Pros And Cons Of An Accounting Career

# Student Sector
# Job Tips

Pros And Cons Of An Accounting Career

by
David Blog

Oct 17, 2019

at 12:53 PM

As is everything in life, accounting careers have pros and cons. The truth of the matter is that there is no good or bad in the career, rather than if it is a career that fits your personality or not.

Think of it like buying a new vehicle. Some people prefer motorcycles for efficiency, some prefer sedans for speed and performance, some prefer SUVs for space and comfort. There is no good and bad, just if it “ngams” the person.

Likewise, what you’ll think of an accounting career depends on your personality, working style and life priorities. Once you understand the possible pros and cons of an accounting career, you can make an informed decision.

So it beckons the question, is accounting a good major and career for you to pursue? Take a look at these pros and cons of accounting to steer yourself in the right direction.

Pros of an accounting career

There’s a lot to love about a career in accounting. Learn more about a few of the perks you can expect by pursuing this profession.

1. There is a clear career path

In this career, you will learn practical skills about calculating and analyzing costs for companies, which gives you a more defined career path compared to someone who studied language or history where the potential career outcomes are harder to define.

If you choose to pursue an accounting degree, you’ll have a pretty solid idea of where your career will take you. Though there are many different types of accountants in the field, the duties you’ll have and skills you’ll use will be generally the same, meaning you know what you’re signing up for.

2. It’s a stable and growing job field

Accounting jobs will ALWAYS be in demand.

Every business needs an accountant or a team of them to keep the company going.

Even the average person has to hire an accountant from time to time.

The job prospects in accounting are projected to grow in the coming years, as long as people need help with taxes and as long as businesses exist, there will be a need for accountants.

It is actually one of the fastest growing and in demand jobs in Malaysia!

3. You’ll have the potential for professional growth

After graduation, you might begin as an entry-level associate, but the potential for growth can be great.

Many accounting graduates will start as staff accountants, junior auditors in public accounting or assistants in the controller’s office in private accounting as they begin to plot their career paths.

After getting established and gaining experience, career advancement can be achieved through on-the-job performance and additional education or certifications, like becoming a
Certified Professional Accountant
 (CPA).

4. The earning potential is great

Like anyone, you want a career that allows you to provide for yourself and your family. So how does an accounting career stack up?

The average salary for an accountant with some experience in Malaysia goes up to RM72,500 a year, or roughly RM6,000 a month.

More experienced accountants (more than 5-years experience) may earn 6 digits a year.

Additionally, many full-time accountants receive great benefits such as healthcare, vacation time, retirement plans and more.

5. You can work where you want to work

Where would you like to live? Semenanjung, Sabah and Sarawak or somewhere in between? Big city or small town? In a mountain range or by the ocean?

With some career fields, you may need to uproot your life and move to an industry hub to find work.

Accounting, however, tends to be everywhere. From farmers to government organizations to software development companies, seemingly everyone could use the services of an accountant.

This gives accountants a fair amount of flexibility when it comes to choosing where they want to settle down.

6. There is entrepreneurial potential

Starting your own business is the same option in every profession. It’s highly unlikely that a pilot will ever launch their own airline, but accountants establish their own firms routinely.

The dream of being your own boss is alive and well in the profession of accounting. If you have some of that entrepreneurial spirit, starting an accounting firm could be a great way to advance your career.

Starting an accounting firm, like starting any business, has its risks and may not be for everyone, but it’s definitely good to have this as an option.

Cons of an accounting career

Just like any industry, working in accounting does have its drawbacks. Get a taste of some of the less appealing factors so you can decide if it’s the right fit.

1. The education is ongoing

If you become an accountant, the learning doesn’t stop once you’ve earned your degree.

To progress in your career, you’ll need to plan on continuing education—at least to keep up with changes in the industry and important certifications.

There are different types of certifications and they all take a lot of time and effort to achieve. You need to do research on which is the best certificate to take and matches your career progression the best if you want to keep increasing your salary and position.

2. The work can seem dull

How many world-famous accountants do you know of? If you’re struggling to think of one, there’s a reason for that—accounting isn’t usually seen as a “glamorous” field.

But recognition and glitz aren’t everything. The day-to-day work requires a lot of investigating and math, which can be boring to some but interesting to others.

This is one of those questions in which you’ll need to look within yourself and answer honestly about what works for you. Learning more about what accountants do on a daily basis will help you determine whether or not the work appeals to you.

3. There is a busy season

Accounting is typically a standard 9-to-5 job, except for certain times of the year with impending deadlines. The most notable deadline is April 30 for tax accountants. For most tax accountants, the heavy lifting starts after New Year’s Day right up to April 30.

During the busy season, long days and weekend work become the norm as accountants work to get their clients’ finances in order. But the plus side is that things slow down significantly after that time period. In this way accounting careers offer some variety in the yearly schedule.

4. The work can be stressful

When you’re responsible for an organization’s finances, there is bound to be some pressure. It’s just part of the game.

That pressure and stress can have an impact on your overall mental health, and deserves consideration.

These negative experiences have a lot to do with where an accountant works and the specifics of their roles. It’s a safe bet to say, the more important your position is and the more money you work with, the more pressure you will face on the job.

 But whether that pressure results in negative levels of stress depends on your personality.

Try to honestly assess your attitude toward pressure and heavy workloads. If you don’t stress easy or don’t mind being a little high-strung, working as an accountant might not bother you.

If you know you’re easily stressed, it’s possible that an accounting career isn’t the ideal choice for you.

So, is accounting a good career choice for you?

Now that you’ve got a better grasp of the pros and cons of an accounting career, take the time to evaluate whether this is the field for you. If the pros are outweighing the cons, you might want to take a closer look at how to prepare yourself for a job in this field.

Ask yourself, are you interested and keen on becoming an accountant?

If yes, then we will provide you the opportunity to walk this career path
HERE!


# Lifestyle
# Life Hack

How To Make Your Mornings More Productive (According To Science)

by
David Blog

Oct 17, 2019

at 1:57 PM

Let’s be honest, who doesn’t hate their alarm clocks? Everyone does and it disrupts our beautiful, comfortable sleep. When we get woken up in the morning, we are already put in a bad mood and then the whole day feels ruined then we become unproductive. Yet actually, mornings are when you are at your most productive and finding a morning routine that starts your day off right to maximize that productivity is a great strategy in leading a more time-efficient and healthy life.

According to research, the
first three hours of your day are going to be the most focused
. If you waste these three hours, the remainder of the day is going to also suffer, as you may find yourself catching up during a time when your brain is just not as capable as it was before lunch. So, how do you ensure that you make the most of those first three hours of the day? Follow these three simple tips to establish a morning routine that will get you moving in the right direction straight away:

1. Get a good night's sleep

As obvious as it may sound, most tend to forget that a good morning starts the night before. According to the National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute,
sleep is vital to brain function, emotional well-being, and overall health
. And although the amount of sleep you need is somewhat individual, 7-8 hours remains the recommended amount for most people. Ways to get a good night's sleep include going to sleep at the same time, limiting electronic use just before bedtime, reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption before bed (or all liquids for that matter), and practicing ways to clear your mind.

2. Wake up at the same time each morning (and preferably early)

Like going to bed at the same time,
establishing a standard time to get up
 helps your body and mind develop a routine that allows you the time to practice the next tips below. Of course, this only works if you get up early enough to where you are not rushing out the door at the last minute while eating a breakfast bar. Determine how much time you need in the morning to get ready and add 15-20 minutes and do not hit snooze. The extra time provides a cushion that will keep you peaceful and centered.

3. Be positive and mindful (right when you wake up)

Think of the morning as setting the stage for the rest of your day. Starting off with something
positive and mindful
 places you on a pathway to engage with your tasks with more enthusiasm and energy. Focus on yourself and enjoy your surroundings. Read an inspirational book or listen to your favorite music or podcast. Regardless of what you choose, take the first 15 minutes of the day to put yourself in a positive and ultimately good mood.

Ultimately, how we approach the morning is as individual as we are. However, by just following these 3 simple and effective recommendations, most of us can capitalize on our mornings and develop a routine that will make us the best we can be at work or at home. Now, it's time to act.


# Lifestyle
# Job Tips

5 Things We Can Learn From Trump (On How To Sell An Idea)

by
David Blog

Oct 17, 2019

at 4:29 PM

Everyone of us knows Donald Trump. A majority of us don’t like the guy, and it’s understandable why, but it is also undeniable that regardless of what he does and how he does it, his methods work. So, here’s what we can learn from Donald Trump on how to effectively pitch ideas to people.

1. Framing.

One thing Trump has mastered is the art of providing excellent answers to questions that are not asked. Regardless if he is responding to a question or starting a dialogue, he sets his own pacing and narrative. He frames his ideas to make it easy for anybody to understand.

Framing the market opportunity is a crucial part of raising money. Most people will decline your idea if they think your product’s market potential is not enough. Proper framing and positioning can be the difference between a big reaction such as “WOW WHEN DO WE START!” and “Meh, not interested.” For example, if GrabFood had 2 slogans “buy food online” or “get all your favourite food delivered to your doorstep with a press of a button”, which one sounds better?

