According to Newsday, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has updated its guidelines to include Covid-19 related screening. 

COVID-19 has changed the way workplaces operate perhaps forever, which makes reopening for many businesses an arduous task.

Read the article on Newsday

According to Market Watch, the Democratic held house has voted in favor of a bill that would give small businesses more time to use their PPP funds.

The Democratic-run House on Thursday voted overwhelmingly in favor of a bipartisan bill that would give small businesses more time to use emergency loans and let borrowers spend less of their loan proceeds on payroll. 

Read the article on Market Watch

Minneapolis small business owners already struggling from the effects of the pandemic face aftermath of protests, reports the Star Tribune. 

Elias Usso got an alert at home around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday when an alarm went off at his small pharmacy near Lake Street and Hiawatha Avenue. 

Read the article on Star Tribune

According to Politico, the recently released rules for how the paycheck protection program loans can be forgiven aren’t what businesses were expecting. 

The Trump administration released long-awaited rules on how government-backed small business loans can be forgiven, but they fall far short of what employers and lawmakers are demanding for the popular program.

Read the article on Politico

Cultivating a culture of innovation should be a top priority for every enterprise. While this may sound simple, it’s one of the most difficult accomplishments to achieve in practice. Halloran Consulting is no stranger to fostering a culture of innovation within its business. The life science regulatory, quality and clinical consulting firm has seen revenue growth of nearly 200 percent since 2014, winning a spot on Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing companies for five consecutive years and most recently awarded a digital leadership title by Ventana Research.

However, success doesn’t come without its pain points. The 100-person firm initially faced significant challenges with disjointed information across its multiple systems — financial data in QuickBooks, sales data in Salesforce CRM, and project data in NetSuite OpenAir professional services automation (PSA). That level of fragmentation prevented Halloran Consulting from having a unified view across its project-based business. That meant the organization had limited insights into its operations, could not entirely trust the integrity of its data and was forced to rely heavily on multi-tab Excel spreadsheets to generate basic financial reports.

Success Begins with Delivering Value

Professional services firms face the challenge of delivering value to clients while managing and growing their business profitably. The lack of integration and efficiency drove the Boston-based firm to review its processes and take concrete measures to eliminate the systems that did not contribute to helping the organization succeed. Halloran Consulting chose Sage Intacct for the value its technology brought to the company and its clients - where the firm used to get piecemeal information regarding the financial health of its operations, with Sage Intacct, it was able to access real-time financial data and react quickly to sudden changes that could impact its business growth.

Another catalyst in the company’s transformation has been the elimination of hours of manual work. The firm was able to cut down its monthly financial close from 20 days to 10 while also reducing other financial processes that used to take several days and are now completed in just hours. In doing so, the firm was able to dedicate more time to analyzing its data and implemented a new billing model that increased the company’s profit by $4 million and introduced new efficiencies across its finance function, opening $1 million in new monthly cash flow.

Digital Transformation starts with Finance

The role of the CFO has seen significant changes in the last five years. A recent survey found that three-quarters of financial decision-makers drive digital transformation within their business and 73% of those financial decision-makers believe emerging technologies have a big impact on their ability to forecast and develop strategic financial planning.

One of the biggest value add to using innovative technologies is time. The time that would have otherwise been spent manually crunching scenarios or editing endless spreadsheets can now allow finance teams to invest their skills to help drive growth and become a strategic partner to the business. When technology is used to its full potential, finance teams can be empowered to operate at varying altitudes - either flipping easily between granular project data that cater to project managers or highly critical data that an executive team will be interested in. 

The willingness to deploy new technologies is highly dependent on the types of culture that exist across any organization. An organization that values innovation and understands that access to real-time, actionable and relevant data are key ingredients to driving performance and success will be able to thrive in today’s highly competitive, collaborative, and distributed business world.

Tania Zieja, CFO, Halloran Consulting

Small businesses require financing at times, but options that exist for large corporations are not always the best for entrepreneurs. Larger than necessary loan amounts, unforgiving terms, or unrealistic payback schedules make typical business loans prohibitive for small business. However, private loans from family or friends are not ideal, either. What are the options?

