Women Who Code

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When, while the lovely valley teems with vapor around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and flies, then I feel the presence of the Almighty, who formed us in his own image, and the breath of that universal love which bears and sustains us, as it floats around us in an eternity of bliss; and then, my friend, when darkness overspreads my eyes, and heaven and earth seem to dwell in my soul and absorb its power, like the form of a beloved mistress, then I often think with longing, Oh, would I could describe these conceptions, could impress upon paper all that is living so full and warm within me, that it might be the mirror of my soul, as my soul is the mirror of the infinite God!

O my friend — but it is too much for my strength — I sink under the weight of the splendor of these visions! A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine.

I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents. I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now.

When, while the lovely valley teems with vapor around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and flies, then I feel the presence of the Almighty, who formed us in his own image, and the breath of that universal love which bears and sustains us, as it floats around us in an eternity of bliss; and then, my friend, when darkness overspreads my eyes, and heaven and earth seem to dwell in my soul and absorb its power, like the form of a beloved mistress, then I often think with longing, Oh, would I could describe these conceptions, could impress upon paper all that is living so full and warm within me.

Travel and Work During Spring

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When, while the lovely valley teems with vapor around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and flies, then I feel the presence of the Almighty, who formed us in his own image, and the breath of that universal love which bears and sustains us, as it floats around us in an eternity of bliss; and then, my friend, when darkness overspreads my eyes, and heaven and earth seem to dwell in my soul and absorb its power, like the form of a beloved mistress, then I often think with longing, Oh, would I could describe these conceptions, could impress upon paper all that is living so full and warm within me, that it might be the mirror of my soul, as my soul is the mirror of the infinite God!

O my friend — but it is too much for my strength — I sink under the weight of the splendor of these visions! A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine.

I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents. I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now.

When, while the lovely valley teems with vapor around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and flies, then I feel the presence of the Almighty, who formed us in his own image, and the breath of that universal love which bears and sustains us, as it floats around us in an eternity of bliss; and then, my friend, when darkness overspreads my eyes, and heaven and earth seem to dwell in my soul and absorb its power, like the form of a beloved mistress, then I often think with longing, Oh, would I could describe these conceptions, could impress upon paper all that is living so full and warm within me.

Hardest Things in Programming

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When, while the lovely valley teems with vapor around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and flies, then I feel the presence of the Almighty, who formed us in his own image, and the breath of that universal love which bears and sustains us, as it floats around us in an eternity of bliss; and then, my friend, when darkness overspreads my eyes, and heaven and earth seem to dwell in my soul and absorb its power, like the form of a beloved mistress, then I often think with longing, Oh, would I could describe these conceptions, could impress upon paper all that is living so full and warm within me, that it might be the mirror of my soul, as my soul is the mirror of the infinite God!

O my friend — but it is too much for my strength — I sink under the weight of the splendor of these visions! A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine.

I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents. I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now.

When, while the lovely valley teems with vapor around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and flies, then I feel the presence of the Almighty, who formed us in his own image, and the breath of that universal love which bears and sustains us, as it floats around us in an eternity of bliss; and then, my friend, when darkness overspreads my eyes, and heaven and earth seem to dwell in my soul and absorb its power, like the form of a beloved mistress, then I often think with longing, Oh, would I could describe these conceptions, could impress upon paper all that is living so full and warm within me.

Diversity in the Workplace

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When, while the lovely valley teems with vapor around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and flies, then I feel the presence of the Almighty, who formed us in his own image, and the breath of that universal love which bears and sustains us, as it floats around us in an eternity of bliss; and then, my friend, when darkness overspreads my eyes, and heaven and earth seem to dwell in my soul and absorb its power, like the form of a beloved mistress, then I often think with longing, Oh, would I could describe these conceptions, could impress upon paper all that is living so full and warm within me, that it might be the mirror of my soul, as my soul is the mirror of the infinite God!

O my friend — but it is too much for my strength — I sink under the weight of the splendor of these visions! A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine.

I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents. I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now.

