Building a Customer-Centric Organization That Employees Love

Building a Customer-Centric Organization That Employees Love Greg Reed had never heard of HomeServe before he joined. Now he claims to have the best job in the world. During his time with the company they were hit with a £30 million fee for mis-selling, had a complete change of management and the business has reinvented itself in a remarkable way with a focus on people. Have a listen to our chat below, keep reading for a summary and don’t forget to subscribe to the Employer Branding Podcast. Talk us through the steps that you took to turn around the business of HomeServe? The first thing that we did was just not selling any more, it was a good symbol to everyone that something was going to change. From there, my boss, Martin Bennett, myself and a few others, sat down and we looked at whether we were really going to be a company that was about its people who wanted to create a great environment for customers off the back of that. How were we going to rebuild the credibility of the company for the staff, because the staff felt incredibly let down and betrayed. So the first thing we did was we looked at our products and things that we didn’t think were core to what we did, like Legal Cover, we just cancelled those products and gave up some income. And some other products, we thought maybe they were too expensive.One product we cut the price in half and we fixed the value. The biggest thing we did was we looked at, as an insurance company, every time we told the customer, “no,” was there a reason for that. Martin and I had a belief that on a product that was discretionary, any time we told a customer, “no,” it would destroy value. So we went and we changed everything about the way the products were built. One of the things that the FCA is pleased about is the fact that our claims rate has doubled over the past four years. We go out twice as much as we used to with a similar amount of customers. So the customers are getting a lot more value out of the product than they used to. Once we had that credibility established with the staff, we told them how we wanted customers to be dealt with. That when you’re on the phone with a customer and if there’s something else that you want to do, then you should do it. And I think the staff reacted to that with “That’s nice, but we’re not sure that you mean it.” What is the “People Promise”? Our customer promise came first. We trained staff talking to customers in a workshop session. Once there was credibility, we could go back out and really create something special for the people promises. They are similar to things that you would see in any other company when you have these type of commitments â€" “Dare to care, do the right thing, own it, always improve, win together, trust each other”. Then what we’ve done through the communication (like Yammer), is given people the ability to talk about these things, and that’s how we recognize and congratulate each other. It’s also how we criticize each other. We have a reward and recognition system. I sent one to an engineer today for £50 for ‘owning it’ because I had been involved in a complaint. It ended up being the Gas Board’s issue, but the engineer, instead of just saying, “Call the Gas Board,” he called the Gas Board and had them fix their stuff. When they stop and the take the time like that with a cu stomer, it’s great to have a way to say, “Thank you for owning that”. The way we’ve set it up (without being abused by frauds) is anyone can send anyone out one of these. Did you take any specific measures to attract talent? On the staff side, we decided to focus on Glassdoor. We actively encourage our staff because we think that they love working here, we can tell from our engagement score and from our staff attrition, we know how they feel about working here. So take the dare and encourage lots of them to go online and talk about the company in an anonymous review. We’ve put messages on the big message boards around. We’ve put messages on everyone’s desktop. You do get bad reviews, but you get good reviews, and the good reviews tell a story because it’s consistent and detailed. The same things come up like the staff will mention customer first as one of the benefits, which I’m particularly proud of. You will get the same cons, the same types of things you would get in a big front-line business like ours because some people aren’t going to enjoy it, but one of the things that’s really important for us is that we are very open in public about addressing the cons, or giving context about why they are that way. What other companies inspire you in terms of culture and employer brand? When I look at companies that I admire, they are the ones who have a consistent strategy. It’s very apparent what they’re doing because I think that is really critical for the staff to be engaged in what they’re doing. If you’re one of these companies who has a customer-facing brand, and then you have an employer brand that’s different, I think you’re living two lives. In today’s age when the staff and millennials are doing so much research, it’s so hard to understand companies, and that two-faced nature will kill you. I looked at Amazon, and despite not allegedly being a great place to work. Their focus on the customer pervades everything they do. I think people do like working there because they like that idea. It’s the same thing for someone like Apple or John Lewis, you really feel when you talk to someone in John Lewis compared to another department store, that they will figure out a way to try to get you what you want. It’s that little extra bit that can rea lly make a difference. I look for consistency in the brand, especially in a service brand. For the staff to be able to deliver that consumer-facing brand that becomes the employer brand â€" they’re all intertwined. Follow Greg on Twitter @MGregoryReed.