More and more financial services include microloans, smaller amounts that range anywhere from a minimum of a few thousand to about $50,000. These are the types of loans that manage the needs of small businesses. From advances to cover cash flow blips to payments for start-up equipment, a microloan can fill in and more easily be paid back.

So rather than take out a huge business loan that comes with gigantic interest, which is like clobbering a mosquito with a sledgehammer, a microloan will serve as a band-aid that is easily applied and then removed. They make good sense for small businesses that do not require substantial help but still need some.

Microloan Lenders

Some major financial institutes like banks now offer microloan options for small businesses, so it is still worthwhile to ask, but other lenders specialize in services for small businesses. Sites like PayPal that support entrepreneurs’ cash flow offer microloans, but there are dedicated organizations that offer microloan programs, too.

Nonprofit organizations exist to provide support for entrepreneurs. From women in business to other niche markets, these organizations provide financial services to ensure solvency of small businesses within their sector.

Government agencies also offer support for small businesses, but their microloans tend to be conditional. The loans are available for specific needs, like purchasing capital equipment or inventory, but not for real estate or debt payments.

Peer-to-peer microloans are another option. Groups of entrepreneurs working together each provide a portion of a loan amount, allowing a borrower (another entrepreneur) to receive the full sum. In other words, the small business owner can seek investors.

Features Of Microloans

The process to apply for a microloan depends on the source. Some may require you to differentiate your business and justify your company, so be ready to explain your mission, vision, and backstory. Others will want to ensure you fit their criteria and promote their agenda, like the nonprofit organizations. There are a few that will follow traditional procedures like checking your credit score and assets. Learn about any qualifications before you take the time to apply.

For the most part, standard loan protocols will apply; you can expect the usual framework that includes a principal, interest rate, loan terms, and repayment options. You will want to shop around and inquire about the different options to find one that fits your risk tolerance.

Current Circumstances

Within the current pandemic, there are complications as well as provisions to the usual procedures. It is still possible to secure funding, and in some circumstances, Coronavirus relief options are available.

There may be struggle right now, but in many ways, that is the nature of the business for entrepreneurs. While this pandemic is unprecedented, the need to be resilient and the consistent push to overcome challenges is not new. Whether a microloan keeps business afloat or bridges a gap toward future success, it is a worthwhile business practice to explore.

Before too much time passes this year, it’s best to get a jump-start on Tax Season. Taxes are just around the corner, so learn about the new changes to 2020 taxes now to avoid any surprises. There just might be a few benefits in the new code that will positively affect you and your business, but also beware any changes that could cause problems if you are noncompliant.

Preparing For 2020 Tax Season

It’s standard to expect adjustments to the tax code, but 2018 saw sweeping changes with the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act, the biggest change in about 30 years. So, this year, implementing changes from this Act are still affecting businesses as well as new changes effective January 1.

For the 2020 tax season, make sure you’re aware of these and any changes that affect your business.

• Employee Withholding Certificate. If you have employees and a payroll, then be sure you’re aware of the new 2020 Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate. This is the document that allows employees to claim exemptions, lessening the amount of income taxes you withhold. Previously, employees selected exemptions, but now there is a new method to determine their withholding allowance. The new form has a five-step process to determine total allowances with the goal to improve accuracy of withholdings.

• Deductions Cap. If you are a pass-through business, such as a sole proprietor, partnership, or S corp, you want to pay attention to the SALT Cap. The State And Local Tax (SALT) Deduction allows you to deduct your state and local income taxes and property taxes. Previously, the amount to deduct was unlimited, but for 2020, there is a cap at $10,000 per tax return. This could affect businesses operating in high-tax areas—the cap does not shift to account for regional difference in tax rates, so you may not receive as much back as a business with the same deduction that operates in an area with lower taxes.

