Winter is on the way, with its stereotypically unsettled weather, lower temperatures, and short, dull days. Just as we brace ourselves against the wind, rain, and cold, so we should prepare our property to withstand the weather as well. With many of us concerned about the price of gas and electricity amidst the current global energy crisis, there has never been a better time to safeguard our homes against the elements to make our fuel (and therefore our finances) go further.
As a season where we spend much of our time indoors, winter is also a great time to devote our attention to laborious household projects that we may have been putting off during the summer. These range from practical, such as resealing our bath to prevent leaks, to fun, like redecorating our walls so we can wake up in our dream home by new year. Discover the easy home DIY tasks that everyone should do before winter really sets in.
Revamp your walls
While late summer and late autumn are the best times to paint your home, this is just because they are the periods of time mostly likely to have stable weather. As long as it is dry outside and not too hot (this can crack the paint), you’re good to go! Before painting or laying wallpaper, strip away any existing wallpaper and sand down your skirting boards and doorframes. When you are stripping wallpaper, be sure to wear the correct PPE kit including safety glasses and gloves to protect yourself.
Protect against damp
The most unwelcome house visitor during winter is damp and mould, predominantly found in the bathroom due to the volume and temperature of water that is used. The best way to combat damp is to ensure that the bathroom has good ventilation. When bathing, make sure to open a window to allow fresh air in. You should also install an extractor fan if you do not already have one. Heating the room regularly is also beneficial to dry any remnants of water more quickly. Reseal your bath to protect against leaks and consider using damp-proof paint to discourage old damp from returning.
Draught-proof rooms
As gas prices continue to rise exponentially, it is a good idea to improve the efficiency of your home heating system. This means that you require less gas to achieve the desired temperature. One of the easiest ways to do this is to draught-proof your rooms to prevent heat from escaping through small gaps. Check your windows and doorways and fit draught excluders to the bottom of the frames. You should also bleed your radiators to release any trapped air that will slow hot water circulation, and get your boiler serviced to ensure that it is working as efficiently as possible.
Check roof condition
Last but not least, look to the outside of your home. Issues here naturally start to affect the interiors in time. Check your roof for loose or broken tiles which could be swept off during high winds and cause damage to the area below or allow water to enter your home. It is also a good idea to check your roof insulation before winter and add more insulative materials if necessary. While you are outside, take time to clean your gutters to prevent stagnant water build up and potential leaks.
If you’re in social work or thinking about it, assertiveness is a trait that will help you enormously. While there is some uncomfortableness with the word in society, confident assertiveness is a good thing for your career. Moreover, it will help you empower the people you serve.
If you’re just starting out in your career, an online MSW program like the one offered by Spalding University can provide you the confidence to be assertive about your work. The more confident you feel about what you know, the better you can advocate for yourself and others.
So, let’s explore the idea of assertiveness. For starters, what does it mean, really? Assertiveness is the ability to confidently and directly express your needs and ideas while being respectful of the rights and boundaries of others. Being assertive in a social work career is essential to your professional growth. It doesn’t mean being rude or aggressive. It simply means expressing your needs and feelings directly instead of passively backing away from conflict or hiding behind passivity.
Why being assertive is essential for your social work career
Assertiveness shows that you’re open, direct and confident, which is essential for your clients and coworkers to trust you as a professional. It demonstrates that you can stand up for yourself (and them) without being aggressive or passive-aggressive. It also demonstrates your ability to listen to others while maintaining boundaries. Not being assertive can indicate a lack of confidence and openness, which can negatively affect your job performance and client relationships.
Why assertiveness is vital for the people you serve
Being assertive is essential if you want to help your clients. For one, it enables you to model behavior for your clients. In turn, it motivates them to feel more confident in themselves and their choices. Most importantly, it can help them find their voices to make the changes they need in their lives. If you can’t be decisive in your social work career, you may unintentionally take away your client’s autonomy and choice. Your passivity may prevent your clients from growing and feeling confident in their abilities. Therefore, assertiveness is vital to a career in social work.
Here are five motivational techniques to help you be more assertive in your line of work.
1. Ensure you have the right attitude
Perspective and the right attitude are the first step to assertiveness in a social work career. Many people think of assertiveness as aggressive or rude. It’s not. Instead, it’s vital to remember that it’s about openness, confidence and clarity about what you want. For example, if you feel timid, anxious or hesitant to speak up, you should work to overcome it. Anxiety is like a shield that keeps you from being open and confident. Accepting that you have the right to speak and have your needs met is essential. It’s not being “too pushy.” It’s just being assertive.
2. Know your boundaries
One of the most common reasons people aren’t assertive is they don’t know their boundaries. What are your limits, and what are your non-negotiable needs? Circumstances will constantly push you past your limits if you don’t know your boundaries. An example might be, “I can’t work past 3 pm on Wednesdays because that’s my class time.” It’s crucial to speak-up in such a situation. Be sure to let your supervisors know what you need to be effective at work. You have the right to do this, and by being assertive, you’re demonstrating you can advocate for yourself and others.
3. Communicate directly to ensure clarity for everyone
Many people sweep their frustrations under the rug, but this only causes resentment and poor communication. For example, a social worker afraid of being assertive will likely make mistakes or burn out too quickly. You have the right to speak up if something makes you uncomfortable. You can say, “I feel uncomfortable with the direction of this case.” Speaking up and developing good communication skills are vital for any job. And that’s especially true in the case of a thriving career in social work.
4. Empower others to also be assertive
You’ll be more effective and happier in your job if you empower others to be more assertive. Moreover, this is especially true for your client work. Let’s say you have a client who’s frustrated at constantly getting interrupted. Of course, you don’t want to make them feel bad, but you want to empower them. Perhaps you can suggest that they communicate with the person who interrupts them to allow them to speak fully. In reality, people who use social work services often need skills to empower themselves, and confidently advocating and speaking for themselves is vital.
5. Network and build relationships for mutual benefit
Another way to be more assertive in your social work career is to build relationships with others in your field. Doing so helps you grow your network of contacts and allows you to become more assertive in your career. When you meet new people, don’t focus on what you want from them. Instead, focus on what you want to give them. Your focus should be, “How can I help this person?” rather than “How can this person help me?” When you approach your relationships this way, you’ll empower yourself. By helping others, you increase your confidence.
Assertiveness is a positive trait
In conclusion, assertiveness isn’t aggressive or rude. Moreover, it’s essential for your social work career. Remember, assertiveness simply means expressing your needs and feelings directly and proactively. Following the above techniques will make you feel more confident when dealing with coworkers and clients and embolden your social work career.
Cyber security is critical because it protects various aspects of data from theft and damage, like sensitive data, personal information, and health information. And also protecting private intellectual property, Industrial information systems and technology, and government information systems. With a massive increase in cyberattacks and data breach risk, businesses are highly demanding solutions. A practical cybersecurity approach should combine measures against external attacks and threats within the organization. ISO27001 provides certificates that validate that your organization’s internal ISMS aligns with the most proficient IT security practices. However, achieving it is no child’s play. It takes a long period of work to be accredited.
What Is Cyber Security?
Ways of protecting various computers, networks, servers, electronic systems, mobile devices, and data from hostile invasion are known as cyber security. The phrase can be broken down into a few standard categories, including network security, application security, disaster recovery, and business continuity, and is used in a range of contexts, from business to mobile computing.
Data breaches compromised 7.9 billion records in just the first nine months of 2019. Compared to the same period in 2018, this amount is more than double (112%) the number of records disclosed. By the year 2022, up to $133.7 billion will be spent globally on cyber-security solutions, according to the International Data Corporation. In response to the growing cyber threat, governments worldwide have provided recommendations to aid businesses in implementing.
Why Is Cybersecurity Becoming More Vital?
A hacker attack poses a hazard to more than simply the sensitive information that businesses depend on. Additionally, it may damage their interactions with clients and potentially put them in severe legal danger. The risks of cybercrime increase with new technologies, like self-driving cars and internet-connected home security systems.
Therefore, it should be no surprise that global research and advisory company Gartner Inc. forecasts global security spending will reach $170 billion in 2022, an increase of 8% in only one year.
Cyber attacks can be carried out for various causes, including cyberterrorism, hacktivism, and cyberwarfare, but they often fall into one of three categories: political, criminal, or personal.
