[eclecticvitality]

Starting a Tiny House Coop

Many factors must be considered when organizing a business. In addition to financing, location, and products or services, there are legal considerations. New businesses must register with state and federal governments. Additionally, businesses must select a business structure, which determines tax requirements, and must create an agreement between participating parties which will outline operating guidelines.

  Selecting a Business

  A business that builds tiny houses has the potential to be both financially and socially rewarding. Tiny houses, which are houses that are less than 400 square feet, are part of a growing movement to reduce debt and increase sustainability and quality of life (Mader, 2014). These houses address social issues, such as homelessness, debt, and environmental sustainability, in addition to providing a housing solution that many advocates have found personally rewarding.

  Tiny houses are being considered a potential solution to homelessness in America. In Austin, Texas, more than 200 houses are being built to house the homeless (Federico-O’Murchu, 2014). These houses, which have been built at a cost as low as $100 per house by California artist Gregory Kloehn, take advantage of salvage materials and simple construction methods that do not require advanced construction experience. In addition to providing shelter, tiny houses are saving tax dollars by preventing the petty crime associated with chronic homelessness and keeping the homeless out of incarceration, which costs $34,480 per inmate, per year. Programs such as Utah’s “Housing First” program have seen a 74% reduction in chronic homelessness.

  Tiny houses are more than a solution to homelessness. These houses also address the environmental concerns of overpopulation and dwindling natural resources. Tiny house dwellers are not able to make unnecessary, frivolous purchases due to the limited storage in their homes (Stone, 2012). This reduces the amount of resources used to produce consumables and allows residents to reduce spending. Additionally, tiny houses, which are often adorned with solar panels and energy-efficient appliances, use less energy. This translates into a smaller environmental impact and a low monthly utility bill.

  In addition to lower monthly expenses, owners of tiny houses are less likely to have mortgages. According to Barbara Mader (2014), 68% of tiny house owners have no mortgage, compared to only 29% of US home owners. This is partially attributed to the fiscal responsibility that is necessary when living in a tiny house, and partially to the low cost of a tiny, $15 thousand, on average (Stone, 2012). This fiscal responsibility and reduction of clutter has allowed many tiny house owners to find a greater happiness than most US house owners.

 Choosing a business form

  The best business form for a tiny house business is a cooperative, which is owned and operated for the benefit of members who use its services, referred to as user-owners (sba, 2014). Members become part of the cooperative by purchasing shares, and are able to vote to control the direction of the cooperative, which is run by an elected board of directors and officers.

  Forming a tiny house cooperative has several advantages over a traditional business form, such as a partnership or corporation, including tax advantages, government funding opportunities, and a reduction in operating expenses. The cooperative will generate revenue through the sale of completed tiny houses, building material, and cooperative shares.

  Cooperatives are not taxed as a business. Instead, distributed earnings are taxed as personal income by members. By eliminating the tax burden associated with generating a profit, the tiny house cooperative will have greater financial means to finance the sale of discounted tiny houses to qualifying low-income purchasers. This will preserve the social aspect of assisting Americans living in homelessness and poverty. The cooperative will also have unique opportunities to access government funding to finance social solutions to poverty.

  In addition to tax savings and government funding, running a tiny house cooperative will provide user-owners with the opportunity to take advantage of economies of scale. This will reduce the cost associated with building a tiny house, allowing the cooperative to increase profit margin on full-priced house sales and reduce costs on discounted-house sales.

  Finally, a cooperative has the advantage of a democratic organization. Ownership will be a constantly-changing structure, with new members being added each year. This will allow the cooperative to serve the needs of the many, which always outweigh the needs of the few or one (Spock, 1982).

  Operating Agreement

  Before incorporating the cooperative, the initial members of the organizing committee must decide on a business strategy and conduct analysis of costs and feasibility and financial needs. After this is complete, the cooperative can be incorporated by completing the following steps: file articles of incorporation, create bylaws, create a membership application, conduct a charter member meeting and elect directors, obtain licenses and permits, and hire necessary employees.

