Category: Wealth Secrets

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Business Bags to Get the Job Done with Style


Introduction

A laptop bag is often the first practical accessory people notice. It protects personal articles and sends a style signal. At StoreFour — Be Love, Create, and Live!, we balance function and form. In this post, you will learn how to choose a laptop bag for work and what matters most.

Why the right laptop bag matters

Protect your device and essentials.

A good bag keeps your laptop safe from drops and spills. Look for impact protection, water resistance, and secure closures. Padded sleeves and reinforced corners reduce damage risk. Choosing the right protection saves both time and money.

Boost your professional image.

Your bag says something about you. A neat, well-made bag fits most dress codes. It helps you make a strong first impression. This is a big reason to learn how to choose a laptop bag for work carefully.

Stay organized and productive.

Organization speeds up your day. Easy access to chargers, documents, and your phone keeps you efficient. The right layout prevents fumbling in meetings. That matters on busy commutes and tight schedules.

Essential features to evaluate

Fit and protection

Measure your laptop and check internal sleeve sizes. A snug sleeve keeps the device from shifting. Look for padding on all sides and a reinforced frame. If you travel, consider models with lockable zippers too.

Organization and pockets

A dedicated laptop pocket is a must. Add a document compartment for folders or notebooks. Quick-access pockets for keys and phone save time. Small pockets for pens and cords keep things tidy, visible and easily accessible.

Materials, weight, and comfort

Choose durable fabrics, such as nylon or full-grain leather. Metal hardware lasts longer than plastic. Think about weight versus durability. Lighter bags are better for commuting. Padded straps and a solid handle improve comfort.

Match the bag type to your work style

Commuter and traveller: backpacks and rolling cases

Backpacks are great for cycling and transit. Look for breathable back panels and chest straps that provide a comfortable fit. Rolling cases suit frequent flyers. They protect gear and reduce shoulder strain.

Executive and meetings: briefcases and slim bags

Leather briefcases and slim bags make a polished statement. They fit documents and a laptop without bulk. A structured interior keeps papers flat and devices secure. This look pairs well with suits and tailored outfits.

Creative and flexible: messenger bags and totes

Messenger bags give fast access to your laptop. Totes offer a casual, refined look for creative roles. Both can fit extras like tablets, cameras, or samples. Select a style that complements your daily tools.

How to choose a laptop bag for work (step-by-step)

Measure, list needs, and set a budget

Start by measuring your laptop diagonally and noting the width and depth. List what you carry daily versus what you need occasionally. Determine your price range. This helps narrow choices quickly.

Try features against real scenarios.

Bring your laptop to the store. Test the sleeve and pockets. Walk around with the loaded bag to feel the weight and balance. Simulate your commute and check access to essentials.

Buy for the long term: warranties and reviews.

Check manufacturer warranties before you buy. Read user reviews about durability and real use. These insights reveal common issues, such as seam wear or zipper faults. A good warranty shows brand confidence.

Care, packing tips, and extending bag life

Cleaning and maintenance

Follow material-specific cleaning guides. Use a damp cloth for nylon and a leather cleaner for leather. Condition leather every few months to avoid cracking. Clean zippers and hardware to prevent rust.

Smart packing and weight management

Pack only what you need each day. Use padded sleeves for fragile items. Place heavier items close to your back to reduce strain. Rotate contents to avoid wear in one spot.

Top picks and buying recommendations

Best laptop bags for professionals by use

For commuters, choose a structured backpack with a padded laptop sleeve. For executives, opt for a slim leather briefcase with a document compartment. For creatives, a roomy messenger or leather tote fits extra gear.

StoreFour: Be, Love, Create and Live! picks: collection highlights

The StoreFour Commuter Backpack pairs breathable padding with a weather-resistant shell. It has a quick-access pocket for your phone. The Executive Slim Briefcase uses full-grain leather and a felt laptop sleeve. It looks smart in meetings. The Versatile Tote/Messenger blends canvas and leather. It fits a 15-inch laptop in addition to a camera or sample kit.

