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It’s been a while since I’ve offered a glimpse into my exercise library and shared an example of something I’ve been playing around with of late. Today’s exercise is nothing revolutionary, but it’s simplicity is one of the reasons I feel it’s so effective. Whether you workout at home or in a commercial gym it can be performed rather easily, and the set-up is minimal. Offset Glute Bridge DB Press[embedded content] Who Did I Steal It From? – Your mom. Just kidding. I know Ben Bruno has done similar variations from the floor, so I guess he serves as my muse in this instance. What Does It Do? – This is a great example of an exercise that provides a high-training effect with a low dose. Here we’re targeting the pecs (obviously), but we’re also getting a high degree of glute activation and an even higher degree of core recruitment. I’m a BIG fan of “offset” training. This is where you hold a weight (dumbbell, barbell, KB, Mjolnir) on ONE-side of the body and perform all your repetitions before switching to the other side. In this case the benefit is you have to do all you can to “steady” yourself and not fall off the bench as the set progresses. It’s core training 101. Resisting/stabilizing external forces & vectors. Moreover, the exercise is made exponentially more difficult when performed in the “off-bench” position (glute bridge) because 1) there’s less of the bench to keep you stable and 2) you have to work to maintain appropriate lumbo-pelvic alignment as a result. Key Coaching Cues – This is admittedly a bit of a wonky exercise at first, especially with regards to getting into position. The best piece of advice I can offer is to place the DB on your lap first and then use that (and the bench) as leverage as you finagle yourself into the bridge position. Rest your head on the bench. When you’re set make a fist with your free hand to help ramp up and maintain full-body tension. Be prepared to get diesel. Did what you just read make your day? Ruin it? Either way, you should share it with your friends and/or comment below.via Blog – Tony Gentilcore http://tonygentilcore.com/2018/08/exercises-offset-glute-bridge-db-press/
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This is a post from a member of the Freelancers Union community. If you’re interested in sharing your expertise, your story, or some advice you think will help a fellow freelancer out, feel free to send your blog post to us here. As a proud expat of the 9-to-5 culture, the freedom of freelance thrills me. I work only on projects that interest me, and only when I feel like it. I can (and often do) work in yoga pants. There’s no clock to punch and no boss to moan about. That’s the dream, right? Not always. After saying “toodle-oo” to my previous career, I struggled to set a schedule. While I liked the freedom of freelance work, I also craved predictability. Without structure, I fell into a funk. I rarely changed out of my pajamas. Cheetos became my best friend. It was like my passion and motivation hit a wall. I fell into something that I like to call the “possum effect.” I spent my childhood summers in rural Oklahoma, where I stumbled across my fair share of wildlife. One summer, my dad was trying to trap a mischievous skunk that had been pestering our chickens. He never caught that skunk, but night after night, without fail, he always caught a large gray-haired possum. After feasting on the skunk bait, the possum fell asleep in the cage and had zero intention of leaving. Night came, and we opened the cage for the possum once again. I thought he would run free, but he did nothing. Nada. He just sat there. All he had to do was step out of the cage and he would be free. But he liked the safety and predictability of the cage, even if it meant he didn’t have his freedom. I unknowingly fell into the same dilemma. I was a freelancer now and my cage was open. There was no mandatory work day or silly quotas to fill. I could do whatever I wanted with my time! Why did I choose to stay in the cage, clad in flannel and covered in Cheeto dust? It was time to shake things up. I realized I needed a set schedule to ignite my passion again. The beauty of freelance work is that you’re the boss. Every freelancer and line of work is different, and that means you have to set up a schedule that works for you. Sure, it’s helpful to sneak a peek at other freelancers’ schedules, but it’s your job to find what really works. Some freelancers work just fine without a set schedule. I salute you, brave people, for doing this. I found that I’m not one of those people, and I need a schedule to stay honest. It took some trial and error, but I finally found a schedule that works for me. Here are the five essential tasks I schedule into my day to stay focused, healthy, and successful. Which ones are on yours? Email makes the world go ‘round. But you know what? It’s a total time drain. I fall down an endless rabbit hole of to-dos and long-winded emails. What I thought would be a quick minute of email becomes a half hour ordeal. No more! I now set aside two times each day specifically for checking my email. I check in the morning to put out fires and set priorities for the day. I also check at the end of the day to make tomorrow’s to-do list. WorkThis is the meat and bones of my daily schedule. The coup de gras. The money maker. I section off four hours each day solely for client work. I took care to schedule my work time when I’m at my most productive. I get into a flow state in two two-hour chunks each day, and it works! I get tons of work out the door with ample time for other tasks. EducationFreelancers often overlook this, but education is a critical part of our job. We have to stay competitive to succeed. The first step to being the best freelancer on the block is to stay educated. I schedule thirty minutes every day to learn something new about my