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Shoe Repairs And Several Other Things When I Was 7

Shoe Repairs And Several Other Things When I Was 7
My Dad repaired most of our shoes believe it or not, I can hardly believe it myself now. With 7 pairs of shoes always needing repairs I think he was quite clever to learn how to “Keep us in shoe Leather” to coin a phrase!

He bought several different sizes of cast iron cobbler’s “lasts”. Last, the old English “Laest” meaning footprint. Lasts were holding devices shaped like a human foot. I have no idea where he would have bought the shoe leather. Only that it was a beautiful creamy, shiny colour and the smell was lovely.

But I do remember our shoes turned upside down on and fitted into these lasts, my Dad cutting the leather around the shape of the shoe, and then hammering nails, into the leather shape. Sometimes we’d feel one or 2 of those nails poking through the insides of our shoes, but our dad always fixed it.

Hiking and Swimming Galas
Dad was a very outdoorsy type, unlike my mother, who was probably too busy indoors. She also enjoyed the peace and quiet when he took us off for the day!

Anyway, he often took us hiking in the mountains where we’d have a picnic of sandwiches and flasks of tea. And more often than not we went by steam train.

We loved poking our heads out of the window until our eyes hurt like mad from a blast of soot blowing back from the engine. But sore, bloodshot eyes never dampened our enthusiasm.

Dad was an avid swimmer and water polo player, and he used to take us to swimming galas, as they were called back then. He often took part in these galas. And again we always travelled by steam train.

Rowing Over To Ireland’s Eye
That’s what we did back then, we had to go by rowboat, the only way to get to Ireland’s eye, which is 15 minutes from mainland Howth. From there we could see Malahide, Lambay Island and Howth Head of course. These days you can take a Round Trip Cruise on a small cruise ship!

But we thoroughly enjoyed rowing and once there we couldn’t wait to climb the rocks, and have a swim. We picnicked and watched the friendly seals doing their thing and showing off.

Not to mention all kinds of birdlife including the Puffin.The Martello Tower was also interesting but a bit dangerous to attempt entering. I’m getting lost in the past as I write, and have to drag myself back to the present.

Fun Outings with The camera Club
Dad was also a very keen amateur photographer, and was a member of a camera Club. There were many Sunday photography outings and along with us came other kids of the members of the club.

And we always had great fun while the adults busied themselves taking photos of everything and anything, it seemed to us. Dad was so serious about his photography that he set up a dark room where he developed and printed his photographs.

All black and white at the time. He and his camera club entered many of their favourites in exhibitions throughout Europe. I’m quite proud to say that many cups and medals were won by Dad. They have been shared amongst all his grandchildren which I find quite special.

He liked taking portraits of us kids too, mostly when we were in a state of untidiness, usually during play. Dad always preferred the natural look of messy hair and clothes in the photos of his children.

