The Top Resume Tip To Overcome Employment Gaps

 Looking for a new job in the new year? After a career break — whether voluntary or not, short-term or long-term — explaining resume gaps to hiring managers and recruiters is a common concern. It's also a valid concern. Many workers face employment discrimination when re-entering the workforce, largely because career breaks deviate from the "ideal worker" pattern of continuous employment.

But a recent study in Nature Human Behavior found one resume writing technique that increases the chances of securing an interview for those with resume gaps by 15%. The secret is simple: don't call attention to any gaps by displaying work experience in a different format. Instead of providing the traditional start and stop date of the job (for example, May 2020 — May 2022), researchers listed the number of years the applicant worked in each job. This technique effectively obscured the work gap.

Women are particularly impacted by resume gaps due to caring responsibilities, and the prevailing advice is to "explain the gap." While the skills it takes to be a parent undoubtedly translate to the workplace, researchers found no evidence that this strategy works any better than having an unexplained gap. In the eyes of employers, a gap is still a gap.

It's time to throw out negative stereotypes regarding employment gaps

There's clearly larger work to be done in the diversity & inclusion space to help reduce discriminative hiring practices. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs hosted a roundtable last year to discuss the challenges workers face when re-entering the workforce after unemployment. SHRM published a session round-up highlighting several groups in particular that face discrimination. It's not just women returning from maternity leave. Older workers, those who experience mental health conditions, and ex-prisoners are more likely to face employment discrimination — lengthening their employment gaps.

That said, LinkedIn states that job gaps will become increasingly normalized due to a variety of well-founded reasons. Priorities have changed post-pandemic. Many resigned from their roles to focus on more purpose-driven work. Some realized that they wanted to change careers and took time to re-train. And more and more people are taking mental health breaks.

Rethinking outdated assumptions

Overcoming outdated biases around ideal candidates and the linear career path isn't easy — but businesses can make strides forward. One tip is to take blind resumes one step further. Blind resumes are those that have been stripped of any identifying information so that recruiters are less likely to succumb to any unconscious bias. Recruiters can request that all resumes be submitted with years worked instead of dates. And we would all do well to remember that an employment gap does not necessarily equate to an unskilled candidate.

Lindsay Kohler

Go And Sell: Four Tips

 What is life without trading? What is a business without exchange?

Value exchange serves as the basis for wealth creation. For wealth, you must sell value.

Additionally, value may be exchanged in the form of either goods or services. What is your organization selling? What are you known for?

Hospitals offer healthcare; universities sell education; churches sell spiritual and emotional support; education sells knowledge. What products does your business sell? Value should be given in exchange for wealth. Brian Tracy, Andrew Nevin, Cosmas Maduka, Demola Aladekomo and other successful people all have something to sell. (Disclosure: These are people whom I have a cordial relationship with in terms of business and partnership-related dealings.) Each of them is engaged in the sale of a good or service. Someone once asked me how operational costs can be handled intelligently. I responded by saying you need to be selling something regularly. This is the secret to always being fluid and never being broke.

What can you sell? Individually, you can sell your abilities, skills, ideas, etc., or as a business, you can offer your goods and services. Anything you do that you don't sell is just a hobby. To me, developing a skill that you don't wish to use is abhorrent. It's a tragedy to be talented but unsuccessful.

As an organization, develop products that can keep serving your needs in return. This can be for immediate, short-term or long-term satisfaction.

Where do you begin? Look within. You have abilities, ideas and talents that can be turned into money, resulting in long-term wealth for you. If you feel you currently lack any skills, go learn! Develop a skill and become an expert in it. Once you become proficient at it, you may trade your value for wealth. And selling is the only way to accomplish this. Again, selling is a value transaction. Reaching out to individuals and telling them about the good or service you have to offer in return for something valuable can result in long-term wealth creation.

Take these actions.

1. Have a product.

This is what helps you interphase without boundaries and gives you access to new money. What do I mean by this? Creating a niche for yourself puts you in the marketplace and attracts suitable consumers who find your offer appealing. Your product in this sense can be in terms of goods or services rendered. It is most important to find the product(s) that solves a specific problem, which gives you an opportunity to reach your preferred target audience, especially in this fast-evolving and competitive marketplace. The product is the point of connection to other people's resources.

Anything outside products or services in relation to other people's wealth is theft. What am I insinuating by this? I'm simply recommending trading in legal dealings. For you to exchange a product for money, you must have a product to sell, and without this, the transaction is void. For instance, being involved in fraudulent activities and making fake transactions are considered theft and punishable by law.

2. Have a brand.

Ensure you have a brand, no matter how small your business starts out, because no commodity is insignificant. Your product may not attract a large number of consumers at first, but it definitely serves a purpose. Know this: Your brand is embodied in your goods. You can't predict what people will buy if you don't understand your items or your consumers’ needs.

For example, it won't be profitable to promote fish and have a meat/fish market with fish as your main product if your consumers come for barbeque. Don't advertise fish, even if you want people to take it or buy it. Have good branding and promote it.

3. Have an attraction strategy.

What attracts you to something is often its charm or distinctive quality. Many people will pay anything for whatever is well-packaged.

Both a physical and psychological force can serve as an attraction; however, at times—for example, with love—it can be difficult to distinguish between the two. A gravitational pull exists between planets and between opposing magnetic poles.

Attraction is the first step in selling; therefore, package your product or service attractively for everyone to see.

4. Get feedback from your clients.

Even (and especially) when it is unfavorable, customer feedback can inspire good change in any firm by guiding changes to the customer experience.

Feedback helps you know what you are doing correctly and what you are doing wrong. It's the greatest blessing an organization can have in the form of data, if it's well managed. Getting input is how you can continue to put your community first in all you do.

One question you must keep asking yourself is, "Why do people keep coming back?"

List the reasons why people still come to you now. Doing what you believe to be right won't make issues go away. Set priorities for your ideas, interests and vision board, and start paying attention to them. You never want to go out of business. Your business should never go broke. Being mindful of sales is the key. See you at the top of your sales!

Akin Akinpelu

3 Tips For Creating A Happier Workplace In 2023

 The working world’s obsession with hustle culture may finally be ending. This shift in career aspirations means that there’s an opportunity—no, a necessity—to cultivate happy, healthy and thriving workplaces in 2023.

For business leaders, this perspective shift offers an opportunity to leverage best management practices alongside your company’s purpose. In the new year, consider these happiness-inducing leadership strategies to help change the way your organization feels about work.

1. Bring Your 'Why' To The Forefront

As a company, your “why” is at the very core of what you do. But even among the most committed professionals, the drumbeat of daily tasks can distract from your overall purpose. Combat the draining effect of day-to-day minutiae by integrating the why of what you do into every facet of your work.

Take a cue from tech firms like Amazon and place an empty chair in your meeting rooms to signify your customer or client. This silent reminder of who you’re doing what you do for can lead to more thoughtful conversations and decisions.

Use personas to think through your clients’ journeys, assigning real or stock imagery to depict them and their needs. This visual aid can help your employees better connect with their impact, even if they aren’t client-facing. When your employees better understand how their work makes a difference, they experience greater satisfaction and tend to be happier and more productive at work.

2. Invest In Your Employees’ Growth And Development—No Strings Attached

Traditionally, employers have provided a standard package of benefits to their employees. The usual health insurance and paid time off might be complemented by education reimbursements. Although free education is a generous offer, the strings attached could make this sweetheart deal turn sour.

To boost employee happiness, avoid presenting education benefits as a quid pro quo scenario. Instead of dictating plans of instruction, modify your education reimbursement program to provide a set annual amount for learning and development. Free up your employees’ options, allowing them to choose what to study versus requiring courses to be narrowly role-focused. Who knows? Enabling your marketing manager to take an art history class might prove even more valuable than an SEO certification course would have.

Collaborate with your management team to determine how your education benefits can boost employee engagement and retention. Review recent engagement surveys to identify concerns that your management team can strive to resolve. One such issue might be the time required outside of work to complete course requirements. If your workload demands can support it, update your policies to allow employees to learn during work hours. Providing support in both funding and time can improve course completion rates, boost employee satisfaction and enhance on-the-job results.

3. Develop Clear Career Trajectories And Organizational Goals

If there’s one happiness killer at work, it’s lack of clarity. When project plans, individual goals and decision-making criteria are unclear, it can put your employees on the fast lane to dissatisfaction. Be honest with yourself as you assess how your organization performs in these areas. If your assessment yields anything less than happiness-inducing transparency, a change may be in order.