industry. Whether I’m listening to a podcast while folding laundry or catching up on Search Engine Journal first thing in the morning, I make it a point to stay informed. ExerciseI prioritized exercise during my stint in the 9-to-5, but it wasn’t easy. When you’re chained to a desk for up to 10 hours a day, it’s tough to make time for more than a short walk to the break room. However, now that I freelance, I have ample time for exercising how I want, when I want. I exercise twice a day now. I’ll either walk around the block or do yoga in the mornings. In the late afternoon I head off to the gym to use their lap pool. I even got a standing desk so I can avoid sitting down all day. However you do it, make sure there’s room in your schedule to move. Regular exercise helps you stay more focused and energized, which is something we all need. BreaksMy brain works best with periods of intense focus followed by short breaks. While you could define exercise or education as breaks, I don’t. I intentionally schedule 15-minute breaks throughout the day to goof off. I let myself scroll through Instagram, play with my cat, and watch Netflix. Freelancer burnout is real. I know the temptation to work, work, work and then work some more. But if I don’t make myself take a break, I get fed up with writing. And isn’t that the point of freelancing to begin with? To be our own boss? To live a life that’s more authentic and enjoyable? I will always prioritize breaks because they help me be a better worker. The bottom lineYou don’t have to dictate your freelance schedule like it’s boot camp. Heck, you don’t even have to follow the same schedule every day. But if you’re like me, it’s important to set up some kind of structure to stay honest. The lack of structure can result in burnout, sadness, lack of motivation, and even freelance failure. Embrace the freedom of the freelance lifestyle while keeping yourself accountable. Set up a daily schedule that works for you, not one that keeps you in a cage. Kenzi is a full stack marketer turned freelance writer. She specializes in writing content that scores more business for marketing agencies. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2018/08/23/5-essential-daily-tasks-for-every-freelancer/
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When you enroll in dental insurance through the Freelancers Union, you’re directly supporting advocacy campaigns like the landmark Freelance Isn’t Free law. The plans available on our site have been hand-selected for freelancers by our experts, and we’re always here to support you if you have questions. How does it work?Our partners pay one of Freelancers Union’s affiliates a little bit for each member who enrolls–at no extra cost to you. And the more people Freelancers Union represents, the louder the voice Freelancers Union has with each carrier. That means our experts have direct access to senior staff and can advocate for members if there is an issue. Why buy through Freelancers Union?When you buy insurance through us, you’re working with people who will have your back. But that doesn’t just mean we’ll answer your questions about your insurance. We’re working around the clock to build a better future for freelancers, through advocacy initiatives like the Freelance Isn’t Free law and organizing to demand better healthcare options for independent workers. Supporting Freelancers Union means supporting independent workers at large–and it doesn’t cost you any more than the price of your insurance. So get dental insurance through Freelancers Union, and the next time you go to the dentist, smile big: you’re supporting your union. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2018/08/23/keep-your-teeth-support-your-union/
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This post will be brief today. While it may be a bit dearth in prose I hope to make up for it with ample bluster in message. Here it is:
It’s rather simple:
I Don’t Get ItI can’t comprehend why some people risk their reputation and credibility plagiarizing the work of others. – Is it for the additional clicks and page views? – Is it due to our infatuation with “likes” and shares on social media and the facade of success it insinuates? – Is it because some people just lack any form of original thought and commonsense? I honestly don’t know the answer, and it dumbfounds me why some people would jeopardize their integrity at the prospect of maybe gaining more of a following, maybe generating a few more hits on their website, and/or maybe making a bit more money. It seems obvious to me it’s not worth the risk given the fleeting euphoria of all of the above when news comes out you’re nothing more than a cut and paste hack. There have been some egregious examples of plagiarism within the fitness industry of late. My friend, Georgie Fear, used Facebook earlier this year to call out another fitness professional who was repeatedly copying her work. She only went public after all previous attempts to rectify the situation privately failed to stick. I’m not gonna lie, it made for great reading. Likewise, Sohee Lee took matters into her own hands not too long ago and took another fitness pro to task for blatantly taking credit for her work (and other’s)…repeatedly. You can read about it HERE. And least we forget the Milli Vanilli of plagiarism in the fitness industry, Angus Fairbairn, who, on multiple occasions has been caught copying other’s work and taking credit for it. Heck, I remember a few years ago, when I was still at Cressey Sports Performance, Pete Dupuis typing CSPs mission statement into Google and watching, in a matter of 0.007 seconds, several examples popping up on screen of other fitness facilities having cut/pasted that – word for word – and using it as their own. I mean, if you can’t even come up with your own mission statement for your facility why are you even in this industry? What Is Plagiarism?
