November 2024

3 Simple Tips for Increasing Your Annual Recurring Revenue

3 Simple Tips for Increasing Your Annual Recurring Revenue


Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

In today’s business environment, companies often rely on subscriptions as a key driver of revenue. Whether in the form of consumer-facing subscription boxes or SaaS platforms, many companies have recognized the value of setting up systems that deliver consistent, recurring revenue from their customers. In fact, the subscription economy is expected to reach $1.5 trillion in 2025.

Of course, just like any other business, subscription-driven companies must be able to effectively track their revenue to identify growth opportunities and challenges — and one of the best ways to do that is by looking at their annual recurring revenue (ARR).

Related: 5 Essentials for Building a Subscription Business Customers Won’t Quit

What is ARR, and why does it matter?

Annual recurring revenue is a key metric in the subscription economy that measures the recurring revenue that the business gets from its subscriptions during a single calendar year. ARR is based solely on subscription revenue and doesn’t account for one-time purchases or fees.

ARR is often calculated on a per-customer basis — dividing the total value of a subscription contract by the number of years in the subscription contract. Adding up the yearly subscription value of each customer provides the total ARR.

As the Corporate Finance Institute explains, ARR is a valuable metric for subscription-driven companies because it helps them quantify growth, evaluate the success of the subscription model and forecast future revenue. With ARR, organizations are able to gauge the overall health of their business and whether current subscription revenue (and subscription growth) is in line with the organization’s goals.

1. Introduce multiple pricing options

For organizations trying to increase their number of customers so they can subsequently grow their total ARR, introducing multiple pricing options can be a savvy strategic practice. This has become especially prevalent in streaming, where practically every streamer has introduced multiple subscription tiers, largely divided by ad-supported and ad-free content.

For example, after introducing its ad-supported tier a little over 18 months ago, Netflix’s ad-supported tier now allegedly accounts for over 45% of new signups — a clear indicator that offering a lower-priced plan made its offerings more appealing to budget-minded consumers.

Offering multiple tiers or pricing options certainly isn’t limited to streaming. Many SaaS businesses also successfully use this model, with pricing tiers based on factors like the number of users who have access to an account, the amount of available storage or bandwidth and other factors.

Quite often, many of the most desirable features are locked behind a higher-priced tier, which encourages subscribers to opt for the more expensive option. However, by giving your audience multiple price points to choose from, you can grow ARR by becoming more desirable to both budget-minded and feature-focused audiences. Price scaling can also make your core service tier more attractive, further fueling subscription and revenue growth.

Related: 5 Tips for Growing Your Subscription Business

2. Be strategic with price promotions

One common technique used by subscription-driven businesses is to offer a price promotion, typically getting users to sign up at a steeply discounted price for the first year before reverting to the standard price in future years. Though discounts are effective at driving signups, they can be even more powerful when backed by a strategic campaign.

Penned by co-founder, Iman Gadzhi, a case study from Flozy demonstrates how effective promotions can be driven by much more than an attractive price point. In the buildup to the company’s first Black Friday, their team created a significant amount of educational content to go alongside the Black Friday campaign.

As a result, when the Black Friday campaign launched with a significant discount on the company’s yearly plan, it was further supplemented by free educational content and live events with the founding team. This strategic approach that went beyond a simple price promotion resulted in a 1,000% increase in revenue — and helped demonstrate the subscription’s underlying value right from the start.

3. Ensure you have the necessary systems and support in place

As valuable as growth-oriented strategies are, retention cannot be ignored. If you have high levels of subscriber churn, then you don’t truly have annual recurring revenue. Instead, your subscription-based business will be operating more like a traditional business model, in which you must repeatedly pursue sales with new customers.

Because of this, businesses that have ARR as a key performance metric must invest heavily in customer satisfaction and retention efforts. In the Flozy case study cited earlier, after the company’s initial growth, implementing 24/7 support and daily customer service sessions that offered real-time assistance played a key role in helping satisfy existing customers while also spurring new monthly growth increases when the company reintroduced marketing.

