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What’s new in soil stabilization
With increasing urbanization, population growth and the need for reliable infrastructure, it’s not surprising that the need for a diverse set of soil stabilization techniques suitable for a variety of soil and project conditions has seen matching growth. In 2017, the global soil stabilization market reached a massive US $22 Billion, and is expected to reach US $29 billion by 2023. Here we take a look at some of the soil stabilization techniques leading the field in innovation and market growth. Chemical stabilization through the addition of Lime: The addition of lime, lime kiln dust or quicklime is a popular form of soil modification and stabilization for all types of soft soils, especially wet, fine-grained and clay soils. Essentially it reacts with clay molecules, which hardens and dries out the soil with which it is mixed, improving stability and soil compressibility. Lime is the oldest soil stabilization technique still in use today and can be greatly advantageous for particularly muddy construction sites which make accessing the site difficult, and it’s also cheap. It does, however, have several disadvantages too. The production process is very energy intensive, resulting in large CO2 emissions, as high as 1.2 tons of CO2 per ton of lime produced. Achieving homogenous application is tricky, there is risk of environmental toxicity, and application over very soft soil is problematic due to the heavy earth-mixing equipment required for application. Mechanical soil stabilization through the use of Geocell engineering: Although geocells have been around since the 1970’s, the increasing global demand for more environmentally sustainable and cost-effective construction techniques has seen renewed interest in their use. Geocells – a type of geosynthetic – are constructed from strips of a novel polymeric alloy called Neoloy, which are welded together to form a honeycomb-like grid when stretched out on site. They are then filled in with local granular materials that are readily available, such as sandy soils or even recycled asphalt paving (RAP). The main environmental benefits include the ability to utilize local granular materials for infill rather than hauling in high-quality aggregates from quarries, a reduction in the required pavement thickness, improved durability of projects, and the ongoing cost benefit of reduced maintenance requirements. While awareness of this technology remains its biggest challenge, it is gaining a reputation as a good option for projects with poor soil or challenging environmental conditions. One prime example of this was the construction of an all-weather access road for MEG Energy in the Muskeg peat bog, which made use of geocell engineering in Canada. Some of the challenges facing the engineers on site included moving vehicles and materials around on the saturated, acidic soil, as well as subzero winter temperatures, extremely poor drainage and heavy rains which meant much of the site was essentially a swamp – described, in fact, as an ‘engineering nightmare’. An example of the less than ideal working conditions – geocell layer visible in back Because the peat bog soil was too deep and poorly drained for soil replacement, it soon became clear that the use of heavy-duty Neoloy geocells was the only feasible solution. Local geocell experts designed a reinforced road using one to three layers of Neoloy geocells, depending on the saturation level of the area in question. Once in place, the geocells were filled in with sand from locally available borrow pits and then compacted. The geocell layers formed a semi-rigid mattress, or a ‘floating road’ over the swampy soil. The benefits of geocell mechanical soil stabilization include: reducing stress by distributing vertical loads and extending the life of the road – meaning that even heavy rigs and construction equipment could now traverse the peat bog on a regular basis. Compaction grouting for sinkhole remediation: Building much-needed apartment housing is one thing but doing so on an area of land which is essentially one giant sinkhole is another matter altogether! This was the challenge facing contractors trying to put up a new five story complex in King of Prussia in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Understandably, no work on the apartment building could begin until the underlying dolomite subsoil was stabilized. The solution they arrived at was the use of compaction grouting, which involves