fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
Saturday
By: John Allen
Tags: Society, Capitalism, Consumerism, Pressure, Anxiety

“So long as an illusion is not recognized as an error, it has a value precisely as equivalent to reality.” Jean Baudrillard

Illusions

We are living in a sea of illusions, an enormous sea of information that seems to want to control our lives. It’s amorphous, a bulging enormity that threatens to implode under its immense weight. And we are caught withing this writhing massive sea of information. We are now encapsulated within this wealth over stimulating info wanting to gain an upper hand on our psyches. There is also the ongoing “grand narrative’ of what the powers that be want us to fall under its spell in place of the Real. This spell shapes our preferences and choices. Why we want to were X’s line of clothing instead of Z’s. Or a Mercedes instead of a Cadillac. It doesn’t really matter. Our self worth is more than a Gucci or a Karan or a Prada.

This is what I see in our dystopic world of today. We are what we drive or wear. Nothing more than walking billboards for the latest trendy fashion or snazzy car. Grow up a little. It’s all crashing down much sooner than most folk think. Save your time and money for the Real, the real. Both case letters. I don’t have much else to go on as the US collapses underneath us. It started September 11,’01. Where it ends? Peace, The Ol’ Hippy
Consumerism — Why Buy This When You Can Buy That?
By: Chris Wick News
Tags: Recycling, Consumerism, Business, Newwaytowork, Lifestyle

You see the ads on TV and read the papers; you just know it's time to take action. Why? Because it's time for your future self's sake!

The world's population is growing quickly (think 7 billion in ten years). We are filling the land with an out-of-sight, out-of-mind mess (you can't see it, don't know how much you consume, and you certainly don't know how much you waste).

There's a method to recycling, We could be recycling the out-of-sight, out-of-mind mess, but that would require a new way of living. A new attitude.

There's an even better way to recycle by doing only that which will prevent another person from reusing (so to speak). We can recycle by making a commitment to use less energy, buying more local, buying less packaging, using cloth napkins and reusable grocery bags, driving less, taking public transportation, growing your own food in your backyard, using a less gas-the list is very long. And that is recycling.

Recycling is simply taking care of the things your old and reusing new products for new purposes.

Recycling is simply buying less stuff-buy local. That's it. If your town uses a ton of energy (and they probably do) then buy an upgrade, use less energy. This will save not only energy but dollars as well, as energy is a major expense for all households.

If your town uses tons of fossil fuels, then buy a hybrid or an electric vehicle. They are far and away more energy efficient than the gas-powered versions. And if your town is not very energy efficient, then buy an electric vehicle with batteries.

This is not to say that you have to buy a new vehicle and dismantle all your old stuff. You can maintain the current vehicles (such as my hybrid) very well. And yes, you can recycle your old stuff, and you should do so.
Hypothetical Economics: What Would an Extraterrestrial Invasion Mean for the Global Economy?
By: Nava Tavasoli
Tags: Economics, Science Fiction, Consumerism, Space, Aliens

An Alien Invasion? Really?

As it turns out, scientists at NASA say that the likelihood of identifying intelligent life in our universe within the next decade is not as improbable as many believe it to be (McFall-Johnsen 2019).

Jessie Christiansen, a NASA scientist, told Business Insider that, with regards to building the instrumentation needed to identify intelligent life, “There’s high confidence that once we build these instruments, we’ll be able to find signatures of life if they’re out there” (McFall-Johnsen 2019).

Now that’s it’s been established that the idea of foreign life being discovered is real, the question is how likely is it to affect us?

An astrophysicist at the Alder Planetarium in Chicago, Lucianne Walkowicz, told NBC that, “There’s a possibility that if we actively message, with the intention of getting the attention of an intelligent civilization, that the civilization we contact would not necessarily have our best interests in mind,” (Boyle 2017).

Saying that there will certainly be an extraterrestrial invasion on Earth isn’t the most accurate recapitulation of what scientists have been saying. However, it’s important to consider that we don’t know all the facts.

At the end of the day, no individual on Earth is capable of perfectly predicting the likelihood of an alien invasion, even given the current plethora of available resources and information to provide a legitimate background. Until more thorough evidence of extraterrestrial life is brought forth, all that can be done is prepare for the possibilities and examine the current evidence.

While it isn’t exactly probable, it doesn’t necessarily make it impossible.
3 iPhone 11 Deals by Top Consumer Idiosyncrasy
Tags: Consumerism, iPhone, Psychology, Deals And Discounts, Apple

9to5mac.com

Best Trade-In Deal for the I-Want-the-Newest-in-the-Market Philiac

Sign up with Sprint and they’ll lease you the new iPhone for fahree. That’s right free. Plus you get an attractive discount for their monthly service! Hubba hubba!

New iPhones come out regularly and if you’re already thinking ahead, and want to own the next thing, you can lease this year’s iPhone! So if you’re the type who’d rather get the most recent or cutting edge product, this is the deal for you!