Businesses must regularly evaluate pain points that are causing customers to cancel their subscriptions and focus on the processes and practices that affect these areas. Correcting deficiencies and finding ways to increase the value you offer to your existing subscribers is key to keeping them around in the long run. Such actions can also make potential price increases more palatable, as long as subscribers still feel like they are getting good value.

Related: How to Improve Your Subscription Business Churn Rate

For subscription-driven business models, few metrics are ultimately more important than ARR. By prioritizing this metric as part of your acquisition and retention process, you can identify initiatives and processes that will help you build a loyal customer base that drives dependable revenue for years to come.



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Why Real Estate Professionals Should Prioritize Social Responsibility

Why Real Estate Professionals Should Prioritize Social Responsibility


Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

For too long, business success has been defined solely by profits and growth. Increasingly, however, entrepreneurs are realizing that true success also includes leaving a legacy of positive impact on society. In real estate, an industry that directly influences communities, there is a unique opportunity to leverage business for social good. Through sustainable developments, support of local initiatives or health-focused designs, the real estate sector plays a crucial role in fostering community transformation.

Real estate isn’t just about buying and selling properties; it shapes neighborhoods, impacts the environment and influences people’s lives. By integrating social responsibility into business strategies, real estate professionals can build stronger, more connected communities, enhance their brand reputation and drive long-term growth. This approach moves beyond philanthropy, positioning real estate firms as leaders in sustainable and community-centered practices.

Related: Why Should Your Business Care About Social Responsibility?

Creating positive impact through real estate

The intersection of business and social responsibility opens numerous doors for real estate professionals to make a meaningful difference. One way to do so is by developing projects that address community needs, with a focus on affordable housing or environmentally sustainable buildings. However, the opportunity for impact extends further when developers consider health-focused design elements, support local economies and engage communities in the development process.

Health-focused building designs:

With an increasing emphasis on well-being, health-focused building designs have become essential. Developers are now incorporating features like advanced air filtration systems, abundant natural lighting and open-air communal spaces to promote healthier living environments. These elements not only benefit residents but also enhance property value by setting a higher standard at a time when health consciousness is a priority.

Biophilic design, which integrates natural elements into the built environment, has also gained popularity. This approach, which includes features like indoor greenery, water elements and nature-inspired aesthetics, is shown to reduce stress and improve productivity, mental health and overall well-being for occupants. These health-oriented features reflect a profound commitment to resident wellness and align with the growing demand for sustainable, health-conscious living spaces.

Supporting local economies through real estate:

Real estate development can drive economic growth in communities beyond creating jobs during construction. Supporting local economies involves working with local suppliers, sourcing materials regionally and prioritizing local contractors and vendors. These choices not only stimulate economic growth but also strengthen social trust and goodwill, fostering a sustainable model that benefits residents, local businesses and the environment.

When projects use locally sourced materials, they reduce environmental impact by minimizing transportation distances, thus reinforcing a commitment to sustainability. This strategy of investing in local economies helps establish reciprocal, long-term relationships within communities, supporting local industries while laying a foundation of trust and collaboration. These practices are especially powerful in real estate, where community connection can be as valuable as the development itself.

Community engagement in the development process:

Real estate development is about more than just constructing buildings; it’s about creating spaces that reflect and enrich the community. Genuine social responsibility in real estate includes a commitment to true community engagement from the earliest stages of planning. By involving community leaders, residents and local organizations, developers ensure that their projects align with local needs, values and the area’s unique character.

Community engagement can take many forms, from holding public forums and conducting surveys to establishing partnerships with local groups, chambers of commerce, local non-profits and volunteer organizations. These efforts provide valuable insights into what a community needs in the form of parks, accessible transportation or cultural spaces, and can result in a development that resonates deeply with residents.

When community-driven features are incorporated, projects are more likely to gain support, fostering pride and long-term value for all stakeholders. Moreover, community involvement can streamline project approvals and ensure smoother integration of the development into the local fabric.