drilling columns in a grid-like pattern, and then injecting a low-mobility soil-cement grout into the holes at high pressures. This process compacts coarse-grained soils and displaces fine-grained soils, allowing the construction site to withstand higher bearing pressures and reduce settlement – both very important in an area to prone to sinkholes. Under normal conditions, a soil profile increases in strength with depth – but on this site, the dense clays were on the surface, with weaker soils above the bedrock – hence the tendency for sinkholes to form. Drilling down to reach the unstable layer was therefore the best solution in this scenario. To complete the stabilization, the contractor - Compaction Grouting Services, Inc. or CGS - needed to drill 626 separate holes, and pump in 820 cubic yards of grout at an average pressure of 300 psi. And despite a number of challenges, including snow, rain and muddy conditions as well as a small sinkhole which opened up in an area which hadn’t been grouted – they managed to finish a day ahead of schedule. Read Also: Proper Waste Disposal And Recycling: Things To Remember Edmonton Landscape Maintenance Tips
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3 Tips for Buying Bikes for Larger Guys
Even though bike riding is now common and a good way to beat traffic and maximize exercise, for the larger, bigger people, there might be some discriminations and restrictions in their choice of bikes. Regular exercise such as cycling is just as important to the bigger guys as it is for fitness enthusiasts, and there are bicycles for men out there that are well suited to their larger size. Bikes come in so many different types, and some are much better suited for large cycles than others. Bike Frames: You can get custom made chromoly bikes to beat the discrimination in shops and bike stores. Larger riders might want to consider the options of getting metal, carbon, chromoly or titanium bike frames. Carbon materials are an option that ensures strong frames but, not all carbon frames are good enough and some may have limits. For riders who are both heavy and have some height advantages, getting miles with metal frames might be the safest and best option. Steel is very affordable and a well known strong metal. However, bikes made out of steel might be a little heavier than the other non-steel counterparts. Titanium bike frames give the best option for truly impressive strength and added options for uniquely shaped tubes, but for a more expensive price. Bike Wheels and Components: Just like with picking the right frames, the wheels on a bike are an important element to ensure safety and maximum use of the bike. Metal wheels are an option for larger bike riders. However, they, of course, will have a higher weight capacity than regular bike wheels. Also look at the spokes of the wheels, 32 double-butted steel spokes can be a good way to go. The spokes cross over three others in a three-cross pattern. If you can not find wheels to fit your needs, there is always the option of building and customizing your own unique bike wheels. Consider the bar width before purchasing any bike. The narrower the bar, the more uncomfortable you will be, especially during long bike rides. To have an idea of how wide the handlebars should be, drop bars should be the same width as your shoulders. Also, saddle bars should be the perfect fit for your bones. Get proper measurements and ensure the saddles on the bike is a good fit for you. Consider Customization: For the much taller broke riders, or just any large biker who does not find a bike that suits his taste in the market, customization is always an open option. By customizing your bike, you get to design the bicycle in a way that best suits your tastes and needs. When building the handlebars, you can align them to the perfect height and distance that suits your size. Customization means there will be no compromises with making the perfect choice in bikes. You pick and decide on the bike seats you want, the wheels, and frame material to fit your bulk. It is truly the perfect option for larger bike riders. Conclusion: No matter how tall or big a man you are, you can always find a wide range of bikes for larger guys. But going the customization way is always a great idea to ensure your bike perfectly fits your needs. If you want to go biking on the beaches, you can a men’s cruiser bike. Read More: Will eBikes Save the Planet? Tips for Buying a Beginner Mountain Bike. Benefits with riding a single speed bike in the city.