  The first step of incorporation, filing articles of incorporation, must be approved by the state business entity registration office before members can create bylaws. These bylaws, which must comply with state law, should list requirements for membership, including duties and responsibilities, in addition to operational procedures. After the initial bylaws are created, a membership application will need to be created, which should include member rights and benefits.

  Next, a charter member meeting will be conducted, where bylaws will be voted on and adopted and a board of directors will be elected. In this meeting, initial bylaws should be discussed and amended as necessary until a majority vote is reached to adopt the bylaws. These adopted bylaws will then be the operating agreement, and can be referred to when facing operational issues. After the bylaws are adopted, they will be reviewed once each year at an annual bylaw meeting, which will provide members the opportunity to adjust bylaws to meet the cooperative’s changing needs.

  The tiny house cooperative will be dedicated to the benefit of current members, future members, and society. In order to preserve the social missions of the cooperative, to assist Americans living in poverty and to reduce waste to increase environmental sustainability, it will be critical that provisions exist in the bylaws outlining the portion of income to be directed towards social missions. Additionally, the bylaws should define the specific requirements for applicants to qualify for a discounted-house and the building specifications of the discounted houses.

  Finally, the cooperative will have to obtain any licenses and permits from the state and city of operation and hire necessary employees. The board of directors should meet with an attorney, if there is not an attorney on staff, to ensure that the cooperative has all required documentation. The need to hire employees will be voted on by the cooperative membership in order to reduce unnecessary employment costs.

  References

  Federico-O’Murchu, L. (2014, February 26). Tiny Houses: A big idea to end homelessness. NBC News. Retrieved from http://www.nbcnews.com/business/real-estate/tiny-houses-big-idea-end-homelessness-n39316

Mader, B. (2014, March 28). Tiny houses reflect green trend. Examiner.com. Retrieved from http://www.examiner.com/article/tiny-houses-reflect-green-trend

Sba.gov. (2014). Choose your business structure: cooperative. Retrieved from http://www.sba.gov/content/cooperative

Spock. (1982). Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

Stone, D. (2012, December 10). Tiny House, Happy Life? National Geographic Magazine. Retrieved from http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/12/10/tiny-house-happy-life/

[eclecticvitality]

The Apparel Industry's Business Environment

The apparel industry is a global and diverse industry that encompasses a massive market. The industry is affected by political and economic changes, as well as changes in societal expectations and advances in technology.

  Economic Analysis

  The apparel industry has a unique advantage over most industries because all human beings, at some point in their lives, must purchase clothing. Despite the large market size, however, apparel companies are highly susceptible to the effects of a recession and decreases in disposable income (Asaeda, 2013, p. 21). Industry trends show that during times of recession, consumers avoid apparel purchases that are unnecessary, and gravitate towards inexpensive goods. While this trend presents a challenge for luxury brands, it presents an opportunity for retailers that sell discounted apparel, called off-price retailers, such as TJX Companies Inc.

  The S&P 500 predicts off-price retailers will gain market share in upcoming years due to price-conscious consumers (Asaeda, 2013, p.4). TJX Companies, Inc., for example, saw a 7% growth in sales in 2013, more than double total industry sales growth of about 4%. This is contributed to both the lower than average pricing, and the ability to quickly change the merchandise offered in stores, based on rapid changes in consumer demand.

  The quick pace in which consumer demand changes has allowed for retailers that offer inexpensive fashionable items, known as “fast fashion,” to be successful among younger age groups (Asaeda, 2013, p.21). Fast fashion techniques include a quicker inventory turnover, which promotes impulsive purchases because consumers visit often, and must buy desired products before the store’s inventory changes. Fast fashion companies, such as H&M and Zara have also shown significantly higher gross margins than traditional retail companies (p.7).

