How To Launch Your Side Business Successfully In As Little As 14 Days

No one gets wealthy from having a job. Read that again!!!

Having a job is great, you receive a paycheck in exchange for time spent completing tasks related to your work. That paycheck affords you the lifestyle you live, you pay your bills, go out to dinner or brunch with friends and you may even be able to squeeze in a vacation with the 2 weeks paid time off you negotiated in your contract. It's the American Dream!

But, that American dream is flawed. With your job, you're exchanging your most valuable asset - your time. Meanwhile, your boss has time to spend with his/her family, take 4-6 vacations per year (maybe more), owns homes in Miami and Fiji (which he flies to in First Class or on his private jet) and host dinner parties on his/her yacht.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with having a job. Some people genuinely love what they do, where they work and the people they work with. But, what if you had more time to spend on the things that you are truly passionate about?

I've always had an entrepreneurial mindset. Both my parents were business owners and growing up I never saw them work for anyone. They were always their own boss. I remember distinctly how my dad lectured me on the dangers of mediocrity and somehow my 10 year old self formulated the conclusion that if you worked for someone you were mediocre. That may not be what he meant, but that's the conclusion  I reached at the time. 

My dad has always been a self employed businessman that wears many hats. He is an engineer by trade, a lawyer, he owns businesses in a myriad of industries and has time to be involved in politics. It seemed to me that he did whatever he pleased at whatever time he felt like doing it . He employed competent individuals who managed the daily activities of the businesses and allowed himself the freedom to spend most of his days as he saw fit. He is a very shrewd man but I could never figure out how he made money but never went to work at a scheduled time. As a kid  I decided, perhaps subconsciously that this too would be my life - wearing multiple hats and being financially independent to live the life I pleased.

As a dental student I loved scented candles and always had a passion for creating things by hand so I decided to merge the two. I started making candles in my kitchen as a way to relax and be creative and I've kept this passion alive till this day. Over the years it has transformed into a steady income earning business. My vision for the company has always been to become a staple in dental offices throughout the U.S (and the world) as well as homes, boutiques, yoga studios, restaurants, etc.

The candle company, my blog and other passive income streams remain my 6-10 (what I focus on when I'm not in my private practice being an Orthodontist and creating smiles between 9-5). However, during the pandemic in early 2020 when we were forced to quarantine I put my full focus into the candle business and was able to grow it over 300% in three short months. During this time I put 100% focus on my side businesses and they flourished! Now, I want to help you do the same.

Mindset Mastery

A lot of people have genius ideas that never get off the ground because they get stuck on turning those concepts into reality. Starting any kind of business is challenging! Despite those challenges, a well thought out idea can become a full time career (if that’s what you want).

Did you know it could take as little as 4 days to slingshot an idea into reality? I am speaking from experience. It involves a little mindset mastery, planning and execution.

Let’s face it, in life your mindset will make or break you. Business is no different. The truth is there is no better time than now to start that side hustle you’ve been thinking of. The Internet has created an environment where anyone can become successful once they have a great idea, fill a void or solve a problem.  Those ideas are not serving a purpose in your head or in your notebook. They are worth nothing unless acted upon. This is the first step to starting your side hustle journey.

Mindset Master 1 - Believe in yourself and your business

Mindset Master 2 - Cultivate a mindset of abundance

Mindset Master 3 - Form Profitable Habits

Mindset Mastery 4 - Think 2-3 steps ahead

In my e-book: From Idea to Profit, I go over each mindset mastery step and get into the nitty gritty of launching your business. It includes 7 fundamentals steps every person has to go through to get their business going, in addition to all the steps necessary to get your business set up and fully running. The great part, all of this can be accomplished in as little as 2 weeks!

from idea to profit e-book

$12.99

You have absolutely nothing to lose! For the cost of two cups of coffee you can get all the steps to get a profitable side business up and fully running that will continue to make you money for years to come. Not only that, but you also receive not one, not two but three free bonuses inside!

Books I Read in 2021

I love a good book! I am an avid reader and for as long as I can remember one of my favorite hobbies has been curling up on the couch with fuzzy socks on and a great book. Forget Netflix! For a while now every year I set a goal to read at least one book per month (12 books per year). Sometimes I can get two or three in depending on the size of the book and the amount of time I have, but at the end of the year that number should at least be twelve (never less). In 2021 I read 14 books and I am sharing with you some of those with you, along with a few that are on my current on my reading list.

1.The 4 Hour Work Week // 2. We should all be Millionaires //

3. Set Boundaries Find Peace // 4. Influencer // 5. Believe It //

6. 18 Minutes

1.The Vanishing Half // 2. Your Time To Thrive // 3. Think Like A Breadwinner //

4. Beyond Entrepeneurship // 5. Simple Be. // 6. Get Good with Money

1.What happened to you // 2. Play Bigger // 3. Between Two Worlds //

4. Superfans // 5. Super Consumers // 6. Scrum

Want to read along with me every month? I created a book club for book lovers like myself. It’ll be a place to discuss each month’s read as well as a place for networking and community. Join the club and grab this month’s read. See you inside!

The Most Comfortable Loungewear I own From Cozy Earth

As I sit to write this blog post, I am in the softest and most comfortable pair of loungewear I have ever owned. They are the Women’s Ultra Soft Bamboo Jogger Pant and matching Pullover Crewneck from Cozy Earth. They are perfect for a movie night in, a quick errand out, or a sweet slumber. I also own the Women’s Stretch-Knit Bamboo Kimono Robe which is really elegant and comfortable. If you’ve never heard of Cozy Earth they are a premium bedding and loungewear company. All of their products are made with Premium Weave/Bamboo. They are also: 

• Certified free of harmful chemicals

• Temperature Regulating

• Moisture Wicking

• 10x softer than Cotton!!

• Backed by a 10 Year Guarantee

• Sustainable and Eco-friendly

I love a company that has a great mission and an added bonus if the production of their goods isn’t harmful to the environment. Because their products are made from bamboo they have several eco-friendly benefits that I found really interesting:

• Bamboo grows super quickly. This means that when bamboo is harvested, it can be replanted and takes less time to grow back than other plants like, cotton. This means that more material can be produced with less time and without consequences in quality.

• Bamboo self-irrigates, so it consumes less water than other plants. This water can then be used for other purposes, like human consumption or food and other organic material growth, a major benefit for areas in the world where bamboo is grown as a crop.

• Bamboo produces more oxygen than other trees and can help reduce carbon dioxide levels. With growing population levels, carbon dioxide is becoming increasingly prevalent in the earth’s air. With increased oxygen production from bamboo, more oxygen can be pumped into the atmosphere to create a better balance of natural gases.

• Cotton, among other fabric materials, is typically grown using a lot of pesticides to keep insects out of the crop, some of which can be hazardous to human health. Bamboo, on the other hand, uses less pesticides in its growth, so its growth/fabrication process is less harmful to the people who will be using the bedding or clothing made from it.

The more you know, right?! I was so impressed with the loungewear that I ordered a Bamboo Sheet Set recently, which is currently being shipped. One of the company highlights is that their products were chosen as Oprah's Favorite Things for the Sheet Set in 2018, the PJ Set in 2019, the Ultra-Soft Jogger Set in 2020, and the Plush Lounge Socks in 2021. Aunty Oprah hasn’t steered me wrong yet.

Cozy Earth was gracious enough to share with me a discount code for my readers. Give them a try, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. Use code: DR.UNORTHODOC40 at checkout for 40% off your order. Come back (or email me) and tell me how you like your purchase.

Setting Financial Goals in 2022

At this point we have become very good at setting new year goals or resolutions. However, setting financial goals for the new year is a very different kind of ambition than working out, losing weight or making our beds every day. 

Yes, it may be important to cut down on carbohydrates or increase the number of trips you make to the gym each week (of course, you can still do those things), but harnessing the power of focused financial discipline can provide you with practical habits that can serve you for a lifetime.

Here are seven straightforward and achievable practices for helping to improve your financial future. 

Set Up a Budget & Track what you spend

A great first step is taking note of your monthly net income. That would be your take-home pay or any other income you have, after taxes. Next, list all of your expenses, including fixed items such as housing, utilities, transportation, and any regular debt payments, such as loans, credit cards, insurance, etc.

Include and track your average grocery costs, out-of-pocket medical fees, and discretionary personal spending. Hopefully there’s enough room left in the budget for saving and investing. The important idea here is to make a budget that works for you and to stay on track.

Set Up an Emergency Fund

It’s easy to feel confident when everything is going fine, but having a rainy day fund set aside in an accessible account could mean the difference between getting through a difficult stretch or falling into a much more dire situation. Th rule of thumb is to have 3-6 months of living expenses put aside. Some people opt to have a more hefty cushion, like 12 months. If you lose your job, encounter a serious health issue, or are met with any number of other unexpected financial challenges, having an emergency fund could make all the difference to your financial wellbeing. 

Pay Off Credit Cards

Getting a handle on credit card debt is critical in creating healthy New Year’s resolutions you can actually stick to and follow through on. The credit card companies are very adept at convincing people that spending is easy. Try to pay off the entire credit card balance whenever it is used.

If you’re unable to pay the entire balance and have multiple credit cards consider credit card consolidation. This can allow you to get on a fixed payment schedule with a target payoff date, potentially lower your interest rate, and possibly improve your credit score. 

Saving X Amount of Dollars

I am not a big proponent of having money sit in a savings account because the interest rates on average are really low. Unless you’re putting money towards your emergency fund or putting money aside for a big purchase like a downpayment on a car or home, your money is better placed in investments where the returns are much higher.

