Kivo Daily Staff, Author At Kivo Daily

Fitness Trainer Ryan Harden Shares How Mental Health Is Crucial for Physical Fitness

Kivo Daily Staff on December 1, 2022

Most people see physical and mental health as two different aspects. But for fitness trainer and coach Ryan Harden, they’re intertwined. Accordingly, he works to improve both aspects by creating programs that treat them as one, providing lessons, plans, and strategies to approach health and wellness holistically.

Ryan Harden is a 30-year-old personal trainer, online coach, and High-Intensity Interval Training instructor passionate about training with the mind, body, and spirit connection as a priority. He treats workouts as a form of focused meditation, emphasizing hypertrophy and execution. “Aside from diet and sleep, stress reduction and mental health are also crucial,” shares Ryan about what makes his programs so effective. “Remember mind controls the body, so I enjoy seeing more people focus on that. That’s why it’s best to stick with basic bread-and-butter movements and do them over time correctly and consistently for the best results. Only then can you get fancy down the road.”

Growing up in Danville, Illinois, with his four siblings and their mother, Ryan had a strong sense of responsibility for their family for most of his adulthood and even early on. His passion for fitness is what kept him going. That journey began when he started working at the local nutrition store as a teen, exposing him too much of his learnings and love for the craft. Later, Ryan worked at al gym under an accomplished bodybuilder.

Ryan balanced his commitment to fitness throughout his adolescence while participating in other activities like football, theater, and even the choir. While attending the University of Kentucky, he studied Dietetics while working at an in-patient hospital for the mentally ill. Ryan has also appeared in several print and online media outlets, including Muscle and Fitness magazine, Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on TV, and many news articles online.

When working with Ryan, his clients get one-on-one tailored programs created with their goals in mind. There are also weekly check-ins to ensure everything is going according to plan and ongoing support from a coach who understands what it takes to succeed.

Ryan also makes custom meal plans based on his clients’ goals and dietary preferences. He also believes custom-made workout program that fits one’s goals and is based on readily-available equipment is the most effective way to achieve one’s fitness goals. Accordingly, that’s the type of program the fitness expert creates for people who want to improve their overall wellbeing.

As a coach, it is essential for Ryan that his clients have access to him whenever they have questions or need that little extra motivation. Accordingly, he commits to walking with people all the way, providing as much support as possible, training the mind and soul as much as the body.

A Look at the Vitamin and Supplement Industry

Kivo Daily Staff on November 30, 2022

Supplement usage is a concept that has become increasingly more common in recent years. Of consumers worldwide, 55% to 60% take vitamins and supplements on a daily basis. This overwhelming growth of the supplement industry can be seen around the world, but in the US especially it has skyrocketed. In fact, every demographic has seen a sizable increase. All ages, all genders, and all regions of the country are joining the wave of this newest health craze.

Supplements of all kinds are entering the spotlight. In the past year, American adults have consumed vitamins, specialty supplements, herbals and botanicals, and many others in high volume. The entire market hit record growth in 2021 at a CAGR of 14.5%. These numbers are only projected to rise as the pandemic and other global health factors continue to impact people worldwide. Aging populations with a high percentage of at-risk people are major contributors to supplement usage. In addition, mortality rates are increasing, as the world death rate has increased for four years in a row. As expected, COVID-19 also caused a rise in supplement sales. In 2020, household purchases of vitamins rose to 90%. In addition, all demographics increase vitamin use by 74% to 75%.

New scientific backing for vitamins has fostered an increased confidence in their effectiveness. Studies show that vitamins can improve physiological, cognitive, and functional outcomes. Also, they can reduce injuries and improve general performance during workouts. Vitamins and supplements can even slow the rate of brain shrinkage.

This development of commercial supplements has been pioneered by field experts. Trustworthy figures like Dr. Banafsheh Bayati, Karen Howard, and Dr. Uma Naidoo are only a few of the people who are shaping the supplement industry. These industry leaders have dedicated their professional lives to studying the safety and impacts of these supplements on the general public while pushing this movement forward. It is because of their work that the vitamin and supplement industry is projected to reach a global value of $98.6 by 2031. With a growth rate of 7.6%, fast changes and new trends are inevitable.