First, review your employees’ career progression plans, and if you don’t have them, create a framework now. Each role on your org chart should have a growth plan that helps employees move forward. This can include skills mastery, goal achievement or next steps on the career ladder. Each employee should know what success looks like and how to earn a promotion, should they want to.

The same principle applies to setting goals, which can often vary across departments. Implement a S.M.A.R.T. goal system, in which goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely. The combination of specificity, time-boundedness and measurability creates greater accountability for leaders and employees, establishing a playbook for success. Together, these improvements can boost employee happiness, especially regarding individual growth and team achievement.

Transparency And Collaboration

One trait of stale and out-of-touch leadership teams is a disconnect between seniority levels. Even if a CEO has risen through the ranks, it’s easy to forget the concerns of frontline workers. Counteract this possibility by building opportunities for feedback and collaboration between all levels of management.

Whether your chosen method is companywide surveys, manager-employee one-on-ones or some other tactic, establish channels for equitable input. By doing so, you’ll earn greater buy-in and build trust. Together, your organization can identify what success looks like, how to implement changes and how to create the happy, healthy workplace you’ve dreamed of.

John Rampton

10 Tips For First-Time Cruise Travel

 Despite increasing concerns over sustainability and overtourism in some destinations, cruise travel has never been more popular. Interest in cruising has largely bounced back since the dip caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, with new cruise records being set in some countries including Norway.

While cruising is a relatively simple concept, it can be daunting for people who’ve never set foot on a ship before. With that in mind, here are ten top tips for first-time cruise travelers.

Choose your cruise line carefully

Budget and location/itinerary are two very important considerations when picking your first cruise. But don’t ignore the choice of cruise line. Although it can be tempting to feel the cruise line doesn’t matter as you’ll be spending so much time asleep and in ports, the onboard experiences vary considerably.

For example, P&O Cruises and Fred Olsen both offer very British dining and entertainment experiences for its primarily British clientele, although this does vary by ship and itinerary. In contrast, MSC features Mediterranean food and makes onboard announcements in up to five languages because of the diversity of its passengers.

Lines such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line offer resort-style ships with water slides, mini-golf, arcades and even go-karting, while the likes of Cunard, Viking Ocean Cruises and Holland America offer more traditional cruising experiences.

Before committing to a booking, read up on reviews of not just your chosen ship but the line in general on independent websites such as Cruise Critic.

Consider booking with a travel agent

Cruise specialist travel agents are regularly hosted on the ships by cruise lines, so they’ll know which one is right for you and your preferences.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that by using a travel agent, you’ll pay more. They often offer promotions that can be combined with cruise line’s offers, meaning in some cases you’ll pay less. A good agent can also assist with on-board bookings in advance and suggesting the best shore excursions for you, amongst other things.

Avoid some key packing mistakes

Your luggage will be scanned and possibly checked before joining you on board. Some items are banned including power strips with surge protectors and anything with heating elements such as travel kettles and irons. Some lines allow you to bring a limited amount of your own alcohol onboard but others do not.

Checking the rules for your chosen line in advance will save you frustration on the first day of your vacation.

On embarkation day, bring a carry-on bag with everything you’ll need for your first day including swimwear, a change of clothes and essential items such as medication. On the bigger ships it can be up to several hours before your main luggage arrives at your cabin.

Arrive the day before embarkation day

Unless you live within easy commuting distance, you should plan to arrive in your port of embarkation at least one day before sailing. This is especially true if you need to fly considering the disruption and last-minute cancelations seen in the aviation industry over the last 12 months.

Research your ship

You don’t need to learn the deck plans before boarding, but getting a feel for what is where onboard can save a lot of time during your first days. Committing to memory whether the buffet restaurant or that lounge you liked the look of is forward or aft, for example, will make things much easier.

Spending time researching the ship also means you are less likely to miss any features or attractions. There’s few things more frustrating on a cruise vacation than finding the perfect quiet spot on your final day.

Research the ports

You don’t need to make a detailed hour-by-hour plan, but spending some time investigating your ports of call before you travel is time well spent. It will help you decide whether you will pay for expensive ship excursions, independent tours or simply walk around at your own leisure.

In particular, look at how close the port is to the advertised destination. For example, many cruise ships advertise Rome as a destination whereas in actual fact they dock at Civitavecchia, almost 50 miles away.

Think twice about beverage packages

Beverage packages are often pushed heavily by cruise lines as money-saving deals. While it is usually cheaper to book such packages in advance, they still won’t necessarily save you money.

Whether a drinks package is right for you depends on your own consumption habits, the prices of individual drinks onboard and whether any drinks are included with meals, among many other factors. Consider also the number of sea days. On days when you don’t leave the ship, you’re likely to buy more drinks.

Cruzely.com runs a simple drink package calculator to help you estimate your onboard spend.

Choose a la carte over the buffet

It’s very easy to over-indulge on a cruise vacation given the all-inclusive nature of dining. Many first-timers seem to camp out in the buffet restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s a much better idea to spend most of your time in the main dining room(s) instead. Typically it’s a much calmer experience with a better quality of food, service and presentation.

On most cruise lines, the main dining room also offers limitless food. Still hungry after dinner? Order another main course. Can’t choose between two starters? Order them both. Some cruise lines are introducing restrictions in their main dining room, but most still operate on an all-you-can-eat model.

Check your statement regularly

On non-luxury lines there are many additional costs for drinks, internet use and optional activities. The costs of these can add up quickly. It’s simple to check your spend at any time on your stateroom television or on the cruise line’s app. Do this regularly to check for any mistakes and keep on top of your onboard spending to avoid a nasty surprise on your final day.

Pace yourself

Finally, pacing yourself on a cruise vacation is perhaps the most important first-time cruise travel tip of all. With so much on offer on modern cruise ships and in ports of call, it’s easy to throw yourself in at the deep end and quickly burn out. Take your time to explore the ship and eat in different venues.

If you don’t have shore excursions booked on a particular day, wait an hour or so until the rush to leave the ship has subsided. You’ll still have plenty of time to explore the port in a far more relaxed mood.

Depending on the length of your cruise, it can be a good idea to pick one day to stay on the ship when a port call doesn't interest you so much. Some activities may be closed, but generally the ship will be much quieter allowing you to explore at your leisure, enjoy a quiet lunch and possibly make the most of discounted spa treatments or other cheaper and quieter activities.

David Nikel

Your Guide to Never Being Stuck in a Dry Texting Convo Again

 Texting a new crush is a lot like playing ping-pong. You say something, they say something, you say something again, they something again, and then you eventually make plans to get jalapeño margs and make out a lot.

But none of the above can happen if the conversation never gets off the ground.

You see, if you’ve been trying to gauge your new flame’s interest and they’re not giving you much to work with—maybe they’re sending you one-word responses; maybe they’re taking hours upon hours to respond—you may be dealing with a dry texter.

Dry texting is what happens when someone sends you short replies that don’t move the conversation forward. It usually consists of one-word answers like the dreaded ‘K,’ says dating coach Alexis Germany. And when you’re just getting to know someone, it can be hard to tell if someone is not into you or just not into texting.

While you could throw your screenshots in the group chat and let all your friends decipher their texts, you have old episodes of Love Island to watch more important things to do and don’t want to invest even more time and energy into a conversation that might be going nowhere.

So if you think your texts are fizzling out or you want to see where your crush it at, here’s everything you need to know about dry texting—including how to spot it, how to stop it, and how to know when it times to take the L.

What Is Dry Texting?

Dry texting is what happens when someone gives you short, non-engaging replies in a texting conversation. It can also be super repetitive and just plain boring, says Claudia Cox, a relationship coach and founder of Text Weapon. “A great example of dry texting is the person who always starts a conversation with ‘Hey’ followed by ‘What’s up?’ and that’s about as exciting as it gets,” says Cox.

For obvious reasons, this type of messaging can be exhausting because when your crush isn’t adding anything to the conversation, you may feel pressure to keep the back and forth going. (Especially if they’re super hot and you want to kiss their face.)

But don’t worry just yet: Cox notes that in every connection, from a new crush to a full-on partner, some dry texting is expected.

“Even the hottest, most passionate couples will go through periods when the conversation lulls,” Cox says. “One partner could be tired, stressed out, feeling sick or just burning the candle at both ends.”

