New Business Congratulations Letter and Email Examples

New geschftsleben Congratulations Letter and Email ExamplesNew Business Congratulations Letter and Email ExamplesThousands of new geschftslebenes are started every month, and even more close down than that during the same time period. Given how difficult it is to start a business and maintain its success, its a fine idea to reach out and congratulate your colleague whos done so. According to theSmall Business Administration, 70 percent of new businesses survive at least two years, half last five years, a third are around a decade later, and just 25 percent are mucksmuschenstill in business at the 15-year mark. Why You Should Send Congratulations for Opening a New Business Besides simple courtesy, congratulating a new business can bring you bonuses. If you areseeking a jobor clients, a new business means new opportunities. If you provide services they are likely to need, it pays to get your name and contact information into their hands. Include your email address, phone number, we bsite, and social media handles in your message to make it easy to contact you. If you had applied for a job with the company before they opened but didnt get hired, this note will keep you in mind in case of openings.While they may have filled their initial positions, they may realize they dont have the right mischung or there may be some early departures. Your well-wishes show you support their operation and will put you in good stead for future opportunities. Be a supporter in getting out the word about their launch or grand opening. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms. Note the hashtags and handles used and repost them. Even if you dont get their business or arent hired, your support may lead to more leads on jobs or clients. New Business Congratulations Letter Example Dear Jim,Congratulations on your new venture. Im so proud to have been your colleague at name of last company where I observed your sharp intellect and drive.I have every confidence th at you will succeed flying solo and that the Irvington Company will be a mover and shaker. You are a trendsetter and very savvy to start this business innovation.Im looking forward to doing business with you.Regards,Your Name ExpandCongratulations Note for a New Business Venture Dear First Name,Congratulations on your new venture It sounds like an exciting opportunity, and Im looking forward to you watching your progress as the business develops.If there is anything at all I can do to promote your new business, please let me know. Id be glad to assist however I can if I can be of help.Best Regards,Your NameEmail addressWebsite/social media linksPhone number ExpandNew Business Congratulations Email Message Example 1 SubjectCongratulationsDear Max,Congratulations on opening your own firm. Maxs Accounting Services is sure to be a success with your down-to-earth manner and sharp skills.Your client base is dedicatedand is sure to grow as you become even more well known for your abilities .If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know.Sincerely,RubyEmail addressPhoneSocial media handles/website ExpandNew Business Congratulations Email Message Example 2 Subject lineCongratulationsDear Mabel,Congratulations on opening your restaurant. Mabels Quick Lunch is a great addition to the neighborhood and your menu is sure to please hungry diners.People who enjoyed your cooking at your last establishment will be sure to become regulars as word gets out about your new restaurant.Ill be following you on social media and Im happy to get the word out about your grand opening. Let me know of any hashtags or social media handles you would like to see promoted for upcoming events.If there is any way I can help in the success of your new business, please let me know.Sincerely,RexEmail addressPhoneSocial media handles/website Expand Sample Congratulatory Remarks If youre having trouble finding the right words to say, browse through these sample remarks to find something t hat will fit your situation with just a little tweaking I saw your ad in Marketing Communication Magazine. So happy to see that your business is off to a running start.Im so thrilled for youopening your own business is a milestone.Yourbusiness ideais a brilliantin fact, I wish I created it myselfCongratulations on opening your new storeyouve chosen the perfect location.Your new store and displays are eye catchingIm sure customers will feel the sameWeve needed a practice like yours in the community for some timethank you for bringing us your services. Congratulations on your new venture opening your own business certainly is a mark of distinction.I admire your foresight in opening your new store I expect business will be booming in no timeIm sure its a great feeling of accomplishment to hang up your own shingle. Congratulations on your efforts.I enjoyed working with you previously at name of last company and Im sure your drive and dedication will make this business a success.Im so pr oud to have been your colleague at name of last company. You no doubt have the intellect and drive to now fly solo. I admire your courage, persistence, and determination in pursuing this new and exciting path.You have always been a leader and I have no doubt youll lead this new venture to success.I know this business has long been a dream of yours congratulations on making it a reality.I wish you all the success in the world as you embark on this new adventure.Youve worked harder than anyone I knowif anyone deserves success, its you.I wish you prosperity as you build the business.Heres to your success in the years to come. I look forward to seeing a multi-million dollar company shortly.I anticipate seeing great things from you in the future.

