5 Entrepreneurial Lessons From Movies

By Dana Sotoodeh

Let’s face it—our culture is movie obsessed, and we’re no exception. Whether you’re settled in your career or working hard towards it, there’s nothing like an inspiring movie to get your entrepreneurial juices flowing.   Team Snackbox is here to present their favorite entrepreneurial inspired movies. If there’s anytime to go out there and get what you want—it’s now!

1.)  The Pursuit of Happyness: This movie is a prime example that perseverance is key when it comes to succeeding in life. After Chris Gardner invests his life savings into an abundance of bone density scanners that leave him in poverty, he must find a way to support his only son and manage to stay alive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xcZTtlGweQ

 

2.)  The Social Network: This movie screams entrepreneurship. Mark Zuckerberg drops out of college to go on and create one of the greatest social media networks of all time—Facebook. This film shows that no dream is too big. If you work hard and fight for what you want, you will succeed.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB95KLmpLR4

 

3.) Moneyball: Moneyball is chalked full of lessons in business and life, but weighs heavily on taking an innovative approach at doing business. This movie highlights the road less traveled when the Oakland A’s baseball coach lets go of high dollar players and builds a winning baseball team on a budget. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4QPVo0UIzc

 

4.) Remember the Titans: This movie is a great example of teamwork, but more importantly it shows that determination is the key to success. Although the struggle of coaching a racially integrated football team is a huge challenge, determination prevails and success is achieved. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPhu9XsRl4M

 

5.) Jerry Maguire: This classic film shows that going against the grain may not always be a bad thing. When big time Jerry Maguire quits his big-time sports agency job due to a moral epiphany, he finally builds a life and business that makes him truly happy and successful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKoKYk4jC84

 

 

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10 Creative Ways to Reduce Stress

By Taylor Baker

 

  1.      Nail Polish – Yes, nail polish!  Place a dot of nail polish somewhere on your cell phone or case, reminding you to relax and slow down before taking the call. This will most likely make you chuckle, and sound more confident when you pick up the phone.  Knowing that you sounded confident will further reduce your stress. Win-win!
  2.      Blow Up a Balloon – Inflating a balloon forces you to deep-breathe, which is a stress reliever. Keep a few balloons in your drawer at your office and remind yourself to blow one up whenever you are beginning to feel stressed.
  3.       Eat Chocolate – This sweet treat is filled with antioxidant flavonoids, which helps blood vessels relax, helping calm overall stress.  They can also minimize your risk of heart disease and reduce blood pressure.
  4.      Rub Your Hoku – Your “hoku” is the flap of skin on your palm connecting your pointer finger to your thumb.  According to scientists at Hong Kong Polytechnic University scientists claim that squeezing your hoku can minimize stress by up to 39 percent.
  5.      “Om” It Out – Yoga is extremely effective when it comes to reducing stress. Try the Vipariti Kirani yoga pose, which involves lying on the floor and resting the legs up against a wall. Not only does it give the body a good stretch, but it also helps create peace of mind.
  6.      Get Your Hands Dirty – Research proves that having plants and flowers in your presence can elicit a positive mood and reduce stress levels. Sticking your hands in the dirt and gardening will indefinitely leave you with a calm energy.
  7.      Wake Up – Jumping out of bed 15 minutes earlier in the morning can be a huge help in feeling more calm and ready to tackle the day. Preparing for the night before can also alleviate stress, and your mornings will be more stress-free.
  8.      Say No to Technology – Constantly being attached to your computer or phone can aggravate the feeling of stress, even when there is nothing to stress about.  Opt to do one thing at a time, rather than piling up too many tasks.  Make the choice to temporarily disconnect all electronics for just a short time in favor of a taking a walk, reading a book, or baking cookies.
  9.      Find a Furry Friend – Studies show that canine companions can boost your mood and help relieve your stress. Cuddling with dog or cat can reduce your blood pressure, and calm you down within minutes.
  10.   Plan Your Next Vacation – Put work on hold to browse some travel sites for future getaways.  Whether you’re planning it for a long way off, or it’s just wishful thinking, simply putting your mind in a different place will help to alleviate your current state of chaos.
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Top 10 Travel Tips for Business Travelers

By Taylor Baker

When it comes time for business trips, people often imagine uncomfortable flights, not enough sleep, and tons of stress. What if we told you that your business trip could be a lot less stressful. Team Snackbox is here to give you 10 simple but helpful travel tips that will make you’re business trip way more relaxing.

