You often hear about the valuation of companies, but it doesn’t always seem to make much sense. In some cases, the number is a ridiculous figure, such as in the case of large companies such as Amazon or Facebook — the number seems gigantic, and can it possibly be true? Well, the answer is yes and no. The truth is that finding the precise value of a company can be difficult and, in some cases, impossible. If you see a valuation, then what’s happened is that someone has used one of several models to calculate the worth of the company. All of the models have their advantages and drawbacks, and some lend themselves to certain businesses more than others.

If you see a valuation of a company, then it is likely that the figure was calculated using either a market-based approach, an income-based approach, or an asset-based approach. But as we said, none of them are perfect, and there’s a lot of subjective opinion that is ultimately used in the valuation process.

But now, you might be asking yourself, ‘why does this even matter?’ and the answer is that there are many reasons why it matters. They’re useful when it comes to business mergers, or applying for a business loan, or they can just help put a value on the business if it’s being sold, among other reasons.

To learn more about business valuations and how they’re calculated and why, take a look at the infographic below, which was produced by Northeastern University.

When you decide to pursue things in life, you’ve gotta have a game plan—in this case, #GOALS👊. What’s the point of doing something when you don’t know which direction you are going in? What do you plan to accomplish? How do you plan to accomplish this? When do you plan to do this? 

If you’re selling hot dogs🌭 at your cart, you don’t just get up one day and decide to do it. Your best bet at success is to have some projections📈 that can push you towards what you want to achieve. 

“I plan to sell 20 trillion hot dogs by next week so that I can raise enough capital to turn my hot dog cart into a gourmet hot dog restaurant”

When you’re setting your goals, it’s important to be SMART—Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Reasonable and Timely. Using SMART goals can set you up for success in your goal setting.

The ‘S’ in SMART means ‘Specific’🔎 and this alludes to having as much clarity as possible, i.e your goal has to be spelled out precisely. In the initial stages of discussing this goal, use words and phrases that leave no doubt as to what the goal is 👍.

There should be no room for misunderstandings😕 of what the goal is, as it should be well-defined and concise. Also, remember your Why and your How. Why are you doing this? How will you get there?

If you don’t understand what you really want from the get-go, you’ll have difficulties achieving what you want. This is the initial stage in establishing the SMART goals process–paving the way forward–so you want to take the time and do this part right.

The ‘M’ stands for ‘Measurable’📏. What does this mean? You have to be able to track your goal, and determine whether or not it’s attainable. If it’s attainable, ask yourself “How far away is this goal?”

You won’t be able to tell when you’ve succeeded if you can’t quantify this goal. 

Here’s a prime example of a measurable goal: “I want to add 100 dollars per week of income to our bank by writing five 500-word articles every day.”

Now, the ‘A’ can stand for a variety of things that usually stem along the lines of Achievable📊, Assignable📝 or Actionable🏃‍♀️. 

The bottom line is this: Is it DOABLE? (Wait, that starts with a D, and that would change the acronym to SMDRT goals; wouldn’t it?🤣) 

The problem with a myriad of startups is that their goals are often unrealistic, to say the least. You can have big dreams but with baby steps. Think about it. Those million-dollar companies were not built within a day or two. 

They had realistic goals that were manageable at their level until they achieved the growth they needed to move further; hence, your goals should be Achievable or you will only get frustrated.

In addition, preference to really get something good done is to make your goal actionable—something you can do each day that will eventually result in an accomplished goal. Be accurate about the time it takes to reach a goal, and what actions it takes to get there. ✊

Let’s move on to ‘R’, which can stand for ‘Realistic’🤔 or ‘Relevant’😊. Think big, but stay grounded in reality. Don’t engross yourself in unrealistic expectations based on hype or wants that are not a necessity. Your goal should also be ‘Relevant’ to your life’s vision.  

Last but not least, we have arrived to the ‘T’. Authors refer to the “T” in the S.M.A.R.T. acronym as time-bound⏲️, timely⏲️ or trackable ⏲️. Time is your most important asset, especially when it comes to setting a goal. 