Shareholder Loan Agreement FAQ - United States

Shareholder Loan Agreement FAQ - United StatesShareholder Loan Agreement FAQ - United StatesDefinitionsWho is the Shareholder (or stockholder)?The Shareholder (or stockholder) is the party that advances money to the Corporation on condition that the Corporation will repay the loan in the future. The Shareholder (or stockholder) also owns shares in the Corporation. For the purpose of the loan the Shareholder (or stockholder) is treated the same as any other debtor or lender.Who is the Corporation?The Corporation is the party that borrows money from the Shareholder (or stockholder) on condition that the money will be repaid in the future. If the Corporation welches to liquidate, then all loans (including the shareholder loan) must be paid before the shareholders (or stockholders) can recover any equity from their shares.What is the governing law for a Shareholder Loan Agreement?The governing law is the law of the jurisdiction in which the loan will be entered into. It may or may not co incide with the jurisdiction in which the parties reside.What is the Principal Amount?The Principal is the original amount of the loan that is paid from the Shareholder (or stockholder) to the Corporation on the date of the loan, before any interest accrues. Once the Corporation has begun to pay back the loan, the principal amount refers to the amount of money still owing to the Shareholder (or stockholder) at any given moment in time.What is Interest?Interest is an amount charged to the Corporation (the borrower) for the use of the Shareholders money. It is usually expressed as a percentage of the amount borrowed and is calculated at a specified interval over the course of the loan. The interest rate is the annual interest rate.What does compounded mean?Interest can be compounded monthly, every six months or yearly. Compounded refers to how frequently the interest is calculated and added to the principal amount of the loan. The more frequently the interest is calculated, the more i nterest the Corporation will end up paying to the Shareholder (or stockholder).What does Default mean?Default means that the Corporation has failed to repay the loan according to the terms set out in the Shareholder Loan Agreement. Typically, a Default will result in the Corporation being assessed a penalty and the loan being immediately due.What is a demand loan?A demand loan does not need to be paid until the Shareholder (or stockholder) demands it be repaid. There is no fixed end date for the repayment of the loan. Upon demand, the Corporation is given a reasonable period of time to repay the entire loan.What is the difference between a Promissory notenzeichen and a Shareholder Loan Agreement?Both contracts evidence a debt owed from a borrower to a lender, but a Promissory Note may be between any two parties. The Shareholder Loan Agreement is used when a Corporation borrows money from one of its shareholders (or stockholders).What is the Term?The Term is the period of time over w hich the loan will be outstanding. At the end of the Term the Corporation will have repaid the loan and any interest that has accumulated.Loan Agreement DetailsI am a Shareholder. Should I use the Loan Agreement or the Shareholder Loan Agreement?As a Shareholder (or stockholder), if you are lending money to the corporation, use the Shareholder Loan Agreement. If you are borrowing money from the corporation, use LawDepot.coms Loan Agreement or Promissory Note.Does the Shareholder (or stockholder) have to charge the Corporation interest?No. The Shareholder (or stockholder) can choose whether or not to charge interest. If the Shareholder (or stockholder) decides to charge interest, they can pick how much interest to charge and how frequently to compound the interest. However, all jurisdictions have a maximum interest percentage that can be assessed. There are often very serious penalties for exceeding this percentage, so you need to check your local laws to ensure that you do not ex ceed the legal rate of interest.What are the payment vorkaufsrechts available?There are four options for the method of repayment1. The loan can be repaid by specific periodic amounts, which means that the Shareholder (or stockholder) and Corporation agree upon an amount of money which the Corporation will pay to the Shareholder (or stockholder) at agreed upon intervals.2. The lump sum payment at the end of the term means that the Corporation pays nothing to the Shareholder (or stockholder) until the end of the loan term, at which time the Shareholder (or stockholder) repays the entire loan in one payment.3. The interest only option means that the Corporation makes regular payments to the Shareholder (or stockholder) that are put toward paying off the interest on the principal amount only, with no portion of the payment going towards the principal amount itself. The principal is repaid at the end of the term.4. The interest and principal option means that the Corporation makes regul ar payments to the Shareholder (or stockholder) that