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Perfect Resume Samples for Every Job
Your resume is the most important element in your application portfolio. You could have an impressive education. You may have a solid work history and volunteering experience. But, if your resume doesn’t showcase these features, you may be passed over. Worse, the person who gets the position may not have your skills or your sense of responsibility. Why would they choose him to interview over you? Many templates will help you design a resume online. What’s more, there are plenty of people who are willing to help you design and write your resume. These people will twist words until they do not resemble the truth, but they are not lies. Here is an example. There was a warehouse worker who put away stock and did cycle-counts. During the lunch break, he would answer telephone calls putting them on hold before his superior could take over. His resume read, “Assisted the operations manager in maintaining a multi-million dollar inventory” and “Served as backup for the parts manager when he was unavailable.” While these statements are not necessarily lies, they are not exactly truthful either. We are not suggesting that you bend the truth in your resume like this person did but we are suggesting that a properly worded resume gets you in the running. Who do you have to impress? If you are invited over for an interview, you will probably have to go through several layers of management to secure the position. You will have to impress each of these people. But, there is something you need to keep in mind. Most department heads have administrative assistants. Often, these assistants are tasked with screening the cover letters and resumes that come in. The assistant typically has one criterion to look for. He or she will look for these criteria and give the management team their opinion of the top 10. This means that you want your resume to showcase all your strengths. But the wording must be simple and easy to understand. If you write, “Personally designed an automated system allowing real-time delivery of HVAC equipment on commercial job sites, giving our clients a 10% increase of their ROI” The assistant will think, “Okay, whatever.” But, if you write. “I designed a program that saved our customers time on their jobs and gave them a higher return on their investment.” The bell goes off, and you make the cut. You have to impress people in a way that be understandable both to a CEO and a receptionist. Save your gift of gab for the interview. Resume Content: Your resume tells the reader who you are. The resume is the document that lists your education, experience, and achievements. It allows you to show where you went the extra mile. By using clear language, you are sending a message that you do not need to muddy the waters with your impressive vocabulary. You have the background, skills, and knowledge to bring to the table. All resumes offer an equal opportunity to show who you are. Your goal is to write it in a professional manner that emphasizes your qualities and grabs the reader's attention. The format you choose is your tool to reach that goal. You can look for resumes that appeal to you online. Be selective of the website you use, as you do not want a cookie-cutter resume. Look for a quality sample resume, and you will be at the head of the pack from step one. What your resume needs to include? When you find a resume sample that you like, you will start filling it with your personal data. Of course, that includes your name, address, and contact information. After that, you can write a brief summary of what you do and what you aspire to do in the future. This lets the reader make a first impression about you. You will go on to add your education and any specialized training you may have completed. Do not stretch the truth here. These things are easily verified online. Next is your work history. Write down where you worked, what your achievements are and how you advanced your career within the company (if relevant). You do not have to explain why you left unless the employer specifically asks. If they do, be careful not to disrespect or criticize the company you left. If you left because you did not get a promotion, you can say that you want to work for a company that offers more opportunities for career growth. Finally, you may be asked for references. Do not list references on your resume. Instead, send your resume with “References available upon requests.” Conclusion: Use a high-quality resume format. Be straightforward and honest. Bonus tip: If you are applying for a job offered by your current company’s competitor, do not hint that you are willing to give them insider tips. You have to show respect for the industry and be professional. That will take you much further in the business world. Read More: 5 Common Resume Mistakes You Should Avoid. How to Write an Effective Resume that Get Noticed? Tips on Building Your Resume for a Website Design Company.
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Mistakes to Avoid When Trying to Lose Belly Fat
