Increase Your Wealth Easily With These 8 Money Tips for Millennials

Increase Your Wealth Easily With These 8 Money Tips for Millennials Have you heard the news?Millennials are killing breakfast cereals.Theyre making firm handshakes obsolete.Theyre destroying the napkin industry, canned tuna, bar soap, and even fabric softener.If you believe the headlines, millennials are pretty powerfulexcept, it seems, when it comes to their finances.WellMillennials are drowning in debts.So, if youre a millennial yourself and you want to tame your spending splurges, read onYoull get 8 money-saving tips I tested myself to keep my head above water. And they worked.Inside Millennials WalletsHeres a look at the financial picture for millennials:75% of U.S. millennials have some form of debt34% are holding off on buying a home because of debt31% are holding off on saving for retirement because of debt46% of millennials say they have $0 in their savings account67% of millennials say they would have difficulty paying an unexpected bill of $1,000About 50% of millennials experience chronic stress over money.Yes, those statistics are grim. Bu t its not because theyre throwing their money away on avocado toast.The truth is, coming of age during the 2008 recession has set millennials back.The employment rate for younger Americans has been slow to recover. Fewer millennials are employed than their parents were at the same age.And while salaries have stagnated, the cost of education, housing, and health care has skyrocketed. Millennials have 300% more student debt than their parents and are earning lower salaries.Its no surprise that millennials are likely to be the first generation to be worse off financially than their parents.But that doesnt mean all hope is lost. There are steps you can take right now to improve your finances.Below, Ive outlined the 8 steps that I used to save up money to start and grow Transizion, a college and career prep company.These tips will help you achieve your goals, slowly but surely. It will take time to develop new habits and change aspects of your lifestyles, but these tips are worth it.8 Fi nancial Tips for MillennialsWant to increase your wealth, reduce financial stress, and build a more secure future? Sure, we all do. Heres how:1. Evaluate your financesThe first step is to get an accurate picture of your finances. How much money is coming in? How much money is going out? And where exactly is it going?You cant start working on your finances until you can accurately answer these questions. It can be scary to finally stare your finances in the face, but its exactly what will make developing new habits so much easier.Consider every expense. For example, how many subscriptions do you currently have? How often are you really using each subscription? Are they worth it?Luckily, theres an app for that: Mint. Link your credit and debit cards to Mint, and itll categorize your transactions and show you how youre spending your money. Plus, its free!It can be alarming to see how much youre spending on categories like fast food, but knowledge is power.2. Build a budget (and stick t o it)Once you have a clear picture of your finances, create a monthly budget.Start by listing all your expenses. Begin with the most important (rent and other bills) and end with the least important (categories like entertainment).Decide how much money youll spend on each category. Some expenses, like most bills, will stay the same every month. Others may be one-time expenses, like attending a special event or purchasing a gift. Thats why you have to customize your budget monthly.You should also budget for savings. Experts recommend saving at least 20% of your income. If thats not practical for you, decide on another percentage thats more reasonable. Treat your savings like a required bill that you must pay each month.Of course, creating a budget is pointless if you dont stick to it.Remember that budgeting doesnt mean you can never treat yourself. Its simply designed to prevent impulse purchases that youll regret later.If you really want something, add it to the budget for that mont h. Depending on your financial situation, that may mean sacrificing in other nonessential categories.If its still hard to stick to your budget, try the envelope trick:Pay your bills online or using your usual method.For each additional expense category, label an envelope: Entertainment, Coffee, Groceries, Clothing, etc.Place the amount of money youve budgeted for that category (in cash) inside each envelope.The cash inside each envelope is the only money you can spend on that category until the month is over.If you absolutely must have more money for one category, youll have to take it from another.Sometimes, its helpful to physically see and touch the