Turn Your Business Ideas into A Reality with These 5 Tips

Home business ideas are exciting, but they can also come with a lot of challenges not experienced by many people with a 9-5 job. Things like a lack of motivation - and a lack of structure can make your dreams fall flat. With these tips, your home business ideas can take off!

1. Set a designated workspace.
   Creating a specific place to do work allows you to separate work space from living space. Your home business ideas shouldn’t take over your entire home!
2. Set work hours – and non-work hours.
   Just like a 9-5 job, you should have time when you work and time when you don’t. Home business ideas are great for the person who wants to set their own schedules, but many people often have difficulty drawing the line between home and work when their work is at home.
3. Use a planner/task-management apps.
   This tip is especially useful for people with home business ideas who may not be good at keeping a schedule or staying on-track. Stay organized and keep track of everything from day one!

- Doug Myrick

Here Are 3 Ways Restaurants Can Take Slip & Fall Risk Off the Menu

Slips and falls drive severity, while cuts and burns comprise nearly one third of all restaurant injuries. Yet all of these risks can be better managed.

Working at break-neck speed, often for low wages, restaurant workers make their livings in a unique risk environment. While cuts and burns inflict injuries with great frequency, it’s slips and falls that drive severity.

According to an 2018 Restaurant Risk Report, slips and falls cost 4.5 times more than punctures and cuts. Just consider that the average lost time for a restaurant worker that suffers a knee injury in a slip or fall is 32.7 days!

But data shows us that a rigorous loss control program can produce results that depart from industry trends. Tools such as slip-resistant mats, sturdy shoes with strong grips and good housekeeping procedures can cut down on risk.

Incorporate key elements of a restaurant loss control program that will keep workers safer and restaurants in business.

- Doug Myrick

Personal Umbrella Coverage

What risk control tip do I recommend for the situations below?

• A guest is in your home and goes to the garage, where she is struck by a falling ladder. She suffers a broken arm.
• You throw a pool party for the neighborhood children, and one of the children accidentally drowns.
• Your dog somehow escapes your backyard and bites a toddler, causing major facial damages.
• You own a large home and 8 acres of land. A guest is riding your four-wheeler and gets thrown from the vehicle, landing on her head, causing permanent injuries.
• An elderly friend slips and falls while walking down your stairs, causing a concussion and a broken neck.
• Your troubled teenage son intentionally shoots his ex-girlfriend.
• You host a big party, and one of your guests becomes intoxicated and leaves without notifying anyone. This intoxicated guest negligently strikes and kills a pedestrian.
• You own a large tree, which died 2 years ago. You failed to remove the tree, leaving it susceptible to high winds. During a major storm, the tree falls and damages your neighbor's roof.

- Doug Myrick

Who are you?

I don't mean what's your name, but who are you? 

What was the first name that you thought of? 

Your job title? 

The company you work for? 

Was it mom, dad, husband, wife, child, something else family related? 

Something else? 

The title that first comes to mind might feel like the most important one to you. It's actually the one that is most important right now. 

In any given day, I look at myself as a husband, father, poppy, director, leader, team member, nerd, etc. 

Right now? I'm a writer, using my platform to make other people think, maybe change their thinking, maybe clarify their thinking. 

In a little while, I'll be a student, studying different topics so that I can learn them well enough to be a teacher. 

Let me ask again. 

Who are you? 

- Doug Myrick

The 123 Best Senior Discounts to Use in 2019

From cheaper food to savings on travel, you can get all kinds of senior citizen discounts if you're 50 or older.

Senior citizen discounts are one of the few truly great perks that come with growing older. You can start collecting senior discounts at age 50 from some stores, so you could save big long before you even qualify for retirement! To help you keep track of all the deals, we've compiled a handy senior discounts list.

Location Matters for Senior Discounts

Be aware that for many of these businesses, the senior citizen discount varies by location; brands may let individual franchisees decide whether to provide the perk. As a result, one of your local restaurants might give you a higher percentage off than the same chain would across town.

Senior citizen discounts can vary by location, so check with your local store before heading out to eat or shop.