Are you tired of belly fat? Belly fat is more than a nuisance, it is more harmful than many people realize. It not only makes your clothes feel tight but may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, and heart problems. Losing belly fat is extremely difficult, but it can be much harder if you are doing it wrong. There are many things that you do for losing weight that can actually increase your belly fat. In this article, we have listed the most common mistakes you should avoid. Have a look! Not Getting Enough Sleep: The most common mistake is staying awake at night. Whether you are having late-night coffee or scrolling through Instagram or Facebook. When you don’t get 6 to 8 hours of sleep every night, you will feel tired the next morning. You will not have the energy to keep up with everyday chores. Additionally, this will have an adverse effect on your weight. Instead of losing weight, you will be gaining weight. This is because when we are sleep deprived, the hormones are not balanced. It has a direct impact on our hunger. The hormones that affect our hunger levels are leptin and ghrelin. Ghrelin makes us hungry while leptin promotes the feeling of fullness. When we have a lack of sleep, ghrelin levels increase and leptin level decreases. It indicates that when we are awake, we will be eating more and feeling less satisfied. This is why you should go to sleep early and keep your hormones balanced. Eating Too Much Sugar: Losing weight becomes challenging when your diet includes a lot of sugar content. When you are trying to lose belly fat, you must keep a check on the calories and sugar you are intaking. You must avoid drinking sugar-sweetened drinks, sports drink, and other sugary foods. Though many people tend to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables when losing weight, it is not a great approach. This is because fruits and vegetables havea high content of natural sugar. Many people even consume low-fat foods, such food also have high sugar content. So, it is advised to check the food label before using them. Doing Crash-Dieting: Though crash diets can help you lose weight in the start, it will not help keep the weight off. You need to keep in mind that intaking few calories can do more harm than good. This is because when you have low-calorie intake, your body will enter starvation mode. It will slow down the metabolism that makes it harder to lose weight. You must try and keep the intake of carbohydrates to a minimum. When you will reduce the carbohydrates intake, you will be able to reduce your belly fat. If you want to make healthy changes in your eating habits, this menu will tell you what you should eat to lose weight. Therefore, these are common mistakes made by people when trying to lose belly fat. You should gradually make changes to your lifestyle and habits to starting losing weight effectively. Read Also: Follow These 5 Yoga Poses To Reduce Stubborn Belly Fat Crucial Tips To Getting A Flat Stomach
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Business potential of stock broking agencies in India
Over the last few years, quite a few stock brokers have been forced to shut shop due to weak business. This is true not only of broking but also of other businesses where automation has been taking its toll. To survive and thrive in the stock broking business you need to be able to extrapolate the key trends in stock broking and position yourself accordingly. How do you differentiate yourself as a stock broker? That is the only way you can realize the full potential of stock broking. Remember, each year Indian investors are investing more than $25 billion into equities either in direct equities or via equity and ELSS funds. That is a lot of money. How do you grab the most of this potential? There are five things that you need to be aware of. The industry is getting divided into two segments: In the broking industry, you either need to run with the hares or hunt with the hounds. The broking industry as a whole is getting stratified into the zero brokerage discount brokers and the full-service brokers. The room for the in-between brokers is increasingly reducing. If you want to be a discount broker then focus on an efficient offering at a very low cost. Alternatively, if you want to be at the full-service end then you need to be prepared to invest in research and technology. In the past, there was room for the median brokers who were somewhere between the full-service brokers and the discount brokers. With both these categories of brokers pushing their boundaries, the gap in between is getting squeezed. First, be clear on your positioning and your strategy should follow after that. Be clear on the value proposition: This is a logical corollary to the first point. What is your value proposition? Are you offering the lowest brokerage in the market? That is an advantage that is hard to sustain over longer periods of time and the model is always vulnerable to sudden changes in the market undertone. Secondly, are you offering the best advisory services in the business? This called multi-level skills in portfolio design, need understanding, portfolio customization, portfolio review etc. This is quite complicated and any advisory is always open to an opinion about success and failure. In a competitive market, this can work both ways. Lastly, is technology your USP? In the past, technology was just a tool, but that has changed. Today it is possible to look at broking as a software company and offering a robust trading model that is super efficient and intelligent. Automate and employ technology intelligently: If you look at how brokers are adding value to their customers, most of the value addition in the last few years is coming through technology. Thanks to broadband and the use of smartphones, it is possible to trade on the fly using your mobile app. Brokers are also employing artificial intelligence and machine learning to make machines increasingly think and strategize like humans. And then there is the all-powerful call to action. Here the customer is guided seamlessly through research, screening, and execution without really realizing that they are different parts of the trading system. Engage the customer continuously through financial planning: Broking is increasingly commoditized. That