Pavel Melnikov is a Russian businessman and entrepreneur, best known for his contribution to the plumbing industry. He is the sole owner of several companies, with VALTEC being the most famous one around the globe. Melnikov is also the owner of more than 100 patents for a diverse range of plumbing and heating equipment. But how did he reach the top of the industry? Early in his professional career, Melnikov familiarized with aspects he needs to pay special attention to in order to be able to create something truly significant. He also learned how to find the best way to present and position his products on the market and maintain a high spot in his sector. So what does it take? A solid education and knowledge of the industry Pavel Melnikov entered the industry with a diploma from an Electrotechnical Colledge and Mechanical Institute where he gained significant engineering knowledge. But it is not just about learning the basic and advanced skills required to complete a range of tasks. Time spent in academia affects a range of practical and interpersonal skills, like writing and reading comprehension, research techniques and how to communicate with a variety of people. Certainly, all this came in handy for Pavel Melnikov, who combined his creativity and research skills to discover market gaps and come up with innovative solutions. He also had to conduct countless meetings and deliver effective presentations in order to build partnerships and entities that enabled him to turn his ideas into reality. Focus on innovation and development This desire to build something from scratch, a never-before-seen solution, is another character quality that helped Pavel Melnikov climb the ladder of success. This is why one of his first endeavours focused on gathering a team who will help him design plumbing products that will help improve the Russian system of that time. Melnikov realized it did not answer the public’s needs to its fullest potential and tried to look for an idea for improvement outside the country’s territory. Namely, he established a partnership with the Italian plumbing manufacturers who were, at that time, renowned for the quality of their work and products. Key takeaway? Think outside the box. And if you cannot come up with anything on your own, there sure is someone you can ask for advice or a helping hand. Continual diversification and growth In the world of business, stagnation equals regression, which means you should always think beyond the goals you’ve already set for yourself. In Pavel Melnikov’s case, he took his experience in leading successful plumbing companies and broadened his scope of interest to heating devices and water supply appliances, which include aluminium and bimetallic radiators, radiator caps, hot water and water distribution systems, hot water installations, and many more. Insistence on quality Product quality is crucial for SMBs who are only looking to make an impact in a dense market place. It helps boost customer loyalty and retention, as it is a clear indicator of how much a business cares about its customers. And a quality product is precisely what helped Pavel Melnikov build his enterprise. All the products that are manufactured under his trademarks are certified and undergo regular laboratory testing. He knows that meeting, or better yet exceeding customer expectations motivates them to turn back to you again in the future, give you a glowing recommendation, and value the price of the product. One sale at a time, you can get a step closer to improved brand image and higher earnings. The results The plumbing industry has always been a competitive one, and it is currently experiencing a rise in the total revenue of the wholesale of plumbing and heating equipment, meaning that reaching and remaining at the top of the sector will be even more challenging. Despite this growing trend, Pavel Melnikov and his company VALTEC maintain the top position because of his knowledge, experience, ambition and continual focus on development.

Everyone has those days in a month when a lot of work gets done, but the feeling of productiveness just isn’t there. It might be that you finish a lot of small tasks, but the large, important ones stay untouched, and that makes you dissatisfied. Your focus may not be aimed at your work, and you lose a sense of what you’ve accomplished so far, or what you’re trying to accomplish. That’s why you may feel disoriented, and lose track of your tasks. There are a few things that can help you stay focused, motivated, and productive in your workspace. Keep reading if you want to learn how to do more things in a day and be satisfied with that. Sort things out in your head It’s difficult to start working on something if you have a bunch of things wreaking chaos in your head. You can’t decide where to start, and it takes a lot of time to organize all of your thoughts with all the new ones adding up to the list. The traditional approach is the best one for this problem; write things down. Make a to-do list in your notebook, or use post-it notes. You can also write everything down on a whiteboard, and start from the most important and urgent tasks. Plan your whole day, add new tasks when you get them, tick them off when you complete them, and see for yourself how productive you’re being that day. Organize your space If the desk you’re working at is unorganized and messy, you probably won’t get much work done. It’s difficult to navigate through a mountain of papers and documents, and it takes a lot of time to find the things you need. Get rid of all of the unnecessary files that just take the space you need to do your work, and organize the rest by their importance. Use storage boxes or containers, as they will help you group your office items. When you get done with a document, immediately put it away into its designated place to keep the place clean and organized. Don’t forget to clean everything up before going home, as you don’t want to start your next day buried in papers. Make yourself comfortable You have to make sure that your workspace suits your body and personality. Adjust the