When, while the lovely valley teems with vapor around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and flies, then I feel the presence of the Almighty, who formed us in his own image, and the breath of that universal love which bears and sustains us, as it floats around us in an eternity of bliss; and then, my friend, when darkness overspreads my eyes, and heaven and earth seem to dwell in my soul and absorb its power, like the form of a beloved mistress, then I often think with longing, Oh, would I could describe these conceptions, could impress upon paper all that is living so full and warm within me.

Rest During Working Hours

by Uncategorised

When, while the lovely valley teems with vapor around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and flies, then I feel the presence of the Almighty, who formed us in his own image, and the breath of that universal love which bears and sustains us, as it floats around us in an eternity of bliss; and then, my friend, when darkness overspreads my eyes, and heaven and earth seem to dwell in my soul and absorb its power, like the form of a beloved mistress, then I often think with longing, Oh, would I could describe these conceptions, could impress upon paper all that is living so full and warm within me, that it might be the mirror of my soul, as my soul is the mirror of the infinite God!

O my friend — but it is too much for my strength — I sink under the weight of the splendor of these visions! A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine.

I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents. I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now.

When, while the lovely valley teems with vapor around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and flies, then I feel the presence of the Almighty, who formed us in his own image, and the breath of that universal love which bears and sustains us, as it floats around us in an eternity of bliss; and then, my friend, when darkness overspreads my eyes, and heaven and earth seem to dwell in my soul and absorb its power, like the form of a beloved mistress, then I often think with longing, Oh, would I could describe these conceptions, could impress upon paper all that is living so full and warm within me.

Why Involve A Financial Advisor In Your Family Wealth Transfer

Why Involve A Financial Advisor In Your Family Wealth Transfer

by Uncategorised

Many baby boomers that have created their wealth are facing complex decisions regarding passing on money to their children. There has been a growing concern with how their children might mismanage their wealth, along with the legacy that they have so carefully created. And even so, most parents have not included their children in any discussions regarding their finances.

To ensure your wealth transfer plans are carried out as you intended, you need to include your children in the discussions with your financial advisor. If you’re concerned about how your money will be managed once you’re gone, read through this article to learn more about why you should involve a financial advisor in your family wealth transfer dynamics.

Strengthen The Relationship

Your financial advisor knows your financial goals and the structure of your wealth planning. By incorporating your adult children into financial meetings, you can help to establish a lasting relationship between your children and your advisor. Your children will also be able to understand your financial decisions better, how you currently manage your money, and the crucial role the advisor plays in the process.

If you do not include your children in the discussion, they could stray away from the plans you had originally made. It is important that they see the vision you have planned and are kept in the light as priorities change and decisions are made. This way, they will be set up properly to make the big decisions when the times come.

Provide Direction

As parents plan for retirement and their end-of-life needs, they will face difficult decisions about how to allocate their assets. A financial advisor can help clients plan for these exact needs. More specifically, your advisor can provide direction to your children and set them up for future financial success as a family unit, and not just on their own.

In the case that you own a business, your financial planner can also assist you in planning for how the forthcoming business structure will unfold and how the wealth will be generated going forward.

Mediate Expectations

Each generation thinks, plans, and communicates much differently from others.  Expectations about the inheritance of money are often at odds with each other. Boomers generally have dedicated their lives to their careers and have built their wealth through hard work. They look forward to a well-deserved retirement but would also like to see their legacies continue.

Generation Xers and millennials come from a different time and likely will have very different ideas on how they would like to spend the inheritance money. A financial advisor can ensure that all expectations are uncovered and mediated to ensure a successful result.

With many boomers reaching retirement and starting to pass along their life savings to their children, it’s important to start including your children during your financial planning. The impending wealth transfer will come with many challenges, and a good financial planner can help to bridge any gaps to ensure your legacy is passed down and carried on as you intended.

Finding the Right Work/Life Balance

Finding the Right Work/Life Balance

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Striking a healthy work-life balance is an important concept for all of us to achieve – after all, what’s the point in working so hard when you have no time or energy left to actually reap the rewards from it and enjoy your life? Finding the right work-life balance will differ for every individual, but here are some healthy habits to focus on that will help you loosen the grip on your work life so you can have more time and energy left to enjoy your life outside of work.