The anticipated future of the supplement industry is promising. New categories of products are constantly entering the scene. In fact, sleep gummies on the market are up 1,483% over the past five years. Irish moss is up 650%, and mushroom coffee up 203% over the same time period. In addition, DTC supplement brands are also rising. Truvani is comfortable with $4.4 million in revenue, Trubrain with $11.8 million, and Your Super a shocking $70 million in revenue.

Pre-workout is just another sector of the supplement industry that will continue to grow in popularity. New and effective ingredients are taking center stage, raking in curious and loyal consumers. Ingredients like beta-alanine for muscle fatigue, caffeine for energy, and citrulline for muscle building are at the top of the list.

The vitamin industry will only continue to grow and its nutritional complexity will only deepen. It is imperative to know the industry inside and out, for one’s personal health and the safety of those that they influence.

Valentina Ferrer on Carving a Path Toward the Forefront of the Music Industry

Kivo Daily Staff on November 30, 2022

Art has long been established as a powerful tool to drive change, make an impact, and transform lives for the better. Since time immemorial, pursuing one’s passion in the different fields with art at their core, such as singing, dancing, and acting, to name a few, has not only served as a way to make a name for oneself and make a living. From the get-go, countless artists have capitalized on these professions to send across powerful messages and act as beacons of hope. In the case of Valentina Ferrer, a rising star in the entertainment scene, she hopes to wield the power of music to cement her name in history and empower people at the same time.

Hailing from Venezuela, this 23-year-old hustler and multi-faceted personality has always had an affinity toward music. Since she was seven, Valentina Ferrer has demonstrated the potential to one day take center stage in the highly competitive and saturated industry. Her initial interest in this particular craft transformed over the years, evolving into a deep-seated love that would eventually influence her decisions and prompt her to start carving a path toward the summit of the music scene.

Armed with the goal of reaching the forefront of the industry as a global powerhouse, Valentina Ferrer moved to the United States. This leap of faith was no piece of cake. Immigrating to another country, learning its culture, and building linkages with its people will always pose numerous challenges. Through it all, the potential power player stood firm, pouring her time and resources into honing her skills as a singer and expanding her repertoire of abilities.

Currently, Valentina Ferrer is best known for her distinctive discography. She takes pride in being able to transmit a wave of positive energies and offer comfort through her songs. Moreover, she has managed to impress industry peers and listeners alike for the effort she expends in motivating and empowering women. Considering how the world is yet to achieve a more gender-equal state, every contribution to the cause is crucial, and the extent to which Valentina lends a hand in the movement has been noted.

Since she first started making waves in the music scene, Valentina Ferrer has succeeded, as well, in capturing the attention of music enthusiasts and gaining a fanbase because of her emphasis on individuality. She believes that every artist has their own essence and should not be pitted against each other.

Valentina Ferrer, who followed artists like Beyonce and Rihanna, is setting an example for other aspirants worldwide. She proves a testament to the importance of having a clearcut vision of the future one wants to achieve and a solid commitment to one’s goal in achieving success. As she sets out to reach greater heights in the future, she wants to encourage other dreamers to give it their all and believe in themselves. Only when one has faith in their abilities and the possibility that they will see their dreams come to fruition.

Learn more about Valentina Ferrer by visiting her Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.

Keep Your Business Productive With The Right Printer

Kivo Daily Staff on November 30, 2022

With digital documentation on the rise, it may seem like the need for printed paper is a thing of the past. For many small businesses, this is far from the truth. In fact, 8 in 10 small businesses around the world rely on printers to perform daily operations, and 50% say they would not be able to operate without one. Businesses in the auto, finance, and law fields can print hundreds of documents each day!

Many businesses choose to continue printing documents because readers are able to understand information better from physical copies than they do digitally. Printed paper encourages longer attention spans and stronger working memory, which can be very important when clients are looking over contracts or other important documents from a business.

Small businesses utilizing printers so much each day can pose problems, though. Many standard printers use ink cartridges which need to be replaced often and can be very expensive. Less than 50% of these cartridges are reused or recycled after they are used and can cause major problems for the environment.

Aside from environmental concerns, some printers can actually pose a security threat.Many internet-connected printers are unsecured, leaving the entire network of a business vulnerable to potential cybersecurity threats. In fact, 2021 saw attacks on devices double, with many businesses experiencing serious consequences.

What’s more, many small business owners make the mistake of purchasing consumer grade printers rather than investing in a business printer. As a result, 53% of owners own printers that break once a month or more. This can lead to significant costs when looking to either repair or replace the printer. While waiting for repairs, documentation is stalled and can lead to serious back-ups within businesses that rely on printed papers.