money assigned to each category, especially if youre a budget beginner.3. Use technologyMint isnt the only helpful personal finance app.You might also want to try:EveryDollar: The EveryDollar app uses the zero-based budget method, giving every dollar a purpose. It tracks your expenses and shows the amount youve spent on each budget it em for the month and how much you have left to spend.Wally: Wally is a simple, easy-to-understand financial tool. It helps you compare your income and expenses, track spending, and set and achieve personal financial goals. It allows you to scan and save receipts and see how much you can spend per day to stay on track with your goals.You Need a Budget (YNAB): If you get off track with your spending, YNAB helps you see what you should do differently to balance your budget. Online classes with a live instructor are included, and you can budget for individual projects like Christmas gifts. YNAB does carry a fee, but users say its worth it: The average user pays off $500 in debt in the first month.Credit Karma: A free, easy way to monitor your credit score, Credit Karma also offers useful tips for building credit. Youll learn whats affecting your current score and how you can make improvements.4. Reverse engineer your futureSometimes it feels scary to sit down and look at the big financi al picture. But they say if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.Reverse engineer your future following these steps:Think about where you want to end up. What are your ultimate career and professional goals?Figure out how youll get there. Write down all the steps between where you are now and where you want to be.Budget for the steps in between. How much will each step cost? How will you pay for it?Determine what actions you can take now to start moving toward your goals.5. Dont be afraid to switch industriesAs you map out your future, you may find that major changes are necessary to achieve your goals. Dont be afraid to switch industries if needed.Think long-term. If you stay where you are now, where will you be in 510 years? Depending on the situation, switching industries may be a minor setback. But, in those 510 years, will you be farther along?If you make the decision to actually change your career, make sure to check out: Career Change Resume: Sample and Writing GuideYou shouldn t be afraid to move either. If the cost of living is high where you live, try to find a job that pays similarly in an area where the cost of living is lower. Or offer your services remotely from an inexpensive area.For real-life success stories and tips on how to start working from wherever you wish, see: How to Find and Land a Job in Your Dream Location6. Manage stressSometimes, stress leads to reckless spending. And reckless spending leads to more stress, creating a nasty cycle.Trust me, while Ive been running Transizion, Ive faced plenty of stress, anxiety, sleepless nights, and self doubt. Im sure plenty of you have encountered the same struggles while pursuing your own goals.Taking action is one thing that will help you alleviate stress.Manage your stress levels with strategies like:ExercisingMeditatingEngaging in enjoyable/relaxing hobbiesTalking to your support systemGetting plenty of restLaughing (at funny friends, videos, shows, stand-up routines, etc.)Limiting screen timeS pending time outdoors.7. Keep building your skillsIf you want to move up the ladder (and make more money) in your industry, you have to continuously develop your skills.Subscribe to blogs and podcasts related to your industry. Keep up with the latest trends and scope out the competition. Read books, take online courses, and get relevant certifications.Youll keep improving as an employee, and your boss will appreciate your initiative. When you ask for a raise, be sure to mention your growing list of credentials.8. Dont try to keep up with the JonesesStudies suggest that millennials spend money they dont have just to keep up with their peers. Images of nice cars, designer clothes, and expensive vacations on social media likely magnify this issue.Slow down and be conscious of your motivation for spending money. Do you really need the item? Are you trying to impress someone? Are you buying this because itll make a great photo on Instagram?Wanting to keep up with your peers is natural. B ut living comfortably and without financial stress is worth much more than any number of Instagram likes.If comparison is a struggle for you, limit social media usage with apps like Offtime, Moment, and Forest.So, what do you think?What financial tips have helped you the most? How do you find the discipline to stick to your budget? Are millennials really responsible for the death of breakfast cereals?Id love to hear from you in the comments!