Pricilla Martinez, CEO of Regroop Coaching, agrees that a conversation lull doesn’t mean game over. “For some, texting is just a tool to make plans to meet up,” Martinez says. “Don’t assume the conversation is drying up because they’re not interested.”

Keep in mind that dry texting is typically a consistent pattern of one-word answers or fizzling conversations. So someone hitting you with a “Hey” or “K” every once in a while doesn’t mean the convo is dried up.

What Are Some Examples of Dry Texting?

As the experts say, it’s hard to spot dry texting from a single message. While someone “thumbs up” responding to your last or just sending a “haha” may make you want to throw your phone off a cliff, dry texting means a series of fruitless conversations. Here’s what the experts say to look out for:

    Repeatedly sending one-word answers.

    Keeping conversation short and not asking more questions or engaging you in conversation.

    Ignoring or glossing over photos, links, or memes that you send.

    Never texting you first and/or never starting conversations.

    Leaving you on read for days at a time.

Signs Your Texting Is Turning Dry

Here’s a dose of reality: Sometimes good, promising conversations will dry up, says Cox. It’s kind of inevitable. Whether your crush isn’t over their ex or if they started texting some new Tinder person, they may dry up your conversation rather than tell you directly they’re not feeling it.

“If they were always super-quick to respond with fun, upbeat messages and then suddenly you find yourself hanging on read for days, they might be trying to slowly step away from the conversation and you,” says Cox.

Here are some of those warning signs:

    They take longer to get back to you.

    They send random, low-effort messages that aren’t leading to a date.

    They send shorter, less enthusiastic texts.

    They avoid invitations to meet up or FaceTime, make excuses and cancel plans last minute, or pretend to be completely unaware that you’re asking to hang out IRL.

How to Prevent Dry Texting

The first step in stopping dry texting is figuring out for what reason the convo is going dry. Your crush may not be a huge texter or they may be super busy at work. If you’re really interested in them, check in with them about the texting lull.

You’ll also want to get to know the person’s communication style, says Martinez. “Don’t be afraid to ask if they prefer talking on the phone, FaceTiming, or just meeting up.”

Especially because texting someone you don’t know that well is hard. You can’t tell their tone, you can’t read their body language, and you can’t be sure they knew you were joking when you sent the Paris Hilton “Stop Being Poor” meme. Asking to hop on the phone or meet in person may give you a better sense of your crush’s communication style.

It’s also possible the conversation is turning dry because of something that was said that threw them off. "Clear the air, and if nothing changes, then you know it’s probably that their interest isn’t there,” confirms Cox.

Now if asking to meet up seems a little early or premature, our experts suggest switching up your texting style. “Think of engaging and thought provoking questions to ask,” Germany says. “Try questions like ‘What was the best part of your day today?’ or if they mentioned something specific they were doing, ask about it.”

In addition to asking more specific questions, Germany suggests scaling back the texting a little bit. If you feel like you’ve been doing all the work, slow down your texting and see if your crush picks it back up.

“A good goal is to aim for a 1:1 ratio, like an in-person conversation,” says Cox. This means you should actively try to match their responses and how much effort you’re putting in.

Cox also suggests taking a look at your own texting style as well. If you are texting a crush like you would text your best friend (aka not holding anything back, texting full-on rants, and giving play-by-play accounts of your entire day, take a step back, says Cox.

“Steer clear from 300-word mega texts, random texts about topics they know nothing about, or over-texting him to the point they’ve run out of things to say.”

When It’s Time to Give Up

I don't know who needs to hear this, but dating is supposed to be fun. If you find yourself pacing in your bathroom and totally stressed about a texting conversation in the very early stages, it’s likely time to move on.

“If you find the conversation more frustrating than fun, it’s time to give it up,” Germany says. “If you are still unsure, don’t text first and see how long it takes for them to reach out. If they reach out pretty quickly, the situation might be able to be salvaged with some direct communication, but if it takes days or weeks, it’s time to move on.”

In the event your crush really doesn’t like texting, our experts suggest offering a different way to chat—like FaceTiming, hopping on a call, making plans IRL, etc. But if they’re still dodging the alternative communicative methods, it’s time to take the L.

Germany notes that if someone’s into you, they’ll likely figure out some way to chat. And Cox adds you don’t want to waste your time on someone who’s not invested in you.

That said, “If you are truly into them and everything seems to click when you are together in person, they hold true to their word and seem to genuinely care about you but are a dry texter, limit your text exposure to them and make plans in person,” Cox says. “If they seem as aloof in person as they do via text, move on.”

Griffin Wynne

Five Tips For Improving Focus And Unlearning Multitasking

 The best business advice I ever received was as a one-year-old in my house here in Scotland. What I didn't realize at the time was that I would figure this out early on in life, know it for a few months, and then completely wipe it out of memory to make life harder.

As young as one-year-old, we are taught and guided to take one step. Just one little step to get walking and start our journey into life—our parents assisting and gleefully cheering as we master the art of walking.

Then it’s two steps, then three—it’s never three at first. And we're always encouraged by our parents to take the next step next.

As we approach adolescence, we become distracted—and I’m not talking about smartphones or social media or the constant notifications, which don’t help the process. I'm talking about this almost busy badge-earning word that has become almost accredited in modern society: multitasking.

It's time we stopped multitasking—as humans and business owners.

Business owners throughout the world have become so obsessed with multitasking that even our most basic learning from age one has deserted us: Doing the next thing next. Remember that second step?

Taking a step back in business and reflecting on what needs doing and when is a vital part of growing as a person and as a business. Being disciplined to focus on one task at a time can help ensure the maximum quality of any task you set yourself. It sounds obvious, right?

As business owners, it’s all too easy to try to multitask and we very rarely complete anything 100%—instead, we complete several things at around the 70-80% complete range. Hey, let's face it, even if you complete this at 99%, it’s still not 100% complete, is it? This is the problem. Completing anything at even 99% is not complete and a bunch of these "almost complete" tasks will occupy your mind and, some could argue, are wasted hours if incomplete.

Learning the words "do the next thing next" from my own business mentor was so simple and so obvious in hindsight. And when he said those words in casual conversation, without him even realizing the impact, it hit me: "Wow, I am a multitasker." I have disowned the word ever since. Learning to do the next thing next not only emphasized what I was doing wrong but invigorated me to really focus on what was important, which was completing the next step 100% and not 99%—until it was a habit of "then and only then" moving on to the next thing.

So how can you stop being a multitasker and learn to do the next thing next? Here are my top five tips for unlearning that habit and making the new one.

1. Make a list.

Write a list of the top 10 things that need to be completed/implemented into your business. Clarify what needs doing to give yourself a concrete idea of what it is you need to focus on now.

2. Make meaningful tasks.

Try to make them business tasks rather than "to-do/everyday stuff" such as sending emails, working on your business to make things happen within your business and working in your business to keep things ticking along.

3. Make it simple.

To gain momentum, pick the low-hanging fruit off your list to begin with and tick them off as you go. Dopamine hits can then follow.

4. Break down each task.

Get started on each business task by breaking it down into manageable parts (if it isn’t a standalone quick fix). This can make bigger tasks much more tangible and may just get you going quicker.

5. Don't multitask.

We can all do five to 10 tasks badly or partially complete all of them, but it's important to remember to not start another task until the prior task is complete.

Sounds pretty much like a to-do list, right?

Well, it kind of is, but with a lot more discipline and a lot less distraction. This can ensure a complete and thorough accomplishment of your tasks, essentially getting your business to where it needs to be quicker and more thoroughly—I did say it was obvious!

So for a month or two (or 10), go back into the baby slippers you had at one year old and focus solely (no pun intended) on doing the next thing next.

Daren Henderson

Four Tips For Succeeding With Influencer Marketing

 As social media remains a goliath in the funnel of e-commerce sales, brands are seeing influencer marketing making a bigger dent than ever in their sphere. In fact, the influencer marketing industry was worth an estimated $16 billion in 2022, according to Statista. With the oversaturated pool of content online, the truth is that not every brand can cut it out there. To me, those who find success and those who get lost in the algorithm sauce seem to be differentiated by one main thing: the authenticity of their content.

Here’s my hot take: Brands should start giving creators full control over their marketing. The biggest thing here is making sure you’ve picked an influencer who authentically represents your brand or product. For example, if you're developing a campaign focused on sustainability, make sure to choose influencers who have a track record of supporting green causes and brands.

