work Archives - A Million Lives

June 9, 2018 by Greg Underwood

4 Ways for Freelancers to Keep Busy During Quiet Spells

One of the beauties of working for yourself is that you decide what hours you keep. You’re not tied down to set working hours, and you can sit in your PJs all day if you like. But what do you do when you come across those inevitable dry spells when the clients aren’t sending you work, and your application emails aren’t getting any responses?

Here are four useful tips for keeping freelancers busy during the quiet periods, some of which have the potential to keep money coming in when the work has dried up:

Guest Blogging

One of the best ways to keep those fingers typing during quiet spells is to write guest blogs for websites. These websites are great for generating traffic for your own website as most sites will allow you to add links in the bio, and if you’re extra lucky, they may even pay you for your troubles. To find websites that accept guest blogs, head to Google and type the name of the niche or subject you want to write for, followed by phrases like ‘write a post,’ ‘guest post’ or ‘write for us.’ You should find that plenty of opportunities for guest posting will become available to you.

Launch a Podcast

It’s interesting that, with all the technological advances in TV and with video content being so easy to produce, radio has made such a huge comeback in the form of podcasting. Almost every niche has a variety of podcasts available, and if you have something to say about a particular subject, why not create one yourself? It may take a while to build an audience, but if you do, it could become extremely lucrative, especially if advertisers come calling.

Online Gaming and Betting

If you’re into sports and online games, you can take advantage of any gaps in your work schedule and have a little gamble. You could spend your free time enjoying a fun casino game while getting that unmistakable buzz from having a bet on the latest football match. Unibet is a great site to visit as they have the best of both worlds, and their football blog covers all areas of the game, making your gambling options less risky than they otherwise might be. Check out their football blog here: https://www.unibet.co.uk/blog/football. If you’re a freelancer who writes about sport and online gaming, you’ll have a gateway into that world, and you’ll be able to write with depth and experience.

Networking

When freelancers aren’t busy, it can be easy to start procrastinating. After all, there’s always something good to watch on Netflix. However, it pays to keep busy and to get away from the laptop screen now and then, and to kill two birds with one stone; you can find new clients too by heading to networking events in your local area. Conduct a search on Google or social media and see what is available on those quiet days, and see if you can get down there and mingle. You never know, your next long-term client could be waiting to meet someone like you, so don’t miss out.

April 26, 2018 by Greg Underwood

Skills You Need to Become a Mechanic

If you have a love and passion for working on cars, becoming a mechanic could be the right route for you. Here are the skills you need to turn your dreams into a reality and secure the mechanic you want.

Becoming Educated

It is important that you begin learning about the mechanic world as early as you can. Whilst you are in high school, make sure that you take mathematics and electronics classes. These fields link to mechanic work, which will become useful for once you begin to study the field. Make sure that you take the time to research into the best Mechanic School Las Vegas, so you can find the best place of study in your area.

Gaining Experience

There are a variety of skills and requirements that are needed to succeed as a mechanic. To gain more of an insight into how a mechanic works, you could offer your services and work as an assistant, trainee or helper, which can help put you ahead of other students and give you more knowledge on what it takes to become a mechanic. When assisting, you will be gaining valuable skills that can help you secure a job in the future.

Getting Certified

Once you have completed all necessary state exams, you will need to get licensed and certified before you can begin working as a mechanic. To get licensed in the state you currently live in, you will more than likely need to complete and pass one or several certification exams. Make sure that you look online at your state’s license database, which will give you all the necessary requirements that apply to you. Different certifications can increase your salary. You will need to factor this in, so you can work out which route is relevant to you.

Staying Organized

There are other skills you need to acquire, which can help put you on the map regarding finding mechanic work. As you will be dealing and using a variety of tools each day, it is important that you stay as organized as you can. Tools can be easily misplaced or lost, and some can end up costing you a vast amount of money, so keeping an eye on your workspace will help ensure you do not lose any vital tools.

Improve Physical Strength

A key role in being a mechanic is lifting heavy parts and working in awkward positions. As you will be doing this every day and for lengthy periods, it is important that you work on your physical endurance and strength. Signing up for a gym membership can be a fantastic way to work on your physical strength, which will enable you to work as a mechanic with ease.

If you are still unsure of whether a mechanic role is right for you or you would like more information, it is best to speak to those who have already studied to become a mechanic. That way, you can ask any questions you may have and be able to get a clearer knowledge of what specific skills and requirements you need to succeed in the profession.

April 19, 2018 by Greg Underwood

How to De-Stress After Night Shifts

If you are a shift worker such as a nurse, doctor or police officer, you will understand the stressors of doing night shifts. Not only does it mess with your sleeping pattern whilst you are on nights, but you can feel the lag for days afterwards. Not getting enough sleep and sleeping through the day can raise our stress levels and have us feeling moody and fatigued. If you suffer from this after completing your night shifts, follow these simple steps to help chill out and get that sleeping pattern back to normal asap.

Exercise

If you are struggling to sleep following night shifts and you are feeling stressed, exercise could make your body feel more ready to sleep and also tones down stress levels by releasing endorphins. When we partake in any exercise, we are releasing hormones that make us feel good. The last thing we may want to do after a run of nights is go to the gym, but there are plenty of exercises you can do from your own home if getting ready for the gym seems too much. YouTube is great for all different kinds of workouts, from yoga to dance routines.