Criminally motivated Attackers often want to make money by stealing money and data or disrupting businesses. Similarly, personal attackers can displease current or former employees who seek to hack a company’s systems by stealing money or data. Socio-politically motivated attackers engage in hacktivism when they make their attacks public to draw attention to their cause and more cyberattacks.
What Kinds Of Cyber Threats And Attacks Exist?
The following are a few of the most frequent threats from cyberattacks:
Malware: Malware is intrusive software created by cybercriminals to steal data or to harm and destroy computers and computer systems, according to CISCO. Malware is also called malicious software. Malware is capable of leaking enormous amounts of data. Viruses, worms, trojan viruses, spyware, adware, and ransomware are a few examples of prevalent malware.
Phishing: According to Cisco, phishing attacks involve sending false messages while posing as a trusted source. Usually, this is accomplished over the phone or by email. The intention is to steal sensitive data, such as login credentials or financial information, or to infect a target computer with malware.
Ransomware: According to the CISA, ransomware is malware made to encrypt files on a target computer, leaving those files and the systems they depend on useless. Actors demand a payment to unlock the system after it has been locked.
Viruses: According to the SBA, a virus is a destructive program designed to propagate from computer to computer and other linked devices. Giving the attacker access to the infected systems is the goal of a virus. According to Proofpoint, many infections pose as legal programs before harming the systems, stealing data, interrupting services, or downloading more malware.
The Losses. The good news is that there are various cyber insurance options available to be proactive and protect your business before it’s too late.
Who Is Responsible for Cyberattacks?
Attacks on businesses can originate from various places, including criminal organizations.
Organized crime and expert and amateur hackers are examples of external or outside threats (like hacktivists).
Most of the time, insider threats are those who are given access to a company’s resources and intentionally or unintentionally misuse them. These dangers include angry current or former employees, reckless staff disregarding security protocols, and business partners or clients with system access.
How To Protect Your Business From Cyber Attacks
A cyberattack or crime is fundamentally a breach of online safety and security. Customers’ names, addresses, social security numbers, dates of birth, and credit card information will be accessible to hackers. However, you may take a few easy, affordable steps to safeguard your company against online threats. According to the Ponemon Report, 41% of IT professionals and 51% of employees share passwords with coworkers.
ISO 27001 implementation provides a framework for ISMS building, so it’s an entirely different approach than HIPAA or GDPR. Instead, an organization becomes compliant if its ISMS follows the criteria established by ISO 27001. Whose requirement would enforce not be enforced by any law.
Organizations naturally demand ISO 27001 compliance as well renowned, as your Clients and other businesses regard organizations with ISO 27001 certification as more secure. This can also easily convince other companies to enter partnerships or sell your product and services.
1. Ensure all of your necessary data is secured, and update your systems and software with automatic updates. These are typical strategies hackers employ to infect devices and steal sensitive data from businesses.
2. Most social media sites, email services, banks, and other businesses have already embraced this technology. More than 80% of organizational data breaches and weak passwords are to blame for cybercrime, say experts. The “Man in the Middle” attack has grown in popularity in cybercrime.
3. Businesses should also have detailed cybersecurity policies that inform staff members of appropriate behavior when using computers and other devices, sharing data, and otherwise. About 196 million emails are sent worldwide every 60 seconds. More than ninety percent of cyberattacks result from human error. Your company’s first and last line of defense against online attacks may be its employees. The best way to secure your business is to train personnel on what to watch out for and what to do in response to any development requiring professional handling.
Conclusion
Organizations should best consider adhering to the Iso 27001 compliance requirements to safeguard their company and customer data against online threats, hackers, viruses, and corruption, which also prevents you from suffering huge repercussions from threats and attacks on cyberspace – and even having to pay enormous fines for violations.
Online shopping is increasing rapidly. People have moved towards online shopping from traditional one. The internet has completely changed the way we shop. It eliminates the need to visit the nearest mall or any retailer. Shopping can be made more accessible by simply picking up smartphones and looking for the products you want to purchase online.
Google shopping is a great platform for retailers to showcase the product in front of the customers searching for the products online. There are likely more chances of losing a good deal of customers if you are not listing your products on Google shopping.
Let’s have a better understanding of Google shopping, its working, and reasons to use it!
What is Google Shopping?
Google Shopping can be defined as a Google service that facilitates shoppers to quickly search, find, and compare products from different sellers on the Google search engine.
It is also referred to as Comparison Shopping Engine (CSE). The results are showcased as thumbnail images along with the prices. At the time of its release in 2002, it was known as Froogle. With increased number of online businesses, it has been quite challenging for store owners to get their products discovered. Online sellers can list their products on the Google shopping to make them easily discoverable for Googlers.
If you are a Magento store owner, Magento 2 Google Shopping Feed extension makes the process flawless, reducing the manual efforts required for setup and configuration.
Listed below are the interesting statistics that you need to know about Google Shopping:
According to Google, 98% of global consumers surveyed perform product searching, browsing, and purchasing online.
A report by Marketing Charts showed that 30% higher conversion rates are observed for Google Shopping as compared to text ads.
59% of the price comparison portal users in the United States revealed that they like Google Shopping.
Shopping Ads generate nearly 85.3% clicks on Adwords and Google Shopping campaigns.
Google Shopping Ads have an average conversion rate of 1.91% and an average cost per click of $0.66, which yields huge profits for many brands.
How Does Google Shopping Work?
The most obvious question that comes to your mind is, “How does Google Shopping Work?”
Setting up Google Shopping for your online business can be a clumsy process. It is processed by two platforms: Google Ads and Google Merchant Center. Google Merchant Center can be defined as an online tool used to upload and update product feed that contains basic product information.
In order to get the products listed on the Google Shopping Feed, the businesses need to create a merchant center account, where they can add the product feed, which will be used to get product information by Google.
The businesses need to run paid campaigns through Google Ads to promote these uploaded products on Google Shopping.
The working of Google Shopping varies completely from other platforms as it doesn’t allow choosing the keywords to focus on. The products get listed on top based on Google’s product listings. Generally, the organic search results appear in the middle, whereas paid ads appear at the top and bottom of the page.
Based on the purchase behaviour, Google Shopping is now updated to offer personalised recommendations.
Once you are a member of Google Merchant Account and Shopping Ads, you will be a member of “Surfaces across Google Program” and easily showcase your items on Google. Listed below is a method to set up Surface across Google Programs.
Navigate to the “Growth tab” on the Merchant Center dashboard.
Choose “Manage Programs” from the navigation menu.
Select “Surfaces across Google Program”, and you’re done.
Make sure that you complete the sign-up and get your product feed ready to sell products.
Why Use Google Shopping?
Google Shopping is one of the robust platforms that provides countless benefits for your business. Let’s have a glimpse at some of those benefits!
Google itself is one of the largest search engines on the internet. Promoting products on Google Shopping Ads, helps attract a huge heap of people and lure more customers.
Offer detailed and relevant information to the potential customers that help increase the number of leads.
Improve brand recognition by getting noticed on Google lens, making it easier for customers to identify the products and purchase.
Using Google Shopping ads, easily manage ads without adding any relevant keywords.
Facilitates businesses to generate product performance reports to get understand and identify the areas of improvement.
Ways to Optimize Google Shopping for Business
It is essential for you to optimize your Google Shopping account regularly for better results. This will establish online visibility and can win customers’ trust. Listed below are the top ways to optimize Google Shopping for business:
Set up a clear goal for running your shopping campaigns.
Make sure that you optimize your bid to get maximum clicks.
Choose the most appropriate bidding strategy to display your products for the right search terms.
Ensure creating an effective Google Shopping campaign structure.
Escalate Your Revenue With Google Shopping
There’s no surprise that Google Shopping is a fantastic way to get your products appear infront of right target audience. People can get the detailed product description, image and then finally checkout on Google or land on your product page to complete the process. Google Shopping helps improve website traffic, enhance conversion rates and grow your revenue.
Frequently Asked Questions on Google Shopping
1. What is Google Shopping?
Google Shopping can be defined as a platform offered by Google that facilitates users to search, compare and purchase products from its database easily.
2. Is it possible to find products within a particular category?
Yes, you can narrow down the results by category. Click on the selected category will help display the desired category.
3. How is Google Shopping different compared to other sites?
Google Shopping is not an online shop. It does not sell the products directly to the shoppers, but instead, offer detailed product information and make the product readily available for shoppers.
4. Can I receive product inquiries or questions from the customers?
Google allows the businesses to accept custom questions and queries for the products that are listed on the Google shopping.
