How Leaders Can Improve Their Remote Team’s Productivity - Cameron Forni

 

The largest work from home experiment of 2020 was cast upon most Americans without any advanced warning. This led to a sudden overhaul in every aspect of our daily lives, from commutes and lunch arrangements to meetings and water cooler chat. Depending on the industry, work is more than just a place to clock in and out, it also holds a hierarchy within its own society and fulfills peoples’ sense of purpose as a member of a team. As a leader, there is no feasible way to believe confidently that you would be able to maintain the same level of supervision over your team when they are working from home. To try and do so would actually be counter-productive. Encourage your employees to transfer their home office into the most productive environment possible by offering suggestions about the atmosphere and lighting. For the people who miss the social aspect of coming into the office, this transition will be the hardest for them. 

One thing to avoid is unscheduled, regular, virtual pop-ins. This not only forces your employee to stop their current project and take time away from a deadline in order to talk to you, but it also serves as a reminder that you might not trust them to complete tasks on their own. It does not take long for this feeling of being micromanaged to turn into a morale diminisher. Once it reaches this point, it can be hard to regain your employee’s enthusiasm and motivation. The third reason unanticipated check-ins are a bad idea is that they cause employees to suddenly switch gears and lose focus, requiring time to regroup and retrieve their momentum. A much better idea is to have regularly planned group check-ins, in addition to one-on-one meetings. This is the perfect time to go over questions and discuss action plans. 

When you meet with your team, it’s important you state clearly what the project goals are, as well as the company goals in general. Include deadlines and expectations and tell your team that they are going to be held accountable, but be sure to emphasize your trust and faith that they can handle their workload. With a collaborative tracking tool, everyone will be able to see everyone else’s progress, as well as have the peace of mind to reach out if help is needed. The idea is to be there when needed without portraying a lack of trust. There are many great project management tools, such as Trello, which is a highly popular productivity platform. Using this tool, staff can collaborate on projects and keep each other updated on changes in real-time as they occur. 

This article was originally published on CameronForni.net

A Breakdown of the Different Types of Cannabis - Cameron Forni

 

Often, people’s opinions about cannabis are based on information gleaned from the media, TV shows, movies, or simply in their everyday lives. When people talk about terms like cannabis, hemp, and marijuana, they tend to either use them interchangeably or apply their own meanings to them based on their own assumptions or observations. 

All of the plants within the cannabis genus contain different amounts of the phytocannabinoids THC and CBD. THC, which is found in higher increments in marijuana, is the molecule that binds with our own body’s endocannabinoids, causing different feelings of euphoria. The higher the amount of THC, the higher the hallucinatory effect. People have also used THC to aid in many medical conditions such as depression, anxiety, and seizures, as well as making chemotherapy much more tolerable. On the other side, Hemp plants have higher levels of CBD and are used ina variety of non-hallucinatory medical practices, such as soothing oils and soap products. 

Cannabis is the name of one type of flowering plant within the Cannabaceae family, but there are multiple species of it within that genus. Two species of cannabis are Hemp and Marijuana. Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis are subspecies and each has its own purpose in the health and wellness industry. It goes way beyond just a simple plant with leaves and stems. 

Sativa

Sativa strains of cannabis have high levels of THC and typically cause feelings of euphoria and a high when consumed. In smaller doses, they can also increase energy levels and creative thinking. The recreational food and drink market is the preferred choice for Sativa use.

Indica

In raw form, Indica plants tend to resemble a small Christmas tree. This is a more sensitive strain that needs to be tended to since they are susceptible to mould. The effect produced by this strain is a soothing one, mainly for sore muscles and as a sleep aid. This strain is quite popular for medicinal use.

Ruderalis

Ruderalis strains have low levels of THC so they are not generally sold as a recreational drug. They can be cross-bred with either Indica or Sativa strains to create a hybrid product. Since there are higher levels of CBD, the medical field has more uses for Ruderalis, as long as the proper extraction techniques are implemented. The fibrous stamps also make it useful in the hemp textile industry.

This article was originally published on cameronForni.co

The Differences Between CBD and Hemp

 

The Cannabaceae family of plants is made up of different strains. Unlike the marijuana classification of the plant, the hemp plant is a non-intoxicating Cannabis that is harvested for the industrial use of its derived products. It was made commercially viable after the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, and hemp products in today’s society are now associated with multiple industries. It has since been recognized as the strongest natural fiber in the world. After becoming an agricultural commodity, farmers began growing it and various industries began using it for biofuel, soap, building materials, as well as medicinal products. CBD oil is an example of a medicinal product that is extracted from hemp. While CBD can come from either hemp plants or marijuana plants, the end product is not exactly the same because of the THC levels within each plant.

All mammals naturally produce endocannabinoids (endo = within) that keep their bodily systems functioning normally. It’s part of an interconnected network called the Endocannabinoid System that aids in the body’s immune response, cell communication, appetite, metabolism, and memory, among other functions. CBD is a phytocannabinoid (phyto = plant), and studies have shown that these similar receptors in CBD oil can help replenish our internal systems. Some of the conditions that CBD has been touted to improve include anxiety, PTSD, addiction, epilepsy, and arthritis, among others. 

Marijuana-derived CBD products contain small amounts of THC and they may be more effective than hemp. However, even though hemp-based CBD is legalized, the same cannot be said for every state in the US. There are currently federal laws in place, but if you live in a state that hasn’t yet legalized medical marijuana or these strains are unavailable, you may still benefit from products containing industrial hemp-derived CBD.