Before heading out on a shopping spree, check with your local store about the discounts for seniors on offer. (This can be a helpful strategy when it comes to birthday freebies and military discounts, too.)

Senior Citizen Benefits Are Disappearing

Cheaper prices for senior citizens have been around for decades, but it seems like retailers are slowly phasing them out. In some cases — such as the Publix grocery chain — the stores are allegedly changing tactics to provide better savings all around. However, other retailers — like Gap and some of its brands — have simply dropped their senior discounts altogether.

The Best Senior Citizen Discounts

Store	Discount	Eligibility
A&W	10% off; Present proof of age at checkout	Varies
AMC Theatres	Discounted tickets; Present proof of age when purchasing or picking up your tickets	60+
American Airlines	Discounted fares; Select senior fare when booking online (by selecting passenger age) or by phone	65+
Amtrak	10% off select fares; Present proof of age when booking	65+
Applebee's	10% to 15% off; Present proof of age at checkout. Some locations may require a Golden Apple card (ask your server for details)	60+
Arby's	10% off or a free drink; Present proof of age at checkout	55+
AT&T	10% off select plans and 15% off select accessories for AARP members, plus a discounted $29.99 Senior Nation plan for anyone 65+	50+, 65+
Avis	Up to 30% off rentals; Book online or call and ask for the AARP rate	50+
Banana Republic	10% off; Present proof of age at checkout	50+
Bealls	10% to 20% off on Tuesdays; Present proof of age at checkout. May require free discount club membership	50+
Belk	Up to 20% off on Tuesdays; Present proof of age at checkout	55+
Ben & Jerry's	10% off; Present proof of age at checkout	60+
Bennigan's	Varies; Present proof of age at checkout	60+
Best Western	Up to 15% off; Select senior/AARP rate when booking online or by phone, and present proof of age at check-in	50+, 55+
Bi-Lo	5% off on certain days at select locations; Present proof of age at checkout	60+
Big Boy Restaurants	Varies; Present proof of age at checkout	60+
Bob Evans	Discounted items; Order off the seniors menu	55+
Bonefish Grill	10% off; Present AARP card at checkout	50+
Boston Market	10% off; Check your local restaurant for details	65+
British Airlines	Up to $200 off flights and packages; Book online through British Airways' AARP page	50+
Bruster's	25 cents off; Present Kid at Heart card at checkout. Check your local restaurant for details	60+
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.	10% off; Present AARP card at checkout	50+
Budget	Up to 30% off rentals; Book online through Budget's AARP page or call and ask for the AARP rate	50+
Burger King	10% off, plus discounted soft drinks and coffee; Present proof of age at checkout	60+
Captain D's	Meal and drink for $4.99 on Wednesdays; Present proof of age at checkout	62+
Carl's Jr.	10% off or discounted drink; Present proof of age at checkout	55+
Carnival Cruises	Discounted select cruises; Contact Carnival for senior prices	55+
Carrabba's Italian Grill	10% off; Present AARP card at checkout	50+
Carrows Restaurants	Discounted items; Order off the seniors menu	55+
Chart House	10% off; Present AARP card at checkout	50+
Chick-fil-A	10% off or free drink with purchase; Present proof of age at checkout	55+
Chili's	10% off; Present proof of age at checkout	55+
Choice Hotels	Up to 10% off; Select Senior/AARP rate when booking online or by phone, and present proof of age at check-in	50+, 60+
Cicis	10% off or free drink with buffet; Present proof of age at checkout	60+
Cinemark	Discounted tickets for Senior Day; Check your local theater for details	62+
Claim Jumper Restaurants	10% off; Present AARP card at checkout	50+
Compare Foods	10% off on certain days (varies by location); Present proof of age at checkout	60+
Corky's Homestyle Kitchen & Bakery	Discounted seniors menu and Senior Frequent Diner Club Card (buy nine meals, get one free); Ask your local restaurant for details	55+
Country Kitchen	Discounted items; Order off the seniors menu	55+