Creating Your Own Grad School Resume Template

Creating Your Own Grad School Resume TemplateThe popularity of creating your own grad school resume has made this type of resume template a popular option. Whether you are just beginning to search for a new job or you are an experienced professional that has been out of work for a long time, creating your own template can help you stand out from the crowd. In this article, we will explore what makes a good grad school resume template and how to make one of your own.First, why would you want to create your own template? While there are many types of templates available, many people are opting to create their own because they do not want to spend money on a professionally created resume that is often not relevant to their current position. For instance, if you are a marketing manager and you have recently been laid off, then a marketing resume template may not be appropriate for you.The reason that most individuals create their own resume is that they want to be able to customize it to fit in with their personality and the careers they are in. If you are working in sales, you may want to have sales resume template that looks very different than someone who works in finance. You can find a variety of resume templates that fit the specific needs of a certain career. Most professionals find that this helps them narrow down their choices for a particular type of resume.There are a few different ways to create a grad school resume template. One way is to simply enter your information on a blank document. Another way is to create an outline of what information you would like to include in your template.When entering your information into a template, you should be able to sort of 'map' it to where you are in your career and how you feel about it. In order to determine where you stand in your career, you can look at recent job openings and determine how well you have performed in those jobs. Once you have done this, you can start doing research on the company you are int erviewing with in order to determine what is most important to you.After you have worked with your options and determined what type of career you are looking for, you will need to decide which job is most important to you. This will often come down to the area that you are seeking employment in and how you can gain the most experience. Having a full understanding of what you want and what your career goals are will help you in creating a decent profile of your skills.Creating your own template is relatively easy. You will just need to be sure that you are not sharing any confidential information that should not be on a resume. You should also consider if the company you are interviewing with can properly represent you.Keep in mind that when you create your resume, it should be very reflective of your personal experiences and not simply a rehash of all of your professional experiences. If your resume is going to be the first thing a prospective employer sees, it is important that it is accurate and suits your personal needs.

Five Tips For Furnishing Your Office On A Budget

Five Tips For Furnishing Your Office On A Budget Small or big, furnishing an office is not an easy job. It involves a lot of planning as well as cost. Lately, entrepreneurs are looking for novel ways to reduce their expenses. Your office should look presentable and create an ambience for your clients and employees as soon as they enter. If you want to cut down on your expenses for furnishing your office, think of it as an investment. You don’t have to always rely on expensive brands. All that you should look for is quality, durability, functionality and price. Here are a few tips to help you furnish your office on a budget. Plan before you shop: Even before you start shopping, assess what you would need for your office. Question yourself if you will have clients coming down to your office, or will you be the only one working from there. How much seating would you require if you organize a conference or a meeting? Would you need a conference table or just a desk with some chairs would suffice? Are you planning to keep a room at home for your office or elsewhere? Etc. All these help you plan your investment and shop according to your requirements only.  Use what you already have: Do you have extra table or chairs lying around? See if you can utilize them for your office furniture. Try using frames and printed mats to give your office a new look. See if you can use a spare mirror on your wall. It is the easiest way to decorate your walls without much effort. Look for items which could be reused or converted into something else that would decorate your office. For e.g., milk crates may be reconverted into lights in the milk company. These are certain small things that will save you huge amount of investment.  Make the best use of coupons and discounts: Look for coupon codes and discounts offered by the retailers. Certain websites like Overstock.com deliver coupon codes directly to your inbox as soon as you sign up with them. Make use of   coupons to save more on office furniture. Utilize these coupons to the best and save maximum while you furnish your office.  Paintings make miracles: Instead of painting the whole room, paint only a part of it, or the furniture and fixtures. Or even hang a beautiful painting in one corner of your office room. These paintings miraculously transform the ambience of your office room. Check if you can get gallons of paint during clearance, or sample paints on discount from your nearest paint shop. Sanding and painting some old furniture could transform it into a beautiful office furniture!! Try and save your money this way!!  Shop gently used furniture: You don’t have to always look for expensive branded furniture for your office. You can look for furniture on sale or some used furniture in good condition. All you need is functionality to solve your purpose. Look for these in second hand stores or online. Some people would offer gently used furniture at a discounted price. But make sure you buy these only from reputable retailers or if you are purchasing it online, buy it only after reading the consumer reviews. Make sure the quality and condition of the furniture is good and can be a good property for your office. Apart from these, make sure you take measurements of your room before you plan to purchase a furniture. A good furniture you purchase with lots of love will have no room if it doesn’t fit into the place that you wanted it to be in. Even while going to buy the furniture, take a measuring tape along with you. Buy only what you ‘need’ and avoid ‘wants’ as far as possible, especially if you are planning to furnish your office on a budget.   If youre pressed for time (arent we all?), there a lots of  one stop solutions for all your office needs. They offer you coupon codes for anything that you purchase online in the US with a variety of brands and products to choose from.  C’mon!! Go ahead and furnish your office the right way!!