More info here: https://www.sprint.com/en/landings/apple/iphone-upgrades.html

cnet.com

Best Trade-In Deal for the Commitment-Phobe

Get $200 bucks back from MasterCard. Everyone knows Verizon but did you know Verizon has an offspring, Visible?

Visible is a prepaid cellphone carrier service using Verizon’s fantastic coverage, and they’re partnering with MasterCard for this year’s iPhone release! Visible is great because they don’t lock you into long-term contracts!!

Buy your new iPhone 11 from Visible, and MasterCard will give you $200. With a minimum 2-month sign-up and flat $40 per month, great incentives here! Especially if you’re not ready to do a long contracts like with the other guys.

More info here: https://www.visible.com

businessinsider.com

Best Trade-In Deal for the Five-Finger-Discount Lover

More like five-zero-percent discount! Yup. 50% off. That’s a whopping half off the actual cost of the iPhone!

T-Mobile will hook you up with the right trade-ins, which vary and provide varying benefits depending on your phone.

Sign up with T-mobile and you can brag to everyone that you bought your iPhone at a special five-finger, that is, five-zero discount.

Thumbs up to that!

More info here: https://www.t-mobile.com/offers/apple-iphone-deals

zanet.com

Best Wireless Chargers for Style-Conscious-and-Quality-Obsessed New iPhone 11 Owner

Love to watch movies on your phone? New iPhones have amazing sound/vision enhancements!

Something like the Altair, a sturdy wireless charging stand, gives the upright support viewing while charging wirelessly.

On your phone so much that you’re needing a charge before the end of the day? Prelude portable wireless charger is the perfect backup charging device.

RedDot Award-winner for product design, Prelude is sleek, chic, compact and packed with power.
B Corp Aims to End Mindless Consumption in E-Commerce
By: Grow Ensemble
Tags: Ecommerce, Social Entrepreneurship, Consumerism, Environment, B Corp

To find the podcast on iTunes, click here.

Firsthand encounters with the devastating effects of climate change inspired Anders Ankarlid, a management consultant with years of experience in e-commerce, to quit management consultancy in November 2018 and instead launch a sustainable and social impact startup called A Good Company.

Since its start in February 2019 in Stockholm, Sweden, A Good Company has expanded into a global company with offices around the world, including Hong Kong, Denmark, and the United Kingdom. Its sustainable everyday products include a stone paper notebook, sketchbook, and pocket diary; bamboo toothbrush; and natural grass pen.

Anders Ankarlid is CEO and co-founder of A Good Company.

A Good Company is all about inspiring people to make more conscious decisions in their everyday lives. One current focus is spreading the word about the unsustainable practice of free returns for online orders and the real implications behind this phenomenon.

A Good Company is a three-pillared organization:

An online shop with sustainable everyday products.

A Good Community, which provides inspiration to kick-start and/or amp up individual climate action.

A Good Foundation, a social impact platform where 4% of the online shop’s sales go toward support sustainable efforts and projects in communities around the globe.

During this Grow Ensemble podcast, Ankarlid discusses how A Good Company was able to find quick success through thoughtful execution; his personal and professional priorities; and the importance of reflection, both during times of crisis and generally. He turned the tables and asked some questions as well, which provided for an insightful back-and-forth conversation about differences in philosophy between Sweden and the United States.
The Angst Beneath the Addict: I, Consumer
By: Sebastian Livaracci
Tags: Addiction, Shopping, Consumerism, Online Shopping, Confessions

After a great many denials, I have come to the conclusion…

I am an addict.

I am not addicted to drugs. No sir!

I am not addicted to alcohol. No, please!

I am not a sex addict. Come on!

I am not addicted to gambling with debts the size of the Pyramids of Giza.

I am addicted to pure consumerism. Simple as that.

I get euphoric when I encounter something that I love: Which is most of the time.

The very act of pressing the ‘Add to cart’ button creates a catharsis that I can neither explain nor do justice in the attempt to do so.

The very act of waiting for the item to land at my doorstep gives me an Existential Crisis-Inducing anxiety

No amount of Valium can cure that form of anxiety. That triple distilled anxiety. That ‘I am you and you are I’ form of anxiety.

The very act of having the item in mine hands after signing the delivery form gives me a high that is unparalleled.

I quickly retreat to my safe place.

Scissor or mine bare hands.

I quickly unwrap the purchased item and marvel at the newest entry to my collection.

I can scarcely remember the feeling of ‘This-will-change-my-life’ that I had Pre-purchase.

Now that I have the item I have arrived at the post-contentment stage of acquisition.

The boredom of accomplishment,

The itch comes back with a vengeance,

I need the next item…

It will change my life…

I go to the bookmarks bar…

All the World Wide Web’s a stage

All the Retail Sites await.

All these Wishlists just waiting to be conquered

And what do we have here?

