Working From Home With a Power or Internet Outage

Working From Home With a Power or web OutageWorking From Home With a Power or Internet OutageWhen youwork from home, a power or Internet outage can be more than just inconvenient it can be money out of your pocket. So formulate a backup plan now for that inevitable power and Internet outage, and youll thank yourself later.A power outage and internet outage are different things. But they often occur simultaneously, and some of the solutions are the same. For both types of outages, planning ahead is the key to minimizing headaches. 01Prepare in AdvanceSometimes a power loss is without warning, but often in ansicht days of the 24-hour news cycles, we are bombarded with news of a coming storm. Make sure all your devices are fully charged. Download or print out documents that you might need access to without the Internet.02Go to the OfficeJust as some office workers telecommute during weather events, if your company has an office nearby, you may have to go into the office if there is a po wer or Internet outage at your home. Try to arrange a backup plan in advance with the office manager. Perhaps, theres a free desk available, or if not, maybe you can set up in a conference room. But one drawback is that you may have to find child care at the belastung minute, so have a backup child care plan.03Find Free WiFi at a Local Shop or RestaurantIf you have a laptop or a netbook, park yourself in a coffee shop, bookstore or other location with free WiFi. Lots of local places offer it, as do many national chains such as McDonalds. Of course, if the power or Internet outage is widespread in your area, these places could be closed or have no WiFi either. If you bring the kids along, be sure to have plenty for them to do, and be a good customer and purchase from the shop.04Purchase a Device for Mobile BroadbandThis might mean a laptop or netbook with mobile broadband capabilities, but it could be as simple as buying a mobile broadband USB stick, a modem that plugs in like a flas h drive. Cell phone companies will often give the device for free if you sign up for a monthly plan. If you only plan to use it for emergencies and working vacations, you may want to purchase one with a pay-as-you-go plan.05Tether Your Cell Phone to Your ComputerMany cell phones can be used as mobile broadband modems, although this only helps if you are only experiencing an Internet outage, not power too. But it definitely will come in handy if you use a desktop computer and cant take your work out to a free wifi location. However, special equipment may be needed, so learn how to tether your phone to your laptop before you have an Internet outage.06Charge Your Laptop in Your CarMobile broadband doesnt do you much good if your power is out too, right? Use your car as a giant charger. If your car doesnt have an outlet, youll need a car charger adapter. Buy this in advance. Dont wait until you need it07Invest in a Back-up GeneratorThis is a fairly drastic solution, and probably only pr actical for people with large businesses in areas that frequently lose power. And likely it is something that business owners only need if they have to power more than their own computer. For instance, if the loss of refrigeration could mean a business loss, it may be a worthwhile investment.

3 Ways to Keep Your Business on the Brink of Innovation

3 Ways to Keep Your Business on the Brink of Innovation 3 Ways to Keep Your Business on the Brink of Innovation Over the years, Ive gotten several invaluablepieces of advice on this topic, either from personal mentors or from leaders Ive read or listened to. The following are three tips that have helped me the most in my effort to stay creative1. Creativity Is About Synthesis Not OriginalityCreativity is usually associated with thinking outside of the box and similar cliches, but the fact is that few ideas are 100 percent original. The most brilliant and profitable business ideas are usually variations of already existing themes, rather than completely new concepts. This idea was driven home for me by one of the most successful innovators of all time, Steve Jobs, when he said Creativity is just connecting things. According to Jobs, what sets creative people fremdlndisch is that they areable to connect experiences theyve had and synthesize new things.To illustrate this ideaI rece ntly revisited a series of BMW short films (calledThe Hire)that featured vehicles being destroyed. While this was a highly innovative marketing campaign, the films themselves were not all that original. Whatwasoriginal was the pairing, or synthesizing,of two usually separate realms advertising and pure filmmaking. Since then, other companies have used similar tactics, but the BMW campaign was a great early example of blurring the lines between ads and film.I always try to keep this principle in mind in my own business. Its not always necessary to be completely original.If you want to be creative, you need toconsider putting existing elements together in new ways.2. Design an Environment That Supports CreativityI learned this from a previous boss, who always played Mozart in the officebecause hed read that it boosts productivity. Its easy to forget how big a role your immediate environment plays on your ability to perform at your best, yet everything from the colors around you to the sounds that you hear can havean effect on the way your brain functions.You cant always control your environment. For example, if you work in a cubicle, thats where you have to spend your day. However, even then its possible to make adjustments by placing photos or items that inspire you nearby.What Ive found to be especially effective is using music and other sounds to help me focus. For example, Ive personally been using theNoisliapp, which creates a variety of sounds andbackground colors to stimulate your creativity.3. You Dont Need a Huge Marketing BudgetGuerrilla marketing pioneer Jay Conrad Levinson helped teach me that effective marketing campaigns dont have to be expensive. As he put it, Marketing is every bit of contact your company has with anyone in the outside world. Every bit of contact. That means a lot of marketing opportunities. It does not mean investing a lot of money.As someone who specializes in nontraditional marketing strategies, I always go back to this quote. Too many businesses equate marketing with paid advertising, and while this can have its place, there are many free andlow-cost ways to promote your organization and its products/services. To take advantage of these, you must constantlykeep your eyes open for new opportunities.The philosophy of the guerrilla marketer is to constantly be aware of free or inexpensive ways to connect with people. The Internet - and social media in particular - have made this easier than ever. For example, one of the best ways to get attention is to pair a compelling prestige or video with a social media post.These are some of the most valuable principles Ive discovered when it comes to staying creative in the workplace, especially when running a business. The act of creatingis a personal process thats not exactly the same for any two people, but you can certainly help spark your own creativity by employingcertain practicesand internalizing certain ideas.-A version of this article originally appeared on BusinessCollective.Yan Revzin is the cofounderofFortune Cookie Advertising,a nontraditional and out-of-home media placement company selling advertising space within fortune cookies at Chinese restaurants throughout the United States.

