Life Can Be Funny

It’s funny how you can plan everything out, but then life has a different path. Last year my husband and I decided that we were not renewing our lease in our current apartment, but wanted to move and get a bigger place. Our thought was to get a townhome within a 5-mile radius. I was finally getting a separate office, more space to entertain, and not deal with the nuisances that come with being in an apartment.

So we made this decision around May of 2023. Every month the countdown was on. And then in December, we received the letter to renew, so with that, we put in our notice to vacate. That left us about 3 full months to secure a new place.

We assumed renting a townhome or a single-family home would be the same as renting an apartment. But it felt more like buying a house. Working with realtors, sending in documentation, waiting to see if you were selected. That process took about 1-2 weeks each time we found a place we seemed to like.

Then about a week before our lease was up we made the decision to renew our current lease because it was still available. After all the disappointments, we felt like it was God’s way of saying “Not right now”. So with that, I had to find a way to make the current place seem like we were moving into a new place. Hence, the reorganizing and decluttering took place.

Getting Organized

I focused on two main areas for the decluttering; the primary walk-in closet and kitchen. After focusing on those areas, I spent some time with a hall closet and the second bathroom closet.

We have lived in our current apartment for a little over 3 years. We moved during the pandemic from a different state. In previous moves we have had the ability to take our time and move over the course of a few weeks to a month. This time, we needed to move everything to a truck and drive.

So with the help of family, we moved in and put everything in place quickly without too much thought. The walk-in closet wasn’t a total mess, but it was not optimized. We share a closet with our own sides but then add in the linen, random electronics, luggage storage and more, it can get cluttered quickly.

You can’t organized without getting rid of some stuff. And that’s what I did. If I had not used it in over a year, I got rid of it. Here are the items I donated or took to the dump:

• Clothes/Shoes/Belts
• Purses
• Small Carryon Suitcases
• Foot Massager
• Pillows
• Blankets
• Bookbags/Totes
• Old Towels
• Paintings

Now that I had a little more real estate to work with, I took everything out of the closet (except the clothes that were hanging up) to the bedroom and only took back in what was needed. I figured out what “spaces” I needed.

For the shelves, I had these areas

• Towels/Washcloths
• Linen
• Office Supplies
• Important Papers
• Travel Accessories
• Jewelry
• Eye Care and Makeup
• First Aid and Medicine

There is top shelfing so that is where I included items that I don’t need on a regular basis.

• Photos/Albums
• Extra Blankets
• Hats/Scarfs
• Purses

On the middle shelf I have baskets for mainly clothing specific items.

• Socks
• Fitness attire
• Swimsuits

The bottom section I put the bigger items that wouldn’t fit anywhere else.

• Laundry
• Golf Clubs
• Shoes
• Luggage
• Tote of books and paperwork

I purchased another long tote for additional books and photo albums that I didn’t have the space to display. These are placed underneath the bed in the bedroom.

Here are some of my before and after pictures.

I did buy an additional organizer that most people use underneath their kitchen or bathroom sink cabinets, but I found an additional way to use it in the empty spot. I added my medicine and first aid stash.

Here is an amazon link to the under sink organizer.

The Kitchen Semi MakeOver

Now that I was happy with how the closet turned out, I could divert my attention to the kitchen. Let me say that I did not do this all in one day. I took one day for the closet, one for the kitchen and another for the smaller areas with the two bathrooms.

One area that I wanted organization around was my spice cabinet. My turn style caddy did not fit all my spices. I had ordered a spice rack that could fit in my current cabinet. I did have to move a shelf up one notch to have it fit, but it was perfect. The rack held 20 spices.

Similar to how I did the closet, I took everything out of the cabinet, cleaned it and put back only what I needed. I was embarrassed by the amount of spices I had in the back of the cabinet from 2022. The longest part of this organization was cleaning the new spice rack, labeling, and emptying what I had in the current containers into the new ones. There was some leftovers, so I put those either behind it or above. Now finding my spices is a breeze.

Here is an amazon link to my spice rack. Check out the before and after pics below.

The second area that needed attention was the bottom of my kitchen island. It was a catchall for cleaning supplies, random kitchen gadgets, face masks and a sewing machine. My vision was to only see pots/pans and have an area to store vegetables and bakery items.

I had two sets of pots and pans, so I donated one. Similar to how I started the areas, I removed everything from the bottom of the kitchen island and only put back what I needed. For the pots and pans I purchased an organizer that would fit. It works but I think I could have ordered one that was more sturdier. This allowed me to have more cabinet space for can goods and pasta.

The cabinets are still a work in progress as I still need to purchase some additional pasta containers, but I love the fact that I can see everything and not have to hunt for it in my own kitchen.

Here are a few additional organization after pics that I was able to do for the cabinets underneath the sinks and the pantry. I love the fact that everything is more visible.

Zen

When there is organization and less clutter, I’m able to breath. I can concentrate better in other areas of focus. I work from home so being able to be in an environment that is calming allows me to focus on work tasks. Being in an apartment, space is limited, but when you declutter and give everything its own space, the small footprint expands.

I hope I’ve been able to give you some tips or ideas on how to organize some of the pain point areas in your home. If you would like to read about other areas of tranquility, try starting here to view additional posts.

~Angela

The post Decluttering Can Bring the Peace you Need first appeared on Angela P. Banks.

These days all you hear about are plant-based foods or going vegan or vegetarian (yes, they are two different things). I mean with the chicken that can be made in a lab, who can blame people for wanting to find healthier ways of eating? My journey (along with my husband) started at the end of 2019.

What Started It All

We had just returned from a Bermuda cruise with our friends and I was feeling like a true glutton. I mean, things I typically wouldn’t do regularly, like eating a hamburger and fries at midnight with a side of dessert were pretty common on that 7-day trip. 

Needless to say, when we came back from the trip I was ready for some type of detox. I recall hearing about a special online called “Game Changers” and how it was about the effects of going plant-based. So we watched the special and had some eye-opening revelations. So after that day, things changed in our household.

The first couple of months were more of a discovery phase. When we went to our favorite restaurants we had to figure out what type of meatless dish to get. I noticed that I was getting a lot of food with pasta, rice, and fries.

After getting tired of the same foods, we added seafood to our regular routine. Typically it was salmon, shrimp, or tuna dishes. Not every day, but a few times a week. Plus when we went to restaurants or had friends invite us over for dinner, it was something to add as another option. 