To avoid these problems, it is important to find a small business printer that is built to withstand the needs of a small business.

An important aspect of a business printer is the warranty. Consumer-grade printers have little to no warranty period, which leaves owners having to cover maintenance fees. Shopping directly from a business printer manufacturer’s website provides the best warranty, shipping, and support. These printers are also made of much more durable materials and are sustainable in even the most high use businesses.

Laser printers are a great choice for small businesses. While traditional ink cartridges use expensive and non-sustainable cartridges, laser printers are a cheap and sustainable option. Laser toner is significantly cheaper than ink, and it does not dry up or expire after long periods of time. When businesses are printing hundreds of papers each day, it is important to make sure there is no risk of ink cartridges running out, and laser printers can guarantee that.

Consumer-grade printers just aren’t built to handle the needs of small businesses. Small business owners already juggle so much each day, finding reliable office equipment should not be a difficult task. Investing in a high-quality business printer can ensure that your small business is staying on top of their documentation and running as efficiently as possible. Learn more on what to look for in a business printer in the infographic below:

How to choose a printer for small business? Laser vs ink? How much your new, local business will print? See the infographic developed by Nowsourcing for Lexmark GOLine.

5 Creative Ways To Promote Unity In Remote Working Teams

Kivo Daily Staff on November 29, 2022

As more enterprises have shifted to remote working, business owners and employees are also confronted with unique challenges in this new type of work environment. According to a 2019 State of Remote Work report, out of 2,500 remote workers as respondents, 22% claim that the biggest challenge they faced with the remote work setup was unplugging after work. The second and third biggest struggle for other remote workers are dealing with loneliness and maintaining collaboration or communication, resulting to 19% and 17%, respectively.

Looking at the statistics, the first and second remote work challenges are more on individual issues for team members, whereas the third is a problem that remote workers face as a team. While individual remote work challenges can be resolved by the employees on their own, maintaining collaboration and communication with the remote work team is something employers must pay attention to. Otherwise, failure to maintain collaboration can adversely affect your remote workers’ unity, morale, and productivity.

Why does unity matter in the workplace?

Whether your company has a remote work setup or not, unity in the workplace will always matter. When there’s unity, employees will be more open and honest in expressing their ideas, questions, concerns, and suggestions that could help your company grow. Furthermore, unity can promote stronger bonds and connections between co-workers, which is essential in creating a safe, trusting, and comfortable workplace community.

How to promote unity in remote working teams?

Now that you know the essence of promoting unity in the workplace, it’s time to start cultivating it in your remote working teams through these five creative ways below:

Optimize team communication

Depending on your company’s industry, some businesses will divide their remote teams into even smaller groups since their job is too specific or highly technical. For example, in a handyman business, remote employees are assigned or dispatched to different locations depending on where their clients are. As a result, these workers won’t interact often, and checking their phones or laptops for communication can be a hassle due to the nature of their job.

Thus, consider investing in handyman business management software from Jobber or other business management software providers. With this tool, you and your remote workers can easily keep track of each other’s work scheduling, dispatching, invoicing, and communication needs. Instead of reviewing different communication apps from their phones or laptops, everyone can check and communicate from one software, making communication easier and faster and promoting unity.

Set the same work practices

Staying united as a team might be complicated in a remote work setup since everyone does their job individually. Unfortunately, when each employee creates and follows their own work practice, your team could be at risk of errors and miscommunication.

To prevent errors and promote unity, you can establish shared work practices and automate some of your business tasks. For example, in your handyman business, you may provide them with a free handyman invoice template instead of letting your employees create their own invoice template from scratch. This way, your remote workers can follow a uniform format of the invoice, reducing the risk of error and promoting unity in their work output.

Provide proper and better tools for communication

Being in a remote work setup means you and your employees will be highly dependent on your technological tools and gadgets to keep in touch with one another. To ensure regular communication is maintained and practiced, be ready to accommodate the unique communication tools that your remote workers need.

You may consult them through online surveys to determine which tool or app they prefer best for video meetings, chats, calls, and more. You may also provide them with tools they can use to communicate while working at home, such as high-quality webcams, microphones, or headsets for clear audio. This can help your remote workforce maintain a proper communication with their co-workers and establish a sense of unity and collaboration.

