Category: Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship Posts

How to Stay Productive While Working from Home

Mariella Irivarren

Many of us had a pre-COVID work schedule that consisted of waking up, getting ready, commuting, working, and then going home at the end of the day. We repeated this 5 times a week and built a consistent routine around it.

So, what happens when suddenly we are asked to work from home? — Our routine gets thrown out the window. Humans are creatures of habit, and if we must rely on self-discipline to create a new routine we aren’t used to, it can leave us feeling distracted, lazy, unproductive, unmotivated, and more.

I have been working from home a couple of days a week for the past three years, so luckily this “new normal” isn’t so new to me; however working from home every day of the week? THAT threw me for a loop, and it took me a few weeks to get myself back on track.

Some of the biggest challenges people face when working from home include:

  • Lacking a proper morning or daily routine
  • No dedicated office or workspace
  • Missing social connections
  • Not knowing when to “shut down”

Of course, working from home also has its benefits, its just a matter of building a routine that will allow you to thrive in a home office environment. Let’s help you get there!

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Entrepreneurship Posts

How To Create A Powerful Vision Board

Mariella Irivarren

“Looking at your board on a daily basis will motivate you and give you energy that will be reflected in your daily actions, therefore getting you one step closer to achieving your goals.”

Perhaps you have never though about creating a vision board, or you are the type of person who makes one every year. Vision boards can be an incredible motivation tool for anyone working towards a set of goals.

You see, the power of visualization is real, and when we envision ourselves reaching our goals on a daily basis, we are more likely to act on those goals and therefore allow the vision to manifest itself.

So, if you are someone who is needing a little extra motivation and wants to achieve something greater, I suggest you get to work and get creative.

Its worth noting that a vision board can be done in many forms. Some people will literally grab a foam core board, others may use cork walls, wall painting, digital versions, etc. Regardless of how you decide to make your vision board, the important thing is that its prominent and visible EVERY SINGLE DAY.

If you make a board and leave it inside a drawer or make an electronic one and save it on your computer folders never to be seen again, it defeats the purpose of doing one in the first place!

Let’s go over how you can make a truly powerful vision board:

Continue reading “How To Create A Powerful Vision Board” →

Entrepreneurship

The Power of Emotional Intelligence

Mariella Irivarren

A modified version of this article was originally published on the MPI Toronto Chapter’s MEETING Magazine. To view the original post, please click here.

What is emotional intelligence and why is it so powerful?

Described in the dictionary as “the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one’s emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically” – it’s a powerful skill to have if you ask me.

Earlier last year I was encouraged by my manager to take a course on Emotional Intelligence as a way to strengthen my leadership and relationship building abilities. It had been on my radar for a while, and with her support, my employer made it happen.

We all have shining moments as well as areas for improvement, and emotional intelligence was the latter one for me, where this “fault” of mine had affected me in personal and professional settings throughout my life. At times, my outgoing personality, combined with my excitement, passion and talkative persona could easily over take a conversation and unintentionally give people the wrong impression. My overall awareness of the situation and others around could be single-sided, and potentially lead to misunderstandings. — Don’t get me wrong, I am a friendly and kind-hearted person! And anyone who knows me can attest to that… but it’s important to recognize our faults in order to grow and become a better version of ourselves.

Continue reading “The Power of Emotional Intelligence” →

Entrepreneurship

7 Steps to Better Networking

Mariella Irivarren

A modified version of this article was originally published on the MPI Toronto Chapter’s blog. To view the original post, please click here.

Ahhh, good ol’ networking. The necessary evil that puts us all out of our comfort zone, yet can be so rewarding. How can one master this “art” and use their networking skills effectively to advance themselves on multiple levels?

Some are better networkers than others, and although I am no expert, over my professional career I have been able to put into practice many tips and tricks that have proven to be successful.

Here’s how you can take your networking game to the next level: Continue reading “7 Steps to Better Networking” →