What Would People Say

That brings me to another point. After we mentioned we stopped eating certain foods, our family and friends would routinely ask, “What do you eat again”? “Or can you eat this?”. I appreciate the thoughts that others have regarding our dietary choices, but I never wanted them to feel like they needed to bend over backward to accommodate our needs. 

For holidays, there were usually enough sides to choose from and still have a full meal. One of the benefits I felt during the holidays was that I didn’t overindulge like previously. The feeling of needing to just sit and not move is not something I enjoy at this stage of my life. I was never a big meat eater in the first place, however, I do miss the taste of fried chicken.

It’s a Process

Every once in a while I will have a chicken leg, but it still doesn’t taste like it used to. Food generally doesn’t taste like it used to, but that’s a topic for a different day.

One thing I noticed, especially during the earlier part of the pandemic was that my grocery bill was less because I bought more vegetables. However, there are some “plant-based” meats out there that cost just as much as regular meat. I buy some of the Impossible burgers or sausage but I don’t like to eat them daily. Even though it’s not made of real meat, there are still a lot of preservatives and other ingredients used to create the product. 

In the last year, the Instagram community has been a lifesaver for me. The way the foods are presented looks amazing. I’ve followed several vegan, vegetarian, and plant-based influencers and I’ve been able to create different dishes easily and within an hour or so.

Many of the dishes incorporate tofu, tempeh, chickpeas, and mushrooms, but I haven’t been bored with my options. And I can tell that my body enjoys these options better than what I used to eat in the past.

I stopped Labeling Myself

That’s why I keep eating this way. I won’t say I’m fully vegan or vegetarian but I prefer plant-based meals. My body digests these foods easier and I feel more energetic. 

If you are thinking of making a similar transition, just try it out and see how it feels for you. You are not obligated to declare your “food” choices for the whole world. Because each day may be different.

When we were in South Africa, I tried meat a few times because I heard it was better than what we eat in the States. I stopped labeling myself with my food choices, but I like to say I prefer certain foods over others.

If you want a list of 5 meals I make regularly, sign up below to download my 5 quick recipes.

The post Why I Went Semi Plant-Based and How I Did It first appeared on Angela P. Banks.

2024 is here! I don’t know about you but 2023 flew by. Every time I turned around it was a new month. Sometimes it went so fast I was trying to catch up with meeting my goals. 

One of the goals I set for myself was to read 12 books in a year, which would have been about a book per month. Some I finished quicker than others. 

Are you looking for some book recommendations?  Here are 12 books that I completed throughout 2023. May these inspire you for your reading goals in 2024.

These books were a combination of supporting authors I knew, business, spiritual growth, and writing.

I will link to each of these and give you my thoughts about each book below. 

1. The Purpose and Power of Authority – Miles Monroe
2. Bounded by Love – Rev Damone Paul Johnson
3. On Writing – Stephen King
4. Black to Ghana – Charleslisa DeJesus
5. Better Not Perfect – Dr. Shai Butler
6. Peaks & Valleys – Spencer Johnson
7. Woman Up! – Aimee Cohen
8. The Power of Awareness – Neville Goddard
9. From the Trash Man to the Cash Man – Myron Golden
10. Nothing is Missing – Nicole Walters
11. Two Weeks Notice – Amy Porterfield
12. you² – Price Prichard
13. The Bible (Bonus)

I started 2023 with what many others seek to find. What is my purpose? And I will tell you that it’s typically not in any book. I’ve looked. But it’s more of what you captured as you go through a book about finding your purpose.

The Purpose and Power of Authority focused on your Personal Authority Profile and had you look into 12 areas to understand your purpose. It took me about 2-3 months to complete this book because I wanted to work through the questions with thought. At the end of it, I came away with a summary of my authority. This helped guide my focus for the rest of the year, 

In keeping with a spiritual theme, I continued with a new book that was released by a former pastor of mine, Dr. Damone Johnson. Bounded by Love provides you with biblical stories around love and how you can use those in your day-to-day life. 

Earlier in 2023, one goal was to focus more on writing and improving that skill set. So after researching, I came across On Writing by Stephen King. I knew of his movies but I had no idea the plethora of books he had written over the years. The first part gave me the background to the legend himself such as his upbringing and early writing years. The second part was geared toward writing techniques but in a book format. 

If you have read any previous blogs, you would have seen several posts regarding my trip to South Africa in March of 2023. Soon after we returned, a good friend, Charleslisa DeJesus, published a book about her recent trip and experience to Ghana. The timing was perfect to read about another country in Africa. Black to Ghana, gives tips and knowledge regarding how to travel to Ghana. 

In keeping with my theme of knowing the actual author, a fellow church member had published a book as well. Better Not Perfect by Dr. Shai Butler was based on her story from childhood to adulthood. It’s based on not having to focus on always being perfect and what happened when being perfect was at the forefront of her life. A great read for anyone needing to stop with a perfectionism mindset.

Peaks and Valleys took me about 2-3 hours. It’s from the same author who wrote Who Moved My Cheese. The main character in this book gets solid advice from a successful man and helps him navigate through a difficult time in his life. Life will throw you some curve balls, but how you handle it will be the key.

I purchased Woman Up several years ago but never read it until this past year. This talks about 7 reasons why you sabotage your success. I felt like it was directed toward a woman who is navigating the corporate ladder versus being a solopreneur or entrepreneur. However, there are good nuggets to help anyone succeed in business or on their regular job. 

Getting back into more of a spiritual realm, the Power of Awareness was geared toward being aware of your thoughts and how those thoughts can become reality. This was harder to get into. It probably took me longer to read because there were many times when I would read a sentence or two and then realize I wasn’t sure what I had just read. So I would re-read the same area to understand. You need to read every word to make sure you don’t miss the point.

For the last year, I’ve been following Myron Golden’s YouTube channel and gaining lots of insight and knowledge about wealth using biblical principles. So when I saw he had authored books I decided to invest in one of them. From the Trash Man to the Cash Man gives you the building blocks to start from the beginning and build wealth. It was written around 2007, so some examples relating to technology may be a bit dated, but there is still pertinent information to set you up for success.

Nothing is Missing by Nicole Walters was one of my favorite reads of this year. I could not put this book down. I have been a follower and customer of Nicole’s for a while so to get the backstory on her life as a child and through adulthood raising adopted children was inspirational. The message for me was that you have everything you need right now to do amazing things with your life.

If you are ready to create a digital course for your business, check out Amy Porterfield’s book, Two Weeks Notice. It is a comprehensive view of everything you need to get started. No matter the size of the course you want to create, Amy’s book has the foundation that you need to get started. It also contains a workbook-style approach so you can get your ideas and processes in order. 

