CHESS REVEALED: THE BREAKDOWN OF CHESS BY MASTER GLAD YAKIE. HE TALKED ABOUT CHESS IN GENERAL, AND THE BAYELSA STATE CHESS ASSOCIATION AND THE TOURNAMENT EVERY MONTH

This is a breakdown of chess by master GLAD YAKIE, He talked about the fundamental of chess and the importance of playing the game. The mental effect of the game and how it improves your thinking capacity, and we talked about the monthly chess tournament that holds every first Saturday of the month,  and it turned out that he was the winner of the October version of the monthly tournament.  He narrated how the game of chess has impacted him as a person.

  

[9/27, 12:22 PM] Young Lee: What Is the Purpose of the Bayelsa State monthly chess tournament.

[9/27, 12:25 PM] Glad: The main purpose of the Bayelsa Monthly Rapid tournament is to promote chess in the state and engage Chess players in Bayelsa.

[9/27, 12:26 PM] Young Lee: Who are the organizer of the chess tournament.

[9/27, 12:29 PM] Glad: The Bayelsa Monthly tournament is organized by the Bayelsa State Chess Associate a branch of the Bayelsa State Sports Council but it also welcomes sponsorships from lovers of the game.

[9/27, 12:30 PM] Glad: Bayelsa State Chess Association.

[9/27, 12:32 PM] Young Lee: What time of the month do you hold the tournament, in case someone wants to join your club.

[9/27, 12:35 PM] Glad: The Bayelsa Monthly Rapid tournament takes place every first Saturday of the month. There's also a weekly Blitz tournament that takes place every Saturday.

[9/27, 12:36 PM] Young Lee: Break down the difference between the two tournaments.

[9/27, 12:39 PM] Glad: The Rapid tournament is played with a time frame of at least 10 minutes while the Blitz is played in a time frame of 5 minutes.

[9/27, 12:45 PM] Young Lee: There were a lot of children in the tournament. There must be something special about chess that makes their parents bring them to the tournament.

[9/27, 12:49 PM] Glad: Chess is an intellectual game where people come up with strategies to win games. As such, it helps to improve the thinking capacities of people and can also be helpful in making good decisions in life. It also builds a retentive memory which is very important for a student, hence parents encourage their children to learn the game.

[9/27, 12:53 PM] Young Lee: Give us a break down of the rules and regulations we should know as beginners.

[9/27, 1:00 PM] Young Lee: What if am interested how can I register for the tournament.

[9/27, 1:03 PM] Glad: You just have to pay a registration fee of N1,000 and that's about it, Regardless children are free to participate without paying any fee.

[9/27, 1:09 PM] Young Lee: How long have you been playing chess.

[9/27, 1:09 PM] Glad: I've been playing for about 6yrs now

[9/27, 1:11 PM] Young Lee: How many official tournaments have you participated in, locally, National or International levels.

[9/27, 1:15 PM] Glad: I've participated in numerous local tournaments and I've also participated twice in the National Malogy Under 20 championship as well as the Bayelsa Monthly tournaments.

[9/27, 1:17 PM] Young Lee: What was your experience in the National Malogy Under 20 championship

[9/27, 1:18 PM] Young Lee: What was the experience like.

[9/27, 1:22 PM] Glad: It was an exciting experience for me cos I had to compete with young players from different parts of the country. In my first outing, I obtained 5wins, a draw, and 3 losses out of 9 rounds. While on my second tournament I managed 6 wins and lost 4 games out of 10 rounds.

[9/27, 1:25 PM] Young Lee: What are the support the BAYELSA State Sports Council can give to the BAYELSA State Chess Associate going forward.

[9/27, 1:34 PM] Glad: The Bayelsa State Sports Council covered transportation to and within Lagos and also gave me a daily feeding allowance and everything I as well as the other selected players were also given some money.