is more the case when you try to offer broking as a solution rather than as a service. For an investor, the solution is the creation of wealth in the long term. The solution could also be managing risk. The solution could also entail profiting from short-term trends. Most often brokers tend to confuse between the product and the solution. Focus on the solution in this industry. When you are in the financial services industry you always start with the financial goal in mind. Help the client identify long-term goals and then prepare a plan to reach these goals. As a broker you will find out how easily equity, mutual funds, and even bond sit prettily into this scheme of things. That is the best way to increase your customer engagement and improve your ROI per customer. It is just that in this case, the ROI flows naturally. Provide a delivery platform that simple, elegant and actionable: One of the critical success factors in the broking industry will be the variety and robustness of the delivery platform that you offer. If you offer more platforms like online, offline, mobile, call-n-trade, SMS trading, non-market trades etc, then your chances of engaging the customer meaningfully is much higher. Your delivery platform should also be seamless such that the movement between research ideas; advise, screening and execution should be smooth and with minimum clicks. That is when the clients can actually experience the value proposition. The key issue here is that the opportunity in the broking industry is still huge. It is just that the nature of the opportunity is changing. As a broker, you need to position yourself in the bracket that reflects your core strengths the best. The rest will follow! Read Also: How To Become A Sub-Broker? How Businesses Can Use Stock Trading
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Seeking a Healthy Career: 10 Tempting Medical Careers to Check Out
Are you looking for a stable, rewarding career that allows you to help others, while still making good money? If so, then a career in the medical field may be right for you! Many people scoff at the idea of switching to a career in medicine. This is because when many people think "medical career" they think "doctor". And that, of course, leads to people to think that the only way to make it in the medical field is to give up ten plus years of your life for school while going hundreds of thousands of dollars into debt. However, there are a lot of careers that you can do in the medical field that don't require years and years of schooling and money. And, people often get just as much job satisfaction from these careers as doctors do. What careers are we talking about, exactly? Read on to learn about the top 10 medical careers to check out for those looking for a career switch. 1. Ultrasound Technician: Working as an ultrasound technician is perhaps one of the least stressful medical careers out there. And, it's super fulfilling. Even better, it pays well and does not take that much schooling. As an ultrasound technician, you get to witness one of the most joyous moments in a person's life- seeing their baby for the first time! However, your job will consist of a lot more than just showing future parents their babies on an ultrasound machine. Your job will also consist of using the ultrasound machine to identify blood clots, diagnose tumors, evaluate heart conditions, and more. For an entry-level job, you will need an associates degree, a diploma or a certificate. Job growth in this field is at a healthy 17 percent, and you can expect to make around $70,000. 2. Biomedical Engineer: Are you looking for a career in the medical field that is less patient focused? If so, a career as a biomedical engineer may be for you. As a biomedical engineer, you'll get to use your skills in science and math to further the medical field. You will be in constant contact with other scientists, doctors, and nurses to repair and improve upon various medical devices. You may even get the chance to help develop an artificial organ. Some other biomedical engineers work to develop software for medical devices, research emerging technologies, or design new devices. In this career, you may find yourself working in a lab, hospital, or university, or government agency. You will need a bachelor's degree in engineering in order to enter this career field. However, if you are going back to school, you may not need to redo your generals. Therefore, you could knock off a year or two of schooling. As a biomedical engineer, you can expect to make close to six figures. 3. Phlebotomist: We've all had our blood drawn at a doctor's appointment or for a blood drive. The person drawing your blood in these situations is a phlebotomist. A lot of people think phlebotomists only draw blood. However, they do a lot more than that. However, due to the fact that many people are afraid of needles, your job will also involve putting your people skills to the test. Calming down and soothing patients will be a regular part of your job. If you work blood drives, you'll also be responsible for screening patients to ensure they're fit to give blood. You can also work towards other applicable certificates as a phlebotomist, such as a bloodborne pathogens certificate. You can find more info about that here. Training to become a phlebotomist takes as little as 8 months. And, school is often a couple of nights a week. Therefore, this is a career that you can easily transition to while still keeping your old job. 4. Medical Illustrator: A medical illustrator is a career that very few people know about. This is a shame, as this job can be super exciting and fascinating. If you're someone who is equally right-brained and left-brained oriented, this career may be for you. Medical illustrators work to create graphic representations and drawings of different parts of the body. Their "artwork" can be used for a variety of purposes, including legal proceedings, posters, and textbooks. You will use extremely precise graphic design software to create these images. The images you create will help educate students, patients, doctors, and nurses. You will need to get a Masters in Medical Illustration in order to enter this field. But, those two years will quickly pay off, as you can expect to make close to six figures. 