Dairy Queen	10% off or free small drink; Present proof of age at checkout	55+
Delta	Discounted senior fares on select flights; Call Delta directly to book	65+
Denny's	15% off and discounted seniors menu; Present AARP card or order off the seniors menu	50+, 55+
Dressbarn	10% off on a specific day of the week, with the day varying by store; Present proof of age at checkout	55+
Dunkin'	10% off; Present proof of age at checkout	55+
Einstein Bros. Bagels	Varies; Present proof of age at checkout	60+
El Pollo Loco	10% off (up to $1); Present proof of age at checkout	60+
Fazoli's	Discounted seniors menu; Join Club 62 in-store and present your membership card	62+
Fred Meyer	10% off select items, primarily store brands; Present proof of age at checkout	55+
Friendly's	10% off, sometimes select freebies; Present proof of age at checkout	50+
Fry's Food Stores	10% off on the first Wednesday of the month; Present proof of age at checkout	55+
Fuddruckers	10% off select items; Present proof of age at checkout	55+
Golden Corral	Discounted meals on select days and times (varies by location); Present proof of age at checkout	60+
Goodwill Retail Stores	Varies, and discount may only be offered on certain days; Check your local store for details	60+
Great Clips	Varies, and discount may only be offered on certain days; Check your local salon for details	65+
Greyhound	5% off; Present proof of age when booking	62+
Hardee's	10% off or 33-cent drinks; Present proof of age at checkout	52+
Harris Teeter	5% off on Thursdays; Sign up for the VIC program and present your VIC card at checkout	60+
Hertz	Up to 20% off rentals; Book online through Hertz's senior page, or call and ask for the senior rate	50+
Hilton Hotels & Resorts	Up to 5% off; Book online through Hilton's AARP page or book by phone and ask for the AARP rate, and present your AARP card at check-in	50+
Hy-Vee	5% off on Wednesday at select locations; Present proof of age at checkout	55+
IHG Hotels	Discounted room rate; Select senior rate when booking online or by phone, and present proof of age at check-in	62+
IHOP	Discounted seniors menu; Order off the seniors menu	55+
Jack in the Box	20% off; Present proof of age at checkout	55+
Jo-Ann Fabric	20% off on Senior Discount Days; Watch Jo-Ann's website or Facebook page for the next Senior Discount Day	55+
KFC	Free small drink with meal; Present proof of age at checkout	55+
Kohl's	15% off every Wednesday; Present proof of age at checkout	60+
Krispy Kreme	10% off; Present proof of age at checkout	50+
Landry's Restaurants	10% off; Present AARP card at checkout	50+
LensCrafters	Discounted lenses, frames, contacts, and eye exams; Present AARP card at checkout	50+
Long John Silver's	Varies; Present AARP card at checkout	55+
Luby's	Senior Luann special for $7.99 from 3 pm to close, and potentially other discounts at select locations; Order Senior Luann special	55+
Marriott Hotels	15% off; Select senior rate when booking online or by phone	62+
McCormick & Schmick's	10% off; Present AARP card at checkout	50+
McDonald's	Discounted drinks; Present proof of age at checkout	55+
Michaels	10% off items in-store; Present proof of age at checkout	55+
Motel 6	Up to 10% off; Select senior rate when booking online or by phone, and present proof of age at check-in	60+
Mr. Gatti's Pizza	$4.99 buffet and $1.89 drinks (may vary by location); Present proof of age at checkout	50+
Mrs. Fields	10% off; Present proof of age at checkout	60+
National Parks	Discounted $20 annual park pass or $80 lifetime park pass, plus passholders get up to 50% off select amenities costs; Include an image of your ID when buying online or by mail	62+
New Seasons Market	10% off on Wednesdays; Present proof of age at checkout	65+
Norwegian Cruise Lines	$100 or 5% off select cruises; AARP members can contact Norwegian for discounted sailings	50+
Old Country Buffet	Varies; Check your local restaurant for details	55+
Outback Steakhouse	10% off; Present AARP card at checkout	50+
Papa John's	Varies; Check your local store for details	--