[9/27, 1:37 PM] Young Lee: Thanks for the interview

[9/27, 1:38 PM] Glad: With pleasure

how to think positively after the covid 19 pandemic

 we all know that the covid 19 pandemic have so much affected the world economic 

The Benefits of a Ketogenic Diet

The Ketogenic diet refers to a form of dieting where high fats, adequate protein and low carbs are consumed. Its aim is to deplete the body's glycogen reserves so that it relies on fat and protein for energy. The body then undergoes ketosis, which is a metabolic state in which your liver produces a high number of ketones as an alternative fuel source for the brain. This form of dieting is quite popular, with dozens of pictures showing before and after results circulating all over social media. These are some benefits of the keto diet and how it may help in achieving your goals.  

Weight Loss 

Several studies have shown that people on a high fat, low carb diet burn fat at a faster rate than those with a high carb, low fat diet. This is primarily because lower insulin levels caused by the low carb diet (keto), help to remove excess water from the body. During ketosis, you experience reduced levels of hunger, which can be extremely beneficial in controlling caloric intake, promoting overall weight loss. It has been noted that low carb diets are also effective in reducing visceral fat, primarily stored in the abdominal cavity.  

Mental Performance 

The ketones produced from a low carb diet are a much more efficient source of energy than glucose. Studies have indicated that they can improve cognitive impairment and even help with diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The high-fat diet helps to support the balance of essential omega 3s and omega 6s which are vital for optimal brain function. Additionally, ketosis is able to boost mitochondria production and adenosine triphosphate within the brain's memory cells, thereby improving mental performance and clarity.  

Reduced risk of Chronic Disease 

A ketogenic diet can boost the body's defense against a variety of conditions. By reducing inflammation, and improving mitochondrial function, it can help to mitigate the risk of developing several chronic diseases. Cancer cells typically possess abnormal mitochondria, which need an increased supply of glycogen. Ketosis allows for normal cells to be fed while starving the cancer cells, as they are unable to utilize the ketones for energy because of their dysfunctional mitochondria.  

Improved Blood Pressure 

High blood pressure significantly increases the risk of several diseases and is a leading cause of deaths worldwide. A low-carb diet has been proven to be more effective than a low-fat diet in reducing blood pressure. In fact, some claim that it is just as effective as taking pills. This combined with the weight loss derived from a ketogenic diet is sure to vastly improve cardiovascular health and function.  

It has been proven by numerous studies in the realm of nutrition science, that this form of dieting can have a very positive impact on your overall health and bodily function. As long as you can find a way to maintain the discipline, the rewards are abundant. For those that have not been able to gain many results from traditional methods, the keto approach is definitely something worth considering.

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Things you need to know before you register for the Nigeria survival funds

 

Step 1:

Personal registration

To register, you must be the Founder/Proprietor/Admistrator of the MSME.

Register your personal details to start the payroll support application. Instructions at the top of the form will guide you on the required fields that need to be filled to complete the initial registration.

Step 2:

Activate your account

You will receive an activation code on the mobile number and email address you registered with. You will need this code to activate your account. Please ensure you have access to the phone number or email address you will register with in order to complete your initial registration.

Step 3:

Organisation registration

After you have successfully activated your account, you will need to login and register your Organisation. To complete this stage, you will need your CAC Number, SMEDAN Number, Tax ID (optional) and the organisation's bank account details.

Step 4:

Completing the payroll support application

You will receive an email address on the list of requirements needed to complete the application. These include the beneficiary employees details (not more than 10 employees), proof of previous salary payments to the beneficiary and all other supporting documents.

Click this link to register

How to register for Survival funds registration starts now

 

Survival funds Helping MSME's across the country

The registration for the survival funds portal is now open for everyone depending on your various section.

I think this I listened the only grant program by the federal government that will cover almost all the sector and it's a 100% grant.

See the table and you where you fit in.

Survival funds time table for registration

Thanks

Click the link

THE RIGHT STEPS TO TAKE IF YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL

 Know Thy Limits

“A THE RIGHT STEPS TO TAKE IF YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL MAN IS ALWAYS WILLING TO BE LITTLE.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

A key aspect of the results of a Myers-Briggs Personality type test is the section which outlines your strengths and weakness. 

