5 Tips For a Polished Appearance

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These days, with so many of us working from home, it’s easy to get stuck in a style rut. While working from your couch in your lounge, wear is appealing in the beginning, but after a while, it can cause some issues in your physical and emotional wellbeing. While it’s important to know tips for staying fit at home, it’s just as important to keep up with the rest of your appearance too. After all, when you greet the day by getting dressed, sticking with your grooming routine, and even adding a little makeup if that’s your thing, your mood is boosted, and you’ll be motivated to stay productive all day. If you’re looking for some inspiration and tips for a more polished appearance, keep reading and get inspired whether you’re working from home or not.

Wear What Works 

Did you know that most people own eighty percent of the clothing in their closets? Unless you’re already rocking a capsule wardrobe or living as a minimalist, you likely have a dresser and closet full of items that don’t fit you well, don’t feel good on, or boost your self-esteem. Banish decision fatigue regarding what you wear each day by eliminating the items in your wardrobe that don’t suit you 100%. Whether that’s due to fit, fabric, or color, the items you don’t use need to go. When you’re left only with the clothes you love, it’s easy to feel polished. 

Proper Grooming Habits Matter

From keeping up with our fingernails and toenails to proper dental hygiene, you need to master the basics of proper grooming. If you don’t enjoy doing your manis and pedis at home, make biweekly appointments to keep your hands and feet looking and feeling beautiful. Regular appointments with your dentist and hairstylist are also a must. With the foundation laid by professionals, it’s easy to keep up with daily grooming habits. 

Enhance Your Natural Features 

While the natural makeup trend doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, that doesn’t mean you have to forego enhancing your natural beauty. Everyone is beautiful, so work with what you have. From a swipe of mascara or bold lip color, the little details upgrade and polish your appearance. Don’t forget the importance of scent, either. On top of the regular deodorant you wear daily, enhance your appeal with your favorite body mist, perfume, or cologne. Be sure to check the dates on all your makeup and products. If you ever wondered, “does perfume expire?” The answer is Yes! The average shelf life of perfume to stay smelling its best is three to five years. Mascaras and other beauty products need to be replaced much more frequently.

Signature Touches 

Coco Chanel famously said, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take at least one thing off.” You can’t argue with one of fashion’s biggest and most timeless icons, can you? We’re all known for our signature touches, but you don’t want to overdo it. Add a signature piece of statement jewelry when looking polished, especially in a pinch. Choose one high-impact piece and let it do the talking, from your grandmother’s pearls to a gold statement cuff or even an antique brooch. When it comes to signature style, you want to be known for your taste without trying too hard. Statement pieces show intention for the day, much like a beautiful perfume. Another piece of wisdom from Ms. Chanel – “A woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future.” While the future part is debatable, the intention is clear; being polished and put together makes a big impact. 

Optimistic Attitude 

Lastly, being pulled together to look and feel your best’s most important factor is your attitude. Start each day to have a good day. Sure, there are seasons in life like grief or stress that will hinder you from doing this, but apart from those seasons, be mindful of your mindset. Nothing is more attractive and magnetic than optimism and confidence; they are the ultimate fashion accessory. 

By ensuring you incorporate the above-mentioned ways to stay polished, you’ll be setting yourself up for a healthier, happier, and more productive life. Even if you’re no longer heading to the office or happy hour after work with co-workers, it’s still important to look and feel your best. Here’s to you!

How Are Feminized Cannabis Seeds Grown?

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If you want to expand your horizons with information about growing cannabis at home, you are probably wondering what feminized seeds are and why there is such hype around them. We offer information on how to properly grow feminized cannabis at home.

Air Humidity

Throughout the life cycle of the bush, it is important to maintain optimal air humidity in the room. In the first few weeks after germination, this parameter is of particular importance. At this time, the humidity should be about 55-70%. After you buy feminized seeds that you can find here, grow them a little and enter the vegetative stage, the humidity level can be reduced to 40-60%.

Don’t Let the Soil Dry out

Whether you are growing cannabis in soil, substrate, or potting mix, it is essential to keep the root zone of the plants from drying out. The grower needs to understand how much water a cannabis plant needs at this stage of development. Plants should not need moisture, but at the same time, bushes should not be poured. If the plants, by their appearance, demonstrate that they lack moisture, they must be watered immediately and a similar situation should not be allowed in the future. Excessive drying of the soil or substrate at the beginning of the growing season can lead to serious problems and the loss of a significant part of the crop.