2. Repetition.

Trump has a habit of always repeating his messages over and over again. While it is widely known that repetition is one of the oldest tricks in the book, Trump still sticks to it and keeps on repeating themes and keywords. Anyone listening will not only remember his key points, but might be more likely to believe them, given how many times it has been highlighted.

It is often suggested that what you say first and last matters the most, and everything else is just a filler. It is understandable for people to feel this way as they listen to many ideas a week, especially if they’re investors and bosses. For the greatest impact, entrepreneurs should make powerful introductions and endings to empower their overall message.

3. Authenticity.

Like him or not, what you see is what you get with Trump. He doesn’t care what people think and will say his mind without filtering his language, opinions and tone of voice. His authenticity makes him human and understandable to everyone. In this way, a billionaire somehow has convinced the public that he feels how they feel like, is one of them and is fighting for them. Why? He taps into basic emotions. People relate to his feelings about international relations, national security and economic issues.

When you are pitching your ideas, people often look for personal stories, one that people can relate to. They want to know what led you to this idea, and why you are so passionate about it. Saying you hope to be rich and famous doesnt work, but connecting to an issue on a personal level can go a long way. It demonstrates your understanding of the problem and your passion for fixing it.

4. Confidence.

Nobody will EVER say Trump is humble, and many see him as straight up arrogant. His supporters see something else, a person who is highly confident in his own abilities to get things done. Trump’s confidence has allowed him to argue with people on topics where his supporting facts are iffy at best.

While this might seem to contradict the idea of being genuine, these two characteristics can coexist in a delicate balance. For example, in fundraising, venture capitalists look for entrepreneurs who believe they can change the status quo and go up against all odds to build something of value. Do they really know they can do it? Of course not. But the ability to infect others with a can-do attitude and help them visualize success is key to minimizing perceived risks.

5. Props.

It’s difficult to not notice the visual cues Trump uses to reinforce the ideology he wishes to create. Whether it is the red tie which shows power, camera shots of his beautiful wife which shows he is a ladies’ man, or the scenery of his children which shows he has a family like everybody else. Trump and his strategists choose these visuals to tell a larger story without using any words.

Incorporating appropriate props during your pitching meeting can be equally useful. If you have built a product based on delivering a great user experience, show screenshots or a prototype. If you have done something more tangible, bring some samples with you. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

As you prepare for your next meeting to pitch your idea, keep in mind it's not only what you say but also how you say it. The right combination can make the difference to secure an investor's vote.


# Student Sector
# Job Tips

10 Types Of Accountants (And What They Do)

by
David Blog

Oct 17, 2019

at 4:51 PM

Not a lot of people know what accountants do other than calculating, so building off from
this article
, here are 10 types of accountants and what they do!

1. Financial accounting

Financial accountants track a company or client’s financial transactions, summarize them and generate financial reports or statements.

Company shareholders are then able to assess the value of a company based on these documents.

2. Managerial accounting

Managerial accountants track information needed for management of a company in order for the company to make informed operational and strategic decisions.

3. Cost accounting

Cost accountants determine the costs of products and services by analyzing records and depreciation data.

They classify and record all operating costs so management can control expenditures and may also assist in making management decisions.

4. Tax accounting

Tax accountants prepare federal, state or local tax returns for individuals or organizations according to prescribed rates, laws and regulations.

Tax accountants will often specialize even further in an area such as corporate, individual income or property tax.

5. Government accounting

Government accountants exist at the federal, state and local level. At the federal level, they may work to investigate white-collar crime or manage public funds.

At the state and local levels, they may work to manage use of local revenues, investigate fraud and perform lower-level audits.

6. Nonprofit accounting

Nonprofit accountants assess their organization’s financial situation.

Their goal is not to maximize profits, but to minimize costs and maximize their service to society, which distinguishes them from accountants employed by for-profit companies.

7. Forensic accounting

Forensic accountants work as investigatory accounting professionals.

They often work in conjunction with an ongoing or anticipated legal issue and are charged with uprooting questionable financial data and uncovering fraud, embezzlement, money laundering and other financial misconducts.

8. International accounting

International accountants work with companies or organizations that conduct business internationally.

They may work to recast foreign financial statements to align with the U.S.
generally accepted accounting principles
 (GAAP). They also determine what these statements reveal based on knowledge of the foreign country’s economic and cultural atmosphere.

9. Accounting information system services

Accounting information system professionals generally have an educational background of general business as well as information systems.

They can work in a variety of positions including systems auditors, consultants and accountants. They may help companies develop accounting information systems, assess the data within the systems or make it available to other accounting professionals.

10. Auditing & assurance services

Assurance service providers
 review several types of documents such as loans, contracts or websites to certify they are correct.

An assurance provider may work with financial or non-financial documents, whereas
auditors
 work strictly with financial records.

Auditors may work internally or as a third-party service to ensure an organization’s financial records are accurate, complete and compliant under federal law.


How To Overcome Disappointment

# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Job Tips

How To Overcome Disappointment

by
David Blog

Oct 21, 2019

at 11:48 AM

In life, there are a lot of ups and downs. Failure is inevitable, and it is a learning experience we all must face. With failure will always come disappointment, however one must not wallow in this disappointment if they are striving to move forward. It is easier said than done, especially when the overwhelming feeling looms over you, and you make excuses to avoid disappointment or let it overcome you. So here are 8 tips on how to get over disappointment and making excuses!

1. Setting A Sechedule

Negative Mindset: “I don’t know when or how I’m going to do this.”

Positive Mindset : “ I must set a schedule.”

Plan your days out and work towards your goal, then stick to your plan. Mark your calendars, and prioritize tasks. You will soon form good habits from it.

2. Procrastinate With Purpose

What you tell yourself: “I’m not in the mood.”

Positive Mindset: “I can rest and procrastinate with purpose.”

Try to take breaks in between and find other ways to be productive that not only ticks things on your to-do list but also recharge your emotional capacity. Fill your time with productive tasks that will indirectly help you towards your goal.

3. Goal Achieving

Negative Mindset: “I’ll never achieve my goal.”

Positive Mindset: “I can and I will achieve my goals.”

As stated, failure is always there and inevitable. Don’t let it become a negative thing and then demotivate yourself. The more you are demotivated the more you believe you cannot do it.

Your failure to execute on your goals up to this point is not a reflection of your character. The fact that you’ve formed a goal in the first place indicates that you have an idea of how to better yourself or add something positive to the world. Now you have to do it, and the biggest obstacle in your way might be yourself and those voices in your head telling you there’s something wrong with you or that you can’t.

4. Organization

Negative Mindset : “I’m a total mess.”

Positive Mindset: “I must organize the little details of in my life to prepare myself for my big goal.”

It’s easy to get distracted by small things, such as your looks and how messy your email is, and all the other tasks you have not done. But in truth, disorganization in minor things in your personal life can demotivate you from thinking you are ready to do bigger things.

Prepare as much as you can. That way, you can focus on bigger hurdles.

5. Asking For Advice

Negative Mindset: “That other person already achieved my goal and made it look so easy. I’ll never be as good as them.”

Positive Mindset: “ I must ask for advice.”

It can be detrimental to think about and envy other people’s success. The more you think people are better off than you, the more you become jealous of them, to the point where you think you are not good enough.

You should not feel shy about asking someone you feel inferior to for help. The other person is human as well and probably has similar thoughts, and you have a lot to teach them too.

6. Find A Mentor

Negative Mindset: “It doesn’t seem like I’m making any progress toward my goal.”

Positive Mindset: “ I should find someone to hold me accountable.”

When you take on a new challenge, it can be discouraging when your life doesn’t magically change overnight. You’re working so hard, yet you don’t feel like you’re getting anywhere. You begin to wonder if all your effort is worth it.

To ensure you don’t give up on your goal, have a support system--one person or a group who’ll hold you accountable and help you to achieve your goals. It could be a family member, Facebook friends, or a life coach. You’ll feel less alone in your journey, you’ll have someone to report to who’ll make sure you follow through, and, best of all, you’ll have someone who’ll notice and remind you of how far you’ve come.

7. Have A Journal

Negative Mindset: “I’m so overwhelmed.”

Positive Mindset : “I should keep a journal of my journey with me”

Goal-setting needs focus. You have to stay organized about what you need to do to achieve your goal, but you can’t shut the world out nor can you always resist the temptation to get ahead of yourself. When you have too many thoughts on your mind (including negative ones), it can help to write some of them down.

Write just one or two things most days, whether it’s something you want to work toward or something that’s been on your mind. There’s no structure or plan for what you can write down -- just record your thoughts.

Writing things down also gives you the chance to reflect. You can go back later and read your notes to resurface thoughts, do follow ups and remember things that were done well.

8. Be Brave

Negative Mindset: “I’m scared to face the changes that achieving my goal will bring.”

Positive Mindset: “It’s not a matter of life or death.”

Think of the scariest thing you’ve had to face or the most dangerous situation you’ve had to get out of. Now recognize that you made it.

Now think of your goal, and think of which aspect of reaching it is so scary to you. Compare that with what you’ve already overcome in your life. Finally, know that it’s natural to fear new things. Humans are creatures of habit. But they also tend to overthink a lot. You’ll continue to do that if you don’t take the plunge toward what you’re trying to achieve.


