Business

Effective 7-Step Strategic Planning Process

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This TQM article provides an overview of a typical Strategic Planning Process that was used in various organizations and proved very practical in implementation. The key processes of this typical Strategic Planning Process are aligned in 7 steps. The details of each step are illustrated below:

Step 1: Review or develop the vision and mission

Able to obtain first-hand information from various stakeholders (Shareholders, customers, employees, supplier communities, etc.).

You can use templates to gauge how stakeholders think about your organization. To know if their performance is aligned with the objectives of the organization.

Review or develop the company’s Vision and Mission with input from other stakeholders to ensure it is still up to date with business changes and new challenges. Also use this session as a means of communication.

Step 2 – Business and Operational Analysis (SWOT Analysis, etc.)

One of the key considerations of strategic planning is understanding the internal strengths and weaknesses (of the organization itself), as well as external threats and opportunities. These are commonly known as the four factors of a SWOT analysis.

Involving various stakeholders to provide their views on your organization is key. In the process, you will gain greater buy-in from these strategy and policy implementers.

Step 3: Develop and select strategic options

You can use templates to develop several possible key strategies to address your organization’s goals. More importantly, these potential strategies are developed based on stakeholder input (Step 1) and business and operations analysis (Step 2).

Often several possible strategies are developed and each of them seems important. Since it is quite normal for an organization to have several key issues to address, you will be able to use the appropriate tools to select some of the possible strategies. You will be able to apply various prioritization tools as introduced in this step.

Step 4 – Set Strategic Goals

During this step, you will be able to see the big picture of the organization and be able to select some strategic options objectively. The template can be used to understand various strategic options, establish key actions and a broad timeline to ensure selected strategic options are achieved.

While it is quite common for top management to provide the measurements and schedule, the intent of this step 4 is to make these measurements and schedule SMART. What it meant was Specific (S), Measurable (M), Achievable (A), Realistic (R), and Time-bound (T). when the strategic options are SMART, it will help facilitate communication down the organizational hierarchy for implementation.

Step 5 – Strategy Execution Plan

Many organizations have failed to realize the full potential of their strategies due to poor implementation. In this Step 5, a suitable implementation plan is developed to implement these strategies.

Step 6: Set the resource allocation

Very often, the management team assigned selected strategies to key personnel and left the person to do the task. While most organizations operate with minimal resources, they often end up overloaded with individual work.

Step 7: Execution Review

One of the key success factors for deploying an effective strategy is constantly reviewing your progress and making decisions about any deviations from the plan. It is vital to decide what to review and with whom to review. A new decision may be required as the status of the strategies progresses.

In summary: Following these 7 steps in Strategic Planning will ensure that various options are considered, including execution, resource allocation, and Execution Review. These 7 steps form a complete cycle for new or existing strategic planning initiatives

Home Kitchen

How to save some money on a new home construction project

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Having your dream home built from scratch requires a ton of investment. You have to prepare a large amount of money, even just for the initial outlay.

However, construction companies say there are ways to save money on a new home construction project. These tips and strategies include the following:

• If granite countertops (an expensive building material) are part of your dream kitchen, if you want to save some money, put off installing this fixture. You can find less expensive countertops that are still attractive and that you can replace in the future, once you’re ready to pay for granite.

• Skip the splash guards first. While backsplashes will give your home an extra chic and charming touch, your kitchen and bathrooms can still look polished without these rather expensive features.

• Floor finishes are not only expensive but also time consuming. Keep in mind that you can temporarily postpone floor finishes in low-traffic areas until you’re ready to invest.

• Delay the construction of bonus rooms. Guest rooms, exercise spaces, and workshops are great areas or rooms to have in your new home. However, they are not essential to the daily life of your family. As such, if you want to save some money up front, opt to delay these rooms and finish them only when you have the budget.

• Save on your driveway. With new homes, a driveway can be an easy upgrade. Talk to your construction company and if they agree, and if the time of year is right, you can opt to leave a smooth dirt road until you can shell out money for paving.