Saving for Retirement

It is never too early (or late) to put money away for retirement. Opening a 401(k) or an IRA should be a top priority. Hopefully, your employer will offer to match your 401(k) contribution up to a certain percentage. This can be especially beneficial because your contributions aren’t taxed on the way in.

Alternatively, if your job does not offer a 401(k) plan, you can set up your own IRA. If you already have one, you can make it a New Year’s resolution to contribute the maximum amount. Currently, 401(k) plans and IRAs have a maximum limit of $20,500 and $6000 for 2022, respectively.

Start Investing

Deciding on what investments to make can be a part of your overall financial strategy. Most likely you have goals spread throughout all the stages of your life plan and your portfolio should reflect those priorities. 

For example, your short term goals (fewer than three years) may include an emergency fund, travel plans or buying a car. You may want these funds to be liquid in order to access them more quickly. For medium and longer term investments (saving for a down payment or retirement etc), you may be able to take some risk, thereby increasing the opportunity for greater returns. It’s always helpful to have some guidance as you establish your investment plans. Speak with your financial advisor to see the options that are best for you and your situation.

Here are some Investment topics and strategies to dive into:

Investing 101: Invest In Yourself

Setting Up Your First Investment Account

How To Start Investing In The Stock Market

6 Questions To Ask Before Investing

6 Tips on Getting Into Real Estate Investing

5 Ways To Invest in Real Estate

Investing in Cryptocurrencies

Up Your Investing Game with NFTs

Long Term Financial Planning

While it may seem like y­ou have plenty of time before you need to focus on long-term financial goals, there can be more to it than just saving for retirement. It’s never too early to imagine where your life is headed and what you want to achieve in the future. 

This can be anything from owning a home, to raising a family, to starting a business, to becoming debt free, to maximizing your earning power. Envisioning what’s possible can enable you to set practical goals to get you there. Once you’ve outlined a plan it is equally important to revisit your plan regularly and make adjustments as needed.

All of these options provide a practical way to rethink your financial activities so you can begin developing an overall strategy for building wealth. And the earlier in your career that you start—especially in your 20s and 30s—the more power your money can provide you over the long run. 

Of course it’s never too late to start adopting practical habits for spending, saving, investing and planning. And if you set your mind to it, there’s no limit to the possibilities you can uncover—while maintaining that resolution to go to the gym regularly, too.

The Best Leaders Are Humble Leaders

"Never let success get to your head and never let failure get to your heart."

It’s the beginning of a new year and with that comes a lot of goal setting and reflection. As I look back on my first year as a practice owner I can’t help but be overcome with gratitude. Yes, I get to live out my dream of operating my own dental practice and make a significant impact in the lives of my patients but, beyond that is the ability to create jobs and foster a work culture and environment that is progressive, empowering, motivating, inclusive and rewarding. I do not take any of this lightly and work towards improving these everyday.

The reason I am so grateful to be able to foster this kind of environment is because it is exactly what I needed in my jobs before I became my own boss. I’ve experienced bad bosses and less than desirable leadership and vowed to not repeat those when it became my turn.

The truth is, true leadership has it’s basis in humility. Often times leaders let success get to their heads. They gain satisfaction from pushing people around. Little do they know, humility is an incredibly powerful choice. It is a critical success factor. Scientific inquiry into the power and effectiveness of humility has shown that it offers a significant “competitive advantage” to leaders. Leaders are more powerful when they’re humble.

So as I reflect I wanted to share a few notes on leadership and humility from one of my favorite leadership speakers, Brigette Hyacinth. Take what you need:

Humble leaders show vulnerability which makes them more approachable. Such leaders don't point fingers or divert blame, and are willing to listen to differing opinions. If you don't listen or won't admit you’re wrong, you can’t grow. If you don't grow, your business won't grow. Success requires continuous growth.

“Try never to be the smartest person in the room. And if you are, I suggest you invite smarter people or find a different room.” Michael Dell

Humble leaders are great listeners. Listening forms the foundation of good relationships. Why? Because it shows you care. Humility and emotional intelligence go hand in hand.

Humility is a sign of strength, not weakness. When you can shift your focus from taking to giving, from hoarding the credit to recognizing the contributions of others, it shows inner strength. We know success doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It is a team effort. Learn to appreciate and value the people around you.

What you want won't always come easy, but if you work hard, and never give up, you will get there. Small steps everyday.

In spite of how much success you attain. Stay humble.

"Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real" -Thomas Merton.

Humility if consistently pursued and prudently polished over time, is a powerful force for good, that helps one to reach and sustain success.

I hope something sticks with you and you join me in my pledge to make your work environment a bit better, everyday.

How to Smash Your Goals in 2022

The years 2020 and 2021 taught us a lot about uncertainty, to the point where now we probably have gotten used to plans changing on a whim or at least a bit more comfortable with variability. Nevertheless, the beginning of a new year is a hopeful time. It is often a time where we daydream and envision our ideal future and motivate ourselves to turn our vision of this future into reality by smashing our goals.

My method of goal setting remains the same, but I wanted to add a few specifics this time around:

1.START WITH A YEAR REVIEW 

I know this might seem like a lot of work, but it’s worth your time. Don’t stress, just be honest with yourself. If you had a planner last year, just look back through the months and assess everything without judgment. The easiest way to do this review is by answering these 5 questions: 

1. Identify 3 to 5 things that made you proud from 2021

2. If you set goals for 2021, how far did you get?

3. Identify what worked well, what didn’t work and why

4. Are there things you would like to improve, start or stop doing?

5. What are some of the lessons you learned last year that you want to keep moving forward?

2. PRIORITIZE YOUR GOALS

Now that you’ve done your review, identify the top priority areas that you want to work on whether it is career, finances, health, relationships, etc. It could be all of the above, but pinpoint specific things in each category to work on. Remember, this is not about anyone else but you.

3. WRITE YOUR GOALS DOWN

A sure way to make things happen is to write it down. It sounds strange, but there is enormous power in putting things down on paper, and according to research you become 42% more likely to achieve your goals and dreams when it’s written. I always keep a physical (paper) planner even though I use the planner on my smartphone as well. If you’re in need of a planner, you can find one here.

4. MAKE YOUR GOALS S.M.A.R.T.E.R

So how exactly do you set intentions that you will actually stick to? Be SMART about it. You’ve heard me speak on setting smart goals here and here. But this year, I want us to be SMARTER.

Before you set a goal, first figure out your “why.” By figuring out and articulating the reason you want to achieve something you are more likely to remain motivated to stick to it.

S - Small and Specific: What do you want to do?

M - Measurable : How will you track your progress?

A - Attainable: How will you do it?

R - Relevant: Is this relevant to your life right now?

T - Timely: When do you want to do it?

E - Evaluate: How is it going?

R - Readjust: How can you make it better?

5. Build a system around ACHIEVing YOUR GOALS

This is where we sometimes lose focus. We may know what goal(s) we want to accomplish and at this point they are intentions, but the steps in how to accomplish them might get blurry, so we need to turn them into action.

6. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS, REFLECT AND RE-CALIBRATE

Resist the urge to freestyle your goals and actually check your progress as you go along. At the end each month, take time out to analyze what you have achieved, what you failed to achieve and how to improve on this. Journaling as you go along and circling back at the end of each month can really help you to stay on track.

7. ADJUST TO LIFE’S LEMONS

Life gets in the way and can derail you. Things such as illness, family commitments, work, life emergencies etc can impact your goals. Take note of these things and adjust as you proceed. 

8. ASK FOR HELP

Lastly, get an accountability partner. Have a friend or loved one you can lean on  for moral support and encouragement, you will need it from time to time. If you need specific help, reach out to those who can offer any guidance or assistance. The internet and social media is a great way to make connections.

Bonus: Be your own D**n Cheerleader and eliminate self doubt. Figure out what keeps you motivated and inspired. I love quotes! I keep them everywhere - my phone’s wallpaper, sticky notes around the house, on my desk at work, on the bathroom mirror, etc. I listen to music, books and podcasts that are uplifting. I tolerate no negativity and try to stay away from it at all costs.

Remember, a goal without a plan is just a wish. By breaking down your goals into bite-sized, manageable actions and writing them down, setting goals and intentions for the new year that you can actually stick to becomes a much easier process.

Grab your planner and let’s smash our 2022 goals! Remember, a sure way to make things happen is to write it down.

How I’m Staying Active During The Holidays

Progress over Perfection!

Squeezing in time for working out has been quite challenging since having my baby this past summer. My time is just not the same. It can be even more of a struggle during the holidays. This time of year can be crazy busy between traveling, holiday get-togethers, and all the things sitting on our never-ending to-do lists. For those times when I just need to get started to build momentum I’ve kept the mantra “progress over perfection” close to me. I am just about 10 pounds over my pre-pregnancy weight and although I don’t mind the extra fluff I just haven’t felt my best. I don’t have a goal to lose weight. My goal is simply to move my body and reap the benefits of a good sweat session. Moving my body for at least 30 minutes per day as of right now is the goal.

Here’s a peek at a few ways I am staying active during the holidays.

Schedule My Workouts

I live and breathe by my calendar, and I find that when my workouts are scheduled they are more likely to happen. I have set aside Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays as my core workout days. I get on my peloton bike for a 30-45 minute ride session or I may do another form of cardio followed by a bit of weight lifting. The other days I try to sneak in some light yoga or stretching for 20-30 minutes before bed.

