This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Puerto Rico. All opinions are 100% mine. It’s often the white sand beaches and azure ocean scenery that lands Puerto Rico in the news. But lately, the Caribbean island has received a lot of positive attention from the business world. Why you ask? Because even in the turbulent world we live in today, the territory has managed to create an aggressive economic and tax-incentive program for businesses looking to set up shop in paradise. Looking to make money? It's happening in Puerto Rico Many business owners in the contiguous United States have cited the following reasons for making the move to Puerto Rico: 4% corporate tax rate; 100% tax exemption on dividends or profit distributions; 100% exemption on property taxes; 100% tax exemption on all dividends and interest income; 100% tax exemption on all capital gains. … [Read more...] about The Joys of Doing Business in Puerto Rico
New Year, New Career: How to Prepare for a Career Change
Has a new year new career attitude taken a hold of your soul? The New Year produces resolution lists that make a difference in our lives for about two weeks after the big crystal ball descends in Times Square. Sure, we adhere to an improved diet and new workout regimen until Super Bowl Sunday. That is, if we have the discipline to follow our new lifestyles for an entire month. Most of us discard our New Year's resolutions as about as fast as The Bachelor discards a new courtship. However, one New Year resolution requires all of your attention. Making a career change to mark the New Year involves implementing several strategies. … [Read more...] about New Year, New Career: How to Prepare for a Career Change
Define Authority vs. Responsibility (and don’t forget accountability!)
Job interviews unfold with a series of questions intended to test the professional mettle of aspiring candidates. Many recruiters want to know if the candidates that sit in front of them understand the differences between authority and responsibility. You might have to answer the question, "Define authority and how it relates to responsibility." Savvy job candidates invariably add a little substance by discussing the meaning of accountability, and how it connects authority and responsibility. If it all sounds confusing, don't fret. After reading the following succinct explanation, you should nail the common job interview questions for managers, as well as understand how to implement authority and responsibility principles on the job. … [Read more...] about Define Authority vs. Responsibility (and don’t forget accountability!)
Holiday Team Building Ideas
The time of year that brings us carols and hot chocolate also needs to bring us holiday team building ideas that make professional stress an afterthought. The Christmas holiday season creates more stress than the stress created during any other time of the year. From planning holiday feasts to purchasing gifts for the family, the iconic chant of ""Ho, ho, ho" has turned into the frantic "Go, go, go." Stress turns up a notch in the workplace, as companies place pressure on employees to meet end of year deadlines, while staying well below budget. Charity Starts at Work Charitable work performed by the private sector increases significantly during the holidays. Make charity work an exciting event by running a contest that rewards everyone for their hard work raising money and/or goods for charity. Divide department teams into between four and eight employees and allow each team to create a charity drive that benefits a non-profit organization. Each team selects a charity and a financial … [Read more...] about Holiday Team Building Ideas
Coworker Christmas Gifts: Buy Them Now, Less Stress Later
Here we go again. The Christmas season lurks around the corner and just the thought of fighting off the hordes of shoppers raises our blood pressure. It's stressful enough to find the right gifts for family members and close friends, so why add to the stress by making buying gifts for the annual company grab bag an exercise in acute frustration. Buy coworker Christmas now and enjoy less stress later. And consider these bulk Christmas gifts! Why Now Is the Time to Buy Coworker Christmas Gifts Anyone that shops on Black Friday must love pain. Between the pushing and shoving lie a few good deals, but is it worth the stress to take advantage of saving a few dollars? At least Black Friday gives you plenty of time to buy coworker Christmas gifts before the office holiday office party. Many shoppers wait until the last minute to pick up gifts for the office holiday grab bag. Why endure undue stress from a simple task such as buying coworker Christmas gifts. It doesn't take a rocket … [Read more...] about Coworker Christmas Gifts: Buy Them Now, Less Stress Later
Why Do You Want This Job? How to Answer…And Why It’s Really Asked
The words "why do you want this job" are uttered in 9 out of every 10 job interviews. And job interviews can make the most stoic poker faces turn into sweaty messes. After all, how often do we answer questions that determine our future career paths? It all starts with the "Tell Me About Yourself" question that although not really a question, sets the stage for the rest of the interview. In fact, many experienced job interviewers make up their minds after the first answer to interview questions. If you somehow manage to pass this question with flying colors, get ready for the next question that typically follows immediately or closely after "Tell Me Abut Yourself." … [Read more...] about Why Do You Want This Job? How to Answer…And Why It’s Really Asked
Top Ten Interview Questions (and answers)
Wondering how to answer today's top ten interview questions? Read on! Job interviews rank with trips to the dentist office as one of the most deplorable things that we face in life. Well, at least we know the dentist. Who wants to spend 30 to 60 minutes sitting under blinding lights and sweating out answers to questions that come from someone that we have never met? Let's make the job interview go smoothly by providing you with the top 10 interview questions and as a bonus, an idea on how to answer each question with professional aplomb. … [Read more...] about Top Ten Interview Questions (and answers)
How to Be a Great Manager
The 2011 World Series clearly presented the differences between good and great managers. For every move Tony LaRussa made, Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington had no answer. The stark differences in management skills between good and great managers are also readily apparent in the workplace. Legendary leadership guru Peter Drucker created several theories based on observation that defined great management skills. The Drucker Way on How to Be a Great Manager Drucker passed away in 2005, but his legacy endures in defining how to be a great manager. He maintained throughout his career and within the voluminous books that he wrote that leadership comprises only one-albeit, and important one-component of great management skills. Drucker never over-analyzed what made great managers. He predicted his theories on the axiom that successful managers demonstrated the professional skills to do things the right way. … [Read more...] about How to Be a Great Manager
A Guide on Self Assertion at Work
Self Assertion-the act of expressing or defending your rights, claims, or opinions in a confident or forceful way. Merriam-Webster has defined pretty much anything under the sun, including the sun. Self-assertion represents a recent entry into the venerable dictionary's ever growing list of words and terms that keep us not only informed, but also on the good side of diction. Yet, the definition of self-assertion by Merriam Webster doesn’t give us a road map on how to "self-assert" ourselves in the workplace. Outside of the bedroom, no other place has more importance for self-assertion than what takes place at work. Hence, we offer a guide on self-assertion at work. … [Read more...] about A Guide on Self Assertion at Work
How to Tell if a Coworker Likes You
The first time that we discovered that someone liked us took place within the walls of grammar school. As we dozed off during another trite lecture about American history, one of our classmates woke us up by shooting a spit wad directly into the middle of our forehead. The urge to retaliate immediately waned when we discovered that the reason for the spit wad was that the surly classmate wanted to pass us a note from a secret admirer. By the time we matured into our professional lives, we discovered countless other ways that secret admirers profess their interest in us that mean more than simply asking us out for a beer during happy hour. We now have like buttons on social media pages to remind us of our immense popularity. … [Read more...] about How to Tell if a Coworker Likes You