What Is Not Plagiarism?Now that we’re all on the same page – thanks to Webster’s – of what plagiarism is, lets discuss what it is not. Not Plagiarism
It’s SimpleGo out of your way to give credit. You will not lose demerit points and people will not think any less of you in doing so. Speaking on a personal level I can’t tell you how many times people have gone out of their way to commend me on my persistence to always give credit. Whether I’m presenting or writing I’m always name dropping other coaches who’s information and intellectual prowess I borrow. Here’s an example yesterday from my IG account:And here’s an example from an article I wrote last week on this site:In neither scenario did I risk my reputation, compromise my integrity, or spontaneously combust in a flash of ineptitude because I had the audacity (and conscious) to reference someone else. I didn’t lose credibility in anyone’s eyes (I think). Give credit, people. It’s not that hard. Did what you just read make your day? Ruin it? Either way, you should share it with your friends and/or comment below.via Blog – Tony Gentilcore http://tonygentilcore.com/2018/08/giving-credit-due-simple-guide-fitness-pros-plagiarism/
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There are numerous things that freelancers can anticipate and even prepare for, but what happens when life throws you a curve ball? Unfortunately, this question became real for me when my husband became gravely ill earlier this year. It was mid-way through the 2nd Quarter and things were going smoothly. My company’s projections were looking good; I had recently secured some new clients and I was working on my own book. And then, within a 24-hour period, everything changed. My husband was rushed to the ER where he had life-saving surgery. As he recuperated, I lived in his hospital room with him for weeks, made medical decisions, signed forms, met with case workers and did as much research as possible about his diagnosis and long-term prognosis. On auto-pilot, my objective upon waking up every morning was making sure that his needs were met. Life, as I knew it, ceased to exist. My full-time job became being a caregiver and helpmate. Professionally, emails went unanswered, phone calls unreturned, deadlines pushed back, and in one instance, a refund was given. I broke every rule and protocol that I had established for successfully running a freelance business. My freelancing career was on indefinite hold as I discovered, in the words of Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, “Things Fall Apart.” When the worst happensHonestly, I was not equipped to deal with the push/pull between wanting to support my husband and the need to fully function in a professional capacity. My confidence was replaced by anxiety and my overly positive and hopeful disposition was usurped by despair and fear. In the midst of it all, I thought about quitting. But it was my husband who helped me to focus on the positive things that were happening, to hold fast to our faith, and to keep doing the thing that I loved—freelance writing. But, it wasn’t that simple. For the first time in my almost 10-year freelancing career, my life/work balance was drastically skewed. I felt torn and guilty when I spent time at home, instead of being in the hospital with him. Although I tried writing in both his room and in a designated lobby area, my laptop screen remained blank. After the third week of his hospital stay, I finally gave myself permission to go visit him every other day. On days when the doctors did consultations or were sharing results, I asked to be placed on speaker phone so that I could both listen in and ask clarifying questions as needed. It was, to a certain extent, a win-win. I had my life back, so I thought. But I didn’t. I had to do damage control. I contacted clients, rescheduled projects, offered discounts, and apologized profusely for my lack of professionalism. Without violating my husband’s privacy, I tried to explain the reason for my erratic behavior. Some clients were receptive and others, understandably, decided to take their business elsewhere. For the past three months, this has been my life. Besides a few brief posts on social media, this is my first time (with my husband’s blessing) writing about this topic. Now, in the second month of the 3rd Quarter, things are still not back to normal. And that is why I wanted to share our journey with you. Safety planning for freelancersThere was nothing in my freelancer’s toolbox that resembled a Plan B or a contingency plan for dealing with a major illness, mine or my husband’s. So, I floundered and I put an unnecessary amount of pressure on myself because I was unprepared. Perhaps it was self-imposed, but I felt as if I was forced to choose between being there for him and working. I opted not to work. But, the reality is that opting not to work, if only temporarily, is not a choice that some freelancers have. Even in the midst of a health crisis or life-threatening illness, some freelancers are forced to continue