Many of us are prone to procrastinate and setting a deadline often helps us to achieve our goals. Whether you’re planning on increasing your sales by 30% or planning on losing 55 pounds, set a solid time-frame in which you plan to achieve these.  

All of the T’s are important parts of the goal creating and setting process so set a time limit and you track⏱️what is happening.

Now Let’s Talk About Prioritizing your #GOALS 

Seek clarity on what will make you truly happy in life in order to prioritize your goals. There are typically four areas in which most people make their goals:

1. Family – Spending more time with your kids or partner 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
2. Financial – Saving toward your six-month emergency cash or starting a business 💰
3. Physical – Being healthy and more active 💪
4. Personal – Getting more education, or devoting more time to spiritual pursuits ✌️

There are numerous concerns within each of these areas, but most goals can be summed up into one of these four areas.

As to which goals are most important at any given time, you’ll need to ask yourself some questions to determine where to place your focus.

Which goals nag at you most often? 😣

Sometimes there are things you want to have in your life and that may bother you consistently. You may find yourself worrying about those things at different points in the day or losing sleep over them at night.  

• Are your finances suffering because you cannot earn enough money at your current job?  
• Do you want to figure out how to get off the roller coaster of debt? (See what we did there?) 

This is a goal that fits in with all four of the areas above because financial stress can cause a lot of problems with your health, personal development and even within your family. Studies have shown that most couples argue over money and in worst cases, this can also lead to a divorce. 

If you really want to put yourself on the right track, understand the goals you need to achieve the life you want. 

Which goals can be accomplished most easily? 😎

A part of prioritizing your goals is identifying the ones that come easiest on your list📝. Some goals are very short-term but give maximum impact without too much work. 

For instance, maybe you have a goal of walking 15 minutes per day; it’s not much but it is progress nonetheless and it’s certainly better than doing nothing while you wait until you’re able to achieve a larger goal. 

Which goals would give you the most pride in yourself? 🤸

You probably want to achieve one million things at once, but have you ever asked yourself: Which goals would instill most pride in yourself? 

Will you feel better if you lose 20 pounds or will you feel better if you spend 20 minutes extra with your son? 

Keep in mind that there is no wrong answer. But also acknowledge the following: Being healthy might ultimately give you more time in terms of years with your son and you’ll at least be able to keep up with him if he’s at an age where he’s really energetic.

Which goals have the most permanent results? 📈

I’m sure you’ve heard of long-term goals and short-term goals, which ties in with “Which goals have the most permanent results?” 

When choosing to invest that extra money on your degree, determine how permanent the results are and acknowledge that no one can take that degree from you. It will always be an accomplishment. So, what is it worth?

Which goals will still impact me in 5 years, or 10 years? ⌛

You decided to start a business today and you made sure to work towards the goals in order to achieve growth. 

How will your actions today impact tomorrow? After all, we’re not looking for present solutions only, but solutions that can set us up for the rest of our lives. 

Which goals align with your core values in life? 💪

You have to first identify what your ideal life looks like. Any goal that fits into all four areas of your life is worth pursuing if it also fits into your schedule at the time. By the way, don’t spend your life searching for “the dream job”, instead, find a job that supports your dreams. 

Which goals are completely up to you; that you control 💯percent?

Make sure that the goals you plan to achieve are the goals that are solely dependent on you. You don’t want to wait for anyone and when you accomplish what you want, you should be able to say “I got here by myself”. 

Remember that you cannot control what anyone else does, so if any goal relies on the participation of someone else, and you don’t have their participation, you might want to switch gears and focus on something only you control. 

Which goals are just for you? 🧘

We understand the goals where you want to start making $10,000 a month so that you can start taking care of your elderly parents while still living comfortably or where you want to change from having a 9-5 job to being a Freelancer just so you can spend more time with your newborn baby. 

Those are great… but which goals are solely for you? 

Which goals are just for others? 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Before you spend time doing things you may not enjoy, make sure you aren’t doing it for someone else’s benefit. 

