One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a new career path is your personal strengths and interests. Being successful is so much easier and rewarding when you are actively pursuing a career doing what you love! Almost every skill set, hobby or interest can translate into a meaningful career and Interior Decorating and Design is no exception. If you love rearranging furniture, decorating and playing with colors and fabrics then a career in decorating and design might be for you! Want to know the best part? Interior Decorating and Design is the perfect portable career, allowing you to become your own boss in an exciting and growing industry. Becoming an Interior Decorator and Designer Entrepreneur will allow you to create your own, flexible schedule, meet new and interesting people, put your creative talents to use and take your business with you if you should need to relocate. So, how do you get started on this path? Choose the right professional education program for you.  Knowing what wall colors compliment a home's carpeting or how to arrange furniture in an oddly shaped room is only half the battle.  As an Interior Decorator and Designer, your clients will expect you to be up-to-date on the latest trends in sustainability and green design, building codes and universal design and building information models.  The good news is, you've got the talent; the rest can be learned. An online Interior Decorating and Design Entrepreneur Program, like this one offered by Ed4Online, will not only teach you about innovative decorating and design ideas for your future clients, and help you create the perfect business, it also allows you to learn at your own pace and complete your coursework when it's convenient for you. Determine start-up costs. The nice thing about starting a business offering services is that you don't need a big budget to get started.  Just be sure to visit your local and county clerk's offices to complete the necessary business license applications. These applications typically cost between $15 - $25.  Then, whether you print business cards, purchase the latest interior design software or travel to meet your first potential client, be sure to keep al receipts and document all mileage; these can all become potential tax right-offs at the end of the year.  If you're nervous about anything, be sure to make an appointment with a business accountant. Most will give you a free 30-60 minute consultation and can assist you at tax time in keeping everything organized and legal. Determine how you will charge your clients.  As with any creative industry, you will be able to raise your prices as your portfolio expands and your expertise grows.  A good rule of thumb for any new Interior Decorator and Designer is to charge $75/hour. Remember: you are being hired to do something your client can't. Create your contracts. Whether your first client is a complete stranger who lives 25 miles away or someone who lives in your neighborhood on the other end of the street, always get your agreements in writing. Contract templates are available online OR you could hire a business attorney to assist you. Begin growing your business. Networking at local home and garden events is a great way to get started in this industry. Be sure to prepare storyboards for client presentations and an online portfolio so that potential clients seeking your expertise online can find you. To get your collection of work started, you could offer to do some free or low-cost work for family and friends. Lastly, be sure to become active on social media! It is one of the best FREE marketing tools available! - See more at: http://www.milcareered.com/blog/starting-interior-decorating-and-design-...          

The holidays, while often a joyful time, can be a source of stress for many, and can bring on feelings of depression and even loneliness for others. Below are some tips to help make the holidays a little easier. Do something good for others The holiday season offers many opportunities to focus on others. Make a donation of money or time to your favorite charity, take a meal to a family who may need one, shovel someone’s driveway, etc. Laugh Individuals with a sense of humor tend to have a higher self-esteem. They are also more likely to develop close, social relationships, which can help them deal with stress. Laughing can reduce muscle tension, increase the flow of oxygen to the blood, exercise the heart, and produce endorphins (naturally produced body chemicals that increase a sense of well-being and euphoria). Say No Rather than trying to do it all, focus on the most important activities and tasks. It’s better to do a few things well and be in the moment rather than to simply go through the motions and do everything poorly. Make yourself a priority Make sure that in the craziness of the season, you don’t neglect yourself. Eat well, exercise often and sleep on a regular schedule. Taking care of yourself is important during these busy times. Eat with moderation Go ahead and enjoy the fantastic foods of the season. However, don’t use the holidays as an excuse for overeating. Look at your eating over the course of the holiday period and try to balance the days of heavy meals with days consisting of more sensible meals. Avoid alcohol Holiday celebrations and alcohol seem to go hand-in-hand for many. Alcohol consumption can be problematic for some (including those who don’t drink often as well as those who may have alcohol abuse issues), so it’s best to abstain completely. Bring a favorite non-alcoholic beverage with you to enjoy while you mingle. If you feel that you have to explain why you aren’t imbibing, it’s okay to have a few reasons on hand such as, "I’m the designated driver tonight" or "I’m taking medication." Exercise Try to treat exercise as a non-negotiable appointment. Exercise is not only a great way to compensate for the extra calories that you have consumed but it is also a great stress buster. Sleep Sleep allows our bodies to repair and refresh, and prepare for the coming day. One of the fastest ways to run yourself into the ground is to cut back on your sleep during the holidays. Try to maintain relatively consistent waking and "going to bed" times. Pretend you are a kid again What activities kindled feelings of excitement and joy in the season when you were a child? Go sledding, decorate some cookies, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate, watch a favorite holiday movie, turn on some seasonal music, watch old family videos, etc. Rituals are a way to connect with our past and to make us happy. Plan a time out when stress strikes Tune into your feelings and be honest with yourself. If you are feeling overwhelmed and your stress level is sky-high, give yourself a time out. Before an outing or event, have an escape route and plan in mind in case the need arises. And don’t be afraid to use it! Again, caring for ourselves is key to making the holidays happy, healthy and enjoyable.   Sources: https://www.mentalhelp.net/blogs/maintaining-mental-health-during-the-holidays/ http://psychcentral.com/holidays/ http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2011/12/05/9-ideas-for-coping-with-the-holidays-when-you-have-a-mental-illness/              

For many adults, career goals and aspirations have a tendency to span across a wide variety of industries. How many times have you heard "I don't use my degree for what I'm doing now?" If you're like us: countless. That's not saying a degree isn't worth the time, sacrifice and hard work. It’s simply saying that limiting yourself to only the scope of that degree program may be holding you back more than you thought. Have you ever thought to yourself "I'd like to try a new skill" or "I'd like to pursue this industry" but then listed the reasons why you couldn't? Did time, energy, and expenses make it onto that list? For many, going back to school full-time isn't an option. Swapping a briefcase for a backpack or trading story time for study time is nearly impossible for a lot of adults. There is one area of higher education that is often left unexplored however - continuing education. Continuing education is often misconstrued as a requirement for professionals, medical doctors or therapists. However, continuing education is an entirely untapped world of higher education that provides all adults, young and old, opportunities to pursue new careers, develop personal hobbies and build their resume. Continuing education courses can lead to national certifications, aid in a career change, and even assist in starting or building a business. Continuing education courses can also be completed online, so the class comes to you instead of the other way around. For example, if you're a professional in the hospitality industry and have thought planning events and weddings might be something you are interested in, an online continuing education course in wedding and event planning could provide you with the necessary skills without having to take time away from your current job. For stay-at-home parents who are a little fearful of not having the skills to enter the workforce after the children become more independent, continuing education can assist with keeping resumes current EVEN with long gaps between employment. Showing future employers you have maintained your current skill level or added new skills to your resume makes you an attractive candidate for future job opportunities. Continuing education courses are also much more pocketbook friendly than a second or third college degree. While education is always worth the cost, a continuing education course allows you to learn a new skill or develop a personal hobby without the burden of an expensive student loan repayment plan. The next time you're considering a new career goal or contemplating learning a new skill, consider a continuing education course - you'll be glad you did! Modified from: http://www.milcareered.com/blog/continuing-education-low-cost-career-game-changers#sthash.RorHKJ14.dpuf          

Have A Great Summer

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Bravo to anyone who has the passion and creativity to invent.