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Category Archives: Business

Ricky Ahuja   →  Blogs   →  Business
August 24, 2020
August 24, 2020

Adapting to the New Normal – Tips on Working From Home

Author By Ricky Ahuja Categories Business

The world as we know it is currently going through a seismic shift. Many of us are learning to adapt to the new normal. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread across the country, the numbers clearly show many people are continuing to work entirely from home.

According to a Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas report, in the month of May around 35.2% employed folk and an astounding 71.7% of U.S. workers – worked from home as compared to just 8.2% in February.

While some are staying home for safety and convenience others are required by their employer or the state or local government to remain at home. Many big companies are offering work-from-home option until the end of the year, there is a lot to be deciphered on a personal or a tax policy level.

In these confusing times, here are few practical tips on tax aspects of work from home

Understand The Legalities Of Your Employment Situation

During these times, the lines between an employees and freelancers are overlapping. Understand that you are not self-employed just because you are working from home. If you are receiving a paycheck from an employer and those earnings will be reported to you and to the Internal Revenue Service on a W-2, then clearly you are an employee.

Working from home is not the only criteria to make you an independent contractor receiving a1099. And while you certainly may receive a Form W-2 and a Form 1099 in the same tax year, you should not receive a Form W-2 and a Form 1099 for the same type of work from the same employer.

Primarily due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) for the tax years 2018 through 2025, you cannot deduct home office expenses if you are an employee. Notably, there is no hardship exemption or coronavirus waiver. In fact, the Act highlights that employees who work from home can no longer claim the home office deduction. The reason you are working from home does not matter to the IRS. But if you are self-employed you can continue to deduct qualifying home office expenses.

If You Cannot Deduct Expenses Then Find Out What You Can Take From The Office Instead

Certain office equipment can help you improve your productivity, so find out from your employer if you are allowed to take it home. The TCJA rules apply to all unreimbursed job expenses for employees, not just to your physical home office. If your employer doesn’t reimburse costs then whatever you spend out of your pocket are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. But if your employer has already spent the money to buy the office supplies or equipment for you, then simply relocating them to your house is a win- win for all.

Connect With A Tax Professional

It is not just the home office deduction that is creating confusion among those working from home. But another big dilemma facing employees who normally work in an office in one state but now live and work from another is additional tax-filing complications.

There is currently no national standard for the withholding, filing and payment of state income taxes for employees who work in more than one state or work in one state and live in another. That means you may have tax requirements where you typically work as well as where you live, it’s just a lot less stressful to hire a professional. But a piece of advice here, you should still be aware of the basic rules in your state to make sure you don’t get a horrid shock next April.

Keep Logging In Those Work Entries And Check Your With Holding

Maintain a record to keep track of your day by day working locations for tax reasons. Plus, keeping a log could keep you from becoming a victim to the habit of working seven days a week.

Also, find out how much is being with held by your employer for the state where you live (and now work) and whether that will be enough to avoid a tax bill. If you normally work exclusively from an office in another state, work from home might increase your home state liability for 2020. There’s a silver lining though, if your home state has a lower tax rate than the rate where your office is located then working at home for much of 2020 could actually save you taxes.

Be Mindful Of Security

It’s advisable to secure remote locations by using a virtual private network (VPN) to protect against cyber intruders. A VPN provides a secure, encrypted tunnel to transmit data via the internet between a remote user and the company network and are critical to protecting and securing internet connections.

Don’t Jump On The Self-Employed Bandwagon Just Yet

The loss of the home office deduction for employees has many taxpayers wondering whether it makes sense to quit their day jobs and become self-employed. That’s a purely personal decision, but the numbers still don’t support that kind of shift. What if you really are self-employed—meaning you get a 1099 and not aW-2. Then you would report the home office deduction on federal form 8829, Expenses for Business Use of Your Home, which is filed along with your Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Your Business, on your 1040

Create A Comfortable Home Office Space

Making practical and necessary expenses for your office space at work still makes sense. The TCJA did not change the home office expense rules for self-employed persons and independent contractors. Those expenses are deductible so long as they otherwise meet the home office deduction criteria. It is essential to create your workspace and make people around mindful about your work hours and that they shouldn’t be disturbing you during that time. For the self-employed with a home office deduction angle in mind, it’s mandatory to claim a federal income tax deduction for a home office so you must use a specific area of your home exclusively for your trade or business.

Set Working Hours And Make Human Connections When Possible

Many folks are working the same hours even if it’s a work from home scene. But it’s important to keep a tab on your working hours. Even if you work from home most of the year, it’s still important to create opportunities to meet up with colleagues and acquaintances, even if its only virtually. Keep a look out for online seminars and webinars in your arena. Socializing is healthy, and you can learn a lot from your fellow workers who are going through the same thing. Its imperative to compare notes while we all are learning each day as we go!

The Story of venedash
January 22, 2020
January 22, 2020

Interview with Juergen Thellmann of venedash

Author By Ricky Ahuja Categories Business, Interview, Performance Marketing

Who we are

Juergen is the product owner of vene dash. He has been in the mobile industry for almost 10 years working for advertisers, adnetworks and a few startups. Over time he has gathered a lot of experience in ad tech and tracking technologies.

vene dash is powered by freenet digital that promotes a diverse portfolio of digital products. Their digital entertainment platform approach offers highly integrated services ranging from user acquisition, payments, customer management and premium consumer content and services. With sureyield they operate an exclusive affiliate marketing network, built for premium affiliates and advertisers, focuses on in-house and performance marketing, across multiple verticals and geos.