Having a Routine

When we are on nights, our routine goes all out of whack, but it is best to get back to our normal routine as soon as possible. A good sleeping routine is beneficial, even when on day shifts. Whether it is morning or night in which we are going to sleep, doing the same things before bed can help our brains know it is time to switch off and sleep. This may mean taking a bath or shower before bed, or reading a book. Repeating the same activity before sleep will help your brain associate a certain smell, sound or action with sleeping and therefore it should become easier to sleep after a night shift.

Finding Something That Helps You Relax

If all those night shifts have your stress levels at an all-time high and the lack of sleep is making you go crazy, it is time to treat yourself and free your mind of all thoughts. Doing something that helps us switch off can stop our brain going over and over what has happened at work whilst we are lying in bed unable to sleep. Everyone is different and finding the right thing to help you to de-stress is essential in getting some sleep and relaxing your mind. For some this may be a great massage from heavenandearthmassage.co.uk, for others it may be a bubble bath with candles and a good book or relaxing music. Activities such as these use sounds and smells to help our brains and bodies relax and can be extremely beneficial if you are struggling to de-stress and sleep after night shifts.

Night shifts are difficult for most people and if you are working alternate days and nights, this can be a daunting time. Unfortunately, this comes with many jobs, but finding a good routine and helping our minds and bodies de-stress can be beneficial in getting back to normal after your night shifts.

March 16, 2018 by Greg Underwood

4 Lucrative Careers That Don’t Require a Bachelor’s Degree

For many years now, people have started looking at alternative options to the traditional bachelors or master’s degree for a variety of reason. For some, it’s mainly because of the uncertainty of actually being able to land a position once they finish college. Furthermore, there is a growing number of lucrative, high demand positions for which bachelors or masters would actually be overqualified. Here are some of the best, most high paying jobs for people without a bachelor’s.

HVAC Technicians

HVAC technicians are in charge of installing, repairing and maintaining heating, refrigeration and air conditioning systems. They may be required to work with residential clients as well as businesses. HVAC systems are very complex, and technicians will have to have a well-rounded knowledge of the field and have the proper preparation as well. HVAC technicians can earn between $40 to $55k a year, depending on the market. States like Michigan for instance pay students slightly higher than the national average. If you want to know more about how to get certification in Michigan as well as job prospects, you can visit best-hvactraining.com for more information.

Real Estate Appraiser

If you were interested in real estate but didn’t want the income insecurity that comes with being a real estate agent, this could be a great alternative. Real estate appraisers are in charge of evaluating the value of homes relative to their market.

They are essential in the home buying and selling process since there might be discrepancies between a home’s advertised price and its real value. They also give completely unbiased information and rely solely on data to provide an opinion on the house’s real value. Home appraisers work with both buyers and sellers as well. While you will need certification to work as a home appraiser, you won’t need to get a degree. Home appraisers can stand to make up to $63,000 a year.

Carpenter

Carpenter is an often forgotten and overlooked trade for some reason, but carpenters are actually in great demand right now. Carpenters are responsible for repairing wooden structures and can also work in the manufacturing of finished wooden products. Carpenters can make up to $60,000 a year and even more if they decide to work as private contractors. This is another career that doesn’t require a long formation, however, skill is absolutely essential. But there is a huge demand for wooden products and creative carpenters are highly sought after for their skill.

Property Manager

Property managers work in conjunction with real estate developers and owners. They are in charge of maintaining properties, dealing with tenant complaints and renting units. In addition, they will also be asked to advertise vacancies, run the property, collect rents and deal with any problems that might occur in the property. Property managers can earn up $54k a year, but that largely depends in which market you live.

All these career choices don’t require advanced education and often pay just as much. So, before you decide on which career path you choose, take a second look at these options and see if they’re the right fit for you.

November 29, 2017 by Greg Underwood

What Skills You Need To Work For Jeunesse Global

There are a hg number of ways in which you can make money from home to supplement or wholly replace your income. Around 4 years ago this was exactly the kind of opportunity that I was looking for and a friend of mine was working for a company called Jeunesse Global. This firm sells the most amazing beauty and skincare products and their business model is much like that of Avon or Ann Summers. The idea when working for Jeunesse is that you sell to clients, and then seek to enlist your very own team of sellers. There are some big profits to be made when working in this field, but you must have the skills to be able to do that. Let’s take a look at what kind of skills you will require if you want to make good money selling Jeunesse products.

Ability to Sell

Before you can even start thinking about putting a team together, you must ahem cut your teeth in the selling side of these products. In order to be a good sales person you must be outgoing, convincing, have great communication skills and more importantly, always be looking to upsell your customers. The bread and butter of working with Jeunesse is selling and if you can do this, you’ll be on the way to making much more money.

Spotting Talent

Getting people to sell for you and with you is not just about asking any Tom, Dick or Harry to work with you, it is about getting the right people in place. Bear in mind that once someone starts selling as part of your team, they will be responsible for the commissions which you make, and you will also need to spend time with them to help them improve. With this in mind, it is vital that the people in your team are the right people for the job.

Organisational Skills

One must be highly organised if they are going to sell for Jeunesse as there is a huge amount going on at all times. When someone places their order you’ll have to look after the admin, deliver products when they arrive and be able to manage how you plan to make future sales. Once you do have a team under you, the need for organisation is even higher and managing your team and your business takes a great deal of time and attention.

Ambition

The business model that companies like Jeunesse have really make it easy for their workers to reach the top and i you are looking to make good money from this business, you will need ambition. Some people are happy selling but if you are looking to make a good living, the key is to put together a large team of sales people that you can trust to keep bringing in results. Don’t rest on your laurels, you need to keep striving, keep building the team and keep standards high if you want to be successful with this company.