Personal Brands The Testicle Defense - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Brands The Testicle Defense - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career “I have testicular cancer,” the late flooring supervisor told me. I don’t mean late as in dead. I mean late as in 4 weeks overdue to put the last bit of my office floor in, and now at 10 PM on Saturday night, culminating three days of “I’ll be right there,” just arriving at my office. That kind of late. To woo me and blow smoke at me over the last 4 weeks, the supervisor had spun tales of putting in Tom Cruise’s floor, being called to an “emergency job” in Oregon and the ever popular refrain in this town: the “traffic is really heavy on the 5 (freeway, I’m in LA). He has just arrived: angry. Why he’s angry, I shouldnt know because I’ve already paid him and it’s just the last 300 feet in a 6000 square foot job that went undone because he failed to measure right. But, I actually do know why he is angry at me. Hating you or themselves When people make a mistake they have two choices about whom to hate: you or themselves. Statistically, it’s not a coin toss. The odds are rigged against you. The biggest fear I have in business is someone else not doing their job, not because it won’t wind up done by them (or me or someone else I pay double to do it on a rush), but because they are very likely to get angry rather than apologize and do the right thing. In fact, that scenario is pretty much the only time anyone is angry with me. So if you’re angry, I pretty much know you didn’t do something you promised. However, the testicle defense? Very original! At first, I thought perhaps his testicles in some way kept him from showing up this morning. It so happens that I’m a woman so how would I know? I’m not a doctor. In fact, it turns out he had another job also unfinished, located in Palm Springs (probably due to finish last year) and he thought he’d “get that out of the way” before driving up 5 hours to see me. So what time zone was the “I’ll be there a 8 AM Saturday” zone when in reality he planned to be 400 miles away from me? It wasn’t the US Pacific Time Zone. I was here waiting for him in no special time warp; just 8 AM Saturday. And, as the clocked ticked away time? No supervisor. No flooring. But throughout the day, lots of calls to negotiate a new arrival time â€" hence he shows up at 10 PM. Here’s what happened. The supervisor was angry that I failed to greet him like a conquering hero bringing me chocolate and parachute silks. When he read my tired face as: “I’ve been up for 15 hours today and now will be up another 5 while you finally do your job,” he said: “It’s not even worth it for me to put in the floor. You are already unhappy. And, I have testicular cancer.” So he threatened to withhold my flooring while waving some kind of testicle defense. My response? Remember, I have an unfair advantage in these circumstances: I communicate for a living. I teach people how to communicate with difficult people. Here’s my response: “You and I are dying before each others’ eyes, aren’t we?” He let a tear drop out of his eye and silently (hurray!) went to work (finally!). Personal brands: what excuses are you giving yourself to underperform? What happens to the personal brand you are trying to build, when you pull out a dopey, lame and TMI (too much information!) response to someone’s well deserved rebuke of you for what havoc you wreaked in their business or life? We all are living to die. That’s the deal here. You get to make the reality you live in. You get to choose from an infinite spectrum of behaviors and words to describe what you are doing right, and what you are doing wrong. It’s your choice that matters; it’s what defines you as a personal brand. Not some myth called reality. It’s all perception of you and by you. Here a tip as you lay the foundation of your personal brand.  Lay down a track of self-talk that soothes you when you make a mistake and gets you back the self-control that saves you from yourself. Author: Nance Rosen is the author of Speak Up! Succeed. She speaks to business audiences around the world and is a resource for press, including print, broadcast and online journalists and bloggers covering social media and careers. Read more at NanceRosenBlog. Twitter name: nancerosen.