computer screen to avoid any pain in your neck, back or potential headaches. Lighting also plays a big role in how productive you’ll be. Your office has to be well-lit, with as much natural light as possible. Try changing your ordinary lightbulbs for LED bulbs, which can set a better atmosphere, and help protect your eyes. If you need more light than your office allows for, then you can get a desk lamp and secure yourself as much light as needed. Also, pay attention to the room temperature, as that might impact your mood and productivity. Take frequent breaks Constant sitting at the desk for a long period of time might not be as productive as you think. You have to make a lot of decisions during your day, and that certainly wears you down. That’s why taking a five-minute break every hour will replenish your energy and reduce the negative effects of the constant sitting. Shorter, but more often, breaks refresh your mind, boost your productivity and creativity, and help you stay focused on the task when you get back to your seat. The important thing you have to note down is that you have to eliminate all distractions when taking a break, so you could allow your brain to really get some rest. Set a time limit It’s much easier to complete a task when you have a time limit. If you set the maximum time you want to spend on a certain task, you’ll get it done faster than usual, and you’ll have more time for something else. Consider the importance and difficulty of the task when setting the time limit, as some tasks need more of your attention than others. If it takes more than an hour, then split it into two parts, as you need your five-minute break to get refreshed. Everyone has their own modus operandi, their own personalities, and there isn’t a universal formula for a productive workspace. However, these tips will surely motivate you to think about what changes you can implement in your daily work habits that will help you be more productive.

When running a small business, building positive relationships is a must. Your vendors are someone you absolutely rely on and the only way to fulfill all your goals is to have vendors you enjoy working with. A strong relationship with your vendors can result in discounts and their willingness to go above and beyond when necessary. But how exactly do you nurture a healthy relationship with your vendors? Listed below are five ways you just can’t go wrong with. Make payments on time Just like you, your vendors depend on the money they get from their customers. Maintaining positive cash flow is essential for their operations which is why they prefer doing business with customers who pay on time and respect all agreed-upon conditions. Therefore, it’s a good idea to do everything in your power to make payments on time and get a “most trusted” status in the eyes of your vendors. Do this and you can expect them to put in extra effort when you need rush deliveries or different requests from what they usually get. Also, when they know you make all your payments on time, they might also be ready to renegotiate a better deal for you, allowing you to increase your profit. Make sure they understand your vision The difference between vendors who really understand your business and those who just go through the motion of filing orders is huge. When vendors know what your business is all about and what you’re trying to achieve, they might even come up with ideas how they can help you even more. Moreover, they’ll have a better insight into what your business needs and might try to shape their product and service accordingly. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to update your vendors on how your business is doing and meet with them on a regular basis. When hosting a business event, make sure they’re among the first people to receive invitations. Have a vendor manager Maintaining a positive relationship with your vendors requires a lot of work. In case you’re too busy with your core operations, it’s very important to have someone who’ll be in charge of it. The best part of it is that you don’t need to hire a new employee for this. Instead, choose a staff member with good communication skills and make them a single point of contact within your business. That way, your vendors will know exactly who to turn to when they need information. Provide your manager with all vendor contracts templates they might need and ensure they keep a record of their communication with your vendors. Don’t point fingers Another thing that can have a huge impact on your relationship with your vendors is the way you handle any mistakes they make. Although a mistake from your vendor can hurt your operations a lot, there’s no need to point fingers. Try to deal with the situation as calmly as possible and focus on moving on. Have your vendor manager work with their employees and figure out what caused the mistake. That way, they can help ensure the same mistake doesn’t happen again. Assigning blame in situations like this only creates tensions and makes everyone feel uncomfortable. However, if mistakes continue to happen, acting on it might be necessary. Refer them to others No matter what kind of work your business does, chances are you meet plenty of other business owners. Referring them to your vendors can do wonders for your business. Not only will your vendors be happy to hear that you trust them so much but they might also be ready to offer you a better deal since you’ve helped them make more sales. Just make sure you trust both parties before making any recommendations. Once you’re absolutely sure you can trust your vendors, you can start recommending them to other business owners out there. This will help you build even more relationships in the business world and allow your business to grow. Final thoughts Your vendors are more than just someone you work with, they’re your business partners and building a positive relationship with them is something you should put a lot of effort into. Do this and you can be assured they’ll offer you the best pricing arrangements and help you when there’s an increased customer demand.