1) Please tell me the background of vene dash. The idea, your journey, and how it came to be.

Before vene dash was born, we being one of the biggest mobile entertainment providers in Germany, were looking for a tool that could help us track our internal campaign performance. After spending hours scouting the market, we came to the conclusion that solutions available at that time could not cover all our needs. Therefore, being a part of a large corporation and having the knowledge, the experience and the qualified resources, we decided to design our own software to support our business in the best possible way. This is how vene dash was born.

Fast-forward a few years and a successful multimillion-dollar business run through our platform, we determined to make our software available to other companies seeking a stable and a reliable tracking solution designed and engineered in Germany. Given that vene dash was created as an internal tool, its functionality and features are based on the real needs of performance marketeers. We know exactly what the market needs!

2) There are so many tools out there, why did you choose software as a performance marketing service?

You are right – there are many choices out there and the competition is tough. This is why we included an array of unique features that differentiate us from the competition. We also have the luxury to belong to a large German corporation, meaning we can listen to our customers’ needs and develop our tool in a way that makes most sense for our customers instead of being driven by financial targets like other smaller companies are.

3) How do you find customers for your software? What is your customer acquisition strategy?

Here at vene dash we believe that to get good results we need to have a multi-layer approach to acquiring customers. This is why we go about it from multiple directions – be it email and content marketing, website optimization, SEO, social media marketing or personal outreach, both online and offline. We run campaigns on all major channels, work hard on optimizing our assets and our Sales team goes far and beyond in contacting people who could be interested in our platform. Our next step is setting up our own incentive-driven referral program.

4) What scaling challenges have you faced in your company in terms of revenue, customers, industry?

The performance marketing world is a very high-paced and competitive environment, meaning things change fast and one should react quickly. We receive new feature requests regularly from our customers who want to stay on top of the game. Satisfying the specific needs of all customer is a challenge but also extremely valuable for us as we can make our product even better. We at vene dash have organized our work and our teams in a way that we can react and adapt fast and it has been working quite good so far. That said, we still find ourselves playing catch with others on a more or less regular basis, which can be challenging at times but is also what drives us forward.

5) How do you measure your success? Is there any metric to keep track of when it comes to your business?

Absolutely. Being a German company, we love data and knowing where we stand at any given moment is key when important decisions need to be made. We track all our campaigns, every euro spent, every click and every conversion. We run reports on a weekly basis and look at the whole acquisition funnel to make sure we are where we want to be and if we’re not, we make changes to our strategy and do things differently the week after.

Another angle to this is the feedback we receive from our customers and industry colleagues. Getting positive feedback shows us we’re on the right track, which is very rewarding. We are a young and dedicated team striving to make sure vene dash reaches its full potential and we take pride in adapting quickly to anything that awaits us around the corner.

6) What is your customer retention strategy?

We love doing things the right way. That goes for every aspect of our offering – on the product side as well as on the customer success side. We believe that only happy customers bring other customers and therefore do our best to keep our existing users very happy.

Our dedicated customer success managers are very knowledgeable and take time to make sure every customer gets the support they need – from product demos to migrations to any other question about specific product features. We take pride in ensuring quick and qualified responses so that our customers can be productive on the platform from day one.

We also pamper our clients by running exclusive campaigns that only vene dash customers have access to. This combined with qualified and responsive staff makes our users feel valued and well-treated.

In addition, we are currently working on providing a library full of insightful, current and relevant articles, blog posts, white papers, how-tos, etc. to keep our users well informed on what is going on in the industry and how to navigate the complex waters of performance marketing.

7) What is it about your platform that sets it apart from the competition?

vene dash is a solution that empowers you to have full control over your campaigns without having to cut any corners. As mentioned before, our platform was designed by us, a service provider company, and not by marketeers. We know exactly how the market operates, what the regulations in each geo are, the requirements and obstacles that a network or an advertiser needs to consider in order to protect its revenues and keep its services live. We have invested many hours in developing sophisticated tools such as URL checker, Traffic blacklisting, Fraud protection and our recent billing feature that allows you to pay your customers with cryptocurrency.

In addition, we pride ourselves in designing and engineering our product in the heart of Berlin, which means we follow strictest data protection policies, making our platform one of the most trusted and secure ones on the market.

8) What are your expansion plans for 2020 and beyond?

We have big things planned on the product side as well as on the marketing side for 2020. We will be introducing many new features and improvements within the first quarter next year. One of the most exciting one that we are about to roll out is the possibility to let publishers request payments via cryptocurrency. Apart from that we plan to introduce several features around automation in 2020. The aim is to automate processes and minimize manual work as much as possible so that our customers can focus on increasing their business instead of keying in the data.

We will also be sponsoring a very big networking garden located right before the entrance to Hall 8.1 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona end of February. We are very excited about 2020 and look forward to welcoming new customers to our platform and see them benefit from vene dash.

Resolution for New Year 2020
January 2, 2020
January 2, 2020

Resolutions for New Year 2020

Author By Ricky Ahuja Categories Business

One eternal truth that the world has had to deal with is that: Leaders are not born. They are made. No leader was formed from a special leadership gene pool; every successful leader is a product of commitment to certain principles. This means everyone with a commitment to the same set of principles has the potential to be a great leader.

This is 2020 – the year many have been waiting for. It is an opportunity to open a new page and start over. Fresh goals can be made and new targets set.

