Archives for April 2019

5 Things You Can Do Each Morning to Start Your Day on a Positive Note

Every morning offers a brand new start: a chance to conquer the day and squeeze the most out of it that you can. But to get off on the right foot, it can be helpful to incorporate some positive habits into your routine.

Develop a Purposeful Morning Routine

As humans, we have a finite amount of energy and willpower for the day. If you wander mindlessly through your mornings without a sense of purpose, then you’ll waste a lot of that drive before you encounter your greatest problems and challenges.

By developing a positive morning routine, you can remove some of the unnecessary decision-making from the equation and be prepared for success. We all have different interests and needs, but here are some choices and habits you could integrate into your mornings.

  • Wake Up Early

There’s something inherently empowering about waking up early and getting a jump on the day. When nearly everyone is still sleeping or punching the snooze button on their alarm clock, you’re already off and running.

Few strategies will make you feel better about yourself than showing up at the office at 8 or 9 a.m. after already having knocked three or four items off your to-do list. This will free you up to focus on what you really want to get done.

  • Read Your Daily Horoscope

A little morning inspiration and clarity can be extremely empowering. Most people have a preferred method of gaining insights, but why not read your daily horoscope?

If nothing else, it’ll help you center your mind on some of the crucial elements in play; elements that go beyond you and your present situation.

When you read your horoscope, don’t treat it as a prediction of what the future holds. Instead, regard it as an explanation of what the day could be if you’re intentional enough to embrace who you are and what you’re meant to be.

  • Get Some Exercise

You know you need at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day. So why not do a workout first thing in the morning?

“Movement can be a tremendous source of energy, something many of us need when we start our day. But beyond that, morning exercise has been shown to improve focus and mental abilities all day long,” personal trainer Dave Smith writes.

“Not only will you feel awake and have more energy after your workout, but your mind will be ready to take on whatever tasks you have lined up that day.” You can also hire a personal trainer to help you stay accountable and get in great shape. In fact, these days you don’t need to go to the gym to work with a personal trainer!  In-home personal training is now provided by companies like Mobile Trainers, allowing you to work with a fitness professional from the comfort of your own home.

  • Slow Down Your Grooming Routine

Your morning grooming routine is something you should take great pride in, not rush through so you can get out the door on time. Make a habit of slowing down that ritual.

Whether it consists of shaving, showering, brushing your teeth, moisturizing, or other duties — there’s something nurturing about taking the time to embrace, even savor, these small rituals of self-care. You’ll feel a greater sense of purpose and dignity the rest of the day.

  • Avoid Media

Turning on the news, browsing social media, or reading the newspaper in the morning probably isn’t doing you any good. In fact, overexposure to media brings most people down and makes us more susceptible to stress, anxiety, and depression.

So make it a point to avoid exposure to media in the morning. You’ll feel happier … and frankly, you’ll find you haven’t missed much.

A Positive Morning Starts the Night Before

Millions of people operate under the assumption they could never become a “morning person” … as if that’s pre-determined on the day you’re born. But the truth of the matter is, anyone can learn to love and embrace a positive and productive morning.

In order to do so, however, you have to be smart about how you manage the preceding evenings. You’ll never have productive mornings if you don’t insist on a nightly routine that allows you to go to bed at a decent hour.

You need at least seven hours of sleep on a nightly basis. So if you aim to get up at 5 a.m. to tackle your morning routine, you need to go to bed at 10 p.m. at the latest (and preferably 9 p.m.). This requires careful planning and determination.

6 Tips For Keeping Your Toddler Safe

Once your baby starts moving, it’s an exciting milestone! Along with this new stage of their life, however, comes an increased chance of getting hurt.  Even though you may try to keep your eye on them, all it takes is one split second of looking away for them to get into trouble.

At this young age, they’re vulnerable to all sorts of dangers.  In order to avoid your child getting hurt, follow these safety precautions.

Eliminate Dangerous Objects They May Put In Their Mouth

The way that toddlers explore the world around them is by putting things into their mouth.  You should ensure that they don’t have access to anything which could harm them if swallowed.

You should lock all cabinets and drawers containing hazardous products.  Any vitamins or medications should be kept out of their reach as well.  Be sure to take a close look at their toys and take away anything that could have small pieces they could choke on.

Block Off Dangerous Entrances

One of the biggest risks that toddlers face is going into places where they shouldn’t be.   Entrances to stairwells should be blocked off with a baby gate as well as any rooms which contain dangerous objects, such as the garage.

Never Leave Them Unattended In The Bathtub

Busy parents may think it’s ok to walk away for a moment while their small child plays gleefully in the tub.  However, all it takes is a few seconds and a few inches of water for tragedy to happen.

Always stay with them during bathtime under your watchful eye.