While there has been a lot of talk about Millennials for the last 10 years, nowadays they are starting to move out of the spotlight to make room for Generation Z. This generation, comprised of people born between 1995 and 2015, is known for their pragmatic worldview, for craving engagement, and having grown up almost completely on technology. Where Millennials lived through idealism during the relative calm of the ‘80s and ‘90s, Generation Z matured in a world frequented by acts of terrorism and economic uncertainties. This means Gen Z views the world in a much different way, so businesses have to be prepared to adjust and modify their practices. Let’s explore how. Handling high levels of stress Although Generation Z grew up in a stressful environment, this doesn’t that they need to work in it also. Future Workplace study named stress as the greatest obstacle keeping Gen Z from performing higher – 37% of them feel hindered in their development due to stress and approaching burnout. And oh my, is stress stressful. So much, in fact, it’s been called “the health epidemic of the 21st century”. Why? Because it results in headaches, dizziness, muscle tension, and fatigue. This makes employees less focused and in turn less productive, and leads to rising healthcare costs and sick days taken. One of the best ways to help your Gen Z workers deal with stress is workplace flexibility, with 75% of them calling it their top employee benefit. Flexible working hours, longer breaks and more vacation days can go a long way regarding employee satisfaction and it guaranteed that your business will experience long-term benefits from such measures. Adopt new technologies As the workforce demographics change, the need to implement social and digital technologies rises. Although Gen Z and Millenials want such tech, they also fight with the distractions they cause. But the entry of Gen Z into the workforce made one thing clear – executives will have to meet the needs of the digital native generation. Gen Z tends to be increasingly spread out. They will work from various locations, travel more on their jobs, and desire to stay connected 24/7. To help them with this, employers can, for instance, adopt employee income cards solutions. An income card automates the entire payroll process and integrates with any payroll service provider. Moreover, it represents an excellent, digital-based way to pay Gen Z employees who work remotely or travel on their jobs. Managing the Gen Z employees When it comes to managing Generation Z, the employer has to think of more modern and different ways to lead them. Gen Z is different than previous generations. They are more creative, and hence often prefer to work more independently on projects and “own” them rather than being in the lowest level of the corporate hierarchy, prepared to put in the effort in a job they don’t like for some rewards later on. Also, keep them interested in their work. Most Gen Z-ers aren’t into climbing the corporate ladder, so this approach likely won't work with them. It’s all about being more dynamic in the way projects are managed and tasks are dished out. Work on funnelling the creative side of Gen Z to the benefit of your business. They love to see the evolution of an idea from the beginning to finish. Provide them with the opportunity to be a part of this. Emphasize human connection Although they’re known as the tech generation, Generation Z places an enormous value on face-to-face interactions – more than 73% prefer face-to-face interaction than other forms, citing a bigger value on effectiveness rather than convenience. In other words, there is a need to avoid a classic management concept. It teaches there shouldn’t be any friends between the executives and their subordinates. However, the opposite is true when it comes to Gen Z. You’ll need to connect with them on a more personal level. Every new generation grows up in different socioeconomic circumstances, which makes them view the world (and interact with it) in a radically different way. As Generation Z craves technology, personal connection in business, and the chance to lower work-related stress, employers must be prepared to adjust and reevaluate their practices.