‘Suggestions based on items you purchased’

Mmmmm. With pleasure. Am I not a gullible person?

Look at these poor souls under

‘Saved for later’

The hunt has begun.

Pre-Purchase assessment

>Credit Card|Check

>>ShippingAddress|Check

>>>ConsumerMojo|Check

All systems are a go.

Image by <a href=”https://pixabay.com/users/StockSnap-894430/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2607114">StockSnap</a> from <a href=”https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2607114">Pixabay</a>
Blow-Up: The Relationship between Identification & Reality
By: Jason Lin 林穎彥
Tags: Film, Reality, Blow Up, Consumerism, Identification

C. Value

The second thing came up was the experience of photographers can not be duplicate by photos. Thomas wanted to re-experience the whole scene, so he kept trying to control everything he could — the woman, the dance steps of the woman and his own confidence. But Thomas was blocked quickly — the woman disappeared after he found out the murder. He tried to arrange all the plans and needs for the photo procedure in the past, but this time, there was not much to do. The lesson was tough for Thomas — whatever he did, the photo he shot will never be the reflection of the reality.

It is a sorted angle of observation of reality which even the photographer could not manage a lot.

The most obvious evidence related to this argument was the guitar fight scene. Every fan seems able to seize the experience if they own the fragment piece of the guitar which broke by the mad guitarist. But after the mess, the fragment turned out to be nothing but garbage. Thomas could not even tell the value of it. This symbol seems like conveying the same message of the dead body which Thomas found on the revisit after the murder had happen. The corpse and the fragment of guitar may stand for the things that were being left after the experience we had gone through and forgot unintentionally. The two symbols are the metaphors of photographs that allure us to keep the memories fresh enough, which is certainly a fantasy.

As photographs give people an imaginary possession of a past that is unreal, they also help people to take possession of space in which they are insecure.

Thomas at last found out nothing he could probably grasp form the experience had already faded away, just like we need to redefined the relationships between humans and photographs, or more further, between humans and the past we had experienced.
Stop Consuming and Start Creating
Tags: Consumerism, Creating Content

Something that I am trying to get better at is creating. I know I have a creative side, but man, it is so hard to bring it out. One of my biggest problems is that I am a HUGE consumer. I binge watch, read, study, learn, etc. — all about something I am interested in.

Is this a problem? And is there something really wrong with binge consuming?

My answer: it depends.

See I believe everyone can be a creator and everyone can be a consumer. It’s a choice. The hard truth is — how bad do you want it?

Now I get it, some people are just born tilted to one side of the scale. But that doesn’t mean you cant lean the opposite way. So what’s stopping you?

For me it’s habits. When I first decided on trying to get into blogging, I binged everything and anything on blogging. After a few months, I realized that I have been too busy trying to learn how, and not actually doing. So I had to look myself in the mirror and start to force a habit.

At the time I was still in the car business. I wanted to really grow my online presence. So I made a list of articles and started to write. I got into the habit of writing an article almost every night. I started to get a little notoriety. My article on LinkedIn ranked in the top spots for “ how to read vehicle titles “

Weird right?

Then I fell off and stopped.

In reality I focused on selling more cars. It worked. I sold more, wrote less — then life happened.

Fast forward to today and I am on the binge watch, read, learn etc. on vlogging. I have 4 videos up at this time, but haven’t uploaded in MONTHS!

So I’m writing this as a way to “look myself I’m the mirror” and change my habits. Will it work? Only one way to find out.

I’m curious if this happens to you? Drop a comment or send me a message.
Those little wants, how little are they?
By: Niranjana Krishnakumar
Tags: Shopping, Consumerism, Wants, Materialism, Lifestyle

We are all materialists.

The girl who window shops for three hours to buy her 39th pair of stilettos that goes with her new tweed dress which she bought a week back as a remedy for her panic attack.

The housewife who finally chooses comfort over conforming to inlaw’s norms decides to get a dozen nighties to save her from the incidents of her linen sarees soaked in her own sweat during summer nights.

The little girl who throws tantrums by not eating her lunch packed in ever silver tiffin box to put her parents in a place where they don’t have a choice but to buy her the ladybird bicycle that she wants. Her father who is steady enough to not budge because he is saving up money to get a modest car for the family.

The environmentalist who buys his Kurtas only from FabIndia and Khadi Commission who sued FabIndia for 500 crores for using the Khadi tag illegally. The US patent companies that perpetually steal India’s intellectual property and every third Indian who desires to get to see America at least once in their lifetime.

The girl who is walking alone at night, talking to her boyfriend on the phone, sliding subtle hints into the conversation about what she wants for her Birthday that is coming up and the amateur thief who in his borrowed Hero Splendour whizzes past that girl and snatches her new One Plus 6.