Vincent Van Gogh noted that “Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.” Why not check out the small things that you need to be a greater you in 2020?

Face Your Fears. Fear may be the only thing standing between you and your goal. Fear of failure or the fear of making a bad decision. You may be stuck in the closet for longer than you think. That’s why you need to take action. The fear of suffering is suffering in itself. Get up and face your fears. That’s the best way of getting past this stage and nearer to your goal.

Be Optimistic. Helen Keller said, “optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.” You have to wake up every morning feeling confident about achieving your goals. Pessimism drains you of strength and hope. Get away from pessimists and continually motivate yourself.

Stop Complaining. You have to understand that nobody wants your complaints. Everybody wants results. Complaints make you look weak and vulnerable. Be thankful for what you have and make do with it.

Listen More. A real leader listens. You can’t always have the best ideas. You have to be conscious of everyone around you. Listen first and speak last. You’d be surprised how many people are dying to be listened to. This may be the best decision you’ll make this year.

Measure Results. You need to know how far you have come and how closer or farther you are to your goal. This will help you sit back to celebrate your progress and plan for the distance ahead.

Show Empathy. This is very essential in dealing with people. Showing empathy does not make you weak, it makes you human. As a leader, you must be able to identify with or understand the emotional state of another person. It would endear people to you.

Be Honest. It may sound cliche but honesty is still the best policy. You earn people’s respect by being honest. Say it the way it is. Your reputation matters in leadership and business.

Inspire By Doing. It is easy to talk but people want to see action. As a leader, you lead by example. You don’t inspire by seating in your corner office and giving orders. You inspire by being a participant member of the team.

Be Generous. Generosity has a way of painting a good picture of a person. Once in awhile, buy lunch for your team members, give someone a gift, send some flowers, a box of chocolate, and give compliments. You’ll be respected for generosity.

Focus On Crazy Targets. Groundbreaking achievements are most times products of crazy targets. It can be an adventure when the target is unusual. See to it that it is achieved. You’ll always be remembered for achieving that extraordinary feat.

Everything Is Possible. There is no mountain too high. It takes determination and courage to get you to where you want to be. Sit back and look at the target again; there is always a way. Don’t give up.

Learn From Failures/Mistakes. Every experience should be a lesson. It doesn’t matter that you failed or made a mistake; what matters is what you learned from the experience and how better you have become.

Be The Change You Want To See In The Society. Start the process for change; others would join. No matter the change, it starts from someone. Let the person be you. Do the right thing.

Be Thankful. Gratitude has been noted as the greatest attitude of all. Just like Oprah Winfrey said: be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. You need to stop focusing on what you don’t have because you’d never have enough that way.

 

February 11, 2019
February 11, 2019

Secret to Effective Leadership: Accountability

Author By Ricky Ahuja Categories Business

It is often said that success is a process. One of the things required for the process is accountability. Being accountable is simply taking responsibility for actions, decisions, and policies. This extends to outcomes – successes or failures.

In the corporate world, many companies want to protect their good reputation and thus refuse to take responsibility for a mistake. This even extends to government. However, it becomes the case that these companies try to cover the mistakes and in the process more mistakes are made.

It is very important to first draw a nexus between accountability and success.  As stated in the Winston Churchill’s quote above, greatness is achieved by taking responsibility. Behavioral scientists would always note that the first step in recovery from a failure is an acknowledgement of responsibility. However, too few people see this. Taking responsibility for a present failure goes a long way in determining success in the future. This works in the way of acknowledging the mistakes and looking for ways to fix them. Thomas Edison was asked how it felt to fail. His reply was simple. He said “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

Accountability is essential to success and the reality that it is a skill that everyone can acquire makes it awesome. A few pointers to acquiring this skill will be discussed below.

Be personally accountable

Personal accountability is being able to lead oneself. If you can’t accept the fact that you made a mistake and learn from it, it is of less certainty that the next time you attempt that act you will succeed. As a leader, if you want those you lead to be accountable, then it starts with you. Leadership defines culture. Being accountable entails meeting commitments, adhering to stipulations, meeting deadlines, and taking responsibilities for personal faults.

An article in the Harvard Business Review titled: “Failure to Accept Responsibility is a Failure to Lead” stated the situation that “few executives need schooling in taking credit, but too many need some reminding about what happens when things go wrong.”

When everyone in an organization starts to see accountability as a job description, more productivity will be achieved.

Resolve to improve

Having accepted responsibility for a shortcoming, the next is not to dwell on it but to improve. New methods and approaches have to replace the failed ones. A change of mindset may also be needed. It is important to note that doing the same thing over again will give the same result. It may be difficult or practically impossible to change the past, the power over the present can be used to achieve success. Napoleon Hill said: “The successful leader must be willing to assume responsibility for the mistakes and the shortcomings of his followers.”

Learn to hold people accountable

It is good to be accountable as a leader but the accountability of a junior can lead to failure for a corporate venture. Good will overcome evil when it can convince evil to the side of good. Else, evil will negatively affect good.

It is important that a leader checks in and see how the work is being carried out. This brings the junior workers to the realization that they are responsible for the task at hand. As much as the accountability of the leader can rub off on the junior workers, it is still important to follow progress and see how assistance can be made available.

It is easy to talk about accountability for a leader of a team or group and leave out an ordinary team member. Everyone has to be accountable so as to be successful. Thus, the team member must understand that even if no one seems to notice the achievements made so far, more has to be accomplished. It will then be the case that the time the praise of the team member is sung to be right ears; it will be overwhelming to comprehend the great feat accomplished by the team member.