Small businesses don't have the marketing budget large corporations have which makes increasing revenue even more important for them. The best way to do it is to opt for marketing tactics that have proven to be effective. Since the majority of business promotion now takes place online, let's take a closer look at five digital marketing tactics professionals use to increase revenue for small businesses. Facebook advertising About 2 million small businesses advertise on Facebook and there's no reason why you shouldn't think about doing the same. It's a relatively inexpensive way to get your business noticed and market to any of 15 million Australians active on Facebook monthly. What Facebook advertising excels at is advanced targeting, meaning that you can choose who you want to advertise to based on their age, gender and interests. The best part of it is that creating and managing Facebook ads is quite easy. Just bear in mind that Facebook advertising may take some persistence but it's guaranteed to get the job done and help you increase your revenue. Content marketing One of the biggest reasons why people use the web is because they're searching for content. Whether they're looking for information or a solution to a problem they're facing, this is something you can benefit from. In fact, a number of marketers say that content marketing is their number one tactic in 2019. No matter what sector you're, you should be able to come up with blog posts and video ideas your customers will like. What's so great about content marketing is that it helps your business get noticed but also helps you label yourself as one of the leading experts in the industry. The more quality content you create, the more your customers are going to trust you. Search engine optimization SEO is a relatively new concept and not every business owner knows how to employ it. Still, with more and more Australians turning to search engines when looking for a product or service, it became even more important to do everything you can to rank well on SERPs (search engine results pages). If you want it to work, you have to optimize your website for SEO and keep coming up with quality posts for your blog section. However, your safest bet is to turn to professionals who can help you give your ranking a boost. The good news is, there are experts in digital marketing in Brisbane who can help you both with SEO and any other tactics you wish to employ. Loyalty programs Experienced marketers know that it's not all about attracting new customers. This is why they also focus on bringing back old customers and starting loyalty programs. All you need to do is come up with a system for allocating points to your customers and prepare discounts and freebies for the most loyal ones. It may seem like this only helps you retain your current customers but there's much more to it. A loyalty program creates even more loyal customers who you can expect to recommend your business to their friends and family. Organic social media We already talked about Facebook ads but that's not the only way to promote your business on social media. Just having pages on platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram can help you get more customers and increase your revenue. You'll be happy to hear that the costs involved are minimal and all you have to do is find someone to design your graphics for you. Share quality content, be polite when answering questions and you can be assured people will share your posts and help you find more customers. If you use multiple platforms, make sure you're consistent in terms of visuals and posting frequency as it helps create a more professional look. Final thoughts All five tactics discussed in this post have yielded amazing results for some of the most experienced marketers out there and there's no doubt they can help you get your business noticed as well. Most importantly, you can expect them to help you increase your revenue and take your company's finances to the next level.

Building a company culture is one of the most important things in every enterprise. It’s what gives you identity and makes both customers and employees remain loyal to your business even if someone else on the market has an objectively better offer. However, a lot of entrepreneurs don’t know how to achieve this. They’re confused by their options or don’t know how to approach the subject matter. This makes them outsource the development of company culture to coaches and experts, which, although effective, can sometimes get out of hand. You see, if you let an outsider do something as essential for the existence of your business, it’s questionable whether the end result will be that which you’ve originally had in mind. In order to avoid this, here are the top six tips on how to enhance your business culture with your own employees. Become a better leader The first thing you need to do is become a better leader. The simplest way to achieve this is to become more charismatic. Now, there are some people who believe that charisma is an innate, inexplicable trait that makes others like you. The truth is that charisma is nothing more than knowing how to give your full and undivided attention to others. Respect your team and they’ll respect you back. Speaking of attention… Listen to your employees By actively listening to your employees, gathering feedback and acting upon this feedback, you’ll create a corporate culture where each individual is appreciated and respected. When talking to people, try giving them their full attention and try to remember what they were talking about the next time you encounter them, even if it was not work-related. Remembering their kids’ names (even if you have to write them down and then memorize them when you are alone) is always a nice gesture. Encourage diversity The next thing you need to do is make your workplace truly diverse. Why? Well, aside from the fact that diversity in the workplace improves your company’s image and productivity, it’s also great for the morale of your employees. However, before you can do this, you must first figure out what diversity truly means. For starters, both genders need to be represented and you shouldn’t discriminate based on ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation or religion. You also need to look for organizations like atWork Australia, which will allow you to include more people with disabilities into your service. Collaborate Having a team that can collaborate on major projects is important, however, you don’t start building a circle of accountability on a major project. You start from something simple like task delegation. If you have a small office, you need to make sure that every single person knows what their duties are (not just job-related but also in regards to the office maintenance). Keep in mind that by delegating these tasks evenly, you’re encouraging collaboration and team spirit in your organization. This will also help your employees develop a feeling of ownership of your business. Transparency in all things Keep in mind that your staff is usually capable of handling and understanding everything for as long as you’re honest and forthcoming with them. For instance, if you decide to promote a single person in your employ, you need to have objective criteria and explain these criteria to the rest of your staff. This will nip any speculations and hurt feelings right in the bud. Practice transparency with your clients and partners, as well. Even if the news is bad, it’s better if it comes from you. Fire troublemakers The last thing you need to keep in mind is the fact that the feelings that your staff has toward your business often depend on their coworkers. So, if there are some who are constantly inciting revolts, constantly in arguments or just making people around them feel bad, you might be forced to let these people go. Remember, you’re not doing this just to avoid conflict or to save the face of your company. You’re also doing it to protect your staff from these troublemakers. Conclusion The best thing about these methods is the fact that they do more than just improve the performance and the image of your company. What they also do is make your office into a more pleasant place to be at. While in your employ, your staff will be under less stress and they’ll come to the office with a smile. The word of this quickly spreads and you might soon see a major spike when it comes to the attraction of top talent.