A lot of the mistakes we make and problems we encounter could have been avoided altogether if we were a little more knowledgeable about our limitations. Just think about an eager weightlifter who tries to lift too much, too soon. What do you think will happen? Any rational individual will realize that the weightlifter is going to hurt themselves. 

Some will argue that this illustration is encouraging us to limit ourselves, and if we do, and stop pushing ourselves, we will never know our true potential.

There is no limit to what you can achieve if you set your mind to it, and sometimes you will never know how strong you are until you try. You need to, however, ensure that reason and logic prevail when reaching out to achieve your goals. If you have never lifted 100 pounds, maybe starting with 20 pounds today would be a better idea. 

There is nothing wrong with thinking big, but I would encourage you to start small and work your way up. In essence, I am encouraging you to be modest in your expectations.

Modesty will not only help you to avoid setting unrealistic expectations it will also help you to set realistic time frames to achieve your goals. Many people become frustrated when they reach a certain age and have not achieved a certain goal. But just consider the contrast between Mark Zuckerberg and Colonel Sanders. 

Mark Zuckerberg founded his Facebook empire in his early twenty’s, but Colonel Sanders did not become the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) until he was in his eighty’s. Both men are considered highly successful, but each achieved success at different times. 

Maybe it’s just not your time or maybe you are just not in the right industry. As highlighted in chapter 1, choosing a career in a field you love, will help you to stay motivated and become successful.

This theory is demonstrated in the lives of both of these men.

Their success was as a result of a passion for something they loved. A modest approach to life will also help you to avoid comparing your achievements to those of other people. Some people hit the ball out of the park on the first try, and there are others who have to work their way up the ladder. 

Some will get married right out of college, others will have to wait a few years and kiss a few frogs before they find the right person. In fact, both Mark Zuckerberg and Colonel Sanders experienced many setbacks on the way to success. You will too. Do not expect that your life will be different. 

No matter what you hope to achieve, you are going to have to work harder than you have ever worked before, and you may have to wait longer than you expected too.

The beautiful quality of modesty extends far beyond becoming successful. This is a quality that will help you to stop biting off more than you can chew. You do not need to say yes to everyone. This applies both to your personal life, and at work.

Don’t agree to unreasonable deadlines because you want to impress your boss unless you are 100% sure you will be able to complete the task. If you have been given an assignment, and you are unsure about how to get it done, do not be afraid to ask for help. 

If you work a full-time job and have a family to take care of, don’t commit to too much at your child’s school. Know thy limits! This applies to your time, energy, emotions, and skills.

Modesty works hand in hand with honesty, the next chapter will explain you can heal yourself and improve your life by means of this quality as well.

HOW TO STAY POSITIVE DURING HARD TIMES, THE RIGHT WAY TO THINK AND SUCCEED

 HOW TO STAY POSITIVE DURING HARD TIMES

“The more you know yourself, the more patience you have for what you see in others.” - Erik Erikson

Knowing who you are is a very crucial aspect of healing yourself.

How can you avoid a disaster if you are simply floating through life with no clear sense of what you stand for, and what you refuse to tolerate?

There is a reason why the small-town girl with big dreams, who gets to the big city, often ends up in some miserable and dare I say compromising, situation.

Think too of the unhappy Doctor who is only a Doctor because his parents decided that he needed to become the first Doctor in their Family What about the hen picked mama’s boy who dates a girl he cannot stand because it makes his mother happy? These three have a lot in common.

Their problem can be explained in the old saying that points out that if we do not know where we are going, any road will be the right one. And better yet, ‘if we do not stand for something, we will fall for anything.' In other words, if we do not understand ourselves, this includes our hopes, these scars every day in the way you interact with those around you. 

These scars could have made you too soft to express how you feel or too cold to care about the feelings of others. Now that you can see yourself clearly, become the best version of yourself.

Love yourself. And above all else, be true to yourself. Knowing your limits is another important skill to master in order to navigate through this crazy world successfully. 

This will be discussed in the next chapter. dreams, and aspirations, it will be easy for just about anyone to push us into a decision we will regret for the rest of our lives. Living down a choice you regret, especially if you have to face its consequences on a daily basis, is going to be one of the hardest things you have ever had to do.