As a seasoned influencer who’s actually helped brands reach their goals, here’s what I believe you need to know for a successful marketing partnership.

Give Your Creator Full Control Of Creative Messaging

In my experience, brands usually care most about two things: their messaging and conversions. This makes sense: They’re putting their seal of approval on this spokesperson, so to speak, so they’re going to want to make sure they’re not going totally off-book. However, when brands fully control the messaging, this can be a total lose-lose for both parties. Creators know their own audience and what content performs best on their platform. Why? Because this is what we do day in and day out.

For example, my best-performing videos are transitions from golf to glam outfits and relatable day-of-the-week skits. When I promote brands, I like to incorporate their product into these videos naturally, like having their drink in hand when I go glam, rather than doing an unnatural sales pitch on it in a video solely dedicated to them. My audience is coming to my page for a reason and when I have control over my content, the brand gets a lot of eyes on the product, I don’t take a dip in engagement, and the partnership serves us both.

Treat Your Creator Like A Billboard, Not A Salesperson

Once your brand has been introduced to an influencer’s audience, it’s important to remember that this is just the top of the marketing funnel. It typically takes multiple marketing touchpoints to generate a viable sales lead. Your influencer is number one. The landing page you’re sending them to, the emails you're following up with and the targeted ads you’re sending them matter just as much, if not more, than your influencer’s numbers.

I see this mistake all the time where brands think influencer marketing is a substitute for their sales team, but for most influencers, this simply isn’t true (excluding Kylie Jenner and Kylie Jenner only). The reality is that marketing creators should be paid on views, not sales.

If You Can't Afford Influencers, Try Sending Your Product For Free

Okay, this point might sound a little crazy, but hear me out. If you think an influencer is a perfect match for your brand but can’t afford their rates, sending them your product for free might be a good way to get in front of their viewers without the cost (as long as they like your product). The downside of this is you really don’t have a say in their messaging and you’re not going to be capturing leads, but if you feel confident about your product and want to shoot your shot, it's a good option. As a marketing creator, I’m rarely opposed to trying new products.

There’s also a big chance that influencers are hanging out with other creators, so they’re likely to give your product out to friends and family. Creators often love generosity from brands, but leave any obligations at the door if you can’t meet their rate (a.k.a. “try our product with the requirement of one post and one story"). Instead, try: “We’d love for you to try our product; how can I get it to you?” Influencers are much more receptive to no strings attached opportunities.

Don’t Forget About The Little Guys (Micro-Influencers)

As you round out your creative plans, don’t forget about micro-influencers, or creatives who have between 5,000 and 100,000 followers on a platform. According to Influencer Marketing Hub data, they have an average engagement rate of 3.86%, while mega-influencers see about one-third of that. They’re more affordable, they tend to connect with their audience in a more meaningful way, and many of them also exude that authenticity and relatability that brands are reaching out to influencers for in the first place.

All of this is to say that influencer marketing probably isn’t going anywhere.

Brands should start thinking about dedicating budget and space to the creative sphere if they want to keep up with competitors. During my time as a brand influencer, I’ve seen brands have the most success when they've given creative liberty to creatives, have a robust sales funnel and, most importantly, have a product that delivers. As your brand sticks its toes into the influencer marketing pool remember: Your audience wants to see authenticity, not a sales pitch. Your creatives will know the best way to reach them. Trust the process and trust your hire.

Isabelle Shee

140 Thoughtful Questions to Ask Your Crush to Get to Know Them Better

 There’s nothing better than that stage of a relationship when you and your long-term partner are so close that you know literally everything about each other and you feel like you can basically read their thoughts. But the first step on your way to that “I Could Literally Ghost-Write Your Autobiography” stage of a relationship is a little thing we like to call the “Ask Your Crush Every Question You Can Think Of” phase. This, for the uninitiated, is that crushy, butterflies-in-the-stomach era of getting to know someone new, when everything about their life seems fascinating and you’re dying to know more. And how do you get to know more about your crush? You ask them questions.

Not only is asking questions a great way to initiate open-ended conversations that are a key part of determining compatibility with a potential new partner, but it’s also an easy little hack to keep a conversation going. In case you haven’t heard, people love talking about themselves, so asking your crush questions is a fun/relatively low-lift way to keep them engaged. Remember, this stage of your (potential) relationship is all about figuring out whether you vibe with a new person, and it should be fun! In other words, you don’t want your crush to feel like they stumbled into a new boyfriend screening interview. The key here is to pick questions that are deep enough that you can get to know the latest object of your affections and establish a connection without coming off like you’re conducting an actual interrogation, explains Carmel Jones, a relationship coach and sex expert at The Big Fling.

That’s why we put together this master list of questions to ask your crush—so you can get to know each other better, determine your compatibility, and have fun doing it. Obviously, only you can decide what makes the most sense to ask and when—context matters, my friends! But as long as you’re having fun (and it seems like the person on the other side of your questions is too), then you’re on the right track.

“I don’t think there’s any real formula for it except to get to know them as a person,” explains Debra Roberts, LCSW, a conversation expert and president of The Relationship Protocol. “I think if you go in with an open mind, and you’re friendly and you keep things simple and you listen, that’s really important.”

Also really important? Remembering that even after you’ve successfully promoted your crush to full-fledged BF/GF status, it’s still helpful to keep asking each other questions. The get-to-know-you era shouldn’t end just because you’ve put a label on it. If you ask us, it should continue all throughout your relationship! People evolve, and so too might the way they feel about certain topics—it’s called growth, folks. So feel free to bookmark this list and whip it out on date night, whether it’s your first date or your tenth anniversary.

Now, without further ado, here’s what to ask your crush.

Get-to-know-you questions to ask your crush

    What TV show (or podcast or artist) are you obsessed with right now?

    How long have you lived in [insert name of their city]?

    What’s your favorite dating app?

    What’s your social media platform of choice?

    What’s something you’re legitimately bad at?

    If you had to live in a different city, which one would you choose?

    Are you someone who prefers to have a big friend group or a few close friendships?

    Do you remember your dreams?

    Do you keep up with celebrity pop-culture news? Sports news?

    Are there any podcasts you listen to or magazines you subscribe to?

    What are your guilty pleasures?

    How do you like to spend your free time after work?

    What do you do to relax?

    What’s a typical Saturday look like for you?

    How would you spend an ideal fake sick day?

    Would you ever want to be famous? Why or why not?

    Do you have roommates?

    What’s the best (or craziest) trip you’ve ever been on?

    Who is your celebrity crush?

    What would be your idea of a “perfect” day?

    Do you believe in astrology?

    What’s the most extravagant thing you’ve ever bought for yourself?

    What’s your go-to karaoke song?

    If money wasn’t an issue, what would you do?

    What is one rule you really enjoy breaking?

    Your kidnappers would return you for talking about _________ for 2 hours.

    What’s the one place you have to travel to before you die?

    If you had to eat the same meal every day for the rest of your life, what would you eat?

    If your life was a TV show, what would the theme song be?

    What’s something you’re really looking forward to?

    What is the worst date you’ve ever been on?

    Do you have a good group of friends here?

    How did you meet your best friend?

    What’s your favorite story to tell about your best friend?

    Do you like huge parties or would you rather spend time in a small group/alone?

    What’s the best gift you’ve ever received and who was it from?

    Are you a dog or cat person?

    What’s your most embarrassing moment?

    Have you ever had a favorite teacher? Who were they and why were they your favorite?

    What’s your go-to remedy for a bad day?

    When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

    Did you have any pets growing up?

    Do you have a pet now, and if not, would you ever want to get one?

    Where’s your favorite place in the world?

    Is there anything you want to learn how to do?

    What’s your most prized possession?

    What’s one thing you haven’t checked off your bucket list yet?

    Are you a morning or night person?

    How did you decide to pursue [insert what they do for a living here]?

    Do you have a favorite book?

    Did you grow up playing any sports and do you still play any of them today?

    What’s the best gift you’ve ever gotten for someone else?

    What’s your favorite time of year?

    If you could invite three people to dinner, living or dead, who would you invite?

    Do you like to cook or are you Team Takeout?

    What’s your favorite thing to make/favorite restaurant to order in from?

    What’s your favorite memory from high school and/or college?

    If you could go back in time, what era would you visit?

    Do you prefer sweet or salty foods?

    [If you met on a dating app] What has your experience been like using [insert app you met on here] or other dating apps?