are put toward paying off both the principal amount and the interest as it is compounded.Should the Corporation be able to pay the outstanding principal without penalty?Granting this option enables the Corporation to pay down the principal at anytime without having to pay an additional sum as a penalty.As the Shareholder (or stockholder), should I demand that the Corporation provide security/collateral for the loan?You do not need to require collateral, however, in the event the Corporation goes bankrupt, your debt will have priority over debts owed by the Corporation to other lenders if you have secured your loan through collateral. This may be preferable if the Corporation does not have enough assets to fully repay all of its debts.Does the collateral need to be equivalent in value to the loan amount?No, if collateral is given for the loan, it can be for any amount. However, if the collateral is significantly less valuable tha n the debt, there is a chance that the Shareholders loan will only be partially secured. If the Corporation goes bankrupt and does not have enough assets to pay its debts, the Shareholder may not receive full repayment of the loan.Signing DetailsI do not know when the Shareholder Loan Agreement will be signed. Can I fill in the date later?Yes, by selecting Unsure as the date the agreement will be signed, a blank line will be inserted into the loan agreement so that you can add the correct date after printing the document.Does my document need a witness, or a notary, or is it OK without a witness?fruchtwein documents and contracts do NOT require a witness for them to be legally valid. However, some documents can have clearly regulated requirements pertaining to witnesses. Additionally, many banks and other institutions have their own policies about signing requirements, and may refuse to accept documents that are not notarized regardless of their legal sufficiency. If your document will be used by a bank or registry, check with them regarding any additional witnessing requirements.

The Only Cover Letter Guide Youll Ever Need [Cover letter examples included]

The Only Cover Letter Guide Youll Ever Need [Cover letter examples included] The Only Cover Letter Guide Youll Ever Need Oh, the dreaded cover letter. No one seems to agree on whats it good for. Or if anyone even reads cover letters anymore. Yet, there’s something everybody admits: jobseekers hate writing them. Thats why we wrote The Complete Cover Letter Guide for you! All this negativity probably comes down to the fact that good cover letters require a bit of alchemy. Even when  they’re written very well, their effects are often unpredictable. After all, cover letters seek to establish a relationship and people’s reactions are often difficult to foresee. This cover letter guide includes every piece of tangible advice anyone can give you. Still, as  you’ll be reading the lines below, keep in mind that at the other end of your cover letter is a living person. Write your cover letter accordingly. Why should you care about a cover letter? Let’s start with the bad news. If your resume doesn’t fit a desired profile, your cover letter won’t get read at all. For this reason, you want to make sure your resume is well-written first - heres a great resume  guide.  What’s more, if your cover letter is weird, just plain bad or has a  bad grammar, it can seriously  damage your chances of getting a  job. If this is  not enough to discourage you from writing one, then know that one recent study found 63 percent of recruiters consider cover letters to be of low importance. Another study found just 18 percent of hiring managers think cover letters are an important part of an application. When some recruiters say “Don’t write a cover letter,” what they mean to say is “Don’t write a bad one.” For all of its shortcomings, a cover letter gives you an upper hand in ways your resume doesn’t. It allows you to show off your writing skills, provide details that didn’t fit in on your resume, and demonstrate your passion. It’s an opportunity to distinguish yourself. One of the main reasons why companies are moving away from cover letters, is that candidates can’t write them well and hate writing them. When some recruiters say “Don’t write a cover letter,” what they really mean to say is “Don’t write a bad one.” If  you come up with a good cover letter, it’s sure to make a difference. Our cover letter guide will help you write a good one, keep reading. How do recruiters read cover letters? Firstly, remember the main point of sending a cover letter is to help recruiters decide if you’re the right fit for a position. For this reason, avoid generic write-ups at all costs. Most cover letters fall into this category and they don’t help recruiters decide in any way. On the other hand, what recruiters love to see is a short persuasive argument of why you fit the role and the company.   “…the main point of sending a cover letter is to help recruiters decide if you’re the right fit for a position.” Second, recruiters often look for inconsistencies. For instance, if your resume shows attention to detail but your cover letter is addressed to the wrong person, wrong company, and is replete with typos? It’s an inconsistency. You want to make sure the number of these inconsistencies is kept to a minimum. Chapter 1: How to write a great cover letter in 7 steps Before you begin  writing, find out more about the company and the position you’re applying for. Spend some time on the company’s website, its executives’ Twitter feeds, and employee profiles on LinkedIn. Still, it’s never enough to simply read the job description. You want to know what challenges is the company facing and how you can help address them. Spend some time on the company’s website, its executives Twitter feeds, and employee profiles on LinkedIn. Finally, researching the company also helps you decide on the tone of your cover letter. The language you will use depends heavily on the company’s culture. If it’s a company like , you can easily get away with more unusual approaches. If it’s a conservative institution, like a bank, you should probably keep it formal. 1. Don’t underestimate the Cover letter headline When you’re browsing the web, what articles usually catch your attention? Those with great headlines, of course! The same applies to cover letter headlines. Start by paying attention to the headlines around you - especially in tabloids and websites like Buzzfeed. These are usually designed to stir up your interest and make it impossible not to click through. Notice how they use numbers, questions, interesting adjectives to promise the reader to learn something valuable. When in doubt, try to use this formula: Number or Trigger word + Adjective + Keyword + Promise. The result can look something like this: 3 Reasons Why I’m An Excellent Fit For Are You Still Looking To Fill The Position Of ? This Is Why I Believe I’m Exactly Who You’re Looking For 5 Ways I Can Help You Improve Your Company’s Finally, don’t forget to adjust your header to the company’s level of formality and put your headline in the subject of the email. 2. Make sure you use a correct form of greeting In this time and age, there’s no excuse for using “To Whom It May Concern.” You’re expected to research the name of the recruiter or the hiring manager online. LinkedIn is the perfect tool for this. Even when you are totally unable to find the recruiter’s name, it’s better to use other forms: Formal setting: Dear Sir/ Madam, Dear Sir or Madam, Dear Dr Smith, Dear Mrs/ Ms. Morris Informal setting: Dear Jane, Dear John Smith, When it comes to honorifics (i.e. Mr., Mrs., Ms.), everything depends on the company’s culture. If you’re applying to a corporate business, make sure to use a courtesy title before their name. If it’s a start-up or a company b with a more casual culture, don’t be afraid to ditch the title and use their first name. 3. Paragraph 1: Introduce yourself with a BANG! Open strong. Explain why this job is exciting to you and why you’re the right person for it. Most people begin with “I’m applying for the position X I saw in Y place.” That’s a waste of text. Instead, open with something like “I’m a content marketing professional with more than 5 years of experience and I’d love to bring my ability and passion to your team.” Compliment the company. Show that you know details about the company and you’re approaching it for a reason. Demonstrate appreciation for what the company does - not only will this compliment them, it will also provide them with insight as for who you are. Name a mutual acquaintance if you can. This is sometimes called a “magic bullet,” as it’s the one thing that will assure the hiring manager reads your cover letter until the end. Limit the introduction to 1-3 sentences. This isn’t the place to go into detail about what makes you an ideal candidate - save that for the second and third paragraphs. 4. Paragraph 2: Why you’re a great fit for the company Now it’s the time to sell yourself and your experience. Write a short summary of your career and skills, tailored to fit the company you’re approaching. You did your research, now ask yourself these questions: What did you do at a previous position that gave you relevant experience? How could this experience help the new company grow? Which of the projects you have worked on would benefit their business? Which of your skills make you well-equipped for the position? Does any of these skills give you an edge over other candidates? Put your most impressive accomplishments first. Don’t brag, be humble. You don’t want to come across as someone who lacks self-awareness. When in doubt, focus on your experience rather than yourself. You should be able to support each of your claims with previous accomplishments. Also, try to show that you know what the company does and that you’re familiar with some of the challenges it faces. Finally - and this applies to every other section of your cover letter - don’t simply repeat the same things you’ve already put on your resume. You want to go beyond that. 5. Paragraph 3: Why the company is a great fit for you. In this paragraph you want to show that you’re serious about developing your career at this new company. Good companies want to know why do they appeal to you and how will your professional relationship be mutually beneficial. Consider the following questions: What excites you about the prospect of working at this company? How do  the company goals and align with your own? What do you hope to gain and learn from working there? Convey enthusiasm but remain authentic in doing so. Don’t go overboard with flattery or say anything you don’t mean - it will probably come up again in later  stages of the application process. You have your reasons for wanting to work there, explain what’s in it for you but remain professional and mature. 