Bigger PlayStation4

New post from Bevans Branham

If you were hoping for more hard drive space for your PlayStation 4, then you may be in luck. According to recently revealed FCC filings, Sony is working on newer and larger versions of the PS4. The FCC filings show one will come with 500GB of space, the same as the current model, and the other with 1TB of space. Both of the new models are expected to require less power and weigh a little less than earlier models.

As most already know, 500GB can be no match for the avid gamer who truly understands how quickly today’s games max out your space. Many have tried working around the space issue by opening the existing systems and installing their own larger and faster hard drives. This type of maintenance, however, is not ideal for most users. The newer, larger PS4’s will save you the hassle of breaking into and modifying your old one.

This is a beneficial move for both Sony and the users. As games progressively increase in size, more space is simply a necessity. Today’s games are some of the biggest ever developed in the industry. If you provide consumers with the proper tools for the existing market, everyone wins. As a business you want to sell more games, and what better way to boost your industry than by providing users with plenty of space on their PS4 for downloadable games.

More details are expected in a few weeks as we approach E3, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, which will be hosted in Los Angeles this year.

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Working Less. Doing More.

It goes without saying that some people are more efficient at their work. So much so that they can work fewer hours, yet accomplish a lot more than the average person. A recent Stanford study on this found that productivity declines quite sharply per hour when the workweek is in excess of 50 hours. Most interestingly, the study showed that productivity fell so much beyond the 55 hour mark, that there was no point in even working. Essentially, those who are working around 70 hours a week, and more, are accomplishing the same amount of work as those who are working around 55 hours a week.

The idea of working smarter, not longer, is not a new idea. Many successful CEO’s have already tapped into this method and have found significant success. They understand the value in a weekend away from their work to relax and rejuvenate. By utilizing this time appropriately, their workweeks are far more efficient and productive. The most efficient workers disconnect. If you are unable to disconnect from the technology that keeps you bound to your work, then you never really left. Being on call 24/7 will only expose you to additional work stresses that will keep you from recharging your batteries. Do yourself a favor and disconnect, unless absolutely necessary to stay connected.

Efficient workers have also to practice a variety of different habits, all of which help yield similar beneficial results. These habits include minimizing chores, reflecting on bigger issues, exercising, pursuing hobbies, taking time for adventures, spending time with family, and preparing for the week. All of these activities are mainly linked by their dissociation with work, which ideally means less stress. Chores are basically work at home, so its important to schedule them during the week. Use the free time during the weekend to get in those brief exercises you frequently talk about during the week. Find a habit and stick to it. Whether picking up an instrument for the first time, knitting, or gardening, the mental returns on a passionate hobby are priceless. Lastly, spend time with your family. It is an essential part of recharging and getting back to normal before the busy week starts back up.

Best practices can take you a long way. Utilize these various practices often used by some of the happiest and most successful people out there. It’s at least worth a shot.

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Working Less. Doing More.

Bevans Branham’s Newest Blog Post:

It goes without saying that some people are more efficient at their work. So much so that they can work fewer hours, yet accomplish a lot more than the average person. A recent Stanford study on this found that productivity declines quite sharply per hour when the workweek is in excess of 50 hours. Most interestingly, the study showed that productivity fell so much beyond the 55 hour mark, that there was no point in even working. Essentially, those who are working around 70 hours a week, and more, are accomplishing the same amount of work as those who are working around 55 hours a week.

The idea of working smarter, not longer, is not a new idea. Many successful CEO’s have already tapped into this method and have found significant success. They understand the value in a weekend away from their work to relax and rejuvenate. By utilizing this time appropriately, their workweeks are far more efficient and productive. The most efficient workers disconnect. If you are unable to disconnect from the technology that keeps you bound to your work, then you never really left. Being on call 24/7 will only expose you to additional work stresses that will keep you from recharging your batteries. Do yourself a favor and disconnect, unless absolutely necessary to stay connected.

Efficient workers have also to practice a variety of different habits, all of which help yield similar beneficial results. These habits include minimizing chores, reflecting on bigger issues, exercising, pursuing hobbies, taking time for adventures, spending time with family, and preparing for the week. All of these activities are mainly linked by their dissociation with work, which ideally means less stress. Chores are basically work at home, so its important to schedule them during the week. Use the free time during the weekend to get in those brief exercises you frequently talk about during the week. Find a habit and stick to it. Whether picking up an instrument for the first time, knitting, or gardening, the mental returns on a passionate hobby are priceless. Lastly, spend time with your family. It is an essential part of recharging and getting back to normal before the busy week starts back up.

Best practices can take you a long way. Utilize these various practices often used by some of the happiest and most successful people out there. It’s at least worth a shot.

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Successful Startup Entrepreneurs

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There are plenty of lists out there detailing the habits of successful people in practically any industry. I have decided to compile the information I have learned about successful startup entrepreneurs and discuss in brief the common habits which have made them who they are today. At first glance, the assumption is that entrepreneurs are everyday people who function like everyone else. After closely examining them, however, you will find there are a few significant differences which make them successful leaders of their businesses.

Often when we try to initiate something new, our first instinct is detailed planning and step by step processes. This is by no means the wrong attitude, but the reality is your plan will more than likely change – many, many times. The most successful entrepreneurs spend some time planning, but a majority of their time doing. Another major part of the process is adapting to reality and recognizing how funding affects your business. A capital intensive venture may require large amounts of funds, but a lot of successful businesses require little funding to get off the ground. Contrary to common belief, limited capital can be a blessing in disguise. Many venture capitalists firmly believe there is an inverse relationship between level of funding and a startup’s long-term success. When you have less cash in the bank, you learn to work through problems as opposed to throwing money at it.