Web development has come out as a clear winner in the field of development during the last few years. It has many reasons to be on top of that rank, in which the primary one is the availability of job opportunities. This is one of the major factors that has made web development hugely popular among youngsters. They can see the rising potential in this field which is simply unmatchable to anyone. Not just locally, but web development offers opportunities in different parts of the world. That is what makes it a real lucrative job that attracts all types of people who are keen to build a successful career in the professional world.
Unfortunately, learning web development is also not easy as everybody thinks. It requires a good understanding of the fundamentals as well as technicalities of the programming. No one can prosper in web development without having command on both of these skills. They are also further divided into sub-branches in which different methods and components come into play according to the requirements of the job. This makes many beginners confused at the start, forcing them to even quit the field sometimes.
It is therefore necessary to learn some major tips about web development to get successful in the field. No doubt it looks hard, but could be eased up efficiently by remembering some proper development principles. If you do not know much about those rules, read this article in detail. It will let you know some great tips to get started in web development, provided you are keen to learn the concepts smartly.
Let’s first start from the basics understanding the rise of the development field in the world.
The Rise of Development Industry
Considering the stats, the rise of web development in the professional world is nothing short of exemplary stuff. It got a huge boost with the emergence of digital marketing, as more and more brands started to shift their businesses online. It opened a new door for web developers to find tons of opportunities in the market. From ecommerce to fashion, every business these days wants to build a website to grab hundreds of sales. The websites offer them a perfect platform to stage themselves in the online world and get traffic regularly.
Following this trend, mobile apps also found a solid footing in the market. This paved a new way for mobile application development that also provided huge working opportunities to the people. Today, websites and mobile apps are considered essential for an online business. It helps them to get thousands of customers, and further enhance the footprint of their business in the world. In short, the rise of development resulted into a ripple effect creating a variety of prospects in multiple domains.
Tips for Web Development
Web development requires a good understanding about the technicalities of a project. Here are some golden tips that will help you to learn them perfectly.
Analyze the Project Goals
The first thing that is necessary for web development is the analysis of the project goals. It will let you know what type of application you will need to create to fulfill the requirements. We know very well that every business has unique needs due to the variance found in different categories. It is the job of a developer to understand all of them and produce web projects according to them. This should be ideally done at the start of the project, so that every process, function, and method required could be understood before the actual project development.
Pick the Right Tools and Technologies
It is also pretty important to select the right tools and technologies for any development project. Today, we have got tons of languages and CMS platforms available in the market. All of these offer different types of functionalities, allowing developers to use them as per the given requirements.
Generally, for backend development, PHP and Python are termed as the best web programming languages. Similarly for frontend, web designers have got multiple options ranging from React to Angular JS and more others. It is the responsibility of developers to know what type of technology will be used in the project, as any inefficient selection can lead to a project disaster.
Understand the Relation of Database
Database holds a very important value in the development of any website. It is primarily responsible to store all the information inside the tables. This information is very crucial as it holds the data of customers or users visiting the website. It is therefore advised to the developers to build project databases with correct functions and security methods. Any broken connection can interrupt the access and display of information, or could also take the website loading time very higher. These things do not offer a good picture of a website, forcing users to quickly leave them within just a few minutes.
Test and Debug the Websites Properly
The job of a web developer doesn’t end with the development of a website. He/she must also need to evaluate the performance before making them live on the internet. This could be done by applying the right testing and debugging procedures. It helps to find and rectify various bugs present in an application. This helps to reduce any chances of website disruption or breakdown during the live execution. If you do not have much knowledge about testing procedures, take a look at the tutorials and examples given on the internet. It will help you to learn the right website testing techniques that can find and resolve underlying errors quickly.
Final Words
That brings us to the end of this article in which we have discussed different tips to solidify web development. These rules will help you to develop any kind of website, ranging from simple static sites to online ecommerce stores. Not just web projects, but they are also very helpful in understanding the cores of mobile application development. It is therefore advised to learn these tips correctly, as they will enable you to handle any type of development project efficiently.
As an Airbnb host, you have the opportunity to provide your guests with a unique and memorable experience. By taking a few extra steps to ensure their comfort and satisfaction, you can go above and beyond their expectations and create a truly exceptional experience.
1. Provide a Clean and Comfortable Space
The first step to providing an amazing experience for your guests is to ensure that you have a clean and comfortable space for them to stay in. Remember that first impressions are everything, so be sure to clean your space thoroughly before each guest arrives.
This means taking care of any necessary cleaning and repairs, as well as providing all the amenities and comforts that your guests might need. If you are just starting on Airbnb, it will help if you can sign up for a course like 10xBNB (check out their website for more details).
2. Communicate Effectively
Another important aspect of providing a great experience for your guests is effective communication. This means being available to answer any questions they might have and providing clear instructions on how to use any amenities in your home, as well as being available for any help during their stay, anytime.
3. Be Accommodating and Flexible
Another way to ensure a great experience for your guests is to be accommodating. This means being flexible with your check-in and check-out times, as well as providing any special requests that they might have.
Even if you plan everything out to the T, some things are always going to be out of your hands. That’s why it’s crucial to remain flexible and prepared for anything. If something pops up that wasn’t in the original plan, such as a guest wanting to change their itinerary last minute, do what you can to accommodate them. Showing your guests that you’re willing to bend over backwards for them will guarantee they have a good time.
4. Offer Local Tips and Advices
If you want to really go above and beyond for your guests, offer them some local tips and advice. This could include recommendations for restaurants, attractions, and activities in the area.
Local area is a great way to be a good host. You’ll be able to astound your guests with the best places to go and, if they need any help or have questions later on, you’re already familiar with the area and can assist them easily.
5. Make Proper Arrangements in Rental and Organise Everything
By the time your guests arrive, double-check that the rental is ready for them. This means making sure the bed sheets are clean and put away neatly, there are no visible stains on any towels or other furniture items, the fridge is fully stocked with whatever you promised in your listing, and so on. If you have to leave before they come, then make it a point to explicitly state where they can find a key and how to get into doors/gates if necessary.
6. Greet your Guests and Create a Welcoming Environment
Creating a welcoming and comfortable environment for your guests is essential to being a good host. When your guests arrive, take the time to greet them and show them around your home. This will help them feel more comfortable and at ease in their new surroundings.
7. Be Available but Respect their Privacy
One of the most important things you can do as a host is to be available to your guests but also respect their privacy. This means being available to answer any questions they might have or help with any problems, but also giving them the space and freedom to enjoy their stay in your home.
8. Provide Basic Necessities and Toiletries
Toiletries are a must for any Airbnb rental. Be sure to provide your guests with basic necessities such as soap, shampoo, and towels. You might also want to consider providing other items such as coffee, tea, or snacks.
9. Check in with your Guests during their Stay
One of the best ways to ensure a great experience for your guests is to check in with them during their stay. This shows that you care about their experience and gives you an opportunity to address any problems or concerns they might have.
10. Leave a Positive Review for your Guests
When your guests are leaving, be sure to say goodbye and thank them for choosing to stay in your home.
After your guests have left, be sure to leave them a positive review on Airbnb. This is a great way to show your appreciation for their business and ensure that they have a positive experience with you as a host. This will help you improve your guests’ experience and turn them into repeat customers.
Conclusion
By following these tips, you can provide your guests with an unforgettable experience that will keep them coming back for more. So, what are you waiting for? Start planning your next Airbnb rental today and be a successful host in no time!
DETROIT – The city has long faced an uphill battle to recruit and retain police officers, which is why a proposed pay raise is awaiting the city council’s approval.
But, not even that would make the Detroit Police Department wages competitive with officers in other cities, including one that made a bold move to poach officers from Detroit.
“I saw it,” said Detroit police Chief James White. “I know that our officers are the best in the country, and I know that they get highly recruited in-state and out-of-state.”
The bold billboard in Detroit suggests officers could have a starting salary of $72,000. If Detroit City Council approves, pay raises for Detroit police would have a starting salary of $53,000.
“I am not surprised,” White said. “I’m a little bit disappointed that someone would post something like that in our community, but I also know that our officers are highly recruited.
A police union leader went to the city council urging the council to approve the pay raises, or the department would continue to lose officers.
“From my conversations with council members, everybody believes that we are way overdue in supporting our DPD men and women,” said Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield. “I’m looking for unanimous support coming next Tuesday.”