It will be advised that self-empowerment is vital. This is taking actions and risks to achieve goals. Rather than wait for a lucky break, give yourself that break to be lucky. Stepping out of the comfort zone to make things happens will invariably make for outstanding outcomes.

Learning to be accountable makes for success.

May 10, 2018
May 10, 2018

Tips to Network Like a Beast at a Conference

Author By Ricky Ahuja Categories Business

I just came back from Adsum in Key West and I must say – IT SUCKED (seeing people spend good money to go there but not truly getting their money’s worth – from a MARKETING perspective). 🙂

Networking is a critical aspect in the world of business. Often, the only difference between a successful business owner and a struggling one is how well they’ve managed their contacts and relationships. Proper networking in the industry can lead to discovering mutually beneficial relationships and establishing a client base. However, while the concept of networking sounds easy, it’s actually quite complex. After all, forming new relationships is complicated enough in our every day lives, but it’s doubly so in the challenging world of business.

Networking is defined as a process in which you as a member of a business (or owner) establish relationships between other people in the industry, clients or customers. In fact, one of the primary objectives of networking is to inform others of your business and thereby turn them into clients. By networking, you’re literally leveraging your business through personal connections in order to generate more business.

The benefits of business networking are numerous and include:

  • Visibility in the Industry
  • Keener Understanding of the Industry
  • New Referrals & Contacts
  • Broader Knowledge Base
  • Solutions to Unexpected Problems

But, just how and where should you start your networking venture? Well, a good place to commence your networking venture is at conferences. Business conferences provide ample opportunity for you to meet, communicate, and interact with hundreds of other like-minded individuals. But, there are a few things you should keep in mind before trying your hand at networking in conferences. Fewer meaningful connections will always be more effective than numerous superficial ones.

But, just how do you make these smaller meaningful relationships? Just take a look at these eight tips for networking in conferences!

Preparation Time

You’ll know the dates for the events beforehand, so take this time to prepare and do everything you need to do before setting out to network!

  1. Set Specific Goals

Talking to everyone in a conference is unrealistic. Your goal should theoretically be to have a concrete idea of what you’re seeking to obtain. Are you looking for job opportunities? Are you possibly seeking a larger customer base? Or are you looking to meet people in the industry with more or less experience than you to form connections?

By setting goals, you’re going to provide yourself with a keener understanding of which panels to attend and what group of people to target. You have limited time to work during a conference and by planning out your day you’ll have a better shot at success. Just remember, you’re not the only one there and being willing to listen to other people’s pitches will make them more receptive to yours.

  1. Doing the Research and Introductions

Researching the names of those attending the conference will provide you knowledge on what type of business they run or their field of expertise. Read up on the presenters at the conference, these people will assist you in gathering connections in your industry and might be a good source of knowledge and ideas for your business.

Pro tip: Research the websites and backgrounds of the individuals who you wish to mingle with, and if they work or own a company to research its history. Don’t forget to keep calm, cool, and collected because it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the big names. Just take your time and breathe.

Don’t be scared to try to introduce yourself to the key individuals you’re looking to meet. By simply sending them an email or  message introducing yourself and letting them know you’re looking forward to hearing their discussions you’ll open the door to future conversations when you finally meet them.

  1. Plan Ahead and Dress For Success

Before the event, take your time to plan out which panels you wish to attend. Planning out your day and events will allow you to participate in all the important events. A keynote is to remember that a schedule is simply a guideline, you don’t have to follow it to the letter because breaks and lunches also provide time to network with others. Planning ahead also means dressing for the event.

Taking advantage of the conference website means that you can obtain a sense of the fashion they’ll be wearing at the event. Always try to look sharp and in place, if this means business attire or casual try to fit in as well as possible with the scene. Additionally, don’t forget to have some business cards made beforehand, buying a card holder is not a bad idea either. Also, don’t forget to include all the pertinent information for your business such as name, email, phone, occupation, and company name.

Pro tip: Take advantage of the cocktail hours and after parties, as this is the time when people relax and conversations flow naturally. Networking requires you to put in extra effort even after the conference is over. But, also keep in mind to set future appointments with the people you absolutely want to meet, everyone has a busy schedule and by coordinating with them you can ensure plenty of opportunities to come.

Leaving your Mark

Introducing yourself and making a long-lasting impression will always open opportunities for the future. Once you’re at the event you’ll have to do the actual legwork, so don’t forget to practice at home!

  1. Introductions and Conversations

Regardless of who you’re with, strangers, friends, or someone at the same panel as you, always remember to be cordial and friendly. Keep it brief and succinct, but talk about your name, background, and your line of work. Time is limited and there usually will not be ample time for chatting. But, by practicing what you want to say in the mirror beforehand, you’ll feel a lot more confident.

When you do have time for conversations remember that it is a two-way street. Networking experts stress the importance of being a good listener, and for good reason. By focusing on the person that is talking to you, you’ll open the door for them to listen to you and possibly nurture the start of a good business relationship.

Pro tip: Keep track of your body language. Don’t interrupt the person, let them take charge and ensure to keep eye contact (if you’re uncomfortable looking at their eyes look at the bridge of their nose). More importantly, remain engaged, ask questions and enjoy the chat for what it’s worth.