There are “shoulds” that often get in the way of proper goal setting and these are goals that are usually only for other people. 

Your spouse says you “should” lose weight, your mom says you “should” go to college. 

NEWS FLASH!! None of these are a good reason to do something but if it is something you truly want to do, then do it by all means. Just make sure you’re not going to waste your time on something you may regret later just to make someone else happy now. 

Which goals cause you the most fear and Why? 😨

Sometimes the very things you fear the most are what’s best for you to do. Life won’t always be gumdrops and lollipops (Which aren’t best for you by the way so lay off the candy!). If you’re always inside your comfort zone, you’ll never get to where you want to be. 

Analyze your goal and figure out why it frightens you. Sometimes it’s the unknown, and like ripping a Band-Aid off, just doing it might be the best cure. 

Which goals make you excited? 💃

When something makes you feel excited, you’ll only want it more. Some goals immediately send tingles down your body and into your mind, pushing you forward to doing it. 

The feeling of excitement is a great source of motivation no matter if your goal is an easier or more difficult one to accomplish. If it’s a difficult goal, remind yourself of how excited you are to make this happen! 

However, set your goals wisely, because if this goal involves beating your high score on your video game, then you might want to question your “why”. 

Ask yourself all of these questions and we guarantee that you’ll be able to see how the goals practically organize on their own. You could also try making a chart and adding each goal to the four areas, then choosing the ones that cross the most areas to add to your schedule first.

With the Philippines’ seat of government located in its capital city, it’s also the location to some of the best schools in Southeast Asia, including those that accommodate international students.

Among the educational institutions catering to multi-national students are the international schools in Manila.

There are other schools in the country that cater to students of diverse nationalities. If you or your child is interested in studying at a school accepting international students in this area, there are some things that you have to know, specifically the common requirements for foreign students wishing to study in the Philippines.

These requirements include the following:

No pending disciplinary action from the previous school

The student must be cleared of any disciplinary action from the previous school to be eligible for transfer to an international school. He or she must also be clear of any emotional problem to considered for transfer.

Has parents who are Philippine residents

The student must be residing with a parent(s) in the Philippines but not necessarily as Philippine citizens. Exceptions can be made upon school approval before the start of admissions.

Must pass the Admissions Test administered by the school

As a standard requirement in most schools, the foreign student must pass the Admissions Test to be given by the school.

Must pass the interview by a Guidance Counselor

During the interview, the Guidance Counselor will assess the student’s capacity to benefit from the school’s academic offering, as well as other relevant assessment factors.

Must submit pertinent documents

The student will be asked to submit pertinent documents such as his or her passport together with the parent(s). The student must also submit academic records (previous and current, if a transferee), as well as transfer documents from the current school.

Other requirements

Aside from these common admissions requirements, there are also schools that require foreign students to submit a valid visa, while others require the student to pass either theGeneral Certificate of Education (GCE)or theScholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).

Some schools, meanwhile, demand that foreign students pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). These are students who are non-native English speakers or whose school does not use English as the primary medium of instruction.

The differences in admissions requirements are due to the varying policies of the schools admitting foreign students, as well as the educational level of the foreign student.

That said, some requirements are only required on students who are entering collegiate level while others are only requested from taking graduate studies. To be sure, you should directly inquire with the school that your child wishes to enroll in. Studying in the Philippines as a foreign student can be quite an adventure, as the country is a proverbial cultural melting pot. It also has a big English-speaking population, which makes communication relatively easy. Finally, the country is home to some of the finest beaches, stunning churches, and hospitable people who are particularly welcoming to foreign nationalities. With this in mind, you are sure to have fun while studying in the Philippines.

Night shifts can often be seen as difficult, troublesome and bad for your inner clock. Waking up in the afternoon or evening and going to work when the sun is down might seem like a strange career decision, but it’s actually something that many introverts enjoy.

You interact with fewer people

Even if you’re taking a night shift in a busy environment such as a hospital, you typically interact with fewer people because most of the world is actually asleep. Of course, when you do interact with someone, it’s often a lot more involved because you’re the only person around in most cases. However, the average number of people that you have to speak with is considerably lower.