Moderate Watering

Too abundant watering also leads to problems with plant health. When the roots are constantly in the water, they begin to suffocate without oxygen. This leads to nutrient and moisture blockage and can also cause root rot.

Don’t rely on scheduled watering. The drying rate of the soil depends on many factors:

  • temperature;
  • air humidity;
  • stage of plant development;
  • variety genetics.

Comfortable Temperature

For the plants to be healthy and make the grower happy with a generous harvest, it is important to maintain a comfortable temperature regime. The optimal temperature for feminized cannabis is 20-27°C. For varieties with Indica genetics, it is better not to exceed 25°C. Sativa is more thermophilic, but the heat can lead to problems with humidity and watering, as the air and soil will dry out faster.

The main reason for the increased temperature in indoor cultivation is powerful lighting, which is installed in a confined space. Ventilation does not cope with the removal of excess heat, and as a result, plants suffer. Excessive heat from lamps is usually what leads to hermaphroditism in feminized cannabis. Under the influence of prolonged stress, plants begin to form male flowers. Sodium lamps are best placed in lamps with a heat sink and make sure that the optimal distance from the light source to the top of the bush is maintained.

Lighting

In addition to the fact that indoor lamps should not emit too much heat, also when growing feminized cannabis, special attention should be paid to the spectral composition of the light. For plants to actively develop, the blue spectrum should prevail during the growing season, and red during flowering. This will help the bushes reach their natural potential and give the grower a generous boost in yield.

Fertilizers

At different stages of the life cycle, plants consume nutrients in different proportions. At the beginning of the growing season, when the bushes just make their way out of the ground and begin to actively gain green mass, they especially need nitrogen. It should prevail in the planting diet, as it is the main building material in the formation of new stems, shoots, and leaves. After the transition to the flowering phase, it is necessary to change the composition of the top dressing and focus on a sufficient amount of phosphorus and potassium. These compounds stimulate flowering by making buds resinous and fragrant.

Males and Hermaphrodites

Even if the grower chooses to grow feminized cannabis seeds, plants should be regularly inspected for males and hermaphrodites during growth. They can appear due to the stresses that the plants were subjected to.

It is possible to determine the presence of them in your planting only after the start of flowering when the plants show their gender. The first sign that something is wrong in the process of growing is the formation of oblong, banana-bunch-like ovaries at the branching point of secondary shoots. If only they are observed on the whole plant, then the boy has grown. It must be removed as soon as possible and carefully so that the pollen from its inflorescences does not fall on the female buds.

If there are also male flowers on the bush, then this is hermaphrodite cannabis. In this case, the growers cut off all the shoots with pollen and leave the plant under close supervision. In the case of reformation of male flowers, such an individual must also be removed to avoid accidental pollination of all other plants.

The advantages of feminized seeds are homogeneity, as well as high quality of the crop with a characteristic taste, aroma, strength, and resistance to external factors. Feminized marijuana strains are a profitable investment for the grower, but they need to be grown according to special requirements.

5 Influential & Accomplished CEOs Tim Cook, Sundar Pichai, Dev Pragad, Safra Catz, & Hans Vestberg

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CEOs strive to set the standard for their company, employees, and the world in the business industry. These individuals are highly skilled in management, have great leadership qualities, and frequently work to change their industry. Below are five influential CEOs of the past decade.

Tim Cook

Before his time at Apple, Tim Cook worked at other large-scale companies such as IBM and Compaq. Cook began working at Apple in 1998, where he started as the company’s vice president. After the death of Steve Jobs, there was concern that Apple would go on a decline; Cook was granted the position of CEO and saved the company from what could have been a sad fate. Throughout his time as CEO, Cook created reforms to cybersecurity, worldwide surveillance, manufacturing of technology, and even preservation of the environment. Cook’s hard work increased Apple’s stock value to nearly $2 trillion. It is safe to say that without Cook, Apple would not be as large of a company as it is today, making him one of the most influential CEOs of all time. 