• Jump on the cover. Although a deck can be both a functional and aesthetic outdoor feature, you’ll save a lot of money if you haven’t built one yet. And while you’re waiting for the deck to be built, be sure to always keep the patio door locked for the kids. Until this feature is complete, you can make use of the lower level patio.

• Finally, don’t invest in landscaping just yet. In the initial stage of construction, it is not yet necessary to invest in professional landscaping services. This is because landscaping is more of a finishing touch to your home and is something you can invest in over time. However, if you are interested in starting a beautiful lawn, during the construction project you can choose vegetation that will grow and spread over time to create a complete lawn.

Auto

The use of lithium-ion batteries in today’s electric vehicles

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An electric vehicle battery, also known as an EVB, is a type of battery that powers the motors of an EV or HEV. Typically, these batteries can be rechargeable and fall under the category of lithium-ion batteries. Basically, these units offer a lot of capacity and provide a lot of energy per hour. Let’s find out how these batteries are used in today’s electric vehicles.

There is a difference between ignition, lighting and starting batteries. Actually, the role of these units is to provide power over a long period of time. In other words, they are deep cycle units.

Those designed for EVS boast a high power-to-weight ratio and density. Plus, they’re lightweight, so they can help improve an EV’s performance. Unlike liquid fuels, other technologies have relatively lower levels of specific energy. This often has a significant impact on the range of these vehicles.

In today’s electric vehicles, the most common type of battery is the lithium-ion battery. They offer a higher energy density for their weight. Some other types include sodium, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride, and lead-acid.

The electrical charge of these batteries is measured in amp-hours. Total energy is often displayed in kilowatt-hours.

Since the 1990s, advances in this technology have occurred due to the increasing demand for power tools, mobile phones, laptops, and other portable electronic devices. Additionally, HEVs and BEVs have enjoyed the benefits of these advances in energy density and performance.

Unlike nickel-cadmium, lithium-ion batteries are designed to be recharged daily, regardless of state of charge. At the end of 2019, the cost of electric vehicle batteries was reduced by 87%. In 2018, Tesla electric vehicles had a range of 400 km on a single charge.

When it comes to operating costs, the cost of electricity is a fraction of the cost of fuel. Therefore, these batteries can help save tons of money.

Initially, lithium-ion batteries were manufactured and marketed for use in a wide variety of consumer electronics and laptop computers. Since they come with a high energy density and a much longer lifespan, they are called the best type of battery for electric vehicles.

The disadvantage of the conventional lithium-ion type was high/low temperature sensitivity and performance degradation. Since organic electrolytes are volatile, oxidized metal oxides make the battery prone to fire, especially if improperly charged or punctured.

Early technology did not provide charging in cold climates, which is why heaters were needed to heat these cells.

In short, this was a brief introduction to lithium ion batteries designed for electric vehicles. I hope this helps.

Digital Marketing

What is Poly Keder and why is it valuable?

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What is Keder?

Keder is an extremely strong bead made from a polyethylene material. RKW, the manufacturer of Polydress® SolaWrap, has applied this bead as if it were a bead on the edge of the greenhouse film. This feature is designed to provide a way to attach and secure a plastic cover material to a greenhouse frame.

Why is this important? In general, there is a growing demand for hobby greenhouses, backyard greenhouses, schools, and rooftops for urban and commercial growers.

Why would there be a higher demand for greenhouses? Here are some reasons…

In the US, people are becoming more and more concerned about the quality of food. Plants grown in less nutrient dense soils where various chemical pesticides and herbicides have been applied raise questions about food purity.

Plants that have been genetically altered have also become the subject of much debate, regarding their safety.

One way to avoid foods of concern is to grow your own in your own greenhouse.

Many people today have budget concerns. They work hard for their money and demand the highest quality products; this includes the food they eat and feed their families. Many who build a greenhouse do so with the goal of making it a long-term, year-round food production project.

If you fall into any of these categories, you’ll want to select a product that provides the most long-term value. Polydress® SolaWrap poly keder is durable, long-lasting (shown to last up to 30 years), provides the highest diffusion and insulation values, never yellows, and resists damage where most greenhouse liners fail.

Who else is building greenhouses using Poly Keder?

