Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Journal.
What It's Like To Be: An Entrepreneur
To put it simply, I am an entrepreneur. To get a little more specific, I am a creative entrepreneur. To get even more specific than that, I am a SERIAL creative entrepreneur. I constantly have new ideas bouncing around in my head, and sometimes I need to remind myself to just sit down, take a breath, and focus on the imminent task at hand. In those moments, I always remember something a mentor of mine used to say to me: “Hillary, you have all these plates up in the air, and they’re all just spinning! One falls, but you still have something spinning! Eventually, one of those plates is going to stop spinning, and that’s going to be the idea.”
By Hillary Gadsby7 years ago in Journal
Dumbest Things to Do with Your Money
Congratulations, you made it to your thirties, now you just have to make sure to avoid the dumbest things you can do with your money. Many people in their thirties have finally gotten to a point where they have enough cash to be stable, have a reliable job, and are starting to make longer term financial decisions. While you should celebrate your new place in life, you also need to make sure to that you are planning to have an even more successful future. In order to keep the good times rolling, be sure to avoid these dumbest things to do with your money.
By Patty Ramsen7 years ago in Journal
Qualities of a Great Company
"Leadership is the art of giving people a platform for spreading ideas that work." While there are many key elements that define a great company, such as hierarchy and setting defined goals, leadership is also an important installment in the things that set the foundation of a successful business. Like many things in life, there are great companies, and there are many more not so great companies. Opinions vary on what the key elements of building and maintaining a great corporate culture are. The truth is that there are thousands upon thousands of contributing factors to the achievement of a strong institution. Many of these are both technical and subject to the time and demographic they are part of. The following key elements are more than just mechanical or subjective. They are the timeless and classic aspects to a great company. True success is the realization of all of them, as no one particular aspect can overwhelm the collective process achieved through these things that define a great company.
By Leila Parker7 years ago in Journal
How to Effectively Give Constructive Criticism
Honey is bound to catch more employees than vinegar. A person who feels appreciated will always do more than what is expected. This saying has a level of truth when it comes to the business world. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of examples of corporations that don't follow this belief. Let's call her Joan. She's a secretary at a Los Angeles digital media company and, frankly, she's a problem. "My workers are complaining to me," relates Kim, Joan's boss and the content manager of the company. "They don't want to ask her to do their typing, but that's Joan's job—distributing important documents and sending emails in and out of the office. Even paperwork is backlogged. The department is in chaos."
By Richard Owens7 years ago in Journal
Companies That Control the Food Industry
Have you ever wandered the aisles of a large supermarket and been in awe at the sheer number of different food items available? The choice is often astounding; how many different kinds of dried pasta does one need? You may be forgiven for thinking that all these different brands of the same item shows diversity and good, healthy competition. Dig a bit deeper however and the dark truth appears. The food industry is actually run by a small monopoly of huge, global companies. It would appear that as we increase our choice with regards to the foods we buy, we decrease the number of companies that control the food industry.
By Patty Ramsen7 years ago in Journal
Writing and Onion Peels
A majority of writers, of any genre, continually tell interviewers that they consistently struggle with their craft. They are always looking for new ideas, new takes on old ones, and struggling to keep their message within the context of their audience. This problem is neither old nor new. Rather, it is a continual dilemma that affects the novice and professional, and in teaching college composition classes I have often used the analogy of a yellow onion to convey the writing process and purpose of a target audience. The onion represents the writing process because its layers and outer skin are symbolic to steps used to achieve clarity and consistency within an author’s text. These techniques and analogies are plausible for the new freelancer, as well as the advanced and professional writer, because everyone gets “stuck” or can not see past the surface of their subject matter. Accordingly, an onion analogy proves most poignant to the writer’s craft because its potency, pungent odor, sensual pull, and strong flavor conjure images and mental sensations that pull the mind and senses toward the central subject. Hence, the onion acts much like the words of a refined writer.
By Annessa Babic7 years ago in Journal
Things You Don't Owe Your Boss
With an uncertain job market and less full-time work available than ever, it can be difficult to know how to find the right work-life balance. There is a myth in many industries and specific jobs that in order for someone to be successful, they need to dedicate absolutely everything to their work. This can lead to long work hours, emotional burnout, and health impacts. Our boss is our primary source of professional feedback, and often the gatekeeper to new opportunities and positions. Unfortunately, some employers will take advantage of eager workers and an unstable job market, and push you into doing more and spending more time at your job. As a result, the onus is on you to make sure you strike a work-life balance that makes you happy. It can be hard to know where to draw the line and where to set boundaries, but there are certain life priorities that work can’t supersede, and we’ve put together a list of things that you don’t owe your boss in your quest for success.
By Leila Parker7 years ago in Journal
Most Common Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
Searching for a new job can be exhausting. Just getting to the interview can be difficult enough, but once you’ve landed one, you want to be sure to do all you can to prepare and make the best possible impression. Get started by reviewing the job posting, information about the company, and anything you can find online about what is happening that is big and exciting for that company. Then, review your skills and your resume so you are prepared to be positive about why you’re the perfect employee.
By Patty Ramsen7 years ago in Journal
Mind Your MOQs
In order to boost profit margins, you need to balance how much product you buy from your supplier with how much you sell to your consumer. It sounds simple, but there are a lot of variables that can affect this delicate process. So how can you make sure that you are buying the right amount of product, from the right supplier, for the lowest cost without the risk of over-exposure?
By Seller's Choice7 years ago in Journal
Best Tech Companies to Work for in America
If you are looking for the best tech companies to work for in America, then you have come to the right place. Tech companies are best known for their high-end salaries, amazing perks, and office spaces that do not feel cramped or overpopulated. The best tech businesses have low stress, satisfaction in their job, and pay raises based on experience. Some businesses on this list might surprise you, but these tech companies have some of the best benefits around.
By Richard Owens7 years ago in Journal
Corporate Secrets: Signs That You’re Promotable
A friend of mine approached me and asked me, what are the signs that you're promotable? At first, I felt pity for him. This is because we graduated from college at the same time and both of us were lucky enough to get employed at the same company. While I have moved up the corporate ladder and I am currently the head of my department, he is stuck at the junior level. In addition, his wife just gave birth to twins and the pressure is mounting on him to move up the corporate ladder. This a common problem faced by many individuals. As human beings, we do not love being stuck in our place, we like moving forward.
By Richard Owens7 years ago in Journal