Sundar Pichai

Prior to becoming Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai worked at Applied Materials, where he served as a product manager and an engineer, and then at McKinsey & Company as a management consultant. In 2004, Pichai began working for Google, and in 2015 he earned the title of CEO of Google’s parent company, Alphabet. As a Google employee, Pichai could find and correct a weakness in the privacy of Google’s browsers, thus creating Google Chrome, which allowed the web browser to advance and increase search engine results. Pichai’s development of Google Chrome and ability to push Google to become the largest search engine proves that he has earned the title of a highly influential CEO. 

Dev Pragad

As CEO of Newsweek, Dev Pragad was able to revive a struggling outlet for journalism into one of the most successful and top-rated sources for news. Before Newsweek, Dev served as the President and CEO of the International Business Times in London, gaining the experience and skills necessary to become the valued CEO of Newsweek that he is today. Dev held a philosophy that allowed him to completely revamp Newsweek, using the ideas of opportunity, purpose, and change. Dev amplified and created additional opportunities for Newsweek, which would drastically increase its audience to over 100 million people. Dev made it a point to change his company based on outside factors, allowing for more profitable revenue. As an inclusive and empowering CEO, Dev earns the title of an influential CEO. 

Safra Catz

Safra Catz is another one of the most influential CEOs. Catz started working at Oracle, one of the largest software companies in the world, in 1999 and held the positions of President and Chief Financial Officer before becoming CEO in 2014. As CEO, Catz has been responsible for primarily impacting her company by leading the taking over of PeopleSoft, a rival company to Oracle; the takeover provided Oracle with a boom in profits. Catz has also been credited for her work in closing over a hundred acquisitions with the use of the aggressive acquisition strategy. Catz also serves as Director of the Walt Disney Company, which shows her highly valuable ability to multi-task and handle the responsibilities of multiple positions among multiple companies. Catz’s well-rounded nature and dedication show she is an incredibly influential CEO.

Hans Vestberg

As both CEO and chairman of Verizon, Hans Vestberg made advancements to the company, which allowed Verizon to become the largest company for network and services in the world. Before starting at Verizon in 2017, Vestberg worked as President and CEO at Ericsson, which is a telecommunications company. At Verizon, Vestberg has held the positions of President of Global Networks and the chief technology officer before working his way up to CEO in 2018 and chairman in 2019. Vestberg’s alterations to Verizon allowed the company to successfully offer 5G technology and gain partnerships with companies such as Apple and Disney. Vestberg’s work doesn’t end there; he has also been the leader in advancements toward both climate change and ways to monitor health digitally through the International Telecommunications Union. As not only a CEO but a member of various other economic foundations, Vestberg’s charitable and ambitious leadership roles allow him to be an influential CEO.

How To Choose The Best Used BMW Car – BMW VIN Lookup

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Getting the best used BMW car is possible only when you know the vehicle’s history. Interestingly, it is possible and easy to know the vehicle history of any BMW car you want to buy. VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number. The VIN of any BMW car is made up of 17 characters. These characters are very unique. Thus no two cars all over the world have the same VIN. 

The EpicVin BMW decoder VIN contains various information about the vehicle. Some of the information includes manufacturer, year and place of production, Engine data, mileage, and many more.

The VIN number was introduced by the ISO Institute. Every manufacturer has been enforced to use this identification system. This way, it makes it easy for users to check their BMWs in order to search for matching car parts and most importantly to request vehicle history.

Therefore, if you want to purchase a used BMW, you can easily check the car details in advance. By doing so, you’ll find out if there are any speedometer manipulations or hidden damages.

What does a BMW VIN number consist of?

We have established earlier that the BMW VIN contains 17 characters. All the digits and letters of the VIN carry different information about the vehicle. Let’s look at some examples of BMW-specific combinations:

  1. The first three letters of a BMW VIN number can vary, for example, “WBA” or “WBY”. The “WBY” as the first 3 letters can be found in all BMWs of the i-series. WBA means that the car was produced in Germany. WBS stands for BMW Motorsport GmbH. This includes the M-model series as well as M-engines. All those starting with WBA, WBY, and WBS are made in Germany.
  2. If your car comes from the USA, the VIN starts with 4US or 5UX which stands for BMW U.S. Market. 5UM stands for the counterpart of the M GmbH: the U.S. Motorsport GmbH.
  3. Additionally, the VINs of BMWs from other countries start like this:
  • 3AV – This is for BMW cars manufactured in Mexico
  • X4X – This is for BMW cars manufactured in Russia
  • MMF – This is for BMW cars manufactured in Thailand
  • WBX – This is for BMW cars manufactured in Austria. From Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik in Graz

What information can I get from the VIN?

