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I always felt that public relations was the right career path for me but after just a two years in my first firm, I began to seriously doubt it. The conditions there were awful and there was a toxic environment here I had to fulfill os many tasks, there was no opportunity to get on, the clients were limited and quite honestly I doubted whether or not I could do the job. I didn’t look at the company as being culpable, but myself and the career choice that I’d made. I decided to go for an interview with brilliant Interdependence public relations, and I told myself that this would be the last roll of the dice. That was 5 years ago and I am still working with the firm, who have helped me to achieve everything that I could dream of. It wasn’t the career choice that was wrong, it was my first job choice.

If you are unhappy, here is why you should look for another company to work for.

Wrong Place, Wrong Time

Companies go through peaks and troughs and sometimes you can just join a company at the wrong time. If you do this then you are going to be walking into a position which is massively under pressure to delver results and this is going to change how people work within the business. This is not to say that you are in the career, just the wrong position at the wrong moment in time.

Your Boss

Not everyone has the luxury of liking or having a good relationship with their boss but at the every least you should respect your boss and how they do their job. Unfortunately not everyone can have a boss like this and if you have some real reservations about yours and it doesn’t look like they are going to be leaving any time soon, it is you who should make the move and head off to a different company.

Hit the Ceiling

In my old job it was very clear that there was a celling for me and that any ambitions which I had to get higher up the ladder weren’t going to be supported by the company. If you feel that you have reached this ceiling and that you are not going to get pushed up the ladder then look for someone who is going to give you that opportunity. Sometimes it has nothing to do with your ability to work, sometimes your face just doesn’t fit, if this happens go somewhere where it will.

The Grass Can Be Greener

There is always that dilemma that the grass isn’t greener on the otters side but you know what, sometimes the grass on the other side is greener, softer and beautiful to look at and you will never know until you head over there to check it out for yourself .

Don’t waste away in a job you hate, make that change before it’s too late.

Sometimes life gives you opportunities that you just have to take and that is what happened to me just over 3 years ago. I was a struggling artist and my daughter had just been born, and I was already looking to get a ‘normal’ job which would put us in a more stable position. As any new dad will know, your priorities can change pretty quickly. I began working part time at a hotel and one fateful afternoon I got talking to a guy who was staying there, how happened to be one of the agents who was working with the brilliant artist Peter Max. I knew this before I met him and just knew that I had to speak to him, after dinner one night I stole a minute with him and told him who I was and could he pass some of my artwork on to Peter. I knew that this could’ve cost me my job at the hotel, but I had to try, the rest as they say, was history.

Phone Call

It wasn’t until a week later that I got a call from an unknown number on my cell and to be honest I had already given up hope of anything happening. I answered the phone and I was blown away as the man on the other end introduced himself as the one and only Peter Max. During a short conversation he asked me what I was looking to get out of art, and why I wanted to do it as a career. I told him that I wasn’t looking for millions or worldwide fame, just to be noticed and to get paid enough to support my family. Peter abruptly said thanks and hung up the phone, I thought I must have said something wrong.

The Next Day

I was feeling pretty bummed out the next day when I received an invite on Facebook to a local gallery where Peter was putting on an event. I didn’t know who the invitation came from, but I went anyone, after all what harm could it do?

The Gallery

When I walked into the event I instantly saw Peter over the other side of the room holding court with 5 or 6 people, and he raised his arm and beckoned me over. He then proceeded to introduce me to the crowd as a rising and very talented artist who very soon would have their own exhibition, I was left speechless. When the people dispersed Peter told me that he had seen my artwork from his agent and he was very impressed with what he saw. I used the phone call which we had to see if I was really in this for the right reasons, and then he talked me through how he was was going to help. The following weeks were incredible and Peter was kind enough to let me use his gallery and put me in touch with many people in the industry.

The last 3 years have been a rollercoaster and thankfully I never had to get that ‘normal’ job, all thanks to taking a chance, and meeting an inspirational man.