Careers Booster Resume Writing Reviews

Careers Booster Resume Writing ReviewsA careers booster is a useful tool when you are looking for additional employment. There are many reasons that someone may need to boost their career and boost their resumes, but the purpose of this article is to discuss some of the ways to do this.The first step is to figure out what type of careers you are interested in. Do you want to be a certified nursing assistant? Do you want to be a licensed practical nurse? For most people this is an easy step to take because the job opportunities are so abundant for nurses.Becoming a nurse has a variety of advantages. One of the greatest advantages is the fact that there are so many positions available. However, not everyone is looking for a nursing job. So, one should also be aware of the benefits and disadvantages of working as a certified nursing assistant versus a LPN.A certified nursing assistant works with the elderly and assisting them in completing personal hygiene and household tasks such as li fting patients or pushing wheelchairs. On the other hand, a LPN works with the younger age groups in hospitals or in patient's homes. They can either assist the physician or be trained in nursing.Once you have determined what position you want to be in, the next step is to make sure that your person's resume is attractive and one that will be very persuasive. This is an important part of the process because you want to be able to land that first place job. If you do not come across as professional, no one is going to consider you for that first place job.A careers booster resume writing reviews is a great resource to use. These people can tell you exactly what types of industries the employers are in and what industry specific skills are needed to fill the particular job openings. They will tell you exactly what skills will show employers that you are professional and will meet the qualifications for the job.A careers booster resume writing reviews is extremely helpful when it comes to keeping up with the ever changing careers. There are so many new schools, programs, and professions out there. You may want to keep up with these changes by taking advantage of the current trends in resume writing. If you don't take advantage of these trends, then you may find yourself sitting around waiting for the next resume writing review.Resume writing reviews are great for people that are trying to get a job or just trying to keep up with the latest trends in the industry. If you are a student or new graduate trying to get a job, this is the right place to look for help. You can find out what companies need and what they are looking for through this resource.