Resume and CV Tips - How to Create a Perfect Resume in Minutes

Resume and CV Tips - How to Create a Perfect Resume in MinutesWhile both resumes and CVs can look similar, there are big differences in the way they are written. Reading over a resume or CV that doesn't include a good resume tip or template may leave you feeling confused and possibly even a little discouraged about the rest of your job hunt.Many companies may still be using computer based programs to compile CVs and resume for employers. Some of these computer programs can be quite helpful to your resume or CV. However, as with any type of software, it is also possible to be confused by its quirks. The end result is that your CV and resume appear different, when in fact they are actually the same thing.When you are looking over your CV and resume for the first time, there are some main differences that should be addressed right away. Among these are section headers, specific words and phrases, and formatting. Hopefully these resume tips can help you make the most of your resume and C V.The most important point is to always use your first name as your section header. This makes it easy for potential employers to find you. Remember, the career site that sending your resume to should be your contact. You want to be able to tell the company where you're going to be working or what industry you are in.It is also important to remember that every word and phrase in your resume should be shortened or abbreviated. Being formal will make it much harder to locate on a CV and more difficult to understand. Start with the first few letters of your name, then move down alphabetically. Include your date of birth, your city of residence, and your last name, but not all at once. Use one letter per word.You can use the same basic formatting that a CV and resume should have, so don't skimp on this aspect. Again, get a template, or a good resume writing software, that includes the necessary formatting. Most software also includes sections for 'Area of Interest,' 'Education and Work Experience,' and 'Other Work Experience,' and you can easily add in other sections if needed.Formatting a CV is extremely simple, just do what you would do in person. Under 'Career Type,' write in your career objective; under 'Education,' write in your educational experiences; under 'Other,' put in the details of your previous work experience; and under 'Other,' write in your hobbies, interests, and other information. You'll need to take a basic English grammar test, but the test will be quick and easy to learn.The best part about creating a resume is that you can choose different sections based on your skills, experience, or interests, so there is no reason not to put them together. All of these sections can be included in the template that you get, but don't copy and paste from the resume. Just use the template as a starting point and modify to fit your personal preferences.

Do You Want To Be A Vet

Do You Want To Be A Vet If you love animals then choosing a career in working with animals makes a lot of o sense. While there are many routes to take if you want to work with animals, becoming a vet is probably one of the more common jobs for animal lovers.  If you want to work with animals in a medical environment there are other job roles you can work as. Jobs such as a veterinary nurse, veterinary technician, or even a veterinary radiologist are also great options for those looking to work in a medical environment.  Looking at your options into what options there are out there for you will help you decide which route to take. If you choose to become a vet its very important to make sure you have the right qualifications. In order to get a place at vet schools, you will be required to have GCSEs or the equivalent, you will also need to have A-levels with grades between A*’s and B’s. Making sure you choose the right A-levels is very important as vet schools have very strict requirements. With you’re A-levels make sure you pick out some key subjects, as you will need them to apply to universities. Biology is a must, as you will need to have knowledge of anatomy. You will also need to have one or more of these subjects; chemistry, maths and physics. These are important to universities although some universities will accept the third subject as a non-science based A-level. It is also required that you achieve high grades ranging only from A’s to B’s anything lower and you may not be accepted. If you do not have the requirements to enroll in a degree course, some universities will offer you the choice of a foundation year, which will help you to progress to study veterinary medicine. It is also important to show how you have worked with animals previously on your university application. Look into volunteering at your local veterinary surgery or even at your local animal shelter. These placements will make your application a strong contender. When it comes to universities, all veterinary science degrees are very similar. In fact, veterinary degrees are very similar to medical degrees both require 5 years of dedication. These years will be very hard and it is imperative that you are focused and driven throughout your years at university. Working with animals is a very rewarding job for animal lovers. It is your job to ensure the well-being of animals and make sure they receive the best care possible. Having good personal skills is important, this is due to the fact that you are not only dealing with animals but sometimes you’ll be dealing with very worried pet owners who will need reassurance. Although being a vet is a very rewarding job it is very hard too. Animals do not communicate in the same way that humans do, this means sometimes your job may require your inner detective to come out. You need to be quick thinking and be able to carry out a thorough investigation to get to the bottom of some problems. To find out about jobs, which are available checkout Jobs from vet times for more information.

