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What is project management?

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In business, projects are characteristically unique operations which are conducted to meet particular goals. Examples of projects could be:

  • The designing of software, the purpose of which is to enhance employee productivity,
  • The construction of a building which will house community events, or
  • The designing of a website to lower call volume to a business.

These are just a few examples and the list can go on for days. All of these categories of projects need a team of people who are responsible for various aspects of the delivery. For instance, you’ll probably see a designer, developer as well as copywriter working on website design projects. In many instances, a project manager is allocated to these projects in order to ensure that the team provides the project on time, under budget in addition to meeting its stated goals.

‘Project management’ is defined as the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge as well as experience in order to achieve detailed project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within the agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale as well as budget.

A key factor which distinguishes project management from generic ‘management’ is that it has a final deliverable and a finite timespan, as opposed to management which is an continuing process. Owing to this a project professional needs a wide range of skills; often technical skills and definitely people management skills in addition to good business awareness.

What is a project manager?

Project managers perform the lead role in planning, executing, monitoring, controlling as well as closing projects. These people are accountable for the entire project scope, project team, resources, in addition to the success or failure of the project.

A project manager, with the assistance of their team has multiple responsibilities which encompass the five project stages of a project life cycle (initiating, planning, executing, monitoring as well as closing).

Initiating phase

  • Integration management: Creating a project charter
  • Stakeholder management: Pinpointing stakeholders

Planning phase

  • Integration management: Building a project management plan
  • Scope management: Identifying and controlling scope, establishing a work breakdown structure (WBS) in addition to requirements gathering
  • Time management: Planning, defining, as well as developing schedules, activities, estimating resources in addition to activity durations
  • Costs management: Planning and estimating costs, and deciding on budgets
  • Quality management: Planning as well as identifying quality requirements
  • Human Resource Management: Planning in addition to identifying human resource requirements
  • Communications management: Preparing communications
  • Risk management: Planning for as well as identifying potential risks, performing qualitative and quantitative risk analysis in addition to planning risk-mitigation strategies
  • Procurement management: Planning for as well as identifying required procurements
  • Stakeholder management: Preparing for stakeholder expectations

Executing

  • Integration management: Directing as well as managing all work for the project
  • Quality management: Doing all facets of managing quality
  • Human resource management: Selecting, developing in addition to managing the project team
  • Communications management: Overseeing all aspects of communications
  • Procurement management: Taking action on securing necessary procurements
  • Stakeholder management: Controlling all stakeholder expectations

Monitoring and controlling

  • Integration management: Monitoring in addition to controlling the project work as well as managing any required changes
  • Scope management: Validating as well as controlling the scope of the project
  • Time management: Managing the scope of the project
  • Costs management: Regulating project costs
  • Quality management: Maintaining the quality of deliverables
  • Communications management: Controlling all team in addition to stakeholder communications
  • Procurement management: Managing procurements
  • Stakeholder management: Controlling stakeholder engagements

Closing

  • Integration management: Closing all stages of the project
  • Procurement management: Completing all project procurements

Project management may seem to be complicated however chances are that you’ve already been involved in a process such as this one. So the next time that you’re planning your friend’s birthday, know that you’re essentially working on a project and that you are your own project manager!

 

Should I become a personal trainer?

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We bet that many of you have asked yourselves this question!

If you have, you’re probably in one of two situations:

  • You’ve just finished school and your parents are breathing down your neck to choose a course to study.
  • You’ve been in the job that you’re currently doing, for a number of years; however you’re just not feeling it anymore. You’re always watching the clock, trying to calculate how many hours it is until you can close your laptop lid and head for the gym.

If you’re considering a career in personal training, you’re probably the go-to person in your friendship circle for advice on exercise and nutrition. They value the help that you give them and they can see the tangible results as a direct consequence of what you advised them.

 

So, the question is, should you become a personal trainer?

Are you passionate about fitness?

To be a world-class personal trainer, you need to be passionate about fitness. You must not mind spending hours and hours in the gym working on the parts of your body, which you want to tone up or bulk up. In fact, you must absolutely, without a doubt, look forward to getting stuck in at the gym.