The trekker who bargains with the paduga woman while trying to get the turquoise studded handbag for the best price and that woman who is stubbornly denying a discount after having made a judgement that he is fat-pocketed. His shiny trekking shoes and the fact that he has spent thousands of rupees to seek pleasure in just visiting the boring hills that is her home made her aware of his looseness in spending money.

The lad who publicly declares that he is a shopaholic and the other who struggles to be a minimalist. We all are materialists. We all are consumers. And that, my friend, is a problem.
Does easy access to loans make things affordable to you?
Tags: Personal Finance, Finance, Consumerism, Money Management, Money

Getting loans has never been easier. More and more banks, NBFCs and fintech startups are making it easier to access loans. Some promising loans with just click of few buttons. You can fulfill most of your needs via a loan, even if you are running short on cash.

Suppose you need to buy a laptop.

No worries. There is a consumer loan (With easy 12 EMIs) which can help you buy that.

Want to buy a house?

No problem. There is a home loan!

Need to upgrade to your dream car?

Again, no problem. A car loan can always help you buy the car you always deserved!

Mobile phone? Vacation? Fashion? Lifestyle? — There is a loan for almost everything!

Need to repay your loans?

Well, there is a loan for this too!

__

(Related — Is ease of borrowing pushing millenials towards debt trap? — Mint)

Contrast this with few years or decades back. Back then, access to credit was limited. Most of the people had to save before buying something (Not to glorify the past. Most of the human population is arguably much better now than any time in history)!

Average salaries in today’s time is much more than what it was earlier — they have probably risen faster than cost of things in general — at least in last few decades. Yet, lot of us, especially millennials are struggling to make ends meet and resorting to various kinds of (often unnecessary) loans!!

Affordability of things, for a lot of people, is defined by access and eligibility for loans, rather than ability to pay for it upfront.

(Related — Book — Who Me, Poor?: How India’s Youth are Living in Urban Poverty to Make it Big — by Gayatri Jayaraman)

Most of these things are not basic necessities, but have somehow become “necessities”, thanks to the lifestyle needs and easy access to loans.

At what cost this comes at?

For a lot of loan addicts, this may come at a cost of future financial health. While taking a loan, you are essentially borrowing from a future self. Unless there is change in financial habits (or maybe a windfall gain!) this debt cycle may not abate. In long run, this can have serious financial implications on your savings, investments, kids education, and retirement planning. We usually tend to underestimate how much money may be needed!

Lifestyle is a choice. It is your choice whether to save and invest or borrow and chase lifestyle. Each come with their own set of benefits & drawbacks!
The Concept of Minimalism
Tags: Michael Landy, Minimalism, Consumerism

The Concept of Minimalism

Is it a dark passionate to have many possessions? Or should we call it a highly consumerism manner which persuades us to afford more than we need? Recently, I’ve asked those kind of questions after watching "Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things" which focuses minimalist movement promoted by two friends Joshua and Ryan.

Their story starts with an excessive consumerism after they went from over-stressed lives that drove them the madness of buying everything they don’t need and that was the breaking point. The manner of these two men is to buy everything they wish as if they needed that physical supplies and it is likewise the artist Micheal Landy who also examined the stages of consumerism and decided to destroy all his possessions in a work he called "Break Down".(To have deeper information you can visit: https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/jan/27/like-witnessing-my-own-funeral-michael-landy-shredding-everything-owned-yba-break-down)

Landy catalogued separate items he had and held an exhebition in an empty department store. After all those steps, he destroyed everything he’d ever owned, right down to his last sock, his passport and even his beloved car.

Nowadays the manner of consumerism in the world has grown enormously. Nevertheless, there are some people (like Landy, Ryan, Joshua) who try to get through the process of minimalism and the concept of minimalism gained popularity. What is the concept of minimalism and why do people apply this concept to their lives radically?

Minimalism is a simple living concept which emphasizes "simplicity, clarity and singleness". As people apply it to their lives, it can be said that there are no single set of rules because the process should be personal and unique. The central notion to focus on is identifying the things we most value and then removing everything that distracts us from them. It aims to gain the feeling of freedom by letting go of the things that don’t bring value to our lives. Individuals and groups in favour of consumerism may believe that buying is happiness but the concept of minimalism is worth giving a try. Thinking how many possessions we own and which ones we really need can be a good start in the concept of minimalism. Imagine you are allowed to keep only three of your possessions, which would you choose? I challenge you to remove the things you don’t need and see how your life will change.
Working as a Freelancer on Giggzy
By: Giggzy Llc
Tags: Giggzy Freelance, Working As Freelancer, Freelancer

Giggzy is one of the leading platforms for freelancers in the Middle East and North Africa where you can find a huge number of freelancing folks with a large variety of different work cultures. You can sign up as a freelancer for free or find freelancers to get your work done.