Living with the burden of these choices is part of the reason many people are so bitter and unkind. This is not the way I want you to navigate through your life.

When we take the time to understand who we truly are, the intricacies of our own personalities, we will have the keys to unlock our true potential. You cannot become your best self if you do not know what that entails. When you understand yourself, you are more likely to end up choosing a career that you love. 

And it is quite easy to be passionately driven to achieve great things when you are pursuing a career that you love. Additionally, when you are at the top of your game, you will seek out the kind of partners and friends that will make you happy and thus bring out the best in you. They will understand the way you think and may very well think the same way you do too. 

These are the kind of people who will not laugh at your dreams or be jealous of your success. Being surrounded by loving, supportive people, will make you a kinder, happier, and dare I say, more successful person. Individuals who have a deep understanding of themselves, are often more decisive and optimistic. That is because these individuals are in full control of their life choices and they chose well. 

They are more likely to see opportunities where others see setbacks. It also takes far less effort to be productive when you enjoy what you do. Additionally, the fact that you enjoy your career will give you a competitive edge and you will not depend on the praise of others for motivation. The satisfaction of a job well done will keep you pushing forward. 

I know that these may seem like ideal circumstances, where our choices are not dependent on the desires of our family and where we are all strong enough not to succumb to the pressure they will put on us to make a certain decision. But believe me, knowing and truly understanding yourself will open doors to opportunities you would have never seen coming otherwise. 

It will be easier for you to stand up to the pressures around you when you know without a doubt what the right decision for you will be. I am not encouraging you to shrug your responsibilities of providing for your family, I am encouraging you to understand who you are and be true to who you are at all times. 

You will be much happier as a result, and far easier to love, when you are not carrying the heavyweight of a bad decision around for the rest of your life.

How to Get to Know Yourself

This is easier said than done, but it is not impossible. You can start with some objective assessment. This does not mean simply asking the people around what they think of you. Your interactions with them, whether negative or positive, will prevent them from being as objective as you need them to be. A better option would be making use of a reputable personality test. One of the popular options is the Myers-Briggs Personality type test. 

This test will determine which of the 16 personality types of this theory best describes who you are. It has gained popularity in recent times because its results can be used to determine the environment you work best in and even how you interact with the people around you. Plus whether you like the results or not they tend to be surprisingly accurate. Career aptitude tests are another great option. These are designed to help you understand your skillset better and how you can use these skills to select the right career. 

It is never too late to start a career that you can love. Once you have a carefully thought out plan that will allow you to care for your responsibilities and still venture into a field that you love, go for it. It might be a case that money is tight and you are already strapped for time and may not be able to make a move right now. 

But I would encourage you to continue preparing yourself. Keep learning all that you can about that career online or from the people around you. That way, if the opportunity should arise, you will be in a position to take it. Once you have taken the time to learn about yourself, you may find some dirty laundry and hidden scars that you probably would have rather kept hidden. 

Unfortunately, you have been wearing these scars every day in the way you interact with those around you. These scars could have made you too soft to express how you feel or too cold to care about the feelings of others. Now that you can see yourself clearly, become the best version of yourself.

Love yourself. And above all else, be true to yourself. Knowing your limits is another important skill to master in order to navigate through this crazy world successfully. This will be discussed in the

next chapter. 

Discovered: Foods pregnant women Must Eat

 Foods pregnant women  Must Eat

In the fitness industry, there is a saying, “Calories are not created equal.”

That means you could eat 300 calories from different foods and have a world of different results. For example, if you ate 2 

bananas and 2 apples a day, which would roughly be 300 

calories. What if you got all 300 calories from 2 scoops of chocolate ice cream?

Would the benefits be the same? Guess which one is going to be better for your baby?

1. Eat whole foods

Whole foods could also be called single-ingredient foods. For example, broccoli is a single ingredient food. You pick it up... you know what it is... and you know it grew from the ground.