Utilizing Wireframes For Product Designers, At Scale - Algrim.co

Utilizing Wireframes For Product Designers, At Scale - Algrim.co In this guide we’re going to go over what wireframes are, how to build them, best practices for what to include in them and best benefits of the practice with regards to team sizes that are more than 15 people. In general, the first thing we have to understand is that wireframes aren’t designs. They are intended to serve a purpose beyond communication setting, goal setting and calibrations of executive goals. As designers, you should know that inside of teams with more than 5 people, your job is mostly aligning communication and expectations of multiple parties involved in the progress of a product. That means, ensuring all stakeholders input and desired outcome of the end user is properly placed into the UX. Part of every process, regardless of how well a designer might believe they clearly understand the needs of all the stakeholders, they should still use wireframes to confirm those expectations. As a designer, consulting, it was always a benefit to go through the process of wireframes. Because you have to remember that as a designer, you need to gain the trust of the stakeholders that you clearly understand the desired outcomes. If you spend all of your time on the most beautiful visual designs up front, and they are incorrect, that’s not a great benefit to the company you are part of. Mostly because you spent a significant amount of time on something that didn’t have the proper foundation. “A wireframe is a visual representation of a user interface, stripped of any visual design or branding elements. It is used by UX Designers to define the priority of items on a screen and communicate what the items on that page should be based on user needs.” â€" The UX Review Think about building a home. If you attempt to the build the home while designing it, literally going through the construction efforts while you are trying to map out the architecture and design of the home â€" do you expect that the home will come out built well? Probably not. This is why I urge all UX/UI designers to use the wireframe process before placing any amount of time in cleanly polished visual designs or even prototypes. The Process Of Wireframes Best practices for building wireframes are pretty simple, understand your intent and goals as a product team. That means going through interviews with the stakeholders, including your customers, and writing down key points of interest. You should collect as many notes as you possibly can to reference once you begin building. If you have an existing product that you are improving upon, your wireframes will also include that part of it as well. The third stakeholder so to speak is the existing product and how you will use that as a point of reference. There are many tools on the market to build wireframes. In fact, you don’t really even need any tool other than what you are using for visual designs. That could be photoshop, Sketch or other. In reality, your goal should be to make something very low fidelity. That means ensuring that it doesn’t contain too much polish. Or else you’ll distract from the process of checking functionality and expectations of outcomes. In my opinion, wireframes can capture two very important area’s. It can allow everyone to understand what functionality exists on a page as well as understand how many steps or pages are required to accomplish a certain task by the end user. In this sense, it serves more of a User Experience or UX goal than anything else. Try to include as many details about functionality as you can. Wireframes are generally a series of boxes, which contain key indicators about functionality and steps. So when you are finished with your outline of the wireframe, writing specific notes about what the boxes will do and how it will do it (or even covering them in the wireframe itself) will be extremely valuable. Remember, you are going to be showing this to people who don’t have as much insight as you. This could be developers or other managers who may not have been inside as many of the interview sessions as you were. Your goal should be for those people on your team to clearly understand what’s being built, why it's being built, and have the ability to estimate the complexity of the product development investment involved. You can start wireframes as paper prototypes if you want. Drawing them either on a whiteboard or paper in realtime when you are working with Product Managers or maybe even directly with the CEO. Remember, this is a mental exercise, this isn’t something you are going to be perfect from the start. You should go into the process as if its a workshop. That means, understanding you will be booking multiple wireframe sessions with your teams. These sessions should include the interview process, the review process, and the finalization process before building visual designs or prototypes. Communicating Wireframes The best way to communicate wireframes is through the presentation or through click prototypes with the actual wireframes themselves. Tools like InvisionApp make this quite simple to do. You can add hot links to the blocks on the wireframe to allow yourself or others to know where a particular module will lead the end user. This is helpful in simply recalling how things will complete a loop. For instance, taking a forgot password user experience scenario, eventually, the user will end up where they