Apart from being wealthy, what most successful people have in common is a peculiar pattern in their behaviour — aka certain habits. These key habits are the lifeblood of their success; they are the fuel that drives them forward. Now, learning to embrace these positive habits can potentially open the door for us mere mortals as well. Take a look at these 7 key habits and see for yourself. 1. Healthy Sleep Routines Success begins with a good night’s sleep; ask any successful entrepreneur and they’ll say the same. Going to bed early is crucial if you want to wake up alarm-free in the mornings when your productivity and creativity levels are at their peak. In fact, sleep plays a huge role in your overall health and well-being; it’s not just about getting more work done early in the day. Lack of sleep impacts your ability to make smart decisions, to think properly, to manage stress, and more. So, skip that cup of coffee in the dead of night and read a good book instead. 2. Reading Speaking of reading, the vast majority of successful entrepreneurs in the world have one thing in common — they love books; and with good reason! Reading makes you not only a better thinker but stimulates your creative mind as well and today — innovation is key. What’s more, reading helps alleviate stress and improves your mental health. Therefore, give it a shot and make it a part of your daily routine. If you aren’t exactly a bookworm — fear not — just try some audiobooks instead. 3. Money Management Being prudent with money is a trademark of many an investor and entrepreneur in today’s business climate. A mere coincidence? I think not. You see, it’s not just about saving money and not overspending. It’s about getting the most bang for your buck; in other words — efficiency. By being frugal (not stingy) you learn to appreciate the value of your time as well as your money. After all, it’s what got them rich in the first place, right? Just take a look at Warren Buffet, the notorious business magnet, and his frugal lifestyle to get the full picture. 4. Iron Will A lot of times it’s not your skills or your experience that holds you back — it’s your attitude. Determination, persistence, and resolve are just some of the traits we attribute to successful entrepreneurs. Yet, a positive attitude is not just a by-product of success but sits at the very root of it, as many would suggest. That’s why a lot of entrepreneurs nowadays use high performance mindset training to motivate themselves on a daily basis and get that much-needed willpower boost. Alternatively, you can stand in front of a mirror self-talk and affirm your goals and beliefs at least once a day to stay in sight of that finish line. 5. Exercise As the old idiom says — a healthy mind in a healthy body, and if you want to become a successful entrepreneur, you’re going to need such a mind. Over the years, countless entrepreneurs have reaped the many benefits of exercising daily and used its positive effects on the mind and body to build their financial empires. Now, this does not mean that you have to become a bodybuilder, or anything of the sort, to be successful. On the contrary, even a modest walk will do the trick if you simply stick to your daily routine; no excuses! 6. Relaxation Even before watching the Shinning, successful entrepreneurs knew that “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” It’s a stressful business, to say the least. Hence, every once in a while you really ought to take a breather and let off some of that steam. For instance, try meditation. It’s a practice many successful people employ nowadays with astonishing results. However, if balancing your chakras is not exactly your cup of tea then try listening to your favourite tunes, or pet your cat, or do whatever it is that puts you in a complete state of tranquillity. Just rid yourself of distractions and allow yourself to make more conscious decisions. 7. Networking More often than not, successful people know well the importance of collaboration and teamwork. You’re not alone in this world; you need strong allies and solid advisors if you wish to reach the top. Luckily for us, networking today has never been simpler. Try to make it a staple of your routine and surround yourself with successful people for a few hours each day; in the form of podcasts and social media posts if nothing else. Use that time to exchange ideas and establish a strong network of contacts that you can use later on. It’ll take some time before you get fully accustomed to all these new routines. So, start ASAP and don’t look back.