Social Media and Communication Books For Sale

Posted January 14, 2021 By Frank Strona
Decided it was time to start cleaning out the bookshelves this week from my local office at the Health Department as well as my home office.
Most of these I have e-versions of – so other than liking the physical book – there isn’t a reason to keep them.
They are currently listed on eBay after which I will be donating them.
Including the links to the eBay listing for reference  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          

When Coffee helps the Soup Kitchen Out

Posted November 27, 2020 By Frank Strona

Hey Everyone,  I hope you are recovering from however you choose to celebrate on Thursday.

I know some of you have jumped on the Black Friday bandwagon. Like, may of you, this year more than ever I will be shopping more online. But while I will still use some of the “big-box stores” I also am making an effort to use local and small businesses when I can. I posted earlier today on my less formal blog at BiteTheRoad.com a version of this post and wanted to share this out as well.

Several recommendations I have I will share over the next few days by posts or updates on my Wellness Page

Drinking Coffee For Good at Joe Coffee Provincetown

Hanging out at a coffee shop is usually part of my morning ritual when I travel, as Paul usually sleeps in. It gets me out of bed and catching up with local pals or out walking. Not to mention they often serve as part of my mobile office on more than one occasion. Now – it is no secret that a part of my heart is always in Provincetown and I have posted about my trips back a number of times. Well,  my old college pal, Glenn, and two friends of his took over ownership of Joe’s Coffee in February of 2019.

Joe Coffee is running my favorite type of promotion this season. For every purchase you make, they are giving back money to Provincetown’s Soup Kitchen. SKIP as it is known in town prepares upwards of 150 hot lunches a day from Nov – April each year and with so many people not working as much leading into the winter  – supporting these programs is more important than ever.

Joe Coffee is running two winter promotions; 

Gift Cards for you and others

For all gift cards purchased between Nov 28  and Sunday, Dec. 13- they will donate money to SKIP. the more the value, the more they donate.

    • gift card value: $25 – $49;  joe donates $2 to SKIP
    • gift card value: $50 – $99;  joe donates $5 to SKIP
    • gift card value: $100 plus;  joe donates $10 to SKIP

To order your gift cards (which can be sent via email to the recipient if you want to send as a gift) use this GIFT CARD Link:   https://www.toasttab.com/joe-coffee-cafe/giftcards

SKIP Guest Cuppa’

You can also purchase a SKIP GUEST CUP OF COFFEE  either online from anywhere across the USA or In-Cafe at the register. Each of these sold, will be added to the 150 FREE COFFEE COUPONS  they already plan to include in the SKIP GUEST lunch bags on the day that Joe Coffee sponsors lunches. These coupons come in handy when someone wants a reason to hit the coffeeshop and money is tight. Sure – will it save the world? No. But can help someone have some reason to get out (masks and all) without worrying does that money need to be spent elsewhere.

You can buy a SKIP coffee donation here: https://www.toasttab.com/joe-coffee-cafe/v3

For more information on Joe Coffee you can visit them online at https://www.joecoffeeptown.com/ or check out its Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/joecoffeeptown and Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/joecoffeeptown/

For more on SKIP visit them online at https://www.skipfood.org or visit the SKIP’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soupkitcheninprovincetown/

 

 

 

 

 

Note – This post has no paid affiliate links I earn nothing from sharing this post.

          

How to Get Back from an Accident at Work

Posted November 15, 2020 By GuestSpot

Unfortunately, even at the best of companies, workplace injuries are common. Even worse, many people aren’t sure what to do when they experience a workplace injury. It is important that you do your best to get your life back on track as soon as possible. To do that, consider the following.

Take Time for Recovery

A workplace injury is not the time to choose to tough things out. That will only lead to your situation getting worse. Nor should you rush recovery. When your body sustains an injury, it can take a large amount of energy to heal properly. According to Mount Elizabeth, if you don’t take adequate rest, your body won’t be able to do more than just a patch job. This can significantly increase the chance of reinjury. Chances are the second time the injury will be worse. Even when you do choose to return to work, start off with a lightened load. Your muscles will have atrophied during the time off. Give your body the chance to slowly get into rhythm.

Take Advantage of Workers’ Compensation

Many people feel pressured to return to work as soon as possible so that they can remain financially stable. However, if you sustained your injury at work, you should be exercising your right to worker’s compensation. In most cases, you can qualify for time off, pay compensation, and medical coverage. According to Bruscato Law, you need to keep detailed records of your medical visits and insurance information. This will help ensure that your expenses are covered. If your company is reluctant to provide compensation, reach out to a lawyer that specializes in workplace injuries. They will help make sure you are treated fairly.

Set a Return Date

At some point you are going to be ready to return to work. However, your timeline may not match up with the timeline that your company desires. Make sure that you communicate clearly with your company so that you are on the same page. If you feel that you are not being given enough time to heal, you may need to get a professional opinion.