• Retirement Adjustments. This year will see slightly higher contribution amounts for both employees and employers to any tax deferred benefit. Be sure you consult the IRS Tables to ensure you allow for the correct amounts. Also, the SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) Act allows small businesses to create Multiple Employer Plans and reduce costs for setting up retirement accounts. Finally, the minimum age at which employees can begin to draw on their retirement accounts rose from 70 ½ to 72 years old.

Consult A Professional

As with any business practice, make sure you work with professionals who will guide you through these changes and ensure your business receives every benefit while avoiding any pitfalls. From determining your tax bracket to managing your employees’ payroll, you want to be accurate and ensure your business follows the law.

Unless you’ve received some sort of windfall or have another source of cash, you’re going to need money to fund a new business. The easiest and most readily available source of cash is a business loan, a reasonable step to take for a start-up.

Considering A Business Loan

A business loan works just like any other loan for your auto, house, or education. You request to borrow a certain amount, and, depending on your credit, the lender applies interest on the money you get. If your company booms and you pay off the loan, you’re free and clear with 100% ownership of your company and the profits that come with it. If your company fails, then you’re in a worse position.

The problem with a loan should your company falter or folds is you must still pay back the money. Your loss will garner no sympathy from the lender, so you can’t expect the loan to disappear. The lender wants their money back with interest, regardless of the health or even existence of your company. Thankfully, we’re past the days of debtors’ prison, but the consequences of defaulting on a business loan can be just as devastating to your future business opportunities.

So, starting a business with a loan is a risky proposition, but often an easier option to secure funding than from one or more investors. Still, for small businesses, a huge bank loan can be more than necessary and come with prohibitive risk. You can expect a sizable loan when you conduct business with a bank, but your start-up costs may not be that much. Taking out more money than you need is never a good idea and a sure-fire way to get into financial trouble.

Loan Options For Small Businesses

However, there are lenders that offer smaller sized loans to match small business needs. Companies like Shopify Capital or PayPal offer more manageable loan sizes that allow start-ups or small businesses the chance to get their feet under them without looming debt.

Like a bank, smaller loans from these lenders work the same way. The interest rate will depend on your credit score and there will be a specified payback period. However, unlike banks, many of these operations come with restrictions like membership to their site or availability based on longevity of the membership with the company. Further, interest rates may be higher and payback durations shorter. Some of the lenders may consider the monthly income of your business as a determining factor in your interest rate or loan amount.

The small business lenders are a good option and less cumbersome than a bank loan for start-ups, but it pays to shop around (pun intended). Compare rates, options, restrictions, and types of loans available from each before you apply.

Certainly, have a well-shaped solid business plan and a good assessment of the market within which you’ll be competing. In the end, the source of your loan is a business decision that must be determined based on your risk tolerance.

At some point, the grandeur and excitement of starting a business wears off, and you might suddenly lose steam. It’s not that you feel regret or dissatisfied, it’s just that the day-to-day operations still feel dull even with your own business. The start-up whirlwind of applications, business plans, ideas, building, buying inventory, making things, getting your first customer and then more customers was all exciting, but now it’s just rinse-and-repeat, a rhythmic routine known as the daily grind.

It’s normal for the excitement to fade and feel yourself drag. So how do you rejuvenate your passion for your business? It may seem daunting and like you’re going to be stuck in the grind of paperwork and bureaucracy, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are three keys to staying passionate about your business.

Play To Your Strengths. If your passion is innovating, keep innovating. Keep looking forward to the next new thing. If you are passionate about running your factory and making your things, keep making your things! Make your top goals relate to any strengths so that you can always focus on the tasks that drive you. These motivated you from the start, and they will keep you invested and feeling excited.

Know Your Weaknesses. You don’t have to admit your weaknesses to everyone but admit any weaknesses to yourself. If you dread the phone calls with the city about permits and zoning, or cringe when your accountant calls you, then that these are not your passion. They won’t just go away, so work to accept them as part of the package. Acknowledge that while these parts of your business are necessary and draining, they allow you to focus the rest of your time playing to your strengths and passion.