6. Closing paragraph: Finish strong and stay in touch You want to finish in a way that will make them remember you. In one or two sentences reiterate that your experience and enthusiasm make you a great candidate. This is to emphasise the two main points from the previous paragraphs. Don’t forget that the main purpose of a cover letter is to land an interview. Don’t finish by simply saying you’ll get in touch. Explain when and how you’ll be contacting them; especially if the job is a step forward in your career Always use a formal sign-off like “All the best,” or “Best regards.” Finish by typing out your full name. Don’t forget to include your phone number and email address in case the company decides to contact you first. Now the ball is in the recruiter’s court. By openly stating that you’ll be following up, you’ve created an opportunity to follow up yourself and remind them of your application. This how you politely put your foot in the door. 7. How do you send a cover letter? I can’t stress this enough - don’t send your cover letter as a document attached to your email. Put it inside the body of the email. The email is your cover letter! This way it won’t get ignored. What if you can’t submit a cover letter? Many companies nowadays use online application systems that discourage sending a cover letter. These systems often only allow for data to be entered into separate boxes. In these cases, try to work with the format you are given. You can also try to find someone online  to whom you can send a brief follow-up email with a few points about your application. No matter the format, you are still expected to present your skills and convey enthusiasm about the job -  follow the principles outlined above. Chapter 2: Cover letter tips and hacks The framework from our cover letter guide gives you a pretty strong foundation for writing a decent cover letter. Still, there are several tips you can follow to elevate your cover letter to the next level. Keep it short. Limit your cover letter to five hundred words. Recruiters and hiring managers are busy people who often have next to no time for reading long texts. For this reason, you want to say the most in the least amount of words possible. Don’t risk being funny. Poorly executed humour will hurt your chances rather than help. Being direct and dynamic is a much surer way to catch the recruiter’s attention than a number of any  jokes. Show, don’t tell. Usually, there’s no point in saying you’re “a dependable hard-worker” or “a creative thinker.” Why should a potential employer believe such generic statements? Instead, offer an example of how these qualities helped you achieve something in the past. Never write the same letter twice. A cover letter is powerful only when its tailored to a specific job application. Remember the previous  sections? You’ve made a great effort to research the company, its hiring managers, and you’ve written your cover letter accordingly. This is a process you need to repeat with every application. Facilitate reading. Take a look at how this article is written. It’s replete with short paragraphs, sentences typed in bold letters, bullet points, numbers, and block quotes. All of these serve to facilitate reading. Never send a letter that looks like an unreadable wall of text. Check  for typos. This goes without saying but make 100% sure your cover letter is without typos. There’s no reason to believe youre competent  if you cannot even type  without errors. Moreover, typos automatically reveal almost criminal carelessness on your part, since every text editor nowadays has a spellchecking feature. Dont use any buzzwords. Your cover letter needs to be authentic and persuasive - buzzwords are neither. If anything, they simply give the impression of you being someone whos just trying to fit a skewed idea of what an ideal corporate employee should be. If you’re unsure as for what words you should avoid using, check this infographic. Chapter 3: Cover letter examples and what you can learn from them. There are many different ways to write a great cover letter. It all depends on your own personality, the position you’re applying for, and the hiring manager’s preferences. If you follow cover letter guide  above, you’ll end up with a cover letter that is invariably your own. Still, there’s a lot to learn