Another short read is you² by Price Pritchett. There are 18 principles to follow to level up your life. If you are playing too small, then it will take you longer to get where you need to go. Be bold and make quantum leaps to get to success faster. If you need a quick guide to get started on your reading journey, this is it.

And as a bonus book, which I’m still in the process of reading all the way through, is the Holy Bible. My goal was to read the entire Bible in a year. I did not meet that goal, but as of the time of this writing, I made it to Jeremiah which is more than halfway. You’d be surprised how you can elevate yourself just by doing a daily reading of the bible. I did a segment in a post about what happens if you read the Bible 4 times a week based on a study.

These were books that were either suggested or some that I came upon because of where I was at in my personal growth. I hope this list gives you a starting point if there are certain goals you are looking to obtain for 2024.

The post 12 books 1 year: Growing My Mind first appeared on Angela P. Banks.

Are you searching for something, but not sure what it is? Are you feeling stagnant in relationships, a career, or even finances? This could be the time that you start to look inward and develop a personal development plan for yourself. 

If you say that you don’t like to read or there is not enough time for you to add that to your day, then don’t worry because you are not alone. However, if you want to make changes in your life and don’t know where to start, then it’s time for you to invest in yourself and make space for it.

Personal Development

What is personal development? Well for starters, it’s not something that is a 3-week course. It’s a lifelong process. And the more you learn, the more you realize you don’t know as much as you thought you did. 

Personal development is self-improvement in various aspects of your life and is typically gained through reading books or listening to speakers who have insight on the subject at hand.

I’ve been on my personal development journey for at least 15 years so I’ll share below how I got started.  In this post, I give you why and how I started on my journey so that it can help you as you start yours.

“The only journey is the journey within.”—Rainer Maria Rilke

Who Moved My Cheese

If you are new to personal development, you may not have heard of a book called “Who Moved My Cheese” by Spencer Johnson. It’s an interesting title for a book, but it’s relevant because the main actors are four mice.

Mice you say? Yes. But we won’t focus on the fact they are rodents, but the lives they were living.  I was introduced to this book by my husband several years ago and very early in our marriage. Let me tell you about where I was mentally at this time in my life.

I was about 27 years old and I had been at my government job for at least 3-4 years as a full-time employee. I’d worked there part-time while being a college student, so probably 8 years total. As you can imagine, I was working with colleagues who had been there 20, 30, and even 40 years. At that time, having a government job was what we call a “secure” or “good” job.

But the security was dangling over my head and so was about 400 hours of Sick Leave and 120 of Annual Leave. I liked the people that I worked with, but I was not happy in the environment. It seemed like everywhere I turned, someone was unhappy. And I just didn’t know if I could stay there for 30+ years of my life. 

So, back to the book. My husband told me to read this book. It was about 70 pages and looked like an easy read. Now I had never done any leisure reading other than Sweet Vally High and the Baby Sitter’s Club (Yes I’m dating myself). Once I left college, I didn’t have the energy to just read for the fun of it unless it was a magazine.

I finished the book in about 2-3 hours. It was an easy read (which is why I recommend it for newbies). It brought to light what I was feeling. Like I was scared to change and what would happen if I didn’t. I won’t spoil it for you, but let’s just say 2 mice figured it out and the other mice kept reliving Groundhog Day.

Needless to say, that book was the catalyst I needed to start applying for jobs and updating my skills. A few months later I secured a different job where I was in a much better place mentally.

Personal development is about changing yourself. I didn’t do a complete 180 degrees just because of this book, but it started the movement because it was easy to read and understand from a mouse’s point of view. 

Zig, Jim, and Les

These 3 character names are legends in the realm of personal development. But let me tell you their full names. Zig Ziglar, Jim Rohn, and Les Brown. 

It’s funny how you can be around certain things, but until you’re ready to receive it, you may not even notice it’s there. My husband was more advanced in his personal development journey than I was. He had already listened to these 3 speakers multiple times, but in my early years, it just wasn’t a priority for me.

I can’t recall if he introduced me or if it was the MLM I was a part of at the time that led me to that path. A few years after I had started a new position, something happened on the job that made me want to pursue another source of income.

So I joined a fitness MLM. Now say what you want about MLMs, one of the best things I took away from it was the personal development aspect. And there was my quest to listen to different speakers. So you can’t say personal development without hearing Zig Ziglar and Jim Rohn. 

What I liked about their presentation in their recordings, is that I felt like I could become more. The positive mindset they portrayed and their delivery was something I didn’t mind listening to in the car or just cleaning the house.  

Great for new learners on their personal development journey. 

Les Brown is more current (and still alive as of this writing). His jovial personality and upbringing can make you feel that if he can do it, you can do it. And sometimes that’s all we need is the push to get started. Check out some of his recordings on YouTube to get the full effect. 

Now of course there are hundreds of great personal development coaches and leaders and podcasts out there, but if you are new to this, I’d recommend starting with these 3. You can’t go wrong. 

The Bible

Now if you just met me, then let me tell you that I am a believer in God. However, it wasn’t until recently that I decided to take on actually reading the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. My goal at the beginning of the year was to read the Bible in a year. 

Now I will say that for complete understanding, please consult with a better authority figure because I’m still understanding a lot of it myself.  But there is a reason I have this as a good start to personal and spiritual development. 

Something I have noticed over the past year has been a change in how I think about life, people, and circumstances. I wish I had started daily readings several years ago.

According to a study published by the Center of Bible Engagement, there are many benefits to reading your Bible only four times a week. For example, getting drunk decreases by 49%.

I’m not saying you are going to understand every single word but there are a lot of gems in there to help you in your journey for personal growth. Myron Golden, a successful entrepreneur and business owner often relates his teachings to passages in the bible.

As Myron says, if you want to be successful, use the Bible as your guide.

Journaling

One of the last items I want to mention is the concept of journaling. Now this isn’t a particular resource to gain from like a book or podcast, but it is a resource to pour into. When you are reading or listening to something that has given you an aha moment, jot it down. 

You’ll be surprised what you write down when you come back to it a week, month, or even a year later. You’ve heard at some point that writing down your goals helps you meet them. Writing down positive affirmations and tips to help you in life will make you remember them more when you need them the most.

Start Now

Now it’s your turn to start investing in yourself. This type of self-care may not be a trip to a day spa but you are starting the journey to care for your mental well-being.

If you need another good reason to start, check out Tom Corley’s research. He is the author of Change Your Habits, Change Your Life. He spent years studying the habits of wealthy people.