Delegate The Draining Tasks. When it’s feasible to delegate, there is no weakness in hiring someone to do the work you loathe. If you’re not an accounting person, there are plenty of people who will be happy to do the work. If you don’t want to be the one looking over every piece that goes out the door, there’s someone else that thrives on verifying quality. Whether you assign new roles to existing employees, hire new headcount, or even bring in contractors to do tasks as needed, the money spent in paying someone else to do these jobs frees you to focus on your passions. This can easily turn into a net positive for your business as you keep your passion in the business and continue to drive your own success.

In the beginning, it’s hard to imagine losing steam with your own company. Isn’t this what you’ve always wanted and dreamt of doing? However, it can happen. While the motivation to start your own business was intrinsic, maintaining a business may require some extra effort or external help. If you find yourself lagging in motivation, start the process to rekindle your passion for the business as soon as you recognize it’s gone.

Cyber attacks are imminent. According to a ThreatPost article, “Most organizations have experienced some type of attack within the course of a year, with only 7 percent of respondents claiming not to have experienced an attack at all.” An organization must change their rationale from “what will we do if we get attacked” to “what will be do when we get attacked.”  Having a solid plan will decrease the time it takes to fend off the attack and save the company thousands of dollars.

Every company regardless of size should have a CISO on their payroll. A Chief Information Security Officer is vital to protect an organization’s private network and sensitive information.  A CISO will be able to pinpoint weak spots in a company’s network making it easier for a potential threat to infiltrate. They are also well versed in the different software that are available to curb attacks.

Once a CISO is onboarded – he or she must develop a strategy to not only keep information secure but develop a plan when the company gets breached. He or she must outline what a potential breach may look like and what is needed to ensure it does the least amount of damage as possible. While each strategy is unique to the company – it must include a scenario for different types of attacks. While phishing is one of the most common cyber attacks – companies also have to deal with malware, ransomware, and hacking. While some are more common than others a company needs to prepare themselves for any one of the various threats.

Once a strategy is implemented a company must always play defense – keeping up to date on the different types of threats and software that can help alleviate risk. Each year threats become more sophisticated at going undetected and a company must keep up. One of the ways that a business can play defense is to continuously train their employees about what potential threats look like. A company needs to challenge their employees to think like CISOs. While a CEO or CISO may know the significance of a strong password or why someone should never click on an unknown email link – but do all of their employees? Insider threat has steadily increased throughout the years – mainly in part to neglectful users who don’t realize their acts are jeopardizing their company’s sensitive information. There is also the risk of 3^rd parties – therefore any vendors must be vetted to ensure that they do not add unnecessary risk. By training employees to spot negligent behavior it will better protect a business ward off threats. A CISO is only one person and can do very little to fight an attack without the help of their organization.

Statistically speaking, a company will be the victim of a cyber crime at some point – but it’s up to the organization to minimize the fallout.  While there is no fool-proof plan – by hiring a CISO, developing strategies to deal with a threat, and training their employees are just three ways that an organization can be prepared to deal with a potential threat.

Though a corporate retreat sounds like a luxury, it’s one that pays dividends as in investment in your organization. A leadership team that gets along better performs better, and a retreat is a perfect time to make sure that everyone is on the same page for your business.

Successful Retreats

So, now it’s time to plan one, what are the best things to do? A paintball outing might sound like fun, but is it really a good idea for a business retreat? Is a yoga retreat inspiring for everyone? The following are some of the best ways to maximize a corporate retreat. Afterall, if whole teams are gone from the office, you’d better get the most bang for your buck out of that time.

Inviting Guests. Having a lengthy strategy session is a natural fit for a retreat so you can spend the whole time talking specifically about your business. However, if you just book a location and gather the same people that meet every day at the office, all you’re going to get is the same ideas circulated around. If you want to focus your retreat on the business, then bring in outside talent to foster new ideas, challenge old ones, and guide the session to get everyone on the same page. A good consultant or consulting team breaks down barriers, levels the playing field, and opens eyes to see with a fresh perspective.