Now let’s look at white bread? Most people have no idea how it was made, what ingredients were used... and how in the world did they get the bread so white, anyway? The moment you have no idea what goes into the food, it’s best you avoid it. White bread uses refined flour that is bleached white and all kinds of artificial ingredients go into making a loaf.

None of it is doing your body any favors. Avoid processed foods 

and stick to natural foods.

2. Eat fruits and veggies 

This is common sense. We all know that fruits and vegetables contain a ton of vitamins and minerals that do us good. Be consistent with your diet. You 

must eat these daily.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. You can’t eat 7 apples on Saturday and expect to get the job done. It doesn’t work that way. Consistency is key.

3. Make sure you’re only eating good carbs

Carbs have received a bad reputation over the years. The truth is that carbs are essential for us. This is especially so when you’re pregnant. Carbs give you energy and make up a sizeable chunk of your required calories. What matters is that you consume carbs from healthy sources. 

Fruits vegetables, whole-grain slices of bread, potatoes, oats, quinoa, brown rice, etc. are all excellent carb sources. Pizzas, white bread, white flour products, etc. are bad carbs that 

should be avoided.

4. Eat enough protein

These are essential too. Get your proteins from lean meats, eggs, beef, and beans. Once again, focus on the “single-ingredient” requirement. A few cuts of lean chicken breast are good. A chicken nugget is NOT good. A slab of steak is good. A few sausages are NOT good. 

5. Try and keep it organic if possible

While this can be a little costly, it is highly beneficial. If you can afford to eat organic for the 9 months that you’re pregnant, go for it.

Organic foods are free of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. In the event that your budget does not allow you to go completely organic, then make sure some of the foods that you 

consume are organic.

Foods such as apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, raspberries, spinach, and strawberries have been found to contain high levels of pesticides. So, try and keep these organic, if you can.

6.Eat the right kind of fat

Extra virgin olive oil and virgin coconut oil are two of the best Types of fat you can consume. In fact, of the two, the coconut oil Is better. Saturated fats are found in meat and animal products such as butter. These are best eaten in moderation.

If you forget everything mentioned earlier in this chapter and just 

print out and follow the food list below, you will do just fine.

These are the best Nutrition and the Best Foods to Eat During Pregnancy

 

Nutrition and the Best Foods  

to Eat During Pregnancy 

The ancient Greek physician, Hippocrates, once said, “Let food be  thy medicine and let medicine be thy food.” 

This definitely holds true when you’re pregnant. A clean, healthy  and wholesome diet will work wonders for you and your baby. We live in a society that is smothered with a plethora of food  choices. The hard truth is that the majority of these foods are detrimental to our bodies in the long run. Additives, preservatives, chemicals, processed foods, junk foods, genetically modified foods, etc. are all part of our diet these days and are wreaking havoc on our health. 

Obesity has become an epidemic. The numbers of people suffering from diabetes, high cholesterol, digestive issues, etc.  have skyrocketed. The main culprit – our diet. Changing one’s diet and eating clean is a Herculean task. You  absolutely can’t do it overnight and don’t even think that will￾power will work. 

You will need to make small changes to your diet gradually till  you form the habits of eating right. That is why, it is imperative  that you start making these changes 3 months before getting  pregnant. You’ll then be able to ease into a healthy diet relatively smoothly  and easily. 

How many calories should I consume?

 

Many women wonder about this. They do not want to consume  too many calories for fear of putting on weight... but then they have all these sudden food cravings that seemed to pop out of  nowhere. 

The first thing you should note – Do NOT obsess over your calories when you’re pregnant. Now is really not the time to be  

analyzing and counting your calories. Pregnancy gives you the permission to take 9 months off from the calorie counting and agonizing over the numbers. That being  said, it’s also not a free pass to gorge yourself on whatever food comes your way. 

Eat sufficient food but eat the proper food. Restricting your  calories could potentially harm your baby.  Low birth weight, poor fetal development, weakness in the  mother, etc. are all often related to not consuming enough food Always remember, whatever weight you gain can be burnt off  after childbirth. 