  Gross margin is an important factor in the success of an apparel company, due to the extreme competitiveness of the apparel industry. Companies must learn to take advantage of technologies to avoid overstocking while simultaneously taking advantage of economies of scale (p. 21). Overstocking can lead to the need to mark-down inventory that is not well-accepted by consumers, especially in companies that cater to consumers with quickly-changing fashion demands. However, companies that do not have the assets or customer demand to buy in large quantities from manufacturers are not able to take advantage of large-scale purchasing discounts.

  The ability for manufacturers to stay profitable is often challenged by the power of large retailers, who are able to make large purchases, and negotiate favorable terms. Many manufacturers decrease production costs by outsourcing labor (p. 25). The increase in outsourcing has been a factor in establishing trade agreements, which reduce tariffs and make global trading more economical. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), has been especially beneficial to American companies, and has motivated manufacturers to take advantage of the low labor costs in Mexico and the Caribbean (p. 20). These countries offer a closer vicinity to American distribution centers than Asian manufacturers, which allow companies to take advantage of quicker and more cost-effective shipping.

  Despite the cost-advantages of outsourcing manufacturing, reshoring, a trend that involves producing products locally, has grown in popularity. Reshoring allows companies to take advantage of government incentives to create jobs, lower transportation costs, more closely monitor quality control, and fulfill orders faster. Additionally, reshoring has been socially accepted by consumers, who show demand for American-made products.

  In addition to decreasing production costs and effectively managing stock, many companies are taking advantage of the e-commerce market to increase profitability.  While this allows companies to reach a wider audience, it also requires significant technology investment. Companies with the assets to make this investment, however, are seeing a favorable return on investment, due to online sales growing about 20% per year; more than quadruple the overall industry sales growth of 4% (p. 6).

  Social Analysis

  The highly-competitive nature of the apparel industry makes it crucial that apparel companies stay aware of the quickly-changing demands of society. Companies must also be aware of demographic changes and should be able to identify emerging markets in order to identify growth opportunities. Apparel companies must be aware of fashion trends, as well as other social trends that impact consumer choices, such as the desire for American-made products and an increased interest in health and exercise.

  The success of fast fashion companies, such as H&M, illustrates the importance of catering to consumer demand. Companies must recognize fashion trends desired by target customers early enough to manufacture products that will preserve customer loyalty. Many apparel companies find success in catering to a specific type of consumer, such as women or young adults.

  According to Asaeda, women over the age of 35 spend the most money on apparel and customers over the age of 25 generally have the highest disposable income, making them desirable customers. This information is important for an apparel company because it helps a company identify a profitable target market (p.16). While older generations may still purchase clothes, disposable income often decreases as healthcare costs increase with age, causing older generations to shop for apparel less frequently.

  Knowledge of emerging markets assists apparel companies in investment decisions. The S&P industry survey predicts China and India to present the biggest opportunity for growth in the luxury market in upcoming years. This knowledge would be beneficial to an apparel company looking to expand its brand globally.

  Social trends are also important when making investment decisions. The social trend of consumers demanding more locally manufactured products may make relocating manufacturing locations more desirable because it will provide an apparel company with a new marketing strategy. One survey found that more than 80% of Americans will pay more for American-made products, primarily to keep jobs in the USA (St. John, 2013).

  American consumers have also shown an increased interest in health, which has encouraged many apparel companies to include sportswear in product lines (Asaeda, 2013, p. 21). Athletic wear has received a lot of attention from the integration of technology into apparel. A leader in athletic apparel, Under Armour, has developed apparel that helps to regulate body temperature and protect athletes from the sun. Recently, Under Armour invested $150 million in the acquisition of a software company that will allow it to further cater to exercise with tech-enabled clothing (Burke, 2013).

  Technological Analysis

  In addition to tech-enabled apparel, technology is integrated into the apparel industry in marketing, manufacturing processes and business solutions. The advancements in technology have enabled apparel companies to increase efficiency, creativity, and customer satisfaction.