Budget, mid-range, and premium buying tips

Budget options often use lighter materials and simpler hardware. Expect good protection for daily commuting, and evaluate seams and zippers. Mid-range bags add better padding and more pockets. Premium bags use leather, metal hardware, and stronger warranties. Invest in fit and protection first. Leather and solid construction are worth extra when the bag represents your brand.

Conclusion

To recap, it’s essential to prioritize fit, protection, organization, and comfort when choosing a laptop bag for work. Test a bag with your laptop to make the right purchase decision. Look for reputable reviews and warranties. StoreFour: Be, Love, Create, and Live! offers a range that covers commuter backpacks, executive briefcases, and versatile totes. Explore our Live collection to find the right match for your job and your style. The right bag helps you work with ease and confidence.

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Top Educational Toys for Creative Parenting Success


Unleash your creativity with StoreFour’s Products from the CREATE Collection and elevate your innovative potential!

Understanding the Value of Top Educational Toys for Parent and Child

Educational toys go beyond simple amusement; they lay the foundation for development. These toys encourage problem-solving, language growth, and social skills in young children. When parents engage with their kids using these interactive toys, it strengthens emotional connections and boosts confidence.

Shared playtime allows parents to guide children through challenges while celebrating successes. This partnership fosters motivation and deeper learning. Choosing top educational toys for interaction ensures meaningful moments that leave a lasting impact.

Explore StoreFour’s Interactive Learning Toys

For example, toys with buttons, shapes, and colourful pieces help develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Features like lights and sounds respond to children’s actions, encouraging cause-and-effect understanding. By involving parents in play, these toys promote communication and shared discovery.

Interactive learning toys spark curiosity and make abstract ideas easier to grasp. Kids see the direct results of their actions, which deepens comprehension and keeps them eager to explore.

Educational Games for Families: Fun While Learning Together

Games that focus on numbers, letters, and memory skills are fun ways to reinforce concepts taught at school or home. By playing together, families share laughter and build trust. Parents can use these moments to encourage patience and creativity.

To maximize benefits, set regular family game nights. Let kids take turns explaining the playing rules to instill leadership. This approach turns educational games into exciting tools for connection and growth.

Creative Play Sets to Inspire Imaginative Skills

StoreFour’s creative play sets offer endless possibilities, from constructing models to crafting pretend adventures. Parents can join in to expand ideas and introduce vocabulary, enriching the experience.

Dive into Creative Arts and Crafts Kits

Arts and crafts kits from StoreFour focus on hands-on creativity. These kits include materials for painting, drawing, sculpting, and assembling. They’re designed to be simple enough for young kids yet inspiring enough to spark original creations.

Craft activities improve fine motor skills, such as gripping pencils and scissors with control. They also encourage self-expression and patience. Working on a project from start to finish builds focus and a sense of achievement.

Using a variety of materials helps children explore textures and colours. Parents can guide by asking questions about choices and techniques, encouraging critical thinking alongside creative fun.

Parent-Guided Educational Activities Using StoreFour Products

Parents play a key role in turning play into powerful learning. StoreFour’s products lend themselves to guided activities that fit into daily routines.

A simple idea is setting up mini science experiments or building challenges with CREATE toys. Discussing what happens and asking open-ended questions deepens understanding. Using arts and crafts kits together offers moments to teach concepts like symmetry or patterns.

Parents can create a playful learning corner stocked with these educational games and toys. Consistency in using the products allows children to connect ideas across activities, boosting innovative capacity.

Practical Tips for Boosting Innovative Capacity with StoreFour

To get the most from StoreFour’s CREATE collection, mix and match products. Combining creative play sets with arts and crafts kits leads to rich, multi-layered experiences.

Encourage daily play sessions, even if just for 15-20 minutes. Regular creativity time helps children build habits of thinking differently and solving problems.

Support your child’s ideas during play and avoid taking over. Instead, ask questions like “What do you think will happen if…?” or “How can we make this better?” This approach fosters independent thinking and confidence.