You get more freedom

Since you’re going to be working during the hours where most people are asleep, you actually avoid a lot of the problematic things that most people encounter with a regular day job. For instance, you won’t need to deal with crowded public transport or heavy traffic ever again. You also tend to get a bit more freedom at work, especially if it’s something like a security job at a front desk.

We’ve included a fantastic infographic that will teach you some tips on how to survive long hours and night shifts. It’s full of fantastic advice on how you can cope with long hours and night shifts. While it’s specific to nursing, we believe that there is plenty of excellent information here for anyone.

Infographic by:  Bradley University

Moving your career onto a different path is a big step, especially if you have been in your current profession for a little while. However, having said this, it is never too late to try something new if you find yourself wanting something different. We are all allowed to change our minds and go on a new adventure if this is what we want. But, what do you have to do if you want to move your career in a different direction? Keep reading to find out.

Find A New Passion

The first thing that you are going to need is a new passion. There is no point in changing your career if the thing that you want to move towards isn’t something that you are passionate about. It will likely end up being something that you get bored of in the first couple of weeks, and then you will be right back where you started. If you are going to make this change, it should be for something that you really want or something that you really care about.

Finding something that you are passionate about enough to take on as a full-time career is not easy, which is why you need to be sure. Don’t jump or rush into anything, take your time.

Get Some More Education Behind You

Certain professions require you to have different levels of education behind you. For example, some jobs might make it necessary for you to have a masters in engineering management, where another one might just require you to have finished high school. It depends what you want to do, but as a general rule, the more education you have behind you, the better position you are going to be in.

If you want to give yourself the best chance in life, you want to get a degree, and then you want to go from there. Even if you do another, or progress further, or have to go back to the beginning to study in your new field, education is never going to be a waste of time.

Have The Courage To Leave Your Job

The final thing that you are going to need is the courage to leave your job. You are never going to get anywhere if you don’t let go of what is holding you back. Now, we are not saying that you should go ahead and quit your job today, you have bills today, and you might not have figured out what you are going to do yet. But, when the time comes, you need to be prepared to say goodbye to your old career and have the courage to move into something unknown. Remember that it is always going to be the risk you didn’t take that you will regret the most.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now know what you need to do to move your career in a different direction. Good luck, and we hope you find whatever it is that you want to do for the rest of your life.

The phenomenon of the gender pay gap is a devastatingly embarrassing blight on the professional structure worldwide. In the US, while the gender pay gap is steadily shrinking, at the current rate, it will take over 50 years to establish equity. For all of us reading this, that is certainly too long to wait. Studies indicate that currently, in the US, women make an average of .79 cents for every dollar that a man makes in a comparable position. There can be nothing to blame but gender bias for this staggering 21% average gap. 

if you are looking for a position where this will be less of an issue or seeking a way to make a difference in a male-dominated profession, it is useful to know what industries represent the most and least gender pay gap structures. 

Industries with the largest gap

It’s no surprise that male-dominated industries make up the majority of those that represent the highest gender gap disparity in wages. 

1. Aviation: The male-dominated industry of piloting planes has been demonstrated to be the largest culprit with male pilots making over 26% more than female counterparts. Part of this is likely the fact that only 7% of the workforce is made up of women. 
2. Professional Chefs: Women chefs in the US make around $9,000 less than men who hold the same jobs which can take a bite in a profession that has an average pay of around $45k per year. In addition, the chance for advancement for women chefs is much lower. The percentage of female executive chefs is very small, with a recent article pointing out that none are represented in the establishments of many high-profile restaurateurs including bit names like David Chang, Tom Colicchio, Daniel Boulud and Jean-Georges Vongerichten. 
3. C-Suite Executives: In another male-dominated field, the upper echelons of corporations, women and men are being paid terribly unequally. Even though women have been replacing men more often in recent years  (up to 22% in 2018 from 18% in 2017) they are not receiving adequate compensation that is commensurate with a man in the same role. Women executives earn 24% less than men even when they should be cracking the glass ceiling toward executive compensation. 