# Student Sector
# Job Tips

The Importance Of Human Resources (In Every Company)

by
David Blog

Oct 18, 2019

at 5:13 PM

In all businesses, regardless of how large or small they are, they have one thing in common; they have a HR department. Human resources is crucial for success for any business as they are the heart and soul of the company and keeps it together, while making sure it runs smoothly. Most people think that HR only comes out with payroll or handling employment, but they actually do much more for the company than that. Here are 5 reasons why HR is critical for the success of any company.

1. Financing

The HR department is in charge of coming up with methods to control the budgeting and spending of the company. They can be considered the financial planners of the company as they come up with methods to increase price efficiency while cutting costs. They also analyze and study employment trends, the labor market and average salaries of jobs to ensure the company’s wages are competitive and realistic. Since some small businesses have strict budgets to stick to, HR is particularly useful in this situation.

2. Company Mom

The HR department has the responsibility of taking care of not only the employees salary, they also take care of their satisfaction and happiness within the company and their careers as well. Since it can be difficult to gauge satisfaction as it is subjective, HR specialists must carefully design employee surveys, oversee focus groups and implement new strategies to determine how the company can improve in relation to its employees. In other words, workers are like children and HR is like the mom that oversees everything.

3. Training and Development

HR specialists conduct assessments for the company’s employees in order to determine the type of training and skills employees must have to properly execute their task efficiently. Even though it is important to make sure that all workers must have the qualifications and skills necessary to meet the expectations of a position, new companies or businesses in the expanding stage will benefit from this a lot. Companies usually put the responsibility of training and hiring perfect candidates to HR specialists as it is cheaper and may improve employee retention and increase revenue.

4. Conflict Resolution

It is undeniable that there will be disagreements and conflicts at work, regardless of how satisfied employees are overall. When this happens, a HR specialist will be a mediator for the opposing parties and help them come to a conclusion and solve it to the best interest of both parties. Again coming back to the mom analogy, it is like when a mother steps in when siblings are fighting to come up with a solution for the both of them.

5. Performance Improvement

Yet another responsibility of the HR department is the development of performance management systems. Without a HR specialist to construct a plan that measures employee performance, employees may end up in jobs that aren’t suitable for their expertise and skills. Not only will this contribute to employee dissatisfaction, but individuals who consistently fall below the employer’s expectations for performance may sneak by on the payroll, thereby costing the company money on low-performing employees that are not helping the business to succeed.

From improving company morale and developing methods to ensure high performance standards to resolving conflicts among employees and ensuring a company stays within its budget, there are at least five reasons HR is so important for business success.

Are you a meticulous planner and caring person? Want to be the mother, the heart and soul of a company? You might be suited for the position of Human Resource specialist, click
HERE
 to apply!


How To Worry Less (And Grow From Fear)

# Lifestyle

How To Worry Less (And Grow From Fear)

by
David Blog

Oct 23, 2019

at 11:41 AM

There’s a saying that goes, “life is like a rollercoaster, there are always ups and downs.” There will always be a cycle of sadness and happiness. With this cycle, there are learning opportunities everyday, but the brain has a weird way of amplifying the sorrow and minimizing the happiness. Whenever our brains see something as “bad”, it starts to worry about it. But usually most times there is no real reason to worry, it only makes us dig ourselves deeper into the hole and makes us unaware of the happiness that might be waiting around the corner.

There really is not way to stop worrying completely, however there are ways to worry less, and change our perspective to use that worry and fear for a learning opportunity. So, here are 5 ways to worry less and learn from it.

Soften your understanding of worry.

Why we worry is a way of anticipating and avoiding any potential dangers and to keep us safe. It is the brain trying to protect us, so it worrying is useful at times.

However, often times we worry so much that it only makes us nervous and anxious about everything, and thus leading to even more worry. The brain has good intentions, but it also has self destructive tendencies.

Allow and accept the feeling of fear.

Worrying usually creates the feeling of fear or anxiety.

Instead of resisting the fear, we should accept and embrace it. By doing this, we are more ready to face our fears and expand our comfort zones.

As we keep facing fears, we will realize there is actually nothing to be afraid of, and we will keep improving ourselves.

Feel into worry with kindness.

When you are aware of your feelings, you can slowly change your outlook on it.

Whenever you worry, you should reassure yourself on your worries, and analyze them from a loving and kind perspective. It will tune down the negative thinking. For example…

If you are worried ask yourself “What does this feeling believe?” Does it believe that you are useless and unlovable, or are you telling yourself that so much it becomes your reality?

Ask yourself, what does this feeling need right now? Does it need to feel cared for, to feel secure, or to feel a sense of belonging?

Whatever that answer is, you can plant ideas in your own head like a seed. By constantly telling yourself something you are bound to believe it.

Expand your awareness out to include all people.

Whatever the worrying is about, the most important thing for you to realize is that you are not alone.

Feeling vulnerable is part of human nature and many people throughout the world struggle with the same source of vulnerability that you experience.

When we are feeling vulnerable with anxiety, it often times feels like its all about us, but we also need to share it with others and a have people’s support to help you out.

Imagine all the other people who struggle worrying and wish them all the same positive vibes that you just wished yourself.

Always repeat the previous steps.

By constantly practicing the previous steps, they will become stronger and more automatic.

After  a certain time, you will realize that your heart is stronger and that you are not as prone to anxiety, sadness and worry anymore, instead you let the feeling guide you to new heights.


# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Job Tips

How To Deal With Your Depression (And Slowly Find Happiness)

by
David Blog

Oct 23, 2019

at 11:40 AM

Depression is one of the leading mental illnesses.
In our previous article
, we found some research that states more than 40% of Malaysians suffer from depression. If you are that 4 out of 10 people, we sympathize with you and are providing 8 steps on how to help yourself slowly break out of it.

Have A Support System

This can mean things like making stronger connections with friends and family. Knowing that you can count on others to help can take your healing journey a long way.

You can also find a depression support group, like an offline or online community who know what you are going through and will support you.

Reduce Your Stress

When you are suffering from a lot of stress, your body will produce something called cortisol. This thing is good because it helps you prepare yourself to face whatever is causing this stress. It is “good stress.”

But if you are constantly producing cortisol, it can cause many problems for you, including depression. The more you use techniques to reduce stress, the better because it will reduce your risk of being more depressed.

Improve Your Sleep

Sleep and mood go hand in hand. Did you know a 2014 study shoes that 80% of people with major depression will experience sleeping problems.

You might just feel like you cannot sleep, or you struggle to get out of bed and feel tired all the time.

Good sleep pattern is one of the keys to improving the quality and quantity of your sleep. Try to sleep early and wake up fresh. It doesn’t have to be instantly, do it in baby steps.

Only use your bed for sleep and sexual activity. Doing work in bed, or even in your bedroom, can cause you to associate your bed with stress, rather than relaxation.

Improve Your Eating

Research has shown that there are links between diet and mental health. It has been shown that good nutrition can prevent and treat mental illness.

The saying of you are what you eat really does matter. If your diet is junk food, you will naturally feel like it. Some nutrient deficiency can actually lead to depression, such as zinc deficiency.

However, remember before you make any changes to your diet, talk to your doctor.

Learn To Stop Negative Thoughts

Depression doesn't just make you feel bad, it can also cause you to think more negatively. Changing those negative thoughts, however, can improve your mood.

Try to turn negative thoughts into positive ones, work on your outlook on life. This is easier said than done, but once you have learnt how to do this, you will find yourself to be a happier and better person.

Don’t Procrastinate

Some symptoms of depression include things like fatigue or tiredness, and difficulty concentrating which makes it easy to procrastinate.

Putting things off fuels depression. It can lead to increased guilt, worry, and stress.

Try to set deadlines for yourself and manage your time properly.

Have short-term goals and work hard to get the most important tasks done first. Each time you complete this, you will feel better and slightly break through the habit of procrastination.

Do Your Chores

Depression can make doing anything difficult, including bare essentials like cleaning.

The less you clean however, the dirtier your surroundings become. As the saying goes, the environment shapes you, and with a dirty environment, you are only fueling your depression.

Do your daily chores. Start small and work on one thing at a time, and slowly learn to take control of your life again. Getting up and moving can help you start to feel better in itself. Seeing your progress at home can be key to helping you feel better.

Have A Wellness Toolbox

A Wellness Toolbox is a set of things you can use to help yourself feel better.

The things you find most helpful might not work for someone else, so it is important to consider what makes you feel your best and alive, for example, my wellness toolbox consists of my guitar and my pen and paper.

Think of things you like to do when you are happy, then when you are feeling down, try one of those activities.

Create a list of the activities you might try when you're feeling bad. Then, choose an activity to try when you're having a particularly rough time.

With these tips, I hope it helps you even if it is a little bit. Don’t worry, we are all in the same boat and are here for you. Stay safe, and stay brave in that journey to find happiness.