Visit the Doctor

Some people have an aversion to visiting the doctor. Even if you dislike it, you need to go. A doctor will help you set a timeline for how long it will take to recover. They can also recommend treatments that will help ease your pain and improve the quality of your recovery. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t have to pay for these visits. Your company is responsible for your medical bills relating to a workplace injury. According to IME Care Center, you should ask lots of questions and make sure that you get the most out of each visit. Be sure to follow all the doctors’ orders if you want to recover quickly.

See a Physical Therapist

Your doctor will most likely recommend that you visit a physical therapist. Even if they don’t, it will be worth checking out. According to Connecticut Family PT, a physical therapist can help you with exercises and physical therapies that are designed to promote healing and reduce pain. Your physical therapist can identify weaknesses in your body that may have contributed to the injury. An exercise plan can then be developed that will help you to eliminate those weaknesses so that you don’t get injured in the future. Once again, these visits should be covered by your company, but make sure that is the case before going.

Eat Healthy

If your body is going to fully recover, it is going to need a lot of energy and the proper nutrients to repair bones, ligaments, muscles, and other tissues that may have been injured. In order to do this, you need to be eating a healthy balanced meal. When you get injured, your body is put under a lot of strain. This strain can lower your immune system. If you then choose to eat unhealthy meals, your immune system can be lowered even further. This will increase the likelihood that you will get sick on top of being injured. On the other hand, a healthy diet can help raise your immune system and prevent this from occurring.

While you may feel that you have obligations to your company and others, it is important that you focus on taking care of yourself. Once you have recovered from your injury, you will be able to fulfill those obligations more fully. Until then, you should rest. Doing anything else will just lengthen your recovery time.

Read this next: How to Have a Successful Career While Living With Anxiety

          

I’ve nothing new to read…

Posted August 28, 2020 By Frank Strona

Unlike when I talk about cable these days – “I have nothing to read” are words you will rarely hear come out of my mouth.

Whats makes that even better has been my Amazon Prime membership. It’s been a constant companion since I was back in school. From Summer and winter “disconnect trips” to my commutes between San Francisco and DC/Atlanta. Having the ability to download groups of books has meant I always have something to read.

Summer Reads

With COVID19 keeping so many of us indoors,  in addition to many bookstores closing up, many of us have not been able to get to our fav bookstores. So while I still advocate using independent bookstores when you can. It may be time for you to try #Amazon Prime. I’ve been a fan of it for several years. 

They currently have a discount promo being offered with 50% off the regular monthly subscription; https://amzn.to/3llLOAp

 

 

Try Prime Discounted Monthly Offering

          

Tired of coming across badly in video calls?

Posted August 18, 2020 By Frank Strona

Learn from the students who know.

Adjustable and dimmable ring lights offer a flexible easy way to give you better lighting. Also great for new tiktok users and stuck-at-home workers needing portable lighting.


Amazon is offering 50% off till 9/4 for the one I use.


Neewer 18-inch SMD LED Ring Light Dimmable Lighting Kit w/stand 50% off with code till 9/4.

 

          

Most business owners understand the importance of social media for their respective companies. If you’re wanting to increase your company’s social media presence, it’s wise to think about marketing your business on Facebook. Before doing this, it’s helpful to learn a few tips. Here is everything you need to know about using Facebook to market your business.

A High-Traffic Platform

When choosing where to market your business, it’s helpful to do this on a platform with a lot of visitors. Fortunately, you can find this type of platform by marketing your business on Facebook. According to Harvey Agency, Facebook remains the most heavily used of all social media platforms with an average of 1.59 billion active users every day. These users are spending their time frequently reading posts, leaving comments, and liking their favorite companies.

Do’s and Don’ts for Posting

It’s difficult for your business to have a following on Facebook if you’re not posting content. Considering that, there are do’s and don’ts you’ll want to learn before posting on Facebook. It’s a good idea to post relevant and engaging content that your company’s audience will find interesting. According to GovLoop, you’ll also want to make sure you’re responding to questions and comments from your audience. On the other hand, don’t post anything that might come across as controversial. This often includes anything having to do with politics or religion. Also, don’t make every post overly promotional. Aim for a mix of promotional and informative content.

Pay Close Attention to Metrics

As you know, posting content on Facebook is a great way for your brand to extend its reach. However, you might be unaware that Facebook offers performance metrics for each post you create. These metrics include how many people you’re reaching as well as how much engagement each of your posts receives. By looking at these metrics, you can figure out how to tailor your company’s Facebook marketing strategy in the future. If you ignore these metrics, you might make this mistake of posting lackluster content.

When you start using Facebook to market your business, make sure you keep these things in mind. If you do it the right way, using Facebook as a marketing tool can have many positive effects on your company. For help with learning how to do this, it’s wise to work with a digital marketing company.