Cybersecurity expert Bharat Bhise HNA is one of the leading minds in the field of cybersecurity and I had the great pleasure of seeing him give a keynote speech last month at a tech conference. Among other things he focused the speech on what ethical hacking means for the security industry and how these men and women can be the key to ensuring that we are doing all that we can to protect ourselves from cyber attacks. I tweeted about this at the time and it seems that there are a great many people out there who think that all hacking is bad, but in the case of ethical hacking, this is far from true. Let’s take a look then at what these people do, and why their work is so important.

What is an Ethical Hacker?

What could be the best way to ensure that a bank is fully secured against the risk of being robbed? Surely the best answer would be to get a bank robber on board and get them to test out as many different security types as possible until they couldn’t break in. This is just what ethical hackers are, only without the criminal record, at least in the main. Ethical hackers are employed by cybersecurity firms and private businesses and they are paid to try and hack into their systems, if they are able to do it, things have to change.

Cat and Mouse

The battle between cybersecurity companies and cyberattackers is a constant game of cat and mouse, and it can be difficult for security companies to continuously fend of threats. As soon as a new security software suite is created the gauntlet is thrown down to the hacking community to try and break it, eventually they will and the security company must react and update their software to close up the gaps. For many years this was the case but with the emergence of ethical hacking they can ensure that there are as few holes in their security as possible before it is released.

Why Is This Important?

The reason why ethical hacking is so important is because it means that software developers don’t have to wait until one of their clients gets hacked before realizing that there is an issue. Not only does this protect the reputation of the security company but it also ensures that the businesses who use their suites are at significantly less risk once they install the software. Ethical hackers are given all the tools that a criminal hacker would have at their disposal and they will be given the time and the resources to do whatever they need to in order to breach the system. This is all done in the development stage of the software which means that any issues or holes can be plugged before the product is rolled out.

As you can see, not all forms of hacking are necessarily bad.

Prior to meeting my colleague and dear friend Bharat Bhise I never really had much interest in American Sports in terms of being a fan. I had enjoyed watching certain sports but I never really thought about picking a team. Bharat was exactly the same with Premier League football and so together we decided that we should both pick a team to follow, mine would be an NBA team and his would be a Premier League side. It is hard to pick a team if you haven’t grown up supporting one, but there are ways in which you can decide who will be the right team for you.

Players

Both Bharat and I had certain players who we enjoyed watching, both present players and past players, and we decided that this would be the first consideration when picking a team to support. We decided that instead of making a decision based on who was playing for the team, that we instead would create something of an algorithm to select the team, and the players were a key part of that. If you are trying to find a team for you, think about the players you love to watch first.

Success

Many people want to support a successful team and if you fall into that bracket then this will greatly help you to narrow down your choices. It should be noted however that sports are a series of swings and roundabouts and the team who are winning today, may not be winning tomorrow. Take Manchester United in the Premier League for example, throughout the 90s and early 00s they were massively dominant and now they are struggling. Nonetheless if it is a successful team you want, use this to help you to slim down your choices.

Character of the Team

A key part of this decision should be the character or DNA of the club or franchise which you plan to support. For example Tottenham Hotspur are a team that always promise so much, get the hopes up of all the fans, and then eventually fail. Much like Spurs, in the NBA there is a team like the LA Clippers, who are always considered to be the butt of the league’s jokes. And a team with a characteristic which fits with your own, that way you can be sure that you’ll really get behind them.

Geography

The greatest joy for any sports fan is that you get the chance to watch your team play, which is why it also makes sense to pick a team that is near you. Working out of L.A. I knew that my choices were going to be between the Clippers and the Lakers, and based on which one best matched my character and had the players that I enjoyed watching, I decided upon the Clippers.

Using these tips you can choose a team which fits your character and which you can really put your energy behind.

If you have been injured you might want to claim compensation. Sustaining an injury can mean you have to take time off work to get the medical care you need. In addition to this, you might also have to rely on your medical insurance to pay those costly medical bills.