  1. Take it to the Big Leagues & Minor Leagues

Remember all those presenters you introduced yourself through via email? Don’t forget to go ahead and meet them as you said. Ensure you’re at their presentation early and sit in a visible spot where you can gain access to them after the presentation is over. Ensure you’re listening to their key points so that you have ample conversation starters when having a discussion with them, and overall don’t forget to introduce yourself, and ask questions.

Pro tip: ensure that you ask the most important questions you have, it helps to write down a list and select the ones you truly want answers for.  Be polite, and ask the presenter if it’s a good time for questions beforehand. Keep in mind that you can always see them at some later point, and don’t forget to give them a business card.

However, regardless of how fantastic it is to meet important people, you’ll be wasting your time if you don’t go and meet the other attendants in the conference. These are the individuals who have the highest chances of connecting, working, and even partnering with in the future.

  1. Having Fun and Saying Goodbye

No matter how intense your desire to network with people in the industry is, remember that you’re in the process of making new acquaintances. Live the event up to the fullest and keep in mind that if you’re working for a particular industry it should be fun to mingle with like-minded individuals. People are perceptive and if they see you’re a genuinely good individual, they’ll be more likely to approach you.

But, as more people approach you, the more you’ll realize there will be times when you simply won’t click with someone. By learning how to say goodbye in a courteous and polite manner you can continue your networking journey.

What do I do Afterwards?

After the conference it’s best to follow-up with all the new contacts you’ve made that you wish to remain in business with, it’s especially important not to let the first impressions cool down too much.

  1. Social Media, Emails & Phone Calls

Don’t wait too long after the conference to reach out to all your new point of contacts. However, if you email too soon after the event will make you come off as too eager, so it’s best to wait a day or two. Keep the email brief and relevant to their topics, this will help you in the long run by showing that you have a profound interest in their topic. Don’t be stingy with the information you know as sharing info will benefit everyone in the long run.

Social media is also, a way to keep in touch with people. A lot of major corporations have their own Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn pages that help them keep in touch with their users. These websites will help you stay in touch with the contacts and sending them friend request and messages will help you stay relevant.

Finally, if you are contacted back after reaching out to them via email, ensure you call them after a few days. Anything is possible, and even if things don’t turn out as you expected right away, you’re in it for the long haul. Networking is a game about patience and by sharing your knowledge with others, they’ll feel almost obliged to help you down the line.

People remember the good things you’ve done for them nearly as much as the negative actions and by being an active member of the community, you’ll open yourself to others. Remember the importance of preparation and doing the proper research as you’ll be more confident in your abilities when the time comes. Leaving your mark is difficult, but it is possible that by being friendly, courteous, and knowledgeable, you’ll draw people towards you which means more connections and better networking possibilities. Don’t forget that regardless of how famous someone is, they’re people just like you. If you’re polite, they will extend the same courtesy, but even if they aren’t in the major leagues, they’re still equally important. Ensure you stay in touch with the people who’ve you connected with at the conference, keeping yourself relevant in their mind will provide opportunities that you can’t even fathom.

 

April 29, 2018
April 29, 2018

Freelancing From a Friggin Battleship

Author By Ricky Ahuja Categories Business

Freelancing From a Battleship

I am super stoked about this next post. It is about a buddy of mine who is literally serving for the US Military on a friggin battleship. We all tend to make excuses like we don’t have time or I will get to it later….well what’s your excuse now?

A freelancer is defined as a self-employed worker who isn’t committed to one particular employer. Freelancers can work through agencies or company that provide  a plethora of different jobs, alternatively, freelancing can involve associations or even websites such as Freelancer. But, what if I told you that anyone can become a freelancer? What if I said, that even people who work full-time jobs can do this job, and while it might sound unbelievable, it’s possible to freelance from anywhere… even a military ship. Yes you read correctly, a friggin military ship. His name is Emmanuel and he serves on the USS Ronald Reagan.

Freelancing offers the benefit of being able to work from anywhere in the world. Consequently, this benefit even extends to the middle of the ocean. However, working from the ocean is definitely not easy. Balancing life as a military member and a freelancer can offer a unique set of challenges. Military operations will always be a hurdle against freelance work. However, as long as you possess the drive, tenacity, and dedication, you can succeed from anywhere in the world (including the ocean).

Nevertheless, if you decide to freelance and happen to be in the military (or decide to join it eventually), here are a few concerns you’ll need to understand beforehand:

1. Job Availability

When you’re using military computers, there are certain limitations you must consider beforehand. First of all, military computers are low-grade equipment. Jobs like illustration, programming, web design, acting aren’t available due to the memory and graphical constraints along with poor internet connectivity. Secondly, Government computers aren’t able to handle the sort of memory intensive jobs these types of jobs require and you’ll be setting yourself up for failure if you take the offers. Finally, your availability is limited to jobs where you can upload diminutive packets of data that don’t require you to use Universal Serial Buses (USB) as using these will lock your computer.

2. Internet Hours

Ordinarily, having access to the internet is a privilege taken for granted. Consequently, we’ve been spoiled by the readily available 4G and free Wi-Fi provided by stores to the point that we forget this isn’t the case for everyone. In a ship there is only a certain amount of time when the internet is open for regular use. However, If you’re trying to do any sort of freelance work while underway, those hours are your best shot for success. Otherwise, you’re stuck with only a few white-listed pages such as Wikipedia and anything owned by Google (you can do searches, but not enter the sites).