Are you a people person?

A personal trainer has to deal with a variety of people on a daily basis. This means that they will need to adapt their communication skills in order that they can communicate appropriately with who they need to. So if you’re an introvert, perhaps being a personal trainer won’t be a good fit for you.

Are you entrepreneurial?

Remember that if you’re a personal trainer, you’ll be running your own fitness business. The buck stops with you. You’re responsible for making sure that the finances and taxes of your business are 100% (or if you don’t want to do this, you’re going to need to hire someone to help you to do this.) In addition to this, you’ll be responsible for your marketing and making sure that you continuously attract a steady flow of clients who want to train, into the business.

Are you enthusiastic?

One of the primary jobs of a personal trainer is to motivate their clients to keep on exercising. If the people who they’re training feel like they want to give up, it will be your job to make sure that they keep on pushing in order for them to reach their goals.

If you feel that the responses to the above four questions describe you, then you should really become a personal trainer!

Once you’ve made this life-altering decision, the next step is to choose a fitness college to do your training. Here are some things which you need to look out for when making your decision:

  • The college must be accredited by a recognised fitness body.
  • The course material must be extremely thorough.
  • The course facilitators must be personal trainers themselves. (This is important as it will give a practical spin on the theory that they are teaching so that students can know how to apply it.)
  • The fitness college must offer a number of methods of teaching. For example, they must provide an online learning platform which students, who are currently working, can use to further their education at night or over weekends.

So, to come back to the question that we posed in the title of the article: should you become a personal trainer? Well, if it’s something that you fee that you want to do, deep down in your gut, then you need to make that leap and become a part of the fitness industry!

 

What Makes Flower an Effective Gift?

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Little pieces of heaven, i.e. fresh blooms, are sure to cheer up anyone’s mood. A bouquet of fresh flowers, no matter what the colour or the size or the shape, is a gift that will brighten up anyone’s day. Not only do flowers have the ability to improve moods, but they’re also pleasing to look at. The experience of giving and receiving flowers is such a memorable one! It’s the thought that matter behind the gift and flowers can uplift anyone’s mood. No matter what’s the occasion, flowers are always a big hit. So what is it so special about flowers that make them so perfect? According to research, flowers are linked “to creativity, compassion, tranquillity, and happiness.” A study even concluded that people who receive flowers as a gift reflect immediate happiness.

 

Flowers are an inexpensive way of bestowing your love and emotions. Be it any occasion like an anniversary, a birthday, Appreciation, Cheer Up, Congratulations, Get Well Soon, I Am Sorry, Love & Affection, Thank You, New Born, Funeral, etc. flowers boost morale and lift the moods. They stand out among many expensive gifts. Unlike most other gifts, flowers can be customised according to your choice. There is a flower for every relation, every occasion, and most of all they fall in the budget.

Flowers are a thoughtful reminder for your concern and admiration towards the recipient. Flowers stand out among the many gifts and wishes. The flowers are perfect because they do not require much maintenance, nor do they require batteries to run. Many flowers need a little sunshine as well as water every day. Since they are very easy to care for, even your loved ones will enjoy receiving them.

So, the next time you wish to surprise your special man or women or wants to congratulate them, be it your father, your brother, friend or lover, send them a bunch of flowers. Gifting flowers comes with convenience and accessibility. While they can be personalised in terms of colour, type, and arrangement there are a plethora of flowers online which you can order for your loved ones such as Roses, Carnations, Gerberas, Lilies, Orchids, Tulips, Sunflowers, etc.

You can choose a flower or combo and get it delivered to your loved one’s doorstep. And, make the special day even more special. Go ahead with your choice of flowers without giving a second thought. The person receiving it, in the end, is gonna love it! Whether it is just a stem or a bouquet it’s the thought that matters behind the gift.

How to Be Awesome and Successful

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If you’re highly motivated to the make the most out of your life and aspire to be awesome and successful simply continue reading to discover a fool proof guide to living your best life and achieving all of your long term goals.

