Author: Justin Weinger

Start Working Independently As An Entrepreneur

Are you looking for ways to leverage your skills to work independently? Are you thinking about earning more money? In our rapidly changing society, there’s a new breed of entrepreneurs: Nurse Entrepreneurs.

In many states, Nurse Practitioners are now able to work independently, sparking all kinds of new business opportunities. Let’s look at the big moves to get started.

Start Your Education

If you want to work as a Nurse Practitioner (NP), you’ll need to get the right education and training. The fastest and most convenient way to do this is with an online nurse practitioner program.

This is a great way to balance a busy work schedule and keep your career moving forward. Online learning is flexible, making it possible to juggle a full work schedule while you pursue your career goals.

Start Your Practice

Like every entrepreneur, you’re looking for ways to earn more money by starting your own business. That’s why it helps to look at your practice as a business.

Know your clientele and the local population. Staring with the ‘who’ for your business is a step that will shape everything about your practice. It may affect your business name, logo, and branding. It will impact your messaging and communication with the community. It may inspire you to go into special areas of practice such as private or concierge nursing.

Start Expanding

Some states make it possible for NP’s to practice independently. If you live in a state where this is possible, the sky is the limit. However, even if you live in a state where the practice is restricted, there are many business opportunities to explore.

You can use your nursing expertise to help people in ways that you may not have considered. Here are a few ideas to get the wheels turning:

  • Offer medical consulting services
  • Offer medical consulting services for legal issues
  • Open a medical spa or shared treatment clinic
  • Offer health coaching for individuals, families, teams, and companies
  • Provide concierge nursing
  • Offer telemedicine consults as part of a larger facility

Start a Social Media

As you get your NP business off the ground, start sharing ideas with social media. A lot of nurses are doing this and creating a following. When you’re thinking about social media, think about things that you want to share. It may be that with your special knowledge and expertise, you’ve got important insights to share.

Use your passion for health and wellness to reach people who may be in your community and region. Explore ways to encourage questions, interaction, and lively conversation. While you may start with Facebook or Instagram, you can also expand into YouTube videos.

If you’re not sure what is best, join some online groups. Check out entrepreneur groups and nurse practitioner groups. This kind of networking grows organically. It will give you a sense of community and help you organize your content in ways that appeal to your target audience.

Start Your Team

When you’re starting your practice, you will quickly realize what every solo entrepreneur comes to know. You can’t do it alone. Not only “can’t,” but “don’t” want to do it alone.

Even if you have a “solo” practice, you’ll want a team to support your work. You may want staff, co-workers, or co-practitioners. You may also find that it’s helpful to have a complementary practitioner who knows the local population. Perhaps you will find it useful to work with a business partner for legal, financial, or professional support.

Your team also includes people outside your practice. For example, you’ll build a team of advisors to help with issues such as licensing, taxes, insurance, and legalities.

Start Your Wellness Plan

There’s no question that personal health and well-being are important. That’s why you are working in healthcare. However, when you’re starting your own business, personal health can come up short.

Since you want to not leave this for later, start now. Make a health plan for yourself. Set up your workload to include self-care. Schedule off time, me-time, and regroup time. Set up a weekly exercise plan. Organize your calendar to include time for seeing friends and family.

Be sure to hit the high notes: nutrition, exercise, and sleep. Have a solid plan for maintaining a healthy diet. Set up exercise as part of your workday. Schedule relaxation so you get quality sleep. It may seem like a lot, but as an entrepreneur, you’re in charge. Create the business you’ve always dreamed of having.

When is the Best Time to Switch Car Insurance Companies?

There’s never a good time to switch car insurance companies, and here’s why: you hope that your current company provides you with high-quality, comprehensive coverage well into the future?

Unfortunately, there may come a point when you need to make a change. While it sounds like a big deal, it’s easier today than ever before. You can shop for and compare quotes online, all with the goal of buying a policy in the near future.

Here are five times when you may need to switch car insurance companies:

  1. To Save Money

Most people are always on the lookout for ways to save money. For example, you may decide to switch banks if the fee schedule becomes out of hand.

The same holds true with car insurance companies. If your current provider is charging you more than the average for someone in your position (in your state), it may be time to move on.

If nothing else, you can request car insurance quotes online to better understand what else is available. This alone will tell you if a simple change can result in saving money.

  1. After a Bad Experience

You hope that your car insurance company will provide you with a good experience, time after time. But you also know that things can and probably will go wrong at some point. And when that happens, you have to decide if it’s time to move on.

If you’re interested in switching car insurance companies, find one that provides better service than the provider you’re leaving. This will help prevent bad experiences in the future.

  1. For Better Customer Service

Some car insurance companies are devoted to providing you with a high level of quality customer service, whether it be online or over the phone.

Conversely, there are also car insurance companies that lag in this regard. They talk about how they provide the best service, but when it comes down to it, nothing could be further from the truth.