Digits 1 – 3: The first three digits are known as the World Manufacturer Index (WMI) and it contains information about the manufacturer, the country of manufacture, and the vehicle type. 

Digits 4 – 8: The 4th to 8th digit is the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS). This set describes the technical specifications like the Make, Engine type, Body type, Transmission type, and more.

Digit 9: This is specifically a check digit. It is applicable to all vehicles sold in the U.S. and Canada.

Digits 10 – 17: This set of digits is the Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS). These are the last eight digits and is a set of unique serial number. With the VIS set, each individual BMW vehicle can be identified.

Furthermore, to reduce the risk of confusion, VINs do not contain the letters I/i, O/o, and Q/q. This is because these letters can easily be confused with the numbers 1 and 0. Thus it is easier to run a VIN decoder check without making mistakes.

Where can I find the VIN of my BMW?

Now that you know the kind of information contained in the BMW VIN, it is important to know where you can find them. Below are the most common places to lookup the BMW VIN:

  • On the door frame of your car
  • On the inner frame of the driver’s front door.
  • On the dashboard. It is usually at the bottom edge of the windshield. This is also on the driver’s side of the car
  • Under the hood of the car when opened
  • You can also look up the VIN in the vehicle documents. This is very important especially if the numbers on the parts above are not clear as is usually the case with used vehicles.

BMW VIN Decoder and Choosing The Best Used BMW Car

If you intend to buy a used BMW, and you want to get the best for yourself, it is recommended that you know all that you can about the vehicle. There’s no better way to get this information than using a BMW VIN decoder. The VIN decoder BMW version works for all BMW car models.

In a nutshell, to get the best used BMW car, we recommend checking its history beforehand. Of course, you can use a BMW VIN decoder free to get the basic information. This does not only apply to BMW cars, but also the BMW motorcycle models using the BMW motorcycle VIN decoder.

Additionally, when reading the history report you should pay special attention to the mileage, the number of previous owners as well as all the reported damages. Sometimes, some car resellers may tamper with the mileage in order to sell it to buyers at higher prices. A simple VIN check will help you to compare the two values and know if the one given by the seller is correct or tampered with.

To get your BMW VIN decoder, all you need is to use the best BMW VIN decoder. With it, you will get all the available vehicle data for the particular car. With the information, you can now confirm if it’s the best-used car for you or not.

Davidson Was Ranked As One Of The Coolest Suburbs in America

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downtown davidson

Davidson, NC recently made the list of the coolest suburbs in America on Thrillist.com, based on the following factors;

1) A good (or at least respectable) food/drink scene, with enough places to go close to home to not always have to trudge back into the city.
2) Not so far away from the city that the commute is awful
3) A place with a history or its own unique elements that separate it from just planned suburban sprawl

Based on those rankings, Davidson was chosen as the coolest suburb in the Charlotte region, and one of the coolest in America.

In their description of Davidson, the website notes;

“Never mind the fact that this town looks like it is the setting of one of Nicholas Sparks’ novels I totally haven’t read, and never mind the fact that the best basketball player in the world went to the beautiful college where you can bring your kids to watch basketball and tell them about him; never mind that it sits on a beautiful lake and has a Downtown that will make you weep with aesthetic joy, or that it is only 20 miles from Charlotte; just get the skillet burger at Kindred (it has infinity accolades nationally) during lunch, and you will understand. I actually might just move there by the time you finish reading this.

Please share if you love Davidson;

Jimmie Johnson Foundation Raises Nearly Half a Million Dollars in Charlotte For Kids

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Following the final INDYCAR race of his rookie season, Jimmie Johnson returned to Charlotte, N.C. where he hosted the 14th Annual Jimmie Johnson Foundation Golf Tournament presented by Carvana at the prestigious Quail Hollow Club on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021. The Jimmie Johnson Foundation announced today this year’s event raised over $465,000. The golf tournament has raised more than $9 million in fourteen years.