  • Families raising children; Stay-at-home moms find a geodesic greenhouse dome a great place to hang out, while they take care of the food that will feed their family. The Poly keder, in a geodome, allows them to grow all year long, with very little heat. They like to save on grocery bills. Staying home and spending quality time with your children, teaching them sustainable food production skills is an added bonus. The dome is also a very relaxing place. The whole family benefits from improved relationships and healthy food.

  • Entrepreneurs who want to sell nutritious local produce at local farmers markets, local restaurants, and corporate cafeterias. Growing and selling locally grown fresh produce is a great opportunity that is booming. By growing in poly keder SolaWrap covered greenhouse dome kits you can control and increase crop production. By simply incorporating vertical hydroponic growing systems, growers will increase the growing area. Hydroponic systems also increase the quality of crops, simply by adhering to the soilless method of growing. Depending on the location and budget, the introduction of Aquaponics farming methods can generate another stream of profit, as well as providing a more environmentally friendly and balanced growing arrangement by using fish waste as natural fertilizer.

  • Today, more and more schools and colleges are teaching courses on smallholder agriculture and agricultural sustainability. Some schools are growing food for their own cafeterias. By providing higher quality food to their students, they report feeling better and experiencing more dynamic learning abilities. Learning a skill that allows you to produce your own food is a very valuable skill. Climate change is opening the door to much exploration and study. Who knows, a student could solve the world’s hunger problems through greenhouse food production. What better place to build a greenhouse dome with highly effective Solawrap?

  • Restaurant owners in big cities who have access to their rooftops are learning that by growing organic food to serve their customers, they can increase profits. They also help reduce greenhouse gases by not having to transport their food in trucks. This is an option that is expanding not only for restaurants, but also for corporate cafeterias. Serving fresh, organic and locally grown food to your employees has many benefits.

This is a short list of people who are building greenhouses. If you fall into any of these categories, great! Building a geodesic greenhouse dome kit with Polydress® SolaWrap poly keder will help slow climate change, reduce stress, save on your budget, increase profits, provide a more abundant harvest, increase the growing season and encourage a healthier lifestyle.

Health Fitness

Healthrider Stride Trainer 900 and Healthrider Club Series H140E Review

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The rise of the original HealthRider during the 1990s got many excited about fitness. This innovative piece of exercise equipment made a full body workout so simple to achieve while implementing a distinctive lever system to dispense weight and exercise every major muscle group within the body. This fitness equipment extended a low-intensity workout without overexerting your joints and muscles. Today, HealthRider’s latest fitness lines are based on the same inimitable theories: pioneering technology, easy to use, low-impact and enjoyable. The following are reviews of two of HealthRider’s most innovative fitness equipment: the HealthRider Stride Trainer 900 and the HealthRider Club Series H140e.

Aspects of The Health Rider Stride Trainer 900

You can customize your fitness program with the state-of-the-art HealthRider Stride Trainer 900. This innovative technology introduces you to personalized features to help you lose excess weight and get healthy. The Stride Trainer 900 is also designed with an Intensity Stride Power Ramp™. This special feature will regulate your stride length and incline to give you enhanced strength and training diversity. Each setting on this exercise machine targets particular muscle groups; In this way, you get a maximum workout for a specific part or region of your physique with each exercise session. Also included are 20 built-in workouts, an iPod compatible music port, a CoolAire training fan, as well as One-Touch™ controls on the handle that will alter the incline of the ramp and the resistance level. This elliptical trainer provides the ultimate individually modified exercise experience that allows you to achieve the result you want.

Aspects of The HealthRider Club Series H140e

The HealthRider Club Series H140e offers remarkable results in a refined design. The energy from your exercise routine will power the console, saving you money and electricity. It’s equipped with 15 personal trainer workouts, along with One-Touch™ workout scheduling and with the touch of a button you can get started without a hitch. You can choose a performance, weight loss or aerobic routine to start the program and work vigorously to achieve your precise goal. There are also many additional features of the HealthRider Club Series H140e. These include the 20″ stride, ClearView™ backlit display and one-touch resistance. Together these features come together to give you the most innovative, winning and personalized workout accessible with every training session.