working or they risk abandoning their source of income and jeopardizing their livelihood. Safety nets such as FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) and PTO (paid time off) were not designed for the gig economy and they do not apply to us. Because of my husband’s insurance, I am privileged that I can opt to work sporadically throughout this chapter of our lives. But, what happens to family units that comprise two freelancers, neither of whom have short or long-term disability insurance? And what becomes of the sole freelancer who becomes ill? I have heard horror stories of people who have exhausted their reserves, filed for bankruptcy, or ruined their credit worthiness because of unexpected medical expenses. Get coveredI wish I could tell you that I have eloquent and strategic answers to these problems, but I am still figuring all of this out. So, my purpose in writing this blog is not to provide answers, but to start a conversation and to, hopefully, inspire everyone who is reading this to give some serious thought to: What would I do if_______________________? I am mindful that none of us know exactly how we will respond to the unknown, but at least thinking through your options and mapping out a contingency plan, including securing disability insurance, is a step in the right direction. Thankfully, my husband is doing much better, but this entire episode has us rethinking our level of preparedness for when life happens because life will happen. The question is: Will you be ready? via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2018/08/22/why-freelancers-need-a-safety-net/
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As every freelancer knows, you’re only as good as your network and community. So why shouldn’t freelancers have their own community hub within every city? Well, Freelancers Union is hoping to build just that. Today we are celebrating the upcoming launch of Freelancers Hub, a dedicated space for freelancers in DUMBO, Brooklyn, in partnership with the ! Freelancers Hub will feature:
Also, we want to hear your ideas for building a center that helps freelancers thrive. Are you an expert who would be interested in hosting a workshop or do you have a great idea for an event? Please let us know. This is a historic and first-of-its-kind partnership between Freelancers Union, the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, and the Independent Filmmaker Project, and marks the first concerted effort by a city to invest in providing direct training and freelancers. We hope it will serve as a model to replicate across the country. Stay tuned for an official launch date later in the fall! via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2018/08/22/freelancers-union-is-launching-a-hub-for-freelancers-in-nyc/
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This is a post from a member of the Freelancers Union community. If you’re interested in sharing your expertise, your story, or some advice you think will help a fellow freelancer out, feel free to send your blog post to us here. Maintaining an active blog (and portfolio) can be one of the most lucrative investments toward building a steady flow of inbound freelance clients. Four years ago when I launched my blog, I set out to use it as a destination for publishing real-life portfolio examples of the kind of content I’d offer prospective clients. As a new freelancer, this was a must for me in the moment because I didn’t have other work to showcase. Over time, my blog grew into a six-figure acquisition channel for my business. With the goal of highlighting my content marketing services, I’ve been regularly writing deep-dive articles documenting my personal experiences and lessons learned in the industries I enjoy writing about (business, finance and freelancing). Since starting my blog, I’ve been able to grow it to more than 2 Million yearly readers, 55,000 email subscribers, 150,000 podcast listeners and a steady stream of inbound freelance clients. While the journey hasn’t been without its fair share of ups and downs, almost all of my freelance clients throughout the years have come to me from my blog—all of which were fueled by exhaustive testing around the most effective ways to drive qualified traffic. Here are my four most effective ways to start getting your blog content in front of new prospective clients (and actually convince them to start a conversation with you). Guest post on well-established blogsIf you’ve chosen a clear niche to blog about, chances are high that there are at least a handful of other (already more established) bloggers and industry publications out there in your space who’ve built an audience of readers and clients you also want to reach. When I first started blogging, the best advice I was given from fellow bloggers was to focus on getting my content in front of the right audiences. So, I began pitching guest posts on the topics I already wrote about, like the most realistic side business ideas, right away. I’d create spreadsheets of the