  New social media platforms allow companies to monitor consumer satisfaction and demands in a quick and cost-effective way. Companies that take advantage of this opportunity to monitor customer reaction to products will gain a competitive advantage because it will allow future products to more closely resemble target customer’s desires.

  Effective stock management is important to the profitability of apparel companies. One way companies can avoid overstocking is through the use of electronic data interchange (EDI) systems (asaeda, 2013, p. 26). These systems provide a link between retailers and manufacturers to monitor the sale of stock and inventory levels, which allow manufacturers to make production decisions based on consumer demand. Other technological improvements increased the efficiency of manufacturing and design processes, reducing labor costs and design time.

  In addition to increased efficiency, apparel manufacturers are able to use new technology to create more unique apparel that has increased customer satisfaction. Manufacturers that were previously limited to embroidery and screen printing now have access to new sublimation methods, direct-to-garment digital printing, and heat press products (Ruvo, 2013). These new methods offer more design options in addition to higher order margins.

  References

Asaeda, J. (2013). Industry Surveys, Apparel & Footwear: Retailers & Brands. S&P Capital IQ McGraw Hill Financial, 1-50. Retrieved from http://0-www.netadvantage.standardandpoors.com.olinkserver.franklin.edu/NASApp/NetAdvantage/showIndustrySurvey.do?task=showIndustrySurvey&type=pdf&code=apf

Burke, M. (2013). Under Armour, With First-Ever Acquisition, Enters The World Of Software. Forbes.Com, 20. Retrieved from http://0-search.ebscohost.com.olinkserver.franklin.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=92043707&site=ehost-live

RUVO, C. (2013). THE REVOLUTION WILL BE PRINTED. Wearables, 17(9), 50-54. Retrieved from http://0-web.a.ebscohost.com.olinkserver.franklin.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=8&sid=e56394cf-0979-4e4f-8b58-db602cd999be%40sessionmgr4005&hid=4106

St. John, O. (2013, January 21). Made in USA makes comeback as a marketing tool. USA Today. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2013/01/21/made-in-usa-trend/1785539/

[eclecticvitality]

Innovative Leaders

The necessity for innovative leaders is expanding in business as the global market increases reliance on technology and competitive growth. The ability to innovative is a product of a leader’s continuous intellectual growth, emotional intelligence, capability to persevere and take risks, and the capacity for self-reflection. Leaders should possess a personal motivation to read material from a breadth of subjects, both in and out of their field, and the ability to relate their acquired knowledge to their profession (Hodge & Linny, 1999). Leaders should also have integrity and emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence must be developed beyond personal maturity, which requires a leader to be humble and aware of their emotions, to include the ability to emanate emotional intelligence through empathetic listening and approbation (Vitello-Cicciu, 2003). In addition to personal development, innovative leaders must inspire innovation in their employees. This means they must be courageous enough to take risks (Konoprowski, 1967) and be persistent that their ideas are heard (“The way of an innovative leader,” 2006).  Most importantly, an innovative leader must be capable of self-reflection, which allows them to continuously evolve into a more effective leader (“The way of an innovative leader,” 2006). 

  How Innovative Leadership Provides a Competitive Advantage for an Organization

  Intellectual growth in leaders provides a competitive advantage for an organization. Leaders who read outside of their field gain knowledge that competitors are not likely to have (“The way of an innovative leader,” 2006). This knowledge can function as a catalyst for discovering creative solutions to problems that competitors will not be able to easily predict. Furthermore, having extensive knowledge among employees allows for simple problems to be solved efficiently, allowing more time to be spent on complex problems.

  When not solving problems, innovators should be looking for ways to improve existing processes. This habit becomes inherent in leaders who read fiction because they grow accustomed to conceptualizing new, better worlds. As Neil Gaiman (2013) pointed out in his essay on the importance of reading, imagining new worlds breeds discontent, which leads to a need to improve on current environments. This intrinsic motivation is advantageous to companies because it motivates employees to go beyond their job requirements and envision new possibilities.