One big reminder is to also make sure you create and promote your business using a Facebook Page. Not your personal profile. This allows you to keep some separation between personal and professional posting content. As well as easier integration with tools like Hootsuite, Twitter or Instagram. You can check mine out at MentorSFCA or visit my full social media catalog by visiting me on Linktr.ee

 

          

Living with anxiety can make everything feel a little bit more difficult. However, it is still possible to thrive in every area of your life. Here are some tips for career success if you deal with anxiety.

Create a Better Balance

Managing anxiety means not letting anyone area of your life dominate everything else. This requires you to find a balance between your work life and your mental health. Letting your mental health suffer while you try to get ahead at work will only lead to more anxiety.

Try to have clear lines between your work life and your home life, and create boundaries that keep them separate. Make sure you still have time to work out, eat well and practice meditation to help manage your anxiety. This will help you succeed in every area of your life by calming your inner turmoil. Don’t let your career take so much of your time that self-care disappears.

Consider a Different Career

Some careers are not a great fit for those who suffer with anxiety. You need to find a career you are passionate about that doesn’t cause your anxiety to go into overdrive. If you suffer from social anxiety, you probably don’t need to work in a crowded building where you never have time alone. Lack of opportunities to decompress without someone else around can increase your anxiety.

There are several other environmental factors that can contribute to social anxiety disorders. Yelling co-workers, bosses who bully or an environment that reinforces negative gender roles can cause your social anxiety to feel unmanageable. Be careful about what career you choose and what kind of work environment you expose yourself to at the office.

Find Support

You may be reluctant to talk to your boss about struggling with anxiety. It’s common for people to worry that these conversations will make them appear weak or unable to cope with a job. However, you do need support to know that you are not alone.

If you don’t want to seek support at work, find a support group or therapist outside of your career to help you cope. Outside support can positively help you professionally because it will show you constructive ways to deal with your anxiety when it flairs. It will also give you a place to go for advice when you have work-related stress that feels overwhelming.

Anxiety doesn’t have to keep you from a successful career. Use appropriate techniques to make sure your mental health struggles don’t stop you from thriving in the workplace.

For more great career advice, attend one of our great workshops or contact me for a free “Get To Know Me” session to discuss how personal coaching can support you.

 

          

Checking in from the remote field

Posted March 27, 2020 By Frank Strona

Hi Everyone

I just wanted to take a few minutes and check-in.

As many of you know I am in my third week of “Shelter In Place” here in San Francisco. I am supporting the local health department with COVID-19 activities. It dawned on me this morning, after my second conference call before 7:30 am, that while I normally work remotely – this may be a new world for you.

So I am sharing a few tricks I use to get through the week with some sanity. 

  • Remember you are not alone. While it may feel like the world is a lonely place right now. Many others are feeling it as well and people are available to talk, listen and share.  This isn’t the time to get stuck in emails and text, and likely the break will be good for both. So pick up that phone and call!
  • Staying Healthy is more than just being aware of what you touch. How is your home ergonomics? What works for the occasional few hours isn’t going to be all that great on your backs, necks and arms week after week. Check out this article on how to optimize your workspace at home.
  • Watch what you are eating. Ok, I am one of those people who tends to snack all day while working. So I needed to figure out a way to not get stuck in a sugar crash or gain unwanted pounds.
    • Instead of a bag of candy on your table or desk – get that bag of fruit, wash them well and leave them in various bowls around the home. Let everyone know that these are “anytime” foods that they do not need to be asked for. Apples, pears, oranges, banana are perfect for this but buy what is in the season for you.
    • If you are a fruit salad fan – this is the best time to make a huge batch up and portion them into those random “lock & locks” and canning jars that you accumulated for your summer crafting. Making up a bunch in smaller containers will make it a “grab and go” for you and your family.
    • Prepare ahead; here are two of my favorite make-ahead breakfasts which means I don’t have cook up something every day. Try overnight Oatmeal or Chia Seed pudding (I make mine dairy-free and with chocolate once a week). They both require no cooking and if you mix it up the night before – it will be ready for breakfast and lasts for several days. Another favorite of mine is Peanut Butter Protein Oatcakes. Now before you roll your ears they are actually really good. You can swap out lots of the ingredients to match your dietary needs too. But I make up a huge batch on Sundays, cool and freeze them. They thaw quickly and toast up well. They can be eaten like a pancake with jam, butter or syrup, or as the bread for a breakfast PBJ sandwich.
  • Take Breaks. Ask “Siri” or “Alexa” to remind you to stand every hour or so. Take a walk to the window or even step outside the door.  Have daytime cuddle breaks with your kids or your pets. Take a moment for self-care and shower, brush your teeth etc. Walk your dog. They need outdoor time. Just be health aware.
  • Plan ahead Discuss with everyone in your space and negotiate “me time”, “work time” and ‘family time”. Most folks tend to overwork and then stress themselves out when they first jump on the “remote work” option. It is very easy to get lost in that “one last thing”. Yet, the next thing you know it is now 8:00 pm and you have been at it since 7:00 am.