“I sent letters to chiefs across the country saying, ‘Please, don’t hire our people,’” said former Detroit police Chief Ike McKinnon. “They looked at me and laughed.”
Mckinnon says Detroit can’t compete with a $72,000 starting salary.
“You can’t compete with someone whose making or paying $70,000 to start,” McKinnon said. “They’re making as much as some of our command officers are.”
Shawn Ley: “Did you happen to call Indy by chance?”
White: “We won’t get into those conversations.”
So far, 290 Detroit police officers have left the department for other jobs.
The mayor and Detroit’s police union agreed on a new contract on Sept. 30. But so far, those raises have yet to become a reality, and officers are leaving the force for other departments and better pay. (WDIV)
Copyright 2022 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
All work and no play make Jack dull, right? But did you know that work, plus play, minus a drink, will still leave Jack grumpy, demotivated, and probably sick?
Water is the life-giving fluid that you need to keep going while at work. Scientific studies have shown that regular hydration is crucial for our daily wellness and affects workplace productivity. Proper hydration is one of the most crucial, but seldom-mentioned healthy habits to adopt. It boosts our efficiency, mood, enthusiasm, and can keep our skin looking fresh. Here are more reasons scientists give for incorporating good hydration into your work routine.
Water boosts energy levels
There are several reasons to have a bottle of water by your side while at work – and one of those is that water directly influences your muscle energy levels.
Regular hydration ensures that cells in your body maintain a balance of fluids and electrolytes, thereby avoiding fatigue. On the contrary, if you don’t take in enough water, cells in your body will shrivel. Your tissues and organs will not work as well as when they are hydrated resulting in chronic fatigue.
It enhances brain functioning
Your brain cells are some of the most crucial cells that should maintain optimum fluid levels. According to neuroscientists, our brains require proper hydration to function properly. Regular water intake ensures that your brain operates at the optimum level. This is crucial for those who spend most of their time behind the desk and other jobs that require insightful thinking. On the other hand, low water levels in your brain result in inattention, reduced alertness, slower reaction times, and sleepiness.
Do you want to be more alert and energized? Set up a reminder for water breaks in your work schedule.
Reduces stress levels
When we take sufficient water, our bodies are happier. The thyroid works well and maintains healthy levels of the stress-inducing hormone – cortisol. Yes, cortisol is crucial to your functioning, but it must be within a healthy range, and hydration helps ensure it is so. On the other hand, too much stress will reduce your productivity and affect your ability to collaborate and create.
Keeps your skin bright and hydrated
People in the cosmetics and beauty industry have known this fact for eons, proper hydration is the key to maintaining a fresh glow. Without water, our skins dry up fast, lose elasticity and can appear more wrinkled. If you want to maintain a youthful and vibrant look, hydrate while at work.
Photo by Ivan Samkov from Pexels
Hydration boosts your mood
What happens when you are energized for work, your brain is firing on all cylinders, you have lower stress levels, and your skin is looking fresh and hydrated? Well, your mood, self-confidence, and self-esteem will soar!
No task will be too difficult to perform. You will not be scared to approach colleagues or prospects and work. A happier person is better for the workplace, with a study from the University of Oxford claiming that workers are, in fact, 13% more productive when happy.
Better immunity (fewer sick days)
Without a doubt, water is essential to maintain optimal body functions. Plus, sufficient water intake helps to reduce the risk of heart disease, chronic headaches, and other ailments. But that’s not all. A great attitude, a nutritious diet, and plenty of water in your work routine can also keep your immune system working tremendously. It reduces the chances of falling ill and results in fewer sick days.
Tips for creating a workplace hydrating routine
Since there are so many benefits of hydrating, it is only fair to help you include it in your work routine. The following tips will help you incorporate water into your work routine:
Choose reputable brands or water beverages that you enjoy. Chances are, the more you like the taste, the more you drink. But don’t forget to check the nutritional qualities of what you take and ensure you’re not taking in extra sugar or preservatives.
If you’re not a fan of water, try adding sliced fruit to your beverage, or drinking organic flavored water.
Increase the portion of fruits and vegetables in your meals. They contain extra fluids that boost your water intake.
Always have a handy bottle of water with you. Have one at your desk and in your bag.
A final word on the importance of water in your work routine
We spend one-third (or more) of our lives at work. If we can make hydration a regular part of our work routine, it’s crystal clear that our health and productivity will get a boost!
Coinbase Global Inc. late Thursday reported a wider quarterly loss and a 54% drop in revenue, saying the headwinds for its business will continue and likely intensify next year.
Coinbase COIN, -8.09%
said it lost $545 million, or $2.43 a share, in the quarter, swinging from earnings of $406 million, or $1.62 a share, in the year-ago period.
Revenue dropped to $576 million from $1.24 billion a year ago.
Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected the crypto exchange to report a loss of $2.38 a share on revenue of $641 million.
Shares traded lower immediately after the report, but at last check were rising more than 8% in the extended session.
The quarter was “mixed” for Coinbase, the company said in a letter to shareholders. “Transaction revenue was significantly impacted by stronger macroeconomic and crypto market headwinds, as well as trading volume moving offshore.”
On the plus side, Coinbase saw “strong growth in our subscription and services revenue,” it said.
Those headwinds, however, continued to impact transaction revenue, which was down 44% quarter on quarter, Coinbase said in the letter.
Trading volume dropped to $159 billion in the quarter from $217 billion in the second quarter.
“For 2022, we remain cautiously optimistic that we will operate within the $500 million adjusted EBITDA loss guardrail that we previously communicated,” the company said. That assumes that the crypto market does not deteriorate further, it said.
For next year, however, Coinbase is “preparing with a conservative bias and assuming that the current macroeconomic headwinds will persist and possibly intensify,” the company said.
Reading motivational quotes by famous people can give us the strength to keep going. It is always worth paying attention to the advice, experience, and wisdom of those who have achieved great things in life.
Here are 105 motivational quotes by famous people to help you stay motivated to achieve your goals. Also, check out our list of courage quotes for more inspiration.
Feel free to share these motivational quotes by famous people with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest.
2. “Nothing will work unless you do.” – Maya Angelou
3. “Action is the foundational key to all success.” – Pablo Picasso
4. “The path to success is to take massive, determined action.” – Tony Robbins
5. “Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
6. “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
7. “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford
8. “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” – Jim Rohn
9. “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
10. “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.” – Vince Lombardi
11. “The mind is everything. What you think you become.” – Buddha
12. “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller
13. “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain
14. “And in the end it is not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln
15. “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” – Steve Jobs
16. “Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.” – Napoleon Hill
17. “Kites rise highest against the wind – not with it.” – Winston Churchill
18. “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” – Mahatma Gandhi
19. “Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.” – Orison Swett Marden
20. “He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
21. “Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” – Dale Carnegie
22. “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney
23. “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” – Bruce Lee
24. “The best revenge is massive success.” – Frank Sinatra
25. “The biggest mistake people make in life is NOT making a living at doing what they most enjoy.” – Malcolm S. Forbes
26. “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” – Calvin Coolidge
27. “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
28. “Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement.” – W. Clement Stone
29. “Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life – think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.” – Swami Vivekananda
30. “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” – Albert Einstein
31. “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas Edison
32. “Singleness of purpose is one of the chief essentials for success in life, no matter what may be one’s aim.” – John D. Rockefeller
33. “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
34. “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” – Alan Kay
35. “Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs.” – Farrah Gray
36. “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” – George Bernard Shaw
37. “Every one of us is the sum total of his own thoughts.” – Earl Nightingale
38. “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” – Confucius
39. “Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination.” – Oscar Wilde
40. “There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.” – Aristotle
66. “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
67. “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
68. “Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, you can achieve.” – Mary Kay Ash
69. “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” – Henry David Thoreau
70. “You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it. So go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can because that’s where you will find success, on the other side of failure.” – Thomas Watson
71. “A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life.” – Charles Darwin
72. “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing you can do is keep your mind young.” – Mark Twain
73. “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” – Benjamin Franklin
74. “Continuous effort – not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential.” – Winston Churchill
75. “People are not lazy. They simply have impotent goals – that is, goals that do not inspire them.” – Tony Robbins
81. “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” – Maya Angelou
82. “Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance.” – Samuel Johnson
83. “Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have twenty-four hour days.” – Zig Ziglar
84. “The more that you read, the more things you will know, the more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss
85. “In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.” – Bill Cosby
86. “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” – Thomas Edison
87. “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill
88. “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” – Jim Rohn
89. “Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing.” – Denis Waitley
90. “People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.” – Dale Carnegie
91. “Thinking will not overcome fear but action will.” – W. Clement Stone
92. “The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire; the size of your dream; and how you handle disappointment along the way.” – Robert Kiyosaki
93. “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
94. “The difference between where you are today and where you’ll be five years from now will be found in the quality of books you’ve read.” – Jim Rohn
95. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” – Lao Tzu
96. “Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” – George Bernard Shaw
97. “The important thing is that we must be constantly moving forward – yes, the progress realization of a predetermined goal. And our growth should never end.” – Og Mandino
98. “Men who know exactly what they want of life, and are determined to get it, do not stop with wishing. They intensify their wishes into a burning desire, and back that desire with continuous effort based on a sound plan.” – Andrew Carnegie
99. “Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” – Benjamin Franklin
100. “The moment a man ceases to progress, to grow higher, wider and deeper, then his life becomes stagnant.” – Orison S. Marden
Wednesday night’s Powerball jackpot — estimated at $1.2 billion — is the second-largest in the game’s 30-year history. If no one hits the jackpot, it’s expected to approach the record $1.5 billion prize won by three people in 2016.