  Even the most knowledgeable leaders do not know everything and must practice humility when a mistake is made (“The way of an innovative leader,” 2006). Failure presents an opportunity for a subordinate employee to offer an alternative solution and for the leader to offer approbation, which will help strengthen team morale. Failure can also be beneficial to an organization when dealt with humbly because it encourages employees to take risks without fear of serious repercussions (Konoprowski, 1967).

  Risk taking, an action that is crucial to innovation, gives an organization the opportunity to pursue ideas to their full potential, which can offer substantial returns (Konoprowski, 1967). For example, when Elon Musk invested most of his revenue from the sale of PayPal into the creation of SpaceX, a company that now services the International Space Station; he had no experience in the industry (Finneran, 2010). The company, a product of risk-taking, now has almost $5 billion in contracts (SpaceX, 2013).

  Even when a risky idea fails, it may instigate another idea that is more successful, which could put an organization ahead of their competition. However, for this to be possible, an organization must facilitate communication systems that allow effective open communication. Providing employees with a flexible work environment that fosters creative thinking and open communication is crucial to creating competitive advantage through innovation (Konoprowski, 1967).

  My Action Plan for Developing Skills to be an Innovative Leader

  To become an innovative leader, I must begin to think as an innovator. This means, first and foremost, I must quench my thirst for knowledge. I will read as often as possible and read a variety of different works. By carrying a notebook with me, I can write down topics that arise throughout the day to research later. Most importantly, I need to ask questions and make the words ‘how’ and ‘why’ part of my daily vocabulary.

  As I begin to make learning a priority, I have to accept that I know very little and learn to admit when I am wrong. I will try to not only hear people when they speak, but really listen. I need to improve my ability to empathize with others and be careful not to let on that I am frustrated or bothered if someone asks a question while I am busy. I will try to be more aware of the disadvantages of my tendency to be direct and be less direct in my responses to coworkers so that I am not seen as unfriendly.

  I will never turn down a challenge and will go beyond my job requirements and take on new responsibilities. If I do not know how to complete a task, I will research or ask questions, complete the task to the best of my ability, and seek feedback from an outside source or a leader. If there is no one within my organization that is able to complete a task, I will offer to take a class on the subject so that I am able to take responsibility for the task.

  Finally, I will make self-reflection a priority. I can do this daily on my drive home from work (“The way of an innovative leader,” 2006). I will also conduct a self-review before and after my yearly reviews with my company so that I can track my progress as an innovative thinker and leader. 

  References

  Finneran, K. (2010, January 21). The greatest risks they ever took. Forbes Magazine. Retrieved from www.forbes.com

Gaiman, N. (2013, October 15). Why our future depends on libraries, reading and daydreaming. The Guardian. Retrieved from www.theguardian.com

Hodge, R., & Linny, B. (1999). Innovative leadership: Generating ideas. Physicians Executive, 25(1), 70-71.

Konoprowski, E. J. (1967). Toward innovative leadership. Business Horizons, 10(4), 79-88.

SpaceX. (2013). Advancing the future. Retrieved from www.spacex/about

Vitello-Cicciu, J. (2003). Innovative leadership through emotional intelligence. Nurse Management, 34(10), 28-33.

The way of the innovation leader: Integrity, tenacity, curiosity, courage, and humility as a day-to-day values system. (2006). New & Improved, LLC. Retrieved from http://www.newandimproved.com/newsletter/2025.php.

[eclecticvitality]

Today I am feeling very thankful for the things I do not have and for the things I haven't always had. My parents provided me with the necessities for life- a roof over my head, sustenance, access to an education, and the humility to appreciate opportunities and privilege. Their most successful act in parenting was in making me work for everything else. 

As I look at the life I've built, I can truly appreciate the sense of accomplishment that I have in knowing that I earned what I have. I've struggled. I've lived in crappy apartments in seedy neighborhoods. I've stressed over having to share a dingy bathroom with a half-working light with one too many roommates in order to make ends meet. I've eaten ramen for dinner every night of the week. I've begged for rides to work when the car that is my senior decided to die of old age.  