Related: 5 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Enhance Local Communities

The business benefits of social responsibility

Integrating social responsibility into real estate brings numerous tangible benefits. A strong commitment to social causes can enhance a company’s reputation, build client loyalty and attract top talent. Research from Deloitte shows that 86% of millennials believe business success should encompass more than financial performance, highlighting the growing importance of values-driven companies.

In an industry where relationships are vital, being known for community-focused initiatives can be a differentiator. Clients increasingly seek out companies that align with their values, and having a track record of social impact can build trust and generate referrals. Businesses that prioritize social responsibility often find they attract employees passionate about making a difference, leading to higher engagement and satisfaction within the team.

Integrating social impact into your business

For entrepreneurs looking to incorporate social impact into their real estate business, it starts with identifying causes that align with their core values and mission. For instance, a company committed to sustainability might focus on eco-friendly building practices, while another might prioritize affordable housing or educational initiatives for underserved communities.

Collaboration with local organizations amplifies your impact and strengthens your connection to the community. Partnering with non-profits or supporting grassroots efforts is an effective way to make a positive difference while building your brand and demonstrating authentic commitment to the communities you serve. Volunteering time, offering resources or sponsoring local events are additional ways to make an impact, creating a positive reputation and fostering long-lasting ties.

Related: Sustainability for Entrepreneurs — Why It Matters (and How to Achieve It).

By incorporating thoughtful, health-conscious, economically supportive and community-engaged practices, real estate professionals can create lasting change in the neighborhoods they touch. Prioritizing social good in real estate is not just about philanthropy; it’s a strategic approach that fosters loyalty, enhances brand reputation and builds stronger, more connected communities. Real estate, at its core, is about people, and when businesses prioritize social impact, they contribute to a future where communities and companies thrive together.



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Billionaires Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos Fighting Again on X

Billionaires Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos Fighting Again on X


Earlier this week, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos got into a public disagreement on X, the platform Musk owns, about comments Bezos allegedly said about President-elect Donald Trump. Though Bezos denies making the remarks.

“Just learned tonight at Mar-a-Lago that Jeff Bezos was telling everyone that @realDonaldTrump would lose for sure, so they should sell all their Tesla and SpaceX stock,” Musk wrote on Thursday in a post viewed more than 44 million times (according to X) at the time of writing.

Related: Billionaires Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk Are Oldest Children. Firstborns Often Have 2 Leadership Traits That Help Them Succeed in Business.

Bezos replied to the post, stating “Nope. 100% not true” to which Musk responded, “Well, then, I stand corrected.”

Musk and Bezos are two of the most powerful people in the world, with a combined net worth of over half a trillion dollars. Bezos is the second-richest person in the world with a net worth of $226 billion while Musk takes the top spot with a net worth of $331 billion.

But that hasn’t stopped the two tech titans from squabbling it out on social media.

Musk (left) and Bezos (right). Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI,MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

Musk leads space exploration company SpaceX and Bezos is the head of rival firm Blue Origin. Since 2004, the two companies have gotten into patent battles, spats over talent, and arguments over which one accomplished space feats first.

For example, Bezos shaded Musk’s ambition to colonize Mars in a private lecture in 2019, while Musk called him a copycat the same year for his plans for internet satellites.

Musk said in a 2021 interview with the Financial Times that Bezos “does take himself a bit too seriously” and “does not seem to be willing to spend mental energy getting into the details of engineering.”

Related: Elon Musk Makes Fun of Bezos on Twitter, Purposely Spells His Name Wrong

Musk also publicly criticized Bezos’ project “The Rings of Power,” a Lord of the Rings adaptation released in 2022, tweeting “Tolkien is turning in his grave.”

While the power dynamics between Musk and Bezos may shift after Trump’s win, this most recent exchange proves that the dynamics between the two richest people in the world remain contentious.

Trump recently appointed Musk a co-lead of the new Department of Government Efficiency to help downsize the U.S. government.





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Not Backing up Your Phone? This is Why You Need to Start.

Not Backing up Your Phone? This is Why You Need to Start.


Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

You probably already know this in your gut, but not backing up your phone is a recipe for chaos. It takes just one drop in the toilet to lose critical project files, client contact information, or messages you’ll never get back. Apple’s iCloud offers an easy way to back up your phone, but you’ll pay monthly. Try AnyTrans instead.

With a lifetime subscription, you only have to pay once to back up an iOS device. During this early Black Friday sale, use code FESTIVE30 to get AnyTrans® for $20.99 (reg. $79.99). That’s an unbeatable price.

iCloud vs. AnyTrans

AnyTrans is kind of like the old days of hooking your phone up to iTunes, except it helps you consolidate all of your files between devices in a similar way to iCloud. For example, you could add your iPod and iPad as devices and see all of your photos, videos, music, messages, books, voice memos, and more in one place.

From there, you might use AnyTrans to:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/yq3mYi1C2I0

Besides the price, what’s the biggest difference? While iCloud updates your phone’s backup in real time, AnyTrans won’t. So, if you back up your phone and then save a project file, it won’t be part of the backup.

If you drop your phone in the toilet or lose it on the train, rest assured that your data and business correspondence are backed up with AnyTrans. But you have to make the move now before it’s too late.

Get this cloud-free iOS backup tool for $20.99 with code FESTIVE30 during this early Black Friday sale (reg. $79.99). You won’t find a lower price anywhere else.

AnyTrans® One-Stop Content Manager for iOS: Lifetime Subscription

See Deal

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The App That Makes You Think Like a CEO

The App That Makes You Think Like a CEO


Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

What sets CEOs apart from the rest of us? Is it experience, education, or a knack for thinking outside the box? Whatever the answer, it often felt out of reach until now. This learning app brings the strategies and insights of top leaders and authors right to your fingertips in 15 minutes or less. Curious how it works?

Try it yourself with an unbeatable price during our early access Black Friday sale. Check out now to get a Headway Premium lifetime subscription for $59.99 (reg. $299.95) while codes last—less than 80 are available at this price.

Get a little smarter every day

Too busy to read? No problem. Headway’s goal is to make reading more accessible by breaking down nonfiction books into 15-minute summaries you can read or listen to on your lunch break, during your commute, or anywhere in between.

You’ll find hundreds of book summaries on almost any topic—business, self-care, leadership, negotiation, sports, environment, and even some fiction. Lifetime access at this price won’t last long, so head to checkout now.

If you aren’t sure what to read first, check out a curated collection like “Think Like a CEO.” Read one each day to start thinking like Warren Buffet:

  • The 80/20 CEO: Take command of your business in 100 days
  • Negotiation Hacks: expert tactics to get what you want
  • The Diary of a CEO: The 33 laws of business and life
  • Leaders Eat Last: Why some teams pull together and others don’t

With lifetime access, you can look forward to new book summaries added on a regular basis. That’s probably why Headway was named the App Store’s “App of the Day’ and has over 100 positive reviews.

Buy your Headway lifetime subscription for $59.99 during this early Black Friday sale (reg. $299.95) with no coupon needed, though codes may sell out fast.

StackSocial prices subject to change.



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Build a Business That Will Sell: From Valuations to a Successful Exit

Build a Business That Will Sell: From Valuations to a Successful Exit


Whether you’ve started your business already or you’re just getting started, there’s a lot on your plate. Starting and growing a business requires a great idea, fundraising, market research, and finding customers, hiring, just to name a few. But here’s one aspect of ownership that many entrepreneurs overlook: What it takes to build a structure to sell that business someday for maximum value.

If your business is one of your most significant assets, then it’s essential to have a plan to build and grow it into something buyers will find irresistible.

Selling a business is a major milestone, and the process starts long before you list it. Learn how to design operations, enhance profitability, and strategically position your business for a successful sale—whether that’s soon or years down the road.