Legal Law

Everything You Wanted to Know About Tasers But Weren’t Afraid to Ask

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Tasers are being used by many law enforcement agencies around the world. (Tasers are also called stun guns.) They are certainly used by the police in Orlando, where I live. Instead of shooting or wounding the victim with bullets, the Taser delivers a 50,000-volt electrical shock to a lawbreaker that overrides the central nervous system. This causes uncontrollable muscle tissue contractions and instant collapse. This is known as non-lethal force.

Some time ago, the Orlando Chapter of Amnesty International invited me to do some research and give a speech to the group on the pros and cons of Taser use. During the same period, I was serving on Florida State Senator Gary Siplin’s Commission on the Use of Deadly Force by Law Enforcement in Florida and had the opportunity to witness live Taser demonstrations by members of the Orlando Police Department.

You may be interested in some of the Taser facts I derived from my research for that speech.

First, where does the name Taser derive from? The inventor of the Taser took its name from the 1911 boy’s adventure story by author Victor Appleton. Appleton wrote a science fiction story about a young crime fighter who thwarted criminals by incapacitating them with a stun gun he had invented. The name of that young crime fighter in the story was Thomas A. Swift. The name of the story was titled: Thomas A. Swift and his electric rifle. The modern inventor of the first true electric stun gun named his invention after the initials of history: TASER!

The company that manufactures and markets Tasers is an Arizona corporation called Taser International. The company sells various models of Taser, in 1994 they brought out the first one called “Air Taser”, in 1998 they introduced the “M26” model and in 2003 they brought out the “X26”. These high powered tasers are the new rage in law enforcement. Police maintain that the use of Tasers reduces injuries to police and the public. Police also maintain that the Taser is a tool used in conjunction with other types of non-lethal force.

However, doctors, reporters and human rights groups maintain that the use of Tasers poses serious safety problems. A number of citizens have died after being Tasered. Taser International spokespeople disagree that the Taser is a dangerous weapon. When a human being is Tasered, their body is subjected to a 50,000-volt shock that is designed to override the target’s central nervous system, causing muscle tissue contractions that lead to instant collapse. The company maintains that the jolt will physically weaken the target, regardless of their pain tolerance or mental focus. The Taser is said to “directly tell the muscles what to do: contract until the target is in the fetal position on the ground.” The company further maintains that there are no residual effects on the body after being tasered.

My investigation revealed that since 2001, at least 70 people have died in the United States and Canada after receiving electric shocks with the M26 or X26 models. Twelve of the deaths have occurred in Florida. Four of those deaths have occurred in Orange County, where I live. Medical examiners who have commented on the deaths generally attribute such deaths to other factors, such as concurrent drug intoxication when using Tasers. Other medical experts question whether Taser Shocks can exacerbate the risk of heart failure. Some scientists argue that electricity near the heart can be dangerous because it can cause ventricular fibrillation. Still, other scientists suggest or speculate that excess potassium, produced when muscles contract violently, may be a key ingredient in device-associated deaths. In essence, no one knows for sure if the Taser alone can cause death.

Despite the deaths that have occurred, more than 6,000 law enforcement and corrections agencies in 49 states are deploying or testing Tasers. My research also revealed that several states that previously banned all stun guns have recently changed their law to allow state and local police to use Tasers. Campus police now use Tasers on many college campuses. Tasers were used by the US military during the Iraq War and are still used by the military at Guantanamo Bay. Tasers have been purchased or tested by the police or military in Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Mexico, Spain, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. Forty-three states place few or no restrictions on public possession of stun weapons for self-defense. However, price can be a deterrent to purchasing a Taser for personal use. The price of the Air Taser is $399.95; the M26 model is $699.00 and the X26 is advertised at $999.00.

Local law enforcement agencies in Florida were among the first agencies to adopt the new generations of Tasers on a large scale. The Orlando Sentinel newspaper reported in March 2005 that police had used Tasers against 24 students in the previous 18 months. An Amnesty International report states that Tasers are used against unarmed suspects in 80% of all non-lethal weapon cases; Tasers were used in 36% of cases for verbal noncompliance by suspects, but only in 3% of cases of fatal assault.