Conclusion

StoreFour’s CREATE collection is a wonderful resource for parents looking for top educational toys for parent and child play. These products deeply engage kids with interactive learning toys, educational games for families, creative play sets, and arts and crafts kits. When parents actively join the fun, kids develop essential skills while forming strong bonds.

Explore StoreFour today and discover how creative play can boost your child’s innovative capacity. Through shared learning and imagination, you’ll build memories and abilities that last a lifetime.

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How StoreFour Encourages Customers to Be, Love, Create, and Live!


StoreFour is more than just a store—it’s a place where the philosophy of “Be Love Create Live” comes to life. This mission drives everything we do. We want to inspire people to embrace love, creativity, and living life to the fullest. Whether you are setting off on a new adventure or just heading to work, StoreFour encourages you to do it with passion and purpose.

Travel is a big part of living fully. And when you’re on the go, having the right gear makes all the difference. That’s why choosing the right laptop backpack for travel is so important. It supports your lifestyle by combining functionality, comfort, and style all in one.

Understanding StoreFour’s Philosophy: Be, Love, Create, And Live!

What “Love” Means at StoreFour

‘Love’ at StoreFour means caring deeply about the products we offer and how they would enhance your life. It’s about making items that bring joy and confidence. We choose every product with care and attention to inspire positive feelings and connection.

Inspiring Creativity Through Products

We believe creativity lives in everyone. StoreFour’s products give you room to express yourself, whether through artistic choices, unique styles, or customizing your gear. Our backpacks and accessories aren’t just items; they’re tools that help you think bigger and create more.

Living Fully with Purpose and Style

Living fully means embracing each moment with intention and flair. StoreFour products blend functionality with design to help you move through your day comfortably while looking great. Being prepared with stylish essentials lets you focus on what matters—experiencing life.

Why Choosing the Right Laptop Backpack Matters for Travel

Practical Needs of Frequent Travellers

Frequent travellers need backpacks that keep their laptops safe and their belongings organized. A good laptop backpack offers secure storage, easy access, and fits well in tight spaces such as plane overhead bins or crowded trains.

Combining Style and Functionality

The right backpack doesn’t just work well; it reflects your personality. Stylish laptop backpacks for travel reflect how much you care about your business and life, while carrying what you need. A great design and quality material ensure your backpack stands out and lasts.

Impact on Daily Life and Travel Experience

Choosing a backpack that suits your needs can reduce stress while travelling. Comfortable straps and smart compartments mean less hassle and more convenience. You’ll enjoy your journey more when your gear supports your lifestyle seamlessly.

How to Choose a Laptop Backpack for Travel

Consider Size and Capacity

Think about what you carry daily. Your backpack should fit your laptop snugly, while leaving enough space for other articles, such as chargers, notebooks, and personal items. Don’t pick a bag that’s too large or too small—balance is key.

Look for Comfort and Support

Long hours of travel can strain your shoulders and back. Choose a laptop backpack for travel that provides padded straps and an ergonomic design. Adjustable features help distribute weight evenly.

Prioritize Durability and Material Quality

Travel exposes your backpack to wear and tear. Durable materials, including water-resistant nylon or leather, protect your belongings and keep the bag looking fresh. Quality zippers and stitching add to the lifespan.

Check for Functional Features Like Charging Ports

Backpacks with charging ports have become a game-changer. They let you charge devices without unpacking, saving time and hassle during layovers or busy days. This is a must-have for tech-savvy travellers.

Stylish Laptop Backpacks for Travel Offered by StoreFour

Design Trends That Blend Fashion and Function

At StoreFour, our stylish laptop backpacks for travel consider current trends with a timeless feel. Clean lines, versatile colours, and sleek silhouettes ensure your backpack fits anywhere, from the office to weekend trips.

How Style Enhances Confidence and Self-Expression

The way you carry your essentials conveys who you are. Choosing a bag that matches your style boosts your confidence. Our designs help you express individuality while being practical.

The Best Laptop Backpacks for Travel: StoreFour’s Top Picks

Highlighting Backpacks with Charging Ports

Our selection includes backpacks with built-in charging ports. You can plug in your power bank internally and connect external devices easily—no fumbling needed.