Join us for a free webinar, Build a Business That Will Sell: From Valuations to a Successful Exit, presented by Oracle NetSuite and Entrepreneur. Join moderator and communication AI strategist Dr. Jill Schiefelbein in a conversation with seasoned business broker and serial entrepreneur Ben Shaw on what buyers look for and how to maximize your business’s value.

From streamlining operations to building recurring revenue streams, this session will dive deep into strategies that make your business stand out in the market. Whether you’re planning to sell or future-proof your business, this webinar is packed with actionable advice to help you succeed.

  • Key roadblocks that prevent entrepreneurs from selling their businesses—and how to structure yours to avoid these pitfalls.
  • Common red flags that make buyers hesitant and the proactive steps you can take to address them with confidence.
  • Overlooked opportunities to boost your company’s value, including why the number 2.5 is a game-changer for your growth strategy.
  • Hot buttons that make your business more attractive to buyers, and how you can work those into your business strategy.

Schiefelbein and Shaw will shed light on the conversations that many entrepreneurs don’t have about the valuation and selling process, leaving attendees with a solid set of next steps whether you’re looking to sell your business in the next year, in the next few years, or if you want to start building with the end in mind.

The Build a Business That Will Sell: From Valuations to a Successful Exit webinar will take place live on Tuesday January 21 at 12 p.m. ET | 9 a.m. PT.



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Gift the Power of Language Learning with This Limited-Time Price on Babbel

Gift the Power of Language Learning with This Limited-Time Price on Babbel


Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

Anyone with a linguaphile or world traveler on their shopping list might want to pay attention. Babbel’s all-language lifetime subscription is available for just $129.97 (normally $599) through December 9. This means your language-loving giftee can enjoy all languages forever. And you can skip the line right here and head straight to checkout to get it.

If you’d like in on this language action for yourself, it’s truly a wise investment in both personal and professional growth. With access to 14 languages, Babbel is ideal for business leaders, travelers, and anyone wanting to broaden their global communication skills.

Babbel’s approach to language learning isn’t just practical—it’s been built by more than 100 expert linguists who designed the curriculum to make learning easy, enjoyable, and effective. With 10,000+ hours of lessons, Babbel offers endless opportunities for growth, whether you’re learning Spanish, French, German, or Italian or diving into more niche languages like Turkish or Indonesian.

Plus, each lesson is 10 to 15 minutes long. This makes fitting learning into a busy day possible. This depth of learning can help you communicate more meaningfully with international partners, clients, and colleagues. Sounds good to you? Skip the rest and head right to checkout to get it even faster.

Learning a language opens up new cultural perspectives and helps foster connections with people across the globe. Babbel’s lessons go beyond vocabulary and grammar, focusing on real-life conversational skills and cultural nuances.

Babbel makes learning useful. Lessons cover topics like transportation, dining, shopping, and navigation, equipping you to hold meaningful conversations in as little as a month. Plus, the speech recognition technology helps with pronunciation, so you can feel confident even when speaking with native speakers.

You can use Babbel on your desktop, phone, or tablet, and all your progress syncs across devices, so you can pick up right where you left off. Going offline? Download lessons in advance and learn anywhere, whether on a plane, in a café, or in a no-signal zone.

Head right to checkout to get Babbel’s all-language lifetime subscription for just $129.97 (reg. $599) through December 9—just in time for holiday gifting.

StackSocial prices subject to change.



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This All-Access Pass to Learning Is Now  for Black Friday

This All-Access Pass to Learning Is Now $20 for Black Friday


Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

As the year winds down, it’s time to think ahead. For busy professionals, parents returning to the workforce, freelancers sharpening their skills, or students supplementing their education, EDU Unlimited by StackSkills offers an incredible opportunity to invest in the future.

With lifetime access to more than 1,000 courses for just $19.97 (regularly $600), this Black Friday promotion is the perfect way to get a head start on your New Year’s goals—or gift someone the tools they need to achieve theirs.

StackSkills provides a user-friendly platform with an extensive library of beginner-to-advanced courses in IT, development, graphic design, business, marketing, and more. Its intuitive interface and progress-tracking features make it easy to learn on your own schedule, no matter how busy life gets.