websites that had strong content in my niche, and a high probability of access to readers who’d have their own content needs. Next, I’d reach out to the editors (or blog owners) asking if they’d be willing to take a guest post from me. Initially, rejection was the most common response to these cold outreach emails I was sending, but over time as I landed my first handful of reputable guest posts and had more content samples to highlight on my own blog, it became much easier to pitch my offer. Plus, there was a definite tipping point after getting my first guest post published on the Buffer blog, which significantly increased my authority as a writer. The most important takeaway for this strategy is to identify the authoritative blogs or industry publications where your target clients already spend their time—and to do whatever you can to make yourself present there. Pitching and writing guest posts is unquestionably a lot of work, but my early guest articles are what helped me land my first handful of freelance clients that were already convinced of my worth. An obvious place to turn for driving traffic to your blog is social media—but it only works well as a sustainable traffic source when done right. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Reddit, Instagram, Snapchat: there are lot of options out there. The right social channel to invest in is whichever platform best suits your niche and shows promising signs to have a high concentration of your ideal readership. It’s a waste of your time trying to promote your content on every social media platform. Take a look at what you’re doing today and identify the one channel (maybe two) that gives you the most engagement and go all in on that platform for the coming months. The key is to experiment and see what works for you over time. Each social network naturally appeals to a certain type of reader. This is fairly broad, but generally speaking, here’s what works best on each social platform today:
Luckily there are lots of powerful tools, like Quuu, Buffer, and MeetEdgar, that can help you manage your social media content throughout the week and increase your level of exposure to relevant audiences. Contribute to relevant online communities and forumsTaking an active membership in the right online groups can net you a hugely positive return in terms of driving the right blog traffic, and is an especially powerful investment if you’re still working to develop your style and messaging. But remember, it’s equally as important to avoid the decision-making deadlock of worrying about which groups your dream clients will be in—look for just a small handful of active groups you can join on Facebook, LinkedIn, or other more niche-specific sites that have a high concentration of interest overlap with the topics you know your clients care about. For example, if you want to land food blogs and publications as clients, you could consider joining Facebook groups like Recipes for Home Cooked Meals (1.5 Million+ members), Healthy Food Bloggers Recipes (19,000+ members), and Healthy Recipes for the Busy Life (15,000+ members) to see who’s regularly sharing in these groups. If your content is relevant to anyone looking for inspiration around healthy home-cooked meals, you're sure to reach new readers—and prospective clients looking to scale their production of similar content. If your search doesn’t come up with any Facebook or LinkedIn groups with a decent number of members (5,000+), there are plenty of other options. Look for more general Facebook groups that relate to your broader topic area of cooking, or for more forum-style communities around the subject matter on sites like Reddit, Chowhound, Genius Kitchen, or Food52. Remember though, these aren’t just places to shamelessly promote yourself. First, you need to show up and provide value before asking for anything in return. Build real relationships and engage with fellow group members. Forge partnerships with relevant brandsBuilding relationships with other bloggers and brands (that you’d love to work with) in your industry is one of the best ways to test the waters and demonstrate proof of your value without immediately asking to become a paid contractor. These relationships that can start as simply sharing each other’s content can open up possibilities for paid partnerships, regular contracts, content sharing swaps, interviews, and more. In my experience, the best way to start conversations with well-established bloggers or brands—and actually capture their attention—is to proactively provide value to them first. The easiest way to do that is to mention them within the content you’re publishing on your blog whenever you write something new. Then after your content is published, you have an exciting reason to reach out to these sites without immediately asking for something in return. Just send them a short email to give a quick heads up about their mention on your blog, without any other strings attached. This is an important caveat. After years of honing this strategy, I’ve