Host virtual company events

Promoting unity in your remote workforce doesn’t always have to involve work. You can also consider making time for fun. Research suggests that having fun at work can boost employee relaxation and cultivate positive engagement between co-workers, which is essential in promoting unity. So, encourage your remote workforce to have fun by conducting virtual company events, such as team-building activities.

Virtual company events can help improve your remote workers’ relationships, boost morale, and improve communication. Some of the best virtual company events you can try are:

Organizing monthly or quarterly employee recognition program
Having biscuit or coffee breaks, wherein remote employees can have coffee together via video calls
Exploring the world through virtual tours
Playing virtual escape rooms

You can assign a department or a group to host the virtual event or even task some people to take charge of some of the virtual activities. This way, your employees can interact with each other as they plan and execute their ideas for the virtual event.

Create a virtual company wellness program

Another fun and creative way to promote unity and engage your remote workers is by scheduling virtual wellness sessions. Your virtual wellness sessions may comprise activities such as:

Yoga or meditation
Virtual fitness classes
Deep breathing exercises
Water-drinking challenge
Stress-management training

However, since every employee has different preferences, make sure to ask for their individual feedback or suggestion first. This way you’ll know what type of wellness activity they’d like to sign up for. Moreover, you may inspire them to participate by explaining the benefits and purpose of the activity, rather than obligating them to do so. As a result, your remote employees may build bonds and be united with their co-workers as they share the same interest.

The bottom line

Working remotely may have separated your employees physically, but it doesn’t mean you can’t promote unity and collaboration. Through the creative and strategic efforts mentioned above, you can encourage everyone to work on the same goals and positively impact your remote workforce’s trust and unity.

A Discussion with Kashane Walters About Motorsports, Financial Management, and the Importance of Pursuing What You Love

Kivo Daily Staff on November 28, 2022

As a veteran finance manager, a position he’s held at Edmonton, Alberta’s RCM Motorsports for almost a decade and a half, Kashane Walters spends his days immersed in analyzing data, liaising with banks and other financial institutions, writing reports, advising colleagues, and, most importantly, working together with clients to devise payment structures that allow them to own recreational vehicles. Over the years, Kashane has accumulated a wide breadth of experience about nearly all aspects of the motorsports industry and, as such, is widely regarded as an expert in his field.

Throughout primary and secondary school, Kashane Walters excelled in athletics, specifically in football and track and field. He would later earn a degree in Business Studies, an accreditation which would pave the way for his career as a finance manager.

In his spare time, Kashane Walters loves jet skiing and snowmobiling, noting that these activities help him to relieve stress and commune with nature.

What do you love most about the industry you are in?

I love everything about it. I’ve always been a motorsports enthusiast—even before I worked for RCM. There’s just something about hopping on a snowmobile or a jet-ski that I find incredibly pleasurable and always have. Using recreational vehicles is a great way to get outdoors and appreciate nature. I think that’s why I find helping fellow motorsports lovers finance new vehicles so rewarding.

What would you tell others looking to get into your industry?

The motorsports industry is based around fun activities and full of great, knowledgeable people. It is a business in the end, but I think it’s more of a fun business than many others.

What keeps you motivated?

The idea of making my clients happy by pairing them with a recreational vehicle like an e-bike, a snowmobile, or an all-terrain vehicle—usually referred to as an ATV—is all the motivation I need to happily carry out my position to the best of my abilities each day.

What is the biggest lesson you have learned during the course of your career?

As I get older, I more and more realize the importance of never taking anything for granted.

If you could change one thing you did in the beginning of your career what would it be?

I regret next to nothing, but I suppose if I could change something from the beginning of my career, it would be to not make certain assumptions. I made some assumptions in my younger days that weren’t too smart, and a result, I had to learn a few difficult lessons.

How do you maintain a work life balance?

As I mentioned, my love for motorsports predates my employment at RCM. I love jet-skiing in the summer, and I love snowmobiling in the winter. I always make sure to include either one or the other every time I take a vacation. I love the feeling of driving unrestrained by roads and traffic, away from the hustle and bustle of city life, whether on a lake or on a snowy field. It helps me unwind and makes me at peace with the world. And the scenery is always breathtaking.

What trends in your industry excite you?

Well, the motorsports industry is projected to grow by more than 10% overall between now and 2027. From my vantage point, that is incredibly exciting.

What has been the hardest obstacle you’ve overcome?