started. Or maybe they’ll end up on the signed in the state of the web application. But you can articulate with the click prototypes, how a user will go from putting in their email to getting an email from the web application to clicking a link and eventually going into the signed in state. During your presentation, which usually takes about 15 minutes to present and then 15 to 30 minutes for review or collection of feedback, this click prototype can save you a lot of time. If you choose not to go that route, what you can do is set up the wireframe around particular user stories. Let's say you are trying to wireframe a very important piece of functionality in the web application but the actual UX is small, meaning that we’re attempting not to move many parts. You can write down your “As a user” stories directly into the wireframe itself, so that everyone can clearly understand what to benchmark the work against. If you fail to set up the before and after scenario with regards to the product outcomes, it will be much more difficult presenting your work to any number of your team and having them feel secure about proceeding to the next steps. By having all of this done at this point in the process, you are saving yourself a lot of time later on. When you get to the point where you are integrating the visual and brand design into the product designs that you are working on, most of the complicated decisions should have been discussed and decided upon . Using reference numbers is a great way to do this. You don’t want to block out the actual design. So if you can number each important element of the UI and then have a tear sheet which contains the user stories or functionality specifications, it can more clearly be referenced. Collecting Feedback The reason for low fidelity wireframes is so that everyone can stay on the same page with regards to the stage of feedback you are collecting. You want to ensure that all of the needs are met. This means, checking to ensure that functionality that is going to be built is the right functionality. Checking to ensure that the place where the functionality is going to exist is the correct place. And checking to ensure that everyone clearly understands the level of investment required in order to achieve what the wireframes are presenting, usually in the form of time or number of sprints that are planned out. It's not uncommon for the feedback to include reducing functionality or moving other components of the web or mobile application around to achieve the desired results. In fact, it's better if this is done during the wireframe process since its much easier to produce. If someone part of the team is unaware of this process and asks where the beautiful looking designs are, it's going to be your job to help them understand why wireframes are part of your process and what kind of feedback you are looking for. In general, here are some high-level reasons for why wireframes are of benefit and how you can explain this to teams: Expectation and Goal Setting: What are we building, how are we building it, what do we want to see, what don’t we want to see. Quality and Assurance Checking: Is this the place we intend to improve for our customers and users? Is there something we as a team or Company forgot to include as part of our goals? Communication: Developers can reference these as a way to understand where in their MVC (model/view/controller) or micro-services they will be making edits. Which helps them prevent technology debt as well as spending time where it's not necessary. What are “Good” Wireframes Wireframes have recently become more high fidelity than they have in the past. And I’m not exactly sure the reasoning behind it. The below screenshot shows a good mix of managing expectations of the end result and also ensuring that the work isn’t receiving too much upfront investment of time from the product designers point of view. It shows a healthy amount of thinking, which includes the collaboration you had received in the interview sessions, and execution. The below screenshot is also another fantastic example. It really defines the user flows as well as the process. Imagine yourself as the developer for a moment, won’t this help you really map out what you are about to build? Think back to our home builder example, having the blueprints before you begin the construction. In my opinion, both of these examples are great wireframes. They achieve exactly what we are talking about in this article, communication and expectation management. Visualizing ideas of the company, the teams and yourself. Conclusion Wireframes are absolutely part of the product and design process. They are the most critical form of communication. By having this clear communication it will save time. It provides a very moldable framework for which you can share ideas between yourself and executive leaders part of the Company. And can ensure that the highest quality output is being produced from a product management and design leadership point of view. As a product designer, your role may be to explain to the team the benefit of the process and reason for starting from low fidelity points of interest. But once you go through the next steps, which include visual design, prototyping and ultimately functioning prototypes, much quicker and easier than you could have before â€" you’ll gain the trust in the design process from more of your team and they’ll appreciate what wireframes have to offer them.