How to Be Awesome and Successful:

Dream big:

The bigger that your goals are, the more likely you are to experience incredible moments that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Remember that you’re capable of achieving any goals that you set for yourself and not to be limited to by other people’s opinions on what you can achieve in your life. As an example if one of your dreams is to set sail on a world wide cruise, it’s well worth starting a fund to pay for your dream. Or if you have a dream of crossing the finish line of an international marathon, it’s a great idea to start a training regime, in order to get started.

Actively take steps to reach your goals:

Once you’ve chosen goals that make your heart sing, your next step should be to start taking small steps in order to reach your goals. As with each step that you take towards reaching your goals, you’ll become even more excited and motivated to reach your goals. If you don’t know how to get started simply list small baby steps which you can take towards your goals.

Spend time with positive uplifting individuals who make you feel supported:

If you want to be an awesome individual it’s important to spend time with awesome, inspiring, supportive individuals who will lift you up and push you to achieve your goals. If there are negative individuals who suck your energy and who try and put you down on a regular basis, it’s well worth cutting them out of your life so that you can make room for new supportive, fun friendships.

Encourage others to reach their goals:

Not only do awesome individuals achieve incredible milestones but awesome individuals are not competitive and instead seek to assist others in reaching their own personal goals. As an awesome individual seek to be the type of individual who everyone leaves feeling happier than when they met you. As a bonus you should notice that you’ll feel a lot happier and optimistic if you spend some of your free time helping other individuals who you care about, meet their life goals.

Don’t be afraid to take regular breaks:

While it’s important to be proactive when it comes to your goals and life, if you don’t take regular breaks you’ll run the risk of burning out and becoming jaded. Instead make sure that you take a least one international vacation per year and that you that set regular time aside for yourself each week to recharge and rejuvenate. As an example you may find that completing daily yoga sessions or sitting in your backyard for a few hours each week with a good book may help you feel rejuvenated. Especially during busy weeks.

Remember just for reading this helpful guide to being awesome and reaching your goals, you’ve already shown great initiative and are well on track to becoming the very best version of yourself!

Stay at Home Mom Business Tips

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If you’re an entrepreneur and a stay at home mom and are looking for a handy guide to running a business from home, simply continue reading to discover a few invaluable tips which will make your life a whole lot easier.

Stay at Home Mom Business Tips:

Make sure that your office is located in a quiet section of your home:

As a stay at home mom and entrepreneur it’s important that your home office is located in a quiet section of your home, where you won’t be distracted by any loud noises. Especially if you have young children or noisy teenagers.

Consider setting up a second make shift office in your bedroom or garage:

If your office is located too close to your family’s lounge, you may want to set up a small office in the corner of your bedroom or in your garage, where you’ll be able to work in peace and quiet. After all, the quicker that you get through your workload, the more time that you’ll be able to spend with your kids and partner.

Purchase a baby monitor to keep an eye on your kids when you’re working:

Even if your youngest child is no longer a toddler, you can’t go wrong choosing to purchase a baby monitor to place in your family’s lounge or your children’s playroom, sot hat you’ll be able to keep a watchful eye over your kids when you’re working. As while your work is important, the health and wellbeing of your kids is even more important and it’s important to keep tabs on your kids.

Consider working when your kids have gone to sleep:

While it’s not advisable to pull long hours on a daily basis if there is a particular project that requires a lot of attention, you may be able to get a lot of work done when your kids have gone to sleep. Especially as it’s quiet in the evenings and you’ll be able to get a lot of work down without worrying about your kids. As they’ll be sleeping soundly while you’re working.

Don’t be afraid to ask your partner or your friends and family members for help:

As an example if you have a business meeting to attend but your kids need to be dropped off at dance class or music practice, don’t be afraid to ask your partner, your friends or family members to help you out. As more often than not your loved ones will be willing to help you out and to get to spend a little extra time with your kids.

Consider hosting business meetings at a local cafe:

If your house is a mess and you don’t feel comfortable inviting potential clients or customers to your home, you may want to host business meetings at a local cafe which boasts free WiFi. As an added bonus you may find it relaxing to get out of your house for a couple of hours.

So if you’re a stay at home mom and an entrepreneur who is passionate about running a home based business, it’s well worth using all of the tips listed above in order to make your life a little easier!