Examples of Comfortable Laptop Backpacks for Travel

We offer backpacks with padded, adjustable straps and breathable back panels. These features ensure you stay comfortable even on long journeys. Please visit our LIVE collection to choose the style that suits you.

Customer Favourites and Reviews

Customers love our backpacks for their blend of style and utility. Reviews often mention durability, thoughtful compartments, and ease of use. Many appreciate the on-trend look that fits multiple occasions.

StoreFour’s Tips for Being, Loving, Creating, and Living Fully with Your Backpack

Personalizing Your Backpack to Reflect Your Style

Add patches, keychains, or accessories that tell your story. Personal touches make your backpack uniquely yours.

Using Your Backpack to Encourage Creativity on the Go

Organize the tools you use to create—sketchbooks, pens, digital devices—in easy-to-reach spots. A well-arranged backpack sparks productivity wherever you are.

Making Travel Comfortable and Enjoyable

Plan your packing with care and choose gear designed to support a smooth trip. Comfortable laptop backpacks for travel reduce strain, helping you enjoy the freedom to explore and enjoy.

Conclusion

StoreFour is dedicated to inspiring customers to love, create, and live fully. Our range of stylish, functional backpacks helps you carry what matters with ease and confidence. When making a purchase decision, consider comfort, durability, size, and smart features.

Explore StoreFour’s collections today to find the perfect backpack that fits your life and style. Travel prepared, feel great, and live your fullest life with the right gear by your side.

Enjoy!

Blog link on Storefour:

https://storefour.ca/blogs/news

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Reality Awaits


In our post, From Dream to…, we continued the journey we have embarked on to explore different dimensions of the realm of dream delivery.

It’s always good to have dreams, and it’s even better to let them see the light of reality.

We humans have been endowed with very special gifts. Two of those gifts are of inherent importance: Intention and attention.

The conscious human intention is attributed to awareness, something other species don’t have. In the animal kingdom, for example, efforts are solely driven by instinct. We, on the other hand, have the capacity to choose, and then act on our choices, sometimes clear of the influence of instinct.

For an intention to unfold, attention has to be on its side. We need to ‘see’ the way before us, and continuously align our advancement to our intentions. Otherwise, instinct takes charge, leading a way that is not necessarily the same one we set off to traverse. That’s what renders most intentions unrealized. A sure prescription for disappointment.

Our focused attention on the intention should be dynamic. As we keep the original vision clear, crisp and infused in the work we do, we consistently observe the activities, making sure they align and have a good potential of leading to our intention. Why a ‘good potential?’ Because the future is, by its very nature, uncertain. We need to keep our options open at all times in the face of the unpredictable.

No matter how big and far an intention seems, reaching the top of that mountain is simply a walk; one step at a time. As important as knowing our intention is figuring out what those ‘steps’ are.

Usually, at the beginning it might be difficult to know the steps and how they align to lead to the desired result. We need a good estimate of the main building blocks of the ‘project’ at hand. As we start taking action, more details unfold, helping us adjust our course.

Depending on the complexity of the undertaking, this might grow into a quite large web of interrelated activities. That’s where project management methods and tools would come in handy.

Pick the system that makes sense to you. As this may become a daily companion, try selecting something that is fun and exciting to use.

I use a tool called Quire. Simple and effective. You can start with a single idea, then grow it into a plan by breaking it down into smaller ideas gradually, nestling levels of complexity within each other, in a parent-child configuration. This helps you focus on one thing at a time without losing sight of the bigger context immediately above it, or all the way back to the original single idea.

At any given point in time, you can see what is due today, tomorrow, and later, as well as what is overdue from previous stages.

How can that lead to realizing a dream? What if we get swamped by the details and lose sight of what we really want to achieve?

It’s possible to get derailed, ending up in a perpetual cycle of to-do lists that do not seem to finish. A common reality of so many people all over the planet.

To effectively avoid that, we must have our attention on the intention at all times. For example, we can commit to weekly, monthly, and annual alignment reviews, making sure what we do on a daily basis does not sway our ship adrift from the destination.