Accountability Buddy

Having an accountability partner is motivating! Let’s be honest, unless working out is part of your daily lifestyle it can be a struggle to stick with it. On busy days or when I just don’t feel like it, it’s helpful to have someone in my corner encouraging and reminding me of my goal.

Get Creative

I have to switch things up, otherwise I get bored. This goes for my workouts and even my workout gear. I have long ditched the gym membership but I do have the peloton app - I have access to all kinds of different workouts like cycling, running, yoga and strength training so I can keep it interesting without getting bored. A change of scenery is also great. I take my workout outdoors when it’s not too cold.

Prioritize Progress Over Perfection

I swear this is my life mantra! I pretty much apply it to all parts of my life from business to relationships to fitness to parenting. There are so many days, especially this time of year when a full-body workout just isn’t going to happen. On those days, I prioritize something over nothing. Most of the time, that looks like a 20 minute walk around the block with Reggie (my husband) and Braxton (my 6 month old). The most important thing is that I just get my body moving!

Athleisure: Lululemon

Up Your Investing Game With NFTs

For some months all I kept hearing about was an online piece of work called an NFT. If you have been living under a rock you more than likely have no clue what I am talking about. In the cryptocurrency space it is all the rave right now! But what are they?? According to coinbase, NFTs (or “non-fungible tokens”) are a special kind of cryptoasset in which each token is unique — as opposed to “fungible” assets like Bitcoin and dollar bills, which are all worth exactly the same amount. Because every NFT is unique, they can be used to authenticate ownership of digital assets like artworks, recordings, and virtual real estate.

Non-fungible - What is that?

Non-fungible means that something is unique and cannot be replaced with something else. Bitcoin, for example, is worth as much as every other bitcoin. A dollar bill, is worth exactly one dollar. “Fungibility” refers to goods or assets that are all the same and can be swapped interchangeably.

NFTs on the other hand are unique and cannot be swapped interchangeably. Concert tickets are non-fungible. Even if every Drake concert ticket is the same price, they aren’t directly exchangeable. Each represents a specific seat and a specific date — no other ticket will have those exact characteristics.

The reason why they are such a big deal is because they are appreciable assets, you can buy and hold or you can buy and sell these digital assets for a lot of money! Some of the more recognizable ones on the marketplace have come from projects by Bored Apes and Crypto Punks - earlier this year the Crypto Punk NFT(crypto punk 7524 aka Covid Alien) shown below sold at Sotheby’s for 11.75 million!! The creator put them up for auction, starting at $100 and the winning bid was astronomical.

This NFT titled Everydays: The first 500 days by Beeple was put up for auction at Christie’s starting at $100 and sold for $69million!!

The below NFT, also by Beeple was purchased for $66K and sold for $6.6 million - 10 times the purchase price!

Why are NFTs Important?

You can think of NFTs as being kind of like certificates of authenticity for digital artifacts. They’re currently being used to sell a huge range of virtual collectibles, including:

• NBA virtual trading cards 

• Music and video clips

• Video art

• Digital art

• Virtual real estate (in a place called Decentraland) 

As with Bitcoin and other crypto that has boomed in popularity over the last year, NFTs have also soared — growing to an estimated 7 billion. Each NFT is stored on an open blockchain (often Ethereum’s) and anyone interested can track them as they’re created, sold, and resold. Because they use smart contract technology, NFTs can be set up so that the original artist continues to earn a percentage of all subsequent sales (royalties). 

I am a new comer to the NFT space and only purchased my first in September of this year. Some NFTs that I have personally invested in are from Boss Beauties, World of Women, Women Rise and Alpha Girl Club. I purchased a Women and Weapons NFT for 0.175 ETH which is roughly $700 USD and have gotten a few offers, the best so far being for 1.18 ETH which is roughly $5000 USD. I have not sold it - I will be holding on to it for now or until I get a much better offer. The reason I chose to invest in some of the above NFTs is because they embody a cause or a mission that I can get behind. For example, Boss Beauties has a mission to educate and empower the next generation of Women and Girls through scholarships and mentorship programs.

Tweet from Reese W.

A recent tweet from Reese Witherspoon on NFTs and the need for more women to take up space in this arena. Reese is also one that I follow on Twitter as she is part of the large NFT twitter community.

How to Purchase NFTs

NFTs are bought and sold through an NFT marketplace built specifically to handle the blockchain transaction. NFTs can cost anywhere from a few dollars to millions of dollars for a digital asset thanks to the scarcity model. To buy NFTs, you must have a cryptocurrency and seek out a purchase through an investment marketplace. Most NFTs are sold on the Ethereum blockchain, meaning you must have the cryptocurrency Ethereum to purchase. Another crypto that’s used to purchase some NFTs is Solana (Sol).

Here’s how I purchase my NFTs:

You will need the cryptocurrency Ethereum (ETH) to purchase NFTs. I purchase all my cryptocurrencies on Coinbase. If you use my referral link to purchase your first $100 worth of crypto you will get $10 worth of Bitcoin. You will also need a wallet, such as the coinbase wallet or metamask and a marketplace to purchase your NFT on, such as Opensea.

1. Create an Opensea account - Go tot the website opensea.io and create an account. After which you can connect your crypto wallet to OpenSea, edit your profile, and begin interacting in the space. Here’s a video on how to open an account.

2. Connect your wallet - A crypto wallet, such as coinbase wallet or metamask, stores your Ethereum and processes transactions on the Ethereum blockchain. A unique wallet address will be generated and you will use this address to complete transactions. Here’s a short video on how to connect a wallet to your opensea account - in this case it shows how to connect a metamask wallet, but any wallet you choose will be set up in the same way.

3. Fund your wallet with Ethereum - You can get ETH, the digital currency that fuels transactions on the Ethereum blockchain, from a digital currency exchange like Coinbase. You will need ETH to "mint,” create and purchase an NFT.

4. Research available NFTs on Opensea - You'll want to choose an NFT that you feel has an upside value potential. The NFT can be some art, music, video, or even an item within a video game. You can even search Google or Twitter for NFTs. When looking at the upcoming NFTs, note when the sale is, what the cryptocurrency requirements are, and how many of the NFT are being sold. This helps you better understand the scarcity behind the NFT you are choosing. I am a member of an NFT community where these are talked about all day and I am also involved with a number of NFT communities on twitter (the only reason I am currently on that platform).

5. Bid on or Purchase your NFT - Make sure that there is enough crypto to conduct the transaction including any relevant fees. Fees can include the costs of purchasing and transferring cryptos, converting one crypto into another, and gas fees(amount it costs to process the transaction). When the NFT is purchased, it is stored in a crypto wallet on the same blockchain, on a different blockchain, or in decentralized storage. Mine are stored in my coinbase and metamask wallets.

*Coinbase will launch it’s own NFT platform in Q1 of 2022, I will more than likely switch from opens when that happens*

This information is so new that it can come off very confusing. It’s an entirely new world and a new way of operating and owning assets that it is like a foreign language when getting into it for the first time. There is so much to learn and the information given in this blog post only scratches the surface. Be sure to educate yourself and do your research before investing in any NFT. I can’t wait to see how this shapes the future.

Change is Here!

Another tweet from Reese - everything is changing and we must move with the times in order to not get left behind. Investing in the stock market is great and I encourage that but there’s a new way of investing that is not yet mainstream that in my opinion, we ought to get involved in NOW.

An Organized Life Is A Balanced Life

I speak frequently on my efforts at leading a fulfilled and balanced life. Truth be told, it’s a constant work in progress. One of the ways I am able to achieve a semblance of this is through Organization. I consider myself pretty organized, but that hasn’t always been the case. I think the more responsibilities you gain, the more you grow as a person and the more hectic your life gets, organization becomes quite possibly the only way to consistently perform well in all areas of your life. Really organized people are not always born that way, they have to cultivate healthy habits, which then help them to stay organized.

Here are some habits I have cultivated to become organized. Take what you need:

1. Write Things Down

We all know someone that remembers every birthday and sends cards for every holiday. It’s not magic and they don’t use memorization. Trying to remember things will not help you to stay organized. Try writing things down. Did you know that when you write things down you’re 42% more likely to do/achieve them?!

You will only further complicate your life by trying to contain important dates and reminders in your head. I write down everything: shopping lists for groceries, important dates like meetings and birthdays - everything!

2. Make Schedules and Deadlines

Keeping things organized goes hand-in-hand with staying productive. Well-organized people make and keep schedules for the day, week and even months. They make deadlines and set goals. And most importantly, they stick to them! 

3. Don’t Procrastinate

The longer you wait to do something, the more difficult it will be to get it done. If you want your life to be less stressful and less demanding, then organize as soon as you can. Putting in the effort to get things done as soon as possible will lift the weight off of you from doing it later.

4. Give Everything a Home

Keeping your life organized means keeping your things in their proper places. Organized people keep order by storing things properly and by labeling storage spaces. You can make easy-to-access storage spaces for things you use all the time, and de- clutter often.

5. Declutter Regularly

Find time each week to organize. Highly organized people make sure they find time every week or more to organize their things. Stuff does not stay organized on its own; it needs to be reorganized continuously and consistently.

6. Keep Only What You Need

More stuff means more clutter. People who live organized lives only keep what they need and what they really really want. Having fewer things also means that you enjoy those things more and feel better about using everything you own, rather than letting half of what you own collect dust.

Have you ever felt like you don’t have the space to keep all the stuff you own? Instead of renting a storage unit or buying a larger home, get rid of some things.