Team Building. Not every corporate retreat has to be about the business. Sometimes a good team building retreat can really improve the leadership’s morale, and that can be infectious throughout the company. There are hundreds of opportunities for retreats or outings that are not specifically work-related. These are often engineered to help teach teams some of the things that are impossible to put on a whiteboard such as trust, teamwork, and reliance on one another to overcome obstacles.

Change Of Pace. You may want to get away from the corporate culture altogether. In this case, the options vary widely. Whether you go hiking in the mountains or horseback riding in the desert, a wilderness retreat is a great way to really distance you and your team from the office, the laptops, and the charts and graphs of daily corporate life. These are typically expensive and the most distant from work, so make sure that you have the right ties between your retreat and your office environment; if you’re spending that much money, you need to make sure that you’re getting something back for it.

Ends Justify The Means

A corporate retreat can have long-lasting benefits in terms of corporate leadership, connectedness, and providing a unified message to your employees. They can also be a big waste of money that your leadership team resents from the onset.

To be successful with a corporate retreat, choose your location carefully and consider what you are trying to accomplish by getting everyone together. Remember, the underlying objective of a retreat is change, so whether the outcome is more motivated employees or a new strategic plan, structure the event to meet this end-goal.

Deciding which business structure your newly created company should have is one of the most (if not the most) important legal decision an owner can make. The chosen business structure will dictate day-to-day operations, the amount of taxes accrued, and legal liability should anything happen. There are four different types of business structures in the United States – each structure has both positives and negatives.

Sole proprietorship

Sole proprietorship is the most common structure today - accounting for over 73% of businesses across the country. Sole proprietorship means that the company is ran by one person or a proprietor. This is common among small businesses such as a dog walker, boutique, or local grocery store. Unlike other structures there is no formal action that a company has to take to indicate sole proprietorship.

A sole proprietor files their taxes along with their personal taxes – because legally they are the same. One of the negatives about this structure is that there is no separation between you and your business. If your business goes into debt a person’s personal income is at risk.

Partnership

A business may start off as a sole proprietorship but as it grows it may evolve into one of the other business structures such as a partnership. A partnership is exactly like it sounds. Instead of one person owning a business – two or more people own the business under a general or limited partnership.

A general partnership is usually reserved for co-owners. Each owner equally shares the profits, debts, and assets. Many organizations with a general partnership have a partner agreement that outlines each person’s responsibility within the company. While not legally required – it protects the owners if a disagreement arises. Pertaining to taxes – the company itself does not have to pay income tax – but the owners must claim their share of the business’ profits on their personal taxes.

A limited partnership is a bit more complex. A limited partnership can be made up of two or more people. At least one person is considered the general partner who is responsible for the bulk of legal liability while a limited partner’s responsibility is limited. A limited partner is usually an investor while the general partner is the person who manages day-to-day operations. Like a general partnership – those in a limited partnership do not pay income tax on the business, but both the general and limited partner must pay taxes.

Corporation

Unlike the ease of a sole proprietorship or a general partnership – corporations are both expensive and complicated – but come with an increase of protection should the company go under or incur debt. While corporations are subjected to double taxes – there is leeway in the form of tax breaks. The benefits of a corporation is that they are allowed to raise capital through stock and can easily access a loan from a bank.

S Corporation

S corporation is a subset of a corporation. With an S corporation – the business is not taxed but the owners must pay personal taxes on their profits. There are also restrictions on who can invest in your business and how many.

Limited Liability Company

Finally, a limited liability company (LLC) is a mixture of all of the business structures taking both the positives and negatives from each. Owners of LLCs has minimal liabilities. As in corporations, the company itself is not taxed.  Another pro is that it’s relatively easy to register for an LLC and depending on the state is not expensive to file paperwork.

In terms of negatives – an LLC does have limited liability – to a certain extent. While a corporation is a complete separation of the company and an owner’s personal assets – with an LLC it’s not always as clear cut.

Whichever business structure you chose – make sure you know the pros and the cons before you file paperwork. Before you make such a huge decision for your organization it’s important that you talk to a lawyer or a legal entity that can give you advice. And remember – if you file paperwork as a sole proprietor tomorrow – it doesn’t mean you cannot file for a partnership in a few years once your business had grown.