Be Your Own Boss Forge A Career Online

Be Your Own Boss Forge A Career Online “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma â€" which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.“ â€" Steve Jobs, Co-founder of Apple If your current career has taken a turn for the worse, enough to imagine packing up your belongings and telling your boss what you really think of them before storming out in a dramatic haze, perhaps it’s time for you to leave and move on to a new career. One that doesn’t entail working in a like for like environment, with the same office politics, while trying to manage an overflowing workload as the companies goals are consistently edging higher beyond attainability. Not to mention the same daily negotiation with Sue from sales over the thermostat setting and consistently boring meetings filled with suits, buzzwords, and charts. Is there really any wonder why more Americans are becoming entrepreneurial to escape the routine 9 to 5 slogs, uniforms, restricted creativity, and red tape? Alternatively, perhaps you don’t yet have the cynicism of a well-versed employee who has worked years for the man and felt it’s added little to their life, other than a pension and healthcare plan of course. But maybe you have a dream to take a different path beyond working for someone else and helping them to reach their dreams. Going online isn’t the only way to be your own boss, no, but it’s one of the best ways to launch your career as self-employed. To help you arrive at a conclusion on whether you can take the heat of being your own boss and whether you have the potential to forge a career and accelerate your business’s potential online you need two things; To get a real perspective of the pros and cons of working for yourself and online;And then, of course, finding something you can actually do online and are passionate about enough to make a living from it. Let’s begin with the pros and then the cons of moving your career online. Pro’s Work from anywhere in the world so long as you have a laptop and an internet connection. Which means whether working in the comfort of your own personalized home office or traveling the world, as long as you have these your laptop and the internet you have all you need.Flexible Your schedule is what you make it which means you work when you want. Forget the regular 9 to 5 working hours, you might choose to work 7 am until 2 pm 3 days a week it’s up to you. You’re The Boss Which means you make the rules, PJ’s every day? Sure, work on the sofa today? Of course.No More Office politics Eventually you can pick and choose who you work with, avoiding the usual office fails of interacting with and working with people you literally can’t stand.Investment building your own online empire and establishing your own brand means you are not working for the man anymore, you are the woman or man making your own path, with your personal mission and goals to work towards. Cons Prepare for a lot of work and a lot of failures part and parcel with starting any business, you will not succeed at any given opportunity, it’s not easy, and you will be pushed out of your comfort zone mostly all of the time.You need to be incredibly self-motivated and can no longer shimmy by on a salary with the perks of holiday and sick pay.You are responsible for every decision you make, there is no fall guy as with corporate settings.You miss an automatic enrolment into a 401 k and healthcare plan. Meaning you need to divide your business earnings to pay for a private pension and healthcare insurance. If you think the pros of being an entrepreneur online far outweigh the cons, the next step is to find the job that will fit in with your skills and personality, plus give you the lifestyle you are looking for. If you’re starting something on your own, you better have a passion for it, because this is hard work. -Sallie Krawcheck, Co-founder of Ellevest Career Options Online Initially thinking about your strengths, skills, work experience, education, and interests will help towards establishing a career online that’s right for you. Here are few online careers for you to consider; Writer If you have a passion for words and a flair for writing, writing online could be the career to suit you. With content writing jobs, in particular, becoming increasingly popular online as companies want and need fresh quality content on their business websites to receive validation on Google in the search rankings. As a sidestep from content writing, you may wish to launch and monetize your own blog with google ads and /or affiliate marketing. Or alternatively, you may choose to apply for jobs with online publications. Either way, your CV will need to be overhauled to succeed in the realm of writers which is currently a highly competitive market. It’s important you stand out, and this doesnt necessarily mean completing an english literature or journalism degree. For instance, if you have knowledge and skills from a particular field such as IT, you can apply this and use this to your advantage by applying to companies who require technical writers within this sector. Owning expertise within a specific area is a desirable attribute for writing about subjects that require in-depth knowledge and research. Virtual Assistant Perhaps you currently work as a PA, secretary or executive assistant, and like the structure of being assigned different jobs, however, would prefer to have the power to pick and choose the tasks you want to do by becoming self-employed. A virtual assistant wears many hats and can work for one or multiple people at a time depending on the size of each task and your availability. Jobs might include requests to answer emails, schedule travel arrangements, book meetings, provide research for a presentation and so forth. It’s an advantage if you have experience in similar roles and you should apply these to your CV, LinkedIn profile in pursuit of moving your career online. You can find an abundance of Virtual Assistant jobs advertised on freelance websites such as Freelancer and Fiverr. Ecommerce Store Perhaps you love the idea of owning and running your own store online, but you’re unsure where to begin and how to choose a product and supplier. The initial process takes a lot of research for you to launch your business, as you must decide on the product, the audience, the branding, and marketing strategies. If you have experience in sales, web design, marketing, and product selection then this shall work in your favor. However, if you don’t have any relevant skills but are still passionate about building your own online store dont let the lack of training prevent you from taking matters into your own hands and seeking the knowledge you need to set up a successful online e-commerce store. You don’t necessarily need to do a course, but a lot of reading and research is beneficial. Following research, you need to put the knowledge you have accrued into practice by continuously trying and testing methods to set up your store and attract an audience. With website designers such as Wix, it’s far easier to create a site that’s professional and includes the necessary tools to sell products online. Enter Online Business Idea Here To discourage the notion that all careers online are structured and need to tick a specific box, they don’t, as this completely defeats the object of leaving a tick box job in the first place. You define what you want to do as a career online and you are in no way limited to the options above. You may choose to brainstorm ideas, research a gap in the market, devise a solution present in your own life, choose to offer a unique service, rebranding of an innovative product, act as a middle person to source specific desirable products for people, such as registration plates or use expired domain finder software to sell desirable web domains for a profit. With the world wide web at you fingertips the world is your oyster, leave no idea or opportunity unturned and try and test different paths until you find or create one that is most fitting to you. “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” (Abraham Lincoln) With all of the careers above mentioned a common theme that packages each option is the dedication and perseverance, each requires as with starting any new business venture. The prospect of unpaid work, the time it takes to try and test ideas, to research and consistently acquire more knowledge on a given subject, and of course to overcome and excel through and beyond the copious amount of mistakes and failures you will experience becoming an entrepreneur. All of these components are unavoidable in your endeavors to run a lucrative business online, which is why you must persevere if you want to become your own boss and forge a career online.