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Low Interest Business Loans

Regardless of the state of the economy, all entrepreneurs, either new at their trade or old hats in business, when seeking financing, tend to get caught up in haggling over the lowest possible interest rate that they can achieve.Who can blame them? Cost savings – especially while we are still experiencing recession like economic symptoms – may be the key to their business’s survival and their personal financial future.But, sometimes, merely basing a financing decision on just its cost (its interest rate in this case) alone can be even more detrimental. All business decisions should be taken in the whole – with both benefits and costs consider simultaneously – especially with business loans.Let me explain: In today’s market, any offer of a business loan – regardless of its costs – should not be taken lightly given the fact that these business transactions are hard to come by. Thinking that this interest rate is too high and that a better one will come along tomorrow may just be destructive thinking as nothing may come along tomorrow – especially in this continued sluggish economy and all lenders being overly cautious.Further, if the business owner’s decision hinges so much on the rate of the loan, then maybe a business loan is not something the business truly needs at this time or may be a decision that just spirals the business further along an unhealthy path.Example: Let’s take a simple but common business loan situation. A $100,000 loan for 5 years with monthly payments at 8% interest. This loan would require monthly payments of $2,028 for the next 60 months. Now, let’s say the interest rate was 12% instead of 8%. This would result in a monthly payment of $2,225 – nearly $200 per month higher. A significant increase – nearly 10% higher with the larger interest rate.This is what most business owners, when seeking outside capital tend to get caught up in – the lower rate means more savings for the business and thus a better decision.But, what happens if the current lender will not lower the rate from 12% to 8%? Or, if another, lower rate loan / lender does not come along? Is it still a good business decision?Looking at the cost of the loan or the interest rate is purely one sided and could potential affect the long-term viability of your business – the benefits of the loan also have to be weighed in.Let’s say that the business can take that $100,000 loan and use it to generate an additional $5,000 in new, monthly business income. Does it really matter the interest rate at this point as the nearly $200 difference in the rate is really trivial (especially over the 60 months period) compared to possibly declining the higher rate loan and getting nothing in return (losing out on the $5,000 in new revenue per month).Or, what if the business would only be able to generate $1,000 in new, extra income from the $100,000 loans? Then no matter what the interest rate (8%, 12% 50% or higher), the business should not even be considering a loan in this situation.Why do I bring this up? Simply because I have seen business after business either lose out on their future potential or fatally harm their organization over a mere one or two percent increase in a business loan rate. We are just conditioned to think that if we do not get the rate we feel we deserve – then the deal is bad for us. That can not be further from the truth. Know that these conditioning instincts we tend to have are more from the fact that competitors (those other lenders seeking our business) tell us we can do better or that we deserve better – but in end only finding out that those ploys never really work to our benefit.The lesson here is that all business decisions are more complex then we may initially think or been lead to believe. We are taught from very early in life to negotiate for the lowest costs – like zero interest car loans or buy now with “the lowest mortgage rates in decades” – either case, one would not buy a car or a house (regardless of the interest rate) if there was not a great need – a need that provides more in benefits then its costs.The same should be done with business loans. Loans are merely an asset to a business and should be treated as such. Business loan assets should be used to generate more in revenue than they cost – the more the better. If they are not being used (like any other business asset) to generate the greatest benefit that they can generate, then they should be pulled from whatever use they are currently being employed in and put into use that will generate the greater benefit. It is simply a law of business.Thus, merely focusing on only one side of a business decision – the interest rate for a business loan decision – can have an unforeseen, adverse affect on the business – creating more harm then good. The entire situation should be taken into advice before a decision is made.In fact, in the case outlined above, the interest rate can increase as high as 56% for the 60 months before the cost would outweigh the benefits – provided there were no additional costs associated with the loan.In my experience, I have always found it much easier to look at the benefits first (like the increased monthly revenue that can be generated) then search out the lowest costs options to receive those benefits. But, as stated, this is essentially opposite of what we tend to be taught in our society or in our markets (remember the zero percentage auto loans – which have the lost interest revenue built into the price). But, sometimes the best entrepreneurs think outside the box and tend to go against any conventional wisdom we may have been subject to – mostly for the benefit of others and not ourselves.Therefore, when seeking a business loan and finding yourself fighting hard for a small decrease in your interest rate – be sure to step back for a moment and look at the entire picture – as a low interest business loan may not be in the best interest of the business in all circumstances.

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Why Did You Choose Digital Marketing As a Career Option?