According to information provided to the media in 2007 by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office when I was conducting my investigation, 700 deputies out of 1,318 men on the force were armed with Tasers and the department had just ordered an additional 125 Tasers. . The following year, Orange County deputies reportedly made 45,033 arrests and used Tasers 464 times, including against 14 suspects who were so aggressive that the law would have permitted the use of deadly force.

The Orlando Police Department has a stricter Taser policy and prohibits the use of a Taser unless a suspect is actively resisting a police officer. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office mandates that each officer receive eight hours of annual Taser training, an increase from the four hours initially used by the office. This will allow 6,000 hours a year of training for Orange County Sheriff’s deputies.

Critics of the use of Tasers, such as Amnesty International, have called on all federal, state and local authorities to suspend the use of Tasers and other electro-shock weapons pending an urgent, rigorous, independent and impartial investigation into their use. use and its effects.

There has been no such suspension and it appears that Tasers are here to stay.

Lifestyle Fashion

Pandora charms and bracelets: myths and realities

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In Greek mythology, Pandora is said to have been the first woman to walk the earth. When Prometheus stole the secret of fire from Mount Olympus, the gods were angry because they decided to punish humanity. Zeus, the god of gods, commanded Hephaestus to create a woman from the Earth. This woman was given by all the gods of Olympus, gifts that were supposed to bring misery to mankind. She was given beauty, charms, trickery, cunning, boldness, and more. After she was given all these gifts, she was named Pandora, which means “all gifted”.

She was then taken by Hermes to Epimetheus, the brother of Prometheus. Despite Prometheus’s warning not to accept any gifts from the gods, her brother was so captivated by Pandora’s beauty and charms that Epimetheus welcomed her. That, according to Greek mythology, was the beginning of man’s misery.

Other versions speak of a container or jar (not a box) that Pandora opened. When she opened the jar, its contents spilled out and from then on, the lands and seas were filled with evil. Other texts say that the jar contained blessings, but when Pandora opened the container, all the blessings were discarded and could not be retrieved.

But whatever the version, one thing is common, one thing was left in the pot and that is ‘Hope’.

Recently, about 25 years ago, a goldsmith named P. Enevoldsen and his wife established a jewelry store in Copenhagen, Denmark. They designed, manufactured, and sold jewelry and accessories that contained various charms and beads. These charms are usually made of sterling silver, gold, precious or semi-precious stones, and an item unique to Italy, Murano glass.

The design of the charms was exquisite and when combined they create a truly wonderful piece of jewelry. The company sold pieces of jewelry and custom designs. These charms and beads could be purchased separately from the bracelet and necklace chains and assembled by consumers themselves if they wished. Consumers can also purchase personalized jewelry that has already been assembled with the pieces they fancy if they choose.

The demand for the items increased significantly to the point that the owners decided to wholesale their product to different countries. when they began to export them, and their designs were openly accepted by many patrons. Their products are known as Pandora Charms / Pandora Jewelry.

Why their products are named after a Character who brought misery to humanity is something that is difficult to understand. Perhaps the reason is the characteristics of each amulet used to create a bracelet; each charm design is unique and has its own identity. And when they are all combined to create a piece of jewelry, that piece of jewelry exudes elegance and class.

In this aspect it could be said that all the pieces of Pandora Charm Bracelets / Pandora Jewelry are “All Gifted”.

Pandora Charms or Pandora Jewelry also contradicts another description of the mythological character. Contrary to being the cause of evil and misery for mankind, Pandora Jewelry actually contributes to society. Support the SG Komens Foundation and the victims of Hurricane Katrina by donating a portion of your sales of certain charms to their foundations. In this context, we could say that perhaps Pandora Jewelry possesses or provides the last remaining blessing in the vessel: ‘Hope’.

Pandora charms and Pandora Jewelry are great items. These are classic jewelry that can fit and match any outfit. Whether you’re wearing casual or formal attire, Pandora charm bracelets are sure to match. In their distinct and creative way, these items have changed the meaning of their brand from something vindictive to something beautiful and elegant.