Contrarily, the hemp extract oils that are the basis of all hemp CBD products are made from the flowers and the leaves of the hemp plant. Also known as the source of all the beneficial phytocannabinoids. On the other hand, Hemp seed oil, also sometimes known as “hemp oil”, is derived from the seeds of the hemp plant only, no phytocannabinoids are extracted. While it is true that this oil is rich in healthy omega-3 fatty acids and can improve skin, it doesn’t have the same benefits as marijuana-based CBD oil.

This article was originally published on cameronforni.co

Tools Entrepreneurs Need to Be Successful

 

The mesmerizing world of today’s technology has provided us with a variety of ways to become more efficient. Tasks that once took up time and resources, even extra personnel, can now be done more inexpensively in the blink of an eye. The one caveat to having so much tech, however, is that it has the potential to stifle creativity and intuition, which is a trait that successful entrepreneurs need to thrive. Taking risks and exploring the unknown is part of what makes for a successful titan of industry. That being said, there are many tools that can still help modern-day CEOs become more efficient without taking away their ability to think outside the box. 

One of the most important things to conquer in today’s modern world is time management. Having a collaborative project managing tool is the perfect way to communicate with all members of your team about the status of every project, as well as assigning tasks and setting deadlines. There are many options to choose from, both online as well as from app stores. Trello is a popular favorite, and for good reason. With over 25 million users worldwide, this app takes large tasks and breaks them down into easily manageable to-do lists. Another great project management tool is Monday. It is often compared to Trello because of the same functionality. Another software tool that has thrown its hat in the ring is Asana. While critics agree that it might have a steeper learning curve, it has received many positive reviews from well-respected organizations like PC Magazine. 

Collaboration is the key to a modern-day workforce. Being remote is now the norm, which means cloud-based documents and projects need to be readily accessible by all team members, regardless of location or device being used. Google Docs is the MS Office suite of the future, with a variety of free solutions to share with people both within, and outside of, your organization. 

Storage is now cheaper than ever, which means there is no excuse to not make regular backups of valuable photos and documents. Dropbox is a perfect way to organize files into albums. While not completely free, it does provide the ease of mind that comes along with having a secure data backup.

This article was originally published on cameronforni.net

Helpful Tips for Boosting Your Team’s Morale

Being a good leader means more than producing impressive department stats. There is a major difference between being a manager and a leader, and the boosting of your team’s morale is a big reason why.  

As a leader, you are only as good as your team. It is very important to check in with each member of your team on a group and individual basis for several reasons. The first reason is trust and reliability. Having consistent check-ins will not only catch potential issues early and clear up any confusion if someone is veering off a project goal, but it will also be a chance for someone to air grievances or concerns in a safe environment without fearing any backlash. 

While long-term goals are the ones that will mean the most to a company’s bottom-line, having short-term goals that can be celebrated is a great way to motivate people. Success breeds success, so encourage friendly rivalry among your team to achieve small goals and then celebrate by rewarding everyone, such as with a team lunch. People also love being publicly praised, so give people the opportunity to nominate anonymous shout-outs to peers who went above and beyond, and then read those affirmations in a company-wide setting. Sometimes it helps to be silly. If you aren’t in a customer-facing industry, designate one week for high school spirit week-type shenanigans. Declare Halloween in July or Dress Like Your Boss day.

Communication works best when it’s a two-way street. In addition to performance reviews, ask your employees to give honest feedback about your performance as well. It takes some of the fear out of the equation because it’s viewed as a learning exercise, and it also lets employees see a more human side of you. People will work harder for a leader they respect and admitting we are all fallible is a great way to earn that. 

Sometimes as a leader, you need to make tough decisions and deliver bad news, sometimes devastating. Explain fully and honestly the reasoning behind your decision and what the other options were, and open the floor to any questions, both publicly and in private. If a sacrifice had to be made for the greater good of the company, make sure the team knows that.

How to Build a Successful Cannabis Company

Legalized cannabis is a relatively new industry in America. To date, there are 11 states, plus D.C. that have laws regarding the legal use of smoking, distributing, and growing marijuana recreationally, while 33 states have made it legal for medical purposes. There are many entrepreneurs who want to jump on board this period of growth before the market becomes too saturated. Just like with any business venture, however, there are reasons why some people fail and others succeed. Every niche has its own unique way of doing things, which is why it’s so important to listen to the experts when it comes to any type of start-up venture. 

The cannabis industry has created hundreds of thousands of jobs and shows no signs of slowing down. Many have compared it to industry growth after the end of prohibition. It is still very early in the marijuana game. However, despite all of these changes, it’s important to remember that the federal government still considers cannabis to be a Schedule 1 controlled substance. By definition, that means cannabis is still viewed as an illegal substance with a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical purpose. 

This is also a difficult industry for expansion since every state comes with its own regulations and laws when it comes to each phase of this product. Having no federal regulations means that rules can vary widely across state borders. In addition, since this is still an illegal product at the federal level, cannabis companies cannot deduct ordinary business expenses like mainstream businesses and they must pay taxes based on their gross income, rather than net. In addition, some states charge an excise tax on top of the federal tax. 

The cannabis market also has many players – from cultivators to distributors, so the first decision is to know your link in the chain. Ask yourself whether you have the availability and the experience to be on the agricultural side. Licensing and permitting are going to be areas you will need knowledge of. The cost of getting licensed isn’t cheap. Cultivators and dispensaries should be prepared to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars throughout the process.

Money continues to be a problem in other ways, such as financing. Cannabis industries face a much harder time getting a traditional line of credit or even a business account, which not only makes it harder to get first-round funding, but it also means most businesses operate at a cash-only level. This makes it a target for theft and relies heavily on manual bookkeeping for salaries and bills.