The coronavirus pandemic has hit the economy hard, and people who are nearing retirement or already retired are feeling the stress. “COVID-19 has caused a lot of retirees and those approaching retirement to rethink their plan for retirement,” says Dennis Notchick, a certified financial planner for Stratos Wealth Advisors (www.dn.stratoswealthadvisors.com). “Falling interest rates, massive volatility in the stock market, and stifled economic growth are having a massive effect on psychology.”

“A plan created years ago may not be as efficient when interest rates were much higher and the economy was in better shape. Stress testing your current retirement plan adapted to the post-COVID-19 world can show if you’re positioned to weather this storm or in need of an update.”

Notchick suggests the following tips to re-evaluate a retirement plan and perhaps retool it to withstand the effects of COVID-19:

 Take precise inventory of expenses. “Sometimes people don’t realize how much they are actually spending,” Notchick says. “When they lay it out, they’re shocked. For accurate retirement income planning you must have good data to understand where the money goes each month –everything it takes to live, plus discretionary expenses. A dollar saved is a dollar earned and is more important now that ever.”

Check asset location and effects on taxes. “Tax planning in retirement is critical to understand,” Notchick says. “It’s about knowing how the different accounts are taxed in conjunction with other income streams like Social Security benefits, rental income, pensions, etc. A savings account will be taxed differently than a Roth IRA, which will be different than a 401(k), or SEP IRA. Another important point to remember is that dividends, interest and capital gains may not be taxed equally, some can be taxed as high as your ordinary tax rate, and some may be completely tax free. Income tax planning in retirement will expose any tax-planning missteps.”

Bridge the retirement income gap. Notchick points out the need to tailor retirement plans for the inevitable costs of aging, some health related as well. Income diversification ensures a strong, well-built plan. “If you have an income shortfall in retirement, where will that come from?” Notchick asks. “It may make sense to use a variety of income sources like dividends, capital gains and income from an annuity.”

Re-assess your risk tolerance. “Some investors may have been complacent over the past year; markets kept going up and nobody worries about markets going up.” Notchick says. “COVID-19 changed that, not only is there more inherent risk in the stock market, but because of the zero interest-rate policy enacted by the Federal Reserve, interest-rate risk is high. When rates move back up, bond prices will go down. This has also caused more risk-taking because the interest rates are so low on bonds of all maturities and when you take inflation into account, you are actually going backwards.”

Ask these questions. “Does fear of loss or stability keep you up at night? At this stage of your life, how much risk do you need to achieve your goals? Failing to plan is planning for failure,” Notchick says. “This applies to all aspects of life, including retirement.”

“Holistic financial planning for retirement ensures all parts of the financial plan are working together – investments, taxes, estate planning, etc.” Notchick says. “The pandemic has made the picture murky for some in retirement, but an updated retirement roadmap will allow you to get to your retirement destination with clarity.

Dennis Notchick, a certified financial planner for Stratos Wealth Advisors (www.dn.stratoswealthadvisors.com), has been serving high net-worth families and business owners since 2008. A certified financial planner since 2010, Notchick has worked with well-respected firms on Wall Street and provides consulting on investment management, retirement planning and holistic financial planning. He’s been published or mentioned in numerous online financial publications, including The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and TheStreet.

It’s a good strategy to be forward-thinking and plan for the future, so now is a fine time to consider future vacation ideas. Not only will you have something exciting to look forward to, but you may need a longer lead time to put one of these plans in motion.

There are few places on Earth that are more remote, exotic, and accessible as Hawaii. With direct flights from almost all major US cities, and no passport required, Hawaii is a great destination to feel like you have left the monotony of day-to-day life behind. What’s even more exciting about getting to the most far-flung US State is that there are multiple islands, with 4 very different vacation styles for every taste. The big island offers no shortage of adventures, from walking across a volcano to snorkeling with sea turtles and manta rays, to tropical hikes with breathtaking waterfalls. Oahu provides the familiar hustle and bustle of city life with picturesque beaches. Maui is the most popular destination, with relaxing beaches and lively nightlife both. Finally, Kawaii is the most relaxing and serene of the islands.