come to learn that it’s always best not to immediately ask your prospective client to do something on your behalf within the first outreach email you send. Your goal at this stage is to establish a connection based on the value you just provided them in the form of the free mention on your blog. An abrupt ask will sour the relationship before you’ve even gotten to chat about something larger together. So, if they reply to your email, then you can ask if they’ll share your content, accept a guest post, or be willing to talk about paid contributions. At the end of the day, strategically growing your blog traffic and using it as an inbound lead generation channel will depend heavily upon how much people are resonating with what you have to say. Be exciting, stay engaged, keep establishing new mutually beneficial relationships in your niche, and always continue experimenting. Do that, and the traffic & leads will come. Ryan Robinson is a freelance writer for the world's top brands and growing startups. On his blog, he teaches more than 200,000 monthly readers how to start a blog and grow a profitable side business. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2018/08/21/4-ways-land-inbound-freelance-clients-and-drive-traffic-to-your-blog/
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My father often reminded us that, “Time stands still for no [wo]man.” It was his way of simultaneously teaching us the value of time management and the finiteness of time. As a young woman, I didn’t necessarily embrace the full magnitude of this expression. Instead, time seemed so nebulous and, paradoxically, infinite. As I got older and as life became far more complicated, I began to truly understand the importance of seeing time as one of the most valuable resources that we have, especially as freelancers and entrepreneurs. Time=freedomI also began to internalize that a key component of valuing time—one’s own and others—is understanding that time often equates to freedom, a freedom that many of us experience via entrepreneurship. It is even a freedom that may have been the catalyst for us to seek out self-employment. Yet, we sometimes, inadvertently, obfuscate our freedom of time because we do not understand its natural value. Yes, we may know what our hourly rate or our daily rate is, but is that truly the only measure of the value of our time? The answer, of course, is no. The value of our time is not mutually inclusive of money. In other words, there are many things that we gain that do not necessarily equate to a monetary value. For example, discovering one’s own style, uncovering one’s pacing, and embracing what makes one’s services unique, exceptional, or competition-worthy are process driven and that, quite understandably, requires time. Time as an investmentThink about your own experiences as a freelancer: How much time did you invest to get to where you are today? If your journey is like my journey, then some of the greatest lessons that you learned along the way about freelancing could only come from experiential knowledge or time on task. Although books, classes, curriculum, online courses, mentors, and coaches are great, it is the process of doing that leads to expertise and that requires time. As freelancers, it is important to recognize not only the value of one’s time, but also the ways in which it can be allocated to help advance one’s mission, vision, and overall freelancing services. In this capacity, time is one of the most valuable resources that we all have access to. Even in a world of ‘isms’ and ‘obias’, time can be seen as an equalizer. How we use that time is often an earmark of what is important to us, how we prioritize, our overall attitude about the value of time, and, to a certain extent, how we qualify—not just quantify—our own value (as measured by time). It is the latter that can create problems when it seeps into the world of freelancing. Know the importance of your timeFailure to recognize the importance of one’s own time can lead to underpricing, lack of fair compensation, and being overwhelmed by the process of entrepreneurship. Whether someone is just starting out as a freelancer or has been freelancing for decades, it is important to see one’s time as valuable. It can be, I contend, even more valuable than the service or good that you are monetizing. When we don’t embrace the importance of our time, we run the risk that other people will take advantage of us; we may waste our time on things that have no value added; or we may find ourselves exhausted and burnt out because we don’t have enough time to complete projects or to enjoy our lives outside of work. Obviously, none of these are desirable outcomes. Desirable outcomes are ones that lead to satisfactory results. Completing a project in an efficacious manner, adding a new service to your wheelhouse, mastering a skill, and/or gaining the respect and trust of customers reflect time well spent. As much as we may wish that there were reboot, rewind, or even pause buttons in real life, there are not. The best way to offset devaluing your time is embracing time as the natural resource that it is. And that is why it is important that you invest your time wisely and protect it. It truly is a precious and finite resource. Perhaps this is the lesson that my late father was really trying to teach me. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2018/08/20/time-the-most-valuable-natural-resource/