    Do you still keep in touch with your friends from childhood?

    How did your parents meet?

    What was your favorite toy as a kid? What about your favorite TV show?

    Is there a talent or hobby you wish you had, or one you’d like to learn?

    Do you play any instruments? Are there any you’d like to learn to play now?

    Do you collect anything? Or did you ever collect anything as a kid?

    What does your TikTok FYP look like?

    Who’s your favorite person to follow on Instagram?

    Do you have any vices?

    Do you prefer texting, voice/video calls, or in-person conversations?

Flirty questions to ask your crush

    Do you think you’re a good kisser?

    What do you think makes someone a good kisser?

    Where would you take me on our first date?

    How do you know when you have a crush on someone?

    What was the first thing you noticed about me when we met?

    How long do you think it takes to fall in love with someone?

    Do you remember your first kiss?

    What was your first impression of me?

    What’s something weird that you find attractive?

    What’s your love language?

    Do you know your attachment style?

    Describe your ideal date.

    What are your biggest turn-ons?

    What about turn-offs?

    Do you like to make the first move, or do you prefer it when others make the first move?

    I bought tickets for a concert. Do you want to be my date?

    What made you want to swipe right on me/approach me/DM me?

    What do you look for in a partner?

    Is there anything you want to do together?

    Do you think you and I are compatible?

    What are a few things you think we have in common?

    Do you believe in love at first sight?

    Try your best pickup line on me.

    If you had to pick between cuddling or kissing, what would you pick?

    Do you prefer being the big spoon or the little spoon?

    What would you do if I kissed you right now?

    What’s your flirting style?

    Did a lot of people have a crush on you in high school?

    What do you think is the most attractive thing about you?

    Tell me a secret.

Deep questions to ask your crush

    How do you feel about [insert your deal breaker here]?

    What kind of first impression do you think you have on people?

    What’s one thing you wish you were better at?

    Do you think it’s possible to ever truly know another person?

    What do you think is your biggest flaw?

    Do you think it’s better to stay friends with exes, or to cut ties with them?

    What’s something you worry about?

    What’s something you feel like you should worry more about, but are actually kind of unbothered by?

    What’s your least popular opinion?

    Where do you hope to be in the next few years?

    What are you most thankful for?

    What are your thoughts on monogamy?

    What is something that people usually misunderstand about you?

    What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?

    Does your job make you happy or would you ever want to do something else?

    Have you ever been to therapy?

    Who is your hero?

    Which parent are you closest to?

    What’s one rule to live by?

    What’s your biggest fear?

    Who are you closest to in your family?

    Who do you turn to when you need honest advice?

    Who would you say knows you better than anyone else?

    Do you want to be in a relationship right now?

    What do you think would be your ideal relationship style?

    When was your last relationship?

    Why did it end?

    Do you think you’re over your ex?

    When it comes to priorities like work, life, family, and friends, how does each rank compared to the others?

    Do you see yourself being a parent one day?

    Do you see yourself living here forever, or would you ever like to live somewhere else?

    What do you hope your life looks like when you retire?

    Do you keep up with political news?

    Where do you stand on [insert important issue here]?

    Is [insert important thing to you here] important to you? (Think: What’s super important to you that your partner is also aligned on? Is it family? Religion? Politics? Voting? Social justice?)

    Would you date someone who felt differently than you about a particular issue you’re passionate about?

    What’s something that really frustrates you?

    If you could change one thing about your life, what would you change?

    If you could change one thing about yourself, what would you change?

    What’s something no one knows about you?

Rachel Varina, Jamie Ballard and Kayla Kibbe

11 Ways to Stop Worrying about Things You Can’t Control

 Are you the type of person who always worries about what people think of you or your actions? Do you always think about your past mistakes and the things you could have done differently?  Do you exhaust your time thinking about what’s wrong with yourself because the person you love cannot love you back? Do you end up blaming your parents for not being as good-looking as the celebrities you see on TV? Stressing over these things is normal. In fact, everyone has the tendency to worry about things they have zero control over and stopping it is easier said than done.

However, this habit will only give you stress, anxiety, and depression. That’s why you have to help yourself break this habit. It’s hard to do, but it’s possible. Here are some effective ways that you can apply for you to stop worrying about the things you can’t control:

1. Learn to let go.

One main source of frustration and unhappiness is not being able to let go. Sure, letting go is always hard, but remember that there are always things you can’t change. You were late for your presentation? You did something terrible that hurt your friends, your family, or your special someone? It already happened; you can’t turn back time. What you can do is to accept the consequence and let it go. Only then can you move forward and focus on what to do next.

2. Focus on the things that you can control.

If you did wrong in the past, think of the things that you can do now to make things right. If you’re not satisfied with your last month’s performance at work, then work on the things that you can still fix and improve on. Avoid being late. Keep yourself away from distractions. If you failed in an exam, then maybe you have to change your study habits. If there are things you can’t control, there are also a lot of things you can still change. So, choose what’s worth your time and effort.

3. Think of a contingency plan.

Instead of thinking about what-ifs, make it a goal to become forward-looking. If things don’t work the way you wanted, don’t give up just yet. Execute plans B, C, and so on. Maybe, you need to change your strategy, your way of thinking, or how you respond to things. Use all resources available. Focus on coming up with solutions instead of coming up with imaginary things to worry about.

4. Get out of your comfort zone.

Another way to stop being a worrier is to take the courage to do something different. Open yourself up to the world. Meet new people. Try new things, hold your head up high, and surprise yourself with the things that you’re actually capable of doing. Getting out of your comfort zone can surely make a difference in how you view things.

5. Strive to become a better person.

Instead of focusing on things you can’t control like pleasing everyone, try to become a better person, not for anyone but for yourself.  Learn from your past mistakes. You may not have control over your past decisions or who gets to stay and get out of your life, but you always have the chance to do better and become a better person.

6. Surround yourself with positive people.

Worrying too much all by yourself can drive you crazy. Try to talk to your friends- the ones who listen and truly understand you.  Share with them the things that you’re worried about.  Consider their pieces of advice. Allow them to give you some fresh perspective about how to handle things that are out of your control.

7. Be open to changes.

Almost everything in life is uncertain. However, it is also what makes life beautiful, so learn to embrace uncertainty. Yes, change is inevitable, but you may never know what opportunities are in store for you. Get excited about change and learn to adapt to it when it comes.

8. Avoid self-blaming.

Some things are just beyond our control, so don’t put all the blame on yourself. You might have done something immature, something stupid in the past, but you still have a chance to apply the lessons that you’ve learned.  Blaming yourself will not do you any good.  Don’t be too hard on yourself. Rather, take inspiration from people who have gone through a lot. Believe that you can also become better.

9. Practice mindfulness. 

This might be hard for a worry-wart, but try to just close your eyes. Breathe. Meditate. Stay focused. Make it a habit to meditate for 5-10 minutes every day. Once it becomes part of your routine, you will realize how beneficial it is for you.

10. Try a healthy lifestyle.

Your lifestyle can be the source of your own problems.  For instance, you worry about gaining so much weight, but you’re not doing anything about it.  What about taking some small steps instead? Try to exercise every day. Avoid eating too much fast food.  Drink more water. Get yourself enough sleep. Sometimes, you think you can’t do it, but your real enemy is you. So, start conquering yourself.

11. Take some time off social media.

Giving so much of your time browsing your social media accounts can give you more reasons to worry about things. You worry about not having a partner while everyone is getting married and building their own family. You worry about being left out because you’ve seen your friends already enjoying the taste of success. If you think it’s not healthy for you, you might as well take a break from social media and try to focus on materializing your own goals. Besides, you can always go back whenever you want.

Sometimes, it’s hard to accept the reality that you don’t have control over so many things in your life. However, if you use all your time and energy on these things, you lose. You will just end up more stressed and pessimistic about life. It’s time to break that habit.  Hopefully, the tips given above will help you stop worrying about things you can’t control. You can do it: one step at a time.

Airyl Marie Dadula

This Beginner Workout Will Make You Feel Like a Baller in 10 Minutes or Less

 If you're new to working out or getting back to it after taking some time off (I feel you), it's important not to jump into the deep end of the fitness pool, if you know what I mean.

Going too hard too fast is basically a sure way to eff up your body and stay sidelined even longer. Which, sad! Instead of going all Shaun T. on day one, ease into that sweaty business by using body weight and timed workouts.