from the different approaches the  cover letters below chose to take. 1. The super-concise cover letter sample  - A  way  to keep it short Harvard Business Review contributor David Silverman hailed the following as “The Best Cover Letter I Ever Received.” Obviously, he appreciates cover letters that go straight to the point and don’t waste his time with irrelevancies. At the same time, Silverman believes a cover letter is rarely necessary and you should only include it when: You know the name of the person hiring. You know something about the job requirement. Someone personally referred you (which might include the previous points). Under those conditions you can help your application by doing some of the resume analysis for your potential new boss. This approach to a cover letter is based on the premise that cover letter should summarise rather than expand on the resume.   2. The cheeky cover letter sample - A way  to show your personality The COO of Squarespace called  the following  one of the best cover letters he ever received. Yet, if you read through it, you’re going to notice it goes against many of the recommendations outlined above. Cover letters like this one serve as an encouragement to get creative when you absolutely know you can. This requires a high degree of awareness of the company’s culture and the requirements for the position. At the same same time, it shows understanding of the job and gives captivating accounts of previous experience. You can read the entire letter here. Final words of encouragement A good cover letter is about them, not you. One final thing. This cover letter guide  wants to make sure your cover letter catches hiring managers’ attention. This doesn’t mean they’re scary or uncompromising people who like to exercise their power over unfortunate job candidates. On the contrary, try to see them as people who got the unfortunate job of having to go through hundreds of applications every day. The point of writing a great cover letter is to make their job easier for them. When you’ve finished writing your cover letter, reread it a few times. Try to imagine reading it as someone who knows nothing about you and wants to fill a job position. Does it help them decide? A good cover letter is about them, not you. It you enjoyed our cover letter guide share it with your friends. We will be more than happy ?? Share Your Feedback or Ideas in the Comments!

Why Solopreneurs Still Need a Resume

Why Solopreneurs Still Need a Resume Why Solopreneurs Still Need a Resume Everyone seems to be fleeing their corporate jobs and going solo these days. Does that mean you can ditch your resume? Definitely not! Whether you’re a freelance writer or a project consultant, you still need to have a professional resume because sometimes, in order to acquire and secure that business, you will need one! If you’re hiring yourself out as a contractor, some companies will ask you for a resume and if you don’t have one, it could mean lost revenue or give a bad impression which is the last thing you want as a business person. Even if they don’t request it, providing one makes you look more professional. Don’t forget that just because you’re in business for yourself, professional basics still exist and a professional resume is one of them â€" especially if you plan to retain any corporate clients. With that being said, here are a few tips for putting together your solopreneur resume: Emphasize your assets â€" Your daily job duties shouldn’t be the only thing highlighted on your resume. Make sure to add your accomplishments. What sets you apart as an individual and helped you exceed past employer’s expectations? Toss the objective â€" Get rid of the objective section. Include a profile with an overview of your skills, instead. Even though you’re not job hunting anymore, you still need to make yourself marketable in your professional field. Make your resume marketable â€" It should tell the story of your career and also promote what you’re doing now in your self-employed or freelance role. Highlight and promote what you do as a professional. Give a little history â€" Past employers can still lend credibility to your business and show that you have experience in the “working” world even if it has nothing to do with what you’re doing now. Don’t just list unrelated positions â€" show how those experiences/skills translate into what you’re doing now. Bang your own drum â€" You need all the help you can get when you’re flying solo professionally so if you have a website, post your resume on it. Bring it to client meetings. What’s the point of having a resume if you’re not going to use it? The fact is that some people hire contractors based on their resume even if they’re not an employee. It might be a little old school but it’s still a factor. So, don’t get so excited about leaving the traditional working world that you chunk out anything and everything resembling corporate life â€" hang onto your resume and keep it updated to reflect your new solo career. You never know when you might need it again!