Like every job, sometimes there are disappointments. Every once in a while, I’m confronted with a client who really, really wants to own one of our vehicles, but just doesn’t have the financial wherewithal to do so. I always feel bad for them. But I also always encourage them to use the experience to renew their motivation to work harder to succeed. I usually say something like, “I know it hurts now, but think of it this way: That jet-ski or that ATV that you want? When you finally get it, it will be the reward for all of your hard work, and a signal that you’ve arrived at the place you want to be in life.”

What is one piece of advice that you have never forgotten?

I once had a mentor who gave me great guidance. One piece of advice he related to me often was this: “Kashane, if you manage to find a way to merge your private interests with your professional life all the while making a nice profit, then you are well on your way to cracking the secret code to happiness.” I think about that quote all the time.

What’s one piece of advice you would give to others?

Don’t hesitate to pursue whatever you love as a profession. For me, it was motorsports, for others it could be medicine, dancing, writing, firefighting, or launching their own small business. Even if you ultimately fail, you have to at least try to make your dream come true. In my case, I knew enough to stay away from the engineering end of motorsports—that’s just not how my mind works. And because only a very small handful of people are paid to actually ride these vehicles professionally, I carved a niche for myself on the financial side of things. But I couldn’t be happier because every day I go to work in an industry I love, immersed in a pastime I cherish amongst like-minded people.

What is one thing you would change in your industry today if you could?

If someone twisted my arm for an answer, I would say the industry is a little bit over-regulated.

Where do you see you and your company in 5 years?

RCM Motorsports will continue to expand its client base and its fleet of vehicles, and I will be right here working hard to grow the company any way I possibly can.

Leland Sandler Discusses Reasons Why Hiring an Executive Advisor is Good for Your Career

Kivo Daily Staff on November 28, 2022

Anyone in an executive or management position can tell you just how challenging it can be to keep up with the ever-increasing demands at the workplace. Generally, the higher you climb the executive ladder, the more people expect from you. While you may have specific experience, skills, background, and certifications to back up your position, you need an executive advisor’s help to stay on top of your executive position.

An executive advisor is someone you need when you feel like you’re stalling in your career, facing unique challenges, looking to live your best life, or switching careers. According to Leland Sandler, a leading executive advisor in the San Diego Biotech industry, even the most accomplished person needs an advisor to provide specialized guidance and boost performance. In this post, Leland will take you through the reasons for hiring an advisor for your career. But before that, he defines the role of an executive advisor.

Who is an Executive Advisor?

An executive advisory leader is an authority dedicated and uniquely qualified to support and counsel the highest level of executives, from small business leaders to CEOs leading large companies. Executive advisors help organizations to analyze, plan and implement dynamic business ideas and solve complex business challenges. Executive advisors working in the consulting industry, like Leland Sandler, specialize in developing leaders within the context of their job, position, and workplace while maintaining their everyday work responsibilities.

Reasons Why Hiring an Executive Advisor is Good for Your Career

Here are some of the reasons why you should hire an executive advisor for your career, according to Leland Sandler.

Improves Personal Performance

Multitasking is a critical skill every leader must have. However, it takes work to juggle five different things at a time, as it can easily overwhelm you. An executive advisor can help pinpoint your problems, avoid distractions, and focus on your goals. You may think you know yourself better, but what you don’t know is that the second pair of eyes can help you see even better, notes Leland Sandler.

Even the most successful athletes, business people, and famous singers rely on advice from professionals to improve and become even better. An executive advisor can read your fears, skills, weaknesses, and strengths to help you become a productive leader.

Helps You, Lead Teams, Effectively

To be a successful manager and leader, you must succeed at leading a winning team. According to Leland Sandler, having a big office, a fancy job title, or a dedicated parking spot can make you a boss. However, to be a leader, you must serve and guide your team in various matters. Your team should look up to you whenever there’s an issue.

You will inspire them to be better. When you’re a boss, you delegate and push people to do things rather than guide and support them. A good executive advisor will help you improve your leadership skills to lead teams effectively. They will teach you how to learn your employees’ strengths and weaknesses to determine their best roles.

Enhance Your Communication Skills

It’s almost impossible to be called a leader if you don’t know how to communicate with people at different levels. The most successful organizations have a solid foundation. Excellent communication skills allow you to communicate with others and convey your message. An executive advisor will teach you how to build rapport with your team and improve communication to help shift them toward the same goal. Even better, an executive advisor will teach you how to coach your team to reach peak performance that exceeds their expectations.