5. Radiologic Technologist: Physicians and medical professionals rely on imaging technology to diagnose and treat patients. The images they use don't just appear out of the blue. They are created with the help of a radiologic technologist, also commonly known as an x-ray technician. In this role, you will use imaging technology to create highly-sophisticated images of patients' body parts. Once you've created the images, you will be responsible for updating the patient's file accordingly. This is another great career field that offers great pay and low stress. The average salary for this position is around $60,000. You will need an associate's degree to qualify for work. 6. Nutritionist: The US is one of the most obese countries in the world, which means we could use more nutritionists to get us on healthier diets. As a nutritionist, you will get the opportunity to educate patients about what it takes to lead a healthy lifestyle. In this role, you will design a nutrition program for your clients to follow in order to meet their lifestyle goals. You could work with a patient with Type II diabetes, creating a diet plan for them that will help them lose weight. Or, maybe you'll work with someone who has Celiac's disease to create a healthy and diverse diet plan that won't make them sick. This is another medical career that is extremely low-stress. And, you only need a bachelor's degree to do it. Are You Ready for One of These Medical Careers? As you can see, there are a lot of medical careers out there that have nothing to do with being a doctor. Now, all you need to do is choose one that you'd like to pursue. However, before you make the leap, be sure to check out this article about the top things you should know before entering a medical career. Read Also: Top 6 U.S. Universities That Offer Health Science Course What They Don’t Tell You About Freelance Careers
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How to Save a Struggling Company
Operating a struggling business can feel like an extremely stressful uphill battle, especially when there doesn't seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel. Luckily, there are dozens of ways to bring a failing business back from the brink of failure. However, it will take some willpower and a multifaceted approach to pull it off. Things aren't going to fix themselves, and in most cases, a full recovery will require the implementation of some radical changes. That being said, here are some steps you can take to save even the most troubled business from its own demise: How to Save a Struggling Company: 1. Apply for a Loan: Regardless of which approach you choose to take, chances are you'll need a bit of extra funding to facilitate a full-fledged reform. If you have decent credit and can show proof that the business is earning some form of revenue, you can probably get approved for a loan on a same-day basis. Small business loans from Become. Lending Express has become a popular option for struggling companies that need extra cash flow to get out of the hole. 2. Find New Customers and Clients: While a loan can keep you from going under, to really get back on your feet you'll need to start focusing on generating additional revenue. Be competitive in your niche, provide unique products/services, and utilize aggressive promotional techniques to spread brand awareness. Most struggling businesses simply aren't making enough sales to cover their operating expenses, so the straightforward solution here is to bring more business in the door or to your site. 3. Halt All Unnecessary Expenditure: Excessive overhead is the last thing a struggling business needs hanging over them. Make a minimal list of everything your company needs to continue operating and scrap everything else immediately. After all, if you're at the stage of needing a loan or a ground-breaking ad campaign to keep the business afloat, you don't want to be wasting borrowed money on expenses that aren't even necessary. 4. Bring in New Management: When you're trying to find the root of where your business went wrong, nine times out of ten there is somebody that can be held accountable. Assess the company's primary mistakes and try to ascertain who was responsible for allowing those decisions to be made in the first place. While letting go of employees can be a difficult adjustment to make, bringing in fresh perspective and talent could be all that's needed to turn things around. Better yet, consider the advantages of taking matters into your own hands for a while. Create a Comprehensive Recovery Plan: In closing, all of the above steps should be incorporated into an overall recovery plan that will guide the business back into a state of solvency and profitability. Try to be as detailed as possible when coming up with specific goals, budgets, deadlines, and agendas. The more specific and realistic your plan is, the greater your chances of success will be, so it's important to take everything into account, even if it takes days to run all of the calculations and brainstorm it out. Read Also: Importance Of Flexibility With Business Technology 6 Loan Mistakes Every Business Owner Must Avoid