A warning though – If you consume too many calories there  are problems too. You will gain too much weight which will put  you at risk for diabetes, heart problems, early labor, pre￾eclamsia, etc. It’s all about balance. Eat enough for both you and your baby. Eat  Healthy and eat in moderation.  Before going any further, you will need to calculate your pre￾pregnancy Recommended Daily Caloric Intake. This is actually just your normal caloric requirement if you were not pregnant. 

You can find this out at 

http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm

Now we’ll look at the foods that you should be consuming during your pregnancy. Truth be told, healthy foods are healthy foods whether you are pregnant or not. 

It doesn’t matter if you’re male female, young or old... Good food choices are always beneficial. The only difference is that now, you’re pregnant and it’s even more important to eat right because another life depends and is affected by your food choices. Yup... the pressure is on. 

You can also check these ralated articles:

• Discovered: Foods Pregnant Women Must Eat
• These Are The Best Nutrition And The Best Foods To Eat During Pregnancy
• 
  

Very important Consider this things before pregnancy Pre-conception: What you need to know!

  Pre-conception: What you 
need to know!

Before even getting pregnant, you should be aware that your 

health, habits, diet, fitness level and many other factors will 

directly or indirectly affect your pregnancy and the fetal 

development.

One example would be pregnant women who have the smoking 

habit. This does a lot of damage to both the mother and the child 

within.

If you’re going to get pregnant, you should eliminate all your 

negative habits prior to conception.

Ideally, you should exercise more, eat a clean diet, avoid alcohol 

and smoking is a definite no-no. If you have any issues with 

substance abuse, etc. you should eliminate all these before 

planning to have a baby.

Proper nutrition is crucial in the stages of pre-conception and 

during pregnancy.

The beautiful baby in your belly is physically incapable of 

providing for itself. All the food and nutrition it gets is determined 

by you. Surely you want nothing but the best for your baby.

A fetus also does not display any visible signs of malnourishment 

during your monthly check-ups. That means, even your doctor 

will not be able to ascertain if the baby is getting all the nutrients 

it needs. 

Therefore, you will have to ensure that you’re eating enough for 

two and getting all the necessary vitamins and nutrients. Only by 

being proactive and taking an active interest in your nutrition will 

you be able to keep both the baby and yourself healthy and happy.

Here are a few tips if you’re in the pre-conception stage

• No smoking & no alcohol No negotiation here. 
• Consume 400 to 800 micrograms (400 to 800 mcg or 0.4 to 0.8 mg) of folic acid daily. You should speak to your doctor about this. He/she will be able to guide you in this matter. Folic acid reduces the risk of birth defects related to the spine and brain.
• Get your other health problems under controlI If you’re diabetic, obese, have asthma, etc. you should get all these problems under control first before getting pregnant. All these health issues may cause pregnancy complications.

• Get fit and healthy Exercise more. Build up your strength and stamina. When you’re pregnant, it will be easier on your body if you’re strong and healthy.
• Ask your partner to play an active role if your partner smokes or engages in detrimental activities, they should try and quit for the sake of the baby. At the very least, if they can’t quit, they shouldn’t smoke around you or tempt you by consuming alcohol around you.

Things You Should Know Before Starting An Internet Business

 Things You Should Know Before Starting An Internet Business

Starting an internet business can be a lot of fun. Unfortunately, if you jump right in without doing a little research first, you could find yourself becoming overwhelmed very quickly. 

Some people make it look easy. The truth of the matter is that the people who make it look easy are people who did a lot of research beforehand. They understood what they were assuming to such a significant degree, they were able to avoid some of the common pitfalls of starting an Internet business.

To be sure, you can avoid those pitfalls, as well.

Before You Start An Internet Business

The great thing about the concept of an internet business is the fact that you are referring to a very, very wide spectrum of possibilities. The business can be as large or as small as you want/need it to be. Here are a few things that any internet business entrepreneur should keep in mind before they do something like run out and buy a domain:

• Have a plan: While you don’t need to have a detailed, formal business plan, you still need to come up with some mode of attack. This can include researching potential competitors, developing a sense of what you want to market to which group of people.