Writing a Software Engineer Resume Undergraduate

Writing a Software Engineer Resume UndergraduateBefore writing a software engineer resume undergraduate to college, you must first know what the school is all about. This kind of resume must be very creative and have enough information to convince a potential employer that you can handle the work required. Thus, in order to do this, you have to go to the school's website and find out information about the school and find out more about its program.The curriculum of the school can depend on the kind of program the institution is offering and the way in which the learning process of students is being conducted. There are technical schools that teach students how to develop software and there are the liberal arts schools that offer traditional courses as well. Colleges may be designed for teaching and learning in different ways and have a lot of activities and sports in which students can enjoy. You have to find out the one that best suits your needs and wishes.In this field, you are go ing to have to undergo a rigorous application process and you must make sure that you will be able to apply for the job with little effort. You must be sure that you will be able to meet the criteria of the position which you are applying for. Writing a resume undergraduate is not an easy task. It requires a lot of time and careful thinking. The program, which you are going to apply for will be decided after considering your academic background, working experience, skills and knowledge etc.When writing a software engineer resume undergraduate, you must make sure that your professional experience is detailed so that it will be evident. Once you have filled out your application form, you will have to wait for the reply from the prospective employer. A typical resume is usually sent in bulk email and it can take up to a week before the prospective employer receives it. You must make sure that you will get to answer all the questions pertaining to your job or program.To speed up the app lication process, you should consider sending the resume through snail mail. The applicant can also send an electronic copy of the resume online. You have to make sure that you have all the documents ready in your computer at all times.The most common mistake of students is that they procrastinate during the application process and thus, they lose the chance to prove their skills and expertise in the field. The software engineer resume undergraduate is sent out by snail mail and you can only remember a short list of questions which you need to ask your prospective employer. You can have all the answers ready by reviewing the curriculum, the educational standards and the working environment before you submit the application.Once the student has been admitted into the college, he/she will have to move on to other tasks and responsibilities to ensure that the work gets done by deadlines. So, you need to be really punctual in your job responsibilities and you must take your computer wor k seriously so that you will be able to meet the deadline.One of the best things to do when writing a software engineer resume undergraduate is to learn how to manage your time so that you can finish the work on time. You must make sure that you will be able to keep up with your professional responsibilities and you need to make sure that you have good communication skills in order to get the work done without any problems.

Resume and LinkedIn Writing Services Near Me

Resume and LinkedIn Writing Services Near MeIf you're looking for a resume writing service near me, it's quite easy to do so. There are hundreds of different options for both resumes and LinkedIn writing services near me. The best part is that you can save a lot of time and money if you hire the right resume and LinkedIn writing services near me.Before you get started with your search for a good resume writing service, make sure that you have a well-written one on hand. Otherwise, it may be hard to find one nearby you. You'll want to make sure that you don't hire someone who is under the impression that the resume you have is not that good.Next, decide how much you want to pay for your resume writing service. This will depend on several factors. It could be based on the kind of resume you have, or the amount of work you want done. One thing to remember is that the more work you want done, the more you'll have to pay. That's because you'll be paying for the labor and not for the produ ct.Now you're ready to narrow down your choices. The first thing you should look for in a resume writing service near me is experience. Experience is often something that is overlooked by people who are working with a new resume writer. The reason for this is that a good resume writer knows that he or she should never focus on the resume. Instead, they should work on getting the resume noticed.After you've decided that you're ready to hire a resume and LinkedIn writing service near me, the next step is to do some research on the company. You need to know what they offer, what kind of customers they have, and how long they've been in business. You also want to make sure that they can handle any emergencies that may arise. By researching these things ahead of time, you will have a better chance of hiring the right resume and LinkedIn writing service near me.Once you've hired a resume and LinkedIn writing service near me, you should sit down and ask them to do some work for you. There are two ways that this works. Either you can have them do your resume for you can have them do all of your writing for you. It's up to you which way you choose.After you've gotten the work done, you can then sit back and let the rest of the work fall into place. The last thing you want to do is to worry about writing your resume and also worry about all of the other stuff that has to be done around the resume. That's why you should go ahead and hire a resume and LinkedIn writing service near me. They will handle all of the work so that you can relax.While there are many people who can write a great resume, there are many who can write a great LinkedIn page. If you've been trying to figure out how to do this without success, you may want to give resume and LinkedIn writing services near me a try. It may just be the solution you've been looking for.