7. Delegate Responsibilities

A really organized life is not overfilled with responsibilities, meetings and deadlines. In fact, it has less because things that create stress have been slowly organized out. One great way I stay organized is by delegating things to others that I don’t have to do myself.

Start becoming more organized today by creating a plan. Begin the planning process with a planner. Grab the 2022 Goal Planner below and get to it! Begin the new year with a clear, organized action plan:

Give the Gift of a Healthy Smile

No gift guide is complete without oral care goodies and it just so happens that some of my favorite oral care brands are having major sales this holiday season. I’ve rounded a few up for you and linked them below. Click through for the savings. They make great stocking stuffers!

Goby - I love Goby’s electric toothbrushes and even carry them in my practice. Every new patient gets a goodie bag with oral care goodies along side a brand new Goby toothbrush. This holiday they are having a great sale on their brush kits. 10% off 1 brush kit, 20% off 2 brush kits, 30% off 3 brush kits. When the sales end you can always get $10 off any order with code: UNORTHODOC10. They make great Christmas gifts.

Hello - Everyone loves Hello products and you can guarantee to find something that tickles your fancy. Choose from sensitivity toothpastes, to whitening, to all natural and even fun kids flavors! Toothpaste isn’t the only thing they have either - think mouthwash, lip balm, deodorant and more. They are having 25% off their bundles until November 30th.

Quip - If you’ve known me for a while you know my love for quip and their super stylish and sleek designs. Quip is a travel essential for me. I keep the quip toiletry bag with quip goodies including an electric toothbrush, tooth paste, floss pick, and mouth wash in my suitcase! You get $10 off when you spend $50, $50 off when you spend $150 and $75 off when you spend $200. Use code: BF2021 at checkout.

Cocofloss - I LOVE Cocofloss and so do all my patients! They make flossing so much fun with all the yummy flavors. They’re having a 25% off sale + free shipping when you spend at least $20. Use code: BLACKFRIDAY. If you catch this post after black Friday, the code: UNORTHODOC will get you 20% off. These make the best and most fun stocking stuffers!

Keeko - All natural dental care? sign me up! I especially love their biodegradable toothbrushes, their coconut floss and the copper tongue scraper. These make great stocking stuffers. use code: BLACKFRIDAY for 25% off. After the holidays use code: UNORTHODOC10 for 10% off.

Risewell - This isn’t pictured but if you’re looking for non-fluoride products (they use nano-hydroxyapatite instead) then these are great! Use code: SAVE15 for 15% off site wide. After the holidays use UNORTHODOC10 for 10% off site wide.

I just love the holidays for all the gift giving and receiving! Did I tell you I gave quip kits as wedding favors? (along with some other really nice things). True story. The dentist in me had to do it.

Happy shopping!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission when you click the links.

Tax Write-Offs For New Business Owners

As a new business owner, you may not know all the tax write-offs available to you. I sure did not, but with the help of my trusted CPA I am getting more and more familiar the more seasoned I become. I am going to share with you a few that I have come to know quite well over the last several months.

But first, What is a write-off anyway? A write-off is an accounting action that reduces the value of an asset while simultaneously debiting a liabilities account. It is primarily used in its most literal sense by businesses seeking to account for unpaid loan obligations, unpaid receivables, or losses on stored inventory. Generally, it can also be referred to broadly as something that helps to lower an annual tax bill.

Here are 5 Write-Offs to take advantage of if you’re a business owner:

1. Startup And Organizational Costs

As a new business owner, there are certain costs associated with getting started in business called startup and organizational costs. Be sure to keep a record of these deductions because the IRS allows you to write off up to $5,000 worth of startup expenses made in the first year of business. If you spend more than $5,000 in your business the first year, the amount in excess would be considered amortized expenses and is able to be written off over the course of 180 months. So until your business is considered “operational” you are not able to take 100% of your expenses but are limited to $5,000 worth of expenses.

2. Equipment Costs 

As a business owner, you have the ability to write off your equipment. This is a no-brainer if you are a dental professional. Even If you purchase items through Amazon or other stores of the sort for products and equipment, as long as those expenses are considered business equipment costs and not personal expenses, you can receive a tax deduction for it. At the beginning of my business, what became really important to me was that anything eligible I spent my money on was being written off by my business.

3. Business Meals 

Thanks to the Tax Relief Bill that was implemented by the Trump administration as well as the Biden administration you are able to deduct 100% of your meals in the year 2021 as long as there was a business purpose for the meal. So, if you choose to conduct business in a restaurant or you are ordering food for the office, your business-related meals are now 100% deductible - hello dinner team meetings! Make sure that you keep a record of your business meals as well as the purpose of the meal. 

4. Your Vehicle 

If you saw this post you know that I am writing off my vehicle since I use it for my business. If you have a vehicle that you are using for a business, it's so important to understand how to take a vehicle deduction and how to properly depreciate your vehicle. There are two ways to go about writing off your vehicle, you can

1. choose to depreciate your vehicle (e.g., taking the purchase amount of your car and writing it off over the course of five years) or you can

2. choose to take mileage - the mileage is helpful if you drive frequently since there is a set amount, 57.5 cents, that you can deduct per mile of a business-related trip.

When you are depreciating your vehicle you are also able to write off all the expenses associated with that vehicle. When it comes to purchasing new vehicles, you might want to look at buying one that meets specifications (such as weighing more than 6,000 pounds). If a vehicle meets the criteria, including being used for business purposes more than 50% of the time, you may be able to deduct the entire purchase price of the vehicle – financed or not – in the year the car was purchased. What this means is, if you are someone who is in need of a new vehicle for work, you can purchase it and write off 100% of your vehicle purchase amount, whether you make a down payment on the car to finance or if you paid cash. Lastly, you can also write off a leased vehicle's car payments through the business. However, when you are leasing a vehicle you are not able to take the depreciation deduction.

5. Place Your Children On Payroll

Braxton is not of age just yet, but when he is I will definitely be putting him on payroll. If you have children that can do tasks that are ordinary and necessary for your business, this is a great time to grow money for your kids tax-free. Many of us know the benefits of having a Roth IRA and that children can have Roth IRAs, but many taxpayers aren't sure as to how to go about growing tax-free dollars for their children while leveraging a business. When you decide to put your children on payroll, there are no payroll taxes you have to pay on the amounts. You can pay your child up to the standard deduction, which is $12,400, without your child needing to file a tax return. Now as a business owner, you get a $12,400 deduction for putting your child on payroll, without having to file a tax return, and no payroll taxes get paid. On the backend, you can also set up a Roth IRA for your children, place them on payroll and fund the Roth IRA through the payroll #WIN. 

Since becoming a business owner, my mindset towards money and taxes have completely shifted. When you are a business owner, you should always be thinking about how you can leverage savings on the things that you are already spending money on. You should definitely speak with your CPA or trusted tax advisor to ensure you are leveraging your business the right way.

Hospital Bag Packing List

I have been meaning to write this post for several months now. For a minute I thought it wasn’t necessary since I delivered my baby 5+ months ago but after receiving a few direct messages on Instagram asking what I included in my hospital bag I decided to just go ahead and put it together. So, this is for the mama’s to be who will be delivering their little bundle of joy in the near future and just want a little clarification on the necessities. It was really fun reminiscing on those preggo days getting ready for when the inevitable contractions would hit but I should mention that you really don’t need much at the hospital. They have EVERYTHING that you actually “need” – and they have plenty of it! But there are a few things that might be nice to bring to make the hospital feel a little more comforting. With that in mind, let’s get into what my hospital bag looked like!

My Hospital Bag

When packing for the hospital, first just think of it like you’re packing to go on a little trip for a few nights. Mentally go through what you’d want to have while away from home. This would include basic things like your wallet (and insurance information), a change of clothes, PJ’s and anything you would like to have to freshen up! Don’t overthink it!

I used my away Away carry-on as my hospital luggage because it’s easy to roll around, lightweight and perfect for the things I needed without having to purchase another bag. I have it in aluminium. I used one side for my stuff and the other side for baby Braxton’s stuff.

Packing list For Mom

I will say again, the hospital has everything you need so you could honestly show up empty handed and be fine. But, there are some things that are nice to have for your own comfort and others that are pretty self explanatory. I will list everything I packed below because I know how helpful it can be. I know I wanted this list when I was in your shoes!

The Basics

• Toiletries - This is a no-brainer. Pack your toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, hair brush, hair ties and anything else you would put in your toiletry bag. Some hospitals might have a few of these and a blow dryer if you need it but in my opinion you won’t have time or even be thinking about washing your hair after baby arrives.

• Glasses, contacts, contact solution – I recently had Lasik so I no longer need these but at the time of my delivery I couldn’t see a thing without my glasses (or contacts), so I was sure to grab those before leaving the house.

• Cleansing Wipes – I was in labor for about 11 hours and felt icky throughout. You don’t need it, but wipes came in handy for me to wipe the sweat away.

• Night gown – I absolutely love this night gown and even still wear mine from time to time. It has buttons down the front that make it easy to breastfeed. Keep in mind that you might want something with easy snaps/buttons so you can breastfeed or pump (if that’s what you’re wanting to do).

• Robe – You don’t absolutely need one but hospitals tend to be a bit cold. If you’re cold-natured like me a robe may help keep you warm and cozy. You’re gonna need all the TLC you can get post delivery.

• Slippers/Flip Flops – You may want to venture out of your room to get snacks, ice or simply go for a walk. You can even use it in the shower. I personally didn’t like standing in the hospital’s shower barefoot.