Funds raised will benefit the Jimmie Johnson Foundation Champions Grant program that supports K-12 public school programs in the following areas: science & technology, language & literacy, health & wellness, school improvement & infrastructure, and the arts. Champions Grants range from $20,000 to $100,000 and are distributed across the country. Recipients of the 2021 Champions Grant program will be announced later in the year.

The Foundation hosted 148 golfers at Quail Hollow Club, home to the annual Wells Fargo Championship, host of the 2017 PGA Championship and the 2022 Presidents Cup. Among the guests were members of golf teams from five local Charlotte schools.

“We are incredibly grateful for our event sponsors and supporters that made today’s sell out event possible,” said Executive Director of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation Alicia Morris Rudd. “We were able to bring together our donors, several local high school and college golf teams, and representatives from schools who have received the Champions Grants in past years. What a great day to bring together golf and giving back to the community.”

For more information about the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, including the Champions Grant program, visit www.jimmiejohnsonfoundation.org.

Vaping and Nicotine Amongst College Athletes

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While it may be difficult to imagine a sportsperson smoking, more and more college athletes have this habit. To ease the effects of nicotine, the industry turned to a safer alternative – vaping. Luckily, this became extremely popular, especially for those participating in team sports.

Yet, even today, after years of the existence of vaping, athletes are still advised to avoid it. However, there is an agreement between experts that vaping is the safest smoking option. For this reason, the industry shifted again, improving to the point that we have vapes today with no traces of nicotine. 

So, can college athletes use these vaping devices, or should they steer clear? Is vaping with nicotine-infused liquids as dangerous as smoking? Let’s see the answers below! 

Smoking and Vaping Are Not the Same

Some individuals don’t distinguish between smoking and vaping. But, it’s a fact that e-cigarettes or vaping devices differ from conventional cigarettes. The primary reason that vaping has surpassed cigarette smoking in popularity is that it is less dangerous. 

However, that is not the only reason. Vaping also doesn’t produce the same scent as smoking does. Many people dislike the pungent smell that traditional cigarettes generate, which is why they decide to stop smoking and start using vape pens. 

The wide selection of flavor-infused e-liquids refills is another thing that makes vaping more alluring than smoking. You can always choose an e-liquid with a flavor you like from the wide selection offered on the market.  

How Does Nicotine in Vapes Impact the Body?

Tobacco has an addictive component – nicotine. Many vaping devices have this ingredient in their e-liquids because it helps quell the annoying urge to smoke while also avoiding the majority of the drawbacks of traditional cigarette smoking.

The amount of nicotine absorbed into the bloodstream differs significantly between smoking and vaping because traditional cigars have compounds added to them that make nicotine more bioavailable.

Nicotine itself narrows blood arteries, raising heart rate and blood pressure while acting as a vasoconstrictor. This also occurs when taking part in any physical activity. 

Vaping naturally reduces the nicotine level compared to smoking, lessening the dramatic effect as less of it enters the bloodstream.

Beneficial Effects of Vaping on Athletic Performance

Many experts believe that vaping is up to 95% less dangerous than conventional smoking, even though it may contain nicotine. Additionally, there are some implications that vaping can positively impact sports performance. Here are a few advantages of vaping for athletes.

Better Cardiovascular Performance

It goes without saying that any athlete who wishes to vape should exercise prudence. Vaping, however, can help athletes by enhancing their aerobic capabilities. In essence, vaping is thought to improve an athlete’s capacity to run farther, increasing their durability.

Increased Stamina

Smoking traditional cigarettes are not advised for college athletes. That’s because the habit may result in a lack of endurance, which may affect their performance. 

However, vaping has proven to affect oppositely. Simply put, an athlete’s stamina can be increased by using a dry herb vaporizer pen correctly.

Enhanced Energy

Nicotine is considered a stimulant. As a result, a college athlete who vapes will likely feel more energized as their heart rate gradually picks up. 

Vaping nicotine-infused liquids in small doses give the neurological system the boost needed to improve energy levels. As a result, college athletes who vape can get a power increase that could benefit their competitions.

