Seemingly everyone, from entrepreneurs and CEOs to celebrities and influencers, has touted the benefits of a consistent and uplifting morning for success.

For a long time, I thought that was for the rich people who had paid help to handle the menial tasks of day-to-day life. That it was a luxury to have free time in the morning.

I’ve learned a lot since then.

While it can feel luxurious to have time to yourself in the morning, it’s not a luxury — that’s an important distinction.

When I thought about it, I started wondering, “what if all of these successful people make time for it every day for a reason.” Why would even someone worth an estimated $149,353 a minute have a morning routine — could it possibly be worth that kind of investment? …

Starting and successfully running a small business or side hustle comes with a learning curve. You’ll start as any combination of the following job titles: a salesperson, accountant, bookkeeper, marketer, publicist, web designer, operations manager, and collections team. It can be understandably overwhelming. If you’re just getting started and looking to find out how to keep costs as low as possible, I’ve got you covered. In my opinion, these are the bare minimum essential tools you need from the beginning.

Note: The companies I recommend are the ones that offer the most value for that cost that I’ve been able to find. This article will go through the three essential tools my business couldn’t run without and how much they cost. …

How this crisis is shaping the future of business

As consumers, we’ve shifted from the coping phase into the rebuilding phase of the COVID-19 crisis.

What was once an unthinkable reality — local retailers and restaurants closed overnight, store shelves emptied, new words like “social distancing” and “essential workers” entering our vocabulary, and crazy demand for products we never could have predicted (looking at you, toilet paper) — has become more normal than shocking.

Through this transition, it has become clear that some of the consumer behaviors we saw as an immediate response to the pandemic will gladly be left behind (again, looking at you toilet paper hoarders), but others are likely to persist long after it ends. …

Coronavirus has taken many things from many people — there’s no doubt about that. It’s been a whirlwind few months, and every single person has been affected in one way or another.

Students have been no exception. They’ve been kicked out of dorms, sent home from study abroad experiences, and seen their graduations and other milestone events canceled. On top of it all, many who had lined up summer internships saw them evaporate — right before their eyes — as the crisis continued.

Though some may disagree with me, as a previous hiring manager, I will say that internships are primarily to help you land your first job out of college. Here’s the harsh truth: after a few years of real professional experience, no one will care about the internship you did or did not have. …

Many people now recognize the SEO potential of building out a blog, but in case this concept is new to you, here’s a quick explanation:

Every page on your website creates an opportunity to rank on Google (or any other search engine, but I’ll focus on Google here due to its obvious popularity).

By adding content (i.e. a blog) with keywords relevant to or surrounding your core business, you’ll create new opportunities to rank and find your dream customer each time. …

As the adage goes, the best camera is the one you have with you. While you may not be convinced that the iPhone is capable of greatness, allow me to change your mind.
Note: While this post is targeted to iPhone users, many of these features are also available on Android.

Here are some sample iPhone photos I’ve taken:

In fact, I don’t think I’ve taken a single photo that I ended up using on my professional camera. These cameras are powerful, so here’s how to make the most of them:

Tips for iPhone Camera Photos:

1. Live Mode

Taking photos in “live” mode is a little known way to make sure you get the right photo every time. By taking a photo in this mode, you create a mini video — about 2 seconds of pre/post photo time. …

The world’s in crisis and no industry will be left untouched. The impact of businesses closing and the economy slowing will be felt for months, if not years.

Every business will wrestle with the question, “How do I carry on?”

This is uncharted territory.

Should I Continue Marketing?

The short answer is yes, but it’s a bit more complicated than that.

Marketing, yes. Carry on as usual? No.

Here’s why you should continue marketing efforts:

• You’ll be in a better position when it ends
  First, everyone is slowing down — attempting to wait out the disaster. They’re sitting back to see what happens, and then reacting. This pause is your opportunity. While everyone else is slowing down, you can get ahead. You’ll be better off in the end than if you’d let everything slide. …

Jen Sincero is the author of the wildly successful, #1 NYT Best Seller self-help books — You Are a Badass, and You Are a Badass at Making Money.

Her books get extremely mixed reviews — you either love her perky and sassy attitude, or you can’t stand her. I fall under the former camp, which I’ll explain as we go.

Her book, You Are a Badass, was my very first self-help book (*sheds tear*).

I listened to the audiobook version (narrated by the author) and loved it — it was like I had a no-BS bestie in my ear reminding me of all the things I can accomplish and that I was stupid for doubting myself. …