• Post-partum underwear – The hospital has mesh underwear that you wear over your post-partum pads (so sexy). Your regular underwear will not fit over those pads. I personally preferred my Frida mom post-partum undies as they were full coverage and comfortable. They came as part of the Frida mom post-partum kit. If that’s not your jam these high-waisted ones are quite nice and secure. I wore these a couple days after being home.

• Nursing Bras – I got a pack from amazon and they were great. I got some others that were very similar and wore them for several months post-partum.

• Nipple cream – The hospital will have some but you might want to bring your own just in case. I didn’t end up using it much in the hospital; but really needed it once I got home.

• Phone charger with a long cord to keep your phone charged. You and dad will be taking lots of pictures and videos of your little bundle.

• Snacks – If you have favs it’s helpful to pack them. The hospital where I gave birth had really good food and snacks so I didn’t need to pack my own. I remember being extremely hungry after delivery so you will want to eat!

• Going home outfit & shoes – Pack a going home outfit that would fit your 4-6 month baby bump (if you can remember that). You will still have a pooch post delivery so pack accordingly.

Post-partum

As far as postpartum things like pads and peri bottle, I really feel like that’s unnecessary since the hospital will give you plenty! They truly do have everything you need. Nevertheless I still packed the Frida mom kit that comes with a nursing gown, socks, peri bottle, ice maxi pads, disposable underwear, perineal foam and a few other things. I used up all the items given to me by the hospital (I even had more left over for when I got home). I depleted this before using the items from my Frida mom kit. I especially loved how soothing the Ice Maxi pads and perineal foam were.

Packing list For Baby

Once again, the hospital has and will give you everything you need. However, I felt better taking baby’s own things to use. Here’s all I packed for Braxton:

• Receiving blankets/swaddles - I really love these swaddles and so did Braxton! A lot of fun colors to choose from this brand. We still use this personalized blanket and it is Braxton’s favorite.

• Newborn diapers and wipes - You will get more than enough diapers at the hospital but if there is a brand hat you love take those with you. I loved the Dyper brand as well as Huggies for both diapers and wipes.

• Pacifiers & Pacifier Clips - Your baby has entered a whole new world and might be fussy so pacifiers can he helpful to soothe. Braxton was particular fussy after his first shots.

• Baby formula - My milk production wasn’t the best at the hospital so as to not have Braxton starve I supplemented with formula. Pack some just in case, you never know! The hospital does have these however so If you don’t pack some and end up needing it you will be taken care of.

• Infant car seat - You will not be allowed to leave the hospital without an infant car seat. Have your significant other bring this to the hospital room with you on the day of discharge. The doona is great as it is an all-in-one stroller and car seat.

• 1-2 going home outfits – Make sure it’s an outfit with legs so baby can fit in a car seat. If you have room, maybe pack a few different sizes? The outfits we brought for Braxton were HUGE on him.

• Socks for keeping baby’s feet warm.

• Hat – To keep baby’s head warm. You will get some at the hospital but sometimes you want your own.

Packing list For Dad

Since Dad will be in the hospital just as long as you are, make sure he packs a bag too! He just needs his usual toiletries, some clean clothes and underwear, and then a going-home outfit. Plus, the usual things like wallet, phone charger, etc. Reggie mostly wore sweatpants and comfy clothes while we were at the hospital so that he could stay as comfortable as possible. Here’s his list:

• Lounge clothes for wearing around the hospital

• Toiletry bag with toiletries- toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush and perhaps a razor for beard/head trimming.

• Underwear and pajamas

• Robe, Slippers/slides for wearing around the room

• Going home outfit and shoes

• Phone charger, wallet

• Headphones – not necessary but might be nice for him to have for those moments when mommy and baby are asleep.

• Blanket & Pillow – The couch/bed they put your husband on isn’t great and it might be nice for him to have his own blanket and a pillow. These are not necessary but adds a layer of comfort.

If you’re a mom to be, rest assured that everything will be fine! If you don’t have the things on this list that is totally okay because the hospital will have it all. Wishing you a safe delivery and a speedy recovery period.

Next Investing Step: Cryptocurrencies

Updated January 3, 2022

If you’ve been here for a while you know Investing is one of my favorite topics. I did a mini series of blog posts a while back and many found them quite beneficial. If you missed them here they are:

Investing 101: Invest In Yourself

Setting Up Your First Investment Account

How To Start Investing In The Stock Market

6 Questions To Ask Before Investing

6 Tips on Getting Into Real Estate Investing

5 Ways To Invest in Real Estate

Before diving in, I want to preface by saying that I am by no means a cryptocurrency expert or any kind of investment advisor. I will try to keep this short and sweet with some actionable steps I used to get started with investing in crypto. The information shared are my thoughts and based on my personal experience on the topic. I’m only sharing these because I feel that if you’re not on board with crypto at this point i.e if it’s not part of your investment portfolio, you’re seriously missing out on an opportunity to build wealth.

What is Cryptocurrency?

According to nerdwallet, cryptocurrency (or “crypto”) is a digital currency that can be used to buy goods and services, but uses an online ledger with strong cryptography to secure online transactions. They work using a technology called blockchain, which is a decentralized technology spread across many computers that manages and records transactions. Part of the appeal of this technology is its security. The most popular cryptocurrency at the moment is, you guessed it, Bitcoin.

I will admit that several years ago when cryptocurrency was being introduced I was, like many, quite skeptical. It sounded highly volatile, very risky (aka scammy) and sometimes the returns sounded too good to be true. Fast forward several years later after spending quite a bit of time educating myself on the topic and speaking in depth with my financial advisor, crypto educators and other professionals, my only regret is that I didn’t invest in them a lot sooner.

Bitcoin is the world’s first digital asset, is slated to be the currency of the future and as as such, supporters are racing to buy them now in hopes that it will be more valuable later. Just like the internet changed the world many years ago, Bitcoin is expected to usher in a similar change.

My first real introduction to Bitcoin was at the beginning of the pandemic when there was a lot of time to devote to learning something new (the good old days). My husband and I dabbled in a bit of investing and trading during those times with some really good returns. During that time Bitcoin was under $10K. Today (at the time this post is being written) bitcoin sits at around $65K and is predicted to get to upwards of $80K by end of November and north of $100K by December.

There has been a lot of developments lately in the crypto space - major banks around the world and some politicians have sent out pro-bitcoin sentiments. The SEC has approved a Bitcoin ETF, New York’s mayor will be receiving his first 3 paychecks in bitcoin, so are athletes like Aaron Rogers and podcaster Joe Rogan, and El Salvador has made Bitcoin its currency (with more countries to follow suit). It sounds like Bitcoin is here to stay. In my opinion, it would be unwise to not invest, if even a small portion, in cryptocurrency.

How To Invest in Crypto

At the time of writing this, Bitcoin sits at about $65K. If you have that kind of cash to spare you can go ahead and purchase an entire bitcoin. However, you do not need to. You can purchase fractions of bitcoin, whatever dollar amount you can afford. One of the most popular platforms (and what I use) to purchase bitcoin (and other crypto) is Coinbase. However, there are other places where you can purchase bitcoin such as Paypal, Cash app, Venmo and if you use Robinhood for investing you can purchase there too. If you’re a Paypal user, grab my referral link to buy your first $5 of crypto and we can both get $10 (use it to buy even more crypto).

What is Coinbase?

Coinbase is a secure cryptocurrency trading and investing platform that offers users the ability to buy, sell, and exchange over 100 tradable cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more. It is very user friendly and an account is easy to set up. By using my referral link you will receive your first $10 in Bitcoin after buying or selling $100 of any cryptocurrency you want.

If I were you, I would start investing ASAP as Bitcoin is predicted to get to upwards of $80K by end of November 2021 and north of $100K by December 2021.

*This prediction has changed as the markets changed due to the new COVID-19 strain, Omicron*

If you are very risk averse or still think putting your money in crypto is scary you can earn crypto in other ways. I no longer use my regular debit card for purchases. I now use the Fold debit card where I earn satoshis (a small portion of bitcoin) with my everyday purchases.

What is Fold?

Fold is a bitcoin app and debit card that gives you free bitcoin for qualifying purchases.

Fold lets you earn free bitcoin while you shop. It works just like a regular debit card from any major bank where you would earn rewards (like cash back) on purchases but instead earn free crypto. The average purchase provides 25% cash back in bitcoin. Downloading the app and signing up for a Fold debit card is really easy and there’s benefit in getting both. The app is available in the App Store and if you use my referral link to sign up you can earn 5000 satoshis or sats for short. Satoshis, what’s that? The name is a moniker for bitcoin’s founder Satoshi Nakamoto and is a fraction of bitcoin. In the app, you will also have the opportunity to win additional bitcoin daily with the spinwheel. They have a range of prizes with the ultimate being an entire bitcoin. Read more about that here. There are two different types of debit cards, the Spin or the Spin+. The spin has no annual fee but has a $21 activation fee, while the spin+ has an annual fee of $150 but no activation. With the latter, you are able to earn more rewards and up to 100% cash back. Personally, I have the spin card - I get the benefit of getting fractions of bitcoin (which over time will add up to a large sum) with all my purchases without paying an annual fee. Plus, I am already investing in Bitcoin elsewhere so I don’t feel the need to try to get 100% cash back. After you’ve accumulated at least 50,000 satoshis you can transfer your crypto to a wallet, such as the coinbase wallet (there are others but this is what I use). Ultimately, if you’re looking for a relatively easy way to join the world of cryptocurrencies without investing your own money this is a great option.