And guess what? I didn't die. In fact, I came out on the other side a stronger person. A person that knows what I can handle. A person that knows how to rub two pennies together to make a dollar. A person that can appreciate an opportunity when it is staring me in the face, even if I have to jump a few hurdles to take advantage of it.

I know how to dream and I know how to set goals to make those dreams come true. I learned this by working for what I have.

At the risk of sounding trite, I can honestly say that I understand that the battles you win are not important. It's the battles you lose that prepare you to win the war.

[eclecticvitality]

Multi-Unit Living & Secret Cigarettes

I am currently living in the closest-quartered living since I was a young child. I've been fortunate to have always lived in old houses or apartments with character. While part of that coveted character is most likely responsible for the layer of century-old dust coating my lungs, or my uncanny ability to create wind tunnels with box fans through houses with no insulation in the winter and no ventilation in the summer, the most cherished aspect of those unique living quarters was a feeling as though I was living in a private and unique home. 

Smoking secret cigarettes on the back deck of my new apartment, I find myself longing for that privacy, of which I believe the days for may be numbered. I can see directly into 2 other units, all styled identically to mine from the mass-produced linoleum floor to the economic particle board cupboards. During the ten minutes I spend cherishing the nicotine and disease as it courses through my body, I observe the lives of my neighbors.

Directly across from me, in another second floor unit lives a family of 4. I've nicknamed them the 'bat-hound' family, due to their enormous Great Dane (who I have been formulating a plan to steal and hide in my not-so-private apartment). Their lives are predictable, in that stifling, work until you die, way. The windows are never without the flashing of a television, although I never notice anyone on the couch actually watching the television. It is exhausting to watch the mother clean as the children destroys, to watch as her dreams of living in a well-decorated condo slip through her sticky, I-have-small-children hands. Occassionally, one of the parents will slip out onto their back patio for a secret cigarette while the other parents covers for them. They do this in darkness and they do this in silence. They will not acknowledge my feeble attempts to engage them in conversation as though by speaking they will acknowledge that they are outside doing, basically, nothing other than killing themselves in pursuit of silence.

In the apartment below the bat-hound family is the half family I think of as the Draper family (Post-Betty and Pre-Megan). In other words, a single, presumably divorced, unhappy, yet successful man lives here. I have seen children, which I have gathered visit on the weekends. It is obvious that the apartment is a stranger to women by the pile of junk that has covered what once was a counter. This man also enjoys secret cigarettes, one in the evening, one right after work, and one at night. He leans onto his patio banister as if the weight of the world is on his shoulders. He looks as if he has not been hugged or spoken sincerely to in a long time. He also refuses to make eye contact with me, which has encouraged my new game of staring at him in an attempt to entice him to acknowledge my presence. He will not.

I've come to decide that there are two explanations for the anti-social secret-cigarette behavior, of which one must be true. The first explanation is that the bat-hounds and Mr. Draper have a pact to ignore the existence on those of us (or only me) in the building to the West of them. The second is that living in quarters with no privacy has made neighbors less-willing and less-comfortable with becoming acquainted to their neighbors. I find this odd, as I've witnessed their routines in the same intimacy they've been able to witness mine. Surely they've noticed that I like to watch the home and garden channel while I'm alone and slowly and meticulously clean the apartment. Or that I eat pints of ice cream on a spoonful-a-day basis. So why are we not familiar enough to say hello?

I believe that close-quarters are beginning to affect me in the same way. I've found since I've been in a big city, that I've actually become more anti-social. When living in the country, you can go a day or even a week without seeing another person if you choose to. This is why if you do see a person, you speak to them and acknowledge their presence. In the city, however, if we went around speaking to everyone we would never get anything accomplished! What's more, if you talk to a person without reason or possibly without the right you will be stared at as if you are some strange new form of a hippie. People don't have time to deal with someone who isn't going to improve their social or economical standing. I blame facebook, twitter, instagram, snapchat, tumblr, etc. for this as well, for taking so much energy to maintain. 