  1.      Pack Smart – Roll your clothes rather than folding them in order to save space in your luggage.  Remember to bring only the essentials and to bring travel sized toiletries
  2.      Think Ahead – Scan important documents (I.D., passport, flight itineraries, etc.) onto your tablet or smartphone.
  3.      Give Yourself Space – Request an emergency exit row when booking your flight in order to have more legroom on the flight.
  4.      Save Money – Wait to buy airline tickets until 3 p.m. on Tuesdays.  This is when bigger airlines reduce their fares in order to compete with the smaller discount airlines.
  5.      Be Safe – Pack some necessities in your carry-on bag in case your checked bag gets lost by the airline.
  6.      Get Personal – Connect with people on a personal level.  Being sincere and addressing employees at airlines, hotels, and car-rental firms by name can work wonders on the kind of service you receive.
  7.      Go Local – Talk to locals and find out the best spots to check out when you have downtime.  Also, reference travel websites and apps such as Yelp or Localeur for additional recommendations.
  8.     Ask Away – If you want an upgrade or a better seat, you’ll never know if you don’t ask.  Sometimes it might cost you a pretty penny, but other times it could be very affordable and worth the small fee of a more comfortable environment.  Employees could also be feeling generous and choose to reward a kind soul with a free upgrade.
  9.      Know Your Service – Avoid getting charged outrageous data rates when traveling, especially if you’re going out of the country.  Call your carrier ahead of time to avoid extra fees and set up a special service if necessary.
  10.   Enjoy  Alone Time – Life at home can get hectic.  Don’t forget to enjoy the serenity that comes with traveling when you reach your destination.  Take time for yourself by taking bath in the hotel tub or buy yourself a nice dinner.
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Top 7 Ideas to Inspire Creativity at Work

By Caitlin Cunningham

1.     Implement Confidentiality: Having a suggestion box creates an outlet in which employees can voice ideas without fear of reprimand.

2.     Reward Creativity: It’s important to both create motivation for creative solutions and take suggestions seriously.  Nothing kills drive faster than failing to properly acknowledge suggested creative solutions. Rewards can range from tangible, such as a bonus, to intangible, such as public recognition.

3.     Foster Teamwork: Encourage employees to work and brainstorm together in teams. Augmenting conversation and interaction creates an atmosphere that supports free sharing of knowledge. Also, mix employees with different experiences and backgrounds. The more diverse the team, the more likely creative solutions will arise.

4.     Support Creativity: Employees will be hesitant to share ideas if they feel like they won’t be supported. Also, talk to new team members as soon as possible before the “this is how it’s always been done” mindset sinks in.

5.     Instill Positive Work Environment: Too serious of an office tone can sever creative exploration. Incorporating fun into work, such as encouraging play and games among team members, not only improves mood but also stimulates and arouses brain function.

6.     Surround the Office With Happy Colors: A positive office atmosphere helps inspire mental clarity. Whenever possible, avoid white walls, which tends to nurture nausea and headaches more often than colorful office spaces.

7.     Critique: While it is important to encourage idea sharing and discussion, it can be detrimental to be overly supportive. Criticism and debate are necessary for improvement and innovation.

 

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Business Casual: Top Work Fashion Trends for 2014

By Yahaira Hernandez

Work fashion trends have evolved from simple and professional outfits to fun and creative power suits. This year, fashion leaders around the world are inspiring work fashion trends to include a modern twist to work attire.

For women, this year is all about using popular fashion trends that appear to be professional and appealing like bright colors and fun patterns.

  • Pastel Blouses Wearing dark trousers with a bright top is a head-turning combination
  • Wide-Leg Pants Skinny jeans have been popular for a while, stand out by wearing elegant pants with a slim fit top
  • Printed Dresses A mini-dress with flowers or polka-dots can match perfectly with flats or high heels; you can even wear a blazer over your dress

For men, the latest work fashion trends include a variety of stylish suits to achieve a sleek, relaxed, or colorful look that inspires confidence and creativity.

  • Double-Breasted Blazers These blazers have two rows of buttons that can make it difficult to pull off, but can also give you a vintage style and fit
  • Printed Jackets Many runways have featured men wearing alluring plaid and floral jackets with solid-colored pants
  • Colorful Footwear Incorporate a pop of color into your wardrobe by sporting vibrant footwear like blue suede shoes
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Top 10 Time Management Tips

By Yahaira Hernandez

Many people often find themselves completely stressed and overwhelmed that they can’t even find the time to alleviate that stress.

Sometimes we struggle to focus on the task at hand, or we may become easily distracted, or we may have anxiety as a result of constantly worrying about meeting deadlines. Poor management skills can lead to procrastination and lacking self-control, which can then create unwanted stress in your life.

With time management skills you can effectively plan a schedule, prioritize tasks, and accomplish your goals. As you apply these time management skills in your life, you will surely also see an improvement in your overall wellbeing. Completing your tasks on time and efficiently can give you more breathing room and more positive energy throughout the day.