For parents transitioning back into the workforce, this is a flexible way to update a resume with new skills. Students can dive into specialized topics not offered at their university, while freelancers and professionals can explore cutting-edge fields like blockchain, growth hacking, or iOS development.

With over 350 expert instructors, StackSkills ensures that every course is engaging and relevant to today’s job market. Plus, new courses are added monthly, keeping you ahead of the curve in your personal and professional development. Whether you’re looking for a promotion, planning a career change, or simply exploring new interests, EDU Unlimited makes growth achievable—and affordable.

This limited-time Black Friday deal offers unparalleled value for a lifetime of learning. And at this very low price, it’s a small investment with a potentially big payoff.

Get lifetime access to EDU Unlimited by StackSkills for just $19.97 (regularly $600) through December 15 only.

EDU Unlimited by StackSkills: Lifetime Access – $19.97

Get It Here

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How to Create a Routine That Balances Rest and Business Success

How to Create a Routine That Balances Rest and Business Success


Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Greater minds than I have heralded the importance of striking a healthy work-life balance, emphasizing the physical, psychological, and social benefits. But taking time off, making it to the gym three times a week and practicing meditation can feel like a tall ask for a busy entrepreneur.

So, you find what works. Maybe it’s not a 5 am wakeup and cardio workout every day, but a weekly Pilates class to keep you sane. Or perhaps you’re better fueled by time with friends than a meditative session.

Here are my tips for improving your routine as an entrepreneur and striking a balance between rest and business success.

Related: Is it Possible to Balance a Career and Personal Wellness? 26 Entrepreneurs Share Their Own Tips

Plan breaks throughout the day

They say that sitting is the silent killer — our sedentary lifestyles bring multiple risk factors and implications for our health. While regular exercise is the goal, taking intermittent breaks throughout the day to stand and stretch will help mitigate these risks, at a minimum.

Health professionals recommend taking a break for 5-10 minutes for every hour spent at your workstation. Stand up, walk around, change position, etc. It also helps to incorporate back, neck, hip and hand stretches into your routine as well.

Another common ailment experienced by us computer warriors is eye strain. Practice the 20-20-20 Rule to relieve stress on the eyes. Use blue light filter glasses to reduce eye strain, improve mental health and support a healthy sleep pattern.

These small yet mighty improvements ensure you make the most of your short breaks throughout the day, improving your physical and mental health and preventing future postural, muscular and ocular issues.

Don’t cheat your out-of-office days

Do you fully “unplug” when you take time off? When it comes to out-of-office days, it’s important to give your mind (and laptop) a break. That means no checking Slack messages, no attending to emails and no answering of panicked client calls (unless absolutely necessary).

Have I always signed off during my vacation days? No — guilty as charged. But as I have come to recognize the importance of time with family (for my and their sake), I see this “off the radar” approach as essential. Today, this is a huge privilege, given the support of my team, but even when I was a solo entrepreneur, I found ways to sign off, even if only for a day or so.

Don’t cheat yourself out of time off. If your business structure and capacity allow, keep yourself accountable for taking a real vacation, turning off your notifications and deferring business to another day. Chances are, all will be well once you return.

Related: 9 Things to Do to Have a Work-Free Vacation (Infographic)

Know your “must haves” versus “nice to haves”

Most entrepreneurs are creative thinkers. We are the “big ideas” people of the world. This makes us prone to getting distracted by the next shiny object, directing our attention away from our most important priorities and goals.

The result of pursuing these “nice to have” ideas is overwhelm, lost investments and burnout. When we pursue new ideas without clarity and intention, our priorities become muddled, and we have less space in our day for planning and rest.

I am particularly guilty of this — which is why I have my “no” person (my COO). He keeps my ideas in check, helping me establish my “must haves” versus my “nice to haves.” Not only does this help keep my company on track, but it also ensures that I spend my productive time on critical tasks while allowing enough time for rest.