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Wednesday night’s Powerball jackpot — estimated at $1.2 billion — is the second-largest in the game’s 30-year history. If no one hits the jackpot, it’s expected to approach the record $1.5 billion prize won by three people in 2016.
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Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
This is an opinion editorial by Ansel Lindner, an economist, author, investor, Bitcoin specialist and host of “Fed Watch.”
Ghost money has a long history but only recently became part of the bitcoin vernacular via premier eurodollar expert, and bitcoin skeptic, Jeff Snider, Chief Strategist at Atlas Financial. We’ve interviewed him twice for the Bitcoin Magazine podcast “Fed Watch” — you can listen here and here, where we talked about some of these topics.
In this post, I will define the concept of ghost money, discuss the eurodollar and bitcoin as ghost money, examine currency shortages and their role in monetary evolution, and finally, place bitcoin in its place among currencies.
What Is Ghost Money?
Ghost money is an abstracted ideal currency unit, used primarily as a unit of account and medium of exchange, but whose store-of-value function is a derivative of a base money. Other terms for ghost money include: political money, quasi-money, imaginary money, moneta numeraria or money of account.
To many economic historians the most famous era of ghost money is the Bank of Amsterdam starting in the early 17th century. It was a full reserve bank, used double-entry bookkeeping (shared ledgers) for transactions, and redeemed balances at a fixed amount of silver. Ghost money existed on their books, and the money in their vaults.
The financial innovation of an abstracted ideal currency unit evolved because coins are never the same weight or fineness. Coins in circulation tended to get worn quickly, dented or clipped and even if the coins were in mint condition, sovereigns tended to debase the coins on a regular basis (by the year 1450, European coins only had 5% silver content). Ghost money is a currency abstraction based on a fixed measurement of a money (its store-of-value), but does not need to reference actual coins in circulation, just an official measurement.
To put it in terms Bitcoiners are familiar with, this layer of abstraction gave commodity money new security properties and payment features.
Security wise, ghost money avoids the problem of debasement to a degree (we could call this debasement resistance), because the unit-of-account is a fixed weight and fineness set by a bank, not the sovereign. For example, the Bank of Amsterdam set the guilder at 10.16 g fine silver in 1618. Coins in circulation at the time tended to differ widely, coming from all over Europe. There were even direct attacks on banks in the form of flooding the local economy with debased coins, as happened in the 1630s with the importation of coins of less silver content from Spanish Netherlands north to Amsterdam.
Ghost money also allows new features, like the ability to transact over long distances, in large sums, carrying only a letter, greatly reducing transaction costs. It also allowed longer-term bonds at lower interest rates because the unit-of-account is more stable. The pricing of shares (a new innovation at the time), also could be valued in stable currency units.
In general, ghost money leads to thinking of value in a stable abstract unit. This has far reaching effects that are hard to overstate when it comes to large long-term investments, like massive infrastructure projects, that just so happened to get going in the preindustrial era as well. Eventually, the thinking in stable abstract currency units would lead to all the financial and banking innovation we see today.
Ghost money is rightly thought of as a derivative to the money itself, one which replaced the insecure aspects of the physical coins, without getting rid of the underlying form of money. It would more properly be called “ghost currency,” because it is simply a stable derivative, an idealized currency, used for accounting.
Everything has a trade off, and ghost money is no exception. Abstracting the currency away provided debasement resistance from the sovereign, but it also enabled the banks to more easily create credit denominated in that idealized unit (fractional reserve lending), shifting the money printing task from sovereigns to banks. Expanding credit in the private sector according to market desires can lead to economic booms, but the trade off is the following bust.
Currency Shortages
In an article from Jeff Snider, he pairs the use of ghost money with the concept of monetary shortage to explain the rise of modern banking, and the beginning of the evolutionary process toward the current eurodollar financial system and even bitcoin.
“Any money-of-account [ghost money] alternative is the resourceful yet natural human response to these specific conditions.”
He sees ghost money as a natural market-driven practice, with a primary driving force being monetary shortage. Ghost money can add elasticity to the money supply as I stated above through credit expansion. He points to the 15th century’s Great Bullion Famine and the 1930’s Great Depression as two very important epochs in ghost money’s history. These were periods of inelasticity in the supply of currency, which incentivized efforts to search out new supplies via financial innovation (ghost money) or searching for new sources of money itself (silver and gold in the Age of Exploration and the eurodollar credit expansion in the 1950s and 1960s).
More than anything, though, what might have driven money-of-account forward to its preeminent position was something called the Great Bullion Famine. Just as the 20th century seemed to pivot in one direction then the other, from the deflationary money shortages of the Great Depression to decades later the overwhelming monetary changes underneath the Great Inflation, so, too, did Medieval economics suffer one to then pivot into its opposite.
Ghost money’s Golden Age, forgive the pun, coincided with the Bullion Famine. Quasi-money is often one solution to inelasticity; commercial pressures are not easily surrendered to something like a lack of medium of exchange. People want to do business because business, not money, is real wealth.
“The role of money, separated from any store of value desire, is nothing more than to facilitate such business[.]” — Jeff Snider
Snider frames ghost money as a market tool that happens to also provide a route to increasing the elasticity of money in times of currency shortage. In other words, when the supply of money does not expand at a sufficient rate, the ensuing economic difficulties will drive people to find ways to expand that money supply, and ghost money is a ready-made solution via fractional reserve.
Snider’s views put him squarely in the monetarist camp, along with Milton Friedman and others. They see in “the quantity of money the major source of economic activity and its disruptions.” Inelasticity is both the primary culprit of depression and the primary mover of financial innovation.
The Eurodollar As Ghost Money
“Necessity, basically, the mother of invention even when it comes to money […]But if the eurodollar was the private (global) economy’s response to restrictive gold, what then of the eurodollar’s post-August 2007 restrictions upon the very same? Where’s the ghost money of the 21st century to replace the preeminent ghosts of the 20th?” — Jeff Snider
Snider frames the eurodollar system as a natural innovation response to the inelasticity that prevailed in the Great Depression. In the 1950’s when Robert Triffin began speaking about this paradox, the market was busy solving it through ghost money and credit. The eurodollar system is simply a network of double-entry bookkeeping and balance sheets, using the global idealized currency unit at the time, U.S. dollars (backed by $35/oz of gold).
But is the eurodollar in its current form, still ghost money? No — it is credit-based money, but it looks almost identical.
Remember, ghost money is an idealized unit of money (in the past it was silver or gold). Credit is also denominated an idealized unit-of-account, a second order derivative, if you will. Through the dominance of ghost money, thinking in an abstract currency unit became common, and the psychology of the market changed to center around this new financial tool.
The difference between the current eurodollar, which is a pure credit-based system, and credit in a ghost money system is found in the store-of-value function. Ghost money’s store of value is from a base money (silver or gold or bitcoin). The eurodollar today, on the other hand, is divorced from base money completely, and backed by something new. A dollar today is an idealized measurement of debt denominated in dollars. It’s a circular, self-referential definition in the place of base money:
“Money-of-account [ghost money] was one such alternative which also blurred the lines between money and credit; in one sense, using ledgers to settle transactions even between merchants was under the strictest definition credit rather than a monetary substitute. But that was the case only insofar as eventually this paper IOU would have to be disposed of by bullion or specie.