8 Tips for Giving Thanks After an Interview

8 Tips for Giving Thanks After an Interview8 Tips for Giving Thanks After an InterviewSet yourself apart by sending an effective, value-add thank you message after each interview. QIve been interviewing a lot but Im not getting the position. Any suggestions? Lana W. of Cincinnati, OHA Iknow its hard tostay positive, but the fact that youre landing interviews is a good sign This means your resume and online presence are sending the right signals to recruiters and hiring managers. Now all you need to do is brush up on those interviewing skills and your follow-up approach.Preparation is key for a successful interview. Research the companys business on their corporate website and through sites like Hoovers and Yahoo Finance. Set up a Google News Alert in the days leading up to the interview to stay on top of relevant industry and company news. Additionally, learn as much as you can about the company culture by talking to contacts whove worked at the company and by going to sites like Gl assdoor and Vault.Consider all the different questions interviewers might ask and prepare responses for each. Spend time practicing your responses out loud so you can deliver them smoothly. Be prepared to pitch yourself and the value you can provide during the interview. Its also important that you prepare questions for interviewers that (a) demonstrate your knowledge of the industry and company, and (b) help you better understand the companys needs.Keep in mind that your evaluation as a potential employee continues even after your interview concludes. A recent survey conducted by Ladders found mora than 75 percent of interviewers say receiving a thank you note impacts their decision-making process. A carefully crafted thank you message creates an opportunity to reconnect with employers, build a relationship with interviewers, and keep your candidacy top of mind. Here are eight tips to help you gain the most out of this valuable message1. Stand out from the crowd.By sending a thank you message after each interview, you differentiate yourself from other candidates and can help advance your candidacy to the next round. Use this communication as a tool to address any objections expressed by interviewers and demonstrate your qualifications for the job.2. Make it personal.Follow up with every person you interview with. Tailor each communication by focusing on the most significant points raised during each interview. Dont be afraid to mention little details you learned about the interviewer, such as a shared passion or an upcoming trip this demonstrates your attention to detail and makes the message more memorable.3. Be specific.Relate how your experience is directly tied to the hiring managers needs and how your skills will help him or her solve these challenges. Call out any achievements, experiences, or qualifications you think are relevant to the jobs requirements but didnt get a chance to mention during the interview.4. Overcome objections.If the hiring manage r communicated a concern with hiring you, address it in the thank-you note. Spell out that you can demonstrate what it takes.5. Timing matters. In this mobile age where the expectation of immediacy is higher than ever, its imperative to send thank you notes within 24 hours of every interview. Make sure to collect business cards or write down the proper spelling of the interviewers names and schmelzglas addresses during the interview process to ensure follow-up in a timely manner.6. Culture counts.Its important to consider the individual and the company culture before sending your messages. A more traditional organization may prefer a hand-written letter, while a technology start-up may expect an email immediately.7. Show interest.In a highly competitive job market, every detail counts. Choosing not to send a thank you note jeopardizes your positive perception as being lazy, ungrateful or disinterested.8. Sweat the details.Proofread your thank-you note. Then read it again. Then have your friend proofread it. Make sure everything is spelled properly (including the interviewers name and title), and correct all typos before hitting the send button or dropping the envelope into the mailbox.Think of your thank you message as a tool to influence the interviewer and advance your position. Once youve sent your initial message, follow up via email or over the phone one week later (assuming you didnt get a response) to determine where they are in the hiring process and how you stack up against the other candidates. If you didnt get the job, request feedback whenever possible so you know how to improve for the next interview.