Pep Boys	10% off; Present proof of age at checkout	55+
Perkins Restaurant & Bakery	Discounted items; Order off the seniors menu	55+
Piggly Wiggly	5% off on Wednesdays; Present proof of age at checkout	60+
Ponderosa Steakhouse	Discounted items; Order off the seniors menu	60+
Rainforest Cafe	10% off; Present AARP card at checkout	50+
Red Roof Inn	10% off; Select senior rate when booking online or by phone, and present proof of age at check-in	59+
Regal Entertainment Group	Up to 20% off, plus additional discounts may be available at your local theater; Present AARP card and check with your local theater for additional discounts	60+
Rite Aid	20% off on the first Wednesday of the month for Wellness65+ members; Sign up for a Wellness+ card and the Wellness65+ program, and present card at checkout	65+
Ross Dress for Less	10% off on Tuesdays for members of the Every Tuesday Club; Sign up for the Every Tuesday Club in-store	55+
Royal Caribbean	Discounted senior prices on select cruises; Contact Royal Caribbean for discounted sailings	55+
Saltgrass Steak House	10% off; Present AARP card at checkout	50+
Salvation Army Thrift Stores	Varies; Check your local store for details	55+
Shoney's	10% off for members of the Golden Age Club; Check your local restaurant for details on the Golden Age Club	60+
Showcase Cinemas	Discounted $7.50 tickets for all films (including 3D, 4D, and IMAX) on Wednesdays, plus $4.50 popcorn and drink	--
Sizzler	Discounted items; Order off the seniors menu	60+
Sonic Drive-In	10% off or free drink; Present proof of age at checkout	60+
Souplantation	All-you-can-eat Senior Meal Deal for $7.99 from 2-5 pm on weekdays; Present proof of age at checkout	60+
Southwest Airlines	Discounted fares; Select senior fare when booking online, by phone, or via a travel agent	65+
Sprint	Discounted Unlimited 55+ plan for new subscribers: $50 for one line, $70 for two lines; Subscribe to Unlimited 55+ plan online, by phone, or in-store	55+
Subway	10% off; Check your local restaurant for details	60+
Sweet Tomatoes	Discounted Senior Meal Deal from 2-5 pm on weekdays; Present proof of age at checkout	60+
SweetFrog Premium Frozen Yogurt	15% off; Present AARP card at checkout	50+
T-Mobile	Discounted Unlimited 55+ plan: $70 for two lines; Sign up for the Unlimited 55+ plan online, by phone, or in-store	55+
Taco Bell	5% off and free drink; Present proof of age at checkout	65+
TCBY	10% off; Present proof of age at checkout	55+
The Oceanaire Seafood Room	10% off; Present AARP card at checkout	50+
The Old Spaghetti Factory	Discounted 3-course meal; Order off the seniors menu	55+
The UPS Store	5% off shipping and up to 15% off other products and services; Present AARP card at checkout	50+
United Airlines	Discounted senior fares; Select senior fare when booking online (by selecting passenger age) or by phone	65+
Uno Pizzeria & Grill	25% off on Wednesdays; Join the Double Nickel Club	55+
Verizon Wireless	Discounted Go Unlimited 55+ plan: $60 for one line, $80 for two lines; Subscribe to the Go Unlimited 55+ plan online, by phone, or in-store. Existing Verizon customers need to subscribe by phone or in-store	55+
Village Inn	10% off and may have discounted seniors menu; Present proof of age at checkout, and order off the seniors menu if available	60+
Waffle House	Varies; Check your local restaurant for details	Varies
Walgreens	20% off on the first Tuesday of the month if you're a Balance Rewards member. AARP members can get discounts starting at age 50; Sign up for Balance Rewards and present card at checkout	50+, 55+
Wendy's	10% off or a free drink; Present proof of age at checkout	55+
Whataburger	Free drink with purchase; Present proof of age at checkout	55+
White Castle	Select items for 10% off; Present proof of age at checkout	62+
Wyndham Hotels	Discounted rates at age 50+ for AARP members and 60+ for anyone; Select Senior/AARP rate when booking online or by phone, and present proof of age at check-in	50+, 60+
Zipcar	Discounted $40 annual membership for AARP members; Join through Zipcar's AARP page	50+