Subprime mortgages and their ancient equivalents became possible where specie was in overabundance, yet perhaps counterintuitively far less likely if not completely impractical using only ghosts untethered to hard money.” — Jeff Snider
In other words, untethering ghost money from its hard money can simulate the overabundance of money. We are wrong though to continue to call this untethered money, ghost money. What is it a ghost of? Once you remove the store-of-value/hard-money tether, it is now a new form of money.
I also must add that if untethered ghosts can simulate overabundance of currency, it can also simulate a currency shortage at the other extreme, which is exactly what we see today.
The eurodollar started out as ghost money until 1971 when the gold peg was severed, either by market evolution or official declaration. It became a new form of money, pure credit-based money.
Is Bitcoin Ghost Money?
Snider stated that “quasi-money is often one solution to inelasticity,” not that all solutions to inelasticity are quasi-money. Yet, that is what he’s doing when he extrapolates that because bitcoin is providing new monetary liquidity in a time of eurodollar shortage, that bitcoin is ghost money.
Currency shortages can be solved by introducing a whole new money, and as the old money suffers from shortage, the new money, with an all-new store-of-value anchor, can become the primary unit-of-account. This is not a ghost money process, it’s a money replacement process, something the Monetarists’ model cannot contend with.
“This forms the basic argument of so-called Bitcoin maximalists who see particularly the Federal Reserve but really all central banks as having set loose to ‘money printing’ excesses. They’re killing their currencies by creating too much, and cryptos are the offered antidote to ‘devaluation.’ No.It is, point of fact, the opposite.
Just like the bullion famine, what crypto enthusiasts of all kinds are reacting to — and basing their buying of digital currencies on — is the central bank response to an otherwise severe and constraining monetary shortage.” — Jeff Snider
Snider is right. I have to give him props on opening a lot of people’s eyes on this. We do have deflationary pressures today, but bitcoin is a hedge against inflation and deflation as a counterparty-free asset. It just so happens the overriding force in the economic environment today is a deflationary pressure of a credit collapse, which simulates currency shortage. While more quantity but increasingly less productive debt is money printing, meaning there is inflation, it also increases the debt burden relative to circulating currency. It creates a debt-to-income problem that manifests as a monetary shortage.
“Digital ghost money for a new age of shortfalls.” — Jeff Snider
Snider sees bitcoin as a new ghost money, where I see new money. Ghost money is no threat to replace the monetary standard, because it is a derivative of that standard, like stablecoins. U.S. dollar stablecoins will not replace U.S. dollars. They are a perfect example of ghost money.
As Snider said above, quasi-money (ghost money) is only one solution to a currency shortage, yet he labels all solutions as ghost money regardless of makeup.
Snider offers evidence in the form of his eurodollar cycles and their timing with bitcoin cycles.
“In 2017’s bitcoin bubble, exactly the same. Its price in dollars went parabolic along with a clear bubble in digital offshoots, now-forgotten ICO’s, the frenzy never lasted long because the premise behind its price surge was entirely faulty. Once the dollar instead caught its Euro$ #4 bid, renewed acute shortage, bitcoin’s price sunk like a rock.” — Jeff Snider
They do match pretty well with bitcoin tops. Below is the best chart I could find of his with dates. However, many of his other charts have different dates for these cycles.
Pretty convincing, but it shouldn’t be a surprise — demand for bitcoin is a part of the larger global market for money. Bitcoiners would definitely agree. When dollar supply is tight during these eurodollar events, bitcoin loses a bid. However, if bitcoin truly were just a ghost money derivative of the eurodollar, it would not set higher highs and higher lows each cycle.
The reason bitcoin can set those new highs each time is because bitcoin is a new money, and is slowly becoming entrenched next to the eurodollar not as a ghost money of it.
Turning back to the Great Bullion Famine, it was followed by the explosion of ghost money, but what followed that expansion is even more interesting. What happened in the 18th century in regards to ghost money and new money? Britain went to a gold standard in 1717 (officially in 1819). It changed money from which the store-of-value function was derived.
The gold guinea (7.6885 grams of fine gold) was not a new ghost money. As I argued above, the eurodollar itself, initially a response to the currency shortage in the first half of the 20th century, evolved eventually into a new store-of-value in a pure credit-based money.
But what if we bring Snider’s position full circle, when he claims that the eurodollar is still ghost money today, a position gold bugs have argued for years. What if we are still on a quasi-gold standard, because central banks hold most of the gold. (Ron Paul famously asked Ben Bernanke why the Federal Reserve held gold if it was demonetized. His response, “it’s tradition, long-term tradition.”)
This interpretation of the current eurodollar system would then make it a ghost of a ghost, ultimately based on the same store of value. It would also make the current incarnation of the eurodollar just the end-phase of another ghost money experiment, ready to be replaced by a new money, the same way the British gold standard replaced the international silver standard.
Either way you take it, that the current eurodollar is a new money because it is a pure credit-based money, or that it is the ghost of a ghost still connected psychologically to a gold standard, both these positions support one conclusion. The ultimate end of the process Snider outlines — starting from a currency shortage, to dealing with inelasticity through ghost money, and finally back to economic health — is a new form of money.
Bitcoin is a new store of value to undergird the financial system as it desperately tries to throw off the currency shortage restraints at the end of an epic global credit cycle. Bitcoin is not a ghost of the old, it is the unconstrained new.
This is a guest post by Ansel Lindner. Opinions expressed are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.
The numbers: A closely-watched index that measures U.S. manufacturing activity fell 0.7 percentage points to 50.2 in October, according to the Institute for Supply Management on Tuesday.
Economists surveyed by the Wall Street Journal had forecast the index to inch down to 50. Any number below 50% reflects a shrinking economy.
It is the lowest level since May 2020.
Key details: The index for new orders remained in contraction territory, rising 2.1 points to 47.1. The production index rose 1.7 points to 52.3.
The employment index rose 1.3 points to 50 in October.
Supplier deliveries fell 5.6 points to 46.8 in October. This is the first time that deliveries were in a “faster” territory since February 2016.
The price index dropped 5.1 points to 46.6., also the lowest reading since the pandemic. Pricing power is shifting back to the buyer, the ISM said.
Only 8 of the 18 manufacturing industries reported growth in October.
Big picture: Manufacturing has been slowing recently led by softening business spending and fading demand for consumer goods. Economists think it is inevitable the index slips below the 50 threshold.
In a separate data, the S&P global U.S. manufacturing PMI inched up to 50.4 in its “final” reading in October from the “flash” reading of 49.9. This is down from a reading of 52 in September.
What ISM said: Manufacturing is slowing down and could soon enter contraction territory, but that doesn’t mean there will be a recession in the U.S., said Timothy Fiore, chair of the ISM factory business survey.
“I don’t see a collapse of new orders. I don’t see a collapse of the PMI,” Fiore said.
Looking ahead: “Recession jitters among manufacturers won’t disappear any time soon…manufacturing will endure more pain as demand weakens at home and abroad while prices stay high and interest rates remain fairly elevated,” said Oren Klachkin, economist at Oxford Economics.
Getting yourself motivated to hit the gym is not always easy. Workout and fitness motivational quotes can help motivate us to work out. If you need fitness and workout motivation, you’ve come to the right place. Here are 61 of the best fitness and workout quotes to get you motivated right now.
Use these motivational quotes for working out to help you stay focused on maintaining your health. Also, check out our list of Hustle Quotes for more inspiration.
Feel free to share these workout motivation quotes with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest.