Make Personal Time a Priority

If you’re feeling miserable trying to juggle work demands and your personal life, then it’s time to switch up your priorities. Of course work is important, but so is your personal downtime (and sanity). Having enough time to relax and enjoy off-time with your friends and loved ones is what life is all about. If you’re too preoccupied with your work, then you’re likely letting an important aspect of life slip away.

Commit to making your own personal time a priority. Every week, schedule at least two evenings or days where you can forget about work and do something for yourself – a lunch date with friends, a date night with your partner, or even a soak in the tub with a good book in your hand will do the trick.

Reel in Your Time Management Skills

You may think that you’ve got time management nailed down to a tee, but consider taking a closer look at your daily routines. Are there habits or activities that zap plenty of your time and energy without really benefiting your career or personal life? Maybe it’s enduring workplace gossip from colleagues, or spending too much time on the web. It’s easy to get caught up in bad habits that don’t benefit us at all and end up accumulating a large portion of our time. Try to reel in your habits and time management skills by paying attention to the things you frequently do throughout your day. Look for ways to shave down wasted time so you can get your work done faster, freeing up more time to do what you enjoy.

Put Down the Phone

These days we are all plugged into our devices all day, every day, with our eyes constantly glued to the screen instead of focusing on the present. That, coupled with the convenience of technology allowing us to be connected to work almost 24/7, the boundary between your work and personal lives becomes even harder to maintain. Luckily, you have the power to shut it off. If you’re finding that work is leeching into your personal time, then you need to create your own boundaries and learn to embrace the off button more often.

Finding the right work-life balance is important for your own health and well being. As technology makes communication even easier, it means that creating those personal boundaries and carving out time to relax and recharge is only going to become more important to prioritize. Start today and take charge of your life by forming these types of habits to give yourself the opportunity to kick back and actually enjoy the fruits of your labour.

business planning at every stage

Business Planning at Every Stage

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Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur, or already have a thriving business that’s seeking to grow and expand – a good, solid business plan is the essential component to have in your arsenal during each and every phase. That means, of course, that a thorough plan must be developed right from the beginning. It’s also equally as important to maintain those analytical thoughts and decisions down the road to ensure the vision you foresee for your business is indeed the path on which you travel. Here’s why a business plan should be with you every step of the way.

Small Start-Ups

It doesn’t matter what the scale of the business is that you may be seeking to operate. Even if it’s a two-person operation originating from your own home, you need to have a plan in order to help you develop your ideas and goals into tangible action. You’ve got to be exceptionally analytical of everything including your own abilities and weaknesses. That way you can find alternative means to strengthen those weaknesses. But until you have that plan set, those thoughts and goals will stagnate as conceptual ideas.

The Established Business

You’ve graduated from the initial start-up phase and grown into an established business – what now? It’s certainly not time to let go of your sights and plans. Instead, it’s the perfect time to revisit those blueprints, reanalyze them, and alter them to incorporate all of that growth you’ve experienced and will hopefully continue to enjoy. This is the time to really reflect on your business and create new strategies for continued growth.

The Final Stages

Maybe you’re at a point where you’ve owned and operated your own business for years, and now, you’d like to start winding down and creating a succession plan or planning for retirement. Now is the time, once again, to begin assessing your situation and your desires. Do you want to sell, transfer the business, or close it all together? Keep in mind all of the legal factors and documents that these processes with entail. These are important questions that must be asked when the time comes to move onto the next stage of your life.

No matter what the size and scale of your business maybe, from beginning to end, a business plan should be with you every step of the way. A business plan is the blueprint and foundation for everything. Spend the time and effort in solidifying your goals by turning those ideas into tangible action with a business plan.

At The Beacon Group of Assante Financial Management Ltd., we understand that your business is your retirement plan. You’ve worked hard to build it to where it is, and a business plan is one part of ensuring success. Next, you need to create a complete plan for the next stage, whether that is selling your business or transferring it to the next generation. Contact your financial advisor to learn more.