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There’s no shortage of shenanigans, tomfoolery, and outright WTF’ness tethered to everyday life. We can multiply this by a factor of infinity when talking about stuff we see and hear in the gym. The gym is a petri dish of grit, determination, chalk, high-fives, blood, sweat, and other bodily fluids I don’t want to think about, plumes of Axe Body Spray, cheesy one-liners, groutfits, selfies, rusty barbells, and a spectrum of head scratching, eyebrow raising, head tilting dumbfoundedness of human behavior. Shit can get weird. Today’s guest post by regular contributor, Shane McLean, scratches the surface. Enjoy. Copyright: sertikhonov / 123RF Stock Photo Well, That’s WeirdWhenever I go off on a tangent and start raving about some minuscule subject, my wife often dismisses me with ‘whatever floats your boat dear.’ My reply is ‘you’re the one who floats my boat dear.’ Okay, that’s enough dirty talk. We all have our own idiosyncrasies, things we do without thinking or habits we do that other people look upon as strange. And if you’re a fitness professional or a hardcore gym goer you probably have a bucket load of things that your family and friends brush off as weird. However, if you’re anything like me, you either don’t care what people think or you believe it’s completely natural and everyone should do it because it’s awesome. For example, checking out your abs in the mirror while every else is lifting. I’ve been around gyms for over 25 years as a gym goer and a trainer. And in that time, I have developed my own strange habits and I’ve also seen things that I can’t forget because it’s been burned into my subconscious. The following list is like therapy for the soul. Let the healing begin.1. Don’t ever show your underarm fat to a trainer and ask, “What do I do about these chicken wings?” If you must know, I like them battered and fried and smothered with BBQ sauce. 2. It’s okay to sweat but please, clean up after yourself. The habit of not cleaning up after one’s self and leaving a pool of sweat on the gym floor like a calling card to gross. Your mum is not there to clean up for you, so you do it. 3. I love training bare foot. I love my feet touching the dirty gym floor because it gives me better feedback on how I’m doing. Unfortunately, not everyone digs it as much as I do. 4. Do you remember when Monica Seles graced the tennis courts? Don’t be that guy after every rep. A little is okay but a lot is not. 5. Do you know the dude who wears a weight belt while doing 55-pound barbell curls? Don’t be him either. 6. If you’re getting dirty looks while on your cell phone, you’re talking too loudly. No one needs to hear what you ate last night. On that note, why are you talking on your cellphone in the gym? Get back to lifting. 7. Why do people wake up at the arse crack of dawn to run on a treadmill? The weights are over there. 8. Don’t text and lift. It’s hazardous for ones health. 9. Laying the weight plates by the weight stack doesn’t count as putting them away. Don’t be lazy and re rack your weights. 10. Stop bragging to everyone about how much you lift. Somewhere, someone is warming up with your max. 11. Who doesn’t enjoy eating out of Tupperware containers? 12. There’s a time for dancing and a time for lifting. Don’t get the two confused. 13. Do you drop your dirty plates on the floor after you’ve finished eating? Of course not. Pay the dumbbells the same respect. 14. What am I doing with the lacrosse ball? Don’t ask. 15. There’s a reason gyms have lots of mirrors, so take advantage of it you sexy thing. 16. Don’t make me wait for the water fountain while filling a gallon container. Are you really that thirsty? 17. Wearing sunglasses while training is never cool unless your Corey Hart. Is the sun shining in the gym? 18. Playing Candy Crush on your phone while spotting your partner bench pressing goes beyond stupid. Yes, this actually happened, and I still can’t get it out of my brain. 19. There are some exercises that look like you’re getting lucky. Please don’t maintain eye contact with anyone while doing these. [embedded content] 20. Squatting while on a stability ball is a trainers worst nightmare. It’s still giving me the cold sweats. Wrapping UpIt’s my hope that you feel better now. I certainty do. I’ve saved a bunch of money on therapy. Author’s BioShane “The Balance Guy” McLean, is an A.C.E Certified Personal Trainer working deep in the heart of Louisiana with the gators. Did what you just read make your day? Ruin it? Either way, you should share it with your friends and/or comment below.via Blog – Tony Gentilcore http://tonygentilcore.com/2018/08/well-thats-weird/