Provides Advice to Help You Tweak Your Thinking

To become the best at what you do, you need to inject fresh perspectives that allow you to pursue success on new paths. How you think can impact the outcome of your projects? If you cannot place your thoughts into an action plan, an effective executive advisor can help you align your thinking with your goals and desires to help you create and identify opportunities, work on them and become successful.

They have the skills to review your profile as a leader, uncover rigidities, and help you eliminate things preventing you from achieving your goals. Once you project your thinking into your goals, you unlock infinite potential. Leland Sandler suggests finding an executive advisor who can challenge you with questions to keep you active and motivated.

Assists You in Increasing Productivity and Profitability

Most managers and corporate leaders have one goal—to increase annual profits. You may be doing well doubling your profits every year, but did you know you could do much better if you involved an executive advisor? To increase profits, you need to have a productive team. You also need strategies that reduce running costs and improve marketing. An executive advisor is the best person to approach to point you in the right direction. They can challenge you to think more profoundly and create unique strategies and new opportunities for your company.

Black Friday Online Sales Spiked $9.12 Billion

Kivo Daily Staff on November 28, 2022

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Business establishments report more-than-expected sales from online shoppers this Black Friday despite inflation and high prices of products.

According to estimates, the sales reached around $9.12 billion. This marks the highest Black Friday sales since the pandemic’s start. Last year, businesses raked in over $8.92 billion during Black Friday, while in 2020, establishments saw a total of $9.03 billion in sales.

However, according to Adobe Analytics, the rise in total sales was due to the higher prices people must pay for the necessary services or goods they need for the holidays.

Adobe saw a significant rise in orders and purchases for Apple MacBooks and watches. These account for a considerable fraction of the 221% spike in electronic sales made online on Friday. Other items bought frequently include Xbox Series X, drones, and FIFA 23 and Pokemon Scarlet games.

Adobe believes that the discounts offered by many will remain over the weekend and the days following. Further, they expect people to spend around 8 billion more on Saturday and Sunday.

“While there is much speculation about inflation’s impact on consumer behavior, our data tells us that this Thanksgiving holiday weekend will see robust store traffic with a record number of shoppers taking advantage of value pricing,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay.

“We are optimistic that retail sales will remain strong in the weeks ahead, and retailers are ready to meet consumers however they want to shop with great products at prices they want to pay,” he added.

Others expected less spending on Black Friday

Before the holidays began, experts predicted people to spend less. But, as evident in the statistics in two years since the pandemic’s start, the sales were low. And as inflation looms over the holidays, people expect less-than-usual buyers to go into the marts.

The National Retail Foundation said the economy impacts the way shoppers spend. The current trend leads over 60% of shoppers to think this way. This marks the highest percentage since the Great Recession of 2008.

“Consumers want better prices, so they’re waiting on the sidelines. So it’s going to really boil down to whether the stores blink first or the retailers blink first,” said Krish Thyagarajan from DataWeave Analytics.

Shifting to October

A firm said that while people prepare for their November and December spending, some of their expenditures shifted to October. However, stores saw a spike in sales as the holidays kicked in. This suggests that people were willing to spend more even with some of their already poured a month before.

“While consumers continue to save the bulk of their holiday shopping for later in November and December, some of that spending has shifted into October. This year, 18% of holiday shoppers have completed at least half of their holiday shopping. While this is on par with last year, it is up from only 11% a decade ago,” said Phil Rist.

“An estimated 166.3 million people are planning to shop from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday this year, according to the annual survey released today by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. This figure is almost 8 million more people than last year. And is the highest estimate since NRF began tracking this data in 2017,” said the NRF in a statement.

What is a Wilderness Experience at WinGate Wilderness?

Kivo Daily Staff on November 23, 2022

Wilderness therapy can be an effective tool for healing, particularly for teens and young adults. However, wilderness therapy can vary significantly in how it’s implemented. Wingate Wilderness provides what’s known as an “actual wilderness experience,” immersing youth in nature without the distractions and convoluted planning of artificial ‘adventure’ activities.

Wilderness Therapy Roots

Wilderness therapy takes us back to our roots. It temporarily transports you to a time before cities and modern technology. It takes us back to humanity’s earliest era, where our roots lie. Humanity’s connection with nature is inherent and profound, bringing a grounded sense of calm and empowerment to individuals who spend time outdoors.