3. Mercy of the Green Sheet

On a military ship, your schedule is dictated by various documents including the infamous “Green Sheet”. On a favorable day, the Green Sheet will not impact your workload and you’ll have a few hours after work to dedicate to writing. If you’re having a lousy day, expect to get little to none freelance work completed as you’ll be working past the regular hours (14 on a relaxed day). Your availability is always dependent on the Green Sheet. However, this is not the only enemy of freelancers on the ship, there are certainly worse things out there…

4. Bandwidth Condition

Bandwidth Conditions refer to a time when the internet is restricted beyond normal hours. It could be hours, or maybe even days, at times it can extend past a week without hearing or seeing anything about your families and friends. Sailors don’t know when these restrictions are going to be lifted and if you have a deadline to meet, expect a dock in your pay.  Bandwidth Conditions affect everyone on the ship and while they’re normally not instituted, when they are applicable, it’s a nightmare. It’s important you never overreach your capabilities while underway.

5. Don’t Overextend Yourself

A key aspect for all hopeful freelancers who want to work from a ship is to never take on more than they can handle. Certain contracts offer more freedom than others and if you’re lucky, you’ll end up finding jobs that don’t interfere with one another. By spacing out your contracts you’ll allow yourself ample time to work on one job without scrambling to finish another. If you find yourself exceeding your workload capacity, it’s best to cut ties with the least profitable or more demanding ones as numerous smaller jobs can eventually yield equal or greater rewards in the long run.

6. Befriend Your Employer

A friendly working relationship with your employer will make your life incredibly easier. Finding a contract with a person you can “click” with will ultimately result in job that will provide satisfaction to both parties. Ensure you are as amicable and cordial as possible with everyone who’s a potential employer, but even this will not guarantee a positive working relationship. Additionally, If you find yourself butting heads with an employer, finish your job with them first and close out the contract. You’ll save yourself the heartbreak in the long run even if they do pay well.

7. Use Your Unique Experience to Fuel Your Work

Military members have the unique privilege of seeing the world through special lenses. From port visits to gun ranges, and even displays of artillery fire while underway, military members experience events that most regular civilians will never dream of witnessing. Using your unique experiences can help you write, and even inspire some of your other freelance work.  But, do be careful of what you share with others.

8. Use Cautious Judgment When Writing

Sharing these unique experiences with others is amazing. However, there are stories and experiences that sailors aren’t allowed to share while freelancing. The military has specific rules on what can and can’t be said outside the military. If you break these rules, you risk not only losing your security clearance, your job and potentially your freedom. By being cautious, you’ll save yourself the eventual heartbreak. Keep the topics simple, and never discuss something that could be used against you in a court of law.

9. Write All the Time

Keep a notepad on you at all times. If you suddenly come up with an idea that sounds valuable, write it down. Stop whatever it is you’re doing at that moment and take notes of your thoughts. This will allow you to focus on later writings without having to scramble for inspiration. Furthermore, by allowing yourself to write at any given time, you’re also practicing the craft and reading the notes at a later point will allow you to edit them before typing.

Conclusively, it’s fair to say that freelancing from a ship is harder than most places in the world. Limited job availability, restricted internet access, insane working hours and a multitude of situations that can cause “Bandwidth Condition” are just a few of the hurdles a sailor faces when freelancing. But, by ensuring that you never bite off more than you can chew, you’ll always have a steady supply of work. Making friends with your bosses means that they’ll be more likely to work with your uncertain schedule and mysterious vanishings when Bandwidth Conditions are applicable.

Remember that you have unique experiences that most people will be interested in hearing, and you can provide a perspective that only 10% of the population will relate to. Exercising careful judgment means you’ll never land yourself in hot water or under investigation from the Navy Crimes Investigation Service, and by writing all the time you’ll always have a steady supply of materials for work. At the end of the day, freelancing is challenging work, but with some tenacity and dedication, you’ll always find success.

 

 

April 27, 2018
April 27, 2018

7 Tips to Building a Global Community for Your Business

Author By Ricky Ahuja Categories Business

Have you ever wanted to start your own business, to create, market, sell, and build a following of loyal consumers who will purchase and advertise your products? These days, it’s more possible than ever to start your dream job by simply taking the right steps to market your product! However, you’re not the first person to have tried starting your own business, success stories exist all over the world and yours could be one in the making. You could be the creator of the next big thing, yet it takes more than just zealous tenacity to start a business, you’ll need charisma, luck, and the backing of a strong global community to ensure the ultimate success.

Let’s talk about businesses first.  Starting a business requires more than just a good name for your company; you’re going to need to understand taxes, registrations with the local and state government, bank accounts, permits and a strong will. It might sound complicated, but the reality is that starting out is only step one, and these are actually the most rudimentary of processes.

 

The aforementioned steps have already been laid out for you and the information is completely at your disposal. However, just because you started a business, it doesn’t mean people will start purchasing your product right off the bat. No, it’s when you start marketing yourself properly and letting others do the speaking for you that you’ll truly be successful. To reach the ultimate success you need the power of globalization!

But, how do you give your brand the recognition it so richly deserves? Take a look at these seven methods which have stood the test of time for successful startups similar to yours!

1.    Look for an Audience (Especially in Social Media)

Community Consultant, Mike Handy has been helping out startups for years. His advice is to find groups of users who are already interested in whatever services you’re offering. When your users start spreading the word and talking about the service on social media such as Facebook or Twitter, you know you’re on the right path.