How a golf lesson taught me more about my personality than ever before

How a golf lesson taught me more about my personality than ever before How a golf lesson taught me more about my personality than ever before I have never really understood golf. Sure it seems like a nice way to pass an afternoon away if you happen to be near a golf course, have a set of clubs and a pair of brightly colored pants ready to go. But as far as exercise, I didn’t really ever consider it and frankly though I don’t mind watching it I partly do it because of its soporific qualities. But as someone always looking to be networking, let’s face it: Golf is essential.An estimated  90% of Fortune 500 CEO’s play golf and according to Forbes, CEOs who regularly play are paid 17% more on average  than those who do not. Eighty  percent of executives say the game allows them to network into new business relationships. After all, you can’t really talk shop when you are trying to steal a basketball but you do have time in between swings or holes. And the career benefits for women are arguably even more significant Half of female executives say playing golf makes them more successful at their jobs and  women with a ha ndicap of under 10 in 1993 made  an average of $146,900 annually.I’d literally been meaning to take up the sport for the last 10 years but I just never seemed to find the time. Finally, I decided just to do a private lesson at the Golf Club in Chelsea Piers in New York, one of the most popular golf destinations in the city  if not the most popular with  350,000 customers coming in every year. I figured I’d learn the basics and call it a day. But oh did I learn so much more than just how to hold a golf club and swing. I learned more about my personality than any therapy session could reveal.As 20th-century sportswriter  Grantland Rice  once wrote, “Eighteen holes of match or medal play will teach you more about your foe than will 18 years of dealing with him across a desk.”   But it turns out my foe was myself. I could not have had a better instructor in Head Pro Marjorie Jones. Marge  was named one of Golf Digest’s 50 Best Women Teachers in America and has been recognized as the LPGA TCP’s Northeast Section Teacher of the Year and Player of the Year. She also won the PGA Women’s Stroke Play Championship and the LPGA TCP National Team Championship twice. A golf professional for 30 years, she has played in Europe, Asia, Australia and in the United States on the LPGA and Legends Tours. She played in eight British Opens, five United States Opens, and has won numerous events. But I may have been her greatest challenge yet. Not really, but my inability to loosen up when swinging was absolutely incredible.See in most sports, tensing up and using that adrenaline works to your advantage. But not in golf. Golf, though heavily precise, is better if you are relaxed. Your shoulders, arms, and hands are supposed to be relaxed before and during the swing. That’s all it is. Your arms just swing simply as your body turns. But this was not happening for me. Every time I got the club in my hands I immediately would get nervous and tense up and the ball would go n owhere near my target. Like not even in the same zip code. I couldn’t relax. I immediately wanted to swing hard at the ball and expected perfection and it wasn’t happening. I couldn’t stay loose for the life of me.And this was at a driving range. Imagine what would happen if I ever played an actual game? My dreams of being Michelle Wie’s (much) shorter sidekick were quickly fading away.I’ve always been an anxious person, but a tense person? This was quite upsetting. And then, of course, I was getting more upset about being such a tense person even though I don’t think of myself that way and started having anxiety about that. Intense maybe, but are tense people often the first ones to dance at parties? Do tense people participate in pick up games of Wiffle ball? Do tense people drink tea every day as I do?it seemed better in the last few years, but it was never more apparent in my inability to not loosen up and just relax. Jones was an excellent instructor and talked me t hrough why I was so desperate to control the situation instead of letting my swing just go. As adults, especially driven ones, we expect everything to be a success immediately and it just isn’t possible. This was an entirely new skill set so I had to go back to basics. Jones even threw a heavy ball back and forth with me to help me get the right motion.By the end of the lesson I was doing a little better (as in the ball was now in the same zip code as my target.) I also just started to stop thinking about how good or bad I was at this brand new thing I was trying and just enjoy the fact that I was swinging at a ball while looking at the Hudson River on an October day.I am not sure if I will ever be great at golf but I do intend to get better at it and maybe a little less tense in the process. Perhaps one of those hats with the ball on top will help.