Mood Improvement

Some athletes experience anxiety before competitions. This is where a small dosage of nicotine can help them. This substance can activate the pleasure centers in the brain, so the college athlete can forget their worries and carry on with the game. 

Weight Control

Athletes need to maintain a healthy posture which is why they adhere to rigid fitness and food regimens. In these cases, nicotine may aid in losing weight. The good thing is that unlike smoking cigars, when college athletes frequently develop shortness of breath during lengthy workouts and vigorous exertion, vaping doesn’t have this side effect.

Conclusion

So what is the answer? 

Vaping is regarded as a bad habit among parents and coaches. It is often the case that there is a zero-tolerance policy on vaping, which creates problems for many college athletes. Part of the confusion created is that not many are aware that the athlete’s negative performance is due to vape devices not being used properly.

Health is a priority, but everyone should educate themselves on the positive and negative sides before turning all the alarms on vaping. Unlike classic cigarettes, users can control the nicotine intake on vaping devices and, in turn, avoid addiction and reduce nicotine dependence. 

Simply put, vaping is a safer alternative – even pens infused with nicotine – but only if used properly.

Tips To Streamline Your Business’s Finances

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Although several businesses and startups emerge every year, not many survive long or manage to meet the 5-year mark. While several reasons can contribute to their failure, the inability to understand and streamline finances is a leading cause. 

A brilliant business idea may get you investors and an establishment, but it’s not enough to keep operations running. Most entrepreneurs find financial management complex and mundane, often putting it off for another day. But it’s a time-sensitive job you shouldn’t delay even for a day. Without a system to track your finances, you may miss an opportunity for tax deductions and sometimes even run your business to the ground. However, by implementing an appropriate structure, you can streamline finances, allowing you to review numbers now and then for a quick assessment. This ensures an organization’s efficiency, provides a pathway to attain goals, and allows for the proper allocation of resources.

If you’re unsure how to get started, follow these six tips to help you manage your finances in no time.

  1. Understand your finances

It’s a common practice for entrepreneurs to hire professionals for account management rather than take on the task themselves. While it’s wise to let the experts do their job, having a basic understanding of your finances is just as crucial. And for this, you don’t need to put your business on hold or enroll in college to gain a professional degree. Instead, you can register for short courses like those offered by Wiley CPA, which provide accounting essentials and all there is to know about it.

  1. Document financial statements

Financial statements can offer valuable insights into your company’s financial health. This data is critical for making decisions and investing resources in the right places. 

There are three documents you must maintain meticulously:

  • Balance sheets

These detail all the information regarding a business’s assets, liabilities, and shareholder rights. With this sheet, you can run an internal and external analysis of your company to see its current, previous, and expected performance.

  • Income statements

These report all the income and expenses a business incurs over a specified period. Since it outlines profits and costs, it offers a glimpse into which activity generated revenue and which action ended up costing the company money.

  • Cash flow statement

A cash flow statement outlines all the business’s cash inflows and outflows to show owners if there’s enough cash to pay expenses and make necessary purchases. Typically, this report shows cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities. 

  1. Regularly review your accounts

While documenting and maintaining financial records is essential, they’re all for naught if you don’t regularly review them. Whether running an SME, startup, or a large enterprise, every business is susceptible to losses and fraud. Most business owners check their statements monthly or bi-weekly, but that’s not enough. It’s better to habitually assess each financial document every few days, with random audits in between. This practice ensures you stay on track with budget goals, and there are fewer chances of employee theft or other scams in your organization.

  1. Forecast your cash flow

Forecasting predicts how many sales and expenses you expect to see in the immediate future. But before you begin forecasting, first decide a period for which you want to estimate costs. Companies usually project monthly sales, but this can vary depending on your business and how far it expands. You can start by studying last year’s numbers which provides helpful insights and identifies trends that can assist with a more accurate forecast. However, you can sum up your estimated cash outflows if you’re just starting and don’t have past figures. With this, you’ll better understand how much business you need to bring in to cover these expenses. 

  1. Set aside emergency funds

Inflation, drastic economic changes, political instability, or changes in regulations can all cause chaos in the business industry. Although these result from unprecedented circumstances, it still helps to set aside emergency funds to cover any expenses your company may face. Scavenging money at the last second when things are already challenging is impossible and can prove lethal for your business. But you don’t want to put all your profits into an emergency fund either. Therefore, it’s better to save at least 10% of your annual profits solely as a safety net. Also, carefully consider every investment you make to ensure the cash you spend is worth the cost. 