Pets

5 Tips for Easy Puppy House Training

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The sooner you potty train your puppy, the better. You want to establish good habits early on. And, a dog that has never used the bathroom in the house will never consider the house as a place *to* go to the bathroom. I have always found that the puppies we bought from real working farms (NOT puppy farms) were the easiest to house train. They only wanted to potty in grass or hay as they had only been in the barn or outside. Often they wouldn’t even go to the bathroom in a parking lot; we would have to find green areas on the way home so they could go to the bathroom.

Here are some home training tips that will help you, as long as you follow them consistently:

1. Closely supervise your puppy while he is potty training. Keep an eye on your puppy while he’s on the loose around your house! Look at it like you’re looking after a very young child who could get into trouble if you don’t keep an eye on him. A puppy is the same as a small child in this regard. Keep your puppy in a crate to keep him out of trouble when you can’t keep a close eye on him.

If you see your pup starting to sniff, take him outside (or to the selected potty area) right away. If you want the bathroom area to be outside, try to make the area outside from the start; and if for some reason you can’t do the outside area from the start, at least do the area near the door. That way, when you’re ready to move into the house, you can take your puppy outside whenever you see him start sniffing near the door. *When you can’t supervise your untrained dog, keep him in a crate*. Make sure you have the right size box too. Your pup should be able to stand up and turn around, but no larger. If you’re bringing your pup to buy the crate, the personal store should be able to help you select the correct size. Some people have tied their dog’s leash around their waist while potty training, but you still have to *pay attention*. (I once told my daughter that the problem with potty training her pup was that she wasn’t paying enough attention. One day she called me to say I must be right: her pup had two accidents that day, both of them! on his foot!)

2. If you find your puppy pottying in the wrong place, interrupt him by saying “NO!” in a high pitched voice – then immediately take him to the appropriate place to finish. (If you don’t catch it, you’re not watching it closely enough.) It might help to put the paper towel you clean up the mess with where you want it to go in the bathroom, so it gets the smell there. Be sure to *thoroughly* clean and deodorize the area where he has relieved himself in the house. Use special products made for this purpose, or you will go there again. In fact, watch him *very closely* and/or take him to his bathroom when he starts sniffing those areas.

3. Choose a place to go to the bathroom that is free of distractions. No play of any kind is allowed until the puppy has gone to the bathroom. DO NOT turn potty time into play time until after he goes potty. When he goes to the bathroom, give him a treat and then PLAY with him. Reward him abundantly and immediately!

4. Set a schedule. Maintaining a routine will help establish good habits. Control when your puppy eats and drinks. Feed your puppy 3 times a day when you first bring him home (or as recommended by his breeder). You can decrease this to once or twice a day as he gets older. Make sure you always have fresh water to drink. Take your puppy to his potty area about once an hour, and always take him to his potty area within 10 minutes after he eats or drinks, wakes up, and after exercising or playing. Allow absolutely no games or distractions until you have ‘done your job’. Once he’s potty trained, you can start taking him outside about once an hour for a very young puppy, and extend the time between “potty breaks” as your puppy gets older and picks up good potty training habits. House. But be sure to *watch your pup carefully* whenever he’s not confined or in an ‘OK to potty’ area.

5. Reward your puppy as soon as he goes to the bathroom in the appropriate place. Give him some very tasty special treat. Tell him: “Yes! Good boy!” And play with him! Make the moment he goes to the bathroom the moment the good and fun things begin. Dogs love a good thing and will usually do whatever it takes to get it So all you really need to do is make sure your dog knows what you expect of him, what it takes to get the ‘good stuff’.

This is a lot of work at first until the clothes are formed. But in reality, it is the most effective way and sometimes the only one that can be done. Be sure to take your pup outside as much as possible to increase his opportunity to relieve himself outdoors. If he doesn’t come out, DO NOT take your eyes off him when you bring him in. The most important thing: praise him generously, reward him and play with him when he goes out. With the use of patience, persistence, consistency, and generous reward, you will both be successful! For more information, free tips and advice on dog training, as well as free information on dog care, puppy care, canine health and nutrition, and free canine cooking recipes, visit: [http://www.e-dog-training.com].