After the COVID pandemic situation, many people lost their daily jobs and we hold an initiative to protect people from an economical pandemic coming after the situation. We are trying to reach more and more people who need jobs and freelancers. The best part about this platform is that you can get hired remotely so that you can work from anywhere and anytime in the world without getting bored of the same routine and office place or meet your client in person and get hired locally for on-site projects such as home tutoring, music teaching, sports and fitness jobs, home nurse and so on. Let’s discuss some segments we cover.

1. Digital Nomad: Digital Nomad is a term that is getting famous in the last few years where people are traveling to the places they dreamt of and working from there. All you need is a good internet connection and your working device. That’s all you are good to go as a Digital Nomad. We offer you to be a digital nomad by using our services at a decent price for your works. Regardless of your genre, you can apply for any kind of segment in the remote work culture.

2. A Replacement of Full-time jobs: You can say this is a good replacement for your full-time job because if you check this website you will find a lot of clients who are searing and offering a good amount of money for your work. Just upload your profile and set the suitable price of your work and you are good to go. Work as long as you want then rest as long as you want, it’s up to you. If you work hard or your work deserves good money, then you will earn more than your full-time job but working as a freelancer.

3. Authenticity: All the profiles here are verified and double-checked so no one can scam you. If you check you will see a lot of happy clients and freelancers on this website.

4. Scopes for Artists: Here you will find a huge scope if you are an artist regardless of genre. The distribution of works is the same as other famous remote works. We have worked for artists, hand paint artists, sketch artists, actors, musicians, mixing engineers, composers, singers, music producers, voice-over artists, etc.
What is Freelancer?, Best freelancing sites? , Types of roles?, How to write a bid?
By: Pankaj Sharma
Tags: Upwork, Make Money Online, Freelancing, Freelancers, Freelance

What is Freelancer ?

Freelancer is an online job that provides a means for employers and freelancers around the world to collaborate for mutual benefit. Individuals or businesses in need of skilled support for short- or long-term projects can post those projects and allow freelancers to submit bids to complete the work.

Why I should start freelancing?

Freelancing is your own small business where you deal with different clients and completes their projects. Everyone wants to become boss work, freelancing gives you that opportunity to enhance your hidden capabilities.

you can easily perform your task from anywhere in the world at any time, with no limitations.

Your earning depends on your skills, how you help the client by your expertise and solve the problem effectively.

You can start freelancing without any investment, many freelancing platforms give you opportunity to begin freelancing journey from zero.

What are the best freelancing sites?

toptal:– If you are a freelancer and you want to join Toptal, you will have to go through screening.

upwork.com: It is currently the largest freelance platform on the market, With more than 4 million clients. The freelancer has the possibility to apply to short and long-term jobs, work by the hour, or by the complete project.

99designs is a platform for freelance designers to complete contests and get feedback as clients choose the best ones.

Freelancer: Unlike most of the other platforms it offers millions of projects, Freelancer allows you to compete with other freelancers in contests to prove your skills. If you’re competitive and confident in your expertise, it’s a great way to showcase your abilities and attract more clients.

Craigslist : Craigslist is a platform for buying and selling miscellaneous things and also a great source of freelance jobs.

Project4hire : Project4hire is great for coders, consultants, designers and more to makes it easy to identify jobs that suit your skills.

Guru : This site lets you easily showcase your past work experience and offers a daily job-matching feature to make sure you don’t miss out on any good opportunities.

Freelance Writing Gigs : Whether you’re a writer, editor, blogger, publisher or any combination of those, Freelance Writing Gigs is a great option for freelancers who have a way with words.

Peopleperhour : This is a great platform, focusing on freelancing for web projects. If anybody is designer, web developer, SEO specialist, etc., peopleperhour is definitely worth checking out. Click here to read.
Great Alternatives to Payoneer for Nomads
By: Matt Hallowes
Tags: Digital Nomads, Payoneer, Freelancers, Banking, Payments

As a freelancer, I use a combination of Payoneer and PayPal to get paid.

For the most part, this combination works well.

I get paid in PayPal and then transfer the money to my Payoneer account. I then use my Payoneer card to make payments and draw money where ever I am in the world.

Payoneer’s Limitations

There are some limitations to what you can do with Payoneer. As it’s a prepaid card and not a bank account, payment providers like Stripe don’t accept Payoneer as a payout method.

Without Stripe, you can’t get paid for your writing efforts on Medium or process payments on ClickFunnels, Shopify, etc.

The one thing Payoneer works well for is its easy linking to affiliate networks including Amazon.

But Payoneer’s fees can be a drain on your finances. You get charged for everything you do. It’s annoying.

That’s why I was pleased to find two alternatives to Payoneer. I have just signed up for these services, but I have read nothing but rave reviews from other freelancers and nomads.

Payoneer Alternative №1 — N26

The first alternative I have found to Payoneer is N26.

N26 started as a German bank but have since expanded into Europe, the UK, and the US.

The signup process is done online so; you don’t need to go into a physical bank.