Fitness and Workout Motivation Quotes
1. “Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” – Jim Rohn
2. “To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.” – Buddha
3. “Your body can stand almost anything. It’s your mind that you have to convince.” – Andrew Murphy
4. “The first wealth is health.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
5. “Greatness begins beyond your comfort zone.” – Robin Sharma
6. “If you do what you always did, you will get what you always got.” – Anonymous
7. “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain
11. “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
12. “Always do what you are afraid to do.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
13. “All progress takes place outside the comfort zone.” – Michael John Bobak
14. “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” – Jim Rohn
15. “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” – Mahatma Gandhi
16. “Treat your body like a temple, not a woodshed. The mind and body work together. Your body needs to be a good support system for the mind and spirit. If you take good care of it, your body can take you wherever you want to go, with the power and strength and energy and vitality you will need to get there.” – Jim Rohn
17. “You can’t enjoy wealth if you’re not in good health.” – Anonymous
18. “The mind always fails first, not the body. The secret is to make your mind work for you, not against you.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
19. “If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.” – Thomas Jefferson
20. “The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.” – Muhammad Ali
21. “The worst thing I can be is the same as everybody else. I hate that.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
22. “If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it – then I can achieve it.” – Muhammad Ali
23. “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar
24. “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.” – Vince Lombardi
25. “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford
26. “The resistance that you fight physically in the gym and the resistance that you fight in life can only build a strong character.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
27. “If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.” – Jim Rohn
28. “In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.” – Bill Cosby
29. “It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.” – Seneca
30. “Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them-a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have the skill, and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.” – Muhammad Ali
31. “Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
32. “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
33. “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.” – Tony Robbins
34. “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit’. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.” – Muhammad Ali
35. “The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as you really believe 100 percent.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
36. “The path to success is to take massive, determined action.” – Tony Robbins
37. “Do it, and then you will feel motivated to do it.” – Zig Ziglar
38. “Most everything that you want is just outside your comfort zone.” – Jack Canfield
39. “We cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are.” – Max DePree
40. “The body achieves what the mind believes.” – Unknown
41. “There’s no abiding success without commitment.” – Tony Robbins
42. “For me, life is about continuously being hungry. It’s meaning is not simply to just exist or to survive, but to move ahead, to go up, to achieve, to conquer. Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength. We all have great power. That power is self-faith. There’s really an attitude to winning. You have to see yourself winning before you win. And you have to be hungry. You have to want to conquer.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
43. “When you feel like quitting, think about why you started.” – Unknown
44. “Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.” – Jim Rohn
45. “In the game of life, before you get anything out, you must put something in!” – Zig Ziglar
46. “In life you need either inspiration or desperation.” – Tony Robbins
47. “Growth is the only evidence of life.” – John Henry Newman
48. “Bodybuilding is much like any other sport. To be successful, you must dedicate yourself 100% to your training, diet and mental approach.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
49. “If you don’t make time for exercise, you’ll probably have to make time for illness.” – Robin Sharma
50. “Look in the mirror. That’s your competition.” – John Assaraf
The Chicago Business Barometer, also known as the Chicago PMI, dropped to 45.2 in October from 45.7 in the prior month, according to data released Monday.
Economists polled by the Wall Street Journal forecast a 47 reading.
Readings below 50 indicate contraction territory.
The index is produced by the ISM-Chicago with MNI. It is released to subscribers three minutes before its release to the public at 9:45 am Eastern.
The Chicago PMI is the last of the regional manufacturing indices before the national factory data for October is released on Tuesday.
Economist polled by the Wall Street Journal expect the closely-watched Institute for Supply Management’s factory index to barely remain above the 50 breakeven level in October.
Becoming a successful entrepreneur requires a certain skill set and knowledge base. By investing in yourself, you are ensuring that your business is poised for success. Check out this article to find out what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur.
What Is An Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is someone who starts and runs their own business. They are typically creative and innovative, always looking for new ways to do things. They take risks, often investing their own money into their businesses. They are also passionate, driven, and motivated to succeed.
Entrepreneurs are usually good at problem-solving and can often see opportunities where others cannot. They are also usually very good at networking and building relationships with potential customers and partners.
Being an entrepreneur is not easy, but it can be extremely rewarding. Those who are successful in business often enjoy a high degree of financial and personal freedom.
If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and are considering starting your own business, you should keep a few things in mind.
First, you need to have an outstanding idea for a business.
Second, you must be willing to work hard and put in the long hours required to get a business off the ground.
Third, you need to be prepared to face setbacks and failures.
And finally, you need to be ready to take risks.
If you can do all these things, you have what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur.
5 Tips to Becoming an Entrepreneur
1. Building Your Knowledge Base and Skill Set
One of the most important things you can do as an entrepreneur is to build your skill set and knowledge base. It will allow you to take on new challenges and better solve problems as they arise.
Additionally, it will make you more valuable to potential customers and partners. It is also important to stay up-to-date on industry trends to adapt your business as needed. Building your skillset and knowledge base takes time and effort, but it is well worth it in the long run.
There are several ways to acquire these skills and knowledge.
One way is to attend a business school or program. It can allow you to learn about different aspects of business, from accounting and marketing to management and strategy.
Another way to gain the skills and knowledge necessary for success is to work for an established company in a relevant field. It can provide you with first-hand experience of how businesses operate and valuable industry contacts.
Finally, you can also read books and articles or attend seminars and workshops, providing the theoretical foundation you need to become a successful entrepreneur.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, once said, “Learn as much as you can about various disciplines and then specialize in one or two. It’s important to have a broad knowledge base, but at some point – usually in your 20s – it’s good to focus on something specific.” In other words, entrepreneurship requires a diverse skill set and a deep understanding.
By taking advantage of these resources, you can develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the business world.
2. Stating Your Idea and Claiming Your Niche
You must know that becoming a successful entrepreneur takes more than just having a great idea. It’s also important to articulate your idea and claim your niche. This is because investors want to see that you have a clear vision for your business and that you’re not just chasing the latest trend. By clearly stating your idea and explaining why it’s important, you’re more likely to attract interest and investment. And, as any successful entrepreneur knows, investment is essential for taking your business to the next level. So if you’re serious about becoming a successful entrepreneur, make sure you can articulate your vision and claim your niche. It could make all the difference in whether or not your business takes off.
When you do both of those things, you dramatically increase your chances of success.
The first step is to ensure that your idea is something people will want to use or buy. It’s no use having the best product in the world if nobody knows it exists. That’s why it’s so important to be able to explain your idea clearly and concisely. You need to be able to capture people’s attention and interest and make them believe that your product is worth their time and money.
The second step is to make sure that you have a well-defined niche. There are endless products and services, so you must ensure that yours stands out from the crowd. What makes your product unique? Who is your target market? Answering these questions will help you focus your marketing efforts and ensure you’re reaching the right people.
If you can master these two steps, you’ll be well on becoming a successful entrepreneur. So don’t give up on your great idea – just make sure you can articulate it clearly and know to who you want to sell it. With those two things in place, you’ll be well on your way to success.
3. Building Your Network
Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay
Successful entrepreneurs require hard work, dedication, and a strong network of supportive people. A good network can give entrepreneurs access to valuable resources, advice, and connections.
It can also help to open up new opportunities and provide a safety net during difficult times. In other words, a strong network is essential for anyone who wants to build a successful business.
There are a few key things to keep in mind when building a network:
It’s important to focus on quality over quantity. It’s better to have a few close relationships with people who are truly supportive and helpful than to have many superficial relationships.
It’s important to be generous with your time and energy. Helping others is one of the best ways to build strong relationships.
Do not hesitate to ask for help when you need it. Building a successful business is a team effort, so asking for help is an essential part of the process.
Building a strong network takes time and effort, but it’s worth it. Start to reach out and build those relationships today!
4. Understanding The Market
Before starting a business, you need to identify a need or want in the marketplace that you can fill. It requires market research, which collects data about consumers, competitors, and the overall industry.
Once you have a clear understanding of the market, you can begin to develop your business plan and formulate strategies for success. Without this foundation, making your business idea reality will be difficult.
In short, market research is essential for anyone who wants to become an entrepreneur. By taking the time to understand the needs of consumers and the competitive landscape, you’ll be in a much better position to launch a successful business.
5. Building Your Business
Entrepreneurs are a special breed of people. They see opportunity, whereas others see only hardship. They are willing to take risks where others play it safe.
And they have the drive and determination to turn their vision into reality. But becoming an entrepreneur is not easy. It requires hard work, dedication, and a willingness to seize opportunities when they arise.
For many people, the best way to become an entrepreneur is to build their own business. It allows them to be their boss, set their hours, and control their destiny. It also allows them to learn firsthand what it takes to be successful in business.
So if you’re dreaming of becoming an entrepreneur, the first step is to start building your own business. It’s the best way to learn the skills you need and to gain the experience you need to succeed.
What Are Some Common Entrepreneurship Risks?
Some common risks in entrepreneurship include financial risks, such as investing all of your savings into a business that fails or not being able to secure enough funding. There is also the risk of failure and having to shut down the business. Other risks may include legal issues, competition, and market changes.
Being an entrepreneur requires being able to assess and manage these risks to achieve success. It may include having a backup plan, seeking mentorship and advice, and constantly adapting to the changing market.
