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Showing posts from June, 2024

Virtual Leadership: What It Takes to Lead a Remote Company

Five years ago, the concept of leading a 100% virtual company seemed unreal to me. Yet today, SUCCESS Enterprises supports team members across three continents, five countries and six time zones. For many of our team members, the digital nomadic lifestyle has become a norm, with some people relocating every few months. This unique environment presents challenges that require a shift in the virtual leadership approach. We are forced to get creative to foster a cohesive company culture, communicate and collaborate effectively and monitor productivity and deliverables efficiently.  Here are some of the ways SUCCESS Enterprises has addressed these challenges: Creating a cohesive company culture Creating a cohesive company culture when team members are spread across the globe requires deliberate effort. At SUCCESS Enterprises, we’ve dedicated days to workshopping and co-creating the company we want to work for. This involved defining our company mission, vision and values and adjusting

I Spent 2 Weeks On a Royal Caribbean 9-Month Cruise. Here’s What Happened

When a friend invited me to join her on a Royal Caribbean 9-month cruise, I jumped at the opportunity. The ship was set to sail to over 60 countries across seven continents in 274 nights—about nine months. As soon as the ship set sail in December 2023, it gained notoriety on social media platforms. Guests began documenting their experiences, with more than 70 million posts about the cruise shared on TikTok. I knew I couldn’t pass up the offer to experience it firsthand. The Ultimate World Cruise is divided into four segments: Ultimate Americas, Ultimate Asia Pacific, Ultimate Africa & Southern Europe and Ultimate Europe and Beyond. I embarked in Singapore for part of the Ultimate Asia Pacific segment, sailing through Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India and the United Arab Emirates. During my time on the cruise, there were 1,970 passengers, with more than 600 staying on for the entire journey.  Serenade of the Seas was undoubtedly the biggest ship I’d been on—with 13 floors, an indoor an

How to Support a Grieving Friend, Family Member or Coworker

Has this ever happened to you? Your uncle calls to tell you that your aunt has finally succumbed to cancer. You’re scrolling through social media and find out your friend’s father died suddenly. Your coworker takes you aside and says another coworker’s mother has died. If you’re like most people, you’ve likely heard about someone’s death. In addition to feeling sadness, you may be unsure how to respond to the news or provide support to the person who is grieving. Here are some tips from grief experts on how to support a grieving friend, family member or coworker. What to do when you first hear about a loss Even if you’re feeling uncomfortable or sad, the most important thing to remember is that you should reach out to a bereaved person. “The worst thing [to do is to] say nothing at all,” says David Kessler, a leading authority on grief, founder of Grief.com and author of Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief . One of the reasons people don’t reach out, he says, is because “

3 Ways to Maintain Your Fitness Routine and Stay Healthy While Traveling

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For business travelers and road warriors, learning how to stay healthy while traveling can pose a significant challenge, especially when they are faced with prolonged periods away from their usual daily routines. While occasional breaks can be refreshing and enjoyable, frequent travel can disrupt one’s training plans and overall well-being. Fortunately, the hospitality industry has recognized the growing importance of travelers’ health: According to a 2023 report by the Global Wellness Institute , consumer spending on wellness tourism is projected to grow 16.6% annually in the next three years , with expenditures expected to have reached almost $6.3 trillion by the end of 2023. With a little planning, you can set yourself up for success with wellness on the go by adopting habits and selecting destinations that align with your fitness objectives. In this article, experts weigh in on how to stay healthy while traveling. Modification is key to maintaining your routine Rachel Lovitt ,

Submersible Pilot Merel Dalebout Is Reaching New Depths in Antarctica

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My hands grip the ladder, knuckles turning white as I carefully step down on the floor of the clear acrylic orb. Taking one of six seats, I realize it’s colder than I expected, but after all, I am floating in near-freezing waters on a Seabourn Antarctica cruise . Our Seabourn submarine pilot, Merel Dalebout, Ph.D., had never done a deep dive here before, and it was likely that no one in the history of the world had either. “We’re in a golden age of deep sea exploration,” she said as the shades of blue turned deeper the further we plunged below the surface. “We’re going places no one has ever gone before, and we may see things no one has ever seen before.” Dalebout is one of 16 submersible pilots on Seabourn Antarctica cruise’s expedition ships, Pursuit and Venture , which launched in 2022 and 2023. She takes adventurous passengers up to 1,000 feet underwater from Greenland to the South Pacific, but the Great White Continent is arguably its most fascinating dive. What makes diving

Nosotros Tequila: How Two Friends Created the Largest Self-Distributing Tequila and Mezcal Company in California

Nosotros Tequila, started with two friends selling tequila out of their backpacks and became the largest self-distributing tequila and mezcal company in California at one point.  It was a Friday night in September 2015. Carlos Soto was sitting in a bar conducting a social experiment by watching what drinks people were ordering. His findings revealed two things: There were massive amounts of tequila-based drinks being consumed, and when patrons were asked which brand they wanted, the options were surprisingly limited. But why was he at a bar conducting a secret survey? Flashback to a few hours before, when Soto was in his class “Managing New Ventures,” at Los Angeles’ Loyola Marymount University. The professor had just given a specific assignment: Pitch a business idea unrelated to technology. Tequila was the first thing that came to mind. “I saw so many millennials and young people coming in and ordering tequila, but there was a complete disconnect with the brands,” Soto recalls.