In the next post we will conclude this series with an example that links the dots together, in a way that help streamline the implementation of the concept.

Stay tuned.

The Wealth Maker

Image Credit: Todd Quackenbush on Unsplash

 

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Dream or Reality?


We tend to dismiss fresh, wild ideas simply because they seem hard to realize or attain.

What appears impossible today, may very well become possible tomorrow. Technology is but one domain where this observation is quite valid. How about our own lives? We can all remember a time when we looked at a situation, a goal, an aspiration, and said: “Boy, that would be great, but it’s out of my reach, it’s impossible.” Then, a few years, days, or dreams later, we see someone else be, have, or do it.

Stretching applies to the soul as it does to the body. A worthy vision deserves our best, doesn’t it? And we all agree that our best is not where we are at this point. It lies in the open, unknown range before our eyes, our real sight.

I came across this quote by Hellen Keller while reading On Fire by John O’Realy: “The most pathetic person in this world is someone who has sight, but has no vision.” However, a vision that stays locked down in a notebook, or hung on a wall is only worth the page or the wall it’s written on.

How can we translate a dream into reality? This question is as old as time. Yet, the answer is ever new and unique to each and every one of us. What if we dare to ask: “What if?” Would new possibilities open up in our hearts and minds? That, my friend, is the first, and most crucial step in fulfilling a dream!

Now that we’ve established the belief that our dream is “possible,” it’s time to stretch into new parts of possibility. Unkown territories of thought and action. Regions we’ve never dared to step into so far. A lofty dream calls for a daring mission, uncomfortable undertakings. One is answering the question: “What is it that I really want?” We need to get down to some details, but not too much at this point.

When it comes to manifestation, one must be clear, and positive. Surprisingly enough, we manifest what we want as much as what we do not want! The dynamics are the same. The only difference is the ‘not’ factor:)

Clarity goes a long way to affect the quality of the results we get. That’s why it’s important to write down that which we really want. Chances are if you don’t write it, you won’t get it. How can we achieve something we never admit we want. It’s the inner chamber of thoughts and feelings that matters here, not the ‘world’ view of what we aim to manifest.

When we write something down, new brain pathways start to emerge, especially if we use a pen/pencil and paper. Our mids are sensitive to action as well as thoughts and emotions. The wording is very important, too. “I don’t want to fail” leads to different results than “I intend to succeed.” Here we start to see the effect of negative statements. An even better goal would look like: “I intend to get an A in math this semester.” While the first intention is positive, it’s rather vague for the mind to start working on. The second, however, points clearly to the target.

We will delve into the ‘how’ in the next post. In the meantime, see if you can write down one or two of your dreams following these guidelines. Would be awesome if you’d share what you’ve written so we’d work together on turning a goal into a realistic action plan. Please use the comment section if you feel comfortable sharing.

Stay tuned.

The Wealth Maker

Image Credit: Photo by Hello I’m Nik 🎞 on Unsplash

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Moments of Change


We, humans, use time and space to measure change, or the rate of change. The units differ depending on what we measure. Astronomers use light years, builders use meters, and quantum physicists use nanoseconds. No matter the unit, change is constant, within and without us. Furthermore, time is a concept represented by space. Have you ever seen or touched a minute?

Some changes happen regardless of our observation. Others force us to listen and have our eyes wide-open. What change has made you stop and think deeply, lately?

Resisting change is a common human mental habit. Other creatures flow with change in the environment surrounding them. Have you heard of a tree resist shedding its leaves in October to grow new ones in March? Or a flock of birds decides to stay in Alaska after the first sign of winter?

Whether we see change as an opportunity and flow with it, or consider it a threat and strive to prevent it from happening, most changes are natural and inevitable.

In business, change always hit the three vital elements of a project or a venture: Time, cost and resources. These three are interrelated in ways that are sometimes mysterious. Shorten the time, and cost goes up. ‘Restructure’ the organization, and time extends on its own terms.

What we must stay fully aware of is the following:

When you plan anything, make sure all variables involved are on the table.

What does that entail?