Breakfast party! This nutritionist says pizza is healthier than cereal

Breakfast party! This nutritionist says pizza is healthier than cereal Breakfast party! This nutritionist says pizza is healthier than cereal Well, apparently we should all start following the diets of college students. According to  New York-based nutritionist  Chelsea Amer instead of that big bowl of cereal you should just have a piece of pizza instead. Rejoice.Thought you were so healthy because you ate a big bowl of Raisin Bran this morning? Not so. According to Amer, that bowl has more sugar and less protein than a slice of pizza.“You may be surprised to find out that an average slice of pizza and a bowl of cereal with whole milk contain nearly the same amount of calories,” Amer told The Daily Meal. “However, pizza packs a much larger protein punch, which will keep you full and boost satiety throughout the morning.” This is great news for anyone who likes pizza so, like, everyone. However pizza and coffee don’t make for the best combo.It is surprising  how pizza stacks up against a famously health-boasted cereal like Raisin Bran but this actually isn’t that astonishing when you compare it to  the junky con coctions that are Frosted Flakes, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Coco-Puffs and of course the “breakfast” food that is nearest and dearest to my heart, Lucky Charms.How we convinced our parents (especially my mother) to let us eat essentially a bowl of candy before our long school day is truly remarkable.But at the same time, one of those boring, grain, nut and seed-filled cereals mixed in with milk  is going to be a healthier option than a greasy piece of pizza topped with pepperoni or bacon or nachos. But the pizza is definitely a better option than the bowl of Lucky Charms … unless you like marshmallows  as a pizza topping.

5 Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Cover Letter

5 Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Cover Letter 5 Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Cover Letter After weeks of writing/editing/rewriting/tweaking, you’re pretty sure that you’ve created a killer cover letter, one that is sure to attract the attention of any hiring manager and get you a job. So why haven’t the job offers flooded in yet? It could be that your cover letter is, well, a letdown. Read your cover letter over again and ask yourself these five questions. Is it too long- or short? You have so much to say that a mere page is not enough space to highlight all of your skills and qualifications, and your personality. That’s why you made your cover letter three pages. A hiring manager won’t mind, right? Wrong. A cover letter should be no more than one page. Studies have shown that hiring managers take a mere six seconds to scan a cover letter. Six seconds. And while you might feel that your cover letter is a scintillating page-turner, if a potential employer has to turn actual pages to read it, he’ll toss it in the trash. The same applies for a cover letter that is too short. You don’t want to have too much white space on the page. That will convey to the reader that your skills, experience, education, or frankly, your personality, is lacking. Aim to fill the entire page so that you give a well-rounded view of who you are, what you’ve accomplished, and what you can do for the company. Is it edited? It goes without saying that you should spell check your cover letter before sending it out. But you would be surprised how many people don’t review their cover letter and then send it in along with their equally unchecked resume. After rereading it, you may make tiny changes in an effort to improve your cover letter, and you absolutely must run your spell check (and your grammar check) each and every time you do so. One small typo or grammatical misstep could potentially cost you the job. Does it showcase who you are? If you thought that your cover letter was basically a way to regurgitate your resume, think again. Writing a cover letter is the best way to let a prospective boss have a glimpse into who you are, what you’ve done, and what you’d like to do in the future. He can learn this by your writing style and by hearing your “voice” in your thoughts and words. So don’t miss the opportunity to let your personality shine (professionally, that is) in your cover letter. It can help you stand out from the dozens of other job applicants with ho-hum cover letters. Does it make sense for the job you’re applying for? Up until now, you’ve worked as a mortgage banker, but you’ve decided to do a career change and become a graphic designer instead. If all you do is write about your previous experience scoring bank loans so people can buy their dream home, your job application will get tossed. You need to relate your experience and skills to the position you’re applying for, even if the two are not seemingly relatable. You can use volunteer experience to join the two fields, or find transferrable skills and qualities, such as your ability to work independently and your superior communications skills- especially if you’re looking to work from home. Is it consistent? Together, your cover letter and your resume are the best way to represent yourself to a hiring manager. That’s why it’s important that they match. For example, if you are mailing in your job application, it’s ideal for your resume and cover letter to be printed on the same type of paper. For an online job application, make sure that the font, pagination, and spacing are all the same for both the resume and cover letter. Keeping both the same will show not only consistency but an attention to detail. Your cover letter is truly your calling card when submitting job applications. Make sure that yours represents you in the best light so that you can find a job that you love. Readers, how would you describe your cover letter? What changes have you had to make to yours? Let us know in the comments section below!