Ensure Your Crib Is Safe

The more mobile that your little one is, the more likely they are to start trying to escape their bed.  Be sure that the crib is reliable and meets all safety standards.

Using a crib which isn’t safety sealed could result in getting their head stuck or suffocating.  You should remove any dangerous objects which are within arms reach of their bed as well.

Safety-Proof Your Yard

Your child shouldn’t be allowed to wander freely in the yard.  However, even in your presence, you should still ensure that potentially dangerous objects are taken care of.

Any power tools should be removed and stored safely in a shed.  Your backyard space should be fenced as well as around any pools or small bodies of water like a pond.

Practice Car Safety

When you’re in your car, your child should be properly strapped into a back rear-facing seat which meets all safety regulations.  Never let them out of their seat even if they’re throwing a fit.

You may want to consider installing a mirror so that you can still see them despite them facing backward.

Shipping Container Pricing – Buying Shipping Containers on Sale

The right container can bring you lots of benefits and it would be better if you can get one at a very affordable price. Shipping containers are generally used in transport, shipping, cargoes, and housing projects. They can be customized in a lot of ways depending on their purpose.

Some people are looking to buy shipping containers or CONEX boxes for transport purposes. For more information about CONEX box, click this link here. While others prefer to make these containers as guest houses, garden sheds, homes, and other living spaces. Whatever your purpose in buying a container is, it is important to do some research first so that you can get the best deals available out there. You will be able to save more and at the same time, choose high-quality containers.

Here are some tips on how to choose containers for sale

  1. Know the Purpose of Why You are Buying Containers– CONEX boxes have a wide variety of uses. You should know whether the containers are for transport, long-term storage, business purposes, or housing needs. You can select the right container easily if you have a clear idea of what their purpose will be.
  2. Select the Right Size of the Container that You Need– There are a lot of sizes available for shipping containers. They can be 10 ft, 20 ft, or 40 ft. If you are looking for40’ storage containers for sale, know that they come in varying heights, lengths, and sizes. With this said, you have to know the size of the container which will fit your property. If you know the size that you need, it will prevent any future expenses that you can incur in returning a container that is too small or too big for a housing project.
  3. Make the Decision of Whether to Buy or Rent a Used or New Container– There are advantages and disadvantages of buying and renting. At the same time, you should decide whether you need new or used CONEX boxes for your project. Some of the models that are already used can be 50% cheaper compared to the newer ones. However, if you are in the shipping industry, you might opt for a brand new one so it will last for a decade or two. If your budget is limited, and you only need the container seasonally, then a used container can be an option for you.
  4. Make Sure that the Containers are Properly Inspected– If you are going to buy used containers and you are going to use them to store goods, then make sure that they underwent proper inspection. You might spend extra for damages, leaks, patches, and rust if you just accept any container from an online store without checking it properly first. Make sure that the containers are still in good condition, didn’t undergo any major damages while being transported at seas, or didn’t have any issues with vermin. The container that you are getting should be at least water and wind tight.
  5. Ask for the Container’s Age– The number of years in which containers can remain useful is about 10 years. Age is a very important factor when buying containers since some of them might have undergone extreme shipping histories. The containers that are more than 10 years in the industry might need heavy refurbishing. This is not a good option for people who want to save more and need the container for another decade. If you are planning to purchase a used CONEX box, make certain that a marine surveyor has inspected it properly. He should also include the expiry date along with the inspections that he made on a document.

Should You Get your Container Off the Ground?

If you already have the perfect container, the other question for you might have is: “Do you need to get it off the ground?”

When these boxes are built, all the steelwork consisted of blasting sand and undercoating to its surface to achieve durability. A thick coat of bitumen is applied to the floors so that the steel is protected from corrosion. “Corten” is the name given to the steel that is used in most containers. Corten has a very high tensile strength and it has lots of resistance to rust. The combination of bitumen and corten can result in a longer life of a container. Read more about corten steel here: https://www.corrosionpedia.com/definition/5261/corten-steel.

Some of the CONEX boxes have long side rails which are the back and the front rails. They have cross members that are welded with the longer rails in every 30 centimeters of their length and height. This can mean that in order for water to enter the boxes, it needs to be approximately 150 mm deep. The steel lattices have level measurements at the bottom of the container. This provides a 20’ x 40’ x 8’ footprint. With these measurements, the boxes are not likely to sink when they are on level ground. If you have a plot that is not boggy and reasonably flat, then there’s no reason to stack the containers by blocks.

Contact an Expert Who Can Answer your Other Questions

There are a lot of FAQs that consumers like to ask before they get shipping containers. If you want to know more about dry freight cargo, container doors, sizes, types, and availability, you just need to go to the right website for the information.