# Job Tips

How To Improve Employee Efficiency (And Increase Company Revenue)

by
David Blog

Oct 23, 2019

at 2:48 PM

While hiring the correct employee to fill positions in your company is a crucial step, it is only part of the equation. If you want to get the best results from your employees, you must provide enough training. Even someone who seems to have all the right qualifications may not be able to meet your expectations if you do not provide them the tools they require to succeed. From teaching company procedures and policies to assisting employees improve their personal skill set, an improved training regime can lead to amazing results for your company statistics. When you put in the effort, you will see these (and much more) outstanding results.

Faster Productivity

Starting a job with a new startup company, or even changing career roles within the same organization is great for growth. But for employees, onboarding staff or helping long term workers transition into new roles can lead to a period of less productivity. Did you know, surveys on workforce mobility shows that on average, it takes around
eight months
 for a new worker to reach optimal productivity after starting a job. However, employers are still required to pay the agreed salary during this period, basically paying full-time for suboptimal results.

A quality training program will allow employees to have clarity regarding a new worker’s role and responsibilities, while also making an effort to help employees reach optimal results faster. Even something small like addressing everyday workplace issues such as social interaction and integration, and knowledge of company culture can help a newbie gain confidence in their roles faster. By making sure that all new hires have a great understanding of needed skills and practices, they will also be able to make greater contributions faster.

Long-term Engagement

An effective training is directly related to the employee engagement levels. When a new role is recently filled, they will be in their honeymoon phase, highly energetic to work hard and prove themselves. But if your training does not empower them to perform at their peak, there will be a confirmed drop in their engagements.

Employee engagement is a huge concern in our current day workplace, and for solid reasons. Research shows that
66 percent
 of employees are either disengaged. These people don’t feel connected to their job, either mentally or emotionally, meaning that they will give the minimal effort required. Quality training will counter this problem, which could otherwise make your company sink if left to grow.

Higher Employee-Retention Rates

Employee retention is not just about making sure that employees don’t just leave at a chance for better opportunities. It is about helping them feel like they are valued in the company. This is what makes employees want to stay, and the foundation for this connection is usually built through training.

A well-designed training program plays a crucial role in nurturing employee’s outlook on the company. Workers want to feel that the job they do is important to the success of the institution and that the institution is truly investing time and money in them to have a job done correctly, and optimally.

When employees feel like they are valued for their contribution, they are more likely to stay in the company longer. But do not forget to continue to create a high quality culture that rewards them to stay, and train them up for long term success.

Long-term Profit

Quality training will directly affect your minimum expectations. Did you know that losing a single quality employee can potentially cost a business up to twice of that individual’s annual salary? By improving long term retention rates through training, your company can avoid making these losses, which can save a startup from going bankrupt and push it to become bigger.

When your employees are more engaged and productive, your profit will also naturally increase. From improved customer service to a reduced margin of error in daily tasks, these are areas that will gradually improve, but providing quality training will ensure that a lot of these areas are strong from the day one.

Did you know that a survey found that companies with engaged employees are 21% more profitable than companies with a less engaged workforce? This means that each of the benefit that comes from training your employees will not just improve your daily workflow and put workers in a better position to excel, they will also help your company become more profitable as well!


# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Job Tips

Benefits To Customer Service Jobs (That You Didn't Know About!)

by
David Blog

Feb 19, 2020

at 5:00 PM

Customer service is a fulfilling yet equally tedious task. It is a high income job where you help people out with their day-to-day problems and get paid good money for it. However, other than the income, here are 5 benefits you did not know about working in customer service!

1. Customer service helps build your people skills.

Everyday you will be interacting and talking to different people from all walks of life, which will train you on how to talk to people in different situations. This can help you later on in life, as you know how people think and work, and what they expect from you. You will thus learn how to talk to people accordingly.

2. You learn things you didn’t expect to.

If you are the type of person that starts a conversation with strangers, you will realize there is much to learn about people. You do not have to be personal, just talk about any topic, and you will be amazed at what some people will answer with. Different people answer the same questions differently, you can learn many things ranging from gaining insight to laughing your head off.

3. People aren’t as bad as we think.

When you work in Malaysia with so much diversity, it is amazing to see strangers looking out for each other. You will get to see a side of Malaysia that you don’t often see when you do not interact with a lot of people.

4. You can get unexpected opportunities.

Some customers are very nice and just want to have a chat, sometimes this eats up your time but it is interesting nonetheless. At times when days are slow, you can actually just continue with the conversation, and who knows? You might walk into some unexpected opportunities along the way. Your customer might be a CEO and likes your personality, or something along those lines.

5. You’re making connections.

You should not get a job just to make connections, as it is detrimental to yourself. You may end up hating your job and not wanting to have anything to do with your colleagues. However, if you see each job as a chance to learn and become better, you will make amazing connections while you are doing it. Be yourself, and connections will come.

Are you interested in trying out for customer service to learn all of these invaluable skills and gain the benefits of the job? You can sign up
here!


# Lifestyle
# Life Hack

4 Fears That Every Outstanding Successful Person Overcomes

by
David Blog

Oct 24, 2019

at 12:14 PM

There are a few fears that each and everyone of us faces in life. It causes us to become mediocre, follow the pack and never truly be able to reach out and stand above all else. The people that have managed to conquer these fears, are the people that stand on the pinnacle of society in terms of knowledge, wealth, fame and power. These are some of the fears these people have overcome, and if you do as well, you can be one of them.

Fear of Taking Risks

It is common knowledge that every successful and outstanding person take many risks. There will be many failures until trial and error leads them to success. Doing research and gaining new information will help you gradually increase your comfort zone and reduces your fear of risks.

In reality, taking risks is a great opportunity to present yourself and shine out from the crowd. By taking risks, many good opportunities will inevitably come your way, the key is to view taking risks as a positive thing. If you view it negatively, you might miss out on some amazing opportunities.

Always remember though, when you are taking a risk, it does not mean you will benefit from it. Success is not guaranteed, but whatever the result is, at the end of the day it will be a learning experience and you walk away an even better person, much more prepared for the future when you take the same risk.

Fear of Mediocrity

Always aim for excellence. Be as outstanding as you can be. Failing in excellence means that you learn from your mistakes, but failing through mediocrity makes you afraid of taking the risks again, and that fear of making mistakes stops you from learning anything new.

To achieve excellence, you need to develop a mindset that your failures and achievements are all just part of your journey, not your destination. People are never born with a mindset for excellence, it is gradually cultivated over time by being smart, wise and open-minded to everything.

Fear of Failure

The biggest problem most successful and outstanding people face is the fear of failure. Do a quick google search on your idols, and you will definitely find that they’ve gone through multiple failures before being where they are now. What separates successful people from mediocre people is the drive and passion to succeed, to keep moving forward, regardless of how much life is against them and how easy it would be to just give up.

Fear of Disappointing Others

Everyone wants to make their family and friends proud. We always expect much more from ourselves to meet other people’s expectations of us. But in reality, our life is ours to live, and at the end of the day to truly make it meaningful and succeed we have to focus on the things that truly matter to us. If we are not passionate about our goals and dreams, we are just letting ourselves down.

Fear That We Are Not Good Enough

Self-doubt is a huge challenge to overcome. A person knows their flaws better than anyone, and most of us would amplify that flaw. Eg, thinking “I am not good enough” over and over until that deep fear becomes a reality, which you have created for yourself. With a mindset like this, no matter how much you work and achieve, you will always doubt yourself. This behavior can lead to expectation of unattainable levels of perfection. A truly successful and outstanding person should not hold back their internal fears. They should use this feeling to fuel themselves to pursue their dreams and goals.

Our biggest enemies are usually ourselves, and our self doubt. By breaking out of that mindset, facing and ultimately conquering our fears, we open a whole new world of opportunities, a world that we didn’t know was right in front of us this whole time.


# Job Tips

Why Marketing Is Important For Any Company!

by
David Blog

Oct 24, 2019

at 1:43 PM

Why Marketing Is Important

Not a lot of people know what marketers do in the company, so we are here to shed some light on what marketers do and why they are crucial for a company to grow and succeed. Here are 9 reasons why marketing is so important.

Engage Customers

It’s important for your business to engage its customers. Marketing is a tool to keep the conversation going.

Marketing gives your customers relevant information about your products and your business as well by creating fresh content.

Tell your customers what they don’t know. Let it be interesting and worth their time.

Social media is one of the best platforms where you can engage your customers. Some organizations use short videos and other funny tricks to engage their customer base.

By engaging your customers, marketing gives them a sense of belonging.

Building And Maintaining Company Reputation

The growth and life span of your business is related to your business’s reputation.

A majority of marketing activities are directed towards building the brand name of the company.

Your business’s fame is built when it effectively meets the expectations of its customers. Such a business is considered a trustworthy member of the community. The customers become proud to be associated with your products.

Marketers use effective communication, branding, PR and CSR strategies to ensure that a business’s reputation is maintained.

Middleman For Companies And Clients

Businesses need to build a relationship of trust and understanding with their customers. How does marketing establish this relationship?

Marketers will do research about clients to meet their needs.

The product team ensures the business delivers what’s promised at the right time. \

This makes the customers brand loyal.

Loyal customers will have the confidence to buy more products from you. The trust and understanding between the business and its customers make your business activities more successful.