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5 Reasons Why You Need To Throw An Office Christmas Party
Everyone loves an office Christmas party, it’s a time where everyone can get together, have a bit of fun and get closer as a team. Of course, not all businesses choose to throw office Christmas parties for their team, but this can have a negative effect. Here we are going to tell you why you need to throw an office Christmas party for your staff. Keep reading if you’d like to find out more. Office Christmas Party Can Enhance Team Building: One of the most important reasons why you should throw an office Christmas party is the fact that they are great for team building. If your team don’t usually talk to each other outside of work, then this is a great opportunity to bring them together on a new level. Think about how they will be able to communicate a lot better after your party and they will get to know one another. They Can Be Fun: Christmas parties can be really fun, so this is a great way to unwind with all of your staff. Office Christmas parties and events can come in many different shapes and sizes so make sure to find the right fit for your team. Don’t let the Christmas party be a boring training day with a few snacks, go all out and celebrate the year that you have had with your team! Raise Morale: Throughout the year, your team has probably been doing a lot of work and it might have been very stressful. This is why you should make sure to throw an office Christmas party if you want to raise the morale. Think about how much fun your team might have and how they will enjoy spending some together. Raising morale is very important so don’t forget about doing this from time to time. A Thank You: Many employers don’t actually get a chance to thank their staff for all of their hard work and the office Christmas party is the best time to do it. Although you should be making an effort to reward hard work year round, you should use this opportunity to say thanks and throw them a party they won’t forget. Your staff will appreciate this method of saying thank you to them for all of the work that they have put in throughout the year. Get Ready For A New Year: As the year comes to an end, it is important to think about everything that you have done and prepare for the upcoming year. With an office Christmas party, you can start the new year off with a bang and make sure that everyone is feeling refreshed and close as a team. Make sure to try out using an office Christmas party as a sort of break between this year and next and see how much it can impact how well your team performs in the new year. Final Verdict: There are so many reasons why you should think about throwing an office Christmas party for your staff. Think about how much this could boost the overall morale of the team and can get them ready to start a new year right after the office Christmas party. On top of this, you can use it as an opportunity to say thank you to your team and make them feel like you care about them. Make sure to plan your office Christmas party well in advance and make it an exciting one. If you can, do something a little different and make it an office Christmas party to remember. Read Also: I’m On A Boat!: How To Throw A Boat Party The Lonely Island Would Be Proud Of The Season Of Suave: Holiday Fashion Tips For Men image source: unsplash.com
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10 Best Coffee Places in the US
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the US. About 64% of Americans drink at least a cup of coffee every single day. While some make their own coffee thanks to companies like APFKG making it possible to brew fresh coffee at home. However, many even turn to coffee shops. There are over 31,000 coffee shops in the country, some even serving 24/7. Let’s have a look at the 10 best coffee places in the USA: 1. Slate Coffee Bar: Slate Coffee Bar, situated in Seattle is like no other. It has a unique feel of its own with a comfortable environment. It began as a simple coffee business in a trailer and is now a great coffee place with professional staff. They do it differently by serving their beverages in glass cups and wine glasses. Their specialty is the deconstructed latte served in 3 different wine glasses, containing, espresso, milk and a mixture of both. 2. Seattle's Best Coffee: Another coffee house in Seattle, Seattle's Best is also among the best coffee places in the USA. Its signature blends are famous among many. Its classic black coffee is very famous and is sold all across the US in Subway, Burger King and a few other places. This coffee place continues to grow rapidly and has become quite popular. 3. Starbucks: With a large number of coffee shops around the globe, Starbucks tops most lists of best coffee places in the world. Starbucks is the go-to place for many Americans thanks to the exciting menu it offers. With an aromatic environment, Starbucks welcomes a lot of customers for the best taste of their coffee in around 65 countries of the world. While it may be a little expensive, its wide range of products satisfies one and all. 4. Dunkin’ Donuts: For all the coffee lovers out there Dunkin Donuts is the dream location for the world's best coffee. As the name suggests, it's actually a donut house that has irresistible coffee that has tantalized many taste buds around the world. Its sandwiches, pastries, and mini pizzas are a must try. Widely spread across the USA, this place is quite famous among all Americans including littles tots. 5. Coffee of Dunn Bros: Another coffee place with a large number of branches spread all around the US is Dunn Bros Coffee. Known for its environmentally conscious policies, it’s among the best coffee places in the US. It offers a reduction of 25 cents for all its customers who have their coffee in reusable mugs. Infinite Black is its specialty and is prepared by steeping freshly roasted beans in chilled water for about 24 hours. 