There is no way to avoid the fact that almost all companies, sooner or later, must include in their digital marketing activities. And with the demand for digital vendors exceeding supply, there are many opportunities for those looking to enter the field. So, what is all this fuss about? Read on to learn more about this fascinating and versatile field. What is the digital marketing? Somehow, digital marketing is not that different from traditional marketing: you have a product that you need to sell, and you’re looking for ways to interact with customers to build brand awareness and, ultimately, “close” a sale. Digital marketing implies, even more, roles and skills than marketing, and it is this flexible nature of the business that makes it so interesting. These are some general areas that a digital marketing professional will likely touch during their training or career:
Digital Marketing Basics
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
SMM (Social Media Marketing)
SEM (Search Engine Marketing)
Email Marketing
AdSense
Video Marketing using YouTube
Google Analytics
Mobile Marketing
Affiliate Marketing
Content Marketing
ORM
It is a good idea to think about getting training in at least one or two specialty areas, unless you are in administration, in which case you probably need to know a little about all of them. What skills are in demand? The digital economy is debated in every corner of our lives, and it certainly does not go anywhere. There is a strong consideration in digital marketing compared to traditional marketing. Ninety-three of the online activity starts with a search engine and ensures the continued effectiveness of SEO as a superior marketing strategy, while around the eightieth of the citizens Americans, create a purchase on the Internet at least once a month. Anyone thinking of starting or leading a business needs to have a basic knowledge of digital marketing in order to convert clients. There is a lot of space for people looking to enter the world of digital marketing and related careers. According to Smart Insights, some of the most requested skills for 2017 were digital advertising, content creation, content strategy and social networks, which is great news for those who are oriented towards the creative, social and commercial end of the Spectrum. For those who have a more technical mind, there is still a lot of demand and a high-income potential for those who specialize in technology such as SEO and SEM, since this is what can be the basis of what generates profits in any business. Content marketing is based on traffic and anyone with technical knowledge to investigate these patterns is a valuable quality, especially because this type of work is much more advanced with the advent of artificial intelligence. Why choose a career in digital marketing? Digital marketing is a career that has a lot of space for technicians, creatives and business people. There are so many avenues that you can follow; It is best to focus on one or two things that you do better, so you can always learn more from there. If you have a business or communications background, you may want to consider entering the administration. This is a field that changes constantly and is attractive; there is always something new to learn. And if you work in an agency, you will always work with different clients, which means that you will probably never get bored. Beyond this, here are some more reasons to consider this career. There is a gap in digital skills: There is a growing demand for people with digital skills, particularly for those in the middle-income group, specifically soft skills, and according to this study, it is more pronounced in the United States. Therefore, continuing training in this area, even if you are not a technology expert, is a good idea to hold on to the foreseeable future. Versatility: if you choose a professional path or a specialization in this field and decide to pivot later, it is likely that you just need a little training to make the change. In this sense, you can take advantage of existing skills while learning new ones but still stay in the same field. Here there are many options and opportunities for continuous learning, where different skills are combined in different ways. The exchange usually evolves: because the trade grows and changes, there is always something new that attracts attention and can continue and learn, whether or not leading these initiatives or not. Since there will be a variety of specialists working in a particular agency, it is likely that you will work with professionals with a variety of backgrounds, and that everyone will have to come together to develop marketing strategies. Income: when a job has a demand, that means there are more opportunities to negotiate compensation, whether you work in the company or as an independent professional. As long as you “show” your work through the job search process, you can bid more and more the more experience you get. According to the Creative Group, content writers at the beginning of their career will probably start with a salary of at least $ 45,000 and a new SEO specialist will probably get approximately $ 50,000 to start. Be creative: not only are there many opportunities for creatives to do their thing in writing, design and even audio and video production, there is also a lot of space for everyday creativity in a general sense. You will always have to think of new ways to market products, solve problems and attract the public. Train at your own pace: you can start working on building this specific career now, from the comfort of your home and doing it your way. Take online courses, build a blog or website, work on your own social networks, obtain volunteer or independent work, and be on track to create a solid portfolio from the comfort of your own home. For most specialties, there is no need to spend thousands of hours and dollars in the classroom; you can really develop your skills and get training in a way that suits your lifestyle. Work with different people every day: you will always find something new to do in this field and you will have someone new to talk to. Whether it is a new client, a colleague with a notable specialty, or finding fun ways to involve and expand your audience, anyone interested in working with people can reach the social and commercial field of this career. And if it undergoes an additional self-examination, it will stay behind the scenes writing or running on the network. What types of people stand out in this field? All kinds of people can follow a career that touches marketing; It depends on your interests In general, it is not necessary to have a very technical training, although if you know something about web design or coding, it is likely to be ahead of the competition. Because this is such a dynamic field that requires continuous learning, it is necessary to be an entrepreneur, that is, be willing to continually learn new skills and techniques. For this purpose, you must be a creative problem solver. If you are curious, innovative, proactive, a natural, adaptable and creative leader with a good commercial sense; you probably do well in most areas in this field. How do you train as a digital marketing professional? If you already have experience in marketing management, advertising copywriting, Internet development or maybe style, you already have several transferable skills to participate in digital sales. You almost certainly have to start your own personal everything and make a portfolio to make your own distinctive digital presence. It is difficult to be aware of all the latest trends, but getting a solid knowledge of the basic principles of emerging trends such as AI and virtual reality in the context of how they are used for marketing is an excellent place to focus as well..You should definitely make sure your social media streams are consistent with your skills and abilities; In other words, talk about what interests you and learn publicly and as often as you can. Start a blog on Medium and join some Facebook groups in your field of interest. You will also want to look for a complete and reputable training program to obtain official certification in one or more central areas. Once you are officially certified, you will have an advantage among your peers when it comes to looking for satisfying opportunities. If you already have experience in marketing management, advertising copywriting, Internet development or maybe style, you already have several transferable skills to participate in digital sales. You almost certainly have to start your own personal everything and make a portfolio to make your own distinctive digital presence.