Main Form Of Communication To Clients

Marketing informs your customers about the services and products you’re offering them.

Through marketing, the customers get to know about the value of the products, and their benefits. It creates brand awareness and makes the business stand out.

There’s a lot of competition in the market and you need to always be convincing the customers. Inform your customers of discounts and other competitive tricks you intend to use.

Through communication, marketing helps your business become a market leader.

Boost Sales

Marketing utilizes different ways to promote your products or services. Once a product has been advertised, it’s already in public view and this increases your chances of selling it.

Customers may want to try your products or services and this will trigger a purchase decision.

When customers are happy about your products or services, they become your loyal clients and will spread the word and your sales will start to increase.

Studying The Market

Every marketer understands the need for targeting the right audience, and think of the right content to share with such an audience. Marketing strategies can help establish what business messaging will convince the target audience.

Marketers will test different messages and see what works.

Once they find the formula, then the business will improve as revenue increases.

Maintains Relevance

Every marketer understands the need for keeping their customer loyalty.

Most businesses assume that they will always remain the client’s favorite brand because up to now the client has never complained. This is the wrong mindset.They need to think of ways to always be on the customers mind.

Every relationship needs to be maintained. Marketing helps businesses to maintain a good relationship with customers and keep being relevant.

Marketers will focus on gaining new customers before addressing the need to retain the present ones.

Increases Revenue Options

During the startup phase, companies do not have a lot of capital, and limited options to grow.

As your marketing strategies generate more customers and revenue opportunities, you’ll begin having more options. Having options means higher chance of growth.

Having options will give you the courage you need to penetrate new markets. You will have the freedom to start letting go of customers who does not “ngam” the company or their products.

Without marketing, a company will be forced to continue working with clients who doubles your work and half your pay.

Helps Management Make Decisions

Every business is confronted with problems such as to what, when, for whom and how much to produce.

 A difficult and long process determine your business’s survival. As a result, businesses heavily rely on marketing mechanisms to make these decisions.

Marketers use mechanisms which serve as a reliable link between the business and society. They enter customer’s mind, educate the public and convince them to buy.

So basically marketers are like business psychologists. Do you think that being a marketer is interesting? Want to give it a shot?

Click
HERE
 to find out more!


How To Live A Healthier Lifestyle!

# Lifestyle
# Life Hack

How To Live A Healthier Lifestyle!

by
David Blog

Oct 24, 2019

at 3:47 PM

Did you know the healthier your body is, the more productive you will be? It is easy to delay your decision to live healthily, but the more you say tomorrow, the more you won’t do it. If you feel that you want to make improvements to your life for your health, you are not alone. Even if it is hard to get out of old habits, a healthy lifestyle can give you more energy, improve mental health and decreases your chances of sick.

Here are five steps you can take to work towards a healthier lifestyle:

1. Include fruits and vegetables in your diet

Adding fruits and vegetables is a great way to start a healthy routine. Green veggies and fruits contain a lot of nutrients that help your body fight diseases. It is scientifically proven that eating fruits and veggies as a regular part of your diet will have long lasting effect for fighting illness in the future.

2. Drink water

You can save money and improve your health by drinking water throughout the day. By keeping hydrated, your body will cleanse itself, and improve your brain function. It also helps you energize your muscles and balances your body temperature, so you will be healthier and get sick less often.

3. Manage your mental health

When it comes to building a healthy lifestyle, it’s easy to concentrate on the physical aspects of health and ignore the mental state even if it is a foundation of your overall health. It’s important to manage and reflect on your feelings everyday. If you feel negative towards others, you could cause more unhappiness at work, school, or in your social life. Some ways you can improve your mental health include:

Exercise

Socialize with loved ones

Join a club

Sleep 7-9 hours every night

Do something creative

If you continue to feel unhappy or even depressed, consult your physician or talk to a professional about ways you can improve your mental health.

4. Destress

Sometimes it’s beneficial to stop, take a deep breath, and relax. You can help maintain your physical and mental health by decompressing from a long, stressful school or work week. Find some way to relax, like a soothing activity. These activities can help you unwind help your stress levels go down.

5. Exercise

Exercise is a great way to stimulate your health and studies have shown that physical activity helps improve longevity and overall health. Try to exercise at least 3 times a week. An ideal time is 150 minutes of exercise each week or an hour at least three times a week. Pick a convenient time schedule out time. You could exercise for 30 minutes the morning to get energized for your day.

Remember to keep your workouts fun. You should enjoy your workout and not feel like it’s a chore. Some fun physical activities include:

Martial Arts

Yoga

Aerobics

Running

Hiking

With these tips, you can start slow and work your way towards a healthier and more productive future!


7P's of Success

# Lifestyle

7P's of Success

by
David Blog

Oct 25, 2019

at 2:47 PM

All of us have dreams and goals, but many of us fail to fight hard enough to achieve that. With that in mind, we are providing you 7P’s to practice so you can achieve your success!

1. Passionate:

You need to be very invested and interested in what you want to do.

You need to make sure that you can do it better and easier than other people.

Remember that your goal is your aspiration and inspiration.

2. Positive mindset:

 A positive mental attitude is a must have to realize your objectives.

You must look at things on the bright side and work diligently towards your goals.

3. Practical:

Think about your goals and ask…

Is it achievable?

Is it useful to yourself and others?

Your goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound.

When you have many goals, remember to set a priority for each goal and work accordingly so that you are not overwhelmed.

4. Put in writing:

Writing your goals down is a powerful tool.

It must be precise, clear and written in positive terms.

It must also be very detailed for the tasks and for each stage and the completion dates.

With written notes, you will be kept posted to do your daily tasks because you notice it every day.

5. Plan:

You must set yearly, monthly, weekly and daily tasks.

Your plan is your road map. You follow accordingly to get what you want in life.

6. Pay the price:

A goal is not a goal when you can get something easily. It involves a lot of time and effort. It takes blood, sweat and tears to reach your goal.

7. Perseverance:

Do not be discouraged by failures along the way.

Look at failures and problems as valuable lessons to learn. There is no overnight success. It can take many years to achieve your goals.

Your life will have meaning if you have goals. They provide direction and measure your success. You know what you are looking for and every day you strive to reach your objectives.


# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Job Tips

3 Easy Steps To Maintain Work Life Balance

by
David Blog

Oct 25, 2019

at 3:31 PM

Being committed to our job is important, but sometimes we are so committed to it that our lives are consumed by it. We start losing our sense of self and who we are as our companies eats up most of our time, and we do not have time for ourselves. This is a rising problem amongst malaysians, so we are here to provide you 3 ways to maintain your work life balance so you never lose yourself in your work.

Have “Me Time”

When you hear "self-love," maybe you think of meditating and going for a massage. It may not be that for you, as long as you take care of yourself as that is important!

You need to make sure you take the time to reset and recharge, whether that’s going to the gym or allowing yourself to take an off day to stay in bed and watch Netflix.

Learn To Say “No”

 Saying no can seem impossible, especially at work. Trust me, I know.

But if you agree to attend every event, take on every project, or manage every co-worker, you’ll find yourself with no time left

You will end up giving up your own happiness and time for others, and that is not good for your personal well being and mental health.

It’s okay to say no to things that stress you out, as long as it’s reasonable.

Create Boundaries

Don’t take your laptop to bed with you, or answer your boss’ calls at the dinner table.

Just because you’re physically accessible all the time doesn’t mean you have to be.

Set boundaries with your employer so you both understand you’re availability.

Try to keep these tips in mind the next time you find yourself eating, drinking and sleeping your work, so you at least have some time for yourself to chill out and relax.


How To Be Truly Confident In Yourself!

# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Job Tips

How To Be Truly Confident In Yourself!

by
David Blog

Oct 29, 2019

at 10:12 AM

“Confidence is key.” I am 100% sure all of us have heard it some point of our lives and it is true. With confidence, you can do anything, and achieve a lot of success. But sometimes being confident is not easy. It takes time to truly be confident with yourself and around others. Here are 5 steps you can take to build up that confidence!

1. Practice.

Even someone with low confidence has areas where they feel confident in themselves. For example, you do not feel confident when you are around people and don’t know how to talk, but put a musical instrument in your hand and you can perform in front of thousands with no problem. When you do something enough times, it becomes easier. The easier it becomes, the more confident you will be.

If you have ever sang karaoke in front of people, most likely, your first time was a bit scary. However, after you went a few dozen times, it wasn’t as scary. This is just an example but you get the point. The more you do something, the more confident you will be at it.

2. Fake It Until You Make It.

Practice can be great but many times, you will be in a situation where you have to be confident on the spot. In situations like this, you must pretend as if you are confident and show that you are. This can also become easier through practice. Remember that when you force yourself to act confidently, it will soon become automatic and true confidence.

3. Look Good.

Usually, lack of self confidence comes from worrying how other people look at you. You can solve this by making sure you always look your best. This can have different meanings to different individuals. Sometimes, it means getting some nice clothes, to others it could be to have a nice clean haircut. The point is to stop worrying about your appearance by doing whatever you have to do to make you feel good about yourself. You can even go to the gym more often.