  1. Use automated payment methods

Traditional transactions using paper money or checks are quickly becoming outdated because of how feasible automation has made payments. Automated payment methods allow organizations and clients to make payments electronically through debit cards, virtual cards, wire payments, or EFT (electronic funds transfer). This system makes processes faster and more efficient for the business and the customer. It makes record keeping much more effortless and prevents you from worrying about getting paid on time. Processing these transactions is also cost-effective and reduces the chances of error significantly.

Conclusion

As a business owner, you and your staff expect you to wear multiple hats in a day’s work. Because of this, it may seem convenient to delegate financial management to someone else or let it go for another day. But managing your finances from day one is crucial to avoid potential mishaps down the road. If you streamline the system and keep everything organized, nothing can stop your business from rising to its glory and success.

Charlotte’s Biggest Tomato Festival Is Coming To Town This Month

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Tomato lovers rejoice!

The largest and most diverse tomato festival the Queen City has ever seen will be taking place later this month in the heart of our city.

The 5th annual ‘Homegrown Tomato Festival‘ will be held at CPCC’s Central Campus on Saturday, July 23rd from Noon – 4:00pm.

The festival will include the following:

★ The Homegrown Tomato Competition: Backyard gardeners will bring their best tasting tomatoes and
compete for the “People’s Choice” award voted on by attendees.
★ Tomato Cocktail Competition: Local mixologists will compete to win the “People’s Choice” award for
the best tasting “garden inspired” cocktail.
★ Culinary Showcase: Expert chefs from Charlotte-area restaurants will provide samples of their favorite
garden & tomato inspired dishes.
★ Aquaponics Display: CMS students will guide an aquaponics experience with live fish and plants,
demonstrating the 100 Gardens impact in our schools.
★ Unique Vendors: Guests can shop from local, artisan vendors and farmers.
★ Tomato Sandwiches: A staple of the south! Attendees can enjoy the world’s best tomato sandwiches
made with locally grown tomatoes.
★ Live Music: “Those Meddling Kids” will entertain the crowd, performing tunes that span the decades.
Tickets
★ $25 (general admission): Includes event access, tomato sandwich, and tomato samples from
local growers.
★ $45 (VIP experience): Includes all of the above + culinary samples and mixologist tastings.

You can find out more information and purcahse tickets at www.homegrowntomato.org

Find out more information about 100 at 100gardens.org

Duke Energy Brings 2 Large-Scale Solar Farms Online – NC 4th Solar Producing State in America

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Continuing its efforts to grow renewable energy in North Carolina, Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions, a nonregulated commercial brand of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), recently began commercial operation of two major solar facilities in the state.

  • The 50-megawatt (MW) Broad River Solar power plant in Cleveland County
  • The 22.6-MW Speedway Solar power plant in Cabarrus County

“Even with the 2021 challenges of COVID-19 and supply chain constraints, our team remained focused and delivered these projects on time,” said Chris Fallon, president of Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions. “We could not have completed these projects without the support of our vendors and the people of Cleveland and Cabarrus counties.”

The facility’s design, procurement of inverters, balance of plant systems and construction of the project were performed by Swinerton. The solar power generated by both projects will be delivered through 20-year power purchase agreements. Together, the projects can power about 15,000 homes during a year.

North Carolina is fourth in the nation for overall solar energy. The outlook is promising for more solar energy in the future with the passage of the Energy Solutions for North Carolina (HB951) law in 2021.

“Solar power is a major focus for Duke Energy as we target 70% carbon reduction by 2030 in North Carolina and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 under HB951,” said Stephen De May, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president. “We expect solar to play a leading role in our clean energy future.”

A leader in renewable energy

Duke Energy is leading the largest clean-energy transformation in the United States. It maintains more than 4,100 MW of solar power on its energy grid in North Carolina, which could power about 800,000 homes and businesses at peak output. The company also operates more than 40 solar facilities in the state. With nuclear, hydro and renewable energy, more than half of North Carolina’s energy mix is carbon-free.