• Establish a budget, and keep something else in mind: Your business is going to need a budget, regardless of its size. When budgeting an internet business, there are two things to keep in mind.

First, remember that your budget needs to be realistic. Secondly, you want to appreciate the fact that in all likelihood, you’re going to lose money before you make money.

• Customers will want to meet you: Standing out from the pack with an internet business can be really challenging. Sometimes, it gets awfully close to impossible. With that in mind, remember that one good way of establishing a unique brand is to filter your own personality into everything that defines your internet business. 

People are going to want to know who they are buying goods and services from. Don’t reveal more than you are comfortable with, but understand that you will have to create a public identity for customer service purposes and more.

• Do something you’re actually going to enjoy: Large or small, an internet business can be a lot of work. Make sure you are doing something you will be able to enjoy, which comes in handy when things take a turn for the challenging.

What are the Pros and Cons(advantage and disadvantage) of Owning an Online Business

 The Pros and Cons of Owning an Online Business

Working from your house has numerous advantages, but also comes with its disadvantages. Building a successful online business is a dream come true for many people around the world, though to some, it is not always fun and games.

Sources have it that you can survive on online businesses and enjoy the freedom of earning real money from your passions.  As earlier mentioned, running an online business is not always a walk in the park, and therefore it is wise not to underestimate the hard work that a successful online business requires.

To understand what it entails to run an online business, let us take a look at the pros and cons of running online businesses.

Pros (advantage) of Running an Online Business 

1) Flexible schedule and rules.

Owning an online job allows you to create your rules and be your boss. With the flexibility that comes with self-employment, one can even create time to see friends and family.

 2) Low startup costs.

One key benefit of owning an online business is the low starting cost.  Sources have it that you can start a website with less than $100, and as your business grows, you can invest more in it. An online business gives you the liberty of working from your house, and requires no leasing costs.  You do not have to worry about employee’s salary too!

  3) You become the boss.

Running your own online business gives you the mandate of setting the rules and regulations. Nobody tells you what to do, and you get an opportunity of controlling your destiny. You get to make decisions about marketing, product or service development, customer service, and pretty much everything related to your business.

.

  The Cons (disadvantages) of Running an Online Business

1) Long working hours

For any business to succeed, it calls for hard work and long working hours. Starting an online job from scratch takes a good amount of time to be successful and in some cases, people are required to work on weekends to reach their targets. 

2) Requires a lot of discipline.

With all the freedom that comes with running your own business, discipline is fundamental. Time one takes for breaks should be limited, and more focus should be made to reach the set target.

Running an online business has its pros and cons. Low startup cost, and setting your rules are some of the advantages of starting an online business. Additionally, for all the people who are not afraid of working for long hours, online business is meant for you.

 How to Validate your Niche by Researching your Competition

Digital enterprises or online businesses are not bound by geography or stringent local regulations. This makes it easier to start a business but it doesn’t make running the business any easier. 

Competition is fierce in almost every niche. Whatever your niche is, you should validate it by researching your competition. Let us explain how you should go about this and also why.

Demand and Supply!

The essence of most businesses can be boiled down to one reality, demand and supply. If there is enough demand then you can cater to the supply. If there isn’t enough demand, then catering to supply doesn’t make any sense.

If there is only one diner in a locality, then it is likely to do well. If there are too many diners and not many people to fill up all those places, then most of those enterprises will run out of business.

Likewise, a digital enterprise or any online niche must have enough demand for there to be space to exist. While firms or endeavors can always coexist, the pie gets smaller and there is just less in it for everyone. 

The hard reality is that if there are enough players in a niche already and some of them have already amassed a massive market share, then penetrating their share or usurping a chunk of it will be a herculean task. 

Study your competition to find out how large a market is and if some of your competitors are already catering to the needs of the audience. If you intend to do the same thing in the same niche, then there is little or no possibility for your enterprise to find a foothold, let aside being a roaring success.

Niche within a Niche!