Once communities have started to form, they’ll slowly bring in members from their own inner circles and eventually it will grow on its own. Remember, that the majority of consumers will trust the word of their friends over the word of an online advertisement.

2.    Know Your Audience Personally

It doesn’t matter how many followers you have, if your audience isn’t spreading the word, you won’t reach their hearts and minds. By searching for people who are actively talking about your product, and engaging them in direct conversation you’ll reach a much wider audience.

Don’t rush to reach the summit by building an enormous base right off the bat. Instead, play the long game because every community has an awkward phase and yours will not be any different. By continuing to engage the members you’ll eventually get through it. Once the members start discussing the product among each other, you’ll know you’re on the right path.

3.    Connections

Never underestimate the power of your own friends and acquaintances when starting a community. By asking for their help in starting out, you’ll already have some ground for growing your community. Use everything at your disposal. The CEO of Social Fresh Justin Keith, actually found success by partnering with conferences and managed to grow from their already established audience.

4.    Think Social Media!

If you want people in your group to share your product, facilitate it for them. If they sign-up for your website, include a box for a newsletter.  Asking them to follow you on social media as part of the process always nearly works and provide opportunities for them to share with their friends and family. It’s surprising to see the amount of people who share your services simply because you asked.

5.    Be Creative with Your Company

Starting out is scary, but it comes with its own set of advantages.  Because when you have a small community, you can try being creative without angering a large group of people. Take your chances while the risks are minimal because when you have nothing to lose the only direction to go is upwards. This is your time to be as creative as possible.

6.    Have Fun

Think of your favorite brands in the market, are they boring or funny? Ever heard of the Wendy’s Twitter Account? Or the Banana Bunker? Their stories are marked by how funny and engaging they are with their user base. Wendy’s Twitter has some sick burns, and the Banana Bunker was amusing by how masterfully they navigated through a series of loaded questions.

When you build your brand, make it as engaging as possible. Create a voice and a character to go along with it and people will follow. By creating a page that is quirky and amusing, you’ll get members eager to share the experience with others and you can’t beat free advertisement.

7.    Account for Everything

Tracking all the changes helps in achieving your goals. The data you gather through these efforts will tell a story, and you have to listen to it well. Communities that are actively engaging with one another are going to provide you with all the information needed to succeed. Every victory, no matter how small is still one step towards success and you have to account for all of it. This is your baby, own it!

At the end of the day your audience will respond to you based on how you reach out to them. A happy community is a productive one and through them you’ll reach an even bigger audience. Your friends and family can help you reach the summit, but you’ll need to maximize on your resources. Social media websites have created a great platform from which you can start finding your niche, and they’ll certainly pave your way to success. But, remember that ultimately it’s your company and you’re the one responsible for making it as impactful as possible, have fun, be creative and don’t forget to always account for everything!

This generation born digital, will have a profound impact on social behavior and how we conduct business. Globalization is here and if you are not taking advantage, you have already lost. – Ricky Ahuja

January 31, 2018
January 31, 2018

What’s the Bitcoin Frenzy All About? We Break It Down

Author By Ricky Ahuja Categories Business, Life Lessons

Until recently, most people have heard something about Bitcoin, but after this fall, everyone knows about it. Since the second half of September, the price for a single unit of Bitcoin has gone up nearly five times. From around $3000 on average, it has jumped to almost $17,000.

All of this happened within a three month period and, compared to January, when a single Bitcoin cost $800, the jump is huge. The news about this gigantic spike in value has made a lot of people pay attention and many of them are also jumping in, looking to invest.

The first ever crypt-index fund was opened, where adequate investors can trade with Bitcoins legitimately and now, a lot of people who were reluctant before are looking at the possibility of investing in Bitcoin and trading it. However, is it really smart to invest in Bitcoin? We break it down for you.

Cryptocurrency, what was it again?

This is a digital currency generated by a computer and it has encryptions that make it secure. They cannot be found in physical form. At their core, cryptocurrencies are code and nothing else. Still, this doesn’t mean that they aren’t valuable.

Bitcoin is the most well-known cryptocurrency and it was created in 2009. However, there are many other cryptocurrencies that have showed up on the market since then and one of the mentionable ones includes Litecoin that also had amazing growth in 2017 (over 7,000 percent).

Don’t rush into investing before knowing these things

Even though there is a lot of potential, like with any other investment, there are risks and you need to understand them in order to make a sensible investment. First of all, no cryptocurrency is backed by any government and they are all decentralized.
While others feel that this is a downside, others think that that this is what’s good about them as there are no banks involved and people can transfer Bitcoins whenever they want, while at the same time having the option to do this anonymously.

Still, no regulatory institution regulates its value if it rises or drops suddenly. Additionally, cryptocurrencies don’t have intrinsic value, meaning that their price is determined by how much people are currently willing to give for it. Cryptocurrencies don’t pay dividends, neither do they generate income.

This is why extreme value swings like the ones we have been witnessing recently are possible.

Is investing in cryptocurrency in long-term a thing?

It’s still too early to discuss long-term investing in digital currencies. There isn’t any long historical data like with the stock market and it’s impossible to make a good analysis of trends. Still, there are already people who are worried about the possibility of hitting a bubble.

Should you invest in any cryptocurrency?

It is possible to buy any cryptocurrency using various exchanges. Still, before you make such a move, make sure that you’ve set aside a sum that you don’t really need when it comes to your life quality. If you are investing, make sure that you will in no way be in danger if you lose the money you invested.