There you have it! I have touched on my experience with investing in crypto and hopefully it gives a little insight on making it a part of your investing portfolio. It is very easy to get started, but as with any investment vehicle, do your due diligence, speak with your financial advisor, take caution and be aware that any form of investing is risky.

Next Investing topic will be on NFTs. Be on the look out for that.

2021 Ultimate Gift Guide

The holidays are upon us, which means it’s gifting season! I love getting gifts for my loved ones, whether for friends, family, co-workers, staff/team at the office. There’s something special about gift giving around the holidays that give me the warm and fuzzies. Maybe, it’s the feeling of thanksgiving for me. An ode to getting through yet another year together. Or, maybe it’s the spirit of the season that makes you feel generous and giving. Either way, I love giving them as much as I enjoy receiving them and as such have compiled a list of great gifts that you can share with your loved ones. Some of these I have, will be gifting or are on my wish list. If I had more time I would have totally broke these down into several categories, but consider this my Ultimate Gift Guide.

1. Lily & Bean Hettie Mini Bag - Great gift for your bff, mom, wife or girlfriend. I love that you can personalize it with your initials and, if you glance really quickly it sort of resembles an Hermes mini Kelly Sellier. By all means, get her the mini Kelly if you can but if a $13K gift is not quite in your budget right now, this certainly gets my vote.

2. Thumbprint Brandy Snifters - For a couple, dad, husband, boyfriend or male co-worker these set of 2 brandy glasses make an amazing gift and they are Tiffany, darling! So classy.

3. Double Heart Tag Pendant - So dainty and elegant, this necklace makes a really special gift for your sister, daughter, niece, mom or even your staff/ team. I gifted Tiffany necklaces to my team one year and they absolutely loved them.

4. Candles - Such a no-brainer and always a simple yet thoughtful gift. Everyone loves candles, why not treat your loved one with the gift of fragrance to set the mood this holiday season.

5. Mama pendant necklace - for the moms in your life, or for yourself. This one is very cute, I might even get it for myself.

6. Edge Wine Glasses - I love a good wine glass set and these are so unique and fun. Switch it up a bit from the traditional glass and gift these to your friend or relative that’s always hosting. Choose from a variety of shapes and sizes.

7. Duffel/Weekender Keep All - Really nice and generous gift for hubby, dad or boyfriend. Great to take on weekend trips or to use as a hospital bag. My husband loves his and uses it for short weekend getaways.

8. Plush Microfriber Robe - Robes are always a great idea. They are super cozy and make really nice gifts for grandpa, dad, uncle, husband or brother. They’ll be wearing it all year round.

9. Electric Toothbrush kit - You knew it was coming, no gift guide is complete without oral care goodies. Gifting great oral hygiene habits is always a great idea.

10. Ionic Facial Steamer - Because, self care. Add this to your skin care routine or gift it to a beauty lover and thank me later.

11. Paris Baccarat Rouge 540 - Can’t quite think of anything? my go-to will always be perfume (or cologne for men). This is one of my favs right now and it makes a superb gift.

12. 2022 Goal Planner - The gift that keeps on giving all 2022 long! Can be gifted to anyone on your list that is goal oriented and loves writing all their dreams and aspirations down.

13. Wood and Marble Cheeseboard - For the hostess with the mostest! A great gift for mom, sister, aunt, your neighbor, girlfriend or anyone who loves to host.

14. Cigar and Whiskey Gift Set - Nice gift for dad, hubby or an uncle who is a cigar and brown type of guy. It can even be personalized. Such a classy gift for him.

15. 6 Piece Personalized Packing Cubes - A very useful gift for a mom, sister, aunt or girlfriend who is frequently on the go and loves a bit of organization. I personally love my packing cubes! What was I doing before them?

16. Designer Sunglasses - Gift me a pair of sunnies any day. They make such a great gift for your bff, sister, mom, aunt or cousin. Get her chic, fun, classy designer eyewear and she’ll love you forever.

17. Leather Money Clip Wallet - This reasonably priced wallet can be gifted to any male in your life whether its grandpa, dad, brother, husband or co-worker. They will love it.

18. Classic Trio Makeup Brush Set - I can only think of one person in my life that would love and appreciate these exquisite makeup brushes: my sister. Gift this luxe set to the beauty-lover in your life.

There you have it, 18 amazing gift ideas this season. I hope you see something you love for yourself or will gift to someone. Happy holidays! and happy shopping friends. Shop early this year, try to beat the holiday rush and avoid shipping delays.

Scents For Productivity & Focus

Have you ever walked past a certain aroma and instantly experienced a flashback to your childhood? This happens because smells that enter your body have a direct link to your memory center. Better yet, have you experienced where certain scents have a calming effect? Some scents can even help you focus and in turn increases productivity. There are scores of studies that show scents affect things like memory, concentration, sustained attention and cognitive function to improve productivity.

When you hear, touch or taste something, that information passes through the thalamus, the part of the brain that relays sensory information, before reaching its correlated part of the brain. As such, you’re aware of the sense before you’re aware of the memory or emotion it corresponds to.

Smells, however, bypass the thalamus and head straight to the olfactory bulb, which is directly connected to the hippocampus (which is responsible for your memory) and the amygdala (where you process your emotions). Because odors are first routed through these regions before reaching the thalamus, they’re more closely linked to memory. This explains why aromatherapy can have a profound effect on our emotional, physical and mental state.

HERE ARE 5 SCENTS THAT IMPROVE FOCUS AND PRODUCTIVITY:

1. Lemon - The tangy scent of lemon arouses the senses and improves cognitive function. Use lemon to help you power through that long proposal!

2. Lavender - Sweet-smelling lavender improves concentration by recharging the brain during rest time. This allows you to return to work more revived than you would be otherwise.

3. Jasmine - The smell of jasmine has stimulatory effect on the nervous system. It’s used to re-energize and promote a sense of well-being and a positive mood. Sniff it during a break for an instant refresher.

4. Citrus - Bright, light citrus aromas are helpful for staying awake and alert. Take a whiff before an important afternoon meeting to power up.

5. Peppermint - Peppermint improves attention and concentration. It also enhances the accuracy of memory and increases alertness.

So, while we purchase fragrances and candles because they just smell good. Next time when you’re shopping for scents take into consideration the effect it has on focus, attention, mood and productivity.

Browse the UnOrthoDoc Candle Co. Collection below for some of these scents.

The Mommy Truck: My Top 5 Picks

Planning for the arrival of a new baby is one of the most exciting times of our lives!

I won’t lie, although exciting it was also nerve wracking and daunting, seeing as though we would be first time parents. There were so many things to think about, from designing a nursery to ensuring we had all the necessary items, that often we overlook some of the basic things like transportation. A newborn means an extra person, and this extra person (although very tiny) has an exorbitant amount of STUFF.

I was absolutely not in the market for a new car. I loved my small SUV - a Porsche Macan. It was perfect for me and seemed to fit a carseat pretty comfortably. However, shortly after the birth of my son I quickly realized that I did not have quite enough space for all the things that I now needed. Who knew a stroller (and all its parts), a car seat, baby luggage and my mom (or nanny if you have one) would take up so much space?

After too many times of having to pack, un-pack and re-pack the car so that everything could fit, I finally decided to purchase a bigger vehicle - my mommy truck.

The first thing to consider about your vehicle when you have a new baby on the way is the size. A baby car seat is not just a comfy chair for your tot but also a legal requirement. It helps to note also that you will be maneuvering the car seat in and out of the car quite often so you will need ample room for that.

My Top 5 Picks

My husband and I spent some time doing our research on different vehicles. My portion of the research involved talking with other moms to see the pros and cons of their vehicles then looking at the style and size of the ones that I liked. Hubby on the other hand, took a lot more into consideration.

After some time of visiting dealerships and test driving a few options. I decided on my top 5 (in no particular order):

1. Porsche Cayenne

2. Range Rover Sport

3. Mercedes GLS

4. Tesla Model X

5. Genesis GV80

Having a reliable car is paramount when you have a young family. What you are looking for is a vehicle that has excellent service history. Also, children, and especially young kids, come with a lot of accoutrements. In the early years, there will be the aforementioned baby carseat but as they age, you will need to fit booster seats. So, you need a vehicle that is adaptable to your children’s needs. It is also worth bearing in mind the fact that your kids will have friends, so you may need even more space to fit them in so that you can take them to their activities. 

Ultimately, I decided on the Porsche Cayenne. I love Porsche! My previous truck was a Porsche and I was very sad to have to part ways with it because of it’s size. What I simply did was upgrade to the larger truck. The Cayenne is fun and exhilarating to drive, yet can be used as a practical SUV every day. It's a solid SUV that has great performance and a good degree of practicality. Right from the start, the Cayenne came loaded with technology designed to produce a luxurious ride combined with the nimble and responsive nature of a sports car. We love that the Cayenne is an excellent blend of off-road capable, family carrier and twisty corner master.

BONUS: There’s one other vehicle that quite a bit of parents raved about so I figured I’d give it an honorable mention. It’s the Honda Odyssey, a minivan so practical that it is all the rave among the more seasoned parents. I am told “It will change your life!” I am not a fan of the minivan, at least not yet. I am willing to forego this for the foreseeable and continue to make the most of the one I’ve chosen.

As we have learned, there are many things to consider regarding your car when you have a baby on the way. Having a reliable vehicle is crucial as you cannot afford any mishaps with a youngster on board and you need to ensure that it is of a suitable size for them to grow into, and also for the possibility of another child on the way. Make sure it is adaptable to all their needs. It helps too that is super cool and fun!