Readers, what are your favorite stores for senior discounts? Did we leave a retailer off our list? Let us know in the comments below!

Is Your Workplace Ready for Gen Z?

A new generation of workers are beginning to reach offices. Born in 1997, Generation Z is graduating college and entering the workforce. Given the changes that arrived along with the Millennial Generation, who now make up the majority of the workforce, savvy business owners and managers are preparing themselves for what’s to come with this new generation of employees.

While still largely young, early studies have some striking differences to reveal about the youngest working Generation Z. For one, they tend to be much more financially cautious and independently minded than their Millennial peers. In addition, they are even more technologically adept, yet tend to prefer in-person communication more than earlier generations.

To fully understand what defines Gen Z, it’s important to understand what influences have shaped them. Generation Z is one of the first generations that not only can’t remember a time before the internet, but grew up with smartphones in their back pockets. The first iPhone came out when they were just 10. They are digital natives well-adjusted to modern technology and familiar with a multitude of social platforms. Advanced communication technology, like Facetime,  has made them more appreciative of in-person communication than others. Yet, their attention spans have shown to be much shorter than others, at only 8 seconds.

The 2008 financial recession is another major factor that shapes Gen Z’s mindsets. While Millennial college graduates largely suffered the repercussions of it, Gen Z grew up expecting them. They therefore value financial security slightly more than their millennial peers.

For more statistics on what makes Gen Z different, and advice for how you can prepare your workplace for them, check out this infographic by Fundera:        
              
 

Why Personality Matters When Hiring.

Personality is a big factor in determining what makes someone successful in their position. Not only does our personality and behavioral preferences influence how successful we are in any given job, it often impacts our level of engagement and contribution in certain positions as well, especially when we are either a really good or really poor match for that role.

For employers, finding the right personality fit for a position is one of the first steps to creating a compelling job description that will attract the types of candidates you’re looking for, and it also helps with employee retention too. If you have a candidate who’s disinterested in the job they’re doing, chances are that they won’t stick around for very long. Not only that, but while they’re working, you most likely won’t get to experience their full potential. Employees who are unhappy in their work not only work less effectively, they are also more likely to have conflicts with coworkers or leave their positions. This saves your company money and the inconvenience of mediating employee difficulties and repeating the hiring process.

Why Do We Care About Personality in the Workplace? 
When hiring new employees, you might not initially think that personality has much to do with your position. Hey, if the candidate has experience and knows what they’re doing, what does it matter?

Engagement

It is important to understand one’s interests and preferences in terms of their personality because it’s these very interests that will ultimately keep them engaged in whatever task they’re expected to perform over an extended period of time.

An employee’s level of engagement in a task and in their role as a whole is important for you, as the employer, because when your employees are interested in the work they are doing from a fundamentally personal position, they are more likely to report a higher degree of job satisfaction than those whose interests don’t align with their everyday work activities. Because they’re more interested in what they’re doing, they will probably also be better at doing these things, which serves to improve on-the-job performance, as well.

A pre-employment personality assessment can accurately assess a prospective employee’s social skills. It is important for any business that employees are able to cooperate, exchange ideas, and work efficiently together. The ability to interact positively with clients and customers can be a difficult trait to discern prior to watching an employee work. Personality assessments can help eliminate this type of uncertainty before you make your decision.

Performance

Researchers have found that pre-hire personality assessments can predict a candidate’s future performance at work. Employees who have desirable personality traits, including strong levels of motivation, empathy, and self-confidence, are shown to perform better in the workplace. These qualities are essential in employees who will be able to stay on task, present a positive attitude towards their jobs, and perform effectively. Pre-employment testing can accurately assess a candidate’s personality for these and other key factors of employee success.

There are a lot of different names used to describe the four main personality quadrants. In the coming weeks, we’re going to break down each for you, including each type’s preferences, common traits, and how to blend these together to create the optimal company culture and working environment. They are broken down as follows:

• The Controller / Assertive Quadrant

• The Expressive / Social Quadrant

• The Analyzer / Logical Quadrant

• The Supporter / Empathy Quadrant

Be sure to check out our posts in the coming weeks to identify what makes each one of them unique and how they fit into each role within your organization.

- Doug Myrick