Overall, entrepreneurship involves taking risks, but it is important to make educated and calculated decisions to minimize potential negative outcomes. Remember, successful entrepreneurs often fail multiple times before achieving success. So don’t let fear of failure stop you from following your entrepreneurial dreams.
In Conclusion
Being an entrepreneur requires a unique set of skills and traits. It involves networking, understanding the market, building your business, and managing risks. All of these elements are necessary for success in entrepreneurship.
Are you ready to start your journey? Take the first step today towards turning your dream into reality. Happy entrepreneurial adventures!
Economists widely expect Federal Reserve monetary-policy makers to approve a fourth straight jumbo interest-rate rise at its meeting this week. A hike of three-quarters of a percentage point would bring the central bank’s benchmark rate to a level of 3.75%- 4%.
“The November decision is a lock. Well, I would be floored if they didn’t go 75 basis points,” said Jonathan Pingle, chief U.S. economist at UBS.
The Fed decision will come at 2 p.m. on Wednesday after two days of talks among members of the Federal Open Market Committee.
What happens at Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s press conference a half-hour later will be more fraught.
The focus will be on whether Powell gives a signal to the market about plans for a smaller rise in its benchmark interest rate in December.
The Fed’s “dot plot” projection of interest rates, released in September, already penciled in a slowdown to a half-point rate hike in December, followed by a quarter-point hike early in 2023.
The market is expecting signals about a change in policy, and many think Powell will use his press conference to hint that a slower pace of interest-rate rises is indeed coming.
A Wall Street Journal story last week reported that some Fed officials are not keen to keep hiking rates by 75 basis points per meeting. That, alongside San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly’s comment that the Fed needs to start talking about slowing down the pace of hikes, were taken as a sign of a slowdown to come by the stock and bond markets.
“No one wants to be late for the pivot party, so the hint was enough,” said Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics.
Luke Tilley, chief economist at Wilmington Trust, said he thinks Powell will signal a smaller rate hike in December by focusing on some of the good wage-inflation news that was published earlier Friday.
There was a clear slowdown in private-sector wage growth, Tilley said.
But the problem with Powell signaling he has found an exit ramp from the jumbo rate hikes this year is that his committee members might not be ready to signal a downshift, Pingle of UBS said. He argued that the inflation data writ large in September won’t give Fed officials any confidence that a cooling in price pressures is in the offing.
Another worry for Powell is that future data might not cooperate.
There are two employment reports and two consumer-price-inflation reports before the next Fed policy meeting on Dec. 13–14.
So Powell might have to reverse course.
“If you pre-commit and the data slaps you in the head — then you can’t follow through,” said Stephen Stanley, chief economist at Amherst Pierpont Securities.
This has been the Fed’s pattern all year, Stanley noted. It was only in March that the Fed thought its terminal rate, or the peak benchmark rate, wouldn’t rise above 3%.
While the Fed may want to slow down the pace of rate hikes, it doesn’t want the market to take a downshift in the size of rate rises as a signal that a rate cut is in the offing. But some analysts believe that the first cut in fact will come soon after the Fed reduces the size of its rate rises.
In general terms, the Fed wants financial conditions to stay restrictive in order to squeeze the life out of inflation.
Pingle said he expects Kansas City Fed President Esther George to formally dissent in favor of a slower pace of rate hikes.
There is growing disagreement among economists about the “peak” or “terminal rate” of this hiking cycle. The Fed has penciled in a terminal rate in the range of 4.5%–4.75%. Some economists think the terminal rate could be lower than that. Others think that rates will go above 5%.
Those who think the Fed will stop short of 5% tend to talk about a recession, with the fast pace of Fed hikes “breaking something.” Those who see rates above 5% think that inflation will be much more persistent.
Ultimately, Amherst Pierpont’s Stanley is of the view that the data aren’t going to be the deciding factor. “The answer to the question of what either forces or allows the Fed to stop is probably not going to come from the data. The answer is going to be that the Fed has a number in mind to pause,” he said.
The Fed “is careening toward this moment of truth where it has very tight labor markets and very high inflation, and the Fed is going to come out and say, ‘OK, we’re ready to pause here.’ “
“That strikes me that is going to be a very volatile period for the market,” he added.
Fed fund futures markets are already volatile, with traders penciling in a terminal rate above 5% two weeks ago and now seeing a 4.85% terminal rate.
Over the month of October, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note TMUBMUSD10Y, 4.046%
rose steadily above 4.2% before softening to 4% in recent days.
“When you get close to the end, every move really counts,” Stanley said.
Economists widely expect Federal Reserve monetary-policy makers to approve a fourth straight jumbo interest-rate rise at its meeting this week. A hike of three-quarters of a percentage point would bring the central bank’s benchmark rate to a level of 3.75%- 4%.
“The November decision is a lock. Well, I would be floored if they didn’t go 75 basis points,” said Jonathan Pingle, chief U.S. economist at UBS.
The Fed decision will come at 2 p.m. on Wednesday after two days of talks among members of the Federal Open Market Committee.
What happens at Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s press conference a half-hour later will be more fraught.
The focus will be on whether Powell gives a signal to the market about plans for a smaller rise in its benchmark interest rate in December.
The Fed’s “dot plot” projection of interest rates, released in September, already penciled in a slowdown to a half-point rate hike in December, followed by a quarter-point hike early in 2023.
The market is expecting signals about a change in policy, and many think Powell will use his press conference to hint that a slower pace of interest-rate rises is indeed coming.
A Wall Street Journal story last week reported that some Fed officials are not keen to keep hiking rates by 75 basis points per meeting. That, alongside San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly’s comment that the Fed needs to start talking about slowing down the pace of hikes, were taken as a sign of a slowdown to come by the stock and bond markets.
“No one wants to be late for the pivot party, so the hint was enough,” said Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics.
Luke Tilley, chief economist at Wilmington Trust, said he thinks Powell will signal a smaller rate hike in December by focusing on some of the good wage-inflation news that was published earlier Friday.
There was a clear slowdown in private-sector wage growth, Tilley said.
But the problem with Powell signaling he has found an exit ramp from the jumbo rate hikes this year is that his committee members might not be ready to signal a downshift, Pingle of UBS said. He argued that the inflation data writ large in September won’t give Fed officials any confidence that a cooling in price pressures is in the offing.
Another worry for Powell is that future data might not cooperate.
There are two employment reports and two consumer-price-inflation reports before the next Fed policy meeting on Dec. 13–14.
So Powell might have to reverse course.
“If you pre-commit and the data slaps you in the head — then you can’t follow through,” said Stephen Stanley, chief economist at Amherst Pierpont Securities.
This has been the Fed’s pattern all year, Stanley noted. It was only in March that the Fed thought its terminal rate, or the peak benchmark rate, wouldn’t rise above 3%.
While the Fed may want to slow down the pace of rate hikes, it doesn’t want the market to take a downshift in the size of rate rises as a signal that a rate cut is in the offing. But some analysts believe that the first cut in fact will come soon after the Fed reduces the size of its rate rises.
In general terms, the Fed wants financial conditions to stay restrictive in order to squeeze the life out of inflation.
Pingle said he expects Kansas City Fed President Esther George to formally dissent in favor of a slower pace of rate hikes.
There is growing disagreement among economists about the “peak” or “terminal rate” of this hiking cycle. The Fed has penciled in a terminal rate in the range of 4.5%–4.75%. Some economists think the terminal rate could be lower than that. Others think that rates will go above 5%.
Those who think the Fed will stop short of 5% tend to talk about a recession, with the fast pace of Fed hikes “breaking something.” Those who see rates above 5% think that inflation will be much more persistent.
Ultimately, Amherst Pierpont’s Stanley is of the view that the data aren’t going to be the deciding factor. “The answer to the question of what either forces or allows the Fed to stop is probably not going to come from the data. The answer is going to be that the Fed has a number in mind to pause,” he said.
The Fed “is careening toward this moment of truth where it has very tight labor markets and very high inflation, and the Fed is going to come out and say, ‘OK, we’re ready to pause here.’ “
“That strikes me that is going to be a very volatile period for the market,” he added.
Fed fund futures markets are already volatile, with traders penciling in a terminal rate above 5% two weeks ago and now seeing a 4.85% terminal rate.
Over the month of October, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note TMUBMUSD10Y, 4.030%
rose steadily above 4.2% before softening to 4% in recent days.
“When you get close to the end, every move really counts,” Stanley said.