  • Know your financial capacity
  • Have key resources present
  • Understand, right from the main stakeholders, the time limits placed upon what you’re planning

My intention in this post is not to give you a project management crash course. You can find ample resources online and off-line on that. The intention is to raise our awareness, in life and in business, of the changes passing through our lives without us noticing, appreciating and effectively utilizing them.

One way to approach this is to start a journey of raising our awareness of both attention and intention.

While one’s attention could easily sway and wonder, following the feed of the five senses, and the flood of unguided thoughts and feelings, this can dramatically change if that attention follows a well-thought-of intention.

Attention could be the most valuable gift we’ve been given. It’s like a beam of light that we can focus on anything we want, intentionally or unintentionally. And that is the key lesson here:

Let’s choose, as much as we can, to focus the beam of our attention intentionally.

However, to do that, we need to have intentions, to begin with, don’t we?

How to set good intentions will require its own post. For now, it suffices to say that each one of us needs to set aside enough time and positive energy to know, write, and commit to a set of intentions that spans the dimensions of his or her life and business (as if they are separate 🙂

As that evolves, and as we re-shift our attention to be more and more inline with the intentions we’ve set to ourselves, those passing changes I mentioned above will become visible and accessible.

In conclusion, accepting change as a fact of our being, and then using the energy it presents to reach higher levels of awareness and achievement, is a prerequisite to true success.

Post Photo by Jeremy Thomas on Unsplash

TWM

The image below shows a recent addition to our StoreFour‘s Digital collection (a positive change), in case you’d like to use a new technology to measure time in conjunction with your cell phone.

Bluetooth Smart Watch for Android Smartphones

The item is a fashion Bluetooth smartwatch, which can be easily paired with most Bluetooth-enabled Android smartphones. it can dial or answer calls, synchronize phone-books, SMS and remote notifications of messages from Apps in your phone. Click the link below to see more details, or you can immediately buy through the PayPal button Bluetooth Smart Watch for Android Smartphones

C$35.97

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Patience, Persistence and Faith


Life is a journey worth taking, even though none of us has been given the choice to take it or not. Now that we are here, in it, let’s explore together some aspects that would make this inevitable journey enjoyable, as well as rewarding.

Remember learning to ride your first bike, competing with your classmates, working hard to get your first paycheck? None of those, and million other things, you’ve achieved or endured, would have seen the light without the jewel of all virtues: Patience!

Yet, patience alone is not enough, especially if it was serving the wrong dream; something that would lead to agony instead of joy, to disappointment not satisfaction. But do we always pick and choose what to bear and what not? A sudden illness, the death of a loved one, natural disasters, the list is long, very long.

Here comes another weapon in the face of the unfortunate: Persistence. One could be patient, but that patience is short-lived, fleeting as soon as the squeeze of the situation gets firmer. I’m not talking hypothetically, but rather factually.

Persistence is staying the course, no matter what it takes. Tough? You bet! Nevertheless, and most of the time, behind that mountain of toughness there would be a meadow of peace.

Now you might ask: Where do I get the momentum, the positive energy to be patient and persistent? You need a purpose you believe in. And that is the third element: Faith.

Without unwavering faith in what you do, and where you’re going, it’s almost impossible to endure patience, let alone persistence. Faith gives you the capacity to ‘see’ what’s beyond that which seems ugly and impossible. It gives a feeling of assurance and an enriching sense of possibility, of reaching that which you’ve been striving to reach.

In the next story we will talk about tips that would enhance our ability to attain and maintain these three vital life endowments: Patience, Persistence and Faith.

Stay tuned!

TWM

 

P.S. This post has also been published on Medium.com under Yaman Saleh, Owner of TWM

View at Medium.com

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The Leader-Manager Entrepreneur


One of my favorite books on leadership is the late Stephen Covey’s: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

Covey’s articulation is top-class. He convinces you that there are two almost independent spheres: One for the leader and another for the manager. Could one person juggle between the two? Covey didn’t particularly recommend that, stressing that a leader should not be consumed by the day-to-day details of the business. Rather, he or she should be totally focused on vision, mission and long-term objectives.