How These 3 Black Female Artists Are Changing the Face of Digital Art

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The following three Black female artists all have one thing in common: Their vibrant digital art features joyful depictions of women of color. These artists have each forged an impressive career in art that is both unique and authentic. Read on to discover how these talented Black female artists have made their mark in the digital art world and what they’ve learned along the way.  1. Reyna Noriega, owner of Reyna Noriega Studios  Reyna Noriega. (Photo by Ava Molina.) Miami native Reyna Noriega ’s artwork reflects the sunny South Florida neighborhood she grew up in. She attended Florida International University, earning a degree in psychology. Though she had dabbled in photography and drawing in high school, she didn’t start creating digital art until after she had taken a position as a high school art teacher. Since diving into digital design, Noriega has landed a cover on The New Yorke r and an Old Navy collaboration.  “My Old Navy Black History Month tee in 2021 was a major

What Does the Next Generation Leader Look Like?

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Next generation leaders are set to shake up the workplace as we know it. Gen Z are more educated , with early benchmarks showing that post-millennials are enrolling in college at a significantly higher rate than millennials did at the same age. They will also comprise 27% of the workforce by 2025, and that number will continue to climb as its members graduate and settle into their careers. But what do members of this generation value, and what will their leadership look like in the workplace? Next generation leaders are more interested in face-to-face contact than you’d expect Gen Z grew up with screens. Social media was commonplace by the time they reached their teenage years, and hard-copy encyclopedias were mere curiosities on their parents’ bookshelves. One may assume this means that next generation leaders have a natural proclivity for online working, preferring to operate remotely as many of them did during high school and university when the COVID-19 pandemic required it.

Tips for Traveling With a Baby: How to Take a Relaxing Vacation as a New Parent

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When you’re a new parent, simply getting out the door to run to the grocery store can feel like a challenge. Remembering everything you need for a couple hours—diapers, bottles, burp cloths, toys, change of clothes for emergencies—can turn you into a professional stuff shuffler, as my husband and I joke. The thought of taking an international trip with an infant? Requiring Herculean effort.  That’s why, when we decided to plan a trip to Mexico with our 11-month-old son, our first child, we didn’t tell anyone about it, figuring we’d be hit with resounding choruses of “you’re crazy.” Back from the experience, I’m here to tell you: Our five-day trip was packed with special memories, family bonding, a few challenges and even relaxation. It wasn’t the lounge-all-day-with-a-margarita-on-the-beach kind of trip we were used to; it was better. I’ve heard the saying, “There’s no such thing as a vacation, just parenting in a different location,” many times, but I don’t believe it to be true. Th

The Importance and Status of Paid Paternity Leave in the US

All eyes are on maternity leave. But solid paternity leaves might be the secret sauce to successful postpartum experiences for working mothers and families. After nine long months of growing a baby, moms endure multiple days in the hospital in many cases, sleepless nights and a physical recovery that takes months. Just as the family is settling into survival mode, it’s often back to work for fathers—who have no guaranteed paid paternity leave in the United States. Now, the dad is separated from a baby he just met, and from his partner who likely needs help carrying more than the weight of a gallon of milk, let alone a carseat. Family and friends, if they are around, step in instead, helping the mother in the best-case scenario. In the worst case, now she’s on her own to figure out daily self-care tasks, house upkeep, feeding the new baby, and her own physical and emotional recovery. Research extensively supports the need for paid paternity leave. Here’s how and why more companies

The Trailblazer’s Toolkit: 7 Best Tech Tool for Innovators

Hey there, innovator! We see you out there setting the stage. But while you’re busy changing the world, it can be hard to stay on top of technology to keep your business and personal life on track. We’ve got your back with this toolkit of technology solutions for trailblazers. 1. Soaak Use : Mental health Cost : $29.99/month (app membership) Soaak describes itself as a provider of “transformational health technologies.” Within the app, you can access 21-day immersion programs that are designed to help you form lasting change. The app also features sound frequencies that target an emotional state. Each sound frequency can be played by itself, but you can also access recordings of the frequencies paired with nature sounds or music. You can set notifications to remind you to set your intentions or participate in your program and write a daily gratitude journal within the app. 2. Google generative AI search Use : Intelligence Cost : Free If you’ve ever typed a question into Goog