to proactively deal with these problems, rather than waiting until they have no choice but to take action. Many developing countries are so fixed on immediate results that they fail to see the benefit in implementing long-term solutions that may be costly at first.

It must be noted that not all “progressive” policies may be attractive, at least at first. Eugenics as a method of “improving” the genetic quality of humans has been tied to Nazi Germany, and is an obvious example of how positive or negative policies from those in power can affect this.

In conclusion, in order to be a progressive country, they must be taking steps to improve the quality of life of all their people. While many may be seen to lag behind others, it is all relative. Saudi Arabia’s recent policy change to allow women to drive motor-vehicles is a strong sign of progression, regardless of whether or not it has come many decades later than others.

I cannot even begin to explain how much fun it is to be a woman – to celebrate femininity in general. It’s especially fun when it’s celebrated through appearance! There is so much power in femininity and playing with the feminine appearance. There is so much attitude and grit weaved into a smokey eye, a sleek black dress, or heels that lift your soles up to Jesus. There is also so much to be admired about the softness in a pink lip, or the playful innocence in a flowy floral skirt. And who can ignore the carefree, lightweight vibe of a bare face, comfortable jeans, and trusty sneakers? This only shows how there are so many ways to be feminine, and this variety and multiplicity is what makes the exploring femininity so exciting!

Apart from makeup, apparel, and shoes, bags also give off different moods and attitudes – all equally fun, but the person tells a new story with every bag she or he decides to carry. Here are some character profiles I derive from checking out a beautiful stranger’s handy companion.

1. Backpack: Busy, focused, and on-the-go

The Backpack Lady across from me on the train has her brain fried on the regular. Inside are school books, notebooks, and a small laptop. She’s your more-than-average hardworking school girl: she’s staring into the metro’s traffic from the train window, but really she’s mentally reviewing her notes for class. She’s your work-hard-play-harder type of girl, and you’ll see her at the bar this weekend having a good laugh over a bottle of beer or at the club dancing the night away. (She’s obviously a dedicated commuter, too, so that better be a waterproof backpack!)

2. Sling bag: relaxed and ready to charm your socks off

The Sling Bag babe I happened to carpool with has a date today. She smells like milk and vanilla, and her loosely braided hair shines a healthy glow. Inside her small sling bag are only essentials: retouch makeup like powder and lipstick, her phone, her wallet, and a handkerchief that smells just like her. There’s nothing much to bring when you’re about to spend some lovely quality time with a lovelier significant other. Whoever the lucky person she’s meeting is, he or she better be ready with good banter and plans for dinner! It’s 2pm and she’s already dreading being asked where to eat.

3. Clutch: fierce, powerful, owning it and then some

The Clutch Woman I saw entering the club didn’t come to play. She’s in a deep red dress that sparkles when the light hits it, and it’s short enough to reveal legs for days that end in strappy black stilettos. She’s let her hair down—literally—and tonight her hoop earrings and burgundy lip are the real winners of Saturday night. Her simple black clutch carries only her phone for documentation and some hard-earned bills to pay for her favorite drinks. One look at this gorgeous woman and you know it’s her birthday today. As it was last weekend. And the weekend before that.

Demand and Supply are the basis for every business in the world. Demands come as a result of something that needs to be offered. A lot of individuals have utilized the opportunities inherent in eBay to sell anything they think is sellable; this is mainly because myriads of people are willing pay for a product or services. How is this possible? The secret of this is locating the right person and convincing them to buy your product or avail themselves your services.

Clients are the backbone of business as far as services are concerned. It is clear that client is important and instrumental to the sustainability of any business. Considering a competitive market, agreement between both parties comes as a result of numerous factors that are considered from both parties. We are going to take a look at some effective ways by which business can win clients over other competing businesses.

Ask yourself, do they worth the stress?

As a business man, you must know that not every individual will be worth spending time and effort so also, you may not worth their time either. Let us be candid; are you in a good position to live up to their expectation? Can you offer them the same way they did to you? Research and preparation is all you need to live up to expectation because you ought to be pursuing leads that will worth the stress in the long run.

The first step is to create a profile of your choice client that you would like to see if they will be profitable in the long run. Furnish your offices, put things in place to ensure smooth running of your meetings and then invite your choice client over and match these leads with yours to see if they are in line with yours. You can also use a meeting scheduler software to be more professional.

Face the Battle with Diligence and Endurance

You don’t wake up one day and discovered you have gain client. It is a gradual process and it can also be a lengthy process. You will not like a situation where clients pull out after you have expended your time and resources. Also, interest in bigger company should not make you forgo everything and attend to them; care must be taken in such situation because there is bound to be stiff competition. So, caution must be taken while building a business. It is not a sprint but a marathon that pays at the long run.

Boost the image of your Brand

What makes your brand stand out? Why should you be selected preferentially from so many competitors? It takes quality time to boost the brand name and image; also, this can be lost easily if care is not taken. You must be aware that appearance plays a great role in everything you do individually and whatever you do represents the business as a whole. What impression do you think a client will get from a business with a shoddy website and an unkempt environment? It is obviously not going to be a good one. To build your brand, maintain a good appearance and be known for keeping your promises and doing even more than what is required. You should know that bad news spreads faster than good ones.

Following the aforementioned tips will not only smoothen the growth of your business, you will be able to work more effectively and efficiently regardless of the magnitude of your business whether a freelancer or a large business.

Meetings have long been part and parcel of working in an organization of any size but how is it that we have so much technology at our disposal and meetings of such regularity, yet many of us still find ourselves disillusioned every time we are invited to one. So the question posed is how are we able to put life back into meetings, to make them productive and something employees maybe even look forward to?

We can start by looking at the structure of an organization. This defines how tasks are allocated, coordinated and supervised, with regards to the aim of the organization. Dependent on the structure and their purpose, we can consider six general types of meetings:

Status Update Meetings – The most common meeting type. Problem solving, task allocation, decision making

Information Sharing Meetings – Presentations, lectures, with the goal for the speaker to distribute information to attendees

Decision Making Meetings – Can include decision-making processes such as brainstorming ideas and solutions, voting and evaluating options

Innovation Meetings – Meetings where thinking outside of the box is valued. A broad scope of ideas are then reduced to a short list

Problem Solving Meetings – Most complex meeting type. Identify opportunities and threats and come up with solutions

Team Building Meetings – Purpose is to encourage unity in participants and strengthen relationships

Looking at meetings as a whole, regardless of their type they have many things in common. Issues are discussed; communication looks to be improved and matters are on the agenda to be solved. Many complaints about meetings are that they run for too long, or some people find them irrelevant to their work directly. These problems can be resolved through a variety of methods.

Have an agenda

For longer meetings having an agenda will help you stay focused on the topic at hand. Try taking short breaks so participants feel refreshed and are not overloaded with information.

Show Up and begin on time

Many people’s pet peeve is when meetings don’t start on time. Embed a culture of punctuality into your organization and show respect to others. Arrive a few minutes before the meeting is due to start so you can start on time.

Don’t multitask

We understand that some things just can’t wait, but what is the point of attending a meeting if you are not giving your undivided attention. Put your phone away and on silent and resist the temptation to check it while the meeting is running.

So how can we put life back into meetings? Follow the suggestions above, and also consider implementing a conference room display. One such option is made by Pronestor. With this you can see the meeting room schedule, its attendees and its purpose, all from a display system outside the room, in the reception and even on your mobile phone.

If everyone is clear about the purpose of the meeting it will surely be more productive. Also, not deviating from the topic as well as allowing everyone’s opinions to be heard will make the participants feel valued and the mood of the meeting will certainly be improved.