[eclecticvitality]

How to Survive Your Undergraduate Years

I will never know as much as I did when I was eighteen years old. I remember feeling, in my naivety, as if I was invincible. I saw the world in black & white and I became accustomed to becoming absolutely certain and validated in all of my beliefs. At some point between high school and a life of ramen & old crow, I came to the realization that I knew absolutely nothing. Upon this realization, I made a decision that I would stop believing that I knew anything and start attempting to learn something. Here are a few of the things I've learned:

Fall for the wrong person

It will make you appreciate the right person when they come along

Avoid major credit cards

Never charge the things you want until you can afford to pay cash for the things you need. Want to build credit? A secured card through your bank will suffice.

Take a few classes outside of your major, or better yet, don’t declare a major

Deciding what you want to spend your entire life doing right out of high school is asinine. Instead, take some time to explore the things you’re interested in before deciding.

Don’t be afraid to take some time off of school

Everyone says if you don’t go straight to college or if you take a semester off then you will never go back. Quite the opposite is true, if you spend a little time working a non-skilled job and enjoying your free time, you will appreciate the college experience more when you return.

Learn to cook meals on a budget

There are a surprising amount of non-frozen, non-ramen, non-drive thru options when you’re pinching pennies

Learn to budget

Learning to make your money last when you don’t have a lot to spare will help you stay out of debt and find extra money to spend on the things you want. Plus, it is a necessary skill for life. The sooner you implement a budget, the better.

Find friends with your best interest at heart- and keep them

You will be consistently surprised how many of the people you consider friends are actually acquaintances.

Don’t be too cool to stay home on a Friday or Saturday night

Sometimes you just need the rest.

Listen to your body

Denying you are coming down with a cold because you are too busy will make the recovery time twice as long and twice as painful. Take a night off and put yourself into a nyquil coma.

Learn to enjoy your coffee black

This will save you from 5am sugar crashes after drinking a pot of coffee during an all nighter.

Call your parents (and your grandparents)

We all make mistakes. Having a strong relationship with your family will help you move on from those mistakes.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Occasionally, drink one too many.

[eclecticvitality]

Why we should put away our smartphones...

     My grandmother, while never loquacious, was the most intelligible person I've met in my lifetime. Her eloquence allowed her to say more with only a few words than most can communicate through verbose speeches. To her, quality was invariably more important than quantity. Quality of communication to my grandmother meant more than knowing the proper syntax. She was the type of person that looked you in the eye when speaking to you, that devoted her entire attention to the moment you were sharing in conversation, that looked for cognizance in the depths of your face. 

     As technology becomes an increasingly important method of communication in society, I find myself yearning for conversations like the ones I had with my grandmother. I crave quality conversation; conversation uninterrupted by the compulsion to continually monitor social media updates or by the vibration of a mobile phone. I ache for the days when an entire group of people could participate in a conversation because they were mentally present and living in the moment. 

     While I am not an enemy of technology, I do attribute the inattentiveness of my peers and thus, indirectly, the decline of quality conversation to the ever-growing presence of technology in our lives. The opportunity for mass-communication has led to an overwhelming pressure to communicate as frequently as possible. Modern consumers have even reached the extreme of deeming it necessary to update  their entire social media network of even the most inconsequential life events, such as what vegetable they've chosen for a dinner side. With the evolution of smartphones, status updates and 'tweets', we can now "communicate" with hundreds or even thousands of people in less than thirty seconds. While this mass-communication method does satisfy the need to communicate frequently, it is at the cost of compromising the quality of communication.

