The entrepreneurial spirit thrives on challenge and innovation. For many entrepreneurs, however, that spirit can extend beyond just building a business. Sometimes, the call to explore new horizons extends to entirely new industries. If you’re an entrepreneur looking to switch industries, this transition can be both exciting and daunting. The good news is that your entrepreneurial skills are valuable assets, and with careful planning and execution, you can successfully navigate this career shift. This article offers a roadmap to guide you through this exciting transition. We’ll explore key steps to take, from self-assessment and industry research to acquiring relevant skills and building a strong network. We’ll also address the financial realities of a career change and explore options like paid internships to bridge the gap. Step 1: Know Yourself, Know Your Goals A successful career change starts with introspection. Ask yourself some key questions: What are my transferable skills? Even if you’re leaving your current industry behind, you’ve likely acquired valuable skills in areas like communication, problem-solving, project management, and marketing. Identifying these transferable skills will be crucial for positioning yourself in your new field. What are my passions and interests? Entrepreneurs are often driven by a desire to make a difference or pursue a specific passion. Leveraging those same passions in your new career can lead to greater fulfillment and motivation. What are my long-term goals? Are you looking for a traditional full-time position, or do you still have the entrepreneurial itch and want to build a new business within your target industry? Step 2: Research, Research, Research Once you have a clearer picture of your goals and skills, it’s time to delve into your target industry. Here are some key areas to research: Industry Trends: What’s the current state of the industry? Is it growing or shrinking? Understanding industry trends will help you identify areas of opportunity. Skills in Demand: What skills are most sought-after in your target industry? There may be specific certifications, training, or educational programs you need to consider. Job Market: What kind of jobs are available in your target industry? Research salary ranges, job descriptions, and the typical career path within the industry. Networking Opportunities: Identify industry associations, conferences, and online communities. Building connections with professionals in your target field is crucial for gaining insights and potential leads. Step 3: Bridge the Skills Gap The skills you honed in your entrepreneurial journey will be valuable, but there may be a gap between your current skillset and what’s required in your new field. There are several ways to bridge this gap: Online Courses and Training: A plethora of online courses and training programs can equip you with the specific industry knowledge and skills you need. Consider MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) from platforms like Coursera or EdX, or invest in industry-specific certifications. Paid Internships: Paid internships offer valuable hands-on experience and allow you to learn from industry professionals. While you might take a temporary pay cut, internships provide a way to gain valuable experience that can make you a more attractive candidate for full-time positions. Volunteer Work: Volunteering with organizations within your target industry can help you gain relevant experience, build your network, and demonstrate your passion for the field. Mentorship: Seek out a mentor who works in your target industry. A mentor can provide valuable guidance, help you navigate the industry landscape, and connect you with key individuals. Step 4: Build Your Network Building a strong network is essential for any career change, but especially so when switching industries. Here are some strategies to expand your network: Attend Industry Events: Conferences, workshops, and networking events are excellent opportunities to meet professionals in your...