This does your body all the favors since you can perfect your form without having to figure out the right weight or reps. That means, if you can only do two reps for the time noted, then that's your starting point—and it's fine! Less rules = less of a chance you screw it up, which I can fully appreciate.

All of this is to say that the workout below, from the SWEAT app trainer and co-founder Kayla Itsines, is perfect for beginners like us. First off, it's only 10 minutes total. Second, it's all based on time, so you can focus on your form—not how many reps you did. Plus, these moves all use bodyweight instead of dumbbells and stuff because who even has those rn? (No, really! Where can I buy them!)

The workout

Perform each move below back to back for the time noted. If you can, repeat two laps of the circuit before cooling down.

Glute Bridge Walkout

Step 1: Start by lying flat on your back on a yoga mat. Bend your knees and position your feet firmly on the mat, ensuring that they are hip-width apart and your spine is in a neutral position. Allow your arms to rest by your sides on the mat.

Step 2: Gently draw your ribs to your hips to engage your core. Press your heels into the mat, activate your glutes and raise your pelvis off the floor until your body forms one straight line from chin to knee, resting on your shoulders.

Step 3: While keeping your hips as still as possible, extend your left leg to step your left foot out, followed by your right foot, so that your feet are hip-width apart and your hips remain elevated off the floor. You should feel tension in your glutes and hamstrings.

Step 4: While keeping your hips as still as possible, bend your left knee to step your left foot in, followed by your right foot, to return to the glute bridge position. That's one rep. Continue alternating between sides as you step out for 30 seconds.

Bent-Leg Jackknife

Step 1: Start by lying on your back on a yoga mat with your arms extended above your head. Engage your abdominal muscles by drawing your belly button in towards your spine and elevate your legs off the mat slightly.

Step 2: Bend your knees and using your abdominals, draw them in towards your chest, ensuring that your feet stay together. At the same time, bring your arms forward towards your feet, slowly lifting your head, shoulder blades and torso off the mat.

Step 3: Slowly lower your arms and extend your legs to return to the starting position, but without lowering your feet to the floor. That's one rep. Repeat the movement for 30 seconds.

Commando Shoulder Tap

Step 1: Start by placing your forearms (wrist to elbow) on a yoga mat and extending both of your legs behind you, resting on the balls of your feet.

Step 2: Release your right forearm to place your hand firmly on the mat directly below your right shoulder and pushup onto your right hand. Release your left forearm to place your hand firmly on the mat directly below your left shoulder and push up onto your left hand. Ensure that you keep your core activated to prevent your hips from swaying.

Step 3: While maintaining a neutral spine, release your right hand and reach across your body to touch your left shoulder, ensuring that you brace your abdominals to keep your hips parallel to (in line with) the floor. Lower your right hand to return to the starting position.

Step 4: Release your left hand and reach across your body to touch your right shoulder, once again, ensuring that you brace your abdominals to keep your hips parallel to (in line with) the floor. Lower your left hand to return to the starting position. Repeat this exercise, starting with your left arm. Continue alternating between commando and shoulder tap for 30 seconds.

Rocking Chair Push-Up

Step 1: Place both hands on the mat slightly further than shoulder-width apart, with feet apart on the mat behind you, while resting on the balls of your feet.

Step 2: While maintaining a straight back and stabilizing through your abdominals, bend your elbows and lower your torso towards the floor until your arms form two 90-degree angles.Push through your chest and extend your elbows to lift your body back into the starting position.

Step 3: Bend at the hips and knees to shift your glutes over your heels and lower your torso towards the mat. Extend your arms along the mat, sinking your chest into the position and keeping your shoulders down and back. Press through your feet to extend your legs and return to the starting position. Repeat the exercise for 30 seconds.

Side-Lying Hip Raise and Abduction

Step 1: Lie on one side lengthways along a yoga mat, with your legs stacked on top of one another. Place your forearm firmly on the floor, ensuring that your elbow is directly below your shoulder and that your forearm is parallel to (in line with)the short edge of your mat.

Keeping your legs together, bend both knees to a 90-degree angle, so that your shins are behind you.

Step 2: Gently draw your ribs to your hips to engage your core. Keeping your feet together, use your obliques to gently raise your hips off the mat, ensuring that your body is in a straight line from head to knee. At the same time, use your glutes to elevate your top knee towards the ceiling, ensuring that you maintain the gap between your waist and the floor. You should feel tension in your glutes as you do this. Lower your knee and hips to return to the starting position. Repeat for 60 seconds.

Alternating Superman

Step 1: Begin lying on your stomach on a yoga mat with both legs extended behind you, toes tucked. Extend your arms above your head, palms facing towards the mat, to form a straight line from hands to feet. Elevate your head off the mat. Draw your belly button in towards your spine to prevent discomfort in your lower back.

Step 2: Elevate your right arm off the mat. At the same time, elevate your left leg off the mat slightly with foot pointed. You should feel tension in your core as you hold this position.

Step 3: Return to the starting position.

Elevate your left arm off the mat. At the same time, elevate your right leg off the mat slightly with foot pointed. Alternate between sides for 30 seconds.

Caterpillar Walk & Half Burpee

Step 1: Plant both feet on the floor slightly further than shoulder-width apart.

Step 2: Looking straight ahead, bend at both the hips and knees, and place your hands on the floor directly in front of your feet. Without moving your feet, walk both of your hands forwards. Continue walking your hands forwards until you are in push-up position with both legs extended behind you, resting on the balls of your feet.

Step 3: Jump both of your feet forwards in just behind your hands, ensuring that your feet remain shoulder-width apart. Jump both of your feet backward to return to the push-up position.

Step 4: Without moving your feet, walk both of your hands back towards your feet. Stand up to return to the starting position. Repeat for 30 seconds.

Reverse Lunge and Hop

Step 1: Plant both feet on the floor shoulder-width apart.

Step 2: Carefully take a big step backward with your right foot. As you plant your foot on the floor, bend both knees to approximately 90 degrees, ensuring that your weight is evenly distributed between both legs. If done correctly, your front knee should be aligned with your ankle and your back knee should be hovering just off the floor.

Step 3: Extend both knees and transfer your weight onto your left foot. Propel your body upwards into the air and extend your left leg below you. At the same time, elevate your right foot to bring your knee into your chest.

Step 4: Land in a neutral standing position, ensuring that you maintain a ‘soft’ knee to prevent injury. At the same time, lower your right leg to begin the next repetition. That's one rep. Repeat the movement for 30 seconds before repeating the exercise the other side for another 30 seconds.

Ashley Oerman

12 Actually Helpful Tips to Get Your Crush to Like You

 By which we do not mean stuff like, “Just be hot and cool!”

Hi, so we’ve had our share of crushes over the years. And thanks to all that experience with the sometimes blissful, sometimes agonizing affair that is the early stages of falling for someone new, we can tell you how to handle pretty much every phase, question, and conundrum of a crush. From what to text them to which of their socials you should *really* be stalking to how to get over them, we’ve got you covered every step of the way. But first, there’s the biggest question of all—the one we’ve all asked ourselves, oh IDK, thousands of times since middle school: How do you get your crush to like you back?

Great question, so glad you asked. Normally we’d tell you that attraction is a mysterious and unpredictable force and there’s no guaranteed way to make someone like you. And while, yes, that is technically true (actual FDA-approved love potion when?) There are some legit ways to get someone to like you—and no, we don’t mean the basic ish you already know like, just be hot and cool, duh. We’re talking about actually helpful tips from experts who know exactly how really attraction work.

Again, this isn’t some kind of magic charm (or dubious TikTok hack) that will drive the object of your affections right into your arms, but these surprisingly slick tips and tricks can lowkey go a long way in catching your crush’s eye—and maybe their feels, too. Below, seven experts spill their sneakiest secrets to winning over your crush—including (spoiler) some very welcome intel that your Starbucks habit might actually be your friend in this sitch. Curious? Read on, my friends.

1. Ask them to do you a small favor.

If they perform a minor act of service for you, they will unconsciously associate feelings of approval and positivity with you, says Mario Sinelmann, CEO and Dating Coach at Up Your Dating Game. "It's sneaky but harmless." Maybe don’t make ’em try to acquire Taylor Swift tickets for you, but it’d be okay to ask them to read over an important email you have to send to your boss, ya feel?

2. Laugh at their jokes.

“The more we laugh with someone, the more we are drawn to them,” says Wyatt Fisher, PsyD, licensed psychologist and host of the podcast, Marriage Steps.