Shopping Product Reviews

7 music business basics you need to know

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There are few industries as fragmented and as difficult to define as the music industry.

From independent musicians and recording studios to major record labels and big-name music venues, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of elements that make up the industry as a whole, and they’re not always connected or integrated in any perceptible way.

But if you’re passionate about music and determined to build your own music business or be part of the industry at some level, here are seven things to know about the state of the music business.

one. Most musicians are early adopters of new technology.. Whether it’s the latest social media or crowdfunding platform, musicians are often the first to try new tools, and some find success this way. For example, independent musician Daria Musk found traction on Google Hangouts.

two. Sometimes there is no rhythm or reason for success. This is particularly true with something as personal and subjective as music.

3. Technology is changing the way studios work. LANDR is an online tool that automatically masters recorded music, and the end results are reportedly pretty good. Ongoing developments in technology continue to reduce the need for traditional big-budget recording studios, and the production process is becoming increasingly automated. Home recording equipment is also affordable and of high quality.

Four. Blockchain may be the future of the industry. The technology underlying popular cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin is known as blockchain, and it may offer a way for more music companies and musicians to monetize their work without third parties taking a bigger slice of the pie. But the current structure of the industry prevents this from moving forward.

5. It is the only industry with Payola. It is illegal for radio stations to play music on the air for money, unless they disclose it as “sponsored airtime.” Unfortunately, the corruption continues and the mainstream airwaves are dominated by Top 40 music, which represents the extremely popular minority. If you thought Arctic Monkeys was “independent,” you’re not even scratching the surface of the independent majority.

6. Music streaming is a growing market. And we will continue to see innovation and new developments in this area. There may be dozens of streaming sites now, but that number is likely to grow into the hundreds, and maybe even thousands.

7. The human being may not have creativity cornered. It turns out that machines are capable of producing beautiful and emotional music, something long thought impossible. Will this change the way music is made? Will it make musicians obsolete? It’s hard to say.

Sports

Really? The crazy world of meeting women on the Internet

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I joined Match.com a few days ago. I have been with Match 4-5 times since the early 2000’s. I joined because they have the largest database of potential partners. Before I came back to Match, I was on a couple of smaller “niche” dating sites, but they didn’t have enough members to be effective at what is essentially a numbers game.

At this point, I recently only “went out” with one person I met on a dating site. I was more interested in her than she was in me, and we ended up being friends with her, but she woke me up, opening me up slightly to realize how much I want a partner in my life. But since I still can’t talk about the internet dating part this time, this article will focus on meeting people. It will also focus on a man’s perspective, but I hope it will be useful for women as well.

The last time I was on Match, my inbox literally exploded with over 90 replies to my profile in a couple of days, and that’s happening again as I write this. I don’t put that down to me being some kind of fabulous guy (although I think I am!). I think the real reasons my inbox explodes are twofold: One, as a professional writer and counselor for men and couples, I write a really good profile, and I’d like to think that’s part of it, but I also think it’s because I am fresh meat.

Fresh red meat. To quote the Eagles, “There’s a new boy in town.” The ladies are older, yes, but there is a large market of women 60 and older, divorced and widowed, looking for a partner.

I only need one. What is correct.

Separated, Not Divorced

I don’t jump right in when a previous relationship ends. I’ve been married twice and my personal style is to re-know who I am as a single person before unfairly foisting myself on a potential new partner. As a consequence, I am somewhat astonished that a portion of the women who initiate contact with me are only separated, their divorces not yet finalized.

I can’t help but wonder how anyone can move on to another relationship before their current relationship is complete. It may be over, but it’s certainly not complete and it’s doubtful that such a person would have had a chance to fully heal. It’s too fast. My experience supports the idea that these are people who can’t stand being alone and invariably end up carrying problems from the last relationship to the new relationship, creating a cycle of broken relationships. When one of these women contacts me, I politely decline the engagement as I am not interested in dating someone who is still married. This is not a moral judgment. It is an insight based on knowledge of how things normally work. Not always, of course, but who wants to roll those dice?

the young woman

I am amazed at the number of likes I get from women who are younger than my two daughters. My first thought is always, “what are you thinking?” Some actually invite me to chat, but most don’t and are just flirting through their likes, probably “looking” for an older man who will accept them for whatever reason, including supporting them, being a sugar daddy, or simply seeking parental approval that they probably didn’t get from a male figure earlier in life.