January 10, 2018
January 10, 2018

Post-Affiliate Summit Conference Adrenaline Rush?

Author By Ricky Ahuja Categories Business

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[/fusion_text][fusion_text]”WTF do I do with all these business cards?” The common question many attendees ask after a long few days at a conference (this is assuming you are still hung-over). Word of advice: Don’t worry about the business cards until you get back to the office! There is no one that is expecting a call from, well perhaps your wife but other than that, literally no one. However, it is super important to reflect on your experience for personal growth and share that reflection with your peers to show that you are proactive and actually attended the conference to GSD (if you do not know what GSD, be sure to hit me up for some enlightenment)! Weigh out the pros, cons, successes and windows of opportunity and 5..4..3..2..1 – ACT upon them NOW.

Personal Reflection: Write in your planner, journal, smartphone notepad, your daughters scratch and sniff notebook – but just write. For your own personal growth and accountability, be sure to measure your performance at the conference. Learn from mistakes and glorify the major WINS then plan ahead for the next event. Ask yourself: “What could I do better for next time? What should I have done differently? Why do some people refuse to eat fish tacos?” But I digress.

Public Reflection: Blog about it on the company website, Facebook page, Linkedin, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Post on social media. Every business should have a website with fresh content (I know, I know, I need to look in the mirror before saying it here!) From a company perspective, you want to show your audience the strong points of the conference. Try to use more visuals (photos/video) instead of text. Too much text can lead to losing the readers attention (a problem in content marketing!) Reflect on speakers, team member speeches, favorite quotes, prominent photo ops, etc. It is time to dominate.

Follow up, Follow up, Follow up: Take the five most promising people you met, and follow up with them. Send them an email that starts by reminding them of the details of where you met and what you discussed, and ends with a next step to move forward. Do NOT leave it open-ended.

Connect on Linkedin/Facebook: This is one of my favorite strategies. I look the people up on Facebook or Linkedin (or Instagram if they are cute) using their business cards and add them to my network. Now, I know their birthdays, their occupation, and their day to day status (literally!). Best Rolodex in the world.

Introduce two people to each other: One of my colleagues, Steve Lowry, is a master at this. He finds one person at each event and introduces them to someone else he thinks they should know. Now, where those two people take the relationship is up to them, but he is always remembered as the guy who made the introduction!

Thank the host: A quick note thanking them will go a long way. Do not look at these events as a chance to make money or attain clients. Think of it as a personal growth exercise where you not only get to hone your networking skills but maybe even help/enlighten someone else on something they may not have known or thought of. This is a small community and as I like to say sometimes, “It is not about making a buck but about making a difference.”[/fusion_text]

January 3, 2018
January 3, 2018

How to Get the Most out of Attending a Trade Show

Author By Ricky Ahuja Categories Business, Social Issues

If you want to rub shoulders with the movers and shakers in your industry, then attending a trade show is just the thing for you. At a typical trade show, you will have an opportunity to come across people you normally wouldn’t, since everyone involved in the industry will be there. Such shows normally last for 2 or 3 days (unless it’s Vegas then it’s a “crap” shoot). 😉

However, if you decide to attend a trade show which is out of town let alone a different country, you will have to spend a couple of days there, so it may seem like an expensive little adventure. That doesn’t mean that you should change your plans, you just need a good guide on how to get the most out of the show, so I will make sure to provide you with some useful tips!

1. Make a good choice

First of all, you need to be certain that you have chosen the right trade show to suit your needs. The most important thing to do before choosing is to check the show’s website in order to find out which companies will attend, check their Facebook page or newsletters to gauge the relevancy of the show.

2. Register ahead

Different shows offer different pricing and policies. If you do your research right, you can possibly save some money by registering in advance. There are some shows which exclusively cater to experts and qualified buyers, while there are some that will only require your online registration.

Moreover, if you register ahead, not only that you will save money, but you might also get an opportunity to schedule appointments with some companies and yes parties you can benefit from. Shows such as the Affiliate Summit and AWA and AWE tend to sell out so be sure to register well in advance.

3. Choose the right accommodation

It is advisable to stay at the hotel that is associated with the show you are attending, even though the prices may be higher than in other accommodations, because you will get a chance to run into many of the attendees there and you never know when you may run into your next big affiliate or advertiser. This is a great chance to make some acquaintances and potential business deals.

4. Stick to your plan

Attending any kind of show without having a precise plan is a bad idea because you will miss out on so many things. You need to determine what your goals are and stick to them. Since these shows are usually huge, the first thing you need to do as soon as you arrive is to get a map and familiarize yourself with the attendee list and their location.
You should mark the booths that are your priority and visit them first. Afterwards, if you have any time left that is, you can freely explore whoever else is there.

5. Carry your business cards with you

When it comes to such events, you never know when you are going to run into someone important. That is why you should always carry your business cards wherever you go. Moreover, it would be a good idea to make copies of your sell sheets and bring them as well. This is one of my biggest peeves – people who run out of cards on the first day, when in actuality they probably just forgot them.

6. Approach booths at the right time

At trade shows, timing is everything. If you pay a visit to a booth that is overcrowded, you won’t get a chance to interact with the right people. To avoid wasting your time and waiting in lines, it is recommended to visit booths on the second day. However, never wait for the last day because the majority of the companies may be already gone by then.

To sum up, attending trade shows can give you a lot of lucrative business opportunities, so make sure you follow my guidelines and stick to your plan to get the most out of them!

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