     One aspect of communication that has been especially influenced is grammar, syntax and diction. A large portion of communication is accomplished through means of technology, such as texting or typing, rather than spoken word. Logic would suggest that the increase in written word would improve communication skills such as spelling and grammar, and give more time to compose an idea, leading to more thoughtful context in conversations. Contrarily, pressure to communicate frequently and quickly has led to perfunctory chatter, often comprised of abbreviations and acronyms. In recent years, as this colloquial writing has become more common and, consequently, more acceptable, it has filtered into spoken communication. The inclusion of this language in acceptable speech has diminished decorous language and has caused an influx of meaningless, unintelligent chatter.

     Technology is important in modern society and it is important that we embrace the advances in communication provided by technology. However, we must not allow this progress to deconstruct our languages and our ability to form interpersonal relationships through meaningful conversation. Technology should enhance our lives, not overrun them. When speaking, we must remember to say something worth listening to. When in conversation, we must put the phone or tablet away, look our company in the eye, and enjoy the moment as it occurs. 

[eclecticvitality]

[eclecticvitality]

The thought catalog article on happiness got me thinking about my own journey for happiness. Although I am very happy with my life now, I certainly have not always felt that way. The more I thought about it, the more I started to realize that happiness is like domesticating a stray cat.

You see it lurking around your neighborhood, mangy and underfed, and you want nothing more than to catch it, bathe it, and give it a name. You call to it, myewing, and chase it around the neighborhood. Doesn't it know that a comfortable life as a fat, indoor house cat is better than a life of dumpster diving and hiding under cars in the rain? All you want is a friend to come home to and you become desperate in your attempts to capture. Finally, after realizing that all of your neighbors (the ones you thought were crazy) are peeking through their blinds at this myewing idiot you have become, you give up and return to your house with your tail between your legs. Has a greater loser ever existed than you, a person who even a starving stray cat doesn't want to be around? The next day, after dragging yourself out of bed an hour after you are supposed to be at work, you step onto your front porch. The sun is out and there on your porch, bathing in a ray of sunshine, is the mangy stray cat that evaded you the evening before. It looks up to you, as if you are old friends, and lets out the tiniest, most innocent 'myew.' (You think this cat may actually be mocking you, attempting to lure you in to round two of a game of cat and human, but you don't care anymore, you've already decided to get a dog.)

The attempt to find happiness is often the same. You chase it when you are young, doing ridiculous things that make even a person running around a neighborhood myewing look normal. You dye your hair crazy colors, get trendy tattoos, sleep with the wrong people, and do too many drugs. You go into debt to buy cool clothes, a ten year old sports car, and the latest apple product line. You figure if you trade in enough dignity and brain cells, you will finally figure the secret to happiness out. 

Fast forward 5 years. After doing too many cherry bombs in too little clothes at the bar one too many times, you wake up hungover. For the first time, being unhappy is more appealing than stepping foot in another bar ever again. Maybe the numerous trips to the bathroom have affected your eye sight because suddenly the once 'edgy' hair color you chose reminds you of that awful neon skirt (if you could call it that) the annoying girl at the bar was wearing the night before. Your black nail polish and eye shadow reminds you suddenly of the awful 'punk' guy who always silently mocks your record choices at the trendy music shop downtown. It's official, your age has finally caught up with you and you are no happier than you were when you got your first fake ID.

You down an overly-strong bloody mary to keep the hangover at bay and make your way to the nearest drug store. Essentials: human-hair colored hair dye, neutral eye shadow, and non-offensive nail polish (and a pack of cigarettes; Rome wasn't built in a day). After returning home and normalizing your looks, you cancel all of your 'fun, hip' plans and make a pact to yourself that you are going to catch up on sleep, get a real job, and only go out on weekends. Fast forward another year. It's Friday night. You just ordered take out, started a sappy movie set in 1850 England, and poured yourself a glass of wine. You couldn't be happier.

What I've come to realize: Chasing things you can't control, be it a wild animal or a state of mind, won't get you any closer to posessing them. Sometimes you have to relax, do what you want, and let the cat come to you.