4. Change Your Focus.

Usually, we have low confidence it is because we are too focused on ourselves. We focus on what other people think of us. Instead of doing that, try focusing on other people and how you can help them. If you are afraid of public speaking for example, one reason could be that you are not focused on benefitting the audience. Rather, you are focused on how well you will do. When you take the focus away from yourself and shine it on others, it will help your fear go away because you won’t be thinking about it.

5. Don’t Take Life Too Seriously.

Learn to laugh at yourself. Realize that you aren’t the only one with confidence issues. Know that anyone, if put in the right circumstances, can have a total lack of self confidence in themselves. If you knew you had 1 day to live, would you be scared of doing things like asking that attractive person out on a date? Would you be scared to speak up? Would you be afraid to tell people your fears? Sometimes, we just have to take life for what it is, an experience and a chance to live it fully.

It’s when you believe that the mistakes you make will last a long time or that people will judge you for a long time or laugh at you for years to come, that you will feel less confident. When you realize that everyone has their own insecurities about themselves, you will realize that life is too short to let your fears stop you from doing the things you really want to do. Self confidence comes down to knowing that no matter how badly you mess up in public, in the whole scheme of life, it won’t even matter.


# Life Hack
# Job Tips

How To Be Funny At Work (And Why It Benefits You and Everyone!)

by
David Blog

Oct 29, 2019

at 2:12 PM

Nowadays, most offices are rather rigid and work means work type. This is fine, but it makes employees feel like everything is a routine and going to work is boring. But did you know a lot of people act differently when they’re in the office vs when they are out of it. This is because of the fear of creating a reputation as someone who lacks seriousness, professionalism and maturity, so they just hide their fun side. In reality, humor in the workplace can be both career-enhancing and a powerful social intelligence tool, but it needs to be executed with purpose and skill.

A
survey
 shows that “91% of execs believe that a sense of humor is important for career advancement, while 84% feel that people with a good sense of humor do a better job. People shouldn’t take themselves too seriously as a fear of being taken less seriously by others.

The study also shows that humor can be extremely beneficial and promote
 productivity
,
promote wellbeing
,
break down barriers
 and create a more human and authentic environment. With that, humor has boundaries that must be carefully observed and managed. Here are three essential habits to take into account when being funny in the workplace.

1. Know the basic mechanics of humor.

There is a lot of types of humor, like making fun of yourself, making fun of others, through observation, roasting or verbal intelligence, dark, bodily humor, etc. Some are better for working than others. For example, pulling a chair from under a colleague or farting in the lift is not appropriate and people will hate you for that.

Being too offensive in the workplace is also a taboo, like commenting on someone’s body or making fun of your colleagues in a mean way. This may be great for your drinking buddies, but not in a professional setting. Different types of humor you do will make people perceive you differently. For example, making fun of others like “oh haha she so fat nobody wants her” kind of thing will make you seem as mean and unfriendly. While self-deprecating humor like “I’m not very good at keeping things, you can ask all my ex-girlfriends haha” would make you seem more humble, approachable and down-to-earth IF used sparingly. When it is overused, you can come off as having very low confidence in yourself. Inside jokes can be socially bonding but can also be rude to others that don’t understand the joke itself and you will come off as non-inclusive.

2. Use humor with intent and purpose.

Humor should be used with an intent in mind, for example let’s say there is a new colleague and she is really shy and doesn’t know how to mix with people. You can approach her and crack a joke so she feels like the people in the office are actually friendly. Another example is when the office is really quiet and there is tension in the air, you can say something funny to break that tension and lighten people’s moods. There is purpose in humor like this, it makes people smile, makes the surroundings feel more welcoming and the office interesting. Humor should be both intellectual and empathetic. It is best if it communicates emotional, social and cultural intelligence.

3. Be on top of your game.

To be realistic, using humor and jokes in your workplace has a risk of some people doubting your professionalism and sincerity. For cases like this, it is important to be on top of your game and focus on the details that will make up for these assumptions. For example, in the movie 3 idiots, the main character is always just in it for the laughs, he wants to enjoy life and cracks a lot of jokes and does things people seem childish. The fact that he studies in one of the most competitive engineering universities also makes him look like he is not serious and will be kicked out, but he always excels at his studies because he loves to learn. Because of that, his headmaster went from hating him and finding ways to expel him, to acknowledging that he is the BEST student he has ever had since he started teaching. When you are excelling, people will see that your use of humor is actually quite purposeful.

The punchline….

Using humor in the workplace should not be looked down upon in this day and age. This
BBC business report
 shows how successful and big companies such as Google, Twitter, Red Bull and Siemens are going for a more playful working culture. Recent
academic paper
 also shows that people who use humor in an appropriate and intentional way are far from unprofessional; they are people who look to build a more natural, engaging, authentic and playful work environment and culture. They are among the most emotional and socially intelligent people in the workplace and tend to be genuinely happy, well-adjusted and successful in their work.


# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Job Tips

How To File For Income Tax Online (Auto Calculate For You!)

by
David Blog

Oct 29, 2019

at 2:52 PM

Don’t know how to file income tax? Well did you know taxpayers can do it online starting from March 1 every year, unless LHDN says otherwise? This method of e-filing is becoming very popular in Malaysia because it is simple and user friendly.

This method of filing income tax also helps you calculate your income tax automatically. So, you don’t have to worry about how to calculate and all that. Filing your tax through e-Filing also gives you more time to file your taxes, as compared to the traditional method of filing, where the deadline is usually on April 30.

If this is your first time filing your tax through e-Filing, don’t worry, we’ve got your back with this handy guide on e-Filing.

Here is how the short e-Filing process goes:

1. How to apply for my income tax online for 2019? (existing e-filing users, proceed to next step)

If you have never filed your taxes before on e-Filing income tax malaysia 2019, go to
http://edaftar.hasil.gov.my/
 where you can apply online for the registration of income Tax File for individuals and companies. Click on Borang Pendapatan Online in the first step of e-Daftar and then, you will have to fill up the form for registration.

After you have filled up the form, you will have to reconfirm your information. Your application number will be presented after confirmation.

IMPORTANT!

Please note down your application number for future reference!

Scroll down from your application number, and click on Muat Naik Disini to upload a copy of your identity card. You have 14 days to upload it, and your identity card must fulfil the following requirements:

Just scan the front of your identity card showing your name and I.C. number clearly

File must be in .gif format

File size must be between 40k and 60k

File name must be in alphanumeric only

Once you’ve uploaded your identity card, you need to physically visit the nearest LHDN branch to obtain your PIN number. New taxpayers used to be able to do this online, but it seems like the feature has been removed – we’ll update this page if that changes!

Get Infographics, Articles and More Direct to your Inbox!

2. Go to e-Filing website

Once you have gotten your PIN, here are the steps on how to file income tax in Malaysia.

If you already have the PIN from LHDN or an account for e-Filing, you can proceed to

LHDN’s official website
 (http://www.hasil.gov.my/), click on
ezHASIL
 (https://ez.hasil.gov.my) and then click on myTax. This will lead you to the main page of the e-Filing system.

3. Login to e-Filing website

Next, key in your MyKad identification number (without the dashes), and your password.

If you are a first-timer, click on Login Kali Pertama. Then fill in your PIN and identity card number to register for an account.

4. Choose the right income tax form

Once you’ve logged in, you will be shown a list of features available on e-Filing. To begin filing your tax, click on e-Borang under e-Filing:

Here is a list of income tax forms and the income tax deadline 2019:

Type of taxpayer

Form

Deadline

Employer

E

(e-E)

March 31, 2019

Resident who does not

carry on business

BE

(e-BE)

April 30, 2019

Resident who carries

on business

B

(e-B)

June 30, 2019

Partnerships

P

(e-P)

June 30, 2019

Resident Individual

(Knowledge Worker/

Expert Worker)

BT

(e-BT)

April 30, 2019

(For those who

do not carry on

any business)

June 30, 2019

(For those who carry

on any business)

Non-Resident individual

M

(e-M)

Non-Resident individual

(Knowledge Worker)

MT

(e-MT)

After clicking on e-Borang, then you will be shown a list of income tax forms. If you are an individual with non-business income, choose Income Tax Form BE (e-BE), and choose the assessment year (tahun taksiran) 2018. Remember, you file for 2018 income tax in 2019.

5. Check your details

In the first section of the form, MAKLUMAT INDIVIDU, you can check your details displayed on the form, make changes if the form is displaying incorrect information or does not display your latest information.

There will also be a “layak menuntut insentif dibawah seksyen 127” which refers to claiming incentives under section 127 of the Income Tax Act (ITA) 1976. This is incentives (such as exemptions) under the provision of paragraph 127(3)(b) or subsection 127 (3A) of ITA 1976, which is claimable as per government gazette or with a minister’s approval letter. If you are not entitled to such exemptions, choose “TIDAK BERKENAAN”.

Below that, you will see “melupuskan asset di bawah Akta Cukai Keuntungan Harta Tanah 1976”, which refers to any disposal of assets under the Real Property Gains Tax (RPGT) 1976. If you have not disposed or sold any real estate, just select “TIDAK”. Additionally,
you can read up about RPGT at the LHDN website.