Other pieces of information that you might want to know are the following: delivery space, permit requirements, the location of the supplier, rental period, and overhead clearances. You should also be clear about the total payment including taxes and deliveries. If you are asking about the condition of the containers, ask if they are “one trip containers”, cargo worth containers, Used “AS IS” and Wind and Water Tight” containers, or modified ones. Getting these questions answered will give you a more reasonable expectation of what your container will look like and if there are refurbishments needed after you bought it.

As there are a lot of containers that are for sale online, look for legit manufacturers who are trustworthy. You can call an expert today, ask a few questions, and get the container that is perfect for your next project.

 

What are the Characteristics of 360 Feedback Process?

The 360 ​​degree performance evaluation is the method and it gives the chance to every employee to receive the performance feedback from their heads like: supervisor, peers, staff members, co-workers and clients. 360-degree feedback or comes from multiple sources, as like an assessment or performance evaluation tool that collects feedback from all who examine and affected by an employee performance. Normally 7 to 12 people are there who fill out form that is a comment form. The content of the form depends on the wide range of companies’ environment from a wide range of competencies to the work environment. The employee who receives the feedback also fills a complete self-assessment form; this particular form consists of the various components. This system helps the company to obtain a better understanding of every one’s strength and weakness.

The 360 degree performance appraisal is a process, and it is little different from company to company. However, every company follows the similar plan. Next, company recognizes the 360 ​​review timeline and gives a thought on ​​how long each and every step can take within organization. To communication of the 360 ​​procedure to the reassessment of the participants, use this program to develop company implementation plan.

1) 360 Communication: As mentioned above, it is very critical to communicate the process to all interested parties. Employee has to communicate the purpose of the 360, explain the process and how the comments will be collected and used. It takes 1 to 3 weeks to communicate the procedure only in-person meetings like meetings with employees, supervisors, managers and evaluators.

2) Selection of evaluators: The selection of evaluators is one of the main steps of the 360 ​​feedback process. Participants should choose sufficient feedback providers to make sure that the data is complete and appropriate. The number of qualifiers included will depend on the job function and the employee’s labor relations. It takes 1 to 2 weeks to choose evaluators, including supervisors, direct reports, colleagues and perhaps outside clients.

3) Distribution of surveys: The use of a 360 online comment system allowsemployees to distribute the questionnaires speedily. Participants receive the notifications by email with instructions on how to initiate and complete the 360 ​​comment process. At this point of time, participants give the questionnaires to the selected evaluators. Majority of time is only to distribute the survey. It may take1 week to distribute the survey.

4) Complete the questionnaires: In whole of the process, the longest stage is this because it is continuous until participants do not fill the whole form or complete the review. The duration of this step totally depends on the number of evaluators, the employee’s job function and the organization. It is strongly suggested that company have to set the deadlines at the beginning of the process, to ensure that all evaluators have completed their survey in a particular time. Itrequires 2 to 4 weeks to complete the feedback.

5) Produce reports: When all the feedback is completed, then their questionnaires and all the private reports are generated. According to the committed delivery plan of the company, the reports are sent straightforwardly to the participants or the outcomes are given in a one by one comment session. The use of an online system will allow the rapid production of detailed reports of 360 comments, from 1 to 2 days.

6) Facilitation of comments: It is suggested to organize confidential comment meetings for each participant that undergo revision 360. Feedback can be given in these sessions by the employee’s manager or by a coach. These meetings allow a better thoughtful of the feedback report and a chance to talk about the strengths and areas for enhancement. Depending on the depth with which you want the comments sessions to be, each meeting can take 1 to 2 hours per participant.

7) Complete the development graph: The creation of the development plan for each participant in the review is the core of the process. The feedback is gained from the 360 ​​evaluation becomes the root of a practical development plan. Review areas for improvement will recognize key areas of development for the employee. This gives the chance to employees to improve their skills by using opportunities such as training, workshops, conferences, training, mentoring, etc.To complete the development plan will take 1-2 weeks.

8) Reassessment: It is essential to set up a 360 degree feedback in particular organization as a process and not as a single event. To do this, employees have to clearly communicate at the beginning of the process that subsequent revisions will be carried out each year. The specific objectives and opportunities were detailed in the development plan; it makes logic to verify the progress of these elements. The reevaluation of the participants allows you to see if there have been changes and also provides the opportunity to receive new comments. The re-evaluations should be made between 8 and 12 months after the first 360 review

Majority of organizations who focus on employee development use the 360-degree tool to judge the performance and potential of the staff and allow them to plot their career pathway based on feedback/How 360 degree performance appraisal focuses on various factors of employee? Organizations get 360-degree feedback on an employee before making an important decision about the career of the professional.Feedback always play an important role in very employees life because increments, and higher positions all depend on the feedback, so if the feedback of any employee is not upto the desire standards, then there is no chance of any kinds of increments or higher positions. The result of 360 degree feedback is used by the employee who receives the feedback to plan the training and growth. Some organizations also use the results to make administrative decisions, such as payment or promotion. The 360 ​​evaluation is for estimation purposes and it is called “360 degree review.” 360-degree feedback is the most complete evaluation where feedback on employee performance comes from all sources contacting the employee in their work. This method is used in MARUTHI SUZUKI Motors and HCL also.