Here is a list of the top 10 time management tips that can help you manage your time wisely and effectively:

  1. Schedule tasks in a daily planner, this gives you a plan for your day and allows you to dedicate a certain amount of time towards completing projects, checking emails, and making calls
  2. Prioritize daily tasks, you can list tasks in order of importance or highlight projects that you expect will take longer to complete so you can prioritize them first

  3. Exercise early, after exercising you can find yourself more energized and in a better mood, which can make you more productive throughout the day

  4. Have good meals, that means you should have a healthy, well portioned breakfast and lunch for energy and to help you avoid visiting vending machines and eating snacks throughout the day

  5. Know when you are most productive, if you work better during the morning or during the afternoon, you can focus on the more important tasks during that time

  6. Schedule time for yourself, meeting your daily goals can be overwhelming so reserve 10 or 15 minutes to walk around, lie down, or stop and listen to music to reenergize
  7. Block out distractions, if you are easily distracted you can close your door, turn off your cell phone or you can turn off any unnecessary alert notifications so that you are not frequently checking them

  8. Organize your workspace, this way you can avoid wasting time searching for papers or items and focus on the task

  9. Be well rested, sleep is essential to your productivity, so make sure you get at least six hours of sleep every night as sleep deprivation can slow you down and make you forgetful

  10. Reward yourself, after every three daily tasks that you complete, you can reward yourself, such as enjoying 10 minutes on Pinterest or reading your favorite maga
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Food Terrorism

By Caitlin Cunningham

While unlikely to happen, yet aware of the threat, the U.S. government proposed legislation at the end of last year that would address the risk of food terrorism. The fact of the matter is our food supply is one of the most vulnerable and exposed features of American commerce. Tampering with it could produce a serious and widespread public health concern.  The FDA has acknowledged the catastrophic events that could occur resulting in adulteration, including but not limited to, illness, trade disruption, and public fear.  Our government hopes that this approved legislation will significantly reduce the danger of something like this from occurring and give citizens peace of mind.

The proposed rule builds on the efforts of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002. With the current state of national affairs, we don’t really need one more thing to worry about. It’s nice to know that instead of the previous reactive approach the U.S. government has taken toward acts of terrorism, it is instead a step ahead of the threat. Yay for food and the life it gives.

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Keeping meetings organized and effective

By Christine Vivoli

We have all been in meetings that seem to drag on or discuss unrelated topics. There are steps that can be followed in order to keep your meeting organized and running efficiently. Snackbox offers our top 10 tips for achieving the goal of your meeting in a timely and organized fashion.

  1. Purpose – Clearly define your purpose or objective for having the meeting.
  2. Participant – Who must attend this meeting to accomplish the purpose defined?
  3. Structure – How will you organize the meeting in order to achieve the purpose you set out for? Make sure the technique that you have selected to achieve your purpose has the greatest impact.
  4. Location and time – Make sure to choose a location and a time that is convenient for your participants. The location should be large enough to accommodate all of the participants.
  5. Agenda – Make sure all of the participants have a copy of the meeting agenda three days prior to the meeting.
  6. Responsibilities – A written summary of the participant’s individual assignments prior to the meeting.
  7. Confirmation – Contact each participant individually a week to three days before the meeting. Once a meeting time and location have been established, try to be consistent with scheduling future meetings.
  8. Begin your meeting on time and end on time – Scheduling is imperative in being organized and efficient with the rest of your day.
  9. Ideas Bin – Create a fun way to encourage participants to write down their ideas that are off topic so that they can be discussed at an appropriate time. This is a beneficial way to allow participants not to forget ideas that could be very important.
  10. Bring food – Food will always energize and motivate participants. After all, PR does run on food.
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5 Alternatives to a Conference Table Meeting

By Christine Vivoli

So many meetings take place around a stuffy conference table. Being in a creative industry, having meetings in unusual places that could lead to inspiration is a great idea. Snackbox has come up with some fun alternatives to the conference table meeting.

  1. Lunch or Dinner – Enjoying a meal together is a great way to communicate in a less formal setting.
  2. Going to the spa – What a relaxing way to conduct business and focus on inspiration for new ideas.
  3. Karaoke room – Take your meeting to a place where you can let loose, enjoy yourself and let your ideas run wild.
  4. Helicopter ride – This is a crazy idea to really wow your participants or seal a deal. You have their undivided attention.
  5. Night fishing boat – Engage in a favorite past time of many. An event like this will spark creativity and show your imagination.
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Become a Better Note Taker

8 ideas that you’ll thank us for

By Christine Vivoli

Taking good notes is only half the battle in your professional career. Great note taking skills will allow you to apply the knowledge that you have learned and retain the material. If you boss sends you on a business trip you don’t want to come back with a blank slate. Snackbox gives you eight tips that you will be sure to thank us for later.

  1. Listen actively and think before you write.
  2. Underline the important stuff that you want to stand out to come back to.
  3. Draw pictures in your notes, especially if you are a visual learner.
  4. Use a uniform set of punctuation marks and abbreviations that make sense to you when you refer to your notes later.
  5. Compare your notes with a colleague to make sure that you did not miss any information.
  6. Don’t write down everything, just the key words.
  7. Keep your notes organized by subject and with subject titles. Don’t take notes on oddly shaped paper.
  8. Always ask to repeat a topic that you might have missed and raise questions
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