Find the activities that feed you

Many guides on how to strike a work-life balance simply don’t resonate with my unique interests and goals. For example, I’m not a cold plunge, morning meditation or yoga person. But I do find that time with my family feeds me more than anything. I appreciate traveling, meeting new people and going out to tasty restaurants.

The key to balancing your routine is to find what feeds YOU. For you, that might be morning walks, playing with your dog, hitting the pickleball court or hitting up friends for Happy Hour. Identify the activities that best support your physical, social and emotional health, and make time for these.

Traditional advice would have you believe that you need to structure your day a certain way — e.g., early morning wakeup, workout routine, time blocking, etc. In reality, everyone operates differently. Find the things that fuel you, structure your day in a way that makes you feel productive yet rejuvenated, and schedule time for the things that feed your soul.

Related: I’m Very Busy — Yet I Still Have Lots of Free Time. Here are 10 Hacks I Use To Actually Enjoy My Life

Recognize the early signs of burnout

Like a thief in the night, burnout creeps up on you when you least expect it. It may feel like one month, you’re on top of your game, then all of a sudden, you’re a couch potato with barely enough will to make it to the fridge for a soda. The objective is to not let it get to this point, but that requires the ability to detect the signs of burnout early on.

This can look different for different people, but generally, the signs of burnout include constant fatigue (that doesn’t improve with rest), a struggle to stay focused and motivated, feeling more irritable and overwhelmed than usual, withdrawing from social interactions and inexplicable health issues. Basically, if you feel “weird” and aren’t sure why, burnout might be right around the corner.

The good news is that if you catch these signs early, you’ll be better able to mitigate the damage. You might need to pare down your schedule, slot more breaks into your day, vent to a friend or book a vacation. Resist the urge to power through; the mental and physical implications of burnout are no fun!



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Barbara Corcoran: 5% Rate Would Make the Market Go Ballistic

Barbara Corcoran: 5% Rate Would Make the Market Go Ballistic


Existing home sales were up 3.4% month-over-month in October, showing their first year-over-year gain in more than three years.

Corcoran Group founder, Shark Tank investor, and real estate expert Barbara Corcoran says the increase in home sales doesn’t surprise her.

“There are more houses on the market so there are 25% more choices for the buyer coming out into the market and looking,” Corcoran told Fox Business on Thursday. “On top of that, the buyers themselves have gotten accustomed to the rates being what they are and they just got tired of waiting.”

Related: You Have One Month Left to Buy a House, According to Barbara Corcoran. Here’s Why.

As of Friday, mortgage rates are up to 6.96% for 30-year fixed mortgages, a 0.05% increase from last week. Corcoran said that if the rate drops down somewhere in the 5% to 5.99% range, it would have a noticeable effect on the market.

“Anything with a 5% in front of it is going to make this market go ballistic,” Corcoran said. “But right now you’re already seeing the signs of it [lower rates] in the last month.”

Corcoran predicted last month in an interview with Entrepreneur that mortgage rates would go down to the 5% range within the next year.

She said that most potential sellers could be sitting on rates much lower than that, under 3%, so incentivizing them to sell could be difficult.

Related: Barbara Corcoran Says This Is the One Question to Ask Before Selling Your Home

According to a report released by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) earlier this month, first-time buyers were older than ever, with the median age settling at 38 years old this year. The average age of home buyers overall was an all-time high of 56 years old, up from 49 years old last year.

Corcoran told Fox Business that the higher ages are because of higher interest rates, which lock out younger buyers with less home equity.

“I say my prayers at night and pray for lower interest rates,” she said.

The NAR report showed that first-time home buyers made up an all-time low of about 25% of all total home buyers, down from 32% in 2023.

Repeat home buyers dominated sales: They could afford to put down larger down payments, with the median down payment percentage of the group resting at 23%. Nearly a third, 31%, paid for a new home in all cash.

First-time home buyers have had to adjust to these conditions. This year they put down a typical down payment of 9%, the highest percentage since 1997.

Related: Barbara Corcoran Needed to Make Job Cuts. Here’s Why She Fired Her Mom First.





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