Jobs where there is more gender pay equity

While there are a number of positions where women are paid equally to (or with even greater salaries than) men, these tend to be low level or financially less prosperous positions. 

• Merchandiser: A female-dominated business, the work of a merchandiser is to keep shelves stocked and to design displays in retail stores. While this job does pay better for women than men, the income is rather low (less than $30k on average) and those these merchandisers report to are generally men. For example, fewer than 30% of those in senior leadership in retail food businesses are women. 

• Research Assistants: Again this represents a lower-paying position that is subordinate to the male-dominated profession of academia. However, women in this role do make about 6% more than men.

• Social work: Only about 18% of the social work profession are male, and women’s salaries are about 3% higher than men. For whatever reason, women tend to be better represented and are now being more equitably funded in social sciences.

How to combat gender pay inequality

There are two main distinct tacks you can take that have proven effective in the fight against pay inequality. 

Mentorship opportunities: Women that have been trailblazers in male-dominated professions are often available as mentors, even looking to help other female candidates to help raise up. Seeking a mentor is a great way to follow in the footsteps of those that came before and to learn how to get the most value out of a job. 

Learning negotiation tactics: While it is understood that women are generally less aggressive in negotiation, there are ways for even introverted women to reframe their negotiation strategies to their advantage. An example of how women can reframe their negotiation thinking is that women tend to fight more effectively on behalf of someone other than themselves. By thinking of contract negotiations as a way to (for example) help women fight inequality, it is more likely that negotiations will be framed more fairly. 

50 years is much too long to wait for gender equality in pay. By understanding which positions have far to go and which provide better avenues, you can frame how to create an opportunity for yourself while combating the wage gap.

In a society dominated by extroversion, introverts are quietly thriving and so can you. 

The NEO-PI-R Personality Inventory measures introversion-extroversion under six facets: 

1. Warmth: Introverts are a slow burn, more likely to mind others’ space and avoid ‘breaking the ice’.
2. Gregariousness: Introverts tend to avoid noisy areas and people, preferring their own company and sincere, meaningful conversations. 
3. Assertiveness: Being unable to speak up for yourself can be frustrating for an introvert, especially when there’s a need that isn’t being met. On the upside, introverts are generally more thoughtful and less abrasive to be around.
4. Activity Level: Introverts prefer to take their time and assess situations at leisure. This trait saves them from uncomfortable situations and social faux pas that highly extroverted people end up getting into. 
5. Excitement Seeking: Introverts don’t require as much stimulation and action as their counterparts. They are mostly content with their own routines. 
6. Positive Emotion: This doesn’t mean introverts are negative – it means they find it harder to express their positive emotions. 

It’s not all or nothing, however. Introverts can be extremely warm and assertive, for example, but still score high on the other facets.

Think of introversion-extroversion as a spectrum: 

Understanding your own trail mix of introversion can help define the career path that is perfect for you. Try this quiz from organizational psychologist Adam Grant and see where you fall.

Benefits of Being a Career Introvert 

• Introverts often nurture their inner world through personal and professional development. They are able to quietly course-correct by observing their own strengths and weaknesses. 
• Introverts actively listen and observe details and patterns that others overlook. They weigh all sides of an issue so that when they speak, it is well-reasoned and cuts through the noise. 
• Introverts are highly independent individuals who prefer to work alone. They learn on their own, requiring minimum supervision. While others socialize, they get stuff done. All they need is space to create their own structures and fall into a routine. 

So which career paths are most suitable for a person with these characteristics and strengths? 

Career Choices For An Introvert

Here’s a list that offers independent, remote work opportunities for the career introvert, away from the hustle and bustle of the corporate world.

Writer

“Every secret of a writer’s soul, every experience of his life, every quality of his mind, is written large in his works.” Virginia Woolf

Writing is a highly solitary profession that requires extremely high levels of focus and self-reflection. 