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This is a post from a member of the Freelancers Union community. If you’re interested in sharing your expertise, your story, or some advice you think will help a fellow freelancer out, feel free to send your blog post to us here. You’re moving forward on a marketing video. Fantastic idea. Video is your strongest marketing content by leaps and bounds. But what should that video look like? From my perspective as a video producer, here are some things to keep in mind. I can write a script and record voice-over of the script to produce a video showing how great your company is. But it works much better if YOU and your team tell everyone how great you are. And I don’t want you and your colleagues to do that reading from a script. Like about 99 percent of us, you are not a trained actor, and reciting pre-set lines on camera will give your video the same professional gravitas as a grade school play. But what you do have that no one else has is a genuine passion for your company. YOU know what makes your business better than your competitor’s. YOU know your differentiators. YOU know why you love doing what you do. Let’s get you saying all of that on camera. You won’t have to rehearse any lines. This is who YOU are, every day. While I discourage rehearsing, which can kill the sense of spontaneity and genuine-ness, you should have a clear game plan for your video. Along those lines, here is a list of some words NOT to say when your promoting your company. “Try”You never “try” to do anything. You never “try” to provide superior customer service, you PROVIDE superior customer service. “I think”“I think we have the highest quality software.” No, you HAVE the highest quality software. “Usually"A very weak word in marketing. This is the difference between “should” and “will.” “We usually go from CAD design to final product in a week.” If I hear that sentence on a promotional video, I’ll think your business “should” have my stuff ready in a week. I’m going to look for a company that “will” have it ready. “Kind of"I’ve stopped a couple of clients in mid-interview when they’ve said something along the lines of “We kind of look to hire the best people.” “Kind of” and its evil twin “sort of” have no place in a marketing video. “Probably”Again, extremely conditional. “We are probably the most passionate group of healthcare professionals in southeast Wisconsin.” I realize there are some claims that cannot be made without statistical back-up (you either are or are not the largest insurance provider in Wisconsin), but when it comes to a quality that is non-quantifiable, like passion, dedication, or empathy (and it’s always a great idea to include those qualities in your video), get rid of the “probably” and swing for the fences. “Among”“Our customers are among the most satisfied customers out there.” And where exactly do those customers fall on the “satisfied” scale? “We have tons of happy customers” is a more direct and genuine way of expressing that positive selling point. “Better”“We’re usually among the better companies when it comes to on-time delivery.” Huh? So on a good day, maybe you’re right up there with C-plus or B-minus outfits? Again, swing for the fences. You don’t want viewers to think your goal is “better.” They want to do business with the “best.” “We work hard every day to be the best at on-time delivery.” “Some of the”“Our employees are some of the best in the business.” Okay, can you tell me which ones aren’t some of the best? I don’t want them working on my project. Be definitive. “Our employees are the best in the business.” “Even”“We provide the best service to Fortune 500 clients, medium-sized businesses, and even small businesses.” “We have the best people, from our managers, supervisors, even our people on the shop floor.” “Even” can be a marginalizer. Don’t minimize the importance of any potential client or anyone on your team. “Often”“We’ll often have a list of candidates ready for our clients within 24 hours.” Webster defines “Often” as “in many cases.” I need a little bit more than “in many cases” to choose your company for my project. “Our team is prepared to have a list of candidates ready for our clients within 24 hours.” Your video can reach tens of thousands of viewers on multiple platforms. This is your chance to tell that mass audience how great your company is. Be direct. Be precise. Don’t qualify. Amplify. Mark Concannon is the four-time Emmy-Award-winning President and Executive Video Producer at Concannon Communications. We help businesses and individuals tell their stories with high quality, affordable video. via Freelancers Union Blog https://blog.freelancersunion.org/2018/08/17/10-phrases-to-avoid-in-marketing-copy/ |
AuthorI have 5+ years experience working as a medical transcriptionist. When I am not working, I enjoy sports like playing basketball or judo. I love making friends and connections. Archives
April 2023
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