While this can be true in corporations, when it comes to small businesses and entrepreneurship, the lines between the two worlds become rather blurry.

One day, your main focus would be on the five-year strategy of your marketing plan, the next you find yourself under a desk plugging Ethernet cables, or sorting out receipts of recent purchases. And that is the beauty of the whole thing, of the one-man-show adventure. That’s how it starts, and sometimes, that’s how it continues to run. Having said that, I do strongly recommend starting with a credible partner, who would stick with you the whole journey. Loneliness could be tough when the winds are not behind your sails.

In the previous article, Risk and Reward: The Two Vital R’s of Business, we talked about how an entrepreneur must evaluate their RT before delving into the ocean of business on their own. Here we explore how that is tested on the ground, in the midst of it. Now you know how much risk you can bear in order to reap a reward you had seen before you started!

On the lighter side of things, one would need suits and overhauls in their closets. Black, shiny shoes and thick, sturdy work boots. Fine perfumes and grease-cleansing hand soap.

This is not living two personalities. On the contrary, this is extracting the best of your God-given talents and putting them on the line.

Switching between the two roles becomes natural over time. A new, well-rounded personality, rooted in a character of offering true value and sincerity, evolves out of the continuous interaction with challenges and finding intelligent solutions.

Another aspect of this dual responsibility/multiple hats dynamic is being able to focus entirely on the one task at hand, no matter how different the previous or the next task would be. For example, you could be in a meeting with business stakeholders to discuss your product strategy. While in that crucial meeting, you remember that afterwards you must take care of an urgent maintenance issue in the office. The stakeholders meeting calls for your leadership presence, while the maintenance problem requires handyman skills. Being able to focus and then shift is key here. You could think of other interesting and fun examples that fall into the same realm.

Is there a special training for such interactive talent? I don’t think so. The best training is on the job, by actually trying, making mistakes, and learning, till the pool of skills is honed to almost perfection.

Enjoy!

The Wealth Maker

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Risk and Reward- The Vital Two R’s of Business


We are risk takers by nature, all of us, in varying degrees. But marching into the unknown is a human instinct that manifests itself in obvious, as well as mysterious ways. Every hour of every day we take risks. You may allow your mind to explore this idea and find examples. Traveling to a new country, hiking an unmarked trail, buying a gift for a loved one, tasting a weird- smelling food, going to war, getting married, asking for forgiveness, climbing the Himalayas, camping, skiing, driving, falling in love, leaving home, and doing nothing is also a form of taking risk, yet indirectly.

For the sake of our topic, let’s narrow down that endless list to just one: Starting your own business and deciding to become an entrepreneur.

Why do people leave the comfort and security of a guaranteed pay-check, and go on their own? For starters, that comfort has become unattainable lately. Downsizing, mergers, acquisitions, financial crisis, to name a few, have made job security a thing of the past.

But that is not the main reason entrepreneurs go out and face the world alone. It is something within each and every one, a calling if you will. I bet you’ve heard this before and you might be thinking: “OK, a calling, but what is the percentage of success of that calling? Show me the money!”

True, no matter how strong a calling was, and how enthusiastic the person would be, a business venture must yield financial results. In other words: Money 🙂

That’s why, before delving in the ocean of entrepreneurship, one must evaluate few traits that are vital to making that journey a pleasant and fruitful one.

So what are those traits? The first that comes to mind is risk tolerance. I’ve talked about this, giving it an acronym of RT in several posts about investing, and it still applies here, probably more so. A low RT isn’t going to help here. A very high one would result in taking too much risk, and again that is dangerously dangerous 🙂

We are looking for a healthy RT, which on one hand drives the entrepreneur to explore new, uncharted frontiers, most of the time alone and with little knowledge and tools, and on the other, keeps him/her aware of the potential challenges, and do enough research and preparation ahead of, during and after taking the risk. What is that called in plain English? Wisdom combined with courage. And in eloquent English: Courageously wise or wisely courageous 🙂

The heart of our discussion here is the following:

‘Risk and Reward are proportional: The more risk one takes, the higher the probability of reward. The opposite seems to be true, most of the time.’