Workplace wellbeing is vital for any organisation that wants to thrive. When employees feel positively about their work environment and are supported in their physical and mental health, they are more engaged, productive and loyal. As a manager, you play a key role in cultivating workplace wellbeing and it should be a top priority. Here are some of the main reasons why taking action to improve wellbeing will benefit your team and organisation. Improved Employee Health Unhealthy, high-stress work environments can negatively impact employees’ physical and mental health over time. This can lead to increased absenteeism as well as presenteeism, where employees come to work but are not fully productive due to health issues. By making wellbeing a priority and implementing initiatives to promote healthy lifestyles, nutrition, exercise and work-life balance, you can dramatically improve your team’s health. Employees who feel cared for in this way will be more motivated and energised at work. Increased Engagement and Productivity When employees are mentally and physically well, they will be more engaged with their work. Wellbeing initiatives show workers that they are valued, which increases loyalty and motivation. Things like wellness challenges, mental health support and stress management assistance also provide workers with tools to cope better at work, making them more productive. A Gallup study found that teams with high wellbeing are 21% more productive than those with poor wellbeing. Investing in wellbeing boosts your bottom line. Lower Absenteeism and Turnover Unwell or unhappy employees are more likely to take time off work or leave their jobs altogether. Absenteeism and turnover cost UK companies billions each year in lost productivity and recruitment/training expenses. By making workplace wellbeing central to your management strategy, you can substantially reduce absenteeism caused by preventable health conditions. You’ll also boost retention rates by showing employees you care about their welfare. This saves you substantial amounts of time, money and disruption. Improved Company Culture and Reputation Focusing on wellbeing helps create an engaged, collaborative and supportive company culture. Things like wellness activities, mental health days and health insurance build camaraderie between employees and make them feel cared for. Word spreads, making your company more attractive to top talent. Prioritising wellbeing can also boost your external reputation with customers and stakeholders who want to associate with socially responsible businesses. This gives you a competitive edge. Taking Action on Workplace Wellbeing Improving workplace wellbeing requires an active, ongoing commitment from managers. Here are some steps you can take: Survey employees regularly on wellbeing needs Provide education/training on health, stress management and work-life balance Offer counselling, EAPs and mental health support Encourage physical activity through discounts and workplace facilities Monitor workloads and adjust to prevent burnout Support healthy nutrition and sleep habits Foster social connections between employees Lead by example when it comes to wellbeing practices Work with a workplace happiness expert like The Happy Business School for more advice. Making employee health and wellbeing a true priority takes effort but pays off enormously. A thriving, supportive and positive work environment is critical for attracting talent, driving productivity and living up to your duty of care as an employer. By taking purposeful action as a manager, you can make a real...

Depending on who you are, you will either love, hate, or be neutral about working. Either way, the reality that most of us have to face is that we must work, and we spend the majority of our time working. As such, it would be great if you felt safe and comfortable when working. However, this is often not the case. If you want to find ways to create a supportive working environment that fosters good health and wellbeing, then this article is just for you. 1. Make sure there is a good work-to-life balance If you work regularly and for many hours, it can be all too easy to spend too much time working. How do you know if you are spending too much time working? Well, it is pretty obvious that you are doing too much if you find yourself having little or practically zero time to do things other than work. Of course, for some professions, this is inescapable. However, it is important to find a balance between work and other aspects of your life for your own mental health and physical wellbeing. If you exert too much of your time and energy into working, your health will most likely decline, and you put yourself at greater risk of burning out. So, even if it is only an hour or two each day, it is important that you spend some time doing things that you love. This will, in turn, ensure that your working environment is more pleasurable as you will less likely associate it with negative sentiments. If your company does not do so already, try and create some social events for everyone to get involved with so they too can enjoy being at work. 2. Treat everyone with respect No matter who we are or what we have done, everyone is entitled to some degree of respect. If the working environment is a supportive one, everyone will respect and treat each other with care. There are a number of ways to foster meaningful respect at work which include finding common ground, paying attention to details, and being considerate and non-judgemental. While some of these traits may seem difficult to obtain, practice makes perfect. It is unlikely that you will master it first try; however, what is important is that you persevere for the sake of yourself, for others, and for the company. By doing so, you can help to reduce employee negativity. 3. Acknowledge and reward achievements Another great way to create a supportive work environment is by acknowledging and rewarding achievements. If you notice that a particular employee or colleague has gone above and beyond, or simply that they have worked well, it is important that their work does not go unrecognized. Instead, make sure to reward them. If you can do this, they will be more likely to feel valued, appreciated, and cherished and will enjoy being at work more. It can be as simple as rewarding them with their favorite chocolate or perhaps an experience that they have always wanted to...