4 small business owner tax tips

4 Small Business Owner Tax Tips

by BusinessLifestyleTax PlanningUncategorised

Being an entrepreneur is quite different from working for a large company in many ways. One particular way that stands out from the rest is the responsibility to maintain and file taxes. Unless you happen to own an accounting or auditing firm, there may be more questions than answers when it comes to how to complete and record everything to do with taxes successfully. Although tax season happens once a year, it is a round the calendar job to keep track of every dollar spent and ensure that taxes are adequately claimed to help bring down your taxes owing. Here are some tips for small business owners that are sure to help you sort out your tax situation.

Keep Every Business Receipt

Although it may seem like a daunting task to begin with, it is imperative that you save every meal, gas, parking, equipment purchase, and any other receipt which has a relationship to your business. It’s easier to rifle through your many business receipts than to not have them and not be able to claim them when the time comes.

Be Mindful of Meal Prices

It is absolutely permitted to claim meals as part of your business expenses, however be mindful of the cost. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is cracking down on business meals submitted for tax write-offs that are more than $100 per person. To avoid catching the watchful eye of the CRA, do not submit any meal receipts where more than $100 is spent on each guest.

Convention or Furthering Education Programs

It is expected that conventions or furthering education programs directly related to your field should be attended and can be deducted as a tax write-off. The key to remember is that only reasonable expenses will be accepted. If there is a three-day conference held somewhere where travel is required, however you decided to stay for seven nights and have a vacation out of the time away, it is only possible to submit three nights as a business expense.

Knowing What Can Be Deducted

Having the knowledge of what is an acceptable deductible and what is unacceptable is an important part of taxes. If taxes are not your area of expertise, it will be beneficial to you to speak to someone who is an expert in the field.

As a small business owner you likely wear multiple hats. When it comes to taxes, however, it’s best to have a professional help you out. At The Beacon Group of Assante Financial Management Ltd. there will always be someone available to assist you with managing your small business taxes.

How to identify and overcome stress triggers

How to Identify and Overcome Stress Triggers

by AgingBusinessLifestyleUncategorised

Whether you are an entrepreneur, a consultant, or a C-suite executive, you are bound to have days where the stress feels too difficult to overcome. Stress can hamper your mood, reduce productivity, lead to illness, and negatively affect those around us. The key to handling your stress is to understand it on a deeper level. Generally speaking, there are two types of stress triggers: external triggers and internal triggers.

External Stress Triggers

These are things that are completely out of your control that cause you stress. There is no limit to what can cause stress and much of it leaves us powerless and helpless. Things like environmental disasters, accidents, random illness, or even death; all of these things are uncontrollable and can be the cause of great stress.

Unfortunately, there is no prevention for external stress triggers. The only thing you can do is arm yourself defensively against them. By living a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a healthy body you will be able to handle more stress than you might think. If you have a healthy body and mind you will be able to obtain a positive perspective when things may appear to be grim. A certain level of “roll off your shoulders” attitude is required if you want to live as stress-free as possible. Many things in life are out of your control and it is your choice how you deal with them. Empower yourself by responding to stress triggers in a healthy, constructive way, rather than reacting to stress negatively.

Internal Stress Triggers

These stress triggers are much more difficult to overcome than external triggers. Internal stress triggers are thoughts and feelings we invoke upon ourselves that cause us to feel inadequate, anxious, or overwhelmed. This can be taking on too much at work or at home, or letting our fears overtake our daily routines. Whatever your internal stress triggers are it is important to address them before they take over your life.

Dealing with internal stress triggers involves taking a good look at the expectations you put on your own shoulders and evaluating their attainability. It’s difficult to tell yourself that you can’t or shouldn’t do something when you have spent your entire life building yourself up for greatness. Humble yourself and ask for help when needed. It is also important to set aside some time for you to relax in a day. Pick up a relaxing hobby such as yoga or meditation to allow your body and mind time to destress and rejuvenate.

Stress can be a life-altering thing. Don’t let it take over everything you have worked so hard to achieve.