The good news is that you might be able to get some help. However, this all depends on the kind of accident you had and if someone else was at fault. If you think someone else was at fault for your accident you might be entitled to make a personal injury claim. However, there are a few things you need to do first:

Gather all the Evidence Together

Gather together as much evidence as you can. This includes any photographs you have taken and any witness statements. You might be lucky and get a witness statement but if you can’t, ask for the names and address of the witnesses, if they are still around. Some will be happy to give you their details, some might not.

Make a Note of What Happened

Now it’s time for you to make a note of what happened during the accident and after it occurred. You should also note down what the weather was like (if it’s relevant), what the road conditions were like, how much light there was, as so on. All of these details can help you with an injury law case.

Try to make a note of everything you can remember. The sooner you do this, the more likely it is that you’ll remember what happened. Chances are that in 2 to 3 days your memory of the accident will not be as good as it is now. So make sure you write everything down as soon as you can.

If another person was injured ask them to make a note too so that you have their perspective.

Ask for a Copy of your Medical Reports

You cannot prove to a court of law that you broke your arm, for example, in an accident if you do not have your medical records. The court might realize that your arm has been broken but you will have to prove that you broke it in the accident. This is why it’s essential you ask for a copy of your medical reports. The court will see that you have sustained an injury which means you’re more likely to receive compensation.

Ask for Legal Help

Finally, you will need to ask for legal help. It’s never a good idea to try to take a personal injury case to court by yourself. Ask for legal help so that a lawyer can represent you in court, should it come to it. They will help you to understand how successful your case could be and if it’s worth going to court.

If you have been injured in an accident and it was not your fault, use the above tips to get the help you need and deserve.

If you’re anything like most drivers, you dread seeing your car’s check engine light come on. Also, like most people, when the light does turn on, you likely think the worst and begin scouring for auto parts online, but do you even know what you are looking for? While that little dashboard light is intimidating, it doesn’t always mean the worst, and there are times when the fix is something simple. Therefore, before jumping out of your skin, take a minute, and review the top five reasons your check engine light might turn on.

1. Gas Cap

The first and most common reason for the check engine light to turn on is a loose, damaged or missing gas cap. While most driver’s don’t give much consideration to the gas cap, it is a vital component of any vehicle. Its job is sealing and maintaining pressure in your vehicle’s fuel system. Also, it ensures that fewer fumes are released into the atmosphere. Many times when that dread engine light comes on, it is because you didn’t put the cap on correctly. However, there are times where you might need a replacement cap.

2. Oxygen Sensor

A car tune up checklist should always include checking that sensors are working as needed because you can avoid a lot of hassle later on. Your car’s oxygen sensor determines the level of oxygen in your vehicle’s exhaust system, and if it is not working, then you may lose fuel economy or worse a catalytic converter.

3. Catalytic Converter

A check engine light might also indicate a bad catalytic converter. These devices are essential to protecting the environment from potentially harmful carbon monoxide. While faulty oxygen sensors or other devices typically cause damage to these critical components, it is vital you replace this part quickly to ensure performance and to stay within legal emissions ranges.

4. Mass Airflow Sensor

As with most other parts on this list, the mass airflow sensor is a part that helps protect and maintain your vehicle’s fuel economy. It does this by measuring the air coming into your engine and determining the required fuel to run efficiently. Unfortunately, if damaged, these devices not only lead to poor performance but also damage to spark plugs, the oxygen sensor and your catalytic converter.

5. Spark Plugs or Plug Wires

Last, a check engine light might signify that it is time to replace your spark plugs or plug wires. While there is a cost-effective resolution for this problem, if it is not resolved soon enough, then you risk damage to oxygen sensors and ignition coils as well as a clogged catalytic converter. Fortunately, most spark plugs and plug wires are relatively easy to access and are often inexpensive to replace.