Successful entrepreneurs do not waste their time. As mentioned many times before, these entrepreneurs are realistic in their goals and only chase what is attainable. If you focus on landing real business where you have a reasonable chance of success, odds are you will find it. In the same vein, the most successful leaders avoid anything that is not revenue generating. Reduce the time spent on anything that does not generate revenue, and that includes meetings, spreadsheets, reports, administrative tasks, and more.

The fact of the matter is that successful people come in many different shapes and sizes. One entrepreneur may do things very different than another, but the reality is that they share a few similar significant characteristics. If you are looking to be successful, be sure to learn from those who have taken their businesses new heights. They have obviously done things right, and some wrong, along the way.

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Successful Startup Entrepreneurs

There are plenty of lists out there detailing the habits of successful people in practically any industry. I have decided to compile the information I have learned about successful startup entrepreneurs and discuss in brief the common habits which have made them who they are today. At first glance, the assumption is that entrepreneurs are everyday people who function like everyone else. After closely examining them, however, you will find there are a few significant differences which make them successful leaders of their businesses.

Often when we try to initiate something new, our first instinct is detailed planning and step by step processes. This is by no means the wrong attitude, but the reality is your plan will more than likely change – many, many times. The most successful entrepreneurs spend some time planning, but a majority of their time doing. Another major part of the process is adapting to reality and recognizing how funding affects your business. A capital intensive venture may require large amounts of funds, but a lot of successful businesses require little funding to get off the ground. Contrary to common belief, limited capital can be a blessing in disguise. Many venture capitalists firmly believe there is an inverse relationship between level of funding and a startup’s long-term success. When you have less cash in the bank, you learn to work through problems as opposed to throwing money at it.

Successful entrepreneurs do not waste their time. As mentioned many times before, these entrepreneurs are realistic in their goals and only chase what is attainable. If you focus on landing real business where you have a reasonable chance of success, odds are you will find it. In the same vein, the most successful leaders avoid anything that is not revenue generating. Reduce the time spent on anything that does not generate revenue, and that includes meetings, spreadsheets, reports, administrative tasks, and more.

The fact of the matter is that successful people come in many different shapes and sizes. One entrepreneur may do things very different than another, but the reality is that they share a few similar significant characteristics. If you are looking to be successful, be sure to learn from those who have taken their businesses new heights. They have obviously done things right, and some wrong, along the way.

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Who Needs Email?

New post from Bevans Branham

A recent article with Entrepreneur.com explored the idea of going an entire year without using email. According to the story, Claire Burge, the owner of Get Organized, wanted to free herself from the burden and anxiety of responding to, and writing daily emails.

As most of us know, email has worked wonders in making our daily work lives easier and more manageable. Email is a brilliant tool that has helped organize our lives for years now, however, data is beginning to support the idea that email can get in the way of our productivity. It makes sense, too. If you consider how often we are checking emails on an hourly basis, you begin to realize how this time adds up. More importantly you begin to realize how you can better spend that time.

There are reports which show that email can even be bad for our health. According to these reports, it causes increased levels of stress and anxiety. Loughborough University conducted a study in 2013 to analyze the effect of email activity on blood pressure, heart rate and stress. They found that 83% of government employees did in fact experience higher levels of stress, blood pressure, and heart rate.

We now find ourselves dancing a fine line between maximizing organization and acting in the best interest of our health. As mentioned above, Get Organized owner Claire Burge was motivated to eliminate this unwanted stress and ultimately decided to rid herself of email for an entire year. According to Burge, email is a waste of time. As a result of being email free, Burge found herself to be more productive and could dedicate more time to propelling her business to the next level.

The Entrepreneur article provides a more in depth of analysis of Claire Burge’s year without email. The idea does beg the question, do we really need email? Can I really do more without email? There is no doubt that it helps organize our lives, both personally and professionally, but the thought of action and doing far outweighs the process of mindlessly checking emails. Perhaps this is an exercise we should all put into practice to some extent.

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Employee Motivation

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There are many factors in business today which can harm your company or your brand. It is important to ensure one of these variables is not a lack of employee motivation. If your team is suffering and unmotivated, then odds are you have a big issue. In order to keep employees happy and motivated, make sure the workplace avoids some of the following common morale killers.

It should be understood that employees need to placed in an opportunity to learn, grow, and advance. While not every employee longs for this, most are aiming high and expect to grow in their roles. Without development, employees can become discouraged and the workplace will suffer as it grows monotonous and static. Putting your employees career first and providing them an opportunity to develop themselves professionally will yield major results. This lets everyone know that the company is investing in them.

Recognizing an employee’s efforts also goes a long way. An employee who feels their ideas are not appreciated can often find themselves not trying as hard, because why should they? If hard work goes unappreciated, people grow apathetic. Even saying “thank you” can go a long way. This particular scenario should be an easy fix. Sometimes it is a result of poor management or just flat out bad leadership overall. A poor manager can harm an entire team, which hurts the company. The brightest and best performers need effective leaders to truly excel. Identify and position your best leaders at the top, and do it as soon as possible.

Identifying leaders is only one side of this equation. Be sure to identify the underperforming or destructive employees. A bad hire can wear on employee morale just as much as other factors. If you can identify a negative employee who you feel brings everyone else down, then you need to make the proper moves to protect your team. Let them go or find them a better fitting position.

By identifying these factors, you are portraying to your team that leadership has a clear vision of who they want, what they want, and where they are going. It communicates to your staff they are in the right hands. A clear vision allows employees to focus as one and move in the same direction. This results in confidence, higher morale, motivation, and overall team happiness.

And finally, hire people who are better and smarter than you.

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