6. Caribou Coffee: Caribou Coffee has the belief that a perfect cup of coffee can only be brewed by the bean. Its coffee and espresso are brewed to perfection and are 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified. Their menu is simple yet loaded with variety. Its Ginger Chai Latte is among the best. They also have coolers that are loved by many Americans. 7. Dutch Bros Coffee: Dutch Bros Coffee is abundantly consumed by thousands of Americans. Though it started off as just a simple pushcart serving espresso, it is now located in over 200 places nationally. It is known not only for the great environment and taste but for excellent service as well. Its specialty is Annihilator, known for its the hazelnut flavor. 8. The Tea Leaf and Coffee Bean: The place that serves not only coffee but tea as well, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is widely known for its quintessential beverages and services. It is quite famous for its pumpkin spice blend, Italian espresso capsules, French vanilla powder mix, and Cafe 63 Roast K-Cups. With very fewer options for food, this place is still heavily visited for its delicious coffee, tea, and espresso. It is among the oldest coffee places with over 1,000 locations across the USA. 9. Four Barrel Coffee: With 3 locations in San Francisco, Four Barrel Coffee roast their own beans to create the perfect blends. It's an unplugged coffee shop with no WiFi or power ports for laptops. With a fantastic ambiance and familiar locations, Four Barrel easily hits the list of top coffee places in America. 10. Intelligentsia Coffee: Intelligentsia Coffee was founded in 1995 and has 11 locations in LA, New York, and Chicago. Their staff works day in and day out to create the perfect new blends for their customers. This cafe has die-hard fans and a huge number of consumers. Visit these places and decide your personal favorite today. Read Also: 7 Fantastically Unusual Uses Of Old Coffee Beans Monthly Best Coffee Subscription
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Investing In Office Space For Your SME: What To Consider
So, your business is thriving. All the hard work is paying off and you’re starting to reap the benefits – repeat customers, growing workload, increased revenue, so is it time to move out of your 3rd bedroom-turned-office, into a more professional environment? It can be tricky to take the leap as an SME owner – so here are key things to consider when buying or renting office space for your business. Shared or Private Space? There are many options for professional working environments, including the private vs shared space debate. There are pros and cons for each option, so it really is down to how your business operates. If you are currently the only worker or you have 2 to 3 employees, you may benefit best from a co-working environment. This means you will be in a larger office space which other business people are using at the same time. You can take advantage of an office environment with internet allowance, desks, lockable storage units, and telephone systems without having to pay a hefty price tag for private space. Alternatively, if you have a larger amount of staff, or the business you run is highly confidential or sensitive, you may be better off in a private space where you can discuss business freely and openly without worrying about being overheard. There are many serviced offices across the country, with companies such as BE Offices and Prime Office Space offering both shared and private spaces so you are sure to find something to suit your business. Renting or Buying? When looking to set up your first office, you will no doubt deliberate over renting or buying. The rental market is extremely popular as it gives you the flexibility to move on at the end of the lease. So, if your business grows significantly and you need more staff, you can move to a larger space in line with business requirements. This flexibility may also be useful if you decide an alternative location may be better down the line for your business, due to localised demand for products or services. Renting also usually means fewer upfront costs than buying, but you do run the risk of rental values inflating, with a subsequent high impact on your finances. Buying is obviously a huge commitment and requires a larger investment up front. This may be suitable for you if you have a good idea of your long-term business requirements and you know that the property will serve these. This may be the case for businesses requiring large factory spaces, for example. It also gives you the ability to make any changes to the property that you desire –you own it, so you can do what you like to it. Is It Practical? It is also important to consider whether the location is suitable for you and your staff. It is easy to get to via public transport? Does it have sufficient car parking? Finally, always put your Health and Safety hat on and make sure the building abides by current health and safety standards. It may look pretty, but it needs to be a safe place to work with comfortable conditions for you and your staff. Undertake a risk assessment before you move in to highlight any potential issues and implement strategies to mitigate risks. Read Also: Choosing Open Office Space Vs Cubicle Office Space Necessary Spaces To Include In Building Your Office
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