While a check engine light often strikes fear in even the most knowledgeable driver, there is no need to jump to the worst conclusions. The resolution to the problem might be as simple as taking the gas cap off and making sure that it is properly seated. However, if that does not resolve your issue, then you can bring your vehicle to a local auto parts store and have a check engine light diagnostic done to find the culprit.

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Even though taurine supplementation isn’t an issue for most dogs, it could be for yours. The following article discusses the reasons why.

You might have been seeing a lot of information online about taurine and dog health. This may have caused you to investigate possible supplements and products that can boost your dog’s taurine levels. However, while taurine is a highly important amino acid that aids in the healthy functioning of the brain, heart, muscles, and eyes, your dog may not need taurine support.

Most dogs can synthesize taurine in their bodies from other nutrients. Giving dogs taurine supplements when they produce their own won’t hurt them, but it’s not necessary. Unfortunately, certain popular dog breeds have a nutritional genetic defect that renders them unable to manufacture taurine, and this can be a significant medical problem in the long term. Dog breeds that have this condition include:

• American cocker spaniel
• Retriever (golden and Labrador)
• English setter
• Boxer
• Newfoundland
• Saint Bernard

Taurine deficiency doesn’t cause outward symptoms, but it can lead to illnesses that do present signs. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is among the most serious long-term consequences of taurine deficiency, and its symptoms include:

• Fainting
• Coughing
• Heavy drooling
• Lethargy
• Weight gain
• Excessive panting

Do not hesitate to contact your vet if your dog is exhibiting the above symptoms – they are indicators of DCM, a life-threatening illness if left unaddressed. Fortunately, if the cause of this condition is taurine deficiency, it can be managed effectively through dietary taurine supplementation. Zignature dog food taurine quantities are quite high due to the natural concentrations of taurine in the farm-raised meats, but your vet may offer additional guidance based upon your dog’s particular wellness concerns. Do not change your diet without consulting your vet.

What, how much and when your dog eats will tell you a lot about their overall state of wellness. The following article discusses the eating habits of dogs – as well as common feeding habits – and what they mean and what they can cause in the long run.

Healthy dogs (and most healthy people, for that matter) love to eat. Dogs, however, don’t savor their food; they eat quickly and with great gusto, as this is a response borne over thousands of years of pack evolution. Dogs in packs – even those in loving and close packs – eat their food as though it is going to be stolen in a millisecond. Dogs still possess this instinct, so when they don’t demonstrate this behavior at their mealtimes, there is likely something wrong. Here are a few things that could be altering your dog’s eating habits.

• Illness. This is the first assumption you should make if your dog no longer appears to want to eat their food. Consult a veterinarian immediately if your pup’s appetite diminishes significantly.
• They become picky. While a sudden lack of interest in food is often a sign of illness, a lack of interest in their food but a keen interest in your food is a sign of pickiness. Your dog probably became picky because, at some point, they tasted what you’re eating, looked at their own dish and decided “Hey, I don’t want this, I want that!” You can correct this behavior by ceasing the table scraps altogether and leaving them no option but to eat their own, appropriate-but-less-tasty food.
• They’re on medications with appetite-reducing side effects. If your dog is taking certain medications and experiencing a reduction in their willingness to eat, ask your vet if there are any supplements or solutions that can correct this reaction. Lack of appetite can make it difficult to administer the meds.
• Your dog is stressed. Stress and anxiety can make your dog reluctant to eat. Determine the cause of their nervousness and address it immediately. If you can’t find a specific trigger, consult a canine behavior expert to come up with techniques that address their anxiety.

When it comes to your dogs’ eating habits, the most important thing to remember is the fact that their diet can either thwart or encourage significant health concerns, including obesity, diabetes, cancers and DCM. Zignature, Castor & Pollux and Nutrish are great, affordable and excellent quality pet foods with formulas designed to address different health issues, as well as the needs of various dog breeds, sizes and ages.

I’m a doggie enthusiast, blogger and pet parent to two beautiful and feisty rescue girls

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