A couple of takeaways from that study were that 55% of wealthy people read for personal development and 63% listen to audiobooks on their commute. Why not start today to be part of that percentage?

Once you get started, you’ll never want to stop and watch your life take on a new direction and meaning. Now go pick one to start!

If you liked this post, check out my writing on having an Abundance Mindset.

The post Unlocking Growth: 4 Newbie Tips to Begin Your Personal Development Journey first appeared on Angela P. Banks.

The Perfect Staycation

What’s the point of summer if there is no travel? If you have seen the prices of summer flights (especially out of the country) and airline issues like cancellations, delays, and lost luggage, booking a last-minute vacation is not appealing.

So let’s talk Staycations. For our 19th anniversary, I wanted to do something. I didn’t want to go far away from the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) area, but I came across a boutique hotel in Baltimore about 40 miles away.

The Ivy Hotel is a Black-owned luxury boutique hotel, offering an inclusive experience to guests. From top-shelf alcohol to tea time, games, and even car service, they have thought of everything. There is an on-site restaurant that is not included in the price, but you don’t have to leave the premises if you don’t want to. 

Our stay was for two nights during the low season. I’ve been told that it picks up around September. So the hotel stay was relatively quiet in the mansion.

Arrival

Before we arrived I received an email from the hotel inquiring about any special occasions, dietary restrictions, and arrival time. When we pulled up the staff was waiting to take our bags and car away. At the Ivy, there is valet parking that comes with the stay.

Once we entered the main part of the hotel, another staff member greeted us by name and handed us a glass of champagne. Normally when we go to a hotel in the States, there is not a free welcoming drink. I only see that in an all-inclusive resort in another country. During that time, our guide gave us the history of the various rooms and how everything is run in the mansion.

The hotel was very warm and inviting. It felt like you were at a family member’s house. The furniture was amazing to sit on in the common areas. And as noted previously, this is an inclusive hotel. That means guests can indulge in all the alcohol during normal hours.

Sweet 16

After our tour of the downstairs, we went to our room, #16.  Each of the rooms in the mansion was slightly different. There are 4 suites and the rest are bedrooms. What impressed me the most was the attention to detail in the rooms. It may be an older home, but the renovations were amazing.

On a small table was a wine and cheese plate for our pleasure with a bottle of wine. It was a nice addition to help us celebrate our anniversary. And the bed was top tier. Lots of pillows and very comfortable.

In the mini-fridge were various snacks that were replenished daily along with water, champagne, and various beers. How many times have you been at a hotel and got hungry when everything was closed but you had to go searching for a snack machine? Well, not here, just open up the drawer and it’s covered. 

I love a place that has books especially as I’m on my journey to 12 new books in a year, so in the room, there were several books to choose from. The closet had everything you needed. I really appreciated how they attached the ironing board to the door and included starch and a heavy-duty iron. The closet included an extension cord which came in handy when we wanted to charge additional laptops but still use them on the bed.

Of course, the bathroom was amazing. It was spacious and the shower was like giving your head a massage. Room #16 was pretty quiet. The view from the bedroom was of additional buildings in the area. Keep in mind this is located in downtown Baltimore.

Magdalena – Onsite Restaurant

Both Ivy Hotel guests and the public can visit the onsite restaurant for dinner. Magdalena can get busy so it’s always good to have a reservation. The hotel staff will make the reservations for you. This dinner is not included in the price of your stay, however, Ivy guests receive a complimentary breakfast. 

The food and drinks were on par but you also will get what you pay for. I would recommend eating there at least once but be ready to pay.

Tea Time & More

This was my first time experiencing tea time. I don’t even remember pretending to have it as a kid. However tea time is 1.5 hours every day and the Ivy provides a selection of sandwiches, sweets, and teas. You can get as many as you want. The display was amazing and the food was outstanding. As I mentioned before, it felt like you were at home while eating and relaxing. Of course, if you don’t want tea, you can always pour some whiskey or brandy on the house.

Relax and Enjoy

One of the reasons I booked this stay was to relax, not have to worry about anything, and be in luxury. Since we didn’t have our car handy, the staff had a car to drive you within a 3-mile radius. We went for an early dinner at a restaurant in the National Harbor. The best part is we were dropped off and picked up at a specified time and didn’t have to deal with parking.

After coming back from our early dinner, we relaxed on the terrace and also hung out in the room with the pool table before heading back to our room.

I would recommend staying at least 2 nights to enjoy a full day at the Ivy. We enjoyed the downtime and the chance to try something new. This was our first boutique hotel and after doing this, I’m not sure if going back to chain hotels will be my first choice anymore. If you are ever in Baltimore, please check out the Ivy Hotel.

If you enjoy staycations, check out my post about our trip to the National Harbor.

The post Awesome Staycation at The Vibrant Ivy Hotel first appeared on Angela P. Banks.

When you think of the word abundance what comes to mind? More than enough, overflowing, or plentiful? Well, it’s certainly not scarcity. Abundance is a large quantity of something or having more than what you need. 

When we think about an abundance mindset, it is the belief that there are enough resources in the world for everyone – and of being grateful for whatever the universe provides.

if you come from a place of struggle or a place of just making ends meet, it’s hard to understand an abundance mindset because you may not have seen your life play out that way. Always looking at it from the outside can take on a different perspective when it’s always someone else who gets to enjoy their abundance.

By being closed-minded to this approach you are shutting yourself off from your blessings. If you feel others will receive a promotion, a new car, or a new relationship, but not you, then that’s a limited or scarcity mindset. 

Our minds are powerful. If you keep telling yourself whatever you want will never come to pass, then it will never happen. The world is limitless. Ideas are limitless. Money is limitless.

Get yourself on the right trajectory of life. If you are surrounded by family and friends who are always complaining about the lack thereof, then find some new friends and limit your family time with those individuals. 

Grow your knowledge. Read a book, listen to a podcast, feed your soul, and work on your mind. Stop saying phrases like “I’m broke” or “I won’t ever be able to afford that”. Speak life into yourself and any words that come out of your mouth. If you keep saying you are broke, then you will be broke.

Check out this video from Myron Golden on Abundance. You don’t lack Abundance, you lack Awareness. If you have never listened to personal development videos, you can start now.

Also, be grateful for the little things. If you receive a refund check for $5, then cash it. How will you be blessed with the big things if you aren’t grateful for the small things? 

Every morning when you wake up, write down 5 things that you are grateful for. It can be having the ability to get out of bed without being sick or the fact that you are still employed when so many people have just lost their jobs. 