Lastly, here’s a financial tip: It’s a write off. If you own a business and use your vehicle for that purpose more than 50% of the time, you can write off 100% of the purchase price and any expenses associated with it on your taxes. Note that any vehicle used for business purposes should be at least 6000 pounds to qualify for a write off. Speak to your trusted CPA about this option if you’re considering going this route.

What are your top picks? Drop them in the comments below, I would love to know.

Financial Planning Checklist for Dental & Medical Professionals

I can’t believe I’m saying this but, a new year is fast approaching! I don’t know about you but this time of year usually means getting my financial ducks in a row (it’s always a great time to do this). As 2022 approaches, let’s start to think about ways we can improve and be better for our future selves. One way to do this is to re-assess to finances. Here’s a quick checklist to follow:

Create and Stick to a Budget

Develop good financial habits early by setting a budget. There are several guidelines out there as to how an ideal budget should be set up. I personally follow the 50-30-20 rule (with some variation). Essentially this means, 50 percent of your money each month should go to essentials like bills and housing, 20 percent should go towards your financial goals like savings, investments, saving for retirement and paying off debt/student loans, and 30 percent should go towards wants like vacation, entertainment, etc. If you want to, you can switch the 30-20 around if that makes more sense for you. Of course, your budget sometimes need a little wiggle room but for the most part try to stick to this plan. Automate it so that you don't have to think about it.

Build an Emergency Fund

Make sure you have at least three (3) to twelve (12) months of funds saved up for a rainy day.  Personally, I think 12 months is a good buffer. This is where part of the 20 percent savings portion of your budget should go, and it's there in case you lose your job, become ill, or encounter an unexpected expense. Keep this money in a separate savings account at a separate bank from your checking account and forego a debit card for that account. Also, automate your contributions.  Ask your employer to direct debit a portion of your salary into your emergency fund account or you can do this yourself. You can also consider placing the funds into an account with high yield interest. Another smart thing to do is put this money in a short term investment vehicle where you can access it immediately if needed.

Create a Plan For Student Loan Repayment

The pandemic gave us a nice break from the pressures of repaying student loans every month. Hopefully we were smart about taking advantage of the 0% interest period as the end of that is fast approaching (after Jan. 31, 2022). Explore all the options for student loan repayment that is available to you and choose the best one for your situation. Look into options like public service loan forgiveness (PLSF), the different repayment options available through the federal government and/or take advantage of the benefits of student loan refinancing or consolidation. If you are still not clear about the best option for you, seek a professional help. I have personally used Travis Hornsby, The Student Loan planner and he was able to help me figure out a repayment option that fits my goals all while saving me money in the long run.

Pay Down Debt and Build Good Credit

All debt are not created equal. There is what we call good debt and there's bad debt.  Things like credit card debt are considered bad debt because it grows pretty quickly and doesn't help you in the long term. Interest rates are usually higher and can take much longer to pay off. On the contrary, student loans are considered good debt because it's an investment into your future earning power. Put as much money as you can towards credit card bills first starting with the with the one with the highest interest. Once that's paid off, prioritize the next highest interest debt, and so forth. Also consider automating the contribution to your debt payment so that you never have to worry about a missed or late payment.

Protect Your Paycheck

An injury or illness could limit your ability to practice. Ensure you have enough disability insurance coverage to cover you in case of sickness or injury. Supplemental insurance options are available specifically for health/medical professionals, but be sure you understand how the policy defines total and partial disability. Finally, remember to update this coverage as you grow in your career and into your practice.

Put Additional Protections In Place

As your career grows, explore the various life circumstances and get the right insurance to protect against potential impacts to your budget:

• Malpractice Insurance

• Life Insurance

• Renters/homeowners Insurance

• Auto insurance

• Umbrella Insurance

Save and Invest For Retirement

It is really important that you get on this early! It is vital that you prioritize creating and contributing to a retirement fund and take advantage of compounding interest. Compounding interest will do a lot of the hard work for you if you start early. Try to maximize your contributions and take advantage of any match system your job has to offer. If your job does not offer retirement options, you can do this on your own. Speak with your financial advisor and your accountant about the tax benefits.

Explore Attorney Assistance

Utilize attorney expertise to review employment contracts, help protect your assets from malpractice, maximize tax planning and discuss estate planning.

Start a College Savings Plan

You certainly know the value of a good education - and the cost of getting one. If you have a child or children and their education is a priority, start saving now. A 529 plan is a great place to start.

Talk To a Professional

Financial planning can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. A financial representative can help you design a plan and implement strategies to meet your specific goals with confidence.

Getting your finances together means stability, security and dear I say it, freedom. It’s okay if you don’t have all this together just yet. The important thing is that you start, now. I will have the 2022 planner, budget and financial tracker ready in a few days so be on the look out for that. Let’s make 2022 the year we get our lives together. Our future selves will thank us for it.

Tips on Financing Your Dental Visits

As a dental professional, I know first hand that dental care can be pricey! However, the neglect from not having dental care could cost you a whole lot more in the long run. My patients often times tell me the reason(s) they haven’t had dental care is because they couldn’t afford it or because they do not have dental insurance. Because this is an everyday conversation in my practice, I figured I would take this conversation here as well.

Options for covering dental expenses:

Dental Insurance

Most medical plans do not include dental and thus dental insurance is sold separately. One important thing to note is that there is a difference between a dental office that takes your insurance vs a dental office that you are in-network with. A dentist may take your insurance even though you are out of network with them. Generally, using an out-of-network dentist means your insurance would cover less and you’d pay more. Being in-network, on the other hand, usually means that your insurance company has pre-negotiated the fees with the dentist and they generally don’t charge more than that.

Payment Plans Offered By Dental Office (In House Financing)

Some dental practices offer in house financing. This occurs when a patient sets up a payment plan with the practice when there’s no insurance or rather than applying for financing. For some, paying a bill on a weekly or monthly basis can be much more manageable than paying it in a lump sum. In these situations, the practice holds the risk for future nonpayment and typically doesn’t charge interest. It is also common for dental practices that use this type of program to offer a cash discount on larger procedures with full payment up front or if the patient agrees to a set schedule of equal payments over a set period of time.

Using a Health Savings Account

A Health Savings Account  (HSA) is another potential financing option for your dental work. An HSA gives you the ability to put pre-tax money in each month that you can then use for medical expenses (which may include dental care). This can help lower your overall health care costs because it is pre-taxed money. Since most dental care is an eligible expense, many people decide to use the money in their HSA to help pay for any co-pays or dental procedures they may need.

Dental financing

If you don’t have insurance or can’t afford to pay for necessary dental care all at once, you might consider financing. This could mean borrowing money to pay for your treatment and then making monthly payments until it’s paid off. Financing also typically involves paying fees and interest on the money you borrow.

Here are some options if you need financing for necessary dental work:

• Personal loan - A personal loan can be used to pay for a range of personal expenses, which can include dental work and medical treatment. These loans are typically unsecured loans, which mean the lender doesn’t require any collateral to secure the loan. Because of this, the lender will typically consider many factors, including your credit history, to determine whether you’ll be able to repay the loan.

• Medical credit cards - Medical credit cards may be available to pay for healthcare treatments, including dental procedures. A medical credit card is very similar to a regular credit card, but you can only use a medical credit card to pay for healthcare — and only within a specific network of providers that accept the card. If you’re approved for a medical credit card, you can use it to pay a qualified provider for your medical or dental care. After that, you’ll owe the credit card issuer and make payments to them. Some medical credit cards may come with a period of deferred interest. If you’re able to pay off the balance within the deferred time period, you can avoid paying interest.

• Intro 0% APR credit card - Rather than using a medical credit card, you may consider paying for your healthcare with a regular credit card. There are credit cards that offer an introductory 0% APR for purchases and balance transfers for a set period of time. After the introductory period ends, the card will have an APR based on your credit and other factors. If you’re able to pay off the amount you owe within the established time frame, which is usually somewhere between 12 and 21 months, you could finance your dental care interest-free.

  As with a personal loan and a medical credit card, a regular credit card issuer will typically check your credit profile when considering you for a card.

• Third Party Financing - Traditional third-party financing is what happens when patients elect to use their existing credit cards to pay for their treatment. While this is not typically thought of as a dental care financing option, it’s commonly used. The dental practice is paid in full within 24–48 hours after processing the credit card. The financing is provided to the consumer (patient) by the credit card’s issuing bank, and the issuing bank assumes the risk for nonpayment. Some popular third-party financing options are CareCredit, Lending Point and iCredit-Works.

Access to affordable dental treatment is an important issue. There are many options for covering dental expenses including dental insurance, in-house financing, Health Savings Accounts, and various loans through third-party lenders. Whichever method you choose, it’s important to do what’s best for your unique needs.

How I Stay Organized and How You Can Too

I consider myself a pretty organized person that typically have things in order. It goes without saying that with being a dental professional there’s a certain level of organizational skill that comes with the territory in order to keep things streamlined and on schedule while at work. But, there are other areas that take a considerable amount of organizing as well.

Here’s a tiny glimpse into my world:

• I have 3 Instagram business accounts which I manage solo - my practice, my candle company and my personal brand. I create content for each page which includes photo shoots, product photography, creating graphics in Canva, creating videos and reels, sometimes planning IG live events and scheduling said content.

• The candle company itself which I also manage solo - some tasks include product photography, maintaining and updating website, research, inventory, tracking and ordering supplies, creating new scent formulas monthly for candle club members, actually making the candles, packaging and shipping, marketing products online including email marketing.