You will, however, need an address in Europe, the UK or the US. You can use a mail forwarding address which is very easy to set up.

Features:

No monthly/yearly costs

No set-up cost

1.7% international ATM fees

No foreign transaction fees

Mobile app for account management

N26 is a proper current account which means you can link to a Stripe account.

Payoneer Alternative №2 — Monzo

Monzo works very similar to N26 except they are only located in the UK.

Sign up takes a matter of minutes and everything is done using their app. Mine took less than 5 mins, and my card is due to arrive in a few days.

Like N26, Monzo requires you to have a local address. You also need a UK mobile number to set up the account.

Features:

No foreign exchange fees when paying with card internationally

Your first £200 of international ATM withdrawals are free.

The account is compatible with Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Advanced mobile app with budgeting features.

Conclusion

Just a quick post for those who are frustrated with Payoneer’s limitations and excessive fees.
Online Portals as Solution for Fashion Designing Jobs
By: Uepaki, Online Marketplace For Graphic Artists
Tags: Jobs, Fashion Designing, Freelancers, Online, Fashion

Fashion world is a big and growing industry today. Almost everyone youngster is attracted to this industry and wants to carve a niche for themselves. However, even though there may be a good craze for the same, it is always a challenge to get the right platform. So, if you are into fashion designing it is obvious that you would be in need of a job, especially Online Fashion Designing jobs which have credibility and would give you name and fame as well. The good news is, now there are platforms which are online which can help you showcase your talent in the best possible way.

For those who are already established in fashion designing to those who are just out of fashion design school trying to find a footing, it is important that your designs get the recognition that they deserve, For this it is important that they are displayed in the right medium. For this an online platform which would support a designer in every way possible is very much needed. So, look for the online platform which offers scope to designer operating from stores to those who work as freelancer and covers every aspect of fashion designing.

Finding a platform as this would help you in many ways:

a scope o display your capability and talent

2. improved scope of getting more work and customers

3. an opportunity to compete with fellow designers

4. get new fashion ideas and trends

5. improve on your innovation and skills

6. scope of branding

This would give an overall advantage to you as a designer and give you the recognition that you deserve but may be could not identify the right way by which it could be done.

So, a portal for designers like UEPAKI is the right avenue to give wings to your desires of being a designer. Make best use of the portal to let the world know your capabilities as a designer and bag good designing opportunities as well.
Dubai introduces new freelance work permits for these profession…
By: Freelance Work In Dubai
Tags: Freelancing, Freelancers, Work Permit Dubai

Freelance work permit dubai: Dubai web town (DIC) on Wed launched a replacement freelance allow for individuals operating within thetechnology sectors, which can assist professionals to extend their financial gain sources and additionally facilitatethe country attract international and native talent.

The freelance package prices Dh7,500 each year, that is comprehensive of the freelancer allow and access to the business centre. If the individual desires a visa, DIC can facilitate during this regard through the method.

Dubai Media town and Dubai information Park had additionally launched an identical package some months back, targeted at education and media sectors. it absolutely was additionally priced at same rate.

Technology professionals within the domains of internet, mobile, software system development and design, IT and telecommunication networking, knowledge science and analytics, and client service, in addition as stakeholders providing technical support and connected services ar eligible to use for freelance package.

#Freelance_work_permit_dubai

The freelancers can have the pliability to decide on the corporate they work with, the comes they work on, and manage their own schedule.

It is calculable that there ar around a hundred,000 authorised freelancers paid on a short-run contract basis. Associate in Nursing increasing range of corporations ar providing versatile work schedules and also the choice of engaging from home, that has not solely helped increase productivity levels however additionally brought down operational prices.

“There isn’t any doubt that independence breeds and encourages creativeness and innovation. The technology landscape in Dubai is evolving at exciting speed. it’s imperative that companies maintain with the pace at thattechnology is currently being developed and consumed. so as to remain relevant, competitive and profitable, businesses have to be compelled to make sure that they operate with a versatile business model, one that embraces the thought of freelance talent. GoFreelance is one such resolution that companies will profit of to stayup with the constant demand for talent,” aforementioned Ammar Al leader, decision maker of Dubai web townand Dubai source town.

Saadia Zahidi, head of Centre for the New Economy and Society at World Economic Forum, aforementionedsoftware system and app developers/analysis, knowledge analysts and scientists are the rising jobs within theMena region within the next four years whereas analytical thinking and innovation, technology, style and programming, system analysis and analysis are the abilities that may most demand within the region by 2022.

She stressed that a lot of youth within the region have employment on paper that matches with their supposed degree however they do not get jobs as a result of they do not have proper of skills — they do not shrewdness to figure as team, a way to gift themselves.
Freelance Digitizer
By: Asad Zubair
Tags: Embroidery Digitizing, Embroidery, Freelancing, Freelancers

Freelance Digitizer:

Over many years, thousands of people have asked me about embroidery digitizing means. As the name implies, embroidery digitizing is tracing an image by using stitches and later turning it into embroidery files.