An abundance mindset does not always have to revolve around money. Having an abundance of quality friends to share ideas with or an abundance of quality clients that come into your business establishment to request your services can be just as amazing as unlimited income. 

The next time you sit down remember to internalize that feeling and mindset to set you on your way. You’ll be surprised what can happen in your day to day just by adjusting your attitude.

Every day won’t be a walk in the park. However, starting your day off with the right mindset can change your whole outlook on what happens throughout your life.

If you found this helpful, check out 7 ways to get balance in your life.

The post Having an Abundance Mindset for an improved life. first appeared on Angela P. Banks.

(Originally posted on HarmonyBanx.com)

Why travel outside of your country

Why would you need to travel internationally, if you have everything in the United States? That’s the question that gets asked by those that have never left the comfort of their home country. Well, keep reading to find out at least 5 reasons why you should travel internationally.

As Americans, we tend to view our way of life as the standard because that’s all we’ve been around. If you are able to travel, get a passport. Why read about it in books or on the internet, just experience it yourself at least once in your life.

Travel Internationally 

What does it mean to Travel Internationally?  It is traveling to a different country from where you reside. It is one thing to leave your city or state (which is a start), but it takes on a different dynamic when you have to get on a plane for 8 hours. Not to mention flying internationally has better perks than flying domestically.

Data Points

How many people have ever traveled outside of the US? Over 24 million US citizens have traveled internationally for 2022 (as of Nov 2022) with the top 3 regions being Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia (trade.gov).

There are approximately 302 Million citizens living in the US as of 2021 data (kff.org). So there is still a vast amount of people who have never left the US. Don’t let that be you.

See different scenery (1)

Take some time and learn and discover new terrain and climate. In the US there are different terrains and climates depending on where you live. In Arizona, it will be dry and hot but in Upstate NY, it will have its fair share of snow. The same can be said for different regions with a new country.

Seasonal differences

Consider leaving the US East Coast in December and flying over to the Eastern Hemisphere. It’s easy to get into the thought process that December means winter, however over there it is their Summer.

Different Beaches

Of course, there are beautiful beaches within the US but go and experience a different beach in a different country. The Caribbean has beautiful crystal clear waters and soft sand, however other locations such as Seychelles, and Maldives have water you can see through too, and present a different vibe.  

Driving

Ever wanted to drive on the opposite of the road? Well in the US it’s illegal to even try, but you can experience that somewhere else. 68 countries drive on the left side (worlddata.info). To experience that change can be nerve-racking but exciting at the same time.

Vehicles

Looking to see different types of vehicles? Toyota and Hyundai may be seen in different countries but there are different car manufacturers that are popular too. Ever heard of a DACIA or a PEUGEOT? No, well travel internationally to see them in action for yourself. 

Change of pace, chance to slow down (2)

Escaping the day-to-day usually only happens with a vacation planned out. You are forced to stop repeating the same norms that you are used to. Being on a plane for several hours (especially if traveling further than the Caribbean islands or Mexico), gives you time to decompress, at least once you’ve been thru all the airport shenanigans. 

Adventure

Breaking out of the daily routine also provides a path for an adventure. The planning can be just as exciting as the adventure itself. Excursions, tours, and sightseeing can open your eyes like you are a kid at Christmas. Seeing a lion at a US Zoo is not the same as seeing a lion on a Safari ride. 

Fast and Furious

In a lot of areas in the US, the norm is everything is fast. Fast food, fast service, fast answers. Leaving that may be a bit of an adjustment but it provides an opportunity to step back and slow down without the added pressure of needing to make something happen quickly.

Island Time

The words Island time have a real sentiment to them. The laid-back vibe can be a wonderful change for someone who is part of the Fast Lane vibe. This is apparent in Caribbean countries. Enjoy the scenery, and slow down, because everyone is.

Experience a different culture that is not Americanized (3)

When traveling internationally, look for authentic areas and those that are not commercialized and marketed for Americans only.

Touristy areas

Certain locations seem to be a beautified resemblance of the US. Cancun, MX especially near the resort areas has the US feel but in a tropical place. All the guests are just like you. It’s a comfortable place if you want to dip your feet in the travel waters, but you may look around and find you could have easily gone to a local beach in the states.

Food

Experiencing the food in a new country is one of the best ways to see major differences from the US. France for example has wine as their standard beverage and brings out different glasses depending on which part of the dining experience you are in (appetizer, meal, dessert).  The portion sizes are generally smaller, so don’t be surprised if your entire plate is not packed full of food. 

Native rituals 

Due to the internet and social media, there are certain dances and music that have become popular overseas due to the US popularity. However, the native dance rituals that have been around for centuries continue to live on and as a visitor, you can see that first hand. 

Ceremonies

Marriage ceremonies are not your typical bride dressed in white. In India, the more brightly colored the garment the better. In contrast, wearing black when someone has died in the US is normal, but wearing white is a tradition in countries like Ethiopia and India. What is considered normal by US standards is not for other countries in the world.

Tipping

In the US the majority of restaurants, tipping is the norm, but in Europe, it’s frowned upon. It takes some time for a US citizen to understand that it’s really not okay to tip their server in a European country. But you would never know the feeling unless you went yourself.

Sports

If the World Cup has taught you anything, it’s that futbol can bring multiple countries together. American football is well just for the US. But what about those other sports that are not popular in the States? Wouldn’t you like to see a game in person to experience how fans of different countries and sports come together? 

Languages

If you have ever wanted to learn a new language, the fastest way is to immerse yourself in that native country. And it also helps with enhanced memory and critical thinking. What is fascinating is that within certain countries, multiple languages are spoken. For example, India has about 22 official languages (https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org). In Aruba, they speak a minimum of 4. So travel if you want to learn a new language quickly.

Meet new people you would never have met before (4)

If you want something different you have to do something different (Jack Canfield). Are you tired of seeing the same people, and having the same type of friends, do you want to level up? Well time to get out of your comfort zone. Visit a new country and meet a new friend. Sometimes we are more alike than we are different. This new friend can share their perspective on how it is living in their country versus what you can read on the internet.

Get a different view than what is on the news (5)

Ever hear gossip about someone and already form your own opinion but then meet them in person and discover they act nothing like what you were told? That’s exactly why you need to visit a country for yourself instead of getting second-hand information. Form your own opinion. 

The media tells us what the media wants us to know. When you visit a new country, turn on their local news and then compare it to what we hear and see in the States. 

Go For It

No country is perfect and there are pros and cons to every country. But experience it for yourself. Don’t look for others to tell you, get your own perspective. The internet is vast, but it can’t give you the “feeling”.