If you prefer to stay in the continental US, the Southwest has plenty of adventure! From riding dune buggies through the desert to a train ride to the Grand Canyon, there is a right-pace adventure for everyone. Relax in a hot air balloon over Albuquerque or relive the old west with a trip through Tombstone, Arizona and other gold-rush towns. Few images are as inspiring as a desert sunset over the mountains, and once the sun goes down, the action never stops in Las Vegas.

Stretching along the Coast, there’s many options for a memorable vacation. Traveling to New England may seem like quite a change of pace, but there is plenty to keep one busy from Maine down to Connecticut along the coast. Enjoy a lobster dinner on the oceanside, hike through some of the nations oldest states and national forests, and get lost in miles of winding roads. Boston or Portland make perfect bases of operation to go a few hours north to the backwoods of Maine or to enjoy the finest foods from a wide variety of different cultures right in Boston or Providence.

While you won’t be able to enjoy an ocean view, the Midwest offers plenty of excitement as well. The mighty Mississippi touches 10 different states, each one with different scenery to enjoy. Whether you’re up for rugged hiking in Minnesota or a leisurely cruise on the river in Louisiana, the Mississippi River has dozens of perfect destinations along it’s 2320 miles. St. Louis boasts some of the region’s best museums while Memphis, Tennessee is a must-see for Elvis fans everywhere.

No matter where your interests take you, across our vast nation, there are ideal vacation destinations to be had. From coast to coast, you can’t go wrong planning your vacation in any region. Take your mind off any current worries, let your dreams loose, and plan ahead.

There was a time when “ergonomics,” the contouring of furniture to best fit the human body, had little claim to fame; it was not well understood. The pieces of furniture looked odd and contorted, foreign to our expectations. Many were summarily rejected because they were so unfamiliar to the user.

Luckily, as healthy living and wellness became more mainstream, the benefits of ergonomics began to outweigh the objections to the look of this furniture style. Joint and tendon syndromes, weakened core strength, weight gain, back pain, and general discomfort were convincing factors to try something new.

As ergonomics gains recognition and acceptance as the better options for workplace furniture, more options appear in the market. Here is a selection of the best ergonomic furniture to support the human body at work and prevent problems associated with standard workplace equipment.

Logitech’s MX Master 3 Mouse. This mouse offers a new level of comfort and ease. The natural resting place for your thumb comes equipped with a whole suite of controls. You can now scroll 1000 lines in a second with the thumb scroll wheel, navigate forward and back or do many other common tasks with two more programmable buttons, and improve your productivity while preserving your wrist and hands.

Herman Miller Aeron Chair. Most office chairs offer options to raise and lower the height, but not all of them come with adjustable arm rests, head rests, and more features to accommodate the human body. The Herman Miller Aeron Chair offers adjustable features that ‘posture fit’ to support your lower back while the tilt limiter can be set to let you recline or restrict the chair to upright to ensure proper posture. The flexibility of this chair to conform to the body and posture fully supports the user no matter the task.

UPLIFT Desk - V2. The ability to stand while working gives employees the option to move more and combats damage from sedentary jobs that require long hours at the computer. The UPLIFT Desk - V2 sit/stand desk frame supports a flat desktop from 3’6 to 7’8 wide and includes 48 mounting holes for a variety of under-desk accessories. One of the key features of the desk frame is the electric sit/stand controller; it allows the desk to be raised or lowered to any custom height in the height range, and includes a 1-touch feature to raise or lower it to pre-programmed heights. 

Vari Deskpro 36. If you’re already working from a standard desk but want the benefits of a standing desk, a Vari Deskpro 36 is a great solution. It’s a desk that retrofits onto an existing work surface. This device includes a simple, spring-assisted lifting arm on each side to make raising or lowering the desk easy for almost anyone to use. The lifted desk space even supports 2 monitors, keyboard, mouse, and a substantial workspace for documents, notes, or phone.