3. Share your flaws and imperfections.

Okay, you don’t have to do any big-time trauma dumping, but you can totally talk about how awk you always feel at parties or the fact that you’ve literally never been fully hydrated and are kind of okay with it. Sharing your flaws and imperfections makes people feel humble and safe, says Fisher, “which will encourage them to open up more about their shortcomings, which breeds emotional intimacy.”

4. Be present on Instagram.

"Post quirky photos of your outings or hobbies. To capture your crush's attention, devote some of your Stories to the things—activities, music, or memes—they love," says Celia Schweyer, dating expert at Dating Relationships Advice. "Live and feature your authentic self, while adding a few posts that tell them you totally get their passion."

5. Watch a scary movie with them.

Adrenaline sometimes = attraction. “Putting your crush in fear-enhancing situations has the potential to make them like you because they attribute their adrenaline rush and increased heart rate to you, rather than the situation,” says Adina Mahalli, relationship expert at Maple Holistics. But don’t like, go out of your way to straight-up scare them all the time like you’re trying to cure their hiccups, you feel?

6. Carry a warm drink in your hand.

“According to research, people tend to view those around them with more warmth when they have a hot drink in their hand,” says Mahalli. (Remember when I told you earlier that your Starbucks latte was def doing you favors?) Oh, and avoid cold drinks too if you really want to play up this angle. (Sorry to my iced coffee even in winter girlies.)

7. Mimic what your crush is doing.

Yup, it’s a thing called the Chameleon effect. “When you mimic someone’s behavior, they think more favorably of you. It creates a connection,” says licensed sex therapist Cheryl Cyr. You see someone smile, you smile. They rub their face, you rub your face. They move their hair, you move your hair. “Follow it up with eye contact to seal the deal,” says Cyr. The key here of course is subtlety. If you’re just out here blatantly copying everything they do, they are probably not gonna find you particularly endearing. (By which I mean they’re gonna find you creepy AF.)

8. Wear the same colors they do.

“Notice what color clothes they wear most often, and then add some of those colors to your wardrobe,” says Cyr. Pro Tip: Your crush is totally going to notice that you’re wearing the colors they’re attracted to.

9. Pull tricks on them.

Ah, my personal favorite. No need to be mean or send them to the hospital with a broken arm, but a harmless, well-timed shenanigan here or there? Totally fair game (and totally cute, TBH). “This is a good way to stoke a sense of mystery and curiosity,” says Brooke Sprowl, LCSW, clinical director at My LA Therapy.

10. Find unusual similarities.

“We are attracted to people we perceive as similar to ourselves, and research suggests that attraction will increase if we perceive our commonalities are rare or unusual,” says Madeleine Mason Roantree, dating coach at The Vida Consultancy. So yeah, it’s def a big deal if your parents went to the same high school or you’re both Scorpios (it's okay to geek out).

11. Don’t be afraid to get a lil touchy-feely.

“The occasional subtle touch enhances our feelings toward each other, whether it be picking up an imaginary hair off a shoulder or a gentle pat on the arm as you laugh at a joke,” says Roantree. This applies especially for all of you physical touch love languagers.

12. Spend lots of time with them.

This may be the more obvious one of the mix, but quality time is everything. I mean, how are you going to get to know someone unless you spend time with them? It’s a thing called "The mere exposure effect" and it "refers to the fact that simply being around someone often and long enough will increase their liking of you," says Roantree.

Taylor Andrews and Kayla Kibbe

The 5 Biggest Business Trends In 2023 Everyone Must Get Ready For Now

 Businesses have faced huge challenges and have undergone an incredible amount of change over the past few years, and this won’t slow down in 2023. Businesses will have to deal with the aftereffects of the global pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, economic challenges, as well as an ever-faster development of technologies.

Here are the trends I believe will have the greatest day-to-day impact on the way we work and do business in 2023.

1. Accelerated digital transformation

In 2023, we see the continuation of innovations and developments in transformative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT), virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), cloud computing, blockchain, and super-fast network protocols like 5G. What’s more, these transformational digital technologies do not exist in isolation from each other, and we will see the boundaries between them blurring. New solutions for augmented working, hybrid and remote working, business decision-making, and automation of manual, routine, and creative workloads combine these technologies in ways that enable them to enhance each other. This brings us closer than ever to the point where we are able to create “intelligent enterprises” where systems and processes support each other to complete menial and mundane tasks in the most efficient way possible.

To prepare for this, businesses must ensure they embed the right technology throughout their processes and in every area of operations. At this point, there is really very little excuse for being in business and not having an understanding of how AI and the other technologies mentioned above will impact your business and industry. More effective sales and marketing, better customer service, more efficient supply chains, products and services that are more aligned with customer needs, and streamlined manufacturing processes are all on the table, and in 2023, the barriers to accessing them will be lower than ever. Many of these technologies, such as AI and blockchain, are now available in 'as-a-service' models via the cloud, and new interfaces and apps give businesses access to them via no-code environments.

2. Inflation and supply chain security

The economic outlook for most of the world doesn’t look great in 2023. We are told by experts to expect ongoing inflation and subdued economic growth. Many industries are still plagued by supply chain issues that emerged during the global shutdowns caused by Covid-19 and have only got worse due to the war in Ukraine. To combat this and stay afloat, companies need to improve their resilience in any way that they can. This means reducing exposure to volatile market pricing of commodities, as well as building protective measures into supply chains to deal with shortages and rising logistical costs.

It is important that companies map out their entire supply chains and identify any exposure to supply and inflation risks. That way, they can explore ways to mitigate that risk, such as alternative suppliers and becoming more self-reliant. I have recently worked with a number of companies that decided to in-source parts of their manufacturing after they identified a risk of relying on Chinese manufacturing that is still plagued by a zero-Covid policy and subsequent shutdowns.

3. Sustainability

The world is increasingly waking up to the fact that the climate disaster will pose a much bigger challenge than anything we have experienced in recent decades and will dwarf the challenges faced by the Covid pandemic. That means investors and consumers prefer businesses with the right environmental and social credentials, and buying trends are increasingly being driven by conscious consumers – those among us who prioritize factors such as ecological impact and sustainability when choosing who to buy from or do business with.

In 2023, companies need to make sure that their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) processes are moved to the center of their strategy. This should start with measuring the impact any business is having on society and the environment and then move to increasing transparency, reporting, and accountability. Every business needs a plan with clear goals and timeframes of how to reduce any negative impacts, and then the plan needs to be underpinned by solid action plans. The assessment and plans should also go beyond the company walls and cover the entire supply chain and the ESG credentials of suppliers. For example, it is easy to forget the environmental impact of cloud service providers and the impact of data centers on the environment.

4. Immersive customer experience

In 2023, customers crave experience above all else. That doesn't necessarily mean that price point and quality take a back seat, though. Both play a part, to some extent, in the way we experience the process of choosing, purchasing, and enjoying the goods and services we spend our money on.

The role that technology plays here, traditionally, has been to streamline processes and remove hassle from the life of the consumer. Think recommendation engines that help us choose what to buy or online customer service portals that deal with problems and after-sales support. These will still play a key role in 2023, but the game has evolved, with this year’s keywords being immersion and interactivity.

The metaverse – something of a catch-all term used by futurists to describe the “next level” of the internet, where we interact with brands and fellow consumers through immersive technology, including 3D environments and VR – is the stage where this will play out. Think of online shops where we can browse and "try on" virtual representations of clothes, jewelry, and accessories. We might use virtual dressing rooms to dress up avatars of ourselves – as pioneered already by the likes of Hugo Boss – or it could involve AR, as used by Walmart, to see how clothes will fit on our actual bodies. These trends will impact both online and offline retail.

The trend towards experience is so strong that brands like Adobe and Adweek are appointing chief experience officers (CXO) to ensure that it is made a foundational element of business strategy. As well as customer experience, businesses increasingly need to think about employee experience as competition for the most talented and skilled workers grows more intense.

5. The talent challenge

Over the past year, we have seen huge movements of talented people, referred to as the great resignation and quiet quitting, as workers reassessed the impact of work and what they want to get out of their lives. This has put pressure on employers to ensure they are providing attractive careers, the flexibility of hybrid work, and an enticing work environment and company culture. Offering people fulfilling work, ongoing opportunities to grow and learn, flexibility and diverse, value-oriented workplaces will all be essential in 2023.