Look for good flight deals to a new place you’ve never been to. If you don’t have a specific timeframe, then your options open up. If you’re afraid to go alone, look at some group travel options.

Get out of your comfort zone, book that international trip, and experience new things!

 Happy Traveling!!

Click to read about our trip to South Africa.

 ~Angela Banks

References

https://www.trade.gov/sites/default/files/2022-02/US-Outbound-to-World-Regions.xlsx

https://www.worlddata.info/left-hand-traffic.php#:~:text=Out%20of%20241%20countries%20around,dependent%20on%20the%20British%20Crown.

https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Languages_of_India

KFF,org

The post 5 Reasons Why You Should Travel Internationally first appeared on Angela P. Banks.

Have you ever been in a situation where you were anxious and nervous about the outcome? You may have had a deadline for a school assignment, or you were working on a project at work and you were on the hook to make the system work.

 Your gut starts feeling queasy. Maybe you get stress headaches. Or even start having dreams about how you will solve the problem. But whatever it is, it seems to consume all your thoughts.

This happened to me several times, but one event stands out. I was working on software configuration to make our company chat functionality more versatile with the global regions. And the SaaS software I was working with had this particular feature.  I was on the hook to figure it out. 

Of course, there was documentation on how the feature worked, but I had to map out and design the best configuration. I lamented about this for weeks. One day in the shower, my lightbulb moment happened. It’s probably because I had been reviewing this scenario for a while, so I finally got a revelation on how to solve it, or at least a way to start. 

Now the solution worked which was such a sigh of relief. I look back and think did I stress over nothing because now the company moved on and it’s not as big of a priority as it once was? Funny how that happens. 

During that time, doubt was front and center. Doubt makes us think we aren’t capable. Doubt makes us second-guess ourselves. Doubt makes us believe it’s time to quit and let someone else handle it. 

But somehow it all works out, it all comes together. And then 2-3 months down the road it’s not even a thought in your head (or at least not 24/7) and you are on to the next item that takes all your time and energy. 

My point in telling you this is that even with all that apprehensiveness and angst, getting through that and achieving it puts another rung on the ladder of your success. You have grown in your ability just a little more.

That’s why it’s good to challenge yourself and get out of that comfortable place, because if you don’t, then how will you grow? Stretch that muscle. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. 

That’s not something we like to hear, but what has ever happened that was so great while you were in your comfort zone? Not much.

There is a quote by Robert H. Schuller, “Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do!”. That software problem I was getting through didn’t last, but I did. And that’s what I want for you.

Mindset matters. Make up your mind that you will figure out your situation and you aren’t going to give up. No phoning it in.

Here are five ways to tackle your problem instead of festering about it in your head.

1 – Write down all the possible solutions as a starting point. Pick one and map out a strategy. It’s easy to pick from a list than nothing at all.

2 – Understand the worse possible scenario and strategize what to do if it happens. If something does go wrong, you have a plan.

3 – Focus on what you can change. No need to worry about something if you can’t fix or solve it.

4 – Start on one of the solutions bite by bite. As you work on it,  other solutions or creative ways will come to mind.

5 – Ask for Help! This is the hardest part for me. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness even though that’s usually the first thought in our head. But if you have exhausted yourself and your current resources, seek guidance. 

Life is going to throw you into unexpected and uncomfortable situations. But it’s how you react and handle it that will propel you through life. It’s not just about you, but once you get through something, you have the experience to help someone else who could be going through a similar situation. 

This doesn’t only have to be on the job but can relate to relationships, personal health issues, family matters, etc. 

Don’t run away from the hard times, but find the joy in the journey.

Interested in more ways to find inner peace, check out my article about finding balance in your life.

The post Resilience: 5 Reliable Ways to Get thru Scary Times first appeared on Angela P. Banks.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico was never on my bucket list of places to visit, but when a friend was planning a destination wedding, it was a way to visit a new place and be with friends. 

After years of traveling to touristy destinations, I’ve learned that after 5 days I’m ready to checkout, especially if it’s an All-Inclusive. So the timing of this trip was in line with my thought process of only 4 days.

The Journey

Living in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) area allows me to select up to 3 close airports when flying. For this trip, I selected BWI (Baltimore-Washington International) which is about 40 mins away. Since this was an international flight, I knew we needed to check in earlier.

This part always makes me nervous. Even with TSA Pre-Check and having carry-on bags, I just felt like being at the airport at least 2 hours before our flight was necessary. 

Since the first flight was at 7 am, we opted to stay the night at the BWI Marriot Hotel, which is 1-2 miles away from the airport. I didn’t want to get hung up on I95 during the morning commute. The hotel had a decent restaurant to start our trip before our early rise the next morning.

We checked out around 5 am, parked at the airport, and made our way to security. I’d say by the time the shuttle arrived at the parking garage to the time we sat down at the first terminal, the total was about 30 minutes with about 45 minutes to an hour to spare before boarding started. 

One thing to note is that we skipped the Delta counter and went straight to security. However, our tickets needed to be reconfirmed with a gate agent. The gate agent advised that in the future check in at the front desk for international travel because they need to verify all travelers. 

Our flight started with BWI and had a layover at ATL for about an hour and then off to PVR. 

The Arrival

While on the flight, we had to fill out a customs document, one per family. Then provide that to security. I recall in times past you had to fill out your temporary residence (like what hotel you are staying at for X amount of days), however not this time. 

I’ve been through several Caribbean airports and one thing that is a constant is the welcoming community for the tourists. This was no different after arriving at Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR). Between being offered taxis and booking services right after coming through customs, it can be a bit overwhelming if you aren’t expecting it. 

I did have pre-planned transportation before arriving which included a round-trip ticket. If you don’t want to pre-plan transportation, then you’ll still be able to get to your destination. Another caveat is if you aren’t booking a private service, then you may end up making multiple stops before arriving because there will be other passengers on your same shuttle. 

The Hotel

After our 30-minute drive from the airport, we arrived at the Hilton Vallarta Riviera All-Inclusive Resort. A beautiful hotel that includes everything you need or expect at an all-inclusive. The staff was amazing and assisted with any questions. 

During our check-in process, we received a wristband that had a sensor on it. This was the key to our room. I enjoyed that instead of having to keep up with a physical room key or a card that sometimes gets deactivated if it’s near magnetic items. You could get it wet and it still worked as designed.

Since we arrived before 3 pm, our room was not ready so we were able to explore the site. However, we met up with some more of the wedding party so it was a nice way to kill time before our room was available. Within the hotel are ATMs that dispense pesos.  