Ok – I just wanted to give you all a few ideas and remind you, we are all adjusting to lots of changes and its ok to be stressed.  People are available to talk. Stay in touch with your Advisors if you are feeling like you are overwhelmed in the course and discuss options

          

How to Empower Yourself Financially

Posted January 20, 2020 By GuestSpot

Managing finances can be overwhelming for anyone. Mastering this process is not something that will happen overnight. In order to make the best financial decisions for yourself, you need to get in the habit of practicing solid financial processes. Here are a few things you can do to empower yourself financially so you can feel confident about your financial future.

Budgeting

Budgeting your money is a great habit to build for yourself if you’re looking to save more money. It’s a great way to be more aware of what you are spending and make sure that you have enough money for both your wants and your needs. When creating a budget, YNAB advises that it’s always a good idea to make sure that you are living a lifestyle that costs less than the money you are bringing in. This will ensure that you have enough for all of your living expenses while still having enough money to keep adding to your financial nest egg. You should also regularly examine your budget and make tweaks as necessary.

Approaching Debt Carefully

Taking out debt can be necessary for certain situations, but it’s important to approach it carefully. Taking on too much debt can be a big financial downfall for many people. To avoid problems, it’s important to be tactful about what you take out debt for. Everyone can understand the temptation of putting things on your credit card and thinking that you will be able to pay it off later. However, it does not take long for the debt to spiral out of control and send you on the path to financial disaster. If you find yourself in the position of thinking that declaring bankruptcy will solve your financial problems, Cornwell Bankruptcy advises that you carefully examine all of your options. You should find alternatives to bankruptcy if you feel you are at risk. Having a bankruptcy on your record will stifle your economic advancement for years. Making sure that you approach debt tactfully and carefully will help you to avoid problems like these.

Planning for the Future

Especially when you are just starting out in your adult life, it may not seem that important to begin thinking about your financial future. However, Betterment says that this is exactly the right time to begin saving and investing for what lies down the road. Understanding the power of compounding interest will help you to see why it is vital that you begin the saving process as early as possible. In addition to planning for your retirement, you should also consider your life insurance needs to protect your family. Think about how you’ll save for your children’s college education and more. There is absolutely no downside to being financially prepared for what is in your future path.

Developing solid financial habits now will put you on the road to financial freedom and empowerment. While it takes great discipline and dedication, the end results will be well worth it.

For more financial tips, check out this article: Stop Stressing About Your Finances: 5 Tips to Reduce Financial Stressors

          

Poor Financial Choices and How to Avoid Them

Posted January 16, 2020 By GuestSpot

Building good credit takes time. It is not something that will happen overnight. In order to boost your credit score, you need to get in the habit of practicing solid financial processes while avoiding poor choices. Here are three of the more common financial choices that can usually stop you up and how you can avoid them.

Not Budgeting

Not taking the time to properly budget your money is a big reason that many people have problems saving money. When creating a budget, YNAB advises that it’s always a good idea to make sure that you are living a lifestyle that costs less than the money you are bringing in. This will ensure that you have enough for all of your living expenses while still having enough money to keep adding to your financial nest egg. You should also regularly examine your budget and make tweaks as necessary.

Getting into Unnecessary Debt

Taking on too much debt is the biggest financial downfall for many people. Everyone can understand the temptation of putting things on your credit card and thinking that you will be able to pay it off later. However, it does not take long for the debt to spiral out of control and send you on the path to financial disaster. If you find yourself in the position of thinking that declaring bankruptcy will solve your financial problems, Cornwell Bankruptcy advises carefully examine all of your options. You should find alternatives to bankruptcy if you feel you are at risk. Having a bankruptcy on your record will stifle your economic advancement for years.

“It takes money to make money” is sad but true. When possible pay off bills and take advantage of prepaying discounts.

Not Planning for the Future

Especially when you are just starting out in your adult life, it may not seem that important to begin thinking about your financial future. However, Betterment says that this is exactly the right time to begin saving and investing for what lies down the road. Understanding the power of compounding interest will help you to see why it is vital that you begin the saving process as early as possible. In addition to planning for your retirement, you should also consider your life insurance needs to protect your family. Think about how you’ll save for your children’s college education and more. There is absolutely no downside to being financially prepared for what is in your future path.

Developing solid financial habits now will put you on the road to financial freedom. While it takes great discipline and dedication, the end results will be well worth it.

For more financial tips, check out this article: Stop Stressing About Your Finances: 5 Tips to Reduce Financial Stressors