Let’s start with a simple example: If you decided not to teach your four-year old child how to ride a bike, fearing the risk of injury, you denied him/her the rewards that come with riding a bike. One of them is innocent joy!

To get any reward, we must do something, right? And any doing involves taking a risk, no matter how small. That’s why they are related proportionally.

Raise the level of one, the other gets a boost. The challenge is to find that threshold where raising too much would result in unwanted results rather than rewards. And that threshold differs depending on the situation.

In the example above, rushing the learning curve increases the risk of injury. Taking the matter way too slow may delay the reward or even prevent it from happening.

We need to be patient with the whole process. We start by taking small risks and observe our emotional and mental reactions, just like building, you start with a foundation, then keep adding to it.

Another aspect of this building process is appreciating the results, no matter how small.

When it comes to building a new business enterprise, the principle would be the same, however, the application is different.

Does that mean you start with a tiny little venture then expand gradually? That’s one way to approach it. Say open an online store with only one product line, give it your best till it starts making profit, then add a second product line, and so on.

Nevertheless, if you know that your RT is high enough to get into bigger business adventures, especially if you know you have good financial and practical backing by trusted partners, then you may want to create a vision that would lead to more aggressive plans. For example, starting an eCommerce platform, where small business owners can open their one-product-line stores.

The web is full of tools and articles on how to assess your RT level. Here’s one, which I have no affiliation with, and can’t guarantee its results, but you may want to give it a shot, or look for something else in that line of tools:

http://www.moneycontrol.com/personal-finance/tools/risk-assessment-tools.html

In conclusion, know thyself before starting a new business. The time, money and energy spent doing that is worth the clarity that result from being aware where your next step will hit the ground.

All the best,

The WEalth MAker

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Reaching Out to Patients: Telemedicine


‘When the patient is ready, the doctor shows up’

Every human being goes through ups and downs when it comes to their health, whether it’s physical, mental or emotional.

Finding the right answers to such concerns and reaping the benefits of educated, professional medical advice is an essential requirement for a healthy well-being.

Advances in technology; telecommunications in particular, have opened new, innovative doors to abundance in almost every aspect of today’s life, and medicine is not an exception.

When fine medical knowledge, facilities and skills are combined with sophisticated information technology and state-of-the-art telecommunication systems, you get what is referred to as Telemedicne.

The following scenario gives an idea:

A car accident takes place on a back country road. The ambulance at the scene has a portable x-ray machine, which takes an image of the injured’s fractured knee and transmits it over a satellite up-link to a medical facility, that has a specialized knee surgeon. Almost instantly, the surgeon reviews the images on a workstation linked to the telemedicine network, or even on a tablet connected to an attached image database over a WiFi connection. Upon assessment, the surgeon communicates proper instructions to the paramedics at the scene over a video conferencing channel, guiding them, step by step, on how to handle the delicate condition till the patient reaches the nearest hospital.

So what is telemedicine?

In very simple, non-medical terms, it is a service that allows a patient to communicate with a healthcare provider, virtually, over a specialized system of telecommunication and IT facilities.

In the above example, the injured patient communicated, indirectly through the paramedics, with a knee surgeon, hundreds, or even thousands, of miles away, and received proper care on the spot. That involved utilizing telecommunications links, a secure Internet tunnel, software applications on both ends, and a clear/effective Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), which organizes and manages the whole communication process, as well as the exchange of medical data and final consultation/advice.

There are other details to the service, which can be explained in later posts of this series. But for now, what we need to take from this presentation is the fact that telemedicine is helping patients and healthcare providers overcome the limitations that used to hinder the access and the delivery of top-class medical advice to virtually any spot around the globe, as well as space missions.

The 2nd point is that telemedicine can help almost any medical practice, including dentistry, neurology, internal medicine, surgery of any sort, and a lot more.

Stay tuned for more discussions on how telemedicine works, and on some of its vertical applications, including Tele-Neurology (think here of helping patients residing in rural areas avoid fatal brain stroke incidents).

The Wealth Maker