All rooms have a full or partial view of the ocean. Our room happened to be on the 14th floor (the top floor) and we had a direct ocean view. The bride and groom had a suite on the 13th floor that included a hot tub and a wrap-around deck to see multiple angles of the ocean. You could have about 10-15 people come to your room and be comfortable. 

The Mojito Bar is on the 5th floor and is an open-air venue. We had some pre-wedding drinks and enjoyed a night of bingo. The area also has a few swings to take pictures and sit around the bar. 

There are North and South wings to this hotel. Restaurants are on one tower or the other tower, so it’s something to note.

Also, on the 7th floor, you can take a back hallway that connects to the SkyBar.

The SkyBar is where the wedding and reception took place. It’s a great place for a wedding with beautiful views and room for about 70 guests to fit comfortably. The only chance you take with an outside wedding in Mexico is the weather. 

Cocktail hour was located poolside on the first floor while the reception area was being prepped. Here we were able to mingle and take more pictures with a great background. A live saxophone player was providing our entertainment for our cocktail hour.

Now a few words about the beach. I didn’t get in the water, but it looked calm and not overcrowded. It was private to the hotel so only guests would be able to use that area and the rocks around the shallow part allowed the water to remain calm too. It’s another great spot for guests to take pictures.

The Room

As mentioned earlier, we were on the 14th floor so we didn’t hear any noise above us.

The walls were pretty much soundproof because I didn’t hear any other guests or outside noise in the hall. 

The room was typical with everything you need for a beach vacation.

Hair dryer, iron, nice walk-in shower. The standard items.

I did have a pleasant surprise in the closet.

The hotel provided a nice tote to use for shopping or a beach day and I had never seen that done before.

Just be sure to return it, or you’ll be charged.

The Food and Drink

I can’t give too much of a commentary on the food because we didn’t eat that much at the hotel and our stay was just 3 nights. What I ate was decent. I wouldn’t call it a 5-star gourmet but it satisfied our hunger.

The first day we arrived we managed to get some food at a food truck. Now that was different as well. You don’t expect to see a food truck at an all-inclusive restaurant but I guess it worked because we were eating outside anyway. It was a nice appetizer to have while drinking up some of the free alcohol.

We did eat at a Mexican restaurant and we waited about 10 minutes for our table to be called. That particular Friday night, it was busy with more guests. The long wait for a table was for the neighboring Indian restaurant. I did have one drink with a twist. It was a jalapeno-flavored cocktail. It gave it a little bit of a kick. 

One of the better entrees we had was the room service breakfast. It only took about 40 minutes and I felt like that was one of the better meals I had during the stay. To be fair, we were only there for 3 days.  One day was the arrival, one day was wedding festivities, and one day was an all-day trip on a Catamaran. 

The breakfast bar was good. Fresh fruit is something I enjoy, so that was a plus. Typically not a wait either. There are two separate areas for breakfast, both having similar food options. 

As with any all-inclusive, the alcohol can be hit or miss. They typically don’t provide top-shelf to all the guests unless you pay extra for it. A few of us noted that the wine that we had must have been a lower tier because it seemed like everyone in our group had a headache at some point during the trip and we concluded it was the wine.

The Private Catamaran

The bride and groom booked a private catamaran for the wedding guests and what a great experience!  There were approximately 30 or so people on a double-decker charter. The name of the company was Akali Catamaran.

From the Hilton, it took about an hour to get to the dock. But once we arrived we all signed a waiver and went straight to the boat. Food, drinks, and a DJ were provided for the guests, so if you are thinking about doing this I highly recommend having that as part of your day. 

The staff was wonderful. They would get drinks, more food, and anything that was needed. Having a DJ to provide additional entertainment was worth it. We sailed about an hour out and docked multiple times to do some water activities. Guests were jumping from the side of the boat, paddleboarding, kayaking, or lounging on a floaty. 

We mainly stayed on the top tier because it was less crowded but it took more time to get down to the restrooms which were on the lower level. There were 2 small bathrooms. So if you partake in this catamaran, be mindful that there is not a lot of room and no light except for daylight.

Another must bring on this catamaran, other than the obvious swimsuit would be water shoes. It was easier to go up and down the small steps and jump off the side of the boat with water shoes. The traction and not worrying about hitting your foot on anything is a game changer. 

The Transportation

I had booked the airport round transportation beforehand so we wouldn’t have to deal with the myriad of vendors at the airport. I booked a round-trip SUV that was around $150. This was direct from the airport to our hotel and back for the two of us. 

When we were past security, customs, and the other vendors, we had a driver waiting for us with our names on a board. That was a nice touch having someone waiting just for you. There have been trips where we would find transportation once we arrived, but typically we were grouped with several other families and had to make additional stops along the way.

On the return trip, the company sent a text message that they were on the way. The initial documentation also provided the time that we were supposed to be at the lobby waiting to be picked up. They recommend about 3 hours ahead of your scheduled flight departure time.

Overall

The trip was short but memorable. My stance when staying at an all-inclusive resort is that after about 5 days I’m ready to leave anyway. So the 3-4 days we spent in Puerto Vallarta was just enough.

The weather was great. The natives were saying that June is the beginning of the rainy season, although it didn’t rain except for the later part of the reception.  The temperature was in the 80s but when the sun was out, it felt a lot warmer.

We arrived on a Wednesday so the resort didn’t seem to be as crowded. However, around Friday we could tell the influx of guests, especially having to wait for dinner. 

If you are not fluent in Spanish, that’s not a deal breaker, but it does help if you can understand or read some of the words on the menus. I always wanted to speak a 2nd language fluently, but it seems like I can only utter out “Muy Poquito” when asked if I spoke Spanish. 

The taxis and staff at the hotel do accept tips in dollars but bring lots of smaller bills because you will be tipping multiple people. You may not use all of your loose cash while there but it’s better to have more than enough, versus having to use the ATM each time. I did come back with cash from this trip.

Coming Home

There is no direct flight from Puerto Vallarta back to BWI so this time we took a flight that went to Salt Lake City (SLC). That was my first time coming thru that particular airport and I was pleasantly surprised. It looked brain new. After coming through immigration and customs we found a nice restaurant to eat and relax since there was a 3-hour layover. 

Our flight from SLC to BWI was at 11:50 pm. It was also my first red-eye, overnight flight. The plane coming back was a lot quieter and arriving at BWI at 6 am meant I still had the whole day to re-cooperate.  I would do it again. It’s just a hit or miss with late flights because they have more of a tendency to be canceled.