Many introverts are drawn to it because it allows them to express themselves without fear of social burnout. Their keen observational skills, love of learning, and clarity of thought also come into play.

Explore the following options:

Subject Specialist Writer

You could be a subject specialist writer with a deep understanding of a narrow topic, e.g., insurance or travel. With that knowledge, you can create link-generating content like e-books, whitepapers and detailed tutorials.

Generalist Copywriter

If you are a person of many talents, or have a high capacity to learn, you could become a generalist copywriter. Learn and write, learn and write. Content types include (but are not limited to):

• Blog posts
• Listicles
• Reviews
• Infographics
• Product Descriptions

Brand Journalist

Ever heard of brand journalism? You get to write longer pieces like those found in your favorite editorials and magazines. A brand journalist is really good at highlighting the story of a brand while appealing to consumer interest. 

SEO Copywriter

Do you know about SEO? Learn how to be an SEO copywriter who writes clearly targeted content that drives traffic and awareness to your client’s site. 

UX Writer

UX means User Experience. A digital UX writer’s main goal is to cut through the confusion, helping online users get from A to B with ease. All writing must be clear and useful.

Lead Generation Writer

All copywriting is writing for conversion, true, but a lead generation writer approaches it with the same precision an architect would use to plan out a 30-storey building.

You do this through:

• Landing pages
• Calls-to-Action (CTAs)
• Sales Letters
• Banner Ads
• Pay-per-Click Ads (PPC)

Sound like you? Learn how to be a highly-sought-after copywriter with a diverse range of skills.

Proofreader

This is a job that makes use of an introvert’s attention to detail. A proofreader must be able to conduct research and multi-task on top of being an excellent editor. 

Tasks include:

• Correcting grammar and spelling on written materials like press releases, web content and emails 
• Fact-checking references 
• Ensuring all content aligns with brand values
• Making editorial recommendations

Transcriptionist

A transcriptionist listens to and then types live or recorded audio files, producing a written document of spoken words. 

This job is for detail-oriented individuals who type well and can meet strict deadlines.

Perfect for an introvert.

The transcription services you offer may be for business or even medical purposes. Examples include:

Business

• conference notes
• dictation
• podcasts
• interviews
• meetings

Medical 

• depositions
• medical dictation
• hospital transcriptions
• medical recordings
• reports

Legal 

• emergency phone recordings, e.g., 911 calls
• court hearings
• depositions
• witness interviews
• wiretaps

To be a successful transcriptionist, you need to know your chosen industry jargon, terminologies and insider references. 

Nothing a knowledge-loving introvert can’t master. Start here. 

Web Developer

Calling all tech-savvy introverts: this job is for you.

Web developers create and design websites from the ground up, using codes that control what the user sees, its technical aspects, as well as overall website performance.

There are three types of web developers: 

Front-end developers

They work on the aesthetic part of the website, i.e., what the user navigates. This includes site layout and applications. 

Back-end developers

They work behind-the-scenes, creating the framework of the site and making sure everything works. For everything the front-end designs, the back-end provides utility. 

Full-stack developers 

They do it all. Challenge accepted?

Social Media Manager

Social media management works best for introverts who like to interact from a safe distance. 

Tasks include: 

• creating, planning and engaging with content 
• managing platforms and online communities
• generating leads and inbound links
• goal setting
• raising and managing brand awareness

Virtual Bookkeeper

A bookkeeper must be exceptionally meticulous, trustworthy and detail-oriented. They are responsible for a company’s sensitive financial records. 

Tasks include: 

• account management
• bank and credit card reconciliation
• budgeting
• financial advice
• data entry
• inventory management
• financial reports
• tax records

Graphic Designer

1. How does an introvert designer make money from his art without marketing himself?
2. By using platforms like RedBubble or Zazzle to display your designs and attract paying clients. 

Still new to the design game? Keep learning. Take a look at this list of top 10 graphic design courses. 

Whatever career path you choose, be sure to adopt a growth mindset, work towards overcoming anxiety, and accept yourself in all your introverted glory.

Afterall, everybody has to start somewhere.