It also removes teens from the modern world’s pressures, stresses, and temptations. There are no cell phones. No TVs. No stores or malls.

When teens are brought into a world so unlike the one they are accustomed to, it allows them to rediscover themselves in the new environment.

Part-Time Vs. Full-Time Wilderness

Doing something for a few hours, or even a few days, is very different from doing it for weeks or months.

Many wilderness therapy programs include short wilderness or camping outings, with a significant amount of time spent at a residential facility, often called a base camp.

WinGate Wilderness takes a different approach. The staff and teens reside in the wilderness full-time. They don’t make trips into town.

Participants hike and camp in the stunning landscape of Southern Utah. They are truly in the wilderness. The stars shine brightly, no longer hidden by pollution of city light. They can enjoy the sounds of nature without hearing car engines.

This is one aspect of an “actual wilderness therapy” program. Rather than short outings to the wild, teens will make their homes in the wilderness.

Recreation or Distraction?

Recreational therapy sounds like a great idea, and perhaps it is in some cases. However, it can distract from the true work of therapy. Activities like mountain biking, rappelling, or canoeing are commonly touted as a part of therapy– with little therapeutic benefit.

Activity coordination detracts from the actual wilderness therapy experience, often upsetting progress. Without planned or scheduled recreational activities, teens have the time and space to connect with nature meaningfully. Rather than adrenaline-filled activities, the atmosphere is relaxed and reflective.

AWE Experience

The goal of the Wingate Wilderness program is to create AWE. Of course, AWE stands for Actual Wilderness Therapy. However, there’s another meaning to the word.

When you are in nature with no distractions, you will experience awe. This helps teens connect with their environment and themselves in a meaningful way.

Wingate views creating this sense of awe as a key part of their treatment program.

Wingate Wilderness

Wingate Wilderness has been providing Actual Wilderness Therapy since 2008. They treat adolescents 13-17 and young adults from 18-26. They provide healing from various issues, including depression, substance abuse, and other emotional or behavioral problems.

Michael Hsu on The 3 Most Important Qualities of an Investment Banker

Kivo Daily Staff on November 23, 2022

Michael Hsu of Los Angeles, CA, holds a degree in Business Administration, Finance and has worked as an Associate for various financial entities while working on his MBA. He has many hobbies, such as being an instrument-rated pilot, but he also enjoys helping businesses manage their wealth for the corporation’s benefit.

The role of an investment banker is to help clients raise capital by investing in markets or selling equity in the company. To be a successful investment banker requires not only the right educational background but also three fundamental qualities, both soft and hard skills, that can propel an individual to greater heights when pursuing a career in corporate finance.

Develop These 3 Critical Investment Banker Skills

Numerical and analytical skills

Financial intellect is, of course, a requirement to excel in the financial world. But Michael Hsu feels it is the ability to think critically that matters. Critical thinking is disciplined thinking that gathers information from several sources and by many means before concluding.

One must analyze financial data by observing markets and economies, experience, reflection, reasoning, and communications gleaned from others. When these analytical skills are combined with good financial or numerical data, it is possible to become a top-notch financial advisor.

Excellent team leadership skills

The old saying, ‘no man is an island,’ is truer today than ever. Investment bankers must show excellent team leadership and be willing to share good information that should be shared – when it should be shared. Today’s business leaders are no longer authoritative or dictatorial. The best leaders are team players, says Michael Hsu.

Being a positive team player, listening to subordinates, and looking at the big picture, which is the financial success of your clients, should always guide your business day.

Project and time management skills

And finally, the nuts and bolts of corporate finances must be managed. The time and effort you put into your projects will always reflect on the outcomes of your investing decisions. With enough experience, good investment bankers can be more creative in the choices they make and the projects they take on.

Good time management skills mean not only meeting deadlines but also means being more productive and more efficient, according to Michael Hsu. Good time management tends to relieve stress rather than add to it. You’ll find more time for your family, friends, and hobbies when you take an organized approach to each project and manage your time accordingly.

Michael Hsu knows that a career in investment banking can be lucrative, but only when your clients trust your knowledge, rely on your judgment, and depend on your recommendations. Pay attention to those social skills that help you get along with coworkers and feel comfortable around clients – because many successes in business are born out of personality rather than skill.

Author: Kivo Daily Staff

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