I always enjoy a nice beach vacation and always find the good in it. Would I visit again? Sure, but there are other places I want to travel to before coming back. I would recommend it to newer travelers because everything is right there for you. Travel now because you may not be able to in the future. Curious about our other travels? Check out our last South Africa trip!

The post Wedding Fun in Beautiful Puerto Vallarta – What to Know first appeared on Angela P. Banks.

Are you a small business owner looking to begin a new business with a few others or employees? This article will provide an understanding of how SaaS can improve your business.

But what is SaaS? Maybe you’ve heard the acronym spoken out loud, seen it on other content, or thought it was short for the word sassy, but you never really thought much of it. It means Software as a Service. 

A simple way to put it, it’s software that you can use over the internet that helps you accomplish a task without you or the software needing to be located in a specific place.

If you remember in the 90s and early 2000s in order to use a software application, you had to order the disk or CD, wait for its arrival, and load it onto the internal company system or even your personal PC. If you wanted to share a document that used that software with someone else, they also had to have it installed on their computer.

SAAS products or applications work in a cloud environment or over the internet, so the end-user does not need to maintain any hardware or software.

You’ve probably used SaaS applications and may not have known it. For example, a big one is Microsoft Office. At one point you needed to install the disk to use the software. Now it has transitioned and is part of the Microsoft 365 suite which is on cloud technology. You just need a subscription and the internet to use it.

Now I’m oversimplifying the underlying workings of it, but all you need to do is use the application from an internet browser and get to work on making your small business better than it was before.

So let’s talk about why you need it and give a few SAAS products that can support your business.

Why do you need it? Here are 4 reasons it can help you build your business.

• Location Agnostic
• Scalability
• Pre-built features
• Focus on the business objective

Location Agnostic

That’s right. SaaS is location agnostic. It doesn’t care where you are located. And if you have adopted the mindset of being able to run a business from anywhere, your daily use of applications shouldn’t have a specific location either. 

One of the qualities of a SaaS product is that as long as you have internet service and typically a subscription (unless you are using a free version somewhere), then you are not bound to a specific location.

And that’s great for your business if you are not looking to have a centralized hub location where all your IT employees need to reside. 

Scaleability

One of the important aspects of any business, whether big or small is the ability to scale at the right time. 

A lot of that has to do with making sure you have the right team, getting the right customers, and automating processes that were typically slowing you down.

Let’s say you have a team of three to four people but now your business is starting to produce some income and more volume and clients. It was fine to do business tasks manually but now you don’t have the time to focus on the smaller tasks that come with growing a new team.

Features to build your business

One of the many reasons to use a SaaS product is that it prevents you from having to go out and buy multiple applications to help you do the same thing.

For example, if you want to keep track of client profile information and you want to send out marketing emails to the same clients, you can get one product that does both (and more).

It simplifies your processes by using one product for your day-to-day business tasks. Gone are the days of having to learn multiple applications in order to run your business.

Stay Focused

When you are running a business, especially if it’s not an IT-focused business or accounting firm, having software to support those underlying processes allows you to focus on your main product or service.

There is a quote by T. Harv Ecker that goes “What you focus on expands”. If you want your business to grow you must focus on what’s bringing in the money. Let the supporting tasks be handled by an application that you don’t need to think twice about.

4 SAAS solutions you can use today

Listed below are just a fraction of the SaaS solutions that are on the market today. If there is an aspect of one or more solutions that sound promising to you, you can get started on implementing them in your business without delay.

Notion

Notion was founded in 2018 but has been seeing more traction since 2023. It is a productivity and note-taking application but it doesn’t stop there. This powerful and flexible tool allows you to create business processes the way you envision.

Here you can use it for the simplest tasks such as a way to capture ideas or something more advanced like making your own dashboards and landing pages on multiple topics. No need to have multiple Excel worksheets or folders on your machine. Everything is in one place in the cloud.

There are various templates you can use if you don’t have the time to build your own process. The goal is to streamline your business and Notion is waiting to do that for you. It’s free to get started.

Dubsado

Dubsado is a Business Management System founded in 2016. If you need something that manages your clients but also your day-to-day business activities, this could be the solution for you. 

Everything can be navigated from the Dashboard. You can look at invoices, calendars, financial information, leads, and more. 

Workflows used in Dubsado can propel your business to the next level. These allow you to automate and streamline your business processes. For example, you can follow up on a lead, send them a proposal, accept their signature on a document and send out a questionnaire all while you are out to lunch. 

You can start using this solution today and start customizing it to fit the needs of your small business. 

HubSpot

HubSpot is a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool that handles Marketing, Sales, and Service all in one solution.

It’s been around since 2006. The goal is to deliver a seamless experience to customers while also being able to work across internal teams. 

You can create deals within HubSpot that support sales and progress. This allows you to move a deal through the pipeline until it’s closed visually. Its ticket functionality works the same way but is meant for more internal usage.

HubSpot tags its features as hubs. The Marketing hub handles items like email and social media. The Sales hub delivers quotes and schedules meetings. And the Services hub provides a way to reach out to customers using methods like email and surveys.

Other HubSpot hubs focus on the internal side of the business. The CMS hub is there to support website creation and the Operations hub allows management to review data analytics. It also integrates with 3rd party tools such as Google Meeting to support scheduling web meetings.

In business, the best decisions are usually based on the data that is collected. With HubSpot, all the data feeds into the same location and you get the reporting and data you need to determine the best direction for your business. 

Trello 

Trello is a Kanban-style application that allows projects to be organized into boards. You can easily see who is assigned a task and the progress of a project. The beauty is that all of the project items can be seen on one dashboard.

This solution can be customized and built from scratch or you can use any of the myriad of templates pre-selected for you. With this Kanban-style system, the different topics or cards can move across multiple lists to show the progression of a task or project until it’s complete.

Within each card, details can be added and tagged to team members allowing the assigned person to see those updates. Trello allows for attachments, checklists, due dates and more to be associated with a card providing the detail needed for a task.  It’s a collaborative tool that team members can use on a regular basis for all to be aligned on the current project. 

As with the other solutions provided here today, this tool can be used right away with standard functionality. If more functionality is needed, then you can upgrade for an additional cost. 

Get Started

If you have a small business or if you are a solopreneur, I encourage you to start using a SaaS solution for your business. The products I’ve described are just a subset of what is available for use.

A SaaS solution will save you time so that you can focus your energy on money-making efforts. A quick signup is typically what is needed to get started and you are on your way.

The post Is SaaS the right fit for your emerging small business? first appeared on Angela P. Banks.