Perhaps some of them are annoyed by the discomfort of many young men and are seeking a degree of non-threatening contact from men who are easily appeased and tend to their own shortcomings with mature women. There may be a small number of young women, and men, who actually benefit from one of these May-December relationships, but here we go again, rolling the dice on something that reasonably has very little chance of working out.

My personal rule of thumb about dating by age has been that I probably won’t even consider someone who isn’t at least 10 years older than my oldest daughter. That is becoming less of an issue as my oldest daughter will be 50 next year. I also like the concept of dating “age appropriate”, whatever that means to each individual, and it’s a personal choice.

Do you have a friend

Clearly, some of the weirdest emails I get are the ones where someone claims to be writing for a friend. They start by saying that their account is expiring soon, that they won’t be renewing it, and that they have a very shy friend who would be perfect for me, and here’s the email address and a warning to treat her with kindness. because it is very fragile.

This is wrong on many levels. First, it violates Match’s policy of not giving out email addresses on first contact. Second, there is no denying that there are many fragile and broken people in the world, but (1) why would they accept an email from someone they don’t know if they are so shy and (2) why would I want to be involved with someone who is so fragile and broken? Does my shadow love your shadow?

This is a scam and I’m wondering if they specifically target seniors like me, which leads me to…

The older man and ageism

That would be me. I am not suggesting that she would or should date older men. I mean how strange it is to be in the situation I find myself in: I will be 73 at the end of this month, and I was pretty sure I would still be happily married for the rest of my life. I never imagined that I would be in a situation where I am not only writing this article, but on Match.com looking for a partner, hopefully the last great love of my life, and trying to figure out what exactly that means. . I mean, 73! Definitely uncharted territory.

The first thing that comes to mind is that, at 73, I seem to be at the top end of the older men’s Match group. Not the oldest, but definitely close enough that it doesn’t matter. There is good news and bad: The good news is that there are many men in their 60s who look older than me. The bad news is that I have bad knees that are hopefully replaceable, and that is my next step, as alternative regenerative stem cell therapy did not work for me despite the promises.

Earlier in this article, I touched on the woman who woke me up and gave me the gift of knowing that I could love again. I was hoping I could, which is why I joined a dating site in the first place. She is 60 years old and at first she was skeptical of even meeting a 72 year old man and I was put in the position of looking for a “younger” woman. Using her humor, I enticed her to meet me and we both immediately liked each other and I am extremely grateful for her valued friendship.

One of the challenges here is that, on the one hand, some women, both young and old, say that age is relative, that age is just a number. they are correct. On the other hand, if another woman says that a certain age is too old, or a man says that a woman is too young, they are also right. Yes, both things can be true.

When I first went on a dating site a few months ago, I remember thinking, “A lot of these women look like my aunt,” and then one morning I walked in front of my mirror and realized I look like my uncle. Welcome to my awareness of my own ageism.

conclusion

It is interesting that the impulse to love and be loved is so strong in us, no matter our age. I’m grateful to my friend for helping me wake up so I don’t decide that I’m just going to be alone. I considered…briefly.

However, while I’m searching, I’m also building the best life I can for myself and I’m going to have fun doing it. In the meantime, I am now in a relationship with _______ (insert your dating site name here), and will eventually replace him with someone I know.

So thanks for reading. My hope is that some of this has given you insight into your own relationship, existing or longed for. Maybe you feel inspired to fix your existing relationship so that you don’t end up going through this in your life. If you’re not in a relationship, you may feel inspired to open your heart to the possibility of love, no matter your age. Any path is a guarantee that you are still alive and vibrant.

I could go on, but you get the idea. I’m going to check if I have a new mail from Match!