For many people, paying extra money for better customer service is well worth it. This gives them peace of mind in knowing that they will be taken care of should anything go wrong.

Tip: test out a car insurance company’s customer service by calling them on the phone and asking a few basic questions. If they treat you poorly, you can expect the same type of service if you become a customer.

  1. When Buying a New Car

There is a lot that goes into buying a new car. For this reason, it’s easy to overlook the fact that you need to purchase insurance.

If you’re not 100 percent happy with your current car insurance company, this is a good time to make a change. At the very least, you can request a handful of quotes from other providers to see what else is out there.

If you’re going to make a change, be sure that you’re getting equal or better coverage at the same or lower rate. This will ensure that you’re a happy customer from the start.

  1. When Traveling for an Extended Period of Time

For example, your car insurance company may not allow you to cancel your coverage and restart it whenever you want.

You may find yourself asking questions such as do you need insurance on a car that doesn’t run? Since you’ll be away from the vehicle for an extended period, you don’t want to pay for coverage.

Every car insurance company takes a unique approach to this. If your current provider is unable to meet your needs, it’s time to start your search.

By switching car insurance companies, you may find it easier to alter or put your policy on hold if you’ll be traveling for an extended period of time.

Ask for clarification from any company you’re considering, so you don’t run into surprises the next time you decide to leave home for a while.

Final Thoughts

There is no right or wrong time to switch car insurance companies. If you have reason to believe it’s a good idea, now’s the time to learn more about the process.

Shopping online is the most efficient way to find an affordable policy that provides the coverage you need.

6 Smart Habits for Your Financial Health

How do you view your financial health? Are you thinking that it only comes when you’re a millionaire, inherit a fortune, or win the lottery?

Creating healthy habits is the best way to build a healthy financial future. Like many good habits, these are things that you can start doing today—and continue for the rest of your life.

Let’s look at 6 smart habits that can help increase your financial health and well-being.

  1. Get an Overview

Jus like physical health, financial health starts by getting a benchmark. If you were trying to lose weight, the first thing you’d do is get on a scale to know how much you needed to lose.

Of course, you might also try on your favorite jeans or see if your favorite jacket still fits.

In finances, it’s similar. You need to know what is what.

This is often one of the trickiest steps because it requires shining the light on things that may have been in the dark. It requires stepping out of denial and into the light.

For instance,

  • How many credit cards do you have balances on?
  • What is the interest on each card?
  • What bills are fixed, and what are variable?
  • What are your spending habits?

As you get an overview, you’ll see things in the clear light of day. With this in hand, you’ll be able to start making different choices.

  1. Make New Spending Decisions

What are your spending habits? Do you buy the latest fashion as soon as it hits the store? Do you buy extra because your Mom always did? Do you buy in bulk even if you’re living solo?

Understanding your habits will help you make new decisions. It doesn’t mean you’ll cancel every subscription or never buy another outfit. However, it will help you know if your decisions are helping you achieve financial health.

  1. Consolidate Debt

One of the biggest outflows is often in credit card debt. If you owe a lot of money on debt, consider your options. You may want to look into debt consolidation, or speak with a financial advisor.

Many programs exist to help individuals reduce high-interest credit card debt into manageable monthly payments.

  1. Practice Daily Habits

Similar to building physical health, daily habits will benefit your financial health. It’s important to consider what you’re already doing well, so you can do more of it. On the other hand, it’s useful to notice problem areas, so you can take action to build new habits.

Here are some habits that may be useful as you work towards financial health.

  • Pay down your debt
  • Evaluate monthly spending
  • Use cash to pay for daily expenses
  • Invest in retirement accounts
  • Choose high interest savings accounts
  • Increase your income with gig jobs
  • Focus on free activities
  • Include friends in building healthy habits

 

  1. Build An Emergency Fund

One of the biggest stressors in financial health is the uncontrollable, unpredictable events. You may have the day-to-day managed and locked down. But, do you have extra cash on hand if a major appliance breaks? Do you have extra cash if your car needs new tires, or you need to fly home to take care of a sick relative?

Financial experts often advise people to start building an emergency fund – even if you aren’t in the free-and-clear yet. You could do this by setting up a savings plan for yourself, such as saving $11 a day for three months. In three months, you’d have an emergency fund of $1000 or after longer a small investment fund should you look into real estate or the stock market to let some percentage of your emergency fund work for you.

While this may not seem like a lot for some people, it can make all the difference. It will reinforce your saving habits, reduce stress, and keep you heading in the right direction.

  1. Take Steps Today

It’s often said that the journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step. When you’re building habits for financial health, take that first step today.

If you’re wondering what you could do right away, here is a short starter-kit of ideas.

  • Make an overview snapshot of your financial health today
  • Write down spending habits of the last week
  • Make a mind-map about free activities in your neighborhood
  • Make a list of friends to contact
  • Create a monthly budget
  • Research gig jobs on Craigslist to boost your income

Wrap Up

You can build smart habits for your financial health. What is the first step you want to take today?