• I write weekly blog posts here and market them on a few social platforms namely Instagram, Pinterest and sometimes Facebook and linkedIn. I vet and write sponsored posts for brands which often times include not only a blog post but also inclusion in my monthly newsletter, instagram posts and stories.

  With opening a dental practice and having a baby things got a lot busier and it has become quite a task to keep all things organized. I wear many, many hats and if I am not careful things can get messy.

Here are ways I stay organized, perhaps this will help you too:

At Work

1. Morning Huddle - I arrive to the office at least 15 minutes before I start seeing patients. My team and I do a short 5-10 minute huddle. In my opinion, this is probably the single most effective meeting that you can have with your team. It’s a time of collaboration where the whole team can come together to review the day's schedule and discuss vital patient information. I find that this increases productivity and overall efficiency in my practice.

2. Time Blocking - I often times get emails and phone call from patients, colleagues and referring doctors with questions and concerns. If I were to stop every few minutes to respond to all these I wouldn’t be ale to effectively treat my patients that have appointments during those times. instead, I schedule 30-45 minute time block where I respond to all those calls and emails.

3. Admin Time/Day - There are many tasks and administrative duties to be done when you are a practice owner. So much so that it is nearly impossible to get it all done during the day when you’re seeing patients. therefore, I have designated one day out of the week to get all my administrative duties done.

At Home

1. Make Your Bed - Believe it or not, making the bed each day not only makes your room look clean and tidy but has other has positive impacts. In Charles Duhigg's book “The Power of Habit,” he noted that making your bed establishes a direct link to better productivity and overall health. When your make your bed, it helps you be more productive throughout the day and invest your time in other healthier habits.

2. Declutter - Your home is your scared space. Not only must you declutter to prevent prevent pests and reduce dust, mold, and mildew but studies have shown where clutter has adverse effects on your mental health. Decluttering decreases stress and anxiety levels which essentially leads to you being more relaxed. My favorite place to declutter is my closet. I organize all my clothing and shoes by color - it instantly makes me happier!

3. Lists and Calendars - Don’t you just hate it when you’re ready to have a bowl of cereal and you reach for the cereal box or the milk and there’s none? or when you get home from work hungry and realize you don’t have anything to make for dinner? Me too. I started making a running list of items I run out out of as soon as it happens that way I always know when I need a certain thing, this is posted on my refrigerator so it’s easily seen. Another thing that’s visible is our calendar - nothing like scheduling brunch with your friends on Saturday morning only to realize that your baby has a Pediatrician’s appointment.

Life/General

1. Planner, Calender and Scheduling Apps - I cannot live without these! I always have a physical planner where I write things down (meetings, important dates, etc) because as much as we are in the digital age there is still something about writing things down that helps me to actually get it done.

• I use this planner - I designed and created it myself and keep one in my desk drawer at work and one in my home office. I update this planner every year and make it available for my readers as well. Go here to grab yours. I also use the passion planner which I carry around in my purse.

• iCal app - This is an app on my iPhone. Everything in my physical planner is duplicated on the app as a back up.

• Planoly app - I use this app pretty much to plan all my social media content. I upload the photos, put in the captions and hashtags and schedule a day and time for each to go out. This is called '“batching” and it makes a world of difference in helping to stay consistent wit posting on social media.

2. Make use of the word “no” - It’s important that you are careful to not take on too much. Time is a limited resource, saying yes to everything threatens this very limited resource and can often also lead to burn out. Protect your limited resources by first pausing to assess whether or not the ask is something that you really need or want to take on right now, if at all. If you are like I once was and struggle to say no, try saying things like, “Thanks for asking, let me check my schedule/calendar and get back to you.”

3. Don’t Procrastinate - The longer you wait to do something, the more difficult it will be to get it done. If you want your life to be less stressful and less demanding, then organize as soon as you can. Putting in the effort to get things done as soon as possible will lift the weight off of you from doing it later. I do this all he time with check-lists. I write it down, get it done and check it off my list. The feeling accomplishment after you’ve checked everything off your to-do list is unmatched.

BONUS: Delegate responsibilities! A really organized life is not overfilled with responsibilities, meetings and deadlines. In fact, it has less because things that create stress have been slowly organized out. Slowly but surely I am getting to a place where I delegate more. At work, my office manager helps with a lot of the administrative duties so instead of these taking an entire day, I have been able to cut down my admin time to half day. perhaps in the (near) future I will hire a VA (virtual assistant) to help with for all things social media and marketing. When it comes to the candle company, as it gets busier I will hire help or possibly outsource all-together. We shall see. How do you stay organized? Tell me in the comments. Someone, somewhere may benefit from it.

10 Ways Leaders Can Avoid Getting Burned Out

This is a guest post by Bash Sarmiento

According to Indeed (2020), based on their survey done before the COVID-19 outbreak, cases of employee burnout increased by 9%. Specifically, 52% of all employees manifest the telltale signs of burnout. Employee burnout is characterized as a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. As such, it puts employee motivation and productivity at a dimming light and their accomplishments, personal identity, and performance at risk.

In FlexJobs (2020), seventy-five percent of employees have experienced burnout. Among them, 40% felt that the pandemic aggravated their burnout. In addition, Indeed (2021) found that 67% of employees believe that the prevailing health crisis worsened their cases of burnout. From these figures, we cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that such a seemingly mild issue can pose a grave threat to employees’ mental health and it is at an alarming rate.

Employees of all ages and types can experience this particular type of work-related stress. Like any regular worker, leaders and managers also suffer frequent or constant burnout (Gallup, 2020). They, too, can suffer the impact of workplace stress, which then may contribute to a mortality count of 120,000 deaths and health costs of nearly $190 billion in spending each year if specific measures to mitigate the risks are not reinforced (HBR.Org (2019).

Therefore, as a leader. You must help yourself rise amidst the challenges because it is not only you who depend on yourself. Your subordinates also root for you. Here are a few ways you can lean on before the going gets tough:

1. A llow for check-ins during your meetings.

Also called a vibe check, check-ins are a perfect way to know if anyone in your team, including yourself, is going through something. This promotes open discourse and allows everyone to open themselves. Not only will this detect early signs of burnout, but it will also forge a work culture that supports each other. You will be surprised how others would collaboratively suggest ways to overcome any personal or work-related issues. Opening up and having ears that listen can feel like a warm hug.

2. Educate everyone about mental health.

Better yet, enlighten your team on the early warning signs of employee burnout as well as depression and other predominant mental health issues. For a virtual event, tap a knowledgeable person-of-authority to be a resource speaker. 

3. Make use of employee engagement surveys.

With you as one of the participants, your team members can dish out surveys to measure commitment, motivation, sense of purpose, and passion for work. This can also act as a need analysis survey to have a baseline as to where you should start with your strategies to mitigate the burnout cases.

4. Eliminate red tapes.

Perhaps you also need to work on untangling or cutting the long process of some procedures in the workplace. Work on simplifying operations, especially those that may be the root of delay or inaction. It is the way to achieve a better and more efficient workflow.

5. Create realistic goals and objectives.

Setting unrealistic targets present pain more than a challenge. And as a leader who is supposed to take control in hitting these, it will be a force of habit to keep trying. Burnout starts from overcrowding your plate and not fully realizing what is ahead. Remember that your subordinates may not work at the same pace as you. You cannot always go beyond as others might contribute to your failure rather than in the success.

6. Encourage work-life balance.

Discuss with your team about having flexible work arrangements to promote work-life balance. You can also take advantage of this policy in as much as your subordinates. This way, everyone can work on a comfortable schedule, giving them motivation and a productivity boost.

7. Avail a PTO.

Taking a break from work is one of the best things to do, especially when you feel any stress or simply need a moment to relax. Your paid time-offs are your lifesaver in times of a mental health emergency. Use them to your advantage wisely.

8. Revisit your employee wellness programs.

Meditation sessions, cooking classes for eating healthy, desktop yoga, and virtual workouts have been lauded as the most sought-after programs HRs initiate to promote employee wellbeing and reduce stress in the workplace. If these have not been introduced to your company, set the bar for the benefit of everyone.

9. Practice empathetic leadership.

So others are empathetic to you as well. A compassionate leader has a selfless concern for the lives of their team members. This kind of leader has a genuine interest in knowing the challenges they face and their overall feelings. To offer support, encouragement, and help, the empathetic leader understands whatever situation their team member is going through and contributes to making the situation bearable, if not better. These leaders often get the helper’s high, a rush of positive emotions following an act of kindness or service to others.

10. Recognize your work and those of others.

In this day and age, recognitions are crucial to productivity, happiness, and motivation in the organization. It does not hurt to be generous with praise and merits, especially when you see that everyone is trying their best to get by and cope despite the many uncertainties in our lives today. Recognizing their work should feel good for you since you are also part of their success. Not only will this bring you butterflies in your stomach and prevent stress, but it will also put your character as a leader in good light.

You may have noticed that this list was written as if directed to a regular employee. We did that on purpose. You are free to deal with stress and burnout just like the rest of the entire workforce. Your feelings are valid, and your emotions are essential. The organization knows you are not a robot, but only you can act to make a big difference in your life.

Meet Bash Sarmiento

Bash Sarmiento is a writer and an educator from Manila. He writes laconic pieces in the education, lifestyle and health realms. His academic background and extensive experience in teaching, textbook evaluation, business management and traveling are translated in his works.

Find him on Instagram and LinkedIn