Year after year, ergonomic options for offices are ever more accepted and pervasive. In 2020, it’s time to sit, stand, and scroll without causing damage to our bodies.

Being a leader is lonely work. As an executive coach, I hear it from new leaders often—especially if they are promoted from within. They say, “I was doing a good job as an individual contributor, but now I’m not sure what I should be doing after my promotion. I feel really alone.” They find themselves in a leadership role without much guidance and they aren’t sure how they can “skill up.” Every leader has to find their own way of doing the work of leadership. They have had a variety of bosses in their career but they aren’t sure who to emulate, and they may feel like they aren’t providing any real value in the organization any more. Some get sucked into a spiral of trying to do more and more work, while missing the real work of leading.

And it is true, as a leader, you are alone. You can’t express doubts to your boss because you don’t want them to doubt you. You can’t express your doubts to the people you manage because you don’t want them to know you aren’t sure of yourself. You are careful about what to share at work and you may be unsure about who to trust.

It is lonely being a leader, and leadership is lonely work. But there are ways you can ease the loneliness. Here are five simple ways you can help yourself overcome the loneliness of leadership:

1. Establish lifelines.
Find friends outside your industry and workplace to spend time with. You need a safe space to vent, and it will be better for you to have an outside perspective. For about a year, I was a leader in a very toxic workplace. One of my friends said, “You are really different lately, you seem really edgy and unhappy.” He was right, I was. It helped me to think about the situation differently and to make some different decisions. I was less lonely because he cared. Having friends helps.

2. Exchange answers for questions.
Give up on being a leader who knows the answers. Give up on being an “all-knowing” Dad leader and allow yourself to say, “I don’t know. How do you think you can find out?”  Your staff will be amazed by your engaging leadership, and will be more empowered. You won’t be solving as many problems alone late at night by yourself. Your questions will allow people to work on problems together and it will create a deeper sense of team for everyone to share the problem solving—including you.

3. Manage up.
Create allies in the people in the organization above you. They believed in you when they promoted you, help them see you succeeding. Share positive triumphs regularly and ask for advice on challenges they might be able to help you with. This can’t be contrived—you have to genuinely respect them and their opinion. If you trust them, then they can become your allies, and you can become their confidante over time. Make sure to keep their secrets and you will start to become important to them. You will start to have a better understanding of what is happening in the organization. Loneliness is worse if you are out of the loop.

4. Be interesting.
Allow yourself to have interests outside of work. Have friends. Have dinner parties or cocktail parties. Experiment with hobbies. Take most of your vacation time (I know it can be hard). You will have to navigate your own workplace culture around vacations, but your life will be fuller, richer, and more fulfilling if you have a life that is deeply interesting outside the office. Leadership will feel less lonely if it a part of a larger context of fulfillment.

5. Practice extreme self-care.
Leadership is hard. Between imposter syndrome and emotional labor, the job itself can take its toll. Learning to replenish is important. When things get tough, reach for the vitamins and vegetables instead of the margaritas and martinis. When leaders are only the edge, they start to look a little rough. There is visual evidence they aren’t quite pulling it off. When you start to feel that way, double down on some self care—a massage, a good haircut, a manicure, or a personal trainer can help you feel like someone cares about you. It will show that you care for yourself.

As a coach and thought partner of top leaders, I know leadership is hard. Almost every leader I know earns their salary through giving deeply of themselves. Lean in, connect with others, engage, and find the real relationships all around you—your colleagues are probably a little lonely too. You can find a path around the loneliness.

Melanie Parish is a public speaker, author, and Master Coach. An expert in problem solving, constraints management, operations, and brand development, Melanie has consulted and coached organizations ranging from the Fortune 50 to IT start-ups. She is the author of The Experimental Leader: Be A New Kind of Boss to Cultivate an Organization of Innovators. For more information, please visit, www.melanieparish.com and connect with her on Twitter, @melanieparish.