If you would like your income tax return 2019 to be banked into your bank account directly, this is where you need to fill in your bank account details. LHDN has numerous times assured taxpayers that bank account details will be safeguarded and not shared with any other parties.

6. Fill in your income details

In the second section, PENDAPATAN BERKANUN, JUMLAH PENDAPATAN DAN PENDAPATAN TAHUN KEBELAKANGAN YANG BELUM DILAPORKAN, you can key in your income details according to the relevant categories.

The second step is to fill in the approved donation and gifts amount. Refer to our
tax deduction
 section to understand more about this deduction. Remember, you must ensure the organisation you donate to, is approved by LHDN. If unsure, you can check the
status of the charitable organisation
 on LHDN website.

Check if the total monthly tax deductions (MTD/PCB) displayed is correct. You can find this information in the EA Form provided by your company.

If you have not declared any income in the previous years, this is where you declare it. For undeclared income from previous years, fill in the sub-section PENDAPATAN TAHUN KEBELAKANGAN YANG BELUM DILAPORKAN at the end of this section.

7. Fill in your tax reliefs, tax rebates and tax exemptions

In the third section, PELEPASAN/REBAT/TOLAKAN CUKAI/PELEPASAN CUKAI, key in your tax reliefs, tax rebates and tax exemptions. Check out out tax relief section to see the latest
income tax relief 2018 Malaysia
 (Year of Assessment 2017).

Understand the tax reliefs available and identify which are applicable to you to ensure you spend wisely and save on your income tax. Make sure you retain the proof of purchase or spending for the items you are claiming for up to seven years.

8. Check the total taxes you are due or your tax return

Once you have filled up all the reliefs and rebates, the system will automatically calculate your taxes and you will know if you have balance or excess in income tax payment.

This can be seen in the last section, RUMUSAN.

Your total tax will be shown in the first red box in the screenshot above. After deducting your MTD/PCB, if there is an excess or income tax return, it will be shown in the second red box in the screenshot.

9. Declare, sign and send

The final step is to declare that all the information provided is true. Then, you need to electronically sign the form and send it in by clicking on (Tandatangan & Hantar).

If you would like to check or change any information, click on KEMBALI.

That’s all! It may seem intimidating to use e-Filing form at first, but it really is easy to do. Those who did not own a computer or have Internet access could head to the special computer counters at
IRB branches
.

Credits : iMoney.com


# Lifestyle
# Job Tips

The "Perfect Leader" According To Google Studies

by
David Blog

Oct 31, 2019

at 3:58 PM

1. Good coach

Instead of solving all the problems that come our way, the best managers will use those problems as learning tools. They will guide their teams and share insights when it is required. This lets their team members to gain valuable experience and grow from it.

2. Empower team, not micromanage

Ideal managers give their team members the freedom they need. They allow them the freedom to explore ideas, take small risks and make mistakes. They will also provide the essential tools their team needs to succeed, and allow for flexible schedules and comfortable working environments.

3. Have an inclusive community/work culture

Google discovered that the best way to improve a team's performance was to create a psychologically safe environment. When teammates feel safe to take risks around team members, they won't be afraid of embarrassment or punishment for failure. A great team is always built upon trust.

4. Productive and result-oriented

The best managers don’t only strive to improve themselves, they strive to improve their teammates as well. They will set the right example and will get down and dirty when the situation requires it. They are not afraid to help out and motivate their team to always do better.

5. Good communicator — listens and shares information

The best managers are amazing listeners. They will try their best to understand their teams better, and show appropriate empathy. They also realize that knowledge is power, and are willing to share information and be transparent, to let their members know the “whys” behind the “whats.”

6. Supports career development and discusses performance

Great managers will always encourage their members by giving sincere and specific praise. They are also not afraid to give constructive criticism to help their members improve. They will invest in their people by helping them reach their personal career goals. By doing so, they naturally motivate their teams to give back as well.

7. Has a clear vision/strategy for the team

Great managers know exactly what a team needs to do, where they are, where they are headed and how to get there. Through good communication, they will keep their team on target. They also make sure each team member understands their individual role in executing that strategy perfectly.

8. Have key technical skills to advise the team

Great managers understand the jobs of their team members, including their everyday tasks and challenges. If the manager is moved into a new department, they will take the time to understand how things work, and build trust before making big changes and offering advice.

9. Collaborates effectively

Bad managers will capitalize on their team and improve themselves while putting down their members and maybe even sabotaging other teams within the same company. In contrast, great managers will see the big picture. They will work together for the good of the company as a whole and will encourage their team to do the same.

10. Strong decision-maker

Great managers make informed decisions. They will only decide after knowing the facts and thinking about the risks involved, and consulting with their team about it. When they have reached a conclusion, they will commit to those decisions.


# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Job Tips

How To Minimize Risk And Increase Chances Of Success!

by
David Blog

Nov 1, 2019

at 10:53 AM

In order to succeed, one must be willing to take risks. Taking risks is a part and parcel of life, you may fail many times before you finally succeed, but there are methods to minimize risk and failure. Here are some simple steps to do so!

Acknowledge Risk

You must accept that there are always risks, the more worthwhile it is usually the more risks there are.

By accepting this, you will acknowledge there will be losses and be prepared to pay the price of it.

You must also always remember that potential rewards make the risk worth it.

Be Prepared

Before doing anything, remember to take into account as many things as possible and be prepared for example if you were to go bungee jumping, you will check that your wire is secure.

It is the same in business, before you really jump into it, check your assets, check your mindset, run through everything you need in order for you to maximize the chances of success.

If you are signing a deal, do you have the necessary documents, does your pen work fine, is all your paperwork in neat and proper order?

Being prepared can help you manage your risks more effectively by keeping you in a calm and collected state of mind.

Do Research

Regardless of what kind of risk you are taking, it is of utmost importance to make sure all your moves are calculated.

To do that, you must be fully knowledgeable through doing extensive research, for example…

If you are investing in stock markets, read up on how to invest, how to read market trends, learn to anticipate peaks and throughs etc.

If you are going into FnB business, you should learn about what kind of permits you need, your location, your clientbase, your competitors etc.

The more prepared you are the less you will fail.

Think Of The Best Case Scenario

Be optimistic and find the courage to take that risk. Think about what is the best thing that can happen.

Visualize how it would be if you took the risk and you succeeded.

Consider how you would feel after accomplishing this goal.

Always keep your eye on the prize and stay motivated.

Think Of The Worst Case Scenario

It is equally important to think of what your worst case scenario is, to be more realistic about what you have to do.

Consider what could go wrong when taking a risk, be extra cautious.

With every problem you think of and foresee, find a way to solve that problem before it even happens.

By considering worst case scenarios and then preventing them from happening, you will further minimize your risk of failure.

Be Ready For Failure And Learn From It

As mentioned before, failure will always be a part of life, but you must not let that discourage you, instead use as knowledge so you will be less likely to fail in the future.

Learn to cut your losses, even if you lose something, you can also gain something from that experience.

By learning through experience and failure, the next time you venture forth, you will be even more prepared than you ever were in the past.

With these 6 tips in mind, go on forth and chase your passion, don’t be afraid of failure, but always look towards success. We at ricebowl.my wish you the best of luck!


# Life Hack

15 Body Language Problems That Kill Your Chances Of Success (In Business And Life)

by
David Blog

Nov 1, 2019

at 1:45 PM

Did you know our bodies have a language of their own, and they often speak what is hidden in our minds?

Body language is part of everyone, and most of us do it subconsciously. Sometimes it will be our worst enemy when it comes to job seeking and dating. How so? Well here are 15 body languages that we (unintentionally) use that give people a bad image of us. If you catch yourself doing this, try to stop it and look at the improvement in results!

Slouching

This is disrespectful. It shows that you are bored and don’t want to be there.

It is like telling the person you are talking to that you don’t want to listen to them.

If you want to project interest, power and confidence, sit up straight and have your arms slightly wider apart.

Maintaining good posture commands respect and promotes engagements from both ends of the conversation.

Big Gestures

It can show that you might be exaggerating the truth.

Instead, aim for small and controlled movements as it will show that you are confident and have leadership skills.

Movements like spreading your arms apart or showing the palm of your hands will communicate that you have nothing to hide.

Looking At The Time

This shows a lot of disrespect.

 Imagine going on a date or interviewing someone and they keep looking at the time, you will feel like they don’t want to be there and just want the time to go quickly.

Turning Your Body Away

Turning away or leaning away from your conversation shows that you are not interested, not comfortable and not engaged.

It may even show that you do not trust that person speaking.

If you want to show interest, try leaning in towards the person who is speaking and tilt your head slightly as you listen to them. This shows the speaker that they have your complete focus and attention.

Crossed Arms

Crossing your arms and legs shows that you are not open to what the other person is saying.

Even if you are smiling or engaging in a nice conversation, the other person may get a subconscious feeling that you are shutting them out.

You may have experienced this before where people cross their arms when they talk to you, and it feels like there is something “not right”, even if everything is going fine.

Even if folding your arms feels comfortable, resist the urge to do so if you want people to see you as open-minded and interested in what they have to say.

Inconsistency

Inconsistency between what you say and what your facial expressions will make people feel like something is not right.