If your business doesn’t have a proper maintenance management strategy in place, it’s going to cost a fortune, turn customers over to competitors, and damage your company’s image. Maintaining equipment regularly will cost money, but it will be much less expensive. To help your business start saving money and time today, we’ve put together this short guide to reducing maintenance and repair costs. Prevent Breakdowns You guessed it – the best way to reduce the cost of repairs is to avoid them in the first place. To do this, you will need to carry out regular maintenance and checks. You can implement a solid maintenance strategy by using a CMMS, which tracks all tasks and provides a range of other functions. Alternatively, you can integrate an IMMP (Intelligent Maintenance Management Platform), which can schedule, review, and track all tech operations. When equipment gets too old, it will likely break down regardless of your maintenance schedule. For example, an old forklift may face cooling problems, faulty wiring, running rough, and several other hazardous malfunctions. If this happens, you should get in touch with a professional forklift repair service, which may be able to rejuvenate it. Train Your Workforce If you’ve got a team of mechanics on site, that’s fantastic. However, the best way to ensure proper ongoing maintenance is carried out is to train your entire team. If everyone knows how to spot signs of failure, there’s less chance of malfunctions going unnoticed. Naturally, you will need to invest money and time in training, but it will cost less than regular repairs and unnecessary maintenance. Track Inventory When equipment is out for repairs, it has the potential to delay operations, which damages your bottom line. If repairs are taking too long, the chances are you need to improve your inventory management. By checking inventory regularly, you’ll know which parts need ordering. As well as speeding up repairs, you will likely receive a discount for ordering parts in bulk. Extend Insurance and Warranty When you operate expensive insurance, you need to know that the manufacturer will cover any faults that weren’t caused by your team. To do this, you can check warranties and extend them if need be. Additionally, you should consider having insurance, which will help alleviate the financial burden of breakdowns. Choose The Right Equipment You’ve likely heard the saying “You get what you pay for!” – the same is true for business equipment. If you choose to cut corners and source machinery from questionable dealers, you’ve got no one to blame when it malfunctions early and costs a fortune to replace. The best practice is to buy from reputable brands in the first place. Conclusion All businesses rely on equipment, whether it’s heavy machinery, computers, or smartphones. When equipment fails, it’s costly to repair or replace. To avoid these costs, proper maintenance management needs implementing. To help get off on the right foot, observe the methods above and watch your repair and maintenance outgoings...

Starting a new job can be one of the most memorable life experiences, but it can also be stressful. You’ll need to know how to act, what to wear, and figure out the many intricacies of the new company so you can fit in. Many people remember their first day of a new job because of the pressure they feel. Luckily, you can reduce this anxiety by planning your first day as best you can and learning how to communicate with your new bosses and coworkers. Here are tips for your first day on the new job.  Ask Questions The onboarding process will allow you to ask as many questions as necessary so you can feel confident in your new position. If you don’t ask the questions you need to ask on your first day, you might be setting yourself up to fail. Everyone expects questions for the first few weeks to months after you’ve been hired because everything will be new to you.  However, many people might not expect as many questions when you’re in your sixth month of employment. Instead of waiting to ask questions, make sure you ask the right person the questions you need to be answered so you can have a successful first day and set yourself up for a successful career within the company.  You can also prepare questions beforehand that will demonstrate your desire to learn about the company. For example, you can ask questions such as what goals the company has and how you can help them achieve them. Be prepared to have many questions pop into your head, such as where to find the bathroom, so you can immediately get all of the basic answers you need.  Prepare Your Intro Your new coworkers are going to be curious about you and ask you questions about yourself. It’s best to prepare what to say. Prepare an elevator pitch about yourself so you can describe who you are, where you were working before, and your expertise. Your pitch should only be 30-seconds long. Remember, your coworkers are curious about you, but they still have jobs to do, so it’s best not to take up too much of their time.  Arrive Early Ensure you’re not late for your first day because that can put a target on your back and make your managers feel like you already don’t care about your job. Try planning your route the night before so you can arrive 15 minutes early. You can even practice the commute so you know how much time you’ll need during the morning rush hour.  Once you arrive at work, consider staying in your car or going to a cafe so you don’t walk into the building early. While it’s always a good thing to look eager to your new bosses, you shouldn’t appear as someone who will always show up early, especially since you’ll still be expected to stay throughout the entire day and until working hours are over.  Socialize If you want to succeed in a new position, you’ll need to frequently deal with people, which means learning how to successfully socialize, solve problems, and effectively communicate. Getting along with your coworkers can make going to work much easier, but associating with the right coworkers can help you grow within the company. After all, you never know which of your coworkers will be promoted to being your boss or have the ability to promote you to upper management so you can get a promotion yourself.  Stay Calm While going to your first day of a new job can be nerve-racking, remember you were hired for a reason. You beat out the...