Digitizing refers to the process of changing existing artwork into an embroidery design file. It can be accomplished with the help of your embroidery software to add stitches to the artwork. In other words, embroidery digitizing is the process of using software for embroidery to create a machine-embroidered file. A sequence of commands will inform your machine how you would like to make that design.

While this explanation may seem simple, there’s more to embroidery digitizing than meets the eye. The process of digitizing embroidery is comparable to painting using stitches. Some guidelines must be adhered to. Digitalizing is all about knowing the physical characteristics of machine embroidery. It is also possible to learn how to utilize digitizing software to get the desired results. The most important part of learning lies in deciding on the best kind of stitch and the right direction.

What can I digitize?

This is the best part. You can digitize virtually every image or design to create your embroidery design.

It is possible to digitize virtually every image, be it an artwork by a child or a logo for an organization or one you see online.

As the observer, I started to look at everyday objects as stitches. So I thought about ways I could digitize them. I would use the matchbox as an example and sketch out a strategy to digitize the logo.

Be aware that there are some limitations. Machine embroidery is less flexible than printing. It is dealing with physical media such as thread or fabric. But, the Mona Lisa cannot be digitalized on a 2-inch square and expect the same detail.

Are you a talented artist to digitize?

Another one I receive is, “Do I have to be an artist to digitize my designs for embroidery digitally?” The answer is:

It is not necessary to be an artist to become a digitizer.

If you know the fundamentals of digitizing, it’s similar to drawing using stitches. I’m not able to draw stick figures. I’m not an artist, I believe myself to be creative. It is possible to be imaginative and not be an artist. Every single machine embroidery enthusiast I’ve met is one I have considered to be to be creative. That means that you can be a digitizer like everyone else.
How Freelancers Can Help Your Business Grow
By: Richard Simon
Tags: Leadership, Rick Simon Chicago, Business Growth, Freelancers, Business Growth Tips

There was a time when hiring a freelancer was an uncommon idea, to the point many people hadn’t heard of it. Today, more people are working as freelancers, and more people are taking advantage of the benefits this can mean for their business.

While many large and established companies benefit from freelancers, growing businesses have some of the most to gain from the value add freelancers can offer a company.

What’s so great about hiring freelancers to grow your business?

Do you need some paperwork to be copy edited? Do you need someone to start managing your social media calendar for you today? Have you been putting off a data management project that has now become a problem?

Sometimes you don’t have anyone on staff who knows how to handle this for you. Sometimes your team doesn’t have the time. Sometimes your business is a one-person operation, and you’re too busy right now.

You can find and hire a freelancer today, skipping a lengthy hiring process with long-term consequences. When you bring on an employee, they may not be a good fit for your company, their compensation is likely to include insurance benefits, and you’ll probably need to provide them with whatever equipment they need to do their job. There’s a commitment to keeping them on staff. These are all problems you won’t have bringing on a freelancer to handle a task today. A freelancer can be hired for a short term project. If they work out well, you may consider hiring them again, but there’s no obligation to do so. You’re not responsible for providing benefits to a freelancer outside of their contract’s stipulations.

Freelancers are often niche workers. Their experience is specialized in particular tasks. You can bring on a web developer specialized in apps specifically for e-commerce shops in the pet industry. Or someone with social media expertise.

One of the best ways to add value to your business is by expanding the skillset on staff. Freelancers are a great way to accomplish a greater variety of tasks.

These are highly skilled workers in their field. The more complicated the task, the more a freelancer may charge. However, when hiring freelancers for your business , you’re avoiding the overhead of keeping an employee on staff and in an office. You also benefit from the freelancer’s specialized knowledge in the industry, which may lead to cost-saving measures.

In the past, employers would hire temporary staff by using dedicated agencies, paying high fees, and getting someone to take care of a task. This is impersonal. In contrast, when you hire a freelancer, they have the reputation of their own work at stake. They are more invested, and this can mean a greater value in their work.

H iring freelancers can sound like an expensive idea. In practice, the tasks they get done with the lack of overhead and flexibility in their schedules can mean cost-effective growth for your business.
how you doing?
By: Matthew Knight
Tags: Self Employed, Mental Health, Freelancers, Future Of Work

how you doing?

When you’re working for yourself or by yourself — we know the challenges you face are significant.

The UK has woken up to the importance of workplace wellbeing. Employers are doing more than ever to support their employees — yet over 15% of the UK workforce does not have an employer. That’s over 5 million people, who have to support themselves.

If you’re self-employed, you’ve taken on responsibility for not only doing the work, but also the accounts, the invoicing, the marketing, the sales, the admin, making the tea and buying the biscuits — and it’s often easy to forget to add your own wellbeing to the to-do list.