For example, imagine a nervous smile while rejecting an idea during a presentation will not help get you get what you want, it will make others feel uncomfortable about working with you because they think you are up to something.

Too Much Nodding

This is a sign that you are anxious to get someone’s approval.

People may see your heavy nods as an attempt to show you agree and understand with something that you actually do not.

Fidgeting

Playing with your hair or something in your hands show that you are nervous, have too much energy, have low self-esteem and easily distracted.

People will see you as too worried about something else and not worried enough about your career or date.

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# Lifestyle
# Life Hack

6 Easy Ways To Improve Your Life Permanently!

by
David Blog

Nov 4, 2019

at 1:32 PM

Everybody wants to change their life for the better, yet not many know how to and what are the steps to take. But did you know, if you just take 6 little steps, you can gradually change your life for the better, permanently? Here are the 6 steps to do so!

Be Open To Change

We all know someone who wants to get fit but keeps eating Ramly and mamak and refuses to go to the gym. What about the friend who says they want a solid relationship but keeps dating emotionally unstable or unavailable people? If we want to make a change, we must be prepared to work for it. Thinking of change is not enough to make the change. The pain of never changing has to be so strong that you have no choice but to take action. To motivate yourself, think about the consequences of not changing vs. the excuses you have not to.

Create Your Own Circumstances

We all have our own stories that make us who and what we are. Sometimes these stories become excuses we make to prevent us from taking necessary action to make the changes we need in life. We can easily blame our past, our family, our clients, or our spouses for not supporting our vision, but if we want to make a change, we need to take ownership of our circumstances and mindfully change it. Yes, there are things out of our control, but there are also things we can control. To overcome your circumstances, you must look for opportunities to take responsibility and make the change.

Change Your Mindset

Mindset directs our behavior. To create change, we need to become aware of the actions we take daily and change our thinking and perspective. Trying to do it overnight is the most common reason we fail to permanently change our mindset. First, we need to change our thinking -- we need to prove to ourselves that our current behavior is negative for us, and we need to be positive and disciplined to really make a change. Remember, change happens one day at a time. Eventually, you’ll create a new pattern of behavior to replace the old one. When you strengthen your mindset, you encourage yourself to take action.

Control How You React

Every new year is the same old “new year, new me” story, but did you know on average people give up within a month? Change is not easy, just like everything in life you will meet failure. How you react to these failures will determine how much you succeed later on. You must understand that it takes time to truly create meaningful change both in your life and your business. Think of a time when you have met a challenge and reacted negatively. Was it helpful in solving your problem? I’m pretty sure it wasn’t. You must face every failure positively and take this as an opportunity to learn an invaluable lesson.

Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Imagine a businessman from 30 years ago and first hearing about the internet and decided “I donnid to change lah. This computer thing useless, just for kids.” That businessman is most likely not doing his business anymore today. The point is, you will reach new heights in your success if your motivation to succeed is more than your desire to stay in your comfort zone. Growth only happens if you go out of it.

Know That Change Starts With Yourself

Believe that change is possible, and always keep that vision in mind to push you forward when times get tough. If you don’t have that faith, and if you can’t see the finish line, you will most likely give up. Before expecting change from others, you have to know that change will always start internally, with yourself, like the Michael Jackson song “Man In The Mirror.”


# Life Hack

The Best And Biggest Way To Let Your Brain Think More

by
David Blog

Nov 4, 2019

at 2:29 PM

Did you know studies shows that for every deep thinker, in order to really get down to their thoughts and innovate, they all need one thing. Silence. The busier you are and the more you need to think, the more silent time you need. With silence, you allow your mind to truly flow and think outside the box without any forms of distractions. Many deep thinkers instinctively do this, including J.K. Rowling when she was trying to write the Harry Potter books. So, in order for you to really think, you need a lot of silence, but how do we get that in our loud society today? Well here are 4 tips on how to find peace in silence so you can really think.

Have A Mini Meditation Before Meetings

If you’re able to close the office door, go to a park bench, or find another quiet hideaway, it’s possible to help yourself reset by engaging in a silent practice of meditation or reflection.

Explore Nature

You  don’t need to be an outdoorsy type person to let go of your phone and go for a walk in nature.

In our own experiences and many of our customers, being within nature can be the best option to improve your creative thinking capabilities.

Many thinkers “go out for a walk” because of this reason.

Don’t Consume So Much Media

Turn off your email for several hours or even a full day, or try to ignore all forms of technology like your phone and computer.

While there may still be plenty of noise around—family, conversation, city sounds—you can enjoy real benefits by resting the parts of your mind associated with unending work obligations and tracking social media or current events.

Try A Meditation Retreat

Even a short retreat is one of the most straightforward way to tune in deeper into your brain and gain insight

You can mentally detox yourself. Settle your brain, and let it explore its own self.

The world is getting louder.  But silence is still accessible—it just takes commitment and creativity to cultivate it.


# Lifestyle
# Job Tips

The Most Noble And Underappreciated Career In The World!

by
David Blog

May 6, 2020

at 12:59 AM

There are so many jobs and career paths in our modern day society, but none of them directly and heavily impact the future and how our society grows, except for one.

Teachers.

Without this noble profession, we would not be at our advanced stage in humanity. This is because teachers mould and shape our future’s mindset and encourages them to grow. Every single one of us has become who we are now partially because of teachers. I personally would have been a “paikia” if it wasn’t for my teacher’s guidance in terms of both work ethics and outlook on life.

They are not just people who teach you how to count and read, they are educators that teach you how to be a better human being. This is the profession that makes and builds doctors, engineers, scientists and world leaders. Unfortunately, they are underappreciated, yet most educators are content with their work. Because it is not about the recognition from the world, it is the recognition from their students, each who are grateful for the guidance they received.

They like our 2nd parents, we spend half of our day with them for a big percent of our lives. Because of the nature of their jobs and their devotions to it, I’m pretty sure we all have one teacher that we still remember today, and once in a while wonder how they are doing. Their job scope may be to teach, but they do so much more than that. They educate, they love and adore, they encourage growth. They are our 2nd parents, our source of knowledge, our idols that bring us up as people.

So, have you ever wanted to impact someone else’s life for the better, thinking of building up a brighter future? Why not try being a teacher, and you would understand the satisfaction and sense of duty that I am talking about.

Click
here
 to get started!


# Life Hack

Careers That Change The Future Of Society!

by
David Blog

May 6, 2020

at 12:58 AM

Have you ever wanted to make a change in society? Make our world a better place, and give everyone a brighter future? Do you like sharing your knowledge and helping people grow mentally?

What about working? Do you want long paid holidays? Trips once in a while? Maintaining work-life balance?

Well good news, there is a job that fits this criterion. You get paid to directly educate people and make a change in our world, you get long holidays especially around December, and you also get subsidized on your trips.

Do you know what the job is? If you guessed teacher, you are right!

Teachers are actually one of the most in-demand jobs right now, but not a lot of people can do it because of personality. However, it is one of the most rewarding jobs when done right and your benefits are better than most other careers.

Other than the benefits, teachers are actually paid pretty well too, upwards of RM5,000. Which is better than some high demand professional jobs these days in the market. So you get months of days off, and also get paid really well. But above all else, you are shaping our future, one child, at a time. Maybe one day, the troubled kid that you save becomes the prime minister of Malaysia, and he will forever keep you in his heart and memory and be indebted to you.

Curious about this career? Click
HERE

to find out more!!


# Lifestyle
# Life Hack

How To Keep Fit Even When You Are Too Busy!

by
David Blog

Nov 5, 2019

at 2:04 PM

As  busy adults, we are always looking for ways to be more productive and efficient. Sometimes, there is not enough time in the day to get everything done, which means we make sacrifices. Usually, the sacrifices comes in the form of health and exercise.

It is sad, because when we don’t exercise, we won’t be able to be the best versions of ourselves. Exercise is a key element in maintaining a healthy personal and professional life. When we exercise, oxygen and nutrients
are delivered
 to our cardiovascular systems, helping it work more efficiently, giving us more energy to go about our day. Study also shows that exercise causes the
hippocampus to grow
, improving your memory and brain functionality. The greatest benefit, however, is the stress relief it provides. Cardio reduces levels of the body’s
stress hormones
 while stimulating endorphins to elevate your mood.

There are many benefits to exercise and it can make a huge difference in your life. So how do you fit in exercise while maintaining your productivity?

Go To Work By Bicycle

One of the easiest ways to get your exercise during the work day is to cycle to and from your office. Not only will you get the exercise you need but you can also get some fresh air and ignore the KL jam. Just always remember to be safe.

Taking Advantage of Your Lunch Break

You’ve got 30 minutes to an hour built into your workday for lunch but how long does it take to eat? After or before lunch, you can actually use that time to do some exercise and training. Maybe some yoga, body workout or HIIT?

Squeezing in a Post-Work Run

Rather than going home to KO after work, you can give yourself a quick energy boost for the evening by taking a short run when you get home. It can be a great way to release stress, listen to music and forget about work for a bit. If you’re up to it, you can even track your progress (with a FitBit/MiiBand) and keep trying to improve over time.