5 Reasons Why You Should Go Minimalist at Home

5 Reasons Why You Should Go Minimalist at Home The minimalist lifestyle is much more than you might think. What comes to your mind first when you hear the word ‘minimalism’? Most of us think of an empty white-walled room with a desk and a chair. Well, what if we told you that the minimalist lifestyle is actually a choice that you can make to better your life? The saying ‘Less is more’ is older than the minimalist revolution, but it only proves that this mindset has always been present, even amongst our ancestors. So what does it mean to be a minimalist?   It means letting go of things, emotions, and people that you don’t need in your life to allow those that you do need to enter. It’s as simple as that. With that said, this lifestyle is different for everyone, because not everyone wants to invest their time in the same things. But no matter what you choose to keep or get rid of, reasons to become a minimalist remain the same. Your home may be the most important place to go minimalist, and we’ll give you five reasons why. Here they are: You will spend less time cleaning Minimalism means getting rid of stuff you don’t need or no longer use. With less stuff in your way, you will spend less time cleaning up and more time doing something that you actually enjoy. While you might enjoy treating yourself during Black Friday sales, chances are high that you can live without all those things. Usually, people tend to pile up clothes, shoes, jackets, and similar items, so they eventually get stuck in their own clutter. But you can easily avoid this situation. Minimalists are not victims of consumerism; they buy what they need and when they need it. If you want your home to become a minimalist paradise, you should start small. When you buy one thing, make it a rule to get rid of two things. Instead of throwing away your belongings, you could organize a yard sale, donate or sell your used furniture online. It’s easy and eventually, your house will be cleaner and clutter-free. Tidying up will not last as long and you’ll have more free time for yourself. And just imagine the feeling of knowing where everything is at all times! You will love every single thing that you own Do you have a favorite piece of clothing? Lucky you! Then you know how great it feels when you wear it. Well, what if we told you that minimalists feel that way about all their belongings? It’s true. People tend to buy a bunch of unnecessary things that they liked at one point because they were on sale or looked beautiful in the store or somebody else bought it. Minimalists think carefully about every single thing that they buy, so when they do buy it, they rarely regret it! Your home should be a place filled with things that make you feel good! Comfortable furniture that you enjoy, where you like to spend time, read a book or watch TV. Clothes that fit you now, at that given moment, not clothes that will suit you when you lose weight. Not clothes that fit you when you were younger. On your journey to a minimalist lifestyle, you will gain more clarity of who you are, of what you love and enjoy. Your home will become more spacious, and at the same time it will become a place for things you truly adore. You’ll have more focus A cluttered home can make a mess in your mind, but with that out of your way, you’ll have a chance to relax and focus. A clean house with a lot of space and natural light is the biggest energizer there is. It’s a place where you can rest but also create. If you give your house a minimalist makeover, it will impact your quality of life too. You will take your focus and mindset with you wherever you go. You’ll even be tempted to create a more productive space for yourself at work. Your focus will be on creating a calming environment, decluttering your office desk, and removing the negatives altogether from all aspects of your life. You will have more money One of the biggest reasons to go minimalist is that you get to save a lot of money. Once you realize how much you spend on unnecessary things, you’ll quickly make it a habit to buy the essentials only. And when you do buy new stuff, you will think it through, check your budget and choose quality over quantity. You’ll see that with time, you’ll also develop a habit of saving money. Minimalists choose experiences over things, so if you join this movement, your budget won’t be wasted on house décor, but on travel and quality time with your loved ones. You will have a lower impact on the environment   Minimalism promotes buying less stuff and stopping consumerism, so naturally, this means less negative impact on our surroundings. Our planet is continuously suffering the consequences of our daily actions, which is why we have to become more conscious about it. If you become a minimalist, you will reduce your impact on the environment because you’ll be consuming less stuff and as a result there will be less pollution… it’s as simple as that. This lifestyle has plenty of advantages, but with no doubt, the most important one is that you get to impact the planets well-being. And at the same time, you get to create a better life for yourself. Final thoughts Becoming a minimalist will make you appreciate your home even more. It will become your safe space, the place where you can relax and enjoy the company of those that you love the most. Don’t fall into the trap of overwhelming yourself by trying to completely change your lifestyle overnight, rather you are going to want to take it one step at a time… this will ensure that you will actually integrate and make this new way of life a permanent change, rather than a fad that you only do for a little while. Eventually as time passes you will realize that there are a lot more deeper aspects to minimalism than first meets the eye! More time, more love, more appreciation, more gratitude, more experience, and more freedom.