I am going to happy you ) - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

I am going to happy you ) - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog It just struck me that the Danish word for happiness (gl?de) is both a noun and a verb. So in Danish you can experience happiness (f?le gl?de)?but you can also happy someone else (gl?de en anden). As in: I think this will happy my spouse (det vil gl?de min partner) or small acts can happy others (sm? ting kan gl?de andre). I dont want to read too much into that linguistic quirk, but it is interesting because it goes to the heart of what happiness is i.e. very much something we do for each other. Can you think of another language that has this feature? Also, the same word is also used to say that you are looking forward to something. Jeg gl?der mig til jul literally translates I happy myself about Christmas and?means Im looking forward to Christmas. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

My Word for 2019 - When I Grow Up

My Word for 2019 - When I Grow Up Well, here we are: Mid-December 2018. Just 20 days remain between us and 2019. And here we are, asking questions: What will the new year hold for me? What should my intentions be? What do I need to amplify? What would do me good to release? What are my Big Dreams for 2019 and do I dare put them in motion? What resolutions should I make? What were my lessons/mistakes/regrets from 2018? What were my wins, and why don’t I allow myself to celebrate them more? I’m in that space, too answering those questions and searching for answers. It’s why I’ve picked a word to guide me every year since 2011  (you can follow the hyperlinks to 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 phew!), and I don’t plan to sit this year out. My word for 2019 came to me a few months ago. It’s a sneaky word, one that I kept hearing over and over again until it clicked: This is the word I need to claim. That word? CEO. It feels crazy to say this, but my gross profit increased 42% this year, and it felt and continues to feel huge. It also led me to realize: I’ve been seeing When I Grow Up Coach as “my little coaching business”, but 10 years later (!) it’s not that at all. It’s a company. It’s a company that allows my husband to only take jobs he wants, since I’m able to be the breadwinner and cover our expenses. It’s a company that allowed us to buy our dream home, since I’ve owned it for so long and profits have been strong and on a growth trajectory from the start. It’s a company that has paid out 9 freelancers this year, from those who work directly with my clients through 90 Day Business Launch to the developers, bookkeeper, assistant, content writer, designer, Facebook ad queen and business coach who help keep me sane, looking good, and make it easier for me to reach my own big dreams. (Thanks everyone!) “CEO” comes to me with 3 separate intentions: Not to shrink from the big goals I have for my business. I hit a big financial milestone this year, and I can further trust the foundation I’ve built since 2008. It’s time to think both big and positive about the changes that are on their way (which I’ll be unveiling throughout the month, FYI). To state what I want, need and feel while being direct and kind whether it’s in my personal or professional life. A recovering people-pleaser, I know I have a tendency to brush things off and use wishy-washy language. I’m no longer going to say “No worries!” when an error was made that upset me. I’m not going to ask for something “Whenever it’s convenient!” if I need it quickly. I’m not going to deflect to “Whatever you think is best!” when I want it done a certain way. I’m not going to say “You choose!” when I really want to get take-out from the new Thai place (OMG, the new Thai place!). I can do this and not fear being a jerk ( this is me faking it ‘til I believe it, ha!). Like our hero Brené says, Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind. Set up my business back-end so that it’s a well-oiled machine. As a CEO, I need to ensure that there’s an up-to-date and easy-to-pass-along handbook for all my freelancers to follow. As a CEO, I need templates for everything that I repeat in my business so I don’t have to create things from scratch each time I do them (I do this somewhat already, but it can be way better). As a CEO, I want most of my time to be client-facing and then I want to be mostly working on high level tasks: brainstorming, visioning, planning. I am jonesing for systems galore right now, and 2019 will be the year when these internal structures take priority. So, here I am: leaning in to the discomfort I feel around “CEO” and all it means to me (especially that 2nd bulletpoint holy guacamole is that scary). And yet? I won’t shrink down. Nuh-uh 2019. I’m coming from you. Are you having similar thoughts of stepping up and owning your big dreams in 2019? Let me help you leave your job launch your business with this live, $0, two-hour training session!