On top of that, the accelerated digital transformation (trend one above) leads to more workplace automation that will augment pretty much every single job in the world. Humans will increasingly share their work with intelligent machines and smart robots, and that has huge implications for the skills and talent companies require in the future. This will mean reskilling and up-skilling huge sways of people in our businesses as well as recruiting new people that have the skills needed for the future.

On the one hand side, businesses must deal with the vast skills gap that exists in areas such as data science, AI, and other technology areas, ensuring they are creating the data and tech-savvy workforce needed to succeed in the future. And on the other side, as human jobs get augmented by technology, businesses must re-train staff with skills needed to work alongside smart machines and to grow their uniquely human skills that currently can’t be automated. In 2023, it will include skills such as creativity, critical thinking, interpersonal communication, leadership, and applying “humane” qualities like caring and compassion.

Bernard Marr

The Top 10 Tech Trends In 2023 Everyone Must Be Ready For

 As a futurist, it’s my job to look ahead — so every year, I cover the emerging tech trends that will be shaping our digital world in the next 12 months.

What technologies are gaining the most traction? What are the most important trends that business leaders should be prepared for?

Read on for the ten essential tech trends you should be following in 2023.

1. AI Everywhere

In 2023, artificial intelligence will become real in organizations. No-code AI, with its easy drag-and-drop interfaces, will enable any business to leverage its power to create more intelligent products and services.

We’re already seeing this trend in the retail market. Stitch Fix uses AI-enabled algorithms to recommend clothes to its customers that match their sizes and tastes.

Contactless, autonomous shopping and delivery will also be a huge trend for 2023. AI will make it easier for consumers to pay for and receive goods and services.

I will also augment nearly every job in every business process across industries. More retailers will use AI to manage and automate the complex inventory management processes that happen behind the scenes, so convenience trends like buy-online-pickup-at-curbside (BOPAC), buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS), and buy-online-return-in-store (BORIS), will become standard.

AI will also be the engine behind the newest autonomous delivery initiatives that retailers are piloting and rolling out, and more and more retail workers will need to get used to working alongside machines to do their jobs.

2. Parts of the Metaverse Will Become Real

I don’t particularly care for the term “metaverse,” but it’s become shorthand for a more immersive internet where we’ll be able to work, play, and socialize on a persistent platform.

Experts predict that the metaverse will add $5 trillion to the global economy by 2030, and 2023 will be the year that defines the direction of the metaverse for the next decade.

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technology will continue to advance. One area to watch is the work environment in the metaverse — in 2023, I predict that we’ll have more immersive meeting environments where we can talk, brainstorm, and co-create together.

In fact, Microsoft and Nvidia are already developing metaverse platforms for collaborating on digital projects.

We’ll also see more advanced avatar technology in the new year. An avatar — the presence we project as we engage with other users in the metaverse — could look exactly like we do in the real world, and motion capture will even enable our avatars to adopt our unique body language and gestures.

We also might see further development in AI-enabled autonomous avatars that can act as our representatives in the metaverse, even if we’re not logged into the digital world.

Companies are already using metaverse technology like AR and VR to conduct training and onboarding, and this trend will accelerate in 2023. Consulting giant Accenture has already created a metaverse environment called the Nth Floor. This virtual world features replicas of real-world Accenture offices, so new hires and current employees can carry out HR-related tasks without needing to be present in a physical office.

3. Progress in Web3

Blockchain technology will also advance significantly in 2023 as companies create more decentralized products and services.

For example, at the moment, we’re storing everything in the cloud — but if we decentralize data storage and encrypt that data using blockchain, our information will not only be safer, but we’ll have innovative ways to access and analyze it.

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) will become more usable and practical in the new year. For example, NFT tickets to concerts will potentially give you access to backstage experiences and memorabilia. NFTs might be the keys we use to interact with many of the digital products and services we buy, or they could represent contracts we enter into with other parties.

4. Bridging the Digital and Physical World

We’re already seeing an emerging bridge between the digital and physical worlds, and this trend will continue in 2023. There are two components of this merger: digital twin technology and 3D printing.

Digital twins are virtual simulations of real-world processes, operations, or products that can be used to test new ideas in a safe digital environment. Designers and engineers are using digital twins to recreate physical objects inside virtual worlds, so they can test under every conceivable condition without the high costs of real-life experiments. In 2023, we’ll see even more digital twins, from factories to machinery to cars to precision healthcare.

After testing in the virtual world, engineers can tweak and edit components, then create them in the real world using 3D printing technology.

For example, Formula 1 teams currently collect data transmitted from sensors during races, as well as race track temperatures and weather conditions, to see how cars change during races. Then they stream the data from the sensors to digital twins of the engines and car components and run scenarios to make design changes on the fly. The teams then 3D print car parts based on the results of their testing.

5. Increasingly Editable Nature

We will live in a world where we can make changes to material, plants, and even humans by editing them. Nanotechnology will enable us to create materials with completely new features, such as water resistance and self-healing capabilities.

CRISPR-Cas9 has been around for a few years, but in 2023 we’ll see gene editing technology accelerate to give us the increasing capability to “edit nature” by altering DNA.

Gene editing works a bit like word processing, where you can take some words out and add others in — but you can do it with genes. Gene editing can be used to correct DNA mutations, solve the problem of food allergies, increase the health of crops, or even edit human characteristics like eye and hair color.

6. Quantum Progress

Right now, there is a worldwide race to develop quantum computing at scale.

Quantum computing, which uses subatomic particles to create new ways of processing and storing information, is a technological leap that’s expected to bring us computers capable of operating a trillion times more quickly than the fastest traditional processors available today.

The potential danger of quantum computing is that it could render our current encryption practices useless — so any nation that develops quantum computing at scale could break the encryption of other nations, businesses, security systems, and more. This is a trend to watch carefully in 2023 as countries like the US, UK, China, and Russia pour money into developing quantum computing technology.

7. Progress in Green Technology

One of the biggest challenges the world is facing right now is putting the brakes on our carbon emissions so we can tackle the climate crisis.

In 2023, look for continued progress around green hydrogen, a new clean-burning source of energy that produces close to zero greenhouse gas emissions. Shell and RWE, two major European energy companies, are creating the first major green pipeline from wind plants in the North Sea.

We’ll also see progress in the development of decentralized power grids. Distributed energy generation using this model provides a system of small power generators and storage that are located in communities or individual houses — so they can provide power even if the main grid is not available. Right now, our energy system is primarily dominated by huge gas and energy companies, but decentralized energy initiatives have the potential to democratize power worldwide while decreasing carbon emissions.

8. Robots Will Become More Human

In 2023, robots will become even more like humans — in appearance and capability. These types of robots will be used in the real world as event greeters, bartenders, concierges, and companions for older adults. They’ll also perform complex tasks in warehouses and factories as they work alongside humans in manufacturing and logistics.

One company is working hard to create a human-like robot that will work in our homes. At Tesla AI Day in September 2022, Elon Musk revealed two Optimus humanoid robot prototypes, and said the company would be ready to take orders within the next 3 to 5 years. The robot can perform simple tasks like lifting items and watering plants — so perhaps soon we'll be able to have "robot butlers" that help around in the house.

9. Progress in Autonomous System

Business leaders will continue making progress in creating autonomous systems, particularly around delivery and logistics. Many factories and warehouses have already become partially or fully autonomous.

In 2023, we’ll see even more self-driving trucks and ships, as well as delivery robots — and even more warehouses and factories will implement autonomous technology.

Ocado, a British online supermarket that describes itself as “the world’s largest dedicated online grocery retailer,” uses thousands of autonomous robots in its highly automated warehouses to sort, lift, and move groceries. The warehouse also uses AI to place the most popular items within easy reach of the robots. The Ocado company is now rolling out the autonomous technology behind their successful warehouses to other grocery retailers.

10. More Sustainable Technology

Finally, we'll see a push toward more sustainable technology in 2023. Many (if not most) of us are addicted to technology like our smartphones, tablets, and computers — but where are the components coming from to manufacture our favorite gadgets? People will be thinking more about where rare earth components for things like computer chips originate and how we're consuming them.

We’re also using cloud services like Netflix and Spotify, which still run in huge data centers that consume vast amounts of energy.

In 2023, we’ll see a continued push toward making supply chains more transparent, as consumers demand that the products and services they invest in are energy efficient and backed by more sustainable technology.

Bernard Marr