It is unlikely that the niche you have planned to target will be completely void of competition. There may be stiff or less competition. If there are players already with humongous market shares and dedicated customers or audiences, then you need to find a niche within a niche. You cannot cater to the same exact niche that your competition is committed to.

For instance, if you are planning to target the niche of food, cuisine or anything culinary, then you can find some subset that the existing players have not touched upon yet. 

If that is not possible, then you must figure out what you are best at and use that authority to create a niche within a niche. It is all about the value you can offer to your audience and how you help, change or enrich their lives. 

Learn How To Create A Business Plan Outline

 How To Create A Business Plan Outline

A business plan represents the crucial foundation of your company. Regardless of how big or small this company is going to be, you need to put together some sort of plan for your future. 

In the end, you want to create a roadmap that will accomplish two things:

1. It’s going to be specific enough to help you define what needs to be done over the next year, two years, or even 3-5 years.

2. It’s going to be open-ended enough to help you make adjustments no one could have accounted for earlier on.

Establishing a plan which incorporates both of these things is not impossible, or even that difficult. Nonetheless, it is still something that needs to happen, before you can move on to other aspects of establishing and launching your business.

Creating A Viable Business Plan Outline

Understand at this point, you’re simply crafting an outline. It needs to have some measure of detail, but it doesn’t have to account for every single little thing. You want to have something that will make it easy to define the next few steps.

A good business plan outline is going to offer the following:

• Executive summary: This element is going to summarize the plan as a whole.

• Company description: With this, you’re going to not only focus on what your company is going to do, but how your company is different from similar entities.

• Market analysis: Research your industry. This should include your marketing and your competitors.

• Organization/management: This is going to come down to discovering the optimal organization and management structures for your company.

• Service/product line: This is going to describe your product or products. What are the benefits? How about the lifecycle?

• Marketing/sales: Sales strategies and marketing plans are going to be discussed at this point.

• Funding: How much are you going to need? How is the money going to be spent? Transparency is key in this arena.

• Financial projections: If you do need funding, projections are going to be important.

• Appendix: Resumes, permits, and leases are just a few things one would include in an appendix, if this needs to be part of your business plan.

Different businesses are going to utilize the above facets differently. Some businesses will be able to disregard some of those facets entirely.

 This is something you will discover for yourself, over the course of putting together a plan for your business.

The Top Reasons Why You Should Start An Online Business

 Top Reasons Why You Should Start An Online Business

Starting an online business is no cakewalk. Anyone who suggests that an online business is easy to run or one can make a million dollars in no time is not being realistic. There are serious challenges in running any type of business, be it offline or online. Yet, it is better to start an online business. Here are the top reasons why you should start an online business.

• There are innumerable people in the world who have great ideas but they are unable to manifest those ideas owing to lack of funds and resources. Starting any type of traditional or conventional business requires substantial investments. Most online businesses can be launched with very little investment. Even a neighborhood convenience store requires a handsome investment and that money is locked in for years. The storeowner doesn’t recuperate the entire investment in one year or even five years. You don’t need such massive capital to start an online business. 

• Most traditional businesses have a significant threshold that must be attended to. You cannot start very small and expect to become a medium sized enterprise or a major brand in a few months. An online business can be launched as a very small initiative and it can grow quickly. This growth doesn’t have to be fuelled by a fortune in investment or tremendous expansion in sheer real estate. Expansion of online enterprises is much easier and hence a business can become sustainable in a much shorter period of time.

• An online business can be started by anyone, from anywhere and it can make its presence felt anywhere in the world. You don’t need to be in a particular state or country to sell your digital products or services. Conventional businesses are bound by location, the immediate target audience and local influence. An online business can start local and become global in a few months. 

• The sheer scope of online business opens up a colossal realm of opportunities. Ideas that wouldn’t have made much business sense a few years ago are now gold mines that can make one a millionaire, if not a billionaire. There is room for every innovative idea and ever type of business that can add some value to the lives of people or companies around the world. 

• An online business allows entrepreneurs to make as much or as little money as one want depending on the time, effort and resources one is willing to invest in the enterprise. There is of course the life work balance and personal freedom, both of which are unmatched perks of running an online business.