45% of freelancers say they hadn’t considered their mental health before taking the leap into self-employment, and over 60% say that poor mental health has had a negative impact on their ability to work.

We must take responsibility for our own emotional wellbeing, design how to work happy and healthy. Whilst there are lots of things outside of our control — there are many things which we can do to make sure we’re working safely.

So we’ve written a guide which offers some tangible ways to look after your mental health when you’re self-employed, rooted in insights gathered from the Leapers community and our research with over 500 freelancers globally.

It’s a living book, which means we’ll update it regularly with new things we discover and learn as our community grows, so please share with us your own suggestions of things you’ve found helpful, and we’ll include it in future editions.

Download the ebook here: https://leapers.co/howyoudoing
Got a difficult client on your hands? Here’s how to deal without losing your cool
By: Helen Wallace
Tags: Freelancing, Freelancers, Solopreneur, Freelance Tips, Freelance

When you are a freelancer, your job is a client-facing one. In many conventional, permanent roles, you can avoid them and let the higher-ups do the talking. But when you are your own boss, you are handling the client’s wants and needs on your own. And while some of them will be a breeze to work with (prompt feedback, listening to your ideas and trusting your judgement), others might test your patience and make you question your life — and career — choices.

It’s a tricky and unpleasant situation that all freelancers either have dealt or will at some point deal, with. But it doesn’t have to get out of control and cause you sleepless nights. Here are four ways to handle it.

1. Be clear on deliverables

Before you even do a stitch of work for a new client, you should really have a contract in place. Before you sign it, make sure that you and the client are on the same page when it comes to what is expected of you. This way you have it down in black and white, and can refer back to it if you feel as though it is being breached or that the client is overstepping the mark.

2. Flag issues early

Have questions or concerns about the work, your role, your responsibilities or your deadline? Speak up, and do so sooner rather than later. Have a calm chat with the client and let them know what you are worried about or flag any issues you foresee down the line. This way both parties are able to make a plan of how to tackle the project going forward.

3. Communicate regularly

Is the project you are working on a long-term one? Then it’s good form to keep the client in the loop and updated as to where you are in the process. This can be via a weekly email or a phone call. This can also serve as an opportunity to remind them of anything outstanding on their side, such as sign-offs or approval, that you might need in order to meet your deadline.

4. If necessary, walk away

Just like in our personal lives, business relationships can also be — or become — toxic. This is why it’s important to be able to see when it’s time to call it quits. This is a rare occurrence but, if it becomes impossible to work with or produce good work for them, it’s best that you resign from your contract (while, of course, offering to stay on top of things until they have found a suitable replacement). Good luck!
‘Should I be getting paid for that?’ Here’s how to know when you should be charging extra 💸
By: Helen Wallace
Tags: Freelancing, Freelancers, Solopreneur, Freelance Tips, Freelance

We all know how it goes: you and the client have come to a mutual understanding around what your duties and deliverables are, the contract has been signed and you are diligently doing your thing. Then, all of a sudden, additional, ad hoc jobs start being thrown at you left, right and centre that seem to be over and above the agreed-upon workload, or there are last-minute changes to your due date or project timeline.

When this happens, you really have two options: you can either suck it up, do the extra work and vow never to do business with them again. Or you can make sure that your contract states that you will require a fee for additional work done or in the event that the deadline is brought forward. Forewarned is forearmed!

Want to know when, exactly, you should be charging extra? Here are four frequently-occurring scenarios that you might not be getting paid for, but should.

1. Meetings

Meetings are the bane of many people’s existence, whether they happen via video call or in an office. While some people thrive on the bouncing back-and-forth of ideas that meetings can bring, others feel that they are usually a waste of time, and much of the agenda could be handled over email. Because meetings can be time-consuming, agree to touch base regularly at a set time with your client. If they require any more face time, you can charge them as per your hourly rate.

2. Timeline changes

Generally, when you start a new project, you will know from the outset what is required of you and by when you have to have submitted it, giving you an end date to work towards. If the client, for whatever reason, needs you to speed up the pace and brings the submission date forward, you should consider charging them a rush fee. This will compensate for the extra effort (sleepless nights and work weekends) you will need to put in to finish the job.

3. Revisions

Some clients will think that you are the bee’s knees and trust you and your work implicitly, giving the green light on most or all of your work. Others, however, might have trust issues or trauma from past experiences and require you to do a lot of revisions to be able to capture ‘their vision’. Decide upfront how many rounds of revisions you will do as part of your set fee (for most freelancers this is between one and two rounds) and charge extra, and in accordance with your hourly rate, if more are required.

4. Research

Even the most experienced and well-rounded solopreneur will have to do some research before they get to work. This is because no two projects are the same, and thorough investigation as to what the client wants, what’s current and what the competition is up to will be necessary before you can get cracking. Include this as part of your upfront fees but, in the event that further or *intensive* research is necessary, you might want to charge your hourly rate for your troubles.