Tips for Choosing a Great Holiday or Corporate Event Venue

(Image Credit: Used with permission by Z & Y Bistro)

It can healthy and productive for a business to plan regular outings for employees away from the office. Whether a holiday party or a meeting on a boat, the change of scenery can help co-workers relax and see each other in a different light.

While most people agree these events help to boost morale around the office, some disagreement can arise over where to hold the party or corporate event. The tips below can help choosing an event venue and the planning process more efficient.

Consider Employee Convenience When Selecting a Location

Since employees drive or take public transportation from numerous locations, it’s important to be respectful of their time and travel expense when choosing a venue for an off-site event.

Making it as close to the office as possible works well because employees already know how to navigate to that location. The time and day of the week of the event can also be huge factors for employees who use public transportation since both can impact availability.

If the event is mandatory for employees to attend outside of business hours, offering to pay for a rideshare service is a nice touch. Free on-site parking for employees who drive can also help them get excited about the event without worrying about where to park and how much it will cost.

Accessibility for Employees with Special Needs

Even though the Americans with Disabilities Act requires accessibility in public buildings, it’s still a good idea to check on the accessibility of the venue ahead of time. Employees who can’t attend the same party or event as their co-workers may feel frustrated and like they’re not as important to the team as other people. It could even turn into a legal battle for the venue and the hosting company.

Is the Atmosphere Appropriate for the Event?

A venue with high ceilings and a lot of open space for dancing could be ideal for a holiday party. However, the same venue wouldn’t work for a company meeting. The high ceilings could capture sound and cause echoes or vibrations that make it difficult for people to hear.

Additionally, having too much available space could tempt people to spread out across the room rather than socialize or collaborate together. Visiting the venue in person before making a down payment is the best way to determine its level of appropriateness for the planned event.

Check the Amenities

Holding a company meeting at an off-site location requires many supplies, including an overhead projector, audio visual equipment, enough tables and chairs, and beverage and snacks to give people the energy to stay focused.

Event planners should know the minimum equipment the company requires and look for a venue that can provide it. While it may cost less for someone to bring supplies from the office, it won’t be convenient to transport them back and forth for an event that will only last a few hours.

Room Capacity

Lastly, management should plan to get a firm headcount of attendees before booking an off-site venue. A venue should never rent to a party larger than its seating capacity since it is unlawful and creates a fire hazard.

Allowing several weeks before the event to locate the ideal venue makes it much more likely that the event planner will find one.

Chrome, Plastic, or Steel: Which Lug Nut Cover is Best for Your Semi?

Trucking can be a job or a way of life for some. It’s not uncommon for truckers to spend most of their time on the road.  As a semi truck driver, you are practically living in your semi-truck. As a job, you’ll need lots of experience and seat time. You’ll have to be mindful to check your tire pressure, fuel, trailer alignment, wheels and find the right chrome lug nut covers for your truck before taking off onto the road.

As you are spending all your time on the road on your semi-truck, why not add a bit more style to him?  The best way to add a bit more character to your bestie without it becoming a costly endeavor is through lug nut covers.

Lug nut covers can serve your truck in several ways. They act as a deterrent against people driving too close to your semi-truck. It can endanger you and the other if they are not mindful to keep a good distance from your truck. Motorists tend to drive more carefully around big rigs with lug nut covers, especially spikes, which look intimidating. The more careful others are around you, the more comfortable and safer your drive becomes.

Lug nut covers can serve another purpose. A lot of semi-truck drivers check their mirrors to ensure the wheels are turning. It can also help make sure the brakes hadn’t frozen up in winter conditions.

When it comes to materials for your lug nut covers, you can choose from chrome, plastic, stainless steel and colored vinyl. The most common ones you’ll see are the chrome plastic ones.  If you are concerned about your lug nut covers rusting, choosing those made of plastic is the best option for you. Chrome steel ones are likely to rust more frequently than stainless steel ones. Higher quality lug nut covers will last longer in rough driving conditions on a daily basis.

Have you decided on what type of lug nut covers you want to get for your truck? Head over to Iowa80.com to choose from a massive collection of lug nut covers from Iowa 80 semi truck chrome plastic to stainless steel lug nut covers that includes hundreds of options like: bullet, spike, spike hex, top hat, reflective, standard dome, razor, twister, v spike, full moon, pointed top hat and so many more!